is the mount Sion here I am already in heauen it selfe Here standeth first Christ Iesus in the fronte About him stande the olde fathers Prophetes and Euangelistes Apostles and al the seruauntes of God Of whō some do embrace cherish me some exhort me some open the Sacramentes vnto me some comfort me other some singing about me And how then shall I be thought to be alone among so many such as these be The beholding of whome to me is both solace and example For here I see some crucified some slayne some stoned some cut a sonder and quartared some rosted some broyled some put in hoat caulderns some hauing theyr eyes bored thorough some their tongues cut out some their skinne plucked ouer theyr heades some theyr handes and feete chopt off some put in kilnes and furnaces some cast downe headlong and geuen to the beastes and foules of the ayre to feed vpon It woulde aske a long time if I should recite all To be short diuers I see with diuers and sundrye tormentes excruciate yet notwithstanding all liuing and all safe One playster one salue cureth al their woundes which also geueth to them strength life so that I susteyne all these transitory anguishes smal afflictions with a quiet mind hauing a greater hope layd vp in heauen Neither do I feare mine aduersaries which here persecute me and oppresse me For he that dwelleth in heauē shal laugh them to scorne and the Lord shall deride them I feare not thousands of people which compasse me about The Lord my God shal deliuer me my hope my supporter my comforter who exalteth vp my head He shall smite al thē that stand vp against me without cause shal dash the teeth iawes of sinners a sunder for he only is all blessednes and maiestie The rebukes for Christes cause make vs iocant for so it is writtē If ye be rebuked scorned for the name of Christ happy be you for the glory and spirite of God resteth vpon you 1. Pet. 4. Be you therefore certified that our rebukes which are layd vpon vs redound to the shame and harm of the rebukers In this world there is no mansion firme to me and therfore I trauaile vp to the new Ierusalem which is in heauen which offereth it selfe vnto me without paying anye fine or Income Behold I haue entred already in my iourny wher my house standeth for me prepared and where I shall haue riches kinsfolks delites honours neuer fayling As for these earthly thinges here present they are transitory shadowes vanishing vapours and ruinous walles Briefly all is but very vanitie of vanities where as hope and the substance of eternitie to come are wanting Which the mercifull goodnes of the Lord hath geuen as companions to accompany me and to comfort me and now doe the same begin to worke and to bring forth fruites in me I haue trauayled hetherto laboured and swette early and late watching day and night and now my trauailes begin to come to effect Dayes and houres haue I bestowed vpon my studyes Behold the true countenaunce of God is sealed vpon me the Lord hath geuen myrth in my hart And therefore in the same will I lay me downe in peace and rest Psal 4. And who then shall dare to blame this our age consumed or say that our yeares be cut off What man can nowe cauill that these our labours are lost which haue followed founde out the Lord and maker of this worlde and whiche haue chaunged death with lyfe My portiō is the Lord sayth my soule therfore I will seek wayt for him Now then if to dye in the Lord be not to die but to lyue most ioyfully where is this wretched wordly rebell which blameth vs of folly for geuing away our liues to death O how delectable is this death to me to taste the Lords cup whiche is an assured pledge of true saluation for so hath the Lord himself forewarned vs saying The same that they haue done to mee they will also do vnto you Wherfore let the doltish worlde with hys blynd worldlings who in the bright sun shine yet goe stumblyng in darcknes being as blinde as betels cease thus vnwisely to carp against vs for our rash suffering as they count it To whome thus we aunswere agayne with the holy Apostle That neyther tribulation nor anguish nor hunger nor nakednes nor ieoperdy nor persecution nor sworde shal be able euer to seperate vs from the loue of Christ. We are slain al the day long we are made like sheep ordayned to the shābles Rom. 8. Thus do we resemble Christ our head which said That the Disciple cannot be aboue his master nor the seruant aboue his Lord. The same Lord hath also commanded that euery one shall take vp his crosse and followe him Luc. 9. Reioyse reioise my deare brethrē fellow seruants be of good cōfort when ye fal into sondry tentations Let your pacience be perfect on all parts For so is it foreshewed vs before is writtē That they which shall kill you shal think to do God good seruice Therfore afflictiōs death be as tokens sacraments of our election life to come Let vs then be glad sing to the Lord whē as we being cleare frō al iust accusation are persecuted geuen to death For better it is that we in doyng well do suffer if it so be the will of the Lord then doing euil 1. Pet. 3. We haue for our example Christ and the prophets whiche spake in the name of the Lord whom the children of iniquitie did quell and murder and now we blesse and magnifie them that then suffred Let vs be glad and ioyous in our innocencie and vprightnes The Lord shall reward them that persecute vs let vs referre all reuēgement to him I am accused of foolishnes for that I do not shrink frō the true doctrine knowledge of God do not rid me selfe out of these trobles whē with one word I may O the blindnes of man which seeth not the sunne shyning neither remēbreth the Lords words Consider therfore what he sayth You are the light of the world A city builded on the hil cannot be hid Neither do men light a candle put it vnder a bushell but vppon a candlesticke that it may shyne and geue light to them in the house And in an other place he sayth you shal be led before kinges rulers feare ye not them which kill the body but hym whiche killeth both body and soule Who soeuer shall confesse me before men him will I also cōfesse before my father whiche is in heauen And hee that denyeth me before men him will I also deny before my heauenly father Wherfore seing the words of the Lord be so playne how or by what authoritie will this wise counseller thē approue this hys counsayle which he doth geue God forbid that I shuld relinquish the commaundements of God and folowe the counsailes
the Sacramentes to a worldly authority we ought to reiect him as S. Paule willeth vs Gala. 1. To open therfore the true sense of the Scripture in the places aforesayd and first to begin with the 16. Chapiter of Mathew here is to be obserued that the question being put in generall of Christ to all his Apostles what they thought or iudged of him Peter aunswering for them all as he was alwayes ready to answere sayd Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God The place of Math. 16. expounded To whom Iesus aunswered agayne Blessed be thou Symon the Sonne of Iona for fleshe and bloud hath not reueled this vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen And I say to thee thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuayle against it That is to say vpon this rocke of thy confession of mee to be the Sonne of GOD Rom. 10. I will builde my Churche for this fayth conteineth the whole summarye of our fayth and saluatioÌ„ as it is written Rom. 10. The word of fayth that we do preach is at hande Faith the mother of saluatioÌ„ Peter the first confessor of Christ. in thy mouth and in thine hart For if thou confesse with thy mouth our Lord Iesus Christ with thy hart do beleue that God raised him froÌ„ death to life thou shalt be saued c. And this confession being first vttered by the mouth of Peter vpon the same confession of his not vpon the person of Peter Christ buildeth his Church as Chrisostome expoundeth that place in the 26. Sermon of y e feast of Pentecost saying Not vpoÌ„ the person of Peter The church builded vppon the confession of Peter not vppon the Person of Peter but vpoÌ„ the fayth Christ hath builded his church And what is the fayth This Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God What is to say vpon this rocke That is vpon this confessioÌ„ of Peter c. And with this saying of Chrisostome all auÌ„cient expositors sayth Tonstal treating that place do agree For if we should expouÌ„d that place that the church is builded vpoÌ„ the person of Peter we should put an other fouÌ„dation of the Church then Christ which is directly agaynst S Paule saying No man may put any other foundation 1. Cor. 3. but that which is put already which is Christ Iesus c. And because Peter was the first of all the Apostles What is the primacye of Peter and how it commeth that confessed this that Christ is the sonne of God by y e which fayth all men must be saued thereof commeth the primacy that is the first place or standing of Peter in the nuÌ„ber of all the Apostles And as Peter was the firste of them that confessed Christ to be the sonne of God so was he most ardent in his fayth most bolde and hardy in Christ as appeared by his comming out of the shippe in the great tempest and also most vehemeÌ„t in his maysters cause as appeared by drawing out his sword and after the Lords resurrection is declared in the 2.3.4 chapiter of the Actes where as the Iewes withstanding the Apostles preaching the fayth of Christ Peter as most ardent in fayth The honoâ—able names of Peter in the olde Doctors how wherfore they be geuen was euer most ready to defend the fayth against the impugners therof speaking for them all vnto the people c. and therfore hath these honorable names geuen him by the auncient interpreters y t some times he is called the mouth of the Apostles y e chiefe of the Apostles some time the Prince of the Apostles some time the President of the whole Church some time hath the name of primacy or priority attributed to him And yet the sayd Peter notwithstanding these honourable names geueÌ„ vnto him that he should not haue a rule or a iudicial power aboue all the other Apostles it is plain by S. Paule and many other Gala. 2. First S. Paule Gal. 2. playnly declareth the same saying That as the Apostleship of the Circumcision that is of the Iewes was geuen by Christ to Peter so was the Apostleship of the Gentiles geuen to me among the Gentiles The authority of the Apostles all a like Hereby it appeareth that Paule knew no primacy of Peter concerning people places but amoÌ„g the Iewes And therof S. Ambrose expounding that place sayth thus The primacy of the Iewes was geuen chiefely to Peter Ambrosius albeit Iames and Iohn were ioyned with him as the primacy of the GeÌ„tiles was geuen to Paule albeit Barnabas was ioyned with hym So that Peter had no rule ouer all Act. 10. Also in the Actes 10. when Peter was sent for to Cornelius a Gentile he durst not go to him without a speciall vision geuen him from heauen by the Lord. Item that all the Apostles had like dignity and authority Ephes. 2. it appeareth by S. Paule Ephes. 2. Where he sayth Now ye are not straungers nor foreners but ye be Citizens wyth the Sayntes and of the household of almighty God builded saith he vpon the foundation of the Apostles The Church founded not of Peter onely but of the Apostles and the Prophets Christ being the corner stone vpon whom euery edifice being builded groweth vp to an holy teÌ„ple in our Lord. c. Here he sayth that they be builded not vpon the foundation of Peter onely but vpon the foundation of the Apostles so that al they be in the foundation set vpon Christ the very rocke wherupoÌ„ standeth the whole Church In the 21. chap. also of the Apoca. the new City and the heauenly Hierusalem of almighty God is described of the holy ghost Apoc. 21. not with one fouÌ„dation onely of Peter but with 12. foundations after the number of the Apostles S. Cyprian Lib. De simplic prael geueth record likewise to the same Cypria lib. De simplic Prelato that the Apostles had equall power dignitye geuen to them by Christ. And because al should preach one thing therfore y e beginning therof first came by one which was Peter who confessed for them all That Christ was the Sonne of the liuing God Euery byshop hath his parte wholy to himselfe saying further that in the Church there is one office of all the Bishops whereof euery man hath a part allowed wholy vnto him Now if the Bishop of Rome may meddle ouer all where hee will then euery man hath not wholy his part for the bishop of Rome may also meddle in his part ioyntly with him so that now he hath it not wholy which is agaynst Cyprian S. Austen likewise expounding the Gospell of Iohn in the 50. treaty Aug. in Ioan. tractat 50. speaketh there of the keyes of Peter Whiche he sayth were geuen of Christ to Peter not for himselfe alonely but for the whole Church Cyrillus expounding the last
of late to set forth hys pestilent malice the more Cardinal Poole traytor to England hath allured to his purpose a subiect of this Realme Reginald Poole comeÌ„ of a noble blood and therby the more errant traytor to go about froÌ„ Prince to Prince and from country to countrey to styrre them to warre agaynst this Realme and to destroy the same being his natiue countrey whose pestilent purpose the Princes that he breaketh it vnto haue in much abhomination both for that the Bishop of Rome who being a Bishop should procure peace is a styrrer of warre and because this most errant and vnkind traytour is his minister to so deuilish a purpose to destroy the couÌ„try that he was borne in which any heathen man would abhorre to do And so continuing in his discourse agaynst Cardinall Poole and the Bishop of Rome for styrring the people to warre and mischiefe he further sayth sayth truely The popes name and memory abolished that for these many yeares past little warre hath bene in these partes of Christendome but the Bishop of Rome eyther hath bene a styrrer of it or a nourisher of it and seldome any coÌ„pounder of it vnlesse it were for his ambition or profite Wherfore since as S. Paule sayth 1. Cor. 14. that God is not the God of dissention but of peace who commaundeth by hys word peace alway to be kept we are sure that all those that go about to breake peace betwene Realmes and to bring them to warre are the childreÌ„ of the deuill what holy names soeuer they pretend to cloke their pestilent malice withall which cloking vnder hipocrisy is double deuilishnes and of Christ most detested because vnder his blessed name they do play the deuils part Ezech. 39. And in the latter end of his Sermon concluding wyth the 39. Chapiter of Ezechiell where the Prophet speaketh against Gog and Magog going about to destroy the people of God and prophecyeth agaynst them that the people of God shall vanquish and ouerthrow them on the mountaynes of Israell that none of them shall escape but theyr carcases shal there be deuoured of kytes and crowes and byrds of the ayre so likewise sayth he of these our enemies wishing that if they shall persist in theyr pestilent malice to make inuasion into this Realme then theyr great Captayne Gog the bishop of Rome he meaneth may come w t them to drinke with them of the same cup The Pope compared to Gog. which he maliciously goeth about to prepare for vs that y e people of God might after quietly liue in peace We haue heard hetherto the othes censures and iudgementes of certayne particulare Byshoppes of Yorke Testimonies out of the byshops booke against the Popes supremacye of Winchester of London of Duresme and also of Edmund Bonor Archdeacon then of Leycester agaynst the Popes vnlawfull vsurpatioÌ„ Now for the more fortification of the matter and satisfying of the Reader it shall not be much out of purpose besides the consent and approbatioÌ„ of these aforesayd to inferre also the publicke and generall agreement of the whole Clergy of EnglaÌ„d as in a totall summe together confirmed and ratified in theyr owne publicke booke made and set forth by them about the same tyme called then the Bishops booke In the which booke although many thinges were very slender vnperfect yet as touching this cause of the Bishop of Romes regalty we wyll heare God willing what theyr whole opinion prouinciall determinatioÌ„ did conclude according as by their own words in the same book is to be sene word for word as foloweth subscribed also with theyr owne names the Catologue of whom vnder theyr owne confession shall appere WE thinke it conuenient that all Bishops and Preachers shal instruct and teach the people coÌ„mitted vnto theyr spirituall charge y t where as certayne men doe imagine and affirme that Christ should geue vnto the Byshop of Rome power and authority not only to be head gouernor of all Priestes Bishops in Christes Church but also to haue and occupye the whole Monarchy of the world in his handes and that he may therby lawfully depose kinges and Princes from theyr realmes dominions and seignories and so transferre and geue the same to such persons as him liketh that is vtterly false and vntrue For Christ neuer gaue vnto S. Peter or vnto any of the Apostles or their successâ—rs any such authoritie And the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule do teach and commauÌ„d that all Christen people as well Priestes and Bishops as others should be obedieÌ„t and subiect vnto the Princes and Potentates of the world although they were infidels And as for the Bishop of Rome it was many huÌ„dreth yeares after Christ before he could acquire or get any primacy or gouernance aboue any other Bishops out of hys prouince in Italy sith the which time he hath euer vsurpeâ— more and more And though some part of his power was geuen vnto him by the consent of the Emperours Kinges and Princes and by the consent also of the Clergy in generall Counsels assembled yet surely he atteyned the most part therof by maruellous subtlety and craft and specially by colluding with great kings and princes sometime trayning them into his deuotion by pretence and colour of holynesse and sanctimony and sometime constraining them by force and tyranny Whereby the sayde Byshops of Rome aspired and roâ—e at length vnto such greatnes in strength and authority How the Bishop of Rome roâ—e by Ambition that they presumed and took vpon theÌ„ to be heads to put lawes by thyr own authority not onely vnto al other Bishops within ChristeÌ„dome but also vnto the Emperours Kings other the Princes and Lordes of the worlde and that vnder the pretence of the authority committed vnto them by the Gospell Wherin the sayd Bishops of Rome do not onely abuse and peruert the true sense and meaning of Christes word but they do also cleane contrarye to the vse and custome of the priprimitiue Church and so do manifestly violate as wel the holy Canons made in the Churche immediately after the time of the Apostles as also the degrees and constitutions made in that behalfe Fyrst the generall CouÌ„cell of Nice decreed that the Patriarkes of Alexandria Antiochia should haue like power ouer the countreis about those cities as the Byshops of Rome had ouer the countreis about Rome In the Councell of Mileuitane it was decreed that if a clerke of Aphrick would appeale out of Aphrick vnto any Byshop beyonde the sea he should be takeÌ„ as a person excommunicate In the generall Councel of Constantinople the firste it was likewise decreed that euery cause betwene any persons should be determined within the prouynces where the maâ—ters did 〈◊〉 And that no Bishop shoulde exercise any power out of his owne dioces or prouinc And this was also the minde of holy S. Cyprian of other holy men of â—phrica To conclude
people of God and theyr aduersaries into whose handes they were putte and deliuered and that of GOD and by hys good will and pleasure were Idolatrers and the people of the Deuill but they woulde be called the chiefe members of God and reioyced that they hadde the true God and that it was nowe declared by myracle that the Israelites hadde but a false God and a false religion seeing they were deliuered into the Babylonians handes And all the other the Herodes and Pharao I meane plainely determined that if the menne whiche they killed and handled euil hadde bene Goddes people God would neuer haue suffered them to come into their hands but rather haue done the contrarye and haue lette Iohn Baptist kill Herode and the Israelites Pharao and Nabuchodonosor Euen the like is nowe to be seene in vs and in our most cruell aduersaries They are not therfore the catholike Church because our merciful God hath at this present geueÌ„ our liues into their handes neyther are wee therefore heretickes because wee suffer punishment at theyr handes as the Lord Chauncellour by hys reioycing seemeth to gather the contrarye is hereby to be gathered that we be the members of the true Catholike church because wee suffer for the same Doctrine which Iohn Baptiste Iames the Israelites yea Christe the Apostles did teache of which none taught any thing of oure aduersaries doctrine namely that the rotten Antichristian heade of Rome shoulde be the heade of Christes church But they haue manifestly taught the contrary specially Paule 2. to the Thessalonians the 2. chapter Iohn in the Apocalipse Dan. 11. which thing if I might haue life and Bookes I would so by Gods grace set foorth that all the world should see it and that our aduersaries with their Antichristian head are the members of the Deuils church as they vndoubtedly are And in like case as the aboue meÌ„tioned holy men though they in their dayes were counted to be heretickes seditious and disturbers of the whole worlde for vnto Iohn Baptiste it was sayde Iohn 1. Wherefore baptisest thou if thou be not Helias nor that Prophet c. As who saye thou haste no such authoritie to beginne a newe Ceremonie in the Churche For we be in ordinarie possession of the churche and of vs thou haste receiued no such power We abide by our circumcision and the like coulde I declare of Iames and of all the Apostles and Prophetes and of our Sauiour Christe him selfe that were all condemned as heretickes blasphemers of God and disturbers of the whole world Paule and Silas Act. 16. heard like woordes of the Philippians these men trouble our Citie seeing they are Iewes and preache institutions whych are not lawful for vs to receiue seeing we be Romaines And in 17. In Athens the wise menne of this world suche as gaue their endeuour to wisedom said by S. Paule Quid vult spermologus hic dicere That is What will this prater as my Lord Chancelour sayd to me shall we suffer this felow to prate wheÌ„ I would faine haue sayd that thyng that I haue heere wrytten trifler newes caryer or â—ringer that telleth what so euer men will haue him for gaine and aduauntage that will for a piece of bread say what yee will haue hym c. And an other sayd in the same place hee seemeth to be a preacher of newe Deuelles c. And Actes 21. The Iewes say by Paule laying handes on hym helpe O yee Israelites saye they this is the manne that teacheth all men euery where against the people meaning the Iewes and the law and this place meaning Ierusalem and yet was neuer a woorde of these true And Actes 22. the same Iewes sayde of Paule out of the earthe wyth that man or away wyth him For it is not lawfull for him to liue or he is not woorthy to liue And howe many moe of these examples are to be found in the Bible Although I say these men were in their dayes taken for heretickes of them that were then in authoritye and of the great multitude of the worlde yet it is nowe wel knowen yea and very shortly after their deathes this was known yea and euen in theyr liues also vnto the true Catholicke Churche that they were not onely the chiefe and speciall members of the true Catholicke Churche but also the founders and builders thereof notwithstanding the sinister iudgement that the wise and mighty menne and the great multitude of the worlde hadde of them and in theyr consciences they were alwayes assuredlye certified of the same Euen the same shall the world find true in vs shortlye after oure deathes as also there be at thys houre the Lorde be thanked therefore not a fewe that already know it as we our selues also are by Gods grace assuredly certified in our consciences that we are no heretikes but members of the true catholike church and that our aduersaries the bishops and popish cleargie which wil haue that title are the members of Sathans churche and theyr Antichristian head of Rome wyth them But here they wil crie out loe these men wil be stil like Iohn Baptist the Apostles and the Prophets c. I answere we make not our selues like vnto them in the singular vertues and giftes of God geuen vnto them as of miracles doing and of many other things The similitude and likenesse of them and vs consisteth not in all things but only in this that is that we be like them in doctrine and in the sufferinge of persecution and infamie for the same We haue preached theyr very doctrine and none other thing that we are able sufficiently to declare by theyr wrytings by wryting for my part I haue profered to prooue the same as is now often sayd And for this cause we suffer the like reproche shame and rebuke of the worlde the like persecution leesing of our liues and goodes forsaking as our maister Christ commandeth father mother sister brethren wiues children and all that there is being assured of a ioyfull resurrection and to be crowned in glorye wyth them according to the vnfallible promises made vnto vs in Christ our onely and sufficient mediatour reconciler priest and sacrifice which hath pleased the father and quieted and pacified his wrath against our sinnes made vs wythout spot or wrinkle in his sight by imputation although wee off and in our selues are bespotted be blotted w t many filthy sinnes which if the great mercy graunted in Christ did not put away by not imputing them vnto vs of his measurelesse vnspeakeable mercye and loue to saue vs they woulde haue brought vs to euerlasting damnation and death perpetuall Heerein and in no other doe we affirme our selues to be like vnto our head Christe and all his Apostles Prophetes Martyrs and Saintes And heerein oughte all Christian menne to be like them and heerein are all true Christen men and women lyke them euery one according to the measure of y e faith that
ye are goyng I meane heauen then ye nowe finde and are like to doe Foule 〈◊〉 and foulâ— weather the kingdome of heauen excepte ye wyll with the worldlinges which haue theyr portion in this life 〈◊〉 still by the way til the stormes be ouerpast and then eyther night will so approch that ye can not trauell eyther the doores will be sparred before ye come and so ye shall lodge without in wonderfull euill lodginges Read Apocal. 22. Begin at Abel come from him to Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph the Patriarches Moses Dauid Daniell and all the Sayntes in the olde testament and tell me whether euer any of them found any fayrer way then ye now finde If the olde Testament will not serue The 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 Saincteâ— both in olde and new tesâ—â—â—ment 〈◊〉 bene thoâ—rough aâ—â—fliction I praye you come to the new and beginne with Mary and Ioseph and come from them to Zachary Elizabeth Iohn Baptist and euery one of the Apostles and Euangelistes and search whether they all founde anye other way into the Citty we trauayle towardes then by many tribulations Besides these if ye shoulde call to remembraunce the primatiue Churche Lord GOD ye shoulde see many to haue geuen chearefully theyr bodyes to most greuous tormentes rather then they woulde be stopped in theyr iourney that there is no day in the yeare but I dare say a thowsand was the fewest that with great ioy lost theyr homes here Read thâ— story of primitiâ—â— Church â—â—boue 〈◊〉 but in the Cittye they went vnto haue found other maner of homes then mans minde is able to conceiue But if none of all these were if ye had no company now to go with you as ye haue me your poore brother and bondman of the Lord with many other I trust in GOD if ye had none other of the Fathers Patriarches Kynges Prophettes Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs and other holy saincts and children of God that in their iourney to heauenward found as ye now finde and are lyke to finde if ye go on forwarde as I trust ye will yet ye haue your Mayster and your Captayne Iesus Chryst the deare dearlyng and onely begotten and beloued sonne of God Christ Ieâ—â—s the 〈◊〉 leader â—f all Gods 〈…〉 in whome was all the fathers pleasure ioy delectation ye haue him to goe before you no fayrer waye but muche fouler into this our Cittye of Ierusalem I neede not I trust to rehearse what manner of waye he found Beginne at his birth and till ye come at his buriall yee shall finde that euery foote and stryde of his iourney was no better but much worse then yours is now Wherfore my dearely beloued in the Lorde be not so deintie as to looke for that at Gods handes your deare father which the Fathers Patriarckes Prophetes Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs Sainctes and his owne sonne Iesus Christ dyd not finde Hetherto we haue had fayre way I trow and fayre weather also now because we haue loytered by the waye and not made the speede we shoulde haue done our louing Lorde and sweete father hath ouercast the weather and styrred vp stormes and tempestes that we might with more hast runne out our race before night come and the doores be sparred The Deuill standeth now at euery Inne doore in his Citie and Countrey of this world crying vnto vs to tary and lodge in this or that place tyll the stormes be ouerpast not that he woulde not haue vs wet to the skinne but that the tyme might ouer passe vs to oure vtter destruction Therfore beware of his entisementes Cast not your eyes on thinges that be present how this man doth and howe that man doth But cast your eyes on the gleue ye runne at or els ye will lose the game Ye know that he which runneth at the gleue doth not looke on other that stande by and go this waye or that way but altogether hee looketh on the gleue and on them that runne with him that those which be behynde ouertake hym not and that he may ouertake them which be before euen so shoulde we doe leaue of lookyng on those which will not runne the race to heauen blisse by the pathe of persecution with vs and cast our eyes on the ende of our race and on them that goe before vs that wee may ouertake them and on them which come after vs that we may prouoke them to come the faster after Hee that shooteth will not cast his eyes in his shootyng on them that stand by To looke to the marke or ryde by the wayes I trowe but rather at the marke he shooteth at for els he were lyke to wynne the wrong way Euen so my dearely beloued let your eyes be set on the marke ye shoote at euen Christ Iesus who for the ioye set before hym did ioyfully cary his Crosse contemning the shame and therefore he now sitteth on the right hande of the throne of God Let vs follow him for this did he that wee shoulde not be fayntharted For we may be most assured that if we suffer wyth him we shall vndoubtedly raygne with hym but if wee denye him surely he will deny vs for he that is ashamed of me saythe Christ and of my Gospell in this faythles generation I wyll be ashamed of him before the Angels of God in heaven Oh howe heauy a sentence is this to all suche as knowe the Masse to bee an abhominable idoll 〈…〉 to the 〈…〉 masse full of idolatrye blasphemye and sacriledge agaynst God and his Christ as vndoubtedly it is and yet for feare of men for losse of lyfe or goodes yea some for aduauÌ„tage and gayne will honest it with theyr presence dissemblyng both with God and manne as their owne harte and conscience doth accuse them Better it were that such had neuer known the truth then thus wittingly and for the feare or fauoure of man whose breath is in his nosethrels to dissemble it or rather as in deeede it is to deny it The end of such is like to be worse then their beginning Such had neede to take heed of the two terrible places to the Hebrewes in the sixt and tenth Chapiters 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 2. â—eb 6 10. least by so doyng they fall therein Let them beware they playe not wily begile themselues as some doe I feare me whiche go to Masse and because they worship not nor kneele not nor knocke not as others doe but sit still in theyr pues therefore they think they rather do good to others then hurte But alas if these men woulde loooke into their owne consciences there shoulde they see they are very dissemblers and in seeking to deceiue others for by this meanes the Magistrates thinke them of theyr sorte they deceiue themselues They think at the eleuation tyme all mennes eyes are set vppon them to marke howe they doe They thinke others hearyng of suche men goyng to Masse do see oâ— enquire of theyr
hym Being in prison at Uenice he wrote an Epistle to the afflicted Saintes whiche for the notable sweetnes most wonderfull consolation conteined in the same in shewing forth the mighty operatiō of gods holy power working in hys afflicted Sayntes that suffer for hys sake I haue thought good and expedient to communicate as a principall monument amōgst al other Martyrs letters not onely with y e other letters which shal be inserted hereafter y e Lord willing in the end of the booke but also in this present place to be read to y e entent that both they which be or shal be hereafter in affliction may take consolation also and also that they whiche yet followe the trade of this present world in comparing the ioyes cōmodities therof with these ioyes here expressed may learne and consider with themselues what difference there is betwene them both and therby may learne to dispose themselues in such sort as maye be to theyr edification and perpetuall felicitie of theyr soules The copy of the letter first written in Latine we haue translated into English the tenour wherof here vnder ensueth ¶ A comfortable letter of Pomponius Algerius an Italian Martyr ¶ To his most dearly beloued brethren and fellow seruauntes in Christ which are departed out of Babylon into Mount Sion Crace peace and health from GOD our Father by Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour TO mitigate your sorrowe whiche you take for me I cannot but impart vnto you some portion of my delectations and ioyes which I feele and finde to the intent you with me may reioyce and sing before the Lord geuing thanks vnto him I shal vtter that which no man will beleue when I shall declare it I haue found a nest of hony and hony combe in the entrals of a Lyon Who will euer beleue that I shall say or what man wil euer think in the deepe darcke doungeon to finde a Paradise of pleasure in the place of sorrow and death to dwell in tranquillitie and hope of lyfe in a caue infernall to be found ioy of soule and where other men doe weepe there to be reioysing where other do shake and tremble theyr strength and boldnesse to be plenty Who will euer thinke or who will beleue thys in suche a woefull state suche delectation in a place so desolate such societye of good men in straite bandes and cold yrons such rest to be had Al these thinges the sweete hand of the Lorde my sweet brethren doth minister vnto me Behold he that was once farre from me now is present with me Whome once scarse I could feele now I see more apparantly whome once I saw a farre of now I beholde neare at hand whome once I hungered for the same nowe approcheth and reacheth his hand vnto me He doth comfort mee and heapeth me vp with gladnes he driueth away all bitternes hee ministreth strength and courage he healeth me refresheth aduanceth and comforteth me O how good is the Lord whiche suffereth not his seruauntes to be tempted aboue theyr strength O how easie and sweete is his yoke Is there any like vnto the hyest who receaueth the afflicted healeth the wounded and nourisheth them Is there any like vnto hym Learne ye welbeloued howe amiable the Lord is how meeke and mercifull he is whiche visiteth his seruauntes in tentations neither disdayneth he to keepe company with vs in such vile and stincking caues Will the blynd and incredulous worlde thinke you beleeue this or rather will it not say thus No thou wilt neuer be able to abide long the burning heate the cold snow and the pinching hardnes of that place the manifold miseries and other greuaunces innumerable the rebukes and frowning faces of men howe wilt thou suffer Doest thou not consider and reuolue in thy minde thy pleasaunt Country the riches of the world thy kinsfolke the dellicate pleasures and honours of this lyfe Doest thou forget the sollace of thy sciences and fruite of all thy laboures Wilt thou thus loose all thy labours which thou hast hitherto susteined so many nightes watched thy paynfull trauailes and all thy laudable enterprises wherin thou hast ben exercised continually euen from thy childhood Finally fearest thou not death which hangeth ouer thee and that for no crime committed O what a foole art thou which for one word speaking mayest salue all this and wilt not What a rude vnmanerly thing is this not to be intreated at the instant petitions and desires of suche so many and so mighty so iust so vertuous so prudent and gratious Senatoures and suche noble personages c. But now to aunswere let this blinde world harken to this againe What heate can there be more burning then that fire whiche is prepared for thee hereafter And likewise what snowe can be more colde then thy hart whiche is in darckenes and hath no light What thyng is more hard and sharpe or crooked then thys present lyfe which heare we leade What thing more odious and hatefull then this world here present And let these wordly men here aunswere me what country can we haue more sweete then the heauenly countrey aboue what treasures more riche or precious then euerlasting lyfe And who be our kinsmen but they which heare the word of God where be greater riches or dignities more honorable then in heauen And as touching the sciences let this foolish world consider be they not ordayned to learn to know God whom vnles we do know all our laboures oure night watchinges our studyes and all our enterprises serue to no vse or purpose all is but labour lost Furthermore let the miserable worldly man answere me what remedy or safe refuge cā there be vnto him if he lacke God who is the life and medicine of all men And howe can he be sayd to flye from death when he hymselfe is already dead in sinne If Christ be the way veritie and lyfe how can there be any lyfe then without Christ The sooly heate of the prison to me is coldnes the colde winter to me is a freshe spring time in the Lorde He that feareth not to be burned in the fire how will he feare the heate of weather or what careth hee for the pinching frost which burneth with the loue of the Lord the place is sharpe and tedious to them that be giltye but to the innocent and giltles it is mellifluous Here droppeth the delectable dewe here floweth the pleasaunt Nectar here runneth the sweete milke here is plenty of al good thinges And although the place it selfe be deserte and barren yet to mee it seemeth a large walke and a valley of pleasure here to me is the better and more noble part of the world Let the miserable worldling say and confesse if there be anye plot pastor or medowe so delightfull to the mind of man as here Here I see kinges princes Citties and people here I see warres where some be ouerthrown some be victors some thrust downe some lifted vp Here