because the Edomites or Idumaeans Icr. 49.20 and namely the inhabitantes of Taeman did sollicite and surge the Babylonians to warre against the Iewes who therefore praye against them Remember the children of Edom O Lord Psa 137.9 in the daie of Ierusalem c. Or else as spoken by waye of allusion to the lande of Canaan which in respect of mount Sinay lay South For so Tremaellius translateth it and others from the Hebrewe phrase do seeme to insinuate And as touching Paran whether you take it as it is described for a wast and large Wildernes extended from Egypt vnto mount Sinay and so towarde Canaan eyther else properly for a promontorie and hill in this desert taking denomination of the same and adiacent vnto Sinay where the Lawe was giuen which by the text and the place of Moses cited before seemeth moste probable Or whether you will thus interprete it God Elohah commeth from Taeman with a reuenging hande hauing inkindled a fire in Teman which shall deuoure the Pallaces of Bosrha and God Sanctus commeth from mount Paran with a releeuing and holye hande to deliuer a holye Lawe and to a holye people Sancti estote quoniam sanctus sum For holinesse best becommeth his house and people for euer Howe so euer I saye you list to vnderstande it For I list not to bee curious in scanning of places or describing their scituations This I take to be the Prophets meaning namely to extoll the tender mercies of the Lord so mightily deliuering and so mercifully releeuing his people in their so long and tedious iourneys through the desart where hee fedd them from heauen watred them from the rockes bare them in his armes as a father doth his sonne carried them on Egles wings most swiftly and safely from all perill and daunger and that which more is and most excellent aboue al vouchsafing them in this place the Decalogue and Lawe of Commaundements to be their wisedome direction and sanctification euen all the dayes of their life And here of purpose I will passe by the matter and manner of Gods mercies in the deliuerance of this people For why should I insist vpon the point which is the verie ground of my song and foundation of all my building this daye and will take occasion rather to speake somewhat of the place of Gods presence to his people of the place of his worship of preaching hearing praying communicating of administration of Sacraments and participation of the rites of holie Church Where first of all I must freely confesse and most true it is that euery Christian hath a Temple within him Euerie Temple hath an Altar Euerie Altar hath a Sacrifice Euerie place in dedicate to Gods seruice Euerie beléeuer is a Priest to offer and for euery sort of men lifting vp pure hands without wrath and contention This is the doctrine of the Holye ghost scattered throughout Gods booke herein blessed be God we are farre frō Donatisme and tying of the worship of God to place or person And yet for all that the holye assemblies congregatiōs of Christians to preaching praier and publique celebracion of the seruice of God and that in the Temple sacred and dedicated to this vse is a thing by so often repetition cōmanded and commended of God himselfe in holye Scripture as his own ordinance Leuit. 3.3 that it may be vrged by an argument a necessitate mandati Ioel. 1.14 euen vpon our allegeance Esaie speaking of the Temple the vse thereof in the person of God Esai 56.7 I will bring them saith he to my holye mountaine and I will make them glad in my house of prayer their burnt offerings will I there accept and it shall be called the house of prayer for all men Ezechiels oracle fitteth vs also in this rase Eze. 43.7 where speaking of the presence of Gods grace not for the Temple but for the peoples sake he calleth it the place of Gods throne and the place of the soales of his feete where he will dwell in the middest of his people And Michea calleth Ierusalem the tower of the flocke where the watchman of Israel doeth warde and garde his folke most safely from day to day Mich. 4.8 So that this point might againe be inforced by an argumēt a praemils But what shoulde I speake of the sweete varietie and riche plentie of those plants and flowers in this heauenly Paradize odor vitae ad vitam watered by the dewe of Heauen flowing with streames of comfort to the wounded conscience Co. 2.16 by meanes of the worte and Sacramentes where the prayers of the Congregation are compared by an auncient father Murmuri maris to the violence and noyes of the Seas that pearce the eares of Iehouah and with force burst into his presence euer-bearing all impedimentes Why shoulde I straine my voice to excite and stirre you vp to the religious and diligent frequenting of these heli◠assemblies where Christ hath promised hi◠presence to two or three gathered in his name Whither you are daily tolled to holy exercise of pietie and deuocion for the better increase of your knowledge and growing vp in the feare and nurture of the Lorde Mat. 18.20 When in this case anye shall be silent and men waxe mute let the Sermon bell sounde shame to the sluggar be with a woe to the crue of worldlings that wallowe vppon their beddes of Iuorie make cheare in bowles Amos 6.4 and spende their dayes in vanitie retchlesly neglecting the tyme of their visitation And heere I doe reiect the franticke and scismaticall opinions of the Anabaptisticall seet commonly called Brownisses who haue wilfully deuided and rent themselues from oure congregations denye vs to haue any Church contempne our Sacramentes and condemne our Religion as Antichristian The interim betaking themselues to priuate meetings and seerete conuenticles in corners Oh how farre be these vermines from King Dauids spirit and ioye One thing haue I desired Psa 17.4 and that saith he I will require euen that I may dwell in the Lordes house all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lorde and to visite his Temple Againe Leratus sum in his Psa 12◠c. It did him good at his heart when they saide Let vs goe into the house of the Lorde yea and againe Quam dilecta c. Oh howe amiable are thy dwellings thou Lorde of hostes Psa 84.12 my soule hath a longing thereunto O howe farre he these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Theodosius the Emperour his spirite and sorrowe who being excommunicate for his of fence at the great mutanie in Thessalia by Ambrose Bishop of Millayne An. Dom. 391 and so by the Churches censure cut off from the Communion of the faithfull ceaseth not in brackish teares to bewayle his wretched estate and daye by daye to daunce attendance in humilitie and penitencie to craue restitution till at last he was againe
brethren be the sinnes that bring kingdomes to ruyne and populous cities to desolate heapes of stones and God is chiefe Iustice that striketh Nations with destruction Psa 107 4â— and powreth contempt vpon Princes for their disobedience He hath his Angels aboue and his armies belowe with a storehouse of plagues to discharge vpon the wicked Hos 11.6 He can let fall a bloudie sword vpon the rebellious Citie He can pine a pampered people with penurie and scant He can strip the land of pride to a hissing and shame Hos 2.3 He can smite with the pestilence after the manner of Egypt Ps 7.12.13 Surely his howe is full bent and his sworde readie whet He is comming to execution with the instruments of death O it is full time then for vs to turne vnto the Lorde Zeph. 2.1.2 to sowe in teares that we might reape in ioy Amos. 8.10 to séeke the Lorde while he may be found and to gather our selues before the decrée come foorth to turne our feastes into fastes and our songs into sighings to gyrd sorrowe about our loynes and to rend our hearts with mourning yea the time is come for prince and subiects with the King and people of Niniue to come foorth in sackcloth and ashes Ionas 3.6 for the Bride with Quéene Hester to forsake her closet Hest 4.15 and the Bridegrome his chamber For the minister of the Lorde to crye betwéene the porche and the Altar Iocl 2.16 17 spare Oh Lorde spare thine heritage that we all come forth in mourning cheare with the teares of repentance to turne away Gods heauie wrath and prepared destruction For his hand is not shortened but that he can paye vs home nor his wrath for all this so withdrawen but that he will reuenge Againe our case is not so desperate nor wee so farre falne from God Our wickednes is not of that height nor our sinnes of so déepe die but vnfained repentance will reconcile vs vnto God and blot out all remembrance of former displeasure out of his sight If therfore there be any consolation in Christ Iesus â—hil 2.1 any desire or liking of Christian religion If there be any loue or loyaltie towardes her sacred maiestie or care in thy heart of thy natiue countrie If any hope of resurrection to eternall life anye longing or looking for the kingdome to come Let thy repentance thy teares thy sorrowe for sinne thy couenant to serue the Lord vndertaken this day in some good measure of grace performed all the daies of thy life be meanes to sue for thy pardon to reconcile thee to the Lord to turne away his wrathfull indignation and to continue his wonted mercies towarde the realme of England And here let euery one begin with himselfe and séeke first a reformation in his owne conscience And herein God helpe vs and prosper the worke of our hands vpon vs O Lorde prosper thou our handie worke Psa 90.17 So Ierusalem shal be builded Psa 79.13 and thy Zion neuer be remoued but stand fast for euer So we that be thy people and shéepe of thy pasture shall giue thée thanks for euer So shall our victory be thy glorie the fall of our foes the aduauncement of thy Gospel the preseruation of our liues the amendment of our wicked liues hereafter that in life and death we may be thine and glorifie thée our rocke our defence only God of trust euen all the dayes of our life That after our short and vncertaine course here belowe spent in thy seruice and feare wée may at last depart in peace from this vale of miserie to thy kingdom of glorie there to raigne with thée for euer and to be satiate with the fulnesse of thy glorie in the heauens for euermore and that by thy alone merite and in the only mediation of Iesus Christ our sole sufficient Saniour to whome O Father of lightes together with thee and the Holy Ghost three distinct in person one onlye true eternall and euerliuing God be immortall praise glorie power dominion and maiestie both now and for euer Amen FINIS LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe for Edward Aggas 1589.
wicked plowe deepe furrowes vpon her back who notwithstanding as Hillarie saith doeth vincere cum leditur emergere cum premitur Psa 129.3 De Trinit lib. 7. exaltari cum humiliatur Shall not Gods souldiers march on maugre the malice of men proceed with S. Paul by honor dishonor 2. Co. 6.8 by euill report and good report c. sith the dearest Iewels be farthest fetcht the purest mettals haue deepest mynes difficilia quae pulchra For as custome though otherwise ofteÌ„ the broker of falshod hath fitly drawen the Poets verse into a prouerb of proofe Commoditus omnis sua fert incoÌ„moda secum Euen so aduisedly truely said Diodorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodorus And verilie aged is that sawe seasoned with long experience Quaenocent docent For schola crucis schola lucis S. Augustine writing of the constancie of Martirs in the grieuous persecutions of the church De Ciuit. dei li. 22. ca. 6. Ligabantur includebantur caedebantur saith he yea trucidabantur torquebantur lauiebantur But quenching all this crueltie in a word Multiplicabantur quoth he noÌ„ pugnantes pro salute fed salutem contemnentes pro seruatore The cause standing thus perdie the pilgrime that will walke to heauenward must put on the minde to ouerstride manie a stumbling blocke in the way and vndertaking his course nec temere nec timide must heedefullie passe the straightes per saxa per ignes euen through purgatorie it self curragiouslie mainteyning the race from the houre of his first breath vntill the last periode of his mortall life Where as one saieth Lachrimae prius nobis deerunt quam causa dolendi â—encea De â—it bre And no maruaile at all for he that wil be crowned must not grudg to be crossed sith no conflict no conquest no conquest no victorie nay the fiercer th' encounter the more glorious the triumph to him that holdeth out to the end Otherwise to begin with courage and to faile in the course is to loose the Bravium th'apostle proposeth to the runners And to fight for a while faint in the liftes is to gaine the opprobrium wherewith the Romanes vpbroyd the Carthagiman Captaine â— Cor. 9.24 vincerescis Hanniball vti victoria nescis As for me I assure your good L. I neuer abounded with that humour nor euer yet lahoured of their disease whore fingers tickle Prurigine scribendi For albeit manie a time before this day I haue beene beset with request of sundrie both in profession and vocation of the best yet could I neuer be induced to dinul gate my studies in writing for causes needles here to repeate though otherwise Gods Church be my witnes I neuer was nice to hide or withhold the dimitalent committed to my trust when or wheresoeuer it might doe good Howbeit after I had vpon speciall request preached this sermon and was eftsones laboured with assiduall entreatie in zeale of Gods glorie I dare saie to gather and penne the same that vnworthie tho it might become imprinted and imparted with mani Importunitie at last ouercame me to condiscend and extorted my promise to set it downe which as memorie would serue I haue precisely here performed as the learned of my coate with the other godly auditors of that presence where it was deliuered I thinke will auerre But yet with condition endorsed that your L. graue censure first confirming it to the prefle or commaunding it to sylence I would accordingly answere expectation with yea or naye Lo reuerend father how bluntly this my Rudis indigestaque moles presseth now vpon your charitable patience whose grauitie trial assureth mee is nothing delighted with the emptie soundes of hollowe eloquence but better contented with the frutefull forme of the wholesome documents Wherein how soeuer my iarrie stile go lymping lame and vnpleasant the matter I hope is both profitable and currant And that sufficeth me if the Lord shall sanctifie my sillie labour to some vse or other though to serue in the vtmost courtes of the temple For the poore widdowes mite where God is made vmpire shall alwayes ouer-ballance the superfluities of that sort who stande vpon their painted shea the to drawe a leaden dagger out of an Iverie scabberd Mar. 12.44 Luk. 21.2 And good father Latimers Newe yeares gyft to King Henrie the eight who when other Bishops sent rare and riche Iewels of golde and plate presented a faire newe Testament with a Hand-karcher wrought about the borders with this inscription and poesie Fornicatores adulteros iudicabit Deus â—eb 13.4 was for waight worth more valued in Gods accompt than those other rufling treasures that abounded in the Court. To conclude if in this my discourse hetherto subiect to the eare alone not the soundest witnesse among the sences but nowe to be stript to the eye it selfe the subtilest searcher of all the rest I haue erred in matter humanum est errare my L. but my amisse once discouered by the kenne of the learned Peccaui shall be my plea for hereticum esse nolo If otherwise by friuolous digression I haue vndiscreetly ranged without the ring of my compasse belike the man lost his waie ere he wist for that course was farre from my purpose and neuer in my custome as the best acquainted with my fashion can best tell But if anie thing here in be well or in any measure commen dable let the praise he the Lords the paine the authors and the profit the Readers that God which is all in all may haue all the glorie It only remaineth then that your good L. according to your wonted curresie woulde accept this at my hande as an infallible pledge of my obsequious minde and eftsones vouchsafe my feeble pilgrime to take vp his crutch and to wander as a stranger in the worlde vnder the couerture of your fauourable protection that so he may finde some harbor against the sturdie blastes and scornefull spite of malice malignitie The God of mercie and all consolation blesse your L. in your godlie cares for the Church and enlarge his graces vpon your heart chearing vp your aged daies with the gladsome presence of his blessed spirit to the aduauncement of his glorie and the auaile of his Zion Your L. much bounden in the Lorde to commaund Rob. Humston A Godlie Sermon preached at Reyfham Habakkuk Cap. 3. vers 3. God commeth from Teman and the holie one from mount Paran Selah His glorie couereth the Heauens and the earth is full of his praise THe Lord vouchsafing a long and most louing visitation to the people of Iuda and Ierusalem men and brethron in the Lord beloued and therein a franke gratious tender of mercie and sauing health by the mynisterie of the Prophets Such notwithstanding was their ingratitude and stubbornes that no Caueat coulde warne nor admonition pearse them no lenitie could bende nor seueritie breake them But wretchedly they would enter into opposicion against their
vpon their seuerall charge 2. Ti. 4.2 the flocke purchased with the bloud of the Lambe as men mindfull to auoide the Apostles Vae and vengeance Ioh. 1.29 Wo be to me if I preach not the Ghospell 1. Co. 9.16 But withall to bethinke them how it is further required in the Stewards that they be found faithfull full of affections pastoral care and zeale 1. Co. 4.2 especially towardes that people and stocke committed to their charge Ezech. 33 6â— whose bloud shall be required at their hands So Moses preferred the safetie of his people before his owne welfare Exo. 32.32 when in heate of spirite he cryed vnto the Lorde Forgiue them or raze me out of the booke of life Ier. 9.1 So Ieremie wished for water to his heart and a fountaine of teares to his eyes that day and night he might wéepe for the slaine of the daughters of Iuda Ro. 9.3 So Paul desired Anatheman esse and to be separated from God if thereby he might reconcile the Hebrewes his kinsmen after the flesh And verily this is the graund charge fuller of affection than repiticion which the prince of Pastors vrged with vehemencie vpon Peter Ioh. 21.15 Féede féede féede Giuing first a dreadfull checke vnto such as sit at ease in Sion Amos. 6.1 sleepe in the lappe of the Church and praye vppon the spoyle of soules and couertly implying a needefull Caueat to all preachers of the worde before their diuinitie exercises diligently and with due reuerence to put in practise all the helpes of reading studie meditation and conference makinge prayer their keye to open the doore of the morning from prayer to studie from studie to the Pulpit from the Pulpit to prayer and thus by a due reuolution againe to the studie lest while by ouerspeaking wee presume and pretende to auoide the first wee fall vnwares into to a seconde woe denounced against all such as dare take in hande the Lordes worke negligently and yet when wee haue done what wee can Ier. 48.10 except God giue winde to our sayles wee shall neuer runne the poynt aright but may saye with Peter Wee haue laboured all night and taken iust nothing Luk. 5.5 The Lorde make vs more carefull in our calling and double his spirite vpon his seruauntes by whose mynisterie the people are to bee reduced to the obedience of Faith and increase the number of true labourers for the haruest is great Mat. 9.37 Againe in the course of the Prophet Maiestrates may also learne to whet their affectious to become more zealous and truely religious carefull to benefite the Church and to further the course of the Gospell They may not in imitation of king Hamon deface the mynisterie 2 Sam. 10. nor curtall the liuings of the Clergie the messengers not of Dauid but of Dauids Lorde They may not stretch the arme with Ieroboam against the Prophet I. Re. 13.4 nor yet become like Iulyan the Apostata as Caterpillers cleauing to the fruites of the Church but putting on the bowels of affection and loue they must change their cheare with her happie or hard estate to sorrow when shee mourneth and to sing when shee reioyceth Nehem. 2.3 as careful Nouree-fathers and tender Nourses consecrated by the Lorde himselfe to feede his people in Iacob Ro. 12.15 and his inheritance in Israel Esai 49.23 So good King coulde neuer take rest till hee had founde an habitation for the God of Iacob Psa 78.71 and hauing first prepared a place for the Arke Psa 132 4 most ioyfully in sweete consort of Musicke daunceth before the same 2. Sa. 6.16 23. Which the nice and sornful Quéene Michol disdayning is plagued perpetua sterilitate to her graue So Iosiah raigned religiously Iehosaphat carefully Ezechias zealously S. Ambrose graceth Theodosius the Emperour with rare commendations in this especially that vpon his death-bed and to his last breath his chiefe care was spent for the peace and good estate of the Church Among the worthie vertues of King Edgar registred to his renowme his godly care and good affection towarde the Church is especially obserued in the storie of his deedes who hauing resigned his life cast off his Crowne and princely arraye a learned man of that time lest his fame should perish clad his bodie with an honorable Epitath and fit for the herse of a King wherein I finde thus much for the present purpose Templa Deo Templis Monachos Monachis dedit agros Nequitie lapsum Iusticieque locum First he was a builder of Churches but so be verie fewe Secondly he was a carefull Patrone to implant good ministers call them Monkes if ye will in these Churches but so do not manie Thirdly he was a liberall geuer of landes and possessions to mainteine these ministers but so do not anie The Tombs of our time are faire adorned with verses flags ennobled with Armes and Crest but a man may seeke all the dayes of his life and search al the graues of the deade and yet faile to finde a like president of pietie Well let all people of what sort or sexe soeuer learne in these so honorable examples to hallowe their firste thoughtes and to dedicate their last care to the Church and for religions sake as esteeming setting a dearer price vpon heauenly than earthly eternall than temporall things So shall all grubbing Patrons of benefices with their sacrilegious brokers whatsoeuer learne at last except they be shameles and past grace to reforme their griedie affections wherin they haue swallowed a great parte of the Churches patrimonie and begin in time to yelde her at last her owne againe A thing in trueth rather to be wished than expected Sith not the vulgus alone but men of greatest authoritie by your leaue men of great sinceritie as they will seeme haue their hande in the spoils and are found guiltie of this trespas Wee onely strike the eare with a vanishing voyce it is the Lord that must touch the heart with an effectuall feeling 2. Cor. 3.6 else we may sit still hopeles in this behalfe For Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in terra The heart teacher sitteth on high Concerning the second obseruation to wite the Prophets confidence c. True it is Psa 34.19 manie and manifolde be the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth ouf of all Where euerie penitent sinner may learne by our Habacuk in publique or perticuler affliction to take heart of grace in confidence and boldnes For Constans contraria spernit and Faith is like the Palme the more it is pressed Heb. 10 2â— the more it sprâ—adeth and ariseth against all temptation To drawe neare in assurance of faith and to approche the mercie seat in the alone merite and mediation of Christ the Messias harted on in the chearefull promises of the Gospel and that without all doubt or wauering for
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proceede in their cruelties How dare bloudie Antiochus afflict the Church how dare cruel Iezabel murther the Prophets how dare prowd Sennacherib blaspheme the lining God ◠Re. 19.2 how dare wicked Herode behead Iohn the Baptist how dare churlish Diues despise the wofull Lazarus Luk. 16.19 and how dare the wicked world set it self against God For he commeth where wilt thou hide thyselfe If thou clyme vp to heauen euen there he wil find thée If thou go downe to hell Amos. 9.2 his power wil preuent thée If thou make a way with the wings of the morning his presence onertakes thée If thou wouldest smoother sinne in the bottome of thy conscience there is a worme to gnaw and grind thée If thou call vpon the hilles to fall vpon thée or crye to the mountaines to hide and coner thée it will be in vaine it cannot preuail thée for God commeth a consuming fire a terrible Iudge a fierce reuenger And now shal the wicked find it as true as terrible Deut. 4.24 that it is a fearefull thing to fal into the hands of the liuing God Oh consider this ye that forget God lest he take you away in your wickednes for if his wrath be kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him And thus at last I come to the Text which for order and memories sake I wil dispose to the vnderstāding of the simple Wherein obserue with me I pray these foure circumstaunces naturallye arising out of the words The first of the person Who cōmeth God The second of the place from whence From Teman mount Paran The thirde of the manner how in glory For his glorie couereth the Heauens The fourth last the end and why he commeth That the earth may be ful of his praise Who commeth Whence How and why he commeth Concerning the first to wit of the person I minde not to propound Hiero his question to Simonides Cicer. de nat deorū For Christians haue alreadie learned that touching the incomprehensible maiestie and essence of the great and eternall God Mans knowledge is too shallowe to comprohende the vnmeasurable depth of this hidden mysterie When Reason therefore woulde be ouerbolde and busie in this scutanie let Religion ouer-rule her for where reason leaueth religiō beginneth that religiō propoundeth faith apprehendeth that faith assureth hope holdeth and that hope enioyeth Loue shall accomplish But the interim who so shall saucelie prie with the Bethshamites into the Arke shall assuredly finde destruction 1. Sa. 6.19 and he that wil curiously gaze vpon the maiestie of the godhead shall be oppressed with the glorie thereof A lesson to be looked vnto in time to be learned of the secreat Arrians of our dayes whose proude and insolent spirites cannot be conteined within the limits of this religious compasse till wayward conceit haue carried them headlong into damnable heresies Wherof we haue dailie examples Epist ad Leand. It was a graue speach of Gregorie that the sacred Scriptures are like a déep foord where the Lambe may yet safely wade when the Elephant shall swimme And right well saide Augustine Humilitas omnia quecunque benefacimus precedat comitetur consequatur Epist 56. Humilitie is the entrance the middle and ende of all that is well done And thus we may be warned not ouerbusilie to pursue this point of the Essence and maiestie of God A second and safer way to better our knowledge and benefit our selues in this behalfe is by the names of God whereby it pleaseth him to manifest in some sort his existence all sufficiencie and mairstie as when he saith to Abraham I am Schad dai Gen. 17.1 all sufficient to vpholde and sustains the creatures in heauen and earth at whose almesbaket both King and Kaysar are brinen to begg their daily bread at whose hand the eyes of all creatures do expect their foode in due time and at whose mercie seate all mankinde must knocke and crye for grace and remission of sinnes To Moses I am Iehouah the essentiall name of God Exo. 3.6 to shewe as mans capacitie may beare it his essence and being of himselfe before all eternitie from whome all things haue their breath mouing and being Againe he is sometime called Theos of his swiftnes and presence Act. 17.24 passing through the secrete corners priuie places of the heart vnderstanding our thoughts long before Sometime the Lorde of Hostes Psa 46.8 11. to expresse his almightines with Frogges and Flyes subduing Kings and conquering Nations at his own will Here he is called Elohah and the holy one all verie sweete and significant to set foorth the power of God and to perswade the feare of his most holie name Where wee must be warefull lest wee become sotted with Popish superstitions or inchanted with Romish sorceries as though the wearing or bearing about vs these names of God written in virgin parchement with crosses and caracters were of force to cure maladies to chase away bugges and cast out diuels which in truth is blasphemously to abuse and take in vaine the holie name of God to our owne destruction But learne we rather to harbour and carrie the power faith of this name deepe in our hearts So shall it be to our comforts and victorie in al temptation For this is our victorie that ouercommeth Sathan sinne the worlde euen our faith 1. Ioh. 5.4 A third and verie good way to help yet in this case is by consideration of the offices attributed to the persons in the Godhead as Creation to the Father and therein his wonderfull wisedome disposing and transposing all things to his owne will in the frame of whese prouidence all the actions and accidents among the sonnes of men are daily wrought and come to their appointed end Redemption to the sonne and therein his inspeakable mercie towardes mankinde most willingly affording the dearest droppes of his heart bloud for the raunsoming of wretched sinners Sanctification to the Holy ghost and herein the ineruaylous and powerfull hand of our God in changing and renuing the hearts of men raising vs daily from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes Uerye comfortable be these also to expresse and manifest the great care and goodnes of our God Psa 86.15 by nature mercifull long suffering slowe to wrath and readye to pardon wickednesse It is his mercye to take awaye the burthen and wayght of our sinnes but it is his great mercie to renue vs with indumentes of grace in this life and to crowne vs with glorye in the life to come And hitherto of the first circumstance And now to the second to wit of the place From Teman and from mount Paran Where whether you take Taeman for that Citie of Idumaea buylded by Teman one of the Tukes of the sonnes of Esau and threatened by Ieremie with vtter extirpation Gen. 36.1
still voyce that cheareth the conscience And thus are we come from Taeman vnto Canaan from Paran vnto Sion from a condemning law to a reconciling Gospell from a fearfull Iudge to a mercifull Sauiour and thus at last we are come home from the lande and people of Iudaea to the realme and people of England Mat. 11.31 And nowe will I deale with the last circumstance to wit the ende and vse of Gods comming in these wordes The earth is full of his praise Wherein I will be short and conclude with an application of the matter of this my tedious discourse to the time and state wherin we liue and so will I bequeath you to the Lorde Where first the point I touched in a worde at my entrance if ye remember to wit the excellencie of this worke and mercie of God towardes the Nation and people of the Iewes in gining them the Lawe commeth nowe to a further consideration and calleth vs except we will be like Horse and Moyle that haue no vnderstanding Psa 32.9 to a more deepe and serious meditation and examination of the inspeakable mercie of the Lord our God towardes our Nation and people of England in vouchsafing vs the Gospell and in continuing the same now full thirtie yeares expired with diligence preached in our coastes For this Gospels sake blessing vs still by all this space aboue other Nations with happie peace a blessed Queene a renowmed gouernement a reuerende mynisterie a godly maiestracie and what not besides to our good This Gospel hath beene the fame and renowme the defence and glorie 2. Re. 2.11 the chariots and horsemen of England to this present day hour This Gospell hath posted through citie countrie without ceasing to teach and to instruct to correct and to comfort 2. Ty. 3 1â— to call sinners vnto repentance to gather the dispersed to heale the broken hearted Esa 61.1.2 to preach the acceptable daye of the Lorde And all this my brethren hath beene the time yea the long and blessed time of our planting dressing and springing Esa 5.1 the Lorde hath long expected and euen to this houre looketh to gather and reap the grapes of our vine the fruites of our figg tree and the haruest of our so long and pleasant spring Luk. 13 6 The Lord looketh for the sheaues of our obedience Mat. â— 37 repentance faith mercie and the feare of his name with conscience to walke before him in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our life The end of all is Psa 76.1 that God might be well knowen in Iudaea and that his name might be great in Israel that his feare might dwell in our lande and saith my text that the earth may be full of his praise But alas and thrise alas therefore the Lord hath a quarrell yea a double quarrel against our lande the trespas yea trespas vpon trespas is committed in Citie and Countren and at the corners of each streete the Indictment is drawen against vs and the declaration put vpon the file by the Prophet Hoseah as the Lordes actuarie in this sort Ho. 4.12 There is no trueth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the lande The euidence followeth and is giuen by him that will be accuser witnesse and Iudge against vs and this it is Swearing and lying killing and stealing and whooring Inundauerunt haue broken all woonted boundes and ouerflowed the face of the earth and what more Sanguis sanguinem tetigit Bloud hath touched bloude One sinne ingendreth another The cruelties committed in the extreame partes of the lande from the East and from the West from the North and from the South haue met together mingled themselues in the bulke and middest of the lande and Sanguis sanguinem tetigit A gréenous accusation you will saye but not fit for this presence A fearfull controuersie of the Lordes but not well applyed to this people Well if you will pardon mee to saye as Ambrose did vnto Theodosius Amb. Epist â—9 li. 5 Neque Imperiale est dicendi libertateÌ„ negare Neque sacerdotale quod sentiat non dicere Neither becommeth it the Emperour to forbidde free speach Nor beseemeth it the preacher to forbeare the presence I shall be content to ouerpasse the grosse enormities whereof the Holye Ghost doeth fare the multitude in the wordes of the Prophet Which palpable offences be daily whipped out of our streetes and commonly condemned at open Barre And I wil come to lurking and lurching sinnes euen to trespas of bloud not so easely discerned nor so seuerely punished and yet by your leaue more accustoniably committed and dailye perpetrated amongest vs. For howsoeuer men can washe with Pilate and ouerweene to haue cleane handes and cleare hearts from this accusation of bloud Mat. 27.24 yet must I laye it somewhet nearer the conscience For it is Gods cause and therefore to be handled indifferently without respect of honour or office degree or dignitie sith sinne is the same and sauoureth of the soile though enbalmed with perfumes though clad vpon with veluet or sattin or yet cloaked with scarlet or purple Then sith plaine dealing best pleaseth God and good men enter I pray into your selues common with your owne hearts and be still But tell me tell me can you be perswaded there be none among vs that kéepe iudgement from the poore Zeph. 33 make widdowes their praye Esai 10.2 and the fatherles their spoyle Exo. 22.22 Be there but a fewe trowe ye that by vsuries cruell trade deuour the needie Exo. 22.25 and féede vpon the flesh of those that fall into their nettes Deu. 23.19 Be there no oppressours of their brethren Pro. 28.8 that quenche their daily thirst with the teares of women and children Zach. 7.10 making breache of bands better than their landes and grinding the faces of such as are taken in their snares Be there no carrie tales that giue Ioabs stabbe with Iudas kisse Leu. 19.16 no byting slaunderers that make lying their custome Psal 15.3 and delight to dye their tongues in the bloud of their brethren as Chrisostome speaketh Pro. 26.20 Be there think you no secrete lurchers that store vp violence in the counting house Pro. 22.22 and robb the poore of their contributions for their owne aduantage Amos 8.4 I praye God the false witnes and the suborner Deu. 19.19 the corrupt questman and extorcioner bee not founde with the rest Mich. 3.11 in our Counties and at our Sessions in our Cities and euen at our sermons And if they be God geue them eares to heare and hearts to repent in time to iudge themselues lest they be condemned of the Lord for all these be bloudie sinnes and all such persons bloudsuckers indicted of the blond of Gods people Againe Exod. 22 26 27 the poore mans pledge wrongfully withholden the labourers hire kept backe till the morning the buildings enlarged
by Achabs crueltie Mat. 26.25 the coffers enriched by Iudas frecherie these be also bloudie sinnes and in euery of these is trespas of bloud The shops sorted with wares and the warehouse with store the tables with dainties the Cubbords with plate the Wardrobes with sutes and the granaries with corne Take héede my good brethren lest in these the bloud do also cleaue vnto your singers I graunt before men deuice may excuse it custome will smoth it and for the time silence can conceale it But when the Lorde shall visite Ierusalem with lanternes and search your corners with lights Zeph. 1.12 then bloud will burst foorth then bloud will appeare For there is nothing so secrete that shall not be disclosed Mat. 10.26 nor any thing hidden that shall not be knowen O take heed that many fare not hardly for thy superfluitie that many liue not in penurie for thy prodigalitie that many go not a begging for thy polling incroching and inclosing that many sit not mourning for thy mery making that manie go not full bare Iob. 35.9 for thy going so braue For thus and infinite wayes beside thou maist become guyltie of bloud Wo sayth Zephauie Zeph 3.1 and wo saith Nahum be to the bloudie and robbing citie Nah. 3.1 the one speaking of Ierusalem the other of Niniue and why bloudie I praye shee heard not the voice of the poore the prisoner perished in the dungeon the begger dyed at the gate for want of reliefe And therefore O bloudie Citie guiltie of their bloud and why a bloudie Citie shee receiued not correction faith Zephonie shee trusted not in the Lord shee drewe not neare vnto God therefore O bloudie Citie O bloudie countrey guiltie of thine owne bloud and therefore thine owne bloud be vpon thine owne head Draco his lawes were saide to be written with bloud they were so forced with cruelties heauie impositions Our lawes of England blessed be God are good and renowmed yet is it to be feared that for want of due execution they sometime become like Solons cobwebs and too often vnder pretext of iustice hard iniuries be vrged against the poore The Emperour Titus who deemed the day lost wherein he did not good desired and was inuested with the dignitie of Priesthood to the end to keepe him selfe from oppressions from cruelties and shedding of bloud A memorable and right honourable president for Iudges esperially and men of authoritie Yet is it to be feared wee haue fewe of Titus minde at this day in the laud. The Iewes made no conscience to shead innocent bloud they monyed Iudas to betray his master such was their crueltie But when with a wounded conscience he threw it backe vpon them their money might not come in their treasurie Mat. 27.8 no it was the price of bloud such was their hipocrisie therfore it came by no common consent to buy therewith the field for buriall but by speciall prouidence to discerne and name it the bloudie field or field of bloud euen to this daie Oh my beloued it is to be feared wee haue many such fieldes in England Bloudie fieldes bloudie vineyardes bloudie cities bloudie houses bloudie Maiestrates bloudie Ministers bloudie merchants bloudie Lawyers bloudie men and bloudie women bloudie handes and bloudie platters and the price of bloud within our walles â—ab 2.11 Lapis de pariete sayeth our owne Prophet a stone shall crye out of the wall and the Beame out of the timber shall make aunswere Woe be to him that buildeth a towne with bloud and his house with iniquitie And haue wee not iust cause Iudge I praye to feare that the lande full not of the praise of God but of cursing and bitternesse of crueltie and bloud shall taste of fearefull iudgementes for her contempt and to suspect that the sinnes of the lande Ier. 17.1 written with an Iron penne vppon the tables of our heart and grauen with a Dyamond poynt vppon the hornes Altar are growen to the qualitie and height of those crying sinnes which threaten vs with vtter destruction The Lorde of hoastes manaced of late to stretch the lyne of Samaria ouer the Realme of England and to sound our Cities and measure our families with the Plummet of the house of Ahab and not to leaue one to make water against a wall While the daunger was fresh wee were souddeinly daunted and began to curse the dayes spent in vanitie and wickednesse Iocl 1.15 which had brought the daye of destruction so neare vpon our heads Wherein our enemies came against vs as fierce as the Wolues in the euening or as the Eagles grée Zeph. 33 die of their praye with purpose had not the Lorde in mercie preuented them to haue taken awaye and trampled vnder féete the glorious Gospel of Christ and to haue erected superstition and idolatrie in all our land to haue bereft vs of our most lawfull and louing Soueraigne the Lordes annoynted Quéene and to haue turned our inheritance to heathenish strangers to haue inuaded our countrie with Edoms alarme and turned our flouds of peace into channels of bloud to haue murthered the honourable counsail our and graue Iudge the reuerend Bishop and venerable maiestrate Deur 32.25 the welthie Citizen and painfull craftsman the aged matrone and the chaste virgine the infant in the cradle and the crâ—ple at the gate without remorte or respect of sexe degree or age And for execution of these so heauie iudgementes the Lord threat eneth vs with a people and Nation Idolatrous and vncircumcised as the Philistins extremely cruell and tyrannous as the Scithians at chiuing their exploites not so much by martial prowesse as by dishonourable practise not so much by courage of their owne as by corruptng th' aduerse Captaines a thing whereof we haue had tod late experience of whome I trust I may speake a troth without scandale And as one said of the Macedonian king Phillips souldiers Proiustie iâ— rapinas caedes pro sobrie tarmebrie tatem colebant Theopompus Histor veritatem pactorum fidemsuperbe deridebant periuria imposturas ducebant laudes ingenii Euen so saye I of these the trouyes of Pupists souldiers the Popes vassales whether Spanish Frenth Italian or whencesoeuer if violation wilful conteÌ„pt of auncient lawes of Armes held so xsacted yet amoÌ„g the Heathens if breach of oathe and promise sealed vpon the conscience by Sacraments of holy Church if prophanation of leagues and truce taken still salued vpon their seared consciences with Fides non est seruanda cum Hereticis if weapons yet blundred and glutted in the bowels of Gods Saintes euen then when they déemed themselues most safe vnder the oath and warrant of a King in a worde if trecheries and treasons massacres murthers barbarous designemeÌ„ts and gréedie inquisitions for bloud be apparant testimonies of crueltie and infidelitie then Oh heauens where now the soules are most happie in the hand of the Lorde and Oh thou
earth where the bodies of so many and great states lie now full lowe murthered by flagitious trecheries O heauen and earth I saye beare witnes of the crueltie and infidelitie of these our enemies the slaughter-slaues of Antichrist whome it were easie to trace in bloud to apparant and ruthfull instances of most furious tragedies But Oh thou bloud thirstie baude thus foyled in bloud and stayned with indignities howsoeuer the Lord shall deale with Englande for her transgressions for surely it is a wicked Nation yet bloud shal be vpon thy head and bloud in thy hands bloud vpon thy conscience and bloud in barre against thee at the great day when the righteous God shall bring sorrowe vpon thy soule in reuenge of his seruants bloud poured vpon the face of the earth by thy tiranny But Oh how hath the oppressor ceased and the gold thirstie Babell béene infatuate Esa 14.4 her rodde broken and the Scepter departed The Lorde our God hath béene our generall by land our Admyralt by Sea He that maketh warres to cease in all the worlde hath knapped the speare in sunder â—sa 46.9 he hath broken the shippes of the Sea by the East winde and couered our head in the day of battaile and therefore shall euery good man sing of his praise without ceasing â—sa 30.13 O thou King of Nations and hope of Israel â—er 14.8 a good God hast thou béene vnto England â—u 22.17 when Balaam of Rome hath cursed yet hast thou blessed vs. When Balaac of Spaine hath practised mischiefe against vs then hast thou discouered and disapointed it â— Sam. 17 3 When Achitophell at home hath conspired â— Re. 1.5 â— 17 confusion hath caught him When Adoniah the wilie aspirer sought the Shunamite to wife and the kingdome withall the edge of Iustice cut him short â— Re. 11 1 When Athalia the murtheresse went about to raze the lyne of the bloud royall thy prouidence preuented her Psa 37.15 Yea their sworde as Dauid sayeth hath gone through their owne heart their gyrdles garters haue béene their halters their owne hands their own hangmen that lay in waite to murther thine annoynted 2. Sam. 21 17 and went about to quench the light in Israel This O Lorde was thy doing Psa 121.5 and it was meruailous in our eyes Thou hast béen our kéeper vpon our right hand Psa 118.23 the carefull watchman that hast not forsaken thy England in the daye of distresse When Prince and people yea so manye thousandes that knowe not the right hand from the lefte were designed to a blacke and bloudie daye of destruction Ionas 4.11 Psa 45.3 But the most mightie according to his worshippe and renowme hath gyrt his sword vpon his thigh and defended his owne glorie Gospell against their spite Psa 79 10 that would haue saide where is nowe their God The Lorde hath not withholden his helping hande from his handmaide Elizabeth our good gracious Quéene in time of tryall a sheepe to the slaughter in time of gouernement a tender Nurse to the Church for whose sake he hath heaped so many blessings vpon our land The Lorde hath not shut his eares at the pitifull moane and crye of so manie widdowes and desolate Orphanes whose weake and wearie lymmes finde reliefe in our Almeshouses and hospitalles some monunients of pietie yet left in our land No no howsoeuer it be a good God is our God and louing vnto Israel Psa 73.1 euen to such as be of a pure heart And therefore it shall goe well with the godly as for our enimies Eccl. 8.12 he that dwelleth in the Heauens hath laught them to scorne yea the Lorde shall haue them in derision Therefore we will not be afraid though the earth be moued Psa 46.2 and though the foundations of the hilles be out of course For when the Seas do swell and rage horribly yet the Lorde God is mightier strong is his hand and mighty is his arme He hath thrust his hooke into the iawes of Sennacherib Esai 37.29 and the Seas haue swalowed the troope of Pharaos hoste Yea Moab shall be our washpot Exo. 14.27 and Edome shall kneele vnto our shooe Psa 60.8 Our footesteps shall be dipped in the bloud of our enimies Psa 68.23 and the tongues of the dogges shall be red with the same So that a man shall saye verily there is a rewarde layde vp for the righteous Psa 38.11 doubtles there is a God that iudgeth the earth But shall we nowe become secure and cast away care shall we saye pax â—er 8.11 pax and all is well Non veniet super nos malum Mich. 3.11 The Spanyardes come no more Will you steale and murther â—er 7.9.10 commit adulterie and sweare falsly and yet come and stande before me saith the Lord and say we are deliuered though we haue committed all these abhominations Amos 6.3 shall we come before the Lorde with bloudie hands and gyltie hearts put farre off the euill day and approche to the seate of iniquitie and yet thinke to escape the iudgements of God O beloued take heede is a faire thing and happie they that be made warefull by the barmes of others For the mastife is beaten that the Lyon might couche T is plaine but a true and patheticall distichon Non vtbs non regio non aetas vlla seueri Iuditii exemplis non domus vlla caret No towne no lande no age nor house that time of grace contemnd But heauie iudgements fell for payt and wofull was the end When threatenings would not serue nor th' old world could be warned Gen. 7.21 then came the floode When dangers were forgotten Gen. 19.24 and Sodome grewe secure 2. Re. 17 then came fire from heauen When Israel the mount of the Lords in heritance waxed wilfull despised the Prophets then came Asshur the rodde of Gods wrath 2. Re. 25 When Iuda the signet of the Lords right hand became indurate and would not be reclaymed then came Nabucadnessar with fire and sword When Ierusalem sored with the Egle Lam. 1.1 made her nest among the starres Oh sudden was her downfall to sorrowe and desolation When the Brittaines would be wantons derided Gildas warnings then came the Romanes and then came their woe For Propter auaritiam rapinam principum propter iniquitatem iniustitiam Iudicum propter desidiam dissidium Episcoporum propter luxuriam impietatem populi patriam perdiderunt Britanni Will you know what rooted out the ancient Brittaines out of this land and brought a most lamentable face of a comon wealth vpon the same It was the couetousnes and oppressions of the Nobles and Peeres the iniuries extortions of the Iudges and Lawyers the slouth and dissention among the Bishops clergie the rowte and riot of the people and commons These these my