A Fort for the Afflicted, Part 2
The Argument of the Epistle.
A comfortable Epistle sent to the afflicted Churche of Christ, exhorting them to beare his crosse with patience, looking eueryevery houre for his comming againe, to the greate comforte and consolation of his chosen, with a prophecie of the destruction of the wicked. Whereunto i… ioyned a most wholesome counsel, howe to he hauehave our selues in the middest of this wicked generation, touching the dayly exercise of Gods most holy and sacred word▪ Written by the man of God, I. K.
Eze. 9.
Passe through the citie, and put a signe on the foreheads of those that mourne for the abhominations that are committed.
WHen I ponder with my self (beloued in the Lord) what the state was of Christes true Churche,The care of God is alvvaies one o…er his chosen. immediately after his death and passion, and what were the changes & great mutations in the common wealth of Iudea, before the final desolation of the same: as I cannot but feare that like Plagues for like offences shal strike the Realme of England, and in fearing, God knoweth, I lament & morne: so can I not but reioice, knowing that Gods most merciful prouidence is no lesse careful this day ouer his weake and feeble seruants, in the Realme of Englande, than it was that day ouer his weake and sore oppressed flocke in Iurie. What was the state of Christes churche betweene his death and resurrection: & from his resurrection to the sending of the holy Ghost vppon his disciples: and from that time also to the finall destruction of Hierusalem? The plaine Scripture doeth witnesse, that it was most afflicted without al comforte and worldly consolation, and that it was so persecuted, that hauock was made ouer the church of God. And what were the mutations and troubles in Iudea and Hierusalem before the destruction of the same, such as are expressed in histories, and principally in Iosephus and Egesippus,Egesip. lib. 1. cap, 44. can not bee ignorant. For they witnesse that ouer that vnthankeful people were pe…mitted to reigne, cruel, tyran…ous and most vngodly magistrates, by whome the people were oppressed and spoyled of their liberties: by which occasion, was stirred vp sedition, and therevpon followed so cruel tyrannie, that vnderunder the name of iustice no smal number of the people were burned quicke. After which crueltie followed such murder vniuersallie in the citie and in the fieldes, that the fathers feared their sonnes▪ and the brethren their brethren. Which vnquietnesse ceased not, vntil Gods seuere vengeance was once powred forth vppon such, as obsti…ately refused and persecuted Christ Iesus and his doctrine. But to returne to the entreatement and preseruation of Christes church at this time, it is euident, that most sharply it was persecuted, and yet dayly did it increase and multiply.Actes 12. It was compelled to flye from citie to citie, from Realme to Realme, and from one Nation to another: and yet so wonderful was it preserued, that a greate number of those whome the wicked Priestes, by their blooddie tyranny exiled and banished from Hierusalem, were kept aliue, til Gods vengeance was powred forth vppon that most wicked generation. The remembrance of this, beloued in the Lorde, is vntounto my hearte such comforte and consolation, that neither can my tongue nor penne expresse the same. For this assuredlie is my hope and expectation, that like as Christ Iesus appeared to his Disciples, when there was nothing in their heartes but angu…she and desperation: and like as hee preferred and multiplyed their number vnderunder the most extreeme persecution: so shal hee doe to his afflicted flocke within the Realme of Englande this day. First I say this is my hope that a iust vengeance shalbee taken vppon those blood-thirstie tyrantes,As God did to his afflicted Church in Iudea, so sha… be doe the same in England. by whome Christes Iesus in his members is nowe crucified amongst you. And after that his veritie shall so appeare to the cōfort of those, that now do mourne, that they shall heare and know the voice of their owne Pastour. And this shal our merciful God doe vntounto vsus, to let vsus knowe, and in practi…e vnderstand, that his promises are infallible, and that hee wil not intreate vsus, according to the weakenesse of our corrupt nature, which alwaies is readie to fal from God, to distrust his promises, and to forget that euer wee hauehave receiued benefite or comforte from Gods hand, when trouble lieth vponupon vsus, or when extreeme danger doeth appeare. And therefore, beloued in the Lord,Our imperfection may not hinder God to be merciful. albeit you finde your harts sometimes assaulted with dolour, with grudging or with some kinde of desperation: yet dispaire not vtterlie, neither be ye troubled aboue measure, as that Christ Iesus shoulde neuer visite you againe. Not so, deere brethren, not so, for such imperfections rested with Christes owne Apostles of a long time: and yet did they not hinder his comming againe vntounto them. No more shal our weakenesse and imperfections hinder or let the brightnesse of his countenance, and the comfort of his worde yet once againe to shine before vsus. Prouided alwaies, that Iudas his obstinacie, his impenitencie & traiterous hearte bee absent from vsus. As I doubte not, but it is from al the members of Christes bodie, who are permitted sometime to fal, so that of the most feruent professors, they become fearefull denyers of the most knowen trueth:Gods elect are permit…ed sometimes …orribly to fal. but they are not permitted of any continuance to blaspheme, neither to remaine in vnbeliefe and desperation to the ende, as in Christes Apostles plainely may be seene. And that more cleerely wee may vnderstande, our time and estate within the Realme of Englande, this day, to agree with the time and estate of Christes disciples, immediately after his death: let vsus consider what chaunced to them before and after the same. Before Christes passion as they were instructed by Christes owne mouth of many things, appertaining to that kingdome of God, which they neither perfectly vnderstoode, neither worthily then regarded: so were they aduertised and ofte admonished,The state of Christes Church▪ before & shortly after his death. that Christ their Maister shoulde suffer a cruel death, that they shoulde bee ashamed, slandered and offended in him, that they shoulde flye from him: And finally that persecution and trouble from time to time should apprehende them. With these most dolorous tydinges, hee also promised, that hee shoulde rise vppon the thirde day, that he shoulde rise for them againe to their comfo…ce and consolation,Note. and that he shoulde mightily deliuer them from al troubles and aduersities. But what auailed al these admo…tions to Christes …, before his death, or in that extremi…ie of their anguishes shortly after the same? did they feare, and verily looke for trouble before it came? Or did they looke for any comforte, when the forespoken trouble was come? It is most euident that no such thing did enter into their heartes. For before Christes death their greatest minde was vppon worldly honour, for which sometimes they debated and contended amongest themselues:…. 22. yea, euen when Christe was most earnestly preaching of his crosse. And after his death they were so oppressed with anguishe, with care, with dolour and desperation, that neither coulde the witnessing of the women, affirming that they had seene Christ, neither the graue left emptie & voide, neither the Angels, who did appeare to certifie his resurrection, neither yet the very voice and presence of Christ Iesus himselfe, remoue al doubtes from their afflicted heartes: but from time to time their mindes wa…ered and fully coulde not be established that their Lord and Maister was verily risen to their comforte, according to his former promises.… In this case consider I the true professours of Christes holie Euangelie to be this day in the Realme of Englande. For these dayes of our present dolour and tribulation hauehave beene before spoken and blowen in our eares long time before they came. Our weakenesse and fraile infirmitie was also painted foorth before our eyes: but who woulde hauehave beleeued that those dayes of our trouble had beene so nigh? Or that so shorte a tempest shoulde hauehave ouerthrowen so greate a multitude? I thinke no man within the whole Realme: for al men appeared to liue in such carelesse securitie, as that the immutable sentence of God pronouncing, that whosoeuer wil liue godly in Christ Iesus,2. Ti…. 1. shal suffer persecution, had nothing appertained to our age. And such a bolde confidence (or rather a vaine persuasion) had a greate number of their owne strength, that if they had continued without any backe slyding, they might hauehave beene iudged rather Angels then men.
But (beloued in the Lorde) the sworde of anguishe and of dolour hath nowe pearced the tender hearte of Christes mother (that is,Luke. 2. …. Cor. 3. of his very church…) that the cogitations of many heartes are sufficiently reuealed. The fire is come, which as it hath burnt awaye with a blast, the stubble, Haye and Wood: so in trying the golde, siluer, and precious stones, it hath founde such drosse and duste, that the whole masse may appeare to bee confused. For who nowe calleth to minde that the same voice, which forespake our dolours, forespake also our euerlasting comforte with Christ Iesus? Who delighted nowe in his amiable promises? Who reioiceth vnderunder the crosse? yea, who rather doeth not feare, tremble, grudge, and lament, as that there were no helpe in God, or as that hee regardeth not the trouble which wee suffer? These are the imperfections, that continually remaine in this our corrupt nature: the knowledge whereof ought to moue vsus earnestly to crye: O Lorde increase our fayth,The …ause of …mforte. bee merciful vntounto vsus, and let vsus not drowne in the deepe for euer. Which if we doe with vnfained hearts, …hen yet shall Christ Iesus appeare to our comforte: his power shalbee knowne to the praise and glorie of his owne name, in despite of al his coniured enemies▪ And this is the chiefe and principal cause of my comforte and consolation in these most dolorous dayes, that neither can our infirmities nor dayly desperation hinder or let Christ Iesus to returne to vsus againe.
The other cause of my comforte and consolation is,VVby God should sodainely strike the Papist… in England. that I am assured that the iudgement of these Tyrantes, that nowe oppresse vsus, shall not slippe, but the vengeance shal fal vppon them without prouision. For they hauehave sufficiently declared the malice of their mindes. They hauehave violated the lawe, and holy ordinances of the Lorde our God. They hauehave opened their mouthes against his eternal veritie. They hauehave exiled his trueth and established their owne lyes. They dayly persecute the innocentes, and stoutly maintaine open murthers: their heartes are obdurate, and their faces are become shamelesse like harlottes: so that no hope of repentance nor amendement is to bee had of them. And therefore destruction shal sodainly fal vppon them. But with what kinde of plagues they shalbee stricken in this life,VVhat vvee ought to auoid in extreeme trouble. and whome GOD shall appoint to execute his … vppon them, that I remit to his good pleasure and further reuelation.
But their manifest inquitie, is vntounto mee an assured assurance, that long they cannot escape the … of them most iustly deserued. But in the meane season, beloued brethren, two… thinges yee must auoide: the former, that yee presume not to bee reuengers of your owne cause, but that yee resigne ouer vengeance vntounto him, who onelyonly is able to requite them▪ according to their malicious mindes.
Secondly,Mat. 5. that yee hate not with any …arnal hatred, these blinde, cruel, and malicious tyrantes, but that yee learne of Christ, to pray for your persecutors, lamenting and bewayling that the Deuil shoulde so preuaile against them, that headlong they shoulde runne body and soule to perpetual perdition. And note wel, that I say wee may not hate them with a carnal hatred, that is to say, onelyonly because they trouble our bodies.Psalm. 119. For there is a spiritual hatred, which Dauid … a perfect hatred which the holy Ghost engendreth in the … of Gods elect against the rebellious contemners of his holy statues.Perfect and godly hatred. And it is when … more lament that Gods glorie is suppressed, and that Chris…es flocke is defrauded of their wholesome foode, thē that our bodies are persecuted. …With this hatred was Ieremie inflamed when he praied: let me see thy vengeance taken vponupon thine enemies, O Lorde. With this hatred may we hate tyrants, and earnestly may we pray for their destruction, be they kings or Queenes, Princes or Prelates. And further yee shal note that the praiers, made in the feruencie of this hatred, are before God so acceptable, that often times he that praieth, obtaineth the selfesame thing, that the external words of his praier doe meane: as Dauid, Ieremie, and other of the Prophetes sawe with their corporal eies: the whote vengeance of God powred forth vponupon the cruel tyrants of their age: & I am assured that some, which this day do …ob & grone vnderunder your tyrānous bishops shall see the like vponupon the Pestile…t Papistes within the Realme of England.… This my affirmation proceedeth not frō any coniecture of mans phantasie, but frō the ordinary cause of gods iudgements against manifest contemners of his preceptes, from the beginning which is this.
First to rebuke and notifie by his messengers such sinnes, as before the worlde are not knowen to bee sinne. Secondly, to prouoke them to repentance.
Thirdly to suffer the reprobate to declare their owne impenitencie before the worlde: and last to powre vponupon them so manifest vengeance, Exo. 7. 8. 14. …. Kings. 15. 3. Kings. 13.that his churche may bee instructed aswel of his power, as of his seuere iudgementes against inobedience. This was the order of his iudgement against Pharao, against Saule, against Ieroboam, against Herode, against the Scribes and Pharisees, and against the whole citie of Ierusalem. Our eares hauehave hearde, and our eyes hauehave seene, the first three diettes of the Lordes iudgement, executed against the Pestilent Papistes within the Realme of Englande. For wee hauehave hearde their summoning and citation duelie executed by the Messengers of Gods woorde.Papistes hauehave bin summoned. Wee hauehave hearde them accused and conuicted before their owne faces of theft and murther,Papistes hauehave bin ac…used and con…icted. of blasphemie against God, of idolatrie, and finally, of al abhominations, which crimes being laide to their charge in their owne presence,Time of repentance hath beene graunted vntounto Papistes. they were not able to deny, so potent, so plaine & euident was gods worde, whereby their secrete botches & olde festered sores were discouered & reuealed. We knowe that long processe of time hath beene graunted by Gods lenitie to their conuersion and repentance. And howe litle the same hath auailed, these present dayes may testifie.The due execution approcheth. For who nowe doeth not espie their malice to encrease, & their obstinacie to bee such, as none can be greater? Shal wee then thinke, that God wil giuegive ouer his cause, as that he were not able to preualie against Tyrants? Not so (deare brethrē) not so. But euē so assuredly as our god liueth, by whose spirite was stirred vp some of his elect: first, to espie the great abhominatiōs of those tyrantes in this our age: which his messengers in despite of their tyranny God preserued to proclaime & notifie, before their owne faces, such sinnes, as the worlde knewe not to bee sinne: and assuredly as we hauehave espied thē still to continue in malice against God, against his eternal veritie, and against the messengers of the same: so assuredly shal wee see Gods extreme plagues powred foorth vppon them euen in this corporal life: That some … vsus may witnesse to the generation that shal folowe the wonderous workes that the Lorde hath wrought, and will worke in this our age. Neither shal the…e plagues (more then the worde of God which passed before) worke in them any true repentance, but stil in a blinde … they shall rebel against the Maies…e of God.Papists shal … against God to the end. For the deadly venome of that malicious serpent their father the Diuel, can …euer bee purged from their cankered heartes. And therfore after these plagues of whome some wee hauehave hearde and seene, for what a Plague was it to the false Bishop of Doresme,To…stal conuicted of murther and theft to his face, at Bervvicke. The last plague of the Papists. before his face to bee called murtherer and theefe, and of the same to be conuict, that neither could him selfe deny it neither any of his proctours or diuine doctours, being present with him durst enterprise to speake one worde in defence of his cause? After these plagues (I say) of whom some wee hauehave seene, and the rest wee shortly looke for, res…eth the last, the vnq…ēchable fire which is prepared for their portion. And therfore yet again, dearely beloued in our Sauiour Iesus Christe, hope you against hope, and against al worldly appearance. For assuredly as God is immutable: so, assuredly shal he stirre vp one Iehu or other, to execute his vengeāce vponupon those blood thirstie tyrants, and obstinate idolaters. And therefore, abide yee patiently the time that is appointed to our correction, and to the ful ripenesse of their malicious mindes. Bee not discouraged, although the Bishops hauehave gotten the victorie. So did the Beniamites (naturall brethren to our Bishops) defenders of who…edom & of al abhohominable adulterie, twice preuaile against the Israelites, who fought at Gods commaundement: Yee shall consider, (beloued brethren) that the counsels of God are profounde and inscrutable. The most iust man is innocent in his sight. There may be secrete causes, why God sometimes wil permit the most wicked to preuaile & triumph in the most vniust action▪ but yet wil hee not long delay to execute his his wrath, and iustly deserued vengeance vponupon such as bee proude murtherers, obs…inate idolaters, and impenitent malefactours. And the…fore hauehave they not great cause to reioyce. For albeit they hauehave once preuailed against fleshe, yet shall GOD shortely bring them to vtter confusion, and great shame for euer. Let Winchester and his cruel counsel deuise, and studie till his wits faile, howe the kingdom of his father, the Antichrist of Rome, may prosper: And let him and them drinke the blood of Gods Saintes, til they be drunke, and their bellies burst, yet shal they neuer preuaile long in their attemptes. Their connsels and determinations, shalbe like the dreame of a hūgrie & thirstie mā, who in his sleepe dreameth that he is eating or drinking, but after he is awaked, his paine continueth, and his soule is vnpatient and nothing eased.Iob. 5 Euen so shal these tyrants after their profound counselles, long deuises, and assured determinations, vnderstande and knowe that the hope of hypocrites shalbe frustrate, and that a kingdome begunne with tyranny and blood, can neither be stable nor permanent: but that the glory, the riches, and mainteiners of the same, shalbe as strawe in the flame of fire: altogether with a blast they shalbe consumed,Iob. 15. in such sort, that their places shalbe an heape of stones, their congregation shalbe desolate, and such as doe depende vponupon their helpe,Esay. 12 shal fal into destruction and ignominie with them.
And therefore (beloued brethren in our Sauiour Iesus Christ) seeing that neither can our imperfection, nor fraile weakenes, hinde… Christe Iesus, to returne to vsus by the presence of his worde, neither that tyranny of these blood thirstie wolues, may so deuour Christes small flocke. But that a great number shal bee preserued to the praise of Gods glory: neither that these most cruel tyrants can long escape Gods vengeance: let vsus in comfort, lift vp our heads, and constantly looke for the Lordes deliuerance with hearte and voice, saying to our God: O Lorde, albeit other lordes then thou, hauehave power ouer our bodies, yet let vsus onelyonly remember thee, and thy holy name, to whome bee praise for euer and euer, Amen. God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, by his omnipotent spirite, guide and rule your heartes in his true feare to the ende, Amen.
Written at Deepe, the last day of May. 1554.