to Rome and there to encounter with the adversary of Christ Thither they came and after a few daies two of them behaving themselves modestly did in secret manifest to some there the truth of the Gospell who being betrayed were imprisoned and put to death without any further adoe The third having resolved to act his part in publique gave over himselfe to suffer all the extremities the wit of man could invent It came to passe one day that this man espying the Pope in the middest of his massing devotion stept quickly unto him plucked the consecrated Host out of his hands cast it to the ground trod it under foot uttering invective spéeches against the Masse and Antichrist The people in a rage fell upon the Englishman who being altogether bruised with their fists and féet said you hangman finde out as many forments as you can the hand of the Almighty will shew it self the more gloriously My soule is resolved to vanquish death valiantly He was forthwith bound and set upon an Asse sixe Torches were lighted and from stréet to stréet the erecutioners bare them by him burning therewith his face mouth and tongue first for he had said before to one of the formentors thou hast no power over my soule thou wretch knowest thou not that God understands the voice of my secret thought and complaint When the flames came overthwart his chéekes he was heard to cry Lord forgive these men for they know not what they doe After they had burned all his face put out his eyes scorched and rosted his body in the end they consumed it wholly to ashes The learned author who set forth this History in a notable work of his notes neither the yeare nor the names of these Englishmen It should séeme to be about the time of Pope Clement the eighth in Anno 1595. for in his ample discourse he mentions an old wise man le sage veillard burned at Rome after these English men who before he went to the fire spake with such efficacy to his confessor sent unto him who also left him not till he yéelded up his spirit in the middest of the flames into the hands of Christ that this confessor going the next day into the Pulpit maintained tâ—â—â—rause of the old wise man with such boldnesseâ—nd zeale that all the audience hearing him attentively without any resistance understood his meaning and never accused the Preacher But in Lent following a Capuchin Fryer An admirable Eapuchin preaching before Pope Clement the eighth called him Antichrist and during that Lent ceased not to Preach the truth of the Gospell in the Chaire of postlience under the robe and habit of a Liar c In the same work my author saith our Historian mentions another Italian preacher called Nâ— Montalchin who in describing his History hath these words The Pope perceiving that by executing the Martyrs thus opénly in the sight of the people in stead of terrifying them thereby many were the more encouraged he resolved with himselfe thenceforward to conceale his open violence out of the sight of the Sun and to exercise it rather in the dark and in the night season The inquisitors who had Montalchin in their hands were preparing a way to murther him privâ—ly according to the Popes intention It so fell out that the Iaylour smelling the injustice which these reverend Fathers were devising against the poore prisoner adventured to give him notice of it to the end he making his peace with God might fit himselfe for death This experienced souldier of Iesus Christ plotted a way under hand by a spirituall wile to catch the wise in their craftinesse faining therefore a repentance he called for his judges telling them he was now minded to revoke his errors after they had pronounced sentence against him and would in the hearing of all recant what he had in publike maintained against the truth His Iudges beléeving he had spoken in good earnest promised him his life upon those tearmes Now that they might the rather satisfie their pride they made known to every one the time and place appointed for his abjuration All the city assembled together to take knowledge of this so unexpected a novelty Montalchin was brought and placed on a scaffold for that purpose He stood there in his shirt holding in his hands two torches lighted then silence being obtained he began to speake to the people as followeth Deare brethren and Children I have a long time taught you such a doctrine as hath troubled you I am now brought hither to open my minde unto you Montalchin is a sinfull man and therefore may erre But lend me your attention a while and I will let you sée the difference betwéen both opinions Thrée words seul seule seulement will serve to distinguish betwéene falshood and truth 1 I have taught you that Christ is our only sacrifice our only priest who only was once offered for us But the Doctors teach the contrary to wit that the true body of Christ without bread is offered up for the living and for the dead that the priests ought daily to offer up the naturall body of Christ really in the Masse 2 I have taught that in taking the visible signes in the Sacrament we doe therein by faith only take the spirituall and heavenly bread of our soules The Doctors say that Christs body is taken flesh and blood into the mouth and belly of the communicant 3 I have preached that Iesus Christ is our only mediator and that by him alone we have accesse unto the Father But the Doctors goe further and will have us to come to the Virgin Mary making her and all the Saints departed our Mediators and Intercessors 4 I have declared that we are justified only by faith in Iesus Christ and that the frée mercy of God is the foundation of our salvation The Doctors would have us to help out faith and grace by good workes as meritorious causes of salvation 5 You have heard me preach that Christ only gives grace and that he alone pardons this They affirm that the Church hath a Coffer or Chest of which the Pope kéeps the keyes whereinto are put the merits of saints which he largely distributed abroad to such as will buy his pardons Anno 1611. with money 6 I have told you that the Canonicall bookes of the old and new Testament are the onely ground of our faith and salvation The Doctors adde thereto their unwritten verities 7 I have taught you that after this life ended there are only two places prepared for them to goe unto who die and depart out of this world One the place of joy and comfort the other of torment The Doctors say there are foure viz. Paradise Hell Limbus and Purgatory 8 I have preached that the Pope is not a god on earth but only a Bishop and that only of one place if he therein behave himselfe as a good Biship ought to doe The Doctors make him Lord of the world and
of his heavenly Father hath he not obtained a name which is above every name That at the name of Iesus every knee should bow c. If Gods glory ought to be preferred before all things yea our owne salvation and that Christ by dying to save us hath obtained the greatest glory that ever was what may we judge of that death we endure for his honour his word and for the maintenance of his pureworship and service Abraham never performed a more honourable act than in offering up his son Isaac at Gods command nor for which he is more praised I demand then that seeing our owne life is more deare and precious to us than the life of another whether the Martyrs who according to the will of God and for his honour have been so prodigall of their bloud have not deserved greater or at least an equall praise and commendation with Abraham The Bishops of old had such an honourable esteem of martyrdome that they preferred it before their Episcopall dignities so as both themselves and their Disciples and followers whom they had taught were so ambitious thereof that when they wanted opportunity to suffer being excluded therefrom by the interceding of friends or were not the first that suffered they took it so to heart that some of them carried the grief thereof to their graves Thinke I pray you what a shame it were for a Gentleman who being called by his Prince to fight in his warres should busie himselfe onely about combing curling and perfuming his haire tooting all day in a Looking-glasse to decke and attire himselfe and then judge by that what valiant souldiers we are and what a goodly reputation wee shall reap either at the hands of God or of good men if in our spirituall warfare wherein we are to be imployed during our whole life whilest the alarme is strucken up and every one mounted to give the onset in the face of the enemy we in the meane time will play least in sight hiding our selves behind every bush as Schollers that are loth to go to Schoole for feare of the rod. Good God That men of noble spirits should so much affect the renowne of being valiant fearing nothing more than to be reputed for base fellows and cowards yea some are so jealous thereof that they cannot endure to heare so much as a suspition of flying and yet all this their valour tends only to covet a fame which consists in skill how to kill and destroy mens lives Now we being kings then and the adopted children of God if either greatnesse of our courage or noblenesse of our house or birth whence we are descended may prevaile any thing with us then who I pray you ought to shew forth more valour than the faithfull or more dread the staining of their honour by playing the dastards This being yet one argument more to put spirits in them namely that their prowesse tends not to kill and slay mens bodies as that of worldlings doth but to save heale support and sâ—ccour as the arme and power of God which is far more honourable than the other CHAP. III. Manifesting the great profit and benefit which the faithfull reap by Persecution HAving shewed in the former Chapter that a more honorable condition cannot befall a Christian than to suffer affliction for the name of Christ wee are here to shew how nothing is more beneficiall and profitable which will the better appeare if wee reckon up some few particulars thereof To begin with the first then In affliction God manifests his readinesse to comfort us and his power in sustaining and upholding us that we sinke not under the weighâ—â—f them Examples whereof we have in Ioseph and David and sundry others who by the afflictions they suffered for righteousnesse sake were prepared in that which God had appointed the one to be Governour over the land of Aegypt the other over the kingdome of Israel For as in the time of warre a Captaine or a Generall Three similies of an army takes occasion there to let his souldiers see his fidelity vigilancy fortitude and skill he hath in leading them out and in and as a Physitian among the sicke and diseased is occasioned to exercise the profundity of his art and experience he hath atchieved Or as friends when we are in distresse doe give us to understand what love they beare towards us and how mindfull they are of us Even so or much more doth God declare how greatly he loveth us and how faithfull he is in performing his promises in the time of our distresses which is no meane benefit For the experience which we get from his bounty love power and care of our welfare causeth us with greater confidence to stay and rest our selves wholly upon him and the tryall also of his fidelity doth more and more confirme us in waiting for the performance of his promises which consequently occasionshim to accomplish the same in us Againe had we no other good for which wee ought to rejoyce in afflictions and accustome our selves to beare them both patiently and thankfully but this that they serve to set forth Gods glory which after a sort shines in us while during our troubles he upholds us in them and in due time delivers us out of them what can we desire more For his glory ought to be so deare unto us that if our damnation it selfe might be a means to advance it we should not refuse to undergoe it but freely and willingly offer our selves to be cast into hell Subjects and servants joy in nothing more than in seeing their lords and masters highly honoured as on the contrary nothing vexeth them more than when they see them disesteemed or ought to be broached tending to the impeaching or obscuring their estimation or honour Shall we then who are not only subjects and servants but have obtained the prerogative to be accounted sons and friends in our fathers house and family shall not we I say rejoyce The second fruit which we reap from affliction is that hereby God multiplies his gifts and graces upon us as it is written Mygrace is sufficient 2 Cor. 12. 9. for thee for my power is made perfect in weaknesse 2 Cor. 12. 9. Humility Faith Patience Prudence and Repentance are augmented and increased in us by suffering persecutions For look as bodily exercise is an help to increase health strength and heate in the outward man and catechising or posing of children to which we often call them is the way whereby they grow in knowledge even so the severall tryals and troubles through which God exerciseth and makes proofe of our faith cause it to grow from a lesse measure and degree thereof unto a greater A Captaine who hath once or twise besieged a city or castle becomes much more expert hardy and wary than a fresh water souldier so also is the prudence counsell courage fortitude and zeale much greater and resolution stronger in such as have often passed through
cruell persecutions in his owne Land would not permit him to continue his Office of teaching there The Duke of Bovillon obtaining him drew him to his city of Sedan where he also continued a while in publishing the glad tidings of salvation untill the Church of Antwerpe began in the moneth of August 1576 to call him to be their Pastor But he could not obtaine leave of those of Sedan to depart from among them without a great deale of difficulty because they evidently foresaw by the beginning of persecutions in the Low-countries into what a Sea of troublous tempests bée should bée cast and yet perceiving how the heart of this holy man longed to be gone to yéeld his assistance to those of his own nation at length they consented to let him goe with them that requested to have his helpe Now having stayed but a while there the brethren determined to send him to his ancient Church of the Valencians who received him with no little joy in regard the Lord had formerly ordayned him to erect a Church there peculiarly To come now to Peregrine de la Grange hée Peregrin de la Grange was borne in Chute nigh to Saint Marcellin in Daulphine In the moneth of Iune in the yeare 1565 he was sent from the Schooles of Geneva at the request and instance of the Valencians to serve in the ministery among them Such was His meeke disposition won him much respect his méeke and milde disposition that it won him much love and respect and made his ministery to be so much the more acceptable in the eyes of all men After the demolishing of Images in the City of the Valencians two Churches were imployed by those of the reformed Religion for the use of prayer preaching the word and administration of the Sacraments Now the detaining of these Churches the one of them being used by a stranger◠namely by the said la Grange who was none of King Philips Subjects being also against the Decrée of Margaretn then Regent of the Low-Countries gave occasion to Noicurin as then principall Bayliffe of Hainault and Valence not onely to frustrate and break all accords with the said Valencians but moreover to afflict and besiege them extremely During which siege because the supper of the Lord was administred in both the said Churches it did so much the more enkindle the rage of the enemy against them so as when the city was taken La Grange was the more cruelly used as you shall reade when wee come to speake of his death The same adversaries who encountred Guy de Brez his companion assailed him also but he overcame them by the helpe of Gods holy Spirit who gave them both such power as their enemies were not able to resist They were imprisoned the eleventh of Aprill and on Saturday the last of May the Provost of the bands came into the prison about thrée of the clocke in the morning to give these two prisoners warning to prepare themselves for death for they were to die at sixe or therabouts Whereupon both of them began highly to magnifie God for his goodnesse and gave the Provost thankes for the good newes which he had brought them Assoon as they were up and ready Master Guy entred into the fore Court bidding the rest of the Prisoners good morrow and then testifying to them his joy spake after this manner Brethren I am this day to die for the doctrine of the Gospell and now blessed be God I joy and rejoyce therein I had not thought that God would ever have done me this honour I feele my selfe replenished with joy more and more from minute to minute my God addeth new courage unto me and my heart leapes for joy within me Then exhorting the prisoners to be of good chéer he told them it was no hard matter to die and so by way of acclamation alledged that place out of the Apocalips O how happy are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Hée further besought the prisoners to stand fast in the doctrine of the sonne of God which he had taught them avowing it to bée the undoubted truth which was mainteined * Which disputes were formerly omited in regard that in a manner they were the same with those of Peregrin do la Grange by him before the Bishop of Arres and many others Beware you do nothing said he against a good conscience for I foresée that the enemies of the Gospell will execute the utmost of their rage against us thinking thereby to weaken our faith that so they might turne you from the truth and so causing you to doe such things as should bring dishonor to the cause for which you are in bonds Take heed therefore ye shrinke not for if yée doe you shall certainely féele such an hell in your consciences as will never cease to vex and torment you O my brethren how good a thing is it to nourish a good conscience One of the prisoners asking him whether hée had finished a certaine work which he had begun he answered No For now I must cease to labour because I am passing along towards the heavenly rest the time of my departing is at hand I goe to reape that in heaven which I have sowne on earth I have fought a good fight I am at the point of finishing up my course from henceforth the Crowne of Glory is layd up for me which the Lord the righteous Iudge shal give unto me Me thinks said he with a joyfull and smiling countenance that my spirit hath obtained wings to soare aloft into heaven being invited this day to the mariage Supper of the Lambe As he was speaking the Provost came in with bands into the Court and putting off his hat saluted him Master Guy bad him welcome and gave him thanks againe for his good newes The Provost replied It grieveth me much that things should be carried thus To which Guy joyfully answered I accept of you as of my good Friend I love you with all mine heart Then taking his leave of the prisoners he went into the little hall of the prison Soone after Peregrine de la Grange entred into the same Court who as he carried himselfe comfortably during all the time of his imprisonment so then after his accustomed manner he hegan with an amiable countenance to chéere the prisoners with bidding them good morrow and then said thus unto them I am this day to die for the Truth and then the heavenly Inheritance is prepared for mee my name is written in the Phil. 4. 3. Rom. 11. 29. Booke of life never to be blotted out because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance He protested also That for his part he never taught ought there but the pure Word of God as for the doctrine of the Papists it led soules he said to perdition and destruction and thence took occasion to exhort the prisoners to separate themselves
to age her desire was that she might be joyned in marriage to some Prince of the same religion by the counsell and advice of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Gasper Count of Colligny Admirall of France whom she made Executors and overséers of her said Testament But here it may not be omitted briefly to relate another conference which she had with a Minister of the Gospell before her departure The eighth of Iune which was the day before her death she caused a Minister of the Gospel to be called for and finding that she was drawing nigher unto her end than before she willed him to speake somewhat largely of such temptations as Satan is wont to assaile Gods elect withall in their last conflict To which the Minister answered that then was the houre indéed wherein that sworne enemy of all the faithfull did most busily bestir himselfe if he could to deprive them of the comfort of their salvation not sparing at that time especially to set upon them with might and maine but yet even then the Lord is not nor will be wanting to his filling their hearts with such joy and comfort of the holy Ghost as shall make them through the same more than conquerours The first engine then which satan useth against the Saints to cause them to despaire is to present before their eyes the innumerable heapes of their sins and pollutions wherewith they have any way béen defiled in their whole life and then presents unto them Gods justice before which no flesh can be able to subsist unlesse it be pure and spotlesse whence he infers that miserable sinners can expect and looke for nothing but an horrible desolation and condemnation But against these assaults in the first place must be opposed as David doth in the one and fiftieth Psalme the infinite multitudes of Gods compassions which doe infinitely surpasse the multitudes of our sins And as touching the justice of God we confesse that no creature that is defiled with sin can in any sort abide to be strictly examined by it if he shall call the same to a severe account but we also know that God will never enter into judgement with those that beléeve in his son but allowes unto them that righteousnesse and obedience which was accomplished in him which is only sufficient for us being imputed unto us to oppose against the judgement of God therefore in it alone they expect to stand before his face and not by their owne dignity or worthinesse Indéed if they were to appeare before the throne of Iustice to receive thence what they have deserved they had good reason to be overwhelmed in utter despaire as off as they thinke upon or looke on the same but turning their eyes upon him who being the eternall Son of God hath clothed himself with our humane nature to beare in the same the punishment due to our sins and therein acquitted us then Gods justice doth no way affright us but rather yéelds us assured comfort because they make this their full resolution that forasmuch as God is just he cannot require the same debt twice Having therefore received full and perfect satisfaction of him whom he hath ordained to be our surety and paid our debts for us thence we gather assurance that he wil no more require them of us To which purpose these sentences are to be well observed It is Christ who hath borne our griefes and carried our sorrows That the chastisement Isa 53 4. 5. of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed That we all like shéep have gone astray and have turned every one to his owne way and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all Christ is our peace and the propitiation for our sins The Lambe of God which taketh Eph. 2. 14. 1 Iohn 2. 2. Iohn 1. 29. away the sins of the world These with many the like sentences the Minister propounded by way of answer to this vertuous Ladies demand concluding the same thus that Gods justice ought not to terrifie those that beleeve in Christ of whose 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousnes and redemption they are partakers knowing that Iesus Christ who knew no sinne was made sin that is to say an oblation for sin 2 Cor. 5. 21. for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him I grant saith he that these things belong not to all indifferently but only to such as beléeving in the Son of God doe wholly rest themselves satisfied in the merit of his death and passion which Acts 4 12 merit of his as Saint Peter witnesseth sufficeth for their salvation After these matters premised he asked her whether she placed whole confidence on Christ crucified who dyed for her sins and rose againe for Rom. 4. 25. her justification To which the noble Princesse answered that she neither expected salvation righteousnesse nor life from any else then from her only Saviour Iesus Christ being assured that his only merit abundantly sufficed for the full satisfaction of all her sins albeit they were innumerable This being your Faith Madam said the Minister you cannot come into condemnation but Iohn 5. 24. are passed from death to life Then taking an occasion again to resume her former spéech that she had no cause to be afraid of Gods Throne of Heb. 4 16. Iustice séeing it was turned into a Throne of Grace and Mercy unto her and that the houre of death should now be excéedingly welcome to her séeing it could be nothing else but a swéet passage into a far better life as also the time in which all Phil 1. 23. Rev. 21. 4. feares should be wiped away from her eyes He likewise shewed that she should doe well continually to be thinking on that excellent sentence Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord because Rev. 14. 13. from thenceforth they rest from their labours and their workes follow them For then said he the time approacheth wherein she should enjoy the visible presence and society of her husband Christ and have fellowship with the blessed Angels and celestiall spirits with the holy Patriarkes Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Anno 1572. of the Son of God to partake with them of the same felicity and glory The Minister minding yet further to sound her whether she were loth to leave this life used these words And now good Madam said he if it should please God by this your sicknesse to put an end to this wearisome pilgrimage of yours where yet you remaine with us and to call you home to himselfe whereof he gives us to sée some evident signes and tokens are you willing I beséech you to goe unto him To which this excellent Princesse with great magnanunity and courage without any astonishment replyed Yes I assure you Then he once againe added good Madam open the eyes of your Faith and behold Iesus your great Redéemer sitting at the right hand of his Father reaching