The sermons of master Ralfe Gualter vpon the prophet Zephaniah written in Latine. Translated into English by Moses Wilton. Seene and allowed

The sixth Sermon.

The Text.

5 WOe to the inhabitants of the Sea coast: the nation of the Cherethims: the woord of the Lord is against you: O Canaan the land of the Philistines: I will euen de∣stroy thee without an inhabitaunt.

6 And the sea coastes shalbe dwel∣linges and cotages for shepherdes and sheepefoldes.

7 And that cost shalbe for the rem∣nant of the house of Iudah, and to feed therevpon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lodge toward night: for the Lord their God shall visite them and turne away their captiuitie.

8 I haue heard the reproch of Moab and the rebukes of the Children of Ammon, whereby they vpbraided my people, and magnified themselues a∣gainst their borders.

8 Therefore as I liue, saith the Lord of hostes, the God of Israell, surely Moab shalbe as Sodome, and the chil∣dren

of Amon. &c.

THe prophet hauing exhorted y^e god∣ly to constancie of faith, commeth to the 3. part of his sermon, wherein he thretneth destruction to the Gentiles, being their enemies. These were the special causes of this discourse: the 1. is y^e corruptiō of nature, wherby it cō∣meth to pas, y^t for y^e most part we looke vnto others, when we be afflicted, & do think y^t we are worse delt w^tal, thē we deserue, if so be y^e any feare better then we our selues. Which may be séene by Peter, whē he was by christ Iesus ad∣monished of suffering y^e punishment of deth for y^e doctrin of the truth, & sought not, as he ought, to prepare himself ther to, but what should becōe of Iohn, whō he saw that christ loued more then y^e o∣thers. An other is, y^e stumbling block, y^t was laid in y^e way of the godly, to their great grief, when they saw the wicked malapertly triumph ouer thē, being af∣flicted vnder the crosse; & frō thence to take occasion to speake euill of faith & true religion, which thing was done when the people were led away to Ba∣bylon: but the Prophet foreséeing this,

teacheth them y^t God in déede will be∣gin with the Iewes to punish, but wil passe from them to the nations adioy∣ning, which must vtterly be destroyed, & that to the profit of his owne people, which at the length being returned frō their captiuitie, shall inioy al this land of the Heathen their enemies. And a∣mōgst these he nameth the Philistins, the Moabits, &c, whom we know to be the auncient enemies of the Church, which vnder the cloak of a league, had before very notoriously mocked Eze∣chia, & al the people of God. Lastly hée addeth vnto these the Babylonians, which must also be punished of God, so soon as they haue finished their course. But this place conteineth a generall doctrine, and consolation. For first we are here taught, that God is the God, not only of his people, but also of other nations, & that he doth bend the rygor of his Iudgement against al men: se∣condly we sée that it is no new thing, if any time we perceiue that the Church is very roughly dealte withall, and that no man ought to bee offended

therewith, for then also hath God e∣specially an eye vnto it, who as hee doeth refourme it with correction, so in the ende he turneth his iudgement a∣gainst them that persecute it.

But because in our sermon yester∣day, he began to speake of the destructi∣on of the Philistines, that he might as it were with this example make the Iewes afraide, he doeth of them begin this discourse: and in the entrance hee describeth the situation and manners of that nation: that thereby it may be knowne of whom he speaketh, and for what causes especially they must bee punished. Woe to the inhabitours of the sea coast: the nation of the Che∣rethims: the woord of the Lorde is a∣gainst you, O Canaan the land of the Philistines. He calleth the line or cost of the Sea, that countrie y^t is stretch∣ed euē vnto the sea. For by a figure cal¦led Synecdoche or Metonimia, a line is takē for a lot or share falling to any mā, because men do vse a line in mea∣suring or parting of ground. So doth

Moses call Iacob, that is to say, Israel the line of the Lordes inheritance: and Dauid sayth the lines are fallen to me in a faire grounde, and, by and by af∣ter expounding the same, he sayth, that a goodly inheritance befell him. But it is well knowne by them that haue written of countries to describe their situations, that all this coast borde∣ring vpon the Sea, was in times past very famous by reason of fiue cities, whereof the Prophet hath alreadie na∣med fower, as Amos also doth, which a little before threatned them with de∣struction. Gaza lay more towardes the South, then any of the other: this was famous by reason of a hauē there, which Constantinus afterwarde after his own name called Constantia. But Iulianus restored vnto it againe the olde name, perhaps because of the ha∣tred he bare to Constantinus, and for that he was delighted with the rem∣nantes of Gentilitie or Heathennesse. Next vnto this was Geth, where Go∣liah the Giaunt was borne, and is heere omitted, eyther because it was

vtterly rased, or else was of lesse value then that it shoulde come in any reckoning: the third was Ash∣kelon, where Antipater the Father of Herod the Greate was afterwardes borne: in the fourth place was A∣zotus, which among all the cities of Syria, as Herodotus writeth, abode the longest siege, when Psalmeti∣cus was King of Egypt, whereby it may appeare, that it was very well furnished for the warres. Meta calleth it the mart of the marchan∣dise of all Arabia, which was the cause that it was so corrupted with ri∣ot and delicatenes, that the manners of Azotus grewe into a byword. With these is Akron reckoned, being builded vpon the maine Land. Furthermore the Prophet tearmeth al that country by twoo names, whereby he sheweth foorth their manners. First he calleth them the nation of the Cheretims, that is to say, of thē that destroy and plucke vpp by the rootes. By which name one of Dauid his legions was called, being alwaies next vnto, or at the kings

hand. Wee knowe that Warriours are roughe and cruell, and it is too bee beeleeued that they gotte them that name as bloody and cruell men are woonte too doe, which séeke for prayse by murdering and ouer∣throw of whole nations. Then hee calleth them the Canaanites, partely because they came of the offspring of those that remained of y^e Canaanites, partly, that hee might shew, that how∣soeuer they were outragiously bent, GOD made no more account of them, then of the Canaanites, which erastwhile hath appointed them vn∣to destruction, And he doeth not without an earnest expressing of his entent or meaning, tell them by the way, that the woorde of the Lord is against them. As though hee shoulde say, the people of GOD must indeede be punished, and you shall see them led away into captiuitie but the iudgement of GOD will not stay there, but from thence it shall also come vntoo you, which muste no lesse be punished then they. By the example wee are admonished

that the iudgmentes of God are some∣time deferred, but not altogether ta∣ken away: these should haue beene de∣stroyed with the other Cananites a∣about. 800. yeeres before this, when the Israelites entered the land promi∣sed their fathers, Iosua bieng their cap¦taine and guide. But they abode still in their roomes, partly through the slouth of the Israelites, who being a∣mased with the labours and daungers thereto belonging, sought for ease and quietnes: partly by the determinate counsell of God, which woulde haue some to remaine, by whose vngodli∣nes the vertue of the Israelites should be exercised, least they flowing in y∣dlenes, should wax woorse and worse and come to nothing. But because they regarded not the counsell of God, but being puffed vp with pride, assaul∣ted the church, shed innocent bloode, spent their life defiled with euery kind of wickednes, the Lord forsooke not his owne cause, but punished them being past mendment, with that ouerthrow which lately they had deserued. There

bee in the histories many such exam∣ples, in the studie whereof they ought diligently to be occupied, which there∣fore promise them selues, that they shal neuer be punished, because as wel they, as their forefathers had liued long in their beastly & corrupt manners, not tasting thereby any harme, or discom∣moditie: for God hath his certaine cau∣ses, for the which hee winketh for a time, but he hath also appointed the ve∣ry houre vnto euery one, wherein they must be plagued for their transgressi∣ons.

But let vs sée what the Prophet threatneth against these Philistines. I will roote thee out, that there be none to inhabite thee. Therefore he threat∣neth a generall destruction, and after∣ward describing the face of the earth, discouered to the inhabitantes thereof, he saith, that the Sea cost shalbe dwel∣linges and cotages for the shepheards, & sheepfolds. He nameth y^e line of the Sea or sea coast: again, y^t he may com∣pare the present state of the countrey with that destruction that followed

not much after. The meaning is this: that coast of the Philistines that lyeth next vnto the Sea, which at this tyme, by reason of the hauens, and thronge of Merchants is famous. In the furniture of Cities and Towers, in princely building of Palaces, moste pleasaunt store of orchardes and gar∣dens, doeth far passe other nations, shal in short time be destroyed, and be∣come a receptacle for poore shepheards, which shall driue their heards thither: and it shall come to passe that their winecellers and their warehouses, made vnder the earth, filled with most pleasaunt spices, shall be turned into shéepefoldes. And thus hée sheweth the iust iudgement of God, which will pu∣nish them with horrible destruction, which haue destroyed other countries, and haue gotten themselues a name of their destroying, in that they would be called Cherethim, which is (of de∣stroyers.) This is the lot of al them y^t be such: and certenly the law of nature fayleth not, which is confirmed by the authoritie of Christ himselfe, saying:

With what measure you mete vnto o∣thers, with the same shall others mete vnto you. Whereof because we haue spoken more at large in an other place, it may suffice to haue noted these thinges. But because the Prophet spake these things for the comfort of the godly: he teacheth also that all this shall fall out for their good. For he ad∣deth, The sea coast shalbe for the rem∣naunt of the house of Iudah: that is, al this country shal fal to them, which by the singular goodwill of God, shall be preserued out of Iudah. They (I say) shall féede there, and shall rest in the houses of Askalon in the night: where the circumstance of the time doth note the quietnesse, and doeth promise that the possession of the land shall be safe, and without daunger. Hee addeth in the place of confirmation, Because the Lord their God wil visit them, & bring again their captiuitie: which was ne∣cessarily adioyned, because it should haue bene a mockery to promise these coūtries to thē, which he said should be caried vnto Babylō) except they were

made very certaine of their returne. But he restraineth this promise to them that remayne, (as other Pro∣phets doe also) because the number of the wicked was the greatest, which must vtterly be destroyed. But these thinges are fulfilled two manner of waies: for first they that returned frō Babilon, had these countries in posses∣sion, and in the historie of the Macha∣bes, it is written of Ionathan and Si∣meon, that they brought Gaza and As∣kalon with the places there about into the Iewes subiection. Againe we reade in the Acts, that the Apostles with the preching of the Gospel ouerwent these very same cities with the whole coun∣trey of the Philistines, so that they came vnder the gouernment of Christ, who being borne of Iuda, as touching the fleshe, of the remnaunt wherof hee spread his kingdome al about both far and néere. And here againe doeth the worthines of the Church appeare, for whose cause God doth either preserue & kéepe in safetie most mightie nations, or els doth scatter and cut them of, if

they continue to molest or trouble the same: we haue brought exāpls herof in an other place, neither ought wee to doubte thereof, although it be some∣time brought to a small number. For there will alwayes be some remnant, wherof as of a most fruiteful séede the Church doeth spring againe, and is wonderfully spread abroade, contra∣ry to that that all men might looke for.

Furthermore the Prophet passeth from the Philistines vnto the Moabits and Amonites, whome he coupleth to∣gether, because they were brethren, and did with like rage at all times in∣uade the people of GOD: they came of Lot, whom Moses testifieth to haue bene dronken, and to haue laine with his daughters. And although they were nigh of bloud to the Iewes; yet (as wee haue noted in Amos) they bare an enemies minde against them. But they did then especially declare their hartes, when the Iewes were led away captiues by the Babyloni∣nians. For then they triumphed o∣uer

them, being ouercome, and went aboute to stretch the boundes of their kingdome euen vnto Iuda, as we shall heare by and. This was a great and very bitter corsey, wherewith the faith of very many was tryed, when they saw the chosen people of GOD to be ouercome by the wicked; and the Gen∣tiles borne of incest, safely to enioy their possessions: and should heare the reproches of the same wherewith they did girde at, and defame the true reli∣gion, or did hazard or bring into daun∣ger the glory of God himselfe. The Prophet Zephaniah therefore dealeth diligently against them. For first be∣cause GOD may séeme vnto many to be blinde and deafe, séeing that such thinges were committed and spoken by these, and that without punish∣ment: he bringeth in him selfe, saying: I haue heard the reproch of the Mo∣abites, and the rebukes of the children of Ammon, wherby they vpbrayded my people, and magnified them selues against their borders. In which words

hée describeth their wickednesse, and teacheth them, that hée is not igno∣raunt of any of those thinges. As tou∣ching their sinnes, he accuseth them of two thinges. First, because they re∣proched the Iewes, and spake many things cōtumeliously, not only against the Iewes, but also against GOD and his true religion, which these Iewes professed. The other is: be∣cause they exalted themselues: that is, they enterprised many thinges very proudly against their broders, while they would haue layde the countrey of the Iewes vnto their own land. Amos in like manner rebuketh this desire of inlarging their kingdome, in the Amonites, which affirmeth that they absteined not from ripping vp of wo∣men great with childe; insomuch that by that kinde of crueltie they constrained the Galaadites to yéelde them selues. And Ieremy speaketh vnto the same, Hath Israel no childe? haue they none to inherit? why ther∣fore doth Malchom possesse Gad, and

his people dwel in his cities. Both these sinnes were before all others very de∣testable, and woorthy of greeuous pu∣nishment, for triumphing ouer them that were brought lowe, they offended against the lawe of nature, which tea∣cheth to bewayle thē, & in y^e calamities of others to acknowledg that the com∣mon chance of all men is befraught with misery and wretchednesse. But for asmuch as they gaue the raine to sausie speech both against god & his ser¦uice it appeared y^t they had put of altast of religion. Againe, forasmuch as they inuaded that land which God had pro∣mised to Abraham, and did giue it, not without many wonders, to be inha∣bited of his posteritie, this iniurie rea∣ched both vnto God himselfe, neyther yet did they shewe themselues thanke∣full as they ought vnto Abraham, who in time past brought their progenitour into this land, & being takē captiue he deliuered him from the hand of his e∣nemies. These things ought too bee marked of those that are pricked with the like desire of bearing rule. For we

know that God in olde time distribu∣ted to euery natiō his land or country. They therfore offend against him who soeuer they be that streatch out farther their boundes being by him appointed. And although God vseth their wodnes in punishing those that abused his giftes and benefites, yet the selfe same shall not scape vnpunished, as we haue taught in an other place by many ex∣amples. But in this place it is full of most sweete comfort, that he saith, he hath heard their reproches & rebukes. For heereby they might learne, that God would neuer leaue to care for thē, although he suffred them some space to be afflicted, but that that is spoken of them ought to be applyed vnto all: for God both heareth and seeth in euery place of the earth whatsoeuer is pur∣posed against those that be his. And be∣cause his glory is coupled with their safetie, he neuer doeth neglect it. Let vs therefore be mindful of these things as often as we heare the reproches and scoffes of the wicked, neither let vs

think that eyther the glorie of God, or our welfare is any whitte impayred thereby.

But lest any man should thinke that God is but an ydle beholder, hee denounceth the punishment, which he hath determined to plague thē with, and that with such an earnest auou∣ching, that therevnto he addeth an oathe, saying (as I liue) which is to say, as surely as I am God & liue for euer, so surely shall that come to passe that I now speake. And that the au∣thoritie of this protestation may be the greater, the Prophet maketh a descrip¦tion of God, calling him the God of Is∣rael, the Lord of hosts comprehending therin the power and goodnes of God, that he might shewe that he is able to bring to passe whatsoeeuer he threat∣neth against his wicked enemies: and that he will do it because he is bound to his people by a peculiar couenaunt. But what is it that he thretneth? that Moab shalbe as Sodome, and the Chil∣dren of Ammon as Gomorha. &c. He vseth those examples which the Pro∣phetes

alleage for the most parte when they woulde declare any extreame mi∣series or calamities: but because they were not vtterly burned vpp with fire from heauen, he addeth to expounde himselfe, their place shalbe ouergrown with nettles, and shalbe Saltpits, and a perpetual desolation. The meaning therefore is, as the cities of the Sodo∣mites & of thē of Gomorrha together with all their fieldes are turned into a stinking lake, and (as Strabo writeth) into a soyle that fometh dust & ashes: euen so shall all the region of the Mo∣abites and Amonites be made desolate and barren, and shall so remaine for e∣uer. And surely it is well knowne, that those nations were neuer resto∣red againe, and that with them their kingdomes also and whole gouerne∣ment of their common welth came to naught: sauing that in these latter a∣ges a mixt multitude of vagabondes, out of all nations flocked thither, which vsurped to thēselues y^e auncient name of y^e Arabiēs. And these, because they neuer submited thēselues to any

lawful gouernment, liued for the most part by rapine. And Mahomet com∣ming of their offspring, began supersti∣tion in the Turkes kingdome, But as he spake of the Philistines: so also hee speaketh of these: The remnnat of my people shal spoyle them, & the remnāt of my folke shall possesse them. Which thing because it cannot be expounded of the Iewes returning from Babi∣lon, it must be referred to the Apostles and their disciples, which preached Christ in these countries also, and they ordeyned Churches as the holy Scrip∣ture beareth witnesse of Paule. And christian Religion flourished in those quarters, for certaine yeeres, vntill Mahomets outrage, as I sayd before, troubled all Churches. But the exam∣ple of these nations doeth teach what remaineth for them, that neuer cease to vexe or assault the Church of God. For séeing they would not giue place vnto Christ, vnto whom his father hath giuen al natiōs, yea the vttermost borders of the earth: they were woor∣thie in the ende to loose all that they

had: & there can no order other wise be taken for them and their countrie, but by submitting themselues to be gouer∣ned by Christ. Heerevnto serueth the vehement conclusion of this place. This fell vppon them for their pride, because they were reproched and mag∣nified thē selues against the people of y^e Lord of hostes. He dooth principally name their pride, that the Iewes might be lesse greeued therewith when they shoulde heare that they should be so greeuously punished for the same, and hee calleth them the people of the Lord, that he might destroy the wic∣kednes of the other nations more at large, and might prooue more assured∣ly that the iniuries which they offred them, should not be vnpunished. But let vs learne out of this place, that no∣thing is so detestable and hateful vnto God as pride: that principally where∣with men doe aduaunce themselues a∣grinst God and his woorde, and doe desire to oppresse his Church. This is the cause of many sinnes, which God suffreth not to scape vpunished, we

néede not to bring any examples, be∣cause they that read histories, do méete with them euery where, and many do fall out euery day, both priuate and publik, that may witnes these things, therefore let not the pride of the wic∣ked, which continueth not long, offend any man, but let vs be humbled vnder the mightie hand of the Lorde, which shiltreth those, that are afflicted vnder the crosse, and will in the end make them inheritors of the heauenly glory, with his Son Iesus Christ: to whome be thankes giuing, glory, honour and power, world without end.

Amen.

Notes

• The argument and vse of this place.
• Iohn. 21.
• Abdia. Psal. 137.
• Isay. 20.
• He threatneth the Philistines.
• Deut. 32.
• Psal. 18.
• The punish∣ment of the Philistine.
• Macha. 10.11.13.
• Acts. 8.9.
• The Moabit•…•… and Amonites.
• Amos. 1.••.
• Iere. 49.
• The punish∣ment of the Moabites and Ammonites.
• ••allat. ••.