conquest apperteyneth because hee is shaddowed vnder Gods winges so that no euill can come nighe him neither touch his house his famely his cattell nor his ground as Moyses to mans great comforte writeth after this maner And the haile smote throughout the Land of Egipt al that was in the feeld both man and beasts also the haile smote all the herbes of feelde and brake to peeces al the trees of the feelde Onely in the Lande of Goshen where the children of Israell were was no hayle Where vnto consenteth Dauid saying The Lorde saueth both man and beast Surely the Children of Israell and al that is theirs that is to say the true and liuely members of Christ with all their goods are vnder the wings of the Lord in the custody and Tutele of his Angels in whose hands they are borne whiles they walke in Gods wayes and doo the workes of their vocation Which addition is especially to bee remembred For there are manie in the shadowe of the Churche that pollute themselues against their conscience with many gréeuous offences and busie themselues in other mens matters and presumptuously obiect themselues againste great daungers tempting almightie god But these men kéepe not the heauenly discipline of this warrefare albeit outwardly they make a shewe that they be souldiers vnder this Capitayne King Osias contrary to his vocatiō went into the Church to offer sacrifice he was not couered vnder Gods wings but striken with an incurable Leprosie The sonnes of Aaron were not kept by the Angels but in the sight of the Lord were killed for laying straunge fyre vpon the Aulter so Chore Dathan and Abiron were swalowed vp quicke into the earth Absolon walking in his owne wayes was myserablie hanged by the hayre This victorie therefore properlie appertayneth vnto those who abide vnder Gods winges walke in his wayes doo the workes of their vocation in true repentaunce and fayth are content with their estate which they labour to adorne and bewtifie and auoyde sinnes of presumption against the conscience Such men are not only partakers of this glorious victorie but also sée oftentymes the fall of those Tyrauntes that with sworde and fyre persecuted them for the profession of the gospell So Noha sawe the wycked men in the firste age drowned with the floode who had long mocked and laughed him to scorne Loth sawe the fearfull destruction of Sodome The children of Israel with their owne eyes behelde the army of Pharao drowned in the red sea Dauid saw the distruction of Saul and of many other his enimies so Mardocheus behelde Hamon Iohn the Euangliste Cernithus the hereticke Many godly Christians sawe the destruction of that bloodye Tyraunte Maxentius Didimus Bishoppe of Alexādria sawe in his dreame the death of Iulian the Reneger Alexander Bisshop of Cōstantinople with many other faithfull men saw howe Arius the dampned heretique perished terribly but worthily And examples in all tymes and ages plainly verify that saying of Dauid Doubltes with thy eies thou shalt behold and see the reward of the wicked This is verilye no small comfort that the holie ghost doeth succour and releeue all such as are oppressed for the profession of the gospell And that we who are oppressed of tyrauntes shall see in this life theyr ruine and fall or if that come not alwayes to passe in this worlde yet without all doubte wee shall see their eternall obiection and condempnation which farre passeth all worldlye paine and punishment For there can bee no conuenient proportion or comparison betweene thinges finite and infinite temporall and eternall But heere aryseth a question and a great scruple in mennes mindes howe this promise of the holy ghoste can bee true That no euyll shall come nigh the godly nor his familie but that they shal be shadowed vnder Gods winges and kept by his holy Angels For both many examples in the holye scripture and dayly experience teacheth that the most excellent lyghtes and members of Christes church are first and most commonlie taken away with sworde fyre pestilence and other plagues and mischiefes Abell dwelling vnder the shadowe of the highest beleeuing in Christ and walking in his wayes was murdred of his wicked and vnnaturall brother Caine. Ioseph from his chyldhoode fearing the Lorde and doing the worke of his vocation is solde by his brethren into Egipte was there without cause imprisoned Esaias the Prophet in whome was many excellent gyftes wherewithall he gouerned the Church was cutte in two peeces by the tyraunt Manasses Apries king of Egipt caused Ieremy to be stoned to death Herode cutte of Iohn Baptist heade then whom there was no greater amongst the sonnes of women Nero caused Saint Paule to be crucified And the cruell tyrannie of Diocletian Maximanus and Maximinus murdred in one moneth seuenteene thousād Christians bicause they would not offer sacrifice to the Idolles of the Panims Nowe when carnall reason considereth these such lyke examples it begynneth to doubte of Gods prouidence of his promises touching mans protection and defence wherof I speake somewhat in my Booke intytuled The armour of proofe But because it is verie pertinent to this tractation I wyll handle the matter more perticularlie largelie in this place If say they God doth protect and defend his seruauntes vnder his winges and keepeth them by his holy Angelles why then are there many thousandes of those that serue God sincerely and call vpon him earnestly either murdred cruelly or spoiled miserablie or drawne into heauie bondage vvhere they serue barbarous godles people painefully And heare I haue good occasion to speak generally of the causes of persecutions againste the Church of God but I will kéepe my self within compas deduce my Reader to the consideratiō of those things which are most needful for these troublesom times I wyl first speake of the sartenty of Gods promises whiche are in the obiection infyrmed and weakened I say therefore that these promises of God made to his Churche are not therefore frustrate because throughout all times some members thereof perrishe For the body of the Church is preserued and shall continewe vntyll the ende of the worlde allthough some bowghes and Braunches be cut of and albeit some of the souldiers of this armye fall with sworde as oftentimes it cōmeth to passe that both the godly and vngodly perish together yet other souldiers by and by succéede in their places who fight manfully for the lawe and for the congregations This heauenly capitaine the sonne of God shall alwayes haue a strong army allthough the number be somtime more sumtime lesse No infernall power shal preuaile against this whole armie wherin if peraduenture there bee some as fearfull as hayres or hartes yet the capitaine hath the hart of a Lion and is therefore called the Lion of the tribe of Iuda And if he doo not saue his armie by those meanes which humaine reason deuiseth
as our blessynges at home ought not to breede in vs senssesse securitie so the forraigue plagues and almost oppression of the Churche abroade should not abashe or make vs shrinke Let vs not bee mooued with the might and multitude of enimies whether they bee Turkes or Papistes neither let vs bee dismayed which the weake and poore estate of the Churche to iudge that they therefore be accepted and wee contenmed which carnall and peruerse speculation mooueth many to reuoulte to Turke and Pope from the Gospell bicause they often times beholde the Church as a refuse voyde and destitude of all humane helpe In such cases wee ought to take vnto vs in faith and inuocation those defenses out of the Armorye of the bible whiche will make vs inuinsible against the weapons and assiultes of all dyuelles and wicked men Those munitions are Gods prounises whiche wee ought deepely and stedfastly to imprint in out mindes and they shall better fortify and defende vs then any stonge Bulwark or Cast'e Of the which sort among many other are these that folow Thus saith the Lorde I vvill beare you vvhen you are olde I haue made you I vvill beare you I vvill carrie you and agayne Canne a mother forget hir Childe and not haue pittie vpon the sonne of hir vvombe and if she do for get it yet vvill I not forget thee Syoh How sweete is that speach of the Prophet which resembleth the sonne of GOD to an Herdmaâ— feedinge his flock gathering his Lambes â—egether swith his armes caryinge them in his bosome and kindly in treatinge them that beare younge ones Wherby we are put in minde in our dayly prayer that we are the sheepe of this shepharde and therfore ought to flye vnto him for succour and defence in all distresses And no lesse pleasâ—unt is that picture of GOD caryinge his Churche in hys wombe and bosome proueysinge to beare the same in hir olde age Men vse deepe inquysitions and carefull cogytations where the Churche shall remayne amonge these ruines of kingdomes confusion of opinions and infynit domesticall calamyties which we beeholde with great dolor and griefe The Prophet caseth this carefulnes saying that the Church shal remayne in the bosome and wombe of God that is to say that he wil alwaâ—es defend those places y harbour intertaine his church But amongst the rest it is chiefly to be obserued that the Church of God is compared to a sucking infant puttyng his hand in a serpents nest and Cokatrices denne and playing with them For as the litle babe sythinge amonge Serpences Cokatrices neither vnderstandeth his daunger neither is well defensed against those vencmous vipers so the Church doth not throughly seethe crafty conuenticles and lurkyng dennes of hir emiuties and is assaulted with greater forces then she hath defenses visible and yet she is myraculously and inuysibly preserued by the sonne of God the protector and defender therof Whensoeuer therefore wee see our enimyes readye to deuour vs and our selues destitute of all humaine helpe then wee may most assurc our selues of Gods presence If wee be exiled let vs not think that we are therefore abiectes or forsaken of God or that wee wander alone For the sonne of God marcheth before with an infinite company of chaste â—ngels Christ Iesus is the Herbinger and will lotte out a conuement restinge place for his obedyent people Blooddy war rageth presently throughout the whole worlde and the crueltye of Tyrantes increaseth euery where wastinge and destroyinge many seruaunts of Christ But they shall not vtterly abollsh and vanquish the Church albeit they haue made many breaches in the wals and seeme now ready to enter for euen then wyll God shew his presence to the confusion of Rabsaces and his mighty army which is lyuelye paynted out by the Prophet in this wise Thus hath the Lorde spoken vnto mee Like as the Lyon and Lyones vvhelp roreth vpon the pray that he hath gotten and is not afraide though the multitude of Shephardes crye out vpon him neither is abashed for all the heape of them so shall the Lorde of hostes come dovvne from mount Syon and defende his Hill. Like as the birdes flutter about their nestes so shall the lorde of hostes saue and deliuer Hierusalem Therefore O yee children of Israell tourne vnto him vvhom you haue ostentimes forsaken Let vs fyxe our eyes and hartes vpon these euydent testymonies of Gods mighty presence protection of his Church in such sort that the gates of hell that is to say the fearce assaultes and subtyll vndermininges of diuels and men shall not be able to prenayle against it The Churche indeede is a lyttle tower or Oyle yf you compare it with the warrelyke Castell of Sathan but by meanes of hyr Captayne shee sustayneth and beateth off the beseege and assauites of all hyr aduersaries Neyther ought wee to thinke that the Churche shall at the last be destrcyed bicause many of hir meÌ„bers be dyuersely afflicted and cruelly murdered For they in theyr tormentes and passions doo tryumph ouer Tyrauntes and professe bouldelye theyr Faith and Relygion So the three Children in the fyrie fuâ—nace tryuinphed ouer Nabuchodonezor and the scauen Machabies against Antiochus with many others who haue left a sweete memoryall of their names euen in this worlde whereas â—yrauntes Ieaue and cary with them perpetuall shame and ignoniie as the wiseman sayth The memoriall of the iust shal haue a good report but the name of the vngodly shall stincke For the death of Gods saincts is precious in his sight and is an entre into euerlasting felicitie And as the sonne of GOD in the fyrste Easter passed through Egipt and slew al their fyrst borne and spared the Israelts whose dore postes were sprinkled with the blood of the Lauthe euen so hee alwayes passed ouer mankynde subuerting great and mightye Princes who haue afflicted and persecuted his Churche but sparynge and preseruinge his owne flocke myraculously The church then shal alwaies continue vntil the comming of the sonne of GOD to iudgement And albeit the face and countenaunce of the same bee not alwayes one and the lighte thereof sometime more sometime lesse much lyke the Moone in hir wayne and Eclyps yet as she after hir chaunge increaseth to the full and shineth most brightlye euen so of seauentye soules that descended into Egypt they anymented in shorte spacâ— to six hundred thousande besydes women and children and beeinge streytened for a time in obscure corners of Iuryc shee kindled vnder persecution in suche sorte that in the dayes of Constantine the Great shee shined throughout all the world Shee was beseeched latly by â—mperours and Princes powers in litle Magdcburge and Rochell but was sette at ly bertye in short time and had free passage almost throughout all these landes Although then the power and furor of tyrants be great threten destruction to christian kingdoms and breath out cruelty against
suppressed those sauadge cruell Beastes Maximiamis Maxencius and Liciuius his Cosyn when they begonne with fyre and sworde to persecute and afflict the Christians There serue also vnder our heauenly Captaine in this armie godly and â—ertuous men of euery vocation calling And amongst this number Ministers Preachers stande in the forefront of the battayle and fight against the Dragon that is to say against the deuyll and his adherentes who defende blasphemie Idolatrie and all abhomination 〈◊〉 were Moises Elins 〈◊〉 togeather with all the Prophets Apostles 〈◊〉 Pastors in the Church of God theology of all tymes and ages whose armor are not earnall but spirituall as the Apostle sayeth For the vvâ—apons of our vvarfare are not carnall but mightie through God to cast dovvne holdes Casting downe the imaginations and euerye high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringteth into captiuitie euerie thought to the obedience of Christ That is to saye the armor of godly Teachers and Ministers in the Churche of God are the worde of God the holy ghost working effectually in the worde and earnest prayer and inuocations There folowe in this armie godly hearers of the word who for the glorie of God and their owne saluation fighte againste the fleshe sinne world and deuil whose fight and armour are at large described by the Apostle My brethren be strong in the Lorde and in the power of his might Put on the whole armor of God that ye may bee able to stande against the assaultes of the deuill For we vvrastle not aganste fleshe and against blood but againste principaliâ—ies against povvers and against the worldly gouernours the princes of the darkenes of this vvorlde againste spirituall vvicloednes vvhich are in highe places For this cause take vnto you the vvhole armor of God that you may be able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things stand faste Or if thou liste to haue a shorter lesson thus he sayeth in another place Fight thou a good hauing faith and a good conscience whiche some haue put avvay as concerning faith haue made shipvvracke Women and feely children who séeme and are indeede moste vnfitte for temporall warres fight not moste faintly in this spirituall battell but with their chaste and deuoute prayers and faithfulnesse in their vocation giue the deuil and his complices a fowle foyle and ouerthrow There are many examples that confirme this matter and amongst others that which happened of late in Germanie both pleasauntlie and comfortable serueth to this purpose When the Emperour Charles the fifte and the Pope of Rome by Campegius his Legate threatned the Protestauntes with fyre and sword and terrifieâ— them with the multitude of Princes and peoples that were ready to subdue them The learned men of Saxonie were commanded by theyr Prince to assemble at Torga to conferre what they thought conuenient to yeelde vnto the Papistes for the iniquitie of the tyme By meanes wherof there mette many learned men and amongste the rest thyther came Martin Luther and Phillippe Melancthon These men came togeather euery day in the Superintendents or Preachers house of the sayde Cittie and in this conference peace was offered by the papistes but with such harde condicions that a noble man sayde the same were paysed in goldsmythes weyghts so vniust and cruell they were for it was apparent and that they sought wayes and meanes to cyrcumuent destroy frawdulently in tyme of peace those meane whome they could hardly touch intyme of warre This lyttle flocke therefore continued theyr conference with prayers and supplications reposing theyr whole confidence in the lyuing God who in the myddle of dystresse prepareth out a way for man better then him selfe can deuise or thinke On a certaine daye after long delyberation Phillippe Melancthon euen tyred with labor and heauy with cares rose vp verye sorrowfull sadde went out to speake with a straunger who at the gate had knocked and made inquysition for him Nowe after he had geuen the straunger answere and sent him awaye hee hasteth to this assemble againe and in his returne through a gallory he heareth lyttle Chyldren pronounsing theyr Cathechisme which moued him to put open the Parlor doore euen in his waye to talke with those lyttle Babes whose mouthes he hearde so sweetely vtter the prayfe of God For amongst his recreations and pastimes this was the chiefe with pleasaunt and wyttie questions to laugh with lyttle Chyldren and towarde them he woulde shewe howelles of compassion and the entrye affection of a naturall Parent When he came into the Parlor he fouÌ„d there three Women with theyr lyttle Chyldren about them These were the Preacher and the two Dyacons wiues of that place who were dressing and féeding their yong Babes But there was one thing wherewith all hee was then especially delyghted he sawe one of the Dyacons wiues geuing her young Infaunt sucke and therewithall paring parsneppes for her Husbandes dynner and thyrdly hearing another of her children recyting the Lordes Prayer the ten commaundementes and the articles of the Christian fayth Phillippe stoode styll and with great admyration and pleasure lystened vnto as he was woont the heauenly sounde of those swéete Chyldren mindefull of that saying Out of the mouthes of Babes and sucklings hast thou ordained thy praise that thou mightest styll the enimie and the auenger and therewithall exclamed O three vvorkes so holie and acceptable vnto almightie God. So hee lefte them and returned vnto his company exceeding merrye and cheerefull Luther espying his gladsome countenaunce sayd thus vnto him Phillippe howe commeth it to passe that you returne so ioyfull that went out but euen nowe so sorrowfull he answered Let vs bee of good comfort for I haue séene those that wyll fight for vs and defende vs Luther asked what where those stoute and valyant Captaines and souldiers Phillippe answered the chaste wiues and vertuous Chyldren of godly men whose earnest prayers I hearde right now which God wyll accept with vigilaunt and carefull eares For the lyuing and mercifull father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath not hytherto dispised them neither wyll he henceforth as we trust stoppe his eares vnto them The holie scripture in many places maketh mencion of suche denoute women and vertuous Children as of Myriam the Prophetesse syster of Aaron and all the women of Israell who song prayses for theyr delyueraunce out of the lande of Egipte And in lyke maner we reade of certaine good women that serued at the doore of the Tabernacle who gaue theyr glasses to make a Lauer of brasse for the Lorde Such women were Debora and Iaell by whome the Tyraunt Sicera was ouerthrowne And of lytle Children our sauiour saith See that ye despise not these lytle ones for I saye vnto you that in heauen there Angelles alwayes behold the face of my Father who is in heauen And of other Children aduaunsing and
and bryddled those two bloodie men Saule and Sennacherib were drawne from pursuing and besieging good Dauid and Ezechias With the sounde of Trumpettes and lyghtes of Lampes God scattered the great armie of the Madeanites So that the saying of Sophocles is verie true VVhen God punisheth the cowarde vanquisheth the hardie souldiour And all these sortes of armor wherwithal the wicked men are put to flight are named by the Prophet Dauid with one worde The hande of the Lorde For the Lorde destroyeth his enimies eyther immediatlie by him selfe or immediatly by Angelles men So the Angell of the Lorde slewe in the Assirian Campe one hundred fowâ—e score and fiue thousande He ouerthrew Nero by goastes and fearefull sightes By the handes of the Kinges of Persia hee tooke Valerianus the Emperour a cruell persecutour of his Churche and caused his skinne whyles he was a lyue to be stripped of But Dauid being a man but of a meane proporcion he kylled Goliath of a huge and monstrous stature All those therefore that wyll gette the victorie in battayle must fight with prayer and sworde For to vse the sworde without prayer what other thing is it but a poynt of arogant follie Such a man was Aiax who at his going into warfare was admonished godlie by his Father that hee shoulde fyght the Gods assysting him who answered O father the Gods helpe cowards and dastardes but I vvyll vanquish my enimies vvith my owne hande vvithout the aide of the Gods But there fell vengeance vpon him for this hautines of stomack for hee was strycken with a frenesie wherein he murdred him selfe The example therefore of Dauid is rather to be folowed who encountring Goliath sayde I come vnto thee in the name of the lyuing God. And in another place Blessed be the Lord my God vvho teacheth my handes to battaile and my fingers to fight Wherein he giueth vs to vnderstande that valiauntnesse and corage in warre and pollicie therein is in the godlie and heauenlie gyfte Wee learne not onelie in holie scripture but in prophane wryters that good euent and victorie in battayle dependeth vpon the pleasure of almightie God and not in the multytude and strength of souldiours For Demostenes repeateth verie often this sentence That the euent of vvarres are gouerned from aboue And Cyrus was wont to say vnto his souldiours You know that victory in warre is gotten neither vvith multitude nor with strength of men but such as are assisted by the Gods are not by any meanes to be resisted of the aduersarie Againe to fight with prayer without the sworde is the poynt of cowardes and rashbraynes who sitte ydle at home moumbling praiers onely and reicet ordenarie means appointed and comaunded by god Many there be also that being verie foole hardie obiect themselues without defence into perrills againste whome that saying of Saint Augustine is to be remembred All thinges ought to be done which may godly by wisdome be practised to auoide perilles yea euen when God is most assuredly on our sides And againe If thou doo not decline daungers as much as lyeth in thy power thou doest rather tempte then trust in god Let these things I saye admonish vs to auoyde snares and perylles with good counsayle consonaunt to Gods holy wyll and let vs take good héede that we aduenture not our selues vnaduisedlye to thraldome and miserie In tyme of warre therefore let vs vnytte and lyuke togeather prayer and swoorde In tyme of Pestilence let vs call on God and vse preseruatiues and curatiues let vs not without vrgent occasion go into infected places He that loueth daunger shall perish therein For although Gedeon had a commaundemeÌ„t of God to pull downe the Alter of Baall and to cutte downe the Groue nigh vnto the same Yet to auoyde daunger which might aryse in the daye tyme vnto him being but one hée tooke vnto him tenne of his seruauntes and executed that commaundement in the night season And Daniell dyd not breake the kinges commaundement mallapartlie in the myddle of the stréete but went into his Chamber and prayed Tobias buryed the dead bodyes not in the daye but in the night season And so Ezechias albeit he receyued a coÌ„fortable answere of his recouerie yet notwithstanding the Prophete Esai commaundeth him to laye a Figge leafe vnto his soore Our Lorde and sauiour being able without any externall meane to cure all disseases and defectes Yet hee sighing and grooning cast by his eyes towardes heauen and touched the tongue of the domme And in that great storme wherin Saint Paul and his company in their voyage to Rome when an Angell had assured him of his life and all those that were with him yet when the Marryners were about to flée out of the shippe and in a lyttle boate to rowe vnto the shoare Saint Paul cryeth out and sayth Vnlesse these men abyde in the shippe you can not be safe These examples ought to be set before our eyes whereby we may be moued in case of necessitie to conioyne prayer with lawfull meanes that wee maye auoyde and withstande perylles and daungers Let vs then gyrde our weapons about vs but let vs praye to almightie God to dyrecte our handes and fingers let vs also flye vnto those for succour that can with theyr worde and déede vnder God reléeue vs as many pressed with persecution vnder Licinius fledde to Constantine for helpe Let vs in the tyme of plague and pestilence call vpon the sonne of God the true and perfyte Phisition and therewithall séeke the counsayle of the learned godlie and honest Phisition and yet notwithstanding all our trust and confidence ought to be onely setled and reposed in the lyuing God. ⧠The eyght Chapter declareth that those onely who serue in this warrefaire vnder Christs banner are victors and conquerors The eyght Chapter THe holy ghoste in the forenamed Psalme affyrmeth that those men only may fréely and safely without feare or shame haue accesse vnto this heauenly Capitayne VVho dwell in the secret of the moste high and abide in the shadowe of the almightye That is to saye that haue a roome or place in the house of the Lord and Church of Christe Out of which station and place no man may without perril of his own life depart or haue any conference with the enemy But he must harken to the worde and commaundement of his Capitayne onely hee muste knowe his name he must perfytly knowe the badges and tokens giuen out by his Captaine to discrie the enimie He ought to haue recourse to this his master in all distresse and in the name of his sonne Christe to craue remission and forgeuenesse of sinnes to haue constant faith and fyrme hope in him alone which suffereth not a man to be ashamed neither to come to confusion To suche a man and to no other sayth the holy ghost that this victory and
bring vs not out of this place And afterwarde desiring to see Gods glorie to this God answereth Thou canst not see my face for there shal no man see me an liue but behold there is a place by me where thou shalt stande vpon the rocke And whyle my glory passeth by I wyll put thee in a cleft of the rocke and wyll couer thee with my hand vvhyles I passe by After I vvyll take away mine hande and thou shalt see my back parts but my face shall not be seene This is a harde and obscure history which although I cannot open handle according to the worthynesse thereof and if I coulde this place doeth not requyre it yet I wyll briefely touch it for it comprehendeth most graue comfortable consolation concerning the church of Christ which this scripture testifieth to bee couered in this worlde with the hand of God and that it shal be glorified here after And herein I folow the plaine and vsuall exposition which is That Moises beseecheth God to open and reueale vnto him the ende of that people which was then the Church of god Wherevnto God answereth That he vvill not haue his face seeneâ— vvhich is that he vvill not haue his secreete counsailes knowne before the ende of the Church consuÌ„mate and perfitted But he sheweth his backe parts VVhich is that in the ende vve shall see his glorie In the meane season the people lyeth hydde in the clefte of the rocke that is in this present Church which is often tymes pressed with persecution But it standeth vpon the Rocke Christ and is couered with the hande of God whiles he passed that is vntyll the Churche bee consummate and finished Wherein God signifieth that hee passeth by at all tymes in this worlde in the which passage he gathereth his Church wherein both him selfe is glorifyed and the same by him also glorifyed in the life to come And that this his Church is gouerned not by mans counsaile and pollycie but by the voyce and sounde of his woorde giuen from Heauen and that it is defended not with the strength of carnall man but with the onelie hande of the lyuing God. So this text doth propose vnto vs a pleasaunt pycture of Christes Churche besydes the consyderation of a greate poynt of doctrine of the sight and perfite knowledge of God whereby Gods face is seene As our sauiour answered Phillippe desyring to haue the heauenlie Father shewed vnto him Phillippe he that seeth me seeth the Father Euen so Moises desiring a deeper and clearer in sight of almightie GOD is deduced to the worde touching Messias reuealed vnto the Churche and it is also shewed howe GOD woulde be knowne vntyll the seconde comming of Christe when it is sayde Thou canst not see my face but thou shalt stand in the cleft of the Rocke That is thou shalt stande vpon Christe and his gospell vntyll I passe and so thou shalt see my hynder partes For the Churche doeth not perfitlie see God in this lyfe neyther enioyeth the glorie promysed but standeth yet vpon the Rock Christ by fayth and being in the cleft of the Rocke subiect to persecution looketh and awayteth for glorie whyles God passeth euen when the Church is consumate and finished For after this passage there is eternall glorie wherein wee shall beholde God perfitlie and as hee is Whereas nowe we onelie see his backe partes But I omitte the deepe mysteries of this peece of scripture I onelie propose the storie to bee considered of my godly Reader that he might obserue howe this sentence serueth all times of the Church to the ende he may reape such effectuall consolations that hell gates shall not preuayle against him We ought to know therfore that the Church shal coÌ„tinue alwayes amongst the raginge stormes and tempests of the world and that by the maruailous and mighty protection of God whyles God passeth by euen vntyll the tyme of glorifycation Surelie the Church of God in these latter tymes wandereth as it were in the wyldernesse almost without any certaine seate or defence sauing it hath his Halcions dayes presenteth in this Ilande In the meane season as amongst the people of Israell a great multitude forsooke God and so fell into Gods wrath and vengeaunce euen so nowe a dayes we maye beholde Kings and Princes and a great multitude to contempne the gospell and so to procure vnto them selues euerlasting maladiction and destruction On the other syde that lyttle flocke which professeth the gospell to bee depriued of all humaine helpe to wraffle daylye with miseries and callamities But let vs beholde the Image proposed in the hystories of the Israelytes and assure our selues that although the Church seeme nowe to bee as an exyle and banished person vpon earth yet that it is couered with Gods hande and with a heauenlie pyller of fire and that Christ her captaine is present with her Who wyll as the Psalmist sayth Appeare to be a God in Sion For albeit God appeareth sheweth his presence throughout the rounde worlde by his prouidence regiment and conseruation of all things yet he manifest his presence in the Church by more peculyar and speciall meanes Namelie by preseruing and maintayning the Ministerie and sacramentes by his dwelling in the Saintes through fayth by his internall consolation in the holy Martyrs and to conclude in defending his congregation myraculouslie against the raging furors of diuelles worldlings Whereof Moises speaketh thus They haue heard that thou Lorde art amongst this people and that thou art seene face to face And Iosua You shall knowe that the Lorde God is in the middle of you And againe That all the inhabitaunts of the earth maye know that God is in Israell This presence and protection of God ouer his Church hath two endes wherof the one appertayneth to such as are without and as yet prophane persons the other vnto those that be of the housholde of fayth and Cittie of god And as touching the vngodlie this is the ende of Gods presence in the Church that they either conioyne them vnto the congregation of the faithfull through true repentance renouncing aâ—â— impietie and wickednesse or else being obstinate maye haue their owne consciences as wytnesses of their iust condempnation For it shall come to passe according to that sentence of the Psalme All mine enimies shal be confounded and sore vexed they shal be turned backe and put to shame sodainlie And againe God shall destroy thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle and roote thee out of the lande of the liuing The righteous also shall see it and shall feare and shall laugh at him saying Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted vnto the multitude of his ritches and put his strength in his malice c. There can therefore be no greater plague then by sinne to be separated from God to
bee turned from the fountaine of all goodnesse vnto the bothomlesse lake of all euyll from sweete lyfe to bytter death from true blessednesse to euerlasting miserie On the other side as touching the elect and faythfull this is the effect and end of Gods presence in his Church To confyrme them in fayth to moue them to be thankefull towarde him vnder whose wings they are couered to make them feare God in whose fighte they walke that they should also in tyme of trouble cal vpon him being present with them that in patience they should looke for victorie agaynst worlde and diuell Hereof spryng those sayings full of diuine consolation The Lorde is with vs feare not And another And nowe O Lorde our God saue vs out of the hand of Sennacherib that all kingdomes of the earth may knowe that thou only art God. Wherefore let vs plucke vp our hartes vnto vs and be of good comfort for without all doubt God wyl through all tymes saue preserue that Church which kéepeth the doctrine that hath bene delyuered by the Prophetes Apostles and by Christ himselfe as that swéete promise in the Prophet testifieth This is my couenaunt which I wyl make with them sayth the Lorde My spirite that is vpon thee and my vvords vvhich I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede saieth the Lord euen from henceforth for euermore Euen so wee maye assure our selues that Christe wyll be present in our Church sytting at the ryght hand of his Father and rayning in the myddle of his enimies But wee must remember that it is our partes to thinke vpon our duetie and calling to retaine stedfastly the confession of sincere Doctrine to bewtifie Gods Churche with good endeuoure lyfe and manners Then wyll hee not fayle vs to pytche his Campe round about this Christian Castell and faithfull Fortresse that no euyll thing shal approch nigh vnto it he wyl be the maister and leader of his Sheepe that it shall not bee drowned with the floodes of persecutions Hée wyll blesse this our Countrey that it shall continew another Sarepta and bee an harbour for his seruauntes Hee wyll defende our gratious and godlye Queene with the custodie of his holye Angelles hee wyll adorne her Nobilytie with prudent counsayles and happie euentes He wyll represse the sedicious enterprises of diuelles and wicked men whose only bent and chiefe desire is all to rent the vnitie and concorde of his Churche and to dysturbe peace and tranquilitie in Common weales He wyll styrre vp dayly learned and faithful Pastors and Ministers that shall fight against Idolatrie and al erronious opinions which Lurke and Pope mayntaine with sauage immanitie and crueltie against the honour of Christ And finally he wyll abandon and remoue from vs sedicious warres persecutions famine contagious disseases that wee hauing restfull quiet mindes may wholy giue our selues to prayer and all other holye exercises yeelding vnto him only praise and thankes for the myraculous propagation and conseruation of his Church FINIS The continuall warfare of christies church Luk. 11. Eph â—6 Iob. 4. Reue. 12. Warres in all partes of the world Englande the hauen of Christes ship the harbour of persecuted men for the Gospell What good men should do in the consideration of these things Luk. 13 For what causes peace and other temporall blessinges are giuen to common Wealthes Consolations amoÌ„gst these worldly calamyties The perâ—ce armour of godly men Esa. 46. Esa. 49. Esa. 40. Esa. 44. ct 46. Esa. 11. Warre shal not ouercoÌ„e Christes Church 2. Reg. 19. Esa. 37. Esa. 31. The godlye dye with honour and tirantes with dishonour Dan. 3. 2. Mac. 7 Psa 112. prouer 10 Sapi. 3. Exod 12. God increseth his lyttle flock and maketh theÌ„ a mightye people August in psalm 10. Some common weales that cannot bee ouerthrowen Gene. 7. The commodyties which england inicyeth by imbracinge the worde of God. 1. Reg. 18. Sirach 40 Ephe 4. Autor serm ad fratres in eremo Iob. 14. 1. Cor. 15. Gen. 3. The generasion of man vncleane Psal. 50. Mans birth All liuing creatures haue their deÌ„fences man only excepted Plinius lib. 7 cap. 1. et cap. 50. Perils and daungers whereunto man is subiect Solon Man is mane soe and enemy Painefull and fearful Death Euerlasting death Eccless 3. Sodayne deathes â—arnon security or diâ—fydence The complayntes of Philosophers touching mans stailnesse Selueccerus in prolegon ad Genesin 1. Aristo 2. Euripides in orest et Cicero Tuse 4 3. Pindari in pithijs od 8 De veritate fidei lib. 1. cap. 16. Seneca epist. 1 ad Lucil. Theophracomplaint of Nature Lucretius lib. 5. plinius lib. 7 Salust in praesat Belli Inguâ—th Lactant. de opificio cap. 3. et 4. Lud. viues de veritate Fidei lib. 1. cap. 12. Seneca de breuitate vitae Cicero Tusce lib. 3. Of the word Nature Seneca de benef lib. 4 cap. 7. Gallenus de placitis hippocr et plat lib. 9 lactantius lib. 2. cap. 9 De anima et eius origine lib. 2. cap. 3 Mathous Beroalduâ— Cron. lib. 2. cap. 6. Caluniuc lib. 1 institut cap. 5. Lactant lib. 3. cap. 28. what Theophrast meant by the word Nature Augu coÌ„tra Iusianum lib. 4. ca. 12. repetit ex lib. 3. Cic. de Repub. The sygnifycations of the worde Nature Aug. retrac cap. 10. De trinitat lib. 13. ca. 12 In Psal. 38. Ephe. 2. Sulucte reyrehenbeth Theophraste but yeldeth no reason De natura et gratia cap. 1. Rom. 10. Ibidem cap. 3. 2. Cor. 5. Ephe. 2. The disorder of the Ethnickes Lege Calu Iustit lib. 2. cap. 1. Seneca his iudgement of this matter Lact lib 1. cap 5. et lib. 2. ca. 9. Seneca de breuitate vitae Our lyfe is long enough if we coulde vse it well Exigua pars est qua vitimus Man hath great causes to lament portus nauigantiuÌ„ mors What the worde of God pronounceth of mans estat Gen. 6. et 18. Gen. 47. Deu. 34. Psa 90. Mans lyfe a peregrination Hebr. 11. Phili. 3 2. Co. 5. The disposition of straungers Mans dayes are euyll Ecclesia 1. 2. et 9. Cic. de niuent lib. 1. Wisdome abused Ierem. 9 Mans daugerous condiciou set out in some symylitudes 1. Pete 5. Iob. 7. Sic enim vertit Chaldeus Paraphrastes Ephe. 6. Nah. 3. Man is borne to labour Iob. 5 1. Tim. 1. Iob. 7. Esa. 3 S. Psa. 89. 2. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 4. 2. Cor. 4. The wilful obstinacy of the world Luke No man content with his estate Herodotus Many and great peâ—ua in all vocations Deut. 34. Psal. 90. Math. Of Oeconomie or house-keeping The sorrowes of parents Gen. 4. Gen. 34. 2. Sa. 13. A lamentable story Georg. Maiot in postill Grafton in parte 6. polid lib. 1. Ferrex porrex Videna The tragedye Gorbedug Petryls and miseris in ciuill regement Demostenes
Herodotus The estate of the Magistrate more cumbetsome then that of the subiect Xenophon in Hierone Children murder their parents and Parents their chyldren for dominion Xenophon in Hicrone Examples Caesars Epitaph Examples of our own countrey The ecclesiasticall estate incoumbred with flouds of troubles Pastours paruerting Christs flocke John. 10. 2. Sam. 15. Ministers singuler in opinions Demostenes Herodotus Ambicious and proud myniuets Tymerous and fearful pastours Ignorount pastours ad hatets of learning Ignorance the mother of errour Ignorance the cause of much miâ—cheefe in the common welth The shamefull end of flattering preachers Doctor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pynke polidorus lib. 25. et â—raston 9. in vita Edvvard quinti. Corrupt and carnal hearers of the gospell Corrupt hearers of two sorts The faults of some men of might Peruerse hearers in the inferior sorte Contempnets of sacramentes and congâ—â—gatioÌ„s A more particuler consideraâ—ion of mannes miseries 2. Sam. 20. Luke 22. Gene. 4. 2. Sam. 3. 2. Sam. 13. Gen. 30. 1. Sam. 18. Epiphamus The diuyll resembled to a strong souldiour Luk. 11. Epiphanius 1. Reg. 18. The dyuell breaketh friendshipe betweene saythfull friendes The deuyll besiegeth the strongest fortes valiaunt Captayns 〈◊〉 sacking of Babilon 1. Thes 5. The deuyll counterfeateth a retyre â—lucarchus â—eruh in psal 9. Selectloue a Cockatrices eye Ambrosius The Diuill hath infinit polliced Luk. 11. The deuill ceâ—empled 〈◊〉 hunter Psal. 91. lere 6. Ezech. 32. plato in Liside Examples peucerus lib. 5. chro Simlerus de repub helue uptum High estate tyckle and slippery The deuyl resembled to a fowlet Psa 124. Iere. 5. Amos. 3. Plautus Examples 2 Samuell 11. 1. Reg. 11. Iud. 16. Englyshe examples The laudable facte of King Henry the fyfte The Diuel resembled to a gleade or kyte Leuit. 11. Deut. 14. Jesa 34. Aristot lib. 9. cap 1. de natura animalium Ephe. 6. Psa 91. The deuils dealing most daungerous when he pretendeth friend shippe 1. Cor. 11. Example 1. Reg. 22. Rom. 1. Math. 4. The diuils apperitans for Purgatory Antigonus prayet against false friendes The deuyl resembled to a roring Iyon The vse of this dâ—â—â—tyne Ephe. 6. The huge and mighty army of Sathan Luk. 8. Xerxes The druyll hath many capitains vnder him The principall enemies of Christes Churche Tyrantes Sophisters Hippocrites Imbassadours Hattoldes and Troumpetors in the Deuplls armye Card. Poole Gasparus Church Iesuites The Deuylls Especialls What remedies carnall and ignoraunt men soeke for in their miseries Philosophical consolations of no force The word of God is the cleere fountaine of perfytte consolatioÌ„ Pro. 30. et 21. Heb. 5. Examples 2. Reg. 6. 2. Sam. 24 Esa. 38. Christians neuer alone in their trouble 2. Para. 15 Esay 43. The defect and lamenes of philosophie in their matters Euripides in Trodibus The constant faith of Christians in their trouble The occasion of Christian boldnesse Psa 93. Examples Neoptolimus his worthy obseruation Iustine lib. 6. Our God is the Lord God of Hostes 2. Sam. 5. Psalm 59. Esa. 6. Psalm 4. Eesa 59. The Lord strong in battaile Psa 24. Psal. 72. Whereof the army of God consisteth Luk. 1. Psa 104. Hebr. 1. Hebr. 1. Of the seruice of Angells Dan. 7. Reuel 12. Dan. 10. The manner and order of the seruice of Angells Psa 9. Act. 12. Men are watched with Gods owne gard Examples The seruice of men in this war faire 2. Cor. 10. Ephe. 6. 1. Tim. 1. The seruice of women and children in this warface Virus VVinshemius in obiâ—u Philip Melancth Ioach. Camerarnis de vita et obitu P. Melancth Psalm 8. Exod. 15. Exod. 38. Iudg 4. Math. 18. Math. 21 Psal. 8. All the workes of God serue in this warfaire The vse of this doctrine The discipline of this warre and the armour Two sorts of armour Ephe. 6. 1. Tessa 5. The armour appoynted by the Apostle The girdle of truth Psa 119. Math. 5. Luk. 12. Psa 29 The brest plate of Righteousnesse 1. Tim. 1. 2. Cor. 1. Luk. 12. Math. 5. The shoes of Peace Seneca epist. 1. Rom. 5. et 12. The shielde of faith Psa 5. Psa 111. Esa. 36. Iohn 10. Math. 1 The Helmet of saluation 1. Tes 5. 2. Tim. 4. Hope Rom. 5. Act. 7. The vse application of this doctrine 1. Iohn 5. Clement alex. lib. 5. The armour of defence The sword of the spirit Heb. 4. Rom. 1. Math. 4. Basili Mag. Praier Psa 50. Psal. 90. Ioh. 18. Dan. 9. Esa. Taulerus Hieron Luke Howe Dauid would haue his souldiour furnished The cause of some dissimilitude betweene Paule and Dauids Armour Psal. 91. Who so dwelleth c. The armour appointed by the Prophet Dauid The Lord couereth his church Esa. 37. Examples The desires and clamors of the oppressed T. Vespatian Antiochus 2. Macâ— 9. 1. Sam. 6 The elemenâ—s fight in Gods cause Iosu 10. Sirac 40. Iud. 5. Claudiamus Sirac 40. Exodus Examples Iud. 7. The Lord somtime suffereth cowerdes to vanqishe the valliant These armour are generally termed the hand of the Lorde Esa. 37. Prayer and sworde are to be conioyned in battell Examples Psal. 144. Zenoph in paedia Cyri. Armour not to be refused August August Howe men temp God rather then trust in him Eternall meanes and instruments are by no meanes to be contemned Iud. 6 Examples Dan. 6. Tob. 1 Esa. 28. Mark. 7. Act. 27. Psa 144. Isa. 91. Who those be that obteyne victory The Lord defendeth the faithful man an all that he hath Exod. 9. Psa 36. A spirituall application We may not busie our selues in those matters which apperteyne not vnto vs Examples 2. Para. 16. Num. 16. 2. Sa. 18. Euery man ought to keepe his place in this battell The godly often times beholde the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Psa 91. An obiection howe doth God presecue his chosen seeing we see them dayly murdered Examples Aunswere to the obiection Howe Gods promises are to be vnderstoode Psal. 44. Gods promises of temporall â—â—nges include a condition 2. Mac 7. 2. Cor. 12. An euident proofe of the certent of Christian Religion Rom. 8. The Lord delyuereth his seruants somtyme myraculously Phil. Melanct in valerian Eusebius lib 6. cap. 34. Sirca annum dium 260. Now God and deuill beholde the deathes of the godly but diuerslye Augusti Psa 126. Dan. 3. 2. Mach. 7. Aug. in Psal. 33. Psal. 75. Dan. 3. Why God taketh away his seruants oftentimes with death Death not so terrible to the mortifyed man Iust lib. 2. Codrus 1. Curtius Leuius lib. 7. Sopirus Iust lib. 1. Iob. 23. Act. 5. Act. 21. Ignatius ad Tarsences The happy exchaunge which the godly make Luk. 16. Iob. 16. Esa. 65. 2. Cor. 4. 1. Pet. 1. The reward of the godly moste excellent and endles Reuel 7. Phil. 1. Gods army and mayne battayle alwayes contineweth Theodoâ—rete Testimonies of scriptures Esa. 46. Math. Iob. 14 Iob. 10. Examples The deliueraunce of the people of Israell a perpetuall image of the church A reuelacion exibited to Moyses touching the estate of Christs church Exod. 33. The carke and care of Moyses Howe Moyses comforted himselfe Exod 33. The requestes of Moyses and Gods aunswer The spirituall interpretacion of the historie The passage of God. A picture of the cleere sight and knowledge of God. The backe partes are Gods word The face of the Church in these dayes Psa 84. Gods speciall presence and apperaunce in the Church Numb 14. Iosu 3. 1. Reg. 17. Two vse of this doctrine Gods presence a witnes and Iudge against the vngodly Psa 6. Psa 52. A confirmation and incouragement of the godly Num. 14. Esa. 37. Esa. 59. ¶ Imprinted at London by I. C. for Thomas Sturrup dwellinge in Paules Churchyard at the Signe of the George Anno 1577.