all pittye amongst you Surely it is no maruell that you shoulde novve pleade youre innocencie vvhen all the vvorlde may knovve your vvicked traiterous trecheries that vvill not vvillingly shut their eyes But it maye bee You thinke by some popishe vvitchery to goe in uisible by hauing some of the Popes trumpery aboute you But you deceiue youre selues and so doth he vvhom you serue Therefore repent and turne to him vvho is able to saue your soules Returne to Iesus Christe that high pastour that suffering for trueth vvith him you maye likevvise bee glorified vvith him othervvise hovvsoeuer you byte his heele vvith the Serpent hee vvill bruse your head and in the end triumph ouer you The Lorde Iesus sanctifie all that are his euen thoroughout both body soul and spirite that vvee may bee kept blamelesse vnto his holy comming Amen Amen the 27. day of this third moneth Thine assured in Christe Iohn Field 1. Pet. 4. 12. Dearely beloued think it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is among you as though some strange thing were come vnto you IT appeareth by the discourse of this epistle that y e Christians to whome Peter wrote were at that time in great persecution whereuppon after other thinges handled before in this text he commeth to giue them instructions touching this matter how they shold patiently â—eare the crosse and comfortably behaue themselues in the middest of their greatest afflictions A point of doctrine not vnnecessary for vs at this time For although by the great mercye of God it fareth not with vs as it did with the churches then Because we liue vnder a gratious prince that doth cherish and mainteine the trueth Yet because our sinnes be such as doe iustly diserue the taking away of heâ— royall maiesty and the restraint of pure religion I see no reason why the teachers should be charged not to take a good course in preparing the people before hande to bear such troubles whensoeuer they should come no more then our sauiour Christ was to be challenged For telling his disciples so oft of his and their own persecutions before they came arming of them againste the same It is the practise of well ordered common wealthes in the time of peace to teach their people the feates of warre And each man that hath any care of himself and his country when all things are most quiet doth neuerthelesse prouide such things in a redinesse as may stand him in steed in y â— time of trouble Euen so is it necessary that in the peace of the gospell weâ— be instructed to bear afflictions for the saâ—e when the trueth hath greatest liberty we should continually looke for persecution therefore by the precepts and comforts of the worde be alwayes prepared to abide whatsoeuer may fal out Which considerations haue moued mee at this present to speake vnto you out of this scripture Thinke it not straunge concerning the fiery triall In this first verse he willeth the Christians not to maruell at the persecution of the churche which hee calleth by the name of fiery triall as thoughe some straÌ„ge thing had happened The last words seeme to bee set downe as a reason to perswade that which he requireth As though he should haue sayde on this wis the trouble affliction of the church or any member thereof is no straunge thing and therfore no reason why you shoulde maruel at it For we maruell at such things onely as doe seldome come to pâ—sse and after an extraordinary maner But if any thing come to passe often and ordinarily that wee are not wont to maruell at although in it selfe it be neuer so wonderfull If we should see a horse flye in the ayre if wee shoulde see great snowes in the middes of sommer or a plentifull haruest in the middes of winter behold iust occasions to make vs wonder because these things seldome or neuer fall out and the course of nature the order set downe by God himselfe shoulde bee inuerted But to see a horse runne apace vpon the grounde to see deepe â—snowes in the middest of winter and haruest in August or September doth neuer cause wonderâ—ng or astonishment although in deede they be most marueilous works of the Lord. Euen so persecutions and afflictions for righteousnes sake beeing the ordinarye portion which from time to time the saints of God haue receiued in this worlde there is no more cause why we should be amazed or astonished at that whensoeuer generally or particularly it falleth out then at the snow in the winter or haruest in the sommer If we looke vnto the beginning we shall see that Cain persecuted his own brother Abel afterward Ismael Isaack Esau Iacob And when y e visible church began to be a great people I mean y e Iewes the Egyptians first then al the nations round about benâ— their force against them Among the Iews hypocrites and naughty persons of the kings priestes prophets and people failed not to hold on the same course in offering all manner of cruelty to such as truely feared the Lorde and zealously executed the functions in them committed as the histories of the scripture doe playnely witnesse If we looke into the enterteinment of our sauiour Christe and his apostles in their time it shall appeare to haue bene nothing better thâ—n the former And that the like condition hath bene vpon the church euer sithence it is knowne to such as haue read the stories In so much as that complaint is most true wâ—ich she maketh in the psal They haue often times afflicted mee from my youth vp that is to say euer sithence I had any being vpon the earth mine enimies haue not ceassed to afflict me as it were to plowe deepe furrowes vpon my backe You see then what we haue here to learne in the first place namely not to be troubled at the persecutions which may happen to our selues or any other the members of Christ For the profession of his truth and doing of our duety as though some strange thing were come to passe seeing it is the ordinary course which the wicked worlde whose works are nought taking their direction from their grandfather Caine hath from time to time practised agaynste the church and the ordinary way by the which the Lord from age to age hath lead all his children to the verifiyng of that which Paul and Barnabas preached wheresoeuer they came Through many afflictions wee must enter into the kingdome of God And this being so It behoueth vs when wee first ioyne our selues to the churche of God and enter into the profession of his trueth with purpose to leade oure liues according thereunto to sitte vs down according to the counsel of our sauiour Christ to make our account on this wise Surely I see that al flesh is grasse and al things vnder the sunne are but vanity The time will come when I must dye and God hath appoynted a day wherein he
destruction of their bodies committed their spirites into the handes of God In whome they beleeued that he was faithful able to keepe safe whatsoeuer was commended vnto him whose steppes if we doe follow according to the doctrine of the apostle in this place then although our bodies be turned into dust wheÌ„ce they came beeing racked by Tyrants cast in prison burnt and the ashes throwne into riuers yet vnto oure soules they shall offer no violence but beeing committed into the handes of the Lorde shall returne to him that gaue them till the daye come when all our enemyes shall bee troaden vnder oure feete when the earthe and Sea rendering theire deade bodye and Soule shall meete together to bee crowned in token of victorye and with all the holye Angelles to take full possession of that glorious and immortall kingdome which nowe we hope for Where we shall followe the Lambe whersoeuer he goeth and sing prayses to him that hath redeemed vs for euer Whiche dayes the Lorde hasten that wee may be partakers of that happinesse euen for Iesus Christ his sake to whom with y e Father the holy ghost three persons one true and euerliuing God be all prayse honour power might and dominion now and for euermore Amen Amen Amen Apoc. 17. 14. These are they which came out of great tribulation haue washed their long robes and haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe 15 Therefore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serue him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amomg them 16 They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shal the sunne light on them neither any heate 17 For the Lambe which is in the middes of the throne shall gouerne them and shall lead them vnto the liuely founteines of waters and God shal wipe away al teares from their eyes August de Donatist cap. 7. 8. In their late booke of english persecution Psa 129. â— Act. 14 22. Luk 14. 27. 28. 31. 32. Act. 17. 31. 2. Thes 1. 8. Heb. 11. 25. Math. 16. 24. Versâ— 7. Mat. 7. 24. 25. Rom. 8. 38. 39. Mat. 26. 33. Ioh. 18. 10. Luk. 8. 13 1. Sam. 20. 1. 2 Iac. 1. 2. 3. 4. Gen. 41. 51. 2 Sam. 11. Isa 39. Amos. 3 6. 2. Sam. 16. 10. Psa 119. 67. 71 1. Sam. 23. 27 28. Rom. 8. 29. Math. 20. 22. Luk. 7. 34. 11. 15. Ioh. 8. 48. Math. 8. 34. Math. 14. 13. Ioh. 10. 39. 2. Sam. 11. 10. 11. Math. 5. 12. Num. 15. 25. Apoc. 20. 11. Apoc. 6. 16. Apoc. 7. 17. 2. Tim. 2 11. 12 Ephe. 6. 17. 1. Thes 5. 8. Math 25. 21. 1. Tim. 6. 1. cap. 4. 29. Gen. 21. 9. cap. 2. 23. 24. Luk. 6. 22. 23. â—uk 6. 26. 2. Cor. 6. 8. cap. 1. 28. cap. 1. 5. Mar. 3. 21. Math. 27. 43. Act. 2. 13. Act. 26. 24. Iohn 17. 4. Deu. 13 the whol chaptâ—r Math. 5. 1â— Ioh. 10. 12. Isai 56. 11. Luk. 23. 43. Apoc. 14. 13. 2. Tim. 1. 12. 2. Sam. 6. 20. 21. 22. Gen. 41. 42. Hester 6. Gal. 6. 17. Act. 5. 41. Phil 1. 29. Deut. 27. 26. Rom. 6. 23. 1. Ioh. 1. 10. 1. Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. Exod. 25. 40. Heb. 3. 5. Heb. 3. 16. Isa 2. 6. 1. Thes 4. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 19. Cap 9 12. Cap. 25. 29. 1. Cor. 11. 3â— Amos. 3. 1. 2. Iob. 21. 14. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 19. Phil. 2. 12. â— Cor. 5. 1. Psal 79. 12. Isai 10. 12. Isai 33. â— Ier. 25. Gen. 15. 13. 14 1. Sam. 31. 4. 1. Mac. 6. 2. 9. read the chapters Act. 12. 2. Thes 1. 6. 7. â— Thes 1. 8. Psal 1. 1. Luk 7. 39. Ioh. 9. 31. Rom. 8. 33. 34 Luk. 11. 28. Apoc. 14. 13. Act. 14. 22. Psa 34. 19. 2. Tim. 3. 12. Gen. 18. 25. 2. Thes 1. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Gen 12. 10. 11. 21. 25. 22. â— Gen. 27. 42. 28. 11. Gen. 29. 20. 27 Cap. 30. 14. 15. 31. 1. 41. 34. 1. 25. Gen. 35. 12 37. 32. Gen. 42. â— Ier. 3â— Acts and 〈◊〉 numeâ—tes Luk. 16. Iob. 2. 8. 9. Iob. 7. Iob. 1. 12. 26. Luc. 8. 30. 32. Luk. 127. Ier. 25. 9. Luk. 16. 25. Act. 4. 28. Isa 10. 5. 8. Isa 49. 15. Gal. 4. 6. Heb. 12. 11. Rom. 8. 28. Luke 23. 46. Act. 7. 59. 60. 2. Tim. 1. 12. Eccle. 12. 7. Apoc. 2. 26. 27 Apoc. 20. 13. Apoc. 14. 4.
and somtimes openly against suche as mean most faythfully to God and their Counrrye and desire to take that course in euersy thing that might bee acceptable to him that shall iudge the quick the dead VVe haue good cause to pray continually for the long preseruation of our renouned princes Elizabeth our gratious Mother and Nâ—â—sse vnder the shadow of vvhose vvinges as of the Lordeâ— annointed by the meanes of her good lavves and Lieâ—etenauntes in her ovvne courte and in the country there is reliefe for all the good people of the land against such vexations of the vvicked Othervvise assuredly it should go hard vvith them that of all others ought most to be made off because the deuill vvill not cease to sturre vp enemies against them For the instruction comfort of such as be any vvay troubled for vvel doings I confesse that I labour somvvhat in this litle booke Praying the Christian reader if hee reape any small good thereby to giue the praise vnto God to whom only it is due and to pray for me that my selfe according to my need either present or to come may be partaker of the doctrine comforts herein mentioned Concerning your good worships to vvhom I am so muche beholden euen as openly and to the view of the country you haue declared your readines to further me in my good and lavvfull causes so much as in you haue lieÌ„ to restrain theÌ„ that haue soght to vex me vniustly inteÌ„ded my hurt so haue I thought my self in duty bound to giue forth some publike testimony of thankfulues to you In regarde vvhereof if it may please you to accept this my pore trauell it is an especiall thing that I desire I am bold to ioine you both in one because the Lord hath knit you fast together not only by the bond of kindred perfect friendship but also in care of my good estate that vvhich is principall in an holy desire to further true religioÌ„ to procure the peace vvelfare and prosperity of the prince and the country vvhere you dvvel The Lorde increase in you all his graces that being zealous according to knovveledge you may become yet more glorious instruments for the furthering of his kingdom may go forvvard in the profession of his gospell euen vnto the ende to his immortall prayse the sturring vp of manye other knightes and gentlemen to be of this your christian order in the true obedience of Gods vvord to the euerlasting saluatioÌ„ of your souls in the life to come vvhich graces in like manner I praye him to povvre dovvne from heauen vpon the right vvorshipful the Ladies of both your houses vpon your children and all your company for Iesus Christes sake our only omnipotent Sauiour Amen At London this sixt day of April 1582. the day vvherein the great fearfull Earthquake vvas tvvo yeares before a day to bee called to oure remembraunce because of the greatest number so rare and terrible a thing is quite forgotten and so certeine a forerunner of other iudgements is not regarded Your worships in the Lord OLIVER PIGGE To the Christian Reader Grace and peace from God the father by Iesus Christ sealed by the spirite of adoption till he haue assuraunce of euerlasting life in him Amen HOwe necessary bookes of such like arguments as this by the godly labour of our faithful and painful brother now published to the profite of many are I need noâ— long to stand vpon and to declare as well in respect of vs that professe the gospell in these breathing dayes muche forgetting our selues though we lacke not diuers crosses to put vs in remembraunce and to awaken vs as in respect of of oure enemies who of late haue more threatned and blustered out against vs then in many years before crying out of persecution when they suffer not for Christ or for any his causes but against him laboring theÌ„selues to death to ouerthrow his kingdome which though they burst they shall neuer I am sure be able to do vndermining his ministers most disloyally whom he hath placed in that highest authoritie to execute his owne iust iudgements against them It is wonder to heare what complaints they make of persecution Tyranny when for their iust deserts they receiue the punishment due to their treasons conspiracies and rebellions They laye vs on and yet they crye out against vs they complain of persecution yet them selues are the persecutours that set themselues agaynst the seruauntes of the Lorde in all ages against his faithful minnisters against al professors which is most lamentable againste the holy trueth of God yea againste God himselfe to whome they owe all duetie and reuerence But alacke this is a thing common together with them and all other heretikes that when they haue no truth at all yet they must pretend some and though they can neuer iustifie their cause they muste at least aâ—â—euer it as though they possessed it and face vs out to shroud their idolatrous abhominations and curssed corruptions that they maynteine and stand for to their vtter destruction There cannot be a Traitor nowadayes executed according to his demerits but fauouring their superstition which indeede is alwayes ioined with treason to shake the seate of our gracious soueraigne and to ouerthrow any state else wheresoeuer they liue but by and by they take him vp and make him a martir So did the Donatists as Augâ—stine witnesseth to whom we must make the same answere that he did to them They are true martyrs of whome the Lord sayth Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake They must not suâ—fer for iniquity for the wicked rending of Christian vnity but they that suffer for righteousnes they are the true martyrs in deede If therefore they endure any thing at our hands they may thanke their owne vnquiet and hamering heads that like Moules are alwaies heauing in their dark pathes to marre the Lords vineyard to ouerthrow the gracious worke of the Gospell which God will haue to proceede Maugre their heads when they haue vsed all their treasonable practises they can against it Neither shall the persecution of Agar if it may bee called a persecution rather then a correction be compared to that of Dauid nor that of the theeues to our sauiour Christes whom though the suffering made one yet the cause did seperate They crye out of persecution and foâ—ste out their traiterous bookes like wildfire that they might set al on fire â—â—make a hâ—rly burly and so open some way to their further deuised mischiefe They alleadge examples of partiâ—ular iudgments against particuler persons sarced with as many vntruths as their books are noâ— with leaues but almost with lines when yet they will not see that if any offence haue bene committed on our partes it hath bene in this that they haue bene to much borne with For we appeal to themselues that haue any modesty in them whether
will iudge all the worlde He hath prepared life and blessednesse for them that feare him and vengeance for them that knoweth him not nor obey his gospell I perceiue therefore it is necessary that I care for the life to come prouide for the safety of my soul after deth If I take the course of the world I run to eternal destruction If I embrace the word the only way vnto heauen eternall life I must make my ful reckoning of that which al the faithful professors therof haue tasted before me I must prepare my backe for stripes I must looke to bee euil spoken of iested vpon scorned at to lose the fauour of those that bee mighty to be cast in prison lose my goodes yea and my life also For I see this is the estate of the true seruants of God in this worlde Hee that shall thus debate the matter with him selfe and with an heart careful of his owne saluation cal vpon God for his direction wil soone be resolued with Moses to chuse rather afflictitions with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of siâ—ne here for a short time Moreouer when stormes arise the windes bâ—ow and the floods beare vpon his house y t is when troubles and persecutions come he shal be able to beare them more patiently and with greater comfort sith in tâ—ueth he may say I thought so Loe it is come to passe as I looked for long since It is a common saying euils that be thought vppon before doe hurt lesse when they come Then they pearce vs deeply wheÌ„ they come vpon vs at vnwares and when wee neuer before suspected any such matter Therfore to couclude this poynt sith the crosse is in seperably ioyned to the profession of the trueth let him that wil stand with comfort in the time of his trial before hand make his reckoning and looke for no better It followeth in the text Concerning the fiery triall or triall by fire the wordes do beare either Now the apostle doth on this wise terme the persecutions of Gods children According as hee doth before in the first chapter The speech is metaphoricall or borrowed signifying thus much As fire trieth the pure golde from that which is counterfait and naught fining it moreouer burneth wasteth sun dreth y t drosse rust from y t which is good so troubles and afflictions for Christes sake doe discerne the faythfull Christian from the hypocrite and time seruer and wasteth away the corruption of sinne that creepeth and stealeth in vppon the faythfull in their peace and prosperity making them more pure and fine to the Lord. For the first there lurketh so great selfe loue hipocrisie in vs and there are so many deceitfull corners in our heartes that it is a meruelious harde matter to be vndoubtedly persuaded in our consciences of our integrity and vprightnesse to the Lord and his trueth while the profession thereof is commanded by Princes and hath countenance liberty profite wayting vpon it For then how earnest soeuer wee seeme to be peraduenture wee loue our selues not the Lord it is our own estimation preferment y t we seeke not the holding forth of the trueth with a pure conscience Then in deed we know our selues when we haue bene tried And if in the middest of al temptations we continue without fainting and turning back we may be bold of our obedieÌ„ce y t it is good y t we be such as haue built our house vpoÌ„ y e rock and y t neither heighth nor depth principalities nor power life nor deth things present or things to come shal be able to seperate vs froÌ„ the loue of God While our sauiour Christe was at liberty Peter thought himself maruellous stout he affirmed very confidently y t he would not shrink froÌ„ his maister although all the rest should runne away yea when the officers came to attach him he drew out his sword smote of a seruaunt of the high priest his ear But when y e matter came to y e pinch in deede we knowe how all his courage was quailed the very speech of a damsell caused him to abiure the sauiour of y e world to whoÌ„ he had before so earnestly vowed him self By him wee may learne to suspect our selues and our owne weaknesse and not to imagine that wee bee without all feare of reuolting because in the liberty peace of the gospell wee make proâ—ession of the same The sandye grounde nourisheth his blade so long as the weather continueth seasonable and calme which neuerthelesse in hot and scorching wether withereth and is vnprofitable That onely we approue for good ground indeed which in the extremity of heat we haue seene bring forth the eares with full corne Euen so it is nothing in these daies to proâ—esse the true religion the same being commanded by the lawes and countenanced by so many good means but if for our sinnes God should take away the prince if popery shold be established again or a mingle maÌ„gle of religioÌ„ permitted as in France then y â— true faithful professors shold be easily discerned from the hypocrit and dissemvler When all the enemies of Dauid were subdued round about and the whole kingdome of Iudah approued him for their only and true souereigne ther was no great trial of the fidelitie of his subiects But when Sheba the sonne of Bichri blew the Trumpet and sayd we haue no parte in Dauid neither haue we inheritaunce in the sonne of Ishai euery man to his tents O Israel And this drew away great numbers of the people to make an insurrection Then such as in the middest of those rebels by word or practise testified their subiection to Dauid with the hazard of their estate gaue vndoubted testimonies of their fidelity We can not say for a truth that al such be faythfull to her maiestie whiche in this her great prosperity wherein no enemye dare quech seemeth so to be they which in the dayes of Westmerland and Nort humberlaud stoode vnto her in those partes of the North agaynst their Lordes to their daunger were faythfull in deede and the land might make a good reckoning of theÌ„ in any other the like occasion As therefore by suche meanes as these loyall and true hearted subiectes to their prince be tried so when troubles and persecutions arise for the word they which be sincere vpright in the feare of the Lord be discerned from the counterfeite whiche in their profession â—aue sought nothing but their aduauntage â—nd ease And then in deed we haue put the church of God and our owne consciences out of al doubt concerning our entegritye when in the middest of afflictions for the gospell sake we haue continued with boldnes to professe the same We see therefore y t it is not without good cause why persecutions be called a fiery trial Now euen this should teach vs patiently
persecutioÌ„s thank God most highly if he vouchsafe this honor vpon vs. For in deede this is an especiall token y t he maketh some reckoning of vs when as he calleth vs out to vndergoe some hardnes for his sake As we see the prince so thinketh of those men whome he picketh forth from among the rest to send about some notable most famous exploite whereunto many are not meete This made the apostles to leape for ioy because they were counted worthye to suffer for the name of Christe euen then when they had beene cruelly beaten this stuâ—red vp like affections in some of them after in prison and this mooued S. Paule to wrighte to the Phillippians that they should esteeme of their sufferings as of an especiall blessing or mercy of the Lorde bestowed vppon them to you sayth hee it is giuen for Christe that you shoulde not onely beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake Nowe wee haue to thanke God not onely in respecte of the rewarde that shall followe oure persecutions as wee haue harde but espeâ—iallye in respecte of the cause for the whiche wee suffer And in deede this offereth more matter of ioy then the tongues of men and angells be able to vtter that whereas the best of Gods seruants for their lewdnes and euill might iustly be defamed brought before gouernours cast in prison and put to death for who can deny this seeing eternall damnation is due to euery one The Lord should conceal and couer all these in the meane time giue them ouer to be punished for his sake and for well doing and that punishment to be recompensed with eternall happinesse Seing then we be blessed if we endure troubles for righteousnes sake and al manner of iudgements be due vnto vs for sinne let vs moste heartily prayse God according to the counsel of the Apostle when soeuer by any means we bee corrected for well doing It followeth For the time is come wherein iudgement must begin at God own house By the house of God is vnderstood his church the peotple that do rightly worship him and truely call vpon his name as we may learne by the first epistle of S. Paul to Tâ—mothie and that whiche is written to the Hebrewes The speeche teacheth that the Churche of God ought in euery thing to be ordered and gouerned by his lawes and statutes as it is equall and right that the house of each man and al things in the same should be disposed according to the direction of the owner and master They which think or practise otherwise accuse the almighty either of want of skill that he shoulde not knowe what was best or else of wante of care for his people in not deliuering that in his worde which he knewe moste expedient and necessary to be established But because it is great blasphemy once to imagine any such thing they shall on day answere for their sin which turning al things vpside downe commaund that for the discipline and order of Gods house which he hath not giuen in charge or else forbidden and neglect or forbid that which he moste excellently and in great wisedome hath set downe and appointed No prince woulde thinke himselfe well dealt with if any subiect or subiectes should thus presume to inuert the gouernment of his house and will earthly princes being subiectes to the almighty God and dust and ashes in his presence thinke to escape vnpunished if they commaund or suffer to be commanded any thing for the orderiâ—ng of the churche the house of god which he before hath not alowed The master is of more importance then the most be ware of all princes that professe the religion of Iesus Christ had need to looke vnto it If Moses for the building of the Tabernacle of y e Iewes and for the ordering of enerye thing apperteining to that first worship of God had a patern and lawes shewed him by the Lord which bee must keepe himselfe vnto and for his fidelitie in that behalfe hath his iust commendation It is meete that we thinke as magnificentlye of the chnâ—rhe vnder the gospell that nothing is left for the deuising of man sith Iesus Christ as the sonne of God was faythfull in his fathers house by deliuering the orders for the gouernment of the same Therefore let not the Lordes remembrancers keep silence nor giue him any rest vntil he repaire the ruines of Hierusalem Moreouer this speech teacheth what puritye of doctrine and manners ought to bee continually in the churche and euery particuler member of it Euen such as becommeth the temple and house of God and the place where the almigty hath his resideÌ„ce and doth dwell We see what care there is in the officers of princes houses that no filthines be in any corner of the Court to offend the prince or the nobles passing by for this purpose there be writings set vp in euery place But ther is not the like regard of the Lords court to keepe corruption out of his house We see how the church is pestered with euil ministers with adulterers whoremasters swearers prophaners of the Sabbaoth mockers of the worde and the messengers thereof vsurers deceiuers riotous contentious persons Against whom there is very small discipline Although the Lorde haue on euery wall set vp is billes forbidding these enormities and commanding they shold be thrust out of his church as vnworthy of any place there vntill they haue declared openly their true repentance Seeing then the people that professe the true religion of Christe be the church and house of God it concerneth all those to whom God hath coÌ„mitted y e â—ouernment to see y t it â—e kept from the pollution of sinne and each Christian must looke to himselfe to posses his vessel in holines honor as it becommeth the temple of the holy ghost The apostle telleth vs here that the time was then come that the Lord would begin to punish his most faythful seruaunts and therefore we must eyther bee contented to endure afflictions or else not to be acconnted of the housholde and Churche of God The Lorde in this place is likened vnto a wise and carefull prince who although hee haue an eye to the disorders of the whole realm and kingdome yet doth especially regard to correct y e offeÌ„ces of his own famili Euen so God although in all ages he hath testified his displeasure agaynst sinne in all kind of people and persons yet his roddes and scourges haue at all times beene so occupied about the chastising of his churche that in comparison of it he hath seemed to spare the rest and to neglect the transgressionsâ— of the heathen Let vs consider the temptations of Abraham Iacob Ioseph Dauid Had not he most wicked of y t time greater ease and peace then they had in the greatest part of their life surely if we know their stories we must confes so
not spoyled and doest wickedlye and they did not wickedly againste thee when thou shalt cease to spoyle thou shalt bee spoyled when thou shalte make an end of doing wickedly they shall do wickedly agaynste thee With these testimonyes agreeth that of Ieremy which he prophesied agaynste the Babilonians after that the People of God shoulde haue beene with them in bondage 70. yeares I beginne to plague the Cytye saythe the Lorde where my name is called vppon and shoulde you goe free You shall not goe quit And howe truelye these Prophesies agaynste the Assirians and Babylonians were accompâ—ished may appeare to all those that reade the Scriptures of the olde Testament To the same purpose mighte bee alleadged that whiche God long before colde Abraham concerning the bondage of Israel in Egypt their wonderfull deliuerance from thence and the destruction of Pharaoh and his people So it came to passe with Saule when hee had a long time afflicted Dauid with Haman when hee had obteyned that murdering decree against the Iewes and with Antiochus the tyrants when for a time they had blasphemed the God of heauen ouerthrowen his true worshippe and killed his people Saule slewe himselfe Haman his children were hanged vpoÌ„ the gallows that he had set vp for Mordecai the first Antiochus dyed in great vexatioÌ„ of his mind the later so eaten with woormes that his most familiar friends coulde not abide him for stinke Of Henrie the second the father Charles the ninth the sonne kings of Fraunce the first when he had caused much blood to bee shed and lately before had saide that himselfe would see the burning of a noble ProtestaÌ„t called Anduburgè had one of his own eyes first put out by Mountgomerie after a wonderfull manner running with him at a Iusting in sport and dyed in great wearinesse of his life by reason of his paine the tenth of August 1559. The other the son when hee had brought to passe that most strange massachre immediatly after the mariage of his Sister with the king of Nauarre and had sucked much blood of Gods seruants afterwardes dyed himselfe most miserably y e 30. of Maie 1574. it is writteÌ„ of him in y e french histories that he was sick of a bloody flixe and reported for a trueth that blood yssued from diuers partes of his body wher there were other natural yssues so as tossing and tumbling himselfe in his bed most fearefully horribly curssing and blaspheming the name of God euen vntill his last gaspe which also he had vsed to doe from his childehood he so ended his wretched life being at length filled with blood which he had before insaciably thirsted after Of the Cardinall of Loreine a chiefe practiser of mischiefe against Gods church who as the stories witnesse of him dyed in a frensie and when the prieste broughte oyle to annoynt him after their popishe order he thrust his hand into the dishe and all to be smeared the face of the priest with it So he dyed at Auineon 1574. The like might be said of Herode Stephen Gardiner in EnglaÌ„d others Such ferful ends câ—me to diuers bloody persecuters as our owne countriman M. Fox reporteth And assure your selues O al you wicked of y e earth y â— same portioÌ„ abideth for you if you turn not to the Lord. Go to therfore mock on at the saints of God set your selues against his trueth persecute his seruants and proceed in all mischiefe and flatter your selues because God stayeth to punish the worlde smileth vpon you doubt you not but the day will come when you shall pay full dearely for it And we that suffer or shall suffer any thing at the handes of the vngodly let vs not be offended at our sufferings and their prosperity For it shal be a righteous thing with God to recompence trouble to those that trouble vs and to our selues rest if not in this world yet at the least when y e Lord Iesus shall again shew him selfe from heauen with his mighty Angelles And seeing the apostle sayth here that it must needes goe hard with them that obey not the gospell let vs not content our selues with a bare and naked profession of the trueth but whatsoeuer is taught and we know let vs take heede that we be obedient thereunto It followeth And if the righteous be scarcely saued where shall the vngodlye and sinner appeare By the righteous hee vnderstandeth suche as bee studious of righteousnesse and bee carefull to please God althoughe they bee not free from all sinne And by sinners hee meaneth not all manner of offendoures but suche as yeelde them selues to corruption and delight in wickednesse according as this woorde is vsed in other places of the Scripture Nowe the purpose of the Apostle in this sentence is the same with that in the ende of the laste Verse Hee confidentlye affirmeth that the wicked muste needes bee iudged with extreame seueritye sithe the hande of God is often times heauye vppon them that feare him This hardnes for y e righteous must not be vnderstood of the last iudgement as some would haue it as though they should not there acquite themsâ—lues without great difficulty and be saued without much ado Noe we see what saint Paul writeth touching this matter Who sayth he shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that iustifieth who shall condemue it is Christe which is deade yea or rather whiche is risen agayne who is also at the right hand of God and maketh requestes also for vs. The summe of his speech is that there shall be none to accuse or to pronounce sentence against any of the elect of God and therefore their passage into glory at that time shall be moste easie Whereupon our sauiour Christe willeth vs that we looke vp and lift vp our heads for ioy whensoeuer there appeare any tokens of the approching of that day Which there were no great cause that we shoulde doe if such hardnesse were then to be endured as some haue imagined And howe should the saying of the sonne of God bee true blessed bee the deade that dye in the Lorde and they rest from their labours if newe labours were to be taken in hand at the last iudgement This difficulty therefore is to be vnderstoode of this life according also as the verb be saued in the present tense doth euidently shewe So as the Apostle his meaning is that the estate of the godly is so troublesome vpon the earth that they enter not into the kingdome of rest glory except first in the worlde they haue gone thorough infinite daungers and escaped as it were a thousand deathes Euen as the Apostles preached wheresoeuer they came exhorting the disciples to continue in the fayth affirming that they must thorough many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God and as Dauid saythe Greate are the troubles of the righteous and as
S. Paul setteth it downe for a principle vnto Timothie that all suche as will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution The trueth of this we haue heard before and each man which knoweth any thing of himselfe and the Church of God as hee ought to knowe doeth vnderstande and beleeue it Nowe this beeing proued true by continual experience can the Lord be iust thus to chastise and keepe in heauinesse his faythful seruants except in time most fearefull vengeance light vppon the sinners shal not the iudge of all the world doe right Yes verily For this doth certeinely preach vnto vs and cryeth as lowd in our ears as al the teachers in the world that there shall bee a iudgement when all things shal be brought in good order when the godly shal cease from all their sorrowe and the wicked shall drinke the full cup of Gods wrath Therefore as Iesus Christe saide of himselfe so may it be spoken of all the children of God for euer if they do these things to a green tree that is fruitful what shalbe done to the drie and barren And if the righteous be not saued but through so many afflictions howe miserable muste the condition of the sinner be If Abraham rested not in peace til he had a great while wandred as a stranger from place to place was pinched with famine driuen to denie his wife to striue for water and commaunded to be a butcher of that sonne in whome the hope of his saluation rested If Iacob ended not his pilgrimage to passe into glory till first hee was constrained to flee for feare of his owne brother to lye all night in the broade fielde with a stone vnder his head for a pillowe to serue seuen yeres for one wife seuen for another vnder an vnciuill and barbarous vncle to abide manifold stirres discords in his house between his wiues to bee checked by Labans children to be deceiued by their father to haue his owne daughter rauished his sonnes Simeon and Leuie to commit most horrible murther to haue one of his wiues abused by his owne sonne his dearling Ioseph torne in pieces of wilde beastes as he was brought to beleeue and in his olde age to be vexed with hungre O Lord what shal be the ende of the vngodly If the Prophets in their time If Iesus Christ himself the Lord of glory his holy Apostles indured the displeasure of princes imprisonments in myerie dungeons buffetings whippings scornings sawing asunder crucifying stoning and beheading before they were glorified O howe miserable shall the portion be of the sinner It the most famous witnesses of Iesus Christe Hierome of Prage Iohn Husse VVickliffe Cranmer Latimer Hooper Ridley Philpot Bradforde the Shatillion of Fraunce Bucer Paulus Fagius and the rest entered not into heauen till they were firste imprisoned mocked dragged through the streates scorched and their fleshe with fire consumed vnto asshes If the last two coulde not bee glorified in their bodies till first they were taken vp beeing dead and their bones burnt If so straunge a kinde of manacle was Cuthbearde Simpsons Ladder into heauen Is any tong able to expresse or any heart able to conceiue the height depth of the miseries prepared for the wicked and all the enemies of the Church although for a time in this worlde they prosper and haue peace If such as haue liued without all blame before men or for a time hauing gone out of the way doe afterward vnfeynedly repent and become as zealous in Gods matters as they haue bin forward in corrupt◠〈◊〉 and declare as great a detestation of 〈◊〉 â—â—ines in themselues and others as euer they shewed liking of the same yet for all that in this life indure extreeme pouertie as did Lazarus be plunged in the gulâ—e of all outward miseries as was Iob who scraped the filth from his bodie with a poâ—sherd and was euen loathed of his owne wife be pressed with such agonies of the soule as no tongue can vtter as was that Iob Dauid and others insomuch as they refuse all comfort of meate spende many nightes without sleepe flee the companie of men feare euery thing that they see the earth lest it should take them downe quicke the heauens lest they should fall and crushe them to pieces and all creatures because they see nothing but horror in them Moreouer be troubled with straunge visions and dreames bee brought merueilous low in their bodies their bones weakened their fleshe consumed and their eyes sunke in their head that when it is euening they say would God it were morning and when it is morning they say would God it were euening And that which is the depth of all miserie haue their sinnes committed by them since they had any vnderstanding at one time brought to their remembrance all comfort concerning hope of remission so taken away because they can see nothing in God but an angrie iudge that in the end they breake out into these most lamentable speeches woe is me poore caytife that euer I was born curssed be the houre wherein I was conceiued and the day wherein I first faw the sunne O that God had made me a Serpente to licke the duste vpon the earth or a toade to creepe vpon the ground so shuld my misery haue ended at my death But now alasse I know it shal be mine entrance tnto eternall paines hell is my portion and there I must remaine for euer I am most sure of it Comfort you not me my friends the promises of God belong to you and to his elect there is no mercie for me I haue so grieuously offended I feele my selfe destitute of all markes of Gods childe and I was a reprobate from before the beginning If for a time suche bee thus cast downe peraduenture throwne into greater miseries then any of these rehersed that no comforts be able to rayse vp their tyred soules but eyther yet wrastling with sathan and dispaire or els ouercome by them bee pressed out of al measure And notwithstanding all these recouer afterwards casting away all horror doubting and slauish seaâ—e by their fayth mounte aboue the heauens where they see their Sauiour whome their soule hath longed after sitting at the right hand of God so as they bewayle their former vnbeliefe lament those speeches of dispaire be throughly perswaded of the remission of all their sinnes haue certeine hope of eternall life become so comfortable in Gods promises that by his grace they bee able to rayse vp such as doubt and feare finally leaue behinde them vndouted proofs of the elect of God that to all such as haue iudgement and vnderstanding they appear plainely to haue bin sealed vp vnto eternall life from the beginning Can it otherwise be but that there are vnspeakable torments after this life appointed to such as make a sport of sinne neuer turne to God and dye without
repentantaunce although in this world they abound with all health wealth and prosperitie let vs therefore reioyce in all our afflictions wherein we take part with all the seruauntes of God and let vs not be offended at the prosperity of the vngodly the time will come when wee shall haue comforte when they shalbe tormented For so doth it stande with the trueth iustice of God according to that which Abraham sayd to the rich man in hell sonne remember that thou in thy lyfe time receyuedst thy pleasures and likewise Lazarus paines now therefore is he comforted thou art tormented If followeth Therefore let them that suffer according to the wil of God commit their soules to him in wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator This is the conclusion of the whole treatise as thoughe hee shoulde haue sayde on this wise sith the afflicting of the churche is no newe thing sith it is a meane to trye the good from the bad and to make them better in whome there is by the grace of God some goodnes sith in all sufferings it is a partaker with Iesus Christ shall reioyce with him when he appeareth againe in glory sith we be happy when we be railed vpon in the name Christe because the â—pirite of God of glory resteth vpon vs sith we suffer not as euill doers but as christians so haue no cause to bee ashamed sith the time is now wherein the Lord wil scourge his owne house and hereafter will most seuerely proceede agaynst the wicked although he spare them for a time Let vs continue in well doing and committe oure selues to him that is faithfull and able to keepe that whiche wee trust him with There is yet another coÌ„fort for vs in this verse that we heard not before and that is where he telleth vs that we be not afflicted by the will and pleasure of men but onelye at the pleasure appointment of the Lord. To proue this point of doctrine I shall not need to labour much the truthe of it should soone be granted if we knew what we sayd in this confession I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth For what is this else but to ascribe such a souereigne power vnto God that nothing is done nor can be done in heauen earth or hell but that onely which he determineth appointeth The diuel himselfe coulde not sturre one foote forward to hurt Iob in his cattel children or himselfe till the Lorde from heauen had first sayd goe Nay the legion of Deuils coulde not touche one of the Gadarenes swine til the Lorde Iesus had first giuen them licence And shal we think that mortall men whose malice againste the hurch is not so deadly nor their power so great can so much as lift vp a finger to pul a hair froÌ„ the faces of any of Gods children till first the Lord haue taken order for the matter wee be deceiued greatly detogate from the maiesty of the almighty if we once imagine any such thing Whereupon Nabucadonizer in the middest of all his malice to the Iews the church of God is termed the Lordes seruaunt because in deede as an hangman or executioner he did nothing else but that which hee had determined Although the sinne of the king was in this behalfe great because his purpose was not to doe the will of the Lord but to satisfie his owne proude and cruell affections So is Ashur y e king of Assiria called the rod of God And to this purpose it is said in the acts that Poncius Pilate and the Iewes in condemning and crucifying the sonne of God did that which the father before had appointed Insomuch as it may be truely concluded that the deuill and all the wicked of the earth in their extreamest rage against the saints do nothing else but the will of God although they know it not neither do it to any such inteÌ„t sith they wholy oppose themselues against his maiesty And yet the Lorde must not be charged to be the author of euill for the self same fact I mean the troubling of the church in respect of God and his purpose therein is holy glorious righteous full of mercy and to the great good of his seruaunts which neuerthelesse in respect of the instruments by whome God worketh it is wicked vniust full of cruelty and intended to the hurt of his children But inough of this common place that the enemies of the faythful be nothing els but the Lords rods wherewith he exerciseth his people and that of themselues they can do no more then a rod or a whippe out of the hand of the smiter Now this teacheth vs not to fear the faces of the vngodly nor to be dismaid at their threates the Lorde appointeth them certaine bondes beyonde the which they can not passe the bredth of an haire And this offreth vnto vs great comfort For what childe that is wise and hath vnderstanding doeth not reioyse in the correction of his father sith being perswaded of his fatherly and tender affection he is out of doubt that it is well meant and shall turne to his good Seing then the Lord is our Father his compassion ouer vs passeth the kindnes of a mother toward the infant sucking vpon her brest Let vs be comfortable in all our afflictions sith they come from him and fall vpon vs according to his will And that we maye haue to cheare vs in all our distresses let vs seriosly meditate vpon this one thing the Lorde sendeth them After which consideration it by the testimonye of the spirite crying in our hearts Abba father the sanctification of our liues we can perswade our selues that we be his children y e present smart shall not quail vs because of the fruit of righteousnes following after it must needs turne to our best because it commeth from our father Thus much of these words of y e apostle Let so many as bee afflicted according to the will of God c. His conclusion is that in all well doing we commende our soules vnto God that hath made them For as wee haue before in the time of our peace declared some rare of pleasing God and doing his will so is it our dueties to continue in our afflictions and not for them to take any libertie to doe euill And therefore wee must not murmure against the Lorde as though he dealte hardly with vs wee muste not bee fainthearted to denie his trueth we muste not be bitter to our enemies in curssing of them and rewarding them as they deale with vs but with all patience weekenesse gentlenes courage forgiuing of our aduersaries and praying for them constantly to endure whatsoeuer the Lorde will trie vs with according to the precepts of the scriptures the example of Dauid Christ himselfe Stephen and the rest of the holy martyrs which blessed their persecuters and in the