Treatise on 1 Peter 4 — Oliver Pigg

Treatise on 1 Peter 4 · Oliver Pigg

1. Pet. 4. 12.

Dearely beloued, think it not strange concerning the fiery triall, which is among you, as though ſome strange thing were come vntounto you.

IT appeareth by the diſcourſe of this epiſtle, that y^e Chriſtians to whome Peter wrote, were at that time in great perſecution: whereuppon, after other thinges handled before in this text, he commeth to giuegive them inſtructions touching this matter, how they ſhold patiently …eare the croſſe, and comfortably behaue themſelues in the middeſt of their greateſt afflictions. A point of doctrine not vnneceſſary for vsus at this time. For although by the great mercye of God, it fareth not with vsus, as it did with the churches then: Becauſe we liue vnderunder a gratious prince that doth cheriſh and mainteine the trueth. Yet becauſe our ſinnes: be ſuch, as doe iuſtly diſerue the taking away of he… royall maieſty, and the reſtraint of pure religion, I ſee no reaſon why the teachers ſhould be charged not to take a good courſe in preparing the people before hande to bear ſuch troubles, whenſoeuer they ſhould come, no more then our ſauiour Chriſt was to be challenged. For telling his diſciples ſo oft of his and their own perſecutions before they came, & arming of them againſte the ſame. It is the practiſe of well ordered common wealthes, in the time of peace to teach their people the feates of warre. And each man that hath any care of himſelf and his country, when all things are moſt quiet, doth neuertheleſſe prouide ſuch things in a redineſſe, as may ſtand him in ſteed in y^• time of trouble. Euen ſo is it neceſſary, that in the peace of the goſpell, we… be inſtructed to bear afflictions for the ſa…e: & when the trueth hath greateſt liberty, we ſhould continually looke for perſecution, & therefore, by the precepts and comforts of the worde, be alwayes prepared to abide whatſoeuer may fal out. Which conſiderations hauehave moued mee at this preſent, to ſpeake vntounto you out of this ſcripture.

Thinke it not straunge concerning the fiery triall: In this firſt verſe, he willeth the Chriſtians, not to maruell at the perſecution of the churche (which hee calleth by the name of fiery triall) as thoughe ſome ſtrāge thing had happened. The laſt words ſeeme to bee ſet downe as a reaſon to perſwade that which he requireth. As though he ſhould hauehave ſayde on this wiſ: the trouble & affliction of the church or any member thereof, is no ſtraunge thing, and therfore no reaſon why you ſhoulde maruel at it. For we maruell at ſuch things onelyonly, as doe ſeldome come to p…ſſe, and after an extraordinary maner: But if any thing come to paſſe often and ordinarily, that wee are not wont to maruell at, although in it ſelfe it be neuer ſo wonderfull. If we ſhould ſee a horſe flye in the ayre: if wee ſhoulde ſee great ſnowes in the middes of ſommer: or a plentifull harueſt in the middes of winter: behold iuſt occaſions to make vsus wonder, becauſe theſe things ſeldome or neuer fall out, and the courſe of nature, the order ſet downe by God himſelfe ſhoulde bee inuerted. But to ſee a horſe runne apace vponupon the grounde, to ſee deepe …ſnowes in the middeſt of winter, and harueſt in Auguſt or September, doth neuer cauſe wonder…ng or aſtoniſhment, although in deede they be moſt marueilous works of the Lord. Euen ſo perſecutions and afflictions for righteouſnes ſake, beeing the ordinarye portion which from time to time the ſaints of God hauehave receiued in this worlde, there is no more cauſe why we ſhould be amazed or aſtoniſhed at that whenſoeuer generally or particularly it falleth out, then at the ſnow in the winter, or harueſt in the ſommer. If we looke vntounto the beginning, we ſhall ſee that Cain perſecuted his own brother Abel: afterward Iſmael Iſaack, Eſau Iacob. And when y^e viſible church began to be a great people (I mean y^e Iewes:) the Egyptians firſt, & then al the nations round about, ben… their force againſt them. Among the Iews hypocrites, and naughty perſons, of the kings, prieſtes▪ prophets, and people failed not to hold on the ſame courſe, in offering all manner of cruelty, to ſuch as truely feared the Lorde, and zealouſly executed the functions in them committed, as the hiſtories of the ſcripture doe playnely witneſſe. If we looke into the enterteinment of our ſauiour Chriſte and his apoſtles in their time, it ſhall appeare to hauehave bene nothing better th…n the former. And that the like condition hath bene vponupon the church euer ſithence, it is knowne to ſuch as hauehave read the ſtories. In ſo much as that complaint is moſt true, w…ich ſhe maketh in the pſal. They hauehave often times afflicted mee from my youth vp: Pſa. 129. ….that is to ſay, euer ſithence I had any being vponupon the earth, mine enimies hauehave not ceaſſed to afflict me, & as it were to plowe deepe furrowes vponupon my backe. You ſee then what we hauehave here to learne in the firſt place, namely not to be troubled at the perſecutions which may happen to our ſelues, or any other the members of Chriſt, For the profeſſion of his truth and doing of our duety, as though ſome ſtrange thing were come to paſſe, ſeeing it is the ordinary courſe, which the wicked worlde (whoſe works are nought) taking their direction from their grandfather Caine, hath from time to time practiſed agaynſte the church, and the ordinary way, by the which the Lord from age to age, hath lead all his children: to the verifiyng of that, which Paul and Barnabas preached whereſoeuer they came: Act. 14 22.Through many afflictions wee must enter into the kingdome of God.

And this being ſo, It behoueth vsus, when wee firſt ioyne our ſelues to the churche of God, and enter into the profeſſion of his trueth, with purpoſe to leade oure liues according thereunto: to ſitte vsus down, according to the counſel of our ſauiour Chriſt & to make our account on this wiſe.Luk 14. 27. 28. 31. 32. Surely I ſee that al fleſh is graſſe, and al things vnderunder the ſunne are but vanity. The time will come when I muſt dye, and God hath appoynted a day wherein he will iudge all the worlde.Act. 17. 31. He hath prepared life and bleſſedneſſe for them that feare him, and vengeance for them that knoweth him not, nor obey his goſpell.2. Theſ. 1. 8. I perceiue therefore it is neceſſary, that I care for the life to come, & prouide for the ſafety of my ſoul after deth. If I take the courſe of the world, I run to eternal deſtruction, If I embrace the word the only way vntounto heauen & eternall life, I muſt make my ful reckoning of that which al the faithful profeſſors therof hauehave taſted before me, I muſt prepare my backe for ſtripes, I muſt looke to bee euil ſpoken of, ieſted vponupon, ſcorned at, to loſe the fauour of thoſe that bee mighty, to be caſt in priſon, loſe my goodes, yea and my life alſo. For I ſee this is the eſtate of the true ſeruants of God in this worlde. Hee that ſhall thus debate the matter with him ſelfe, and with an heart careful of his owne ſaluation cal vponupon God for his direction, wil ſoone be reſolued with Moſes, Heb. 11. 25.to chuſe rather afflictitions with the people of God, then to enioy the pleaſures of ſi…ne here for a ſhort time. Moreouer when ſtormes ariſe, the windes b…ow, and the floods beare vponupon his houſe: y^t is, when troubles and perſecutions come, he ſhal be able to beare them more patiently, and with greater comfort, ſith in t…ueth he may ſay, I thought ſo: Loe, it is come to paſſe as I looked for long ſince. It is a common ſaying: euils that be thought vppon before doe hurt leſſe when they come. Then they pearce vsus deeply whē they come vponupon vsus at vnwares, and when wee neuer before ſuſpected any ſuch matter.Math. 16. 24. Therfore to couclude this poynt, ſith the croſſe is in: ſeperably ioyned to the profeſſion of the trueth, let him that wil ſtand with comfort in the time of his trial, before hand make his reckoning and looke for no better. It followeth in the text.

Concerning the fiery triall, or triall by fire, the wordes do beare either. Now the apoſtle doth on this wiſe, terme the perſecutions of Gods children.Verſ…. 7. According as hee doth before in the firſt chapter. The ſpeech is metaphoricall or borrowed, ſignifying thus much: As fire trieth the pure golde, from that which is counterfait and naught, fining it, & moreouer burneth, waſteth & ſun dreth y^t droſſe & ruſt from y^t which is good, ſo troubles and afflictions for Chriſtes ſake, doe diſcerne the faythfull Chriſtian from the hypocrite, and time ſeruer, and waſteth away the corruption of ſinne that creepeth and ſtealeth in vppon the faythfull in their peace and proſperity, making them more pure and fine to the Lord. For the firſt, there lurketh ſo great ſelfe louelove & hipocriſie in vsus, and there are ſo many deceitfull corners in our heartes, that it is a meruelious harde matter, to be vndoubtedly perſuaded in our conſciences of our integrity and vprightneſſe to the Lord and his trueth, while the profeſſion thereof is commanded by Princes, and hath countenance, liberty, & profite wayting vponupon it. For then how earneſt ſoeuer wee ſeeme to be, peraduenture wee louelove our ſelues, & not the Lord, & it is our own eſtimation & preferment y^t we ſeeke, & not the holding forth of the trueth with a pure conſcience. Then in deed we know our ſelues, when we hauehave bene tried. And if in the middeſt of al temptations, we continue without fainting and turning back, we may be bold of our obediēce y^t it is good, y^t we be ſuch as hauehave built our houſe vpō y^e rock,Mat. 7. 24. 25. and y^t neither heighth nor depth,Rom. 8. 38. 39. principalities nor power, life nor deth, things preſent or things to come, ſhal be able to ſeperate vsus frō the louelove of God. While our ſauiour Chriſte was at liberty, Peter thought himſelf maruellous ſtout,Mat. 26. 33. he affirmed very confidently,Ioh. 18. 10. y^t he would not ſhrink frō his maiſter, although all the reſt ſhould runne away: yea when the officers came to attach him, he drew out his ſword, & ſmote of a ſeruaunt of the high prieſt his ear. But when y^e matter came to y^e pinch in deede, we knowe how all his courage was quailed, & the very ſpeech of a damſell cauſed him to abiure the ſauiour of y^e world, to whō he had before ſo earneſtly vowed him ſelf. By him wee may learne to ſuſpect our ſelues, and our owne weakneſſe, and not to imagine that wee bee without all feare of reuolting,Luk. 8. 13 becauſe in the liberty & peace of the goſpell wee make pro…eſſion of the ſame. The ſandye grounde nouriſheth his blade, ſo long as the weather continueth ſeaſonable and calme, which neuertheleſſe in hot and ſcorching wether, withereth and is vnprofitable. That onelyonly we approue for good ground indeed, which in the extremity of heat, we hauehave ſeene bring forth the eares with full corne. Euen ſo, it is nothing in theſe daies to pro…eſſe the true religion, the ſame being commanded by the lawes, and countenanced by ſo many good means: but if for our ſinnes God ſhould take away the prince, if popery ſhold be eſtabliſhed again, or a mingle māgle of religiō permitted as in France: then y^• true & faithful profeſſors ſhold be eaſily diſcerned from the hypocrit and diſſemvler. When all the enemies of Dauid were ſubdued round about, and the whole kingdome of Iudah approued him for their only and true ſouereigne, ther was no great trial of the fidelitie of his ſubiects But when Sheba the ſonne of Bichri blew the Trumpet and ſayd,1. Sam. 20. 1. 2 we hauehave no parte in Dauid, neither hauehave we inheritaunce in the ſonne of Ishai, eueryevery man to his tents O Iſrael. And this drew away great numbers of the people to make an inſurrection: Then ſuch as in the middeſt of thoſe rebels by word or practiſe, teſtified their ſubiection to Dauid with the hazard of their eſtate, gaue vndoubted teſtimonies of their fidelity. We can not ſay for a truth, that al ſuch be faythfull to her maieſtie, whiche in this her great proſperity (wherein no enemye dare quech) ſeemeth ſo to be: they which in the dayes of Westmerland and Nort humberlaud, ſtoode vntounto her in thoſe partes of the North agaynſt their Lordes to their daunger, were faythfull in deede, and the land might make a good reckoning of thē, in any other the like occaſion. As therefore by ſuche meanes as theſe, loyall and true hearted ſubiectes to their prince be tried: ſo when troubles and perſecutions ariſe for the word, they which be ſincere & vpright in the feare of the Lord, be diſcerned from the counterfeite, whiche in their profeſſion …aue ſought nothing but their aduauntage …nd eaſe. And then in deed we hauehave put the church of God and our owne conſciences out of al doubt concerning our entegritye, when in the middeſt of afflictions for the goſpell ſake, we hauehave continued with boldnes to profeſſe the ſame. We ſee therefore y^t it is not without good cauſe, why perſecutions be called a fiery trial. Now, euen this ſhould teach vsus, patiently & comfortably to endure al maner of croſſes, for the trueth & a good conſcience, ſith y^t our holding out in them, is a certein proofe y^t our faith is good & our obedience ſuch as will go for paimēt before the Lord. From whēce alſo we may vndoubtedly perſwade our ſelues, that wee ſhal not faint when the like or greater dangers fall out. When we hauehave a caſe in law for any landes y^t we claime, we are glad to hauehave our euidences examined, whether they be good or no, before we come to the pinch: & if we hauehave golde lye by vsus, y^t we occupy not, wee are content to hauehave it tried before hand, y^t we may be ſure it will bee currant, whenſoeuer occaſion falleth out to vſe it. Why then be we not glad, of diſgracings, railings, complaints, loſſe of fauour, impriſonment, and ſuch like, when they come vntounto vsus for doing of our duty & righteouſnes ſake? ſeeing y^t by our ſuffering of them, the Lord prepareth vsus for greater matters, & our patiēce in theſe is as it were an earneſt vntounto vsus, that wee ſhall ſtand when we bee tried to the vttermoſt. Therfore I conclude this part,Iac. 1. 2. 3. 4. with that of S. Iames: count it for great ioy (my brethren) when you fall into many tentations: knowing y^t the triall of your faith bringeth forth patience. And let patience hauehave her perfect work, y^t you may be perfect & entire lacking nothing.

The ſecond effect of perſecutions, wherevppon they be compared to a fiery triall, I ſayd was this. As fire drieth vp al maner of droſſe in the good golde, ſo they dry vp many corruptions, that creepe vponupon the godly, in the time of their liberty & peace. For thus it fareth with the beſt of Gods children, when they be a litle quiet, & the world ſeemeth to ſmile vponupon them, if they breake not out, as reſty & pampred horſes, to open outrage & diſorder, yet at the leaſt ther ſtealeth vpō them much vanity, worldlines, delight in things earthly, & negligence (if not contēpt) of things heauenly. Wherupon y^e louelove of the word doth decreaſe in them, and they become not ſo carefull and zealouſe of the honour of God as they were before. The examples of Ioſeph, Gen. 41. 51.Dauid, & Ezechias, 2 Sam. 11.may ſerue to proue the trueth of this.Iſa. 39. The Lord ſeeing the tickle diſpoſition that is in all men to this vnrulineſſe, was wont to meete with the ſame before hande with mani…olde Croſſes, euen in ſuch men as he made eſpeciall account of. For no doubt this was one principal end, of the infinite turmoyles, that Abraham and Iacob were encombred with, that ſo they mighte be brought to deſpiſe the earth which is repleniſhed with ſo many miſeries, ſeeke after eternity, & zealouſly ſet them ſelues to y^e whereunto the Lorde did cal them. Now as he mercifully and in great wiſdome did on this wiſe preuent ſuch diſordered affections, as were otherwiſe like to hauehave poſtered their hearts: ſo dealeth he as gratiouſly with his children in ſeeking to reclaim thē by the like meanes when they hauehave bene ouertaken. Whereuppon, beſide the inward afflictions of the minde, he often times ſtirreth vp agaynſt vsus, enemies that ſpeake euil of vsus, & trouble vsus for well doing, that ſo he might fre vsus from enemies that be more daungerous to our ſouls. For although the ignorant and careleſſe, in all the croſſes that happen vntounto them, doe only regard the meanes and inſtrumentes whereby they come, crying out of the iniurie of their oppreſſours, and clearing of them ſelues as parties vniuſtly troubled. Yet it is otherwiſe with the ſeruants of God, that be wiſe & vnderſtanding, they looke vp to the hand of the ſmiter,Amos. 3 6. whome they knowe to be the Lorde himſelfe, whome they ſtraight way conclude to be righteous and ſo iuſt,2. Sam. 16. 10. as hee will not puniſhe withoute cauſe, and that therfore ſomthing is amiſſe in them which he woulde hauehave them to ament: althoughe that be good, commanded of God, and nothing but their duty for the which they be perſecuted by their aduerſaries. Whereby it commeth to paſſe, that they examin them ſelues and their doinges more ſtreightly, & finde out many corruptions, which before were eyther vnknown, or elſe vnregarded, and therfore would hauehave proued very dangerous to their ſoules, if they had not thus bene rouzed vp to conſider of them. Which they doe ſo profit…bly, that in the ende they ſay with Dauid, It is good for me (O lord) that thou broughteſt mee lowe.Pſa. 119. 67. 71 For euen ſuch troubles cauſe them to doe their duty better, to bee marueylous circumſpecie of their wayes, that their enemies may hauehave no iuſt matter againſt them, and ſturre vp in them a great zeale to prayer, ſo as they do it more often and earneſtly then before. We ought therefore to be glad, & to thanke the Lord moſt hartely, whenſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe him to purge vsus on this ſort. Our veſſels of ſiluer and golde which in time doe gather ſoyle, we deſire to hauehave ſcoured: and the linnen that wee vſe to our tables, we reioyce to hauehave often waſhed. And why then do we not take in good part all maner of perſecutions? ſeeing they be ſcourgings and waſhings to our ſoules, whereby the Lorde mindeth to make vsus cleane, from ſome vntowardnes that is in vsus. Verily this is a greater mercye then any mans tongue is able to vtter, and the wiſdome of the Lorde in this behalfe is very wonderfull: we be entred into an euill courſe ſome way or other, offenſiue to the maieſtye of God, and hurtfull vntounto our ſelues, In the mean time God concealeth thoſe diſorders of oures from men, whiche peraduenture woulde procure our puniſhmente by their Lawes, and intending to reclayme vsus, & to bring vsus to himſelfe againe, hee ſturreth vp ſome againſt vsus, and to our great honor cauſeth ſome afflictiō to come vntounto vsus for well doing, that was due vntounto vsus for our ſinne and diſobedience. O the ritches of his grace: who is able to conceiue it? Certeinly the Lord his retiring of Saul from purſuiug of Dauid, 1. Sam. 23. 27 28.cauſing the Pailistines to inuade the lande, was not ſo ioyfull to the wearied man, as this ſhould be ioifull vntounto vsus, when after this manner he ſtoppeth vsus in our euill courſe, and cauſeth vsus to retire from that which is not good. But ynoughe of this fruite of perſecutions, and the purpoſe of God in the ſame. It remaineth that each man in all ſuch troubles ſturre vp his heart, and pray to God, that he may profite by them as we hauehave heard. It followeth.

But reioyce, in as much as you are partakers of Christes ſufferings, that when his glory ſhall appear, ye may be glad & reioice. In this verſe he requireth more then in the former. There he would hauehave vsus not to bee aſtoniſhed at our perſecutions for the truth ſake: here he ſayth that we muſt reioyce & be glad, when any ſuch thing commeth vntounto vsus. And leaſt he ſhoulde ſeeme to call for any thing, without rendring a reaſon therof, in this ſentence he deliuereth two arguments of great force, whereby he laboureth to perſuade the reioy ſing mentioned. The firſt is drawen from the example of Chriſt to whoſe image we ſhould deſire to be conformed, becauſe we were thereunto predeſtinate:Rom. 8. 29. the next, is from the rewarde, that we ſhall hauehave at ſuch time, as Ieſus Chriſt ſhall appeare, the ſecond time in glory. For the firſt: his meaning is, that whenſoeuer we be afflicted for righteouſneſſe ſake, it is no otherwiſe with vsus, then it was with Chriſt, our Lorde, our king, our head and ſauiour before.Math. 20. 22. He was baptiſed with this baptiſme,Luk. 7. 34. & 11. 15. and he beganne of this cup vntounto vsus. If we be rayled vponupon,Ioh. 8. 48. hee was charged to be a glutton, a Samaritane, an enemye to Ceſar, and to worke by the deuil: If men deſire to hauehave vsus out of their companies & countries: ſo was hee dealt with all by the Gergeſenes. Math. 8. 34.If we be put to our ſhiftes, to flye from place to place for our own ſafety:Math. 14. 13. he was ſo before vsus.Ioh. 10. 39.. If ſome of our friendes whom we truſt doe betray vsus, ſo did Iudas to our Lord. If we be arraigned before the indgemente ſeates of princes, if there, wee bee ſkoffed and mocked at, beaten with roddes, and condemned to death: was not this alſo the portion of the ſon of God? If we be thought the worſt men vppon the earth, more daungerous and hurtfull to the common wealth then any others, we know that Barrabas was preferred before the Lord of life. This is therefore a certeine trueth, that Ieſus Chriſte hath gone this way before us. And Cranmer in thoſe manifold diſgracings about his diſgrading: y^e man whom Bonner ſcourged in his garden, and all the martyrs in their torments, were nothing els but his companions. Now this ſhoulde be ſufficient to comfort vsus in all our troubles, and to cauſe vsus moſt ioyfully to endure the ſame. It is an olde ſaying: it is comfort to the wretched, to hauehave companions in their miſeries: howe comfortable then ſhould it be vntounto vsus, ſeing Ieſus Chriſt tooke part with vsus? When Vriah, 2. Sam. 11. 10. 11.by Dauids commandement was ſent to the court, and by the king himſelfe willed to goe to his wife to his owne houſe to take his eaſe: he refuſed it, & choſe rather to ſleepe at the pallace dore with the reſt of the kings ſeruants. And being demaunded the reaſon by Dauid of his ſo doing, he anſwered that it was vnequall and vncomly for him to be at reſt in his bedde in the houſe, when Ioab his Lord lay in the fields. The valiant & couragious ſouldier thought it a matter of delight vntounto him, to endure hardnes with his captein, and the greateſt diſhonour that coulde be, to doe otherwiſe. How much more ought we to reioyce in all our extremities? ſeeing in them we do after a ſort drinke of one cup with Chriſt, and as it were draw in one yoke with him. It had beene ſufficient to cheare vsus, if Peter had ſaid as our Lord ſpake before in the goſpel of Mathew: Math. 5. 12.ſo perſecuted they y^e prophetes which were before you. But when he telleth vsus, that perſecution and affliction was the portion of the ſonne of God, it is an inſtruction to patience, and a comfort in trouble, free from all chalenge, exception, and ſpeaking againſt. If the prince ſhoulde ſay vntounto vsus, or any other ſubiect: you muſt do ſomwhat for me, which the L. Chanceller, & the reſt of my priuye counſell hauehave done before you, ſurely the thing beeing good, though neuer ſo painfull, we ought to yeeld vntounto it. But if the prince ſhoulde ſay, mine only ſonne and heire, or mine owne ſelfe hauehave borne this brunt already: how coulde we challenge the prince of any hard meaſure offered vntounto vsus? and how beaſtly faint hearted, and cowardly ſhoulde wee be to refuſe it? Therefore to end this matter: let vsus be patient in all our afflictions and reioice in the ſame, ſeeing therin we be partakers with Ieſus Chriſte the ſonne of God, and our true ſoueraigne and euerlaſting king. For as the wood caſt into the bitter waters at Marah, Num. 15. 25.made them ſweet to the children of Iſrael: ſo Ieſus Chriſte being throwen into the ſea of afflictions, hath made them moſt ſweete to ſo many as beleeue in him. The ſecond reaſon is the recompence promiſed vntounto ſuch, as with Ieſus Chrſte ſuffer afflictions for a good conſcience. When his glory ſhall appeare (ſayth the apoſtle) then shal you reioice, and leap for ioy: For y^e word ſeemeth to ſignifie ſo much. His meaning is y^t the ioy of Gods children ſhall be perfect then, wheras now by reaſon of our corruption & mortality, it is mingled with much heauineſſe and ſorrowe. But we muſt note, that this ſhalbe at ſuch time, as Chriſt appeareth agayne in his maieſty. Whiche glorious manifeſtation of himſelfe, is oppoſed or ſet againſte, that baſe condition of his, which he was in here vponupon the earth, in the ſight & iudgement of men. For as he is nowe in perfect glory, euen in reſpect of his humanity, although the worlde neither ſee it, nor beleeue it: ſo when the day commeth, wherein the father hath appointed by him to iudge the earth, he ſhall appeare moſt glorious and excellent as he is, with millions of Angelles attending vponupon him, ſitting vppon his throue of maieſty,Apoc. 20. 11. ſo as from his face, the heauen and earth ſhal flye away, and all the vngodly of the world ſhal runne into caues,Apoc. 6. 16. to hide them, & ſhall call for mounteines to fall vponupon them, y^t ſo (if it were poſſible) they mighte not come into his preſence, The apoſtle telleth vsus, that at that time, we ſhall lift vp our heads and reioyce,Apoc. 7. 17. all teares being for euer wiped away from our eyes, becauſe after that wee ſhall neuer more hauehave any occaſion of ſorrowe. For ſo we be taught by Sanct Paul in other places.2. Tim. 2 11. 12 That if wee dye with Chriſt we ſhall reigne with him, and if we ſuffer with him: we ſhall reigne with him: & if we be partakers with him of his ſhame, we ſhall alſo communicate with him in his glory. Now this reaſon ſhould be of grea… force with vsus. Wee ſee naturall men, ver… well contented to endure ſome hardneſſe and paynes with the Sonnes of mortall men, that bee of honour and wealth, during the time of their mynormitye, becauſe when they come to their landes, they hope for ſome preferment from them. And to bee in greate ſtraightes in a ſtraunge Countrye with the kinges ſonne, who woulde not be gladde for a time? eſpeciallye hauing certeynty of their returne into their owne Lande, and vndoubted promiſe to be preferred then with the prince. Let vsus therefore reioice in the middeſt of all our tentations, when Ieſus Chriſt ſhall reſtore al things, and come agayn to declare his authority in iudgeing all fleſh: al our mourning ſhall be turned into ioy, and our ſhame into honour. The hope of a moſte bleſſed and happye eſtate at that time, muſte make vsus comfortable in all oure troubles, inſomuche as in reſpecte of it, they ſhoulde ſeeme eaſy and nothing vntounto vsus.Ephe. 6. 17. And this may bee the reaſon why hope,1. Theſ. 5. 8. is compared to an Helmet: becauſe as men hauing a good Helmette vppon their heades, doe not feele anye ſmarte by verye greate blowes giuen there: ſo the hope of eternall life, ſhoulde cauſe vsus not to feele (as it were) the afflictions of this preſent. We ſee the huſbandman how he comforteth him ſelfe in all his paynfull trauell about manuring, tilling, ſowing, and weeding his grounde, onelyonly with the hope of recompence a good while after in the harueſt time. And the ſouldier ſetteth light by the cold in winter, the heate in ſomner, his lying vppon the ground, his hunger, his groſſe diet, and his woundes, becauſe he hath an eye to the end of the battel, the victory, the ſpoil, the praiſe of his capteyne, & the return into his country with honour. Now what is all the pelfe of this earth, beeing compared with the kingdome of God? what is the vic…ory againſte men, in reſpect of the triumph againſt ſinne and Sathan? and what is the ſpoile of tents, to the ritches of heauen? and what is the prayſe of men, to the commendation of of the Lorde, ſaying vntounto vsus? O good and faithful ſeruant enter into the ioy of thy maſter.Math 25. 21. ſeing therfore al theſe things ſhall come vntounto vsus, if we patiently ſuffer afflictions for wel doing, there is good reaſon why we ſhould embrace the counſell of the Apoſtle, and in our greateſt miſeries reioyce our ſelues in the hope of that glory that in the worlde to come ſhall be powred vponupon vsus. It followeth.

If you be railed vppon in the name of Christ, &c. By y^e name of Chriſt he vnderſtandeth the doctrine of Chriſt, as S. Paule in y^e ſame ſpeech expoundeth the meaning of y^e holy ghoſt in another place.1. Tim. 6. 1. Where name and doctrine b…ing mentioned, the latter is ſet downe, as the interpretaion of the firſt. There is good reaſon of the ſpeach becauſe as the name of eueryevery thing declareth what the thing is, ſo the doctrine of Chriſt doth ſet forth, and as it were painte him out vntounto vsus.

Saint Peter here ſpeaketh of one particular kinde of perſecution conſiſting in euill and opprobrious wordes: whiche although worldly men think no great matter ſo long as they proceede not to impriſonment, fire and ſworde: yet the ſpirit of God in this place giueth it no better title, agreeing with ſaint Paul in his epiſtle to the Galathians: cap. 4. 29.wheras it is apparāt in y^e hiſtory that Iſaack was but mocked of Iſmael. Gen. 21. 9.If therfore thou wilt not be counted a perſecuter ſecuter of the church and ſeruants of God, looke well to thy toung, that it ſpue forth no taunting nor reprochfull words againſt the profeſſors of the trueth: if thou doe, the ſentence againſt them is penned already, & thou art branded in the cheeke, with the note of a perſecuter. And how odious this thing is in the ſight of God, how ſlenderly ſoeuer thou account of it, may appeare in the hyſtory that we reade of in the ſeconde booke of the Kings:cap. 2. 23. 24. Two and forty little children were miraculouſly deſtrOyed with Beares, for mocking the Prophet of God, & calling him baldhead: and thinkeſt thou to eſcape vengeance if thou be a rayler vponupon the ſeruants of God? the extraordinarye puniſhment, after ſo ſtrange a manner, vponupon yong children that might ſeeme to offend rather of wantonneſſe then vponupon any ſet purpoſe, declareth howe the Lorde miſliketh of the like dealings, by ſuch as be of riper yeers, whoſe fault muſt needs be y^e greter. The inſtructiō is profitable againſt the mockers at all times. Now the apoſtle ſeemeth to ſpeake of this kind of croſſe, rather then any other, becauſe it doth inſeperably & alwaies waite vponupon the profeſſion of y^e goſpel: inſomuch as in y^e greteſt peace & liberty of the church, it is not free from y^e ſame. For euen in thoſe kingdomes where the trueth is receiued by the prince, & eſtabliſhed by lawes, ſo as open tirranie is reſtrained, yet no man in any calling or conditiō can walke vprightly before the Lord, but he offreth himſelfe to harde ſpeaches checks, taunts, & reproches. The practiſe of our owne time proueth it, wherin peſtelent toungs of profeſſed popiſh enimies powre out their vennom, by giuing y^e ſound profeſſors of religion & the loyall ſubiects to her maieſtie: y^e names of preſciſians, puritans, hot of the ſpirit, familie of louelove, & diſobedient ſubiects, confounding names, & multiplying their ſcoffes, not knowing y^e good & faithful proteſtants, are as farre from theſe hereſies as they are from truth or honeſty: ſeeing therefore it is a thing y^t doth ordinarily fall out, y^e holy ghoſt in this place prouideth wel for our infirmity, in miniſtring vntounto vsus ſo great comfort againſt the ſame. You are bleſſed (ſaith Peter) if you be rayled vponupon for the name of Chriſt, according to that ſpeach of our Lord: Bleſſed ſhall you be when men hate you,Luk. 6. 22. 23. and ſeparate you, and rayle vponupon you, and put out your … as euil, for the ſonne of mans ſake. Reioyce and be glad in that day▪ for behold great is your reward in heauen. A naturall man whoſe iudgement is corrupt, ſeeth notbleſſednes in this condition: neither can he poſſibly conceiue, how we ſhould be happy in the middeſt of the ſhame and reproches which happen vntounto vsus, when we be mocked and tannted for righteouſnes ſake. Nay, he is of an opinion clean contrary, imagining thoſe to be happie of whom all men ſpeake well, and therefore he laboreth to keepe an euen hande, and to diſpleaſe neither ſide: whereas Chriſt ſayth, woe vntounto you when all men ſpeake well of you.…uk. 6. 26. Thus the naturall man being led by his owne reaſon and ſenſe, pronounceth them accurſed, whome the Lord doth bleſſe, & them bleſſed, whom the Lorde doth curſe. But let it ſuffize vsus that he hath ſpoken it which is holy & true: let vsus patiently wait for the performaunce of his promiſe. And ſeeing he ſaith, that we be happy, notwithſtanding all the railings and ſpeakings againſt of our enemies, let vsus according to the ſayings of the Apoſtle, through honoure and diſh…r,2. Cor. 6. 8. thorough good report and euill rep… … forward, to finiſh the worke whereunto he hath called vsus. It followeth.

For the ſpirite of glory and of God resteth vponupon you: Leſt the Apoſtle ſhould ſeeme to affirme any thing without good proof, here h…e rendreth a reaſon of that which hee had ſaide before: namely, that it cannot otherwiſe be, but ſuch are happie that be railed vppon for the name of Chriſt, becauſe the ſpirit of glory & of God reſteth vponupon them. His meaning is, that it is a moſt certeine euidence and demonſtration, of the ſpirit of God (which is always accompanied w^t glory) dwelling within vsus, when we patiently indure perſecutions for the words ſake, & holde on our ſcincere profeſſion notwithſtanding all the mockings of our enemies. It may come from fleſhe and blood, and the corruption of our nature, to pretend zeale to the trueth in the libertie thereof: but to continue in the ſtormes and tempeſtes of afflictions, ſo as no hardnes can remooue vsus from the zeal, which according to knowledge we beare vntounto God, this muſt needes be ſupernaturall, vpright, and no other but the fruite of the ſpirite: which beeing the Lords, he cannot but acknowledge whereſoeuer he find… it: and therefore muſt neceſſarily be glorious in his ſight, and euerlaſtingly honored in heauen hereafter, howſoeuer for the preſent time it appeare vilde and odious in the eyes of men. Whereupō ſaint Paul exhorting the Phillippians, cap. 1. 28.not to feare their aduerſaries which oppoſed thē ſelues againſt them, affirmeth conſtantly, that perſecutions were manifeſt ſignes of the deſtruction of the wicked from whome they came, and moſt euident tokens, and as it were earneſt pence of y^e ſaluation of ſuch againſt whome they were intended: agreeing with that which is in his later epiſtle to the Theſſalonians: cap. 1. 5.where hauing ſpoken before of their ſufferings, he ſayth, that it was a manifeſt declaratiō of the iuſt iudgement of God, to the end they might be coū ted worthie of his kingdome. The ſenſe of this place is the ſame with that going before, although the words ſeeme ſomwhat to differ. Let vsus therfore deſpiſe al y^e ſcorns of y^e vngodly, & ſet light by al the mockings of y^e wicked: in our ſhame we be honorable, & in al confuſion ſuffered for a good cōſcience we are glorious, for the ſpirit of God & of glory reſteth vponupon vsus, & we ſhalbe ſaued if we cōtinue to y^e end. This ſpirit (the apoſtle ſaith here) is blaſphemed on y^e behalfe of y^e wicked, and glorified on the behalfe▪ of the godly. The meaning of the firſt wordes is, that the enemies of the Church, deride and ſcorne the graces of God in his children, & therefore blaſpheme the ſpirit it ſelfe being the authour and fountaine of the ſame: as we ſee deſpight offred to the gift of the Prince, is worthily deemed villanie to the Prince himſelfe. We reade that the zeale of God in our Sauiour Chriſt was termed frenſie:Mar. 3. 21. Math. 27. 43. and his faith repoſed in his father ſcorned on this wiſe: he truſted in God, let him deliuer him now, if he will hauehave him. The grace of ſpeaking with diuers toungs in the apoſtles,Act. 2. 13. was chalenged of drunkennes with new wine: And Festus ſaid vntounto Paule: Act. 26. 24.thou art out of thy wittes, too much learning hath made thee madde. And in all times of the afflictions of the Church, we ſhal ſee not only the profeſſors taunted and reproched, but alſo the gifts of the ſpirit of God in them mocked & gibed at: As their knowledge, their patience, their chaſtitie, temperance, truſt in God, and watchfulnes ouer their toungs: In ſo much as we may finde tirants, that ieſted at the Chriſtians, becauſe they woulde not ſweare when there was no neceſſarie cauſe: Well: they deale with one that is more then their match, & they ſhall one day feel y^e ſmart of it, ſith their trechery is againſte the holye Ghoſt euen God himſelfe, when they ſcorne his graces in the ſaints. wheretas it is ſaid in this place that the ſame ſpirite is glorified on the behalfe of the godly, his meaning is, that we honour the ſpirite of God, when in all temptations we continue to profeſſe that which it ſealeth in our hearts, and thinke it ſufficient comfort againſt all our troubles, that it teſtifieth to our hearts, we be the children of God, that we may call vponupon him as a father, and that we pleaſe him in all our ſufferings▪ To conclude this verſe, let it not appeare ſtrange vntounto vsus, that euill men deſpiſe the grace of God that is in vsus. It we glorifie his ſpirit as we hauehave heard, we ſhal hereafter be glorified with him eternally in the heauens: euen as our Lorde by his owne example hath taught vsus to praye with comfort:Iohn. 17. 4. I hauehave glorified thee vponupon the earth, now (O Father, glorifie me with thy ſelfe. It followeth.

Let no man among you ſuffer as a manſ…eier, or a thiefe, or an euill doer, or as a buſibody. Hauing ſpoken before of the bleſſednes of the Chriſtians, that be troubled for righteouſnes ſake: in this verſe the Apoſtle calleth vponupon vsus, to be ſo circumſpect and wary of all our doinges, that we commit no euill for the which wee might iuſtly be puniſhed as malefactors. He rehearſeth three particular offences: the firſt two be playne: the third which in engliſh we read a buſibody, (y^t is, ſuch a one as curiouſly buſieth himſelf in ſuch matters as concern not his calling, & neglecteth them that belong to his duty) the learned thinke may as fitly be interpreted, a man greedy of other mens goods. The other worde malefactor or euill doer, may be vnderſtoode of eueryevery offender whatſoeuer▪ as well thoſe that tranſgreſſe the lawes of the firſt table in matters of Religion and the ſeruice of God, as thoſe that breake the commandements of the ſecond table, in ſuch thinges as concerne our duty towarde men: ſo that vnderunder theſe. Saint Peter comprehendeth all manner of ſinne and corruption, hereſie and idolatry which the word doth forbid & puniſh,Deu. 13▪ the whol chapt…r. as well as diſordered behauiour of one man toward another. We muſt therefore take heede, that as wee profeſſe the name and goſpell of Chriſt, ſo all our ſufferings may come for the trueth of that, and not for any Idolatry, hereſy, ſchiſme, murther, adultery, whoredome, theft, couetouſneſſe, going beyond the bounds of our callinges, or any ſuch other thing. For if wee be euill ſpoken of, broughte before iudges, reſtrayned of our liberty, caſt in priſon, and put to death in th…ſe caſes, there is no reaſon why we ſhoulde reioyce of the matter, and think our ſelues happy therefore. Our maſter Chriſte ſpeaking to his diſciples of this point ſayd:Math. 5. 1…. bleſſed are you, when they ſpeake al manner of euil of you lying: for my ſake: Hee ſaith not ſimplye bleſſed are you when they ſpeake all eui…l of you: but when they lye in ſo doing. And it is an ancient ſaying of a Father: it is not the puniſhment, but the goodneſſe of the cauſe that maketh a Martyr. The papiſtes therefore in reſp…cte of God and his true church, Heritiques and Schiſmatiques, & in reſpect of their prince and country high Traytors, hauehave no cauſe to boaſt themſelues of any their ſufferinges, as though they were perſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake: ſith beſides their hereſies and corrupt opinions concerning religion, for y^t which they be worthy of death, they beare trecherous and trayterous heartes to their ſouereigne prince and country, which alſo from time to time hath bene founde out by their vnnatural and curſſed attempts. The like is to bee ſayd of the falſe pretented Family of louelove, & al other heretiks & euil doers: the vnclean perſon, the oppreſſor, deceiuer, vſurer, drunkard: the euill miniſter when he is cryed out againſt, and taunted by the name of a hireling,Ioh. 10. 12. a greedy dog that is neuer ſatiſfied,Iſai. 56. 11. a dumbe dog, a blinde guide, or an idle paſtor: cannot in trueth▪ applye the comforts to them here mentioned, ſith they be iuſtly reproched and puniſhed for their ſinne: which the Apoſtle doth …orbid vsus in this place. And yet this is not ſo ſpoken, as though all men were to diſpayre of them ſelues, which bee any w…ie corrected for their euill doings:Luk. 23. 43. no, we knowe what is written of the thiefe, y^• ▪ was crucified with our Lorde, and how he ſayd vntounto him: this day ſhalt thou be with me in paradiſe. Euen ſo aſſuredly whatſoeuer the offēces be, that we be euill ſpoken of for, or otherwiſe puniſhed by impriſonmēt or deth, yet we be happy & ſhal be ſaued, if grace be giuen vsus w^t the thief, to repent, to hate our ſinne, & to beleue.Apoc. 14. 13. For this is true for euer: bleſſed are y^e deade y^t dye in y^e Lord, in what ſort, or for what cauſe ſoeuer they dy. Therefore, y^e mā y^t ſufferreth for Chriſtes ſake, is bleſſed in reſpect of the goodnes of his cauſe: and …e that ſuffereth for his ſinne, is bleſſed, if the Lord by that puniſhment bring him to repentance. But let vsus with all good conſcience attend vponupon this of the apoſtle, to honour our profeſſion and high calling with good life, and abſteining from euill. We ſee how it fareth with the faithful ſeruants of God, though they walke neuer ſo preſciſely, yet wicked men will eſpy ſomwhat to ſpeake euill, to take away their crowne of ſuffering for well doing. How then ſhall all our honour iuſtly be turned into ſhame, and lye in the duſt, if we walke retchleſ…ye and diſſolutely? The exhortation is very profitable for our time, wherin great numbers turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe: and therefore although they profeſſe the goſpell & true religion of God, yet are worthily, reproched for their vncleannes, riot, vſurye, oppreſſion, couetouſneſſe, and deceite. It followeth.

But if he ſuffer as a christian, let him not be aſhamed: nay let him▪ glorifie God in this behalf: In the former verſe, as you hard, he willed vsus to take heede of being puniſhed for doing euill, becauſe then there is iuſt matter of humiliation offered vntounto vsus. In this ſentēce he returneth to y^t which he had in hād before, namely to comfort vsus in al afflictions, y^t happē for y^e trueth ſake. If (ſaith he) any ſuffer as a chriſtian, y^t is for y^e ſcincere profeſſiō of Chriſts doctrin, let him neuer be aſhamed of y^e mater, but let him thāk God in y^t behalf. There are two thi…gs required of vsus in this verſe: y^e one is y^t we be not aſhamed of y^e perſecutions y^t we eudure for a good cōſcience: y^e other y^t we reioyce & be glad of them. Cōcerning y^e firſt: y^e euil of y^t which we do, & the vnworthines or baſenes of y^e party for whome we do it, are the only occaſions y^t miniſter iuſt matter of bluſſhing & ſhame vntounto vsus. But the truth y^t we profeſſe in the word is ſo pure & excellent: & the ſonne of God, in whome we beleeue, and for whoſe ſake wee ſuffer is ſo holy, ſo glorious, ſo mighty, & worthy of all honor and ſeruice from vsus, that there is no cauſe why we ſhoulde be aſhamed of the croſſes which we ſuffer in that behalfe. S Paule he beleeued this, and therefore in the middeſt of all the calamities that came vntounto him for doing of his duty,2. Tim. 1. 12. coulde ſay with confidence. I am not aſhamed. For I know him wel inough in whom I hauehave beleeued, and am fully perſuaded, that hee is able to keepe that whiche I hauehave committed vntounto him againſt that day. Let vsus be like minded: and ſith Ieſus Chriſt hath all power in heauen and earth, ſo as he is able to defend vsus from the rage of our enemies here, and to keepe our ſaluation ſure from being hurt by any meanes, let vsus neuer bluſh for anye thing that happeneth vntounto vsus for his ſake. Naturall men thinke that moſte vile and ignominious,2. Sam. 6. 20. whiche in deede is moſte glorious and beautifull. Michal thought it the greateſt diſgrace that might be vntounto Dauid, to abaſe himſelfe to daunce before the Arke of God, gyrded with a linnen Ephod:21. 22. But Dauid thought no honor like this, by humbling himſelfe, and being vilde in the ſight of others, to exalt and ſet vp the Lord. Euen ſo, they which be carried onelyonly by ſenſe and reaſon, can ſee n…thing but confuſion in the perſecutiōs of y^e ſaints, when as in deede it is the moſt honourable thing vnderunder heauen. In ſo much as neither Ioſep…, Gen. 41. 42.hauing the kings ring vponupon his finger, arayde in fine linnen, with a chaine of gold about his necke, and ſet vponupon the beſt Charret of the king ſaue on…, and hono…r ably ſaluted of al the people:Heſter. 6. nor Mordecay, at the kings commaundement moſt gorgiouſly carried thorough the Citie vponupon the kings horſ, with this proclaimation before him: thus ſhall it be done to the man whom the king will honour: were ſo glorious in the ſighte of their▪ beholders, as the true Chriſtians are in the eyes of God, when in the iudgement of man they ſeeme to be couered with moſt confuſion and ſhame. And in deede Cranmer, when hee was broughte forth, and as it were ſet vponupon a ſtage, to bee mocked at by all the people, his Pall pulled of, his haire cut by a Barber, his ſingers endes ſcraped, an old gowne put vponupon his backe, and an olde cap vponupon his head: the admirall of Fraunce firſt mained with a ſhot, then moſt trecherouſly ſlayne in his chamber, after tumbled out of a windowe, his head cut of, his corps dragged through the ſtreates in Paris, & after hanged vponupon a gallows by y^e heels: in y^e middeſt of al theſe were more glorious then either Mordecay or Ioſeph in all their pompe & maieſty. Intſomuch as theſe neuer vanted ſo much of y^e one, as they no doubt did of the other. Euen as we finde n… ſuch boaſting of any the ſeruants of God in the ſcripturs, in reſpect of their outward eſtate were it neuer ſo good: as we do of S. Paul for his ſufferings: according to y^e which is writtē:Gal. 6. 17. frō henceforth let no man put me to buſines: for I bear in my body the markes of y^e Lord Ieſus. The impriſonments, bands, ſcourgings, ſtripes, ſtonings, & reproches y^t he indured, he calleth the badges of the Lord Ieſus, wherby he was known to be highly in his fauor, as a faithful ſeruant of whom he made a ſpecial account, & therfore is not only not aſhamed, but alſo after a godly ſort boaſteth of thē. Therfore let vsus not think it any ſhame vntounto vsus, whenſoeuer the Lorde ſhall thinke it good to hauehave vsus tried on this wiſe. It followeth.

But let him glorifie God in this behalfe: This is the ſecond thing: we muſt be glad of our perſecutiōs, & thank God moſt highly, if he vouchſafe this honor vponupon vsus. For in deede this is an eſpeciall token, y^t he maketh ſome reckoning of vsus, when as he calleth vsus out, to vndergoe ſome hardnes for his ſake. As we ſee the prince ſo thinketh of thoſe men, whome he picketh forth from among the reſt, to ſend about ſome notable & moſt famous exploite, whereunto many are not meete.Act. 5. 41. This made the apoſtles to leape for ioy, becauſe they were counted worthye to ſuffer for the name of Chriſte, euen then when they had beene▪ cruelly beaten: this ſtu…red vp like affections in ſome of them after in priſon: and this mooued S. Paule to wrighte to the Phillippians, that they ſhould eſteeme of their ſufferings, as of an eſpeciall bleſſing, or mercy of the Lorde beſtowed vppon them:Phil 1. 29. to you (ſayth hee) it is giuen for Chriſte, that you ſhoulde not onelyonly beleeue in him, but alſo ſuffer for his ſake. Nowe wee hauehave to thanke God, not onelyonly in reſpecte of the rewarde, that ſhall followe oure perſecutions, as wee hauehave harde: but eſpe…iallye in reſpecte of the cauſe for the whiche wee ſuffer. And in deede this offereth more matter of ioy, then the tongues of men and angells be able to vtter: that, whereas the beſt of Gods ſeruants for their lewdnes and euill,Deut. 27. 26. might iuſtly be defamed,Rom. 6. 23. 1. brought before gouernours,Ioh. 1. 10. caſt in priſon and put to death, (for who can deny this, ſeeing eternall damnation is due to eueryevery one): The Lord ſhould conceal and couer all theſe, & in the meane time giuegive them ouer, to be puniſhed for his ſake and for well doing: and that puniſhment to be recompenſed with eternall happineſſe. Seing then we be bleſſed if we endure troubles for righteouſnes ſake, and al manner of iudgements be due vntounto vsus for ſinne, let vsus moſte heartily prayſe God (according to the counſel of the Apoſtle) when ſoeuer by any means we bee corrected for well doing. It followeth.

For the time is come wherein iudgement must begin at God own houſe. By the houſe of God is vnderſtood his church, & the peotple that do rightly worſhip him▪ and truely call vponupon his name:1. Tim. 3. 15. as we may learne by the firſt epiſtle of S. Paul to T…mothie, Heb. 3. 6.and that whiche is written to the Hebrewes. The ſpeeche teacheth: that the Churche of God, ought in eueryevery thing to be ordered and gouerned by his lawes and ſtatutes: as it is equall and right, that the houſe of each man, and al things in the ſame, ſhould be diſpoſed according to the direction of the owner and maſter. They which think or practiſe otherwiſe▪ accuſe the almighty, either of want of ſkill, that he ſhoulde not knowe what was beſt: or elſe of wante of care for his people, in not deliuering that in his worde, which he knewe moſte expedient and neceſſary to be eſtabliſhed. But becauſe it is great blaſphemy, once to imagine any ſuch thing: they ſhall on day anſwere for their ſin, which turning al things vpſide downe, commaund that for the diſcipline and order of Gods houſe, which he hath not giuen in charge or elſe forbidden: and neglect or forbid that, which he moſte excellently and in great wiſedome hath ſet downe and appointed. No prince woulde thinke himſelfe well dealt with, if any ſubiect or ſubiectes ſhould thus preſume to inuert the gouernment of his houſe: and will earthly princes being ſubiectes to the almighty God, and duſt and aſhes in his preſence, thinke to eſcape vnpuniſhed, if they commaund or ſuffer to be commanded any thing for the orderi…ng of the churche the houſe of god, which he before hath not alowed? The maſter is of more importance then the moſt be ware of: & all princes that profeſſe the religion of Ieſus Chriſt, had need to looke vntounto it. If Moſes for the building of the Tabernacle of y^e Iewes, and for the ordering of enerye thing apperteining to that firſt worſhip of God,Exod. 25. 40. had a patern and lawes ſhewed him by the Lord, which bee muſt keepe himſelfe vntounto, and for his fidelitie in that behalfe hath his iuſt commendation:Heb. 3. 5. It is meete that we thinke as magnificentlye of the chn…rhe vnderunder the goſpell, that nothing is left for the deuiſing of man, ſith Ieſus Chriſt as the ſonne of God,Heb. 3. 16. was faythfull in his fathers houſe by deliuering the orders for the gouernment of the ſame. Therefore let not the Lordes remembrancers keep ſilence,Iſa. 2. 6. nor giuegive him any reſt, vntil he repaire the ruines of Hieruſalem.

Moreouer, this ſpeech teacheth what puritye of doctrine and manners ought to bee continually in the churche, and eueryevery particuler member of it. Euen ſuch as becommeth the temple and houſe of God, and the place where the almigty hath his reſidēce, and doth dwell. We ſee what care there is in the officers of princes houſes, that no filthines be in any corner of the Court, to offend the prince, or the nobles paſſing by: & for this purpoſe there be writings ſet vp in eueryevery place. But ther is not the like regard of the Lords court, to keepe corruption out of his houſe. We ſee how the church is peſtered, with euil miniſters, with adulterers, whoremaſters, ſwearers, prophaners of the Sabbaoth, mockers of the worde, and the meſſengers thereof, vſurers, deceiuers, riotous & contentious perſons. Againſt whom there is very ſmall diſcipline. Although the Lorde hauehave on eueryevery wall ſet vp is billes forbidding theſe enormities, and commanding they ſhold be thruſt out of his church, as vnworthy of any place there, vntill they hauehave declared openly their true repentance Seeing then the people that profeſſe the true religion of Chriſte, be the church and houſe of God: it concerneth all thoſe to whom God hath cōmitted y^e …ouernment, to ſee y^t it …e kept from the pollution of ſinne: and each Chriſtian muſt looke to himſelfe, to poſſes his veſſel in holines & honor,1. Theſ. 4. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 19.as it becommeth the temple of the holy ghoſt.

The apoſtle telleth vsus here, that the time was then come, that the Lord would begin to puniſh his moſt faythful ſeruaunts: and therefore we muſt eyther bee contented to endure afflictions, or elſe not to be acconnted of the houſholde and Churche of God. The Lorde in this place is likened vntounto a wiſe and carefull prince, who although hee hauehave an eye to the diſorders of the whole realm and kingdome, yet doth eſpecially regard to correct y^e offēces of his own famili. Euen ſo God: although in all ages he hath teſtified his diſpleaſure agaynſt ſinne in all kind of people and perſons: yet his roddes and ſcourges hauehave at all times beene ſo occupied about the chaſtiſing of his churche, that in compariſon of it, he hath ſeemed to ſpare the reſt, and to neglect the tranſgreſſions… of the heathen. Let vsus conſider the temptations, of Abraham, Iacob, Ioſeph. & Dauid. Had not he moſt wicked of y^t time, greater eaſe and peace then they had in the greateſt part of their life? ſurely if we know their ſtories, we muſt confes ſo much. And if we looke to the whol nation of the Iews, firſt in Egypt, and then after in the lande of Canaan: we ſhall finde that the Lorde puniſhed them alwayes firſt, and that to, ſo ſharply, as the like vengeance and deſtruction lightened not vponupon any people. As it is mentioned in Daniel: Cap 9 12.Cap. 25. 29.And as Ieremie ſayth: I beginne to plague the City where my name is called vpō. The reaſon of this proceeding of the Lorde, is beſt knowne vntounto himſelfe, it ſuffiſeth vsus for this text to be perſwaded of this trueth, whiche we may vnderſtand by the recordes of the ſcriptures. Although it mighte bee briefly ſayde, that hee hath an eſpeciall care of the ſaluation of his people, and therefore puniſheth them aboue and before the reſt, to reclaime them from their ſinnes, that they ſhoulde not bee damned with the worlde.1. Cor. 11. 3…. Moreouer, becauſe his mercies towardes his Churche,Amos. 3. 1. 2. are beyonde all compariſon more then vntounto others: It is equall and righteous, that it offending, ſhould both be firſt puniſhed, and more ſeuerely then the reſt. But as this hath beene the ordinary courſe of the Lorde toward his Churche, from the beginning: ſo was it eſpecially true of the time wherein the Apoſtle writ, after the manifeſtation of the ſonne of God in the fleſh. For both then, & euer ſithence, the Lorde was and continueth ſo ſharpe to them that truly worſhip him, & be carefull to pleaſe his ma…eſty, (in the meane ſeaſon ſeeming often times to ſpare the wicked and vngodly) that in the iudgment of fleſh and bloud,Iob. 21. 14. 14. it was better with ſuche as ſayd vntounto God: departe from vsus, we will none of thy lawe, what is the almightie that we ſhould feare him? then with thoſe that ſtood in awe of his commaundements, and ſette naught by all the pleaſures, and tormentes of the worlde, in compariſon of the fauoure of God, and keeping a good conſcience beefore him. Conſider the eſtate of the Apoſtles, and profeſſours in the Actes. The condition of the Church hath not amended any thing ſithence, but as the glorye of it approcheth neerer & neerer: ſo the warrfare of it vponupon the earth hath increaſed ſharper & ſharper: The perſecutions, vnderunder the Romaine emperours, the Turkes, and laſt in the vſurped dominions of the Prieſte of Rome, doe ſufficientlye prooue the truethe of this matter. Let vsus remember what hardneſſe, Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, Hooper, Bradforde, and the reſte, indured of late yeares with in our owne realm, when as it was peaceable and quiet, with all the wicked of the lande. And how hath it gone more lately with the true Chriſtians, and faythfull ſeruants of God in our neighbour countries of Flanders, France, and Spayue, as their ſtories doe witneſſe: when as in the meane time, brothels, witches, adulterers, inceſtuous perſons, murtherers, blaſphemers, ruffians, and abhominable Idolaters were vntouched. And was there euer ſuche a iudgement vnderunder heauen, as after that marriage at Pariſe fel vponupon thoſe zealouſe and ſincere profeſſours of the trueth? S. Paul therefore ſayth truely, of all faithful Chriſtians, that if the hope of the life to come were taken away, of al other men, they were moſt miſerable. If in this life onelyonly we beleeued in Chriſt,1. Cor. 15. 19. we were (ſayth he) moſte wretched of all others. Neither ſpake he this, without good matter to lead him vntounto it. For whereas the wicked, liue peaceablie in the worlde (becauſe the worlde loueth it owne) be free from aduerſity, and in their proſperity reioyce them ſelues: the faithful ſeruants of God bee alwayes hated and perſecuted one waye or other: they no ſooner creade awry, but the Lord calleth them agayne into the way, with ſome ſcourge, & in the middeſt of their greateſt peace, they be humbled with inward temptations, ſorrow for ſinnes paſt, griefe for preſent and dayly falles, doubtes & terrors, ſo as they alwayes woorke out their ſaluation with feare & trembling.Phil. 2. 12. Inſomuch as indeed the moſt wicked were in better caſe then they, if their fayth, hope, & good conſcience, had no other recompenſe but in this life. But the life to come is their comforte, becauſe they know,… Cor. 5. 1. that if the tabernacle of this earthly houſe, be put off and diſſolued, they ſhall hauehave a building giuen them of God, that is an houſe not made with handes, but eternall in the heauens. Therefore let vsus not be diſcomforted in oure troubles, as though for them wee mighte conclude wee were forſaken of the Lorde, and did not belong vntounto him. Wee ſee here the apoſtle telleth vsus, that iudgement beginneth at his owne houſe. It followeth.

If it beginne first with vsus, what shall be the end of them that obey not the Goſpell of God. We hauehave heard before of the troubleſome eſtate of Gods Church & people vponupon the earth, and how the Lorde ſeemeth to fauor the wicked, becauſe for a time they floriſh, and be ſpared in their ſinnes. Now, leaſt the faythfull ſhoulde be deceiued with the proſperity of the wicked, and imagine that the Lord would euer beare with them in their naughtineſſe: here the apoſtle telleth vsus, that they likewiſe muſt hauehave their courſe, and that neceſſarily there muſt be a time wherein they ſhall be plagued. For thus doth he reaſon from the leſſe vntounto the greater: If God correct them that imbrace his goſpell, and be careful to doe him faithfull ſeruice, if he begin firſt to ſcourge ſuch: is it poſſible that they ſhould eſcape moſte fearefull vengeance, which be ſworne enemies to his maieſty: ſuperſtitious, idolatrous, ignorant, and diſobedient to his wil? The time certeinly will come (God being iuſt) when they ſhall bee rewarded ſeuenfolde into their boſoms.Pſal. 79. 12. Therefore let not wicked men preſume vponupon their ſafety, becauſe they be ſpared for a time: & let them not inſult vppon the Seruauntes of God, becauſe they are afflicted and kept vnderunder, when themſelues, enioy the deſire of their heartes, and often times be the Lordes roddes, whereby he whippeth his choſen. For when the Lorde hath worne them to the ſtumps, aboute the backes of his children, to their greate good, then muſte themſelues be throwne into the fire of deſtruction, becauſe the Lorde hath no more vſe of them.Iſai. 10. 12. This did Iſaiah the prophet propheſy to the comfort of the church in his time: when ſayth he, the Lord hath acompliſhed all his worke vppon Mount Sion and Ieruſalem, he will viſite the fruite of the proud heart of the king of Aſhur. As though he ſhould hauehave ſayd: although God for a time, giuegive vp his church: to be chaſtiſed by the king of Aſſiria a wicked man, ſo as he may ſeeme to hauehave caſt of his owne people for euer, and to hauehave taken the proude and irreligious Aſſirians in their ſtead, Yet the time will come, when they ſhall bee reſtored to their beautye, and the wicked king with his people broughte to confuſion and ruine: Euen when the Lord hath by them, accompliſhed that correction of his Church, which hee hath determined. According to that which he ſayth in another place: Woe to thee that ſpoyleſt, and waſt not ſpoyled:Iſai. 33. …. and doeſt wickedlye, and they did not wickedly againſte thee: when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoyle, thou ſhalt bee ſpoyled: when thou ſhalte make an end of doing wickedly, they ſhall do wickedly agaynſte thee. With theſe teſtimonyes agreeth that of Ieremy, which he propheſied agaynſte the Babilonians, after that the People of God ſhoulde hauehave beene with them in bondage 70. yeares: I beginne to plague the Cytye (ſaythe the Lorde) where my name is called vppon,Ier. 25. and ſhoulde you goe free? You ſhall not goe quit.

And howe truelye theſe Propheſies agaynſte the Aſſirians, and Babylonians were accomp…iſhed, may appeare to all thoſe that reade the Scriptures of the olde Teſtament.Gen. 15. 13. 14 To the ſame purpoſe mighte bee alleadged, that whiche God long before colde Abraham, concerning the bondage of Iſrael in Egypt, their wonderfull deliuerance from thence, and the deſtruction of Pharaoh and his people.1. Sam. 31. 4. So it came to paſſe with Saule, when hee had a long time afflicted Dauid: with Haman when hee had obteyned that murdering decree againſt the Iewes,1. Mac. 6. & 2. 9. read the chapters. Act. 12.and with Antiochus the tyrants, when for a time they had blaſphemed the God of heauen, ouerthrowen his true worſhippe, and killed his people. Saule ſlewe himſelfe: Haman & his children were hanged vpō the gallows, that he had ſet vp for Mordecai: the firſt Antiochus dyed in great vexatiō of his mind, & the later ſo eaten with woormes, that his moſt familiar friends coulde not abide him for ſtinke.

Of Henrie the ſecond the father, & Charles the ninth the ſonne, kings of Fraunce: the firſt when he had cauſed much blood to bee ſhed, and lately before had ſaide, that himſelfe would ſee the burning of a noble Proteſtāt called Anduburgè, had one of his own eyes firſt put out by Mountgomerie, after a wonderfull manner, running with him at a Iuſting in ſport, and dyed in great wearineſſe of his life by reaſon of his paine, the tenth of Auguſt. 1559. The other the ſon, when hee had brought to paſſe that moſt ſtrange maſſachre immediatly after the mariage of his Siſter with the king of Nauarre, and had ſucked much blood of Gods ſeruants afterwardes, dyed himſelfe moſt miſerably y^e 30. of Maie, 1574. it is writtē of him in y^e french hiſtories, that he was ſick of a bloody flixe, and reported for a trueth, that blood yſſued from diuers partes of his body wher there were other natural yſſues, ſo as toſſing and tumbling himſelfe in his bed moſt fearefully: horribly curſſing, and blaſpheming the name of God, euen vntill his laſt gaſpe, which alſo he had vſed to doe from his childehood, he ſo ended his wretched life, being at length filled with blood which he had before inſaciably thirſted after. Of the Cardinall of Loreine a chiefe practiſer of miſchiefe againſt Gods church who as the ſtories witneſſe of him, dyed in a frenſie, and when the prieſte broughte oyle to annoynt him after their popiſhe order, he thruſt his hand into the diſhe, and all to be ſmeared the face of the prieſt with it. So he dyed at Auineon. 1574. The like might be ſaid of Herode, Stephen Gardiner in Englād, & others. Such ferful ends c…me to diuers bloody perſecuters, as our owne countriman M. Fox reporteth. And aſſure your ſelues (O al you wicked of y^e earth,) y^• ſame portiō abideth for you, if you turn not to the Lord. Go to therfore mock on, at the ſaints of God, ſet your ſelues againſt his trueth, perſecute his ſeruants, and proceed in all miſchiefe, and flatter your ſelues becauſe God ſtayeth to puniſh, & the worlde ſmileth vponupon you: doubt you not but the day will come when you ſhall pay full dearely for it. And we that ſuffer, or ſhall ſuffer any thing at the handes of the vngodly, let vsus not be offended at our ſufferings, and their proſperity:2. Theſ. 1. 6. 7. For it ſhal be a righteous thing with God, to recompence trouble to thoſe that trouble vsus, and to our ſelues reſt, if not in this world, yet at the leaſt, when y^e Lord Ieſus ſhall again ſhew him ſelfe from heauen with his mighty Angelles.…. Theſ. 1. 8. And ſeeing the apoſtle ſayth here, that it muſt needes goe hard with them, that obey not the goſpell, let vsus not content our ſelues, with a bare and naked profeſſion of the trueth: but whatſoeuer is taught, and we know, let vsus take heede, that we be obedient thereunto. It followeth.

And if the righteous be ſcarcely ſaued, where shall the vngodlye and ſinner appeare? By the righteous hee vnderſtandeth, ſuche as bee ſtudious of righteouſneſſe, and bee carefull to pleaſe God, althoughe they bee not free from all ſinne.

And by ſinners hee meaneth not all manner of offendoures, but ſuche as yeelde them ſelues to corruption,Pſal. 1. 1. Luk 7. 39.Ioh. 9. 31.and delight in wickedneſſe: according as this woorde is vſed in other places of the Scripture. Nowe the purpoſe of the Apoſtle in this ſentence, is the ſame with that in the ende of the laſte Verſe: Hee confidentlye affirmeth, that the wicked muſte needes bee iudged with extreame ſeueritye, ſithe the hande of God is often times heauye vppon them that feare him. This hardnes for y^e righteous muſt not be vnderſtood, of the laſt iudgement, as ſome would hauehave it, as though they ſhould not there acquite themſ…lues without great difficulty, and be ſaued without much ado. Noe, we ſee what ſaint Paul writeth touching this matter:Rom. 8. 33. 34 Who (ſayth he) ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? it is God that iuſtifieth who ſhall condemue? it is Chriſte which is deade, yea or rather whiche is riſen agayne, who is alſo at the right hand of God, and maketh requeſtes alſo for vsus. The ſumme of his ſpeech is, that there ſhall be none to accuſe, or to pronounce ſentence againſt any of the elect of God, and therefore their paſſage into glory at that time ſhall be moſte eaſie. Whereupon our ſauiour Chriſte willeth vsus, that we looke vp, and lift vp our heads for ioy,Luk. 11. 28. whenſoeuer there appeare any tokens of the approching of that day. Which there were no great cauſe that we ſhoulde doe, if ſuch hardneſſe were then to be endured as ſome hauehave imagined. And howe ſhould the ſaying of the ſonne of God bee true?Apoc. 14. 13. bleſſed bee the deade that dye in the Lorde, and they reſt from their labours: if newe labours were to be taken in hand at the laſt iudgement. This difficulty therefore is to be vnderſtoode of this life, according alſo as the verb (be ſaued) in the preſent tenſe doth euidently ſhewe: So as the Apoſtle his meaning is, that the eſtate of the godly is ſo troubleſome vponupon the earth, that they enter not into the kingdome of reſt & glory, except firſt in the worlde, they hauehave gone thorough infinite daungers, and eſcaped as it were a thouſand deathes. Euen as the Apoſtles preached whereſoeuer they came, exhorting the diſciples to continue in the fayth,Act. 14. 22. affirming that they muſt thorough many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God:Pſa. 34. 19. and as Dauid ſaythe: Greate are the troubles of the righteous: and as S. Paul ſetteth it downe for a principle vntounto Timothie: 2. Tim. 3. 12.that all ſuche as will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution. The trueth of this we hauehave heard before: and each man which knoweth any thing of himſelfe, and the Church of God as hee ought to knowe, doeth vnderſtande and beleeue it. Nowe this beeing proued true by continual experience: can the Lord be iuſt, thus to chaſtiſe and keepe in heauineſſe his faythful ſeruants? except in time, moſt fearefull vengeance light vppon the ſinners:Gen. 18. 25. ſhal not the iudge of all the world doe right? Yes verily. For this doth certeinely preach vntounto vsus, and cryeth as lowd in our ears as al the teachers in the world, that there ſhall bee a iudgement,2. Theſ. 1. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. when all things ſhal be brought in good order: when the godly ſhal ceaſe from all their ſorrowe, and the wicked ſhall drinke the full cup of Gods wrath. Therefore as Ieſus Chriſte ſaide of himſelfe, ſo may it be ſpoken of all the children of God for euer: if they do theſe things to a green tree that is fruitful, what ſhalbe done to the drie and barren? And if the righteous be not ſaued but through ſo many afflictions: howe miſerable muſte the condition of the ſinner be? If Abraham reſted not in peace, til he had a great while wandred as a ſtranger from place to place, was pinched with famine,Gen 12. 10. 11. & 21. 25. & 22. …. driuen to denie his wife, to ſtriue for water, and commaunded to be a butcher of that ſonne in whome the hope of his ſaluation reſted? If Iacob ended not his pilgrimage to paſſe into glory,Gen. 27. 42. & 28. 11. till firſt hee was conſtrained to flee for feare of his owne brother: to lye all night in the broade fielde with a ſtone vnderunder his head for a pillowe:Gen. 29. 20. 27 to ſerue ſeuen yeres for one wife, & ſeuen for another, vnderunder an vnciuill and barbarous vncle: to abide manifold ſtirres & diſcords in his houſe between his wiues: to bee checked by Labans children: to be deceiued by their father: to hauehave his owne daughter rauiſhed: his ſonnes Simeon and Leuie, Cap. 30. 14. 15. & 31. 1. 41. & 34. 1. 25.to commit moſt horrible murther: to hauehave one of his wiues abuſed by his owne ſonne: his dearling Ioſeph torne in pieces of wilde beaſtes as he was brought to beleeue:Gen. 35. 12 & 37. 32. and in his olde age to be vexed with hungre.Gen. 42. …. O Lord, what ſhal be the ende of the vngodly? If the Prophets in their time: If Ieſus Chriſt himſelf the Lord of glory: & his holy Apoſtles, indured the diſpleaſure of princes, impriſonments in myerie dungeons, buffetings, whippings, ſcornings, ſawing aſunder, crucifying, ſtoning and beheading, before they were glorified?Ier. 3…. O howe miſerable ſhall the portion be of the ſinner? It the moſt famous witneſſes of Ieſus Chriſte, Hierome of Prage, Iohn Huſſe, VVickliffe, Cranmer, Latimer, Hooper, Ridley, Philpot, Bradforde. the Shatillion of Fraunce, Bucer, Paulus Fagius and the reſt, entered not into heauen till they were firſte impriſoned, mocked, dragged through the ſtreates, ſcorched, and their fleſhe with fire conſumed vntounto aſſhes: If the laſt two, coulde not bee glorified in their bodies, till firſt they were taken vp beeing dead, and their bones burnt: If ſo ſtraunge a kinde of manacle was Cuthbearde Simpſons Ladder into heauen?Acts and … nume…tes. Is any tong able to expreſſe, or any heart able to conceiue, the height & depth of the miſeries prepared for the wicked, and all the enemies of the Church? although for a time in this worlde, they proſper and hauehave peace. If ſuch as hauehave liued without all blame before men: or for a time hauing gone out of the way, doe afterward vnfeynedly repent, and become as zealous in Gods matters, as they hauehave bin forward in corrupt… … and declare as great a deteſtation of … …ines in themſelues and others, as euer they ſhewed liking of the ſame: yet for all that, in this life indure extreeme pouertie,Luk. 16. as did Lazarus: be plunged in the gul…e of all outward miſeries as was Iob, who ſcraped the filth from his bodie with a po…ſherd,Iob. 2. 8. 9. and was euen loathed of his owne wife: be preſſed with ſuch agonies of the ſoule, as no tongue can vtter, as was that Iob, Dauid and others: inſomuch as they refuſe all comfort of meate, ſpende many nightes without ſleepe, flee the companie of men, feare eueryevery thing that they ſee: the earth leſt it ſhould take them downe quicke, the heauens leſt they ſhould fall, and cruſhe them to pieces, and all creatures, becauſe they ſee nothing but horror in them. Moreouer be troubled with ſtraunge viſions and dreames, bee brought merueilous low in their bodies, their bones weakened, their fleſhe conſumed, and their eyes ſunke in their head: that when it is euening, they ſay, would God it were morning, and when it is morning, they ſay, would God it were euening. And that which is the depth of all miſerie, hauehave their ſinnes (committed by them ſince they had any vnderſtanding) at one time brought to their remembrance, & all comfort concerning hope of remiſſion ſo taken away (becauſe they can ſee nothing in God but an angrie iudge) that in the end they breake out into theſe moſt lamentable ſpeeches: woe is me poore caytife that euer I was born: curſſed be the houre wherein I was conceiued, and the day wherein I firſt faw the ſunne:Iob. 7. O that God had made me a Serpente to licke the duſte vponupon the earth, or a toade to creepe vponupon the ground: ſo ſhuld my miſery hauehave ended at my death. But now alaſſe I know it ſhal be mine entrance tnto eternall paines, hell is my portion, and there I muſt remaine for euer: I am moſt ſure of it. Comfort you not me (my friends) the promiſes of God belong to you and to his elect: there is no merciemercy for me: I hauehave ſo grieuouſly offended: I feele my ſelfe deſtitute of all markes of Gods childe: and I was a reprobate from before the beginning. If for a time ſuche bee thus caſt downe, & peraduenture throwne into greater miſeries then any of theſe reherſed, that no comforts be able to rayſe vp their tyred ſoules, but eyther yet wraſtling with ſathan and diſpaire, or els ouercome by them, bee preſſed out of al meaſure: And notwithſtanding all theſe, recouer afterwards, & caſting away all horror, doubting and ſlauiſh ſea…e, by their fayth mounte aboue the heauens, where they ſee their Sauiour whome their ſoule hath longed after, ſitting at the right hand of God: ſo as they bewayle their former vnbeliefe, lament thoſe ſpeeches of diſpaire, be throughly perſwaded of the remiſſion of all their ſinnes, hauehave certeine hope of eternall life, & become ſo comfortable in Gods promiſes, that by his grace they bee able to rayſe vp ſuch as doubt and feare: & finally leaue behinde them vndouted proofs of the elect of God, that to all ſuch as hauehave iudgement and vnderſtanding, they appear plainely to hauehave bin ſealed vp vntounto eternall life from the beginning? Can it otherwiſe be, but that there are vnſpeakable torments after this life, appointed to ſuch as make a ſport of ſinne, neuer turne to God, and dye without repentantaunce: although in this world they abound with all health, wealth, and proſperitie? let vsus therefore reioyce in all our afflictions, wherein we take part with all the ſeruauntes of God: and let vsus not be offended at the proſperity of the vngodly: the time will come when wee ſhall hauehave comforte, & when they ſhalbe tormented: For ſo doth it ſtande with the trueth & iuſtice of God, according to that which Abraham ſayd to the rich man in hell: ſonne remember that thou in thy lyfe time receyuedſt thy pleaſures, and likewiſe Lazarus paines: now therefore is he comforted, & thou art tormented. If followeth.

Therefore let them that ſuffer according to the wil of God: commit their ſoules to him in wel doing, as vntounto a faithful Creator.

This is the concluſion of the whole treatiſe: as thoughe hee ſhoulde hauehave ſayde on this wiſe: ſith the afflicting of the churche is no newe thing, ſith it is a meane to trye the good from the bad, and to make them better, in whome there is (by the grace of God) ſome goodnes: ſith in all ſufferings it is a partaker with Ieſus Chriſt, & ſhall reioyce with him, when he appeareth againe in glory: ſith we be happy when we be railed vponupon in the name Chriſte, becauſe the …pirite of God & of glory reſteth vponupon vsus: ſith we ſuffer not as euill doers, but as chriſtians, & ſo hauehave no cauſe to bee aſhamed: ſith the time is now, wherein the Lord wil ſcourge his owne houſe: and hereafter will moſt ſeuerely proceede agaynſt the wicked although he ſpare them for a time: Let vsus continue in well doing, and committe oure ſelues to him, that is faithfull, and able to keepe that, whiche wee truſt him with. There is yet another cōfort for vsus in this verſe, that we heard not before: and that is where he telleth vsus, that we be not afflicted by the will and pleaſure of men, but onelye at the pleaſure & appointment of the Lord. To proue this point of doctrine, I ſhall not need to labour much: the truthe of it ſhould ſoone be granted, if we knew what we ſayd in this confeſſion: I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth. For what is this elſe, but to aſcribe ſuch a ſouereigne power vntounto God, that nothing is done nor can be done, in heauen, earth, or hell, but that onelyonly which he determineth & appointeth? The diuel himſelfe coulde not ſturre one foote forward,Iob. 1. 12. & 26. Luc. 8. 30. 32.to hurt Iob in his cattel, children, or himſelfe, till the Lorde from heauen had firſt ſayd, goe: Nay the legion of Deuils, coulde not touche one of the Gadarenes ſwine, til the Lorde Ieſus had firſt giuen them licence. And ſhal we think that mortall men, (whoſe malice againſte the hurch is not ſo deadly, nor their power ſo great) can ſo much as lift vp a finger to pul a hair frō the faces of any of Gods children,Luk. 127. till firſt the Lord hauehave taken order for the matter? wee be deceiued, & greatly detogate from the maieſty of the almighty, if we once imagine any ſuch thing. Whereupon Nabucadonizer in the middeſt of all his malice to the Iews the church of God, is termed the Lordes ſeruaunt:Ier. 25. 9. becauſe in deede as an hangman or executioner, he did nothing elſe, but that which hee had determined. Although the ſinne of the king was in this behalfe great, becauſe his purpoſe was not to doe the will of the Lord, but to ſatiſfie his owne proude and cruell affections. So is Aſhur. Luk. 16. 25.(y^e king of Aſſiria) called the rod of God. And to this purpoſe it is ſaid in the acts, that Poncius Pilate and the Iewes,Act. 4. 28. in condemning and crucifying the ſonne of God, did that which the father before had appointed. Inſomuch as it may be truely concluded, that the deuill and all the wicked of the earth, in their extreameſt rage againſt the ſaints, do nothing elſe but the will of God,Iſa. 10. 5. 8. although they know it not, neither do it to any ſuch intēt, ſith they wholy oppoſe themſelues againſt his maieſty. And yet the Lorde muſt not be charged to be the author of euill: for the ſelf ſame fact, I mean the troubling of the church, in reſpect of God, and his purpoſe therein, is holy, glorious, righteous, full of mercy, and to the great good of his ſeruaunts: which neuertheleſſe in reſpect of the inſtruments by whome God worketh it, is wicked, vniuſt, full of cruelty, and intended to the hurt of his children. But inough of this common place, that the enemies of the faythful, be nothing els, but the Lords rods, wherewith he exerciſeth his people: and that of themſelues they can do no more, then a rod or a whippe out of the hand of the ſmiter. Now this teacheth vsus not to fear the faces of the vngodly, nor to be diſmaid at their threates: the Lorde appointeth them certaine bondes, beyonde the which they can not paſſe the bredth of an haire. And this offreth vntounto vsus great comfort. For what childe that is wiſe and hath vnderſtanding, doeth not reioyſe, in the correction of his father? ſith being perſwaded of his fatherly and tender affection, he is out of doubt, that it is well meant, and ſhall turne to his good. Seing then the Lord is our Father, & his compaſſion ouer vsus, paſſeth the kindnes of a mother toward the infant ſucking vponupon her breſt:Iſa. 49. 15. Let vsus be comfortable in all our afflictions, ſith they come from him, and fall vponupon vsus according to his will. And that we maye hauehave to cheare vsus in all our diſtreſſes, let vsus ſerioſly meditate vponupon this one thing: the Lorde ſendeth them. After which conſideration: it by the teſtimonye of the ſpirite crying in our hearts (Abba) father,Gal. 4. 6. & the ſanctification of our liues, we can perſwade our ſelues, that we be his children: y^e preſent ſmart ſhall not quail vsus,Heb. 12. 11. becauſe of the fruit of righteouſnes following after:Rom. 8. 28. & it muſt needs turne to our beſt, becauſe it commeth from our father. Thus much of theſe words of y^e apoſtle: Let ſo many as bee afflicted according to the will of God. &c.

His concluſion is, that in all well doing we commende our ſoules vntounto God, that hath made them. For, as wee hauehave before in the time of our peace, declared ſome rare of pleaſing God, and doing his will: ſo is it our dueties to continue in our afflictions, and not for them, to take any libertie to doe euill. And therefore wee muſt not murmure againſt the Lorde, as though he dealte hardly with vsus: wee muſte not bee fainthearted to denie his trueth: we muſte not be bitter to our enemies in curſſing of them, and rewarding them as they deale with vsus: but with all patience, weekeneſſe, gentlenes, courage, forgiuing of our aduerſaries, and praying for them: conſtantly to endure whatſoeuer the Lorde will trie vsus with, according to the precepts of the ſcriptures, & the example of Dauid, Chriſt himſelfe, Stephen, and the reſt of the holy martyrs, which bleſſed their perſecuters,Luke. 23. 46. Act. 7. 59. 60.and in the deſtruction of their bodies, committed their ſpirites into the handes of God: In whome they beleeued, that he was faithful, & able to keepe ſafe whatſoeuer was commended vntounto him:2. Tim. 1. 12. whoſe ſteppes if we doe follow, according to the doctrine of the apoſtle in this place: then, although our bodies be turned into duſt,Eccle. 12. 7. whēce they came, beeing racked by Tyrants, caſt in priſon, burnt, and the aſhes throwne into riuers: yet vntounto oure ſoules they ſhall offer no violence, but beeing committed into the handes of the Lorde, ſhall returne to him that gaue them, till the daye come when all our enemyes ſhall bee troaden vnderunder oure feete:Apoc. 2. 26. 27 Apoc. 20. 13.when the earthe and Sea, rendering theire deade, bodye and Soule ſhall meete together, to bee crowned in token of victorye, and with all the holye Angelles to take full poſſeſſion of that glorious and immortall kingdome, which nowe we hope for.Apoc. 14. 4. Where we ſhall followe the Lambe wherſoeuer he goeth, and ſing prayſes to him that hath redeemed vsus for euer. Whiche dayes the Lorde haſten, that wee may be partakers of that happineſſe, euen for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, to whom with y^e Father & the holy ghoſt, three perſons & one true and euerliuing God, be all prayſe, honour, power, might and dominion, now and for euermore. Amen, Amen. Amen.

Apoc. 17. 14.

Theſe are they, which came out of great tribulation, & hauehave waſhed their long robes, and hauehave made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe.

15 Therefore are they in the preſence of the throne of God, and ſerue him day and night in his Temple, and he that ſitteth on the throne, will dwell amomg them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shal the ſunne light on them, neither any heate.

17 For the Lambe which is in the middes of the throne, shall gouerne them, and shall lead them vntounto the liuely founteines of waters, and God shal wipe away al teares from their eyes.

End of the text · Oliver Pigg, Treatise on 1 Peter 4 (1582)

Treatise on 1 Peter 4, Treatise