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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17725	Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and woorthy instrument in Gods church, M. Iohn Caluin. Which sermons were long since translated out of Latine into English, by M. Robert Horne late Byshop of Winchester, at what time he suffered exile from his country, for the testimony of a good conscience, as his apology in the beginning of the booke will witnes. And because these sermons haue long lyen hidden in silence, and many godly and religious persons, haue beene very desirous of them: at theyr earnest request they are nowe published by A.M.; Quatre sermons. English. Selections	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Horne, Robertc1519?-1580.; Munday, Anthony, 1553-1633.	1584 (1584)	STC 4461; ESTC S110726	58,766	149

faintnesse of stomacke we deny crookedly and falsely our Christian profession that we become inconstaunt and double that we defile our selues fowlie with those things which God hath curssed with all kinde of malediction Is this so lyght a matter that after we haue doone it we ought onelie to wipe our mouth and confesse that we haue cōmitted a certaine small fault Let vs therefore put away th●se shiftes speciallie séeing they serue for no other thing but to make vs bolder and to giue vs greater lybertie to sinne and dooth nothing at all diminishe our fault There be also other more impudent which doo not onely chaunging the name go about to persuade that it is not so great and vnwoorthy a sinne but doo plainely and precisely deny it to be sinne It is sufficient say they that God be honoured with hart and minde Euen so truely if the hart it selfe were not double For when the minde is truely sounde and pure the body shall neuer be drawne into a contrarie part I would knowe of them what that is that mooueth and leadeth their féete to the Temple For when they goe to heare Masse theyr legges wyll neuer be styrred of theyr owne motion but must néedes be moued by the inwarde power of the minde Then must they needes confesse that there is in themselues a certayne desyre and motion of the minde wherof they be carried to worshippe the Idolles and chéefelie because they couet to apply them selues after theyr wyl and opinion which are enimies to the trueth yea and doo so conforme themselues to please them that they doo much more estéeme theyr fauour and theyr owne life then Gods honour and glorie Besides this theyr impudencie is so manifest and shamefull that I am ashamed to dispute against it as though it had some colour or lykenesse of reason yet I must néedes doo it séeing they doo please themselues so greatlie and are as it were men droonken in their own opinions and pleasures fallen fast on sléepe They thinke this is inough to worship God in spirite whose then shall the body be Truely Saint Paule Mooueth vs to honour God both in body and spirite for they be his owne and belongeth to none other God hath created the body and shall it be lawfull for vs therewith to serue and honour the deuill as though he should séeme to be the aucthour and maker thereof It were better they would professe themselues openlie to be Manichées and deny that God made the whole man If they had neuer so lyttle taste of the Gospell they would not burst out into so lycentious impudencie But nowe it is plaine inough that they in no wise know what is the power and greatnesse of this benefite to be redéemed with the blood of Gods sonne And to proue this true how can we looke for the resurrection of the fleshe except we beléeue that Christe Iesus is the redéemer both of bodyes and soules Saint Paule also dooth admonish vs Not to be the seruauntes of men because wee were bought and purchased with so great a price which is the blood of Gods sonne Then he that dooth ioyne and addict him selfe to the wicked seruice of Idols dooth he not treade vnder his féete the most sacred blood of Iesus Christe wherein dooth consist the price of the eternall and immortall glorie which we looke for in our bodies What reason is it that our bodies should be defiled and prophaned before Idolles séeing the crowne of eternal lyfe is promised vnto them in heauen This wallowing in Sathans stewes and most filthy defiling is it a meane and waye whereby we may come to the kingdome of God Moreouer it was not sayd without a great cause Our bodies are the temples of the holie Ghost therefore they which perceyue not that they ought to be kept in all holinesse doo plainlie shewe themselues to perceyue and vnderstande nothing at all of the Gospel Also they declare that they knowe no whit at all what is the power of Iesus Christe and of his grace For when it is sayde on this wise That we are bone of his bones and fleshe of his fleshe We ought to vnderstande that we be ioyned with him both in body and soule Therefore no man can defile his owne body with any manner Superstition but hée dooth seperate himselfe from that coniunction and vnion whereby we are made the members of the sonne of God But now let these wittie and subtyll doctours aunswer me whether they haue receyued baptisme onely in theyr soules or whether God hath cōmaunded rather and instituted that this signe should be imprinted in our flesh Shall the body then wherin the marke of Iesus Christe is printed be polluted and defiled with so contrarie repugnaunt and so wicked abhominations Also the Lordes Supper is it receyued in the mind onelie and not also in the hands and mouth Hath God engrauen in our bodies the arms and badges of his sonne that we afterward should pollute our selues with all vncleannes with most fowle spottes and shame and so vnséemelie deforme our selues that no kinde nor lykenesse of Christian beautie should appeare It is not lawfull in coyning one péece of golde to print two contrarie coynes neyther to set two seales the one repugnaunt to the other vnto one writing and shall a mortall man take vppon him to counterfeite and corrupt Baptisme and the most holie Supper of Iesus Christe and also be bolde to saye that there is no euyll in so great and mischéeuous a facte Such men truelie are woorthy that theyr seruauntes should perswade and make them beléeue they haue a great pleasure to doo them seruice when notwithstanding they giue themselues to sléepe pleasures and all idlenesse and doo not mooue one finger to doo any worke at all If they saye it is not a lyke reason because we haue néede of theyr labour that bee vnder vs I aunswere although GOD haue no neede of vs yet for that hee wyll vse our labour seruice and obedience to serue and honour him truelie it is too much vnséemelie and for vs the greatest shame and infamie to doo all things otherwise then hee wyll and cleane to bee voide of the studie and duetie which wee owe vnto him yea our shame is so much the greater that the woorme of the earth and an vnlyuing Creature shall requyre more power ouer vs and honour then his Creatour But yet wee must talke with these beasts more plainely They say it is lawfull for them to feine and cloake whatsoeuer they will among the Papists and to conforme themselues to that manner and fashion of religion which is thought most apt to nourish superstition Who is he then that giueth them bread to be fed therewithall Who dooth make the ground fertile to bring foorth fruite If GOD doo féede and nourishe them in those places where they dwell as he dooth all other men in the other partes of the earth why doo they not honour the giuer of the

godly and Christian lyfe nor maye séeme any thing to hinder vs. We also which liue héere in rest and quiet enioying the vse of the greatest and singular benefites of God let vs not forget that I touched in the beginning that we apply these thinges to our learning that whatsoeuer héereafter befall vs or into whatsoeuer Countrey wee shall be ledde yet wee may alwayes constauntlie abide in the pure confession of our faith detesting all Idolatrous religion superstitions and abuses which are against Gods trueth doo obscure his honour and vtterlie subuert his Religion Amen ❧ A Godly and learned Sermon made by M. Iohn Caluin conteyning an exhortation to suffer persecution that we may therein follow Iesus Christ and his Gospel taken out in this saying in the 13. Chapter to the Hebrewes ver 13. ¶ Let vs goe foorth to him without the gates bearing his opprobrie AL the exhortations which can be made to instruct vs to suffer patiently and constauntlie for Christe Iesus name and his Gospel shall not much moue vs vnlesse we knowe and be perfectly perswaded of the right truth and woorthinesse of the cause wherefore we contend For when we be in that ieoberdy and daunger that we must loose our lyfe we ought to be most certayne of that thing wherefore we enter into so great perill But that constauncie and fyrmenesse of minde cannot be had vnlesse it be déeplie founded in a certainety and sure perswasion of faith There be many which wyll vnaduisedlie and rashlie venter to dye for certayne foolishe opinions inuented of theyr owne brayne But such forewardnesse of minde ought rather to be thought a furiousnesse then a Christian zeale and loue For assuredlie there is no firmenesse eyther of minde or witte or of common sence in these men which doo cast themselues into peryll with such hardy rashnes How so euer it be God will not acknowledge and take vs for his Martyrs and witnesses without a good cause For death is common for all men and also the condemnation of Théeues and of Gods chyldren the sufferaunce of shame and punishment séemeth to be all one but God maketh a difference betwixt them because he cannot denie and forsake his owne trueth This also is required that wee haue a sure wytnesse voide of all errour of that doctrine which we will defende Wherefore as I sayde there is no exhortation so weightie that can mooue and perswade vs to suffer for the Gospell but if a true certayntie of Faith be imprinted in our hearts For to put our lyfe in daunger without any consideration vnaduisedlie and chaunceablie is most against nature And so to doo should be thought rather rashnesse then Christian boldenesse Moreouer God alloweth nothing that we doo vnlesse wee be plainly perswaded that it is for his names sake and for his cause that the world is so against vs and dooth hate vs. But when I speake of such certaintie and perswasion of minde I doo not onelie vnderstande this that wee should knowe to discerne and iudge betwixte the true Religion and the foolishe oppinions and constitutions of menne but also that wee be thorowlie perswaded of euerlasting lyfe and the Crowne promysed vnto vs in heauen after our conflict in this world Let vs nowe marke well that these two reasons doo pertayne to our duetie and must be ioyned togeather that the one maye in no wise be seperated and disioyned from the other It is meete therefore to take our begynning of this that we vnderstand and knowe what is our Christian Religion what Faith it is that we ought to holde and followe what rule of lyfe God hath giuen vs Neither must we onely haue our mindes instructed with this godlie doctrine but also haue our mindes so armed and prepared that we maye fréely and boldly damne all errours lyes and superstitions which Sathan hath brought into the world to corrupt the pure simplicity of Gods doctrine Therefore it is no meruaile that there is so small a number of men that haue a ready minde and desyre to suffer for the Gospel and that the greatest part of them that professe themselues Christians knoweth not the power of the Christian Religion and theyr owne profession All men in a manner are negligent and haue no desyre or verie small to heare and reade who thinketh it sufficient if they haue gotten some small taste of the Christian Faith And this is the cause why there is séene in these no suretie and constancie of minde and that so soone as they come into any conflict they are so abashed as though they should by and by vterlie perishe For which consideration our desyre ought to be greater to pursue and search out most dilligentlie Gods trueth that therewith our hearts may be perswaded without any doubt Neither is this all to haue such knowledge and vnderstanding For we sée many so well trauayled in Gods doctrine that they séeme as though they were stayned and dyed therewith in whome neuerthelesse there is no desyre and loue of GOD no more truelie then if they had knowne nothing at any tyme of the godlie doctrine but by a certaine vnsure lyght and wauering opinion But what other cause is there of this so great vncertaintie and leuitie but that they did neuer perceyue in theyr minde the maiestie of the holie Scripture And truely if we would rightlie weigh that it is God that speaketh to vs therein we would heare him with more dilligence attention and reuerence If we would thinke in reading the Scripture that we are are in the schoole and discipline of Angelles we should haue another manner of desyre to exercise our selues in that doctrine which is set foorth vnto vs to comfort strengthen and instructe our mindes Now we sée what is the waye to prepare our selues to patience and sufferaunce for the Gospell that is so to goe foreward in the doctrine thereof that being thorowlie perswaded of the true Religion and that doctrine which we ought to holde and defend we maye nothing estéeme and despise all the fraudes and illusions of the deuill and all the inuentions of men as thinges not onely of no value but also execrable because they vtterlie corrupt the Christian sinceritie And héerein we differre as true Martyrs of Iesus Christ from the furious and stifnecked men which suffer for theyr owne foolish opinons Secondlie we ought to be so minded that being assured of the right and goodnesse of the cause wee should be enflamed with this due desyre to follow God whether soeuer he shall call vs to embrace his word with such reuerence as it is woorthy and being called backe from the deceytfull fashion of this worlde as men rauished with theyr whole minde and endeuour should be caried to an heauenlie lyfe But O most myserable case that when the lyght of God dooth shine vnto vs in these dayes so bright as it did neuer shine in the remembraunce of men yet so little zeale fauour and loue should be

we haue promised all our endeuours both to lyue and die yea whose we are although we had promised nothing at all I meane not héereby to driue euery man of necessitie at all tymes to giue a full and perfect confession of theyr Faith no not sometymes when they be asked For I knowe what measure and moderation Saint Paule vsed who was ready with heart and minde to defend the Gospell as any other Neyther was this spoken by the Lord Iesus and promised without a cause that God would giue vs in that tyme matter a mouth and prudence As though he would haue sayde the office of the holie Ghost is not onlie to confirme vs that we maye be willing bolde and strong but also it consisteth in giuing vs iudgement prudence and counsayle how we may as it becommeth gouerne and rule our selues in so great and so harde a matter Trulie this whole Treatise is to this ende that they that be in such distresses should desire and receyue from heauen that moderation and prudence not following the counsayle of the fleshe to séeke some shiftes to escape But there be that doo obiect in this place that the Lord Iesus yea when he was asked would make to them no aunswer But I say that this suffiseth not to take away that rule which he hath giuen to vs to witnesse our faith then when the confession thereof is necessarilie required Furthermore that he did neuer dissemble or kéepe silence for this purpose to saue his lyfe Last of all that he dyd neuer make so doubtfull an aunswere but that it contayned an apte testimony of that which he had spoken before or else did first satisfie them that laye in waite to marke bothe his wordes and déedes Wherefore let all Christians be well perswaded and sure of this thing that no man ought more to estéeme his life then the testimony of the truth wherin God will haue the prayse and glorie of his name to appeare Is it without cause that he calleth all those his witnesses for this dooth the word Martyr signifie who are brought to make aunswer before the enimies of Faith and Religion Or is not this rather the cause for that he would vse all theyr speaking and whole course of lyfe to the confession of his name Wherein euerie man must not so looke to his neighbour and fellowe that he will seeme to doo nothing at all without his example and testimony And this curiositie is so much the more to be eschued because we are prone to this vice of our owne nature Peter when he heard of Christe That he should be ledde in his olde age whether he would not he enquired what should become of Iohn his fellowe and companion There is none of vs which to auoide peryl and daunger would not gladly make aunswere in that wise because when we should suffer any thing by and by this commeth into our minde what is the cause wherefore I should suffer more then others But Iesus Christe dooth counsayle and admonish otherwise vs all in common and euerie man priuatlie to be prepared and ready that as he calleth one or other so euerie man come foorth in his order And I haue shewed this before that we shall be vnarmed and vnprepared to take and suffer Martyrdome vnlesse we be fensed and armed with the promises of God Now remaineth to declare plentifully such promises not that we wyll set foorth euerie one exactlie but to shewe the cheefe and most excellent thing which GOD would haue vs to hope for to comfort vs in our callamities And there be thrée such thinges the first that séeing all the tymes both of our lyfe and death doo consist in his hand he will so defend vs by his power That not one heaire of our head shall fall but after his will Wherefore all faithfull men ought thus to be perswaded in whose hands so euer they be tossed that God in no wise wil lay aside that gouernaunce and custody which he hath taken vppon him for them with so great care If this perswasion of Gods fatherlie care and prouidence did rest and cleaue déepe in our hearts we should be deliuered out of hande of the greatest parte of these doubtes and difficulties which doo now trouble and hinder our duetie We behold now the bitternesse of the tyrants and vnbridled crueltie brawling péeuishlie in all sharpnesse of punishments And heereby we iudge that God hath no more care nor regard to defend and kéepe vs in safetie And therefore we be so styrred and prouoked by our owne reasons to look and prouide for our selues as though the whole hope of Gods helpe and succour were cleane taken away But on the other part the so great prouidence of God as he hath shewed vnto vs ought to be vnto vs like a strong fensed Castle which can be ouercommen with no power Let vs therefore learne holde fast this short sentence that our bodies are in his hand and power who also did create them And this is the cause wherfore God hath deliuered his after a meruailous sort and contrarie to the opinion and hope of all men as Sydrach Misach and Abednego foorth of the burning Ouen Daniell out the Lyons denne Peter out of Herodes prison wherein he was shutte and watched and dillygentlye faste bounde in chaines By these examples he would declare vnto vs that he could staye our enimies as it were with a certayne bridle and that hee had that power that when hee would hee could preserue and as it were plucke vs out of the mouth of Death it selfe Not that hée dooth alwayes thus delyuer his from such perylles but of right hauing the aucthoritie to appoint our life and death he wyll haue vs perswaded that we are so continued and kept vnder his custodie and tuition that whatsoeuer the tyrauntes doo inuent or with what furie soeuer they set vppon vs yet it is onelie in his hande to appoint lyfe or death and therefore this matter ought onelie to be referred to his wyll But if hée suffer the tyrauntes to kyll vs yet our lyfe is vnto him deare and much more set by of him then it is woorthy The which he dyd plainly declare to be so when he pronounced by the mouth of Dauid That the death of his Saints was honorable and precious in his sight And also when he sayde by Esaie That the earth it selfe should shewe foorth the blood that was shedde which seemeth altogether hidden Nowe then let the enimies of the Gospell be as bountifull and prodigall in shedding the Martyrs blood as they will yet this must be that they shall make a reckoning and horrible account of the effusion of that déere and precious blood yea euen to the vttermost droppe But now in this tyme they doo scornfully and proudly laugh when they burne the faithfull men and after they haue dypte and washed themselues in theyr blood they become so dronken that they care nothing at all

what murthers they doo But if we will haue this staye and moderation of minde that we can patiently abide God wyll at the last declare that it was not without a cause that he so greatly esteemed our life and had it in so great honour In the meane while let vs not take it to gréefe if it be nowe bestowed to confirme and garnishe the Gospell which excelleth heauen and earth in woorthinesse And that we may be more surely perswaded that God will neuer leaue vs as abiect●s in the handes of the enimies let vs not forgette the same saying of Iesus Christe wherein he sayth That it is he himselfe whome men doo persecute in his members God sayde before by Zacharie Who so toucheth you toucheth the sight of mine eye This is much more expressed if we suffer for the Gospel sake it is euen as the sonne of GOD himselfe were and suffered in that affliction Therefore let vs thinke so that Iesus Christe must forget himselfe if he should haue no care and thought of vs at that tyme when we be in prison and daunger of lyfe for his cause and glorie and let vs also knowe that God wyll take all the contumelies and iniuries as doon against his owne sonne Let vs come to the second place of consolation which is one of the greatest among Gods promises that is that God wyll so holde vs vp with the vertue of his spirite in these afflictions that our enimies whatsoeuer they doo nor Sathan theyr chéefe captaine shall in any thing goe away with the vpper hand And trulie we doo sée howe in that necessitie he dooth shew the succour and helpes of his grace For the inuincible stoutnesse and constancie of minde which is séene in the true Martyrs is a notable token of that same most mightie power which God vseth in his Saints There be two thinges in persecutions gréeuous tedious and intollerable to the fleshe whereof the one consisteth in the checkes and rebukes of men the other in the payne and torment of the body In both these kindes of temptations GOD dooth promise so his assistaunce that we shall easily ouercome all the infamy and violence of the gréefes and paynes And truelie what he promyseth he dooth perfourme in déede with most manifest and assured helpe Let vs then take this buckler to defend vs against all feare and let vs not measure the power of Gods spirits so slenderly that we should not thinke and beléeue that he wyll easily ouercome all the iniuries bitternesse and contumelies of men And of this diuine and inuinsible operation among all other we haue a notable example in this our age A certayne young man who liued godlilie héere with vs in this Cittie when he was taken at Dornicke was condemned with this sentence that if he would deny the confession of his Faith he should be but beheaded but if he perseuered in his purposed opinion he should be burned When he was asked whether he would doo he aunswered plainly he who wyll giue me this grace to dye patientlie for his name wyll also worke by the selfe-same grace that I maye abide broyling and burning We ought to take this sentence not as pronounced of a mortall man but of the holy Ghost that we should thinke that GOD can so well confirme and make vs ouercome all paines and tormentes as to mooue vs to take any other kinde of méeker death in good parte Yea we sée also oftentymes what constancie he giueth to euyll and wicked men who suffer for theyr euill déedes and wickednesse I doo not speake of such as be obstinate and hardned in theyr wickednesse which haue no repentaunce but of them which doo perceyue consolation by the grace of Iesus Christe and so doo take and suffer quietlie and with good will most gréeuous and sharpe paine and as we sée a notable example in that theefe who turned at the death of our Lord Iesus Christ Will God who assisteth with so great power wicked men that suffer condignly for theyr euill actes forsake them who defend his cause and will he not rather giue them inuinsible power The thyrd place of promises which God promiseth to his Martyrs is the fruite which they ought to looke for of theyr suffering and of death it selfe if néede so require But this fruite is that after they haue set foorth and honoured Gods name and edified his Church with their testimony they may be gathered together in immortall glorie with the Lord Iesus But because we haue spoken largely enough before of this reward of eternall glorie it is now sufficient to renue the memorie of those thinges that are already spoken Wherefore let the faithfull learne to reare vp theyr heads to the crowne of immortall glorie wherevnto God dooth call them let them not take the losse of this lyfe gréeuouslie considering the greatnes and woorthines of the reward And that they maye be sure and perfectly perswaded of this so great a good thing as cannot be expressed with any spéeche nor in thought to be comprehended nor with any honour enough to be estéemed let them haue continually before theyr eyes this lyke and conformable reason with our Lord Iesus Christe that in death it selfe they beholde lyfe as he by ignominie of the Crosse and infamie came to glorious resurrection wherein all our felicitie triumphe and ioye consysteth Amen FINIS Gods word displaced Idolatrie brought in 2. Tim. 4.2 No man can speake against the truth without great blasphemy to God 〈◊〉 the na● of the ●sts to ●er and ●e euill ●e god● A compari●on between the Phari●eis and the popish pre●ates The Papists haue found out that which the Phariseis neuer heard of The Papists slaundering of the god●ie Christe his example a comfort to the godly Matth. 10.24.25.26 A question demaūded The Aunswer Luke 18.13 Galat. 5.17 ●th 11.19 ●th 9 11. ●th 9.14 ●th 12.2 ●e slande●s spee●s of the ●ariseis a●nst christ 〈◊〉 the iu●ying of ●mselues The intent of the popish hypocrites by their rayling Iohn 9.24 1. Tim. 5.19 Such as theyr Religion is such is their life Iebr. 13.4 The Papists ●biection Aunswer 1 2. Cor. 12.7.8.9 An example of the oath of vnmaried ●riests that 〈◊〉 virgins 〈◊〉 notable ●biection ●hich all ●he Papistes ●re not able ●o deny S. Augus● The Papi● proued h●pocrites s Augusti● wordes God knoweth the secretes o● all hearts ● Paules ●ctrine to 〈◊〉 Gala●ans and ●hessalo●ans poy●ed by ●se tea●ers ●ala 1.10 Thes 2.4 The Papists would rayle against Christe him selfe if they durst but because thei dare not they reuile his word A question demaunded of the Papistes Theyr aunswer Math. 9 17 Why the Papists call the Gospell the new learning The church of Antichrist the continuall enimy to the Gospell Aug. lib. de bap paruul The Papists say they be Peters successours so in some respectes they be The cause why the godly fled in tyme of trouble The Papists cast in prison and banishe the cheefe learned men then cal for disputation when no body is to answere them nor any that they wil suffer to come The practises of the Papistes to vpholde their Religion Acts 16.16 Acts. 19.24 A note of the Aurhor to the noble men Math. 22.17 Mat. 16.26 Math. 19.29 Math. 6.26 1 Tim. 6.7 ● Heb. 13.14 Philip 3.8 Mat. 16.6 Psal 16 4. ● Psal 16.6 Gods honour abused throug● Idolles ●sal 16.5 Dani. 3. 1. Cor. 6.19.20 ● Cor. 7.22 ● 1. Cor. 6.19 Gala. 5.30 Gene. 39. False religion a corrupting of true religion God dooth forbid false religion Iere. 10.11 Masses 〈◊〉 vnlyke to harlottes The maner how the papists do defend them selues Iere. 3.12 Singing in an vnknowen tōgue is an open ●●ophaning 〈◊〉 Gods ●ord ● Cor. 14. Psal 16.5 Gene. 28.6 7 8 9. ●ds ho●ur is to 〈◊〉 preferd ●ore all ●nges ●e 29. All men are careles in a maner and do not delight to reade the Gospell In reading of holy scripture w● must think● vs in a scol● of Angels The way ●ow to pre●are our ●lues vnto ●atience 〈◊〉 we had a● regard God we ●uld not ●ne his ●ly gospel ●o lyes ●e con●ncie of ●artyrs in ●de time Idolles ar● to be detested of all men Vertue is be embraced of all God is to be honor with all uerence Heb. 13 13 We are all ●lled to ●ffer per●cution ●ll daun●ers to be ●ffered for ●e gospell ●ke Rom. 9. ●ffering ●rsecution ●r the gos●lles sake 〈◊〉 the iudg●ent of the ●orld is the ●eatest in●my wee 〈◊〉 suffer Acts. 5.41 1 Pet. 4 15 1● ●esus Christ 〈◊〉 an exam●e to vs. God doo shewe vs many causes why w● should sufer persecution ●od dooth ●repare for ●is elect a ●owne of ●mortall ●lory Math. 5.10 Math. 10 32 Luke 2. The worst they can d● vs is to tak● away our liues Luke ● 2 ●h 10 32 Gods ●d dooth 〈◊〉 terrifie 〈◊〉 mindes ●hing I terrifie ●n ●br 11. ●at faith Two parte● to be considered Psa 129.2 ●al 44.22 ●sal 2.3 ●sa 125.3.5 2. Cor. 4 〈◊〉 1.12 ●euous ●secutions ●ered by 〈◊〉 Iewes Hebr. 11.36 37 3● ●ompa●n be●en them 〈◊〉 vs. ●at mat● cannot 〈◊〉 declared 〈◊〉 they ●ght ●ersecution is a ●ouchstone Euerie ma● must liue in that simplicity and integritie that God requireth We ought 〈◊〉 commit ●ur lyfe in● Gods ●and What this word Martyr signifieth Dani. 3.26 Dani. 6.20 ●l 116.15 ●y 26.21 ●owe the ●apists doo ●lory when ●hey burne ●he faithful Acts. 9.4 Zacha. 2 8. ●wo things ●eeuous in ●rsecution ●od dooth ●omise his ●lpe in ●th kinds The great constancie of the yo● man Question Aunswer ●ke 23. ●hat fruit 〈◊〉 Martirs ●ght to ●oke for

founde Wherein our misery is so much the greater that in so great filthinesse and vnthankfulnesse we are not ouerwhelmed with blushing shame For we must shortlie come before that Iudge before whome our vice and euyll which wee by all meanes goe about to hide shall be brought foorth with that rebuke and checke whereby the iust cause of our destruction shall appeare For if we be so endebted and bound to GOD that for the knowledge hee hath giuen vs wee ought to giue to him honourable and thankefull testimony why is our stomacke so abashed and fearefull to enter into the battell Especiallie séeing GOD in this our age hath so opened himselfe that it may be rightly sayde and trulie that he hath opened and plainlie set foorth the greatest treasures of his secretes May not this be sayd that we so thinke of God as though we seemed to stande in no néede of him at all For if we had any consideration of his Maiestie we durst neuer be so bolde to turne the doctrine which procéedeth out of his mouth into Philosophie and vaine speculation In fine we can haue no excuse but this must be vnto vs the greatest shame yea an horrible condemnation that in so great knowledge obtained by the singuler goodnesse of GOD we haue so lyttle l●ue and minde to defend and kéepe the same For first if we will call to our remembraunce the Martyrs of olde tyme and compare theyr wonderfull constauncie with this our tender slouthfulnesse we shall finde passing great cause to detest our owne filthinesse For they were not for the most part so trauailed and exercised in the Scriptures that they could learnedly dispute of all matters But first of all they knewe and helde fast this that there is one God whome they ought to serue and honour then that they were redéemed with the blood of Iesus Christe that in him onelie and in his grace they should put their affiaunce and trust of saluation Moreouer they dyd iudge all other inuentions and ordinaunces of men to worshippe God so vnwoorthy filthinesse that they could easilie condemne all Idolatries and superstitions to conclude in few wordes this was theyr Diuinitie there is one onelie God the maker of the whole world which hath declared vnto vs his will by Moses and the Prophetes and then by Iesus Christe and his Apostles We haue one redéemer with whose blood we were bought and by whose grace we hope to be saued All the Idols of the world are to be detested and accurssed They came stoutlie and boldlie to the fyre or other kinde of death and punishment instructed with no other doctrine and more hidden knowledge And the number of them was not small as of two or thrée but so great that the multytude of them which were cruellie vexed and tormented of the tyraunts séemed innumerable and infinite But we are so taught and instructed that we passe all our auncetors in knowledge and vnderstanding of holy Scripture We thinke in our selues and it is true as touching the vnderstanding of the Scripture God hath endued vs with so much knowledge as he hath giuen to any age at any tyme. And yet there is in vs scantlie the least droppe of feruent loue towardes God There is no reason why we should nourish this nice ●owardnesse of mind vnlesse we would willingly and wittingly prouoke the wrath and vengeaunce of God against our selues What must we then doo Truely we must take to vs a stoute bolde and constant minde We must chéefely consider how precious and honorable the confession and testification of our faith is before God For we doo lyttle knowe how God dooth estéeme this confession when our lyfe which is of no value is more set by and deare vnto vs. Wherein our wonderfull and beastlie foolishnesse is shewed for we can not in this sort spare our life but we must néeds confesse that we set more thereby then by Gods honour and our owne saluation A certayne Heathen man could vse this saying that it is a myserable thing to forsake and betraye the causes why we lyue for the conseruation of lyfe Yet hee and his lyke dyd neuer knowe truelie to what ende menne were set in the world and wherefore they lyued therein They might well say that vertue is to be estéemed and followed and that we ought to liue an honest lyfe without blame But all theyr vertues were nothing else but colours and shadowes But we haue better vnderstanding wherevnto our life must be referred which is that we honour GOD with all prayse and glorie that hee himselfe may bee our glorie Without him our lyfe is miserable the which we cannot continue the least moment but wee shall heape vppon our selues a perpetuall malediction And yet wee are nothing ashamed for the winning of a fewe dayes for this féeble lyfe to refuse the eternall kingdome and to seperate our selues from him by whose power we are and haue our being in this lyfe If a man should examine the most vnlearned yea those whose wit is so dased and whose life so voluptuous that they be most lyke to brute beastes what manner of lyfe is appointed them they durst not saye plainelie and openlie that it should consist onelie in eating drinking and sleeping For they knowe that they are created to a better woorthier and more higher thing which is nothing else but to serue and honour God with all kinde of honour and to suffer our selues as good chyldren to be ordered and reuealed by our most benigne Father that after the ende of this frayle and vnsure lyfe wee maye be receyued into his eternall heritage In the appointing and winning of this ende consisteth the chéefest and greatest point of our felicitie yea all the whole weight of euerlasting lyfe But when we carrie our mindes and thoughts another waye and doo snatch fast holde of this present lyfe wurse then a thousande deathes what excuse can we haue For to liue and be ignoraunt of the causes wherefore we liue is vnnaturall But to forsake the causes wherefore we liue héere for the desyre and loue to prolong our lyfe as it were for thrée dayes in this deceytful world and to be seperated from God the aucthour of lyfe is such a bewitching and furious madnesse that I know not with what wordes we ought to expresse and shewe it But whatsoeuer knowledge we haue and how soeuer our lyfe is appointed for so much as notwithstanding the persecutions are no lesse and bytter let vs consider how and by what meanes the Christian men maye confirme them selues in patiencie and so strengthen theyr mindes that they maye constantly venter to daunger theyr lyfe for Gods trueth This same Text which we haue recyted being well vnderstanded may bring vs to that indifferencie of minde yea to that willingnesse that we shall not refuse to suffer death for Gods name Let vs goe foorth of the Cittie sayth the Apostle after the Lord Christe bearing his opprobrie Fyrst

he dooth teach and admonishe vs that although the swordes are not already drawne to kyll vs or the fires kindled to broyle and burne vs yet that we cannot truelie be ioyned with the sonne of GOD so long as we haue the rootes of our thoughtes and desyres fixed in this world Wherefore the Christian must alwayes although he be in quiet haue one foote lyfted vp ready to the battell and not onelie that but also his minde must be vtterlie seperated from the world although his body be therein Although this at the first sight may séeme vnreasonable yet one saying of Saint Paule ought to be sufficient to perswade vs for that we be called and appointed to this to suffer persecution As though he should saye Such is the condition of our Christianitie that we must néeds enter in and passe thorowe this way if we will follow Christe In the means season to ease our infirmitie and to mitigate the tediousnesse and heauinesse which persecutions bringeth wee haue this great and swéete comfort that wee suffering all these incommodities opprobries and daungers of lyfe for the Gospell doo as it were set our féete in euerie footesteppe of Gods sonne and doo followe him as our Prince and guide If it had béene onelie sayde vnto vs that we must passe thorowe all the opprobries of the world to kéepe the Christian profession and also suffer death fréelie and without feare when soeuer Gods wyll were mee thinke we should haue had some colour to aunswere and saye contrarie that it is a thing diuers and abhorring from our nature to wander so without a guide But séeing we are charged and commaunded to followe the Lord Iesus his leading ought to séeme so right and honourable that we haue no iust excuse to refraine or refuse his commaundement But that we should haue more earnest loue and desire towardes this lawdable and healthfull example it was not onelie sayde that Iesus Christe dooth leade the way as guide and Prince but also that we are made lyke vnto his image For so Saint Paule in the Epistle to the Romanes speaketh That God hath chosen and called all them whome he hath taken into the number of his chyldren that they should be lyke and be fashioned after the Image of him which is appointed patterne and head ouer all What are we so nice and tender that we can or will beare and suffer nothing at all Then must we néeds refuse Gods grace whereby he calleth vs to the hope of saluation and leadeth vs thereto by this way For these two are so ioyned together that the one can not be seperated from the other that we be the members of Iesus Christe and that by meanes of this coniunction and communion we be exercised with many afflictions and calamities This same manner of our lyfe is so ioyned with Gods sonne and such conformity to him we ought to estéeme more then we doo and also to iudge it not onelie by all wayes most woorthy to be professed but also to be followed The suffering of callamities for the Gospell in the opinion and iudgement of the world is the greatest infamy but séeing we knowe that all the vnfaithfull are so blinded that they can sée or rightlie iudge nothing at all ought not we to haue cleare eyes and to iudge more perfectlie It is shame to be afflicted and vexed of them that occupie the seate of iustice But Saint Paule dooth shewe vs by his example that we haue great occasion To glorie in the scarres of Iesus Christ and as it were in certaine markes imprinted in vs wherewith we being marked and deckte God dooth acknowledge and receyue vs for his seruaunts and elect And we know this that S. Luke doth rehearse of Peter and Iohn That they were verie glad and ioyfull that they were thought woorthy to suffer for the Lord Iesus name slaunder rebukes and shame Wherein two thinges may be séene contrarie in themselues shame and honour by this that the world running headlong in furie and madnesse dooth iudge against all reason and by this meanes dooth chaunge the glorie of God with dishonor and infamy Let not vs now disdaine so to be despised and to be rebuked of the world that we maye héereafter obtaine with God his Angels honour glory and prayse We sée what great labours ambitious men taketh to obtayne the order of some King and after they haue atchéeued it what triumphes they make but the sonne of God dooth offer to vs his order and yet euerie one despiseth it and is turned with the whole power of the minde to the vanitie of the world I pray you when we behaue our selues so proudlie and vnthankefullie are we woorthy to haue any thing common with him Although our vnderstanding can perceyue and comprehend nothing héerein yet of a trueth these are the proper and honourable badges and armes of heauenlie nobilite Imprisonmentes banishments maledictions after the opinion of men bring nothing else then great shame and infamie But what doo they let vs sée what God dooth iudge and pronounce of these thinges sauing our owne infidelitie Wherfore we must labour that the name of Gods sonne be of such aucthoritie waight and honour with vs as it is most worthy that we thinke we are well and honourably dealt with all that his burnes as it were certayne badges are printed in vs or else our vnthankfulnesse can in no wise be borne If God should persecute vs after our merits hath he not iust cause euerie daye to chastise and punishe vs infinite wayes Yea surely no deathes put vnto vs were able to recompence the least part of our mischéefe But of his great and infinite goodnesse he treadeth vnder foote all our sinnes and dooth vtterlie abolishe the same and where as hee might punishe vs according to the greatnesse of our sinnes he hath inuented another meruailous waye whereby the afflictions are traduced from our deserued paine and punishment to a great honour and a certayne priuiledge and singular benefit because that by the pertaking and suffering of them we are receyued into the felowship of Gods sonne Maye it be otherwayes sayd or iudged then that we séeing we despise and disdaine this so excellent and blisful condition and manner of lyuing haue lyttle profited in Christian doctrine This is the cause why S. Peter After he had moued vs to liue a godly and holy life in the feare of God farre from that lyfe wherfore other men as theeues whoremongers adulterours and menkillers suffer By and by addeth this If we must suffer as Christian men therein we giue glorie to God for that great and singular benefite which he hath bestowed vpon vs. Nor it is not for nothing that the holie man speaketh thus what are we I praye you that we should be witnesses of Gods trueth and as it were proctours appointed to defend his cause Beholde we be myserable men as it were woormes of the earth creatures full of