The Godly Mans Journey to Heaven, Treatise 2 · Meditation 4
4. The child of God is alwayes readie to suffer euill for well-doing, or for refusing to do euill, but he can no wayes consent to do euill either for losse or gaine.
HE who alledging himselfe to be the child of God, would proue himselfe to be an Israelite indeed, must resolue to strengthen himselfe through the grace of his God, which is onelyonly able to make him stand against the euill of affliction, and tentation with a great measure of faith, and rare patience: for he must alwayes be readie to suffer euill, and not to do euill. Pharoah by his taskemaisters withdrew from the dispersed Israelites that wanted straw which was furnished vntounto them, & yet kept ouer their head their former tale of bricke alwayes: yet attempted the Israelites Gods children to make any insurrection against these taskmaisters, executors of that bloudie decree, notwithstanding they were many in number, or pressed they by any secret plot to cut off that Pharoah by whom that bloudie and cruell decree was deuised and published? No, no; but yeelding to both, they runne vp and downe, gathering stubble in stead of straw, and the rest sit downe making as many bricke euerie day as possibly they could.1. Sam. 13. 30. 31. I will euer louelove a Samuel who can honour euerie wicked Saul before the people;2. Sam. 4. 6. 7. but I will neuer louelove a Rechab and Baanah who can come secretly into the house where their maister lyes sleeping on his bed and smite him, slay him, and behead him. I will euer louelove a Dauid whose heart will smite him if he cut off but the lappe of Sauls garment, and who resolued neuer to put his hand on the Lords annointed, albeit he had done him many wrongs; yea, had wronged Church had wronged common-wealth.2. Sam. 24. 16. But I will neuer louelove an Athalia who dare cut off all the Kings Linage to make a roome for her selfe:2. Chron. 22. 10. neither a Bigtan, nor a Teres, who being keepers of the King of Persias chamber-doore, sought to slay him. But I shall euer louelove a Mordecay who knowng such a conspiracie albeit he was a stranger,Ester 1. 21. 22. cannot keepe it vp, but reueale it presently to the ouerthrow of the traitors, & safetie of the King. Alwayes thou must not wonder, ô my soule, that the child of God can thus behaue himselfe, for being no scholer to the false bloudie Iesuite, (who hath stolen from men that cleare lanterne of the booke of God and put in their hand the cutthroate lanterne of their owne traditions,) but being well taught of God his Maister out of the booke of truth, which cānot but direct man rightly, he is throughly resolued about the truth of two grounds which alwayes stand infallible. For first he knoweth, that vengance belongeth not vntounto man, but vntounto God; therefore out of a sense and reuerence of this, not daring attempt to detrude his God out of his chaire, and intrude himselfe in his Maiesties throne,Deut. 22. 35. he will not, yea, he dare not (being stayed by his conscience, enlightened with the lanterne of Gods truth) by his owne hand auenge himselfe. Againe well knoweth he, that the weake aduised child of God hauing his written word for his booke and lesson, dare not attempt to do that which is euill, to the end that good may come thereby; but that he must alwayes do that which his God commanded, and is commended by his God,Rom. 3. 8. referring euer the euent to his mercifull, wise, powerfull Maiestie: not being ignorant that God his Father will neuer accompanie any curse with his blessing, which is repugnant to his written word, albeit it take some feete, and appeare to go on for a while. Yea, the child of God being strengthened from aboue, is alwayes readie to suffer for desiring to do good, and for refusing to do euill. The three holy children cannot be readie notwithstanding of Nebuchadnezars commandement to fall downe and worship that golden image which he had set vp: and yet they can be readie at the commandement of the said King to be cast in the hot firie furnace for refusing to worship it.Dan. 3. Daniel can refuse to draw vp his suite for the space of three dayes to any besides the Persian King, notwithstanding of the Kings decree,Dan. 6. commanding him to do so; and yet he can be readie to go and enter within the denne of lions for refusing to obey it.Act. 5. 40. 41. 42. The Apostles of Iesus can refuse to ceasse to preach to the people in the name of Iesus, albeit the Councell of Ierusalem charge them so: and yet they can reioyce to be beaten by the Councell for preaching vntounto them in his name. The sense hereof moued Tatian to speake thus,Tatian. ô my soule, Sirex iubet tributum pendere paretus sum, si Dominus seruire, seruitutem agnosco. Solum Deum si quis negare iubet non agnosco. If my King command me to pay tribute I am readie, if my Maister command me to serue him, I acknowledge his seruice. But if any command me to denie my God him I will not know. And therefore it was wondrous well said of old, Dicit tyrannus martiri pone ceruicem, ponit; dicit obserua missam, reculat: iubet ire in vincula, it; & iubet adorare sanctos, negat: Impia facere reculat, iniqua facere non reculat. The tyrant saith to the martyr of God, lay downe thy necke, he layeth it downe; he commands him to go to Masse, that he refuseth: he chargeth him to go to prison and bands, he goeth; he commands him to worship the Saints, that he refuseth: wicked things he refuseth to do, vniust troubles he refuseth not to suffer. Were this considered, ô my soule, many who be thought to be obedient and loyall subiects, should be found to be rebels, and many who be counted to be disobedient seruants, yea, grosse traitors, should proue to be true seruants, not onelyonly to inferior Iudges, but also to that King of kings, who is that sole great law-giuer; who hath onelyonly power to saue and to destroy.