A04917:11
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The word of God plainly speaketh / 1that if a man shall hear the curses of Gods law / and yet in his hart shall promise to him self / felicity and good luck / thinking / he shall have peace / albeit he walk after the Imaginations of his own will and hart. To such ⟨image 5⟩a man the Lord will not be merciful / but his wrath shall be kindled against him / and he shall destroy his name from under the heaven / how the Lord threateneth plagues after plague / and ever the last to be the first / while finally / he will consume realms / and nations / if they repent not / read the .26. Chapter off Leviticus / which chapter / oft I have willed you to mark / as yet I do unfeignedly / and think not / it appertaineth to the Jews only / No brethren. The Prophets are the interpreters of the law / and they make the plagues off God common to all offender / the punishment ever beginning at the household of God.2 And here I must touch a point off that devilish confession made (a late) by that miserable man / whose name for sorrow I can not recite. This argument he useth to prove the doctrine of late years done / taught amongest you / to be wicked / Troubles and plagues (saith he) hath followed the same / not only here in England / but also in Germany / as he willeth you to mark. This fragile / and vain argument at this time / no otherwise will I labour / to confute / then by plain scriptures declaring / that plagues appertaineth to all inobedient / beginning first / where Gods mercies hath been offered / and obstinately refused / & that may answer the blind rage of ignorances.
The worde of God playnely speaketh / 1that yf a man shal heare the curses of Gods law / and yet in his hart shal promys to hym selfe / felicitie and good lucke / thinckinge / he shall haue peace / albeit he walcke after the Imaginacions of hys owne wil and hart. To suche ⟨image 5⟩a man the Lord will not be mercifull / but hys wrath shalbe kyndled against him / and he shal destroye hys name frō vnder the heauen / how the Lord threathneth plagues after plague / and euer the last to be the fyrst / whill fynally / he will consume realmes / and nations / if they repent not / reade the .26. Chapter off Leuiticus / which chapter / oft I haue willed you to marke / as yet I do vnfainedly / anh thinke not / it apretāneth to the Iewes only / No brethern. The Prophetes are the interparatours of the law / and they make the plagues off God commō to all offendore / the punyshment euer beginning at the houshold of God.