the xxxiii Sunne most happily inuironeth in the firmament since our blessed deliuerance out of the power and greeuous thraldom ofPharao and Egypt The gouernesse of this thrice happie lande for so it may bee said in regard of such a gouernesse being not only the instrument of our so happie deliuerance but also the sole and absolute cause vnder God of this our matchlesse tranquilitie Our God by hir as by one for whose sake we beyond the measures of the graces of our brethren and the prosperous course of our fathers inioy this peace and plenty hath in the aboundance ofhis ineffable grace and mercy continued and prospered the same vpon vs hitherto And what other blessings he hath like the dew ofHermon distilled vpon our Sion as that of the free passage of the gospell and infinite others the whole world can witnesse and we to our vnspeakeable consolation haue experienced He hath not left vs an Anarchy and hedlesse dissolution as to the Canibals a most preposterous and mishapen gouernment streming with blood and smoking with the mist of palpable error and ignorance Nor as to the Antichristians seared in the forehead with the mark of the image of the gret whoore of Babylon Not a barbarous wast and heathenish estate as to the Tartarian heards of curssed Cham and vnto the miserable inhabitantes of Meschech or to the rauenous swarmes and turbulent hosts of Tubal-gog But contrariwise hee hath by hir ledde vs foorth as a flocke of sheepe and fed vs vpon the pastures of his owne Gosen giuing vnto vs for warres peace for barbarous brutishnesse humanity and gentlenesse for grosse ignorance pro found knowledge for painted superstition sincere religion for scarsitie plentie for vnprouidence ciuill policie for iarring discord vniformity concord making vs to dwell in safety vnder hir gratious gouernment as vnder the winges of his Almightie protection In these hir blessed yeares hath been seene the golden daies of hir father Dauid the no lesse prosperous then peaceable regiment of Salomon The earth hath yeelded hir fruitfulnes the sea hir store the clouds their drops the heauens their orientall beautie the sun his heat the yeare his increase the val lies couered with corne the furrowes moistened the woods and groues crowned with ioy The mountaines singe with mirth our folds replenished with cattell our sonnes and daughters flourish like the ceadars of Libanus our yoong men see visions and our olde men prophesie Whilst the sworde of the destroier hath smitten the neighbour nations from the first borne sitting vpon the princes throne vnto the slaue grinding at the handmill whilest the firme landes adiacent haue beene ouerflowne by the rage of the seas our Iland haue dwelt in peace sente hir ships into Ophir for gold and prepared hir Nauie against the enimy This worthy instrument then of Gods goodnesse and expresse image of his maiestie haue been and yet is as erst I said the onlie organ and instrumental cause of al this our fore remembred felicity and who is also the very breath of our nostrils the lighte of our eies and the totall summe of our welfare If then it pleased God in the seueritie of his iust conceiued displeasure against our sinnes to call hir from this hir earthlie Monarchie to raine with him in his heauenlie Hiarchie what day I pray you might the daie ofhir departure be called might it not be properlie saide to be a day ofiudgment a day of dole of wrath and of vengeance It mighte well be so called for the effects procee ding from it For if our liues and liuings and consequentlie all that here content or delight vs depend vppon hirs as truelie they doo that pretious life which I pray God long maintain giuing place to nature as once needs it must For Death is the way of all fleshe Tell mee I praie you in what predicament were we where were then our liues our liuinges our pleasures and contentments where is then our tranquillitie peace and plentie where is the gouernment become whereby the nobles were kept within their compas and the cōmons slept in safetie Where is then the feare of maiestracie and the regard of our prelacie Where is beecome the due execution of wholesome lawes and statutes and the force of our statutes whereby the common-weale did flourish like a Palme and spred hir branches ouer the whole bodie of this realme Where is the knowledge of mine and thine and lastelie where is the due administration of Gods worde and sacraments whereby he was glorified and our consciences comforted are they not all to bee feared excepte God be now merciful then we deseru last the violence of forraine inuasion or the sword of domesticall dissention should cut them of and quite subuert them Wel wantons well I feare your comicall progressions would be then changed into tragicall conclusions For my own part so my wish might be with Gods good will I would I might not liue to see that daie though I am perswaded not onely my life but manie thousands more would be euen determined with that day that yet notwithstanding with long desires expect that daie But foule befall as dayly do befall such wild bores of the forrest that would so faine if so they durst without danger spoile this vinyard whiche Gods owne right hand hathe planted confounded bee they and put to shame togither with as manie as haue euill wil vnto our peace But how far these callamities are from our considerations our perseuerant pride and peruerse behauiours dayly do manifest which the more God blesseth vs with earthly benedictions the more freelie we runne into our owne destructions How true it is our manifold rebellions against God his annointed dayly do testifie Such and so great is mans improuidence that he is onely carried awaie with the prosperitie of the time present but y e calamities of the time fu ture he neuer thinketh vpō vntil their sodaine approche admitting no tyme for repentance drowneth the simple secure liuer in many seas of miseries euen so were the daies ofNoah such were the wicked ones in those dayes they did wallow in the mire of sin and iniquitie as we doo now they eat and drank and made merrie as we do now they bought and solde and chopt and changed as we do now they had prosperitie peace and plentie as we haue now they abused and mispended the same as wee doo now they were vnthankfull for those benefites and blessinges as we are now they prouoked God by their licencious liuing as we do now they were disobedient to hys word as we are now they mocked his prophetes and beleeued not their threatnings as we do now they hardned their heartes to effect their misdeeds as we do now they liued secure and carelesse as we do nowe and all was husht as it is now and Gods vengeance came vpon them vna wares as it maie do now O therfore think vpon these such like exāples mentioned in the mirror of trueth Gods
likewise in the battel which he fought against the Iewes after fiue thirtie thousand of his hoast were slaughtred slaine himselfe his hed hand shoul der strooke off and his blasphemous toong cut out and deuided in small peeces and giuen to the fowles of the aire as a iust recompence of his outragious madnesse These with many thousandes more wherof written verities maketh men-haue beene euen in this life plagued with strange torments vnacspected deathes for their great wickednes in this behalfe it haue brought the vengeance and iuste wrath of God vppon whole countries and nations and for that no lawes are made to suppres and punish this offence on earth God him selfe will punishe it with vengeance from heauen But O deere father I beseech thee in the aboundance of that great mercie which thou the almightie creator ofheauen and earth extendest toward vs the banishedbrats of Eue at what time thou sentest into the worlde the liuelye image of thy owne substance euen thy word of promise thy deere only Sonne Christ Iesus that hee by pouertie humilitie meekenes charitie by buffers whippinges and torments and finallie by the most cruell and shameful death of the crosse shuld redeeme and ransome vnrighteous mankind being in captiuitie fast boūd with the chaines of sinne vnder the great prince of darkenesse of death that it would please thee in the greatnesse of that mercy and goodnesse of thine to spare this Realme of England from the punishmēt which we thrugh our wilfull periuries and odious blasphemies worthilie deserue and as it were with strong hand pull vppon vs Spare vs good Lord spare the English nation and especiallie the supreame head and gratious gouernesse thereof Pardon our sinnes and deferre thy ven geance till thy wrathe be ouerpassed and our penitencie purchase thy pardon Consider ô almightie monarche of the celestiall world how prone all mankinde is to sinne by natural corruption engraffed in their fleshe by Adams disobedience therefore for the innocencie of thy son Iesus which by firme faithe is ours grant vs grace leisure and respite to arise out of the cradle ofsecuritie in which we are by sinnes delectation rocked asleepe Let thy great mercy exceed thy hie iustice to vs wards and lette thy holy Spirite which we beseech thee powre on vs aboundantly so preuaile with vs that henceforth wee refraine our toonges from blasphemous swering our lips frō leasing that we may speake of thee reuerently as becōmeth christians thinke of thee religiouslie as becometh thy seruants So shall it come to passe that liuing as we ought vertuouslie we shall possesse this peacefull plentie long inioy this peereles tranquility YE contentious wranglers restlesse busibodies whiche vnder the shewe of simplicitie harboureth hypocritical dissimulation and vnder pretence of plainnesse doe shroud much peruersenesse prosecuting lawe for eche lawlesse occasion deuising driftes to deceiue eche other by guile and falshoode bending the powers of your wealth and wittes to effect your contentious cauillatiōs regarding nei ther the dutie of christian loue charitie the admonitions ofholy writ nor the comfort of neighbourly societie but with inward delight and outward cheerefull semblance pursue your wilfull purposes with such earnest desire of ech others downfall that vntill your purses haue cast vp all their pence no composition nor agreement will be had and when beggerie hathe attached you by writ of want then vntimely repentance strikes the stroke of agreement Meane while the lawyers laughes when you haue cause to weepe they smile to see you sadde they solace themselues in your sorow whose peeuishnesse haue occasioned your owne impouerishments whose coyne haue caused their credite and whose wealthe haue supplied their wants yet to preuent y e sentēce of law you thinke your selues happie if they discouer ought y t may procure delaie whicha shallow studēt may easily doo for though y e lawes in thēselues be perfect yet hee that will bee contentious hauing the golden engine which is of force to wrest them awrie may finde starting holes a number for the galles of the laws are as bitter as worm wood whiche to my paine I haue too lately prooued for which as for my greatest cause of griefe al the Rubarbe in Alexandria will scarse purge my melancholie And therefore my good and louing countriman attende that I shall in a word vnfold vnto thee I speake by costly experience to the end thou maiest eschue the like experimentes Our Lawyers for the moste part will more regard thy money then the matter for after hee hath once set downe the circumstante of thy cause in his baneful booke of Mementos and therein entered thy name take this of me as long as there it remaineth thou shalt neuer thriue till either neighbourlie concord crosse thee out or beggerie blot thee out for though the lawes ought to bee free for all the Queenes naturall subiects yet neither sergiant chancellor or atturneie will vnderstand the cause without thy coine for his case is best that is best vnderlaid with wealth and worship for though it be darke the glittering shine of gold can illustrate the same yea and though it be bad yet if that soueraigne mettall be therto applied it wil mend it much and couer the defectes for doubtlesse y e lawyers pleadings are most effectuall and his proceedings most iudicial when he findes the giftes to be moste liberall then wil they with their painted eloquence and rethoricall words ofslender substance put such a glorious glosse vpon thy matter that the darke shall seeme light and the wrong right Heereof I aduise thee that thou beware and be warnd by mee and other poore men that too late haue experienced the same let it not grieue thee to loose a pennie to spare a pound Oppresse not eche other by riguor oflawe and bee not auenged on euerie wrong remembring that prouerbe which saith He that will be auenged on euerie wrath the longer hee liues the lesse he hath Consume not thy goodes in suche vnhappinesse expell those cotentious affections which wasteth thy substaunce so shall the same be multiplied aboundantly thou shalt haue Gods blessing if thou liue in charitie and haue a good report of all men generallie and long enioy this peace and happie tranquilitie YOu English Romanistes you that plaie inordinately before the golden calfe of your own inuentions and commit spiritual fornication with the great whore who like hir selfe in censeth you to seeke by sundrie practises the ruine and subuersion of our gratious Queene hir state and kingdome ô seeing she hath dealt so mercifully with you as had you not first attempted violence against hir sacred person you might haue inioyed your liuinges and liberties both of bodies and consciences Surcease your treacheries touch not the Lordes annointed for Christ Iesus will suffer no violence as we to our great comfort haue seen and perceiued to bee done vnto his deare spowse our Queene and gouernesse but will manifest your
To the most noble famous renowmed inuincible and victorious Realme of England Be all flourishing felicitie happie prosperitie and matchles tranquilitie longe to endure TO manifest the poore good will dutifull loue I owe thee O famous and renowmed Englande for that I perceiue thine extremities are dangerous I haue presumed though more presumptuous I confes then skilfull to present thee with this potion compounded of gentle persuasions and charitable exhortations whiche although it be somewhat bitter and vnpleasant to thy taste yet doubte I not it being taken as it ought but in operation it will effect thine amendment or at least expell in some measure the mischeeuous humors that causeth thy drowsinesse and procureth thy danger And that it may so doe I will not cease to praie vnto him that neyther slumbreth nor sleepeth but watcheth ouer thee vigilantlie for thy peace and safetie who is al in al and thy God for euer He that is alwaies prest to die to shield thee from danger Iohn Dauies A priuate mans potion for the health of England NOwe Gallants to you that saie in your hearts there is no God and so consequentlie no Heauen no hell no resurrection no iudgement And why because say you we haue the worlde at will we giue our eies their desires our bodies their appetites and our lustes their delights and yet we wallowe in all worldlie prosperitie yea we florish like the lawrell our leaues are alwaies greene and fade not We are not pinched by pouertie crucified with cares martyred with miseries tormented with troubles crossed with mishaps as are these precize liuers What need we feare the vengeance iudgments of God so terriblie thundered foorth againste vs by our preachers or rather praters when as our minds are quiet our harts merrie our thoughts plesant and none of all those calamities befall vs nor ours What reason haue wee then to feare their menacings or beleeue their saiengs when as they reare vp their voices aloft and saie the kingdome ofheauen is at hand and the day of iudgement draweth neere Tush so said the prophets and Apostles manie hundred yeares since and yet hath no such matter come to passe therefore those were nothing else but the imaginations of a vaine thing their prophesies fantasies their preaching leasings and their religion moste ridiculous Therefore wee will fill vp the measure of our earthlie happinesse with all that may content our humors and liue in al carnall libertie for vpon earth alone is mans cheefe felicity Oye Atheisticall reprobates what maner of reasonings obseruāces are these What infernal furie bewitcheth you that you thus har den your heartes to perseuere in your wickednes knowe you whom ye pro uoke by this your curssed conclusions or know ye whom ye incense by these your rebellions If you doo not or at least will not then know ye weet ye wel it is the holy one of Israel from whose bosom al beginnings took their beginning It is a maiestie vnspeakeable mighty in power whose name is Iehouah dreadfull woonderfull and verie much to be feared He it is that by his only word created heauen erth with all that is in them conteined and with halfe a word can destroy the same againe He whose breath shaketh the mountains maketh the foundations of the earth to tremble and quake He whose seat is in the glorious heauens and whose foote stoole is the round world He that stilleth the raging of the seas rebuketh the windes when they arise Hee at whose presence the earth melteth like waxe as not beeing able to endure the brightnes of his countenance He whose throne is a flame of fire his cha riots burning fire from his face issueth a flame of fire a thousand thousand do serue him and ten thousand hundred thousands doo assiste him Hee that dwelleth in vnaccessible light which no mortall man can abide to beholde He vnto the least sparke of whose glorious maiestie the maiestie and glory of al the kings of the earth may not be compared He whome angels praise dominations adore the powers doo tremble and the highest heauens togither with the Cherubins and Seraphins doo vncessantlie lawd magnifie He whose power replenisheth heauen and earth and from whose knowledge nothing can be concealed Hee with whome all thinges are possible and whose power no violence is able to resist Hee that only afflicteth and healeth that killeth and giuetl life againe Hee that sent fire to consume Eliahs sacrifice to declare himselfe thereby to be the only God of gods and Lord of lordes He vnto whom al knees do bow both in heauen and earth and vnto whom alone belongeth all honor and glorie Hee that is the preseruer and guider of kings and kingdoms and establisheth or subuerteth them at his good pleasure He vpon whose vertue power prouidence all the creatures in heauen and earth doo wholelie depend and by whome alone they liue and haue their being without whō they would all vtterlie perish Hee at whose commandement the sunne doo arise to manifest the daie the moone and stars doo lighten the night neuer faile nor be wearie in their watch He from whome euerie good and perfect gift proceedeth who is the father oflightes He that ofhis meere loue and vnspeakeable good will bestowed vpon thee thy creation making thee of nothing like vnto himselfe brethed into thee a liuing soule capable of imortalitie created all the creatures vnder heauen besides for thy onlie vse and seruice and putting them al vnder thy subiection He y t of his vnutterable goodnes and meere mercie laied the torments due to thee vpon the shoulders of his deere and onlie son which were so great and greeuous that the agonie thereof constrained his blessed bodie to sweate bloud and water for thy sake He that gaue the children of Israell passage through the red sea as vpon drie land and inclosed Pharao and all his host in the bowelles thereof He that speaketh the worde and it is done and as he will so commeth euerie thing to passe He that opened the windows ofheauen and drowned the world and preserued Noah with his family to replenish the same again He that rebuketh kings for the loue of his chosen making them to tread vpon the Lions without feare or danger He that staied the sunne in the midst of the firmament at the desire of Iosuah and gaue him victory ouer his enimies before the setting thereof He on whome the eies of all liuing thinges do waite and he giueth them food in due season He at whose presence the verie angels do tremble and al the powers ofheauen do praise vncessantly He vnto whome the Cherubins and Seraphins continually doo crie holy holy holy Lord God ofSabaoth He in whose land the saintes euermore do sing whose onely sight is their vnconceiuable solace He that confoundeth the deuises