Four Sermons Entreating of Matters Very Profitable, Sermon 2
❧ The ſeconde Sermon, conteining an exhortation to ſuffer perſecution too followe Ieſus Chriſte and his Goſpell, vppon that place which is in the thriteenth Chapter too the Hebrewes. Let vsus therefore g… … of … Chriſt … his reproch….
ALL the exhortatiōs that can be made vntounto vsus to ſuffer patiently for Chriſte his name, and for the Goſpels cauſe, ſhall hauehave no place, if wee bee not well aſſured of the cauſe for whiche we fyght. For when the queſtion is of forſaking our lyfe wee muſt be well reſolued and certayne, wherefore it is. And ſuch conſtancie can not bee in vsus, vnleſſe it bee grounded in the certaintie of faith. It is true that certaine wyll fooliſhly and raſhly venter too die, too vpholde certaine fooliſhe opinions and dreames, that they hauehave conceyued in theyr owne braine. But ſuch headineſſe deſerueth rather to be holden for frenſie, then for Chriſtian zeale. As alſo in verye deede there is no ſtayedneſſe not ſetled vnderſtanding in ſuch people which ſo caſt them ſelues into peril with ſuch headie raſhnes. Howſoeuer it be there is nothing but a good cauſe, that maketh god to auow vsus for his Martyrs: for death is cōmon to all. And the childrē of God ſhalbe cōdemned withlike ignomie and torments as Theeues are: But God maketh a difference betwixt them, in ſo much as he can not deny his owne trueth. Nowe it is requiſite that on our parte, we hauehave a certaine and vndoubted teſtimonie of the doctrine, for which we ſuffer. Therfore (as I hauehave ſayd) we cannot bee mooued nor earneſtly touched by any exhortations, which may bee made vntounto vsus to ſuffer perſecution for the Goſpel, if there be not a true certaintie of faith imprinted in our heartes. For it is not a naturall thing too hazarde our liues at aduenture. And when we ſhall doe it, it ſhalbe nothing but raſhneſſe, and not any Chriſtian vertue. Finally, God will allowe nothing of all that we ſhall doe, vnleſſe we be fully perſwaded that it is for him and for his quarrell that we are moleſted, and that the worlde is enemie vntounto vsus. Nowe when I ſpeake of ſuch a certaintie, I meane not onelyonly that we muſt knowe to diſcerne betweene true religion, and the abuſes or follyes of men: but alſo that we be well perſwaded of euerlaſting life, and of the crowne which is promiſed vntounto vsus from aboue, after that wee ſhall hauehave fought heere beneth in this world. By the way let vsus note that theſe two pointes are requiſite, and ought not to be ſeparated the one from the other. It is meete for vsus therfore to begin at this poynt, thorowly to knowe what our Chriſtianitie is, what manner of faith it is, that we hauehave to holde and to followe, and what rule it is that God hath giuen vntounto vsus: and that we be ſo thorowly armed with ſuch inſti… … able, boldly to condemne, all the fal…es, error… and ſuperſtitiōs, that Satan hath brought in to corrupt the pure ſimplicitie of Gods doctrine. Wherefore a man ought not at this day …, if he ſee not many people which are diſpoſed to ſuffer for the Goſpell: and that the moſt part of th…ſe which are named Chriſtians know not what chriſtianitie is. For all are, as it were ignorant, and they make no reckoning too heare o… to reade but it … hauehave ſome little taſt of the Chriſtian faith. And this is the cauſe that there are very fe… ſetled, and if they be aſſaulted they are found ſtraightway to be ſcattered. This ought to ſtirre … to … diligently after … of God, to the … certaine therof. But yet this is not al, that … thorowly inſtr…ed & …ght. For we may ſee that thoſe which … to be (as it were) altogether ſetled in good doctrine, who… … affection in them, … if they had neuer knowe… any thing of GOD, vnleſſe it be by ſome flying fantaſie. And why is this, vnleſſe it be bicauſe they neuer comprehended the maieſty of the holy Scripture And in deed … cōſider that it is go… that had ſp…kē … it is very certaine that we ſhould be … att… to hearken, & alſo doe it with greater reuerence. When we ſhould thinke that in reading the holy Scripture, wee are in the ſchoole of Angels: we ſhould hauehave another maner of care and deſire, to exerciſe our ſelues in that doctrin that is ſet foorth vntounto vsus. We ſee nowe what manner of meane it is, whereby we ſhoulde prepare our ſelues to ſuffer for the Goſpel to wit, that we hauehave profited thus far in the ſchoole of God, that we are reſolute cō cerning true religiō, and cōcerning the doctrin that we ought to hold, that we can deſpite al the ſubtilties and crafts of Satan, al mens inuentiōs, as things not onelyonly friuolous, but alſo accurſed, for as much as they corrupt the chriſtiā puritie, & that herein we differ as the true Maryrs of Ieſus Chriſt, frō thoſe franticke ones which ſuffer for their fooliſh opinions. For the ſecōd, that being certaine of a good cauſe, we be ſo inflamed as it becōmeth vsus, to follow God throughly whither ſoeuer he calleth vsus: that his word hauehave ſuch authority with vsus as it deſerueth: & that being withdrawen frō this world, we be as it were rapt vp & rauiſhed to ſeek the heauēly life. But this is a thing more then ſtrange, that the light of god ſhining at this day, as clearely as euer it did, that there is ſo ſmal zeale as it is pitiful to behold. If we be not confounded with ſhame, it is ſo much the worſe: For to be brief if we ſhould come before that great iudge: where the euil that wee hauehave labored to couer, ſhal be brought to light, with ſuch rebukes & reproches, we ſhal hauehave wherwith to be altogether ſwalowed vp. For if, we be boūd to beare witnes to GOD according to the meaſure of knowledge which he hath geuē vsus frō whēce I pray you is it that we are ſo feareful & ſo cold to enter into cōbat, ſeeing that he hath in ſuche ſort manifeſted him ſelfe in this time, that it may be ſaid that he hath opened and diſplaied the great treaſure of his ſecretes? Muſte it not heedes be ſaide that we would not hauehave any thing too do with God? For if we had any regard of his maieſtie, we durſt neuer be ſo bold too turne the doctrine which proceedeth from his mouth, into a philoſophy or I know not into what idle ſpeculation, To be ſhort there is no excuſe that we ſhould not be greatly a… med, yea that we ſhold not hauehave an horrible condemnation, hauing knowē ſo much of the trueth of God, and hauing ſo little courage to mainteine it. Aboue al when we ſhal loke vntounto the Martyres that hauehave bin in times paſt, we ſhal find paſſ…ng great cauſe to deteſt the villany that is in vsus. For the greateſt part were not ſo mightily exerciſed in the holy ſcripture, to hauehave thorow knowledg to diſpute of al things they knew that there was one God, whō they ought to worſhip & to ſerue. Alſo that they were redee… by the blood of Ieſus Chriſt, to the end they might p… the confidence of their ſaluation in him and in his grace. And f…ther that al that which had …in fo… … was nothing but f…th & … wherby … condemne al Idolatrie and ſuperſtitions. To … their diuinitie was there is one God which hath created al the world, & hath declared v…to vsus his will by Moyſes, by the prophets, & …lly by Ieſus Chriſt & his apoſtles we hauehave … who hath bough… vsus by his blood & through whoſe grace we hope to be ſaued. All the Idolatries of the world are accurſed and execrable, hauing nothing but this they wēt ſtoutly & freely either to the … or to ſome other kind of death. And this was not for … but in ſo great troups that the nūber of thoſe which went through the hands of tyrants, was as it were infinit. We a… for our parts ſo great clarkes as none can bee greater: (at the leaſt wee think for) & indeed cōcerning the vnderſtanding of the holy ſcripture god hath ſo liberally delt with vsus as he hath neuer done with any age. Notwithſtāding ther is hardly found one drop of zeale. Now to nouriſh ſuch ſlouth there is no other way, vnleſſe we would willingly and wittingly prouoke the vengeance of God what then muſt wee doe too gette a good courage? We hauehave to conſider in the firſt place, that there cā be no more pretious a thing before God, thē the cōfeſſion of our faith: for we do little know how god eſteemeth it, whē our life which is nothing, is more deare vntounto vsus thē it. And herein we ſhew a marueilous beaſtlines. For we cānot ſpare our life in this point, but we muſt cōfeſſe that it is more eſteemed of vsus then the honour of God and the ſaluation of our ſoules. A certayne Heathen, had the knowledge to ſaie, that it was a miſerable thing, to forſake and betray the cauſe why we liue, for the conſeruation of our life: notwithſtanding he and ſuch like neuer knew truely, to what end men were placed in this world, and wherefore they liued therein. It is true that they k…we well, that a man ought to followe vertue, that he ought to mainteine him ſelf honeſtly & without blame: but all their vertues were nothing elſe but colloures and ſhadowes. We knowe much better, whereto our life ought too be applied to wit, that we glorifie God, to the ende that he may be our glory, without this woe vponupon vsus, and we cannot prolong our life vppon the earth one minute, but that wee ſhall alwayes heape vponupon our heades, ſo muche the more malediction. Notwithſtanding we are nothing aſhamed, for the redeeming of a fewe dayes for this feeble life to renounce that euerlaſting kingdome, and to ſeparate our ſelues from him, through whoſe power we are mainteined in this life. If a man aſke the verieſt idiots, yea the moſt brutiſhe people of the worlde, wherefore it is that they liue, they dare not ſimply ſay, that it is too eate, too drinke, and to ſleepe. For all men knowe that they are created to a more noble and excellent ende. And what other ende ſhall we finde out, vnleſſe it be to honor God, and to ſuffer our ſelues to bee gouerned by him, as children of a good father: to the end that after we ſhall hauehave finiſhed the voyage of this coruptible life, we may bee receiued into his euerlaſting inheritaunce: And this is the moſte principall thing, yea and all in all. When we make no account thereof, and that we are ſo ill inclyned to a beaſtly life, which is worſe then a thouſand deathes, what can we alleadge for our excuſe? To liue and not to knowe wherfore this is euen againſt nature. To reiect the cauſes wherfore we liue, for the deſire of prolonging our life, as it were for three dayes, too the ende to liue in this deceitfull worlde, and beeing ſeparate from God, is ſuch a bewitching and madneſſe, as I knowe not by what name to cal it. But becauſe that perſecutiōs ceaſſe not to be hard & bitter vntounto vsus, let vsus marke howe and by what meanes, chriſtians may ſtrengthen them ſelues to patience, euen to the laying downe of their liues for Gods trueth. The text which we hauehave recyted, when it ſhall bee well vnderſtoode, is ſufficient inough for to leade vsus heerevnto.Heb. 13.13. Let vsus goe foorth (ſaith the Apoſtle) of the Cittie, after our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, bearing his reproch. Firſt of al he exhorteth vsus, although that the ſwoordes were not drawen againſt vsus, nor fyers kindled for to broile and burne vsus, that yet we cannot be truely ioyned and knit to the ſonne of God, ſo long as we are rooted in this world. Wherfore a Chriſtian although he be in quiet, yet he muſt hauehave one foote alwayes lifted vp, to match towardes the battell: and not onelyonly this, but hee muſt hauehave his affection withdrawen from the worlde, although that his body dwell therein. Admit that this at the firſt fight ſeeme vntounto vsus very blunt, yet ought we well to content our ſelues with this word of S. Paule: that is, That wee are called and appointed to ſuffer perſecution. 1. Theſ. 3.3.As if he ſhould ſay: that ſuch is the conditiō of our Chriſtianitie: that we muſt needes enter in and paſſe thorow this path, if we will followe Ieſus Chriſt. In the meane time, too eaſe our infirmitie, too ſweeten and mitigate the trouble and heauineſſe that perſecutions may bring vntounto vsus, we hauehave this great and ſweete comfort, & that is, that in ſuffering for the Goſpel, we followe as it were ſtep by ſtep the ſonne of God, and wee hauehave him for our guide. If it had beene ſimply ſaide vntounto vsus, that to bee Chriſtians we hauehave to march thorowe all the opprobryes of the worlde, to come freely to death as often as it ſhould pleaſe God, we ſhold hauehave had ſome coullor as it ſhould ſeeme to replye, that this were a very ſtrange thing and farre from our nature, to wander ſo without a guide. But ſeeing we are commaunded to followe our Lorde Ieſus, his leading is more right and honourable, then for vsus to refuſe it. But to the ende that wee may bee better touched, it is not onelyonly ſayde that Ieſus Chriſt goeth before vsus as our Captaine: but that we are conformed to his image: as S. Paule hath ſpoken in the 8. to the Romaines,Rom. 8.…9. that God hath ordeined al thoſe whom he hath adopted to be his Children, that they ſhould be made conformable to him who is the head and paterne of all. Are we ſo nice and dayntie that we will indure nothing? then muſt we renounce the grace of God, whereby he hath called vsus to the hope of ſaluation. For theſe are two things, that can not be ſundred, too be a mēber of Ieſus Chriſt, & to be exerciſed with many afflictiōs. Surely we ought a great deale more to eſteeme ſuch a conformity with the ſōne of God thē we do. It is true that in the world, to ſuffer for the Goſpel is a thing condemned: but ſeeing that we know that Infidels are blinde, ought not we to hauehave clerer & better eies thē they? It is aſhame to be afflicted of thē which occupye the place of iuſtice: but S. Paul ſheweth vsus by his exāple that we hauehave gretly to reioice our ſelues in the woūds of Ieſus chriſt, as it were in certain imprinted marks, by which God acknowledgeth vsus, and auoweth vsus for his. And we know what S. Luke reherſeth of S. Peter & Iohn:Act. 5.42. to wit, that they reioyced, that they were accounted worthy too ſuffer infamy & reproche for the name of our Lord Ieſus. Loe two things quite cōtrary, ignomy & dignitie: yea inaſmuch as the world being mad and outragious, iudgeth contrary to all reaſon: and by this meanes turneth the glory of God into diſhonour. But for our part let vsus not refuſe, cōcerning the world to be defaſed and baſely eſtemed, that we may hereafter be honored before god & his angels. We ſee what pain ambitious men take to obteine the order of ſome king, & what triūphes they make therof. The ſonne of god preſēteth his order vntounto vsus, & eueryevery one deſpiſeth it. I pray you in doing this are we worthy to hauehave any thing cōmon with him? Our voluptuouſneſſe is here bitten and can perceiue nothing: for theſe are the true armes of heauenly nobilitie. Priſons, baniſhmēts curſed ſpekings, import nothing but altogether ſhame & reproch in the fātaſie of men: but what ſhal let vsus to look vp vntounto that which God hath iudged & pronoū ced therof, vnles it be our own infidelitie? Wherefore let the name of the ſōne of god hauehave ſuch credit amōg vsus as it deſerueth, to the end that we may learn to take it for a ſingular honor, that he ſetteth his marks vpō vsus otherwiſe our vnthankfulneſſe is intollerable. If God handle vsus according too our deſertes, hath hee not iuſt cauſe, too chaſtiſe vsus dayly a thouſande kinde of wayes: yea which is more, a hundred thouſand deathes, were not ſufficient for ſome litle portion of our miſdeedes. But by his infinite goodneſſe he putteth all our faultes vnderunder his feete and aboliſheth them: and whereas he might puniſh vsus as we hauehave deſerued, he findeth a wō derful meane, to cauſe our afflictions to be turned too our honor, & a ſpeciall priuiledge: foraſmuch as thorowe them, we are aſſociated and knit into the felowſhyp of his ſonne. And muſt we not ſay that when we diſdayne ſuch a bleſſed condition that we hauehave il profited in the Chriſtian doctrine?1. Pet. 4.15. And this is the reaſon why S. Peter, after that he hath exhorted vsus, to walke holily in the feare of god, that we ſuffer not as theeues, Whoremaiſters and Murderers, hee addeth by & by, that if we ſuffer as Chriſtians, therein we glorifie god with that benefite which he hath beſtowed vppon vsus. It is not without cauſe that he hath ſpoken ſo. For who are we I pray you, that we ſhoulde bee witneſſes of the trueth of GOD and procurers of the maintenance of his cauſe? Loe we bee poore wormes of the earth, creatures ful of vanities and lyes: and yet God wil that his trueth be defēded by vsus: which is truly ſo greate honour that it apperteineth not, no not too the angels of Paradiſe. Ought not this conſideratiō alone ſufficiently inflame vsus to offer vp our ſelues vntounto god, ſeeing that it pleaſeth him to imploy vsus to ſo honorable a thing? Notwithſtanding many cannot withold them ſelues from reaſoning againſt GOD: or at the leaſte from making theyr complayntes for that GOD dooth not better ſupporte theyr weakeneſſe. It is a merueilous matter (ſay they) ſeeing that GOD hath choſen vsus for his children, how he can ſuffer that wee ſhoulde bee ſo troden vnderfoote and tormented of the wicked. I anſwere, although that it appeare not vntounto vsus wherefore he doth it, yet that he ought by good right to hauehave this authoritie ouer vsus to bring vsus in to order according to his pleaſure. But when wee ſee that Ieſus Chriſte is our patterne, ought we not too eſteeme it a great bleſſing to be made like vntounto him, without any further enquirie? Notwithſtanding god ſheweth vsus moſt euident cauſes why hee will hauehave vsus to be perſecuted. When there ſhalbe no other thing but this admonition which S. Peter maketh,1. Pet. 1.7. wee are diſdainfull and ſturdy enough, if wee doo not reſte our ſelues vponupon it, that is, that foraſmuch as gold and ſiluer which are but corruptible me…alles, are pu…ged and tried by the fire, it is good reaſon that our faith, which excelleth al the riches of the worlde,Pſalme. 110. ſhould be proued. God coulde very well crowne vsus at the firſte daſhe, without making vsus too endure any combates: but as hee woulde that Ieſus Chriſte ſhoulde raigne in the middeſt of his enimies vntil the end of the world: ſo likewiſe he would that we being mingled amongſt them, wee ſhoulde ſuffer their wronges and oppreſſiōs vntill that he ſhoulde deliuer vsus from them. I know very well that the fleſhe will ſpurne when it muſte be brought to this pointe, but yet muſt the wil of god hauehave the maiſterie. If we feele any contradiction in vsus, we muſt not woonder at it. For this is very naturall, too flie the croſſe: Notwithſtanding let vsus not ceaſe to go forward knowing that god accepteth our obedience, ſo that we bring vnderunder and ſubdue all our ſenſes and deſires, to the end to make them ſubiect vntounto him: for the Prophetes and the Apoſtles went not ſo readily to death, but that they felte in them ſelues ſome deſire of falling backe.Iohn. 21.18. Thou ſhalt be led thither (ſaith our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſte vntounto Peter) whyther thou wouldeſt not. So when ſuch feares of death ſhall pricke vsus: let vsus labour to hauehave the vpper hand, or rather let God ouercome for vsus: and not withſtanding let vsus holde our ſelues aſſured, that this is an acceptable ſacrifice vntounto him, that we reſiſt & fight againſt our affections, to the ende we may be wholy at his commaundement. And this is the principall warre, wherein God wyl hauehave thoſe that are his to employ them ſelues: that is, that they enforce themſelues, to bring downe all that which exalteth it ſelf in their minds & vnderſtādings, too turne them away from the path that is ſhewed, vntounto them. In the meane time the conſolations are ſo ample, that we may well ſay that wee are more then ſlouthfull, when we faile and waxe faint hearted. In olde time a great number of people, for the deſire of a ſilly Garland of leaues, refuſed no trauaile, no paine nor trouble: yea they made no accounte to die: Notwithſtanding there was not any one of them, whiche fought not at aduenture, being vncertaine whether he ſhoulde winne or looſe the priſe. God hath ſet foorth vntounto vsus an immortall crowne, through which we are made partakers of his glorye. Hee meaneth not that we ſhoulde fight at aduenture: but he promiſeth vntounto vsus all, ſuch a reward as wee ought ſpecially too deſire. What occaſiō then hauehave we, to ſeeke any farther: doe we think that it is ſaid in vaine that if we die with Ieſus Chriſt we ſhal alſo liue with him? The triumph is altogeather like,… Tim. 2. & we ſhun to fight as much as lieth in vsus. This in the iudgement of man is a doctrine quite contrary. I confeſſe it: and alſo when Ieſus Chriſt pronoūceth,Mat. 5.10. that they that ſuffer perſecutiō for righteouſnes ſake are bleſſed, he propoūdeth a ſentence which is not eaſily receiued, in the world. Cōtrariwiſe, he wold that we ſhold eſteeme that to be our chiefeſt happines, which our vnderſtanding would iudge to be our greateſt miſery. It ſeemeth vntounto vsus that we are miſerable, when God leaueth vsus to be troaden downe by the Tyranny and crueltie of our enimies: but the want is that we looke not vntounto the promiſes of GOD, the which certifie vsus that all ſhall turne to our good. We are throwen downe, ſeeing the wicked ſtronger then we, and to ſet their feete vponupon our throte: but ſuche a confuſion as S. Paule ſaith, ought rather to lift vsus vponupon high. Foraſmuch as we are to to muche giuen, too imbuſie our ſelues, with the preſēt things of the world, God in ſuffering that the good are euill intreated, and that the wicked hauehave their ſway, ſheweth vsus by euidēt ſignes, that a day ſhal come, wherin al that is now confuſed ſhalbe reformed. If the time ſeeme long vntounto vsus, let vsus run to the remedie, and not flatter our ſelues in our vice: for it is certaine, that we hauehave no faith at all, vnleſſe we lift vp the eyes of our ſoules to the comming of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſte. Now God to the end he might leaue no meane vnattempted, whiche myght be fyt to driue vsus forwarde, he ſetteth before vsus the promiſes on the one ſide, and his threatninges on the other. Doe we thinke that the promyſes hauehave not power enough in vsus? let vsus ioyne the threatnings for too ſtrengthen them. It is very true that wee muſt bee ſo muche the more peruerſe and froward, not too adioyne more fayth then wee doo too the promyſes of GOD, when the Lorde Ieſus ſayeth, that hee will auowe and acknowledge vsus before his father,Mat. 10.32. ſo that we confeſſe him before men. And what is there that ought to let vsus, that we ſhoulde not yeeld him that confeſſion that he requireth.Luke. 12.8. When men ſhal hauehave doone their vttermoſt, they can doe no woorſe but murder vsus. And what ſhall eternall life be in compariſon thereof? I heape not not vp heere all the promiſes conteined in the Scriptures, which tende to one and the ſame ende: yet (foraſmuch as they are ſo oftē times repeated) we ought wholy to ſtay vppon them. But if when the plague hang ouer our heades, if three or foure be not enough, one whole hundred wil not ſerue to make vsus to ouercome all aduerſitie and contrary temptations. But if God can not drawe vsus vntounto him ſelfe through gentleneſſe, muſt wee not bee more then beetle blockiſh heades, when his ſeuere threatninges can do no more therein?Luke. 9:26. Ieſus Chriſte citeth all thoſe before his father, who ſhall through feare of bodyly death deny the trueth: and ſaith that both the body and ſoule,Mat. 10.3. ſhall be throwen too perdition. And in an other place hee ſayth, that he will deny all thoſe that ſhall deny him before men, vnleſſe that wee bee too muche bereaued of all vnderſtanding, theſe woordes ought to make our hear to ſtande vpright vppon our heades, Howſoeuer it be, when wee ſhal not bee moued therewith as were meete, there remayneth nothing for vsus but an horrible confuſion: For in tha, tthat all the woordes of Ieſus Chriſt do ſo little profite vsus, we are conuinced of too to great infidelitie. Wee ſhall hauehave alleadged too godly purpoſe that there is ſome pitie in vsus, foraſmuche as our nature is ſo brittle:Heb. 11.25. For it is ſaid contrariwiſe that Moiſes lookyng vntounto GOD through faith, was ſtrengthned not to bow vnderunder any tentation. Wherfore when we are ſo ſoft and flexible, yea, that there is no zeale and conſtancie in vsus, it is a ſigne that wee are vtterly ignoraunt both of God and his kingdome. When it is ſhewed vsus that wee ought to be ioyned to our head, we thinke that we hauehave a goodly coulour to exempte our ſelues from it, by ſaying that wee are men. But they which hauehave gone before vsus, who were they? It is true, that when we ſhall not hauehave the pure doctrine, al the excuſes that we can bring foorth ſhall be vaine: but hauing ſo many examples which ought too ſerue for the greater approbation, ſo much the more are we to be condemned. But heere we hauehave twoo pointes to be conſidered. The firſt is, that all the body of the Church generally, was and ſhalbe alwayes ſubiect till the ende, to be afflicted by the wicked: as it is ſaide in the Pſalme.Pſal. 12….1.2. They hauehave vexed me from my youth vp, they hauehave drawen the Plo…e vponupon me from one ende to another. The holy Ghoſte bringeth in the olde Church ſpeaking, to the ende that we, after wee hauehave knowen the afflictions thereof, we ſhould not finde it ſtraunge or troubleſom if the like at this day be done vntounto vsus. Sainct Paule alſo drawing this place from an other Pſalme where it is ſaid, Wee hauehave beene as ſheepe that are led to the ſlaughter, Rom. 8.36.ſheweth that this was not for one age alone:Pſa. 44.23 but that it is and ſhal be ordinary and vſuall in the Church. So ſeeing the Church of God to beat this day troaden vnderunder, by the pride of worldelings, that one barketh, another byteth, that men torment it, and alwayes miſchieuouſly deuiſe againſt it, that without ceaſing it is aſſayled of madde Dogges and ſauage beaſtes: let vsus remember that this was doone vntounto it of olde time. It is true that God may wel geue it ſometimes certain truſes and releaſements. And this is it that is ſayde in the Pſalme before alleadged, hee cutteth aſunder the cordes of the wicked. And in an other place, that he wyll breake theyr ſtuffe, for feare that the good doe not ouermuch vexe them ſelues, beeing too muche oppreſſed. But God woulde alwayes that his Churche ſhoulde bee toſſed in this world, and be as it were in a continuall conflicte, reſeruyng reſte for it aboue in the heauens. Notwithſtanding that yet the iſſue of theſe aflictions was alwayes bleſſed, and at the leaſt GOD brought to paſſe, that being oppreſſed with many euyls, it was neuer vtterly oppreſſed, as it is ſayde that the wicked with al their forces neuer attained to that,Pſalm. 7.15. which they immagined: Saint Paule alſo reioyſeth him ſelfe of the like too ſhewe, that this is a continuall grace of God:2. Cor. 4.12. We (ſayth he) endure tribulations, but we are not there with diſtreſſed, wee are poore but we are not deſtitute: we are perſecuted but we are not forſaken: we are caſt downe but we peryſhe not, eueryevery where bearyng about in our bodies the dying of our Lorde Ieſus, too the ende that his life maye bee made manyfeſt in our mortall bodies. Such iſſue as wee ſee that God hath geuen in all tymes in the perſecutions of his Churche, ought well too encourage vsus, knowing that our Fathers, who were brickle men as wee are, had alwayes the victorie ouer theyr enimies: in as muche as they remayned ſtedfaſt in patience. But I doo but touch this poynt briefly, to the ende I may come to the ſeconde, the which more agreeth to our purpoſe: that it is to make our profite of thoſe particular examples of the Martyrs, which hauehave gone before vsus.
Nowe there are not onelyonly two or three of thē, … a thicke and great cloude, Heb. 12.1.as the Apoſtle ſaith in the Epiſtle to the Heb. Wherby he ſignifieth th… the number is ſo great, that it ought as it were euen … …p our eyes. And that I be not too tedious, I … onelyonly the example of the Iewes, which were perſecuted for true Religion, aſwell vnderunder the tyranny of Antiochus the King, as alſo a little after his death. We cannot alleadge that it was a ſmall number of people: for there were then as it were a greate armie of Martyrs. W… cannot ſay that it was of Prophets, whome God had ſeparated from the common people for the women & young infants were of this company. We cannot ſay that they were let go for any priſe: for they were tormented as cruelly as was poſſible. Wee heare alſo that which the Apoſtle ſheweth vsus therof.Heb. 11.35. Some (ſayth hee) were hanged vp like belles and …ked making no account to be deliuered, to the end… they might receiue a better reſurrecti… Others were tryed by …kings and ſcou…ging… y… by ban… and priſonment others were … or … …ſunder: other wandred vp and downe hither and thither, in wilderneſſes by … and Caues. Let vsus now enter to make compariſon of them with vsus. If they ſuffred for the trueth of God, which was yet ſo darke at that time, what ought wee to doe in this great light that ſhineth nowe? God hath ſpoken vntounto vsus as it were with full mouth: the greate Gate of the kingdome of Heauen is opened, Ieſus Chriſt hath called vsus vntounto him, beeing come downe vntounto vsus, to the ende that wee ſhoulde hauehave him, as it were preſente before our eyes. And what a ſhame ſhall it bee vntounto vsus too hauehave leſſe zeale to ſuffer for the Goſpell, then they had which onelyonly ſaluted and behelde the promiſes of GOD, as it were a farre off? Which had but a little Wicket open to come to the kingdome of heauen? which had nothing but a certayne remembraunce and figure of Ieſus Chriſte? Theſe t… cannot be expreſſed with mouth as they are woo…e: wherefore I leaue them to eueryevery one to meditate vponupon.
Nowe this doctrine as it is generall, ſo ought it to bee putte in practice of all Chriſtians: But eueryevery one ought to applie it to his own vſe as neceſſitie ſhal require. I ſpeake this to the end that they which ſee thē ſelues in no apparant daunger, ſhoulde not think that it is ſuperfluous vntounto them. They are not at this time in the handes of Tyrantes: but what know they how God wyll deale with them heareafter? Wherefore we ought to be ſo armed afore hande, that if any perſecution, which we hauehave not thought vponupon ſhal come vponupon vsus, we be not takē at vnwares & vnprouided. But I feare me that there are a great ſorte of deafe eares to heare this worde. So farre of is it that they which are nice & liue at theyr eaſe, prepare themſelues to ſuffer death when neede ſhalbe, that they hauehave no care too ſerue God whiles they liue. And yet neuertheles this ought to be our ordinary and continuall ſtudie, and ſpecially in this time wherein wee liue. In the meane time they whome God hath called to ſuffer for the teſtimony of his name, ought too ſhewe in verye deede that they were prepared long before, too ſtand thereto conſtantly. And then they ought to call into their remembraunce all the exhortations that they hauehave hearde in times paſte: as yf a ſouldier ſhoulde take armes when the Trumpet doeth ſounde. But what? there is no queſtiō of ſeeking ſtarting holes to eſcape: I ſpeake in reſpect of the greateſt part: For perſecution is a true touchſtone whereby god diſcouereth and trieth who are his. So farre of is it, that hee ſhoulde many tymes finde who is faithfull vntounto him, vntill that they franckely offer them ſelues to death. But this is as it were an incredible thing, that people whiche boaſt of ſome little knowledge of the Goſpell, dare open theyr mouth to vſe ſuche cauilations: For one ſort ſay, what ſhal we gayne to confeſſe our faith to obſtinate people, and to ſuch who hauehave determined to fight againſt God? Is not this to caſt pretious ſtones before ſwine.Mat. 8.38. As though Ieſus Chriſt had not expreſly declared that he wil that men confeſſe him amongſt the moſt peruerſe and wickedeſt men. If they be not therby edified, yet at the leaſt they remayne confounded: of ſuche a ſweete ſmelling fauour is that confeſſion before God, howe deadly ſoeuer it be too the reprobate. Others alſo may be founde who ſaye, what ſhall our death profite? It rather falleth out to an offence. As yf God had lefte too theyr choyſe too die when they thinke good, and when they ſhall ſee a fitte time. But contrariwiſe we approoue our obedience leauing the profite into his hande that ſhall come of our death. Wherefore in the firſt place, it behooueth that a chriſtian man, in what Countrey ſoeuer hee be, notwithſtanding dangers and threatninges, that he fully determine to walke in ſimplicitie, as God hath commaunded. Let him keepe hymſelfe aſmuche as he can from the rage of the woolues: ſo that the ſame be not done through the crafte of the fleſhe. Aboue all let him reſigne his life into Gods handes. Hath hee doone this? If it fall out that he fall into the handes of enimies, let him think that God hath brought him into that place, and will hauehave him to bee one of the witneſſes of his ſonne, & therfore that there is no way to draw back, vnleſſe it be in denying our faith to him, to whom we hauehave promiſed al duetie: both to liue & to die, and to whō we are & belong, although we had promiſed nothing vntounto him. Hereby I do not bind all men of neceſſiitie to make a full & entire confeſſlinn of all that they beleeue, admit that they were therto required, Sainte Paule in this point hath vſed a good moderation, who was as readye as anye other freely too maynteine the cauſe of the Goſpell, as he ought. And alſo it was not without cauſe that our Lord Ieſus promiſed that in ſuch a caſe he will giuegive vsus a mouth and wiſedome: as if he ſhoulde ſay, that the office of the holy Ghoſt is not onelyonly to ſtrengthen vsus to be bold & valiant: but alſo to geue vntounto vsus wiſedome and diſcretion, to know how it becommeth vsus to rule & gouern our ſelues in ſo great and hard a matter. The ſumme is that they which are in ſuche diſtreſſe, ſhoulde aſke and receiue ſuch wiſdome from aboue, not folowing their carnall coūſel to ſeeke a way to eſcape, (as they ſay) by any croſſe or by pathes. There are alſo which replye that our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, anſwered not to them that aſked of him. But I ſay firſt of al, that this ſerueth not to aboliſh the rule which he hath geuē vsus, to make confeſſion of our faith, when we are thereto required. Secondly I ſay, that he neuer diſſembled too ſaue his life. Thirdly that he neuer gaue aunſwere ſoo doubtfull, that it did not import ſufficient witneſſe of that which he had ſpoken: or rather, that he had not ſatified them already which came to aſke him further, as it were laying nettes to catch him. Wherfore let this point remain reſolute amongſt al chriſtians: that is, that they ought not to accoūt their liues more deare then the teſtimony of the trueth, inaſmuch as God wil be glorified in it. Is it in vaine that hee calleth all thoſe witneſſes (for the worde Martyrs ſignifieth the ſame) that hauehave anſwered to the enimies of the faith? Is it not becauſe hee woulde hauehave them ſerue too ſuche purpoſe? And here eueryevery one muſt not looke to his felow and companion: For God doth not ſhew this honour to all to call them therto. And foraſmuch as wee are geuen to marke others, the more we ought to take heede therof.Iohn. 21.18. Peter hauing heard at the mouth of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that he ſhould be led in his old age whether he would not, aſketh what ſhould become of Iohn his companiō. There is none of vsus but he would willingly make ſuch a reply. For this we imagine by and by: Why do I rather ſuffer then others? But contrariwiſe Ieſus Chriſt exhorteth all in general, and eueryevery one in particular, alwayes to be ready, to the end that as he ſhall cal either one or other, eueryevery man may march forth in his rank & order. I hauehave ſhewed before that we ſhal be ill appointed to ſuffer Martyrdom, vnleſſe that we be armed with Gods promiſes. It remaineth now that we lay out a little more fully whereto they tend, not to ſpecify al by peecemeale and exactly: but to ſhew the principal things, that god would hauehave vsus to hope for, to the end to comfort vsus in our afflictions. Now theſe are briefly 3. thinges. The firſt is, that foraſmuchas our life and death are in his hand, that he wil in ſuch ſort preſerue vsus by his power, that not one heare of our heades ſhal fal but by his licence.
Wherefore the faithfull ought to hold themſelues aſſured into whoſe handes ſoeuer they ſhall come, that GOD hath not caſte of the ſauegard which he hath of theyr perſones. If ſuche a perſwaſion were well imprinted in our heartes, we ſhould be deliuered from the moſt parte of doubtes and perplexities that torment and hinder vsus from dooing our duetie. Wee ſee that Tyrantes are let looſe: and hereuppon it ſeemeth to vsus that God hath no further meane too ſaue vsus: For this cauſe we are tempted to prouide for our ſelues, as though there were no more waiting vppon him. But contrarywiſe his prouidence which he hath declared vntounto vsus is ſuch, as ought to be vntounto vsus an inuincible fortreſſe. Let vsus therefore labour to learne this ſhort ſentence, that our bodies are in his handes who hath created them. For this cauſe he hath ſometimes deliuered his owne after a miraculous manner, and beyonde all hope of men, as Sidrach, Miſach and Abednago, from the fyery furnace, Daniel from the Lions denne, Peter from Herodes priſon where hee was enchained fettered, and kept ſo ſtraightly. By theſe examples hee woulde teſtifie vntounto vsus, that he holdeth our enimies bridled, though it ſeeme not ſo: & hath power to draw vsus out, euen frō the mouth & middeſt of death whē he wil. Not becauſe he alwaies doth it: But by keeping vntounto himſelfe the authoritie of diſpoſing of vsus both in lyfe and death, hee woulde hauehave vsus fully reſolued that he hath vsus in his keeping: in ſuch ſort that whether ſoeuer Tyrantes looke, or with what fury ſoeuer they ruſhe vppon vsus, that it is from him onelyonly who is the orderer of our life. If he ſuffer Tyrants to kyll vsus, it is not becauſe our liues are not deare vntounto him, and in greater recommendation an hundred fold then it is worthie, ſeeing it is ſo, that he hath pronoūced by the mouth of Dauid,Pſal. 116.15. Eſay. 26.21. That the death of his Saintes is precious before him, & ſayth alſo by the mouth Eſay: That the earth ſhall diſcloſe the blood which ſeemed to be hidden. Let the enimies therefore of the goſpel be as prodigal in ſhedding the blood of his Martyrs, as they will, yet ſhall they render a terrible accounte euen too the laſt and vttermoſt drop. They doe ſcornfully mock at this day when they burne the faithful & after they hauehave bathed themſelues in their blood, they are ſo drunken therwith, that they care nothing at all what murders they commit. But if we hauehave pacience too waite, God will ſhewe in the ende that it is not in vaine that he hath ſet ſuch an high priſe vponupon our life. In the meane time yf hee doeth vsus no euill, that it ſerueth to ratifie his Goſpell, which in woorthineſſe ſurmounteth heauen & earth. And the better to aſſure vsus that God leaueth vsus not in the handes of Tyrantes, as hauing forſaken vsus, let vsus call too minde the ſentence of Ieſus Chriſte, where he ſayth,Act. 9.4. that it is hee whom they perſecute in his members.
God had well ſaide before by Zacharie:Zach. 2.8. Hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of myne eye. But this is yet more plaine, that if wee ſuffer for the Goſpell, it is as yf the ſonne of GOD were there in his owne perſon. Wherefore let vsus knowe that Ieſus Chriſte muſt forget him ſelfe, if hee ſhoulde not thinke of vsus whē wee are in priſon, or in daunger of death for his cauſe: And let vsus knowe that God taketh to his owne heart all the outrages that Tyrauntes do vntounto vsus, as if they were faſtened to his owne ſonne.
Let vsus come too the ſeconde point that GOD in his promiſes hath ſet foorth vntounto vsus for our conſolation: that is, that he will ſo ſuſteine vsus by the power of his holy Spirite, that our enimies whatſoeuer they do, or Satan theyr head, yet ſhall they not get the vpper hande ouer vsus. And in deede wee ſee how he diſplayeth his graces in ſuche a neede. For ſuche inuincible conſtancie as is in the true martyres, is a ſufficient ſhewe that GOD worketh mightily in them. There are two greeuous thinges to the fleſh in perſecutions: too wit, the one the rebukes and ſhame of men, and the other the tormentes that the body endureth. But GOD promiſeth vsus, ſuche aſſiſtaunce that through patience we ſhal ouercome both the one & the other. And he perfourmeth indeede that which he hath promyſed vntounto vsus. Let vsus therefore take this buckler, too repulſe and put backe all feares, wherewith wee are aſſayled, and let vsus not reſtraine the power of Gods ſpirite too ſo narrowe a ſcantling, that we thinke not, but that he will eaſily ouercom al mens cruelties. And hereof amongſt others we had an notable example in our time not too bee forgotten.
This is called alſo Dornick.A certain young man who dwelt here with vsus beeing taken in the Citie of Tournay was condemned to bee but beheaded if he recanted: and too bee burned aliue, yf he continued in his opinion. When hee was aſked what he woulde do, he aunſwered ſimply: Hee that ſhall geue me grace too dye paciently for his name, he wyll geue mee grace to endure the fier. We ought too eſteeme this ſentence not as the ſentence of a mortall man: but as a ſentence of the holy Ghoſt, to the ende too aſſure our ſelues that GOD is as able to ſtrengthen vsus, and too make vsus too ouercome all tormentes as too mooue vsus too take any other kinde of meeker death in good part. Which is more, we ſee often tymes, what conſtancie he geueth to poore malefactours who ſuffer for their offences. I ſpeake not of the obſtinate: but of thoſe which comfort themſelues in the grace of Ieſus Chriſt, and by this meane receiue with peaceable heart the moſt grieuous puniſhement that can de doone vntounto them: As we may ſee a notable example thereof in the Theefe who was conuered at the death of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. GOD who ſo mightily aſſiſteth poore offenders, beeing worthily puniſhed for their miſdeedes, wyll he faile his who fight for his cauſe, that he wil not geue them an inuincible power? The third point concerning the promiſes that GOD hath made to his Martyrs, is of the fruite that they ought too hope for of their ſufferinges: and in the ende if neede be of death it ſelfe. Nowe this fruite is after that hee hath glorified his name, & edified his Church through theyr cōſtancie, when they ſhalbe gathered with the Lord Ieſus Chriſt into his immortal glory. But becauſe that wee hauehave ſpoken more fully of it before, it is enough nowe too bring it in our remembrance. Wherfore let the faithfull learne too lifte vp theyr heades on high too this crown of immortality & glory, whervnto God doth call them: to the end that he do them no hurte in making them to forſake theyr preſent life for ſuch a rewarde: and to be aſſured of this ineſtimable benefite, let them alwayes hauehave before their eyes this conformitie which they hauehave with our Lorde Ieſus, too beholde life in the middeſt of death, as he by the opprobrye and ſhame of the croſſe, came too that glorious reſurrection in whiche conſiſteth al our felicitie ioye and triumphe.