called the house of God to giue vs to vnderstand Ephe. 2.19 that those that abide there are by good right accompted the childrē and household of God Furthermore when after wee haue protested in our Creede that wee beleeue the holie Church vniuersall we adde the communion of Saints the forgiuenes of sinnes the rising againe of the bodie and the life euerlasting is not this to assure vs that those that are the members of the Church haue a communitie in all these treasures and goods of it and consequently that they are the children of God and inheritours of euerlasting life According vnto this S. Luke also saith resolutlie Act. 2.47 that God ioyned vnto the Church those that should be saued The which is confirmed by the Prophet Ioel saying Ioel. 2.32 that there shall be saluation in Sion And S. Paule himselfe sticketh not at all 1. Thes 1.4 to call those that are the members of the Church the elect of God But yet so much the more to resolue vs let vs consider the marks of the true church touched here before The first is the pure preaching of the word of God Now Iesus Christ saith my sheepe heare my voyce and they follow me Ioh. 10.27 shewing thereby very manifestly that this is one marke to bee the child of God Ioh. 8.47 to heare the voyce of his sonne Iesus Christ As also he saith in another place 2. Cor. 5.18 Ephe. 6.15 Act. 14.3 Act. 20.32 Act. 13.26 Act 5.20 Phil. 2.15 that is of God heareth the voyce of God And indeed seeing that the preaching of the Gospell is called the ministerie of reconciliation the Gospell of peace the word of grace of saluation and of life as without doubt God by the ministerie of his word presenteth Reconciliation peace grace saluation and life So they that are the members of the Church heare and receiue the word shew therein that they are partakers of all these benefites and consequentlie the children of God The second mark of the Church consisteth in the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper As touching Baptisme it is a seale sure warrant that the sinnes of those that receiue it are washed away by the bloud of Christ Act. 22.5 Rom. 6.4 Tit. 3.5 Gal. 3.27 that they are ingrafted and incorporate into his death and resurrection that they are regenerate that they haue put on Iesus Christ Whereof it followeth as S. Paule affirmeth Gal. 3.26 that they are the children of God The like assurance of our adoption is giuen vs in the Lords supper For if the bread and the cup 1. Cor. 10.16 which are giuen to the members of the Church are the communion of the bodie and of the bloud of Iesus Christ it followeth that in this communiō of Christ they haue the foode and life of their soules And that consequentlie as the children of GOD they shall obtaine life euerlasting according to the protestation of Christ He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Ioh. 6.54 he hath euerlasting life The third marke of the Church of God is the inuocation of the name of God in the name of that onlie one lesus Christ Now Psal 14 4. Gen. 12.7 Act. 2.21 Act. 9.14 as all the seruice of God is oftentimes signified by this inuocation So Saint Luke noteth the faithful and children of God by this description that they call vpon the name of the Lord. As on the contrarie side Psal 14.4 it is said of the reprobate that they do not call vpon the name of God And indeede when the members of the Church ioyne together and lift vp their praiers vnto God Matth. 6.9 saying Our Father which art in heauen and so calling him father by the commandement of Christ they may well assure themselues that God doth acknowledge them for his children and that he wil make them feele the fruit of their praiers according to the promise of Christ Mat. 18.19 that whatsoeuer they shall with one consent aske of GOD it shall bee giuen them By this that is aboue said it manifestlie appeareth how euerie member of the Church may and ought to assure him selfe to be the child of God and to acknowledge all other members of the Church with him in like manner to be the children of God If any alledge that we may thus accompt such a one for the child of God who possiblie is an hypocrite and may after shewe himselfe a reprobate we answere that such discourses are contrarie to charitie so much recommended vnto vs by Saint Paule 1. Cor. 13. noting amongst other properties of charitie that she thinketh not euill or is not suspitious but that she beleeueth all things and hopeth all things Wee ought then to hold the members of the Church for the children of GOD. vntill that departing from it or discouering their hypocrisie they shewe themselues reprobates Furthermore as GOD would that al those to whō he vouchsafeth to bee father should acknowledge the Church for their mother so let vs not doubt but being borne againe and nourished in the Church our mother we may call God our father and abiding vnited to the familie of the mother let vs not doubt but that wee bee the heires of the father Thus much for the outward markes Now let vs come to the inwarde markes As to the blind and deaffe the opening of their eyes and eares is needfull clearelie to see and heare the voyce of him that speaketh Of the inward marks of our adoption So being of our owne nature both blind and deaffe as touching vnderstanding the holie spirit is hee that openeth our eyes and eares to comprehend thereuelation of our adoption and to feele in our harts the assurance of it ingendring in vs faith which is as it were the hand by which wee apprehend this great benefite whereof also the fruites and effects as well of the holie ghost dwelling in vs as of the faith that is in vs are the principall most assured markes to giue vs knowledge of our adoption A ccording wherevnto Rom. 8.16 Saint Paule saith that the Holie ghost giueth testimonie to our spirits that we are the children of God so as hauing receiued this spirit of adoption wee crie with all assurance Abba father 1. Ioh. 3.24 This is it also which S. John teacheth vs saying we know that he abideth in vs by the spirit which he hath giuen vs. 1. Ioh. 4.13 Also By this we knowe that we dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen of his spirit vnto vs. In like manner the Apostle S. Paule affirmeth Rom. 5.1 that by the peace and quietnes which we feele in our consciences before GOD in the free forgiuenes of our sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ we shewe and prooue that wee are iustified by faith and so the children of God Wherein to confirme vs he saith in another place that after wee
but representations of feare and dispaire assailing the faith that was in him and fighting against it As hee sheweth in other places verie plainly saying My soule why art thou cast downe Psal 42.12 Psal 43.5 why art thou so heauie within me Put thy trust in God for I will yet giue him thanks for as much as he is my manifest deliuerance as it were before my face and my God If these testimonies of faith before mentioned seeme small how small and dark was the faith of the Apostles before the resurrection of Iesus Christ They beleeue that Christ is the sonne of God Mat 16.16 Iohn 6.69 Mat. 17.23 Luke 9.45 Luk 24.11 Act. 1.6 the sauiour of the world but yet they vnderstand not that he must die and rise againe wherein notwithstāding lieth the principall rest of our faith Yea and after his resurrection they acknowledge him for a King imagined rather a carnall than a spirituall kingdome If their faith was darke in their vnderstanding it was also small in their hearts when they were offended at Christ and all forsooke him Peter himselfe renounced him Mat. 26 31 Mar. 14.27 Mar. 14.50 Mat. 26.70 Mar. 14.68 And yet we cannot say that they were without faith though it were then verie weake and small And also when the ship being couered with flouds they cried to Iesus Christ Luk. 22.32 Matt. 8.25 saying saue vs we perish he calleth them not infidels but men of little faith fearefull shewing that they had some faith in them though verie small and assailed with feare wherein notwithstanding hauing recourse vnto him they were heard and deliuered out of daunger For he came not to breake the brused reede nor to quench the smoaking flax As Esay foretold Esa 42 3. Matt. 12.18 shewing therby that there are some of the children of God weake as a brused reede and hauing as little strength of faith as in steed of flaming it smoaketh onlie This smalnes and beginning of faith is verie aptlie noted by S. Paule saying Rom. 1.17 that the righteousnes of GOD is reuealed by the Gospell from faith to faith He sheweth that there are degrees in faith and that it happeneth to vs in the reuealing of the righteousnes of GOD by which we are iustified as when we see one so farre off as with much a do wee know him but the neerer we approach the more cleerelie we discerne him Manie of the children of God are like to that blind man whose eyes Christ opened Mar. 8.29 but so at the beginning as he sawe men like trees forthwith he recouered his sight but yet troubled at the beginning but afterward cleared To bee short he who in the person of his Apostles hath taught vs to pray vnto God to increase our faith sheweth that he hath children in whom it is weake Luk. 17.5 and hath neede of increase Also the chiefe wisedome of the most perfect is to profite And to this purpose wee must remember that in all spirituall graces there is nothing but beginnings and imperfections in the most perfect and most highlie exalted in this life But that the perfection to the which notwithstanding wee must alwaies tend and the accomplishment shall be in heauen To conclude there are two effects or fruits of faith to wete the rest peace of the conscience before God and sanctification which consisteth in the mortification of the workes of the flesh and newnes of life Now as the rest and peace of conscience proceeding frō faith is a testimonie that it is in vs so is also sanctification and the desire to walke in the feare and obedience of God And indeed faith is the fountaine of good workes If then one of these fruites be languishing the other sufficeth to assure vs that wee haue faith As it is knowne that there is true and naturall fire by the flame the heate which are two effects and operations of fire but if the flame shall become weake the heate shall suffice to assure vs that it is naturall and not a painted fire In like manner if this fruit of thy faith be weake to feele peace and rest in thy conscience and yet thou feelest the other effect of faith to wete a desire to the workes of the spirit loue towards God and desire to walke in his obedience This fruit of thy faith is to thee a sure testimonie that it is in thee though but smal and weake But thou wilt say what comfort or assurance of saluation can a faith so weak and little giue me I answere It can assure thee of thine adoption For so thou haue but one spark of true faith thou art the child of God Faith is of such a force Mat. 17.20 that following the promise of God one onelie graine of it though neuer so little laieth hold on Iesus Christ to saluation Againe it is properlie Iesus Christ which saueth vs not our faith sauing in so much as it is the instrument and as it were the hand by which wee take hold on Iesus Christ Now faith how little soeuer it bee taketh hold on Christ and receiueth him not by halfes but all whole as an infant taketh and holdeth with his little hand a whole apple though he doth it not so stronglie or surelie as a man By the apple of our eye though merueilous little we see verie great mountaines and the verie bodie of the Sunne much greater than the whole earth so our faith though verie little taketh and receiueth all whole Iesus Christ the sunne of righteousnes He who being in a darke tower seeth not the light of the Sunne but by a verie little hole may notwithstanding assure himselfe that the Sunne shineth vppon the tower as well as he that seeth it by an open windowe knoweth that it shineth vpon his house Euen so although we are hindered by the cloudes of mistrust that we cannot see the Sunne of righteousnes to shine vpon our soules in his brightnes yet so that wee see but a little beame wee know that the sunne of life shineth vppon vs which assureth vs that we are the children of God Also whosoeuer in this life shall haue the least faith among all the elect shall yet inioye Iesus Christ all whole and not a little or halfe saluation but the full accomplished saluation of eternall life For whosoeuer beleeueth in Iesus Christ saith Saint Iohn shall not perish Iho. 3.16 but haue life euerlasting Now as this ought greatlie to comfort vs in the weakenes of our faith so ought it to bee a sharpe spurre to inforce vs to growe in faith that feeling so much the more clearelie and liuelie the peace and ioye of our consciences by the assurance that we are the children of God wee may the more stronglie resist all temptations and glorifie our God There are others who call their faith and adoption in doubt 2. Temptation throgh the smalnes of our sanctification Ia. 2.17.20 saying That
that he doth any thing for him to clothe him with the liuerie of his seruants as also when any one shall be receiued for a Prince into any countrie he may well cast some peeces of golde or siluer amongst the people to shew his liberality but the honors and dignities are distributed among his fauourits GOD wil not feast our bodies with the seruice of our soules He is liberall and iust therefore will recompence Spirituall conflicts with Spirituall Crownes and accept our labors not according to the vilenes of our harts but according to the dignity of his greatnes seeing also that he crowneth not in vs our workes August but properly his owne Of one and the selfe same seruice there is one recompence of a King and an other of a Merchant so as when we would content our selues with earthly goods God might answere with better reason than in old time Alexander the great that it were enough in regarde of vs that shoulde receiue it but not in regard of him that should giue it vs. They that knowe the vanity of worldly thinges haue no contentation but in heauenly things yea Manuel Aug. cha 3 and will say with Saint Augustine Lorde if thou shouldest giue mee all that thou hast created in the world that shoulde not suffice thy seruant except thou gaue mee thy selfe As also he saith in another place All aboundance which is not my God is to me scarcitie 2. In the life to come Wee must then set before vs the reward promised in the eternall life wherwith without al doubt Moses was liuely touched in his hart when he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter choosing rather to bee afflicted with the people of GOD than to enioy for a small season the pleasures of sin esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches than al the treasures of Aegypt For saith the apostle he had respect to the reward which also he receiued not in this present life wherin he was afflicted vntil his death but in heauen whither hee lifting vp his eies feared not the furie of the King but held fast as if hee sawe him that is inuisible The same Apostle writing to the Hebrevves that beleeued sheweth very well that they also did vnderstand this reward For he beareth them witnesse Heb. 10.34 that they had taken ioyfullie the spoyling of their goods knowing that they had a better riches inheauen which abideth for euer Wherein also he confirmeth them adding this exhortation Then cast not off your confidence which hath great reward The fruite in the life to come incomprehensible first for the greatnesse Rom. 8.18 Now although as touching our selues we can not comprehend what this reward shall be yet ought we certainly to beleeue it that it is most certaine because Iesus Christ hath promised it and most excellent seeing that Saint Paule affirmeth that the suffrings of this present life are not woorthie of the glorie to come which shall be reuealed in vs. As also he sayth in an other place 2. Cor. 4.17 That our transitorie afflictions which indure but a small time and are gone in a moment shal bring forth in vs an eternal waight of glorie maruelous excellent And to giue some taste in waighting for the ful reuelation and inioying of it let vs note in this last sentence of Saint Paule the comparison that hee maketh of our afflictions that are swift and passing in a moment and the eternall waight of glorie maruellous excellent which they bring foorth For true it is that our outward man decayeth as hee said meaning thereby the losse of health of riches honours friendships aliances and other such aides and commodities of this life and the life it selfe but in the meane time the inward man is renued euery day by an happy and excellent chaunge in goods and honours that are spirituall heauenly and eternall And indeede what is all that which we suffer and lose here for Iesus Christ in respect of the infinite and incomprehensible good things which we shall recouer in heauen whereof also we haue a feeling in this present life Are we constrained to forsake a fleshlie father Beholde the heauenly father which offereth himselfe at hand who alone properly is our Father as is saide before Iohn 9. What lost the man borne blinde beeing cast out of the Synagogue and refused of the Scribes and Pharisies when Iesus Christ met hym and receyued hym If any spoyle our worldly goods God offereth vs the Kingdome of heauen If the earth will not beare vs the heauens open to receiue vs. If the people of the worlde driue vs away the Angells offer their presence acknowledging vs their companions in glory If men curse vs those wordes are but winde and God in the meane time doth blesse vs turneth euen the curses of our enemies into blessings as Dauid speaketh 2. Sam. 16 12 If we be thrust out of our offices or dignities Iesus Christ giueth vs things more excellent making vs kings and priests to God his father Rene. 1.6 If our parents disdaine vs wil not know vs Christ is not ashamed to auow vs and call vs his brethren Heb. 2.12 If we be depriued of the succession inheritance of our parents Christ acknowledgeth vs the heires of God his father and fellow heirs with him Do any make vs weep for sorow Christ presenteth him selfe to wipe away our tears to turne our sorows into perfect ioy Are we not receiued into any town to be an inhabitant there God giueth vs freedome in heauen to dwel in that heauenly Ierusalem the streets whereof are paued with sine gold the wals are made of pretious stones the gates are pearls whereof the son of god is the temple the sun Are we put to death it is to enter into a better life ful of ioy and glorie And indeed let vs consider here the wōdersul goodnes of God A she knoweth that we are too much tied to goods dignities and other commodities of the flesh that in stede of willingly laying vp our tresure in heauē we lay it vp in earth he so disposeth that we shal be persecuted for his name doth therin as a good faithful Tutor who takyng the mony of his pupill putteth it out to profit or buieth for him good rents with it And hereunto tendeth that which Dauid sayeth Psal 56.9 Thou hast nūbred my fleetings do thē put my tears in thy bottle are they not noted in thy register This beeing true how much more wil he put the drops of blood which we shed for his name into his barell and in his Register the reproches the flittings the losses of father mother lands and other goods the imprisonments the other afflictions and aboue all the deaths which we indure for his seruice and glorie As also it is written Psa 116.15 Right deare in the sight of God is the death of his Saints And to what ende
honor Act. 22.20 calling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ And S. Iohn maketh mention of Antipas Reu. 2.13 whome hee calleth a faithful Martyr of Christ And in the same booke of the Reuelation he saith that he saw the great whore drunk with the bloud of the Saints Reu. 17.6 with the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus In like manner the apostle to the Hebrues hauing recited how many faithful had bin mocked scourged cut in peeces stoned Heb. 11. 12. otherwise persecuted he addeth that in them wee haue as it were a cloude of martyrs or witnesses cōpassing vs round about and exhorting vs to follow constantly their exāple The Apostles did well vnderstand and confesse this honor who after they had been publikelie whipped for the name of Iesus Christ Act. 5.40 they went before the councel reioycing that they had this honour to suffer reproach for his name And indeed when when we indure persecution to maintaine the glorie the authoritie and the truth of Christ against Antichrist and his supposts it is as if Iesus Christ shuld borrowe our goods our renowme our bloud our life to serue for autenticall seales most sure witnesses that cannot faile of the right and the glorie that appertaineth vnto him And what are we poore wormes of the earth that the eternall Sonne of GOD the King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall doo vs this honor to put his glorie as it were into our handes to bee the keepers and defenders of it against those that would spoile him of it And heere let vs consider the incomprehensible wisedome and goodnes of God towards vs. The most perfect offend God daylie and one onely sinne be it neuer so little to our iudgement deserueth death and euerlasting condemnation then it is yet more than the losse of our goods the corporall life Now in stead of exercising his iust iudgements vpon vs hee doth vs this honour that it which wee endure which is not the thousand part of that wee haue deserued chaungeth the nature and instead of beeing the punishment of sinne God imputeth it as a most excelent seruice for the maintenance of his glorie But yet there is more 2. Frute the glorie of God declaclaring and accomplishing his power in our infirmitie and shewing his goodnes and the trueth of his promises first toward euery faithfull For what are wee to suffer willinglie The loue of riches ambition the plesure of fleshly commodities the affectiō toward father mother wife children aboue al to this life is so strong and vehement in vs that in stead of renouncing them for Christ we renounce Christ and his Kingdome to entertaine vs. And experience sheweth this too much We are also so very impatient and daintie when there is any question of suffering that if we should but onely snuffe a candle with our fingers we wet them with our spittle that wee might not feele the fire of that small snuffe which yet we throw from our fingers in al haste and how then should we abandon our bodies to the death entring quicke into the fire to be there consumed if God did not strengthen vs supernaturally Howe shoulde wee maintaine his trueth against the supposts of Antichrist if the spirit of his father the which he promised vs Mat. 10.19 20 did not worke mightily in vs Then when we see these vessells so fraile and weake to surmount the threatnings of kings the apprehension of fire the assaults of Antichrists supposts and the temptations proceeding from father mother wife and children are not these so many testimonies of a wonderfull and mighty grace and power of God which fortifieth them and maketh them victorious against Sathan the worlde and the flesh I can doo all things sayth Saint Paule through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 2. Cor. 12 10 And in an other place I reioyce sayth he in infirmities in iniuries in necessities in persecutions in anguishes for christ For whē I am weake then am I strong euen thorough the might and power of Christ which shewed it selfe and was made perfect thorough his weaknesse as hee had saide before So then this constancie this faith this zeale other vertues which God communicateth by his free goodnes to his elect are manifest by persecutions which otherwise shoulde bee hid As in running the course the agility or swiftnes of the horse is known the strength of a mā in the combat the sauour of many drugges in rubbing or brusing of them or casting them into the fire as we see in the incense The Starres saith Saint Bernard which appeare not by day shine in the night Bernar. in Can. so the vertue that is hid in prosperitie sheweth it selfe in aduersitie Now 2. Toward the body of the church this which wee haue saide of the power of GOD shewing it selfe in the infirmitie of his children to his glorie is seene also in the bodie of the Church which ordinarily is so poore so weake so little holpen at the handes of men that if GOD did not sustaine it it shoulde quickly be swallowed vp Then when we see it so mightelie assailed by the potentates of this worlde conspiring her ruine by so many forces and slights and by so many heretiks doth not God in the guiding deliuering and preseruing of it shewe that it is hee himselfe and he alone which maintaineth and defendeth it And that his power and wisedome is woonderfull in preseruing it against so many enemies and that his truth is certaine in accōplishing that which he hath promised vs of being with his Church vntill the end of the world And that it is he which is the stone cut out without hand which hath broken Mat. 28.29 Dan. 2.34 and dooth still breake the great image representing the empires and kingdomes of the worlde Which to shew vnto vs more liuely oftentimes he so disposeth that leaning vpon the strength of men she hath beene throwen downe and being throwen downe God hath lift her vp againe without meanes and beyond all hope of man that all men may know that the preseruation of the Church is not the worke of Man but indeede the very worke of God Iudg. 7.2 As also the Lord declareth to Gedeon this his intent commaunding him to abate his army There is too many people with thee sayth the Lord that I shoulde giue Madian into their handes least peraduenture Israel would glory in themselues against mee saying 3. Fruit the aduāce ment of the church My hand hath deliuered me See also howe it commeth to passe that when the Deuill thinketh quite to ouerthrowe the Church by persecution God quite contrary hath aduanced and increased it Saint Luke hauing recited that the high Priestes and the chiefe rulers of the Temple Act. 4 the Sadduces laying hands vpon the Apostles put them into prison he addeth by and by that many of those that heard the word beleeued and the number was
about fiue thousand persons When Saint Stephan was put to death Act. 8. 11 19 the Church at Ierusalem was quite dispersed but by the faithfull dispersed there were as many more newe Churches set vp And it is as if GOD tooke at the handes of his enemies corne into his Garner to sowe whereof should follow a goodlie and plentifull haruest It is a fruit that Saint Paule noteth in his afflictions Phil. 1.12 saying Brethren I woulde haue you to vnderstand that the things which hapned to mee came to the aduauncement of the Gospell so as my bandes were made famous in Christ through all the Iudgement hall and in all other places And many of the brethren made bolde by my bandes durst speake of the worde more freely Iustine in his communication with Triphon writeth that the same thing hapned in his time It may appeare sayth hee euery day that wee which beleeue in Christ cannot be astonished nor daunted of any if they cut off our heades if they crucifie vs if they cast vs vnto wilde beasts or into fires or vnto any other torment the more they torment vs so much the more increaseth the number of the christians neyther more nor lesse than as men cut their Vines to make them the more fruitfull So the Diuell is greatly beguiled For in persecuting those which professe the Gospell hee thinketh to stoppe men from beleeuing in Iesus Christ to be saued But it falleth out quite contrarie For the poore ignoraunt men seeing the constancie of the Martyres gather twoo pointes first that there is no hypocrisie in them nor any fleshlie passion which maketh them to followe this doctrine which to maintaine they vtterly abandon all the commodities of the flesh the honours of the world and life it selfe Next they are induced to thinke that the doctrine for which they suffer is of GOD seeing it is by no humane but by very diuine power that they suffer constantly and willingly so many reproches discommodities and cruelties And so is this Sentence so famous verified That the blood of the Martyres is the seede of the Church In like manner those that haue alreadie the knowledge of the doctrine are confirmed as wel to perseuere in it as to take corage and strength to suffer in like manner for the maintenance of it For seeing that GOD forsaketh not his seruants in the conflict but is with them and in them making them victorious we take thereof assuraunce that GOD will also ouercome in vs all temptations threatnings and torments And beholding them thorough death to enter into life and by the Crosse to ascend into the Kingdome of Heauen wee feele our selues inflamed with desire to be their companions both in the troubles and in the triumph of glorie The which thing maketh vs to perseuere constantly in the trueth of the doctrine which setteth as it were before our eyes this soueraigne felicitie euen the heauens open and Iesus Christ stretching out his hand to drawe vs vp into the fellowshippe of his ioye and glorie incomprehensible and eternall The people of the world cannot vnderstand these so excellent fruites of the afflictions for the name of Christ which we haue set downe heere aboue being therein like to the Philistins the companions of Sampson which coulde not comprehend this proposition that hee made them Out of the eater came meate Iudg. 14.14 and out of the fierce came sweetnesse But wee that are taught in the Schoole of Christ by his Spirite wee vnderstand and beleeue that as Sampson hauing vanquished the Lion found in the bodie of it honnie so we hauing constantly ouercome all the persecutions and troubles of this life which are like vnto fierce and cruell Lions readie to deuoure vs wee shall finde this honnie so excellent of the fruites of the crosse of Christ which shall make vs blessed for euermore Seeing then that the persecutions and afflictions that we suffer serue so abundantly and so manie waies and manners to the glorie of god and the edification of our neighbors doo also turne to so great good and honour vnto vs let vs conclude boldlie that we beeing so afflicted for the name of Iesus Christ ought to bee confirmed in the assurance that wee are the members of the true Church and that God compteth vs for his welbeloued Children An exhortation to perseuere constantly in the truth of the Gospell in the time of persecution not to feare death to keepe vs from apostacie and dissimulation to vse the holy Ministerie to walke in the feare of God and to pray to him CHAP. 12. BY this that is said aboue it appeareth that it is so far off that we haue anie matter to complaine or to be offended at our afflictions that rather wee haue iust argument to reioyce to comfort our selues 1. Cor. 9. To perseuer constātly in the doctrine of the truth with constancie and hope vnder the crosse for the assurance of of the felicitie honour of it 1. Tim. 6.12 1. Cor. 9. And indeed behold the coūsel of God who hath ordained that such should be the way which leadeth vs to glorie When anie runne in a race all runne but hee onely beareth away the prize which shal runne best They then runne vncertainly but wee runne with assurance to obtaine the prize although other runne better than we onelie let vs runne constantly vnto the ende Likewise we striue not in doubt as those that beate the aire but it is with the good fight of faith assured of the victorie by the victory of a crowne not of leaues that fade in three daies but incorruptible for euer And we be not as they that are mad or superstitious suffering at all aduenture without knowing wherfore Wee knowe that it is for the truth wee know that this truth appertaineth vnto vs we know that God hath created and lightened vs to maintaine this truth and grace of God to his glorie How manie Martyrs hath there been in olde times past that had not so much knowledge as wee If wee goe backe they shall be our Iudges their zeale and constancie shall condemne our careles knowledge and vnthankfulnesse vnto God God hath not called vs to fight and to suffer leauing vs wandring without a captain Iesus Christ himselfe is our head Captaine guide bearing his crosse before vs crying He that loueth me let him followe me Himselfe hath not refused this condition but hath beaten made the way to draw lift vp his owne into his kingdome All the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and blessed seruaunts and children of GOD are gone thether before vs. The worke it selfe of our saluation calleth vs thether and the glorie of God requireth it Ought we to dispute whether we ought to obey Shuld we doubt whether we will be fashioned like his Image and weare the liuerie of the children of God Let vs boldly enter into this streight waye at the ende whereof we shall finde the gate of heauen