Fifty Sermons Containing the Chief Points of the Christian Religion, Sermons 2 · Decade 3 · Sermon 3

Fifty Sermons Containing the Chief Points of the Christian Religion · Sermons 2 · Decade 3 · Sermon 3

p. 290¶ Of the patient bearing and abyding of ſundrie calamities and miſeries: and alſo of the hoape and manifolde conſolation of the faithfull.

The thirde Sermon.

I Shall not doe amiſſe, I think, my reuerend brethrē, if to the treatiſe which I hauehave alreadie made of earthly richeſſe, & of the vſe and abuſe of the ſame, I do here alſo adde a diſcourſe of the diuers calamities, wherewith man, ſo long as he liueth in this fraile fleſh, is continually vexed and daily afflicted. For ſince that many men do eyther looſe their temporall goodes, or elſe can by no meanes gett them, whiche are the cauſes why they be oppreſſed with penurie and néedineſſe, it cānot be but profitable and verie neceſſarie too for eueryevery godly man to knowe out of the worde of God the verie reaſon and ground of thoſe calamities, and of his conſolation in his miſeries, leſt being ſwallowed vp of too great ſorrowe, and entangled in vtter deſperation, he giuegive him ſelfe ouer to be Satans bondſlaue. Nowe, this treatiſe ſerueth for the whole life of man. For I meane not to ſpeake of any one calamitie alone, as of pouertie or penurie, but generally of all the miſeries that happen to man. Verily, ſince man is borne to griefe and miſerie, as birdes to flying, and fiſhes to ſwimming, his life can neuer poſſibly bée either ſwéete or quiet, vnleſſe hee knowe the maner and reaſon of his calamitie. And if ſo be he knowe the reaſon thereof religiouſly taken and deriued out of the worde of God, then his life cannot chooſe but be ſwéete & quiet. Howſoeuer otherwiſe it ſéeme to be moſte bitter and intollerable. The minde of man verily is ſorely afflicted and grieuouſly tormented with lamentable miſeries, but y^e ſame on the other ſide is ſwéetely eaſed and p. 291mightily vpholden by the true knowledge of thoſe miſeries & holy conſolations, deriued & taken out of y^e worde of God.

Firſt of all it is requiſite to lay before our eyes & reckon vp the ſeuerall The kinds of calamities.kindes & eſpeciall ſortes of mortall mennes calamities. The euils verily are innumerable which dayly fall vponupon our neckes, but thoſe whiche do moſt vſually happen, are the plague or peſtilence, ſundrie & infinite diſeaſes, death it ſelfe, & the feare of death, whoſe terrour to ſome is farre more grieuous then death can be. To theſe be added the death and deſtruction of moſt notable men, or ſuch of whome we make moſte accompt, robberies, oppreſſions, endleſſe yll chaunces, pouertie, beggarie, lacke of friends, infamie, baniſhment, perſecution, impriſonment, enforced torments, & exquiſite puniſhments of ſundry ſortes and terrible to thinck on, vnſeaſonable & tempeſtuous weather, barrenneſſe, dearth, froaſt, hayle, deluges, earthquakes, the ſinking of cities, the ſpoyling of féelds, the burning of houſes, the ruyne of buyldings, hatred, factions, priuie grudges, treaſons, rebellions, warres, ſlaughters, captiuitie, crueltie of enimies, and tyrannie: alſo the lacke of children, or troubles, cares, & helliſh liues by the matching of vnméete mates in wedlocke, by children naughtily diſpoſed, malitiouſly bent, diſobedient & vnthankefull to father & mother, & laſtly care & continual griefe in ſundry ſortes for ſundrie things which neuer ceaſſe to vexe our mindes. For no man can in neuer ſo long a beadrowe reckon vp all y^e euils, wherunto miſerable mankinde is wofully endaungered & eueryevery moment tormented. Newe miſeries riſe vp eueryevery daye, of which our elders did neuer heare. And they are appointed to be fealt & ſuffered of vsus, who with our newe & neuer heard of ſinnes, do daily deſerue newe and neuer ſéene puniſhmēts, when as otherwiſe the miſeries, which our forefathers fealt, had béene ynough and ſufficient to hauehave plagued vsus all.

But now with theſe euils, as wel The good and euill are afflicted with calamities.the good & godly worſhippers of God, as the wicked contemners of his name are troubled and kept in vre: yea, the Saincts are through al their life time afflicted and vexed, when as contrarily the wicked abounde with all kindes of ioy and delightful pleaſures: whereupon it commeth, that great temptations and complaintes ariſe in the mindes of the godly. The wicked do gather by their happy ſtate and pleaſant life, that God doeth like their religion, and accept their maner of dealing, whereby they are confirmed and grounded in their errours. And on the other ſide the godly, by reaſon of the miſeries, whiche they hauehave long ſuffered, doe reuolt from godlyneſſe, and turne to the vngodly, becauſe they think that the ſtate of y^e wicked is farre better than theirs. Nowe it is good to knowe and ſeuerally to learne al this out of y^e Scriptures.

That the godly are & hauehave béene afflicted as well as the wicked, ſince the beginning of y^e worlde, it is manifeſt to be ſéene in the example of Abel & Came: for, as the one was pitifully ſlaine of y^e other for his ſincere worſhipping of God: ſo was the other for the murther made a vagabonde, not daring for feare to abyde in any place to take his reſt in. Iacob ſirnamed Iſrael is read to hauehave béene vexed with many calamities. The ſame is reported alſo of the Aegyptians while they p. 292perſecuted y^• Iſraelits. Saul was vexed, and Dauid afflicted. The Lord our Sauiour with his diſciples, bare the croſſe of griefe and trouble. Againe on the other ſide the Iewes who cruellie perſecuted Chriſte and his diſciples, were horriblie deſtroyed & that worthily too, for their villanous iniurie. Vnſpeakeable are the euills which y^e church of Chriſt did fuffer in thoſe 10 moſt bloudie perſecutions before the reigne of Conſtantine the great: but Oroſius the notable, diligent, & faithful hiſtoriographer maketh mencion that due and deſerued puniſhmentes were out of hand layd vponupon the necks of thoſe perſecuting tyrantes, of whō I will ſpeake ſomewhat in place conuenient. And by the teſtimonies both of god & man, and alſo by manifold experience, we ſée it proued y^t as well y^e godly as vngodly are touched w^t miſeries. The godly are afflicted when the wicked liue in pleaſures.Yea, truly the beſt and holieſt men for the moſt part are troubled & afflicted: when the wicked and worſer ſort are frée from calamities, leading their liues in eaſe and pleaſures. And while the good do ſuffer perſecution & iniuries, the wicked reioyce thereat. For the Lord in y^e Goſpell ſaith to his diſciples: Verilie verilie I ſay vntounto you, ye ſhall weepe and lament, the world ſhalbe glad: but ye ſhalbe ſorrowful. But now what kind of temtations thoſe bee, which ariſe in the hartes of the godly through their tribulations, and what thoſe men which are not altogether godleſſe nor the enimies of God, do gather of the felicitie wherein the wicked are, the ſcripture in many places teacheth vsus, and eſpecially in that wōderfull diſcourſe of Iob & his friends. The Prophet Abacuch cōplayneth and ſaith: O Lord Abac. 1.Hab 1howe long ſhall I crie, and thou not heare? how lōg ſhal I crie out to thee for the violence that I ſuffer & thou not helpe? whie am I compelled to ſe iniquitie ſpoyling & vnrighteouſnes againſt mee? whie doeſt thou regard them that deſpiſe thee, & holdeſt thy tongue while the wicked treadeth downe the man that is more righteous then himſelfe? The wicked doth circumuēt the righteous, & therfore wrong iudgment procedeth. In Malachie M…the hypocrites do crie: It is but vaine to ſerue God, and what profite is it, that wee hauehave kept his cōmaundements? & that we hauehave walked hū blie before the face of the lord? Now therfore we call the proud and arrogant, bleſſed & happie: for the workers of wickednes liue happilie and are ſet vp, & they that tempt God, go on in their wickednes, and are deliuered. The holy prophet Aſaph conteyneth Pſal. …al this moſt fully and ſignificātly in the Pſalme where he ſayth: My feete were almoſt gone, my treadings had wel nigh ſlipped: for I was greeued at the wicked, when I did ſee the vngodly in ſuch proſperitie: for they are in no peril of deth, they are, I ſay, troubled with no diſeaſes, whereby they are drawne as it were to death, but are luſtie and ſtrong. They come into no miſfortune like other mē: but are free frō the euils wherwith other folk are plagued: and this is the cauſe that they are ſo holden with pride, & wrapped in violence as in a garment. Their eyes ſwel with fatnes, and they do euen what they luſt. They ſtretch forth their mouth vntounto heauen, and their tongue goeth thoroughe the world. Yea & they dare to ſay: Tuſh how ſhuld God perceiue it? Lo theſe are the vngodly, theſe proſper in the world & theſe hauehave riches in poſſeſſion. Thē ſaid I hauehave I clēſed my hart in vaine. & …aſhed mine hands in innocencie▪ and I beare puniſhēt eueryevery day. p. 293And while I thought thus to my ſelf, I had almoſt departed from the generation of Gods children.

Now ſince this is ſo, it followeth The cau…s of cala…ities.conſequently to beate out the cauſes of theſe calamities. For in ſo doinge wée ſhalbe the better able to iudge rightly of the miſeries both of y^t godly and wicked ſort of people. The cauſes of calamities are many & of many ſortes: but the generall and eſpeciall cauſe is knowen to be ſinne. For by diſobediēce ſinne entred into y^t world, and death by ſinne, and ſo cōſequently diſeaſes, and al euills in the world. They are very lightheaded and vaine fellowes that referre theſe cauſes to I cannot tell what, blind conſtellations, and mouinges of Planets. For wee by our euill luſtes and corrupte affections, do heape vp day by day one euill on an others necke. And at our elbowes ſtandeth y^e deuill, who roundeth vsus in the eares & eggeth vsus forwards: and as helps to ſpurre vsus on, there are a crewe of naughtie packes that neuer ceaſſe to traine vsus in: and daily there doe riſe vp diuers inſtruments of tribulation, wherewith the moſt wiſe and iuſt God doth ſuffer vsus men to be excerciſed and tormented.

But the ſame cauſes of affliction are not alwayes founde to bee in the The cauſes why the Saints …re afflic…ed.holy worſhippers of God, as are in the wicked deſpiſers of his name. The Saintes are often afflicted, that by their trouble the glorie of GOD may be knowen to the world. For when the diſciples of Chriſt did ſée y^• blind man in the Goſpell, which was blind from his mothers wombe, they ſaid to y^t Lord: Maiſter, who ſinned, this man or his parents, that he was borne blinde? Ieſus aunſwered: Neither did this man ſinne nor his parentes, but that the woorkes of God might be made manifeſt in him.

Likewiſe when the Lord heard ſay that Lazarus was ſicke: This diſeaſe (ſaid hee) is not to death, but to the glorie of God, that by it the ſonne of God may be glorified. And yet if wee touch this matter to the quicke, there can none in the woorld be found without ſinne, ſo that if the Lorde will marke oure iniquities, hee ſhall alwayes finde ſomewhat to be puniſhed in vsus. As it is at large declared in the booke of Iob.

Furthermore, the Lord doth ſuffer We are deliuered by the goodneſſe of the Lorde, not bi our owne mea or abilitiehis ſpouſe the Church, which hée loueth full dearely, to bee troubled and afflicted, to this end and purpoſe, that hee may openly declare, that the electe are defended, preſerued, and deliuered by the power & ayde of God, and not by the policie or help of man. For Paule ſaith: We hauehave this treaſure in earthen veſſells, that the excellencie of the power may be Gods, and not of vsus, while we are troubled on euerie ſide, but not made ſorrowfull. Wee are in pouertie but not in extreeme pouertie: wee ſuffer perſecution, but are not forſaken therein: wee are caſt downe, but wee periſh not: wee alwayes beare about in the bodie, the dying of the Lord Ieſus, that the life of Ieſus might alſo be made manifeſt in our body. For wee which liue are alwayes deliuered vntounto death for Ieſus ſake, that the life alſo of Ieſus might bee made manifeſt in our mortall fleſhe. Alſo the ſame Apoſtle ſaith: Vertue is made perfect in infirmitie.

Againe, as the afflictions of the holy Afflictiōs are teſtimonies of the doctrin of faith.martyrs and faithfull Saintes of Chriſt are teſtimonies of the doctrine of faith, as our Sauiour in the Goſpell ſaith: They ſhall deliuer you vp to counſells, & in their Synagogues p. 294they ſhall ſcourge you, yea ye ſhalbee brought before kinges and rulers for my ſake, that this might bee for a wittneſſe to them and the people. Euen ſo in like manner are the Saintes ouerladen wyth miſeries made examples for vsus to learne by, how to ouercome and deſpiſe y^e world and to aſpire to heauenly thinges.

Finally, the Lord doeth trie theſe We are tried by afflictions.that bée his, by laying the croſſe vppon their neckes, and purgeth them like gold in the fire, hée cutteth from vsus many occaſions of euill that hee may bring vsus to the bearing of greater and more plentifull fruite. The wiſedome of the Lord doeth therein followe the manner of Goldſmythes, who put their gold into the fire to purge, and not to marre it. And hée imitateth alſo good huſbandmen, who when their corne is ſomewhat too ranke do mowe it downe, and prune their trées not to deſtroy, but make them beare more abundant fruite. And this fleſh of ours verilie in peace and quietneſſe is luſkiſh, lazie, drowſie, and ſlowe to good and honeſt exerciſes: it is content and ſéeketh no further than earthly thinges, it is whoalie giuen to pleaſures, it doth vtterly forget God and godly thinges: nowe therefore it is not expedient onelyonly but alſo very neceſſarie to hauehave this dull and ſluggiſhe lumpe ſtirred vpp and excerciſed with troubles, afflicions and ſharpe perſecutions. The Saints herein are like toyron, which by vſe is ſomewhat woarne and diminiſhed, but by lying ſtil vnoccupied is eaten more with ruſte and canker. Moſt truely therefore ſaid S. Peter: Dearely beloued, thincke it not ſtraunge, 1. Pet. 4.1 Pet 4that yee are tried wyth fire, which thing is to trie you, as though ſome ſtraunge thing happened vntounto you: But reioyce rather in that yee are partakers of the afflictions of Chriſt, that when his glorie is reucaled yee may be merie and glad. For Paule to Timothie ſaith, Remember …that Ieſus Chriſte of the ſeede of Dauid was raiſed from the dead according to my goſpel, for which I am afflicted as an euill doer euen vntounto bondes: and yet I ſuffer al things for the electes ſakes, that they might alſo obteine the ſaluation which is in Chriſt Ieſus with eternall glorie. It is a faithfull ſaying: For if wee bee dead with him, we ſhal alſo liue with him: if we be patient we ſhal reigne with him: if we denie him, hee ſhall alſo denie vsus. For in his epiſtle to the Romans he ſaith, Thoſe which hee …knew before, he did alſo predeſtinate that they ſhould be like facioned vntounto the ſhape of his ſonne, that hee might be the firſt begotten amonge many brethren. Moreouer whom he did predeſtinate, them alſo he called: and whom he called, them alſo he iuſtified: and whom he iuſtified, them alſo ſhal he glorifie. Againe in the …ſame epiſtle he ſaith: We reioyce alſo in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience: patience proofe: proofe hope: and hope maketh not aſhamed. &c. This do y^t priuate examples of the ſaints, and publique examples of the whole Church, very plainly declare. Abraham, Iſaac & Iacob, had neuer knowne y^t Gods helping hand had bene ſo faithful and alwayes preſent with them, they had neuer bene grounded in ſo ſure hope, nor ſhewed ſuch eſpecial fruit of their excellent patience, if they had not bin exerciſed with many perils, and, as it were oppreſſed with infinite calamities. Wherupon it cōmeth that Dauid cried. It is good for me Lord that thou haſt troubled mee. The Church p. 295Pſal. …of Iſrael was oppreſſed in Aegypt, but to the end that it might with the more glorie be deliuered and paſſe into the land of promiſe. The Iewiſhe Church was afflicted by them of Babylon and the Aſſyrians, ſo that their temple was ouerthrowne, and the Saintes caried captiue with y^e worſt of the people. But the godly ſort in their verie captiuitie doe feele y^• wonderful helpe of God, and by that meanes are made the better by their afflictions, ſo that the name of the Lord was knowne amonge the Aſſyrians, the Chaldées, the Medes, and Perſians, to his great glorie and renowne, as it is at large declared in the hiſtories of Daniel, Heſter, and Eſoras.

Here alſo is to bee noted that certaine puniſhmentes are appointed of Certaine puniſhments appointed as plagues to certaine ſinnes.y^• Lord as plagues for certeine ſinnes ſo that moſt commonly a man is plagued by the verie ſame things, wherin he ſinned againſt the Lord. Dauid offended God with murder and adulterie: & therefore is he puniſhed with the ſhame of his owne houſe, with whoredome, inceſt, & deteſtable murder of his owne children, & laſtly driuen out and baniſhed his kingdome. It was pride and arrogancie wherin Nabuchodonoſor ſinned, and therfore being diſtract of his witts and turned into a beaſtly madneſſe, he led his life for a certaine time with beaſts of the field. But as Nabuchodonoſor was, when God thought good, reſtoared to his kingdome: So Dauid did in time conuenient féele the merrie of y^e Lord in ſettling him in his ſeat againe. For this ſaying of the Lord is firmely ratified for euer, not only to Dauid, but to euerie one that beléeueth, which is in theſe words ſet downe in y^t Scriptures: If his children forſake my law and kepe not my commaundements, I wil viſit their ſinnes with rodds, & their iniquities with ſcourges: yet will I not vtterly take my goodnes from him. I wil not breake my couenaunt, neither wil I change the thing that is once gone out of my mouth. Therfore it is to our profite that the Lord afflicteth vsus, as he himſelfe teſtifieth in y^e Reuelation of Chriſt vttered by Iohn the Apoſtle and Euangeliſt, ſaying: Them which I louelove, I rebuke and chaſten. And Solomon Apoc. 3.Rev 3long before that, did ſay: My ſonne refuſe Prouerb. 3not the chaſtening of the Lord, neither faint whē thou art corrected of him. For whome the Lord loueth him he chaſteneth, & yet delighteth in him as a father in his ſonne.

Now touching the perſecutions & terrible plagues layd vponupon y^t neck of Sinne is the cauſe of the chur ches perſecutions.the whole Church of God, or ſeuerall martyrs of y^t ſame, as they were for y^e moſt part breathed out of worldly tyrants againſt the S. for their open cō feſſion and teſtimonies of their faith & truth of the Goſpell, ſo moſt cōmonly the cauſes of thoſe broyles were the ſinns & offēces of the S. which the iuſtice of God did viſit in his holy ones, no doubt to the good, & ſaluation of the faithful. For of y^t bloudie perſecution vnderunder the Emperors Diocletian and Maximiniā, which cauſed many thou ſands yea many millians of Martyrs to com to their endings, we read this following in y^t hiſtorie of Euſebius of Ceſaria, who learned it not by heareſay but was himſelf an eyewitnes of the ſame: When as by to much libertie and wantones, the maners of the Church were vtterly marred, and the diſcipline therof corrupted, while among our ſelues wee enuie one an other, & diminiſh one anothers eſtimatiō, while amōg our ſelues we ſnatch at & accuſe our ſelues, mouing dedly warre p. 296among our ſelues, while diſsimulation ſitteth in the face, deceipt lurketh in the harte, and falſhod is vttered in woordes, ſo that one euill is heaped ſtill on anothers necke, the Lorde beginneth by little and little, and with the bridle to checke the mouth of his tripping church, and reſeruing the congregations vntouched, he begineth firſt to ſuffer them to feele perſecution, which ſerued as ſouldiours in the camps of the Gentiles. But when as by that meanes the people could not be made to remember them ſelues, in ſo muche that they ceaſſed not to perſiſt in their wickedneſſe, & that the verie guides of the people and chief of the church vnmindful of Gods commaundemēt were ſett on fire among them ſelues with ſtrife, enuie, hatred, and pride, ſo that they might think they rather exerciſed tyrannie than the office of miniſters, becauſe they had forgottē Chriſtian ſinceritie and pureneſſe of liuing: then at length the houſes of prayer and churches of the liuing God were throwen to the grounde, and the holie ſcriptures ſet on fire in the broade and open ſtreetes. Thus muche, worde for worde, out of the 8. booke of his Eccleſiaſtical hiſtorie.

And yet here I make difference betwixt ſinne and ſinne. For the what kind of ſinnes the Saints ſinnes re.Sainctes ſinne, but yet they abſtaine commonly from heynous crimes, although nowe and then too, they fall into them, as it is euident by the example of Dauid. But yet for the moſt parte they flye from theft, murder, whooredome, and other grieuous ſinnes like vntounto theſe. And while the Sainctes are afflicted by tyraunts, it is not for their neglecting of iuſtice & true religion, but for y^t contemninge of ſuperſtition, and ſtedfaſt ſticking to Chriſt and his Goſpell. The Lorde therefore doeth forgiue, and in the bloud of Chriſt waſhe away y^t ſinnes of the holye Martyrs, reputing them to ſuffer deathe, not for the ſinnes whiche they hauehave committed, but for the zeale and louelove of true religion. He alſo puniſheth the tyrants for the death of his Martyrs, becauſe in putting them to death they follow their owne tyrannous affection, and not the iuſt iudgement of the liuing God. The Lordes mynd verily was by tyrauntes to chaſten his people Iſrael. But the tyraunts (as Eſaie in his 10. Chapter witneſſeth) did not take it to bee ſo, but rather following their owne affections, they paſſed all meaſure in afflicting them, and neuer ſought after iuſtice and equitie: they therefore are puniſhed of the Lorde for killing his innocent and guiltleſſe ſeruauntes. For the thing which the Lorde did perſecute in his people, (their ſinnes, I meane and offences) that do the tyraunts neyther puniſhe nor perſecute: but y^t thing that pleaſeth God (the louelove, I meane, of true religion, and the vtter deteſting of idolatrie) that they are madde vponupon, and perſecute it with ſwoorde & fire, and vnſpeakable torments. To this therefore doeth that ſaying of Sainct Peter belong: See that none of you be puniſhed as a murtherer, or as a theefe, or as an euill doer, or as a buſie bodie in other mennes matters: but if any man ſuffer as a Chriſtian man, let him not be aſhamed, but rather glorifie God on this behalfe.

Yet for all this, I would not that heynous offendours ſhould any whit deſpaire. They hauehave the example of the théefe that was crucified with Chriſt, that let them follow: let them I ſaye, confeſſe their faultes, beléeue p. 297in Chriſt, commit themſelues wholie to his grace & merciemercy, and laſtly ſuffer patiently the paine of their puniſhment, and in ſo doing there is no doubt but they ſhal be receyued of Chriſte into Paradiſe, and liue there for euer, as y^e théefe doth with Chriſt.

And although the godly be ſlame amonge tranſgreſſours, yet is …ée no Why God …oth pu…iſhe the …ood with he euill.more defiled by ſuffe…ing with them, than Chriſt ou… Lord was, being hanged amonge theeues. For though the godly and vngodly be wrapped and coupled together in one kinde of puniſhment: yet are they ſeuered by their vnlike ending, while the wicked after this bodily death, is carried to hell there to burne without intermiſſion, and the godly taken immediately into heauen, to liue with Chriſte his Lord, to whom he committed and commended himſelfe. Touching this matter, and the cauſes of the afflictions of the holy men of God, I wil not be agreeued to recite vntounto you, dearely beloued, a notable place of S. Auguſtine out of his firſt booke de ciuitate Dei. Whereſoeuer (ſayth hée) good men doe ſuffer the ſame and like puniſhment that the euil ſort do, it is to be marked y^t there is not therefore no difference betwixt them, becauſe there is no diuerſitie in y^e thing that they ſuffer. For as in one and y^t ſame fire gold doth ſhine, and chaffe doeth ſmoke, and vnderunder one flayle the huſke is broken and the corne purged, and as the ſcummy froath is not mixed with the oyle, althoughe one weight of the ſame preſſe doth cruſh both out at once: euen ſo one and the ſelfe ſame miſerie falling vppon the good and the badd, doth trie, fine, and melt the good: and on y^t otherſide condemne, waſt, & conſume the euill ſort. Whereupon it commeth to paſſe, that in one and the ſame affliction, the euill doe deteſt and blaſpheme the Lord, when contrarily the good, doe praye vntounto, and praiſe his name for all that he layeth vponupon them. So much matter maketh it in afflictions to mark not what, but with what minde eueryevery man doeth ſuffer. For ſtirre vp durt and ſweete oyntments alike, you ſhall hauehave the one ſtincke filthily, and the other caſt forth a ſwéete ſmelling ſauour. Therfore in that hurlie burlie and irruption made by the barbarous people, what did the Chriſtians ſuffer which was not rather to their profite, while they did faithfully cōſider thoſe troubles? eſpecially, becauſe they humbly conſidering the ſinnes for which God being wroth, did fil the world with ſo many and great calamities, although they be farre from committing heynous, gréeuous and outragious offences, doe yet neuertheleſſe not repute themſelues ſo cleare of all faultes, as that they iudge not themſelues worthie to ſuffer temporal calamities for the crimes they commit eueryevery houre and moment. For ouer and beſides that eueryevery man, which liueth peraduenture laudably enoughe, doeth in ſome pointes yéeld a little to carnall concupiſcence, although not to y^• outragiouſnes of horrible ſinnes, to the goulfe of heynous offences, and abhominable iniquities, yet notwithſtanding he yéeldeth to ſome ſinnes, which eyther he haunteth verie ſéeldomely, or elſe committeth ſo much the oftener as they are the leſſer. Ouer and beſides this, therefore, I ſay, what man is there, which, when hée ſéeth and knoweth very well the men, for whoſe pride, laſciuious liues, couetouſnes and damnable iniquitie, God (as he hath threatened) doeth plague the earth, doeth ſo eſtéeme them, as p. 298they are to be thought of, and liue ſo with them, as he ought to liue wyth ſuch kinde of people? For often times many thinges are wickedly diſſembled, while wicked doers are not taught, corrected, chidden and admoniſhed of their euil behauiours, either becauſe we thinke the paine to much to tell them their faults, or while we are afrayd to hauehave the heauie lookes of them with whom we liue, or elſe auoyde their diſpleaſure, leaſt peraduenture they ſhould hinder or hurte vsus in temporall matters, when as either our gréedineſſe deſireth to hauehave ſomewhat more, or oure infirmitie feareth to loſe y^• things which it hath alreadie in hold and poſſeſſion: ſo y^t althoughe the life of the wicked diſpleaſe the good, for which cauſe they fall not into the ſame damnation, which is after this life prepared for the euill: yet ſince they doe therefore beare with, and forbeare their damnable ſinnes, becauſe they feare them in lighter and ſmaller triſ…es, they are iuſtly ſcourged wyth them in this temporall life, albeit they be not puniſhed with them eternallie. While they bee puniſhed by God with the wicked, they doe iuſtly féele the bitterneſſe of this life, for the louelove of whoſe ſwéeteneſſe, they would not be bitter in telling the wicked of their offences.

This therfore ſéemeth to me to be no ſmal cauſe why the good are whipped wyth the euill, when it pleaſeth God to puniſh the naughtie manners of men with the affliction of temporal paynes. For they are ſcourged together, not forbecauſe they lead an euil life together, but becauſe they louelove this temporall life together, I doe not ſay alike, but together, when the better ſort ought to deſpiſe it, that the euill being rebuked and corrected, might obteyne the eternall life, to the getting wherof if they would not be oure fellowes and parteners, they ſhould be caried & louingly drawne, euen while they be oure enimies, becauſe, ſo longe as they liue, it is alwayes vncertaine whether their minds ſhalbe changed to bee better or no. Wherfore they hauehave not the like but a farre greater cauſe to admoniſhe men of their faultes, to whome the Lord ſayth by the mouth of the Prophete: He verilie ſhall die in his ſinne, but his bloud will I require at the hand of the watchman. For to this ende are the watchmen, that is, the guides of the people ordeyned in the Churches, that they ſhould not forbeare to rebuke ſinne and wickedneſſe. And yet for all this, that man is not altogether excuſable of this fault, which although hée be no guide or ouerſee… of the people, deeth notwithſtanding knowe many thinges worthie controllment, & yet winck at them in thoſe with whome he lyueth and is cōuerſant, becauſe he will giuegive them none offence, for feare leaſt hée looſe thoſe thinges, which in this world hée vſeth as hée ought not, or is delighted in, ſo as hee ſhould not. And ſo forth. For all this hauehave I hether to rehearſed out of Sainct Auguſtine.

The laſt and hindermoſt cauſe of the calamities which oppreſſe y^t holy …Sainctes of God is, becauſe the Lord in afflicting his friends, deeth thereby giuegive a moſt euident teſtimonie of his iuſte iudgement, which ſhall fall vppon his enimies for their contemning of his name and Maieſtie. For Saint Peter ſayth, The time is that iudgment muſt beginne at the houſe of God: if it firſt beginne at vsus, what p. 299ſhal the ende bee of thoſe, which beleeue not the Goſpell of God? And if the righteous ſcarſely bee ſaued, where ſhall the vngodly and ſinner appeare? And like to this, is that notable ſentence of the Lords, which hée ſpake, when hée went to the place of execution, ſaying: If they doe this Luke. 23Luke 23in a moyſt tree, what ſhall bee done in the drie? If the Saincts, by whom are meante the fruitefull trées bringing foorth moſt pretious fruites of good woorkes, are by the ſu…eraunce of God in this world, ſo miſerably tormented and wofully vexed, what ſhall wée ſay, I pray you, of the wicked, which are ſo farre from vertue and good woorks? They ſhal vndoubtedly bee plagued with vnſpeakable paynes and puniſhments.

For touching the cauſes of thoſe calamities wherewith the wicked The cauſes of afflictitions in the wicked ſorte.are tormented, they can bée none other than the heynous crimes which they commit from day to day, and are therefore puniſhed by Gods iuſte iudgement, to the end that all men may perceiue that God hateth wicked men and wickedneſſe alike. So wée reade that Pharao was afflicted. Saul fell vppon his owne ſword, and was ſlaine in the mounte Gelboe, wyth many thouſand Iſraelites, becauſe he had ſinned againſt the Lord, which purpoſed to deſtroy him for an example of his iudgement, and a terrour to them that ſhould followe after. Antiochus Epiphanes, Herode the great, Herod Agrippa, and Galerius Maximianus the Emperour, were taken horriblie wyth gréeuous diſeaſes and died of the ſame. The reaſon was becauſe they ſinned againſt GOD and his ſeruaunts, on whome hee determined to take a vengeaunce, and to make them proofes of his iuſte iudgemente: ſo to bee examples for tyrauntes, to perceiue what plagues remayne for thoſe, which ſéeke the bloud of the godly and faithfull.

And although oure good God doth ordeyne all thinges, for the beſte to his creatures, and ſendeth in a manner all calamities and miſeries, to drawe vsus from wickedneſſe: yet beecauſe hypocrites and wicked people deſpiſe the counſelles and admonitions of GOD, and neither will acknowledge God when hee ſtriketh, nor turne to him when hee calleth them, all thinges doe turne to their deſtruction (euen as to them which louelove the Lord, all thinges woorke to the beſte) and therefore doe they periſhe in their calamities: for in this world they féele the wrath of the Almightie God in moſt horible puniſhmentes, and in the world to come, when once they are parted oute of this life, do for euer beare farre greater and bitterer paynes, than any tongue can tell.

But if it happen that the wicked and vngodly ſorte, doe not in this The infelicitie of the vngodly.life, féele anye plague or greeuous affliction, then ſhall they bée puniſhed ſo much the ſoarer in the woorld to come.

There is no man that knoweth not the Euangelicall parable of the riche vnmerciful glutton, who, when as in this life hee liued as hée iuſted, in paſſinge delightes, was notwythſtanding in hell tormented wyth vnquencheable thyrſte, and parched wyth fire, which neuer ceaſſed burning. The felicitie therefore of the wicked in this life is nothing elſe but ertreeme miſerie. For Saint Iames the Apoſtle ſayth: Yee hauehave liued in Iames. 5.Jas 5pleaſure vponupon earth and beene wanton, p. 300ye hauehave nouriſhed your harts as in a day of ſlaughter, which, I ſay, wil turne to you, as to well fedd beaſtes, that are fatted vp to be ſlaine to make meate of. For Ieremie goeth …ere. 12.a litle more plainly to woorke and ſayth: O Lord thou art more righteous, than that I ſhould diſpute with thee: yet notwithſtanding, I will talke with thee. Howe happeneth it that the waye of the vngodly doeth proſper ſo well, and that it goeth ſo wel with them, which without ſhame offend in wickedneſſe? Thou haſte planted them, they take roote, they growe, and bring forth fruite. And immediatly after, But drawe thou them out O Lord, like a ſheepe to be ſlaine, and ordeine or appoint them againſt the day of ſlaughter. Wyth this alſo doeth that agrée, which the Prophete Aſaph, after hée had roundly and largely reckoned vp the felicitie Pſal. 72.Ps 72of y^e wicked, addeth ſaying: Thou verilie haſt ſet them in ſlipperie places, thou ſhalt caſt them downe head long, and vtterly deſtroy them. O wyth howe ſoudaine calamities are they oppreſſed, they are periſhed, & ſwallowed vp of terrours. Euen as a dreame that vaniſheth ſo ſone as one awaketh: thou Lord ſhalt make their image contemptible in the citie. For Dauid alſo before him did cry ſaying: Yet a little, and the vngodly ſhal bee no where: and when thou lookeſt in Pſal. 37.Ps 37his place, he ſhall not appeare. I hauehave ſeene the vngodly in great power, & ſlouriſhing like a greene Bay tree, and I went by, and loe he was gone, I ſoughte him, but hee could not bee found. In like maner alſo doth Malachie the Prophet witneſſe that there is great difference in the day of iudgement, betwi…te the worſhipper and deſpiſer of God, and betwixt the iuſte and vniuſt dealer. For the day of the Lord ſhall come, in which the proude and thoſe that woorke wickedneſſe, ſhalbe burnt as ſtubble with fire frō heauen, ſo that there ſhall remaine vntounto them neither roote nor braunch. They that are wiſe therefore wil neuer hereafter be offended at the felicitie of the wicked: they will neuer deſire and long to be made partakers of their vnhappie proſperitie: they wil not grudge at all to beare the miſerie of the Croſſe, which they do daily heare to be layd by God vppon his Saintes, to the end they may be tried and fined from the droſſe of the fleſhe and this vncleane world. Thus farre hauehave I ſufficiently reaſoned of the cauſes of calamities.

Let vsus now ſée (my reuerend brethren) howe and in what order the … godly … hauehave … their …godly and ſincere worſhipper of God, doth behaue himſelfe in all calamities and worldly afflictions. His courage quayleth not, but kicketh rather all deſperation aſide, becauſe hee vnderſtandeth that hee muſt manfully in faith, beare al ſorts of euils. Therfore doth he arme himſelfe with hope, patience, and prayer. There are verily among men ſome, which ſo ſoone as they féele any affliction, do preſently crie as the common voyce is, That it had béen beſt if they neuer had béen borne, or elſe deſtroyed aſſone as they were borne. A verie wicked ſaying is this, and not worthie to be heard in a Chriſtian mans mouth. But farre more wicked are they which ſticke not to deſtroy them ſelues, rather than by liuing they would be compelled to ſuffer any longer ſome ſmal calamitie, or abide the tauntes of the open world. And yet on the other ſide againe, men muſt reiecte the vnſauerie opinion of the Stoickes, touching p. 301their Indolentia or lacke of griefe. The Stoikes were of opinion that a valiant man ought not to be gree…ed for a…y miſery … calamiti…Touching which I will recite vntounto you (dearly beloued) a moſt excellent diſcourſe of a notable Doctour in the Church of Chriſt ſett downe in theſe wordes following.

WE are too vnthanckful towards our God, vnleſſe we do willingly and chearefully ſuffer calamities at his hand. And yet ſuch chearefulnes is Againſt the Stoiks …dolentianot required of vsus, as ſhould take away all ſenſe and féeling of griefe and bitterneſſe. Otherwiſe there ſhould be no patience in the Sainctes ſuffering of the Creſſe of Chriſte, vnleſſe they were both pinched by the heart with griefe, and vexed in body with outward troubles. If in pouertie there were no ſharpeneſſe, if in diſeaſes no paine, if in infamie no ſting, & in death no horror, what fortitude or temperancie were it to make ſmall accompt of and ſet litle by them? But ſince euerie one of them doeth naturallie nipp the mindes of vsus all with a certaine bitterneſſe ingraffed in them, the valiant ſtomache of a faithfull man doth therein ſhewe it ſelfe, if he being pricked with the féeling of this bitterneſſe howſoeuer he is greuouſly payned therewith, doeth notwithſtanding by valiaunt reſiſting & continuall ſtruggling worthily vanquiſh and quite ouercome it. Therein doth patience make proofe of it ſelf, if when a man is ſharpely pricked, it doth notwithſtāding ſo bridle it ſelfe with the feare of God, that it neuer breaketh forthe to immoderate vnrulyneſſe. Therein doth chearefulneſſe clearely appeare, if a man once wounded with ſorrowe and ſadneſſe, doth quietly ſtaye himſelfe vppon the ſpirituall conſolation of his God and creatour. This conflicte which the faithfull ſuſteine againſt the natural feeling of ſorrowe and griefe (while they ſtudie to exerciſe patience and temperance) the Apoſtle Paule hath finely deſcribed in woordes as followeth: We are troubled on euerie ſide but not made ſorrowfull: wee are in pouertie but not in extreeme pouertie: we ſuffer perſecution but are not forſaken therein: we are caſte downe but we periſhe not. Thou ſéeſt here that to beare the Croſſe patiently, is not to be altogether ſenſeleſſe, and vtterly bereft of all kinde of féeling: as the Stoicks of old did fooliſhly deſcribe the valiaunt man to be ſuch an one, as laying aſide y^e nature of man, ſhould be affected alike in aduerſitie and proſperitie, in ſorrowful matters and ioyfull thinges, yea, and ſuch an one as ſhould be moued with nothing whatſoeuer. And what did they I pray you with this excéeding great patience? Forſooth they painted the image of patience, which neither euer was nor poſſiblie cā be found among men. Yea while they went about to hauehave patience ouer exquiſite and too preciſe, they toke away the force therof out of the life of man. At this daye alſo there are amonge vsus Chriſtians certaine newly vpſtarte Stoickes, which thincke it a fault not onelyonly to ſigh and wéepe, but alſo to be ſad and ſorrowfull for any matter. And theſe Paradoxes verilie doe for the moſt part procéed from idle fellowes, whiche exerciſing themſelues rather in contemplation, than in working, can doe nothing elſe but daily bréede ſuch nouelties and Paradoxes. But wée Chriſtians hauehave nothing to doe with this yronlike Philoſophie, ſince oure Ferrea Philoſophia.Lord and maiſter hath not in words onelyonly, but with his owne example alſo vtterly cōdemned it. For he greaned at, and wept ouer both his owne, p. 302and other mens calamities, & taught his diſciples to do the like. The world (ſaith hee) ſhal reioyce, but ye ſhalbe ſorrowful, ye ſhall wéepe. And leaſt any man ſhould make that wéeping to be their fault, hee pronounceth openly that they are happie which doe mourne. And no meruayle. For if all teares be miſliked off, what ſhould we iudge of the Lord himſelfe, out of whoſe bodie bloudie teares did trill? If all feare be noted to proceede of vnbeleefe, what ſhall we thincke of that horror, wherewith we read that the Lord himſelfe was ſtricken? If we miſlike all ſorrowe and ſadneſſe, how ſhall wee like of that where the Lord confeſſeth that his ſoule is heauie vntounto the death?

Thus much did I minde to ſay, to the intent that I might reuoake godly minds from deſperation, leaſt peraduenture they doe therefore out of hand forſake to ſeeke after patience, becauſe they cannot vtterly ſhake off the naturall motions of griefe and heauineſſe: which cannot chooſe but happen to them which of patience do make a kinde of ſenſeleſſenes, and of a valiaunt and conſtant man, a ſenſeleſſe blocke, or a ſtone without paſſions. For the Scripture doth praiſe the Saincts for their patience, while they are ſo afflicted with the ſharpeneſſe of calamities, as that thereby their ſtomaches are not broaken, nor their courages vtterly quayled: while they are ſo ſtounge with the pricke of bitterneſſe, as that yet they are filled with ſpirituall ioye: while they are ſo oppreſſed with heauineſſe of minde, as that yet they be chearefull in Gods conſelation. And yet is that repugnancie ſtil in their hearts, becauſe the naturall ſenſe doeth flye from and abhorre the thing that it féeleth contrarie to it ſelfe: when as on the other ſide the motions of godlineſſe doth euen thoroughe theſe difficulties, by ſtriuing, ſéeke a way to the obedience of God. This repugnancie Iohn. …did the Lord expreſſe when he ſaid to Peter: When thou waſt yonger, thou girdedſt thee ſelfe & wenteſt whether thou wouldeſt: but when thou ſhalt be old, an other ſhal gird thee, & lead thee whether thou wouldeſt not. It is not vnlike verilie that Peter, when it was neede to glorifie God by his death, was with much adoe againſt his will drawen vntounto it. For if it had béene ſo, his martyrdom had deſerued litle praiſe or none. But howſoeuer he did with great chéerefulnes of heart obey the ordinaunce of God, yet becauſe hée had not layde aſide the affections of his fleſh, his minde was drawne two ſundrie wa…es. For while he ſaw before his eyes the bloudie death which he had to ſuffer, hée was vndoubtedly ſtrucke thorowe with the feare therof, and would with al his heart hauehave eſcaped it. And on the other ſide when he remembred, that he was by Gods commaundement called thereunto, (ouercomming and treading dewne all feare) he did willingly and chearefullie yéeld himſelfe vntounto it. If therfore wee meane to be Chriſte his diſciples, our chiefe and eſpeciall ſtudie muſt be, to hauehave oure mindes indued with ſo great obedience and louelove of God, as is able to tame and bring vnderunder all the ill motions of our mindes to the ordinaunce of his holie will. And ſo it will come to paſſe, that with what kinde of Croſſe ſoeuer wée be vexed, wée may euen in the greateſt troubles of oure mindes, conſtantly reteyne quiet ſufferaunce and patience. For aduerſitie will p. 303hauehave a ſharpeneſſe to nippe vsus with all: likewiſe being afflicted with ſickneſſe and diſeaſes, wée ſhall groane, and bee diſquieted, and wiſhe for health: being oppreſſed wyth pouertie wée ſhalbe pricked wyth the ſting of care and heauineſſe: in like manner wée ſhalbe ſtricken wyth the griefe of infamie, contempte and iniurie done vntounto vsus: Alſo at the death of oure friendes, nature will moue vsus to ſhedd teares for their ſakes. But this muſt ſtill be the ende of our thoughts, whie y^e Lord would hauehave it ſo. Let vsus therefore followe his will. Thus much hath hée.

Wherefore the faithfull being once ouertaken and entangled wyth Of the Saints patience.calamities, doe chieflie remedie their miſeries with patience: Which (as Lactantius ſayeth) is the quiet bearing wyth an indifferent minde of thoſe euills, which are eyther layde or doe fall on our pates.

For the faythfull man by patience, hauing his eyes thoroughly faſtened vppon the woord of God, doeth in fayth and hope, ſticke faſte to God and cleaue to his woord, hée ſuffereth all aduerſities whatſoeuer bechance him, moderating alwayes the griefe of his minde, and paynes of his bodie wyth wonderfull wyſedome, ſo that at no time being ouercome with the greatneſſe of griefe or ſorrowe, hee doeth reuolte from GOD and his woord, to doe the thinges that the Lord hath forbidden. By patience therefore hee vanquiſheth himſelfe and his affections, he… ouercommeth all calamities, and ſtandeth ſtil ſteadfaſte with a quiet minde, and well diſpoſed heart to Godwarde. And althoughe the faythfull doe with patience, ſuffer all thinges, yet doth hee finde faulte wyth the thinges that are wicked, and hardly beare wyth oughte, that is againſte the trueth. For oure Sauiour Chriſte Ieſus the onelyonly perfecte example of patience, did moſt patiently yéeld his handes and his whoale bodie, to bée bounde of the wicked: and yet neuertheleſſe, hee reproueth their iniquitie ſaying: Yee are come foorth as to a theefe with ſwoordes and ſtanes, althoughe I was daily with you in the temple: but this is your houre and power of darckneſſe.

To this nowe belongeth that excellent deſcription or liuely image of The Image of patience.patience, layd downe by Tertullian in woords as followeth: Goe to now let vsus ſee the image and habite of Patience: Her countenaunce is calme and quiet, her forehead …mooth, without furrowed wrinckles, which are the ſignes of ſorrowe or anger: her browes are neuer knit, but ſlacke in cheareful wiſe, wyth her eyes caſte comely downe to the ground, not for the ſorrowe of any calamities, but onelyonly for humilities ſake. VponUpon her mouth ſhée beareth the marke of honour, which ſilence bringeth to them that vſe it. Her colour is like to theirs that are nigh no daunger, and are guiltleſſe of euill. Her head is often ſhaked at the diuel, and therewithal ſhe hath a threatening laughter. Moreouer the cloathes about her breaſts are white and cloaſe to her bodie, as that which waggeth not with eueryevery wind, nor toſſeth vp with eueryevery blaſt. For ſhée ſitteth in the throane of that moſt méeke and quiet ſpirite, which is not troubled with any tempeſt nor ouer caſt with any clouds, but is plaine, open, and of a goodly clearenes, as Helias ſaw it the third time. For where God is, there alſo is patience his darling which he nouriſheth.

p. 304Moreouer the bleſſed martyr Cyprian in his Sermon de bono patientiae, The force … pati…nce.reckoneth vpp the force or workes of patience, and ſaith: Patience is that which commendeth vsus to God, and preſerueth vsus. Patience is that whiche mitigateth anger, which brideleth the tongue, gouerneth the mind, kéepeth peace, ruleth diſcipline, breaketh the aſſaults of luſte, kéepeth vnderunder the force of pride, quencheth the fire of hatred, reſtrayneth the power of the riche, relieueth the néede of the poore, maynteyneth in maydens vnſpotted virginitie, in widowes chaſtitie, in married people vnſeperable charitie, which maketh humble in proſperitie, conſtante in aduerſitie, méeke in taking iniurie, which teacheth thée to forgiue quickely thoſe y^e offend thée, and neuer ceaſſe to craue pardon, when thou offendeſt others: which vāquiſheth temptations, whiche ſuffereth perſecutions, and finiſheth with martyrdome. This is that which groundeth ſurely the foundations of our fayth: this is that which doth augment y^e increaſe of our hope: this is that which guideth vsus, ſo that wée may kéepe the way of Chriſte, while wée doe goe by the ſufferinge thereof: this is that which maketh vsus continue the ſonnes of God, while we do imitate the patience of our father. Thus much Cyprian.

To this if it pleaſe you, you may add for a concluſion, that ſhort, but verie euident ſentence of the Lord in the Goſpell, Through your patience Luke. 12.Luke 12poſſeſſe your ſouls: and theſe words of the Apoſtle: Caſt not away your Heb. 10.Heb 10confidence, which hath great recompence of reward: For ye hauehave neede of patience, that after ye hauehave done the will of God, ye might receiue the promiſes. For yet a verie little while, and hee, that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarrie. And the iuſt ſhal liue by faith: & if he withdraw himſelfe, my ſoule ſhall hauehave no pleaſure in him. Wee are not of them which withdrawe our ſelues vntounto perditiō: but wee perteyne to faith vntounto the winning of the ſoule. But ſince patience is not borne in & together with vsus, but is beſtowed of God frō aboue, wée muſt beſéech our heauenly father that hee will vouchſafe to beſtowe it vppon vsus, according to the doctrine of Iames the Apoſtle, who ſaith: If any of you lacke wiſedome, let him aſke …am… ▪of God, which giueth to all men indifferently and caſteth no man in the teeth: and it ſhalbe giuen him. But let him aſke in faith nothing wauering.The … of …

Nowe the ſound hope of the faithfull vpholdeth Chriſtian patience. Hope, as it is now a dayes vſed, is an opinion of thinges to come, referred commonly as well to good as euill things: but in verie déede Hope is an aſſured expectation or looking for of thoſe things which are truely and expreſſely promiſed of God, and beleued of vsus by faith. So then there is a certaine relation of hope to faith, and a mutuall knott betwixte them both: Faith beléeueth that God ſayth nothing but trueth, and lifteth vpp our eyes to God. And hope looketh for thoſe thinges which fayth hath beléeued. But how ſhouldeſt thou looke for ought, vnleſſe thou knoweſt that the thing that thou lookeſt for, is promiſed of God, and that thou ſhalt hauehave it in time conuenient. Faith beleueth that oure ſinnes are forgiuen vsus, and that eternall life is thorough Chriſte our redéemer prepared for vsus: nowe hope looketh and patiently wayteth to receiue in due time the things that p. 305God hath promiſed vsus, howſoeuer in the meane time it be toſſed with aduerſities. For hope doth not languiſh nor vaniſhe away, althoughe it ſeeth not that, which it hopeth: yea it quayleth not, although that things fall out cleane croſſe and contrarie, as if the thinges, which it doth hope, were nothing Hope is of thinges ab…ent.ſo. And therfore Paul ſaid: We are ſaued by hope: But hope, that is ſeene, is no hope. For how can a man hope for that which hee ſeeth? But and if we hope for that wee ſee not, then do wee with patience abide for it. Abraham hoped that he ſhould receiue the promiſed land, when as yet he poſſeſſed not one foote of ground in it, but ſawe it inhabited of moſt puiſſaunt nations. Moſes hoped that he ſhould deliuer the people of Iſrael out of Aegypt, and place them in y^e land of promiſe, when as yet he ſawe not the maner & meanes how hee ſhould doe it. Dauid hoped that he ſhould reigne ouer Iſrael, and yet he felt the peril of Saul and his ſeruaunts hanging ouer his head, ſo y^t oftener than once hee was in daunger of his life. The Apoſtles and holie martyrs of Chriſt, did hope that they ſhould hauehave eternall life, and that God would neuer forſake them: and yet neuertheleſſe they felt the hatred of all ſortes of people, they were baniſhed their countries, and laſtly were ſlaine by ſundrie tormentes. So (I ſay) hope Hope is of …hings … & not ….is the hope and looking for of thinges not preſent, and things not ſéene, yea it is a ſure and moſt aſſured looking for of things to come: and that not of Hope is of …hings …hat … moſt ….things whatſoeuer, but of thoſe whiche wée beleeue in faith, and of thoſe which are promiſed to vsus by the verie true, liuing, and eternal God. For S. Peter ſaith: Hope perfectly in the grace which is brought vntounto you. Now they hope perfectly, which doe without doubting cōmitt themſelues wholie to the grace of God, and doe aſſuredlie looke for to inherite life euerlaſting.

Furthermore, the Apoſtle Paule calleth hope, as it were, the ſafe & ſure anchor of the ſoule. And by how much the promiſe of God is the ſurer, by ſo much is hope the more firme and ſecure. For hope is not the looking for of any thing whatſoeuer, but of faith, that is of the thing, that faith hath beleeued, and which we knowe to be promiſed to vsus in the woord of God. And therefore doth Paule expounde faith by hope, where he ſaith: Faith is the ground of thinges hoped for, the euidence of thinges not ſeene. Faith therfore is as it were the foū dation, wherupon hope doth reſt, and ſo God himſelfe & his infallible word is the obiect to our hope. And for that cauſe Paul calleth God our hope: and ſo doe the Prophets alſo. To this belongeth the 91. Pſalm, where y^e faithfull crieth: Thou art my hope (O Lord) thou haſt ſet thine houſe verie highe. Like to this thou ſhalt find an inumerable ſort of places in the booke of the Pſalmes. But hope cannot bée ſure, where there is no ſound faith, and expreſſe promiſe of God. Nowe ſince Gods promiſes are as well of thinges temporall as eternall, hope alſo is as wel of things tranſitorie as euerlaſting.

And as faith is the gifte of Gods Hope, the gyfte of God.grace, and not the power or effecte of our owne nature, ſo hope is giuen vsus from aboue, and confirmed in vsus by the ſpirite of God. For in our looking after thinges, there are both groanings and longings for them. Temptations aſſayle and vrge vsus ſorely, as thoughe the thinge were vtterly demed, p. 306which is for a ſeaſon deferred, or as though God knew not our ſtate & condition, becauſe he ſeemeth ſomewhiles, and as it were for euer to neglect and not ſet by our earneſt expecta…ion: wherfore our hope hath néede of much conſolation and cōfirmation of the ſpirite of God. Which, if it bée ſound, ſuſteyneth and vpholdeth the minde of man ouerladen howſoeuer wyth very weake infirmities. And when the Lord deferreth his promiſes, and ſéemeth ſomewhat too long, Though the Lord put off the perfourmance of his promiſes vntounto vsus for a ſeaſō: yet he doeth not deceiue vsus, becauſe he is faithfull and iuſt.eyther to neglect oure calamities, or elſe to lay more troubles on y^e backes of vsus, that are otherwiſe ſufficiently afflicted, then commeth hope, which doing her duetie, biddeth vsus pluck vp our harts and ſtay the Lords leyſure, who, as he cannot poſſiblie hate them that worſhip him, ſo he neuer fayleth nor in the leaſt point deceiueth them, for hée himſelfe is the eternal trueth and euerlaſting goodneſſe. Here now the places of Scripture touching the certaintie of hope, are very pro…itable to teach, that the people that hoped in God were neuer confounded, although he did delay very long to ayde them with his healping hand. The Lord promiſeth the land of Canaan to the ſéede of Abraham, but 430 yeares do firſt come about, before he ſetleth them in poſſeſſiō of it, yea before he brought them to it, he ledd them whoale 40. yeares about in the wildernes. Hée deliuereth the Iſraelits from the captiuitie of Babylon, but not till 70. yeares were ſpent. What may be thought of this alſo, that God hauing immediately after the beginning promiſed his only ſonne, did notwythſtanding not ſend him til and toward the latter …nd of the woorlde? The Sainets muſt therefore ſtil endure, and alwayes wayte the Lords good leyſure, becauſe truth cānot poſſibly fayle them, and all that hope in it are ſurely ſaued. Dauid cryeth: Our fathers hoped in thee, they hoped …in thee and thou diddeſt deliuer them. They called vppon thee and were ſaued: they hoped in thee and were not confounded. And againe, The Lord is good, happie is the man that hopeth in him. And againe, they that hope in the Lord, ſhalbe like mount Sion, they ſhal not be moued but ſhal ſtād faſt for euer. And Paul in his temptations cryeth out in his epiſt. to the Phil. ſaying: I know that my affliction ſhal turne to my ſaluatiō, according to my earneſt expectation, and my hope, that in nothing I ſhalbe aſhamed.

Thus much hauehave I ſaid hetherto, ….to teach you how y^e faithful do behaue themſelues in ſundry calamities: for they deſpayre not, but confirme their harts with aſſured hope, and ſuffer al euils with a patient minde, quietly wayting for y^e Lord in their troubles, who is the only hope of al the faithful. Now to the end of this, I meane to ad a few general conſolations, which may the more confirme the hope of y^t faithfull, induce them to patience in ſuffering calamities, & cheare vp their heauie ſpirits to al maner afflictions.

Firſt of all let the afflicted weigh with himſelfe from whence affliction …cometh. Euil men, the diuel, ſicknes & the world are they that afflict vsus, but not w^tout god, who ſuffereth them to do it: ſatan could not trouble Iob, neither in goods or body, but by gods ſufferāce. And y^e Prophet Dauid cryeth, Thou art he that toke me out of my mothers womb, thou waſt my hope when I hanged yet vponupon my mothers breaſts: I was left to thee as ſoone as I was borne. Thou art my God: my time p. 307is in thy hand. And the Lord in the goſpel ſayth: Are not two ſparrowes ſold for one farthing, & one of them lighteth not vponupon the ground without your father? yea, euen al the haires of your head are numbred. Now God by whoſe gouernment al things are ruled, is not a God & a Lord only, but alſo a father to mortal men. And his will is good and wholeſome to vsus ward, beſids that whatſoeuer he doth, he doth it al in order and iuſtly. But if the will of God be good toward vsus, the thing cannot chooſe but be good to vsus, which happneth by the ſufferance and wil of him that loueth vsus ſo dearly. And herein doe the children of the world differ much from the ſonnes of God. For theſe (I meane y^e ſonnes of God) in comforting one an other in their calamities do ſay: Suffer and grudge not at the thing y^t thou canſt not alter. It is gods wil that it ſhalbe ſo, and no mā can reſiſt it: ſuffer therfore y^e power of the Lord, vnleſſe thou wouldeſt rather double the euil, that thou canſt not eſcape. But the worldlings on the other ſide being demaunded, howe they ſuffer the hand of the Lord, and whether they ſubmit themſelues to God or no, do make this anſwere. I muſt whether I will or no, ſince I cānot withſtand it. If therfore they could withſtand it, by thie wee may gather, y^t they aſſuredly would. But the children of God do patiently beare y^e hand of God, not becauſe they cannot withſtand it, nor becauſe they muſt by cōpulſion ſuffer it, but for becauſe they beleue y^t God is a iuſt and merciful father: for therfore they acknowledge & confeſſe that God of his iuſt iudgment doth perſecute y^• ſinns of them, that hauehave deſerued far more greuous and ſharpe puniſhment than he layeth vponupon them: they do acknowledge alſo that god doth as a merciful father, chaſten them to y^e amendment of their liues & ſafegard of their ſouls: and therfore do they for his chaſtning of them yeld him hartie thankes, and forſaking vtterly themſelues & their opinions, do wholie cōmit themſelues whether they liue or die into the lords hāds. The Apoſtle going about to ſettle this in the heartes of the faithfull ſaith: God ſpeaketh to you as to his ſonnes, my ſonne deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the lord loueth he chaſteneth, & ſcourgeth eueryevery ſon that he receiueth. If ye endure chaſtening, God tendereth you as his ſonns. For what ſonne is he whō the father chaſteneth not? But if ye be without chaſtiſemēt whereof al are partakers, then are ye baſtards & not ſonnes. Since therfore whē we had fathers of our fleſh, they corrected vsus & we reuerenced them, ſhal wee not much more rather be in ſubiection to the father of ſpirites & liue? Secondarilie, let the faithfull The cauſes of our afflictionsbeleeuer which is oppreſſed w^c calamities conſider and weigh the cauſes for which he is afflicted. For either he is troubled & perſecuted of worldlinges for the deſire that hee hath to righteouſnes & true religion: or elſe he ſuffereth due puniſhment for his ſinnes & offēces. Let them which ſuffer perſecution for righteouſnes ſake, reioyce and giuegive God thanks, as the Apoſt…es did, for that he thinketh them worthy to ſuffer for the name of Chriſt. For y^e lord in the goſpel ſaid: Bleſſed are they that ſuffer perſecutiō for rightouſnes Math. 5.Matt 5ſake: for theirs is the kingdom of heauen. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhal reuile & perſecute you, and ſhal ſay all maner euil ſaying agaiſt you …or my ſake: reioyce ye & be glad, for great is p. 308your reward in heauen: for ſo perſecuted they the Prophetes that were before you. But if any man for his ſinns doth féele the ſcourge of God, let him acknowledge y^t Gods iuſt iudgemēt is fallen vponupon him, let him humble himſelfe vnderunder the mightie hand of the Lord, let him confeſſe his ſinns to God, let him méekely require pardon for them, and patiently ſuffer the plague, which he with his ſinnes hath worthily deſerued. Let him followe the examples of Daniel and Dauid. Daniel confeſſeth his ſinnes vntounto the Lord and ſaith: We hauehave ſinned, wee hauehave committed iniquitie and hauehave done wickedly, we hauehave not obeyed Dani. 9.thy ſeruauntes the Prophetes, which ſpake to vsus in thy name. O Lord vntounto thee doeth righteouſnes belong, and vntounto vsus open ſhame. Thou haſte viſited & afflicted vsus, as thou diddeſt foretell by Moſes thy ſeruaunt. And Dauid whē through Abſaloms treaſon 2. Reg. 15.2 Kgs 15he was compelled to forſake Hieruſalem and goe in exile, ſaid to the prieſtes which bare the Arcke after him: Carrie backe the Arcke of God into the citie againe. If I ſhal find fauour in the eyes of the Lord, hee will bring me backe againe, and wil ſhew mee both himſelfe and his Tabernacle. But if hee thus ſay, I am not delighted in thee: then, here am I, let him do with me what ſeemeth good in his eyes. And verilie it is much more better and expedient to be puniſhed in this world, and after this life to liue for euer: than to liue here without afflictions, and in an other world to ſuffer euerlaſting paines. Paul verilie doth plainly ſay: When we are iudged wee are chaſtened of 1. Cor. 11.1 Cor 11the lord, that we ſhould not be damned with the world. And the verie end of all chaſtenings and calamities wherewith the Sain…ts are exerciſed, tendeth to nothing elſe, but that by deſpiſing and treading downe the world, they may amende their liues, returne to the Lord, and ſo be ſaued. But touching the end of afflictions, wée hauehave ſpoken of it before.

Furthermore, the men that beare … the ….the yoke of afflictions, doe lay before themſelues the plaine and ample promiſes of God, from which, and from the examples of the ſainctes they neuer turne their eyes. There are innumerable examples of them which hauehave felt Gods helping hand readie in all needes to ayde and deliuer them. Nowe our good God doth promiſe to helpe and deliuer, not them onelyonly which are afflicted for righteouſneſſe ſake, but them alſo whom he doth viſite for their faults and offences. For Dauid ſaith: The Lord doth heale the contrite of heart: The Lord doth looſe them that are boūd in chaynes: The lordgiueth ſight vntounto the blind: The lord ſetteth vp againe them that doe fall. Hee is not angrie for euer, neither doth he alwayes childe. Hee dealeth not with vsus after our ſinnes, nor rewardeth vsus after our iniquities. And how wide the Eaſt is from the Weſt, ſo farre hath he ſet our ſinnes from vsus. To this belōgeth the whole thirtieth chapiter of Ieremies Prophecie. And Paule doeth beare witneſſe to this and ſaith: As the afflictions of Chriſte are many in vsus, ſo is our comfort great through Chriſt. Neither are wee without examples enoughe to proue this ſame by, and to lay before our eyes the preſent deliuerie of the Sainctes, and the repentaunce of ſinners in extreme calamities. Our aunceſtours y^• Patriarchs Noe & Lot with their families, were by the mightie hand of God deliuered p. 309from the deluge, that drowned all creatures vnderunder the heauens, and the horrible fire that fell vppon Sodome. Iacob and Ioſeph being wrapped in ſundrie tribulations, were by their merciful God wooud out and rid from all. Euen as alſo the children of Iſraell were brought forth and deliuered from the ſeruile bondage of Pharao in Aegypt. The people of Iſrael did in the wilderneſſe vnderunder their guides and Iudges, ſinne often and greuouſly againſt the lord, for which they were puniſhed roundly, and ſharply ſcourged, but they were quickly deliuered againe by the Lord, ſo oft as they did acknowledge their ſinnes, and turne themſelues to him againe. There are alſo notable peculiar exāples of Gods deliueraunce of his people in Dauid, Ioſaphat, Ezechias, Manaſſes, and Examples of Gods deliuerance.many other. There are to be ſéene in the Goſpell innumerable places, where Chriſte deliuered his profeſſours from ſinne, from diſeaſes, from euils, from perils, and from the diuel. In the Acts of the Apoſtles there are found moſt excellent patterns of preſent deliuerie by the mightie hand of God. The Apoſtles are impriſoned and faſte bound in fetters, but they are looſed and brought foorth by the Angell of God, and placed in the temple to preach the Goſpel openly. Peter likewiſe is deliuered out of priſon, when Agrippa had determined y^e next day following to make an end of and diſpatch him. The Apoſtle Paul being oppreſſed with an infinite ſorte of calamities, did alwayes feele the preſent hand of God at all times readie to rid him out of miſerie. And ſetting this tribulation and deliuerie of his for an example to all the faithful he ſaith to Timothie: Thou knoweſt my perſecution & afflictions which came to me at Antioche, at Iconium, at Lyſtra, which perſecutions I ſuffered patiently: But from them all the Lord deliuered mee: yea and all that will liue godly in Chriſte Ieſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. Many more examples doth the ſame Apoſtle recken vp together in the 11. Chapiter to the Hebrues. All this I ſay, do the ſaincts conſider, and in time of temptation and affliction, do comfort and ſtrengthen themſelues therewith. For ſo doth Paule teach vsus, where he ſaith: Whatſoeuer is written, for our learning is it written, that through patience and comforte of the Scriptures wee might hauehave hope.

Beſide this alſo the faithfull ſorte call to their mindes the commaundements The Lords commaundements of bearing the croſſe.of Chriſt our Lord, wherwith he commēding patience vntounto vsus, hath layd the croſſe vponupon vsus all. For in the Goſpel he ſayth: If any man wil goe after me let him forſake himſelfē, and take vpp his croſſe, and followe mee. For whoſoeuer will ſaue his life ſhal looſe it: and whoſoeuer ſhall looſe his life for my ſake ſhall ſaue it. For what doeth it aduauntage a man to winne the whoale world, and looſe his owne ſoule? Or what ſhall a man giuegive for a raunſome of his ſoule? For the ſonne of man ſhall come in the glorie of his father with his Angels: and then ſhall hee reward eueryevery man according to his workes. And againe in an other place he ſayth, If any man come to mee, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren and ſiſters, yea, and his owne life alſo, he cannot be my diſciple, And whoſoeuer doth not beare his croſſe, and come after me, he cannot bee my diſciple. After which words, the Lord bringeth in certaine parables by which hée teacheth vsus to p. 310make triall of our abilitie, before we receiue the profeſſion of the Goſpell. To the preceptes of their maiſter Chriſt, the faithfull Apoſtles Peter and Paul had an eſpecial eye, exhorting vsus to the patient bearing of the croſſe of Chriſt. For Chriſt (ſaith Peter) was afflicted for vsus, leauing to vsus an example, that wee ſhould followe his ſteppes. And Paul ſaid: Through many tribulations we muſt enter into the kingdome of God.

An other comforte that the faithfull hauehave in their afflictions is this, The time of afflicti…n is ſhort but the rewarde very ample and eternall.that the time of affliction is ſhorte, that the ioy and reward in the world to come is vnſpeakeablie farre more large and excellent, than the tribulation of this life is troubleſome, ſo that there can be no compariſon betwixt y^e ioy of the one, and griefe of the other: and laſtly, that our good God doth not lay ſuch burthēs on vsus as we are not able poſſiblie to beare. Touching all which points, I thinke it conuenient here to rehearſe proofes out of y^t ſcrip tures to proue them true. S. Peter calleth the time of affliction ſhort or momentanie. And the Prophet Eſate or the Lord rather in Eſates prophecie, long before Peters time did ſay: Goe my people, enter into thy chambers, and ſhutt the doores after thee, hide thee ſelfe a little while, vntill mine indignation be ouerpaſt. Paul alſo ſayth, The fathers of your fleſhe did for a fewe dayes chaſten you after their owne pleaſure, but the father of ſpirits doth (for a ſhort time) correct you to your profite, that ye might bee partakers of his holineſſe. But no chaſtiſing for the preſent ſeemeth to be ioyous, but greeuous. Neuertheleſſe afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteouſnes to them, that are exerciſed thereby. Againe he ſaith, Wee ſuffer with Chriſte, that with him we may be glorified. For I am certainly perſuaded, that the afflictions of this time, are not comparable to the glorie that ſhalbe ſhewed vppon vsus. For the momentanie lightneſſe of our affliction doth wō derfully aboue all meaſure, bring forth to vsus an euerlaſting weight of glorie, while wee looke not for the thinges that are ſeene, but the things that are not ſeene. For the thinges, that are ſeene, are temporall, but the thinges that are not ſeene, are eternal. Againe, in his firſt epiſtle to the Corinth. the ſame Apoſtle ſayth, God is faithfull which ſhal not ſuffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able: but ſhall with the temptation make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to beare it. But if it ſo happen, that the Lord doth ſéeme to vsus to extend our tribulation longer than iuſtice would ſéeme to require, then muſt wee by and by remember that we may not preſcribe to God any end of his wil, but muſt permit him fréely to afflicte vsus without all controllment, ſo much, ſo longe, and by ſuch meanes as ſhal ſéeme to be beſt to his godly wiſedome. He (who is himſelfe the eternall wiſedome, and loueth vsus men entyrely well) doth know well enough his time and ſeaſon, when to make an end of our miſeries, and rid vsus from afflictions. There are in the Scriptures ſundry examples to comfort y^e men, whoſe afflictions endure for any long time. The woman in the Goſpell, was troubled with an iſſue of bloud by the ſpace of twelue yeres, which had almoſt driuen her to vtter deſperation of her healthes recouerie. An other lay beddred whole eightene yeares. By the poole Betheſda, lay the ſillie creature, who had béene p. 311diſeaſed eight & thirtie yeares. This ſpace ſurely was very troubleſome. But yet at laſt they were reſtoared to health againe, by God, who knoweth beſt at what time and ſeaſon his help is moſt expedient and profitable for mankind. Let vsus therfore wholie ſubmit our ſelues to his good, iuſt, & moſt wiſe will, to be deliuered when, and how he ſhal thincke beſt.

But the chiefeſt comfort and greateſt hope in tribulation is, that not any No afflictions do ſeperate the godly frō their Lord and God.force or miſerie can poſſiblie ſeperate the faithful and elect ſeruaunts of God, from God himſelfe. For the Lord in the Goſpell crieth out and ſayth: My ſheepe heare my voyce, & I know them, and they followe mee, & I giuegive to them eternal life, & they ſhall neuer periſh, neither ſhall any man plucke them out of my hand. My father which gaue them mee is greater than all: and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hand. I and my father am one. Hereunto belongeth that out…rie of S. Paule which he vſeth to the encouragement of vsus Chriſtians, where hee ſaith: Who ſhall ſeperate vsus from the louelove of Chriſte? Shall tribulation? or anguiſh? Rom. ….or perſecution? or hunger? or nakedneſſe? or pe…ill? or ſword? (As it is written: For thy ſake are we killed all day longe, and are compted as ſheepe for the ſlaughter.) Neuertheleſſe we ouercome in all theſe things through him that loued vsus. For I am ſure that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor rule, nor power, nor thinges preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, ſhalbe able to ſeperate vsus from the louelove of GOD, which is in Chriſt Ieſu our Lord.

The Sainctes I confeſſe in their … that the ſaintes ſuffer are recompenced with other commodities.calamities, doe féele griefe and many diſcommodities, but ſo yet that euen in their diſcōmodities, they hauehave farr many more cōmodities: they are therfore diminiſhed one way, but augmented an other way, ſo that y^e croſſe of theirs is not their deſtruction, but an excerciſe for them, and a whoaleſome medicine. And therfore I thinke that that ſame worthie and golden ſentence of S. Paul, can neuer be too often beaten into your minds, where hée ſaith: We are troubled on eueryevery ſide, yet are we not without ſhift: we are in pouertie, but not in extreeme pouertie: we ſuffer perſecution, but are not forſaken therein: wee are caſt downe, but we periſh not. The faith full therefore doe in this world, looſe theſe their earthly riches, but do they thereby looſe their faith? Looſe they their vpright and holy life? or looſe they the riches of the inner man, which are the true riches in the ſight of God? The Apoſtle crieth: Godlines is a great lu…re with a mind content with that that it hath. For wee brought nothing into the world, & it is certaine that wee maye carrie nought away: but hauing foode and rayment we muſt therewith be content. And the Lord verily, who of his goodneſſe hath created Heauen and earth, and all that is therein for the vſe of men, which euen ſéedeth the Rauens younge ones, will not cauſe the iuſt man to die with hunger and penury. Moreouer that man doth not looſe his treaſure in this world, which gathereth treaſure as the Lord hath cōmaunded him, with whom y^• faithful know y^t a moſt wealthie treaſure is layd vpp in heauen for them which are in this world ſpoiled of their …erreſtrial goods for their lord… maſter… ſake. That worthy & notable ſeruam of god Iob, doth cry, Naked camed ou… of p. 312my mothers wombe, & naked ſhal I turne to the earth againe. The Lord gaue, and the Lord hath taken away, as the Lord pleaſed, ſo is it happened. Bleſſed be the name of the Lord.

Laſt of all, it is manifeſt that to To deny the truth is not the way to keepe our Goodes.denie the truth, therby to eſcape perſecution, is not the way to kéepe our wealth and quiet ſtate, but rather y^e meanes to looſe them, yea, by ſo doing wee are made infamous to all good men of eueryevery age and nation. For we ſée that they, which would not for Chriſt and the cauſe of his trueth hazard their riches, but choſe rather by diſſimulation and renouncing of the truth to kéepe their worldly wealth, did reteyne for euer, infamous reproch, and daily augment moſt terrible tormentes, which vexed horiblie their guiltie conſcience, looſing neuertheleſſe in the diuels name y^• wealth, which they would not once hazard in the cauſe of their Sauiour. But they on y^• otherſide, which ieoparded themſelues and all their ſubſtaunce in the quarell of Chriſte, deſpiſing manfully al daungers that could happen, did alwayes finde a ſwéete and pleaſant cōfort, which ſtrengthened the minds of their afflicted bodies. For they crie with the Apoſtle: Wee hauehave learned in whatſoeuer eſtate wee are, therewith to be content. Wee know how to be lowe, wee know alſo howe to exceede: euerie where and in all thinges we are inſtructed both to be full, and to be hungrie, both to hauehave plentie, and to ſuffer neede. We can doe all thinges through Chriſt who ſtrengtheneth vsus. They know that y^e ſame Apoſtle hath ſaid: Ye hauehave ſuffered with ioy, the ſpoyling of your goods, knowing that ye hauehave in heauen a farre more excellent ſubſtance, which will endure. For the Lord in the Goſpel alſo ſaid, Verilie I ſay vntounto you, there is no man that hath forſaken houſe, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or landes for my ſake and the Goſpels, but he ſhall receiue an hundred folde now at this preſent with perſecutions, and in the world to come eternall life. Mar. 10. So than the Saincts and faithful ſeruauntes of God are oppreſſed with ſeruitude in this preſent world: but therewith all they know and conſider that the Lord himſelfe became a ſeruaunt for vsus men, whereby they, that are ſeruauntes in this world, are made frée thorough Chriſte, and by terreſtriall ſeruitude a way is made to celeſtiall …libertie. The faithfull are exiled or baniſhed their countrie: but the heathen Poet ſayth, A valiaunt harted man, takes euerie countrie for his owne. Verilie in what place of this world ſoeuer wee are, wée are in exile as baniſhed men. Oure father is in heauen, and therefore heauen is our countrie. Wherefore when wée die, wée are deliuered from exile, and placed in the heauenly countrie and true felicitie. In like maner, whom the tyrant …killeth with hunger and famine, thoſe doth hée ridd of innumerable euils. And againe whomſoeuer famine doth not vtterly …il, but only tormēt▪ them doth it teach to liue more ſparingly, and afterward to faſt the longer and deuoutly. Nowe in this caſe the faithfull which ſuffer famine, do call to remembraunce the examples of the auncient Sainctes, of whome when Paul ſpeaketh, hée ſayth: They wandered about in ſheepe ſkinns & goate ſkinnes, being deſtitute, afflicted and tormented, of whome the world was not worthie: they wandered in wilderneſſe, & in mountaynes p. 313and in dennes and caues of the earth, chriſtians alſo conſider that the ſtate of famiſhed Lazarus, who died amōg the tongues of the dogges that licked his bla…es, was farre …erter than y^e ſurfetting of the ſtrutbellied glutton, who being once dead was buried in hell. Moreouer it is to be abhorred, de Af…liction in warres by deflou…ing of women.teſted, and (yet) lamented of all men, to ſee a crue of barb…rous villaynes, and vnrulie ſouldiours abuſe perforce not honeſt matrenes onelyonly, but tēder virgins alſo that are not fit yet, nor ripe for a man. But the greateſt comfort that wee hauehave in ſo great a miſchiefe and intollerable ignominie is, that chaſtitie is a vertue of y^e mind. For if it bée a treaſure of the minde, then is it not loſt though the body be abuſed: euen as in like ſort y^e fayth of a man is not thought to be ouercome, although the whole body be cōſumed with fire. And chaſtitie is not loſt verilie where the body is defloured, becauſe the wil of the abuſed body, perſeuereth ſtill to vſe that chaſtitie, and doth what it may to kéepe it vndefiled. For the bodie is not holy therfore, becauſe the mēbers therof are vndefiled, or becauſe the ſecret partes therof are not vndecently touched: conſidering that the body being wounded by many caſualties may ſuffer filthie violence, and ſince Phyſicians for healths ſake may do to the members the thing that otherwiſe is vnſéemely to the eyes. Wherfore ſo long as the purpoſe of the mind (by which the bodie muſt be ſanctified) remayneth, the violent déede of an others filthie luſte taketh not from the body that chaſtitie, which the perſeuering continencie of the defloured body doth ſéeke to preſerue And in y^e meane while there is no doubt, but the moſt iuſt Lord will ſharpely puniſh thoſe ſhameleſſe beaſtes & monſters of nature, which dare vndertake to commit ſuch wickedneſſe.

The Saints are confirmed in their The ſaint… in ſuffering the croſſe do… feele no new or vnwoonted miſeries.tribulations by the mnumerable examples of their forefathers, whereby they gather that it is no new thing y^• happeneth vntounto them, ſince God from the beginning hath with many afflictions and tribulations, exerciſed his ſeruaunts, and the Church his ſpouſe whom he loueth ſo déerely. And here I thincke it to be very expedient & auaylable to the comforting of afflicted minds, to reckon vp the beſt & choyſeſt examples that are in the ſcriptures. Of which there are many both priuate and publique. The chances and pilgrimages of the later Patriarchs (becauſe I meane not to ſpeake of them before y^e deluge) are thoſe whiche I call priuate examples. For our father Abraham is by the mouth of God called from out of Vr of y^e Chaldeans Examples of afflictions in the patriarchs.to go into Paleſtine, frō whēce he is driuen by a dearth into Aegypt, where againe he is put to his ſhifts, & feeleth many pinches. After that whē he came againe into Paleſtine, euen till y^e laſt houre of his life he was neuer without ſom one miſhap or other to trouble & vexe his mind. His ſonne Iſaac felt famine alſo, and had one miſfortune vpō an others neck to plague him withal. He ſinneth not y^• calleth Iacob the wretcheddeſt man that liued in that age, conſidering y^e infinite miſeries wherewith hee was vexed. While hee was yet in his mothers wombe and ſaw no light he began to ſtriue with his brother Eſau: afterwardes in his ſtriplings age, hee had much a doe to eſcape his murdering hands, by exiling himſelfe from his fathers houſe into y^e land of Syria: w…er againe he was kept in vre and exerciſed p. 314ſharply in y^e ſchole of afflictiōs. At his backreturne into his countrie he was wrapped in & beſet with perills enough and endleſſe euils. The deteſtable wickednes of his vntoward children, had béene enough to hauehave killed him in his age. In his latter dayes for lacke of foode he goeth downe as a ſtraunger into the land of Aegypt, where in true faith and patience, hée gaue vp the ghoſt. Of Moſes y^• great and faithful ſeruant of God the ſcripture teſtifieth y^• in his youth hée was brought vp in the Aegyptian Court, but when he came to age, hee refuſed to be called y^e ſonne of Pharaos daughter, choſing rather to be afflicted with the people of God, thā to enioy the tē poral cōmodities of this ſinful world, becauſe he counted y^e rebuke of Chriſt greater riches, than all the treaſures of the Aegyptians. The ſame Moſes was gréeuouſly afflicted, firſt by Pharao and his princes, and after that againe by them of his owne houſhold, and his owne countrie people, whom he had brought out of the land of Aegypt. Dauid alſo the annoynted of y^e lord, was trobled a great while with his maiſter Saul, that was mad vppon him, to hauehave brought him to his end, but hauing at the laſt (for al that Saul could do) obteyned y^• kingdome, afflictions ceaſſed not to followe him ſtil, for after many troubleſome broyles, he was by Abſalom thruſt beſide his kingdome, and very ſtreitly delte withall, and yet in the end God of his goodneſſe did ſet him vp againe.

In the new teſtament Chriſt himſelfe Chriſt and Paule examples vntounto vsus.our Lord and ſauiour, and that elect veſſel his Apoſtle Paule, are excellent examples for vsus to take comfort by. The Lord in his infancie was …ompelled to flye the treaſon & murdering hands of cruell tyrants, in all his life time he was not free from calamities, and at his death he was hā ged amonge théeues. And Paul ſpeaking of himſelfe doth ſay: If any other be the miniſters of Chriſt, I am more, in labours more abundantly, in ſtripes aboue meaſure, in impriſonmēts more plenteouſly, in death often. Of the Iewes fiue times receiued I fourtie ſtripes ſaue one, thrice was I beaten with rodds, once ſtoned, thrice I ſuffered ſhipwracke, a day & a night hauehave I been in the depth, in iourneying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine owne nation, in perils among the heathen, in perils in the citie, in perils in the wilderneſſe, in perils in the ſea, in perils among falſe brethren, in labour and trauaile, in watchinges often, in hunger and thirſt, in faſtinges often, in cold and nakedneſſe, beſide thoſe thinges that outwardly come vntounto me, the trouble which daily lyeth vppon me, is the care of al the churches. Theſe I ſay, are priuate examples.

Wée hauehave a publique example in …the Church of Iſrael afflicted in Aegypt, many times troubled vnderunder their kinges and Iudges, and laſtly led captiue by the Aſſyrians and men of Babylon. Afterward being brought home againe by the goodneſſe of God, they paſſe many bruntes, and are ſharpely afflicted vnderunder the Monarchies of the Perſiās, Greekes and Romans. What ſhal I ſay of the Apoſtolique church of Chriſt, which euen when it firſt began like an infant to The …créepe by the ground, did preſentlye féele the croſſe, and yet flouriſhed ſtill in thoſe afflictions, which euē to this day it doth patiently ſuffer? Hiſtories make mention of tenne perſecutions▪ wherwith the Church of Chriſt (from the eight yeare of Nero, till the reigne p. 315of Conſtantine the great, by the ſpace of 318. yeares) was terriblie ſhaken and ſharpely afflicted without intermiſſion or reſpite of time for it to breath in, and reſt it ſelfe from troubleſome broyles & mercileſſe ſlaughters. The firſt perſecution of thoſe tenne, did Nero that beaſt and leacherous monſter raiſe againſt the Chriſtians, wherein it is ſaid that Peter and Paul the Apoſtles of Chriſt were brought to their endings. The ſecond was moued by Flauius Domitianus, which baniſhed the Apoſtle Iohn into the Iſle of Pathmos. The third perſecutour after Nero, was Traiane the Emperour, who publiſhed moſt terrible edicts againſt the Chriſtiās: vnderunder him was the notable martyr and preacher Ignatius, with many other excellent ſeruaunts of Chriſt, caſt out to wilde beaſts, and cruellie torne in péeces. The fourth perſecution did the Emperour Verus moſt bloudilie ſtirre vpp through all Fraunce and Aſia, wherein the bleſſed Polycarpus was burnt in fire aliue, and Irenaeus the biſhop of Lions was headed with the ſword. In the fifte perſecution of the Church of Chriſte, Septimius Seuerus thorough many prouinces, did bloudily crowne many a Saint with the garland of martyrdome: amonge whome is reckoned Leonidas the father of Origenes. Iulius Maximinus was the ſixt after Nero y^t played the tyraunt againſt the Church: in that perſecution the preachers and miniſters of the churches were eſpeciallie murdered: amonge whom beſide an innumerable ſort of other excellent men, Pamphilus and Maximus two notable lightes, were eſpeciallie ſlaughtered. The ſeuenth bloudſucker after beaſtly Nero, was Decius the Emperour, who proclaymed moſt horrible edictes againſt the faithfull: in his time was S. Laurence a deacon of the Church, broyled vponupon a grateyron, and the renowmed virgin Apollonia for her profeſſion, did leape into the fire aliue. Licinius Valerianus, was as cruell as the reſt in executing the eighth perſecution againſt the faithfull profeſſours of Chriſt and his Goſpel. In that broile were ſlaine many myllions of Chriſtians, and eſpecially S. Cornelius and Cyprian, the moſt excellent doctours in all the world. Val. Aurelianus did rather purpoſe than put in execution the ninth perſecution. For a thunder ruſhed before him to y^e great terrour of them that were about him, and ſhortly after he was ſlaine as hée iourneyed, and ſo his tyrannie by his death was ended. But C. Aurel. Val. Diocletianꝰ, Maximianus, Maxentius, and Marcus, Iulius Licinius, being nothing terrified with this horrible example, did raiſe the tenth perſecution againſt the church of Chriſt, which enduring by the ſpace of tenne whole yeares, brought to deſtruction an infinite number of Chriſtians in euerie prouince and quarter of …he world. This broile doth Euſebius Cęſarienſis, paſſingly painte to the eyes of the reader: for hée himſelfe was an eye witneſſe and looker on, of many a bloudie pageant and triumphant victorie of the martyrs, which hee rehearſeth in the eight booke of his Eccleſiaſtical hiſtorie. In that ſlaughter Anno Domini. 306.were killed the firſt Apoſtles of our Tigurine Church, both martyrs of Chriſt, and profeſſours of his Goſpel, S. Foelix and his ſiſter Regula.

After thoſe tenne perſecutions, there followed many more, and more terrible butcheries ſtirred v…pe by many Kinges and … men▪ p. 316in ſundrie quarters of the earth, vponupon the necke wherof did follow the mercileſſe bloudſheddings cōmitted by y^e Sarracens, Turkes and Tartars: moreouer the butcherlie biſhoppes of Rome, did annoy extremely y^e church of God, by ſhedding in ciuil and forrayne wars more chriſtiā bloud than any tongue can poſſibly tell. No new thing therfore doth at this day happē to vsus, that in the Church of Chriſt do ſuffer diuers perſecutions & afflictiōs for we hauehave exāples of great efficacie both new & old to confirme our harts that they faint not in calamities.

And therfore did the Prophets and Apoſtles, and their Lord and maiſter Their afflictions were foretolde.Ieſus Chriſt foretel theſe perils, calamities, and all perſecutions, becauſe they would hauehave vsus to fortifie oure minds againſt theſe miſeries at al times and ſeaſons, leaſt by being ſhakē with them at vn…wares, wée ſhould reuoulte from our faith & forſake our profeſſion. Becauſe I hauehave choſen you out from the world, ſaith the Lord to his diſciples, therfore the world doth hate you. Remēber the words which I ſ…ke vntounto you, ſaying, The ſeruant is not greater t…an his maiſter. If they hauehave perſecuted me, they wil alſo perſecute you. If they hauehave kept my words they wil alſo kepe yours: but all theſe thinges ſhall they do to you for my names ſake: becauſe thei know not him that ſent me. This hauel I ſaid to you that ye ſhould not bee offended. They ſhal driue you from their Synagogues: and the time ſhal come, that whoſoeuer killeth you, ſhall thinke he doth God good ſeruice. The reſt that is like to this, I meane not at this time to recite out of the Prophets and Apoſtles, becauſe it cā not be briefly rehearſed: let eueryevery one pick out & applie to his owne cōfort y^e playneſt & moſt euident teſtimonies, that by reading he ſhal light vppon.

And although the ſaincts do not reioyce at the deſtruction of their perſecuting …enimies, whō they could wiſh rather to be conuerted and ſo ſaued, than in this preſent world to be puniſhed, and in the world to come to be damned for euer: yet they are gladd when they ſée y^e Lord puniſh their afflicters, becauſe therby they perceiue that God hath a care ouer thoſe that be his ſeruants. They doe gather alſo by the preſent vengeance of God vpō the wicked, that as afflictiens are for the health and amendement of the faithful, ſo they are to the hurt and deſtruction of the vnbeléeuers. For while they perſecute other, they thē ſelues are deſtroyed, and while they trouble the church of the lyuing God, they kindle a fire of the wrath of god againſt themſelues that wil neuer be quenched. For in the Prophecie of …Zacharias thus we read that the lord ſpeaketh touching his church, Behold I make Hieruſalem a cupp of poyſon vntounto all the people that are round about her: yea, …da himſelfe ſhalbe in the ſiege againſt Hieruſalem. And in that day I wil make Hieruſalē a heauie ſtone for all people, ſo that al ſuch as lift it vp, ſhalbe torne & rent, & all the people of the earth ſhalbe gathered together againſt it. A like ſaying to this hath y^e lord in Ieremie, where he ſpeaketh againſt the perſecuters of his Church and ſaith: Take this wine …cup of indignation from my hand, & make all the people▪ to …hom I ſend thee, to … of it: that when they hauehave drunken thereof, they may bee madd and out of their witts, for feare of the ſword which I wil ſend among them. For I beginne to plague the citie that is called after my name, and p. 317thinke ye then that ye ſhal eſcape vnpuniſhed? Ye ſhal not goe vnpuniſhed. And this is that whereto S. Peter alluding ſayd: The time is that the iudgement of God beginneth at the houſe of God: if it firſt beginne with vsus, what ſhall the ende of them be, that beleeue not the Goſpell?

I hauehave a litle aboue, rehearſed in order the tenne perſecutions which Vengeāce taken of …loudie Rome.the Romaine Emperours ſtirred vp againſt the Church of Chriſt: now hiſtories make mētion that there was not one of them but was requited w^t ſome notable calamitie. And beſide the peculiar reuengements that followed eueryevery ſeueral perſecution, it is to be noted that the moſt iuſte Lord after the ſpace of 342. yeares (for ſo many yeares are reckoned from the laſt of Nero, vntounto the ſecond yeare of the Emperours Honorius and Theodoſius) did begin more abundantly to requite the death of his Saincts, vppon the necke of bloudthirſtie Rome. For within the ſpace of one hundred and nine & thirtic yeares, Rome was ſixe times taken, and brought in ſubiection to the barbarous nations. For in the foure hundreth & twelfth yeare of grace which was y^e ſecond of Honorius and Theodoſius his reigne, y^t Wiſigothes vnderunder their captaine Alarichus both toke and ſacked y^e citie, vſing notwithſtanding great merciemercy in their victorie. After that againe y^• Vandals vnderunder their guide Genſerichus brake into the citie cruellie, and ſpoyled it very gréedily. After them came the Herules, and the remnaunt of Atthilas his armie with their captaine Odacer, who toke the citie and got the kingdome to themſelues, extinguiſhing vtterly y^e rule of the Roma…s in the weſt part of the world. Then againe, when about 14. yeares were come & gone, in-cōmeth Theodoricus Veronenſis with his Oſtrogothes, who ſlue the Herules and obteyned the citie. But it being recouered by the fayth and induſtrie, of the valiaunt captaine …elliſarius, and reſtored to Iuſtinian the Emperour of the Eaſt, was immediatly againe taken by Totylas a prince of the Goths, who with fire and ſword did ſacke it, pull downe houſes, and ouerthrew a great part of the walls therof, wherby Rome was ſo defaced, that for the ſpace of certaine dayes there was no man that dwelt within it. That ſpoile of the citie happened about the 548. yeare after Chriſt his incarnation. And thus did Chriſte in reuenging his Church, laye deſerued plagues vponupon the neck of bloudie Rome: beſide other miſeries (that I paſſe ouer) which it did ſuffer by the Hunns and Lombards. For this is enoughe to ſhewe how miſerablie Rome was plagued for afflicting the Church of Chriſt, which neuertheleſſe maugre the tyrauntes heades, remayned ſafe and ouercame thoſe brunts, and ſhall reigne with Chriſt for euermore. In like maner were the Sarracenes extinguiſhed & vtterly deſtroyed, when firſt they had ſuffered many a great ouerthrowe, & had béene plagued thoroughout the world with ſundrie miſhappes and ouerthwart calamities. The Turkes alſo do daily feele their woes & miſeries, and are likely hereafter to féele ſharper puniſhmentes, Moreouer, the Popes wyth poyſon are one ſlaine by an other, and are ſtraughly vexed with wonderful terrours. They are in no place ſure of their liues, but euen in the middeſ… of all their frendes are beſet with miſeries, they liue in feare continual… all p. 318the whoale packe of them. Furthermore euen they amonge them, that …opes dye of the …ocks which doth be …ray their …haltitie.liue moſt happilie, do rot away wyth that diſeaſe, that followeth filthie pleaſures, than which there is no kind of death either ſharper to the patient, or more deteſted amonge all men. And their adherents, which by their ſetting on do perſecute y^e church of Chriſt, doe either dropp away with the like diſeaſe that wayteth vppon Thei were …aten of vormes aliue, and …a…cke ſo horribly that no man could abide thē.filthy luſt, or do by litle and litle conſume away, as Herode and Antiochus did, which death is long before it diſpatche them, but doeth torment them beyond all meaſure: yea and beſids theſe bitter plagues they deſtroy one an other with endleſſe ciuil warres. The Lord therefore is righteous and his iudgmēts are iuſt and equall, who neuer forgetteth to reuenge his friends, by finding out his owne, and his ſeruants enimies to puniſh them for their deſarts.

Since then (my brethren) that the caſe ſo ſtandeth, let vsus I beſéech you, The concluſion.patiently ſuffer the hand of the Lord our God, as often as wée are touched with any calamitie, or tempted of the Lord our God, knowing this, that the lord doth ſtrike vsus that he may heale vsus, and trouble vsus that hee may comfort vsus, and receiue vsus to himſelfe into ioyes euerlaſting. And that wee may ſo doe, ſince we are otherwiſe to weake of our ſelues, let vsus pray to our father which is in heauen, thoroughe Ieſus Chriſt oure Lord, that hée will vouchſafe to bee preſent with vsus in our temptations, and guide vsus in the way of conſtancie, peace, and righteouſnes. And for an example let eueryevery one ſet before his eyes, the order that Chriſt oure Sauiour and maiſter did vſe, who a litle before the cr…ſſe of his paſſion, betooke himſelfe to prayer. For going vp into the mount of Olyues, he beſéecheth his father humblie, and prayeth to him ardently. Hée is inſtant in prayer and lyeth vponupon him earneſtly: and yet ſo, that he ſubmitteth all to his will and pleaſure. Let vsus alſo do the like, that we may hauehave trial of our fathers preſent ayde with the effectuall comfort of our mindes, and that wee for his goodneſſe maye giuegive him praiſe for ouermore. Amen.