Fruitful Instructions and Necessary Doctrines, Title page – To the reader
CERTAINE FRVITFVLL INſtructions and neceſſary doctrines meete to edify in the feare of God: Faithfully gathered together by Iohn Frewen Miniſter of the word of God.
Whereunto is added a Table, wherein the reader may eaſily find out the principall matters conteined in this booke.
1. Pet. 4.10.
Let eueryevery man as he hath receaued the gift, miniſter the ſame one to an other; as good diſpoſers of the manifold grace of God.
1. Io. 4.1. &c.
Dearelie beloued, beleeue not eueryevery ſpirit, but trye the ſpirits whether they are of God, for many falſe Prophets are gone into the world.
AT LONDON, Printed by Iohn Winder for Thomas Chard. 1587.
To the right worſhipfull, and his approued good freindes: M. Tho. Couentry, and M. Leonard Iefferis of Hill, and Earles Crome within the county of Worceſter: and to the vertuous Gentlewomen their wiues: I.F. wiſheth earneſt zeale to the glorious Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt, perſeuerance and practiſe thereof vntounto the end and in the end, health in this life, and in the life to come, euerlaſting ioy & felicity, through the ſame our only ſauiour the ſonne of God.
OVR Lord Ieſus Chriſt (right worſhipfull and right deare in the Lord) hauing no ſmall experience of the malice and ſubtle practiſes of the enemy of our ſaluation, (I meane the diuell) and knowing that he would leaue nothing vnattempted whereby his diſciples might be ſeduced from the truth of his doctrine: he carefully in his goſpell geueth them this forwarning,Mat. 7.1… that they ſhould take heed and bewarre of falſe Prophets which ſhoulde come to deceaue them, and as rauening wolues to deuoure their ſoules. The which warning was neuer more neceſſary then in theſe our daies. For as there is nothing more pretious in this world, then the bleſſed and heauenly doctrine of the word of GOD, and as there are no perſons more worthy to be accomp…ed of, then ſuch to whom the Lorde doth geue the ſpirite of wiſdome to open and impart this treaſure vntounto vsus: So on the other ſide, there is nothing more daungerous and infectious to the children of God, then corrupt & falſe doctrine, and no perſons more to be hated and ſpeedily auoyded, then wicked and lying teachers, whom Sathan thruſteth into the Church to blemiſhe that pretious pearle and means of our ſaluation. Heare not (ſaith God by Ieremy) the woordes of the Prophets,Ier. 23.16. that prophecy vntounto you, & teach you vanity: They ſpeake the viſion of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lorde.Verſe 26. And againe, howe long doe the Prophets delight to prophecy lyes, euen prophecying the deceit of their owne heart? Sathan himſelfe the father and founder of al lying and falſe teaching vſed the ſame courſe in Paradice: For when God had ſaid vntounto Adam:Gen. 2.17 & 3.4. In what hower ſoeuer thou ſhalt eate of the fruite of this tree, thou ſhalt dy the death. the olde crafty ſerpent (ſeeking to ſeduce man from God) ſaid nay you ſhall not die the death, but you ſhalbe like vntounto God. By which gloſe & falſe interpretation of gods word, he pulled them cleane from the obedience of Gods holy will and commaundement, to their own vtter ouerthrow & heauy iudgement. By ſuch like falſehood hee tempted Chriſt himſelfe to make him conceaue ouer great confidence of the prouidence of God towardes him,Mat. 4.6. Pſ. 91.11.12. It is written (ſaith he) that he will giuegive his Aungelles charge ouer thee, and with their handes they ſhall lift thee vp, leaſt at any tyme, thou ſhouldſt daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone By like craft of lying, and by falſe ſence peruerting the word of God, he from time to time instructeth his Meſſengers and falſe Proph. to abuſe & deceaue the ſimple people of god, that be not wel taught by his holy ſpirit how to withſtand them. The which falſe proph. (to the end they may be diſcouered and taken heed of): it greatly behoueth all Chriſtians (that looke to be ſaued by the death of Christ) to bewar whō they beleue, & to hauehave recours to the rule & touchſtone of the holy ſcriptures, which is the perfect directory wherby all truth of doctrin is examined & wherby we may try and proue the ſpirits whether they bee of1. Io. 4.1 2. Pe. 1.20 god. For why the whole ſcripture (as ſaint Paule ſaith) is giuen by inſpiration of God, & is profitable to teach, to cōuince to correct and to inſtruct in righteouſnes that the man of God may be abſolute, being made perfect to al good works. Search the ſcriptures (ſaith our ſauiour Chriſt) for in them ye thinke to hauehave eternal life and they are theſe that teſtify of me.Io. 5.39. Thy worde is a lantern vntounto my feete (ſayeth the Prophet),Pſ. 119 i05 Pro. 30.5. and a light vntounto my paths. EueryEvery word of God is pure, ſaith Salomō, he is a ſheeld to thoſe that trust in him. We find not any thing in this world (how pretious ſoeuer it bee) that is worthy to hauehave the word of God compared vntounto it: for it ſurmounteth (infinitely, and beyond reaſon) all things which are and may bee imagined to be excellent and pretious: alſo there is nothing in this world (how pretious ſoeuer it be) but doth participat with earth, and needeth to be purged & clē ſed frō his droſſe & ſuperfluities, before it cā be pure, but the word of God is clean of it ſelfe & neither hath, nor cā hauehave any dros for it procedeth not frō a furnace but frō the mouth of God, which neither cānor will bring forth any woorke, but it ſhalbe ſo perfect as it ought to bee, and wherein nothing may bee amended. Hee that is of God, (ſaith our ſauiour) heareth Gods word. And again,Io. 8.47. Io. 10.27 My ſheepe heare my voice, & I know them, & they will follow me, a ſtranger they will not follow. Now if the aduerſaries of the goſpel (I meane the Papistes) would willingly (as becommeth Chriſtians) ſubmit themſelues to this tryer of all truth of faith & holineſſe, which is the worde of God. If they would as Christes ſheepe heare the voyce of their ſhephearde: Then ſhould they know that nothing is to be added, or taken away from the word of God:Deu. 4.2 31 Io. 20.51. Then would they ſay with S. Iohn, ſo much is written, that if we beleue, we hauehave ſaluation by the name of Chriſt. Then woulde they ſay with S. Paule, that the ſcriptures can make vsus wiſe to ſaluation:2. Tim. 3. Ambroſe And then would they (with Ambroſe) condēne all newe doctrine which Chriſt hath not taught, becauſe Chriſt is life to all beleeuers. But becauſe they hauehave eares & hear not, eyes & ſee not, hearts and yet cannot vnderstand the truth, nor find the way of ſaluation: therefore they keepe the ſcripture in an vnknowen tongue from the cō mon people: & make it little leſſe thē hereſy to hauehave it in their tongue: therefore they ſo greatly diſgrace & diſcredite the Scriptures as vnſufficient to ſaluation, and not conteining al neceſſary truth, but that there are many articles of neceſsitye to be beleeued which are not conteined in the ſcriptures. For ſo ſaith one of their champions.Lindan. li. 1. c. 10. The Apoſtles (ſaith he) would not commit certaine principall pointes of our religion to paper and inke thereby to periſh, and to be forgotten: but they committed them to the faithful harts of chriſtians. As though thoſe things remained more ſure which be cōmitted to the fraile memory of feble men in this ſinful world: then thoſe things that by the ſpirit of god are put in writing. This is the cauſe why they blaſphemouſly cal the ſacred written word of God,The Papiſts blaſphemy. a dead writing, a dumbe Maiſter, doubtfull and vncertaine, A black goſpell, dead inke, inkie diuinitye, A noſe of waxe, a leaden rule, &c.
This is the cauſe why they ſay that the ſcriptures take authoritye of the church,Frier Soto. and that without the authority of the Church, the ſcriptures hauehave no authority.
As though the Maieſty of Gods wiſedome, and his trueth conteined in the ſcriptures, depended vppon the authority of man. For though the Church bee neuer ſo holie, yet it conſiſteth of men, which oftentimes hauehave and do erre, when they leane not to the word of God.Petrus de palude. de poteſtate Papae. Art. 4. Herueus de poteſt. Papae. If they would hearken to Gods worde, then would they not ſay, that the Popes onelyonly power paſſeth all the power of the whole Church beſides: And that the Pope by vertue and power is the whole church: and ſo conclude theruppon, that there is neither holy ghoſt, nor interpretation or ſenſe of the ſcriptures, but onelyonly in the Pope. Indeed it is true, that as the Scriptures were written by the ſpirit of GOD:2. Pet. 1.20 So muſt they be expounded by the ſame. For without that Spirit, we hauehave neither eyes to ſee, nor eares to heare.
It is that ſpirit that openeth and no man ſhutteth: the ſame ſhutteth,Ma. 11.15 Reu. 3 7 and no man openeth.
The ſame ſpirit prepared and opened the heart of Lidia,Act. 16.14 Io. 6.45. that ſhe ſhould geue eare to, and conſider the things that were ſpoken by S. Paule.
And in reſpect of this ſpirit. the Prophet Eſay ſaith:Eſa. 53.13. Ier. 31, 33. They ſhalbe all taught of God.
But God hath not bound himſelf that this ſpirit ſhould euermore (of neceſſitie) dwell in Roome:Eſay. 62.2 but vponupon the lowly and humble hearted, that tremble at the word of God.
Chriſostome ſaith, they that ſpeake of themſelues:Chriſoſt. de ſancto. & ado. ſpi falſly pretend the holy ghost. And againe, if any thing be brought vntounto vsus (ſaith he) vnderunder the name of the holy ghoſt beſides the goſpell, let vsus not beleeue it. For as Chriſt is the fulfilling of the law and the proph. ſo is the holy ghoſt the fulfilling of the goſpel. Now with what ſpirit the Biſhops of Rome hauehave expounded vntounto vsus the holy ſcriptures) it is ſo manifeſt and apparantly knowne, that we need go no further but to their owne writings & canons ſufficiently to proue that the Pope is Antichrist,1. Io. 2.22. and that his prelats and diſciples are the ſpirituall wolues of whom Chriſt in his goſpell geueth warning,Mat. 7.15 though they couer themſelues neuer ſo cloſely vnderunder the clothing of Chriſtes true ſheepe.
Chriſt was humble and lowly. The prophet in his owne perſon ſpeaketh of him: I am a worme and not a man: aſhame of men and the contempt of the people. And S. Paule ſaith he humbled himſelfe,Pſ. 22.6 Phil. 2.8. and became obedient vntounto the death, euen the death of the croſſe.
Behold his parents, his birth, his cradle: beholde his life, his diſciples, his doctrine and his death: All were witneſſes to his humility. He ſaith of himſelf the ſon of man hath not whereon to reſt his head. And to his diſciples he ſaith,Mat. 8.20. The Kings of the Gentils raigne ouer them, & they that beare rule ouer them are called gratious Lordes: but you ſhall not be ſo.Luk. 25.22 Ma. 11.29 And againe Learne of me that I am meek & lowly in heart, and ye ſhall finde reſt vntounto your ſoules. Now on the other ſide, if wee conſider the condition of Antichriſt, beholde his birth, his place, his chaire, his eſtate, his doctrine, his diſciples and al his life. there ſhal nothing be ſeene but pomp and vaine glory: he is proud in life,The image of Antichriſt proud in doctrine, proud in word, and proude in deedes. He is like vntounto Lucifer, and ſetteth himſelfe before his brethren, and ouer nations and kingdomes. He maketh kings and princes to kiſſe his feete, to cary his traine, to hold his ſtirrop. &c. He claimeth power ouer heauen and earth. Hee ſaith, he is Lord ouer all the worlde, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings: that his authority reacheth vp into heauen & down into hell: that whoſoeuer he bleſſeth, is bleſſed, and that it is curſed whatſoeuer he curſeth. He ſelleth merits, the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, the ſacrifice for the quicke and the dead. He maketh marchandiſe of the ſoules of men, He remoueth Kings & depoſeth the ſtats & princes of the world.
He taketh vponupon him the authority and name of the liuing GOD which made heauen and earth,Extrauag Io. 22. euen the name of GOD the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And in this pride hee exceedeth all others that hauehave bene wicked. But ſome will peraduenture reply, that the Pope at this daye is not called GOD, but that hee abaceth and writeth himſelfe by a title of humility, and is called ſo the ſeruant of ſeruaunts. Thus (indeede) he is written: but marke how much the matter is amended.
Extra. de Maior & obedien.This ſeruaunt ſaith, I doe make holy the vnholy. I do iuſtifie the wicked. I doe forgiue ſins. I open and no man ſhutteth. This ſeruaunt can ſay, that whoſoeuer obeyeth not him, ſhall be rooted out: and that he may diſpence for any commaundement of the old or new teſtament.9 Que. 3. cuncta pet. de pal de pot. pa. Art. 4. No man may iudge this ſeruant. For (they ſay) the Pope is exempted from all law of man, & again, neither all the clergy, nor all the wholeworld, may either iudge or depoſe the Pope. Such a power this ſeruant of ſeruāts claimeth to himſelf, what greater power may be geuen vntounto God? And this power the Pope at this day challēgeth as proper to his ſeat: that he hath the authority which is due vntounto Chriſt ouer his Church none may ſay he doth erre, or aſke why hee doth ſo.
Now the first Sheepes clothing (wherewithall the falſe Prophetes and members of Antichristes ſchoole doe vſe to hide and couer their deueliſh hypocriſie) is faſting, prayer, almes deedes,The firſt ſheeps clothing wherwith the falſe Prophets doe hide thēſelues. and outwarde holineſſe of life. The which things when they are don ſyncerely by Gods true miniſters and faithfull children: then are they (in deede) the right clothing of his ſheepe: but when ſuch falſe teachers do put on the ſame: then are they counterfaite clokes to deceaue the ſimple. Wherby we may perceaue, that outwarde holineſſe of life is not the onelyonly true token of Christianitie.The ſecond. Secondly they doe hide themſelues vnderunder the ſheepes clothing of ordinary power and authoritie, long ſucceſsion and lawefull calling, to the miniſterie, vnderunder the which title, (like wolues) they hauehave crept into the Church, and from time to time most cruelly perſecuted Gods good people, and the doctrine by them taught.The third. Thirdly they are hid and couered vnderunder the goodly name and title of holy Apoſtolical & Catholike church; to the ende they might make men beleeue, that all their doctrines, traditions and deuiſes of newe worſhip proceeded not from themſelues, but were eſtabliſhed by the perpetuall conſent of the church, and allowed by the ſentence and interpretation of the holy counſelles, fathers & doctors and yet (beeing rightly and truely examined) it is nothing ſo.
They tell vsus that they hauehave their priuate Maſſe, their half cōmunion & their trifling ceremonies frō the Apostles. And all this (God knoweth) they proue by full ſimple coniectures, becauſe Christ ſaide to his Apoſtles:Io. 16.12. 1. Co. 11.34. I hauehave yet many things to ſay vntounto you, but ye cānot beare thē now. And becauſe S. Paul ſaid to the Corinth. Other thinges will I ſet in order when I come. And although it were true that they hauehave not deuiſed theſe things of thēſelues but hauehave receiued thē al frō the Apoſtles and holy Fathers (which thing their owne conſcience knoweth to be moſt vntrue) yet notwithſtanding the ſame things ſo receiued, they hauehave fowly defaced with ſundry their ſuperſtitions. They hauehave made them neceſſary to ſaluatiō: they hauehave bound the people no leſſe to them, then to the lawe of God: & ſo hauehave they made thē ſnares for Chriſtian conſciences. And therefore if it were ſo that the thing it ſelf came frō the fathers, yet the abuſe thereof came from themſelues: and for the ſame they hauehave taught the people to breake Gods cōmandemēt.Eſay. 1.22. Thus hauehave they mingled gods heauenly wine with their puddle water:Mat. 23.24 Mat. 16.6. thus hauehave they ſtrained gnats & ſwallowed camels: this is the very leauen of the Scribs & Phariſeis which Christ calleth hypocriſie. Therfore if ſo be the thing it ſelfe, they hauehave thus receaued (in reſpect of ſubſtance) be al one: yet being thus abuſed (in reſpect of their ſuperſtitions and deformities) it is none one.
Furthermore as a Lyon is diſcouered by his clawes (what garment ſo euer he hauehave vponupon him) euen ſo theſe ſpirituall wolues (though they be couered with the clothing of Chriſtes true ſheepe:The claws of the ſpirituall wolues. yet) if you looke vponupon their clawes, you ſhall quickly eſpie thē what they are.The firſt One of their clawes is cōfidence in the holines of their life, wherby they do not only aduance themſelues as iust before God & the worlde: but alſo contemne & deſpiſe al other. Such a claw had the Phariſei that Chriſt ſpeaketh of, who in diſdaine of the poore ſinful (but yet repentant) Publican, maketh his vaunt in this manner:Lu. 18.21. I thanke shee (O Lorde) that I am not as other men are, extorcioners, vniuſt, adulterers nor as this Publican &c. Such are theſe religious men which in theſe dayes make their vaunts, that they are not only able ſo far to fulfill the law of God that they may be accōpted righteous themſelues: but alſo that they hauehave their workes of ſupererogation and merites which may be ſolde and applyed to the benefite of other. This is knowen to be the common doctrine of the church of Rome at this day.A ſecond clawe. Another clawe of theſe countrfeited wolues is a certaine peculiar holineſſe, conſiſting in the obſeruation of mans traditions and deuiſes: of which cō monly they make greater account, then of the commandementes of God. Such they were whom Chriſt ſharpely reproueth ſaying:Mat. 15.3. ye tranſgreſſe the commandementes of God by your tradition. Such they are which account themſelues holier then other, and (aboue all other) take to themſelues the goodly cloke of religious men, becauſe they liue after the rule of Benedicke, Francis, Dominicke &c. or becauſe they weare this or that faſhion of apparell, abſtaine from this or that kinde of meates, obſeruing the choyſe of dayes, vowe of ſingle life, and diuers other like fancies of mans brayne, in compariſon whereof the commandementes of God are ſmally or nothing among them regarded.
The Phariſeis ſought to pleaſe men and to deceaue the people they taught them to walke in the wayes of their forefathers, to beleeue as they beleeued, to do as they had done. They flattered them and ſaide, you are the church of God:Mat. 23.14. Luk. 20.47. Eze. 13.2. &. 34.2. you are gods people: you are the ſonnes of Abraham: you cannot erre, you cannot be deceaued. The Scribes and the Phariſeis deuowred vppe widowes houſes vnderunder pretence of longe prayers: They gaue almes and made money of their almes giuing: They fasted and made money of their fasting. This did the Scribes and Phariſeis, the which although are dead, yet their doinges continue ſtill: their name is taken away, but their profeſsion abideth, As they made gaines of their prayers, of their almes and faſting; ſo doe the Papistes make great gaynes and waxe rich vnderunder pretence of holineſſe. They hauehave brought in a profeſſion of wilful chaſtitie and forbidden mariage in ſome whole eſtate of men. They hauehave forbidden to eate certaine meates vponupon certaine dayes: whereas God hath left meates as free to the choyſe of man, as hee left his ſunne to ſhine freely to the vſe of all men, asnd they make free libertie for money to eate what eueryevery man liketh. They make money of purgatorie, money of pardons, & money of their maſſes. They make money of Peter, and of Paule: of the Apostles and Martirs & of Christ himſelfe. Theſe are they of whom S. Peter ſpeaketh,2. Pet. 2.3. Through couetouſnes ſhal they with fained words make marchandiſe of your ſoules. If they be aſked frō whom they had their Maſſe, their inuocation of ſaincts, prayer for the dead, images, their Deifying of Sainctes, their erecting of alters vntounto them, their torches candlelights, pilgrimages, & al the reſt of their beggerly traſh: they are neuer able to aunſwere one iot for the maintenance thereof out of the worde of God: but wee will follow (ſay they) our fathers & their traditions.Beholde the groūd of Popiſh religion. God giuegive them grace (if it be his will) that they may ſee their owne vanity: that they may know that they are but miſerable & mortall men, & that a time ſhall come, when their hypocriſie ſhall be diſcloſed: that they may become godly, & be (in deede) the ministers of Christ, & diſpoſers of the ſecrets of God: And that they may ſerue God in truth, in holines, & righteouſnes all the dayes of their life.
And now to returne to your worſhips. I moſt humbly beſeech you to accept this my poore labour, which I offer (vnderunder your names) to the whole church of God. The which as I know it commeth vnlooked for, not only in reſpect of your ſelues, but alſo of diuers other that knowe me (aſwel) in that countrey where I was born, as alſo in other places: ſo alſo it may ſeem very raſh and needles. For who am I, that I ſhould take vponupon me to publiſh any thing? The vnworthieſt of many hundreds, & the vnableſt of many thouſands. And yet ſeeing many things more ſimple, leſſe needful & profitable, are both permitted and ſuffred to come abrode: I am not altogether diſcouraged, neither hath any man iuſt cauſe to accuſe me in this my ſimple enterpriſe. I knowe theſe be the dayes of learning & knowledge & that there be great ſtore of learned deuines in our land (whom I beſeech the Lorde to bleſſe.Mar. 12.42.43. Luk. 21.2.3.) and yet the two mites of the poore widowe cast into the treaſurie (amonge the great giftes of the welthy) are not to be refuſed. The cauſes that moued me to dedicate this first fruit of my ſimple trauaile vntounto your worſhips (aboue al other) are theſe. Firſt your great goodnes from time to time ſhewed towards me and my friendes: the which called vponupon mee contitually to ſhewe ſome token of thankefulneſſe for the ſame. For I must needes confeſſe that it hath vttered it ſelfe many and ſundry ways, and that not without a certaine friendly or rather fatherly care of my well dooing. Secondlie, that it might be a meane, (through the aſsistaunce of Gods ſpirite) to kindle and inflame your heartes with an earnest zeale to the glorious goſpell of the ſonne of God, by dayly and continuall exerciſe and practiſe wherein you might be ſufficiently furniſhed with ſpirituall armur to endure conſtantly vntounto the ende (as good ſouldiers of Ieſus Christ) against all the aſſaults of Sathan and his wicked inſtruments which (doe or may) come in ſheepes clothing to deceaue you and to betray your ſoules from the way of ſaluation. For of this am I certaine, that there will not want falſe prophets entycing you from Christ, and that many ſtumbling blockes wilbe cast (namely and eſpecially in your way Master & Miſtreſſe I efferis as once hertofore I preſumed to aduertiſe you priuately by letter) to the ende you might be diſcouraged from the way of the Lorde. But beware (I beſeech you againe) of their Angelicall or Seraphicall ſhewe of heauenly life. HaueHave not by and by their doctrine in admiration but carefully looke vntounto the clawes of theſe ſpirituall wolues and indifferently (without affection) examine the grounde of their profeſsion, by the rule and touchstone of the worde of God: and you ſhall prooue that they deale deceitefully & with guile: that they be falſe Apoſtles and deceitefull workers: that they goe about to beguile your ſenſes and to blinde your eyes: that they call you to worſhip an Idoll in ſteed of the true and liuing God: and that they would lead you out of light into darkneſſe: from truth into error: from knowledge vntounto ignorance.
If you ſhall vouchſafe to reade this little booke, and to examine it throughly & indifferently by the word of God: and then (it beeing effectually confirmed by the ſame) to make your profit accordingly: and (as it is committed to your protection: ſo) to maintaine and defende it: I ſhall not onelyonly be ſatisfied and thinke my payes ſufficiently recompenced: but alſo be greatly encouraged hartily to pray vntounto the Lorde to encreaſe the giftes of his holy ſpirite in you, that you may goe forwarde more and more to performe that dutie in obedience which he requireth at your handes: that you may ouerleape all the lets that Sathan can cast in your way & continue in the certainty of true faith: and that you may be fully ſetled vppon the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Christ being aſſured that the ſame onelie is of ſufficient abilitie to drawe you out of the dungeon of death.
And I beſeech your worſhippes, that as God in aboundant meaſure, hath mercifully endued you with all thinges neceſſarie for this life: (whereof many thouſandes feele the want) ſo without ceaſing you would prayſe and magnifie him for the ſame. And as you are ſo nearely ioyned together, not onelyonly by reaſon of your poſſeſsions, but eſpecially by the bonde of mariage that you are brethren & ſisters: that ſo you would ioyne togeather in the ſincere profeſsion of the glorious goſpel of the ſonne of God, and ſo goe forward more and more in practiſe therof: that the goſpel (being rooted in your heartes) it may bring foorth ſanctification, the true ſeale of your adoption, that you may feele his goodneſſe in the aſſurance of that euerlaſting and heauenly truth. Beware of theſe two cankers I beſeech you, that corrupt the whole world, I meane, pride and couetouſneſſe: Let them not once be named among you as becommeth ſainctes.Eph. 5.3. Col. 3.5. A day will come, when the Lorde will fill your hope with better things then al this world can giuegive you. Stande fast in his trueth in theſe ſlippery dayes, and aboue all, let his glorye, and the aduancement of his worde, be deare and precious vntounto you. In Gods matters, let his will bee the rule thereof, and not your owne wiſedome and affections, Examine your ſelues often by it, and neglect not the pure preaching of the ſame. Delight in the lawe of the Lord and be good examples to others. Care not for the contempt of the worlde, but holde fast a good conſcience, that you may be approued of God. And our Lorde Ieſus Christ giuegive you the forgiueneſſe of all your ſinnes, and the peace and comfort of your conſcience. The Lorde let all his bleſsinges fall vppon you, that you may ſee the riches and treaſures of his merciemercy: that you may be filled with all fulneſſe with the ſpirit: that you may behold the glory of the kingdome of god, & thoſe thinges be reuealed vntounto you by his ſpirite, which hee hath prepared for them that louelove him. Amen.
The third day of December, Anno. 1586. Yours for euer to cōmand in the Lorde, Iohn Frewen.
To the Chriſtian Reader.
THE matter & ſubſtance of this booke as I nothing feare to offer and commende vntounto thee (gentle Reader) for thy profitte and inſtruction in the wayes of the Lorde, beeing fully aſſured that it is the ſincere trueth of God, and the perfect path way vntounto ſaluation, firmely grounded vppon the rocke Chriſt, and ſufficiently warranted, according to the writinges of the holy Prophetes and Apoſtles: ſo the Methode & manner of ſetting (ſome part) of it downe is not (I muſt needes confeſſe) ſo exquiſite and orderly, as I my ſelfe deſire and as thou (being learned) maieſt eaſily perceaue and diſcerne. One eſpeciall cauſe of this want is this: when I wrote it firſt, I had no purpoſe nor entent, that it ſhould at any time come ſo publikely vntounto thy handes. Other excuſes I could alleadge which (if thou kneweſt) would ſeeme (I doubt not) very reaſonable vntounto thee. Notwithſtanding to auoyde offence (aſmuch as I can) and to the ende this might bee noe hinderance to thy godly deſire: I thought good to annexe this table, whereby thou maiſt eaſily finde the principall matters comprehended in this booke. And ſo brotherly entreating thee with z…le and diligence to accept and profite in the one, and charitably to beare with the other: I hartily commend thee vntounto the Lord.
Thine in Chriſt Io. Fr.