The summe is , the snare is broken , Israell is deliuered , Zorobabel , Ezra , Nehemias , the people al apply their businesse , desiring in hearte no one thyng so muche , as to erect the Temple of the Lorde to aduance the glory of their despised God . But sée , the aduersaries of Iudah & Beniamin came not of any conscience , but craftily to supplant these workmen . It so falleth out , that if God haue a Church , the Diuel , if he cannot hinder it , yet wil looke to haue an oare in it : if Moses worke wonders , Pharaos soothesayers will vse an apishe imitation . The Apostles , Peter , Paule , Barnabas , shal no sooner testifye the trueth of Iesus Christ , than Simon and Elymas the sorcerers wil be at ynches to peruerte the ryght wayes of the Lorde . If Paul preache at Athens , or at Ephesus , then shall he surely finde either Stoikes , Epicures , or Iewes , or some secte of miscreants ready to misse-leade Gods people . The enuious man that when the seruants sléepe soweth tares to choake the wheat , that plucketh the word of God out of the harts of the hearers ne crederent & seruarentur , that somtime like a roaryng Lion séeketh whom he may deuoure , and at another time , can turn himselfe into an Angel of light , that so shook that consciences of Caine & Iudas , that they thought their sins greater than coulde be forgiuen , & that so cunningly bleared Saules eies with the counterfaite shape of Samuel , and made Ananias and his wife to lye to the holye Ghoste . That man of sinne , as a Spirite sawe the intente of Israell , and as an enimy by all possible meanes goeth about to hinder the building of the house of God . The diuel and the superstitious Samaritans saw , that so long as Kyng Cyrus fauoured the Iewes , and the reedifying of the Temple , that so long it was vnpossible openly to hurt them , or hinder it : and therefore nowe after that frowning wyll not serue , he vseth a far more cunning shifte , he beginneth now to flatter and speake faire . You haue a long time endured trouble , your treasure is wasted , your bodies weakned , the work is heauy , your strength is féeble , the charge greate , your substance small : we Zorobabell , and you the reste of the chiefe of Israel , we wil ioyne with you in this worke : distruste vs not , for wee séeke the Lord your God , as you do , and we haue sacrificed vnto hym since the tyme of Esar Haddon , whyche brought vs vppe hither . Whome might not these sugred speaches haue deceyued ? we will builde , we séeke the Lorde with you , wee sacrifice to him as you do . But that God that euen in that same houre instructeth his what to answere , and that hathe lefte to hys seruantes iudgement to discerne the sprytes whether they be of God or no , here in a trice , teacheth Zorobabell , Iosua , and the rest of the Elders to answeare : It is not for you and vs to builde togither .

I will not stande heere to discusse why thys Booke , and the nexte of Nehemias are accompted Canonical , neither why the other of Esdras are refused . I purpose onelye at thys tyme briefly to reste on these two pointes : the aduersaries comming : and Zorobabel , Ieshua , and the rest of Israelles reiecting of them . Of these that I may so speake as maye redounde to gods glory , I most humbly craue your Christian ayde in earneste prayer .

These Iewes nowe returned from seauentie yeares captiuitie , and nowe in hand with reedifying the house of God , and desirous euery man to abide by his tackling , at the first are set vpon wyth these suttle Samaritanes : Let vs build with you : this they sayd , intending nothyng more than indéede to pull downe . They sawe thus much with Scribes & Phacifies , that as if new Christ were suffered to grow vp , that then al the people wold go after hym : and that if Paul myghte be allowed to preache at Ephesus , that then Diana should haue a great downe fall : so if the buylding of the temple might go forwarde , that then the Idols of Samaria would be but little set by .

There are in these superstitious Idolaters two things worth the consideration : their consent & agréement vniuersallye to hinder Zorobabel and the rest : and that in these wordes , let vs build &c , when they intended to supplant . The other is , their lying Hipocrisie , we seke as you , we sacrifise as you : and firste it is strange to sée the agréement of the godlesse . Againste true Mycheas , the whole rabble of false prophetes prophesied good to king Achab. When the people wanted water in the wyldernesse , the texte sayth : conuenerunt aduersus Moysen & Aaronem . Iosue 11. Against Israel both Iabin king of Hazor , and Iobab king of Madon , and the king of Shimron , and the king of Achshaph , and the kings that were by the North in the mountaines , the Cananites both by Easte and Weast , the Amorites , Hethits , I●busits , Phorezites , with al their hoast as the sand in the sea shore for multituds pitched to fight against Israell .

The kings of the earth stande vp , and the rulers take counsel togither , against the Lorde and againste his annoynted : Manasses against Ephraim , Ephraim againste Manasses , and both agaynste Iudah . Pharisies against Saduces , Saduces againste Pharisies , and yet both against Christ .

Herode against Pilate , Pilate against Herode , and yet in Christes death ●ch is reconcyled to other . These Samaritans were of diuerse sectes , and yet al against the buylding of the temple .

Among all the false Prophetes not one to take Micheas part , nor among al the people , one to aunswere for Moses , nor among al the kings any one that fauoured Iosua , not one Pharisie , not one Saducey , to assist Christe , not so muche as one Samaritane , to set foreward the buylding of the temple .

I say with Tertul de prescript : Nihil enim interest illis , licet diuersa tractantibus , dum ad vnius veritatis expugnationem omnes conspirent : It skilleth not how diuerse matters they intreate of , so long as they conspyre all togyther to the rootyng oute of one Truethe . Rauenyng Wolues although eche wil teare other , yet euery one séeketh the slaughter of the Lambe .

Gréedy Kyghts albeit they wil fiercely fight for their pray , yet al séeke to kill the Chicke .

Common robbers , although euerye one thinketh an other to haue too much , yet none wyl suffer the poore true man to scape scotfrée . Light and Darknesse , Christ and Belial , Heauen and Hel can neuer agrée togither .

These superstitious conspirers against Iudah & Beniamin , shew to al christian princes , to al good magistrats , to all faythfull people , what they are to looke for at the handes of this world : if not open resistaunce , yet false vndermining : if in one hand fire of zeale , in another water of discourage : in one hande bread to comfort , in the other a stone to strike : if honour in lippes , yet dishonor in hart .

If whatsoeuer things be written , are written for our instruction , if all that haue euer attempted reformation of Gods house with Zorobabel , haue ben troubled with Samaritanes : if the first Abell in his sacrifice with a blouddy Cain : if Daniel with false worshippers : if all the true Prophetes , with manye false Prophetes : if Iohn Baptist with a generation of vypers : if Christ Iesus with Scribes , Pharisies , and Saduces : if the Apostles , with Iewes , Stoyckes , and Epicures : if Constantine the great with Arrius : if Theodosius with Macedonius and Nestorius : if Marcian with Eutiches : if the Children of this world be in their generation wiser than the children of light : if those that séeke to please God shall be sure to offend men : then surely hath Zorobabel no cause to maruell at the strange conspiracies dayly practised against Christ and hys Gospel . What though they frette and fume ? what though they appoynt holye leagues and name their generals ? Let them séeke to make hauocke of the flock of Christ , & lyke wylde Boares to roote out the vyne Iesus , and that the name of God be no more named : yet as long as he that dwelleth in heauen laugheth them to scorne , so long shal Dauid with his slyng braine Golyath , and little Gedeon with his goade , and Sampson with his Iaw-bone slay thousands . Better is one that feareth the Lord , than a thousand wicked , and greater is he that is on our side , than he that is against vs .

Let them tearme vs Heretickes and Schismatickes , yet with that whyche they call Heresie do we worshippe the true God of our fathers : Let them blaspheme vs , and speake all euill of Zorobabel : wel , let loosers haue theyr words , they haue loste a greate parte of Christendome ( the Lordes name be praysed , he hath wonne them to himselfe ) let vs pray , Confirme this O Lord that thou hast wrought in vs , that thy wayes maye be knowen vpon earth , thy sauing health among al nations .

Let them nowe put in practise theyr late Tridentine aduise , let the Diuell be muche madder than heretofore , leffe there be more trouble vnder the gospell than vnder ignorant popery : for why ? Apoca. 12. Wo be to the inhabitantes of the Earth , and of the sea , for the Diuell is come downe and hath greate wrath , knowing that his tyme is but short , his practises are disclosed , hys vysor is plucked off , his blinde Ceremonies are al abandoned , his Locustes , his Grasse-hoppers , his Monkes , his Friers , are al swallowed vp .

He that doth euill , hateth the light , the théefe can not abide the candle , hys gold is but copper it cannot abyde the touchstone , his gauled backe maye not be touched without winsing , his bleared eyes can not abyde the bright sunne beames of Christes Gospell . At the beginning it may appeare , what bloudye conflictes he raysed by his ministers , as the shedding of Innocents bloud , as the corporall possession and vexation of many with vncleane spirites , of priuie hindering , ( as bere ) of open withstanding ( as to Elyas , Ieremy , Mycheas , and others , Iohn Baptist , Christ Iesus , his Apostles , yea & in the primatiue church in ten bloudy persecutions , and al thys ) vntill he had filled himselfe with the reproche of Gods Saints . But after that this aduersarie had ( as it séemed ) gotten a little victorie , & had obscured ( with a foggy mist ) the cleare light of the gospel , and as the God of this world ruled in the children of vnbeliefe , wythout checke or controlement , then had he leysure to lull the world asléepe in reachelesse securitie . Then raysed he vp strong illusions , of the liues and deathes of Saintes , of wonderfull myracles wrought by their reliques , of gogglyng eyes , of salt teares from deade stockes , of strange operation , of strange blouds , of the vnsufferable paynes of purgatory , of pilgrimages , of walking spirites , of vggly and feareful ghostes : yea and in the latter age , of Hob-gobblin , of Robin goodfellow : very startlebugges , very scare crowes : and with these his practises bewitched he al that drunke of the cuppe of his abhomination , by the space almost of seauen hundreth yeares last past .

But after that it pleased God of his great and rich mercy to take the candle from vnder the bushell , and to drawe that two edged sword of his word , that deuideth betwéene the bones and the marrowe , then was that man of sin reuealed , them was the Babylon layde waste , his kingdom them draweth to an end , hys Empyre is abridged , a stronger man possesseth the house . His rage and fury is therfore the greater , especially now that he séeth that the dayes are shortned for the elect sake , he now bestirreth him selfe , for he knoweth his tyme is but short .

Isod●r . lib. 1. de summo ●ono . T●nto crudeliùs persequitur , vt qui se damnandum nouit , vt sibi socios multiplicet quibuseum gehe●nnae ignibus addicatur . He persecuteth so muche the more cruellye , that as hée knoweth himselfe sure to be damned , so he may multiplie fellowes , to partake the paynes of hell fire .

He that in olde tyme beganne with deceyte , he nowe endeth with deceyte , he beganne with bloud , he now endeth with bloud .

He that made Adam to lose Paradise , he maketh many to forsake their owne natiue countrey : him for an apple , them for lesse than the paryng : hée that made Adam disobey God , he maketh them to disobey the Lordes annointed : he that made Lots wife looke backe to Sodome , he now maketh olde English beldams to returne after , xix . yéeres preachyng of the Gospell , to the lothsome puddle of Popishe trumperie : He that in old tyme by the bloud of the Lambe was ouercome and dispossessed of heauen , he by a droppe of bloud is contente to take possession of his witches and Sorcerers here on earthe : He that in olde tyme shedde the bloud of innocent Abell , and prepared hoate fornasses for Goddes faythfull seruants , hée at this daye rayseth vppe bloudie massacres and firie inquisitions , and why ? but bycause hys tyme is shorte .

Where the Gospel is preached most diligently , there dothe the Deuill rage moste furiously , and lyke a good Captayne endeuoreth by all meanes to reedifie those walles that the worde of God hath battered downe , and to renew that olde Adam , that by the spirite of God is put away , and ( as one sayde ) Account al tyme loste that is not spent in some vertuous exercyse : so the Deuill accounteth all tyme lost , that is not spent either in veryng , or withdrawing from God the children of God : and why ? but bicause his time is shorte .

A seconde thing in these idolatrous Samaritanes , is their lying & false hypocrisie , for neither sought they the Lord as Israel did , neither sacrificed they as they ought to haue done . 2. Reg. 17. they pretended to feare the Lord , but apointed priests of themselues for the high places , and prepared sacrifice , and did after the maner of the nations , and therefore the spirite of God testifyeth , that they neyther feared God , nor did after the ordinauntes , nor custome , nor lawe , nor commaundement which the Lord commaunded the children of Iacob , whome he named Israell : notwithstanding here they come with these lying speches , we seke , we sacrifice .

Singular was the impudency of these Samaritanes , that notwithstanding their owne consciences accused them , & their dayly practises declared the cleane contrary , yet they blush not to saye wee seke . &c. It is a plague that lyeth on Hypocrytes : there is no other sinner , be he neuer so strong a thiefe ; be he neuer so filthy a liuer , be he neuer so common a lyar , be he neuer so great a blasphemer , be he neuer so byting an vsurer , be he neuer so cruel a murtherer , be he neuer so rancke a traytor , be he neuer so false to God , so faithlesse to men : but in his thefte be desireth darknesse , in his adultry secretnes , for his lying pardon , for his blasphemy sometyme séeketh forgiuenesse , in hys vsury feareth lawe , in hys murder dreadeth the wagging of euery leafe , in his treason suspecteth the bewraying of the byrdes of the ayre .

But the Hypocrite ( neyther fearing him that knoweth the hart and raynes , neyther regarding his owne reproche ) dareth , bycause he can bleare mens eies , to present himselfe ( as it were ) into the presence of God . Suche were they that came to our sauiour Christ , Maister we know thou speakest truth , and regardest no mans person , is it lawful to pay trybute to Cesar or no ? Why , if I speake truth , beléeue you me not oh ye Hypocrites ? and another : Maister what shal I do to inherite eternal life : and , Mayster what is the greatest commaundemente in the law ?

To whome our sauiour aunswereth , Not euery one that sayth to me Lorde , Lorde , shall enter into the kingdome of heauen , but he which doth the wil of my father which is in heauen . Why do you call me Lord , Lorde , and doe not the things which I commaunde ? why tempt yée me O ye hypocrites ? what offer ye to me O ye painted sepulchers ? you appeare fayre outwardly , but inwardly yée are full of dead mens bones , and all filthynesse . Why doe yée honour mée with your lippes , your hartes beyng farre from me ? Why speake you lies vnto me , you haue consciences marked with an hoate Iron ? Why pretend you a shewe of godlinesse , seyng you haue denied the power thereof ? Surely these Samaritanes are as it were a cleare glasse to beholde the miserie of iniquitie that in this worlde preuayleth . Such an hypocrite was Herode , that when he purposed nothing but the death of our sauiour Iesus Christe , as may appeare by the slaughter of the innocents , yet he perswadeth with the Wisemen , to returne home by him , that he with them might worship him , that was borne King of the Iewes : such false teachers hurte the Apostles , suche false brethren added muche to Paules bondes . And died these Samaritanes only thinke we with Zorobabel ? and rose there none of their ashes ? & are there at this daye no Herodians that in word speake that in harte they thinke not ? & are there no false teachers to hinder the Gospell of Christe ? and are there no false brethren to adde to Paules bondes ?

Not to speake of such as when Steuen preached stopped their eares : nor of such as say we wil not heare , charme the charmer neuer so wisely : nay there are a broode which liue in the church , & by the church , but are not of the churche , that at this day do hinder , and hitherto haue hindred the course of Zorobabel .

And as true it is , that new wine is not to be put in olde bottels , nor new cloth to be patched in an old garment , nor Christ & Circumcision to be matched togither ; and as God in olde age raysed vp not a Prieste of Baal but Elias , nor our sauiour any lerned Pharisée , but simple fishermen , to treade the waye of hys Gospel : so is not Zorobabel to admitte such as mingle Christ and Belial , the Church of God and Idols , the Gospell and popery , religion and mockery . What better words than of Samaritanes , we seeke , we sacrifice : what better profession than of Herode , Go and séeke and bryng me word that I may worship : yet were the Samaritanes Idolatours , yet was Herode a Foxe . What better spéeches , than , we be conformable men , we obserue our princes laws , we follow iniunctions , we obey orders : yet if it come to examination at the passage of Iordan , ( as Iepthe and the Gyleadites did trie the Ephraimites , by pronouncing Shiboleth ) I feare me , they wil say single Siboleth , there wil want the harty aspiration ( h ) ( h ) wanteth , the harte wanteth .

It is an olde prouerbe , Ex vnguibus leonem . Let them be narowly loked into , howe they grunt and grone at the preaching of the Gospell : howe they carpe at the doings of the godlye learned : how they deride the simpler sorte of the professors of the Gospell : how open eares they haue to heare , and how readye tongues to mislike the state of oure Churche : what secreate conuenticles they haue : howe they daylye buzze of strange newes : howe big they looke on the professors of the Gospell : howe they still retayne one Masse tricke or other to put the people in minde : how willingly they will maintaine grosse Popery , but for disputation sake only .

If you looke narrowly into them , you shall perceiue them to be plaine Samaritans , playne Herodians , the one ready to hinder the building of the house of God , the other lyke craftye Foxes , to eate vppe the lambe Iesus .

God that is not deceyued will vomit out all those luke warme Souldiors , he cannot abide suche as can couer Neroes crueltie with Catoes grauitie , nor suche as to hide Herodes butcherie , pretende Iohn Baptistes simplicitie .

These leaues wythout fruite , these eares without corne , these clouds without water , these lampes without oyle , as they haue liued without feare , so shall they dye without hope , and as they haue bodies without life , so haue they soules without God . As Copper resembleth Gold , & is nothing lesse , as stage players do ofte put on another person than their own , as in the Rainebow there appeare many colours , when in déede there are none at all , as in broken glasses , where there is neuer a face , yet there appeare two faces : so in these double faced Ianusses , in these changeable Chamaeleons ther is nothing lesse , than that which séemeth most to be . What though they say , they seeke , they sacrifice : let them bragge of their forwardnesse : we know that empty Tubbes do euer make the greateste sound . A fresh Iuy doth not always signify the best wine . The Cypers trée is the tallest trée , but it beareth leaste fruite . Bladders puffed vppe with winde , are good for nothing but to make footballes .

I can compare these hypocrites to nothing so fitly , as to the Distridge , who ( when there was a contention betwene the byrdes and foure footed beasts ) to deceiue the byrds , shewed his bil & wings , and to deceiue the beasts put forthe hys hoofe , so seeking to please both , deceiued both . And as Austin saide of some , while they will be Iewes and Christians , they are neither Iews nor Christians , so these whyle they wil be Papistes and Protestants , they are neither Papists nor Protestants . Yet they say , we seeke , we sacrifice , we loue the Lord with al our hart , with all our soule , with al our strength : But if they once maye warme themselues at the highe Priestes fyre , they will foresweare wyth Peter : if a little storme of affliction ryse , they wyll goe backe in the tyme of trouble : if you bid them sell all they haue , they will eyther with the yongman departe heauy , or wyth Ananias & his wife kepe back half : they wyll embrace the worlde , wyth Demas : they wyll forsake the Apostle , with Himeneus and Philetus : they wil persecute with Alexander : I pray God they do not sell with Iudas . And yet notwithstanding al this , such is their shamlesnesse , that as in hearte they séeke nothing but the ouerthrowe of Christes Kingdome , so in worde they pretend nothing so much , as to serue God , and to sacrifice vnto hym . And thus much as touching the consente and hipocrisy .

The second parte of this texte , is the answere , wherin there are foure things in order worth the consideration .

Fyrste the vnitie of the aunswerers , Zorobabel , Iosue , and the reste of the chiefe fathers of Israell , and a flatte deniall , It is not for you , but for vs .

Secondly , the agréement of them in building , wee oure selues , and wee togyther .

Thirdely , what they will builde , a house to the Lorde God of Israell .

Fourthly , the warrant whereby they builde , as Kyng Cyrus the King of Persia hath commaunded vs .

And for the firste : the aunswere was not of one , but of Zorobabel , Iosue , and the reste of the chéefe fathers of Israel : wherein wee learne , that in matters of weight , there oughte not to take place Zorobabels own opinion , but it muste be aided with the consente of others , sic volo , sic rubeo , must haue no place in Gods matters .

They aunswere not as the Datorse in tyme of Poperye did to a reasonable demaund , The Popes holinesse will not admitte it , and if his holynesse woulde , yet my Lorde woulde not suffer it .

Zorobabel , as his name importethe ( by interpretation ) to one straunge and farre from confusion , and althoughe in thys refusall he be a very Precisian , yet he is not singular . He aunswereth not , it is for you and mee , but ioyning hymselfe wyth the reste , It is not for you and vs .

Here are many thinges , that if tyme and place would suffer , would require long tractation . As firste , that Zorobabels refusall and the reste , doth teache vs , that aide of the Idolatrouse , of the wicked , although it be offred , is to be refused , especially in matters touching the building of Gods house .

Abraham refused to take of the King of Sodom , so much as a thréed or a shoe lachet , leaste he should say : I haue enriched Abraham . The yong Prophet for eating breade with the wicked old Prophet was deuoured of a Lion.

Theodorus li. 2. ca. 6. Eccles. Hist. reporteth , that Liberius going into banishement , refused al gifts of the Emperour and hys wife , let them giue these ( sayth he ) to Auxentius & Epictetus their Arrian heretikes .

Secondly , here we learne by this example , that the company and leagues of the wicked are vtterly to be shaken off . For blessed is the man that doeth not walke in the counsell of the wicked , nor stande in the way of sinners , nor sitte in the seate of the scornefull .

He that toucheth pitche shall be defiled wyth it , one shéepe infecteth a whole flocke , one sparckle kindleth a greate flame , and one infected house is able to poyson a whole Citie . There is no participation of righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse .

Iohn the Euangeliste woulde not washe in the bathe wherin Cherinthus the enimy of the truthe bathed himself . Caius and Alexander being condemned to die , & being led to execution with certaine Marcionistes , made an especiall requeste to their tormentors , that they might be slayne asyde from those Marcionists , and that their bloud might not in death be mingled with theirs , wyth whome in life they agréed not in religion .

Thirdly , here may be obserued to our singular comforte , that the Lord discloseth to his seruants , the counsells of the wicked , and ouerturneth the practises of hys enimies against hym and his churche , as of Achitophel , Hamman , Herod , & the rest . The thing that here is especially to be weighed , is the reson the moued Zorobabel and the rest : and that is , the they would not haue the true seruice of God mingled with Idolatrous or straunge worshippe .

They enuyed not that these Samaritans shoulde serue the Lorde , they desired nothing more , than that the Lorde myght faithfully and religiously be serued , but therefore did they deny them any parte or felowshippe in this worke , bicause they worshipped strange Gods , erected Idolles , and put their truste and confidence in creatures .

The God of Israell can not abide to be worshipped with other Gods , and therefore althoughe they pretended as you heare , yet that God , that is worshipped in spirite and truth , would not haue hys seruauntes to admitte these hypocrites .

God requireth the whole hearte , the whole soule , the whole mynde . Hee that made the whole man , wil not be contented with halfe man : God is a iealous God , and will not deuide with the Deuill . If God be God , honor him , if Baul be God honor him .

Lactan , de falsa Relig. Lib. 1. Ca. 19. Si honor idem tribuitur alijs , ipse omnino non colitur , cuim religio est , illum esse vnum ac solum verum credere : If the same honor be gyuen to others , he at all is not worshipped , whose religion is , to belée us hym to be one , and hym alone to be true .

We muste not plowe wyth an Oxe and an Asse , nor sowe our grounde with diuers Séedes , nor make our garments of Linsey Wolsey .

Howe long shall wee halte on bothe sides ? What agréement haue Christ and Belial ? if ye wil be circumcised , then is Christe dead in vaine : if you will bee iustifyed by the Lawe , then are you fallen from Grace . Yee cannot serue twoo Maisters , yee cannot serue God and Mammon . Christe sayeth not , it is not conuenient to serue two maisters , nor it is not profitable , but by an argument of impossibilitie , Ye cannot .

Such Samaritans had Zorobabel , that notwithstanding that the spirite of God putteth down an impossibilitie , yet wold say that they sought , that they sacrificed &c. that although they loued in harte Idolatrie and superstition , and that neither would haue the Priests reade , nor the Prophets expound the law , neither wold themselues eate of the Passeouer , nor suffer their childrens forskinne to be circumcised : yet with shamelesse face , with lying tongs and false harts , woulde saye they did loue Zorobabel . If the sonne shal rise against his father , the father against his sonne : if the daughter against hir mother , and the daughter in lawe against hir mother in law . If Cicero said that Philosophy did first vnite men into one body , but we knowe it was God by that mighty power of his word : truly then if with Infidels no societie , but through Philosophy , then with vs no true obedience towards the Lordes annointed , no faithfull loue among brethren , where there is not concord in true & sound religion The iarre about religion is the greatest iar , & the bond of religion is the strongest bond . Let them then come , & tell Zorobabel , truly we will build with you , wée wil kéepe back your enimies , we wil execute your laws , wee will liue like good subiects , but ( as for our consciences ) wée cannot abide the talke of thys God that only wil be serued , wee cannot abide to be present at your prayers , wee can not partake of your Communion . Did not these Samaritanes lye when they saide , we seeke , we sacrifice , & shal we think these speak truth ? Wel , it is wel sayde in my texte , Zorobabel , Iosue , and the chiefe fathers 〈…〉 Israell , he and al his counsell answered , It is not for you and vs . Trust you ? nay not for a Denyre , he that gathereth not with vs , scattereth abroade : hee that is not wyth me ( sayth our sauiour ) he is against me . Now can he be faithful to man that is faithlesse to God . The Isralites admitted neither Iewe nor Proselite , not so muche as once to come among them , vnlesse he first were circumcised , had receiued Moses law , & had bin partaker of their sacrifices , Zorobabel here refuseth all their offred seruice : Is it then like , the eyther the Isralites , or Zorobabel , would eyther haue putte them in great aucthoritie , or haue gyuen them leaue to haue liued after their consciences ? Nay , hee that woulde not allowe them for theyr superstition to helpe to laye lyme and stone , woulde not allowe them to lyue after their owne Idolatry . Hee woulde not gyue them leaue to goe to the Diuel . He that said , do that only that I command , & decline not either to the right or to the left hand , but , ad legem & ad testimonia , to the Law and to the testimonies . He had so instructed Zorobabel , that he woulde not yéelde , and had so terrifyed the Samaritans , that they durst not aske , but whatsoeuer inwardly they mente , outwardly they say : Let vs builde .

It had beene a shamefull thing for the Samaritans , not onely not to haue proffered aide , but to haue gone aboute priuily to vndermine , and to haue craued leaue , in that his painefull businesse , to haue layne in a corner repyning at hys indeuor : But to haue iudged hys conscience , naye to haue condemned hym , nay to poure oute prayers for his ennimyes , to accompte hym a Schismatike , his Heretikes , his worke wickednesse , his building confusion , to harbor , nay with mony to supporte hys enimies , had bin detestable , had bin diuelish . Answere me O ye Samaritans , shal not Zorobabel giue you leaue to robbe men by the high way side , and dare you aske leaue to rob God of his honor ? shal not Zorobabel giue you leaue to committe murther of others , and shall hee suffer you to kil your own soules : Shall he not licence you ( althoughe your Pope do ) to open adulteries and kéeping concubines , and shall he suffer you to make your bodies , the temples of God , slaues to Idolles sacrifice ? Shall hee not suffer any high treason against himselfe , and shal he winke at open blasphemy against God ? Answere me O ye Samaritanes .

If old father Chrisostome now liued , he would tell the people of Antioch , that they bounde horses and fettered them , and with hornes poured in medicine , and shall they suffer theyr brethren to run on headlong into iniquitie .

If father Austen now liued , he would tell Gaudentius , the it séemeth vnto you that the vnwilling are not to be compelled to heare : you are much deceyued , for while you compell them againste theyr wyll , you often tymes make them willyng .

Is it behoofefull for the common wealth , that no manne abuse hys owne house or horse , for that if they please not hym , they may profitte others ? and shall it not be behoofefull that no man abuse hys owne soule ?

You are not your owne , you are boughte neither with golde nor siluer , but wyth the precious bloude of the immaculate Lambe Christe Iesus .

But O Sir , it is for their conscience , be good to them , shew mercy .

I wil shewe thée ( O Man ) sayeth the Prophet , what it is to doe good , it is to loue Iustice , and to shew mercye .

Iehu might haue suffred the Baalites , Iosias & Ezechias the Idolatours : wel they myghte haue shewed mercy , but sure they shoulde not haue done iustice .

Saul spared Achab , Achab spared Benadab , Elye winked at his sons wickednesse , but it was to them all occasion of ruine .

Salomon suffred hys concubines and wiues to haue Temples , to serue Astartes , Chamos , and strange Gods , but the renting of Gods seruice rente hys Kingdome , halfe to his owne sonne , and halfe to Ieroboam the son of Nebathe .

Peter might haue spared Simon the sorcerer , and Paule the incestuous Corinthians , but what mercy had this bin ?

I am of this opinion , that if I sée one ready to drowne hymselfe , and stay him not if I may , that I am giltie of his death .

If I féed not one readye to dye wyth famine , hauing food wherwithal , I haue killed hym .

Cicero sayde , that hée that when hee maye defende iniury , if he do it not , is no lesse in faulte than if he forsake hys parents or countrey .

He that saide , say not somuch as good morrow , or haile sir , but let him bee as an Ethnicke and Publibane to thée , he would not admit him to eate at his bord that would not eate and drinke at Gods borde . But he is my friend . But Chryst answereth , he that doth the will of my father in heauen , he is my father , my mother , my brother , my sister . Cicero sayth , that that is the surest friendship which the similitude of good maners hathe coupled . You know the Prouerbe , No cousin in Courte , No cousin in Cheapeside : so surely it ought to be , No Christian in the Churche , no Cousin in Court . If thy hand or foote offend thée cut them off , if thine eie , pul it out , this may ( I denye not ) be wel vnderstood literally , for we vse to cut off rotten members , ne pars sincera trahatur : but it is indéede mente of them that are vnto vs in stéede of these parts , of hands , of féete , of eies , that is , most neare & familiar friends , if they goe about to draw vs or to hinder vs from Christ , whom to knowe is eternal life .

O but he hath done me good . Pharaos daughter nursed Moyses , the hungrye Rauens fed Elyas .

But alas shal I render euil for hys good ? shal I not loue my neyghbour as my self ? shal I suffer him cum ratione insanire ? his father dyd me good : shoulde Moyses haue reserued Pharan for hys daughters sake ?

To end this point , it is euident , that what protestation soeuer these Samaritanes made , yea so long as they worshipped Idolles , so long Zorobabel would not trust them , no nor vouchasafe them so much countenance , as once to number them among suche as hewed stones or made morter .

But what if they had denyed ? he was not ignoraunt , that if in the colde winter , in the time of gracious Cirus , the snake might haue warmed himselfe by his or the elders fiers of Israel , that then he would at spring of the yeare , if not haue bitten , yet haue hissed at Zorobabell . But answere me O ye English Samaritanes , O ye recusantes that dishonour God and disobey the Lords annoynted , shal a strange proud Italian Priest withdrawe you ? what hath the churche of England offended you ? wherein haue we corrupted the gospell of Iesus Christ ? who flieth to the touchstone of the scriptures , you or we ?

Offendeth it you that the Scriptures are in our mother tong , and are knowen to the Lay people , blame your owne Doctours : euen Nicolaus Lyra and Caietanus in . 14. 1 Corin. do teache , that it was the manner of the primatiue Church , and that out of this doctrine of Paul may be gathered , that it is better to the edifying of the church , that publike prayers maye be in a tongue knowen to the people , than to be sayde in Latine of the Prieste and Clarkes .

Offendeth it you ( and that is the matter ) that wée denie Transubstantion the Real presence ? blame your owne Doctors , for Bonauenture , Durande , Scotus , Thomas , hold foure seuerall opinions . It is an opinion neuer heard of vntil the Laterane counsel , 1215 yeares after Christe .