THere is no man wil deny , as I suppose ( dearelibeloued in Christe ) but the the more a man hath receiued of the graces and giftes of God , the more is he bound by duty vnto his obedience . And surely if this bee true of all ( as it is most certaine ) then of all others , hath this little Ilande as a garden of the Lord , beene decked and garnished with sundry most gracious and excellent gifts , whether we respect those that are temporal or spirituall , that the Lord might worke in vs , both dutie and thankfulnesse . For concerning both these , wher should I first begin that I might reckon them all vp , being so infinite both in the one & in the other . And first concerning temporall giftes , what is it , that in his rich mercy , either for the sustentation & maintenance of this life , or for other earthly commodities and pleasures , that he hath not bestowed vppon vs ? he hath set vs , as it were in the paradise of the world : where euen within our selues wee haue all good and necessary things : he hath giuen vs the fat of the earth , & the dew of heauen : he hath made the earth fruitfull vnder vs , & the heauens beneficial aboue vs : we haue corne , wooll , flesh , & fish in great plenty , the beasts of the earth , & the fouls of the aire are ours : we haue gold , siluer Copper , Tinne , Lead and Yron , with other commodious mettals in al plentie . Againe , with these earthly commodities and al the rest , he hath giuen vs publique peace , protection & quietnes . Euery man enioyeth his wife , Children , goods , Cattell , and possessions . Euery man sitteth vnder his own Vine , and heareth the voyce of his children in the streetes . Our young men and our maidens , reioice in publique places , and the noyse of Musick is heard in our assemblies . We drink in Bowles of golde , and in cuppes of siluer : our heads are annoynted with sweete ointmentes , and our faces are cheereful , because our harts are merry . Our Princes sit in the gates , and our Nobilitie ride in Charriots and Coches . The voyce of mourning is not heard amongest vs , neither hath terrour and fear amazed vs . Our weapons are turned into Plowe Shares , and Lions and Lambs do play together without hurting one another .

As for spirituall thinges bestowed vpon vs , they are infinite : how should I giue but a shadowe of them ? God hath giuen himselfe vnto vs to be our God , and hath chosen vs to be his people . He hath giuen vnto vs his Sonne Iesus Christ , and with him , all other good things , necessary for our saluation : he hath giuen him to vs , his enemies , to take our nature vppon him , to die for our sinnes , & to vndergo euerlasting damnation , to the end he might acquite & deliuer vs . For this he fulfilled the law , wrastled hand to hand with his fathers iudgements , was cast , condemned , and crucified , & as a man reiected of God , and thrown down into the extreamest humiliation , became the most forelorne of the worlde , that he might recouer happinesse for vs . And therfore he aduanced his power , and brake the chaynes of death and of hell , ascended with glory , making a shew of all his enemies , and giuing giftes vnto men . For all this hee wrought for vs , and for our redemption , that we might be a peculier people vnto himselfe : vppon whome he would powre forth the whole riches of his mercy . And in déede vppon his Church what is there , that he might haue more done for her , that hee hath not done . Hee hath purged her by his own bloud out of her bloud , and crowned her with his righteousnesse . Hee hath giuen her a place in the highest heauens , and strengthened her to triumph ouer all her enemies . He hath forgiuen her her sinnes , and decked her with speciall ioy , and peace that passeth all vnderstanding : he hath giuen her the gospell , a tydings of comfort , wherein the riches of his grace are fully displaied . Can the heart of man conceiue , the tong vtter , or the pen set downe , what God hath done for his people in all times and ages ? he did much for his people in Egypt land : but hee hath done more for vs . He did much for them being in wildernes : but he hath done more for vs . He did much for them when hee made so many kings to fal before them , when he brought them to the land of promise : but he hath done more for vs : he hath ouercome a mightier army , and made greater Kings to bow vnder his scepter and brought vs to a larger inheritance , which can neither ▪ wither nor perish . He fed them with Manna , that corrupted , when they transgressed the commandment touching the sabboth : but he hath fed vs with him self , that our corruption might be put off , and we might be clad with immortallity and euerlasting glorye . The Iewes were his people , by a conditionall couenant , that stoode in their obedience : they were the apple of his eye , and signet of his scale , to whome he gaue peculier blessinges : and yet because they were vnthankful , and knew not the day of their visitation , they haue no part by reason of their vnbeliefe , in the promises that were made to Abraham and the rest of the Patriarks , to their séede and posteritie : but wee are his people adopted , assured in a new couenant , sealed in the blood and obedience of Iesus Christe , the end of all the promises : whose saluation is nowe wrought and perfourmed , if hee be in vs & we in him ; if his glorious grace and mercy haue not appeared in vaine vnto vs . What could the Lord haue done more for his people then he did for them , & yet Isay the Prophet vpbraided them for their ingratitude , so many excellent bene fits of God being bestowed vpon them ? I wyl sing to my Isay . 5. beloued a song of my beloued of his vyneyard . My beloued had a vineyeard in a very fruitful hil , he hedged it about , and gathered out the stones of it , he planted it with the best plants , & buylt a Tower in the mydest of it , & made a winepres in it . He looked that it shold haue broght forth grapes , but it brought forth wyld grapes . O Inhabitants of Ierusalem , & men of Iudah ▪ Iudge therefore , between me & my vineyard . What could I haue done more to my vineyard , that I haue not done vnto it ? Why haue I looked that it shuld bring forth grapes , and it bryngeth forth wylde Grapes ? Now I wyll tell you , what I wyll do to my Vyneyard , I wyll take away the hedge therof , & it shal be eaten vp , I wyll break downe the Wall ▪ and it shal be troden vnder foote . And I wyll lay it waste , it shall not be cut nor digged , but Bryars and thornes shal grow vp : I wyl also command the clouds that they rayne no rayne vppon it .

You see how the Prophet setteth forth the large liberalitie and goodnesse of God towards his people : and againe their vnthankfulnes , with those iudgments that it drewe vpon them : The benefits no doubt that God had bestowed vppon them were excellent , but their abuse was like wise intollerable , and therefore for the one , there is threatned the taking of them away , and for the other , what horrible punnishments he would bring vpon , them He taketh his occasion , from a plaine parable , because it shold be vnderstod : leaning down to their capacitie , euen as our sauiour Christ did in his documentes and instructions . And yet I suppose he coulde haue soared as high in the clouds as any other . So Paule vsed similitudes taken from husbandry , from building , from running 1. Cor. 14. 18. 19. Ioh. 15. 14. and from fighting and such like . Moses in a plaine stile applieth himselfe to the capacitie of the rude people , in the highest historie that euer was written , concerning the creation of the world . This is againste his beloued , his spouse and Church , euen to his beloued the spouses friend .

The situation of this vineyarde was in an open and fruitful place : It had a notable Tower in it , to defend it , it had a hedge round about it , and a wyne presse in it . These were rare and excellent benefites , and yet instead of grapes , it brought forth wilde grapes . The like in euery respect agreeth with vs . Hee hath giuen vs a lot in a pleasant and good place , wheras he might haue set vs in one more barren . He hath in mercy planted his vineyeard amongst vs , hedged it about and built a Tower of defence , and a wine presse in it , to gather the fruite of it : this was not done by our owne arme , nor by our owne election , but in his good mercy : And as he waited for fruit , in great patience before his iudgments were executed , so he hath wayted vpon vs these many yeares : he sits looking to that tree mentioned in the Gospell , which long since had beene plucked vp by the rootes , had nothe in a wonderful patience expected our conuersion and better fruites . But alacke it was ill with them , it is worse with vs , they brought foorth wylde grapes , but ours are scarce grapes . They were taxed with many sinnes , but ours are multiplied as the sande of the sea , and as the drops of heauen . We are come to the dotage of the world , set on mischiefe , and growing to worse and worse iniquity , as our Sauiour saith is multiplied , and the nearer he hath approched vnto vs , the faster and further of doth the worlde flye from him . It is so laden with sins and abhominations , that greuous is shipwracke , when a ship is lefte to the winds to be tossed , and without a guyde , it must needes be drowned . Euen so , muste this tottering worlde come to vtter destruction . Onely they shall be preserued that walke with God , to beleeue his promises , and to feare his iudgements : They shall be preserued that are his , of all tymes : whome he hath loued , chosen , called , iustified , sanctified and saued , in Iesus Christ his sonne . These shall not abuse his patience , but tremble at his iudgements , and be carefull to walke in all dutifull obedience . They shall make hast to meete him , when fire is come foorth from him , but the wicked shall scorne his wonderfull and mercifull long sufferaunce ▪ to their owne destruction .

Because hee cutteth not downe the trée at once , being staid by the praiers and humiliations of his seruantes : that in contrite harts how downe before him : the wicked insulte and are more incouraged , and as it were fleshed in their sinnes and wickednesse , euen to dispite him , ( as Pharaoh and other tyrants did ) vpon whom yet he Exod 5. &c. Exod. 17. Num. 21. 31. brought a swifte and a sudden destruction : And yet the greatest Okes are cut down with a little blast from him & the highest buildings can not stand if hee doe but shake them . For he is iust , euen as he is mercifull , and hee loueth iustice to punish the wicked , & Psal. 1● . to mayntain the godly . If the thrones of earthly princes , must stand vppon these pillers , no doubt the throne of the highest , that is Iudge of the whol world must be founded thereon , that as the Prophet sayth . He may doe Iustice , and Iere. 9. shewe mercy and iudgement vppon the earth . So he made Amalecke an example of his wrathe , Canaen the king of Arad , Sehon of the Amor●its : and Ogg of Basan , So he met with Eglon of Moab , Iudg. 3. Iudg. 4. slaine by the hande of Aod , and also with the army of Iabine king of Ason , that had oppressed Israell by the Iudg. 7. space of twenty yeeres . Gedeon was his hand against the Madianit●s , and though Oreb and Zeb fled awaye , yet they were afterwardes taken and killed .

The Princes of the Phylistims though they were many and mightie , and thought themselues in safety and assurance in their Temple of Dagon : yet his hand founde them out , and in mocking of Sampson : they lastly receiued a iust iudgemente méete for their iniquity . what should I speak of Saul Iudg. 17. 2. Sam. 15. 17 and Agag , of huge Goliah , of Achab , of Hazael , of Senacharib , of Balthasar , of Antiochus , Herod & al the like : because 1. King . 20. they were cruell , were they exempt 2. Kin. 6. 7. 8. from iudgementes ? No no , he found them out , and he will finde out all his enemies . He will strike them vppon the hearie scalpes , and their cheeke bones shall be broken , he will ●owe their backes , and his iudgements shal declare his iustice , from generation to generation . The liues of the wicked are not in their owne hands , but the Godly are the cause of their prosperitie . These from whom they seeke to take l●●e , goodes , and limmes , are in cause , that they are spared for a time in the world . And hereby as God calleth his to repentance , so he hardneth the Godles in their sinnes , that hee may be glorified in his iuste iudgementes . But where are the wyse to marke these thinges , and to make their profit ? Who taketh a note of his iudgementes shewed against our vnthankfulnesse , that we might be moued to repentance ? Our benefits haue beene greater , then euer were bestowed vpon any Nation excepting one or other : and do we walke worthy of them ? Is there thankfulnesse in vs ▪ to retourne vnto him the praise of his mercies . He hath giuen vnto vs his worde , which is an incomparable iewell , in respect of which the psalmograph sayth : He hath not delt so with euery nation : but doe we bring foorth the fruits of it . Nay doe we not rather treade it vnder our feete , as it were in dispite of the author of it ? Is it not a lanterne vnto our feete , with out which , we must stray ? And is it not the food of the soule , with out which we must starue : and yet who doth either seeke vnto it , or feele the sweet comfort of it ? If the prophet appealed to the inhabitauntes of Ierusalem , and to the men of Iudah , to iudge this cause , being come to an issue , in the assurance of it , committing it euen to them selues : shall not our owne mouthes , in the testimonie of our conscience pronounce sentence against vs ? who seeke his grace to late , and stay vntill his irreuocable sentence is passed ? He that hath eares to heare let him heare , while God speaketh vnto vs . He that might haue been both iudge and accuser , wil haue vs both to iudge and accuse our selues , that we may vnderstande , how greatly we haue displeased him . And if our conscience pronounce againste vs , is not God greater then our conscience ? If our owne heart condemne vs , is not God greater then our heart ? We are wont to be partiall in our owne causes , because our senses are dull to perceiue our own iniquities : and yet he committeth this to our selues , to the ende to drawe vs to speedy repentance .

True it is , that our partialities , though we would flatter our selues , & could be so impudent to do it , that cannot stain his iudgementes , but euen as he tooke away the hedge of his vineyard , shewing him selfe a iust iudge , in being auenged vpon their vnthankfulnes , so he will deale with vs . That which he hath builded amongst vs , he wil ouerthrow againe . That which he hath compassed about from forrein force , from oppression of enemies , to keepe out vncleane beastes , that he might haue receiued a large croppe , he will lay open and waste . The wall and tower , shall be ouertourned within , beastes , dogges and hogges without shall fall vpon it , deuour and trample it vnder their feete . One stone shall bruise another , & the cloudes shall not raine , to make it fruitful but to make it ranck with thorns & briers . O England repent , thou that hast tasted of so many blessinges , and yet hast prouoked God with so many sinnes . O London repent , thou that haste sit as a Lady & Queen ouer thy neighbour Cities , to whom the Lord hath giuen besides temporall blessinges these precious iewels : sending thee many messengers to warne thee , to preach vnto thee , and to comfort thee : but thou hast not regarded the day of thy visitation . If thy hedge be taken awaye , if thou be laide open and waste for thy horrible sinnes . If the Lord plant his vineyeard in an other place , a more fruitful soyle : what shall be come of thee ? Is God more bound vnto thee , then he was vnto his owne people ? Hast thou any greater priuiledge , then they who were once so precious in his sight ? And if he spared not them , will he spare thee , that doest passe them in all abhominations ? they regarded not the holy commandementes of God , to keep them and obserue them , no more doest thou . They were Idolaters and followed the Gods of the Nations , euery one rearing vp an Idoll in his owne heart , and following his owne will , and so doest thou : thou art as far from the true spirituall worshippe of God , belonging to suche a maiestie , euen as they were . His precious name is prophaned & abused euery where , in swearing , forswearing , and lying , thinking , speaking , and practising superstitiously & wickedly of it . And as for the Lordes Sabboth , as in times past they did defile it , did not consecrat it to God , to reste from sinne and to followe his will , but gaue him onely a ceremonial & outward seruice , defiled with following their owne willes , euen so dost thou . This day is the sabboth of the Lorde thy God : that is to say : a daye consecrated to his glorye , wherein , all solemne assemblies of Gods sayntes shoulde bee occupied in hearing his worde , in giuing themselues to prayer , in receiuing his sacraments , in meditating of his wonderfull workes , and putting in practise of holy duties : but we contrarywise , euen from the highest to the lowest , break this Sabboth of the Lord our God , whither we come or do not come to the place appointed : For if we come , wee come with prophane minds , deuided from God , for custom and fashions sake , without any preparation for so spirituall a seruice , there hearing we heare not , to make any conscience to learne our duties to grow in knowledge and carefully to practise holy doctrines : wee come as they did in the Prophets times , with lame sacrifices , hauing serued first our selues , & as they did in their solemne fasts : We bowe down our heads like Bull rushes , and perhaps haue torn garmentes , wee put on the countenance of sorrowe , and our faces are not annointed : but there is in vs no sorrow that leadeth to repentaunce , nor hearty turning vnto our God . Wee come to sit before the ministers , as the people then did before the prophets , to heare the word preached , as some pleasaunt song : but when they haue sayde they haue done : we go our wayes , and they passe through our iudgementes , but the worde is passed as a dreame . And if these sinns be found , in al sorts of our commers , what shall we think of them that come not at all , who through couetousnes and prophanation dispise these holy assemblies : eyther following their wordly chaffaire and busines , or else thinking that the sabboth is well ynough kept , if they giue God some little peece thereof , othersome i● they bee idle , following their pleasures , and wicked pastimes with al gréedines . O Lord what shall become of these loose and sinnful dais ? Howe manye prophane persons are there in this realme , both in City and Country , that hauing taken a muster of all the holidays in the yeare , vrge the keeping of them , and wil loose no iot of tune , that they may follow their vayn delights , and yet know not truly how to keepe one holy or Sabboth day to the prayse and honour of God ? Both in Sommer and Winter , they can finde occasions , to bereaue themselues of spirituall comfortes , eyther to runne out into the countrie with their bagges and bottels , or els beeing at home to follow wicked exercises . Euery dore hath his stake , and the streetes are full of blazers of iniquitie . There is gadding to al kind of gaming , and there is no Tauerne or Alehouse , if the drinke be strong , that lacketh anye company : There is no dycing house , bowling alley , or Theater , that can be found emptie . Those flagges of defiaunce against God , and trumpets that are blowne to gather such company , will sooner preuaile to fill those places , then the preaching of the holy worde of God , the Catechizing and instructing of Children and Seruauntes , canne be to fill Churches .

Nothing can stoppe them from the same : neyther feare of daunger , losse of tyme , corruption of maners , infection of diseases , expence of money , suspi●ion of honestie and suche like . But to the other , where to they should come with great ioye and cheerefully , as to the house of the Lord , nothing in a maner can allure or draw them , neyther theire owne necessitie , the sweetnes and comforte of true doctrine , the reformation of maners , the holynesse and obedience that by the grace of God , is wrought in his Children , by such exercises : nor the hope and assuraunce it selfe of fayth and saluation . Here three pence , sixe pence , a shilling or two a quarter , is a great matter and a wonderfull burthen , much humming and hawing about it , but poundes and hundreds can be well ynough afforded , in following these least plesures , euery dore hath a payment , and euery Gallerie maketh a yearely stipend . Euery dog hath a coller , & euery Beare a prise .

Here is no feare of infection , nor anie inconuenience or discommoditie that can let them . Is not this thinke you to keepe the Sabboth ? the lawes of the land haue Godly prouided , that all the people of all sortes , shall repayre to the publique places of Gods worship , then to be taught and instructed in the wholesome word of saluation , and there is a penaltie set vpon it : but how this is looked vnto thorowout the lande , I leaue it to them to consider that are wyse and in authoritie . The Lorde blessed the sabboth daye , and sanctified it , because in it hee rested from all the workes of his hande , that hereby we might learne , to rest from sinne and iniquitie , and consecrate our selues to his spiritual seruice . And this he instituted for mans commoditie , that al flesh might come to worshippe before his face : He gaue them double food in respect of this , that it might abide with them , and that none might come out of their place , but might rest in his prouision and prouidence : So that it appeareth , he woulde not haue them occupied in making prouision for the bellie , to gather stickes , to treade the presse , or to carry burthens , either vppon their owne shoulders , or vppon their beastes The commaundement for the obseruing of it , is so often set downe in the scripture , as nothing more . The seuenth day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God : Thou shalt do no maner of worke in it , neither thou , nor thy Sonne or Daughter , thy man seruannt or thy mayde , thy Cattle and the straunger that is within thy gates . Keepe my sabboth , for it is holy vnto you : He that shall defile it , shall dye the death : He that shall worke on that daye , his soule shall be cut off , from the middest of his people .

Nowe to worke , is to doe thinges of our owne , that are prophane or wicked : And because the commaundementes of God are morall , the equity of this commaundement belongeth vnto vs . In deed there was some thinge peculiar to the Iewes , in respect of the ceremonie , and the day : But there is yet a day to be kept , because intermissions from the trauailes of this life , are necessarie both for the soule and bodye : That both the one and the other may be prouided for , the Soule to be fedde , and the bodye to rest , our selues and our Seruanntes , ( yea our very cattle ) are to be fauoured in this behalfe , because of this solemne consecration to God . And therefore the king of Niniuie , commaunded , that that solemne Fast shoulde be extended euen to the Oxe within the staule , and to the Horse in the stable , and to euery beast of the field .

Blessed ( saith I say ) is the man that Isay . 56. 2. doth this , and the Sonne of that man that layeth hold of this , taking heed , that be defile not my Sabboth , and keeping his Isay . 58. 13. handes that they doe no euyll : If thou shalt turne thy foote from my Sabboth , doe not that thou delightest in , on my holy day : If thou shalt call it , thy delight holy to Iehouah and honorable , and shall honour it , not in exercising thine owne wayes , not in performing that which thou delyghtest in , not in speaking a vayn word , then I wyl aduaunce thee , delighting in the Lord , vppon the hygh places of the Earth : and thou shalt enioy the possession of Iacob thy father , because the mouth of the Lorde speaketh it .

So God speaketh by the Prophet Iere. 17. 21. Ieremy also : Take beede vnto your selues and bear not burdens vppon the Sabboth day , neyther bring those thinges into the Ezec. 20. 20. gates of Ierusalem . &c. The Prophets are very vehemente in this behalfe : & therefore our sinne standeth at the dore , that haue made no regarde of these thinges . For we do worse then beare burdens .

Not onely oure carriers Poste vppe and downe , but men trauaile all moste with oute conscience in euerye quarter , yea wee doe thinges that are naught , and therefore the wrath of God , must néedes be powred out against vs .

And yet God hath shewed vs within these fewe yeeres , many fearfull signes and tokens of his heauye anger and displeasure , and one iudgemente dothe euen ouertake another , and yet nothing can mooue vs .

Hee hathe spoken to vs from Heauen by Comettes , Ecclypses , and fiery impressions , he hath set Starres in vnwoonted places , & sent vpon the world , strange tempests . He hath rumbled in the bowels of the earth farre and wyde : and hath losed the depest and strongest foundations . The earthe hath quaked at his presence , and the very creature hath fled from before his face . He hath opened the windowes of heauen , and couered the earth with his displeasure . He hath made bare the rootes of the corne , and fedde the foules with our nourishment . Hee hath sent out the pestilence , and burning fire from before his feete , that they might wast and deuoure the inhabitauntes of the earth . Many men haue receiued short summons , to appeare before him , & to render account of their doinges . They haue perished ( as Iob saith ) by the blast of his mouth , and by the breath of his Iob. 4. 9. 10. nostrils they are consumed . By the roaring of the Lyon , and by the voyce of the fierce Lyon . and w●th the teeth of the Lyons whelpes , they are ground to pouder .

And yet notwithstanding all these Iudgementes and manye more , that I can not reckon vp , who turneth to the Lord , who leaueth his wickednes : and forsaketh the companie of fooles ? Who is wise to vnderstand the plagues at home and the miseries that are abroade , that he may be prepared to a better Kingdome ? Who looketh to the kéepinge of the Sabaoth , and considereth this feareful example , fallen out amongst vs ?

But that it may be remembred the better to doo vs good , that by the harmes of other , we may make our profite I will set it downe as plainly as I can , and as truely as can be gathered from the examination of those same common euidenses , that haue fallen out : waying some circumstances that shall teach thée , that it was not the worke of any man , but the finger euen of God himselfe , to warne vs to turne and especially from these sinnes that we commit in that behalfe , for prophaning of the Sabaoth , which are too horrible

You shall vnderstande therefore ( deare Christians ) that vpon the laste Lordes day being the thirtéen day of the first moneth , that cruell and lothsome exercise of bayting Beares being kept at Parrisgarden , in the after none , in the time of common prayers , and when many other exercises of Religion , both of Preaching and Catechizinge were had in sundrie places of the Cittie , diuers Preachers hauing not longe before also cried out againste such prophanatious : yet ( the more pittie ) there resorted thether a greate company of people of all sortes and conditiones , that the like nomber , in euery respecte ( as they say ) had not béene séene there a long time before .

Being thus vngodlilie assembled , to so vnholy a spectacle and specially considering the time : the yearde , standinges , and Galleries beinge full fraught , being nowe amiddest their iolitie , when the Dogs and Beare , were in their cheefest battell . Loe the mightie hand of God vpon them . This Gallerie that was double , and compassed the yarde round about , was so shaken at the foundation , that it fell flat to the ground , without poste or peece , that was left standing , so high as the stake whereunto the Beare was tyed .

Although some will say ( & it may be truly ) that it was very olde and rotten and that therefore a greater waight of people , beinge planted vpon it then was wont : that it was no maruell that it failed : and woulde make it but a light matter . Yet surelie if this be considered , that no one péece of poste , borde or stocke was left standinge ; though wee vrge it net as a miracle , yet it must néeds be considered as an extraordinary iudgement of God , both for the punishment of these present prophaners of the Lords day , and also to in forme and warne others .

In the fall of it , there weare slaine fiue men and two women , that are come to knowledge who they were and where they dwelled , to wit . Adame Spencer a Felmonger , in Southwarke , William Cockram a Baker , dwellinge in Shordich , Iohn Burton Clarck , of S. Marie Wolmers in Lombard streate . Mathew Mason , seruant with Maister Garlande , dwellinge in Southwarke : Thomas Peace , seruant with Robert Tash●r , dwelling in Clerken well . The Maidons names Elice White seruaunt to a Pursmaker withoute Cripplegate : and Marie Harison , daughter to Iohn Harison waterbearer , dwelling in Lombard street . Ther is to bée considered in the qualitie and condicion of these persons : whom God hath thus laid alonge amiddest their vanitie , to be an example vnto vs , how commonly these of such sorte are affected & disposed . For if these in the state of poore men had feared God , and in the hearing of gods words had vppon such shorte summons bene called to appere before God : yet had they lefte an vndoubted testimonie , of their religion and pietie vnto others . And therefore I doo exhorte all men to take héede of such follies . Let them learne alwaies to be prepared for death , seing that death is so certaine , though no man know of the bower . If God haue sette them in a meane state , let them not followe rudenesse , nor hunte after such vaine pleasures , but séeke the best thinges , and those that are most precious . Let them heard the comfortable worde of saluation that shall comforte them against pouertie , and other afflictions whereunto we are subiect in this life .

And for seruauntes , let maisters , see them better imployed vpon these dayes that are consecreated to holy exercises that they may bee frée from their bloode , and lette seruauntes thinke it no bondage , to be restrained from such vanities : But alacke the worlde is nowe grown to that wickednesse , that the maisters being prophane themselues , the seruauntes are trained vp in all prophanation : yea seruaunts will indent afore hand , to haue their libertie vppon such dayes to goe to the Deuill fréelie : & thereof spring infinite corruptions and sinnes not to be named . If these seruaunts had had maisters , that would haue called them to a reckoning how they had spent that daye ( as good maisters oughte to haue done ) and haue had an accompt what they hadde learned , they might haue had lesse cause to sorrow , because they had performed good duties . But O you seruantes that feare God , returne from such filthines Liue to God faithfully in your vocation , and thinke it a great mercy that in peace , you may possesse such a bountie . You se in these , fallen before you , an example to make you séeke better things that you may walke as in the sight of God faithfully to doo your duties : you sée the vanitie of pleasures : that our lyfe is but a puffe : to the end you may learne alwaies to bee in a readinesse . You haue hearde that the father bringing his chylde alyue thether , caryed it home againe deade , which came not to passe by chaunce but by Goddes prouidence .