through Germany with such successe of many victories as he could haue wished yet was notable by any meanes to conquer subdue the Gospell in Germany That in Fraunce six Kings continually succeeding one another and employing all their forces and vsing many and diuers meanes and practises for it yet haue not beene able to effect the suppression of the reformed Churches in Fraunce That Philip the second the greatest King that hath beene of Spaine hath wasted all the treasure which he had gathered in the East and in the West for the rooting out of Religion partly in Fraunce and partly in England and chiefely in the Low countries and that with no other euent and successe but that these huge masses of treasure being exhausted and lost and his Kingdome being cast into many great straits and difficulties of debt before his death full sore against his will he heard this message deliuered to him that the reformed Churches in France England and the Low-countriâ—s did prosper and flourish as they had done in any former time Which things being so worthily doe we all extoll and magnifie this most gracious goodnes and mercy of our God who in goodnes add power excelleth all whereby when we were drowned in the midst of a sea of errors and darkenesse in Popery hath illuminated and enlightned vs with the most clear goodly light of the knowledge of himselfe and of his Gospell For if in the old Testament the godly so often celebrated and praised with songs the redemption of the people of Israel out of Egypt and from their enemies of Madian surely we haue far greater cause why wee should magnifie with all praise and honour our maruellous deliuerances from the Idolatry of Anti-christ Moreouer this historicall commemoration and rehearsall of the admirable wonderfull worke which we haue heard to haue beene performed by God in his Church ought to giue encouragement to all the faithfull with greater alacritie and chearfulnesse and with greater strength and constancy to keepe and retaine the truth which they haue once acknowledged which being grounded and founded stedfastly and securely in the holy Scripture hath beene againe and newly confirmed in these last hundred yeares by so singular and excellent miracles And this we ought the rather to doe because wee knowe that our Sauiour Iesus doth still liue and wee are certainly perswaded that as he hath done hitherto so likewise alwayes hereafter hee will gather gouerne and preserue his Church Now let vs also remember that it is our part and dutie to worship and honour this Iesus our Sauiour with our mouth with our hearts and with all our strength For he it is as the Angell expresly testifieth which will saue and preserue his people Of which people they onely are to bee accompted who doe not walke nor liue according to the flesh but according to the Spirit whereof who seeth not this to follow That he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and that he who is none of Christs cannot in any sort enioy the comfort of this name of a Sauiour Let vs then embrace our most faithfull Sauiour let vs loue him let vs feare him and let vs honour him So without all doubt we shall prooue by experience that he wil renew againe hereafter vnto vs his auncient fauour and will most mightely protect vs his Christian Church by his patronage and defence from all our enemies both of soule and body For this saith Amen that is that true and faithfull witnesse the gates of hell shall not preuaile against my Church To this mighty and great Sauiour be thankes honour and glory for all the comfort helpe and benefits hitherto bestowed vpon vs both now and in all ages for euer and euer Amen THE PRAYER MOst Gracious God and mercifull father we giue thee thankes for all thy benefits wherewith hitherto thou hast largely and bountefully blessed vs. O Lord my God thy thoughts are great and thy workes admirable and wonderfull which thou settest before vs to behold and consider Nothing can nor ought to be compared vnto thee I will declare thy workes and speake of them although they exceed all account and number Wee acknowledge it to proceede from thy grace and fauour that in all places thou hast miraculously gathered a people that is pleasing and acceptable vnto thee that thou hast wisely gouerned and mightily preserued the same Especially wee praise thee that it hath pleased thee to call vs in these countries to the Communion of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and that this day thou hast graunted thy grace to vs sitting by the cratch of thy new borne Sonne to heare how sweetâ—ly the Angels sung their heauâ—nly hymne and song and how ioyfully they greeted and congratulated vs for the exceeding great benefit of thy Sonne sent to take our flesh and nature vpon him And not onely to heare this but moreouer also to see how the shepheards did adore him Simeon and Anna blessed him the wise men that came to him from the East did honour him with gold myrrh and frankincense Blessed bee thy holy name for euermore for these and all other benefits which thou doest bestow vpon vp and wherwith thou doest adorne vs. Gracious God and mercifull Father we beseech thee also for the time to come to shew forth thy maruellous workes amongst vs and alwayes to gather a Church to thy selfe amongst vs and graciously to preserue this which thou hast already gathered that the number of them may daily encrease who may truly acknowledge thee and thy Sonne Iesus Christ and may celebrate and magnifie thee both in this life and also in that which is to come for euermore Furthermore with earnest prayers wee beseech thee as thou hast done hitherto so likewise hereafter graciously and mercifully to turne away from vs the fury of warre the scarcitie and dearth of victuals and the plague of pestilence and whatsoeuer besides may bee hurtfull to our countries Driue away also farre from vs the most sauage crueltie of the Pope and of his adhaerents hinder and restraine his counsels that they take not effect Contrariwise we bâ—seech thee to grace and adorne with all maner of blessings the Emperours Maiesty the Royall dignitie of the King of great Britaine as also all other Christian Kings the Electors of the Empire and other Princes especially tâ—e most illustrious and gratious Prince Frederick Count-Palatine Elector our gratious Lord together with the most illustrious Princesse his wife and the Princesse daughter of the late Elector and our young Princes and all the noble house of the Counts-Palatines Princes Electors with their Counsellors and Officers maintaine and preserue them all with thy gracious patronage protection and defence Take care also we beseech thee of all Widowes and Orphanes and preserue our bodies with the comfort of health and crowne our life with Christian vprightnesse and integritie Helpe all those which endure diuers afflictions especially such as suffer grieuous persecutions for the truths sake Make them knowe by their experience that Iesus our Sauiour is more able to comfort them then all the world to make them to sorrow Finally when the short terme and time of our life shall passe away refresh and comfort vs before wee depart from hence and receiuing vs into the armes of thy mercy translate vs out of this old world to that new one which is not finished nor ended with any course of the Sunne or of the Moone but wherein thy selfe art to bee the Sunne the Moone and all in all things these mercies we aske in the name of Iesus Christ and pray also further as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. FINIS Errata PAg 3. helpeth r. fulfileth p. 4. adorned r. adored p. 17. Treptquine r. Trepto were r was p. 20. r. the Smalcaldian warre p. 22. r. with for which p. 24. retained for releeued p. 25. him r. them ibid. some r. home p. 52. l. 2. r. there was set out c. p. 33. r. in their Churches p. 39. adde for and. pag vltima daughter read Dowager
shamefull massacre and slaughter extreamly raging in Paris and euery where else in Fraunce in the yeare 1572. she reached forth a gratious and helpefull hand for the reliefe of the most afflicted state of many godly persons and amongst others shee receiued and entertained that most religious and worthy teacher maister Daniel Tossanus together with his wife and children and chearfully patronized and defended him in the time of extreame danger Now if wee behold and consider the reformation of the English Churches here commeth to my mind and as a most beautifull and comfortable Starre shineth Edward the sixt the most gratious King of England who being inkindled with an heroicall Spirit and zeale desired those Churches to bee throughly cleansed from Popish Idolatry After also his sister Queene Elizabeth followed his pietie and most religious example both with like affection and successe What did not also Iames Hamelton Viceroy in Scotland first permit and make free to euery one that would the reading of the Bible in the English tongue and the order of prayer By which worthy act the true Christian Religion straightwaies tooke so great increase as that the States in Parliament prouided by publicke lawe in the yeare 1561 that all the people should liue quietly and in peace without reuiling or iniurying one another for any pretence or excuse of Religion Moreouer this is also manifest by certaine proofes that these three Emperours Charles the fift Ferdinando and Maximillian departed out of this life resting vpon the same comfort and faith which Luther taking out of the Scriptures preached and published in that hee shewed and taught that all the hope of euerlasting life consisteth in the death of Christ After these notable personages of the ciuill state let vs now come also and remember the teachers of the Church wherein we may consider that after the Apostles time God raised vp almost in a continuall succession most worthy teachers such as these were Ignatius Policarpus Iustinus Martyr Clement of Alexandria Athenagoras Origen Cyprian Tertullian Athanasius Epiphanius Hilarius Basil Gregory of Nazianzene Ierome Augustine Ambrose Chrysostome and many others by whose worthy seruice labour the worke of the Reformation of the world begun by the Apostles was happily and with great successe proceeded in and furthered And euen so to those first goodly and glorious lights of the Church in Doctrine and Diuinitie Luther Melanchton ZWinglius and Oecolampadius God added adioyned other teachers that were men famous for their pietie and learning who receiuing the Gospell from the former as a lampe and a light deliuered vnto them the fowlest errors of Popery hauing beene discouered haue brought with them a clearer and greater light of vnderstanding and knowledge of the bookes of the Bible In Helvetia and Switzerland who is ignorant that there haue beene many who partly by preaching and partly by writing haue serued the Church with great diligence and profit Amongst whom these men are worthy of immortall praise Henry Bullinger Rodolph Gualter Oswald Myconias Conrade Pellicane Berthall Haller Gasper Megander Leo Iuda Benedict Aretius Iohn Wolfe Lewis Lauater Iosias Simler Bibliander William Stuckius Doe we demaund what teachers they haue had in high Germany Surely in that countrey there hath beene great plenty of notable teachers Such as were these Ambrose Blawrer Iohn Swickius Martin Bucer Malthias Tellius Wolfangus Capito Caspar Hedio Andrew Osiander of Hala in Swevia Erardus Schnepfius and Maâ—tin Frechtius at Tubinga Ambrose Mollerus and Iohn Hesse at Wratislavia or Bresla Conrade Somius at Vlms Wolfangus Musculns at Augusta or Ausborow Francis Lambert Andrew Hâ—perias Iohn Pincer Denis Melander in Hassia and in Wittemberg Iasper Cruciger both the father and the sonne Georg Maior Iohn Bugenhagius Paul Eber Iohn Foster Iohn Auenar Henry Moller Frederick Widebrame and Christopher Pezelius In Livonia or Lief-land there haue beene worthy Preachers as Andrew Cnophius and others and in Borusia Iohn Poliander and Iohn Brismana in the lower Saxonie Vrbanus Regius Hermane Browne and Albert Hardenbergius in Frisia Micronius Menso Altingus and diuers others And who is there amongst vs whom the remembrance of these famous men doeth not moue and effect with singular delight to wit of William Farell Peter Viret Iohn Caluin Austin Marlorate Theodore Beza Antony Sadeel and of Phillip Morâ—y of Plessay and others who partly by teaching and partly by writing haue mightily ouerthrowen Popery and aduanced the Gospell of Iesus Christ Neither hath this fauour of God beene wanting vnto Spaine For what men Spaine hath had teachers of the Euangelicall doctrine the same it hath also most glorious Martyrs to wit Frauncis Drianda Diazius Doctor Constantine Confessor to the Emperour Charles the fift Italy it selfe also hath sent vs ouer from thence most excellent Diuines to the very great benefite of our Churches Peter Martyr Ierom Zanchius Immanuell Tremellius These men also in Scotland haue left vs most ample and large fruites of their seruice for the Gospell Iohn Knoxe Robert Rollock Iohn Iohnston and diuers others But in England God hath set out as vpon a Theater and stage to be seene by all the world very many famous and learned men who haue stoutely defended and maintained the doctrine of the Gospell against the deceitfull impostures of the Antichrist of Rome And such were these Thomas Cranmer Arch bishop of Canterbury Hugh Latimer Iohn Hooper Nicholas Ridley Iohn Rogers Hugh Philpot Iohn Iuell Laurance Humphery with William Whitaker Iohn Rainolds William Perkins William Fulke and an infinite number of others whom it were too long to rehearse How should I bee silent of the land of Denmarke which hath had most famous Preachers of the Gospell to wit Palladius Hemingius Macabaeus c. The Hungarians also speake of Michael Starinus as of their glory who reformed many particular Churches in it and set Ministers of the word ouer them to whom hee himselfe prescribed what order was to bee held for the making of Sermons profitable and fruit full and in what maner the Sacraments were to be administred They will recite in like maner Steuen Szegeden Paul Thurius Iasper Charles Peter Melius Martin Hollopaeus Mathew Scaricaus Thomas Fabricius of Tholna and many others And that I may mention no more the Churches of Poland euen to this day not without a thankefull remembrance they speake of that worthy noble personage Iohn Alaskaw of the Earles of Gorkaw and the Lords Oselinians who in their time were a defence and an ornament to the doctrine of the Gospell So doe they likewise speake of those notable Diuines Erasmus Glisner Georg Israell Iohn Laurence Balthasar Euchner Iohn Turnorius and others who haue fruitfully deliuered the Gospell to the people 5 Now to extend the comparison begun yet further in the beginning God who is most and onely wise spread and propagated the Gospell by meanes which in appearance were directly contrary to the furtherance of it such as was the ouerthrow of Ierusalem and the dispersion of
the trueth of the Gospell But within a yeare after the multitude of professors appeared in so great number as a man would haue thought that all those had beene risen from the dead and restored to life againe Neither are there wanting like examples in Hungary Bohemia Morauia Silesia Ausâ—ria For about some thirteene yeares agone these aduersaries with very great endeauours desired to cut off all meanes of exercising the Religion reformed But vtterly in vaine God withstanding them who sending them his helpe from heauen brought the matter to that passe that greater libertie was granted to these countries then they euer enioyed in any time before Finally for the last point of this comparison In the primitiue Church God by manifest signes and tokens shewed the seueritie of his iust iudgement vpon many tirants and persecutors of the Church by their fearfull ends and tragicall deaths In like maner Sigismund the Emperour 200. yeares agone hauing burnt at Constance Iohn Husse a most pious and godly Preacher together with him burnt and consumed all his owne royall estate For deceasing without heire male Ladislaus his Grand-sonne by his daughter succeeded him and so hee confined the celebritie and honour of his name in the space of a fewe yeares So likewise in this last age wee haue receiued by report and seene with our eyes that vengeance hath followed them at their heeles which bearing impietie and vngodlinesse in their hearts and shewing it openly by strange crueltie went about with all their power to assaile and to plucke vp by the rootes the pure doctrine of the Gospell In the yeare 1546. George Wisehart a Preacher of the Gospell in Scotland after burnt to ashes by the commaundement of Cardinall Beton in the midst of the flames of fire prophetically foretold the Cardinall of the death and ouerthrow that hung ouer his head And that not in vaine for hee was killed that very yeare and that so as in the same place where the stake and ashes of that constant Martyr had beene seene not long before in the same place so soone after the dead body of that tyrant was to be seene exposed to the hate and scorne of all men With him reckon also Steuen Gardner who being Bishop of Winchester and Cancelor to Queene Mary emploied his seruice power very busily to destroy the Christians But his punishment followed not long after for being taken with a sore disease and despairing of the fauour and mercy of God he cried out alasle for me I haue sinned with Peter but I haue not wept nor seriously truly repented as Peter did In Fraunce remember Minerius making war with the innocent men of Merindoll and miserably killing and murthering them with more then Scythian and Barbarian cruelty What art thou sorry and doest thou sigh and lament to heare it stay a while and thou shalt see and acknowledge the wonderfull iudgment and vengeance of God vpon him For this tyrant Minerius falling into a most grieuous and fearefull sicknesse ended his vngodly life with horrible crying and howling Kings also furnish vs with some examples of tragicall ends For Fruancis the first king of Fraunce in the agony of death felt how heauily the blood of the Waldâ—nses and Merindolians lay vpon his conscience wherefore hee gaue commandement and charge to his sonne Henry that hee should put to death Iohn Monke by whose counsell and perswasion he had begun the persecution which Monke perceiuing speedily fled and so escaped the present danger Likewise we haue heard that Henry the 2. King of France hauing often threatned and said that with his own eies he would see Burges to be consumed burnt with fire vpon a wound taken in the eye in his running at-Tilt ended his life with very great torments Neither was the end of Frauncis the second of that name any better who hauing denied the Christians free exercise of the Religion of the Gospell who by supplication had requested it hee also by an Apostume risen in his braine and running at his eare died with his eare putrified and rotten And thou also Charles the ninth King of Fraunce goe thou also and defile thy hands with the blood of thy subiects Thou also didst miserably perish in thine owne blood And you two tirants I speake of Henry the third and the Duke of Guise doe you also take paines in the hainous crime of the massacre and slaughter at Paris doe you also kill murder and destroy but with what successe euen and issue haue you done it either of you ended your life with a violent and bloody death but the reformed Religion you haue not driuen out of Fraunce But what doe I speake of these things the Emperour himselfe Charles the fist hee confessed that hee had vsed and emploied all his force and power to establish the authoritie of the Pope and to maintaine his dignity but that his endeauour had beene all in vaine that his mony and treasure was spent which losse was tollerable and might be borne but that which was altogether intollerable he had lost his honourable name amongst men and his estimation dignitie the losse whereof was not to be recouered by any meanes Heere it were worth our labour to note marke the perfidious falling away of Apostatates and the infirmity of the faithfull Heere also intestine and inward dissensions and discords were to bee touched and to be compared with the contentions of the ancient and primitiue Church but the regard of this present time doth not suffer me so to doe Therefore let it suffice to haue heard that Christ the Lord hath most effectually expressed and accomplished really and in powerfull act and deede the name of Iesus and Sauiour that was giuen him by order from God in that hee doth so fatherly gather so wisely gouerne so mightely preserue and so iustly protect his Church against all the aduersaries and enemies of it Now let the Iesuits goe and vain-gloriously boast of the miracles which they say haue beene done in the East and West Indiaes but wee most worthily publish and magnifie the miracles iustly to be admired wondred at which God hath done in our own dayes and in the age of our fathers in Germany England Spaine Italy Fraunce Hungary Bohemia Pole-land Denmark and Swed land For these are indeed that which they are said to be miracles That God hath wrought so great things by so meane and base instruments That the doctrine of the Gospell within so fewe yeares hath like the lightning enlightned so many countries and Kingdomes That by meanes altogether contrary to the reason of man the sinceritie and puritie of the doctrine of the Gospell flourisheth at this day being propagated and spread faire and neare That by how much the greater the crueltie of tyrants hath beene in blood sheding in burning hanging of the godly so much the further hath the sound of the Gospell bin heard passed into more places That a most puissant and mighty Emperour going