OFten & sundrie times did God foreshew vnto our forefathers in the olde Testament, the first comming of his Son into this world, & the taking of our na­ture vpon him most plainly & euidently did he declare vnto them, that Christ by his death should restore vs vnto life, and that by his resurrection and ascension, hee should make perfect the worke of our saluation. In like manner did hee with no lesse perspicuitie set foorth vnto them, the returne of our Sauiour vnto iudgement, and that all men should rise againe vnto immortalitie, and render an account of all their workes and actions. All this did hee promise them by his Prophetes, iustifie in his person, and con­firme firme by manie maruellous signes and wonders: such as were neuer heard of before since the begin­ning of the world. Yet did the obstinate Iewes har­den their hearts and beleeued not. Wherefore God made them no more nation, but scattered them in­to all lands, in such wise wee see them at this day to be a scorne and derision vnto all people.

Neither can the example of these men so often rebuked by vs for their incredulitie, so greatly bla­med for their obstinacie, so sharply reprooued by vs [Page]for their crueltie, so iustlie despised for their igno­minie, any thing amend vs in the same things wher­in wee condemne them. For what promise haue they, and wee haue it not performed? What Pro­phesie had they, and we haue it not fulfilled? What true Religion had they, and we haue it not restored? What worde, what testimonie, what signes, what miracles, what mercies, what graces, and what be­nefites had they, and we haue them not a thousand times more increased. Yet are we altogether either incredulous of the promises, or doubtful of the per­formance, or else carelesse and desperate of our own deliueraunce. And this maketh vs to leane to the fables and deceaueable doctrines of men, more then to the true Prophesies of the word of God, & to the commandements of Christ and his Apostles, who haue declared the second comming of Christ, and that in such plaine and euident sort, as they haue shewed the verie time when, the manner how, and the things themselues that shoulde withholde: the signes and tokens that should goe before, and all o­ther certainties whatsoeuer are necessarie for man to knowe, as concerning the same. And by this meanes, if the iudgement of God and finall destruc­tion of the world do come sodainely vpon man be­fore he be aware, there is no ignoraunce to be plea­ded, there is no excuse to bee regarded, there is no darkenesse of the Scriptures to be alledged. For it al the holie Bible, there is not anie one thing that the [Page 2]mercie and goodnesse of our God hath set downe more amplie, taught more plainlie, and set foorth more expreslie, for the assurance of our faith, than the tokens of Christs comming.

And as the preaching and publishing of the Gos­pel by the Apostles, ministers and disciples of Christ, in the first ages after his ascension, was the first war­ning of the Trumpet, sounded at that time vnto all Nations against the resurrection of the flesh, and of Christs returne againe vnto iudgement: so the reui­uing of the Gospel, and reuealing of Antichrist by preaching of the worde; together with the other signes & tokens that Christ himselfe told vs should come to passe before his second comming, is a pe­remptorie warning that shall be giuen vnto all flesh. For the last sound of the Trumpet, shall bee no more properlie a warning, but an hastie and sodaine com­ming, a crying vnto iudgement, and appearing of Christ in the cloudes, a perishing of the heauens, & a consuming of the earth and all the workes there­of with fire.

Wherefore I meane heere to put the Christian world in minde of all those tokens, as neere as I can by that order, which Christ himselfe and his Apo­stles wel neere 1600. yeeres past haue declared in the word of God. And therein I will examine how manie of those signes and tokens be past, and howe manie of them doe yet remaine to be fulfilled. Then will I see, whither this bee not the verie time that [Page]Christ hath prescribed to returne againe: or if the time be not yet full complete, whither it bee not so verie neere therevnto, as it is most certaine that the same shall not be long deferred. Lastlie, I will do my best to stirre vp the mindes of all men to repentance, and to prepare themselues with all the diligence & duetie they can shewe in this life, to go foorth of meete with that great Prince of glorie Christ Iesus.

Albeit our forefathers in euerie age since the time of the Apostles, had manie signes and tokens, whereby euerie one might looke for the day of the Lord in that age werein he liued; and the rather be­cause Paule said in his time, that the examples of the old Testamēt wer writtē for a warning vnto vs vpō whō the ends of the world were come;1. Cor. 10, 11, yet because the perceiued by the wordes of Christ, that there were other tokens to be performed, which neither they had seene, nor yet did wel cōceiue, they might not so boldlie prescribe the day of the Lord to be at hand, as we may now affirme it to be. For although Saint Paule (as I haue shewed) did say that the ends of the worlde were come vpon them in his dayes, yet lie bad the Thessalonians that they should not bee deceaued by anie spirit, or word, or letter, to thinke that the day of the Lord was then at hand.2. Thess. 2.2. For hee taught them that there should be first a falling away from the faith: and that Antichrist should be reuea­led before the comming of Christ. Which things were not to bee performed within the compasse of [Page 3]so fewe yeeres, but required a longer time, and ma­nie other matters depended thereon. Now how­soeuer this prophesie of Antichrist may seeme to take a latter place in the holie Historie after some other signes and tokens of Christs comming, yet if we haue regarde to the first times when the Bishop of Rome was declared to bee that Antichrist, it may take the first place before al other signes, accompli­shed after Christ his ascension. Neuerthelesse if we meane so plaine & perfect a reuealing of Antichrist, as it shall be no lesse euident vnto al other nations of Christendome, than it is now vnto vs, who doe sen­sibly see & perfectly know him to be the verie man of sinne which was prophesied before (whereunto the holie Ghost had respect, in putting this signe af­ter others in the place of Mathew, Marke and else where) then may it be called the last signe or token of all. Because, as the publishing of the worde o­uer all the world, groweth by little and little, so the perfect reuealing of Antichrist vnto all Nations, is daily more and more plainely and euidently discer­ned thereby. And in this respect, the preaching of the word with the consuming of him shall end both together, at the verie comming of Christ, and not before: because the Scripture saith, that the spirit of the Lords mouth shall consume him, but the bright­nes of his comming shall vtterly destroy him.2. Thess. 2.8. And both this, and the rest of the tokens that depende on the same, are most euident and vndoubted testimo­nies [Page]of the latter dav. Wherefore I will first shew how all those thinges are performed partly in other time before, but most especially in this age of ours. Within which time also I will declare all the rest of the tokens of Christ comming to be in a manner fully complete.

When the kingdome of Christ was increased, and growen to the full by preaching of the Gospel, and that the Bishop of Rome began also to growe great in Italy, by decaying of the Empire, & by the giftes and donacions of Princes, then did also the same Bishop fall from true religion to superstition; from the right seruice of God, to false worshipping; from sinceritie, to hypocrisie; from the rules of Gods word, to the reasons & decrees of men. And as his greatnesse increased, & the Emperours power diminished, so the Apostasie of that Church was the more discerned, & Antichrist of Rome the more reuealed: and so when Rome, the seate of the Empire was vtterly remoued from the temporal Magistrate, and wholly inuested in the Pope, and that the Pope claimed to be the vniuersall Bishop, there was now nothing to hinder, but that all men might discerne how farre the Church was falne from God, & who was very Antichrist the Author of the same. How­beit, though he by this meanes shewed himself to be that Antichrist, which both the Prophetes and also Christ and his Apostles had so manifestly described before hand, as there can be nothing in the Scri­ture [Page 4]more plaine, yet can it not be saide, that Anti­christ was fully reuealed, till this latter age of ours; both because the infinite measure of his iniquitie was neuer before fulfilled, with so great power and signes and lying wonders, as it hath bene now with­in these few ages past: and also because hee made princes his ministers and vassals, to see that his com­maundements were obserued, and his honour, dig­nitie and power maintained; and that none shoulde be so hardie as to bring his name in question, or to finde fault with anie part of his superstition.

But when it pleased God of his infinite mercie to put into the hearts of Kings and Princes, prudently to snake off his intollerable yoke from their shoul­ders, and to send foorth preachers of his word, that shoulde openly pronounce him to bee verie Anti­christ, and to proue it to his face out of the worde of God, that he is that man of sinne foreshewed in the Scripture, then it might truly be said, that there was no impediment betweene him and home, but that he is perfectly, infallibly, and expresly discouered, taught & knowen to be Antichrist among all them that professe the Gospel of Christ.

Wherefore, the matter being so true, as both the word of God it selfe affirmeth, and the testimonies and proofes of innumerable Writers extant inuin­cibly cōfirmeth, I need not wade anie further here­in, than is necessarie to induce the matter I haue in hand For this beeing true, that the Apostacie of [Page]that Church drawing to an ende by preaching of of the word; that all the impediments, which kept Antichrist backe, that he could not be so manifest to the world being remoued; that Antichrist himself is now in this age of ours most euidently discyphe­red, and that those be the principall and most appa­rant signes of he Lords comming, whereof the rest or manie of them depend, and might not be shewed till these were fulfilled; we are now to see what o­ther tokens the holy Ghost hath set downe in the word written, that should be shewed a little before the day of iudgement.

Our Sauiour Christ saith, that before the end of the world Nation shall rise against nation, Math. 24. Mark. 13. and Realme against Realme, and there shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes in certaine places.

When Antichrist hath long and quietly helde the possession both of the temporall and spirituall swordes, when hee hath manie yeeres taken vpon him the office of Christ, to be the King of Kinges and Lord of Lords, and to haue the domimon aswel of the soules as of the bodies of men, it is great & horrible griefe vnto him to loose so high a domini­on, and to stoope from the office of God which hee taketh vpon him, among men, to become as an o­ther man: & therefore he deuiseth by all meanes to punish and disquiet the Saints of God. Whom he may bring into his power, them he vexeth, them he tormenteth, them he burneth, them hee destroyeth [Page 5]without all pitie or mercie. And if they be such as for their authoritie and greatnesse he cannot, or by reason of the protection of others he dare not bring vnder his tyrannie, he stirreth vp Kings and Princes of his confederacie, to make warres vpon them. Or if that faile, he moueth their owne subiects to rebel and put themselues in armes against them. Where­by hee hath at this day set in an vprore the whole Christian world; kingdome against kingdome, and nation against nation, & one people against another, that he may the easier (as hee thinketh) defende his proud and insolent gouernment, his false and super­stitious religion, and the seate and dignitie of his Popedome. Neither can that place of Scripture of Nation rising against Nation, and kingdome against king­dome, be more necessarilie vnderstood of anie other warres to be made between Prince & Prince, than such as Antichrist raiseth vp for religion sake. Nei­ther did I euer heare of anie warres before this age of ours between the nations & kingdoms of Chri­stendome for Christ his cause: that is to say, for the true worshipping of him, for the preaching of his Gospel, for the difference in opinions, for the liber­tie of the conscience, and for the triall of the true Church: and that so earnestlie and continuallie and without hope of reconciliation; till now that Anti­christ for the sauing of his dominion, hath made all these commotions and troubles in the world, which cannot bee decided till Christ in his owne person [Page]come to trie his own cause in iudgement. But for all other temporall causes the Nations and Princes of Christendome haue one risen against another euer since the time that Christ ascended vp into heauen.

Wherefore this is the sense & meaning of these words of Christ: Towards the ende of the worlde when Antichrist is reuealed, and that he feareth to forgo his Crowne and dominion, hee shall stirre vp the Princes that be his Confederates to warre vpon the Nations and Cities that professe the Gospel, that what he is not able to doe of his owne power, nor by his false and forged miracles, nor by gathering of his general Councels, nor by pronouncing of his ex­communications and curses, nor by the wrong in­terpretations of the Scriptures, nor by the writings and disputations of his schoole Doctors, nor by sen­ding abroad of his Seminarie priests and hypocrites, that wil he endeuor to do by the help of other prin­ces, vnder pretence of doing God good seruice. And this notable token foretolde of Christ as touching his second comming, we see is alreadie at hand, and is like euerie day more and more to bee verified to the great effusion of Christian bloud.

In like manner, as concerning famine pestilences and earthquakes, foreshewed by Christ in the second place, they are not so fitlie to bee referred to anie of those which houe ben in times past, before this man of sinne was reuealed. For those haue been heere­tofore manie, great and horrible, yee and at som­times [Page 6]in some places almost vniuerfall. But those which haue happened, and shall happen in our time, when Antichrist shalbe more and more reuealed, su­perstition abandoned, the power of the beast decrea­sed, the kingdome of Christ reuiued, the Gospel free­lie published, and the second warning of the trumpet sounded, those be vndoubted testimonies and tokens that the day of the Lord is at hand. Such haue were now had within the compasse of these few yeeres, e­uen manie, and great, and horrible: somtimes in par­ticular Cities and Countries, and sometime in whole Prouinces of Christendome.

What wonderfull famines haue we had in places distressed & besieged by the champions of Antichrist, both in Fraunce, the Low Countries, and other Chri­stian Prouinces; not sent immediately by the finger of God, but constrained for the most part by the cru­eltie of Antichrist: by whose meanes it is to be proo­ued, that beyond the horror of all famines that euer I heard of, or read, men haue been constrained to pull out the dead carkases buried in graues, to make suste­nance for their bodies.

Pestilences also there haue been manie and great, besides those former signes and tokens: In England; in Fraunce, in Spaine, in Italy, & welneere in euerie coun­trie of Christendome.

We our selues also haue lately heard and felt great and fearefull earthquakes, to put vs in minde of the promise of Christ, and therefore to assure our selues of his speedie comming vnto iudgement, least if we [Page]prouide not for the same, we be sodeinly taken tardie, and for our wickednes be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, that neuer shalbe quenched.

In the third place is shewed, what anguish & trou­ble the Saints of God shall endure for Christes sake; especially when they haue made it manifest to all the world, that the Pope of Rome is that sonne of perditi­on, which exalteth himself aboue God. For then doth he seek by all maner of meanes to kil & destroy them: by imprisonment, by torment, by fire, by sworde, by poyson, by laying in waite, by treason, by charging them with heresie, by taking away their good name, and by causing them to bee hated of all people: euer­more imagining with himselfe, that by these persecu­tions, hee shall so wast and destroy them, that at the length the remembrance of them shall be cleerely ex­tinct from the face of the earth.

Howbeit the more blood he spilleth, the more the Church of God increaseth; and the longer thin­keth to put off the day of iudgement, the sooner shall it be hastened for the chosen sake, and for the destru­ction of the wicked worlde, and of him in the midst thereof.

Fourthly, when the worlde shall perceiue so great troubles to arise by preaching of the Gospel, and that no temporall benefite commeth thereby; that it cau­seth kingdomes to bee at warres one against another, that there be as great or greater famines, plagues, and earthquakes as euer, that iniquitie aboundeth more that euer, that the loue of men & faith towards God, [Page 7]is lesse than euer, that Gods displeasure is more gree­uous than euer. Finally that the Pope for all the prea­ching against him, can no more be remoued out of his seate than euer: the vngodly seede of Antichrist are so offended therewith, as they betray into wicked hands their owne countrimen, their kinred and ac­quaintance, yea they hate their own brethren, & seek their destruction. And this did Christ foreshewe to happen in the ende of the world.

Fiftly he declared, that at the same time manie false Prophetes should arise and deceiue a multitude. For when Antichrist perceiued, that he might not preuaile by anie of those vile and violent meanes that hee had practized, but that his power neuerthelesse decreased, and his al hominable superstition and idolatrie was daily more and more disclosed, he erected certein Se­minarie places for learning, with good maintenaunce to the same, for all those that would resort vnto them of all nations, to the ende they might bee sent home a­gaine, after they haue been certeine yeres ripened and rottened in superstitious doctrine, that by their fai­ned hypocrisie, and by their false fables and prophe­sies, they might reconcile all those that were fled from the Antichristian faith, promising them so ma­nie and so great matters, as their holy Father by his Commission had giuen them in charge: And these ministers of his be they which Paule the Apostle said, To haue the forme of godlinesse, but denie the power there­of: & haue by their false prophesies,2. Thess. 3. caried away ma­nie poore soules captiue into hell, and themselues [Page]also are damned for euer without repentaunce. And this token of the Lordes comming is nowe likewise fulfilled.

Againe Christ hath declared, that before the iudg­ment day, iniquitie shall abound, and the loue of ma­nie shall wexe colde.

But what kinde of iniquitie do we think shal aboūd before the second coming of Christ? Verelie al kinde of sine and wickednesse, that euer was in the world since the creation of the same, not onely the secrete sinnes that proceede from mans heart, whereby the whole man is corrupted, but the publike offences and enormities done by man against man, against God, a­gainst the Church, against the Common weale, and a­gainst all iustice, godlinesse and Religion. And is it anie maruell, why all wickednesse shoulde abounde now towards the ende, more than euer before? why the charitie of man towardes man, why the loue of man towardes God, why the zeale of man towardes godlinesse, should now bee lesse than before? though now the word of God be more plentifullie preached that before; the sacraments more sincerely ministred than before heresies & false worshipping more sōud­lie conuinced than before: the true Church from the false more euidently discerned than before, Antichrist himselfe more plainly detected than before; and our saluation now more neere at hand than before? No verely. For now is the time that Christ prescribed, & neuer before. Now is Sathan our olde enimie loosed, now it Antichrist his seruant reuealed.

For euer since the time that the kingdome of Christ hath been reuiued by preaching of the Gospell, the Dragon hauing the time of his thousand yeeres capti­uitie welneere expired, and perceiuing his dominion to be but short, is come foorth to aide and strengthen, and heale the wound of the beast, against the Saintes of God, and against the Lambe. Who ioyning their forces together, seeke by their craftie and lying hypo­crisie, not onely to bereaue men of their saluation, by deceiuing and bewitching of their soules, and by dri­uing them forwarde to all manner of sinne and wic­kednesse, but also to destroy their bodies and all, by bringing in vpon them all manner of cruel Inquisiti­ons, warres, torments, miseries and deathes that man can deuise. Wherefore the nature of man being euer more and more corrupted, since the fall of Adam, & therewithall driuen by the violent inticement of sin, and perswasion of the diuell, it is not possible with­out the mightie assistance of Gods spirite, but that iniquitie should not onely abound, but euen nowe be growen to the full.

And to speake more particularlie of the sinnes, a­gainst God, against man, and against our owne selues; I say, that they doe now by meanes of Antichrist and his adherentes more infinitely abounde, than euer. Whereby it may euidently appeare, that the dissolu­lution of all thinges is at hande. Was not Lucifer an Angell of light, and desired in his heart to be but e­qual with God? And is Antichrist any more thā man, somewhat lower than the Angels, and yet exalteth [Page]himselfe aboue God? Did Adam breake any more commaundements of God then one, when he was a­shamed and cast out of Paradice? But do not we daylie breake all the commaundements of God, and yet are not once ashamed of our nakednesse? Was not Cayn counted a reprobat, because he was angrie with God, and killed his owne brother about the accepting of their sacrifices? But are not wee euery day vexed and disquieted against God, if but the least attempt that we go about succeed not according to our desire? But bee there not also as greeuous and horrible paricides and murders among vs, euen for the smallest and least occasions? Was it not counted a monstrous and hor­rible Idolatrie of the Children of Israel, when they forgot God that had brought them out of the land of Egipt, and worshipped a golden Calfe which they themselues had made, because that Moses the seruant of God and their generall Captaine, was but fourtie dayes absent from them. Agayne, is not the Idolatrie in these dayes of them that professe the name of Christ, beyond al comparison greater, when they for­sake him that redeemed them from the power of Sa­than, and do daylie worship stockes and stones, and a peece of vnleauened bread, when as Christ himselfe their head and Captaine is continually present with them by his holy Saincts and Godhead, vntill the end of the world?

Was not the infidelitie of the Children of Israell counted exceeding great, when as they beleeued not [Page 9]the promises of GOD, who had done so great won­ders for them, both in Egipt and at the red Sea? For which cause they themselues were destroyed, and their children were made to wander fourtie yeares in the wildernesse for the sinnes of their fathers. But is not the infidelitie of the Christians in our time much more horrible, when as GOD hath done for them farre greater thinges, then euer he did for the Children of Israell, euen by sending his owne Sonne for their sakes into the world, to deliuer them from the slauerie of Sathan, and euerlasting destruction of bodie and soule; where he keepeth them as the apple of his eye, from being consumed of the na­tions round about them; when hee talketh with them daylie and familiarlie from heauen out of his holie worde, when hee feedeth them from aboue with his owne precious bodie; when hee indueth them with grace supernaturall by his holie spirite; when hee blesseth them with all his benefites both bodily and ghostly; and yet are not we more vnfaith­full, vnthankfull, and vnfruitfull, than the Children of Israell? They beleeued not, because the time of the promises vnto them made, was not yet perfourmed: wee beleeue not when all the prophesies deliuered to vs in the Scriptures, bee alreadie fulfilled. They grudged and wauered, when they were wandering in the desolate wildernesse, wanting many pleasures and delights of this deceiuing life: wee mistrust, though we now be in a delightfull and pleasant land, [Page]and abound in all worldlie comforts that can be deui­sed for man. They misdoubted the first comming of Messias, because the words proceded frō the mouths of men: but manie of vs beleeue not his second com­ming, though he himselfe haue absolutely promised, and shewed the tokens of the same, by his owne holy word. And so iniquitie and incredulitie abound this day, beyond all the ages and times of the worlde. Wherefore the Lord must of necessitie come to de­liuer his people from the intollerable burden thereof.

Againe, was not the disobedience and murmuring of Israel against God, and against Moses his Lieute­nant, so incomparable great, as the earth opened and swallowed vp the principall leaders of that conspira­cie, and all their habitations and families? Yea, so an­grie was the Lord with this sinne, that had it not been for Moses sake, hee woulde then haue dispatched the whole generation of them from the face of the earth. But if we will but looke into the Christianitie, & see what disobedience there is to the commandementes of God, what continuall murmuringes against him, what daylie discontentments with the blessings that he sendeth: what rebellions, conspiracies, and sediti­ons, against the Princes which be his Lieutenaunts, yea, what treasons & trecheries against the royall per­son of their Souereignes. Nay what banding there is against Christ & his Church, to roote out both him and his holie word, that neither of them should haue anie more being in the world, wee shall finde that the burden of iniquitie is at this day so exceeding heauie, [Page 10]as the foundations of the world being so farre out of course, must needs fall to ruine and desolation.

Moreouer, within what age and memorie of man is is knowen; in what writings ethnicke or christian hath it bene founde; nay, by what place of Scripture can it be prooued, (especiallie since the former destru­ction of the world by waters) that the sinne of lust & fornication did so generally inuade the whole world, as it doth at this present daye? What sinne doeth so speedely procure the displeasure of God, the destruc­tion of the vngodly, and the finall ende of all thinges by fier, as doth the flame of lust and concupisence? But what needeth mee to recite the greatnesse of this sinne, when the vengeance and punishments that God hath brought, and daily doth bring vpon fornicatours and adulterers, both among Infidels and Christians, in euerie age, and in all families and kingdomes, doth e­uidently shew the same. And albeit we knowe, that for this sinne specially, God burned vp the cities of Sodome and Gomorrhe into ashes; that he slewe in one day three or foure and twentie thousand Isaclites, for committing that abhomination with the daughters of Moab: albeit I say, we know that this sinne so sore displeaseth our God, impaireth our credite, wasteth our goods, weakneth our bodies, dulleth our memo­ries, tormenteth our mindes, and worketh al manner of woe both to soule and bodie in this life, and kee­peth vs frō inheriting of euerlasting life in the world to come: yet doe we in this age take such vile and fil­thie pleasure therein, as we exceede all the abhomina­tion [Page]of Sodom: and therein the world may seeme to match all the Generations that haue gone before vs. And the greatest cause why God hath not yet pow­red vpon vs the same or greater vengeance than he did vpon our forefathers, is because hee hath nowe but a short time of patience, and then commeth the day of vengeance. For he hath alreadie sounded his Trum­pet vnto iudgement, he hath signified by his prophets, he hath pronounced by his Preachers, hee hath publi­shed by his signes and tokens, and hee hath opened plainelie by the word of his promise, that hee com­meth speedelie like a Lion vpon his enemies, and to reward with destruction and vengeance, all them that worke wickednesse.

But I am ashamed to speake of the loathsome and horrible sinne of drunkennesse and surfetting: For al­though there be diuers other sinnes, wherein for the vilenesse of them, men may be compared with brute beasts: yet in this sinne, men without all comparison excell all beasts and liuing creatures in the world. For beasts being voide of all reason, yet doe they knowe what is necessarie and sufficient for them: and there­fore doe they rarelie or neuer take anie more suste­naunce than is meete for their health, although they haue neuer so great plentie ministred vnto them. But man, that is indued with reason and speech, the two principall things whereby he is discerned from other beasts, and whereby he hath the dominion of them; during the time that he is occupied in the sinne of drunkennesse, he is not onelie depriued of that excel­lent [Page 11]knowledge and gouernment, that God hath giuen him aboue other creatures, but while his head is o­uercharged with wine, he hath neither the power of vnderstanding, nor the sense of feeling, that other beasts haue. O most horrible and cruell sinne, O monstrous disease of the flesh, howe easelie mightest thou be lefte, what little neede hath man of thee, and yet what dangerous and deadlie enormities dost thou bring vpon him, both against himselfe, against his neighbour, against the Commonweale, and against the commaundements of our gracious God? He that is ouerloden with wine and strong drinke, foultreth in his speech, reeleth too & fro, falleth on the ground, or tumbleth into the ditch; the world goeth round a­bout him, shame doth not lay holde on him, but o­thers are ashamed for him. The presence of persons doth not feare him, euerie man scorneth him, euerie man shunneth him, euerie man derideth him, but no­thing doth greeue him.

Againe, he whose head is not so deepelie drowned in drinke, but is ouer merie therewith, & hath fraigh­ted his bodie, and pampered his bellie, as well with meate as drinke, how slow is he to all vertue, & how prone is he to al kind of mischiefe? Pouertie, woe, strife, sorowe, bralling and wounds without a cause, followe them that delight in wine and delicate fare. And,Prou. 21, Prou. 13. Through glut­tonie commeth sickenesse, and by surfetting, death.

O that men woulde also weight the greatnesse of this sinne, by cōsidering the mischiefs that it bringeth. For besides that it destroyeth the health of the bodie, [Page]and shorteneth mans life, it also alienateth the minde, prouoketh anger, stirreth vp lusts, consumeth riches, discouereth secrets, peruerteth iudgement: it causeth sloth in the bodie, dulnesse in wit, weaknesse in the memorie, and vnwillingnesse to euerie good action. The abundaunce that is consumed by this one onelie vice, woulde supply all the wantes in the Common weale. The forbearing of one meale within this king­dome of all the people but once in a yere, would feed a mightie Armie a whole moneth. The sparing of one dish but once in a day, of them that haue manie dainties at their table, woulde satisfie the poore that lie in miserie at their gate. The superfluitie of fare, that is spent in one dayes interteinment, would giue reliefe to all that be lame and impotent. The monie that is spent in strong and needlesse drinke, would pay all the duties that belong to a Prince. Neuerthelesse, so vile and corrupt is the nature of man, so despe­rately doeth hee runne into his owne fleshly desires, that though hee knewe his poore and needie brother shoulde perish for want, that his Countrie and Com­mon weale should be in distresse, nay that his own life should lye vpon the abstinence of one meale, or for­bearing of one match at drinking, he would not leaue his greedie appetite. Although men at this day are a­shamed to see such beastlinesse in others: Albeit they are greeued when they heare of the drunkennesse of Noah, when his two sonnes couered him: of Lot, when he lay with his own daughters. Although they know that death was pronounced against Aaron, Leuit. 10. if he [Page 12]dronke wine or strong drink;Gen. 25. That Esau lost his birth­right for the greedinesse of a messe of potage; That Balthazar in his dronkennesse sawe a finger vpon the wall,Dan 5. that wrote the finall ende both of him and his kingdome; and that the drunken banquet of Benadab, 4. King 20. was the destruction 32. Kings with all their Armie. Albeit that wo is pronounced to them,Esay. 5. that rise vp ear­ly to follow dronkennesse; that wine maketh a man scornfull and vnquiet;Pro 20. Ezech. 16. Gal. 5. that fulnesse of meate was one of the great causes why Sodom was destroyed: and fi­nally, that no drunkard nor glutton shall inherite the kingdome of heauen, yet are not men by al these war­nings moued, yet doe they follow the wickednesse thereof, and that with more greedinesse than euer be­fore. All their felicitie is in banqueting, all their plea­sure is in drinking, all their delight is in their belly, all the pastime of their life is in gluttonie & good cheere,Esay. 22.13. Come (say they) let vs eate and drinke, and bee merie: for to morrow we shall die. Nothing at this day but eating, nothing but drinking, nothing but powring in of cups from morning to night, and from night to mor­ning, and so al their life long, without respect of time, or place, or holie dya, or Sabboth day; without feare of lawes, without feare of life, without feare of God, and without feare of damnation, or any hope of salua­tion. Wherefore this vice beeing greater than euer, requireth a greater vengeance, and speedier comming vnto iudgement, than euer.

But I tremble at this day with horrour and greefe, when I heare the name of the Lorde to bee so com­monly [Page]and continually taken in vayne, and to bee dis­honored in euery corner. For, wheras we are straight­ly charged, that we should not sweare, neither by hea­uen, nor by the earth, nor by any other othe; so wic­ked and peruerse is the nature of man, so crosse and contratie to the will and commaundement of God, so vntoward to that he should, and so readie to that hee should not, that whatsoeuer he is most forbidden, that doth he most insue. If there bee any corner, wherein­to he may start from the impunitie of mans lawe, the­ther doth he runne headlong without regarde of any diuine prohibition, and without feare of Gods ter­rible iudgement and condemnation. And for this cause, where a publike weale hath made no expresse lawe for the punishment of swearing, there men make no conscience of any othe in the world; there heauen and earth is no othe with them; there the creatures of God are nothing with them; there the Lord of hoasts is nothing with them; the name of his blessed Sonne is nothing with them; nay, all the precious members of our Sauiour that suffered for vs, are too little for them to bee a testimonie of all their vntruthes, of all their vilanies, of all their abhominations that they worke in the worlde. But if they promise or vowe any thing which they haue any minde to perfourme, or if they would iustifie themselues in any thing wherein their conscience cleereth them, that will they affirme by that little trueth and faith which they haue: But if they be stirred vp vnto furie; if their bloud be warmed with surfeting and drunkennesse; if they [Page 13]be greedie of reuenge agaynst such as haue offended them; if they promise to meete vpon any wicked en­terprise, if it be for the sauing of a small penie in their purse, or for defence of their credite in a playne vn­truth, in euery trifling matter, in euery vayne enter­prise, in euery idle game, and communication, and ac­tion, that will they confirme with the most vehement and mightie othes that they can deuise. The blessed and diuine soule of Christ, the precious and deere bloud of the Lambe immaculat, and all the glorious and excellent members of Christ: nay, be Maiestie of Christ, and of the Father himselfe, are nothing in their vile and vnpurre lippes. This I say is the naughtie na­ture of man, to bee euer contrarie to the commaunde­ments of God. If GOD had commaunded vs that whatsoeuer wee promise, or affirme, or answere, or iustifie in this life, wee should call heauen and earth to record, or his creatures, or himselfe, or some of his bodily members, we should neuer haue heard an othe in this worlde. But because hee forbad vs all these thinges, and that our affirmation should bee no­thing but yea and nay, therefore wee most impudent­lie abuse all his creatures, and most shamefully blas­pheme the name of GOD, in all our wordes, in all our affirmations, iustifications, and actions: and ther­fore shall all these bee a testimonie agaynst vs in the day of iudgement.

Looke well vnto it therfore, ye that be these luftie and wilfull swearers in the world, ye that call the [Page]Lorde of hostes so often to witnesse with your vn­truths and vanities, bee yee sure that the Lorde is not deafe, but doth heare you: hee hath registred & writ­ten vp all the idle words that ye haue spoken, in your banqueting, in your surfetings, in your gamings, and in al the loose and lewd behauiour of your liues: hee hath written in the face of euerie creature, all the testimonies that ye called them to witnesse with you; much more shall yee finde printed in his pre­sence, nay, yee shall haue it engrauen both in your owne conscience, and in the Maiestie of his person, all the wilfull and rash othes, wherby ye haue called him to record: and vnlesse you speedely repent you in this life, and cease for euer to blaspheme the name of God as yee haue done: yee shall shortly come before the su­preme Iudge, where it shall be so hardly layd to your charge, as ye shal wish that the mountaines might co­uer you, and the earth shadow you from the presence of God, whom you haue so highly displeased. For the horrible sinne of swearing is so continually accusto­med in your mouths, and the name of God and of his holy members, is so abused in your actions, as he can no longer indure the wickednesse thereof, but wil ha­sten himselfe vnto iudgement.

Now, if these sinnes, besides manie others that I might recite, doe so abound at this day in the hearts of men, and doe breake out so mightily in their actions, as the things themselues declare, that the day of iudg­ment is at hand; what shall we say of the sinne of co­uetousnesse, the roote and welspring of all other mis­chiefes. [Page 14]Wherein men at this day doe so farre exceed the measure of our forefathers, as the later wee are borne, the more corruption we haue receiued: & the neerer to the day of the Lord, the lesse affection haue we to heauenly things, and the more desire of world­lie vanities. And albeit this sinne of coueting, bee set downe as a capital crime in the holy Scriptures, yet do we make small account of the same. Howbeit, if the children of Israel fled before their enimies,Iosu. 7. onely for the couetousnesse of Achan, and that Achan himselfe was iudicially and formally executed, because he had hidden to his owne vse some thinges that were accur­sed; if Nabal the Carmelite for his couetous minde,1. Sam. 25. in denying some sustenance vnto Dauid and his seruants in time of necessitie, was striken by God that he died; finally, if Gehezi the seruant of Elizeus, 4. Kings 5. was punished with a foule leprosie, for requiring and taking but a small gifte of Naaman the Sirian, whome his Master had frankly & freely a litle before healed of the same disease what deserueth the vnsatiable mind of Chri­stians in our time, that without all measure or ende, without feare of God, without regard of religiō, with out remorse of cōscience, without sense of other mēs griefes, be it right or wrong, whether it cōcerne God or the Church, the Prince or the Commonweale, the father or the sonne, neighbour or straunger, friend or foe, life or death: if it may turne to our owneprofit & commoditie, we seeke by all manner of meanes to at­taine therevnto, though we die for it in this life, and be sure of damnation in the life to come, without all [Page]remorse of conscience, or anie care of restitution, Howbeit all this commeth to passe, that the word of God may not be frustrate, which saith, that in the lat­ter day iniquitie shall abound, and the loue towardes God and man shall decaie: And the abundance of all sinne doth grow from this verie roote of coueting & greedinesse of riches. But in verie deede the meanes that this sinne hath had to come to such ripenesse in these our dayes, haue been farre greater than euer in anie Age before; For euen since the time that it plea­sed God to shewe foorth all other signes and tokens, which hee had promised to come against the ende of the world; what wayes haue men attempted, what artes haue they deuised to fulfill their greedie appetite and desire? Be there anie lands that they haue not sear­ched, or anie seas that they haue not sayled? Bee there anie dangers that they haue not ventured? Is there a­nie colde or heate that they haue not indured? Is there anie world that they haue not compassed; anie myne that they haue not opened, anie bloud that they haue not spilled; nay, anie people that they haue not de­stroyed to attaine to their desire? Doe they not trauell more willinglie, more often and farther, from the vp­permost face of the earth to the nethermost part of the same, from the Sunne rising to the Sunne setting, from the South to the North, and to all the endes of the world, and all for the insatiable desire of golde & sil­uer, redde claie and white, than they woulde doe for the sauegard of their owne life? And yet the more they haue, the more they want; the more they want, [Page 15]the more they couet: In such sort, as if the earth and sea were emptied of their treasures, I suppose that they woulde seeke to Heauen for temporall riches, which they cannot beelead vnto for the saluation of their soules. Wherefore this vice of couetousnesse is now so primie full, as it craueth an ende and dissolu­tion of the world.

Now come wee to the last token and restimonie of the comming of Christ, namelie; That the Gospell shalbe preached in all the world, for a witnes vnto all nati­ons: and then shall the ende come.

As I wrote before, that the reuealing of Antichrist and man of sinne, which sitteth in the Temple of God, should be the first token of that secōd comming of Christ: so the preaching of the Gospell ouer all the world, both by the circumstance of the Euangelicall historie, and by the consequence of the thinges them­selues, must of necessitie bee the last token before his comming. And this is also confirmed by Iohn in the Reuelation, when he saith;Apoc 14. That he sawe an Angell flie in the midst of heauen, hauing the euerlasting go­spell to preach to all nations, kindreds, and people, and saying; Giue glorie to God, for the hower of his iudg­ment is come. And immediatelie after this preaching of the word, an other Angell crieth, Babylon is falne, that great Citie is falne, that made all Nations drinke of the Cup of her fornication. For if there bee no other way to make Babylon to fall, to reueale Antichrist the enimie of Christ, and to banish the Apostasie of the Church procured by the same Antichrist, but the [Page]preaching of the word and free course of the Gospek thē is there also no other way to inlarge the kingdom of Christ, & to gather the Saints of God into one, but onely the free course and publication of the Gospell: which by litle and litle shall consume as it hath gebun the spirite of error and apostasie of the Church, till the brightnes of Christes presence haue vtterly destroyed the same, & al the authors & abettors thereof. Wher­fore whatsoeuer other tokens shal be at the verie com­ming of Christ (as no doubt but ther shalbe many both in the Sunne and Moone, and starres, and in al the cre­atures of God, as behoueth in so great an alteration & consummation of the worlde,Mat. 24. Mark. 13. and as Christ himselfe hath most effectually set downe in his holy word) yet this publishing of the Gospel in all the world shall vn­doubtedly be the very last token before his comming, as it is euidently set down by the holy Ghost himself, when he saith, And then shal the ende come: And when the Angels after preaching of the word said,Apoc 14. The houre of iudgement is come: thrust in thy sythe and reape, for the haruest is ripe. As if he should say, When Antichrist of Rome, which exalteth himselfe aboue me, shalbe reuea­led to be the principal head that hath caused so great a falling away from the truth in my Church, hee shall trouble and persecute you to the death: he shall make nation to rise against nation, for vpholding of his damnable heresie, and hee shall cause you to bee hated for my sake: but feare not my little ones; for when yee shall see all these troubles to happen, bee ye sure that my comming, and your redemption draweth [Page 16]nigh. For my word shall runne out very swiftly, and in a short space consume that which he by his hypo­crisie and tyrannie had in many yeares contriued. He that hath caused al Princes to drinke of the poysoned cuppe of his fornication, him will I sodainly destroy with the breath of my mouth. Yea, and least ye should any longer bee deceiued by his false signes and de­ceiuable errors, my word shall be published in all the world, and then is the time of my comming, then is the haruest of the earth ripe, and then will I thrust in my sickle and reape. And this publication of the Go­spell ouer all the world is the second sound vnto iudg­ment. For as our Sauiour Christ gaue the first sound, when he sent foorth his Apostles, and commaunded them to teach all nations,Math. 2 [...]. and to baptize them in the name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost, and to plant Churches in al those places which receiued the word of truth: & that the fame of Christ and sound of the Gospell went foorth at that time to all lands, where any people did inhabite. So now, all things being fulfilled, that the Scriptures had promi­sed, should come to passe betweene the first warning and the second; The Gospell of our Sauiour is begun agayne to be renewed & published ouer al the world, and that more freely and without perill then euer be­fore, by reason of the godly minds and good indeuors of Christian Magistrates. And this I say is the second sound of the Trompet: besides which, wee are to ex­pect no more till Christ himself enuyrond with thou­sands of Angels, and in the Trompet of God & voyce [Page]of an Archangell shal descend from heauen, and com­maund the dead to arise, and shall gather his elect from the foure windes, and from euery part of hea­uen and earth, and from the deepe places. And as this publishing of the Gospell is a most assured token of his comming, so by reason of the effects thereof, it is more notable then all the rest. For it seemeth to bee but simple in shewe, but it is wonderfull in operation. It is contayned in playne and familiar termes, but it searcheth the very roote of the heart. It appeareth but foolishnesse to the vngodlie, and to them that perish, but it confoundeth the wisedome and craftines of this world. It is but small and of no reputation a­mongst men, but it driueth proud and mightie tyrants from their feates, and exalteth into their places them which submit themselues vnto it. It is but weake in sight of the world, but it is the power of God vnto sal­uation in them that beleeue, and it cutteth more sharp than a two edged sword, ouerthrowing all the imagi­nations,2. Cor. 10. vers. 4.5 6. and euery high thing that is exalted agaynst the knowledge of God, bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ, and hauing readie vengeance against all disobedience. And it is no new Gospell that is now preached, but it is the old Gospell newly published. It is the same that the Apostles taught & planted, but the ingratitude of the world left and contemned. If any nation at this day haue been kept in blindnes; if any haue been held frō the benefite of the Gospell, their owne sinnes and abhominations haue been the cause thereof, for that they haue wil­fully withheld the truth in their own vnrighteousnes, [Page 17]and haue despised both God the Father & his Sonne, & haue wrought despite vnto the spirit of grace. For the creation both of themselues, and of all the visible things of the world, might make both God and his e­ternitie manifest enough vnto thē: yet would they not acknowledge him, but haue followed their own ima­ginations, & haue turned the glory that is due vnto the only wise & vncorruptible God, either vnto creatures farre inferior to themselues, or els they haue worship­ped deuils & damnable spirits, forsaking the true God that made both them & al the world. Besides this they cannot pleade ignorance: For vndoubtedly, the sound of his Gospell hath first or last gon into all lands. And though perhaps later into one countrie than into ano­ther, that hath God done in his wonderfull wisedome and prouidence, who beholdeth all the nations in the world at one view, seeth into all their actions, behol­deth all their hearts, perceiueth who be inclined vnto any goodnes, & who haue giuen ouer themselues to a wilfull and reprobate mind. And as he beholdeth all men, so he calleth all men, some at the first houre, and some at the last; that he may haue mercie on whom it pleaseth him, and may shut vp vnder infidelitie those that are hard harted. Neuerthelesse, if there be any na­tion that heard not of Christ in the first sound of the Trompet by the Apostles, nor in all this time that the preaching of the Gospell hath been discontinued, yet now there is not doubt but in this second warning & publication of the word of God, through the prospe­rous successes of our blessed Soueraign, & by the care that she & other godly Princes of the reformed Chur­ches [Page]haue to aduaunce the kingdome of Christ, there shall bee no corner within the whole circumference of the earth, but in short space shall not only haue the sound of the Gospell, but a perfect publication and spreading of the same, with a full knowledge of Christ. For the Gospell shall be published ouer all the world, and then commeth the end. And vndoubtedly, if the Gospell had been preached and taught vnto the people of America, and the lower India, by the Spanyards and Portingalls, when they first found out those nations, with such plainnes and simplicitie, as is done by vs in the reformed Churches, without adding of Images, or superstitions, or vanities, no lesse peeuish and vngodly, then the abhominations that those Infi­dels themselues had before vsed, the kingdome of Christ had long before this day been receiued and spread ouer all those large and ample Territories. Wherefore the more greeuous shall bee their damna­tion, that haue so mocked and deceiued them: and the greater is the mercie of God if he impute not their ig­norance vnto them.

Now that wee haue breefly declared all the signes and tokens, which the holy Ghost hath promised in the Scriptures to come to passe before the ende of the world, wee must also with the like perspicuitie, exa­mine whether this be not the time, or very neere ther­vnto that Christ shall come agayne in glorie to iudge both the quick and the dead, which is the second part of this discourse. For albeit that he hath set downe all these tokens of his comming so exactly and in such [Page 18]order, as it is vnpossible, but that anie man capable of reason may vnderstande when the last token is fulfil­led: yet hath he also confirmed the same by other in­uincible reasons, drawen partlie from such thinges as we sensiblie and daylie perceiue, and partlie from his owne power and omnipotencie. Learne (saith he) of the figge tree when the branches bee tender, and hath put forth leaues, for then ye be sure that the summer is [...] hand. Againe, Heauen and earth shall perish, but my word shall not perish. As if he might say: When all these tokens that I haue spoken of be fulfilled, ye shall be sure that I will then come: and the last token before my com­ming is, That the Gospel of my kingdom shalbe prea­ched in all the world, for a witnesse vnto all Nations: And there shall not be a kingdome in the worlde, but either at the first sounding of my word, or at the se­cond, shall heare that I am the Sauiour and redeemer of mankinde. Beholde I haue spoken it: Heauen and earth shall passe away, before one iot of my worde passe. These I say be the verie tokens & times before his comming. Albeit to speake of the hower, or day, or month, nay of the yere it selfe wherm he wil com, were high pride and presumption: seeing there is nei­ther mā nor angel that knoweth it. But this we know for certeintie: that manie Ages past, the Gospell was published welneere in all Asia, Aphrica and Europe: a number of which Nations for their vnthankfulnesse were depriued of the benefit thereof, and manie other are falne into great Apostasie. Also we see it plaine, that in this age of ours, the glad tidings of Christ, hath [Page]after some sort bin caried vnto al the barbarous natiōs in the nether part of the world: & we liue in cōtinual hope that in short space it shalbe more sīcerly & more vniuersallie published thā hetherto it hath bin; which being proclaimed, we may then bee bolde to say, that Christ is at the verie point of his comming. And yet neuertheles al that is no hindrāce, but that it behoueth vs both thus day, & to morrow, & euerie day & night & hower, to watch & be readie with our lampes bur­ning, left the Bridegrome take vs vpon the sodaine & vnprouided of oyle; & so while we expect yet some longer time of his comming, we bee quite excluded out of the kingdome of heauen. Al these things haue I affirmed and prooued out of the infallible worde of God, & by that which we haue seen with our eyes, & do vnderstand of our owne knowledge to be alreadie come to passe, most agreeablie to the worde of God. Wherby we may be assured, that if anie thing be yet to come that the Scriptures haue promised touching the end of the world, the same shal shortly & in his due time be performed. And this was my special purpose in this Treatise to proue: that because the foolish, vn­godlie, & vnbeleeuing nature of men, is in these daies beyond all other ages and times before, so curious to search & inquire for the time of Christes comming, which time God hath reserued to himselfe; I might draw them, (as much as is possible) from seeking the same at the hands of men, (frō whō without the help of Gods spirite, there proceedeth nothing that is cer­tain, or true, or godlie) & send them to the most true, [Page 19]and certain, and vndoubted prophesie of the word of God. Neuertheles I am not ignorant, that there be al­so manie humane reasons, manie probable cōiectures, manie tēporal signes & tokēs, & many sufficient argu­mēts cōcerning the end of the world, that do concurre with the prophesie of the scriptures: al which as long as they serue to iustify & cōfirme whatsoeuer Christ, the Prophetes & Apostles haue promised concerning the same, we must rather giue credite vnto them, than reiect & condemne them. Among which are al those reasons which are commonly made to ratifie the say­ing of Elias, that the world shall not continue the full of 6000. yeres: which prophesie though it be not in the scriptures, but cited by the Rabbins, yet because all the other parts of the same Prophesie haue succeeded euery thing in his due time & that it doth so well cō ­curre with the tokens, that Christ shewed for the end of the world, and with that saying of Christ, Those dayes shalbe shortened for the elect sake: we must imbrace the same as a true prognosticate, religiously descended from that holie Author.

But in verie deede in this prophesie of Elias is con­tained a large field to prooue the neerenesse of the day of iudgement: howbeit I wil not walke much there­in, because I knowe it hath been exactlie handled of manie. Onelie this I say; that the Scripture it selfe confirmeth, and infallible reason prooueth, and so manie tokens both of heauen aboue, and of the earth beneath testifie that the world shall not last to the end of sixe thousand yeeres.

And so much the rather, when we plainelie see all the tokens of the latter day to be now welneere fulfilled. And I haue proued, that there are not aboue 70. yeres past or thereabout since the last and most reuealing of Antichrist: That is to say, since he was openlie, freelie and without feare published to be that sonne of perdi­tion. Within which time, the tokens that Christ spoke of concerning the ende of the worlde, are alrea­die shewed, and lacke but little of a perfect fulfilling. And doe we thinke, that when so great and so manie things haue been accomplished in so short a space as 70. yeres, that the verie litle or nothing which remai­neth, should be in performing 400. yeeres and moe, which are to finish vp the number of 6000. yeres? Or may we not not referre that saying of Christ (This gene­ration shall not be past, till all these things be fulfilled. And againe: For the chosens sake these dayes shalbe shortened) as well to this third age of the world, as to the destru­ction of Ierusalem, which was but 50. yeres after? As if he should say: In this latter age of the world, and e­speciallie towards the ende thereof, when Antichrist is reuealed, and Sathan which is the diuell is loosed, there shalbe so great famines, plagues, & earthquakes, so great and hortible persecutions, such leagues and conspiracies of Princes against my Church, so manie false Prophetes to deceaue the worlde, such hating and betraying one of another, yea and such trouble and vexation on euerie side, besides the iniquitie that shall then so mightelie abound; that if it be possible the verie chosen may be deceaued.

Wherfore, for their sakes I wil shorten those trouble­some dayes, and will cut off a part of this latter age, so that it shal not be equall to the other ages that went before.

Besides, what wonderfull alterations haue wee heard of and seene in the world, since the memorie of man? What chaunge in the nature of the creatures? what mutation both in the actions and affections of men, and in the accidents of this life and occurrents of estates; such as our forefathers in many hundreth yeares before neuer heard of? All which things, since they most and chiefly happened or began about the time that the Gospell in our age was reuiued by prea­ching, and when the kingdome of Christ began to be restored, they bee manifest tokens of the ende of the world.

Hath not these many and mightie Kingdomes of England, Scotland, Denmarke, Swethland, Poland, Germa­nie, Belgica, and a great part of the large kingdome of Fraunce (all which be as much as the rest of Christen­dome) retired themselues, and been reclaymed within this space from the Romish bondage, and from Anti­christianitie to the true worshipping of Christ, by be­leeuing of the Gospell preached vnto them?

Was not the Arte and skill of Printing deuised by Christians, and specially practised in our time; by the meanes wherof, though not only, yet chiefly all other Religions in the world are found to bee most shame­full and Idolatrous: and only the true and sincere wor­shipping of Christ magnified and extolled in all the [Page]world? Were not all the learned tongues and langua­ges renued by Christians in our time, from a rude bar­barisme (wherein they had many ages been a sleepe) to an excellent and perfect fourme both of speaking and writing?

Is not the desire of Christians in our time, more earnestly bent to seeke a perfection of all Arts and Sciences, and a more exquisite forme of Religion then euer was in any age before vs since the sincere times of the Primitiue Church?

Were not all the order and maner of Instruments and habiliments of warre and warfare in our age, wel neere contrarie to that it was before; especially by the deuise of gunnes, which the deuill together with his deliuerance out of bondage, deuised for the speedie destruction of mankind, and great effusion of bloud; all making way to the second comming of Christ our King?

Was not the finding out of the newe, or (as I may say) of the nether world, by the indeuour and trauell of Christians in our time, one of the most wonderfull accidents that hath happened since the time of Christ: and euen as a signe and token before the latter day; that GOD which hath shut vp those nations so ma­nie ages before in vnbeleefe, would now yet in the latter time call them to the knowledge of his Sonne: if any perhappes would hearken to his word, that they also might bee saued, and healed by the death of Christ?

Is it not likewise a speciall token of the end of the [Page 21]world, that such extraordinarie Starres and Comets, such straunge and rare Coniunctions of the Planets, such meruellous remouings of earth, whereof no mortall man can giue any naturall reason; together with mightie ouerflowinges of the Sea, whereby whole Countries and people are destroyed?

But is it not as great a signe and token hereof, that within so fewe as fifteene yeares now to come, there shall happen fiue Eclipses of the Sunne, besides many others of the Moone; such and so terrible as the like neuer happened within so short a space since the be­ginning of the world?

Doth not also the sodaine decay of mans strength, and stature, & age, together with the vnwilling mind he hath to all godlines, vertue, and charitable actions, prognosticate vnto vs any lesse than the things before?

Moreouer, do not the trees, the plants, the hearbes and fruits, and all other sencelesse things of the earth, which should bee for the comfort of man, most sensi­blie shewe vnto vs by the decay of their strength, of their taste and vertue (which not long since they had in greater measure) that within a short time, there shall be no more vse of them? Nay, doth not the earth it self complayne, that she hath powred out of her bowells in a manner all the store of her treasures and commo­dities, wherewith she was fraighted for the vse of man? Yea, do not all the creatures of God earnestly expect when the Sonne of God shall appeare, that they also may be deliuered frō the bondage of corruption?

But shall wee not account this also to bee a great [Page]signe of the ende of the world, that it pleased God in this age and neuer before, both to indue man with knowledge, and to leade him, as it were by the hand, about the whole compasse of the earth: That when he had seene all, and compast all, and yet found all to be nothing but trouble, and vanitie, and vexation of minde, by sea and land, & in all places where he came, he might glorifie his Creator and Sauiour, which had giuen so excellent guiftes, and vertues, and know­ledge, and ciuilitie, and so iust a Religion vnto his Christian people, before so many and so great na­tions, which in comparison of them, liued without God, without faith, and without all humanitie; and might the rather bee drawne from the loue of this earthly mansion, to long for the day of Christ, and to bee translated to a more ioyfull and euerlasting habi­tation?

To be short: The number of Prophets that GOD doth daylie send to admonish all people of the latter day, and to giue them warning to be in a readines; be­cause they teach no lyes, but such things as they finde in the word of God, are no lesse to bee beleeued then those that prophesied of the first comming of Christ.

To make an ende hereof, the opinions, or rather firme beleefe of sondrie seuerall learned & wise men, so farre distant asunder by places, but so neerely con­spiring together by the vnitie of their iudgements, and consent of their spirits as touching the comming of Christ, do declare, that the Bridegrome is euē now comming, and craue vs to wayt for him all houres [Page 22]of the day and night, that we may enter with him in­to the mariage feast.

Where bee now these Atheists? where bee these mockers? where be those that walke after their own lusts, and say; where is the promise of his comming? Be­hold the winter blasts are now gone, and the comfort of the spring is come: The Lord shall come speedelie foorth like a Lion out of his denne, and will be auen­ged of them that speake blasphemie, and will destroy all the workers or wickednesse: Beholde the Arke is now welneere finished, the number is accomplished, the Church established, the chosen confirmed: The trumpet hath sounded: The kings sonne must be ma­ried: The feast is prepared, the bidden guests haue re­fused: All sorts of people in all the high waies of the world are gathered, the wedding is furnished: The king and the bridegroome are comming: The earth and the sea shall yeeld vp their dead: the sonne of man shall appeare in the cloudes: he shal come with excee­ding glorie: Angels without number shall attend vp­on him: All nations of the worlde shall drawe vnto him: The godlie shall triumph and reioyce in him: The generatiō of the wicked shal tremble to see him: The godlie shal stand at his right hand, the wicked on his left: Heauen shalbe opened, the earth shalbee con­sumed, the sea shalbe dried: The Sunne & the Moone shalbe darkened, and all the powers of heauen shalbee moued: The sonne of God shall sit on his throne, the wicked shall receaue the iudgement of death, and the faithfull bee carried into the euerlasting Kingdome. [Page]Wherefore the Lord shall come & not tarie. He pro­mised signes of his comming, & those signes he hath sent: He promised that he would come immediatelie after those signes; wherefore those signes beeing ac­complished, hee will come, and that sodainlie like a mightie tempest. For heauen and earth shall faile, but one iot of his promise shall not faile. Wherefore, in­somuch as wee see so manie of the promises alreadie fulfilled, let vs be patient in the rest, and not murmure against him as the Children of Israel did in the wil­dernesse, least a sodaine destruction come vpon vs, as it did vpon them, and we be cast aliue both bodie and soule into the bottomlesse pit.

They which beleeue not in the cōming of Christ, doe imitate the foolish exāple of Iulius Cesar, who be­ing often warned before to take heed to himself, least some great treason were wrought against him in the Ides of March, made but a mock thereof the same day that hee was slaine: saying to some of his familiars, which counselled him not to go that day into the Se­nate house; Why (saith he) they haue tolde mee this good while, that I should be in danger when the Ides of March were come: they are come, and yet I am safe; I saith one, they are come, but they are not yet past: And so by his owne follie & negligence he was the same day slaine. In like manner, these that doe but mocke at the Lords comming, do see (indeed) that al the signs which were promised should come to passe, are founde to bee true: but yet because Christ is not come, together with the signes, they thinke perhaps [Page 23]that he will not come. But ô ye fooles; ye see them to be come indeed: but ye see them not yet finished, nei­ther shall ye see them so soone ended, as ye shal see the promise of his comming iustified.

Some motions yee had perhaps this last yeere, to think vpon that day, more than ye be accustomed, be­cause of the great expectation of the Prophesie of the yere 1588; and for that ye heard by manie probable reasons and coniectures of men (drawen from the cō ­sent and agreement of times, from the coniunctions of planets, which threaten either finall destruction or wonderfull alteration, and from the equalitie of num­bers in the yeeres of the worlde 5550 and 5555, which iumpe with the yeres of Christ 1588 and 1593) that ei­ther the world should then ende, or else verie strange things should then happen. Howbeit this yere being past, yee seeme now to liue more securelie, yee feare God lesse, yee care lesse for religion, yee delight more in vanities, yee sinne more greedelie, yee prouoke Gods wrath more greeuouslie, yee runne more head­long into damnation: and yee sing your olde tune; Where is the promise of his comming more reprochfullie, than euer yee did before.

Neuertheles, if so manie and so strange things hap­pened that yere, as the like did not in so short space in many ages before? & mē hauing no more knowledge therof, thā that which could be gathred by cōiecture of the stars, & by cōparing time with times, what ef­fects do we think shal folow vpō the sure & infallible prophesie, warranted by the spirit of God himselfe in [Page]the canonicall scriptures? If the starres that are but cre­atures, can point to the time when God will worke such mighty operations in other of his creatures, as a­gainst that yere they did: whereby the proud & lustie mindes of mightie Monarchs are abated, wherby pu­issant and strong armies are dissolued, whereby the most inuincible nauies and strong castles of the sea be destroyed, whereby the leagues & cōspiracies of prin­ces shalbe made frustrate, wherby they that haue plaid so manie horrible tragedies in the Church, and haue caused the bloud of so manie hūdred thousands to be spilled, shal the same yeere finish their daies, some by bloud, some by death: Nay if the pore herrings of the sea, haue this yere brought vs letters of warning from God, written vpon the skins of their little bodies, that Christ cōmeth & that quickly, what think we shal the performāce of gods eternal promise, or the least word that proceedeth out of his mouth bring to passe a­gainst al the tyrants and blood suckers of this worlde, against all the enemies of his Church and religion, a­gainst all them that make but a mocke at the glorious comming of Christ, against all the strong and migh­tie Cities of the earth: yea, and against the consum­mation of the whole globe of the world? But ye my masters that giue so great credit to the reuolutions of the heauens, and to the threatning of the starres & pla­nets, look wel to your selues from henceforth, for be­sides that the Lord hath promised very shortly to com himselfe and call you to a reckoning, hee hath put al­so into his creatures new accidents, the effects where­of [Page 24]shall continue not one but one and twentie yeeres at the least (if the Lorde come not before) and those greater than haue euer bin since the world was made, the straungenes whereof shall amase you, and the ef­fects thereof shall trouble you, when ye shall see the Sunne and Moone so often and in so short time eclip­sed; when you shall see the brightnes of heauen at noone time darkened; when God shall powre out his wrath aboundantly by plagues and famines, by winds and tempestes, by fearefull ouerflowings of waters, and by the ruine and destruction of some Prouinces; when ye shall perceiue the strength of all creatures di­minished, when the earth will not bring foorth her benefites, when by this time all truth and righteous­nes will be vanished, all loue and societie among men will bee dissolued, when all men will altogether loue themselues, and no man will any whit loue another, when naturall affection of men towards their owne will bee prostrate, when all obedience to God and to Magistrates, to parents and maisters, to Kingdomes and Common weales will be abolished, whē nothing will bee done for duetie and conscience, but all for feare and necessitie, when all truth, all charitie, and all goodnes will be abandoned; and when there shall be nothing but pride, enuie, dissimulation, oppression, lust and couetousnes in all the whole earth; when the earth it selfe will craue at the hands of GOD, Come Lord Iesus, come quicklie, and deliuer me from this intolerable burden, which the foundation that I am builded vpon, namely, thy heauenly word, is not able [Page]anie longer to beare. Wherefore, If Christ haue dis­couered vnto vs, vpon whom the latter endes of the world are come, all the signes and tokens which he promised of his comming, If he haue sent Preachers into the world to proclaime the Gospell of his king­dome; If he haue reuiued as it were his owne name a­gaine, that laie hidden in Images and dumme Idolls; If he haue resumed vnto himselfe his owne authori­tie, that was attributed vnto men and Saincts depar­ted out of this life; If he haue reuealed that man of sinne that taketh the whole office of Christ vpon him; If he haue sent all the plagues, and famines, and earthquakes, that his wisedome and counsell deuised best for the fatherly correction of his people before the iudgement: If nations and kingdomes which are either enemies to his Gospell, or straungers from his Church, haue banded themselues against the Lord and against the generation of the godlie: If the father haue been against the sonne, and the mother against the daughter, and brother against brother, for the name of Christ: If many false Prophets haue come in the name of Christ, & taught the people shameful for­geries when the Lord neuer sent them: If men betray one another, and hate and persecute one another for their conscience sake: If iniquitie be so filled vp with the measure of it selfe, as it can hardly bee any more augmented: Finally, if the preaching of the Gospell, be at this day carried from one kingdome to another welneere vnto the ende of the world; and all these things to be the tokens of Christes comming: And [Page 25]if so manie straunge thinges haue happened besides in these our daies, that haue not done the like in manie ages before, and all these in the Church, and concerning the Church, and most agreeable to the time of Christes owne prophesie. Then is the se­cond warning of the Trompet sounded vnto iudge­ment.

It is high time therefore to awake out of sleepe, and to slumber no more in the cogitations of vngod­linesse: It is time that wee should cast off the cares of this life, and make our selues readie for the daie of the Lord: It is time, yea more then time that wee should cast away the workes of darknesse, and put on the ar­mour of light: It is time that wee should laie awaie all filthinesse and sinne; for now is our saluation nee­rer then when wee first beleeued. The axe is now put to the roote of the tree: that euen now, wee must ei­ther bring foorth fruite, or els bee cut downe and cast into the fire. Behold, now is the acceptable time, now is the daie of saluation, now will the Lorde shewe himselfe a mightie GOD, and his name shall be mag­nified in all the world. He came at the first, and wee knewe him not: beholde, he commeth againe, and all men shall knowe him: he came before simplie to take our nature vpon him, and to dye for our sinnes; but he cōmeth againe, as a conquerour to be reuenged of his enemies, and as a bountifull Prince to reward his Subiects: He came into the world, which he him­selfe had made, but the world would not receiue him, because it was not worthv of him. Wherfore hauing [Page]wrought the work of our redemption, he ascēded vp vnto his Father, where by his holie spirit he hath go­uerned, kept, and preserued his Church one thousand and well neere sixe hundred yeares, and now he com­meth in his own person to call all men to an accompt, and to cite all men to his Iudgement; and those that haue vsed their talents well in this life, shall be sure of an eternall reward in his kingdome:Math. 25. but if they haue been negligent and vnprofitable seruants, and with­out care of the Lords comming, he will cast them in­to the vttermost darknes, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. There shall be no Lord, no King, no Emperour, nor Pope vpon the earth, that shall bee exempt from this Iudgement. Can any Prince or Ma­gistrate of the world compare himselfe in brightnes and glorie vnto Lucifer that glorious Angell, yet he might not escape the iudgement of GOD, but the higher he was in glorie, the greater was the shame of his fall.

Remember therefore O ye Christian Princes and Magistrates, and ye that haue charge and rule of Gods people; whom God hath made his Liutenants gene­rall within your owne dominions, remember that the Lord is comming, and will call you to an accompt be­fore the throne of his Iudgement: The greater your Kingdomes and Territories be, the greater is the rec­koning that he requireth of you: and the more abso­lute you bee in commaunding all, the more are you bound to giue an accompt for. Ye are the Caesars, to whom Paule appealed, from you lieth no appeale to [Page 26]anie superior in this life. As the Lord hath deliuered vnto your custodie the greatest number of Talents, so he looketh to reape at your hands the greatest gaines.

It pitieth me to temember the woful and greeuous state of all mortall men in this miserable life, the de­sperate and dangerous case wherein they liue, the of­ten and imminent perills that they fall into, the mani­fold temptations, vexations, and disquietnes of mind that they are brought into, the continuall inticements of the flesh and the diuell that they enter into, besides the rash, and furious, and vngodlie actions, that they desperatelie runne into; That when they shall shortlie stand before the Tribunall seate, and their owne con­science iustlie accusing them thereof, there shalbe no wisedome, no policie, no counsell, no eloquence of the tongue, that can excuse or satisfie the least offence of this life: This is the generall state of all man­kinde.

But alas for griefe, that Princes should both nowe, and then also before the Iudgement seate, be in more wofull case, than all other persons and subiects of this mortall life; That they should bee in greater daunger than all men liuing; that they shoulde bee subiect to more miscarying and mishaps; than all men liuing; that they shoulde haue more vexations, disquietnesse, and cares of minde, than all men liuing; that tempta­tions of the flesh, that prouocations vnto lust, and de­sire of pleasures, shoulde take more holde of them, than of all men liuing; and that the way vnto all vn­godlie [Page]actions should be more open vnto them, than to all men liuing: And of all these thinges must they shortlie yeelde an account, together with all men li­uing. And yet beholde when the Awdit is ended for this, & a Quietus est for all matters concerning them­selues, there is a new inditement framed against them, wherein they must bee called to an other reckoning. Then shall the Register of all their gouernement bee read before them: then will it be seene whether they haue ministred Iustice vnto their people: That is to say; Whether they haue hearde the fatherlesse and oppressed, when they haue cried vnto them; Whe­ther they haue taken notice of such appeales, as haue ben made vnto them; Whether they haue punished vngodlie and corrupt Iudges, which solde their sub­iectes for siluer, and the righteous for a poore re­warde; Whether they haue spared the innocent bloud, and not pardoned them that runne on still in wickednesse; Whether in all their publique enter­prises, they haue respected the glorie of GOD, more than their owne commodities; Whether they haue nursed, protected, and defended the Churche of GOD to the vttermost of their power; Whe­ther they haue preserued it from all heresies, errours, schismes, and corruptions; Whether they haue pu­nished those Rulers of the Churche, that cause the trueth of GOD to bee euill spoken of, for their vn­godlinesse: Finallie, whether in all their actions, both at home and abroade, priuate and publique in [Page 27]the Churche and Common-weale, they haue done all thinges with a faithfull and sinceere heart, and with the testimonie of a pure and good consci­ence. Which if they haue, they shalbe coheires with Christ, and shall reigne with him in glorie and felici­tie for euermore: otherwise they shall stande among the guiltie sinners, & receaue iudgement of condem­nation according to their merites.

Next vnto Kinges and absolute Princes, must come to a reckoning before the chiefe Iudge Christ Iesus, the Gouernours of the Churche, and Ru­lers of Prouinces and particular places, to whome the Prince for his owne discharge hath committed his authoritie, to see that GOD bee truelie ser­ued, and Iustice among his subiectes duelie exe­cuted.

And therefore yee my reuerent Fathers of the Churche, yee, whose office it is both to teach, and feede, and gouerne the Churche vnder your charge: Christ will shortlie call you to a straight accompt; First, whether yee came into your office by a plaine and direct waye, or els stole into it by some cor­rupt and sinister meanes; Whether yee desired the office of a Bishop for the goodnesse of the worke, or for the gayne and profite of the liuing; Whe­ther yee set before your eyes, the benefite of the Church, and aduancement of the Gospell, more than the honour and dignitie that is attributed vnto your calling.

The seconde Article wherein yee must trie your selues before the Supreame Bishoppe, is, Whether you haue indeuoured as farre as in you lyeth, to cleanse the whole Church vnder you, of all vngodlie worship & worshippers in the same: And whether ye haue been carefull to appease al schismes and contro­uersies to the vttermost of your power; whether yee haue sincerelie and diligentlie preached Christ, as hee hath prescribed in his holie word; whether yee haue weeded out of your whole gouernments, all infa­mous, vngodlie, schismaticall, yea (and as much as in you lieth) all vnlearned Pastors, which either by their wicked examples offend, corrupt and marre their flocke, or els be altogether carelesse and negligent of them; whether ye haue executed all the censures of the Church, with a faithfull and single heart & hand, without all fauour and corruption, for the aduaunce­ment of the glorie of God, and edifieng of die whole congregation.

Item, whether you haue remooued or reformed all such your Commissaries and other meane officers, (if anie such you haue) that by their corrupt and aua­ritious proceedings, haue caused the most iust, most holie, and most pure religion of Christ, to bee blas­phemed and hated among the enemies of the Gos­pell: and haue giuen so great an offence to the rest of the Church, as manie haue runne into greeuous schismes and verie damnable opinions, by reason of the same.

Likewise in all iust appeales made vnto you, whether you haue in charitie and conscience indeuoured with all care and diligence to reforme all things that haue been wronged by your inferiour officers. Finally, whether ye haue fed the hungrie, clothed the naked, and lodged the harborlesse; and whether to the pro­portion of your liuing, ye haue been as liberall to the poore and impotent members of Christ, as carefull to aduaunce your selues and yours with worldly ri­ches and honors. And thus, whether yee haue in all thinges indeuoured to the vttermost of your power, both by your sound doctrine, by example of your owne life, and by your faithfull and vpright gouern­ment, to walke worthie of your vocation, and haue kept the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In al these things shall ye shortlie be examined and tried be­fore the triumphant Iudge Christ Iesus. Againe, ye that bee the gouernours of Prouinces, and all other Iudges and great officers, vpon whom dependeth ei­ther the liues, or the goods, or the causes of other Sub­iects; albeit the most of you haue long time escaped the temporall sword, yet shall you not now escape the last iudgement of God. For the bloud of the fatherles and widdowes haue cryed vp to the Lord of hoasts, and he commeth to take an account of your vngodlie and vncharitable iudgements. Shall not your owne consciences in that day accuse you, as much as a thou­sand witnesses; that you fled from iudgement and per­uerted equitie; That ye build vp Syon with bloud,Malach 3. and Ierusalem with wickednesse; That ye heads haue [Page]iudged for reward, and that ye Priestes haue taught for hier, and ye Prophets haue prophesied for monie: That ye haue contemned the low estate of the poore, & feared to execute Iustice against the mightie: That ye haue often preuented the trueth of the cause, by a contrarie impression and conceipt in your minde: That ye haue been more carried with the faire intise­ment of mans eloquence, than with a plaine and simple declaration of the trueth, That ye haue either stayed your iudgement by letters, or wearied your su­ters by charges, or consumed them by delayes, or dis­couraged them by your speeches, or mocked them by your vanities, or driuen them to dispaire by your in­iustice. Finally, that ye haue not onlie seene the bri­bing and extortion and scraping of pettie clarkes and inferiour ministers, which ye might haue redressed, but that ye your selues also haue bin partakers of their sinnes. Shall not all these things bee layd open before your eyes in that great and terrible daie?

Generally, all ye that be rich & abound with goods and possessions in this life, leaue off the greedie desire of monie, and dispose well of the riches that ye haue: Make ye friends while ye maie, of your vnrighteous Mammon, that ye be not taken short when the Lord commeth. For he is speedilie comming, and will take a straight account of all you, that haue abused your stewardshippes, and haue not bin faithfull in that was committed vnto you. He hath sounded his Trompet now this second time, and hath giuen you a lawfull warning, he hath tolde you often before, and he tel­leth [Page 29]you now againe at the last, that you heape not vn­to your selues treasure vpon the earth, where the Can­ker and rust do corrupt, & theeues breake in & steale, That if riches increase, you should not set your heart vpon them,Psal. 62. That riches helpe not in the day of venge­ance, and he which trusteth in them shall haue a hor­rible fall. That though ye thinke,Psal. 49. that your dwelling places shall continue for euer, yet ye shall dye and leaue your riches to others, That because thou hast trusted in thine owne treasure, therefore thou and thy Prin­ces and Priestes shall be carried into captiuitie, That he which stoppeth his eare frō the crye of the poore,Prou. 21. he shall crye himselfe and not bee heard, That the de­ceiptfulnes of riches, choketh vp the word of GOD,I am. 5. and maketh it vnfruitfull,1. Timot. 6. That we should not trust in the vncertaintie of riches,Psal 112. but in the true and liuing God, That he which disperseth his goods, and giueth to the poore, his righteousnesse shall remaine for euer, That blessed are the rich which be found without ble­mish, and haue not put any trust in monie and riches. And a thousand such other profitable warnings and promises hath he giuen you. But ye haue hardned your hearts, and thinke that ye shall neuer come to an account, how ye haue bestowed them. Werefore the Canker and rust of them; yea the vayne and friuolous bestowing of thē without profite to your neighbour, or benefite to the Church or Common weale, shall be a witnes against you at the day of Iudgement. Yea the supreme Iudge himselfe, all the holie Angells & elect of God, shall testifie against you: nay, your owne con­science [Page]shall accuse you, when you see before your eyes those whom ye despised and oppressed; And the Lord himselfe in that daie, shall saie vnto you: you are they vpon whom I bestowed so many benefites, whē as I might haue giuen them vnto others farre more worthie then you: I made you stewards of my trea­sures, to dispose them as might bee most agreeable to mine owne honor, for the reliefe of your poore bre­thren, which are members of my bodie, whome ye sometime derided and iested at, and thought their life to be but madnes,Wis. 5. and their end to be without honor: But now ye see, that I haue chosen them before you, and made them heires of my saluation. You in this life had aboundance of all good things, but because ye vsed not those things as I had commaunded you, but abused them to your owne lustes, I testifie against you, that the poore which before time indured al the penurie and miserie of this life, shall now possesse the inheritance of my kingdome, and ye shall bee turned out. They, in stead of the cold, hunger, nakednesse, and trouble, which they suffered vpon the earth, shall now inioy all honor, glorie, pleasure, and felicitie for euer­more: But ye which exalted your selues in the pride of your riches, and dreamed of no other happines, but temporall honors and treasures of the earth, ye shall now from henceforth feele nothing but euerlasting paines, and griefes in hell, and bee tormented with the deuill and his Angels. Ye see the poore continual­lie before you in the streates, the maymed and mise­rable go from doore to doore, the impotent Lazars lye [Page 30]at your gates, the poore farherlesse children and wid­dowes in continuall want. They desire but the scraps that fall from your table, you shut you cares against them, and in the distresse of their soule they crie vnto God: and shall not God deliuer them in the time of their trouble, and call you to an account for them in the day of Iudgement? O vnkinde and vngratefull nature of man, beyond all the creatures that God hath made! The birdes of the aire that be lame or olde, or not able to seeke foode, are fed by the labour of other birds: The wilde beasts that be sicke and impotent to take anie pray of themselues, are fedde by the pray of others; But shal men so degenerate from their own nature, and from the kind and nature of al other beasts of the fielde, that hauing ouer and aboue that which should susteine themselues and their familie, they wil not feede the hungrie, nor cloath the naked, nor helpe the maymed and impotent. Wherefore those beasts and foules of the aire shal rise in the day of iudgement against them; nay al the creatures of God that are obe­dient vnto man, & serue for his life and sustenaunce, shalbe a witnesse against them in that woful & dread­full day of the Lord.

Neither shall those rich, whether they bee men or women, escape the iudgement of God; which gathe­ring to themselues abundance of treasure, deferre all their good deeds til the time of their death, & deter­mine then to dispose all things after a good and cha­ritable manner: seeing for the most part, either their life is so dainlie taken from them before they haue set [Page]all in order; Or while they liue, they are spoyled of that they haue; Or else some other mischaunce com­meth after their death, that things cannot be disposed according to their will: But especiallie, since in the meane time, they haue suffred manie Christian soules to perish for lacke of their helpe. Againe, what thanke is it to them to be liberal then, when they must of ne­cessitie leaue their riches vnto others, and cannot vse the same anie more themselues.

Neither wil the Iudge in that day, so straightlie in­quire how they bestowed the riches which they had at their death, as he will examine whether they did the workes of charitie in their life: Namelie; Whether they had pitie on the fatherles children, & widowes, when they cried vnto them; Whether they helped the lame, and blinde, and impotent, that were not able to shifte for themselues; Whether they gaue fuel and clothes to them that were cold and naked; Whether they releeued poore prisoners, when the yron entered into their soules; Whether they gaue Phisicke to the sicke, and surgerie the wounded; Whether they lent their monie freelie without hope of gaine; Whether they eased the common burden of the poore in time of famine: Whether they helped their Countrie and Common weale in time of necessitie; Whether they ministred vnto the Saintes in their aduersitie; Whe­ther they put their helping hand to the vpholding of Religion: And finallie, Whether they did all these things with a single eye, and faithfull heart, not to be seene of men, but for pure loue to Christ & his mem­bers: [Page 31]And then if they haue anie thing lefte at their death to be spared from their owne familie, let them bestow the same in such wise as may most tend to the glorie of God, to the edifieng of the Church, and be­nefite of the Common weale: And God shall restore them a thousand folde in the life to come. But if they sawe all those necessities of their brethren, and did shut vp their compassion from them, and thought all too little for themselues while they liued; all the good deedes at their death shall not be imputed one iot vnto them, but they shal haue their po [...]tiō with hipocrites, where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth: For they that haue shewed no mercie vnto others, shall haue iudge­ment without mercie to them selues:

Generallie, there is no estate nor degree of person whatsoeuer in this life, that shal escape frō this iudge­ment, but all shall appeare before the seate of GOD, and they that haue not walked with an vpright and sincere heart before him, nor haue beleeued effectual­lie, nor liued fruitefullie in Iesus Christ, wherby their sinnes might not be imputed to them, shall aunswere before him, not onelie for all the actuall sinnes that they haue cōmitted against God, against their neigh­bor, and against their owne soules, but they shall al­so yeelde an account for euerie idle and vaine worde, that they haue spent all the time of their life, and so to receaue iudgement for the same.

Thus are all mortall men and women cyted to appeare before the Iudgement seate of God to [Page]aunswere for themselues. There shall then be no ex­cepting of persons before him: but Emperors, Kings, and Princes, their subiects, seruaunts, and vassals, all, both Magistrates and people, the highest Prelates and poorest Ministers, Lords and tenants, masters and ser­uants, parents and children, olde and young, one with another shall all stand before the face of the Lorde to receiue their iudgement; and either for their vngod­linesse to be accused and condemned, or else hauing walked with a perfect heart before him, they shalbee iustified and saued by the death and redemption of Christ.

Wherefore seing al these things shall thus happen, & that shortly, & how sodainly we know not: and se­ing the day of the Lord wil steale vpō vs like a theefe in the night,2. Pet 3. when the hauens shall passe away, and the earth and al the workes therein shalbe vtterly bur­ned with fire: seeing we shall immediately be caried away vnto iudgement, and seeing the Lord is not slacke, but will speedelie come as he hath promised, what manner of persons ought we to be in holinesse and godly conuersation? How ought we to purge our liues from the dead and damnable workes of this world to serue the true and liuing God? Howe well furnished ought we to be at all houres with all the ar­mour of God, that nothing but truth may proceede out of our mouths: That all our actions bee defen­ded by iustice and vpright dealing: That wee may treade all our steppes in the Gospell of peace; [Page 32]That we may haue a strong faith to withstand the de­uill and all the temptations of this life; That wee relie whollie vppon the saluation of Christ; and that the word of God may dwell plentifully in vs; wherewith we being indued, we shall be readie at euery instant to meete the Lord when he commeth in the clowdes with power and great glorie. But what shall the Lord say to them that bee so carelesse and negligent as they will not watch one small time in praier and medita­tion for his comming? Shall they not in that great day be accused of the greatest vnfaithfulnes in the world? Yea, shall they not bee condemned of foule and beast­lie ingratitude; when for the pure loue that he bea­reth to vs, he hath so sensiblie before hand shewed vs of all these things that haue happened, and hath wil­led vs to watch and bee readie with our Lampes bur­ning, because the Sonne of man will come at such an houre as we knowe not? O vngratefull and faithlesse generation, maie he saie, it repenteth me that I haue been so kinde and louing to you, and that I haue be­stowed vpon you so large and ample benefites, when ye were dead in the burthen of your sinnes, and were in thraldome of the deuill, and of all your mortall e­nernies, and had no other waie to be relieued but by me, I humbled my selfe from the throne of my Ma­iestie, and tooke your nature vpon me: I came not as I might haue done, like a great Prince and Monarch of this world, but was content to abase my selfe to be borne of a poore woman, to bee brought vp like a poore childe, to walke in the forme of a poore ser­uant, [Page]and to liue poorely from the daie of my birth to the daie of my death. I indured nakednesse, and cold, and hunger for your sakes, yea thirtie yeares toge­ther and vpward did I abide all the calamities of this life for your sakes, I submitted my selfe to the lawe of man, and obserued euerie iot and title of the same for your sakes, I fasted fourtie daies and fourtie nights for your sakes, I wrought great miracles and won­ders in the world for your sakes: And when the time of my passion was come, I sweate water and bloud for your sakes, I was scourged, buffetted, and beaten for your sakes, I abode a crowne of sharpe thornes vpon my head for your sakes, I indured spitting, rai­ling, and despightfull words against my selfe for your sakes: And in the ende I suffered amost shamefull and cruell death vppon the Crosse for your sakes. For you and your saluation haue I done all this, and yet ye will not beleeue the signes that I haue shewed, nor prepare your selues to watch for my comming. Therefore I will come so sodainlie vppon you, as it shall be too late for you to repent; and whome I finde not watching and prepared for me, him will I cast into the vttermost darkenes, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Wherefore my deare brethren in Christ, when we haue diligentlie weighed and considered these things; how iustlie, how innocentlie, and how purelie ought wee to shewe our selues in all the whole course of our liues, looking daylie and hourelie for the ap­pearing of our Sauiour, that we maie be blamelesse in [Page 33]the daie of his cōming. It is for our learning & edify­ing that al the holie Scriptures are written, that all the teaching, instructiōs, & warnings therin are giuē, that all the miracles of God from the beginning haue been shewed, that all the examples of our forefathers haue been published, that God from the beginning was so mindfull of our redemption, & that he sent his owne Sonne for our saluation. It is we that he hath been so carefull to preserue so many ages together, in the mid­dest of so many crooked and peruerse nations, & from the hands of so many cruell & bloudie tyrants. Who were preserued in the Arke from the first destruction of the world by waters, but we? Who were saued from death in the great famine of Egipt and countries adioyning, but we? Who were deliuered from Pha­rao, from the inhabitants of Chanaan, and from manie other nations with a mightie and stretched out arme, but we? Who were preserued in the great and hor­rible persecutions of the Primitiue Church, from be­ing vtterly consumed of tyrants, but we? Who were safelie kept by God as the apple of his owne eye, in so great and generall Apostacie of the Church, but we? Who were againe deliuered by God from the power of Antichrist, and were indued with the knowledge of his truth, but we? Nay, who haue receiued so many tokens of the end of the world, & warnings of Chri­stes comming, as we? For the heathen haue no know­ledge of his lawes, And they that bee straungers from Christ, feare not his iudgements, And all they which sinned without law, shall perish without law. Againe, [Page]if iudgement begin first with the house of God, what shall become of them that beleeue not the Gospell?

Why do not wee then with all faithfulnesse and willng heart receiue all these Oracles sent vs by God? Why doe wee not thankfully accept his benefites? Why do we not beleeue his promises? Why do wee not prepare our selues for his iudgements? Why doe we not weepe and bewaile and lament for our sinnes? Why are we so stonie and hard hearted, that there is No example of temporall punishments in other, no feele of Gods wrath in our selues, no threatning of Gods vengance to come, no remembrance of punish­ments past, no remorse of conscience for our sinnes, no promise of temporall blessings, no assurance of e­ternall rewards: neither signes in heauen aboue, nor tokens in the earth beneath, nor the hope of euerla­sting saluatiō, nor feare of perpetuall damnation, that can once effectually moue vs to amend our liues, and make vs to forsake the sinne that reigneth in our mor­tall bodies; although we know die kingdome of hea­uen to be neuer so neere, nay, euen at the very doore. Wherefore I feare me it will be pronounced against vs, that was sometime against the vnbeleeuing cities of Iuda. Woe be vnto you Christians, and especiallie you that haue takē vpon you to reforme my Church, and to haue my Gospell preached among you, woe I say bee vnto you: For if the signes and myracles that haue bin in your time, and among you, had bin done among the Turkes and Infidels, yea among the most sauadge Indians of the world, they would long since [Page 34]haue repented insackecloth and ashes! O that wee would open the fountaines of our heart, and powre in contrition into our soule! O that wee had a floud of teares to bewaile the multitude of our sinnes! O that we would haue but some parte of that affection to­wards our selues, that the creatures of God haue to­wards vs! For they mourne and lament for our sins, they long for our deliuerance because of our sinnes; The earth trembleth & quaketh because of our sinns; The Sonne and the Moone want of their light and beautie, for our sinnes, The Heauens powre downe floudes of destruction for our sinnes; The plants and hearbes lacke their vertue and operation, for our sinnes: The windes goe foorth of their places, & the seasons of the yere keepe not their wonted course, for our sinnes: yea, the natures of all creatures are in a manner changed for our sinnes. But what shall I saye more? The Angels of God doe mourne for our sins: The verie soules of the righteous doe lament for our sinnes: And it greeueth the spirite of God himselfe, that we persist in our sinnes: But all this mooueth not our senses, nor yet melteth our owne heartes for our sinnes:

All that we speake, all that we write, all the labor we take, is in vaine: For our heart is as hard as the A­damant, and our soule refuseth counsell. Euerie man speaketh of the mercies of GOD; Euerie man ac­knowledgeth his benefits? Euerie man hath the word of God in his lippes; Euerie man crieth Lorde, Lord; but no man dooth the will of his heauenlie Father; [Page]Euerie man confesseth the tokens of Christ to bee come, but no man prepareth him selfe his com­ming: No man maketh attonement with his brother, no man sheweth the fruites of faith, no man forsaketh his wicked life, no man keepeth his vessell pure and holie to the Lorde. Euerie man blameth, euerie man reprooueth, euerie man condemneth shamefull actes in others, but no man amendeth anie one sinne in himselfe. O gracious GOD, why shoulde thy peo­ple thus forget thee? why shoulde they bee thus stiff­necked against thee? why shoulde they so deepelie dissembled with thee? why shoulde they make as though they beleeued thy worde, when they bee so farre from reforming of their liues? why should they be so rauished with earthlie delightes, that perish in a moment, and contemne the hauenlie ioyes, which continue for euer? why shoulde they bee thus di­straught from the sense and feele of hapinesse, to fol­lowe the delightes and pleasures of their owne fan­cies? Shal the care of transitorie riches of this world, drowne the desire of glorie in the worlde to come? Shall the vglie and deceaueable lustes of sinne, that breede long and bitter repentaunce, preuaile aboue the beautifull contemplation of thine eternall God­head? Shall this vale of miserie, (wherein wee see nothing but sinne and wickednesse, nothing but care and vexation of minde, nothing but perilles by lande and sea, at home and abroade, in bedde and at boord, in freedome and in bondage, in pouertie & in welth, [Page 35]in honour and disgrace, at all times, and in all places, both in life and in death) bee more deepelie printed in our heart, than the Kingdome of Christ; wherein the bodie shall bee chaunged from corruption to im­mortalitie, from dishonour to glorie, from weake­nesse to strength, from a naturall bodie to a spirituall bodie; wherein all paines and sorrowes shall bee vt­lie vanished, and all quietnesse and tranquilitie of con­science shall dwell for euermore? Nay, shall the af­fection which wee beare to father, or mother, or bro­ther, or sister, or wife, or children, or landes, or goods, or to haue die whole earth at our becke and commaundement, once seperate vs from the loue that is in Christ Iesus; from the companie that wee shall haue with his holie Angells, from the fellowship of all the godlie and elect people, and from the continu­all fruition of Gods diuine presence and Maiestie? GOD forbid.

What is the cause then that wee so greedelie im­brace and laye holde vpon these transitorie thinges? Nothing verelie, but the corruption of our owne na­ture, the following of our owne sensuall pleasures, and the instigation of the diuell; who laboureth now towardes the ende of the worlde more stronglie than euer, to drawe all the soules that he can into damna­tion with himselfe; of whom we, to our great shame, stande in seare, as though Christ our Conqueror had neuer redeemed vs, as though he that had once saued vs, could no more defende vs.

But alas, why shoulde wee not continuallie and [Page]vnfainedlie praye vnto God to assist vs, and with the strength of his holie spirite to defende vs from all our wicked enemies, that in him, & by him we may haue grace to vanquish and ouercome, whensoeuer we are pressed or disquieted either in bodie or minde.

But as concerning sinne, albeit wee for our owne parts haue made such a couenant with death, as what­soeuer be said vnto vs we will not amend: & haue en­tered into such a league with hell, that we will not be saued: albeit we haue refused the mercie of God, that calleth all men to repentance, and would all men to be saued; yet after we haue once receaued the knowledge of the truth, and haue been baptized in the name of Christ, and haue promised to liue in his true faith and feare, let vs neuer so treade vnder foote the Sonne of God; nor worke such despite vnto the spirit of grace, that through our vngodlie and sinfull life, we shoulde make the Gentiles to hate the name of Christ for our sakes, and by this meanes to keepe both out selues and others too out of the kingdome of Christ. Which otherwise, if they saw our iust and sincere conuerati­on answerable to the forme of our profession, they would ioyne them selues vnto the bodie of Christ, & so magnifie his name ouer all the world.

Shall not the zeale of our forefathers, who in com­parison of vs that haue the light of the Gospell, li­ued but in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death, be a notable testimony against vs in the day of iudgemēt; since they feared god more reuerētly, serued him more willingly, obeyed him more dutifully, and loued him [Page 36]more feruently thē we? Since they had more compas­ston vpon their pore brethren, more deuotion vnto al good workes, and more regard to their owne salua­tion then we? Since they had lesse dissimulation, lesse craft, lesse hypocrisie, lesse malice, lesse couetousnesse, less wickedness in their life then we?

Compare the great zeale of our predecessors, with the colde deuotion that wee haue in these daies; and we shall be ashamed of our selues. The good deedes which were done by them, were done simplie, either for the loue they bare to God, or (as they tooke it) for the honor of his seruice and religion, or of a compas­sion to their poore brethren, or for the safetie of their owne soules, or of a zeale they bare to their parents departed, or for a benefite to the Common wealth, or to ease the burthen of their successors, or for the fur­therance of Schooles and learning, or for some such other, either good or wel-meaning intent. But on the other side, what little good soeuer we doe, we doe it, neither of a lone towards GOD, nor of a charitable minde towards our neighbour, nor of any remorse of conscience in our selues, nor yet of any affection to­wards our natiue countrie; but all that the most of vs do, we do it either for vaine glorie, or for pleasing of other mens humours, or to bee seene and praised of men, or to auoyd the clamor of the world, or by com­pulsion and commandement, or for feare of shame and punishment, or by importunate sute that is made, or because wee knowe not els what to do with that we haue. Wherefore, the former with their blind zeale [Page]and supposed good intent, shall rise vp in the daie of iudgement and condemne vs for the fruitlesse osten­tation and boasting of our faith. If the men of Nini­uie which repented at the preaching of Ionas, and the Queene of the South, that came so farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon, shall rise in iudgement against the Iewes, that would not beleeue and amend, for all that could bee said vnto them by Christ and the Pro­phets. What shall so manie Prophets and Preachers of God do against vs in that day, who daily & houre­lie and continuallie rebuke vs for our sinnes, and stirre vs vp by all meanes to amendment of our liues, shew­ing vs that the daie of the Lord is at hand.

O Iesus, why should we now be further from the obeying of thee, than when wee were further from thee? Shall the brightnes of thy presence, and the light of thy blessed word which lighteneth euerie man that commeth into the world, and whose propertie is to giue light and saluation to all them that will receiue the same, shall it shine (I saie) vppon such stonie and grauelie hearts, as haue no power to bring forth true repentance, nor any fruites of a godlie life? And shall the Deuill so preuaile against them, for whom thou hast shed thy most precious bloud, that sodainlie (vp­pon the reuealing of Antichrist, and sending of new Ambassadours from thee, to put thinges in order a­gainst thy comming) he shall turne the hearts of all men from all goodnesse and vertue, to vice and cru­eltie; alter the natures of things from better to worse; bring in Schisme, Atheisme, Treason, and all vngod­lines [Page 37]into the worlde, and make iniquitie flowe be­yond measure ouer all the bankes of the earth? How­beit, Lorde if this bee thy will, and that by no other meanes thy holie word should bee verified, namelie, that wickednesse should so mightilie abound before thy comming: If thy promise should on this wise bee fulfilled: If thy chosen must on this manner bee tried; and that this should bee one of the last tokens of thy comming; wee accept all these things as Oracles sent before, and wee assuredlie looke for thine owne selfe in person to followe.

Wherefore ye my brethren of the Church of En­gland, for whose cause specially I haue written this second warning, or sound of the last Trompet, beare in minde all these thinges that I haue declared vnto you: Examine your owne consciences, whether ye haue not tasted of the blessings of GOD, in mea­sure more aboundantlie, in fauour more apparantlie, in mercie more infinitlie, and in signes and tokens more wonderfullie, than anie nation in the world. Againe, consider with your selues, how all these gra­ces and mercies haue been requited of you. Whe­ther there bee anie nation of the worlde more vn­thankfull for Gods benefites, more forgetfull of his promises, more disobedient to his commaunde­ments, more negligent in their callings, more factious in practises, more contentious in Religion, more inclined to Treason, more vncharitable in action, more colde in deuotion, more rash in enterprises, more restlesse in vanities, more greedie in getting, [Page]more carelesse in spending, more slowe to vertue and more forward to vice: And finally, more desperate to all kinde of mischiefe, then commonly the people of this kingdome are. Wherefore, if the mercies of God did not daylie salue the deadly wounds and diseases of our soule, wee should long before this time haue come to a feareful and horrible end. But that the Lord doth yet spare you, impute it not to your owne desert, but to his great mercy. That ye perish & consume not in his wrath, it is of his mercie: That ye liue vnpla­gued of your enemies, is of his mercie: That ye loose not his Gospell and true Religion, is of his mercie: That we see our Elizabeth reigne in holinesse, health, and prosperitie, is long of his mercie: And yet for all this do we reiect his goodnesse, discredite his promi­ses, dishonor his seruices, disallowe his tokens, conti­nue in sinnes, deuide the Church with Schismes, and slaunder the trueth of the Gospell by our vngodlines: yet for all this do ye crye, Peace, Peace, and think that all shall go aswell with you at the last, as it did at the first: And consider not the mercifull patience and long suffring of the Lord, & how he calleth you to repen­tance. For ye shall al dye with euerlasting destruction, vnlesse ye speedily shewe foorth the fruites of repen­tance. And the patient forbearing of temporall pu­nishment of your bodies in this life, doth breede the greater weight of perpetuall shame and damnation both of bodie and soule in the life to come.

Farre more easie should it bee for vs, if our sinnes had not deserued greater punishement, that it would [Page 38]please the Lord fatherlie to correct vs while wee are heere, either with publicke warres, plagues and fa­mines; or else with priuate sicknesse, penurie, impri­sonment, and with losse of goods and possessions: if he would feede vs with the bread of teares, and with the water of affliction; if he would exercise vs with all kinde of miserie, and so purge and trie vs as it were by fire; yea, if he would humble vs as he did Nabuca­donosor, and make vs to eate grasse with the beastes of the field, and to water vs with the deaw of heauen, till our hearts were whollie turned vnto him againe: ra­ther than do fill vs so abundantlie with all manner of temporal blessings: With health in our bodies, plen­tie in our coffers, ioy in our families, fauour with our Princes; to haue praise with priuate persons, and to haue authoritie in kingdomes: but therewith to bee depriued of the grace and mercie of God, of Christes promised saluation, and in steede of the pleasures of this life, to receaue paines intollerable both of bodie and soule in the life to come.

Wherefore ô my bretheren remember what yee are, where yee are, and whether yee goe. Yee are of those, for whom the world was made; For whome the remnant was saued in Noahs floud; For whome God hath shewed a thousand miracles in Aegipt, in the redde Sea, and in the wildernesse; For whome Christ liued so manie yeeres in this wretched world; and for whome hee suffered so shamefull death vpon the Crosse: Yee are the seede of Abraham, and ge­neration of the blessed: Yee are of the Church, and [Page]members of Christes bodie: Yee are the vessells of the holie Ghost, if yee liue holilie and vnblameablie: And ye are of them, to whom the promise of euerla­sting life was made.

Remember also, that yee are in this transitorie world, a place so latelie made, & which shall so short­lie perish; wherein there is nothing but lustes of the fresh, lustes of the eyes, and pride of life. Remember that a thousande yeeres with the Lorde are but as one day, and that all your whole life is not one hower of such a day. Remember that yee are in a place full of miseries, cares, and troubles, among a crooked and peruerse generation, among a people that haue solde them selues to commit wickednesse, and that with all greedie desire: That a mans dayes passe awaie like a shaddowe, and his yeeres like vanitie, That though he be the mightiest Prince & Monarch of the world, yet when age & infirmities creepe vpon him, he desireth to be losed from the burthen of this flesh.

Againe remember the place whereunto yee shall tende: For yee are heere but pilgrimes and straungers for a little season; And as manie of you as are Chri­stes, must home to your owne Countrey of Heauen; A place of libertie, a place of felicitie, a place of euer­lasting pleasure; Where time shall be no more time; where night and darkenesse shall be banished; where yee shall neither hunger nor thirst; where yee shall neither lust nor desire; where it is vnpossible yee shoulde die anie more; where the Lorde him selfe shall bee your foode and portion, and the light of your [Page 39]countenaunce; where the measure of your ioyes shall be full, and where ye shall liue in pleasure and felicitie for euermore.

But on the other side, as manie of you as are called Christians, and are not of the flocke of Christ, as ma­nie as refuse this saluation offered you, in not belee­uing as you ought, and liuing as you should, As ma­nie of you as trust not whollie to be saued by the me­rite of Christ Iesus, but iustifie your selues by your owne workes: Naie, all you that boast of your faith in Christ, and yet mortifie not your carnall members, nor walke in the steppes of his commaundements: As many as make Christ Iesus but a straunger to you, and seeke for other Mediatours than his owne selfe: As manie as frame vnto the Church a monsterous head vpon the earth, besides our owne mercifull head Christ Iesus in heauen: As manie as will make the decrees of mans corrupt iudgement, equall with the most holie and sacred word of GOD: As manie as refuse to laie holde on Christ by faith, and runne for helpe vnto Images and dumme Idolls: As manie as frustrate the benefites of Christes death, by redeeming their sinnes with monie and pardons: As manie as thinke to obtaine their requestes by a set number of verball prayers, without any earnest meditation of the merite and promise of Christ: As manie as pro­phane that glorious bodie of Christ Iesus, by wor­shipping of any creature for and in the name of him, and so cut off the hand of faith, whereby we hold fast by him as he sitteth on the right hand of his Father: [Page]Briefly, as many as know that God must be worship­ped in spirit and trueth, and yet will cleaue to the a­pish toyes and foolish superstitions of Antichrist. Fi­nally, as many as walke after their owne waies, and not as the Lord himselfe hath commaunded in his holie worde: All these must likewise home to their countrie; a place of torment, a place of eternal trouble, a cruell and terrible habitation, continuallie to bee vexed with burning fire and most intollerable heate, mingled neuerthelesse with palpable darknes; not for a time and season, but perpetuallie and for euer there to remaine, vnder the dominion of Lucifer and his Angels, whose workes they followed, and whose commaundements they obeyed.

Wherfore, if there yet remaine in you any sparke of godlinesse, anie loue of Religion, anie dutie to­wards God, anie hope of the resurrection to come, a­nie desire of saluation, anie feare of damnation: if all faith, all conscience, all goodnesse, and all religion be not quite extinguished; reuiue your mindes, lifte vp your hearts, ascend vnto Christ by faith; Set your af­fection vpon things aboue, and not vpon thinges be­neath; Cast away all vaine and idle cogitations, re­forme your liues, forsake your sins, returne no more to your filthie pleasures, giue ouer your superfluous vanities, cleanse your selues from all vngodlinesse: & as you haue hetherto giuen ouer your members to serue vncleannesse, so make them now to be seruants vnto righteousnesse. Crucifie the olde man in you, that the bodie of sinne may be vtterly destroyed.

Come out from Babylon, and be no more partaker of her wickednesse, touch no more vncleannesse, and the Lord will receiue you. Euery one of you abound in charitie one towards another, euen as Christ hath lo­ued you and hath giuen himselfe for you. Be renew­ed in the spirite of your minde, and put on the newe man, which is shapen in holinesse and righteousnesse. Examine your selues whether you be in the faith: and knowe for certaintie that Christ is in you, except ye bee reprobates. Clense your hearts from all filthines and sinne, and go forth to meet with the Bridegrome. So shall all your former sinnes be wiped out of his re­membrance. Ye shalbe his people, and he wil be your God. He will seperate you from the wicked, and set you on his right hand. He will protect you in this life from al your enemies, and in the life to come, will giue you a kingdome of euerlasting happinesse: Come therfore Lord Iesus, Come quick­lie, for the saluation of thy chosen, and gladnes of thy people.