History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Text 2

History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland · Text 2

p. 34The Admonition of John Knox to the Commonalty of Scotland

To his beloved Brethren the Commonalty of SCOTLAND: JOHN KNOX wisheth Grace, Mercy, and Peace; With the Spirit of righteous judgement.

WHat I have required of the Queen Regent, States and Nobility, as of the chief Heads (for this present) of the Realm, I cannot cease to require of you (dearly beloved brethren) which be the Communalty and Body of the same; to wit, That it (notwithstanding that false and cruell Sentence which your disguised Bishops have pronounced against me) would please you to be so favourable unto me, as to be indifferent auditors of my just Purgation: Which to do if God earnestly move your hearts, as I nothing doubt but that your enterprise shall redound to the praise and glory of his holy Name; so am I assured, That ye and your posterity shall by that means receive most singular comfort, edification and profit: For when ye shall hear the matter debated, ye shall easily perceive and understand upon what ground and foundation is builded that Religion which amongst you is this day defended by fire and sword. As for mine owne conscience, I am most assuredly perswaded, That whatsoever is used in the Papisticall Church, is altogether repugning to Christs blessed Ordinance, and is nothing but mortall venome; of which whosoever drinketh, I am assuredly perswaded that therewith he drinketh death and damnation, except by true conversion unto God he be purged from the same. But because that long silence of Gods Word hath begotten ignorance almost in all sorts of men; and ignorance joyned with long custome, hath confirmed superstition in the hearts of many, I therefore,Note. in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, desire audience, as well of you the Commonalty, my brethren, as of the States and Nobility of the Realm, that in publike Preaching I may have place amongst you at large to utter my minde in all matters of controversie this day in Religion.Petition. And further I desire, That ye, concurring with your Nobility, would competl your Bishops and Clergie to cease their tyranny: And also, That for the better assurance and instruction of your conscience, ye would compell your said Bishops and false Teachers to answer by the Scriptures of God to such Objections and crimes, as shall be laid against their vain Religion, false Doctrine, wicked life, and slanderous conversation. Here I know that it shall be objected, That I require of you a thing most unreasonable; to wit, That ye should call your Religion in doubt, which hath been approved and established by so long continuance, and by the consent of so many men before you. But I shortly answer, That neither is the long continuance of time, neither yet the multitude of men a p. 35sufficient approbation, which God will allow for our Religion; For as some of the ancient Writers do witnesse, neither can long processe of time justifie an errour, neither can the multitude of such, as follow it, change the nature of the same;Answer to an Objection. But if it was an errour in the beginning, so is it in the end, and the longer that it be followed, and the mo that do receive it, it is more pestilent, and more to be avoided: For if antiquity or multitude of men could justifie any Religion,Lactant. Firmian. Tertullian. Cyprian. then was the Idolatry of the Gentiles, and now is the abomination of the Turks, good Religion; For antiquity approved the one, and a multitude hath received, and doth defend the other: But otherwise to answer, godly men may wonder from what Fountain such a sentence doth flow, that no man ought to trie his faith and Religion by Gods Word, but that he safely may beleeve and follow every thing, which antiquity and multitude have approved;John 5. & 7.John 5 the Spirit of God doth otherwise teach us; for the wisdome of God, Christ Jesus himself, remitted his adversaries to Moses and the Scriptures, to trie by them whether his Doctrine were of God, or not: The Apostles Paul and Peter command men to trie the Religion which they professe,Acts 17. 2 Pet. 1. 1 John 4.Acts 172 Pet 11 John 4 by Gods plaine Scriptures, and doe praise men for so doing; Saint Iohn straightly commandeth, That we beleeve not every spirit, but to trie the spirits whether they be of God, or not. Now seeing that these evident testimonies of the holy Ghost will us to trie our faith and Religion by the plain Word of God; wonder it is that the Papists will not be content that their Religion and Doctrine come under the triall of the same. If this sentence of Christ be true (as it is most true, seeing it springeth from the verity it self) Who so doth evill hateth the Light, neither will he come to the Light, John 3.John 3lest that his works be manifested and rebuked, then do our Papists by their own sentence condemne themselves and their Religion; for in so farre as they refuse examination and triall, they declare that they know some fault which the Light will utter; which is a cause of their fear, and why they claim that priviledge, that no man dispute of their Religion;Why Papists will not dispute of the ground of their Religion. Mahomet and the Pope do agree. the Verity and Truth being of the nature of fine purified Gold, doth not fear the triall of the Fornace; but the stubble and Chaffe of mans inventions (such is their Religion) may not abide the the flame of fire. True it is, that Mahomet pronounced this sentence, That no man should in pain of death dispute or reason of the ground of his Religion; which Law to this day (by the art of Sathan) is observed amongst the Turkes, to their mortall blindnesse and horrible blaspheming of the Gospell of Christ Jesus, and of his true Religion; And from Mahomet or rather from Sathan the father of all lies) hath the Pope and his rabble learned this former lesson; to wit, Their Religion should not be disputed upon, but what the fathers have beleeved, that ought and must the Children approve; and in so divising Satan lacked not his foresight, for no one thing hath more established the kingdome of that Romane Antichrist, then this most wicked decree; to wit, That no man was permitted to reason of his power, or to call his Laws in doubt: This is most assured, that whensoever the Papisticall Religion shall come to examination, it shall be found to have no other ground, then hath the religion of Mahomet; to wit, mans invention, device and dreams overshaddowed with p. 36some colour of Gods Word: And therefore Brethren, seeing that the Religion is to man, as the stomack to the body, which if it be corrupted, doth infect the whole Members, it is necessary that the same be examined; and if it be found replenished with pestilent humours, (I mean with the fantasies of men) then of necessitie it is, that those be purged, else shall your bodies and souls perish for ever:Note. For of this I would ye were most certainly perswaded,Reformation of Religion belongeth to all that hope for life everlasting. that a corrupt Religion defileth the whole life of man, appear it never so holy. Neither would I that ye should esteem the Reformation and care of Religion lesse to appertain to you, because ye are no Kings, Rulers, Judges, Nobles, nor in Authoritie; beloved Brethren, ye are Gods Creatures,Rom. 1.Rom 1 created and formed to his own Image and similitude, for whose redemption was shed the most precious blood of the onelyonly beloved Sonne of God, to whom he hath commanded his Gospell and glad-tydings to be preached, and for whom he hath prepared the heavenly Inheritance, so that ye will not obstinatly refuse, and disdainfully contemne the means which he hath appointed to obtain the same; to wit, his blessed Evangell, which now he offereth unto you, to the end that ye may be saved: For the Gospell and glad Tydings of the Kingdome truly preached,Rom. 1.Rom 1 is the power of God to the salvation of every Beleever, which to credite and receive your the Communalty are no lesse addebted, then be your Rulers and Princes;The subject is no lesse bound to beleeve in Christ, then is the King. for albeit God hath put and ordained distinction and difference betwixt the King and Subjects, betwixt the Rulers and the Common-people in the Regiment and Administration of Civill Policies, yet in the hope of the life to come he hath made all equall; for as in Christ Jesus the Iew hath no greater Prerogative then hath the Gentile, Gal 3.Gal 3the man then hath the woman, the learned then the unlearned, the Lord then the servant, but all are one in him, so is there but one way and means to attain to the participation of his benefits and spirituall graces, which is a lively faith, working by charitie; and therefore I say, that it doth no lesse appertain to you, beloved Brethren, to bee assured that your faith and Religion be grounded and established upon the true and undoubted Word of God, then to your Princes or Rulers: For as your bodies cannot escape corporall death, if with your Princes ye eate or drink deadly poyson (although it be by ignorance or negligence;) so shall ye not escape the everlasting, if with them ye professe a corrupt Religion; yea, except in heart ye beleeve, and with mouth ye confesse the Lord Jesus to be the onelyonly Saviour of the world, (which ye cannot doe,Abac. 2. Mark 16. John 3.Hab 2Mark 16John 3 except ye embrace his Evangell offered) ye cannot escape death and damnation: For as the just liveth by his own faith, so doth the unfaithfull perish by his infidelitie: And as true faith is ingendred, nourished, and maintained in the hearts of Gods Elect, by Christs Evangell truely preached; so is infidelity and unbelief fostered by concealing and repressing the same. And thus if ye look for the life everlasting, ye must trie if ye stand in faith, and if ye would be assured of a true and lively faith, ye must needs have Christ Jesus truly preached unto you. And this is the cause (dear Brethren) that so oft I repeat, and so constantly I affirme, That to you it doth not lesse appertain, then to you King or Princes, to provide that Christ Jesus be truely preached amongst you, seeing that p. 37without his true knowledge, can neither of you both attain to Salvation: And this is the point, wherein (I say) all men are equall, That all are descended from Adam,Wherein all men are equall by whose sin and inobedience did death enter into the world, so it behoved all that shall obtain life, to be ingrafted in one, that is, in the Lord Iesus, who being the just servant, Rom 5. Isa 53. John 3 & 5.Rom 5Isa 53John 3doth by his knowledge justifie many; to wit, all that unfainedly beleeve in him. Of this equalitie, and that, God requireth no lesse of the subject, be he never so poor, then of the Prince and rich man in matters of Religion, he hath given an evident declaration in the Law of Moses; for when the Tabernacle was builded, erected, and set in order, God did provide, how it and the things pertaining to the same, should be sustained, so that they should not fall in decay: And this provision (albeit heaven and earth obey his Empire) would he not take from the secret and hid Treasures which lie dispersed in the veines of the earth,Exod. 30.Exod 30 neither yet would he take it from the rich and potent of the people; but he did command, That every one of the sons of Israel (were he rich or were he poor) that came in count from 20 yeers and upward, should yeerly pay halfe a Sickle for an oblation to the Lord, in the remembrance of their Redemption, and for an expiation or cleansing of their souls, which money God commanded should be bestowed upon the Ornaments and necessaries of the Tabernacle of Testimony. He furthermore added a Precept, That the rich should give no more for that use, and in that behalf, then should the poor; neither yet that the poor should give any lesse then should the rich in that consideration. This law, to mans reason and judgement, may appear very unreasonable; for some rich man might have given a thousand sickles with lesse hurt of his substance, then some poor man might have payed the half Sickle: And yet God maketh all equall, and will that the one shall pay no more then the other, neither yet the poor lesse then the rich; This Law (I say) may appear very unequall: But if the cause which God addeth be observed, we shall finde in the same the great mercy and inestimable wisdom of God to appear, which cause is expressed in these words;Exod. 30.Exod 30 This money received from the children of Israel, thou shalt give in for the service of the Tabernacle, that it may be to the clildren of Israel for a remembrance before the Lord, that he may be mercifull to your souls. This cause (I say) doth evidently declare, That as the whole multitude was delivered from the bondage of Egypt by the mighty power of God alone; so was every member of the same (without respect of persons) sanctified by his grace, the richest (in that behalfe) nothing preferred before the poorest: For by no merit and worthinesse of man was he moved to choose and to establish his habitation and dwelling amongst them; but their felicity, prerogative and honour which they had above all other Nations, proceeded onelyonly from the fountaine of his eternall goodnesse, who loved them freely, as he freely had chosen them to be a priestly kingdome, and holy people from all Nations of the earth: Thus to honour them that hee would dwell in the midst of them, he neither was moved (I say) by the wisdome of the wise, by the riches of the potent,Exod. 19.Exod 19 neither yet by the vertue and holinesse of any state amongst them, but of meer goodnesse did he love them, and with his presence did he honour the whole people, and therefore to paint out p. 38the same his common love to the whole multitude, and to cut off occasions of contention, and doubts of conscience, he would receive no more from the rich, then from the poor, for the maintenance of that his tabernacle, by the which was represented his presence and habitation amongst them. If the rich had been preferred to the poor, then as the one should have been puffed up with pride,The presence of God represented in the Tabernacle. as that he had been more acceptable to God by reason of his greater gift, so should the conscience of the other have been troubled and wounded, thinking that his poverty was an impediment that he could not stand in so perfect favour with God, as did the other, because he was not able to give so much, as did the rich, to the maintenance of his Tabernacle: But he, who of mercy (as is said) did choose his habitation amongst them, and also that best knoweth what lyeth within man, did provide the remedie for the one, and for the other, making them equall in that behalf, who in other things were most unequall. If the poor should have found himself grieved by reason of that taxe, and that asmuch was imposed upon him as upon the Rich, yet had he no small cause of joy, that God himself would please to compare him,Heb. 9.Heb 9 and to make him equall (in the maintenance of his Tabernacle) to the most rich and potent in Israel. If this equality was commanded by God for maintenance of that transitory tabernacle, which was but a shadow of a better to come; is not the same required of us, who now have the verity, which is Christ Jesus? who being clad with our nature, is made Immanuel, that is, God with us; Whose naturall body, Isa 8. Act. 3. Mat. 28.Isa 8Acts 3Matt 28albeit it be received into the Heavens, where he must abide till all be compleat that is forespoken by the Prophets, yet hath he promised to be present with us to the end of the world. And for that purpose, and for the more assurance of his Promise, he hath erected amongst us here in earth the Signes of his own presence with us, his spirituall Tabernacle, the true preaching of his Word,The spirituall Tabernacle and signes of Christ… pre▪ and right administration of his Sacraments; to the maintenance whereof is no lesse bound the subject then the Prince, the poor then the rich: For as the Price, which was given for mans redemption, is one, so God requireth of all that shall be partakers of the benefits of the same, a like duty which is a plain confession, That by Christ Jesus alone we have received, whatsoever was lost in Adam. Of the Prince doth God require, That he refuse himself, and that he follow Christ Jesus; of the Subject he requireth the same. Of the Kings and Judges it is required, That they kisse the Son; that is, give honour, subjection and obedience to him: and from such reverence doth not God exempt the Subject that shall be saved; and this is, That equality which is betwixt the kings and subjects, the most rich or noble, and betwixt the poorest and men of lowest state; to wit, That as the one is obliged to beleeve in heart, and with mouth to confesse the Lord Jesus to be the onelyonly Saviour of the world, so also is the other. Neither is there any of Gods children (who hath attained to the yeers of discretion) so poor, but that he hath thus much to bestow upon the Ornaments and maintenance of their spirituall Tabernacle, when necessity requireth; neither yet is there any so rich, of whose hands God requireth any more:1 Par. 29. 2 Par. 3.4. & 5. 2 Par. 29.30. & 35.1 Chr 292 Chr 3:42 Chr 3:52 Chr 29:302 Chr 29:35 For albeit that David gathered great substance for the building of the Temple, that Solomon with earnest diligence and incredible expences erected and finished the same, That Hezekiah and Iosiah purged the Religion p. 39which before was corrupted: yet to them was God no further debter in that respect, then he was to the most simple of the faithfull posterity of faithfull Abraham; for their diligence, zeal and works gave rather testimony and confession before men,1 Par. 29. 2 Par. 3.4, & 5. 2 Par. 29.30, & 35.1 Chr 292 Chr 3:42 Chr 3:52 Chr 29:302 Chr 29:35 what honour they did bear to God; what love to his Word; what reverence to his Religion, then that any work proceeding from them did either establish, or yet encrease Gods favour towards them, who freely did love them in Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world was laid: So that these forenamed, by their notable works, gave testimony of their unfained faith; and the same doth the poorest, that unfainedly and openly professeth Christ Jesus, and doth embrace his glad tydings offered, That doth abhor Superstition, and flie from Idolatry. The poorest, I say, and most simple that this day on earth, in the dayes of this cruell persecution firmly believeth in Christ, and boldly doth confesse him before this wicked generation,Note. is no lesse acceptable before God, neither is judged in his presence to have done any lesse in promoting Christ his Cause, then is the King, that by his sword and power which he hath received of God, rooteth out Idolatry, and so advanceth Christs glory. But to return to our former purpose: It is no lesse required, I say, of the subject to believe in Christ, and to professe his true Religion, then of the Prince and King: And therefore I affirm, That in Gods presence it shall not excuse you to alleadge, That yee were no chief Rulers, and therefore that the care and reformation of Religion did not appertain unto you.

Yee, dear brethren (as before is said) are the creatures of God created to his own Image and similitude;Matth. 17.Matt 17 to whom it is commanded, To hear the voice of your heavenly Father, To embrace his Son Christ Jesus, To flie from all doctrine and Religion which he hath not approved by his own Will, revealed to us in his most blessed Word. To which Precepts and Charges if yee be found inobedient, ye shall perish in your iniquity as rebells and stubborn servants, that have no pleasure to obey the good Will of their Soveraign Lord, who most lovingly doth call for your obedience: And therefore, brethren, in this behalf, it is your part to be carefull and diligent:Note. For the question is not of things temporall, which although they be endangered, yet by diligence and processe of time may after be redressed; but it is of the damnation of your bodies and souls, and of the losse of life everlasting; which once lost, can never be recovered. And therefore I say, That it behoveth you to be carefull and diligent in this so weighty a matter, lest that ye, contemning this occasion which God now offereth, finde not the like, although that after with groaning and sobs ye languish for the same. And that ye be not ignorant of what occasion I mean, in few words I shall expresse it.

Not onelyonly I,The offer of Iohn Knox ro hi… native Realm. but with me also divers other godly and learned men, do offer unto you our labours, faithfully to instruct you in the wayes of the eternall our God, and in the sincerity of Christs Evangell, which this day, by the pestilent Generation of Antichrist (I mean by the Pope, and by his most ungodly Clergy) are almost hid from the eyes of men: We offer to jeopard our lives for the salvation of your souls, and by manifest Scriptures to prove that Religion that amongst you is maintained by fire p. 40and sword, to be false, vain and diabolicall. We require nothing of you, but that patiently ye will hear our Doctrine, which is not ours, but the Doctrine of salvation revealed to the world by the onelyonly Son of God; And that ye will examine our reasons,What he requireth. by the which we offer to prove the Papisticall Religion to be abominable before God: And last, we require, That by your power the tyranny of those cruell beasts (I mean of Priests and Fryers) may be bridled till we have uttered our mindes in all matters this day debatable in Religion: If these things in the fear of God ye grant to me, and unto others that unfainedly for your salvation, and for Gods glory require the same, I am assured, That of God ye shall be blessed, whatsoever Satan shall devise against you. But and if ye contemn or refuse God, who thus lovingly offereth unto you salvation and life, ye shall neither escape plagues Temporall which shortly shall apprehend you, neither yet the torment prepared for the devill and for his angels, except by your speedy repentance ye return to the Lord, whom now ye refuse, if that ye refuse the Messengers of his Word.

An answer to two questions.But yet I think ye doubt what ye ought and may do in this so weighty a matter. In few words I will declare my conscience in the one, and in the other: Ye ought to prefer the glory of God, and the promoting of Christ his Evangell, and the salvation of your souls, to all things that be in the earth: And ye, although ye be but subjects, may lawfully require of your Superiours, be it of your King, be it of your Lords, Rulers and Powers, That they provide for you true Preachers,Subjects may lawfully require true Preachers of the…r Rulers. and that they expell such as under the name of Pastors, devour and destroy the Flock, not feeding the same as Christ Jesus hath commanded: And if in this point your Superiours be negligent, or yet pretend to maintain tyrants in their tyranny, most justly ye may provide true Teachers for your selves, Pastors according to the minde and heart of God, by whom you may be fed with that most comfortable food of your souls, Christs Evangell truly preached: Ye may moreover, in a peaceable manner, without sedition, with-hold the fruits and profits which your false Bishops and Clergy most unjustly receive of you, unto such time as they shall faithfully do their charge and duties, which is, To preach unto you Christ Jesus truely, rightly to minister the Sacraments according to his own Institution; and so to watch for the salvation of your souls,John 21. Acts 20.John 21Acts 20 as is commanded by Christ Jesus himself, and by his Apostles Paul and Peter. If God shall move your hearts in his true fear to begin to practice these things, and to demanded and crave the same of your Superiours, which most lawfully ye may do, then I doubt not but of his great mercy, and free grace, he will illuminate the eyes of your mindes, that his undoubted Verity will be a Lantern to your feet, to guide and lead you in all the wayes which godly wisedom doth approve; he will make your enemies tremble before your faces; he will establish his Evangell amongst you, to the salvation and perpetuall comfort of your selves, and of your posterity after you. But and if (as God forbid) the love of friends, the fear of your Princes,Things that may draw men back from the sincerity of Christs Evangell. and the wisedom of the world draw you back from God, and from his Son Christ Jesus, be ye certainly perswaded, That ye shall drink the cup of his Vengeance; so many, I mean, as shall contemn and despise this loving calling of your heavenly Father. p. 41It will not excuse you (dear brethren) in the presence of God, neither yet will it avail you in the day of his visitation, to say, We were but simple subjects, we could not redresse the faults and crimes of our Rulers, Bishops and Clergy: We called for Reformation, and wished for the same; but Lords brethren were Bishops, their sons were Abbots, and the friends of great men had the possession of the Church, and so were we compelled to give obedience to all that they demanded. These vain excuses, I say, will nothing avail you in the presence of God, who requireth no lesse of the subjects, then of their Rulers; That they decline from evil, and that they do good; that they abstain from Idolatry, Superstition, Blasphemy, Murther, and other such like horrible crimes which his Law forbiddeth, and yet neverthelesse are openly committed and maliciously defended in that miserable Realm. And if ye think that ye are innocent, because ye are not the chief actors of such iniquity, ye are utterly deceived; for God doth not onelyonly punish the chief offenders, but with them doth he condemn the consenters to such iniquity; and all are judged to consent,Rom. 2.Rom 2 that knowing impiety committed, give no testimony that the same displeaseth them.Note. To speak this matter more plain, As your Princes and Rulers are criminall with your Bishops of all Idolatry committed, and of all the innocent blood that is shed for the testimony of Christs Truth;Princes and Bishops are alike criminall. How subjects offend with their Princes. and that because they maintain them in their tyranny: so are you (I mean so many of you as give no plain confession to the contrary) criminall and guilty with your Princes and Rulers in the same crimes, because ye assist and maintain your Princes in their blinde rage, and give no declaration that their tyranny displeaseth you.Gen. 7. & 19.Gen 7 This Doctrine, I know, is strange to the blinde world; but the verity of it hath been declared in all notable punishments from the beginning. When the originall world perished by water; when Sodome and Gomorra were consumed by fire; and finally,Iosephus Egesippus. when Ierusalem was horribly destroyed; Doth any man think that all were alike wicked before the world? Evident it is that they were not, if they be judged according to their externall facts; for some were young, and could not be oppressors, neither yet could defile themselves with unnaturall and beastly lusts: Some were pitifull, and gentle of nature, and did not thirst for the blood of Christ, nor of his Apostles: But did any escape the plagues and vengeance which did apprehend the multitude? Let the Scriptures witnesse, and the Histories be considered, which plainly do testifie, That by the waters all flesh in earth at that time did perish; (Noah and his family reserved) That none escaped in Sodome, and in the other Cities adjacent, except Lot and his two daughters. And evident it is, That in that famous City Ierusalem, in that last and horrible destruction of the same, none escaped Gods vengeance, except so many as before were dispersed. And what is the cause of this severity, seeing that all were not alike offenders, let the flesh cease to dispute with God, and let all men by these examples learn betimes to fly, and avoid the society and company of the proud contemners of God, if that they list not to be partakers of their plagues. The cause is evident, if we can be subject without grudging to Gods judgements, which in themselves are most holy and just: For in the originall world none was found, that either did resist tyranny and oppression that universally was used, nor yet that earnestly p. 42reprehended the same. In Sodome was none found that did gain stand that furious and beastly multitude that did compasse about and besiege the house of Lot: None would believe Lot, that the City should be destroyed. And finally, in Ierusalem was found none that studied to represse the tyranny of the Priests, who were conjured against Christ and his Evangell; but all fainted (I except ever such as gave witnesse with their blood, or their flying, That such impiety displeased them) all kept silence; by the which all approved iniquity, and joyned hands with the tyrannts, and so were all arayed and set, as it had been in one Battell, against the Omnipotent, and against his Son Christ Jesus: For whosoever gathereth not with Christ in the day of his Harvest, is judged to scatter; And therefore of one vengeance temporall were they all partakers. Which thing, as before I have touched, ought to move you to the deep consideration of your duties in these last and most perillous times. The iniquity of your Bishops is more then manifest; their filthy lives infect the ayr; the innocent blood which they shed, cryeth vengeance in the ears of our God; the idolatry and abomination which openly they commit, and without punishment maintain, doth corrupt and defile the whole Land, and none amongst you do unfainedly study for any redresse of such enormities. Will God in this behalf hold you as innocents? Be not deceived, dear brethren; God hath punished not onelyonly the proud tyrants, filthy persons, and cruell murtherers, but also such as with them did draw the yoke of iniquity, was it by flattering their offences,What subjects shall God punish with their Princes. obeying their unjust commandments, or in winking at their manifest iniquity. All such, I say, God once punished with the chief offenders. Be ye assured, brethren, that as he is immutable of nature, so will he not pardon you in that which he hath punished in others; and now the lesse, because he hath plainly admonished you of the dangers to come, and hath offered you his mercy before he pour forth his wrath and displeasure upon the inobedient.

God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the father of glory, and God of all consolation, give you the spirit of wisedom, and open unto you the knowledge of himself, by the means of his dear Son, by the which ye may attain to the esperance and hope, That after the troubles of this transitory life, ye may be partakers of the glorious Inheritance which is prepared for such as refuse themselves, and fight under the Banner of Christ Iesus in the day of this his Battell: That in deep consideration of the same, ye may learn to prefer the invisible and eternall joyes, to the vain pleasures that are present. God further grant you his holy Spirit, righteously to consider what I, in his Name, have required of your Nobility, and of the subjects, and move all together so to answer, that my Petition be not a testimony of your just condemnation, when the Lord Iesus shall appear to revenge the blood of his Saints, and the contempt of his most holy Word. Amen.

Sleep not in sin; for vengeance is prepared against the inobedient.

Fly from Babylon, if ye will not be partakers of her plagues.

Grace be with you.

Your Brother to command in godlinesse, JOHN KNOX. Be witnesse to my Appellation. The 4. of Iuly, 1558.

p. 43A faithfull ADMONITION made by IOHN KNOX, To the true Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST within the Kingdom of England. 1554.

John Knox wisheth Grace, Mercy, and Peace from GOD the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, with the perpetuall Comfort of the Holy Ghost to be with you for ever and ever, dear Brethren, the afflicted Members of Christs Church in England.

HAving no lesse desire to comfort such as now be in trouble within the Realm of England, (and specially you for many causes most dear to me) then hath the naturall Father to ease the griefe and pain of his dearest Childe; I have considered with my selfe, what argument or parcell of Gods Scriptures was most convenient and meet to be handled for your consolation in these most dark and dolorous dayes:A note made upon the sending of Christs Disciples to the Sea, the miraculous feeding of the people. And so (as for the same purpose I was turning my Book) I chanced to see a Note in the Margine written thus in Latine, Videas Anglia, Let England beware; which Note when I had considered, I found, that the matter written in my Booke in Latine, was this, Seldome it is that God worketh any notable work to the comfort of his Church, but that trouble, fear, and labour cometh p. 44upon such as God hath used for his Servants and Workmen; and also tribulation most commonly followeth that Church were Christ Iesus is most truely preached. This Note was made upon a place of Scripture written in the fourteenth Chapter of Saint Matthews Gospell; which place declareth, That after Christ Jesus had used the Apostles as Ministers and Servants to feed (as it had been by their hands) five thousand men, beside women and children, with five Barley Loaves and two Fishes; he sent them to the Sea, commanding them to passe over before him to the other side. Which thing as they attempted to obey,What chanced to Christs disciples after the feeding of the people in the desart. and for the same purpose did travell and row forth in the Sea, the night approached, the wind was contrary, the vehement and raging storme arose, and was like to overthrow their poor Boat and them. When I considered (as dolour and my simplicity would suffer) the circumstances of the Text, I began to reckon and ask account of my self (and as God knoweth, not without sorrow and sobs) whether at any time I had been so plain by my tongue, as God had opened his holy Will and Wisdom in that matter unto me, as mine own Pen and Note beare witnesse to my conscience: And shortly it came to my minde, that the same place of Scripture I had handled in your presences, when God gave opportunity and time for you to heare Gods Messenger speak the words of eternall life. Wherefore I thought nothing more expedient, then shortly to call to minde againe such things as then I trust were touched; albeit peradventure neither of me so plainly uttered, neither of you so plainly perceived, as these most dolorous dayes declare the same to us.

It shall not bee necessary to handle the Text word by word, but of the whole summe to gather certain Notes and Observations, (which shall not farre disagree from the state of these dayes) it shall be sufficient. And first it is to be observed,The first Note That after this great miracle that Christ had wrought,John 6. Matth. 14.John 6Matt 14 he neither would retain with himself the multitude of people whom he had fed, neither yet his disciples; but the one he sent away every man to return to his place of accustomed residence, and the others he sent to the danger of the Seas, not as he that was ignorant what should chance unto them, but knowing and foreseeing the Tempest, yea and appointing the same so to trouble them.

Christ suffereth not his sheep and Pastours to be dispersed and troubled, but for cause reasonable.It is not to be judged, That the onelyonly and true Pastour would remove and send away from him the wandering and weak sheep; neither yet that the onelyonly provident Governour and Guide would set out his rude Warriours to so great a jeopardie, without sufficient and most just cause.

Why Christ removed and sent away from him the people, the Evangelist Saint Iohn declareth, saying, When Iesus knew that they were come to take him, John 6.John 6that they might make him King, he passed secretly (or alone) to the Mountain. Whereof it is plain what chiefly moved Christ to send away the people from him,Why Christ sent away the people from him. because that by him they sought a carnall and worldly libertie, regarding nothing his Heavenly Doctrine of the Kingdom of God his Father, which before he had taught and declared unto them plainly,Matth. 10.Matt 10 shewing them, That such as would follow him must suffer for his Names sake persecution, must be hated of all men, must deny themselves, must be sent forth as sheep among Wolves: But no part p. 45of this doctrine pleased them, or could enter into their hearts, but their whole minde was upon their bellies, for sufficing whereof they devised and imagined, that they would appoint Christ Jesus to be their worldly King;John 6.John 6 for he had power to multiply bread at his pleasure. Which vain opinion and imagination perceived by Christ Jesus, he withdrew himselfe from their company, to avoid all such suspition, and to let them understand,Matth. 20.Matt 20 That no such honours did agree with his Vocation, who came to serve, and not to be served: And when this same people sought him againe,John. 6.John 6 he sharply rebuked them, because they sought him more to have their Bellies fed with corruptible meat, then to have their souls nourished with lively Bread that came down from Heaven. And thus in the people there was just cause why Christ should withdraw himself from them for a time.

Why the Disciples should suffer that great danger, feare and anguish, Saint Marke in his Gospel plainly sheweth,Mark 6.Mark 6 saying, That their hearts were blinded, and therefore did neither remember nor consider the miracle of the Loaves: That is, Albeit with their hands they had touched that bread by which so great a multitude was fed;The disciples did not rightly consider Christs work. and albeit also they had gathered up twelve Baskets full of that which remained of a few Loaves, which before the Miracle a Boy was able to have borne; yet did they not rightly consider the infinite power of Christs Jesus by this wonderfull Miracle:Note. And therefore of necessity it was, that in their owne Bodies they should suffer trouble for their better instruction.

When I deeply consider (dearly beloved in our Saviour Christ) how abundantly, and how miraculously the poor and small flock of Christ Jesus was fed within the Realm of England under that elect and chosen Vessell of God to glory and honour Edward the sixt; and now again behold not onelyonly the dispersion and scattering abroad, but also the appearing destruction of the same, under these cursed, cruell and abominable Idolaters, me thinke I see the same causes to have moved God, not onelyonly to withdraw his presence from the multitude, but also to have sent his welbeloved servants to the travels of the Seas, wherein they were sore tossed and turmoyled, and apparently most like to perish.

What were the affections of the greatest multitude that followed the Gospel in this former rest and abundance, is easie to be judged, if the life and conversation of every man should have beene thorowly examined: For who lived (in that rest) as that he had refused himself?Note this for our time. Who lived in that rest, as that he had been crucified with Christ? Who lived in that rest, as that he had certainly looked for trouble to come upon him? Yea, who lived not rather in delicacy and joy, and seeking the world and pleasures thereof, caring for the flesh and carnall appetites, as though death and sin had clean been devoured?Note. And what was this else, then to make of Christ an earthly King?John 18.John 18 The Word that we professed daily cryed in our ears; that our Kingdome; our joy, our rest and felicitie, neither was, is, nor should be upon the earth, neither in any transitory thing thereof, but in heaven, into which we must enter by many tiibulations.Act. 14.Acts 14 But (alas) we sleeped in such securitie, that the sound of the Trumpet could of many never be perfectly understood, but alwayes p. 46we perswaded our selves of a certaine tranquility, as though the troubles whereof mention is made within the Scriptures of God, appertained nothing at all to this age, but unto such as of long time are passed before us: and therfore was our heavenly Father compelled to withdraw from us the presence of his veritie (whose voyce in those dayes we could not beleeve) to the end that more earnestly we may thirst for the same, and with more obedience embrace and receive it, if ever it shall please his infinite goodnesse, in such abundance to restore the same againe.

Hypocrites are made manifest in the day of trouble.I mean nothing of those that followed Christ only for their bellies, for such perceiving that they could not obtain their hearts desire of Christ, have grudged, and left him in body and heart; which thing their blasphemous voices spake against his eternall verity, doth witnesse and declare. For such (brethren) be ye not moved,1 John 2.1 John 2 for in the time of their profession they were not of us, but were very dissemblers and Hypocrites; and therefore God justly permitteth that they blaspheme the Truth, which they never loved. I mean not that ever such dissembling Hypocrites shall embrace the verity, but I meane such as by infirmitie of the flesh, and by naturall blindnesse (which in this life is never altogether expelled) then could not give the very obedience which Gods Word required, neither now by weaknesse of faith dare openly and boldly confesse that which their hearts know to be most true, and yet lamenteth & mourneth, both for the imperfection by passed and present;Note. from such shall not the amiable presence of Christ for ever be withdrawn; but yet again shall the eyes of their soretroubled hearts behold and see that light of Christs Gospell, wherein they most delight. We the Ministers, who were the distributers of this bread, (the true Word of God) wherewith the multitude within England was fed, lacked not our offences, which also moved God to send us to the Sea. And because the offences of no man are so manifest unto me, as mine own, I will onelyonly censure my self.

It is not unknown unto many, that I (the most wretched) was one of that number whom God appointed to receive that Bread (as it was broken by Christ Jesus) to distribute and give the same to such as he had called to this banquet, in that part of his table where he appointed me to serve. It is not in my knowledge nor judgement to define nor determine what portion or quantity every man received of this bread, neither yet how that which they received agreed with their stomacks; but of this I am assured, That the benediction of Christ Jesus so multiplyed the portion which I received of his hands, that during the banquet (this I write to the praise of his Name, and to the accusation of mine owne unthankfulnesse) the bread never failed when the hungry soule craved or cried for food; and at the end of the banquet, mine own conscience beareth witnesse, that mine hands gathered up the crummes that were left in such abundance, that the banquet was full among the rest. To be plain, mine own conscience beareth record to my self,To deny or conceale the gifts of God which we have received, is unthankfulnesse. how small was my learning, and how weak I was of judgement when Christ Jesus called me to be his steward, and how mightily day by day, and time by time he multiplied his graces with me, if I should conceale, I were most wicked and unthankfull.

p. 47But alas, how blinded was my heart, and how little I did consider the dignity of that Office, and the power of God that then multiplied and blessed the bread which the people received of my hands, this day mine own conscience beareth witnesse to my selfe.Let the Mi…ist…rs n…te this who are put from th…ir charges by the enemy. God I take to record in my conscience, That I delivered the same bread that I received of Christs hands; and that I mixed no poyson with the same; that is, I teached Christs Gospel without any mixture of mens dreames, devises, or phantasies. But alas I did it not with such fervency, with such indifferency, and with such diligency as this day I know my duty was to have done.

Some complained in those dayes, That the Preachers were undiscreet persons (yea, some called them raylers, and worse) because they spake against the manifest iniquity of men, and especially of those that then were placed in Authority, as well in Court, as in other Offices universally thorowout the Realme, both in Cities, Towns and Villages. And among others peradventure my rude plainnesse displeased some, who did complain, That rashly I did speak of mens faults, so that all men might know and perceive of whom I meant. But alas, this day my conscience accuseth me, That I spake not so plainly as my duty was to have done: For I ought to have said to the wicked man expressely by his name, Thou shalt die the death. For I finde Ieremiah the Prophet to have done so to Pashur the high Priest,Ezech 3.33. Jer. 20 34. 3 Reg 18 21, 22.Ezek 3:33Jer 20:341 Kgs 18:211 Kgs 18:22 and to Zedechiah the King. And not onelyonly he, but also Elijah, Elisha, Michah, Amos, Daniel, Christ Jesus himself; and after him his Apostles expressely to have named the blood-thirsty tyrants,4 Reg 3. Amos 7. Dan 5 Matth. 23. Act 13.Amos 7Dan 5Matt 23Acts 13 abominable Idolaters, and dissembling hypocrites of their dayes. If that we the Preachers within the Realme of England were appointed by God to be the Salt of the earth (as his other Messengers were before us.) Alas, Why with-held we the Salt, where manifest compunction did appear?The Preachers …named t…e Salt of the earth The Conf…ssion of the Author. (I accuse none but my selfe.) The blinde love that I did bear to this my wicked carkase was the chiefe cause that I was not fervent and faithfull enough in that behalfe; For I had no will to provoke the hatred of all men against me: And therefore so touched I the vices of men in the presence of the greatest, that they might see themselves to be offenders (I dare not say that I was the greatest flatterer.) But yet neverthelesse I would not be seen to proclaim manifest Warre against the manifest wicked: Whereof unfainedly I ask my God mercy.

As I was not so fervent in rebuking manifest iniquity as it became me to have been;Preachers oug…t to feed Christs Flock. So was I not so indifferent a feeder as is required of Christs Steward: For in preaching Christs Gospel, albeit mine eye (as knoweth God) was not much upon worldly promotion, yet the love of friends, and carnall affection of some men with whom I was most familiar, allured me to make more residence in one place then in another, having more respect to the pleasure of a few, then to the necessity of many. That day I thought I had not sinned, if I had not been idle; But this day I know it was my duty to have had consideration how long I had remained in one place, and how many hungry souls were in other places, to whom alas none took pain to break and distribute the bread of Life.

p. 48Moreover, remaining in one place I was not so diligent as mine Office required; but sometime by counsell of carnall friends I spared the body; sometime I spent in worldly businesse of particular friends; and sometime in taking recreation and pastime by exercise of the body.

And albeit men may judge these to be light and small offences, yet I acknowledge and confesse, That unlesse pardon should be granted to me in Christs blood, that every one of these three offences aforenamed, that is to say, Lack of fervency in reproving sin, The lack of indifferency in feeding those that were hungry, And the lack of diligence in the execution of mine Office, deserved damation.

The lack of fervency of reproving; of indifferency in seeding, and diligence in executing, are great sins, Spirituall temptations are soon espied.And beside these, I was assaulted, yea, infected and corrupted with more grosse sins; that is, My wicked nature desired the favours, the estimation and praise of men; against which albeit that sometime the Spirit of God did move me to fight, and earnestly did stir me (God knoweth I lye not) to sob and lament for those imperfections; yet never ceased they to trouble me when any occasion was offred: And so privily and craftily did they enter into my brest, that I could not perceive my self to be wounded, till vain-glory had almost gotten the upper hand.

The prayer of the author.O Lord be mercifull to my great offence, and deal not with me according to my great iniquity; but according to the multitude of thy mercies remove from me the burthen of my sin: for of purpose and minde to have avoided the vain displeasure of man, I spared little to offend thy Majestie.

Think not (beloved in the Lord) That thus I accuse my selfe without just cause, as though in so doing I might appear more holy; or that yet I do it of purpose and intent by occasion thereof to accuse others of my brethren the true Preachers of Christ of like or greater offences: No, God is Judge to my conscience, That I do it even from an unfained and sore troubled heart, as I that know my selfe grievously to have offended the Majesty of my God, during the time that Christs Gospel had free passage in England. The troubles of these da…es cometh to the comfort of Gods electAnd this I do let you understand, That the taking away of the heavenly Bread, and this great tempest that now bloweth against the poor disciples of Christ within the Realme of England (as touching our part) cometh from the great mercy of our heavenly Father, to provoke us to unfained repentance, for that neither Preacher nor Professor did rightly consider the time of our mercifull Visitation: But altogether so we spent the time, as though Gods Word had been Preached rather to satisfie our fantasies, then to reforme our evill manners. Which thing if we earnestly repent, then shall Jesus Christ appear to our comfort, be the storm never so great. Haste, O Lord, for thy Names sake.

The second Note. The great fear of the disciples.The second thing that I finde to be noted, is, The vehemency of the fear which the disciples endured in that great danger, being of longer continuance then ever they had at any time before.

Matth. 8.Matt 8In Saint Matthewes Gospel it appeareth, That another time there arose a great stormy Tempest,The disciples also before this time were troubled in the Sea. and sore tossed the Boat wherein Christs disciples were labouring: But that was nigh the day light, and then they had Christ with them in the Ship, whom they awaked, and cryed for p. 49help unto him (for at that time he slept in the Boat) and so were shortly delivered from their sudden fear. But now were they in the midst of the raging Sea,Note. and it was night, and Christ their Comforter absent from them, and cometh not to them neither in the first, second, nor third Watch; What fear think ye were they in? And what thoughts arose out of their so troubled hearts, during that storm? Such as this day be in like danger within the Realme of England, doth by this storm better understand then my pen can expresse. But of one thing I am well assured, That Christs presence would in that great perplexity have been to them more comfortable then ever it was before; and that patiently they would have suffered their incredulity to have been rebuked, so that they might have escaped the present death.

But profitable it shall be, and somewhat to our comfort, to consider every parcell of their danger: And first, ye shall understand, That when the disciples passed to the Sea to obey Christs Commandment,What time the tempest did arise. it was fair weather, and no such Tempest seen. But suddenly the storme arose with a contrarious flaw of winde, when they were in the midst of their Journey. For if the Tempest had been as great in the beginning of their entrance into the Sea, as it was after when they were about the midst of their Journey, neither would they have adventured such a great danger; neither yet had it been in their power to have attained to the midst of the Sea. And so it may be evidently gathered,The Sea was calm when the disciples took their Ship. That the Sea was calme when they entered into their Journey.

Then it is to be remarked, By what means and instruments was this storme moved:What moved the Sea. Was the plunging of their Oars, and force of their small Boat such as might stirre the waves of the great Sea? No, doubtlesse: But the holy Ghost declareth, That the Seas were moved by a vehement and contrary winde, which blew against their Ship in the time of darknesse. But seeing the winde is neither the commander nor mover of it self, some other cause is to be enquired, which hereafter we shall touch.

And last, it is to be noted and considered, What the disciples did in all this vehement Tempest. Truely they turned not to be driven backe for land or shore, by the vehemency of the contrary winde; for so it might be thought that they could not have escaped shipwrack and death:The tossed Ship is a figure of the Church of Christ. but they continually laboured in rowing against the winde, abiding the ceasing of that horrible tempest.

Consider and mark, beloved in the Lord, what we reade here to have chanced to Christs disciples, and to their poor Boat; and you shall well perceive, That the same thing hath chanced, doth and shall chance to the true Church and Congregation of Christ (which is nothing else in this miserable life but a poor Ship) travelling in the Seas of this unstable and troublesome world, toward the heavenly Port, and Haven of eternall felicity, which Christ Jesus hath appointed to his elect.

This I might prove by the posterity of Iacob in Egypt; By the Israelites in their Captivity; and by the Church during the time that Christ p. 50himself did Preach (and sometime after his Resurrection and Ascension) against whom the vehement storme did not rage immediately after they entred into the Ship of their travell and tribulation:Exod. 1.Exod 1 For the bloody sentence of Pharaoh was not pronounced against the seed of Iacob when he first did enter into Egypt: Neither was the cruell counsell and devillish device of proud Haman invented by and by after Israel and Iudah were translated from their possessions:Esth. 3.Esth 3 Neither yet in the time of Christ Jesus being conversant with his Apostles in the flesh, was there used any such tyranny against the Saints of God, as shortly after followed in the persecution of Saint Stephen, Act. 7 & deinceps.Acts 7and other disciples. But all these in the beginning of their travell with a contrary winde, had alway some calme; that is, Albeit they had some trouble, yet had they not extreme persecution.

Even so, most dearly beloved, is happened now to the afflicted Church of God within the Realme of England: At all times the true Word of God suffered contradiction and repugnancie; And so the winde blew against us even from the beginning of the late up rising of the Gospel in England, but yet it could not stop our course, till now of late days, that the raging winde bloweth without bridle upon the unstable Seas, in the midst whereof we are in this hour of darknesse.

The malice of the devill compared to the winde.To write my minde plainly unto you, beloved brethren: This winde that alwayes hath blown against the Church of God, is the malice and hatred of the devill, which rightly in this case is compared to the winde: For as the winde is invisible, and yet the poor disciples feel that it troubleth and letreth their Ship;1 Simile. So is the pestilent envie of the devill working alwayes in the hearts of the reprobate so subtill and crafty, that it cannot be espied by Gods Elect, nor by his Messengers, till first they feel the blasts thereof to blow their Ship backward: And as the vehement winde causeth the waves of the Sea to rage,The Sea cannot be quiet when the wind bloweth outragiously. and yet the dead water neither knoweth what it doth, neither yet can it cease nor refrain; so that both it is troubled by the winde, and also it self doth trouble Christs disciples in their poor Ship: So by the envie and malice of the devill, are wicked and cruell, as well subjects as Princes (whose hearts are like the raging Sea) compelled to persecute and trouble the true Church of Christ; and yet so blinded are they, and so enthralled under the bondage of the devill, that neither can they see their manifest iniquity, neither yet can they cease to run to their own destruction. And hereof, England, hast thou manifest experience: For in the time of King Henry the eighth,The winde that blew in the dayes of King Hen. 8. how the wolf, that wicked Winchester, and others, by the vehement winde of six bloody Articles (by the devill devised) intended to have overthrown the poor Ship and Christs disciples, is evidently known already. But then had we Christ Jesus with us sleeping in the Ship, who did not despise the faithfull crying of such as then were in trouble: But by his mighty power, gracious goodnes, and invincible force of his holy Word, he compelled those wicked windes to cease, and the raging of those Seas to be stilled and calm:A quiet calm wa under King Edw 6. So that all the hearts of Gods Elect within the Realme of England did wonder at that sudden change, while that under a lamb the fearfull edge of that devouring sword was taken from the necks p. 51of the faithfull; and the tyrannie of those ravening and blood-thirsty Wolves (I mean of wily Winchester, and of some other his Brethren, the sonnes of Belial) was repressed for a time:The first secret pestilent winde that blew in the time of good K. Edward 6. The Devill raged when the Masse mischief was disclosed. But yet ceased not the Devill to blow his winde, by his wicked Instruments, who found the means, how against nature the one brother should assent to the death of the other; but that could not hinder the course of the travelling Boat, but forth she goeth in despight of the Devill, who then more cruelly raged, perceiving his owne honour and service; that is, his detestable Masse, to be disclosed and opened before the people, to be damnable Idolatrie, and assured damnation to such as put their trust in it: And therfore began he more craftily to work, and finding the same Instruments apt enough, whose labours he had used before, he blew such mortall hatred between two, which appeared to be the chief pillars under the King; for that wretched (alas) and miserable Northumberland could not be satisfied, till such time as simple Somerset most unjustly was bereft of his life; what the Devill and his Members the pestilent Papists, meant by his away-taking, God compelled my tongue to speak in more places then one; and specially before you, and in Newcastle, as sir Robert Bradling did not forget a long time after; God grant that he may understand all other matters spoken before him then and at other times, as righly as he did that mine interpretation of the Vineyard,Esa. 5.Isa 5 whose Hedges, Ditches, Towres and Winepresse God destroyed, because it would bring forth no good fruit: And that he may remember, that what ever was spoken by my mouth that day, is now compleate, and come to passe, except that finall destruction and vengeance is not yet fallen upon the greatest offenders,Mark well. as assuredly shortly it shall, unlesse that he and some other of his sort, that then were enemies to Gods truth, will speedily repent (and that earnestly) their stubborne disobedience.This was affirmed both before the King, and also before Northumberland oftner then once. God compelled my tongue (I say) openly to declare, That the Devill and his Ministers intended onelyonly the subversion of Gods true Religion, by that mortall hatred among those which ought to have beene most assuredly knit together by Christian charity, and by benefits received; and especially that the wicked and envious Papists (by that ungodly breach of charity) diligently minded the overthrow of him, that to his own destruction, procured the death of his innocent friend: Thus (I say) I was com…elled of conscience oftner then once to affirm, That such as saw and invented the means how the one should be taken away, saw and should finde the means also to take away the other; and that all that trouble was devised by the Devill and his Instruments, to stop and let Christs Disciples and their poor Boat; but that was not able, because she was not yet come to the midst of the Sea.

Transubstansiation (the Bird that the Devill hatched by Pope Nicholas and since that time fostered and nourished by all his Children, Priests, Friers, Monks, and other his conjured and sworn souldiers, and in these last dayes chiefly by Stephen Gardner, and his black brood in England;) Transustantiation (I say) was then clearly confuted and mightily overthrown; and therefore God had put wisdom in the tongues of his Ministers and Messengers to utter that vain vanitie;Transubstantiation overthrown by Th. Granmer. and specially gave such strength to that Reverend Father in God, Thomas Granmer, to cut the knots of Devillish p. 52Sophistry linked and knit by the Devils Gardener, and his blinde Buzzards, to hold the verity of the everliving God under bondage, that rather I think they shall condemn his works (which notwithstanding shall continue and remain to their confusion, then they shall enterprize to answer the same.The tound god was taken away by Act of Parliament. And also God gave boldnesse and knowledge to the Court of Parliament to take away the round clipped God, wherein standeth all the holinesse of Papists, and to command common Bread to be used at the Lords Table, and also to take away the most part of superstitions, (kneeling at the Lords Supper excepted) which before prophaned Christs true Religion.When all the Papisticall abomi…ations were revolted, then was the Boat in the midst of the Sea. Then (dear Brethren) was the Boat in the midst of the Sea, and suddenly ariseth the horrible tempest, most fearfull and dolorous; Our King is taken away from us, and the Devill bloweth in such Organs as alway he had found obedient to his Precepts, and by them he enflameth the heart of that wretched and unhappy man, (whom I judge more to be lamented, then hated) to covet the Imperiall Crown of England to be established to his Posterity, and what thereupon hath succeeded, it is not now necessary to be written.

Two speciall Notes of this discourse.Of this short discourse (Beloved in the Lord) you may consider and perceive two speciall Notes;

The first Note.1. That the whole malice of the Devill hath alwayes this end, To vexe and overthrow Christs afflicted Church; for what else intended the Devill and his servants (the pestilent Papists) by all these their crafty policies, during the time that Christs Gospell was preached in England, then the subversion of the same Gospell, and that they might recover power to persecute the Saints of God, as this day in the hour of darknesse they have obtained for a time, to their own destruction. Let no man wonder though I say, That the crafty policies of pestilent Papists wrought all the mischiefe, for who could more easier and better worke greater mischief, then such as bare authority and rule. And who (I pray you) ruled the roste in the Court all this time, by stout courage and proudnesse of stomack, but Northumberland? But who (I pray you) under King Edward, Who ruled all by wit under K. Edward 6ruled all by counsell and wit? Shall I name the man? I will writ no more plainly now then my tongue spake the last Sermon, That it pleased God that I should make before that Innocent and most godly King Edward the sixt, and before his Councell at Westminster, and even to the faces of such as of whom I meant.John 13. Psalm. 40.John 13Ps 40 Handling this place of Scripture, Qui edit mecum panem sustulit adversus me calcaneum suum; that is, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel against me. I made this affirmation, That commonly it was seen,Godly Princes commonly have most uugodly Counsellors. that the most godly Princes had Officers and chief Councellors most ungodly, conjured enemies to Gods true Religion, and Traitours to their Princes, not that their wickednesse and ungodlinesse was speedily perceived and espied out of the said Princes and godly men,Note well. but that for time those craftie colourers could so cloke their malice against God and his truth, and their hollow hearts toward their loving Masters, that by worldly wisdome and policie at length they attained to high promotions.2 Reg. 17. Esa. 22. Matth. 26. John 12.2 Kgs 17Isa 22Matt 26John 12 And for the proofe of this mine affirmation, I recited the Histories of Achitophel, Shebna, and Iudas; of whom the two former had high Offices and promotions with great p. 53authority under the most godly Princes, David and Hezekiah; and Iudas was Purse Master with Christ Jesus. And when I had made some discourse in that matter, I moved this Question;

Why permitted so godly Princes so wicked men to be of their Councell, Quest.and to bear Office and Authority under them?

To the which I answered;Answ. That either they so abounded in worldly wisdom,The enemies of the verity many times appear to be most profitable for a Common-Wealth. foresight and experience touching the government of a Common-wealth, that their counsell appeared to be so necessary, that the Common-wealth could not lack them, and so by the colour to preserve the tranquilitie and quietnesse in Realms, they were maintained in Authority; or else they kept their malice which they bare towards their Masters and Gods true Religion,Mischief at the length will so utter it self, that men may espie it. so secret in their breasts, that no man could espie it, till by Gods permission they waited for such occasion and opportunitie, that they uttered all their mischief so plainly, that all the world might perceive it: And that was most evident by Achithophel and Sobna; for of Achithophel it is written, That he was Davids most secret Councellour, and that, because his counsell in those dayes was like the Oracle of God; and Sobna was unto good King Hezekiah sometime Comptroller, sometime Secretary,Esa. 22.36.Isa 22:36 and last of all Treasurer; to the which Offices he had never been promoted under so godly a Prince, if the Treason and malice which he bare against the King, and against Gods true Religion, had been manifestly known. No (quoth I) Sobna was a crafty Foxe, and could shew such a fair countenance to the King,Esa. 22.Isa 22 that neithet he nor his Councell could espie his malicious Treason.If David and Hezekiah were deceived by traiterous Councellors, how much more a young and innocent King. But the Prophet Isaiah was commanded by God to go to his presence, and to declare his traiterous heart and miserable end.

Was David (said I) and Hezekiah Princes of great and godly gifts and experience, abused by crafty Councellors and dissembling Hypocrites? What wonder is it then, that a young and innocent King be deceived by craftie,The Author might fear this indeed. covetous, wicked and ungodly Counsellors? I am greatly afraid that Achitophel is Counsellor, that Iudas bears the Purse, and that Sobna is Scribe, Comptroller and Treasurer.

This and somewhat more I spake that day, not in a corner (as many yet can witnesse) but even before those whom my conscience judged worthy of accusation: And this day no more do I write (albeit I may justly, because they have declared themselves most manifestly) but yet do I affirme, That under that innocent King, pestilent Papists had greatest Authority.Paulet is painted. Oh! who was judged to be the soule and life to the Counsell in every matter of weighty importance? who but Sobna, who could best dispatch businesses, that the rest of the Councell might Hawk, and Hunt,The Treasurers words against the authority of Mary. and take their pleasure? None like unto Sobna. Who was most frank and ready to destroy Sommerset, and set up Northumberland? was it not Shebna? Who was most bold to crie Bastard, Bastard? Incestuous Bastard Mary shall never Reigne over us. And who, I pray you, was most busie to say,Caiaphas prophesied. Fear not to Subscribe with my Lords of the Kings Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell, Agree to his Majesties last Will and perfect Testament, and let never that obstinate woman come to Authority, she is an arrant Papist, she will subvert the true Religion, and will p. 54bring in strangers to the destruction of this Common-wealth: Which of the Councell (I say) had these and greater perswasions against Mary, to whom now he coucheth and kneeleth? Sobna the Treasurer. And what intended such Traytorous and dissembling Hypocrites by all these and such like crafty sleights and counterfeit conveyance? Doubtlesse the overthrow of Christs true Religion, which then began to flourish in England; the liberty whereof fretted the Guttes of such pestilent Papists, who now hath gotten the dayes which they long looked for, but yet to their own destruction and shame, for in the spite of their hearts the plagues of God shall strike them; they shall be comprehended in the snare which they prepare for others for their owne counsels shall make themselves slaves to a proud, mischievous, unfaithfull and vile Nation.

Judge at the end. The second Note.Now to the second Note of our Discourse, which is this; Albeit the Tyrants of this earth have learned by long experience, that they are never able to prevaile against Gods Truth, yet because they are bound slaves to their Master the Devill, they cannot cease to persecute the members of Christ,Tyrants cannot cease to persecute Christs Members. when the Devill blowes his winde in the darknesse of the night, that is, When the light of Christs Gospel is taken away, and the Devil raigneth by Idolatry superstition and Tyrannie.

This most evidently may be seene from the beginning of this world to the time of Christ,Gen. 21. Gen. 28.Gen 21Gen 28 and from thence till this day. Ismael might have perceived, that he could not prevail against Isaac, because God had made his promise unto him, as no doubt Abraham their father teached to his whole houshold; Esau likewise understood the same of Iacob; Pharaoh might plainly have seen by many Miracles,Exod. 5, 6, 7, 8, &c.Exod 5:6Exod 5:7Exod 5:8 that Israel was Gods people, whom he could not utterly destroy; and also the Scribes, and Pharisees, and Chief Priests were utterly convinced in their Conscience,John 5. & 12.John 5 that Christs whole doctrine was of God, and that to the profit and commodity of man, his Miracles and works were wrought by the power of God, and therefore that they could never prevaile against him: And yet as the Devill stirred them, none of those could refrain to persecute him, whom they knew most certainly to be innocent.

The power of Gods Word put the Papists to silence in England, except it had been to brag in cornersThis I write that you shall not wonder, albeit now ye see the poysoned Papists, wicked Winchester, and dreaming Duresme, with the rest of the Faction (who sometimes were so confounded, that neither they durst nor could speak nor write in the defence of their Heresies) now so to rage and triumph against the eternall Truth of God, as though they had never assayed the power of God speaking by his true Messengers.

Princes are ready to persecute as malicious Papists will command.Wonder not hereat (I say) beloved Brethren, that the Tyrants of this world are so obedient and ready to follow the cruell counsels of such disguised Monsters; For neither can the one nor the other refraine, because both sorts are as subject to obey the Devill their Prince and Father, as the unstable Sea is to lift up the waves when the vehement winde bloweth upon it.

Job 12. 2 Cor. 4.Job 122 Cor 4It is fearfull to be heard, that the Divell hath such power over any man, but yet the Word of God hath so instructed us. And therefore albeit it be contrary to our phantasie, yet we must beleeve it. For the Divell is called the prince and god of this world, because he raigneth, and is honoured by tyranny and idolatry in it.

p. 55He is called the Prince of Darknesse that hath power in the Ayr; It is said, That he worketh in the children of unbelief, because he stirreth them to trouble Gods Elect;Ephes. 2. 1 Reg 16 18. John 13. John 8.Eph 21 Kgs 16:18John 13John 8 as he invaded Saul, and compelled him to persecute David; and likewise he entred into the heart of Iudas, and moved him to betray his Master. He is called Prince over the sons of Pride; and father of all those that are lyers, and enemies to Gods Truth: Over whom he hath no lesse power this day, then sometimes he had over Annas and Caiaphas, whom no man denieth to have been led and moved by the devil to persecute Christ Jesus, and his most true Doctrine. And therefore wonder not (I say) that now the devil rageth in his obedient servants, wily Winchester, dreaming Duresme, and bloody Bonner, Wily Winchester D…eaming Duresme, Bloody Bonner.with the rest of their bloody butcherly brood; for this is their hour and power granted unto them: they cannot cease nor asswage their furious fumes, for the devil their Sire stirreth, moveth, and carrieth them even at his will. But in this that I declare the power of the devil working in cruell tyrants,This is the cruse before omitted, why the winde blew to trouble Christs disciples. Think you that I attribute or give to him or to them power at their pleasure? No, not so, brethren, not so; for as the devil hath no power to trouble the Elements, but as God shall suffer, so hath worldly tyrants (albeit the devill hath fully possessed their hearts) no power at all to trouble the Saints of God, but as their bridle shall be loosed by Gods hands.

And herein, dear brethren, standeth my singular comfort this day, when I hear that those bloody tyrants within the Realme of England doth kill, murther, destroy and devour man and woman as ravennous Lions now loosed from bonds. I lift up therefore the eyes of mine heart (as my iniquity and present dolour will suffer) and to my heavenly Father will I say:

O Lord, The prayer of the author.those cruell tyrants are loosed by thy hand, to punish our former ingratitude, whom, we trust, thou wilt not suffer to prevail for ever, but when thou hast corrected us a little, and hast declared unto the world the tyranny that lurked in their boldned brests, then wilt thou break their jaw-bones, and wil… shut them up in their caves again, that the generation and posterity following may praise thy holy Name before thy Congregation. Amen.

When I feel any taste or motion of these promises, then think I my self most happy, and that I have received a just compensation, albeit I, and all that to me in earth belongeth, should suffer present death, knowing that God shall yet shew mercy to his afflicted Church within England, and that he shall represse the pride of these present tyrants, like as he hath done of those that were before our dayes.

And therefore,Exhortation. beloved brethren in our Saviour Jesus Christ, hold up to God your hands that are fainted through fear, and let your hearts that have in these dolorous dayes sleeped in sorrow, awake, and hear the voyce of your God, who sweareth by himself, That he will not suffer his Church to be oppressed for ever;Isai. 48 51.54 62.Isa 48:51Isa 48:54 neither that he will despise our sob… to the end,The coming of Christ to his d…s…ipl…s upon the S…s, is op…ned. if we will row and strive against this vehement winde; I mean, if that ye will not run back headlong to Idolatry, then shall this storm be asswaged in despight of the devill; Christ Jesus shall come with speed to your deliverance, he shall pierce thorow the winde, and p. 56the raging Seas shall obey, and bear his feet and body, as the massie, stable and dry land. Be not moved from the sure foundation of your faith: For albeit that Christ Jesus be absent from you (as he was from his disciples in that great storme) by his bodily presence, yet is he present by his mighty power and grace:Christ is sute upon the mountain. He standeth upon the mountain in security and rest; that is, his flesh and whole humanity is now in heaven, and can suffer no such trouble as sometimes he did: And yet he is full of pity and compassion, and doth consider all our travell, anguish and labours; wherefore it is not to be doubted, but that he will suddenly appear to our great comfort. The tyranny of this world cannot keep back his coming, more then the blustering winde and raging Seas lett Christ to come to his disciples, when they looked for nothing but present death. And therefore yet again I say, beloved in the Lord, Let your hearts attend to the promises that God hath made unto true repentant sinners, and be fully perswaded with a constant faith, That God is alwayes true and just in his performance of his promises. You have heard these dayes spoken of very plainly, when your hearts could fear no danger, because you were nigh the land, and the storm was not yet risen; that is, Ye were young Scholars of Christ when no persecution was felt or seen: But now ye are come into the midst of the Sea (for what part of England heard not of your profession?) and the vehement storm whereof we then almost in every Exhortation spake of, is now suddenly risen up. But what? Hath God brought you so far forth,God never brought his people into trouble to the intent that they should perish therein. that you shall both in souls and bodies every one perish? Nay, my whole trust in Gods mercy and truth is to the contrary. For God brought not his people into Egypt, and from thence thorow the Red Sea to the intent they should perish, but that he in them should shew a most glorious deliverance: Neither sent Christ his Apostles into the middest of the Sea, and suffering the storm to assault them and their Ship, to the intent they should there perish, but because he would the more have his great goodnesse towards them felt and perceived in so mightily delivering them out of the fear of perishing, giving us thereby an example that he would do the like to us, if we abide constant in our profession and saith, with-drawing our selves from superstition and idolatry. We gave you warning of these dayes long ago: For the reverence of Christs Blood let these words be noted; The same Truth that spake before of these dolorous dayes, Mark these words.forespake also the everlasting joy prepared for such as should continue to the end. The trouble is come; O dear brethren look for the comfort, and (after the example of the Apostle) abide in resisting this vehement storm a little space.

Christ came not to his disciples till the fourth watch.The third Watch is not yet ended; remember that Christ Jesus came not to his disciples till it was the fourth Watch: and they were then in no lesse danger then you be now; for their faith fainted, and their bodies were in danger. But Christ Jesus came when they looked not for him; and so shall he do to you, if you will continue in the profession that you have made. This dare I be bold to promise, in the Name of him whose Eternall Verity and glorious Gospel ye have heard and received: who also putteth into my heart an earnest thirst (God knoweth I lie not) of your salvation, and some care also for your bodies, which now I will not expresse.

p. 57Thus shortly have I passed thorow the outragious tempest wherein the disciples of Christ were tempted, after that the great multitude were by Christ fed in the desert, omitting many profitable Notes which might well have been marked in the Text, because my purpose is at this present not to be tedious nor yet curious, but only to note such things as be agreeable to these most dolorous dayes.

And so let us now speak of the end of this storm and trouble, in which I finde four things chiefly to be noted:

First, That the disciples at the presence of Christ were more afraid then they were before.

Secondly, That Christ useth no other instrument but his Word to pacific their hearts.

Thirdly, That Peter in a fervency first left his Ship, and yet after feared.

Fourthly and lastly, That Christ permitted neither Peter nor the rest of his disciples to perish in that fear, but gloriously delivered all, and pacified the Tempest.

Their great fear, and the cause thereof, are expressed in the Text, in these words; When the disciples saw him walking upon the Sea, they were afraid, saying, It is a Spirit; and they cryed through fear.

It is not my purpose in this Treatise to speak of spirits, nor yet to dispute, Whether spirits good or bad may appear and trouble men: Neither yet to enquire, Why mans nature is afraid of spirits, and so vehemently abhorreth their presence and company. But my purpose is onelyonly to speak of things necessary for this time.

And first,The causes why Christs disciples misknew him. let us consider that there was three causes why the disciples knew not Christ, but judged him to be a spirit.

The first cause was, The darknesse of the night.

The second was, The unaccustomed vision that appeared.

And the third was, The danger and the tempest, in which they so earnestly laboured for the safeguard of their selves.

The darknesse (I say) of the night letted their eyes to see him: And it was above nature, that a massie, heavy, and weighty body of a man (such as they understood their Master Christ to have) should walk, go upon, or be born up of the water of the raging Sea, and not sink. And finally, the horrour of the tempest, and great danger that they were in, perswaded them to look for none other, but certainly to be drowned.

And so all these three things concurring together, confirmed in them this imagination, That Christ Iesus, who came to their great comfort and deliverance, was a fearfull and wicked spirit appearing to their destruction.

What here happened to Christ Jesus himself,What chanced to Christ, that also in all ages chanceth to his holy Word. that I might prove to have chanced, and daily to happen to the verity of his blessed Word in all ages from the beginning.

For as Christ himself in this their trouble, was judged and esteemed by his disciples at the first sight a spirit, or phantasticall body; so is the Truth and sincere Preaching of his glorious Gospel, sent by God for mans comfort, deliverance from sin, and quietnesse of conscience, when it is first offered, and truely preached, it is (I say) no lesse but judged to be heresie and deceivable doctrine, sent by the devill to mans destruction.

p. 58The cause hereof is the dark ignorance of God, which in every age since the beginning so overwhelmed the world, that sometimes Gods very Elect were in like blindenesse and errour with the reprobate: As Abraham was an Idolater; Moses was instructed in all the wayes of the Egyptians; Paul a proud Pharisee, conjured against Christ and his Doctrine: And many in this same our age, when the Truth of God was offered unto them, were sore afraid, and cryed against it, onelyonly because the dark clouds of ignorance had troubled them before. But this matter I omit and let passe, till more opportunity.

The chief Note that I would have you well observe and mark in this preposterous fear of the disciples, is this;

The fear is greatest, when deliverance is …ost n…gh.The more nigh deliverance and salvation approacheth, the more strong and vehement is the temptation of the Church of God. And the more nigh that Gods vengeance approacheth to the wicked, the more proud, cruell and arrogant are they.

Whereby it commonly cometh to passe, That the very messengers of life are judged and deemed to be the authors of all mischief: And this in many histories is evident. When God had appointed to deliver the afflicted Israelites by the hand of Moses from the tyranny of the Egyptians, and Moses was sent to the presence of Pharaoh for the same purpose, such was their affliction and anguish by the cruelty which newly was exercised over them,Exod. 5, 6, &c.Exod 5:6 that with open mouthes they cursed Moses (and no doubt in their hearts they hated God who sent him) alleadging, That Moses and Aaron was the whole cause of their last extreme trouble.

The like is to be seen in the Book of the Kings, both under Elisha and Isaiah the Prophets: For in the dayes of Ioram, sonne of Achab, was Samaria besieged by the King of Syria: In which Samaria no doubt (albeit the King and the most multitude were wicked) there was yet some members of Gods Elect Church, which were brought to such extreme famine,5 Reg. 7. that not onelyonly things of small price were sold beyond all measure; but also women against nature were compelled to eat their own children: In this same City Elisha the Prophet most commonly was most conversant and dwelt, by whose counsell and commandment, no doubt, the City was kept: For it appeareth, the King, to lay that to his charge, when he, hearing of the piteous complaint of the woman (who for hunger had eaten her own son) rent his clothes, with a solemne Oath and vow, That the head of Elisha should not stand upon his shoulders that day. If Elisha had not been of counsel, That the city should have been kept, Why should the King have more fumed against him, then against others? But whether he was the author of the defending the City or not, all is one to my purpose; for before the deliverance, was the Church in such extremity, that the chief Pastor of that time was sought to be killed by such as should have defended him.

The like is read of Hezekiah, who defending his City Ierusalem, and resisting proud Sennacherib, no doubt obeying the counsell of Isaiah, Isai. 36, 37.Isa 36:37at length was so oppressed with sorrow and shame, by the blasphemous words of Rabshakeh, that he had no other refuge, but in the Temple of the Lord (as a man desperate and without comfort) to open p. 59the disdainfull letters sent unto him by that hauty and proud tyrant.

By these and many Histories mo, it is most evident, that the more nigh salvation and deliverance approacheth,Note. the more vehement is the temptation and trouble.

This I writ to admonish you, that albeit yet you shall see tribulation so abound, that nothing shall appear but extreme misery without all hope of comfort, that yet you decline not from God. And that albeit somtimes ye be moved to hate the messengers of life, that therefore ye shall not judge that God will never shew mercy after. No, deare Brethren, as he hath dealt with others before you, so will he deal with you.

God will suffer tribulation and dolour abound,Why God suffereth tribulation to abound and continue. that no manner of comfort shall be seen in man, to the intent, that when deliverance commeth, the glory may be his, whose onelyonly word may pacifie the tempest most vehement.

He drowned Pharaoh and his Army.Exod. 14.Exod 14 He scattered the great multitude of Benadad. And by his Angel killed the hoste of Sennacharib. And so delivered his afflicted when nothing appeared to them but utter destruction. So shall he do to you beloved Brethren, if patiently ye will abide his consolation and counsell. God open your eyes that ye may rightly understand the meaning of my writing. Amen.

But yet peradventure you wonder not a little why God permitteth such blood thirsty tyrants to molest and grieve his chosen Church: I have recited some causes before, and yet more I could recite, but at this time I will hold me content with one.

The justice of God is such,Note. that he will not poure forth his extreme vengeance upon the wicked, unto such time as their iniquity be so manifest, that their very flatterers cannot excuse it.Exod. 10…Exod 10 Pharaoh was not destroyed till his own houshold servants and subjects abhorred and condemned his stubborn disobedience.

Iesabel and Athalia were not thrust from this life into death,Iezabel, Athalia, and Iudas. till all Israel and Juda were witnesses of their cruelty and abominations. Iudas was not hanged till the Princes of the Priests bare witnesse of his Traiterous Act and iniquitie.

To passe over the Tyrants of old time, whom God hath plagued, let us come to the Tyrants which now are within the Realm of England, whom God will not long spare; If Steven Gardener, Gard…r, Tunstal, Bucherly Bon…r.Cuthbert Tunstal, and Butcherly Bonnar, false Bishops of Winchester, Duresme, and of London, had for their false Doctrine and Traiterous acts suffered death, when they justly deserved the same, then would arrant Papists have alleadged (as I and others have heard them do) that they were men reformable, That they were meet Instruments for a Common-wealth;The praise of Winchester, Durysme, and o…dy Mary before these dayes. That they were not so obstinate and malicious as they were judged, neither that they thirsted for the blood of any man: And of Lady Mary, who hath not heard, That she was not sober, mercifull, and one that loved the Common-wealth of England? Had she (I say) and such as now be of her pestilent Councell, been dead before these dayes, then should not their iniquity and cruelty so manifestly have appeared to the world; for who could have thought, that such cruelty could have entred into the heart of a woman? and into the p. 60heart of her that is called a Virgine, that she would thirst for the blood of innocents, and of such as (by just Laws and faithfull witnesses) can never be proved to have offended by themselves.

4. Reg. 11. Matth. 14.Matt 14I finde, that Athalia (through appetite to Reign) murthered the Seed of the Kings of Iudah, and that Herodias daughter (at the desire of a whorish Mother) obtained the head of Iohn the Baptist; but yet that ever a woman suffered her self to be called the most blessed Virgin, caused so much blood to be spilt for establishing of the usurped Authoritie of the Pope, I think the like is rare to be found in Scripture or other History.

3. Reg. 18 3. Reg. 18.1 Kgs 18I finde that Iezabel (that cursed Idolatresse) caused the blood of the Prophets of God to be shed, and Naboth to be murthered unjustly for his own Vineyard; but yet I think she never erected halfe so many Gallows in all Israel, as mischievous Mary hath done within London alone: But you Papists will excuse your Mary the Virgine:A digression to the Papists of Qu. Maries chaste dealing. Well, let her be your Virgine, and a Goddesse meet to entertain such Idolaters, yet shall I rightly lay to her charge, that which I think no Papist within England will justifie nor defend: And therefore (O ye Papists) here I will a little turn my Pen unto you.A lively Picture of Mary the utter mischief of England Answer unto this Question, O ye Seed of the Serpent; Would any of you have confessed two years ago, that Mary (your mirrour) had been false, dissembling, unconstant, proud, and a breaker of promises (except such promises as she made to your god the Pope, to the great shame and dishonour of her noble Father;) I am sure you would hardly have thought it of her: And now doth she not manifestly shew her self to be an open Traitoresse to the Imperiall Crown of England, contrary to the just Laws of the Realme, to bring in a stranger, and make a proud Spanyard King, to the shame, dishonour and destruction of the Nobilitie; to the spoile of their Honours, Lands, Possessions, chief Offices and promotions of them and theirs; To the utter decay of the Treasures, Commodities, Navie and Fortifications of the Realm,What commodities the Spanish King shall bring to the Realm of England. to the abasing of the Yeomandry, to the slavery of the Commonalty, to the overthrow of Christianity and Gods true Religion, and finally to the utter subversion of the whole publike estate and Common-wealth of England? Let Norfolk and Suffolke, let her own Promise and Proclamation, let her fathers Testament, let the Citie of London, let the ancient Laws and Acts of Parliaments before established in England, be judges betwixt mine accusation and her most tyrannous iniquity.

First, her Promise and Proclamation did signifie and declare, That neither she would bring in, neither yet Marry any stranger; Northfolk, Suffolk and the Citie of London do testifie and witnesse the same. The ancient Laws and Acts of Parliament pronounceth it Treason to transferre the Crown of England into the hands of a forraigne Nation; and the Oath made to observe the said Statutes, cryeth out, That all they are perjured that consent to that her traiterous fact.

Speak now (O ye Papists) and defend your monstrous Masters, and deny, if ye can for shame, that she hath not uttered her self to be borne (alas therefore) to the ruine and destruction of noble England? Oh who would ever have beleeved (I write now in bitternesse of heart) that such unnaturall crueltie should have had dominion over any reasonable creature? But p. 61the saying to be true, That the usurped Government of an affectionate woman is a rage without reason.

Who would ever have thought,A true saying. that the love of that Realme, which hath brought forth, which hath nourished and so nobly maintained that wicked woman,Under an English name, she b…areth a Spanyards heart. should not have moved her heart with pitie? Who seeth not now, that she in all her doings declareth most manifestly, that under an English name she beareth a Spaniards heart? If God (I say) had not for our scourge, suffered her and her cruell Councell to have come to Authority, then could never these their abominations, cruelty and treason against God, against his Saints, and against the Realm, whose liberties they are sworn to defend, so manifestly have been declared: And who ever could have beleeved, That proud Gardener, and treacherous Tunstall (whom all Papists praised, for the love they bare to their Countrey) could have become so manifestly Traiterous, not onelyonly against their solemne Oathes, that they should never consent nor agree unto, that a forraigne Stranger should reigne over England; but also that they would adjudge the Imperiall Crown of the same to appertain to a Spanyard by inheritance Lineall discent? O Traiterous Traitours, how can you for shame shew your faces.

It cometh to my minde, that upon Christmas day, Anno 1552. preaching, in New-Castle upon Tine, and speaking against the obstinacie of the Papists I made this affirmation, That whosoever in his heart was enemy to Christs Gospel and Doctrine, which then was preached within the Realm of England, was enemy also to God, and secret traitours to the Crown and Common-wealth of England; for as they thirsted nothing more then the Kings death, which their iniquity could procure; so they regarded not who should reign over them, so that their Idolatry might be erected again. How these my words at that time pleased men, the crimes and action intended against me did declare. But let my very enemies now say their conscience, if those may words have not proved true?

What is the cause that Winchester and the rest of his pestilent sect,Spanyards sons of pride and superstition. so greedily would have a Spanyard to reign over England? The cause is mafest; for as that Hellish Nation surmounteth all other in pride and Whoredome, so for Idolatry and vaine Papisticall and devillish Ceremonies, they may rightly be called the very sons of superstition; And therefore are they found and judged by the Progeny of Antichrist,Why Winchester would have Spanyards to reigne over England. most apt Instruments to maintain, establish and defend the Kingdom of that cruell Beast, whose head and wound is lately cured within England, which (alas for pitie) must now be brought into bondage and thraldome, that pestilent Papists may reigne without punishment.

But,To Winchester. O thou Beast! (I speak to thee Winchester, more cruell then any Tygre) Shall neither shame, nor fear, nor benefits received, bridle thy Tyrannous cruelty? Art thou not ashamed (thou bloody Beast) to betray thy native Countrey, and the liberties of the same? Fearest thou not to open such a door to all iniquitie, that whole England should be made a common Stewes to Spanyards? Wilt thou recompence the benefits which thou hast received of that Noble Realm with that ingratitude? Remembrest thou not that England hath brought thee forth? that England p. 62nourished thee? that England hath promoted thee to riches, honour and high dignitie? And wilt thou now (O wretched Captive) for all these manifold benefits received, be the cause that England shall not be England? Yea verily; for so wilt thou gratifie thy Father the Devill, and his Lieutenant the Pope, whom with all his baggage, thou labourest now (with tooth and naile) to make florish again in England; albeit like a dissembling Hypocrite, and double faced wretch, thou being thereto compelled by the invincible verity of Gods Holy Word, wrotest (long ago) thy book intituled True Obedience;The Book of true obedience both in Latine and in English, shall remain to thy perpetuall shame and condemnation of thy cankered Conscience. against that Monstrous Whore of Babylon, and her falsly usurped power and authority: but now (to thy pepetuall shame) thou returnest to thy Vomit, and art become an open Arch-Papist again. Furthermore, why seekedst thou the blood of Thomas Cranmer, of good father Hugh Latimer, and of that most learned and discreet man Doctor Ridley? Doest thou not consider, that the lenitie, sincere Doctrine, pure life, godly conversation, and discreet counsell of these three is notably known in more Realms then England? Art thou not ashamed to seek the destruction of those, who laboured for the safeguard of thy life, and obtained the same when thou justly deservedst death? But, O thou sonne of Belial, well declarest thou, that nothing can mollifie the cruell malice, nor purge the deadly venome of him, in whose heart wickednesse beareth the dominion; thou are like to Cain, and fellow to Iudas the Traitour, and therefore canst thou do nothing but thirst for the blood of Abel, and betray Christ Jesus and his eternall verity?

The wicked must declare their selves.Thus (dear brethren) must the sons of the Devill declare their own impietie and ungodlinesse, that when Gods vengeance (which shall not sleep) shall be poured forth upon them, all Tongues shall confesse, acknowledge and say, That God is righteous in all his judgements: And to this end are cruell Tyrants permitted and suffered for a space and time, not onelyonly to live in wealth and prosperity,Apocalip. 13. but also to prevaile and obtain victory as touching the flesh, over the very Saints of God, and over such as enterpriseth to resist their fury at Gods commandment. But now to the subsequent, and that which followeth.

The Instrument and means wherewith Christ Jesus used to remove and put away the horrible fear and anguish of his Disciples, is his onelyonly word; for so it is written, But by and by Iesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good comfort, it is I, be not afraid. The naturall man (that cannot understand the power of God) would have desired some other present comfort in so great a danger; as, Either to have had the heavens to have opened, and to have shewed unto them such light in that darknesse, that Christ might have been fully known by his own face; or else, That the Winds and raging Waves of the Seas suddenly should have ceased: or some other Miracle that had been subject to all their sences, whereby they might have perfectly known that they were delivered from all danger. And truely, equall it had been to Christ Jesus to have done any of these (or any work greater) as to have said, It is I, be not afraid: But willing to teach us the dignitie and effectuall power of his most Holy Word, he useth no other Instrument to pacifie the great and horrible fear of his Disciples, but the same his comfortable Word, and lively Voice; and this is not done p. 63onelyonly at one time, but whensoever his Church is in such straight perplexity, that nothing appeareth but extreme calamity, desolation and ruine;Note. then the first comfort that ever it receiveth, is by the meanes of his Word and Promise: As in the troubles and temptations of Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Moses, David and Paul may appear.

To Abraham was given no other defence,Abraham. after that he had discomfited four Kings (whose posterity and linage, no doubt, he, being a stranger, greatly feared) but onelyonly this promise of God made to him by his holy Word;Gen. 15.Gen 15 Feare not, Abraham, I am thy Buckler; that is, Thy protection and defence.

The same we finde of Isaac, Isaac.who flying from the place of his accustomed habitation,Gen. 16.Gen 16 compelled thereto by hunger, gat no other comfort nor conduct, but this promise onelyonly, I will be with thee.

In all the journeyes and temptations of Iacob, Iacob.the same is to be espied; As when he fled from his fathers house,Gen. 23 31.32.35.Gen 23:31Gen 23:32Gen 23:35 for fear of his brother Esau, when he returned from Laban; And when he feared the inhabitants of the Region of the Canaanites and Peresites, for the slaughter of the Sichemites committed by his sons; he receiveth none other defence, but onelyonly Gods Word and Promise.

And this in Moses, Moses.and in the afflicted Church under him, is most evident: For when Moses himself was in such despair,Exod 5.Exod 5 that he was bold to chide with God, saying, Why hast thou sent me? for since that time I have come to Pharaoh, to speak in thy Name, he hath oppressed this people: Neither yet hast thou delivered thy people.

This same expostulation of Moses, declareth how sore he was tempted; yea, and what opinion he had conceived of God, that is, That God was either impotent, and could not deliver his people from such a tyrants hands; or else, That he was mutable, and unjust of his promises. And this same, and sorer temptations, assaulted the people; For in anguish of heart, they both refused God and Moses (as we before have partly touched.) And what meanes used God to comfort them in that great extremity? Did he straightway suddenly kill Pharaoh, the great Tyrant? No. Did he send them a legion of Angels to defend and deliver them? No such thing: But he onelyonly reciteth and beateth into their ears his former promises to them, which oftentimes they had before; And yet the rehearsall of the same wrought so mightily in the heart of Moses, that not onelyonly was bitternesse and despair removed away, but also he was enflamed with such boldnesse, that without fear he went again to the presence of the King, after he had been threatned and repulsed by him.

This I write, beloved in the Lord, that ye knowing the Word of God not onelyonly to be that,Rom. 1. Psal. 119.Rom 1Ps 119 whereby were created heaven and earth, but also to be the power of God to salvation,The power and eff…ctuall operation of Gods Word. to all that believe; the bright lantern to the feet of those that by nature walk in darknesse; the life to those that by sinne are dead; a comfort to such as be in tribulation; the tower of defence to such as be most feeble; the wisedom and great felicity of such as delighteth in the same; and to be short, You know Gods Word to be of such efficacy and strength, that thereby is sin p. 64purged, death vanquished, tyrants suppressed, and finally, the devill the author of all mischief, overthrown and confounded. This (I say) I write, that ye, knowing this of the holy Word, and most blessed Gospel and voyce of God (which once you have heard, I trust, to your comfort) may now in this hour of darknesse, and most raging tempest, thirst and pray, That ye may hear yet once again this amiable voyce of your Saviour Christ, Be of good comfort, it is I, fear not. And also that ye may receive some consolation by that blessed Gospel which before you have professed, assuredly knowing, That God shall be no lesse mercifull unto you, then he hath been to other afflicted for his Names sake before you. And albeit that God speedily removeth not this horrible darknesse, neither suddenly pacifieth this tempest, yet shall he not suffer his tossed Ship to be drowned.

Remember, brethren, That Gods vengeance plagued not Pharaoh the first yeer of his tyranny;Exod. 4 Reg 9.Exod 4 Neither did the dogges devour and consume both the flesh and bones of wicked Iezabel, when she first erected and set up her Idolatry: And yet, as none of them escaped due punishment, so did God preserve his afflicted Church, in despight of Sathan, and of his blinde and most wretched servants; as he shall not fail to do in this great tempest and darknesse within the Realme of England. And therefore yet again, beloved in the Lord, let the comfort of Gods promises somewhat quicken your dulled spirits; exercise your selves now secretly, in revolving that which sometimes you have heard openly proclaimed in your ears; and be every man now a faithfull Preacher unto his brother:Luke 24Luke 24 If your communication be of Christ, assuredly he will come before you be aware: His Word is like unto sweet smelling Oyntment, or fragrant flowers,Simile. which never can be moved nor handled, but forth goeth the odour, to the comfort of those that stand by; which is nothing so delectable, if the Oyntment remain within the Box, and the flowers stand or lie without touching or motion.

Mark well dear brethren, before that Christ spake, his disciples judged him to have been some wicked spirit, which was to them no delectable savour; But when he speaketh, the sweet sound of his voyce pierceth their hearts; For what comfort was in the hearts of the disciples, when they heard these words, Be of good comfort, it is I? that is, Judge not that I am a spirit come to your destruction; no, even I am come for your deliverance: It is I, your Master; yea, your Master most familiar: It is I, whose Voyce and Doctrine you know, for ye are my sheep: It is I, whose works you have seen,Math. & John, …. although perfectly ye considered not the same: It is I, who commanded you to enter into this journey, and therefore am I come to you now in the hour of your trouble; and therefore, be not afraid, this storm shall cease, and you shall be delivered.

What comfort, I say, dear brethren, was in the hearts of the disciples, hearing Christs voyce, and knowing him by the same, can neither the tongue or pen of man expresse, but onelyonly such, as after long conflict and strife (which is betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit, in the time of extreme troubles, when Christ appeareth to be absent) feeleth at last the consolation of the holy Ghost, witnesse and declare.

p. 65And Peter giveth some externall signe, what Christs words wrought inwardly in his heart: For immediately after he heard his Masters voice, he saith, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come unto thee upon the waters. Here it may be seen what Christs voyce had wrought in Peters heart; truely not onelyonly a forgetting and contempt of the great tempest, but also such boldnesse and love, that he could fear no danger following, but assuredly did believe, That his Master Christs puissance, power, and might was such, that nothing might resist his Word and Commandment, and therefore he saith,Note that Peter consid…red not his own weaknesse. Command me to come: As though he should say, I desire no more but the assurance of thy Commandment: If thou wilt command, I am determined to obey; For assuredly I know, That the waters cannot prevail against me, if thou speake the word: So that whatsoever is possible unto thee, by thy Will and Word may be possible unto me.

Thus Christ, to instruct Peter further, and us by his example, condescended to his Petition, and commanded him to come; and Peter quickly leaving the Ship, came down from it, and walked upon the waters, to come to Christ. Thus far of Peters fact, in which lieth great abundance of Doctrine; but I will passe over all that especially appertaineth not to the quality of this time within the Realm of England.

Before it is said (welbeloved Brethren) That sometimes the messengers of life are judged to be the very messengers of death; and that not onelyonly with the reprobate, but also with Gods elect; as was Moses with the Israelites; Ieremiah with the City of Ierusalem, The sherp at length know the voyce of their own Pastor.and Christ himself with his Apostles: But that is not a sin permanent, and that abideth for ever with Gods elect, but it vanisheth away in such sort, that not onelyonly they know the voyce of their Pastor, but also they earnestly study to obey and follow it, with the danger of their own lives: For this is the speciall difference betwixt the children of God, and the reprobate:

The one obeyeth God speaking by his Messengers,The Elect. whom they embrace with unfained love: and that they do, sometimes not onelyonly against all worldly appearance, but also against Civill Statutes and Ordinances of men: And therefore in their greatest extremity receive they comfort beyond expectation.

The other alwayes resisteth Gods Messengers,The Repr… bate. and hateth his Word: And therefore in their great adversity God either taketh from them the presence of his Word, or else they fall into so deadly despair, that although Gods Messengers be sent unto them, yet neither can they receive comfort by Gods promises, neither follow the counsell of Gods true Messengers, be it never so perfect and fruitfull. Hereof have we many evident Testimonies within the Scriptures of God.

Of Saul it is plain,1 Reg 28. That God so left him, that neither would he give him answer by Prophet,Saul. Dream, nor Vision.

To Ahaz King of Iudah, 2 Reg. 18.2 Kgs 18in his great anguish and fear which he had conceived by the multitude of those that were conjured against him,Ahaz. was sent Isaiah the Prophet, to assure him by Gods promise, That his enemies should not prevail against him:Isai. 7.Isa 7 and to confirm him in the same, the Prophet required him to desire a signe of God, either from the p. 66heaven, or beneath in the deep: But such was the deadly despair of him, that alwayes had despised Gods Prophets, and had most abominably defiled himself with Idolatry, that no consolation could enter into his heart, but desperately, and with a dissembling and fained excuse, he refused all the offers of God.

God sometime sheweth mercy to an hypocrit, for the cause of his ChurchAnd albeit God kept touch with that hypocrite for that time (which was not done for his cause, but for the safety of his afflicted Church) yet after escaped he not the vengeance of God.

The like we reade of Zedekiah the wretched and last King of Iudah, before the destruction of the City of Ierusalem, who in his great fear, and extreme anguish, sent for Ieremiah the Prophet, and secretly demanded of him, How he might escape the great danger that appeared, when the Caldeans besieged the City.Jerem. 37, 38.Jer 37:38 And the Prophet boldly spake and commanded the King, if he would save his life and the City, to render and give up himself into the hands of the King of Babylon. But the miserable King had no grace to follow the Prophets counsell, because he never delighted in the said Prophets Doctrine, neither yet had shewed unto him any friendly favour; But even as the enemies of God, the chiefe Priests and false Prophets required of the King, so was the good Prophet evilly used; sometimes cast into prison, and sometimes judged and condemned to die. The most evident testimony of the wilfull blinding of wicked Idolaters, is written and recited in the same Prophet Ieremiah, as followeth.

After that the City of Ierusalem was burnt and destroyed, the King led away prisoner,Jerem. 42.Jer 42 his sons and chief Nobles slain, and the whole vengeance of God poured out upon the disobedient; yet there was left a remnant in the Land, to make use of and possesse the same, who called upon the Prophet Ieremiah, to know concerning them the will and pleasure of God, Whether they should remain still in the Land of Iudea, as was appointed and permitted by the Caldeans, Or if they should depart and flie into Egypt: To certifie them of this their duty, they desire the Prophet to pray unto God for them: Who condescending and granting their Petition, promised to keep back nothing from them, which the Lord God should open unto him.Reade the Text, Jer 42.Jer 42 And they in like manner taking God to record and witnesse, made a solemn Vow, To obey whatsoever the Lord should answer unto him. But when the Prophet, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and assured revelation and knowledge of his Will, commanded them to remain still in the Land that they were in, promising them, if they so would do, That God would there plant them; and that he would repent of all the plagues that he had brought upon them; and that he would be with them, to deliver them from the hands of the King of Babylon. But contrariwise, if they would not obey the voyce of the Lord, but would against his Commandment go to Egypt, thinking that there they should live in rest and aboundance, without any fear of Warre, and penury of victuall, then the very plagues which they feared, should come upon them, and take them: For (saith the Prophet) it shall come to passe, That all men that obstinately will go to Egypt, there to remain, shall die, either by sword, p. 67by hunger or pestilence: But when the Prophet of God had declared unto them this plain sentence and will of God, I pray you, what was their answer? The text declared it, saying, Thou speakest a lie, neither hath the Lord our God sent thee unto us, Jerem. 43.Jer 43commanding that we should not go into Egppt, but Baruch the sonne of Neriah provoketh thee against us, that he may give us into the power of the Caldees, that they might kill us, and lead us prisoners into Babylon: And thus they refused the counsell of God, and followed their owne fantasies.

Here may be espied in this people great obstinacie and blindnesse;Great blindnes for nothing which the Lord had before spoken by this Prophet Ieremy, had fallen in vain; Their own eyes had seen the plagues and miseries which hee had threatned, take effect in every point, as he had spoken before; yea, they were yet green and fresh both in minde and presence (for the flame and fire wherewith Ierusalem was consumed and burnt, was then scantly quenched) and yet could they not beleeve his threatnings then spoken, neither yet could they follow his fruitfull counsell, given for their great wealth and safeguard. And why so? Because they never delighted in Gods Truth,Jer. 44.Jer 44 neither had they repented their former Idolatry, but still continued and rejoyced in the same,As Papists would have League with the Emperor. as manifestly appeareth in the four and fortieth Chapter of the same Prophet; and therefore would they and their wives have been in Egypt, where all kinde of Idolatry and Superstition abounded, that they (without reproach or rebuke) might have their Bellyes full thereof in despight of Gods holy Lawes and Prophets. In writing hereof it came to my minde, that after the death of that innocent and most godly King Edward the sixt,What was said in Hamme…sham when uproar was for establishing of Mary in authority. while that great tumult was in England, for the establishing of that most unhappy and wicked womans Authority (I mean of Mary that now reigneth in Gods wrath) entreating the same argument in a Town in Buckingam Shire, named Hammersham, before a great congregation, with sorrowfull heart and weeping eyes, I fell into this exclamation;

O England, now is Gods wrath kindled against thee, now hath he begun to punish, as he hath threatned a long while, by his true Prophets and Messengers; he hath taken from thee the Crown of thy glory, and hath left thee without honour, as a body without a head: And this appeareth to be onelyonly the beginning of sorrows, which appeareth to increase; for I perceive that the heart, the tongue and hand of one English man is bent against another, and devision to be in the whole Realm, which is an assured signe of desolation to come. O England, England, doest thou not consider, that the Common-wealth is like a Ship sailing on the Sea,A Common-wealth compared to a Ship sayling on the Sea. if thy Marriners and Governours shall one consume another, shalt thou not suffer shipwrack in short processe of time? O England, England, (alasse) these plagues are powred upon thee, for that thou wouldest not know the most happy time of thy gentle Visitation: But wilt thou yet obey the voyce of thy God, and submit thy self to his holy words? Truly, if thou wilt thou shalt finde merciemercy in his sight, and the estate of thy Common-wealth shall be preserved.

But, O England, England, if thou obstinately wilt return into Egypt, that is, If thou contract Mariage, Confederacie, or League with such Princes, p. 68as do maintain and advance Idolatry (such as the Emperour, who is no lesse enemy unto Christ then ever was Nero;) if for the pleasure and friendship (I say) of such Princes thou returnest to thine old abominations, before used under the Papistrie, then assuredly (O England) thou shalt be plagued and brought to desolation by the means of those whose favours thou seekest, and by whom thou art procured to fall from Christ, and to serve Antichrist.

This and much more in the dolour of my heart, that day, in the audience of such as yet may bear record, (through Gods permission) I then pronounced: The thing that I then most feared, and which also my Tongue spake (that is, The subversion of the true Religion, and bringing in of Strangers to reign over that Realm) this day I see come to passe in mens councels and determinations; which if they proceed and take effect, as by men it is concluded, then so assuredly as my God liveth, and as those Israelites that obstinately returned into Egypt againe,The end shall declare. were plagued to the death; so shall England taste what the Lord hath threatned by his Prophets before. God grant us true and unfained repentance of our former offences. God for his great mercies sake stirre up some Phinies, Elias, or Iehu, that the blood of abominable Idolaters may pacifie Gods wrath, that it consume not the whole multitude. Amen.

Enemies to the Truth receive no comfort of Gods Messengers.But to returne to our matter; of the premisses it is plain, That such as contemne Gods eternall verity and grace, can neither in their troubles receive comfort by Gods Messengers, neither yet can they follow the counsell of God, be it never so profitable, but God giveth them over, and suffereth them to wander in their owne vanities, to their owne perdition; whereas contrarywise,The godly and chosen of God. such as beareth a reverence to Gods most Holy Word, are drawn by the power and vertue of the same (as before is said) to beleeve, follow and obey that which God commandeth, be it never so hard, so unapparent or contrary to their affections: And therefore as God alwayes keepeth appointment with them, so are they wonderously preserved, when Gods vengeances are powred forth upon the disobedient.Gen. 12.Gen 12 And this is most evident in Abraham, at Gods commandment, leaving his Countrey, and going forth he knew not whither; which was a thing not so easie to be done,Gen. 15. Gen. 22.Gen 15Gen 22 as it is to be spoken or read. It appeareth also in Abraham, beleeving Gods promises, against all appearance, and also in offering his son Isaac, Exod. 5.7.10. 1 Reg. 16. 3 Reg 21.Exod 5:7Exod 5:101 Kgs 161 Kgs 21against all fatherly love and naturall affection. The same is said, in Moses, Samuel, Hezekiah, Michaiah, and other of the Prophets, which at the commandment of Gods Word, boldly passed to the presence of Tyrants, and there to them did their message, as charge was given unto them.

Object.But lest that some should alledge, that these examples appertaineth nothing to a multitude, because they were done in singular men, I answer,Answer. We will consider what the power of Gods Word hath wrought in many at one instance.Exod. 32.Exod 32 After that the Israelites had made the golden Calfe, and so fallen to Idolatry;Gods Word sometimes moveth great multitudes. Moses coming down from the mountain, and beholding their abominations (the honour that they gave to an Idol) and the people spoiled of their ear-rings and jewels, to their great rebuke and shame, was enflamed with such zeal, indignation and wrath, that first, p. 69he brake the Tables of the Commandments; then he beat their Calfe to powder, and gave it to them to drink, to cause them to understand, That their filthy guts should receive that which they worshipped for God: And finally,Why Moses caused the Israelites do drink the powder of the golden calf. he commanded that every man that was of God should approach and come nigh unto him: And the sons of Levi (saith the Text) came to him; to whom he said, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Let every man put his sword upon his thigh, and go in and out from Port to Port in the Tents; and let every man kill his brother, Exod. 32.Exod 32his neighbour, and every man his nigh kinsman: And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses:A sharp sentence against Idolaters. And there fell the same day of the people nigh three thousand. It is evident by this history, That the power of Gods Word, pronounced by the mouth of a man, prevailed at one time in a great number against nature, and compelled them to be executers of Gods vengeance, regarding nothing the affinity nor nighnesse of blood: And also that their doing so well pleased Moses the Ambassadour of God, that he said unto them, Consecrate your hands this day every man in his own son, Gen. 34.Gen 34and in his own brother, that a fortunate benediction may be given to you this day. As though he should say; Your father Levi prophaned and defiled his hands, killing the Sichemites in his blinde rage, which moved his father Iacob in his last Testament, to condemne, execrate and curse that his most vehement and ungodly zeale:Gen. 49.Gen 49 But because in this work you have preferred Gods Commandment before blood, nature and also affection, in place of that rebuke and curse, you have obtained blessing and praise.

The like puissance and vertue of Gods Word working in a multitude,Jerem. 21.38.Jer 21:38 is to be read in the Prophet Ieremiah; who perceiving the time of Gods vengeance to draw nigh, and the City of Ierusalem to be besieged, boldly cryeth out in his open Sermon, saying, He that remaineth in this Citie shall die, Jerem. 21. Jerem. 38,Jer 21Jer 38either by sword, by hunger, or by pestilence. But he that shall go forth to the Caldeans, shall live, and shall finde his soul for a prey. This might have appeared a deceivable, seditious and ungodly Sermon, to command subjects to depart from the obedience and defence of their native Prince, rich Citizens and valiant souldiers from their possessions and strong Holds, and to will them to render themselves, without all manner of resistance, into the hands of strangers, being their enemies. What carnall man would not have judged the perswasions of the Prophet most foolish and false? And yet in the hearts of such as God had elected and appointed to life, so effectually wrought this Sermon, that a great number of Ierusalem left their King, their City, riches and friends, and obeyed the Prophets counsell: for so may be espied by the answer of Zedechias the King, when Ieremiah counselled him, That he should render himself into the hands of Nebuchadonoser, Jerem. 38.Jer 38he saith, I fear these Iews, that are fled to the Caldeans, lest perchance they give me into their hands.

Hereof it is plain, That many were departed from him, whom he feared more then he did his enemies.

Many more testimonies might be brought, to declare how mightily Gods Word, spoken by man, hath wrought in the hearts of great multitudes: As in the hearts of the Ninevites, Jon. 3.Jonah 3who at Ionahs Preaching condemned their former Religion, conversation and life: And in the hearts p. 70of those three thousand who at Peters first Sermon openly made after Christs Ascension, acknowledged their offences, repented, and were soon after baptized.Act. 2.Acts 2 But these premises are sufficient to prove, as well that Gods Word draweth his Elect after it, against worldly appearance, against naturall affections, and against evil Statutes and Constitutions; as also, That such as obey Gods speaking by his Ministers, never lacketh just reward, and recompence: For onelyonly such as obeyed the voyce of the Prophet,Jerem. 32.Jer 32 found favour and grace, to the praise and glory of Gods Name, when his just judgements took vengeance upon the disobedient. But now briefly by Notes we will touch the rest of Peters act, and Christs mercifull deliverance of him; which is the end of all troubles sustained by Gods Elect.

And first, That Peter seeing a mighty winde, was afraid, and so, when he began to sink, he cryed, Lord save me, are three things principally to be noted:

The first, From whence cometh the fear of Gods Elect.

The second, What is the cause that they faint and fall in adversity.

The third, What resteth with them in the time of this fear and downsinking.

And first, it is plain, That so long as Peter had his eyes fixed upon Christ, and attended upon no other thing but the voyce of Christ, he was bold and without fear: But when he saw a mighty winde (not that the winde was visible, but the vehement storm and waves of the Sea that were stirred up and carried by the winde were seen) then began he to fear, and to reason (no doubt) in his heart, that better it had been for him to have remained in his Ship; for so might Christ have come to him: But now the storm and rage of winde was so vehement, that he could never come to Christ, and so he greatly feared. Whereof it is plain, That the onelyonly cause of our fear that have left our Ship, and thorow the storms of the Sea would go to Christ with Peter, The cause of fear.is, That we more consider the dangers and letts that are in our journey, then we do the Almighty power of him that hath commanded us to come to himself. And this is a sinne common to all the elect and chosen children of God, That whensoever they see a vehement trouble appearing to lett them, and drive them back from the obedience of God, then begin they to fear and to doubt of Gods power and good will.

Gen. 12. Exod. 34. Isa. 36, 37.Gen 12Exod 34Isa 36:37With this fear was Abraham stricken, when he denied his wife. This storme saw Moses, when he refused to be Gods Messenger. And Hezekiahs sore complaint declareth, That more he believed, considered, and looked upon the proud voyces, and great power of Sennacherib, then he did the promises of the Prophet.

This I note for this purpose, That albeit this late and most raging storm within the Realme of England have taken from you the presence of Christ for a time, so that you have doubted whether it was Christ which you saw before, or not. And albeit that the vehemency of this contrary winde that would drive you from Christ have so employed your ears, that almost you have forgotten what he was who commanded you to come to himself,Matth. 11.Matt 11 when that he cryed, Come unto me all ye that labour p. 71and are burthened, and I shall refresh you. Passe from Babylon, O my people, &c. Albeit (I say) that this raging tempest have stricken such fear in your heart,Apoc. 18.Rev 18 that almost all is forgotten; yet (dear brethren) despair not, such offences have chanced to Gods Elect before you.Note. If obstinately ye shall not continue, yet shall you finde mercy and grace. It had been your duty indeed, and agreeable to your profession, to have looked to Christ alone, and to have contemned all impediments; but such perfection is not alway with man, but happy is he that feeleth himself to sink.

The cause that Godt elect begin to faint and to sink down in the time of 2great adversitie, is fear and unbelief, as in Peter doth appear; for so long as he neither feared danger, neither mistrusted Christs word, so long as the waves (above, and contrary to their nature) did obey and serve his feet,Lively faith maketh a man bold. as they had been the drie, solid and sure ground: But so soon as he began to despair and fear, so soon began he to sink: To instruct us, That lively faith maketh man bold, and is able to carry us thorow such perils, as be uncapable to nature; But when faith beginneth to faint, then beginneth man to sink down in every danger; as in the Histories before rehearsed, it may appear,3. Reg. 18.1 Kgs 18 and in the Prophets it is plain; for Elias at Gods Commandment passing to the presence of King Ahab, in the fervency of his faith, obtained the fire to come from heaven, and to consume his Sacrifice: by which also he was made so bold, that in the presence of the King he feared nothing to kill his false Prophets. But the same Elias hearing of the managing and threatnings of cursed Iezabel, 3. Reg. 19.1 Kgs 19and considering that the wrath of a wicked woman could by no reasonable means be appeased,The creature can never dispute w…th God without sin. he saw a storme, and feared the same, and so he prepared to flie; which he doth not without some sinking down, for he began to reason and dispute with God, which never can be done by the Creature, without foolishnesse and offence. The same we finde in Ieremy, and many more.

But the Question may be asked,Quest. Seeing Christ knew before what should happen to Peter, why did he not hinder him from coming from his Boat? or else, Why did he not so confirm him in faith, that he should not have doubted?

To the which may be answered;Answ. Albeit that we could render no reason of this work of Christ, yet were the work it self a sufficient reason; and it were enough to answer, That so it pleased him, who is not bound to render a reason of all his works: But yet if we shall marke with deligence to what Office Peter was to be called,Gods works by them self are a sufficient reason. and what offences long rested with him, we shall finde most just and necessary causes of this work of Christ, and down sinking of Peter. It is plain that Peter had many notable vertues, as a zeal and fervency towards Christs glory,Peters vertue▪ and a readinesse and forwardnesse to obey his commandments; but it is like plain, That of long continuance there rested with Peter a desire of honor and worldly rest (and that moved him to perswade Christ that he should not die.The vice that long rested with Peter.) There rested with him pride,Matth. 16.Matt 16 presumption, and a trust in himself; which presumption and vain trust in his own strength, unlesse it had been corrected, he had never been fit to have fed Christs flock:Note. And such sinnes can never be fully corrected or reformed, till they be felt, known, and confessed. Doubtlesse so arrogant is our nature, that neither will it know nor confesse the p. 72infirmitie of it self, untill such time as it hath a triall by manifest experience; This is most plain by Peter, long after this tempest; for when Christ said to his Disciples, This night shall ye all be slandered in me, Peter boldly bragged and said,Matth. 26.Matt 26 Albeit that all should be slandered, and should flie from thee, yet shall not I be slandered, but I am ready to go to prison, and to die with thee. This was a bold presumption, and an arrogant promise spoken in contempt of all his Brethren, from which he could not be reduced by Christs admonition, but the more that Christ shewed him, that he should deny him, the more bold was he to affirm the contrary; as though his Master Christ (the Author of all Trueth, yea rather trueth it self) should make a loud lie; and therefore of necessitie it was, that he should prove in experience what was the frailtie of mans nature, and what was the imbecillity and weaknesse of faith, even in those, that were his chief Apostles, which had continually heard his heavenly Doctrine, seen daily his wonderfull Miracles, which had heard themselves so many admonitions of him, which also had followed and obeyed him in many things. That imbecillitie and weaknesse of faith, if Peter had not proved and felt it in himself, neither could he rightly have praised Gods infinite goodnesse, and imbraced his free mercy; neither had he been apt and meet to have been a a Pastor to the weak sheep and tender lambs of Christ, but he should have been as proud a contemner and dispiser of his weak brethren, as the arrogant Papists, that contemn and dispise all godly and great learned men, though they be a thousand parts more excellent then they.Why Peter was suffered to sink. But to correct and informe both presumptuous arrogancy and fraile imbecilitie and weaknesse of faith, Peter was permitted once to sink, and thrice most shamefully to refuse and deny his Master, to the intent that by the knowledge of his own weaknesse, he might be the more able to instruct others of the same; and also that he might more largely magnifie Gods free grace and mighty deliverance: And that Christ taught him before his falling; saying,Luke 22.Luke 22 When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren: As though Christ should have said, Peter, yet art thou too proud to be a Pastor, thou canst not stoop nor bow thy back down to take up the weak sheep, thou doest not yet know thine own infirmitie and weaknesse, and therefore canst thou do nothing but despise the weak ones; but when thou shalt be instructed by experience of thine own self, what hid iniquitie lurketh within the nature of man, then shalt thou learn to be humble, and stoop among other sinners; and also shalt be an example to others which after shall offend, as thou didst, so that if they repent as thou didst, they need not despaire of mercy, but may trust most assuredly of Christ to obtain grace, mercy and forgivenesse of sins, as thou didst.

This fruit have we to gather (dear Brethren) of Peters down-sinking in the sea, (which was a secret knowledge and privie admonition, that he after should deny Christ) that we are assured by the voice of Christ, if in the time of trouble and extreme danger we crie with Peter, we shall be delivered as he was; and if we mourn for our deniall of Christ, as hee did, we shall finde the same grace and favour at Christs hand, that hee found.

But now let us touch the third Note, which is this, That with Gods p. 73Elect in their greatest feare and danger there resteth some small sparke of faith, which by one means or other declareth it selfe, albeit the afflicted person in feare or danger, doth not presently perceive the same. As herein 3Peter is most cleare and manifest.What resteth with Gods Elect in their greatest danger. The nature of faith. For, perceiving himself to sink down, he cryed, saying, Lord save me, which words were a declaration of a lively and quick faith, which lay hid within his afflicted and sore perplexed heart, whose nature is (I mean of faith) to hope against hope, that is: against all appearance or likelihood to looke for help and deliverance, as the words of Peter witnesseth that he did. He saw nothing but the raging Sea ready to swallow him up. He felt nothing but himself sinking down in body, and sore troubled in heart, and yet he cryed: Lord save me. Which words first delare,Peter knew the power and good will of God. that he knew the power of Christ able to deliver him. For foolishnesse it had been to have called for the help of him whom he had known to be impotent and unable to help.

The calling for Christs help by prayer in this extream danger declared also that Peter had some hope through his gracious goodnesse to obtain deliverance. For in extream perils impossible it is, that the heart of man can cry for Gods help without some hope of his mercy.

It is also to be noted, that in his great jeopardy Peter murmureth not against Christ. Neither doth he impute or lay any crime or blame upon Christ, albeit, at his commandment he had left his Bote. He saith not: Why lettest thou me sinke, seeing that I have obeyed thy Commandment. Moreover, Peter asked help at Christ alone, of whom he was perswaded both could and would help at a pinch. He cryed not upon Abraham, Iacob, Moses, Samuel, David; Neither upon any other of the Patriarks, Prophets, or Saints departed: neither yet upon his own fellows in the Bote, but upon Christ, at whose commandment he had left the Bote.

All these things together considered, declare, that Peter in this his extreame fear and danger had yet some sparke of faith (albeit in that present jeopardy he had neither consolation nor comfort.) For these premisses are undoubted tokens that he had faith. But now to the end, which is this.

And immediately Iesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him: O thou of little faith, wherefore diddest thou doubt. And when they were come into the ship, the winde ceased; And they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Sonne of God: And immediatly the ship was at the Land whither they went.

Hereof first is to be Noted,Psal. 144.Ps 144 That God is alway nigh to those that call upon him faithfully;How nigh God is in extream perill to deliver his Elect that syithfully call upon him. and so willing is he to deliver them, that neither can fear nor extreme danger hinder his godly hand. Peter was sinking downe, and looked for no other thing but present death, and yet the hand of Christ prevented him. That that was visibly and openly done to Peter in that his great perill, is invisibly and secretly done to Christs holy Church,Exod 14. Hester 7.8 ….Exod 14Esth 7:8 and to the chosen Members of Christs mysticall Bodie in all ages.

How nigh and ready was the Hand of God to deliver his people Israel, when they were almost overwhelmed with despair in the dayes of Moses and Hester, Daniel 6. John 3. Act 12.Dan 6John 3Acts 12the History doth witnesse: How nigh was God to Daniel p. 74amongst the Lyons, To Ionas in the Whales Belly, to Peter in the prison, is likewise most evidently declared in the holy Scriptures. How suddenly and beyond all expectation was David many times delivered from Sauls tyrany, his own heart confessed, and compelled his pen to write, and tongue to sing,Psalm. 18.Ps 18 saying, He sent from above, and hath delivered me, he hath drawn me forth of many waters.

Open your ears (dear brethren) and let your hearts understand, That as our God is unchangeable, so is not his gracious hand shortned this day. Our fear and trouble is great, the storm that bloweth against us is sore and vehement, and we appear to be drowned in the deep: but if we unfainedly know the danger, and will call for deliverance, the Lords hand is nigher then the sword of our enemies.

God flattereth not his Elect.The sharp rebuke that Christ Jesus gave to Peter, teacheth us, That God doth not flatter nor conceal the faults of his Elect, but maketh them manifest, to the end that the Offendors may repent, and that others may avoid the like offences.

Peter was not faithlesse.That Christ called Peter of little faith, argueth and declareth (as we before have noted) That Peter was not altogether faithlesse, but that hee fainted, or was uncertain in his faith, for so soundeth the Greek terme foreign, whereof we ought to be admonished, That in passing to Christ thorow the storms of this world, is not onelyonly required a fervent faith in the beginning,Matth 10. 2 Tim 2.Matt 102 Tim 2 but also a constancy to the end; as Christ saith, He that continueth to the end, shall be saved; and Saint Paul, Unlesse a man shall strive lawfully, Such as have stood long, may yet fall.he shall not be crowned. The remembrance of this ought to put us in minde, That the most fervent man, and such as have long continued in profession of Christ, is not yet sure to stand at all hours, but that he is subject to many dangers, and that he ought to fear his own frailty, as the Apostle teacheth us, saying, Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall; for if Peter that began so fervently, yet fainted ere he came to Christ, what ought we to fear, in whom such fervency was never found? No doubt we ought to tremble and fear the worst; and by the knowledge of our own weaknesse,Luke 17.Luke 17 with the Apostles, incessantly to pray, O Lord increase our faith. Christs demand and question, asking Peter, Why doubtest thou? containeth in it self a vehemency;Note. as if he should have said, Whether doubtest thou of my power, or of my promises, or of my good will? If my power had not been sufficient to have saved thee, then could I neither have come to thee thorow the stormy Sea, neither have made the waters obey thee, when thou beganst to come to me; and if my good will had not been to have delivered thee, and thy Brethren, then had I not appeared unto you, neither had I called upon thee, but had permitted the Tempest to devour and swallow you up:We have lesse pretence of excuse then Peter had. but considering that your eye saw me present, your ears heard my voice, and thou Peter especially knewest the same, and obeyedst my commandment, why then doubtest thou? Beloved brethren, If this same demand and question were laid to our charge, we should have lesse pretence of excuse then had Peter; for he might have alleadged, That he was not advertised that any great Storme should have risen betwixt him and Christ,Note. which justly we cannot alleadge; for since that time that Christ hath appeared unto us by the brightnes of his Word, and called p. 75upon us by his lively voyce, he hath continually blown in our ears, That persecution and trouble should follow the Word that we professed, which dayes are now present. Alas then, why doubt we thorow this storme to go to Christ? Support, O Lord, and let us sink no further.

Albeit that Peter fainted in faith,Consolation and therefore was worthy most sharply to be rebuked, yet doth not Christ leave him in the Sea, neither long permitted he that fear and tempest to continue, but first they entred both into the Ship, and thereafter the winde ceased; and last, their Ship arrived without longer delay, at the place for which they long had laboured.

O blessed and happy are those that patiently abides this deliverance of the Lord; The raging Sea shall not devour them: Albeit they have fainted, yet shall not Christ Jesus leave them behinde in the stormy Sea, but suddenly he shall stretch forth his mighty hand, and shall place them in the Ship amongst their brethren; that is, He shall conduct them to the number of his elect and afflicted Church,Matth. 28.Matt 28 with whom he will continue to the end of the world.

The Majestie of his presence shall put to silence this boysterous winde,Worldly Princes are conjured against God the malice and envy of the devill which so bloweth in the hearts of Princes, Prelates,Psal. 2.Ps 2 Kings, and of earthly men, that altogether they are conjured against the Lord, and against his Anoyned Christ; in despight of whom, he safely shall conduct, convey, and carry his sore troubled Flock to the life and rest for which they travell.

Albeit (I say) that sometimes they have fainted in their journey,The sheep of Christ cannot be rent from his hand. albeit that weaknesse in faith permitted them to sink, yet from the hand of Christ can they not be rent; he may not suffer them to drown, nor the deep to devour them:Joh. 10.John 10 But for the glory of his own Name he must deliver, for they are committed to his charge,Joh. 7.John 7 protection, and keeping; and therefore must he keep and defend such as he hath received at his father, from sin, from death, from devil and hell.

The remembrance of these promises is to mine own heart such occasion of comfort, as neither can any tongue nor pen expresse, but yet peradventure some there is of Gods elect that cannot be comforted in this tempest, by any meditations of Gods election or defence, but rather beholding such as sometimes boldly have professed Christs Verity,The temptations of Gods elect now in England. now to be returned to their accustomed abominations; And also themselves to be overcome with fear, that against their knowledge and conscience they stoup to an Idol, and with their presence maintaineth the same; and being at this point, they begin to reason, Whether it be possible that the members of Christs body may be permitted so horribly to fall to the denyall of their Head; and in the same to remain of long continuance: And from this reasoning they enter in dolour, and from dolour, they begin to sink to the gates of hell; and Ports of despair.

The dolour and fear of such I grant to be most just: For oh how fearfull is it, for the love of this transitory life, in the presence of man to deny Christ Jesus, and his known and undoubted Verity?

But yet to such as be not obstinate contemners of God, and of all godlinesse, I would give this my weak counsell, That rather they should appeal to mercy, then by the severe judgements of God to pronounce p. 76against themselves the fearfull sentence of condemnation; and to consider that God includeth all under unbelief, that he may have mercy upon all: That the Lord filleth and giveth life; he leadeth down to hell, and yet lifteth up again.Good counsell to thee in faith But I will not that any man think, That by this my counsell I either justifie such as horribly are returned back to their vomit;Rom. 11.Rom 11 either yet that I flatter such as maintaineth that abominable Idoll with their dayly presence;1 Reg 2.1 Kgs 2 God forbid; For then were I but a blinde guide leading the blinde headlong to perdition:Note. OnelyOnly God knoweth the dolour and sobs of my heart, for such as I hear dayly do turn back: But the cause of my counsell is, That I know the conscience of some to be so tender, that whensoever they feel themselves troubled with fear, wounded with anguish, or to have sliden back in any point, that then they judge their faith to be quenched, and themselves to be unworthy of Gods mercies for ever; to such direct I my counsell; to those, I mean, that rather offends by weaknesse and infirmity,To whom appertaineth the former counsel. then of malice and set purpose. And I would that such should understand and consider, that all Christs Apostles fled from him, and denyed him in their hearts: And also I would they should consider,Matth. 28.Matt 28 That no man from the beginning stood in greater feare, greater danger, nor greater doubt, then Peter did, when Christs presence was taken from him;Note. yea, no man felt lesse comfort, nor saw lesse appearance of deliverance; and yet neither were the disciples rejected for ever, neither was Peter permitted to drown in that deep.

Objection.But some shall object, Faith was not utterly quenched in them, and therefore they got deliverance, and were restored to comfort.

Answer.Answ. That is it which I would that the afflicted and troubled consciences in this age should consider, That neither fear, neither danger, neither yet doubting nor backsliding, can utterly destroy and quench the faith of Gods elect, but that alwayes there remaineth with them some root and spark of faith,The root of faith remaineth with Gods elect in greatest danger. howbeit in their anguish, they neither feel nor can discern the same. Yet some shall demand, How shall it be known in whom the spark and root of faith remaineth, and in whom not, seeing that all fleeth from Christ, and boweth down to Idolatry? Hard it is, and in a manner impossible, that one man shall wittingly judge of another (for that could not Elijah do of the Israelites of his dayes) but every man may easily judge of himself:3 Reg. 19.1 Kgs 19 For the root of faith is of that nature,The root of faith is not idle. that long it will not be idle, but of necessity, by processe of time, it will send forth some branches that may be seen and felt by the outward man, if it ramain lively in the heart; as you heard it did in Peter, compelling him to cry upon Christ, when that he was in greatest necessity. Wilt thou have a triall whether the root of faith remaineth with thee or not?A tryall of faith in trouble (I speak to such as are weak, and not to proud contemners of God.)

First, Feelest thou thy soul fainting in faith, as Peter felt his body sinke down in the waters?

Secondly, Art thou as sore afraid that thy soule should drown in hell, if thou consentest or obeyest Idolatry, as Peter was that his body should drown in the waters?

p. 773. Desirest thou as earnestly the deliverance of thy soul, as Peter did the deliverance of his body?

4. Believest thou that Christ is able to deliver thy soul, and that he will do the same, according to his promise?

5. Do'st thou call upon him without hypocrisie, now in the day of thy trouble?

6. Do'st thou thirst for his presence, and for the liberty of his Word again?

7. Mournest thou for the great abominations that now over-flowes the Realm of England?

If these premises (I say) remain in thy heart, then art thou not altogether destitute of faith, neither shalt thou descend to perdition for ever; but mercifully shall the Lord stretch forth his mighty hand, and shall deliver thee from the very throat and bottom of hell:It appertaineth not to man to know not to enquire how God will deliver. But by what means that he shall perform that his mercifull work, it neither appertaineth to thee to demand, nor to me to define: But this is requisite, and is our bounden duty, that such means as the hand of our God shall offer (to avoid Idolatry) we refuse not, but that willingly we embrace the same, albeit it partly disagree to our affections.Note. Neither yet think I that suddenly, and by one means,Divers wayes of deliverance. shall all the faithfull in England be delivered from Idolatry: No, it may be that God so strengthen the hearts of some of those that have fainted before, that they will resist Idolatry to the death, and that were a glorious and triumphant deliverance. Of others God may so touch the hearts, that they will rather chuse to walk and go as Pilgrims, from Realm to Realme, suffering hunger, cold, heat, thirst, wearinesse, and poverty, then that they will abide (having all aboundance) in subjection of Idolatry.Note. To some may God offer such occasion, that in despight of Idolaters (be they Princes or Prelats) they may remain within their own Dominions, and yet neither bow their knees to Baal, neither yet lack the lively Food of Gods most holy Word. If God offer unto us any such means,The means offered by God to avoid Idolatry are not to be refused, let us assuredly know, That Christ Jesus stretched forth his hand unto us, willing to deliver us from that danger wherein many are like to perish; and therefore let us not refuse it, but with gladnesse let us take hold of it, knowing that God hath a thousand means (very unappearing to mans judgement) whereby he will deliver,Repetition. support and comfort his afflicted Church. And therefore, most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, considering that the remembrance of Christs Banquet (whereof, I doubt not, some of you have tasted with comfort and joy) is not yet utterly taken from your minde; And that we have entred in this journey at Christs Commandments; considering that we finde the Sea windes blow contrary and against us, as before was prophesied unto us; and that we see the same tempest rage against us, that ever hath raged against Christs elect Church; And considering also that we feele our selves ready to faint, and like to be oppressed by these stormie Seas, Let us prostrate our selves before the Throne of Grace, in the presence of our heavenly Father, and in the bitternesse of our hearts let us confesse our offences, and for Christ Jesus sake let us ask deliverance and mercy, saying, with sobs and groanings from our troubled hearts;