singular comfort and vnto the vtter confusion and destruccion of Anti christ and of hys kyngdome ¶ The. viij Chapter ANd albeit that ye do not perceauâ—… ContinuaÌ„câ—… in praiâ—…r Psal. 12â—… remedy straight wayes yet cease not to praye but as the eyes of seruauntes looke to the handes of their masters as the eyes of a mayden vnto the hande of her maystresse euen so let your eyes wayte vpon the Lorde youre God vntill he haue mercy on you He will vndoubtedly come Abac. 2 Heb. 10 not tarrye whan his godly wisdome seeth the tyme yea that on suche sorte as shall make moste for his glory and your coÌ„forte For the poore shall not alway be forgotten the pacient abiding of the meke shal not perish Psalm 9. for euer The Lord will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in due tyme of trouble as he hym selfe witnessâ—…th sayeng For the comforteles troubles sake of the nedye and because of the depe syghynge of Psal. 12. the poore now will I vp sayth the Lorde will helpe euery one froÌ„ him that swelleth againste hym and will set hym at rest Remember this sayeng of the prophete Esaye Esa. 30 In silence and hope shall your strenght be And thise sentence also of Ieremye It is Thre 3. good with sylence to tarrye for the sauyng healthe of God Murmure not agaynste God nor appoynte hym not hys tyme but paciently abyde hys working referring all Pacience thinges to hys godly pleasure and submittinge your wil to his blessed will whiche alwayes both willeth and doeth that thing that is best for hys glory and for oure salua cion In your pacience sayeth our sauiour Christe shall ye possesse your soules We Luc. 21. are commaunded too heare the woorde off God with an honeste and good harte too Luc. 8. kepe it faste and to bringe forthe the frute therof with pacience The tryall of youre fayth sayeth s. Iames bringeth forthe pacience but let your pacience haue a perfect Iac. 1. worke that ye maye be perfecte and whole and sounde on euery parte To the Hebrues Heb. 10 also it is written Caste not awaye youre confidence whiche hath greate rewarde to recoÌ„pence For ye haue nede of pacieÌ„te that after ye haue done the will of God ye might receaue the promyse For yet a littell whyle and he that shal come will come wil not tarry Pray therfore with pacieÌ„ce pacieÌ„tly abyding the good pleasure of God and his most gracious working Let youre fayth hope neuer departe from God but whan thinges become to moste extremitie reasoÌ„ iudgeth hauocke vtterly to be made and all thinges too be paste remedye than sâ—…eke moste faste to God to his promises let not your holde go but in the middes of death hope for lyfe loke for deliuerauÌ„ce at the Lordes haÌ„de Be lyke vnto hym that Iob. 13 sayde Though he kylleth me yet wil I put my trust in hym Saye with the Psalmographe the Lorde is my light my sâ—…luacioÌ„ whom then shall I feare The Lorde is the Psal. 27. strength of my lyfe of whome then shall I be afrayde When the wicked euen myne enemies and my foes came vpoÌ„ me to eate vp my flesh they stoÌ„dled and fell Thoughe an hoste of men were layde agaynst me yet shal not my hart be afrayd though there rose vp warre against me yet wil I put my trust in him For know ye this to be the pro Gods propertie in his seruauntes pertie of God He first casteth doun before he lifteth vp as we may se by Ioseph Dauid Daniel such other And whaÌ„ thinges seme to be past all remedy thaÌ„ he setteth to his haÌ„d maruelously helpeth that he mai shew hiÌ„ self to be an almighty Lord valeauÌ„t ruler of all creatures that there is no wysdome no forecast no couÌ„sâ—… that caÌ„ Prou. 21 preuayle against the Lord as Dauid sayth The Lord bringeth the counsaylles of the Psal. 33. Heathen to nought and maketh the deuyses of the people to be of none effect and casteth out the counsailes of princes But the counsayl of the Lorde shal endure for euer and the thoughtes of hys harte from generation to generation ¶ The. ix Chapter THat God sheweth hys present helpe In greatest extremities God chiefly helpeth moste of all in greatest extremities diuers histories declare euidentlye in the holy scriptures whereof parte briefly to touche it shall not be oute of the waye that we may learne in the middest of greatest euels not to despayr of the mighty workyng of God but to conceaue asure hope and to loke for all good thinges at the haÌ„de of the Lorde our God Who knoweth not vnto what great extremitie the chyldreÌ„ of Exod. 14 Israel were brought after their deliuerauÌ„ce out of Egipte Came they not to this point in their iourneye that before theym there was no waye to go into but the readde sea wherin they must nedes be drouned if they wente forwarde and behynde them was kynge Pharao with all his armye redy to slea them if they tarryed Here naturall reason sawe nothinge but presente deathe Before them was the readde sea vnable to be passed thorowe and behynde them theyr mortals foâ—… with his bloudy cruel hooste redy to kyll them Oh to what extremities are the Israelites come Yet beholde Psal. 145 1. Cor. 10 that mercifull God whiche is euer true faythful in his promises founde a way for them to escape where all reason witte wisedome discrecion experience and pollecye of man coulde do nothing in the matter He caused the sea to diuide it self so that in the middest therof he made a drye pathe for his people safely to passe thorow the sea standing on bothe sydes of them lyke two walles and the Israelites beynge once passed thorowe that whiche was a safegarde too Gods people was an vtter destruccion to their enemies For the sea ate the commauÌ„dement of God closed agayne together and drouned Pharao with all his companye O the wonderful workes of God Agayn when they were come into the wildernes Exo. 16. 17. where neither meate nor drincke was to be gotteÌ„ and they iudging after na turall reason thoughte that euery one off them shoulde there moste miserablye haue dyed for wante of socour how dyd the heauenly father in that extremitie prouide for his people by sending them meate froÌ„ heauen and geuinge them moste pleasaunte swete waters euen out of the harde rocke 〈◊〉 drincke O the excedinge greate ryches of the Lord our God To whome is the historye of Ioseph vnknowen Gene. 39 who beyng miserably kept in pryson certayne yeares withoute iuste cause euery man despayred of hys deliueraunce at any tyme. But whan all thinges semed to be paste remedy and the matter brought to vtter desperacion concerninge his commynge out God setteth too hande dothe not onely deliuer Ioseph out of
God both suffereth and appoynteth Whan Pylate sitting in iudgement sayde to our sauiour Christ knoweth thou not that I haue power Ioan. 19 to crucifye the and haue power to deliuer the Christ aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all agaynst me excepte it were geuen the from aboue Euen so maye we saye of the worldly tyrauntes Thei shal haue no power at all against vs except it be geuen them from aboue And the holy apostles in their prayer vnto God sayde that whatsoeuer Herode and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel did Act. 4. against Christe they did nothinge but that the hande and the counsayl of God had determined before to be done No more shall the tyrauntes of this worlde do any thynge agaynste vs but that whiche God before hath determined to be done froÌ„ euerlasting Of this historie of Peter therfore may we learn two notable thinges Fyrst that God than moste chiefly helpeth whan thinges be brought to greatest extremities SecoÌ„dly that the tyrauntes of this worlde can not take away a Christen mans lyfe nor yet do any more agaynste hym than the good wil pleasure determinacioÌ„ appointement off God is in whose hande alone as the wyse Eccle. 11 man sayeth is bothe prosperite aduersite lyfe death ¶ The. xij Chapter SEyng whan that we are taughte by so many credible histories that God dothe at all tymes helpe but chiefly whaÌ„ thinges be broughte vnto an extremitie agayne that no man can take away the lyfe of any faythfull man tyll God apoynteth let vs not doubte but that God will bothe heare oure prayers and helpe vs also and deliuer vs althoughe for a season he semeth to differre hys helpe and to leaue vs in the bryers He is the father of mercye and God 2. Cor. 1. Esa. 39 of all consolacion Hys haÌ„de is not so shortened but that he is able too helpe neither is hys eare so stopped but that he both can and will heare vs. God is faytheful saieth 1. Cor. 10 the Apostle whiche will not suffer you too be tempted aboue your strengthe but shall in the middes of the temptacion make a waye that ye maye be able to beare it Let vs not therefore despayre though presente helpe commeth not from God at the fyrste callynge but rather go for the to praye vnto God after the example of the Cananite and not to be weary tyll we haue obtayobtayned Math. 15. our request of the Lord our God folowyng the counsayll of the Psalmographe whych sayeth O tarrye thou the Lordes leasure be strong take a good hart vnto Psal. 31. the and paciently abyde the pleasure of the Lorde In silence and hope sayeth the Prophet Esaye shall be youre strengthe Here to pertayneth the sayeng of Ieremy It is Esa. 30. LameÌ„ 3. good wyth silence too abyde the sauynge health of the Lorde If we on this manner behaue our selfs toward the Lord our god we shal without fayle shortely beholde the wonderfull workes of God We shal se the doune falle of oure enemies with all theyr tyranny papistrie Idolatrie supersticion ceremonies masses decrees counsaylles customes c. We shall se the glorious Gospel of our Sauiour Christ spring agayne growe encreace prosper florish and tryum phe We shall se God truly honored not after the fonde fantasye of men but accordinge to hys blessed will and commaundement We shall se Antichrist that sonne of 2 Thes. 2 perdicioÌ„ slayne wyth the breath of the Lordes mouth and sathan troden vnder oure fete God graunte it maye be shortely Amen ¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle THus haue ye hearde moste dere brethren howe it came to passe that the true re ligioÌ„ of our Sauiour Christ was taken awaye from vs and in the stead therof a supersticious and idolatrous kynde of worshippyng God placed amonge vs vnto the great disconforte and vnspeakable sorowe of all faythfull Christians Ye haue hearde also by what meanes this plague maye be turned awaye and howe the true and syncere doctrine of Christe maye be restored vnto vs. The cause of Gods wrath toward vs as ye hearde was oure ingratitude and vnthankefulnes yea oure synnefull lyfe wickednes whiche was groune vp vntoo suche an heyghte that God coulde no longer dissemble the matter but muste nedes take awaye hys blessing from vs. We were vnthankefull for the heauenly benefyte off hys blessed worde yea we in a manner lâ—…thed and abhorred hys Godly ordinaunces euen as the vngodly Israelites were weary Nâ—…me 11 of the celestial Manna agayn our lyfe was nothynge agreable to the holy wil of God but defyled with pryde enuye couetousnes fornication adultery swearing glotonye dronckennes With all their kynde of wyckednes vnto the greate dishonoure of the name of God whiche we professe it therefore coulde none otherwyse but come too passe that God should be auenged of these thynges take awaye his holy woorde and throwe vs agayne into the deuelishe darkenes of the papishe Egipte For as he fylleth Luc. 1. the hungry with good thynges so sendeth he the ryche emptye awaye And as our Sa Math. 5 uioure Christe pronouncheth them blessed whiche hunger and thyrste after righteous nes and promiseth that all suche shal be satisfyed and haue their desyre euen soo are they cursed whiche haue no delighte in the worde of God and from such shal the bles singe of Christes Gospel be taken awaye and the cursed tradicious of menne shal be throwen vpon them as the Psalmographe sayeth he wolde none of the blessing it shal therfore be taken awaye from him Hereto Psal. 109. agreeth the saying of our Sauiour Christ the kyngdoÌ„ of God shall be taken froÌ„ you Math. 21. shal be geuen to a natioÌ„ that bringeth forth the frutes of it Agayn this is condeÌ„nation that lighte is come into the worlde men haue loued darkenes more than lyghte For Ioan. 3 their workes were euel Nowe to recouer the fauoure of God and to turne awaye hys heauy displeasure from vs that he maye once agayne lyghten hys glorious louing countenaunce vpon vs and blesse vs with the moste blessed benefite of hys sonnes Gospell the meanes as ye hearde is earnest repentaunce of oure former lyfe humble knowledginge of oure synnes vnto God vndoubted faythe in the mercifull promises of God the father setforth vnto vs in the moste precious bloude of oure Sauiour Christe diligent inuocation and constante callinge on the name of God for remission of our synnes for mercye grace fauoure peace reste of conscieÌ„ce c. Pacient abyding of the Lordes leasure and fynally a continuall meditacion practise of a new lyfe If we on thys manner returne vntoo the LORDE oure God let vs not doubte but that he will shortly turne vnto vs mer cifully beholde vs and once agayne blesse vs wyth the heauenly benefyte of hys blessed woorde that we here on earthe maye knowe hys wayes and hys sauynge
THOMAS BECON ⧠A confortable Epistle too Goddes faythfull people in Englande wherein is declared the cause of takynge awaye the true Christen religion from them howe it maye be recouered and obtayned agayne newly made by Thomas Becon Abacuk 2. Thoughe the Lorde tarye yet wayte thou for hym for he will vndoubtedly come yea and that oute of hande Imprynted at Strasburgh in Elsas at the signe of the goldeÌ„ Bibel in the moneth of August In the yeare of the LORDE M. D. LIIII The Epistle ¶ The fyrst Chapter TO the faythfull Christians wheresoeuer they be dispersed thorowoute the realme of Englande Thomas Becon wisâ—…heth grace mercy and peace from God the father with perfect knowlege of hys dearly beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Lorde and alone sauyour thorow the halowinge of the holy Ghoste vnto the true and vnfayned obedience off Gods moste blessed will with an earnest fayth in the merciful promises of God and assured hope of obtayninge thesame vnto euerlastinge lyfe AMEN IT greatly reioyceth me mosâ—…e deare brethren to heare of thys youre constancye and stedfastnes in beleuing confessing the glorious Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christe whiche as the apostle Rom. 1. sayth is the power of God to saue so many as beleue namely in these perillous and troublesome dayes wherin we se so many sturte backe and runne awaye from the coÌ„ fession of Gods trueth whiche whan the weather was calme they semed constantly to professe and folowe the fonde fantasyes of menne that speake not Gods worde but theyr owne drowsy dreames and idle imagi nacions brought into the church of Christ by suttle sathan and hys marked marchauÌ„ teâ—… vnto the great disturbaunce of the Chri sten common wealth so that if it were possible the very electe and chosen people off God thorow theyr â—…ugsing might be seduced Mat. 24. and led from the waye of truthe As ye haue godly begonne so manfully go forthe vnto the ende that ye maye receaue a full ioye and a perfect reward of the Lord your God in that daye whan he gloriously shal apeare and rendre to euery one accordinge to hys dedes that is to saye prayse honor and immortalite to them which continew in good doyng and seke eternall lyfe But vnto them that are rebellious and disobey the trueth and folowe iniquitie shal come indignacioÌ„ and wrath tribulacion and anguishe But be it knowen vnto you deare brethren that this thing that hath happened vnto vs in thys realme of Englande Roma 2. I meane the takynge awaye of Gods true religion and the thrusting in of paâ—…istrye in the steade therof vnto the greate vnspeakable sorowe of all true Christen hartes ought not to seme vnto you newe straunge and vnloked for but rather suche a thynge as hath hytherto many tymes bene declared vnto you by the preachers and ye your selfs godly coÌ„sydering the corrupt maners and vnluckye chaunces of thys realme did ryghte well the same aforesee and greately lament For diuers signes had we longe before besydes the godly admonicions of the faythfull preachers whiche playnly declared vnto vs an vtter subuersyon of the true Christen religioÌ„ to be at hande except it were preuented by hasâ—…ye and hartye repentaunce What shall I speake of that godly and mighty prince Edward duke of Somerset whiche in the tyme of his Pro The 〈◊〉 of Somerset tectorship dyd so banyshe Idolatrye out of this our realme and bring in agayn Gods true religioÌ„ that it was woÌ„der so weyghty a matter to be brought to passe in so 〈◊〉 a tyme Was not the vngentle handlyng of hym and the vnrighteous thrustinge hym out of office and afterward the cruel mur thering of hym a man yea a myrrour off true innocencye and Christen pacience an euident token of Gods anger agaynste vs The sudden takynge awaye of those moâ—…e goodly verteous yonge Impes the duke of Suffolke and hys brother by the sweating The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and his brother syckenesse was it not also a manifesâ—… token of Gods heauy displeasure towarde vs The death of those two most worthy godly learned men I speake of M. Paulus M. Paulus Fagius D Martine Bucer Fagius of D. Martine Bucer was it not a sure Prognostication some greate mishappe concerning Christen religion to be at haÌ„de But as I may passe ouer many other at the laste come vnto that whiche is moste lamentable and can neuer be remembred of any true English harte without large teares I meane the death of oure most godly Prince and Christen kyng Edwarde the. VI. that true Iosias that earnest Rynge Edvvarde the 〈◊〉 destroyer of false religion that feruent setter vp of Gods true honor that mooste bounteous Patrone of the godly learned that moste worthy mayntayner of good let ters and vertue and that perfecte liuelye myrrour of true nobiliâ—…e and syncere godlines was not the takyng away of hi alace for sorow asure signe and an euident tokeÌ„ that some great euel haÌ„ged ouer this realm of England Who considering these thynges as I may speake nothing of the wicked Grosse gospelers nes of those meÌ„ which made the worde of God a cloke of their naughtines of their insatiable couetousnes of their intollerable pryde of their volupteous wanton lyuing c. perceaued not a shepwracke of the Christen religion too be at hande as it is alace for pytie come to passe at thys daye All good men feared the decaye of Goddes true honoure in thys realme that we feared that hathe chaunced howe coulde it otherwise come to passe Gods blessing was offered vnto vs â–ª but we thorow our wicked and vnthankefull lyfe refused it Shal not therfore blessing be taken away cursinge come in the place therof as it is written he wolde not haue the blessing it shal therfore Psal. 109. be farre from hym ¶ The. ii Chapter IF the kingdom of God be proffered vnto vs and we set not by it are we not worthy Englande blessed â–ª 〈◊〉 to loose it What realme synce the Apostles tyme was euer so abundantly replenished with the knowledge of Christes Gospel yea that in so few years as this realme of England was But alace howe was it regarded Who repeÌ„ted who know ledged hys synne from the very hart Who called on the name of God in spirite and truthe Who framed hys lyfe accordynge to hys knowledge It is therefore come too passe as our Sauiour Christ longe before threatened the kyngdoÌ„ of God shal be takeÌ„ Math. 21. froÌ„ you shal be geueÌ„ to a natioÌ„ that bringeth forth the frutes thereof God planted this realme of EnglaÌ„d a pleasaÌ„t goodly vineyarde dressing and trymming it after Esa. 〈◊〉 the beste manner lokynge contynuallye to haue some worthy frut therof but wâ—… in the stead of naturall grapes it broughte forthe wylde beryes vnwholsome and vnnaturall was it not worthye too be layde wayste to be troden vnder foote and to be
that are off a troubled hart and the broken in spirite will he heale and saue ¶ The. v. Chapter SEcondly to this harty repentauÌ„ce muste a true and Christen faythe be annexed Faythe whiche apprehendeth and layeth hande on the mercifull promises of God frelye setforth to all faythefull penitent synners in Christes dere harte bloude For without this fayth and perfect perswasion of Gods fauour toward vs RepeÌ„tauÌ„ce is vayne as RepeÌ„tauÌ„ce and faithe muste go together the histories of Caym Esau Saul Achab Iudas and of suche other do manifestly declare In consideracion whereof our Sauioure Christ whan he beganne to preach sayde not onely to hys hearers Repente but he added And beleue the Gospell teachynge that true repentaunce muste be ioyned Mar. 1. with Christen fayth or els it profiteth nothing An example hereof besydes many other haue we in the history of the synfull womaÌ„ in the Gospel of sainct Luke which Luce. 7. dyd not onely repent earnestly as her bitter teares sorowefull sobbynges and depe syghynges do playnely declare but she also faythfully beleued beynge constantly perswaded that she althoughe a moste wicked syâ—…er shoulde obtayne remission of all her synnes at God the fathers hande for Iesus Christes sake hys derely beloued sonne whose fete at that present she ceased not too kysse whose fete she washed with her teares wyped with her hayre and annoynted with moste precious pleasaunte oyle Our Sauioure Christe therfore beholding her true repentaunce conioyned wyth vndoubted faythe sayde not onely to her Thy synnes are forâ—…euen the but he added Thy saythe hathe saued the departe wyth peace that is too saye with a quiet free ioyefull and merrye conscience Let vs brynge for the thys faythefull repentaunce Note and repentaunte faythe and wyth all humilitie poure oute oure synnes before the gracious throone of Goddes Maiestye and hartelâ—…e craue remyssyon and forgeuenes off all oure synnes in the precious bloude off oure Sauioure Ihâ—…u Christ and without all doubte God wil â—…e fauourable vnto vs haue pytie on vs and lighten hys chereful countenaunce once agayne vpon vs that we on the earthe maye knowe hys wayes and hys sauinge healthe among all nations For the Lord oure God is full of compassion and mercy long suffering and of great goodnes He will not alwaye be chyding neither kepeth he his anger Psal. 103. for euer He wil not deale with vs after oure synnes nor reward vs accordinge too our wickednes For loke how hye the heaueÌ„ is in câ—…parison of the earth so great is hys mercye also toward them that feare hym Loke howe wyde also the Easte is fâ—…om the West so farre will he set our synnes from vs. Yea lyke as a father pitieth hys owne chyldren euen so will the Lord be mercifull Esa. 38. Miche 7 vnto them that feare hym All oure synnes will he cast behynde his backe into the bottome of the sea wil he throw them neuer remember them more yea yf oure synnes as the Prophet sayth be as redde as sâ—…arlet Esa. 1. yet shall they be made whyther then snowe And yf they were lyke purple yet shal they be lyke whyte wolle yf we vnfainedly repente turne vnto the Lorde oure God beleue hys promises and craue mercye of hym for Christes sake ¶ The. vi Chapter THyrdly earnest diligence must be geâ—…en Good vvor â—…es that according to this true repetaunce and vnfayned fayth we bring forth good workes For the nature of harty repentaunce and of Christen faythe is not to be idle but mightely to worke to chauÌ„ge the penitente creature and to transforme hym into a newe man that he maye serue the Lorde hys God in holynes righteousnes all the dayes of his lyfe If there be not an alteracioÌ„ of lyfe if the olde man be not Ephe. 4. put of with all hys workes and the nâ—…we man put on which is made according vnto God thorow righteousnes if those 〈◊〉 Roma 6. which afore were seruauntes to vnclennes and vnrighteousnes do not nowe become seruauntes to cleÌ„nes righteousnes holynes withoute all doubte we haue neyther true repentauÌ„ce nor vnfayned fayth whose nature and propertie is to bring forth newe spirituall and godlye frutes as the Apostle sayth If any man be in Christ he is a new creature Agayne they that are of Christe 2 Cor. 〈◊〉 Galat. 5. haue crucifyed the flesh with the affectes lustes therof Therefore the holy preacher Ihon Baptiste that priestes sonne dyd not Math. 3. onely exhorte his hearers vnto repeÌ„tauÌ„ce but also vnto amendemente of lyfe vnto the bringing forth of such frutes as become true and faythfull repentaunce Brynge forthe frutes saythe he worthye of repentaunce Math. 3 c. For nowe is the axe layde at the roote of the trees Euery tree therfore that bringeth not forthe good frute is heweÌ„ vp and caste into the fyre And oure Sauiour Christe sayeth Not euery one that sayethe Math. 7. vnto me Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kyngdome of heauen but he that dothe the will of my father whiche is in heauen Agayne ye are my frendes if ye do those Ioan. 15. Ioan. 14. thynges whiche I commaunde you Item he that hath my commaundementes and kepeth them he it is that loueth me Also in another place Let youre lyghte so shyne Math. 5. before men that they maye se youre good workes and glorifye youre father whyche is in heauen These frutes of faythefull repentaunce whyche are the true good workes that God requireth of vs too be done in the holy scripture and not suche as good entent blyndezele or mannes idle imaginacioÌ„ fantasyeth ought to be brought forth whan tyme requireth of euery true Christen man to declare that hys faythe repentaunce is true and vnfayned We maye not therfore if we tender oure owne saluacion and will recouer the fauoure of God be â—…lacke and sluggyshe in bringynge forthe these weyghty frutes of repentauÌ„ce and faythe but so adourne garnyshe decke Note trymme and setforth oure lyfe with them that it maye appeare too all men yeâ—… too the very aduersaries of God that oure repentaunce is true and oure faythe vnfayned and that we be true Christians not onely in name but also in dede â–ª and not off the number of those of whome the Apostle wryteth on this manner They professe with their mouthe that they know God Titus 1. but with they bebes they denye hym And albeit at all tymes it were conuenient that the true Christians shouldbe brynge forthe the workes of repentaunce and the frutes of faythe and lede a lyfe worthy their profession yet in these oure dayes it is moste requisite For who consydereth not wyth how great a number of enemies I meane the deuill and the papistes the true Christians are enuyroned and be set in these our dayes which do nothinge els but diligently marke what they may fynde in vs â–ª worthy to be rebuked â–ª that by 〈◊〉 means
to escape came vnto Chryste awoke hym and sayde Master saue vs we peryshe Christe aunswered Why are ye afrayde O ye of littell faythe Then he arose and rebuked the wyndes and the sea there folowed a great calme O the tender mercye of the Lorde oure God towarde all suche as in the time of theyr trouble fie vnto his name as vnto a stronge bulwarke Thys historye teacheth vs that thoughe the seas and the wyndes yea though the deuel the worlde ryse rore rage ruffle against vs neuer so much yet if we fie vnto God with harty faythfull praier he wil surely helpe vs so that nothinge shal hurte vs seme oure case neuer so miserable our daunger neuer so perillous The waues of the sea are mightye sayeth the Psalmographe rage horri Psalm 93 bly yet the Lorde that dwelleth on hye iâ—… mightier The lyke historye rede we of Peter whiche whan he saw Christe walkinge on Math. 14 the sea sayde Lorde bid me come vnto the on the water Christ sayde come And whâ—… Peter was come doune out of the shippe he walked on the water to go to Iesus But whan he sawe a mighty wynde he was afraide And whan he beganne to syncke he cryed sayeng Lord saue me And immediat lye Iesus stretching forth his haÌ„de caught hym and sayde vnto hym O thou of litle fayth wherefore dedist thou doubte O the merciful fauour of the Lorde oure God towarde his weake feble creatures Here fynde we the sayeng of the Prophete true A broosed rede shall he not breake smoking Esay 42. flaxe shal he not quenche But as I maye at the laste come too the history of our Sauiour Christ Who seeth not â—…he mightie power of God in raisinge vp Christe crucifyde dead whan all reason and wisedom of men thought it a thing Mat. 27. impossible The Iewes now promised theÌ„ selfs many fayre holy daies great safegard muche quietnes and continuall rest seynge they had brought Christ their head enemye to his long home as they vse to say Euen as oure Papistes at this present daye promise them self many good morowes greate Papistes assuraunce of their wealthy liuinges long rest perfect establishement of their kyngedome and sure saffetie for euer forasmuche as they haue now gotteÌ„ agayn their deuelishe and abhominable Masse their vnfruteful Latin seruice their beggarly ceremonies c. haue so handled the matter that the true preachers beyng put to silence thei alone both at Paules crosse and els where are the trompet blowers not of Christes Gospell but of that Romishe Antichrâ—…es dyrtie deuelish decrees as their sermons if thei be worthy that name now of late haue manifestly declared vnto the great derogation of Gods glorie the dishonoure of hys holy Gospell and the vnspekeable sorowe of all faithful and Christe hartes The Iewes but specially the Bishops the Priestes Mat. 26. 27. the Scribes the Lawers the Phari seis the Saduceis founde the meanes to laye hande on Christ to bynde him to cary him vnto the hye powers to accuse hym to condemne him to crucifie him to kyll Note him Yea beynge buried and a greate stone rolled to the bodre of the sepulche they sealed the stone and sette watch men with bylles halbardes gleyues sâ—…aues speares pyâ—… kes all manner of weapon to kepe Christ doune that he shoulde ryse nomore and trouble the holy religious and spirituall fathers with hys doctrine as he dyd afore But what is the power of this worlde before God very weakenes and the wysedome 1. Cor. 3. playne folishenes For whan they thought them selfes sure ynough of Christ for euer rysing agayne and them selfes set in suche a goodly staye as no misfortuyne coulde chaunce to them and to their kyngedome Christe by the power of hys Godhead Math. 28 rose agayne a tryumphante and victorious conquerour of all his enemies and raygneth nowe in the glorye of hys father for euer and euer And shortlye after the doctrine of Chryste whyche they soughte by all meanes possible too destroye and for the whyche they so hated Christe that they thoughte hym vnworthye too lyue dyd so aryse spryng growe encreace prosper and floryshe that it was not onelye taughte in Iewrye and Samaria but also in all the partes of the worlde and the Iewes for theyr vnthankefulnes and disobedieÌ„ce after certayne yeares with theyr countrye vtterly peryshed and came to noughte After Bevvare ye papistes thys sorte without all doubte shall it come to passe with oure papistes For where as they thynke prosperously longe too raygne by suppressynge the worde of God and hol dynge doune yea quenchyng the glorious light of Christes Gospell the Gospell off Rom. 1 Christe whiche is the power of God shall moste triumphantly ryse agayne maugre the enemies florysh and prosper and they with all theyr pompe pryde vanitie super sticion papistrye hypocrisye Idolatrye ceremonies masses decrees constitucions counsayles customes c. shall perishe and come to nought For God hymself sayeth I will honour them that honour me and I wyll brynge them to shame that do dishonoure 1. Reg. 2. me And oure Sauioure Christe sayeth He that falleth vppon thys stone shall be broken Math. 21. on peces but vppon whomesoeuer it fall it shall crushe hym all to pouder Here to pertayneth the sayenge of sainct Paule 2. Tim. 3. They resiste the trueth beynge men of a corrupte iudgement and lewde as concerning the fayth but they shall preuayle no lenger For their madnes shall be knowen too all men Agayne the God of peace shal treade Rom. 16. sathan vnder your fete â—…hortly ¶ The. xi Chapter MOreouer in the Actes of the Apâ—…stles Acto 12. we rede that after king Herode had kylled Iames the brother off Ihon with the swearde he layde hande on Peter and put him in pryson committing him to foure quaternions of souldiours to be kept entendinge after Easter to bringe him forth to the people and so to kyll him But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregacion to God for him Here Peter was apprehended caste into pryson bounde with chaynes warders appointed to kepe him all thinges so handled that he should by no meanes escape but all tymes be redy at the firste call to be broughte forth vnto death Peter loked continually for present deathe Herode and the Iewes perswaded them selfs to be sure of Peter to kyll him at their pleasur as though thei had slaine him all redy But beholde the mightye power of God whiche fyndeth a meanes to deliuer his seruauÌ„tes whan reason seeth no way to escape The night before that Peter should be brought forth to death there was a very diligente watche because they wolde be sure of him Peter him self was bounde with twoo chaynes Two souldiours also kepte him in the pryson one on the one side of him and another on the other syde Besydes this there were
healthe amonge all nacions Turne vntoo me sayeth the LORDE of hostes and I wyll turne vnto you Zacha. 1. Remember howe fauorably God at all tymes dealte with hys people bothe whan they were captiues in Egipte and also in Babylon yea and at all other tymes whaÌ„soeuer they were in anye distresse For though he worthely plagued them for their wickednes yet so sone as they vnfaynedlye returned vnto hym he deliuered them froÌ„ their enemies and gaue them their hartes desyre For God is neuer so angry with his people but that in the myddes of hys anger he wyll remember hys mercie And though he somtyme punisheth vs yet will he be pleased agayn if he seeth oure vnfayned coÌ„uersion as Tobie sayde in his praier Tobi. 3. After a storme O Lorde thou makest the weather fayre and calme After weping and heauines thou geuest great ioye Thy name O God of Israell be praysed for euer Onely let vs returne vnto the Lorde oure God and become new men and withoute all doubt we shall se out of haÌ„de the myghtye working of God Repent betymes therfore repent humble your selfs in the sight of God beleue hys promyses call on hys holy name abyde paciently hys godly pleasure become new men in lyfe and conuersacion walke worthy your profession and so behaue youre selfes in all thinges that God maye be glorified by you Fare ye well dere Brethren and accordynge too the admonicion of the holy Apostle watche ye 1. Cor. 16 stande faste in the faythe quyte you lyke menne and be stronge The Grace of the Lorde Iesus Christe be wyth you all Amen ¶ Gyue the glorie to GOD alone ¶ Manne Howe longe o Lord Psal. 13. Christe I come quickely Apoc. 22 Manne Oh come Lord Iesu. Apo. 22. Prophet He will come and not tarye Abac. 2. ☞ The C. iij. Psalme made in Englishe meter by Thomas Becon for a thankesgeuing vnto God immediatly after hys deliueraunce out of pryson whose emprysonmente began the. 16. daye of August the yeare of oure Lorde 15 53. and ended the 22. of Marche then nexte ensuynge ¶ Psalm 103. BE thanckefull o my soule vnto the LORDE And all that within me haue theyr beynge Laude prayse magnifye with one accorde Hys holy blessed name aboue all thynge O my soule once agayn to the I saye Be thankeful vnto the Lord euer more And looke thou forget not night nor daye All hys benefites that thou haste in store For he it is yea he it is alone Which pardoneth al thy synnes both more and les He deliuereth the from all griefe mone And sendeth the health in tyme of sykenes He saueth thy lyfe from destruccion Which otherwyse should perish withoute doubte He of mere ' grace ' and tender compassion Crouneth the with louing kyndnes round aboute He with good thinges thy mouth doth satisfye To eate drinke gyuing the abundance He maketh the ioyful yonge and lustye Euen as an Egle that is ful of pleasaunce The LORD dothe minister iustice and iudgement To suche as are oppreste with violence He defendeth the good and innocent But the wicked he casteth froÌ„ his presence He shewed hys wayes vnto faythfull Moses And his workes to the sonnes of Israel That all hys people myghte knowe bothe more and les In all kynde of vertue for to excel O the Lord God eueÌ„ of his own nature Is bent vnto gentilnes and mercye Yea frendly is he aboue all measure Longe suffering eke of great petye For though oure synnes be bothe greate and many Yet wil not the Lord be alway chyding Neither will he for euer be angry But shew him self toe vs bothe gentle and louyng After our synnes he dealeth not with vs Neither according to our wickednes But lyke a father bothe gentle gracious He forgeueth al our sinnes both more les For loke how hye is the heauen supernal In comparison of the earth full lowe So great is hys mercy toward them all That feare hiÌ„ wickednes away throwe And loke howe wyde the Easte is frome the West So farre hath he set all our synnes froÌ„ vs Because oure conscience should be at rest And nomore trobled with workes odious Yea lyke as a father gentle and tender Pittieth hys owne chyldren natural Euen so is the Lorde merciful euer Unto theÌ„ that feare him both great smal For he beyng our maker knoweth cerâ—…es Of what mater we be made and formed He remembreth we are but dust and ashes All of vyle and slymye earth created A man in his lyfe is like vnto grasse Hys dayes are few but a whyle endure Lyke the floure of the felde awaye he passe Floriâ—…ing for a tyme but nothing sure For as a flour with fears wâ—…d assayled Fadeth shortly away cometh to nought So dothe man of cruel death oppressed Departe heÌ„ce vnto nothing is brought But the mercifull goodnes of the Lorde Dothe continew for euer and euer Upon theÌ„ that feare him with one accorde And hys iustice vpoÌ„ their chylders chylder I meane vpon such as kepe his coucnauÌ„t And do them selfs diligently applye To kepe hys preceptes likewise do grauÌ„te To frame their whole lyfe accordingly In heaueÌ„ hath the Lorde a seat prepared For him self both glorious and royall And his prince like power is so outstretched That it raygneth ruleth ouer all O prayse the Lorde all ye aungels of hys Ye that excel bothe in strengthe and vertue Ye that do hys will without any mys Ye that harken to hys voyce that ensue O prayse the Lorde our God omnipoteÌ„t All ye hys hostes and armies supernall Ye seruauntes of hys whiche alwayes are bent To do hys wil o prayse the Lord aboue all Yea all thinges that euer God created Prayse ye the Lorde that God of myghte and poure But thou o my soule with hart vnfayned Looke that thou prayse the LORDE at euery houre ¶ Geue the glory to God alone ¶ Psal. 112. O Blessed is the man at eche season That feareth the LORDE God omnipotent For suche one hath all his delectation To accomplysh the Lordes commauÌ„demeÌ„t Hys sede vpon the earth shall be mighty Florishing aye lyke the grene olyue tree The generacion of the godly Shall be blessed in euery degree Suche a man in hys house shall haue alwaye Of honour and ryches great abundaunce And hys righteousnes shall neuer decaye But in all ages haue continuaunce Whan that other in darkenes do remain Unto the godly pleasaunt light shal spyne For such one dothe loue mercy to mayntain To kyndnes iustice his hart he enclyne A good man is bent all vnto mercy And gladly lendeth to such as haue nede As for his talke he ordreth discretly So that his wordes vnto vertue do lede From hys place shal he neuer be moued But alway abyde both constante sure The remeÌ„braunce of the iuste true harted Shall for euer and euer styll endure The righteous shal be nothinge afrayde Of any euel tidinges whaÌ„ they be brought For hys hart on the Lord is wholy stayde Thorow stronge faythe that God therein hath wrought Yea his hart is so throughly stablished That he wil not thrynke in no condicion Untyl he seeth hys desyre satisfyed On hys enemies and their destruccion He disperseth abrode plenteously And geueth to the pore their nede to sustain Remembred therfore continually Shal he be his prayse euer remayn The vngodlye seynge these thinges shall ware woode Gnathe with hys teeth consume away Yet shal the vngodly with all his moode Shortely come to nought perish decay ¶ Geue the glorie to GOD alone