merite to be left in the handes of their own counsel, and so to come to
confusion and bondage of strangiers. But yet I feare that this vniuersall
negligence[a] of such as somtimes were estemed watchemen, shall rather
aggrauate our former ingratitude, then excuse this our vniuersall and
vngodlie silence, in so weightie a mater. We se our countrie set furthe
for a pray to foreine nations, we heare the blood of our brethren, the
membres of Christ Iesus most cruellie to be shed, and the monstruous
empire of a cruell woman (the secrete counsel of God excepted) we knowe to
be the onlie occasion of all these miseries: and yet with silence we passe
the time as thogh the mater did nothinge appertein to vs. But the
contrarie examples of the auncient prophetes[b] moue me to doubte of this
our fact. For Israel did vniuersalie decline frome God by embrasing
idolatrie vnder Ieroboam. In whiche they did continue euen vnto the
destruction of their common welthe[c]. And Iuda withe Ierusalem did
followe the vile superstition and open iniquitie of Samaria[d]. But yet
ceased not the prophetes of God to admonishe the one and the other: Yea
euen after that God had poured furthe his plagues vpon them[e]. For
Ieremie did write to the captiues of Babylon, and did correct their
errors, plainlie instructing them, who did remaine in the middest of that
idolatrouse nation. Ezechiel[f] frome the middest of his brethren
prisoners in Chaldea, did write his vision to those that were in
Ierusalem, and sharplie rebukinge their vices, assured them that they
shuld not escape the vengeance of God by reason of their abominations
committed.

[Sidenote g: God alway had his people amongst the wicked, who neuer
lacked their prophetes and teachers.]
[Sidenote h: Isaie. 13. Ierem. 6. Ezech. 36.]
[Sidenote i: Examples what teachers oght to do in this time.]
[Sidenote j: Ezech. 2, Apoca. 6.]