A Christian discourse vpon certaine poynts of religion Presented vnto the most high & puissant Lorde, the Prince of Conde. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Brooke of Ashe next Sandwich. 1578.

¶ A BRIEFE DEMONSTRA∣tion vnto those which haue susteined euen hetherto the dooing of the reformed re∣ligion for to confirme them more and more in their first will. Cap. 13.

Psalme. 73: d.

¶ They that forsake thee shall perish: thou destroiest all them that commit fornication against thee.

THE Scripture doth wit∣nesse that at the comming of the sonne of God, many false Prophetes shall arise & shall deceiue many. And bicause iniquitie shal haue the vpper hande, the loue of many shall abate. But hée that endureth to the ende, the same shall bée safe. As it is written, that hée whiche striueth for a ma∣strie is not crowned, excepte hée striue lawefully. And the husbandman, must first by laboring receiue the fruites. And what he is among you (sayth the Lord) y^t is

disposed to builde a towre, sitteth not downe before, and counteth the cost, whe∣ther he haue sufficient to performe it? Least after he hath laide the foundation, and is not able to performe it, all that beholde it, begin to mocke him: saying, this man be∣gan to build, and was not able to make an ende. I speake this my bretheren least ther be at any time in any of you an euill heart & vnfaithfull to depart away frō the liuing God. But exhort one another dailie, while it is called to day, least any of you waxe harde harted through the disceitfulnesse of sinne. For we are made pertakers of Christ if we kéepe sure vnto the ende the begin∣ning, wherewith we are holden vp. And we doe exhort you of this, fearing that in forsaking him whiche hath called you by grace, you doe transport your selues vnto an other gospell, and séeing nowe ye know God, yea, rather taught of God, you doe turne your selues backewarde vnto impo∣tent and beggerlie ceremonies obseruing (with the Iewes) daies and monethes, and times and yeares: not for that I doe dis∣trust of your good will. But to the ende y^t I may so assure you in the faith of y^e Lord, that the course of this present life finished,

euery one of you may say with the Apostle Sainct Paule. I haue fought a good fight, and haue fulfilled my course, and haue kept the faith. From hencefoorth is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lorde that is a righteous Iudge shal giue me at that day: not to me onely, but vn∣to all them also that loue his comming. In like manner, to the end that ye bée not as children caried about with euery winde of doctrine, as cōmonly chaunseth vnto men. But let vs followe the trueth in loue, and in all thinges growe vp into him which is the head, that is to say Christ. The pro∣phet doth complaine in the olde lawe, that his people doe halt betwéene two opinions neither following the liuinge GOD nor Baal. The Lorde did rebuke the Angell of the Laodicians bicause that hée was neither hot nor colde, insomuch that therfore he will spew him out of his mouth. On the other side hée doth promise to him that ouercommeth, to sit with him in his throne, as it is written, no man can serue two masters, for either he shall hate the one and loue the other, or els he shall leane to the one and despise the other. Righteous∣nesse hath no felowship with vnrighteous∣nesse,

neither light hath companie w^t darke∣nesse, neither Christ accordeth with Belial. If then ye haue receiued the word of God, be ye not like vnto him which hath sowed his séed vpon stonie ground. I do meane him which heareth the worde, and anone with ioye receiueth it. Yet hath he no rootes in himselfe, and therefore dureth but a season: for as soone as tribulation or persecutiō ari∣seth bicause of the word, by and by he is of∣fended. Also be ye not followers of that foo∣lish man, which builded his house vpon the sande: and the raine fell, and the floudes came, and the windes blewe, and beat vpon the house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof. He that is not with me is against me (saith the Lord): And he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. That is the cause wherefore Sainct Iohn did complaine of some in his time, which did beare office in the church, and neuerthelesse did drawe themselues away from the same, when hée saith, they went out from vs, but they were not of vs: for if they had bene of vs, they would doubtlesse haue continued with vs. But this cōmeth to passe, that it might ap∣peare, that they are not all of vs. The Apo∣stle sainct Paule speaking of the Apostates,

saith, y^t if we sinne willingly after that wée haue receiued the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes. For if we, after we haue escaped from the filthinesse of y^e world, through y^e knowledge of the Lord, and of the sauiour Iesus Christ, are yet tangled againe therein, & ouercome: then is the latter ende worse with vs then the beginning: for it had bene better for vs, not to haue knowen the way of righteous∣nesse, then after we haue knowen it, to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vnto vs, according to the true prouerbe. The dog is returned to his vomite againe: and the sowe that was washed, to hir wallowing in the mire. Know then my bretheren, that God hath nourtered you, euen as the father nourtereth his children:: And beware that thou forget not the Lorde thy GOD, in not keeping his commaundementes, lawes and ordinaunces. That when you shall haue the thinges that you desire, and your riches and goodes increased, then your hart rise, and you forget the Lord your God which hath deliuered you frō the hand of your enimies.

Learne by y^e example of y^e people of Israel, y^t he which ought to be right hath kicked: he

I say, which was made fatte, thicke and smooth, hath forsaken and let God go that made him, and despised the God of Israel that saued him. As also the same Lord doth witnesse by his Prophet, that the iniqui∣tie of Sodome was pride, aboundance of bread, and idlenesse. On the other side sub∣mit your selues therfore vnder the migh∣tie hande of God, that he may exalte you when the time is come. Cast all your care on him: for he careth for you. Be sober and watch, for your aduersarie the diuell as a roring Lyon walketh about séeking whō he may deuoure. Sée that ye loue not the worlde, neither the things that are in the worlde. For all that is in the worlde, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eies, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but of the worlde: and the worlde passeth awaie and the lust thereof, but he that fulfilleth the will of God, abideth for euer. And true∣ly we knowe that we are of God, and that the world lyeth in wickednesse. Déerely beloued, absteine from fleshly lustes which fight against the soule: And as obedient children, not fashioning your selues vnto y^e olde lustes of your ignoraunce: But as he which called you is holie, euen so be ye ho∣ly

also in all manner of conuersation. And in al sobernes, & trust perfectly on y^e grace y^t is brought vnto you by the reuelatiō of Iesus Christ. And beware my brethrē of y^e great Babilon, y^e mother of fornicatiō, with whom haue cōmitted fornicatiō y^t kings of earth, y^t they are droncken with y^e wine of hir fornication. For although that that woman was araied in purple and crimson, and guilded with golde and precious stones and pearles, yet truely she had in hir hand, a cup ful of abhominations and filthines of hir fornication. And as it happened at the subuersion and destruction of Sodome and of Gomorra, that Lots wife looking backe was turned into a piller of salt. And euen as Dina the daughter of Iacob, going out to sée the daughters of the lande, was ra∣uished by the Princes of the sayd lande. Feare on your part that ye taking to great pleasure in worldly things, ye be not sedu∣ced and deceiued: and forsaking the com∣maundements of the Lorde, ye be not de∣stroied. For as it happened that the chil∣dren of Israel being induced and prouoked by the wiues of the Madianits did trespasse against the Lord bicause of Peor. It is al∣so to be feared, that you following to much

that which is of y^e world. You do altogether forget the homage & obedience which you doe owe vnto the Lord.

To be short, if y^e enimie doth oppresse you, stand therefore, and you loynes girde about with veritie, hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse: and your féete shode with the preparation of the Gospell of peace. Aboue all, take to you the shield of faith, where∣with ye may quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked. And take the helmet of saluati∣on, the swoord of the spirite which is the worde of God. And pray alwaies with all manner prayer and supplication.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, put ye on the whole armoure of God, that he may stande stedfast against the craftie assaultes of the Diuell, for we wre∣stle not against flesh and bloude: but against rulers, against powers, & against y^e worldly gouernours, the Princes of darknesse of this world, against spiritual wickednesses, which are aboue. If y^e world do pursue you, set your faith as a fort in expugnable against hir pleasures, for this is y^e victorie y^t ouercōmeth the world, euen our faith. By which meanes Samuel, Dauid, and the other prophets haue subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnes,

obtained the promises, stopped the mouthes of Lyons, quenched the violence of fire, esca∣ped the edge of the sword. If your flesh bée weake, watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. And beléeue that y^e Lord which is faithfull shall not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength: but shall in the mid∣dest of the temptation make away, that yée may be able to beare it. To conclude, assure your selues vpon the word of God, when he saith, that his shéepe do heare his voyce, and he knoweth them, and they followe him: and and he will giue vnto them eternall life, and they shal neuer perish, neither shall any man plucke them out of his hand, bicause that his father which gaue them him is greater then all. Remember that Moses and Aaron did not enter into the lande of promise, bicause they beléeued not the LORD: that he might be sanctified by them, in the eies of the children of Israel. No more then those which were gone out to search the lande shall sée the same lande which I the LORD sware vnto their Fathers. But his seruaunt Caleb: bicause there is an other manner spirit with him, and bicause he hath followed the Lorde vnto the vttermost, God gaue him the saide lande for an heritage.

Finally, bicause that the capitaine of Sama∣ria, would not beléeue the promise which the Lord made vnto him, by the mouth of the prophet Eliseus: foreshewing the great aboundance & plentiousnesse, within a little space was depriued from the fruites therof, and troden vnder foote y^t he died. Wherfore be not as some faithlesse people, distrusting of the promises of him which is the God of veritie: But rather be ye imitators and followers of Gedeon, who béeing come to the assault, blewe with his trumpet, helde his lampes in his hande, and brake his pitchers, figuring vnto all true Christians, that they ought alwaies to kéepe that light of faith, & to be like vnto the seruaunts at∣tending their masters, when they shall bée retourned from the mariages. And as the trumpet, to lift vp their voice in the mid∣dest of all daungers, for to magnifie and praise the Lord.

Furthermore, if néede bée, or if the case so require, not to spare their bodies, which are but as earthen vessels to that heauenly treasure. In so dooing beléeue assuredly that by the same meanes, by them which they doe thincke to destroy and ruinate the worke of God, by the same meanes it shall

be established & amplified. The which is al∣so figured vnto vs by examples in y^e booke of Exodus, where the king of Aegypt pur∣posing to exterminate, and altogether to ruinate and destroye the people of God, af∣flicting them through a long seruitude and bondage: in making morter, bricke, and o∣ther bondage worke in the fieldes, was partly a cause that the Lorde did multiplie and increase his people aboue al other peo∣ple, and prospered his faithfull seruaunt Moses amonge the middest of all his eni∣mies. In like manner, the Lord did set vp Ioseph in the house of Pharao, then though his brethren did sell him to the Ismaelites thincking thereby altogether to deface his memorie from the earth.

Furthermore, did bring to naught all y^e deliberatiōs of Haman, conspiring y^e death of Mardocheus and of the Iewes. Finally the same Lord did drawe from those that were slaine a little Ioas, against the rage and fuerie of quéene Athalia his mother. The same doth sufficiently teach vs that the meanes y^t our enimies doe take for to subuert the true christian religion, the same meanes doe serue for to encrease and defend it against all the enimies of the crosse of

Christ. For euen as the good hearbe, the more y^t it is pressed, the more smelling it is. Euen so the good men, the more that they are afflicted of the world, the more they do mag∣nifie the religion of the Lord. The which the Apostle doth witnesse by his owne ex∣ample, when he doth write vnto the Phil∣lippians, that the thinges which haue hap∣pened vnto him, are turned to the great fur∣thering of the gospell. So that his bandes in Christ are famous throughout all the iudgement hall, and in all other places, inso∣much that many of his bretheren in y^e Lord are bouldned through his bandes, and dare more franckly speake the word. And truely God doth not measure his workes, accor∣ding to the thoughtes of men. As it is written by the prophet Esaie, y^t his thoughts are not our thoughtes, nor our wayes are not his wayes, but as farre as the heauens are hier then the earth, so farre doe his waies excéede ours, and his thoughtes ours.

Thou doest sée in Daniel that greate and meruailous Image, yea, of which the behol∣ding of him was terrible and grimme, bro∣ken by a little stone hewen out of the rocke, without mannes hande. Figuring that

eternall kingdome of Iesus Christ, which ••ought to bring to naught and breake all the monarches and kingdomes of the worlde, and be established for euer.

Thou doest reade in the Scripture of one little Dauyd a figure of the true Di∣sciples of the LORD all readie to fight against the great Philistian: without swoord, buckler, or speare: but in the name of the Lorde of hoastes, the GOD of the hoast, and him whom the sayd Goliah hath railed on and despised. Within a little while after, Dauyd hauing the victorie, did bring y^e head of Goliah into the citie of Hierusalem, and he put his armoure in his tent. Further∣more the holy scripture doth teach thée, that Iosua which was the leader of the people of God, at the sound of the trumpets made the walles of the Citie of Iericho to fal downe: yea, that the Angell of the LORD at the praier of king Ezekiah did kill a hundreth foure score & fiue thousand men, of y^e campe of the Assirians. To be short, we may not bée ignorant that Iesus Christ béeing pur∣sued to death, and béeinge asked of the Scribes and Pharises, if hée were Iesus of Nazareth, at that simple worde, I am he,

did so stonish and amase a bande of soldi∣ers and officers, sent by the high priestes & by y^e Pharises, that they went backwards & fell to the ground. Finally, we may better knowe that the Apostles of Iesus Christe, and those simple and idiotes haue brought to good order, a number of people to the o∣bedience of our Lorde Iesus Christ. In such sort that by the preaching of the crosse hath bene destroyed the wisdome of the wise, and hath cast awaye the vnderstan∣ding of the prudent: Forasmuch as the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men: and y^e weaknes of God is stronger thē men. Also that the Lord hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confounde the wise. Assure your selues then of the promises of y^e Lord, though that the world doe conspire, & men doe imagine mischiefe: Fortifie & strength∣en your selues with a liuely fayth, after the example of that good patriarke Abraham, and father of all them that beléeue: who besides hope, did beléeue in hope, & doubted not in the promises which the Lord made vnto him through vnbeliefe: but was made strong in y^e faith, & gaue honour vnto God, full certified that what he had promised, he was able to make good. And beléeue

that the worke which the Lord hath buil∣ded in you, shall continue for euer: if such and lyke admonitions will not suffice, be∣holde what punishments haue followed those, who distrusting of Gods promises, haue forsaken the knowen veritie, and the true seruice which was due vnto him.

It is written in the booke of Exodus, that when the people sawe that it was long or Moses came downe out of the mountaine; they gathered themselues together & came vnto Aaron and sayd vnto him: vp & make vs a god to go before vs. For of this Moses the fellowe that brought vs out of the land of Aegypt, we wote not what is become of him. And Aaron sayd vnto them: pluc•• of the golden rings which are in the eares of your wyues, your sonnes and of your daughters: and of them to make a Calfe of molten metall, & made an aulter and wor∣shipped it. Then y^e Lord sayd vnto Moses: go get the downe, for the people which thou broughtest out of the lande of Aegypt haue marred all, they are tourned at once out of the way which I commaunded them. And the Lord sayd vnto Moses, suffer me that my wrath may waxe hot vpon them, and that I may consume them. Moreouer the

children of Israel did committe idolatry and whoredome with the daughters of Moab, for that cause the LORDE was angry againste Israel, and sayde vnto Moses: take all the heades of the people, and hang them vp vnto the Lord against the sunne, that the wrathe of the Lorde maye tourne away from Israel.

The said children of Israel did wicked∣ly in the sight of the Lord, and serued Ba∣alim, and forsoke the Lorde God of their fathers which broughte them out of the land of Aegypt, & followed straunge gods, euen of the gods of the nations that were rounde about them, and bowed themselues vnto them, and angred the Lord. And so they forsooke the Lord and serued Baal and Astaroth. Wherefore the Lord wared an∣gry with Israel, and deliuered them into the hands of raueners, to spoyle them, and solde them into the hands of their enemies rounde about them, so that they had no power any longer, to stande before their enemies. But vnto whatsoeuer thinges they went, the hande of the Lord was v∣pon them with euill lucke: afterwarde the Lord raised vp Iudges, which deliuered thē out of y^e hands of their opressours. After y^e

y^e Iudge was deade, they tourned and did worse then theire fathers, in followinge straunge gods, & in seruing them. Wher∣fore the Lord waxed angry, and sold them into the handes of Chusarim king of Me∣sopotamia. Within a litle while after y^e chil of Israel cried vnto the Lord. And the Lord stirred vp a sauer and saued them: one O∣thoniel the sonne of Kenes, Calebs youn∣ger brother and the lande had rest fortie years. And Othoniel being dead, y^e children of Israel did wickedly in y^e sight of y^e Lord, & the Lord deliuered them into y^e hands of Egloh king of Moab, whom they serued by the space of xviij. years. And then they cried vnto the Lorde. And the LORD stirred them vp a sauer, Ahud the sonne of Gera. Incontinently after the children of Israel began again to do wickedly in y^e sight of y^e Lord, whē Ahud was dead. And the Lord sold them into the hands of Iabin king of Canaan, whose captaine of warre was Sisara. At which time Debora a pro∣phetesse, the wife of Lapidoth iudged Isra∣el, who exhorted Barack y^e sonne of Abino∣am, to deliuer the people: but the Lorde at the prayer of Debora, trounsed Sisara and all his charyottes, and all his heaste

with the edge of the sword, before Barack: insomuch that Sisara lighted downe of his chariot, and fled a foote. And of all the hoast of Sisara, there was not a man left.

And sodeinly the children of Israel did be∣gin againe to do wickedly in the sight of the Lorde. And the Lord deliuered them into the hands of the Madianites by the space of seauen years. The Lord had pitie on them, and ordein••d Gedeon for a deliuerer of the people, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that tyme there the Madianites were discomfited of a meruailous fashion.

The same people began againe to com∣mitte wickednesse in the sight of the Lord. And y^e Lord deliuered them into y^e hands of the Philstians fortie years: but the Lorde hauing compassion of them ordeyned Sam∣son for their deliuerer.

Saul in the beginning of his kingdome did prosper greatly against his enemies, for∣asmuch as he obeyed the Lord & the voice of Samuel: But Saul hauing transgressed the commaundement of y^e Lord, who com∣maunded him to slay all the Amalekites both man and woman, infant and suckling and Oxe, shéepe, Camell, and Asse. Bicause that he reserued the spoyle, is forsaken of y^e Lorde, and his kingdome geuen vnto an o∣ther,

in which place is declared that rebelli∣ousnesse is as the sinne of witchcrafte, and stubbernnesse is wickednesse and idolatrie: yea, to obey is better then offering.

Dauid bicause that he made alliaunce with the Lorde, did profite in going and in∣creasing, and the Lord of hoastes was with him: insomuch that he wonne many victo∣ries, that is to say against the Philistians, Idumeans & Sirians. Assone as he had defi∣led Bethsabe, and caused hir husband to bée slaine, & contemned and despised the word of the Lord. The Lord said vnto him, be∣hold I will stirre vp euill against thée, e∣uen of thine owne house, and will take thy wiues before thine eyes and giue them vn∣to thy neighboure, which shall sléepe with them, in the sight of y^e sonne. And although that the Lord had put away his sinne, after his repentaunce, notwithstanding, bicause in doing this déede, he hath giuen the ene∣mies of the Lord a cause to rayle, it was sayd vnto him, that y^e childe that was borne of Bethsabe shall dye surely.

After that time, king Dauid being tou∣ched wyth greate pride, did number his people: and the Lord being angry with him, did offer him by the prophet Gad to choose

of thrée plagues one: that is to say, famine, warre or pestilence. And Dauyd choosinge rather to fall into the handes of the Lorde then into the handes of men. The Lorde sente a pestilence in Israel. And there dyed of the people, betwéene Dan and Bersabe, lxx. thousand men.

Salomon as long as he serued the Lord, prospered wonderfully. In the time of his olde age, his hearte was tourned after straunge gods: the LORD stirred vp aduersaries, that is to say, Hadad, Razon, and also Ieroboam.

Roboam, as soone as his kingdome was stablished and made strong, forsoke the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him, wherefore the fith yeare of king Roboam, Sesac the king of Aegypt came vp againste Hierusalem, bicause he had transgressed a∣gainst the Lorde. And they toke the strong cytyes that were in Iuda, and came to Hierusalem. Then came Semeiah the pro∣phet, to Roboam, and to the Lordes of Iu∣da, that were gathered to Hierusalem for feare of Sesac, and sayd vnto them: Thus saith the LORDE; ye haue left mée, & therefore will I leaue you also in y^e hands

of Sesac. Wherevpon the Lords of Israel and the king humbled themselues, & said, the Lord is righteous. And when the Lord saw that they submitted themselues, the word of the Lorde came to Semiah say∣ing. Forasmuch as they humble them∣selus I wil not destroy them, but I wil de∣liuer them somewhat.

Ieroboam, and the children of Israel, were discomfited by Abiah, and the chil∣dren of Iuda fortified: bicause they leaned vnto the Lord GOD of their fathers. And Ieroboam recouered no strēgth again in the dayes of Abiah. And at the last the Lorde plaged him, that he dyed.

Asa the sonne of Abiah reigned in his stéede, in whose days the land was in quiet tenne yeares. And Asa did that was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. And Zarah a blacke Morian made warre against him. And Asa cryed vnto the Lorde, and the LORDE smote the blacke Mores before Asa and Iuda, that they fledde.

Then Azariah, the sonne of Obed, which had the spiryte of GOD in him: went out againste Asa, and sayde to him: heare me Asa, and all Iuda and Beniamin.

The Lord is with you, while ye be with him, and if ye seeke him, he will be founde of you: but and if ye shall forsake him, he will forsake you. Then Asa and his, made a couenant to seeke the Lorde God of their fathers with all their heartes, and all their soules: so that all that sought not y^e Lord God of Israel should die for it, whether he were small or great, man or woman. And they sware vnto the Lorde with a loude voice, and shooting, and with trumpets and hornes. And the Lord gaue them rest round about them on euery side.

Iehosaphat his sonne reigned in his steede, and was mightier then Israel. And the LORDE was with Ieho∣saphat, bicause hee walked in the olde waies of his father Dauid, and sought not Baals. But sought the Lord God of his fa∣ther, and walked in his commaundements, and not after the dooing of Israel. There∣fore the Lord stablished the kingdome in his hand, & all Iuda brought him presents, so that he became excéeding riche and glo∣rious, and prospered, and grew vp on hie. The Moabites and the children of Ammon came against Iehosaphat in battell, and Ie∣hosaphat bowed himselfe with his face to

the Citie, and all Iuda and the inhabiters ••f Hierusalem fell before the Lord, to bowe ••hemselues vnto the Lorde. And as Ieho∣saphat rose early in the morning to get him ••ut vnto the wildernesse of Thekna, he said vnto them: heare me Iuda and ye inhabi∣ters of Hierusalem. Beleeue in the Lorde your God, and so shall ye continue: and be∣••eeue his Prophetes, and so shall ye pros∣per. Then the enimies of Iehosaphat killed themselues, and the children of Israel had great victorie.

Iehoram reigned after Iehosaphat, and bi∣••ause he walked in the waies of the kings of Israel, and committed fornication with those of Iuda, and with the inhabiters of Hierusalem, after the fornication of the house of Ahab and killed his bretheren. It was said by the Prophet, that the Lord will smite his people, his children, his wiues, and all his goodes with a mightie plague: and that he shall haue much dis∣ease through infirmitie in his bowels, vntil his bowels fall out.

Iehoas, after the death of Iehoiada, be∣came an Idolater, and the hoast of the Si∣rians came against him and came to Iuda and Hierusalem, and Iehoas was killed of

his owne seruaunts. Amaziah after that time that he did tourne away frō the Lord, they conspired treason against him in Hierusalem, he fledde to Lachis. Whether they sent after him and slewe him there.

Oziah did that pleased the Lord in all pointes as did Amaziah his father. And he sought God while Zachariah y^e teacher to sée god liued, & as long as he sought y^e Lord, God made him prosper. And helped him a∣gainst the Philistians, against y^e Arabians, & against the Ammonites.

Ioathan the sonne of Oziah became migh∣tie, bicause he directed all his waies before y^e Lord his god, he warred against y^e king of y^e children of Ammon and vanquished them.

Ahaz did not y^t pleased y^e Lord, as did his father Dauid. But he offered burnt incense in hil alters & on moūtaines, & vnder euery gréene trée. Wherefore y^e Lord his God de∣liuered him into the hand of y^e king of the Sirians: which b••at him and caried away a great multitude of his, captiue into Damas∣co. And also he was deliuered into the hand of y^e king of Israel, which slew of his a migh¦tie slaughter. For Phaketh sonnne of Ro∣meliah, slew in Iuda an-hundred & twentie thousand in one day, and all fighting men, &

that bicause they had forsaken y^e Lord God ••f their fathers. Hezekiah throughout al Iu∣da, did y^t which was good, right & truth, be∣fore y^e Lord his God. And in al y^e works y^t he ••egan in y^e seruice of y^e house of God to séeke his God after the law & cōmmaundement, y^t did he w^t all his heart, & prospered greatly.

Manasseh succéeded Hezekiah, & did wic∣kedly in y^e sight of y^e Lord, like vnto y^e abho∣mination of the heathen: & he made Iuda & the inhabiters of Hierusalem to erre, & to do worse thē y^e heathen, which y^e Lord destroied before y^e childrē of Israel. And when y^e Lord spake to Manasseh & to his people, they at∣tended not to him, wherfore y^e lord brought vpon them y^e captaines of y^e host of y^e king of Assur, which tooke Manasseh in an holde & bound him with chaines, and caried him to Babilon. And when he was in tribulatiō, he besought y^e Lord his God and humbled him selfe excedingly before y^e God of his fathers, and made intercession to him: & he was en∣treated of him, & heard his praier, & brought him againe to Hierusalem into his king∣dome. And then Manasseh knewe howe that the Lorde was the very God. Amon did y^t displeased y^e Lord, like vnto Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed vnto all

the kerued images which Manasseh his fa∣ther made, and serued them, & méekened not himselfe before y^e Lord as Manasseh his fa∣ther had méekned himselfe: but Amon tres∣passed greatly, wherfore his owne seruants conspired against him: & slewe him, in his owne house.

Iosiah & his people tourned not aside from after y^e Lord God of their fathers, as long as he liued: but did put away al manner of abhominations out of all lands y^t perteined to y^e children of Israel, & brought al y^t were founde in Israel, to serue y^e Lord their god.

Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosiah is made king for his father in Hierusalem. For y^e king of Aegypt put him downe at Hierusa∣lem, and made Eliakim his brother kinge vpon Iuda & Hierusalem, and did that dis∣pleased y^e Lord his God. Against him came Nabuchodonosor king of Babilon, & bound him in fetters to carye him to Babilon.

Iehoachim reigned iij. moneths & x. dayes in Hierusalem & did that displeased y^e Lord & when the yeare was out, king Nabucho∣donosor made Zedekiah his fathers bro∣ther king ouer Iuda & Hierusalem.

Zedekiah did y^t displease the Lord his god, & humbled not himselfe before Ieremiah the

prophet at y^e mouth y^e of Lord. And y^e Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, sending them betimes: for hée had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the mes∣sengers of God, and despised their woordes, and misused his Prophets, vntill y^e wrath of the Lord so arose against his people, that it was past remedie. And so he brought vp∣pon thē the king of Chaldey, and slew their young men with the swoorde in their holy temple, neither spared he younge man nor maide, neither olde man, neither so much as him that stowped for age. But gaue all into his handes. And forasmuch, as such & like examples do teach vs y^t the eies of the Lord are vpon the righteous, and his eares are open vnto their prayers. But the face of the Lord beholdeth them that doe euill, to destroy the remembraunce of them out of the earth. That the Lord doth shed out his wrath ouer them which doe despise him: and doth shew himselfe tractable and gentle vn∣to those which serue him with a contrite & perfect heart, I doe meane in all holinesse and righteousnesse. Let vs keepe as much as in vs in possible, the faith which we haue promised vnto the Lord, and assure our

our selues, that he which worketh in vs both the will and the déede, according to his good pleasure, will finish y^e worke which he hath begon in vs, to his honoure, to the ad∣uauncement of the christian Church, and to the health of his. Furthermore let vs retire and drawe our selues from the thinges which may seduce vs, and make vs varie from the true seruice which is due vnto him. Do we not know how that they that proue masteries, absteine from all things, and they doe it to obtaine a corruptible crowne: But we, to obtaine an vncorrup∣tible: Let vs rūne then, not as at an vncer∣tain thing, let vs fight, not as one that bea∣teth the ayre: But with patience in dooing wel, séeking immortalitie & life euerlasting. Amen.

Apocalips. 2. a. ¶ I know thou hast suffered, and hast p••∣tience: & for my names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted. Neuerthelesse I haue somewhat against thee, bicause thou hast left thy first charitie.

A praier.

O Lord God, heauenly father, and alto∣gether puissant, which hast said by the mouth of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord

Iesus Christ, that he y^t endureth to the ende shalbe saued, as y^u hast afterwardes confir∣med it by thine Apostle, that he y^t striueth for a mastrie shall not be crowned except he striue as he ought to do. Giue vs grace that we all continuing in one spirit and striuing altogether in one minde, through the faith of y^e gospell, we may not be troubled by our aduersaries, and that we be not as children wauering & caried about with euery winde of doctrine. But let vs folow y^e truth in loue, & in all things grow vp into him, which is y^e head, y^t is to say, Christ. Giue vs such con∣stancie & strength in y^e midst of those trou∣bles & of our enemies, y^t we faint not in any thing: so y^t with ioy we may end our course & the charge which we haue receiued of thée, for to testifie y^e gospel of thy grace. Embrace so our harts & our soules in thine heauenly loue, through thy holy spirite, & especially, y^t for al afflictions or threatnings, we nothing varie frō thy lawe, either to y^e right hād nor to y^e left: y^t we hauing rightly accomplished y^e course of this presēt life. And y^e time of our departing aprochīg, euery one of vs may say w^t thine apostle, I haue fought a good fight, & haue fulfilled my course, & haue kept y^e faith: From heneforth is laid vp for me a crowne

of righteousnesse, which the Lord that is a righteous Iudge, shall giue me at that day, not to me onely, but vnto all them also that loue his comming. For all which thinges Lord we pray thée, in the fauoure of him, who for to accomplish and fulfill thy will, humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen the death of the crosse, our Lord and Sa∣uiour Iesus Christ. To whom be glorie for e∣uer, So be it.

Notes

• Mat. 24. a
• 2. Tim. 2. b:
• Luc. 4. f.
• Heb. 3. c.
• Gal. 4. b
• 2. Timot. 4, b.
• Ephe, 4. d
• 3. Reg. 18. d
• Apo. 3. d
• Luce. 16. e
• 2. Cor. 6. e
• Mat. 7 d.
• Mat. 7. d
• Luc. 11. b
• 1 Iohn. 2. d
• Heb. 10. e
• 2 pet. 2. d
• Deut. 8. a. e
• Eze. 16. b
• 1. Pet. 5. c
• 1. Iohn. 2. c
• 1 Iohn. 5. d
• 1, Pet. 2. c
• 1. Pet. 2. c
• Apo. 17. ••
• Genes. 19. c
• Genes, 34, ••
• Num. 25. •• 31, b
• Ephe. 6.
• ohn. 5. •• vbr. 1••. f
• 1 Cor. 10. c
• Iohn. 10. c
• Nomb. 20. ••
• Nomb. 24. ••
• 4. Reg. 6. & 7. d
• Iudg. 7. c
• 2. Cor. 4. c
• Exo. 1. c
• Exo. 2. d
• Genes. 37. f
• Hester. 7
• 2. Cro. 23. c
• Philip. 1. b
• Esa. 55. c
• Dane l. 2. c
• 1. Reg. 17. f
• Iosua. 6. ••
• 2. Cro. 32. e
• Iohn. 18. b
• 1. Cor. 1. c. d
• Rom. 4. d
• Exo. 32 a b
• Nomb. 25. a
• Iudg. 2. c.
• Iudg. 3. b
• Iudg. 3 b
• Iudg. 4. a
• Iudg. 6•• 7
• Iudg. 13 a 4 15.
• Reg. 15. a
• 2. Reg. 11. a
• 2. Reg. 12. c
• 2. Reg. 2 ••. a
• 3. Reg. 11. a.
• 2. Cro. 12. a
• 2. Cro. 13. d
• 2. Cro. 14. a
• 2. Cro. 15. a
• 2. Cro. 17. a
• 2. Cro. 20. a
• 2. Cro. 21. c
• 2. Cor. 4. f
• ••. Cro. 25. g
• 2. Cro. 26. h
• 2. Cro. 27. c
• 2. Cro. 28. a
• 2. Cro. 31. ••
• 2. Cor. 33. b
• 2. Cro. 33. d
• 2 Cro. 34. g
• 2. Cro. 36. a
• 2. Cro. 36. b
• 2. Cro. 36. c.
• Psal. 34. c
• Phil. 2. b
• 1 Cor. 9. d
• Mat. 10. c
• 2 Tim 2. a
• Phil. 1. d
• Ephe. 4. ••
• 2 Tim. 4. b
• Phil. 2. a