SO oftas I cal to mind the dreadful , & feareful sayings of god : that he whiche laieth hold vpon the plough , and looketh back again , is not meete for the kyngdome of heauen . And on the other syde , to remember the comfortable words of our sauiour Christ , to all those that forsaking them selues , do folowe him , I can not but meruel at thee , and lament thy case . That thou , which some tyme wast the liuely member of Christ : but now the defourmed impe of the diuel , some time the beutiful temple of God : but now the stincking & filthy kenell of Sathan , some tyme the vnspotted spouse of Christe , but nowe the vnshamefast paramour of Antichrist , sometyme my faithful brother : but now a straunger and Apostata yea some tyme a stout christen souldier : but now a cowardly runawaye . So ofte as I consider the threatninges & promises of god to al those that faith fully loue him : I can not but speak to the , yea , rather cry out vpon the , thou sede of Sathan , & not of Iuda whom the deuill hathe deceiued , the worlde hath begiled , and desire of life hath subuerted & made the of a Christian , aninfidel . wherfore hast thou taken vpon the , the testament of the lord in thi mouth ? wherefore hast thou hitherto yelded thi body to the fire , and blodi handes of cruel tirauntes ? wherfore haste thou instructed other to be strong in Christ , when thou thy selfe dost nowe so horribly abuse the testament and law of the lord : when thou thy selfe preachedst ( not to steale ) yet most abhominably stealest ( not from men ) but from God , and as a most hainous sacreleger , robbest , Christ thi Lorde , of his right , of his members , thy body and thy soule ▪ when thou thy selfe dost rather chose to liue miserably ( with shame ) to the world then to dye , and gloriouslye with honour to taigne with Christ , In whom ? euen in death , theris life . And when I say thou thy selfe art most weke , thou oughtest , to shew thy selfe moost stronge . For the strength of a forte , is not knowne before the assaulte , but thou yeldest thy holde , before any battry be made .

Oh wretched and vnhappi man what art thou but dust and ashes ? And wilte thou resist thy maker that formed the , & fashioned the , wilt thou nowe forsake him that called the from costome gathering , among the Romish antichtistians to be an imbassadour and messenger of his eternall worde , he that first framed the : and since thi creation , and birth preserued the : no rished the : and kepte the : yea , & in spired the with the spirit of knoledge : ( I cannot say of grace ) shal he not possesse the ? Darest thou deliuer vp thy selfe to another , being not thine owne , but his ? How canst , thou hauinge knowledge , or how darest thou neglect the law of the lord : & folow the vaine tradicions of men ? And where as thou hast bene a publicke professour of his name , becom now a defacer of his glorye . I will thou refuse the true GOD : and worshippe the inuencio of manne , The golden Calfe , the whoore of Babilon , the Romish religion , the abominable idol , the most wicked masse : wylt thou torment againe , rent & teare the most precious bodi , of our Sauiour Christ , with thy bodily and fleshly teeth ? without the breaking wherof vpon the crosse , our sinful sinnes could els nowaies be redemed . wilt thou take vpon the to offer vp ani sacrifice vnto God for our synnes ? Consydering that Christ offred vp him self ( as Paul saith ) vpon the crosse a lyuely sacrifice once for al.

Can neyther the punisment of the Israelites ( which for their ido latrye so oft they receaued ) moue the , neyther the terrible threateninges of the auncient prophetes , stirre thee , nor the cursses of gods owne mouth , feare the to honour any other god then hym ? Wylte thou so regarde him , that spared not his deare and only sonne for the , so deminishing , yea , vtterlye extinguishing his glori , that thou wilt attribute the praise & honour to idols , which haue mouthes . & speake not , eyes , and se not , eates and yet heare not : which shal perish with them that made them ? what saith the prophet Barucke , wher he reciteth the epistel of Ieremi , written to the captiue Iewes ? Did he not forewarne them , that in Babilon thei should se gods of gold , siluer , wood , & stone , borne vpon mens shulders , to cast a fear before the heathen , but be not ye afraide of them ( saieth Ieremie ) nor do as other do . But when you se other worship them , saye you in your hartes : it is thou ( O Lord ) that oughtest only to be worshipped : for as for the timber of those gods , the Carpenter framed them and polyshed them , yea , gylded be they , and laid ouer with siluer , and vayne thynges : and can not speake . He sheweth moreouer , the abuse of their deckings , how the priests toke of their ornaments , and appareled their women withall . Howe one holdeth a Septer , another a sworde in hys hande , and yet can they iudge in no matter , nor defend them selues , much Iesse any other , from either batte● or murther , nor yet from gnawing of woormes , nor anye other euyll thing . These , & such lyke words , speaketh Ieremy vnto them , wher by he proueth them butvain thinges , and no gods . And at last he concludeth thus : Confounded be thei that worship them . They wer warned by Ieremye , and thou as Ieremy , hast warned other , & art warned thy selfe , by many scriptures , in many places .

God saieth : he is a gelious god , which wil haue al honour , glorye , and worship geuen to him onlye . And Christ saith in the fourth of Luke to Sathan , whiche tempted him : euen to the same Sathan , the same Belsabub , the same dyueil , whyche hath preuayled againste thee . It is written ( saieth he ) thou shalt honour the Lorde thy God , and him onelie shalt thou serue . These and such like do prohibite thee and al Christians to worship anie other God then whiche was before all worldes : and laied the foundations bothe of heauen and earth . And wilt thou honour a detestable idol , inuented by Romish Popes , & the abominable colledge of craftie Cardinals ? Christ offred him selfe vp once for al , and wylte thou offer him vp againe dayly at thy pleasure ? But thou wilt saye ▪ thou dost it for a good entent . Oh sincke of sinne , Oh child of perdicion : Doest thou dreame therein a good entent , wher thy conscience beareth the witnes , the promis of gods wrath toward the ? How did Saule : who for that he dysobeied the word of god for a good entent , was throwen from his worldli & tem poral kingdome ? Shalt thou then , that dost so deface gods honor , & robbe him of his right : inherit the eternal and heauenly kingdome ? wilt thou for a good entent pluk Christe oute of heauen , and make hys deathe voyde , and deface the tryumphe of hys crosse , offeryng hym vp daylye ? Wylte thou eyther for feare of death , or hope of life , deny and refusethi God , who enriched thi pouerti , healed thine infirmitie , & yelded to this victori , if thou couldest haue kept it ? Doth thou not consider that the thryde of lyfe , hangeth vpon hym that made the : who can ( as his wyll is ) either twine it hard , to last the longer , or vntwine it againe to breake it the sooner ? Doest thou not remember the saying of Dauid a notable king , which teacheth thee a myserable wretche , in hys , ciiii . Psalme , wher he sayth : when thou takest away thy spirite ( O Lorde ) from men , they dye , and ar turned againe to their dust , but when thou lettest thy breath go fourth , they shal be made , & thou shalt renew the face of the earth ?

Remember the saying of Christ in his Gospel , who soeuer seeketh to saue hys lyfe , shall loose it , but whosoeuer wil lese it for mi sake , shal find it . And in another place : whosoeuer loueth father or mother aboue me : is not mete for me . For he that wyll be my dysciple , must for sake Father and Mother , and him selfe , & take vp his crosse and folow me . What crosse ? the crosse of infamy , & shame , of misery and pouerty , of affliction & persecution for hys names sake .

Let the oft faliing of those heauenly showres pearce thy stonye hart . Let the two edged sword of gods holy word , shere a sonder the sewed together sino wes of world ly respectes , euen to the very mari of thi carnal hart , that thou maiest once againe forsake thy self , & embrace Christ . And like as good subiectes wil not refuse to hasard al in the defence of hys earthly & temporall gouernour : So flye not lyke a white hewred milke soppe from thy standynge , wherein thy chief captaine Christ hath set the in a rai of this life , Viriliter age confortetur cortuum , & sustine Dominum . Fight manfullye , come lyfe , come death , the quarel is gods , & vndoubtedly the victorye is ours . But thou wilt say : I wil not break vnitye . what , not the vnitie of Sathan and his members ? Not the vnitie of darknes , the agreement of Antichrist and hys adhearentes ? Nay , thou deceiuest thy self with fond imaginations of suche an vnitie as is amonge the enemyes of Christ . were not the false prophetes in an vnitie ? were not Iosephs brethren , and Iacobs sonnes in an vnitie ? wer not the heathen , as the Amelechites , the Feresites and Iebusites in an vniti ? I kepe no order but rather looke to mi matter . wer not the Scribes and Phariyses in an vnitie ? Doth not king Dauid testefie : Conuenerunt in vnum , aduersus Dominum ? Yea , theeues and murtherers conspyratours , haue theyr vnitie .

But marke my frende ( ye frend ) if thou be not Gods enemy . Ther is no vnitye , but wher Christ knitteth the knotte among such as be hys . Yea , be you wel assured , that where his truthe is resident , the● it is verefyed that he sayeth : Non veni mittere pacem in terram , sed gladium . That is , Christe came to set one against another : the sonne against the father , the daughter against the mother . Deceiue not thi selfe therfore with the glysteryng and gloryous name of vnitye . For Antichrist hath his vnitie , yet not in deede , but in name . The agreement of euery man , is not an vniti , but a conspiracie .

Thou hast heard some threateninges , some curses , and some admonishions oute of the Scripture , to those that loue themselues aboue Christ . Thou hast heard also , the sharpe and byting wordes , to those that denye him for loue of life . Saieth he not , that he that denieth me before men , I wyl denie hym , before my father in heauen ? And to the same effecte wryteth Sainte Paule . Hebru . vi . It is impossyble ( saieth he ) that they which be once lightned and haue tested of the heauenly gyfte , and be partakers of the holy gost , and haue tasted of the good worde of God , if they fal and slide away , it is impossible that they shuld be renewed againe by repentaunce , crucifiynge againe to them selues the sonne of God , and making him a mocking stocke . And again ( saieth he ) if we shal willinglie sinne , after we haue receined the knowledge of the truthe , there is no oblation left for sinne , but the terrible expectation of iudgement , & fire which shal deuour the aduersaries . Thus S. Paule writeth , and this thou readest . And dost thou not quake and tremble ? well , yf these terrible & thundring threat ninges cannot stur thee , to cleaue vnto Christ & forsake the worlde : yet let the swete consolacions and promises of the scriptures , let the example of Christ & his Apostles , holi Martirs and Confessours , encourage the to take faster hold by Christ . Harken what he saith : blessed are you when men reuile you & persecute you for my sake , Reioyce , & be glad , for great is your reward in heauen . For so persecuted thei the prophets before you . Heare what Esay saith : Feare not the cursse of men , be not afraid of theyr blasphem●es & reuylynges , for wormes and mothes shal eate them vp like clothe & wol , but my rightousnes shal endure for euer , and my sauing health , from generation to generation . What art thou then ( saith he ) that featest a mortal man , the chylde of a man that fadeth away as doth the flower , and forgettest the Lord that made the , that spread out the heauens , and laid the foundations of the earth . I am the Lord thy God that maketh the sea to rage , and to be styl , who is the lord of hosts . I shal put my word in thy mouth , and defend the , with the turning of a hand . And our sauiour Christ saith to his disciples : They shall accuse you , and brynge you befote the princes and rulers , for mi names sake . And some of you thei shal persecute & kil , but feare you not ( saith he ) neither care you not what you shal say , for it is mi spirit that speaketh in you , the hand of the highest fhal defend you , for the heates of your head are nombred , and none of them shall pearish . I haue layed vp treasure for you ( saith he ) wher no theefe can steale , nor moth corrupt , and happye are you , if you endure to the end . Feare not them ( saith Christ ) that haue power ouer the bodi only , but feare him that hath power both ouer the bodi and soule . The world loueth her owne , and if ye wer of the world , the world wold loue you , but you ar mine , therfore the worlde doth hate you . Lette these and suche like consolacions , out of the Sctyptures , strengthen you to Godward . Let not the ensamples of holy men & wemen , go out of your minde , as Daniel , & the teast of the prophetes , of the thre Children , of Eleazarus that constant father , of the vii . of the Machabes Children , of Peter , Paule , Steuen , & other Apostles and holi Martirs in the beginning of the church . As of good Simeon Archbishop of Seloma , and zetrophone , with infynite other vnder Sapores the king of the Persians and Indians , who contempned al tormentes deuysed by the tiraunts , for theyr Sauiours sake . Returne , returne , againe into Christes watre , & as becommeth a faithful watriour , put on that armour that S. Paule teacheth to be moste necessatye for a Christian man . And aboue all thynges take to you the shyelde of faythe .

These woordes were spoken openlye . After this Master Feckenham tooke his leaue sayinge : that he was sorie for her . For ( said he ) I am sure we two shal neuer mete ▪ Trothe it is ( quoth she ) that wee shal neuer mete , vnlesse god turne your hart ▪ For I am sure ( vnles you repent and turne to God ) you ar in an euyl case , and I pray to god , in the bowels of his mercie , to sende you his holy spirite . For he hath geuen you his great gift of vtteraunce , if it please him to open the eyes of your hart to his truth And so she departed .