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
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
OF The markes of the children of God and of their comforts in afflictions To the faithfull of the Low Countrie By Iohn Taffin Ouerseene againe and augmented by the Author and translated out of French by Anne Prowse Rom 8.16 The spirit beareth witnes to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God If we be sonnes then are we also heires the heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ so that we suffer together that we also may be glorified together AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Man 1590. To the right Honorable and vertuous Ladie The Countesse of War wicke FOrasmuch as it hath pleased almightie God of his infinite goodnesse to giue vnto the glorious Gospell of his eternall sonne so long prosperous successe in this our Countrie it is now time right Honorable and my verie good Ladie for euerie one that is a true professor of the same all carnall perswasions of humane reason deluding the soule being set aside to prepare our selues to the day of trial For although it pleaseth God sometimes for the gathering of his Church to giue vnto it as it were Halcyon daies yet common it is not that it should any long time continue in rest and pleasure Nay by the word of GOD wee know by experience sometimes of our selues her Maiesties royall person not excepted and now of our neighbours round about vs we see that the Church of God in this world as it euer hath bin so must it euer be vnder the crosse And therefore if wee will bee compted of the Church indeede and glorie in that excellent name of a Christian let vs knowe assuredlie that vnto vs euen vnto vs that haue so long liued in rest and pleasure if wee be the children of God in some sort and measure a triall must come For if God chastise euerie sonne whom he receiueth and euery member of Christes body must be fashioned like vnto the head if the afflictions of this world are manifest tokens to the children of God of his fauour and loue towards them and sure pledges of their adoptiō how can we looke or how can we desire to bee exempted from this common condition of God his owne children and household To this end therefore right Honorable Ladie I haue translated this little booke first to admonish some who for lacke of experience neuer feeling other daies than these full of peace and quietnes that they learne to applie vnto themselues whatsoeuer they heare or reade of the triall of GOD his children least falselie imagining it to appertaine either to the times that are past or to other Nations it fall sodainlie vpon them as a theefe in the night they be destitute of all hope and comfort Secondlie to awake others abounding both in knowledge and other graces whom notwithstanding satan by the deceaueable lusts vaine pleasures of this wicked world hath so rockt a sleepe that they seeme almost as they that are diseased with the Lethargie to haue forgottē both themselues their holie calling and profession Last of all to comfort an other sort whome it hath pleased GOD so to presse downe with sorrowes and to exercise with the continuall afflictions and calamities of this mortall life as no times seeming fauourable vnto thē they can scarse receiue the words of any comfort And because your Honor hath been of long time not onlie a professour but also a louer of the trueth whom the Lord exalting to an higher place of dignitie than many other hath set vp as it were a light vpō an high candlesticke to giue light vnto manie I haue especiallie dedicated vnto your Honour this my poore trauaile humblie beseeching the Lord to make it no lesse comfortable to your Honour and to those that shall reade it than it hath been vnto me who haue translated it Euerie one in his calling is bound to doo somewhat to the furtherance of the holie building but because great things by reason of my sex I may not doo and that which I may I ought to doo I haue according to my duetie brought my poore basket of stones to the strengthning of the walles of that Ierusalem whereof by grace wee are all both Citizens and members And now to returne to those whō experience hath not yet taught and whom prosperitie will not suffer to awake I earnestlie beseech them both in the Lord no longer to deceiue themselues with vaine imaginations neither to suffer their hearts so to be tied to earthlie vanities that they should despise or neglect those things that cā truely make them happie indeed When it shall please GOD to open their eyes to discerne betweene heauenlie and earthly betweene things transitorie and things euerlasting I know they will of themselues bee ashamed of this their negligence For what are all the pleasant things of this world which most bewitch the minds of men if they be compared with heauenlie and eternall things If statelie sumptuous buildings do delight what building is so statelie and glorious as newe Ierusalem If riches what so rich as that whose pauemēt is of pure gold whose foundations and walls of precious stones gates of orient pearles If friends kinsfolke and neighbours what Citie so replenished as this where God himselfe in his Maiestie Iesus Christ the head of the Church in his glorie all the holie Angels Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and Martirs do dwel together in happinesse for euer If honor what honor comparable to this to be the seruant and child of so mightie a King and heire of so glorious a kingdome where neither time doth consume nor enuie depriue of honour nor power of aduersarie spoyle of glorie that is endles incōprehensible If then there be no comparison betweene things heauenlie and things that are earthlie and no man can attaine to the things that are heauenlie but by the same way that Christ himselfe attained vnto them which was by the crosse why casting off all impediments that presseth downe doo we not runne on our course with cherefulnes and hope hauing Christ so mightie a King for our Captaine guide who as the Apostle saith for the glorie that was set before him indured the crosse and despising the shame sitteth now at the right hand of the throne of God How slowe and dull of heart are wee if as Esau who for a messe of pottage sold his birthright wee are contented for a small and short pleasure in this wicked world to leese that incomparable and euerlasting glorie which Christ the sonne of GOD with so great a price hath purchased for vs. The Lord giue vs wisedome to vnderstand grace to heare his voice while it is saide to day that when daies and nights times shall cease wee may without time enter into his ioye and rest which neuer shall haue end The Lord euer preserue your Honor and adde vnto a multitude of happie yeares spent in his feare a continuall increase of al spiritual graces to his glorie
glorie To be short all things such a heape of happines and felicitie that as sundrie vessels cast into the sea are full of water so as they can neither want nor haue more So this sea of Diuinitie being all things in vs al we shall be filled and satisfied with life glorie so as we can neither want nor receiue more Then shall we not onlie tast how sweete our God shall be Psal 34.9 but we shall be filled and throughlie satisfied with his sweetnes most wonderfull Cipri de ascē Christi 1. Cor. 15.18 Then shall the sonne himselfe be subiect to the father to wit as touching his humanitie but that shall be for the increase of his glorie and our felicitie For the sonne of man abiding still vnited to the sonne of God August lib. 80. quaest 69. lib. de trinit 1. cap. 8. and then ceasing the gouernement which he shall haue vntill the resurrection God shall in such sort be in this sonne of man and in vs that the maiestie and brightnes of the diuinitie then raigning immediatlie shall cause the difference between the diuinitie of Christ Ihe 17.22 and his humane nature subiect vnto it to appeare But as the principall glorie of the sonne of man Phil. 2.7 is to be vnited vnto the sonne of God in one person and that this his diuinitie shall be for the most part as it were hid vntil that day and that then it shall bee fullie reuealed how much more the diuine maiestie of the sonne of God shall cause the subiection of the sonne of man to appeare so much the greater shall appeare the glorie of this sonne of man vnited in one person to the Godhead then raigning in his full maiestie and glorie As if a mā may find any thing neuer so little to represent this high mysterie wee may consider that the felicitie and glorie of the brethren of Ioseph was so much the greater Gen. 47. that by the greatnes of Ioseph exalted to the gouernment of Aegypt they were subiect vnto him and there appeared a great difference between Joseph and his brethren not by the diminishing of them but by the increasing of Ioseph his brethren hauing this happines and honor to be the brethren of Ioseph so much more great and honorable by how much the greatnes of the maiestie glorie of Ioseph made their subiection more to appeare And this is it that may in some sort be noted in the church For although that now her subiection and the difference appeare betweene her gathered and composed of sinfull men hauing their sanctification and their life of their head Iesus Christ and betweene him verie GOD and perfect man sitting at the right hand of God the father almightie yet as then the more great the glorie of Christ shall appeare shewing himselfe immediatlie with his diuine maiestie in his brightnes so much the more clearelie shall the subiection and difference of the Church appeare not by diminishing the happines and glorie of it but by the increase of the glory of her head brother and bridegrome The Church hauing this happines honor to be and stil to abide vnited vnto Christ making with her this new man whereof Saint Paule speaketh Ephe. 2.15 yea so much the more happie glorious by how much the excellencie of the maiestie and glorie of Christ the sonne of man with vs shall exceed in greatnes being vnited to the sonne of God shining then with the Father and the Holie ghost one onlie GOD in his diuine maiestie Hereof also it followeth that our chiefe felicitie shal be to behold this glorie of Christ And indeed this is that benefite and happines which he asked for vs of God his father saying Father Ioh. 17.24 my desire for those whome thou hast giuen me is that they bee where I am and that they may see my glorie And what glorie That we should see him 1. Ioh. 3.2 as he shall bee in maiestie incomprehensible as touching his Godhead and consequentlie in soueraigne glorie as touching his humanitie vnited to this diuine maiestie Behold also how this shall be accomplished which is written 1. Cor. 13.12 that wee shall see God face to face for the accomplishmēt of our felicitie Which that we may the better comprehend Ioh. 15.11 Ioh. 16.24 Matth. 25.21 we must finallie conclude that the fruit thereof shall bee this ioy full and perfect which Christ hath promised vs promising further to make vs enter into the ioye of our Lord. Aug. in manuel cap. 35. Saint Augustine in a certaine meditation which is inded both holie and heauenlie sheweth verie excellentlie how great this our ioy shall be and that ioy of our Lord which we shall enter into Hauing discoursed of the euerlasting felicitie of the children of God thus he saith O heart humane poore needy O hart exercised with miseries almost cōsumed of thē what should thy ioy be if thou haddest the full inioying of the aboūdāce of these good things Aske of thy soule if thou were capable of the ioy which thou shouldest feele of one such felicitie But if besides any other whō thou louest as thy selfe should inioye the same happines with thee surelie this superabounding ioy which thou shouldest feele of thine own happines should it not be twise doubled for the glorie the ioy of him whō thou louest as thy self for whose happines thou shouldest bee as ioyfull as for thine owne happines Now if there were two three yea a great nūber inioying the same happines with thee whom also thou louedst as thy selfe thou shouldest feele as much ioy for the happines of each of them as for thine owne happines What then shall be in this perfect charitie when wee shall loue all the blessed angels and all the elect louing euerie each one of them euen as our selues and being no lesse ioyfull of the felicitie of each of them than of our owne Surelie if neuer a one of the elect shall be capable of his owne ioy for the greatnes of it how shall he bee capable of so manie ioyes for the happines of so manie of the elect for whom he shall feele as much ioy as for his owne Loe what it is Saint Augustine saith But yet how much shall this ioy be augmented for the happines felicitie and glorie of this elect of God in whome wee our selues haue been elected who hauing died for the elect shall sanctifie preserue and lift them vp into heauen to the inioying of this felicitie who is not onlie man holie and iust but also true God especiallie beholding him in his glorie to bee vnited in one person to the Godhead then shining in his Maiestie Surelie if wee louing other elect as our selues should haue as much ioy of the happines of each of them as of our own what shall be the ioy that we shall receiue of the happines and glorie of this soueraigne Elect Iesus Christ
outward before men they which haue the inward markes which consist in the testimonie of the holy Ghost in our hearts in the peace of our consciences and in the holy desire of our soules feele these graces which assureth them that they are the children of GOD chosen to eternal life yea more certainly than we are assured by the light of the Sunne that we see by the heat that we feele that the Sun shineth And in deed they haue the white stone whereof mention is made in the reuelation Reue. 2.17 in that stone a new name of the childe of god writtē which none can know but he that receiueth it The world saith Christ cānot receiue the spirit of truth because it hath not seen him neither hath known him Ioh. 14.17 but ye know him saith hee to his Apostles for hee abideth with you and shall be in you As touching the outwarde marke of beeing a member of the visible Church it is also verie certaine in respect of God inasmuch as speaking to vs and sealing his words by the sacraments he neither wil nor can deceiue or lie But if mē hearing his word cōmunicating at the Sacraments reiect in their hearts the spirituall graces which are offered vnto them and so abide vnfaithfull and wicked within when notwithstanding they are helde for faithfull and the childrē of god because of the outward profession it is no meruaile if God at the last do discouer them cast them off shewing therin that they wer neuer his And this is it that S. Iohn saith of such 1. Ioh. 2.19 They went out frō amongst vs but they were not of vs for if they had bin of vs they would haue tarried with vs. But this is that it might appeare that all are not of vs. They that are once grafted in Christ can not perish for the giftes of God are without repentance Ro. 11.29 But euerie plant Matt. 15.13 saith Iesus Christ which my father hath not planted shall bee pulled vp Matt. 13. The parable of the seede falling into diuers sortes of earth teacheth vs two points to this purpose First that manie shal heare the gospel but without frute Secondlie that it shall be their own falt For if entring into the Church they bring their cares and loue to the world without hauing will to forsake them so as it like thornes choake the good seede of the word 2. Tim. 2.19 And so hauing no moisture of the grace of God they wither at the first sunne of persecution a man may see the cause of their reuolte to wete because they were not the children of God Saint Paule hauing said that God knoweth who are his addeth and whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of Christ let him depart from all iniquitie shewing thereby that if there bee anie which ioyne themselues to the Church calling vpon the name of Christ and doo not depart frō iniquity they discouer thereby that God neuer tooke them for his Which thing is good to be noted For manie thinke that to be of our Church nedeth nothing but to chāge the masse to the preaching and to the communicating at the Lords supper And when they vnderstand that to be the childe of God is required to renoūce themselues to leaue couetousnes ambition drunkennesse the world and all pompes to be short that they must put off the olde man and be a new creature not beeing disposed to do this they leaue the preaching and returne to the Masse Now be these the children of God that reuolt that they should make those that are in deed and continue to doubt Nay rather they are the children of the world who hauing brought the world in with them haue also carried the world away with them They therefore that haue once beleeued who also beleeuing feele a desire to liue according vnto god are assured that they cannot perish He that beginneth this good work in them Phil. 1.6 wil accōplish it euen vnto the day of christ And to this purpose saith S. Augustine verie wel Aug. de cor rect gra ca. 12. to 7. He which made vs good maketh vs also to perseuer in goodnes but they that fal and perish were not of the number of the predestinate It remaineth that considering in the fall of hipocrites the double mercie of god toward vs. First that he hath receiued vs into the number of his children Secondly that he will continue this grace towards vs euen to the ende there remaineth I say that we feele our selues double bound to practise the exhortation of S. Paule beseeching vs by the mercies of God to offer our selues a liuing sacrifice holy pleasing to God Rom. 12.1 not to be fashioned like this wicked world but rather endeuouring to this that being tranfformed by the renuing of our vnderstanding we may approoue and follow the good and perfect will of God And let vs remember that which S. John saith 1. Iohn 3.3 That they that haue hope to liue with Iesus Christ and to see him as hee is do purifie themselues as he is pure That afflictions ought not to make vs to doubt of our adoption but rather confirme vs. CHAP. 6. LET vs now come to that stūbling blocke and trouble that proceedeth from our afflictions What apparaunce is there saieth the flesh that wee are the Children of GOD Our goods are violently taken from vs our possessions are confiscate and our Offices and Estates are taken away We are driuen out of our Countrey yea from Countrey to Countrey like vagabonds wee are hated of father and mother and of our other kinsfolk frends we are drawen and kept in prison wee are derided and brought into extreame calamities miscries we are as sheepe of the shambles apointed to the sword to the gallowes and to the fire To bee short wee see nothing but the signes of the wrath and the curse of God vpon vs. And that which more is the Church which wee haue said was the kingdome of Christ and the house of God how is it assailed by the mightie men of this world whome also we see to come to the end of their enterprises to oppresse tread vnder foote rent and scatter this Church exercising al crueltie against it as hūgrie wolues vpon a flock of sheep forsaken of their shepheard They triumph in their victories and wee hang down the head weep bowing down our necks vnder the yoke of afflictions They increase in riches we consume in pouertie they are aduaunced to honours and dignities and we are despised as rebels wicked and seditious people See what the flesh saith and yet these are but discourses and complaints of great ignoraunce or infirmitie For what is that which troubleth and offendeth vs in this condition and estate Euen that whereby wee ought rather to be confirmed in the assuraunce that wee are the children of GOD and indeede happie First if GOD had promised
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
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
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
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