our ancient friendship right worshipful syr that you would vouchsafe with your accustomed fauour to accept this slender significatioÌ„ of my good wil and affection towarde you wherin if any thing be amisse you shal attribute al that to the loue that I beare you to the remembrance of our ancient familiaritie Farewell Yeouen at Tigury the xvii of August in the yeere of the incarnation of the sonne of God Iesus Christ 1560. At what time two thousand two hundred nienty and one yeeres past Ioel executed the office of teaching God miraculously deliuered his church out of the iawes of the Assyrian tyrant He graunt that the same also amongest vs in Germany maye bee preserued safe and sound Amen ¶ The Argument of the Prophet THe Prophet Ioel first rebuketh them of Iudah that being nowe punished with a great plague of famine and scarcitie remayned still obstinate Secondly he threateneth greater plagues because they grewe dayly to a more hardnes of heart and rebellion against God notwithstanding his punishments Thirdly he exhorteth them to repentance shewing that yt must bee earnest and proceede from the heart because they had grieuously offended God And so doing bee promiseth that God will be mercifull not forget his couenant that he made with their fathers but will sende his Christ who shall gather the scattered sheepe and restore them to life and libertie though they seemed to be dead CHAP. 1. 1. A prophesie against the Iewes 2. He exhorteth the people to prayer and fasting for the miserie that was at hand 1. The worde of the Lorde that came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel The text 2. Heare ye this O Elders and hearké ye al inhabitants of the land whether such a thing hath been in your daies or yet in the dayes of your fathers 3. Tel your children of it and let your children shew to their children and their children to another generation 4. That whiche is left of the Palmer worme hath the Grashopper eaten and the residue of the Grashopper hath the Canker worme eaten and the residue of the Canker worme hath the Caterpiller eaten Sermon 1. WHo Ioel the sonne of Pethuel was The authoritie of Ioel. is no where expressed in the holy scriptures Norwithstanding that his credite and authoritie was great it appeareth by the firste sermon of the Apostle Peter Actes 2. wherin he vseth the testimonie of Ioel against the blasphemous scorners of the holy Ghost and proueth that his sending down was promised and prophesied of long before Again Paul alleadgeth the selfesame Prophet Roâ— 10. when he disputeth of the chiefe and principal points of our faith and saluation But when and in what time he prophesied The time the opinion of the interpreters are diuers sundry I for my part agree with them that deeme him to haue flourished in the time of Esay the prophet and to haue executed the office of teaching in the kingdom of Iuda euen theÌ„ verily when as that most bloody warre first begaÌ„ which we reade was holden by Sennacharib the tyraÌ„t of The assyrians agaynst Ezechias For albeit the same Eezechias had restored the true seruice worship of God 2. King 18. 2. Cro. 29.30.31 yet notwithstanding as we may see in Esay there wanted not some which laboured to keep still their old superstitions withall brake forth by vnbrydeled libertie into all kind of sinne wickednes Hereunto was added the Egyptian league or couenaÌ„t Esay 30.31 into which Ezechias beeing otherwise a most excellent religious prince was drawen through the crafty conueiance of some Insomuch that such was then the conditioÌ„ of the Iewishe kingdome as is nowe adayes for the most parte the state of the Churche vnder Christian Magistrates when as some stand openly in defence of superstitioÌ„s other some vnder pretence of the gospel liue too too licentiously Esay 36.37 repose their whole trust coÌ„sideÌ„ce in the help of maÌ„ Which was the cause that God sent vnto them the Assyrians to destroy the ingrate vnthankful rebels to the intent they might learne by experience of their owne calamitie to submit theÌ„selues vnto God The argumeÌ„t of the prophet that had hitherto ouer malapertly despised his word Neuertheles he sent his prophets before to admonish them of the danger to come and the same being nowe at hand to comfort instruct the people in the doctrine of repeÌ„tance amongst whoÌ„ is Ioel numbred who inueigheth against sinne not so seuerely in deede as the rest commonly are wont to do inasmuch as they were nowe rather to be taught and comforted then chidden and rebuked but with singular grauity he recouÌ„teth vnto them what they had hitherto suffered and what they were like hereafter to suffer Further he sheweth them the way to escape to be repentance the whole order and maner whereof hee diligently declareth Last of all least any should be offended with the prosperous successes of the eâ—emies of God he foretelleth vnto them also their punishments and vpon that occasion prophesieth of Christes kingdome and of the happie instauration thereof And these thinges he accomplisheth altogether in two Sermons wherof the former summarily compreheÌ„deth whatsoeuer serueth to the denouncing of the punishments and the course of repentance the other declareth the selfe same thinges more at large together with those pointes that belong to the punishments of the enemies and the promised kingdome of Christ And in these thinges forsooth conmeth the wonderfull goodnes of God to be considered who punisheth not euen those that are most wicked vngodly except he first admonisheth theÌ„ before Yea and hee so layeth his plagues vpon them that in the meane time he hath a speciall consideration of his owne whom he susteyneth with fatherly comfortes for why looke what he did long a goe in the time of the Prophets and the selfe same vs wee feele also to bee true by experience in these dayes Would God we might as wel remember our dueties and not by our incurable stubburnnes against God willingly and willingly plucke destruction upon our owne heads The title of the prophesie Furthermore these thinges being thus premised let vs goe in hand with the words of the Prophet who according to the common maner of the Prophets prefixeth a title to his prophesie in this sorte The woorde of the Lorde that came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel In these wordes he both auoucheth his calling and also procureth authoritie to his doctrine least they shoulde thinke him to vtter foorth the conreytes or dreames of his own braine This thing the Prophets are accustomed euery where to doe by reason of the boldenesse of the wicked with whome it is a verye common and ordinarye matter to seeke on euery side occasions whereby they may call the doctrine that reproueth them into question and bryng it into batted Against whiche men there can no other authoritie more ryghtly or conueniently be obiected then
that hath not alreadye conceyued an vndoubted hope and assurance of his wil and power This the Prophet meaneth when as hee plainely expresseth the maner of inuocation For why he doeth not simply require them to call vpon the Lord him selfe but vpon the name of the Lord teaching thereby The maner confidence of praying what the true maner of praying is and whence the confidēce of prayer ought to be conceiued for in very deede God hath no name whereby his nature may be comprehended or declared In consideration whereof to Iacob in times past enquiring after his name hee sayde Why askest thou for my name Genes 32. And to Moses demaunding the same question hee answered I am that I am Exod. 3. Wherefore the Scripture speaking of God after the fashion of men calleth all that his name whereby he may be knowne as namely his goodnes mercy truth wisedome omnipotencie iustice and if there be any other titles like vnto these which are partely gathered out of his word and partly out of his workes This thing God himself teacheth whē as to Moses desirous to see him he heapeth vp a sort of words whereby hee described his owne nature saying The Lord the Lord Exod. 34. strong merciful and gratious slow to anger and abundant in goodnes and truth reseruing mercy for thousandes forgiuing iniquitie transgression sinne and not making the wicked innocent visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon childrens children c. But for as much as all these thinges are found especially in the sonne of God Heb. 1. Iesus Christ who is therfore called the brightnes of his glory and the expresse image of his substance the same also is the verye true name of GOD in and by which inuocation ought to be made Of this thing God himselfe admonisheth when as he witnesseth of him from heauen Mat. 3.17 That he is his dearely beloued sonne in whom he is well pleased And he himselfe in the Gospell when he had sayd that he was the way by whiche wee come vnto the father immediately addeth Ioan. 14.16 Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye shall aske the father in my name he will giue it vnto you Heb. 14.4 For which cause Paul affirmeth the same to be our altar by whom we may offer vp the sacrifice of praise yea and he testifieth that by him we haue accesse and entrance to the throne of grace Wherupon also that most ancient vsage of the Church preuailed whereby prayers for the most part are ended in the name of Christ Whilest therefore the prophet willeth vs to cal vpon the name of the Lord he inioyneth no other thing thē fayth in Christ which both commendeth vs vnto God and also maketh our prayers graceful and acceptable vnto him But he expresseth this fayth by the name of inuocation least we should imagine a dumbe and ydle faith These thinges serue for our consolation doe meruellously confirme our confidence in praying For albeit we are vnwoorthie as we must needes confesse that God should heare vs yet cannot he passe ouer our praiers with deafe eare when wee bring before hun his sonne Christ 1. Corin. 1. which of him is made vnto vs righteousnes and satisfaction The fruite of the inuocatiō of fayth This confidence is encreased by the fruit of inuocation which the Prophet addeth in the thirde place For hee sayeth Whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lorde shall be saued or deliuered Hee vseth the word of sauing or deliuering to the end he might shew that saluation should happen euen vnto those also that seemed alreadie to be vtterly perished yea and quite fallen frō al hope There are many exāples of this sort to be found For hither belongeth that which is written of the children of Israel trying out at the redde Sea with infinite thinges beside Exod. 14. that happened vnto them whilest they were in the wildernes And in the time of the Iudges wee reads that they were heard and deliuered as ofte as they cryed vnto the Lorde Psal 107. Dauid in like manner as hee confesseth himselfe to be hearde oftentimes so heapeth hee togither very many examples of them whome God deliuered when they called for his ayde But especially this ought to be transferred to the safetie and prefernation of soules the certainetie whereof is here proued and declared for they that faithfully call vpon God through Christ receiue in him remission of their sinnes But where sinnes ceasse or bee abolished there the wrath and punishmentes of God which flowe from sinnes must of necessitie ceasse likewise Whereupon true and perfect safetie followeth which hath no maner of neede of any thing to be added to it These thinges teach vs what we ought to doe at this day The tokens of Gods wrath doe euery where appeare and all sortes of calamities breake in on euery side which Christ and the Apostles foretolde should come to passe in the last time Many there be that acknowledge these things and consult by what meanes the dangers may be auoyded But how vayne their consultations are which chalenge to thēselues the chiefe prayse of wisdome the euent and successe of thinges doeth abundantlye prooue Let vs therefore omitting our owne reasons and deuices goe that waye to woorke whiche the holy Ghoste prescribeth in this place For in as muche as it leaneth vppon the promise of GOD who is the truth it selfe wee can by no meanes erre or goe astraye Let vs acknowledge our sinnes and casting away all confidence of our owne woorkes let vs implore and call for the grace of God alone through Christ Iesus who as he hath reconciled his father vnto vs so also woorketh hee true repentance in those whome hee regenerateth by his spirit c. A confirmation of the promise comprehending the whole order of saluation But he maketh a further confirmation of that which he sayd when he addeth For in mount Sion and in Hierusalem shal be deliuerance as the Lord hath sayd that is to say albeit the church may seeme euen now to be vtterly perished yet in Siō shall saluation be had there agayne shal bee gathered togither the remnantes whiche the Lord hauing chosen from euerlasting shall call by his Gospell as he hath promised And these promises are euery where extant in the prophets God doubtlesse had sayd to Dauid as touching Hierusalem that the same should be his rest Psal 123. Esay 10. concerning the remnantes to be saued Esay expressely speaketh And to these certes the histories agree very well For this war of the Assyrians being ended the church vnder Ezechias florished notably by the space of fifteen yeres together Further albeit the people falling againe vnto wickednes their citie was of the Chaldeans together with their temple vtterly burned and consumed yet after they they were returned from Babilon they builded agayn and reedified their citie and temple Esay 2. Mich.
by experience in deed that I remembring wel my couenant doe dwell amongest you neither will I euer depart away from you 1. King 8. But he doth not without cause make mention of his holy mountaine For albeit hee hath respect to the promises wherewith hee had adorned his temple yet hee doth wtall admonish them of their dutie that wee might vnderstand that God will then be present with vs if we cōsecrate our selues wholy vnto him and studie to reteine that holinesse which hee giueth vnto vs. These thinges therefore belong nothing at all to the hogges and dogges which by their vncleannesse and prophane contempt of God doe vtterly bereaue themselues of the fruite of the heauenly promises and euen of all good graces whatsoeuer as shall abundantly appeare also in that which followeth The happie condition of the Church For there followeth nowe a description of the most happy estate and condition which the Church should haue and enioye vnder Gods protectiō where in fiue members he comprehendeth whatsoeuer make to the true happinesse heereof The first is Ierusalem shal be holy and there shall no strangers goe through it any more In which wordes hee sayth two things at once namely that they should both be consecrated wholy vnto God and also that God woulde defende them from ass prophanation and defilement of enemies Neither are these two thinges ioyned together without great cause considering it is impossible that the one should bee deuided from the other For inasmuch as God hath cōsecrated vnto himself his Church Ephes 5. purged and purified in the blood of his sonne he will by no meanes haue the same stayned with the difilements of sinne neither alloweth hee any place vnto suche as are vncleane in it For these sayinges are well knowen Bee yee holy Leuit. 19. 20 Psal 15. for I the Lorde your God am holy Againe Who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Who shall rest in thy holy hill Hee that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnesse c. And Christe also saide vnto Peter If I washe thee not Ioan. 13. thou shalt haue no parte with mee and there he giueth in charge that such as are washed by him should in like maner wash their feete As long therfore as the citizens of the church do obserue keep these things God is not absent from his promises neither suffereth hee them to bee subiect to the lust of their enemies And as ofte as that commeth to passe it is certaine and sure that it happeneth by our default as will easily appeare if wee examine the Ecclesiasticall histories For euen nowe from the beginning sinnes and enormities haue made way passage vnto persecutions which creepe also into the Churche it selfe when as abounding in peace and idlenesse it is occupied rather about earthly thinges then heauenly Eusebius testifieth this thing in diuers and sundry places but of all other most manifestly in the beginning of the eight booke when as he taketh in hand to describe set forth that horrible and cruel persecution which vnder Diocletian afflicted the Church by the space of whole ten yeeres togeather And if wee compare the persecutions of our time with the maners of those that glory in the profession of the Gospell wee shall soone see that we haue no cause at al to complaine of any seueritie in GOD. Wherefore let vs endeuour to offer our selues pure and vndefiled vnto God then will hee not suffer vs to bee troden vnder foote of the wicked neither to become a pray vnto them c. 2. Abundance of blessings Secondly he promiseth the abundance of Gods blessing and all kind of benefits saying And in that day shall the mountaines drop down new wine the hilles shall flow with milke c. These are hyperbolicall or excessiue speeches wherby is betokened the great and ouerflowing plentie of Gods gifts which the Prophet opposeth against the famine and scarcitie that went before And albeit God graunted this plentie vnto them vnder Ezechias and after Ephes 1. yet are these things truly fulfilled also in Christ in whō wee are enriched withall spirituall blessing Mat. 9. Luk. 5. as the Apostle witnesseth For in his kingdome floweth that most sweete new wine of the Gospel which being put into new vessels cheereth and gladdeth the hearts of men In the same is offered the sincere milke void of guilt as Peter saith which ministreth nourishment vnto the litle ones weake in faith 1. Pet. 2. The same watereth the whole field of his Church with riuers that is to say 1. Cor. 3.12 with diuers and sundry gifts of his spirite To be short Ioan. 4. in the selfesame is opened that most holsome and health bringing fountaine that washeth away sinnes quencheth the thirst and boyling heat of cōsciences and watereth the valley of Sittim Num. 25 This was in the borders of the Moabites as appeareth by Moses who writeth that in the place the Israelites cōmitted whoredom with the daughters of the Madianites Moabites were partakers of the Sacrifices of Baalpeor Whilest therefore the Prophete maketh mention of this hee teacheth the the grace of God shall flow also euen vnto forreigne nations and bee sufficient to washe away euen most greeuous and heynous sinnes These things as they bring comfort to afflicted consciences so doe they admonishe vs that being contented with Christ alone wee auoyde the superstitious inuentions of men which dare shew vs saluation any other where For who so followe those they leauing the fountaine of liuing water digge vnto themselues pittes Iere. 2. euen broken pittes that can holde no water yea and although they draw dayly and drinke thereof yet doe they alwayes thirste as Christe witnesseth in the Gospel Thirdly hee promiseth that they shal be safe and free from the feare of enemies 3 A sure safetie when he saith Egypt shall be wast and Edom shall bee a desolate wildernesse c. These were the auncient enemies of the Iewishe nation and the Idumeans forsooth being descended frō Esau burned as it were with a natiue and hereditarie hatred and the Egyptians mindefull of the departure which the Israelites had made from them neuer ceased to persecute them But vnder these hee comprehēdeth al other enemies which he saith shall bee so farre off from hurting heereafter that rather they shall bee cut off and together with their landes miserably perish The truth of this promise is auouched also in this worlde Psal 10◠when as Christe ruleth in the middest of his enemies and defendeth his people amongest their dayly and continuall afflictions and sheweth foorth horrible examples vpon his enemies but yet it shal be fully accomplished in heauen when as we beeing set free frō all gunshot shall reigne euerlastingly with Christ But wee haue to obserue why the Lorde threatneth destruction vnto these Namely because of the iniuries offered vnto the children of Israel and for they haue shedde
THE Homilies or familiar Sermons of M. Rodolph Gualther Tigurine vpon the Prophet Ioel. Translated from Latine into Englishe by Iohn Ludham Vicar of Withersfielde ⧠Imprinted in London for William Ponsonnby 1582. To the Reader I In Ioel the prophet etch creature may see O Of our daies times a plaine platforme to be H He displaieth the iudgmeÌ„ts of God against sinne N Next noteth the plagues that the people were in L Letting them see howe for their excesse V Vniuersall destruction did sore them distresse D Declaring how yet if they would repent H High mercy from God to them should be sent A And this he concludeth in Christ to consist M March this way theÌ„ Reader so shalt thou beblist ¶ To the right worshipfull and godly disposed Gentleman M. Iohn Wentworth Esquire Iohn Ludham wisheth continuance of health with the increase of much woorship and felicitie THe good opinion which I long since conceiued of your woorship ioyned with an infallible experience of your curtesie and friendlines toward me hath beene as it were a continuall spurring of me forward to render againe some token of a duetifull remembrance and of a well meaning minde towarde you Whiche was the cause that when I had gone through with the translation of these short Sermons vppon Ioel I thought with my selfe that I could not better bestow the fruite of this my labour such as it is then vppon your worship And as touching the argument of the Prophet to speake in a word what I thinke because it conteineth nothing else in effect then an earnest and vehement exhortatioÌ„ of al estates of men vnto repentance a thing very necessary to bee practised and put in vre in these our dayes I was perswaded it would be to some purpose if the same were giuen forth declared in as plaine familiar a method as was possible Which thing being accomplished in this treatise may as I trust minister occasion both of good liking to your worship also of increase of spirituall knowledge comfort to so many as shall not disdaine the aduised reading perusing of the same I might enter here I confesse into some larger discourse of concerning the seueÌ„rall circuÌ„stances apperteyning to the summary declaration of the argumeÌ„t of this Prophet as the time place occasioÌ„ when where for what cause hee tooke vpoÌ„ him this prophesy the matter substaÌ„ce of the doctrines which hee handleth c. But because all that is sufficiently touched expressed in the preface of the author following also in the work it selfe the godly reader may there find whatsoeuer is requisite to this purpose only to end withall I am to craue of your worship that according as god hath enriched you with many singuler ornameÌ„ts both of mind body not only beseeming a gentlemaÌ„ of your calling but also far surmouÌ„ting many other of like estate degree so you woulde againe dailye more more carefully apply theÌ„ to the furtheraÌ„ce of his glory the benefit of his church the coÌ„moÌ„ weal of this your natiue couÌ„try And thus briefelye praying pardoÌ„ for my boldnes resting my selfe vpon hope of your fauourable acceptation of this my poore present proceeding onely of good will to your woorshippe I betake most humbly the successe of al to the most highest who together with the temporall peace whiche hee hath giuen you in greate measure graunt you also the fruition of that peace that passeth all vnderstanding Written at your towne of Wetherfielde the .xvii. day of Ianuary 1582. Your worships alwayes at commandement in the Lord Iohn Ludham ¶ To the noble and worthie Gentleman sir Eberhard of Broich Lorde of Friddeburge Rodolphe Gualther Tigurine wisheth grace and peace from God the Father through Iesus Christ our Lorde AS ofte as I call to minde our olde friendship and familiaritie right noble Eberhard whiche first springing vp at Marpurge within a while after grew more strong at Regentspurge in the assembly of the states of the Empire there which was holden in the yeere of Christes incarnation 1541. I feele my selfe delighted with a singuler pleasure You were at that time conuersant amoÌ„g the noble yong Gentlemen which were of the chaÌ„ber to the most famous prince of the Hessians and I for my part by the liberalitie of your prince had an honest place of allowance with those excellent learned D. Pistorius Draconite Melander and Corâ—inus All good men loued you for your free-hearted curtesie and cheerefulnes and for the excellent qualities that were in you But I aboue the rest deemed that very noble towardnes of your minde worthy especially of prayse and commeÌ„dation whereby you were prouoked euen amiddest the noyse and shufflings of the court and during those affaires and dealings which were furthest off from the studies and exercises of good letters to giue your selfe oftentimes both to reading and writing yea and you proceeded euen then so farrefoorth in the knowledge of the Latine tongue that you might seeme to be brought vp not in the court but in some famous schole of learning And further if at any time we commoned more familiarly togither I remember you would reason many things very grauely as touching the exercises of good learning and complaine not seldome times that the same were neglected of those whom the nobilitie of their stocke had accustomed in princes courtes to aduance to the highest places of dignitie and honour Wherfore at your request I wrote an Elegie or lameÌ„table Posie touching the studies of our Germaine nobilitie which not long after was put forth in print together with our bookes of the order of Syllables and verses That was then very acceptable vnto you and the same signification of loue which you shewed me at that time hath euen now also moued me to presume to publish these mine homilies vpoÌ„ Ioel vnder the authoritie of your name For I thought it an vnlawfull thing if there should be no other testimony of our friendship publikely extant then that which is conteyned in a fewe verses the same poured forth at auenture rather then written among the thronges of the assemblie concourse of the courte Again the state conditioÌ„ of vs both seemed to require that this our ancieÌ„t frendship familiarity should be notified made knowne as wel vnto others as also to our posteritie whome I greatly desire to become heirs therof by some monumeÌ„t of grauer argumeÌ„t not straÌ„ge froÌ„ either of our callings For you from the time wherin we liued togither had not the lowest place in the court of your prince that your industrie diligeÌ„ce did notably wel like the prince doth euen stil like him I oftetimes perceiue by my freÌ„ds as for me the lord called me to the ministery of his church the selfesaÌ„e yere that I departed froÌ„ you froÌ„ RegeÌ„tspurge wherin according to the grace geueÌ„ vnto me I hitherto serue I supposed therefore that I should do neither vnaptly
Lawe represented the mysteries of Christ Iesus who alone is able to pacâ—â—e Gods wrath and reconcile vs vnto him Thus therefore he sendeth them to the promised Sauior of mankinde least they shoulde attribute any glory of merit either to their fasts or outward asseÌ„blies In the meane time this place maketh much to the commendation of holy assemblies for although neither the worshippe of God nor praiers ought to bee tied to any certaine places because that the true worshippers doe worshippe euery where in spirite and trueth yet for orders sake Ioan. 4. and to auoyde confusion it behooueth vs to haue aplace certayne wherein congregations may come together to heare the woorde of God and vnto publique prayers For that euen these also are moste effectuall with GOD appeareth by the promise of Christ Math. 18. saying Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the middest of them and whatsoeuer they shal aske it shal be giuen them of my Father which is in heauen For seeyng God woulde haue vs eipecially to bee of one minde in religion their consent can not but greatly please him that meete together to praye that his wrath may bee turned from them Where vpon in tymes past Tertullian In Apologet. Cap. 39. wrote We come together in the congregation to the intent that making as is were a hande vnto God wee may compasse him with our prayers This force is acceptable and pleasing vnto God And hereof it came as it seemeth vnto mee that the auncient Fathers appoynted certayne houres of prayers whereof there is mention in Daniel and in the Actes Dani. â— Act. 3 10â— to the ende that suche as coulde not come to the Churches might at least ioyne their priuate praiers at home with the publique Nowe adayes the superstition whiche by this occasion haue growen in force there are many that set against it and that worthily but as touching the restoring of publike praiers fewe or none make any question Furthermore 3. Publikâ— prayers to what ende the assembly or congregation should come together the prophete him selfe sheweth when hee addeth And crye vnto the Lorde So he prouideth least any shoulde thinke repentance to consist in a certaine vame stagelike osteÌ„tation for he wisteth them to pray nay to crye that he might commende vnto theÌ„ an earnest feruent desire of praying And he will haue them to direct their prayers vnto the Lord least after the maner of the Gentiles and superstitious sorte they shoulde craue ayde and helpe of the creatures As for the forme of prayer which they must publikely vse he will prescribe that in the Chapter following In the meane season it is our partes to learne heereby what wee ought to doe in these daies when as the tokens of Gods wrath are euerie where seene and the wicked euenues of God doe most grieuouslye oppresse his church Many there be in deede endewed both with wisedome and authoritie that consulte aboute this matter But the onely way of appeasing Gods wrath and atteining vnto sauing health must this bee which is heere taught and set downe For it is confirmed with infinite promises and examples euen from the beginning of the worlde to this day The Prophets doe thunder out this euery where Math. 3. With this doth Iohn begin the doctrine of the Newe Testament and with the same commandeth Christ his Apostles to beginne Luke 34. As many as haue refused this in time paste haue alwaies beene punished with most grieuous plagues But O the wretched state and condition of our time for howe fewe shall a man finde that consider anye thing at all of fasting and of brideling of the fleshe when as wee absteine not euen from vnlawfull and vngodly pleasures There reigneth nowe among all sortes of men Iustfulnesse insatiable pride outragious and more then beastly rage of drunkeÌ„nesse Holy assemblies and meeting es are of the most part neglected and what time soeuer is bestowed in them is supposed to be onerlong and tedious Which is a token that our prayers also are verye colde and frâ—sen And if there be any that deale with repentance it is such as is counterfet and momentany Hosee 6. like vnto that that Hosee whâ—â— doth the Israelites withall What do we then maruaile at the wrath and displeasure of God hanging euery where ouer our heades dayly threatning more grieuous plagues vnto vs God graunt for his mercies sake that we being euen softened and mollified with scourges may returne vnto the Lorde who hath giuen vs free accesse vnto the throne of his grace in Christ Iesus our onely Sauiour to whom be giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 4. The text 15. ALas for that day for the day of the Lorde is at hand and it commeth as a destruction from the almightie 16. Is not the meat cut off before your eyes and ioy gladnes from the house of our God 17. The seed is rotteÌ„ vnder the clods the garners are destroyed the barnes are broken downe for the corne is withered 18 Howe haue the beastes mourned the heards of cattell piue away because they haue no pasture and the flockes of sheepe are destroyed 19. To thee O Lorde will I crye for the fire hath consumed the pastures of the wildernesse and the flame hath burnt vp all the trees of the fielde 20. The beastes of the fielde also shall crye vnto thee for the riuers of waters are dryed vp and the fire hath deuoured the pastures of the desert The argumeÌ„â— and vse of this present place MOst men in deed doe confesse with one consent that repentaunce and conuersion vnto God is needfull if at any time euen priuate calamities bee vpon them but the same notwithstanding doe very hardly admit the true doctrine of repentaÌ„ce for inasmuch as they suppose it to consist only in a certaine outward stage like behauiour it seemeth vnto theÌ„ to bee superfluous whatsoeuer they heare spoken of the mortifiyng of the flesh of mans renewing of the ameÌ„demeÌ„t of life maners also of prayers other such like exercises of true faith religion Therfore Ioel wheÌ„ as he had of late diligeÌ„tly taught set forth the maner of true repeÌ„tance now he exhorteth theÌ„ very grauely to imbrace the same seing they could no other way be prouided for with al he sharply reproueth their more theÌ„ beastly blockishnes which were so hardned at the sense of gods wrath that they were nothing at al moued with the euils that on euery side oppressed theÌ„ The vse of the place vnto vs also may bee this namely that we may draw arguments froÌ„ it how to casâ— off al blockishnes to stirre vp our selues to the exercise of repentance He teacheth repentance to be needefull But hee beginneth with a reason or argument which he deriueth from the necessitie of the matter and denounceth it by an exclamation very pathetical
mee who woulde haue you to be my people or my coÌ„federats or subjects that by this occasioÌ„ ye might come to the knowledge of the true faith and saluation But goe to seeing it liketh you so well it will bee a very easie matter for me to recompeÌ„ce you vpon your head according as you haue deserued The summe therefore and effect of the accusation is this namely that they rashly and prouoked with no wrong or iniurie at all had rysen and rebelled againste the people of GOD c. The maners of the domestical enemies of the church And by this example are expressed and laide open the maners of the Domesticall or housholde enemies of the Church who are for a time compelled to forsake their superstitions and most vile trades of liuing and to submit themselues to the discipline of the Gospel They feigne a loue of the truth as long as the truth hath the vpper hand But in the meane while there remaineth deepe setled in their minde a hatred of Christe and a loue of their Pope so kind yea they thinke themselues very heynously and intollerably dealt withall and therefore vpon occasion giuen they rise vp that they may followe and pursue the same their title and quarrell to the vttermost Examples of this sort we haue seene many in our time which because they are well knowen vnto all shall not neede to bee any longer stood vpon Let vs consider that God permitteth these thinges vnto the wicked for our sakes who for the most part doe ouer mildely and gently handle such men yea euen filthily flatter them whilest either we seeke by carnall wisedome to winne them or els in seeking againe by them forget our duties vnto God c. He laieth opeÌ„ the sinnes of the saide parties But hee recounteth also the sinnes of these men and in two kindes comprehendeth all wherein they chiefly offended First yee haue taken my siluer and my golde c. Hee accuseth them of Sacriledge and howe they had wickedly taken away perforce the riches consecrated vnto him and had carried them into their temples or pallaces where they abused them eyther to superstition or to riot and superfluitie as they sisted theÌ„selues Secondly yee haue solde the children of Iuda and Ierusalem vnto the Grecians or vnto forreigne nations that beeing banished farre off from their countrie they might be void of all hope of return Both these sinnes reigne openly at this day For after that the Romishe Bishops haue once vsurped to themselues the gouermnent of the Church by and by they conuert the goods of the Church which aforetime were consecrated vnto God and his seruice partly into superstitioÌ„s partly to the maintenance of their own pomp and prodigalitie And albeit their sacrilegious holdnesse bee euery where reproued by the light of the Gospell yet want there not false Gospellers which catching the saide goods out of their clawes do not restore theÌ„ to the Church but either scrape theÌ„ together to the common bancke or els challenge them priuately to themselues that they may the more inordinately reuel and make good cheere Either of these fortes haue their colours whereby they excuse their iniquitie and the true children of Iuda which accuse and finde fault with these thinges they eyther cast into exile or kill them with sworde and fire that so they may cease to bee troublesome vnto them But let these men remember that this is Gods golde and siluer who will not suffer their holdenesse to goe vnpunished as shal appeare in the Sermon following In the meane time let vs also bee mindfull of these thinges and paciently take this vnhappie lot and condition of the Churche trusting onely in Christe Iesu who will neuer suffer his owne cause to quaile To him bee giuen blessing honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Sermon 13. The text 7 BEhold I wil raise them out of the place where yee haue sold them and will render your reward vpon your owne head 8 And I will sell your sonnes and your daughters into the hand of the children of Iuda and they shall sell them to the Sabees to a people farre off for the Lord himselfe hath spoken it 9 Publish this among the Gentiles prepare warre wake vp the mightie men let all the men of warre drawe neere come vp 10 Breake your plough shares into swordes and your siethes into speares let him that is weake say I am a strong champion 11 Assemble your selues and come al yee heathen and gather your selues togither rounde about there shall the Lord cast downe thy mightie men 12 Let the heathen be wakened and come vp to the valley of Iehosophat for there will I sit to iudge all the heathen rounde about 13 Put in your siethes for the haruest is ripe come get you down for the wine presse is full yea the presses runne ouer for their wickednes is great 14 O multitude O multitude come into the valley of threshing for the daye of the Lorde is neere in the valley of threshing 15 The Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened and the Startes shal withdraw their sight ALbeit God loueth deerly his church wil haue it to be perpetuall â—â—â—reserued The argumeÌ„t vse of this present place yet suffereth he the same to be diuersely exercised and afflicted vnder wicked vngodly enemies so farre forth that the godlye sometimes thinke themselues to be forsaken of him and the wicked promise to themselues perpetuall successe Heere therefore we haue need as well of diligent doctrine as consolation to the end we may perceiue these thinges to come to passe by the iust iudgement of God who chastineth his that they may be saued and finally rendreth to the wicked according to their deserts Hitherto maketh the last part of Ioel. For hee so comforteth the people of his time against the terrours of the Assyrian warre that looke what he sayth vnto them ought to be applied vnto al ages And of late forsooth be promised in generall that God woulde take in hand the cause of his people against their enemies whose crueltie and pride he declared at large But now hee diligently describeth the iudgment of god which haÌ„geth in like maner ouer the heads of al those that in these dayes imitate the sayd ancieÌ„t enemies of the church Let vs therefore consider euery thing in order The enemies of the church are punished by the law of like for like First he threatneth vnto them Talions Law that is such payne such punishment or so doe so haue and declareth that there shal nothing let but that he wil deliuer his people For he accused theÌ„ before that they had sold the children of Iuda to the Grecians and to a people farre off Therefore he inferreth Beholde I will rayse them out of the place c. As though he shoulde say You in deede goe about to scatter my people so as no hope of restitution should be left vnto them But