THough in the iudgement of God , there be many causes that maie moue him to take displesure against vs the people of England : yet before I proceede to examine them as behooueth , to the ende they may be reformed : I will briefely ( as necessarie it is ) shew the chiefe causes that meerely mooue the Spaniardes to this loud hoobub , without regarde of the occasions , why God would make them the executioners of his wrath against vs , The Spaniardes ●egard not the ●ause why God ●oueth them ●o inuade vs . and the instruments to put vs in minde of the breach of our league with him , who hath so long preserued vs in peace , and giuen vs freely the vse of his Gospell : the neglect whereof , and our contrarie fruites , no doubt , is the principall cause that God hath called this nation from farre , They haue a ●wo fold blinde ●eale in theyr ●esire to inuade vs , who yet of themselues are drawen thereunto , as rauished by two blinde deuotions : the first and principall is , in that hee is the Popes vizeroy , lieutenant , and chiefe martiall man , and hath the title generall of the Catholike King . The king of ●paine the Popes ●hampion In regard whereof hee is to stand as the Popes champion , to aunswere anie challenge that his holynesse shall vndertake , for defence and preseruation of his vsurped title and Empire . And in that respect this mightie Goliah , this blasphemous Rabsakeh , pretendeth a sufficient warrant from Senacherib of Rome , to pursue Hezechia of England with this hoobub , that our God shall not deliuer vs out of his hands , but that he onely as the chieftaine Catholike of that man of sinne , hath the sole power from him to conquere kingdomes , and therefore soundes vp this hoo and crie , Am I now come vp without the Lord to England , to destroie it ? As if hee should saie , My Lord and master , Christs vicar , hath commanded mee , and therefore howe dare English Hezechiah , or anie other , that trusteth not in the power of my masters holynesse , despise mee , his grand chiefetaine , or the least Captaine of his vnder mee ? who are to pursue heretiques that haue robbed him of his honour and glorie , ●ngland hath ●obbed the Pope ●f his credite of his power and authoritie , holynes , and credit , whereby hee is become of lesse estimation among the kingdomes of the world . The supposed slanders which England hath wrongfully laide vpon him , the dishonour and demerites which his locusts haue condignly receiued in England of latter times , for their treasons , conspiracies , and murderous practises , are pretended to bee so high a blemish vnto that painted beast , that by no meanes the quarell is to bee qualified but by open force , and forcible inuasion , that can take no better successe by deuillish deuises . It is not vnknowen to all , how many secret practisers , euen of our owne vnnaturall countrymen and others , hee hath sent to subuert the quiet of our state , pretending openly the winning of men to the church of Rome , wherein , and not else where ( as they saie ) is saluation : but couertly haue stirred vp rebellious thoughts and deeds in many , which otherwise myght haue shewed themselues loyall subiectes . And this generall practise hath appeared to be a deuice to steale awaie the harts of the subiects from their due obedience to our most gracious Queen : wherby we might grow into ciuill rebellions within our selues , and so giue him the more ease to make spoile of all . And sith these secrete workers haue not , nor can take no effect in their treasons , but condigne reward , deserued iustice , wherby many haue bene rid most happilie out of our common weale : and their dispatch ( no doubt ) to vs most beneficiall : and howsoeuer they be enchanted by the vaine conceite of canonization and reward at Gods hands , the whores deceiuing baytes , What reckning the Pope maketh of the death of our Seminaries . their confusion is no more regarded of his holines , than the fall of a drop from his nose : he loueth not the name of an English man , but flattereth them , onely to vse them to worke secret mischiefes , and that they may come to the more speedy confusion , And sith I say , by their secret meanes he cannot get againe and redeeme the decaies , that the trueth of the Gospell heere receiued ; hath brought vpon his kingdome of darkenesse : he hath sent out this hellish hoobub , with his blasphemous coniurations , commanding heerein aboue all the rest of his adherents , The thinges whereof wee ●aue robbed the Pope . this capitall King Catholique to take knowledge first , of his iniururies sustayned by the English Nation , who haue dispoyled him of all his Abbies , Priories , Monasteries & other reliques , of his forged deuotions : and with all , of our detayning of the annuall reuenues , and pensions which he vsurped from vs , greate summes of monie to maintayne his high abhominations : and which is more , that we haue bewrayed his darkenesse , which he would haue the whole world to imbrace as the true light : which things haue so deepelie discouered him , that he will be seene to pursue vs as robbers , with this peeuish hoobub , the destruction of England . This no doubt is the first cause that inkindleth a blinde deuotion in the king of Spaine , dignified with the high title of King Catholike , to pursue the matter , vi & armis , to discharge himselfe of the truste reposed in him . The other cause inuested meerelie in him selfe , without hauing anie eye at all on anie other end , The second ●ause moouing ●he king of ●paine . is the desire and thirstinesse , wherewith he hath been long tossed to subiect this land to his dominions : for since his atchyuing the gold of India , his thoughts haue neuer beene quieted , but still seeke howe to increase his power , and to become sole Monarch of Europe . And to this his ambitious desire , the holie father bringeth more stubble to maintayne the fire , to serue his owne turne , the better to support his blacke kingdome , well shaken by the thunder of the Gospell , which hee by the Spanish Inquisition , the court of hellish furies , endeuoreth ( but in vaine ) to extinguish . The Spaniard longeth for England . And forasmuch as England hath been the best benefactor ( in ignorance ) to the Sea of Rome : and of whose sweetnes this Catholike king hath some thing tasted , and finding it plausible for his stomack to digest , he longeth for it , as the purple whoore wyth child of ambition , longeth for her owne glorie : which ambitious thirste can hardly be quenched , as appeareth , till the throats of more of his inuincible troopes be stopped , with the waues of our narrow Seas . The remembraunce of whose former successe in the same , may argue in vs , if we retire to our helping God , an assurance of the like issue of his blinde ambition now . Which maketh him swell in regard hee seemeth to be master of land and sea , in both which hee is deceiued , and yet pricketh him forward to equalize his territories with the great and large scope of the pristine Romaine Empire , which extended it selfe ouer three parts of the world , and yet could not satisfie the ambition of Casar and Pompey , whilst the one could abide no equal , the other no superior . The Pope for his part wil be king of kings , and will accepte neither superiour not equall , in causes either diuine or humane : the Spaniard priuiledged by his title of king Catholique , coueteth superioritie ouer all the rest , not only of the Popes vassall kings , but ouer others , & therefore he wrestleth hard for Flanders and other prouinces of Germanie , How the Span●ard fis●eth fo● kingdomes he practiseth subtilly for France , suborneth impiously Ireland , and audaciouslye threatneth England . But ( no doubte ) as the fountaine of ambition yeeldeth no better licour than thus to vsurp other mens territories & kingdoms , so it will affoord no better end than it did to the Lacedemonians and Athenians , The end of ●mbition the one being master of the sea , the other of the land , whose glory as it tooke beginning by ambition , so by the same they were brought both to confusion in the end : and therefore need wee the lesse to feare this ambitious hoobub , wherein wee seeme to be pursued : first for that which belongeth to God himselfe , namely , all glorie , power , vertue , veritie , sanctitie , and holinesse , which this beast of Rome vsurpeth to himselfe , and woulde inforce vs to yeeld it vnto him from our louing God , whose cause wee shall defend , and not our owne , in resisting his chieftaine this Catholike king : secondly , seeing it pursues vs for our owne kingdome , countrie , lands , libertie , wiues , children , and liues , thinges peculiar ( vnder God ) to our Queene , and vnder her vnto our selues , he hath no colour to chalenge anie propertie , title , interest or hope in them , and therefore in defending them we shall preserue our selues , and that which is meerely our owne . And yet therunto will not that beast intitle him ? Thus we see the causes that moue this loud hoobub against vs in the meere desire of the Spaniardes .

But forasmuch as we are in dutie and christian policie to looke backe into our selues , and to take surueigh of the occasions which may bee argued to bee in our selues , The occasion is 〈◊〉 our selues which hath stir●ed vp this hoo●ub why God in iustice should moue this Antichristian host against vs , hauing the title of Christians , and to examine whether wee deserue to tast of the plague which is threatened by this fearefull hoobub , or whether wee may securely followe that which wee haue hetherto practised without reformation of our liues : It is found by experience , that the bodie may be most sicke when it feeleth no griefe at all , and a man that is most secure , may bee sodainely striken , as appeared by Herod in his greatest pride : a citie most carelesse and wicked may be confounded , as Sodome , Gomorrha , Seboim , and the rest , Causes of da●ger are not s●perficially to be glanced at when they least suspected perill , were destroyed with fire from heauen : so may secure kingdomes , as was the secure world by the floud : and therfore much more may daungers bee feared , when there are apparaunt causes , which yet cannot vpon a suddaine viewe so plainelye appeare , as when they are duelye considered . Our superficyall thoughtes of the causes of this rumour of warres , may bee compared to the iudgement of a Phisition , The diseases of a common wealth must be cured in time . who looketh neither vpon the partie grieued , nor vpon his state , and what counsell then can he giue to the patient ? And therefore saith the wise man , A disease knowen is in manner cured ; and as it fareth with the diseases of the bodie , which not beeing preuented , may suddaynly kill the person : so a common wealth diseased , by vnpunished vices , and ouermuch libertie , standeth in danger of sudaine subuersion . These causes therefore ought to be both knowen and cured : Fore-seene mischiefes hurt not so much as such as come vnlooked for ; and therefore wisedome premeditateth by discretion , before what maie happen afterwarde . But securitie , Al things haue a chaunge . which deeming all partes of the bodie well , may bee suddainely touched with a feuer , which groweth by reason of the superfluous and grosse humours that haue growen by fulnesse of the best daynties . So it falleth out with common wealthes , which foster securitie , beeing full of Gods blessings : whereby they become sick of superfluous abundance , & loose the true taste of the best things , and so fall sodainly . Euery thing vnder the Sunne hath a change , a time to grow , and a time to wither , a time to bud , and a time to be ripe ▪ & when a common wealth is risen to the top of all glorie , then it is good that all men , but the magistrates especiallie , looke into the superfluityes and diseases thereof , and hauing duelie considered all thinges , to seeke how to roote out the superfluous , and to foster and cherish the best humors : Euery man must looke into him selfe . not onelie in a generalitie , but euerie priuate man in himselfe , least euerie thing hauing his course freely in the commonwealth , the violence of type mischiefes breede a loathing therof , as it were , in God , who cannot abide such negligence in anie commonwealth , especially of Christians , no more than hee coulde abide Adam and Eue in paradise after they had sinned : The fire of Adams disobedience must bee quenched in vs . and surely the fire of the auncient disobedience of them lyeth yet couertly couered with the ashes of drousie securitie , not onelye in euerie priuate man , but in euerie calling : so that it seemeth our commonwealth , howsoeuer it seeme to go in gouernment and true religion before other nations , requireth a kinde of necessitie , that this fire bee quenched before it flame foorth , to the consumption of our whole nation . If therefore wee looke to continue safe ( howsoeuer slender account wee seeme to make of these Spanish vauntes ) wee must looke both euerie man into himselfe , and the magistrates into the whole state : so ( no doubt ) if they be not partyall in theyr searches , they shall finde in euerie man , in his particular examination of his owne deserts , as also the magistrates in their generall viewe of the whole , cause inough , whereby it cannot bee denyed but God may without iniurie vnto anie one , not onely fraie vs with this hoobub , but suffer vs to tast of the swoord of this ambitious and blasphemous nation .

To begin the examination , although I bee the vnworthiest to call men thereunto , yet in regard I am the worst , I cannot but acknowledge , and in deed I finde that in my selfe , whereof woulde God all others were free , namely , sufficient cause why I wretch should bee rouzed vp and pursued by this pernitious generation , & if I should flatter my self , to deserue to be freed from their tyranies , if I looke vnto my disobedience to God I should deceiue my selfe : and yet mine imperfections perchance no farther seene in the world , than of such as seem to stand in this dangerous time , as men worthy for their honest , zealous , & religious behauior , in their owne conceits , to be iustified by the mouths of all their neighbors . And therefore surely it will hardly appeare that we haue deserued to be punished , if wee looke no further than into other men , & so let our selues passe like the scape goats : for if euery one couet to find the cause in others , and prie not into himselfe , there wil be neuer a free man , yet all free , for euerie man will condemne all but himselfe , and yet though none will condemne himselfe , hee shall bee condemned of all . And therefore let euerie man acknowledge himselfe worthie to bee punished , so all men shall be condemned by theyr owne mouthes , and seeke no further witnesse . And this ( no doubt ) is the waie to finde the cause why God hath called this nation agaynst vs , Euery man must looke vnto him selfe , and not vnto others as Ionah was founde guiltie by casting of lots . For doubtlesse if wee seeme to seeke the cause of this daunger without our selues , we doo wrong to the iustice of God , who is not as enuious man , that will strike one for an other , but the soule that sinneth shall die . Lo then it is sinne that draweth on this hoobub to pursue vs , Sinne the cause of this hoobub euen to our subuersion , if wee repent not of our sundrie euills . Wee are called Christians , and our aduersaries Antichristians , but if wee looke into the fruites of both , a man may bee in doubt who is lykest Christ , by the outwarde fruites . And surely , for that wee haue the fire with vs , and yet shewe no heate : for that wee are true Gospellers in knowledge , if wee shewe our selues hypocrites in practise , Our fruits must approue vs . it must needes bee graunted , that our profession wyll not excuse vs : then must our fruites approue vs , or reproue vs . It is as true as the Gospell is true , that wee haue the Gospell , and as true it is , that there is no true faith without it , and no saluation without faith in Christ , which faith if it bee not liuely and bring forth not onely leaues , but fruit , it is not onely lyke the figge tree that Christ cursed , but a tree that shall bee hewen downe and cast into the fire : so shall wee stande in greater daunger in our account , hauing receiued much , than the aduersarie that hath receiued lesse . And therefore it had beene better that England had neuer receiued the Gospell , nor the title of Christians , rather than not bee seene practisers of Christian religion , whose effectes are not as the religion which is in the aduerse , that are doubtlesse Antichristians , for that the one is in spirite and truth , whose obiect is Christ onely , the other outward , carnall , and altogether false , making more Mediatours than hee : the one is cherished in the heart , The difference betweene christian and Antichristian religion by a liuely working of the inwarde vertues , the other in the tongue by outwarde behauiour onely : the one in all things is diuine and heauenly , inspired into the soule by grace , the other is prophane and earthly , layde as heauie burdens vppon the consciences of men by force . Now then sith wee are in ours , as in a large field of libertie , hauing freedome to performe all things without scruple , doubt , or danger , onely in Christ , how farre should wee excell in sincere practise , those that flatter themselues wyth the outward action of superstitious zeale , wherein they are restrayned to wade anie further in knowledge , than may keepe them in obedience , not vnto God whom they ought to knowe first , and then to honour him in spirite as hee is spirit : but vnto the pretended church Catholike , whose honouring God , who is a spirite , is by the traditions of men that are meerely carnall . God forbidde therefore that wee , In Gods mercie wee inioye the gospel of Christ who assuredlye in the franke mercie of Almightie God inioye this admirable treasure , the Gospell , whence proceedeth the true religion propounded by Christ Iesus himselfe , and practised by doctrine and example of the Apostles , shoulde so lagger in our liues , that Pharisies and meritours shoulde goe so farre before vs , that wee shoulde bee censured not onely of GOD himselfe , who seeth the heartes , but of men , who see onelye our workes , to deserue punishment in his iudgement , by our vnholye liues , at theyr handes , whome wee knowe most assuredly are enemies vnto the crosse of Christ Iesus , who pretend in themselues so much the more holynesse of lyfe , by howe much the more they see vs come short of them in zeale . And the greatest and assuredst hope which they haue of their conquest is grounded vppon theyr owne deseruinges , The Spaniardes build the hope of conquest vppon their owne deseruings whereby they seeme to challenge a speciall assistance of God , & vpon our fruitlesse profession , whereby they seeme to coniure the high power to conforme it selfe to their wills , and thereupon they build strong hope to bee reuenged vppon vs . And surely , if wee reforme vs not , and conforme our liues more aunswerable vnto our profession , it is much to bee feared , that , as for sinne and disobedience hee suffered his owne peculiar people to be destroied , the citie which he chose vnto himselfe to bee sacked , and the house wherein hee seemed himselfe to dwell , to bee burned by the barbarous nations , hee wyll deliuer vs vp to the will of this vncircumcised people , whose heartes are highly inflamed against vs , and whose hands tingle to bee in our bloud . The Lord of hoasts bee on our side , whome they blasphemed in their last frustrate expedition , affirming that hee was become a Lutheran , in regard of his helping vs and confounding them . But howsoeuer they blasphemed then , and howsoeuer they consult agaynst God himselfe and agaynst his chosen now , there is no doubt but it is to some wonderfull end , in the secrete wisedome of God : The Spaniardes blaspheming God and for our partes , let vs forecast the worst against our selues , and say , that for our sinnes for our neglygence , and for our disobedience , God may iustly delyuer vs into theyr handes , so shall God turne his purpose , which although it were to consume vs , as it was towardes Niniue , hee will spare vs , if we repent lyke Niniue , and let vs incourage our selues in the renewing of our affections , so shall that God drawe them on euen vnto the redde sea of theyr owne confusion , as hee dyd Pharaoh and his hoast , that his glorie may appeare , both in the force of his Gospell , which we professe , and whereby we reforme vs vnto his will , by casting awaie sinne , and apprehending true righteousnesse , as also by confounding them that seeke to persecute him in vs .

Now it is expedient that there be some examination of the especiall euills , An examination of the speciall euils , which in the iudgement of God draw on the Spaniard . which seeme , aboue the rest , to call this nation in the iustice of God agaynst vs , for it is plaine that sinne is the cause in generall , which both preuenteth well dooing , and arraigneth vs before the tribunall seat of God , in regard of it selfe . But to make rehearsall of all the euills which are growen strong amongst vs , were a tedious labor , and beyond my purpose , and therefore I will briefely call to our consideration some particular sinnes , that seeme to bee as nurseries to all the rest , We make slender reckning o● grosse sins and such as glide thorough our thoughts , as oyle thorough our throates , without seeling , and yet more lyke Elephants than gnats . Who seeth not , and yet who considereth the most capitall sinne of blaspheming GOD ? Where is there anie lawe to punish swearers , cursers , abusers of the person , the maiestie , Blasphemie no● punished the sanctitie , and the sacred worde and name of God ? How freely doo the lewde Atheistes in this lande , such as by theyr liues argue there is no God , behaue themselues in most vnreuerent taking into theyr vncircumcised lippes the name of God ? How doo they rent him , as much as in them lyeth , in peeces ? his heart , feete , nayles , soule , bodie , flesh , and euerie parte and member of him is abused and dishonoured , taking therein delight , as in a feast , And this sinne is not without some colour of a vertue . Heere is great magnanimitie pretended to bee seene in these lustie fellowes , nay , vngodlye wretches and cowardlye , I would it were free from great persons . And this is as farre from being punished amongst vs , that he is counted too foolish and too precise , that will argue the same to bee a fault . God reforme it , for the faulte is greater than that which wee account fellonie , which robbeth but man of his goods , and is hanged : and this robbeth God of his glorie , and our selues of all shewe of the feare and reuerence of God , & yet is vnpunished . May not the lyke bee sayde of vnpunished dronkennesse , which is a most pernitious vice , Dronkennesse not punished . and the more intollerable , because it hath no shew of vertue , as other vices haue , and yet of late it hath gotten a coate , but a beastly coate , yet the best it hath , and that forsooth , in drinking carouse , it must bee to the health of some greate man , and sometime great men will vse the name of greater persons in this swinish sinne , vnder colour of wishing health to them , as if health could bee maintained by so grosse a sinne . It is intollerable , yet tollerated to the high dishonour of God , who of Christians requireth Christian sobrietie . Doth not this helpe to pull on the Spaniardes ? Yes surely . And is this all that is amisse ? Nay let pride come into the ranke of vnpunished vices . Pride vnpunished But by your leaue this is a neate vice , it is a comely vice , it is a courtly vice , and it is a vice that aboue all the rest may challenge place with vertue , if vice maye bee so bolde as nowe a daies it is , and it is so plausible , that they that should seeke to kill it by spirituall disswasion , haue taken it by the hand also , and walke as courtly as the best : the verie clowne will snatch at it too , and euerie man exceedeth so farre , as if it were one of the cardinall vertues . And although many lawes seeme to tend to stop it , such is the force of it in all , that al drinke of one cup , and like birdes of a feather , holde all together : they strayne curtesie who shall begin to reforme it , and yet contend who shall exceed in it . I haue no more to saie , but to assure you that this is one of the ankers that holdeth fast the shippe of our perill to the shores of our seas . And are these all ? Alasse no. Let not couetousnesse be forgotten , which is a thirstie sinne , the sinne of the wiser fellowes , a husbandly sinne , & therefore is not to bee punished in anie case , being condemned of none but of the beggerly minded , as affirmeth the vsurer , Couetousnesse vnpunishable the mannor-monger , the farme buier , the hoorder of golde and siluer . But alas , what fooles are these , either they neuer reade it , or neuer heare it , or els they forget it , that Christ cries Wo vnto the rich , for that they haue their consolation heere . But if this did turne but to their owne euils , it were the more tollerable . It reacheth to the ruine of the poorer sorte , and it is seene so apparantly , & held so dearly amongst vs in these daies , that it is a fault to be frugall , and therefore to spend all or spare all , are most imbraced : the one consumeth what another hath gotten , the other hoordeth vp what by force and fraud hee can get , and this is meere prodigalitie in the one , and idolatrie in the other : the one spends lewdly , & is praysed for a gentlemanlike mind , and the other keepes wretchedly , and is counted to be a good husband : two horrible euils , but maiden euills , for neither of them was euer punished by any lawe , yet meerely against Gods lawe , and argumentes that they are nothing seasoned with the continuance and long vse of religion , which teacheth loue : where the rich is to support , relieue , comfort , and stead the poore that want his aide . And so farre are they from these vertues , that they not onely not comfort them , but seeke how to vncloath them , howe to vncouch them , and howe to vnfurnish them of landes , liuing , and all other necessaries . And it is not lightly to be passed ouer , which by meanes of these cormorants hath euen nowe taken holde ( as in the iudgement of God ) vppon this lande : wherein ( no doubt ) and as is helde euen of such cut-throates themselues , there is sufficient plentie of corne , butter , cheese , and all other necessaries , and yet such is the decay of loue as it will not be brought forth but vppon prices at their owne wills , as though they only were Lords of Gods blessings , and that the poore haue no share in them but to stand at their colde deuotion . Coldnes of loue appeareth by the present dearth where plentie is . And thus to rest vnreformed , and the crye of the poore not heard , is a maine cable to pull the enemie vpon vs .

It is a heauie iudgement of God , when there shall bee a common dearth in a common plentie , as nowe there is , and who so affirmeth the contrary is no good member of the common wealth , but sauoreth alltogether of priuate gaine , who grinde the faces of the poore with want of that wherewith they abound . But surely , as for disobedience to God , there may be a feare where no feare is , so by our fruitles profession , whose effectes are loue , there may bee dearth where plenty is . And surely it were good it were considered why such a iudgement should light vpon vs in the time of the Gospell , and that the decay of loue should appeare so farre , as to shut vp , not onely Christianitie , but all humanitie among men . Why may not a man glance at a great cause of this iudgement , which as ( no doubt ) it is one and the same with that which calleth our enemies , euen our sinnes ? Yet there is a peculiar cause which stinketh in the nostrils of God , namely , the consuming of corne , the meere earthly blessing of God to preserue man , Spending of corne to make starch , a cause of dearths in plenty in Gods Iudgements . abut the strengthening of pride , in making of starch . A toeration intolerable . Woe vnto him that brought the deuise first into our land . For it crieth out mainly to God , who will not abide that about our neckes , in pride , that should bee consumed which should feede our bodies in penurie . But it is made ( they say ) with the coursest part of the wheate . Alas , let not Magistrates bee deceiued , it is the most purest of the purest corne . Oh that it were reformed : for it is a wofull euill , drawing with it both famine and warre : and yet this among many other sins , trippeth on like a vice that maketh not only the vitious , but the virtuous to taste of her vanitie . Infinit euils there accompanie these former vnpunished sinnes , and they are assuredly the maine winde that filleth as it were the sailes of the Spanyards to inuade vs , whom the Lord hath stirred vp either in mercie to reforme vs , or in iudgement to punish vs . And surely as euery one hath his hand in these euils , and none can excuse himselfe from bringing , and heaping one sinne vpon another , bewraying thereby the breach of al our duties to God in generall , in not performing what we professe ; let vs not perswade our selues of safetie , vnles wee can frame vs to repentance , and reformation . And as no doubt in this the negligent Minister hath much to answer , by whose careles discharge of his dutie , The negligent minister hath much to answere . & function , many of these euils haue crept in and taken deepe roote : So they must thinke that now is the time wherein they must redeeme what they haue long omitted , and so by their new diligence endeuour to roote out sinne , and plant faith , that there may appeare fruits of euery mans profession ; that the cause of this fearefull hoobub being taken away , wee may still possesse our libertie ; and that our religion bee not in shew onely , but in the simplicitie of our hearts : so shal it be vnto vs as the bloud of the paschall Lambe , striken vpon the shores of our seas , that the destroying Angell may passe by vs , and cast our enemies into the deuouring gulfe . Yet let mee speake a little more without suspition of being too officious , or too forward . Surely the delayes of poore mens causes in our courts of England , Delayes of sutes . and the procrastinations of dispatch of causes before Magistrates , hath a share in this matter , & the free oppressions of the poore by the rich , without remedie : doe crye among the rest to God for iustice , and God againe calleth the Spaniards to execute the same . Would God wee could shew our selues no lesse tractable then children , who can leaue their wantonnes , if they see but the rod . And if wee could leaue our vices , and imbrace religion , God would not proceede further to strike vs , but like a louing father would cast this his rod into the fire .