A SOVERAIGNE CORDIAL for a Christian conscience.

BE not a fraid (most dear∣ly beloued in our Saui∣our Christ) at these most perilous daies, wherein by the sufferaunce of God, the* prince of darknes is broken loose, and rageth in his members against the elect of God, with al suttelty,* to set vp againe the kingdome of Antechrist, against whom se that ye be strong in faith, to resist their* diuelishe doctrine with the pure gospel of god, arming your selues* with patience to abide whatsoe∣uer be laied vnto your charge, for* the truthes sake, knowynge that therunto you be called, not onlye* to beleue in him▪ but also to suffer for him. O how happi are ye, that* in the syght of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimo∣nie of Christ▪ quiet therfore your selues (oh my louing brethren) & reioyce in him for whom you suf∣fer,* for vnto you do remaine th•se vnspeakeable ioyes▪ neyther eye hath sene, nether eare hath herd, Page  [unnumbered] neither the hart of man is able to comprehend. Be not afraid ther∣fore of the bodely death, for your names are written in the booke of life. And the prophet doth record that in the sight of the Lord, pre∣cious is the death of his sayntes.* whatch therfore and prai, that ye be not preuented in the day of tēp¦tacion. Now commeth the day of your trial, wherin the waters rage & the stormy windes blow. Now shal it appeare whether you haue builded vpon the fleting sandes, or vpon the vnmoueable rocke Christ, which is the foundatiō of the Apostles and prophets, wher on eueri house that is builded gro¦weth into an holye temple to the* Lord by the mightye working of the holy ghost. Now aprocheth the day of your battaile, wherin it is required that you shewe your selues the valeaunt souldiours of* Iesus Christe▪ armed with the ar∣mour of God, that ye may be able to stand sted fast against al the craf¦tie assaultes of the diuel. Christ is your captaine, and you be his chri¦stians,Page  [unnumbered] whose cognisaunce is the* crosse, to the which he willinglye humbled himselfe, euen vnto the death, & hath therbi spoiled his e nemies. & now triūpheth he ouer thē in the glory of his father, ma∣king intersession for vs that here are to be fulfilled in hys misticall body. Vt behoueth therfore euery one that wil be counted his scho∣ler, to take vp eche one his crosse and folow Christ, as ye haue him for an example, being assured that he beinge on your side▪ nothynge* shal be able to preuayle agaynst you▪ and that he wil be with you vnto the worlds end▪ ye haue hys promis in the▪ xx• iii of Mathew▪ he wil go forth with his host lyke a conquerour to make a conquest. He is the man that sitteth on the white horse crowned with immor talitie▪ and ye brethren are his fe∣lowship▪ wherof he is the heade. He hath your hartes in his handes as a bow bent after his godly wil, he shall direct the same after the ritches of his grace into al spiritu∣al and heauenly cogitacions▪ he is Page  [unnumbered] faithful and wil not further suffer* you to be assaulted, then shal be a boue your power, and in the most daunger he wil make a waye, that ye may be able to beare it. Shrink* not therfore deare harts, whether you shall be called, for the hope that is in you, for ye haue a com∣fortout▪ euen the spirit of truthe,* which was sent from the heauen, to teach vs, he shall speake in vs,* he shal strengthen vs▪ what is he then that wil be able to confound* vs? nay▪ what tiraūt is he that now bosteth him selfe of his strength* to do mischiefe▪ whom the Lorde shall not in the sayinges by the mouthe of hys seruauntes stryke downe to hel fyre? ye sodenly wil the Lord bring downe the glorie of the proude Philistian▪ by the hand of his seruant Dauid. Their* strength standeth in the speare & shield▪ but our help is in the name of the Lorde▪ whiche hath made* both heauen and earth He is our buckler▪ walle, & tower of defēce,* he is our god▪ and we are his peo∣ple, he shal bring the counsell of* Page  [unnumbered] the vngodly vnto nought. He shal* take them in their own net, he shal destroy them in their owne inuen∣tions, the right hand of the Lorde* shal worke this wōder, his power is knowen among the children of men, their fathers haue felt it, and* are confoūded. In like maner shall their children know that ther is no* counsel against the lord, whē their secretes ar opened vnto the world* and are found to be against the ly∣uing God, worcke they neuer so crafteli, build they neuer so strong lie▪ yet shal their Babell fal down, and the builders them selues shal be scatered vpon the face of the* earthe, as accursed of God. The iust shal see this and be glad, and praise the name of the lorde, that so mercifully hath delt with hys seruauntes, as to bring their ene∣mies* vnder their feete. Then shal the fearefull seede of Cain trem∣ble and quake. Then shal the moe kyng Ismalittes be cast out of the* dore: Then shal the proud Nem∣pro these his labour lost. Thē shal* the host of Babilon be troden vn∣der Page  [unnumbered] foote, then shall the Scribes and Pharisies for madnes feare & rage. Then shal their wisdom be* knowen for extreame folly. Then shal the bloudy dragon be voyde* of his pray. Then shal the whore of Babilon, receiue a double ven∣geaunce,* then shal the market mē of the beast, come vnto an open* shame, then shall they scratche their crownes for the very fall of the monstrous harlot (whom now* they serue for filthye lucre) when no man will bye their wares anye more. Then shal the popish priest hoode crie wel awaye with care,* euen when the lord shal help his seruauntes, which day is not far. The day wherin the kingdome of Antichrist shal haue an ende, and neuer arise any more. In the mean time, abyde in certayne and sure hope cleauing vnto the promises of god, which in their dutime shal* be fulfilled, and aquit your selues like men▪ against the enemyes of* God in al humblenes of mind, pu∣issaunt in spirite, to acknowledge* one God, one only sauiour Iesus Page  [unnumbered] Christ, one only sufficient & euer∣lasting sacryfice for the remission of sinnes, euen the precious bodie of the lord Iesus Christ▪ once offe red for al & for euer. which now sitteth on the right hand of god,* and from thence shal he come to iudge both the quick & the dead, and the last day he shall▪ &c. and* vntyll that tyme occupyeth that blessed body none other place to* dwel in, to be kept in, to be inclo∣sed in, but only in the heauens, e∣uen* in the glorious maiesti of god, personalli abiding ther in the self same bodye without commynge downe frō thence til the last hour and as he neuer ceaseth to lie mā, so doth he neuer leese the simili∣tude of a man, his body ther hath his liniamentes, and leaueth them* not, so hath that body there hys bignes, and shrincketh not▪ & hys manly shape at any tyme, he alte∣reth not. He is in that he toke of the virgin Mary a naturall man in* al conditions (excepte synne) and what he tooke of his blessed mo∣ther by the working of the holye Page  [unnumbered] ghost, he toke it for euer, and will not exchaunge for anye other, he tooke the shape of a man, wyth* the substaunce of hys manhoode in one sacred wombe, there were they coupled together by the ho∣ly gost, neuer to be deuided a sun∣der, he retaineth the one from the other inseparablye, as he will not alter the substaunce of his flesh in to the substaunce of bread, so he wil no more alter the shape of his bodi into the forme of bread, the• cannot be a greater absurdite a∣gainst the truth, then to thynke that he woulde leaue the shape that he toke in the virgins wōbe (being an accident vnto his man∣hoode) and ioyne vnto the same the fourme of a wafer cake ba∣ken in an ouen, or betwyxt a paire of irons. As he is in heauen very God, so is he in heauen veri man,* one onli mediatout betwixt god and man, euen the man Christ Ie∣sus, he it is that is the propitiati on for our sinnes. Beholde ther∣fore to confesse this moste apo∣stolycke doctryne, and also that Page  [unnumbered] al fauour, mercie and forgiuenesse* commeth only by him. The onely sonne of God the father for vs al, was made wisdom, rightuousnes,* sanctification and redemption, all these are the gifts of God the fa∣ther,* freely geuen vnto vs bi Christ Iesus, God and mā, through faith in his bloud, and not by the merits of men, giftes they are (I say) frely geuē, geuen vnto vs of fauor, with* out desert by beleuing, and not de seruing. To this the law▪ and Apo* stles beare wytnes. This doctryne haue all the blessed Martires of* Christes churche witnessed wyth their blud to be true. To this truth hath al the consciences of all true beleuers confessed, euer since the ascention of Christ, this witnes is not but of God, what better qua∣rel can ye then haue to giue youre liues for, then for the truth it self? That man that giueth his life for* the truth: taketh the readiest way vnto life. He that hath the Popes curs for the truth: is surer of Chri∣stes blessing, wel then my brethrē* what shal you let, but that you go Page  [unnumbered] forward as ye haue begonne, nay rather runne with the runers, that* ye may obtaine the apointed glo∣rie. Hold on the right wai, that ye neither looke backe, haue the eye* of your faith fixed vpon God, and so runne that ye may get holde of* it. Cast away al your worldly pelf, as the fauour of frendes, feare of men▪ sensual affection, pouertye, ritches landes, posessions, carnall fathers and mothers, wife & chil∣dren, with the loue of your owne selues, and in respect of heauenlye treasures, ye loke for. Let al these be denied and vtrerlye refused of you, so that in no cōditiō they do abate your zeale, or quenche your loue towardes God. In thys case make no account of them, but ra∣ther* repute thē as vile, in cōparisō of euerlasting life, away with thē as thornes that choke the heuenli seede of the gospel, wher they be suffered to growe. They are bur∣thens* of the fleshe▪ which encom∣ber the soule▪ exchaūge them ther* fore for aduauntage. Doth not he gaine that findeth immortal trea∣sures, Page  [unnumbered] for heauenlye & corruptible* riches. Leseth that man any thing which of his carnal fathers & mo∣thers is forsaken, when therefore* he is receiued of god the father to be his child & heire in Christ, hea∣uenly* for earthlye, for mortall im∣mortal,* for transitory things, thin∣ges permanent, is greate gaines to a Christian conscience. Therefore (as I begonne) I exhort you in the Lord, not to be afraid. Shrink not my brethren and sisterne, mystrust* not God, be of good comfort, re∣ioyce in the Lord, holde fast your faith, and continue vnto the ende. Denie the worlde, and take your crosse and folowe him, whiche is* your lodes mā, and is gone before. If ye suffer with him, ye shal raign with him. VVhat way can you glo¦rifi more the name of your heauen¦lye father, then by sufferynge the death for his sonnes sake? what a spectacle shal it be to the worlde, to behold so godlye a felowshyp as the seruauntes of God, in so iust a quarel as the gospell of Christe▪ with so pure a conscience, so strōg Page  [unnumbered] a faith, and so liuelye an hope, to offer them selues, to suffer moste cruel tormentes at the handes of Gods enemies, and so to end their daies in peace, to receiue in the re∣surrection of the rightuons life e∣uerlasting. Be stronge therefore in* your battaile, the Lord God is on your side, & his truth is your cause and against you be none, but the e∣nemies of the crosse of Christe, as* the serpent and his seede, the dra∣gon with his taile, the market men of the beaste, the ofspring of the pharisies, the congregation malig* naunt, the generation of Vipers, murtherers, as their father the di∣uel hath bene from the beginning, to conclude, suche are they as the* Lord god hath al waies abhorred & in al ages resisted and ouerthro∣wen. God, from whom nothing is hid, he knoweth what they are, he* that searcheth the hartes of men, he hath found them out to be craf* tie▪ suttle▪ ful of poison▪ proud▪ dis daineful▪ stifnecked▪ deuouters, ra∣uenours, barkers against Christes Testament, filthie and shameles▪ Page  [unnumbered] and therfor doth the spirit of god by the mouth of his holi prophets & Apostles cal them by the names of Foxes, Serpents, Cockcatrices, Lions, Leoperdes, Bulles, Beares, Wolues, Dogges, Swine, Beastes, teaching vs therby to vnderstande that their natural inclination is to* disceiue, poison, and destroye (as much as in them lieth) the faithful and elect of God, but he wyth hys right arme shall defende his litle flocke against the whole rabilmēt of these world linges, which haue conspired agaynst him. He hathe nombred vp the heares of his chil* drens head, so that not one of thē shal perish without his fatherlie* wyll. He keepeth the Sparowes, much more wil he preserue them* whom he hathe purchased wyth the bloud of the immaculate lābe.* He wil kepe them, vntil the hour appoynted, wherein the name of god shal be glorified in his saints, in the meane time let them worke their wils, let them enuie, let them malyng, let them blaspheme, let* them curs, banne, betraie, whippe, Page  [unnumbered] scourge, hang and burne. For by these meanes God wyil trye hys elect as gold is tried in the fornace* and by these frutes shal thei bring them selues to be knowen what* they be, for al their shepes skinne. For as he that in suffering paciēt∣lie for the gospel of God, is ther∣by knowen to be of Christ: euen so* in like maner is the persecutour of them knowen therby to be a mem ber of Antechriste. Besydes that, these their extreme cruelty shalbe a meane the soner to prouoke god to take pite vpon his seruauntes, & to destroy those that so tiranous∣lie intreate his people, as we may learne by the historyes, as well in the bondage of Israell, vnder Pha* roo in Egipt, as also in the misera ble captiuitie of Iuda in Babilon,* wheras when the people of God were in most extreme thraldome, then did the Lord stretch fourth his mightie power to deliuer hys seruantes. Though god for a time suffer them to be exalted in their* owne pride. yet shal they not es∣cape his vengeaunce. They are his* Page  [unnumbered] roddes, and when he hath woren them to the stumpes, then will he* cast them into the fire. This shalbe their final reward, your duty is in* the meane while patientli to abide the wil of god, which worketh al thinges for the best. Thus dealeth he with vs, partly for our trial, and partly also for our sinnes, whiche we most greuouslie haue commit∣ted to the great slaunder of his gos* pel, wherby the name of God is e∣uil spoken of among his enemyes, for the which he now punisheth vs with his fatherly correction in* this world, that we should not be dampned with the world. By this meane seeketh he his sheepe that were lost, to bringe them home to the fold againe. By this way see∣keth he to refourme vs▪ that we maye be like vnto him after the i∣mage of his sonne Iesus Christ in* al holines and righteousnes before him. Finally▪ this wave vseth hys godly wisdome, to make vs therby to know him▪ and our selues in him that afore tyme had a maner for∣got* him, praysed be hys name. As Page  [unnumbered] For these Balamites which now do molest vs, let vs now commit them vnto the handes of GOD, gyue* him the vengeaunce, and he wyll reward them. Fal ye to praier, and let these belly gods prate, for he is in heauen and sleepeth not, that ke¦peth Israell, he is in heauen that made the seas calme, when the dis¦ciples * wer afraid. Let vs now faith¦fully cal vpon him▪ & he wil heare vs, let vs crie vnto the Lord, for he is gratious and merciful when we* are in trouble. He is with vs, he wil deliuer vs, and he wil glorifie vs. If we be tourned vnto him, we shall* find him turned vnto vs, if we re∣pent vs of our wyckednes done a∣gainst* him, then shal he take away the plage that he hath deuised a∣gainst vs. Let vs therfore earnestly repent▪ and bring forth the worthi* frutes of repentaunce. Let vs studi to be hys▪ then shall we not feare what these hipocrites do against vs▪ which with their pretensed ho¦lines deceiue the hearts of the peo¦ple that be simple▪ and abuse the autoriti of god in his princes▪ cau∣sing* Page  [unnumbered] them by their procurement to establish the ambitious prelasy, & to erect vp their idol againe, wyth the romish masse. God (in whose* handes are the hattes of kinges) o∣pen the hart of the quenes maiesty to espie them out what they be, & so to weede them out, that thei no lenger be suffered to trouble the congregation of God, and to poi∣son the realme with their pope ho ly doctrine. God almightie for his sonne Iesus Christes sake, deliuer the quenes hyghnes and thys her realme from the proude prelates, which ar as profitable in the chur∣che* of Christ, as a polecat in a war rin. Their felowshyp is noisome, their absence is right necessarye.* To conclude (my brethren) I com∣mit you to God, and to the power of his word, which is able to esta∣blish you in al truth▪ his spirite be with you, & worcke in you that ye may alway be mindful of your du∣ties towarde hym▪ whose you are* both body & soule. whom se that ye loue & serue, dread & obeie, be∣fore* al earthly powers, and for no∣thing Page  [unnumbered] vnder the heauē defile your cōsciences in the sight of god. Dis* semble not with his word▪ god wil not be mocked, nay, thei y^e dissēble* with him, deceiue thē selues▪ such the lord deny & cast out at the last* day. Suche as beare ii. faces in one hoode, such as play on both han∣des, such as deni the knowen truth such as obstinatly rebel against it, al such with their partakers, shall the Lord destroi. God defend you from al such▪ & make you perfit vnto the end. Amen.