¶A short treatise of certayne thinges abused
In the Popysh Church longe vsed:
But now abolyshed to our consolation
And Gods word auaunced the light of our saluation.
Matthew .vii.
Euery tree that bringeth not forth good frute shalbe hewen downe & cast into ye fyre
Psalm .cxxiii.
Our soule is escaped euen as a byrd out of the snare of the foular, the snare is brokē and we are delyuered.
Mat .xv.
Al plantes yt my heauenly father hathe not planted shal be plucked vp by the rotes
Psal. cxviii
It is tyme (O Lord) to laye to thyne hande for, they haue destroyed thy lawe.
Preserue me, O god, for in the do I truste. Psalm .xv.
GRace whiche is the mercy fauor and acceptation.
Apoc. i.
Of God our heauenly father, be geuen to this audience
Peace, from Iesu Christ, our helth and satisfaction
Whiche is the true tranquilite, of a quiet conscience
Be ministred vnto you with a more relyced sentence
Than all tonges be able to make declaration
My intente is to declare, yf a whyle ye well kepe scilence
How goddes worde is florisshed, the light of our saluation
We haue bene drowned with dreames,
Ps. Cvi.
as out forefathers haue beneLyuing in wilful Ignorance, not searching for ye verite
Beleuing to haue syght,
Eccl. xxi.
whan we haue not seneBut heapinge synne vpon synne, committing iniquite
For lacke of godly knowledge, brought into captiuite
So yt ye blind leade ye blind as Christ maketh demonstratiō
And both fell in ye lake,
Mat xv
of vtter darkenes of tenebreBut now gods word is florisshed, ye light of our saluation.
The shepeheardes that should fede the flocke,
Eze. xxxiiii
as Ezechiell doth sayAnd hath famysshed them for fode, wo vnto them all
That thus suffereth ye shepe to perisshe going astray
From ye handes of suche blind guydes ye lord doth vs call
The sicke haue they not healed ye weake haue they let fall
But churlishly and cruellye, be they had in estimation
viii.
Come away good people from their doctrine o [...]a [...]oucanFor now goddes word is florisshed ye light of our saluatiō
A gret colour of holines in ye Popes church hath ben vsed
The which is playne wickednes, as goddes word proueth ryghte
iiii.xc.xvii.
To mainteyn the old customes, of most men now refusedThe verite cleane banisshed, and truth put to flight
Yf god had not ben mercyfull, all men had lost the lyght
Blynde was the cerymony, for all the sainctification
But now it is euydent, to euery chrysten wyght
How goddes word is florysshed, the light of our saluation
In ye stede of goddes word we had holy bread and water
Holy palmes holy asshes, holy candles holy fyer
Holy bones holy stones, holy crewittes at the aulter
Holy censars holy bannars, holy crosses holy atyet
Holy wax holy pax, holy smoke holy smyer
Holy oyle holy creame, holy wyne for veneration
Holy coope holy canepy holy reliques in the quiet
Thus gods word could not florissh ye light of our saluatiō
We haue had belles christened vestiments consecrated
Chalices anointed high altates wasshed and halowed
Images tabernacled, dead mens bones shryned
Coniured Crosses censed, spittled and spattled
With turne and halfeturne the people was deceyued
Seist we or seist me not, and moche more abhominacion
Feattes of legerdemayne, by these ingglers inuented
That goddes worde shulde not florysshe, the lyght of oure saluacion.
Vpon the high holy euennes as they do them cal
They range al the belles a solempne noys to heare
There had we euensong complyne, & salue with all
Of yt was song or sayd,
i. co [...] iiii.
themselues were neuer the nereFor it was in a foren tongeras it doth wel apere
Nother to thym nor vs,
Esa. xxix.
was there edificationFor it was all lippe iabo, song they neuer so cleare
Syldome preache they christ, to be the light of our saluatiō
The nexte day folowyng we had masynes, with prime and howres holy
Many a deus in adiutorium, al in the latten tonge
Coniuring of holy water folowed then immediatly
Procession after ydolles, al the church yarde long
Hygh masse with deuout sensinges, ruffling it in priksong
Then ranne we to take holy bread without signification
These plantes be pluct vp,
Mat. xv.
be they neuer so strongeThey were not graffed on goddes worde, the light of our saluation.
With these old customes & such lyke god is displeased sore
As in the first of Esay ther is demaunded playne
Who required these of you suche thinges I do abhor
Your Sabothes and your solempne days your fastinges are in vayne
Newe holydayes & fastinges from my hart I do disdayne
God saith he is wery both of you and your oblacion
He byddeth you labour in his vyne yarde,
Esai. i.
and therin take payneTo teach the people Gods word the light of our saluacion
Sone it is sene what paynes in this veneyarde they dyd take
For euery quicke sprynge that brought forthe the frute of Gods verite
They cryed out on him heretike burne him at a stake
He speaketh againste oure Ceremosyes and therfore shall he dye
Throwe such wretches in prison / and let the caytyles lye
And yf they be not willinge, to make their recantation
Papistes make tradicions the lyght of their saluacion
Famysh them for [...]e, or murther them pryuelyThey speake agaynste tradycions the lyght of our saluacion.
Than scourged they the simple soules, with their whyp of correction
And there on hanged .vi. strynges, surely fastened with a lawe
This whyp was very mere, for ther pestilent complection
For thorow such tyranny, the peoples hartes wer rawe
Thus many faythful membres frome the truth dyd drawe
Psa. Cxxiii
Vntyl, our noble kynge of his mercy and compassionBrake this cruell whyp that kept the people in awe
And hath aduaunced Goddes worde the lyght of our saluacion.
Bewayle doth our Balamytes, disclosynge their owne nature
Euen as vnshamefaste shauelynges thret [...]ninge Christes pore shepe
Saynge yf the sworde were on our sydes, be ye sure
As it hath bene before than wolde ye not ones pepe
But now that ye thinke al good ordre is layde downe to slepe
Ye make a braggynge and a boasting of your exaltation
Now who but ye gospellers that Christes flocke dothe keape
Ye teache the people gods worde the lyght of our saluatiō
Thus was their handes defyled with bloud / their fingers with vnrightuousenes
Deuouringe vp the gospellers in euery towne and city
From their lippes proceded lyes, their tongues aduaunced [Page] wyckednesse
Without respecte to the trewth they iudge nothing treulye
They hatched Coccatrice egges / as we haue sene it plainli
And weaued spyders webbes by their cruel consultation.
Esa. lviii
Now he that eateth of their egges shal not escape but dye
Or be an ennemy to the truthe the light of our saluacion.
The chiefest thinge they set by is almost fallen awaye
I meane their masking Masse by so mani Popes deuysed
For thorow it the Lordes supper hath bene in great decay
And the ryght institution blasphemously blemysshed
Thus in the Popysh church it hath bene long abused
But now verite wil haue the matter, in examinacion
He sayth playnly suche abusion shal no more be vsed
It shal be tryed by Gods worde, the light of our saluacion
This Masse as they supposed was alone sufficient
To pacify Goddes wrath, for our wretched mysery
Fre forgyuenes of synnes, beinge neuer so vnpenitent
Myght be receyued at the Masse this was their doctrine dayely
No [...]nale tyme were we blynded, with suche Popysshe peltry
Making vs to paye, fore the holy consecration
Lyke theues that were vnsacrat, they robbed so [...]
Without the feare of Goddes wor [...] uacion
Christ held not the bread ouer his head, it is not in the Scripture.
Mat. x [...].
But brake it and deuyded it, to his Apocstls al
Christ bad them not knele to it of this ye may be sure
yf ye do searche the Scriptures fynde it so ye shal
Christ willed them to reserue it in the memorial
That his body for our synnes,
i. Cor. xi.
suffred payne and passyonTo pacify the fathers wrath, when we in synne do fall
He. vii.x.
Thus was he offred ones for al the light of our saluacionMarke how blyndly we were fed, wt out popysh gētylmen
[...]vi
Marke how wt false doctrine, they haue bleared our eyes.Marke how craftely we were fedde wt Phariseys leauen
Marke also how they repyne, ye goddes worde sholde aryse
Marke what deuylish doctrine these dreamers dyd deuise
ii. Ti. iiii.
Marke how cruel they haue bene, to Christes cōgregationMarke how moch they haue maynteyned, phantasyes and lyes
Nothing regarding gods word, the lyght of our saluation
Of longe tyme haue they caused vs, cōmyt abhominatiō
Ac vii. xvii
Robbyng god of the honor, which to hym is dewe,By muenting false gods of their Imagination
Makyng therof a sacrifice, and yf they proue this trewe
They must confesse thei crucify gods sonne againe a newe
For yf their bread be Christe, by transubstanciation
Than offre they in sacrifice, this must nedes insewe
God and man fleshe and bloude, the lyght of our saluacion
Mar. xvi. Actes. vii. Heb. x.
Doth not scripture say, into heauen Christ ascendedAnd dwellyng not in temples made with mannes hande
But sat him downe for euer / vntyl the worlde be ended
Makinge intercession, both for fre and [...]onde
That vnto his godly promyse faythfully do stonde
This shoulde be to the Idolatres an honest reformation
To driue them from Idolatry for feare they be fonde
Enemy [...]s vnto gods worde the lyght of our saluacion
Iohn .vi.
Christ is the bread of lyfe which descended from ye deiteIhon viii.
Yf any eate of that bread he shal lyue euermoreMatt. i.
Christ alone the sonne of God maketh vs freeAnd from al our synnes clearely doth vs restore
Chryst for al penytent hartes, hath sayd vp mercy in [...]ore
Christe dyed for our synnes,
Rom. iiii.
and rose for our iustificationWe bele to fynde hym a mercyful fauiour
For god hath chosen hym to be the lyght of our saluation
Now seing we haue Christe, to be our onely aduocate
In whome God the father,
Mat. iii.
hath a speciall delightLet vs heare him, for he alone doth inuocate
And of our synnes cleane forgyuenes,
ii. Pet. i
we haue in Goddes syghtWhat nede we than to seke helpe, at any other wyght
But euen onely in the merites,
Eph. i.
of Iesu Christes passionBewayling our great mysery desyring daye and night
To fynde hym a mercyfull God,
Heb. i
the light of our saluacionAll we haue offended and haue nede of Goddes glory
No man is founde righteous and pure in his presence
Yet thorow his sonne Christ,
Rom. iii.
we be forgyuen frelyFor he hath made a sacrifice for our synnes and offence
He is our reconciler, peace maker,
Heb. vii.
and defenceHe it is that shed his bloud, onely for our redemption
And wold haue al men saued this is his pretence
Thus are we cleansed by Christ, the light of our saluacion
No smal cause haue we to reioyce, yf we do consyder
How our mercyfull God, hath for his flocke prouyded
Replenyshinge vs with meat, that endureth for euer
I meane his eternall word,
Iohn. v [...]
frome which we were deuidedBy waye of persecution, abhorred and deryded
But thankes be to the lyuinge God, whiche for our consolacion
Hath ouer throwen the ennemyes that thus enterprysed
To persecute the Gospell, the light of our saluacion.
Act. i [...]
And where we lyued in feare,
Ma. xx [...]
to confesse the viritePsa. c.xxiii.
[...]es vnpro [...]y [...]a [...]Now is that yoocke broken, and we set at libertie
Plenteously to publyshe the truth without fable
Let vs therfore beware, we be not founde variable
Lucke. ix.
But laye a sure holde to the ploughe, with harte and cogitationi. Cor. xv.
Continuinge vnto the ende, stronge stedfaste and stableIn no wyse to renounce the truthe the lyghte of our saluacion.
Apo. xvii.
Forsake the whore of Babylon and the marke of the beastApo. xviii.
Forsake her marchantes all, for they be most pestelentForsake the wares that she solde, frome the most to the least
Forsake her holynes, that she estemed excellent
Apo. xvii
Forsake the deuelysh doctrine, that she dyd inuentForsake and fle vtterly, from her abhominacion
Apo. xviii.
For Kynges and Princes were disceyued, that to her dyd consentPersecuting Gods worde, the light of our saluacion.
Let vs forsake all ceremonies, that to Scripture be not consonaunt
Tradicions of forefathers wherin we haue ben lead
Psal. cv.
And with the lyuely worde of God, let vs now be conuersauntFor therin shall we se with what baggage we were fead
Wandering in the Popes lawes forsakinge Christe oure head
ii. Pe. ii.
Heapinge vpon our selues the more greatter damnacionThus were Tradicions and Ceremonies, maintayned in the stede
Of Gods true and syncere worde, the light of our saluaciō
Let vs earnestly therfore desire wt an harte vnfayned
That in all thinge we do,
Ti [...].
God may haue the gloryYea / and imbrace this heauenly worde, which we haue receyued
Not in talke, nor to receyue it as a carnall liberty
But to bringe forth the frute of the spirit, so that therby
It maye apeare manifest, in our Godly conuersacion
To be a light vnto the worlde, forsaking al iniquite
And to perseuer in the truth the light of our saluacion.
And doubte not al that the heauenly father hathe not planted
He will plucke vp by the rotes,
Mat. xv.
they shall no more endureThis in his eternall worde he hath it promysed
Therfore be not vnfaythfull for his couenaunt is ful sure
Heauen and earth shall perysh,
Luk. xvi.
this is without recureBut his worde shal neuer passe, by no determination
Vntyl al thinge be ended therfore I you allure
To trust wholy in his worde, the light of our saluacion
Honger and thurst for righteousnesse,
Mat. v
than shal ye be satisfyedMortify the flesh, with the dedes therof also
Let no fylthye communicaon oute of your mouthes procede
But as it becometh sayntes,
Ephe. iiii.
euen so loke ye doBlessed be he to whom synne is not imputed to
Neither in his spirite is there founde dissimulacion
Suche shall inioye the heauenly ioyes,
Psal. xxx [...]
knowinge no kynd of wooBut haue the fruicion of Goddes sight, the lyghte of oure saluacion
And aboue all thinge to imbrace / Gods eternall viritie
which vnto a Christen man, there as nothing so acceptable
For as moche as in it, is contayned syncerely
The dewtie of al persons, a doctrine most profytable
And in especiall to this we must be agreable
To loue God aboue al thinge this is the chief foundacion
And oure neyghbours as our selfe, thus shal we withoute fable
Receyue at the hande of God, the lyght of our saluacion.
Let vs be thankeful to our God for his etern verite
With which he hath most plenteously endewed our noble Kynge
So that amonge al his affaires, he maye setforthe goddes glorye
With no lesse zeale than he hath done sence his firste beginninge
I meane, Edward the sixt, ouer vs now rayninge
Right Inheritour by dissent of this reame or dominion
That oute of his Princely harte / there maye dystyll and springe
Gods power and lyuely worde the lyght of our saluacion.
Also for those good ladyes, of the same stock and linage
Mary and Elyzabeth, systers vnto his grace
The heauenly Lorde endewe them / vnto their last age
Euen as their noble father dyd all Popery to deface
And Gods eternall Testament / alway to embrace
For there in shal they learne, by the heauenly instigation
To folow the frute of the spirite, and thereby to purchace
The Celestiall kyndome, the lyght of our saluacion.
For the moste honorable Councell, with my Lorde Protector
Which stryueth strongely with the enemyes of God night and daye
In his procedynges and doynges / the Lorde be his director
With his holy spirite also / to rule their hartes alwaye
That thorowe their spirituall laboure al Poperye maye decaye
And vtterly banysshed the lande, with Godly reformacion
Suppressing all false doctrine and to set suche a staye
That Goddes worde maye increace / the lyght of our saluacion.
And that it may please the (O God) to illumine ye spiritualtie
As Bysshoppes and al ministers, with knowledge and vnderstandinge
Of they most blessed worde to set it forth with synceritie
And vnfaynedly folowe; both in doctrine and lyuing
Fedinge Christes flocke with the worde euerlastinge
Not compelled ther vnto nor for hope of promocion
But for fauor whiche they beare to it aboue al thinge
And thus shall Goddes worde florysshe the lyght of oure saluacion.
i. Pet. v.
Let Christ be preached the sauyour, where in we maye trust
Rebuke euery synne,
i. Ti. iiii
beware of Deuelysh DoctrineDouble tongued men / in no wyse be they must
Not gyuen to fylthy lucre / nor [...]o moche wy [...]e
But hauynge the mysterye of Faythe / in conscyence pure and cleane
And or they presume to minister in the congregacion
They ought to be well proued this doth saynte Paule determyne
And then to fede vs with the truthe the lyghte of our saluauacion.
.i. Tim. iii.
And euen as it is ther dewtie to rebuke synne
So is it our partes also to seace frome synne alwaye
Eze. xxxiii.
Consyderinge Sathan was the fyrste that dyd it begyneTherfore he they our watche men as Ezechiel doth saye
Now yf we haue a warning and will fully decaye
Oure owne bloude vpon oure headdes this is withoute negacion
Rede the texte and more playnly se it there ye maye
Thus God wolde haue al men saued the light of our saluacion.
And for vs pore communs also the Lorde be our ouer fear
That aboue al we may desyre peace and quiet rest
Both of soule and body for that do we require
So shal we prosper in al goodnes and god pleased best
And at the last to be with Christ this is our request
Which is the head of the faithful and Christian congregation
Receyuing there a kyngdome euer to haue rest
In ioye and blysse without ende there to haue our saluaciō
AMEN.
Iames .i.
Euery good gyft, and euerye perfyt gyfte is frome aboue and commethe downe frome the father of light.
Prouerb .ii.
For it is the Lorde that gyueth wysdome out of his mouthe commeth knowledge and vnderstandinge.
Timothe .i.
To god onely, gyue the glory.
Quod, Peter Moo [...].
Imprinted at London by Wyll [...]am Copland.
¶Com priuilegio ad imprimendum solum