holy body of Christ in general he dooth testify say the same to euery one of them in particuler And therefore euery one perticulerly ought to apply and assure himselfe to him in none other maner nor forme then of him onely it was sayde and spoken by Sainct Paule who saythe we haue not receiued the spirit of this world but the spirit which commeth of god bicause we might knowe the thinges which are of him that he doothe geue vs and not be ignorant therein nor yet doubt thereof Of Purgatorie and the causes of calamitie c. Cap. xv BIcause we that are of the nūbre of the faythfull are suche a perticuler worke of GOD that of his goodnesse he wyll not that there be any thinge in vs which he loueth not but that we be wholly cleane also that with our holinesse and cleannesse of lyfe and doctrine we dooe declare our selues to be his children and therefore wyll destroy in vs all the workes of the diuell which are so repugnant vnto him as are the wicked inclinacions of the fleshe and all whatsoeuer els that doothe let our true obedience to his holy heauenly will. To ende and consume it altogether he dooth laye his crosses vpon vs to be as it were a Purgatory in this world to purifie vs and he will there with that we take it as a testimony of his loue and that we be his verye familiars and fréendes I sayth the Lorde dooe reprehend and chastise those whome I loue And hereof it groweth that the more he loueth vs so much the more he hateth abhorreth the sinne that is in vs and also so much the more he will correct and chastise vs And as there is none that he dooth more loue then those which he hathe called and incorporated in Iesus christ so is ther none that is more afflicted in this world Euen as a carefull Father that hath many children and one among thē more beloued then the rest whom he will make his heire and the more he loueth him so much the more vigilant he is to kéepe all vice daunger from him that might depriue him of his inheritance yet the sonne with dolefull dollour griefe that he dooth féele dooth bewayle and thincke in féelinge his fatherly correction that it doothe procéede of ire and doothe not consider his fathers pure pretence but rather taketh it for a signe of hatred which for a most sure certeintie is a true testimony of loue good will. Euen so it dooth fall out betwene god the celestiall father and vs for that we doo not vnderstande the intent of him in his fatherly reprehensions and chastisements the which of truth deare fellow membres are bicause he doth loue vs most singulerly as childrē to dispose vnto vs his most inestimable and blessed inheritāce and to destroye in vs all the vices that should let or hinder vs frō the same We do sorrow gréeue at his friendly fatherly correctiō we doo not estéeme it as we ought to doo nor as instruments the tend to so ioyful an ende And therefore let vs heare follow the counsel of the holy ghost spokē by out of the mouth of the apostle S. Paul. My sonne despise not the chastinīg of the lorde neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whome he loueth him he chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne that he receueth If we can endure his correctiō he offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto his sonnes for what sonne is that whom his father chastiseth not is beloued He that is not vnder correctiō wherof we all be partakers is a bastard not a sonne Wherby it appeareth we may plainly sée that it is he the scourgeth vs bicause he loueth vs dooth certeinly assure vs that we are his children for that by his crosses and calamities with the which he scourgeth vs he will distinguish vs frō those which are none of his but are reprobats So that if we should be frée frō his paternal or fatherly correction we should also be set voyd frée from the inheritance of his blessed kingdom And moreouer it were then made manifest vnto vs that we were bastterds illegittimate and not sonnes lawfully begottē of our louing father But sith that by his singuler infinit mercy he hath made vs legittimate Let vs like lawfull loouing children put aside all pusilanimitie weakenesse and cowardise and withall earnestie and firme zeale submitte our selues to the ordinaunce will of the eternall God our heauenly father and let vs vnderstande further the saying of S. Paule We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but we haue receiued the spirite of adoption by the which we crye call Abba father the same spirit certifieth vs that we are the sonnes of god and therby heires with Christ therefore let vs suffer with him that we may bée also glorifyed together And forasmuch as we dooe knowe the effect of the benefit of his amorous and louely correction let vs suffer as sonnes and heires to the Imitacion of his eldest sonne our head eldest brother Iesus Christe which being best beloued dyd suffer most excessiue paines passions And as the greatnesse of the same was a true testimony of the loue with the which he loued was beloued of the father Euen so how much the greater our afflictions troubles calamities are so much the more testimony haue we of his excéeding loue good wil towards vs. For it is written by Iesus the son of Sirache that the crosse is mercy So that the more greater that our crosses calamities are so much more the clearer demonstracion haue we the god doth loue vs the more profoundly hath the more pittie of vs maketh vs liue in disdaine with the diuel all his workes From whence it springeth that how much more we be oppressed with persecucion or any kinde of calamitie so much the nigher are we at an ende of the consumption destroy of all the euil mischiefe that is in towards vs against the which the Lord our God dooth make batteile warre fight for vs And for this cause in the most extremitie of al our troubles and calamities whatsoeuer We ought to haue greatest content comfort ioye bicause then our most franke frée ful libertie for the knowledge of God draweth neare whereby we shall sée him face to face shal know him as he doth know vs Let vs not thē as yonge babes blush feare stoppe or staye from the feeling of those troubles calamities which are present in the world But let vs passe to the consideracion that god doothe pretend by them which is to make vs wholly rightuous and that there remain not one spot of vnrightuousnes nor corruption in vs but that we should be the irreprehensible sonnes of god without spotte or wrinckle So that we might come to
vppoÌ„ my booke nor yet to giue me God a mercie and much lesse any part of their pursse for my paynes but haue rather hated me euersithens The vvhich hath not made me to think to gaine any vvorldly liuing to enrich my selfe heereby neither haue I done it to please heritikes vvith all nor yet doe I think that my profession herein is herisie for vvhy I am sure that heritikes vvill be angrie vvith me for it And as for the booke I vvill iustifie it vvith and against all Baalits that vvill any vvay backebite me therefore to be true and perfect religion vnder your graces correction according to the truth true meaning of Christ our head And as for the name of a protestaÌ„t though not a pratling protestant I am very glad to beare it at theyr hands for in deed I do protest before god do vtterly abaÌ„doÌ„ forsake the diuil and all his vvorks as I haue professed in my baptisme and also I do protest forsake and by the helpe of God for euer doe renouÌ„ce Antichrist all his members vvith all their diuilish doctrine and delusions in such sort that if as S. Paule saith my soule bee not ouersoone desolued from my bodie by the grace and fauour of God I vvill compyle and translate togither greater volums notvvithstanding that the dispite of my backebiting enimies bee neuer so great And yet surely there be these and suche lyke couÌ„terbuffetings of Sathan as are sufficient if the strength of Gods spirit vvere not to discourage mee and one cause is amongest the rest for that heere in England vvee are grovven to be lyke vnto the children of Israell they did loath abhorre MaÌ„na a most precious foode sent them dovvne from heaâ—en and vve doe begin to loath the diuinitie of the scriptures as svveet a foode for our soules sent vs from the same place so as the vvryters of diuinitie can scarce obtayne to haue their coppies printed for vvhy the printing of paganicall histories toyes to mock Apes vvith all are more profitable vnto the printer tovvardes hys charges then are the bookes of godly instruction suche is the vanitie of vs the Lorde for hys mercyes sake amend it and graunt your grace some polliticke deuyce to redresse it if it bee possyble Amen It may be novv that I haue made this answere to these and such lyke good fellowes as I haue before spoken off that they vvill assalt me a freshe and saye that I haue spent this trauayle for an other purpose and that is bycause I would shewe my skill and so finde falte with mee for that I haue vsed no more eloquence But yet they are deceyued I haue not done it to any such ende bicause I haue it not I want the eloqueÌ„ce of Tullie and the helpe of Mercurie the God of that Arte And againe wee neede none of them not their helps herein for that a professor of diuinity ought to speak properly not eloquently And also it is not skil but good will that bringeth men vnto god And therefore they that shal say that I haue don it for any of those causes doe mee great wrong I haue don it for three other causes which is to say for pollicy loue hope for policy bicause I haue seen proued by experieÌ„ce that he which is a weak Soldier speedeth best vnder the enfeign or baÌ„ner of the best stroÌ„gest valyantest Captaine I thought it good to play the lyke part and so to shroud my self vnder the banner of your Graces protection thynkyng thereby to be sufficiently armed at proofe to defende my selfe from the worst that eyther Zoylus Momus or Baalit with all theyr companie can doe to mee For loue bycause of the exhortations that the Apostles Paule Peter Iohn haue in diuers places of theyr Epistles incited me vnto S. Iohn in the first Epistle and the third Chapter after that hee had strongly perswaded that we should loue in veritie not in words said that vvhosoeuer hath this vvorldes goods and seeth hys brother haue need doth shut vp his compassion from him hath not is vvithout the loue of God in hym I haue none other riches wherfore I thought it good to bestow and distribute this amoÌ„g my bretheren trusting they wil take it in good part For hope bicause I am persvvaded that your grace vvil so vvell like of the booke that my hope is I shall be greatly incouraged so vvell to spend time heereafter that in all godly doinges I shal reape the commoditie of so godly a patron And that although my vvell doing bee not so vvel as I vvish yet that your grace vvil say for mee in magnis et voluisse sat est And thus bicause you should not say vnto me ne quid nimis I vvill grovve to an ende And though I haue not nor caÌ„ not so purely pollish it as I wold yet what theÌ„ I do not dout but that it vvilbe vttered vvel inough bicause vino vendibili suspensa hedera nihil opus vvherfore I doe fully finish Praying you of your gracious pardoÌ„ for my tedious rudenes and that it may please God to grauÌ„t you as much ioy and felicitie as may be vvished to any the true teaching of the scriptures the loue and fauour of God and our most gracious Queene long life prosperous successe in all your graces affaires And after the change of this life the greatest happines of all which is life euerlasting Amen The .ix. day of August ¶ Your graces most humbly to serue obediently Iohn Danyell Egroto dum anima spes est ⧠To the Reader MY mazed mynde O friendly Reader is so fearfull that I am halfe afrayde to let you sée this my finyshed trauaile not for that I haue any doubt of your ioyfull receyuing of the same bicause I know the title therof will draw you to the perusing of it thorow out the which don I presume it will be the rather excepted and deteined in especially of such as be or haue bene afflicted with any kynd of the crosses of Christ whatsoeuer Bicause that any such a one should finde great profite therby for why in déed it is an excelent comfort against any kynd of calamitie But surely if it happen into the hands of some such as I know it wil be estéemed eueÌ„ as pearle among swyne so to be compelled eyther to frye in the fyre or els to rotte vppon the donghell This gentle Reader is the cause of my feare for that in the translatyng of it I dyd fynde so precyous a Iewel therof as for a certeintie if I should by fortune sée it so euilly intreated it would bryng mée into an excéeding griefe collor for the same the cause why is for that I am in a merueylous loue therewith for the great profit I haue had therby This tyme twelue moneth by the greate goodnesse of God I was visited with a gréeuous sicknes the which as many a one can tell did tye and
doth exhort vs to an excelent comforte The x. Chapter OVr conditions qualities estates in this world is common and according to the same which Iesus Christ him self had when he was therin For that the same causes that he did suffer for euen the lyke doe wée suffer for also The cruell intreatie that was vsed and done vnto him in the world was bicause that he was the sonne of God faythfull to his father that sent hym did séeke in all things his glory and teach vnto men suche holines rightuousnes as God his father dyd alow For the same cause doe we suffer also for that by hym made the sonnes of God we doe allow none other holines and rightuousnes then that which he doth incite vs vnto So that according to the cōmunion that we haue with him we doe séeke in all things hys glorie doe hate them that abhorre it and doe condempne by his word all the which he holdeth condempned This is the onely cause that he commaunded his discyples in them vs to reioyce saying and assuring thē with vs that theirs and ours is the kingdom of heauē We ought to ponder this in our myndes and to think of it in our afflictiōs that although they bée neuer so great our afflictors can not let vs from the kingdome promised vnto vs for the God is disposed hath purposed that we shal inherite it by them Christ Iesus is the chiefest and the greatest amongest the childrē of God which are his bretheren Euen so he is the first principallest and greatest in all things The afflictions passions and persecutions that he did suffer were in the supreme superlatyue degrée greatest of all his dishonour greatest his pouertie most déepest all kynd of hatred was had against him in most brauest maner his persecutions most violent and cruell the wrath of God wherewith he was charged dyd lye most heauily vppon him and so heauy a burthen in déede as euen the verie toyle and trouble in bearing therof did make him to sweate by extremitie water and bloud He was not only held and accompted for wicked with the wicked but amongest them hée was thought to be most chiefe principall chiefteine of sinne wickednes and vnrightuousnes Though he wer the onely wisdome of the deitie yet they intreated him as one most ignorant and diuilishe Yea and although it was he onely that was chiefe and principall pacifier and accomplisher of the lawe and maker of peace and amitie with God hys father for all mankynde yet he was condempned for the chiefest breaker of the lawe and greatest rebell to god And also though he were the first begottē sonne of God his best beloued and the Lord of all yet he was accompted for such a straunger and so vnknowne to the people that he sayde of him self I am a shadow and no man but am rather a mocking stocke to men and cast out of my people And S. Paule sayeth of him he did adnichilate him selfe taking vppon hym the forme of a seruaunt and made hym selfe a man amongest men and humbled him self to be obedyent vnto death yea the death of the crosse He was brought so lowe that he discended to the déepest of all euils and did abide the extremitie of all paine and punishment that was due for our sinnes offences We did sée him sayeth Esay and he was disfigured we did desire hym and he was the last and the most simple amongest men full of griefes and infirmities there was nothing in him wherby he might be knowne So that we did not knowe what he was hée was loaden with all our sinnes offences hée was whypped wounded for vs as though he had bene the onely offender that none had offended the maiestie of God but he Here wée may sée that he was the greatest passioned persecuted that could bée wherby as by degrées he did ascend to god to be also the greatest in glorie the fulnesse whereof he doeth participate to all beleuers And therfore for that he hath bene so passioned for our causes sinnes and offences it is iust reason necessarie that we doe not will nor desire to be of better estate then he was him self in the world and sith he was iniured and mocked it were not reason that wée should be honored and praysed sith he was so poore that he had not where on to laye his heade but was forced to weare a crowne of thorne it were not conuenient that we should abound in riches that doe perish nor yet that wée should goe apparelled in delicate royall gorgious rayment Hée was reproued of meny in séeking the glorie of his father we ought not therefore to thincke to be allowed praysed of men in séeking of the same let vs be contented that God doth allow vs accompt it good to fauour the rightuousnes of our cause And also let vs not peruert the ordinance of God sith he doth giue vs a cōforter in our passiōs for that we should be imitators folowers of his sonne bicause in allowing that which the world doth allow wée should forsake the imitatiō of him the effecte of our doings therin were none other but to leaue our being his seruāts and séeke to be his superiors or being but disciples to shew our selues to be more fauored greater thē our master We cānot haue more honor nor more firm and certeine securitie thē to tread the steps to passe the same way that he himself wēt Although to our fleshly iudgemēt to the iudgemēt of the world that in the way which we haue to passe after our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ there be many stones blocks and bryers to stumble at and more readie to tosse and teare vs in péeces that are to passe by them then to let and suffer vs to atteine to the ende of our iourney yet in truth there is none more certeine sure and substanciall passage then the same is to bring vs to that blessedest ende and moste glorious inheritance And sith our swéet sauiour hath gone and made the same so playne before vs there is no cause at all that shuld make vs to doubt of any daunger therin Let vs consider that the crosse and bitternesse thereof is ended quickly and in bearing passing and comming foorth of the same with loue and charitie we doe presently enter into an inestimable glorie as our most louyng swéete sauiour hath promised doeth vndoubtedly accomplyshe and fulfill the same dayly from day to day in all those that doe suffer persecution and are slayne for the profession of his holy and blessed name It is greatly necessarie that all the ordinaunces of god be fulfilled in and by vs as was by Iesu Christ all that god had determined in his diuine coūcell from the beginning and before any thinge hapned vnto him It was saide by the Prophetes that God dyd ordeigne
26.27.28 Mat. 21. 37.38.39 Mar. 12. 6.7.8 Psal. 118. 13. 1. Pet. 2. 4.5 Esay 54. 1.2.3 c. Math. 10. 16. Math. 27. 48. Exo. 2.3.4 Chap. Exo. 14. 3.4 5. c. Psal. 82. 3.4 c. 1. Pet. 3. 14.15 Exo. 14. 27.28 Exo. 15. 2.3.4 c. Hebr. 10. 22.35 Psa 7. 14.16.17 Psal. 9. 15. Rom. 8. 50. Math. 19. 6. Rom. 8. 29.30 1. Cor. 6. 11. Ioh. 15. 19.20.21 Our election and galling Heâ— 7. 5â— Luke 9. 62. Phil. 3. 11.12 Rom. 6. 5. Esay 5â— 9.10 Rom. 9. 20.22.23 Psal. 45. 6.7.8 c. Gen. 37. 18.28 Gen. 45. 8. Gen. 41. 40.41.42 c. Psal. 79. 7. Ioh. 11. 47.50.57 Ioh. 15. 28. Ioh. 19. 1.2.3 c. Esay 53. 1.2.3.4.5 c. Esay 53. 11. Psal. 21. 5.6.7 Psal. 22. 7.8.9 Esay 61. 9.11 Hebr. 2. 8.12 Psal. 46. 7.8.9 c. Pâ—il 2. 9.10 c. Ioh. 12. 16.23.28 Ioh. 13. 31.32 Ioh. 12. 32. 1. Cor. 12. 12.26 Luke 19. 40. 1. Pet. 2. 21. Act. 1. 8. Ioh. 12. 24. Ioh. 21. 19. Colos 1. 24. Rom. 6. 2.6 Rom. 7. 4. Act. 9. 4. Act. 10. 3 9.11.28.34 â—5 41.42 Psal. 125. Ioh. 12. 28. Rom. 4. 24.25 Rom. 8. 29. Colos 1. 5.20 Ephe. 1. 4.5 Iere. 2. â— 34 Colos 1. â—4 16 Hebr. 2. 8.14 Rom. 4. 20.22 Apoc. 21. 7. Rom. 8. 15.17.18 Gala. 4. 6.7 1. Cor. 4. 7. Luk. 12. 32.35.36 c Luke 22. 14. Mat. 24. 22.34 Luke 14. 26.27 Ioh. 5. 24. Ioh. 11. 25.26 Apoc. 14. 13. Phil. 1. 20.21 2. Cor. 5. 1.2.3 c. Osee 13. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 54.55 c. 1. Ioh. 5. â— Agatha Vincent Ignatius Mat. 15. 13. Act. 5. 29.41 Ioh. 11. 25.26 Mat. 11. 28.31 1. Cor. 15. 38.52.53 Math. 13. 21. Dan. 12. 1.2.3 Ioh. 6. 35. Rom. 6. 8.11.23 Colos 3. 1.2.3 Gen. 4. 8. Hebr. 11. 4. Rom. 8. 6.7.8 c. Apoc. 6. â— 10. Dan. 3. 17 22.2â— Apoc. 12. 1.2.4.6 c. Luke 22. 53. Math. 26. 55. Ioh. 19. in all 1. Pet. 1. 4.7 Mat. 23. 31.35 Luke 13. 24.34.35 Esay 4. 9.10 Abac. 1. 12. Ephe. 6. 13.14.15 c. Ioh. 6. 2.3.20 Esay 25. 8. Apoc. 7. 12. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. Esay 25. 5.6.7 Apoc. 2â— 3.4.5 c. Hebr. 12. 22.23 Hebr. 3. Hebr. 12. 3. Iob. 5. 19.26 Mar. 9. 23. 1. Cor. 16. 13. Hebr. 4. 14.15.16 Hebr. 2. 17.18 Act. 9. 4.5 Esay 43. 1.2.3 c. Psal. 91. 5.6.7 Psal. 33. 12.17 Mat. 16. 18. Sap. 16. 16.22.23 Osee 2. 18.21.22 Exod. 3. 2. Dan. 6. 16.26 Dan. 3. 13.16.17 c. Rom. 15. 4. Iob. 5. 17.19 c. Osec 2. 18.21.22 Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 11. 12.28.29 Mat. 10. 19.26.28 Deut. 12. 2.8.11 c. Math. 15. 9.13 2. Cor. 4. 17.18 Rom. 8. 29.30 Rom. 3. 1. 1. Cor. 6.11 Ephe. 2. 14.16 Rom. 5. 1.8.9 Rom. 8. 17.30 Rom. â—â— 5. 2. Tim. 2. 3.9.10 Act. 14. 12. Hebr. 12 2. 1. Cor. 9. 24. c. Mar. 13. 13. Luk. 21. 19. Mat. 10. 16. Rom. 11. 25. Phil. 2. 1.2 Maâ— 10. 8.11 Mat. 7. 6. Col. 4. 6. Ephe. 4. 25.29.31 2. Tim. 2. 16.23.24 1. Pet. 2. 11. 1. Cor. 6. 20. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 2. Cor. 4â— 2. Mar. 4. 17.18.19 Pro. 28. 20. Gal. 6. 7. 1. Pet. 4. 15.16 Mat. 6. 9 1. Pet. 4. 3.4 Ioh. 3. 19.20.21 Psal. 94. 3.4.7 1. Cor. 3. c Mat. 25. 18.24.25 Luke 19. 20.21 Rom. 8. â—0 Mat. 16. 6.11.12 1. Pet. 2. 1 â—â— Rom. 2. 8.9 Colos 3. 5.8 Psal. 90. â— 2.3 c. â— king ◠〈◊〉 c. Eccle. 18. 23.24 c. Deu. 16. 1.12 Mat. 26. 13. Mat. 7. 15. 1. Pet. 5. 8.9 Mat. 24. 37. Luk. 17. 32. 1. Thes 5. 3. Psal. 9. 5.6 Psal. 111.6.6.7 Gen. 4. 13. 1. Paral. 10. 1 4.13 â— 3. King. 22. 34. 4. King. 15. 5.3.21 1.16 c. 24. 9.15 c. 25. 7.8 c. Sap. 6. 4.6.8 c. 1. Pet. 5. 3.4 Rom. 8. 11 Psal. 93. â— 3 Eze. 7. c Psal. 102. 19. Psal. 37 8â— 12.13 c. Mat. 23. 29. â—0 c. Mat. â—9 28. Psal. 3. 1.2.3 c. Iud. 8. 22.23.24 c. Gen. 4. 8. Gen. 9. 22.25 Gen. 12. 6. c. Gen. 13. 14. Gen. 19. 4.5 c. 22. 6. â— Gen. 22. in all Psal. 28. 5.7.8 Iudge 16. 12 21. c. Iob. 3.4 â— in all the Chap. 3. King. 17. 4. c 3. King. 1â— 2.3.4 1. Sam. 19.20.21.22 Osee 13. 4.5 Rom. 8. 31.38.39 Mat. 13 29.30.31 c Sap. 5. 1.2.3.4 c. Sapi. 5. 5 6.7 Psal. 1. 5. 〈◊〉 6. Sap. 5. 7.8 c. Esay 54. 7.10 Psal. 90. 6.7 Esay 29.2 Psal. 75. 9.10.12 Esay 54. 10. Maâ— 25. 24. 1. Pet. 5. 10. ⧠A TABLE OF all the Chapters in this Booke OF the will of God an entry into the comfort vvith a perswasion to knovv the will of God perfectly Cap 1. Fo. 9. What we vvere before our being reduced to god Cap. 2. fo 11. Of our blindenes in times past ca. 3. fo 15. Of the loue of God and of our calling the cause thereof cap. 4. fo 17. Of the cause of our callinge and redemption cap. 5. fo 20. Of our iustificatioÌ„ by the rightuousnesse of god c. cap. 6. fo 22 Of an excelent comfort by the loue of god cap. 7. fo 25 Of the cause of Christes comming and of the fruites of christians ca. 8. fo 30 Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ ca. 9. fo 34 Hovv that the estate of Iesus Christ is common to the faithful and dothe exhort vs to an excelent comfort ca. 10. fo 37 Of the prouidence of God for them which are called c. cap. 11. fo 42 Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience cap. 12. fo 47 An excelent comfort to the afflicted cap. 13. fo 50 Of gods exceding loue greatly to the comfort of his people cap. 14. fo 55 Of Purgatory and the causes thereof c. cap. 15. fo 58 A great comfort to the christian with a terrible threate to the vngodly vvicked cap. 16. fo 61 An inuectiue againste the wicked vvith a merueilous comfort to the godly christian c. cap 17. fo 65 Of pacience and an exhortation therevnto c. cap. 18. fo 70 Hovv that good experience bringeth forth hope and of a shadovve of certaine persecution cap. 19. fo 75 A pure proofe vnto vs that vve are beloued of God in our greatest griefes c. cap. 20. fo 78 A persvvasion to trust onely in God and to auoyde all vain trust had in any humain helpe c. cap. 21. fo 83 Hovv vve ought to be instructed in truth veritie to haue no confidence in mens tradicions cap. 22. fo 90 Vppon vvhat condicion God receiueth vs vvith an excelent comfort to the christian c. cap. 23. fo 96 An excelent kyndely and comfortable persvvasion of the faithful to reioyce in any calamitie c. cap. 24. fo 101 The maner of part of persecutioÌ„ in Spaine vvith a comfort against the like Cap. 25. fo 106 A true Simylitude of the true church c. cap. 26. fo 112. Of predestination and of glorification therby c. cap. 27. fo 119. Of the mightie power and exceeding loue of god cap. 28. fo 124 An excelent comforte againste the feare of death vvith a confutacion of his povver c. cap. 29. fo 129 Of the cause that Christ dyd feare death hovv constant diuers Martirs haue beene sithens in their martirdome ca. 30. fo 135 Of the goodnesse of God in our defence against our persecutours c. ca. 31. fo 140 A merueilous comfort to those that are afflicted either by fire or othervvise cap. 32. fo 147 An entery into the conclusion vvith many godly exhortacions cap. 33. fo 152 Very godly exhortacions for all men that are afflicted and also for those vvhich are in prosperitie cap. 34. fo 157 An ende vvith a true declaracion vvhat the being shall be in the ende as vvell of the faithfull as the reprobate cap. 35. fo 162 FINIS
which dooe not receiue Iesus Christ the remission of sinnes and the reconciliation that is gotten for vs by him with the handes of faith may not nor cannot receiue him by meanes of any other woorcke that they can dooe but are euermore in their sinnes and subiecte to eternall malediction We may not haue peace with GOD by any other way or meane then in that we are acceptable vnto him by fayth we are acceptable and admytted vntoo hys fauour and grace by fayth in Iesu Christe He is by and by alwayes pleased with vs we haue rightuousnesse before him as the Apostle teacheth saying we being iustified by fayth haue peace with God by our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a waye through faythe vnto this grace the which must be firme surely fixed in vs Whereby it is declared that Iesus Christ is the onely aucthour of our rightuousnesse that we be made partakers of his health by the fayth we haue in him By the which we be surely certified that we be all ready reconsiled to God that he is in peace with vs by this reason we are assured that we possesse lyfe euerlasting The diuine Scriptures doo teache vs the same all the Prophetes sayth sainct Peter beare testimony of Iesus Christe and that through his name all that beléeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Also S. Paule in the Actes of the Apostles speaking of Christ sayth by him is preached vnto you remission of sinnes and by him all that beleue are iustified in all thinges from the which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moyses wherefore all that beleue in Christ Iesus are iustified by fayth in him So that it must néedes be that remission of sinnes and all other benefites promised of God we receiue them of him by fayth in his Gospell Dauid taught by the holy ghost dyd sée that all that was in him and that he might doo was cause of condempnacion at the handes of God beinge seuerely examined by the rigour and iustice of his Lawe He had his recourse to the Almightie God and dyd take him for his Patrone in iudgement and dyd pray to him with great vehemency besechinge him that he should not iudge him according to his law enter not into iudgement saith he with thy seruant bicause that no flesh is to be founde righteous in thy sight So that he confessith that we are iustified onely by grace and mercy and by the pittie and loue that god behouldeth in his sonne Iesu Christe for and towardes vs For that by the loue that he hath to vs in him he hath called vs put from before him quite away all our sinnes offences wickednesse that euer we committed and hath forgiuen vs all our disobedience and graunted vs true obedience and satisfaction neither more nor lesse then as if we had gottē it our selues For to take vs out of all doubts and to the ende to deliuer vs from our olde wicked lyinge errours in the which vntill now we haue liued the Lord mightie Iehouah sayth by the Prophet Esay it is I it is I my selfe O my people that haue blotted out all thy misdéees and wickednesse for the loue of my selfe and for myne owne sake I haue done it will neuer remembre them againe So that it is he that deliuereth vs from our sinnes and iniquities without any merit or desert on our behalfe that is any thing auailable at all And of his owne frée will loue and liberalitie doothe vse the same towardes vs. Of an excelent comfort by the loue of god Cap. vii SO it restith that all that men can doo or may or can inuent to work by any kinde of meane by this scripture it is excluded condēpned for most horrible wicked abhominable For why ther is but one Iesus Christ who is the pardener of our sinnes by god the Father there is no cause why without Christ that we should be pardoned by god the father for them By Christ onely are we pardoned we are the vnrightuous he the onely aucthor of rightuousnesse In vs there is no cause why but that we should be most iustly cōdempned and in him onely is there great cause why we should by him be saued S. Peter saith there is none other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men wherby we should be saued but onely the name of Iesus Christ In an other place S. Peter saith again that neither we can not nor our forefathers could not beare the weightie yoke of the Lawe yet we are in béeléefe to be saued by our Faithe in Iesus Christ our Lord by his grace as well as they For as by fayth God dyd purify their hartes so likewyse dooth he purifie ours Christ sayd vnto his disciples that by the word which they had heard and beleued they wer made cleane and thereby had purified them of their sinnes and made them freindes with god So that we haue rightuousnesse and diuine holinesse by fayth that doothe remaine to vs in the promises of god and the hope that we haue in his mercy and trueth with that which he doothe promise vs to be our fréendly Father and pittifull for the loue of Iesu Christ From hence it is that the Prophet Dauid doothe acknowledge that there is but one rightuousnesse that is of any valour at all before god and that may apeare and come valiently before him in his diuine iudgement The Prophet sayth I will thincke and all wayes haue in remembraunce thy onely iustice and rightuousnesse By which reason he dooth recken houlde and account all humaine and carnall rightuousnesse and holinesse for most wicked and vnrightuous Bicause they are so filthie fowle and spotty that men may haue no help of them to satisfie in part nor in all before the diuine iudgement of god But of necessitie they are to retourne againe condempned eternally bicause they ioyne the cleane works of the Lawe with the vncleane and filthy fowle spottid woorkes of the fleshe Wherby we sée derely beloued brethren that there is no more but one Iesus Christ redemer of the world wherfore we can haue no more rightuousnesse but that which is his by the which we are to be saued Nor there is no other meane and waye to obteyne a pardon generall for our sinnes and reconciliacion with God then the fayth and hope whereby we doo beleue his diuine promises and do assure our selues of all that which by those promises are declared vnto vs Wherby we haue frée libertie giuen vs to call and saye O our Father c. The holy ghost doothe teach vs in his Church the doctrine of this true catholicke And therefore as taught and guided thereby let vs imbrace folow him by whose word we haue receued this reuelaciō clearnesse For this cause dyd Iesus christ giue thāks to god the father in the name of all his faithfull and therewith together dyd
shewe the cause of so supreme a benifit Sayinge I giue thée thankes O Father Lorde of heauen and earthe bicause thou haste hidden these thinges from the wyse prudēt of the world and openid it vnto babes euen so father for so it pleased thée The cause of this benefit and of all ioyned with it commeth to vs by the great good will of God and the delight which he hath in his sonne As before it is sayde forasmuch as we doo knowe it is so let vs desire that we may be of that numbre of the lyttle ones that our Sauiour Christe dyd giue thankes vnto his Father for and not leane to any false variable doctrine whose ende is to bringe them that doo beleue in the same from the vnitie of the true faith which the prophets Apostles and Iesus Christ himselfe hath taught vs. Wherefore being partakers of the fruite of redempcion that our sauiour and Lorde Iesu Christ hath redemed vs with and by fayth that we haue in the Gospel let vs concider wel what we haue to doo that to our best power we may perseuer and increase in that rightuousnesse and holinesse that he hath communicated vnto vs Before we were called and when we had not receiued pardon for our sinnes we were such and euen the lyke as the children of perdicion were But now being reconciled to GOD by his sonne Iesus Christe we are taken foorthe of the Empire rule and dominion of the diuell and receiued of GOD by the holy Ghost and by the vertue of the same ioyned with Iesu Christ made one body with him From whome as from our head there is deryued into vs membres with lyfe and spirit by the which we ought to doo the works of lyfe for that thereby is a plaine testimony that Iesu Christe who dyd pardone vs of our sinnes and paye his moste precious bloud for a raunsome for the same dooth liue in vs and that he onely is the foundacion of our hope and affiaunce and also that of him and by him we are beloued of god the father as his childrē As teacheth sainct Peter saying that Iesus Christe is the liuinge Stone refused of men but elected chosen and precious with god and sayth further you also as liuing stones are built in one spirituall buildinge and one holy presthoode for to offer a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to god by Christ Iesu and a little after that you that beléeue and trust in Iesus Christ which in tymes passed were no people are nowe the people of God but before now you had not obteined mercy yet now you haue and are a chosen lynnage a royall presthoode a holy nacion a peculiar people for that you preach and shew the vertues of him that called you from the darcknesse in which you were to an admirable most merueilous light In this he dooth giue vs to vnderstand how we ought to spend our whole lyfe tyme and that is in perpetuall sacrifise of prayse vnto the Lord for that he hath béene so mercifull and pittifull towards vs so that all our woorks ought to be with a chearfull voyce singinge and makinge proclamacions of his glory of his vertuous prayse For to dooe this saythe Sainct Paule we ought to renounce and deny the vngodly worldly desires of the flesh and in this transitory lyfe to liue temperatly in rightuousnesse and godlinesse tarying and looking for that blessed hope glorious apearing of the mightie God our Sauiour Iesus Christ So that we ought to put away all kinde of supersticion false religion all desires and concupisences of the flesh and the worlde and to liue a godly lyfe according to the wil of God the which is declared vnto vs by his worde But sith that we are bought with the inestimable pryce of the most precious bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne so made his seruants we ought not to serue him in anye other maner nor with any other thinges then those which hée hath commaunded by his worde and lawe The Lorde dyd call and electe vs for that we should be holy and without reprehencion but we be prophane before him and no such saints if we serue him with any other thinge then that which his lawe dooth commaund or by the rule of his cōmaundements For that we be called in Iesu Christ as Sainct Paule sayth in the same Chapter bicause we should dooe the good workes that God dyd ordeyne for hs and that we should walke in them for those onely are good that he hath commaunded by his worde we ought also to imploy our whole studies in those workes For the apostle dooth teache vs that Iesus Christ dyd giue him selfe for vs to redéeme vs from all kinde of wickednesse and to purify vs that we might be a peculier people vnto him and that we might be onely dedicated to his seruice feruently giuen to good works All true beleuers sayth the Prophet Esay are tréese of rightuousnes and planted by the heauenly Father that he might be glorifyed in them Wherefore we ought to adresse our whole myndes all our affections and all our desires and thoughtes to glorifie him with all those things which we are sure and certeine he dooth and will allowe But sith he euen our God hath opened our eyes for to sée the lighte it were not iuste nor reason that we should walke any more in darcknesse that is to say thincking falsly that those thinges will content his goodnesse which dooth content vs or those thinges which are allowed of men without the holy Ghost Of the cause of Christes comming and of the fruites of christians The .viii. Chapter GOd hath giuen vs Iesus Christe to be our onely maister and teacher and doothe commaunde vs to heare him bicause he is the onely expositer declarer of his wyll and most mightie power and to direct vs for the accomplishment of the same So that they that doo heare the woorde of god and kéepe it for a rule in their doings and workes doo shewe themselues to be tréese of rightuousnesse planted beloued of him and that his spirit is resident and remayning in them But of them that teache and doo to the cōtrary he sayth by Sainct Mathewe they are plants that his heauenly Father hath not planted and althoughe they florishe for a tyme and be séene yet in th end they wil be withered dry and rotten Thus Iesu Christ doothe testifie that those which are gouerned and séeke to serue him by the commaūdemēts of men are none of his plāts We ought to abhorre and houlde for abhominable all such maner of seruices for that we are instructed by the word of trueth that al they which doo delight in them are subiect to the condempnacion wherein they were firste borne The hatred of them with all the rest that god hath forbidden and the obedience of his commaundemēts diuine are those fruites
happie as to make vs of the number of them that doe beléeue and are builded in Iesus Christ let vs not doubt the causes of our afflictiōs for before that he did giue vs his lighte to beléeue in hym and to knowe him the diuill did possesse vs in peace so that we had a very perfect friendship with the worlde But he who is most strong being come as he is hath gotten the victorie and taken his spoyle from him for which cause that enimy doth so bray bluster and roare out his warres against vs and to make a recouery of vs he doeth arme all his armie with so great crueltie as we sée So that the cause of our persecution is not as they professe which are the ministers therof it is but only for the word of the Gospell as testifyeth Iesus Christ in his owne preachyng to them that he hath called to him self And for that we be most assured and certeine of his truth we may wel susteine and beare the extremitie of the crosse that is layd vppō vs by the hands of God and neuer bee dismayed nor fainte for althoughe that wee of our selues be weake we shall be strengthened by hys force and magnificall might with his wisdome shall be ouercome our ignorance and foolishenesse with his rightuousnesse shall be blotted out our sinnes and wickednesse with his light shall be lightned our blynde darkenesse with his blessing shal be ouercome and vndone our cursse malediction with his mighte shall bée distroyed our infernall hell with his holynesse we shall be made holy and finally by his merits with his benifites we shall be made rych in suche maner of wyse that it is impossible of our selues to be suche lyke as he wil make vs And therefore let vs not bée hindered by any kynde of crosse but the rather made more perfect and clearer with constancy in beléefe of the trueth which hée hath taught vs. To this ende doeth the Apostle set out our estate in this maner forme You be saith he Pilgrims straūgers as we were in tyme of our ignorancy you are now saints and citizens with the houshold seruants of god builded vppon the foundation of the Prophets Apostles that is Iesus Christ in whom you are builded togither iointly to be the house dwelling place of God in spirite Whereby we may sée that all the vertue that is in vs whither it be by good workes which are the fruites of faith or by suffring the griefes afflictions of this world the which we are subiecte vnto yet both the one and the other came from our foundation whiche is Christe our head Yea also they doe both the one and the other serue to clense vs frō all the contaminate filthie foulenes of the flesh perfectionate make perfecte our myndes spirit with the feare of God and the sanctification of his holy name whereby we might be cleane cleare frō any kynd of thing that may offend the eyes of his diuine maiesty that dwelleth in vs So that we haue the entrie made plaine vnto vs to enter treate with God familiarly and aske of him all those thinges which be necessarie for vs to folow Iesu Christ with to be wholy holy as he hath commaūded vs by his spirit saying be ye holy bicause that I the Lord your God am holy God did know saieth S. Paule and predestinate all his chosē to make thē cōformable like to the image of his sonne bycause they should be Primogenitus the first begotten among many brethren So that in making vs cōforme like vnto him he did iustify vs whē he pardoned vs of our sinnes and did make vs pertakers of his redemptiō Euen then he did begin to reforme in vs the image of his sonne which reformatiō is yet but begun But yet it goeth forwarde from day to day increasing by degrées vntil we be all togither lyke vnto him yea euen to be a very perfect pictor liuely like him For the as by Christ the father is known so by vs shuld the son be known also for we shuld be like vnto hī in al things as wel spiritually as tēporally celestially as terrestrially and as we did beare the Image of the earthly Adam euen so should we beare the image of the celestial Adam which is Iesus Christ that came downe from heauen All that God doeth vnto vs is to the same end and purpose and therfore Christ doeth incite vs saying be ye perfect as your father in heauen is perfect It is notorious to sée and wonderfull to consider howe farre of wee bée from this sanctitude and perfection to the which wée haue béene called Euerye man may sée him self a great contradiction in comming to the same wée may sée also what great resistance the worlde and all the ministers thereof doth make against vs to kéepe vs from it for which cause God hath taken vs in charge to make his worke perfect in vs. What thyng more amyable may ther be or what more may be desired then to haue the image of the son of God conformed and made perfecte in vs there is nothynge that can bée more blessed and vnhappie for vs then this that God doeth loue vs so much as to shewe and cast vppon vs such copious aboundancies of hys heauenly pleasures and good will if we loue riches and honors those be the true ones If we desire to be sure against all euilles and temptatiōs of the diuil the world and the flesh in this doeth consist the suertie thereof Howe much the more that we are lyke vnto God so muche the more mightie wée are by him in our owne defence against all maner of temptations afflictions and persecutions If we will inioye the riches that God hath prepared for his faithfull thys is the way to come to the possession of them And therefore wée ought not to be feareful off nor to refuse any thing that God doth chastise vs with And sith hée hath giuen vs Christ his sonne to be our head it is a thing conuenient that we which bée his members be lyke vnto him and that we goe togither with him treading in hys owne steppes Bycause the self same end that he had him self his members must haue also and for that cause to the self same ende that we should passe both by one way and haue one ende and inheritance God did so vnite knit vs in him Wherfore we ought to vnderstand well the purpose of God to haue alwayes in remembraunce the effect therof bicause we should not faint waxe weake nor feare the troubles afflictions that the striuing therwith mistaking therof doeth bring vs vnto The end wherof being wel rightly cōsidered with the knowledge of the same we ought rather to imbrace thē stifly to stād against it Hovv that the estate of Iesus Christ is common to the faithful
no none but with charitie for that is our callinge and therein are we taught bothe by the wordes and workes of Iesus Christe our swéete sauiour redemer pastour and shéepeherde Let not vs take any regarde at all of the euill and harme that our persecutours vse towardes vs but let vs chiefely regarde and looke diligently to that which Iesus Christ did amongst vs and commaund vs vnto The imitacion of him let vs not abhorre condempne nor speake euill of but rather let vs doo the contrary Let vs loue to imitate him and let vs doo the workes of loue The cause why that our enimies and afflictours dooe persecute vs is declared by our Sauiour Lorde Iesus Christ who sayth they shall cast you out of their Sinnagogs excomunicate you persecute you vnto deathe for my name sake shall thincke they doo therin to God very great seruice they shal do these thinges bycause they haue neyther knowen me nor yet my Father There is not nor can not be a greater mischiefe then to be ignorant of or not to know at all our God and Father almightie nor yet his sonne Iesus Christ The want of knowledge hereof maketh all them which lacke the same to be possessed of the diuell seruaunts of sinne and heires and inheritours of hell And also dooth make them to beare carry and mainteine continually a curssed cruel capital war against god heauen and all that is his The which dooth bring vnto them their vtter distruction perdicion for euer Their hell they doo alwayse carry with them their owne consciences doo condempne them bicause the worme thereof euer dying and neuer deade doothe and will for euer accuse them The iudgement of GOD doothe lye very heauy vppon them the Lawe hathe curssed them and the woorckes and déedes which they dooe in persecutinge the faythefull are euident tokens testimony of their vtter condempnation Bycause that those whom they persecute with persecutions slaunders condempnations curses cloathed with saint Benits crosses shut vp in close prysons and afterward burned are little or nothing touched thereby but Iesus Christ in them It is he it is he that beareth the spitefulnesse of their passions and Persecutions as hée hymselfe did declare to Saint Paule before his conuersion for when that he had cruelly persecuted the Christians our sauiour Christ sayde with a terrible voyce Saule Saule why persecutest thou mée What greater euill may be thought then to persecute our swéete sauiour and redéemer how can the wrath of God be more euident vnto to them then when they may sée that he careth not for them but suffereth them to fall and runne headlong into that loathsome lake of perdition and yet in vsing the same they think themselues in suche securitie of saluation that they solemnise their tiranycall dispositions as if they did solemly halow some festiuall feast And doe think they doe God good seruice Oh lamentable case that they know not the truth in those their wicked doings Sin hath so captiuated and blynded them that they estéeme light for darkenesse the truth of God for deceyueable errours and the rightuousnesse of heauen for iniquitie And therefore with the bowels of pitifull compassion we ought to pray to God for them beséechyng him of his mercy that hée will take them out of that so mortal deadly and dampnable estate Now then sith it is God that is the aucthor of our afflictious calamities and griefs if we take them at his hands they wil be healthfull for vs and make vs to be true imitators and folowers of Christ hys sonne so that we shall not at all dysdaine our enimies nor shal in no wise vse them euilly for euil but rather desire that they may be brought into the bowels of his loue and so reduced into the way of health With faintnes are we filled with edible wrath indignatiō against thē bicause we thinke that with their irefull hatred their caluminate strifes flaūderous reportes their false testimonies and burning desires to shead our blud they doo or can do as much grief or harme But if we doe vnderstande Gods diuine counsell a right doo not looke a wrye from his worde we shall and may know perfectly wel how impossible it is for thē to doo vs any kynd of dammage with all that euer they can doe or imagine whatsoeuer it bée If we doe but heare the words that the holy Ghost speaketh by the Prophet Dauid we may wel vnderstand sée that they can not preiudice vs in any thing at all An excelent comfort to the afflicted Cap. xiij HE that dwelleth sayeth he vnder the defence of the highest shall be sure vnder the shadow of the almightie The defence wherin doeth consist our sureste securitye is the fyrme truste and affyaunce that the Lords hath giuen vs to haue in him By the which we are made partakers of hys omnipotencie and as his omnipotencie is in securitie from all kynde of euill euen so are we thereby bycause he is onely our hope our foretresse our strength and God in whom wée chiefly trust And the chiefe ground of his promise is that he will deliuer vs from all euilles and that hys trueth shall be vnto vs a buckler and shield And also the Prophet sayth in the same Psalme Bycause thou haste put thy selfe vnder the guarde and custodie of the most highest there shall no euill happen vnto thée neyther shall any plague come néere thy dwellynge Whereby it appeareth playnly what vayne traueyles our enimyes take in hand when they séeke rather to afflict vs or fight so furiously as they doe against the truth For that as they can not preuayle against the truth so shall they not preuayle against them that folow it bycause the auctthor thereof is their mightie defendor Héere the Lord doeth promyse and certifie that no euill shall happen vnto vs nor plague come to our dwelling or Tabernacle if we know and feare hym So that it followeth the euilles and mischiefes that our aduersaries doe séeke towardes vs cannot hurte vs if we be faithfull Bycause the elected whose tutor and gouernour is God are not neither riches honor dignity high estate bodily or corporal health lyfe nor any thing els whereof there is any vertue or power giuen to the wicked But are the liuing members of Iesus Christ vnited and knit vnto him most surely and therefore inuisible to the children of this world as is the same lord And bycause the wicked should not sée howe to doe them harme in that true being which they bee God did so fauour them that by hym they were incorporated in Iesu Christ for that as hée is firme sure substanciall strong and may not bée throwen out of the throne of his maiestie So be those his members of such strength and force in him that they may in no wyse be separated frō him That which by tirannie of Tirants is to be taken
and little the more to increase our tormeÌ„ts for theyr reuenge onely bycause we confesse the trueth of Christe our maister whome they can not abyde Howe can it be sayth our blynd fleshsences but that suche crueltie must néedes ouercome our patience What other thyng may this bée called but a blasphemie wherewith we denie the myghtie potenciall power of God that which he is to vse to all the trust in him a mean to seperate vs from his crosse to which he dooth call vs so amorously and louingly bicause we might be gloryfied with Christ And therefore let vs not heare nor yet giue credit to any suche leasinges and errours Worldly men doo easily suffer those thinges wherin they féele some grief for their gain By these firy tormeÌ„ts wherof we haue such horrour there can be no kynde of harme nor griefe that is euill but rather a great and mightie blessednesse much more to our gayne wherefore wée ought not to beleue nor thincke that our pacience which God giueth wil be ouercome thereby From syx trybulacions the Lord will deliuer thée and in the seueÌ„th no maner of euill shall touch thée sayth the holy ghost by iust Iob the seauenth is the very last instant howre or tyme of death So that when it séemeth to sight that al our euills are heaped vppon vs and that our enimies doo vse theyr greatest tiranny and make account to haue gotten the victory and that wée remayne ouercome swallowed vp with all maner of mischief Euen then the same holy Ghost doth assure vs that no maner of euil doth touch vs. What occasioÌ„ is ther theÌ„ for vs to flie froÌ„ that which hurteth nor toucheth vs not or to make accompt that humain persecution will or can ouercome our pacience or thâ—â— our patience is not able to abide 〈◊〉 All things are possible to them that beléeue saith the Lord So that vnto such it is also certainly possible to haue patience to abide the extremitie and furie of the fyre and to suffer the same with great constancie It was patiently passed ouer by the Prophets in the olde time Euen so it is now to them that be holy faithfull and beléeue Bycause that which the Apostle sayth concerning the same must néedes bée true therein God is faithfull sayeth hée and will suffer no man to bée tempted more then he will make him able to beare but rather with our temptatioÌ„s he sendeth good successe bicause we may suffer Wherby it is most manifest plain that christian patience doeth not onely ouercome death executed by extremitie of fyre but also all the moste cruell kynds of deaths and torments that any Triant and all the Tirants in the world can vse deuise Bycause that with all the tyrannie they can execute God will not alter his purpose from accordyng to his worde nor leaue to admynister some one secret vertue or other to them that be his whereby they shall ouercome death tirannie hell sinne the diuill and all other kynde of mischiefes So full of compassion pittie is our high priest Iesus Christ that as hée ouerpassed temptations which happened to him selfe so will he also by hys power and might ayde strengthen all those which are tempted As the Apostle sayth if Iesus Christ in whom wée beléeue and for whom wée suffer doe knowe by experience our griefes and troubles and is not onely moste myghtie louyng and good to vs in our helpe but also doth suffer with vs as the heade with the members shall he be so weak in vs that he can not abyde the fyre or being strong as hée is will not he help vs in the middest therof béeyng principall in persecution and suffering the same with vs. Is it possible that God will forsake and leaue vs or that we should fear or doubt the same when that for professyng of hys name wée are by our enymies throwen into the myddest of the fyre or that wée should thinke God to bée forgetfull of hys louing chyldren and that hée loueth vs in wordes and not in déedes and truth Surely in so dooyng wée should much iniure hym and gyue hym greate cause to bée gréeuouslie offended with vs for it For vs to thynke that hys almightinesse will forsake vs in any necessitye it were an abhomynable actyon of vs if he haue not as in déed hée hath not forsaken but remembred vs in the greatest matters of a suertie hée will not forsake but remeÌ„ber helpe and deliuer vs in and from such trifles it were abhominable to think the contrarie much more worsser to beleeue it Well my dearely beloued bretheren and sweet fellow members I trust there is none of vs that doeth eyther beléeue or thynke any such thing but rather my hope is that we thinke and surely beléeue to féele his goodnesse according to the saying of the holy Ghost by Esay the Prophet who sayeth the Lorde God thy creator sayeth feare thou not for I haue redéemed thée and called thée by thy name thou arte myne and when thou passest by the water I will bée with thée the ryuers shall not ouerwhelme thée when thou passest by the fyre thou shalt not be burned nor the flames thereof shall not bende them selues against thée for I am the Lord thy holy God of Israell which kéepeth thée God hath alwayes in remembrance the benifite which he vsed in calling and makyng vs partakers of his redemption and in adopting vs hys children neuer to leaue vs. So that when it shall séeme to the iudgement of the world that hée hath left vs that is when he suffereth vs to passe into the middest of the fyre or any other torment euen then is he most nighest vnto vs and so nyghe in déede that he is closely ioyned with vs and temperating the furie of the fyre bicause it should doe vs no harm and for that it might appeare that he is both God and father to all his and will kéepe and defende vs from all euill in all tymes of torment and tribulation If the gates of hell may not preuayle agaynst vs how can the fire which is visible and corporall preuail against vs if eternal and euerlasting death haue no parte in vs how can any thing that is temporal and momeÌ„tarie harme vs will God deliuer vs from the greatest euilles and suffer vs to perish in the little ones no for a certeintie his euerlasting promise is to the contrarie A meruailous comfort to those that are afflicted eyther by fyre or othervvise The xxxij Chapter THe fyre and all things terestriall are creatures of God and serue for the health and wealth of his chosen and also for the distruction of his enimyes As it is written in the booke of wisdom Bycause the iust should bée sustayned and vpholden the fyre doeth loose his force furie for that it béeing a creature in seruing him that is his creator and maker doeth vse hys furies and inflame hym selfe to
the distruction torment of the vnrightuous wicked onely And doth mittigate his mood onely bicause they trust in the Lorde Whereby it appeareth that the poore afflicted chyldren of God are not burned with the fyre nor hurt with any kinde of torment no not scarce touched therewith and therfore nothing gréeued As sayth our Lord God his creatures euerie one of them are in such a consorte and so agréed togither amongest them selues that all of them with one common accord cōsent wil be and are ministers for vs of greate health and comfort and also wil and doe vse them selues vnto vs with a gentlenes most louyng bicause being faithful we are so wel beloued of god that he bindeth all his creatures so that of force they can not be but for our benifit in all things accordyng to his will. Gold burneth not in the fire but is fined and purified thereby from all things that are of lesse value and so it selfe made more precious and of greater value and substance then before Euen so the good christian brought to the fyre by persecution burneth not but is the rather purifyed from all that fowleth blotteth or burneth his christianitie and so remayneth more precious and beautifull in his substance thē before Wherby it séemeth that the childrē of God whē they suffer the force heat of the fire they féele it not or els it hurteth them not but rather harmeth the executioners thereof The fyre to the faithfull is as it was in the bushe which Moyses sawe it flamed and yet it burned not bycause that the Lord God was in it The fyre hath a force and vertue that burneth and consumeth vtterly but whom mary euen the impious vniust vngodly And although they séeme liuing these which are the afflictors of the faithfull and without harme yet for a certaintie with the same fire which they prouide make for others they are before God burned and consumed them selues Although they beléeue it not yet it is so The Prophet Daniell when he was throwen into the denne amonge the Lyons which were made extreemely hungrie vppon purpose to haue deuoured him bicause he was founde faithful before God he perisheth not they touched hym not nor did hym harme but rather in their kynde reioysed and made great feastes and ioy with him for that God vppon whom he did inuocate call and in whome he trusted did deliuer him as in the vj. Chapter of the same Prophet and the xvj and xxiiij verse is well declared but those which had bene the executioners of all his trouble and torment being throwen into the same place euen among the very same Lyons they could scarce fall among thē so soone as they were torne and plucked in péeces and deuoured vtterly The thrée young men of Babilō Sidrach Misach Abdenago seruantes of God did not perish whē they were put into a hot burning furnace made seuen tymes hotter then euer it was bicause they would not worship wicked King Nabuchadonaser his Idoll which he had caused to be set vp they surely trusting in the liuing God feared not hys furyous furie in all hys threatninges nothyng at all but answered him saying we are not carefull to answeare thée O King in any thing concerning this Idoll for let thy highnesse vnderstande that our God whom we serue can deliuer vs from thy whot burning furnace and from thy handes but if hée will not the whiche wée doe not doubte off yet O King hold thou for a certaintie that we will not worship thy Gods nor yet the Image of gold which thou hast caused to bée set vp béeyng for this cause put into the sayde furnace so hot they were not onely frée from all kynde of harme by fyrie flame or smoke but also they were refreshed from heauen by the hands of the sonne of the lyuing God who was him self amonge them in the lykenesse of an Angell Euen in the middest of the most whottest flames wherefore it hurt them nothing at all but yet it burnt and consumed quyte the myschieuous ministers the makers therof So that thereby was approued that the fyre could not harme them in no poynte no more can it not nor nothing els that God hath created doo any thyng hurtfull agaynst the childrē of God for whie all that cā be done agaynst them bée it with fyre or any other kynde of torture is for their cōfort Thē wherfore should we faint feare or flée at or from the crosse of the Lord for that he will examine and purge vs therwith from all kynde of causes of corruption So that it may be consumed quite by the means therof that we might be enryched and remaine glorified with God for euer All that is written is writen for our learnyng bycause that by patience and comforte in the scriptures we might haue hope And therefore let vs vnderstand that as in tymes paste it passed and happened to Danyell and the reste the seruantes of God and also to hys enimyes Euen the lyke commeth to passe at thys day both w the one and other for that nothyng can hurt them that put their trust in the Lord but all serueth them for the best And as for the wycked all thinges are to the contrarie they prouyde nothing to punysh the rightuous with but they peryshe therein themselues Wherfore let vs bée imitators of the saincts as of Daniel of the thrée yong men of Babilon and others more a great many which nothyng estéemed torments tyronous threats killings nor commaundements of any vngodly Tyrant but constantly continued in confessing of Gods true religion for euer without any looking backe And as they did honour him in being faithfull so did he honour them in being by thē in all their distressed daungers to their ayde strength consolation continuall comfort and deliuery most merueilous in such sort that no parte of their hope was frustrate in any thing Euen so will hée doe and deale for vs if we bee faithfull Let vs not feare therefore the tirannie that so potencially appeareth of princes nor the crueltie of Kings the tyrannie of any kynde of Tyrant of inquisitors of correctors of Iudges nor yet the torment of the executioner the infamy of mē nor any other kynd of crueltie that in our eyes is euill least that so we forsake and renounce our faith and the true knowledge of our sauiour Iesu Christ the sonne of god Let vs onely feare God who can and will deliuer vs from all kind of torments and from the handes of all Tyrants And although that wée doe not sée thys libertie of deliuerie with our corporall eyes yet for the loue of our sauiour Iesu Christ let vs not consent vnto them nor follow their impietie and vngodlinesse let no braue nor gallant shew of or from them allure vs vnto them let vs not worship the creatures nor yet truste in any other then the creator Let vs not accept