punish vs yet more rigorouslie than hetherto thou hast done that for one stripe wee should receiue an hundred If thou shouldest transport the kingdome of thy sonne from vs to the Turkes and the Iewes If thou shouldest send such a famine of thy word as running through the forrests to haue some refreshing and finding none our soules should faint Yea Lord if thou shouldest throw vs down into hell we confesse that it were verie right and yeeld our selues guiltie acknowledging that we haue well deserued it Notwithstanding O good God and father there is mercie with thee yea thy mercies are infinite to swallowe vp the multitude and grieuousnes of our sinnes Thou art a God gracious pitifull slowe vnto wrath abounding in mercie and trueth keeping mercie for thousands pardoning iniquitie transgression sinne Thou hast said that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Conuert vs then O Lord that we may be conuerted and that we may liue before thee We are poore sinners we confesse it but yet thy sonne Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Behold vs then O Lord not in our selues for wee are vnworthy of thy grace but behold vs in the face of thy sonne Iesus Christ and for his sake bee at tone with vs and be mercifull and fauourable vnto vs that in the multitude of our sinnes the greatnes of thy grace may shine if thou regard our iniquities who is he that is able to stand before thee Wee haue been vnfaithfull but thou remainest still faithfull Thou canst not renounce thy mercie and goodnes we haueforsaken thee but thou hast promised not to forsake vs. Wee haue forgotten thee but thou hast said that though a mother should forget her childe yet wouldst not thou forget vs. Thou hast made a couenant with vs wherein thou hast promised to pardon our sinnes and to remember our iniquities no more Thou hast promised that though our sins were as red as scarlet thou wouldest make them as white as wooll if they were as red as crimson that they should be made as white as snowe We are heauie laden and labour with our iniquities But Iesus Christ hath called vs to him and hath promised to refresh vs. Haue pitie thē on vs O Lord haue pitie vpon vs. Let our miseries moue the bowells of thy mercie Forgiue vs O our GOD forgiue vs for thine owne sake for the glorie of thy name and for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Impute vnto vs the goodnes that is in him that the euill that is in vs may not be imputed Thou hast pumshed the iust that thou mightest pardon the wicked Accept thou the merites of his death and passion for satissaction of all that is in vs worthie of thy wrath and indignation and make vs to feele the fruites of our reconciliation with thee If thou wilt afflict our bodies haue yet pitie of our soules If thou wilt impourish vs on the earth depriue vs not yet of the riches of heauen If thou wilt take away the bread of our bodies yet leaue vs the spirituall bread of our soules Though wee bee in reproach among our enemies yet let not thy name be blasphemed Though we bee accursed of the world yet let vs bee blessed of thee Though the world hate vs yet let thy loue abide vpon vs. O Lord we are thine forsake vs not Thou hast saide I am the Eternall this is my name I will not giue my glorie vnto Images nor my praise vnto another For thine owne sake then euen for thine owne sake haue mercie vpon vs. For why shall thy name bee blasphemed for our sakes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue glorie and honour in shewing foorth the riches of thy graces of thy truth and of thy might Thou art the God of glorie sanctifie thy name in drawing light out of our darknes and lift out of death making perfect thy power in our infirmitie and thy great grace in our vnworthines to thy praise and glorie Heare the blasphemies of thine enemies boasting them selues in their counsels and their forces triumphing and reioycing in our confusion as if we were not thy people thy children thy Church as if wee were cast off of thee as if thou were not able to helpe or keepe vs. Neuerthelesse thou art our creatour and wee are the worke of thy hands Thou art our shepheard wee are thy flocke Thou art our father wee are thy children Thou art our God wee are thine inheritance Thou art our redeemer wee are the people whome thou hast bought It is thou also O our God who by thy word alone hast created the heauen and the earth the sea and al that is in them it is by thee that all things liue be and haue their mouing it is of thee by thee and for thee that all things are It is thou which dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt And there is neither counsell wisedome nor strength against thee Represse then O Lord the rage and furie of thine enemies breake their forces dissipate their counsels confound them in the bold enterprises which they haue taken in hand against thee and thy sonne lesus Christ Maintaine the rest of thy flocke which thou hast kept vntill this day Establish againe the Churches that are ruined and dispersed Suffer not the memorie of thy name to be abolished from the earth rather let thy word sound and thy Gospell bee preached where it hath not yet been heard to gather thine elect vnto thee and to magnifie thy name And that so wee may see it florish more more and the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to bee aduanced for euer more Amen The necessitie and benefite of affliction GReat trouble and vexation the righteous shall sustains By Gods determination whilest heere they doo remaine Which grieuous is and irksome both for flesh and bloud to beare Because by nature we are loath to want our pleasure heere And eke because our enemie that auncieat deadly foe Satan with cruell tyrannie the worker of our woe Doth still prouoke the wicked sort in sinne which doo delight To please themselues make great sport to vexe vs with despite Yet doo the righteous by the crosse moe blessed things obtaine Than anie waie can be the losse the dolor or the paine The losse is that which in few daies would passe fade and decay Euen of it selfe the gaine alwaies can no man take away All earthly estimation the crosse may cleane deface But heauenlie consolation the soule dooth then imbrace Afflictions worldly pleasures will abandon out of minde Then is the soule more earnest still the ioyes of heauen to finde These worldly riches goods and wealth by troubles may depart Then inward ioyes and sauing health may wholly rule the heart In trouble friends doo start aside as cloudes doo with the winde But Gods assistance doth abide to cheare the troubled minde Jfwe should feele these losses all at once by sudden change We may not be dismaid withall though it seeme verie strange Iob lost his frends he lost his wealth and comfort of his wife He lost his children and his health yea all but wretched life When all was gone the Lord aboue did still with him remaine With mercie kindnes and with loue asswaging all his paine Teaching him by experience that all things fickle be Which subiect are to humane sence and yeeld all miserie But godlinesse within the heart remaineth euer sure In wealth and woe it is her part true comfort to procure Affliction turn'th these worldly ioyes to greater paine and woe Because the loue was linck'd with toyes religion is not so For when mans heart doth most delight in pleasure wealth and pride Religion then will take her flight she may not there abide Where by our soules in wofull plight continually remaine Yet haue not we the grace or might from such lusts to refraine In which estate mest willingly though tending right to hell We compt our chiefe felicitie and loue therein to dwell Therefore the Lord which is aboue regarding vs below With mercie pitie grace and loue that alwases from him flow Doth mix with griefe these earthly things wherein we doo delight Which to our soules all sorow brings or else remoou'th them quite Then dooth the holie word of God most comfortable seeme Which we before we felt the rod mere follie did esteeme The world which earst most pleasant was now loathsome seem'th to be It doth appeare as in a glasse all fraught with miserie Then feare we hell then flie we sinne then seeke we heauen the more To vse good meanes we then begin which we despisde before Then can we pray then can we call to God for strength and grace Which things before might not at all with vs haue anie place Then heare we with attentiuenes then read we with all care Then pray we with great feruentnes no trauaile then we spare Then shall we see feele and confesse the state wherein we dwelt To be nothing but wretchednes though worldly ioyes we felt Because the soule by godlinesse more comfort doth receaue In one day than by worldlinesse for euer it can haue Then we with Dauid shall confesse that God from heauen aboue By humbling vs doth well expresse his mercie and his loue For ere we felt the scourging rod we er'de and went astray But now we keepe the law of God and waite thereon alway Then forreligion loue the crosse though it doo bring some paine The ioy is great small is the losse but infinite the gaine FINIS
that he doth any thing for him to clothe him with the liuerie of his seruants as also when any one shall be receiued for a Prince into any countrie he may well cast some peeces of golde or siluer amongst the people to shew his liberality but the honors and dignities are distributed among his fauourits GOD wil not feast our bodies with the seruice of our soules He is liberall and iust therefore will recompence Spirituall conflicts with Spirituall Crownes and accept our labors not according to the vilenes of our harts but according to the dignity of his greatnes seeing also that he crowneth not in vs our workes August but properly his owne Of one and the selfe same seruice there is one recompence of a King and an other of a Merchant so as when we would content our selues with earthly goods God might answere with better reason than in old time Alexander the great that it were enough in regarde of vs that shoulde receiue it but not in regard of him that should giue it vs. They that knowe the vanity of worldly thinges haue no contentation but in heauenly things yea Manuel Aug. cha 3 and will say with Saint Augustine Lorde if thou shouldest giue mee all that thou hast created in the world that shoulde not suffice thy seruant except thou gaue mee thy selfe As also he saith in another place All aboundance which is not my God is to me scarcitie 2. In the life to come Wee must then set before vs the reward promised in the eternall life wherwith without al doubt Moses was liuely touched in his hart when he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter choosing rather to bee afflicted with the people of GOD than to enioy for a small season the pleasures of sin esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches than al the treasures of Aegypt For saith the apostle he had respect to the reward which also he receiued not in this present life wherin he was afflicted vntil his death but in heauen whither hee lifting vp his eies feared not the furie of the King but held fast as if hee sawe him that is inuisible The same Apostle writing to the Hebrevves that beleeued sheweth very well that they also did vnderstand this reward For he beareth them witnesse Heb. 10.34 that they had taken ioyfullie the spoyling of their goods knowing that they had a better riches inheauen which abideth for euer Wherein also he confirmeth them adding this exhortation Then cast not off your confidence which hath great reward The fruite in the life to come incomprehensible first for the greatnesse Rom. 8.18 Now although as touching our selues we can not comprehend what this reward shall be yet ought we certainly to beleeue it that it is most certaine because Iesus Christ hath promised it and most excellent seeing that Saint Paule affirmeth that the suffrings of this present life are not woorthie of the glorie to come which shall be reuealed in vs. As also he sayth in an other place 2. Cor. 4.17 That our transitorie afflictions which indure but a small time and are gone in a moment shal bring forth in vs an eternal waight of glorie maruelous excellent And to giue some taste in waighting for the ful reuelation and inioying of it let vs note in this last sentence of Saint Paule the comparison that hee maketh of our afflictions that are swift and passing in a moment and the eternall waight of glorie maruellous excellent which they bring foorth For true it is that our outward man decayeth as hee said meaning thereby the losse of health of riches honours friendships aliances and other such aides and commodities of this life and the life it selfe but in the meane time the inward man is renued euery day by an happy and excellent chaunge in goods and honours that are spirituall heauenly and eternall And indeede what is all that which we suffer and lose here for Iesus Christ in respect of the infinite and incomprehensible good things which we shall recouer in heauen whereof also we haue a feeling in this present life Are we constrained to forsake a fleshlie father Beholde the heauenly father which offereth himselfe at hand who alone properly is our Father as is saide before Iohn 9. What lost the man borne blinde beeing cast out of the Synagogue and refused of the Scribes and Pharisies when Iesus Christ met hym and receyued hym If any spoyle our worldly goods God offereth vs the Kingdome of heauen If the earth will not beare vs the heauens open to receiue vs. If the people of the worlde driue vs away the Angells offer their presence acknowledging vs their companions in glory If men curse vs those wordes are but winde and God in the meane time doth blesse vs turneth euen the curses of our enemies into blessings as Dauid speaketh 2. Sam. 16 12 If we be thrust out of our offices or dignities Iesus Christ giueth vs things more excellent making vs kings and priests to God his father Rene. 1.6 If our parents disdaine vs wil not know vs Christ is not ashamed to auow vs and call vs his brethren Heb. 2.12 If we be depriued of the succession inheritance of our parents Christ acknowledgeth vs the heires of God his father and fellow heirs with him Do any make vs weep for sorow Christ presenteth him selfe to wipe away our tears to turne our sorows into perfect ioy Are we not receiued into any town to be an inhabitant there God giueth vs freedome in heauen to dwel in that heauenly Ierusalem the streets whereof are paued with sine gold the wals are made of pretious stones the gates are pearls whereof the son of god is the temple the sun Are we put to death it is to enter into a better life ful of ioy and glorie And indeed let vs consider here the wōdersul goodnes of God A she knoweth that we are too much tied to goods dignities and other commodities of the flesh that in stede of willingly laying vp our tresure in heauē we lay it vp in earth he so disposeth that we shal be persecuted for his name doth therin as a good faithful Tutor who takyng the mony of his pupill putteth it out to profit or buieth for him good rents with it And hereunto tendeth that which Dauid sayeth Psal 56.9 Thou hast nūbred my fleetings do thē put my tears in thy bottle are they not noted in thy register This beeing true how much more wil he put the drops of blood which we shed for his name into his barell and in his Register the reproches the flittings the losses of father mother lands and other goods the imprisonments the other afflictions and aboue all the deaths which we indure for his seruice and glorie As also it is written Psa 116.15 Right deare in the sight of God is the death of his Saints And to what ende
Kingdome Hee hath suffered sayth Saint Peter 1. Pet. 2.21 Leauing vs an example that wee should followe his steps Let vs not then thinke it strange as he faith in an other place 1. Pet. 4.12 when wee are as in a fornace for our triall as if an vnwonted thing had come vnto vs. Butrather in as much as wee communicate with the afflictions of Christ Let vs reioyce that when his glorie shall appeare wee also may reioyce wath gladnes Now let vs vnderstand how he addeth that suffering iniurie for Christes sake wee are happy forasmuch as the spirit of God which is the spirit of glory resteth in vs and the feeling which we haue causeth vs to glorifie him though of the blinde worlde he is euill spoken of Seeing then the heauenly father hath vouchsafed vs such loue 1. Ihon. 3.1 that wee are called the sons of God although the world persecute vs because it knoweth neither the Father nor vs Let vs saie boldlie with S. Ihon We are now the children of God And although it dooth not yet appeare what we shal be yet we knowe as hee also addeth that when Christ shall appeare we shall be like vnto him for we shall see him as hee is Col. 3.3 Let vs be contented to be dead in this worlde and to haue our life hid with Christ in God beeing assured that when Christ our life shall appeare we shall also appeare in glorie If the Diuell will gather of our afflictions that we are not the children of GOD let vs say boldlie that he is a lyar or let him first plucke out of the ranke of God his children the Martyres the Apostles the Prophets and other of the best and most approoued children and seruants of GOD which haue beene afflicted as well as wee and more than wee Euen the holie Virgine and Christ himselfe But rather seeing that wee beare their liuerie let vs acknowledge our selues the children of GOD with them and let vs say with a holie resolution with Saint Paule Rom. 8.38 that there is neyther death nor life nor Angells nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor heighth nor depth nor anie other creature which can separate vs from the loue of GOD which he beareth vs in Iesus Christ our Lorde That the faithfull haue the common afflictions of the children of Adam because of the excellent fruites of them testimonies of their adoption and of the loue of God toward them CAP. 9. TO bee yet better confirmed in this trueth let vs now consider how the afflictions themselues euen those that are common to the childrē of Adam serue for our profite and saluation First 1. Fruit to awake vs out of our sinnes for as much as the reliques of sinne abide still euen in the most perfect in this life which maketh them hardened in their faults and inclined to offend God We haue neede of helpes to be waked to be humbled and drawen from our sinnes to keep vs in the time to come and so to dispose vs to a perfect obedience holie and acceptable vnto God And to this ende tend the afflictions of the children of God which for this cause are called chastisements corrections and medicines of our soules The children of Jacob hauing committed a detestable crime in selling then brother Joseph Gen. 42.21 but they neuer thought of it vntill that beeing in Aegypt pressed with reproches and imprisonment they called to minde their sinne saying one to the other surely we haue sinued against our brother for we saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought vs and wee woulde not heare him and therefore is this trouble hapned vnto vs. Manasses King of Iuda hauing set vp Idolatrie againe persecuted those that woulde purelie serue the Lorde 2. Chro. 33 so as Ierusalem was full of blood and hauing shut his eares to the admonitions of the Lorde at the last was taken by the army of the king of the Assyrians bound with manacles fettered in chaines and carried prisoner into Babylon Then being in affliction he was exceedingly humbled before God hee prayed to the Lord and was heard and caried backe vnto Jerusalem Then hee pulled downe all Idolatrie reformed the seruice of God and commanded Iuda to serue the Lorde the God of Israell Yea the poore pagane marriners of whom the historie of Ionas maketh mention seeing the continuaunce of the tempest concluded to cast lots to know who was the cause of that affliction and God making it to appeare that it was the sinne of Ionas Ion. 1.7 thereof is come a common Prouerb in a daungerous tempest that there is some fonas in the ship And this proceedeth of a feeling and apprehension of the prouidence and iustice of GOD this little sparke yet still remaining in man of the image of God whereby we thinke that it is hee that afflicteth that he is iust doth nothing but iustlie and so that afflictions are corrections of our sinnes Therefore Jeremie iustly reproueth the blockishnesse of the people of Israel in this that being afflicted Ierem. 8.6 no man saide what haue I done See now why God to make vs more liuelie feele his iudgements to the intent to wake vs vp to conuert vs vnto him sendeth vs oftētimes afflictions which after a sort answere haue some conformitie to our sins As for example EZechias king of Iuda sinned by ambition or vain confidence in shewing all his treasures to the Embassadors of the king of Babel and GOD tolde him by the Prophet Esay that all his treasures should be transported into Babel Esa 39 Dauid offended God in committing adultery 2. Sam. 11 and in putting to death Vriah and GOD chastised him in this 2. Sam. 13 that Amnon his sonne defiled his sister Thamar and that Amnon was slaine by his brother Absolom that Absolom laie publikely with his fathers Concubines 2. Sam. 16. 22 according to that which God had saide vnto him 2. Sam. 12 11 Thou hast done it in secrete and I will doo it in the sight of all the people The child borne in adultry died 2. Sam. 12 10 he was threatned that the Sword should not depart from his house Now as the afflictions bring vs to the feeling of our sinnes 2. Fruit amendment of life and first in workes to wake vs vp and to humble vs so therof riseth the resolutions and protestations to fall into them no more but to amend them And this is it that is seene in those that by tempest of sea or some grieuous disease are in manifest danger of death They examine their cōsciēce their sinnes infirmities then come before them they aske pardon and make protestations to liue better in time to come The same also we see in children that are beaten of their fathers This is it which the Apostle to the Hebrewes teacheth vs saying That no chastisement for the time seemeth pleasant
vs that according to the loue that he beareth vs and according to his infinite wisedome hee will dispose nothing of vs which shall not be to his glorie and to our benefite and saluation It is well knowne that fathers mothers take no pleasure to afflict their children and to make them to weepe And although they haue power to beate them to appoynt them their diet and to put them abroad either to schoole or to serue some other yet when they doo this men doo not onlie confesse that they haue authoritie so to do but also euerie one beleeueth that it is for the benefite of the children whose duetie also it is to like well of it and to render vnto them willing obedience Now properlie God onlie is our father Mat. 23.9 as Iesus Christ saith Call ye no man father vppon the earth ye haue but one father which is in heauen What iniurie then doo we to this onlie true father that we being afflicted by his hand after what manner soeuer doo not sanctifie his name conforming our selues to his will thinking and confessing that all proceedeth from his goodnes and loue to his glorie and our benefite and saluation See how in the schoole of affliction we learne what it is properlie to obey God and that is verie necessarie for vs. Heb. 5.8 For if Iesus Christ being the sonne notwithstanding learned obedience by the things which he suffered how much more had wee neede to learne to submit our hearts and our neckes by afflictions to the guiding of our God as children yeelding themselues peaceablie to the gouernment of their father saying with Iob The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath takē his name be blessed Iob. 1.21 And with Dauid persecuted of Absalom If God say to me 2. Sam. 15.16 thou pleasest me not behold I am here let him do vnto me whatsoeuer pleaseth him And beeing readie to sacrifice our owne children with our owne hands vnto God when he shall commaund vs as Abraham did in olde time Gen. 22. To bee short in following GOD as the old prouerbe is in what condition or estate soeuer it shall please him to call vs. If then afflictions serue Sen. de Gita beata cap. 15. to awake vs out of sinne to humble vs to correct the infinite corruptions that are in vs to pull vs from the world to cleaue vnto God to draw our harts from the earth to lift them vp to heauen to fashion vs in the obedience of GOD to giue vs increase in patience and faith To be short to make vs so much the more feruently to pray vnto God it resteth that wee conclude that indeede they proceed from the loue of God toward vs of the care that he hath of our saluation and so that in afflicting vs he sheweth himselfe indeed our father as the Apostle to the Hebrues doth also teach vs saying Heb. 12.6 That God chastiseth those whom he loueth and correcteth euery child whom he receiueth If you indure saith he chastisement God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto his childrē For what child is it whom the father doth not chastise Then if ye be not vnder chastisement whereof all are partakers yee are bastards and not sonnes Rods then are testimonies that he accōpteth vs his lawfull children and not bastards And nature it selfe teacheth it vs. For if wee see two children striue together and a man comming by taketh the one of them and beateth him leauing the other we will iudge by and by that this man is the father of him that he did beate and that the other appertained not vnto him And this is it that S. Peter meaneth saying that iudgement beginneth at the house of God 1. Pet. 4.17 shewing that they are his children and household seruants which are afflicted in this life The which thing a good auncient father did thinke and well expresse calling his afflictions Grego Nazian bitter arrowes shot from a sweet and amiable hand Therefore as when we see the Carpenters strike with their hatchets vpon pieces of wood to pare it or plane it and Masons to polish stones with the strokes of an hammer wee gather that these are stones and timber which the master would imploy to some building Euen so let vs conclude of our selues that if God lift vp vpon vs the hatchets and hammers of afflictions to polish vs It is a manifest and sure testimonie that he hath chosen vs to put in the building of his temple And that so we are his children both welbeloued and happie But let vs passe to another consideration of singular comfort Of the afflictions for the name of Christ and of their fruites CHAP. 10. TRue it is that God being iust doth neuer afflict vs vniustlie which thing we ought alwais to think and confesse to humble our selues and to giue glorie vnto God Neuerthelesse GOD doth not alwaies take occasion of our sinnes to punish vs but often times hee sheweth this fauour to his children to dispose that the cause and title of their afflictions should bee honorable calling them persecutions and sufferings for righteousnes sake Matt. 5.10 Mar. 10.29 Col. 1.24 Matth. 5.11 Rom. 8.35 What are the afflictions for Christ for the Gospell for the Church for the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and for the loue of GOD. And this commeth when we are persecuted of men because wee will not approue iniquitie or false doctrine nor defile our selues with idolatries and superstitiōs but serue God purelie and holilie according to his word To be short when we will liue in the feare of God in Iesus Christ as Saint Paule speaketh 2. Tim. 3.12 who speaking of these afflictions saith Phil. 1.29 To you it is giuen of God not onlie to beleeue but also to suffer for his name They that suffer for Christ are happie wherein he sheweth that such afflictions are the gifts of GOD proceeding from good will loue towards vs And see why Iesus Christ said Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnes sake 1 By the testimonie of the word of the God Mat. 5.10 Also Blessed are you when men shall reuile you and persecute you speak all manner of euill against you lying of you for my sake reioyce ye and be glad Wherevnto Saint Peter agreeth 1. Pet. 4.14 saying If ye suffer wrong for the name of Iesus Christ ye are happie Now if we haue no other foundation than the onelie testimonie of Iesus Christ to assure vs that being persecuted for his name God loueth vs and will make vs blessed were it not an vntollerable impudencie for the diuell and an incredulitie inexcusable for vs to call that in doubt which he who is the trueth it selfe doth affirme Notwithstanding to the end that we may the more liuelie feele this felicitie than when wee are persecuted for his name let vs consider the reasons which the holie ghost giueth vs. First when Iesus
serue these registers They shal be laid before not onely the persecutours to make thē feele so much the more horrible iudgement and vengeance but especially before vs to make vs feele an incomprehensible increase of glorie and of ioy in shewing vs what we haue suffered for his name and in accepting vs before his Angels But let vs now consider how our afflictions are of small cōtinuance 2. Because of the eternitie and passing away as in a moment in respect of the weight of the eternall glorie which they bring And first let vs say boldly that our troubles are short because our daies are short that the glorie is of long continuaunce because there shall be no ende of it But for the better vnderstāding of the shortnes of our afflictions we must consider according to the instruction of S. Paul 2. Co. 4.18 the things inuisible that are eternal For in respect of them wee shall finde that the visible things which concerne this life are temporall that is to say during a little time The Patriarch Iacob being demaunded of Pharao of his age he answered that the yeres of his pilgrimage had been few and euill Gen. 47.9 And how were they few seeing he had liued 130. yeres surely in comparison or 8. or 900. yeres which his forefathers had liued as also he addeth that his yeres had not attained to the yeres of his fathers How then are not our daies short not comming at the most but to 70. or 80. yeres that in those that haue the strōgest or mightiest bodies Psa 90.10 as the song of Moses importeth God speaking of the captiuitie of Babylon which cōtinued 70. yeres saith thus Esai 54.8 I haue for a little while as in a moment of mine indignation hid my face from thee How 70. yeares are they a little time is that but a moment of indignation yea in respect of the comforts and euerlasting happinesse which he would communicate to his people as he addeth That he would haue compassion on them with euerlasting mercie This also is the cause why S. John calleth the time folowing Christs comming in the flesh 1. Ioh. 2.18 the last houre as if he wold diuide the cōtinuāce of the world into 3. or 4. hours wherof the last shuld be after this cōming of Iesus Christ vntil the end of the world so this last hour should now haue cōtinued 1587. yeres and these 1587. yeres should not be yet a whole houre finished This seemeth strange to vs. But let vs set before vs 2. eternities of times that which was before the foundation of the world that is an infinite time if a man may cal that time and a swalowing vp of the vnderstanding of man and the eternitie of time which shal be after the ende of the world and behold againe an incompreheusible infinitenes of time Now let vs consider the continuance of the world betweene these two eternities When it shall continue 7.8 or 9000. yeares this should not be in respect of these 2. eternities 2. or 3. houres no not one houre it should bee yet lesse than one graine in respect of all the sand in the world for as touching the sand the nūber is finite but in eternitie there is no end And here vnto tendeth that which S. Peter sayth 1. Pet. 3.8 That before God 1000. yeres are but as one day and a day as 1000. yeres forasmuch as before the eternitie of GOD there is no numbring of time for there is no time at all According vnto this Moses saith Psal 90.4 that 1000. yeres before god are as a day that is past If then 1000. yeres are but as a day past or an houre 60. or 80. yeres are but as one minute of time so the longest continuance of our afflictions should be but one minute yet there are some that accomplish not that And when doo we begin this minute of tribulations seeing that a great part of our life passeth before we suffer anie thing for the name of Christ yet there is some intermission in them if it were but in sleeping Then we doo now see how true it is that S. Paule saith that our afflictions passe in a moment And what is that which this moment of afflictions bringeth vs An eternal waight saith he of glorie as wee haue largely shewed here before In the first chapter And in deede there shall be no ende saith the Angell of the kingdome of Christ And wee are the house of Jacob Luk. 1.33 ouer whom he shal raign for euermore 1. The 4.17 And S. Paul saith that being risen againe and ascended into heauen we shal be with Iesus Christ euerlastingly Ioh. 3. 6. For whosoeuer beleeueth in him hath euerlasting life If God for the full measure of our felicitie shal be all in al when we haue him in vs 1. Co. 13.25 who is eternall and immortal we shall enioy a glorious immortalitie as also S. Paul saith That hee hath brought to light life and immortalitie by the gospel To be short S. Matthew hauing set forth vnto vs the last iudgement saith Mat. 25.46 That the sheepe that shall bee at the right hand of Iesus Christ shall goe into euerlasting life Euen so when he promiseth vs a perfect ioy headdeth Ioh. 16.22 that it shal neuer be takē from vs. Now what comparison is there betweene one moment of affliction a glorie a life and a ioy that shal last eternallie and without end Then when we thinke that our crosse is long heauie to beare let vs set before vs the excellencie and the eternitie of the incomprehensible glorie wherunto we ascend by it whereof also wee feele the earnest pennie beginnings in our hearts waiting for the full feeling and thorow enioying of this felicitie when we shall be lifed vp and put in possession of the kingdome of heauen Now this reward is certaine and assured to al those which shall suffer for the name of Iesus Christ Such afflictions then are seales of the loue of God towards vs testimonies that he taketh vs into the number of his best beloued children and that he will make vs indeed euerlastingly happie Other fruites of the afflictions for the name of Iesus Christ CHAP. 11. BEsides these 1. Fruit honor to be a Martyr of Christ both excelent eternal good things which the sufferings for the name of Iesus Christ doth bring vs there is yet the honor that he doth vs to bring vs foorth to be witnesses of his truth In regard whereof although all they that preach the Gospell are called witnesses of Iesus Christ yet this title of Martyr or witnes is after a more particular maner and by excellencie attributed vnto such as to maintaine the truth of the doctrine of the Gospell suffer constantlie persecution and especially vnto death So we read that S. Paule gaue to S. Stephen this title of
honor Act. 22.20 calling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ And S. Iohn maketh mention of Antipas Reu. 2.13 whome hee calleth a faithful Martyr of Christ And in the same booke of the Reuelation he saith that he saw the great whore drunk with the bloud of the Saints Reu. 17.6 with the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus In like manner the apostle to the Hebrues hauing recited how many faithful had bin mocked scourged cut in peeces stoned Heb. 11. 12. otherwise persecuted he addeth that in them wee haue as it were a cloude of martyrs or witnesses cōpassing vs round about and exhorting vs to follow constantly their exāple The Apostles did well vnderstand and confesse this honor who after they had been publikelie whipped for the name of Iesus Christ Act. 5.40 they went before the councel reioycing that they had this honour to suffer reproach for his name And indeed when when we indure persecution to maintaine the glorie the authoritie and the truth of Christ against Antichrist and his supposts it is as if Iesus Christ shuld borrowe our goods our renowme our bloud our life to serue for autenticall seales most sure witnesses that cannot faile of the right and the glorie that appertaineth vnto him And what are we poore wormes of the earth that the eternall Sonne of GOD the King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall doo vs this honor to put his glorie as it were into our handes to bee the keepers and defenders of it against those that would spoile him of it And heere let vs consider the incomprehensible wisedome and goodnes of God towards vs. The most perfect offend God daylie and one onely sinne be it neuer so little to our iudgement deserueth death and euerlasting condemnation then it is yet more than the losse of our goods the corporall life Now in stead of exercising his iust iudgements vpon vs hee doth vs this honour that it which wee endure which is not the thousand part of that wee haue deserued chaungeth the nature and instead of beeing the punishment of sinne God imputeth it as a most excelent seruice for the maintenance of his glorie But yet there is more 2. Frute the glorie of God declaclaring and accomplishing his power in our infirmitie and shewing his goodnes and the trueth of his promises first toward euery faithfull For what are wee to suffer willinglie The loue of riches ambition the plesure of fleshly commodities the affectiō toward father mother wife children aboue al to this life is so strong and vehement in vs that in stead of renouncing them for Christ we renounce Christ and his Kingdome to entertaine vs. And experience sheweth this too much We are also so very impatient and daintie when there is any question of suffering that if we should but onely snuffe a candle with our fingers we wet them with our spittle that wee might not feele the fire of that small snuffe which yet we throw from our fingers in al haste and how then should we abandon our bodies to the death entring quicke into the fire to be there consumed if God did not strengthen vs supernaturally Howe shoulde wee maintaine his trueth against the supposts of Antichrist if the spirit of his father the which he promised vs Mat. 10.19 20 did not worke mightily in vs Then when we see these vessells so fraile and weake to surmount the threatnings of kings the apprehension of fire the assaults of Antichrists supposts and the temptations proceeding from father mother wife and children are not these so many testimonies of a wonderfull and mighty grace and power of God which fortifieth them and maketh them victorious against Sathan the worlde and the flesh I can doo all things sayth Saint Paule through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 2. Cor. 12 10 And in an other place I reioyce sayth he in infirmities in iniuries in necessities in persecutions in anguishes for christ For whē I am weake then am I strong euen thorough the might and power of Christ which shewed it selfe and was made perfect thorough his weaknesse as hee had saide before So then this constancie this faith this zeale other vertues which God communicateth by his free goodnes to his elect are manifest by persecutions which otherwise shoulde bee hid As in running the course the agility or swiftnes of the horse is known the strength of a mā in the combat the sauour of many drugges in rubbing or brusing of them or casting them into the fire as we see in the incense The Starres saith Saint Bernard which appeare not by day shine in the night Bernar. in Can. so the vertue that is hid in prosperitie sheweth it selfe in aduersitie Now 2. Toward the body of the church this which wee haue saide of the power of GOD shewing it selfe in the infirmitie of his children to his glorie is seene also in the bodie of the Church which ordinarily is so poore so weake so little holpen at the handes of men that if GOD did not sustaine it it shoulde quickly be swallowed vp Then when we see it so mightelie assailed by the potentates of this worlde conspiring her ruine by so many forces and slights and by so many heretiks doth not God in the guiding deliuering and preseruing of it shewe that it is hee himselfe and he alone which maintaineth and defendeth it And that his power and wisedome is woonderfull in preseruing it against so many enemies and that his truth is certaine in accōplishing that which he hath promised vs of being with his Church vntill the end of the world And that it is he which is the stone cut out without hand which hath broken Mat. 28.29 Dan. 2.34 and dooth still breake the great image representing the empires and kingdomes of the worlde Which to shew vnto vs more liuely oftentimes he so disposeth that leaning vpon the strength of men she hath beene throwen downe and being throwen downe God hath lift her vp againe without meanes and beyond all hope of man that all men may know that the preseruation of the Church is not the worke of Man but indeede the very worke of God Iudg. 7.2 As also the Lord declareth to Gedeon this his intent commaunding him to abate his army There is too many people with thee sayth the Lord that I shoulde giue Madian into their handes least peraduenture Israel would glory in themselues against mee saying 3. Fruit the aduāce ment of the church My hand hath deliuered me See also howe it commeth to passe that when the Deuill thinketh quite to ouerthrowe the Church by persecution God quite contrary hath aduanced and increased it Saint Luke hauing recited that the high Priestes and the chiefe rulers of the Temple Act. 4 the Sadduces laying hands vpon the Apostles put them into prison he addeth by and by that many of those that heard the word beleeued and the number was
Let vs giue our neckes to Iesus Christ to receiue his yoake and the honour of his order How manie great Lords of the world trauaile all their life to come to this honour to be Knights of the Order of any Prince And hauing attained to it they accompt themselues happie men And what bee the ensignes or such Orders The one shall haue a Fleece the other a Garter and the ensigne of the Order of Christ is prison bannishment losse of goods reproaches beatings death This is the Order that Saint Paule receiued and whereof he gloried saying I beare in my bodie the markes of Iesus Christ Gal. 6.17 Now although that a Fleece a Garter are in themselfes vile or base things yet are they honorable and to be desired in the world because princes take them for the ensigne of their Order acknowledging and calling them brethren that weare thē The ensigne then that Christ the King of kings hath taken for his order shall not it be honourable Shal we not accompt our selues happie to attain vnto it Let vs folow cheerfully this glorious troupe marching before vs with triumph honoured with this Order of the Prince of Glorie IESVS Christ Let vs suffer our selues to be guided by him who is infinitely wiser than we and loueth vs better than wee loue our selues And let vs receiue this fauour of GOD that so seruing his glorie our glorie may also be aduaunced Let vs not be troubled nor shaken with feare whē we see the persecutors come to the ende of their enterprises and the children of GOD afflicted That is to them sayth Saint Paule a manifest token of destruction Philip. 1.28 and to vs of saluation There is no greater curse sayth Saint Augustine than the prosperitie and felicitie of the wicked because it is as a strong wine to make them drunke in their iniquities and to make a heape and tresure as it were of the wrath of GOD vpon them It seemeth to vs that the worlde goeth to confusion and disorder when the wicked triumph and the children of God weepe But on the contrarie that is to vs a manifest token of the iust iudgement of GOD as Saint Paule sayth 2. Thess 1.5 That wee are also made worthy of the kingdome of GOD for which also wee suffer For it is a iust thing saith hee with God to render affliction to those that afflict vs and to vs that are afflicted deliueraunce then when the Lord Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with the Angels of his power and with the flame of fire to doo vengeance vpon those that did not know God obeyed not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ the which shal be punished with an euerlasting punishmēt from the face of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints to be made wonderfull among all the faithfull Wee are so impatient so hot or so foolish that wee consider nothing but the beginning of the workes of our God but wee must ioyne them together and consider the accomplishment of thē as S. Iames teacheth vs Ye haue heard the patience of Iob Ia. 5.11 and haue feene the ende which the Lord made and that the Lord is verie mercifull and full of pitie He that shall set himself to consider in his minde how poore Ioseph was handled sold of his brethren how refusing to consent to the shamefull and detestable request of his Mistres he was cast into prison Gen. 37.39 and kept there 2. yeres surelie a man would take pitie on him as on a miserable person but let vs see the accomplishment of the worke of God let vs cōsider him by this meanes exalted to the gouernment of al the Kingdome of Aegipt then we shall count him happie Aboue all if we behold Iesus Christ mocked scourged crowned with thornes crucified between 2. theeues who would not be offended that the Prince of glorie Sauior of the world shuld so be hādled But let vs behold him risen againe ascēded into heauen sitting at the right hand of God aboue al principalities power inioying a glory incomprehensible and we will admire and praise the worke of God So if we behold his mēbers persecuted banisht mocked spoiled imprisoned entering into the fire what will we say is this a father which handleth his childrē in this sort But if we ioyne to the crosse the glorie the resurrection to the death to bee short if wee beholde them in that estate wherein we shall be when Iesus Christ meeting vs in his maiestie glory shal lift vs vp aboue al the heauens into the house of GOD his father to liue with him euerlastingly and that the Crosse shall be to vs as a ladder to go vp vpon to the inioying of such a glory Who is he then amōg vs that would not shout out for ioy seing this wonderful worke of God Who is he that wold not count himself happie Who is he that would haue bin more daintily hādied Who is he that would not be rauished with the bounty wisedome loue of God towards his children He that neuer saw a haruest seeing the plowman taking so much paine to till the earth to spread it with dung and after to cast faire wheat into the field so tilled he would thinke that this man were mad that a childe were to be whipt that should do such a thing but seeing after the haruest that should come of it he woulde chaunge his minde and acknowledge that the husbandman had doone an excellent worke Now this is the time to til to dung to sowe the haruest shal folow Let not vs change the course of the seasons neither yet let vs seperate them the one from the other but let vs ioyne the time of the death with the day of the resurrection and let vs assure our selues Psal 126 6 as it is written in the Psalmes that hauing sowed with teares wee shall reape with ioye He that in old time had seene poore Lazarus full of sores at the gate of the rich man Luk. 16.19 the rich man at the table in all delights and pleasure he would not haue chosen to bee Lazarus but the rich man But if tarrying a while he sawe the soule of Lazarus carried straight by the Angels into heauen and the rich mans soule goe to the fire of hell he would change his mind and would desire to be Lazarus Let vs then detest the glistering state of cursed riches and let vs compt the poore and afflicted condition of the Lazarusses of our time waighting to be carried vp into euerlasting glorie happie The wicked haue nothing in heauen nor we in the world Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man saith Dauid whom the Lord instructeth by the power of his spirit and by the doctrine of his lawe to haue contentment and rest in the time of aduersitie while the graue is digged for the
vngodlie for an end of his felicitie Yea if we were called to suffer death for the name of Iesus Christ 2. Not to feare death What other thing is this death but after a long conflict the day of victorie the birth of a blessed soule after a great trauaile the hauen desired after so furious tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome voyage the healing of all wounds and sicknes the deliuerance from all feare and terrour the accomplishment of our sanctification the gate of heauen the entrance into paradise the taking possession of the inheritance of the father the day of our mariage with the Lambe the inioying of our desires Who is it then among vs who feeling with S. Paule the bondage of sinne would not crie out with him Alas wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death And feeling the good that death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to be dissolued Phil. 1.23 and to be with Christ If death wherewith God threatned our first parents is a feeling of the wrath of God in the soule in the body because of sinne Gen. 2.17 Wee may well say that death and life are two twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the soule and the bodie and this separation which is cōmonlie called death is rather the deadlie stroke of death the bodie beeing then exempt from paine and the soule from vice corruption waighting vntill the rest of death bee swallowed vp in victorie at the day of the resurrection It is then an abuse to call life a continual death and to call that death which is the end of a thousand deaths and the beginning of the true life It is then also against reason that wee haue horrour of that which we ought to desire and desire the continuance of that the onlie end whereof bringeth vs to eternall felicitie And to this end Saint Chrisostome saith verie well that it which is called life and death haue deceaueable visours Life deformed and accompanied with manie miseries calamities hath a faire pleasant visour which maketh it to bee desired and Death so faire happie and to be desired hath one deformed and fearefull Let vs put off then saith he these visours we will change our minds when wee shall finde vnder the faire visour of life nothing but matter of heauines and displeasure and vnder the soule hideous visour of death such a beautie and felicitie as we shall incontinently be taken with her loue So long as we liue we haue cruell enemies which neuer cease making warre with vs whome wee can neuer vanquish but by death And indeed wee cannot make the world to die in vs except we die our selues Sinne which is in vs liueth in vs and fighteth against vs vntill wee dying it also die with vs. And by death alone the deadlie assaults of Satan our chiefe enemie die foorthwith But yet why should we feare it which cannot come vnto vs but by the will of him who is our heauenlie father yea and at such a time as he appoynteth As Dauid said Lord my times that is to say Psal 31.16 all the minutes of my life are in thy hands There is no creature more enemie to man nor more able to hurt than the diuell And indeed he is called the enemie the murtherer Mat. 13.39 Iho. 8.44 1. Pet. 5.8 Iob 1. 2. and the roaring Lyon seeking whome he may deuour But the historie of Iob sheweth plainlie that GOD holdeth him brideled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe either forward or backward more than GOD will permit him And this which is more he hath not power to enter so much as into the swine Luk. 8.32 without the leaue of Christ What is this then that wee should feare men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of our GOD It is GOD saith Hannah the mother of Samuel 1. Sam. 2. ◠who weigheth their enterprises so as they cannot passe one ounce of the waight ordained of GOD. It is he that slaieth and maketh aliue againe 1. Sam. 2.6 which bringeth downe to the pit and lifteth vp againe he maketh poore and maketh rich he abaseth and exalteth To bee short It is he alone as Dauid saith Psal 115.3 which doth whatsoeuer he will Now wee doubt not but he will do that which he hath promised vs and wee knowe that he hath promised vs yea and that he hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the doctrine of the prouidence of God importeth that he hath not onlie ordained in his eternall counsell the end and issue of his worke which is his glorie and the saluation of his elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite wisedome and requisite for the execution and accomplishment of it let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his wil as Saint Paule saith If God be for vs who shall bee against vs. Let vs also bee assured Rom. 8.30 that whatsoeuer happen vnto vs is the way whereby he hath ordained to leade vs to life and euerlasting glorie Saint Paule speaking of Iesus Christ saith Col. 1.16 that all creatures are of him stand by him and are for him As also he saith in an other place that of him and by him and for him all things are Wherefore then doo wee feare our enemies Ro. 12.36 seeing euen this that they are is by the power and will of him who is our head and sauiour for asmuch as they can neither enterprise nor consult neither yet bee aliue one moment without the will of Christ And besides this seeing their life and being is for him and for his seruice that they might be to his members as fire to purifie them a rod to correct thē medicines to heale them a bridge for them to passe vpon ouer the desert of this world into the land of promise ladders to helpe them to ascend into heauen instruments to glorifie them as a knife that cutteth the cords by which we are held in the earth hindered to go vnto God to be where Iesus Christ our head is Also what threatning can the most mightie of the world threaten vs with more horrible to make vs turne from the seruice of God than those wherewith God threatneth all those that turne away from him Mat. 10.28 Luk. 12.24 Feare not saith Iesus Christ those that can kill the bodie and yet so and when GOD will and the bodie which within a verie little after must needes die and can doo nothing more but feare him who after hee hath killed the bodie hath power to throwe both soule and bodie into euerlasting hell fire him I say vnto you feare indeede In like maner what promises can the world make vs greater or more certaine to draw vs vnto it than those which our God hath made
aduauncement of his Church so mightelie assailed on all sides and particularlie to bee mindfull of mee in your prayers that it may please the Father of light from whence all good gifts doo come to continue his mercies towards mee and to guide mee alwaies with his holie spirit with the increase of his giftes and graces to accomplish the rest of my life seruing faithfull and holilie to his glorie the aduauncement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Holie meditations and praiers CHAP. 13. O Lord God almightie al good and all wise we are confounded before thy holy maiestie not ô Lord for the troubles and extreame calamities wherewith we are oppressed in these daies full of tribulations anguishes and teares but forasmuch as we haue offended thee for asmuch as our sinnes our ingratitude rebelliōs haue kindled thi wrath against vs and chiefly forasmuch as the wicked and infidels take occasion by thy iust iudgemēts corrections to blaspheme thy holy name Alas Lord wee yeelde our selues guilty before thee confessing that we are inexcusable and vnworthie to be named thy children yea wee are worthie to bee reiected of thee wee are worthie of hel to be creatures accursed for euer For ô our good God whē we were the children of wrath thine enemies abādoned to all euil thou hadst pitie vppon vs poore and abhominable sinners Thou hast cast the eyes of thy fauour vppon vs. Thou hast giuen thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ to the shameful and cursed death of the crosse for vs. Thou hast giuen vs thy holy gospell that blessed and ioyfull tidings of our saluation Thou hast accompanied it with thy spirit to lighten vs to draw vs vnto thee to make vs partakers of the treasures of thy Kingdome of eternall life Thou hast stretched out thy hand from heauen to the depth of hell to pul vs backe and to make vs thy happie children Thou hast done according to the good pleasure of thy will inasmuch as thou shewest mercie on whom thou wilt shewe mercie Alas Lord ought not we to acknowledge the daye of thy visitation and the time of saluation Ought not we to feele the abundant riches of thy incomprehēsible grace towards vs to loue serue praise and adore thee to renounce our selues the world and the flesh and all that which is contrarie to thy glorie yea to abhorre all that doth displease thee to walke as the children of light and to consecrate our selues vnto thee to bring foorth fruites worthie of thy Gospell and becomming the Children of such a Father to be as bright lights in this darke world to giue light to the poore ignorāt ones to drawe thē with vs into the way of saluation But alas ô Lord our God we quite contrarie hauing brought into thy Church the world and the flesh haue kept in our selues these enemies of thy glory these plagues of our soules haue serued them Our infidelitie our flesh haue made vs loue the earth more than the heauen the world more than thy kingdome the filthines and dust of vaine riches more than the treasures of heauenlie and eternall good things the smoke of humane honors more thā the glorious estate to be thy childrē brethren of thy sonne Iesus Christ Couetousnes the roote of all euill hath hardened our harts to despise thy poore ones euen Iesus Christ in his members Wee haue slaundered thy holy Gospell by fraudes deceipts robbings occupying our traffique and doing our affaires as people hauing no knowledge of thee The aire in the Cities where thy word hath bin preached hath bin stinking infected with the whoredomes adulteries and other infamous acts that there haue bin committed Gluttonie drūkennes haue made brutish those that for thy blessings and bountie ought to haue praised thee Euerie man thinking onlie how to profit aduance himself in this world to the despising of thy holy seruice the building of thy Church The profession of thy holy religion hath serued many but for the cloke of their iniquities Wee haue put out trust in the arme of flesh in brokē reeds seeking cōfort for thy Church of the enemies of it in forsaking the fountaine of liuing waters and the almightie Crimes trespasses blasphemies and iniquities haue bin winked at supported in defiling the seate of thy iustice without punishmēt thy threatnings promises reiected as vanities the holy Ministerie of thy Word despised the chastisements which thou hast exercised on our brethren neglected without thinking what our selues haue deserued Wee haue not felt sorow for the afflictions of thy children to mourne with them and to feare thy iudgements And what shal we say more ô Lord Our iniquities are as mountaines our ingratitude and rebellions as the great deepe our whole life before thee being nothing else but a cōtinuall sinne and despising of thy holy Maiestie If they who neuer heard speak of thy sonne Iesus Christ and that haue not knowen thy will are iustly punished in thy wrath what iudgement what condemnation what hells and cursses haue we deserued hauing so villainously so long so obstinately despised thy holy instructions thy promises thy threatenings and the examples of thy iudgements which thou hast exercised before our eyes Also the voyce of our ingratitude is ascended before thee our iniquities haue and doo crie vengeance against vs. These are the procurers and aduocates of thy iustice soliciting these iudgements against vs. Our sinnes haue strengthned our enemies haue made them conquerours ouer vs. We haue sowen iniquitie and we haue reaped afflictions as thou seest ô Lord our God that thy children are banished spoyled and impourished that they are cruellie dealt withall trodden vnder foote and exposed to the laughter of thine enemies Our persecuters make a scorne of those ouer whō thy name is called on they make their boast of the euill that they doo They scatter thy flockes They throwe downe the scepter of thy sonne Iesus Christ They depriue thy children of the pasture of thy word Those temples O Lord those temples where not long since thy praises did sound in which thy holie Gospell was preached the Sacraments purelie ministred thy name religiouslie called on These temples O Lord are now defiled with Idols and idolatrie the abominable Masse is established againe false tales and lies are preached These temples where thy people assembled in so great number to praise thee and to behold thy louing countenance are now filled with people blaspheming thy holie name and treading vnder their feete the bloud and glorie of thy sonne Iesus Christ This youth of orphanes fondlings and others that went to schoole being brought vp in the knowledge of thee nourished in thy feare is now giuen vp to the enemies of thy trueth to be instructed in the damnable doctrine and seruice of Antichrist O good God our sunne is turned into darknes the Moone into bloud our health into sicknes our life into death And yet if thou shouldest