How Superior Powers Ought to be Obeyed of their Subjects, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
What remedy or counſell is left, to the poore and afflicted ſeruantes of God, at what tyme they are deſtitute of all outwarde meās and ſupporte of mē.
TO the people of Iſrael, whom God from amonge all nations choſe to be his peculiar people, he did not onelyonly geue his Lawes, ordinances and ſtatutes: but alſo inſtituted all kinde of officiers to ſee the ſame Lawes put in execution. And beſides this, appoynted ſuch as might be leaders and defenders of them in tyme of warre agaynſt their enimes, and ſuch as ſhuld mayntayne their right at home in tyme of peace: as were their iudges and princes appoynted ouer eueryevery Tribe, beſides their kinge and chief gouernour, to whome it was lawfull for the people ād for eueryevery Tribe to reſorte in tyme of daunger, to aſke counſele and deſier helpe, who were likewiſe bounde to heare their cauſe, and ſupport them, whither it were by counſelle or bodely trauell.
In like maner God hath no leſſe mercifully delte with you in Englande,The graces of God towardes Englande are moſt abundant if they would vſe thē not onelyonly geuing vntounto you his Lawes and holy worde, with farre greater light and playner declaration of his will and pleaſure then euer was publiſhed to the Iſraelits: but alſo hath furniſhed you with all ſortes of Magiſtrates, officers, and gouernors neceſſarie for the accompliſhment, or rather execution of the ſame. To whom it oght to be no leſſe lawfull for you to reſorte for comforte in your neceſsitie, then it was to the Iſraelites, and they as muche bownd to heare you. For this cauſe hauehave you Mayres, Shiriffs, and Aldermen in Cities, Counſtables ād Bayliffs in Townes, knights ād Iuſtices, in Shires and countries. To theſe oght the people to hauehave concurſe in neceſsitie, who ſhuld be their refuge and ayde in all trouble and aduerſitie.
But if all theſe be ſo ſhamfully corrupted, and ſo myndles of their charge and office, that nether the Citezens can be cōforted, nor ſuckered by their Mayres, Shiriffes, and Alder men: nether the poore Townesmen and Tennants by their Iuſtices and Landelordes, but all geuen ouer as it were to Satan, and to ſerue the luſtes of their chief Rulers, care not whether the poore people ſinke or ſwyme,It is impoſſible for the people to peryſhe and the Rulers to eſcape. ſo it be well with them (thogh it be a thinge impoſsible that the people can be diſtroyed and they eſcape daūger, or that their neyghbours houſe cā be conſumed with fyer, and theirs remayne vntouched) Yf all I ſaye, in whō the people ſhuld loke for comforte, were all together declyned from God (as in dede they apeare to be at this preſent tyme in England, without all feare of his Maieſtie or pitie vponupon their brethern) and alſo, yf the leaſt and weakeſt parte of the people in all places feared God, and all outwarde means of helpe vtterly taken from them, nether being able to fynde remedie amōgeſt them ſelues, nether cā ſee how to be ſupported of others: thē aſſure your ſelues (deare brethern and ſeruants of God) there can be no better counſell, nor more comfortable or preſent remedie (which you ſhall proue true, if God graunte you his Spirite and grace to folowe it) then in contynual and dayly inuocation of his Name, to reſt whollie and only vponupon him, make him your ſhilde, buckeler and refuge, who hath ſo promiſed to be to all them that are oppreſſed and depend vponupon him: to do nothing commanded agaynſt God and your conſcience, preferring at all tymes (as you hauehave learned before) the will of God, to the will, puniſhments, and tyranny of Princes: ſayng, and anſweringe to all maner of perſones: This hath God commanded, this muſt we do. That hath God forbiddē, that will we not do yf you will robbe vsus and ſpoyle vsus for doinge the Lordes will, to the Lorde muſt you make anſwere, and not to vsus: for his goodes they are, and not ours. If ye will impriſone vsus, behold, ye are oppreſſors. If ye will hange vsus or burne vsus, beholde ye are murtherers of them which feare the Lorde, and are created to the Image of God: for whoſe contempte ye ſhall be ſtraytly puniſhed. And for our parte, yf you take from vsus this vile and corruptible lyffe, we are aſſured the Lorde will geue it vsus agayne with ioye, and immortalitie both of bodie and ſoule.
Yf God geue you grace to make this or the like anſwere, and ſtrengh to contemne their tyrannie, you may be certayne and ſure to finde vnſpeakable conforte and quietnes of conſcience, in the mydle of your danger and greateſt rage of Satan. And thus boldly confeſsinge Chriſt your Sauiour before men (as by the example of thouſandes of your bretheren before your faces God doth mercifully incourage you) you may with all hope and patience wayte for the ioyfull confeſsion of Chriſt agayne before his Father and Angells in heauen, that you are his obediente and dearely beloued ſeruantes, being alſo aſſured of this,Tyrantes can go no farther then God permittith. that if it be the will of God to hauehave you anie longer to remayne in this miſerable worlde, that then his prouidence is ſo carefull ouer you, ād preſent with you, that no man or power can take your liffe from you, nether touche your bodie anie further then your Lorde and God will permit them.Mat. 10. Whiche nether ſhall be augmented for your playne confeſſion, nor yet diminiſhed for keepinge of ſilence. For nothing cometh to the ſeruants of God by hap or chaūce, whoſe heares of their heads are numbred. Wherof yf you be ſo aſſured as you oght to be, there can be nothing that ſhuld make you to ſhrinke from the Lorde. If they do caſt you in priſō with Ioſeph, the Lorde will delyuer you: yf they caſt you to wilde beaſts and lyons, as they did Daniel, you ſhall be preſerued: yf in to the ſea with Ionas, ye ſhall not be drowned: or in to the durtie dongeon with Ieremie, you ſhall be delyuered: either in to the fyrye furnace withe Sidrach, Miſach, and Abednago, yet ſhall you not be conſumed. Contrarie wiſe,None can loſe their lyfe but by Godes appointement yf it be his good pleaſure that you ſhall glorifie his holie Name in your death, what great thing hauehave you loſte? Changing death for liffe, miſery for felicitie, contynuall vexation and trouble, for perpetuall reſt and quietneſſe: choſinge rather to dye with ſhame of the worlde being the ſeruantes of God, then to lyue amongeſt men in honor being the ſeruantes of Satan, and condemned of God. Otherwiſe, if you geue place to the wickedneſſe of men to eſcape their malice and bodily dangers, you ſhewe your ſelues therin to feare man more then the mightie and dreadfull God: him that hath but power of your bodie, and that at Gods appoyntement, then God him ſelf, who hath power, after he hath deſtroyed the body, to caſt both bodies and ſoules in to hell fyre, there to remayne euerlaſtingly in tormentes vnſpeakable.
And moreouer that which you loke to obtayne by theſe ſhamefull ſhiefts,Shamfull ſhiftes. you ſhall beſure to loſe with gryef and trouble of Conſcience. For this ſaying of our Maiſter being true and certayne,Mat. 16. That they which ſeeke to ſaue their liffe (meanynge by anie worldly reaſon or policie) ſhall loſe it: what ſhall be their gaynes at lengh, when by diſſimulation and yelding to popiſhe blaſphemie, they diſhonor the Maieſtie of God to inioye this ſhorte, miſerable and mortall lyffe: to be caſte from the fauour of God, ād companie of his heauenly Angells, to inioye for a ſhorte tyme their goodes and poſſeſsions amonge their fleſhly and carnall friends:Of ſuch you hauehave had ſufficient profe before your eyes. when as their conſcience within ſhall be deeply wounded withe hellike tormentes? when goddes curſe and indignation hangeth contynually ouer the heades of ſuch, ready to be powred downe vponupon them? when they ſhall finde no comforte, but vtter diſpayer with Iudas, which for this worldly riches (as he did) hauehave ſolde their Maiſter: ſekinge either to hange them ſelues with Iudas,Iudas. to murther them ſelues with Frances Spera,Spera. Hales. Morgen. to drowne them ſelues with Iuſtice Hales, either els to fall in to a raginge madneſſe with Iuſtice Morgen? What comforte had Iudas then by his mony receaued for betraynge his Maiſter? Was he not ſhortly after compelled to caſt it from him with this pitifull voyce:Mat. 27. I hauehave ſynned in betraying innocēt bloud? Coulde anie of theſe forenamed perſons, after they had commytted the like treaſon to our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt finde anie more comforte in their friendes, from whom they were ſo loth to departe? Or anie more pleaſure in their poſſeſsions, or aſſurance in their treaſures? Beholde, they had all moſte miſerable lyues for the tyme, and ſhamefull endes.
Then deare brethern in Chriſt, what other rewarde can anie of you loke for, commytting the like offences? HaueHave you anie more aſſurance of Gods mercies then they had? Woulde not Chriſt ſpare his owne Apoſtle Iudas, and yet will pardon you? Did not iudge Hales appearingly profeſſe the Goſpell a longe ſpace, and was greatly commended for a godly man amongeſt the Godly?wicked Day of Chicheſter was the cauſe of his deſperation And yet after by the importunate perſwations of the peſtilent papiſtes denyinge his Maiſter, ſuſtayned this horrible iudgment, that he and ſuch like might be a perpetuall example for you and all men to feare the like or worſe puniſhemente.
You ſee therfore how there is no truſte but in God, no comfort but in Chriſt, no aſſurance but in his promiſſe, by whoſe obedience onelyonly you ſhall auoyde all danger. And whatſoeuer you loſe in this world and ſuffer for his Name,Mat. 10. it ſhall be here recompenced with double according to his promiſſe, and in the worlde to come with liffe euerlaſtinge: which is to finde your liffe, when ye are willinge to lay it downe at his commandement.
The ſecond and laſte remedie.I am not ignorant how vnnaturall a thinge it is, and contrarie to the fleſhe, willingly to ſuſtayne ſuche cruell deathe, as the aduerſaries hauehave appoynted to all the children of God, myndinge conſtantly to ſtand by their profeſsion: which to the ſpirite notwithſtanding is eaſie and ioyful. For thogh the fleſhe be frayle, the ſpirite is prompte and redy. Wherof (prayſed be the name of God) you hauehave had notable experience in many of your brethern very martyrs of Chriſte, who with ioye paciētly and tryumphinghe, hauehave ſuffed and drunke with thurſte of that bitter cupp which nature ſo muche abhorreth: wonderfully ſtrēgthned no dowte by the ſecreat inſpiration of Gods holy Spirite. So that there oght to be none amōgeſt you ſo feeble, weake or timorous, whom the wonderfull examples of Godes preſent power and ſinguler fauour in thoſe perſons, ſhulde not incourage, bolden, and fortifie, to ſhewe the like cōſtancie in the ſame cauſe and profeſsion.
Neuertheles, great cauſe we hauehave thankfully to conſider the inſpeakable mercy of God in Chriſte, which hath farther reſpecte to our infirmitie, that when we hauehave not that boldeneſſe of ſpirite to ſtande to the death, as we ſee others, yet geuing ſo muche to our weakneſſe, he hathe prouided a preſent remedie, that beīg perſecuted in one place, we hauehave libertie to flee in to a nother: where we cannot be in our owne coūtrie with a ſafe conſciēce (except we would make opon profeſsion of our religion,Mat 10. The greate cōfort that Engliſhe baniſhhed for Chriſte ſake finde in other Countryes which is eueryevery mans duetie, and ſo be broght to offre vp our liues in ſacrifice to God in teſtimonie that we are his:) he hathe mollyfied and prepared the hartes of ſtranges to receue vsus with all pitie and gladneſſe, where you may be alſo not onelyonly delyuered from the feare of death and the papiſticall tyrannie practiſed without all meaſure in that coūtrie: but with great freedome of cō ſcience heare the worde of God contynually preached, and the Sacraments of our Sauiour Chriſt purely and duely miniſtred, without all dregges of poperie, or ſuperſticion of mans inuention: to the intent you being with others refreſſhed for a ſpace, and more ſtrongly fortified, may be alſo with others more willing and ready to laye downe your lyues at Gods appoyntment. For that is the chiefeſt grace of God, and greateſt perfection, to fight euen to the bloude vnderunder Chriſtes banner, and with him to geue our liues.
But if you will thus flee (welbeloued in the Lord) you muſt not choſe vntounto your ſelues places according as you phantaſie, as many of vsus which hauehave left our countrie hauehave donne: ſome dwelling in papiſticall places amongeſt the enimies of God in the myddle of impietie: in France, as in Paris, Orliance, and Rone: and ſome in Italy, as in Rome, Vaenice, and Padua. Which perſons in fleeing from their Quene, runne to the Pope: fearing the daunger of their bodies, ſeeke where they may poyſon their ſoules: thinking by this means to be leſſe ſuſpected of Ieſabell, ſhew them ſelues afrayd and aſhamed of the Goſpel, which in tymes paſte they hauehave ſtowtly profeſſed. And leſt they ſhuld be thoght fauorers of Chriſte, hauehave purpoſly ridden by the Churches, and Congregations of his ſeruauntes their bretherne, nether mynded to comforte others there, nor to be comforted them ſelues. Wherin they hauehave ſhewed the coldeneſſe of their zele towarde religion, and geuen no ſmall occaſion of ſlander to the worde of God, which they ſeemed to profeſſe. For beinge returned againe into their Countrie, they either become Idolaters with the papiſtes to pleaſe the Quene, and kepe their poſſeſsions, or els diſſemblers with the reſt of counterfete chriſtians: but to their owne condemnation at length, except the Lorde graunt vntounto them ſpeedie repentance. For who ſo are aſhamed of Chriſt, and his Goſpel,Mat. 10. thus denying him before mē: them hath he promiſed to deny, and be a ſhamed of before his Father, and Angells, in heauen. This maner of fleeinge then is vngodly, and (as you heare) daungerous: and therfore not lawfull for you therin to folow theire example.
Nether is it ynoughe to keepe you out of the dominions of Antichriſte, ād to place your ſelues in corners where you maye be quiete, and at eaſe, and not burthened withe the chardges of the poore, thinking it ſufficient if you hauehave a litle exerciſe in your houſes in reading a chapiter or two of the Scriptures, and then wil be counted zelous perſons and great goſpellers. No brethern and ſiſters, this is not the way to ſhowe your ſelues manfull ſouldiars of Chriſt, except you reſorte where his banner is diſplayed, and his ſtandarde ſett vppe: where the aſſemble of your brethern is, and his worde openly preached, and Sacramentes faithfully miniſtred. For otherwiſe, what may a man iudge, but that ſuch either diſdayne the compagnie of their poore brethern, whome they oght by all means to helpe and comfort, according to that power that God hath geuen them for that ende onelyonly, and not for their owne eaſe: or els that they hauehave not that zele to the houſe of God, the aſſemble of his ſeruantes, and to the ſpirituall gyftes ād graces (which God hath promiſed to powre vponupon the diligent hearers of his worde) as was in Dauid: which deſiered being a kinge, rather to be a dore-keeper in the houſe of God, then to dwel in the tentes of the vngodlye:Pſal. 84. lamentyng nothinge ſo muche the iniuries done vntounto him by his ſonne Abſolon (which were not ſmall) as that he was depryued from the comfortable exercices in the Tabernacle of the Lorde, which then was in Sion. Nether dothe there appeare in ſuch perſons that greedie deſier (wherof Eſai maketh mention) whiche oght to be in the profeſſers of the Goſpell,Eſa. 2. who neuer woulde ceaſe or reſte, till they ſhuld clime vp to the Lordes Hill: meaninge the Churche of Chriſte, ſayng one to a nother: Let vsus aſcende vp to the Hill of the Lorde, to the houſe of the God of Iacob, and he will teache vsus his wayes, and we ſhall walke in his foote ſteppes. For the Lawe ſhall come forthe of Sion, and the worde of the Lorde from Ieruſalem. Whiche zele the Prophet dothe not mē tion in vayne, but to ſhew what a thurſt and erneſt deſier ſhuld be in the true Chriſtians, and how the ſame apeareth in ſeekinge and reſortinge to thoſe places, where it is ſet forthe in greateſte abundance and perfection, as was after Chriſtes aſcention in Ieruſalem. And as that zele ſhewed them to be of Chriſte, by the like muſt we be iudged Chriſtians alſo, that if we flee for Chriſte, the places where vntounto we flee may beare witnes for what cauſe we are fledde.
Nether is yt a ſufficient excuſe which many aleadge, that they beleue to be ſaued by Chriſte, that they hauehave ſufficient knowledge of their duety, and the reſte, they can ſupplie by their owne diligence. Whoſe faithe is not ſo muche (I dare ſaye) but they hauehave neede to defier with the Apoſtles, Lorde increaſe our faithe. And if they will ſo confeſſe, why do they forſake the chiefeſt means that God hathe ordeyned, which is the open Congregations of his people, where his worde, the fountayne of faith, is moſte purely preached, and where the Godly examples of others maye be a ſharper ſpurre to prick them forward. And as for the knowledge and diligence of ſuch, may be no buckler to defend their doinges. For yf they hauehave thoſe gyftes wherof they boſte, where may they beſtowe them better then in the Churche of God? Except they will ſaye,Worldly reſpects which hinder vsus frō God oght to be auoyded. they are borne to them ſelues, and hauehave the gyftes of God which he would hauehave comon to others, applyed to their owne priuate fantaſie, which is to lappe them vp in a clowte, and not to put them forth to the vantage of the owner, as did the vnprofitable ſeruant: and as all they do, to whome God hath geuen either learninge, coūſel, or worldly ſubſtā ce, which eithet for the ſtrēght of Cities, pleaſantneſſe of ayre, trafficke or marchādiſe, or for anie other worldely reſpect or politie, do abſente thē ſelues frō the Congregatiō and companie of their poore brethern, where Chriſt hathe aduaunced his ſtandarde, and blowen his troumpet, as is afore ſayed.
Yf God then geue you not ſtrength-at the firſte to ſtand in his profeſsion to the death, nor that you cannot be quiete in conſcience, abiding in your coūtrie: you ſee how his mercy hath geuen you libertie to flee, and what places he hath appoynted for you to flee vntounto,The graces of God towardes Englande are moſt abundant if they would vſe thē that is, were ye may do good to your ſelues and others, where ye may be free from ſuperſtition and idolatrie, where your faithe may be increaſed rather then diminiſhed, and your ſelues ſtrengthned, confirmed, and more ſtrongly armed.
But if you in taryinge will nether ſtande manfully to Chriſte your Maiſter, but betraye him with the Papiſtes in doinge as they do, nor yet with thankes vſe this remedie that God hath graūted to oure infirmitie, to reſorte to his Churches godly īſtituted: what anſwere ſhall you be able to make to his Maieſtie when he ſhall call for accoumpt of your doinges? How ſhall you auoyde his wrathfull indignation, now redie to be powred vponupon his enimies? Aſſure your ſelffe, they ſhalbe taken in there ſynne: ād you alſo as God doth fynde you. Yf in the tentes of his enimies, doinge as they do vnderunder theire ſtanderde, to be ſtryken with them, and alſo to peryſhe. For in takinge part with theire impietie, you muſt be partakers of theire cupp likewiſe. Nether is this anie newe or hard doctrine that may excede your capacitie, but may rather be termed your a. b. c. & firſt principles, where in none oght to be ignorant. That is if we wylbe Chriſts ſcholers, we moſt learne to beare his croſſe, & to folowe him: not to caſt it ofe our ſhulders with the enimies, and rūne from him. It is the ſame leſſon which of children we learned in the Lordes prayer, that the Name of God the Father may be ſanctified: His kingdome come: His will be dōne. Marke it brethern, that your daylie prayer turne not to your euerlaſtinge confuſion. For yf you daylye praye, that by you his Name maye be ſanctified, that is, that he may be worthely honored for his maieſtie ād wōderfull power, reuerenced for his mercy and infinite wiſdome, feared for his iuſtice, ād iuſte iudgemētes: and yet for feare of the vngodly, do blaſpheme his Name by diſſimulatiō ād outwarde idolatrie, are ye not herein iudges of your owne condemnation? Prayng that his Name may be honored with your lyppes, and blaſpheame him in your deeds? When you praye that his kingdome may come, and yet you your ſelues do buylde and eſtabliſhe the kingdome of Satan? Whē you deſier that his will may be donne, and contrarie therunto, ſtudie to maintayne and accompliſhe the wil of Satan and his members?
Wherfore be nomore diſceaued in ſo playne a matter.1. Kin. 19 The cōcluſion conteyninge the effect of the whole boke. Yf the Lorde be God, folow him: if Baal be God, go after him. Playe no more the hypocrites, praye not with your lippes only, but expreſſe the ſame in your workes. Subiecte your ſelues whollye to God: for he hath redemed you. Honor him alone: for you are his people. Let not the example of any leade you in to errour: for men are but mortall. Truſte in the Lorde: for he is a ſure rocke. Beware of his iudgementes: for they are terrible. Truſt not to your owne ſhiftes: for they will diſceaue you. Marke the end of others, and in tyme be warned. Theſe leſſons are harde to the fleſhe, but eaſie to the ſpirite. The waye of the Lorde is a ſtrayte path, but moſt faithefull, ſure, and comfortable. In this waye hauehave you alſo promiſed to walke with Chriſt: and for the ſame cauſe do you beare his Name, that you ſhuld forſake the worlde and the fleſhe, to yelde vntounto him all honour and obedience, before the face of men in earthe, that he may beſtowe vponupon you the glorie of his Father which is in heauen. To whom with the Sonne, and holy Ghoſt be euerlaſting prayſe, honor and glory for euemore. Amen. From Geneua, this firſt of Ianuarie. M. D.LVIII.
FINIS.