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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

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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
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
Prophet which ought to bee vnto all Gods Children a certaine common rule to right and Godly life And to the entent we may the better perceiue this thing and more vehemently be mooued with the true feare of God the cause is to be noted which he addeth wherein truely resteth as it were a certaine foundation of that same alienation and offence whereby he dooth most greatlie abhorre the Communion of Idolaters The Lord sayth he is mine inheritaunce But is not this thing common to all faithfull and godlie men There is no man truelie which would not glorie in so excellent a thing And this is sure without all doubt that God being once giuen vnto vs in the person of his Sonne dooth daylie entise vs to possesse him But there be verie fewe which are so affected in this parte as the greatnesse and woorthinesse of this same matter should séeme to aske and deserue Neither truelie can we by any meanes possesse God vnlesse on this condition that we also become his Dauid therefore of good right and woorthelie dyd set foorth the foundation of his godlinesse and Religion in this sentence and reason séeing that God is his inheritance he will refraine from all pollutions of Idolles which doo turne vs from God himselfe This is the cause why the Prophet Esaie when he had vpbraided the Iewes that they had giuen themselues to false and strange Gods whome they had made added afterward these sayth he are thy portion signifying by these wordes that God dooth deny to the worshippers of Idolles all bonde and fellowshippe of couenaunt and disenheriteth them and vtterlie depriueth them of that so infinitlie great benefite which he would haue bestowed on them giuing himselfe vnto them So man will except and saye that the Prophet entreateth in that place onelie of them which put theyr affiaunce in Idolles and deceyueth themselues thorowe opinion and incredulitie I graunt but this also I aunswere if they that doo transferre Gods honour vnto Idolles are vtterlie seperated and cut off from his fellowshippe they also doo erre and declyne somewhat from him which doo feine themselues to consent to superstitions thorowe feare and weakenesse of minde For no man can in heart or any conformable fashion or in wyll and in purpose of minde or feyning or by any true or feyned waie approche to Idolles but he must so farre goe backe from God Wherefore let this sentence be thorowlie perswaded and remaine déepelie printed in our hearts that they which séeke God with a true and pure minde to the ende to possesse him for theyr enheritaunce wyll haue no communion and fellowship with Idolles with whome God hath that diuorce debate that he would haue all his to proclaime and make continuall and deadly warre vpon them And in this place Dauid by name dooth expres That hee will neuer be partaker of theyr oblations neither haue theyr names in his mouth and talking He might haue saide on this wise I will not deceyue my selfe with the vnwise and foolishe deuotions of the vnbeléeuers I will not put my trust in such abuses nor I will neuer forsake Gods trueth to follow these lyes but he speaketh not on this manner but dooth rather promise constauntlie that he will neuer be conuersaunt among theyr Ceremonies Therefore he dooth testifie that so farre foorth as concerneth the seruice of God he will abide continually in all puritie and holinesse both of body and soule And first in this place we must consider whether this be not Idolatrie to signifie and declare by outward tokens our agréement with those Superstitions wherewith the seruice of God is corrupted and vtterlie peruerted They that swim as the common saying is betwixt two waters alledge this saying séeing that God would be honoured in spirite Idolles can by no wayes be honoured vnlesse a man put his trust in them But to this maye be easilie aunswered that God dooth not so require the spyrituall seruice and adoration of the minde that he graunteth and remitteth the other parte of our nature vnto Idolles as though that parte should séeme nothing at all to belong vnto him For it is sayde in many places that the knées must be bowed before GOD and also the handes lyfted vp to heauen What then Surely the chéefe honour that God requireth is spirituall but the outward signification whereby the faithfull doo testifie that it is God onely whom they serue and honour must so immediatlie followe that they must at one tyme be ioyned together But one place shall so suffice for all to confute that obiection which they snatch of one worde that they shalbe plainlie rebuked and conuicted In the thyrd Chapter of Daniell it is written that Sidrach Misach Ab●dnago refused and denied vnder any maner of colour to consent vnto the superstition set vp and erected by Nabuchodonozor Declaring that they would in no wise honour his Gods If these goodlie wittie Sophisters had béene there at that tyme they would haue laught to scorne the simplicitie of these thrée seruauntes of God For I suppose they would haue taunted them with such lyke wordes you foolishe men this truely is not to honour them séeing you put no affiaunce in these thinges There is no Idolatrie but where there is deuotion that is to saye a certaine bending and application of the mind to honour and worship the Idolles But these godlie men dyd followe a better and wiser councell for this aunswere which they made procéeded not of theyr owne witte but rather of the holy Ghost which moued them thus to speake whome if we wyl not resist we must accept this place and this example as a certayne rule and definition that Idolatrie is an outwarde action against Gods honour yea although it procéed not from the wyll and purpose of the minde but be onelie colourable and feined In which matter they make goodlie cauillations that there is no Idolatrie at all when as our affiance is not put in Idols Yet shall these men continuallie remaine condemned by the sentence which the mightiest Iudge hath pronounced But these men doo contende onelie for that name onely going about somewhat to lesson theyr faulte which they can by no meanes defend nor excuse Yea they will graunt that this thing is euill doone and not rightlie yet notwithstanding they would haue this fact to be iudged as a certaine veniall sinne But although we graunt them as touching the name that thing they aske yet they shal not get so much therby that they may make theyr cause much the better Let vs saye thus that such manner of feined worshipping of Idolles is not called Idolatrie yet neuerthelesse it shall be a trayterous enterprise against God a certaine fact repugnaunt to the confession of faith and a fowle filthy pollution most full of wicked sacriledge I praye you when the most sacred seruice and honour of God is so violated that we falselie breake that promise we made to him that thorow cowardise and
and decking of the body without all dissolute and sumptuous trimming they would haue the Preacher to make their hose and sewe theyr shoes Well what must we doo then In this matter there is a certaine thing set before vs wherevnto we ought to dyrect and conferre our whole minde studie and thought That is that the zeale of Gods house may eate vp our heart and so moue vs that we beare and take vppon our selues all dishonours contumelies and opprobries which are doone most vnwoorthily against Gods holy name When such desire of Gods honour and feruent loue shalbe kindled in our hearts not like drie stubble soone set on fyre and easilie extinguished but lyke a fyre that burneth continuallie a man shall be so farre from suffering or approouing these abhominations wherewith the name of GOD most shamefullie and vnwoorthilie is polluted that when he shall beholde them he shall be able in no wise to suffer dissimulation silence and taciturnitie And it is dilligentlie to be marked that he sayth The zeale of Gods house that we should knowe that to be referred vnto the outward order which is instituted in the Church that we should exercise our selues in confession of our Faith I doo not weigh the mockers which say that I my selfe lyuing héere without any daunger yea rather in great quietnesse doo talke goodlily of these matters I am not hee with whome these men haue any thing to doo For this is well knowne I haue héere no lande of mine owne So may wee thinke and saye of all these Philosophers which giue theyr iudgement without knowledge of the cause For seeing they will not heare GOD who dooth now truely speake so gently to them to teache them I doo declare the day and iudgement at what time béeing called before the iudgement seate of GOD they shall heare that sentence against the which there shall bee no answer nor defence For séeing they will not heare him as the best and most méeke maister they shall then knowe at the last and féele him as theyr most seuere and iust Iudge At which tyme the stoutest and the craftiest of them shall perceyue and knowe that they were deceyued in theyr opinions Let them bee so well exercised and prepared as they will to obscure or subuert iustice and equitie yet their lawlike and iudiciall ornaments and the badges of the great dignitie and power wherewith they now proudly wax insolent shall not then giue them the victory I speake this because Counsailours Iudges Proctours aduocates and such other bearing the swinge in Courtes and iudgements are not onelie bolde to stryue with God and so to contend that they would séeme to haue gotten a certayne right to scorne and mocke his Maiestie but also reiecting all holie Scripture doo spue out theyr blasphemies as the greatest sentenses of the Lawe and most high Decrées These men whome the world dooth honour as certayne Idolles so soone as they haue spoken one worde cannot suffer reason and trueth to haue any place to rest in But yet by the way I doo admonish and warne them beforehand that it shall be better for them to haue some remembraunce of that same horrible vengeance which is ordeined for them that chaunge iustice with iniquitie and trueth with lying Neither the Doctors and Chamber-masters the delitious banquettours and verie voluptuous men take any higher degrée héere then that they may chatter in theyr feasts and banquettes and bable foorth theyr wordes against the heauenlie Maister to whome truelie all men ought to giue most diligent eare Neither can their goodly famous titles plucke any man from this iudgement in which the Lordly and reuerent Abbottes Priours Deanes Archdeacons as chéefe Maisters of the game shall be compelled to leade the daunce in that condemnation which God shall make most gréeuous Now although the Courteours are woont to gratifie men with the sprinckling of theyr holie water let them not thinke that they can with that kinde of dooing satisfie God To conclude all iesters and praters let them holde theyr tongue and boast not out theyr merie wittie sayinges vnlesse they will féele his mightie hand at whose word they ought to tremble Wherein theyr errour is too much foolishe that beléeueth because they take me for theyr aduersary therefore they shall not haue God to be theyr Iudge Let them scrape my name out of theyr bookes and vtterlie blotte it foorth speciallie in this kinde of cause and question wherein my purpose is onelie that God be heard and obeyed not that I should rule mennes consciences after my lust and charge them with any necessitie or lawe As for all others which doo not so proudlie despyse Gods word and yet are so delicate and weake that they can in no wise be mooued I doo most heartilie beséeche them that they wyll take more thought and regarde to theyr owne duetie saluation and Gods honour and doo more flatter themselues as they haue doone hytherto Let them therefore open theyr eyes and reare vp themselues that they maye beholde the myserie wherein they are I knowe well inough the euylles diffyculties and stoppes wherein they be wrapt among the Papists I doo not speake vnto them as though it were an easie matter in the middes of the Idolaters to take vppon them and defend the pure and sincere Religion of GOD but if they lacke strength I aduertise them to flie vnto God the aucthour of all power that they may be made strong by him and learne to preferre his glorie before all things of this world For I doo earnestlie desyre that all faithfull men which are myserablie afflicted in the Papisme should vnderstande and knowe this howe that the Prophete Ieremie remaining at Ierusalem in Iewrie dyd send this aduertisement and exhortation vnto the people which were holden captiue and oppressed in Babilon If the tyranny of the Pope and of all his ministers be to them sharpe and cruell they must consider that the Iewes also of that tyme suffered heauy and bytter bondage and yet they are commaunded in the vulgare spéeche of the Country to execrate the Idolatrie of the Chaldeans It is not reason that the tiranny of men should breake or any deale diminish from vs the due honour we owe vnto GOD. Héere is no exception or pretence of priueledge which high or lowe ritch or poore may or ought to vsurpe vnto themselues Let all men therefore bowe downe theyr necke and with most humilitie submitte themselues to God Let the poore man haue the true feare of God let him not say vnconstantly I know not what to doo least God aunswer him neyther knowe I what to doo with thée The ritch and wealthy men let them not lyke dronken sluggardes ●léepe in theyr wealth and consume in theyr prosperitie and aboundaunce of all thinges as it were in a certayne draffe tubbe but rather after the example of Saint Paule let them learne to estéeme all that as dyrte and dammage which dooth withdrawe vs from
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
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