the distruction torment of the vnrightuous wicked onely And doth mittigate his mood onely bicause they trust in the Lorde Whereby it appeareth that the poore afflicted chyldren of God are not burned with the fyre nor hurt with any kinde of torment no not scarce touched therewith and therfore nothing gréeued As sayth our Lord God his creatures euerie one of them are in such a consorte and so agréed togither amongest them selues that all of them with one common accord cōsent wil be and are ministers for vs of greate health and comfort and also wil and doe vse them selues vnto vs with a gentlenes most louyng bicause being faithful we are so wel beloued of god that he bindeth all his creatures so that of force they can not be but for our benifit in all things accordyng to his will. Gold burneth not in the fire but is fined and purified thereby from all things that are of lesse value and so it selfe made more precious and of greater value and substance then before Euen so the good christian brought to the fyre by persecution burneth not but is the rather purifyed from all that fowleth blotteth or burneth his christianitie and so remayneth more precious and beautifull in his substance thē before Wherby it séemeth that the childrē of God whē they suffer the force heat of the fire they féele it not or els it hurteth them not but rather harmeth the executioners thereof The fyre to the faithfull is as it was in the bushe which Moyses sawe it flamed and yet it burned not bycause that the Lord God was in it The fyre hath a force and vertue that burneth and consumeth vtterly but whom mary euen the impious vniust vngodly And although they séeme liuing these which are the afflictors of the faithfull and without harme yet for a certaintie with the same fire which they prouide make for others they are before God burned and consumed them selues Although they beléeue it not yet it is so The Prophet Daniell when he was throwen into the denne amonge the Lyons which were made extreemely hungrie vppon purpose to haue deuoured him bicause he was founde faithful before God he perisheth not they touched hym not nor did hym harme but rather in their kynde reioysed and made great feastes and ioy with him for that God vppon whom he did inuocate call and in whome he trusted did deliuer him as in the vj. Chapter of the same Prophet and the xvj and xxiiij verse is well declared but those which had bene the executioners of all his trouble and torment being throwen into the same place euen among the very same Lyons they could scarce fall among thē so soone as they were torne and plucked in péeces and deuoured vtterly The thrée young men of Babilō Sidrach Misach Abdenago seruantes of God did not perish whē they were put into a hot burning furnace made seuen tymes hotter then euer it was bicause they would not worship wicked King Nabuchadonaser his Idoll which he had caused to be set vp they surely trusting in the liuing God feared not hys furyous furie in all hys threatninges nothyng at all but answered him saying we are not carefull to answeare thée O King in any thing concerning this Idoll for let thy highnesse vnderstande that our God whom we serue can deliuer vs from thy whot burning furnace and from thy handes but if hée will not the whiche wée doe not doubte off yet O King hold thou for a certaintie that we will not worship thy Gods nor yet the Image of gold which thou hast caused to bée set vp béeyng for this cause put into the sayde furnace so hot they were not onely frée from all kynde of harme by fyrie flame or smoke but also they were refreshed from heauen by the hands of the sonne of the lyuing God who was him self amonge them in the lykenesse of an Angell Euen in the middest of the most whottest flames wherefore it hurt them nothing at all but yet it burnt and consumed quyte the myschieuous ministers the makers therof So that thereby was approued that the fyre could not harme them in no poynte no more can it not nor nothing els that God hath created doo any thyng hurtfull agaynst the childrē of God for whie all that cā be done agaynst them bée it with fyre or any other kynde of torture is for their cōfort Thē wherfore should we faint feare or flée at or from the crosse of the Lord for that he will examine and purge vs therwith from all kynde of causes of corruption So that it may be consumed quite by the means therof that we might be enryched and remaine glorified with God for euer All that is written is writen for our learnyng bycause that by patience and comforte in the scriptures we might haue hope And therefore let vs vnderstand that as in tymes paste it passed and happened to Danyell and the reste the seruantes of God and also to hys enimyes Euen the lyke commeth to passe at thys day both w the one and other for that nothyng can hurt them that put their trust in the Lord but all serueth them for the best And as for the wycked all thinges are to the contrarie they prouyde nothing to punysh the rightuous with but they peryshe therein themselues Wherfore let vs bée imitators of the saincts as of Daniel of the thrée yong men of Babilon and others more a great many which nothyng estéemed torments tyronous threats killings nor commaundements of any vngodly Tyrant but constantly continued in confessing of Gods true religion for euer without any looking backe And as they did honour him in being faithfull so did he honour them in being by thē in all their distressed daungers to their ayde strength consolation continuall comfort and deliuery most merueilous in such sort that no parte of their hope was frustrate in any thing Euen so will hée doe and deale for vs if we bee faithfull Let vs not feare therefore the tirannie that so potencially appeareth of princes nor the crueltie of Kings the tyrannie of any kynde of Tyrant of inquisitors of correctors of Iudges nor yet the torment of the executioner the infamy of mē nor any other kynd of crueltie that in our eyes is euill least that so we forsake and renounce our faith and the true knowledge of our sauiour Iesu Christ the sonne of god Let vs onely feare God who can and will deliuer vs from all kind of torments and from the handes of all Tyrants And although that wée doe not sée thys libertie of deliuerie with our corporall eyes yet for the loue of our sauiour Iesu Christ let vs not consent vnto them nor follow their impietie and vngodlinesse let no braue nor gallant shew of or from them allure vs vnto them let vs not worship the creatures nor yet truste in any other then the creator Let vs not accept
nor withoulde our selues from them that doo execute vnto vs our afflictions griefes and calamities Let vs not doo so much as lowre or looke with an euill countenaunce therefore bicause they are but instruments very necessary that God dooth vse as scourges ministers of his will. For that we may behould that he doothe chasten vs but as his children with them for his vncurelesse care thought is otherwise towardes vs then our persecutours doo thincke for bicause all that God dooth vnto vs is for our euerlasting delighte That which they doo vnto vs is nothing but euill God dooth chastise vs bicause he loueth vs they doo afflict persecute vs bicause they horribly hate and abhorre vs and to the ende that they would vtterly and wholly destroy vs. Great were the losses troubles calamities and causes of calamitie to the sighte of men in this worlde that happened to that holy man Iob and diuers were the afflictions and persecucions that he dyd suffer the ministers whereof were the diuell his seruantes But that faythfull fellow of ours did take it neither of him nor them but at the handes of God bicause that he knew that all did procéede from him If we receiue sayth he the good thinges from the handes of the Lorde why should we not receiue the bad also yea how aduersse so euer they be the Lorde giueth and also taketh away blessed be the name of the Lorde and so he dyd conclude with giuing of thankes aswel for the worst as for the best So likewise let vs doe no lesse for our afflictions and troubles then for our ioyes and prosperitie bicause all are the benefits of god and giuen to one selfesame ende for them that be called and elected to his knowledge and grace Iesus Christ our redéemer and sauiour dyd acknowledge his father to be the onely authour of all the troubles crosses passions that he did suffer he did take them as from the hands of him not from the handes of his enimies He sayd to S. Peter whē as he went about to resist against and to let his aduersaries and to make other lets that he should not suffer as it were rebuking him beinge angry offended what Peter I say wouldest thou let it shall not I drinke of the cuppe that my father hath giuē me Surely with a harty and singuler good will dyd he drinke it for that it came from the hāds of his Father So that we may see he looked for nor desired nothing at all but euen as his father would that he ordeigned that he himselfe should beare and suffer He was not angry he dyd not persecute againe he did not speake euill nor vsed any kinde of iniury for any part of reuenge to them that crucifyed and intreated him so cruelly and vngodly But he was rather sory for them and loued them although they were wicked and with a great affection dyd pray to god the father for them in taking the cuppe or challis from the handes of his Father he neither did nor saide any thinge contrary to his will nor yet contrary to the healthe and saluacion of them for whome he dyed sée and behoulde my dearely beloued bretheren fellowe membres what an example this is that he hath here shewed vnto vs so diuine if we vnderstande well what paines and passions he our head dyd suffer we that are his membres of force shall vnderstād what we ought to doo His very footesteppes must we followe trauaile passe by if we wil be in conformitie with him We be now afflicted as euil doers we are cōdempned for common barratours and curssed abhorred so horribly as may be Shal we cursse abhorre do the like to thē no no not for thought god for bidde we should As they desire all the mischiefe that may be to vs shall we doo the like vnto them no in no maner wise But rather sith that we be the sonnes of god let vs kepe his cōmaundemēts which are cleane to the contrarye Loue sayth the Lord your enimies blesse them that cursse you doo good to them which abhorre you and doo you harme praye for thē which persecute you for that you be sonnes and children to your Father which is in heauen that maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and euill and dooth send his reigne vpon the iust vniust Let vs consider how louingly our Lorde sauiour Christ Iesus dyd answere to so and such curssed works and to such obstinate and euill myndes and how truely he dyd loue his euill doers Although they were giltie had greatly offended he dyd excuse them before his father sayīg they know not what they doo O Father forgiue them for thy name sake Oh immensable charitie of God Oh celestiall heauenly example worthy to be followed If we doo consider attentiuely our vocacion and calling with the which God hath called vs to his knowledge we shall fynde it in this like maner that he dooth teach vs. Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience c. Cap. xii GOd dyd call and vnite vs to his flocke dyd put vs in his fowlde which is his Churche catholicke for that we should be his shéepe might haue his sonne Iesus Christe to be our shéepeheard We were wolues before we were called but nowe are we shéepe and the shéepe cannot nor dooth not knowe how to dooe any kinde of euil but yet is subiect to take receiue any euill that is offered She hath no tongue to cursse nor speake spitefully no téethe to byte no nailes to scratch no anger to be irefull no hatred to abhorre and finally she hath nothinge wherewith to doo euill but hath many thinges wherewith to doo good Euen so it ought to be with vs bicause we beare the name of christians the which doothe import in all points asmuch as I haue spoken of Men doo persecute vs like fearce Lyons they doo afflict vs with fury lyke raueninge Wolues they dooe teare vs in péeces lyke Tygers they search vs by suttelties and wyles lyke fine fickle Foxes They doo leaue neither arte nor crueltie vnvsed nor vnpractised against vs Is it méete or were it well that we should pay them with theyr owne mony or with the lyke againe No God forbid for why we were not called to be lyke vnto them but for that we should be lyke vnto himselfe He dyd call vs to be his children so that we must be like vnto his sonne Iesus Christ he is our head God hathe bidden and commaunded vs to be guyded by him And bicause we should learne of and followe him Christe saythe Sainct Peter dyd suffer for vs geuing vs example to followe his footesteppes In what should we follow them mary in suffering the euil which our enimies offer vs and in answeringe them againe the best we can therefore what with enuie
armed with this faith which was communicated vnto him by the Gospell did ouercome hys enimies furies so that they could not resist the wisdome and spirit with the which he spake Dauid a verie yoūg man of small age what maner of weapon had he to fight against Golias that mightie capteine of the Philistines hée sought no helpe of Saul nor could not abyde his Armour and weapons nor yet did not fauour any kynde of humaine counseile nor hys own force which was nothing in comparison to the strength of that mightie Gyaunt But onely armed with a sure faith affiance and hope in God he fought couragiously did ouerthrow him cut of his head and so set the chosen hys fellow members at libertie In this is and shall bée for euer verified to all the faythfull that God wil fulfil and performe his promises And so he sayeth by the Prophet Dauid hée that trusteth in mée I will kéepe and deliuer him for that he hath knowen my name And therfore sith he is greater that is in vs then he that is in the world let vs forsake all humayne counseill strength industrie prudencie and wisdome in the same for that how much the lesse we estéeme and depende vppon them so much the more is the efficacie strength power of God in vs and our sight the clearer perfecter to sée the great admirable works don in his elected by his most mightie potencie might Euen then doeth God discouer to our weaknesse the greatnesse of his most mightie power and strength to our health and saluation For when we think our selues most strong depend most vppō terene and earthly defence euē thē are we most weakest and our hope most frustrate Bicause those things in the worlde we accompte and holde most sure for our reliefe in our greatest necessitie falleth from vs and so we left at the worste and in displeasure with god For that we so vaynely dyd forsake him and slée to vanitie which are the things of this world for our help and defence so are we left forsaken both of God man Bicause we made a God of those things the which wée trusted in therein did forsake the true god Those which doe put their trust in worldly things doe it bycause of the fayre shewe thereof to their carnall or fleshly eyes but so they make a deuision of that hope whiche they ought to haue in God put aparte or péece therof into those which are of the worlde which is vanitie and of no value at all Our filthie flesh is fondly ledde to trust and hang all hope on creatures in place and steade of that hope which is due vnto God the creator Suerly it is such a subtle snare of the father of all subtelties lyes that it often deceyueth manye and continually it deceiueth it self For it hath alwayes a custome to couer infidelitie and hipocrisie with some one craftie cloaked colour or other that may not easily be knowen So that when wée bee beguyled by the same we doe thinke our selues in such securitie that we sléepe therein as though fortified with suche humayne helpe furniture and fauour as none might be the like when as in very déede by the ende of experience we may shal finde our owne weaknesse to be such as is of no validitie at all Whereby is manifested that these carnall furnitures weapons armour in which we hope and trust to be succoured by doe not onely serue vs nothing at all for our helpe and defence but also is and are extréeme lets and hynderances to kéepe vs from the doyng of that which we ought and are bound to doo by the commaundementes of god And therfore in this lyfe which is a tyme of trouble tirannie battail and warfare let vs be imitators and folowers of Dauid who neuer did bear other armes nor weapōs against his enimyes then onely his sure trust in God wherewith he alwayes got the victorie and ouerthrew them all How we oughte to doe and behaue our selues to our enimyes as wel visible as in visible corporall as spirituall God doeth teache vs by hys Apostles All the wyse holy and mightie of the world All the riches aucthoritie dignitie exelencie greatnesse humaine strength and policie that was in the same was against them in such sorte that it séemed inuinsible There was very fewe scarce none neither Lordes Earles Dukes Princes Kings and Emperours kingdomes nor countreis but were against them with most cruell warres and persecutions But yet they I mean the childrē and disciples of God armed with confidence and affiance in God and pacience by the onely wordes of the Gospell did convince and ouerthrow to the grounde all the power and potencie of them all aswell the principalles as the reste And by beléeuyng truely in the Gospell they did fyght with and ouerthrowe all the sublymate and supreme highnesse that dyd rise repugne against them Christ their heade in them They did ouercome captiuitie bring a great number to be ruled by preaching the pure Euangelie of truthe in the Gospell and to the obedyence of fayth therin By force wherof they made the world to tremble and did work marueilous works most worthy of memory The world was not so strong nor Sathan so mightie nor yet his ministers so subtil that they altogither with their strength mighte policie and subtiltie could let or hinder the small grayn of musterd séede the fayth in the Gospell but that it did increase florysh and growe into a great and mightie trée the braunches wherof did extend into all partes of the worlde so that the byrdes of heauen might buylde their neastes therein at hys pleasure The diuill all his vaseilles bōdslaues are beaten down daily ouercome with that Armour weapon wherwith God hath armed the faithfull elected If those which serue the prince of darkenes that are marked with the mark of the beast which S. Iohn speaketh of could make that the sonne did not aryse and shewe it selfe so that dayly he did not or might not dryue awaye the darkesome nyghtie cloudes so spread his beames into all parts of the world wherby the force may bée felte of the heate and light of the same they might as well let and hinder the shyning sonne of the Gospell that the splendant light thereof should not shine and shewe his inestimable brightnesse to giue light vnto the blynd that they might goe and be guyded thereby in the righte way of truth And also let that the potencie of God therein shoulde not take the captyue out of captiuitie open the prysons to the prysoners and that the contrite of hart should not receiue frée lybertie thereby Let them goe to heauen if they can and throwe the sonne downe oute hir place vsuall vnto the earth or let them let hinder the shining of the Gospell of glorie which doeth manyfest that
no none but with charitie for that is our callinge and therein are we taught bothe by the wordes and workes of Iesus Christe our swéete sauiour redemer pastour and shéepeherde Let not vs take any regarde at all of the euill and harme that our persecutours vse towardes vs but let vs chiefely regarde and looke diligently to that which Iesus Christ did amongst vs and commaund vs vnto The imitacion of him let vs not abhorre condempne nor speake euill of but rather let vs doo the contrary Let vs loue to imitate him and let vs doo the workes of loue The cause why that our enimies and afflictours dooe persecute vs is declared by our Sauiour Lorde Iesus Christ who sayth they shall cast you out of their Sinnagogs excomunicate you persecute you vnto deathe for my name sake shall thincke they doo therin to God very great seruice they shal do these thinges bycause they haue neyther knowen me nor yet my Father There is not nor can not be a greater mischiefe then to be ignorant of or not to know at all our God and Father almightie nor yet his sonne Iesus Christ The want of knowledge hereof maketh all them which lacke the same to be possessed of the diuell seruaunts of sinne and heires and inheritours of hell And also dooth make them to beare carry and mainteine continually a curssed cruel capital war against god heauen and all that is his The which dooth bring vnto them their vtter distruction perdicion for euer Their hell they doo alwayse carry with them their owne consciences doo condempne them bicause the worme thereof euer dying and neuer deade doothe and will for euer accuse them The iudgement of GOD doothe lye very heauy vppon them the Lawe hathe curssed them and the woorckes and déedes which they dooe in persecutinge the faythefull are euident tokens testimony of their vtter condempnation Bycause that those whom they persecute with persecutions slaunders condempnations curses cloathed with saint Benits crosses shut vp in close prysons and afterward burned are little or nothing touched thereby but Iesus Christ in them It is he it is he that beareth the spitefulnesse of their passions and Persecutions as hée hymselfe did declare to Saint Paule before his conuersion for when that he had cruelly persecuted the Christians our sauiour Christ sayde with a terrible voyce Saule Saule why persecutest thou mée What greater euill may be thought then to persecute our swéete sauiour and redéemer how can the wrath of God be more euident vnto to them then when they may sée that he careth not for them but suffereth them to fall and runne headlong into that loathsome lake of perdition and yet in vsing the same they think themselues in suche securitie of saluation that they solemnise their tiranycall dispositions as if they did solemly halow some festiuall feast And doe think they doe God good seruice Oh lamentable case that they know not the truth in those their wicked doings Sin hath so captiuated and blynded them that they estéeme light for darkenesse the truth of God for deceyueable errours and the rightuousnesse of heauen for iniquitie And therefore with the bowels of pitifull compassion we ought to pray to God for them beséechyng him of his mercy that hée will take them out of that so mortal deadly and dampnable estate Now then sith it is God that is the aucthor of our afflictious calamities and griefs if we take them at his hands they wil be healthfull for vs and make vs to be true imitators and folowers of Christ hys sonne so that we shall not at all dysdaine our enimies nor shal in no wise vse them euilly for euil but rather desire that they may be brought into the bowels of his loue and so reduced into the way of health With faintnes are we filled with edible wrath indignatiō against thē bicause we thinke that with their irefull hatred their caluminate strifes flaūderous reportes their false testimonies and burning desires to shead our blud they doo or can do as much grief or harme But if we doe vnderstande Gods diuine counsell a right doo not looke a wrye from his worde we shall and may know perfectly wel how impossible it is for thē to doo vs any kynd of dammage with all that euer they can doe or imagine whatsoeuer it bée If we doe but heare the words that the holy Ghost speaketh by the Prophet Dauid we may wel vnderstand sée that they can not preiudice vs in any thing at all An excelent comfort to the afflicted Cap. xiij HE that dwelleth sayeth he vnder the defence of the highest shall be sure vnder the shadow of the almightie The defence wherin doeth consist our sureste securitye is the fyrme truste and affyaunce that the Lords hath giuen vs to haue in him By the which we are made partakers of hys omnipotencie and as his omnipotencie is in securitie from all kynde of euill euen so are we thereby bycause he is onely our hope our foretresse our strength and God in whom wée chiefly trust And the chiefe ground of his promise is that he will deliuer vs from all euilles and that hys trueth shall be vnto vs a buckler and shield And also the Prophet sayth in the same Psalme Bycause thou haste put thy selfe vnder the guarde and custodie of the most highest there shall no euill happen vnto thée neyther shall any plague come néere thy dwellynge Whereby it appeareth playnly what vayne traueyles our enimyes take in hand when they séeke rather to afflict vs or fight so furiously as they doe against the truth For that as they can not preuayle against the truth so shall they not preuayle against them that folow it bycause the auctthor thereof is their mightie defendor Héere the Lord doeth promyse and certifie that no euill shall happen vnto vs nor plague come to our dwelling or Tabernacle if we know and feare hym So that it followeth the euilles and mischiefes that our aduersaries doe séeke towardes vs cannot hurte vs if we be faithfull Bycause the elected whose tutor and gouernour is God are not neither riches honor dignity high estate bodily or corporal health lyfe nor any thing els whereof there is any vertue or power giuen to the wicked But are the liuing members of Iesus Christ vnited and knit vnto him most surely and therefore inuisible to the children of this world as is the same lord And bycause the wicked should not sée howe to doe them harme in that true being which they bee God did so fauour them that by hym they were incorporated in Iesu Christ for that as hée is firme sure substanciall strong and may not bée throwen out of the throne of his maiestie So be those his members of such strength and force in him that they may in no wyse be separated frō him That which by tirannie of Tirants is to be taken
shew that it is not against vs nor yet that hée is angrie with vs bycause he cannot let be nor leaue beare the fatherly affection that he hath towards vs Let vs enter into the withdrawyng place or chamber that hée doeth commaunde vs and then although hée séeme neuer so disformed outwardly yet we shal finde him inwardly such as he hath shewed hym selfe to bée in Christ that is to say a father full of mercy whose bowels doe burn with loue for and towardes vs So that then we need not to dispaire nor yet be dismayed in our selues Although the warres and contradictions of the wicked worldlinges and the worlde béee neuer so great agaynst vs or the misformed and the ilfauored face of death be neuer so gréeuous to our bodies which are mortall yet our most louyng father God almightie will not leaue but be with vs in the middest and greatest of all our temptations troubles vexations calamities and outragious griefes yea euen to their vtter confusion To all the faithfull that are vexed troubled surcharged or ouerloadeÌ„ with the crosse the holy ghost doeth giue aduice by Esay the Prophet in this maner Say vnto the weak and faint of hart comfort your selues and doe not feare behold the Lorde your God that wil take vengeauce on your enimyes and gyue vnto them payment accordyng to their deserte the same God shal come in proper person and saue you This is as much as if he had sayd I pray you heare me my dearly beloued friendes the troubles which you doe suffer is bycause you are myne and gouerned by my worde and for that you haue cast away the yoke of impietie and false religion and haue receyued myne looke not in exterior things which are troubles vnto your fleshe onely but know for a certeyntie that as there is nothyng that the worlde doeth more abhorre or that doeth more suffer the rage and furye thereof then you So for the contrarie there is nothing in the world that I loue better then you And therefore my children haue you a sure trust in me for I haue alreadie ouercome all those thinges that doe torment you and sith your enimyes doe not feare to molest make warre against you doe not you cease to receiue comforte in the ryches of my promyses whiche are yours and are for you If they doe accompt you for cursed and abhomynable doe you praye for them I saye pray and bée not wéery let not your hands be loosed but holde fast the sword of your defence which is my worde be of good cheare feare not bée stoute and of a good courage for why your enimyes doe fable and lye in all that they tell you I am not absente from you as they say but am alwaies with you present apte and ready to defend yon as I haue promysed I doe not abhorre you nor yet I haue not forsaken you but doe loue you and am so nigh that those which touch you doe touche euen the very balles of myâ—â— eyes I euen I saieth the Lord will take vengeance of them that trouble you I my selfe in myne owne person will deliuer you perseuer and goe forwarde constantly in a sure fayth and affiaunce in my loue for your aduersaries haue done what they can and yet know not what they haue don against you in me let the eyes of your harte be setled in me Although your sences be shut vp with smoke ashes and flames of fyre yet doe not think that I am fled or from you one ynch or any thing at all For I will not leaue you but bée alwayes present with you although you sée me not I my selfe am hée that doeth fight for you although you féele it not feare you not that your enimies shall ouercome you according to their determinations assure your selues that I wil giue you the victorie in the ende I haue promised it and I my selfe will fulfill it These and such lyke are the louing words of our good God and sauiour vnto vs that be his choseÌ„ such louing swéet amorous spéeches doth he vse vnto vs notwithstanding that we bée persecuted and afflicted with fyre and other kinde of crosses before we can come to him A persuasion to trust only in God and to avoyd all vaine trust had in any humain helpe c. The xx Chapter SYth therefore that we sée that our swéete God is so present with vs when we think him to be farthest of that he doeth loue vs dearely when wée thynke our selues forsaken and abhorred and that hée doeth not forgette vs when we thinke our selues farre out of fauour remembrance Let vs put our whole truste and confidence onely in hym for that he is altogither sufficient to and wil staÌ„d with vs for our defence in all our troubles and aduersities And also let vs saye with holy Iob Although he giue me vnto death I will not leaue to trust in him As our fleshe is the greatest enimy that wée haue so is it that which doeth make the greatest warre with vs Bicause it doeth not onely deny this fauourable presence of God but also doth not let to fyght agaynst it that is to say against the promises of God and doe leane and trust to things which are vaine thinkyng to bée defended and deliuered by the helpe thereof from all the harme calamitie and griefe that it doeth féele And so doeth not onely fall out to the contrarye but also is an occasion why that greater griefes doe folow And therfore it behoueth vs to be vigilant and to take héede that we doo not tempte God with puttyng anye vayne trust or hope in men whither they séeme or shewe to be good or bad faithfull or vnfaithfull for any thing touching saluatioÌ„ or dampnation For so the wicked by their wickednesse would deuise and be of strength and efficacy sufficient to blinde and bring vs into doubtes and like to dispayre by means of our doubtfull and weake beliefe Bicause that all of vs are full of that monstrous masse of sinne euer fallyng and in déede fully subiecte to fall into all kinde of miserie But let vs giue héede to that which the holy ghost doth commaund by the Prophet Dauid doe not trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of men bicause there is no health nor helpe in them Miserable are the successes of suche as put their trust in men For that as the Prophet Ieremy sayeth cursed is he that putteth his trust in man. Therefore let vs put our trust onely in God and depend and put our trust onely in his moste faythfull promises And so shall we be sure that he will fight for help and defend vs against the world the flesh all other the snares of the diuill As the Prophet Esay sayth if we beleue this word of the Gospel we haue obteyned victorie alreadie Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth our faith is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world Saint SteueÌ„ being
God is the Lord and that by his worde he ought to be serued and worshipped of all mankinde I say let them doe it if they can but in despight of them I say againe they cannot For all that euer they doe is no more but as if by spetling they shuld prooue or goe about to pearse the heauens and so spitte vpward accordingly and then the same fall backe again into their owne faces whereby they are filthily fouled to their owne reproche Wherefore let vs not feare them in none of their bragges but let vs put on the armour of the Apostles and throw away all humain affiance Let vs assure our selues that by our afflictions and death are distroyed and ouerthrowen the enimies contradytors and geinsayors of vs the Gospell For God doeth deale with our enimies nowe in the same order maner and forme as he did with them in tymes past which persecuted spake against the Prophets and Apostles bycause that they taught the same gospell of lyfe which we now haue and teach by Christ we liue and for him we suffer persecutiō euen so did they yet he hath alwayes gotten the victorie as well for them as for vs And therefore let vs not tempt God but let vs trust wholy in him his mercy power and strength And also haue in hatred all humaine helpes and fauours whatsoeuer What is the cause that so many do fainte fall become amased in their mindes so that they can not perseuer in that trueth which God hath commaunded And also that some other being wonderfully lighted with the cleare and pure light of the Gospell and séeing the workes and wonders so admirable that God doth shew vnto them by the same are so sluggyshe and colde that they stande at a staye and care not whither they goe forewardes yea or no Surely and without doubt there is none other cause but that onely by the instigatiō of the diuill they are so deceiued that they robbe God of his honour put their trustes wholy one in an other taking men for their staffe to staye vppon to the end they might stande in all their troubles regardyng humayne fauor so muche that they leaue God and flye therevnto for refuge in all theyr aduersities and calamities Some doe trust in their ryches others in theyr honours some in the friendshippe of great men other some in that they be Gentlemen and of the noble bloude and so foorth in other the lyke prerogatiues What other thing is thys but as if one should trust in a shadow or a smoake which vanysheth almost so soone as it is seene When that we consider the causes for which we are afflicted whereof God is the author from whom we flée and doe put our trust in men or in any thing that they can doe for vs is as muche in our ayde as to truste vnto Egipt or to the strength of the Egyptians or as in a broken Réede whiche one holdeth to staye him selfe by and it doeth not onely suffer him to fall but also with the slyuers thereof doeth so prick and hurte hys handes as maketh him repent that he had no more vnderstandyng in tyme then to trust thervnto It belongeth to one that is a Christian and faythfull to bée buylded and firmely founded vppon that fyrme Rocke or stone which is Christ and not to flee from the same to any humaine helpe or succour that perisheth for that against this true foundation the wyndes of tribulations tempests of torments nor stormes of mischiefs and wickednesse cannot preuayle agaynst it or make it to remoue or alter And therfore hauing so sure a foundatiō as Christ let vs assure our selues that there is nothyng in the worlde that can remoue vs from it As the holy Ghost doeth testifye saying hée that trusteth in the Lord shal neuer bée confounded but shal be alwayes firme sure as the holy hyll of Syon Hovv vve ought to bee instructed in trueth and veritie and to haue no confidence in mens traditions The xxij Chapter GOd will that we beliue trust and be ruled by him and his word onely and not in no maner of wyse by the aucthoritie of men although they séeme neuer so wyse holy and faythfull if they teach and instruct not by the prescript worde of God wherein is all trueth Bycause if our trust in God be accordyng to had by theyr outward fained holines and goodnes it serueth for little or nothing but to make vs so weake and féeble that we cannot tast the drink of the liquor of lyfe which is the fruit of the Gospell with so stiffe stoute a stomake as we oughte And also that the rather our weakenesse shall bée made more weake our infirmitie more infirme and sicke But if we belieue onely in Iesu Christ trust stedfastly in him we shall be necessarily instructed and strengthened not to dismaye vs but to be more firme and strong agaynst all kynde of euill and wickednes Yet for all that the ministers of God will onely teache according to the worde that mē should repose their trust wholy in Christ as aforesayde and that he is the aucthor of all truth and rightuousnesse Their intent is nothyng but to be faithfull to the Lord which sent them And to prepare his waye teachyng and shewyng vnto men by the law the condempnation in which they were by sinne and howe seuere God is in his iudgementes to the vnbeléeuers and superstitious aucthors of guyle and deceipt and the folowers thereof contrary to true religion they will reduce and induce as many as they can to Iesus Christ their master by the gospell onely as to one in whom is alwayes a remedie for any kynde of mischiefe For that from him the elected doe receiue all things and doe know by him that God is theyr father almightie they do not nor wil not sel nor giue them selues for gods nor yet maintain themselues for gods Viccars generall vppō earth nor one of them doeth not chalenge more authoritie in bynding and loosing blessing or curssing nor in distributing the word of God then an other doth they shewe them selues for men subiecte to all humaine infirmities as wel one as another of them They doe teache and preach that our faith must not come from men from them but from God the word of truth doth teach them this doctrine and vs also And therfore let vs not attribute any kind of thing vnto any maner of mā neither faithfull holy nor Saincte but vnto God who giueth lyfe to the dead some time conuerteth the hartes of and calleth our persecutors into the way of rightuousnesse and truth Although the men be weake lacketh strength doth often stumble to do any thing that is good yet Gods truth which they teache is not so Although they be discoraged afraid bicause of the persecution which they sée yet the word of trueth is almightie fayleth not All the disciples themselues fainted and feared
at the death of the redéemer of the world yet he fainted nor feared not in his truth to shew what he was nor yet did his truth loose any parte of the valor for all the terrible trouble and pagan passions and persecutions that happened vnto him So true so good so iust a iustifier so immutable so almightie was he as was none yet his own denied him were in such feare and doubtes of his doings as though they had neuer knowne him So that the truth of God dependeth nothing vppō men although they be euen his verie disciples ministers but on him selfe onely Although they fainted feared and doubted of him bicause of his passions persecutiōs which he suffered yet for all that did not he forget put out of knowledge abhorre nor deny thē but did most louingly reduce thē and bring them again vnto the truth true knowledge therof And there where now he is sitting on the right hande of his father he hath not altered his cōdition nor yet hydden hys accustomed loue from them that be his Although they were weake strayed out of the way stombled fell with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution yet did he make them partakers of his mercie with a free forgiuenes or pardon generall and did giue them strength and force a freshe to ouercome all their weakenesse And therefore he being such a one as he is that did loue the weakelinges so that hée would nor did not cast them away for all their weakenesse rebellion Wée also being lyke vnto them oughte to loue him not to forget nor forsake him but to hope and trust that he wil doe with vs as hée dyd with his fyrst disciples which had the first fruites of the spirite Let vs not be of the number of the enimies of God nor of those which haue any enmitie vnto hym or hys which doe take and vse all hys workes so that it is an occasion why they are set farther distant from him doe refuse to loue him as he ought and in the company of his aduersaries doo blaspheme his holy name But rather as obedient and faithfull children let vs vnderstand the intent of our celestiall father and take and gather out of his workes only all such fruite as he doeth pretend in them Which is the better to knowe him the more to submit our selues to his good pleasure and will and not to flye further from him as the wicked doe but to cleaue more nigher vnto hym by fayth that by recouerie of newe force wée maye perseuer in the way of truth Now if there be any weakenesse in any of vs as no doubt there is contrary to our expectation that weakenes commeth not of nor from the truth but from our selues our filthy flesh Let vs not think it a straunge thing that there is such weaknesse in man for that all of vs in as muche as wée are men and of the fleshe our delight is in nothing but in weaknes things of no validitie nor force but of the flesh Here we may all of vs vnderstād and sée what great necessitie we haue as well those which stande vpright as they which bend and fall of the helpe and power of Christ without whome we can in no wise indure to doe any parte of our dueties And therfore let vs be vigilant looke vppō the weaknesse falling one of another as in a glasse bicause therby we might know our owne weaknesse so humble our selues before God as we ought for of our selues wée are cleane repugnant vnto him to all goodnes whereof he is the author And sith that we are all called to the crosse of affliction and calamitie and to fight against the pride and presumption that is in vs and so to be occupyed in contemplation therfore Let none of vs iudge a wrye or amisse of those which are fallen or doo fall but let him which is vpright and on his féete take héede he fall not also Bycause that God is almightie and wil raise vp and cast down whom him lifteth will not forsake but rayse vp them that fall will exalte the humble and méeke and knit close theyr cracks and breakings most sure The cause whye hée doeth not forsake them that are fallen is for that they bée his children and that he wil make hys glorious workes to illustrate and appeare more brighter in thē by the meanes thereof bycause where as sinne doeth abound there doeth grace superabound and his mercy and goodnesse is shining the brighter The wicked worlde cannot abyde that any man shuld repugne or geinsay agaynst his iudgement nor yet allow any thing that is condempned therein But the children of God as they haue a sence féeling of Christ so they doe allow by Christ all which God doth commaund And so likewise by him doe they reproue cōdempne the iudgement of the world for abhominable and wicked And therfore the worlde and his worldlings togither doe against them all the mischief they can to the ende to banish from them this féeling of the truth and so by consequent to dispoyle them from God whose they are But in consideration thereof hée will confounde both the worlde worldlings and their iudgements altogither And if it happen that the chyldren of God doe stumble and fall with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution giue wrong iudgement disalowing the truth which they ought to alow and doe alowe a lye which they ought to reproue yet their louing god and father wil bring it so to passe that it shal serue them for their best greatest cōmoditie to bring them to be enriched with true humilitie with their onely trust in God whose goodnesse is wonte to ryse stirre and take out of greatest euilles and wickednesse most great blessednesse and happinesse For that those which loue him he doth cōuert vnto them all things for the best yea euen out of sin he doth take great riches to glorify them with As he did to Noah Dauid to Peter after their fals he tooke such occasiō therby as he turned many thinges to their greate goodnes commoditie did make to shyne in them great light out of the darkenesse the which they were in By meanes hereof wée béeyng forsaken of the world and crucified therin And also the worlde béeyng forsaken of vs wée shall come to great knowledge by experyence that neyther honors riches noblenes of birth humayne fauour wisedome nor yet estimation had of men is of no force nor valour in our spirituall batteile But onely a sure fayth and hope in God our Lord. And so beeyng made mightie méeke and hūble in this maner we remain vnited and suerly knit with the vine which is Iesus Christ more prompt and ready to receiue his gifts then at the first The cause why the father doth so picke prime purge and make clean the braūches which
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
sinnes that we haue committed he dooth presently pardon vs for them with suche a dexteritie that he is so redye to imbrace kisse and otherwyse to comfort vs with his pure peace that we cannot so soone open our lippes to confesse our offences as he is redy to performe the effect of his grace to giue the guardon thereof vnto vs By the which he dooth discouer himselfe to be no lesse our father then then he was before our falling His ioye is such for our saluacion then that the accompt which he hath of our offences is as if we had neuer offended Haue we lost and spoiled our spirituall ritches and substaunce that he hath geuen vs for our patrimony yea it is euen so we haue most retchlesly done it yet what then in his heauenly house or habitacion he hath much and many more riches to help and inrich vs with And therefore let vs remoue our eyes frō our owne misery and nakednesse and leaue the regarde that we haue thervnto and let vs firmely fix our sight looke wholly on him with hart mynd and strength for that he is our onely lyfe health remedy redéemer and saluacion none but he For in vs there is nothing that is any thing auaileable therevnto It is a bitter torment of mynde christian conscience to consider how many are made affraide discouraged and driuen to doubte by our denegacion or deniall of our Christ For although they were tender younglings in the knowledge of him at the first now condempninge through vs the trueth which before they did allowe This will wounde our weake consciences wōderfully which doo so reuolt And therefore I meane to the ende we should doo so doothe sathan make such continual warre against vs But therin to such lyke reuolters it happeneth as it did to the Apostles which dyd deny their maister and made many to faint feare and doubt in and of him But although as weake vntrained souldiers to such lyke warres we be often put to scilence and made to breake aray by our enimies Yet it is very conuenient fit that we gather a new force vnto vs and once againe to confesse the trueth stoutely which we haue staggered fallē from and denyed and with a couragyous mynde and constant fayth aduenture our lyues for the same as the Apostles did Although before they had denyed it yet they conuerted and dyd returne agayne to réedifie by their dealinges that which they hadde distroyed in séekynge mortall lyfe by denegation of theyr maister If with weakenesse wée doe commit this as they dyd we haue the like vertue and as full power to repent pray to God and conuert as they had And therefore the holy Ghost saithe and dooth commaunde vs by Sainct Paule wée haue not a highe priest that can not take compassion of our infirmyties but we haue suche a one as was tempted in all thinges lyke vnto vs and yet without sinne Let vs go therefore boldlye vntoo and béefore the throne of that good highe Priest that wée may receyue mercy and fynde grace to helpe vs in tyme of néede And Christ him selfe sayeth that the whole or healthful néede not the Phisition but they that are sicke And therefore he doeth call them vnto him saying Come vnto me all you that labour and are loaden and I will ease you take my yoke vppon you and learne of mée that am gentle méeke in harte and you shall finde rest or refreshing for your soules So that when wée are sicke and oppressed in conscience let vs runne vnto him that the rather we may come to our remedie bycause wée are those which are called of hym that hée might vnloade and heale vs. If they haue taken away our honour or spoyled vs of our goods If they haue shut vs vp in prisons and strong Castles or haue condempned vs for heresie as they terme it yet for all that it is no let at all but that we may come vnto hym and receiue other goods honours and libertye muche greater wythout comparyson then are those whych are visible For although that of men we are cōdempned as enimies yet God dooth loue and allow vs as his children and frendes And therefore dooth commaūd vs to come to be refreshed of his son If he dyd not loue vs he would not deale so diligently for our remedy our sinnes cannot be so great as is the health and helpe that he hath already prouided for them he hath destroyed and ouercome sinne and will that we enioy the benefit of his victory If we thincke our selues vnworthy yet our vnworthinesse shal not hinder vs for that his worthynesse is sufficient Let vs therfore shut our eares to the reasons of the worlde and the fleshe and let them be onely opened to this amorous voyce which doothe call vs so louingly And sith that onely in God who is the fountayne of all goodnesse there is mercy let vs not thincke to fynde it in any other but onely in him in those that haue his spirit and be membres of Christ his sonne It is the propertie of true mercie to deliuer the miserable from their myserie and euill and in place thereof to communicate vnto them aboundance of true ryches and goodnesse And also it is most certayne that how much the greater the euils and miseries are of the which he doth deliuer his faithfull of So much the more brighter doth remaine the shew and setting foorth of his glory in them who is most worthie of the same Then howe can we call that mercie that doeth all that may bée depryue vs of so many benifites as is possible and doeth put vs into a déepe dungeon amongest a mightie multitude of massie myseries and euilles In good sooth this can be none other but a most straunge and curssed crueltie cloathed but with a coate or cloke and name of mercy the aucthor wherof for a certeintie is the diuil and his members The persecutors of the gospel doe accompt and call it mercifull dealyng to constraine the electe chosen to deny both God and his word to spoyle them of the fruites of their redemption and in place thereof to put them into the handes of the diuill Is this any thing els may we think thē to depryue them of an innumerable number of benifites and to put them into an infinite and vnmeasurable many of mischiefes for that in place and stéede of inioyning and hauing the lyues of their bodies they doe nothing but reape the benifite and fruite of vanitie it selfe Which indureth not a moment but vanysheth awaye with them selues lyke a scrow in the fire or as a vapour in the ayre and so they with it is cōsumed and commeth to naught for euer How can there rest remaine or be any mercy in place where as the trueth and rightuousnesse of God is condempned How can those be mercifull that condempne the innocents and doe accompt it as a most curssed cryme
iustifie sayeth hée doe I also glorifie So that the ende thereof is to be glorified as Iesus Christe was when God the father did put hym in hys kingdome and there made him Lorde ouer all hys enimyes by the afflictions and crosses which hée had suffered passed And as the way which our redéemer Tetragramatō tooke to be glorified by was crosses of persecutiō whereby he passed and tooke possession of his heauenly kingdome In lyke maner by those persecutions whych now we suffer is the most perfect way for vs to bée glorified by also As wée may be well assured by Iesus Christ our head who is alreadie gone before vs by the same way whose footesteps of force we must follow This way is so direct that whosoeuer passeth by it it is not possible so he do it with faith that he should misse but with all perfectnesse enter into his kingdom Bycause as those that passe any other way doe walke till they loose them selues so those that kéepe this way which is the true way cannot but bée glorified in suffering with Christ for that they did perseuer in his truth and true religion till the end And therefore all those which shall suffer dy for so iust a cause let thē reioice be glad assurīg thēselus of their glorification with Christ Iesus for euer For why Gods truth cānot alter nor chaūge nor yet any thing that is ioyned therw t cānot be seperated by mā The holy ghost saith by the apostle S. Paule that all those which God dyd knowe and acknowledge he did predestinate bycause they shoulde be conformable and lyke in shape vnto the image of his sonne And those which were predestinate he did call those which hée called he also iustified those which he iustified he did glorifie So that of necessitie those which he did predestinate he did also glorifie and the way and meanes to come to be glorified is to be called and iustified by passions and crosses to be conforme and lyke vnto his sonne Wherefore those two things be so vnyted and knit togither that the one is comprehended within the other for that in suffering with Christ and to be made lyke vnto him is comprehended the ioyntely beyng glorified with him And therefore all them that suffer afflictions and calamities in this world may assure them selues that in the ende they shall bée glorified in Christ for whome they were afflicted Beloued bretheren we haue béene alreadie called of God by the Gospel And although that before our callyng we were loste yet nowe we are washed sanctified and iustified by the bloud and name of our Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our god This is a plaine testimony that we haue all our secret election from one and that is Christ by whom we doe certifie our selues thereof Also the world by the persecutions and sorowes that we suffer in it and by the hatred that it vseth towardes vs doeth manifestly shew that by the diuyne mercie of God we are called and iustified For why the world can not abyde vs nor none but his owne Whilest we were of the worlde hée made vs many delycate deintie delightes and trimly intreated vs as if we had bene his owne But afterwardes whē God had giuē vs the true light of his Gospell and so seperated vs a sunder that it was euident and apparant vnto all that we were the true members of Christ our head and none of his Then he blustered and blowed against vs he rufled roared brayed and rayled at vs and did so extréemely abhorre vs that he did nor will not rest to vse all kynde of crueltie that he can to cast vs out quyte from hym And so our sauiour Christ doeth confyrme vnto vs by Sainct Iohn saying if the world doe abhorre and hate you then remember howe that fyrst it hated mée If you were of the world the world would loue you as hys owne But bycause you be not of the worlde and that I haue chosen you to my self the world doeth hate and abhorre you Remember the wordes which I haue sayde vnto you the seruaunt is not greater then his Lorde if they haue persecuted mée they will also persecute you Wherby it resteth manifest that those which be persecuted killed and abhorred of the world are alreadie taken called by God from the worlde to him selfe and washed and purified with the bloud of hys sonne Iesus Christ So that we are to acount our selues glorified if we be hated doe suffer in such maner And therefore sith we be so certified and shewed by such signes and tokens so euident that we be elected and chosen eternally in Christ Iesu and that wée be partakers of his rightuousnesse let vs also be assured of it that we shall atteine to the ende of our election in dispite of the world and all the ministers thereof and of all their false and curssed religion When that men without God and hys Christ will and doe burne vs or giue vs any other kynde of death let vs vnderstand that it is the checkmate and ende of all our troubles and calamities and that then is set open vnto vs the gates of the glory of God that we might enter in enioy with him for euer the inestimable ryches of his eternall kingdom When the enimies of God and his Gospell persecuted S. Steuen to the death euen whē he was in the most chiefest checks tauntes troubles amongest them he sawe the glorie of God did sée heauē open Iesus Christ sitting on the right hād of the father ready to receiue him to crown him as his martir faithful witnesse So that in the strongest torments and most cruell deathes heauen is opened vnto vs And therefore we ought not to be abashed to faynte nor to feare at any of their torments but to stand strongly and go forward with a good stomake and courage and neuer to looke behynde vs that wee might ouertake attain to and apprehend or comprehende the resurrection of Christ Iesus accordyng as wée be in him comprehēded Our enimies are vnwilling herewith but god willeth and hath ordeyned that there is nothyng that may or can be any let hinderance or impediment to kéepe backe that hys election and eternall counsell wherein he loued vs should not take effecte accordingly that wée might be made conformeable and like vnto his sonne as well in his death as also that we should be pertakers of his glorious resurrection All the euill that men doe against the faithfull is to none other end but to let and hynder if they could the predetermination of god Thinking to make them beléeue that there is no other way to bring the same to passe or that it passeth by none other meane or rule thē by those which they doe allowe and not by the truth which they cōdempne after their owne fantasies delights No no God nor no pointe of hys gouernement and will
is not nor shall not be directed by them neither hée his people nor yet his doctrine is nor are not guided by any parte péece or pointe of their wayes or teachings As great distance are betwéene my wayes and yours sayeth the Lord as is betwéene the heauen and the earth God wil not haue to deale with the wicked least it be to vse them as the vessels of his wrath for the health and wealth of his chosen For whn by their wayes institutions and decrées they goe about to blotte rase vs out of the memoriall of God that we might not attaine to the lande of the liuing But in that mansion and most mightie monarchie God hath vs in remembrance and doth lift vp enriche and glorifie vs with his inestimable giftes and riches where our ende will be to rest shyning in great ioye and glorie lightned by the lyght of truth in all heauenly felicitie The bretheren of holy blessed Ioseph what did they leaue vndone and not put in practise to punish let and hinder the comming to passe of the counsel of God wherby he had determined to lift on high glorifie his seruant they persecuted him iniured him mocked him stripped him sold him as a slaue he was caried into strauÌ„ge couÌ„treis there vsed intreated most extréemely and hardly But wheÌ„ they thought no more to haue hard of him behold he remayned lifted vp by the handes of God and made a mightie maiestrate in Egipt and a superior Lord and ruler ouer his byers sellers All that they did against him was onely and vppon set purpose a pretence to hinder him that hée should not atteyne to any parte thereof I meane that glorie but they could not in no one iote let or hynder the good will of God nor yet coulde vse no impediment in his loue towardes Ioseph nor in guyding him as a shéepe that had bene among Wolues from all his troublesome enimyes and persecutors till hée had performed hys great glorification in this world and in the worlde to come inherited hyporsioÌ„ of those inestimable treasures prepared by the loue and good wil of God for the faithfull from the beginning Thus it appeareth how he tooke hys steppes into all hys troubles and doynges by degrées as it were vp a ladder or paire of stayers til God had assumpted and lifted him vp into the toppe of all his glorie accordyng to his determination before the foundation of the world So that as these carnall and worldly bretheren did agaynst Ioseph euen so at this day doe the children of this world against the faithfull in beating downe and persecuting them by all the meanes and wayes which possibly they can but therein God doeth lifte them vp tyll they be glorified in Christ Iesus Of the mightie povver and exceeding loue of god The xxviij Chapter THe Hipocrites scribes Pharises and other the enimyes of God were greatly against the glorifycatyon of Iesus Christ and to conclude him from the same they persecuted hym with so great and gréeuous furie and also condempned hym to death beastly beléeuing that after the same there would nor coulde bee no more noyse of hys name that wholy he should peryshe for euer and so be most out of memorie altogither in obliuion that they should holde his kingdome in peace and haue his people subiecte to theyr tirannie But the dyuyne meaning of God and hys prouidence was cleane to the contrarie By those meanes and wayes which they wrought to ouerthrow hym he lifted hym vp in such maner that there is nothing in heauen nor earth more highe sublymate and supreme then he Where they sought all the mischieuous meanes they could to darken and hinder hys glory it was to no purpose God made it with maiestie the more to shyne and did spred the beames thereof the farther throughout the vnyuersall world They did crucifie hym in most cruellest and most spytefullest maner and killed hym with the most vylest death such as was most infamous bycause he myght be the more hated and the lesse accounted vailâ—able for the health and saluation of his chosen But in thys was fulfilled that which was spoken by Esay the Prophet the father shall drawe vnto him an innumerable number of disciples that neyther shall nor will loue nor séeke after none other helpe holines nor rightuousnesse but his owne And also it is written that God by hys death vppon the crosse dyd cause that his sonne should haue emperiall rule and be the onely Lord ouer all his enimyes It was a thyng which they could not conceiue in their hard harted harts mindes But in that they thought by their doinges to deface and foredoe for euer the name of our swéete sauiour Iesus Christ it is fallen out quyte to the contrarie and so altered and turned that there is none other name in the worlde where to or to which all creatures shall bowe but onely his So that where they did their best indeuour to spoyle all hys honour and dygnitie it is nowe so come to passe that therby he is most gloriously glorified hath greatest supremisie and a name aboue all names the greatest As it is of his owne wordes written by S. Iohn If I be lifted vp from or aboue the earth I shall and wil drawe vnto me all things Meanyng that by his death he should gayne and win the victorie and bryng all things in subiection vnder hym As hys enimyes and rebellious aduersaryes could not with all the force and power they had preiudise or hinder his glorification no more can those terrible tormentors that séeke to persecute kill vs let nor preiudise ours Bycause it is dependant vppon hym and altogither his owne for that the glorification of the head is also common to the members vnited and knit therevnto Euen as at those dayes the crosse and passion of our Lord did Annunciate and declare his glorie potencie and might to all beléeuers So the persecutions calamities and afflictions that we doe suffer also those which an innumerable number of our fellow members and bretheren haue suffered sithens haue bene bée shall be for euer publishers proclaymors and preachers of the same glory The enimies of the gospel aduised taught by the spirit of Sathan when they doe lead vs to the place of the execution of our death they doe tye our tonges an act as diuilish pagan like as possible bicause that we should neither speak nor yet that they woulde heare the laude and prayse of Iesus Chryste our maister but those tyinges or strings wherewith our said tonges be restrayned shall be tonges to talke and speake agaynst them as agaynst the greatest enimyes to the glorie of God and vse a new language wherby shall be vnderstoode and knowen the vertue and mightie power of the highest vnto them that he hath ordeined to health and saluatioÌ„ It is greatly necessarie that all be
any other rule to serue him by then that which he doth cōmaund and teach for a rule by the holy ghost Let vs not feare the creatures but the creator onely Let vs not take héed nor make accompt of things that be visible but of things which are inuisible Let vs not meruaile bée dysmayed nor afrayde of the crueltie of men but let vs behold and be inamored of the clemencie and goodnesse of God our good and louing father Bicause that he in all things is true let vs be louers faithfull and true vnto him Hée dyd not forget that he did knowe and elect vs to bée made conformeable and lyke vnto hys sonne hée doth alwayes remember and will neuer forget that hée called vs of his owne singuler mercie to vs warde and dyd let others alone in the same condempnatiō in the which we were and béeyng vnrightuous as we were in déede he did iustifie vs washe vs by the bloude of Christ bycause wée should be holy in his presence Let vs remember all this how he loued vs in Christ when we were his enimies and would not pardon him in his passions one iote Yet he did pardon vs and gyue hym self vnto death yea the most vile death on the crosse to distroy sinne the which but for hys mercye and loue had distroyed vs vtterlie and all bycause wée should haue life in hym Syth hée loued vs so then béeing so horrible sinners and hys cruell enymies it is most sure and certain that he loueth vs nowe muche better for that he hath so rebuked and killed sin in vs that we are reconsiled vnto him and hath also made vs the children of his mercie And therefore for that hée doeth so loue vs with the burnyng bowels of his true loue he will also gloryfye vs in Christe for why all that he doth vnto vs is to the same ende wherefore he wyll that we suffer whilst wee liue in this worlde that we might be partakers of the crosse and death of Christe also of his resurrection and gloryficacion So that to be like vnto hym in suffering heere he gueth vs to vnderstand that we shall be with him and like vnto hym in his kingdome and therefore it is very necessary that wee passe many tribulationes in entring therinto Wherefore with shuttinge our eyes to all the impedimentes of our glorificacion and with geuing no eare to the resons of our flesh and the world let vs run with pacience to the battayle wherevnto we are so louingly pressed lookinge to our chieftaine Iesus Christ who hauing before him as we haue such ioy as is vnspeakeable did willingly suffer his crosse nothing regarding the dishonor of hys death and is set on the right hande of God in his inestimable glory Thus considering the contradiction that his enimyes vsed to him selfe whilest be was on earth amongest them let not vs be troubled nor faint in our minds at any kynde of calamitie but with a great and stout courage let vs go forward and not stay to rest till that we haue gotten that Iewell which is his blessing and set vp for a pryse or rewarde for all those which perseuer vpryght and in the true knowledge of hys trueth and obedience of the same till the ende An entrie into the conclusion vvith many godly exortations The xxxiii Chapter ANd therfore let vs haue alwayes before our eyes the admonytion and counsaile that our onely sauiour Christ did often exhorte hys disciples with saying let your myndes bée possessed with patience and be ye prudent and wyse as Serpents and simple and innocents as Doues Let vs be therfore so wyse and prudent that we doe vse all things at all tymes to the glorie of Christ our redéemer Wherefore let not our wysedom bée cautelous and subtile with malyce agaynst God according to the worlde but according to the knowledge that we haue from God by his good will so that we may be guyded by the holy Ghost in all that we doe or suffer And let our innocencio bée no otherwyse but in such maner as wée may vouchsafe with good will to tast of the bitter gall hatred and enmitie offered vs by men so that we be not ignorāt of that we be not ignorant of that which belongeth to christianitie bicause that to be otherwise simple were but rudenesse and bestiallitie and no simplicitie euangelicall Let vs not be slow nor colde in the workes of the Lorde but with a feruente zeale to GOD with knowledge and Christian modestie Let vs follow our forefathers the Prophets and Apostles in our vexatiō calling that wée may haue all one selfesame féeling in Christ Iesus Let vs all and euerie one of vs confesse hym in all places and the rather that edification might come therby so that we cast not pearle amōg swine Let our communication be seasoned with salte of knowledge of fayth with the word of god so that it may be gracious acceptable to the hearers And let thē not be to scorne mock and murmour at the ignorant blind such as be alwayes vnder the clouds of errors curssed captiues vnder the emperie gouernmēt of the diuil but alwaies let vs speak with grauitie christian honestie in the fear of the lord Let vs vse our words with all honor reuerēce bicause we may stop the mouthes of euil curssed speakers constrain thē to say cōfesse the God hath his dwilling in vs Behold what the Apostle Peter writeth saith the hée that speaketh let him speak the words of God let him not onely pronoūce with hys mouth but also let the same come frō his hart So that whē we speak we should thinke bona fide from our hartes to be beléeued therby not to be hard onely bicause God is neither contented nor any thing pleased that we should onely haue him dissēblingly in our mouths nothing in our hartes wherfore doth he cōmaūd vs earnestly to engraue print his picture law gospel most déepely in our best booke of remēbrāces which is our hartes for that from thēce it might come to our tonges bicause it shuld not happen to vs as it doth to many which for the ther haue him but in their toūgs to talk of if they chaūce to be examined by their enimies what Christ is they do easly deny forsake fear remain doubtful of him are occasiō by their incōstācie for others to do the lyke bicause so shamefully slēderly they let slip their faith do doubt of Gods most mightie power But although the some of these weaklings do so let vs be firm in our faith not faile to shew the same in profession of true religion which assuredly came downe from heauen It is not the religion of men which is contented with wordes onely and outwarde shewes but it is of God which asketh first and principally the
our mariners to stand by our tackling Biiause our aduersarie the diuil goeth rampāt about lyke a roaryng Lyon séeking whom he may deuour whom we oughte to resist by force of faith in christ Iesus Let vs remember our selues of the dayes of Noah and of Lottes wife And let vs be afrayd that when they say vnto vs peace and securitie that euen then death and distruction is at hande will runne vppon vs hastily and kyll vs without repentance lyke as a womon with chylde whome hyr trauaile taketh vppon the sodayne and turneth hyr to sorow or as carelesse byrdes that fall in the Net vnwares Least that when we think nothing of it wée bée taken with some horryble tempest that maye trouble and distroy all Let vs bée as Souldyors wyse prudent well exercysed and trayned vp in warre that wée runne not out of arraye but that we alwayes be prest in order lookyng to our chiefetain listen to the alarme if it be striken vp by our enimies that we be not taken vpon the sodaine as no doubt they will if they can when we thinke our selues most surest And also let vs alwayes laye vppon our shoulders our beardes lookyng backe to sée when our Lord commeth And moreouer in tyme of aduersitie when any thing happeneth vnto vs whyther it be oppression by pouertie miserie infamy imprisonment sicknes or any other exyle or any other kinde of calamitie let vs vnderstande that first we haue deserued farre greater griefes and troubles then any whatsoeuer or we are able to beare Secondly to consider that wée ought to vse for our remedie a sure truste in God with repentance confessyon to him and contrition Fynally let vs accept them as gentle scourges a fatherly chastysement gyuyng hartie thankes for them that they tende to our ioyfull and comfortable end and also let vs be so firme and constant that whatsoeuer terror or trouble do shewe him selfe vnto vs that we doo not faynt in our true fayth What a number of enimies hath the Gospell had from the beginning that God hath punished caused them to be lost to bée consumed and perish with great myserie and little or none the memorie that is had of them But those which were in fayth and did perseuer constantly in the trueth and did not seperate them selues from the Lord doo remaine in eternall memorie before him in hys heauenly habitation In olde tyme what became of Caine Membroth Saule Senacherib and also of many others that were the Emperours of Roome What was the end of Herode Achaz Antiochus Achab Zedechias and many others of their tiranicall fellowship that persecuted the faithfull Prophets and children of the Lord what was the end of all these furious fellowes Surely by the true scriptures it is made most manifest that they were all vtterly distroyed by the same worde of God for whose trueth they persecuted hys people Wherfore let vs not dismay our selues be faint harted nor weaks in mynde how mightie magnificall so euer they show them selues that so persecute vs bycause that God who doth and will defend vs muche more mightie thē they are And those mightie monsters wil he make the vesseils of his wrath and distroy most mightifully Let vs with all bening humilitie follow the exāple of Iesus Christ so that if we be persecuted euen vnto the death with most vylest persecutions let vs not be troubled at all but be assured that the laste day we shall resuscitate ryse agayne in immortalitie incorruptiō with the prince of pastors Iesu Christ our Lorde bycause that he him selfe is the resurrection he shall quycken our mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in vs. Although that sometimes we be so euil intreated by our enimies with many kinds of calamities yet let vs not thinke that God is a sléepe or hath in any poynt forgetten vs but be we all fully assured that he will not close an eie nor winck on whit but wil watch alwaies to kéepe saue and deliuer vs to the Israelites Although their halles or house of audience and iudgement grounded vppon vnrightuousnes where they most gréeuouslye heare condempne and iudge the faithfull for confessinge and professinge the truthe come downe from Heauen be neuer so fully fraughte with curssed cruelties yet what then they are to no purpose at all for that our father which is in heauen hath such an auditory as also farre passeth theirs in all poyntes as is possible where as we may fully assure our selues that he will sit in iudgment and confound their deuises who wil ese our griefs and cōdempne our condempnors alloting them their porcions among the scribes and pharasies and hipocrites And wheras he our mighty god hath chosen his church his faithful people appoynted thē to iudge cōdempne the impious and vngodly which now are their condempnors as it is writby S. Mat. Wherfore with pacience let vs beare and suffer our present condemnations because in time to come we may iudge our condempnors for by that truthe which now they condempne in vs they remaine for euer condempned Let not vs meruell at the persecutors whiche at these dayes doe trouble vs nor yet at the innumerable number that rise against vs neyther let vs faint nor feare to sée that we are in number nothing to be compared against them Let vs content our selues onely and thereby be encouraged that we are acceptable to God and that he hath loked vppō vs in Christ for whose sake we ar alwaies in fauour with him By the same way that we do passe many saynts haue passed before vs All the faithfull sayth holy Iudith haue bin acceptable to God and passed by many tribulations Righteous Abel was persecuted and killed by his brother Caine Noah was mocked of his sonne Cham Sem how was he afflicted What a number of troubles did Abraham suffer who was faithful and the father of all beléeuers How was Loth tormented and afflicted in Sodome what sorowes suffered Isack when his father went about to sacrafise him what persecution did Iacob suffer by his brother Esau what an innumerable number of noysom troubles did Moyses suffer bycause hée was faythfull to God Dyd not the foolish Philistians afflicte Samson so sore that they put out both his eyes That holy and iust man Iob was not he terriblie tormented and troubled both of friendes and foes was not the Prophet Elias wonderfully vexed and persecuted by curssed Quéene Iesabell and wicked King Achab hyr vngodly husband what troubles was there that King Dauid so beloued of God was not subiect vnto how the Prophets were murdered the Apostles persecuted and killed all the scriptures doe declare Howe brauely dyd the diuill the world and the flesh bestirre their stumps stobernly to strike and beate downe Iesus Christ tyll they had taken away his lyfe yet for all that they remained vnpossessed of his