The Resolved Christian Exhorting to Resolution, Book 2 · Chapter 5

The Resolved Christian Exhorting to Resolution · Book 2 · Chapter 5

p. 210Chap. V Comforts for ſuch as ſuffer Perſecution or Death for the teſtimonie of a good conſcience in matters of Religion or Iuſtice.

Whereof it commeth that the wicked doe perſecute the godly. Sect. I

AS the Shippe, while it roueth vponupon the maine ſea, much like a caſtle, or a common-wealth ſtanding by it ſelfe, hauing all the ſailes hoiſed vp, ſwolne with the wind, and the banners diſplayed; with a very pompous and magnificent ſhewe, daunceth and skippeth vponupon the waues, alluring eueryevery paſſenger p. 211ſenger to behold, and admire her pride: but when ſhe is come to the hauen, the ſailes being gathered, the banners taken in, and the ankers caſt, ſhe lieth quietly in the rode, the ſearchers ranſake her, and force her to pay cuſtome; then is ſhe little regarded or ſet by: Euen ſo fareth it with the children of God, when they roued in riot, and ſailed vponupon the ſwelling ſurges of worldly vanities, following the tyde of a conſcienceleſſe courſe, ranged at their pleaſure without controllment, and had the fauorable gale of authority to waft them forwards, and the ſeemly ſaile of Honours and Pomp to make them daunce and skippe; then were they admired of the people, and eſteemed as excellent perſonages, honeſt men, and good fellowes; but now yeelding at length vntounto the calling of God, hauing retired themſelues into the port of a religious Profeſſion, of a holy and innocent conuerſation in the feare of God, they are ſtraightly ſearched and ſacked, their ſailes gathered, their wind be come boiſterous and tempeſtuous, their glorie diſgraced, and themſelues expoſed to infinite and innumerable calamities, and little or nothing eſteemed. TheaaIoh. 9.6, 18.John 9:6John 9:18 blind-man, ſo long as he continued in his blindneſſe, was neuer moleſted nor called in queſtion: but ſo ſoon as his eyes were opened, then both he and his parents were preſently conuented. ThebbIoh. 55 lame cripple that was p. 212diſeaſed eight and thirtie yeeres, had layn long at the Poole Betheſda, and all that while no man rebuked him; but ſo ſoone as Chriſt hadcc8 cured him, as he did execute his commandement, the Iewesdd10 reprehended and rebuked him for carrying his bed on the Sabboth day. So the diuell ſeekes to blaſt our Religion and profeſſion in the bud,The diuell enuious of our weldoing. before it grow either to flower or fruite, and therefore doth he continually perſecute vsus, which notwithſtanding is a very good ſigne, that we are deliuered out of his power, otherwiſe he would neuer purſue vsus ſo hotly. So then, ſeeing we are in the right way, let vsus runne on, and conſtantly continue our courſe vntounto the end: they that will take the ſtart of profeſſion, are like wilde coltes that are frighted with ſhadowes, ſeeing they feare tribulation in this world, which indeede is but a ſhadow, in reſpect of that in the world to come. It is not for him that wil be a chriſtian, to regard the ſtanders and ſcornings of men, or to abandon his holy profeſſion for their ſakes, ſeeing it is but a ſlender excuſe, to alleadge the feare of wordes of a ſubiect, as a iuſt impediment, of not performing our duty to our ſoueraigne. It were a great folie of the blind, to deride and ſcorne others, becauſe they ſee; or for the criple, to contemne thoſe that are ſound of limmes, becauſe they limp not: but much more ſottiſhneſſe were it for a man that ſeeth, to goe p. 213blindfold, or to put out his eies for the blinde wretches ſcoffing; or for the ſound man to halt or maime himſelfe for criples ſayings. He that leadeth an holy life, and walketh vprightly in the feare of God, is deſpiſed and ſcorned of him that followeth after vanitie, and treadeth infamous pathes: buteePſalme 2.4Ps 2:4 he that dwelleth in heauen ſhal laugh them to ſcorne, the Lord ſhall hauehave them in deriſion. When wee giuegive our names vntounto Chriſt, and become his Diſciples, then doe we enter into a rough profeſſion, (like a grape to the vine-preſſe) that is bound to be at continuall defiance and enmitie, with the vanities, pleaſures, and praiſes of this world; and therefore, what can we looke for at the hands of the worldes friends, but hatred and perſecution? The more the waues and billowes beate againſt the rocke, the more are they broken, and turne into a vaine ſome or froath, and yet the rocke neuer the weaker. So let the malice of our Aduerſaries rage againſt vsus, our rocke is vnconquerable, if we cleaue vntounto it; hurt them ſelues they may, but cannot harm vsus; the IewsffActes 7.54Acts 7:54 their hearts braſt for anger, and they gnaſhed their teeth at Stephen, and yet was he nothing moued or terrified at their furious ſpight: we muſt make no more account of the obloquies and reproches of our enemies, then this holy Martyr did of the malice and madneſſe of the Iewes.

p. 214That we muſt patiently ſuffer perſecution and affliction for Religion or Iuſtice ſake, and why? Sect. II.

COunterfeit gold feareth the touchſtone; If we feare triall, it is becauſe wee are counterfeits, full of incredulitie & vnbeleefe. If we had builded vponupon theaa1. Cor. 3.111 Cor 3:11 foundation Chriſt Ieſus,bb12 gold ſilver & precious ſtones, we ſhould not be afraid that our works ſhould bee made manifeſt in the day of the Lorde: but being perſwaded in our conſcience, that we build with hay, Ibid.ſtraw and ſtubble, we cannot chuſe but bee timorous and fearefull to come neere the fire, leſt there ſhould bee any triall made of our workes, or that our faith ſhoulde melt away in temptation, as waxe againſt the Sunne, and thereby make it manifeſt, that it was a falſe and counterfet beleefe. The houſe that is builded on a Rocke, will not feare the fall of raine and haile, or the blaſts of winde, or the beating of the waues: The medowe or field which hath ſufficient moiſture, will not feare the drought and heate of ſommer; Neither will the tree that is planted by the water ſide, feare leſt his leafe wither: nor wee feare the brunt and heat of perſecution, if our faith be ſtrong and liuely, eſpecially conſidering how proſitable & neceſſarie they are vntounto vsus.Affliction is Chriſts liuerie. Affliction is not onelyonly the liuerie and cogniſance p. 215ſance of Chriſt, but the very principal & roiall garment which himſelfe was clad with in this life: A ſouldiour reioiceth to put on his Captaines harneſſe; and a Diſciple cannot miſlike to be like his maiſter: In vaine doth he claime the name of a Chriſtian, that will not imitate Chriſt. If we be chriſtians, Afflictions muſt be our coate, and Perſecution our liuerie. Hee is an vndutifull & vngracious childe that is aſhamed of his Father; hee is a malapert ſeruaunt, that refuſeth to weare his Maiſters liuerie: and he of all others, a moſt vngratefull creature, that doth not willingly & ioyfully accept the liuerie of God his maiſter. Vriah the Hittite, when Dauid bade himdd2. Sam. 11.32 Sam 11:3 goe into his houſe, and waſh his feete, and ſo to take his eaſe, he like a true Iſraelite anſwered,ee1… The Arke, and Iſrael, and Iudah dwell in tents: and my Lord Ioab, and the ſeruants of my Lord abide in the open fields: ſhal I then goe into mine houſe to cate and drinke, and lie with my wife? By thy life, and by the life of thy ſoule, I will not doe this thing. Hee thought it an odious thing, to hauehave better lodging than the Arke of the Lord, the Captaine of the hoſte, and his fellow-ſouldiours, and therefore hee lay not on a ſoft bed, but on the ground,ff9 at the doore of the kings palace: So our Arke, euen our Captaine Ieſus Chriſt, and our felloweſouldiors the Martirs, lay on the bare ground, and ſuffered great afflictions and perſecution; p. 216and wil we looke to lie and to fare better than they did? Shall Chriſt lie in the manger, and we ruffle it out in our pallaces? ſhal he mourn in ſackcloth, and we bathe in pleaſure? Shall hee fighting in our defence, bee wounded and crucified among theeues; and ſhall we diſport and ſo lace ourſelues with fond and vaine delights? Shall he bee pierced through with the ſworde of Gods iuſtice for our ſinnes, and ſhall wee bee vnwilling to ſuffer any thing for our ſelues? Oh vnnaturall Children that wee are! that hauing before our eies the moſt bloudie ſlaughter of our Sauiour, we being by his bloud like Pelicans younglings, reuiued and raiſed to life from death, will not yet learne the greatneſſe of Gods louelove, nor conſider how greatly we are bound vntounto him, & how much we ought to ſuffer for his ſake, that regarded not his owne life, to ſaue vsus. See li. 2. ca. 4. Sect 4 Whatſoeuer we ſuffer for him, it is much leſſe then hee ſuffered for vsus, ſo that it is vnpoſſible for vsus euer to come out of his debt.Note. Wee owe our ſelues wholly for our firſt making, and what can wee adde more for our redeeming, eſpecially ſeeing we were not ſoreaſily redeemed, as we were made? In our Creation Chriſt gaue vsus our ſelues, in our Redemption he gaue vsus himſelfe, thereby reſtoring vsus to our ſelues: Therefore thus giuen at the firſt, and reſtored againe when we had loſt our ſelues, wee owe p. 217our ſelues for our ſelues; and wee owe our ſelues twice. But now what ſhall we repay vntounto our Lord for himſelf? thogh we could repay our ſelues tenne thouſand times, what are we in compariſon of Chriſt the Sonne of God? So then, though we had as many liues to ſpend as drops of bloud to ſhed, wee could not recompence his louelove: & how willing then ſhould wee be to ſay with Peter,ggMath. 26.35 mar. 14.31Matt 26:35 Though I ſhould die with thee, I will in no caſe denie thee: and withhhIoh. 11.16John 11:16 Thomas, Let vsus alſo goe, that we may die with him. The ſeruant for fortie ſhillings wil hazard himſelfe in his Maiſters perils, and fight his quarels; and the dogge, an vnreaſonable creature, by the inſtinct of nature, for a bone or a cruſt of bread, will runne vponupon the ſworde in his Maiſters defence, though the daunger bee neuer ſo deſperate. And ſhall we be more vnthankefull than a hireling? and more vnnaturall than a bruit beaſt? and that towards him that hath beene ſo bountifull vntounto vsus?

That it is a bleſſed thing to ſuffer perſecution for Religion or Iuſtice ſake. p. 218Sect. III.

THe long and continuall experience of Gods children ſubſcribeth vntounto this trueth of the holy ſcriptures,aaActes 14.22Acts 14:22 that we muſt through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God. This is the Lot of the faithful. So the bbHebr. 12.2Heb 12:2author and finiſher of our faith, Chriſt Ieſus himſelf wasccMat. 5.48Matt 5:48 made perfect. Into hisddRom. 8.29Rom 8:29 ſimilitude we are likewiſe predeſtinate, that we ſhould firſt**2. Tim. 2.122 Tim 2:12 die with him, and then raigne with him, foree2. Tim. 3.122 Tim 3:12 all that will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution. Let vsus not refuſe therefore that condition of life, in which we hauehave the fellowſhip of all the Saints of God; but let vsus remember, that our Maiſter Chriſt hath ſtraightly charged vsus,ffLuke 9.23 mar. 8.34Luke 9:23 if we will be his Diſciples, there is no remedie, we muſt needes take vp his Croſſe dayly, and follow him.ggMat. 5.10Matt 5:10 Bleſſed are they (ſaith our Sauiour Chriſt) which ſuffer perſecution for righteouſneſſe ſake, for theirs is the kingdome of heauen: hh11Bleſſed ſhall ye be when menreuile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of euill againſt you for my ſake falſlie. ii22Reioyce and be glad, for great is your reward in heauen, for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you. kkLuke 6.22Luke 6:22Bleſſed are ye when men hate you, and when they ſeperate you and reuile you, and put out your name as euill, for the ſon of mans ſake. ll23Reioice ye in that daie, and be glad, for behold, your reward is great in heauen. So ſaith p. 219Chriſt, who is the truth it ſelfe, and cannot lie. And ſo ſay the Apoſtles after him:mmIames 1.12Jas 1:12 Bleſſed is the man that endureth temtation (that is, affliction or perſecution whereby the Lord trieth him) for when he is tried, he ſhall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that louelove him. nnIames 5.11.Jas 5:11Behold we count them bleſſed which endure. oo1. Pet. 3.14.1 Pet 3:14Bleſſed are ye if ye ſuffer for righteouſneſſe ſake. pp1. Pet. 4.14.1 Pet 4:14If ye be railed vponupon for the name of Chriſt, bleſſed are ye, for the Spirite of God reſteth vppon you. Wherfore, if it be a bleſſed thing to ſuffer perſecution, for the name of Chriſt, and for righteoſneſſe ſake, as no doubt it is, & that a great bleſſing, yea the greateſt of all, to wit, euerlaſting vnſpeakable ioy and felicitie in the kingdome of heauen, where we ſhall ſee God euen face to face in his glory: why then ſhould you faint vnderunder the Croſſe which God hath layde on you? Why do ye not rather reioyce (as the Apoſtles did) for that you areqqActes 5.41Acts 5:41 counted worthie to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake. You are brought into the ſtage of Martyrdome, to fight for the crowne of eternall life. Fight manfully for the crowne of ſaluation, take courage and patience; it is better to die a thouſand deathes, then to be ſeperated from the Lorde; if yourrMath. 7.32Matt 7:32 confeſſe Chriſt boldly before men in earth, Chriſt will confeſſe you before his Father which is in heauen; where Chriſt ſhall ſay vntounto you, as the man ſaide vntounto his good and faithfull ſeruant: p. 220ssMatth. 25.21Matt 25:21Thou haſt beene good and faithfull in little, I will make thee ruler ouer much: enter into thy Maiſters ioy.

Of the benefits that the Croſſe or affliction bringeth vntounto vsus. Sect. IIII.

WHerefore ſhould we be diſmaide? and why ſhould wee feare the brunt of perſecutiō, or the waight of the Croſſe; ſeeing wee are ſo many waies comforted and eaſed by the ſame? There isaaActes 14.22 gal. 6.14. luke 24.26Acts 14:22 no way, nor path vntounto life, but by the croſſe. Oh how glorious is that Croſſe, which bringeth the bearer of it to ſo glorious a ende! The Croſſe doeth make for thebbRom. 8.28 pſalme 119.71 reuelat. 3.10Rom 8:28 good and ſaluation of the Elect: it maketh vsus happie andccMatth. 5, 10.11 iam. 5.11. 1. pet. 3.14. 1. pet. 4.14Matt 5:10Matt 5:11 bleſſed. And what greater happines can there be, than to bee at conformitie with Chriſt, which the Croſſedd1. Pet. 4.131 Pet 4:13 doeth worke in vsus. The Croſſe bringetheeRom. 5.3. iam. 1.2, 3.Rom 5:3 patience, itff1. Pet. 1.71 Pet 1:7 trieth our faith, itggRom. 5.4.Rom 5:4 confirmeth our hope, it cauſeth vsus tohhNum. 21.7 nehem. 9.27. pſalme 119.71 Eſay 26.16. Hoſe 6.1Num 21:7Isa 26:16Hos 6:1 acknowledge our ſinnes, and to flie vntounto God for helpe and comfort. It maketh vsus to feel and to know our owne imperfections, frailtie, and miſerie, & thereby the neceſſitie of Gods help, protection, and ſuccour, to ſupplie our wants. The Croſſe to Gods children is a moſt ſure p. 221iiProu. 3.11.12 hebt. 12.6 1. pet. 2.19, 20Prov 3:11Prov 3:12teſtimonie of the louelove of God: and hee that beares the Croſſe, ſhall hauehavekkLuke 6.21 math. 5.4.Luke 6:21 ioy & comfort at the laſt; yea he that patiently endureth the croſſe, ſhal receiuellIam. 1.12. 2. tim. 2.11. matth. 5.12. reuel 2.10Jas 1:12Jas 1:2 the crowne which the Lorde hath promiſed to them that louelove him, for vponupon him themm1. Pet. 4.141 Pet 4:14 ſpirit of God reſteth. Hee that beareth the Croſſe,nn1. Cor. 11.321 Cor 11:32 ſhall not be condemned with the world. By the Croſſe weeooPſal. 119.67Ps 119:67 learne what obedience wee owe vntounto God. The Croſſe doth beget in vsus,ppPſal. 119.71Ps 119:71 hatred & contempt of the vanities of this preſent life: ItqqActes 14.22Acts 14:22 inuiteth and ſtirreth vsus vp to the meditatiō of the life to come: It maketh vsus to know our enemies, and to perceiue the peſtilent venome of Sathans malice againſt our good and happie ſtate: It cauſeth vsus to looke better to our paths, and torrEſay 26.9Isa 26:9 amend our liues. The Croſſe is thessZach. 13.9Zech 13:9 furnace, in which God fineth and purifieth his gold: It is the mould into which God caſteth his children, to frame them and to make them like thettRom. 8.29Rom 8:29 Image of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt. The Croſſe is the ſuite and liuerie that Gods children are clothed withall, in this vale of wo and miſery. And laſtly, the Croſſe is the earneſt and beginning of all conſolation and glorie. How is it then, that we feare and flie from the Croſſe, that is ſo many waies profitable vntounto vsus? Let vsus be conſtant and firme, and feare not the blaſts of perſecution, nor the ſtormes of affliction; Let vsus be like vntounto thatuuMatth. 7.24Matt 7:24 wiſe man, p. 222that builded his houſe vponupon the rocke, which thexx25 raine and winde could not beate downe, becauſe the foundation thereof was laide ſure vponupon a rocke. Let not the windes of trial blow downe our building and faith in Chriſt Ieſus, that firmeyy1 Cor. 3.111 Cor 3:11 foundation & ſurezzMat. 21.40Matt 21:40 corner-ſtone; neither ſhall it (be ye ſure of that) if we hauehave builded well and rightly as we ſhould.

That our afflictions are foreſeene and appointed by God; and therefore to be taken in good part. Sect. V

IF you would conſider three things, you would not maruell ſo much at your croſſe and perſecution: firſt, what you be: not counterfeits, not hypocrites, not worldlings, not the children of ſatan: but Gods elect, a choſen generation, and the children of the moſt high. Secondly, where you be. Not in heauen but vponupon earth, not at home, but in a ſtrange country Thirdly, amongest whom you are. Euen in the midſt among your enemies, as aaMat. 10.16 luke 10.3Matt 10:16ſheepe among the wolues, being aſſaulted on eueryevery ſide, onbb2. Cor. 6.72 Cor 6:7 the right hād, & on the left. And now, is it maruel, that Gods children, being in a ſtrange cuntrie, and amongſt their enemies, ſhal be perſecuted? p. 223No ſurely, it is not: neither doth this your affliction come by hap hazard (as they ſay) but by the good prouidence of God, as Chriſt, and his Apoſtles by the ſame ſpirit foretold, ſayingccMat. 10.17Matt 10:17 Beware of men (ſaith Chriſt) for they will deliuer you vp to the councells, and will ſcourge you in their ſinagogues. dd18And ye ſhall be brought to Gouernors and Kings for my ſake, in witneſſe to them, and to the Gentiles. ee21And the brother ſhall betray the brother to death, and the Father the ſonne, and the children ſhall riſe againſt their parents, and ſhall cauſe them to die. ff22And ye ſhal be hated of al men for my name, but he that endureth to the end, he ſhall be ſaued. ggMat. 16.24Matt 16:24If anie man will follow me, let him forſake himſelfe, and take vp his croſſe, and follow me. hh25For whoſoeuer wil ſaue his life, ſhal looſe it, and whoſoeuer ſhal looſe his life for my ſake ſhall find it. iiIoh. 16.20John 16:20Ye shall weepe and lament, but the world shal reioice, but your ſorrow shall be turned vntounto ioy. It were infinite to cite all places of holy Scripture which might be aleaged for confirmation herof. I wil aleage one place more out of the Reuelation, which is this.kkReuel. 2.10Rev 2:10 Feare none of thoſe things which thou shalt ſuffer, behold, it shall come to paſse, that the diuel shall caſt ſome of you into priſon, that ye may be tried, and ye shal hauehave tribulation ten daies be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life. HerellHebr. 12.2Heb 12:2 the author and finisher of our faith Chriſt Ieſus, euenmmReuel. 2.8Rev 2:8 he that is firſt and laſt, which was dead, and is aliue, exhorteth and ſtirreth vp p. 224his ſouldiers to be of good courage, and to prepare themſelues vntounto the ſpirituall battell: For he ſaith, Feare not, not only by perſwaſions (as earthly captains do) but by giuing ſtrength, ſo that let all the diuells in hell come, when he ſaith, Feare not, we are ſafe enoughnnRom. 8.31Rom 8:31 If God be on our ſide, who can be againſt vsus? What an excellent conſolation is this, euen to forewarne vsus of d…ungers to come, and to bid vsus ſhake off all feare? The diuell shall caſt ſome of you into priſon, ſaith he, thereby ſhewing who is the principall author and factor of perſecution, the diuell: to the end we may know, that we hauehave not to deale withooEpheſ. 6.12.Eph 6:12 fleſh and bloud, but with the prince of Darkneſſe, wherefore our weapons muſt be ſpirituall and not carnal; for although the Magiſtates do ſeeme to doe it, yet are they but the diuells inſtruments: he ſets them a worke, he inflameth their hearts, he is the bellows to blow vp their wrath againſt the poore members of Chriſt; and therefore, ſeeing we combate with ſuch a captaine, we muſt take theppEpheſ. 6.16.Eph 6:16 shield of Faith; and theqq17 ſword of Gods ſpirit, or elſe wee cannot fight long without ſome grieuous wound. But doth the Lorde giuegive vsus vp altogither into the handes and power of the diuell for our ouerthrow and deſtruction? No; that ye may be tried ſaith he. Oh ſweete comfort! Wee muſt ſuffer affliction, not for any harm to vsus, but for our great good and ſingular p. 225commoditie.rrIames 1.2Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it exceeding ioie, when ye fal into diuers temptations, ſaith Iames. Why ſo, a man might ſay? Peter anſwereth,ss1. Pet. 1.71 Pet 1:7 that the triall of your faith, being much more precious then g…lde that periſheth (though it be tried with fire) might be found vntounto your praiſe, and honour, and golrie, at the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt. So then we muſt be caſt into the fornace of afflictions, to hauehave the droſſe and mixture burnt out, to be fined, and to bee made more pure, cleare, and bright. Is not this a good comfort! Who will not reioice in that which is for his great good? yet howbeit, we ſee, and feele by experience, that afflictions doe vsus good, our fraile nature will hardly endure themttHebr. 12.11.Heb 12:11 long, we waxe ſoone wearie, and are ready to faint, if we thinke them like to continue long. How long then ſhall we abide in the firie furnace of afflictions? muſt we remaine there a thouſand or a hundred yeares? euen this time, beeing compared with eternitie, ſeemeth but a moment, and indeed is but very ſhort. But muſt we continue there ſo long? No; wee ſhall bee afflicted for the ſpace of tenne, not yeares, nor moneths, nor weekes, but daies, You shal hauehave tribulation ten daies (ſaith the Lord.) Sweeter and ſweeter! For ten daies (ſaith he) thereby denotating ſome ſhort continuance of time. Oh good God! wilt thou that the wicked bee puniſhed in hell fire for euer and euer, and that p. 226not for triall, but for torments; and that thy children ſuffer, not to torment them, but to try them; not in hell, but in this worlde; not the paines of hell, but a little affliction, for ſuch a ſhort time; no longer than tenne daies?uuIob 1.21Job 1:21 Bleſſed bee the name of the Lord. Oh, how much are we beholden vntounto thy gracious and merciful goodnes therfore! The Lord make vsus thankefull for theſe comforts. Now ſeeing the time of our triall is ſo ſhort, what followeth? ſhall we be reſtored againe to our former eſtate, libertie, and health of bodie? No, What then? The Lord ſaith, Be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life. Sweeteſt of all!xxPſalme 8.4Ps 8:4 What is man (Lord) that thou art mindfull of him, and the ſonne of man, that thou viſiteſt him? Shall wee bee crowned kings to raigne with Chriſt for euer after ſuch triall? O Bleſſed ſhal that triall be, whoſe end is ſuch a bleſſing! yet note, that this promiſe is not abſolute, but dependeth vponupon a condition. If thou continue faithfull vntounto the death. If we fight valiantly vnderunder Chriſts banner for a while, & then faint, and bee ouercome, what ſhall it profit vsus? If we put our hand to the plough & looke backe, what ſhall it auaile vsus?Luke 9.Luke 9 Such a one is not fit for the kingdome of heauen. But if we will bee conquerours, wee muſt perſeuere vntounto the death. Wee muſt continue ſtill,Math. 24Matt 24 Hee that continueth vntounto the end, he shall be ſaued, ſaith Chriſt. If wee p. 227yeeld vntounto the enemie, if wee ſtoupe to ſinne, if we conſent to the world, and giuegive place to the diuell, we are not worthie to be crowned with the crowne of life.

That we ought not be diſmaied at perſecution, forſomuch as our cauſe is good. Sect. VI.

THe equitie of the quarrell honoureth the combate, and the goodneſſe of our cauſe aſſureth vsus of finall victorie. A circumſpect and wiſe ſhip-maſter, when he goeth to the ſea, and launcheth out from the ſhore, laying aſide the remembraunce of his wife and children, of his houſe and family, employeth his body and mind, ſtrength and wit, onelyonly to the due performance of his office, in reſiſting the ſtormes, in auoyding the daungers, and in directing his ſhippe to the intended hauen. When we are lanched out of the port of earthly proſperitie, wee muſt ſet aſide all worldely cares, and diſplay the ſaile of our ſoules vppon the maſte of the croſſe and afflictions; we muſt betake vsus to the tackling of conſtant profeſſion of the Goſpel of Chriſt, and keepe our hand vponupon the ſterne of godly and religious conuerſation; & being ſeperated from the world, we muſt lift vp our eies to heauen, and direct p. 228our courſe by the motions of the ſtarres and Planets, I meane by the examples of Chriſt, and other the childrē of God: ſo hauing Chriſt for our Pilot, and the inſpirations of the holy Ghoſt for our gale, we may ſafely ſail through the ſtormes of perſecution, paſſe the rockes of alluring occaſions, auoide the ſhipwracke of a good cōſcience, ouercom the ſurges of worldly pleaſure; and finally, arriue at the hauen of life,The might and malice of our enemies ought not to daunt our courage. and port of perfect felicitie. Our enemies are mightie, their force very great, their vantage not vnknowne, their malice experienced, their torments to fleſh and bloud intolerable; yet our Captaine hath alwaies conquered, our cauſe was euer aduanced, and our predeceſſours with the loſſe of their liues confounded their aduerſaries. Wherefore ſhould we hauehave leſſe hope of victorie, than they had? Wee gather our flowers of thornes, and of briers we reape our fruite; If the ſtaulke wounde, the flower healeth; if the reaping be troubleſome, the fruite will be the more delight ſome. Wee muſt not think that the ſea is not deep, becauſe the ſhores be ſhallow, nor denie heauen to be cleare, becauſe it is ſometimes ouercaſt with cloudes, nor the earth to be fertill, becauſe it is in ſome places vnfruitfull: ſo wee muſt not thinke that the harueſt of a good conſcience is loſt, though it be interrupted with ſome ſorrowfull ſhowres. We are Chriſtians, a choſen p. 229generation; wee fight againſt the worlde and Prince of darkeneſſe, a ſtrong aduerſarie; our quarrell is the defence of Chriſts Goſpell, an honourable cauſe; our Captaine is Chriſt Ieſus, a victorious champion; our banner is the Croſſe, a heauie burden; our armour is patience, an vnconquerable ſhield; our battaile perſecution, a ſharpe skirmiſh; our victorie death, a bitter potation; and our triumph martyrdome, a comfortable affliction.

That their estate is verie dangerous that neuer ſuffer affliction. Sect. VII.

AS it is a bleſſed thing to ſuffer perſecution or affliction (as isaaSect. 3 before declared) and a ſure token and ſigne of Gods fauour and louelove, according to that,bbHebr. 12.6Heb 12:6 Whome the Lord loueth, he chasteneth: So is it a moſt ruefull ſcourge of God, and a token of a reprobate ſoule, to be ſuffered to enioy continually all ſorts of delights, and to hauehave no croſſe to trauerſe our comforts, according to that ſaying, No greater temptatiō than neuer to be tempted:ccEſay 5.6Isa 5:6 I will laie my Vineyard waste, it shall not be cut nor digged, and ſo ſhall it waxe wilde, fruitleſſe, and full of weedes. The Oxen that p. 230are deſigned to the ſlaughter, are ſuffered to runne and range at their will in pleaſaunt paſtures; but thoſe that are appoynted to liue, are ſent to the plough, yoked, and dayly tired: Euen ſo are the wicked giuen vp to their own hearts deſires, and permitted to walke in their owne counſelles.ddPſal. 81.12Ps 81:12 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men. ThereforeeePſal. 73.5Ps 73:5 Pride is as a chaine vntounto them, and Crueltie couereth them as a garment: ff6Their eies ſtand out for faineſse: gg7They hauehave more than heart can wish. But the faithfull are loaden with labour, wearied with watchings, being daily afflicted and perſecuted. The Theeues liue in delights, and of other mens ſpoyle; they wallow in wealth & pleaſure, till they be brought before the Iudge: ſo doe the wicked, till the time of their account come: but then ſhal they be throwne into flouds of fire: for there ſhall come a iudgement that ſhall make the wicked to wither, and the faithfull to flouriſh. Better it is to be chaſticed with Gods children, than to be ſpared and pampered with the vaſſailes of Sathan; better to be cut and pruned with the fruitfull vines, than to be layd waſte with that which is wilde, and in the ende, to be quite cutte downe, to make fewell for the fire.When ſinners be moſt miſerable. Then are ſinners moſt miſerable, when they are left in their ſinnes, without correction. The Oake is of a ſtately growth, full of p. 231faire leaues, caſting a pleaſant ſhadowe; yet the fruite thereof ſerueth but for ſwine. The Temples of the Aegyptians are very ſtately & ſumptuous buildings, garniſhed with varietie of marbles, pleaſant portraitures, and curious workes, and al the rowmes adorned and decked with gorgeous furniture, and great maieſtie: But if a man goe into their ſecret chappels, and view the god for whoſe honour all this is vſed, hee ſhall finde ſome vgly viper or crocodile, or ſome other venomous ſerpent: So is it with the men of this world, their houſes are coſtly and glorious; their garments and attires, faire and pretious; their bodies perſonable and comely: but enter into their inmoſt roome, and conſider what is harbored therein, and you ſhal find within all this pomp and brauery, a monſtrous vgly creature, a ſinfull ſoule in the ſtate of damnation, drowned in ſecurity, and in all vice and wickednes. The fiſh will merily floate, and turne to and fro, & leape at the baite, and reioyce if hee catch it; when wil the fiſher pull his line, and the hooke will faſten in the fiſhes guils, ſo that the poore fiſh is taken:hhEccl. 9.12Eccl 9:12 So are the children of men ſnared in the euill time, when it falleth vponupon the ſodaeinelie: then for libertie ſhall they reape reſtraint, and for their dainty bits, eternal torments. Wherfore God chaſteneth his children in this life: and if they cannot bee wonne with eaſier remedies; p. 232medies; when he ſeeth them runne aſtray, he holdeth them back with the hard bit of aduerſitie, and hedgeth them in with the thornes of tribulation. The vanities of this world caſt vsus into ſuch a delightſome frenzie, and lull vsus ſo dangerouſly aſleepe, that many in a frantike fit of licentiouſneſſe, runne headlong to perdition, and while they reioyce, they raue; and many in a careleſſe and ſecure kind of life, ſleepe themſelues to death, like wounded wretches ſleeping in their graues; and therefore God ſcourgeth his children with the rod of tribulation, to temper and ſtay the raging moodes of the frantike, & to rowſe the dead ſleepers out of their lethargie▪ See lib. 1. Chap. 5. Sect. 2.

That whoſoeuer will be aſhamed of Chriſt, Christ will be aſhamed of him. Sect. VIII.

SVch was the exceſſiue louelove of Chriſt, thirſting for the ſaluation of mankind, that he hath ſhewed vsus his feete nayled, to attend our comming; his ſide open, to giuegive vsus enterance; his armes ſtretched out, ready to embrace vsus; his head enclined, to affoord vsus the kiſſe of peace; his eies ſhut, to all our offences; p. 233his eares vnſtopped, to heare our petitions; his hands open, to inrich vsus with gifts; and a multitude of bleeding wounds, to ſhew vsus how intirely he loued, and how dearely he bought vsus. But many, like the ſtiffe-necked Iews, nothing moued with this his exceſſiue louelove, contemne all his muiting, being, not onelyonly dull and deafe at his calling, but with ſauadge and barbarous crueltie with their ſpeares of ſin, they wound &aaHebr. 6.6Heb 6:6 crucify againe to thēſelues the ſon of God, as much as in them lieth. Many are aſhamed to confeſſe Chriſt and his Goſpel in the preſence of his enemies, and before them that hauehave authority & beare the ſway in this world; little regarding, or rather contemning the threatnings of Chriſt.bbMatth. 7.32Matt 7:32 Whoſoeuer shall confeſſe me before men, him will I confeſſe alſo before my Father which is in heauen. cc33 marke 8 28 luke 9.26 luke 12.8But whoſeuer shall denie me before men, him will I alſo denie before my father which is in heauen: and that of the Apoſtlesdd2. Tim. 2.122 Tim 2:12 if we denie him, he will denie vsus. O let vsus conſider this, and be not afraid to confeſſe Chriſt boldly, though it be with the danger of our libertie, or life it ſelfe. For Chriſt will render vengeance to them that hated his Goſpel, they ſhall know whoſe word and trueth it was, which they hauehave ſo diſpitefully reproched & denied.eePſalme 11.…Ps 11 VponUpon the wicked shall he raine ſnares, fire, and brimſtone, and ſtormie tempeſt, this is the portion of …heir cup. But you that can find in your hearts p. 234to ſuffer perſecution for the teſtifying of Chriſt and his truth; it is aff2. Theſſ. 1.52 Thess 1:5 ſure token of the righteous iudgement of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdome of God, for the which ye alſo ſuffer. gg6For it is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you: bb7and to you which are troubled, reſt with vsus, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen with his mightie Angel…: ii8In flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that do not know God, and which obey not vntounto the Goſpel of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, kk9which ſhall be puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition, from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glorie of his power. Heauen is like vntounto all2 Eſdr. 7.6 cittie builded and ſet vponupon a brode field, full of all good things. mm7The entrance thereof is narrow, and in a daungerous place to fall, and there is fire at the right hand, and a deepe water at the left. nn8And there is but one path betwixt them, euen betwixt the fire and the water, ſo that there could but one man go there. oo9If this cittie were giuen vntounto a man for an inheritance, if he neuer went thorough the perill before it, how could he receiue his inheritance? Wherfore, ſeeing the way isppMatth. 7.14Matt 7:14 narrow and ſtrait, that is, full of troubles and affliction, that leadeth into heauen, that moſt ioyfull and pleaſant citie of euerlaſting life: let vsus not ſtagger or looke backe, but goe forwards through thicke and thinne, yea, euen through death it ſelfe; for it is he that leadeth vsus to our iourneyes end, it is Death that brings vsus to the gate p. 235of euerlaſting life. Let vsus not be afraide then to die; bleſſed is that death that leadeth to ſo ioyfull a end.

That worldlie pleaſure, wealth, &c. should not withdraw vsus from the confeſſion of the truth. Sect. IX.

Obiection.

Alas! am I ſo fooliſh as to forgoe ſo many goodly manors, ſuch faire liuings, ſuch coſtly treaſures, vponupon a conceit onelyonly, or an opinion touching Religion! How can I away with the loſſe of theſe pleaſures which I may enioy for a long time, euen at my hearts eaſe? What? Shall I caſt my ſelfe wilfully away? I obtained of late an honourable Office, and enioyed the ſame for a ſhort time: hitherto I hauehave got little or nothing by it; now the profit commeth in, and ſhal I leaue that ſo ſoone which I hauehave gotten ſo hardly? Oh precious iewells and rich pearles! p. 236hauehave I enioyed you but for ſuch a ſhort time, and now muſt I leaue you, and know not who ſhall poſſeſſe you! No, no, I cannot do it, I may not, I meane not.

Anſwere.

SAtan ſuggeſteth theſe worldly toyes into your mind, to the end you ſhould conſent vntounto him (who enuieth your happie eſtate, and would faine hauehave you wrapped in the ſame condemnation with himſelfe) and fal down & worſhip not the Lord, but theaaReuel. 12.3Rev 12:3 dragon, the old ſerpent the diuell, that greatbbReuel. 13.1Rev 13:1 beaſt and his image, & ſo commit fornication with theccReuel. 17.3Rev 17:3 whore of Babilon, togither with the kings of the earth, with theddReuel. 9.3Rev 9:3 Locuſts and other falſe Prophets, that you ſhould reioice and be pleaſant with her, and bee drunken with the wine of her fornication. Shal worldlyeeEccl. 1.2Eccl 1:2 vanitie cauſe you to forgoe your euerlaſting habitation?ffMar. 8.36Mark 8:36 What shall it profite a man though he should win the whole world, and looſe his ſoule? Remember thatgg1. Iohn 2.171 John 2:17 this world paſſeth away, and the luſt thereof: and thathhEccl. 2.1Eccl 2:1 to take pleaſure in pleaſant things is vanitie. In the Ocean ſea, of foure ſhips not one doth miſcarrie; and in the ſea of this world, of many foures not one is ſaued. This worlde is theiiIohn 14.30 iohn 16.11John 14:30 kingdom of Satan, what ſeruant of god cā p. 237hauehave any pleaſure and delight to liue in Satans kingdome? It is a place of baniſhment; can any bee ſo vnnaturall and ſo ſenſeleſſe, as not willingly to forſake baniſhment? Is it better to hang alwaies in hazard, then once to fall for felicitie? We are promiſed, that here we ſhall be perſecuted andkkMatth. 10.22Matt 10:22 hated of the world; that wee ſhallllIohn 16.20.John 16:20 weepe and liue inmm33 ſorrowe, that wee ſhall be deſpiſed, contemned, and ſcorned; that wee ſhall be vexed in bodie & ſoule: But in the next life, we are aſſured that our reward is great, our ioy without ſorrow, & our comfort without Croſſe: But if wee ſowe in ſinne, what can we looke to reape but miſerie? If vanities will be our traffique, griefe will bee our gaine; If we will hauehave our life to bee delectable, our deceaſe will be damnable: whereas on the contrarie ſide, the children of God ſow in teares, and therefore ſhall they reape in ioy; in earth they hauehave paine, and in heauen payment; their life is miſerable, and theirnnPſalm 116 15Ps 116:15 death precious in the ſight of the Lord. They looke on the world, and ſee it like a ſea, where many truſting to the waues, are drowned, ſome are beaten with the billowes againſt the ſtonie rockes; others laboring to attain to the ſhores, ſome by the helpe of a ſeely planke, ſome by ſome fragment of a broken ſhip, many forced to ſaue themſelues by their onelyonly hands; and many ouercome with the ſurges, hauehave yeelded p. 238vp the ghoſt; and a multitude of dead carcaſſes left to the waters rage: Amongſt others, they ſee thēſelues tired out, not with the ſmaleſt ſtormes, and their hold to bee very fickle: and therefore what greater comfort can there befall them, then to be quickly landed in a ſafe port, where beholding vnderunder them, the perils eſcaped, they may the more reioyce at their attained ſecuritie! They looke on the poore, and their life is lead in ſuch agonie, contempt, and needines, that it maketh eueryevery one to loathe it. They behold the rich, their felicity is folly, and their ioy vanitie. They conſider the Potentates of the world, and they are poore in their riches, abiect in their honours, and diſcontented in their delights; and therefore they h…ſten to their repoſe, and ſwiftly runne ouer the cares of this life.Wherefore God b…ſt…weth temporall bleſsings vponupon vsus. Againe, you muſt vnderſtand, that God beſtowed your riches, dignitie, and office (which you imagine to be ſuch a precious thing) yea and your life alſo, vppon you, as louelove-tokens; to giuegive you a taſte of his LoueLove towards you, and to winne your louelove towards him again. Now doth God try your louelove, whether you ſet more by his tokens, or by himſelfe. If for your tokens, that is, your liuings, dignities, and lifes ſake, you will forſake the Lord, and follow the world and Sathan; then wil God caſt you off, and giuegive you your inheritance with Sathan, among the children p. 239of vnbeleefe. For what is your louelove but a whoriſh louelove? whereas on the contrarie ſide, if you goe on manfully, and feare not to confeſſe Chriſt, (which is not a vaine conceit or opinion touching Religion; but a full and aſſured perſwaſion of the truth of Chriſts Goſpel, that hee is the Son of God who came to ſaue ſinners) then for theſe earthly and corruptible droſſe, you ſhall receiue heauenly and vncorruptible treaſures: for gold you ſhall hauehave glorie, for earthly mannors, heauenly manſions, for ſiluer that periſheth, ſolace without end; for ruſty riches roiall robes, mirth without me ſure: pleaſure without paine, and endleſſe ioy which ſhall neuer be taken from you. See lib. 1 Cap 4. Sect. 3.4. & 5.

Conſcience in religion muſt not be diſſembled. Sect. X.

Obiection.

I will keepe my conſcience, faith, and religion cloſe vntounto my ſelfe; I will inwardly and priuately worſhippe God in ſpirit and truth: and outwardly I will bee no open medler, nor tranſgreſſour of p. 240common order; ſo ſhall I be ſuffered to liue peaceably: At least I will doe ſo for awhile, vntill theſe ſtormes of perſecution ceaſe & be ouerpaſt: Now the way is foule, I cannot trauell. Theſe ſtormes ſhall hauehave an end, weeping may abide at euening,Pſalme 30.5Ps 30:5 but ioy commeth in the morning; and then I will ſhew my ſelfe, and be zealous and forward in my profeſſion.

Anſwere.

O abhominable deuiſe! O palpable blindneſſe! you are called in queſtion for your conſcience,Conſcience in religion not to be diſſembled. to render aaa1. Pet. 3.151 Pet 3:15 reaſon of your faith, and to confeſſe Chriſt; and how can you bee a keeper and an obſeruer of the common order? Peraduenture you will ſay, I will denie Chriſt with my tong, and confeſſe him with my heart. But that will not ſerue the turne: IfbbDan. 3.18Dan 3:18 Shadrach, Meſhac, and Abednego had done ſo, and followed your wicked deuiſe, Nabuchad-nezzar had notcc28 confeſſed the power of God. A man muſt notdd1. King. 18.211 Kgs 18:21 halt betweene God and Baal; for God abhorreth two men in one. Chriſt wil not part the ſpoile with his mortall enemie the Diuell, either hee will hauehave all, or looſe all. Hee will not permit you p. 241to ſerue the Diuell with your bodie, and hee ſtand contented with your heart & ſoule: But hee will be glorified both in your bodies and in your ſoules. Our bodiesee1. Cor. 6.13 15, 201 Cor 6:13 are for the Lorde, and we muſtffMatth. 22.37Matt 22:37 louelove him with all our hart, with all our ſoule, and with all our minde. God created, not onelyonly the ſoule of man, but alſo the bodie, and requireth the ſeruice and obedience of both: hee will not onelyonly looke vponupon the ſoule, but will alſo beholde the qualities and the actions of the bodie. Hee made all, he hath bought all, he hathgg1 Pet 1.191 Pet 1:19 dearely paid for all; and therefore good reaſon it is, that heehh1. Cor. 6.201 Cor 6:20 require all. Hee will hauehave both heart and hand, minde and tongue, bodie and ſoule: therefore ſtand to it ſtoutly, and feare not, the victorie is yours alreadie, if you faint not. And for that the ſtormes are great, & the way foule, let not that moue you. For all the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Martyrs, had as ſtormie a weather and as foule a way as you hauehave. Yea Chriſt himſelfe had no better, but much more rough and fouler. I hope you will looke for no better then they had. Wherefore goe after your Maiſter Chriſt, not ſticking at the foule way and ſtormie weather.iiEccl. 11.4Eccl 11:4 He that obſerueth the winde, shall not ſovv (ſaith Salomon) and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reape. Surely Sathan ſuggeſteth vntounto you, that you ſhould ſtay till the ſtormes be ouer-paſt, not for your good, not p. 242that you ſhould not be wet to the skinne, but that the time might ouerſlip you, to your deſtruction; for then the night will approach, that you cannot trauell, or the gates will bee ſhut vp and locked before you come, that ſo you might lodge without, in a wretched and loathſome lodging; take heed you yeelde not vntounto theſe deuilliſh motiōs, beware of Satans ſubtilties, & giuegive no eare to his entiſemēts. Hanibal whē he had obtained the victory at Cannas; If he had gone ſtrait to Rome, by all mens iudgements he had taken the cittie. But forſomuch as he did defer it vntill the next day, the Romanes hauing recouered their force again, he was ſhut out and deſerued to heare this opprobrie.Vincere ſcis Hanibal, vti victoria neſcis. In matters of faith there muſt be no delayes. * O Hanibal, thou knoweſt how to get the victory, but yet thou haſt not learned how to vſe the ſame. If delaies be thus dangerous in ciuil affaires, then how much more dangerous are they in matters that concern our ſaluation? Wee muſt not dally with repentance; we muſt not contemne the callings of God: We muſt not deſpiſe the voyce of Wiſedome, leſt when wekkProuerbs 1.28Prov 1:28 call vponupon her she shall not anſwere, and ſeeke her earely, llHebr. 12.17Heb 12:17we can not find her. Eſau ſhall ſeeke Repentance, yea, euen with teares, but ſhall not find Repentance, no not though his hart break: Iudas ſhall repent his treacherie,mmMatth. 27.3Matt 27:3 but ſhall not find the comfortable face of Repentance, no not though hehhMatth. 27.5 actes 1.18Matt 27:5 hang himſelfe: and therefore p. 243it is not good to procraſtinate and prolong the time, leſt weooEpheſ. 4 30Eph 4:30 grieue the holy ſpirit of Ieſus, but let vsus boldly con…eſſe his name:ppPſalme 95.78Ps 95:78 To daie if ye will heare his voice, harden not your heart.

Againſt the offence taken from the yeelding of timeſeruers, though they be better learned and wiſer then we bee. Sect. XI.

Obiection.

You ſee many good and learned men, farre better learned then I am: they recant and yeeld vntounto the time, and they know well enough what they doe; if it were ſuch a daungerous thing to turne, I perſwade my ſelfe, they would neuer doe it: what neede I be more ſcrupulous then they? Eſpecially ſeeing I am not comparable to them, either for knowledge, or experience.

p. 244Anſwere.

NOw indeed, while the wind of perſecution is ſtirring, the Winower commeth with his fanne in his hand, to ſee who is blowne away like light chaffe, and who reſiſteth the blaſt, like maſſie and good wheat. That which lieth hidde in the greene blade of corn, is diſplayed in the ripe eare; that which is concealed in the flower is vttered in the fruit. Many beleeuers are deemed equall, whome perſecution proueth of vnequall faith,The conſtancie of the faithfull is tried by perſecution. triall ſheweth what was hid in the blade, and what concealed in the flower:aaMatth. 7.20 matth. 12.33Matt 7:20 by their fruite you shall know them, ſaith our Sauiour. Many floures promiſe abundance of fruit, but when they are put to their proofe by ſtormes of winde, very few perſeuere to their full growth; ſo many ſeeme faithfull in the calme of the Church, but when the blaſts of triall do bluſter againſt them, few are found to bring forth fruite.

The skill of the Pilote is not knowne vntill the tempeſt ariſeth, neither the Captaines corage till the warre beginneth, nor the true profeſtors of the Goſpel till the perſecuter rageth. Perſecution is the ſhovel which purgeth the Lords floore, fanning the confuſed heape of Beleeuers and Infidels, and ſeuering the corne of the faithfull profeſſors, from the chaffe of faithles deniers. This is the water, at which p. 245our heauenlybbIudg. 7.5Judg 7:5 Gideon trieth, who are fit ſouldiers to diſcomfit the hoaſt of Midian, and he ſeuereth thoſe which ſhall bowe downe their knees, for greedines and thirſt of worldly vanities, from ſuch as reach with their hand, ſo much onelyonly as their neceſſitie requireth; of whomecc7 the Lord ſaide, By theſe three hundred men that lapped will I ſaue you. Thoſe learned men (whome you ſpeake of) are theſe greedy guttes, and thoſeddIudg. 7.3 Knowledge without Faith and Conſtancie in practiſe, how vaine it is.Judg 7:3 timorous ſouldiers, whoſe harts fainted, they are blinded by the malice of Satan, deſtitute of the ſpirite of God, and true knowledge. The knowledge they boaſt of, is ignorance, the learning they pretend themſelues to hauehave, is madneſſe, and the Religion whereof they ſeemed to make ſo much profeſſion, was but hypocriſie; and therefore their wiſedome is likeee2. Sam. 11.142 Sam 11:14 Vriahs letters which he caried againſt himſelf: for it leaues them without excuſe, and witneſſeth againſt rheir owne ſoules, becauſe they knew theirffLuke 12.47Luke 12:47 Maſters wil, and did it not. Follow you not their ſteps, and treade not in their paths, leſt you be ouertaken and beaten vvith many ſtripes. You are one of them (though vnlearned, if you will be conſtant) of whom Chriſt reioyced, thanking his Father, ſaying,ggMatth. 11.25Matt 11:25 Father, Lord of heauen and earth, I thanke thee that thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe, and men of vnderſtanding, and haſt reuealed them to babes; euen ſo Father, becauſe it pleaſed p. 246thee. Looke not what this man or that man doth, but looke ſtill, and behold the marke you ſhoote at, or elſe you looſe your game. He which runneth at the gleue, looketh not on the ſtanders by, he goeth not this way or that way, but keeping his ſtraight courſe, beholdeth the gleue, and looketh on them that runne after him, that they ouertake him not, and haſteneth to ouerrake them which be before him. So muſt we do, we muſt leaue looking on them that will not run with vsus, the race to heauenly bliſſe, by the path of perſecution; but we muſt march on forwards, and haſten after our fellow-ſouldiours, ſtill looking on the gieue, that is,hhHebr. 12.2Heb 12:2 Ieſus Chriſt, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the ioy that was ſet before him, indured the Croſſe and deſpiſed the shame, and is ſet at the right hand of the throne of God. Care not for the furie of the perſecutors, deſpiſe the rage of the perſecuting Prieſtes, the Miniſters of the Diuell; and call to mind, that it is the part of chriſtians to be perſecuted, but to perſecute the Chriſtians, it is the very office of Pilate and Caiphas.

That though the vvorld condemne vsus for fooles and too nice, yet vve muſt not take the ſtart of profeſsion. p. 247Sect. XII.

Obiection.

The ignorant doe condemne vsus, they think it folly to ſtand ſo much vppon pointes and termes, and to make ſo great account of gall: many muſe at our madnes, that moſt willingly feed on Samſons honny-comb, when it is taken out of the Lions mouth; they wonder at our niceneſſe, and precize ſcrupuloſitie, that we refuſe to doe like other men, whome they ſay to be as good as wee.

Anſwer.

WE muſt not regard the Sardoicall laughters, or rauing ſcoffes of the wicked; a ſenſuall manaaRom. 8.5Rom 8:5 vnderſtandeth not the things that be of God. One that knoweth not the vertue of herbes, when he walketh in the fields or vallies, without any regarde, treadeth vnderfoote whatſoeuer groweth in his waye, making no more accompt of one hearbe then of an other. But if hee come into a Phiſitians houſe, where he ſeeth many, not onelyonly wholeſome hearbes. p. 248but to his thinking, ſtrong and vnſauourie weeds, hee neuertheleſſe conceiueth that there is ſome ſecret vertue in them, to cure diſeaſes: and if he ſee the experience of their operatiō, much more accounteth hee of them; ſo that whereas before hee trampled with contempt vponupon them, now hee would bee as carefull to gather them: So one that knoweth not the vertue, ioy, and honour of the croſſe, of chains and priſons for the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, deſpiſeth and abhorreth them as contemptible and diſhonourable things, & laugheth at ſuch as embrace them: But if hee come once to the ſchoole of our heauenly Phiſition,Pſalme 34.8Ps 34:8 and taſte how ſweet the Lord is, and there ſee and view the ſtraunge operation of theſe things, (which now ſo much he contemneth) not onelyonly in Chriſt himſelfe, but in Iohn Baptiſt, in Paul, and others; then can he not chuſe but hauehave them in great eſtimation, and be ready, if occaſion ſerue, to try the force of them in his owne ſelfe, if need require, howſoeuer the ignorant iudge of them as vnprofitable & vnſauorie weeds, and badges of diſgrace. Wee know, or may know, that the flower of Ieſſe gaue forth his moſt pleaſant ſent, and came to his full growth in this world vponupon the Croſſe. Wee know that the fruit of life was not gathered without thornes, and wee know that gall was giuen in extremitie to the moſt experienced p. 249and perfect taſter, and that the honnycombe was not eaten till after his reſurrection, when it was in a maner, fetched out of the Lions mouth, whom he had by his death victoriouſly foiled. If two keies were offered vsus, the one of gold ſet with Diamonds, rubies, and pearle, curiouſly wrought, and hanged by a chaine of great price; the other of olde ruſtie Iron, vnhandſome, and ſhapeleſſe to beholde, tied in a rotten coard; & yet this the true keie to infinite treaſure, and the other to a ſinke of deſpaire; which of theſe two keies were in reaſon to be deſired? This ruſtie keie is affliction and perſecution: the golden keye is worldely proſperitie: by the keyccActes 14.22Acts 14:22 of trouble and affliction wee enter into heauen: and this other key, is theddReuelat. 9.1 key of the bottomeleſſe pit: for many hauehave gold and ſiluer in abundance, and yet are reprobates and wicked caſt-awaies. Chriſt allotted to his children, the croſſe, to the repentant theefe, Paradiſe; to the ſinner, heliwe are the children of God; let vsus embrace the croſſe; let vsus acknowledge our profeſſion, and not be aſhamed of our inheritaunce, which Chriſt hath allotted vntounto vsus. We muſt ſay with Paul,eeGalat. 6.14Gal 6:14 The world is crucified vntounto me, and I vntounto the worlde. See Sect. I.

p. 250That impriſonment for the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, is not thraldome or bondage, but rather libertie and freedome. Sect. XIII.

Obiection

Oh, but the Priſon is fulſome and loathſome, libertie is ſweet & pleaſant. Who can abide to be peſtered with ſuch cloſe aire? Who can endure to ſitte in the ſtockes both day and night in a darke dungeon all alone, without eaſe or reſt? eating the bread of affliction, and drinking the cup of care and ſorrow? to ſit ſtil moping al day long without either light or fire?

Anſwere.

THe birds beeing vſed and naturally delighted with the full ſcope of the ayre, though they be neuer ſo well fed in the cage, yet are they alwaies poring at eueryevery creuiſe or crannie, to ſee whether they can get forth and eſcape; for they vnderſtand not, that p. 251in the cage, they are ſafer from the kite, hawke, and fowler, then abroad: neither marke they the benefit of their aſſured repaire from harde weather and woorſe food. So many, bearing the liuerie of Chriſts name, doe affect dangerous libertie, making no account of the benefit of a priſon in a good cauſe; they conſider not how many perils of their ſoules are cut off by impriſonment; nor perceiue how highly their ſpirituall well-fare is aduanced. Let vsus not be like ſenſeleſſe birds, but let vsus rather immitate them in another propertie, which is, that in the cage, they not only ſing their narural note, both ſweetlier and oftner then abroad, but learne alſo diuers other far more pleaſant and delightſome. So muſt wee both keepe & oftner practiſe our accuſtomed exerciſes of Religion, and beſides, learne other more, both for our owne comfort, and the example of others. When may we better giuegive our ſelues to praier and meditation, then when we are ſequeſtred from the diſtractions of vain companie; when theaaExod. 16.3. num. 11.14Exod 16:3 onyons, garlike, and fleſh-pots of Aegypt, are fartheſt out of our ſent and ſight; When our eies be not troubled with impious and wicked ſights; when our eares are not annoyed with the bloudie outcries & horrible blaſphemies of prophane men; when we are quit from many ſcandals, and ſeuered from occaſions of diuers temptations? If the Priſon reſtraine p. 252vsus of temporall comforts, we ſhall obtaine eternall: if our bodie bee chaſtiſed, our ſoule is cheriſhed; the pining of the one, (in this caſe) is the pampering of the other.The world a more dangerous and loathſome bondage vntounto the children of God, than the priſon. If wee compare the world with this priſon, wee ſhall finde rather that wee are deliuered out, then committed into priſon. The darkeneſſe of the world blindeth and inueagleth the very hearts of men; this doeth blinde but our eies onelyonly: The chaines and ſhackles of the worlde doe fetter and entangle our ſoules; theſe, our bodies onelyonly, they ſette our ſoules at libertie. Worldly ſtockes and ſnares doe captiuate the conſcience; theſe our bodie onelyonly. The odour and ſtench that the world breatheth, is ribaldrie, carnalitie, blaſphemie, and all kinde of brutiſh behauiour, which infecteth and poiſoneth the minde: this our bodie onelyonly. The world hath infinit multitudes of priſoners and guiltie perſons, which ſhall bebb2. Cor. 5.10 rom. 14.102 Cor 5:10 iudged before the tribunall ſeate of Chriſt Ieſus, and receiue the ſentence of condemnation: but wee are tranſlated from that priſon into a place of preſeruation, which if it be cumbred with darkeneſſe, wee hauehave Chriſt the true light to enlighten vsus: and if heere we be affrighted with expectation of Iudges, our ſelues hereafter ſhallcc1. Cor. 6.21 Cor 6:2 iudge the Nations. Let them complain of the difficulties of the priſon, that hauehave faſtened their affections vponupon worldly vanities: Let p. 253them complaine of darkeneſſe, whoſe light is the world; & let them complaine of bondage, whoſe death it is to be reſtrained from worldly pleſure. But theddGalat. 6.14Gal 6:14 world is crucified vntounto vsus, and we vntounto the world; Our darkneſſe is cleerer than the light of the worlde, and brighter than the ſunne it ſelfe; and wee are at libertie in the ſpirit, to ſerue our Redeemer in trueth and righteouſneſſe. Kings courts muſt yeelde to the glorie of a priſon: For as the Princes preſence honoureth the baſeſt cottage, & maketh it more eſteemed and reſorted vntounto, than the moſt ſtately buildings: So the preſence of Gods priſoners in the moſt infamous dungeō, maketh it a ſtately Court, a reſort of Angels, and a Paradice where God himſelf delighteth to walke (who taketh pleaſure in the patience and conſtancie of his afflicted ſeruants:) and they by thoſe fetters & chaines are more richly adorned, than they coulde bee with any princely or imperiall robes. It was a ſingular fauour to be an Apoſtle, an Euangeliſt, it was a great prerogatiue to bee rapt into the third heauen, to heare ſuch things as are vnlawfull for man to ſpeake, and it was a rare priuiledge to ſpeake with ſtrange tongues, and to heale al manner of diſeaſes: yet not like vntounto theſe: He was whipped with many ſtripes, caſt into priſon, and ſtoned for the teſtimonie of Chriſt: Inſomuch, that the apoſtle, for the former prerogatiues, p. 254had theee2. Cor. 12.7.2 Cor 12:7 Angell of Sathan ſent to buffet him, leſt hee ſhould waxe proude with the multitude of reuelations: But for thoſe excellent priuiledges he breaketh out in exceeding ioy, ſayingffGalat. 6.14Gal 6:14 God forbid that I should reioice but in the Croſſe of Ieſus Chriſt, whereby the worlde is crucified vntounto me, and I vntounto the world: as did the other Apoſtles, whoggActes 5.41Acts 5:41 reioiced that they were counted worthie to ſuffer rebuke fot Chriſts name. Great Princes and Noblemen, when from inſerior dignities they are enhaunced to more honorable titles, they alwaies in their letters, omitting the other, ſet downe their principall ſtile, proper to their newe atchieued preferment: Euen ſo did the Apoſtle Paul, for hee writing vntounto Philemon, omitteth his vſuall ſtile ofhhRom. 1.1 1. cor. 1.1 2. cor. 1.1. &c.Rom 1:1 Paul the Apoſtle (or ſeruaunt) of Ieſus Chriſt, and beginneth his Epiſtle withiiPhilem. verſe 1. Paul a priſoner of Ieſus Chriſt, as being a more glorious title, & a more excellent ſtile. Wherfore, let vsus not be diſmaied, but comforted in our preſent eſtate. If wee bee deſpiſed by the bad, we are honoured by the good; if men diſgrace vsus, the Lorde will praiſe vsus. Now let the worldely gallants flatter themſelues with the vaine conceit of libertie, let them triumph in their chaines of gold, in their iewells of pearle and precious ſtones, in their ſtately robes and coſtly attires. Let them boaſt of their freedome, when eueryevery threed and ornament p. 255about them is a manifeſt ſigne of their captiuitie, when their tongues are thral to potentates eares, their actions and behauiour framed to the liking of great perſonages eies, and their ſenſe, bodies, and mindes, ſeruile to their owne ſenſualitie. As for vsus, a thouſand times hapie are we, whoſe priſons are proofes, whoſe chaines are pledges of immortalitie. Let vsus remember the gole, and we ſhal comfortably runne ouer the race. Let vsus not regard ſo much where we are, as where we ſhall be; nor thinke ſo much of the comforts we want, as of the comforts we ſhall hauehave. Let vsus not grieue at the company from which wee are barred, but reioyce in that wherevnto we are prepared.

That increaſe of torments should not feare vsus, but rather comfort vsus the more. Sect. XIIII.

Obiection.

Oh my affliction dayly increaſeth, I was roughly dealt withall heretofore, and hardly intreated: But now my ſorrowes encreaſe, my aduerſaries rage the p. 256more, my Keepers doe me all the ſpite and iniurie they can: foode is kept from me, ſaue onelyonly what I am permitted to hauehave, to keepe breath in me, for my greater torment: I am kept in a cloſe dungeon, loaden with more yron then I can beare.

Anſwere.

IF a thou be faint in the day of aduerſitie, thy ſtrength is ſmall, ſaith Solomon. As long as the lion hath his prey in his pawes, he can dally and play with it, but if he ſee any offer of eſcaping from him, then forthwith he fixeth his clawes in the fleſh: So the diuell little careth, to bite or barke at thoſe, that be his houſhold ſeruants, vntill ſuch time as they begin to waxe ſtrangers vntounto him, and the more he ſeeth them to rebell againſt him, the more endeuoureth he to ouerthrow them; for ſuch he little careth to moleſt, of whom he findeth himſelfe in quiet poſſeſſion.bbExod. 14.9Exod 14:9 Pharao neuer perſecuted the Iſraelites ſo fiercely, as when they were going out of Aegypt.ccGeneſis 31.23Gen 31:23 Laban neuer purſued Iacob, till he departed from him Holofornes ſaid vntounto Iudith,ddIudith 11.1Jdt 11:1 I neuer hurt any that would ſerue Nabuchodonozor the king of all the earth. The Pirates, while they know the ſhip to p. 257be emptie, they let it quietly paſſe, but when it is furniſhed with rich marchandiſe, then they aſſault it with all violence: ſo, while men run by an irreligious and vngodly path the high-way to deſtruction, the diuell letteth not their courſe; but when they are inriched with grace, and leade an holy & harmleſſe life, he ſtraight giueth the onſet with tribulation. The Thiefe commeth not into ſties and kennells to ſeeke his prey, for he knoweth there is nothing to be found but mire and filth: but his haunt is to the rich cheſts and coffers of iewels and plate. They that hauehave nothing in them but ſin and wickedneſſe, lie open alwaies vntounto Satan, and he knoweth they hauehave nothing in them worth the robbing: But thoſe that cleanſe their ſoules from ſinne, and fill their coffers with the iewells of godlineſſe and vertue, are a prey that he longeth to get. He well knoweth that ſuch as are out of Gods fauour, may be wonne without ſtrokes, and that he is able with eueryevery puſh to lay them groueling in what ſinne himſelfe liſteth: But when he findeth one, endowed with grace, and armed with godlines againſt his encounters, vponupon him he commeth with ſad blowes, and by all ſleights and violence endeuoureth to ouercome him. A paper-w…ll he breaketh with one knocke, but when he findeth a ſtrong rampier or bulwarke, there he planteth his batterie, and vſeth all poſſible engins p. 258to ouerthrowe it: But alas his force is but feeble, his engins too weake, and his policie very ſhallow, to batter downe the Adamant rocke of Faith, and therefore he doth but ſpurne againſt a thorne. OnelyOnly let vsus be faithfull and of a good courage, for our Captaine is faithfull, (heee1. Cor. 10.131 Cor 10:13 will not ſuffer vsus to be tempted aboue that we be able to beare it) and couragious, he hath conquered death, hell, and ſatan for vsus already: if wee will not faint nor turne backe, he will alſo conquer them in vsus. Let not the violence or multitude of torments affright vsus, we hauehave but one life, and we can looſe but one.ff1. Sam. 17.49.1 Sam 17:49 Goliah was as much hurt by Dauids little ſtone, asggIudg 16.30Judg 16:30 Samſon by the weight of a whole houſe:hh1. Sam. 4.181 Sam 4:18 Eli had as much harme by falling backward, asii2. King. 9.332 Kgs 9:33 Ieſabel by being thrown out of a high window; and they that ſtonedkkActes 7.59.60.Acts 7:59Acts 7:60 Stephen to death, tooke no more from him, then an ordinarie ſickneſſe did fromllIohn 11.14John 11:14 Lazarus, and doth daily from vsus all. One death is no more death then another, and as well the eaſieſt as the hardeſt taketh our life from vsus. And indeed our torments (how great and grieuous ſoeuer) can not be ſo great, nor ſo grieuous as thoſe which the Saintes of God in former ages ſuffered. Of the fathers of the old Teſtament the Apoſtle ſaith, that ſomemmHebr. 11.35Heb 11:35 were racked; nn36and others tried by mockings and ſcornings, by bonds and impriſonm…nt: oo37They were p. 259ſtoned, hewne a ſunder, tempted, ſlain with the ſword; they wandred vp and downe in ſheepe skins and goatskinnes, being deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented. pp38Whom the world was not worthie of: they wandred in Wilderneſſes and mountaines, and dens, and e…ues of the earth. And in the time of the Primitiue Church the godly were thruſt out of their houſes, ſpoiled of their patrimony,The affl ctions and perſecution of the Chriſtians in the Primitiue church. loaded with yrons, and locked in priſons, deuoured by wild beaſts, ſlaine with the ſword, and burned with fire. There can hardely be inuented any crueltie, or new torments, which theſe holy Martyrs hauehave not endured. They were beheaded, burned, hanged, preſſed to death, roſted on ſpits, broiled vponupon gridyrons, boyled in hot oyle and in ſcalding lead, throwne downe from high mountaines vponupon ſharp ſtakes, torne with wild horſes, rent a ſunder with the violence of bowed trees, throwne to the beaſts, condemned to toyle in the mettall-mines, thruſt through with ſpeares, brained, racked, prickt with pen-kniues, their eies boared out, their tongues cut, their armes, handes, their legges and feete, and al their members disfigured with varietie of puniſhments, their bowells diſmembred, and themſelues famiſhed to death. Yet they feared no death, they were diſmaide at no crueltie;The Patience and Conſtan…ie of the Chriſtians. the tormented ſtoode ſtronger then the tormentors, and their beaten and torne members, ouercame the beating and p. 260tearing hookes: and what is it that we ſuffer, if it be compared with their ſufferings? Euen nothing, or very little. And why ſhould we feare man, that are feared of the Angells, for we ſhall iudge the verie Angells, that are feared of the diuells; for ouer the diuells we hauehave receiued authority, yea that are feared of the whole world, for we ſhall iudge the world? Let vsus therefore, with our whole might, arme vsus vntounto this cumbate: the Perſecutors when they wound vsus moſt, are deeplieſt wounded; & when they thinke moſt of al to be conquerors, then are they moſt conquered; for we ſhall walk vponupon the Baſiliske and adder, and ſtampe vnderfoote the lion and the dragon. See lib. 2. Chap. 3 Sect. 3.

That God loueth vsus neuer the leſſe though he ſuffer vsus to taſte of his cup; but rather that he doth the more louelove vsus. Sect. XV.

Obiection.

The Lord permitteth others to liue at eaſe in proſperitie, they hauehave the world at will, they want not the comforts of this p. 261life, and yet it is certaine that God loueth them as his owne children, (being ſo indeede) and that with no leſſe affection, than he doth them whom he ſcourgeth with aduerſitie: alas! I would, if it had pleaſed the Lord, ſo that he would ſpare me for this time; ſpecially conſidering how vnfit eueryevery way I am for the triall.

Anſvvere.

WEe are euer prone to prie into the ſtate and condition of other men, (ſuch is the peruerſeneſſe of our nature, and the weakneſſe of our faith) that wee wholly forget or neglect our owne. Wee iudge eueryevery mans caſe euer better than ours, and ſuppoſe that all others hauehave the worlde at will (as they ſay) ſauing our ſelues: Whereas indeed, there is no child of God, that is always without his croſſe (either inward or outward) for how elſe coulde that ſaying of Chriſt bee verified,aaIohn 16.20.John 16:20 In the vvorld you ſhall hauehave ſorrovv: howbeit the temptation of one is greater and heauier than of another? As it can of no reaſonable man be conſtrued but in good part, to binde and keepe in awe, yea to whip and beat the mad-man, when hee falleth into his rage, likewiſe to pinch, nip, & wring, yea with hote p. 262irons to burne the ſicke of the lethargie, when hee entreth into his deepe ſleepe: So it cannot be thought, but that God doeth the parte of a mercifull father, when with the ſcourges and hote irons of affliction, hee either correcteth our former, or preuenteth our future infirmities. Not eueryevery one that ſpareth, is our friend, nor eueryevery one that ſtriketh, is our foe.bbProuerbs 27.6Prov 27:6 The wounds of a louer are faithfull. Hee that bindeth the Franticke, or wakeneth the ſicke of the lethargy, thogh to both troubleſome, yet to both is he very friendly. As a mother deſirous to affectionate her child to her ſelfe aboue al other, maketh all of her houſhold to vſe it curriſhly in ſhew, that finding no good entreatie of any but of her, it may the willinger repaire vntounto her: So God ſuffereth vsus of the world, the fleſh, and the diuell, to be moleſted, that we may onelyonly acknowledge him, and come vntounto him, as our chiefe refuge and ſuccour. The diuell kiſſeth where he meaneth to hurt, he tempereth poiſon in a golden bole, and in a ſumptuous ſhip, wafteth his paſſengers vponupon the rockes of deſtruction. But God taketh a contrary courſe; for as the husbandman doth lop the vine, leſt all the force ſhould vnprofitably be ſpent in leaues, and the roote be thereby weakened, the fruite be, neither ſo much, nor ſo pleaſant, as otherwiſe it would ſo God like a carefull keeper of our ſoules, leſt our whole p. 263mind ſhould be imploied in vaine ſuperfluous pleaſures, he cutteth them from vsus, that our wittes which ſhould in them without profit be defuſed, being kept within compaſſe by troubles, may be fitter to worke and bring forth fruites of faith to the working of our eternall ſaluation. Where God purpoſeth to heale, he ſpareth not to launce, he miniſtreth bitter ſittops to purge corrupt humors; and ſends embaſſies of death and reuenge where he meaneth to beſtow eternall life and perfect felicity.ccGen. 42.9Gen 42:9 Ioſeph accuſed his brothers as ſpies, when he meant them leaſt harme, and reſtrained littleddGen 44.15Gen 44:15 Beniamin as guiltie of theft, whom he knew ful wel to be a guiltleſſe innocent. He that had ſeeneeeGen. 39.20Gen 39:20 Ioſeph in priſon.ffHeſter 5.14Esth 5:14 Mordecai with his gibbet before his eies, andggDan. 6.16Dan 6:16 Daniel in the lions den, would hauehave lamented their caſe and feared their further misfortune: But had hee knowne that Ioſephs priſon ſhould end in ahhGen. 41.40.Gen 41:40 princedome, Mordecai his perill iniiHeſter 6.10Esth 6:10 royall preferment; and Daniels danger inkkDan. 6.26Dan 6:26 great credite, he would rather hauehave thought them much beholding to God for their enſuing felicitie, then greatly to be pittied for their preſent diſtreſſe. The Lorde oftentimes beſetteth his ſweete fruite with rugged leaues, with ſharp and pricking thornes, that the hardneſſe to attaine them, may make them the more prized, and the remembraunce of former aduerſitie, p. 264may make the comforts following more delightſome. The benefite of a calme weather is moſt deſired, and beſt welcome after a boiſterous tempeſt; health is neuer ſo much eſteemed as after a great ſickneſſe; and al pleaſure is moſt pleſant to thoſe that hauehave bin leaſt acquainted with it, and moſt troubled with the contrarie.llProuerbs 27.7Prov 27:7 VntoUnto the hungrie ſoule euerie bitter thing is ſweete, ſaith Solomon. Greeue not at your perſecution then, and ſay not, I am vnfit for the triall: for if the Potter tempereth his furnace agreeable to his veſſell, that he mindeth to frame: If the Gold-ſmith vſeth great care, not to hauehave his fire too great or too little, for the quantitie of his mettal. If the Carrier hauehave a regard not to loade his beaſt with more then it is able to beare: How much more warie is God, in not ſuffering vsus to be tempted aboue our ſtrength? But if our temptations encreaſe, he is faithful, andmm1. Cor. 10.131 Cor 10:13 will not ſuffer vsus to be tempted aboue that we be able, but will euen giuegive the iſſue with the temptation, that we may be able to beare it.

That burning aliue is not ſo extreame a torment as commonly it is thought to be. p. 265Sect. XVI.

Obiection.

The bitterneſſe of the puniſhments, that I am enioined to ſuffer, doth ſo terrifyme, that I know not ſcarce what to doe, I ſhall be burned quicke. Oh, how ſh…l I be tormented, in that dolorous kind of death! Thinke you that I may patiently beare the rage of the fire? I am perſwaded that my paines ſhall bee ſo grieuous, that I cannot either keepe my minde quiet and patient, or remember and thinke on Chriſt, ſo that in that anguiſh and agome, I ſhall quite forget my Sauiour: And what ſhall become of me then? How can I reſist the temptations of Sathan? who then (no doubt) will be very buſie about me.

Anſwere.

CIcero, an heathen Philoſopher, ſaith, that in India, when any man was dead, and his carcaſſe readie to bee burned; his wines (for there they had many wiues) contended p. 266among themſelues, who ſhould bee burned with him. And ſhee whom hee loued beſt, hauing vanquiſhed the reſt, was caſt quick into the fire with the bodie of her dead huſband, and burnt; the other being full of ſorrow, for that they were ouercome, departed with great moan and lamentation, wiſhing rather to hauehave beene burnt, then to liue. And ſhal we be afraide of burning, ſeeing we are certain of that which they hoped for? Die once you muſt, whether you will or no, (how ſoone, God knoweth) ſeeing then you muſt die, will you not die willingly for Gods ſake, eſpecially conſidering that they are thrice happie, whom God vouchſafeth ſuch an honourable death? Shall not wee for Gods ſake ſuffer that which diuers Pagans ſuffered for their countries ſake? Curtius feared not to die for the city of Rome, Mencotheus for Thebes, nor Codrus for Athens. Theſe heathniſh examples might make Chriſtians aſhamed, if they be ſo cowardly as to feare death. Burning is not ſuch a grieuous puniſhment as you imagine, for God isaa1. Cor. 10.131 Cor 10:13 faithfull, he will lay vponupon vsus no more than wee can beare.bbEſay 43.1Isa 43:1 Feare not (ſaith the Lord by Eſay the Prophet) for I hauehave redeemed thee, I hauehave called thee by thy name, thou art mine: cc2when thou paſseſt through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the flouds, that they doe not ouerflow thee. When thou walkeſt through the very fire, thou ſhalt not be p. 267burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle vponupon thee (for thy deſtruction)dd3 I am the Lord thy God. And for the better confirmation hereof, many examples both ancient and late might be alleadged, onelyonly I will content my ſelfe with one or two, which happened in theſe latter yeeres, in the time of king Henry the eight, and Queene Marie. M. Iames Bainham, holy Martyr,Actes and Mon. part 2. page 939 of the laſt edition. Col. 2Col 2 hauing ſentence to bee burned, for the conſtant confeſſion of Chriſt Ieſus and his Goſpell, as he was at the ſtake (in the yeere of our Lorde, 1532) in the midſt of the flaming fire, his arms and legs beeing halfe conſumed, ſpake theſe words: O ye Papiſts, behold, ye look for miracles, and heere now yee may ſee a miracle, for in this fire I feele no more paine, than if I were in a bed of dowlne; but it is to mee a bed of roſes. In like manner, in the time of Queen Marie, M. Thomas Hawkes,Actes and Mon. pag. 1446. Col, 26 a faithfull ſeruant of Chriſt and holy Martyr alſo, hauing iudgement to be burned for the ſame cauſe: At what time he ſhould be burnt, ſome of his familiar friends, being terrified and feared with the ſharpeneſſe of the puniſhment that he was going to, priuily deſired, that in the middeſt of the flame, hee would ſhewe them ſome token (if hee could) whereby they might bee more certain, whether the pain of ſuch burning wer ſo great, that a man might not therein keep his minde quiet and patient: which thing he promiſed p. 268them to doe, and ſo ſecretly it was agreed, that if the rage of the paine were tolerable, and might be ſuffered, then hee ſhould lift vp his hands aboue his head towards heauen, before he gaue vp the ghoſt. Now then, when he was at the ſtake, and the fire ſet vntounto him; In which when hee continued long, and when his ſpeech was taken away by violence of the flame, his skinne alſo drawne together, & his fingers conſumed with the fire, ſo that now al men thought certainly he had bene gone, ſuddainly, and contrarie to all expectation, the bleſſed ſeruant of God,A token giuen in the fire, that burning is not ſo intolerable a paine as men commonly thinke. being mindfull of his promiſe before made, reached vp his handes burning on a light fire (which was maruellous to behold) ouer his head to the liuing God, and with great reioycing (as ſeemed) ſtrooke or clapped them three times togither. At the ſight wherof there followed ſuch applauſe and outcrie of the people, and eſpecially of them which vnderſtood the matter, as the like hath not commonly beene heard. And ſo the bleſſed Martyr of Chriſt ſtraightway ſinking into the fire, gaue vp his ſpirit, in the yeare 1555. Iune. 10 By theſe examples, among a thouſand which might be alleadged, you ſee that burning is not ſuch extreame paine, as you tooke it, and ſo muſt we thinke of all other worldly torments whatſoeuer.

p. 269That the patience of the Saintes in not Stoicall Indo…encie. Sect. XVII.

Obiection.

Me thinkes by your allowance of the former of theſe two examples you alleaged, that you allow of ſtoical indolencie; for you ſeeme vntounto me to require …uch cheerefulneſſe of vsus, as ſhould take away all ſenſe and feeling of griefe and bitterneſſe: I doe not thinke indeede, that any of the Stoikes themſelues, (no not the ſeuerest Cenſurer among them) were ſo deuoyde of affections, as they would hauehave other men to be.

Anſwere.

WHat the Stoikes held, or how they were affected, it skilleth not vsus to know. I alleaged the example of M. Iames Bainham, to this end, to ſet forth the louelove, merciemercy, and faithfulneſſe of God towards his children; for one while he deliuereth them out of trouble, an otherwhile he letteth them taſte of Chriſts cup, yet he ſtandeth at their p. 270elbow (as it were) to comfort them, and toaaIude verſe 9 rebuke ſatan; who now eſpecially, tooth and naile, ſeeketh by all meanes poſſible, to deuoure the poore innocent Members of Chriſt, who through many afflictions, do labour very earneſtly, to enter into the kingdome of heauen. But whether they doe ſuffer or not, the Lord is euerbb1. Cor. 10.131 Cor 10:13 faithfull towards them that louelove him, and turneth all things to theccRom. 8.28Rom 8:28 beſt vntounto them. I vtterly diſlike & condemne that blockiſh conceit, that would hauehave men to be without all affection; howbeit of late it hath beene newly furbiſhed, by certaine vpſtarte Stoikes.Affection doth rule all our actions. For Pleaſure and Griefe doe rule our actions, & there is no man, but either affecteth or eſchueth things for the one or the other. In the ſea, if the winds blow not, the ſhippes are conſtrained to lie ſtill, being not able to ſtirre from the place where they are: So our nature, if all affections ceaſe, cannot, nor ſhal not bee able to turne either to the right hand, or to the left, no more than if we were in a palſie, which takes away the vſe of our whole body. WherforeddPlato in Philebo. Plato called them the ſinews and ſtrings of the minde: giuing vsus to vnderſtand, that as the bodie is moued and guided by the ſenſe, ſo is the minde mooued and ruled by affection: andeePlut in Tract. de virt. moral. Plutarch ſaith, they are the handles of Philoſophy, for men would neuer louelove it, if they had not ſome ſparkes (as it were) of ſome p. 271ſhame, deſire, reputation, ambition, pleaſure, or ſorrow, which ſtirre them vp therevnto. I know they obiect that theſe affections are the cauſes why wee fall into diuers vices;Obiection. If there were no louelove, there would be no louers. But theſe men doe as they did, who mainteined,Anſwere. that wee neuer ought to ride poſt, for that ſome hauehave catched falls thereby; or that wee muſt not ſing, becauſe ſomtime we fall into diſcord. Muſt wee cut off the leg, becauſe it halteth? ſo, muſt we take away all affections of nature, bicauſe they allure vsus vntounto vice? Nay, rather if we feele our affections ouer-ſtrong and forcible, we muſt keepe them vnderunder, that they trouble vsus not, tempering them with reaſon, and not clearely extinguiſhing the ſame. But to come neerer to the matter, and our purpoſe: To beare the croſſe patiently, is not to bee altogether ſenſeleſſe,What it is patiently to beare the croſſe. & vtterly bereft of all kind of feeling; ſeeing our Sauiour himſelfe, not in words onelyonly, but with his own example alſo, vtterly condemned this Stoicall indolencie. For heffIohn 11.33John 11:33 groaned andgg35 wept, both at his owne, and other mens calamities, and taught his Diſciples to doe the like,hhIohn 16.20.John 16:20 Verily, verily, I ſay vntounto you, that you ſhall weepe and lament. And leſt any man ſhould blame them for weeping, hee pronounceth them happie;iiMatth. 4Matt 4 Bleſſed are they that mourne, andkkLuke 6.22Luke 6:22 weepe. And no maruell, for if teares be miſliked, what ſhall wee thinke of p. 272the Lord himſelfe, who oftentimes wept? If al feare proceedeth of vnbeleefe, what ſhall wee iudge of that horrour wherewith Chriſt himſelfe was ſtricken? If wee miſlike all ſorrowe and ſadneſſe, how can wee like of that, where the Lord confeſſeth that hisllMatth. 26.38Matt 26:38 ſoule is heauie to the death? Thus I ſpeake, to the intent I might reuoke godly mindes from deſperation, leſt they ceaſe to ſeeke after patience, becauſe they cannot vtterly ſhake off the naturall motions of heauineſſe and ſorrow; which muſt needes happen to them, which of patience doe make a kinde of ſenſeleſſeneſſe, and of a valiant and conſtant man, a ſenſeleſſe blocke, or ſtone, without paſſions. The ſcripture doeth praiſe the Saints for their patience, while they are ſo afflicted with the ſharpneſſe of perſecution, as that thereby their courage is not vtterly quailed, nor themſelues faint & comfortles, but filled with ſpirituall ioy. We muſt labor to tame & bring vnderunder, al the ill motions of our minds to the ordinance of the Lords holy will, and not vtterly to quench and ſhake them off.

That wee muſt not be diſmaide though friendes forſake vsus: And how wee muſt not yeeld to their vngodly ſuggeſtions. p. 273Sect. XVIII.

Obiection.

My familiar acquaintance hauehave quite forſaken me, and they who heretofore delighted in my companie, hauehave now conueighed themſelues from mee. My friends are very earneſt with me, both day and night to relent, and to reuoke my former confeſſion: I am very loath to diſpleaſe them in any thing, rather I will indaunger my ſelfe, than anger thē. And ſurely if I ſhould perſiſt and hold out (no doubt) I ſhoulde bring my Fathers hoare head with ſorrowe to the graue, and that before his time, hee would take the matter ſo grieuouſly.

Anſwere.

IT is the propertie of the diuell and his inſtruments, to feede like ſtorkes vponupon the venomous and euill affections of men: they onelyonly take pleaſure to ſee vsus in ſinne; but if we amend and betake our ſelues to ſome better courſe, then they reioyce at our calamities. p. 274As rauens and vultures, ſtraight ſmell out a dead carrion, when it is corrupted, and draw vntounto it, by the vnſauorie ſtench, wherein their delight is, but the ſound bodies, they neither ſent nor ſeeke out: ſo the wicked are ready to flocke about vsus, ſo long as we are in the ſtench of ſinne, and corrupted with vice, becauſe they themſelues delight therein. But if we be ſound and whole, and hauehave caſt from vsus that carrion whereof they are ſo eager, they neither ſmel vsus, nor ſeeke vntounto vsus, but rather auoid and hate vsus. The ſauour of godlineſſe ſtriketh them dead; and though in the winter when the vine is bare they could lie vnderunder it, yet in the ſpring when it beginneth to flower, they like ſerpents are ſtriken dead with the ſent thereof, and therefore what maruell is it if they mortally hate it? As for your friends, who (you ſay) labour to hauehave you reuoke your former confeſſion: anſwere them as Chriſt anſwered Peter in the like caſe.aaMatth. 16.23Matt 16:23 Get thee behind me Satan: Thou art an offence vntounto me, becauſe thou vnderſtandest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men: for herein they are your foes. Now the Lord hath opened your eies, and enlightned your heart, that you might know the trueth: and wil you againſt your owne conſcience denie the knowne truth? Ah, do it not, leſt thereby you diſpleaſe God, and fall into his hands, which is horrible to Hypocrites.bbMatth. 10.33 luke 12.9Matt 10:33 Whoſoeuer (ſaieth p. 275Chriſt) ſhall denie me before men, him will I alſo denie before my father which is in heauen. ccMar. 8.38. luke▪ 9.26.Mark 8:38Whoſoeuer ſhall be aſhamed of me and of my words, among this adulterous and ſinfull generation, of him ſhal the ſonne of man be aſhamed alſo, when he commeth in the glorie of his father with the holie Angells. Forget not theſe things, but conſider of them. If your friends will be diſpleaſed and angrie at your conſtancie in the trueth, remember that Chriſt ſaid,ddMatth. 10.34 luke 12.51Matt 10:34 thinke not that I am come to ſend peace into the earth, I came not to ſend peace, but the ſworde; eeMatth. 10.35 luke 12.53Matt 10:35For I am come to ſet a man at variance againſt his father, and the daughter againſt her mother, and the daughter in law againſt her mother in law: wherefore it is no maruell if you be at oddes with your friends and kinsfolkes. You ſay, you may not diſpleaſe your father, you louelove him ſo well. But Chriſt ſaith,ffMatth. 10.3…Matt 10:3 He that loueth father or mother better then me, is not worthie of me. ggLuke 14.26Luke 14:26If any man come vntounto me and hate not his owne father and mother, &c. he cannot be my Diſciple. We muſt not for the louelove of Parents or friends denie or diſſemble the trueth of Chriſts Goſpel: forhhHebr. 6.4Heb 6:4 it is impoſſible that they which were once enlightned, and hauehave taſted of the heauenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghoſt: ii5and hauehave taſted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come: kk6If they fall away ſhould be renued againe by repentance, ſeeing they crucifie Chriſt againe to themſelues, and make a mocke of him. llHebr. 10.26Heb 10:26For if we fall willingly p. 276after that we hauehave once receiued and acknowledged that truth, there remaineth no ſacrifice for ſinnes; mm27But a fearefull looking for iudgement, and violent fire which ſhall deuoure the aduerſaries. nn2. Pet. 2.212 Pet 2:21It had bin better for them (ſaith Peter) not to hauehave acknowledged the way of righteouſneſſe, then after they hauehave acknowldged it, to turne from the holie Commaundement giuen vntounto them. Wherefore in any caſe thinke vppon your ſelfe, and ſticke not boldly to confeſſe Chriſt, at al times, and in al places; foroo2. Tim. 2.122 Tim 2:12 If we denie him, he wil denie vsus.

That the pretence of nouriſhing wife and children, (though they hauehave no other meanes to liue) is no cauſe why we ſhould denie or diſſemble the knowne truth. Sect. XIX.

Obiection.

Alas! I grant all theſe things to be true: yet it is commonly ſaide, Neceſſitie hath no law, my ſtate and affaires are ſuch, that I muſt either vndo my ſelfe and mine, or elſe I muſt needes ſtraine, yea and doe quite againſt my knowledge and conſcience. For you ſhal vnderſtand p. 277that I hauehave many children at home, ſmall God wot, ſuckling infants, a lame, impotent, aged and ſickely wife beſide. We are a great number, very poore and beggarly, hauing no manner of thing wherewith to preſerue our liues, but onelyonly what I get and win by my dayly labour. Now if I leaue them they muſt needes ſtarue for lacke of foode, they cannot goe to begge (if that were lawfull) nor ſtirre from the houſe, ſuch is their infirmute and weakneſſe. Alas ſir, what ſhall I doe in this caſe? For God and Nature committed the charge and care of them into my handes.

Anſwere.

YOur eſtate is lamentable, and grieuous I muſt needs confeſſe, yet no other then very often happeneth to a godly man, the childe of God. Of you and ſuch like ſpake our Sauiour Chriſt in the Goſpell, when hee prophecied (among other thinges) of the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, and of the ende of the world, calling you great bellied and trauelling women, and women that giuegive ſucke to young infants, ſaying (lamenting and not curſing) p. 278aaLuke 21.23 mat. 24.19. mar. 13.17Luke 21:23VVe be to them that be with childe, and to them that giuegive ſucke in thoſe daies: thereby meaning all perſons, (men and women) that (their neceſſarie affaires ſo letting and hindering them) cannot confeſſe Chriſt boldly if need require; nor flie from the infection, of the poiſoned and peſtiferous plague of Antichriſts abhominations. Yet ſtep vnderunder the veile of Gods worde, there you ſhall finde comfort, and be reſolued what to doe in this caſe. There you ſhall find, that if you looke for the life to come, and the bleſſed reſurrection, you muſt in any caſe freely and boldly confeſſe Chriſt and his Goſpell, whatſoeuer ſhall betide you. But what ſhall I doe to my wife and children (ſay you?) Theſe and all other your cares you muſt commit to God, and truſt in him,bb1. Pet. 5.71 Pet 5:7 Caſt all your care vponupon him (ſaith the Apoſtle) for he careth for you. The good c ſhepheards,1 Luke 2.8Luke 2:8 aſſoone as the Angels tolde them, that Chriſt was born at Bethleem, ſtrait being filled with ſpirituall ioy,dd16 went to ſee and viſit him. They demanded not, who ſhall keepe the wolfe from the ſheepe in the meane while? they reaſoned not of it, but committed their ſheepe and al other things vntounto his gracious tuition, whoſe commandement and will they obeyd. Do you ſo likewiſe, take example of theſe good ſhepheards; aske not, what ſhall become of my wife & children? commit them, and al other things vntounto Gods mercifull protection, p. 279and he will care for them; and prouide for them in the time of dearth. It is commonly ſeene, that when all humane & worldly comfortfaileth, in the greateſt extremitie, when the danger is at the higheſt, then vntounto his children, after his accuſtomed mercy putteth he to his helping hand, and deliuereth the partie from danger. Innumerable examples hereof hauehave we in the holy ſcriptures. In what extremities were theeeGen. 31. & 32Gen 31 Patriarkes very often? and eſpeciallyffGen. 39.20Gen 39:20 Ioſeph? and how often were theyggGen. 31. & 32. gen. 41.40Gen 31 deliuered? in what danger washhExo. 2.14.15.Exod 2:14Exod 2:15 Moſes when he was faine to flie away for his life? and yet how he wasiiExod. 3.10Exod 3:10 reſtored againe, in what ſtraites were thekkExod. 14.9Exod 14:9 people of Iſrael, beeing compaſſed on eueryevery ſide, on the one ſide with the maine hoſte of their enemies, and on the other ſide with the maine ſea, ſo that they had nothing to looke for, but preſent death, either by drowning, or elſe by the ſworde of Pharao? and yet in this extremitie, they werellExod. 14.30Exod 14:30 deliuered. And afterwards, when they were in greatmmIudg. 2.14Judg 2:14 miſerie, how wonderfully did God deliuer them, by the hands of the Iudges?nnIudg. 3.9.Judg 3:9 Othniel,ooIudg. 3.15.Judg 3:15 Ehud,ppIudg. 3.31Judg 3:31 Shamgar,qqIudg. 4.4Judg 4:4 Deborah,rrIudg. 6.14Judg 6:14 Gideon,ssIudg. 11.6Judg 11:6 Iphtah,ttIudg. 16.30.Judg 16:30 Samſon and others? What ſhall I ſpeak of the deliuerie ofuu1. Sam. 18.11 1. ſam. 19.111 Sam 18:11 Dauid in his extream perſecutions? And of the Prophets,**2. King. 1.9.112 Kgs 1:92 Kgs 1:11 Elijah,xxIerem. 37.17 ierem. 38.10, 11, 12, 13.Jer 37:17 Ieremie,yyDan 6.16 dan. 14.29, 31Dan 6:16 Daniel,zz1. King. 22.271 Kgs 22:27 Micaiah,aaIona. 2.10Jonah 2:10 Ionah, and others, whome the Lord mightily deliuered p. 280from extreame miſeries? O but (you will ſay) theſe were of the olde Teſtament. What? is not God the ſame God ſtill? is hee a changeling? is not he as good vntounto the people of the new Teſtament alſo? Reade the Acts of the Apoſtles, and you ſhall ſee that hee is as good, and the ſame God ſtil. Who deliuered thebbActes 5.19Acts 5:19 Apoſtles out of priſon, but he? Who deliueredccActes 12.8Acts 12:8 Peter the ſame night (miraculouſly by the miniſterie of an Angell) that Herod had appointed to ſlay him? Who turned the hearts of theddAct. 16.35, 39Acts 16:35Acts 16:39 Magiſtrates, when they came to Paul and Silas, requeſting them to depart in peace, after they had ſcourged them, and laide them in the inner priſon faſt by the heeles in the ſtockes? Who deliueredeeActes 23.24Acts 23:24 Paul frō the hands of the Iewes, when they had ſworne that they would neither eate nor drinke, vntill they had ſlaine him? Verily God, and none elſe; It followeth then that you put your whole truſt & confidence in his merciemercy, and he will deliuer you.

That the Lorde will not faile his children in theſe daies, no more then he did in times paſt, in the olde Teſtament, and in the time of the primitiue Church. p. 281Sect. XX.

Obiection.

Ʋerely I beleeue theſe things, & acknowledge them to be true. Yet they are ſpeciall miracles, which god wrought for the deliuerie of thoſe ancient Fathers and Apoſtles in the beginning & infancie of the Church, whenas the Gentiles and Nations were to be conuerted vntounto the Chriſtian Religion, which miracls are now ceaſed; So that my caſe remaineth the ſame it was before.

Anſwere.

SVrely this is not true that you ſay, for euen ſince the Apoſtles time, God ſhewed his power in the deliuery of his ſeruants from the hands of their enemies, as may bee ſeene in the Tripartite and Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtories of Euſebius, Zozomenus, Socrates, & others. And touching our times, there is no doubt but that God worketh and faileth not his ſeruants at any time, when need requireth, forſomuch as the Prophet Dauid ſaith,aaPſal. 102.25.Ps 102:25 Thou (Lord) haſt aforetime laide the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the workes of thine hands. bb26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: euen they all shall wax olde as doeth a garment, as a veſture shalt thou chaunge them, and they shall bee chaunged. p. 282cc27But thou art the ſame, and thy yeares shall not faile. Wherfore, what the reaſon is, that wee ſee not in theſe days ſo many miracles, I know not; whether it be, that our ſight is not ſo clear, or that wee hauehave not ſuch faith as they had, whom God deliuered in times paſt: or that (as you ſaid) after the time that God publiſhed his doctrine, ſo many miracles do not appeare, or whether there be any other reaſon, god knoweth: yet you know that the Lorde wanteth no power to deliuer his people, no more at this preſent, then he did in times paſt: & you know alſo, that all things come to paſſe by the prouidence and fore-appointment of God; and that God turnes al things to theddRom. 8.28Rom 8:28 beſt for his elect. Wherfore repoſe your whole truſt in God, & caſt all your cares vponupon him, as theee1. Pet. 5.71 Pet 5:7 Scripture biddeth you, & he wil not fail, neither you nor yours in the time of need, onelyonly confeſſe him boldly, ſerue him onelyonly, and louelove him heartily.

That we should not be afraid at the faces, behauior, and maieſtie of mortall men. Sect. XXI

Obiection.

But alas ſir, Our aduerſaries beare ſuch a maieſtie in their manners, and ſuch grauitie p. 283in their words; they are ſo terrible and cruell in their dealings, with ſuch ſterne countenances, and bigge lookes: they vſe ſuch reprochfull, ſcornfull, and ſlaunderous wordes, that they face me down quite, as though my cauſe were not good, or I guiltie of ſome heinous crime. And further, I am afraide I shall not be able to aunſwere them in ſuch points as they will examine mee, not that I miſtruſt the goodnes or truth of my quarrell, but becauſe, I fear me, they ſhall daſh mee altogether out of countenance.

Anſwere:

THe red-hote iron being put into the water, maketh a great noiſe, and ſeemeth to doe the water great harme, whereas in the end we finde the fire thereof quenched, the force of burning loſt, the heate abated, and the water little or nothing woorſe. Like this bubling is our aduerſaries triumph ouer vsus; for though they face vsus downe, though they inſult againſt vsus, yea though they imbrue their bloudie fiſts in our bleeding woundes, and make, to the eie, a great ſhew of victorie, yet p. 284when it commeth to the proofe, God wil ſhew by a ruefull experience, that all the noiſe that they make, is but a ſound of their owne quenching, fall and ruine: and our eſtate not hurt, but bettered by their ſeueritie.aaMath. 10.28 luke 12.4Matt 10:28 Feare not them which kill the bodie (ſaith Chriſt) but are not able kill the ſoule, but rather feare him, which is able to deſtroy both bodie and ſoule in hell. So then let Sathan fume, let hell roare, let the worlde rage, and all worldlings fret neuer ſo much, yet, be yee ſure, no man can take vsus out of our heauenly Fathers hands, for he is greater than al:bbIohn 16.33John 16:33 In the world you shall hauehave affliction (ſaieth our Sauiour) be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world. When the perſecutors impriſon our bodies, they ſerour ſoules at libertie with God; when they throw vsus down headlong, they lift vsus vp; when they perſecute vsus, wee flouriſh; when they tread vsus downe, we grow vp; when they deſpiſe vsus, wee profit; when they hurt vsus, we ouercome; when they ſeem to conquer vsus, then are we moſt conſtant; and when they kil vsus, thē they bring vsus into euerlaſting life, from earth into heauen, from labour to reſt, from temptations to quietneſſe, from tormentes to delights, from worldly laughters to a crowne of glorie.The nature of true religion is to encreaſe by perſecution. Here may wee behold the force and nature of the Chriſtian religion, which beyond all naturall courſe, and aboue all the reach of mans vnderſtāding, increaſeth by that means, p. 285by which all other things are ſuppreſſed, wee hauehave no other way to roote out ſinne & wickedneſſe,Violence of Torments the onelyonly means to ſuppres impietie and wickedneſſe. and all kinde of impietie, no meanes to aboliſh lewd behauior & diſorder amongſt men, but onelyonly violence of torments & cruell puniſhments: for the feare of ſeuere chaſtiſement maketh men to bridle their vntamed affections, and if any be executed for great enormities, his ſin dieth with him, and ſeldome leaueth hee any poſteritie, that by his death is not rather diſmaide nor encouraged to follow his euill example. But in this quarrell of our faith it hapneth quite contrarie: for as a good ſlip beeing grafted in a ſower tree, bringeth foorth neuertheleſſe ſweete fruite agreeable to his owne kinde; and the ſap of the ſame roote, which in the crab is ſower and bitter, in the apple of the ſlip is moſt pleaſant and delightſome, and though it be loathſome in the one, it allureth in the other:The contrary effects of Puniſhment in the Godly and Wicked. So happeneth it to Gods Saintes, beeing put in the Perſecutours handes. For their odious and intollerable crueltie, whē it is practiſed vponupon malefactors, breedeth terror, and feare, and horror for the wicked fruites, for which they are puniſhed: Yet in the faithfull and Religious, the ſame bitter torments being practiſed vponupon them, are the meanes working in them by a true faith in Chriſt, to worke the pleaſant and goodly fruits of their ſaluation; not onelyonly moſt acceptable p. 286vntounto God, but able to allure mens hearts to taſte of the ſame. Concerning that you ſay, you are affraide you ſhall not bee able to anſwere your aduerſaries: Feare not, onelyonly ſet God alwaies before your eies, and let your whole care and ſtudy be how to pleaſe him, for he ſhall giuegive you ſuchccLuke 21.15.Luke 21:15 wiſedome, that the enemies ſhal wonder at, and euen be aſhamed & confounded. Conſider how Moſes behaued himſelfe before Pharao king of Aegypt, in his glorious maieſtie and power; he, hauing the Lord alwaies before the eies of his faith, ſpake boldly through the might of Gods ſpirit working in him, to the great terrour and aſtoniſhment of the terrihle and cruel enemies. Wherfore ſtudy not what you ſhall anſwere, but ſpeake boldly that that God ſhal put into your mind. Conſider what Chriſt ſaith;ddMatth. 10.18Matt 10:18 ye ſhall be brought to the gouernours and kings for my ſake, in witneſſe to them and to the Gentiles. ee19 luke 22.11But when they deliuer you vp, take no thought how, or what ye ſhall ſpeake: for it ſhall be giuen you in that houre what you ſhall ſaie. ffMatth. 10.20 marke 13.11Matt 10:20For it is not ye which ſpeake, but the ſpirit of your father which is in you. ggLuke 21.15Luke 21:15I will giuegive you a mouth and vviſedom, vvhere-againſt all your aduerſaries ſhall not be able to ſpeake or reſiſt. Reſt vponupon this promiſe of the ſonne of God, he is faithfull, and will not breake promiſe.

p. 287Comforts againſt the dulneſſe of ſpirit, and vnfitneſſe to ſuffer. Sect. XXII.

Obiection.

Yet I would very fain that it might pleaſe God to deliuer me, by ſome good meanes or other, out of my Perſecutors hands: For me thinkes, I am out of heart, and doe not feele the comfort of the ſpirit as I was wont heretofore. I am euen as it were a blocke, and if I were enforced at this inſtant to ſuffer triall, (as ſurely my time is very ſhort) I think I ſhuld be very vnwilling to endure it, as a beare to go to the ſtake. Alas! how ſhall I ſuffer the rage of the fierie flames, and the terrours of death, being thus lumpiſh, and heauie, and quite deſtitute of all ſpirituall comfort!

Anſwere.

CErtainely God loues you neuer the leſſe, though you preſently ſuffer for Chriſts cauſe, than if he ſhould deliuer you. In all ages God vſeth his elect after the manner, p. 288which ſeemed beſt vntounto his ſecret & vnſearchable wiſedome: Some he deliuered, others he ſuffered to taſte of Chriſtes cup; who notwithſtanding were as deare vntounto him, as they whom he deliuered: Yea verily, it ſeemeth that he better loueth, and doth more for them that ſuffer, then for the reſt; for he ſtandeth by them being tormented, hee ſtrengthneth them in faith, and maketh them perfect; when as hee doth but giuegive vntounto ſuch as he deliuereth ſome longer reſpite, and leaueth them in daunger to fall in the like perill againe. But you ſay, you feele not the comfort of the ſpirit as you did heretofore. Let not this terrifie you, nor make you affraid, for commonly it happeneth thus vntounto Gods children. Certainly Dauid was in a grieuous caſe, when he cried,aaPſal. 119.81Ps 119:81 My ſoule fainteth for thy ſaluation: bb82Mine eies faile for thy promiſe: vvhen vvilt thou comfort me? cc83for I am like a bottle in the ſmoke; and when he cried ſo often,ddPſal. 119.25, 107.154Ps 119:25Ps 119:107Ps 119:154 Quicken me according to thy vvord: ee88.159Quicken me according to thy louing kindneſſe: ff149Quicken me according to thy iudgement. And Dauid (you know) was the child of God, and receiued comfort againe. This alſo may be notably ſeene in the late example ofggActs and Mon. pag. 1555. Col. 2. of the laſt editionCol 2 M. Robert Glouer Martyr, in the time of Queen Marie, who after he was condemned by the Biſhop, and was now at a point to be deliuered out of this world, it ſo happened that two or three daies before, his p. 289heart being lumpiſh and deſolate of all ſpirituall conſolation, felt in himſelfe no aptneſſe nor willingneſſe, but rather a heauineſſe and dulneſſe of ſpirit, full of much diſcomfort, to beare the bitter croſſe of Martyrdome ready now to to be laid vponupon him. Wherevpon the fearing in himſelfe leſt the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his wonted fauour from him, made his mone to ſome friend of his, ſignifying vntounto him how earneſtly he had praied day and night vntounto the Lord, & yet could receiue no motion or ſenſe of any comfort from him. Then his ſaid friend comforted him with Gods promiſes,The Lord for a time may withdraw his comfort, but at length he viſiteth againe his ſeruants. aſſuring him in the truth thereof that he ſhould receiue comfort, when the Lord ſaw his due time: and therefore deſired him, whenſoeuer any ſuch feeling of Gods heauenly mercies, ſhould begin to touch his hart, that then he would ſhew ſome ſignification thereof, whereby he might witneſſe with him the ſame; and ſo departed from him. Now the next day, when the time came of his Martyrdome, as he was going to the place, and was now come to the ſight of the ſtake, although all the night before praying for ſtrēgth & corage, he could feel none, ſo dēly he was ſo mightily repleniſhed with gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes, that he cried out clapping his hands to his ſaid frind, & ſaying in theſe words; He is come, he is come, &c. and that with ſuch ioy and alacritie, as one ſeeming rather p. 290to be riſen from ſome deadly daunger, to libertie of life, then as one paſſing out of the world by any pains of death. So hee died, being burnt for the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſt, in the yeare 1555. Septemb. 20. And this example moſt excellently declareth, how ſhrewdly a childe of God may be humbled and ſhaken, but neuer finally forſaken. ForhhIohn 13.1John 13:1 whom the Lord loueth, he loueth vntounto the end. iiIohn 6.37John 6:37Him that commeth vntounto me (ſaith Chriſt) I caſt not away. Wherefore be patient, and comfort your ſelfe, for thekkPſalme 23Ps 23 Lord wil not abſent himſelfe for euer.llPſal. 27.14Ps 27:14 Hope in the Lord, be ſtrong, and hee shall comforte thine heart, and truſt in the Lord; ſaieth Dauid. No doubt, Dauid could tell what the children of God muſt doe in this caſe, himſelfe beeing ſo often plunged in this pit. The ſunne doth not alwaies ſhine vntounto vsus, for it is often couered with miſtie and darke cloudes, yea and eueryevery day it ſetteth, and doth (as it were) take his leaue from vsus as though it came no more. Yet we ſee thoſe cloudes vaniſh away in time, and the cheerefull riſing of the ſunne followeth his heauie ſetting. The ſap of the tree doeth not alwaies aſcend to make it greene and flouriſhing; but ſometimes it deſcendeth, yet it is not quite gone, but hideth it ſelfe in the roote for a time, and afterwards it returneth againe. So fareth it with vsus, we doe not alwaies feele the comfort of Gods Spirit, which bringeth the p. 291ſweet ſappe of ſpiritual ioyes vntounto our ſoules, but ſometimes it withdraweth it ſelfe from vsus for a time; then doe the bluſtering ſtormes of temptation ſhake off our leaues; yet neuertheleſſe, the foundation of our hope ſtandeth faſt, our ſaluation is rooted in Chriſt, the Spirit is not quite gone (though it leaueth vsus to our ſelues for a time) but will returne againe, and make vsus greene and flouriſhing. The Mother after ſhee hath felt her childe once to mooue, doth alwaies hope the beſt, though euer it mooue not, and when weakly it ſtirreth, ſhee hopeth that it ſhall hauehave greater ſtrength in due time. So muſt wee, if wee hauehave once felt and taſted of the ſweet ioyes of the Spirit; let vsus euer hope the beſt, and if we earneſtly deſire the ſame againe in more aboundance; let vsus be ſure the ſpirit ſtirreth in vsus, and that in due time it will ſhewe it ſelfe in his full ſtrength, euen to the ſaluation of our ſoules.

Wherefore the children of God be ſometimes dull.You ſhall vnderſtand alſo, that if the children of God did neuer fall, if wee hadde a liuely apprehenſion of ſpirituall comfortes alwaies, then would we not make ſuch account, and eſteem ſo much of the ſweet power of the ſpirit, as now we doe; yea peraduenture wee would imagine that it were naturally ingrafted in vsus, which is powred by meere grace; neither would we be ſo much thankefull for it vntounto God, as now wee bee. Wherefore the p. 292Lord for a while withdraweth his ſpirite from vsus, that it may bee the better welcome, and ſweeter when it commeth. Therefore ſticke to it conſtantly, for it cannot bee but that the Lord will at the laſt ſatisfie your deſire, with plentie of conſolation, ſeeing your cauſe is ſo iuſt and true.mmPhil. 1.6Phil 1:6 And I am perſwaded of this ſame thing, that he that hath begunne this good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Ieſus Chriſt. nnRom. 11.29Rom 11:29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. After winter commeth ſummer: after a foule day commeth a faire.ooPſal. 30.5Ps 30:5 VVeping may abide at euening, but ioy commeth in the morning.

What a great dignitie Martyrdome is: and how we should not thinke our ſelues vnworthie to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake. Sect. XXIII.

Obiection.

The Lords name be bleſſed for al his comforts; Now I am fully reſolued willingly to ſuffer the extreamitie of ſuch torments, as my perſecutors ſhall impoſe vponupon me, bee they neuer ſo cruell and bloudie. Yet me thinkes, I am not worthie p. 293to ſuffer for Chriſt, and the veritie of his Goſpell, to lay down my life in ſo good a quarrell; conſidering mine owne wickedneſſe, how I hauehave beene a great offender of Gods Maieſtie, a wicked tranſgreſſer of his moſt holy and iuſt lawes. Yea there is neuer a branch of his commandemēts, but I hauehave moſt wilfully violated, and daily infringed. Alas! I tremble to thinke of my former life, which before man was vniuſt, and in the ſight of God vngodly. This is it that now troubles my conſcience. I can hardly bee perſwaded that the Lorde will vouchſafe ſuch notorious ſinners as I am, ſo great dignitie, as to ſuffer for his name; conſidering that the Apoſtles (which were holy and harmeles men) greatly reioyced for this honour, for that they were counted worthie to ſuffer any thing for Chriſt. ppActes 5.41Acts 5:41And ſhall I thinke my ſelf worthie of the preheminence which was giuen vntounto them?

p. 294Anſwere.

SVrely there is no greater preheminence in Gods Church, then to bee a Martyr, nor more renowmed dignitie, than to die for the profeſſion of true Religion. It is the nobleſt act of magnanimitie, ſeeing death is the hardeſt thing that nature cā ouercome; The principalleſt act of obedience, ſeeing it is ſo highly commended in Chriſt, whoaaPhil. 2.8Phil 2:8 became obedient to the death, euen the death of the Croſſe. And the profitableſt act (of all that may be wrought by our meanes) vntounto the Church of God, whoſe glorious courſe is fitly expreſſed in the Silke-worme,The Martyres compared to the Silke-worme. which firſt eating it ſelfe out of a little ſeede, groweth to be a ſmall worm, afterward when by feeding a certaine time, vppon freſh and greene hearbes, being waxed of a greater ſize, it eateth it ſelfe out of the other coate againe into a caſe of ſilke: which when it hath once finiſhed, in the end caſting the ſeede, for many young to breed of, and leauing the ſilke for mans ornament, dieth all white and winged in ſhape of a flying thing. So the Martyrs firſt breake out of the dead ſleepe of originall ſinne, by repentance and faith in Chriſt; by feeding on the Sacraments & leaues of Gods word, they grow to more ripeneſſe, caſting off the coate of worldly vanities & earthly cares, and are cloathed with the ſilke of religion and ſinceritie of life, in which worke, perſeuering p. 295to the ende, euen then when perſecution is greateſt, they finally (if neede require) ſhedde their bloud, as ſeed for new off-ſpring to ariſe of, and leaue the ſilke of their godly and vertuous examples, as an ornament and mirrour for the Church, & ſo departbbReuel. 7.14.Rev 7:14 out of great tribulation, hauing made their long robes white in the bloud of the lambe, beeing winged with the innocencie of their hands, cleanneſſe of their hearts; by a liuely faith in Chriſt, they flie andccPſalme 15.1 Sanguine fundata eſt Eccleſia, ſanguine creuit.Ps 15:1 aſcend into the Lordes tabernacle, where they reſt vponupon his holy mountaine. Wherefore, though the ripe fruite of the Church be gathered, yet their bloud engendereth new ſupplie, for it increaſeth the more, when the deſtruction and rooting out thereof is violently procured. It is like the buſh that burned, and was not conſumed. It is found by experience, that whoſoeuer ſuffer (though hee ſuffer for his offence) is pittied, and vnnaturall miſerie (though deſerued) cannot but breed remorſe and tenderneſſe in the beholders. But now, when ſuch mē as be innocent in their conuerſation, vertuous in their liues, learned and graue perſonages, (or ſober and godly youthes, vertuous & honeſt Matrons) ſhall with comfort offer themſelues to extremitie, reioice when they are tormented, goe to death as they would goe to a banquet, hauehave compaſſion vponupon their perſecutors and executioners, and ſing Pſalmes in p. 296very flames; when ſuch as neither want dignities to withdraw them, nor friends and family to pul them back; nor cruel enemies to afffright them; ſhall be ready to change their dignitie with diſgrace, to forſake their friends, and giuegive themſelues into the hands of their mortall enemies, onelyonly for the teſtimonie of a good conſcience in the defence of the truth; men muſt needs thinke:The Sufferings of the Saintes breed Remorſe & work conuerſion in the Beholders. This is a thing worthie to be knowne, and ſome vertue that deſerueth deep conſideration, for which a man is content to ſuffer death. They want no means to ſearch out the truth, hauing both read and heard what can be ſaid on either ſide: They want not wit and iudgement, to diſcerne the good from the bad, being perſons knowne to be of deepe inſight & diſcretion: They cleaue to the word of God only, and embrace the ſame, making it the onelyonly touchſtone of truth, and the rule of their conſcience: They hauehave no pleaſure in paines, nor any temporall allurement to moue them to vndergo ſo great miſerie. Yea, they hauehave many delights, honors, & promotions, to withdraw them from it. Surely, therefore it is that they find it neceſſarie to do this, and that their ſaluation lieth vppon it, or elſe fleſh and bloud could neuer digeſt theſe ſo heauy calamities; for otherwiſe for altering opinion, or ſpeaking a word, they might eaſily auoide it. So then, this is the comfort of them that ſuffer; p. 297That their death is the meanes to raiſe many from death;The vertue and efficacie of Martyrdome. and their patience maketh eueryevery one inquiſitiue of their religion, and deſirous to know what quarrell they maintaine, and vponupon what grounds; then whē they know the truth, by and by they imbrace it, though it be with the loſſe of their lands, liberty, and liues.No man ought to thinke himſelf vnworthy to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake. Now to come nearer to your temptation; no doubt (being a grieuous ſinner) you are vnworthy, yea farre vnworthy to yeeld your life in ſuch an honourable cauſe. What then? you are required to yeeld a reaſon of your faith; wil you play the Hypocrite and diſſemble the ſame? or the Apoſtata and denie it? ſo ſhould you adde ſinne to ſinne: For what greater ſinne is it then to denie Chriſt Ieſus and the trueth of his Goſpel? The Lord keep his children from ſuch impiety. What were they (yea, euen the Apoſtles themſelues) whom God had choſen in the beginning to bee the witneſſes of his trueth, and to carrie his name before the world; but men ſubiect to ſinne and imperfections as we likewiſe be? God choſe them firſt, yea, when they were his enemies: & ſo likewiſe of his ſingular goodneſſe and infinite louelove, he hath choſen you to be one of his witneſſes alſo; For he that is Lord ouer all, is rich vntounto all that call on him: Rom. 10.12.Rom 10:12Rich vntounto al, he excepteth none,God is no accepter of perſons. nor accepteth perſons, but receiueth al, euen al that with vnfained repentance turne from their ſinnes, and p. 298by a liuely faith imbrace his mercies in Chriſt. Wherfore meditate not ſo much on your ſins, as you do on the ſalue of ſinne, Ieſus Chriſt our Redeemer and Sauiour; magnifie the mercies of God and praiſe his holy name, for that in the merites of his Son, he hath choſen you, and accounted you worthy, not onelyonly to beleeue, but alſo to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake.

What the enemies of the truth procure vntounto themſelues, by perſecuting and murdering of Gods children. Sect. XXIIII.

Obiection.

Now for my owne part, being ſatisfied of all ſcruples and doubts, touching this point (be it ſpoken with due acknowledgement of praiſe vntounto God;) ſeeing we reape ſuch excellent fruit and ſo many benefits by Martyrdom; and that our Perſecutors are the meanes of our ſufferings, might they not come vponupon vsus, and ſaye vntounto vsus, in this, or ſuch like ſpeech? Why then complaine you of p. 299your perſecution, if it be ſo glorious and ſo beneficiall vntounto you? you ſhould louelove thoſe by whom you are ſo much benefited. If we pleaſure you, thanke vsus, if we profite you, we cannot doe but well in continuing our courſe. I pray you reſolue me of this one point, and then an end. How may we anſwer ſuch as wil ſo obiect?

Anſwere.

WE may anſwer them briefly, in our Sauiours owne wordes,aaMatth. 26.24. marke 14.21 luke 22.22Matt 26:24 Surely the Sonne of Man goeth his way, as it is written of him: But wee be to that man by whom the ſonne of m…n is betraide; it had bin good for that man, if he had neuer bin borne. Being ſouldiers by profeſſion, we are glad we hauehave ſuch occaſion to fight in defence of the truth, and yet we are heartily ſorrie to ſee them bid vsus battaile, by impugning and perſecuting the ſame. Howſoeuer it goeth with vsus, we are ſure of the victorie: If we hauehave the vpper hand we hauehave conquered ſatan, and chaſed him out of his haunt, to the confuſion of all ſuperſtition and idolatrie; If we be oppreſſed and murdered for our faith, then do we alſo ouercome by our true faith in Chriſt, who will receiue vsus vntounto himſelfe, p. 300and giuegive vsus the crowne of life; ſo alſo we confirme our religion to our poſteritie, and ſeale it with our bloud.The Danger that Perſecutors do in curre by Perſecution. Wherefore, ſmal is the hurt that they do vsus, yea, it is an vnſpeakable benefite, but vnknowne is the miſerie that they worke vntounto themſelues, though they ſee it not, or wil not ſee it: For they plucke vp the ſweete flowers, and leaue the ſtincking weeds; they cut off the fruitfull braunches, and let lette thoſe that be rotten and withered alone; they burne the corne, and ſpare the ſtubble; they put Noah into the arke, and drown them ſelues, whoſe being amongſt them kept them from the deluge; they thruſt Lot out of Sodom that kept the citty from burning; they oppreſſe Moſes, who ſhould wreſtle with Gods anger, and keepe it from them: And therefore putting the true Chriſtian Profeſſors to death, they digge their owne graues, and cut off the ſhot of the anchors that ſhould ſaue them from ſhipwracke. It were great folly for a King that deſired peace, to abuſe, diſgrace, and torment the ambaſſadors and ſeruants of a Monarch mightier then himſelf, and then to ſend them home, thus cruelly intreated, to vtter their wrongs. Yet this is the folly and ſottiſhneſſe of all Perſecutors,The follie of Perſecutors. who thinke it neceſſarie for their peace, to impoueriſh, ſpoile, and torment, the Ambaſſadours of Ieſus Chriſt and ſeruants of God, and then by barbarous and ſauadge martyring p. 301of thē, to ſend them to heauen, there to be continual ſollicitors with God for reuenge againſt their murders; ſtil crying,bbReuel. 6.9Rev 6:9 vnderunder the altar, with a lowd voice, ſaying. cc10How long Lord, which art holy and true: doeſt not thou iudge and avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth?

The Concluſion.

THus, (good Chriſtian Reader) now at length, vponupon the earneſt intreatie of ſuch Friends, as hauehave moſt intereſt in my Labours, hauehave I publiſhed this ſmal Treatiſe, being firſt penned for their priuate behoof onelyonly; whereunto I was the more willing to condeſcend, becauſe I feare, or rather, foreſee that the firie Triall, whereof Peter ſpeaketh, approcheth, which the faithful are very like ſhortly to endure, for Iudgement beginneth at the houſe of God. Now then, as theſe Diſcourſes are publiſhed for thy good, to teach thee with ioye and comfort, to acquit thy ſelfe like a valiant Captaine of Chriſt Ieſus in the day of battaile; So I hope that thou alſo wilt iudge charitably of my Chriſtian-care to profite the Church of God, vntounto whoſe ſeruice I hauehave wholy addicted my ſelfe, (if thou vndertakeſt the perſon of a Cenſurer, and not rather of a Scholler) and take this my Mite, with p. 302as cheerefull minde as it is meante thee: Which, if Curteſie can not compel thee to do, yet will Chriſtianitie force thee; forſomuch as the Apoſtle ſaieth, that the Members of Chriſt be wiſe and of a good Nature. Finally, this onelyonly I am to certifie thee of, that when I penned the fift Chapter of the ſecond Booke; there came vntounto my handes a paper-booke, written (as it ſeemeth) many yeeres agone, without either name or title vntounto it; which partly treated of the ſame argumēt I handled there: a few reaſons whereof, being penned in defence of Superſtition, I hauehave (iuſtly) challenged for true Religion. And ſo, (good Reader) if thou ſhalt reape any comfort by this Treatiſe (as no doubt thou ſhalt, if thou wilt reade it, not with preiudicate affections, but with a meeke and humble, that is, with a Chriſtian Spirite; remembring, that God giueth grace vntounto the Humble) giuegive glorie to HIM alone, who is the Auctor and Fountaine of all Goodnes, euen GOD, bleſſed for euer. LONDON. Apr. 25. A.D. 1600.

Amen; Praiſe, and Glorie, and Wiſdome, and Thanks, and Honor, and Power, and Might, be vntounto our God for euer-more, Amen. Reuel. 7.12.

FINIS.

End of the text · Gabriel Powel, The Resolved Christian Exhorting to Resolution (1600)