Reply Against Gilbert Brown, Title page 1 – Dedication
A REPLY AGAINST M. GILBERT BROVVNE Prieſt.
WHEREIN IS HANDLED MANY OF THE GREATEST and weightieſt pointes of controuerſie betweene vsus and the Papiſts, and the truth of our doctrine clearely proued, and the falſet of their religion and doctrine laide open, and moſt euidentlie conuicted and confuted, by the teſtimonies of the Scripture and auncient Fathers; and alſo by ſome of their own Popes, Doctors, Cardinals, and of their owne writters.
WHEREVNTO IS ANEXED A SEVErall treatiſe, concerning the Maſſe and Antichriſt.
By M. IOHN WELSCHE, Preacher of Christs Goſpell at AIRE.
EDINBVRGH Printed by ROBERT WALDE-GRAVE Printer to the Kings Maieſtie 1602. Cum Priuilegio Regio.
IN MY DEFENC GOD ME DEFEND
PROV. 29.14.
A King that iudgeth the poore in trueth, his Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for euer.
TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND MIGHTY PRINCE, IAMES the 6. King of Scotland, &c. Grace and peace be multiplied.
I Hope it ſhall not be accompted preſumption, (moſt noble Prince) to offer to your Maieſty, the firſt fruites of theſe my ſimple and rude labours, ſeing the cauſe is Ieſus Chriſts, that King of Kings, and Lord of glorie, whilk is heir defended, euen the euerlaſting trueth of God, againſt the venimous ſtings of one of the (a)Reu. 9.3.Locuſts of that Antichriſtian Kingdome. The right whereof does moſt iuſtly belong to your Maieſty, both in reſpect of theſe rare and ſingulare gifts of knowledge and vnderſtanding, whilk the Lord hes vouchſaued vponupon your Maieſtie, in ſik a plentifull meaſure, that your ſubiects does acknowledge it at home, and ſtrangers does admire it & commend it abroade: whereby you are not only able to (b)1. Pet. 3.15rander a reaſon of that Faith whilk is in you; but alſo able to (c)Tit. 1.9.ſtoppe the mouth of the aduerſary, and convict the gainſaier whatſumeuer, by that (d)2. Tim. 13.15.worde of trueth wherewith your Maieſty hes bene brought vp from your very infancy: ſo that all the wiſe men of Babel, I meane the Cleargie of that Romane harlote, is not able to reſiſt the mouth and wiſedome whilk the Lord hes giuen to your Maieſtie. And alſo in reſpect of that ſupereminent power, (as (e)Rom. 13.1the Apoſtle calles it) whereby as you are moſt able, ſo are you moſt obliſhed to maintain his truth, propagate his kingdome, and nuriſhe his owne ſpouſe, whilk hee hes (f)Act. 20.20purchaſed to himſelfe by his owne blood, by the breaſts of your Maieſties gouernement, as it was promiſed of olde that his (g)Eſa. 60.16ſpouſe ſhoulde ſuck the breaſtes of Kings. So, who is more obliſhed, then ye, Sir? Who ſo ſufficient and able eueryevery way to mantaine it, as ye Sir? Your knowledge bindes you: your profeſsion bindes you: your ſoueraigne authoritie, as yeare a King in Iſrael bindes you. For, as the wiſeſt king that euer was hes ſaide, and left it in write: or rather that King of Kings in him and by him, (h)Pro. 8.15Princes raigne by me. Ye holde your kingdome of him, Sir, and muſt lay down your crowne at his feet, and muſt ſtand vp and giuegive a reckoning of the gouernement of his Kingdome, of the maintenance of his trueth, and of the nouriſhing his ſpouſe in that day. Your knowledge, Sir, is able to iuſtifie it foreign: your ſoueraigne authoritie able to defend it foreign Ye hauehave receaued that (i)Heb. 4.12 Eph. 6 17, 2.two edged ſworde of Gods Spirite in your mouth, able to wound, yea to conſume that man of ſinne and ſonne of perdition: ye hauehave receaued that (k)Rom. 13.4ſworde of juſtice and judgement in your hands, able to (l)Pſal 101.8.deſtroy betimes al the wicked of your kingdom and to roote out from the city of the Lorde, all the workers of iniquity. Ye know, Sir, (m)Reu. 17.4.5.the abhomination of Babel, that as it is ſaid of the verteous woman (n)Pro. 31 26Many wemen hauehave done vertuouſly, but thou ſurmounts them al: ſo the contrary may be ſaid of her: many hereticks hes taught erroneouſly, & worſhipped & wrought abhominably: but the (o)Reu. 17.1.whoore of Babel, the Kirk of Rome, in hereſie, in abhomination, in idolatry, hes ſurmounted thē all, that euer went before her, or euer ſhall come after her: (p)Reu. 13.1.3 6.Manye beaſtes hauehave ſpoken blaſphemouſly, but that (q)Reu. 13. & 16.13.14. & 17.3.4.5.6. & 18.24.ſeconde beaſte that hes two hornes like the Lambe, ſurmounteth them all in blaſphemy, tyranny, crueltie, and abhominable idolatrie, deſtroying and making marchandiſe of the ſoules of men and wemen. Other hereſies did but ſubuert ſome fundamentall pointes of Religion, but the Kirk of Rome hes ſubuerted them all almoſte. Of other hereſies, ſome was but againſt the God-head of Chriſt, other ſome againſt his māhood, other ſome againſt his offices and benefites, or ſome one head or other: but the doctrine of the Kirk of Rome, is againſt them all. Iniurious to his God-head, in making him, not onelyonly inferiour to the Father, in teaching that he is not foreign but alſo inferior to the very creatures, in praying to Mary to command her Son, Iure Matris impera Redemptori, as I heard your Maieſty moſt ſolidely proue, and ſo worſe then the Artians. Iniurious to his man-hood, to all his offices, his benefites, and all the meanes, inward and outward, of the knowing & applying of him. And laſt of all, iniurious to his ſoueraigne glory, in cōmunicating it to ſtocks & ſtones, a peece of bread bones & aſhes, & the skurf skarf of all things, as I hope, I hauehave made manifest in this my anſwere. So that moſte iuſtly it is called (r)Reu. 13.11. 1. Tim. 4.the ſpeach of the Dragon, and the doctrine of Diuels by the Spirite of God. And if the profeſsion of ſik a Diueliſh doctrine be too great an euill, what would the practiſe thereof be? I meane the idolatrous Maſse that abhomination of deſolation. The miſerie, allace, were too greate, Matth. 9.36.to ſee the people of this countrie ſcattered as ſheep without ſheepheards, dying that ſecond & euerlaſting death, for want of the bread of life and goſpell of ſaluation. But this would be the miſery of miſeries, if the (u)Reu. 17.4golden cupe of Babel, full of all abhominations, ſhuld be ſet to their head againe, to drink the deadly poiſon of their owne damnation. And certainly, if (x)Amos. 8.11.12.this famine of the worde of God, whereby not onelyonly (y)Amos. 48.two or three citties, as the Prophet ſayes, but twenty or thirty Parochins in ſome places, ſhould be compelled to goe to one, if they were deſirous to drink the waters of life; this I ſay, is a iudgment heauie ynough. But what a iudgement would this be, if they were compelled to byde at home, and it were but in their owne families, by that abhominable Maſſe, the rounde bread, the Gods of Babell. Surely a great many of the people of this countrie, does not (a)1. Reg. 18.21.halte nowe betweene theſe two thoughts, whether God be the Lord, or Baal: but hes forſaken the Lord and his Goſpell, and in their heart deſires the opportunitie to ſay to their round bread, theſe are our Gods who hes redeemed vsus from hell, and theſe will wee worſhip, at leaſt ſecreitly, til our ſtrength grow, & our nomber encreaſe. The reſte of the iniquities of this land, were too great to prouoke the Lorde of hoaſtes, ſuppoſe this impietie, (whilk the Lorde forbid for his Chriſts ſake) bee not added vntounto all the reſte, and aboue all the reſte. For what ſinne is comparable to idolatry? or what iniquity hes bene euer ſo ſeuearly puniſhed, as idolatrie? a ſinne that is immediatly againſt God, againſt Chriſt, againſt his glory: a ſinne that made (b)Ex. 32.28. Num. 25.9.2700 of the Lords owne choſen inheritance to fall in the wilderneſſe, for the golden Calfe, & Baal-Peor. A ſinne that prouoked the Lorde in ſik a high meaſure, that it made him delyuer his owne people (whome he had planted in that land of promiſe, and to whome he had ſworne to be their God) (c)Iudg…. 11.12.13 14.25.ouer in the hands of their enemies round about them, ſo that whitherſoeuer they went, the hande of the Lorde was ſore againſt them. A ſinne that (d)1. Reg. 11 5.11.rent the kingdome of Dauid aſunder, and made ten parts of it to be giuen to Ieroboam the Son of Nebat, ſuppoſe the perſon was called (e)2. Sam. 12 24.25.Iedidiah, the beloued of the Lord, & the promiſe was made vntounto him, that (f)2. Sam. 7.12.13.his houſe and throne ſhoulde ſtand for euer. And finally, a ſin that firſt mooued the Lord (g)2. Reg. 17 18.to put awaye Iſrael from before his face, & cauſed their land to vomit them out, without al hope euer to returne againe, and then made (h)2. Chro. 36.16.17.18 19.20.2. Reg. 25.10.his wrath ſo hote againſte Iuda, till there was no remedye but the Temple, the Kings houſe, and the houſes of all the nobles, were brunt with fire, the Kings ſonnes firſte ſlaine before his eies, then his owne eies put out, himſelfe bounde with chaines of ſteill, and he and his people carried captiues to Babel, wher there they remained for the ſpace of 70. yeares. Are not theſe things falne forth (i)2. Cor. 10 11.as examples to vsus, & ar they not written for our inſtruction, as the Apoſtle ſayes, vponupon whome the ends of the world is fallen: and is not (k)Reu. 17.4the abhomination of Babel, their idolatrous Maſſe, as great abhomination in the eyes of the Lord, as (l)1. Reg. 11.5Milcom the abhomination of the Ammonites. Is it a leſſe idolatry to worſhippe a (m)Ex. 32.4. 1. Reg. 11.5… Iud. 2.13.golden Calfe, the gods of Egypt, or a grauen ſheepe Aſchtaroth, the gods of the Sidonians, then to worſhip a bit of breade, made of wheate, groūd in the mil, baken in the ouen, coniured and erected vp by a Idolatrous Prieſt, whilk is the God of Babel, the Kirk of Rome. Is there any more Godhead in the one, then in the other? Hes their idole of the Maſſe any more life, feeling, or mouing, then the idols of Egypt and Sidon had? and does not the Kirk of Rome giuegive as great, yea rather greater worſhip and Religion to their round bread, then Iuda or Iſrael gaue to their golden calfe, or to Aſttaroth the grauen ſheepe. For they worſhip it as their Creator and redeemer. And as the worſhip of the golden Calfe, is called (n)Deut. 32.17.the worſhip of Diuels in Moſes ſong: ſo the Idolatry of the Kirk of Rome, whereof their rounde breade in their Maſſe, is one of the principall, is called (o)Reu. 9.20.the worſhip of Diuels, by the voyce that came from the foure hornes of the golden altare. For what Kirk or Kingdome vnderunder heauen is there to be found, who in the tyme of the blaſt of the ſext Trumpet, when that fearfull army of the Turkes was looſed to ouerrun Chriſtendome, does worſhip Idoles of golde and ſiluer, of braſſe, of woode, and of ſtone, but the Kirk of Rome? And if the worſhip of God by Images, as Iſrael did in the golden Galfe, whilk is but the breake of the ſecond command, be called the worſhip of Diuels, ſhall not the worſhip of a falſe Creator and Redeemer, as they doe in their Maſſe, whilk is not only the breake of the firſt command, but alſo the ſtramping vnderunder foote of the ſonne of God in the goſpel, be moſt iuſtly called the worſhip of Diuels? And is not the Lord as iealous of his glory now, as he was then? and hes hee not ſworne (p)Eſai. 42.8that hee will not giuegive it to another? and hes hee not (q)Reu. 13.14 15.16. & 14 8.9.10.11.12. & 16.1.2.10.19. & 17.1.2. & 18.2.3.3.5.6.21. & 19.19.20.21. & 21.21.threatned as ſeuere iudgements againſt the whoore of Babel, and the worſhippers of the beaſte and his image, and them that receaues his marke, openly or priuately, as euer he did againſt Iuda or Iſrael? Did he not cauſe it to be proclaimed, by an Angell with an loud voice, that the foundations of the earth might heare it, and tremble, that they ſhall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God, yea of that pure wine, powred out in the Cupe of his wrath, and they ſhall be tormented day and night before the holy Angels and before the Lambe: and the ſmoake of their torment ſhall aſcend for euermore, and they ſhall hauehave no reſt day nor night, that worſhips the beaſt and his Image. And heard not Iohn him that ſate vppon the Throne, the judge of the whole earth, ſay, that Idolaters ſhall hauehave their portion in the lake that burnes with fire and brimſtone, whilk is the ſecond death. And ſeing the knowledge of our redemption ſurmounteth the knowledge of our creation: and the benefite of our redemption exceides (by many degrees) the benefite of our creation: ſhall not the worſhip of an idole redeemer, and of a falſe Ieſus, as they doe in their Maſſe, ſurmount by many degrees, the worſhip of an idole creator, as Iuda and Iſrael did? For the greater the light be, and the greater the merciemercy be that is beſtowed vponupon any, their ſinne muſt be the greater. And as the light of the goſpell is more (a)2. Cor. 3.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.glorious then the light of the law, ſo the idolatrie of theſe that are vnderunder the Goſpell, muſt be more abhominable then the Idolatrie of theſe that were vnderunder the Law. Theirs was but (b)Heb. 10.28.the diſpyſing of Moſes Lawe: but this Idolatrie of their Maſſe, is (c)Heb. 10.29.the ſtramping vnderunder foote of the bloode of Chriſt, and ſo worthy of ſorer puniſhment (as the Apoſt. ſayes.) And ſupoſe that the iudgement were to fall but vponupon the committers of this ſinne onelyonly, it were too great, but it woulde reache further to a whole kingdome wherein it were committed, if by repentance and execution of iuſtice, it were not preuented. For ſhall (d)Gen. 20.9Abimelech King of Gerar, feare the iudgement of God vponupon his whole Kingdome for one adultery only intended, and that in ignorance? And what may a whole land then feare for ſik abhominable Idolatrie in ſo cleare a light of the Goſpell? And ſhall the ten tribes feare (e)Ioſh. 2… 21.the wrath of God to bee kindled againſte the whole congregation of Iſraell, For the rebellion of the other two tribes, in ſetting vp an altar to ſacrifice vponupon as they thought? And what ſhould wee feare then againſte this whole land, if there were altars reired vp not to worſhip God on, but the Idoll of Babell. And if (f)Ioſua. 7.Achans theft, ſuppoſe both the perſon & the ſinne was vnknowne: yea ſuppoſe there was no ſuſpition, neither of the one nor of the other, ſpoyled all Iſrael of Gods preſence, made them fall before their enemies, and made the Lorde refuſe to be in the middeſt of them, vnleſſe the ſinne & perſon was tryed and ſearched, and the Anathema taken away? And would not Babels Idolatrie be much more effectual to ſpoyle all the land, if it were defiled therewith of Gods preſence, to make vsus fall before our enemies, and to make the Lord to departe from vsus: ſuppoſe it were but in one perſon, ſeing the ſin is more odious in the Lords eyes, our light greater, and we more obleiſt nor they were. And ſuppoſe that this abhomination ſhould be but in priuat families, yet it is (g)2. Tin. 2.17.a fretting canker, as the Apoſtle ſayes, that frait hath infected a member of the bodie, it will inſect the reſt; if it be not preuented by cutting of the feſtered member. And the Apoſtle ſayes, (h)1. Cor. 5.6.a little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe, and experience hes taught that by proces of time a little leck, hath ſunke a great ſhip, & one perſon infected with the peſtilence hes infected a whole kingdome. The firſt Idolatrie of the land of Canaan began with (i)Iug. 17.5.3.Teraphim Iehouae, ſiluer ſanctified to the Lorde to bee an Image, but afterwarde it grew vp to the worſhip (k)Iug 2.13.of Baall and Aſchtaroth. It was in the beginning, but in one onlie familie, the familie of (l)Iug. 17.1.Micah. but in proces of time, it paſſed from that familie to the tribe of (m)Iug. 18.Dan. and from that tribe to all the reſt of the (n)…ug. 2.13.14.Tribes: till at the laſt all Iſraell ſinned & did that whilk was euil in the ſight of the Lord. So there is no queſtiō, Sir, & your Maieſtie put not to your hand, as your hauehave begun to doe it will get foote in this land, & it would paſſe from families to tribes, from priuate houſes, to temples: from the worſhip of the round bread to the worſhip of ſtockes & ſtones, and ſo by one degree to another, till it hauehave made all guiltie, what by infecting, what by Communicating with their ſinnes, and then bring the fearfull vengeance of God vponupon all. And ſuppoſe, Sir, that you hauehave not neede to bee taught of any for that light and vnderſtanding where-with the Lorde hes annoynted you, in ſo greate a meaſure beyonde many, doth teach you all things, and your Maieſtie hes laid ſo ſure foundation of maintenance, both of iuſtice and religion within your land, and hes begun ſo ſubſtantially to proſecute the ſame, (for the whilk from our harts we render glory and prayſe to God.) So that all further exhortation of your Maieſtie would ſeeme to be ſuperfluous, yet I muſt borrow leaue at your Maieſtie, to be bolde with all humbleneſſe of mind & reuerence of hart, to God and to your Maieſtie, to beſeeke you by the price of Ieſus Chriſt your Lord, to ſtirre vp the bowels of your compaſsion ouer this deſolate countrie, for (o)1. Reg. 1.20.vponupon whome are the eyes of all Iſraell but vponupon you Sir? And what King is there vnderunder heauen vnderunder whoſe gouernement the goſpel, hes had ſo free a paſſage, & the kirk of god hes had ſik purity & libertie, in ſik peace for ſo long a time in a whole kingdome, without hereſie or ſchiſme as vnderunder your Maieſties gouernement. So that wee were both vngrate to God and to you Sir, if with all thankſgiuing we did not acknowledge it. Take therefore for examples theſe worthie Kinges, who hes receaued a good reporte in the word of the Lord and now reſting from their laboures, hes receaued that incorruptible crowne of glory. Put on their affections Sir, and follow their actions, that your report heir, and crowne heirafter, may be equall, 2or rather aboue theirs. Let your heart q melt, Sir, with good Ioſias, not for our fathers tranſgreſsions, as he did, but for (r)Eze. 9.4.our owne ſins, and the ſinnes of this land: For God (s)Act. 17.30 31. Rom. 2.16regarded not the time of their ignorance, when the Goſpell ſhyned not, but now ſince that light is broken foorth, he admoniſhes all men to repent, becauſe he lies ſet a day (whilk cannot be far of) wherein he will iudge euerie one by the man Chriſt Ieſus according to his Goſpell. And if that great (t)Reu 10.1 2.Angel had not deſcended vntounto vsus, with that little booke open in his right hād, & the land had not bene once purged of idolatry, we ſhould not (u)Ioh. 15.21.24.hauehave had ſinned, but nowe we hauehave no cloake for our ſinne. Stirre vp your anger with Moſes, Sir, who ſuppoſe he was (x)Num. 12.13.the meekeſt man vppon the face of the whole earth, yet when he ſawe the golden calfe his (a)Ez. 32.19anger was kindled, that he brake the Tables of ſtone, the Lords owne worke and write, brunt the Calfe in the fire, braied it in powder, ſcattered it on the waters, and made the people to drinke thereof. Follow the example of good Iehoſaphat, Sir, who (b)2. Chron. 27.4.20.ſought the Lord his God, walked in his precepts, lifted vp his heart to the wayes of the Lord, purged his lande of Idolatrie: and firſt ſent Levites with his owne Princes to teache all the citties of his kingdome the law of the Lord: and after being admoniſhed by the Prophet, for helping of the wicked, and louing them who hated the Lord, (ſuppoſe he was his neighbour king, joined in affinity with him) he ſo repented, that he went from the one end of his kingdome to the other, euen from Beerſheba to mount Ephraim, and brought his people to the Lord their God, and eſtabliſhed religion, and juſtice in all the citties of his kingdome, and therefore the Lord was with him, he proſpered, & had riches and honour in aboundance. What ioy of heart, Sir, brought Ezechias to the hearts of all the godly, aſwell indwellers, as ſtrangers, when he (c)2. Chro. 29 & 30.31.purged his land of Idolatry, brake the braſen ſerpent whilk the people had abuſed, opened the dores of the Tē ple whilk were ſhut vp, reſtored the worſhip of God, ſent meſſingers with letters throughout al Iſrael, to conuert them to the Lorde their God, reſtored the Prieſts and Leuites to their miniſtry, as the Lord had commanded by his Prophetes, ſpake to their hearts, ſtrēgthened them in their offices, prouided for their maintenance, that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord. Followe theſe examples Sir: ſend Paſtors throughout all the borders of your kingdome, to teache your ſubiects the Law of their Lord, and the Goſpell of their ſaluation, eſtabliſhe Religion and Iuſtice in all the citties of your Kingdome. Cauſe the (d)Zach. 14 8 9.waters of life to runne frō the heart of your countrie, vntounto the borders thereof, that publickly and priuately, the Lorde may be but one, and his name one, and he may be a ſoueraigne King in all your land, as it was prophecied and promiſed. Eſtabliſhe Paſtors in all your Kingdome, ſtrengthen them in their offices, and ſpeake to their hearts. Prouyde for their maintenance, that they be not diſtracted, but may be encouraged in the Law of their God, and in the execution of their miniſtrie. And when it is reported to your Maieſty, or ye heare of any, be they many, or be they fewe, be they man, or be they wife, be it publictly, or be it ſecretly, in any of the citties or parts in your Maieſties Kingdome, that they hauehave gone out to entiſe others to Idolatry, or hes committed Idolatry themſelues, ye try it, ſearche it, and ſeeke it out moſt diligently, for ſo the Lord hes moſt ſtraitly commanded. And if it be true & certaine, that ſik abhomination is done in your kingdom; take euill out of Iſrael, that he may hauehave mercy on vsus, and multiply his bliſsings to vsus. And then may ye Sir, (hauing done all theſe things) take God to recorde, that you are cleane from the blood of all your people, becauſe you hauehave kept no meane back from thē, whilk your calling craued, but hes cauſed the whole counſel of God to be ſhewed to them: ſo that if they periſhe their owne blood may be vponupon their owne heades. And then ſhall forraine nations and ſtrangers ſay of you Sir, as (g)Reg. 5 7.Hiram, and the Queene of Sheba ſaide of Salomon, Bliſſed (h)Reg 10.8.9.be the Lord God who hes ſet ſik a wiſe and vnderſtanding Prince ouer Scotland, to builde his Kirk, and to exerciſe iuſtice & iudgement there, it was for the louelove the Lord had to his Kirk there, that he ſet ſik a wiſe and vnderſtāding Prince ouer them. Yea, (i)Pſal. 78, 4.the generations to come, ſhal tell to their children, and their childrens children, the great work of the Lord, whilk he hes done by you, Sir, in this land. I hauehave heard your Maieſty grauely proteſt, before God, in two generall aſſemblies, that it was one of your Maieſties greateſt deſires, and ye were euen, as it were, ambitious of that worke, to plant eueryevery Parochin within your kingdome, with a Paſtor: that the poſterities to come, might ſay, King IAMES the ſext, hes done ſik a notable worke in his dayes. Confirme your ſelf, Sir, in that purpoſe: for ye know, Sir, who hes ſaid, (a)1. Sam. 2.30.I will honour them that honors mee. There is no queſtion, Sir, and I ſpeake with confidence, if ye honour him in this kingdome, and be faithfull to him in the gouernement of it, he ſhal honour you: not only by making you to raigne in that euerlaſting kingdome, but alſo by lifting you vp to bee rewler ouer moe Kingdomes heir. The Lord annoynted Dauid King ouer all Iſrael: yet he gaue not the poſseſsion of it al at once, after the death of Saul, but firſt proued him with the gouernement of one Tribe ſeauen yeares and a halfe, & then finding him faithfull ouer that, he placed him rewler ouer all the reſt, & eſtabliſhed all Iſrael in his hand. So there is no queſtion, and I am ſure of it, if ye honour the Lorde to the vttermoſte of your power, in the gouernement of this kingdome, and giuegive him a proofe of your fidelity therein: that as he hes giuen you the vndoubted right by birth, to bee a King ouer moe Kingdomes then this, ſo ſhall he make you rewler of them, and eſtabliſh them in your hands: onelyonly Sir, (b)Ioſua 1.6.7.8.9.be ye ſtrong and couragious to do with al diligence as the Lord hes commanded you in his worde, and as ye ſee theſe faithfull Kings hes done before you. Decline neither to the right hand, nor to the left, & then aſſuredly I dare promiſe you in the name of the Lord, hee ſhall not leaue you or forſake you al your dayes, and none ſhall be able to ſtand before your face And as he was with Ioſua and Dauid, ſo ſhall he be with you. For the Lord is true who hes promiſed, and then ſhalt thou proſper in all thy waies. And conſider vponupon the other part who euer proſpered vntounto the end, but theſe that walked as the Lord had commanded. For true is that whilk the Lorde ſpake by his Prophet to Aſa, (c)2. Chro. 1.4 2.He is with you while ye be with him, and if ye ſeeke him, he wil be found but if ye will forſake him, he will forſake you. Was the Lord any longer with Saule, Ioaſh, Amazia, Vzzia, al Kings of Iuda, then they were with him? No, no: but from time they forſooke him, he forſooke them. Becauſe Saule (d)1. Sam. 15 23. & 16.15.deſpiſed the word of the Lorde, in ſparing whome he ſhould not hauehave ſpared, the Lord deſpiſed him from being King ouer Iſraell, and the Spirite of the Lorde forſooke him. Becauſe Ioaſhe forſooke the Lord, (e)2. Chro. 24 20.in permitting Idolatrie at the requeſt of his princes, the Lord forſooke him and his kingdome, and deliuered them into the hands of their enemies. Becauſe Amatzia did euill, and obeyed (f)2 Cro. …5.16.not the councell of the Prophet, when he admoniſhed him, the Lorde determined to deſtroy him. Vzzia al the (g)2. Cro. 26.5.16.18.dayes that he ſought the Lord, the Lorde proſpered him, but frō time he lifted vp himſelfe to corrupt himſelf, and to treſpaſſe againſt the Lord his God, in paſſing the limites of his calling, and inuading the Prieſts office, he had no honour of the Lord but was ſmitten with leaproſie. But let all theſe things be farre from your Maieſtie, ſince you ſee what euerie one of theſe hes done to Kings and Kingdomes before you, let your hearte be conſtant before the Lord your God all the dayes of your life, that priores (h)2. Cro. 25.26.& poſteriores, be neuer regiſtrate of your Maieſtie as it was of them, neither in the bookes of the Lordes cōmentary before him, neither in the Chronicles of the kings of Scotland, but that both your former & latter may be that whilk is good and right in the eyes of the Lord. That both the Lorde may giuegive this teſtimonye to your owne conſcience, and to the conſcience of all his children, that hee gaue of Dauid, I hauehave founde you a man according to my owne hart that will doe all my will: and alſo, that it may be written of your Maeiſtie in the Chronicles of the Kings of Scotland as it was written of Dauid, Ezechias, Ioſias, in the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda, that King IAMES the ſext, his harte was perſite toward the Lorde his God all his dayes, and his gouernement was in ſik peace and Iuſtice, that after him there was none like him of al the Kings of Scotland: neither was there any ſik before him, who did cleaue vntounto the Lord his God, with all his heart, and followed all his commandements, and neither declined to the right hand, nor to the left. Nowe the Lord graunt to your Maieſty, that yee may finde this fauour in his eies for his Chriſts ſake. I hauehave nowe taken this boldeneſſe, to offer theſe my labours vntounto your Maieſtie: as a teſtimony of my moſte humble, and loyall hart vntounto your Maieſtie, as God the ſearcher of the heart knowes. Your Maieſtie did exceedingly encourage mee, to let it goe forth vntounto the light, what by your Maieſties moſte gracious acceptation of my indeuour, and moſte fauourable cenſure, and approbation of my laboures: what by your Maieſties humane counſell and aduiſe, confirmed by your Maieſties Priuiledge and authoritie to mee to publiſhe the ſame. Sik was your Maieſties humanitie to mee, not onelyonly in theſe, but in all your actions, both publick and priuate, with all your ſubiects, of whatſomeuer ranke or degree. Ye kyith ſik humanitie and affabilitie, that that ſaying of Trajanus the Emperour, that a Prince ſhuld be hauehave himſelf ſo to his ſubiects, as he would hauehave thē to doe to him, if he were a priuate man, is verefied in you, Sir, wherein certainelie ye need not to giuegive place to any of whatſomeuer ranke: you expres it ſo liuelie in al your actions, & I hauehave found it for my owne parte by experience. So that your Maieſtie hes often cauſed me to remember, that notable ſaying of Titus that Romane Emperour, A ſubject ſhould neuer goe ſad hearted from the ſpeach of his Prince: The whilk experience makes me to conceaue hope, that your Maieſtie will pardon this my boldeneſſe, will accept in good part this my ſmall myte. I therefore moſt humblie deſire your Maieſtie to accept it, as from your Maieſties moſte humble obedient ſeruant and ſubiect. For whoſe peace and proſperitie, I am alwaies earneſt with the Lorde. Now the God of all peace, euen that King of Kings, powre all light and grace in all aboundance, more and more, vponupon your Maieſtie, and ſo roote and ground your heart in Ieſus Chriſt, that ye may honour him more and more in your life and calling heir, that ye may be honoured of him againe, both in this life, and in that day with immortall and euerlaſting glorie. Amen. From Aire the 18. of Nouember. 1602.
Your Maieſties moſte humble ſubiect M. IOHN WELSCHE.