CHAP. 1.
Concerning the Gouernours of this yeare.

WHEN I looke well and consider the high Master of the Stars in his Doc­trine, and in writing I finde that this yeare & from henceforth vnto the end of the world, the Sunne, Mars and Mercurius shall raigne: Now whereas other men [Page] séeke their speculation out of the stars, that doe not I respect so much as ex­perience in the Doctrine of Christ, and for the exhortation and warning of all estates, I will describe the nature and properties of these thrée gouernours, the Sunne a mighty Lord ouer heauen and earth,Psal. 2. is Iesus Christ our onely Redéemer and Sauiour in all things like vnto his heauenly father,Iohn. 14. Ver. 10. The brightnes of his glory, Heb. 1. Ver. 3. the image of the inuisible God by whom all things that are in heauen and earth were created,Col. 1. Ver. 15. things visible and inuisible, whether they be Maiesties or Lordships either rulers or powers.

This Iesus Christ the euerlasting word of his heauenly Father,Heb. 2. 6. which tooke our nature vppon him he is Al­pha and Omega, Phi. 2. 6. 7. the beginning and the ending, Reu. 1. 8. which is, and which was, and which is to come, euen the Almighty, and sheweth vs his Fathers will, comming into this world, brought with him Mars, that is the Gospell euen out of the bosome of his Father. But wonder not that I call the Gospell Mars. Math. 10. [...] ▪ Christ our Sauiour saith, Thinke not that I [Page] come to send peace vppon earth, I come not to send peace but a sword; for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father, and the daughter against her mo­ther, and the daughter inlaw against her mother inlaw, and a mans enemies shalbe them of his owne house-holde, is not this a battell [...]hat shall put you to trou­ble saith he and kill you.Math. 24. [...] And of all people shall ye be hated for my name sake. Persecuti­on follow­eth the Gospell. Therefore may the Gospell well be called Mars, for where it is preached, there is y^• sword, there is trouble & per­secution, there will the enemies rage at the preachers thereof, as for Mercu­rus the Poets fayne him to be the mes­senger and Oratour of the heathen Gods, for the which cause he may well be liked vnto the world, which with eloquence, paynted words, and out­ward appearance performeth the mes­sage of the deuill, and entiseth men so long vntill it bring them into destructi­on. But as Saint Iohn saith in his E­pistle,1. Iohn. 2. 17. the world passeth away & the lust thereof, and as Saint Paule saith, The fashion of this world passeth away, 1. Cor. 7 3 [...] there­fore must we so holde vs within the [Page] feare of God, that we suffer not our selues to be deceaued or seduced by Mercurius from the Sunn and Mars, least we be corrupted with this de­ceiptful world, and so be defrauded of the ioy of the euerlasting world to come. Neither should the paynted wisedome of this world moue vs,1. Cor. 1. 18 in asmuch as God maketh it very foolishnes; and his word, which séemeth to be but foo­lishnes in the sight of the world,Rom. 16. that sheweth he to be the onely wisedome, & the very power of God to the saluation of as many as beléeue therein: whoso­euer now hath the Grace to perceiue and consider this, let him not goe after Mercurius, let him not follow the world, and the beautifull lust thereof,Math. 7. 13. let him not enter in at the wide gate and broad way,Iohn. 14. 6. that leadeth to destruction, but let him goe in at the straight gate and nar­row way, which is euen Iesus Christ, He is the way the truth and the life. Iohn. 10. 9. The onely mercy-seate and meane to come by the fauour of God, by him whosoe­uer entreth, he may be sure to be saued to receiue mercy, finde grace, and to be helped in the time of néede, which God [Page] the father graunt vs for his Sonnes sake.

CHAP. 2.
Concerning the increase or grow­ing of fruits, and the dearth of the same.

THe Sunne sheweth playnely that All such as feare God shall haue a very fruitfull yeare,Psal. 1 [...] and plenteousnes in the daies of dearth,Psal. 37. 19 in so much that though Christ send without shooes, yet will he so prouide for them, that they shall lacke nothing, for he saith himselfe. Mat. 10. [...] 10. The labourer is worthy of his meate. Who so now will labour shall eate, Mar. 6. 8. but whosoeuer will not worke ought not to eate, Lu. 10. 7. 2. Thes. 3 [...] 10. now if we labour I say, we shall eate also. And God said to Adam,Genes. 3. 19 in the sweate of thy face shall thou ea [...]e bread, but you will say to me where shall we get [...]t? Christ our Sauiour saith, Mat. 6. [...] ▪ Be not care­ful for your life, what yee shall eate or what ye shall drinke, or yet for your body, what ye shall put on, is not the life more [Page] worth then meate, and the body then rayment; Behold the fowles of the Ayre, for they sow not, neither reape, nor yet carry into the barnes,psal. 147. 9. and yet your hea­uenly father feedeth them,Psal. 145. 15 yea he giueth to the beasts their foode, and to the young Rauens that cry. The eyes of all waite vpon thee and thou giuest them their meate in due season, thou openest thine hand and fillest all things liuing of thy good pleasure: Therefore though our hands should be alwaies occupied in some good labour, yet ought not our harts to take thought what we shall eate or drinke, Ephe. 4. 28. but first to care how to seeke the kingdome of God, and so shall all things necessary be ministred vnto vs. And if you would care or take thought, follow the Counsell of the Apostle, And this I say brethren, because the time is short hereafter, [...]or. 1. 29. that they which haue wiues be as though they had none, and they that weepe, as though they wept not, and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not, & they that buy as though they possessed not, and they that vse this world as though they vsed it not: for the fashion of this world goeth away. And [Page] why should we not care? because Man liueth not by bread onely, but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God:Deut. 8. 3. which thing Christ our Saui­our declared manifestly, Mat. 4. 4. in that he fedde so many people with so few loaues and fishes: like as he had done before vnto the Children of Israel by the space of forty yeares in the wildernes, where they wanted no thing: for he himselfe fedde them and blessed them in all the works of their hands. Iohn 6. 27 And Christ for­bad vs to labour for the meat that pe­risheth, but for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life. Wherefore inso­much as God our mercifull father taketh such care for vs, 1. Pet. 5. 7 and his Apostle Peter his bidding was, Psal. 55. [...] Cast all our care vpon him for he careth for vs, as also the Psalmist Dauid, Cast thy burden vpon the Lord and he will nourish thee, he will not sée the righteous to fall for euer, as also the holy prophet Dauid in another place, Psal. 37. 5. Commit thy way vnto the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring it to passe; wée should then by right cast all our care vpon him and faithfully to cleane vnto his word in our harts, so [Page] that we neither mistrust his Godly prouision, nor leade an Idle life, and if we meane well in our harts, and deale truely with our hands, doubtles he shall send vs necessary meate by some body, as he did to Elias the Prophet, first in sending y^• Rauens to féed him, 2. Reg. 17. 4. 6. for the Rauens brought him bread and flesh in the Morning, and bread & flesh in the Euening, and he dranke of the Riuer: and secondly he fedde him by the widdowe of Sarepta, Cap. eodem. And like as he proui­ded a breakfast for Daniell amongst the Lyons by y^• ministration of Abacuck.Da [...]. 14. 37. This I say, they that feare God shall haue plenty and aboundance of all things this yeare: As for the multitude of the vngodly in generall, there shall come a great dearth vppon them, ac­cording to the words of a certaine true Astronomer: Amos. 8. 12. Behold the time commeth, saith the Lord God, that I will send a fa­mine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord, and they shall wander from sea to sea, & from the North euen to the Easte, shall they come to and [Page] fro, to seeke the word of the Lord, and shall not finde it. But because they re­ceiue not the loue of the truth, that they might be saued, Thes. 2. 10. and therefore God shall send them strong Illusions, that they might beléeue lies; Luk. 17. 22. so that the dayes will come when ye shall desire to sée one of the dayes of the sonne of man, Luk. 19. 24. and ye shall not sée it. I passe ouer many other plauges that Mars threatneth vnto them, because they will not know the time of their visita­tion.

CHAP. 3.
Concerning the Sicknes and diseases of this yeare.

THe Eygptians had a manner & vse ni their banquets to carry about an Image of death, and to say to euery man that was at the Banquet, Look [...] vppon this, eate, drinke, and be merry, such an one shalt thou be when thou dyest. And this they did (no doubt) to put men in remembrance of tempe­rance and of death, least they vn­discreetly through excesse of eating and [Page] Drinking should happen to dye before their age, for so doth God vse to pu­nish such sinne: wherefore if we dyet and temper our selues, through the in­fluence of the Sunne we shall haue few diseases, except Mars bring some other thing to passe that we misknowe not our selues, as for such as follow Mercurius, liuing night and day in [...]oyot and vncleanenes, these, I say, shall through the Sunne haue great Diseases in all the members of their bodies, in the Lungs, Liuer, Hands, and Féete, yea, and perils of their [...]oules. I passe ouer the pouerty that drunkards and ryotous persons shall haue. Keepe no company saith Salomon with drunkards nor with gluttons: Pro. 23. 2. for the drunkard and the glutton shalbe poore, Pro. 23. 29. ad finem. and the sleeper shalbe cloathed with Ragges, and in the same Chap. he saith. To whom is woe, to whom is sor­row? to whom is strife? to whom is mur­muring? to whom are woundes without cause? and to whome is the rednesse of the eyes? euen to them that tarry long at the Wine, to them that goe and seeke mixt Wine: and therefore he subioyneth [Page] this counsell, looke not thou vppon the wine when it is red, and when it shew­eth his coulour in the Cuppe, or goeth downe pleasantly in the end, therefore, saith he, it will bite like a Serpent, and hurt like a Cockatrice, and thou shalt be [...] one that sleepeth in the midst of the sea, and as he that sleepeth in the toppe of the Mas [...]e. They haue stricken me, shalt thou say, but I was not sicke, they haue beaten me, but I wot not when I awoke. There­fore will I seeke it still, and though drunkenesse make them more insensi­ble then beastes, yet can they not re­fraine, let thē remember our Sauiour Christs warning,Luke. 21. 34. which he giueth in these words of the latter day, take heed, saith he, to your selues, least at any time your harts be oppressed with surfetting, and drunkennes, and cares of this life, & least that day come vpon you vnawares. There is doubtlesse a maruelous sore punishment to come vpon the whole world of the wicked, sword, warres, hunger, not only spiritual, as I said be­fore but temporall, which plagues haue bin aforetime, but are not yet all past. I néede not to rehearse the pestilence, and those great plagues that God will [Page] send to the reformation of as many as wilbe warned, as for the common [...] of the vngodly there shall such a feare­fulnes of death come vppon them, that they shall not tell where to turne them, nor how to escape death. O how bitter and gréeuous shall the remembrance of death be this yeare to such as séeke rest and consolation in transitory sub­stance of this world, to such as know of no aduersitie, but haue good dayes, liue in voluptuousnesse, and to such Epicures as say,Luk. 12. 19. Thou hast much goods layed vp for many yeares, liue at ease, eate drinke, and take thy pastime, but God shall say, O foole, this night will they fetch thy soule from thee, then whose shall these things be, which thou hast prouided? But oh death, how ac­ceptable and welcome shalt thou be vnto such as are in aduersitie, in their last age, or in despaire, whosoeuer thou be therefore that wouldest escape the sicknesse of this yeare, beware that thy body be not ouer-laden with ouer much eating,Eccles. 37. 39. 30 or with drunkennes; for excesse of meats bringeth sicknesse, [...] gluttony commeth at the last to an vn­measurable [Page] heate, and Chollericke dis­eases. By surfet haue many perished, [...] he that dieteth himselfe, prolongeth [...] life:Eccles. 30. 20. as for vnsatiable eaters they [...]all not onely sléepe vnquietly this yeare, but shall haue Ache and payne of the body. Concerning the spirituall disease and sicknesse that shall raigne this yeare, as it hath done before, Paule an auncient and true Astrono­mer saith plainely, that we be all sinners, if we say that we haue no sinne, Rom. 3. 9. we de­ceiue our selues, Gal. 3. 22. and the truth is not in vs. 1. Iohn. 1. 8 This is now the spirituall disease that shall commonly raigne this yeare,Iohn. 9. 39. but especially in them that féele least of it and will not acknowledge it, if we acknowledge our sinnes, 1. Iohn. 1. 9 hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to clense vs from all vngodlinesse: for the Sunne hath such vertue, that whosoeuer can sée his disease and will com­playne of it, it shall clense them and make them whole. Yea Paule sayeth playnely,1. Tim. 1. 15 that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners. And Saint Iohn giueth vs a good comfort,1. Iohn. 2. 1 [...]. and saieth, if any man sinne, we haue an aduocate with [Page] the Father euen Iesus Christ the iust, and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes, and not for ours onely, but also for the sinne [...] of the whole world. Whosoeuer there­fore hath this disease (as there is no man without it) let him do wisely,1. Cor. 11. 28. let him proue and examine himselfe all times,2. Cor. 13. 5. and goe to Phisicke before he be sore sicke,Eccles. 18. 28. and aboue all things let him beware of such false Phisitians & fayned Surgeons as heale the hurt of the people with swéete words, and say peace,Ier. 6. 14. peace, where there is none. And as a true Astronomer reporteth, with faire spéech and flattering,Rom. 16. 18. des­ceiue the harts of the simple, and all for their bellyes sake, such serue not the Lord Iesus, such false Phisitions lay wrong plasters to mens sores, & speake the meaning of their owne harts,Ie [...]. 23. 16. but not out of the mouth of the Lord.Psal. 147. 3. But goe thou boldly vnto him,Iohn. 6. 37. which onely healeth the contrite in heart and bynd­eth vp their wounds, he shall not cast thée away:Mat. 11. 30. But if thou come vnto him he shall refresh thée,Mat. 9. 12. he shall ease thée, for his yoake, saith he, is easie, & his bur­den light, if thou be sicke goe vnto him: [Page] for he is the right Phisitian for such as are diseased, if thou be thirstie & come vnto him, he hath to giue thee a well of water, Iohn 4. 14. springing vp vnto euerlasting life. If thou be hungry for righteousnes sake and thirst,Mat. 5. 6. blessed shalt thou be for thou shalt be filled: Isay 55. 1. yea he cryes, euery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that haue no siluer, come, buy, and eate, come, say, buy Wine, and milke, without siluer, and without money, he will feed his sheepe, Ezech. 34. 15 and bring them to rest, though thou be lost, he will seeke thee; though thou hast gone astray, he will bring thee again; though thou be woun­ded he will bind thee vp; though thou be sicke and weake he will make thee whole and strong. Seeke him therefore this yeare and as long as thou liuest, for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption. Psal. 130. [...]. He hath saluation inough for thée, thou néedest not to séeke helpe at any other, neither is there sal­uation in any other, therefore biddeth he thée euer come to himselfe, he neuer bad thée séeke other Phisitians to heale thée of this disease:Acts. 4. 12. for there is no helpe in the Children of men.Psal. 146. 3. As for Cor­porall [Page] diseases God hath ordayned out­ward medicines for them, in his crea­tures, by the ministration of true Phi­sitians, which gift of God no wise man will abhorre,Eccles. 38. 1. 2. and thou art commaund­ed to honour the Phisitian, with that honour that is due vnto him, because of necessity, for the Lord hath created him; for of the most high commeth heal­ing, and he shall receiue gifts of the King: but against the sicknes of sinne there is no helpe or succour, but onely in himselfe, as there is no saluation without him, so is there euer grace, mercy, pardon, and remission fréely in him, for all such as will receiue it and be thankfull for the same.

CHAP. 4.
Concerning the strife and trouble of this yeare and the cause thereof.

THe sword that I spake of partly in the first Chapter, is like to be drawen this yeare; for why the Sunne, Mars, and Mercurius cannot a­grée together; how accordeth the world [Page] with Christ and the Gospell, they shall neuer be at one.2. Cor. 6. 41 Sore eyes cannot a­bide the cleare light of the Sunne, they will not consent to the works of dark­nesse, neither will the beléeuers haue part with infidels, and no concord with and betwixt Christ and Belial. Thus can there be no agréement, for they be of contrary natures, againe a scorner (as Salomon saith,) loueth not him that rebuketh him,Pro. 15. 12 the children of this world are scornefull, and therefore are they not content to be reformed by the Gospell, which neuerthelesse, though it haue many enemies, as it hath euer had, yet because it is the truth it shall beare away the victory, and that short­ly,Reu [...]. 17. 16. 7 for God hath put into the heart of diuers Princes to fulfill his will, and to hate the whore of Babylon, to make her desolate and naked, and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire, and vtterly to set her out of her soyle, so that it appeareth euidently, that Sathan shall no more haue so great dominion, as he hath had in times past, and now because that he séeth that his kingdome shall haue a fall, he worketh and shall [Page] doe all that he can by the Children of vnbeliefe, specially by the shauen Ma­dianites, Iesuites, Seminaries, excommu­nicate Papists, and Catholike Romaines, as they terme themselues, to stirre vp warres, seditions, secret treasons, and vtter defiances, both amongest Princes, and Communities, for such aduersaries of the truth doe wickedly resiste the ordinance of God, in the au­thoritie of their prince, and not submit themselues to the Gospell. And where­as God hath raised vp good men to preach his word, the diuell is so mad at it, that he hath sent them a letter of defiance by some of his members, euen with such an answere as was giuen to Ieremie the prophet, for they say plaine­ly,Ierm. 44. 16 17. 18. the word that thou hast spoken to vs in the name of the Lord, we will not heare it of thee, but we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth, as to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen, and to powre out drinke-offerings vnto her, as we haue done, both we & our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes in the Citties of Iuda, and in the streets of Ierusalem, and what is our peoples saying, I pray [Page] you? we will haue libertie of con­science according to other Nations yea and some haue their priuie Masse as is well knowne, and they say we will doe as our rathers haue done be [...]ore vs, for when we so did, then had we plenteous­nesse of victuals, and were well, and felt no euill, but since we left off to burne incense to the Quéene of h [...]auen, and to powre out drinke offerings vn­to her, we haue had scarsenes of all things, and haue bin consumed by the sword, and by famine, and is not this the speaking of the Papist, Atheist, ignorant aud prophane people altog [...] ­ther, neuer grace since this religion came vp, ignorantly ascribing Gods plagues and punnishments for sinne, to the word and the preaching thereof, such strife and debate shall h [...]ppen this yeare, because of the word o [...] God, or the enemies thereof had rather draw their daggers at it. [...]nd I am perswa­ded it is the thing they daily looke fo [...], then to be reformed, but [...]h [...] louers of it, shall spare no labour to con [...]ert them,2. Tim. [...] 25. [...]6. and specially the Ministers and teachers must not [...], but must be gen­tle [Page] towards all men, apt to teach, suffe­ring the euill men, patiently instructing them with meeknes, tha [...] are contrary minded, prouing if God at any time will giue them repentance, that they may know the truth, and that they may come to amendement out of the snare of the deuill, which are taken of him at his will, therefore thou louer of God and of his word, when any trouble happeneth vn­to thée (for great are the troubles of the righteous, Psal. 34. 19 but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all,) maruell not at it, as though it were a strange thing, but re­ioyce inasmuch as thou art partaker of Christs afflictions, that when his glory appeareth, thou maist be merry and glad, & be as content to be reuiled as he was,1. Pet. 2. 23 who when he was reuiled, reuiled not againe, when he suffered, he threatned not, but committed it to him that iudgeth righteously, for there is no disciple aboue his Master, nor the seruant aboue his Lord, it is sufficient for the dis­ciple to be as his Maister is, & the seruant as his Lord, Mat. 10. 24 25. if they haue called the Mai­ster of the house Belzebub, how much more, them of his houshold. So these [Page] and many other swéete words saith he himselfe vnto thée, that in him thou maist haue affliction, Iohn. 16. 33. but be of good com­fort, for he hath ouercome the world.

CHAP. 5.
Concerning the estates of Kings and Princes and superiour powers.

THe influence of the Sunne and Mars, declareth euidently by all coniec­tures, yea certainely without all doubt, that Kings and Princes shall haue a prosperous yeare, and me thinks, I dare be bolde to say, if they beginne to séeke the true honour of God, and to deliuer people from oppression, and to make no doubt herein, Salomon which was a King himselfe, and that of great experience, saith these words, take away the wicked from the King and his throne shalbe established in righteousnesse. Prou. 25. 5 Sée­ing now y^• God beginneth so gratiously to worke in Princes, who haue not oc­casion to hope for great increase of prosperity in them: for like as when [...] Prince delighteth in lies as saith [Page] the wise man,Pro. 29 12. all his serua [...] are wicked, euen so when the King or Prince is a fauourer and a maintainer of the truth, his people shall the more be giuen to the feare of God, and I doubt not bu [...] God this same yeare, by the faithfull Ministration of his autho­r [...]ty in Kings and Princes, shall bring noble acts to passe to the great deliue­rance of poore people, and reformation of the ignorant. And let Princes re­member, that the power which they haue, is giuen them of the Lord, and the strength from the highest, least they be­ing Officers of Gods empire be neg [...] ­gent in kéeping y^• law of righteousnes,Rom. 13. 1. but if they delight in much people,Wis. 6. 3. let thē loue the light of wisedome, which is Gods word, for by it they shall gouerne the people,Wis. 8. 14. and the nations shalbe sub­dued vnto them, whosoeuer he be then that loueth not to resist the ordinance of God, let him submit himselfe to the authority of his prince, and let him not bite his lippe at it. Good Ezechias brak [...] the brasen s [...]pent, that the Children of Israell worshiped so long, and let it not gréeue him, that the vertuous King [Page] Iosias expelled South-sayers,2. King. 18 12. Char­mers, them that had familiar spirits, and the images and the Idols, and all the abominations that were espied in the land of Iuda and in Ierusalem, 2. Reg. 23. 24. to per­forme the words of the law, which were written in the booke that Hilkaah the Priest found in the house of the Lord, let euery man rather giue thanks vnto God▪ Dan. 14. and be glad that Bel is deliuered i [...]to Daniels power, that the falshood of Bels▪ Priest is come to light, and that [...] Dragon is deuoured, whome the peop [...]e was [...] to worship, let no man th [...]refore resiste this power of God, that [...] such acts by the mini­stration of Pr [...]nces, but let euery man be content to be reformed of his errour, to doe well and fear [...],Rom. 13. 4 for he beareth not the sword for nought, for he is the Mini­ster of God, to take vengeance on him that doth euill, and be yee subiect, not be­cause of wrath onely, but also for con­science sake, and as the wise man saith. The wrath of a King is the messenger of death, Pro. 16. 14 be thou therefore thankfull vnto God, and obedient to thy Prince.

CHAP. 6.
Concerning the darkenes of this yeare.

WHen I consider the corrupt na­ture of Mercurius & how he hath bin & is, and euer shalbe, contrary vnot Mars, & the Sune, I find by all experience that he shall be cast a great &c. darke, for though that the light shine in dark­nes,1. Iohn 5. and be come in the world, yet shall they whose works are euill, and after the conditions of Mercurius, [...] the darkenesse more then the light, and this darkenesse shall be in the [...] that liue naughtily and follow their owne abho­minations,Iohn 3. 20. for because they doe euill, therefore shall they hate the light and not come to it, least their deeds should be reproued, and as Paule saith, if the Gos­pell shall [...] yet hid, it is hid to them that are lost▪ [...] whome the God of this world hath [...]linded the minde, [...]. Cor. 4. 3▪ 4. that is, of the in­fidels, that the light of the glorious Gos­pell of Christ, which is the Image of God, should not shine vnto them. But where the Children of God are, there shall be [Page] light and the works of light, séeing therefore that the light is with thée,Exo. 10. yet a little while walke, whilste thou hast it, that the darkenesse fall not vppon thée, for he that walketh in darknesse know­eth not whether he goeth. But beléeue thou stedfastly in the light, whilst thou hast it, that thou mayest be the Child of light, and escape the horrible darke­nesse of the wicked.

CHAP. 7.
An admonition to euery Christian, what they ought dayly to doe, and what to leaue vndone.

FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath charged by Moses, that we alwayes should haue his Commaundements in our sight in our minde, in our hart, and that we should rehearse them con­tinually vnto our Children, Deut. 6. 8. and should talke of them when as we tarry in the house, Num▪ 18. and as we walke by the way, and when we lye downe, and when we rise vp, and we should binde them for a signe vpon our hands, and they should be as frontlets betwixt our eyes, and we [Page] should write them vpon the posts of our houses, and vpon your gates, to the in­tent that we should not forget his word, his will and commaundements, and least we should follow our owne imaginations, therefore good Christi­ans, I thought it fruitfull to put thée in remembrance of thy duety, and this could I doe no better, then by these Godly Textes of holy Scripture, which I haue brought héere together, specially to the honour, la [...]d & praise of God, exhorting yée that yet are neg­ligent and forgetfull in kéeping of his lawes, to take better hold, and goe for­ward in his waies, and turne not aside, neither to the right hand, nor to the left, but beware of such as teach thée ought, sauing the Doctrine of God, and that thou mayest be sure what thou doest, I pray Iesus Christ our onely media­tour, obtayne for thée his holy spirit, and giue thée a good wholesome new yeare, with the true knowledge of his Godly will and encrease of his faith.

To day if yee will heare his voice, Heb. 3. 7. har­den not your harts, Psal. 95. 78. euery day it is good to beléeue, to learne and to doe that [Page] God hath commaunded, and so like­wise it is good to leaue vndone that God hath forbidden. This day it is good to learne Gods word, for it is y^• vncor­ruptible séed, whereof we are borne a­new, by y^• word of God, it is the foode of the soule,1. Pet. 1. 2. 3 whereby man liueth: the word of God is quick and mighty in operation, Mat. 4. 4. and sharper then any two edged sword, Heb. 4. 12. and entreth elen vnto the diuiding a­sunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the ioynts, and of the marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, it is good indéed to learne Gods word,Wis. 7. 11. for all good things come to vs with it, and innumerable riches there thorow,Luk. 11. [...] therefore are they blessed that heare the word of the Lord, and keepe it, it is good to beléeue the word of God, for he that beleeueth, and is Bap­tized shalbe saued, yea God giueth them power to be his children, that beléeue in his name, wherefore he that cometh vnto God must beléeue,Heb. 11. 6. for without saith saith the Apostle, it is not possible to please God, and what soeuer thing is done without faith is sinne, it is good to kéepe the word and commaun­dements [Page] of God, for he that loueth me, saith Christ,Iohn 14. 15. [...]t. 21. will keepe my commaunde­ments, and my father will loue him, and we will come vnto him, and make our dwelling with him, he that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them, is he that loueth me, and he that loueth me, shall be loued of my father, therefor it is good for euery one of vs to kéepe Gods Commaundements,Exod. 20. that is, to haue no Gods but one, to sanctifie and hallow the name of God, to call onely vpon him in all néede and necessitie, not to take his name so lightly in vaine as we doe, for no cause, and vpon a very small and fond occasion, the which if we do, the threatnings pronounced, that is, he shal not be holden guiltles, that taketh his name in vaine, that is he shall not be vnpunished. To sanctifie the Saboth day, namely to rest from our works, as God did from his, to the intent that he may worke in vs, and we to fulfill his will by hearing his word and stedfast faith, and prayer, to honour father and mother, that is, to be obedient vnto them, to helpe them in their nede, to cherish them, to comfort them in ad­uersitie, [Page] for it is acceptable and well pleasing vnto the Lord. To do no mur­ther, that is to hate no man, to beare no malice in our minds, to giue no euill words,Mat. 5. 44. but euen to loue our enemies, and to doe good for euill, not to commit adultery, to breake no lawfull wed­lock, to commit no whoredome, nor vn­cleannesse, but either to liue chaste, or else to marry, to steale nothing, that is to vse no false Merchandize, neither in bargaining,1. Cor. 7. 1. weight, nor measure, but truely to labour in some good calling,Ephe. 4. 28 for the sustaining of the poore, to beare no false witnesse, that is, to hurt no mans name nor fame to lye of no man, but either to say the truth, or else to kéepe silence.Ephe. 4. 25 To couet no mans house,Rom. 7. 7. wife, seruant, goods, nor any thting that is his, not once to lust after our neighbours euill, but hartily to loue him euen as our selues, and to do vnto him after the manner, as we would be did vnto vs, these Com­maundements it is good for vs to kéep, not onely this day, but as long as we liue, to the honouring of the blessed name of God, to the increase of his Kingdome, and to the fulfilling of his [Page] Godly will all the dayes of thy life, it is in good faith and stedfast beliefe to loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, loue is the fulfilling of the law, & loue hideth the multitude of sinnes, loue hath many noble conditions,Rom. 13. 10 loue is patient and courteous, [...]am. 2. 8. loue enuieth not, loue doth not frowardly, 1. Pet. 4. 8. loue is not puffed vp, it dis­daineth not, Prou 10. 1 [...] seeketh not her owne, is not prouoked to anger, thinketh not euill, re­ioyceth not of iniquitie, 1. Cor. 13. [...] but reioyceth in the truth, it suffereth all things, beleeueth all things, it hopeth all things, it endu­reth all things, whosoeuer now hath the spirit of God, and hath truly receiued the light of his word, will vse these works, these fruits of the spirit, and this Armour of light, this is the new Com­maundement that our Master hath giuen vs, Iohn 13. 34 35. for by this shall euery man know, that we are his Disciples, if we loue one ano­ther, 1. Iohn. 3. 12. not in word and tongue onely, but indéed and verily, not to suffer them to want, and we haue not to let them pe­rish, and we may helpe them, but lo­uingly & with a good hart, to distribute to the necessity of the S [...]int [...], Rom. 12. 13 to feed the hungry, to minister drinke to the thirstie, [Page] to lodge the harbourlesse,Esai. 58. 7.to visit the sicke, Ezech. 18. 7 and shortly, to doe to euery man e­uen as we would they did vnto vs. It is good for euery one of vs to tell another his fault, and that louingly after a bro­therly correction, without any desire of vengeance;Leuit. 19. 17 for it is written, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour, and suffer him not to sinne; Thou shalt not auenge, nor be mindfull of wrong a­gainst the children of thy people, but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, Eccles. 19. 18. and as the wise man saith; tell thy neigh­bour or friend his fault, least he be igno­rant, and say, I haue not done it, or if he haue done it, that he do it no more. Re­proue thy neighbour that he may kéepe his toong; and if he haue spoken any thing amisse, that he say it no more: for the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is,Gal 6. 1 That if any man be fallen by occasion into any fault, Mat. 18. 15 they which are spirituall, should restore such an one with the spirit of meekenesse, considering themselues what is their own nature, least they also be tempted. If thy brother trespasse against thee, saith Christ, goe and tell him his [Page] fault betweene him and thee alone: if he heare thee thou hast woon thy brother, but if he heare thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be confirmed, and if he will not vouch­safe to heare, then tell it vnto the Church, and if he refuse to heare the Church also, then let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Now if any that is of the number of the brethren in Christ, and would be taken for a Christian man indéed, be a whoremonger or co­uetous, or a worshipper of images, or a rayler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, the Doctrine of Paule is plaine, that we should not eate nor kéepe company with such, this day it is good to be ware of false prophets, of mens owne imagi­nations and dreames, least we receiue the poyson of Antichrists lawes, in stéed of the blessed word of God, least we shoote at the wrong marke, and be deceiued by such as walke in humble­nesse of minde & worshiping of Angels, & beware of false prophets, Col. 2. 18. which come to you in sheepes cloathing, Mat. 7. [...]5. but inward­ly are rauening wolues, 2. Iohn 9. and whosoeuer [Page] transgresseth and abideth not in the doc­trine of Christ hath not God, he that con­tinueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Sonne: If there come any vnto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receiue him not to house, nei­ther bid him God [...] spéed, for he that biddeth him God spéed is partaker of his euill déeds, for by false prophets the Lord our God doth proue vs,Deut. 13 3 to know whether we loue the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soule, or not. wherefore it shalbe good for vs, not onely this day, but as long as we liue, to walke after the Lord our God, and to feare him, and to kéepe his Commandements, his statutes, his lawes, and his constitutions, to har­ken vnto his voice; to serue him, and to [...]leaue vnto him. It is good for euery sub­iect to be obedient, 1. Pet. 2. 13 and to submit himselfe vnto all manner of ordinance of man▪ for the Lords sake; Rom 13. 1. for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be, are ordained of God; whosoeuer therefore resisteth the pow­er, resisteth the ordinance of God, & they that resist, shall receiue to themselues iudge­ment, for Princes are not to be feared for good works, but for euill, wilt thou then be without feare of the power, doe well, so shalt thou haue praise of the same, for he is [Page] the Minister of God for thy wealth; but if thou doe euill, feare, for he beareth not the sword for nought, for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth euill, wherefore we must be subiect, not be­cause of wrath onely, but also for conscience sake. Prou. 16. 14 And let vs remember the saying of Salomon, that the Kings displeasure is a messenger of death. At is good for Kings, Princes & temporall Iudges,Wis. 6. 3. to execute their office as out of the power that God ministreth vnto them, for in very déede the power is giuen them of the Lord, and the strength from the highest, therefore séeing they a [...]e the Officers of his King­dome, as saith the wise man, they ought not to be negligent, but to execute true iudgement, to kéepe the law of righteous­nesse, to walke after his will, to loue the light of wisedome, to expell Southsayers, Charmers, expounders of dreames, I­dols, Masses, and all abominations out of their land, to set vp the words of the law of God, to put downe the houses of Idola­try, and to sée that the law & word of God be taught among the people, to spare nei­ther cost nor labour for the maintenance and defence of the same, to séeke the peace, wealth & prosperity of their Commons, [Page] to iudge euery man righteously without a­ny wresting of the law, Deut. 1 15 to know no mans person in iudgement, to take no gifts, but e­uer to haue the lawes of God, and to doe thereafter by them, and to reade therein all the dayes of their liues, that they may learne to feare the Lord their God, and to keepe all the words of his law, and to doe thereaf­ter, that his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethrē, that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome. It is good for seruants to be obe­dient vnto them that are their Maisters, ac­cording to the flesh, Ephes. 6. 5. with feare and trem­bling, with singlenes of their harts, Col. 3. 22. as vnto Christ, Tit. 2. 9. not with seruice to the eye, as men pleasers, Pet. 2. 18. but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the hart. &c. as also Peter: Seruants be subiect to your Maisters with all feare, not only to the good & cour­teous, but also to the froward. And ther­fore was Saint Paul so earnest to sée this ordinance of God kept,Tim. 6. [...]. namely, that as many seruants as are vnder the yoake, should count their Maisters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and of his doctrine be not euill spoken of. It is good for such men as haue s [...]ants,Ephes. 6. 8. to put away threatnings doing vnto their seruants that which is iust and equall, and know that they also [Page] themselues haue a Maister in heauen, and vse the counsell of the wiseman, whereas thy seruant worketh truely,Eccles. 7. intreat him not euill, nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe for thée, let thy soule loue a dis­créete ser [...]ant as thi [...]e owne soule, de­fraud him not of his libertie, neither leaue him a poore man, & if he be not obe­dient, bind his féete, but be not excessiue toward any, and without discretion doe nothing, therefore should euill seruants be corrected, séeing they will not be the better for words, for though they vnder­stand them, yet will they not regard thē: tame thy euill seruant with hands and correction, If you set him to labour, you shall find rest,Pro. 29. 21. but if you let him goe idle, he shall séeke libertie, for as Salomon saith, he that delicatly bringeth vp his seruant from his youth, at length he wilbe euen as his Sonne. It is good for women to be obedi­ent, and to submit themselues vnto their husbands, as vnto the Lord, for the husband is the wiues head, Ephes. 5. 22 euen as Christ also is the head of the Church, and the same is the Sauiour of his body, there­fore as the Church is in subiection to Christ, euen so let the wiues be vnto their husbands in euery thing, as it is comely in the Lord, that euen they which obey not the word, [Page] may without the word,Col. 13. 18.be woon by the con­uersation of their wiues,1. Pet. 3. 1.while they behold their pure con [...]ersation which is with feare, and let not their appareling be vntoward, as with brodered haire, & Gold, put about thē, or in putting on of apparrell, but let the hid man of the hart be vncorrupt, with a méeke and quiet spirit, which is before God a thing much set by, for euen after this manner did the holy women, which trusted in God, tyre themselues, & were subiect to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord:Gen. 18. 12 it is good for men to loue their wiues, euen as Christ loued the Church, and gaue him­selfe for it, that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by washing of water, thorough the word,Ephe. 5. [...]5 that he might make it vnto him­selfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrinckle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame, so ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies, he that loueth his wife, loueth him­selfe, for no man yet euer hated his owne [...]lesh, but nourisheth & cherisheth it euen as y^• Lord doth the Church, therefore ought euery man to doe, so that he loue his wife euen as himselfe,Col. 3. 19. and not to be bitter vnto them, but to dwell with them as men of [Page] knowledge, giuing honour vnto them as vn­to the weaker vessell, euen as they that are heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not interrupted.Ephes. 6. 1. It is good for childrē to obey their parents in the Lord, Col. 3. 20. for that is right and well pleasing vn­to the Lord, yea the Lord will haue the father honoured of the Children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother o­uer the children.Eccles. 3. 4. He that honoreth his mo­ther is like one that gathereth treasure, who­so honoureth his Father shall haue ioy of his owne children, and when he ma­keth his prayer, he shalbe heard, he that ho­noureth his father shall haue long life, and he that is obedient to the Lord shall com­fort his mother: he that feareth the Lord honoureth his parents, and doth seruice vn­to his parents as vnto the Lord, honour thy father and mother in deed and word, and in all patience, that thou mayest haue Gods blessing, for the blessing of the father esta­blisheth the house of the Children, and the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations: reioyce not at the dishonour of thy father, for it is not honour vnto thee, but shame, seeing that mans glory cometh by his Fa­thers honour, and the reproach of the mo­ther is dishonour to the children, helpe thy [Page] father in his age, and grieue him not as long as he liueth, and if his vnderstanding faile, haue patience with him, and despise him not, when thou art in thy full strength, for the good entreaty of thy father shall not be for­gotten, he that forsaketh his father shall come to shame, and he that angreth his mother is cursed of God. My Sonne per­forme thy duty with louing meeknes, and so shalt thou be beloued of them that are approued:Ephes. 6. 4.It is good for fathers not to pro­uoke their children to wrath,Col. 321.but to bring them vp in instruction and information of the Lord: for as the wiseman saith, who­so loueth his child,Pro. 13. 24. holdeth him still in nourture, and vnder correction, that he may haue ioy of him afterward: with­hold not correction,Pro. 23. 23. from the child, if you smite him with the rod, he shall not die: thou shalt smite him with the r [...]d & shalt deliuer his soule from hell.1. Tim. 3. 2. It is good for e­uery one that is a Bishop or other spirituall Shepheard to be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, modest, harbo­rous, apt to teach, not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gen­tle, Tit. 1. 6. no fighter, not couetous, one that loueth goodnes, wise, holy, temperate, holding the faithfull word according to the doctrine, that he may be able also to exhort with [Page] wholesome doctrine, and reproue them that say against it, & aboue all things, it is good for a Bishop or spirituall Shepheard, to leade an holy and Godly life, going before others, as the Ensigne-bearer, and to be vnto others the good salt of the earth, the light,Dan. 12. 3. the Starre that shall bring many to righteousnesse & shine euelastingly. And now to conclude, whosoeuer thou art, or of what estate soeuer thou be, take héede that there be not in thée an euill hart and vnfaithfull,Heb. 3. 12. to depart away from the li­uing God, but exhorting one another day­ly whilest it is called to day, least any of you be hardned through the deceiptful­nes of sinne, and redéeme the time, as saith the Apostle for the dayes are euill, and learne yee to be sober, to watch, to fast, and to pray, and to be ready with the wise Uirgins to enter in with the Bride­groome into our Maisters ioy, which shall neuer be taken from vs, and shall endure for euer and euer. Amen.