for hee maketh the Sunne 45. to rise vpon the euill and the good and his raine to fall vppon the iust and vniust On the contrarie saith Christ if yee loue them that loue you what reward shall yee haue doe not the Publicans euen the same Be ye 46. perfect therefore in loue euen as your heauenly Father is perfect To giue our goods 47. only to such poore as we loue and like such as we know wil blaze the same abroade and to hate other whome we should loue is not to be perfect but partiall in loue and so for such loue we shal haue no thanke of GOD. We haue spoken before of brotherly-kindnesse that doeth keepe it selfe within some limites but this Loue wherof now we speake hath no bounds but extendeth it selfe ouer Loue hath no bounds all the world euen to our verie enemies He that cannot loue his enemies for Christs sake is not perfect in loue God loued vs when we were his enemies wee must follow God in this respect Be followers of God saith Rom. 5.6 Saint Paul and walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and so forth Beloued saith Eph. 5.1 Saint Iohn If God so loued vs we ought also to loue one another The loue that God hath 1. Ioh. 4.11 shewed vnto vs is infinite and vnmeasurable wee must therefore endeauour to loue God and our enemies for his sake in some We must loue our enemies because God loued vs being his enemies measure Or else Woe Woe be vnto vs. We must loue God because hee loued vs first and wee must loue our enemies for Gods sake because he loued vs when we were his enemies This doctrine by how much more it is hard for flesh and bloud to performe because it is against our fleshly nature which is euermore desirous of reuenge by so much If we cannot forgiue we must pray God to change our hearts Mat. 18. 24. more ought wee to desire God to change or mollifie our hard harts that we may be readie to forgiue others one hundred pence seeing God is so kind to forgiue vs ten thousand talents alwaies remembring this definitiue sentence of Christ If yee forgiue not other their trespasses no more wil your heauenly Father forgiue you your trespasses Mat. 6.15 Therefore Christians are taught daylye to pray the Lord to forgiue them as they doe Mat. 6.12 forgiue others that is if wee doe not forgiue others then wee desire the Lord not to forgiue vs which is most fearefull if wee haue any grace to consider ofit This then is to be When wee pray doe not forgiue we sinne grieuously perfect in loue as farre as we can attaine to perfection in this life to loue God with all our harts with all our soules and with al our strength our neighbour though our enemy as our selus The which thing because no mā can do in such absolute sort as he ought therefore we cannot bee perfect in loue til Wē cannot be perfect in loue in this life we haue laide down our fleshly nature be clothed with immortalitie but we must doe the best we can and though we cannot loue God and our neighbors as we should yet we must forgiue our enemies freely as wee are commanded yea loue them euen as our dearest frendes though they bee our mortal enemies and haue sworne our death yet wee must loue them not with a fayned We must pray for our enemies Luk. 23.24 Act. 7.60 but true Christian loue and praye for them that God woulde change their harts and forgiue them euen as Christ and Saint Stephen prayed for their persecutors saying To forgiue iniuries is giuen vnto vs of God Lorde lay not this sinne to their charge This loue which causeth vs to suffer iniuries patiently and to forgiue them freely is the speciall gift of God and giuen onely to his 1 Cor. 13.4 elect Therefore Saint Paule saith Loue suffereth long and is curteous Loue enuieth 5. not loue doth not boast it selfe it swelleth not it disdayneth not it seeketh not her 6. owne things it is not prouoked to anger it 7. thinketh no euill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth it suffereth all thinges it beleeueth all things it hopeth all thinges and indureth all thinges Why then he that hath this lincke of loue hath Loue hath all vertues included in it all these vertues included in it O rich chain where one lincke is bedecked with so many precious pearles contrariwise then it must needes follow that they which can suffer no iniuries they that are of a currish nature and not curteous they that enuy at other mens good successe prosperitie they that are puffed vp with pride and vaine glorie Vices contrary vnto the fruits of loue as a bladder with winde they that will commende none but disdaine all they that are not contented with their owne but seek other mens by deceite or oppression they that not onely thinke euill but study to deuise mischiefe they that are sory to haue truth knowen reioyce in iniquitie These and such like whosoeuer they are of what calling or degree soeuer they be of haue not receiued this badge of loue whereby they should be knowen to be true christians Last of all S. Paul saith that loue neuer Verse 8. falleth away but abideth with vs in this life shall continue with vs for euermore in the life to come O then let vs make much of Loue and charitie for it is a surpassing Loue a surpassing treasure treasure It is no maruell that Sainte Peter would not finishe his Chayne before this lincke of loue were aded vnto it That must A glorious Chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue Happy are they that weare this chaine 2. Pet. 1.8 needes be a golden and glorious chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue hauing lincked vnto them both all graces and vertues whatsoeuer happy yea thrise happy are they that weare this Chaine surely they shall neuer be bound in euerlasting chaines If these things saith S. Peter be among you and abounde they will make you that ye shall neuer be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus 9. Christ But he that hath not these thinges as faith loue the rest is blind cannot see farre of and hath forgotten that hee was 10 purged from his old sinnes wherefore breethren giue all diligence to make your calling election sure for if ye do these things ye shal neuer fall but by these meanes an 11 entring shal bee ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all prayse glory power and maiestie from age to age world without end A Praier for Loue or Charitie O Blessed Lord God most louing mercifull Father for as much as thou hast shewed vnto mankind thine infinite vnmeasurable loue not onely in creating vs of the dust of the earth then preferring vs to be lords ouer all the works of thy hands but also and especially hast manifested this thine vnexpressable kindnes towardes vs in giuing thine onely beloued sonne to death for vs that hee might bring vs vnto life to this end that in a thankeful remembrance of this thy so great loue kindnes we should shew our loue to thee againe to our neighbours and brethren for thy sake Grant therefore vnto me good Lord that I may loue thee aboue all thinges and my neighbour as myselfe not onely my frends and those that do me good but also mine enemies because thou louedst mee when I was thine enemie that I may neuer suffer the sunne to go down vpon my wrath but with all gentlenes and from my hart I may suffer iniuries and forgiue myne enemies O Lord if thou wilt vouchsafe to receaue me into thy seruice giue vnto me thy badge of christian loue or charitie whereby I may be assured that I am thy seruant let the fire of this loue breake out from me into flames of good works that I may be ready to do good vnto all but specially vnto them that are of the houshold of faith This grace vouchsafe vnto me and to all christians for his sake in whom thou art wel pleased So shalt thou O God dwel here in earth with me and I shal euermore dwelhere and in heauen with thee to whom with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holy Ghost our euerlasting comforter be all lande and honour for euer and euer Amen FINIS Laus Deo honos
saith Hee that beleeueth hath euerlasting life And Saint Paul saith by grace ye are saued Ioh. ◠36 Ephe. 2.8 By things to come I meane the accomplishment and performance of our saluation which in this life we doe patiently waite for and expect by hope therefore hope is sometimes vsed in the same sence that faith is as in the eight to the Romaines Saint Paul saith we are saued by hope that is by Rom. 8.24 hope our faith is supported and wee are comforted til we haue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules Againe this difference is betweene faith and hope that faith doth imbrace and apprehend Wherein faith and hope agree the promises of things and hope the things whereof the promises are made onely in this faith and hope agree that they haue alwaies respect vnto one and the selfe same benefits As for example when Abraham Gen. 17.19 was promised to haue a sonne in his olde age he did verily beleeue it but with hope did expect the performance thereof many yeares He was promised also the land of Canaan to him and his seede he did verily Gen. 17.8 beleeue it should be accomplished but yet hee did onely enioy the same by hope Thus we haue seene briefely the difference betweene faith hope and loue as also how they agree in one but of loue we shalspeake more God willing in the last Chapter Now let vs proceede a little further in our purpose to shew the excellencie and worthines of faith whereby we are assured of things inuisible as though wee saw them Things inuisible are plainely seene with the eyes of faith-Heb 11.3 with our bodily eyes if not more assured Through faith wee vnderstand the world was made by the word of God so that the things which we see are not made of things which did appeare Through faith we are assured of our election before the foundations of the world were laide God hath chosen vs saith Saint Paul in Christ before the foundation of the Ephes 1.4 world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Through faith wee are assured of our reconciliation with God for God was in Christ saith the Apostle and reconciled 2. Cor. 5.19 the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them Through faith wee are assured of our redemption iustification and sanctification Ye are of him saith Saint Paul in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 1.30 who is made vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Through faith we are assured of our adoption that wee are the sonnes of God The spirite Rom. 8 16 beareth witnesse vnto our spirites saith the Apostle that wee are the children of God Through faith wee are assured that wee haue the spirit of God Know ye not that the 2. Cor. 13.5 spirite of Christ dwelleth in you except ye be reprobates Through faith wee haue the true knowledge of God and of Christ and in the ende euerlasting life This is life eternall to know God the father and whome hee hath Ioh. 17.3 sent Iesus Christ Lastly through faith we are assured that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God for those whome God once loueth to Ioh. 13.1 the ende he loueth them I am perswaded saith Saint Paule that neither death nor Rom. 8.38 life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our If we haue faith nothing can separate vs from God Lord. See thē the excellency of faith which may yet againe be considered fower maner of waies In respect of God in respect of our neighbours in respect of our selues in respect of the deuill and of the world In respect of God we feele peace of conscience Being iustified by faith wee Rom. 5.1 haue peace towardes God through Iesus Christ our Lorde Wee haue hope of the glorie to come Wee haue accesse vnto the 8.21 Heb. 4.16 throne of grace In respecte of our neighbours we haue mutuall concord godly loue and charitie In respect of our selues wee haue patience in afflictions reioycing in Rom. 5.3 tribulations ioye in the holye Ghost dying vnto sinne liuing vnto righteousnesse In respect of Sathan our faith fighteth for Ephe. 6.16 vs against his temptations and in respect of the world wee doe by little and little ouercome it This is the victorie which ouercommeth the world euen your faith 1. Ioh. 5.9 What should we say more If thou haue faith all things in heauen and earth make for thee if thou want faith al things in heauē earth hel make against thee if thou haue All thinges make for the faithful as al things make against the infidels faith thou art rich without any other thing if thou want faith thou art poore possessing al other things if thou haue faith thou maiest bee bolde as a Lyon if thou want faith thou wilt tremble at the shaking of a leafe if thou haue faith thou needes not feare the Faith a strong fort against our enemies force of thine enemies but for want of faith the heartes of people faint within them The wicked flie saith Salomon and no man pursueth them contrariwise the faithfull will say with Dauid God is our hope Pro. 28.1 and strength a helpe in troubles ready to bee founde Therefore will wee not feare Psal 46 1.2 3. though the earth remoue and though the mountaines fall into the depth of the Sea the hils shake at the surges of the same Againe Dauid saith though thousands had Psal 3.6 hemd me in on euery side yet would I not feare And againe I will say vnto the Lord O my hope and my fortresse he is my God Psal 92.1.2 in him will I trust surely hee will deliuer thee from the snare of the hunter and from 3. the noysome pestilence he will couer thee vnder his wings and thou shalt bee safe vnder 4. his feathers his truth shall be thy shield and buckler thou needst not bee affraid of the terror of the night nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day nor of the pestilence that 5. walketh in the darkenesse nor of the plague One faithfull man better in fight then a thousand infidels that destroyeth at the noone day a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hande but it shall not come neere thee Behold then I beseech you the 6. force of faith blessed is the man that hath 7. the Lord for his God Psa 144.15 Now hauing hitherto heard the excellencie of faith and what profit we receiue therby it shall not be amisse to note for our further comfort and consolation what worthy praise commendation the Scripture hath alwaies giuen vnto faithfull men and women what
vsually compared vnto a hand wherwith we receiue as one saith the rich almes of God if we lack this hand wee shal die for want This holy Faith the mother of repentance faith is called the mother of true repentance and repentance the daughter of faith for assoone as wee haue a true iustifying Faith presently repentaunce followeth with the fruites thereof as Saint Iohn Baptist saith Bring fourth fruit worthy of repentance This liuely iustifying faith is neuer idle Mat. 3.8 A true iustiying faith neuer idle but stil worâ—…eth by â—oue but still worketh by loue and is the roote from whence all good works do spring As the sunne cannot be without light nor the fire without heat nor water without moystnes No more can any one which hath this true iustifying faith be without good works which are the fruites thereof Therefore it is very true which Saint Iames saith that as the body without the soule is deade so faith without workes is deade in it â—am 2.17 selfe Neyther is there any disagreement betweene the doctrine of Saint Paul and Saint Iames though the one saye wee are Rom. 3.28 iustified by faith and the other by workes for Saint Paul speaketh of our iustifying before Iam. 2.24 God by faith only thorough the bloud of Christ and Saint Iames of our iustifying S. Paul and S. Iames reconciled concerning iustificatioÌ„ before men when wee make knowen to the worlde by our good workes which are the fruites of faith that wee are iustified Therefore let vs beleeue the Scripture which saith that Abraham beleeued God Rom. 4.36 and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse That wee are not iustified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ For by grace wee are saued saith Gala. 2.16 Saint Paul through faith not of our selues it is the gift of God not of workes least any Eph. 2.8.9 shuld boast which place doth cut the throte of that grosse opinion of those proud Pharisayicall Papists that ignorantly bragge Popish supererogation superabundant arrogancie and boast of their workes and merites as though they coulde merite heauen with them both for them selues and others forsooth by their works of supererogation but more rightly called superabundant-arrogancie Let vs beleeue the Apostle saying if righteousnesse came by the law then Christ Gala 2.21 dyed in vaine Let vs beleeue the truth it selfe saying when ye haue done all that yee can yet say ye are but vnprofitable seruaÌ„ts ye haue done but what was your duty to do Luk. 17.10 It is our dutie and required of vs vppon Mat. 25.41 paine of damnation to doe good workes which as Saint Paul saith God hath ordained Ephe. 2.10 that we should walke in them but not that we should trust in them to be saued for faith herein must haue the preheminence Therefore Saint Paul counteth all thinges Phil 3 8.9 losse and doung that he might win Christ and might bee found in him not hauing his owne righteousnes but the righteousnesse which is through the faith of Christ Obiection But heere some may say why doe ye alleadge so many testimonies of Saint Paul to this purpose for heseemeth to be contrarie to himselfe and though in many places hee extolleth faith yet in one place hee preferreth 1. Cor. 13. loue charitie before it for he saith now abideth these three faith hope and loue but the chiefest of these is loue True it is chiefe in respect that it doth What S. Paul meaneth by saying that faith is chiefer then loue extend it selfe farre and neare to the benefit and profit of our neighbours for faith profiteth our selues loue our neighbours and because it doth continue longer then faith and hope doth for the vse of theÌ„ both doth cease when wee haue the fruition and possession of that which wee hoped for and when we haue the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules but loue is onely begun in this life perfected in the life to come in these respects Saint Paul saith it 1. Pet. 1 9. is cheefe Notwithstanding though wee graunt this and say further with the same Apostle that as there is no true loue without faith so there is no true faith without loue because faith worketh by loue yet it Gala. 5.6 is certaine that faith in respect of our saluation and in this matter of iustification is more excellent then loue yea loue must come after faith as an obedient daughter Loue the daughter of faith after her mother which faith doeth bring forth both hope and loue Faith then is the ground of things hoped for Hope is an vndoubted expectation of those things which are promised vnto vs of God by the meanes of Christ Loue is linked vnto them both may not be seperated from them By faith saith the Author to the Hebrus our forefathers obtained a good report Heb. 11.1.2 therefore I conclude that faith ought still to haue the preheminence in iustification for thereby are we receiued made the sonnes Faith must haue the preheminence in iustificatioÌ„ of God euen by our faith in Christ by whome wee obtaine euerlasting life This doctrine as it doth stirre vs vp to beleeue so should it stir vs vnto loue charitie which are the liuely fruites of faith and without it faith is dead in it selfe But here wee must also take heede that we doe not imagine that faith though it be a rare and singular vertue doth thereby of it selfe deserue euerlasting life for so wee should fal into error but faith is called most Christ only hath purchased heauen for vs. faith the instrument to apprehend it holy excellent or precious in this respect that it is the meane appointed by God himselfe wherby we should apprehend and receiue most holy excellent precious gifts whereof the chiefest is eternall and euerlasting life purchased vnto vs by the death passion and resurrection of Christ euen by his righteousnes and obedience Of this eternal and euerlasting life our faith grounded vppon the promises of God doth most certenly assure vs and then by hope which is also the childe of faith we doe with patience waite for the accomplishment and performance thereof For those ioyes which one day we shall haue in perfect possession How faith and hope are distinguished wee doe now enioye by faith and hope the which may thus bee distinguished the one from the other Faith doth apprehend things present and hope things to come by things present I meane also eternall life which may be said to be present in respect that we haue some feeling and tast of it in this life in respect of the certainty of Gods counsell and will touching the saluation of his elect that cannot be altered Therefore the Scripture vseth often times the present tense for the future the time present for the time to come as Christ
when hee was reuiled reuiled not againe when hee suffered hee threatned not but in great humility committed his cause to God that iudgeth righteously Therefore Christ for his great meekenesse and humilitie is compared in the Scripture vnto a Lambe Christ for his humility compared to a sheepe and to a lambe Ioh. 1.36 Esay 53.7 Christians called the sheepe of Christ Ioh. 21.16 and a sheepe Iohn saith Behold the Lambe of God And Esay by the spirite of prophesie saide that Christ was oppressed and afflicted that hee was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter yet opened he not his mouth This great humilitie of Christ ought to bee followed of all Christians who are therfore called the sheepe of Christ Vnto this humilitie Christ himselfe doth exhorte vs saying Learne of me that am meeke and lowly of heart and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules Learne of Christ what Mat. 11.29 shall we learne Learne humilitie learne patience if thou bee rich and an heire borne vnto great lands and possessions yet learne humilitie of Christ for hee was Lorde and heire of heauen earth when he so humbled himselfe for thy sake Art thou poore hauing nor house nor liuing Learne of Christ to be contented for he had them not The All vertues are to be learned of Christ Mat. 8.20 Foxes haue holes and the birds of the ayre haue nestes but the sonne of man hath not wheron to rest his head Art thou afflicted grieued and tormented in this life O learne of Christ to bee patient for hee suffered a great deale more for thee Blessed are they that mourne for they shall bee comforted Mat. 5.4.5 Blessed are the meeke for they shall inherite the earth In one word learne humility patience and all other vertues of Christ God sayth Saint Austen was made humble let man blush to be proud And to say the truth what cause hath man to bee proud that is nought else but Nothing in man wherof he shuld be proude before he was man he was dust before dust was made hee was nothing dust and ashes Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt returne saith the Scripture Puluises saith Isydore in puluere sede Cinis es in Cincre viue Dust thou art in dust therefore sit and abide Ashes thou art and therein spend thy life These things indeede are proper vnto vs our bodies are earthy weake fraile subiect to hunger to thirst to colde to heate to wearinesse to all kind of defect and sicknesses and last of all to death and corruption Our soules which are the chiefest parts of man are defiled and polluted with sinne and filthines whereof then should man be proud O esca vermium saith that sweete father O massa pulueris c. O Wormes meate O froath O vanitie why art thou so proud and insolent Learne therfore betimes of Christ to bee humble least Pride will haue a fall that pride haue a fall Knowe that without humilitie thou shalt neuer bee praised for any vertue Similitudes Isydore saith he that will heape vertues together without humilitie doth nothing else but carrie dust in the ayre As a little Colloquintida doth marre a whole pot of pottage so pride doth make all other vertues abhominable Pride and vaine-glorie hath brought many men otherwise indued with very rare gifts to shame and ignominie * Quanto doctior es tante te geras submissius is a good lesson for all that are or haue The better learned the more humble wee should be beene Schollers to remember Saint Gregorie saith al our gifts whatsoeuer are nothing worth except they bee seasoned with the salt of humilitie For this cause is it that I haue made mention thereof in this Chapter Humilitie is as salt to season al other vertues of vertue If any take profite thereby it is that I haue wished If any other by meanes of their pride scorne at it their case is to be lamented Now we will follow the other vertues in order euen as they are linked together by S. Peter when he saith Ioyne vertue with your faith with vertue knowledge and so forth A Praier for the vertue of humilitie O Most glorious God mercifull Father whose dwelling is in eternitie whose Maiestie filleth both heauen and earth I thy vile and wretched seruant nought else but dust and ashes doe prostrate my selfe here before thy throne of mercy beseeching thee euermore to giue me true knowledge and feeling of mine owne defects and miserie of the corruption of my body and deformitie of my soule polluted with sinne and iniquitie to this end that I may be truely humbled when I shall see all the partes of my soule and body and whatsoeuer proceedeth from them both euen my best deedes to bee stayned as a menstruous and defiled cloth O Lord let neuer the foot of pride get the vpper hand of me nor the winde of of vaine glorie ouerthrow me let faith bring me to the tower of vertue but let humilitie keepe me from falling Let me not glory in any thing that I doe or in any vertue that I haue seeing I haue nothing which I haue not receiued from thee Let not learning strength honour riches or beautie make me proude and hautie for they are but the fading flowers of this life Let me euer haue this poesie written in my heart Hee that exalteth himselfe shall be brought low but he that humbleth himselfe without hypocrisie shall be exalted because it is thou O Lord that resistest the proude and giuest grace to the lowly This grace good Lord I bescech thee graunt vnto mee for his sake that through humilitie hath purchased vnto vs eternall glorie euen Christ Iesus thy Sonne and Prince of our saluation to whom with thee O deare Father and the holy Ghost be all praise and glorie for euer Amen Of Knovvledge CHAP. 3. ASsone as Almightie GOD by his infinite wisedome had created heauen earth of nothing presently he saith let there be light shewing thereby as also Gen. 1.3 we finde by experience that nothing in the world would either haue beene pleasant or comfortable if therunto had not beene added the benefit of light And is not the same thing to be noted in the creation of man who is called by Phylosophers a little world Yes truely for the life of man without light is most tedious and vncomfortable Now looke what the Knowledge vnto the soule is as light vnto the eyes of the body light of the eyes is vnto the body the same is knowledge vnto the soule for a man that hath neuer an eye to see with all if he haue knowledge in his minde is much more happie then hee that hath two eyes without knowledge They that want the benefite of their eyes and sight are called blinde and they that want the benefit of knowledge are called ignorant the one is blindnesse of the body the other of the soule As therefore it is
lay no more vpon his children then they shall be able to beare but will giue the issue with the temptation And this promise hath the Lord alwaies fulfilled to his Saints faithfull children in all ages Whereof wee haue innumerable examples in the Scripture and the Acts and Monumentes of the Church howsome were stoned hewen a sunder slaine with the sword drawen in peeces of wilde Looke for examples in the scriptures and Acts and Monumēts how God hath strēghned his children in most gneuous torments horses rosted vpon gredirons some cast vnto wilde beastes to be deuoured some their skins fleyed off their shoulders innumerable burned vnto Ashes in flaming fire or consumed by some other torment deuised by cruel and bloudy tyrants In this lost age of the worlde that bloudy beast of Rome hath endeuored to be like other tyrants that were before him in crueltie But in all these torments the Lord sustained his Saints and children and gaue them great patience to endure what paines or punishments soeuer that could be inflicted vpon them so true is that saying of the spirite of God The Lord The beast of Rome hath endeauoured to exccede all tyrants before him in crueltie 2. Pet. 2.9 knoweth how to deliuer them that are his out of temptation Wherfore euery Christian ought to take boldnesse in all afflictions euen as Saint Paule did when he was deliuered for a time out of the mouth of that Lyon at Rome The Lord assisted me saith he and strengthned me and I was deliuered from the mouth of the Lyon meaning from cruell Nero Emperour of Rome that bloudy tyrane Whereof also he taketh further 2 Tim. 4.16 17.18 assuraunce for time to come saying in the same place and the Lord wil deliuer me The faithfull are assured that God will either deliuer them orgiue thē strength patience to endure Acts. 20.25 How Gods children are marty red and deliuered out of the hand of their enemies Mat. 10.28 Rom 15.4 will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome here then is that assuraunce which euerie one ought to haue in God Paule was sure he should be deliuered he was sure hee should be preserued yet no doubt hee did know that he must bee martyred one time or other as not long after he was how was he then deliuered His body and soule were preserued vnto Gods euerlasting kingdome Therefore our Sauiour Christ biddeth vs not to feare death nor tyrants for they can kill but the body but rather to feare God that can cast both body and soule into hell fire Althese things are written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might haue hope Let these examples euer bee before our eyes let vs serue God truely in our callings let our trust be wholly in him then shall we neuer want patience in afflictions but rather reioyce in tribulations which shall Rom. 5.3 bring forth patience Let vs still remember this saying of Saint Peter it is better if the will of God be so that we suffer for well doing 1. Pet. 2.20 then for euill for hereunto are wee called as Christ suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps Let vs oftentimes call to remembraunce that sweete saying of our Sauiour Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnesse Mat. 5.10.11 sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you and say all manner of euill sayings against you falsely for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen Let vs neuer forget these most comfortable sayings of Saint Paule That all the afflictions of this life are not worthie of the glorie that wee shall haue in the life to come That we need Rom 8.18 31. not feare the force of anye tyrants for if GOD bee with vs who can be against vse who spared not his owne Son but gaue him for vs all to death how shall hee not withhim giue vs al things also Who shal lay No tribulation nor persecution canseparate the faithfull from God anything to the charge of Gods chosen It is GOD that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is rysen againe who is also at the right hand of GOD and maketh intercession for vs. Who shall separate vs therefore from the loue of God Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednesse or sworde At it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long wee are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these thinges wee are more then conquerours through him that loued vs. Last of all let vs bee assuredly perswaded as Sainte Paule was that neyther Vers 38. death nor lyfe nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor 39. things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. This assurance of faith wee ought to haue in our God in all our tryals temptations and afflictions whatsoeuer Let vs therefore bee faithfull and patient vnto the death then Christ will giue vs a crowne of life which he hath purchased for vs by his death and passion A Praier for Patience O Righteous God and mercifull father how wonderful art thou in al thy works and who is able to comprehend the secrets of thy iudgements Thou bringest man vnto destruction by and by thou sayest come againe O yee children of men thy wrath lasteth but the twinckling of an eye but in thy presence there is life for euermore heauinesse may endure for a night but ioye commeth in the morning I acknowledge O Lord that all my corrections are ten thousand times lesse then my deseruings therefore I pray thee good Lord stil correct me to amendment but plague mee not to my destruction And because ther is no chastisement but is grieuous for the present season though after it bringeth forth the quiet fruit of righteousnes to them that are exercised therin therefore I most humbly beseech thee O my good God and father to giue vnto me in al my tryals and temptations that most excellent gift of patience quietly to beare and suffer whatsoeuer thy gracious goodnesse hath appointed to lay vpon me for the tryall of my faith for the glorie of thy name and for the good example of others Yea O Lord I most instantly intreate thee to let patience haue her perfect working in me so shall I be perfect lacking nothing and howsoeuer it shal please thee to dispose of my body and goods yet graunt me good Lord this benefit that I may possesse my soule in patience so whether there come sickenesse come health come life come death or come what wil come I may say with patient Iob the Lord giueth and the Lord taketh blessed be the name of the Lord. This mercy O my good God vouchsafe to
to shewe brotherlye kindnesse yea the magistrate as well as any other notwithstanding to speak all in a word it is not Not the magistrate but the law that putteth malefactors to death the magistrate but the law that putteth malefactors to death Wherefore this force of nature doeth still remaine vntaken awaye that brotherly kindnes must be shewed one to another as wee are all men made by one workmaster of one mettall though cast in diuers moldes Now that one man doth loue his owne degrees of brotherly kindnes country men better then another and in that country his kindred before other and in that kindred his owne familie before an other and in that family his wife and children before other it commeth also to passe by the secrete force of nature For as in birds beastes and fishes though birds will company with birds beasts with beasts and so forth yet euerie of them haue their seuerall fellowships as before wee haue noted So likewise though in generallitie man will company with man and in a sorte shewe kindnes one to another yet nature hath her working in vs also euen in this that by how much more we are lincked together by any bonde of familiaritie and friendship of countrie or kindred by so much more wee will shewe kindnes one to the other for that in deed is right brotherlie True brotherly kindnes kindnes and most agreeable vnto nature For as we cannot shewe kindnes to all men at one time so it were vnnaturall and such vnnaturall wretches there are many in this land to be vnkind vnto our owne country Vnkind countriemen that will helpe other countries rather then their owne men kindred neighbours and friends and to seeke opportunity to shew kindnes vnto other countries or to them wee neuer sawe before This you will saye is kindnes but it is vnnaturall kindnesse such as is odious before God and man Now as there are some which turne naturall into vnnaturall kindnesse so the most part of people that are irreligious and liuing in this declining age of the world are growen so barbarous hard harted inhumane and brutish insomuch that it seemeth this naturall kindnesse is almost extinguished in them And if I may speake by waye of comparison we shall finde that not onely bruite beastes do excell many men in this natural kindnes one toward the other but also in declaring their naturall affection vnto man more then one man sometimes doth vnto another Fewe natural men without religion and godlines doe loue theyr wiues as the turtle doth his make no woman can shewe more kindnes vnto her children then the Pellicane doth to her young If vnreasonable creatures can match nay ouermatch many of vs in these two pointes of natural kindnes then what shal we thinke of the rest Againe histories do record what great affection brutishe beastes haue shewed vnto mankinde Pliny reporteth that in the cittie of Ceston an Eagle being brought vp by a young maide loued the maide so well that it woulde flye abroad and kill foules and bring them home to the damsell and when she died the Eagle died with her As strange a thing as this wee reade of an Elephant which was in the warres at what time Pirrhus subdued the citie of Argos which elephant after hee perceiued that his maister was slaine went vp and downe among the dead soldiers to seeke his maister which being founde the Elephant brought his bodye being dead to a safe place where the Elephant after much mourning dyed for sorow What should I speak of the affection and naturall kindenesse that horses and dogges do shewe vnto their maisters wee do daylie see something before our eyes but histories do reporte much more Of Horses that Alexander king of Macedon that Iulius Caesar Emperour of Rome that Antiochus king of Siria had each of them a horse who bearing vnto their maisters such affection would suffer no other to ride vppon them but onelye their maisters vnto whome they would crouch and kneele downe to the ground to receiue them vppon their backes It would bee too long to rehearse the tenth historie that doth recorde the kindenes which dogges haue shewen vnto their maisters Lisimachus that noble Grecian had a dog named Durides that loued him so well that euen at Lisimachus death the dog died also Hiero had another dogge that ran willinglie into that flame of fire where his maister did burne and so dyed with him Titus Sabinus dogge as Fulgotius saith neuer forsooke his maister in prison when any one gaue the dogge bread or meat hee brought it vnto his maister in prison and when his maister was thrown into the riuer Tyber the dogge was seene to doe what hee coulde to lifte vp his maisters heade out of the water thinking his maister had bene aliue These and many other such do writers reporte of the kind affection that bruite beasts do beare vnto mankinde which I haue noted onely to this ende that these monsters in nature and not men may bee ashamed to see howe farre they degenerate from that naturall kindnes which was once giuen vnto them when they shall see euen bruite beastes to excell them therein The want of this naturall kindnesse is is not the least cause of so many vnnaturall murthers villanyes and conspiracies in the world And if this naturall kindnes were of force among vs though some care neither for God nor religion as a great many doo not yet they woulde not bee so vnkinde as in the hardenes of theyr heartes to tourne awaye theyr faces from theyr owne fleshe which many times they see readie to perish for want of thinges necessarie whome they might well releeue wyth their superfluitie Insomuch that though it was once sayde Homo homini Deus that man shoulde bee louing as God vnto man Yet now it is proued contrarie in a great many that Homo homini non lupus as the Prouerbe is sed daemon Men rage not like wolues but more like deuils one against another And the longer wee liue the worse one age is more hatefull than another and this age seemeth to shew lesse naturall kindnes than former ages For who seeth not or rather what hart lamenteth not to see how this natural kindnes which should be between man man doth cool decay daily Is it not now come to this passe among a great many that one man is not regarded of another that countrie men disdaine one the other that kinsmen reproch the one the other that neighbours deceiue one the other that no man will trust one another no not his brother Subiects are disloyall towards their prince children are vnnaturall towardes theyr parents people haue no heartie loue towards theyr pastours many pastours loue more the fleeces than their sheepe euerie man loues himselfe fewe of the common sorte care as they shoulde for the common profite of theyr Countrie Thus hath selfe loue euen bannished naturall loue and kindnes out of our coastes I