fulfilled that the Lord hath spoken of to or against his enimies he him self sayth I say vnto you that if my disciples holde their peace in preaching yet the very stones in the stréetes shall giue their voices and sound my glorie And now is the same in fulfillyng amonge the faythfull for that our aduersaries enimies and persecutors doe what they can and doe vse as many lettes and impediments as may be to defeÌ„d vs from speakyng with our proper tonges the commendation praise and glorie of our sauiour and iustifier Iesus Christ But he himselfe in place of one tongue which they tie wil loose vntie and commaunde a number innumerable to speake prayse and glorifie him worlde without ende The long beardes of the persecuted ouer growen so greatly their garments to vncleane rotten and torne with the filthie vncleane filthinesse of the pryson the biting bitter taunts their enimyes byte them with the cordes halters and stringes they tye them with the engines they vse to strangle them with they all will God coÌ„uerte into tounges which with one voice shall vse so great a harmonie as is most wonderfull to the superlatiue prayses of our moste benifitiall brother and head Iesus Christ And shall discouer that hée onely is our Lord and redéemer and we so persecuted the faithfull witnesses of hys truth and rightuousnesse Those tyranicall tirantes and pestilent persecutors can not heare thys heauenly harmonie that so highely soundeth with so excelent an accorde bycause their owne impietie hath so deadly be deafed them Yet all those whiche are sanctified by Iesu Christ shal hear it and also some of them being waked by it will desire to be consortes complisses and companyons with vs in our crosses vppon coÌ„dition they might be made mates with vs in so greate delight witnesses of so beautifull a rightuousnes dyuine sanctification the which the Lorde hath giuen vs to possesse Our death shall be no more barrein theÌ„ was the death of Iesu Christ whose footesteppes we must follow God will make that the verie ashes of our bodies shall fructifie and bée a cause to make many faythfull chosen children to shewe themselues Bycause that many hearing and séeing our firmenesse in fayth of the gospel and vnderstanding our constancie at our death wherewith we are strengthened from aboue will open their eyes for to sée it and so acknowledge him the author thereof for their father And reduce theÌ„selues to his obedience renouncing the seruice of Images Idols leaue altogither the false religioÌ„ of Antichrist his coÌ„federates For that the wordes of our sauiour Christ must néedes be fulfilled who sayth if a grayne of wheat being cast into the earth doe not dye it remayneth alone whole fructifieth not but if we die it bringeth foorth much fruit as to vs is wel experieÌ„ced likewise if it be in the garner or sheafe in the barne it abideth barren beareth no fruit So that to die suffer in the Lord increase commeth therof as of a grain of wheat that dyeth in the earth and more aboundantly manifold To the iudgement of the worlde and of our flesh by our death we are drawen into perdition but it is verie false and an vntruth for in very déed we die to arise againe to beare and carry most copious aboundant plentie of fruit to our glorification with God the father and to the imitation of his sonne Iesus Christ who brought forth more aboundancie and plentie of fruit by his death then he did by his lyfe So that those which suffer doe fulfill that which the holy ghost speaketh of the faithfull they which haue béene called and iustified sayeth he it is conuenient that they be also glorified bicause that by their death they might fructifie to the glorie of God and bée ioyned togyther and glorified with hym God hath ordeined to sublimate and exalt them that be his So that not onely their persons be liuing instruments of his and their glorie but also their passions serue to the same effecte And thus euerie one of them doeth verifie that which the Apostle S. Paule speaketh of him self saying I doe suffer and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my fleshe for his bodies fake which is his churche or congregation So that the passions that euerie one of vs hys members doe suffer is to the filling vp of the measure of conformitie that euerie member of the same bodie oughte to haue with the head Wherefore euery one that is persecuted and killed for the truth endeth the filling vp of his part of that measure and remayneth wholy made conformeable vnto Christ he hath distroyed the whole bodie of sinne and left a confirmation to the rest his fellow members of his patience and constancie bicause they are to passe by the same way after Christ and so come togyther to bée gloryfied with him in his kingdom It appeareth howe our troubles paynes and passions are dignified by reason of the communion that is betwéene the head and his members The holy Ghost doeth call and terme them the afflictions and passioÌ„s of Christ For as by the calamities which he did suffer in his own proper person God was glorified he him selfe lifted vp on high So that by those which we suffer being his faithfull shall we be gloryfied togyther in and with hym Bycause that as he dyd suffer béeing our heade we must also suffer that be his members An excelent comfort against the feare of death vvith a confutation of his povver c. The xxix Chapter ANd therefore sithe hée hathe thus honored exalted vs that he hath made vs wytnesses of hys trueth and of the sauing health that hys sonne dyd bryng into the world and hath sublimate our passions in such sort as consecrating them in his own person that he doth call them his owne wil be glorified in them And also for that our death is so precious before him that he wil take from the world so many liuyng instruments into his presence to hys glorie there is no cause to the contrarie but that we should stifly stand to the professâ—on of hys truth the giuing of our liues ioyfully for the same There bée some which for the vanities and thyngs of thys worlde will ventour lyues goodes and all that they haue yet it sodeinly perisheth The truth of God neuer perisheth no more can none the trust therein Why doe we then flye from being glorifyed with him sith we are no lesse certaine thereof then we are of our passions persecutions troubles death He loued vs with so feruent an effect and so serued vs that he did not rest till tyme that he dyed with wounds of our loue And shall wée bée so vngrateful as to saue or kéepe our liues from him not to venter them with the lyke loue to honour hym likewise with them if we could Shal we so forget
from vs is but lent vs in this worlde But that which God hath giuen vs for our owne I meane the celestial riches which we are heires vnto to inherite for euer they can not be taken away although they doe the worst they can That which is ours is giuen vs for our owne with a pryuiledge irreuocable that we be his children inheritors of his kingdom and partakers of his glory That we also be his inheritance a dwellyng place for him to dwell in for euer with our selues also in him S. Peter doeth reioyce that we doe liue in him eternally and doe holde and account him for our God father and doeth giue thanks saying Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ the which according to hys aboundant grace and mercy hath regenerated vs agayne to a lyuely hope by the resurrection from death of our Lord Iesus to enioy an inheritaunce immortall not contamynate but incorruptyble and vndefiled reserued in the heauens for those which are kept by the power of God thorough faith to obteine saluacion So that being kepte by the power of God which passeth strength of castles or any thing els what euill or harme can come or happen vnto vs. Thou dootst hyde them in the secret of thyne owne presence priuilie from prouoking the pride of men sayth the Prophet Dauid also further thou doost hide them as in a tabernacle frō the stowte caluminate strifes of euil tongues So that the greate brauery and boysteous bragges that the wicked doe braue with all it cannot hurt vs For that their pride theyr peuishnesse their caluminates their strifes theyr subtilties nor yet theyr generall and wicked coūsells cannot gréeue vs No more cannot the gréedye gréeuous rauuen nor hawtie hate of the diuel pearce nor penitrate the place where GOD dooth hide vs. That which did happen or fall out to Iesus Christ the same shall happen vnto vs For as he was whipped spoiled spitted on bloud drawen from nayled vppon the crosse otherwise iniured and blasphéemed did remaine the sonne of God and could not bée taken away nor let from callyng and acknowledging of hys God father and continued the redéemer of the world So lykewyse the faithfull the more they bée dishonoured dispoyled condempned cursed and iniurioustie handled the more they remayne alwayes the children of God and hys spirit doeth lyue the rather alwayes in them by the which they inuocate call and acknowledge hym for theyr father So that it foloweth that the worlde and all the greatnesse thereof I meane the tiranous tirany of the persecuting wicked worldlings with all the tirany and cursed crueltie they can doe can not hurt vs. To confirme make vs more strong in our faith the holy ghost by the prophet Dauid doeth declare vnto vs that all which our aduersaries dooe commit thonder out and threatten against vs and the Gospell is in vaine For he saith the gentiles fret rage and fume furiously and the people inuent vaine thinges The kings of the earth doo conspire and the princes and rulers of the Earth doo gather them selues together against the Lord and Christ his annointed It is vayne and shall take none effect at any tyme in vs nor yet nothinge at all that they can afflict vs with be it interior or exterior Bicause the Lord our god hath ouercome all our enimies aswell those which are visible and séene as those which are inuisible not séene And hath ouerthowne them in suche sort that they shal neuer more lift vp their heads against vs And thereof it accreweth and groweth that all is in vaine that they doo or can doo against him that hath ouercome them And moreouer all is in vaine that any fury can doo against the faithfull so that their iudgements and condempnacions are all in vaine For that if the iudgement of God can not preuayle agaynst them bycause they as the Apostle sayeth are knitte in Iesus Christ Howe can any of the iudgementes of theyr enimyes in any point preuayle agaynst them Vaine are their sentences and excommunications agaynst them for that God hath communicated them in Christ and made them partakers of his ryches It is a common practise among them to confiscate spoyle robbe the faythfull of their perishing ryches But yet in vayne bycause that Iesus Christ who is their true ryches will not bée robbed from them Their bodies are imprysoned yet hée reigneth in theyr liberties to ioy reioyce comfort and recreate theyr hartes Moreouer they are burned and receyue other kyndes of death to the imaginations of the persecutors bycause they should not lyue but they shall neuer dye For Sainct Paule sayth your liues are hydden with Christ in God. Fynally theyr instrumentes and other weapons the which they take vp to vse theyr cruelties with it is but in vayne agaynst them I meane agaynst the faythfull for that he that sitteth and is resident in the heauens sayeth the Prophet shall deryde and make a mock at their folly the Lord will laughe them to scorne for theyr great foolishnes They doe think them selues to be of the number of his chosen and yet the more they doe impryson and kill the very chosen in déed so muche the more soouer they thinke to recouer his heauēly kingdom a great mockery no doubt and is no more but as it were an Emmet should fighte with an Elephante or a foolishe flea with a foule Cammell Were it not also foolishe phoprie for a man to fight with a shadowe thinkyng it to bée a man of might Surely they doe none other which persecute fight against the faithfull Of whome the Prophete speaketh saying God hath put his faithfull in safetie so that no harme can touch them and where in no wise they may perish by the peuishnesse of any pelting persecuter There is none that séeketh to hurt or harme them but playeth the part of him that pusheth and fighteth with his owne shaddowe Against the Gospel the kinges princes the wise learned and holy in the world haue discouered and shewed openly some of them their knowledge suttelties threats othersome their valiency might and all of them doo affirme say that they doo nothinge but vpon a zeale of christianitie But that is such a zeale as he the gouerneth the Gloabe and in the heauens dwellith doth deride laugh and make a mocke at And doth threaten that in place and lue of the same he will speake to them in his ire and vex them in his heauy displeasure And also chastise them with an horrible and terrible chastisemēt as he hath done from the beginning and that hath béen séene in our daies But sith it is so and that all is vaine that they doo or can inuent against vs that dooe knowe and beleue in Iesus Christ that he dooth deride mocke them in their doings Let vs not feare their foolishnesse and folly
enioy the most blessed fruite thereof which is as a thing of inestimable vallew appendant and regardant or belonging to the excercisours of the same A great comfort to the Christian with a terrible threate to the vngodly and wicked c. Cap. xvi ALso God would haue vs to vnderstand thereby how great how vile a villanous euil sinne is And how great without measure the rewarde thereof is to those vnfaithfull ones that will not know him for that thereby of a suerty they are set a farre distance from god and brought in hatred with him For if god haue loued vs so much that he hath all ready pardoned and reconsiled vs to him by the death of his sonne then for the rest of the sinne that remayneth in vs he dooth with the greater iustice treate and deale with vs so seuerely as to make vs liue and dye in crosses and calamitie And therefore what a wonderfull correction or punishment may we thinck that he wil vse to them that are so fully fraught with mischiefe that they be euen the seruants of sinne and of the diuell enimies to all kinde of rightuousnes But yet for all this god dooth not punish vs for sinne bicause that Christe hath bene punished therefore already But he dooth punish the sinne that dooth alwayes reigne in vs not for the hatred he hath vnto vs but for the mallice that he hath vnto sinne And if we beinge sonnes children be put in such a streight by our father that for the sinne that is in vs we be iudged of men to be stranges and forriners to him what shall be come of those or them that beléeue not the gospell but are rather enimies thereof He will not onely punish the sinne that is in them but also will of necessitie consume them and their sinnes together to euerlasting destructiō for that they cānot abide so rigorrous a iudgement of God who most horribly hateth sinne as is due for the same The tyme is already come sayth S. Peter that iudgement must begin at the house of god If it begin first with vs what ende will then come of thē which haue not nor doo not beléeue his gospel nor yet wil be none of his houshould If the rightuous can scarsely be saued what will then become of sinners or where shall they appeare If amongst vs I say which are his temple and holy habitacion he doo beginne to punishe with suche rigour what wyll he then dooe when as his wrath and ire shal be inflamed against all both one and the other That is to say as well the househould of god as the houshould of the diuell When he beginneth to take vengeance of that house where the diuell dwelleth is obeyed and all his will fulfilled he will take in his hand the cuppe of his wrath against sinne all shal drincke thereof for all are sinners But the children of God shall drincke tast of the first best purest thereof bicause they may vnderstande what enmytie they ought to haue to sinne Sith god doth abhorre it so much that he will punishe it first in vs it is a great significacion that the rest I meane the reprobate shall be also punished tast of his wrath and shall not escape although they thincke themselues at libertie and loose there from And if we the sonnes of God be subiect to suppe the first and best thereof it cannot be but that the other must néedes drinck and swallow vp the dregges last and worst But for the childrē and sonnes of God I meane the faithful to drinck of that cuppe in such maner of wyse and to that ende that God hath determined me thincketh it is more saludable and healthfull to them for that the lorde will vse suche moderacion so much alay the extréeme bitter taste thereof bicause he giueth it them to none other ende but to bring them to humilitie that being humbled brought low in mynde they might with more greater earnestie in christian affectes imbrace the benefites of him already receaued open their eyes with such clearenesse that they might the more soner sée and behoulde how dearely louingly he loueth fauoureth them So that thereby he hathe made them more capable of his riches as Dauid sayth although the Lorde doo cast them downe neuer so déepe yet he leaueth them not therein but lifteth and exalteth them thereby into his great glory bicause it is his condicion and qualite to exalt the humble and méeke to reise the poore from the dounghill Sith the determinacion of the almightie Iehouah is so fatherly frēdly for vs let vs drinke with a good wil of the cup that he dooth giue vs be they crosses or griefes whatsoeuer for that thereby he dooth call vs to his knowledge which for our ingratitude other vices were seperated frō him for a season with deseruing of most rigorous pain punishmēt for the same And therefore I saye we ought that rather too take in good part the bitter tast of being tost in the floud of any affliction We haue deserued to be chorlishly cheined in perpetual prison world without ende yet god is so mercifull louing vnto vs that without respect of any thinge he hath allotted vs but a lyght penance with suffering a few of short sorrowes calamities But we moste stobbernly refuse thē with al our strōgist forces that we haue Yet for all that sith Iesus Christ hath called vs to the crosse we ought not to grudge at the bearing therof but accept it paciētly bicause of the cōdiciō with it alredy performed If we wold looke and sée about vs we should sée finde know that it is not we our selues that bear these crosses alone but he himselfe in vs for the prophet Esay saith that it is he it is he himself that dooth carry his kingdom vpon his shoulders Whom shal we vnderstand for his kingedom but the persecuted the imprisoned the abhorred and condempned that are kylled for his name sake It is he him selfe that they persecute and punishe in vs his membres for the hate they haue to his inheritance which he beareth on his shoulders So the althoughe he doo giue vs to drinck of his wrath yet he dooth mynister with it such moderacion and gentlenesse as is possible for in the ende all commeth to rest vpon his owne shoulders and so we by him are vnleaden and discharged And therefore let vs loue him and giue him thankes sith we haue deserued to drincke of the extreme bitternesse of his wrath and yet he giueth vs the purest with the moste lenitie and gentlenesse that may be But the dregges which is all the rigour of his wrath of his indignaciō his fury his condempnacion his cursse eternall sentēce irreuocable are kept for thē to drincke which haue not beléeued the Gospell but in stéede of the worship and due obedience to be done therby they did afflict
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
to haue done it but they had no power to doe it theyr strength fayled them Doest thou not knowe saide Pilate that I haue power to loose and frée thée and also to crucifie and kill thée He answered and saide thou haddest not if it were not giuen thée from aboue so muche power as to touche mée No more can those which now doo séeke to afflict the faithfull they can not so muche as filloppe them with their finger if God woulde to the contrarie for that hée hath not so little regarde vnto theyr liues corporall that hée will deliuer them ouer to their foes vntyll their full course be come runne out and expired From the time that Iesus Christ dyd first manifest himselfe by preaching vnto the world they dyd abhorre him till they had most cruelly condemned him and deliuered him vnto deathe yea euen the spitefull death of the crosse The will and mynde they had to kill him when he was crucified had contine wed of olde but the execucion thereof was then newly inuented but yet they could not atteine vnto it without the will of God. Euen so euer sithens the first hower that the worde of God and the true light thereof entred into Iermany England France and this our realm of Spaine and dyd begin to shine as the Sunne there were persecutours which did abhorre it and so doo continewe vntill this daye most mortally and cruelly and dyd and dooe kill all Christians which are quickned thereby with most extremitie They dyd alwayes will wish that which now they doo most wickedly they wer euermore enimies and contrary both to him and vs but they could not at no time conclude their desires till such tyme as God had let loose the power of darkenesse bycause thereby wée might bée examyned purified and tryed and then put into eternal glorie prepared for vs from the begynning And our persecutors afflictors and killers in all their persecutions and tirannie doe no more but fill vp the measure of impietie and sinnes of theyr fathers so full that they will make it runne ouer and bring vppon them selues all the bloud of the Sainctes which haue bene sithens the death of rightuous iuste Abell And therefore sith that men can doe nothyng and that man is no bodye nor nothyng of him selfe and also sith the power which they haue is giuen them from God onely to execute his will let vs not feare them Bycause that God hath commaunded vs not to feare men for that they can but kill the bodie wée can not feare them without greate offence Wherefore let vs giue eare heare that which the Lorde sayeth by the Prophette Esay and assureth vs of thou shalte bée my seruant sayeth hée I haue chosen thée feare not for I am with thée doe not declyne from mée for that I am the Lorde thy God and will fortefie and strengthen thée Thus wé sé that there is no cause whie wée should feare any humaine power hée doeth surely certefie vs that wée are hys seruantes that hée hath chosen vs and that hée is our God So that wée doe iniure hym greatly and filthilie offende hym when that in any poynte wée doe feare the mynisters of death corporall What other thing commeth by fearing of them but in giuing honour vnto them to dyshonour God who doeth defende and forbyd it But let vs beléeue hys promise and say with the Prophette thou arte our GOD and wée shall not die though our killers and persecutors doe neuer so much against vs Let vs beare this faith as a shield let vs not declyne from the right way nor yet be dismayd neither for feare of death nor yet of our persecutors For that therein is fulfilled all which is spoken of by S. Iohn which is that our heauinesse shall be turned into ioye By death is ended all our heauinesse and mournyng and there doeth succeede such ioye as no tongue can tell the which can not be taken away So that when the worlde doeth make greatest accounte that we are kylled lost and for euer vtterly distroyed and hath raysed vp enseignes of our greatest dishonour and infamie Euen then sayeth the holy Ghost by hys Prophet God will wype the teares from the chéekes of vs his chosen and wil take all our dishonours and cares He will turne all dishonour to the dishonorers infamie to the infamors and the abhorrors shall bée possessed with their own hatred The cōdempnation shall reuert to the cōdempners and theire cursse maledictiō death to the termygauntes theyr executioners But the faithful deliuered from all kynde of calamyties and aduersities and the couertures of their holinesse and rightuousnesse béeing distroyed and they wholy taken out of the power of their enimies shall bée put where shall be no more death no more plaintes cryes calamities nor griefes but where shall be the throne of God and of the Lambe and where they shall serue hym sée hys face and haue hys name in theyr foreheades And the Lord God shall lightē them and reygne for euer with them as it is written by Sainct Iohn And sith it is so what is there lost by leauing so tenebrous and darke a dungeon as is the filthie pryson of our bodyes so stinkyng as they are and by leauyng the world where all thynges are corruptible Shall wée feare those which séeke to kyll vs for Christes cause séeyng they procure vs thereby so blessed an exchange that our corruption shall bée turned into incorruption our mortalitie into immortalitie pouertie into ryches dishonour into honour imprysonment into libertye confusion into glorie heauinesse into ioye and our solitarie béeyng into the companie of God and his Saynctes for euer and to bée of the same number and equall with them in glorie Wherefore shall wée refuse to goe from this lyfe so abhominable to goe to that goodly mount Syon to goe to that beautifull Citie of God the newe and celestiall Ierusalem into and among that innumerable many and multitude of blessed Aungelles and Archaungelles the holy and true common wealth of the chosen where as without contradiction is alwayes done the good will of God. Shall we feare to come to this felicitie to the which we were borne and redéemed by the inestimable good wil and loue of God whereas we shal be made perfectly lyke to hym who dyd redéeme vs No let vs put away all those vain feares of the euils present in this world of the ministers therof and assure our selues to be ioyned with Iesus Christ whiche is ascended into heauen where as he sitteth on the right hande of God in hys maiestie with his right hande extended readie to take hold and receiue vs vnto him We holde it impossible in our carnall sence of vnderstandyng to suffer the fire and the terrour thereof that they vse in persecuting the little flocke of vs at this daye for that in burning vs they doe it by little
the cause thereof The .iiii. Chapter BVt persisting and going forewarde in suche estate as then was ours which was without Christ reputed as alients and straūgers to the common wealth of Israell and to the couenaunts conteyned in the testament and promise of reconciliacion voyde of hope and without God in this worlde It pleased him who is most ritche in mercy thorough his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen whē we were dead by sinne To quicken vs againe in Christe together with him by whose grace we be saued raysed vp made to sitte together in heauenly thinges through him notwithstādinge as I say that we were dead by sinne and at the brimme or brincke of our condempnacion yet he called vs to his knowledge that we might haue lyfe together in Christ Iesus and beinge so farre from him he called vs nigher by the power vertue of his most precious bloud And so sayth Sainct Paule in another place that God dyd set out and cōfirme his loue and charitie in vs for that we as yet beinge sinners enimies vnto him and so iustly condempned he dyd giue his own sonne to most direfull death to reconcile vs vnto him therby and to make vs partakers of his rightuousnes and sanctificacion So that the whole cause of our perdicion was in our selues bicause that by vs sinne had his first beginninge for that we dyd throw our selues so voluntaryly into his cursed handes who dyd dispoile and robbe vs of all goodnesse Wherfore God so louing vnto vs thought it most necessary for our saluacion to take all vpon him selfe for that wée might thereby obteine remission and forgiuenesse of all our transgression for euer And that being at the first true the condempnacion that we had deserued it might aswell be true the healthe and saluacion graunted to deliuer vs from the same So the holy Ghost dooth testifie vnto vs by the Prophet Osea sayinge from thée thy selfe O Israell doothe proceede thy perdicion and from mée onely doothe come thy saluacion And by the holy Apostle sainct Paule it is sayde that when the beninge kyndenesse and loue of our Sauiour God to man warde apeared he saued vs not by the workes which we had done and are vnrightuous but conformable to his mercy by the washing of the regeneracion or new birth and renewing of the holy ghost the which he hath shedde abundantly vppon vs by Iesu Christe our Sauiour for the iustifyed by his grace we should be made heires thorough according to our hope of the lyfe eternal Wherby it apeareth that of the calling by the which God dyd by is mercy most pitifully call vs vnto him dooth procéede all our health and saluacion Bicause as at the beginning God did make vs of himselfe without receiuinge any helpe of our partes and so gaue vs the being of men that we might be wholly his owne pure woork Euen so hath he now called vs and now that we be called he hath reformed and sāctified vs without our helpe in any thing that we might be his children If Lazarus were dead foure dayes buryed and stincking in his graue and coulde not frée himselfe therefro but the God dyd rayse him from death giue him a newe lyfe Much lesse may we frée our selues from death for that we be captiuated and buryed so by the help of sinne that we are much more deade stincking before God then was the corporall body of Lazarous to the sighte of men But as by the might strēgth vertue and power of that voyce with the which Iesus Christ dyd call him he was set frée from the prison stinge of death purifyed of all corrupcion restored to a new lyfe euen so we by the voyce of the same Lorde are raysed againe to a new lyfe Bicause god dooth call those things which are not as though they were For by the efficacie and strengthe of the voyce with which he dooth cal he doth giue a new being For the euill being of a sinner is as no being before god But in callinge himselfe to mynde to call vpon God with a feruent fearefull and louing heart vnfayned his louinge almightifull kindenesse will giue him a diuine essence participated ioyned with the same woord with the which he called him when as he had no sufficiencie at all to doo the woorks of lyfe We our selues in the estate which we were could not by any meanes doo any kinde of thing that might be pleasant or acceptable to God but dyd cōtinue still sléeping possessid of deathe without any féeling of lyfe We dyd not call nor séeke vpon God but were of the numbre of those which Dauid hath spoken of before which haue not knowen God bicause we called those dead which liue dyd séeke the things we knewe not And therefore it was sayde by the Prophet Esaye I am founde of them that haue not sought me haue apeared manifestly to those which haue not asked after me For that we should vnderstand that he onely did séeke vs dyd call vs and giue him selfe to be knowen vnto vs Yet we in the meane tyme were dronken with obliuion buried in sinne in all kinde of wickednesse also were possessid with the diuel whome we dyd obey in such sort that we accoūted his coūsell and workes for the vphouldinge and rule of our lyfe The cause why that God dyd so call vs out of that duskye darckenesse in the which we were to his admirable light was onely the loue that he had to vs in his sonne Iesus Christe by whome he dyd determine to saue vs By Christ Iesus sayth S. Paule we are chosen to the inheritance predestinated accordīg to the purpose of him which dooth will all thinges conformable to the councell of his diuine wil so that we which doo put our trust in him should be in all thinges for the setting foorth of his honour and glory Of the cause of our calling and redempcion Cap. v. BY the purpose counsell of GOD which he dyd ordeyne before the beginninge of the world that we might be partakers of his healthe and saluacion is the cause why he suffered vs to fall that wée might be made knowen vnto his son by whose merittes we should be made acceptable vnto him Sainct Peter sayth that we haue béene elected and chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctificacion of the spirit to obey him and to be cleansed washed in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ Sainct Paule considering the goodnesse of god for his benefits so much vndeserued of men dooth giue thankes vnto him for himselfe and for all the faithful that haue béene called to the participacion thereof and sayth Blessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe which hath blessed vs with all maner of spiritual blessing in heauenly things by Christ according as he had
at any tyme if he had béene a tyrant or had béene cruell vnto vs or if he had at any tyme deceiued vs then had we had some reason to forsake him to flée frō him and to leaue him to the ende we might get out of his wily deceits and tyranny But beinge alwayes a God vnto vs so louing as he hath beene a God that hath sauid vs and brydeled the diuell so that he cānot hurt vs. He that hath commaunded his creatures for our sustenaunce when we were his enimies he that hath deliuered vs from so many great perills and dangers of death and hath béene alwaies our tutor gouernour and defēdour and we without shame so to deny and forsake him most greuous is our folly falte therein and so greuous that we haue deserued thereby that he should for euer forsake vs and condempne vs to be vnder the tiranny of the diuel and antichrist eternally To forget so many vndeserued benefites as he hath preferrid vs vnto and to leaue him for so small and light troubles and afflictions as are those which we haue suffered and are to suffer for the profession of his name it is a thing worthy of most gréeuous punishment If Iesus Christ had not beene first crucifyed himself and made a cursse for vs and for our transgression and sinne so callid vs to the crosse of worldly tribulacion we might well haue béene deceiued or thought our selues so but that is moste infallible and certeine for so he called vs to the profession of the same and therefore to crosses and tribulacions and not to worldly honours ritches and delightes of this lyfe What a gréeuous thing were it therfore to deny him from whence may or can there arise accrewe or grow and procede suche a masse of misery as that and that we dooe not nor haue not vnderstande and knowen aright the ende of our calling which was especially and vppon purpose to make vs like vnto himselfe by passions persecucions and afflictions surely it is a most monstrous offence For that to forsake the trueth thereby to eschew the crosse is none other but to forsake Christ our onely Sauiour bicause there is no way to Christ Iesus without heauie crosses of affliction and persecution nor yet no true crosse of calamitie and persecucion but is a way to passe by vnto him So that it resteth and is moste fit and conuenient for vs to haue a great and greuous gréefe in mynde with repentance that euer we dyd forsake or deny him and to leade the residue of our lyfe in a perfect and perpetuall repentance for the same And therefore let vs be conuerted and torne vnto him and behoulde attentiuely that he although offended with vs is not our enimie nor doothe not desire nor procure our perdicion but is our good GOD and Father which doothe desire and wyill performe our perfect health and saluacion As truely as I dooe liue saythe the Lorde I wyll not the deathe of a sinner but rather that he torne from his wickednesse and lyue It is god our Father that we haue denyed in our dooinges and sore offended we haue moste worthely styrred hys wrathe to bée wreaked vppon vs and yet hée spareth vs. He is allwayes oure Father and loueth vs as a moste louinge Father and also dothe greatly reioyce at our conuercion from wickednesse he dooth séeke and vse great meanes to induce reduce and bring vs again vnto his house and presence after the wasting and quite consuming of that good porcion that he dyd giue vs for our parpetuall patrimony We dooe imitate the apostles altogether in fainting and fearing at the crosse of Christ and doo flée from it and denye him as they dyd for the vaine feare of death let vs also doo as they dyd in conuerting againe vnto him for as he dyd receiue them euen so will he receiue vs and will comfort and imbrace vs with no lesse loue then he dyd vse shew vnto them for that he is aswell our maister and redéemer now as he was theirs then he is our good God a god almightie and doothe loue vs aswell sithens we fell as he dyd before we dyd fall for that the naturalnes and burning bowels of loue that is in the father is not nor wil be remoued by the infirmities and weaknes of the children The prodigall childe after that he had consumed and wasted quite the goods and substanciall ritches of his father or that his father had giuen him dyd retorne againe vnto him with a most humble submission and confession of himselfe with repentaunce to be vnworthy to be called his sonne But the father séeing him come a farre of did méete him on the way with such a feruent ioye that the sonne had scarce opened his mouth to confesse his sinne and dysobedience when he fel vpon his neck imbraced and kissed him with great ioye most zealously and gladly and commaundyd him to be clothed with new and costly ritche garments making moste merueilous feast with reioycing for his so penitent a conuersion Behoulde here the father was found no lesse louing to his sonne beinge penitent at the last then he was at the first notwithstanding so great a disobedience and contemptuous offence He was alwayes a father vnto him aswell before his folly in falling and offending as afterwardes he was not thereby remoued nor altered one iote from his fatherly goodnesse neyther in loue qualitie nor condicion he dyd not vpbraide nor caste him in the téeth with his falts although they wer most greuously great in his sight but dyd rather reioyce for his penitit conuercion so muche that his ioye would giue no place to his sonne to confesse his faltes and offences Bicause he had already pardoned and put them quite out of memory and dyd wyll and commaunde that he with all the reste in his house should reioyce with him for the happy recouery of his sonne that was first dead and then aliue An excelent kyndely and comfortable perswasion of the faythfull to reioyce in any calamitie c. The .xxiiii. Chapter TO vs my bretheren and fellow membres that haue played the part vppon this worldly stage of the Prodigal childe in wasting spoyling and consuming of our porcions of the ritches goods and goodnesse of God our father the holy ghost dooth speak Propoūding this example the which we ought to follow after our fallinge bicause we might féele by experience the loue so ardent which he hath now towardes vs I say now when as we be wounded so full of shame and confusion that we doo abhorre sinne and conuert Therein he dooth confirme and assure vs of our francke and frée pardon and remission for all our sinfull fallinge how great so euer it be or haue béen as a thinge due vnto all that are penitent Bicause if our hartes he woūded with true griefe and repentance and doo with a hart vnfayned earnestly loath and abhorre the
worthie of the moste spytefull death of the crosse to professe the name of Iesu Christ and to acknowledge and confesse that hée onely is the redéemer heade and quyckner of his church Amongest such audiences and iudgement places of mischieuous mercyful nay rather mercilesse men there doeth aryse spryng procéede and growe nothyng but homicyde and suckyng of bloud from the beginning And therefore there can be nothyng in them but vnrightuousnesse crueltie which shineth in them according to the doctryne which they teach And how much the greater and more their tiranny is braueth against the faithfull their doctrine which is a moste pure truth So much the more pure celestiall diuine comfortable is it to the author therof who is Iesu Christ And therfore my dearely beloued be no more deceyued by reposing any truste or confidence at all in their mercy so mischieuous For whereas they so mercifully nay mercilesly doe suffer you to inioy the liues of your bodies they doe therein dispoile you of the liues of your soules which is the true fayth of the Euangelicall Gospell The maner of parte of the persecution in Spaine vvith a comfort against the lyke c. The xxv Chapter THe signes tokens and fruites that commeth groweth and are shewen of them is verie like vnto the mercie which is in them They giue for a liuery Saint Bennets coate which is in signe of pennance about a yarde and a halfe of yellow cloth with a hole cut in the middest thereof where through the recantantes doe put their heads so that the one halfe thereof is worne before on the brest the other halfe behynde on the shoulders the which hath twoo red crosses called by them S. BeÌ„nets crosses the one before the other behynd this they do appoint to be worne for certaine yeares within a certaine precinct vppon payne of death To signifie that by them and the wearers thereof the fayth of Christ is denyed that they bée wholy guided by the diuilish doctrine of Antichrist and the diuell his fellow to whome they are faythful with a fayth vnfayned most vnfaythfull to God that they haue chaunged the ioyes eternal for vaine ioyes and vanitie it selfe which perisheth and haue according to the prouerbe like a dogge torned againe to theyr vomit or like a sowe well washed torned againe and wallowed in the myre So that this signe or liuery is a perfect shew signe and token of the mischeuous minde that is in them and of theyr mercilesse mercy so vnequall to the true mercy which GOD dooth shew vnto his elected persecuted by them beinge his enimies wherefore we ought not to séeke nor trust to any other for mercie but onely to god nor to change his mercy for any feare flattery or crueltie whatsoeuer of men nor the diuell although they doo thonder it out with theyr dissembled sounde or voice neuer so fiersly Let vs vnderstande that the mercie which god dooth shew vnto his people is very great when that for his name sake our liues are taken from vs by such or those which ought to doe their best to kéepe lyfe in vs we may bée bold to take it to be a substancial and most certayne and sure signe that wée are partakers of and doe perteyne to the kingdome of God when that for his loue or for the confession of his name we be euill entreated and condempned of men and the worlde let vs not feare nor flée away so fast from death that for to liue eight dayes longer in this lyfe we will loose the lyfe euerlasting which is the true life a lyfe perdurable which neuer will haue end What other thing is the lyfe which they graunt vs by their mercy as they say but a cruell continuall death full of sorowes troubles of no coÌ„tinuance to true life but many times taken away dispatched by light occasioÌ„s Wherfore for that for so short a thing a thing of so momeÌ„tary a béeing we aduenture our humayne liues for eternall blessednes a lyfe that neuer shall haue end our lot or hap is the better more blessed in that we dye with such dishonors theÌ„ is the lotte of our persecutors though they lyue with neuer so muche péeuish popishe pompe Our death here is a true testimony of the life which we haue in christ with eternall resurrectioÌ„ by him and wher as they cruelly kil craftily coÌ„dempne vs it is an infallible signe testimony most true that they be clean from Christ haue no parte with them Blessed are they saith S. Iohn the dye in the lord And the prophet Dauid saith the death of the Sainctes are precious in the presence and sight of god And therefore our death béeyng a thyng which the Lord doth loue a testimony that we are blessed we ought not to feare it in no maner of wyse béeyng his children but rather to glorifie hym in the same to the imitation of the Apostles Let vs giue attentyue eare to the wordes of our sauiour Christ Iesus directed to them that will folow him He that loueth father or mother more theÌ„ me is not worthy of me he that will not take vp his crosse and folow mée is not worthy of me For whosoeuer will saue his lyfe shall loose it but he that wil loose his life for my sake the same shall saue it For what auayleth or profiteth it a man to win the whole world then to loose his owne soule or what may a man giue to redéeme his soule from death And also he that shall be ashamed of mée or of my worde before the men of this adulterous and sinfull generation the sonne of man shall bee also ashamed of hym when hée shall come before mée in hys glorie accompanyed with holy Angelles So that the forme and order of keping sauing our liues according to the doctrine of Iesus christ is to loose them by affliction for hys sake for the profession of his name And thereby it is manifest that we kéeâ—â— and saue our liues most sure wheÌ„ as and at such time as they doe take theÌ„ from vs for that by the meanes therof we are put in the hands of god Let vs not be ashamed of Iesus Christ nor of his word although they dishonour vs neuer so muche therefore but let vs rather account theyr most dishonored spite vsed towardes vs for our most triumphant honour and victory yea lette vs accompt euen the verye sweardes axes fleshookes stranggeling stringes paynted myters liueries of mockery faggots fire rackes boiling leade pitche rosen and tarre tortures and all other their instrumentes of torment to be enseignes of honour vnto vs badges of the eternall kingedome to the which we be brought by bearing and sufferinge of them Iesus Christ was the sonne of God and kinge of all creatures such a one as was promised by the Prophets But yet his crucifiers
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their
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