A godly boke wherein is contayned certayne fruitefull, godlye, and necessarye rules, to bee exercised [et] put in practise by all Christes souldiers lyuynge in the campe of this worlde

¶ IOHN GOVVGHE PASTOR to the Paryshe of Sayncte Peters in Cornebull of London, to the Christian Reader.

GRace mercye & peace, from God the father, and from our lord Iesus christ his son, be with thee good Christian reder, and with all those that loue the lord vnfainedlye Amen. Callinge to remembraunce the saying of Iesus the Son of Syrache in Ecclesiasticus the 20. Chapter. Wise∣dome that is hyd, and Treasour that is whordyd vppe, what profyte is in them bothe? Thought it no lesse, then my boūden dutye (after I had perused this worke) to do my indeuor, that the same might be put in printe, whereby others might be part takers with me therein. For after I had red the same, and fyn∣dyng therein, so heauenly doctryne, so consonant and agreynge wyth goddes booke, and so mete for thuse of all esta∣tes, and sortes of people (beynge christi∣ans) thought I should do iniury to god,

and wronge to my Christen bretherne, yf I shoulde anye lenger deteigne the same from them. And as I knowe not the author thereof, no more founde I a∣ny title or name geuen vnto the booke. But for that the author tooke (as it were for his theame) the beginninge of the 7. Chapiter of Iob where hee say∣eth. The lyfe of man is a warfare vp∣pon the earthe and hys dayes lyke the dayes of an hyred seruaunt. Wherevp∣pon he hath most lyuelye set before our eyes, as well howe we are incessantlye assauited and assayled, by the continu∣all flatteringe promyses of the worlde, the carnall allurementes and entyce∣mentes of our domesticall enemye the fleshe, and craftye temptatyons, and prouocations, of our olde ennemye the dyuell (wyth three ferce and cruell e∣nemyes, neuer cease daye nor nighte to inuade vs, and what they can to pro∣uoke vs, to fall from God) as also oure duties bothe in the resistence of synne, a•…•…d of cleauing to our Capytaine, and hed Chryste, and also by certeyne rules instructinge vs, as it were wyth a cer∣tayne

armure and weapon, bothe how to beare of the sodein inuasions of those our enemyes, and also to repulse them, when they shall assayle vs.

Wherefore that the name of the booke might agre with the worke, I thought it good to attribute to the same suche a name, as the worcke desired: (that is to saye) godly and necessary rules to be ex∣ercised and put in practyse, by all Chri∣stes souldyers, lyuynge in the campe of this worlde. And in the diligent rea∣dinge of this worke, and disgestinge of the same: thou shalte well perceaue (deere reder) that the lyfe of a very chri∣stian (of what estate or degree so euer he be) to exceade and far passe, the coun∣terfayte lyues of cloyning cloysterars, of mummynge monkes, fonde fryers, or of hypochrytical heremytes, and that we nede not ronne to seke a strayte lyfe among the Chart•…•…rhouse monkes, for the parfection of a christian lyfe, but as y^e same is most perfitly set forth in God his booke (I meane the sacred Scriptu∣res) so it is to be followed of al Christi∣ans (yf we wilbe christians in dede) for it is not the name of a Chrystyan, that

maketh vs Christians before God, vn∣lesse we haue also the dedes of Christy∣ans, as Christe sayeth in Mathewe the 7. Not whosoeuer sayethe vnto mee Lorde Lorde, shall enter into the king∣dome of heauen, but he that doeth the wil of my father. And in the 6. of Luke he sayeth. Why call ye me, maister & Lorde, and do not that I byd ye. And Saint Iohn sayeth in his first Epystle and 2. Chapyter. He that sayeth I knowe him, and kepethe not his com∣maundementes is a lyer, and the truth is not in him. So that as the name of a Iewe maketh not a Iewe. Romayns 2. Nomore doth the name of a Christi∣an make a christiā except we also shew forth y^e workes of a christian. That our christiā lyues might shyne in puryty, in clennes, in sobryet•…•…, in pacyence, in charitye, in longe sufferyng, that the e∣nemyes of the ghospel, seinge our god∣lye conuersation, mighte bee wonne by thesame to the ghospell. As Christe sayeth in Mathew the 5. Let your light so shyne before men, that they seynge your good workes may glorify your fa∣ther which is in heauen. And that they

haue no cause iustlye to reporte euill of vs, folowyng the counsell of Seneca in his booke de mor•…•…bus, where he hathe this pithy sayinge. Haue peace with all men, but be at defyaunce with syn, (God graunt that this Heathen philo∣sopher rise not at the Iudgemente, to condempne a nomber of vs Christians for oure negligence.) So that now I hope) it is apparant to all eyes that wil not wilfully be blynd: that it is the duty of al christians to liue so straight∣lye in this worlde, and so earnestlye to wrastle againste vyce, and sinne, as the weaknes of our fleshe shal or can beare in oure myndes detestynge and abhor∣rynge synne, and from the bottome of our hartes to wyshe that we coulde not sinne. For it is our partes to wrastle against the same, and therein hath the holye ghost by his elect vessell Saynct Paule comforted vs saying in the 1. E∣pistle to the Corinth. 10. God is faith∣full whiche shall not suffer you to bee tempted aboue your strength, but shal in the myddest of temptacion, make a waye that ye maye be able to beare it.

And what we are not able to doe, by reason of our weaknes, that hath christ fulfilled for vs, as y^e same apostle saith also to the Romaynes the. 8. For what the lawe could not do in as muche as it was weake, bycause of the fleshe, that performed God, and sente hys sonne in the similytude of sinfull flesh. &c. And in the beginning of the same Chapiter he sayeth. There is then nowe no dampnacion to them that are graffed in Christ Iesu. What? to do what they lyst? and to ronne carelesly hedlonge in∣to synne? Naye he addeth: Whyche walke not after the flesh but after the sprite. As God himselfe sayeth in le∣nit. 15. Be ye holye for I am holye. So that the lyfe of euerye true Christian, oughte to be suche as no man worthe∣ly can rebuke: whiche thynge is moste pientifully, and at the full, set forth in this godly worke. And thys I write, onely to stoppe the mouthes of suche, as slaunderously reporte and saye that these newe preachers (for so it pleaseth them to tearme, suche as moste syncer∣lye preach Gods trueth) would haue no

good workes, but preach lyberty, liber∣tye. Who (in dede) meane nothynge lesse: but bycause they seeke to plucke thē from their fond trust in their vayn meritor•…•…us workes, taughte them by the papistes (thereby makinge Christe but halfe a Sauioure) and sette forthe the perfection of a trewe faithe whiche is most playnly taughte vs, in the. 17. of Luke by Christe himselfe, by the pa∣rable of the seruaunte comminge from the ploughe, whiche parable he conclu∣deth with thys sayinge. So ye also when ye haue done all that are com∣maunded you, say we are vnprofitable seruantes, we haue done y^• whiche was our duty to do. And therfore sayeth S. Paule in the 2. to the Ephesians. For by grace are ye saued, through faythe, and that not of your selues. For it is the guyfte of God, and not of workes, least any man should boaste. And be∣cause, that we shoulde not mystake S. Paule, and thinke that the opinyon of faith were inough & therfore we might be ydle, and liue careleslye, without de∣sier or regarde of vertue, he immediat∣lye addeth sayinge. For we are his

workmāship (saieth he) created in christ Iesu vnto good workes, whiche God hath prepared, that we shoulde walke in them. So that it is most manifest, what impudent and vnshamefast lyers and slaunderers, the papistes & their ad herentes are vpō god his preachers and his mynysters, for neyther they, nor none other at any time, hard any other doctrine out of anye of those preachers mouthes (whome it hath pleased them to cal new preachers) but thei and their doctrine (I meane the papistes) maye be called this dayes bakinge in compary∣son of the auncienty of y^• doctrine whi∣che is taughte by those newe felowes, then this that I haue aboue written. Which in dede most aboundantly, and plentifully is setts forthe in this little booke: bothe godlyly, and learnedly. Where by it maye well be perceyued, that though the tyme of darkenes hath bene muche in the world, by reason the same hath bene so obfuscated and ouer whe•…•…ed with the dyrtye tradicions of wicked men, that the light, and puryty of god his ghospel coulde not shine: yet

was it not hidde from all men but at al times, and in all ages, there euer haue bene some, that sawe and knewe the trueth, and left the same in wrytyng to their posterity, as appeareth by this lit∣tle worke, whiche came to my handes written, and when I had red the same, considerynge the antiquytye thereof, I remembred the aunswere of God made to Elyas the Prophete 3. Reg. 19. I haue lefte me (sayeth God) 7000. men in Israell whose knees, neuer vowed before Baall nor kyssed hym with hys mouth. So that god alwayes as appe∣reth (thoughe they be not taken of the worldlynges) hath his churche and peo∣ple in the worlde, thoughe (in dede they be very few, and so haue alwayes bene (in respecte of the contrarye parte) and oftentymes exercised vnder the Crosse, and afflyeted by the worlde. For if we should consider the estate & condicion of gods church from the beginnyng of the world, euē vntyll our time, we shal per∣ceiue y^e same, alwaies to be very few in comparison of the residue of the world and that for the most part afflyeted) for

anon after that Adam and Eue were cast out of paradice, Genes. 3. Dyd not wicked Caine kyll iust Abel, Genes. 4. And after as the worlde increased, so did wickednesse habounde and synne wared rife, and God so put in oblyuion that. 1556. yeares after the creatyon of the world (in the whiche the deluge or vniuersall floode came whereby all the world was drowned) there was no more found God his people, and God his churche, in all the worlde, but eight persōs that is to saye Noy, his wife, his 3. sonnes, and theyr wyues which were saued and skaped the floode. As appea∣reth in Genes. the 7. And after the floode was passed & Noy and his hous∣holde come out of the arke, the worlde beyng deuided among his thre sonnes, Sem, Cham, and Iaphethe, and that the people began eftsones to multiplye and increase, the worlde was so forgro∣wē in wickednes, that there was none found, that truely worshipped god, but Phare Abrahams father, and his hous∣holde, as may appeare to the diligent reader from the. 9. to the. 12. of Genes.

and after the death of Phare, god cal∣led Abraham from among the chaldeis least he shoulde haue him plucked from the true worshipping of god to idolatry which then was ryfe, among the Chal∣deyans, and flowed also ouer all the worlde. Abraham obeyed god his cal∣ling toke with him his wife Sara, & al his houshold and Lot his brothers son, and so departed from Haram where Abrahams father dyed, into the lande of Canaan, which afterward his posteritie enioyed (after muche tribula∣cion) as from the 12. of Genes. and so the 5. bokes of Moyses and Iosue, is plain∣lye sette forth, and at large dyscribed. And so to see the whole course of the bi∣ble, from Abrahams comming from a∣mong the Chaldeys, vnto Moyses de∣parture •…•…ute of Egipt, with the people of Israel, his rule of theym in the wil∣dernesse, what trauaile and rebellyon he had amonges them, and so to Iosua who was there guyde to the promysed lande (in whose tyme the true and pure religion of god florished emōgst them) and from Iosues tyme the manner of

the gouernance of their common welth vnder Iudges, and from Iudges vnto kinges, and from kinges vnto priestes, after the captiuytye of Babylon, euen vntill Christes tyme. And it shall be well perceyued that euen amonge the Iewes being gods peculyar people (all the world besides, being altogether ge∣uen to ydolatry, and knowing not god) that God hys people were alwayes the least in number, and the true worship∣pinge of God was in very fewe. And that alwaies the greater sort, and more in number were suche, as folowynge their owne dreames & inuencyons, for∣soke the true worshippinge of God, and with most cruelty put to death the pro∣fessors thereof, and slue the prophetes, which tolde them Gods will, & rebuked their sinnes and ydolatry as in the sa∣cred Scriptures is most plentifully de∣scribed. As for ensample. Of syx hun∣dreth thousande which came out of E∣gipte vnder Moyses, there entred but two, namely Iosue and Caleb, into the land of promis. And when that Moyses (by the cōmandement of god, sent forth

12. of y^e people of Israel (out of eche tribe one) to vew the promysed lande. After they hadde bene out 40. dayes and re∣tourned: of the 12. which were sent two parsons onely (that is to say Iosue and caleb) tolde the trueth and tenne of the twelue were lyers, and perswaded the people, from going into the lande, whi∣che god had promised. Ye and such hur∣ly burly was amongste them, that not onely Moyses and Aaron, but also Io∣sue & Caleb, the true messengers were like to be stoned, and would haue made themselues capitaines, and so haue re∣turned back into Egipt. What plague folowed them? rede the place, Nume. 13. Not one of theym entred the lande (no more any rebellours againste God hys truth and his true preachers which are signified by Iosue & caleb shal enter in∣to our promised land, which is the king dom of heauen, purchased by y^• precious death and bloudshedding, of y^• immacu∣late lambe Iesus christ our onely saui∣our & aduocate) again was not Micke as y^e prophet of god against 400. false pro∣phets of Baall whiche promised Achab victory i his affaires: but Micheas tolde

him of his destruction. Was not here 400. against one? rede the place. 3. boke of kinges. 22. and you shall see many∣festlye, the bragginge lyes of the false prophetes, against the simple true tale of Mycheas the prophere of God: and not onely thus in the olde testamente, but also Christ himself wytnesseth the same in the newe testament, saying in Mathew the. 7. Strayte is the gate and narow is the waye whiche leadeth vnto life, and few there bee that fynde it. And in the. 20. Many are called, but fewe are chosen. And christ calleth them his little flocke, saying in the. 12. of Luke. Feare not lytle flock, for it is youre fathers pleasure to geue you a kingdome. And saint Paule in the 10. to t•…•…e Romaines he sayeth. But all haue not obeyed the ghospell. And in the second Epistle to the thessolonians and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, chapter •…•…e sayeth. For all men haue not fayth. And therefore when Esdras asked the Aungell, whether many or fewe should be saued he made him this aunswere. The moste highest hath made this worlde for manye, and

the world to come for fewe. 4. booke of Esdras. 8. Thus muche haue I writ∣ten to answer such as haue this reason in their mouthes, wil god suffer so ma∣ny to perishe? and to be led blynd so ma∣ny hūdred yeares. What shal I speake of hundrethes of yeares? Was not the worlde from the beginninge therof vn∣tyll after christes ascencion (setting the Iewes aparte, which were but a hand∣full in comparison of the whole worlde besides) altogether, not onely without the knowledge of god, but also worship∣ped dyuels and creatures, euery manne after his owne fantesy, some the Sun, some the moone, some the starres, some the fier, and some the similitude of bea∣stes, and some of men, and as they re∣ceyued benefytes of men, so after their deathes, they worshipped them for god∣des, as because Bacchus firste found e∣mongst them the meane to make wine: therfore after his death they made hym a god (if creatures maye make gods as the pope maye sayntes) and called him the god of wine. Mars first found out armure and weapon, when he was

deade, they made him a God, and called him the god of warre. Ceres a woman she first founde the meane, to plowe the ground and to so we corne, & so to make breade (where before they eate accorns) and when she was dead th•…•…y. y^• made her a goddes, and called her the goddes of corne. And so of other, as they receyued benefites by theim when they lyued, so gaue ther the names of gods vnto them after their deathes, and gaue them god∣ly honors. As Neptune was the God of y^• mariners for the Sea. Pan was y^• god of the wood, Apollo was the god of wisedome, Iuno was y^• goddes for wo∣men that were with childe or in trauel. So that they had for euery thing a sun∣drye god, whose ymages they worship∣ped, and their blyndenes ranne so farre that they worshypped d•…•…uylles whiche were in Images and •…•…ake and gaue theym aunswers. As the Image of Apollo in the ys•…•…e of Delphos. Yea, they killed their owne children, and of∣fred theym vppe to their Images, thys wickednes, •…•…nd detestable ydololatrye endured I saye vntyll after Chrystes

assencyon (whyche was the space of fo∣wer thousand yeares or there aboutes) vntill Sainct Paule and other the Ap∣postles preached the ghospel ouer al the worlde. So that we must not take hold of oure faith by continuance of yeares, neyther prescryptyon of tyme maketh the thynge good, yf it bee contrarye to Goddes sacred Scryptures, haue it ne∣uer so fayre a shewe. And now ye see, how farre those fond reasons of world∣lye wysedome, is from God, and howe quyte it is ouerthrowne. And I pray you how farre dyssented our Christya∣nitie from their gentilitye? They had for euery thynge a sundry God, we had for euery thinge a sundrye Saynct, we had S. Uncomber for yl husbandes. S. Iob for the pore. S. Roke for the plage. Saynct Barbara for thunder, Sayncte Sithe, for our keyes, Saynct Anthony, for oure pygges, Saynct Loye for oure horse, Sainct Agatha for the to the ake, Saynct Leonards was good maister to theues, oure Ladye for women wyth chylde, and a number of suche abhomi∣nable, and stynkynge ydololatrye yea

and because we woulde be nothing in∣feriour vnto them, we woulde haue for their drōken Bacchus, a drōnken mar∣tin. So that we hadde nothynge but the names of Christians, for in our ry∣tes and Ceremonies, we were altoge∣ther heathenish. They had for euerye thinge a god, we had for euery thyng a patron. They worshipped ymages: so dyd we. Their images spake: ours wer not dumbe, & the craft of y^• diuell often tymes working blasphemous miracles bi them. But now me thinketh I heare some say, sir it was then a mery world and all thinges were then plentye, but sithens this new ghospelling came vp, all thynges haue bene verye deare and scarse, and we haue hadde a very harde world, forsothe h•…•…rein ye are the ryght children of your forefathers the idolo∣latrus Iewes, for euen the same aun∣swere made they to Ieremy the prophet when he had rebuked them for their y∣dololatry in the 44. chapter of his pro∣phecy sayinge. We will not heare the worde, which thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lorde, but we wyll

doe whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouthes, that we maye sacrifice to the Queene of heauen, and bake cakes vn∣to her as we our selues, our forfathers, our kinges and Prynces haue done, in the Cities of Iudae, and in the streates of Ierusalem, and had our bellyes full of bread, and then went it wel with vs & saw no misfortune. And why woulde they not heare the prophet speaking vn to them? It foloweth. But sithence we left to do sacrifice to the queene of hea∣uen, we haue had scarsenes of all thyn∣ges, and are consumed with the sword and hunger. The Gospell is not the cause of y^• wickednes y^• nowe raigneth in the worlde (far be it from euery chri∣sten harte to thinke so vnreuerently of that most precious Iewell the word of god) but our owne sinnes and wicked∣nes, our exceding pride, oure bottomles couetousnes, our abhominable whore∣dome, our terrible swearing, our wyc∣ked blasphemye, our neglectyng of god his ghospell, our despisinge of his true prophetes and preachers, my pen is not able to write and describe the exceding

wickednes, whiche nowe raigneth and floweth in Englande (Godde for hys mercye amende it, and graunte vs har∣tye repentaunce for the same) for the deuyll nowe so rageth, for that he seeth hys kyngedome, and hys eldeste sonne (Antechriste of Rome) lyke to bee ouer∣throwne, therefore I say, he nowe ra∣geth accordinge to the saying of sain•…•…t Peter in hys fyrste Epystle. 5. For youre aduersarye the dyuell walketh a∣boute lyke a rorynge Lyon, seekynge whome he may deuoure. And for that he seeth hys dominyon and power to be nowe at the poynt of ouerthrowing be∣cause the laste day is at hande after the whyche tyme he shall neuer more trou∣ble Goddes people, and therfore whilst he maye, he best•…•…rreth him, and soweth hys wicked seede amongst menne with all hys dylygence, he leaueth no corner vnsoughte, no grounde vntryed, nor hearte vnproued. And therefore (I saye) it is no maruayle that the worlde is wycked. But as I sayde before, so saye I agayne, God graunte vs better heartes, and more feruente zeale bothe

to repente our former lyues amendyng the same, and also to embrace wyth most wyllynge mindes hys holye ghos∣pell, and the true Preachers thereof, leaste that be verified vppon vs whi∣che is spoken by the wysedome of God, in the firste Chapiter of the Prouerbes of Salamen, saying. For I haue called (sayeth the wysedome of God) and ye refused it, I haue stretched out my hād, and no manne regarded it, but all my counsayles haue ye dyspysed and set my corrections at no•…•…ghte Haue not wee played euen the same partes, howe ha∣boundantlye hath God sette foorth hys trueth amongste vs, howe freelye and sincerelye, is it contynuallye preached amongst vs? But what carnall ghos∣peller amendeth his lyfe, what papyste beleueth hys trueth, or what heretique repenteth hys erroure, doe not we all (whilest euery man loketh on at others faultes, no man amendinge his owne) cōtinue still in our wickednes & errors. What will come of it? H•…•…rke what the wisedome of God sayeth, euen in the

next wordes folowing. Therfore shal I also laughe in your destruction, and mocke you, when that thinge that you feare, commeth vpon you. When so∣deyn miserye shal come vppon you, and destruction shall sodenlye oppresse you as a storme, when trouble and heauy∣nes commeth vpon you, then shall they call vpon me, but I wil not heare, they shal seke me earlye, but they shall not finde me. &c. Can we therfore seinge we thus stubbernlye resist god his tru∣eth? disobey his ghospel? repent not our euyls? nor amend or reforme our liues? looke for any other at his most righte∣ous hande, but worthye punishmente and vtter destruction? vnles we repent. I therfore (in the bowelles of our Lorde Iesus christ) most earnestlye desier all suche, as loue god hys trueth, desire the preferment of his glorye, and do longe after the perfection of his moste holye and sincere religion, and the florishing therof, with the vtter ouerthrow of an∣techrist, and all his dirtye dregges, and sinke of deuelishe dreames, and filthye

ceremonies. As many (I say) as wishe the continuall helthe, prosperitye, and lōg life, of our most worthy & gracious soueraign lady queene Elizabeth (w•…•…ō god long preserue amongst vs) earnest∣lie and with spede, to repente their for∣mer dedes, and become new men, both in lyfe, and worde, that God may blesse vs, and increase that hys goodnesse to∣wardes vs, whiche he hath begon, that his enemies seing oure iust conuersati∣on, may be won vnto god, and that we maye be one flocke, as there is one true shepeherde, and this shal we be, if ghos∣pellers would folowe, the good lessons they rede in god his holy ghospel, and if suche as doe cleaue to prescryption of tyme, and number of people, would re∣lynquyshe the fonde reasons of carnall wisedome, & cleaue vnto god his truth, wherein is conteyned the wisedome of God, & in which also is largely and suf∣ficiently set forth, both how god would haue vs to honor him, and also what of∣fendeth him. Alacke why should thys tearme of forefathers, so muche stycke in our hartes, and so stubbor•…•…ely cause

vs to resists the manifest trueth of god his moste sacred Scryptures, and as I haue somwhat saide before, to stop the mouthes of suche as cleaued to number of yeares, and multitudes of people▪

So I thinke it good to writte somwhat also of forefathers to aunswere those fonde people which haue these reasons in their mouthes, we will doe as oure forefathers haue done, & what I praye you (saye they) are we wyser then they, were there not as greate learned men, as wise menne, as good men in times passed, as nowe, and why then shoulde we not credit them, and do as they did? I praye you lette me also aske you this questyon, yf the Apostles shoulde haue made christ that aunswer when he cal∣led them, if the Romains, Corinthiās, Thessolonians, Ephesians, galathiās, and all the whole world besides, should haue made the apostles & gods messen∣gers that aunswer (whiche they might more iustly haue done, if eyther conty∣nuance of yeares myghte haue serued, for they had bene nose•…•…ed in their gen∣tilitye, aboue foure thousand yeares, or

els if worldly wise and learned heades, for they had within that space rysen a∣mōgst them, Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, and a number of other wise, witty, and learned Philosophers) when they prea∣ched christ vnto them? O Lorde, when shoulde the apostles or we haue come to the knowledge of Christ. So that now ye see howe stronge a foundacion you stande on, which wil nedes stick to fore∣fathers, that is so sone ouerthrowne and blowen vp, euen from the founda∣cion. But because I will not followe the steppes of your forefathers (whiche grounde themselues altogether vppon humaine reason, without gods word) I wil also allege some scriptures against ye. So that if ye may by any meanes be plucked frō antechrist (y^e Pope I meane & al popishnes) I will do my best, bothe now and at all times (god willing) to y^e vttermost of my power, according to y^• small talent which god hath lent me, & yet herein nothing but my duty. And as S. Paule said to the Corinthians 2. Epistle & 12. chap. I seke not yours, but you. So (I take god to record) do I write

this onelye because I woulde (what in me lay) kepe you from oure enemy the deuyll, and to bring you to God. Well harken what god himself sayeth in •…•…e∣uit. the. 18. Do not ye as they whiche were before you, and be ye not defy•…•…ed in them, I am the Lorde your god▪ kepe my commaundementes. And in the 2. of Amos the prophet he saieth. Thus sayeth the lorde, for thre and foure wic∣kednesses of Iuda I wil not spare him: because he hath caste aside the lawe of the lord, and not kept his commaunde∣ments, for theyr idolles haue disceyued them, after whome their forefathers went. And therfore sayeth god in Deu∣tronomie. 12. Whatsoeuer that I com∣maunde you, that take hede ye doe, on∣ly vnto the lorde, and put thou nothing therto, nor take ought there from, and therefore sayeth Salomon in the. 30. of the prouerbes. The worde of god is a fiery shield, vnto al them that put their trust in him, put thou nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be founde a lyer. So that now we see, that this reason of forefathers is cleane

ouerthrowne, and nothing left vnto vs to folowe, but the sacred scriptures. Yf this will not auaile, nor profit such as haue that fonde and vaine toye in their heades, I knowe not what to say vnto them. but I may well allege the saying of O see the prophet against them in the 8. Though I shew them my lawe ne∣uer so much, they accōpte it but strange doctrine. In dede such is the blyndnesse of the world, and of mans nature that they can not see the veritie without the special gyft of god, which is bound nei∣ther to Doctors hoode, nor yet to bus∣shops myter, for the holy ghost sayethe in the first chapiter of the booke of wis∣dom. Wisdome shal not ēter into a fro∣ward soule, nor dwell in the bodye that is subdued vnto synne, and therfore he sayeth a little before in the same chapi∣ter. For he will be found of them that tempt him not, and appeare to thē that put their trust in him, & therfore saieth god by y^• prophet I say in the. 66. chapi∣ter. Upon whom shall my spirite rest? but vpon the humble & contrite spirite, and such a one as stādeth in awe of my

wordes. With whom agreeth S. Pe∣ter in the 2. Epistle 1. saying. And here∣unto geue all diligence, in your faythe, minister vertue, in vertue, knowledge &c. And then he concludeth, saying: If these thinges be with you, and be plen∣teous, they will make you that ye ney∣ther shalbe ydle nor vnfruitefull in the knowledge of our lord Iesus christ, but he y^• hath not these things, he is blinde, groping the way wyth hys hande, hath forgotten himselfe, to haue bene pour∣ged from his olde sinnes. And hereun∣to agreeth S. Paule in the 1. chapiter & 1. Epistle to the Corynthians, rede the place. So that where those vertues be, there doth god in dede open his secre¦ tes by his holye sprite. I write not this that I meane therby to dyscourage any from learning, but rather I exhorte all men to set their children thereunto, and speciallye to the vniuersities, whereby good litterature maye be maynteyned in the youth, whiche are the sede of the common wealthe of thys realme, and god his trueth syncerly preached. But

I onelie inuaye against those papistes, whiche saye that suche learned men, as mayntayne their errors, are learned, they are Bushoppes: they haue study∣ed the scriptures, so manye yeares and so many yeares, and how can it be, but that these must nedes vnderstande the scriptures? Ye, and some saye, it is not possyble for anye man to vnderstande the scryptures, vnlesse he were a grad∣uate of the vnyuersytie, but whether this impossibilytye be true or no, bothe the scryptures aboue recyted and also experyence in these our dayes (thankes be to God) dothe proue the contrarye, for that there be diuers whiche neuer came in the vniuersities, yea, and some suche as haue no more but their mo∣thers tonge, doe vnderstande the scryp∣tures, and able to teache good & sounde doctrine. But howe those men vnder∣stande the scriptures (whiche bragge so muche of their doctryne, and contynu∣ance of theyr studye) by their doctryne is apparaunte, for seke they oughte in all theyr preachynges and doynges other

then their owne praysynges, and sta∣blishment of their own tradicions, yea, and extolling and preferringe the same aboue gods cōmaundementes, as when papistrye raygned, howe little was the terrible swearinge and tearinge of god spoken against, howe was whoredome wynked at, which are vtterlye againste goddes commandementes, and by god his lawe punished by death. But yet so litle regarded with them, that rather it was winked at then spoken against. If a man hadde sworne neuer so great an othe in tearing of God, ye shoulde haue had that marke (the popes shauelynges I meane) syt by and say neuer a worde. But if one hadde sworne by theyr styn∣king & idololatrus masse, by & by Syr Iohn woulde haue bene busye, for so misusing his occupacyon. Agayne, if one of their vowed priestes (repentynge his errors and minding to liue in gods lawes) hadde chaunsed to haue mari∣ed a wife (leauinge the takinge of other mens wiues and daughters forsakinge their liberty. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉) or if a man had chaunced to eate a piece of

rustye bacon for lacke of other meate (thoughe perchaunce M. person had fed himselfe and well filled his belly, with pyke, Carpe, tenche, and suche small fishe, and perchaunce with a piece of a custarde, and tarte and suche harde and vnsauery meates, vpon a fridaye or vp∣pon anye other their forbidden dayes 〈◊〉〈◊〉. to Timathey the 4. Yf thys geare had come to their knowledge woulde they haue winked at it, or loked through the fyngers •…•…ro ye? As they dyd at whhr∣dome, swearinge, and suche lyke offen∣ces? No I warraunt you. Marye oute on him heretique f•…•…e vpon him he is not worthy to lyue. To the fyer wyth the heretique knaue. So straitlye looked they to their dirty dreames, preferring and extollyng, the same (as much as in them laye) before gods commaundemē∣tes, So preposterous was and is their Iudgementes. God sayde to Moyses Erod. 3. (At such time as he sat kepyng his shepe in madian, when he sawe the bushe burne, and as he was goinge to∣wardes it) Come not hither (sayeth he) putte thy shoes of thy fete, for the place

wherein thou standest is holy ground. Heare sayeth god, the place is holy, put of thy sh•…•…s. The chaly•…•… is holy (say they) put on thy gloues, putte of sayeth god, put on say•…•… the papistes, God •…•…ed Moises bare fieshe, better then his lether shoes. The papystes este∣med a shepes skin, aboue the flesh of man, re∣demed wyth the deathe and bloude of Chryste, for yf thy gloues were on, the matter was well ynoughe were the thinge neuer so holy. But yf he hap∣peyned to touch the same with his bare hande, Marry fye, what a sinne was it, it was maruaile if his hande hadde not •…•…otted of for it. Yf this iudgement be not preposterous, and extollynge their owne tradicions, aboue God hys com∣maundementes what is preposterus? What is or canne be more plainelye▪ a∣gainste the manifeste trueth, yet all is done with a godly shewe to the eyes of worldlynges, with golden Copes, gol∣den crosses, siluer sewsers, frākinsence burnyng before their idolles, with ma∣ny other gay goodly thinges, surely the saying of christ in Mathew the•…•…▪ might

well be veryfied vppon them, where he sayeth▪ Ye hypocrites ryghtly did E∣say prophecy of you, sayinge: this peo∣ple draw nigh me with their mouthes, and honoure me with their lyppes, but their hearte is farre from me, teaching the doctryne and preceptes of menne.

Therfore S. Paule willeth (as manye as be desirous to be very christians) by most manifest wordes, to eschew & flye frome suche doctryne as is so infected, with superfluous ceremonyes, wyth∣out the worde of God, sayinge in the. 2. Chapiter of his Epistle to the Co•…•…oss. If ye be deade with chryste from the or∣dinaunces of the world, why as though ye lyued in the world, are ye ledde with tradicions? touche not, tast not, handle not, which all perishe throughe the ve∣ry abuse, after the commaundementes and doctrines of men, whyche thynges outwardly haue the similitude of wise∣dome, by supersticion and dumblenesse of mynde. And by hurtinge of the bo∣dye, and in that they doe the fleshe no worship to the nede therof. Thus doth S. Paule by most euydēt wordes pluck hs from the superstycyous rytes of the

papystes, whose religion (in dede) is al∣together in outward shewe and world∣ly pompe. And therefore thapostle pre∣uentinge the question whiche might be asked him by some worldlye wiseman, whiche woulde saye. Why Sir what maner of lyfe woulde you haue vs to leade? after what sort would you haue vs Christians to doe and vse? he aun∣swereth euen in the begynninge of the ne•…•…t Chapyter of the same Epistle say∣ing. Yf ye be then risen againe with Christ, seke those thynges which are a∣boue, where christ sitteth on the righte hande of god set your affections on hea∣uenly thinges and not of earthly thyn∣ges, for yeare dead and your life is hid with Christe in God. Thus is it euy∣dente, that the righte lyfe of a christian consysteth not, eyther in multytude of people, prescriptiō of time, forefathers, nor outward Ceremonies, but onely in vertuousnes of life, leauinge our owne dreames & inuēcions, and in folowing the sacred and holy scriptures settynge the same alwayes before oure eyes as oure onelye lodes starre to folowe, and

touch stone to trye all doctrine by. For whatsoeuer is not conteined in god his boke (I meane the holy byble) no Chri∣stian is bounde of necessity to doe. Nei∣ther (as I saide before) neede we to run in to any cloyster to seke a perfecte lyfe, seinge it is the dutye of all Christians (of what estate or degre soeuer he be) to lyue in the feare of God, and in suche sorte, as in this godly worke folowing is most lyuely and Christenly set forth. So that in that matter I shall not nede any thinge to entreat of. Thus seking to ende my prologue, least I be to tedy∣ous, I sende thee (good reader) to thys boke. Prayinge God of hys mercye so to open our hartes to receiue his trueth and followe the same in oure lyuinge, that he maye (seinge oure repentaunce) poure his blessynge vppon vs, that hys true and sincere religion, nowe begin∣nynge (as it were) to springe vppe (but wonderfully hyndred in the growinge thereof, by gods enemyes the papistes, and carnall ghospellers, who haue the ghospell in their mouthes, but not in their conuersatyons) that it maye

come to a perfect rypenes, that god 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be gloryfyed in this world by our chri∣stenly conuersation. And that we (af∣ter this transitorye lyfe once finyshed) maye contynallye prayse hym, in the heauenlye habytacion wyth his holye aungelles world withoute ende, by the merites, death, and passion, of the im∣maculate lambe, oure onely Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christ: to whom with the father and the holye ghost be al ho∣nour prayse & glorye nowe and euer∣more world with out ende. A∣men.

God preserue the Queene.

Fare well in the Lorde. I. C.