THE CRY AND COMPLAINT of the Commonalty of this Lande, by way of Supplication, to the right honourable assembly of the high court of parliament, to prouide by law a godly learned ministery.
IN most humble maner that we may, (most gratious Soueraign, and right honorable assembly) we fall down before your feete, euen in the dust, presenting before you a most waighty petition. It is not much vnlike that petition, that HESTER made to the King ASSVERVS: saying, Ester. 7.4. If I haue found fauour in thy sight, and if it seeme good vnto the King, let my life bee giuen me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people to be destroied, to bee slaine, and to perish. And when the king demaunded, who had done that deede, the Queene aunswered that wicked HAMMON. In like wise, so many congregations of vs, as be in this Land, destitute of a godly minister, to preach vnto vs the word of Saluation (as there be exceeding many) do intreat for our life, and the life of our Neighbours. For we are sold to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perish eternally, if by your gratious helpe, speedy [Page]remedy be not had. If question bee made, who hath done this deede? we aunswere, the blinde guides, and vnlearned Curates, that are set ouer vs. In deede, we confesse, that our sinnes, and the sinnes of our forefathers are multiplied without measure, and grown exceeding great, and haue grieuously prouoked the Lords wrath, to strike vs with such â grieuous plague as there is none greater vnder the heauens. As wee reade, that the Lorde threatned the Iewes by the Prophete ZACHARIE, saying: For, loe I will raise vp a Shepeheard in the Lande, which shall not looke for the thyng that is lost, nor seeke the tender Lambes, nor heale that is hurt, nor feede that which standeth, but hee shall eate the flesh of the fat, and teare their claws in peeces. O Idoll shepheard that leaueth the flockel The like description is made of will Shepheards, in the 34. of EZECHIEL, with â Woe pronounced against them. By this, we trust it doth appeare, what we request; euen, that it woulde please God, to mooue you, to make a firme, and stable law, like vnto the Lawes of the Medes and Persians, that cannot be altered; nay, rather to confirme God his lawe, already established in [Page]his Worde, that euery Congregation of vs may haue one, or two Godly learned preachers set ouer vs, as euery Congregation is greater, or lesser, and these dumb Idolls, the moste pestilent enimies wee haue in the worlde, remooued from vs as farre as the East is from the West; And that whosoeuer doth violate that holy law and decree, let his body be drawne in peeces, and his house made â Iakes; because he seeketh the dishonor of the mighty God, the king of all the earth, as by NABVCHADNEZER it was decreed. So shal it appeare, that you are not only carefull for this present age, so to prouide that we may bee taught the feare of God, but that our posterity may know it also, and the children which are yet vnborn, may stand vp & declare it to their children, that they may set their hope in GOD, and not forget the works of the Lord, but keep his commaundements. We confesse that the greatest part of vs are the farthest of frō the desire, and not so much as once thinke hereof: the more we are to be pitied. Notwithstāding, sith some of vs hath tasted the good word of God, and how gratious the Lord is to those which know & feare him, in tender loue, and compassion, to our brethren, [Page]finding no other way, we vncouer the tiles of your house of Parliament, & let thē downe with cordes before you, to stirre vp your bowels of compassion towards them; as the mā which had the palsey, was brought before our Sauior Christ. Concerning the minister appointed to the house of God by his worde, we find it written (most noble Queene, & right Hon. assembly) in that sacred Booke which you haue deliuered vnto vs, as the true word of God, & so, with al thanksgiuing, we receiue it: that he must be blamelesse in life, free frō a great number of vices (which S. PAVL to TIMOTHIE & TITVS reherseth) & garnished with the contrary vertues; & aboue all, he must be skilfull, to teach the word of God, able to exhort by sound doctrine, & to conuince the aduersary. Yea, he must be that mā of God, that is perfectly enstructed in holy Scriptures, to euery good worke; not onely to teach sound doctrine, & confute errors; but also to reform maners & instruct in the way of righteousnes, to cast downe the proud, to raise vp the humble, to comfort the distressed; to encourage him that walketh in the right way, to reproue him that runneth out of the way: and finally, to declare to all [Page]men, as Princes, Magistrates, and all other inferiour persons, of what calling soeuer they be, their generall and particular duties out of the word of God. And therefore he is worthily compared, in the Gospell to the rich housholder, which bringeth out of his treasury, things old and new. He is the Embassadour of the most high king vnto his people, to declare vnto them the whole counsell of God. Afterward he is mightily to deuide the Word of God to the people, as the onely foode of their soules, a disposer of the secreats of God, a father to beget vs with the immortall seede of the worde, a mother to nourish vs vp in the same: a starr or light, to cause the glorious Gospell of Christ to shine vppon vs, to be an example to vs, of an holy conuersation: a guide and an eye, to direct vs in the waye of eternall life, Salt, to season vs with the fear of God: a builder, to make a Temple of his people, which are liuing stones, for God to dwell in for euer: a Warriour to cast downe the proud imagination of man, as a strong hold and to bring euery thought to the obedience of Christ: a prophet, to speake in such sort, as when the vnbeleeuers, and vnlearned come in before them, they are rebuked [Page]and iudged, and so the secretes of the heart are made manifest, by the true repentaunce and faith. For the which, they acknowledge the gift of God, with all submission, & say plainly, that God is in them: â skilfull Shepheard to feede God his flock with his Worde. Necessary therefore, yea, more necessary then foode and cloathing, is the moste sacred office of preaching, an ordinary and most excellent means of our saluation: which eyther to neglect, or to seeke for other meanes without it, to obtaine fayth in Christ, is to preiudicate the wisedome of God, and to looke for some extraordinarye working, which were to tempt the highest, and procure his indignation vpon vs. And to proue the necessity of preaching, the Apostle PETER affirmeth, that in the Epistles of S. PAVL, there are sundry thinges harde to bee vnderstoode, which they that are vnlearned & vnstable, peruert, as they doe all scriptures, vnto their owne destruction. We therefore stande in great neede of that man of God before described, to open the Scriptures, with the key of knowledge: not only to the enlightening of our vnderstanding, and confirmation of our memory, but also to the reformation [Page]of our sinfull life. The trueth wherof, the example of the Eunuch, treasurer to CANDACES Queene of Ethiopia, doth manifestly approoue; who being brought vp no doubt, in better maner then we the common people of the countrey, and deliting to read the holy scriptures, and especially the prophet ESAY, at what time PHILIP the Euangelist demaunded, whether he vnderstood what he red, answered directly, How can I, without I had a guide. If therefore this noble man aided with better helpes then the common sort, made it an hard thing to vnderstand the Prophet without an interpreter, how can we the simple silly people vnderstand it. For remedy whereof, the Lord hauing a prouident care ouer his Church, hath giuen Pastours and Doctors for the gathering together of the Saintes for the worke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the body of Christ, till we meete altogether (in the vnitie of faith, and knowledge of the sonne of God) vnto â perfect man, & vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ. Much more we find in holy Scripture concerning the office of Ministers, tendyng to shew the excellencie of their function, and [Page]the wonderfull skill and knowledge that is required at their handes. So that it doeth plainly appeare, that God had a special care to prouide an euident and plaine lawe, that no vnskilfull man should be set ouer his flocke, because he is so plentifull in declaring their duetie almost euery where: so that whosoeuer desireth to be fit for such an office, desireth a worthy worke, to whō by good right appertaineth double honor, and of whom it may worthily be sayd with admiration. How beautifull are the feete of them which bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
Hauing laid downe our petition, and described in some maner a faithful pastour; we craue leaue to shew after what maner we desire that this pastour should exercise that his office among vs simple people, to our better edification. Neither doe we desire this of our selues, but, directed by the worde of God; as it is written by S. PAVL to the Corinthians, saying: I could not speake vnto you as spiritual men, but as vnto carnall, euen as vnto babes in Christ Iesus. I gaue you milke to drinke, and not meate; for ye were not yet able to beare it, neither yet now are ye able; for ye are yet [Page]carnall. Much more may be said to vs Englishmen, Ye are carnall, and therfore haue neede to be fedde with milke, and not with strong meate. This milke we take to be, not onely a familiar kinde of Catechizing, in as short and plaine termes as possible may be (which we greatly long after) whereby we are made fit to receiue a more full declaration; as when we haue learned our letters, we come to spelling; but also a plaine and familiar kinde of handling of some portion of scripture, by deliuering the doctrine as the text yeeldeth it naturally without any enforcement, which doctrine receiueth an edge by exhortation. Contrary to this practise of S. PAVLE do they who either Catechize not at all, or els do it in such exquisite maner, that it is made rather strong meate, then milke. Some other take but one word for their text, and afterward runne into the mountaines, that we cannot follow them; not knowing how they went vp, or how they will come downe: whereas, if they had taken a good portion of the text, and had naturally expounded, and pithily applied the same; by occasion of that large text, we should haue remembred a good part of the sermon long time after; & without [Page]all contradiction he that will doe vs any good, must abase himselfe as lowe as he can, to our capacitie, as S. PAVL in the place before alleaged, & also in the 6. to the Romanes doth testify, saying: I speake after the maner of men, because of the infirmitie of your flesh. For we countreymen are well content, that they spare to speake vnto vs in the Latine, Greeke, & Hebrew tongues, which we vnderstand not; or to bring forth their Poets, Philosophers, or Schole-points taken from the liberall Artes, to approoue their matter they haue in handling, wherewith we are not acquainted: For in these things many preach themselues, and not Christ Iesus, and study to leaue an admiration & fame of their learning behind them, whereat they chiefly shoote, rather then a godly edification of the inner man, which is by faith in Christ Iesus. But when by those helpes before named, they haue attained to a fuller vnderstanding of the scriptures, let them (in God his name) in a plaine and simple declaration of the truth, with known wordes, setting apart the entising speach of man his wisedome, & flourishing eloquence of those Corinthian preachers, deliuer vnto vs the substance of religion, [Page]out of a pure heart, with reuerence as in the sight of GOD. So shall they haue PAVL for an example to imitate, whome FESTVS supposed, that much learning had made him mad; yet writing to the learned Corinthians, he professed to know nothing amongst thē, saue onely Iesus Christ, and him crucified.
To this plainenesse of teaching, there ought to be ioyned a continuaunce in the holy exercise of the word, as S. PAVL saith to TIMOTHIE: Take heed to thy selfe, and to doctrine, and continue therein. And in an other place: Preach the worde, be instant in season, and out of season. And for that cause, one chiefe propertie of the minister is, to be vigilant ouer the flock, which though he carefully performe, yet in many yeeres, we come but to a small measure of knowledge, and reformation of life. And no maruell, sith the Apostles of Christ, hearing their master preach so often, and so familiarly, by the space of three yeeres and more, yet for all his paines and trauaile in that time, they knew not well the vertue of his death and resurrection. Yea, we heare say, that many painefull preachers both in townes & cities, exercising the word three [Page]or foure times a weeke, yet doe they complaine of the small profiting of the flocke. Then were it requisit, that double diligēce were vsed amongst vs the rude people of the land, whose ignorance and dulnesse to learne, as also stubburnnesse to obey, are so great, that they are only known vnto God, to our selues, and those fewe that haue had familiar conference with vs. And in trueth to speake plainly, we are children in vnderstanding, and men in malice, and all rude behauiour. For why should we conceale from you the right honourable assembly of Parliament, the grieuousnesse of our malady, vnto whom we flie as vnto our parents, who onely haue power, next vnder God, to prouide a falue for our sore? Yea, it grieueth vs that we haue so long tyme concealed the miserable estate wherein we stand, from them who if they had known it to be so great, as we do feele it, would ere now haue prouided a remedy to redresse it. But touching these men, whome we so greatlye desire to haue, in our simple iudgement, we thinke it not fit, that any man (were he neuer so wise & godly) should make choise alone of that man, that is to take a greater and more precious charge vpon him, then [Page]they that haue the most costly Iewells and treasures of Princes, committed to their keeping. How requisite were it, that such â man as should haue the bringing vp & gouernment of the sonnes and daughters of the glorious king of heauen, (who loued them so dearely, that he spared not his onely begotten sonne, to redeeme them with his most precious bloud) should rather come into â publike place of trial, as it were into an opē Theater, that after publike praier and fasting, he might be seene & viewed of all mē, that if the beholders had as many eies as thei faine that Argos had, they shuld vse them all, to sift & try out that man, whehe were fit both in respect of his wisedome & vnderstanding of the holy scriptures, as honesty of life & conuersation, to take that noble charge vpon him. Moreouer, seeing we know that there be many subtile workers, transforming thēselues into Angels of light, who seeke craftily to creepe in to deuour the flocke: is it not to be feared, that they will more easily slide in through the hands of one then of many? Yea surely, the counsel & aduise of mo then one for trial, is thought needful to be vsed in matters of les importāce. As whē any man taketh on him [Page]the profession of Phisike (whose care is onely to see to the good estate of the body) notwithstanding, 11. of Henry the eight, cap. 3. that he hath spent many yeeres both in the study of the liberal Arts, as in the secrets of Phisike; yet is he to passe the hands of 4. approoued Doctors of Phisike to be tried, whither he hath profited so much in the study of Phisike, as is requisite for a mā of that profession, least, if he should rashly take vpon him to intermeddle in that Science, without sufficient knowledge in the same, the bodily health of man should sustaine either damage or danger. Shal then the spirituall Phisition that taketh vpon him to cure the maladies of the minde, (which are mo in number, more secret, and more difficult to be cured, and more dangerous if they bee cured) come lesse furnished in the knowledge of his profession then the other? And is it not requisite, for the triall of his knowledge, that the number of skilfull examiners and their diligence, should be multiplied and increased so much the more as the soule doeth excell the body? Therefore seeing we are so prouident, that we can espy the euils that happē to the body by vnskilfull Phisitions, and by good meanes preuent them: why can we not see [Page]the palpable mischiefs that we suffer in our soules by vnlearned Curates, and by many skilfull & vigilant eyes exclude them? And this election many we finde to bee agreeable to the scriptures; as we reade in the election of MATHIAS, Acts. 1. of the Deacons Acts 6. Where the apostles and the church were assembled together about that businesse: and of the election of the elders in euery church. Actes 14. PAVLE and BARNABAS, and IOHN, MARK with the Church were assembled together with fasting and prayer. Likewise, Act 16. where it seemeth that PAVL chose TIMOTHIE alone, (when they of Lystra and Iconium presented) yet in the first epistle of S. PAVLE wrote vnto TIMOTHIE, mention is made, that hee had imposition of hāds by the Eldership, which consisteth of many. It appeareth also in the same epistle, that there were many in the election of the church-officers at Ephesus: because S. PAVL exhorteth TIMOTHIE, not to bee partaker of the sinnes of others, that were fellow-choosers with him, by yeelding, his consent to the election of any vnworthy officer, but to keep himself pure, by denying his consent, and hindring the election, as much as hee might, which no [Page]doubt is the true sence of that place. The same is prooued, by the epistle to TITVS, where PAVL requireth him to ordaine elders in euery city, as he had apointed him: by the which saying: TITVS is restrained to that order or election, which S. PAVLE had appointed him, and it is to be thought that S. PAVL woulde appoint no other order to be obserued, thē he himself had vsed act. 14 and in the election of TIMOTHIE, which was practised by the apostles, act. 6. At the leaste if it were but to keepe vniformitye amōgst them. And vndoubtedly, if the ministers of the word had their calling by many good and godly men, indued with gifts sufficient for the triall of their doctrine and manners, then wee should accept them as the angels of God, euen as Christ Iesus himselfe, then durst no such hedge-priestes, and caterpillers, as are spread ouer the land in great nūber, once thinke to haue any entrance into the church of God to kill soules any more: when they shold vnderstand that there were many vigilant watchmen apointed to keep the dore against thē. Thē shold not they that can thriue in no trade of life, such men as Iob calleth the children of fools, & the sons of villains, which are more [Page]vile then the earthe, haue theire vttermoste refuge, and resting place in the ministery. But if any man that is without natural affection to vs his poore brethren, shoulde giue some allowaunce to these vnpreaching ministers, which wee haue: willing vs to contente oure selues with them, as our lawfull pastours. In calling to our remembraunce these dumb idolles which oppresse vs, they renewe oure former griefe, and make our hearts euen bleede to thinke vpoon them. For who are appoynted to murther God his people, but they? Howe farre are they vnlike these ministers whome before we haue described? euen as muche as the darknesse is to light. For if the worde of God bee the rule of righteousnesse, as it is in deede, and these men of whome we complaine, are not squared thereby; Howe can they auouche that they bee sent of God? If not of him, you knowe of whome. For if Christe had sente them, as his Embassadours, then, no doubt he would haue put his Embassage in their mouthes. Or if hee would haue had them occupiers of the talēt of preaching the word, wold he not first [Page]haue giuen it them? For how can the iudge of all the world cal men to accounts for the abuse of that they neuer had? Nay rather; he saith to all the Pastours of his flocke before he send them, as he did to EZECHIEL. Eate that thou findest, Eate this booke and goe, and speake to the house of Israel. Neither do we finde in God his booke which you haue deliuered vnto vs, any other ministers of the word, except those which are called blind guides, starres without light, vnsauory salt, good for nothing, no, not for the dunghill, cloudes without water, idoll shepheards whom the Lord hath cursed euen from mount Ebal. Esa. 3.6, 7. And certainly when the bishops went about to lay their handes vpon them, and vnwarily sayd vnto them, ye haue clothing, let this ruine bee vnder your handes: they should haue said, yea, rather sworne on that day to the reuerend fathers, saying, we can bee no helpers, there is neither bread in our houses, nor clothing, therefore make vs no gouernours of the people. Or they might haue said euery one of them, as we read in the Prophet ZACHARIE: [...]ach. 13.5. I am no Prophet, I am an husbandman, for man taught me to be an heardman from my youth vp. O [Page]that they had ben so wise, so to haue done: But, if they themselues will plead for the alowance of their ministerie, and shew forth themselues as though they were workmen that need not to be ashamed, Let thē proue it by their worke as S. PAVL doth prooue his Apostleship to the Corinthians, which was then called into question by the false Apostles most vnworthily; as we doe call their ministerie into question most worthily. He brought not forth vnto them his letters commendatorie from some great man; as peraduenture they will shew the letters of their Orders: but he willed them to call to remembrance their conuersiō to Christ, and the graces giuen them by his ministery in the Gospel, and that was his epistle commendatorie, and the seale of his Apostleship to be red of all men. What those graces were, it is plaine in the 1. Cor. 1. In all things ye are made rich in him, in all vtterance, and all knowledge; so that you are not destitute of any gift, waiting for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ. So wee pray you to try these men, their congregations, which in some places are more then two thousand soules, and see their worke: mooue but these smal questions to try their [Page]knowledge, and you shall haue the like answers for the most part. Honest mā, are you â sinner? Yea, the best of vs all are sinners. Haue you sinned in the 1. com. Thou shalt haue none other gods but me? I thāke God my whole trust is in him. Haue you broken the 3. com. by taking Gods name in vaine? I sweare as litle as any man, I thank God. Do you not cōmit adultery, or steale? No, God forbid, I perceue we shal find you no sinner at length. But what is the punishment due for sinne? As it pleaseth God. Then God hath not alredy determined of that matter. So it may be. But how shall you be saued from your sinnes, tel me that? By my good works, & deeds I hope, & som better lerned wil say, God is merciful. Through whom is God merciful vnto you? I cānot tel that, for I am not learned. Then I will tel you, God is mercifull through Christ. But what was Christ? A mā, I trow. And was he no more? Yes, he was more. What more? I told you that I am not learned to answer such deepe questiōs, I was neuer asked the like before. Are you not fully perswaded that you shall go to heauē? No, for you cannot be certain of that your self, but I hope wel, & mean as wel as the best of you scripture mē. Behold [Page]the nakednes of our soules, haue pity vpon vs, & help vs to couer our shame. But al this time while you reason with vs of these matters, we thinke our selues in a wildernes, or as a fish out of the water, & so glad as may be to be rid of your cōpany. And some will not answer at all, but shake you of as busybodies, in great anger, willing you to see to your own soules, & let theirs alone. So that not aboue 2. or 3. of 100. (we suppose) of vs country people thorowout the land where these blind guides be, can make any better answer to the purpose, whereby you may probably cōiecture that the seed of eternal life is sowen in our hearts. And the conuersiō of these few is not wroght by any thing done by these silly ministers; but rather the prouidence of God hath drawn vs into some other place by occasiō of our calling, where we haue heard the word preched: or it may be, that God doth blesse some mens bare reading or hearing the scripture red, or conferēce with godly men, by the working of his spirit, where al other means faile thē. But if question be further made of the practise of mortificatiō of the old mā, & the raising of the new man, of the benefits of afflictiōs, of patiēce, &c. wherof the Corinthiās [Page]were not destitute by PAVLES ministery; we thinke we heare men speake parables, if mention be made of the comming of our Lorde Iesus, then we tremble. But many of vs, can say the beleefe, the Lorde his prayer, and the tenne commaundementes; and yet God knoweth, without vnderstanding or feeling. Neuerthelesse, we think our selues to be in as good case, touching our soules health, as the best of you all. This is that great perfection whereunto our idol-ministers haue brought vs. Behold these labourers, that neede not to be ashamed of their worke? Read these their Epistles to their high commendation. But by this, that we haue sayd, we think it to be playn ynough, that these men entred not in at the doore into the sheepe-folde, but climed vp another way, and therefore, by the verdict of our sauiour Christ, they are theeues and robbers, whose comming tendeth only to steale, to kil, and to destroy. First, what good can come vnto vs by them, whome the Lorde hath not sent, and sanctified to the work of the ministery? what good can they do to the building of God his temple, that bring with them no tooles to worke with, but occupy the roome of a Figge tree that [Page]bear no fruit. Secondly, they which do not gather with Christ, according to his owne testimony, doe scatter: but it is manifestly known, that these men are no gatherers, but to sathan. Therfore it is euident, that they do vs much harm, but no good at al. Thirdly, how can those be profitable vnto vs, and not rather an intollerable burthen, whom the Lord in his great displeasure hath cursed and laden with many woes, as in IEREMIE 23. Woe be vnto the pastours that destroy and scatter the sheepe of my pasture, saith the Lord: and after promising to set shepheards ouer them, that should feede them. He sheweth euidently that they scatter and destroy, who feed not the people with the wholsom word of life. The like we read in the prophet EZECHIEL cap. 34. where it is written, after this manner. Thus saith the Lord God vnto the shepheardes. Wo be vnto the shepheards of Israel, that feede themselues: shold not the shepherds feed their flocks? Ye eat the fat & cloath ye with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feede not the sheepe: the weak haue ye not strengthned, the sick haue ye not healed, neyther haue ye bound vp the broken, nor brought againe that which was driuen [Page]away, neither haue ye sought that which was lost, but with cruelty and rigour, haue ye ruled ouer them, and they were scattered without a sheapherd, and when they were scattered, they were deuoured of all the beastes of the feelde &c. How can the sheepe bee in worse case then to bee in the hands of such shepheards as regard them not, but scatter them to be deuoured of all the beasts of the feelde? In the which spirituall pouerishments the wrath of the Lord doth not stay it self, but his arm is stretched out stil to afflict the people of that kingdōe wher such euil shepherds be, with al maner of bodily plagues also, as war and captiuity, whereof we read, in the Prophet ESAIAS, wher the Lord prouoketh forraigne natiōs to inuade the land of IVDEA, saying: All ye beasts of the feeld come to, & deuour euen all the beastes of the Forest &c. The reason followeth. Their watchmen are all blinde, they haue no knowledge, they are all dumbe Dogges, they cannot barke, they lye, and sleepe, and delighte in sleeping. Last of all heereby it appeareth that wee are worse by these Sheapheards, then if we had none, because their skill seruing them onely to teache vs to say by heart, the [Page]Lord his prayer, the beleefe, and ten commandements, and peraduenture some part of the Cathechisme: Which we know full little what they meane, and to reade the scripture vnto vs, which we heare as a story that concerned the people of old time, with out any further applicatiō therof vnto our selues: yet notwithstāding by this, we think our selues to be in as good case, and as farre forward in the way of saluation as the best of them all, that haue continually heard the gospel preached for the space of these 26. yeares. This is the pollicy of Sathan, with the shewe of nothing, to make vs beleeue, that we haue al things, & whē we are empty, to make vs think we are ful. This is that chainshot, wherewith he slaieth thousands vpon thousandes, & as it were, the iawbone of an asse; wherwith he doth make heaps vpon heapes, as we read of SAMPSON, wheras, if we had none at all, very shame would compell vs, to go to the places, where preachers are, and by the grace of God, wee shoulde heare them, euen the secreates of our harts discouered and condemned, and the only means to be saued, to embrace our sauiour Christ by faith. By whose helpe we shold take such taste of the worde of God, [Page]that we should afterward neuer be in rest and peace before we had procured a good pastour to be placed ouer vs. So should not Sathan deceiue vs any more to cause vs to stay vpon these silly shepeheards, as vpon a broken staffe of reede, vpon the which if a man leane, it will go into his hand & pierce it. But if further reply be made of those that tender our saluation but a litle, saying, you are sufficiently prouided of preachyng by your quarterly sermons. We answere, that 4. sermons in the yere are as insufficient ordinarily to make vs perfect men in Christ Iesus, (to which end Pastours and Doctors are giuen vs) as 4. strokes with an axe are vnable to fell downe a mighty oke, or 4. showers of raine of one houres continuāce to moisten the hard dry earth, and to make it fruitfull all the yeere long. Yea, our children will as soone learne the Latin tongue by going to schoole 4. houres in a yeere, as we that be children in vnderstanding the scripture, shall attaine to a true knowledge and reformation of life fit for a Christian man, by hearing 4. sermons yeerely: by reason, that the one is agreeable to nature, the other quite contrary. What if these men which preach these quarterly sermons, be [Page]be the Pastours of an other flocke? How can we with a good conscience take those sermons from that flocke to which they belong, and depriue them of that which by good right doth appertaine to them? That congregation which soweth vnto their Pastour all his earthly things, will be lothe to be defrauded of the vse of any of his spiritual things; especially, on the Saboth day. And surely, if this iniury were offered in matters concerning this life, it would in no maner wise be put vp and digested amōgst vs. But admit it were lawful for the pastors to borow so much time of their flocke as to preach these quarterly sermons, yet if we consider the smal profiting of the Apostles of Christ in a long time, who were often taught and after the best maner, by their master, and the incredible dulnes & backewardnes of vs countrey people, that are fallen into the last and worst age; and the exceding great inequalitie of our teachers in comparison of our Sauiour Cstrist: it may easily moue you to thinke, that 4. sermons were farr to litle, and that 400. rather were more requisit (if it were possible thei could be attained vnto) to bring vs to the vnitie of faith, & acknowledging of the sonne of [Page]God, which is the end of the ministery, as S. PAVL writeth to the Ephesians. But seing we haue the expresse wordes of the same same Apostle to TIMOTHIE, willing him, & in him al pastours to preach the word, & to be instant in season, and out of season, & to continue therein; as also the example of himself, which he recommended to the Elders of Ephesus, & consequently to all Pastors to be imitated, saying: Watch therefore, & remember that by the space of three yeeres, I warned euery man night and day with teares; this controuersie may soone be ended, yea the wofull experience almost euery where, which is the schoolemaster of fooles, doth make open proclamation, that these 4. sermons are to slender a diet for vs. But if it were graunted (will some say) that it is fit, yea necessary, that euery congregation should haue a painfull preacher or two, if it be greater; which we take to be as clere as the light, and denied of none but of Papists and Athists: yet were it pity (say they) to displace these vnlearned Curates, and to turne them & their family forth a begging. But were it not a greater pity by farre, to see these blind guides thēselues to fall into the pit of hel, & â multitude of souls in the lād, [Page]that are almost innumerable to follow thē, there to starue & pine away eternally, being depriued of all foode that should comfort them? Nay, seing they did neuer sweat for the place which they haue inuaded, nor entred in by the dore, but climed vp some other way by euil means, & no good faith; & being entred, haue made hauocke of the Lord his flocke, & therefore most worthily are called thieues & robbers, by the mekest man that euer was: they may thinke themselues very mercifully delt withal, that they may quietly depart away with bag & baggage, and returne to their old occupations againe, from whence they came, without any further punishment. But because it may be thought that they haue committed this sinne ignorauntly, and that vnder the shadow of lawe, and seeing that Christian charitie doth extend it selfe very farre, we suppose that some litle pension might very wel be deducted frō the liuing of the BB. of the See where they were ordred & be giuē vnto them: & if that pention would not serue for their maintenāce, the rest might be supplied either by their old occupations, or by exercising som inferior office in the church, and teaching of children. So by this sparer [Page]diet, then heretofore they haue vsed, and the hearing of the Gospell preached diligently by a learned man, which had bin before precious vnto them because they had no manifest vision; as it fel out in the dayes of ELIAS, as we read in SAMVEL, they may be brought to bewayle the bloud (whereof they are guilty) of so many souls, as haue perished in their manifold sinnes and ignoraunce, within their parishes, by reason they haue not giuen warning from God, out of his word, as he requireth in the prophet EZECHIEL; that if it be possible one way, or other, God his wrath might be pacified in true humbling of themselues; with many teares before the throan of grace, and they washed clean from the bloude of all men, by the rich mercies of God in Christ Iesus. Were not this a better way by a thou sand degrees; for these men them selues, though no regard were had of vs, then to suffer them still to ad bloud vnto blod, vntill such time as the Lord his wrath were so kindled against them, that nothing but certain destruction, were to be looked to fall vpon them from the Lord, as we read of the wicked sonnes of ELIE? Let them therfore depart, & giue place to learned preachers, [Page]if some sacrilegious patrones will so permit; for we haue heard, that it hath bin preached at Paules crosse, that in the two Vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxford, there are mo then 300. able men fit for the ministery, beside many other in the countrey that cannot enter into any church, or take any charge abroad, except in the first step they enter in, they wil commit both simony and periury. How shal sathan be cō quered by such men, as in the first conflict haue receiued by him such deadly woūds? For euen our plough boyes know it to be a common practise almost euery where amōgst patrons, that either they take a great summe of mony, or mony worth, as it were a fine, with such sleighty conueiance, as if they were iuglers, that no man shal espy thē or any law preuent them, or make some reseruation of the tithes and glebeland, as it were a rent, & many times all these practises be vsed togither, whose rauenous teeth, and also the paiment of the first fruites and tenthes, which the charge of their lawfull family, which the papists neuer knew, and also their tithes not paid them in so large a sise as heretofore hath bene done, hath brought the churchmē vnto such an ebbe, [Page]that after their death their executours doe not blesse them, except it be certaine of thē which haue sundry benefices. The consideration wherof, hath abashed many of vs so much, that we haue small regard to maintain our children in learning, in hope of any honest prefermēt that way. Yea, we feare â further mischiefe to fall vpon vs by these deuourers of holy things, of the which we hope there is none among you: for we see them euery day more diligent to compasse sea and land, to find out IEROBOAM priests for vs (for they are the men that wil be content to part Christ his coat betwene them) and when they haue found them out, they make them two fold more, the children of the diuell, then themselues; by causing thē for a litle lucre sake, to betray mens soules to the diuell. So that what by these cormorant patrones, and IEROBOAM his priestes, sinne and iniquitie is risen so high, that it is now full sea: Ignoraunce, blasphemy, and contempt of the Saboth day doth raign in towne and citie: In pride & vanitie, Sathan hath wasted his fruitfull wittes, that he can do no more. In these dayes all are become princes and nobles. The tire of women is lighter now, then of the stewes heretofore: [Page]so that, if the people of the former tymes should rise out of their graues, and behold this present age, they would surely thinke that proude straungers had inuaded and conquered this land. Quarels and strifes in lawe are infinite. Whoredome is made but a sport. Craft and deceit is euery wher practised. Vsury hath made as much friēdship betweene man and man, as was betweene CAINE and ABEL. No towne is emptye of the couetous which ioyne house to house, and land to land, whereby the poore is multiplied in great number. But as concernyng many patrones; the leprosie of spoiling of the church, hath so pierced their bones and marow so deep, that it cannot be washed away, with any good law, be it neuer so wisely made: For the Lawyers themselues confesse, that by the helpe of Sathan, some men are as cunnyng, to ouerthrowe the meanyng of good lawes, as it were to vndoe PENELOPE her webbe, as other are prouident by the good lawes to preuent mischiefe. And therefore, the onely way and remedy to cure this cancker, is; to restore the presentations to the Church, to whome by good right they doe belong. Which thing [Page]as it is most vndoubted by the worde of God, so also we heare that the learned are able to prooue it by the ciuill law: wherein it is said, that a priuiledge is frustrate and of none effect, when it is abused, and that the people and other that had interest to present, assigned their right to the patrones, when they endued the church with landes and other prefermentes, it is plaine: who perswaded thēselues that the patron would be careful inough to prouide a worthy mā, who would not spare his lands and liuing to maintain him. But now the patrons neither endow the church but spoile it, neither are they careful to prouide godly preachers but on the contrary, they labour tooth and naile to bring the caterpillers of Egypt vpō vs. And therefore what right can they pretend to claime any priuiledge? Which surely the godly wil not contend for, whē they shall see that restitution thereof tendeth to the glory of God, and the building of his church. Wil ye heare what the papists mutter; yea they speake it plainly that we maintaine our heresies (as they terme them) for aduantage, & not for conscience; affirming, that thei cannot be perswaded, that we our selues are certified of the trueth of our religion [Page]or receiue any cōfort therby: for then (say they) would ye cherish and maintaine the professors as we do, & not vse them as sponges and spoile them as ye do. O lamentable estate of the church! ô pitiful sight to see her thus lie in the dust. Come Ieremy, & fill thy head with teares, as with a fountaine, cease neither day nor night, but make lamentation for the slaine of the daughter of Sion! Let thine eies cast out riuers of water for the destruction of God his people! ô that some Angel of the Lord would come vnto you, as it wer from Gilgal to Bochim, and record in your eares the mercies of our God, in deliuering you from the captiuitie of Antichrist, as it were from Pharaoh, and in giuing you â fruitful and peaceable land, to whō the Lord said by his gospell which he deliuered vnto you: I wil neuer breake my couenant with you. You also shal make no couenant with the papists, the idolaters of this land, or any kinde of their vngodlines, but destroy al their idolatry and superstition whatsoeuer. But ye haue not obeied my voyce in retaining idoll ministers, by whom Sathan doth hold his kingdom fast. Wherefore haue ye done this? At the hearing of which words, reproouing the Israelites [Page]for making a couenant with the inhabitāts of the land, all the people of the children of Israel lift vp their voices & wept. Of the which weepyng, the place tooke his name Bochim, which in them was a true signe of earnest repentance. And further, to assure them of God his mercies touchyng this fault, as also to binde themselues more straightly to the reformation thereof, they sacrificed there vnto the Lord. The father of our Lord Iesus Christ, of his rich & abū dant mercy, graunt, that in hearing the like sinne; in suffring this idoll ministery amōgst vs, you may draw out of your heds buckets of water of repentance, & ioine your selues with them in the like reformation. But let ESDRAS come in also amongst you, and bewaile a greater matter then vnlawfull mariages. Let him rent his clothes and teare his garments, and pluck of the haire of his hed, and beard, and sit downe astonished, and let all be assembled vnto him that feare the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgressions of this land. Let them fall downe vpon their knees & spread out their handes vnto the Lord God, and say: ô my God, I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee my God, for our [Page]iniquities are increased ouer our head, and our trespasses are growen vp vnto the heauens: from the dayes of our fathers haue we bene in great trespasse vnto this day. And now, for a litle space in the raigne of our soueraign Lady ELIZABETH, grace hath bin shewed from the Lord our God, in causing a remnaunt to escape, in giuing vs a naile in his holy place, that our GOD might lighten our eyes, and giue vs a litle reuiuing in our seruitude Papisticall: For we were bondmen in Queene MARY her dayes; yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but hath enclined mercy vnto vs in the sight of Iesus Christ, to giue vs life, and to erect the house of our God, and to giue vs a wall and defence in this land. And now our GOD, what shall we say? for we haue forsaken thy commandementes which thou hast commaunded by thy seruaunts the Prophets and Apostles, saying: The land whether ye goe to possesse, is an vncleane land, full of idolaters, and idoll ministers: Now therefore shall ye erect in GOD his house, an holy ministerie, that ye may bee strong and eate the goodnesse of the land, and so to leaue it for an inheritaunce to your sonnes for [Page]euer. And though thou diddest punish vs greeuously in Queene MARIE her days, and now in our days, by stirring vp the papistes to disturbe the peace of the lande, for the neglect of this holye ordinance, yet haste thou punished vs lesse, then our sinnes haue deserued. Should we still continue, to breake thy commandementes and permit this idoll ministerye to remaine among vs? a people of much abhominatiōs, whereby sinne doth flowe, as a riuer, in the land: wouldest thou not be angry towards vs, till thou hadst consumed vs, so that ther shold be no remain or scaping? ô Lord God of Israel, in so doing thou shouldst be iust: yet we are reserued to escape, as appeareth this day. Behold we are before thee in our trespasses, our conscience doth acknowlege the same: haue mercy vppon vs, for we cannot stand before thee, because of it. O that it woulde please God to mooue you our most dread soueraign, after this manner to go into God his house again, with ESDRAS and acknowledge this ouersight with tears! Then would a great assembly of all sorts of people of this land be gathered about you with weeping and great lamentation. Then wold your honorable counsell come about [Page]you, as SECHANIAH the sonne of IEHIHEL came to ESDRAS, and said, we haue trespassed against God, by receiuing a strange ministery; yet there is hope concerning this. Now therfore let vs make a couenant with our God and put away this dumb ministery, & place in their room a godly preaching ministery, according to the counsell of the Lord, and those that feare the commandement of our God, and let it be done according to the law. Arise, the matter belongeth vnto thee, we also will be with thee. Be of good comfort and do it. But the means how this learned ministery may be established, are best known vnto your wisdomes. But if you will giue vs countrimen leaue to shew our opinions with patience. Briefely we think, there must be a sufficient number of workmen, and honest prouision be made for them, as we read that SOLOMON, for the building of the materiall temple, found out 183300 able men that were occupied in hewing of stone and timber, and carrying of burdēs, which al were maintained at the king his cost, yet we think that a lesse number of work-men would suffice for the building of this spirituall Temple, which notwithstanding, is farre more glorious then [Page]SOLOMON his temple. If it be sayd the small number of skilfull men canne not easilye be founde, a lamentable thing to be heard. What shoulde we do? but first place all those worthy men, that can be found, and erect more Colledges and seminaries of true religion, to enlarge the kingdome of Christ: as we see Antichrist, whose talents are as hard as brasse, to hold fast whatsoeuer commeth within them, & whose hunger is as insatiable, as hell, yet doth hee spare no cost to build Seminaries of lyes and heresies, to aduaunce the kingdome of the Deuill, who by such means, hath greatly preuayled in this land: Should then the pillers of the kingdome of Christ be more sparing, yea, more colde to prouyde all thinges necessary for the Lordes army, to be sent against these Idolatoures, with a two edged Sworde in their handes, to execute vengeaunce vppon these and correction againste the people, to cast downe imaginations, and euery high thing, that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and to bring into captiuity euery thought, to the obedience of CHRISTE? God forbid. For, if the enemy hath encreased his force, Is it not meete, that we should [Page]doubt oures? Nowe for the prouision of suche a number of able men as mighte come out of Colledges and other schools of Learning, to take charge vppon them; This Noble Iselande may not for shame complayne, of want: For the Lorde his eyes are vppon this Lande Nighte and Daye, that it is as fruitefull as the Gardene of EDEN, a Parragonne of all the Worlde, and the Store-house for other Countryes: The wealth whereof is so greate, that menne, and Women can not deuyse to waste it vaynelye. Then when the Lorde sayth that hee hathe neede of mayntaynaunce for his Ministers; Shall wee saye that wee haue it not? In the time of Idolatrye there was more then sufficiente by farre. Howe then is it embeseled awaye, that there is not to feede CHRISTE, and too cloath him? Howe canne wee saye, that wee loue him? no, not so muche as Antichriste loueth the Deuill: For Antichriste is bountifull, to mayntayne his seruice. If the like liberality were vsed amongest vs, without all doubt, a greate number woulde be stayed, from passing the seas to Rome or Rhemes to become Iesuites.
What is then to be done? Giue vnto God that which belongeth to God, and vnto CAESAR that which belongeth vnto CAESAR. What belongeth to God, that is kept from him? euen that which appertaineth vnto his church, to wit, presentations and impropriations. That things pertayning to the church, do also belong to the Lorde, it appeareth in the prophet MALACHIE, cap 3. Where he him self doth seriously complayne, saying: Will a man spoyl his Gods? yet haue ye spoiled me. But ye say, wherin haue we spoiled thee? in tithes & offerings, ye are cursed, with a curse, for ye haue spoiled me, euen this whole nation? Hath not the whole nation of England spoyled the Lord in like manner, and rather more: that a work-man his hire is to be found in few places. Surely, this is written for our learning, that we might know that things consecrated to GOD for the seruice of his church belong vnto him for euer: as the tithes which were dedicated to the Lorde, and his church by our fore-fathers with great equity which by no right can be takē away as we read Leui. 27. Nothing seperate from commō vse, that a man doth seperate vnto the Lord of all that he hath, (whether [Page]it be man or beast or land of his inheritance may be sold or redeemed. For euery thing seperate from the commō vse is most holy vnto the Lord. The which law, is not ceremoniall but iudiciall: the equity wherof endureth to the church for euer, and the violation of the same law hath bene horribly punished in former dais, as we read that ACHAN who defrauded the Lord of siluer & gold consecrated to his treasury, was put to death with al his hous in a fearful maner, NABVCHADNEZER also spoiled the temple of the holy vessels, consecated to the Lords seruice, which BALTHASAR also abused by drinking wine in them with his concubines turning holithings to prophane vses, whose heauy iudgement was not deferred, the like we read of Ananias & Saphira his wife, who sold a parcell of land, & dedicated the price thereof to God & his church. But whē thei had consented to keepe part of that which was consecrated, they wersharply rebuked by Peter, and sodainly striken to death. The like iustice can no man escape, either in this world, or in the world to come, that cōmiteth the like offence, for the Lord is not partiall in iudgemēt, neither with him is there any respect of persons, but he that sinnrth [Page]shall die the death, except he turn vnto him with true repentance, & reformation of his sinnes, and assuredly the sacriledge of holy things is committed euen with greedinesse in this Land. Howe can Christe in the last day, place these men which commit sacriledge and make the church so naked of her owne right hand, and say: I was hungry & ye fed me, I was naked and ye clothed me; and not rather thrust them among the Goats, on the left hand, saying, depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire, prepared for the diuell and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gaue me not mine own: I was naked and ye parted my garments among you. For whatsoeuer ye did vnto my poore ministers in defrauding them, ye did to me. Yea let them take heede, least in the day of their death, the Church doe not appeare in their consciences, as a mighty sea to ouerwhelm them, and they say then: Come yee mountaines, and couer vs, that we may fly from the fearce wrath of the Lord, and not behold his fearfull countenance. For we must make restitution to the vttermost farding. Repent threfore in time, and make restitution, as the lawe requireth. If any man by error hath taken, that which was holy to [Page]the Lorde: Let him restore it, and put the fift part to it according to the law. Leui. 27. Then shall Christ his sacrifice be accepted for him. Which restitution, we read that ZACHEVS practized most streightly: as appeareth by his own wordes. If I haue done any man wrong, I will restore him foure folde, For repentance, without satisfaction if it be in thy power, is no better then plain mocking of God. And to mooue them the more, let them remember, what S. PAVLE wrighteth to the Corinths. Know ye not that the vniust shal not inherit the kingdom of God? What greater iniustice, then to defraud God of his glory? the ministers of their right? and the poore people of their euerlasting life? But we trust, that if certain, that do neither regard God nor his church, and therefore will not be willing to depart with any thing for the maintenance of a learned Ministery, that the good prince NEHEMIAH accompanied with so many worthy men, as are now assembled together, will disapoint that prophane man TOBIIAH, of his Iodging, in the chāber of the house of the Lord, and make it cleane for the Leuites. And this iniury if we feele, to be so great, to take that from vs, which we [Page]wold consecrate to the food of our souls, & yet we are vtterly famished, that we think it not only manifest by the lawe of God, but also by the light of nature; yea, if they them selues, which haue these impropriatiōs were deposed vpon their oth, by their superiors, whether in their cōsciēces, they wrong the Church or no? they would first make many excuses. But if they were vrged with an oth, surely they wold lay their handes vpō their mouth, & craue pardō. For the light of nature may be couered, yet it cānot be vtterly extinguished. Which light of nature shined most clearly in king Pharao, whō the great famin of the land, hauing broght all the lād of the people, was so far off from seeking of the grounde belonging to the priestes, that to preserue it, of his bountifulnesse he gaue them, an ordinary alowance. If this heathen king had such a conscience, to preserue the state of his superstitious priestes, by releeuing them in the time of extremity, should Christian estates make lesse conscience, to maintaine the true seruants of God, which shewe vnto vs the way of saluation in the time of peace and prosperity. We pray you (right honourable) to spare vs to speak a little more: for we pleade for the saluation of [Page]our souls. It seemeth vnto vs that Christ the grand captain of the tribe of Iuda, as one awaken out of sleepe, and as a strong man after wine, doth now offer him selfe to smite his & our enimies on the hinder parts, and to put them to a perpetual shame, requiring of you a number of expert souldiers, the maintenaunce for them, which are rights & roialties of his kingdom, & therefore iustly we cannot deny him. But if the patrone say that he will not lose his patronage, for then he should forgo his pillage, nor the improprietary wil diminish any of his impropriation for the seruice of this war (of which disposition we hope that ther is none among you) but that rather they woulde intreate Christ to depart the country as the Gergesits did for the losse of their swine: or more spitefully repell him as the phariseis, Who sayd depart hence, or Herodes wil kil thee. Might he not conceiue such griefe and indignation against vs vpon this repulse, who came to deliuer vs frō the greatest bondage and slauery in the world, & to enfranchise vs as the citizens of his kingdom the basest of whom are Nobles and Princes? Might not this vnkinde acte (say wee) so much kyndle his displeasure towardes vs, that [Page]he might be mooued to retire back with all his blessings, and turne them into plagues, against such an vnkind people? what iniury then should he offer vs? Surely none at all. But to discend to some particuler example of want of maintenance, as where a church is endowed with half that prouision which is requisit to maintain a preacher, by reason of the impropriation, as it falleth out in many churches of this land, which iniury was done by Antichrist in the night, and now restitution might be made in the day: Yea, put the case that the church is not endowed with value of 20. markes (as exceeding many churches haue lesse) how canne we think that a learned man that hath spent many years in good letters, and in the holy scriptures, will seat him self there, almost to famish him self, & not rather to employ his labour to the teaching of children? Then by meanes of this impropriation, such a cleark as is correspondent to the liuing shal be placed there, a man that can bring no glad tidings, and to be plain an idoll sheapheard: whereby of necessity it must fall out in that congregation, that HAGAR shall be fruitfull in bringing foorth bond-men and slaues vnto Sathan, and SARAH altogether [Page]barren. How then can that impropietory seeing this, eate sauourly those holy things heretofore consecrated to the sauing of souls without salt tears trickling down his cheeks (except his hart be as hard as brasse) knowing that he is the mā alone, that doth shut the gate against the preacher, and consequētly defraud God of his honor in that place, and kil the souls of a multitude of his poore neighbours, that would liue and not perish. And this slaughter of soules likely to be continued thorow all posterities, except restitution be made thereof to giue entertainment to a preacher. And the which is more lamentable to be knowne, how many hirelings for fiue or sixe poundes be in diners Congregations in this Lande, especially in the North partes, where there is two or three thousande soules of all sortes of people both olde and young, that come to one Church to bee taught: where the poore silly man is as one that hath not filled his belly in many Weekes before, or lately come out of Pryson, with a sharpe face, both pale and white, who hath lesse spirituall food to feed the people that flock about him, then he hath bodily nourishmēt to fill their bellies: so that in such a populous [Page]congregation, ther be 3. or 4. that are able to giue an account of their faith, it is very much, and yet that worke is wrought by some extraordinary hand of God, & not to be imputed to the seely body. And thus it falleth out in many places where there bee farmers to her maiesty of impropriations that as they are careles for the peoples souls & their owne, the like regard haue they to maintain the building of the chācels, which lye ruinous in sundry places, quite contrary to her maiesties pleasure, & the good peniworth they haue at her gratious handes. These & other thinges cause vs to remēber the daies of HEEI; wherin ther was no manifest vision. For the 2. sons of HELY, OPHNY & PHINIAS who knewe not the Lorde were wicked men also, caused the childrē of Israel to abhor the offerings of the Lord, & the seruice of their God. By whose meanes the people trespassed grieuously against the Lord in negligence, or rather contempt of comming to the tabernacle to worship the Lord according to the law. Of which disho nor of God, HELY being informed that his sons were the occasion thereof, yet did not reform & redresse that great mischief, according to that authority & power, which hee had being cheefe iudge & high priest of the [Page]people, but only gaue thē gētle admonitiō; wheras their fault & offēce deserued rather to bee punished with death. For whose remisnes or rather negligence to reform such a waighty matter, the Lord threatned such a grieuous plague & destructiō to fal vpō him & vpō his house, which was truly executed as the remēbrance therof doth make ears to tingle. So the contempt & corruptiō of the worship of God, remaining vnreformed, at last it came to passe, the sins of the priests & of the people were grieuously punished by a gret slaughter, which they sustained of the philistims, & the ark of the Lord taken away frō the midst of them & deliuered into the hāds of their enimies. In steed of Ophny & Phineas, we haue a swarme & multitude of ministers that neither in ignoraunce of the Lord, nor in lewd behauior are inferiour to them. By whose ignorāce & wickednes the admiratiō of the word & sacramēts vpō the saboth day is by thē greatly prophaned, & of the people grieuously contēned. Which prophanatiō of that sacred day, if it should not be reformed, it were to bee feared that by these idol ministers & we the people offending together with them likewise, shold fal into the hāds of our enimies the papists, & the word of God taken from vs, which is [Page]more deare and precious vnto vs then was the arke of the couenant vnto the Israelits. But we trust that these euils shall not come vpon vs, because that for the redres of this hainous corruption of the seruice of God, we make our complaint vnto thē that haue equal authoritie with HELY, & greater zele to aduance the honor of God, and to wipe away the deformities of his church; whose hearts do trēble at the words of the Lord, who as we are perswaded wil not be pertakers with HELY in his sins, lest they should also be pertakers with him in his terrible punishments. Therfore sith so many thousandes of vs be in such a streite by meanes hereof, not possible for vs by any meanes we can espy either now or hereafter to be deliuered without your gratious & mighty helping hands: haue pity vpon vs right honorable assembly, & let our soules be pretious in your sight. Let vs not die that euerlasting death like fooles in Israel, but so worke in this Parliament, that you may say vnto the people of the whole lande: Wee take you to record this day, that wee are pure from the bloud of al men, for we haue kept nothing backe, but haue established al such lawes as are necessary for the publishing [Page]of all the counsels of God vnto you his people. For al the whole land is at your commandement both of body and goods (with the consent of our most gratious soueraign, who is full of mercy and compassion) to do as by law you shal prescribe thē. And assuredly (right honourable) it were better for vs by farre (if no other remedie could be had) to liue with bread and water in the wildernesse with the Israelites all the dayes of our miserable life, with the plentiful preaching of the word of God, then to haue our welfare (which we acknowledge to be great) a thousands time doubled with this great famishment of the worde, which we endure in the most places of this land: for then our misery after a smal time would end in felicitie: where as now our momē tary pleasure wil shortly be turned into weping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, except the Lord come downe from heauen to visit vs by your ministery. We pray you therfore most pitifully (right honourable) that that voice may no more be heard amongst vs. The Lordes house cannot be built in many places within this land for want of prouision: for that doth kil our hearts altogether, as if you should say vnto vs: There [Page]is no remedy but you must needes die in your sinnes and ignorance, the second and euerlasting death. O most doleful voice, able to breake the Adamant, & to resolue it into teares; which terrible voice the Lord of his infinite mercy turne farre away from vs. But vndoubtedly so godly and religious an assembly, the faire flowers of this land, will neuer speake so hardly vnto vs; but (we hope) the contrary saying. This house may be built in those desolate places, and with Gods helpe and our soueraignes it shall be built, & therefore poore people be of good comfort. Otherwise you should beare greater blame then the poore Iewes that came out captiuity from Babilon, & differred the building of the materiall temple, excusing the matter, that it was not yet time to build it; and neuer said, that by reason of their great pouerty & multitude of their enemies that it could not be built at all. Thus right honourable, we haue bewraied our griefe, made our petition known, declared the impediments of a lerned ministery, & shewed that an honest maintenāce is necessarily required: Looke vpon vs; lift vp your eies & behold a great multitude gathered about you, which are in the wildernes & haue nothing [Page]to eate. Be moued with compassiō towardes vs, for we are as sheepe wanting a shepheard. We are hungry & come frō far; we come vnto you as children vnto the parents and aske bread, we trust you will not giue vs a stone; we craue a fish, will you in steade of a fish giue vs a serpent? we desire to haue an egge; surely you wil not giue vs a scorpion. O let vs liue and not diel & let not that lamentable weeping and howling be heard among vs in the countrey, which sometime was heard in Ramah. Let vs not bewaile the spirituall death of our children & posteritie, as RACHEL wept for the bodily death of her children who could not be comforted, because they were not. But let the siluer trump of the Lord sound the law in our eares, to the casting down of the old man, and the gospel to the raising vp of the new mā: Let the Lords lights be placed in our temples, & then shal it be fulfilled again which was spokē by the Prophet. The people which sate in darknes, saw a great light; & to thē which sate in the regiō & shadow of death, light is risen vp. And therefore we humbly beseech you right honourable to stir vp you tender affections towardes such a multitude of vs simple people that are in [Page]this land fleeting in the sea of sinne and ignorance, and now vpon sight of comfort, making an outcry for the safety of our life. That it would please you to reach foorth your right hand of mercy, & by your godly wisdomes to establish the means of our deliuerance, for we are in your handes either to saue or spil. And therfore, if there should be some of you that would not further to the vttermost this the weightiest cause of a thousand, concerning not onely our saluation, but more the glory of Christ. Howe could these men protest that he loued him, seing he hath set ouer the triall of his loue to the care of the feeding of his flocke? As he hath manifestly declared in the person of PETER, saying: Louest thou me; feede my sheepe, feede my lambes. And though you feede them not in your owne persons; yet ye feede them in procuring them to be fedde: for the which cause ye are called by the Lord, the Pastours and shepeheards of the people. Moreouer, if these men should haue any suite to the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, for any thing wherof they shold stand in need; how could they vse Christ as a mediatour and aduocate, to bring their matters to good effect, if they should neglect [Page]such a weightie cause of his, which he desireth so earnestly to be brought to passe, as appeareth when he saith: First, seeke the kingdom of God, and the righteousnesse thereof, &c. Which is chiefly performed by a learned ministerie, & not rather be afraid to heare his voice. They that honour me, will I honor, and they that despise me, shall be despised. But be it farre from vs to think any thing but good of so honorable assembly: for we hope that our mouth shall bee filled with laughter, & our tong with ioy, saying: The Lord hath done great things for vs, wherof we may reioyce. When we remember your pitifull inclination vppon complaint made, to redresse all maner of, yea, smallest iniuries touchyng this lyfe. How shold we now doubt to be sent empty away, when we come for matters concerning euerlasting life. We come therfore vnto you in great bitternesse of our soules, not able to expresse halfe the grief we feele for the death of our sonnes & daughters, as the Sunamite came to ELIZEVS for the bodily death of her sonne, praying you to send ELIZEVS and the sonnes of the Prophets, to spred themselues vpon vs, and vpon our childrē, to breathe into vs the word [Page]of life, and to make prayers and supplications to God forvs; so by litle there is hope that we shal be reuiued again into a spirituall life: for surely GEHEZY by laying on vs ELIZEVS his staffe, we meane these hirelings, by reading to vs their Homelies, can do vs no good. For notwithstanding this staffe GEHEZY may returne answere, that we can neither speake nor heare, which be euident tokens of want of life. We beseech you in Christ his name to take our supplication as the man of Macedonia, which appeared vnto PAVL in a vision, praying you to send preachers into our country to help vs, and in so doing be you wel assured that you passe not the bounds of your vocatiō. Oh, that you were caried in a vision into some great high mountaine, and could behold the huge army of people of this land spiritually slaine of Sathan more cruelly & pitifully then euer was slaine, as we suppose in the greatest battel that euer was since the creation of this world. Then would you shed teares aboundantly with our Sauiour Christ, who standing vpon mount Oliuet, beheld that stubburne city of Ierusalem & wept for them, because thei refused the doctrine of saluation then offered them. But [Page]our case is to bee bewailed and pitied, because the doctrine of saluation is not offred vs by the way of preaching, in so many seueral congregations, as hunger and thirst after it. And therefore hearken what Bethsheba saith to euery one of you. Open thy mouth for the dumbe, in the cause of al the children of destruction, so shall you be able to say with Iob to your vnspeakeable comfort after this maner. When the eare heard me, it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gaue witnesse to me, for I deliuered the poore that cried, and the fatherlesse, & him that had none to helpe him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpō me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce: I brake also the iawes of the vnrighteous, & pluckt the praie out of his teeth. Now then there is no time of silence, your vocation will not suffer it, but that euery one of you without exceptiō, all excuses set apart, is to extend his voice, wit, authoritie & credit to the vttermost degree in the cause of Christ & his church, pleding it (if need so require) so zealously vntil you sweat & faint withal, seeing that in your cause Christ refused not to sweat drops of bloud. But as the Lord is kind to those that deale kindly with him: [Page]so his displeasure is death, if he being elected or contemned. Know him therfore and his cause, that hee may know you as his friends in the day of his glory. And remember that Christ that maketh this request for a learned ministery, (which by his authority he might command, but rather thorough loue he entreateth you by vs) is not more vile and contemptible, but glorious sitting on the right hand of his father, and therefore is able, and will requite this kindnesse done to him seuen fold into your bosome: yea, the Lord will account it to be kindnesse, although in all right and conscience, it is an homage most iustly appertaining to his roialty, by reason that we hold of him, al that euer we haue in Capite. And though you be willing to perform this seruice, yet let vs put you in remembrāce that Sathan will withstand you, with all his malice and power, who is the prince of this worlde, and therefore will not suffice himselfe to be throwne out of his kingdome, as appeareth in the deliuerance of the childrē of Israel, from vnder the hand of Pharaoh in reedifiyng of the primatiue Church: so at this present day, he is not altered, either [Page]in myght or malice, that he will be content to resigne his kingdome ouer vnto Christ; but as then, so now with all speede wyll he muster his men of warre against those that attempt to the abolishing of his kingdome. Then we are to know, that as no victory is gotten without strife, much lesse noble victory without contention in the highest degree: For it is to be feared, that the diuell, the flesh and the world, will all oppose thē selues against you, which notwithstandyng beyng atchieued, is farre more glorious in the high court of heauen, thē the conquest of ten mighty kingdoms made tributary & vassals vnto this land. This therefore is a worke worth the trial of your strēgth & magnanimitie, ioyned with the greatest honor that may be. So that if you preuayle (right honorable) as we trust your enemies shall fall downe before you, otherwyse we could see no ende of our griefe and sorow, thē no doubt in the iudgement of all wise mē, you shall be counted comparable with the worthies of the world: yea, farre passing them in all true honour and glory. And seyng we haue begun to speake to the right honourable assembly, beyng but the base people of the land: Let it not displease you that wee [Page]speake yet a litle more: But if any thing shal escape our penne vnfit to be spoken by vs to so high and honourable a courte of Parliament, we most humbly beseech you vpon our knees by the price of the death and passion of the Lord Iesus Christ, and by his glorious commyng to iudgement for our euerlastyng deliueraunce, to pardon vs, imputing it eyther to the griefe and bitternes of our soules, which caused IOB to vtter some foolish wordes; or to the rudenesse of our education, whereby in woordes and termes we may fayle against our will. For our purpose is (God knoweth) not to hinder our suite by offending any, but by a plaine and pitiful manifestation of the truth to winne the fauor of you all in this weighty and long desirous petition, which concerneth the saluation of our soules. But to the matter. We haue heard it spokē by wise men, and it sinketh deeply into our minds, that if euery one of you were in pollicie comparable to ACHITOPHEL the Gilonite, whose aduise for the common welth in the dayes of DAVID, was taken as an oracle of God, yet if you should deuise many strong lawes for the preseruation of her maiesties person (whom the Lord blesse for [Page]euer) the peace and prosperitie of this land, and the subuersion of our enemies the Papists and Iesuites, & passe ouer this law for a learned ministery (by planting whereof we are sure to haue a perpetuall league of amitie with the Father, the Sonne, the holy Ghost and mighty angels of heauen, who wil be vnto vs a strong wall of defence, thē that wherewith Babylon was enuironed, which was very strong as the learned say: For if God be on our side, who can bee against vs.) Then (say they) that those good lawes would be as weake and fraile to bind fast the head strong papists and Iesuites, as were the 7. greene withs neuer dried, and the new ropes neuer occupied able to bind mighty SAMSON. But being ioyned with that principal lawe, they will be as sharpe as a rasor to cut them cleane of. But as in the greatest mischiefs viz. by wasting by fire & water, as also by the inuasion of the enemy, the Prouerbe hath place, Delay doth make the danger greater: so especially it holdeth in the inuasion of the greatest enemy of all mankinde, who hath already taken many townes and castles in this land, shewing all kind of tiranny wheresoeuer he commeth. Therefore as when the bodily enemies [Page]enter the land to waste and destroy the care full magistrates, set the beacons on fire, whereby with all speede they leuy power agaynst the enemy, least by suffrance & daily victories, he should make himself so strong, that afterwards he were not able to bee driuen out of the countrey. So the like expedition or rather greater, were to be vsed in gathering an army of woorthy souldiours to encounter Sathan before he enlarge himselfe in the kingdome of darkenes by means of these Iesuites, least as we haue seene with our eyes in the dayes of Queene MARY, it might fal out by the iust iudgement of God for our sinnes, that by tract of time he might possesse the whole kingdome, as the foresayd Iesuites, his faythfull seruauntes, doe endeuour to bryng to passe. And therfore, as you loue the Lord Iesus Christ, and hys Church, which is as tender vnto hym, as the apple of his eye, in the preparation of his warrefare, deale not sparingly or niggardly with hym, but honour hym with your substaunce as hee requireth, who hath beene so riche and bountifull towardes you not onely in the treasures of the kyngdome of Heauen, but also in the blessinges of this presentlyfe. So that the [Page]Lorde hath not set you belowe, but hath placed you on high: And if that whiche hee hath done for you bee too little, hee will yet multiply his graces vppon you, vntill you runne ouer. O remember and forget not that seeing Christ the Sonne of the liuing God, equall with his Father, abounding in loue towards you, did cast aside all honor and glory, and made him self of no reputation, by taking vpon him the forme of a seruant: yea, he became a worme and no man: a very abiect of the people, to raise from the dust, and to lifte you oute of the dung, to cause you to sit with princes of his people in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus: he also became pore, not hauing whervpon to lay his hed, to make you to aboūd in those moste excellent riches, which the eye hath not seene, nor the eare hath not heard, neyther haue they entred into the hearte of any carnall man. Ought you not with like recompence of loue towards him to lay your honor and riches at his feete to couer the shame and nakednesse of his desolate Church? if ye protest in worde that loue him, & that yee are desirous to see the Church his spouse in her glorious beauty, arrayed in robes of needle worke: yea, clad [Page]with a vesture of Gold of Ophire, & yet wil not descend one step downeward, or abase your selfe one whit, nor open youre purses to contribute releefe, euen to sustaine her necessities, but keeping backe her ancient reuenewes, wherewith heeretofore she was furnished to all necessary vses: how can this fayned loue escape the sharp censure of the apostle IAMES, who sayth, if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you saye vnto them, departe in peace, warme your selues and fill your bellies, notwithstanding yee giue them not those things, which are needeful to the body, what helpeth it, but we are fully persuaded that these rich mercies of Iesus Christe cannot lye hid and rest in the heart of anye man liuing, but that they wil kindle a flame of burning loue which will shewe it selfe bountifull and liberall to the aduancement of his Church and kingdome. And further whereas it hath beene prouided by a good statute, that a freedome from paymente of tythes for a certaine time should be graunted to them that doe conuert barren and waste grounde into tillage, to giue them a greater encouragement to take the toyle in hand; & that ye haue likewise bin careful to [Page]prouide for the tuing of Marshes, that haue bene ouerflowen & surrownded with water: oughte not then a farre greater care and diligence be vsed that a wise and sure Lawe mighte bee established to bring the Lordes Feelde into Tillage whiche lyeth waste and barren of the fruites of righteousnesse, and full of thornes and bryers fit for nothing but for the fire, and is likewise drowned with the flowds of sinne and ignoraunce, as it is pittifullye to bee seene in the greatest parte of this Lande: whiche Lawe if it shoulde bee neglected, seeing it concerneth peace and prosperitye of oure soules for euer, shoulde not iust occasion bee giuen to take vppe this Prouerbe agaynste you? They haue strayned a Gnatte and swallowed a Camell: but wee trust that the Lorde in his mercye will looke vpon vs, and stir vp in the hearts of so graue Wise, and Godlye a Senate, suche a care and pitty ouer vs, that none of the euilles which we feare shall fall vpon vs. For as we wee reade that when DAVID had built him selfe an house in Ierusalem, yet swore hee vnto the Lorde, and vowed to the mighty God of IAACOB, saying, I will not enter into the Tabernacle of myne [Page]house, nor come vpon my pallet or bed, nor suffer mine eyes to sleepe, nor mine eyelids to slumber, vntill I finde out a place for the Lord, an habitatiō for the mighty God of IAACOB. So if you all as one man, in like godly zeale with DAVID, should sweare & vowe vnto the Lorde that you woulde not not return vnto those fayre houses, wherewith the Lorde hath blessed you, to take your comfort, and recreation therin, vntill such time, as you haue prouided and procured, not that the Arke of the Lorde, but that the Gospell of Iesus Christ, which is a more sure token of his presence, should bee brought into his Temple, and placed betweene the Cherubins, which thing is perfourmed when the Gospell is committed to a faythfull Ministerye of the Lorde, to whome al the people may resort, in doubtfull causes to aske Counsell of God. But contrariwise, nothing lesse is doone when the Gospell of reconcilliation is committed into handes of a dumb & idoll ministery, who can neyther open the booke nor shut it: neither by the authority thereof can eyther binde or loose. Who are to bee admonished not to medle with that sacred booke as publike persons, least the Lorde [Page]make a breach into them as he did into VZZA. Assuredly in this youre seruice of the Lord, ye should do a work worthy of al posterities to be remembred: so shoulde it appeare that ye are not onelye carefull for the Churche in recommending her good estate by prayer vnto the Lord: saying, peace be within thy walles, and prosperity within thy pallaces: for my brethren and neyghbors sakes, I will wish thee now prosperity, but also by deedes, when ye perfourme the same. As it is written, because of the house of the Lorde our God, I will procure thy wealth. Consider also that it was in the hart of DAVID, to build a temple vnto the Lord but because hee was occupied in warres against the enimies of the lord, the building of that house was committed vnto his Son SOLOMON: To whome the Lord promised peace from his enimies on euery side: so he broughte the worke, to perfection in the fourth yeare of his raigne. Shoulde we not thinke, that seeing the Lorde hath blessed vs with the peace of SOLOMON in the time of the Gospell for the space of twenty seuen yeares, that it had beene our duetye with like diligence and speede, to haue set vp the Spirituall Temple of the Lorde in a [Page]glorious beauty, so that hardly any default or blemish could by this time haue bene espied in the same: yea, hathe not the Lorde shewed himself angry against the whol lād, and thretned a grieuous punishmēt against it when he hath at sundry times offred danger vnto her maiesty, by the sons of Beliall, as though he would quench the light of Israel? yet the Lord with great patience hath had mercy, not only on her, but also on vs, still waiting, if now at the last, we wil reform and amend such grieuous ruin amongst vs. And we beseech you to cast your eies from Dan to Bersheba, and see if there be any sin more detestable and odious in the sight of the Lord that raigneth in this land, then the permission of this idoll ministery: whereby the people perish without number, & God is defrauded of his honor. And if any man be wilfully ignorant in these things, let him be ignorant still, for the Lorde hath reuealed it vnto babes, yet if any man will nowe commend the state of the Church compared with that time wherein the palpable darknesse of Aegypt couered the land (peraduenture to stay the proceedinges of the godly minded) we acknowledge it with all thankesgiuing vnto God, to be excellent & [Page]singular. But if we compare our Church by that which the Lord requireth in his word, and we by duty are bound to performe vnder a great penalty layd vpon vs, which the long peace and quietnesse of this Lande might haue made easy to be perfourmed & the examples of the other countries haue prouoked forward, we shall find the church to be in great weaknes and desolation: So that we haue great cause of lamentation to see her thus lye in the dust. For wee read in the Prophet Amos, that the Lord brought a greeuous plague vpō the childrē of Israel, which ought to haue caused them to return vnto the Lord, by withholding the rain frō the earth, so that it rained vpon one city & not vpō another, one peece was rained vpō & the pcece whervpon it rained not, withered: so 2. or 3. cities wandered vnto one city to drink Water, but they were not satisfied: hath not this plague twise doubled, fallen vppon vs cause vs to turne vnto the the Lorde, seeing hee hath restrained the dewe of his Worde, euen the Water of life, from falling vppon manye Townes of the Countrye, so that tenne or twelue of them shoulde bee compelled to wander vnto one Towne in sundrye places [Page]of this lande, if they had that godly desire and thirst of the worde which is required: yet peraduenture they should not be satisfied in that place. Then seing that the hand of the Lorde lyeth so grieuously vppon vs, ought we not to humble our selues in deep repentance with many tears, that the fierce wrath of the Lord may be turned away frō vs, least he adde plague vnto plague vntill we bee all consumed from the face of the earth. But if it bee further prouided that hereafter men shall bee admitted into the ministery, except those which are able to preach the worde of God, and that in the meane tyme we shall be contented to suffer those idoll ministers which are already entred into the flocke, to weare out their miserable days amongst vs, then this mischief perchaunce would driue vs to these extremities, eyther to wishe that we had not as yet bene borne in the world, or els that some vntimely death sodainly fall vppon these idols, least the most part of vs should be plunged in the deepe pit of hell, before their cursed dayes were ended. And therefore the occasion of these vnnatural desires ought not to be enforced vpon vs, neither is there the like reason to make prouision in [Page]the matters of saluation onely, agaynst the euils and mischiefes which may happen after that tyme, as it is conueniently done in the ciuil causes appertaining to this present life, for two waightie reasons that may bee alleaged. First, in ciuil matters, the euils and discommodities which are past, are such, as are intollerable, and may be suffred, & time will weare them away. Secondly, the peace of the publique wealth is preferred, and no man hath cause to complaine that any right is taken from him, but it is farre otherwyse in this cause that concerneth the kingdom of heauen: for this mischieuous euill of a blind ministery, is euery waies intollerable, for it is written: If the blind lead the blind, they shal both fall into the ditch, out of the which they can neuer rise agayne, where there is weepyng, wayling and gnashyng of teeth for euer. For who is able to giue a rā some to redeeme their soules out of hell, & no length of tyme doeth weare away their misery, but rather doth increase and multiply the anguish of their souls, neither is our peace disturbed by remedying these euils that are past. For how can there be peace otherwise established before that this wickednes as it were of ACAN that troubleth [Page]all Israel be taken away from amongest vs: And these blind guides haue lest of al cause to complaine of iniury offred them, for by remoouing them out of their places, they should receiue the greatest benefite that could happen vnto them: for they should bee forced to cease from murdering Gods people any more, and if it were possible be brought to repentance for the giltinesse of that bloud which they haue shed vpon the earth, that their soules might bee saued in that great day when the Lord shall come to iudgement: among which persons (with your patience) the non residents are to bee numbred. And therfore we pray you right honorable in the tender mercies of Christ Iesus, to redresse these euils that do presently hang vpon vs and oppresse vs with intollerable bondage and slauery, no, not by the way of imagination any way suffrable. And looke round about you, and take for example to imitate, so many as haue bin zealous for the house of God, and liberall toward the maintenance thereof. First, set God him selfe before your eyes, who in mount Sinai prouided a sufficient portion to be giuen to the Leuites his ministers to attend vppon holy things. Remember that the Israelites [Page]in their poore estate in the wildernes, gaue voluntarily more then inough, to the erectyng of the Tabernacle and furniture thereof. But to passe ouer many examples which might bee set before your eyes, let not EZECHIAS, IOSIAS, NEHEMIAS, and the Princes of the people that bee vnder them be cleane forgotten. Yea, CYRVS an Heathen king, and other Kinges of Persia, were bountifull to the Temple of the Lorde. Of all which worthy men, the memory will euer flourish and neuer dye. But especially, we beseech our gracious and noble Princesse, to match her selfe with DAVID the chiefest woorthy of the world, and not onely consecrate the most iust spoiles of her enemies, but also giue bountifully of her owne peculiar treasure to the mainteuaunce of the house of GOD after his example, and takyng vppon her his persone, to come into this honourable assemblie of Parliament, and saye vnto them: This spirituall Temple is a great and mightye woorke, For this house is not for manne, but for GOD; Now I haue prepared with all my power for the house of my God: gold for vessels of golde, and siluer for vesselles of siluer, [Page]and brasse for thinges of brasse, yron for thinges of yron, and Wood for thinges of Wood, and onix stones and stones to bee set, and carbuncle stones, and of diuers colours, and all precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. Moreouer, because I haue delight in the house of my GOD, I haue of mine owne gold, and siluer, which I haue giuen to the house of God beside all that I haue prepared for the house of my God, I haue prepared for the house of the sanctuary, euen three thousand talentes of of golde, of the gold of Ophir, and seuen thousand talents of fined Siluer, to ouerlay the walles of the houses. The golde for the things of gold, and the siluer for the things of siluer, and for all the worke by the hands of artificers, and who is willing to fill his hand to day vnto the Lorde. So the princes of the Families, and the princes of the tribes of Israell, and the captaines of thousands and of hundreths, which the rulers of the king his work offered willingly & they gaue for the seruice of the house of God, fiue thousand talentes of gold, & ten thousand peeces, and ten thousand talents of siluer, & eighteene thousand talents of brasse, and one hundreth talentes of yron. And [Page]with whom precious stones were founde, gaue them to the treasure of the house of the Lord by the hand of IEHIEL the Gershonite. And the people reioiced whē they offred willingly: for they offred willingly vnto the Lorde with a perfect heart. And DAVID the king also reioyced with great ioy. Therfore DAVID blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and DAVID said. Blessed be thou, ô Lord God of Israel, our father for euer and euer. Thine ô Lord is greatnes, and power, and glory, and victory, and prayse, for all that is in heauen, and earth is thine: Thine is the kingdome, ô Lord, and thou excellest as head ouer all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou raignest ouer all, and in thyne hand is power, and strength: and in thine hand it is to make great, and to giue strength vnto all. Now therfore our God, we thank thee, and prayse thy glorious name. But who am I? and what is my people, that we should be able to offer willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee; & of thine owne hand we haue giuen thee: For we are straungers before thee, and soiourners, like all our fathers: Our dayes are like the shadow vpon the earth, & there is none abiding: ô Lord [Page]our God in al this abundance, that we haue prepared, to build thee an house for thy holy name, is of thine hande, and all is thine. I know also my God, that thou triest the hart, and hast pleasure in righteousnesse: I haue offred willingly in the vprightnesse of mine heart all these things: now also haue I seen thy people which are found here to offer vnto thee willingly with ioy, ô Lord God ABRAHAM, IZZAK, and ISRAEL our forefathers, keepe this for euer in purpose, and the thoughtes of the heart of thy people, and prepare their hearts vnto thee. And giue vnto SOLOMON my Sonne a perfect heart, to keepe thy commaundementes, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all thinges, and to build the house which I haue prepared. And DAVID sayd vnto all the congregation. Nowe blesse the Lorde your God: And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed downe their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king. &c. So shall our moste gratious prince and her people, not onely in contemplation beholde this house, as DAVID did the other, but with SOLOMON also, see it erected, in al perfection, and reioyce wonderfullye in the glorious beautye thereof. [Page]How much would this worthy worke aduaunce the honor of our Lord Christ? who no doubt, woulde honor you all againe in that great day, and make mention of this noble acte in that glorious assembly, to your vnspeakeable comfort. Howe much should you make the angels of God to reioyce; who are glad at the conuersiō of one sinner? How many that remayne in their manifold sinnes and ignorance, would the Lord conuert, if these workemen were sent abroad to euery place? For the haruest is great, and the laborers are few. Thē should the Lord his eyes be more vigilant to gard her royall person and the whole land. Then should all the people bee knit together in one true religion, and be of one heart, and one soule, and not be caried away with the blast of euery Iesuite, saying: Will you forsake the religion of your forefathers? Liued they not well? Had they not plenty of all things? For we thinke that nothing wil destroy these vermine of the land without the plentiful preaching of the word. But beyng enriched therwith, we should earnestly despise the Pope his trash, and treade it vnder his feete as dung, which is now very saleable in this land. Then should these Iesuites [Page]be forced to cry as it were skrich owles not beyng able to abide the cleare light of the Gospell, and flie into desolate places, and mourne with the dragons at Rome. Then should the prayers of the p [...]ople which should be borne a newe by the immortall seed of the word, be as the sound of many Orators, for the preseruation of her maiesties person, the honourable counsell, the inferiour magistrates, and the peace of the whole land. Then, when the Lord his way shall be knowen vpon this earth, and his sauing health among all this people, then shall our land bring foorth her encrease, & God euen our owne God shall giue vs his blessing. Then shall it be knowen that the Ministers of the Worde, are the chariots and horsemen of Israel. Most humbly therfore we pray, and beseeche our most gratious Soueraigne, and you the right honourable Counsellers and the Nobility of this Land, you reuerend Fathers of the Cleargy, you woorthy Iudges of the Lawe, and also you right Worshipfull Knightes and Burgesses of the Lower House, not to shrinck away and wash your handes of this worke, but to raise vp your selues, and as euery one hath receiued from Iesus Christe [Page]greater wisedome, authority, and magnanimity then another, so to striue and contend one with another, to strengthen the army of Christ, and [...] place him in the royall seate of his king [...]me. Which thing performed, as it woulde bee a glorious example for all Christendome to imitate, and a day of ioy and solemnity, more excellent then that day which the Iewes helde for their deliuerance from the conspiracy of HAMMON, not onely in this present age, but also in all posterities to come: so would it bee the dolefullest day to the kingdom of the diuell and Antichrist, that euer was knowen in this land. Which our most mercifull father of his infinite mercy in Christ bring to passe: To whose blessing, and direction of his holy spirite, in all your affaires, and consultations, wee commend you, with vnfained prayers this tyme and euer. Amen.