inhabitants thereof in peeces and grind the rebellious to powder euen with the breath of his mouth For surely he that can shake the tree euen to the rootes he can much more disperse the leaues and consume them to nought Seeing I say good reader that our dulnes is such our hearts so besotted with the obliuion of any regard of so high a matter of so newe a thing and so straunge an euent I am vtterlye discomforted to present thee anye more newes then within nine dayes I may assure me shall perish in the floud of forgetfulnesse And on the other side to write what hath beene already written to present vnto thee what hath beene or is already extant I know it will be thought stale stuffe and so a needles trauaile So that â—are is the trauaile in these dayes that draweth not after it some mislyke of the authour be it new or old But such is my boldnesse in the feare of God and premised obedience to my dreade Soueraigne that I haue aduentured to present vnto thee such things for thy learning and comfort as haue beene in the dayes of our fathers of old done to shew the goodnesse of the Lorde to those that trusted in him and his vengeaunce and judgementes againste them that were rebellious againste his truth and that stood vpon their owne strength and multitude against the same which although I confesse hath been already written yet to shew my selfe willing to do thee what good my poore tallent can extend vnto I haue endeuoured to perfourme this little trauaile the summe wherof is but to encourage thee to frame thine affection to the truth of Gods worde and not to bee dismaied at the threats of gods enimies notwithstanding they seeme vnuanquishable in respect of their multitudes and boast of their assuraunce of the truth in respect of their manie heades These are friuolous vauntes whose fruites declare their profession pestilent and their perswasions nothing els but to plucke men into the pit of wilfull rebellion against God and conspiracie against his annointed of the land And that which I haue here collected is nothing but the fruits of the tree of life the sacred word of God for thee to feed vpon in these daungerous dayes perswading my selfe that if thou be a true christian thou wâ—lt more willingly accept it though altogeather voyde of eloquence theÌ„ that which the multitude couet namely that which may encrease subtilty of wit make men more wonderfull amonge men in respect of the curious conceited rules of falshood and felowship of Sophistry such like which as it is far from the intent of my trauaile so I know thou wilt not expect it as a thing necessary to staine the way to the true christian profession or to moue willing zeale zealous willingnes to perseuere therein I haue intitled it A MIRROR FOR THE MVLTITVDE for that as in a glasse all men may see and beholde the common course of the most parte alienate from the truth of Christian religion And the lesser number to bee the true seruants of the liuing God For notwithstanding the common censure of the worlde doth rashly attribute greatest assurance of hauing the truth in respect of many heads and generall consents of countryes and kingdoms and doe yeeld greatest likelihood of safty vnto the might of manye adherentes It fareth not so with Gods eternal truth which hee reuevleth vnto babes and sucklinges and hideth it from the wise of the world who plucketh downe the mightie and proude and exalteth the humble and meeke And therefore is it a deceite of Sathan to allure men to consent vnto the multitude to be sure of the truth and to trust in the mightie showes of multitudes to be preserued from the foyle It is not the horse that saueth a man in the battayle but the mightie hand of God God is not tyde to the force of man but the puysaunce of the mightiest multitude vnder the power of the inuincible God And therefore a daungerous thing to followe the multitude For many are called but fewe are chosen many are inuited to the heauenly sweete banquet of the true knowledge and exercise of the sincere religion of God but fewe there bee that frame their willes and powers to performe it in deede And why onely for that they finde the way thereunto rough burdensome and bodily dangerous and therefore start aside like broken bowes and retire like dastardly souldiers and attain not vnto the end of the race that leadeth vnto life but take the broad pleasant and easie way that trayneth vnto errors feyned holinesse consequently vnto death It is a painefull hard and tedious thing to fleshe and bloud to forsake worldly vanities and pleasing thinges of the worlde to followe Christ for that in flesh there is no goodnesse pronenesse or readinesse to do well to denie and suppresse our owne naturall affections and as it were to kill our owne selues in true mortification to the ende the more freely to imbrace the crosse of Christ and to liue to him in singlenesse and purenesse of heart The Apostle sayth for thy sake are we killed all the daye long agreeing with the wordes of the Prophet who likewise sayth that for the loue and dutifull affection the godly bare vnto God for his sake they are slaine contitually namely suffer the wicked to rage against them to rayle at them to persecute them and punish them wherein being led by the spirite of God in perfect holinesse they take it not onely patiently but to their vnspeakeable coÌ„fort for that they are thought worthy to suffer such reproch for the testimonie of their true and verie Christian profession when they are carried as sheepe to the slaughter for their faith in Christ and not as wicked doers traytors rebels murtherers bloud thirsty men for Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen But if any man suffer as a murtherer or an euill doer or as a busie bodie in other mens matters he hath no portion with theÌ„ And yet such is the blindnes of our late conspirators that they are perswaded their rebellions their treasons murthers and all their bloudie practises not onely lawfull but meritorious only by the dispensation which they haue from the vicegerent of Satan who presumeth to make the word of God in this behalfe namely that no murtherer or wicked person shall enter into the kingdome of heauen of none effect and not only tollerateth murther other the most intollerable euils but warranteth the actors thereof not only pardon but great rewarde for murthering the most godly vpon the earth yea wheÌ„ for these wicked pretended practises they come by due proofe course of lawes vnto the gallowes as wicked doers such is the blasphemous boldnes of the man of Rome that he blusheth not to canonize them
Saints when the scripture the very worde of truth condeÌ„neth as very reprobate Iudas killed not Christ although he were the mean to encourage the Iewes to lay handes vpon him yet such was the guilt of his conscience that after the fact he ranne desperate hung himself here was the canonizing of a man as holy as these that now coÌ„spire the death of her Maiestie her Counsaile and Magistrates the spoyle of the lande the vtter exterpation of the glory of God merites of his Christ some of whom as we see in a guilty conscience haue canonized theÌ„ selues after the maner of Iudas the most proudest of theÌ„ yea hee that carrieth the most resolute minde had they their desire which God forbid would runne with Iudas Cayn desperate for so rashly betraying the innocent bloud And howsoeuer these foolish and more then mad ministers of the Romish confederacy flatter themselues who haue vowed the ouerthrow of the true religioÌ„ of Christ by taking away the chiefest props thereof in hope for their rewarde some to sit at the right some at the left hande of Christ in his kingdome as the false father of all the faithlesse the proude Pope hath flatteringly perswaded theÌ„ let theÌ„ assure theÌ„selues that if the word of God be true then shall not such as suffer for euill dooing nor such as haue their consciences feared with the hot iron of consent vnto such like conspiracies enter into the kingdom of heauen nor haue their portion in the presence of Christ neither sit at his right or left hand in his kingdome no they shal not haue the priueledge of enioying the light of his couÌ„tenance the bright beams of his glory shal not extend towardes them to their comfort in the laste day but meere horror anguish torment and the worme which is the testimonie of their guilty coÌ„sciences shalbe their portion to drink for euermore and the great deceyuer himselfe whoÌ„ Sathan hath deceyued shall haue his hire with them in vtter darkenes where shalbe weeping gnashing of teeth And therfore good Reader take heed that the sufferings of these meÌ„ deceiue thee not for marke the cause of their sufferinges whether it be for the testimony of a good coÌ„science or no. Thou hast heard that he that suffereth for euill doing as for murther such like can challenge no benefit of the promise made to such as suffer for righteousnesse sake Thou art not ignoraunt of their practises thou art no doubt resolued of their profession to be accompanied with treasons rebellions tumults coÌ„spiracies practises of farrain inuasions for the ouerthrow of thee all true Christians for which they suffer as they deserue and the cloake of good intent can not hide their heartes fraught with manifest desire of the bloud of Christians from the throne of him to whom the innocent handes of many Christians are lifted vppe for a testimonie of their sounde profession and to showe themselues not onely guyltlesse of such wickednesse but zealous of the reformation or confusion of such blodthirstie men Iust vp thy handes with a cleare conscience therefore with the truely godly and craue the assistaunce of him that neuer fayleth the faithful that he will continue the defence of our Soueraigne the stay and guyde of our Magistrates the protection of our lande and a seuere Iudge of those that seeke by these wicked deuises to confounde him if it were possible in his members that for his sake are killed all the day long And if thou suffer suffer as a Christian namely as a faithfull member of Christe taking the narrowe waye to life with such as neuer desired other canonization then the merites of their master and heade Christ Iesus whom whosoeuer desireth to imitate and be pertaker of the ioyes prouided for his very Saintes must bee likewise pertaker of his crosse for his sake in this life for farre better it is by labour to obtaine rest by tribulation to winne ioy and by death to procure life then by rest to come to labour by ioy to purchase tribulation and by a pleasaunt and louâ—e life to procure death and eternall destruction for this is certaine and nothing more certain that what commeth last bee it life or death it is eternall and for euer to endure Shall therefore persecution and threates of bloudie tyrantes keepe vs backe or dismaye vs from that profession which leadeth vs vnto life or shall the daungerous deuises of the ministers of Sathan draw vs agayne into the palpable darkenesse that leadeth vnto death God forbid What should then mooue vs to feare the force of the manie and mightie fauourers of the stronge deceyuing whore of Babylon Shall the infirmitie weakenes of our flesh and bloud accompanied with so many sharp bickeringes of temptations and such vneasinesse of the narrowe way that we must walke in we being fewe and so vnlike to withstande the encounter of our manie enemies No surely for God by whome we liue and in whom we trust hath promised to stande by vs to helpe vs and to sende his spirite to strengthen vs who being alwayes neere vnto his will ayde vs being omnipotent will assist vs and not suffer his vaunting proude aduersaries that imagine such mischiefe against his people to take effect in their deuises Although the Kinges of the earth stande vp and the Princes assemble themselues together against the Lord and against his annoynted although they increase mightily that â—eeke to violate the sanctuarie of the Lord and great multitudes rise vp against his word vtterly to supplant it and roote it out let God deale with them according to his diuine wisedome and in the end we shall see those that nowe take these wicked counsailes laying their heades together imagining howe and by what meanes they may banish the godly of from the earth to melt away as wax at the fire yea they shall consume in the imaginations of their owne heartes and perish in their owne wilinesse he hath spoken it that for euer hath and will confirme it hee hath sayde it that will for euermore performe it And therfore although Sathan haue sounded his trumpets and beaten vp his drumbes of Alarum rounde about vs to allure forraine inuasions preparations to ciuill tumultes vprores practises of secrete conspiracies among our selues that the red dragon of Rome may the more freely reestablish his kingdome of darkenesse we see and to our vndoubted comfort we may note the diligent eye and carefull diligence of our watchman Christ who hath brought all their deuises to light So that we may say had not the Lorde garded her Maiestie defended our Nobles watched our Cities and protected our whole Realme she had beene deuoured her Magistrates massacred our Cities ransacked and our Realme and common quiet come to vtter ruyne subuertion and the Lordes honour laide in the dust Thus may we little Israell of Englande laye
and Archenemy of the church of Christ who in the beginning seeing our first parentes in a blessed estate in a sincere godly course of life hee neuer lefte by pernicious practises vntill hee had pluckt thē from their obedience to their maker into wilfull rebellion and sinne and consequentlye vnto deathe And hath not since in anye age ceased to seeke the meanes to preuent the passage of the truth and to hinder as much as in him lyeth the saluation of all men He raysed vp wicked Cain to laye violent handes vppon godly Abell and to shed his innocent bloud onely because he saw that Abell began to serue God aright When Ioshna the high preist prayed vnto the Lorde for the prosperity of the Church Sathan stoode at his elbowe to resist him and of a surety so endeuoreth to resist euery action euery enterprise and motion tending to the setting forth of the glorye of God and the saluation of our soules He raysed vp wicked Saul to persecute godlye Dauid Herod to seeke the death of Christ and his many ministers euen mighty multituds to persecute his Apostles We may read how he incited vngodly Iesabell to seeke the death of Eliah and to conclude hath neuer omitted tyme and meanes to persecute as many as haue professed the truth such is his malice towards the church of God And for that the church of Christ is so subiect to the stormy tempests of Sathans persecutions and euery godly action so encountred and kept back with the blusterous blasts of his buffets It is rightly resembled vnto a ship that is beaten battered and continually subiecte to the rough and boyling waues of the raging Sea But herein is our comfort that when the greatest tempestes and stormes doe arise when wee seeme to be in most perill and likely to be ouerwhelmed with the belowes fomy flashings of affliction and when we think that our heauenly father is a sleepe and regardeth not our troubles our daungers or present and imminent perills he suddenly ariseth and rebuketh the windes and chaungeth the stormes into calme weather our despaire of helpe into a manifest token of our certaine safetie And as in respect of the trobles incident vnto the professors of the trueth their estate is resembled vnto a ship tossed in the sea Euen so let vs further consider that as the ship that is greeuously tossed and the mariners and passengers that thereby are most perilously endaungered haue then the greatest care and take circumspectest heede that they runne not against the rocks nor be driuen into any gulph and if they safely ariue vnto their expected harbour their ioy is then the more great gladesome by howe much they were in desperate perill Euen so the poore soules that are most cruelly handled and the bark of their fraile fleshe most sharply tossed and driuen to and fro with the force of bitter persecution for the testimony of the truth their care and diligence to keep the euen and direct course is thē most regarded they carry then an eye vnto their course least the wind of these troubles shoulde driue them vpon the rockes of error And when they shall safely namely truely constantly ariue at their wished harbour namely of the passage from this mortall life vnto the immortal hauen whether it be by Martirdome or by any other kind of determination of their course their ioyes shall bee so much the greater by how much their afflictions and persecutions haue bene for the testimony of their godly professions with constancy due pacience tollerated accepted for blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen This thē is our sufficient warrant patiently to accept of Sathans buffets knowing that the grace of God shal hold vs vp and preserue vs from confusion And therefore although through persecution and crosses wee be thought contemptible in this world and through the slaunders reproches of the wicked we be thought and accompted abiects in the worlde let vs perswade our selues that all the persecutions afflictions troubles cares calamities scornings scoffings scurgings and crosses which wee can beare in this life are not worthy of the ioy of the life to come Yet may we fully resolue our selues that as a sparrowe lighteth not on the ground without the prouidence of God no more doeth the least of these afflictions light vppon vs without our heauenly fathers will for our saluation And therefore wee may not think it straunge when this firy tryall of persecution commeth but rather to reioice in somuch as we be thereby made pertakers of Christ our dear maisters sufferings For when his glory shall appeare wee with him shall appeare in glory But why shoulde God permit his children to be so hardly dealt withall by the wicked Why doth Christ suffer his sheepe thus guiltlesse to be slaine and his spouse the church to be so persecuted afflicted for that shepheard that hath speciall regard vnto his flocke will not suffer thē to be so hunted and vexed by the tiranny of rauening wolues Neither will that father that loueth his children see them abused and ill dealt withall by any but will with speed show himself a carefull father and the shepheard a watchfull shepheard vnto his flocke Euen so naturall reason would seeme to controll Christ in that hee wincketh at the wicked when with open mouths they run vpon the godly as though they woulde swallow them and deuoure them vp quick but should rather presently take their cause in hand and reuenge himself of such as defile his sanctuary But Christ to resolue our weaknesse and to confirme a farther hope in vs touching his good pleasure herein saith that it muste bee so vntill the number of the faithfull bee fulfilled that the wicked shall persecute the godly as who should say I do allowe that my children shall taste of the whippes of the vngodly and by them to bee cast out of their Sinagogue to be excōmunicated and put to death and why For my names sake saith hee And in that they thus afflicte them they shal think they do god good seruice namly in that they knowe neither God the Father neither Christ whereby we see that none that trulie know God or seeke his glory will moue as much as their hands or tongues against any of his seruaunts much lesse against his annointed against lawfully established kings princes and magistrates which couet to maintaine the setting foorth of his truth and exalting his name Then to conclude what may wee holde them that seeke the murthering of Christs annointed namely our Queene and gouernesse and suche like defenders of his true religion May wee not say they be such as know not God such as seeke nothing but how to crucifie Christ in his members Nabuchadnezar not knowing God neither being acquainted with his trueth did euen the like in persecuting the
shoulde not yeelde nor be discomforted or dismayed he willeth vs by the answere which hee gaue vnto Paule when he prayed that the buffets of sathan might bee taken from him and cease in him to assure vs of helpe he saide that his grace is sufficient for vs. This no doubt was written for our learning for our comfort although spoken to Paule to assure him so to vs and for vs to assure vs of Gods defence and protection in al our troubles if in like sorte wee holde our selues by the same grace that alwayes offereth it selfe vnto vs whēsoeuer wee bee persecuted whensoeuer wee bee blamed of the worlde or whensoeuer Sathan by any meanes seeketh to buffet vs or discourage vs for the testimony of an vpright and sound conscience For what is the cause that they which liue godly they which professe the truth of god boldly they which take Gods true religion in hande effectually and seeke to maintaine the same perish to manifest it openly to sowe and disperse it generally and to acknowledge Christ constantly are misliked of the multitude condempned sclaundered reproued rayled at reuiled imprisoned hated afflicted persecuted and cruelly martyred Is it not beecause they truste and beeleeue in the liuing GOD beecause they repose their cheefeste and sole confidence in the mighty God of hoastes and doe disclaime the manners the conuersation the profession and vaine deuises of the multitude who collour their actions and paint their practises with counterfait holinesse giuing all the causes of their conspiracies of their tirannous treasons treacheries and bloudsheds the glose of the loue in religion when indeede the word of God reproueth forbiddeth condemneth punisheth these wicked practises and practisers altogether disallowing the courses of their coūsells the prooceedings of their practises and the dealing of their deuises wherby they as we see according to the ancient enterprice of Sathan seeke to bring all the fauorers followers and supporters of Christs gospell the members of Christs church his whole flocke and especially the chiefe proppes thereof heere on earth to vtter consusion But deare Christians seeing the worde of God so much disaloweth and God so much disliketh and condemneth the practises and pollicies of this peruerse and peeuish people whose desire and onely seeking is for the shedding of innocent bloud let vs vtterly refraine our affections from all familiarity of their faction yea and let vs carefully bewarre of indifferency as though we cared not which side did preuaile It is a daungerous thing to bee neither hote nor colde to be effectuall in neither side for of such saith Christ Euomam eos ex ore meo I will spewe them out of my mouth Therefore in the name of our good and victorious captaine Christ Iesus I earnestly exhort you that we may al arme our selues with a constant desire and ardent zeale to maintaine the truth and not to winke at those that vnder collour of Catholickes desire a chaunge Wee although wee were assured to enioye not onelye our goodes landes liberties and liues but to haue for our reward of ioyning with them great preferments highe places and honours and dignities For better shall the poore begger and base seruilian fearing the Lord professing his name be then the high mighty Monarch denying the same and reuolting from his truth for there is no respect of persons with him but he that feareth him and walketh in his wayes is accepted with him And he verily denyeth him that resteth indifferent that can saile with euery winde Let vs therefore bewarre of inconstancy and take heede that for feare of losse of goods lands liberties or our liues wee runne not with the multitude nor ioyne our forces to the greatest part or likeliest companye of forreine powers that take part with our domestical traytors for surely it is most daungerous And the resolution to runne with greatest number is both weake and wicked grounded vpon vnbeeleefe a foundation laide vppon the san des slippery and deceitfull and of no assurance whatsoeuer perswasions reasons or argumentes they alledge to induce vs or whatsoeuer practises they put in vre to moue or incourage vs to set our helping handes to their deuises For we haue had sufficient try all of their tirannyes many proofs of their pernicious practises and do plainly see that they deceiue most when theyflatter fairest They haue dispensations to dissemble what dealing is there then with them who will play with him that can cog who will trust them that may lie by authority who will confederate themselues with such as haue no faith but like the Camelion can turne them selues into all colours and by dispensation perswade themselues free to breake what promisse vowe contract or loyall obedience soeuer Oh detestable diuelish damnable drunken drousie doltes that winke in the day light stare in the darke night that straine out a gnatte and swallowe a camell that followe sathan and forsake Christ that persecute truth and preach lies that by wicked and sinister meanes seeke to plucke downe the godly most religious princes to set vp Antichristian authority crying out and saying crucifie Christ crucifie Christ and deliuer vs Barrabas hang Paule and saue Iudas And yet they are in the catholike way they are in the way of life they are the church the church the church Alas if these men be the church who is their chaplaine surely not Christ hee neuer taught mē to murther any much lesse the innocent he neuer commanded to rebell much lesse to kill their soueraignes Butlo their fruits declare of what they came he that taught Symon a Monke of Swynsted Abbey in Lincolnsheere to poyson king Iohn and absolued him before the fact teacheth these present treacheries But seeing their fruits be wray the substance of their profession Let vs passe ouer their horrible deuises and diuelish practises with more silence for the ripping vp of all their wickednes would make the godly to vomit throughe the lothsomnesse thereof Wherefore let vs craue of God their conuersion or vtter confusion the extirpation of them if it were possible out of the lande they are worse then the frogges of Aegipte yea what can bee more perillous then their pollicies and practises But they are men and therefore haue we so much the lesse cause to fear their forces for God is on our side though the multitud be of theirs Let vs not feare therfore the braggs of corruptible fleshe althoughe they haue already cast lots vpon our garments possessions and goods and although they saye come let vs deuoure them vp quick let vs set vpon them and destroy them let vs ouerthrowe them that they rise not againe these are vayne wordes these are of the vaunts of vaineglorie and shall returne as prickes in their owne eyes and as their owne swords into their owne bowels For God who is true and these men lyers hath spoken it and he wil
persecuting executioners that it is not their tyrannie that can suppresse or the cruell force of the multitude that can resiste the approoued and manyfest trueth which wee professe and will shewe and openlye declare that the deuises and imaginations of man are but vayne Naye further to shew his iudgementes of these bloud-thirstie men he will sende their destruction with the same torment they prepared for his children For let vs beholde and to our comfort and for our learning consider that notwithstanding these three poore men were caste into so feruent a burninge flame that there appeared no possibilitie for them to escape euen suddaine consumation of their bodyes with the force of the fier yet suche was the power and prouidence of him that hath all thinges in subiection vnder his feete that he preserued them in suche sort as in the midest of the fire they walked safelye and to shewe his iustice threwe out the slame vpon those ministers of the king that executed his will therin so that they that digged the pit for others fel themselues into the same they were taken with the snare that they prouided for others Euen so shall that proude Haman of Rome in the ende bee hanged in the gallowes that he hath set vp for godly Mardocheus of England We must thinke that these examples were written for our learning and verye sitte for our time to be considered according to the present course of men for as then Nabuchadnezer thoght that the consent of so many great men vnto his idolatry approoued the same to bee very sound and good And when these three men stoode in defence of the true religion of God as now we see that our small Islande of Englande amonge many other famous countries of the world holdeth and possesseth the gospell with part of other nations as it pleaseth God to afforde his grace among vs. And as then these three men were condemned of the multitude and our selues in like maner misliked of the moste as the liuing God then prouided for their safety so no doubt he dooth and will doe for ours though not in present outwarde deliueraunce yet no doubt in inwarde comfortes whereby there appeareth no cause why the children of GOD should feare the multitude although the people in a common prouerbe agree that many heades are better then one whereby they goe about and seeme to approoue the venemous and brutish serpent Hydra to be the wisest beast that euer was in respecte of the multitude of his heades when we know many silly creatures of the earth in many vertues to exceede such monsters But this seemeth not agreeable to my matter beeing Euangelical for that this application is poeticall But surelie it is not without good morall for the multitude in deede may be well compared to a beaste of manye heades vnstayed in respect of manye guides vnconstaunt in respect of many mindes vnruly in respect of manye members And therfore this argument of many heads better then one holdeth not in causes of heauenlye reuelations for the trueth commeth not from the multitude it proceedeth not from the wise nor is to be expected of the learned in respect of the many professing one things or in re spect of the wise in naturall pollicies nor in respect of profound study It commeth not from men of whatsoeuer iudgement but euen from the very spirite of God the teacher thereof The truth is Gods it is of God and his gift it is that the men of base callinges and iudgementes in worldlie causes conceiue the trueth speake the truth and are able to teach the trueth which in deede of it selfe is simple pure cleare and not mixed with the traditions nor the deuises nor tyed to the power or strength of mortall men And therefore to shew the weaknesse of manye heades and their errours and to confirme his truth by the handes of one and that of the weakest and moste frayle sexe he caused an example in that behalfe to bee written for our experience namely that where there were manye magistrates in the Citie of Bethulya and they all layinge there heades together determined a course contrarye to the truth namely rashlye to tye the will of God and his hande to their owne prefixed time or els to giue ouer their Citie to the Captayne of the enimie of God This was their resolute determination when indeed it behooued them by the rule of Gods worde to haue referred them-selues in faith vnto the good prouidence of God as these forenamed three men did and to tarry the Lords leasure for their deliuery But a sillie woman perceiuing this their rashe resolucion by the instincte of the holye Ghoste the teacher of the truth openly reprooued them in that they shewed in themselues no sparke of patience neither allowed that power and omnipotencie to God for their deliuerie which he shewed to manye before them but tying as it were his will vnto their wils indented with him the tyme and maner of their deliuerie And shee referring the whole state of the Citie vnto the mightye hande of the Lorde in a perfect hope sounded vpon the truth miraculouslye preuayled in deliuering the poore besiged Citie from the blouddy handes of the wicked idolaters This was a weake meane in the iudgement of man yet did the Lorde vouchsafe vnto her proceedinges the successe acceptable vnto the poore oppressed heartes of manye people And let vs then but thinke the lyke or farre more power is giuen vnto the hande of our godlye Iudith to cut off the hautye aspiringe heade of mightye Holophernes of Rome and his adherentes the graunde Captaine of all the aduersaries of Christ and Christians These examples reprooue those that in their actions goe about either to tie Gods truth vnto their many heads or build their resolucion vpon the might of the multitude If Noah had builded his resolucion vppon the resolucion of the multitude and had ioyned his consent vnto the resolute determinations of the multitude hee shoulde haue had his portion with the multitude in the swelling and mercylesse waters and not haue tasted the sweetnesse of the prouidence of GOD in the Arke So surelye if we shoulde looke into the common sort of men into the generalitie of consents or into the common vse of countries not guide our selues by the rule of Gods worde we coulde not but perish in the merciles waters of errours and neuer enioy the sweet comfort of the Arke with the true Church of Christ. And therefore had Lot a care a diligent eye and carefull consideration vnto the course of the Citye of Sodome and feared to giue consent vnto the multitude because he knew their generall inclinations declininge from the right waye And so leauing the multitude vnto their owne course tooke a priuate course with himselfe according to the direction of the trueth and was saued from the destruction that fell vpon the multitude so that we maye
whome the mighty hand of the God whome he serued sufficientlye protected shutting the Lions mouthes so that they could not hurt him But when those were cast into the den that conspired his death they were rent in peeces ere they came to the ground of the den This Daniell was likewise hardlye beset with manye enemies for that he in zeale of Gods truth reprehended Cyrus king of Persia for permitting and committing suche idolatrye vnto a filthy monster Bell the idoll of whome such was the opinion of the king and the people that they worshipped it as God the whole multitude fell downe before it But Daniell resisting them to their faces sayd this that yee worship is an idoll and no God and when the kinge hearde that he seemed wroth and to maintaine this Dragon to be a God he framed his argument saying doest thou thinke it to bee no God beholde he eateth and drinketh and therefore doest thou speake blasphemie against our God he eateth an hundred gallons of fine flowre and forty sheepe and drinketh sixe great pots of wine euery day here was a gluttonous God But beholde the poore idoll was slandered and deceiued for the priests their wiues and children deuoured all this prouision secreatlye These were like vnto our late abbey lubbers who deuoured that in loiteringe lasines which the painfull labourers should liue by But poore Daniell beeing sharply reprooued not onely at the handes of the king but threatned by the multitude not fearing their force hauing his assured confidence in the help of the liuing God and seeking to maintaine his glorye and deface superstition idolatrye vndertooke the destruction of this false God without swoord or staffe which he by his power whose hande is alwayes ready to assist his seruaunts and to confound his aduersaries presently performed and brake it all in peeces confounded it and shewed it in it likenes namely to be a false and counterfeyt image and in deed no God Whereat the whole multitude of the Babylonians raged not onely against Daniell but also against the king himselfe for that hee permitted Daniell to take this enterprise in hand The king being timorous and more fearing the force of the multitude then seeking the glory of the liuing God deliuered poore Daniell into their handes who threw him violentlye into the Lions den to be deuoured But such was the omnipotent power of God ouer these greedy and rauenous beastes which Daniels aduersaries of purpose kept hungry and without meat to make their stomaches so much the more greedy of the bloud of this seruant of the true GOD who in suche sort stopped their mouthes that they hurt not Daniell at all What a most louing God what a mighty and merciful iudge of our distresse doth he shew himselfe for this is also written for our learning to shew that he neuer saileth the faythfull but helpeth them in due time of need And that we should not fear the great and mighty multitudes of Romish Babylonians that endeuor to bring vs into the den of their deuouring Lions their spanish inquisition and such like deepe deuoring gulphes that they haue deuised to ouerthrow if they coulde euery true Daniell by persecutions torturs and the feare of death Now for asmuch as we haue seene the mighty workes of the Lorde in great aboundance towards the deliuery of those that put their vnfeyned confidence in his protection vsinge sometymes worldly meanes sometimes his power against worldly meanes and sometimes without worldly meanes to allure his people in their distres to come vnto him for their encouragement hath made waies for their safety when naturall reason coulde not deuise or imagine the meane to escape and hath by few of his seruants ouerthrown vanquished great multitudes of his aduersaries pulled downe the mighty by the hand of the weak and exalted the weake against the expectation of the mightye Let vs therefore duely applye all these his mighty workes to our instruction according vnto the time set them before our eles as a mirror or glasse to see the estate of the enimies of God their slippery standings and weake holds and the sure refuge the buckler which the righteous haue in the mighty hand of God The christiās we see are inuironed with manye perillous snares of the enimies of God their state in naturall reason standeth dangerous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all And therfore let vs assure our selues of the ayde of him that hath not as we see failed those that truly and constantly professed his name And as he hath beene neare vnto them so will he be vnto vs if with pure heartes and constaunt mindes we perseuer and continue not as hypocrites neither as suche as beare the name onelye of Christians but very christians not in name so much but that our conuersations may bee aunswerable therunto to the vttermost to the praises of God and our saluation in Christ. CHAP. 3. A comfortable conclusion to stirre vp such as couet to be called Christians to bee inwardly the same that they doe outwardly professe to be considering that it is not the name but the pure life in Christe that maketh a Christian. THE bishop of Rome and his adherentes doe perswade all men to ioyne with them in the Religion whiche they holde Catholique which the holy Ghost reprooueth and sheweth it to be meere idolatry and altogether repugnant against the truth They say and affirme it to be true pure and the sounde religion the way that leadeth vnto Christe and saluation in him But the trueth findeth that the foundation thereof is layde vppon traditions and inuentions and not vpon the rocke Christe Iesus frō whose example whoso dissenteth cannot though in name yet not in deed become a perfect Christian or true catholike whatsoeuer great shewes of deuotion workes of charitie abstinence prayers or other outwarde ceremonies these fayned and false foxes these hidden and cloaked Catholiques can or do glory of although they could deriue the same from the beginning of the worlde from the wise from the studious and learned from the mighty or greatest multitudes of the whole worlde and from a generall president For the truth whereupon the conuersation of euerye Christian is to bee grounded is setled in the heart of none by the power the will the wisedome or inuentions of man neither can it bee increased or bettered by the pollicie of anie nor sufficientlye protected or mainteined by the authoritie of princes but where first the spirit of GOD hath framed the foundation By the meere workinge whereof it is apprehended followed imbraced and duelye mainteined and by it the spirite of errour and falshood and counterfeyt christianitie is reuealed controuled suppressed and confounded and so consequentlye the perfect trueth confirmed and allowed Besides which truth who so endeuoureth to establishe any doctrine carry it neuer so fayre and glorious a shewe of good intent is a
the death not onely outwardlye in wordes but euen to the faces of our aduersaries in inwarde zeale vnto the death framing our affections our heartes our mindes and all the powers of our bodies to bring foorth the fruites of that profession which we seeme to holde and as we haue the names of protestantes so if we protest before men in our workes and before God in our consciences the truth of his word then let the serpent seeke what shiftes he can let sathan do his worst and the red dragon the bishop of Rome and all the rabble of his adherents waite till they be weary and their multitudes make what glorious shews of threats for our ouerthrow they can yea let all the kings of the earth and great princes of the world that haue taken vp the swoord against Christ and his spouse the church frame all their forces and yet shall his little flocke be safe vnder the shadow of his winges The mighty power of the Lorde hath from the beginning defended maintained and alwayes preserued the true doctrine of his worde and the true professours thereof and let vs not feare but he will to the end defend maintaine and preserue the same hee hath promised it that will surely performe it Whatsoeuer is written was written for our learninge that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might haue hope namely constantly for the loue of the kingdome of God to stande in the day of triall For as the worde of God is pure simple and without anye kinde of spot or wrinckle So it requireth those that be professors therof to be pure simple and constant without deceit without dissimulation or hipocrisie For the world the multitude loue shiftes starting holes meanes to deceiue God and good men And therfore brag the enimies of God and say they haue the whol world on their side the greatest part of people And the reason is because their deuises and traditions are of the world For saith Christ vnto his disciples if you were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue you but I haue chosen you out of the world and therfore doth the world hate you We see then that the way to become true christians is not to ioyne with the multitude to tread the steps of the greatest part of the world for so shall we shake hands with the Elders and rulers with the whole troupe of the Iewes with Pilate with Herode and the Emperours power to rise vp againste Christe and his truth as now the greatest part of the world do which God forbid many are called but few are chosen Then are not the greatest part of the world that heare the word of God the seruants of God The truth is not tyed to the multitude nor to the outwarde shew of coloured christian conuersation but hee that feareth the Lorde which is in the heart and worketh righteousnesse which is also in the outwarde conuersation is accepted with him The multitude then make not any thing at all for vs or against vs the truth shall no doubt triumph mightely preuaile when we shall see Pharaoh of Rome and all the huge host of his confederacie ouer throwne in the red sea of their owne inuentions For he that brought Israell out of Aegypt he that dryed vp the red sea he that brought water out of the hard rocke and he that hath done so many wonderfull thinges for our fathers of olde which we maye applye for our comfort hee which hath brought foorth and reuealed so manye treacheries and treasons againste our moste gratious Queene and common-weale of late daies practized he euen he shall deliuer vs from the Romishe tyrannie he shall drye vp the sea of their blouddy conspiracies that they shall not touch vs or hinder vs but shall tourne them euen vppon their owne pates he shal bring the water of perfect knowledge out of the rocke of his worde whereof all the faithfull of the world shall drincke Therefore with a louing consent let vs make the sweet harmonye of thankes giuing for his moste gratious deliueraunce for which our mouthes maye rightlye bee filled with laughter at the foolishe deuises of these wicked men and our heartes bee replenished with ioye of the mercifull protection of the Lorde who hath as we see done great thinges for vs alreadye for which euerye true Christian hath great cause to reioyce The righteous loue to speake of this they loue to consider it and likewise to praise the the mighty power of the God of heauen for the performance of it If the children of Israell were much bound vnto the goodnes of God for their deliuerye from the bondage of their bodies in Aegypt how far greater cause haue we to thinke our selues bound vnto the mighty hand of God and his aboundaunt mercies that hath brought vs out of the bondage of soule and bodye from the Romish Babylon chaunging our spirituall captiuitie into spirituall liberty blacke idolatry into the true seruice of God in knowledge and true seruice of whome standeth oure saluation our assured helpe and infallible defence againste the multitude of all the aduersaries of Gods truth Let vs therefore reioyce and singe that most acceptable song which most pleaseth the Lorde namely the vnfeyned reformation of liues and conforming them after a more dutiful sort to God and Christ that our conuersations before men maye witnes our perfect Christianity and our certaine being the children of God let vs beautifie the chambers of our hearts with the flourishinge braunches of a godlye life let vs mortiâ—ie and kill all those euil and peruerse affections which break forth and darken the bright beames of that profession which euery true christian ought to hold Let vs beare the sayles of our conuersations euen with the wind of the worde of God And let the holye Ghost rule the sterne and guide the rowder of our desires leaste that we cracke the barke of our religion againste the rockes of slaunderous toonges So shall our aduersaries be ashamed to mutter against vs for liuing contrarye to that which we professe and God who is our onely defence shall be pleased with vs in his son Christ and continue his wonted protection towards vs in this life so that we his little flocke shall not be dismaied at anye rumors of warres and other like threats of Gods enimies but shall though not of anye deserts of ours worthy in the end through the merites of Christ be partakers of the kingdom of heauen which God for his Christes sake graunt vs. Amen A Psalme of praise wherein the mercie the loue the prouidence strength and wisdome of God is remembred his mindfulnes of the afflictions and daungerous estate of his seruants in the time of their greatest need and the deserued confusion of the aduersaries of his truth briefly declared Oh Ioua Domine noster quà m nobile est tuum nomen in toto terrarum orbe I Will praise the Lord with all
my heart and shew forth all his marueilous workes 2 I will be ioyfull and reioyce in thee oh Lorde I will sing praises vnto thee oh thou most highest 3 For thou hast turned backe mine enimies thou hast throwne downe those that deuised mischiefe against me yea thou hast reproued the wicked and turned their vaine hope to naught their counterfeyt glory into open ignominy and reproch 4 Thou hast taken my cause in hand maynteyned my right and preserued me thou sitting in the seat of iudgement hast showen thy self an vpright Iudge 5 Thou hast rebuked the multitude of those vngodly ones that haue sought the dishonor of thy name the spoyle of thy sanctuarie bloud of thine annointed 6 In so much as I may to my comfort say vnto them and to the chiefe Captaines of their multitudes Oh enimye the destructions that thou didest threaten wherin thou vainly vauntedst to destroy Cities to subuert Kingdoms to extinguish the memory of the godly from of the earth behold thou thy selfe consumest the breath of the Lords mouth shaketh thee thy triumphing before the victory soundeth forth thy perpetual shame and deserued confusion 7 The Lorde whose true seruice thou seekest to violate and whose seruaunts thou seekest to supplant hath an euerlasting dominion and he sitteth in iudgement to giue vnto euery man his due right 8 It is he that only ruleth and gouerneth the whole world with righteousnesse and with the ballance of his truth and equity discideth euery mans cause 9 It is he that is the strong a defensible Tower to such as are oppressed an assured refuge to the afflicted and an vndoubted reuenger of such as seeke to lay violent handes vpon his annoynted 10 And therfore as many as know thy name Oh Lord thy mercy and strength wil put their confidence in thee for thou neuer forsakest but duely relieuest and protectest those that truely seeke thee 11 Oh sing praises sing praises therefore vnto the Lord that hath his dwelling on high and yet so beholdeth all such as are true of heart let vs declare vnto al people the worthy acts which he hath done for vs already wherof great cause we haue to reioyce in him 12 He seeketh and findeth out such as are desirous to shed bloud thirste after the destruction of his annoynted shewing himselfe moste mindfull of those that loue him and forgetteth not to deliuer such as are in daunger and winketh not at the wicked 13 Haue mercy Lord vpon me oh thou that hast miraculouslye defended me from deathes doore Consider how mine enimies yet cease not to imagine mischiefe against me and to lay violent handes vppon my guiltles person thou my strength and aid consider it and deliuer me 14 That I may with ioy sing foorth thy worthy praises and entring into Syon maye reioysingly declare that thou art he that sauest me by whom I stande and by whome my enimies are throwne downe on euery side of me 15 A huge multitude of enimies haue risen vp against mee but thou hast brought it so to passe that they are ouerwhelmed with the sloud they deuised to bring in vpoÌ„ me they are fallen into the pit they digged for mee and they are strangled in the snare they layd priuelie for me This oh Lord is thy doing and it is comfortable euen vnto my soule 16 Oh Lord thy wisedome is vnsearcheable thy loue incomprehensible and thy mercyes wonderfull and thy iudgement knowne by executing iustice vppon such as vse crafty wylenes against the innocent 17 Rise vp rise vp oh lord in the behalf of thy seruant let not thy haÌ„dmayd be alwaies forgotten let not her hope which she hath alwaies in thy defence be frustrate let not the wicked preuaile in the craftie conspiracies which they imagined Cast them down oh Lord and let the effect of their deuises shew their folly themselues to be but mortall men Esai 35. 3. 4. Confirmate manus languidas labantia corroborate genua Dicite animifestinis este fortes impauidi en Deus vester vltor veniet praemiator Deus ipse veniet seruâ—tum vos Non vi sed veritate FINIS The multitude expectethnoueltieâ— The greatest wonder lasteth but nine daies The late earth-quak a great vvonder The earth-quak a caueat The stranged nevves soone forgotten The summe of this trauel The fruits an aâ—gâ—mâ—nt of the professioÌ„ What the multitude most desire Gods children are the least number Gods trueth contrary to the mindes of the multitud A flight of sathan A daungerous thing to follow the multitude The way to true religion bodely dangerous The flesh is weake and vnable to abide mortification Ro. 8. 36. Psal. 44. 22. The godly are for gods sake killed continuallye The comfort of Christians in their crosses Mat. 5. 10. 1. Pet. 4. 15. Wee muste regarde the cause of our sufferings The misconceit of euill doers Romish dispensations cause of many euils The canonization of Iudas The vain hope of traytors Their assured revvard that seeke the ouerthrowe of the godly Wee muste take heed of the causes of sufferings The causes of the sufferings of the wicked The zeale of the godly Our duties remembred Hovv vve ought to suffer How the righteous desire to bee canonised Life or death in the last day eternall A good admonition God is our staffe and strength hee vvill defend vs. Psal. 2. 2. The kings of the earth not to be feared it they go about to resist the truth Psal. 3. 1. The end of the wicked Sathan hath sounded vp his trumpets of alarum to inuade christians in the behalf of Antichrist Christ is a carefull vvatchman The benefit of Gods protection The snare is broken and we deliuered The raske vovve of the king of spaine The permittance of the spanish inquisition most vvicked A good remedy for the clensing of a man from self mortification The booke of martyrs â— glasse of romish cruelty The cause why the pope and his disciples now storme A christian resolution VVe muste bewarre of starting backe The ende of the godly The end of the wicked persecutors The conclusion The wicked are tyed within the limits of gods povver God vvil not suffer the vvicked to go vnauenged Our dutiesto God 1. Tim. 2. 1. The sterne of our common vveale Euery man must execut his dutie 2. Tim. 3. 1. 1. Tim. 4. 1. Persecution is there most sharp where the worde of God is follovved moste sincerely Queene Eliâ—abeth an instrument vnder whome God hath reched vs his truth VVee muste follow Christ in accepting his crosse The seruante is not aboue his maister The children of God must not look for a pleasant life in this vvorlde 2. Tim. 3. 1â— They that professe the truth are busseted of Sathan Sathan the archenemy of the church of Christ. Sathan seeketh to preuent the saluation of maÌ„ Zachary 3. 1 Sathan stood at the elbovv of Iosua vvhen he prayed Saul persecuted Dauid Iesabell Mat. 8. 26. The churche of God is compared to a
daies of king H. 8. The continuance of our reduction oâ— of Romishe Egipt by K. â— 6. Our recaptiuity in the daies of Qu. Mary Our redemption by Q. Elizabeth To beware of murmuring against her Maiesty and other godly magistrats The danger or looking back into Egipt or SodoÌ„ appeareth by Lots wife Sathan raiseth euen kings to persecute the godly Dauids complaint against conspirators to be applied to these daies The foolishe vaunts of the Egiptians The strength of Nabucadnesaâ—s multitude was his own confusioÌ„ Ier. 27. 1 2. King 24. 7 A resemblaÌ„ce betwene the actions of old Nabuc of Babilon the nevv Nabu of Rome The fauour of God tovvardes such as build their enterprises vpoÌ„ the truth Gods iustice in casting dovvne the proud Nabuchadnezars revvard for his pryde A metamorphosis of Nabuchadnezar The applications of the â—â—ll of Nab. The vauntes ofromish Nabucaâ—dnezar His vsurpations The pride fall of Nab vvas aâ—â—pe of the pride subâ—â—ersion of the Pope Hoâ—v the Pope his adâ—erents are become trans fâ—â—med into bruit beasts Their food The hair of â—â—â—ir heads The â—â—yles of their haÌ„ds The 〈…〉 ce of our deliuery in Christ. Iericho throvven dovvne with the breath of Gods mouth God vvill turne the flame of these conspiracies to consumâ— the actors thereof Let vs caste avvay the cords of conspirators froÌ„ v s. Ps. 2. 3. How we must encourage out selues in God 2. Kin 1â— 13 The proâ—de vaunts of Senacharib A comparison between Senach k. of Assiria and the Pope The spoile ouerthrovve of Senacheribs army The death of Senach k. of Assiria The vaunts of Romish Senacherib England a pricke in the popes eye therefore he threatueth it The Popes holinesse A mirror for the Romanists God is â—â—lâ— to 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 from the popes ovvne 〈…〉 to conâ—â—uÌ„d him The vnâ—â—klihooâ— o◠〈…〉 to â—â—l Go 〈…〉 Gods prouidence against naturall reason The glory of the Pope Ios. ◠〈…〉 and the strength thereof The ouerthrovv of Iericho Iud. â— 15. A huge company oâ— Madâ—…ouercome by Gideon and a 〈◊〉 number of 〈◊〉 men Reu. 18. 7. The meane to ouerthrow Romish Iericho Reu. 18. 2. Esa. 21. 9 Gen. 11. 4. God throvveth downe aspiring mindes The confusioÌ„ of â—ongues The multitud of Nimrods company God detesteth the deuises of those that couet to climbe into heauen by their ovvne deserts The confusioÌ„ of the language that the Romanists vse The difficult agreeing of the builders and labourers or seruitors of the Romishe tower Ahoâ—chpotch oâ— inuentions instead of the sincere religâ— The counterfait bricke morter of the Romanists The resolutioÌ„ in building the tower of vvilfull rebellion against the death of Christ. 1. Sam. 13. The troubleâ— of Dauid by Saule 1. Sam. 24. 4. 1. Sa. 19. 1. Dauids extreme distresse and his deliuery by the prouidence of god The greatest foe of our felicity is partly vnarmed VVhen our aduersaries are in the prime of their hope they shâ—l â—liâ— back â—…t be disâ—… Psal. 2. God cannot abide any practises against his church Psal. 73. 3. It is admirable to see the prosperity of the wicked The vvicked namely conspirators are in slippery places Ps. 7â— 18. 19. 1. Sa. 31. 4. Psal. 73. 27. God is good vnto the godly Dan. 6. 12. The revvard of conspirators Daniel 14. Daniel hardly beset for reprehending idolatry The boldnes of Daniell in the zeale of gods truth A gluttonouâ— God The confusioÌ„ of an imaginatiue God Amiraculous vvorke of God to stop rauening lyons mouthes God neuer saileth the faithfull The conclusion God by manie means shovveth himselfe helpfull to his Christians aâ— enuironed with many snares God vvilbee neere vnto vs if vve bee neere vnto him with singlenesse of heart and not as hipocrites The holy Ghost reproueth the romish religion True religion is not grunded in the hart by the vvill or power of man The spirit of God the tryer of true religion The fruits of papistry are fair without soule with in The description of Romish catholickes Their name shall be a witnes against them Cancred harts vnder the outvvard showe of due tifull subiects The policy of Constantius in trying the hearts of his seruaunts The faithfull seruaunts of God are most true subiectes to their princes VVho they be that are fittest to attend vpon a prince Faithfull subâ—eâ—â—â— as deare as the beste treasure A good prose of faithful hearts about her maiesty Reu. 18. 10. The dolefull song of the ruine of Romishe Babylon The estate of romish merchaunts namely buiers and sellers of soules in the day of their ruine â— Tim. 4. Christ prophecied of these daies Mat. 13. Esai 30. Simple men tyed to the romish religion with cords of ignorance Difference betvvene the ignorance of the Iewes in the daies of Christ and these of this present vvilfull ignoraÌ„ce VVee muste call our seluâ— to an accouÌ„t The title of a christian noâ—â— enough vvithout the deedes The braggeâ— of romish catholicks Good works ill done VVho they be that shhall ascend into heauen VVords and onâ—vvarde â—hovves ofteÌ„ de ceaue Counterfait deuotion couereth diuelish deuiseâ— Parries outvvard attendance a cloke for treason God discouereth hipocriâ—â— and giueth them their revvard The vvisdome of Vlisses God blesseth our heartes vvaâ—eâ—eth them so with his holy spirit that they bringforth the outvvard fruits The Lord hath no de light in painted holines VVe muste follow Christ in our conuer sations and professions Mat. 7 11. Luc. 6 It is not enough to say vve knovve Christ but we must doe that vve learne of Christ Act. 17. 11. The men of Thessal and Berea an example to try and search for the truth The sciptures testifle of Christ. 105. 39. Aug. de vit Christiana The definitioÌ„ of a christian Christianity consisteth in mercy and loue Many that are called Christians come too short oâ— beeing true christians A thanklese office to â—eprone offences The confession of the author The authors cheefest expectation Gods prouidence in sâ—n ding dearth a try all of true christians A great abuse in many in these daies of dearth A token of cold christianity Let vs pray for reformation The greatest testimony of an vnchristiaÌ„ like conscieÌ„ce The hungry bodies of the poore muste pine to fill the filthy desires of the rich He that is a true christian must fight against concupiscence The vvhole vvorld is the lords A perilous conceit of the rich VVee doe not vveepe vvith them that vveepe God vvill call an aâ—e compt 〈◊〉 vs hovv vve haâ—â— bestovved our goods Sovvre sauce after svveete meat Go 〈…〉 god The aduersaries of gods â—â—uth note our professioÌ„ to be accompanied with vngodly actions Outvvarde sanctetie and invvard sin Gods visitation by dearth a goodâ—â—yall of true christians The experience vvhich vve haue by dearth findeth fevv true christians Psal. 40. A comfortable blessing to encourage christians yet little regarged A câ—â—se against counterâ—aâ—â— christians Such measure as we meate such vvill God measure to vs. That vvhich many do imagine glorious novv shalbe in the end no excuse Our externall glory nothing Many make fair shovves a farre of Daungerous people VVeeds amongst good corne Card. Comos letters to Parrie The cheefest lesson of the romish tutors VVhat it is to deny Christ. True religion shovveth itselfe in charity Hovv to knovv a true and a false Christian Neuters deny Christ. The aduersaries of the truth doe striue invaine against true christians God maintaineth the true doctrine of his vvord Ro. 15. The vvorld the multitude cannot abide the truth All that hear the vvorde of God of not the seruants of god God that vvrought so vvonderfully for our fathers of old vvill vvorke for vs. Our deliuery from the Romishe bondage is farre more pretious then of the children of Israell out of Egipt A good exchaunge Our saluatioÌ„ standeth in the true knovvledge and seruice of God Reformation of our liues is the svvetest song that pleaseth the Lorde