the Lorde Iesus who had it powred vppon him without measure seeing wee that haue but a dramme thereof and that in a body of sinne are not without some reioicing effects by the power of Gods mightie spirite Herein and in such actions the power of God to a beleeuing heart sheweth it selfe to be ten thowsand times greater than in creating a thousand worlds Can the Parliament of England be desirous to glorify their God and not decree that this power of his be manifested vnto vs by deliuering euery of vs out of the tyranny of that mighty potentate who is euen the God of this world Our sauior Christ euen in respect of his manhood is so glorified of his father that man cannot augment the same yet the Apostle is plain that his honor consisteth in no other point than that euerie tongue should confesse a Phil. 2.11 him to be the Lord to the glory of God the father And least carnall men should thinke the Lord smally to esteem the glory hee gaineth by these that are called vnto the knowledge of his trueth the regard he hath hereunto is two maner of waies shewed First in that hee which was the substance and essence of the Lords owne glorious Maiesty b Phil. 2.6 equall with God c Ier. 2.3 I saie 44.26 1 Iohn 1. Rom 9.5 God himselfe made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a seruaunt became vile bale as we read Esai the 52 14.15.3 Phil. 2.7.8 onely to the end hee might reserue from hell some of the lost sonnes of Adam by whose saluation he should be glorified Secondly for asmuch as the chiefe end of his comming to iudgement 2 Thess 1.9 in that great and glorious daie wherin the secrets of all hearts shal appeare is to bee made glorious in his Saintes and marueilous in them that beleeue It is out of controuersie that on this daie the Lord will make the maiestie of his sonne Christ so glorious and of such rare excellencie as the verie Aungels themselues shall wonder and be astonied thereat and yet there be none others set downe in whom he shal be glorified but only those that beleeue Shal we say then the training vp of such is of smal acceptaunce in his sight God forbid Shall we think that their estate wil be any thing tolerable who in this life though they doe not further the Gospel yet will not hinder the same No truly For here be onely two estates of men spoken of either those in whom Christ Iesus shall bee glorified in euery of whose harts the Lord hath so wrought by his spirit that they desire nothing more than that he maie rule the soules of men by his woord or the other whose portion shall bee woe of soule And who are they only turks infidels papists traitors adulterers theeues murderers and such like workers of iniquity These I graunt indeed but not these alone For the Apostle giueth no such mark vnto al but he comprehendeth both the one and the other in this that they obey not the Gospell Be a man therefore accounted neuer so ciuilly honest talk he neuer so well of the Church and the dignity of the Gospel be he in shewe neuer so good a subiect vnto his prince for the diuell is not so vnwise as he wil haue al his limmes manifest breakers of the commandements but he will vse some visured oppugners of Gods glorie yet if in any sort you can perceaue that he vseth any other behauiour towardes Gods trueth than he ought to shew there whereunto greatest obedience and duety is to be yeelded take him by and by for one whom Paul meaneth Because he obeieth not but vndutifully handleth the gospel Slips I grant the children of God may haue and that very foul ones but few of them so fal as they must needs haue that to accompany them whervnto the honour of God is tied We may see then what reckoning our sauiour Christ maketh of the fruit he reapeth by the ministers labour And he wil maintaine his honour in this point by the vtter ruine of al the clippers thereof and be smally beholding as wee heare in heauen vnto them that negligently labor for the same in earth Here mark I beseech you that for as much as Sathan is permitted among vs not only to lift vp his heel against his Lord but euen to out-face him in his owne inheritance the Lord threatned very lately and doth euerie day to measure our punishment by the same line Howe likely was it had not he in mercy choked with their owne raiging spirits these vnsatiable blood-suckers Babington and his adherentes that we should haue had in this kingdome the hand of the vile against the honorable the base against the noble Isaie 3.4 the indigne against the woorthiest of the land Yea and the Lords anointed the very a Lamen 4 20 breath of our nostrils she vnder whose shadow we haue beene thus long preserued from heathen popish tortors was like to fall into their hands The Lord graunt you of this honorable assembly wise harts before it be to late to examine aright the cause of these vngodly attempts to preuent the issues of them Which shall neuer be done as long as the Parliament wil permitte Non-residences impropriate liuinges swarmes of vngodlie ministers the insolent and tyrannicall proceedinges of some ioined with pomp too too vnreasonable to keep out a learned and godlie ministerie by whose means the Lord Iesus would recouer his owne againe Persuade your selues that the Lord maie iustlie giue our possessions to strangers because an enemie is tolerated in this land quietly to enioie the right of Iesus Christ and by suffering such vngodlie practises countenanced in the action If the Spaniard French or anie the forces of Rhomish Caine haue their desire vpon vs as I hope in God they neuer shall how shall pluralities of impropriations other Church-liuings c. defend vs ours from their furie To shut vp this point all the former thinges confidered is not our petition most reasonable in regard of Gods honour Wel in respect of her Maiestie it hath manie reasons where-vpon it maie be grounded Can we euer hope to haue the tidings of saluation proclaimed in Wales vnlesse this be perfourmed in hir daies And haue we a lease of hir life Would it pleased God we had Rather the door of our hope is euerie day threatned to be shut Now therefore the Lord warneth vs to take the opportunity while it is offered Now hee taketh heauen and earth to witnes that at this instant at this Parliament at this time of her Maiesties prosperous raigne hee laieth before vs life and death good and euil saluation and damnation and that for euer We shal neuer haue the time to choose againe for anie thing we knowe And howe effectuall for the preseruation of her highnes think you would be the praiers of so manie thousand of hir people euen of the
and beyond all his might to make knowen the case of such a people vnto those who both can and also would find a remedy therunto For mine owne part because I see the spirituall miserie wherein wee nowe liue in the Country of WALES for want of the preaching of the Gospel and the great plagues that are like vndoubtedly to fall vpon vs for the same I cannot but be so asfected toward these our calamities as in respect of the Lords honor the desire of the saluation of my breethren my loyall obedience vnto her Maiesty and the discharge of my own conscience I doe alwaies from the bottome of mine heart wish and pray for the redresse heereof nowe by writing with all humility and submission in the feare of God lay open our estate first vnto the consideration of your excellent Maiesty my dread soueraigne Queene Elizabeth vnto whom only of all the potentates of the earth I owe all obedience and seruice in the Lord Iesus and next vnto the viewe of your high court of Parliament desiring you vpon my knees in the name of the great God the creator and preseruer of heauen and earth whose honor is now in hand that our petitiō may be so throughly waied as our necessity requireth The summe whereof is that it would please your Maiesty this honorable assembly in a zealous and a godly compassion to regard the lamentable and wofull estate of vs your poore subiects breethren which liue at this day altogither without the knowledge of a Isai 43.11 ◠a sauing God because we haue not b 2. Chro. 15.2 teaching Ministers among vs that some order may be taken by your Maiesty and the estate whereby wee may bee freed from that destroieng grosse darckenesse of ignorance wherein we nowe are bewrapped to the woe of our soules for euer And so by our true conuersion vnto the Lorde we may auoid euerlasting death and preuent the fiercenesse of the wrath indignation which we see iustly to hang ouer vs in this life The remedy of this our grieuous case is only had and no other way by speedie d Luk. 10.2 Matth 9.8 prouiding vnto vs such pastors as may feede vs with the food of life the pure worde of God and bring vs home vnto the only a 1. Pet. 5.4 Heb. 13.20 Luk. 22.25 Mark 10. Lord of pastors sheepeheards the Lord Iesus This is the summe of al my dread soueraigne that I your base vassall haue emboldened my selfe to offer vnto you and this your high court of Parliament wherein I protest that in respect of my weakenesse al maner of waies the basenesse of my condition I intreated the Lorde to send vnto you by the hand of him whom b Exod. 4.13 hee should sende that is by one endued with such giftes and authority also as whereby the suite might haue purchased some countenance and so be found more auaileable and plausible But considering that this mine endeuor might be a means to stirre vp some such and that the Lorde is the Lord of countenance credit and fauour therefore can adde vnto his own cause the good liking of men either more or lesse as seemeth best vnto him which only guideth the harts of the children of men And that he is then fullie seen for his own glories c Rom. 4.2 Ezek. 36.32 sake to bring the worke to passe that tendeth to the saluation of any when hee vseth most abiect and vnfit tooles I doe not doubt if it be his good pleasure but that this supplication though put vp by a sinfull weake hand shal haue all the intertainment that the message of the liuing God desireth to haue And although our estate beeing duly waied doth with most patheticall pierceing cries that may moue againe the very flinty rockes make intreaty for it selfe and declare the vnanswerable necessity either of hauing our petitions graunted or of the torments of our soules in hel fire for euer and our fatal ruine in this life yet I thought it most needefull in this briefe treatise to set downe some of the reasons whereupon our petition is grounded that by the view of them it may appeare how daungerous a thing it is in the sight of God and man to deny our suite And here verilie the cause may be seene at the first sight to be inuironed with a two-fould wall as it were of most iust and apparant equity First in respect of the honour of God whereat especially it aimeth Secondly in regard of man whom it doth not a litle concerne Whether therefore you do consider the Lord himselfe whom we disdain and contemn for want of better instruction out of his woord by our vngodlie liues or her gracious Maiestie and this honourable assembly who are bound before the Lorde with an vncancelable band to see the eternall verity of the Gospell of Iesus Christ taught vnto obeied of al the inhabitants within the precincts of her Maiesties dominions or my deere brethren and countri-men whose ioiful and happy felicity is this way sought for you shall find the supplication to be full of dutifull endeuors towardes the maintenance of Gods glory the safe estate of this kingdome our soueraign whom the Lord long preserue ouer vs hurting none full of equity on all parts Wee desire to haue the knowledge of our God and the Lawes of his kingdome whose subiectes in name wee professe our selues and in deede ought to bee made knowne and taught vnto vs. We desire that the tyranny of Sathan who a 2 Cor. 4.4 Ephes 6.2 2.23 exerciseth a regencie in the hearts of all them amongst whom Gods trueth hath not beene taught may be ouerthrown b Rom. 1.16 Heb. 4.12 Ier. 23.29 by the powerfull arme of God the worde preached c Iam. 1.21 who can saue our soules Now therefore to you right honorable worshipful and reuerend of this Parliament with al humility be it spoker in the audience of our God in the presence of Iesus Christ and in the witnesse of euery child of God who shall read this litle treatise we most earnestly and vehemently as in the cause of Iesus Christ and in the cause of our soules entreate and beseech you cry and cal vpon you to do your endeuors that Sathan may no longer keep vs in bondage which ought to be imploied in the seruice of our God and that the Lorde Iesus his throne may be established in our hartes d 1. Cor. 6.19 3.16 as it ought to be in those which are his members What interest hath sathan in vs that wee should be permitted to be at his beck and leaue vndoone the duty we owe vnto our most beneficial louing God euen by the law of creation Why should he preuaile more with you which continually seeketh your destruction ours than Iesus Christ whose loue towardes vs was sealed with the losse of his life euen then when we were his enimies Wil you
wils of those small or great through whose hands it shal come and neuer meaneth to haue anie such thing performed as being out of hand to make an end of al and to come himselfe to sit in iudgement where his word shal be surelie countenanced The consideration whereof should make men enter deeply into their dealings herein O why should the curse of any damned soule among vs pursue the withstander of our saluation To make an end pray for vs breethren and now pray and pray againe that our God would encline mercie vnto vs in the sight of the Queene hir Counsell and all the Queenes mightie princes and that builders may be raised among vs. So let it be our God Amen THE NECESSITY laid vpon mā to a 2. Thes 1.8 Isai 53.11 know aright the eternal his creator redeemer to seiue him according vnto that knowledge which is doone of that people alone b Ephes 2.12 2. Tim. 19.10 1. Cor. 1.22 amongst whome the light of the Gospell doth shine as is not obscurely shewed by the Lordes seuere punishment vpon them that are either c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iud. 4. 15. irreligious or negligently regard desperately contemne the trueth being offered vnto them so doth it most liuely appeare by the Lords free and vndeserued d Ezek. 36.32 1. Cor. 4.7 Rom. 4.2 Iam. 1.17 yet rewarding blessings vpon all such as in an holy obedience conforme themselues according to his will What flames of vnquenchable vengeance carelesse negligence of Gods seruice the wilfull reiecting thereof hath stirred in former times amongst nations and will as long as the iust God iustly requiteth the contempt of his word kindle for euer amongst posterities I wish all men duely to consider The Lords anger for the sinnes of his owne people the children of Israel was executed vpon them to the ful euen because they hardened e Ierem. 19. their neckes and would not heare his worde The f Iere. 22.5.7 Lord sware by himselfe that the Temple should bee laide wast that he would prepare destroiers against it g Ierem. 21.5 hee himselfe with a stretched-out hand and with a mightie arme would fight against them euen in anger and in wrath and in great indignation And because h Ierem. 26.2 they would not heare him their Citie should be a curse vnto all the nations of the earth The whole i Ierem. 24.9 people should be giuen for a terrible plague to all kingdomes for a reproch for a prouerbe for a common talke and for a curse vnto all places whither he should cast them Coniah k Ierem. 22.24 the King himselfe should not escape no though hee were the signet of the Lords owne right hand yet should he be plucked thence These plagues with many others most heauy and wōfull did the Lord denounce against them by the handes of his Prophets and perfourmed by the hand of Nebucadnezzar king of Babell Because l Ierem. 40.3 they sinned against the Lord obeied not his voice therefore these things came vpon them as it is manifest Ieremy 40.3 Which are not so lightly to be set by of any as though they belonged properly vnto that time and people especially seeing the Lord iudgeth m 1. Pet. 1.17 without respect of persons and seeing that nation kingdome and people that sinneth against the Lord shal be destroied as it appeareth by the tenor of his iudgement executed vpon Tyrus Niniueh Babel and other Monarchies of the world There is no exception of the n Deut. 7.26 30.15.19 blessing and curse life and death but the blessing and the life shal bee to him that obeyeth the curse and death shal bee vpon the disobedient soule Neither was the grosse Idolatry of this people the only cause of their ruine but the Lord would haue them acknowledge a Ierem. 2.19 that it was an euill yea a bitter euil that his fear was not in them This also did the Leuits b Nehem. 3.9 after their returne confesse to haue beene the cause of their banishment euen that their King Princes Priestes did not diligently attend diligently attend I say vpon the commaundements of Iehoua And in that great day all wicked men shall know that the Lorde will surely render confusion in flaming fire not onely vnto wicked doers but also vnto them d 2. Thes 1.8 that know not God Nothing therfore but shame indignation and wrath e Rom. 2.8.9 tribulation and anguish of soule in this life can bee expected for of those people whose tongues workes are against Iehoua to prouoke the eies of his glory f Isai 3 8. and after this life a tormenting portion in that lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death Of which sort al they must needs be which neuer heard of that which is the g Rom. 1 15. 1. Co. 1.21 power of God to saluation to as many as beleeue On the contrary side the prosperous estate of that nation language and people whose God is the Lorde Iehoua what hart will not reioice to see If you will knowe therefore the roote of the florishing estate of any kingdome Dauid h Psal 44.15 telleth you that it is in hauing Iehoua to be your God The children of Israell vpon this foundation were thought to be such a gorgious i Deut. 4.6 building that all other nations seemed to be but cottages and wormes-houses in respect of them For in that they k Deut. 26.16.17 18 19.34.26 had set vp Iehoua to be their God and to walke in his waies to keep his ordinances lawes and statutes and to harken vnto his voice the Lord also had set them vp that day to be a precious people vnto himselfe to make them high aboue all nations in praise in name and in glory A large declaration of the priuiledge of such a people is recorded Psalm 33. Behold the eies of Iehouah doe looke vpon them that feare him and wait for his kindnesse that hee may deliuer them from death and keepe them aliue in the time of famine And in the life to come Iohn saith of them in the Reuelation Reue. 7.16.17 that they shall not hunger any more neither shal the sunne light on them nor any heat for the lambe that is in the middest of the throne shall gouern them lead them to the liuely fountaines of water and God shall wipe away all teares from their eies Oh then what Christian yea ingenious humane naturall heart will not be greeued to see any people in such a forlorne case as not only to be bereaued of those vnspeakable blessings of the Lord whereof al they shal be partakers that fear him but also laid open vnto the weapons of his reuenging and consuming anger in this worlde and in that to come to his eternall and neuer ending wrath And who would not strain himselfe to the vtmost of his ability
reward his vnconceiueable kindnesse in such sort as to suffer any that you can hinder to be sworne seruants of his professed enimies Sworn seruants I say for whosoeuer serueth not the Lorde Christ in e Rom. 6.16 7.5 2. Pet. 2.20 newnesse of life and holinesse of conuersation hath taken the oth of a souldier to serue sinne vnder Sathans banner Why should the sonne of God be bereaued of the title that he hath in his people conueiance thereof made vnto a damnable crature Consider I pray you the weight of the cause in this one point it is concerning no lesse matter thā a kingodme yea the kingdome of the God of al kings Iesus Christ the contention is betweene the most glorious in heauen earth and his own slaue where the indignity of the vsurper ought to moue you We are wearie of the heauy bonuie bondage of the one and desire the easie yoke of the other In the absence as it were of our Lord and king wee haue none to runne vnto for helpe but you whom he hath placed aboue vs. Pitie our condition naie rather let it bee seene that you reioice to haue such oportunitie to enlarge and make conspicuous the glorie of your redeemer that it may bee a witnesse vnto your soules whensoeuer you depart this life that indeede you haue quited your selues like men in the places whereunto he hath enioined you by defacing the kingdome of Sathan You are nowe to declare vnto which of the two you would haue vs subiectes who shal be king Sathan or the Lord Christ and therfore whether of the two can preuaile more with you Not that the diuel is able or dareth withstand his maker or that the Lord needeth the helpe of mā to ouerthrow his forces as not being of power to rule vnlesse man set the crowne vpon his head but because hee hath taken this course in the gouernment of his Church here vpon earth that vnlesse the Magistrate doe vphold his honour against Sathan it will fall to the ground for ought men can see and hee hauing commaunded men of authority to be zealous in his cause wil reward them according vnto their loue towardes him in this point For hereby hee doth trie their good wils in that he declareth his honour to be vsually measured in the hart of the people according vnto the proportion of the magistrates loue towards him reseruing alwaies vnto him neuerthelesse the power to beget his loue in the subiectes whose prince may be an Idolater and to bridle the furie of his enemies when hee will without the assistance of man and to reedifie his Church though al the kings vnder heauen gainesaie the same But this not proceeding frō them wil be to their greater condemnation because they chose rather to haue their people in the slauery of Sathan than in the liberty of Christ For one of them will yea must needes beare rule in the hearts of all men either the Lord by his spirit conueyed vnto them through the ministery of his word or the old serpent by his diuelish illusions That both cannot rule togither a Mat. 12.25.29 it is apparant because they are so contrarie the one to the other the subiectes of both kingdomes disagree the lawes be diuerse If you chuse the sonne of God and place him in his throne among vs by the preaching of his Gospell for otherwise you cannot be said to make choise of him then assure your selues that the Lord will b 1. Sam. 2.30 honour you because you honour him and not forget the vpholding of his kingdome by you especially in such an age as wherein most of the estates in the earth haue bereaued him of his right and giuen their crowns vnto the beast Then happy be your names and memories and the memories of your posterities for euer And happy be the daies that euer we were borne to be gouerned by such a godly Prince and godly counsellers But if you make worse than Claucus his chaunge and as much as in you lieth robbe Christ Iesus of his kingly dignity what are you to looke for at his handes but the cruel destruction that is prepared for those who will not suffer the sonne of God to rule ouer them or theirs Consider and consider againe that they deny Iesus Christ a kingdome ouer theirs and consequently prefer Sathan before him which deny the ministery of the Gospell vnto the people vnder their gouernment The reason of which assertion appeareth not onely by some places of Scripture before quoted but also in that the woorde preached is called the a Matt 13.19 Luke 8.11 woord of the kingdome by our Sauiour himselfe and the glad tidings of the Gospell called the b Luke 8.4 Matth. 3.1 kingdome of heauen By the parable of the vineyard which is said to be the inheritance of the sonne of God Matth. 21.38 and whereof he accounteth himselfe robbed when he hath not fruit yeelded vnto him Matt. 21.38 which only is done where the Gospell florisheth In that the Ghospell is called the Ghospell of the c Mat. 24 14. kingdom Wherein politik Gamaliel also d Act. 5.39 gessed aright that the High-priests and Sadduces should be found to do nothing lesse than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is fight against God if they withstoode the course of the Gospel To be short e verse 31. Peter in the very same chapter a little before maketh it a part of Christs prerogatiue roial to work repentance in the hart of man and assurance of remission of sins which no Christian wil saie to be otherwise effected than by preaching In so much as they must needes be conuinced to eneruate and weaken the same soueraignety of the Lord of life who any way refuse to haue them for whose wealth they are to prouide good lawes instructed by the Gospel If this conclusion be true as in very deed it is most true oh how ought you of this honourable assemblie to labour for the erecting of the ministery of the word in Wales seeing they that wil be slack in the same detract from the honour they owe vnto Iesus Christ and plainly shewe how little they care whether his kingdome sincketh or swimmeth As for these that withstand this I dare boldly affirme them to conspire with Sathan about the inuading of Christs kingdome and most contumeliously to tread his crowne vnder foote Where by the waie they are intreated with al reuerence to looke better vnto their dealinges who vnder the name of conformity and obedience stay the course of the ministery in any place desired to acknowledge this vnity to bee nothing else but a consent with Satan to wrest the scepter out of Christ his hand and vndermine his chaire of estate if they haue done heretofore foolishly let them now following the counsel of the wiseman lay their hands on their mouthes and take heede least by defending former practises they ad drunckennes vnto thirst It may be
vnto their petition is this Either it must be said that her highnes would not haue the Lord honored with our saluation that hue in hir daies and that she enuieth vs that good nay enuieth herself yea reiecteth the infinite reward in the life to come and assurance of safety with diuerse other benefits in this life freely offered vnto her for adding vs vnto the kingdome of his son which assertion I know they will detest and gainesay or that shee greatly longing for the honour of God and our vnspeakable good desirous of the crowne that shal bee giuen hir in the life to come will be most carefull incontinently whatsoeuer may ensue to plant the word in Wales This later is to be embraced affirmed Neither can it be said that she wil take leisure herein for that were plainly to say her Maiesty waied not the honour of Iesus Christ because many a thousand of vs should die before he were known to be a sauiour of distressed soules Shee hath otherwise learned Christ and therefore knoweth that the Lorde must not staie mans leasure when hee woulde haue anie thing perfourmed towards his seruice If one wil not do it he can finde another whom he wil honor â—â—â—h the deed Shee hath learned that it is to wâ—â—ken the Lordes omnipotencie and to teach him wisedome and discretion to goe no farther in a matter required by him than mans reasons seeth good likelie to come thereof She assureth hir selfe the Lord is discreet wise inough in commanding and therefore will doe hâ—â— will though hir kingdome should be endaungâ—red For he sufficiently recompenseth the losse that befalleth to anie while the execution of his will is attended vppon This course she tooke at hir first coronation This course I doubt not she wil take at this Parlament euen this I saie for who knoweth whether the Lord Iesus meaneth to keepe his before we haue a second proclaimed Will you therefore good gentlemen I speake vnto you my fathers my brethren my kindred and what name of loue else can be inuented my deare countrimen be mute where there is no question you shal be hard vnles the fault be in you Indeed it concerneth vs poor inhabitants of Wales verie nearly to be hard as wel in respect of our present misery as of the wonderfull calamity that is to fall vppon vs. Our case now is to bee especiallie pittied in respect of the inner man For howe many souls doe daily starue and perish among vs for want of knowledge And how many are like still to tread the same path It grieueth me at the hart to consider how hel is enlarged to receaue vs. And here the Lord knoweth and our soueraigne with this most honourable assembly shal know that I doe not complaine withour cause For our estate is such that we haue not one in some score of our parishes that hath a sauing knowledge Thousands there be of our people that know Iesus Christ to be neither God nor man king priest nor prophet ô desolate and forlorne conditiom yea almost that neuer heard of him If anie by the great goodnesse of God be called this came to passe not by the diligeÌ„ce of their pastours which are either dumme or greedy dogs that delight in sleeping as saith the Propheâ— a few honest meÌ„ excepted but either extraordinarily through reading or by meanes of their reâ—â—â—t and abode in some corner of the Church of â—ngland where the gospel is preached And lâ—â—g â—ay it be preached there to the glory of Gâ—d the felicity of our soueraign and the eueâ—â—asting good of that whole nobility and people â—hose kindnes towards strangers the Lord wilâ—â—ot forget And our Godremember Queen Elizabeth herein and wipe not out hir kindnes shewed toward thy people shew mercy vnto hir iâ— that daie good Lorde and forget hir not in this life also seing by means of fostering thy Gospell in hir land some of vs a people not regarded haue known the remissioÌ„ of our sinnes euen of our great sinnes Let this neuer be forgotten good Lord. I am caried I knowe not whither from my purposed intent These latter sort are some few gentlemen or such like The rest of our people are either such as neuer think of anie religion true or false plainly meere Atheists or stark blinded with superstition The later are of 2 sorts The first crue is of obstinate idolaters that would fain be again in execrable Rome so hold for good diuinity whatsoeuer hath bin harched in that sacrilegious nest But these may doe what they wil with vs for nether ciuil magistrat nor Bishop wil controul them They may be euen of the Parliament house least that congregation should be without some AchaÌ„ that might giue the Lord iust occasion to execrate his whole hoast Hence flow our swarmes of south saiers and enchanters such as will not stick openly to professe that they walke on Tuesdaies and Thursdaies at nights with the fairies of whom they brag themselues to haue their knowlege These sonnes of Belial who shuld die the death Leuit. 20.6 haue stroken such an astonishing reuerence of the fairies into the harts of our silly people that they dare not name theÌ„ without honor We cal them bendith û mamme that is such as haue deserued their mothers blessing Now our people wil neuer vtter bendith û mamme but they wil saie bendith û mamme û dhûn that is their mothers blessing which they account the greatest felicity that any creature can be capeable of light vpon them as though they were not to be named without reuerence Hence proceed open defending of Purgatory the Real presence praying vnto images c. with other infinit monsters The other sort is of good simple soules that would full gladly learne the way vnto saluation and spend their hart blood for the safety of their godly Prince in whoÌ„ they do claim more interest then the rest of hir subiects whosoeuer And this is almost the only happines they haue These poore soules because the Idol pastor can teach them nothing entering more deeply with themselues into the consideration of things find by the small light of religion we enioy through the meanes of hir Maiesty by the instinct of nature that there is a diuine essence who must be carefully and religiously serued and praied vnto for al blessinges that would be obtained Which things they see vnperfourmed publikely therefore priuatly they assay what they can doe But wofull estate they being not taught out of the worde of God what he is that must be serued how he requireth this to be doone inuent vnto themselues both their God and the maner of his seruice concerning saluation they either think that the Lorde is bound to saue all men because they are his creatures or that al shal be saued at the later day at the intreaty of the virgin Mary who shal desire her sonne after iudgement giuen to saue as many of the damned as may bee
Think not the Lorde to winke al this while at our great sins Nay thinke rather that the Lorde will throwe as with a sting the inhabitantes of our land because our pastors are become beasts haue not sought Iehouah Ier. 10.18.21 There be two Archplagues vndoubtedly to be expected for of vs the inhabitants of Wales if our petition be not graunted The first indeed containing all the exquisite torments that may be inuented yet leauing a place for the latter In a woord it is the putting out of that small light of religion which wee haue the cutting off both of vs and our posterity from belonging vnto the Lord. The reason hereof is this if the knights of our shiers and Bishops c. will not shew themselues desirous to returne vnto the Lord with earnest labour for the word preached then they doe asmuch as if they said the woord spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare but we wil do whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth as did the wicked Iewes Ier. 44. But what was replied vnto them Verily this Vers 26. Behold I haue sworne by my great name saith Iehouah that my name shal be no more called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iuda in the land of Aegypt saying Iehouah liueth Our sinnes being like vnto theirs shall be surely rewarded alike The other punishment is the vtter ruine of our land the rasing of our names frō vnder heauē that we shal be no more a people Ieremy maketh it but a smal matter with the Lord to ouer-throw a kingdome for the sinnes of the people therein Chap. 18.7.8.9 So doth Amos 9.8 We haue not indeed as yet a barren womb giuen vnto vs but I feare me we haue brought forth children for the murtherers Though we bring foorth children yet will the Lorde slay the dearest of our bodies yea wo vnto them saith he when I depart from them Hos 9.21.17 Accoūt not these I pray you whom I haue before named to be the visions of the daies afarre off Ezech. 12.18 but tremble and feare least the Lord say the words in our daies and perform thē Thinke rather the Lord to expostilate with vs as he did sometimes with the people of the Iewes O you inhabitants of Wales why wil you dy saith the Lord Why should I giue you for a terrible plague to al the kingdoms of the earth Ier. 12.7 Why should I forsake mine house leaue mine inheritance giue the dearely beloued of my soul into the hands of her enimies Ier. 3.12.13 c. Thou disobedient saith the Lord return and I wil not let my wrath fall vpon thee for I am merciful Be thou instructed least my soule be dismembred frō thee and I make thee a lande without an inhabitant Ier. 6.8 Think these speeches I say to belong vnto you vs in respect of them be vehement The calamities of vs your kinsmé in the flesh yea your own and your childrens wil force you or els you are vnnaturall to vnfould our griefe vnto hir Maiesty and this assembly Our case is pitiful you know Our life short we know not how soone the Lord wil cal for vs. How soon he wil make an end of al. If we haue not more knowledge than as yet we haue enioied meanes to come by the same we can hope for nothing at his hand but that deadly voice I know you not You haue both a Herod in Vra◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persuasion and necessity which driue wise men to take great matters in hand to pricke you forwarde Throw downe your selues before hir maiesty and this honourable assembly and plead for your liues and your peoples rise not thence vntill your suite bee yeelded vnto We poore people look for nothing else but destruction except our God graunt you fauour at this verie instant time in their sight I with in the Lord that if wee perish we may perish our selues alone and that Queene Elizabeth and hir counsel with the estate and the whole communalty of England may in a good conscience testifie before the Lord and say b Deut. 21.17 Our hands haue not shed the blood of these men neither haue our eies seene it I do most earnestly beseech the Lord Iehouah for his Christes sake who is great and wise in counsell seuere in punishing sinne yet aboundant in mercy and kindnes towards the brused and humble soule to turne his wrath from vs to giue hir Maiesty and this honourable court his spirit to direct them in euery action according vnto his word to make al the enimies of his truth Queen Elizabeth like c Ier. 29.22 Ahab and Zedechiah whom the king of Babel burned in the fire continue hir raigne ouer vs hasten the comming of his Sonne Christ Iesus Amen Amen Yea come quiokelie Lord Iesus To the reader Some rumor of the speedy dissolution of the Parliament enforced me from the 32 Pag. or there abouts so much being already vnder the presse to cut off more of the booke by two parts than is now in the whole The neerer I came to the ende the more hast I made I regarded not herein Amphora coepit Institui currente rota cur vrceus exit The ouersight I hope hath not been very great if any I hartilie craue pardon How tedious vngainful it was for me to dismēber the whole and sow togither the torne parts let other men iudge Some thing spoken of in the Epistle could not be well perfourmed Pag. 30. l. 22. Read through-out his dominion
whole welsh nation Which she now wanteth in asmuch as they knowe not themselues bound by reason of a 1 Tim. 2.2 the commandement to pray for their Prince because the same was neuer taught them When I consider that an infinite number of vs truelie conuerted in the feeling of such a great benefit receaued at hir hands would giue the Lorde no rest daie or night but still bee begging of him to blesse our vertuous Queene Elizabeth with the blessinges of a regenerat heart and a prosperous quiet gouernment when I call to mind what an earnest and ardent affection a true Christian beareth vnto his Prince especially who bestowed on him the meanes of saluation and the promise of God annexed to such praiers I cannot in duty but beseech hir Maiestie not to be wanting vnto hir owne safety euen in this one thing Which should not a little moue hir seeing it was of such great moment to stir vp b Ezra 6.10 Cyrus to the speedy erecting of gods honour at Ierusalem Moreouer you may be assured dread soueraign both that we and our children for euer wil blesse our God that he hath enclined mercy vnto vs in your eies And also our calling wil be a testimony of your burning zeale vnto the truth among all the ages to come euen to the enemies of your good name Whereas on the other side the continuance of our blind ignorance wil be I fear me a blemish vnto your credit in obedience I speak it among our wofull posterities and the enemies of God for euer For what will our children that rise after vs and their children say when they shal be brought vp in grosse superstitiō but that it was not Queene Elizabethes will that we their Parentes should haue that true religion she professed made knowen vnto vs. Will not the enemies of Gods truth with vncleane mouthes auouch that shee had little regarde vnto true or false religion anie further than it belonged vnto hir profite I would some of them did not slaunderously cast abroade amongst our people that she careth not whether the gospel be preached or not preached If she did wee also shoulde bee most sure to enioy it after twenty eight yeares and vpward of most prosperous raigne These thinges derogating from her Maiesties honor in a most villanous sort must be withstoode thorough hir selfe and this whole assembly by making prouision for vs betimes of the food of our soules Because I see this most notably detracteth from hir I cannot in duety but repell and gainsay this slander and with as loud a voice as ynck and paper can sound affirme and publish that she would haue the truth made knowen vnto al her people and wish al of them to be prophets Which thing I trust in God shall bee manifested vnto the woorld euen at this Parliament wherein Wales shal be alotted vnto Iesus Christ for his inheritance And good reason why it should be so because thereupon standeth the mainteinance of hir credit Of al the men in the world therfore she may be least beholding to them that will not deal earnestly in our behalfe And we the inhabitantes of Wales may thinke that very straunge that one suite tending generally to the benefit of vs al will not bee graunted vnto vs in twenty eight yeares and that vnder hir Maiestie whose good will towards vs is no Iesse we are assured then to the rest of hir subiects If wee doubted heereof behold at this time opportunity is offered to take away all suspicion Where-as the neglecting of our cause beeing generall as it is wil not bee without some occasion of ielousie as though we were contemned not accounted of but as thrown into the most baren corner of the land so thought vnworthy to haue the seed of Gods woord sowen amongst vs vnworthy to haue the seruice of the same God with hir Maiesty and the rest hir subiects You that are godly wise counsellers in matters of estate look whereunto the shutting out of our most humble petition may tend For all the good faithful seruice that euer hir graund-father father brother kings of eternal memory hir sister or hir selfe haue found at the hands of anie of our nation we beseech her this one reward that we may enioy the woord of God and leaue it for an inheritance vnto our children with this memorial also that it is Queen Elizabeths reward aswel for the faithfulnes she hir self found in vs whereof we are already by hir prosperous Raigne recompensed as also for the good wil our poore parents haue declared to the loffe of their liues vnto her noble progenitors This would neuer be forgotten and I know it will be aunswered againe with the forwardst readines to yeeld dutifull seruice vnto hir highnes that any prince could hope for at the hands of hir or his most louing subiects It might greeue vs the lesse to be denied the gospel vnlesse the same were the inheritance which our fore-fathers the Cymbrûbrittons many hundred yeares agoe possessed in this lande For although at this daie wee cannot cal true religion by the right name yet are not our superstitious obseruations the blossoms of that auncient truth our forefathers professed and sealed with their blood But the impes of that lifelesse and brutish stock of Rome planted in England by Augustine that proud friar whose tyranical proceedings our diuines in Wales resisted euen to the losse of their liues That these trash be but of small continuance among vs in respect of the antiquity the trueth hath had I proue because the vetie mother of them the execrable Masse was but yesterday as it were knowen vnto vs. Shewed by two reasons First among the cartloades of oathes which wee haue our people cannot tel for their liues how to sweare by the masse Secondly we haue the masse at the end of none of our holy daies For Christmasse Candlemasse c. wee name the day of the natiuity the holy daie of Marie c. Which things doe prooue the Masse to haue had but colde entertainement among vs but within this later age wherin ignorance and idolatrie by the iust iudgement of God tooke such deepe roote in England that it can ouer our land also The equitie then of our petition appeareth also in that we aske nothing but the possession and inheritaunce of our fathers to be restored vnto vs which they coulde not alienate from their children This were a sitte place to stir vp my deare countrimen to bee earnest in obteining that iewell which is woorth all their riches besides beeing their owne right but their forwardae in other causes persuadeth mee they wil not bee slacke in the matter of the soule And why should they not be earnest Doe they not see our daunger to be so manisest that no wise man would spare either woords or life to be deliuered there-from Are they not assured they shall be heard The reason amongst many that might persuade them of hir Maiesties readines to yeeld