AS SAINT PAVL (RIGHT Worshipful & dearly beloued in our deare sauiour) was cho­sen of God, to be his lampe, & a light of his golden Candel­sticke; so did hee performe the [...]utie of light: he bent himselfe to lighten them [...]hat were in darcknesse, wheresoeuer he came. Hee was a lamp to the Thessalonians, a lamp [...]o the Corinthians, a lamp to the Romanes, a [...]amp to the Ephesians, a lamp to the Colossi­ [...]ns: to omit the rest, hee was a lampe to these [...]eople of Galatia, as appeareth by this Epistle which he penned first (as many take it) and first [...]ent vnto thē. Wherein appeareth that he had laied the skilful builder, & laid them on christ [...]e corner stone of the tēple: called & cōuerted [...]hem from foolishnesse to wisedome; from ig­ [...]orance to knowledge; from error to the truth; [...]om superstition to christian religion. How­ [...]eit where by his painfull care, & careful tra­ [...]el amōg them, he had thus brought thē to an [...]ppy estate in Iesus Christ, it grieued Sa­ [...]n to see it, & therefore hee busied himselfe to [Page] put out the cleare light of Paul the lampe of Christ our sauior, & to pull out of the wall the liuely stones that Saint Paul his elect builder had laid vpon him. Nay alas, he did not only grieue at this prosperous estate of these Gala­thians, wherein they stood; & therefore sent out such as should seek to ouerthrow the good that Paul had wrought among them: but as hee at­tempted, so hee tempted; and by his tempting preuailed so far, that the Galathians fell from light to darcknes; from true wisedome to their former folly; from truth to error; from the syncerity of religion to superstition; from christ to Moses: by which meanes it came to passe that S. Paul their Apostle was in a maner forgot­ten, and his truth almost forsaken of them, and among them. Which their miserable estate [...] piteous the Apostle considering, hee tooke thi [...] course to write this epistle to them; thereby to warne them of their estate by him in the gospell; of their folly in reuolting; of his care to conuert them again from concision to the true circumcision: from the ceremonies of the La [...] to the truth of the gospel, that so Iesus Chri [...] might profit them, and hee bee a ioyful Apostl [...] ouer, & in them. Many waies doth he moue th [...] I neede not to expresse the specials. In th [...] verse he layeth before him the mischief, & grea [...] [Page] euill that the false Apostles wrought in the church, how they were enimies to the estate of these Galathians: how they brought them frō the breade of life to feede on leauen: from the greene tree, to the dry sticke; from the body to the shadow: from the kernell to the shell: from Christ to the Law ceremoniall: whereby they made thē sore where they were healed: slaues where they were freed: lost where they were before quitte by the gospell of grace, and made Christ vnprofitable vnto them: where they fought well before, yet now to flee; where they [...]anne wel before, yet now to stand: where they were in the spirit, yet nowe to end in the fleshe: where they had, yet nowe to loose the faith of Christ our sauiour. Which their miserable cō ­ [...]ition the Apostle pondering w ^t himselfe, how [...]ttended to their destruction, & to the disglory of God: (whose gospell was despised that way for vntrueth, and the blood of Christ was like [...]o bee of no profite vnto them) it did so grieue [...]im on the one side to see their p [...]teous estate, & [...]eale on the other side did so eate him vp, to see [...]he glorious gospel of peace so trod in the dust, [...]hat he burst out in these words which I haue [...]ead vnto you, Would to god they were cut off [...]hat so disquiet you, as if he shuld haue said: O Galathians, I begot you in the faith, & should [Page] be your father: I brought you to the light, an [...] should bee your starre: I haue taught you the truth, and should be your master: and whereas the Church is an espoused virgin to one hus­band, [...]. Cor. 11.2. & that one husband is Iesus Christ, the King of Kings, the God of all glory, I am the Bridegromes friend, (and so you ought to re­pute mee) that haue brought you to the spouse, your mother the Church, in the Kings priuie chāber. Cant. 1.3. I haue brought you as Salomō speak­eth, Cant. 1.11. to see the King at his repast, & your spike­nard hath giuen the smell thereof. O Galathi­ans, what shal I say? I had an office: I prepa­red my selfe to performe it: yea I laide before you a vessell ful of the pretious blood of Christ to the purging of you frō your sins: nay I haue taken the pains to wash you therein, as whit [...] as euer was the snow in Salmon: in a word, I haue described Christ before you, and preached him only a free and full Iesus vnto you: yet and it was my ioie to see the happie fruites of these my labors among you: that you were become the Lambes of Christ, [...]oh. 10. Cant. 2.1. [...]phe. 5.23. and Christ your sheepheard: the leaues of Christ, and christ the Lilly: the members of the bodie of Christ, and Christ your heade: the inheritaunce of Christ and Christ your Lord, and gracious Sauiour But yet alas my deare Galathians what shall [Page] saie? Where you were my sonnes, Gal. 4.19. now yee [...]e bastardes: where you were light, now yee [...]e dark: where you were in the truth, now yee [...]e straie: Gal. 5.8. where you were with the spouse in [...]e kings priuie chamber, now ye are out: your [...]ikenard now doth giue no smel therof. O my [...]alathians therefore what shall I saie? The [...]oxe hath plaied the crafty part among you: [...]e false Apostles haue deceaued & bewitched [...]u: they haue broken the quiet league that [...]u had with God in Christ his onelie Sonne our deare Sauiour. Gal. 2.1. Oh my dear Galathians therefore I woulde to God they were cut off [...]at doe disquiet you: for it pittieth my heart see the cockle so to hurt my corne: to see the [...]auen so to sowre the lump of my good dough [...]at I had among you: Gal. 5.9. to see the false Apostls circumcision (indeede the authors of conci­ [...]on) by their false and perilous persuasion to [...]t you off from Christ the tree of life, where­ [...] ye did grow. O my dear Galathians there­ [...]re I woulde to God they were cut off that [...]us disquiet you. This I take to be the whole nor of this Apostolick wish: wherein I com­mend to your godlie consideration, first, the A­postles tender affection towardes the people Galatia: 2 I note a difficultie concerning [...]s affection: 3. I note the estate and condition [Page] of al false Prophets and Apostles: and lastly short application of all. Touching the fi [...] point, [...]. Part. the Apostles affection howe tender was and deeply set vpon these people of Galatia, the whole Epistle beareth strong witne [...] and euident proofe. So that how, & how pai [...] fully he trauelled to teach thē, I shal not ne [...] to tel you: how carefull he was that way, the [...] state whereunto he had brought them doth [...] ry sufficient tokens. Onely this, to labour make them Christians: nay indeede to bri [...] them to the estate of Christians: to be do [...] and to feede on no graine but the wheat: to be Eagles, and to praie vpon no flesh but of t [...] Lamb: to thirst and to drinke of no well but Christ the wel of God, Gal. 4.13.14. & 5.13. the well of the water life: where they were lost sheep, to seek thē: seek thē as to find thē: being found to close t [...] in the fold of Christ, our Sauiour, this Apostles loue was great that did so louinglie t [...] uel for them, but this was not al: for he did [...] onely thus take care to bring them to the fo [...] of Christ our Sauior, Gal. 6.11 but to keep them in: n [...] not onely that, but where the Diuel had plai [...] the crafty Fox, and got them out of the foul [...] of Christ, Gal. 5.2. and thē fed them: not with truth, b [...] with error: with circumcisiō: not with christ with concision rather then circumcision: Gal. 5.4. i [...] ­ [...]ed [Page] with gal, not with hony: with poyson, not [...]ith the sweet bread of life: he tooke the pains [...] labour againe in their behalfe, and to reduce [...]em to the fould from whence they were got­ [...]n. His hearts desire was that they might not [...]ose the profit of their godly and good profes­ [...]on, but that they might return and haue por­ [...]on, and profite togither with him in the pre­ [...]ous passion of Christ, which yet these false A­postles went about to make of none effect vn­ [...] thē. And though he might haue turned his [...]auel another way, for this their vnthankful [...]uolt from Christ the way, the trueth, & life, hereunto hee had brought them: yet did hee [...]t: but as hee had beene a mother to them, to [...]nceaue them, to trauell for them, to bring [...]em foorth to Christ: Gal. 4.19. so did hee not cease as a­ [...]other to trauel againe and again, that christ [...]ight a newe bee framed in them, where they [...]d by folly and false subtilty of the false Apo­ [...]es lost the very beuty of christ whereunto he [...]d brought thē. In which his trauel because [...]e false Apostles did greatlie trauel to hinder [...]m and them: therefore euen of meere zeale to [...]ods glorie and their saluation he brake into [...]is louing wish: O Galathians, Gal. 4.1 [...]. I woulde to [...]od they were cutte off that doe disquiet you: which woordes doe argue a tender intirenesse [Page] of the Apostle ouer them: as that hee wish their health where they were wounded, the recall where they had straied, their returne the truth which they had receiued by him: Gal. 5.7. th [...] so their estate might be sure, and their salua [...] on yea and Amen in Christ Iesus, who could not otherwise profit them. Gal. 5.4. 2. Part. But here it wi [...] demaunded what the Apostle meaneth thus burst out into so vehement a wish as here he seth? For it maie be thought more meet for Apostolike spirit to confute then to curse: to soft then thus sharp: rather to pity his enemy then to pray thus against them, would to G [...] they were cut off that do disquiet you. Wher [...] unto I aunswere, that indeed many take th [...] wordes of the Apostle to be not against, but the behalfe of the false Apostls: as that Sai [...] Paul doeth not wish their hurt, but their g [...] therein: that as they had taught circumcis [...] before, and by that meanes stopt the people Galatia from their godly course which th [...] had begun in christ Iesus, Gal. 5.7. and thereby did daunger theirs and their own soules, so th [...] might now at length be cut off from that th [...] perilous dealing, and called to the light of t [...] gospell of christ, that so the Galathians mig [...] be no more disquieted, nor their estate any l [...] ger endaungered: so that they will haue th [...] [Page] [...]rds of the Apostle to be ful of loue & tender [...]ection, not only towardes the Galathians, [...]ose case hee most pittied, but also towardes [...] false Apostls, whose conuersion he also wi­ [...]d. And indeede I graunt the Apostles wish [...]uld haue bin, that these false Apostles might [...]ue reclaimed their erronious and damnable [...]xture of circumcision with the Gospel. And doubt not but his tender heart did so tender [...] saluation of soules, that hee could haue wi­ [...]d them, and could haue been hartily glad to [...]ue seen them & these people of Galatia, both [...]gether cut off from this their false persuasiō [...]d dangerous: Nay I am persuaded that no­thing could haue fallen out more to his ioy thē haue seene thē altogether, as corn growing one fielde, as flowers florishing in one gar­ [...]n, as branches bearing grapes in one vine, [...] knit together in the eye of Iesus Christ, as [...]e white or apple of the same: but yet wher he [...]w before his eyes the pittious state wherein [...]e Galathians stoode, and how the false Apo­ [...]s had busied themselues to bring them ther­ [...]to, and how they sought by al means, not on­ [...] to make, but to continue them as dogges, Gal. 4.17. Gal. 6.12. [...]here they were once the darlings: as thorns, [...]here they were once lillies: strangers, where [...]ey were once near: idle, where they once ran [Page] well: Gal. 5 7. Gal. 3.1. Gal. 3.3. fools where they were once wise: flesh [...] where they were once spiritual, and gaue ea [...] vnto the spirit, that not onely said it: but cri [...] and proclaimed it in their heartes, that God Christ was onely and wholy, fully and freel [...] Abba, father vnto them: whereby his darlin [...] was like to be deuoured: his lilly in Galatia be torne, Gal. 4.11. his owne crowne & glory to be take from him, and Gods glorie to lie in the dust [...] so greeued him that hee burst out and saide, [...] would to God they were cut off that so disqu [...]et you. Wherein he hath principally respect Gods glorie: secondarily to the happy and sa [...] estate of these Galathians: and thirdly to t [...] prosperous recouery of his labors among th [...] which because they were greatly hindered [...] the meanes of these false Apostles, therefore burst out euen of zeal and said thus: O would to God &c. In which woordes (to come to t [...] point) the Apostle yet breaketh not the bond charity, but keepeth it, in that he thus wishe [...] not of priuate affection, but in respect of God glorie, his church and congregation, which had in Galatia planted happily, & yet the fal [...] Apostles sought to destroy most craftily. Gal. 4.15. No [...] wher euil is wished to the drosse, that the go [...] may be pure: euil to the chaffe, that the whea [...] may be fanned: euil to the leauē, that the dou [...] [Page] [...]y be sweet: euil to the pitch, that the cleane [...]y be clean: euile to y ^e tare, that the corn may safe: euil to the wolfe that the sheep may be [...]: [...]n a word to wish euil to the diuel & to his [...]rites & false Apostles, that the glory of God [...]y be glorious & the church of god redeemed danger of them: zeal it is, euil zeal it cannot [...]ut very christiā: the loue of god cōstraineth [...] the loue that is due to the church of Christ [...]h beg & craue it. Neither indeed do I take [...]se woordes of the Apostle, to bee so much [...]ordes of euill wish to his aduersaries, as [...]rds of good wil to the people of Galatia: Gal. 5.10. for much as he doth not wish them euill simply, [...] in respect, because they did trouble the [...]urch, hinder & hurt her in her race: because [...]y did disquiet her. So that in respect of the [...]lathians, whose safety was dear vnto him: whose saluation Gods glory had bin glori­ [...], in whose reuolt from the truth & continu­e therein, the false Apostles had stopt the [...]rse of the glory of God, and brought their [...]s to piteous case: (considering that it was [...]er y ^t many dogs should die the death, then one dareling of Iesus Christ, much more [...] so many as were in Galatia) hee might [...]ly & did godly break out into these wordes [Page] and say, ô would to God they were cut off t [...] do disquiet you.

3 Wherein wee may see both what he [...] sheth to the false Apostles & therin their esta [...] as also the cause of his wish. He wisheth t [...] were cut off: cut off from the people of Gala [...] cut off from the company of them: cut off fr [...] the number of Christians: nay cut off vtterl [...] cursed euerlastingly, before they should bre [...] such goodly plants, as he had planted, Apol [...] had watered, and God himselfe had blessed Galatia. O terrible wish to proceede from Apostle, to wish their death and damnation yet ô wish no lesse iust thē terrible: iust to v [...] the barren fig tree a curse: Mat. 21.16. Luc. 16.2. Ps. 1.4. iust to wish the f [...] steward a reckoning: iust to wish fire for st [...] ble: iust to wish wind to scatter the chaffe, [...] that not simply, but in respect: least the gr [...] trees of the lord, least the children of his ta [...] least his corne that grewe in Galatia sho [...] take any hurt. For that was the cause [...] the Apostle did so wish vnto them, because t [...] disquieted them. Which is the third n [...] wherein if you aske me wherein they did [...] quiet them, the whole Epistle beareth wit [...] They did disquiet them, Gal. 2. because they brou [...] them in doubt of his Apostleshippe: disq [...] them, Gal. 3.1. because they taught a contrary doctr [...] [Page] to him: disquiet them, Gal. 5.7. beecause they did [...]t suffer them to inioy the trueth that hee had [...]uen them: disquiet thē, because they by such [...]eans had brought them from faith to works, Gal. 4.21. Gal. 5.3 13. Luc. 2.14. Ephe. 2.17. [...]m grace to the law, from Christ to ceremo­ [...]es, from liberty to bondage, from the peace conscience in Iesu Christ the true and only [...]ace of God, to seeke it in circumcision, if not [...]ly, yet with the gospel iointly: whereby they [...]de Christ Iesus (who is and will bee in the [...]tter of saluation either al in al, or nothing all) no way profitable vnto them: in a word, [...]y did disquiet them, because they by such [...]ans tooke the peace of conscience from thē. But to come to an application of al: dearely [...]oued in our sauior christ Iesu, as these peo­ [...] of Galatia had their Paul, by whose labori­ [...]s preaching they did attain to the knowlege God the father in Christ his dearly beloued [...]ne, so haue you, and with you, the people of [...] our land not wanted, but inioyed the same [...]efite these many yeares, nay where you [...]re withered branches, yet Paul hath plan­ [...] & where you were ready to wither againe [...] againe, yet Apollo hath watered, and god [...] blessed you with heauenly knowlege: and [...] know it, and I hope you al thanke god for that we haue beene cloudes and haue giuen [Page] forth the dew: candles & haue giuen forth [...] light: the brestes of the spouse and haue offer [...] milcke: her teeth and haue diuided the Man [...] the meat: Cant. 4.11. her tongs and haue spoken (as Salmon speakes) no lesse than the very hunny heauen vnto you: and the Lord our God is [...] witnesse how we haue traueled in euery pl [...] to be fruitfull wombes vnto him among yo [...] you your selues easily can, and I hope for yo [...] parts wil thankefully witnesse, how wee h [...] beene voices, and what we haue cried: how [...] haue beene hands, and what we haue labor [...] how we haue bin feete of, and for the Lord [...] sus, and how wee haue stoode in this, and ot [...] like places to deliuer out the gladsom tidi [...] of heauenly peace vnto you: nay more thā t [...] we haue beene writing these many years ( [...] as S. Paul doth sweetely figure out the [...] ter) we thanke the liuing, 1. Cor. 3.2. and our most lou [...] God, that wee haue written a faire and g [...] Epistle among you: so that all the world [...] runne and reade, not the name of superstit [...] and superstitious deuotion, but of trueth, [...] Christian knowledge, & religion in your [...] heads. You are the seales of our labours, are our crowne, and glory, and therein we glory: Luc. 13.34. to heare Christ our henne clocking, you as christians following: to see you wi [...] [Page] fould of christ, & christ your sheepherd: to see [...] cornes of christ, y ^e lose of life: Ioh. 6. to see you cal­ [...] to the knowlege of the truth to cōsent to it, [...]ome thus to hear it, that you may continue [...] how it ioyeth our hartes? But alas though [...] bee our ioy & happinesse, to see you in this [...]r happy estate; & nothing could more glad [...]hē to see the branch abide in the vine: yet sa­ [...] hath had & yet hath his are abroad, wherw ^t [...]ot only hacks, but hopes to hew down the [...]ch of christ in diuerse places. Nay as it was Galatia, so hath it bin & so it is now in Eng­ [...]d: God grant that it be not: or (if it be not) y ^t [...]ay not be so among you. For satā hath spi­ [...] his your prosperous estate in Iesu Christ, & [...] not spared almost in euery place, euery [...] to ouerthrow it. For what the powers of world haue don in this cause, I need not to [...]ember you: & what his false Apostles haue [...] of late & yet do attēpt, you are not ignorāt. [...]y you knowe what diuels haue come vnto [...] shape of Angels: What Esaus vnder the [...]e of Iacob: What cutthroats vnder the [...]e of Catholicks: What Iudases vnder the [...]e of Iesus: And that, not onely to corrupt [...] but also so far to disquiet you, as to sucke [...]ery blood of Prince & people among you, were possible. By which means, it is come [Page] to passe that the ship of Christ is not only daed with waues, but in a maner ouerwhelm [...] and his sheepe not onely pursued, but alm [...] quite deuoured in many places: as was t [...] therefore, so is our Galatia troubled. Nay [...] Scribes and Pharisies to the disquieting of [...] church Apostolicke wan Iudas from christ o [...] sauiour, Ioh. 18.2.3. and of an Apostle made him an A [...] stata. Gal. 3.1. These false Apostles bewitched th [...] Galathians, and made them fools: where t [...] were in the way to runne out: they went ab [...] by their mixture of circumcision with the g [...] pell, Gal. 3.4. to make the gospel of Christ fruitles v [...] them. Oh would to God Scribes and Phari [...] were not in this our land: ô would to God t [...] no familiars had plaid by their means the p [...] of Iudas w ^t Christ our sauiour, ô would to [...] that many Galathians that runne wel, had beene staied & stopt from the good course t [...] had begun. But alas we want not in this [...] day the man that plaieth Iudas: nay alas vn [...] the name of Iesus, they haue beene and amongst vs, that haue sought and doe seeke their false perswasion to make the true C [...] stian a Iudas: nay alas they doe it in diu [...] places already: and euen yet they spare no [...] uel to make you al Apostataes. They ca [...] abide to see you come to these our congreg [...] [Page] [...]s: they cānot abide to see you gather to serue [...]e liuing lord: they cānot abide the florishing the truth that we deliuer faithfully, and you [...]ceiue obediently from vs: yea it grieueth thē the very heart to see so many eares in [...] house of our god, the word of god in known [...]nner offered vnto you: but aboue all things [...]hich was the only thing that among and a­ [...]e all spited these false Apostles to the very [...]rt) that Christ should be preached as a full, a free Iesus only, vnto you and among you. [...]d therefore our aduersaries crie out against [...] gospell of Christ, that, that faith, which [...]orketh by charitie, should only bee saide to [...]ify & saue (which is our proposition neither [...]re nor lesse) for which cause as these false A­ [...]tles to the disquieting of this church of Ga­ [...]a mingled circumcision & grace, & taught [...] gospel to be vnauaileable, vnlesse circumci­ [...] were vsed as necessary: (by which means [...]y deceiued many) so also our aduersaries do [...]gle workes with faith: and teach saluation [...]ome not only by faith, but also by workes: which meanes many of the simple are cari­ [...] [...]way from vs, and lose the profite of our sa­ [...]urs gospel. But here, because by the way [...]y doe except, by the way I am to aunswere: [...]y except the cōparison not to be iust: where­as [Page] yet as these Apostles ioined together c [...] cumcision and Christ, so do they couple the [...]rites of their woorkes and Christ. But he [...] they except that circumcision was a matter the Lawe ceremoniall, which did not, wh [...] could not iustifie: but as for good woorks th [...] are duties of the Law morall, which both [...] and doe iustifie: but I answere, that indeed for circumcision: truth it is, that it neither d [...] neither could execute that office: & no lesse d [...] say of the duties of the law moral. For thou it be a principle in diuinity (confessed also our aduersaries) that Lex impleta doth iust care, and iustificatos seruare) that the Law ful [...] led doth iustifie and saue the iust: yet touchi [...] the categoricall and positiue (whereabout question is) I find it not to be true, that any doeth actually or can possibly fulfill the la [...] and therfore be iustified and saued by the la [...] But here again they except, that then god h [...] cōmanded things impossible. Wherunto I [...] swere, that as for the impossibility of the comandement, it is no matter of absurdity: [...] it is a point of the catholicke verity taught scriptures, to be confessed by all: the Apo [...] S. Peter in the 15. of the Acts doth witn [...] no lesse, and our aduersaries themselues d [...] say no lesse: but here again they except, tha [...] [Page] [...] the place of S. Peter, it concerneth points the law ceremoniall, which was but a Law [...]mporall: but as for good woorkes they are [...]ties of the Law moral, that bindes al men & [...]al ages, so that if the duty therof and therein [...] God of vs exacted, were impossible, God [...]ere proued a cruel & rigorous God. Where­ [...]to I aunswere first, that touching the per­ [...]tualnes or temporalnes of the commaun­ [...]ment, that is nothing, whence the impossi­ [...]enesse is graunted for a truth: 2 I answere, [...]at as for the duties of the law morall, though [...]ey binde perpetually and yet bee impossible be performed by the Godly: yet is not God [...]ereby proued a cruel & rigorous god, but [...]: [...] cause he demaundeth nothing but his due; [...]e? Yea what mans conscience calleth duty & [...]nfesseth to bee due: now to aske nothing but [...]e: yea what man cannot but confesse to bee [...]e, that is no cruelty, no rigor but iustice: [...]d therefore to answere more fully: as for the [...]ties of the lawe morall, God asketh therein thing but what mā should performe. Ther­ [...]e nothing but duety: yea nothing but what [...]an could performe: nothing therefore but [...]ety: yea nothing but possible dutie: which [...]ough now hee cannot performe: and there­ [...]re now findes the law impossible, that is be­cause [Page] whē he could & therfore had possibility [...] performe it, yet he would not: so that that i [...] possibility argueth not Gods cruelty & rigou [...] but iustice on his part: on our behalfe our miserable infirmity, and yet voluntary miser [...] Nay their owne Hugo de Victore in his annotations vpon this chapter saith that man [...] not loue God with all his hart, soule &c. in th [...] life, and therefore is not to seeke saluation [...] merites but only in grace. Wherefore to [...] mit all large and yet easie apologies in th [...] poynt, it is flat in conclusion that our aduers [...] ries offend no lesse to the disquieting of t [...] church now in adding woorkes morall, th [...] did these false Apostles in the time of this Ap [...] stle in adding woorks ceremoniall to the go [...] pell: for both waies the church findes disquie [...] nes: both waies christ is made vnprofitabl [...] Now therefore (Deare beloued) sith by th [...] their legall, indeede impossible, and therefo [...] no gospell, our aduersaries barre many a [...] seeke to barre you from al possibilitie of salu [...] tion: sith all their endeuour is to make you t [...] Disciples not of faith but of woorkes, not grace but of merite, not of the gospell but the lawe, not of christ but of Moses: and so v [...] der the name of Iesu do fight indeede again the glory of the Gospel of Iesu and safe [Page] your soules: sith there is such venome, such [...]yson, such perill among you and for you a­ [...]ade by reason of them: sith they the seruāts [...]atan busy thēselues euery way to bring you this most miserable stay & piteous state; oh [...] at shal I say but w ^t the Apostle, I would to [...]d they were cut off that thus do seek to cor­ [...]t you: oh woulde to God they were cut off [...]t thus disquiet you. For you are dearly belo­ [...] in happy case: & wher your fathers were in [...]t miserable plight, y ^t they could not, should [...] (the key of knowlege being takē & kept frō [...]m) knowe God and his Christ: yet you [...]w both, yea and it is our ioy to see you thus like of christ the bread of life that we diu [...]e [...]o you: and happy are you all, to your eu [...]r­ [...]ing comfort we assure you all, that hun [...]er [...] feede by faith vpon him: and I trust that [...]n in your owne hartes you are oft ioyfull & [...]ry many a time to thinke vpon this our ac­ [...]ted time, wherein you haue the foode of [...]r soules so fully & freely broken vnto you. [...]d therefore sith these euill nurses of Rome [...]k to feed you with trust in your own works [...]ch you performe: and merits which they [...] imagin of you (which you do not, yea being [...]ers cannot perfourme, and therfore needs [...]st famish you, if that you trust to them) and [Page] not onely of Christ: who yet was & is the on [...] alone loafe of life broken vpō the crosse for [...] sinnes, and alone by faith able and withal r [...] dy to feede you, oh woulde to God they w [...] cut off that thus doe seeke to corrupt you: woulde to God they were cutte off that th [...] disquiet you; not that we could not wish th [...] better: for (alas) wee know the price of soul [...] and acknowledge the grace and good will our gracious God that way: and you can witnesse with and for vs, that in our gener [...] assemblies & publique praiers we pray for speedy conuersion and saluation of them: na [...] would do our heartes good to see the Goat [...]ome a Lambe: to see the thorn become a li [...] [...] there were but one fould and one sheephea [...] o [...] vs all: but alas be our charity neuer so gr [...] t [...]wardes them: though wee pray for the [...] when they curse vs: though wee blesse the [...] where they persecute vs: though we preach a [...] penne, take careful care euery way to disco [...] their vntruth, that they may leaue it, to bri [...] them to the light of the trueth that they [...] cleaue vnto it, yet alas they condemne our c [...] ritie: they continue their wilfull race, and their trauel is how to root vp the goodly vn [...] yarde that God by vs hath planted amo [...] you: day and night they watch to steale the g [...] [Page] of Syon from you: they spite the brightnesse the golden candlestick of Christ among you, [...]herby they seek the ruin of your happy estate [...]herein you now stand, vtterly & to drown the [...]yce of the turtle now heard in our land: and [...]erfore oh what cā I say, but oh would to god [...]ey were cut off that thus do seeke to greeue [...]: I would to god they were cut off that thus [...]quiet you.

Oh but this is no charitable wish you will [...]e. I haue aunswered and aunswere further, [...]at we wish them wel with al our harts: but [...]t when we consider the stifnes of them in er­ [...]: yea how resolute they are in defēce of their [...]resies: & how earnestly they trauel frō place [...] place to corrupt mē that imbrace the truth: [...]a how they condemne and curse true chri­ [...]ans, and thirst after nothing more then the [...]solation of God his holy temple among vs, [...]her by persuasion, or if that preuail not, yet [...] treacherie, force and crueltie: when I thus [...]member how they are & wil be nothing but [...]re, to trouble, yea to choke you the goodly [...]n of our sauiour christ, & how they labour & [...]ke the paines to chase the poore woman a­ [...]ne to the wildernesse, vpon whose brestes [...]u do now quietly take your fil of the sincere [...]ilk of the hony-sweet gospel, the very power [Page] of God to saue your souls, I cannot choose [...] wish with this our Apostle: oh would to G [...] they were cut off that doe disquiet you. N [...] therefore that wee wish not their conuersio [...] not therefore that wee wish not consequent their saluation: not therfore that we ow thē charity (as they vncharitably do slaunder o [...] charity) but sith they professe themselues e [...] mies to the truth, and that they may not o [...] darkē but bury it, do by al meanes trauel it, you al know, & this our daie is a liuely and [...] mentable witnes, oh would to God they we [...] cut off that so disquiet you. In a woord to co [...] clude: our harts desire and continual praier God is, that his gospel may haue a free cou [...] among you: that the light of the world may c [...] tinue with you: that the dew of heauē may [...] drop vpon you: that this day of knowledge, th [...] day of comfort in christ your deare sauior m [...] not be darckned againe by antichrist: that t [...] Doue that nowe doeth rest in the holes of t [...] rock (as Salomon speaks) be not driuen aga [...] to take to her wings and elsewhere to seek h [...] rest: this dearebeloued is our wish and dai [...] praier to God for you, euen that you may [...] thus & in this comfortable & happy estate, th [...] gods mercy may stil compasse you & his na [...] be glorious among you: and therefore whe [...] [Page] [...]tichrist is abroad & his Angels among vs, [...] hath euen at this verie houre moued the [...]wrs of the world against vs, who only spite [...] hope to spit at our peace & plenty, our flo­ [...]h and prosperity in the truth of our sauior: or that cause seek not onely abroad to troble [...]r brethren, but euen at home to set Caine to [...]w his sword vpon Abel: yea to store our lād [...]th troble where there is quietnes: with war [...]ere there is peace: with scarcenes, where [...]re is plenty: with teares where there is ioy: [...] to store and streame our streetes with the [...]od of olde and young, man, woman & childe [...]ong vs: yea to take away the course of gods [...]y word from vs: and to make this our land [...]lace for that owle of Rome, that nowe is a [...]ce for the tal tree of christ, wherin the fouls the aire doe build their nestes & quietly rest, [...] would to God they were cut off that thus [...]e seeke to molest you: yea oh would to God [...]y were cut off that thus disquiet you. Not [...]t you neede (deare beloued) to fear the force flesh whatsoeuer: not that this woorld shall [...]t you, though it neuer so deepely hate you: [...]not Satan that prince of hel, that god of this [...]rld (for God hath numbered the verie hairs [...] your heades: hee hath care ouer a sparrow, [...]ch more ouer you:) but because wee coulde [Page] wish that the gospel of christ might still run [...] mong you: that mother Rachel might enio [...] this her comfortable daie with you: that h [...] children might quietly sucke vpon her brests that neither Herod nor antichrist might d [...] quiet them: that so the trueth of Christ mig [...] triumph, and the diuel of Rome be stil trod [...] the dust, to your great ioy heere, & to your pe [...] petuall safetie hereafter: in which respect as beegan, so for this time I conclude and ma [...] an end: I would to God they were cut off th [...] doe disquiet you. Cut off from your compan [...] cut off from your congregations: cut off fro [...] the land: cut off & not permitted by foolish p [...] tie and charity; yea cut off vtterly and curs [...] euerlastingly before they should either by [...] resy corrupt you, or by violence & force ban [...] the truth of christ from amongest you: rath [...] then either of these should fal out, I saie it a [...] saie it again and again, and that with chari [...] obiect what they please: oh would to God th [...] were cut off that do disquiet you. Oh the [...] fore that Papistes were cut off from the la [...] for they are the traiterous and tirannous [...] rits of this our time, who haue & stil do seek disquiet you. God therefore look vpon vs w [...] the eie of his fauour, & deliuer vs from the [...] And sound your Amen to this conclusion.