with Chryst to abolisshe the bodye of syn so that here after we be no more bonde men vnto synne Once were we with great paynes perells anxt and heuines brought forthe into this worlde but this carnall birth bringeth not forth els then synners the chylderne of Adam iuged to eternall death dampnacion It is therfore necessarie that we be borne agene of the spirit froÌ„ aboue orels we maye not come into the kingdome of god This our tother spiritual birth and regeneracion bringeth forth iuste and faithfull euen the sonnes of god ordined and predestined vnto eternal lyfe and saluation But as in our naturall natiuyle before we be borne there are not els but sorows heuines anguisshe affliccioÌ„s paâ—ges and perels euen the image of deathe EueÌ„ so must it be with vs in this our spirituall regeneracion before we be fully regenerated of the holy goste as Chryst testifieth For he that shall be borne agene of the spirit must haue his olde man mortifyed be made a newe man dead froÌ„ syn and from this worlde trustinge nothinge to his own strength nor meritis attributinge nothinge to him selfe abnyinge him self renownâ—inge the worlde with all his pleasures onely to folowe Chryst. And thus doinge we incense and prouoke the worlde ageynst vs Whose hatered and wrath we must contemne And if the callinge of god requyreth it father and mother wyfe and childern howse and londis bodye and goodis all must be forsakeÌ„ rather then we shulde falbak from Chryst and frome the doctrine of his gospell All temporall and corporall tranquillite and quietnes commodities be they neuer so pleasaunt and greate all lucre and profite frendes kinsfolke muste be forsaken gladly for the trwths sake yea all things must be left rather then the trw religion worship and doctryne of Chryst shuld be forsakeÌ„ dissembled or râ—canted all things must be cast awaye for the verite aÌ„d glorye of Chryste Wherfore we muste be borne ageyn yf we will be saued we may not now lyue aftir the wille aÌ„d mynde of the flessh but the spirit of god must reigne and dwell in vs. Owr old maÌ„ with his coÌ„cupisceÌ„ses must be crucified in the worl de we must rune our course vnto the ende emonge vipers and sâ—orpions and emonge our â–ª most deadly and cruell enemies We which be regenerated of god may not loke for our paradise vpoÌ„ this sinfull erthe We may not loke here to lyue in peace tranquilyte securite in riches commodities and pleasures For this is not the chaunce and fortune of the very godly vpon this erthe but we must be excercised here with many affliccions calamities persecucions smyten thorowe with anguisshe henines and sorows right greuouse pressed downe with the crosse laid forthe opeÌ„ ageynst many pereles Which crosse is a very bitter herbe vnto the flesshe For the flesshe wolde gladly be at ease salf in reste with out sorowe payne trowble When calamities perels affliccious feare persecucioÌ„s arise and euen the image of terrible death is present then the flessh treÌ„bleth quaketh â—he staggereth flyethe bak falleth downe faynt and feble so impacient and angrye is she vnder the crosse For she had liefer dwell euer in hir olde skinne then to be renewed namely when she seeth them thus cruelly to be handled which embrace the gospel must be thus borne a newe Here here therfore it behoueth the consolacion exhortacioÌ„ of the scriptures whiche bolden and animate vs with the moste ferme aÌ„d present counforte confirminge our heriis so that euermore we may endure constaÌ„t in faith ferme in hope glewed vnto the gospell to perseuere in this stronge ieoperdouse bataile ageynst Satan the worlde and ageynst owr owne selues The first consolacion is That Cryst himselfe hathe also suffred FIrst of all we that be in trouble and heuynes for the trwâ—h must sette the example of Cryst before our eyes I mean not our bodely eyes fastened vpon any image forboden of God but before the eyes of our faithe seynge his passyon paynted and engrauen in his holy worde Paul thus exhortinge vs sayinge In pacience let vs runne in this bataill before vs hauinge respecte vnto the goyd of our faythe and fiuissher of our bataill euen Iesu Chryst which beholdinge the ioye set forth before him suffred the crosse all shame despysed and set a parte and is sitteÌ„ downe on the right hande of the seat royall of god CoÌ„sider and loke well vpon him for it was he that sustayned and suffred so to be ageyn sayd that you shulde not faynte and be feble mynded Here we see Chryst the sone of god euen the powr of god to suffer for vs how he wold for our sakis be humbled and deiected vnder all men euen vnto the death of the crosse to exalt vs into the most highe dignitie and to lifte vs vp into the glorye celestiall And therfore did god exalt him into so highe glorye If Chryst therfore our lorde hathe sufferd for vs so many so great obprobries calamyties ignominyes reuylinges shames iniuries sorowes and euen the moste bitter and ignominiouse death what delicate softlings be we if ayen for his sake we refuse thorowe lyke affliccions to go to him bi the same waye For verely we be called vnto the same pathe peter thus affirminge Chryst to be â—courged and afflicted for vs leauinge vs an example to folowe his steapes euen to suffer affliccions also in this worlde The worlde hated Chryst and no doute but it will neuer loue his members but with the same bitter hatered persecute vs which be Chrystes floke The worlde loueth his owne And because we be not the worldis but chosen out of it therfore dothe the worlde hate vs. Let vs not forgete these wordes of owr sauiour Chryst. The seruant is not beter then his master If they haue persecuted me they shal persecute you also Wherfore and if there be no persecucion at any tyme in Englond so is there nether Chryste nor any of his members This therfore is vnto vs all the most greateste counfort That if we suffer with Chryst for his names glorye sewer and certayn be we that god loueth vs aÌ„d hath chosen vs to be his sonnes aÌ„d ayers of the celestiall kingedom and that he hathe put vs a parte from this sinfull dampnable worlde that we shuld not be daÌ„pned with the wyked but glorifyed with Christe Thus did Paul sende his sone Timothe to the Thessalonions to counfort and coÌ„firme them in faith exhortinge theÌ„ to constancye in their affliccions and persecucions which theyr owne countrymen and kynsfolke brought vpon them thus wrytinge to them Your selues knowe it that we be ordined vnto this vse For wheÌ„ we were with yon we tolde you before in our sermons that we and you shuld suffer trouble and persecucion Also when Paul and Baruabas came to listram Iconiun and to Antioch to confirme the brethern they exhorted them to perseuere in faith and not to be plukt from
A present consolation for the sufferers of persecucion for ryghtwysenes All that wyll lyue faithfully and purely in Chryst Iesu shall suffer persecucioÌ„ ij Timothe iij. If any will folowe me let him renounce him selfe and take vpon him his crosse dayly and folowe me Luke ix Blessed be they that suffer persecucion for well lyuinge and iustly doinge spekinge or wrytinge for theirs is the kingedome of heuen Matth. v. Uerely I saye vnto you That easier shall it be to the londe of the Sodomytes and Gomorreans in the day of iudgemeÌ„t then to that londe and cite whiche nowe thrust awaye the gospell and preachers offred and sent vnto them Matt. x. The Preface WHen Chryst was comeÌ„ into the region of the GadareÌ„s and had casten the legyon of deuillis out of the naked wylde man and at these deuillis desyer permitted them to go into the herde of hâ—gges at whose entresse the swyne tumbled al hedlongs into the meare and were drowned The GadareÌ„s hea ringe of this miracle comeÌ„ forthe and beholdinge Chryst were greatly afrayd of him desyered Chryst to go out of their region Which GadareÌ„s all be it they did vngodly and greatly agenst theyr owne saluacion to desyer him to auoide froÌ„ out of their region whiche cam to caste out their deuillis to heale and to saue theÌ„ yet shewed they them selues more ientle and humane vnto Chryst theÌ„ these princes magistrats and comon peple to whoÌ„ the wor de of god the gospell of their saluacion nowe mercifully offred them yet cruelly and violently thei thrust it from theÌ„ with fagots fyer and swerde blaspheminge it with a legion of deuilysshe horrible newe names But yet as the Gadarens were beter content to haue had still emonge theÌ„ this mischeuose mad man possessed of so many deuilis then Christ to haue dwelled in their loude Euen so liâ—fer had these hoggishe Papistes and cruell persewers of the gospell of the professours therof to haue dwellinge still in their dioceses chirches and regions many legions of deuylisshe rytes supersticiose ceremonyes dirtye tradicions and heythen ydolatrye then Christ and his pure worde shulde once sette in fote amonge them frely faithfully to be preached And why Chryst hathe drowned their swyne say they And if he shulde tary loÌ„ge emonge vs he wold drowne vs to say they Siche an answere made some polytyke gredy Gergesens of late possessed verely of legions of deuyls dryuinge theÌ„ yet hedlongs into the meare of almaner of mischeif murther lechery dronkenes glotony pryde ambicion enuye c. refrayned with no shame no reuerence with no feare nor lawe nether of god nor man lyke mad wylde men cryinge out in their pulpits and comon tauerus That yf this newe lerninge and Lutherane gospell for so call they gods holy worde shulde come in frely to be preched oh what an innouacioÌ„ commocions mutacioÌ„s wold it make in this realme â–ª What sedicioÌ„s tumults and hurle burlis shuld we haue a none in this now so peaceable a regioÌ„ Beter it were therfor eche of vs all were still possessed and laden with legions of deuyls fetered still in all idolatry and false religion then that Iesus Chryst withe his worde shulde here tary any longer Hereof may ye se what a preposter feare and sinister iugement there is nowe in this worlde Men to be more afrayd of Chryst his gospell of saluacion to dwel with them then of a legion of deuyls redy to rende them in peses Be you oh papystes sewerer thynke ye vnder the deuyl then vnder Chryst Do ye promyse your selues to be more quyet in Satans seruyce theÌ„ in Christs peaceable religioÌ„ What harme I pray you hath our lorde Iesus Chryst his gospell done to you so that yf ye walke in his wais and receyue his gospell ye shulde feare any suche perels of batail sedicions and tumults to fall vpon you He hath drowned our swyne say you he is not the autor of euill say I. He came to drowne and to mortifye your swynisshe filthynes bestly affectis and to blesse you and yours with encrease He is the autor of peace and not of sedicion batail and tumult Your selues thrustinge him and his worde awaye from you so truelly persecuting him in his preachers and professours be the very autors cause of all batail sedicions trouble morin of your beastis derthe famyn and pesteleÌ„ce And forbecause you feare so sore these euils to fall vpon you for receiuinge and retayninge Chryst with his gospell therfore be ye sewer all these heuey heapes of calamities and yet greter grenoser plages shorteli to be powered forth vpoÌ„ you But here obiecteth the vnfaythfull cruell Gadarens sayinge We se it dayly that where this newe lerninge is preached there foloweth myche trouble inquietnes tumult sondri sectes diuerse opinions Truth it is For neuer was the sead of gods worde sowâ—e begane to aryse Satan beinge a sleape And therfore trede downe this blessed sead with your filthy feet suffocate it burne it thrust it from you with swerde and fyer and nourisshe still emonge you rather a legion of deuilis coÌ„pellinge men to recant and renye the truthe openly oft preched orels burne them Compell them to sayt This is a realme of rightwijsenes where in is ministred all inste execucion and uo perse cucion For where the heade and gouerner professeth Chryst there can be no persecucion Nether is Chryst tell it theÌ„ per secuted but emonge the Iewes and gentiles Unto this I answer That the gospel preched is the worde of the crosse Paul to witnes i. Cor. i. And the true preachers therof Chrystsendeth as lombes emonge wolues Matth. x. Wherfor where as ye haue chased awaye suppressed the worde of the crosse there can be no persecucioÌ„ therof where as be no loÌ„bes sent emonge wolues there caÌ„ not the wolues deuou re any lombes And thus breifly by your owne factis and recantacion wordes you haue properly proued your selues nether to haue the gospell nor any true prechers sent amonge you purely and frely to preache it which as it is the most euident token of gods heuey wrath to take awaye his worde and preachers from you so is it the present token of his fauor to sende vs theÌ„ Also where so euer is Christ our head there are his members And what the worlde and Satan did to our head and father of the houshold the same do thei yet still to his members and faithfull seruants If the highe preistes and bisshops Caiphas and Annas with the pharisais persecuted our heade Chryst so shall their successours persecute his members for persecucion is as comon to the body as to the heade And therfore sayd Paul Col. i â–ª I nowe reioyse in myne affliccioÌ„s for your sakis For I supple that at yet remayneth and shall euer endure in the affliccions of Chryst in my fleshe for his bodye whiche is the chirche Here is it playn Chryst in his members to
seclare ordinary powers as to their emprowr and their owne kinges for thus prechinge and sayinge thei had brent me to if I had not fled out of the loude Nowe I reporte me to your sel ues whether was this your execrable exe cucion or els your pestelent persecucion And whether may there not be persecucion where the heade professeth Chryst â— agen whether not in England there hathe ben and is yet persecucioÌ„ or onely emonge the Iewes and gentyls Wyll ye yet thus contend to kouer and cloke your owne open trayterouse towches Wold ye set vs to seke persecucion emonge the Iewes Turkes whyles your selues moste trayterously at home persecute not onely your owne floke the kinges subiectis but also your head gouerner euen the kinges maiestye him selfe By whose preuey â—oniuracions secrete conspirisoâ—s in auriculare coÌ„fessions and crafty consultacion were so many of the nobles of the northe and lyncolne shyer set on fyer Master Aske made the capitayne to lead forthe so rebelliouse a sorte of traytours ageynst our prince Were they not the bysshops abots preistes which were the autours of that sediciouse insurreccion and persecucion of their owne kinge And how say you my lordis was it iuste execucion or persecucion that ye wold haue prosecuted ageynsty our owne head gouerner at that tyme if ye might haue had your daye so longe loked fore To put you therfore out of dout your owne worthei punisshmeÌ„tes plages hitherto iustely executed vpon you and your abbayes your destruccion at haÌ„de shall no notherwyse certifie you to haue had then persecuted your head his subiectes then did the terrible example and worthey punisshment of the sonnes of Chore of Dathan AbyroÌ„ the erthe deuoweringe swallowinge in theÌ„ quyâ—e downe a lyue into hell declare theÌ„ to haue persecuted Moyses their moste mylde head godly gouerner constituted of god to haue led theÌ„ out of that yerney fornace of bondage froÌ„ Pharao And this is lo the humble obedient seruice loue that siche ingrate rebelles render to their so louinge ieÌ„tle princes Now I aske theÌ„ ageyne whether the first chirche whiche coÌ„sisted of AdaÌ„ Eue Cain Abel had not Adam a godly gouerner professinge that blessed sead Chryst promised and yet did one brother vnder the same head persecute the tother Cayn slewe Abell now tell me my lordis was Cayn a Iewe or a gentyle Under Isaac a godly gouerner and head of his familye and chirche Esau persecuted Iacob Was Esau a Iewe or a gentyle And as it was then so is it nowe saithe Paul euen one brother to persecute another vnder Abraham Ismael persecuted Isaac vnder Moses the head gouerner of gods chirche was there no persecutioÌ„ Read the boke of nowmbers xij and. xvi Chapters and ye shall see euen the cheif bysshop with his wyfe Maria Dathan and Aâ—yron wyth theyr wycked complices to haue persecuted their head Moses murmuryng ageynst him for that he was so highe in fauour with god enuyinge him for his prophecing interpreting so highly gods ple sure and minde and was it execucion ore persecucion that thei prosecuted ageynst Moseâ— Lo here may yâ— see the Christen persecuted of his owne subiectis one Iewe to persecute an other one brother a no ther one gentile another one crystian in name a nother one englissh man a nother as Chryst sayd Matt. x. One brother to betraye a nother vnto deathe the father his sone the sonnes their parents for my names sake saith Chryst. Nowe ye se that persecution is where so euer the gospell â— Chryst be frely preached whether it be in England France or in Germany c. and not onely emonge the Iewes and gentils as our bishops wolde haue men beleue it They say they be the Iewes and Turkes that shall persecute you But Christ sayth they shall be our owne familiare false bro therne the bisshops and the preists to per secute their head and vs to whiche shulde tender defende and fede vs. This is lo theyr olde wont facion to set vs to loke beware of the Iewes and gentyls persecucions whyles them selues burne vs for the gospell As did the thefe crye to the people kepe the thefe whyles hym selfe myght rune his waye the frelyer And if there be no persecucion in Englond why praye ye in your newe lytanpes and suffrages god forgeue owr persewers and persecuters and turne their hertes and to be desyuered from them â–ª Why pray ye â—he same in the moste parte of your Psalmes euery haye sunge and red in your chirches I meruell of what lerninge and religion these bisshops be that graunte the gospell to be in Englond and not to be persecuted The scripture techeth playnely Matth. xvi that emonge men there was and shall be euer diuerse and sondre opinions of Christe and his religion and the worde of god euer to be agene sayd persecuted as longe as this worlde standeth Who resisted Moses bringinge gods message and gospell into Egipt but the preistes of Egipte In Israel Helias prechynge gods worde had he not the preistes of Baal his aduersaries and per sewers The false prophetes resisted Ieremye â–ª The Pharisais persecuted Chryst. And not only the false Apostles but also the hole worlde persecuted the trwe Apostles Of this lecte sayd they to Paule we knowe it to be ageyn sayd and persecuted euery where After the Apostles tyme the worde of god was not onely resyâ—ted withe the persecucion of tyrants but also with the wicked doctrynes of heretiques In the popis kingdome vntill Erasmus Ioha Hasse Wycleue Martyn Luther other men begane to wryte there semed to be a good quiete concorde of the chrysten religion as longe as men beleued in the pope to be head of Chrysts chirche receyued his false doctryne rytes cere tradicions pardons satisfaccioÌ„s merits prayd for the dead and to sayuts and for the souls in purgatory pelgrimaged worshipped stockes and stones and his misse as a sacrifice for the syunes of the quike and dead Whiche was eueÌ„ the same that Chryst sayd in his gospell As longe as the strong armed kepeth his fore courte and castel gates all thinges are in peace and salf gard that he hathe For where Satan hath the rule and dominion ouer the comon doctryne and techers there taketh he diligent heed lest any or many externe dissensions or tumults aryse nether stereth he vp there many herespes no not in the Turkes nor Iewes chirches in these dayes because he hath them sewer at his pleasure beinge lorde head and kinge openly ouer their religioÌ„ And eueÌ„ so in the popis kingedom hathe he kept pet dothe he kepe his fore castle gates that those thinges whiche he yet possedith myght continewe in peace Unto this Satans peaceable possession haue our bisshops brought orels entend they to bringe ageyue their chirche of EngloÌ„d lo so that nowe thanked be their father Satan all is in peace without persecucioÌ„ say they
the trwth which is now restored by prechers brent bokes banisshed and restrayned yet be we more a fraid of Chryst for feare of the losse of our litle goodis and disquietinge of our mortall bodyes in this transitory lyfe then of a legion of deuils drawinge vs by litle and litle from hearinge and readinge the worde of this crosse vnto vanites lyes fables and to this flateringe welthey worlde Unto you therfore whiche yet do not cruelly resiste nor wetingly persecute Christe in his members and in his gospell but for feare for weaknes and as it were iently with the Gadarens pray Christe withe his Byble and bokes to passe from you and also vnto them whiche haue fermely receyued and constantly professe Chryst and his worde now suffering for their sakes the crosse of persecucion euen the inseperable companion of Chryst and his worde do I wryte this counfortable boke by the grace of our almighty god to animate to acourage you in your affliccions to desyer Chryst to dwell still with you and not to take his worde of trwth at any tyme oute of your mouthes to strengthen you with his holy spyryte to confirme and counfort you in these your heuey affliccyons and greuouse persecucyons ioyously and paciently to bere them as the swete crosse and lyght burdens of ouâ— moste mercyfull louinge father ther by to be facioned and formed lyke vnto his owne sone our sauiour Christe that we might with ioye and felicite be also glorifyed with him in heuen So be it EXcept the faithfull as many as haue ben froÌ„ the begiÌ„niÌ„g of the worl de excercised whetted with diuerse affliccioÌ„s had ben casten ageynst innumerable perels tribulacions we might worthely crysten brethern now lament our heuey state miserable chaunce and sorowfull condicion Yea we might well accuse and with Iob curse these our troublous corrupt and blody laste dayes of this worlde In whiche most gilties we for onely the trwthes sake and for Chrystes name suffer persecucioÌ„ sustayne most bitter and cruell hatered we be afflicted scourged casteÌ„ out of our countrye â–ª And euen we whiche seme to some men to be best at ease yet be we no where at any tyme sewer and quyet but as shepe be we apoynted to be slayne For euen our owne false brethreÌ„ spekinge fayer to our faces pretendinge to be chased out of theyr countrye for the same gospel in nothinge at all folowing it but opeÌ„ly slaundering it vex vs molest vs belye vs depra ue vs slaunder hurt vs no lesse cruelly persecutinge vs then the open papistes Which thinge verely is euen the same that our lord and master Chryst told vs before saying our owne brothern and moste familiare to be our moste deadly enemyes one brother to betray another And the tyme to come where in who so slayeth vs shall thinke them selfe to do highe seruice to their god euen ther owne bellyes vntill their synnes yet at reste lyinge with Cayns murther in securyte shall be layde open in the gates before all men For these deceitful false brethern shall vnder the vysar of hypocrisye goforth worse worse whylis they bothe lead wother into errours and erre also theyr owne selues renye god in their dedis beinge abhominable inobedient reprobated caste awayes and yet with their mouthes coÌ„fesse they god Wherfore dere brothern we be happye whiche haue the trwthe all though before the worlde we seme to be the most vnhappy and miserable For vnto vs that perseuer in it there is layd vp promised of god the most ioyouse and plentuouse rewarde I knowe how greuously many men be tempted and troubled for that they not remeÌ„bringe the olde examples or not wel taught in the lawe of god do measure the treuth of chrystes religion faithe â–ª bothe by the moste parte and also by the felycyte and prosperouse present successe of the worlde thynkinge the veryte to stande vpon the multitude and on theyr sydis which haue the victoryes lyue in sauegarde at theyr owne lustes whiche haue the praises and reuerent salutacions of men and them to be but lyers heretiques vngodly c. whiche as they be contempned punished persecuted and exyled so be they but a fewe simple sely pore lombes But so farre from mannis reason are the iugements of god that euen the Prophetis often tymes contended with god and reasoned with him in this mater Abacuck thus sayinge how longe lorde shall I crye and thou wilt not heare Wherfore hast thou reserued me into these wiked and vniuste dayes Wherfore beholdest thou these despysers and holdest thy peace whyles the wyked treddowne the man iuster them him self For this cause is the lawe torne in pesis whylis the vngodly thus preuaile sendynge forth peruerse iugements actis lawes and antichrysten instruccions Trewâ—h it is that god promysed his blissinges vnto them that herken to his voyce beleue his wordes and kepe his commandements Sayinge I shall sette the aboue all the nacyons of the erthe And all these blessinge shall come ouer the. Blessed shalt thou be in towne and felde Blessed shall be the frute of thybodye the frutes of thy grwnde of thy catell of thy shepe oxen etc. Blessed shall be thyne almery and store howse Blessed shalt thou be whether thou goist forth are comest in The Lorde shall smyte thyne enimies that ryse ageynst the yea and that before thy face shall he smyte them downe They shall come ageynst the one waye and flye away frome the seuen wayis All thynges thou takest in hande shall be blessed that is to saye they shall encrease and haue a prosperouse successe c. Ageyne these be his curses and plages whiche god threatenethe and casteth vpon them that herken not to his voyce beleue not his wordis nor kepe not his commandements sayinge Cursed shalt thou be in felde and towne Cursed be thyne Almery and store house Cursed shall be the frute of thy bodye the frutes of thyne heardes of neat and flockis of shepe Cursed be thyne incominge and out goinge I shall sende the skarsnes derthe honger and all thynges to go to naught what so euer thou goiste about vtyâ—l it be vtterly destroyd and waasted yea and that shortely sodenly for thy nowne wycked inuencions by whiche thou haste forsaken the lorde I shall caste pestelence vpon the â–ª with famyn pouertye feuers swellings colde heat burnings corrupt ayers blastings and with â—aiaill shalt thou be consumed vntill thy loude nowe so fertyle and pleasaunt hath spewed the forth all togyther c. But oh Lorde sayth Ieremye albeit thou beiste to iuste a dealer and to â—â—we a promiser then that I shuld reason wyth the tell me Why as it mesemeth coÌ„trary to thy promises do the vngodly enioye thy blissingis and the good men be plaged with thy cursinges But yet let me comon with the oh Lorde of ryghtwiâ—â—enes or of thy iugements How is it that the waye of the vngodly thus prospereth