Here have I an occasion by the way somewhat to say unto you yea, for the place that I alleged unto you before out of Jeremiah the. xlviii. Chapter. And it was spoken of a spiritual work of God, a work that was commanded to be done, & it was of shedding blood and of destroying the cities of Moab. For (sayeth he) cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from shedding of blood. As Saul when he kept back the sword from shedding of blood, at what time he was sent against Amalech, was refused of God for being disobedient to God's commandments, in that he spared Agag the king. So that, that place of the prophet was spoken of them that went to the destruction of the cities of Moab, among the which there ⟨image 9⟩was one called Nebo, which was much reproved for idolatry, superstition, pride, avarice, cruelty, tyranny, and for hardness of heart, and for these sins was plagued of God and destroyed. Now what shall we say of these rich citizens of London? 1What shall I say of them? shall I call them proud men of London, malicious men of London, merciless men of London. No, no, I may not say so, they will be offended with me than. Yet must I speak. For is there not reigning in London, as much pride, as much covetousness, as much cruelty, as much oppression, as much superstition, as was in Nebo? Yes, I think & much more to. Therefore I say, repent O London. Repent, repent. Thou hearest shy faults told thee, amend ⟨image 9⟩them amend them. I think if Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast: they would have converted. And you rulers and officers 2be wise and circumspect, look to your charge & see you do your duties, and rather be glad to amend your ill living, then to be angry when you are warned or told of your fault. What a do was there made in London at a certain man because he said, & in deed at that time on a just cause. Burgesses quod he, nay butterflies. Lord what a do there was for that word. And yet would god they were no worse then butterflies. Butterflies do but their nature, the butterfly is not covetous, is not greedy of other mens goods, is not full of envy & hate red, is not malicious, is not cruel is not merciless. The butterfly ⟨image 10⟩glorieth not in her own deeds, nor preferreth the traditions of men before gods word, it committeth not idolatry, nor worshippeth false gods. But London can not abide to be rebuked, such is the nature of man.
Here haue I an occasion by the way somwhat to saye vnto you yea, for the place that I alledged vnto you before out of Hieremy the. xlviii. Chapter. And it was spoken of a spirituall worcke of God, a worke that was cōmaunded to be done, & it was of sheddynge bloude and of destroiyng the cities of Moab. For (sayeth he) cursed be he that kepeth back hys sworde frome sheddynge of bloud. As Saule when he kepte backe the sworde from shedding of bloude, at what tyme he was sent agaynst Amalech, was refused of God for being disobedient to Goddes commaundementes, in that he spared Agag ye kynge. So that, that place of ye prophet was spoken of them that wente to the distruction of the cityes of Moab, among the whiche there ⟨image 9⟩was one called Nebo, whiche was muche reproued for idolatrie, supersticion, pryde, auaiyce, crueltie, tiranny, and for hardenes of herte, and for these sinnes was plaged of God and destroied. Nowe what shall we saye of these ryche citizens of London? 1What shall I say of them? shal I cal them proude men of London, malicious men of London, mercylesse men of London. No, no, I may not say so, they wyl be offēded with me than. Yet must I speake. For is there not reigning in London, as much pride, as much couetousnes, as muche crueltie, as muche oppression, as much supersticiō, as was in Nebo? Yes, I thynke & muche more to. Therefore I saye, repente O London. Repent, repente. Thou hearest shy faultes tolde thee, amend ⟨image 9⟩thē amend thē. I thynke if Nebo had had ye preachyng that thou hast: they would haue conuerted. And you rulers and officers 2be wise and circūspecte, loke to your charge & see you do your duties, and rather be gladde to amend your yll liuyng, then to be angrye when you are warned or tolde of your faulte. What a do was there made in London at a certein man because he said, & in dede at that time on a iust cause. Burgesses quod he, nay butterflyes. Lord what a do there was for that word. And yet wold god they were no worse then butterflyes. Butterflyes do but their nature, the butterfly is not couetouse, is not gredy of other mens goodes, is not ful of enuy & hate red, is not malicious, is not cruel is not merciles. The butterflye ⟨image 10⟩glorieth not in her owne dedes, nor preferreth the tradicions of men before gods word, it cōmitteth not idolatri, nor worshippeth false gods. But London can not abide to be rebuked, suche is the nature of man.
- 1An admonition to London to repent.An admonicion to Londō to repent.
- 2An admonition to ye rulers and officers.An admonicion to ye rulers and officers.
