A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their public fast, Novemb.…A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their publique fast, Novemb.…

As for these that are to be measured, let them be willing to §2be measured, to be reformed, exactly reformed, willing to be fully measured. Wonder not that I call upon you to be willing; I shall tell you what I read concerning Beza, who coming unto a disputation before the Court of France, and being very mighty in his arguments against the adversary, a Cardinal stood up and said unto some Peers, I would to God that either Beza were dumb, or that we were all deaf; so unwilling were they to receive the truth, and to be reformed by it. And if people did not in their hearts wish as much now, why should they say in every place, Would to God we had never meddled with this work of reformation, here is ado ⟨p. 31⟩about reformation and exact reformation, see what it is come to, would to God that we had stayed in our old condition! Oh my beloved, do you not remember Christs complaint? I came unto my own and my own received me not. Shall Jesus Christ take up the like complaint and say, I came unto my own in England and they received me not; I offered, I tendered my own government unto them, and they would none of it? Oh England, England, how long have I stood knocking at thy door, and as it were put my finger in at the hole of the door by my providential works! Wilt not thou yet open unto me? How often would I have gathered thee under my wings as a hen gathereth her chickens, and thou wouldest not? Wherefore now thy house is left unto thee desolate. Oh that people therefore would be willing! Yea, go to God and say, Behold Lord we are all here before thee, do with us what is good in thine eyes, only measure us, measure my family, measure my children, measure my servants, measure my self, only let the line of reformation pass over me and mine; I am willing Lord, help my unwillingness.

As for these that are to be measured, let them be willing to §2be measured, to be reformed, exactly reformed, willing to be fully measured. Wonder not that I call upon you to be willing; I shall tell you what I read concerning Beza, who comming unto a disputation before the Court of France, and being very mighty in his arguments against the adversary, a Cardinall stood up and said unto some Peers, I would to God that either Beza were dumbe, or that we were all deafe; so unwilling were they to receive the truth, and to be reformed by it. And if people did not in their hearts wish as much now, why should they say in every place, Would to God we had never medled with this work of reformation, here is ado