As this part (I say) of Gods judgements, w before were pronounced, is executed in your eyes, so shall some of you, that this day behold the tyranny that is used, maintained & permitted amongst you, likewise behold the terrible plagues & severe judgements of God poured forth in full perfection,1 not only upon the cruel murderers, but also upon such as by silence, & flattery consent to their impiety. If ⟨p. 42⟩ye be not more then blind, ye may evidently see the potent hand of God displayed & stretched out against you. Doth not the sudden & miserable fall of Calais,2 sometimes called the key of England, yea, & the open door into foreign countries, move you to consider, what is Gods power, & how easy it is to him to overthrow all the pride of man in one moment? If it move not others, yet let it move thee,3 ô Berwick▪ she was thy sister, and your condition was one, except that as in strength, order and civil policy thou wast nothing comparable: so in theft, debate, hatred & all iniquity thou diddest far surmount her & yet she hath drunken the cup of Gods vengeance,4 because that being admonished, she did not repent: & shall or canst thou escape the same, if thou continue, as thou hast begun? No, albeit man and angel would promise the ⟨p. 43⟩assurance, thy pride shall be beaten down to hell, thy treasonable defection from God shall be punished, as before hath been pronounced in thine ears, except that by speedy repentance thou prevent Gods judgements. And therefore, dear brethren, if that ye intend or think to escape Gods vengeance, his heavy hand and hot displeasure, delay no time to return unto him,5 call upon him while he is nigh, seek him unfeignedly, while he is to be found, harden not your hearts, when he rebuketh your unthankfulness. Now he offereth him self unto you, now he is near, now he is to be sound, while he calleth you to repentance by his messengers & word. Which occasion & opportunity if ye omit, as Gods justice shall shine in your punishment & just condemnation,6 so shall it be, that you howl & cry for anguish and pain, and yet shall ⟨p. 44⟩find nether counsel nor comfort. for so doth God often revenge the contempt of his graces offered.
As this part (I saye) of Gods iudgements, w before were pronoūced, is executed in your eies, so shal some of you, that this day beholde the tyrannie that is vsed, mainteyned & permitted amongst you, likewise beholde the terrible plagues & seuere iudgemēts of God powred forthe in full perfectiō,1 not onely vpon the cruel murtherers, but also vpō suche as by silēce, & flattery cōsent to their impietie. Yf ⟨p. 42⟩ye be not more then blynde, ye may euidētly se ye potēt hande of God displayde & stretched owt against you. Dothe not the suddayne & miserable fall of Calice,2 sometymes called the keye of Englāde, yea, & ye open dore into forrayne countreys, moue you to cōsider, what is Gods powere, & how easie it is to him to ouerthrow all the pryde of mā in one moment? Yf it moue not others, yet let it moue the,3 ô Barwike▪ she was thy syster, and your conditiō was one, except yt as in strength, order and ciuil pollicie thow wast nothinge comparable: so in theft, debate, hatred & all iniquitie thou didest farr surmount her & yet she hathe dronkē the cuppe of Gods vengeance,4 because yt being admonished, she dyd not repēt: & shal or canst thou escape the same, if thou continue, as thou hast begun? No, albeyt man and angell woulde promesse the ⟨p. 43⟩assurance, thy pryde shalbe beatē doune to hell, thy treasonable defection from God shalbe punished, as before hathe bene pronounced in thyne eares, except yt by spedy repētāce thou preuent Gods iudgemētes. And therfore, deare bretherne, if yt ye intende or thinke to escape Gods vē geance, his heauy hande and hote displeasure, delaye no tyme to retu•ne vnto him,5 call vpon him whyle he is nie, seke him vnfeynedly, whyle he is to be founde, hardē not your hartes, whē he rebukethe your vnthākfulnes. Now he offerethe him self vnto you, now he is neare, now he is to be sounde, whyle he callethe you to repentaunce by his messingers & worde. Which occasiō & opportunitie if ye omit, as Gods iustice shall shine in your punishemēt & iust condemnation,
- 1The plagues of God shall apprehend even such as by silence & flattery con•ent to the murder of his […]The plagues of God shal apprehend euen such as by silence & flattery con•ent to the murther of his 〈…〉
- 2Calais, called the key of England.Calice, called the key of England.
- 3Berwick let the sudden fall of thy sister move the to repentance.Barwike let the suddayne fall of thy sister moue the to repentance.
- 4Note
- 5Psal. 32.
- 6Jere. 11.Iere. 11.
