And many false prophetes shal arise and deceiue many and bicause of the abundaunce of wickednes the charite of many shall ware cold but he the shall endure vnto th ende the same shal be saffe And this gladde tydinges of the kingdome shall be preached thorowe all the worlde for a witnesse vnto all nacyons and than shall the ende come WhaÌ„ therfore ye shall see thabo minacion of desolatyon spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place Daniel 9. let him that reade it vnderstande it Than let them that be in Iury flee in to the mountaines And him which is on the house toppe not com downe to fet any thing out of his house Neither let him which is in the felde returne backe to fetche his clothes Wo be in those daies to women with childe and to them that geue sucke but praie ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the saboth daie For than shall be great tribulacion suche as was not from the beginning of the world to thys tyme nor shal be And excepte those dayes should be shortned ther should no flesh be saued but for the chosen sake those dayes shall be shortned Then yf any man shall saye vnto you Lo here is Christ or ther is Christ beleue it not For ther shall aryse false Christes and false prophetes and shal do great miracles and wonders In somuche that yf it were possible eueÌ„ the chosen persons should be deceyued But take you hede loo I haue tolde you all thynges before Wherfore yf they shal saye vnto you behold he is in the wyldernes go not forthe Beholde in the serrete places beleue not For as the lyghtning commeth out of the east and syneth into the west So shall the coÌ„ming of the sone of maÌ„ be For whersoeuer a deade carcase is thether wil the Egles be gathered together Forthwith after the tribulatioÌ„s of those dayes the sune shall be darkened and the Wone shall not geue her lyght the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall moue And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man in heauen And then shall al the kinreddes of the earthe lament them selues and they shall se the sonne of man commyng in the cloudes wyth great power and glory And he shall sende his Angels with great power glory with a great trompet And they shall gather together his chosen froÌ„ the iiij wyndes froÌ„ the one ende of heauen to the other Neither are these thinges which nowe happeÌ„ to christeans new or sodeine for asmuche as good iust meÌ„ such as be thorowly bent to kepe the lawe of God are afraid to staine the innocency of lyfe true religion do alwayes walke the harde straite waye thorowe trobles iniuries and thorowe the greuous manifolde punishementes of deadly malicious emnities Thus is the ryghtfull Abel first killed of his brother Gen. 4. in the very beginning of the worlde 1. Reg. 14. Iacob is copelled to flye 3. Reg. 19. Ioseph is solde king Saul persecuteth the merciful Dauid king Achab endeuoureth to oppresse Helias which did constantly manfully defende the maiestie of God Ê’a charias the priest is killed betwene the temple the aulter Math. 23. that he myght there be made a sacrifice him selfe where he had offred sacrifices To be shorte ther are very many martirdomes of the rightfull which are oftentymes celebrate Ther are very many ensamples of faithe godlines left for them that shal come after The .iii. children Ananias Ararias Misahel in age equal in loue of one mynde in faithe stabell in godlynes constaunt and stronger then the flaÌ„myng fire and the paynes wherwith they were tormented openly proclaymed that they serued God alone and only that they knewe hym alone Dani 3. that they worshipped him alone saieng O king Na buchodonosor we haue no nede to make the any answer in this mater For God whome we serue is able to deliuer vs froÌ„ the hote burning ouen O king and to ridde vs out of thy handes but yf he will not yet shalt thou knowe that we wil not serue thy goddes nor do reuereÌ„ce to the ymage which thou hast set vp Dani. 14. And the godlye man Daniel full of the holy Goost cryeth out sayeth I worship nothing but only my Lorde which hath made heauen earth Tobias also althoughe he was vnder a kingly tyraÌ„nous boÌ„dage yet being fre in vnderstaÌ„ding spirite coÌ„fesseth God do excelleÌ„tly coÌ„meÌ„d god his power and maiestie saieng Tobi. 13. I wil praise him in the lande of my captiuitie wil shewe his power amoÌ„ges the sinful nacion But what should I speake of the seueÌ„ brethreÌ„ in the Machabees whiche do fulfill the nuÌ„bre of .vii. for a sacrament of absolute ê‘fectnes 2. Mat. 7. These seuen brethren are so lincked together in martirdome as in the disposicion ordinauÌ„ce of God the first seueÌ„ dayes do couteyne seuen thousande yeres As the seuen spirites and seuen Angels ar assistant and present before the face of the Lord And the seuen fashoned caÌ„delstickes in the tabernacle of witnesse And the seuen golden candelstickes in the reuelacion And the seueÌ„ pillars in Salomon vpoÌ„ whome wisdome doeth builde her howse Euen so the number also ther of seuen brethren doeth compreheÌ„de in them the number of seuen churches According as we reade in the first boke of kinges that the barreÌ„ brought furthe seuen And in Esay seuen womeÌ„ take holde vpoÌ„ one maÌ„ after whose name they require to benamed And Paule thapostle being myndefull of this laufull and certaine number writeth vnto seuen churches And in the reuelation the Lord doeth directe his diuine commaundementes and heuenly preceptes to seueÌ„ churches and their angels The which neÌ„ber is now fouÌ„de in these brethren that laufull perfeccyon might be fulfilled With the seuen sonnes the mother also their beginning and rote is certeinly copled which afterwardes brought furthe seuen churches herselfe being thorowe goddes voice first and alone fouÌ„ded vpon the rocke Neither is which out mistery the in the martyrdomes the mother is founde alone with her soÌ„nes For the martyrs which in their sufferinges did testefie them selues to be the sonnes of God ar now cownted to haue none other father but God As the Lorde in the gospel teacheth sayeng call no man your father vpon the earth Math. 23. for ther is but one your father which is in heauen O how glorious confessions did they make Howe noble howe excellent lessons of faithe haue they geueÌ„ The king Antiochus being angery yea rather Antichrist re presented by Antiochus went about to defile with the filth of swines fleshe the gloriouse mouthes of the martyrs which thorowe the spirite of coÌ„fession war inuincible And when he had greuously beaten them with scorges and yet neuer the neare his purpose he commaunded the frieng pannes or cauldrons to
Furthermore what thing ys this most dearely beloued brethren how muche apperteining to the purpose how necessary that this pestilence morren which semeth to be horrible cruel dothe trie the rightfulnes of euery maÌ„ examineth the myndes of maÌ„kynde whether the hole do seruice vnto the sicke whether neighboures kinsfolke do godly loue together whether the masters haue any pitie vpon their sicke seruauÌ„tes whether the phisicioÌ„s forsake the sicke that huÌ„bly requireth their couÌ„cel whether the â—ruel wil cease froÌ„ tyraÌ„ny wroÌ„ge doyng whether thextorcioners at the least wyse for feare of deathe will quenche their insaciable continuall burning of raging couetousnes whether the proud wil stoupe bow downe their neckes whether the wicked wilmoderate his folehardines whether the riche whaÌ„ their deare frendes are dead wil yet thaÌ„ geue to the poore seing themselues shal dye wtout heire Certeinly althoughe this mortalitie shal bring with it none other profite yet in this point it hathe muche profited christians goddes seruauÌ„tes because we beginne now gladly to wishe for martirdom whiles we learne not to feare death Vnto vs these are no buriales but execises They geue a glorious strengtht vnto the mynde thorowe the contempt of deathe they prepare to the crowne But paradueÌ„ture some man maye obiecte saye This thaÌ„ in this present mortalitie maketh me heauy that where as I was prepared to confesse the fayth had with my hole harte full streinght addicte my selfe to suffre passion I am nowe being preuented with death depriued of my martirdome For answere to this we must first consider that martirdome standeth not in our power but in thestimacion of God neither canst thou saye that thou hast lost ought which knowest not whether thou diddest deserue to receyue Besides this God which is the searcher of the reynes and harte and the beholder knower of theyes seeth the prayseth and alloweth the and he that perceyueth the to be prepared to vertue will for vertue reÌ„der rewarde Had Cain now killed his brother whan he offered sacrifice to God and neuer theles God that forseeth thinges old beforehande condeÌ„ne the murthering of his brother which he had conceyued in his minde As ther the wicked thought mischenous coÌ„ceit was manifest vnto God that forseeth thinges eueÌ„ so among the seruauÌ„ts of God which thinke to coÌ„fesse the truthe are ful purposed to suffer martirdome the mynde bent to goodnesse God being iudge is crowned For it is one thing to wante a will to martirdome on other to waÌ„te martirdome to a ready wil. Loke what maner of one God fyndeth thee when he talleth thee hence suche a one dothe he also iudge thee according as him selfe witnesseth saing al coÌ„gregacioÌ„s shal knowe the I am the searcher of the reynes of the harte For God seketh not the effusion of your blood but faith For neither wer AbrahaÌ„ I saat nor Iacod slayne and yet thorowe the merites of faith and rightfulnes they were honorable obteyned to be chief amoÌ„g the Patriarkes Vnto whose feast all that are fouÌ„de faithfull iuste prayse worthy are gathered together We ought to remeÌ„ber that we should do the wyll of God not our owne according as God hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded vs daily to pray How arsewarde peuishe a mater is it for vs to desire the will of God to be done Seing we do not immediatly obey the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of God his will wheÌ„ he calleth vs out of this world Against this we striue wrestle ar with heumes sorow after the maner of stub burne seruaÌ„tes brought vnto the lordes presence departing hence coÌ„pelled by necessitie not by willing obedieÌ„ce wil we which heaueÌ„ly rewardes be honored of him to whoÌ„ we com vnwillingly For what purpose than do we desire praye for the coÌ„ming of the kingdome of heauen yf we haue our delectacion in earthy captiuitie why do we praye beseche with often repeted praiers that the day of the kingdome might come quickly yf our desires be greater earnester to serue the deuil here than to reigne with Christ ther Further that the tokens of goddes prouidence maye more manifestly appere that the Lorde which knoweth aforehand thinges to cum doeth prouide for the true healthe of his when a certeine companion in office and felowe priest with vs being now wearied with sicknes and trobled with deathe euen at hand desired a sauecondute to be geueÌ„ him ther stode by him as he praied and being now at deathes dore a yoÌ„g man in honour and maiesty worshipfull of stature tall of countenaunce so cleare and bright that the carnall eye of man could scante abide to behold suche a one standing by him but only because he the should go out of the worlde might now abide to loke vpoÌ„ such a one And he not with oute a certeyne angre of minde and voice groned said you are afraid to suffer departe hence ye will not what shall I do to you this ys a voice of one rebuking and warning who will not consent to the present desire of suche as be carefull for persecucyon and careles for their calling hence but referreth the hole matter vnto the tyme to come Our brother and felowe in office heard that which he might declare to other For he the was now redy to die hearde these wordes to that ende the he might tel them to others he heard theÌ„ not for himself but for vs. For what should he learne being now ready to departe He lerned somwhat but that was for vs that here remayned that whiles we parceaue that the priest the desired saueconducte was rebuked we might knowe what was expedieÌ„t for euery one of vs. How often hath it ben also reueled vnto vs that are the lest out castes How often hath God vouchsaued manifestly to coÌ„maunde vs that we should diligeÌ„tly witnesse opeÌ„ly preach the we ought not to mourne for our brethreÌ„ which by ye. Lordes calling are deliuered froÌ„ the world forasmuche as I knowe the they ar not lost but sent before the they departing hence go before vs ought to be wisshed for as men the are gone furth on a torney or sailing and not to be lamented neither that we here should put on black gownes Morning for the deade in blacke gownes seing they haue receiued ther white garmentes that we should giue non occasion to the geÌ„tiles that they might worthely iustely rebuke vs because we mourne for them as thoughe they wer destroyed and lost which we saie doo liue with God and should with the witnesse of our harte and conscience reproue that faithe which we professe with our mouth and doice We ar traÌ„sgressours of our hope and faithe the thinges that we speake seme to be couÌ„terfaite fayned paited yt profiteth nothing to professe vertue in wordes to destroy the truth in dedes Thapostle paule also doth rebuke and blame suche as are sorowefull in the departing of their frendes â—
loued vs. And againe he saithe ye are not your owne for ye are bought with a great price 1. Cor. 6. Therfore glorifie and beare god in your body And againe he died for all that they which liue should not now liue to them selues 2. Cor. 5. but to him which died for them and rose againe The .vij. chapter THat they which are plucte out of the deuelles Iawes and deliuered from the snares of the world ought not to returne agayne to the worlde lest they should lose that they war escaped The people of the Iues before figured after the shadowe and image of vs whan they hade escaped thorowe the healpe and deliueraunce of God the most cruel boÌ„dage of Pharao Egipte that is to saye of the deuell They being vnfaithfull and vnthankfull to God did murmur agaist Moses They coÌ„sidering the dauÌ„gers of the wildernes and labor and vnder standing not Goddes benefites of liberty and saluacion sought to returne againe in to Egipte that ys to the bondage of this world from which they were deliuered Whan as they ought rather to haue trusted and beleaued in God bicause that he which hathe deliuerde his people from the deuell the world shal defeÌ„d theÌ„ that are deliuered Exo. 14. Why hast thou sayd they serued vs thus for to cary vs out of Egipte it had ben better for vs to haue serued the Egiptyans thaÌ„ to die in this wildernes And Moses said vnto the people Stande vp boldly and behold the saluacion that coÌ„meth from the Lord which the lord wil do for vs this daie The Lord him selfe shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace Of this thing the Lord doeth also in his gospel warne vs teache vs that we should not returne againe to the deuel and the world whome we haue forsakeÌ„ from whome we haue escaped saieÌ„g Luce. 9. and. 17. No man putting his hande to the ploughe and loking backe ys mete for the kingdome of God And againe he saieth he that is in the felde let him not returne backe Remember Lottes wiffe And lestany might be hindered in the folowing of Christ either thorowe any worldly lust or thorowe thaffectyon and loue to his kinsfolke and frendes he added and saieth He that doeth not forsake al that he hathe can not be my disciple The .viij. chapter VVe must endure coÌ„tinue in faith vertue in the ê‘fectyoÌ„ of spiritual grace that we maye attayne the victory crowne In the .ij. boke of Cronicles we reade thus 2. Pard 15. The Lord abbideth with you as loÌ„g as ye abide with him but yf ye shal forsake him he shal also forsake you In like maner saieth Ezechiei Eze. 33. In what so euer daye the rightouse meÌ„ shal wander oute of the waie his rightfulnes shal not deliuer him Math. 10. Ioan. 8. The Lord also in the gospel speaketh saieth He that shall contynue to th eÌ„de the same shal be saffe againe he saieth if you shal abide in my worde ye shal verely be my disciples and shall knowe the truthe the truthe shall make you fre He also beforehaÌ„d warning vs to be alwaies prepared and to staÌ„d maÌ„fully in a redynes he added and saieth Let your loynes be girte about Luc. 12. and your lightes burning and ye your selues like vnto men that waite for their master whan he wil returne froÌ„ a wedding that assone as he shall coÌ„ knocke they may opeÌ„ vnto him Happye are those seruauntes which the Lord whaÌ„ he coÌ„meth shal finde watching In likemaner the blessed Apostle exhorteth vs to go forwarde encrease in faithe vntil it coÌ„me to perfectyoÌ„ saieng knowe ye not that they which runne in a corse runne al yet but one receiueth the crowne So runne that ye maye obtayne 1. Cor. 9. And they do yt to obtayne a corruptible crowne but we to obtayne an incorruptible crowne And againe he saieth No man that warreth vnto God 2. Tim. 2. entangleth him selfe with worldly cares that he maye please him of whome he is allowed to be a sowldier And thoughe a man striue for a mastery yet is he not crowned except he striue laufully The same Apostle saithe also Rom. 12. I beseche you brethren by the mercifulnes of God that you make your bodies a quicke sacrifice holy and plesaÌ„t to God and fashion not your selues like vnto this world but be ye chaunged in your shape by the renewieng of your spirite that ye maye proue what thing that good and pleasing perfecte will of God is And againe he saieth Rom. 8. We are the sonnes of God But and if we be sonnes we are also heires the heyres I meane of God and heires annexed with Christ Yf so be that we suffer together that we maye be glorified together The exhortacion of the dyuine preaching speaketh the same thinges in the reuelacion saieng Apo. 5. holdefast hat thou hast that another taketh not thy crowne An ensample of this enduring and continuing vnto th ende is set forth in Exodus wher as Moses in the signe and sacrament of the crosse lyfteth vp his heauy handes to ouercome Amalech which beareth the figure of the deuell Neither could he ouercome thaduersary vntyl he continued stable in the signe with his handes continually lifted vp And it happened saieth he that Israel had the better when Moses helde vp his hande Exod. 17. And when he let his hande downe Amalech had the better And they toke a stone put it vnder him he sat downe theron And Aaron and Hur stayed vp his handes the one on the one syde and the other on thother syde and his handes were stedy vntyl the Sunne was downe And Iesus put Amalech to flight al his people And the Lorde said to Moses write this for a remembrauÌ„ce in a boke and tel it vnto Iesu For I wil put out the remembraucne of Amalech from vnder heauen The .ix. Chapter THat troubles and persecucions do therfore happen that we maye be tried we reade in the Deuteronomy Deu. 25. The Lorde your God doth teÌ„pte or proue you that he may knowe whether that you loue him with your hole hert and with all your soule and wyth all your strenght Againe it is written in Salomon The furnace proueth the potters vessell Eccle. 27. and temtacion of troble trieth rightfull men In lyke maner Paule testifieth and speaketh the same sayeng We reioyce in hope of the glory that shal be geuen of God Neyther do we so only Rom. 5. but also we reioyce in trobles knowing that tribulacion bringeth pacience but pacience bringeth triall trial hope and hope is not coÌ„fouÌ„ded because the loue God is spreade abrode in our hertes by the holy goost which is geueÌ„ vnto vs. Peter also in his epistle writeth and sayeth Dearely beloued maruell not at this heate that is come among you to trye you that ye fall not awaye as tho any
What they gaine that denye God and runnyng into the daunger of eternall punishement to gaine the short momentes of this lyfe And he beyng ther long tormented nowe at the point of death sighed and sayd as he dyed amoÌ„g stripes and tormentes O Lorde which hast the holy knowlege thou knowest openly that where as I myght be delyuered from deathe I suffer these sore paynes of my body but in my mynde I am wel content to suffer them because I fear thee Certeinly his fayth was sincere true his godlynes perfecte pure ynoughe which consydered not the kyng Antiochê° but God that is Iuge and knewe ryght well that it shoulde nothyng profyte him to saluacion yf he should mocke and deceyue man seyng the God which is the iuge of our conscience ought only to be feared caÌ„ not be mocked nor deceyued by any meanes Yf therfore we do lyue as godly meÌ„ and suche as be dedicate vn to God yf we do walke in the selfe same auncient and holy fote steppes of the iuste Let vs go thorowe the same ensamples of paynes sufferinges thorowe the same martirdomes and passions And let vs reken the glorye of our tyme in this point more excellent that wher as the olde ensamples of martirs are numbred Now after the plenteouse abundaunce of godlines and faithe the christian martyrs can not be numbred As Iohan witnesseth in the reuelacion saieng Apo. 7. After this I behelde a great multytude which no man could number of al nacyons kinredes people and tonges standing before the seate and before the lambe and they war clothed with long white garmentes and they had palmes in their handes and cried which a loude voice saieng Health vnto our God sitting vpon the seate and vnto the lambe And one of thelders answered saieng vnto me what are these which are arayed in long white garmentes and whence came they and I saied vnto him Lord thou wotest And he saied vnto me These are they which came out of great trybulacion they haue wasshed their garments and made them white in the blodde of the lambe Therfore are they in the pÌ„sence of the seate of God serue him daye night in his teÌ„ple But if it be shewed prowed that the people of the christiaÌ„ martyrs are so many no maÌ„ should thinke it an hard thing to be a martyr seing he may ê‘ceiue the the multitude of martyrs caÌ„ not be numbred The .xij. chaptre VVhat hope rewarde abideth for the iuste and martyrs after the fight and passions of this life the holy gost hathe shewed and folde aforhand by SalomoÌ„ saing And thoughe they suffer tormentes before men Sapi. 3. yet is their hope full of Immortalite And although they be punished in fewe thinges yet in many thinges shal they be well rewarded For God hathe proued them and founde them mete for him selfe Yea as the gold in the fornace he doeth trie them and receiueth them as a burnte offering and whan the tyme coÌ„meth they shal be loked vpon They shal Iuge the nacions and haue dominion ouer the people and their Lord shal reigne for euer In likemaner the same SalamoÌ„ doeth describe the vengaunce the God shall take for our cause and setteth forthe the penaunce or sorowe of our persecutours and enemyes saieng Then shall the righteouse stande in great stedfastnesse against suche as haue dealt extremely with them Sapi. 5. The late repentauÌ„ce of them that be in hell and taken awaye their labours When they se it they shal be vexed with horrible feare and shal wonder at the hastines of the sodayne healthe groning for very distres of mynde and shal say within them selues hauyng inwarde sorowes and mournyng for very anguishe of mynde These are they whoÌ„ we somtyme had in derision and iesced vpon We fooles thought their life very madnes and their ende to be with out honour Howe then are they couÌ„ted among the childreÌ„ of God their porcion among the saintes Therfore we haue erred froÌ„ the waye of truthe and the lyght of ryghtfulnes hath not shyned ouer vs and the Sunne of vnderstanding rose not vp vpon vs. We haue weried our selues in the waye of wyckednes and destruction Tediouse wayes haue we gone but the waye of the Lorde we haue not knowen What good hathe our pryde done vnto vs Or what ê“fite hath the pompe of ryches brought vs all those thinges are passed awaye like a shadowe In likemaner in 115. psalme the rewarde of martyrdome is declared Psal 115. wheare he saieth preciouse is the deathe of his saintes in the sight of the Lord. Psal 125. Likewise also in 125. is expressed bothe our sorowfull affliction and also our ioyeful rewarde wher he saieth They that sowe in teares shal reape which ioye They went furthe wandering and sowing their seades with weping But they shal com againe with ioye takig vp their lappes And againe in the 118. psalme he saieth blessed are those that be vndefiled in the waie Psal 118. which walke in the lawe of the Lord Blessed are those that searche out his witnesses and seke him with their hole hart Fur thermore the Lord which is the selfe reuengar of our persecucion and the rewarder of our sufferinge saieth in the gospell happye shall they be which shall suffer persecutyon for rightousnes sake Math. 5. bicause the kingdome of heauen is theirs And againe he saieth blessed shall ye be whan meÌ„ shall hate you and shall seperate and throwe you out and shal curse your name as wicked for the sonne of mans sake be gladde in that daie and reioyce For lo your rewarde is great in heauen And agayne he that loseth his liffe for me shall saue it Neither are the rewardes of Goddes promise laid vp only for suche as be tormented and sayne For although the faithful be not subiecte to the very suffering yet if faithe abide perfecre not ouercome if the thristian despising and forsaking all thinges that at his owne shall shewe him self to folow Christ he also is honored of Christ among the martyrs by his owne promise wher he saieth ther is no maÌ„ that forsaketh house or fielde or father and mother or brethren or wiffe or sonnes for the kingdome of God which do not receiue seuen tymes as muche in this world and in the world to come eternal liffe In likemaner in the reuelacion he speaketh the same thing saieÌ„g Apo. â—0 and I sawe the sowles of them that wer killed for the name of Iesu the worde of God And whan he had made mencyon first of them that war slayne he added saieng who so euer haue not worshipped the Image of the best neither receiued his marke vpoÌ„ their forhedes or on their handes Al which being sen of him at once in one place he coppleth together sayeng And they liued and reigned with Christ He sayeth that they all do lyue and reigne with Christ not only they
ye might remember the I tolde you Let no maÌ„ therfore maruel that we are exceadingly trobled with coÌ„tinual ê‘secutioÌ„s ofteÌ„tymes vexed with paineful trobles seing that the Lord tolde aforehaÌ„de the these should happen in the last daies which the doctrine exhortation of his worde instructed prepared our fight warrefare Peter also his apostle taught that persecutions do therfore happen that we maye betried and that we thorowe deathe and sufferinges myght also be ioyned and knitte to the loue of God after thensample of the iuste men that went before vs For in his epistle he wryteth thus sayeng Dearely beloued wonder not at this heate that is happened vnto you 1. Pet. 4. which is come among you to trie you Neither fall ye awaye as thoughe a newe thing had chaunced vnto you but as ofte as ye are partakers of Christes passions reioyce in althinges that when his glorye appeareth ye may also be mery and gladde yf ye be rayled vpon for the name of Christ happie are ye For the name of the maiestye and power of God dothe reste in you Which verely is blasphemed of them but is glorifyed of you Thapostles haue also taught vs suche thinges as they theÌ„selues did learne of the Lordes preceptes and heauenly commaundementes the Lorde hymselfe strenghtning vs and sayeng Luce. 18. Math. 1â— Ther is no maÌ„ sayeth he that leaueth house or felde other father and mother other betherne or susters other wife or children for the kingdome of goddes sake which shall not receiue seuen tymes as muche in this world and in the world to cum life euerlasting And againe blessed shal ye be saith he when men shal hate you and shal excommunicate and baÌ„nishe you Mat. 5. and shall curse your name as wicked for the sonne of mans sake reioyce and be gladde in that daie for your rewarde is great in heauen The Lorde wold haue vs to be mery and ioyeful in persecutions For in the tyme of persecution the crownes of faithe are distributed and geuen than are Goddes sowldears tried Than do heaueÌ„s open vnto the martyrs For we haue not after suche maner professed souldearfare that we should thinke vpon peace only and should refuse and forsake the fight Forasmuche as the Lord the mastre of humilite patience and sufferaunce hathe himselfe walked in the selfe same souldearfare the he might first do that thing himselfe which he taught to be obserued of others and might himselfe first suffer for vs that which he exhorted vs to suffer Set allwaies before your eies dearely beloued that he which alone hathe receiued al iugement of the father whichshal com to iuge all meÌ„ hathe euennow aforehand pronounced the sentence of his Ingement and knowlage to come Math. 10 shewing aforehaÌ„d witnessing the he will confesse theÌ„ before his father that coÌ„fesse him will denye theÌ„ the denye him Yf we might auoide escape death No man can escape death we might iustely feare to die but seing that of necessite the mortall must die let vs embrace thoccasion which God by his promise hathe vouchesaued to offer vs And let vs so ende our life that we maye receiue the rewarde of immortalite Neither let vs be afraide to be slaine seing yt ys manifest that we are then crowned when we are slaine and killed Neither let any maÌ„ most dearely beloued brethren betrobled Flight for feare of persecutioÌ„ whan he shall se our people driuen awaie scatered thorowe the feare of persecutyon and shall not see the brotherhede gathered together nor heare the bishoppes preache and declare the scriptures S. Cipriane vseth this worde brother heads We vnto whom it is not lauful to kill but must of necessite be killed can not than be al gathered together Whersoeuer any of the brethren shall in those dayes be for a season seperate from the flocke in body and not in spirite thorow the necessitie of the tyme let him not be troubled thorowe the terriblenesse of that fleing neither let him be afrayd when he departeth to hyde himselfe in the wilsome wildernes For he is not alone which hathe Christ to his companion in fleing He is not alone which keping the temple of God is not without God whersoeuer he shall happen to be And yf the these and murtherer shal destroye the as thou arte fleyng into the wildernes and mountaynes yf the wilde best shall assaile the yf hunger thurst or colde shall pinche the or yf the tempest or storme shall drowne the when thou doest by see hastely flee awaye Christ abydeth and loketh for his soul dear whersoeuer he fyghteth And he geueth vnto him that dyeth for the honour of his name in the tyme of persecution that rewarde A comfort for suche as are preuely pined murdered in presons which he hath promised to gyue in the resurrection Neither is the glory of martirdome any whit the lesse thoughe a man dye not openly amoÌ„g many when Christ his cause was thoccasion of his death For he is a sufficient witnesse of his martirdome that tryeth martirs and crowneth them Abel Let vs most dearely beloued brethren folowe the ryghtful Abel which beganne and consecrated martirdomes when he was the first that was slayne for ryghtfulnes sake Let vs folowe Abraham the frende of God Abraham which delaied not to offer vp his sonne in sacrifice with his owne handes when thorowe a deuouce fayth he obeyed God Let vs folowe the thre children Ananias Azarias and Misahel which being nether feared thorow their tender age nor discorraged thorow captiuitie wheÌ„ Iury IerusaleÌ„ were ouercome takeÌ„ ouercame by the power of faythe the kyng in his owne kingdome Which beyng commaunded to worship the ymage that Nabuchodonosor hade made ouercame bothe the kynges threatninges and the flamyng fyre Crieng out and testefieng their faith which these wordes Dani. 3. We haue no nede O king Nabuchodonosor to make the any aunswer touching this mater For ther is a God whome we serue able to delyuer vs from the fornace of the burnyng fire and he shall delyuer vs O king from thy handes but if he do not let it be knowen vnto the the we will not serue thy goddes neither wil we worshippe the golden ymage which thou hast set vp They beleaued that thorowe faith they might escape neuertheles they added but if he do not that the king might be certefied that they war also able to die for Goddes sake whome they worshipped For this is the power of faithe and vertue to beleaue and knowe that God is able to deliuer froÌ„ present deathe yet neither to feare nor giue place to deathe that faithe maie be tried the better Out of theyr mouth brake furth the vndefiled in uincible strenght of the holy goost the the wordes which the Lord spake in his gospel might appeare to be true whaÌ„ they shall laie haÌ„des on you saithe he be not carefull what ye shall speake
For it shal be geueÌ„ you in that howre what ye shall speake Math. 10 For it is not you which do speake but the spirite of the father that speaketh in you He hathe promised the yt shal be geueÌ„ offerd vs of God in that houre what we maye speake And that it is not we that thaÌ„ speake but the spirite of the father which forasmuche as he neither departeth nor is separated from them the confesse doeth bothe speake ys crowned in vs. In likemaner Daniel whan he was compelled to worship the Idol Bel whome bothe the king people did than worshippe in the defence of the honour of his God Dani. 14. be brake out with the full liberte of faithe saieÌ„g I worshippeno thing but only the Lord my God which hathe made heaueÌ„ and earthe The maâ—chabeis What should I speake of the bitter tormeÌ„tes of the blessed martyrs in the Machabeis of the manifolde paines of the vn brethren of the mother that did bothe 01 comforte her children in the tormeÌ„tes died also hereself with them Are not ther doctrines of great vertue faithe witnessed And do they not exhorte vs also thorowe their passions vnto the triumphe of martirdome The prephetes Thapostels what we ought to learne at the death of good men Mat. 2. What shal I speake of the prophetes whome the spirite hathe incorraged vnto the aforeknowâ—age of thinges to come What shall I saie of thapostles whome the Lord hathe chosen Haue not the inste whaÌ„ they are slaine for rightfulnes sake taught vs also to dye The birthe of Christ beganne straite waies with the martyrdome of infantes and babes that so many as war two yeares olde and vnder were slayne for his name sake The age that was not yet able for the bataile was neuertheles mete to receiue the crowne that they might appear * to be innoceÌ„tes Or it might appeare which are slayne for Christ the innocent infancye childhode was killed for his name sake It is nowe declared that no man is free from the daunger of persecucioÌ„ seyng that suche lytleones haue suffered martirdome What reasonable cause can any christian man haue 〈◊〉 haue no excuse that wil not beyng a seruaunt suffer seyng the Lorde himselfe hathe first suffered And that we wyl not suffer for our owne synnes when he hauyng no synne of his owne hath suffered for vs The sonne of God hathe suffered to make vs goddes sonnes And wyl not the sonne of man suffer that he maie contynue the soÌ„ne of God Yf we be hated of the worlde the hatered of the world christ suffered first Yf we suffer reuiling wordes in this worlde if we be driuen to flee yf we indure tormentes the maker Lorde of the worlde haue tasted of more grenouse paines who also warneth vs saing Yf the worlde saith he hate you Ioan. 15. remember that yt hated me first Yf you war of the world the worlde wolde loue that which war his owne Ioan. 15. But bicause ye are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you out of the world therfore doeth the world hate you RemeÌ„ber the worde which I haue spoken vnto you ther is no seruauÌ„t greater thaÌ„ his Lorde Yf they haue persecuted me they shall also persecute you The Lord and our God hathe performed and done whatsoeuer he taught and can the disciple and scollar be excused that learneth yet doeth not accordingly Let none of you dearely beloued brethren be so feared with the feare of persecutyon to come or with the comming of Antichrist that houereth ouer our heades that he should not be founde armed at all pointes with thexortacions of the gospel and with the heauenly coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts warninges Antichrist is come but Christ wil also sodeÌ„ly come vpoÌ„ him The ennemy murdereth and is very cruell but the Lord doeth by and by folowe to reuenge our afflictions wouÌ„des The enemy is aÌ„gry threatneth but ther is one that can deliuer vs out of his handes He ought to be feared whose yre veÌ„gauÌ„ce no maÌ„ caÌ„ escape according as he him selfe warneth sayeth Feare ye not them that kill the body but the sowle they can not kill Mat. 10. But feare him rather that is able to destroie bothe sowle and body in to hell Ioan. 12. And againe he saithe he that loueth his life shal lose it he that hateth his life in this worlde shal keape yt vnto eternall life And in the reuelacion he instructeth and warneth vs saing Apo. 14. yf any man worshipe the best and his image and taketh his marke in his forehed and in his haÌ„d he shall also drinke of the wine of the wrathe of God mingeled in the cuppe of his wrathe and he shal be punnished with fire and brymstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the lambe And the smoke of their tormeÌ„tes goeth vp world withoute ende Neither shall any of them that worshippe the best and his image haue any rest either daie or night Vnto a temporal and world 〈…〉 and â—ight men at bothe 〈◊〉 and prepared and they counte it great glory honoure yf it maie be their chauÌ„ce to be crowned in the presence of the people in the preseÌ„ce of themperor Beholde the highe and noble fight which ys beutified with an heauenly crowne wher as god maye loke vpon vs fighting and that he casting his eyes vpoÌ„ theÌ„ whome he hathe vouche saued to make his childreÌ„ maye haue a plesaunt beholding and spectacle of of our battaile Whan we warre and fight with the armor of faithe God loketh vpon vs his angels do beholde vs Christ doeth approue vs. What worthye glory is it howe great felicite and happines to fight ther whearas God is the defeÌ„dar and to be crowned ther whearas Christ is iuge Let vs arme our selues most dearely beloued brethren with all our strenght let vs be prepared and made redy to the battaile with an vncorrupted mynde with a perfecte faithe and with deuoute vertue Let the armyes of God marche on and go forewarde vnto the bataille that is â—â—tched against them Let the perfecte man be armed that the perfecte lose not his late consraÌ„cy Let the fallen be also armed that the falleÌ„ maye receuie againe that which be had lou Let honour prouoke the perfecte let sorowe prouoke the fallen vnto the fight and battaile The blessed Apostle doeth arme and prepare vs to the fight saieng we wrastle not against fleshe and blodde Ephe. 6. but against powres against the rulars of this darkenes of this worlde against spiritual wickednes in heaueÌ„ly thinges Put you on therfore all the armor of God that ye may be able to resiste in the most wicked daye that whan ye haue performed al thinges ye may stande hauing your loynes girded with the truthe The armor and weapons of Christians clothed with the brest plate of rightfulnes and shodde that ye maye be redy to the gospel of peace taking vp the shilde of faithe wherby ye maye quenche all the firy dartes of the deuel and take the helmet of healthe and the sworde of the spirite which is the worde of God Let vs put on these armowres let vs fortifie our selues with these spiritual and heaueÌ„ly defences that we maye be able in the most wicked daie to resiste and beate backe the deuels threatninges Let vs put on the brest plate of rightfulnes that our brest maye be defended and saued against the dartes of the ennemye Let vs be shodde thorowe the doctrine of the Gospell and haue our fete armed that when we shal beginne to treade and thurst downe the serpent he maye not be able to byte ouerthrowe vs. Let vs manfully bear the shylde of faythe by whose defence what soeuer the ennemye throweth against vs may be quenched Let vs also take the helmet of saluacion to couer our heades How euery member and parte of the body must be armed â–ª that our eares may be defended that they maye not heare nor geue hede vnto cruell proclamations and lawes Let our eyes be fortiyed that they beholde not the detestable and abhominable ymages Let our forehed be fensed that the marke of God may be kept safe Let the mouth be armed that the myghtye conquering tonge may acknowlege and confesse her Lord Christ Let vs also arme the ryght hande with a spiritual sworde In Cipriaenes tyme the people receiued the sacrament in their right handes that it maye manfully contemne and despise the vncleane and wicked sacrifices that that which hathe receyued the Lordes body being mindful of the thankes geuing maye in the same embrace her Lord which shal after of the same her Lorde receyue the rewarde of an heauenly crowne O howe excellent and great a daye is that that is comming moste dearely beloued brethren when the Lorde shal beginne to numbre his people and by his diuine knowlege to examine the workes of euery one to sende the gylty into hell and to condeÌ„ne our persecutours vnto a perpetuall burning in the paynefull flame but vnto vs to reÌ„der the rewarde of faythe and godlynes What maner of glorye shal that be and how great gladnes to be admitted to see goddes honour the thou maist receaue with Christ the Lord thy God the ioye of euerlasting healthe and lyght To salute Abraham Isaac and Iacob all the Patriarkes and Prophetes the Apostles Martyrs To reioyce in the delectacioÌ„ of the gyft of immortalitie with the iuste men and freÌ„des of God in the kingdome of heaueÌ„ To receiue that ther which neither eye hath seen neyther eare hath herde â— Cor. 2. nor hath entered into the harte of man For thapostle teacheth that we shall receyue greater rewarde then either our workes or afflictions here can deserue sayeng The afflictioÌ„s of this lyfe are not worthy of the glory Rom. 8. which shal be shewed vpon vs. When the shewyng of this glorye shall come when the charitie of God shal shyne ouer vs thaÌ„ shal we be happy mery being in honour thorow the goodnes of the Lorde But alas 〈…〉