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
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
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
heauenly hope that they had did pearce the boiling bowels of his loue and mercy And did obtein the fruit of their faithfull desires So that when the curssed crueltie and tirannie of the Egiptians was at the full the highest and the greatest euen then did God extende hys mightie arme from heauen so that they being without any humain helpe or remedie at all he did deliuer them onely by his own mightie potencie and power There is no tirannie nor persecution that can continue long for looke how much the more it is malicious out of measure so much the nigher is the ende and distruction thereof As did appeare by Pharao for when that the crueltie and tirannie of him his ministers was most extréemest agaynst God and his people euen then did it perishe and ende with most cruell distroy thereof and the executioners togyther for there is nothing that will more sooner distroy and consume the euill tyrannie and crueltie of the tiranicall persecutors then the pacience and humilitie of the Sainctes with submitting thēselues in harte and mynd to the onely will and pleasure of God askyng of him succour and ayde with fayth in his promise There is no suche whetstone to blunt nor beate downe the rasor sharpe edges of the sweards of the Tirantes nor no suche water to quenche the burnyng flames of fyre which they vse for the faithfull as is a sure faith and hope in the Lord bicause as all the enimyes that doe afflict and torment vs be deade Euen so althoughe wée sée it not with our bodily eyes he doeth kill them styll for vs And notwithstanding that they doe séeme to our carnall fight to bée aliue yet for the hatred they haue to the truth they are dead in the presēce of god And howe muche the greater their frensie furie is towardes vs So much the surer is the signe that theyr vtter distruction is at hand The people of God were so occupied and dryuen vp against the read Sea in such a streight thereby that the weaklings amongest them faynted feared and began to yéelde them selues for dead men by the handes of their enimyes the men of warre who so fiersly folowed them as was possible makyng accompt of the same they were armed in all points for the purpose but God prouided a present remedie for his people to put their appoyntment cleane to the contrary He diuided the hugie heapes and waues of waters so that they stood stil on eche side like stone walles till his people the children of Israell had passed throughe the myddest thereof drye footed And presently passing the same and lookyng backe to beholde the huge armie of Pharaoes hoast their furious foes that folowed so faste for filthie thirst they had after bloud they sawe the waters agayne kéepyng their course in a most swifte maner and coulde sée nothing els but the ouerwhelmed and drowned bodyes of those furyous fightyng fellowes who folowed them so fiercely Those fonde furyes were blynded so that they could not sée till they came to that distruction the which then they would haue fled from but it was to late they were mightie and most magnanimous and valiant till then But being thus killed dead distroyed and ouercome by him that mightie Iehouah he discouered the same to them his most louing people bycause they should not feare nor fainte at the lyke agayne though it séemed neuer so mighty or terrible Euen so those which persecute vs at this present tyme so trimly lyke as they would roote cast out the name of God from the earth yea and out of heauen also that he myght neuer bée neyther knowen nor professed are dead and killed by the same our most myghtie and eternall God though to our foolishe fleshe it séeme to the contrarie and to the sight therof And therefore dearely beloued there is no cause at all that may make vs by any iust reason that our enimies can vse to fainte feare or leaue the true professing of our fayth in our master Christ though they doe threaten it out neuer so lustily for that we béeing once passed the seas of sorowes in thys worlde by suche crosses and calamities as it shall please God to vse for a meane to passe vs ouer the same Shall haue lykewyse discouered and shewed vnto vs that those which now séeme vnto vs liuing doo intreat vs so euill without pietie or pittie blasphéeming the name of Christ and his holy Gospell are not in truth but dead bodies which can nothing hurt vs If it should be great foolish folly to feare the pictors paynted in parishe churches of images or the puppetly Idols set vp in popish temples as though they might helpe vs to good or saue vs from euill It were and should be ten tymes treble greater folly without comparison to leaue and renounce the friendship and obedience of faith in him which is an euerlasting mansion for vs in all ioye and felicitie If there were any cause at all to fear those dead bodies which can doe vs neyther good nor harme The holy Ghost would not giue such counsell cleane to the contrary Saying feare you not any thing that they can doe nor be you not troubled but sanctify the Lord God in your hartes So that it is a plaine consequent that as by sure fayth and hope that the children of Israell had in almightye God with their incessant and humble prayers and petitions which they vsed vnto him he did distroy and ouerthrow the Egiptians Pharaoes hoast and that they were so set at libertie celebrating of Sacrafice with himnes and songes of prayse and thankes gyuing vnto him the onely aucthor therof Euen so nowe in these present tymes by the lyke faith hope which they had and that we oughte to haue in his mercie And by the power and strength of the same God shall perish all those that persecute vs for the profession of his name and Gospell for they are no lesse enimyes and rebelles to him and his people thē was Pharao and his vaseils or subiects Wherfore let vs bée firme and constant in the trueth and in no wyse leaue the communion or congregation of the true catholike church but with a sure hope belieue in Christ Iesus By whome we shall as well be defended and deliuered from harmes as were the childrē of Israell And all those mischiefs which our persecutors doe threaten and thunder against vs the most mightie God will confound and conuert or turne them vppon their owne heads as the holy Ghost hath promysed by the Prophet Dauid Of Predestination and of glorification thereby c. The xxvij Chapter JF we consider the end and what stoppe and stay we are brought vnto by abiding so bitter crosses persecutions no doubt we shal finde therby great occasion to passe in sufferyng them with great ioye S. Paule doth declare vnto vs the effect of the end therof and what it shal be Those whom I
farre better in the worlde to come both in being and suffering It is not lawfull nor requisite to depryue our selues of our liues nor yet to desire death for any euill that happeneth whatsoeuer for whye it perteyneth onely vnto God to take and giue life accordyng to hys good will and pleasure Hée dyd make vs and can vnmake vs when it pleaseth him hée willeth and desireth nothing but onely that wée be readie and doe gyue our selues wholy to his honour and glorie in suche sorte as he hath prescribed vnto vs by hys worde Whyther it be with losse of life if néede requyre or worldly possessions It maketh no matter bycause that so is executed the offyce indéede of true and perfect disciples What reason haue we thē to feare death for a thing so holy and of such rightuousnesse if it were not for that wée thynke that hée with his vglye and lothsome lookes would haue seignorie ouer vs and take vs into hys rule or Lordship when they so cruelly kill vs If we will giue credit to the word of the Lord we shal clear and plainly sée that then we die not we can not die These same are the words verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word beléeueth in him the sēt me shal haue life euerlasting and shal not come in cōdempnation But hath alreadie escaped from death to life He saith also I am the resurrection the life he that beleueth in me although hée were dead yet shall he liue And also all that liue beléeue in me shall neuer tast of sée death nor yet dye These are the true wordes of Gods owne mouth by the which we be fully assured that there is no death at all to them that beléeue in Christ Iesus and that in béeing his he hath alreadye dyed for vs and wée shall dye no more For that by him death is alreadie distroyed and hath no more but as it were the name thereof onely to the faithfull S. Iohn in his reuelation calleth death to the faithful a rest from traueils And in deed to die or departe this lyfe is onely to vs a rest most comfortable with God our lord The lyfe which we liue in this world diserneth not the name of life bicause it is so full of perils daungers but by death as our enimyes terme it we are vppon a sodaine taken foorth of them and deliuered from all and so brought into rest and ioye eternally And therfore S. Paul right wel did desire to be desolued or loosed from his bodie and to be with Christ to ioye of that full libertie alreadye spoken of Iesus Christ dyd distroye death and as death had no power ouer hym no more hath he in none of his members He him selfe sayeth by the Prophet Osée death I will be thy death S. Paule writeth that death hath lost the victorie and is swallowed vp therein And death where is thy sting hell where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the power of sinne is the lawe But thankes be to God that hath giuen vs the victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ So that death hath no power nor naught els wherewith to hurte the faithfull for sinne is the weapon wherewith hée woundeth the which is distroyed by Christ so is death ouercome thus the lyfe that is in vs is eternall and we shall neuer dye And that which our aduersaries offer vnto vs is but a representation of death the which alreadie wee haue ouercome by our conseruator and heade Christ Iesus by whom we possesse the victorie Of the cause that Christ did feare death and hovve constant diuers martirs haue bene sithens in their martirdome c. The xxx Chapter THe cause why that our sauiour séemed to fear death was onely to shewe him self in his manhoode and that he had taken vppon him the sinnes of all mankinde bycause he would winne the victorie of all his enimyes so dryue away the doubt that was in the amased myndes of the faythfull And also to shewe that bicause de dyed death was kylled thereby and could haue no more power ouer vs The true credite and beliefe héereof dearely beloued is verie requisite and necessarie for vs. It hath béene séene that many seruants of God animated by beliefe or faith in the truth of the same haue taken their crosses with great courage ioye and contentment of mynde as if they had gone to feastes of greate honour or as if they ledde a tryumphant Bryde by the hande to sette hyr in some beautyfull throne with the Brydegroome That vertuous Virgyne Agatha when shée was caryed to death out of pryson where long shée had bene with no great worldly delyghtes I warrant you for professing the truth in the Gospell which faithfully shée beléeued sayde that euen then shée went to feastes or a feaste of greate ioye Saincte Vincent or that good holye confessor being laide vppon hoat burnyng coales a broyling for the same trueth made a mocke at his masking persecutors and sayde that the like crosse and death to any Christian was great cause of ioye to hym and all his companion members The godly man Ignacius Bishoppe of Antyoche in the persecution that the terrible Tyrant Traiano committed and vsed against the christians beyng by him an Infidell and his fidell confederates condempned to bée throwen vnto wylde beastes to the ende that most terriblie hée should bée torne in péeces by their terrible téethe Hee hearyng the roaryng of the Lyons prepared amongest other their panyons to execute the sentence gyuen so against him said with great ioy I am the wheat of Iesu Christ which shal be ground by the téene sharp téeth of those execrable beastes to bée made pure and cleane vnto the Lorde And by report of an english mā my friend this translator there was in Essex where as he was borne in England diuers faithfull witnesses as Wats Hawkes Pigot Cawson Ardely Sympson with many others there and as well in other countreis with in the sayd Realme did most ioyfully receiue valiently stande to their tryall by the fire and in the myddest thereof with great gladnesse of their forewardnesse in getting the victorie dyd imbrace the golden flames of the same eche of them saying with great courage O Lord receyue my soule and Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redéemed mée O Lord God of truth Moreouer many of them in going therevnto gladly and in a most triumphant maner like men goyng to moste gladsome ioyes would with great and mightie good will bid their friendes farewell and so in token therof and of the sure hope which they had in the méeting of God and his heauenly company as well those gone before as they that were to come after would drinke a cup of burned wine vnto them as wel therfore as also to moist a little their sences whereby they might be the
which we ought alwayes to accōpt for his plāts with a dayly study to be of that numbre which the Prophet Dauid speaketh of that haue all their affection delight in the lawe and ordinance of the Lorde and doo meditate and walke in the same bothe day and night bicause we might fructifie and bringe foorthe good fruite in dewe season God dyd plant vs in his sonne giuing him vnto vs to be our redéemer the footesteppes of whome we should followe and with whose rightuousnesse our faults were couered And therfore we ought to haue a constant faythe and beléefe that he is such a one as wée confesse him to be in our Créede or twelue Articles of our Faythe and reioyce that we haue him to be our eternall highe Preste Kinge and Sauiour that liueth eternally to be an intercessour for vs and to fulfill for vs all that God dooth commaunde or aske for that in him is hidden all science treasure and wysedome This is the faythe that muste be in our hartes by the which we are ioyned to Christ Iesus and dooe knowe the sufficiency that we haue in his ritches by him to whose goodnesse we must be appendant but not as in the tyme of our blindenesse when we confessed him with our mouthes and denyed him in our workes We confessed that wée dyd loue and beleue him but it was a lye false and nothinge so We sayde that we dyd beleue he was our sauiour but it was not true for why wée sought healpe and healthe in vaine thinges that he dyd neither commaunde nor yet alowe and also dyd liue in the beléefe and follow those vaine vanities vntill now of late We confessed him to be Christ King of all Kings and principall highe Preste and yet we gaue no place vnto the fruite of his Gospell in our hartes where it should haue béene and he also haue liued We sayde hée was a highe Preste but yet we accounted better of Antechrist and made him our high Prest Of him onely dyd we séeke pardon for our sinnes and sinfull delightes we set a syde Iesus Christe our true remitter whome by his moste precious deathe and passion dyd make and fulfiill suche satisfaction to our GOD his Father for our offences as none but hée coulde doo the like Yea although the wrath and heauie displeasure of GOD were neuer so fully satysfied yet wée dyd thincks our selues to make satisfaction by our owne deuised merittes and nothing estemed the merites of Iesus Christ which were of a most infinite and vnspeakeable vallour for the healthe of his elected beleuers Yet now déerely beloued let vs account for vaine all our owne deseruinges and all mens merites so full of vnrightuousnesse trust onely to his mercy in his diuine iudgement in which none may perfectly percist but onely his owne He was giuen vnto vs for our onely euerlasting Aduocate to God the Father commaūding vs that we should aske any thinge that we haue néede of at the handes of god the Father in his name But making little price hereof lesse regarding him we sought other mediatours as to this sainct and by the diuillish helpe of that relique c. What was this but to denie the fayth by ours workes which we confessed with our lippes bicause therein we would be accompted christians yet in our hartes we were condempned for vngodly For why with our mouthes we made confession to serue and honour Christ when as in déede with all our workes and studies we serued curssed Antichrist and walked in errors euery man after his owne way and accordyng to our owne inuentions as sayeth the Prophet Esay But now sith it is so apparant that by the great goodnes and singular benifit of the almightie God we doe beleue truely in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne our sauiour Let vs accordingly liue in that godlinesse and trueth that he hath taught and shewed vnto vs by his word and spirite hée hath marked vs for his owne with the same signe seale the which he hath marked his chosen They which doe persecute vs doe not knowe vs but doe both holde accompt vs for aliaunts and straungers vnto themselues they maye nor can not suffer vs in the world no more then they might suffer our Lord Iesus Christ who hath done such a benifite for all mankinde and of whom assuredly we are So that we ought to vnderstand and accompt for most certeine and sure that all the causes of our troubles wherewith we are so hated afflicted persecuted in this world is as S. Paule saith bicause we trust beleue in the lyuing God who is the sauiour of all the faithfull Notwithstāding the false coulers which they vse in their quarelsome war that they make with vs they couer thēselues with a cloak say that we are heritikes that they are holy it is so in déede but yet it is but a fayned holynesse the which God by his worde hath cōdempned for abhominable Wherfore let vs arme our selues with a firme sure hope the God yea our God will bée our sure helper defender against thē in all our troubles for that we be the worke of his handes he hath made vs redéemed vs and we be his owne the cause is his and will suffer no harme nor euil to touch vs Let vs not fal from nor yet be weake in this truth which God hath reuealed vnto vs but let vs be fully assured that it is his might power will the deliuereth vs saueth all beleuers We are set sure therby from all perils dangers and taken out of all afflictions S. Simon in the gospel of S. Luke doth prophesie that Iesus Christ was sent for the rysing falling of many people in Israel that by him are reuealed the thoughtes of meny hartes that wée should be saued from all that hate vs Euen now in these dayes is this prophesie fulfilled Assoone as the worde of the Gospel was preached amōgst vs and that it did reueale vnto vs thē our lord Iesus both they we might haue séene the effect of this prophesie euen so it may be still some of them he did please to condempne for that they did resist furiously did persecute condempne him Others which were thē that did beleue were reysed edifyed and saued by him for whose sake they are hated held accoūted for abhominable in the world And the thoughtes of some that were holy hallowers sanctifiers of mē were are discouered and shewed to be of such cōditiō qualitie that they cānot suffer the holines of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ but do so rebell against him that they vse their vttermoste force wyth crueltye to throw him out of the world Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ c. Cap. ix BVt sith it hath pleased God that our lotte hath bene so luckye our happe so
in their cōspiracies which they vse against vs to deuide apart and seperate vs therby from gods trueth But let vs laugh at their folly with our good father who dooth nothing but laugh at and deride them for the same Of gods exceding loue greatly to the comfort of his people c. The .xiiii. Chapter ANd also sith that those fonde foolish fooles cannot harme nor gréeue vs and that we cannot be harmed nor gréeued by any kinde of calamitie For that we be in such securitie with God and that we be not made by our naturall weakenesse to follow their vanities and so brought with them to be subiect to the wrath and ire of god Let vs assure our selues of the great loue that god hath towardes vs consider the causes of our afflictions and so giue him thanckes accordingly And also let vs loue him as his true children for the loue of Iesus Christ with the same loue that his father hath loued him Of all those that were and should be his disciples he spake to his father the night before he should suffer saying O Father thou hast loued them with the same loue that thou hast loued me The loue with the which God loued his sonne is perpetuall and euerlasting and yet with the same loue hath he loued vs As it is sayde by Ieremy the prophet I haue loued you sayth the Lord with a loue charitie euerlasting Though all thinges perish vanish consume vade away yet this loue neither perisheth nor vanisheth but indureth for euer in one most mighty force being whether it be in prosperitie or aduersitie God dothe loue and except vs as his owne The which is verified experienced and proued by the Prophet Dauid which being in the toppe and chéefe of his tribulacions GOD dyd knowe him and deliuer him So that hée puttinge hys truste in him sayde althoughe my fréendes haue forsaken mée and my parents haue cast mée foorth yet the Lord my God wil deliuer mée and take mée vp Iesus Christe was loaden with all the sinnes of mankynde and with paines and passyons moste bytter intollerable and cruell for the same he was forsaken of his fréendes ouerwhelmed with enimies and extréemely persecuted yet GOD dyd loue him moste déerely was alwaies with him and dyd not nor wyll not neuer forsake him but dyd heare him in all his agonies and troubles Also he sayde to his Disciples euery one of you shal be afrayed of mée and scattered awaye and I shal be left alone yet I am not alone bicause the Father is with mée Also the Prophet sayth sith god is on my right hande I will not faynt nor feare what men doo to mée Wherby it apeareth that God dooth loue them that be his and wil be alwaies on theyr right hande when they be in greatest agonyes troubles and distresses How Iesus Christ dooth loue vs he himselfe dooth testifie and saye as the father hath loued me euen so haue I loued you He loued me most dearely vpon the crosse euen so doo I loue you He dooth loue vs as himselfe bicause we all which beleue be membres of his body of his fleshe and of his boanes There is no man that will forget and abhorre his owne flesh for when any part or mēbre of the body is wounded and most sicke then yea euen then is his loue the greater and greatest of all with greatest tendernesse doothe shew his might loue without forgetfulnesse So that in our greatest calamities afflictiōs we are of him best beloued for that he cannot nor will not forget vs. By the Prophet Esay he sayth can the mother by possibilitie forget hir selfe of hir owne onely sonne which she dyd beare in hir belly and bringe vp with milke euen from hir tendre breast Is it possible for hir so to forget him that she should neuer more take pitie vppon him If she doo forget hir selfe yet will I neuer forget you Bicause I haue you written in my handes at my fingers endes O worthy wordes spoken with suche a maiestie let vs not be mistrustful of thē for that God dooth speake them himselfe and to vs he doothe directe his speache And therefore when we depriued of our wealth and worldly riches most cruelly afflicted and héeld and accounted for abhominable Let vs thincke that God dooth and wil gouerne and helpe vs and will not forget but remembre vs as a thing most dearely beloued of him He sayth that he dyd write vs in his fingers endes and handes bicause that as the hands fingers endes be alwayes in sighte and cannot be forgotten So thereby doothe be giue vs to vnderstande that he dooth alwaies looke vpon his elected and wyll neuer forget them Bicause he dooth loue them with an affection more tēder a great deale then is that of the Mother towardes hir childe The which he declared right well to his disciples when he should depart from them by death he made a great many of very louing comfortable countenaunces vnto them and dyd promise great consolacion comfort in all their griefes and calamities though they wer neuer so great after his departure And therefore as assured of this great loue and charitie that the Lord our God hath towards vs perpetually Let vs not giue place to any thinge that is contrary to vs against him for that our firmnesse cōstancy and perseuerance dooth concist therein The conformitie which god dooth pretende that we which be his should haue with Christ by meane of the crosses and afflictions that we are to passe through is a sure and manifest signe and token of this his great loue with the which he loueth vs Bicause the effect thereof is so admyrable that it cannot procéede but from so high principle grounde or beginning as is our election the vocation with the which God dyd call vs doothe procéede from the loue which he hath towards vs in Christ So that all the meanes practises that he dooth vse towards vs to bring vs to the ende of our election which is to be gloryfied with him of necessitie must néedes procéede from the same originall When he dyd open our eies to sée our perdicion in the which we were and did giue vs the power and vertue of his spirit to imbrace and receue his sauing health it was a perfect sure signe that he dyd loue vs that we should not doubt thereof bicause he had done so great a pleasure for vs And therefore let vs now not feare that which thē we wer put out of doubt of bicause that all those afflictions calamities which now wée suffer from our Lord god are fruits a confirmacion of our calling And bicause we are so called beloued of him we are therefore so afflicted hated of the world Yet let vs not faint nor fal◠from the trueth bicause that which the holy ghost doth testifie to all the mēbres of the
out by the diuyll hym selfe by meanes of the miscreaunts his ministers and can not be encountred to any aduaūtage but onely by the light and presence of the promyse of god If we happen to fall into any of these clapses or to com into such a streight the first thing that wée oughte to doe is not to stoppe impope our selues with poperie nor to dasell our eyes with any thing that we sée but to passe with expedition as much as may bée to those things which with corporall sight may not be séene Which is to a sure hope and trust in God and thē no doubt of necessitie we shall be succored in the middest and extremitie of all our sorowes and troubles suche lyke or whatsoeuer God sayth by the Prophet Dauid I am with the afflicted in all their troubles I wil deliuer them and bring them to honor and they shal glorifie me So that thē it is not God that séemeth to make this warre against vs but assuredly he is with vs and doth aide and assist vs therin giuing vs a secret power vertue and strength which in the ende doeth deliuer vs. Christ sayde to hys disciples and in them to vs feare yée not my little flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdom So that all the mischiefes and euils as many as we sée or féele whither it be interiorly or exteriorly and all that Sathan his mischieuous ministers doe or can doe cannot let vs from entring thereinto We shall neuer féele our selues forsaken but if we do leane to him and to his diuine promises with a sure fayth and hope we shall fynde and féele that God is alwayes within vs and will neuer fayle vs. As it is written I will not leaue nor forsake thée sayth the lord Let vs heare that which he doeth commaund vs by the Prophet Esay in tymes of tribulations goe my people enter into thy chāber and shut thy dore after thée hyde thée a little for a moment vntil myne indignation be past To withdraw our selues into our chamber is to flée vnto the promises of God in the which he hath promised vs that he will loue and fauour vs perpetually To shut the doore is to renounce and forsake our corporall féeling sences in tyme of affliction And not to be ouercom by any thing that thē we féele interiorly or exteriorly inwardely or outwardely Nor doubt of gods truth but suerly be leue that he wil fulfil accōplish all hys promises for that we liue eternally with Iesus Christ by whom they were promised whē in such tymes as we can sée nothing but darkenesse heauines sorow the wrath of God we doe iudge that al of it is for against vs But then yea euen then he doth acknowledge vs for his people doth cōmaūd vs that we shut the doore a while that his anger may passe ouer Wherefore doth our good God thus much for vs For our deseruings no truly but euen of mere loue So that it foloweth though he be angry yet he loueth vs and is not wrath with vs but with our aduersaries condempnors of whom he wil take vēgeance for their vnbeliefe sake although for a tyme hée suffer them to vse their worst cruelties By the Prophete Esay thys is confirmed vnto vs that the Lorde hath no wrathe nor indygnation against vs. But to the thornes and thistles hée hath a furious dyspleasure for that they are enimyes both to hym and vs. Sainct Paule was greatly afflicted and buffeted with many counter buffettes of Sathan But euen then was hée fauoured beloued in god As he heard him selfe with his owne eares when the Lorde sayde vnto hym my grace is sufficient for thée Dauid féelyng him selfe in the like fauor of God sayde the Lord doeth loue all hys saynctes and doeth kéepe all the faythfull And also doeth recompence the proud aboundantly for their pryde By our hope in hys promyses we doe fynde this light and comforte in the middest of the darknesse of our tribulations But when in the vnderstandyng folowing of his preceptes we do vse and take our own reason of necessitie we muste giue a wronge iudgement for that if we féele not fauour diuyne we think presently that god is fallen a sléepe farre distāt from vs and hath forgotten vs. And bycause we sée not openly the libertie that we desire we iudge euen thē that he doth not sée vs. As Dauid did which being gréeuously troubled He then presently according to the iudgement of the flesh sayd that God had forsakē him But presently by the word of God he was shewed the error and falsitude of his iudgement When I was in hast I sayd I am out of thy sight but thou neuerthelesse hast harde the voyce of my prayer when I called vppō thée Dauid held him selfe cast out and forsaken but God did heare and deliuer him when hée was in greatest trouble and thought least of helpe So in our iudgementes which are fleshely we thinke that all our tribulations are long without measure and that they will neuer haue ende But the Lord hath sayde vnto vs they shal endure but a whyle for that in commaunding vs to shut the doore a moment he doeth giue vs to vnderstand that they are but momentarie shall ende verie quickly As Dauid sayth also his ire shall passe away in a momēt or the twinckling of an eye Our tribulation sayeth S. Paule indureth but a little and is lightly passed ouer And therefore we ought to suffer it constantly not considering the things visible to be séene and that perishe but the things inuisible and eternall For that if we be the sonnes of Abraham bicause we beleued as he did let vs then appeare in déedes as he did or lyke vnto him for hée was extréemely tempted but yet hée put his trust wholy in God and dyd not doubte of his promyse And therefore was strengthened in his faith dyd giue thanks to god And was persuaded that although he saw nothing that shewed apparant cause wherein to trust yet he did consider the God which had promised was of power almightie and therefore of power suffitient to performe any thing promised Euē so wée when our tribulations séeme most gréeuous and that we doe think there is least possibilitie to get out of them let vs then thinke it but momentary the rather haue hope with the greater firmenesse and be assured that the potency of God is alwayes ready to performe his promise let vs not giue any héed at all to our own reason vnderstanding and iudgemēt And although we sée not our libertie yet let vs be assured and make full accompt that we are frée Let it be that it séeme that God do hate vs and that his creatures make warre agaynst vs Yet for our owne partes let vs beleue with faith although our troubles be of neuer so great a
buildiÌ„g Also those which haue already finished their building reedificatioÌ„ they do greuously gainsay persecute for why the gospel hath neuer ben yet is nor neuer shall bee till the ende withoute Annasses Caiphasses Pilates Pontifices high Priestes Iudasses and Pharises to kicke and sporne against it And therefore doo the Discipls of Iesus Christ euen now go on begging â—itting from place to place without any worldly abyding and driuen to hyde them selues bicause they haue professed and confessed the trueth of theyr master the Iudasses do abhorre them and their masters so much that they doe what they can to the vttermoste of their power to betraye them and to make a great gayne thereof They doe vse their greatest cruelties not onely agaynst them but also euen against the verie walles of the secrete houses where they haue preached the Gospell if they take them they put them in prisons with great extremitie till they haue done what in them is to ouerthrow them quyte And therin it is to be séene that the church of the faithfull which is the true church is of and in the same estate and condition that it hath béene from the beginning in the worlde and therefore the Prophet Esay doth call it a poore afflicted and beaten batred churche with the tempestuous stormes of persecution without all comfort and consolation euen lyke vnto the churche which was of the Apostles somtimes in Ierusalem And therfore when it shall happen or fall out at any tyme to any of vs the members of the same church to be imprysoned and presented before the audyences and curssed congregations of cruell persecutors Let vs not looke to finde any other pietie nor pittie amongest them theÌ„ Iesus Christ dyd amongest his condempnors wheÌ„ he was tyed before them and moste cruelly passioned But let vs remember the wordes which our Lorde Iesus Christ spake to his disciples wheÌ„ as he commaunded them to preache the Gospell of his worde throughout the whole world Beholde sayde he I doe send you forth as shéepe among Wolues It is the propertie of the Wolfe to shewe very little mercy fauour or curtesie to the shéepe if he do shewe any at all it is but feigned to bryng hys mischieuous mynded purpose to passe the sooner to make a spoyle of his pray Let vs remember also that as before repeated we be called to be conformeable and lyke vnto Iesus Christ As hée after hée was taken and vntill he had aspyred to the crosse he did finde no hamanitie no charitie no compassion no pittie comforte nor consolation amongest men more then if they had bene most wylde fierce cruell and brute beasts Euen so it shall happen vnto vs if as we ought we be folowers of Iesus Christ in all our persecutions and crosses But contrariwyse if théeues robbâ—rs runnagates Sodomites committers of Symony homicides murderers committers of Sacryledge fornicators adulterers and such like when they be taken and put in pryson there is one or other founde presentlye that prayeth for them wyth workes of charitie vysiting them in pryson helpyng them in their busynesse and trauayle gyuing them comfort counsell strength towards their discharge or setting at libertie But if any of the children of God happeÌ„ to be had in their haÌ„ds they put theÌ„ preseÌ„tly in pryson where they can neither sée nor be séene of any man to help them there is no man that doeth or dareth helpe ayde couÌ„sell comfort or strengthen them there is none that may humainly helpe speake vse any kynd of friendship pittie gentlenesse or other good intreatie as commonly is vsed among the worldlinges one to another to them But contrariwyse they are shut vp alone one of them seperated from an other vsed and intreated with a kynde of crueltie as if they were Turks or among Turks And for what cause cryme or offence I pray you Surely none at all but onely bycause they be rightuous and iust and haue their whole faith hope and confidence onely in Iesu Christ and doe trust to be saued by his mercy and merites in the bloud which he shed for them But then if they be brought and doo appéere before the Iudges they finde them furious fierce and merueilous wylde euen lyke vnto rampant Lyons full of subteltie lyke Foxes with wyles to take them in trips by words and so to gather and get greater matter and cause agaynst them then before they were accused of And doe forbid all and commaund that none shall visit them neyther with words workes nor mercifull meane to help them any way although that God so straightly haue commaunded it If that any man which is not altogither spoyled of all humanitie doe speake friendly vnto them and so visit them with friendly communication they are presently had in suspition and punished therefore If there bee anye knowen to be so or otherwise moued with compassion doe pray for them they are takeÌ„ for complisses consorts and confederates of the same cryme which is nothing but to confesse the name of Iesus Christ and not to be ashamed of him being crucified in theÌ„ And euen as Christ was couered with all kynde of heauynesse and trouble vppon the crosse so were they made naked and vncouered of all humayne consolation and comforte and as hée hauyng great thirst and drynesse by the agonie of death had giuen hym by them to drinke vinager and Gall So all that those faithfull afflicted ones receiue of theyr persecutors tormentors troublers in the tyme of theyr agony and thirst is nothing but gall and bitternesse the more and rather to grieue them for that they bée as shéepe of Christes flocke among the Wolues of this world who can giue them none other thing bicause of the enmitie they haue vnto them theyr pastor or shéepeheard Yet all that they doe or can doe against vs though it be neuer so much it is so regestered and set downe in Gods diuine couÌ„seil that they cannot nor shall not varrie one iote nor yet passe on whit beyonde it Wherefore with all humylitie let vs runne vnto hym whoe will turne all their tiranie and crueltie so pagan lyke vsed against vs to our comfort health and profite notwithstandyng all our solitarie shuttyng vp neuer so seperately and secretely alone Let vs imitate and followe the children of Israell and doe as they did when they were captyues in Egypt who beyng vsed and intreated with as much crueltie tiraÌ„ny as might be without hauing on their behalf either king prince lord or other earthly maiestrate vngouerned of humayn help and banished froÌ„ all maner of fleshely fauor yet they had recourse vnto god onely with such sorowful sighs and tears did confesse bewail their sins wickednes offeÌ„ces did desire help ayd for his promise sake so faithfully that all of their meanes togither both of penitencie and prayer did ascend vp to the throne of the most highest and with those cries I say
iustifie sayeth hée doe I also glorifie So that the ende thereof is to be glorified as Iesus Christe was when God the father did put hym in hys kingdome and there made him Lorde ouer all hys enimyes by the afflictions and crosses which hée had suffered passed And as the way which our redéemer Tetragramatō tooke to be glorified by was crosses of persecutiō whereby he passed and tooke possession of his heauenly kingdome In lyke maner by those persecutions whych now we suffer is the most perfect way for vs to bée glorified by also As wée may be well assured by Iesus Christ our head who is alreadie gone before vs by the same way whose footesteps of force we must follow This way is so direct that whosoeuer passeth by it it is not possible so he do it with faith that he should misse but with all perfectnesse enter into his kingdom Bycause as those that passe any other way doe walke till they loose them selues so those that kéepe this way which is the true way cannot but bée glorified in suffering with Christ for that they did perseuer in his truth and true religion till the end And therefore all those which shall suffer dy for so iust a cause let thē reioice be glad assurīg thēselus of their glorification with Christ Iesus for euer For why Gods truth cānot alter nor chaūge nor yet any thing that is ioyned therw t cānot be seperated by mā The holy ghost saith by the apostle S. Paule that all those which God dyd knowe and acknowledge he did predestinate bycause they shoulde be conformable and lyke in shape vnto the image of his sonne And those which were predestinate he did call those which hée called he also iustified those which he iustified he did glorifie So that of necessitie those which he did predestinate he did also glorifie and the way and meanes to come to be glorified is to be called and iustified by passions and crosses to be conforme and lyke vnto his sonne Wherefore those two things be so vnyted and knit togither that the one is comprehended within the other for that in suffering with Christ and to be made lyke vnto him is comprehended the ioyntely beyng glorified with him And therefore all them that suffer afflictions and calamities in this world may assure them selues that in the ende they shall bée glorified in Christ for whome they were afflicted Beloued bretheren we haue béene alreadie called of God by the Gospel And although that before our callyng we were loste yet nowe we are washed sanctified and iustified by the bloud and name of our Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our god This is a plaine testimony that we haue all our secret election from one and that is Christ by whom we doe certifie our selues thereof Also the world by the persecutions and sorowes that we suffer in it and by the hatred that it vseth towardes vs doeth manifestly shew that by the diuyne mercie of God we are called and iustified For why the world can not abyde vs nor none but his owne Whilest we were of the worlde hée made vs many delycate deintie delightes and trimly intreated vs as if we had bene his owne But afterwardes whē God had giuē vs the true light of his Gospell and so seperated vs a sunder that it was euident and apparant vnto all that we were the true members of Christ our head and none of his Then he blustered and blowed against vs he rufled roared brayed and rayled at vs and did so extréemely abhorre vs that he did nor will not rest to vse all kynde of crueltie that he can to cast vs out quyte from hym And so our sauiour Christ doeth confyrme vnto vs by Sainct Iohn saying if the world doe abhorre and hate you then remember howe that fyrst it hated mée If you were of the world the world would loue you as hys owne But bycause you be not of the worlde and that I haue chosen you to my self the world doeth hate and abhorre you Remember the wordes which I haue sayde vnto you the seruaunt is not greater then his Lorde if they haue persecuted mée they will also persecute you Wherby it resteth manifest that those which be persecuted killed and abhorred of the world are alreadie taken called by God from the worlde to him selfe and washed and purified with the bloud of hys sonne Iesus Christ So that we are to acount our selues glorified if we be hated doe suffer in such maner And therefore sith we be so certified and shewed by such signes and tokens so euident that we be elected and chosen eternally in Christ Iesu and that wée be partakers of his rightuousnesse let vs also be assured of it that we shall atteine to the ende of our election in dispite of the world and all the ministers thereof and of all their false and curssed religion When that men without God and hys Christ will and doe burne vs or giue vs any other kynde of death let vs vnderstand that it is the checkmate and ende of all our troubles and calamities and that then is set open vnto vs the gates of the glory of God that we might enter in enioy with him for euer the inestimable ryches of his eternall kingdom When the enimies of God and his Gospell persecuted S. Steuen to the death euen whē he was in the most chiefest checks tauntes troubles amongest them he sawe the glorie of God did sée heauē open Iesus Christ sitting on the right hād of the father ready to receiue him to crown him as his martir faithful witnesse So that in the strongest torments and most cruell deathes heauen is opened vnto vs And therefore we ought not to be abashed to faynte nor to feare at any of their torments but to stand strongly and go forward with a good stomake and courage and neuer to looke behynde vs that wee might ouertake attain to and apprehend or comprehende the resurrection of Christ Iesus accordyng as wée be in him comprehēded Our enimies are vnwilling herewith but god willeth and hath ordeyned that there is nothyng that may or can be any let hinderance or impediment to kéepe backe that hys election and eternall counsell wherein he loued vs should not take effecte accordingly that wée might be made conformeable and like vnto his sonne as well in his death as also that we should be pertakers of his glorious resurrection All the euill that men doe against the faithfull is to none other end but to let and hynder if they could the predetermination of god Thinking to make them beléeue that there is no other way to bring the same to passe or that it passeth by none other meane or rule thē by those which they doe allowe and not by the truth which they cōdempne after their owne fantasies delights No no God nor no pointe of hys gouernement and will
God that did remember and know vs before the beginning of all things visible and did determyne all these his blessings for vs that we shall for euer be buried in obliuion and refuse so smal a thing as worldly affliction I pray you deare friends bretheren wherfore serueth our liues if we will be saued but to glorify him did we not promyse hym to aduenture all things to his glorie and honour wherfore then shall we reserue any thing to the detriment thereof Hée him self went before vs and dyd passe first thorough the pikes of persecution and affliction in the world hée is our head shall we theÌ„ stagger stop or stay in following him beyng hys members whose is the wealth and riches that we haue whose is our life or who did giue vs our honours did not he giue vs all bycause wée should glorifie him as his chosen faithful and beloued then for what cause should we let to glorifie him in all that euer we can or haue Haue we not sayde that with all and in all thinges Iesus Christ did glorifie his father and that we were chosen to be conforme and lyke vnto him And therfore sith we sée it is our duties let vs doe and indeuour our selues all that possiblie we may to accomplish the same at the least a parte that we mighte the sooner attayne to the whole in imitatyng that we might be glorified alyke with him For when wee serue him doubtfully and follow him waveryngly as if wée thought all to no purpose all that we doe in such sort is but in vayne of no validitie nor effect but rather falleth out cleane to the coÌ„trarie for that in doubtful dealing can no true seruice be done nor yet he be glorified So that all maner of doings or workes which are not to his glorie are lost of none effect nor valour but yet all that is done in true faith is of muche validitie and verie effectuall thervnto The which he will neuer forget bicause he doeth so loue vs that he is verie vnwillyng we should loose our labours in anye thing or spend our traueils in vaine He accepteth all that possibly may agrée with his iustice for the great desire and good will hée hath to bée our guarder sauiour kéeper and defender He asketh of his father for vs all things as well honour wealth and riches as healthe lyfe and saluation There is nothing that he taketh into his handes for vs but it taketh effecte in vs there is nothyng in the handes of our persecutors that hath any effect at all or securitie Why doe the foolishe phoppes infected with fylthie incredulitie and misbeliefe loose their lyues euerlastingly but onely bycause they trust not in God rather would saue their lyues to serue the world then lightly to loose them and to glorifie God and yet therein they loose for euer both lyfe and loue of him By the ryghtuousnesse of fayth sayeth Sainct Paule we are constituted and choseÌ„ heires of the world euen lyke vnto our father Abraham Then being heires thereof why doe we feare to put into the handes of God all that we haue Sith wée are sure to receiue it again bettered with so great aduantage He that shall ouercome sayeth the same Lord shall possesse all things I will be his God and he shall be my sonne Thus if we dye for his loue we doe ouercome in ouercommyng we enter into the possessioÌ„ of all things we haue God for our God and we be his true children if we be children we be also heires both in heauen and earth In what then should we doubt sithe to make so great and good an exchange we giue him nothyng yet we remayne with him and receyue all things We gyue nothyng vnto God bycause we haue nothyng that is our owne all that wée haue is his so that in giuing him all we giue him nothing And therefore let vs not be vnwillyng to yéelde all that we may vnto him sith he is so liberall magnificall in giuyng vnto vs all things yea euen till he had giuen hym selfe for vs but let vs loue hym accordyng to our callyng as Iesus Christ our onely sauiour redéemer health saluation and reconciliation and in any wyse let vs loue his honour and glorye more then anye worldlye thing Haue we not hearde of many of the Gentyles that dyd offer them selues vnto death and so desyre it that they kylled them selues wyth theyr owne proper handes onelye vppon desyre to bée delyuered from the paines and trauayles of the world their liues in it And vppoÌ„ some vain hope which they had and thought to finde by their immortalitie of the soule This they did vppon a certayne opynion which was foolishe had amongest a number of them yet they were not onely frée from worldly traueils by this immortalitie but also by their desperate dealinges to departe from their lyues in suche wyse they enâ—ered a new into ten tymes treble more torments yea a number infinite euerlastingly God doth not commauÌ„d of vs any suche maner of death but doeth most ernestly forbid it yet béeing animated by true faith as thus if we beléeue that our lyfe is his and that he is our lyfe so that when our tyme shall come and he shall call vs to render our lyues agayne to him of whom we hold them as tennants at his will that then we doe obey hym and yéeld them vp be it by fire sword halter presse Racke by wyld horsses Tigres Lyons wilde beastes or any kinde of crosse we doo but our duties and no more then we are bounde vnto And in so doing we shewe the fruits of our fayth hope in him proclaime crye out and preach vnto the world and shewe vnto the braue ministers thereof that we be none of theirs but his owne who hath bought and best payde for vs In this maner we shall also openly appeare to haue more estimation of his glorie and rather to fulfill his heauenly holy will then to séeke the maintenance of our liues in this world which perisheth togither with the people thereof He will not in any maner of wise that we run into any kynde of daunger rashly to procure our death Nor yet that we denie and so blasphéeme him to eschue or escape the same But rather that as tyed on a string wée should bée prompte and readie lyke faithfull seruaunts to follow hym so soone as he plucketh or calleth vs we may certainly assure our selues that hée hath counted and numbred our dayes and hath made such a determination for vs as we may in no wyse passe Hée hath put and inclosed our soules in our bodies as in a tabernacle to the end they should be wel kept and preserued vntyll hée hym selfe which put them there shall returne againe to call and receyue them So then in being called we ought not to refuse our filthie lodginges in thys worlde for that we are to receiue a
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
death for that he him self triumphed alwayes ouer that lo passed to hys kingdom where he reigneth in glorie with all those hys members which haue followed him sithens the beginning in crosses of passion and persecution And therfore though we be but a little flock let vs be firme cōstant till the end with patience for that Iesus Christ is our onely victorie and victor So that although our aduersaries be neuer so many in number of neuer so great a degrée in the world yet of necessitie they must perish passe after theyr forefathers which persecuted the Prophetes Apostles and the rest the faythfull seruants of god They doe not presently sée any thing of all this they doe neither sée our glorification nor their own perdition yet the scripture doeth discouer the same both to vs them Whereby we may bée as sure both of the one and the other as we be of their cruell persecutions which we suffer Thereby doe they pluck the iust iudgement of God with vengeance and ire vppon their owne heads So that they shal féele his heauie displeasure and in the end shal sée our blessednes now couered with mourning their owne perdition dampnation now couered with pagain and popishe pleasure For proofe whereof let vs pervse that which is written in the booke of wisedome as foloweth in the next Chapter An end vvith a true declaration vvhat the being shal be in the end as vvell of the faythfull as the reprobate The xxxv Chapter THen sayeth the wyse man shall the rightuous appeare with great constancie before those which did persecute thē and those wicked ones séeing the rightuous shall be tormented with great feare and horror and shal be astonied to sée them saued them selues without any hope thereof Sore sighing for sorow and their mynds full fraught with bitternesse saying beholde these are they which sometimes past wée mocked and scorned against whom we made songes and sonnets of great dishonor as we thought and we insenssed with errors accompted theyr lyues and doctrine for fond foolishnes and procured their spoiles with spyte most spitefull Yet we may see them héere accompted among the children of God and haue their parte with his Sainctes But we haue gone a stray farre from the way of truth the light of rightuousnes hath not lighted vs nor the sonne of vnderstanding hath not shyned vppon vs we were weried in the way of wickednes and walked in by pathes and did not know the way of the Lord what hath pryde profited vs or what wealth hath our worldly riches arrogancie wrought vs All these things haue passed away as a shadow as a correo that runneth post or as a shippe that sayleth on the Seas full before the wynde and no print or pathe are séene when shée is once passed So that wée as soone as we were born wexed weak and now we can shewe no signe of vertue the whiche is accordyng as a speiciall friend of this translator did write in his absence as an olde prouerbe vppon the first page of the coppie hereof As foloweth Who so beleueth as he is borne in hande Forovveth in the Sea sovveth in the sand It may bée iudged hée ment this text for that it is so with the wicked but to the purpose if doeth not greatly degresse from the meaning of the wyse man who sayeth further the wicked are consumed in their wickednesse and their hope is as the dust or chaffe which the winde scattereth abroade or as the remembrance that a well guested host hath of euery guest that commeth to his house which can not be possibly But the rightuous shall liue for euer their rewarde shall bée in the world the highest shall haue charge ouer them Wherefore they shall receiue a kingdom of honor and a beautifull diadeame at the handes of the lord For he will couer them with his right hand wil defēd them with his holy arme as with a shield Héere we may sée that those which now persecute vs for the truth shal be forced and dryuen to confesse them selues incenssed with errors loste allowing the cause for which so cruelly they persecute vs And therefore sith they shal allow our rightuousnes and truth in such maner cōdempne them selues and their doinges for wicked and vniuste And sithe it is so manifest a testimony that our cause is such now as they shall confesse to be true and iust then And that nowe we be such by Christ as they shall sée vs then And also for that we shall be equall parteners in cōmune with the Sainctes alreadie gone before vs Let vs dearely beloued perseuer alwayes in Iesus Christ and his truth without fayntyng or fearyng till we haue obteyned hys eternall kingdom bicause the Sainctes our bretherē are gone before vs and doe tarrie tyll the tyme that wee and the rest doe come and fill vp the number that God hath appoynted and that then wée might togyther enioy and reioyce of the riches and possession of the same with Iesus Christ who is there alreadie abydyng to crowne vs with celestiall glorie for our victory Very short are the pleasures and prosperities of our aduersaryes as they shall their gyue testymonie accordyng to the saying of the booke of Sapience but much more shorter are our troubles and aduersities as the holy Ghost gyueth testimonie by the Prophet Esay hée sayeth they are but momentarie And also he sayeth further to hys people I will leaue thée a little sayeth the Lorde thy God. But with great mercyfulnesse I wil receyue thée agayne a little as it were a moment or the tyme of twincklyng of an eye in indignation I wil hyde my face from thée Yet I haue pittied thée with mercie sempiternall sayeth the Lorde thy Redéemer for although the mountaynes shoulde remoue the valleys should tremble and fall downe yet shall not my louing kyndnesse be remoued nor the bond of my peace shal not fall from thée Here God doth confirme vnto vs that all our tribulations indure but a moment and that his mercy and peace with vs is sempeternall And although that all thyngs in the world doe perish yet his blessed promyses vnto vs shall neuer haue end Therefore let vs not change the mercie and peace of God which is eternall for the prosperities of the wicked world which are shorte and so sodainly passe away Let vs content our selues though they florishe neuer so al la flanta and gallantly that are of of the world Let them reigne lustily for that the more high they arise and clyme against God so much the greater will be their fall at length The holy Ghost sayeth by the mouth of the Prophet Dauid the wicked shall florish as the gréene grasse and so shall all the works of iniquitie but sodeinly after shall they perish togither for euer The prosperitie which they passe in is but a slumber in awakyng out of the same
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