436

Wolf.

omitteth  it  vndone  (where  as  in  his  [fol.  14“.]  conscience  he
knoweth  soche  vayne  and  ynprofitable  thynges  to  serye  for
no  g-oode  porpose,  but  puffed  vp  in  bis  owne  witt  soffereth
theym  to  remayne,  as  a  stomblynge  blocke,  and  occasion  of  evill,
vnto  the  weake)  abusetb  gretly  his  fredom.  and  maye  with
oute  fayle  wayte  for  the  sharpe  scourge,  and  cruell  iudgement
of  god.  Son.  To  whom  is  this  power  or  authorite  committed?
Ro.  xiij.  Fa.  To  oure  temporall  lordes,  ruelers,  and  superiours,
with  their  debities  and  assigneis.  For  they  by  goodis  1  worde
and  ordenaunce  have  receved  the  swearde  temporall,  therwith
to  cjiasten,  put  downe,  and  disanull,  all  that  agaynst  god  and
his  wholy  worde  is.  And  to  have  no  regarde  vnto  the  iniquite
and  vngodlines,  of  the  mayntayners  of  soche  abhominable
seduccions  above  rehearced,  with  their  sacrifices,  masses,  dedde
mennes  songes.  etcet.  (for  beynge  Baals  prestes,  thei  have  no
PMi.  üj.  god  savynge  their  belly  only)  but  fervently  to  confounde
and  disanull,  whatsoever  maye  be  occasion  to  the  weake
conscience  of  a  Christen  manne,  to  swarve  from  the  kope,
truste,  and  confidence,  of  the  precious  bloudde  of  his  swete
saveoure  Jesus  Christ.  As  did  goode  Josias  the  kynge.  Whiche
i.  ie.  xxiij.  toke  oute  of  the  waye  (though  as  [fol  14 b .]  yett  the
people  were  nott  fully  converted  to  the  lorde)  al  ydols,  and
abhominacions  made,  and  brought  vp  withoute  the  worde  of
god.  which  only  was  of  power  to  clense  mennes  hertes  from
ydolatry,  and  to  endewe  theym  with  the  perfett  knowledge
and  true  love  of  his  godly  maieste.  and  so  doynge  fullfelled 2
the  due  office  belongynge,  vnto  a  true  prynce  or  rueler.  Or  eis
shulde  Hosea  the  last  kynge  of  Israhel  have  bene  fautlesse.
which  before  god  was  accounted  and  iudged  for  an  evill  doar,
because  he  destroyed  not  the  golden  caulves,  and  did  nott  heawe
downe  the  hye  places,  wherin  men  worshipped  theym,  notwithstondynge
  that  he  gave  liberte  and  soffered  the  people  to  go
vp  vnto  Jerusalem,  and  there  to  accomplisshe  their  homage
and  sacrifice,  due  to  the  lorde,  after  the  lawe  and  prophettes.
Insomoche  that  he  was  overcome  by  the  kynge  of  the  Assirians,
and  at  the  last  miserabely  punnisshed  by  the  lorde,  which  toke
a  vengraunce :i  of  the  grett  negligence  committed  agaynst  hym.

i  God’».

2  fulfiled.

3  vengeance.