in the persecutions of his Churche ought well too encourage vs knowing that our Fathers who were brickle men as wee are had alwayes the victorie ouer theyr enimies in as muche as they remayned stedfast in patience But I doo but touch this poynt briefly to the ende I may come to the seconde the which more agreeth to our purpose that it is to make our profite of those particular examples of the Martyrs which haue gone before vs. Nowe there are not onely two or three of theÌ„ 〈◊〉 a thicke and great cloude Heb. 12.1 as the Apostle saith in the Epistle to the Heb. Wherby he signifieth thâ—â— the number is so great that it ought as it were euen 〈…〉 â—p our eyes And that I be not too tedious I 〈…〉 onely the example of the Iewes which were persecuted for true Religion aswell vnder the tyranny of Antiochus the King as also a little after his death We cannot alleadge that it was a small number of people for there were then as it were a greate armie of Martyrs Wâ—â— cannot say that it was of Prophets whome God had separated from the common people for the women young infants were of this company We cannot say that they were let go for any prise for they were tormented as cruelly as was possible Wee heare also that which the Apostle sheweth vs therof Heb. 11.35 Some sayth hee were hanged vp like belles and â—â—ked making no account to be deliuered to the endâ— they might receiue a better resurrectiâ—â— Others were tryed by â—â—â—kings and scouâ—gingâ— yâ—â— by banâ—â—â— and prisonment others were 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 â—sunder other wandred vp and downe hither and thither in wildernesses by 〈…〉 and Caues Let vs now enter to make comparison of them with vs. If they suffred for the trueth of God which was yet so darke at that time what ought wee to doe in this great light that shineth nowe God hath spoken vnto vs as it were with full mouth the greate Gate of the kingdome of Heauen is opened Iesus Christ hath called vs vnto him beeing come downe vnto vs to the ende that wee shoulde haue him as it were presente before our eyes And what a shame shall it bee vnto vs too haue lesse zeale to suffer for the Gospell then they had which onely saluted and behelde the promises of GOD as it were a farre off Which had but a little Wicket open to come to the kingdome of heauen which had nothing but a certayne remembraunce and figure of Iesus Christe These tâ— cannot be expressed with mouth as they are wooâ—â—e wherefore I leaue them to euery one to meditate vpon Nowe this doctrine as it is generall so ought it to bee putte in practice of all Christians But euery one ought to applie it to his own vse as necessitie shal require I speake this to the end that they which see theÌ„ selues in no apparant daunger shoulde not think that it is superfluous vnto them They are not at this time in the handes of Tyrantes but what know they how God wyll deale with them heareafter Wherefore we ought to be so armed afore hande that if any persecution which we haue not thought vpon shal come vpon vs we be not takeÌ„ at vnwares vnprouided But I feare me that there are a great sorte of deafe eares to heare this worde So farre of is it that they which are nice liue at theyr ease prepare themselues to suffer death when neede shal be that they haue no care too serue God whiles they liue And yet neuertheles this ought to be our ordinary and continuall studie and specially in this time wherein wee liue In the meane time they whome God hath called to suffer for the testimony of his name ought too shewe in verye deede that they were prepared long before too stand thereto constantly And then they ought to call into their remembraunce all the exhortations that they haue hearde in times paste as yf a souldier shoulde take armes when the Trumpet doeth sounde But what there is no questioÌ„ of seeking starting holes to escape I speake in respect of the greatest part For persecution is a true touchstone whereby god discouereth and trieth who are his So farre of is it that hee shoulde many tymes finde who is faithfull vnto him vntill that they franckely offer them selues to death But this is as it were an incredible thing that people whiche boast of some little knowledge of the Gospell dare open theyr mouth to vse suche cauilations For one sort say what shal we gayne to confesse our faith to obstinate people and to such who haue determined to fight against God Is not this to cast pretious stones before swine Mat. 8.38 As though Iesus Christ had not expresly declared that he wil that men confesse him amongst the most peruerse and wickedest men If they be not therby edified yet at the least they remayne confounded of suche a sweete smelling fauour is that confession before God howe deadly soeuer it be too the reprobate Others also may be founde who saye what shall our death profite It rather falleth out to an offence As yf God had lefte too theyr choyse too die when they thinke good and when they shall see a fitte time But contrariwise we approoue our obedience leauing the profite into his hande that shall come of our death Wherefore in the first place it behooueth that a christian man in what Countrey soeuer hee be notwithstanding dangers and threatninges that he fully determine to walke in simplicitie as God hath commaunded Let him keepe hymselfe asmuche as he can from the rage of the woolues so that the same be not done through the crafte of the fleshe Aboue all let him resigne his life into Gods handes Hath hee doone this If it fall out that he fall into the handes of enimies let him think that God hath brought him into that place and will haue him to bee one of the witnesses of his sonne therfore that there is no way to draw back vnlesse it be in denying our faith to him to whom we haue promised al duetie both to liue to die and to whoÌ„ we are belong although we had promised nothing vnto him Hereby I do not bind all men of necessiitie to make a full entire confesslinn of all that they beleeue admit that they were therto required Sainte Paule in this point hath vsed a good moderation who was as readye as anye other freely too maynteine the cause of the Gospell as he ought And also it was not without cause that our Lord Iesus promised that in such a case he will giue vs a mouth and wisedome as if he shoulde say that the office of the holy Ghost is not onely to strengthen vs to be bold valiant but also to geue vnto vs wisedome and discretion to know how it becommeth vs to rule gouern our selues in so great and hard a matter The summe is that they which are in
reioice our selues in the wouÌ„ds of Iesus christ as it were in certain imprinted marks by which God acknowledgeth vs and auoweth vs for his And we know what S. Luke reherseth of S. Peter Iohn Act. 5.42 to wit that they reioyced that they were accounted worthy too suffer infamy reproche for the name of our Lord Iesus Loe two things quite coÌ„trary ignomy dignitie yea inasmuch as the world being mad and outragious iudgeth contrary to all reason and by this meanes turneth the glory of God into dishonour But for our part let vs not refuse coÌ„cerning the world to be defased and basely estemed that we may hereafter be honored before god his angels We see what pain ambitious men take to obteine the order of some king what triuÌ„phes they make therof The sonne of god preseÌ„teth his order vnto vs euery one despiseth it I pray you in doing this are we worthy to haue any thing coÌ„mon with him Our voluptuousnesse is here bitten and can perceiue nothing for these are the true armes of heauenly nobilitie Prisons banishmeÌ„ts cursed spekings import nothing but altogether shame reproch in the faÌ„tasie of men but what shal let vs to look vp vnto that which God hath iudged pronouÌ„ced therof vnles it be our own infidelitie Wherefore let the name of the soÌ„ne of god haue such credit amoÌ„g vs as it deserueth to the end that we may learn to take it for a singular honor that he setteth his marks vpoÌ„ vs otherwise our vnthankfulnesse is intollerable If God handle vs according too our desertes hath hee not iust cause too chastise vs dayly a thousande kinde of wayes yea which is more a hundred thousand deathes were not sufficient for some litle portion of our misdeedes But by his infinite goodnesse he putteth all our faultes vnder his feete and abolisheth them and whereas he might punish vs as we haue deserued he findeth a woÌ„derful meane to cause our afflictions to be turned too our honor a speciall priuiledge forasmuch as thorowe them we are associated and knit into the felowshyp of his sonne And must we not say that when we disdayne such a blessed condition that we haue il profited in the Christian doctrine 1. Pet. 4.15 And this is the reason why S. Peter after that he hath exhorted vs to walke holily in the feare of god that we suffer not as theeues Whoremaisters and Murderers hee addeth by by that if we suffer as Christians therein we glorifie god with that benefite which he hath bestowed vppon vs. It is not without cause that he hath spoken so For who are we I pray you that we shoulde bee witnesses of the trueth of GOD and procurers of the maintenance of his cause Loe we bee poore wormes of the earth creatures ful of vanities and lyes and yet God wil that his trueth be defeÌ„ded by vs which is truly so greate honour that it apperteineth not no not too the angels of Paradise Ought not this consideratioÌ„ alone sufficiently inflame vs to offer vp our selues vnto god seeing that it pleaseth him to imploy vs to so honorable a thing Notwithstanding many cannot withold them selues from reasoning against GOD or at the leaste from making theyr complayntes for that GOD dooth not better supporte theyr weakenesse It is a merueilous matter say they seeing that GOD hath chosen vs for his children how he can suffer that wee shoulde bee so troden vnderfoote and tormented of the wicked I answere although that it appeare not vnto vs wherefore he doth it yet that he ought by good right to haue this authoritie ouer vs to bring vs in to order according to his pleasure But when wee see that Iesus Christe is our patterne ought we not too esteeme it a great blessing to be made like vnto him without any further enquirie Notwithstanding god sheweth vs most euident causes why hee will haue vs to be persecuted When there shal be no other thing but this admonition which S. Peter maketh 1. Pet. 1.7 wee are disdainfull and sturdy enough if wee doo not reste our selues vpon it that is that forasmuch as gold and siluer which are but corruptible meâ—alles are puâ—ged and tried by the fire it is good reason that our faith which excelleth al the riches of the worlde Psalme 110. should be proued God coulde very well crowne vs at the firste dashe without making vs too endure any combates but as hee woulde that Iesus Christe shoulde raigne in the middest of his enimies vntil the end of the world so likewise he would that we being mingled amongst them wee shoulde suffer their wronges and oppressioÌ„s vntill that he shoulde deliuer vs from them I know very well that the fleshe will spurne when it muste be brought to this pointe but yet must the wil of god haue the maisterie If we feele any contradiction in vs we must not woonder at it For this is very naturall too flie the crosse Notwithstanding let vs not cease to go forward knowing that god accepteth our obedience so that we bring vnder and subdue all our senses and desires to the end to make them subiect vnto him for the Prophetes and the Apostles went not so readily to death but that they felte in them selues some desire of falling backe Iohn 21.18 Thou shalt be led thither saith our Sauiour Iesus Christe vnto Peter whyther thou wouldest not So when such feares of death shall pricke vs let vs labour to haue the vpper hand or rather let God ouercome for vs and not withstanding let vs holde our selues assured that this is an acceptable sacrifice vnto him that we resist fight against our affections to the ende we may be wholy at his commaundement And this is the principall warre wherein God wyl haue those that are his to employ them selues that is that they enforce themselues to bring downe all that which exalteth it self in their minds vnderstaÌ„dings too turne them away from the path that is shewed vnto them In the meane time the consolations are so ample that we may well say that wee are more then slouthfull when we faile and waxe faint hearted In olde time a great number of people for the desire of a silly Garland of leaues refused no trauaile no paine nor trouble yea they made no accounte to die Notwithstanding there was not any one of them whiche fought not at aduenture being vncertaine whether he shoulde winne or loose the prise God hath set foorth vnto vs an immortall crowne through which we are made partakers of his glorye Hee meaneth not that we shoulde fight at aduenture but he promiseth vnto vs all such a reward as wee ought specially too desire What occasioÌ„ then haue we to seeke any farther doe we think that it is said in vaine that if we die with Iesus Christ we shal also liue with him The triumph is altogeather like â— Tim. 2. we shun to fight as much as lieth
abide to be awakened by vs to the ende too make them feele theyr euill I put the case that they did not commit Idolatry with the Papistes yet can they not deny but that this is a miserable and cursed bondage that they cannot be suffered too call vppon the name of God and too confesse Iesus Christe The holy Ghoste when thee woulde peerce the heartes of the faithfull who were captiue in Babylon putteth this sentence into their mouth Psal 137.4 How shal wee sing the prayses of the Lorde in a straunge lande I confesse that the kingdome of God is at this day throughout all the worlde and that there is now no difference betweene Iudea and other Countreis But I say notwithstanding that the Countrey where the seruice of God is abolished and true religion cast of it well deserueth to be accounted for a strange and prophane Countrey It must needes bee then that they whiche haue no remorse not too dare to make protestation of their faith nor to celebrate or set foorth the name of God that they be altogeather blockishe Now let the children of God take heede by this admonition not to become blockish with them Cōcerning those which babble scorning and deriding vs in this asking whether no man can goe to heauen but by Geneua wold to GOD that they had the heart and care to assemble thēselues together in the name of Iesus Christ in what part soeuer they becom that they would erect some forme of a Church aswel in theyr owne houses as in their neighbours to do for their part that which wee doe here in our Churches But what in disdaining to vse the meanes that GOD hath geuen vnto them they will be counted religious and so be saued This were euen asmuch as if they shold aske whether they might not ariue at the Hauen going quite cōtrary and whether they might not by tempting God boast of his fauour But let them be as bolde and bragge as they list too breake the yoke yet let all the faithful take heede how they lyft vp thēselues with them who soeuer hath not the meane to be in a Christian Church wher god is purely worshipped at the least let them mourn day and night with Dauid Thine Altars O Lorde there is nothing that I desire but thine Altars my god and my king And let this fire remaine alwayes kindled in all good heartes too the ende that whatsoeuer may fal out that they think it not paineful to endure any thing that the length of time coole them not from seeking alwayes to purchase to be gathered into a flocke and to come to Christes fold Moreouer that euery one aduise well with him selfe howe hee may moste speedily gette him selfe too the standarde so soone as our Lorde shall geue him the meanes For this is the way too witnesse that a man dooth not faintlye make this requeste too dwell in the house of God Nowe too conclude it remaineth that wee marke well that which Dauid addeth that is That he shal finde the beautie of the Lorde and will consider his Temple For this is not all to exercise our selues with the faithfull in all the outward order of the Church vnlesse we haue our eyes bente to this ende to knowe GOD better and better Heere there are two things requisite one is that we be diligent to frequent sermons and publique praiers The seconde is that we knowe wherefore wee frequente them For manye come thither with a foolishe deuotion imagining that they haue well acquitted themselues whē they haue shewed themselues at Church Let vs therefore my brethren take good heede For it is to be feared leste the most parte finde themselues condemned either in the one or in the other Howe many be there that flee Sermons and think themselues best at ease if they neuer heare any speaking thereof But I leaue them there as those that fully shew them selues too bee contemners of God Onely I speake of the contempt or coldenes that is in many who neuer remember to come to the Sermon vnlesse that the Sunday put them in minde thereof and yet they imagine they haue doone well as though they woulde make vppe a number togither of many running too God The Bell maye well ringe dayly but it is enoughe if they shewe them selues at the ende of the weeke They are called foure times euery sunday but they come very notably if they be found there once For there are that can sufficiently dispence with themselues for cōming once in xv dayes To be short the greatest sort of the multitude verifie the olde Prouerb The nearer the Churche the further from God Yea and some be of the number of those whoe haue forsaken their coūtrey to come here to serue God there are who yet in this behalf behaue themselues negligently enough What is too be doone then forasmuche as God hath shewed himselfe vnto vs let vs beholde his beautie But wee must not cast behinde our backe the manner of beholding it and that is that wee bee rauished in the loue thereof and chaunged into his likenesse as S. Paule sayth 4. Cor. 3. 18. And that wee may the better doe this it is meet that we be more attentiue then we are or haue been accustomed too be too marke that which God setteth foorth vnto vs in his Temple For what is the cause that we reape so little fruite but that we doe not more diligently apply our study to that which is there saide and doone Thus we haue our eares beaten with continuall doctrine whereas our heartes are no whit touched Moreouer there are a great many which neuer heare vnderstand a whole sermon thorow but here and there a woorde or halfe a worde rather with out regarde Wherefore it is not without cause that Dauid speaketh of visiting the temple of the Lorde so diligently And in very deede the great treasures of the wisedome of God which are there fet out vntoo vs worthily deserue that a man shoulde settle himselfe carefully to marke them But as I haue already touched God woulde not that we shoulde so marke them that we shoulde returne emptie and without profite from them Let vs knowe therefore that the doctrine hath profited and shewed her fruite in vs when wee are dewly reformed to serue God and this is it that Dauid meaneth in the 84. Psalme which wee haue alledged before That they that dwel in the house of GOD shall prayse him To what end therefore doe we assemble our selues Wherefore is the Gospell preached vnto vs Wherefore haue we Baptisme and the Lords Supper vnlesse it be that God may be magnified in vs Nowe this praise consisteth not onely in the tip of the tongue or the lippes but it stretcheth out it selfe thorowe our whole life And therefore it is saide in another place I will wash my handes ô Lorde in innocencie and then I will enter into thy Aultar Psal 26.6 We see nowe what the true
our selues that we are taught but to th' end that euery one according to the measure of his faith imparte to his neighbors of that which hath bin shewed him in the schole of God We see therfore that it is very profitable yea necessary not only for vs but for our brethren that the memory of this doctrine be oftentimes renewed vnto vs especially seeing the text which we haue to expoūd leadeth vs thereto As in this place Dauid maketh a great protestation and as it were a solemne vowe that he wil neuer be a partaker in the sacrifices of the Idolaters especially to haue the Idolles in such hatred and detestation that he wil abstaine 〈◊〉 name them as though he shoulde defile his mouth in naming them This is not the particular facte of any meane man but the example of Dauid a most excellent King and Prophet which ought to be a generall rule to all the children of God Notwithstanding to the end that this may be knowen more cleerely that we also may be better touched therwith let vs mark the reason that he addeth the which is as it were the ground of the horror that hee hath to mingle him selfe amonge the idolaters The Lorde sayeth hee is mine inheritance And is not this common to all the faithfull At the least there is not anie one which dooth not reioyce herein And in deede it is very certayne that God being once giuen vnto vs in the person of his Sonne doeth dayly inuite vs to the ende that we should possesse him but there are verie fewe which are so affected in this behalf as the matter deserueth For we cannot possesse God but with this condition that wee also be altogither his It is therefore for good cause that Dauid groundeth him selfe vppon this theame seeing that God is his inheritance that hee will abstayne from all pollutions of idols the which do turne vs away and estraunge vs from him Esay 57. This is the cause why the Prophet Esaie when hee had vpbraided the Iewes that they had giuen themselues to false and straunge gods whiche they had made vnto them selues hee addeth Loe these these I say are thy portion signifying by these wordes that God denieth all couenaunt and felowship with idolaters and disheriteth and depriueth them of that so infinite a benefite which he would haue bestowed vppon them by giuing him self vnto them Some man will replie that he entreateth there of those which put their trust in idols and deceyue them selues through vnbeleefe I confesse it but contrariwise I aunswere that if they which wholie attribute the honour of God vnto idolles are fully cut off from him they also at the least straye in part from him who through feare and infirmitie faigne thēselues to cōsent vnto superstitions For it cānot be that any mā in what sorte soeuer it be can draw nere vnto idols either in hart in gesture in wil or in shewe but be must recoyle himselfe so much the farther from God Wherefore let vs hold this article for resolute that they which seeke truely and in puritie of heart to possesse God for their heritage will haue no fellowship with Idolles with whom they haue such a diuorce that hee will that all those that are his should proclaime make continual and deadly warre against them And Dauid expressely setteth forth in this place that he wil not be a partaker with their offringes and that their names shal not passe by his mouth He might haue said I will not abuse my selfe with the foolish deuotions of vnbeleeuers I will not put my confidence in such abuses I will not leaue the trueth of God to followe such lies He speaketh not so but rather that he will haue nothing to do with their ceremonies He protesteth then that he will abide continually in the puritie both of body and soule concerning the seruice of God In the first place we haue hereto see if this be not idolatrie to shewe by outward signes that a man agreeth to superstitions through which the seruice of God is corrupted and peruerted They who swimme as they say betweene two waters alledge that seeing God will be worshipped in spirite that one can not woorship idolles without hauing his trust in them But the aunswere is easie That God will not bee woorshipped in spirite in such sorte that hee forsaketh the other parte to witte the body as though that pertayned not vnto him For hee hath spoken enough thereof in other places of bowing the knees before him and of lifting vp the handes vnto heauen what then The principall seruice that hee demaundeth is in deede spirituall but the open declaration which the faithfull make that it is he onely whome they serue and honour followeth immediatly and muste straightwaye bee ioyned vnto it But the obiection which they make taking occasion of one woorde one onely place shall be sufficient to reprooue them It is written in the seconde Chapter of the Prophet Daniel that Sidrach Misach and Abednego refusing too Nabuchodonosor once too seeme to consent to the superstition whiche hee had erected they plainely declare that they will not woorship his gods If these subtil Sophisters had beene there they woulde haue laughed too skorne the simplicitie of these three seruauntes of GOD. For they woulde haue sayde Poore soules This is not too woorshippe them seeing you put no affiance in them theere is no idolatrie but where there is deuotion But these holy personages followed better counsell And in deede this aunswere proceeded not from their owne braine but it was the holye Ghoste that enforced their tongues against which if we will not resiste it is meete we take out of this place a true rule and definition that this is a true kinde of Idolatrie when any outward acte is done that is contrary to the true seruice of God although that it be done colourably and through hypocrisie These hypocrites cauill gaily This no Idolatrie seeing wee haue no trust in them yet shall these men continually remayne condemned by this sentence that the great iudge hath pronounced therof But such kinde of people striue about a woorde pretending onely in parte too lessen their faulte whiche they can not altogyther excuse They will easily graunt and confesse that this is yll done but they woulde haue men too esteeme it as a veniall sinne But if a man shoulde agree with them concerning the name and yeelde that which they demaunde yet they haue gained nothing thereby Let vs put the case that it were not called Idolatrie too faigne too worshippe Idolls yet this ceaseth not too bee a trayterous acte against GOD an acte repugnaunt to the confession of Faith a pollution and a sacriledge I pray you when the honour of God is violated that we falsifie the promise that we haue made vnto him that through cowardise and fayntnesse of stomake wee crookedly renounce our Christian profession that wee are so double and defile our selues in thinges which GOD hath
place if wee bee not well assured of the cause for whiche we fyght For when the question is of forsaking our lyfe wee must be well resolued and certayne wherefore it is And such constancie can not bee in vs vnlesse it bee grounded in the certaintie of faith It is true that certaine wyll foolishly and rashly venter too die too vpholde certaine foolishe opinions and dreames that they haue conceyued in theyr owne braine But such headinesse deserueth rather to be holden for frensie then for Christian zeale As also in verye deede there is no stayednesse not setled vnderstanding in such people which so cast them selues into peril with such headie rashnes Howsoeuer it be there is nothing but a good cause that maketh god to auow vs for his Martyrs for death is coÌ„mon to all And the childreÌ„ of God shal be coÌ„demned withlike ignomie and torments as Theeues are But God maketh a difference betwixt them in so much as he can not deny his owne trueth Nowe it is requisite that on our parte we haue a certaine and vndoubted testimonie of the doctrine for which we suffer Therfore as I haue sayd we cannot bee mooued nor earnestly touched by any exhortations which may bee made vnto vs to suffer persecution for the Gospel if there be not a true certaintie of faith imprinted in our heartes For it is not a naturall thing too hazarde our liues at aduenture And when we shall doe it it shal be nothing but rashnesse and not any Christian vertue Finally God will allowe nothing of all that we shall doe vnlesse we be fully perswaded that it is for him and for his quarrell that we are molested and that the worlde is enemie vnto vs. Nowe when I speake of such a certaintie I meane not onely that we must knowe to discerne betweene true religion and the abuses or follyes of men but also that we be well perswaded of euerlasting life and of the crowne which is promised vnto vs from aboue after that wee shall haue fought heere beneth in this world By the way let vs note that these two pointes are requisite and ought not to be separated the one from the other It is meete for vs therfore to begin at this poynt thorowly to knowe what our Christianitie is what manner of faith it is that we haue to holde and to followe and what rule it is that God hath giuen vnto vs and that we be so thorowly armed with such instiâ—â—◠〈…〉 able boldly to condemne all the falâ—â—â—â—â—â—es errorâ— and superstitioÌ„s that Satan hath brought in to corrupt the pure simplicitie of Gods doctrine Wherefore a man ought not at this day 〈…〉 if he see not many people which are disposed to suffer for the Gospell and that the most part of thâ—se which are named Christians know not what christianitie is For all are as it were ignorant and they make no reckoning too heare oâ— to reade but it 〈…〉 haue some little tast of the Christian faith And this is the cause that there are very feâ—â— setled and if they be assaulted they are found straightway to be scattered This ought to stirre 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 diligently after 〈…〉 of God to the 〈…〉 certaine therof But yet this is not al that 〈◊〉 thorowly instrâ—â—â—ed â—â—â—ght For we may see that those which 〈◊〉 to be as it were altogether setled in good doctrine who◠〈…〉 affection in them 〈…〉 if they had neuer knoweâ— any thing of GOD vnlesse it be by some flying fantasie And why is this vnlesse it be bicause they neuer comprehended the maiesty of the holy Scripture And in deed 〈…〉 coÌ„sider that it is goâ— that had spâ—keÌ„ 〈◊〉 it is very certaine that we should be 〈◊〉 attâ—â—â—â—â— to hearken also doe it with greater reuerence When we should thinke that in reading the holy Scripture wee are in the schoole of Angels we should haue another maner of care and desire to exercise our selues in that doctrin that is set foorth vnto vs. We see nowe what manner of meane it is whereby we shoulde prepare our selues to suffer for the Gospel to wit that we haue profited thus far in the schoole of God that we are resolute coÌ„cerning true religioÌ„ and coÌ„cerning the doctrin that we ought to hold that we can despite al the subtilties and crafts of Satan al mens inuentioÌ„s as things not onely friuolous but also accursed for as much as they corrupt the christiaÌ„ puritie that herein we differ as the true Maryrs of Iesus Christ froÌ„ those franticke ones which suffer for their foolish opinions For the secoÌ„d that being certaine of a good cause we be so inflamed as it becoÌ„meth vs to follow God throughly whither soeuer he calleth vs that his word haue such authority with vs as it deserueth that being withdrawen froÌ„ this world we be as it were rapt vp rauished to seek the heaueÌ„ly life But this is a thing more then strange that the light of god shining at this day as clearely as euer it did that there is so smal zeale as it is pitiful to behold If we be not confounded with shame it is so much the worse For to be brief if we should come before that great iudge where the euil that wee haue labored to couer shal be brought to light with such rebukes reproches we shal haue wherwith to be altogether swalowed vp For if we be bouÌ„d to beare witnes to GOD according to the measure of knowledge which he hath geueÌ„ vs froÌ„ wheÌ„ce I pray you is it that we are so feareful so cold to enter into coÌ„bat seeing that he hath in suche sort manifested him selfe in this time that it may be said that he hath opened and displaied the great treasure of his secretes Muste it not heedes be saide that we would not haue any thing too do with God For if we had any regard of his maiestie we durst neuer be so bold too turne the doctrine which proceedeth from his mouth into a philosophy or I know not into what idle speculation To be short there is no excuse that we should not be greatly aâ—â—â—med yea that we shold not haue an horrible condemnation hauing knoweÌ„ so much of the trueth of God and hauing so little courage to mainteine it Aboue al when we shal loke vnto the Martyres that haue bin in times past we shal find passâ—ng great cause to detest the villany that is in vs. For the greatest part were not so mightily exercised in the holy scripture to haue thorow knowledg to dispute of al things they knew that there was one God whoÌ„ they ought to worship to serue Also that they were redeeâ—â—â— by the blood of Iesus Christ to the end they might pâ—â— the confidence of their saluation in him and in his grace And fâ—â—ther that al that which had â—in foâ—â—◠〈…〉 was nothing but fâ—â—th 〈◊〉 wherby 〈…〉 condemne al Idolatrie and superstitions To 〈…〉 their diuinitie was there is one God
Let vs therefore take this buckler too repulse and put backe all feares wherewith wee are assayled and let vs not restraine the power of Gods spirite too so narrowe a scantling that we thinke not but that he will easily ouercom al mens cruelties And hereof amongst others we had an notable example in our time not too bee forgotten This is called also Dornick A certain young man who dwelt here with vs beeing taken in the Citie of Tournay was condemned to bee but beheaded if he recanted and too bee burned aliue yf he continued in his opinion When hee was asked what he woulde do he aunswered simply Hee that shall geue me grace too dye paciently for his name he wyll geue mee grace to endure the fier We ought too esteeme this sentence not as the sentence of a mortall man but as a sentence of the holy Ghost to the ende too assure our selues that GOD is as able to strengthen vs and too make vs too ouercome all tormentes as too mooue vs too take any other kinde of meeker death in good part Which is more we see often tymes what constancie he geueth to poore malefactours who suffer for their offences I speake not of the obstinate but of those which comfort themselues in the grace of Iesus Christ and by this meane receiue with peaceable heart the most grieuous punishement that can de doone vnto them As we may see a notable example thereof in the Theefe who was conuered at the death of our Lorde Iesus Christe GOD who so mightily assisteth poore offenders beeing worthily punished for their misdeedes wyll he faile his who fight for his cause that he wil not geue them an inuincible power The third point concerning the promises that GOD hath made to his Martyrs is of the fruite that they ought too hope for of their sufferinges and in the ende if neede be of death it selfe Nowe this fruite is after that hee hath glorified his name edified his Church through theyr cōstancie when they shal be gathered with the Lord Iesus Christ into his immortal glory But because that wee haue spoken more fully of it before it is enough nowe too bring it in our remembrance Wherfore let the faithfull learne too lifte vp theyr heades on high too this crown of immortality glory whervnto God doth call them to the end that he do them no hurte in making them to forsake theyr present life for such a rewarde and to be assured of this inestimable benefite let them alwayes haue before their eyes this conformitie which they haue with our Lorde Iesus too beholde life in the middest of death as he by the opprobrye and shame of the crosse came too that glorious resurrection in whiche consisteth al our felicitie ioye and triumphe ⧠The third Sermon shewing how the Faithfull ought too esteeme the beeyng in the Churche of GOD where they haue free libertie purely to woorship God gathered vpon the theame of the 27. Psalme I haue required one thing of the Lorde Ver. 4. and that I wil require it is that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my lyfe too the end I may he hold the beautie of the Lord and may visite his holy Temple I is woonderfull what a diuersitie a man shall finde in mens desires and yet notwithstāding there is one thing wherein all agree and iumpe togeather and that is to bee occupied here beneth in the worlde Euery man may well haue his marke and meane by hymselfe but this vanitie raigneth ouer all not to seeke their good and felicitie any where else but in this corruptible life The which sheweth that men are wonderful brutish For wee are created too an ende altogeather contrary and that is that hauing our conuersatiō in this worlde wee shoulde aspyre to that heauenly kingdome of GOD. And this is the cause why this present life is called a pilgrimage or away Wherefore whosoeuer will not depriue him selfe wittingly and willingly of the euerlasting inheritaunce of the kingdom of God hee must beginne at this point too cut of all foolyshe desires and light thoughtes whereby hee may bee occupied and witholden in this worlde so as his principall desire be to draw neare vnto God and that nothing at the least hinder vs from making haste thither I say at the least forasmuch as it were very requisite that all our earthly affections which do nothing but cause vs to drawe backe from God were fully rooted out of our heartes to the ende wee maye runne through swiftly in this voyage wee haue too perfourme But because we are so farre of from hauing a minde that is pure and voyde from all affections it remayneth in the seconde place that wee ouercome all the lettes that may hinder vs and followe our course howsoeuer it be so as in the middest of our infirmities we doe neuerthelesse preferre the heauenly life before all that is in this world It remaineth nowe that we see by what meanes wee may attayne theereto Nowe this is not in vs to deuise but we must take these which God hath ordeined of which the most principall are named heereby Dauid to wit the order and pollicie that God hath established in his Churche that we be taught by his woorde that wee woorship him all with one accorde and cal vpon him and haue the vse of the Sacramentes to ayde vs herevnto And thus must wee be exercised too the ende we way bee better better confirmed in the faith in the feare of God in holynesse in the contempt of this worlde and in the loue of the heauenly life And to this purpose and none other tendeth this that Dauid protesteth that he hath a desire aboue all to dwel in the temple of God For vnder this woorde of the Temple he comprehendeth the libertie of hauing freedome purely to worship God with the faithful to make confession of his faith to pray to be a partaker in the sacraments For God for this time had chosen a certaine place in which he woulde that men shoulde sacrifice vntoo him shoulde doe him homage protesting that they accounted him for theyr alone God were instructed in his lawe had the testimonies of his presēce And indeede he sufficiently expresseth what regard he had in desiring to dwell in the Temple when hee addeth that he was in the beautie of God Wherein he sheweth that the Temple of it selfe was nothing but that he rested him selfe in the vse whereto it was consecrated and appointed If we thinke that he was occupied with a materiall building of wood stone wee shoulde doo him great iniury and wrong For this were to charge him with superstition and not too attribute it to his vertue We ought therefore to bee resolued that hee setteth foorth howe honourably hee esteemed the outwarde order and regiment whereby the faithfull are gouerned in the Church To be short he signifieth that this is an inestimable benefite and a