we ought to kéepe them although that the end of them are hurtfull For we must not do euill to the end that there doe come no good but to do that which is right that which the Lord coÌ„maundeth If they are vnlawfull I doe meane contrarie vnto the religion and good maners although we ought not to kéepe them yet truely we ought not to breake them by an euill meanes But with all gentlenesse and patience to shewe what the faulte of theÌ„ is We doe reade in the holy scripture that the children of the Hebrewes did not obey the commaundement of king Nabuchodonosor constraining and commpelling his subiects to worshippe his image bicause that it was altogether contrarie to their religion but we doe not reade that they haue made any rebellion against the king or his subiects for to breake and infringe the edict of the king but that they haue modestlie and soberly declared the doing of their religion and the righteousnesse of their cause In like manner the bookes of the Machabees do teach vs that those seueÌ„ bretheren of the Machabees haue formeably in good order spokeÌ„ against the ordinaunce of king Antiochus compelling them to eate swines fleshe contrarie vnto the lawes and ordinaunces of their countrie but we do not sée that they haue threatned or that they did confederate theÌ„selues against the edict of the king It is most true that they are forbidden vppon the commaundement of their lawe As the booke of the actes of the Apostles doth teach vs that the hie Prieste did commaunde expresly the Apostles that they shoulde not declare remission of sinnes in the â—â—ne of Iesus Christ And notwithstanding the Apostles not regarding the edict and commaundement of the hie priest did as apperteineth to their vocation calling aunswering that it is better to obey God then men And in all that while we doe not reade that they haue made any violence or force for to withstande the edict of the hie priestes Furthermore the ecclesiasticall historie doeth teach vs that there was in the Citie of Nicomedia a certein man come of an auncient house and of great Aucthoritie who séeing that there were in all places edicts verie cruel published against the Christians being moued and constrained of an earnest faith did take the saide edicts and did teare them in péeces before the people As also we doe reade in like manner of one Artemenius a martyr of a woman named Publia who did breake a great nuÌ„ber of idolles and crying with a loude voyce the Emperour being present Their images are but siluer and gould euen the worke of mens handes But it is not written that those people haue shedde the bloude of the subiectes or robbed their goods for to breake such edictes although that they were cruell full of tyrannie and yet neuerthelesse a man may finde at this day so many wicked and rash people among the Christians which are not ashamed to violate the edictes of the Prince although that they are confirmable to all diuine and humaine ryght Thincking thereby to hinder and let the course of the religion Some myght héere replie that the same doth charge greatly those of the reformed religion Inasmuch as they doe put themselues by weapons against the force power of their enimie Vnto which I doe aunswere first that they haue done it by the authoritie of the prince Furthermore that there is great diuersitie to make a company of people and to take weapon without the lawe and authoritie of the magistrate for to breake the edictes of the king as our enimies haue done and to put themselues against the force and strength of an other for to defend the edyctes and authoritie of the king as those of the reformed religion haue done For in vpholding and maynteyning the edyct of the king they doe maintayne it in the authoritie puissance which the Lord hath giuen vnto him And by the same meanes they do kéepe his subiectes vnder the obedience of him in all gentlenesse and friendship On the contrarie in forcing the edicte of the prince they do dispise the prince and him which hath set him vpon his throne And besides they do giue an occasion vnto the people to giue themselues to all liscenciousnesse and vngodlinesse And consequently he whiche doth violate the lawe of his prince doth sinne many wayes First of all he sinneth against God thorowe whome the kings reigne and the princes make iust lawes the Lordes beare rule and all iudges of the earth execute iudgement Secondly he doth offende the Prince vnto whome he ought to yelde himselfe subiect as sainct Paule saith not onely for feare of vengeaunce but also bycause of conscience Finally he doth giue an occasion of greate slaunder vnto his neighbour thorowe an euill example inasmuche as he doth dispise the commaundement of his Prince And truely if any will aske me howe the common welth of Venice hath continued so long in his authoritie puissance greatnes at this day is more richer opulent then euer it was I will aunswere that the same was because that she did know howe to kéepe her people vnder the obedience of her lawes and statutes In like manner experience doth teach vs what is the force and puissance of the Cantons or Suisse for the pollicie whiche they obserue and kéepe in their common welthes It is to no purpose then the men do vaunce themselues to haue a Souereigne parliament in their citie and that they do magnifie themselues vnder colour of so many honourable and proude Senatours And that in the mean time Iustice doth soiourne in their paiâ—â—â—s and houses Also it is to no purpose that from day to day they doe publish and set forth so many newe statutes and that the poore subiects are oppressed spoiled and robbed euerie where in their personnes and their goods We do reade that the place to execute iustice among the Hebrewes was set at the gates of the cities where Sainct Hierome saith that the same was to the end that the labourer and poore man arriuing into the citie for to defend his right shoulde not be moued at the frequence of the citie and of so straunge a spectacle and beholding of the same Also that the Citizen should not goe farre for to séeke iustice or that he was afrayde to finde the iudgement seat which doth make me to say that it is a very straunge thing among the christians that not onely they are constrayned to make so many iourneis for to demaund iustice But also that they must pursue it with so great charges and expenses I doe remember a certeine king of Aegypt which ordeined sufficient and honest wages for his Iudges and magistrates saying that the Iudge ought neither to giue nor take Where a certeine christiaÌ„ author did exclaime and crye out O howe willingly I desire that the Princes of our time would followe that example who selling
sinceritie the which is ioyned to an obedience due to the pure worde of the LORD Such hath bene and is yet at this day the custome and manner of those which doe tourne all things into the euil euen as did of late the Iewes who seeing that Iesus Christ healed him which was possessed with a Diuell sayd that he driueth the Diuels no otherwise out but through Beelzebub the prince of the Diuels And then as he magnified and declared his mercy in the conuersion of sinners murmured and sayde within themselues that he was the friende of publicans sinners and harlots yea they cryed with a loude voice beholde a glutton and drincker of wine a friende vnto publicans and sinners To be short when hée declared the kingdome of GOD his father and that hée did miracles his owne rebuked him and sayd that hée was madde and besides himselfe The which also was afterwardes obiected against Sainct Paul by Festus then bicause he declared the Christ shoulde suffer and that he shoulde bée the first that should rise from the dead and should shewe light vnto the people and to the Gentiles And as he thus aunswered for himselfe Festus sayde with a loude voyce Paul thou art besides thy selfe much learning doth make thée madde Héerein wée sufficiently declare what we be I meane but of small charitie when the thinges the which ought to moue vs to pitie and compassion doe incitate and pricke vs forwarde to a more greater crueltie and in humanitie The which I will more at large declare by a familier example One can not denie that the right of burying among the christians but that it is a worke verie charitable and pitifull for the which Tobiah is greatly praysed in the holy scripture and in whose fauour the Iabanites were greatly agréeable vnto king Dauyd for the burying of the bodie of Saul Insomuch that the olde lawe would not suffer the the bodies of those which were put to death by authoritie shoulde abide any long time hanging vppon the gybet But it would that they should be incontinently taken downe and buried And neuerthelesse a man shall finde at this daye among the christians so much vnkindnesse and vngentlenesse that they are not content to haue put to death their neighboures without the leaue of the Magistrate and authoritie of the Iustice But they exercise towardes their bodies of cruelties more then Barbarous or Sithian the which of late the kingly Prophet Dauyd lamented of his people when he sayd the dead bodies of thy seruauntes haue they giuen vnto the foules of the ayre to be deuoured and the flesh of thy Sainctes vnto the beastes of the lande Their bloud haue they shed like water on euery side of Hierusalem there was no man to burie theÌ„ Furthermore I would willingly demauÌ„d if it be not a work of pitie or loue to burie a dead bodie What crueltie is that to rage on a dead bodie if he bée cast into the fire as sayth Sainct Augustine which hath not giuen meate vnto the néedie where shall he be sent which shall steale the breade of the poore if hée which hath not clothed the poore be put into eternall punishment where shall he be placed which shall spoile the poore of his raiment if hée be dampned with the diuell who harboured not the wayfaring man and the trauailer where shall hée become which hath pilled and deuoured the house of the trauayler Finally if hee ought to perish which hath not visited them that are in prison what shall one doe with him which hath wrongfully imprisoned them Beholde my brethren saith that good man what hope can they haue which doe euill when they are dampned and cast into euerlasting fire which doe no good What shal I say in this matter woe be vnto mée If I do not speake it if an hâ—athen Poet named Ampedocles hath written that all things were established and kept by amitie As also an other Historigrapher hath taught that through concorde and amitie little thinges become great And greate thinges through discorde and enmitie do come to decay and perish According to the same which our Lorde Iesus Christ doth witnesse the euery kingdome deuided against it selfe is desolate and a house deuided against it selfe falleth Insomuch by this marke the LORD doth knowe his true desciples forasmuch as they haue â–ª peace and loue one to an other how much is the charitie or loue of the true Christians to be praysed by the which not onely humaine thinges are kept but all thinges are reconciled to GOD through Iesus Christ The which hath moued Salomon to saye that loue is mightie as the death and gelousie as the hel Hir coales are of fire and a verie flame of the lord And although that that loue be agréeable vnto God and men yet truely such are the debates and diuisions amonge the christians insomuch that it should séeme that we are come to the time of which the Prophet Micheas speaketh off saying There is not a godly man vppon the earth there is not one righteous amonge men They laboure all to shedde bloode and euery man hunteth his brother to death yet they say they doe well when they doe euill As the Prince will so saith the Iudge that hée may doe him a pleasure againe The great man speaketh what his heart desireth and the hearers allowe him The best of them is but as a thistle the most righteous of them is but as a brier in the hedge And doe giue none eare vnto the voyce of him which sayth that if wee bite and deuoure one an other Let vs take héede that we be not consumed one of another Wherfore forasmuch as it is so that this commaundement is so much commended off in the holy Scripture as Iesus Christ himselfe doth call it a newe commaundement sometime also he calleth it his commaundement And the Apostle Sainct Paul doth call it the bonde of perfection saying let vs forbeare one an other and forgiue one an other if any man haue a quarell to an other Euen as Christ hath forgiuen vs euen so doe wée And aboue all these thinges put on loue which is the bonde of perfectnesse and the peace of GOD rule in our heartes to the which peace wée are called in one bodie of our LORD Iesus Christ vnto whom be glorie for euer and euer So bée it 1. Iohn 4. c. 16. ¶ God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and GOD in him and this commaundement haue wee of God that he which loueth God should loue his brother also Beloued let vs loue the one the other for loue commeth of god euerie one that loueth is borne of GOD and knoweth god He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue Psalme 41. d. ¶ Blessed is he that considereth the poore the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble A Prayer O Lord which hast sayde by the
is assistaunt daily or alwaies vnto his and vnto his church in what aduersitie so euer it bée according as hée hath promised in Esaie where hée sayeth I will make this couenant with thē saith the Lord my spirite that is come vpon thée and the wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall neuer go out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy childrens childrē frō this time foorth for euer more According vnto that which Iesus Christ hath promised vnto his saying I am with you alway euen vntil the ende of the world and in an other place Iesus saith I will not leaue you comfortlesse Furthermore it is openly knowen though that the Lord do tarie yet neuerthelesse he doth put and fasten certeine markes and lymits vnto the wicked tyrantes that which they cannot passe The which this scripture doth teach vnto vs which did appeare vnto Balthazar béeing set in his bancket with the princes of his people and his concubines by the which Daniel did declare vnto Balthazar that GOD hath numbred his kingdome and brought it to an ende that he hath waied in the balance his dooings and those of Nabuchodonosor his father Where we shal note in the first palce that the lord doth permitte and suffer often times that the wicked shoulde fulfill the measure of their Fathers deferring their punishment vnto the thirde and fourth generation Secondly that the Lorde is not slacke to fulfill his promise as some men count slacknesse but is patient to vs warde and woulde haue no man lost but woulde receiue all men to repentance Thirdly that we must not limit and appoint the time of the mercy of the Lord nor to binde the counsailes of our God As the quéene Iudith doth very well declare vnto the inhabitauntes of Bethulia but to submit our selues vnder the mightie hande of GOD that he may exalte vs when the time is come and to cast all our care vppon him for he careth for vs Finally that wée must beléeue that God woulde be exalted in the patience of his and knowen to bée the onely soueraigne Lord aboue all in the destruction of the wicked according as the scripture saith that GOD standeth wayting that hée may haue mercy vppon vs and lifteth himselfe vp that hée may receiue vs to grace For the Lorde GOD is righteous happie are all they that waite for him And in the booke of Exodus the Lorde sayde vnto Pharao for this cause I haue constituted thee for to make thee knowe my power and strength and to declare my name throughout all the worlde I doe speake vnto those who by our exile banishment and losse of our goods haue thought euen hitherto to constraine vs vnto an extréeme indigence and pouertie and do not consider howe the Lorde hath led his people in the wildernesse fortie yeres their clothes did not wax old vpon them nor their shooes are waxed old vpon their féet Besids this they do imbraide and reproue vnto vs our exile and banishment as if the paine did note the persons of infamie and not the cause Vnto the which we may aunswere with that great Oratour of the latines that the townes and Cities are those which are ruled by all right equitie and iustice which are the true sinowes and cordes of all common wealthes and without which the kingdomes and cities can no more endure then the bodie without life consequently that we haue not bene driuen from towns and cities in asmuch as in them as saith Salust of the citie of Rome there was no difference of the good from the euill but ambition and couetuousnesse did possesse all the rewards of vertue the which doth approch nigh vnto the sentence of Sainct Augustine where hée doth declare that the kingdomes without iustice are the verie dennes and retraytes of theues robbers I do report me vnto the cruelties more then barbarous and Scythian which haue béene executed euen here in the best towns of this realme within thrée yeare past in the meane time they do aunswere vs that they wil not endure suffer two religions To the first place I woulde demaunde of them willingly if it doth apperteine vnto them to make the lawe vnto the king and if they may doe it without charge of conscience and faulte of rebellion Secondly if the religion that they do obserue and kéepe be not a double religion Finally if our doctrine and the foundation of the same be any other then the same of the prophets and Apostles if I say we doe acknowledge any other head in our Church then Iesus Christe and him crucified As touching the first it is most certeine that it belongeth vnto the higher powers to giue the lawe vnto their subiectes not the subiects to giue vnto them the law for they do beare the sworde as the seruants of God for to do iustice in the wrath of him which doth euill vnto such doth apperteine to discerne iustice for they are sent of God for the punishment of euill doers and vnto the laude and praise of them that do well Which if the lawes haue so surely prouided against those which haue marred and defaced the edict or statute of a magistrate or a gouernour which doth not regarde but a thing altogether ciuile and politicke what punishment doe they deserue to haue which by assembles bands and companie of people and by feate of armes haue broken in this time all deuine and humaine lawes if the ciuile law doo punish gréeuouslie him which doth not obey the magistrate what paine cruell ynough can one ordeine for the magistrate which not onely hath wincked and dissembled at the wickednesse and faults of the people But for to do that without authoritie of the prince hath constituted made vnlawfull ordinances and lawes deuised thinges which be to hard to kéepe thorowe the which the poore are oppressed on euerie side and the innocentes of my people are therwith robbed in iudgement I will not here alledge the arest giuen against the vniust iudge which was slain and his skinne was hanged vppe ouer the iudgment seate for to be an example vnto others and for to learne his sonne to exercise iustice in all equitie and right it shall suffise me to conclude with the wise man which saith that an hard iudgment shall they haue that bere rule Mercie is graunted vnto the simple but they that be in authoritie shal be sore puninished and the mightie shall haue the sorer punishment As to the seconde matter there is no man that is wise which doubteth but that their religion is double not onely forasmuch as it is painted and set out with the vaile and false apperaunce of true religion but also forasmuch as it is builded and grounded partely vppon the commaundemēts of God partly vpon the traditions of men Insomuch that the vice is greater among them to leaue the traditions of men
an hie minded person His voice shall not be heard in the streates A brused reade shal he not breake and the smoking flaxe shall he not quench he wil not be hatefull or odious vnto him selfe nor yet werie him selfe That is the cause wherfore Sainct Peter did exhort the pastours shepherds to féede Christes flock which is commited vnto them taking the ouer-sight of theÌ„ not as though they were compelled thereto but willingly not for the desire of filthy lucre but of a good minde not as though they were Lordes ouer the parishes but that they shoulde be an ensample to the flocke Euen so dothe Saint Paul say writing vnto the Thessalonians we haue béene saith he tender among you euen as a nursse cherisheth her children so was our affection towarde you our good will was not to haue delt vnto you not the gospel of God onely but also our owne soules bicause ye were deare vnto vs Euen so saide Iesus Christe vnto his Apostles behold I sende you foorth as shéepe among wolues Be ye therfore wise as Serpentes and innocent as Doues And in an other place of the same booke Ye know saith Christ that the Lordes of the Gentiles haue domination ouer them And they that are great exercise power ouer them It shall not be so among you But whosoeuer will be great among you let him be your minister and whosoeuer will be chiefe a mong you let him be your seruant As the Lorde also doth witnesse by his prophet speaking of the remnants I meane of the faithful congregation that the remnant of Israel shall doe no wickednesse nor speake lyes neither shall there any disceitful tongue bée founde in their mouthes for they shall be fedde and take their rest and no man shal make them a fraide And it is verie well saide of Plato that he which doth stablishe and make Lawes in cities ought to hold and kepe the office of a father and mother Insomuch that his writings shold conteine in them rather a kinde of loue and wisedome then of a tirant thretning and ruling by rigor and cruelnesse And therefore the Lorde did rebuke sometimes the shepeherds of Israel for that they did rule ouer their flock in duritie and rigorousnes And Iesus Christ did declare vnto the Scribes Pharises that they did binde heuie burthens and gréeuous to be borne and lay them on mens shoulders but they themselues will not heaue at them with one of their fingers and loue to sit vppermost at feastes and to haue the chiefe seates in the sinagogs gréetings in the markets and to be called of men Rabby As it did appeare that the chiefe priest asked the Apostles saying did not we straitely commaunde you that ye shoulde not teach in his name Such is and hath béene alwayes the manner and condition of those which haue little regarde to the christian religion so that they may get vnto themselues powre aucthoritie As we do reade that king Nabuchodonosor did coÌ„pell and constraine the people to do homage worship vnto his idoll one Antiochus which did cause the Iewes and Machabees to forsake the diuine seruice and preceptes of the elders one Cozba in the time of the Emperour Elyas Adrianus would the men should take or acknowledge him for the true Messias promised in the lawe or as we doe se in our time an Emperour of the Turkes by force of armes did go about to mingle the heauen earth for to obscure and darken the name of Christ and to deface his remembraunce Not without great cause Saint Hierome did coÌ„plaine sometimes that when the powre was vsurped by the prelats of the Church that the Church being increased in goods and riches hath ben also diminished and made weake in vertues things much more dampnable and contrarie to our religion as the worde of the Apostle doth admonishe and teach vs that the weapons of our warre are not carnall things but things mightie in God to cast downe stronge holdes wherewith wée ouerthrowe imaginations and euerie hie thing that exalteth it selfe against the knoweledge of god And verie well a certeine auncient authour saide that the Church doth not knowe the corporall weapons and that for her onely aide and helpe she doth patiently abide and tarie patiently the Lordes leasure when it will please him to haue pittie on her to the same ende a Bishoppe of the Church of Rome saide When I shal be coÌ„pelled I may not resist I may besorrie I may wéepe and lament against the armies weapons of the men of Gotia my teares weepinges are my weapons Behold saith that good authour the munitions and weapons of priestes otherwise I can neither speak against nor resist Now for asmuch as our enimies do goe about and endeuour themselues to mainteine their Religion by fire and sworde threatnings and bandes they do sufficiently declare that they cannot assure it by the scripture Euen as king Pharao desiring to raigne ouer the people of God fearing that he should not treade vnderfoote all other nations did lay vpon them importable burthens and at the last caused to be killed all the first borne of the people of Israel Euen so I say as Herode being troubled for the homage obedience that men did beare vnto Iesus Christe of his natiuitie considering the promises of the sauiour of the worlde accomplished and fulfilled in him dyd slaye all the children that were in Bethelem and in all the coastes thereof as many as were two yeare olde and vnder fearing least that the aduauncement of the kingdome of Christ should be the ruine of other people Beholde the ende of those which haue no regarde what become of the kingdome of Iesus Christ so that they may establish set vp their puissaunce and greatnesse to the ende they may reigne and beare rule in this world But the meaning of the true christians is altogether otherwise forasmuch then as they doe seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof Yet they care not what their aucthoritie power and greatnesse be so that the word of God haue his frée passage and the name of the Lord be glorified For that same reason they put not their hope and strength in carnall weapâ—ns but in spirituall Their sword is the word of God quicke and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged swoord and entereth through euen vnto the deuiding asunder of the soule and of the spirite and of the ioyntes and the marie and iudgeth the thoughtes and intentes of the heart Their victorie is that that ouercoÌ„meth the world eueÌ„ our faith by the which as saith the Apostle vnto the Hebrewes The auncient fathers patriarks and Apostles haue subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obteined the promises stopped the mouthes of the Lyons And as Iesus Christ said that he will fight against his enimies with the swoorde of his mouth Also
which as the bodie without the soule a common wealth can not long endure and continue as béeing destitute of her partes and her sinewes yea without them the kingdomes are none other thing but the very harbour of théeues runnagates and robbâ—rs As it is written of Lycurgus that he could finde no greater meanes to make the Citie of Sparta to florish then to accustome the inhabitauntes thereof to obey lawes Finally it is welknowen that in quietnesse and hope our strength doth lye stayinge our strengthes haue patiently attended euen vntil the bloode of the true christians shed out euery where and in the best townes of the realme doth commaund vs to repulse and stand against such cruelties forces and tiraÌ„nies and we haue not taken that vpon vs for any ambition desire of glorie priuate profite or desire of vengeaunce But for the zeale of the Lordes house of the which those godly persons Moses Hely Iehu Mattathias and Iesus Christ our sauiour béeing godly moued could not suffer that of the Lordes house they should make a house of marchandise and a denne of théeues On the other side al men do know that our enimies haue taken those weapons of their own proper priuate authoritie willing to force and constraine against their owne consciences the diuine and humaine lawes to defile the name of the Lord and to oppresse the iust To conclude what other thing hath moued them to inuade striue against vs but a desire to hurt a gréedinesse and ardency of vengeaunce a courage and desire against vs and an vnreconciled hatred and enmitie an vnlawfull affection to speake against the edictes and statutes of the king a desire to reigne and beare rule things most damnable in matters of warre as sainct Augustine doth write Whereby our enimies doe sufficiently declare their slaunderous and wicked faith When they doe accuse vs to bée rebelles against the kinge our naturall and soueraigne Prynce and of that onely pointe they themselues doe vncouer and shewe sufficiently a rebellion which haue dispised the Edictes and statutes of the king they doe exercise still dayly their cruelties and tyrannies towardes the faithfull Which thing if the great men especially those which are in degrée dignitie of a maiestrate and gouernoure doe vaunce and bragge themselues to bée so obedient and faythfull seruauntes of the king howe doe they dissemble and cloke such cruelties without prouiding by the rigoure of iustice and seueritie of their lawes And wherefore doe they beare the word If it be not to take vengeaunce on them that doe euill If they do saye that they can not resist the force and strength of a people so furious and madde I would demaunde of them willingly who hath moued them to put weapon in the handes of a people so foolysh and rash except it bée to giue them libertie to doe all kinde of euill Or wherefore doe they nowe make any doubt to forsake the weapons especially in thys time so quiet and full of tranquilitie but for bicause that their consciences doth accuse them of so many murthers and robberies For it is an heauie thing when a man 's own conscience beareth recorde of hys wickednesse condemneth himselfe And why a vexed wounded conscience taketh ouer cruell thinges in hande Fearefulnesse is nothing els but a declaring that man séeketh helpe and defence to aunswere for himselfe If they doe replye that some of our owne countrey men haue had sithens the Edictes and statutes of the kinge the weapons readie in their handes I doe aunswere that that was not to abuse it to thinges vnlawfull or to let or hinder the office of a magistrate as our aduersaryes doe dayly shedding of their owne head and aucthoritie the innocent bloode and doe put them by force and violence to the punishment of the seditious and rebels But to the contrarie that by that meanes the ordinaunces and statutes of the king which should be kept and the good defended from iniuries oppressions of the wicked leding a quiet peaceable life in al godlines and honestie Finally to the end that wée should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and notable appearing of the glorie of the mightie God which is of our sauiour Iesus Christ vnto whom bée glorie for euer Amen Psalme 33. c. The Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to naught and maketh the deuises of the people to be of none effect But the counsaile of the Lord shall endure for euer and the thoughtes of his heart from generation to generation Esaie 8. b. Go together ye people and gather you harken too ye all of farre countries Muster you and gather you Take your counsaile together Yet must your counsaile come to naught Goe in hand with all yet shall it not prosper except that God be with vs. A Prayer O Lord which art wonderfull in counsell and excellent in all thy woorkes tourne thee againe I pray thée looke down from heauen and beholde and visite thy â—â—ne and the place of the vineyarde that thy right hâ—â—de hath planted and the braunch that â—hou madest so strong for thy selfe Beholde the wéeping and crying of that poore Rachel and of those which are killed and put to death for thy name Shew foorth thy puissaunce and might amonge the middest of that mad and furious people breake their counsell by the force and strength of thy right hand as thou diddest break the enterprises of these which would builde the tower of Babel as I say thou hast abated the pride of Pharao pursuing and following after thy people To conclude of one Nabuchodonosor which dyd rise vp against thee that euery one should know that the worke which thou hast begun in vs in this meane exercise of reliligion is not a worke or counsell of men which may incontinent come to naught but a worke which thou hast prepared for thy glorie for to endure for euer Ouerthorow the apointments and deceipts of those which of a set purpose doe goe about and enforce themselues by all meanes to hinder the frée passage of thy word as thou hast broken the counsaile of Achitophel and brought to naught the bolde and vnshamelesse pride and ambition of Haman conspyring the death of Mardocheus and of the Iewes Cause that the enimies of the truth séeing thy wonderfull woorkes may acknowledge howe precious the death of the righteous are in thy sight yea may confesse with heart and mouth that the blood of them is the true séede increasinge of the kingdome of thy sonne And that they may worshippe him as the first borne amonge the dead and prince of the kinges of the earth our Lorde Iesus Christ to whom bée glorie for euer Amen ¶ A BRIEFE ADVERTISMENT wherein is declared that the true Christians ought to auoid parcialities contentions and to keepe the vnitie of the spirit through the band of