Letter to Ministers in Geneva, Letter – Title page
THE COPIE OF AN EPISTLE SENT BY IOHN KNOX ONE OF the Miniſters of the Engliſhe Church at Geneua vntounto the inhabitants of Newcaſtle, & Barwike.
In …e end wherof is added a briefe exhortation to England for the ſpedie imbraſing of Chriſtes Goſpel hertofore ſuppreſſed & baniſhed.
MATTH. CHAP. VII.
…uerie tree, which bringethe not fourthe good frute, is hewne downe, and caſt into the fyer.
AT GENEVA. M.D.LIX.
MATH. x.
Ʋ Ʋho ſo euer ſhal confeſſe me before men, him wil I confeſſe alſo before my father whiche is in heauen: but who ſoeuer ſhal denie me before men, him wil I alſo denye before my father whiche is in heauen.
…hn Knox to the inhabitantes of N…wcas…le ād Barwike and vntounto …her who ſometyme in the Realme …nglande prof…ſſed Chriſt Ieſus, ād … be returned to the bondage of …, wiſheth true, and earneſtre…ancely the powre and operation …at ſame ſpirite, who called from …he Ieſus the onelyonly paſtour of our ….
IF the reaſon of man ſhalbe called to iudg what frute enſuethe the payneful trauail of Gods moſt faith…ll ſeruantes, who at his com…andement ſtudie to repayre his …itie, and to purge his temple, …t onelyonly ſhal their labours be …ſtemed for a tyme to be vainly …pent,The reaſon of man is not able to iudge of the wonderful workes of God towardes his Church. but ſkarſely ſhal the wiſdome of God throughe mans …aſhe iudgement eſcape condemnation, nether ſhal the veritie of his promeſſes be free frome ſuſpition of falſehod and vanitie. For to mans reaſon nothing appeareth more abſurde, foliſhe nor vnreaſonable, then yt God (whoſe powre no creature is able to reſiſt) ſhal ſend fourth his meſſingers to performe his worke and wil,The preaching of the worde ſemeth foliſhnes to the worlde. and that the ſame ſhalbe ſo impugned, that their building in their owne eyes ſhalbe ouerthrowne, and deſtroyed, and that the natural man can not ſe how the promeſſes of Chriſt Ieſus, made to his Apoſtles, and vnderunder their names to all true preachers of his holy Goſpel, in theſe wordes can be prouen conſtant, and true. I hauehave (ſaith he) appointed you to go and to bring fourthe frute,Iohn. 15. & that your frute ſhal abyde. The ſtabilitie and truth (I ſay) of this promeſſe dothe not ſodenly appeare, but rather the playne contrary. For if the frute of the Goſpel and glad tydinges preached be firſt in this lyfe the glorye of God (I meane ſuch good workes as may declare the ſpirite of regeneration) ſhining in man after that he be planted in Chriſt Ieſus, and after this battel the ioy prepared for Gods children: if theſe (I ſay) be the frutes of Chriſt Ieſus preached, then appeare the moſt parte of trees to be deſtroyed before the tyme of frute dothe approche. For ſome by tyrannie and violence are rooted out frome the ſocietie of earthely creatures before they beginne to floriſh, & ſo is their frute to mās iudgement impeaded and hindered, ſome are blaſted and wythered withe ſtormy windes and ſome are corrupted ether by vermine, or by venemous humors proceding frome a corrupt fountayne, ſo that the frute of none almoſt dothe appere to our eyes. To ſpeake the matter ſimply and without figure, the men that appeared to the faithfull laborers to hauehave bene planted in Chriſt, who callethe him ſelf the verie vyne, and thoſe, that profeſſe his truthe, the vine branches, are ſubiect to ſo many tentacions, that ſkarſely emongſt a thowſand dothe one take roote and bring forthe frute with paciēce. Notwithſtanding ſuche, as by ty…annye & violent perſecution are ſuddaynly reſt from this lyfe, do neuertheles produce and bring forthe frute delectable, and pleaſing in the ſight of him, who hathe appointed an ende to the trauayl & miſeries of his deare children,The deathe of the martyrs … …reaſeth the age and mal…ce of the reprobat aga…ſt Chriſt Ieſus▪ and for tyme tro…bleth the hartes of the cle…. albeyt this frute to the natural mā is ſo ſow…e and vnſauery, ſo hard and vnpleaſant, that the onelyonly ſight of it, not onelyonly gyuethe occaſion to the reprobat to vtter their venome and malice againſt Chriſt Ieſus: but alſo for a ſeaſon it vexeth and tormenteth Gods moſt deare children. For as the one doeth inſolently reioyce as thoghe God dyd fauor & maī tein their tyrānye, ſo dothe the other vndiſcretely lament ād pronounce wrong iudgement, eſteminge, that more it ſhulde ſtande with Gods glorie and honour, and more alſo with the profet of his Churche, yt ſuche, as to whome he hathe of merciemercy graunted notable graces, ſhulde rather be preſerued in lyfe, then permitted and giuen ouer to the wicked appetites of cruel perſecutors Howbeit as ye frute of theſe trees is beſt knowne to God alone, ſo is it iuſtified and approued by him whatſoeuer the foliſhe wiſdome of the natural man ſhal iudge in the contrary.Eſai. 57. For the prophet Eſai pronounceth that the iuſt periſheth (ſo dothe it appere to mās iudgement) and yet that no man putteth it in harte, that is dothe earneſtly conſider it, that the men of merciemercy are taken awaye and the worlde neuertheles dothe reioyce and tryumphe. But the holy ghoſt aſſigneth an other cawſe,The frute and benifite of deathe vntounto the iuſt. that the iuſt is taken away before that his eyes behold greater miſeries, that he entreth into his peace before that Gods vengeance beginne to be powred forthe vponupon the prowde and diſobedient,Eſai. 57. and ſo doth their frute abyde and continew, not onelyonly to their perpetual ioye, but alſo to the comforte and conſolation of the afflicted yt ſuffer for rightuouſnes ſake euen to thēde. For ye ſame God yt of merciemercy had reſpect to their infirmitie, and ſo dyd preuent the daungers that might hauehave apprehended them, prouiding alſo for his Churche aboue the expectation of mortal man, wil not diſpiſe the ſobbes of his …fflicted now in theſe moſt wret…hed, and moſt wicked dayes. But of theſe trees and of their frute I ceaſe at this tyme farther …o ſpeake, becauſe that the dolo…ous. eſtate of many that be alyue …awſethe me ſome tymes to giuegive thankes vntounto God for the happie deliuerance of ſuche as conſtantly departed in the Lorde, whether it was by perſecution of tyrantes, or by natural deathe.
Conſider with me deare brethern (I ſpeake to you of New-caſtle and Barwicke) your miſerable eſtate and moſt dolorous condition. Your profeſſion dyd once declare before men,The outwarde profeſsion of Newcaſtle ād Barwike in the tyme of the Goſpel. that ye were branches planted and ingrafted in Chriſt Ieſus, whoſe holy goſpel (whiche is the powre of God to the ſaluation of all yt beleue it) ye appeared to hauehave receaued with all reuerence and gladnes.Rom. 1. The diſpleaſure of your natural and carnal frendes, who then were ennemies to Chriſt Ieſus ād to his eternal veritie, ſome of you dyd paciently beare. Ye feared not to go before ſtatutes and lawes, yea openly and ſolemnedly you dyd profeſſe by receiuing the ſacramentes not as mā had appointed, but as Chriſt Ieſus the wiſdome of God the father had inſtitute to be ſubiect in al thinges concerning religiō to his yoke alone, to acknowledg and auouche him before ye world to be your onelyonly lawe gyuer, ſoueraigne prince and onelyonly ſauiour. Thus I ſay ye appeared at that tyme, to hauehave bene the delicate plantes of the Eternal, the workemanſhip of his owne handes, and the trees that in ſeaſon and tyme ſhulde hauehave produced good frute in abundance. But o alaſſe howe are ye changed? how are ye corrupted: whi…ervnto are ye fallen? and how …aue ye deceiued the expectation …f thoſe that then dyd labour in …lā …inge and watering you, and …ow do ſobbe vntounto God for your …gratitude, callinge withe teares …nto his merciemercy for your cōuerſiō …nd that vnfayned repentance …ay ſodēly appeare in you. O miſerable change, that ye who were once feruēt profeſſors of Chriſt Ieſus ād of his goſpel, ſhulde now …e ſubiectes to Antichriſt, geuīge obediēce to his falſe, and deceuable doctrine. O greuous fall and more thē greuous, yt from ye dignitie of the ſōnes of God (which prerogatiue ye had by grace and not by nature) ye are become ſlaues to Satan, iuſtifiing by your preſence moſt abominable Idolatrye. Yf ye ſe not the daunger whiche hereupon dependeth, ye are more then blynd, and if ye ſe it, ād ſtudye not wt al diligēce to auoyd it, ye are not onelyonly foliſhe, but altogether bewitched and enraged. God dyd not call you frome darkenes to light, he dyd not ſend his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus vntounto you, contemning and refuſinge many thowſandes, more noble, more wiſe, more ancient, and more puiſſant then ye are or euer were: God (I ſay) dyd not ſo familiarely cōmunicate hym ſelf with you in his onelyonly beloued ſōne Chriſt Ieſus, to the end that ye at your pleaſure and appetite or for the feare of wordly men, for loſing of goods, or corporal lyfe ſhuld returne to darkenes, that ye ſhulde refuſe to ſerue that ſoueraing prince in the day of his battayle,Philip. 2. before whome all knees ſhal bowe. But contrarywiſe that according as ye were called to ye participation of light, that ſo cō ſtantly ye ſhuld walke in ye ſame that as ye were appointed ſouldyers to fight againſt Sathan the …rince of this worlde, and againſt …is progenye, ennemies to Chriſt Ieſus, ſo ſhulde ye boldly abyde …n the rancke, in whiche God had placed you, being farther moſte …ertenly perſuaded, yt he that …lieth the battail and denieth Chriſt Ieſus before men, ſhalbe denyed before his heuenly father,Matt. 10. yea alſo yt ſuche as refuſe not father, mother, ſiſter and brother, are not worthy of hym: and moreouer yt ſuche as do not boldly confeſſe him before this wicked generation, ſhal neuer be confeſſed to appertayne to him, nor to the glorie of his kingdome, when he ſhalbe accōpaned wt his angels. Which thinges I thoght once had bene ſo depely grafted in your hartes, that albeit angels frome heauen ſhulde hauehave perſuaded you to the contrary, yt ye ſhuld hauehave holden them accu…ſed, and ſo in that behalfe hauehave reiected their perſuaſion & doctrine, as a poiſon moſt peſtilent, which is death & damnation to all that receiue it. For ſo dyd ye once profeſſe and ſuche was my hope of you, yt ſo in hart you had determined: for Chriſt Ieſus was not preached amongſt you without his croſſe.The Goſpel of Chriſt hath euer the croſſe folloing.
Howe oft hath it bene bett in your eares that the ſeruāt can not be aboue the Lord:Matth. 10. Iohn 13. Act. 14. that the membres muſt be conformed to the head, that by many tribulations we muſt enter into the kīgdome of God: that all yt will lyue godly in Chriſt Ieſus muſt ſuffer perſecution,2. Timo. 3. and that pa…tly becauſe Sathan the prince of this worlde can neuer be ſo brydeled during this battayle, but that he will ſtriue to recouer ſtrength, and partly becauſe that ſynne remayneth in vsus he is permitted to ſting with his venomous tayle, whē his head is bruſed. Was not this doctrine …ommon vntounto you? Yea hauehave ye …ot hard ofter thē once, that your …yes ſhuld ſe Chriſt Ieſus perſe…uted in his pore membres? that …is veritie ſhulde be oppugned? …hat ſuperſtition, lyes and Idola…rie ſhuld preuayle and hauehave the …pper hand? that the kindome of heauen, the true preaching of his Euangil ſhuld be taken from you …or the ingratitude and ſtubbur…es of men, who more delyted in …arkenes then in light? None of …heſe things at that tyme dyd …ppeare ſtrange vntounto you, nether …yd they diſcorage you, but ye …emed (being admoniſhed what …aunger it was to refuſe Chriſt Ieſus) moſt ſtedfaſtly to cleaue to …he veritie, notwithſtanding that …he whole world ſhuld hauehave refu…ed the ſame.
How oft hauehave ye aſsiſted to Ba…tiſme? how oft hauehave ye bene par…akers of ye Lords table prepared, vſed & miniſtred in all ſimplicitie, not as mā had deuiſed, nethe… as the kinges procedinges dyd a… lowe, but as Chriſt Ieſus dyd inſtitute, and as it is euident, tha… Sainct Paule dyd practiſe. The… two ſacramētes▪ ſeales of Chriſte Euangil, ye commonly vſed, baptiſme for your children, and the table of the Lorde to your own… comforte, and for the open confeſſion of your religion. And ſo oft I ſay deare brethern dyd y… witneſſe before mē, & ſweare b… fore God, that ye woulde dye … Chriſt Ieſus, to the end that y… might lyue by him: that ye would refuſ… the doctrine of men, and the participation of all Idolatry▪ and woulde conſtantly ſtand, and ſtickfaſt to that religion, which then ye p…ofeſſed, and approued But ô alaſſe what miſerable ru… ne hathe this ſuddayne and ſho… ſtorme made of that building… … was beg on amongſt you? The windes hauehave blowne and the flodes are come, and the walles are fallen in one heape (God graunt that the fundatiō abyde) the fyer is come, but in you alaſſe is nether founde golde, ſiluer, nor precious ſtone, but all is brent, and all is conſumed, ſo that if I ſhal iudge the frute of my pore lobors amongſt you by myne owne iudgment reaſon or apprehenſion, I ſhulde iudge my ſelfe, and my labors accurſed of God, for that that I ſe no better ſucceſſe. O conſider deare brethren, what grief it is, that in ſuche a multitude none ſhalbe found faithful,In the tyme of perſecution and tryal not one was foūd faithful and conſtant. none conſtant, none bolde in the cawſe of the Lorde Ieſus, whome ſo boldlye before they had profeſſed.
God is witneſſe, and I refuſe not your owne iudgmentes, how ſimplye & vprightly I conuerſed and walked amongſt you, thogh in his preſence I was and am nothing, but a maſſe of corruption, rebellion and hypocriſie: yet as cōcerning you and the doctrine taght amongſt you, as then I walked, ſo nowe do I write in the preſence of him, who onelyonly knoweth & ſhal reueale ye ſecretes of all hartes,This rule oght of all preachers to be obſerued. yt nether for feare dyd I ſpare to ſpeake the ſimple truthe vntounto you, nether for hope of worldly promotion, dignitie or honour dyd I willingly adulterate any parte of Gods ſcriptures whether it were in expoſitiō, in preaching, contention or writing: but that ſimply & plainly, as it pleaſed the merciful goodnes of my God to giuegive vntounto me the vtterāce, vnderſtanding & ſpirite, I dyd diſtribute the bread of lyfe (I meane Gods moſt holy worde) as of Chriſt Ieſus I had receiued it. I ſoght nether preheminence,Beholde wherein the preachers of Chriſt ſhulde reioyce. glorie, nor riches: my honour was, that Chriſt Ieſus ſhuld reigne: my glorie, that the light of his truthe ſhuld ſhyne in you: and my greateſt riches, that in the ſame ye ſhuld be conſtant. Let him amongſt you that is fartheſt declined, conuict me if he can, if that euer he dyd perceyue me by craftie or vnlawfull meanes to ſeke the ſubſtance or riches of any, yea if I hauehave not refuſed that, which by diuers hathe bene offred, and that alſo by the commone opinion might lawfully hauehave bene receyued. But to what purpoſe is this recited? Is it to brag of mine owne iuſtice? or yet to defende mine owne innocencie? not ſo deare bretherne, not ſo (for what I acknowledge my ſelf to be before God, I hauehave already confeſſed) but to let you vnderſtand, that if I hauehave this teſtimonie of cōſcience as concerning my office, miniſterie and doctrine, & am notwithſtanding wounded almoſt to the deathe for that that my labors hauehave not better ſucceded,If he that is innocent hath this feare, howe oght the offenders, to tremble? what oght to be your feare, lamē tacion, & trembling? I feare that God hathe curſed me becauſe he hathe not better bleſſed my labors amongſt you, and yet in that behalf hauehave I the lot, and ſort cōmune withe the moſt parte of Gods true Prophetes, and the conditiō like with ſainct Paul to cōfort me in my greateſt deſperation.3. Reg. 19. For Helias dyd thinke that he alone amongſt the Iſraelites was left a lyue truly to worſhip God. And Paul dyd complayne that all that were in Aſia had left him.… Timo. 3. He dyd ſe in his owne dayes his beloued Churche of Gallacia bewitched by falſe …a…hers, and alſo that moſt notable Cōgregatiō of Corinthus, ſhort…y after his departure frome the ſame, he ſawe deuided in ſectes, corrupted in lyfe, giuen to deba…e, contencion and ſtrife, yea, to be infected withe moſt peſtilent hereſye, I meane withe ye deniall of the reſurrection of the deade. Theſe and other like exemples …eache vsus howe Gods moſt true and paynefull ſeruantes hauehave be…e fruſtrate of their expectation & ſo humbled before God, whoſe frutes I hauehave to pull, and as it were by violence to drawe me frome the bothome of hell, to the whiche ſome tymes I ſinke for remembrance of your fall, & for my other offences againſt God committed. But theſe exemples can not ſo remedy my wounde, …ut that frome tyme to tyme I …ele the pricke of Gods heuy diſpleaſure. And oght you thē to lyue voyde of all feare, as men that had nothing offended? My conſcience dothe nether accuſe me, that amongſt you was I a falſe prophet, mercenary nor idle perſon, and yet I quake, I feare & trē ble, remembring your horrible fall, & oght you to reſt, be quyet, & reioyce, againſt whome Gods vengeance is ſo plainly pronounced? For if no Realme, no Natiō, Citie, nor particular perſon trayterouſly declinyng from God, & obſtinatly remaining in rebelliō after the truthe knowne and profeſſed, hathe eſcaped Gods vengeance, flatter not your ſelfes, as that your treaſon and rebellion ſhulde or can be ouerſene by his iuſtice, which from the beginning ys one, and to the ende ſhal remayne inuiolable.
Repentance is the … to finde merciemercy.Many hauehave offended, and vponupon repentance hauehave obteyned merciemercy & grace: but I demāde & …ſke, who cōtēning merciemercy offred, … as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, diſpi…ing the lenitie, and long ſuffering of God, hath in the ende eſcaped vengeance. Your treaſonable fall is manifeſt, but the ſignes of your repentāce do not yet appere, and therfore I ſaye flatter not your ſelues, as that ye had made pactiō with death, with hell & deſtructiō, as the Prophet Eſai accuſeth thoſe of his tyme,Eſai. 28. who diſdainfully dyd anſwer, when he called them to ſackcloth and aſſhes, that is to ſhewe forth the tokens of true repentāce & conuerſion vntounto God. In deſpit (I ſaye) they anſwered,Eſai. 5. Let the coūſel of the holy one of Iſrael cōme: in the meane tyme, let vsus eate & drinke, & make mery dayes, for to morrowe we ſhal dye, if the wordes of theſe bablers (ſo were Gods ſeruantes termed) be true, and take effect.Eſai. 22. But we are out of dāger: deſtruction nor deathe ſhal not apprehende vsus. The accompliſhement of their viſions are far of: Ieruſalē is the pott, & we are the fleſh, meaning therby, that they wolde dye & lyue in their natiue country. But the prophets boldely againſt ſuche prowde contempt dyd affirme, that their leage and couenāt made (as they ſuppoſed) with deathe and vaſtacion ſhulde be diſſolued and broken. For the floods of vengeance ſhulde cary them to perdition:Eſai. 28. ſtraungers ſhulde inherite their lande, and they ſhuld dye in miſerable bondage, in a lande polluted with all Idolatrie, becauſe they refuſed to ſerue the Lord their God in the land, which he had giuen to them in poſſeſsion, and becauſe they would nether gyue reuerence nor credit to his ſeruantes the prophetes, whome frome tyme to tyme he ſent vntounto them.Ezech. 11. And farther the prophetes dyd affirme that thoſe po…e afflicted ſeruantes of God, who c…uelly were murthe…ed ī their preſēce by thoſe cruel perſecutors, that thē bare dominiō in tyrannie, were onelyonly they amongſt the Iſ…aelites, that ſhulde dye with honour in their owne contrie. As for the reſt, they ſhuld ether be led captiues, or els dye by hunger, peſtilence or ſwoord & ſo leaue their names in ex…ecration and contempt to the poſterities foloinge.
Beware deare bretherne that ye be not like to theſe mē in ſtub…urnnes in contynuance of ſin & in cōtempt of grace. Ye hauehave declined, yea, and trayterouſly fallen backe frome God, and frome his veritie once profeſſed, as they dyd: but beware (I ſaye) that ye defend not your impietie, that ye contemne not the threatninges of God, promiſing to your ſelues felicitie & life, when he by his worde, & holy prophetes pronoūcethe againſt you woe, deathe & ſeuere iudgement. For then be you moſt aſſured, that ye ſhal not eſcape yt irreuocable ſentēce of God, once pronounced by the mouthe of Ieremie in theſe wordes: EueryEvery natiō like vntounto this ſhal I iudge ſaithe the eternal.Iere. 5. Then ſhal you fele in the ende, howe horrible and feareful it is to fall in the handes of the omnipotent. Then ſhal ye grope and wander to and fro ſeking remedy, but ſhal finde none: ye ſhalbe like blinde mē in extreme darkenes, ye ſhal ſtūble, ye ſhal fal, ye ſhal crye and rore for anguiſhe, but none ſhalbe able to releaue your miſeries, all creatures ſhalbe ennemies vntounto you becauſe you hauehave deſpiſed ye goodnes and merciemercy of him, who ſo louīglye hathe intreated you: firſt in openinge vntounto you ye true knowledge of him ſelf, and nowe after your horrible defection ſo mercifully callinge you to repē tance agayne. O call to mynde, deare bretherne, that fearefull ſē tence pronounced againſt that fig tree,Luk. 13. which dyd occupie the groūde, but was vnfrutefull. The requeſt and earneſt ſupplication of the gardiner coulde obteyne no more, but that he might dig abowte her, and laye donge to the …ootes therof the ſpace of one yere, but thē, if it produced no frute, he was compelled to giuegive place by his owne ſentence to the wiſdome and iuſtice of his lorde, who would not ſuffer ſuche an vnprofitable tree to occupie place in his choſen and delectable garden or vineyarde. This was not ſpoken by Chriſt, nor ment (deare bretherne) of deade & inſenſible trees, but vnderunder yt ſimilitude moſt liuely is painted & ſet forthe, what ſhalbe ye end of thoſe, that by vocation and external profeſſion are planted in the Churche of God,Iohn. 15. and ſo made members of Chriſt Ieſus? who is the verie vvneſtocke, & ſuch as do profeſſe him, are called branches grafted in him. This ſimilitude (I ſay) do the expreſſe what ſhalbe the end of ſuch, as bring not forth frute in him, to wit, they ſhalbe cut of ye ſtocke, whome by baronnes they diſhonor, they ſhal wither and drye, & ſo be caſt on the fyer to burne for euer.
I hauehave no pleaſure (God is witneſſe) to threaten you, muche leſſe to pronoūce plages and Gods ſeuere iudgmentes againſt you, but ſeing and conſidering your horrible defection frome God and frome his veritie knowne and profeſſed, … dar not ceaſe to exhort you to …epentance. For althogh I ſhulde …epe ſilence, yet ſhulde ſtones …ccuſe your vnthankefulnes. Yf … ſhulde flatter you and ſpeake ac…ordīg to your appetites,No vayne excuſes or flatterie of the preachers can turne awaye Gods vengeance. ſaiyng …as we can not redres the in…quitie of theſe tymes, we hauehave … pleaſure in Idolatrie, we are …orye, that the blood of innocēts …s ſhed in our lande, we woulde …e content that true religion …hulde be vſed, but wicked men …ow bere dominion, and therfore we muſt ſerue and obey the …yme: when God ſhal pleaſe to …eſtore his truth we wilbe gladd of it, but in the meane tyme we muſt obey the lawes ſet forth by …ur ſuperiours: God knoweth …ur hartes, and we truſt he wil…e merciful vntounto vsus. Yf on this …aner (I ſay) I ſhulde flatter you …aying pillowes vnderunder your hea…es, who alredy do ſleape in a deadely ſecuritie, ſhulde ye therfore eſcape Gods vengeance? No no deare brethern, but by ſuche meanes be you aſſured that Gods indignation is more kindeled, both againſt the people, and the prophet. For when al are coniured againſt his truthe, then muſt his iuſte iudgementes reuenge his owne cauſe, and therfore brethern ſuffer the worde of exhortation, ſuffer it I ſay withe trembling & feare, not eſteming the threatninges pronounced againſt the diſobedient forthe of the boke of God to be voice… ſparſed in the ay…e,The threatninges of Gods prophets are effectual. which ſodenly ſhal euaniſhe and take no effect. God forbyd, that ſuche cogitatiōs remayne ād preuaile in your hartes, for then hauehave ye refuſed God, with whome ye can hauehave no ſocietie, except ye imbrace, and receiue his worde, whiche threatneth no leſſe damnation; deathe▪ ſhame and deſtruction to prowd …ōtemners and obſtinat refuſers of grace and mercy offered,The worde of God hathe two offices. then …hat it dothe promeſſe ſaluation, …, honor and immortalitie to …he penitēt ſynner, and vntounto ſuch … vnfaynedly mourne for their …aynous offences againſt God cōmitted. It behoueth you therfore, deare brethern, to giuegive this honour to your God, that the viritie of his worde be not meaſured by the weakenes, frailtie or infirmitie of the inſtrumentes, whiche moſt commonly he vſeth in publicatiō of the ſame. For his miniſters are men ſubiect to infirmities, but the worde, whiche they preache, is the powre of God to ſaluation of al that beleue and obediētly imbrace the ſame. His miniſters, as they be the ſonnes of men, of nature are they lyers, inſtable and vayne, but his eternal worde, whiche he putteth in their mowthes, and whereof they are made imbaſſadors, is of ſuche truthe, ſtabilitie and aſſurance, that albeit heauen ād earth ſhulde euaniſhe and periſhe, yet ſhal it abyde and remayne for euer,Matt. 24. and that in ſuch ſorte, that the ſame men, who blynded by proſperitie ād carnal affections, coulde not beleue God ſpeaking by his miniſters, are oft compelled in their owne bodyes and in their poſterities folowinge to fele the ſtripes and ſuſteyne the plages,Suche as wil not acknowledge God by his worde ſhall knowe him by his iudgementes. whiche they contemned, when they were firſt pronoūced. The prophet Zacharie, accuſing the Iewes of his tyme of negligēce, in reedifiing the temple after they were delyuered frome ye captiuitie and bondage of Babilon, ſayethe, where be your fathers, to whome the prophete… ſpake? and where be the prophete that ſpake to your fathers? are not the one and the other deade? But my wordes and ſtatutes (ſaithe the Eternal) which I hauehave commā ded to my ſeruantes the prophetes, hauehave not they apprehended your fathers? inſomoche that they conuerted and ſaid,Zach. 1. As the Lord of …ostes hath determined to do vntounto vsus accordyng to our waies and according to our imaginations, ſo hath he done. By which queſtion and wordes the Prophet euidently affirmeth that, which before I hauehave ſaid to witt, that nether the merciemercy of God promiſed to the penitent, nether the ſeuere puniſhementes pronounced againſt the ſtubborne and … oght to be meaſured by the weakenes and condition of the m…ſ…nger, whome God ſendeth:The worde is not to be meaſured by the m…s…ng…r, but by the powre of God that ſendeth it. but that whatſoeuer they bring fo…the of Gods boke againſt iniquitie and ſyn, & chiefly againſt Idolatrie (which ſeperateth man altogether frome God) ſhalbe holden ſo conſtant and ſo true, as thogh God frome the heauē had giuen witneſſe to the ſame by the preſence of his owne maieſtie. The mē to whome Zacharie d…d ſpeake, had neuer ſene Eſai ye prophet, yea, Eſai him ſelf was dead long before his prophetie toke full effect: notwtſtanding as their fathers felt the plagues, which he pronounced againſt them and againſt that famous Citie Ieruſalem for the bloodſhede and Idolatrie in the ſame committed: ſo were the eies of their children, to whome Zacharie ſpeaketh, witneſſes, yt Gods wrath was in perfection powred forthe vpō their fathers, which alſo dyd abide vponupon them, euē vntounto that day, that the Prophet dyd admoniſhe thē. For they ſawe Ieruſalem lie … and waſte, as the Caldeies had left it, they ſawe the ruines & miſerable ſtones ouercouered wt powder of that bewtifull & holy temple of God, which by Salomon was builded. They farther felt them ſelues in pouertie & bō dage of ſtrāgers. For albeyt they had obteyned libertie to returne to their countrie: yet perceyued they their condition … litle amēded. Their ēnemies were more ſtrong then they,1. Eſd. 3. 1. Eſd. 4. 2. Nehe. 4. euen in their owne lande. Their worke was imp…aded, & they dyd lyue in greater feare, then thoſe which ſtil remayned in diſpertion▪ & thus I ſaie were bothe their fathers & they compelled to confeſſe in the ende, that the wordes of the prophetes were no vayne threatnīgs. For the fathers dyd fele in a ſtraunge countrie the heauie yoke of bondage the ſpace of 70. yeres, after that the bodies of many thow ſandes had fallen vponupon the edge of the ſworde, and the eies of the children dyd ſee the force and vehemencie of Gods wrathe once kyndled. Of one thing be aſſured,The ſame God that ſpake in tymes paſt by his prophetes, ſpeaketh as effectually now by his meſſingers. deare brethern, that the ſelf ſame God, who then ſpake by his prophets, dothe now ſpeake to you by his meſsingers, how contemptible ſoeuer they be in your eies. and fa…ther be aſſured, that in all his proprieties he remayneth immutable for euer & euer, & therfore perſuade your ſelues, that what he hated in thē, he can not louelove in you, and what he puniſhed in them, he can not ſpare nor pa…do in you. In them he hated murther, deceite, oppreſsion, licencious lyfe, declyning frome the true religion and manifeſt Idolatry committed and ſuffred in all their lande. In them he puniſhed (and that moſt extremely) defence of their ſynnes, cōtempt of merciemercy and perſecution of his prophetes. Yf theſe things be cō mon amongſt you, as alas they are to manifeſt, flatter not your ſelues, as that your proſperitie ſhulde longe contynue, no bretherne but rather let the ſharpe iudgementes of God, all ready executed agaīſt the like offenders, put you in minde, that ye plagues and vengeances, which are conteined in his holy Lawe, & which your eares hauehave often harde, do preſently hāge ouer your heades: that the bloode of Gods innocēt childrē, which cruelly is ſhed in your lande (wherof ye are all giltie by reaſon of your permiſſion and ſilence) dothe continually crye in the eares of our moſt iuſte God,None can excuſe thē ſelues of the innocēt blood, that kepe ſilence in ſuch cruel murthers. Howe longe ſhall it be, ô Lord,A…o. 6. that thowe wilt not reuenge our bloode vponupon thoſe that dwel in the earth? that the teares of the widowes oppreſſed, of the orphelines left comfortles, of priſoners wrongefully tormē ted, and of the baniſhed, who ſuſteyne hunger and other calamities in ſtrange contries, onelyonly becauſe they woulde auoyde ſuche abhominations, as amongſt you are cōmitted. Ye oght, I ſay, to be moſt aſſuredly perſuaded, yt ye lamētable voices of al theſe hauehave ſo beaten the eares of our God, and that the teares, which in anguiſhe they powred forthe, hauehave ſo repleniſhed ād fylde the bottel, which hangethe continually in the eies of the almightie, that he hath ſworne by his owne holynes, that he wil ariſe in his hote fury, that he wil reuenge their cauſe (and that ſpedely) and that he wil alſo confounde his ennemies the perſecuters of his Churche, as fyer cōſumeth ſtubble and ſtrawe.
No tyme wil I appoīt to theſe the iudgmentes of our moſt iuſt God, but this I feare not to affirme in the aſſurance of his ſpirite, who of merciemercy hath called me to be a miniſter of his worde and veritie, that as ye hauehave harde the …ayes of theſe preſēt dolors foreſpoken, when ye could feare no ſuche daūgers to come. For Barwike and Newcaſtle be you both witneſſes,Barwike Newcaſtel how oft and how plainly ye hauehave hard affirmed, that ye light, which the moſt part hated (or at leaſt dyd not followe) ſhulde be taken from you, and that ye for your vnthankefulnes ſhulde be left in uttermoſt darkenes to your deſtruction: yt ſtrā gers ſhulde beare rule ouer you, and that ye ſhulde of al nations be moſt miſerable and accurſed of God, becauſe ye dyd not know the tyme of your merciful viſitatiō. Howe oft hauehave ye hard proclamed in your eares, O Englād if yu dydeſt knowe the honour, wherū to this day thowe art called: yf thou dydeſt conſider the graces & benefites of God this day offred vntounto the, thou ſhuldeſt be moſt happie & moſt bleſſed of all realmes. For within thy lād hath God erected his ſanctuarie, builded his temple and choſen his habitation & dwelling place.England was once made the ſanctuary of God▪ which is a title moſt honorable and bleſſed. From amongſt you hathe God by the power of his worde driuen out deuilles, ſuperſtition and Idolatrie: but alas for thy vnthankfulnes thy God wil departe from the: he wil giuegive the ouer agayne to the bondage of Sathan. In lyes thou deliteſt and therfore ſhal the veritie be taken from the. Which ſentences and threatnings albeyt then yee feared not, yet dare ye not denie in Gods preſence, howſoeuer ye diſſemble in the face of the wicked world, but that amongſt you ſpake the Spirit of truthe, how weake that euer the inſtrumēt was, whome it pleaſed his wiſdome to vſe for your aduertiſement, as your eies do this day beholde the accōpliſhement and execution of one part of Gods moſt iuſte iudgementes. For the veritie,Becauſe the multitude deliteth rather in lies, then in truthe therfore fall they ſuddainly to errors. in which a ſmal nombre dyd delyte, is taken from you, and Idolatrie, which many gaped for, is erected to your confuſion and ſhame. God hath remoued the preſence of his glorie from you, and the deuil hath take his full poſſeſsion. As this part (I ſaye) of Gods iudgements, w before were pronoūced, is executed in your eies, ſo ſhal ſome of you, that this day beholde the tyrannie that is vſed, mainteyned & permitted amongſt you, likewiſe beholde the terrible plagues & ſeuere iudgemēts of God powred forthe in full perfectiō,The plagues of God ſhal apprehend euen ſuch as by ſilence & flattery con…ent to the murther of his … not onelyonly vponupon the cruel murtherers, but alſo vpō ſuche as by ſilēce, & flattery cōſent to their impietie. Yf ye be not more then blynde, ye may euidētly ſe ye potēt hande of God diſplayde & ſtretched owt againſt you. Dothe not the ſuddayne & miſerable fall of Calice,Calice, called the key of England. ſometymes called the keye of Englāde, yea, & ye open dore into forrayne countreys, moue you to cōſider, what is Gods powere, & how eaſie it is to him to ouerthrow all the pryde of mā in one moment? Yf it moue not others, yet let it moue the,Barwike let the ſuddayne fall of thy ſiſter moue the to repentance. ô Barwike▪ ſhe was thy ſyſter, and your conditiō was one, except yt as in ſtrength, order and ciuil pollicie thow waſt nothinge comparable: ſo in theft, debate, hatred & all iniquitie thou dideſt farr ſurmount her & yet ſhe hathe dronkē the cuppe of Gods vengeance,Note becauſe yt being admoniſhed, ſhe dyd not repēt: & ſhal or canſt thou eſcape the ſame, if thou continue, as thou haſt begun? No, albeyt man and angell woulde promeſſe the aſſurance, thy pryde ſhalbe beatē doune to hell, thy treaſonable defection from God ſhalbe puniſhed, as before hathe bene pronounced in thyne eares, except yt by ſpedy repētāce thou preuent Gods iudgemētes. And therfore, deare bretherne, if yt ye intende or thinke to eſcape Gods vē geance, his heauy hande and hote diſpleaſure, delaye no tyme to retu…ne vntounto him,Pſal. 32. call vponupon him whyle he is nie, ſeke him vnfeynedly, whyle he is to be founde, hardē not your hartes, whē he rebukethe your vnthākfulnes. Now he offerethe him ſelf vntounto you, now he is neare, now he is to be ſounde, whyle he callethe you to repentaunce by his meſſingers & worde. Which occaſiō & opportunitie if ye omit, as Gods iuſtice ſhall ſhine in your puniſhemēt & iuſt condemnation,Iere. 11. ſo ſhall it be, yt you howle & crye for anguiſhe and payne, and yet ſhal fynde nether counſel nor cōfort. for ſo dothe God often reuenge the cōtempt of his graces offred.
Prowde Eſau, after he had ſold his birth right and had confirmed the ba…gan with a ſolemned othe, dyd eate & drinke regardyng nothing his owne foliſhenes, nether rightly dyd he eſteme (for the tyme) the honor & dignitie which he had loſt. But after, when he perceyued that his father (euen againſt his promeſſe and determined purpoſe) wolde ſtil bleſſe Iacob,Gene. 27. he …ett, he fumed, he accuſed Iacob, he reaſoned with his father, he begged but one bleſsing and that with teares, with roringe and lamentable cries: but all was in vayne, he founde no place of repentāce: the dore of merciemercy was ſhit vp by his former contempt, he bowled and cryed, but not for his ſyn & former vnthankefulnes, he begged bleſsīg, but his eie being fixed vpō this preſent world, he remayned accurſed before God, burnīg in hatred & imagining murther and the death of his brother, whome God had honored with his ſpiritual benedictiō. This hiſtorie (as by ye Apoſtle we are taght) is not written for Eſau onelyonly, but for enſample and admonition to a…l thoſe that prefer the prophane and contemptible pleaſures of this earthe to the benediction & inheritāce promiſed to Abrahám and vntounto his ſeale.All are Eſau children that prefer earthly pleaſures to ſpiritual bleſsings.
Enter in iudgement with your ſelues, deare bretherne, & cōſider earneſtly, what exchange ye hauehave made. Ye hauehave refuſed & …enied God the father & his deare ſonne Chriſt Ieſus, & ſo ye whole ioye & cōfort of his kingdome: ye hauehave quit ye portion of your inheritāce & hauehave deſpiſed ye benedictiō promiſed to ſuche, as ſhulde abyde in the truethe to the ende. And what reward hauehave ye receyued? a meaſſe of pottage, yea, muche leſſe, if the matter ſhalbe wel cō ſidered. For the fauour of your Quene accurſed by God, ye frēdſhipe of the counſel deſtitute of wiſdome, and your wretched and miſerable lyues, compared wt ye thīges, wc ye hauehave loſt, are muche inferiour to the pottage, for ye wt Eſau ſolde his birthright. For his appetites and luſtes were ſacia… for a tyme, but I am aſſured that your bellies, for the whiche ye hauehave refuſed God, are more ēptie, thē they were before. Now are ye cōpelled to fede ye proude Spanyard bothe within and wtout your cōtry. Taxe followeth taxe and one exaction calleth for an other. The lādes ād inheritances muſt pay at pleaſure of ye parlament▪ ye mouable goodes can not eſcape valuation and cenſure,The frutes of … reign where oppreſſion and extorſion beare rule & dominiō. Theſe are ye great benifites, wc of Ieſabel ye hauehave receyued for refuſinge of God & bowing at her cōmandement to Baal. But let it be yt you had receyued ſinſe your reuolt & falling from God ye greateſt riches, ye greateſt honor, ye greateſt victorie, & the moſt eſtabliſhed reſt, yt euer natiō had ſinſe the begynning: yet had ye chāged your former glorie for a meaſe of pottage. For do ye not know yt al theſe things ſhal cuaniſh as a dreame in the night ceaſō? And as cōcernyng ye preſeruatiō & ſafetie of your lyues, for yt wc ye hauehave refuſed God, who onelyonly is ye auctor of life, ye day ſhal ſhortly come, whē ye ſhal proue this ſentence of Chriſt Ieſus to be true in experience,Math. 10. To take away life is onelyonly in the pow… of God that gaue it.that whoſoeuer to kepe or find his life denyeth Chriſt Ieſus before mē, ſhal loſe his life bothe corporal & eternal. For as your Ieſabel can nothinge without the wil & permiſsion of him, who is omnipotēt: ſo can nether ſhe nor you reteine nor holde the breath in her nor your moſte frayle bodies, when that moſt potent Lord ſhal ſaye, Returne to duſt ô ye vnthankful ſonnes of mo…tal men.
Seing it is ſo (deare bretherne) that Gods iudgemētes ye can not eſcape humble your ſelues be tymes before that his vengeance be armed to your deſtruction. Yf ye cōtinue in this deadlie ſecuritie, regarding nothing what honour ye hauehave loſt, it ſhalbe to late for you to howle and crye, when youre bleſsing … in your owne cares be giuen to others. Repent therfore betymes, and as ye hauehave opēly declined from God by refuſal of his v…itie ſo let your cō uerſiō be manifeſt by remouynge from amōg… you all kīde of Idolatrie. This I knowe appeareth to you ſo vnpoſsible to be ꝑformed, … ye iudge me rather to mock you …nē to exhort you to repentāce by this meāes. But, deare bretherne,God eaſely bring thē to paſſe that, which to mā … reaſon is impoſſible. cōſider with me, that the thinges, which to man ſeme moſt impoſſible, are eaſie to our God to … to paſſe, if we wil refuſe our ſelues, and onelyonly giuegive obedience to his commandemētes. Impoſſible it appeared to the afiliated children of Iſrael, that they …oulde be deliuered from the tyrannie of Phorao and from the bondage of the Egyptians. And …n verie dede their yoke was augmēted and their burthens made more greuous, many dayes after they had at Moſes commandement aſked libertie to make ſacrifice to the liuing God…. But were they diſpiſed or fruſtrate of their expectation in the end? or dyd ſuche as ſuppreſſed them or aſſiſted their king in perſecution of Gods people, eſcape vēgeāce?Gods powre is not diminiſhed. we knowe the contrarie.Beholde the meanes to atteyne Gods fauor and merciemercy. The hād of our God is no more feble now▪ then it was then▪ his good wil ād louelove remayneth one at al tyme… towarde ſuch as depēd vpō him. Acknowledge then your ſynnes, mourne for your vnthākefulnes, abſteyne frō Idolatrie, call boldely that the libertie of Chriſt Ieſus, of his holy goſpel preached may be reſtored vntounto you, conſent not by your ſilence to the ſheding of the blood of innocē tes, whiche for the teſtimonie of Chriſtes trueth is ſhed amongſt you in great abundāce, but boldly beare witnes, that iniurie is done vntounto them, and ſo ſhal you knowe ſhortly in experiēce, that God is no vayne promiſer of ſupport to ſuch, as ſhalbe iniuſtly oppreſſed, eſpecially for the cauſe of his Euangil. But alas deare brethern (I ſpeak to you, of whoſe boldenes I once reioyſed, & for whoſe fall, God knoweth, I now mourne) if ye ſhal continue in rebelliō againſt God, becauſe ye dare not diſpleaſe men, as ye ſhal not eſcape damnation eternal, ſo ſhal ye fele in your owne bodies, yea, the bodies of your poſteritie after you ſhal feele, that his prophetes hauehave not vaynely threatned bondage and thraldō againſt the inobedient. And be you aſſured that by mainteyning of Idolatrie you ſhal neuer attein to that quietnes, which ye ſeke in this earthe, but contrarywiſe God ſhal plage you,God many tymes plageth euen by ſuch as men ſeke to pleaſe. euē by thoſe whome ye ſtudie to pleaſe. Therfore in few wordes to cōclude yf ye intende to eſcape Gods ſeuere iudgementes, & if ye loke to find …ō fauorable, other to you or yet to your poſteritie, ſleape no longer in your ſyn, cōſider frō what honour you are fallē, what daunger hangeth ouer your heades, remember how feareful and horrible it is to hauehave God your ennemie, & in depe conſideratiō therof, call for merciemercy, ſtudie vnfaynedly to riſe agayne, profeſſe the trueth, whiche ye hauehave denyed, remoue to your powre iniquitie f…ome amongſte you, ād abſtayne in your bodies from Idolatrie committed, and maynteyned by your wicked rulers. And in ſo doing, as ye ſhal dayly increaſe in knowledge, and ſtrength: ſo ſhal ye finde grace, whiche ye hauehave not deſerued, ād that by the meanes of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, whoſe omnipotent ſpirit ſo illuminate your ſenſes and vnderſtandinge that clearly ye may ſe, what is the riches of yt glorie, which God hath prepared for ſuch as vnfaynedly louelove him, and how horrible are the tormentes, whiche the ſlaues of Satan (I meane Idolaters, ād ſuch as for feare refuſe the knowne veritie) ſhal ſuffer with the deuil and with his angels without end.
Farther of my mynde concernīg your dueties in theſe moſt …olorous dayes, ye may vnderſtande by my appellation and by myne admonition to the nobilitie and communaltie of Scotlande. God graunt you his holy ſpirit rightly to cōſider and boldly to folowe the waye, which leadeth to lyfe euerlaſting. Amē. From Geneua the .x. of Nouembre M.D.LVIII.
The dayes are ſo wicked, that I dare make ſpecial commendations to no man.
Your brother with troubled hart Iohn K…ox.
A BRIEF EXHORTATION TO ENGLAND FOR THE SPEDIE IMbraſing of Chriſts Goſpel heretofore by the tyrannie of Marie ſuppreſſed & baniſhed.
HEBR. CHAP. VI.
The earth, which drinkethin the raine, that oft cometh vpō it, & bringeth forthe herbes meet for thē that dreſſe it, receaueth bleſſing of God: but that ground, which beareth thornes and briers, is reproued & is nie vntounto curſing, whoſe end is to be burned.
AT GENEVA.
M.D.LIX.