which we ought alwayes to accōpt for his plāts with a dayly study to be of that numbre which the Prophet Dauid speaketh of that haue all their affection delight in the lawe and ordinance of the Lorde and doo meditate and walke in the same bothe day and night bicause we might fructifie and bringe foorthe good fruite in dewe season God dyd plant vs in his sonne giuing him vnto vs to be our redéemer the footesteppes of whome we should followe and with whose rightuousnesse our faults were couered And therfore we ought to haue a constant faythe and beléefe that he is such a one as wée confesse him to be in our Créede or twelue Articles of our Faythe and reioyce that we haue him to be our eternall highe Preste Kinge and Sauiour that liueth eternally to be an intercessour for vs and to fulfill for vs all that God dooth commaunde or aske for that in him is hidden all science treasure and wysedome This is the faythe that muste be in our hartes by the which we are ioyned to Christ Iesus and dooe knowe the sufficiency that we haue in his ritches by him to whose goodnesse we must be appendant but not as in the tyme of our blindenesse when we confessed him with our mouthes and denyed him in our workes We confessed that wée dyd loue and beleue him but it was a lye false and nothinge so We sayde that we dyd beleue he was our sauiour but it was not true for why wée sought healpe and healthe in vaine thinges that he dyd neither commaunde nor yet alowe and also dyd liue in the beléefe and follow those vaine vanities vntill now of late We confessed him to be Christ King of all Kings and principall highe Preste and yet we gaue no place vnto the fruite of his Gospell in our hartes where it should haue béene and he also haue liued We sayde hée was a highe Preste but yet we accounted better of Antechrist and made him our high Prest Of him onely dyd we séeke pardon for our sinnes and sinfull delightes we set a syde Iesus Christe our true remitter whome by his moste precious deathe and passion dyd make and fulfiill suche satisfaction to our GOD his Father for our offences as none but hée coulde doo the like Yea although the wrath and heauie displeasure of GOD were neuer so fully satysfied yet wée dyd thincks our selues to make satisfaction by our owne deuised merittes and nothing estemed the merites of Iesus Christ which were of a most infinite and vnspeakeable vallour for the healthe of his elected beleuers Yet now déerely beloued let vs account for vaine all our owne deseruinges and all mens merites so full of vnrightuousnesse trust onely to his mercy in his diuine iudgement in which none may perfectly percist but onely his owne He was giuen vnto vs for our onely euerlasting Aduocate to God the Father commaūding vs that we should aske any thinge that we haue néede of at the handes of god the Father in his name But making little price hereof lesse regarding him we sought other mediatours as to this sainct and by the diuillish helpe of that relique c. What was this but to denie the fayth by ours workes which we confessed with our lippes bicause therein we would be accompted christians yet in our hartes we were condempned for vngodly For why with our mouthes we made confession to serue and honour Christ when as in déede with all our workes and studies we serued curssed Antichrist and walked in errors euery man after his owne way and accordyng to our owne inuentions as sayeth the Prophet Esay But now sith it is so apparant that by the great goodnes and singular benifit of the almightie God we doe beleue truely in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne our sauiour Let vs accordingly liue in that godlinesse and trueth that he hath taught and shewed vnto vs by his word and spirite hée hath marked vs for his owne with the same signe seale the which he hath marked his chosen They which doe persecute vs doe not knowe vs but doe both holde accompt vs for aliaunts and straungers vnto themselues they maye nor can not suffer vs in the world no more then they might suffer our Lord Iesus Christ who hath done such a benifite for all mankinde and of whom assuredly we are So that we ought to vnderstand and accompt for most certeine and sure that all the causes of our troubles wherewith we are so hated afflicted persecuted in this world is as S. Paule saith bicause we trust beleue in the lyuing God who is the sauiour of all the faithfull Notwithstāding the false coulers which they vse in their quarelsome war that they make with vs they couer thēselues with a cloak say that we are heritikes that they are holy it is so in déede but yet it is but a fayned holynesse the which God by his worde hath cōdempned for abhominable Wherfore let vs arme our selues with a firme sure hope the God yea our God will bée our sure helper defender against thē in all our troubles for that we be the worke of his handes he hath made vs redéemed vs and we be his owne the cause is his and will suffer no harme nor euil to touch vs Let vs not fal from nor yet be weake in this truth which God hath reuealed vnto vs but let vs be fully assured that it is his might power will the deliuereth vs saueth all beleuers We are set sure therby from all perils dangers and taken out of all afflictions S. Simon in the gospel of S. Luke doth prophesie that Iesus Christ was sent for the rysing falling of many people in Israel that by him are reuealed the thoughtes of meny hartes that wée should be saued from all that hate vs Euen now in these dayes is this prophesie fulfilled Assoone as the worde of the Gospel was preached amōgst vs and that it did reueale vnto vs thē our lord Iesus both they we might haue séene the effect of this prophesie euen so it may be still some of them he did please to condempne for that they did resist furiously did persecute condempne him Others which were thē that did beleue were reysed edifyed and saued by him for whose sake they are hated held accoūted for abhominable in the world And the thoughtes of some that were holy hallowers sanctifiers of mē were are discouered and shewed to be of such cōditiō qualitie that they cānot suffer the holines of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ but do so rebell against him that they vse their vttermoste force wyth crueltye to throw him out of the world Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ c. Cap. ix BVt sith it hath pleased God that our lotte hath bene so luckye our happe so
iustifie sayeth hée doe I also glorifie So that the ende thereof is to be glorified as Iesus Christe was when God the father did put hym in hys kingdome and there made him Lorde ouer all hys enimyes by the afflictions and crosses which hée had suffered passed And as the way which our redéemer Tetragramatō tooke to be glorified by was crosses of persecutiō whereby he passed and tooke possession of his heauenly kingdome In lyke maner by those persecutions whych now we suffer is the most perfect way for vs to bée glorified by also As wée may be well assured by Iesus Christ our head who is alreadie gone before vs by the same way whose footesteps of force we must follow This way is so direct that whosoeuer passeth by it it is not possible so he do it with faith that he should misse but with all perfectnesse enter into his kingdom Bycause as those that passe any other way doe walke till they loose them selues so those that kéepe this way which is the true way cannot but bée glorified in suffering with Christ for that they did perseuer in his truth and true religion till the end And therefore all those which shall suffer dy for so iust a cause let thē reioice be glad assurīg thēselus of their glorification with Christ Iesus for euer For why Gods truth cānot alter nor chaūge nor yet any thing that is ioyned therw t cānot be seperated by mā The holy ghost saith by the apostle S. Paule that all those which God dyd knowe and acknowledge he did predestinate bycause they shoulde be conformable and lyke in shape vnto the image of his sonne And those which were predestinate he did call those which hée called he also iustified those which he iustified he did glorifie So that of necessitie those which he did predestinate he did also glorifie and the way and meanes to come to be glorified is to be called and iustified by passions and crosses to be conforme and lyke vnto his sonne Wherefore those two things be so vnyted and knit togither that the one is comprehended within the other for that in suffering with Christ and to be made lyke vnto him is comprehended the ioyntely beyng glorified with him And therefore all them that suffer afflictions and calamities in this world may assure them selues that in the ende they shall bée glorified in Christ for whome they were afflicted Beloued bretheren we haue béene alreadie called of God by the Gospel And although that before our callyng we were loste yet nowe we are washed sanctified and iustified by the bloud and name of our Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our god This is a plaine testimony that we haue all our secret election from one and that is Christ by whom we doe certifie our selues thereof Also the world by the persecutions and sorowes that we suffer in it and by the hatred that it vseth towardes vs doeth manifestly shew that by the diuyne mercie of God we are called and iustified For why the world can not abyde vs nor none but his owne Whilest we were of the worlde hée made vs many delycate deintie delightes and trimly intreated vs as if we had bene his owne But afterwardes whē God had giuē vs the true light of his Gospell and so seperated vs a sunder that it was euident and apparant vnto all that we were the true members of Christ our head and none of his Then he blustered and blowed against vs he rufled roared brayed and rayled at vs and did so extréemely abhorre vs that he did nor will not rest to vse all kynde of crueltie that he can to cast vs out quyte from hym And so our sauiour Christ doeth confyrme vnto vs by Sainct Iohn saying if the world doe abhorre and hate you then remember howe that fyrst it hated mée If you were of the world the world would loue you as hys owne But bycause you be not of the worlde and that I haue chosen you to my self the world doeth hate and abhorre you Remember the wordes which I haue sayde vnto you the seruaunt is not greater then his Lorde if they haue persecuted mée they will also persecute you Wherby it resteth manifest that those which be persecuted killed and abhorred of the world are alreadie taken called by God from the worlde to him selfe and washed and purified with the bloud of hys sonne Iesus Christ So that we are to acount our selues glorified if we be hated doe suffer in such maner And therefore sith we be so certified and shewed by such signes and tokens so euident that we be elected and chosen eternally in Christ Iesu and that wée be partakers of his rightuousnesse let vs also be assured of it that we shall atteine to the ende of our election in dispite of the world and all the ministers thereof and of all their false and curssed religion When that men without God and hys Christ will and doe burne vs or giue vs any other kynde of death let vs vnderstand that it is the checkmate and ende of all our troubles and calamities and that then is set open vnto vs the gates of the glory of God that we might enter in enioy with him for euer the inestimable ryches of his eternall kingdom When the enimies of God and his Gospell persecuted S. Steuen to the death euen whē he was in the most chiefest checks tauntes troubles amongest them he sawe the glorie of God did sée heauē open Iesus Christ sitting on the right hād of the father ready to receiue him to crown him as his martir faithful witnesse So that in the strongest torments and most cruell deathes heauen is opened vnto vs And therefore we ought not to be abashed to faynte nor to feare at any of their torments but to stand strongly and go forward with a good stomake and courage and neuer to looke behynde vs that wee might ouertake attain to and apprehend or comprehende the resurrection of Christ Iesus accordyng as wée be in him comprehēded Our enimies are vnwilling herewith but god willeth and hath ordeyned that there is nothyng that may or can be any let hinderance or impediment to kéepe backe that hys election and eternall counsell wherein he loued vs should not take effecte accordingly that wée might be made conformeable and like vnto his sonne as well in his death as also that we should be pertakers of his glorious resurrection All the euill that men doe against the faithfull is to none other end but to let and hynder if they could the predetermination of god Thinking to make them beléeue that there is no other way to bring the same to passe or that it passeth by none other meane or rule thē by those which they doe allowe and not by the truth which they cōdempne after their owne fantasies delights No no God nor no pointe of hys gouernement and will
chosen vs in him before the foundacion of the worlde was layde that we should be saincts without blame and irreprehēsible before him through loue and ordeined vs before through Iesus Christ to be heires vnto himselfe according to the pleasure of his good will to prayse the glory of his grace wherwith he hath made vs acceptable in his beloued So by the meanes that god hath elected and chosen vs from the beginninge in Iesus Christ is the foundacion vpon the which is grounded our vocacion by the which we wer called in time to inioy a participacion of that ioy and those good thinges for the which we were elected whereby we may perceiue that how firme soeuer the foundacion of our blessednesse is euen so firme and sure is our vocacion calling so firme true is also the iustice rightuousnesse and holinesse of heauē which by meanes of our calling is cōmunicated vnto vs We could giue nothing to god for our election bicause that he dyd electe vs before our essenciall beinge and when as we were not All the whole cause of our election was onely in Christe Iesu there was nothing in vs wherby we might be called nor yet nothinge whereby we might be iustified Bicause as it is afore sayde we were so fully possessed of the diuell and of sinne that euen of iustice we were allotted to an estate so naked and miserable as might be thought Wherefore of force we must néedes conclude that it is only the grace and good will of God that hath called vs by his Gospell for although we be callid we mai not come to Christe Iesus if that the Father drawe vs not giue vs eares to heare his voyce and a heart to conceiue and vnderstande what is his wyll For that he himselfe sayth none can come to me if my Father draw him not he dooth drawe vs vnto him bicause we should be pardoned by his rightuousnesse that the bond should be broken wherwith we were so surely bounde to euerlasting death For that as the Apostle sayth by the bloud of Christ Iesus we had our redempcion which is remissiō of sinnes according to the riches of his grace which he is moste aboundantly full of He was made to vs by God onely wisedome rightuousnesse sanctificaciō and redemption for that he which neuer dyd sinne was made a sacrifise for our sinnes bicause god would haue vs made rightuous by him so that he is our whole rightuousnesse and ful satisfaction before the diuine iudgement of his Father Bicause sayth Esay the euerlasting God dyd put vpon him all our sinnes which by the potencie power and might of his deathe he dyd destroy and dyd satisfie wholly to the diuine iudgement of God the Father and so obteyne full forgiuenesse and Remission of sinnes for vs. Thus that by him we are made rightuous and beloued of God for that if the diuell were so mightie to put vs in such condempnacion againste the which we had no remedy in our selues much more mightie without comparison is the rightuousnesse of Iesus Christ to giue vs true and perfect libertie and forgiuenesse of all the wickednesse with the which the diuell had fraught and filled vs Bicause as Sainct Paule sayth if for the delight offence and transgression of one deathe dyd rule and reigne by one muche more they which receiue the aboundance of grace the gyft of rightuousnesse shall rule and reigne in lyfe by one only by Iesu christ As by the offēce and transgression of one man condempnacion dyd come vpon all men euen so by the rightuousnesse of one man is come iustificacion of lyfe vnto all men And as the sinne of Adam dyd condempne to eternall deathe all that dyd discende from him euen so the rightuousnesse of Christe is cause by the which are iustified all that beleue in him are made heires with him of his heauenly kingedome Of our iustificacion by the rightuousnesse of god c. The .vi. Chapter GOd dyd not onely call vs giue vs his woorde but also by meane of the operacion and workinge of the holly ghost he did ingendre fayth in our hartes the which is armes and handes vnto vs to imbrace Iesus Christ with all his riches blessings And in this maner we are brought vnto him the which doothe confirme in vs the sayinge of Sainct Paule Christ did redéeme vs from the cursse of the lawe made himselfe a cursse for vs bicause we should receiue by fayth the promise of the holy Ghoste for that we had sinned all and were naked of the glory of God we were graciously iustified by his grace by the redempciō gotten by Christ Iesu the which God dyd purpose for propitiacion by faythe in his bloud to the ende that he would be founde iuste a iustifier of them that haue fayth in him Of grace you haue béen saued by fayth sayth Paule to them of Ephesus and this doothe not come of your selues for it is the gyft of God not by our workes for that we should not boast bicause we are his workes created in Christ Iesus Wherby it doth and may apeare that our iustificacion is a new creacion and a worke onely of god who as at the beginning he dyd create vs by the sounde of his word So nowe by the vertue potency and might of the same he dooth forme and make vs a newe in his sonne He dyd giue them saith S. Iohn power to be made the children of God to as many as doo receiue him by fayth that is to saye to as many as doo beléeue in his name The which are not borne of bloud of the wyll of the fleshe nor of mans will but by the will of god Whereby we sée that to be iuste and rightuous commeth not by nature nor by humaine industrie but by the frée gift of our Lorde God that of his owne proper good will doothe regenerate vs by the woorde of trueth All of vs saith S. Iames be the children of god bicause we haue beléeued in Iesus Christ and for that we doo know that man is not nor cannot be iustified by the woorkes of the lawe but by fayth in Christ Iesus And Sainct Paule sayth we haue also beléeued to be iustified by fayth in him and not by the workes of the lawe for no flesh shal be iustified by the woorkes of the lawe And so the Apostles dooe conclude that the benediction of Iesus Christe which was promised to Abraham and his séede should perteine onely to them which doo receiue him by fayth beléeuing in his diuine promises and doo aply vnto him all that is conteined in them Sainct Paule to the Galathiās sayth again all those that haue faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham bicause all that are of the workes of the lawe are vnder the cursse and malediction thereof So that it remayneth manifest that all those
from vs is but lent vs in this worlde But that which God hath giuen vs for our owne I meane the celestial riches which we are heires vnto to inherite for euer they can not be taken away although they doe the worst they can That which is ours is giuen vs for our owne with a pryuiledge irreuocable that we be his children inheritors of his kingdom and partakers of his glory That we also be his inheritance a dwellyng place for him to dwell in for euer with our selues also in him S. Peter doeth reioyce that we doe liue in him eternally and doe holde and account him for our God father and doeth giue thanks saying Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ the which according to hys aboundant grace and mercy hath regenerated vs agayne to a lyuely hope by the resurrection from death of our Lord Iesus to enioy an inheritaunce immortall not contamynate but incorruptyble and vndefiled reserued in the heauens for those which are kept by the power of God thorough faith to obteine saluacion So that being kepte by the power of God which passeth strength of castles or any thing els what euill or harme can come or happen vnto vs. Thou dootst hyde them in the secret of thyne owne presence priuilie from prouoking the pride of men sayth the Prophet Dauid also further thou doost hide them as in a tabernacle frō the stowte caluminate strifes of euil tongues So that the greate brauery and boysteous bragges that the wicked doe braue with all it cannot hurt vs For that their pride theyr peuishnesse their caluminates their strifes theyr subtilties nor yet theyr generall and wicked coūsells cannot gréeue vs No more cannot the gréedye gréeuous rauuen nor hawtie hate of the diuel pearce nor penitrate the place where GOD dooth hide vs. That which did happen or fall out to Iesus Christ the same shall happen vnto vs For as he was whipped spoiled spitted on bloud drawen from nayled vppon the crosse otherwise iniured and blasphéemed did remaine the sonne of God and could not bée taken away nor let from callyng and acknowledging of hys God father and continued the redéemer of the world So lykewyse the faithfull the more they bée dishonoured dispoyled condempned cursed and iniurioustie handled the more they remayne alwayes the children of God and hys spirit doeth lyue the rather alwayes in them by the which they inuocate call and acknowledge hym for theyr father So that it foloweth that the worlde and all the greatnesse thereof I meane the tiranous tirany of the persecuting wicked worldlings with all the tirany and cursed crueltie they can doe can not hurt vs. To confirme make vs more strong in our faith the holy ghost by the prophet Dauid doeth declare vnto vs that all which our aduersaries dooe commit thonder out and threatten against vs and the Gospell is in vaine For he saith the gentiles fret rage and fume furiously and the people inuent vaine thinges The kings of the earth doo conspire and the princes and rulers of the Earth doo gather them selues together against the Lord and Christ his annointed It is vayne and shall take none effect at any tyme in vs nor yet nothinge at all that they can afflict vs with be it interior or exterior Bicause the Lord our god hath ouercome all our enimies aswell those which are visible and séene as those which are inuisible not séene And hath ouerthowne them in suche sort that they shal neuer more lift vp their heads against vs And thereof it accreweth and groweth that all is in vaine that they doo or can doo against him that hath ouercome them And moreouer all is in vaine that any fury can doo against the faithfull so that their iudgements and condempnacions are all in vaine For that if the iudgement of God can not preuayle agaynst them bycause they as the Apostle sayeth are knitte in Iesus Christ Howe can any of the iudgementes of theyr enimyes in any point preuayle agaynst them Vaine are their sentences and excommunications agaynst them for that God hath communicated them in Christ and made them partakers of his ryches It is a common practise among them to confiscate spoyle robbe the faythfull of their perishing ryches But yet in vayne bycause that Iesus Christ who is their true ryches will not bée robbed from them Their bodies are imprysoned yet hée reigneth in theyr liberties to ioy reioyce comfort and recreate theyr hartes Moreouer they are burned and receyue other kyndes of death to the imaginations of the persecutors bycause they should not lyue but they shall neuer dye For Sainct Paule sayth your liues are hydden with Christ in God. Fynally theyr instrumentes and other weapons the which they take vp to vse theyr cruelties with it is but in vayne agaynst them I meane agaynst the faythfull for that he that sitteth and is resident in the heauens sayeth the Prophet shall deryde and make a mock at their folly the Lord will laughe them to scorne for theyr great foolishnes They doe think them selues to be of the number of his chosen and yet the more they doe impryson and kill the very chosen in déed so muche the more soouer they thinke to recouer his heauēly kingdom a great mockery no doubt and is no more but as it were an Emmet should fighte with an Elephante or a foolishe flea with a foule Cammell Were it not also foolishe phoprie for a man to fight with a shadowe thinkyng it to bée a man of might Surely they doe none other which persecute fight against the faithfull Of whome the Prophete speaketh saying God hath put his faithfull in safetie so that no harme can touch them and where in no wise they may perish by the peuishnesse of any pelting persecuter There is none that séeketh to hurt or harme them but playeth the part of him that pusheth and fighteth with his owne shaddowe Against the Gospel the kinges princes the wise learned and holy in the world haue discouered and shewed openly some of them their knowledge suttelties threats othersome their valiency might and all of them doo affirme say that they doo nothinge but vpon a zeale of christianitie But that is such a zeale as he the gouerneth the Gloabe and in the heauens dwellith doth deride laugh and make a mocke at And doth threaten that in place and lue of the same he will speake to them in his ire and vex them in his heauy displeasure And also chastise them with an horrible and terrible chastisemēt as he hath done from the beginning and that hath béen séene in our daies But sith it is so and that all is vaine that they doo or can inuent against vs that dooe knowe and beleue in Iesus Christ that he dooth deride mocke them in their doings Let vs not feare their foolishnesse and folly
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their
is not nor shall not be directed by them neither hée his people nor yet his doctrine is nor are not guided by any parte péece or pointe of their wayes or teachings As great distance are betwéene my wayes and yours sayeth the Lord as is betwéene the heauen and the earth God wil not haue to deale with the wicked least it be to vse them as the vessels of his wrath for the health and wealth of his chosen For whn by their wayes institutions and decrées they goe about to blotte rase vs out of the memoriall of God that we might not attaine to the lande of the liuing But in that mansion and most mightie monarchie God hath vs in remembrance and doth lift vp enriche and glorifie vs with his inestimable giftes and riches where our ende will be to rest shyning in great ioye and glorie lightned by the lyght of truth in all heauenly felicitie The bretheren of holy blessed Ioseph what did they leaue vndone and not put in practise to punish let and hinder the comming to passe of the counsel of God wherby he had determined to lift on high glorifie his seruant they persecuted him iniured him mocked him stripped him sold him as a slaue he was caried into strauÌ„ge couÌ„treis there vsed intreated most extréemely and hardly But wheÌ„ they thought no more to haue hard of him behold he remayned lifted vp by the handes of God and made a mightie maiestrate in Egipt and a superior Lord and ruler ouer his byers sellers All that they did against him was onely and vppon set purpose a pretence to hinder him that hée should not atteyne to any parte thereof I meane that glorie but they could not in no one iote let or hynder the good will of God nor yet coulde vse no impediment in his loue towardes Ioseph nor in guyding him as a shéepe that had bene among Wolues from all his troublesome enimyes and persecutors till hée had performed hys great glorification in this world and in the worlde to come inherited hyporsioÌ„ of those inestimable treasures prepared by the loue and good wil of God for the faithfull from the beginning Thus it appeareth how he tooke hys steppes into all hys troubles and doynges by degrées as it were vp a ladder or paire of stayers til God had assumpted and lifted him vp into the toppe of all his glorie accordyng to his determination before the foundation of the world So that as these carnall and worldly bretheren did agaynst Ioseph euen so at this day doe the children of this world against the faithfull in beating downe and persecuting them by all the meanes and wayes which possibly they can but therein God doeth lifte them vp tyll they be glorified in Christ Iesus Of the mightie povver and exceeding loue of god The xxviij Chapter THe Hipocrites scribes Pharises and other the enimyes of God were greatly against the glorifycatyon of Iesus Christ and to conclude him from the same they persecuted hym with so great and gréeuous furie and also condempned hym to death beastly beléeuing that after the same there would nor coulde bee no more noyse of hys name that wholy he should peryshe for euer and so be most out of memorie altogither in obliuion that they should holde his kingdome in peace and haue his people subiecte to theyr tirannie But the dyuyne meaning of God and hys prouidence was cleane to the contrarie By those meanes and wayes which they wrought to ouerthrow hym he lifted hym vp in such maner that there is nothing in heauen nor earth more highe sublymate and supreme then he Where they sought all the mischieuous meanes they could to darken and hinder hys glory it was to no purpose God made it with maiestie the more to shyne and did spred the beames thereof the farther throughout the vnyuersall world They did crucifie hym in most cruellest and most spytefullest maner and killed hym with the most vylest death such as was most infamous bycause he myght be the more hated and the lesse accounted vailâ—able for the health and saluation of his chosen But in thys was fulfilled that which was spoken by Esay the Prophet the father shall drawe vnto him an innumerable number of disciples that neyther shall nor will loue nor séeke after none other helpe holines nor rightuousnesse but his owne And also it is written that God by hys death vppon the crosse dyd cause that his sonne should haue emperiall rule and be the onely Lord ouer all his enimyes It was a thyng which they could not conceiue in their hard harted harts mindes But in that they thought by their doinges to deface and foredoe for euer the name of our swéete sauiour Iesus Christ it is fallen out quyte to the contrarie and so altered and turned that there is none other name in the worlde where to or to which all creatures shall bowe but onely his So that where they did their best indeuour to spoyle all hys honour and dygnitie it is nowe so come to passe that therby he is most gloriously glorified hath greatest supremisie and a name aboue all names the greatest As it is of his owne wordes written by S. Iohn If I be lifted vp from or aboue the earth I shall and wil drawe vnto me all things Meanyng that by his death he should gayne and win the victorie and bryng all things in subiection vnder hym As hys enimyes and rebellious aduersaryes could not with all the force and power they had preiudise or hinder his glorification no more can those terrible tormentors that séeke to persecute kill vs let nor preiudise ours Bycause it is dependant vppon hym and altogither his owne for that the glorification of the head is also common to the members vnited and knit therevnto Euen as at those dayes the crosse and passion of our Lord did Annunciate and declare his glorie potencie and might to all beléeuers So the persecutions calamities and afflictions that we doe suffer also those which an innumerable number of our fellow members and bretheren haue suffered sithens haue bene bée shall be for euer publishers proclaymors and preachers of the same glory The enimies of the gospel aduised taught by the spirit of Sathan when they doe lead vs to the place of the execution of our death they doe tye our tonges an act as diuilish pagan like as possible bicause that we should neither speak nor yet that they woulde heare the laude and prayse of Iesus Chryste our maister but those tyinges or strings wherewith our said tonges be restrayned shall be tonges to talke and speake agaynst them as agaynst the greatest enimyes to the glorie of God and vse a new language wherby shall be vnderstoode and knowen the vertue and mightie power of the highest vnto them that he hath ordeined to health and saluatioÌ„ It is greatly necessarie that all be
fulfilled that the Lord hath spoken of to or against his enimies he him self sayth I say vnto you that if my disciples holde their peace in preaching yet the very stones in the stréetes shall giue their voices and sound my glorie And now is the same in fulfillyng amonge the faythfull for that our aduersaries enimies and persecutors doe what they can and doe vse as many lettes and impediments as may be to defeÌ„d vs from speakyng with our proper tonges the commendation praise and glorie of our sauiour and iustifier Iesus Christ But he himselfe in place of one tongue which they tie wil loose vntie and commaunde a number innumerable to speake prayse and glorifie him worlde without ende The long beardes of the persecuted ouer growen so greatly their garments to vncleane rotten and torne with the filthie vncleane filthinesse of the pryson the biting bitter taunts their enimyes byte them with the cordes halters and stringes they tye them with the engines they vse to strangle them with they all will God coÌ„uerte into tounges which with one voice shall vse so great a harmonie as is most wonderfull to the superlatiue prayses of our moste benifitiall brother and head Iesus Christ And shall discouer that hée onely is our Lord and redéemer and we so persecuted the faithfull witnesses of hys truth and rightuousnesse Those tyranicall tirantes and pestilent persecutors can not heare thys heauenly harmonie that so highely soundeth with so excelent an accorde bycause their owne impietie hath so deadly be deafed them Yet all those whiche are sanctified by Iesu Christ shal hear it and also some of them being waked by it will desire to be consortes complisses and companyons with vs in our crosses vppon coÌ„dition they might be made mates with vs in so greate delight witnesses of so beautifull a rightuousnes dyuine sanctification the which the Lorde hath giuen vs to possesse Our death shall be no more barrein theÌ„ was the death of Iesu Christ whose footesteppes we must follow God will make that the verie ashes of our bodies shall fructifie and bée a cause to make many faythfull chosen children to shewe themselues Bycause that many hearing and séeing our firmenesse in fayth of the gospel and vnderstanding our constancie at our death wherewith we are strengthened from aboue will open their eyes for to sée it and so acknowledge him the author thereof for their father And reduce theÌ„selues to his obedience renouncing the seruice of Images Idols leaue altogither the false religioÌ„ of Antichrist his coÌ„federates For that the wordes of our sauiour Christ must néedes be fulfilled who sayth if a grayne of wheat being cast into the earth doe not dye it remayneth alone whole fructifieth not but if we die it bringeth foorth much fruit as to vs is wel experieÌ„ced likewise if it be in the garner or sheafe in the barne it abideth barren beareth no fruit So that to die suffer in the Lord increase commeth therof as of a grain of wheat that dyeth in the earth and more aboundantly manifold To the iudgement of the worlde and of our flesh by our death we are drawen into perdition but it is verie false and an vntruth for in very déed we die to arise againe to beare and carry most copious aboundant plentie of fruit to our glorification with God the father and to the imitation of his sonne Iesus Christ who brought forth more aboundancie and plentie of fruit by his death then he did by his lyfe So that those which suffer doe fulfill that which the holy ghost speaketh of the faithfull they which haue béene called and iustified sayeth he it is conuenient that they be also glorified bicause that by their death they might fructifie to the glorie of God and bée ioyned togyther and glorified with hym God hath ordeined to sublimate and exalt them that be his So that not onely their persons be liuing instruments of his and their glorie but also their passions serue to the same effecte And thus euerie one of them doeth verifie that which the Apostle S. Paule speaketh of him self saying I doe suffer and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my fleshe for his bodies fake which is his churche or congregation So that the passions that euerie one of vs hys members doe suffer is to the filling vp of the measure of conformitie that euerie member of the same bodie oughte to haue with the head Wherefore euery one that is persecuted and killed for the truth endeth the filling vp of his part of that measure and remayneth wholy made conformeable vnto Christ he hath distroyed the whole bodie of sinne and left a confirmation to the rest his fellow members of his patience and constancie bicause they are to passe by the same way after Christ and so come togyther to bée gloryfied with him in his kingdom It appeareth howe our troubles paynes and passions are dignified by reason of the communion that is betwéene the head and his members The holy Ghost doeth call and terme them the afflictions and passioÌ„s of Christ For as by the calamities which he did suffer in his own proper person God was glorified he him selfe lifted vp on high So that by those which we suffer being his faithfull shall we be gloryfied togyther in and with hym Bycause that as he dyd suffer béeing our heade we must also suffer that be his members An excelent comfort against the feare of death vvith a confutation of his povver c. The xxix Chapter ANd therefore sithe hée hathe thus honored exalted vs that he hath made vs wytnesses of hys trueth and of the sauing health that hys sonne dyd bryng into the world and hath sublimate our passions in such sort as consecrating them in his own person that he doth call them his owne wil be glorified in them And also for that our death is so precious before him that he wil take from the world so many liuyng instruments into his presence to hys glorie there is no cause to the contrarie but that we should stifly stand to the professâ—on of hys truth the giuing of our liues ioyfully for the same There bée some which for the vanities and thyngs of thys worlde will ventour lyues goodes and all that they haue yet it sodeinly perisheth The truth of God neuer perisheth no more can none the trust therein Why doe we then flye from being glorifyed with him sith we are no lesse certaine thereof then we are of our passions persecutions troubles death He loued vs with so feruent an effect and so serued vs that he did not rest till tyme that he dyed with wounds of our loue And shall wée bée so vngrateful as to saue or kéepe our liues from him not to venter them with the lyke loue to honour hym likewise with them if we could Shal we so forget
God that did remember and know vs before the beginning of all things visible and did determyne all these his blessings for vs that we shall for euer be buried in obliuion and refuse so smal a thing as worldly affliction I pray you deare friends bretheren wherfore serueth our liues if we will be saued but to glorify him did we not promyse hym to aduenture all things to his glorie and honour wherfore then shall we reserue any thing to the detriment thereof Hée him self went before vs and dyd passe first thorough the pikes of persecution and affliction in the world hée is our head shall we theÌ„ stagger stop or stay in following him beyng hys members whose is the wealth and riches that we haue whose is our life or who did giue vs our honours did not he giue vs all bycause wée should glorifie him as his chosen faithful and beloued then for what cause should we let to glorifie him in all that euer we can or haue Haue we not sayde that with all and in all thinges Iesus Christ did glorifie his father and that we were chosen to be conforme and lyke vnto him And therfore sith we sée it is our duties let vs doe and indeuour our selues all that possiblie we may to accomplish the same at the least a parte that we mighte the sooner attayne to the whole in imitatyng that we might be glorified alyke with him For when wee serue him doubtfully and follow him waveryngly as if wée thought all to no purpose all that we doe in such sort is but in vayne of no validitie nor effect but rather falleth out cleane to the coÌ„trarie for that in doubtful dealing can no true seruice be done nor yet he be glorified So that all maner of doings or workes which are not to his glorie are lost of none effect nor valour but yet all that is done in true faith is of muche validitie and verie effectuall thervnto The which he will neuer forget bicause he doeth so loue vs that he is verie vnwillyng we should loose our labours in anye thing or spend our traueils in vaine He accepteth all that possibly may agrée with his iustice for the great desire and good will hée hath to bée our guarder sauiour kéeper and defender He asketh of his father for vs all things as well honour wealth and riches as healthe lyfe and saluation There is nothing that he taketh into his handes for vs but it taketh effecte in vs there is nothyng in the handes of our persecutors that hath any effect at all or securitie Why doe the foolishe phoppes infected with fylthie incredulitie and misbeliefe loose their lyues euerlastingly but onely bycause they trust not in God rather would saue their lyues to serue the world then lightly to loose them and to glorifie God and yet therein they loose for euer both lyfe and loue of him By the ryghtuousnesse of fayth sayeth Sainct Paule we are constituted and choseÌ„ heires of the world euen lyke vnto our father Abraham Then being heires thereof why doe we feare to put into the handes of God all that we haue Sith wée are sure to receiue it again bettered with so great aduantage He that shall ouercome sayeth the same Lord shall possesse all things I will be his God and he shall be my sonne Thus if we dye for his loue we doe ouercome in ouercommyng we enter into the possessioÌ„ of all things we haue God for our God and we be his true children if we be children we be also heires both in heauen and earth In what then should we doubt sithe to make so great and good an exchange we giue him nothyng yet we remayne with him and receyue all things We gyue nothyng vnto God bycause we haue nothyng that is our owne all that wée haue is his so that in giuing him all we giue him nothing And therefore let vs not be vnwillyng to yéelde all that we may vnto him sith he is so liberall magnificall in giuyng vnto vs all things yea euen till he had giuen hym selfe for vs but let vs loue hym accordyng to our callyng as Iesus Christ our onely sauiour redéemer health saluation and reconciliation and in any wyse let vs loue his honour and glorye more then anye worldlye thing Haue we not hearde of many of the Gentyles that dyd offer them selues vnto death and so desyre it that they kylled them selues wyth theyr owne proper handes onelye vppon desyre to bée delyuered from the paines and trauayles of the world their liues in it And vppoÌ„ some vain hope which they had and thought to finde by their immortalitie of the soule This they did vppon a certayne opynion which was foolishe had amongest a number of them yet they were not onely frée from worldly traueils by this immortalitie but also by their desperate dealinges to departe from their lyues in suche wyse they enâ—ered a new into ten tymes treble more torments yea a number infinite euerlastingly God doth not commauÌ„d of vs any suche maner of death but doeth most ernestly forbid it yet béeing animated by true faith as thus if we beléeue that our lyfe is his and that he is our lyfe so that when our tyme shall come and he shall call vs to render our lyues agayne to him of whom we hold them as tennants at his will that then we doe obey hym and yéeld them vp be it by fire sword halter presse Racke by wyld horsses Tigres Lyons wilde beastes or any kinde of crosse we doo but our duties and no more then we are bounde vnto And in so doing we shewe the fruits of our fayth hope in him proclaime crye out and preach vnto the world and shewe vnto the braue ministers thereof that we be none of theirs but his owne who hath bought and best payde for vs In this maner we shall also openly appeare to haue more estimation of his glorie and rather to fulfill his heauenly holy will then to séeke the maintenance of our liues in this world which perisheth togither with the people thereof He will not in any maner of wise that we run into any kynde of daunger rashly to procure our death Nor yet that we denie and so blasphéeme him to eschue or escape the same But rather that as tyed on a string wée should bée prompte and readie lyke faithfull seruaunts to follow hym so soone as he plucketh or calleth vs we may certainly assure our selues that hée hath counted and numbred our dayes and hath made such a determination for vs as we may in no wyse passe Hée hath put and inclosed our soules in our bodies as in a tabernacle to the end they should be wel kept and preserued vntyll hée hym selfe which put them there shall returne againe to call and receyue them So then in being called we ought not to refuse our filthie lodginges in thys worlde for that we are to receiue a
death for that he him self triumphed alwayes ouer that lo passed to hys kingdom where he reigneth in glorie with all those hys members which haue followed him sithens the beginning in crosses of passion and persecution And therfore though we be but a little flock let vs be firme cōstant till the end with patience for that Iesus Christ is our onely victorie and victor So that although our aduersaries be neuer so many in number of neuer so great a degrée in the world yet of necessitie they must perish passe after theyr forefathers which persecuted the Prophetes Apostles and the rest the faythfull seruants of god They doe not presently sée any thing of all this they doe neither sée our glorification nor their own perdition yet the scripture doeth discouer the same both to vs them Whereby we may bée as sure both of the one and the other as we be of their cruell persecutions which we suffer Thereby doe they pluck the iust iudgement of God with vengeance and ire vppon their owne heads So that they shal féele his heauie displeasure and in the end shal sée our blessednes now couered with mourning their owne perdition dampnation now couered with pagain and popishe pleasure For proofe whereof let vs pervse that which is written in the booke of wisedome as foloweth in the next Chapter An end vvith a true declaration vvhat the being shal be in the end as vvell of the faythfull as the reprobate The xxxv Chapter THen sayeth the wyse man shall the rightuous appeare with great constancie before those which did persecute thē and those wicked ones séeing the rightuous shall be tormented with great feare and horror and shal be astonied to sée them saued them selues without any hope thereof Sore sighing for sorow and their mynds full fraught with bitternesse saying beholde these are they which sometimes past wée mocked and scorned against whom we made songes and sonnets of great dishonor as we thought and we insenssed with errors accompted theyr lyues and doctrine for fond foolishnes and procured their spoiles with spyte most spitefull Yet we may see them héere accompted among the children of God and haue their parte with his Sainctes But we haue gone a stray farre from the way of truth the light of rightuousnes hath not lighted vs nor the sonne of vnderstanding hath not shyned vppon vs we were weried in the way of wickednes and walked in by pathes and did not know the way of the Lord what hath pryde profited vs or what wealth hath our worldly riches arrogancie wrought vs All these things haue passed away as a shadow as a correo that runneth post or as a shippe that sayleth on the Seas full before the wynde and no print or pathe are séene when shée is once passed So that wée as soone as we were born wexed weak and now we can shewe no signe of vertue the whiche is accordyng as a speiciall friend of this translator did write in his absence as an olde prouerbe vppon the first page of the coppie hereof As foloweth Who so beleueth as he is borne in hande Forovveth in the Sea sovveth in the sand It may bée iudged hée ment this text for that it is so with the wicked but to the purpose if doeth not greatly degresse from the meaning of the wyse man who sayeth further the wicked are consumed in their wickednesse and their hope is as the dust or chaffe which the winde scattereth abroade or as the remembrance that a well guested host hath of euery guest that commeth to his house which can not be possibly But the rightuous shall liue for euer their rewarde shall bée in the world the highest shall haue charge ouer them Wherefore they shall receiue a kingdom of honor and a beautifull diadeame at the handes of the lord For he will couer them with his right hand wil defēd them with his holy arme as with a shield Héere we may sée that those which now persecute vs for the truth shal be forced and dryuen to confesse them selues incenssed with errors loste allowing the cause for which so cruelly they persecute vs And therefore sith they shal allow our rightuousnes and truth in such maner cōdempne them selues and their doinges for wicked and vniuste And sithe it is so manifest a testimony that our cause is such now as they shall confesse to be true and iust then And that nowe we be such by Christ as they shall sée vs then And also for that we shall be equall parteners in cōmune with the Sainctes alreadie gone before vs Let vs dearely beloued perseuer alwayes in Iesus Christ and his truth without fayntyng or fearyng till we haue obteyned hys eternall kingdom bicause the Sainctes our bretherē are gone before vs and doe tarrie tyll the tyme that wee and the rest doe come and fill vp the number that God hath appoynted and that then wée might togyther enioy and reioyce of the riches and possession of the same with Iesus Christ who is there alreadie abydyng to crowne vs with celestiall glorie for our victory Very short are the pleasures and prosperities of our aduersaryes as they shall their gyue testymonie accordyng to the saying of the booke of Sapience but much more shorter are our troubles and aduersities as the holy Ghost gyueth testimonie by the Prophet Esay hée sayeth they are but momentarie And also he sayeth further to hys people I will leaue thée a little sayeth the Lorde thy God. But with great mercyfulnesse I wil receyue thée agayne a little as it were a moment or the tyme of twincklyng of an eye in indignation I wil hyde my face from thée Yet I haue pittied thée with mercie sempiternall sayeth the Lorde thy Redéemer for although the mountaynes shoulde remoue the valleys should tremble and fall downe yet shall not my louing kyndnesse be remoued nor the bond of my peace shal not fall from thée Here God doth confirme vnto vs that all our tribulations indure but a moment and that his mercy and peace with vs is sempeternall And although that all thyngs in the world doe perish yet his blessed promyses vnto vs shall neuer haue end Therefore let vs not change the mercie and peace of God which is eternall for the prosperities of the wicked world which are shorte and so sodainly passe away Let vs content our selues though they florishe neuer so al la flanta and gallantly that are of of the world Let them reigne lustily for that the more high they arise and clyme against God so much the greater will be their fall at length The holy Ghost sayeth by the mouth of the Prophet Dauid the wicked shall florish as the gréene grasse and so shall all the works of iniquitie but sodeinly after shall they perish togither for euer The prosperitie which they passe in is but a slumber in awakyng out of the same