Because I perceive plainly, that unto the evils fallen upon us, which profess Christs gospel, greater are most like to ensue, and after them greater, till y• measure 1of iniquity be upheaped (except we shrink, and having put our ⟨p. 4⟩2hand to the plough, do look back, and so, with Lot's wife, fall into 3gods heavy displeasure incurably, all which god forbid) and because I am persuaded of you, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, through out the Realm of England, which have professed unfeignedly the gospel of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ (for unto such do I write this Epistle or book) how that, as you have begun to take part with gods gospel & truth, so through his grace ye will persevere and go on forwards, notwythstā ding the storms risen and to a rise: I can not but write some thing unto you, to encourage you to go on lustily in the way of the lord, and not to become faint hearted or fearful persons, whose place S. John appointeth with ⟨p. 5⟩4unbelievers, murderers and idolaters in eternal perdition, but cheerfully to take the Lords cup 5and drink of it, afore it draw towards the dregs and bottom. Whereof at length they shall drink with the wicked to eternal destruction, which will not receive it at the first with gods children, with whom god beginneth his 6judgement: that as the wicked world rejoiceth when they lament, 7so they may rejoice wham the wicked world shall mourn, and without end feel woo intolerable.
BEcause I perceaue playnly, that vnto the euils fallē vpon vs, whiche professe Chrystes gospel, greater ar most lyke to ensue, and after them greater, tyll y• measure 1of iniquitie be vpheaped (except we shrynke, and hauyng put our ⟨p. 4⟩2hand to ye plough, doe loke back, and so, with Loths wyfe, fal into 3gods heauy displeasure incurably, al whiche god forbid) and because I am persuaded of you, my dearly beloued brethren and sisters, through out the Realme of Englande, which haue professed vnfeinedly the gospel of our lord and sauyoure Iesus Christ (for vnto such doe I wryte thys Epystle or boke) howe yt, as you haue begonne to take part wyth gods gospell & truth, so thrōugh hys grace ye wyll persener and goe on forwardes, notwythstā dyng the stormes rysen and to a ryse: I can not but wryte some thing vnto you, to encourage you to goe on lustelye in the waye of the lord, and not to become faint harted or feareful persōs, whose place S. Iohn appoynteth with ⟨p. 5⟩4•nbeleuers, murtherers and idolatours in eternall perdiciō, but cherfully to take the Lordes cup 5and drynke of it, afore it drawe towardes the dregges and botō. Wherof at lēgth they shal drink wyth the wycked to eternall destruccion, which wil not receaue it at the first with gods childrē, wyth whom god begynneth his 6iudgemente: that as the wycked worlde reioyseth whan they lamente, 7so they may reioyce whā the wycked world shal mourne, and wythoute ende fele woo intolerable.
- 1Gene. 15
- 2Luke. […] ▪Luke. 〈…〉 ▪
- 3Gene. 19.
- 4Apoca. 21.
- 5Psal. 75.
- 61. Peter. 4▪
- 7John. 16.Iohn. 16.
