Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	eternal_a	everlasting_a	life_n	8,204	5	4.8739	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17725	Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and woorthy instrument in Gods church, M. Iohn Caluin. Which sermons were long since translated out of Latine into English, by M. Robert Horne late Byshop of Winchester, at what time he suffered exile from his country, for the testimony of a good conscience, as his apology in the beginning of the booke will witnes. And because these sermons haue long lyen hidden in silence, and many godly and religious persons, haue beene very desirous of them: at theyr earnest request they are nowe published by A.M.; Quatre sermons. English. Selections	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Horne, Robertc1519?-1580.; Munday, Anthony, 1553-1633.	1584 (1584)	STC 4461; ESTC S110726	58,766	149

founde Wherein our misery is so much the greater that in so great filthinesse and vnthankfulnesse we are not ouerwhelmed with blushing shame For we must shortlie come before that Iudge before whome our vice and euyll which wee by all meanes goe about to hide shall be brought foorth with that rebuke and checke whereby the iust cause of our destruction shall appeare For if we be so endebted and bound to GOD that for the knowledge hee hath giuen vs wee ought to giue to him honourable and thankefull testimony why is our stomacke so abashed and fearefull to enter into the battell Especiallie séeing GOD in this our age hath so opened himselfe that it may be rightly sayde and trulie that he hath opened and plainlie set foorth the greatest treasures of his secretes May not this be sayd that we so thinke of God as though we seemed to stande in no néede of him at all For if we had any consideration of his Maiestie we durst neuer be so bolde to turne the doctrine which procéedeth out of his mouth into Philosophie and vaine speculation In fine we can haue no excuse but this must be vnto vs the greatest shame yea an horrible condemnation that in so great knowledge obtained by the singuler goodnesse of GOD we haue so lyttle l●ue and minde to defend and kéepe the same For first if we will call to our remembraunce the Martyrs of olde tyme and compare theyr wonderfull constauncie with this our tender slouthfulnesse we shall finde passing great cause to detest our owne filthinesse For they were not for the most part so trauailed and exercised in the Scriptures that they could learnedly dispute of all matters But first of all they knewe and helde fast this that there is one God whome they ought to serue and honour then that they were redéemed with the blood of Iesus Christe that in him onelie and in his grace they should put their affiaunce and trust of saluation Moreouer they dyd iudge all other inuentions and ordinaunces of men to worshippe God so vnwoorthy filthinesse that they could easilie condemne all Idolatries and superstitions to conclude in few wordes this was theyr Diuinitie there is one onelie God the maker of the whole world which hath declared vnto vs his will by Moses and the Prophetes and then by Iesus Christe and his Apostles We haue one redéemer with whose blood we were bought and by whose grace we hope to be saued All the Idols of the world are to be detested and accurssed They came stoutlie and boldlie to the fyre or other kinde of death and punishment instructed with no other doctrine and more hidden knowledge And the number of them was not small as of two or thrée but so great that the multytude of them which were cruellie vexed and tormented of the tyraunts séemed innumerable and infinite But we are so taught and instructed that we passe all our auncetors in knowledge and vnderstanding of holy Scripture We thinke in our selues and it is true as touching the vnderstanding of the Scripture God hath endued vs with so much knowledge as he hath giuen to any age at any tyme. And yet there is in vs scantlie the least droppe of feruent loue towardes God There is no reason why we should nourish this nice ●owardnesse of mind vnlesse we would willingly and wittingly prouoke the wrath and vengeaunce of God against our selues What must we then doo Truely we must take to vs a stoute bolde and constant minde We must chéefely consider how precious and honorable the confession and testification of our faith is before God For we doo lyttle knowe how God dooth estéeme this confession when our lyfe which is of no value is more set by and deare vnto vs. Wherein our wonderfull and beastlie foolishnesse is shewed for we can not in this sort spare our life but we must néeds confesse that we set more thereby then by Gods honour and our owne saluation A certayne Heathen man could vse this saying that it is a myserable thing to forsake and betraye the causes why we lyue for the conseruation of lyfe Yet hee and his lyke dyd neuer knowe truelie to what ende menne were set in the world and wherefore they lyued therein They might well say that vertue is to be estéemed and followed and that we ought to liue an honest lyfe without blame But all theyr vertues were nothing else but colours and shadowes But we haue better vnderstanding wherevnto our life must be referred which is that we honour GOD with all prayse and glorie that hee himselfe may bee our glorie Without him our lyfe is miserable the which we cannot continue the least moment but wee shall heape vppon our selues a perpetuall malediction And yet wee are nothing ashamed for the winning of a fewe dayes for this féeble lyfe to refuse the eternall kingdome and to seperate our selues from him by whose power we are and haue our being in this lyfe If a man should examine the most vnlearned yea those whose wit is so dased and whose life so voluptuous that they be most lyke to brute beastes what manner of lyfe is appointed them they durst not saye plainelie and openlie that it should consist onelie in eating drinking and sleeping For they knowe that they are created to a better woorthier and more higher thing which is nothing else but to serue and honour God with all kinde of honour and to suffer our selues as good chyldren to be ordered and reuealed by our most benigne Father that after the ende of this frayle and vnsure lyfe wee maye be receyued into his eternall heritage In the appointing and winning of this ende consisteth the chéefest and greatest point of our felicitie yea all the whole weight of euerlasting lyfe But when we carrie our mindes and thoughts another waye and doo snatch fast holde of this present lyfe wurse then a thousande deathes what excuse can we haue For to liue and be ignoraunt of the causes wherefore we liue is vnnaturall But to forsake the causes wherefore we liue héere for the desyre and loue to prolong our lyfe as it were for thrée dayes in this deceytful world and to be seperated from God the aucthour of lyfe is such a bewitching and furious madnesse that I know not with what wordes we ought to expresse and shewe it But whatsoeuer knowledge we haue and how soeuer our lyfe is appointed for so much as notwithstanding the persecutions are no lesse and bytter let vs consider how and by what meanes the Christian men maye confirme them selues in patiencie and so strengthen theyr mindes that they maye constantly venter to daunger theyr lyfe for Gods trueth This same Text which we haue recyted being well vnderstanded may bring vs to that indifferencie of minde yea to that willingnesse that we shall not refuse to suffer death for Gods name Let vs goe foorth of the Cittie sayth the Apostle after the Lord Christe bearing his opprobrie Fyrst

had the exposition therof by his owne holie ghost Then my good L. Chancelour who was alwaies sure at a néede perceiuing that I stood to this that I had offended no law to helpe at a pinch obiected yea thrée or fowre times for fayling a mater no lesse malicious then false And because nothing should be lefte out that might helpe foreward the mater this good olde father of Duresme who had plaide thrée partes before right well chargeth me with a matter not onely malicious false but so foolishe that I had much to doo to refraine my selfe from laughter I could not chuse but smile At the last my L. Chancelour after certaine talk had vnto me and mine answer made concluded that it was not only preaching wherwith I should be charged the which hee perceiued I sufficientlie defended by the Kings lawe in déede I had asked counsel of them that were learned in the lawes of the Realme but also matters touching the Quéenes highnesse which were the same wherwith he and the Bishop of Duresme had charged mee before as I learned by thrée or fowre of the Bishoppes owne seruauntes who had made no false report of theyr Maister before in my matters but as they wrote home to Duresme to theyr companions what thinges I should be charged with all and what should be my iudgement so afterward I found it true And therefore vpon the monday at after noone which was the thyrtie of October after it was tolde me by a fréend of mine dwelling in London who was familliar in the Bishoppes house and at that tyme frequented it the more to heare somwhat as touching me that he had learned and was crediblie enformed both that all my goodes at Duresme was seased on in the Quéenes graces name and that I my selfe should on the morrow be committed to the Tower both because I had contemned the Quéenes highnesse Letters and also for that I was a Scotte I saye after I heard these thinges considering how many godlie learned preachers were imprisoned and commaunded to theyr houses for religion without all doubt and yet an other pretence made perceyuing that abiding could not profit my selfe nor yet the congregatiō my departure might doo both I committed my selfe to the guiding of the Lord and went my waies not making any man priuy to my departure Meruaile not good brethren though after that I was entred into my iourney I were troubled with sundrie cares but chéefely with this least that I should now be apprehended by mine enimies and so giue them that they would haue béen glad of some honest colour wherefore they might haue séemed iustly to haue wrought on me theyr will For they that were not ashamed to inuent false and feyned accusations howe would they haue reioysed yea triumphed ouer me when they might haue laid to my charge flying the Quéens Realme and that not onely without her graces lycense but being cōuented before her highnesse honourable Counsell and commaunded to attend tyll they espied a time for me You may be assured a Lawiers wit wanting neither cunning nor yet good will and hauing full aucthoritie to say and doo what he lyst could easily haue amplified this crime and haue formed of a small Gnat a mighty Elephant But after that the Lord had deliuered me at the least for this time out of the mouth of the Lyon and saued me out of the handes of all mine enimies which hated me I beganne to study with my selfe and more dilligently consider to what end GOD had wrought thus my deliuerance which was not that I should nowe liue as one that had no regard of Gods glorie nor of mine owne duety But that as I was appointed to be a workman in his vineyard and a watchman ouer the house of Israel so I should now most earnestly hunt those wilde swine that destroyeth the Lordes vineyard gather togeather so much as in me lieth the Lordes shéepe that now are dispersed thorow out mountaines hylles and groues and to giue them warning of the feareful sword that hangeth ouer their heades Which thing I shall not cease to doo by the aide of Gods most holy spirit But for so much as I know right well the proud Papists whose mouthes are full of bitternes curssed spéech wil not cease yea out of theyr Pulpits with boasting and glorious words to carpe and flaunder me for my sodaine departure as though thereby they had vanquished ouercome Gods truth which I had set foorth and my kinsefolks and fréends will much lament my state taking this to vnkindnes that I would not make them priuie of my purpose thinking that they should haue turned my minde and also which moueth me most of all the weake flocke of Christ whome I had fed with the true doctrine of the Gospell maye by the subtill perswasions of the crafty hypocrites be brought in doubt of the veritie thereof as though I my selfe should haue forsaken it and therby be offended and be brought from God I say for these causes I thought it best to aunswer the malicious hypocrites whose mouthes although I could not stop yet at the least they should not hereafter say but that they were warned if that they would not cease to speake that they ought not they should heare that they would not héereby to satisfie my kinsefolke fréends who I knowe of fréendshippe and louing kindnesse looke vpon my matter with a wrong eye And also to admonishe the weake christian brethren both to beware of the leuen of the dissembling hypocrits who although they be cloathed in Lambs skins yet by theyr fruits they may know them to be rauening woolues and also to cōfirme themselues in that doctrine which I haue preached vnto them which also they haue receyued and not to be easilie caried away into any other contrarie although an Angell should come from heauen and preach it to them Who so will aduisedly behold the maners and conditions of the Scribes and Phariseis whilst Christe walked héere vppon earth what shifts and practises they vsed to maintaine their cloaked holines their dyrtie traditions and vaineglorious estimation therfore to deface Christe and to suppresse his holy word and also will with iudgemēt compare our popishe Prelates with the whole rablement of theyr chickens vnto them shal plainly see them so like in conditions practises and so liuely represent as it were the phisnamy of theyr old auncetours the Phariseis that he would saye and affirme that they were euen the selfe same risen from death to life againe Yea if bishop Caiphas were héere in his owne person he would for ioy burst out and say as Demea sayde by his sonne C●esipho Oh oh lachrymo gaudio laudo patrissat salnos sit spero est similis maiorum suorum For what was in the Phariseis of olde time wherin ours now do not excel them What pride what vainglorie hypocrisie trust in theyr owne righteousnes glory in theyr works of deuotion couetousnes

vanities and lyes yet God will haue his trueth defended by vs which is truely so great honour that it séemeth not to pertaine to the Angelles in heauen This one reason well considered ought it not to enflame and styrre vp our mindes to offer our selues wholie to God and to shew our whole endeuour in so holie and excellent a matter to please him And yet many cannot forbeare but that they will speake against God or at the least they will complaine that he hath no greater regard to ease theyr imbecillitie It is a meruailous matter saye they that séeing God hath borne vs thus much fauour that he hath chosen vs to be his chyldren yet hee will suffer vs to be so cruellie vexed and oppressed of wicked men I doo yet aunswere these men that although we knewe no reason why GOD dooth so deale with vs yet his aucthoritie should be such with vs that we should apply and conforme our selues to his wyll But now when we sée Iesus Christe to be set for an example to vs least we should séeke any other ought we not to thinke our selues greatlie happy that we be so drawne after his Image and lykenesse Moreouer God dooth set foorth and shewe plaine and manifest causes wherfore he will haue vs to suffer persecution among which if there were none other but that reason and aduertisement which Saint Peter giueth We must needes be verie peeuishe and sturdy vnlesse we be satisfied therewith This is his reason that séeing gold and syluer which are corruptible mettalles are purged and tryed in the fyre it is reason that our faith also which in value excelleth all ritches be tryed and approoued with such perrilles of lyfe and gréeues He could by and by after our calling without any conflict and suffering of these callamities haue crowned vs. But as he would haue Christe to raigne in the middes of his enimies euen so he would haue vs also dwelling among the selfe same to beare and suffer theyr violence and oppression vntyll we be delyuered from these afflictions and callamities by him Ind I am not ignoraunt that the flesh wyll then greatlie spurne and refuse to be ruled when it must be brought into this state but yet the will of God must rule all our thoughts and lustes If wée féele in our selues some contradiction and resistaunce it is not greatly to be meruailed at For that is planted and engrauen in our nature to flie the Crosse Yet let vs not abyde styll in that tendernesse of the fleshe but let vs goe on forewarde knowing that our obedience is thankefull and acceptable to GOD so that we cast downe our sences and appetites and doo so subdue them that they be vnder his power Neyther did the Prophets and Apostles come to death with minde that they dyd not perceyue theyr will to be against it and enclining an other waye They shall leade thee whether thou wouldest not sayth our Lorde Iesus to Peter So when such feare of death dooth pricke our mindes let vs labour by all meanes that we maye haue the ouerhande or rather that GOD maye ouercome and in the meane while let vs thus perswade our selues that it is to him a most pleasaunt Sacrifice when we resist our appetites and doo so withstande them that by this meanes being subdued vnder his power we may order and leade our lyfe after his will and pleasure This is the chéefest and greatest battell wherevnto God will haue all his with all theyr power to applie to the end they maye labour to cast downe and depresse all that which dooth so much exalt it selfe in theyr sences wittes and appetites that it dooth carrie and withdrawe them from the way which God doth shew to them In the meane season the consolations are so great and weightie that it can not be expressed how much deintie cowardnesse is in vs when we wexe faint hearted and giue ouer for these perylles and troubles In olde tyme the number was almoste infinite of them which for the desyre of a Garland made of corruptyble leaues dyd refuse no labour payne and wrastlynge and also dyd so suffer Death it selfe that they might séeme to haue theyr lyfe in no price And yet there was none of them but did contend chaunceably being vncertayne whether he should win or lose the game GOD dooth set before vs an immortal● crowne wherein we maye obtaine his owne glorie And he hath not appoynted vs an vncertayne and chaunceable conflict but dooth promise such a reward to the which we ought to conferre all the counsayles studies and desires of our life What is the cause that wee are so faynt harted in the largenesse and woorthinesse of this honour which is certaine and eternall Doo we thinke that this was spoken in vaine that wee shall liue with Christe if we be dead with him The triumph is prepared for vs but we so much as we maye doo flye from the conflict and battell But this doctrine is such that it seemeth plainely to disagrée with mans iudgement This is true Neither also Christ when he pronounceth them Blessed which suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake dooth propound such a sentence as the opinion of the world would alowe or receyue Yea he will haue vs to thinke that to be the chéefest felicitie which we iudge the greatest myserie We thinke our selues most myserable when God dooth suffer vs to be afflicted and oppressed with the tyranny and crueltie of our enimies But we doo wonderfully erre in this that we set not before our eies Gods promises which doo plainelie confirme vnto vs that all thinges shall come to our profite ioy and saluation We cast downe our stomacks and dispayre when we sée wicked and naughtie men to haue the vpperhand on vs and to doo that cruelty to vs that they séeme to treade downe our necke with theyr féete But this same most cruell vexation of the wicked and so great trouble and confusion of things as Saint Paul warneth Ought rather to confirme our mindes rayse vp and lyft them into heauen For because of our owne nature we are bent to the study and loue of thinges present and are so enflamed that with our whole knowledge minde and cogitation we are occupied in to much lyuing and vsing this vanitie God when he suffereth vs to be thus euill vexed and handled and the wicked to growe and flourishe in all thinges dooth teach and admonishe vs by these plaine and notable signes of his most iust iudgement that that daye shall once come when all thinges that be now troubled and confused shalbe setled But if that same time seeme farre and long too let vs flie to that remedy and let vs not flatter our selues in our vice For this is certayne that we haue no faith at all vnlesse we cast the eyes of our minde to the honourable comming of Iesus Christ And because God would leaue out no consideration that might be apt to mooue and styrre vs he

a multitude of them which hath suffered for the testimony of the trueth that so well the aboundaunce of excellent examples As the most graue aucthoritie ought to prouoke vs to contentation patiencie and moderation of minde And least my Oration should wexe too long in heaping vp together an infinite multitude of examples I will onelie speake of these Iewes which suffered most gréeuous persecution for the true religion both vnder the tyranny of King Antiochus also shortlie after his death We cannot say that then the number of the afflicted men was smal when a great mighty army as it were of Martyrs was prepared to maintaine and defend the religion Neyther can we alledge that they were certayne excellent Prophets whom God hath chosen forth and seperated from the common sort of people for there were women boyes and infantes also in that number of Martyrs Neither wyll wee say that they passed thorow the persecution onely with some lyght losse without great peryll of lyfe without great paines and torments of bodies séeing there was no kinde of crueltie vnprooued in afflicting vexing and tormenting them Let vs heare also what the Apostle dooth saye of them and dooth set foorth for vs to followe Some sayth he were hanged vp lyke belles and stretched despising to be delyuered that they might obtayne a better resurrection Other were prooued with opprobrious wordes and stripes or with bonds and prisonment Other were stoned or cutte in sunder or kylled with the sword Othersome went wandering hyther and thether thorowe hylles and caues of the earth Let vs now come to make comparison betwixt them and vs. If they suffered so many and great torments for the trueth which was as then but obscure what ought we to doo in this great lyght which hath shined vnto vs in this tyme God speaketh vnto vs now as with ful mouth The greatest gate of the kingdom of heauen is made open vnto vs. Iesus Christe comming from heauen vnto vs dooth so call vs to him that we haue him present as it were before our eyes Into howe great ingratitude and shamefull wickednesse shall we runne into if we haue lesse stomacke and loue to beare and suffer for the Gospell then they had which dyd beholde the promises of God but as it were a farre off who had but a very lyttle doore opened to enter into y e kingdome of God who had receiued onely a remembraunce and obscure testimony in figures of Iesus Christe These great matters cannot be declared expressed with any wordes as they be worthy Wherfore I leaue them to be weighed in euery mans thoughtes and meditations This doctrine as it hath a cōmon and vniuersall reason so it must be referred to the exercise and order of euery mans life But euery man must apply it to his proper vse profite apt for his owne consolation And I speake this for this cause least that they which sée themselues to be in no manifest peryll should suppose this doctrine to be vaine not to pertaine to them Now they are not in the handes of tyrantes but what know they how GOD will deale with them heereafter Therfore we must be of the minde that if any persecution which we looked not for happen vnto vs that we fall not thereinto vnwares vnprouided but that wee come to it prepared long before hand But I feare there be many death eares to whome this my oration is made without fruit For they that liue in quiet hauing all things at will are so far from preparing themselues to take suffer death when néed shalbe that they haue no care nor thought of seruing God at all But this ought to be all our study continually especially in these great troublesome times wherein we liue in great peril In the meane time they whome God calleth to suffer for the testimony of his name must thinke in very déed that they were prepared long before and brought to this sufferaunce of euylles by the motion and certaine iudgement of the spirite that they might beare themselues therin boldlie and constantlie Then also they must dilligently call to their remembrance all the exhortations which they haue heard before and be so styrred vp with aduertisement of them as the valiant Soldiour to take his armour when he heareth the Trumpet blowe But what seeke we Truely in these perilles we doo nothing else but séeke shiftes and wayes how to escape I meane this by the most part of men For this same persecution is as it were a touch stone wherewith God dooth trie and prooue who ●e his but there are few found of that faith courage and godlynesse towardes God that they will offer themselues franckly and fréely vnto death for his names sake This is a thing almost incredible that they which doo glorie that they haue some knowledge in the Gospell are so impudent and vnshamefast they wyll vse such cauillations Some wyll say what shall it auayle to confesse our faith before those stubborne styfnecked men which are purposed to warre against God himselfe Is not this to cast pearles before Swine As who would saye Iesus Christe dooth not most plainlie declare that he dooth require of vs the confession of his name yea among most peruerse and wicked men But if this our testimony doo nothing profite to theyr edifying yet shall it profite to theyr confusion Alwayes the confession of our faith dooth sauour swéetlie before God although it bring death and destruction to wicked men There be other also which will say this what shall our death profite when it shall séeme to giue more offence then vtilitie As though God hath left to themselues frée choyse to dye when they wil or when they shall thinke it the most apt time of death But we contrariwise doo obey him but as for the fruite that must come by our death we leaue to the hand and prouidence of God Wherfore the christian must most chéefly in what place soeuer he be dilligentlie see that he liue in that simplicitie integrity that God requyreth and that he be not brought from the minde manner of godly and holy lyfe at any time with any daungers or threatnings Let him eschue so much as is possible the raging madnes of the woolues so that the same warinesse be not ioyned with the prudence and craftinesse of the fleshe First of all let him doo this that he giue ouer and resigne his lyfe into the handes of God the most faithfull kéeper When he hath ordayned and kept dilligently this manner and fashion of lyfe if afterward he fall into the handes of enimies let him thinke and perswade himselfe that he is brought into that place of God for this cause that he maye haue him a witnesse of his sonne Therefore seeing he is called and brought to the confession by the certayne decree of God there is no way to goe backe vnlesse he will be vnfaithfull vnto him to whome

we haue promised all our endeuours both to lyue and die yea whose we are although we had promised nothing at all I meane not héereby to driue euery man of necessitie at all tymes to giue a full and perfect confession of theyr Faith no not sometymes when they be asked For I knowe what measure and moderation Saint Paule vsed who was ready with heart and minde to defend the Gospell as any other Neyther was this spoken by the Lord Iesus and promised without a cause that God would giue vs in that tyme matter a mouth and prudence As though he would haue sayde the office of the holie Ghost is not onlie to confirme vs that we maye be willing bolde and strong but also it consisteth in giuing vs iudgement prudence and counsayle how we may as it becommeth gouerne and rule our selues in so great and so harde a matter Trulie this whole Treatise is to this ende that they that be in such distresses should desire and receyue from heauen that moderation and prudence not following the counsayle of the fleshe to séeke some shiftes to escape But there be that doo obiect in this place that the Lord Iesus yea when he was asked would make to them no aunswer But I say that this suffiseth not to take away that rule which he hath giuen to vs to witnesse our faith then when the confession thereof is necessarilie required Furthermore that he did neuer dissemble or kéepe silence for this purpose to saue his lyfe Last of all that he dyd neuer make so doubtfull an aunswere but that it contayned an apte testimony of that which he had spoken before or else did first satisfie them that laye in waite to marke bothe his wordes and déedes Wherefore let all Christians be well perswaded and sure of this thing that no man ought more to estéeme his life then the testimony of the truth wherin God will haue the prayse and glorie of his name to appeare Is it without cause that he calleth all those his witnesses for this dooth the word Martyr signifie who are brought to make aunswer before the enimies of Faith and Religion Or is not this rather the cause for that he would vse all theyr speaking and whole course of lyfe to the confession of his name Wherein euerie man must not so looke to his neighbour and fellowe that he will seeme to doo nothing at all without his example and testimony And this curiositie is so much the more to be eschued because we are prone to this vice of our owne nature Peter when he heard of Christe That he should be ledde in his olde age whether he would not he enquired what should become of Iohn his fellowe and companion There is none of vs which to auoide peryl and daunger would not gladly make aunswere in that wise because when we should suffer any thing by and by this commeth into our minde what is the cause wherefore I should suffer more then others But Iesus Christe dooth counsayle and admonish otherwise vs all in common and euerie man priuatlie to be prepared and ready that as he calleth one or other so euerie man come foorth in his order And I haue shewed this before that we shall be vnarmed and vnprepared to take and suffer Martyrdome vnlesse we be fensed and armed with the promises of God Now remaineth to declare plentifully such promises not that we wyll set foorth euerie one exactlie but to shewe the cheefe and most excellent thing which GOD would haue vs to hope for to comfort vs in our callamities And there be thrée such thinges the first that séeing all the tymes both of our lyfe and death doo consist in his hand he will so defend vs by his power That not one heaire of our head shall fall but after his will Wherefore all faithfull men ought thus to be perswaded in whose hands so euer they be tossed that God in no wise wil lay aside that gouernaunce and custody which he hath taken vppon him for them with so great care If this perswasion of Gods fatherlie care and prouidence did rest and cleaue déepe in our hearts we should be deliuered out of hande of the greatest parte of these doubtes and difficulties which doo now trouble and hinder our duetie We behold now the bitternesse of the tyrants and vnbridled crueltie brawling péeuishlie in all sharpnesse of punishments And heereby we iudge that God hath no more care nor regard to defend and kéepe vs in safetie And therefore we be so styrred and prouoked by our owne reasons to look and prouide for our selues as though the whole hope of Gods helpe and succour were cleane taken away But on the other part the so great prouidence of God as he hath shewed vnto vs ought to be vnto vs like a strong fensed Castle which can be ouercommen with no power Let vs therefore learne holde fast this short sentence that our bodies are in his hand and power who also did create them And this is the cause wherfore God hath deliuered his after a meruailous sort and contrarie to the opinion and hope of all men as Sydrach Misach and Abednego foorth of the burning Ouen Daniell out the Lyons denne Peter out of Herodes prison wherein he was shutte and watched and dillygentlye faste bounde in chaines By these examples he would declare vnto vs that he could staye our enimies as it were with a certayne bridle and that hee had that power that when hee would hee could preserue and as it were plucke vs out of the mouth of Death it selfe Not that hée dooth alwayes thus delyuer his from such perylles but of right hauing the aucthoritie to appoint our life and death he wyll haue vs perswaded that we are so continued and kept vnder his custodie and tuition that whatsoeuer the tyrauntes doo inuent or with what furie soeuer they set vppon vs yet it is onelie in his hande to appoint lyfe or death and therefore this matter ought onelie to be referred to his wyll But if hée suffer the tyrauntes to kyll vs yet our lyfe is vnto him deare and much more set by of him then it is woorthy The which he dyd plainly declare to be so when he pronounced by the mouth of Dauid That the death of his Saints was honorable and precious in his sight And also when he sayde by Esaie That the earth it selfe should shewe foorth the blood that was shedde which seemeth altogether hidden Nowe then let the enimies of the Gospell be as bountifull and prodigall in shedding the Martyrs blood as they will yet this must be that they shall make a reckoning and horrible account of the effusion of that déere and precious blood yea euen to the vttermost droppe But now in this tyme they doo scornfully and proudly laugh when they burne the faithfull men and after they haue dypte and washed themselues in theyr blood they become so dronken that they care nothing at all

what murthers they doo But if we will haue this staye and moderation of minde that we can patiently abide God wyll at the last declare that it was not without a cause that he so greatly esteemed our life and had it in so great honour In the meane while let vs not take it to gréefe if it be nowe bestowed to confirme and garnishe the Gospell which excelleth heauen and earth in woorthinesse And that we may be more surely perswaded that God will neuer leaue vs as abiect●s in the handes of the enimies let vs not forgette the same saying of Iesus Christe wherein he sayth That it is he himselfe whome men doo persecute in his members God sayde before by Zacharie Who so toucheth you toucheth the sight of mine eye This is much more expressed if we suffer for the Gospel sake it is euen as the sonne of GOD himselfe were and suffered in that affliction Therefore let vs thinke so that Iesus Christe must forget himselfe if he should haue no care and thought of vs at that tyme when we be in prison and daunger of lyfe for his cause and glorie and let vs also knowe that God wyll take all the contumelies and iniuries as doon against his owne sonne Let vs come to the second place of consolation which is one of the greatest among Gods promises that is that God wyll so holde vs vp with the vertue of his spirite in these afflictions that our enimies whatsoeuer they doo nor Sathan theyr chéefe captaine shall in any thing goe away with the vpper hand And trulie we doo sée howe in that necessitie he dooth shew the succour and helpes of his grace For the inuincible stoutnesse and constancie of minde which is séene in the true Martyrs is a notable token of that same most mightie power which God vseth in his Saints There be two thinges in persecutions gréeuous tedious and intollerable to the fleshe whereof the one consisteth in the checkes and rebukes of men the other in the payne and torment of the body In both these kindes of temptations GOD dooth promise so his assistaunce that we shall easily ouercome all the infamy and violence of the gréefes and paynes And truelie what he promyseth he dooth perfourme in déede with most manifest and assured helpe Let vs then take this buckler to defend vs against all feare and let vs not measure the power of Gods spirits so slenderly that we should not thinke and beléeue that he wyll easily ouercome all the iniuries bitternesse and contumelies of men And of this diuine and inuinsible operation among all other we haue a notable example in this our age A certayne young man who liued godlilie héere with vs in this Cittie when he was taken at Dornicke was condemned with this sentence that if he would deny the confession of his Faith he should be but beheaded but if he perseuered in his purposed opinion he should be burned When he was asked whether he would doo he aunswered plainly he who wyll giue me this grace to dye patientlie for his name wyll also worke by the selfe-same grace that I maye abide broyling and burning We ought to take this sentence not as pronounced of a mortall man but of the holy Ghost that we should thinke that GOD can so well confirme and make vs ouercome all paines and tormentes as to mooue vs to take any other kinde of méeker death in good parte Yea we sée also oftentymes what constancie he giueth to euyll and wicked men who suffer for theyr euill déedes and wickednesse I doo not speake of such as be obstinate and hardned in theyr wickednesse which haue no repentaunce but of them which doo perceyue consolation by the grace of Iesus Christe and so doo take and suffer quietlie and with good will most gréeuous and sharpe paine and as we sée a notable example in that theefe who turned at the death of our Lord Iesus Christ Will God who assisteth with so great power wicked men that suffer condignly for theyr euill actes forsake them who defend his cause and will he not rather giue them inuinsible power The thyrd place of promises which God promiseth to his Martyrs is the fruite which they ought to looke for of theyr suffering and of death it selfe if néede so require But this fruite is that after they haue set foorth and honoured Gods name and edified his Church with their testimony they may be gathered together in immortall glorie with the Lord Iesus But because we haue spoken largely enough before of this reward of eternall glorie it is now sufficient to renue the memorie of those thinges that are already spoken Wherefore let the faithfull learne to reare vp theyr heads to the crowne of immortall glorie wherevnto God dooth call them let them not take the losse of this lyfe gréeuouslie considering the greatnes and woorthines of the reward And that they maye be sure and perfectly perswaded of this so great a good thing as cannot be expressed with any spéeche nor in thought to be comprehended nor with any honour enough to be estéemed let them haue continually before theyr eyes this lyke and conformable reason with our Lord Iesus Christe that in death it selfe they beholde lyfe as he by ignominie of the Crosse and infamie came to glorious resurrection wherein all our felicitie triumphe and ioye consysteth Amen FINIS Gods word displaced Idolatrie brought in 2. Tim. 4.2 No man can speake against the truth without great blasphemy to God 〈◊〉 the na● of the ●sts to ●er and ●e euill ●e god● A compari●on between the Phari●eis and the popish pre●ates The Papists haue found out that which the Phariseis neuer heard of The Papists slaundering of the god●ie Christe his example a comfort to the godly Matth. 10.24.25.26 A question demaūded The Aunswer Luke 18.13 Galat. 5.17 ●th 11.19 ●th 9 11. ●th 9.14 ●th 12.2 ●e slande●s spee●s of the ●ariseis a●nst christ 〈◊〉 the iu●ying of ●mselues The intent of the popish hypocrites by their rayling Iohn 9.24 1. Tim. 5.19 Such as theyr Religion is such is their life Iebr. 13.4 The Papists ●biection Aunswer 1 2. Cor. 12.7.8.9 An example of the oath of vnmaried ●riests that 〈◊〉 virgins 〈◊〉 notable ●biection ●hich all ●he Papistes ●re not able ●o deny S. Augus● The Papi● proued h●pocrites s Augusti● wordes God knoweth the secretes o● all hearts ● Paules ●ctrine to 〈◊〉 Gala●ans and ●hessalo●ans poy●ed by ●se tea●ers ●ala 1.10 Thes 2.4 The Papists would rayle against Christe him selfe if they durst but because thei dare not they reuile his word A question demaunded of the Papistes Theyr aunswer Math. 9 17 Why the Papists call the Gospell the new learning The church of Antichrist the continuall enimy to the Gospell Aug. lib. de bap paruul The Papists say they be Peters successours so in some respectes they be The cause why the godly fled in tyme of trouble The Papists cast in prison and banishe the cheefe learned men then cal for disputation when no body is to answere them nor any that they wil suffer to come The practises of the Papistes to vpholde their Religion Acts 16.16 Acts. 19.24 A note of the Aurhor to the noble men Math. 22.17 Mat. 16.26 Math. 19.29 Math. 6.26 1 Tim. 6.7 ● Heb. 13.14 Philip 3.8 Mat. 16.6 Psal 16 4. ● Psal 16.6 Gods honour abused throug● Idolles ●sal 16.5 Dani. 3. 1. Cor. 6.19.20 ● Cor. 7.22 ● 1. Cor. 6.19 Gala. 5.30 Gene. 39. False religion a corrupting of true religion God dooth forbid false religion Iere. 10.11 Masses 〈◊〉 vnlyke to harlottes The maner how the papists do defend them selues Iere. 3.12 Singing in an vnknowen tōgue is an open ●●ophaning 〈◊〉 Gods ●ord ● Cor. 14. Psal 16.5 Gene. 28.6 7 8 9. ●ds ho●ur is to 〈◊〉 preferd ●ore all ●nges ●e 29. All men are careles in a maner and do not delight to reade the Gospell In reading of holy scripture w● must think● vs in a scol● of Angels The way ●ow to pre●are our ●lues vnto ●atience 〈◊〉 we had a● regard God we ●uld not ●ne his ●ly gospel ●o lyes ●e con●ncie of ●artyrs in ●de time Idolles ar● to be detested of all men Vertue is be embraced of all God is to be honor with all uerence Heb. 13 13 We are all ●lled to ●ffer per●cution ●ll daun●ers to be ●ffered for ●e gospell ●ke Rom. 9. ●ffering ●rsecution ●r the gos●lles sake 〈◊〉 the iudg●ent of the ●orld is the ●eatest in●my wee 〈◊〉 suffer Acts. 5.41 1 Pet. 4 15 1● ●esus Christ 〈◊〉 an exam●e to vs. God doo shewe vs many causes why w● should sufer persecution ●od dooth ●repare for ●is elect a ●owne of ●mortall ●lory Math. 5.10 Math. 10 32 Luke 2. The worst they can d● vs is to tak● away our liues Luke ● 2 ●h 10 32 Gods ●d dooth 〈◊〉 terrifie 〈◊〉 mindes ●hing I terrifie ●n ●br 11. ●at faith Two parte● to be considered Psa 129.2 ●al 44.22 ●sal 2.3 ●sa 125.3.5 2. Cor. 4 〈◊〉 1.12 ●euous ●secutions ●ered by 〈◊〉 Iewes Hebr. 11.36 37 3● ●ompa●n be●en them 〈◊〉 vs. ●at mat● cannot 〈◊〉 declared 〈◊〉 they ●ght ●ersecution is a ●ouchstone Euerie ma● must liue in that simplicity and integritie that God requireth We ought 〈◊〉 commit ●ur lyfe in● Gods ●and What this word Martyr signifieth Dani. 3.26 Dani. 6.20 ●l 116.15 ●y 26.21 ●owe the ●apists doo ●lory when ●hey burne ●he faithful Acts. 9.4 Zacha. 2 8. ●wo things ●eeuous in ●rsecution ●od dooth ●omise his ●lpe in ●th kinds The great constancie of the yo● man Question Aunswer ●ke 23. ●hat fruit 〈◊〉 Martirs ●ght to ●oke for