_●S vnto A Christian there can be nothing more commodious , more comfortable , nor more beneficial , ●●n the exercise & know● 〈…〉 of the scripturs , be●●● 〈…〉 of God , the very food 〈…〉 the soule ? Euen so 〈…〉 , the great loue of god , 〈…〉 ●ower of the same God 〈…〉 ●eyther the inestimable 〈…〉 by him , can eyther be k● 〈…〉 ●n , nor yet man knowe bi● 〈…〉 ●nce to so gracious and me . 〈…〉 and sauiour . Whereby to r● 〈…〉 all possible thankes and 〈◊〉 apperteineth , and againe as 〈◊〉 scriptures and holy word sheveth him selfe , a God of mercy , redy to supporte , ayde and assist , help & comforte , and in all perrils and distresse to haue a care to defend those that feare him . So is he ther likewise found a seuear & terrible Iudge to punish , destroye , condemne and bring to death all such , as the which being obstinate and wilfully ignoraunt of his worde and gospell , muste néeds be desperately carelesse of his wil , of which both in the same scriptures are plenty of examples for our inst●uction and learning . And as by the ●●●es we fynde the law to condem● 〈◊〉 ? so fynde we ther the gosp● 〈…〉 ●he promes of mercye : 〈…〉 ●epent and acknowled● 〈…〉 ●e preaching of the law , 〈…〉 selues to be scollers , 〈…〉 and fulfil the law , whic● 〈…〉 law , is a fast fayth in 〈…〉 coupled with our prose● 〈…〉 ●tyng our selues to lea● 〈…〉 , and to learne to beleue 〈…〉 is promised them , we fy●● 〈…〉 ●res the stories & liues of 〈…〉 ●oth what chanced them : & by 〈◊〉 ●●es theyr scole master taught 〈…〉 ●ade them perfect : and how he try 〈◊〉 ●rue from the false . Wherfore the scriptures are by al means so requisite and necessary , as of necessitie they are to bée ●sed with all reuerence , not alone of the l●arned but also of other sortes & degrées of people of what estate or calling so euer , be they riche , be they poore , be they olde , be they yong , for as Fulgentius sayth in the scriptures , there is sufficient and aboundance for men to eate , and for children to suck , yea whatsoeuer is mete for all ages , which wordes of Fulgentius as they be true , so ought all men to giue credit to the same and to beleue them , specially and chiefly bycause he buildeth vpon so substantial , so sure and infallible foundation , the worde of God : for this commaundement gaue Moyses in the name of the Lord , to the hole congregation of Israell . Deut. 31. Sée that thou reade this lawe before all Israell , in theyr eares , bothe men , wemen & children , and strangers that are with in thy gates , to what purpose , it followeth , that they may hear , learne , and feare the Lord theyr God , & be diligent to keepe his law : lo hear is the cause : but hear is no exception of person , hear are none exempted , but al must hear , men wemen and children , for there is sufficient for al ages . And yet further , Christ sayth , come vnto mée all yée that labor and are laden and I will refreshe you : but hear agayn none are forbidden : Wherfore my brethern , euen as foorth of a wel , by gods prouidence we do with materiall buckettes draw water for the necessary vse of our naturall bodies , so likewise as good scollers , let vs obedyently follow the swéete and profitable councell giuen vs by Christ , pronounced by the mouth of his beloued Apostel : Search the scriptures saith he , Iohn . 5. for in them ye haue eternall life : and from thence , euen from the scriptures , we must with the buckettes of willing harts & minds , draw out of the word of god , which is the fountayne and spring of spirituall felicitie , from thence I say , we must draw the swéete water of life , which plentifully floweth from the rock Christ , to refresh our thursty soules , for the scriptures doo cause that in the mind of man may shine assured knowledge of God , in the soule holines , and in al the powers obedience , to be performed according to the presisenes of the word . The scriptures is as a salue , wherewith our soules are healed . It is thy word that preserueth them that put theyr trust in thee , Wisedom . 16. so that in the scriptures which is the onely and holy worde of God . Wee fynde the very plat , forme , and ready broade beaten pathe way , that leadeth to the vnderstanding and knowledge of that inestimable treasure and Iuel Iesu Christ , whose death , hath fully wrought the perfection of eternal saluation , Roma . 10 to as many as beleue , as sayth Saint Paule , if thou knoweledge with thy mouth & beleue with thy harte that God raised Iesus from death : thou shalt be safe . For the beleue of the hart iustifieth , but as iustification commeth thorough faith , so cometh faith by hearing : so that without the Scriptures of God , there is no knowledge of him . For the ignorance of the scriptures is the ignorance of Christ , and not to know Christ , is to be in darknes , for without the knowledge of god , ther is no saluation , for he that beleueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting lyfe : and he that beleeueth not the sonne , shall not see lyfe , but the wrath of God abydeth on him . And how shall wée beleue on him that we knowe not ? And how shal we know him but by the scriptures ? for in them is hée perfectly séene and knowne . Gods worde and the holy ghost are the glasse wherein Christ will be beholden : and with this beholding we must be content vntill him selfe come to iudgement , for afterwards we shall enioye the fight of him for euer .

If by th● scriptures then we receyue suche vnspeakable benefite , euen the sauetie of soule and body : if no Christian can comfort him selfe in God & Christe without the knowledge of them . And therefore of meere necessitie must nedes be acquainted with them , and know howe to vse them as a chief sauegarde and defence for him against the malice of the enemie Sathan , who seldome leaueth vnassaulted by one meanes or other the famely of the faithfull . What haue wée then to thinke or iudge of them that by their pollicies practise to disarme vs , & to leaue as it were naked and weaponle● , to be a pray vnto our so hateful and auncient an enemie sathan the Deuill , of whose continuall endeuoure to anoy vs , the stories of all tymes do enstruct & teache vs . For in likewise as he set him selfe agaynst our first parents , and that by taking gods word out of their harts , so employeth he him selfe wholy with like endeuour at all times that th● word being preached , may be taken from gods people : and being greedely desirous to haue our neckes vnder his yoke , as Peter witnesseth , goeth about leke a roaring lyon seeking whom he may deuoure . For in lyke manner as Iapheth by Ipocrisie & superstition , and Cayne by crueltie persecuted the true church , vsurping vnto them selues the tytle of the church , and changed the true woorshippinge of God into heathenish Ipocrisie and superstition : and as the enuious Philistines stopped the welles of Abraham , filling them with earth , to put the memorial of them out of mynd , that they might challenge the ground . Euen so at all times hathe ben , and dayly are like practises by men estranged from God , and to make hym vnknowen vnto vs by shadewinge his gospell from vs , hyding & couering the same with monsterous cloudes of corrupt doctrine , to robbe and spoyle vs of the gospell which is the very ground of our faith in Iesus Christe , alluring and forcing vs to set our affections vpon the inuentions , deuyces , dreames and traditions of men , to bring vs to vtter confusion , but woo vnto them ( saieth the Prophet ) that call euill good , and good euill , Esai . v. which make darknes light , & light darknes , the wrath of the Lorde is kindle● against them , and their karkases shal ly in the open streates like myer : but thus it wil be that Christ his kingdome shall alwayes haue enemies , according to the fyrst promys : The seede of the Serpent shal lye in w●ite for the séede of the woman : and true this is , the storie of the church from thenceforth that the séede was promised vnto this present day , teacheth vs , for where so euer is an Abell , there is also some a Cain : where soeuer is an Isaac ther is also an Ismael : wher is a Iacob , there is also some Esau or other : where is a Dauid , there is also a Saul : where is a Christe , there is also a Iudas : and whereas is a Paule , ther is some Nero. And wée muste not looke to haue it otherwyse , for Sathan lyeth alwayes in wayte for Christ his churche , which he endeuoureth , eyther vtterly to abolishe , or els to defile it with wicked doctrine and manners . But now behold I pray you , a pleasant Allegory , for here shal ye haue the state and Image of the church as it were paynted out : The sea is the world , the Ship is the church , the deuill is the winde , the Disciples are the godly companie of beléeuers , Christe is the truth , and the gospell is fayth . And firste note , that before Christe with his Disciples entered into the Ship : the sea was calme , which is to be vnderstand , the world slept soundly in his own sins : but as soone as Christe entered into the ship , there arose a mighty tempest , in so much as the ship séemed to be ouerwhelmed : but what ensued , Christ ther who could comaund the sea and wyndes : and heare wee maye learne , that out of this little ship ( that is to say the church ) ther is no sauegard , but yit it behoueth vs to looke wel about vs heere , that wee take not our enemies ship for the true ship , for they haue subtelly wrought to deceyue vs . The enemies Ship is better decked and garnished outwardly and of greater receyte within , but the trwe ship hath her decking inwardly , & hath a much more stately master , namely the holy ghost : all the maryne●s that it hath , are godly : it hath the worde of god and the sacraments in right vse & obedience to the ministery , and with these treasures this ship holdeth it selfe contented in so great waues and boisterous billows . For ye must know that this ship saileth not in the calme sea , but is tossed with the waues and sourges , whiche dryues and tosses it hither and thither : which thing to be moste true the storie of the worlde sheweth , when god had made the world , he put his ship in the middest of it . And by and by the deuill the enemy of Gods sonne tossed it with stormes , which from thence forth was miserably turmoyled vnto the tyme of Noe. And after Noe to Abrahams tyme , from Abrahams too Moyses : and from thence to Christ his time : who to the intent to saue the ship , came into the worlde , yet s●aced not the wau●s therof as then .

But what is the cause that the world cannot abyde this little ship ? truely because the church reproueth the workes of the world , blam●th the worldly ●yse men of folly , condemneth the righteous men as gilty of sinne , aduaunceth not rich men but pronounceth them vnhappy and wretched , onles true godlynesse be the gouernour and ruler of theyr ryches . And this the Christ promised when he said , the holy ghost shal reproue the world of sin , of righteousnes and of iudgment .

But if a question might be now asked , what had Abel offend●d Cain who horribly murdered him ? Iohn aunswereth : Abels woorkes were good and his Brothers euill . What had Noe done ? wherin had Ieremy offended ? what and wher in had Esai transgressed ? and what Christ in whom was no sinne ? to be short , wher-had the Apostles or all the Martyrs from the beginning of the world to this daye offended ? onles bicause they would haue brought the world back from sinne , from darkenes to light , that men might liue godly , honestly , & vprightly in the world according to the word : but this is the rewarde that the world is wont to requit his benefactors with all , but as the vertues of childr●n haue very large promises of good successe in this lyfe . So the vices in children , w●iche fight against these vertues haue threatnings of most greeuous and extreame punishments , which also extend them selues euen vnto their posteritie , for the ofspringe ( for the most parte ) receyue their vyces of their auncetry as it were by inheritance : whose er●ours are to be detested , bicause their trau●l tendeth to dep●iue vs of the worde of God : wherein they declare and shewe themselues manifestlye to be the children of their father the Diuell : and therefore cons●quently , as muche as in them is , are his instrumentes to hinder the saluation of man : wherefore according to the olde prouerbe , what is bredd in the bone will neuer oute of t●e flesh . And what nature hath giuen , is not easely to be remoued : & threfore such fath●r such children : The posteritie of Caine will shew the propertie of theyr predecessor : it is againe nature and kynde for them to spare or saue that which they can destroy and make hauock of . The broode of Caine will nedes be knowne by their bloudy recognisance , the diuel that king of darknesse , and his beloued Antichrist the Pope , continually per●ecute & bende all their force to this end , that they may extinguish the true religion of Christ .

Their delight is in bloud : They practise to spoyle the ship , but al will not helpe nor preuayle : Esai . i. for as Ieremy sayd , they shall fight against thee , but they shal not be able to ouercome thee , for I am with thee sayth the Lord to defende thee And ye shall see mee in ioye when they shall be confounded : be then of good chéere : pluck vp your harts , and be mery ye mariners that sayle in Christ his ship , for it cannot be destroyed . For God ( as hee is able to bring to passe that of the stones there shall ryse vp children vnto Abraham ) euen so hath hee by his wonderfull prouidence appoynted the bloud of the martyrs to be the séede of the gospel : yea and of the ashes of those whom through tyrannie the fyers haue consumed , God hath raysed great nombers now liuing , whom he hath ordayned and appoynted for the furnature of his ship , to the great glory of our God : the colo●t of his flock . And wherof to the great prayse of his name be it spoken , we his people of Ingland , haue had the experience , and euen at this day , to our consolation and comfort , the Lord of his mercy so continue it , & make vs thankefull to him for the same . For greate is the loue that God hathe to hys church , yet nothing do these miracles of our mightie God moue the hartes of his enemies , whose eyes are so blynde that they sée not , and theyr harts so hardened that they vnderstand not : but euen stil at those dayes procéede & go forward with their Cain like charitie , according to the rule of the romish Antechristian church : the Sucksessors of Cain : For how rage the Heathen now ? how fret they ? howe fume they ? how lay they theyr heads together to conspyre against the Lord and his anoynted . Alasse , who seeth not howe cruelly they euen now persecute Christ in his members : onely to suppresse and tred vnder foote the glorious gospell of Christ Iesu . What beseeging of holdes and fortes : What racyng of walles : What destruction and sackyng of Cities & townes : What spoyling of Countreys : What drowning : what hanging : what burning and outrageous & horyble dealing with gods deadlyngs : What blooddy and monsterous murderyng of the poore innocents : sparyng no degree , nor age : but from the no●lest to the meanest : Man , Woman , Childe . From the gray headded to the tenderest of yeares : yea , euen to the very babe sucking at his mothers brest , Psal. 76 geuing the dead bodyes of gods seruauntes to the fowles of the eyre , to be deuowred : & the flesh of gods saynts , to the beastes of the lande : she●●ng theyr blood as water on euery side . They go beyond Herod , who went but to far : but these theyr workes declare them , and shew of what spirit they are , & that they be euen of that broode of turmagawnts and hell hounds that the prophet in the person of Christ speaketh of : Micheas . 3. ye hate the good & loue the euil : ye pluck of mens skinnes and fleshe from theyr bones , ye eate the fleshe of my people , & fley of theyr skinnes : ye breake theyr bones : ye chop them in peces as it were into a Cauldron . Is this according to the commaundement , ( thou shalt not kyll ) how agréeth this dealinge wyth the ex●resse wyl and commaundement of god : loue thy n●ighbor as thy selfe : Rom. 13 loue huryteth not his neighbor , & therfore is loue the fulfylling of the law . But oh ye bloody broode , how fulfyl you the law : wha● is loue become wyth you : for they that loue , be mercifull : and they that be mercyfull , do loue : so the fountayne sh●weth the water , & the water the fountaie : for loue & merry are vnseperable : Doth loue consist in cutting of throtes , and murdering of innocents ? doth loue consyst in m●king spoyle and hauock of them people of God ? Oh gredy deuowring wolues : Oh blood thersty tyrantes : O● bottomles bellyes , who dayely em●●●yng your selues with , and go●lpyng in the blood of gods sayntes , Psal. 7● a●e neuer full nor satesfyed but the ryght hande of the most highest shall change all . Wherfore oh thou chosen flock of thy shepherd Christ Iesu , dismay not , discourage not , faynt not , murmor not , grudge not , repyne not , neyther refuse to bear a lyttle peece of afflyction with thy master Christ , who of loue to ease thée , dyd himself ●ear the great and heauy burthen , think no● much that thou being gyltie by meanes of thy manyfolde sinnes and forgetfulnes of thy dutie to thy master Christ Iesu , do suffer some louing correction . And fele the fauorable hand of thy heauenly father : when he being gyltlesse did bear the burthen of thy sinne , & of the sinnes of the hole world in his body vppon the crosse : but pluck vp thy hart oh Israel , thou chosen generation & peculyer people beloued of God : and comfort thy self in him , knowing that the crosse which is affliction of the body , grefe of mynde , losse of goods and frends , hunger , thyrst , nakednes , imprisonment and death , is naturally incident vnto the churche of God and members of Iesu Christ .

3. Reg. For had not Iacob great gref of mynd , for the losse of his sonne Ioseph : and Ioseph likewise suffred affliction of the body in prison : Luke . 16 Lazarus felte hunger and the payne of his byles , at the rich mans gates : Micheas was buffeted , and fedde with bread & water : Iobe lost his goods , his children , Iob. 1. his house : the Profet Esay was cutte in péeces with a sawe : Ieremi was stoned to death : Iohn Baptist was cast into prison and beheaded : Iames the brother of Iohn was slain with the sword : and did not Christ him selfe Suffer the most shamefull death of the Crosse : the seruant therfore is not greater then his master : if they haue persecuted mée , Iohn . 15. Iohn . 16 so will they persecute you . The time will come that whosoeuer killeth you , will thinke he doth God good seruis . In the world ye shall haue tribulation : and hée that taketh not vp his Crosse and followeth after mée , is not méete for mée , for we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of god : Act. 14. ye shal be hated of al men for my names sake , but he that indureth to the ende , shal be saued . Now seing that greate are the benefites that bearing of the Crosse bringeth , doubte not , neyther feare thou to take vppe thy Crosse by the which thou goest to a kingdom , for suffering of affliction for Christ his sake , maketh aptnes to comprehend heauenly thinges . Math. 5. Blessed are they that suffer persecution , for righteousnes , for theyrs is the kingdom of heauen . Gala. 6 Wherfore be euen of Paules mynde , and say , God forbid that I should reioyce but in the Crosse of our lord Iesus Christ , for surely no man feleth , the Passion of Christ so much in his law , as hée vnto whom it chanceth to suffer the like thinges , for in the Crosse is ayde agaynst the enemy , in the Crosse is strength of mind , in the Crosse is ioy of spirit , and the Crosse and affliction of the Godly , procedeth of the fatherly loue , of the heauenly father towardes his children , whom he chastiseth ( in this world only ) therby putting vs in remembrance of our sinnes , yet not that by our Crosse we make satisfaction therfore : for that hath Christ him selfe done vpon the Crosse once for all . But that we should therby mortifie our selues , our fleshlye members , and being gentely corrected for our sins , should turne vnto our God and repent and not be damned with the worlde , but become pure vessels , being therfore exercised , with the Crosse . Let vs séeke comforte at the fatherly mercy of our God through Iesus Christ who graunt vs grace to glorify him with true patience vnder the Crosse : and this order is in the Crosse saluation , wherof to make vs partakers , and therby to try our patience , Math. 10 behold sayth he , I send you foorth as shepe amongest wolues , and yet not that he therfore leaueth you destitute of helpe . For the Lorde hath such care for you , Psal. 62 Psal. 91. that he preserueth the soules of such as be in aduersitie , yea , I am with him in his trouble sayth hee . And I deliuer him and bring him to honor . Striue therfore for the truth vnto the death , Sirac . 4 & God shall fighte for thée agaynst thine enimies : yea as a father pittieth his owne children , Psal 103 euen so the Lord is merciful to those that feare him ▪ he loseth the prisoners , Psa. 146 geueth sight to the blynd , helpeth them that are fallen , and defendeth the fatherlesse and widdow . And Ioseph being in Egipt , Act. 7. did not God deliuer him oute of all his trobles : Peter likewise being in prison , Act. 12. his chaynes by the prouidence of God fell from him and he was gyded foorth by the Angel of the Lorde . Act. 5. The Apostles of the Lord being imprysoned were deliuered by night by the Angel of god , who opened the dores and brought them foorth : Peter and other Apostles being in daunger of death were deliuered by the power of god , through the words of Gamaliel : Luke . 12 for to those that séeke after the kingdome of God , al things néedful shal be ministred , cast therfore your care vpon him for hee careth for you . 1. Pe. 5. And let them that be trobled according to the will of God , commit their soules vnto him with weldoi●g , as vnto a faythful creator . For whyle wée liue : the Lord protecteth vs and if we dy with him , we shal also liue with him . 2. Ti. 2. Let patience therfore in all extremities take place , for patience enioieth peace of mind , patience in aduersitie maketh frendship with Christ : the patient man , euery man prayseth and worthely , for he is like vnto Christ , whose life was the true pattern of patience , the more aduersitie suffered with patience , the greater peace is enioyed : patience is a token of wisdom , and a patiente man is better then one stronge . Pro. 14. Pro. 16. And he that can rule him selfe , is more worthy then hée that winneth a Citie . Psal. 27 Heb. 10. Tary the Lordes leysure , be strong and he shal comforte thine hart , ye haue néede of patience , that after ye haue don the wil of God , ye might receyue the promes , Phi. 4. Heb. 12. and bicause he that is patient hath much vnderstanding , let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs , for whether pouertie or banishment , imprisonment or shame , sicknesse or losse of parentes , or children , or any other lyke do moue vs , we must thinke that none of these thinges doe happen but by the will and prouidence of God . And that he doth nothing but by most iust order ( for why ) our innumerable and dayly offences deserue to be chastised more sharplye and with more greuouse correction , than such as the merciful goodnes of the Lord layeth vpon vs : wherefore seing patience is so profitable , and bryngeth so singuler commodities , and being so great a vertue when a mans mynde is not moued nor broken in aduersitie . God graunt vs therfore to be so moued to the study of patience , and that by the authoritie of Gods worde , that being exercysed & tryed therby , we may constantly perceuer and continue in the course of Godly lyfe , throughout all kynde of aduersities , & after our longe continuance be saued .

But now a little to returne againe to the words that went before : I send you foorth as shéepe among wolues : wherby is easely deserued , who be the shepe , who be the wolus . The shepe deuour not , but are deuoured : the wolues are not deuoured , but they deuour the shéepe . So the Church of Christ is knowne from the Church of Antechrist by this difference , the church of God is persecuted , and the church of the Deuil persecuteth : of which church of the Deuil , that Antichrist the Pope is the cheife Champion : the ringleader of false Profets , the ouerthrower of true godlines , who neither teacheth , nor reproueth by the worde , but feareth the godly with crueltie : not only by striking , but also imprisoning them that withstand him . And persecuteth to the death the Profets of the Lord , for theyr preaching of the truth and constancie , so that we may sée that the crosse of the godly procedeth of the loue of God towardes them , and is to theyr comforte in Christ Iesu , euen to life euerlasting .

But the enemies of Christ his Crosse and rable of reprobates voyde of theyr crosse ? Nay truly : for the Scriptures make mention that God leaueth not his enemyes vntouched , as for example . Caine for his bloody facte , was not leaft vnpunished , but Abels blood crying vengance in the eares of God . Cain was banished oute of gods fight and made a vagabond and a renegate vppon the earth . The Amorites being enemies to Iosua the chosen Seruant of God , Iosua 10 were in the féeld destroyed by the mightie power of God with stones from heauen , and f●ue of theyr Kings deliuered into the hands of Iosua & wer hanged . Iudi. 13. Holofernus a mightie Prince and enemy to God , was by the prouidence of God conquered by the hands of women . Pharo pursuing Israell , Exo. 14. the sea being to them a sauegard , was to Pharo and his hole armye an ouerthrow and present destruction . Herod an enemy to the people of God , being in his chéefe pompe , Act. 12. was for his arrogancye eaten wyth woormes , and gaue vp the ghost , with infinite numbers of like storyes which I might aledge , but for breuety I let them passe . But now if God haue thus shewed him selfe so mightie & righteous a Iudge : if hée haue thus bent his irefull countenance against his enemies , and so terribly poured doune his wrath vpon them , in those days : suppose you he hath forgotten him selfe , or think you that he will leaue you vntouched , oh you Arch enemies of our tyme : doo you imagen that he is eyther blynde and seeth not your tirannie and bloodye butcherly behauiour : or that he is death and heareth not the lamentable gronings and outcryes of them that innocently haue yelded theyr lyues to the slaughter : oh no ? deceyue not your selues , for if the blood of Abel cryed vengance in the ears of God , for the cruell dealing of his brother Cain , & was herd . Thinke you that the aboundance of blood of so many thousandes of gods children which yee haue spilt , wil not by God be required at your handes : ●es , bée assured , the Lorde him selfe wil be reuenged vpon you . The poure and force of our God is not decayed , neyther his arme shortened , but he is euen now the same God that he then was . Wherfore let this be known vnto you , and wherof be you moste wel assured , that the lenger that the mightie God withholdeth and deferreth his comming , so with the more vehemency and fury , and the whotter shall his wrathe be kindled agaynst you : & with the more greuouse plagues shall he vexe and punish you , when he shall appoynt the tyme of hys comming . And as the affliction & crosse of the godly , proceedeth from God to them of loue , to theyr comforte and consolation ? So shall your punishment procéede of gods wrath and sore displeasure to punish you as his enemyes & aduersaries , to your confusion and vtter destruction . The quarell is his owne , and he himself will reuenge it , when the burthen wil-bée to heauy , Luke . for you to beare , that now glory and tryumphe in your gredy desire of blood . Shall not God auenge his elect : which cry day and night vnto him : Yes he will auenge them , and when he commeth , he commeth speedely . And who may abyde in his sight when he is angry , saith Dauid . Psal. 76 For euen as vpon the sodayne he sente downe fyre from Heauen : 4. Reg. 1 which consumed the Captaynes & theyr bends , so hath he his plagues prepared for you , and shall crushe you and break in péeces with an Iron Rod , or Septer , euen lyke an earthen vessel , and make you as duste to trample on . His wrath shal be shortly kyndled agaynst you : Esai . 3. How wel hath the Prophet of God found you out . For both your wordes and councels sayth hee , are agaynst the lord , ye prouoke the maiesty of god to anger . Wo be vnto your souls , for they shal be heauely rewarded , Esai . 14 & bycause ye haue wasted your land and destroied your people , ye shal be swept out with the béesom of destruction , saith the lord of hostes . For the generation of the wicked shal be without honour . Esai . 26 The malicious Tirantes when they dy are neyther in life , nor in the resurrection : For thou visitest them and rootest them oute , and destroiest all the memorial of them . I will stretch out my hand and destroye the destroier saith the Lord : A great vengance wil I take vpon them , and punish them cruelly that they may know howe that I am the Lord which haue au●nged mee of them . Behold I come shortly , Reue. 22 and my reward with me , to geue euery man according as his déeds shal be . And to conclude , Reue. 21 the abhominable murderers shall haue theyr part in the lake that burneth with fyre and Brimstone : And the Author of this saying is worthy of credit .

But now my déere bretheren of England , as none of vs are worthy to be accompted of the flocke of Christ his folde , that hath not with compassion in his hart , the perfect feeling of the misery of our persecuted bretheren our neighbours , and with a willing harte reléeue them to our poure and with gréefe of mynd in their behalf , doe humbly call vpon God to strengthen them with patience & constancy of fayth , that they may mekely and humbly submit them selues vnder the crosse , which it hath pleased God for their triall to lay vpon them . And wherof at his good pleasure hee will agayne discharge them and vnburthen them : So let vs agayne well knowe that all crosses and calamityes are as Sermondes from heauen for sin : and are layd vpon our neighbors for vs to take exsample and warning by : And preach as it were vnto vs , that we shoold faul● to the amendmente of our lyfe betime , least God caste vs of in his aunger . For although it hath pleased god to giue vnto vs the vse of his gospel , offring vnto vs therby soule health , which is receiued by fayth through hearing : yet is it not inough that the same be taught & hard , onlesse it be also kept , & to kepe the word , is to learn what is herd , to hold it , to bebeleue it , and to performe true obedyence to God through faith , as did our father Abraham . He hard the word , he held it , he beleued it , yea and yelded such obedience to it by fayth , that he would at gods apoyntmente rather slaye his only begotten sonne , then break gods commaundement . But wher is he among vs , that yeldeth this obedience vnto god , we wil be called Abrahams children , but we wil not treade in our fathers foote steps , would to God we had consideration of his promes to them that heare and obey it . For they are blessed saith hée , which is to say , Psal. 81. sette frée from wretchednes . Oh that my people would obey me , for if Israel wold walke in my wayes , I should soone put downe theyr enemyes , and turne myne hand agaynst theyr aduersaryes . Let vs not now so much trust to our prosperity , that according to the olde prouerb , wée set cock on hoope and be ouermuch careles , but in our prosperity let vs be afrai● to offend the maiestie of our louing Lord and God . Who as ( thankes to him ) hath hetherto ? So he may henseforth carefully kepe vs from aduersitie and daunger of our enemies , for as no man better vnderstandeth the commodities of libertie & health , then he that hath some times felt the hardnes of imprisonment , and pains of sicknes ? So haue we good cause to be myndfull of our late lamentable state , wherin we then lacking the libertie of our consience : did tast of the lyke misery that our bretheren and neighbours about vs are now partakers of , which may nowe giue vs due consideration , to think with our selues how perillous and daungerous a thing it would be for vs that haue professed our selues Christians , to bring our selues again ●nder the Deuils yoke , and into the trappes of Tirantes that thyrst after our bloud , & which as they vndoubttedly think long for : so doth our wicked lyfe and conuersatyon , euen hasten the performaunce of their greedy desire : but leaste that our God being the sooner displeased , let loose the raynes to Tirantes , and our enemies , that he may therby reuenge our vnthankfulnes , let vs accordind to our profession as becometh christians , abandon the causes that iustly procure his heauye and importable displeasure , and wrath agaynst vs , let vs put a-away our euill thoughtes oute of Gods sight : ceace from doing ill and violence , Esai . 1. learne to do righte , apply our selues to equitie , deliuer the oppressed , help the fatherlesse , to his righte , hear the widowes complaynt , detest our monstrous and lucifer lyke pryde , our detestable and horrible whordom , our greedy couetousnes , our bribery and extortion , our glottony and dronkennes , our lacke of truthe betwen man & man , in bying & selling : Sirach . 10. for through vnrighteouse dealing , wrong blasphemy & deceyt , a Realm shal be translated from one kingdome to an other , & with these vices are we dangerously infected : And the church of god neuer being with out hir certeyn woundes for our Lord to powre his wine & oyle into . So lette vs vse the means that god hath apoynted vs to stay his deserued wrath & plagues prepared for vs . Let vs dyligently , spedely , & continually with all possible reuerence & humblenes of hart , inuocate & cal vpon the name of our god , making vnto him our harty supplication & prayers . The lack & dangerous necklecting wherof , as it is the chéefe & only cause of al loosenes and vncleanes of life & conuersation . So by continual and earnest repentance and often lifting vp our hartes vnto God through prayer being feruently made and faythfully vsed , is the life to be obteyned that pleaseth god , for praier is a salue for sin , and a preseruatyue for them the prepare them selues to it : prayer is a quietnesse and sauegard of them which are molested , prayer is a comforte to them who wyth gréefes are afflicted : prayer is a heauen to them that suffer shipwark : prayer in warre is an arming sword , and in peace a gardeyn of delightes : prayer is to men in bondage liberty , & in pouertie a treasure . To conclude , prayer is the readye path to the pleasant pasture of Paradice : when Pharo , did persecute the children of Israel by prayer , from his rage they were preserued : when Dauid had greuously offended God , by humble prayer and penitent hart , gods wrath was appeased : by Moyses prayer , the fyry flyntes gaue water , the driry ayre gaue meate , the couragious enemies gaue place to weakling Israelites when as they were oppressed , and almoste surprised with feare of pynching thyrst & want of dail● foode , & force of dreadfull armes , by Elyas prayer the drought marde fruitful groundes , and by the same mans prayer the barren soyle did fructifie , by Dauids prayer greate Golyaths courage was stoutly daunted , by Iudithes praier , fyrce Holofernus was by hyr beheaded : By prayer Daniel in Lyons den , from Lyons Iawes was preserued : Now séeing then that prayer is of such force as that it perceth the Heauens , and is a powring out of a faythful hart vnto God , wherin we craue and desire with earnest affection , eyther to be preserued from danger of discomoditie , spiritual or temporal : Eyther else to enioye some desired benifite , at Gods handes , belonging to body or soule : Or else a yelding of most hartie thanks , for some benefit already receiued . Lette vs continue in praier and watch in the same with thankes geuing , that through our prayer our most noble gratious & mercifull Princes Elizabeth , to whom God of his great goodnes , contrarye to the hye & expectation of hyr enemies , hath hetherto geuen a ioyful & prosperous Raigne : so he may likewise heape vpon hyr the continuance of many yeares to bée an olde mother in Israell , that as shée hath well begoon so she may zelously procéed in the setting foorth and aduancing the gospel , of God to his glory , the comfort and preseruation of hyr Realme and people , and the discomforting of gods & hir enemies : And that by praier our god may stil giue good sucksesse to the trauels of the Quéene hyr maiesties moste honorable Councelors , illuminating theyr hartes with the spirit of wysdome , to force , preuent , and bryng to nought , the subtyll secret deuyces , and priuie conspyracies of Sathan , of Antechrist , and of all gods enemies , pretended against the veritie of his word , as also that by our prayers , the Bishops and Pastors of gods Church , may haue a continuall care to féede his flock comitted to theyr chardge , with the bread of lyfe : and that Christ may be knowne to them to whome hee is yet a straunger , which is no rare matter in some places in England , the greater is the pittie : for ther must sinne needes raigne , bicause that they being ignorant of Christ , vnbelefe doth possesse theyr harts . Moreouer that Iudges and Maiestrates through hatred of couetousenes may mayntayne cinceritie , and vpright dealing in iudgmente , that the cace rather then ●he parson bée considered , for whosoeuer bearing offyce is led with rewards , he cannot see what is rightfull , for rewardes blynd the eyes of the wise . Also that good lawes being in force maye bée executed , that offenders may be punished and the gyl●l●sse defended , for where good lawes be made & not executed , their the common weale goeth to ruin . And moreouer , that by our praier euery subiect of what degre or calling so euer , may dutifully sh●w their obedyence vnto , and reuerencing our Prince as the minister and Liuetenant of God , that the Lord our God at the contemplation of our faythfull prayer , whose mercye excéedeth the hugenesse of sinne , and whose grace aboundeth aboue misdeede , may by the aboundance of his spirit by grace so work in our harts , that we taking hede and being obedient to the same our heauenly father , and hauing a cheefe regard to the performing of our duties in the obseruation of his lawe and commaundementes , may by the good blessing of the same our God , quietly consente and rest in his truth , and haue the continuance of inward peace of contience , that wée may wear out our dayes in prosperitie , & our yeares in ples●er and ioy in this world , being a waste wildernes , from which must passe into an other countrey , that we th●s hauing this care to accomplish gods wil , and with this olde yeare , to sh●ke & caste of & strip our selues of old Adams rags , and with the newe yeare to apparell our selues with the florishing and glittering garment of Iesus Christe , euen newnes of lyfe , and keepe it still on . Then shal we continue in prosperity , & be beloued of god our onely stay & refuge who shall mightely protect and d●fend vs from the danger of his & our enemies : Then the Lord our god which giueth victory vnto kings , & which deliuered Dauid from the perrill of the sword , Psa. 144 shall saue and deliuer vs from the hands of strange children , whose right hand is a hand of iniquitie . So that then let the deuil roar , & all the deuels in hell breake loose : let Pope rage : lette all the Colledge of Cardenalls and Councels conspyer , let the blooddy Byshops breath out theyr trayterous mallyce , and hatefulnes of theyr hartes . Yea let the hole fraternetie of that fylthie generation & broode of Antechrist , deuise and imagine what they can or may : And all shal be in vayn● , for the workes of wickednes doe florish to be destroyed for euer : And the enemies of the Lord shal perish . Psa. 92. And all the workers of wickednes shal be scattered abrode , for there is no wisedome agaynst the Lorde our God , the creator of Heauen and Earth . To whom with his Christ and the holy Spirit , thrée persons and one God , be all praise , poure , & maiestie for euer , and euer . Amen .