Where be thoſe that define the Church to bee a multitude, and ſet at nought a little Flocke: and yet if multitude ſhould beare the bell away, the Papiſts ſhould not haue any ſuch cauſe of triumph, as they will beare the world in hand that they haue. There are at this day fowre Religions in the world (if the name of Religion may bee giuen to them all) Iudaiſme, Paganiſme, Mahametaniſme, and Chriſtianiſme: of all theſe Iudaiſme is the leaſt, but Paganiſme exceedeth all the reſt, Mahametaniſme (which is a mixture craftily compoſed of the other three) both in largeneſſe of Countries, and multitude of people, goeth beyond all Chriſtendome: for it hath not onely ſeated it ſelfe in the whole Turkiſh Empire, and the large kingdomes of the great Sophi, but ſpreadeth abroad in many places of the vaſt dominions of Tartarie, Cathaia, & China almoſt vnto the Eaſterne Ocean, and what it hath of later yeares gained in the weſt, wee feele partly in the miſerable diſtreſſe of Hungarie and Tranſiluania, and haue iuſt occaſion of greater feare, if the Lord out of compaſſion to his poore Church, ſhall not ouerthrow the plots of that proud Senacherib, 2. Kin. 19.28 and put a hooke in his noſe, and a bridle in his lips, and carry him backe againe the ſame way that he came. Now for Chriſtianiſme, amongſt thoſe that profeſſe the name of Chriſt, there are not aboue a third part that are Papiſts: for the Ruſsians together with the Reliques of the Greeke Church, the Armenians and the Chriſtians that are vnder the Emperour of the Abaſsens, doe exceede the number of all thoſe, which holde the Principles of the Romiſh Church. The Proteſtants come not much behind them: for howſoeuer within theſe hundred years, the Moone did ſuffer ſuch an vniuerſall Eclipſe, that a man would haue iudged ſhe had loſt her light, and the Lords flocke was but like a few grapes after the Vintage is ended, here a grape and there a grape on the outmoſt boughes.

Breui occupauit doctrina Lutheri, non Soli multa regna in partibus ſeptemtrionalibus ſed etiā vſ que ad Indos excur • re aufa eſt. Bel. lib. 3. de pont. Ro. cap. 23. Yet ſince it pleaſed God to ſtirre vp the heart of Martin Luther to ſtand at open defiance with the Italian Goliath which reuiled the Iſrael of God: ſhee hath euery day recouered her light, the Goſpell that was then hid vnder a buſhell, is become like to Dauids Sunne, which commeth foorth as a Bridegroome out of his chamber, and reioyceth as a Giant to runne his courſe: the profeſſors of the Goſpell haue wonderfully increaſed ſo that now their ſound is gone through the earth, and their words vnto the ends of the world. Pſal. 90.4, There is no place in the Globe of the earth, where Chriſt is profeſſed, which hath not ſome Proteſtants. Italy the very Center and ſinke of Popery, and the ſeat of the great Whore, when Iezabel hath done what ſhee can, in murthering the Lords Prophets, will affoord ſeuen thouſand men which haue neuer bowed the knees of their hearts vnto Baal. Ʋid. Bell. de Paul. Rom. lib 3. cap. 21. Noſtris temporibus Romana ſedes magnā Germaniae partem amiſit, Suetiam Gothiam, Noruegiam, Damam, &c. In France wee haue a farre greater number, in Germanie the maior part, almoſt all Polonie, all Denmarke, Swethen, Norway, Britaine, and all the Iſlands in the Northerne ſeas, which haue taken the militarie Oath to fight vnder Chriſts ſtandard. If theſe be not equall to them, yet conſider on eyther ſide ſuch as know the Principles of Chriſtian Religion, and can giue an account of their faith, and we haue a farre greater number, for the common people amongſt them are ſtupide & blind, and doe no more vnderſtand the myſteries of their ſaluation then Pagans and Infidels, or thoſe in the Acts, who being demaunded of Paul, whether they had receiued the holy Ghoſt, made anſwere that they neuer heard whether there was an holy Ghoſt or no. Act. 19.2. And little maruell for many of their Prieſtes doe no more vnderſtand their Maſſes, which they mumble dayly in their Churches; then Balaams Aſſe vnderſtood his owne voice. It is enough for them to belieue as the Church belieueth, though they know no more what that is, then did Bellarmines Collier, who being demaunded what he belieued, (quoth hee) that which the Church beleeueth, being againe demaunded what that was, anſwered, the ſame which I belieue: Herein we will not thinke much that the Papiſts exceede vs: Bellarmine may giue good meaſure if he draw the dregs and all: Auguſt: in Pſal. 39. but Auſten will teach him another leſſon, Noli numerare turbas hominum incedentes latas vias, implentes craſtinum circum, ciuitatis natalem clamando celebrantes, ciuitatem ipſam male viuendo turbantes, noli illas attendere, multi ſunt, & quis numerat, ſed pauci per viam anguſtam incedunt. Chriſt: hom: 40. ad populum Antiochium. Chryſoſtome will teach him that not in numeri magnitudine, ſed in virtutis probitate conſiſtit multitudo. It was a prety ſtratageme of the Romaine Captaine, when his Souldiers were few in number, to make euery man draw a bough in the drie duſt, that ſo the • amnites (with which hee was to encounter) beholding them a farre off might beleeue that his Armie was greater then indeed it was: we are no ſuch daſtards as to be afraid of euery withered branch that can rayſe vp duſt into the ayre:Liuius decad 1. lib. 9. if the Papiſts purpoſe to match vs with multitude, let them bring ſuch as haue ſome skill to handle their ſpirituall weapons.

I end, ſeeing the Church is like vnto the Moone, ſometimes in a glorious ſplendour, ſometimes clouded with Schiſme, and ſometime ſo darkened with the ſhadow of hereſie and ſuperſtition, and perſecution, that the eyes of Linceus can ſcarſe behold her.

Seeing that the Papiſts at this day, cannot compare neyther with the number of Chriſtians (taking the name generally for all ſuch as profeſſe the name of Ieſus) nor with the Proteſtant Churches, if we take an account onely of ſuch as vnderſtand the Principles of their Religion:Hic non tenetur nota marginalis quae nunquā occurrit in li. Sent. P. Lamberti. I ſee no reaſon why Bellarmine ſhould make multitude a Note of the true Church; or if it were, why the Papiſts ſhould challenge it themſelues: and therfore hee may bee well cenſured with a hic magiſter non tenetur, Ʋiues de cauſis Co:|rupt: Art. or nota quod haec nota nihil notat, it was onely to make vp the number of notes, that hee may number one Art, nam cum non proſunt ſingula, multa iuuant; though they be of little force being ſeuerally conſidered, yet if they bee all ioyntly taken, they will proue likePlut Apoth. Seleucus his roddes, or like a threefold corde which is not eaſily broken. Indeede hee had need to bee ſtronger then Hercules, that could cut off all the heads of Hydra at one blow: but a ſimple warriour taking one by one may make an end of them before hee bee wearied; for they are like to the tayle of Sertorius his horſe,Plutar. in vita ſertorij. which a valiant Souldier taking it all together, could not pull off, but a poore Skull pulling one hayre after an other had quickly made it bare.

Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, dooth Gods flocke ſometimes conſiſt of a very ſmall number? then it behoueth thee (beloued Chriſtian) with greater diligence to trie and examine thy ſelfe, whether thou bee comprehended in this number: for as in that vniuerſall deluge of waters, all were drowned that were not in Noahs Arke: ſo in the great floud of fire, which ſhall bee at the end of the world, all ſhall be ſwept away with a riuer of brimſtone, which are not of this flocke: it is a common ſaying, he ſhall neuer haue God for his father which hath not the Church for his mother, and hee ſhall neuer bee a member of the Church triumphant, which is not firſt of the Church Militant: firſt, then thou art to enquire whether thou bee of the true viſible Church; and this thou ſhalt know, by two markes; by the true preaching of the word, by the right vſe of the Sacraments, for where theſe two are performed according to the preſcript of Gods word, there muſt needs be a true church; this is ſomewhat, but it is not all: for what did it auaile Iudas to bee numbred amongſt the twelue? hee was in hell before any of the reſt came at heauen: all that are in the church bee not of the church: there are both good and bad fiſh in this net; there is wheat and tares in this field, Sheepe and Goates in this fold, thou muſt therefore goe further and examine, whether thou bee one of that Company, which God from eternity elected vnto life, and in time effectually calleth by his holy Spirit, and makes true members of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, which is the head of this body, whether thou bee of that flock which Chriſt calleth his gardē, Cant his ſiſter, his ſpouſe, his loue, his doue, his vndefiled, which is the pillar and ground of truth, 1. Tim. 3.13. the body of Chriſt, Eph. 1.23. the temple of the Lord, Eph. 2.21. which the gates of hell ſhall neuer preuaile againſt, Matth. 16 18. Here thou muſt exerciſe thy wits, this muſt be thy care to finde thy ſelfe in this little number, but how may this bee knowne? by the cauſe? that is the will and good pleaſure of God, which dwelleth in light that none can approach vnto. This is a bottomleſſe depth, who can ſound it? Neuer man looked into this Arke and liued: buſie thy braines about it, and when thou haſt done all thou canſt, thou art but like a flie about a Candle, which playeth ſo long with the flame,Lipſius lib. 2. de Con. that at length ſhee burnes her wings and fals downe: and good reaſon it ſhould bee ſo: for it is enough for wretched man to bee of Gods Court,Plut. in Theſ. and it is too much to be of his Priuie Councell: thou muſt therefore doe as Theſeus did with the Labyrinth, thou muſt catch hold of the threeds end that hangs without the doore, and ſo by winding ſteps come at length to the firſt cauſe. Seeing thou canſt not know it a Priori by the cauſe; thou muſt know it a poſteriori, by the effect, an effect of Gods immutable decree, and an vndoubted marke (to let all others paſſe) of Gods child his Sanctification: for as on the one ſide it is certainely true, that without holineſſe of life, no man ſhall ſee God: Heb. 12.14. So it is as true on the other ſide, that hee which walketh not after the Fleſh, Rom. 8.1. but after the Spirit is ingrafted into Chriſt and ſhall neuer be condemned. So thē holines of life is the true touchſtone, to trie whether thou be of this number: but here deceiue not thy ſelf, for there is a verbal holines, and a Phariſiacall holines, and a Herods holines, and a popiſh holines, and an Anabaptiſtical holines. The verball holineſſe is of ſuch as draw neere vnto God with their lips, Iohn. 29.13. but with their hearts are farre from him as the Prophet ſpeakes: the Phariſaicall holineſſe, is of thoſe which deuoure widdowes houſes vnder colour of long prayers; and ſuch as will not leaue a mote on the outſide of their cappe, but neuer care how filthy it be within. The Herods holineſſe is of them which will quench the fire on the harth, and leaue it burning in the toppe of the chimney, will mende their leaſt faults, and let their worſt bee marring. The Popiſh holineſſe is in obſeruing humane traditions, and treading vnder foot the law of God. The Anabaptiſticall holines is of ſuch, as are well perſwaded of themſelues (though without all reaſon) but can neuer haue a charitable opinion of any others: they are troubled with a Noli me tangere, touch mee not, Iſa. 65.5. come not neare me for I am holier then thou: but I ſay vnto thee, except thy righteouſneſſe exceede the righteouſneſſe of all theſe men, Matth. 5.20. thou ſhalt not enter into the Kingdome of Heauen: it is an other kinde of holines which thou muſt haue, if thou wilt aſſure thy ſoule that thou art one of Chriſts flocke: it is indeede in the tongue, but it proceedeth from an other fountaine (the heart) and makes a man ſay with Dauid, thy wordes haue I hid within my heart, Pſal. 119. that I might not ſinne againſt thee. It makes a man haue a carc to approue by outward actions vnto men, but much more to approue the cogitations of his heart vnto God: it ſtriues not to breake of ſome branches of ſinne (ſuch as may bee beſt forgone) reſeruing the reſt, but it is moſt ſeuere againſt thoſe ſinnes which are the ſweeteſt to man, becauſe ſuch ſinnes as are moſt pleaſant vnto many, are moſt vnpleaſant in the ſight of God. It will not ſticke charitably to cenſure others: but it makes a man moſt ſharp in cenſuring & containing his own ſinnes, it reſteth not contented with any one degree of perfection, but forgetteth that which is behind, & endeuoreth to obtaine that which is before, Phil. 3.13. and followeth hard toward the marke for the price of the hie calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus.

Beloued in our beſt beloued Ieſus Chriſt, doe ye all deſire to bee fully aſſured that you are of that little number, whoſe names are written in the booke of life: I know you deſire it, for (alas) what comfort can a man haue in this life, though he ſhould be Monarch of the whole world, and to haue kings to lay their crownes before his footſtoole, if hee doubt what ſhall become of his owne ſoule? that of the heathen Emperour, animula vagula blandula que nunc abibis in loca, &c. Though it be allowed by popiſh Diuinitie,Verba morientis Traiani. will be but a cold comfort to a Chriſtian on his death bed: hee ſhall neuer come in heauen that is not perfect of the way before hee goe hence. This is the beſt marke whereby you may aſſure your ſelues, that ye are already in the high way, euen your ſanctification. Oh then bee not (as to many are) like painted tombes, guilded without, rotten within; tippe not your tongues with godlineſſe, when your ſoules are full of gall and bitterneſſe. Beare not Bibles in your hands, and Mammon in your hearts. Let the remembrance of this, that holineſſe of life is the cogniſance of euery true member of Chriſts Church, be as it were a knife to cut a ſunder the cords of vanitie, wherewith Satan ſtriues to ſtrangle you, or to draw you headlong into hell and deſtruction. Let it be as a ſpurre to pricke you forward in the courſe of idleneſſe, aſſuredly howſoeuer my words may now paſſe away as a wind, and not ſinke into the hearts of many that ſhall heare them: yet Cum votat ille dies, &c. Ouid Meta. lib. 15. When thoſe muddie walles are readie to fall (and fall they muſt for all your daubing) there cannot a greater terror befall your conſciences (to make you feare that you are but rotten members at the beſt of Chriſts Church) then the remembrance of an euill life: nor on the other ſide can there a greater comfort betide you,Eccl. 12.8. when your pitchers are ready to be broken at the ceſterne, then to aſſure your ſelues by your liues paſt (abounding with good workes which are the fruits of a iuſtifying faith) that you are amongſt thoſe which God hath accoūted to be his children. For then you may go with greater deſires vnto your graues then a weary pilgrime vnto to his bed, aſſuring your ſelues that your ſoules ſhall bee tranſported into Abrahams boſome, there to raigne with the holy Angels in eternall happineſſe, for euermore.

The ſecond propoſition followeth,2. Propoſition. No particular place is ſo priuiledged, but that it may reuolt and fall from God. If euer citie that was ſeated vnder the cope of heauen, had a Pattent from the God of heauen, for her perſeuerance in religion, it was Ieruſalem: for as of all the countries in the world, hee chooſe Iudea, ſo of all the cities of Iudea, hee preferred Ieruſalem. Sometimes his tabernacle was placed in Silo, but this hee diſliked,Ioſh. 18.1. and remooued vnto Ieruſalem, as the onely place which hee had picked, and culled out of all others to ſet his name there; according to that of the Prophet. He refuſed the Tabernacle of Ioſeph, & choſe not the tribe of Ephraim: but he choſe the tribe of Iudah, euen the hill of Sion, which he loued, and there hee builded his ſanctuarie as an high palace, like the earth which he ſtabliſhed for euer. Pſal. 78.67.68.69. Thus he made a ſeat for himſelfe, an holy place, for the tabernacle of the moſt higheſt. Here was a Temple for the Lord, an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob, thoſe that ſhall but ſleightly peruſe the graunts and priuiledges which God hath promiſed this one citie, will thinke that it had beene as impoſſible for her to fall away, as for the found to be darkened in the midſt of heauen. The hill of Sion is a faire place, euen the ioy of the whole earth vpon the Northſide lieth in the citie of the great king, God is well knowen in her palaces, as a ſure refuge. Ieruſalem haue I choſen out of the tribes of Iſrael, to put my name in it for euer. 2. King. 21.7.

The Lord hath choſen Sion to bee an habitation for himſelfe, hee hath longed for her, ſaying, this ſhall be my reſt for euer, Pſal. 132.14.15. heere will I dwell, for I haue a delight therein. Heere was the ſeate of iudgement, euen the ſeate of the houſe of Dauid. To whom the Lord had ſworne by his holineſſe, that his ſeed ſhould endure for euer, Pſal. 132.5. & his ſeat ſhould be as the Sun before him: that he ſhould ſtand faſt for euermore, as the Moone, & the faithfull witneſse in heauen. Pſal. 89. When the Iſraelites were yet in the wildernes, God told them by his ſeruant Moſes, that hee had appointed them a place in the land of Canaan, where they ſhould all meete out of their ſeuerall tribes, and townes to offer their firſt fruits, & to ſacrifice vnto the Lord: You ſhall ſeeke the place which the Lord your God ſhall chuſe out of all your tribes to put his name there, and thither you ſhall come, and ſhall bring your burnt offrings, & your ſacrifices, & your tithes, & the offrings of your hands, and your vowes, &c. And there yee ſhall offer before the Lord. Deut. 12. This was Ieruſalem, for thither the tribes came vp euen the tribes of the Lord, to teſtifie vnto Iſrael, and to giue thankes vnto the name of the Lord. Pſal. 122. Moreouer here was there συνεδριον their chiefe Councell,Sigon. de rep. haeb. lib. 6. Cap. 7. or high Commiſſion, (conſiſting of the king and princes of the people, to wit, the chiefe of euery tribe, and of ſeuentie Elders,Gijon de reſp: haeb. lib. 6. cap. 7. and of the high Prieſt, with the Doctors of Law) in which all matters of greater moment were concluded, and vnto which (as vnto the Oracles of God) in difficult pointes, which could not be decided by the Iudges of particular Townes and Cities, they were to haue recourſe for the full determination therof, according to that of the Prophet: If there riſe a matter too hard for thee to iudge betweene bloud and bloud, betweene plea and plea, betweene plague and plague, in the matters of controuerſie within thy gates, then ſhalt thou ariſe, and goe vp vnto the place which the Lord thy God ſhall chuſe, and thou ſhalt come vnto the Prieſtes of the Leuites, and vnto the Iudge that ſhall bee in thoſe dayes and aske, and they ſhall ſhew thee the ſentence of iudgement and thou ſhalt doe according to that thing which they of that place (which the Lord hath choſen) ſhall ſhew thee, and thou ſhalt obſerue to doe according to all that they enforme thee, Deut 17. Beſide this, the law was there more diligently then in other places expounded; the Prophets did reueale Gods ſecrets vnto the people, and by thundering out the Canons of the law did ſtriue to weane them from their euill wayes, and by the promiſes of the Goſpell to wooe them vnto God: the Iebuſites which before time God had permitted to dwell amongſt them; that they might be thornes in their eyes, and prickles in their ſides, were now extirpated,Sigonius de rep: Haeb. li. 1. ſo that they could not choke the word of God, which was ſowne amongſt them, and make it vnfruitfull. Was there euer City vpon the face of the earth, which had ſuch a Charter as this? it was the Citie where God had promiſed to be reſident, where was the Arke of the Couenant, and the glorious Temple which Solomon had built at Gods appointment, where the Kings of Iudah had their abode, where the Law and the Prophets were diligently read and expounded vnto the people, where all points of difficultie were handled, where was the Prieſtes Pallace, whether the whole land had recourſe out of their ſeuerall Tribes, as vnto the place where men ought to worſhippe: Iohn. 4. it was a heauen vpon earth, and a type of that glorious City which is aboue: and is Ieruſalem ſo fallen from God, can there not one righteous man bee found within her walles? is the holy City become ſo wicked? is the faithfull Spouſe become a Harlot? are her Princes become Rebels, her Iudges Murtherers, her Golde droſſe, her charity oppreſſion, her ripeneſſe rottenneſſe, her almeſdeedes al-miſdeedes? Hath the leproſie of ſinne ſo infected euery part of her body,Iſai. 1. that from the ſole of the foote to the crowne of the head, there is nothing whole therein, but woundes and ſwellings, and ſores full of corruption? What neede we goe further for prouing our concluſion, for as hee ſpeakes in Tully, Cicero. lib. 1. de orat. Eyther this is enough, or I know not what will ſuffice: if you would haue Topicall Arguments after ſuch a demonſtration as this: I could leade you through many places of inuention, which would manifeſtlie confirme my aſſertion. I could ſhew you the Churches of Gallatia and Philippi, and Corinthus, which Paul had planted, Apollo and other Diſciples had watered, and God had wonderfully encreaſed, I could inſtance in Smyrna, and Pergamus and Laodicea, &c. In which the Euangeliſt Iohn had ſo painefully laboured in Conſtantinople and Epheſus, and Nice, and Chalcedon, famous for the generall Councels, in Carthage, and Hippo, and other Churches of Affricke in Antiochia, the firſt Godmother of Chriſtians, and in a word, in all the Eaſterne and Affrican Churches, in which ſo many Worthies haue floriſhed. What is the cauſe of theſe particulars at this day? behold they are fallen, as though they had not been planted, as though the ſeede of the word had not beene ſowne amongſt them, Iſa. 40. as though that ſtocke had taken no roote in the earth, the Lord hath blowne vpon them, and they are withered, and the whirlewind hath taken them away like ſtubble: the abhomination of deſolation (let him that heareth it, conſider it) ſitteth in their holy places, which are now nothing elſe but as it were an habitation for Dragons and Courts for Oſtriches,Phillip. Lonicerus de rebus Turcicis. inſtead of the ſacred Bible, they haue entertained the blaſphemous Alchoran, their Mophti Meizin, and Antippi, and ſuch Idolatrous Mahometains haue gotten the roomes of the ancient Fathers.

Ʋſe. What? and are theſe alſo fallen? then let her that thinketh ſhe ſtandeth take heede leaſt ſhe fall. I meane that ſtrumpet which aduanceth her ſelfe aboue the ſtarres of God: which ſaith, I am, and none els, and ſings with Niobe in the port, Sum Felix, I am in a happie eſtate, and there ſhall no harme happen vnto mee; which with Laodicea thinketh that ſhe is rich and encreaſed with goods, and needeth nothing, Reue. 3. whereas indeed, (as anon you ſhall heare) ſhee is wretched and miſerable, and poore, and blind, and naked. Niniue had ſuch a conceit of her ſelfe, and did ſo far preſume vpon her ſtrength, that ſhe thought it had beene impoſſible for all the powers of the world to bring her vnder the hatches. And therefore the Lord bids her looke vpon the ſtate of Alexandria, a ſtronger Citie then Niniue, and yet ſhe was deſtroyed. Art thou better (ſaith hee) then No, Nahum. 3.8 which was full of people? that lay in the riuers, and had the waters round about it; whoſe ditch was the ſea, and her wall was from the ſea Ethiopia and Egypt were her ſtrength, and there was no end: Put & Lubin were her helpers, yet was ſhe carried away, and went into captiuitie. The ſame may be ſaid of Rome, (ſuppoſe that none of theſe Cities which I haue laſt mentioned may paralele with her) is ſhee better then Ieruſalem: which was ſeated vpon ſuch ſtrong bulwarkes, as alreadie hath bene mentioned: yet ſhe fell from God and moued the holy one of Iſrael to anger againſt her: graunt vnto her all that ſhee can claime (and ſhe will be ſure to lacke nothing for want of challenging,Thraſilaus apud Athen. Dipnoſ. li. 12. for ſhee is not vnlike to him who could not eſpie a ſhip floating vpon the ſeas, but preſently ſaid it was his) and more then all the Papiſts in the world can proue to bee her due, yet ſhee hath no more to bragge of, then had Ieruſalem; is ſhe the mother citie of all other and the Metropolis of all Chriſtendome? So was Ieruſalem, in reſpect of the inhabitants of Iurie. Which at that time were the onely people which God had choſen. Are al others to appeal vnto her as vnto their ſupreme iudge in matters of difficultie; ſo were Iewes vnto the high court of Ieruſalem; did Peter the prince of the Apoſtles, the porter of heauen gates, remoue his chaire from Antiochia and placed it at Rome? ſo did the Lord his tabernacle from Shiloh to Ieruſalem, hath Rome the head or chiefe Biſhop of all Chriſtendom? Ieruſalem had the like, is ſhee the keeper and diſpenſer of the Lords treaſurie? So was Ieruſalem: doth ſhe challenge a freedome for perſeuering in the truth? Ieruſalem had better grounds to do the like: and verily, as Rome doth at this day flatter her ſelfe with a falſe application of vniuerſall promiſes,Ioh. 8.33.39 Pſalm. So did Ieruſalem. Abraham is our father, we are the children of Abraham, Gen. 49.10. Ier. 7.4. this is my reſt for euer: the ſcepter ſhall not depart from Iudea, nor a lawgiuer from vnder his feet: the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, this is the temple of the Lord. All her titles that ſhe can any way lay claim vnto, will not make her better then Ieruſalem, which became ſuch an Apoſtatate, that not one godly man could bee found in her. So that ſhe cannot challenge any priuiledge to her ſelfe from falling to the like wickedneſſe, that which happens to the one, may be fall the other, Vnleſſe ſhee can deale with the truth, as the old Romanes handled the goddeſſe victoria: who after they had wonne the field, vſed to clippe her wings that ſhe might not flie away.

But what neede we ſtand of the poſſibilitie, when the act proueth it. A certaine man, walking on his way, while hee looked not ſo well to his feet, as he ſhould haue done, fell into a pit: when diuers of his acquaintance came by, and ſaw his miſchance, they began to enquire one after another, how hee fell thither: What a queſtion is that ſaid he, you ſee that I am fallen, thinke rather of ſome meanes how to helpe me vp againe. We neuer need make queſtion, whither and how Rome could reuolt and fall from Chriſt; certaine it is, ſhe is fallen; and well it were for her, if ſhe could bee holpe vp. When Philip told Nathaniel, that hee had found the Meſsiah, of whom it was written in the Law, and in the Prophets, and told him who it was, viz. Ieſus of Nazareth: Nathaniel wondered at it, and ſaid; Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Iohn 1.47. If any ſhall wonder that there ſhould be any defect in Rome, which ſo many ages hath bene counted the mother & nurce of true religion: I anſwere him as Philip anſwered Nathaniel, Come and ſee. When thou art an eye-witneſſe of all her abhominatiōs, thou wilt ſubſcribe to his teſtimonie, who at his comming away, bad her thus adew: Roma vale vidi, ſatis est vidiſse reuertar, cum leno meretrice ſcurra cinoedus ero.

I muſt confeſſe, that when firſt I made choice of this portion of Scripture, I did not intend to haue played vpon this ſtring with my leaſt finger. But now that I haue met Rome in my high way, I cannot chuſe, but (by your patience) ſpeake a word vnto her before we part, eſpecially, when I conſider how ready ſhee is to diſgrace all ſuch as will not drinke of her Cyrcean cups. How ſhe ſendeth her panders amongſt vs to get her moe cuſtomers, & his pedlers to ſel her deceitfull wares. How buſie ſhe is in hanging vp her ſpider-webs to catch our Engliſh butterflies which haue neither wit to auoide them, nor ſtrength to break them; and what paines ſhe taketh in decking her ſelfe, and in painting her vglie wrinkled face, that ſhee may allure. Men deſtitute of vnderſtanding, to forſake their firſt loue, and commit follie with her. There was a time when Rome was a glorious Church,Prou. 7.7. Paul giueth her this teſtimonie, thatRom. 1.8. her faith was publiſhed throughout the whole world. Shee was (as ſome ſay) the chiefe, ſeat for one of the foure Patriarks.Praefac. in Concil. Nicenum 1 ſedes, Romanoe. 2 Alexandriae. & Cant 6. Antiqua Conſuetudo. &c. or rather of equall dignitie with the others, Her approbation was deſired in ſundry Councels, as one more incorrupt then the reſt,Quia vrbis Romae paril. eſtres. by reaſon that ſhe was not ſo ſhaken with Sciſmes and Hereſies, as were the Eaſterne Churches, ſhe was an Aſylum for many which were perſecuted for the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſt: this ſhe was, and this is all that ſhee can boaſt her ſelfe off at this day. Which when ſhe hath done, ſhe is no better thē thoſe degenerous ſpirits of Nobilitie and Gentrie, who when they haue nothing in themſelues worthy the leaſt commendation, will digge vp the old roote whence they ſprang. But Si vita labat, perit omnis in illa, Gentis honos cuius,Ouid. laus eſt in origine ſola. Hee leaneth vpon a rotten ſtaffe, which hath nothing to ſpeake for him ſaue his dead Progenitors vertues. If any man thinke I doe her wrong, may it pleaſe him to compare her with the ſtate of Ieruſalem in the time when Ieremie propheſied: the ſinnes of Ieruſalem were eyther in doctrine and matters of Religion, or in conuerſation and manner of liuing: for the former, it is as much (if not more) corrupted at this day in the Romiſh Church, then it was then amongſt the Iewes. The Prophets thereIer 5.31. Propheſied lies: Cap. 23.24 God ſent them not, and yet they ranne, he ſpoke not vnto them, and yet they propheſied Cap. 14.14. euen a falſe viſion, and the dreames and deuiſes of their owne hearts: whether the Romaniſts doe this or no: thoſe impious aſſertions which they maintaine againſt the reformed Churches (for oppugning whereof,Vid. Lind: li. 4. Cap. 100. et petrum a Soto contra Brentium. many holy Martyrs haue with their beſt bloud dyed the skirts of the purple hoare) may ſufficiently witneſſe. What ſhall I tell you of their prayers for the Deade, their Sacrifice of the Maſſe, their communicating vnder one kinde, their vowes, their forbidding of Mariages, their Indulgences, their Purgatorie, their workes of Supererogation, and a number moe, by which likeAct. 14.25. the Siluer Smithes of Diana, they haue gotten their goods? all which make a goodly ſhow of holineſſe, to ſuch as are blinded with the miſtes of ignorance, by reaſon that the candle of the word is couered vnder a Buſhell, and locked vp in the cloſet of an vnknowne tongue, but bringPſal. 105. Dauids Lanthorn to trie them and you ſhall finde that when they are viewed in the light, they wil proue like Gloe-wormes, and Toade-ſtooles, more like to any thing then that which they were taken for: or likeSolimus. the Apples of Sodome, which make a goodly ſhow a farre off, but if they be once touched, they will preſently fall into duſt; or like thoſeD. D. in his preface vpon Euclid. Mathematicall Showers, which in the twilight ſeeme to bee golde or precious ſtones, yet where the light comes, proue nothing but lime & ſand: then their prayers vnto Saints wil proue but much babling: their Images teachers of lies, their forbidding of mariages, doctrines of Deuils: their Purgatorie fire borrowed from the ſuperſtitious Ethnicks, to keepe their Kitchins hoat, their Maſſes, maſſacres of Soules, their Holy-water, Crucifixes, Reliques and Ragges of Saints, &c. beggarly rudiments, baſe Marchandiſe not worth the cheapning: this they themſelues know full well, and therefore if yee aske theſe Luci • ugae ſcripturarum, Tertul. de reſurrectione Carnis. Perſius. Eckius Pighius contro. 3. de ſcriptura. Ludov. Canonicus quat. in orat. hab. in Concil. Trid. vide Chem. in exam. Concil. Trid, et Iuellum in defen. apol. Cap. 19. et. 20. Si quis habēt interpretationem Romanae Eccl. deal q • o l • co ſcripturae etiamſi nec ſciat nec intelligat an aut quomodo eum ſcripturis Conueniat. habet tamen ipſiſſimum dei verbum, Hoſius: de expreſſo dei verbo. what warrant they haue from the Oracles of God, Romulidae Satyri quid diâ Poemata narrant? They will tell you they haue it by tradition, or the Church hath ordayned it: or it is not needefull to bring Scripture for a ground of their Poſitions: which it pleaſeth ſome of them to call a Leſbian rule, and a noſe of waxe, and a blacke Goſpell, and inkie Diuinitie, and a dumbe Teacher, and a dead and killing Letter. Indeede, if they can wreſt any place of Scripture though it be contrary to the meaning of the holy Ghoſt, yet it muſt bee taken for ſound Diuinity, becauſe as a great Cardinall ſpeakes: If any man haue the interpretation of the Romiſh Church, of any place of Scripture, although hee know not whether it agree with the word of God or no: yet it is not to be doubted, but hee hath the very word of God. Thus muſt theſe expoſitions goe for ſound Diuinitie, marke them and compare them with Iewiſh gloſſes: Drinke yee all of this, that is not all, but ſome, to wit, the Cleargie, Mariage is honourable amongſt all men, not all, but ſome, the Laietie: Caſt not pear es before ſwine: that is, ſuffer not the people to reade the Scriptures in a known tongue:Pſal. 8. Thou haſt put all things in ſubiection vnder his feete, that is, vnder the Popes feet: The fiſhes of the Sea, that is the Soules in Purgatorie, The beaſts of the land, that is the men of this world,Antoni: in Sum. part. 3. tit: 2 2. c. 5. The fowles of the heauen, that is the ſoules of the bleſſed which the Pope hath canonized, Here are two ſwords, that is, the Pope hath the managing of both ſwordes, Ciuill and Eccleſiaſticall, an expoſition not altogether ſo harſh, as that whichIn his aduertiſement to Pope Paul the Fift touching the Venetians. Baronius brought of late, to proue that the Pope had authority not onely to feede Chriſts Sheepe, but alſo to puniſh with death ſuch as reſiſt his Papal dignitie: becauſe hee which ſaid,Ioh. 21. Peter feede my ſheepe, ſaid alſo,Act. 10.13 Ariſe Peter and kill: if he had preſſed the text a little further, hee might by the ſame Argument haue proued his holy Father to bee an Anthropophagus or Caniball, becauſe it is not ſimply ſayde, Ariſe Peter and kill, but Ariſe Peter kill and eate, vnleſſe hee had Bellarmines wit,Bellar. de Rom. Pont. lib. 1. cap. 12. who proueth the Popes Supremacy, not from the firſt word kill, but from the ſecond word Eate.

But the maine fault in Religion, which haſtened Gods iudgements vpon Ieruſalem, was her idolatrie: Shee changed her God:Ier. 2.13. She forſooke the fountaine of liuing waters, and digged vnto her ſelfe euen broken pits which would hold no water: ſhee played the harlot vpon euery high mountaine, and vnder euerie greene tree: Verſe. 17. Shee ſayde vnto a tree, thou art my Father, and to a ſtone, thou haſt begotten me. Whether Rome goe not beyond her in this particular, he that hath but halfe an eye may plainely ſee, Ʋirgill. Aene. 1. Cur natos toties crudelis tu quoque falſis, Ludis imaginibus? —

Wee doe not reade of many Idols that were famous amongſt the Iewes, there was Aſhtereth the God of the Sidonians; & Milcome the abhomination of the Moabites, and Chemoſh the abhomination of the children of Ammon, and Baal, and a few more: but the Idols which Papiſts haue inuented are ſo many, that Rome can ſcarſe finde roome for placing them: Shee is more like to the old Gentiles, who did acknowledge one chiefe Iupiter, — αναξ ανδρωντε θεωντε,Hominum rex atque deorum. And Iupiter omnipotens, qui res hominum que Deum que aeternis regis imperiis: But hee had three hundred vnder him which they worſhipped as gods: Ʋarro. though the Papiſts acknowledge one ſupreame power, yet are there three hundred to whom they performe that worſhippe which is due onely vnto God, and as they had twelue which they counted greater gods, which Ennius containeth in theſe old verſes, Iuno, veſta, Minerua, Ceres, Diana, Ʋenus, Mars. Mercurius, Iouis, Neptunus, Ʋulcanus, Apollo.Extant apud Apulerum. et Natalem Comitem. Sen. na. quaeſt. lib. 2. cap. 41. Whome they hold to be of Gods Priuie Councell: but many leſſer gods and goddeſſes for particular purpoſes, as for their Waters, Lympha, Ʋarro. lib. 1. de re Ruſtica. for her Gardens, Pomona for their grounds, Terminus, &c. So the Papiſts haue the twelue Apoſtles, which (with the Platoniſts) they vſe as Mediators betweene them & the high God, vnto which they haue added the Virgine Marie, thinking eſpecially by her interceſſion to haue their deſires; as the Troians in the Poet vſed the mediation of Venus to obtaine fauour of Iupiter. Now for particular matters, there is ſcarſe any thing but they haue a God or Goddeſſe for it: When they are in feare of the plague they pray to Sebaſtian, Lutherus in Decalog. againſt the falling ſickneſſe to Valentine, againſt ſodaine death to Chriſtopher, againſt the Ring-worm to Anthonie. Now then as Pythagoras from the print of Hercules his foot in the games of Olimpus, did collect the bigneſſe of his whole Body. So from theſe few things which haue beene ſpoken, you may gather how farre Rome hath declined from her former purity, and how well ſhee may paralell with Ieruſalem in my Text. I might take occaſion to ſpeake of that preheminence, which the Pope chalengeth ouer all Chriſtian Kings (Gods immediate Deputies on earth) by reaſon of a ſuppoſed Authority giuen vnto Peter, whoſe ſucceſſour hee pretenteth himſelfe to be, the very ſame argument in ſubſtance, by which the Turke claimeth the Weſterne Empire, becauſe hee ſucceedeth Conſtantine: or he that married Tullies wife, laid claime to his learning, becauſe he had married his executor: all Princes muſt hold their ſcepters from him, all nations muſt crouch downe before him, and all kingdomes muſt doe him ſeruice: Heere Ieruſalem dare not ſtand out in compariſon with Rome: her hie Prieſts were neuer come to that height of impudencie, as to ſet vp their heades aboue the Lordes annointed. When Tiberius obſerued the baſe ſeruitude which the Romanes vſed towards him: hee could not chuſe but cry out,Tacitus Annal. lib. 3. O homines natos ad ſeruitutem, hee that conſidereth how vilely & ſeruilely, ſhe which ſometime was the Empreſſe of the world, dooth obey him which is ſtiled a ſeruant of ſeruants, he may well vſe Tiberius his words: or thoſe of the Poet, Roma tibi quondam ſuberant domini dominorū, Seruorum ſerui nunc tibi ſunt domini. but this is only by the way. From her religion, let vs come to her conuerſation and manner of liuing. Ieruſalem was as corrupt in life, as ſhe was in religion:Ier. 7.9. She did ſteale, murder, and commit adulterie, and ſweare falſly. Her inhabitants,Cap. 6.13 from the leaſt vnto the greateſt, were giuen to couetouſneſſe, and from the Prophet vnto the Prieſt, they all dealt falſly. Cap. 2.34. In the wings was found the blood of the ſoules of poore innocents: How farre Rome goeth beyond Ieruſalem, euen in this alſo we may haue a little taſte in our holy Engliſh Catholikes, the remainder of the Romiſh Church, and the only true profeſſours (if ye will beleeue them) of the ancient faith in this kingdome: but trie them by the works of regeneration (the principall bodie of true Chriſtianitie) and you ſhall find, that in prophanation of Gods Sabbath, in ſwearing and blaſpheming, in lying and cozening, in drunkenneſſe and whoredome, in oppreſſion, and all vnconſcionable dealings, they are for the moſt part, the very ſcumme and excrements of this land. And why ſhould they make conſcience of theſe ſinnes,Venalia Romae temlpa, ſacerdotes altaria ſacra, coronae, ignes thura preces Coelum eſt venale deuſque. ſeeing their holy mother is as it were a faire or royall Exchange, where any ſinne may bee bought at a reaſonable rate. Nothing more common then what doe you lacke, or what will you buy, &c. A pardon for your ſinnes paſt, or for any ſinne you ſhall hereafter commit? a tolleration for common Stewes, for, (but I dare not name it) a diſpenſation for inceſtuous marriages, or any thing els, you ſhall haue it if you can agree for the price: ſhall I ſay all in a word, Shee is a hell of impieties,Reu. 18.2. a habitation of diuels, and the hole of all foule ſpirits, and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird. And therfore I leſſe maruaile why Friar Mantuan ſhould bee ſo bitter againſt her corruptions in his time.

And he ſaith further, Nulla hic arcana reuelo, It was no ſhriuing ſecrets the Fryar did diſcloſe, but ſuch things as all the world could witneſſe to be true. Bernard Bernardus. lib. 4. de Conſideratone ad Eugenium. is more ſharpe againſt the abuſes of his time (though the rotten humours were but thē in gathering) when he complaineth that the couetous, Luxurious, Ambitious, Inceſtuous, Sacreligious, and all ſuch helliſh Monſters did flocke to Rome, to get a warrant from the Apoſtolicke Sea, for their proceedings. And that they made no more conſcience of Sinning, then theeues after they haue robbed a man by the highway, are afraid to deuide the ſpoile. Curia tua recipere bonos magis, quam facere conſueuit, (he ſpeakes vnto the Pope) mali enim illic non proficiunt ſed boni deficiunt. I intend not now to lay open her monſterous cruelties and bloody maſſacres, of ſuch as truely profeſſe the Goſpell of Chriſt, in which point ſhe doth very well reſemble (Shall I ſay) Ieruſalem, which killed the Peophets & ſtoned them that were ſent to her? nay, rather old Rome vnder Nero as often as the Emperor gaue commandement that any ſhould be ſlaine or baniſhed, Tacitus. lib. 14. Annal. quoties fugas & caedes iuſſit princeps, toties, predijs actae: quaeque rerum ſecundarum olim nunc publicae cladis inſignia fuere. ſo often (ſaith Tacitus) did they giue thankes vnto God: and thoſe things which in former time had beene notes of ſome proſperous ſucceſſe, were now the enſignes of publike ſlaughter. Is not this her cuſtome at this day? are there any bloody butcherings of Chriſts flocke, any cruell murthering of Chriſtian Princes, by Romiſh Iebuſites, but it ſhall bee receiued at Rome with Bonefires and Hymnes in moſt triumphant manner? all which things when I conſider, I am fully reſolued that a learned Diuine of later yeares, doth not ſpeake of any malitious humor, when hee ſaith that there bee three points of diuinity,Caluinus lib. 4. Iuſtit. ca. 7. (he calleth them Capita arcana Theologiae) which go current in Rome. The firſt, that there is no God: the Second, that whatſoeuer is writen of Chriſt is lyes and deceits. The third, that the Doctrine of the reſurrection and of the laſt iudgement is merely fabulous, now then this being the caſe of that great and glorious Citie, wee may well collect, that her horrid deſolation and fearefull downefall is at hand. For there is no ſtate ſo ſtrong, no Citie ſo fenced, but the ſinnes of the people will bring it vnto diſtruction, which is my third and laſt Propoſition out of the ſecond generall branch of my text, whereof I am now by your patience to intreat.

Propoſit. 3That Kingdomes and common wealthes haue their periods and downefalls, is a concluſion which the premiſes of all former ages doe demonſtrate; learned Athens, ſtately, Sparta rich Babylon, victorious Carthage, ancient Troy, proude Niniue, and a thouſand more haue numbred their yeares: and at this day haue no ſtronger fence then Paper walls, to keepe their names from obliuion, the great enemy of antiquitie. Now for the true cauſe of their ſubuerſions, it is a truth, which the greateſt wiſards of this world, after much ſtudie, and many ſerious cōſultations which nature could neuer find out. The Epicures attribute it to fortune the Stoicts to deſtinie, the Pythagorians to numbers. Which laſt opinion Plato made ſuch reckoning of, that he will haue numbers to bee the ſole cauſe of the tranſmutations of common wealths. Whoſe words bee ſo Aenigmaticall,Plato. lib. 8. de rep. Cicero. lib. 7. Epiſt ad Atticum. that Tullie makes them a Prouerbe, and Marſilius Ticinus inuocateth not Oedipus but Apollo to vnfold them.Ariſt. 5. lib. pollit. cap. 12. Ariſtotle (who of all others commeth neareſt vnto the trueth) makes the cauſe to be a diſharmonie in the body politicke, as too much wealth of ſome few, the great miſerie of many, iniurie, feare, &c. I little maruell that heathen Philoſophers ſhould ſhoote ſo wide, when Chriſtians haue ſo groſſely miſtaken their marke. Bodin how wittie is hee in pleading for numbers?Bodin Math. hiſt. cap. 6. what vertue doth he attribute to 7. or 9. or 12. and the ſquares and cubiques. How doth he ſhift himſelfe to proue his opinion ſound, by inſtances of the moſt comon-wealthes that haue bene hitherto in account, adding, or detracting yeres at his pleaſure, from the calculation of the beſt Chronologers, to make the number ſquare or cubique, or ſpherical, or at the leaſt, ſome way conſiſting of 7. or 9. or of three rootes or ſquares. Cardanus Cardanus. hangeth all vpon the taile of the greater beare. The common ſort of Aſtrologians, referre it to the planets and ſtarres, making ſuch a ſcheme at the firſt foundation of any Citie, which made Varro (as Plutarch witneſſeth) ſo earneſt with Taruncius Firmanus, to enquire the oppoſition, and aſpect of the planets, when Rome was firſt ſituated, thinking hereby to coniecture how long that Empire ſhould endure. Copernicus Copernicus. will haue the conuerſion & motion of the centure of his imaginarie excentricle circle (which circle according to him, is not cauſed by the heauens motion (for the heauens in his opinion are vnmoueable) but by the earth, which he will haue to be cōtinually wheeled about, to be the cauſe of theſe alterations of Common-wealths. Thus while they groped in the darke, they miſſed their marke,Gen. 19. as the Sodomites did Lots doore, and while they profeſſed themſelues wiſe, Rom. 1.22. they became fooles. And little maruaile, for the wiſedome of this world is fooliſhneſse with God: None of all theſe haue happened on the true cauſe,1. Cor. 1. it is the ſinnes of the people which bringeth euery common-wealth to ruine. And how can it be otherwiſe? for if thou lay more weight on the roofe, then the pillars can ſupport, the houſe muſt needes fall. Now ſinne is of ſuch an intollerable weight, that no houſe nor Citie, nor Common-wealth can ſtand vnder it, but it will preſſe it downe, it is a burden to the whole earth, and makes it reele to and fro, Iſa. 24.20. and ſtagger like a drunken man: it is a burden to all the creatures,Rom. 8.22. and maketh them grone and trauell in paine: it is a burden to God himſelfe, which makes him crie out in the Prophet againſt the Iewes, Amos 2.13. That they had preſſed him with their iniquities, euen as a cart is preſſed with ſheaues: it lay ſo heauie vpon Chriſts ſhoulders, that it made him ſweat drops of blood, Luke 22.44. This burden of it ſelfe ſo heauie, like a malefactor that is preſſed to death, cries for more weight, to preſſe the ſinner to the pit of hell: it cals to heauen for the burden of the Lord, Iere. 23. that is, for vengeance to be inflicted vpon the impenitēt ſinner, God in regard of his patience, and long ſuffring, is ſaid to haue leadē heeles, hee commeth ſlowly euen againſt his will to puniſh, but in reſpect of his iuſtice, he is ſaid to haue yron hands. He ſtriketh with a witneſſe, when once hee begins to ſmite in his proceedings againſt the ſinnes of men, he hath a double method ſometimes, (and this method is moſt vſuall when he proceedeth againſt the ſinnes of his children) he comes to them as he came to Elias. 1. King. 19. Firſt he ſendeth a mighty ſtrong wind, to blow downe the tall Cedars, and caſt them to the ground, as Paul was, before he was conuerted. Then an Earth-quake, Acts 24.26. to ſhake the flintie rockes, I meane the ſtonie hearts of men, & to make them tremble, as Felix did, when Paul diſputed of the iudgment to come, then a fire to burne vp the ſtubble, and conſume the bryars, and then (when theſe forerunners, like Iohn Baptiſt haue prepared a way for the Lord) he comes himſelfe, in a ſoft voice, the gratious and ſweet promiſes of the Goſpell, to ſeale a pardon to ſuch, as by the former Iudgments are deiected and humbled. And this may bee tearmed Gods Ordo compoſitiuus: Sometimes (and this is more vſuall, eſpecially when hee proceedes againſt the wicked) hee taketh a contrarie courſe: Firſt, he comes in a ſoft and ſtill voyce, to wooe them to himſelfe: But when they harden their hearts, and will not bee reclaimed from their euill wayes; then at length he will ſend a fire to deuoure them, and an Earthquake and mighty ſtrong wind, to ſcatter them away like chaffe from the face of the earth, Pſal. 1. & to blow them downe euen in the bottome of hell; and this I may fitly call Gods ordo reſolutiuus; it is ſayd of Alexander, Q. Curtius. that when hee beſieged a certaine City, hee helde out a Lampe, proclaiming a pardon to as many as would yeeld themſelus before the Lampe was burned: ſo the Lord firſt holdeth out the Lampe of his word, whereby hee calleth them to ſubmit themſelues, and giues them a time to deliberate; if in the meane time they doe not yeeld, nothing remaines but death and deſtruction: it is ſtoried of Tamberlaine the Scythian, Stephani. Epi. in Herod. that whenſoeuer hee beſieged a City, firſt hee diſplayed a white flagge in token of mercy, if they would yeeld themſelues, the ſecond day a redde flagge threatening blood becauſe they did not in time ſubmit themſelues, if they continued vntill the third day, then came out his blacke flacke menacing vtter ruine and deſolations; this is Gods Methode. Firſt he ſets out his white flagge of peace; if this bee not regarded, then comes his red flagge of correction, though not of deſtruction: if this will take no place with them, then he ſets out his blacke flagge,Virgil lib. 6. Aeneid. bella horrida bella, nothing but death and deſolation. Downe with it, downe with it▪ euen to the ground, tribulation and anguiſh, fire and brimſtone, ſtorme and tempeſt, this ſhall bee their portion to drinke. Its long before he be moued to anger, but if the coales of his wrath bee kindled; O Lord God how terrible will this flame be! it will licke vp the ſea like duſt, and melt the mountains like waxe, and burne to the very bottome of Hell, ſo that nothing in the world will quench it, but the bloud of the Lambe, and the ſtreaming teares of vnfained repentance: caſt your eies to the time of old, for wee are: Iob. 8.9. but men of yeſterday, and our dayes on earth are like a ſhadow, as Bildad ſpeaketh in Iob, and you ſhall finde my concluſion proued by the occurrents of all ages. Sodome that fruitfull and plentifull Citie, which was for beauty and pleaſure like the garden of God, or as the valley of Egypt, Gene. 19. as thou goeſt vnto Zoar, Gene. 13.10 if the ſtinke of her ſinnes aſcend into heauen, ſhall bee conuerted into a ſtinking Fen, for an euerlaſting remembrance of her iniquity.Deut. 3.3. Iericho a goodly place, a City of Palme trees, a fenced City, whoſe walles reached vp to heauen: Iohn 6.21. if ſhee be withall a ſinnefull and an idolatrous City, ſhee and all that is in her, both man and woman, young and olde, Oxe and Aſſe, ſhall bee vtterly deſtroyed. Babylon, which Ariſtotle Ariſt. Polit. for the greateneſſe cals rather a Region then a City, the Empreſse of the earth, the Princeſſe of Cities, the glory of Kingdomes, the beauty and pride of the Chaldeans, which ſaid, I ſit as Queene, I am no widdow, and ſhall ſee no mourning: If ſhee continued in her ſinnes, ſhall bee as the deſtruction of God in Sodome and Gomorrah, Iſa. 13. it ſhall not bee inhabited for euer, neyther ſhall it bee dwelled in from generation to generation, but Zim ſhall dwell there, and their houſes ſhall bee full of Ochim, Oſtriches ſhall dwell there, and the Satyrs ſhall dance there, and Iim ſhall cry in their Pallaces, & Dragons in their pleaſant places: ſo that a man ſhall bee more precious then gold, euen a man aboue the wedge of the gold of Ophyr: It is not her powerfull ſtate, nor rich Citizens, nor ſtrong walles, nor high Towers, nor magnificall buildings, that ſhall free her from Gods puniſhing hand: nay, Ieruſalem in my Text, the Vine that Gods right hand had planted, the Citie of the Great King, the holy place of the Tabernacle of the moſt high, the beauty of Iſrael, the glory of Nations, Lament. 1. and Princeſses of prouinces, if ſhe will not bee awaked from her ſinnes, ſhall not be much better then the deſtruction of Sodome and the miſerable deſolation of doleful Gomorrah, her walls ſhall bee turned into heapes of duſt, her houſes conſumed, her Temple burned, her treaſury empty, her in habitants killed: Quis Cladem illius vrbis quis funera flaetu explicet. What heart is ſo flinty which will molt into teares, when it ſhall thinke of the miſerie which did twiſe befall this one Citie.

Now all 1. Cor. 10.11. theſe puniſhments came vpō Vſe. 1 thē for an enſample and are written to admoniſh you vpon whence the ends of the world are come, that you ſhould bee armed and warned, that you ſhould ſee, and fore-ſee, before the time be paſt,Cicero. Phil. 1. vt quorum facta imitamini eorum exitum per horreſcatis, that if you tread in their footſteps you ſhould remēber their downfals, God is the ſame God ſtill, he is as ſtrong as euer he was, he is as iuſt to reuenge as euer hee was, his arme is not ſhortned, his ſtrength is not abated, his wrath is not turned away from ſinne, but his hand is ſtretched out ſtil. Sinne may bud in the ſpring but it withereth before Harueſt: it may flowriſh for a time, but godlineſſe endureth vnto the end. When the wicked thinketh himſelfe the ſureſt, when he ſaith vnto his ſoule, Peace, Peace, and Soule, take thy reſt. Euen then there is but one ſteppe betweene him and deſtruction: beleeue the kingly Prophet, he ſpeaketh it of his owne experience, I my ſelfe haue ſeene the vngodly in great proſperity, Pſa. 37.36.37 and flowriſhing like a greene bay tree; what followeth, I went by, and loe, he was gone; I ſought him, and his place could no more be found. Behold his countenāce, he is but as the graſſe vpon the houſe top, which withereth before it bee pluckt vp,Pſal 73.18. or as the ſound vpon the water, or as a garment freted with mothes: O how ſuddenly doth he fade, periſh, and come to a fearefull end: euen as a dreame vaniſheth when as one awaketh. Plut. in vitae Pyrrhi. idem in vita Aninib. It is noted of Pyrrhus and Hanniball, that they could quickly conquer a Citie, but they could neuer keepe that which they had once ſubdued. I little maruaile, that the wicked haue great facility in heaping vp of riches, but I ſhould thinke it ſtrange, if they could keepe them till the third generation. Their wealth is like a ſnowball, gathered in the fall, not without labour and cold fingers: and anon after it is melted with the Sunne, or waſhed away with the raigne. But alas, alas beloued, I may heare take vp the Prophets complaint.Iſa. 53.1. Who will beleeue our report? my words ſeeme vnto many, as Lots Sermon did to his ſonnes in-law, when hee foretold the deſtruction of Sodome, who ſeemed as though he had mocked, Gen. 19.14. Giue mee leaue a little to ſpeake plainely: I came not to ſing vnto you a gloria patri without a ſicut erat, to flatter you with a ſmooth tale, as to lay pillowes vnder your elbowes, whereby you may ſecurely ſleepe in your ſinnes, Multi ſunt Placentini, & Landenſes pauci Veronenſes, many come hither from Placentia, and Landa, but few from Veron. I doubt not but yee will all with your tongues confeſſe my Propoſition to be true, but the practiſe of the moſt denyeth it: it is the ſins of the people that bringeth euery common wealth to ruine. Euery one wil ſay as much, but yet in our practiſe wee hold an other ſtrange Axiom that goeth for currant amongſt vs: it is the ſinnes of the people that vpholdeth euery Common wealth: conſcionable and true, and faithful dealing, which my Prophet as I ſuppoſe, nameth, by executing of iudgement and ſeeking of the Truth, is like an Almanacke out of date, euery man hath found out a new way, both to maintaine and better his eſtate, this old way is to farre about. The blood-ſucking Vſurer, inſtead of lending and expecting nothing againe, a leſſon which our Sauiour would haue him to take out, if hee looke for the true treaſure, doth eat and conſume his needy Brother, euen as Pharaos leane and il-fauored Kine deuoured the other. This is the way hee taketh to ſupport his houſe, God loues not ſuch an Arethmatician as ſpendeth his whole ſtudy about Multiplication, Regula falſitatis. and the Rule of falſhood, and can neuer learne, the practiſe of Diuiſion. The Lawyer who ſhould employ his beſt knowledge in vniting the knots of the law, and ſhould bee an Atropos to cut off the thread of controuerſies betweene man and man: feedeth his Client with golden hopes, and ſugred wordes, and in the meane time like Lacheſis draweth in length the thread of contention, vſing vnneceſſary delayes, and poſting of the matters from Court to Court, Tearme to Tearme, yeare to yeare, not vnlike the cogging Surgeon, who in hope of greater gaine doth poyſon the wound, that it may be longer in curing, or (if I may vſe a homely compariſon) like the waggiſh Boy in the ſtreetes, who when hee ſeeth two dogs ſnarling and grinning one at another for a bone, is neuer at reſt till (for his owne pleaſure, but little for their profite) hee hath brought them a rictu ad morſum, to trie their right by their teeth, til at length the weaker bee enforced to reſigne vp his right to the ſtronger: this is a principall plot to maintaine his eſtate.

The Citizen that liueth on his trade, is like to the idolatrous Iewes in the Pſalmiſt, which worſhip the Images of Canaan; Canaan ſignifieth a Marchant, and what is the Marchants Image (ſaith Luther) but Denarius the Croſſe. This hee maketh ſuch reckning of, as that he careth not for making ſhipwracke, not of a craſed, wodden veſſell, but of a good conſcience, ſo that hee may obtaine it: hee ſelleth dayes and months, and yeares at a higher rate then his beſt ſtuffes; if his wares bee too light, falſe ballances muſt make vp the weight, if too bad, too deare, a falſe oath muſt make a mends for both. The country Landlord (for though I ſpeake in Ieruſalem, yet I do not doubt but ſome of euery quarter of Iudah doth heare mee, whome the Lord hath endowed with ample poſſeſſions that hee ſhould bee as it were Pater Patriae, an vpholder of his Country, a maintainer of iuſtice, a ſcourge of vice, a protector of Religion, a ſhelter for the diſtreſſed to defend them from the rage of oppreſſors, as theXenocrates apud Aelianum. var. hiſt. lib. 13. cap. 31. Philoſopher did the Sparrow that fled into his boſome from the talentes of the Hawke. What doth he? he rayſeth his rentes, wringeth his Tenants like ſpunges, ſhaketh by ſome new deuiſe the ancient cuſtome; if this will not ſerue his turne, he farmeth out his liuings (eſpecially in ſuch a yeare as this, whē he ſhould breake his bread to the poore at his owne dores) and taketh a roome in this City, or ſome other, where he may liue with much eaſe, little charges, and ſmall credite, this he counteth an eſpeciall meanes to hold vp his eſtate.

If I haue beene in the boſomes of many of you, blame your ſelues, for mine owne part I may truly ſay to euery particular that thinketh himſelfe touched, as our Sauiour ſaide to the woman that was taken in Adulterie;Ioh. 8.11. Hath no man condemned thee? neither doe I. Marry, withall I adde that of Iohn, 1. Ioh. 3.20. If thine owne conſcience condem not hee, God is greater then thy conſcience, and knoweth all things; and therefore I diſmiſſe thee with that ſpeech of our Sauiour ſpoken to the Criple, that was newly reſtored to his feet; Goe thy way and ſinne no more, Ioh. 5.14. leſt a worſe thing come vnto thee. What ſhall I ſay more? Runne through each particular Eſtate and calling, and you ſhal find by the practiſe, thogh not of all, God forbid that I ſhould thinke ſo, I know there are in euery profeſſion which make a cōſcience of their wayes, and in all their actions ſet God before their eyes, yet of the moſt part, that fraudulent and deceitfull dealing, or ſome other vnlawfull meanes, is thought the moſt expedite and beaten way for ſupporting them. Few will let this conceit ſinke into their heads, that ſinne is the meanes that bringeth euery Eſtate to ruine, the Preacher may tell them as much, but they will belieue him at their leaſure; in the meane time, they wil ſtill runne on their olde Bias; the husbandman may labour in weeding thoſe grounds, but ſtill they bring forth briars to entangle and nettles to ſting others: the Gardner may buſie himſelf in pruning thoſe vines, but ſtill they bring forth ſowre grapes, ſuch as will ſet the teeth of Gods children on edge. Gods ſhepheards may watch continually about their flockes;Ier. 2. yet like ſwift Dromidaries they runne by their wayes, and like the wilde Aſſe vſed to the wilderneſſe, which ſnuffeth the wind by occaſion at her pleaſure, as the Prophet ſpeakes; they canot bee kept from going aſtray. Euery one can bee angry if his worldly purpoſe be croſſed neuer ſo little, but few or none will ſay with Dauid; it greeueth me when • ſee the tranſgreſſors, becauſe they keepe not thy law: Many can weepe and commend plenty of teares, when any worldly calamity doth befall them, but few or none can ſhed one teare, Miſere terendo oculos (as he ſpeaks in the Comedy) for their ſinnes, much leſſe weepe bitterly as Peter did,Math. 26. or haue their eyes guſh out with water, becauſe other men keepe not Gods lawes,Pſal. 119. with Dauid many will ſing to the Viole, and inuent to themſelues inſtruments of muſicke like Dauid as the Iſraelites did. Amos. 6.5. But few will ſay with him,Pſal. 119.143. All my delight is in thy commaundements; Many will ſay, with thoſe good fellowes, Come & bring wine, and wee will fill our ſelues with ſtrong drinke, and to morrow ſhall be as this day, Iſa. 56.12 and much more abundant But fewe or none will ſay with thoſe good profeſſors, Come & let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord, and to the houſe of the God of Iacob, and he will teach vs his lawes, Iſa. 2.3. and we will walke in his paths.

I thinke I cannot truely ſay with Hoſea, that the Lord hath a cōtrouerſie with the inhabitants of this land, becauſe there is no knowledge of God in the land. For our heads are not ſo ſicke, as our hearts are heauie: Iſa. 1.5. I meane our heads are not ſo void of knowledge, as our hearts are of obedience, but I dare boldly ſay, that which followeth: By ſwearing and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and whoring, Hoſ. 4.2. they breake forth, and blood toucheth blood. Wil you heare the iudgements annexed in the ſubſequent words: Therefore ſhall the land mourne, and euery one that dwelleth therein, ſhall be cut off. This is a terrible curſe, & he that dwelleth in heauen, ſtill auert it from vs, but yet it is a concluſion which the Lord vſeth to inferre vpon ſuch premiſes.

Giue me leaue ro repeat a parable vnto you,Iſa. 5.1.2.3. &c. My beloued had a vineyard in a very fruitfull hill, and he hedged it, and gathered the ſtones out of it, and hee planted it with the beſt plants; and hee built a Tower in the midſt, and made a winepreſse therein. The Prophet in that place applieth it to the land of Iudah, Surely the vineyard of the Lord of hoſts, is the land of Iſrael, and the men of Iudah, are his pleaſant plants: me thinkes I may not vnfitly apply it vnto this Iſland. Surely the vineyard of the Lord of hoſts is the land of Britaine, and the men of this land are his pleaſant plants, Now therefore, O ye inhabitants of this and, iudge I pray you, betweene him and his vineyard, what could he haue done vnto it, that hee hath not done? Hee hath planted it with his own right hand, hee hath ſo hedged it about with his heauenly prouidence, that the wild boare out of the woods cannot roote it vp, nor they that goe by, pull off his grapes. Hee hath watered it moſt abundantly with the dew of heauen: he hath gathered the ſtones of Popery and ſuperſtition out of it; he hath ſet the winepreſſe of his word therein: he hath giuen it a Tower, euen a king as a ſtrong tower againſt his enemies, whoſe raigne the Lord continue ouer vs, if it bee his pleaſure, as long as the moone knoweth her courſe, & the ſun his going down and let all that loue the peace of Britaine, ſay Amen. Now hee hath long expected that it ſhuld bring forth grapes, but behold it bringeth foorth wild grapes. He looked for iudgement, but behold oppreſsion, for righteouſneſſe, but loe a crying.

Theſe were the ſinnes of Ieruſalem, and you know her iudgments, he that was Ieruſalems God, is Britaines God too, and therfore if ſhee paralell Ieruſalem in her iniquities, let her take heed ſhe taſt not of her plagues; God though he hath not yet begun to puniſh her in his fury yet hath he ſundry times ſhaked his rod of correction ouer her, if this will not worke amendment, her iudgement muſt be the greater.

Fearefull was the caſe of Samaria, whō Gods puniſhments could not moue to repentance. I haue giuen you cleanneſſe of teeth in al your Cities, Amos. 4. and ſcarceneſſe of Bread in all your places, yet haue yee not returned vnto me ſaith the Lord God. I haue with holden the raine from you when there was yet three moneths to the harueſt, and I cauſed it to ruine vpon one Citie, and brought a drought vpon another, yet haue yee not returned vnto me ſaith the Lord. Pestilence haue I ſent amongſt you after the manner of Egipt, and yet ye haue not returned vnto me ſaith the Lord. I haue ſmitten you with, blaſting and mildew, &c. yet ye haue not returned vnto me ſaith the Lord God. The Lord hath not hitherto dealt with vs after our ſinnes, nor plagued vs according to the multitude of our iniquities, yet he hath made it manifeſt that he is diſpleaſed with vs: His mercy hath pulled backe his hand from drawing his ſword of vengeance againſt vs, yet hee hath left vs ſundry tokens that hee is angred with our ſinnes. It is not long ſince that the heauens were made as braſſe, Deut. 28.23. and the Earth as yron, nay, the very waters became as yron or as braſſe ſo that neither the heauens from aboue, nor the earth, or water from below did aford comforts for the ſeruice of man.

This extraordinary cold diſtēperature of the ayre might by an Antiperiſtaſis haue kindled ſome heate of zeale & deuotion in our breſts; when it had not the expected effect,Pſal. 105.16 then he Called for a dearth vpon the land, and deſtroied our prouiſion of bread: euen ſuch a famine, that if we were not releeued from forraine countries, Ten women might bake their bread in one Ouen, as the Lord ſpeaketh, Leuit. 26.26.

But all this hath not brought vs vpon our knees, nor humbled our ſoules before our God, therefore once againe, he hath put life in his meſſenger of death, and ſet him on foote, which heretofore of late yeres hath raged in this city, like a man of warre, and like a gyant refreſhed with wine, and beſtirred himſelfe (though not with the like violence) almoſt in euery part of this kingdome:Pſal. 91.6. I meane the peſtilence that walketh in the darkeneſſe, and the ſickneſſe that hath killed many thouſands at noone day: all theſe are infallible tokens that he is offended with our ſinnes: Howbeit he is ſo mercifull that he will not ſuffer his whole diſpleaſure as yet to ariſe, — Horum ſi ſingula duras Flectere non poſſunt, poterint tamē omnia, mentes. If each of theſe by themſelues cannot preuaile with vs, yet if they be all put together, they may ſerue (as a threefold cord) to draw vs vnto repentance. If theſe be not of force but ſtill wee continue to blow vp the coales of his anger, then let vs know for a certainty, that they are the forewarners of a greater euill, as the cracking of the houſe is a forewarning of his fall: theſe bee but the flaſhing lightnings, the thunderbolt will come after.

The cloud that is long in gathering, will make the greater ſtorme: he is all this while in fetting his ſtroke, that hee may giue the ſorer blow, Eurum ad ſe Zephirum que vocat; hee is in bringing the windes out of his treaſures, that he may rain vpon our heads a ſhowre of vengeance which ſhall bee the portion of al the vngodly to drink.

I beganne like a Barrabas, I will not end like Boanarges: my ſong had an Exordium of mercy, I am loath to bring for an Epilogue a thunderclap of iudgment. Wherefore (my beloued Brethren) now that you ſee the true cauſes of the ruines of euery common-wealth and the iudgement that hangeth ouer your heads (like Damocles his ſword) for our iniquities; flatter your ſelues no longer in your own ſinnes, but turne vnto him by ſpeedy and vnfained repentance, that hee may repent him of the euill, & turne away his plagues from you: let the wanton leaue his dallying, and the drunkard his carrowſing, and the Vſurer his biting, and the ſwearer his blaſpheming, and the oppreſſor his grinding, and euery one amend one in time, before the Lords wrath bee further kindled: then will the Lord bee mercifull vnto this land: hee will quicklie turne the ſowre lookes of an angry and ſinne reuenging Iudge, into the ſmiling countenance of a mild and gentle Father. Hee will take the rodde which he hath prepared for you, and burne it in the fire. Theſe plagues which doe hang ouer you for your iniquities, he will blow away with the breath of his noſtrils, as hee did the Egyptian Graſhoppers into the red ſea: he will command his deſtroying Angell to put vp his ſword into the ſheath, he will open the windowes of heauen, and power downe a bleſſing vpon you without meaſure.

Then ſhall you be bleſſed in the Citie and bleſſed in the field, bleſſed at your going out, and bleſſed at your comming in, and whatſoeuer you put your hands vnto ſhall be bleſſed; your ſonnes ſhallPſa. 129.4. grow vp as Oliue branches, and your daughters ſhall be as the Pſal. 144. poliſhed corners of the Temple. Your grounds ſhall ſo abound with grane that the tillers ſhall laugh and ſing; your garners ſhall be full and plenteous with all manner of ſtoreIoel. 2.24. your preſses ſhall abound with Oyle and wine, your ſheepe ſhall bring forth thouſands, and tenne thouſands in your fields; Euery thing ſhall proſper, nothing ſhall ſtoppe the current of Gods bleſſings, there ſhall be no decay, nor leading into captiuity, and no complayning in your ſtreetes; and which is better then all • heſe, hee will giue you faithfull & painefull Paſtors to feede you, his ſpirite to comfort you, his word to inſtruct you, his wiſedome to direct you, his Angels to watch ouer you, his grace to aſſiſt you, and in a word, He will be your God, and you ſhall be his people: Eſther. 6.9 thus ſhall it be done vnto all thoſe whome the King of heauen ſhall honour: ſo that all the world ſhal wonder at your felicity, & ſay, Bleſſed be the Lord which taketh pleaſure in the proſperity of his ſeruants, & happy are the people that bee in ſuch a caſe, yea bleſſed are al they which haue the Lord for their God; thus wil he be with you, and direct you in the deſert of this world, till he bring you into a faire and Goodly place, the promiſed land, a land that floweth with better things then aboūdance of Milke and Honey, the celeſtiall Paradiſe, the heauenly Canaan, the kingdome of glory prepared for you from the beginning of the world, euen that kingdome where the King is verity, the Lawes charity, the Angels your company, the Peace felicitie, the life eternity. To this kingdom, the God of al mercy bring vs for his ſake that bought vs with his owne blood, to whom with the Father and the holy Spirit, three perſons in trinitie, and one God in vnitie, be aſcribed all honor & glory, power and Maieſtie, both now and for euermore Amen.