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
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
the we cary the venome of waspes vnder our tongues bicause all the commeth out of the mouth is of such force that it killeth Our mouthes are full of curssing and bitternesse we haue our féete swift to runne to shed bloud our wayes manners of liuing are mortal deadly aswell for that they kill as also for that there is nothing in them but calamities and griefes misaduentures and mischiefes which are plaine testimonies of our perdiciō For in that miserable seruitude of sinn in the which we wer tyed deceiued we did not know the way of peace for that we did know nothing that might please god wherby we might be reduced or brought againe to his fréendship we were destitute of the feare and rightuousnesse of god We dyd runne lyke vnbrydled horses into all kinde of wickednesse if it had not béene for the vaine feare of men we had cōmitted openly and publickly all kinde of vice which was hidden in our hartes A man after that the soule is departed from the flesh ther resteth nothing but to bury the body for that it is wormes meate Euen so we beinge deade in sinne and sinfull delighte and God seperated from our soules there remayneth nothynge but to be buryed in Hell and to be made foode for eternall Deathe which we haue most iustly deserued in suche wise that if god would geue sentence definitiue against vs shut vs from the processe of his goodnesse and mercy we should be constrained by our owne proper consciences to confesse and yelde our selues to be well and rightuously cōdempned Bicause our workes our thoughtes our desires hartes and all that we haue within vs hath condempned vs and forced God vnto it who will not suffer so much vnrightuousenesse nor yet tollerate so great and monstrous slanderours of his truthe and bewty of his worke the which wer not our selues before our fal into that estate so miserable all that was in vs was matter and cause of iust condempnacion and to sturre vp the wrath and iudgemēt of God by the which all shal be destroyed and cōsumed bicause that all was darcknesse malediction sinne and the fruites of sinne deformed and extreme contrary to that which God doth require of vs in such maner that we had not nor cold not doo any thing that was good for that we were euil tréese corrupted rotten which colde not bring forth good fruite by reason whereof we haue bene wholly subiect to all the foresayde paynes and punishments cursse malediction that was due vnto vs there hath rested nothing but to be cut of from all the goodnesse of God and put in the company of the diuel and of his ministers all redy condempned Of our blyndnesse in times past The third Chapter THose workes which we hild for good wherein we busied our selues most earnestly in those tymes passed when as we dyd thinck to doo god good seruice thereby they were of such condicion and qualitie that by them we dyd so offend him that we brought our selues more déepely into the lake of perdicion Then we fasted we vsed disciplines of mens tradicions we caused masses to be sayde often tymes we dyd heare them we erected chappels chāteries we prayed with prime and howers we were full of deuocion for soules in purgatori we did chuse dead saints to be our aduocates to the deitie that we might escape from the wrathe condēpnacion therof by meanes of them We dyd make vnfaithfull promises and vnlawful vowes we tooke Bulles we walked stacions pilgrimages we sought for pope antichrists pardons we were awriculerly cōfessed dyd receue the Sacrament the oftener that we might be accompted the more holy merit saluacion the rather We had them that would lende or sell vs merits or deseruinges bicause that Death should not take vs vnprouided But what had we hereby to present to god for to satisfie him for our sinnes these and other the like thinges we did for to serue him with to obteine grace glory at his hāds But with thē all although they were séene allowed of men yet it dyd not open the kingdome of heauen but rather cause it to be shut vp the gates of hell to be set wide open Bicause that all that is most high sublimate supreme in estimaciō amōgst men is greatest abhominacion before god Who dooth neither allowe nor yet is well pleased with any thinge that he dooth not commaunde Neither dooth any man doo any thinge at all according to his will without his spirite norishment Those things which we doo to serue him cannot please him bicause he hath condēpned them by his worde alredy for sinne For that they procéede of our own opinions and the opinions of our fleshly teachers not of the knowledge and loue of his holy will. For all that commeth not therof is sinne as the holy Apostle dooth testifie The summe of all that the lawe diuine dooth aske and require of vs is to loue God with all our hart and our neighbours as our selues to doo right to loue mercy and to haue faith The works that we doo vnder that tytle name of holinesse are not comprehendid in the lawe they procéede not of rightuousnesse mercy and faith without the which it is impossible to please God and therefore he dooth throw them away as wicked and euill and we our selues for most wicked and euil with them And then if the worcks and sacrifises that he dooth commaūd in his lawe be not done according to his cōmaundement he dooth cast them out for euill and abhominable and sayth that he is angry with them so angry at them that he can suffer them no longer How much the more then may he be angry accompt for euill those worckes which he dooth not cōmaunde but by his word dooth rather expressely forbyd them So that all our fayned holinesse is testimony or witnesse againste vs of our greater blyndnesse and condempnacion and will cause the wrath of God to come the sooner to rest vpon vs. Bicause it was all idolatrie with the which we dyd our deuocion It was not to the true God for that we know him not but to those which were gods of our owne imaginacion fayned according to our own inuencion and false gods yet dyd we beare the marcke of the true God which was his holy Baptisme in signe of fayth and fidelitie not to haue none other gods but one the true liuing god nor to serue him by none other rule thē by that which his word teacheth yet we wer to him traytours rebells vnfaithfull Idolatours alyed and confederate with his enimies and giuen to all vnrightuousnesse and wickednesse So that we might say with the Prophet that if the onely mercy of God wer not we had béene for euer vtterly consumed and perished together Of the loue of God and of our calling and
which dooe not receiue Iesus Christ the remission of sinnes and the reconciliation that is gotten for vs by him with the handes of faith may not nor cannot receiue him by meanes of any other woorcke that they can dooe but are euermore in their sinnes and subiecte to eternall malediction We may not haue peace with GOD by any other way or meane then in that we are acceptable vnto him by fayth we are acceptable and admytted vntoo hys fauour and grace by fayth in Iesu Christe He is by and by alwayes pleased with vs we haue rightuousnesse before him as the Apostle teacheth saying we being iustified by fayth haue peace with God by our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a waye through faythe vnto this grace the which must be firme surely fixed in vs Whereby it is declared that Iesus Christ is the onely aucthour of our rightuousnesse that we be made partakers of his health by the fayth we haue in him By the which we be surely certified that we be all ready reconsiled to God that he is in peace with vs by this reason we are assured that we possesse lyfe euerlasting The diuine Scriptures doo teache vs the same all the Prophetes sayth sainct Peter beare testimony of Iesus Christe and that through his name all that beléeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Also S. Paule in the Actes of the Apostles speaking of Christ sayth by him is preached vnto you remission of sinnes and by him all that beleue are iustified in all thinges from the which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moyses wherefore all that beleue in Christ Iesus are iustified by fayth in him So that it must néedes be that remission of sinnes and all other benefites promised of God we receiue them of him by fayth in his Gospell Dauid taught by the holy ghost dyd sée that all that was in him and that he might doo was cause of condempnacion at the handes of God beinge seuerely examined by the rigour and iustice of his Lawe He had his recourse to the Almightie God and dyd take him for his Patrone in iudgement and dyd pray to him with great vehemency besechinge him that he should not iudge him according to his law enter not into iudgement saith he with thy seruant bicause that no flesh is to be founde righteous in thy sight So that he confessith that we are iustified onely by grace and mercy and by the pittie and loue that god behouldeth in his sonne Iesu Christe for and towardes vs For that by the loue that he hath to vs in him he hath called vs put from before him quite away all our sinnes offences wickednesse that euer we committed and hath forgiuen vs all our disobedience and graunted vs true obedience and satisfaction neither more nor lesse then as if we had gottē it our selues For to take vs out of all doubts and to the ende to deliuer vs from our olde wicked lyinge errours in the which vntill now we haue liued the Lord mightie Iehouah sayth by the Prophet Esay it is I it is I my selfe O my people that haue blotted out all thy misdéees and wickednesse for the loue of my selfe and for myne owne sake I haue done it will neuer remembre them againe So that it is he that deliuereth vs from our sinnes and iniquities without any merit or desert on our behalfe that is any thing auailable at all And of his owne frée will loue and liberalitie doothe vse the same towardes vs. Of an excelent comfort by the loue of god Cap. vii SO it restith that all that men can doo or may or can inuent to work by any kinde of meane by this scripture it is excluded condēpned for most horrible wicked abhominable For why ther is but one Iesus Christ who is the pardener of our sinnes by god the Father there is no cause why without Christ that we should be pardoned by god the father for them By Christ onely are we pardoned we are the vnrightuous he the onely aucthor of rightuousnesse In vs there is no cause why but that we should be most iustly cōdempned and in him onely is there great cause why we should by him be saued S. Peter saith there is none other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men wherby we should be saued but onely the name of Iesus Christ In an other place S. Peter saith again that neither we can not nor our forefathers could not beare the weightie yoke of the Lawe yet we are in béeléefe to be saued by our Faithe in Iesus Christ our Lord by his grace as well as they For as by fayth God dyd purify their hartes so likewyse dooth he purifie ours Christ sayd vnto his disciples that by the word which they had heard and beleued they wer made cleane and thereby had purified them of their sinnes and made them freindes with god So that we haue rightuousnesse and diuine holinesse by fayth that doothe remaine to vs in the promises of god and the hope that we haue in his mercy and trueth with that which he doothe promise vs to be our fréendly Father and pittifull for the loue of Iesu Christ From hence it is that the Prophet Dauid doothe acknowledge that there is but one rightuousnesse that is of any valour at all before god and that may apeare and come valiently before him in his diuine iudgement The Prophet sayth I will thincke and all wayes haue in remembraunce thy onely iustice and rightuousnesse By which reason he dooth recken houlde and account all humaine and carnall rightuousnesse and holinesse for most wicked and vnrightuous Bicause they are so filthie fowle and spotty that men may haue no help of them to satisfie in part nor in all before the diuine iudgement of god But of necessitie they are to retourne againe condempned eternally bicause they ioyne the cleane works of the Lawe with the vncleane and filthy fowle spottid woorkes of the fleshe Wherby we sée derely beloued brethren that there is no more but one Iesus Christ redemer of the world wherfore we can haue no more rightuousnesse but that which is his by the which we are to be saued Nor there is no other meane and waye to obteyne a pardon generall for our sinnes and reconciliacion with God then the fayth and hope whereby we doo beleue his diuine promises and do assure our selues of all that which by those promises are declared vnto vs Wherby we haue frée libertie giuen vs to call and saye O our Father c. The holy ghost doothe teach vs in his Church the doctrine of this true catholicke And therefore as taught and guided thereby let vs imbrace folow him by whose word we haue receued this reuelaciō clearnesse For this cause dyd Iesus christ giue thāks to god the father in the name of all his faithfull and therewith together dyd
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
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
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
nor withoulde our selues from them that doo execute vnto vs our afflictions griefes and calamities Let vs not doo so much as lowre or looke with an euill countenaunce therefore bicause they are but instruments very necessary that God dooth vse as scourges ministers of his will. For that we may behould that he doothe chasten vs but as his children with them for his vncurelesse care thought is otherwise towardes vs then our persecutours doo thincke for bicause all that God dooth vnto vs is for our euerlasting delighte That which they doo vnto vs is nothing but euill God dooth chastise vs bicause he loueth vs they doo afflict persecute vs bicause they horribly hate and abhorre vs and to the ende that they would vtterly and wholly destroy vs. Great were the losses troubles calamities and causes of calamitie to the sighte of men in this worlde that happened to that holy man Iob and diuers were the afflictions and persecucions that he dyd suffer the ministers whereof were the diuell his seruantes But that faythfull fellow of ours did take it neither of him nor them but at the handes of God bicause that he knew that all did procéede from him If we receiue sayth he the good thinges from the handes of the Lorde why should we not receiue the bad also yea how aduersse so euer they be the Lorde giueth and also taketh away blessed be the name of the Lorde and so he dyd conclude with giuing of thankes aswel for the worst as for the best So likewise let vs doe no lesse for our afflictions and troubles then for our ioyes and prosperitie bicause all are the benefits of god and giuen to one selfesame ende for them that be called and elected to his knowledge and grace Iesus Christ our redéemer and sauiour dyd acknowledge his father to be the onely authour of all the troubles crosses passions that he did suffer he did take them as from the hands of him not from the handes of his enimies He sayd to S. Peter whē as he went about to resist against and to let his aduersaries and to make other lets that he should not suffer as it were rebuking him beinge angry offended what Peter I say wouldest thou let it shall not I drinke of the cuppe that my father hath giuē me Surely with a harty and singuler good will dyd he drinke it for that it came from the hāds of his Father So that we may see he looked for nor desired nothing at all but euen as his father would that he ordeigned that he himselfe should beare and suffer He was not angry he dyd not persecute againe he did not speake euill nor vsed any kinde of iniury for any part of reuenge to them that crucifyed and intreated him so cruelly and vngodly But he was rather sory for them and loued them although they were wicked and with a great affection dyd pray to god the father for them in taking the cuppe or challis from the handes of his Father he neither did nor saide any thinge contrary to his will nor yet contrary to the healthe and saluacion of them for whome he dyed sée and behoulde my dearely beloued bretheren fellowe membres what an example this is that he hath here shewed vnto vs so diuine if we vnderstande well what paines and passions he our head dyd suffer we that are his membres of force shall vnderstād what we ought to doo His very footesteppes must we followe trauaile passe by if we wil be in conformitie with him We be now afflicted as euil doers we are cōdempned for common barratours and curssed abhorred so horribly as may be Shal we cursse abhorre do the like to thē no no not for thought god for bidde we should As they desire all the mischiefe that may be to vs shall we doo the like vnto them no in no maner wise But rather sith that we be the sonnes of god let vs kepe his cōmaundemēts which are cleane to the contrarye Loue sayth the Lord your enimies blesse them that cursse you doo good to them which abhorre you and doo you harme praye for thē which persecute you for that you be sonnes and children to your Father which is in heauen that maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and euill and dooth send his reigne vpon the iust vniust Let vs consider how louingly our Lorde sauiour Christ Iesus dyd answere to so and such curssed works and to such obstinate and euill myndes and how truely he dyd loue his euill doers Although they were giltie had greatly offended he dyd excuse them before his father sayīg they know not what they doo O Father forgiue them for thy name sake Oh immensable charitie of God Oh celestiall heauenly example worthy to be followed If we doo consider attentiuely our vocacion and calling with the which God hath called vs to his knowledge we shall fynde it in this like maner that he dooth teach vs. Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience c. Cap. xii GOd dyd call and vnite vs to his flocke dyd put vs in his fowlde which is his Churche catholicke for that we should be his shéepe might haue his sonne Iesus Christe to be our shéepeheard We were wolues before we were called but nowe are we shéepe and the shéepe cannot nor dooth not knowe how to dooe any kinde of euil but yet is subiect to take receiue any euill that is offered She hath no tongue to cursse nor speake spitefully no téethe to byte no nailes to scratch no anger to be irefull no hatred to abhorre and finally she hath nothinge wherewith to doo euill but hath many thinges wherewith to doo good Euen so it ought to be with vs bicause we beare the name of christians the which doothe import in all points asmuch as I haue spoken of Men doo persecute vs like fearce Lyons they doo afflict vs with fury lyke raueninge Wolues they dooe teare vs in péeces lyke Tygers they search vs by suttelties and wyles lyke fine fickle Foxes They doo leaue neither arte nor crueltie vnvsed nor vnpractised against vs Is it méete or were it well that we should pay them with theyr owne mony or with the lyke againe No God forbid for why we were not called to be lyke vnto them but for that we should be lyke vnto himselfe He dyd call vs to be his children so that we must be like vnto his sonne Iesus Christ he is our head God hathe bidden and commaunded vs to be guyded by him And bicause we should learne of and followe him Christe saythe Sainct Peter dyd suffer for vs geuing vs example to followe his footesteppes In what should we follow them mary in suffering the euil which our enimies offer vs and in answeringe them againe the best we can therefore what with enuie
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
slepe we might liue togither with hym Also the same Apostle sayeth to vs The persecutions and troubles which you suffer are tokens of the rightuous iudgement of God that yée may bée counted worthie of his kingdome for the which you also suffer It is verily a rightuous thing with God to recompence them with tribulations againe that trouble the faithfull and rest vnto them so troubled with hys chosen at the last day when the Lord shall come in the maiestie of his glorie to iudge the worlde Whereby it appeareth that the persecutiōs which we suffer are to vs a sure and moste firme zeale of the saluation health that we haue by Christ that wée bée frée from fynal and euerlasting dampnation and also they are sure testimonyes of the swéete rest which is for vs to haue after thys lyfe in our Lorde Iesus And therefore we ought to suffer them with a ioyfull mynde bycause it is a priuiledge not incident to all but to vs only which beleue For which cause the Apostle sayth to them of Philippia it is not onely giuen to you to beleue in Iesus Christ but also that you suffer with him Bycause as faith is not giuen sayeth S. Paule to all no more it is not giuen that all should suffer for him Wherfore it is most manifest the to suffer for Christes sake is a great and principall pryuiledge giuen to vs by God by meanes wherof all they which suffer are assured of their frée libertie in Christ Iesus And for this cause it is graunted vnto them that are faithfull to suffer in him and to be so euil intreated and desolued of and from eternall dampnation before hys dyuine iuste iudgement As euery father doeth gyue to his children that which hée knoweth to bée most best profitable for them So God doeth gyue vnto vs that bée his paines calamities afflictions and persecutions bicause he by his diuine wisdom doth know that they be most best and commodious for vs Aduersitie and persecution is muche better then prosperitie bicause affliction for the worde of God is onely perticuler and priuate to the rightuous but prosperitie in worldly delightes are publique and common to all people wicked and sinfull What things may or can be more profitable healthfull to vs then those by the which we are certified assured of the great good will and loue which god hath towards vs and the we are frée of and from the condempnation due vnto the world what thing is there better that we can desire here whilest we liue in this vale of miserie then to passe our tyme in the company of Iesus Christ clothed with his liuery coate cognisaunce which is fayth and loue to suffer in for with him What greater prosperitie can be imagyned or thoughte of thē to be saued with eternal saluatiō and to haue a déed as the cōmō lawyer of englād saith of cōfirmatiō to assure vs that we shal enter into a ful possession of his holy heauēly kingdō purchased and fully bought of him for vs by the most precious bloud of his son our sauiour Iesus Christ God our blessed father in sēding vs calamities afflictions tribulatiōs in suffring vs to be persecuted for his name and gospel sake doth it to none other end but vppō purpose to cōfirme vnto vs all his promises to assure vs that it is necessarie for vs to suffer as his sonne did And therfore S. Peter doth admonish vs to reioyce in as muche as we are partakers of Christes passions that whē his glory appeareth we may be mery and glad if we be railed on in the name of Christ we are happy bicause the spirit of glorie the spirit of God resteth vppon vs S. Ieames considering the great riches that God doeth communicate vnto his people in their afflictions and griefes sayth my bretheren accompt it great ioye when yée fall into dyuers temptations bicause that you know the triall of your faith bringeth patiēce Let vs reioyce saith S. Paule in the hope of the glorie of God for that he hath made vs partakers of the grace reconsiliation of Christ that we beleue in him And not only this but also that we reioice in tribulatiō bycause we know the tribulatiō bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experiēce experience bringeth hope The which hope shall neuer be confounded Of pacience and an exhortation therevnto c. Cap. xviii NOw dearely beloued bretheren swéet fellow mēbers let vs sée and behold how God loueth vs in giuing vs such a benifite accompanyed with so many riches Surely there is nothing that we haue so greate a necessitie of in this lyfe as of pacience that we might fructifie and increase in the fruites of the Gospell to the obedience wherof we are called There be many that doe heare the worde of God yet for all that there is none that doeth fructifie thereby but those which are armed with pacience and doe suffer the hand and chastisement of the lord Wherefore the Apostle sayeth truely you had néede of pacience bycause that after you haue done the will of God you may obteyne the riches of his promise Wherby appeareth that without pacience we cannot obteyne them and also if wée haue not pacyence we can not doe as we ought But bycause we shuld haue pacience God doeth suffer vs to be troubled for that by tribulation is wonted to spryng and growe pacience in those that bée his children who knowing the good will and loue of him wherewith they are beloued do perswade themselues that from his hand can come nothing how aduerse so euer it be to the worlde but of force it must be to a profitable end vnto them and serue greatly to the glorie of God and also as they doo sée them selues beloued they doo loue him and doe accept all things in good and ioyfull parte that he doeth mynister vnto them be it afflictiō trouble calamitie sorow persecution or other passion whatsoeuer For by his Gospell is reuealed vnto them and vs all his good will if we doe receiue it and the full certeintie thereof to some more to some lesse euen as it pleaseth him and séeth conuenient Of this pacience is begotten experience the which is the touchstone frō whence wherby our faith is examined prooued and tryed whither it be weight measure yea or no. Dearely beloued sayth S. Peter be yée not troubled nor do ye not merueile whē you doo sée your selues tryed by fyre as if there had happened any straūge thing to you which were not commen to the faythfull For by the patience which God doeth giue vs is prooued experienced tryed whither our faith that we haue of him bée true or fayned Bicause we be the children of light he will not that we walke in ignorance and darknes but that we haue experiēce to know wherfore we shuld loue him and he loue vs For so
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
and little the more to increase our tormeÌ„ts for theyr reuenge onely bycause we confesse the trueth of Christe our maister whome they can not abyde Howe can it be sayth our blynd fleshsences but that suche crueltie must néedes ouercome our patience What other thyng may this bée called but a blasphemie wherewith we denie the myghtie potenciall power of God that which he is to vse to all the trust in him a mean to seperate vs from his crosse to which he dooth call vs so amorously and louingly bicause we might be gloryfied with Christ And therefore let vs not heare nor yet giue credit to any suche leasinges and errours Worldly men doo easily suffer those thinges wherin they féele some grief for their gain By these firy tormeÌ„ts wherof we haue such horrour there can be no kynde of harme nor griefe that is euill but rather a great and mightie blessednesse much more to our gayne wherefore wée ought not to beleue nor thincke that our pacience which God giueth wil be ouercome thereby From syx trybulacions the Lord will deliuer thée and in the seueÌ„th no maner of euill shall touch thée sayth the holy ghost by iust Iob the seauenth is the very last instant howre or tyme of death So that when it séemeth to sight that al our euills are heaped vppon vs and that our enimies doo vse theyr greatest tiranny and make account to haue gotten the victory and that wée remayne ouercome swallowed vp with all maner of mischief Euen then the same holy Ghost doth assure vs that no maner of euil doth touch vs. What occasioÌ„ is ther theÌ„ for vs to flie froÌ„ that which hurteth nor toucheth vs not or to make accompt that humain persecution will or can ouercome our pacience or thâ—â— our patience is not able to abide 〈◊〉 All things are possible to them that beléeue saith the Lord So that vnto such it is also certainly possible to haue patience to abide the extremitie and furie of the fyre and to suffer the same with great constancie It was patiently passed ouer by the Prophets in the olde time Euen so it is now to them that be holy faithfull and beléeue Bycause that which the Apostle sayth concerning the same must néedes bée true therein God is faithfull sayeth hée and will suffer no man to bée tempted more then he will make him able to beare but rather with our temptatioÌ„s he sendeth good successe bicause we may suffer Wherby it is most manifest plain that christian patience doeth not onely ouercome death executed by extremitie of fyre but also all the moste cruell kynds of deaths and torments that any Triant and all the Tirants in the world can vse deuise Bycause that with all the tyrannie they can execute God will not alter his purpose from accordyng to his worde nor leaue to admynister some one secret vertue or other to them that be his whereby they shall ouercome death tirannie hell sinne the diuill and all other kynde of mischiefes So full of compassion pittie is our high priest Iesus Christ that as hée ouerpassed temptations which happened to him selfe so will he also by hys power and might ayde strengthen all those which are tempted As the Apostle sayth if Iesus Christ in whom wée beléeue and for whom wée suffer doe knowe by experience our griefes and troubles and is not onely moste myghtie louyng and good to vs in our helpe but also doth suffer with vs as the heade with the members shall he be so weak in vs that he can not abyde the fyre or being strong as hée is will not he help vs in the middest therof béeyng principall in persecution and suffering the same with vs. Is it possible that God will forsake and leaue vs or that we should fear or doubt the same when that for professyng of hys name wée are by our enymies throwen into the myddest of the fyre or that wée should thinke God to bée forgetfull of hys louing chyldren and that hée loueth vs in wordes and not in déedes and truth Surely in so dooyng wée should much iniure hym and gyue hym greate cause to bée gréeuouslie offended with vs for it For vs to thynke that hys almightinesse will forsake vs in any necessitye it were an abhomynable actyon of vs if he haue not as in déed hée hath not forsaken but remembred vs in the greatest matters of a suertie hée will not forsake but remeÌ„ber helpe and deliuer vs in and from such trifles it were abhominable to think the contrarie much more worsser to beleeue it Well my dearely beloued bretheren and sweet fellow members I trust there is none of vs that doeth eyther beléeue or thynke any such thing but rather my hope is that we thinke and surely beléeue to féele his goodnesse according to the saying of the holy Ghost by Esay the Prophet who sayeth the Lorde God thy creator sayeth feare thou not for I haue redéemed thée and called thée by thy name thou arte myne and when thou passest by the water I will bée with thée the ryuers shall not ouerwhelme thée when thou passest by the fyre thou shalt not be burned nor the flames thereof shall not bende them selues against thée for I am the Lord thy holy God of Israell which kéepeth thée God hath alwayes in remembrance the benifite which he vsed in calling and makyng vs partakers of his redemption and in adopting vs hys children neuer to leaue vs. So that when it shall séeme to the iudgement of the world that hée hath left vs that is when he suffereth vs to passe into the middest of the fyre or any other torment euen then is he most nighest vnto vs and so nyghe in déede that he is closely ioyned with vs and temperating the furie of the fyre bicause it should doe vs no harm and for that it might appeare that he is both God and father to all his and will kéepe and defende vs from all euill in all tymes of torment and tribulation If the gates of hell may not preuayle agaynst vs how can the fire which is visible and corporall preuail against vs if eternal and euerlasting death haue no parte in vs how can any thing that is temporal and momeÌ„tarie harme vs will God deliuer vs from the greatest euilles and suffer vs to perish in the little ones no for a certeintie his euerlasting promise is to the contrarie A meruailous comfort to those that are afflicted eyther by fyre or othervvise The xxxij Chapter THe fyre and all things terestriall are creatures of God and serue for the health and wealth of his chosen and also for the distruction of his enimyes As it is written in the booke of wisdom Bycause the iust should bée sustayned and vpholden the fyre doeth loose his force furie for that it béeing a creature in seruing him that is his creator and maker doeth vse hys furies and inflame hym selfe to
26.27.28 Mat. 21. 37.38.39 Mar. 12. 6.7.8 Psal. 118. 13. 1. Pet. 2. 4.5 Esay 54. 1.2.3 c. Math. 10. 16. Math. 27. 48. Exo. 2.3.4 Chap. Exo. 14. 3.4 5. c. Psal. 82. 3.4 c. 1. Pet. 3. 14.15 Exo. 14. 27.28 Exo. 15. 2.3.4 c. Hebr. 10. 22.35 Psa 7. 14.16.17 Psal. 9. 15. Rom. 8. 50. Math. 19. 6. Rom. 8. 29.30 1. Cor. 6. 11. Ioh. 15. 19.20.21 Our election and galling Heâ— 7. 5â— Luke 9. 62. Phil. 3. 11.12 Rom. 6. 5. Esay 5â— 9.10 Rom. 9. 20.22.23 Psal. 45. 6.7.8 c. Gen. 37. 18.28 Gen. 45. 8. Gen. 41. 40.41.42 c. Psal. 79. 7. Ioh. 11. 47.50.57 Ioh. 15. 28. Ioh. 19. 1.2.3 c. Esay 53. 1.2.3.4.5 c. Esay 53. 11. Psal. 21. 5.6.7 Psal. 22. 7.8.9 Esay 61. 9.11 Hebr. 2. 8.12 Psal. 46. 7.8.9 c. Pâ—il 2. 9.10 c. Ioh. 12. 16.23.28 Ioh. 13. 31.32 Ioh. 12. 32. 1. Cor. 12. 12.26 Luke 19. 40. 1. Pet. 2. 21. Act. 1. 8. Ioh. 12. 24. Ioh. 21. 19. Colos 1. 24. Rom. 6. 2.6 Rom. 7. 4. Act. 9. 4. Act. 10. 3 9.11.28.34 â—5 41.42 Psal. 125. Ioh. 12. 28. Rom. 4. 24.25 Rom. 8. 29. Colos 1. 5.20 Ephe. 1. 4.5 Iere. 2. â— 34 Colos 1. â—4 16 Hebr. 2. 8.14 Rom. 4. 20.22 Apoc. 21. 7. Rom. 8. 15.17.18 Gala. 4. 6.7 1. Cor. 4. 7. Luk. 12. 32.35.36 c Luke 22. 14. Mat. 24. 22.34 Luke 14. 26.27 Ioh. 5. 24. Ioh. 11. 25.26 Apoc. 14. 13. Phil. 1. 20.21 2. Cor. 5. 1.2.3 c. Osee 13. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 54.55 c. 1. Ioh. 5. â— Agatha Vincent Ignatius Mat. 15. 13. Act. 5. 29.41 Ioh. 11. 25.26 Mat. 11. 28.31 1. Cor. 15. 38.52.53 Math. 13. 21. Dan. 12. 1.2.3 Ioh. 6. 35. Rom. 6. 8.11.23 Colos 3. 1.2.3 Gen. 4. 8. Hebr. 11. 4. Rom. 8. 6.7.8 c. Apoc. 6. â— 10. Dan. 3. 17 22.2â— Apoc. 12. 1.2.4.6 c. Luke 22. 53. Math. 26. 55. Ioh. 19. in all 1. Pet. 1. 4.7 Mat. 23. 31.35 Luke 13. 24.34.35 Esay 4. 9.10 Abac. 1. 12. Ephe. 6. 13.14.15 c. Ioh. 6. 2.3.20 Esay 25. 8. Apoc. 7. 12. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. Esay 25. 5.6.7 Apoc. 2â— 3.4.5 c. Hebr. 12. 22.23 Hebr. 3. Hebr. 12. 3. Iob. 5. 19.26 Mar. 9. 23. 1. Cor. 16. 13. Hebr. 4. 14.15.16 Hebr. 2. 17.18 Act. 9. 4.5 Esay 43. 1.2.3 c. Psal. 91. 5.6.7 Psal. 33. 12.17 Mat. 16. 18. Sap. 16. 16.22.23 Osee 2. 18.21.22 Exod. 3. 2. Dan. 6. 16.26 Dan. 3. 13.16.17 c. Rom. 15. 4. Iob. 5. 17.19 c. Osec 2. 18.21.22 Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 11. 12.28.29 Mat. 10. 19.26.28 Deut. 12. 2.8.11 c. Math. 15. 9.13 2. Cor. 4. 17.18 Rom. 8. 29.30 Rom. 3. 1. 1. Cor. 6.11 Ephe. 2. 14.16 Rom. 5. 1.8.9 Rom. 8. 17.30 Rom. â—â— 5. 2. Tim. 2. 3.9.10 Act. 14. 12. Hebr. 12 2. 1. Cor. 9. 24. c. Mar. 13. 13. Luk. 21. 19. Mat. 10. 16. Rom. 11. 25. Phil. 2. 1.2 Maâ— 10. 8.11 Mat. 7. 6. Col. 4. 6. Ephe. 4. 25.29.31 2. Tim. 2. 16.23.24 1. Pet. 2. 11. 1. Cor. 6. 20. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 2. Cor. 4â— 2. Mar. 4. 17.18.19 Pro. 28. 20. Gal. 6. 7. 1. Pet. 4. 15.16 Mat. 6. 9 1. Pet. 4. 3.4 Ioh. 3. 19.20.21 Psal. 94. 3.4.7 1. Cor. 3. c Mat. 25. 18.24.25 Luke 19. 20.21 Rom. 8. â—0 Mat. 16. 6.11.12 1. Pet. 2. 1 â—â— Rom. 2. 8.9 Colos 3. 5.8 Psal. 90. â— 2.3 c. â— king ◠〈◊〉 c. Eccle. 18. 23.24 c. Deu. 16. 1.12 Mat. 26. 13. Mat. 7. 15. 1. Pet. 5. 8.9 Mat. 24. 37. Luk. 17. 32. 1. Thes 5. 3. Psal. 9. 5.6 Psal. 111.6.6.7 Gen. 4. 13. 1. Paral. 10. 1 4.13 â— 3. King. 22. 34. 4. King. 15. 5.3.21 1.16 c. 24. 9.15 c. 25. 7.8 c. Sap. 6. 4.6.8 c. 1. Pet. 5. 3.4 Rom. 8. 11 Psal. 93. â— 3 Eze. 7. c Psal. 102. 19. Psal. 37 8â— 12.13 c. Mat. 23. 29. â—0 c. Mat. â—9 28. Psal. 3. 1.2.3 c. Iud. 8. 22.23.24 c. Gen. 4. 8. Gen. 9. 22.25 Gen. 12. 6. c. Gen. 13. 14. Gen. 19. 4.5 c. 22. 6. â— Gen. 22. in all Psal. 28. 5.7.8 Iudge 16. 12 21. c. Iob. 3.4 â— in all the Chap. 3. King. 17. 4. c 3. King. 1â— 2.3.4 1. Sam. 19.20.21.22 Osee 13. 4.5 Rom. 8. 31.38.39 Mat. 13 29.30.31 c Sap. 5. 1.2.3.4 c. Sapi. 5. 5 6.7 Psal. 1. 5. 〈◊〉 6. Sap. 5. 7.8 c. Esay 54. 7.10 Psal. 90. 6.7 Esay 29.2 Psal. 75. 9.10.12 Esay 54. 10. Maâ— 25. 24. 1. Pet. 5. 10. ⧠A TABLE OF all the Chapters in this Booke OF the will of God an entry into the comfort vvith a perswasion to knovv the will of God perfectly Cap 1. Fo. 9. What we vvere before our being reduced to god Cap. 2. fo 11. Of our blindenes in times past ca. 3. fo 15. Of the loue of God and of our calling the cause thereof cap. 4. fo 17. Of the cause of our callinge and redemption cap. 5. fo 20. Of our iustificatioÌ„ by the rightuousnesse of god c. cap. 6. fo 22 Of an excelent comfort by the loue of god cap. 7. fo 25 Of the cause of Christes comming and of the fruites of christians ca. 8. fo 30 Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ ca. 9. fo 34 Hovv that the estate of Iesus Christ is common to the faithful and dothe exhort vs to an excelent comfort ca. 10. fo 37 Of the prouidence of God for them which are called c. cap. 11. fo 42 Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience cap. 12. fo 47 An excelent comfort to the afflicted cap. 13. fo 50 Of gods exceding loue greatly to the comfort of his people cap. 14. fo 55 Of Purgatory and the causes thereof c. cap. 15. fo 58 A great comfort to the christian with a terrible threate to the vngodly vvicked cap. 16. fo 61 An inuectiue againste the wicked vvith a merueilous comfort to the godly christian c. cap 17. fo 65 Of pacience and an exhortation therevnto c. cap. 18. fo 70 Hovv that good experience bringeth forth hope and of a shadovve of certaine persecution cap. 19. fo 75 A pure proofe vnto vs that vve are beloued of God in our greatest griefes c. cap. 20. fo 78 A persvvasion to trust onely in God and to auoyde all vain trust had in any humain helpe c. cap. 21. fo 83 Hovv vve ought to be instructed in truth veritie to haue no confidence in mens tradicions cap. 22. fo 90 Vppon vvhat condicion God receiueth vs vvith an excelent comfort to the christian c. cap. 23. fo 96 An excelent kyndely and comfortable persvvasion of the faithful to reioyce in any calamitie c. cap. 24. fo 101 The maner of part of persecutioÌ„ in Spaine vvith a comfort against the like Cap. 25. fo 106 A true Simylitude of the true church c. cap. 26. fo 112. Of predestination and of glorification therby c. cap. 27. fo 119. Of the mightie power and exceeding loue of god cap. 28. fo 124 An excelent comforte againste the feare of death vvith a confutacion of his povver c. cap. 29. fo 129 Of the cause that Christ dyd feare death hovv constant diuers Martirs haue beene sithens in their martirdome ca. 30. fo 135 Of the goodnesse of God in our defence against our persecutours c. ca. 31. fo 140 A merueilous comfort to those that are afflicted either by fire or othervvise cap. 32. fo 147 An entery into the conclusion vvith many godly exhortacions cap. 33. fo 152 Very godly exhortacions for all men that are afflicted and also for those vvhich are in prosperitie cap. 34. fo 157 An ende vvith a true declaracion vvhat the being shall be in the ende as vvell of the faithfull as the reprobate cap. 35. fo 162 FINIS