A68214:8
An oversight, and deliberation upon the holy prophet JonahAn ouersight, and deliberacion vpon the holy prophete Ionas
An oversight, and deliberation upon the holy prophet Jonah: made, and uttered before the kings majesty, and his most honourable council, by John Hopper in lent last past. Comprehended in sieve[n] sermons. Anno. M.D.L.An ouersight, and deliberacion vpon the holy prophete Ionas: made, and vttered before the kynges maiestie, and his moost honorable councell, by Ihon Hoper in lent last past. Comprehended in seue[n] sermons. Anno. M.D.L.
London: printed by John Daye, 1550London: printed by Ihon Daye, 1550
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.
Among all other most noble and famous deeds of kings, and Princes, none is more godly, commendable, nor profitable to ⟨image 3⟩the common wealth, then to promote, and set forth unto their subjects the pure, and sincere religion of the eternal God, king of all kings, and Lord of all Lords. Then shall justice, peace, and concord reign, the door of Idolatry be shut up, vi the which hath entered all evil, and kings and kingdoms fallen into jeopardy, as the writings of y• Prophets do testify. But the more this noble fact is glorious, godly, and princely, the more difficile & hard it is. For the enemy of God & of all mankind, the Devil, customablye is wont to deceive the princes of the world, so that either they utterly neglect the religion of the true God as a thing foolish, and of no estimation, either provoke them cruelly to persecute it. If he can bring neither the one, neither the other of these to pas: he will do the beste de can to preserve a mixed, and mingled religion, that shall nether plainly be against, nor wholly with him: And so use the matter, that partly God's truth shall take place, partly the superstitious invention of man. The which mingled ⟨image 3⟩and mixed religion is so much the more dangerous, as it is accounted for pure and good. Therefore it is earnestly forbidden by God, as the examples of the scripture declareth. Jehu the king of the Israelites when he had removed all gross and sensible Idolatry: and with the sword had taken away all the Idololatricall priests. iii. Reg. x, is reproved of God, nevertheless because he walked not in the law of God with all his heart, and left not the ways of Jeroboam. And against these minglers and patchers of Religion speaketh Elijah the Prophet, iii. Reg. xviii. Howe long saith he will ye halt on both sides. If y• Lord be God, follow him, if Baal, go ye after him. Even so we may justly say: If y• priesthood & ministry of Christ with his notes and marks be true, holy, & absolutely perfect, receive it: in case it be not, follow y• pope. Christ can not abide to have the leaven of the pharisees mingled with his sweet flower. He would have us ether hot, or cold, the luke warm he vomiteth up: and not without a cause.