The application.

And now (to applie these former points [Page 31]vnto our selues, before we come to the ex­aggeration of this peoples ingratitude and vnkindnesse) let vs take some short view, whether our condition be the same with the condition of Israel and Iudah, or whe­ther ours be better than theirs was.

The Lorde our God (as yee all know) hath nourished and brought vp vs his chil­dren, in as good and ample manner as euer he did the Iewes his elect and chosen peo­ple. He hath giuen vs for our comfort, Psa. 8.7.8. the beasts of the field, the foules of the ayre, and the fishes of the sea. He brought vs out of the yron fornace of Ro­mish Egipt, at what time the Egyptian ty­rants made vs wearie of our liues, with sore labourin the clay and bricke of hellish su­perstition, and with all maner of bondage, which they laide vpon vs most cruelly. He­therto, the Lorde hath gone before vs by day, in a pillar of a cloude, and by night in a pillar of fire, to lead vs the way, and to giue vs light, that we might go both by day and by night, out of all danger. He hath giuen vs Manna frō heauen: not Manna, of which the Fathers did eate in the wildernesse, and are dead; but a liuing Manna, a Manna that giueth life vnto the world; a Manna, [Page 30]of which he that truly eateth, shall liue for euer. Ioh. 6 38. The Israelites (after they had drunke of the water out of the rocke) thirsted againe: but of the water, which he shall giue vs, if we once drinke, we shall ne­uer be more a thirst; Joh 4.14. for it is the water of life, euen the grace and loue of God in his sonne Christ, shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost, vnto eternall life. This our God (for our peace) hath smit­ten of late yeares Sihon of Rome; and Og of Spaine, who sought to make the Lords he­ritage an abhomination: that so (to this ve­ry day) the heritage standeth as it did, it is as it was, and in as good plight, if not bet­ter; it remaineth in the hand of the right owner, & we trust that it shall still remaine, euen in the hand and possession of Israel his seruant; for which we do, and shall praise his holy & blessed name for euer. This our God the lord God of hosts, hath made vs a migh­ty nation, a fearefull, and a terrible to all the Princes & Potentates of the earth. He con­ducteth vs, not by Iosua, but by a Iesus: not to a terrestrial, but to a celestial Canaan, the lād of eternall felicitie, whose brightnesse is God, whose light is the lambe: the lot of the faithfull, and the possession of the saued. [Page 32]The Lord finding vs in this vale of miserie (as he found Iaacob in the land of a roa­ring wildernesse, Deuteronomie 23.9.10.) hath ledde vs by his spirite, taught vs by his worde, gouerned vs by his grace, and kept vs as the Apple of his eye. As the Eagle, he stirreth vp his nest, he fluttereth ouer vs his young ones, stretcheth out the winges of his mercie, taketh and beareth vs on the same to the best and surest places of the earth: that so we eate the fruites of the fields, and sucke honie, not from the stone, as did the Iewes, but from the Bee: and oile not from the rocke (as they) but from the Oliue: we eate the butter of kine, and the milke of sheepe, with the fat of Lambes and Rams; fed, not in Bashan, but in England, with the fat of the graines of wheate, and for good and perfect digestion, we drawe from the enemy the licour of the red grape. This our good and gratious God hath cau­sed vs to multiply as the bud of the field. We are (to the knowledge of the nations round about vs) increased and waxen great: many of vs haue gotten many goodly and excellent ornaments. Our breasts are fashi­oned, our haire is growne. The Lorde hath giuen vs riche and precious iewels: brace­lets [Page 33]for our hands, chaines for our necks, frontlets for our faces, earings for our eares, beautifull things for our heads; in which, would God we did not delight and reioyce so much as we do. The Lord hath decked vs with gold and siluer: our raiment is of the finest linnen, and silke, and broidered worke: we eate fine floure, and honie, and oile: yea, better things than euer did the Iewes; and thus wee become beautifull, more than the sonnes and daughters of Zion; and we are growne into a kingdom, God graunt not into pride. The Iewes in the first of Haggei, vers. 8. are commanded to go vp to the hill Lebanon, which was not within the borders of Iewry, but of Zidon & Tyrus, Ezra. 3.7. & frō thence to bring home Cedarwood for the building of the Temple. Truly a figure of the Lordes a­boundant mercie, and most comfortable for vs Gentiles; that albeit wee bee not borne of Iewes: yet we are trees meete to builde Gods house with, and God willeth vs to bee brought home vnto him by the preaching of his worde, that wee may be plankes or boardes, bases or props, sides or postes, pillars or beames, rafters or tenons, one thing or other of that house, wherein [Page 34]himselfe will dwell, and he delighted with vs, and among whome he will declare his glorie.

Beside all these (which hath beene al­readie obserued for a blessing vpon Isra­ell and Iudah) Esa. 5.1.2. the Lord hath planted his vineyard in a very frutful soile; he hath giuen it a skilfull vinitor, one in­dued with all gifts and qualities necessarie for regiment; euen a learned, religious, gentle, mercifull, gracious and louing Prince, by name Elizabeth, the rest of God, the seauenth of God, and fulnes of the othe of God: a great blessing, the Lorde conti­nue it, and make vs thankfull for it.

This skilfull vinitor (our gracious Soue­raigne) comparable for fortitude with Io­sua, for magnanimitie with Gedeon, for victories with Macchabeus, for wisedome with Salomon, for zeale with Hezekiah, for deutoion with Dauid; hath caused the stones that pestered the vineyard to bee gathered out; the briers and thornes to be grubbed vp; rubbidge and whatsoeuer was noysome to be remooued; 2. Thes. 2.3. Antichrist the man of sin with his trash and traditions, to bee exiled: that nowe the fielde is cleared, the vineyard clen­sed, [Page 35]the Church purged, and all this con­cluded and more, without any great sedi­on or tumult at all. It was the Lordes do­ing, and it is wonderfull in the eyes of as manie as doe truely behold it. No viney­ard, no Church, no people vnder the hea­uens more inriched with the blessings of God: so that the Lord may iustly say vnto vs, as he did vnto his people of old, Es. 4.5. what more could I haue done vnto my vi­neyard which I haue not done vnto it? The Lord haue the glorie for it: and he in his mercie, preserue, keepe and maintaine the vinitor our gracious queene, in health, wealth, peace and prosperitie, that (to the ioy and comfort of all her loyall, heartie true & trustie subiects) she may long con­tinue, liue and reigne an old mother in Is­rael; & he that from the verie bottome of his heart doth not so wish and praie, and say Amen, the rauens of the valley pick out his eyes, and the young Eagles eate them vp. Pro. 30.17.

This vineyard so planted in a most fruit­ful ground, cleansed from stone, thorne, & brier, watered with the dew of Gods truth, cherished with his Sacramentes, pruned with the two edged sword of his most holy [Page 36]spirit, vnder propped with the authoritie of zealous magistrates, fortified with good and godly lawes, to keepe both roote and braunche in order; hath brought foorth many a goodly and pleasaunt grape: a­mongst others, peace spirituall and peace ciuill: peace toward God, peace amongst men, and amongst our selues; and so the peace of conscience, which passeth all wis­dome and vnderstanding: pleasant grapes, and a riche blessing. He that hath felt the euill of warre, can best speake of the good of peace. Warre, as a Locust, maketh scar­citie; but peace, like vnto the morning and euening dew, worketh plenty, as Eras. Apo. lib. 6. noteth; Croesus king of Lydia by this onely argument preferred peace before warre; Quòd pacis tempore filii sepelirent patres, in bello contrà patres sepelirent libe­ros; that in the time of peace, children did burie their fathers; contrariwise in warre, fathers did burie their children. So contra­rie is the fruite of warre to the fruite of peace; which we (through the benefit of God vnder his Anointed) haue enioyed long time without any effusion of bloud to speake of, except of a sort of Archtraitors, who receiued but the rewarde they deser­ued, [Page 37]and which I pray God all traitours with their adherents may receiue here­after, if they practise, conspire, and rebell as they did.

This florishing peace hath made not on­ly this Citie, but also the whole lande to flowe, like another Canaan, with milke and honie. The God of peace hath done this for vs; he be praised therefore, and prosper her maiestie, by whom it is gouerned and maintained.

Whereas the Nations about vs struggle in the field, tumble in warre, and wallow in bloud, expecting no end of their miseries, but vtter ruine and desolation; we in the meane while sit at home by our fires in our furred gownes, corked slippers, trimmed buskins, and warme mittons. Am. 4.6. We lie vpon our costly beds, and stretch out our selues vpon them; we eate the Lambes of the flocke, and the Calues out of the stall. verse. 5. We sing to the sound of the Ʋioll, the Harpe and Pipe, and wine are in our feasts, and the wine we drinke in bowles: Esa. 5.12. Am. 6.6. In which great peace and plentifulnesse, God make vs worthily to consider the workes of his handes, and to be sory for the affliction of Ioseph and his bretheren, [Page 38] Ʋers. 6. of which now many are slaine in Fraunce, Flanders, and els wheare, in de­fence of the Gospel, propagation of the truth, and safetie of this Land. Moreo­uer (whereas the nations & people about vs do eate in feare, and drinke in dread, and like fearefull hares doe flee awaye at the wagging of euerie leafe) we sit quiet and safe, as did Israel and Iudab, 1. King. 4.20. like vnto the sand of the Sea in number, eating, drinking & making me­ry; euery man vnder his vine, and vnder his Boothe, from Dan to Beer-sheba; to wit, from the one end of this land to the other. For God hath made the bars of the gates of our Ierusalem strong, Psa. 147.5. and hath blessed our children within hir. He hath set peace in hir borders, and satis­fied hir poore with the floure of wheate. His worde is come from Iaacob, and his statutes from Israel vnto vs; the best and greatest blessing that may be. He hath not dealt thus with euerie Nation, vers. 20. as hee hath dealt with vs, the least Nation of all: Our punishment and fall will bee the greater, if we be not thankefull. It must be confessed that some stonnes haue bin rai­sed in hir Maiesties daies; & before time [Page 39]in the daies of hir deare brother King Ed­ward the sixt, which somwhat disturbed our happy rest. But the Prince of peace, & soueraigne Lord of our tranquillitie, soone ceased the waues of the sea, stilled the fury & madnes of those heathen, miraculously preuented their wicked deuises, and con­founded the deuisers of them. Thus was the Lorde of Hoasts iealous for his Zion, with great iealouzie, he was iealous for hir with great wrath, Zach. 8.2. Hee was not vnmindfull of his people, nor forgetfull of his inheritance. A mother may forget hir childe, and take no compassion on the son of hir wombe; Esay, 49.15. such stepmo­thers there are. But though such (vnna­turally giuen) forget, yet will not the Lord forget Zion: for he hath grauen hir vppon the palme of his hands, and hir walls are e­uer in his sight. Christ the shipmaster (our saluation) Matth 8.24. slept in the shipp on a pillow, the ship couered with waues: the Disciples, Mar. 4.38. with no litle dif­fidence and distrust awoke him, they put him out of his napp: A faithles and need­les labour. For hee that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleepe: Psal. 121 4. wee haue felt the experiment. For the [Page 40]Lorde in our Cities distresse, in the time of Commotion, (as we call it) or insurrection, awaked as one out of sleepe, and as a Giant refreshed with wine. Psal. 78.65. He smote his enemies and ours in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall shame, verse, 66. They ran about vs like Bees; but they were extinct sodainly as a fire of thornes. Psal. 12. Our soule escaped, euen as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare was broken, and we deliuered, Psal. 124.7. The Plowers would haue plowed vpon our backs, and made long furrowes at their pleasure, Psal. 129.3. But the righteous Lord tooke in hand the two edged sword of his iustice, and hewed the snares and cordes of those wicked in pieces: (vers. 4.5.) He in like measure reward as many as haue euill will at Sion. This was the Lords worke, and it is maruellous in our eies. Psal. 118.23. This is the day which the Lord made. we will reioice and bee glad in it, verse, 24. This is the day which you call Iesus daie, whether because it is so fixed in the Calender I knowe not; but sure I am, that it was Iesus day vnto you, a day of sal­uation. For if Iesus the Lord had not been on our side, Psal. 114.1. (may not Israal, but Exeter now say) if the Lorde had not [Page 41]bin on our side, when men rose vp against vs, they had swallowed vs vp quicke (so vnable wer we to resist) when their wrath was kindled against vs. The waters had drowned vs, the streame and swelling wa­ters had gone ouer our soule, verse, 4. But praised be the Lord, who gaue vs not ouer for a pray vnto their teeth.

And thus hath our good & gratious God continued his fauor toward vs to this pre­sent day, that there is no leading into cap­tiuitie, nor any complaining in our streets. Psal. 144.14. Blessed are wee that bee in such a case: yea blessed are we which haue the Lorde for our God. For this great calme, for this miraculous peace, let vs thanke the Lord.

But what? are we thankefull vnto him for these and other his blessinges? or liue we as children obedient to a father? If we do not, would we did; all doo not. For be­hold, how many of vs (like vnto Israel & Iudah) are turned backe, and started aside like a broken bowe? Psal. 78.57. The Lorde looketh that we should bring forth sweete grapes, but wee bring forth sowre ones. There are at this very day in our streets, vsury, deceit, crueltie, and oppres­sion. [Page 42]Wee haue (as the Iewes had) our Sabbaths and solemne dayes, our assem­blies and appointed feasts; we stretch out our hands and make manie praiers as they did: and yet see (as theirs were) our harts (if not our hands) are full of blood. Esa. 1.13.15. Nowe that wee are waxen fatte and grose; nowe that wee haue what wee would haue (as did Israel) we spurne with the heele, we forsake the Lord that made vs, and regard not the mightie and strong God of our saluation. Deu. 32.15. We be­ginne to loath Manna, and to long for the flesh pots of Egipt. Num. 11.6. Wee pro­fesse that wee know God; but our workes testifie, that we denie him. Exo. 19.3. As for the word of the Lorde, wee count it vaine: Tit. 1.19. we can be content to say to the S [...]ers, see not, and to the Prophets, prophesie errours. Esa. 36.10. Like vnto the mē of Anathoth we desire to bee flat­tered and soothed in our sins. Ier, 11.17. The Lord hath set watchmē ouer vs that crie take heed of the sound of the Trum­pet; but we say, we will not take heed. Ier. 6.17. He hath commanded vs to aske for the old waie, which is the good way; the waie wherein the patriarks and prophets [Page 43]haue walked, directed by the worde of God: ver. 16. but we say we wil not walke therein; we will go rather the broad way that leadeth to destruction. Mat. 7.13. we drinke iniquitie like water: wee haue as great a desire to sin, as they that are thir­stie haue a desire to drinke. Iob. 15.16. We draw wickednes vnto vs with cordes, and sin (as it were) with cart ropes; Esa. 5.18. wee vse all the allurements and prouoca­tions that canbe, to freese together the conscience in sin and impietie. And yet we can speake of truth and of veritie, of iu­stice and mercie, of the knowledge of God and his lawes, and of sundrie other high points: but when we are brought vn­to the ballance, we are found too light, & when we are drawen vnto the touchstone for trial, we proue drosse. For what do the Sunnes of men find in our shops & shop-houses, in our wares and ware-houses, but fraud and deceit, if not worse? Truely said Tertullian, Lib. de patientia, pag. 13. sect. 7 Lata atque diffusa est operatio mali.

The operation, or handicrafte of mischiefe is wide and diffused all abroad; more nowe than euer it was.

Iohn the Apostle left written many yeares past, that the vvhole vvorld lieth in vvickednes: First Iohn, 5. Chapter and 19. verse, which if it lay buried in wickednes then, how may wee thinke it to lie buried in wickednesse, now being old, bowing and winding it selfe euen for age to the pit of destruction?

Hosea must bee iust, and his Prophe­sie commeth homeward to our dores, and the Lorde as then with the inhabitants in Israell, so nowe with vs in England, hath a controuersie, because in Hos. 4.1.2. there is no truth, nor mercie, nor knovvledge of God in the land; but svvearing, and lying, & killing, and stealing, and vvhoring, they break out, and blood toucheth blood; mischiefe vp­pon mischiefe, one still falling on the neck of another; and all these with many moe committed without any dreade, or feare of God at all. For so man dooth not see vs, we passe not; fearing more the face of man, than the wrath of God; insem­blance the very sonnes of Ammon, who coueting to force his sister Tamar, 2. Sam. 13. caused euery man to go out from him, as ashamed to worke that villanie before men, which hee feared not to commit in [Page 45]the sight of his God. This Ammon (wic­ked Ammon) hath left Ammons in great store behinde him, as much forgetfull of God and his lawes as euer himselfe was, if not more. For as he feared, so do we the eyes of men: and thus, and thus, we think in our hearts, Eccle. 23.18. Who seeth vs? wee are compassed about with darkenes; the walls couer vs; no body marketh vs; whome neede wee to feare? the most High will not remember our sinnes; albeit hee remembreth them well inough, and still looketh downe vppon them from his holie Mountaine, and beholdeth them in the most secret parts; his eies beeing ten thou­sand times brighter than the sunne beames, beholding all the vvaies of men, and the ground of the deepe. And therefore such i­maginations of the thoughts of mens hearts shall perish, and they in them: such shifts and turning of deuises shall be estee­med as the Potters clay, Esay, 29.16. For (notwithstanding all their craft) they shal bee able to escape the Lordes wrath no more than the clay that is in the Potters hand of power to deliuer itself. But so long as men will dwell in this minde and opini­on that he that planted the eare doth not [Page 46]heare, and that hee that formed the eye, doth not see; what merueile is it, if they giue themselues vnto wantonnes, to work all vncleannes, euen with greedines? Eph. 4.19.

But there is another sort of vs, who thogh we perceiue and will confesse that there is nothing so hid which God seeth not; that hee knoweth our downe sitting and our vprising, Psa. 159.2.3.4. that he vnder­standeth all our thoughtes long before, that he is about our pathes and about our beddes, and spieth out all our waies, that there is not a worde in our tongues, which he knoweth not altogether: yet wee rest perswaded that God hath feete of woll, and will punish slowly, or neuer. As for the deserued tokens of his wrath, nowe hanging ouer our heades, and readie to be powred vpon vs, for our manifold sinnes and damnable iniquities, what of them? We count them as buggs; bugges to fray children. The Lorde our God hath gone by vs in a mightie strong winde: but we say the Lord was not in the winde. After the minde came an earthquake: but wee say the Lord was not in the Earthquake. After the Earthquake came fire: but we say, the Lorde [Page 47]was not in the fire. After the fire came a still and soft voice: and yet wee will not o­bey.

If God withdraw his heauy hand for a time, to trie if we wil amend with a gen­tle correction before hee lay on vs a shar­per: we fall to our old fashions, we forget God, his rodde, our dutie, and his reue­rence, attributing his plagues to vnseaso­nable weather, pestilent aires, or to some vnhappie chaunce, as though they were not sent of God to nurture vs rightly in the dutie and obedience of Children to a father.

So in the daies of most cruell Poperie and bloodie persecution, wee cried; O Lord our God, deliuer vp this once, and wee will euer take heede hereafter howe wee fall to Apostasie and offende thy diuine Maie­stie.

But nowe beeing deliuered, wee are worse; more vnthankefull and disobedi­ent than euer before; which apparant wickednesse, surely the righteous God in his due time, will not suffer to escape without some manifest token of his high indignation and most heauie displea­sure.

When Prince Edvvard the sixt, was ta­ken away for our vnthankefulnes, there ensued Mariana tempora, Lamentable times: and then too, this was the wish of many one, bounded with a vowe: O that the Masse Booke were burnt, & the Com­munion booke restored againe. O that these mitred Bishops were sent packing, & zealous Pastors placed in their roomes; for then (said they) We vvill enter into the house of the Lord, and in his feare vvill vve vvorship tovvard his holie Temple. The Lord in his great mercie pitied their desire and heard their mone. Queene Marie died: Our gracious Ladie and Queene Eli­zabeth succeeded, (whom almightie God long preserue, with all health, wealth and peace to gouerne) and the booke, in bet­ter sort than in former daies through Gods goodnes and hit Maiesties carefulnes (was restored againe. But of it now? A booke (saith one) blowen vp (like vnto a blad­der) with the wind of confusion and pro­fanation. The orders (saith another) pre­scribed earthly, beggarly, dungie, drossie, lousie, Antichristian. The frequenting of the Lordes house, and worshipping in his holy temple in his feare, vowed with the [Page 49]lips and promised with the mouth; what of it? Christ if hee were here on earth, should not neede so much a whip to driue them out of the Church (so fewe come there) as hee should neede a great sort of whips, and that good ones to driue them thither. As for the Bishops which they wished to be remoued; mitred ones were thrust out of their holdes sooner than they thought; and exiles and other very zealous men placed in their steads. But what of those then, and of their successors now? Euen as of the Bishops and Elders of the Churches in saint Pauls time: Reuiled, euill spoken off; made, Os perica­tharmata tou cosmon, as the filth of the world, 1. Cor. 4.13. Panton peripsema the of­scowring of all thinges; vnto this time the very practise of auntient Sectaries, who by dispraising and reuiling others, sought to purchase fame and glorie to themselues. But this is not all; for Captaine Cuffe of the boun­cing band of all Surebies, the olde sheep ebi­ter, (which pricketh at the bodie and spa­reth not the fleece) will haue their Man­nors and landes to make his brats Gentle­men. Their houses must goe downe their li­uings must be clipped, or clean taken away, and they set to petrie pensions. The Cap­taine [Page 50]with the helpe of his surebies (like an other Xerxes) will suppe vp whole countries before him, and snatch vp houses and woods dales and mountaines, vallies and hills, peo­ple and all into the budget of his wrath. Ha­uocke must be made of the Churches inhe­ritance, without contradiction either of Prince or people: els the trumpet soundeth à stylo ad macheram; Tertul. de prescrip. pag. 110. Sect. 15. Sirs, no more words but blows and al for Church patrimony, vnder the co­lour of religion. Captaine Cuffe (belike in his Itinerario, or Kalender of miles) smelt that Abbey lands, &c. so well pretended to be employed to the inriching of the King, maintaining of schooles, and releeuing the poore, were vnto some very sweete, and the best feather of their taile; who perhaps ha­uing spent the better part (if not the totall) vppon backe and belly, himselfe could bee content to consume in like proportion the remnants that are left.

Heare ye this (O Elders) and hearken ye all inhabitants of this Citie, whether such a thing hath beene in your daies, or yet in the dares of your fathers. The Palmer worme hath his part, and so hath the Grashopper, and canker worme; and now residuum erucae [Page 51]the residue of the canker worme [...] the Caterpiller eate if hee may. Such is the thankefulnes which these and others yeeld both to the Lorde, and also to them, who haue ministred and to this day doo minister in his sanctified labours.

It is presupposed that some Clergie men haue too little, some too much, and some nothing at all to liue by; and therefore very requisite that iust and equall diuision were made, that all might bee sufficiently proui­ded for. A deepe charity, dipped in as deep hypocrisie. But (Sirs of the corporation of Mal-contents) who shall make the di­uision?

There is iust cause, why we may stagger at putting the Church patrimony to arbi­trement; lest (while diuision bee preten­ded) some Quintus Fabius adiudge the bet­ter part thereof to the Senate of Rome, Ci­cero Offic li. 10. Et ita erit nouissimus error peior priore; And so shall the last errour bee worse than the first, Matthew Chapter 27. verse, 64.

But all this is the wicked working of Sa­tan the moulder of mischief, whose drift hath been euermore to decay learning that there should be none learned in the Scriptures, to [Page 52]commit the flockes vnto, which hee attemp­ted to accomplish; First by seducing spirits; Secondarily, by force of tyrants; and now lastly, by impayring the liuings of the Mi­nisters of the worde to the intent that they (oppressed with pouertie) should forsake the Ministerie, & so the little & miserable flocke of Iesus Christ (left destitute of the foode of life) should become in time, like vnto the horse and mule which haue no vn­derstanding, Psal. 32.9. In regard whereof, what good Christian is there, which may not (vpon so iust occasion) iustly cry out in the bitternesse of his heart? O tempora! O mores! O times! O manners! seeing the times so dangerous, and men in their man­ners so monstrous, whome the Lorde not­withstanding hath nourished and brought vp as his children, and yet doth, but they rebell. For in what one point can they more signi­ficantly expresse and make knowen their rebellion against the Lorde, than by batte­ring the walls, and shaking the foundations of his Church? than by annoying his ser­uaunts the Prophets, contrary to his com­maundement; touch not mine annointed, and do my Prophets no harme? Psal. 105.15 than by diuiding, mangling and impairing [Page 53]the portions of the Leuites, as in the da [...]s of Nehemiah? cap. 13. vers. 10. which caused them (for that they receiued not according to the Lawe prouided in that case) to for­sake the house of God, as not able to exe­cute the worke any longer, and to flee eue­ry one away to his owne Land. This it was and will be when the Lords portion is pin­ched, & the mouth of the Oxe musled that treadeth out the corne; it must needs breed and bring Anarchy and confusion, euen the riune & vtter ouerthrow of all good learn­ing and true religion. For take away once the patrimonie and maintenance of the Church (at which that Axe of theirs stri­keth especially, as at a sweete and pleasant roote) and intreate the Lords Ambassadors as Hanun did Dauids messengers, 2. Sam. 10.4. & ye take away learning; take away lear­ning & ye take away teaching. Dauids mes­sengers sent to comfort Hanun, must of forc tarry at Iericho with shame inough, vers. 5. vntill their garments bee lengthened and their beards growen; & when will that be? when the children of Ammon, vers. 6. band themselues, and hire other to worke them (if they may) some further despite? And so you may lightly coniecture what will be­come [Page 54]of the Church of Christ. For, where no vision is, the people decay, Pro. twentie nine Chap. and 18. verse. Howbeit (beloued) we hope better & trust that the Lord of Hoasts in his accustomed mercye will continue a strength vnto Israel, and a defence for Iudah, yea, wee trust that Iehouah will so blesse vs out of Zion, Psal. 128.5. that we shall see our Ierusalem to flow with prospe­rity, peace, plenteousnes, and true religion all the daies of our life; & that the destroy­ers of the vineyard Psal. 80.13. and young Vine which the Lord hath made so mightie and strong for himselfe, shall perish in their appointed time, at the rebuke of the coun­tenance of our God,

But if so be the Lords arme bee stretched out toward vs, if his wrath be kindled against vs; if matters fall out in the ende otherwise than well, let vs burden and blame no man but our selues; for wee are a crooked and rebellious nation, as badd as euer were the Iewes, if not worse; and looke what sinnes raigned among them Ezec. 16.49.50. and we haue exceeded them; yea, and haue iu­stified them, as did Ierusalem hir two sisters Sodom and Samaria, verse, 51. in all the ab­hominations which we haue done.

The pietie and godlines which many of vs pretend, when it is at best, is but Iewish hipocrisie, or some sodaine passion of the minde, or violent motion, and therefore en­dureth but a while; soone hote and soone cold, as was Esaus to Iaakob, Ge. 33.4 27.41. 32.6.36.6. Sauls to Dauid, 1. Sam. 24.5.17.18. 1. Sam. 26.2. and the peoples to Christ, which spread their garments in the way that hee went, which cut downe branches from the trees, which greeted him with Hosanna, Mat. 21.8.9. and shortly after cried, Crucifige, crucifige eum; Crucifie him, crucifie him, Luke, 23.21.

So inconstancy in brotherly loue, gentle­nes, tender mercy, kindnes, humblenes of minde, meeknes, and other such liuely fruits of faith (which S. Paule biddeth vs, Coll. 3.12. as the elect of God, to put on) betrayed these, and so it betrayeth vs. Wee (as these men and people were) like vnto Clouds with­out water, Iude. verse, 12. are carried about of windes, hauing no continuance in that which is good. Wee thinke that wee haue done God good and great seruice, when wee haue left some pretty shewes of Christiani­tie; though within a while after, with the Dogge we returne to the vomit, 2. Pet. 2.22.

VVe deale with the Lorde, as Israel did with Ioshua. How was that say you? Surely thus. VVe giue out many faire and large promises; as that all shalbe amended which is amisse; that we will do so and so no more; that wee will waxe better and better euery day. God forbid (say we) that we should for­sake the Lord our God, who deliuered vs when we were in miserie, and scattered our enemies round about vs: therefore the Lord our God will we serue, and his voice will we obay. This was Israels vowe and promise then, Ios. 24.16.24. and the same is ours nowe; though quickly forgotten, as theirs was. For as they (not long after that the couenant was made, and written by Ioshua in the booke of the law of God, and a great stone pitched in the remembrance and testimonie thereof) pro­uoked the Lord to anger, so do we. And as did Israel, we haue said and sworne that we will serue the Lord onely, but yet marke & behold, there are of vs that serue and follow other Gods as bad in effect, as the Gods of Aram & the Gods of Zidon, & the Gods of Moab, and the Gods of the children of Ammon, and the Gods of the Philistines, Iudg. 10.6. VVherefore, as Ioshua saide vnto the Israelites, so giue mee leaue to say vnto [Page 57]you, that say and doo such things: Yee are witnesses against your selues, Ios. 24.22. The stones of the streete, which the Pauier pitched shall testifie against you; for by trampling & treading on them with your feete, they are wakened, & haue hard the words which ye haue spoken concerning the Lord.

So that rather than mans dissimulation, mans ingratitude, mans vnkindnes, mans rebellion and Apostasie shall escape vnpu­nished, the verie stones of the street (deafe and dumbe creatures) shall call and cry for vengeaunce against it: and who so is wise, will ponder this in his heart.

Brethren, with the Apostle I will shewe you this secret, of which I would not that ye should be ignorant, least ye should bee arrogant. Although it hath pleased God in his abundant mercie to make vs his peo­ple, which in time past were not a people; 1. Pet. 2.10. to graffe vs, a wilde oliue tree, wilde by nature, contrarie to nature in the right oliue tree, Roman. 11.17. let not the wilde oliue (though some of the braunches be broken off) graft in for them, and made partaker of the roote, and fathes of the o­liue tree, boast it selfe against the branches. For if God spared not the naturall branch­es, [Page 58]take heede least hee also spare not vs. Wherefore, let vs not be high minded, but feare: let vs behold the boundtifulnes & se­ueritie of God, and ponder well the one & the other: toward the Iewes (which haue fallen) seueritie; but toward vs, bountiful­nes, vers. 22. if we continue & abide therin. Beloued, these and such like are written to warne vs, that wee should beware of the like sinnes, least we feele the like plagues. Let vs remember then what manner of peo­ple we were in time past, and what wee are now in Christ Iesus. Let vs consider that we haue had & yet haue, a God that is gra­cious and mercifull, long suffering and of great compassion, no otherwise affected to­ward vs than a father toward his owne children; for he hath nourished and broght vs vp, thogh we haue rebelled against him, and yet doo. But if wee continue and goe onward, walking in the wayes of our hearts, hee will call vs to a sharpe account, euen to the ballaunce of his iudgement Ec­cles. 11.9. and because hee will make due and iust proofe of our guiltinesse, hee wyll summon the heauens and earth to witnes a­gainst vs, and the brute and dumbe crea­tures of the world to condemne vs. For so [Page 59]doth the Lord heere against his owne peo­ple the Iewes; calling to recorde agaynst them, first the heauens and earth; and now (to aggrauate their ingratitude and rebelli­on against him, their father) the oxe & the asse, in this forme and manner of speaking. The oxe knoweth his owner, and the asse his masters cribbe; but Israel hath not knowen, my people hath not vnderstand. By which kinde of comparison, or example demon­stratiue, the most iust God (so iustly prouo­ked) dooth declare, that the most brute and dul beasts did more acknowledge their dutie toward their masters (which notwith­standing pressed them downe with sore & heauie burdens) than did his people toward him, of whom they had receiued benefits without comparison.

In like sort, the Lord in the eight chap­ter of the prophet Ieremie and the sixt verse complaineth of the Iewes that turned back by a perpetuall rebellion, and saith.

I hearkened and heard, but none spake a­right, no man repented him of his wickednes, saying, What haue I done? euerie one tour­ned to their race, as the Horse rusheth into the battell.

Ʋerse 7. Euen the storke in the aire know­eth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow obserue the time of their comming, but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lord.

Hee accuseth the Iewes, because they were more ignoraunt of the iudgements of their God, than were these birds of their appointed seasons to discerne the cold and heate. But a strange thing and a wonderful. They that shuld haue been like the Angels in heauen, that should haue expressed, and that most liuely, the similitude and likenes of God, are not to be preferred to the brute creatures of the earth. Israel the Lords peo­ple, Israel the Lords inheritance, Israel the lot of his inheritance, Deu. 32.9. Israel the Lords seruant, Esa. 44.21. Israel the Lords portion, Israel a thing halowed to the lord, Ier. 2.3. Israel the first fruites of the Lord, Israel the first offered to the Lord of all o­ther Nations, Israel the beloued of the Lord, Esa. 5.1. is rebellious, and as an vnru­ly heyfar; nay more than the storke and the turtle, than the crane and the swallow: yea than the oxe and the asse: for the one sort knoweth the appointed times, and the o­ther his owner, and his masters cribbe; but [Page 61]Israel hath not knowen, his people hath not vnderstand. The oxe and asse are loued, e­steemed and praised, not as children, but as beasts: for beasts they are, brute and dull. They are not preferred to anie dignitie or promotion, but laden and pressed downe with great and waightie burdens: and yet see, the oxe knoweth his owner, and the asse his masters cribbe; but Israel, vnto whome pertained the adoption, Rom. 9.4. and the glorie, and the couenants, and the giuing of the law, and the seruice of God, and the promises; of whom were the Fathers, and of whome (concerning the flesh) Christe came, who is God ouer all, blessed for e­uer: this Israel hath not knowen, his peo­ple hath not vnderstand.

If it had been a strange people, ano­ther people, a bastard people, a people vnknowen, a people none of his; it had not been so great a matter: but (sai­eth the Lorde) Populus meus, my people: a people proper and peculiar vnto my selfe, mine owne people hath not vnderstand. Mine owne people, which I haue chosen of old, precious in my sight and honorable in my eyes, Esa. 43.8. whom I haue tenderlie cherished & brought vp, not for their sakes [Page 62]but for mine holie Names sake, Ezek. 36.22. whose fathers I led by the shaddow of death, Ier. 2.6. by a land that no man passed through, to a pleasant and plentifull coun­trey, which I gaue vnto them and their po­steritie: euen the glorious heritage of the Armies of the heathen, Ier. 3.19. This my people hath played this pranke; It will not heare nor hearken, but rebell. As a woman rebelleth against her husband, so hath my people rebelled against mee, Ier. 3.20. My people knoweth nothing, it hath not vn­derstand my righteousnesse, nor walked in the waies of my commandements, nor en­tred into the pathes of discipline, through my righteousnes. Therefore now the Lord sendeth Iuda his chosen and Israel his inhe­ritance, to the brute and dull beasts of the earth, to the Oxe and Asse to learne of them knowledge, dutie, gratitude, and o­bedience; which yet had the lawe of God to teach them, but would not learne; and his Prophets to call them, but would not come; and his watchmen to blow the trū ­pet in Zion, Ier. 6.17. but they would not heare. Which vnreasonable, brute and dul creatures of God, as the Oxe and Asse in this chapter of Esay; and the Storke & the [Page 63] Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallowe in the eight of Ieremie, shall one day giue sen­tence not onely against them, but also a­gainst vs and our blindnes, except wee a­mend; which hauing not the benefite of reason (but guided and gouerned onely by the instinct of nature) doo that which wee that haue the law of God, and teaching, & discipline, and vnderstanding, and reason, and memorie, to conceiue, iudge and beare away, will not doo.

We are therefore earnestly and heartely to praye and beseech the Lord our God to banish farre from vs the sinnes of ingrati­tude and vnkindnes. For (beloued) the onely recompence which the Lord dooth require at our hands for his sundrie giftes & manifold blessings bestowed on vs, is this: to bee thankfull vnto him for the same, to feare him, to walke in his wayes, to loue & to serue him, with all the heart, and with all the soule, Deu. 10.12. This is the very true & perfect way to make our selues thankful. This hath been, is, & must be the sacrifice of al true & perfect Christians, the sacrifice of thanksgiuing, & in al things to be thank­ful, & such is the will of God in Christ Iesus toward vs; which wil of his we ought & are [Page 64]bound in al dutie and reuerence to imbrace & obey. For let vs mortall men & wormes meate, weigh well and consider with our selues what God hath done for vs, as Cas­siodus noteth vpon the Psalms, & how great and good things he hath giuen vs for susten­tation, preseruation, erudition, consolation and delight; & al these & more than these in his free mercie without merite: & quid ni gratias agamus? and what may wee doo but giue him thankes? Thankes-giuing is named of Bernard (sermon 54 super cant.) Balsamum purissimum, the purest balme, and sweetest sauour in the nosthrills of our God. The Prophet Ose cap. 14. ver. 2. cal­leth it Vitulos labiorum nostrorum, the calues of our lips: which, by the spirite of God Heb. 13. we are exhorted to offer alwaies vnto God; the sacrifice of praise, the frute the lips, which confesse his name. Now then (as Hugo exhorteth) Si sentis benefici­um, redde debitum: si accipis benignitatem, redde charitatem. If thou feele a benefit, pay thy debt: if thou receiue liberalitie, deliuer home charitie. This we ought to doo, and this we may doo. For (as S. Austine in ps. 27. saith, Gratias agere Deo possumus, refer­re non possumus, Wee can giue thankes to [Page 65]God, but we cannot recompence him. If we might die (saith Chrisostome) a thousand deaths, and powre out all the faculties and powers of the soule, wee can doo nothing worthie of such and so great benifence, fa­uour and grace, which we haue receiued of God; and therefore it only remaineth that we be thankful. Let vs not flatter our selues least we deceiue our selues: let vs not (vn­der the veyle of hypocrisie) aske with the Iew Micah. 6.6. the manner and waye to please the Lord? which was contēt to offer sacrifice, but wold not change the custome of his life. Let vs not contend with him, whether God will be worshipped with bare ceremonies, without the heart? Let vs not grieue the Lord with that Iewish motiue: wherewith shall I come before the Lord, & bow my selfe before the high God? Mic. 6.6, 7. Shall I come before him with Calues of a yere old? Wil he be pleased with thou­sands of rammes, or with streames of oyle? Thou foole, all these are his, both of the forrest, mountaines, and field, Psal. 50.10, 11, 12. If he be hungrie, he wil not tell thee: for the world is his, and all that therein is. Offer then vnto God with Dauid Psa. 116 17. the sacrifice of thankes-giuing. For [Page 66]who so offereth him thankes and praise, hee honoureth him, Psalm. 50.23. Israel (to please God) would sacrifice the first borne for his transgression, euen the fruite of hys bodie for the sinne of his soule, Mich. 6.7. But the Lords voice by his seruant the pro­phet Micah, calleth and cryeth better than so, and sheweth thee (ô man) what is good and what he requireth of thee, vers. & surely to doo iustly, and to loue mercie, and to humble thy selfe, and to walke with thy God, in truth, and in a perfect heart, in du­tie and obedience without hypocrisie: for the Lord hath not as great pleasure in sacri­fices, as when his voyce is obeyed, 1. Sam. 15.22. To obey with him is better than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of rammes. Rebellion (in his sight) is as the sinne of witchcraft, and transgression is wickednesse and idolatrie. Whereby wee are taught, that the Lorde hateth nothing more than the sinnes of ingratitude & dis­obedience; which in his owne people hee punished diuers and sundrie waies, that they might knowe and acknowledge the God that had made them, and the mightie one of Israel that had redeemed them.

The Lord giue vs grace to amend the like faults by the correction and punishment of them. Happie were we, if by their harmes we could learne to beware.

For (beloued) the workings of God, whether in blessing or afflicting, present or past, to our selues or others particularly, well and carefully examined, would learne vs manie a fruitefull lesson, if wee had the grace to consider them. S. Paul feared the Corinthians (in his first Epistle written to them, the tenth chapter and the sixt verse) with the examples of the Iewes past long before, that they should not vse the like vi­ces which they did, least they should be de­stroyed as they were.

Now let vs make those examples ours: for (as the same apostle saith in the eleuenth verse of the forementioned chapter) they are written to admonish vs also, whom the ends of the world are more nighly come vp­on: that we lust not as they lusted; that we be not idolaters, as were some of them; that we commit not fornication, as some of them committed fornication; that we tempt not Christ, as some of them tempted him; that we murmur not, as some of them murmu­red; & to be short, that we rebel not, as some [Page 68]of them also rebelled, least following the like impieties wee incurre the like punnish­ments; and (to our manifest and iust con­demnation) cause and procure the heauens and earth, the hils and mountaines, the rocks and mightie foundations; yea, and the beasts of the land and the foules of the aire (before mentioned) to testifie against vs and our obstinacie.

As for the heauens and earth, they in great measure haue already witnessed Gods most heauie wrath and indignation against vs, & that in regard of the violating of his law, & contempt of his word. If these maye not serue, yet then greater tokens of his wrath than these, in his creatures about and vn­der vs, shall appeare toward vs: and final­nally, (vnles we repent) we shall perish in his iustice vtterly, that in his mercie refused to embrace him and his truth obediently. For if wee regard not the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour toward vs; if wee despise the riches of his goodnes, patience and long suffrance, Rom. 2.4. if we contemn his word, the word of saluation; if the seed thereof shall not fructifie in our hearts; if the peace which we haue with God, ingen­der impietie; if our ciuill peace breed no­thing [Page 69]than beastly securitie; if plentie work pride if with Israel, Num. 1 [...].6. wee loathe Manna; if we fall a lusting after flesh, and set a nought the food of angels; if we tempt God, as wearie of our profession; i [...] we be waterlesse clowdes, carried about of winds Iude ver. 12. if we be corrupt trees without frute; if we despise gouernment, and speak euil of them that are in authoritie, Iude 8. if wee liue as a people caring neither for God, law nor religion; if we forsake Christ, and bid him farewell; if we sit downe and fall asleepe in the seate of the scornefull, Psal. 1.1. if with the deafe adder we stoppe our eares at the voyce of the charmer, Psa. 58 4.5. then shall all the blessings of God bee turned into curses: the message of life shalbe vnto vs a sauor of death vnto death: our vineyard shalbe laid wast Esa. 5.5 6. the hedge thereof shalbe eaten vp, and the wall broken and troden downe; it shall not bee cut nor digged, but briers and thornes shal growe vp, and the cloudes shall not rayne vpon it. Deutronom. 28.37. wee shall bee a wonder, a prouerbe, a common talke, a re­proach, an astonishment, an hissing, Ier. 24 9. a curse in all places, Ieremie the fiue and twentieth, and the ninth & tenth verses: a [Page 70]iust reward of our vnkindnesse and rebelli­on against the Lord, ther shalbe taken from vs the voyce of mirth, and the voyce of gladnes: our laughter shall be turned into mourning, and our ioy into sorrow: our for­mer wealth and pleasure shall but adde a greater burden vnto our woe. Thus shall all the curses of God come vpon vs, & shall pursue vs, and ouertake vs, till we be con­sumed; and that because wee would not obey the voyce of our God, to keepe his commaun­dements and his ordinaunces, which hee com­maunded vs, Deuter, 28.45. For, would the Lord plague the Citie, where his Name was called vppon, Ierem. 25.29. and should we goe free? But (ô Lord God, and Father of mercies) this bee farre from vs and our po­steritie for euer.

And so (brethren) I will commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, Act. 20.32. which is able to builde further, and to finish his woorke in you, and to giue you an inheritance among all them that are san­ctified. And withall, I giue you that ex­hortation which Ioshua gaue to the Chil­dren of Israel, in the three and twentieth chapter and eleuenth verse, Take good heed vnto your selues that ye loue the Lord your [Page 71]God. And in the seauenth vearse, Ioyne not your selues to the Gentiles; companie not with the Nations, which wander in and out among you. I meane not Perizzites, but Papists; not Iebusites, but Iesuites: for, as did the Scribes and Pharises, Matth. 23.15. they compasse sea and land, to make one of their profession; and when he is made, they make him two-fold more the childe of hell, than they themselues are. Wherefore (deare Brethren) beware of them: for as Saint Paul warned the Galathians in the fourth chapter and seauenteenth verse, of the like sort of men) Depereunt vos non benè, they are iealous ouer you amisse, euen to serue their owne turne; they would exclude you from the loue that you beare to GOD & his truth, from the loue that ye beare to his Ministers, who preach not themselues, 2. Corinth. 4.5. but Christ Iesus the Lord, and themselues your seruaunts for Iesus sake; to this end, that ye shuld altogether loue them and follow them.

But beloued, doo not so. Sticke fast vn­to the Lord your God, as ye haue done vn­to this day. Ios. 23.8. Yee know in all your hearts, and in all your soules what and how great things the Lord hath done for ye.

Now therefore feare the Lord, and serue him in vprightnes and in truth, and awaye with those Gods, which your fathers serued beyond the floud and in Egypt, and serue ye the Lord, Ios. 24.14. Be not vnequally yo­ked with the infidels. 2. Cor. 6.14. the match is vnequall. Come out from among them, vers. 17. and seperate your selues, & touch no vncleane thing. The frute will be this: You shall eate your bread in plenteousnes, and dwell in your Citie safely, Leuit. 26.5, 6. God will send peace in the land, and ye shall sleepe, and none shall make you a­fraid. He will couer you vnder his wings, Psal. 91.4. and you shall bee safe vnder hys feathers: his truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the feare of the night, nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day: for he shall giue his Angels charge ouer you, vers. 11. to keepe you in all your wayes. And this will the Lord doo for you and much more, if you feare, loue, serue & obey him. For he will receiue you, he will be a father vnto you, and you shall bee hys sonnes and daughters, 2. Corinth. 6.17, 18. hee will dwell with you, and walke among [...]ou; he will be your God, and you shall be [...]s people, Leu. 26.12.

Finally (that I may conclude with the Pro­phet, with whom I began) if ye consent and o­bay, ye shall eate the good things of the lande, Esaie. 1.19.20. But if ye refuse and bee rebelli­ous, yee shall be deuoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

This same our Lord & God, who alone pon­dereth, 2. Chron. 6.30. trieth & ruleth the harts of the sonnes of men, Pro. 21.2. guide vs & our harts to the loue of him, 1. Thess. 2.4. mollifie and soften vs, Act. 1.34. and them by the grati­ous and mighty working of his holy and blessed spirit, 2. Thess. 3.5. that we may sensibly feele & perceiue how good and louing a God and mer­cifull father hee hath beene and is vnto vs, and that we may shew our selues thankfull and obe­dient vnto him, liuing vnto his lawes, and em­bracing his word, and obeying his commande­ments? so dooing, wee shall be the Lords chiefe treasure aboue all people; [...]he will fight for vs as he did for the Israelites his elect & chosen chil­dren; he will carrie vs on Eagles wings as he did them, throughout the dangers and troubles of this wofull Egypt, till wee come to the hauen of perfect rest, to the land of the celestiall Canaan, where we shal haue the fruition of endles ioyes 1. Cor. 2.6. which eye hath not seen, neither e [...]re hath heard, neither haue entred into the hart of [Page 74]man prepared of God for them that loue him. Of which ioyes God of his infinite mercie grant vs all to be partakers, through the merites and death of Iesus Christ his sonne, our Lord and sa­uiour; to whome with the holy Ghost, triple in person, but one in substance, be praise and glo­ry, and wisedome, and thankes, honour, and power, and might, for euermore, Apoc. 7.12.