Questions of Religion, Commonplaces · Conclusion
The Conclusion.
THus farre (by the helpe of God, to whom I render most hartie thanks) hauehave I answered to. …. Questions, and taughte those to whom they shal be obiected, how to answere them: yea I hauehave taught what is to be thought of eche of these, howe to confesse the true doctrine of Chryst, and to take héede of the false. And therefore nowe euen for Chrystes sake I hartily beséeche al you which sticke vntounto the truth of the Gospell, and minde not to returne to filthynesse of Rome, that you answere soberly, and without fcare, and constantly abide in the truth, béeing nothing amased with the dayly torments and afflictions which are euer at hande. For the Religion my brethren, for whiche you suffer persecutions, disple asures, and other gréefes, is not of a…eight hundred yeres standing, but hath ben euer from the birthe of Chryste, yea and from the beginning of the worlde, grounded vppon the Scriptures, and is in déede the very true and auucient fayth. On the other side wée are taughte, that the doctrine and Religion of the Churche of Rome that now is, is not onelyonly a new doctrine, but also deuised by men, and ratified by the Counsels and Decrées of men (with whom Chryst sayth, that he is worshipped in vayne.) Our doctrine and religion giueth all glory to God, and séeketh saluation in Chryste onelyonly. And bycause we hauehave all fulnesse in him, wée hauehave no respecte vntounto the creatures. And him wée serue not with outwarde pompe and shewes, but in spirite and truth, in prayer and thanks giuing, in righteousnesse, charitie, puritie, fayth and mercy. And euen common sense teacheth all men, that the true seruice of God consisteth in these things, whereas on the other parte all men crye out agaynst the vncertayne doctrine of the Romish Clergie, béeing confirmed by no good authority, yet they cry out agaynst their filthy lyfe, their intollerable oppressions, pride, and tyrannie. Wherfore although they hauehave great power, glory, and dignitie, fauor and help of great and mightie men: and that the poore menne which beléeue in Christ and embrace his woorde, and despise the Romish church, doe suffer persecutions, imprisonment, banishment, yea and many times death, & that there appéereth no helpe many times from God, but that it séemeth he doth rather fauor the other, yet was al this foretold by the Prophetes, Apostles, yea, and by our sauioure Christ him selfe, who suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example to folow his steps. And therfore we ought not to take any thought for our goodes, frends, body, or life. For we hauehave great promisses of grace, helpe, and rewarde from God, if we abide stedfast vntounto the ende. On the other part our aduersaries are dreadfully threatned, and shall in time fele the same, & that without dout. Againe, touching the things of this world, we knowe they are vnconstant, brittle, and corrupt, and therefore we cā not long enioy them, neither can the power or riches of our frends any thing profit vsus. For we shal all die, and stand before the iudgement seate of Christe, vntounto whonte all our sinnes and secrete thoughts shall be made most manifest. Therfore, let no mā be gréeued, though he suffer affliction in this life for the gospels sake. For at that general day, both the innocenciè and offences of all men shall appeare. And hearken I beséeche you, how louingly Christ speaketh vntounto vsus, and comforteth vsus: Blossed (sayth he) are those vvhichwhich suffer persecution, for righteoufnesse sake, for theirs is the kingdome of heauen. Blessed are you vvhen they shall speake ouil of you, and perfecute you, and speake all manner of euill saying, making lies vppon you for my sake: Reioyce and be glad, for great is your revvarde in heauen: for euen so did they persecute the Prophets vvhichwhich vvere before you. The scholler is not aboue his maister, nor the seruaunt greater than his Lord. If they hauehave called the good man of the house Bel…cbub, hovv much more vvill they call his seruaunts so? you shall not therefore be a fraide of them: for thereis nothing so hidden, but it shall be knovvne. Neither be you afraide of those vvhiche can but kill the body, but feare you him rather, that is able to destroy bothe body and soule in hell fire. Are not tvvo sparovves solde for a farthing, and yet one of them falleth not vntounto the grounde vvithout the vvill of your heauenly father: yea all the haires of your heade are numbred. Bee not therfore afraide, for you are more vvorth than many sparowes. EueryEvery one therefore that shall confesse me before men, him also vvil I confesse before my father vvhichwhich is in heauen: and vvho so denieth mee before men, him also vvill I denye before my father vvhichwhich is in heauen. And hee that loueth father or mother more than mee, is not meete for me. And hee that taketh not vppe his crosse and folovveth mee, is not vvorthy of me. VVho so vvill seeke to saue his life shall lose it, and he that vvill lose his life for my sake, shal finde it. And vntounto this doctrine that is so ful of consolation and comfort, let vsus earnestly sticke my brethren, and so couple oure selues to the grace and power of Christe, lette vsus boldly confesse his name & doctrine, and refusing what so euer is contrary to the same. Let vsus call vponupon him, craue his grace and holy spirite to abide sted-fastly in his holy worde euen to deathe. And so let vsus ioyntly all pray vntounto oure Lorde, that he will hauehave mercy vppon al men, and strengthen all those which suffer for his sake, and lighten the harts of the persecuters, that with S. Paule they may cleerely sée and vnderstande how hard a thing it is to kicke againste the pricke. God oure heauenly father hauehave merciemercy on his poore afflicted Churche, and comforte the same shortly with his comming, through Jesus Christe our Lorde.
Amen.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London by Henrie Bynneman, for George Bishop.
ANNO. 1572.
End of the text · Henrich Bullinger, Questions of Religion (1572)