saieth Paule is the misterie hid since the world began and from all ages but nowe is made manifest to the Saintes of God to whom GOD would make knowne what is the riches of his glorious misterie among the gentiles Dogs must not haue that which is holy There is a dogge which turneth about and teareth them that doe offer holy thinges Let not this dogge receiue that holy thing There is a dogge that cryeth with the woeman of Canaan trueth Lord I confesse that I am a dog yet the whelps may gather vp the crums that fal frō the childrēs table Christ wil haue that holy thing to be giuen to this dog Cast not pearls before swin Truth if they bee foule and treade them vnder their feete or if they bee washt and returne backe too their wallowing in the myre But if wee which were swine are by the blood of Christe washed and by the water of regeneration sanctified of swine are made lambes let vs haue that pearl we wil not tread it vnder our feete One Gospell yet diuersly it worketh in diuers mens heartes Water wil harden yron and soften the earth The Sunne drieth clay and melteth waxe the seede in good groūd bringeth forth increase but sowed among stones or thornes it bringeth foorth no fruit The fault is not in the seede but in the soyle the Sunne to vs that haue cleare sight is comfortable to the man that is poreblinde it is hurtfull Blame not the Sunne but the foole that will turne his eyes towardes the Sunne Suger to vs that bee in health is sweete to the sicke of an Ague it is bitter the Suger is not bitter his tast is naught Daintie meates to some stomackes are wholesome to others they are fulsome the fault is not in the meate but in the stomacke Euen so Christe crucified is to the Iewe a stumbling blocke to the Grecian folishnesse but to them that are called he is the power of God and the wisedome of God bee they Iew or Grecian bond or free male or female Wherefore thirdly I answere though drunkardes and tosse pottes abuse wine yet wine is profitable though vsurers and couetous men abuse money yet money is necessary though cutters and swinge-bucklers abuse weapons yet weapons are needfull Right so though the word of God by Heretikes and Athistes bee abused yet it is not to be forbidden Because it giueth wisedome euen vnto the simple because it hath milke for babes and strong meate for men because it is a lanterne to our feet and a light to our pathes because it doth lightē vs that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and doth guide our feet into the way of peace Let them with Otho reason thus absurdly the title set ouer Christs head by pilat was written in Hebrew Greek and Latine therefore the worde muste be read in one of these tongues wee thus affirme that God who did confounde the tongues of all men at the building of Babell they before hauing all one language that God I say at the beginning of the building of his church did giue to his Apostles and seruantes not onely the knowledge of Hebrew Greeke and Latine but of all languages in the worlde that all tongues vnder heauen all nations vnder the Sunne might reade heare and pray in their owne language in their owne mother tongue Wee therefore say with Cyprian Non videndum est quid aliqui ante nos fecerunt sed quid ille qui ante omnes est faciendum mandarit We must not care what they haue doone which were before vs but what hee doeth commaund to be doone which was before all Let vs then remember our miserable estate howe wee sate downe and wept to remember Syon howe we sought the word in strange Countries howe the Gospel was mingled with vanities how it was in a strange language how it was hid from the common people O let vs nowe then bee thankefull vnto the Lorde and that the world may knowe that wee are thankefull let vs labour for that meate whiche indureth vnto euerlasting life As the Philistines coulde not preuaile against Sampson although his heyfer had betraied him and his hayre cut of vntill they had pluckt out his eies so the Papistes could by no means so sone get the vpper hād as by pulling out the eyes of the people by taking from them their light sight knowledge and vnderstanding making them blinde not as whelpes whiche see after ix dayes not as the blinde man who sawe men as trees not as Paule whose eies were open yet sawe nothing by reason of his scales but as blinde as Moles as blinde as beetles as blinde as the men of Sodome who coulde not finde Lots doore as blinde as the king of Arams seruantes who came to bring Elizeus to their maister but were by him not seeing whither they wente brought into Samaria But as the Lorde opened the eyes of Hagar that she sawe the well of water as he opened the eies of Elizeus his man that hee sawe the mountaines full of Chariots and horses of fier as hee opened the eies of Paule that the scales fell from his eies so hath hee nowe opened our eies that wee see the wonderous thinges of his lawe the light of his truth the brightnesse of his woorde the shining beames of his glorious Gospell Noah reioyced when hee sawe the Doue come in with a leafe in her mouth wherby he knew the waters were abated Ioshua reioyced when hee sawe the Sun stand still for a whole day whereby hee knewe his enimies shoulde bee discomfited Israell reioyced when hee sawe the clowde or the piller of fier whereby hee knewe that by the Lord he was guided Elias reioyced when he saw the clowde no bigger then an hande whereby hee knewe the earth should be watered Ezechias reioyced when hee sawe the shadowe goe backe x. degrees whereby hee knewe his dayes were prolonged the wise men reioyced when they sawe the starre whereby they knew that to Iesus they should be conducted The wise men reioyced when they sawe Christe in the manger the shepheardes when they harde the newes Simeon when he imbraced him in his swadling clowtes Thomas when hee felte his woundes Steuen when he saw the heauens open Euen so iust cause haue wee to lift vp our heartes and reioyce For many kinges wise men prophetes fathers haue desired to heare those things which wee heare and coulde not heare them and to see those dayes which wee see but coulde not see them The Lorde graunt that as wee haue eies and see taste and feele this meate So we may haue mindes to desire it and willes to labour for it Againe remember as the Philistines left neuer a whetstone no speare onely two swordes no smith in all the lande of Israell least said they the Hebrwes make them swordes and speares and so preuaile against vs so the vncircumcised Romanes the Popish shauelings the
but he that drinketh of the water whiche the sonne of man shall giue vnto him whome God the father to this purpose hath sealed shall neuer thirst agayne but the water in him shalbe a well of water springing vpp vnto euerlasting life yea out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Wherefore as Eleasar and his two companions did breake thorowe the mighty hoste of the Philistines and brought water out of Bethlehem for Dauid euen thorowe the hoste backe againe Dauid longing after that water right so let vs boldely and couragiously breake thorowe the middes of all our enemies both temporal and spirituall to get this water and this bread of the soule of heauen and of life that it may bee sayde of vs as our Sauiour spake of the Iewes in the beginning of the gospel the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force So zealous were they O I wold to God so zealous were wee too receiue Gods mercy so freely offered so greedie were they O I would to God so greedy were we to imbrace to loue to obey to follow Gods word so purely preached For as the pewter pot which the fire melteth is not so soone consumed beeing full of licour as the glasse which euery knock breaketh is not so lightly dasht in peeces beeing full of water so we though wee consume as the fat of lambes before the presence of the Lord and be as drie stubble the Lorde a consuming fire though we be more brickle then glasse for glasse being safely lockt vp endureth long but we kepe we our selues neuer so daintily neuer so warily neuer so safely come to an end as a tale that is told So wee I say being full fed with this foode shalbee able to abide all blowes al knocks shall quēch all the fyrie darts of the wicked shall stand fast in the euil day so stand that all the gates of hell shal not once be able to preuayle against vs. What better reason can I geue then this for it endureth vnto euerlasting life But alas as Eue was content to aduenture the losse of Paradise for an apple as Esau was content to loose his birthright his fathers blessing for a messe of pottage as the children of Israel did loath Manna Angels foode in their hearts turned back to the flesh pottes of Egypt as the Iewes at this time did seek Christ not for his doctrine not for his miracles but chiefly for meate because hee had fedde them and so fedde them that they had more store left when they had done then when they beganne to eate So because the dayes of Noe are come because the dayes of Lot are come because the dayes of the Sonne of man are at hande wee are weerie of the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life and doe labour for the meate whiche perisheth to serue the bellie the fleshe sinne the worlde and all is to serue the Diuell For as it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it bee in the dayes of the sonne of man they ate they dranke they maried and gaue in mariage vnto the day that Noah went into the Arke and the flood came and drowned them all lyke as it was in the dayes of Lot they ate they drank they bought they solde they plāted they builte they married but in the day that Lot wēt out of Sodom the lord rayned fire brimstone from heauen consumed them all There was neuer more eating and drinking I meane neuer more surfetting and drunkennesse neuer more buying and selling I say neuer more deceyt in buying and selling neuer more planting I might truely say neuer more supplanting one of another neuer more marying I woulde to God I might not iustly say neuer more whoring to conclude neuer more building I meane not building of Colledges of almes houses of schooles there was neuer lesse I pray you mistake me not I say neuer more building of priuate houses which wee thinke shall continue for eeuer and call our houses and our landes after our owne names So that wee may iustly bewayle the madnesse and miserie of this age as Chrysostome did the folly and fondnesse of his tyme. Si secularibus abstinere iubemur quae miseria quae amentia est ea a domino postulare quae habita abiicienda desiderare in quibus nullam omnino curam adhibendam praecipit That is if wee are commanded to abstayne from worldly thinges what a misery what a madnesse is it to begge those thinges at the Lordes hands which when we haue wee must cast away and to desire those things wherein the Lord commaundeth vs to put no care at all Wherefore seeing it may well be sayde of vs Englishmen as Paule sayde of the Cretians euil beastes slowe bellyes and seeing I may now truly speake with Paule many walke of whome I haue told you often and nowe tell you weeping that they are enemies to the crosse of Christ whose ende is dānation whose God is their belly whose glory is to their shame whiche minde earthly thinges and seeing vppon good occasion I may exhorte you with Paule nowe I beseeche you brethren marke them diligently whiche make diuision offēces cōtrary to the doctrine which you haue learned and auoyde them for they that are such serue not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies with fayre speech flattering deceiue the hearts of the people this doctrine is as needfull necessary nowe as it was in the time of our Sauiour Christ when he thus taught the people Labour not c. Not onely to disswade you frō laboring for the meate which perisheth but to perswade you to labour for that meat which doth endure vnto euerlasting life The which wordes conteine in them first a disswasion a dehortation a proposition negatiue Secondly a perswasion an exhortation or conclusion positiue Whervnto is annexed first a reason taken from the person that geueth the certainty of the thing geuen which the Sonne of man shal giue vnto you Secondly a confirmation drawen from the office and function of our Messias and Sauiour For him hath the Father sealed that is appoynted and consecrated him to geue life vnto all thē that labour for this meate IT had been sufficient for our Sauiour onely to haue vsed the exhortation labour for c had he not perceiued them as we nowe see the worlde to hunt labour for bellie cheere as dogges doe for carion swine for draugh horses for prouender too bee wrapped and tyed in these earthly thinges as the men of this age are like the fishe in the hooke the bird in the net the conie in the hay therfore he beginneth with the dehortation Labour not c. And bicause a litle before mention was made of meat he speaketh figuratiuely vsing the Metaphore of meate whereas hee might plainely haue saide care not for the bodie to fulfill the lustes of it but care
eie to be a byshop euery man cānot be a leg to be a piller in gods church yet euery one may be a hād to giue sōwhat to the building therof euery one may be an eare to heare the word a tongue to prayse the Lord and a mouth to receiue this meat which endureth vnto euerlasting life whē the people came home from Babila they buylded the temple of the Lorde before they builded eyther their own houses or the walles of the citie they builded with one hand hauing weapons in the other All the people followed Dauid to seek the Arke of God and all went with Solomon to builde a temple vnto the Lord. How did the Iewes desire and loue this meate when they heard Esdras read the law from morning to noone and wept bitterly How did the people of Antioch labour when the rulers of the sinagogue an example for officers to folow came to Paule and his companions and said Men and brethren if ye haue any word of exhortation to the people say on When they besought Paule to preache the same sermon the next sabboth day the nexte sabboth daye the whole citie came together to heare the worde of God How did Cornelius labour when he wayted for Peters comming he called his friends and kinred into his house to heare him for we haue not done our dutie if we our selues onely eate of this meate vnlesse we cause them also to eat that belong vnto vs as Cornelius brought his friendes to heare Peter preach as Andrew brought his brother Simon as Philip brought Nathanael as Iohn Baptist brought his Disciples to christ I was glad saith Dauid when they said to me we will goe into the house of the lord If we thus labour the lord God wil raise vp cunning workmen for his tēple painfull labourers in his vineyard faithful pastors of his flock good teachers of his people as when Moses made the Arke he called Bezaleel by name and when Soloman built the temple he raysed vp Hyram of Tyrus whome he filled with his spirit to work in timber siluer brasse and golde But it is not vnknown to vs how the Popes shauelings and that fat Priest of Rome himselfe do mocke vs while we are building as Sauballat mocked the Iewes saying what doe these weake Iewes will they fortifie themselues will they sacrifice will they finish it in a day wil they make the stones whole again out of the heapes of dust seing they are burnt sōe deride vs as Tobiah the Ammonite did mock thē saying although they builde yet if a fox go vp he wil break down the stony wal Some come to vs as the men of Samaria came to Zerubbabel we wil build with you for we seeke the Lord your God as you do But he answered so doe we it is not for you it is for vs to builde the house vnto our God Ye hypocrites you speake good wordes to the people but as Absolon to steale away the hartes of the people from Dauid his father you will proclaime a fast but as Iezabell to kill Nabot you will worshippe Christ but as Herod to murther him you wil kisse Christ but like Iudas you will kill Christ You are knowne to the worlde O ye Gibeanits which fain your selues Ambassadours to Ioshua bringing old sacks vpon your Asses old bottelles for wine olde shooes and clouted on your feete olde rayment dryed and mouled bread Doe you not knowe that for all their old stuf they were knowen at three dayes end Ieroboams wife disguised her selfe and went to Ahiiah for her sonne she caried ten loaues and cracknels and a bottell of hony though Ahiiah were blinde yet he sayd come in thou wife of Ieroboam So you disguise your selues you bring hony in your mouths there is none so blind but he can say come in or rather come out thou sonne of Antichrist You vsed vs and so you hope to doe again as the Philistines vsed Isaac when they stopped and filled vp with earth all the welles which Abraham his Fathers seruantes had digged for him The water for a time with earth may be stopped fire for a time with ashes may be couered the sonne for a time with clowdes may be shadowed but now the Lord be thanked the erth is remoued and the water doeth runne the ashes are consumed and the fire doeth burne the clowdes are dispersed the sun doth shine Now that we may long enioy these benefits the Lord continue encrease the zeale of our soureigne that shee neuer set her minde on that meat which perisheth not on any erthly thing as did good king Dauid when hee numbred the people as did good king Ezechias when he bragged of his treasure to the Ambassadours of the king of Babell but to continue in maintaining the Lordes cause not like Ioash who did well all the dayes of Iehoida the Priest and afterwarde fell from the Lorde nor like Vzziah who sought God as long as Zachariah the Prophet liued and afterward forsooke God but that as her dayes may be as the dayes of heauen so to her liues ende shee may labour for to keep among vs this meat of our soules for this meat hath no end but endureth vnto euerlasting life That she may still haue before her eies the example of Dauid who before all thinges did seeke the Arke of the Lord would haue builte an house for his God and though he were forbidden because hee was a man of blood yet hee prouided timber and stone and commaunded Solomon his sonne to builde it That Solomon may bee in her remembraunce who builte the house of God before he built his owne courte The house of God was 7. yeeres in buylding but his owne was thirteene yeeres not that he bestowed more charges on his owne house but with more hast and speede he did builde a temple vnto the Lord. That she neuer cease to follow Ezechias who first of all brake the Images cut downe the groues and brake in peeces the brasen serpent that Moses had set vp that she thinke alwayes on Iosiah who being a childe beganne to seeke after the God of Dauid his father and did purge Ierusalem and Iudah that she may alwayes thinke on the commaundement of the Lorde when the kinge shall sitte in the throne of his kingdome then he shall write him this lawe in a booke repeated by the priestes it shalbe with him and he shall reade therein al the dayes of his life that he may learn to feare the Lord his god keep al the words of this law and these ordinaunces for to doe them Now for as much as meat doeth not nourish vnles it be receiued by fayth we receiue it it cannot cherish vs vnlesse it be digested and by the heate of fayth it is concocted it cannot profit vs vnlesse it be kept in our hearts and by fayth we retaine it
But hearken O foole this night perhaps thy soule shalbe taken frō thee O foole thou heapest vp riches and canst not tell who shalbe thine heire O foole Solomon made shields of gold but Rehoboam his sonne made thē of brasse O foole in one day the Arabians tooke away Iobs oxen and his Asses the fire of God burnt vp his sheepe his seruants the Caldeans tooke away his cammelles and slew his men O foole it is more easie for a cammell to goe thorowe the eye of a needle then for one that trusteth in his riches to come to heauen O foole what shall it profit thee to win the whole world loose thine owne soule O foole what recompence canst thou make to redresse thy soule o foole thou art not assured whether thou shall liue one houre O foole where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also Goe to nowe yee riche men sayth S. Iames weepe and houle for the miseries that shall come vppon you your riches are corrupt your garments are motheaten your gold and siluer is cancred and the rust of them shalbe a witnes against you shall eate your flesh as it were fire you haue heaped vpp treasures for the last dayes Take heede O yee rich and mighty you see your calling howe that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish of this world to ouerthrow the wise the weake too confounde the stronger Why that no flesh should reioyce in his presence What then that he that reioyceth should reioyce in the Lord. Whom did the Lord choose for a captaine No expert souldiour but Gedeon a thresher whō made he ruler ouer Pharaos house none of the nobles but Ioseph a bonde seruāt whō made hee the first king of Iuda not any of a great house but Saule of the little tribe of Gemini and of the least familie in the tribe Whom made hee to rule his people after Saule no Prince but Dauid a shephearde whom had he to be his Prophet None of their Doctors but Amos an heardman Whō had Christ to his disciples No scribes but simple fishers Many widowes were in Israel in the dayes of Elias to none of them was he sent but to a poore widowe in Sarepta To whom was the newes of Christ his birth first brought not to Herode not to Pilate not Annas or Caiphas but to shepheardes yea and very poore shepheards for they kept their sheepe in the field all night God woulde not haue his Altar made in a kinges court but in poore Oruan his threshing flowre the Lorde would not haue his temple in Euphrata a plentiful soyle but in the wood a barren wildernesse This was done that God might haue al the glory Of Sara being barren came Isaack of Annah whose wombe was dead came Samuel of Elizabeth with whom it had ceased to be after the maner of women came Iohn Baptist And this was done that GOD might haue all the glory The Lorde gate victories for his people with an Oxe goade with pitchers with Rāmes hornes with a iawe bone of an asse with one sword with a stone out of a sling and this was done that GOD might haue all the glorie Diseases were healed by spittle by touching the hemme of a garment by a napkin by a shadow and this was doone that GOD might haue all the glorie For there was no vertue in Shamgars oxe goade nor in Ionathans sworde nor in Sampsons Iawe bone nor in Dauids stone wherewith they ouercame the Philistines no vertue in Gedeons pitchers wherewith he ouercame Oreb and Zeb no power in the Trumpets of Rammes hornes wherewith the walles of Iericho fell downe there was no vertue eyther in the hem of Christes garment or in his spittle or in Paules napkin or in Peters shadowe wherewith diseases were cured no vertue in Aarons rod wherewith the dust of Egypt was turned into lice no power in Moses hand wherewith the red sea was deuided no vertue in the Priests feete or Elias his mantle wherewith Iordane was deuided yet all these thinges were done by such bare base weake simple meanes that no man should trust in the arme of flesh that no man should seeke for any meate that perisheth and that God in all things might only haue the glory Let vs now call to mind those excellent names and titles wherwith the holy Ghost in the holy bible doth name vs the remembrance and consideration whereof will somwhat withdrawe vs from labouring for that meate which perisheth Wee are called Angelles and Saintes Priestes and a kingely priesthoode Kinges and a royall nation seruauntes of GOD friendes of God sonnes of God heyres of GOD and fellowe heyres with Iesus Christ are wee Angelles and Saintes let vs then seeke the thinges that are aboue Are we Priestes and a kingly Priesthoode let vs then offer vp our bodyes a liuely sacrifice and not labour for the meat thereof Are we kinges and a royall nation let vs then lift vp our eyes to heauen and not cast our faces down to the earth lyke abiectes and bondeslaues Are we seruantes of God wee cannot serue God and riches Are wee friendes of God the friendshippe of this worlde is enmitie with God Are we sonnes of God heires of God and fellowe heires with Iesus Christ let vs then with our brother the prodigal son come home from feeding of swine that we may haue the best robe on our back a ring on our finger shooes on our feet the fatte calfe killed for vs to eate and drinke to singe daunce and be merye with our elder brother Iesus Christe who sitteth in that house which hath many mansions preparing roome for vs. We were chaf but now we are wheat we were drosse but now we are golde we were rauens but now we are doues wee were goates but now we are sheep we were thornes now we are grapes we were thistels now we are lillies we were straungers nowe are we citizens wee were harlots now are we virgins hell was our inheritaunce nowe heauen is our possession we were the children of wrath we are the sons of mercie Finally we were bondslaues to Satan but nowe we are heires of God and coheires with Iesus Christ We were once fet home from going astray let vs not agayne returne to the wildernesse the candel was once lighted for vs let vs not againe fall into darke holes wine oyle were once powred into our woundes let vs not by wandring fal again into hands of theeues We were once founde let vs not agayne loose our selues Wee were once made aliue let vs not againe kil our selues Christ was once crucified for vs that we should onely reioyce in the crosse of Iesus Christ whereby the worlde is crucified to vs and we to the world let vs not crucifie to our selues again the sonne of God make a mock of him The bodies of those beasts whose blood was brought into the
harts where he cryeth Abba Father as the Apostle saith because we are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne into our heartes which cryeth Abba father It is a true saying Bona magis carendo quam fruendo sentimus We better perceiue and feele the commoditie of a thing when we lacke it then when we haue it For who doth better consider the benefit of the warm fire then he that is frosen with colde who doeth better thinke on the commoditie of libertie then the prysoner who doeth better remember the vse of apparell then he which is naked who doeth more esteeme of meate then hee that is almost famished for after a long colde winter a little sun shining is fayre weather after great sorowe one dayes pleasure is a paradise after a long bloody warre a little peace is a merye world and after long hunger browne bread is good cheare Now if wee could eyther thinke on their extreame miserie who like the woman of Canaan like hungry dogs would gladly picke vp the crummes that fall from our table and can haue no more of them then the prodigall sonne had of the swines huskes or at least woulde call to minde our owne miserable famine when like poore Lazarus wee lay begging at the rich mans gate dogges hauing more mercy then men and wee no more satisfied then Tantalus with his apples We would no doubt labour to obtaine by Christ not houses or liuings as that Scribe not to bee Lordes and Dukes as Iames and Iohn not to haue belly cheare as in this place the Iewes did but for the meate of the soule which endureth vnto euerlasting lyfe But what was our famine how were we vsed or rather abused Sower leauen was put to our sweete bread Coloquintida was cast into our potage chaf thrown among our wheate sand mingled with our dough amongst our gold there was drosse wee had water for wine brasse for siluer the cuppe of the whore for the cup of the Lord wormewoode for hony gall for Manna the legende for the Gospell wolues for shepheards the inuentions of man for the commaundementes of God man for God Antichrist for Christ the son of perdition for the sonne of GOD. Agayne the worde was deliuered vnto vs in a straunge tongue that neither we could tel how to daunce when they blewe the pipe nor how to behaue our selues in battaile when they did sound the trumpet neither the vnderstanding was bettered nor the congregation edified nor the vnlearned at the giuing of thanks coulde say Amen but they were Barbarians to vs and we Barbarians to them Furthermore the common people might not reade the worde they might not once taste of that heauenly foode vnlesse the Priestes had first chewed it in their own mouths whose mouths were full of bitternesse whose throates were open sepulchres whose teeth were venomous whose tongues were ful of deceite vnder whose lippes was the poyson of aspes who did eate vp the Lords people as bread whose feete were swift to shedde the blood of Saints but right deare in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes But why might not the people reade the word taste this meate they forsooth gathered damnable errours and sucked out thence deadly poyson Because our Sauiour sayde it is giuen to you to know the secreetes of the kingdome of heauen but to them it is not giuen Because hee sayd again giue not that which is holy to dogges neither cast ye your pearls before swine First I aunswere that Vzza for putting forth his hande to holde the arke when the oxen did shake it died before the Lorde that Vzziah burned incense and was therefore stroken with a leprosie because they vsurped the offices of the Priestes and Leuites contrary to the expresse commaundement of God But if this was spoken to all and be the dutie of all Christians searche the scriptures I do not only say wo vnto thē because they shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men they themselues will not goe in nor suffer them to goe that would enter but I exhorte them to remember the blinde zeale of Christes Disciples in forbiddinge children to come vnto him rebuked suffer little children to come to mee and forbidde them not the blinde zeale of Ioshua requesting Moses to forbid Elead and Medad to prophecie reprehended I would to God that all the Lords people were Prophets The blinde zeale of Iohn willing Christ to forbidde one to cast out deuils in his name misliked suffer him hee that is not against me is with me The blind zeale of Nadab and Abihu because they offered straunge fire condemned who because they offered not that fire which came from heauen but straunge fire were deuoured of fire An euerlasting fire is reserued for those which haue troaden vnder foote the doctrin that came from heauen haue brought in straung doctrine which neuer was in heauen As that fire so this meate came from heauen in this they differ that fire endured onely to the captiuitie of Babylon but this meat endureth vnto euerlasting life Wherfore though Peter or Paule though Gabriel or Michael Cherubim or Seraphim teach any other thing thē that we haue receiued of the Lord who came downe from heauen and brought this meate from heauen let him be accursed as I said before so I say again if any of these bring any thing besides that which we haue receiued of the Lord let them and euery one of them be accursed Secondly I answer that though the spider doe gather poyson where the Bee doth suck hony yet there is no poison in the sweet flower but the corrupt humour that is in the spyder doth turne the sweet iuyce into poison so there are no errours nor heresies in the word of god but the corrupt venomous nature of man doth turn the comfortable sap of Gods word into deadly poyson Now if the spyder gather poyson let not therfore the Bee be driuen from the flowers though the sons of Satan doe gather errours and suck that which vnto them is poison yet let not therfore the children of GOD be forbidden to sucke mylke which shall saue their soules Christ is put both for the fall and also for the rysing agayne of many in Israell he is a rock to buylde on and hee is a stone that will grind to powder if the Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost it is vnto some the sauour of death vnto death to other some the sauour of life vnto lyfe It is not giuen to them to knowe the misteries who are they to whom it is not giuen it followeth that people whose heart is waxed fat whose eares are dull of hearing who winke with their eies least with their eies they shoulde see and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their heartes and should returne that I might heale them The Gospell
superstitious Egyptians Chirstians without none within Iewes in the flesh not in the heart Israelites in the letter and not in the spirit who sought praise of men but none of God left very fewe whetstones few swordes that is very few Testamentes and Bibles left fewe Smithes that is fewe builders in Gods Churche among vs least the Protestantes said they make them swordes and speares and so preuaile against vs. O let vs reioyce and be thankful For as Ionathan with one swoorde ouercame the Philistines so Gods ministers by one swoorde the sworde of spirite the worde of GOD haue pulled downe the power kingdome of Antichrist God graunt he neuer rise again in England As waxe melteth at the Sunne as the fat of lambes consumeth before the fier as the heate dryeth vp the clowdes as the Lion goeth into his denne when man goeth foorth to his worke as the Owle flieth to his hole when the day starre appeareth as Dagon fell downe before the arke of the Lord as Bell the Dragon were destroied before the face of Daniell so the mists of Egypt vanished the Lions of Babilon were vanquished the owles of Rome departed the fat greâ—e of Antichriste melted the Gods of that Sunne of perdition were with vs in Englande all destroyed they al come to nothing when it pleased the Lorde too sende his fier his heat his sonne his day starre his ark and his Daniell that is his worde and ministers amongst vs. Let vs then remember howe cruelly we were handeled and reioyce in the Lorde that wee are so mercifully deliuered but I would to God that many were not sory for the departure of this whoore out of England loke you to your selues chiefly O ye merchants For you may seeme to haue most cause to lament for the fall of that great strumpet For thus sayth the Angell The kinges of the earth shal bewaile her and lament for her which haue committed fornication with her they shall cry Alas alas the great citie Babilon that mightie citie but why shall they so lament because saith hee they liued in pleasure with her yea chiefly the merchantes of the earth saith the Angel shall weepe and waile ouer her yea euery ship maister and all the people that occupie shippes and shipmen and whosoeuer trafficke on the Sea shal stande a farre of and crye Alas alas that great citie But why shal merchants and all shipmen crie so Because no man buyeth their ware any more and by that whore saith hee were made rich al that had shippes on the Sea by her costlinesse Bee not sory for her marke what the Angell saith in that place O heauen reioyce of her and the holy Apostles and Prophetes and pray vnto the Lorde that she neuer returne hyther againe When Dagon fel downe before the arke of the Lord the first time hee was not broken hee was set vp the second time but then the head of Dagon and his handes were broken of That whore of Babylon fell downe once in the dayes of king Edward and was set vp again in the dayes of Queene Mary But nowe in the glorious raigne of our Souereigne Elizabeth shee is fallen downe the seconde time not only her head and her handes are broken of but wee hope that all her body is grounde to powder a curse come to him that shall goe about to set her vppe againe Cursed bee that man saith Ioshua before the Lorde that ryseth vp and buildeth this Citie Ierico yet Hiell did builde Ierico but a curse came to his whole stocke and house for it So cursed be that man before the Lorde that shall beginne to builde that towre of Babell that seate of Antichriste in Englande againe But as the Lorde commaunded Ierusalem to be distroied and all the Iewes though Iulian the Emperour did with all his power aide them were not able to build it so the Lord hath throwne downe this whore and we trust that all the kings of the earth all Popes all Priestes all Monkes all Friers all Nunnes shall not bee able to lift her vp againe She was in England a glorious whore a gorgeous whore therefore her desolation is more shamefull she was in England an high whore and an heauie whore Therefore her fal is the greater as Iezabell was hurld out at a windowe eaten vp of dogges only her skull the palmes of her hands her feete remaining the which the seruants of Iehu buried so wee thanke our God who hath throwne downe this great Iezabell and we pray that if any thing of her be left it shalbe buried O let vs then loue embrace the Gospel followe and obey the Gospell and continue in our profession to our liues end I say continue abide endure stand fast be stronge quiet your selues like men You haue put your haÌ„ds to the plough looke not back least you be iudged vnfit for the kingdome of God For not euery one that runneth but he that runneth to the goale hath the garland not euery one that entreth into a ship but hee that goeth ouer the Seas bringeth home treasures not euery one that worketh in the vineyarde but he that continueth working vnto night hath the peny not euery one that fighteth but hee that ouercometh shall haue the crowne To conclude not euery one that beginneth well but that endureth vnto the ende shalbe saued Nowe you follow the Gospell but I feare many are like the snaile who pulleth in her hornes if any man goe againste her Nowe you laboure for the meate of the soule but you are in your houses like the snaile rather theÌ„ you will loose your houses I feare many will fall from their standing I loue the Gospell saith the worldly man but as long as I am in my house that is as long as I haue peace and quietnesse but if persecution come as lice forsake the head when the man is dying as rattes forsake a house that is ruinous or hath no victuall so will I leaue the Gospell if it bring a swoorde or warre or take away my goods All the Apostles forsooke Christe in time of danger and Demas did forsake Paule and imbraced this present worlde But remember this O man Hee that loueth landes liuings or life more then the Gospell it is as true as the Gospell for it is in the Gospell hee shall neuer come to heauen bring hee neuer so manye keyes from Rome in his hande but hee that shall loose life or liuing for the Gospell it is as true as the Gospell for it is in the Gospell shall haue for his liuing a kingdome for his life a blessed immortall euerlasting life in heauen Satan goeth about to winowe you as wheate stande fast in the faith a lawe in your members rebelleth against the lawe of your mindes stande fast in the faith the fleshe fighteth against the spirite stand fast in the faith the worlde plucketh you by the sleeue to looke backe stande
fast in the faith Athistes and Papistes and other heretikes are tripping at your heeles stande fast in the faith it is worth the noting that our Sauiour in the seconde and thirde of the Reuelation doeth seuen times at the least vtter these wordes hee that ouercommeth c. There is life and all blessinges promised onely vnto him that ouercommeth Nowe the heauenly Manna is plentifull in Englande let vs prouide for warre though it bee a time of peace let vs take our cloake though the sunne doeth shine let vs prouide for a deare yeere though the victuall bee plentie I say stande fast and labour for this meate it bringeth therewith well fed thereby fatte and in good liking you may stande fast in the euill day For wee haue deserued that plague wherof the Prophete speaketh I will turne your feastes into mourning and your songes into lamentations I will bring sackcloth on your loynes and baldnes on your heades I will bring a famine in to your land not a famine of bread or thirste for water but a famine of the worde of God For if Paule and Barnabas were heere they might haue iust cause to speake against vs as they spake against the Iewes seeing you put the woorde of GOD from you and iudge your selues vnworthie of euerlasting life Loe we turne to the Gentiles Christ may truly denounce these words against vs if he shoulde deale according to our desertes the kingdome of God shall bee taken from you and shall bee giuen to a nation whiche shall bring foorth the fruites thereof Let vs amende least Christe curse vs as he cursed the figtree when hee came vnto it being hungry and found nothing thereon but leaues onely hee doeth hunger and thirst after our good workes but beholde howe we deceiue him for fruite wee offer him leaues a man came to the dresser of his vineyarde and bid him cut downe his figge tree because he had come three yeeres and founde no fruites thereon cut it downe saith hee why keepeth it also the grounde barren The dresser answered let it a lone this yeere also till I digge rounde about it and doung it The Lorde hath come to his fig tree of England not three but almost xxiii yeeres and beholde yet he findeth litle fruite and hee woulde no doubt cut it downe had not the dresser of this figge tree Iesus Christe entreated him to let it alone that hee by his worde his labourers might digge round about it doung it Behold that hath been doone and yet this figge tree bringeth foorth small fruite wee are like trees that haue their heades in the grounde and sucke all their iuice from the earth wee are like bruite beastes who turne their faces to the grounde wee are not like men who shoulde turne our countenances towardes heauen thence to fet our meate and all good thinges which by promise we may haue for the asking Wee are like the corne growing on the house top which withereth before it bee plucked vp whereof the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth vp the sheues his bosome Our Sauiour Iesus if hee were heere shoulde bee moued to weepe ouer England as hee wept ouer Ierusalem and say O England England if thou hadst euen knowne at the least in this thy day those thinges which belong vnto thy peace but nowe are they hid from thine eyes I speake of many I meane not all O England thou sayest the naturall branches are broken of that I might be graft in through vnbeliefe they were broken of and thou standest by faith bee not high minded but feare For if God did not spare the natural branches take heed least hee will not spare thee O remēber thou man thou doest not beare the roote but the roote doth bare thee By Satā thou didst fall by Christ thou art raised vp ingraffed into the right Oliuetree Qui incitatorem habuit ad malum reparatorem habuit ad bonum sicut hominis peccatum per alium habuit inuitium ita per alium habuit remedium Hee that had a tempter vnto euill had a restorer vnto good as the sinne of man had a beginning by an other so it had also a remedie by an other For very wel saieth Ambrose Non sunt Iudei reprobati a Deo vt gentes entrarent sed seipsos reprobos fecerunt spernētes donum dei vnde occasionem dederunt gentibus ad salutem quam extollentiam reperiri vult vt magis saluti congaudeatur non aegretudini insultetur The Iewes were not reiected of GOD that the Gentiles myght come in but they made themselues reprobates contemning the gift of God wherby they gaue occasion to the Gentiles to saluation the which hautines the apostle wil haue to be beaten down that they mighe the more reioyce at their own saluation and not insulte ouer the Iewes destruction Take heede why were they cast off spernentes donum Dei because they despised the gifte to God For if the word spoken by Angelles was stedfast and euery transgression and disobedience receiued a iust recompence of rewarde how shall we escape if we neglect so great saluation Propterea tantam adiecit quod mortis destructio demonū interitus caelorū imperium cuncta haec exprolatis a deo sermonibus nobis sunt parta Therfore saith Theophilact did the Apostle adde so great saluatiō because the destructiō of death the death of deuilles the kingdome of heauen all these thinges are gotten for vs by the worde which came from GOD Brag not boast not therefore Pride made Herod to haue a fall from his pulpet and to be eaten of wormes Nay beholde a greater fall pride made Nabuchadnezzar to bee a beast nay yet a greater fall pryde did thrust Adam and Eue out of paradise And yet behold I will shew one greater fal pryde did throwe Lucifer and manye Angelles moe out of heauen What shall I say then If GOD did not spare his owne people the Iewes if hee did not spare Adam and Eue in paradise if he did not spare his bright Angelles in heauen will he spare vs if iudgement beginne at the house of GOD what shall the ende of them be that obay not the Gospell If the righteous scarcse be saued where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare did the naturall braunches wither and were cast into fire what shall bee done to the vnnatural Did the green tree suffer what shall be done of the dry Loe I beginne to plague the Citie saieth the Lorde where my name is called vppon and should you escape let vs then be humble and feare Let vs not despise this great gift of GOD. That fire onely was to be vsed in sacrifice which came from heauen Moses must make all things according to the patterne he sawe in the mounte GOD write the lawes with his owne finger that wee should make nothing of our selues our owne braines
our owne heades our owne pollycies our owne inuentions Let vs then receiue this meate which came from heauen and put nothing into it least while we with the young Prophets thinke to gather good hearbes we gather and cast Coloquintida into the pot No water euer so good as that which came out of the rocke no meate so delicate as Manna which came from heauen no wine so wholsome as that which Christ made of water no oyle so precious as that which the Samaritan had no robe so coastly as that whiche the father gaue to the prodigall sonne no bread no foode no meate so profitable as this meate of the soule which doeth endure and bring vs vnto euerlasting life O contemne not this meate he that despiseth Moses law dieth without mercie vnder two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy which treadeth vnder foote the sonne of God counteth the blood of the newe testament an vnholy thing wherwith he was sanctified and doth despite the spirite of grace These men crucifie to themselues again the sonne of GOD and make a mock of him This meat is water to refreshe vs and wine to cheare vs it is bread to strengthen vs Manna to nourish vs it is a treasure to enrich vs and a pearle to adorne vs it is a leauen to heate vs and salt to powder vs it is a sword to defend vs and fire to purge vs it is a salue to heale vs and a lantorne to guide vs it is a trumpet to call vs and wisdome to enstruct vs a way to directe vs and lyfe to reuiue vs. If wee haue this meat this leuen this bread this Manna wee shall haue no neede of Elizeus to encrease our oyle to augment our loaues we shall haue no neede of his meale to sweeten our pottage wee neede not to waite at the gluttons gate or sende to churlish Nabal for foode If wee haue this treasure we neede not rob the Aegyptians if we haue this pearle we shal not neede the gold of Ophir if we haue this water we neede not to drawe water at Iacobs well Naaman need not wash himselfe seuen tymes in Iorden the sick neede not to goe to the poole Bethsida for helpe we need not Elizeus salte or Moses tree to heale the venomous water if we haue this sword Peter may put vp his sword into his sheth if we haue this fire we need not the fire of purgatorie if we haue this lantern we neede not the Lanterns of Gedeon to ouercome the Midianites to conclude if we haue this trumpet we shall haue no neede of the Priests trumpets made of Rams hornes to pull downe the walles of Ierico For by this meate we shall doe all thinges for it doth endure and will bring vs vnto euerlasting lyfe O then labour for this meate and I speake vnto you as sometyme Naamans seruant spake vnto him when he refused to wash himselfe seuen times in Iorden as Elizeus willed him Naaman thus sayde are not Abanah and Pharapar ryuers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israell May not I wash me in them and be healed but this man sayde if the Prophet had commaunded thee a great thing wouldest thou not haue done it how much rather then when he saith to thee wash and be cleane you are bidden to come for the water of life for the bread of heauen Doe not many say there are other meates at Rome other waters at Rome better then all the meate and water that is now in England O but I say vnto you if the Lord should commaund you to doe a great thing ought ye not to doe it How much more then when he sayth labour for the meate which endureth vnto euerlasting lyfe which I the sonne of man will giue vnto you this is but aske and haue seek and finde knock and it shall be opened Let vs aske let vs seek let vs knock let vs labour for this meate Labour for this meate O you people and pray vnto the Lord that his Ministers put their candell on a candelsticke with cherefulnes and not vnder a bushell labour for this money and pray vnto the Lorde that his merchantes may occupy with aduauntage with faythfulnesse and not to hyde it in the grounde labour for this seede and pray vnto the Lord that his husbandmen may sowe it with painfulnesse not hoard it in their barnes Labour for this meate and pray vnto the Lord that his Stewards may distribute it with bountifulnes and not keepe it in their closets Labour for this that is be earnest hot zealous firy God the Father did appeare in fire God the Sonne doth baptise with fire God the holy Ghost came downe in forme of clouen and fiery tongues but alas are not yet the people as they were in the time of Ieremy they sayde to him the word thou hast spokē to vs in the name of the Lord we wil not heare it of thee but we wil doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to purge out drink offrings vnto her as we haue don both we and our fathers our kings and our princes for then had we plenty of victuall and were well and felt no euil Are not these the sayings of the romanists and Papists first to graunt that we haue the word of GOD secondly to say we will not so much as heare it thirdly to follow their own inuentions Againe are not these their arguments first of custome wee haue done so and our fathers secondly of a generalitie not we onely but our fathers our Princes and al haue done so thirdly of their belly then we had plentie of victuall and felt no euill and to whome would they offer their sacrifice not to God but as the Papistes doe to the Queene of heauen Aske the Papistes how they prooue their religion to be the trueth and they will drawe their argumentes from antiquitie from custome from vniuersalitie and from the belly as did the Iewes in the dayes of Ieremy Nay hath not the deuill raysed vp Iehoiakim from the dead to burne the wordes that Baruch had out of the mouth of Ieremy and Antiochus to burne the bookes of the law and delectation to know the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles But beholde I shewe you a better way and whome you should folow When Moses made the arke euery man was cōmaunded to bring somthing the people brought to much and were bidden to bring no more And that no man should think he were exempted from Gods work he that hath no gold to bring might bring Goates hayre or badgers skinnes if a woman were not able to buy a Lambe it was accepted of the Lord if she brought a payre of turtle doues or two young pigeons Euery man cannot be a head in this mysticall body of Christ to be a King Euery man cannot be an