An oversight, and deliberation upon the holy prophet JonahAn ouersight, and deliberacion vpon the holy prophete Ionas

For he accuseth God of ignorance and foolishness, that intendeth to adorn and beautify his doctrine and decrees with human cogitations. What king or prince of the world would suffer his statutes, laws, and testament to be cut of, and set on at every mans liberty and pleasure? Should not the same glory, majesty, and honour be given unto the laws and testament of Christ, that is sealed with his precious blood? The word of God wherewith he governeth and ruleth his church, is a sceptre of iron. Psal. ii. and not a rod of willow to be bowed with every mans finger, either a read to be broken at mans will: no, neither a piece of leather to be stretched and reached out with any mans teeth.

For he accuseth God of ignorancie and folishenes, that entendeth to adorne and beutifye his doctrine and decrees with humaine cogitacions. What kynge or prince of the world wold suffer hys statutes, lawes, and testament to be cut of, and set on at euery mans libertie and pleasure? Shulde not the same glory, maiesty, and honour be geuē vnto the lawes and testament of Christ, that is sealed wyth hys precious bloude? The worde of God wherwyth he gouerneth and ruleth his church, is a septer of yron. Psal. ii. and not a rod of wylowe to be bowed wyth euerye mans finger, either a rede to be broken at mans wyll: no, neither a pece of lether to be stretched and reached out wyth any mans teth.

These things be spoken of me most gracious and virtuous king, to commend your majesties and your most honourable councels doings that seek the glory of God and the restitution of his holy and Apostolical church. The which thing, as your highness & your most honourable and wise council, have ⟨image 4⟩graciously be gone: God's mercy in the bowels of Christ Jesus grant you most graciously to perform. The people of England were oppressed with the violent and cruel tyranny of Antichrist: darkness and ignorance occupied y• minds all most of all men, so that few knew the true way to eternal salvation. And yet many Princes and wise men delight and tarry in this darkness, and can not or will not bare nor suffer the radiant and shining beams of the Gospel, more then the night crow can the beams of the sun: but the merciful father of heaven shall better their sight when his good and merciful pleasure is. But the Lord be praised your majesty: your most honourable and wise counsel, have not cared what y greatest part, but what the better doth, that the law of the high and mighty God, may be known to your highness people, as did David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josyas. And in your majesties so doing, ye bind not only the true and living members of Christ to