The Christian Armory, Book 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Question.
HOw are Persecutions to be diuided?
A. Into persecutions of the affection, persecutions of the tong and of the hand, or outward action.
Q. What are the persecutions of the affections?
A. Contempt, enuie, hatred, or malice.
Q. What comforts are to bee imparted to Gods Children that suffer contempt?
A. First, it is a glorious matter to be contemned for vertue & well doing; for in this case wee are like vntounto Christ our blessed Sauiour, who was derided of Herode and the Iewes for his holy life, doctrine, zeale, miracles, &c. and therefore we hauehave cause to reioice.
Secondly, we must note, who they are that commonly contemne vsus; they are either enemies of the truth, or prophane worldlings, who cannot discerne of our worth and excellency, and that hauehave no knowledge and practise of true religion and vertue, and therefore wee are the lesse to care for their censure: for euen as pretious pearles being enclosed and hidden in base earthen shels, are not seene; and therefore they being not discerned, are not esteemed according to their price and excellency: so the wicked and prophane, looking onelyonly at the contemptible condition of godly mens persons, and not discerning the grace of God in their hearts, take an occasion to despise thē: or else they are scorned & contemned of hypocrites factious & schismaticall persons, who being more humorous then truely holy, and more haughty then humble, and wiser in their owne eyes,1. Cor. 3.3 4. &c. then worthy in Gods sight, doe distaste and falsly censure their brethren, that are better then themselues; and hereof blessed S. Paul had expe…ience amongst the Corinthians.
Secondly, it is the practise of Satan and his impes, thus to depresse and keep vnderunder Gods children, that they who are famous and illustrious by the brightnes of their holinesse and vertues, should bée sullied and obscured by misreports and contempt of their persons: but neuerthelesse, they hereby loose nothing of their inherent excellency: for as a pretious iewel, albeit by hogges and swine troden and trampled vnderunder féet,A Similitude. abateth nothing of his naturall excellency: So Gods children scorned and contemned of the wicked lose nothing of their vertues; for contempt doth not hurt them but profite them.
Thirdly, it is an vsuall matter for learned men to bee despised of the ignorant, rare men of the rude, and wise Sages to be contemned o… sots; hereupon Seneca saith very well,Seneca de morbis. Nondum foelix es, &c. thou art not as yet happy, if the multitude doth not mo…ke thee.
Fourthly,Math. 7.2. they that ca… contempt vponupon others (vniustly) shall be conte… ned themseluee: for with what measure they mete, it shall be measured …o them againe.
Lastly, let it suff…ce that God dignifieth and honoureth vsus, and that he hath garnished and embrodered vsus with the pretious and princely graces of hi… spirit.
Q. How are we to carry our selues when wee are misregarded and contemned?
A. First,Math. 5.11 & 12. let it be our ioy and comfort to suffer contempt, and to runne through good report and bad for Christ his sake; for God will in the end, the more honour and magnifie vsus.
Secondly, it behoueth vsus by speaking well of all men, by interpreting things doubtfull in the better part, by contemning no person without cause, and by our good seruice and offices towards Church and common wealth, to wipe and wash away the myre of contempt flung in our faces, and then in time our contempt will be turned into credite, and our base estéeme into glorie.
Thirdly, let vsus striue to bee that wee would séeme to bee, and also by honest meanes, and by our blessed behauiour seeke to grow into the fauour and familiarity of excellent, famous, and eminent Personages, and then we shall not bee despised but dignified, and not be neglected, but notice will soone be taken of vsus, and our eminency.
Lastly, if good men (through ignorance, misreports, emulation, infirmity) dislike and despise vsus,2. Cor. 1.12. we must bee content (with others) to endure a common euill, and in the meane time to comfort our selues in our honestie and innocency.
OF ENVIE.
Q. What is Enuie?
A. It is a griefe or sadnes, by reason of another mans outward or inward, spirituall or temporall prosperity and happines.
Q. How shall a Christian arme and strengthen himselfe against it?
A. First, excellent piety and prosperity is euer subiect hereunto.
Secondly, no friend of sincerity, and vndissembled godlinesse and goodnesse,1. Ioh. 3.12 did euer want this exercise: for as the shadow doth follow them that walk in the Sunne: so doth Enuie follow and pursue them that are noble and noted for learning, wisedome, and well doing.
Thirdly, it is better to be hated then vnhappy, and to bee maligned then miserable.
Fourthly, to enuie greatnes and goodnes in others, argueth a base, raskall, and satanicall disposition: for first, they enuie those good things in others, which themselues want: secondly, they doe but pricke, stabbe, and wound themselues with their owne weapons: thirdly, they hood-winke, or cast dust into their owne eyes, that they may not behold and discerne Gods graces in others.
Fifthly, the enuious person is the cause of greater good to him that is enuied; for by his carping and deprauing of others, the vertues of the person …nuied are brought vponupon the stage, and made better known: but the spitefull and enuious person doth nothing but some out his owne shame.
Sixthly, they are tormenters of themselues, and worke their owne ruines: for as the moath doth consume the garment,Comparisons. rust the iron, and the viper eateth out and consumeth the bellie of her that conceiued her: so doth enuie at lēgth and by degrees, wast and destroy the possessor. Lastly, the euils that they wish to others, they hauehave themselues, and encrease vponupon themselues.
Q. What vse are we to make hereof?
A. First, let vsus leaue enuious men to themselues, and suffer them to torture and torment their soules and bodies.
Secondly, the more that we are enuied and maligned for zeale in pure religion, and for well doing, the more let vsus bée stirred vp to the practise of religion & vertue; for wée shall by no meanes so much vexe and torment enuious persons as by our well doing.
Thirdly, if wee cannot otherwise auoid the tempest and storme of enuie, let vsus auoid it by modestie: let vsus auoid all ostentation, and for the time separate our selues from the company of the enuious, and suppresse & hide whatsoeuer might make vsus to bee noted: for some enemies are no better ouercome then by our humility and obscurity.
Fourthly, if wee would approue our selues good men,Mal. 3.7. let vsus enuy at no mans prosperity (be he neuer so wicked) for they shalbe soon cut down like grasse, and shal wither as the gréen herbe. Lastly, let vsus pray vntounto God feruently so direct and preserue vsus.
Q. What comfort against hatred and malice?
A. First, the world & the wicked hate vsus vniustly; for they hate vsus not for our sins & imperfections, but for the better pa…ts, namely; because we are separated frō them in profession & life, and because wee séeke the ruinating of satans king…ome, and because they will not bée reproued and conuinced of sinne.
Secondly, the world is addicted to traditions, and little estéemeth Gods blessed Word, it is in louelove with earthly thinges, and neglecteth those that are heauenlie; no maruaile then that it so distasteth and maligneth Gods children, they louelove not God, and then how can they but hate his seruants?
Thirdly, Abel, Lot, Dauid, Elias, Paul, the Prophets,Ioh. 15 18. Apostles, Christ himselfe, and his Saints in all ages hauehave béene causlesly hated of the wicked: and this is a pregnant proofe that they were Gods children, and that wee are likewise: for,Ioh. 15.19. if either they or we had been of the world, the world would louelove his owne.
Fourthly, wee must remember, that wee hauehave deserued greater euils, and therefore we ought more patiently to endure this.
Lastly, let it content vsus, that we are known, loued and liked of God & good men who louelove vsus in the truth. And if the losse of the louelove of the common people grieue vsus, we must note that their louelove is light, and without iudgement and discretion: and therefore their louelove oftē times endeth in ill will and hatred.
Q. How are we to demeane and behaue our selues when wicked men maligne and hate vsus?
A. First, seeing that malitious men are good neither actu, nor potentia, (that is) neither in act, nor in possibility, and that they doe but sucke the greatest part of their owne poison, seeing they are peruerted in iudgement, and opposite to sincerity: let vsus beware how we nourish occasions of hatred, and that we be not too sociable and familiar with them.
Secondly, let vsus louelove God and his word, for then we cannot hate mens persons, much lesse any vertues in them.
Thirdly, let vsus decline hatred (what in vsus lieth) by dutifulnes and good seruice; for in so doing, we shall eyther gaine and pacifie our enemie,Rom. 12.20. or (at least) leaue him without excuse; for this is to heape coales of fire on his head.
Q. May we lawfully hate them that hate vsus?
A. Wee must not, nor may not hate them in regard of their persons, or as they are Gods creatures, or in priuate respects: but it is lawfull for vsus to hate their vices, and to abhorre them, as they are Gods enemies and aduersaries of the Church; but we must not hate them as they hate vsus; namely, our persons, and the better parts in vsus: but onelyonly hate their errours and vices, &c. which are contrary to Gods nature, will, word and commandements.
Q. What are the persecutions of the tongue?
A. Slander and false imputations.
Q. How are wee to comfort our selues against slander?
A. First, that the life and profession of the Church and Saints of God hath beene traduced and slandered in al ages; and therefore no singular & extraordinary matter befalling vsus, it is with more contentment to be endured.
Secondly, wee herein are like vntounto Christ, who though he were more holy then all men and Angels, yet he was called a wine-bibber, a friend of Publicanes and sinners, an enemy to Caesar, and he was said to hauehave the Diuell.
Thirdly, slander cannot make a man miserable, (for where sinne raigneth there is misery indeed) nay, it is a matter of honour and glorie to be ill spoken of for well doing: for they hate vsus because that we are better then they, and because wee runne not to the same excesse of riot,1. Pet. 2.3.4 & the more that wicked men belie, slander and raile at vsus, the more in the end will they make our vertues known.
Fourthly, false imputations cast vponupon vsus, will not continue long, they are as so many blasts and fumes that will soone be dispersed and blowne away; for God will at length cleare our innocency as the noone day,Psa. 37.6.8 1 Pet. 4.14 and our reproach shall bee turned into the glory of an Angell Psal 37.6 & 8.
Fifthly, though the wicked doe willingly derogate from our good name, yet they doe addere mercedi nost…ae, Augustinus.id est, encrease our reward, albeit against their wils: for blessed are wee when men reuile vsus,Mat. 5.10. and say all manner of euill against vsus for Christ his sake; for then great is our reward in heauen.
Sixthly, if the titles and attributes of the iustice, truth, power and mercy of God, bee not frée from slanderous imputations: let vsus much lesse looke to be exempt and priuiledged from euill tongues: Psal. 10.11. & 12. Mal. 3.14 & 15.
Seuenthly, if the raskall multitude, or the scumme of the people raile vponupon vsus, and belie vsus, wee must note that they doe it rather of humour then of knowledge, and of an ill affection rather then of iudgement and aduisement; and they will be silent when they hauehave much barked and bawled: and as for their lying tales and reports, because they arise from false grounds, and trifling occasions, they will soone be dead, buried, extinct.
Eighthly, the slanderer doth but hurt and discredite himselfe, and foame out his own shame: for his slander, like an arrow shot against a stone wall, or a tennise ball cast against it,1 Sam. 25.39. redounds vponupon the slanderer.
Lastly, God discrediteth his deare children with the world, & letteth them fall sometimes into the mire of wicked imputations, that they should not bee stained with the corruptions of it.
Q. How shall wee behaue our selues when wee are thus belyed▪ and slaundered?
A. First, let vsus descend into our own soules,2 Cor. 1 10. and if we find our selues innocent, then let vsus comfort our selues in the witnesse of our owne conscience: neither let vsus thinke, that ther is more waight in their detractions, then in our owne testimonies.
Secondly, in this case, let vsus rather looke vntounto God who permitteth them,Micah. 7. 2 Sam. 16.10. then at the howling, barking, and biting dogs that annoy vsus: this course tooke Dauid.
Thirdly, whereas the rude and iniudicious multitude doth cast false imputations vponupon vsus; let vsus not only with the spunge of honest Apologies wipe away these pretended spots, but also labour to hauehave a precious report, and an immortall memory amongst Gods children.
Fourthly, if wée desire to be well spoken of, let vsus not rashly thinke euill of others; for the better that any man is, the more hardly doth he iudge another to be euill; much lesse let vsus secretly bite and sting them, nor take that in the worse sense, that may bee construed in the better meaning.
Fifthly, let vsus lend no eare, much lesse giuegive any applause to the slanderer; but shew our dislike of him, and then he will not willingly speake that which hee shall perceiue to be vnwillingly heard.
Lastly▪ slander is a speciall sinne of the Deuill,Apoc 12.10. who is a lyar, and the slanderer of the brethren, and therefore let vsus beware of it, and abhorre it.
Q. What are the persecutions in action and in deed?
A. These and the like following; whippings, taking away of mens goods, banishment, bondage, nakednes, death by the sword, want of buriall, &c.
Q. What comforts against whippings?
A. First, Christ Iesus and his Apostles were thus dealt withall.
Gal. 6.17.Secondly, as it was the marke of a true Apostle to beare in the body the marks of the Lord Iesu: so it is the Character of a sincere Christian to suffer the like in time of persecution.
1 Pet. 2 24.Thirdly, Christ was whipped, and shed his bloud for vsus; and shall wée sinnefull persons refuse to doe the like, that wee may make knowne our conformitie with him in his suffrings?
Fourthly, it is giuen vntounto Gods children (as a speciall prerogatiue) not onelyonly to be whipped for,Phil. 1.16. but to die for the Lord Iesu. Apoc. 12.11.
Lastly, the more indignities, and torments that any suffer for Christ, or for righteousnesse sake,Apoc. 7.14▪ 15.16. the more they shall aduance the Gospell of Christ, and receiue the greater measure and proportion of glory in the world to come.
Q. How are or ought wee to comfort our selues when wee are violently by the enemie despoiled of all our goods?
A. First, wee must remember that many good men hauehave fallen into the hands of théeues (like that man that went downe from Ierusalem to Iericho,Luk. 10.30 and fell among théeues, who robbed him of his raiment, yea and wounded him,) and yet hauehave afterwards recouered their former estate.
Secondly,Psal. 23.1. Luk. 10.33 34.35. Christ is our Lord and master, and we his seruants, and therefore though we be despoiled of al our worldly goods; yet, he wil neuer forsake vsus, but prouide for vsus things necessary: for so he dealt with the Samaritane.
Thirdly, we want not things (simply) necessary; for natura paucis contenta.
Fourthly, though we be spoiled of our goods, yet we hauehave not forgone our goodnes, and we retaine our life and liberty, which is the greater blessing.
Fifthly, God in his iustice will in due time punish and reuenge our wrongs.
Sixthly, wee must (after the example of the blessed Hebrewes) suffer with ioy the spoiling of our goods) knowing in our selues,Heb. 10.34 how that we hauehave in heauen a better, and an enduring substance.
Lastly, if wee be patient and content, we may (in time) with Dauid enioy our enemies (that are so many Nabals) goods,2 Sam. 25.42. or by some other prouidence be gainers by our losses.
Q. What duties are we then to performe?
Iob. 2 10. Mat. 9.27.A. First, we must with holy Iob be content to receiue euill things from God as well as good, and to praise God for all; and with the Apostles to forsake all for Christ his sake; yea, and with that heroicall woman in the Apocalypse, to tread the Moone (i. all earthly and transitory things) vnderunder our féet;Apoc. 12.1. wée must withall seeke the things aboue, & the heauenly Ierusalem.
Secondly, it is our duty to procure wisedome, learning, vertue, godlinesse; these are our proper endowments, and can neither by fraud nor force be taken from vsus.
Thirdly, let vsus (whiles we enioy the fickle and vncertaine things) let vsus for Christ his sake louelove his members, and with our worldly goods bountifully relieue them in their néede and necessity,Ioh. 1.3.17. else how dwelleth the louelove of God in vsus?
Lastly,Iac. 2.5. let it suffice vsus, that wee are rich in grace, heires of glory, and that we hauehave in heauen (our Country) a better and an enduring substance; and that after this mortall and miserable life is expired,Heb. 10.3.4. 2 Pet. 3.13. we shall actually enioy the new heauen & the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnes.
Q. Propound some comfortable meditations against banishment.
A. First, Moses, Elias, Iohn the Euangelist, and infinite more in the Primitiue Church of the Apostles, in the ten generall persecutions, and sithence, hauehave beene exiled: and shall we refuse to be partakers with them?
Secondly,Math. 21.33. Heb. 13.13. omnis terra commune naturae exilium: id est, EueryEvery country is a common banishment of nature, and the whole world is but a strange country vntounto vsus: (for in it wee hauehave no abiding City) and how then can Christians properly be said to bee banished out of their country, when they hauehave none here?
Thirdly, though the godly bee banished from their natiue soile, yet they cannot be banished from the fauour of God,Psal. 7….19.20.25. & 52.53.54 nor from the communion of Saints, nor from the kingdome of heauen; and God, that is by his essence eueryevery where present, is as ready to helpe his childrē in any strange Country, as in their own. Psal. 105.12.13.14.
Fourthly, sundry men hauehave gotten great honour, and attained vntounto great learning and liuing in the place of their banishment.
Fifthly, here we shall be secured frō enuie: euill men shall not molest vsus, but good men shall louelove vsus, and long for our company.
Act. 11.20.21.…2.Sixthly, as the husbandman remoueth his plantes and trees out of one orchard into another that they may the better prosper: So God for greater good of his Church doth translate his children into some other country or coast.
Act. 8.1. & 4.Lastly, the time of our banishment well spent, will send vsus into a farre better, that is an heauenly one.
Q. What duties must a Christian practise in his banishment?
A. First, he must comfort himselfe in the conscience of his righteousnes, which the enemy cannot blot, much lesse bereaue him of.
Secondly, he must at their strict commandements and enforcement, relinquish and depart out of his natiue soile, and then his departure shall be rather a pilgrimage, then an expulsion, and a benefite then a banishment.
Thirdly, he must heare God speake vntounto him in the Scripture,Ioh. 10.27. (for it is his voice) and hee must speake, and hauehave familiar speech and conference with our God by prayer, and then hee shall hauehave God for his companion, and the holy Ghost for his Comforter.
Fourthly, he must not delight in their conuersation and company, that deride and despise him, and by abode with whom he cannot receiue any good information, but much defilement: and therfore in this regard he must preferre religion and a good conscience before country and natiue soile.
Lastly, hee hath the benefite of his priuatenes, and liueth in peace without distraction, or disturbance, and therfore he must by the aduantage hereof, betake himselfe to diuine studies and meditations.
Q. Propound and deliuer some heauenly consolations against bondage and thraldome.
A. First, it is the greatest bondage to be captiuated and enthralled to sinne and Satan,Ioh. 8.35. & 36. Rom. 5.1. from which slauery Gods children are by grace fréede; for their consciences are at peace with God, and they are the seruants of God, whose seruice is perfect fréedome.
Secondly, this bondage is greatly mitigated, yea sugred and swéetned to Gods children: for God doth not onelyonly restraine and moderate the enemies malice, but also (sometimes) greatly honour, preferre and exalt them: examples whereof we hauehave in Ioseph, Jeremie, Daniel, Sidrack, Mesheck, Abednego, in Hester, Mardocheus, and diuers others.
Thirdly, death putteth a terme and end to this bondage, (if wee find not deliuerance long before) and why cannot we a while expect this yeare of our absolute fréedome, and euerlasting Iubiley?
Lastly, Gods children are Christs fréemen,Iob 8.15. being redeemed and ransomed by his bloud,Phil. 3.20. Joh 3.25. and they are free Denizens of heauen, hauing euerlasting life in beginning, and being (by faith) secured of the full possession of it, and therefore though for a time they bee plunged in many euils, yet they can neuer perish: for they are afflicted, but not forsaken, tried, but not tired out.
Q. What is the quintessence or speciall vse of all these propositions and conclusions?
A. First, hence wee may take notice of the miserable estate of wicked worldlings and vngodly men, who though they enioy outward wealth, ease and liberty, yet are they drudges to the world, vassals and slaues vntounto sinne, & cursed caitiffes; for they are locked in golden fetters, and shut vp in the prison of their own sinnefull desires, which is the worst kind of bondage.
Secondly, let vsus serue the Lord our God, and not Satan, Sinne, nor Antichrist, and then we are Gods frée men, & no bondage can impeach, or hinder our spirituall liberty and happines.
Thirdly, farre bee it from vsus to contemne or misiudge any of Gods children for their outward seruitude and bondage, vntounto which, tyranny and iniquity of times, doe or may enwrappe them; but let vsus pray to God to furnish them with ioy, and the spirit of long suffering,Ezech. 18.16. Esa. 58.7. and in his good time to ridde and deliuer them: wee must also (by occasion) freely and franckly contribute to their necessities, for they are our owne flesh and bloud, borne of the same both naturall and spirituall seede, breathing of the same aire; and seruants to the same God.
Lastly, when we are thus restrained and distressed, it behoueth vsus timely and truely to repent vsus of our sinnes, for otherwise we are to expect no mitigation; much lesse a spéedy deliuerance out of our misery.
Q. What comforts against violent nakednesse caused by flight, or the enemies vnmercifulnesse?
Psal. 22.18. Mat. 27.28A. First, Christ our blessed Sauiour was stript of his raiment, and hath sanctified this euill vntounto vsus, and hath turned the shame of it into glory.
Secondly, very many of Gods excellent seruants hauehave béene thus shamefully misused by their enemies. Basil saith, that forty Martyres were turned out naked to bee starued in the cold of the night, and afterwards to bee burned.
Thirdly, they must count it for some benefit and blessing, that the enemy doth onelyonly spoile them of their garments, and not of their liues.
Fourthly, though they endure shame and reproch of the world,Heb. 12.2▪ yet it maketh them not vnhappy: for Christ suffered the shame of the crosse to make them honourable.
Fifthly, the enemie cannot possibly disrobe, dismantle, and despoile them of the garments of Christ, his holines and righteousnesse, wherewith they are clothed, and wherewith their deformities are couered.
Sixthly,Rom. 8.38 this is but a temporary and fatherly correction, and can neuer separate any of Gods children from his louelove.
Lastly, it is not the gay garments but godlines, not outward pompe but piety that maketh men honourable: as for the proud mans honour, it is in his garment and not in his person.
Q. What vse are we to make hereof?
A. First, let it be a shame to vsus to be called naughty, rather then naked.
Secondly, though Gods enemies rob his children of their garments,Esay. 58.7. let vsus in our charity cloath them.
Lastly, let vsus by faith put on the Lord Iesu, and then we shall neuer bee found naked; for he onelyonly is naked who hath lost Christ.
Q. Why doth God suffer so many of his best beloued Saints and seruants to be massacred and murdered by the enemies sword?
A. First, we herein must rather reuerence and admire Gods secret, yet iust procéedings, then curiously to diue and enquire into the ground and reason of them; and wée must assure our selues that the end is good, albeit our dulnes cannot so well apprehend it. For Gods purposes and decrees attaine vntounto their holy and appointed ends, no otherwise then certaine riualets (though they vanish out of our sight, and are hidden vnderunder the earth) are carried and conuey themselues into the sea.
Secondly, by the effusion and spilling of their innocent bloud, the number of true professors is both manifested & multiplied, and the bloudy butchers and Bonners, either conuerted (albeit most rarely) or else conuinced and left vnexcusable.
Thirdly, though the enemies thinke to root out the Church, and the name and memory of true Christians; yet God doth and will crosse and curse their designes: for contrary to their expectation the Gospell is more published and proclaimed, the innocency of Gods children more cléered and testified; and their madnes and badnes made known vntounto all the world.
Lastly, the sufferings of the Martyrs doth procure vntounto them a greater measure of glorie in heauen: but tyrants, heretikes, persecutors runne themselues out of breath, and draw vponupon themselues the greater damnation.
Q. How are we to arme and comfort our selues against this kind of death?
A. First, they are blessed that die in the Lord,Apoc. 7.13. and for the Lord; they are glorious in Gods sight, and are arayed in long white robes.
Secondly, they do not lose their liues but find them, and incomparably better them: Luk. 9.
Thirdly, the sword toucheth the garment of the bodie, but not the soule, nor their faith: for God herein dealeth with his children, as the Persians in punishing some noble Personage; for they take away his garment and his hat, and hang them vp in some place, and all to beat them, as though they were the man himselfe: so they (by Gods ouerruling hand) doe not touch our soules and our faith, but beate onelyonly the garment of our persons.
Aug. de Cr…. Dei l. 3. c. ….Fourthly, they that die for Christ, receiue some what of death, that it be…al not whol… vntounto them.
Lastly, their innocent bloud which the persecutors hauehave shed and sucked, crieth like the bloud of Abel to the Heauens for vengeance against them, and they with the soules in the Apocalypse that were killed for the word of God,Gen. 4. crie with a lowd voice, saying; How long Lord, holy and true, doest thou not iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? Apoc. 6.10and this their crie the iust Lord, doth & néeds must heare and regard.
Q What vse are we to make hereof?
A. First, we must neuer promise to our selues long prosperity, or immunitie from persecution; but wee must prepare and strengthen our selues against the time of triall and martyrdome: and though it bee not our lot alwaies to die for the Lord Iesu, and his blessed truth; yet we must be Martyrs in desire and affection, and then God will accept the will for the deed: for there is Martyrium sine flamm…, i. a martyrdome without a fagot.
Secondly, we must not estéeme, nor thinke the firie tryall as some strange thing,1 Pet. 4.12. but reioyce in as much as wee are (hereby) made partakers of Christ his sufferings, that when his glory shall appeare, wee may bée gladde and reioice.
Thirdly, wee must comfort and stay our selues in the expectation of the fearefull end that abideth Gods enemies;ver. 17. Psal. 37.9. they shall soone be cut off, their pompe shall be despised and soon vanish away▪ Psal. 73.19. They are Gods rods to correct and disciplinate his children by, who when they hauehave done their office, must bée cast into the fire and consumed.
Esa. 10.21.22.Lastly, there is no persecution so generall and grieuous, but many shall bée preserued in it, and from it; and after long wrestling, God will grant a breathing time.
Q. What if Gods children cannot be suffered to bee buried when they are dead, what shall wee iudge of them, or how shall we comfort our selues against this euill?
A. Their dead bodies are members of Christ, temples of the holy Ghost; and they shall rise againe in glory to eternall life; therefore we may not iudge them accursed.
Secondly, the want of buriall doth nothing hurt them, as the performance of it doth nothing profite the wicked: & as for these funerall solemnities, they are rather viuorum solatia, quam mortuorum auxilia, id est. Comforts for the liuing, then helps for the dead.
Thirdly, many of Gods Saints, yea some most blessed Martyres,Apoc. 11.8 hauehave wanted buriall, Psal 79.2. and yet hauehave béene receiued vp into glory. Apoc. 11. ver. 12.
Fourthly, other euils, (as death by drowning, by fire, by earthquakes, by the fall of houses, by the cruell rage of wild beasts, &c.) are as much (if not more) to be feared.
Fifthly, Tegitur coelo qui non habet vrnam, The skie is to them in stead of a coffin.
Sixthly,Iob. 19.25.26. though some Personages be neuer so sumptuously entombed and gloriously buried, yet must the worms (in the body) consume the bodies of such.
Seuenthly, the want of buriall (though it is a curse to Gods enemies, who perish both in soule and body) yet it is but a fatherly, and fauourable chasticement to his children, and can neuer part, nor diuorce them from him and his louelove.
Lastly,Apoc. 14.13. though sometimes the dead bodies of Gods Saints want buriall, yet they féele no smart; and their soules in glorie cannot, and do not behold the lothsomnes of their vnburied bodies.
Q. What vse is to bee made hereof?
A. First, we must not (so much) trouble our selues about this matter, but commit the disposition of our dead corps to Gods prouidence, and the care of the liuing.
Secondly, let vsus bury our sinnes in Christ his graue and sepulchre, and then the want of buriall and funerall solemnities shall neither shame vsus,Rom. 6.3. & 4. nor harm vsus.
Lastly, if in the heate of personall persecution the bodies of Gods saints knowne vntounto vsus, and neare vsus, do want buriall, wee must (after the manner of those deuoute brethren that buried Stephen) enterre them;Act. 8.2. for hereby we do not onelyonly testifie our louelove and reuerence towards them, but also declare our good hope of their glorious resurrection.
Q. By what speciall considerations are we to arme and hearten our selues against persecutions?
A. First, wee know it is the lot of Gods children to bee persecuted of the wicked in eueryevery generation,Apoc. 12.17. but most notably in the raigne and rage of Antichrist. For they that are borne after the flesh will persecute them that are borne after the spirit,Gal. 4.29. and therefore why should wee bee so offended at persecutions, hauing so many compartners, and companions herein.
Secondly, that we are hereby made con…ormable vntounto Christ our Captaine, leader and guide, and therefore if wee suffer with him, we shal raign with him.
Thirdly, that Gods power and his goodnes doth as much appeare in priuatiue blessings as in positiue: for God is with vsus in trouble,Psa. 76.9. & 10. he (when it pleaseth him) represseth the power, & checketh the malice of the enemy, reformeth and refineth vsus, and giueth a ioyfull issue, euasion and euent to our afflictions.
Fourthly, that persecution is a badge, ensign, and ornament of the true church; for hereby open enemies take occasion to oppose themselues against Gods seruants, and hypocrites; and time seruers are discouered.
Fifthly,Heb. 5.8. that persecution is a schoole-master to make vsus vnderstand Gods will, and a plaine commentary of Gods word; for wee learne that by experience, which we heard by the publik ministery.
Lastly, persecution is good for Gods children whether they escape it, or die by it; for God doth order it for their profite and happines, and they are gainers by it many wayes. Luk. 18.28.29.30.
Q. What duties are wee to performe in persecution?
A. First, we are to prepare our selues against it by daily mortification, and by the experience of the swéet and heauenly societie that wee hauehave with our blessed God that dwelleth in vsus,1 Cor. 15.30.31. and so we shal learne to die daily.
Secondly, let vsus be assured that we suffer as Christians,1 Pet. 4.16 and not as malefactors, and then wée are not to bee ashamed, but to glorifie God in that behalfe. For we are Gods Worthies, and his champions, placed in the theatre of the world, and if we fight stoutely & wisely in our Lords quarrell and cause, he wil honour and aduance vsus accordingly both here, and hereafter.
Thirdly, because persecution is not onelyonly a triall, but also a correction for our sinnes, wee must entreat the Lord to pardon them, and then the flame of affliction shall brighten vsus, but not burne vsus, scoure vsus but not consume vsus.
Fourthly, we must possesse our soules and the graces of God by our patience: we must seeke the Lord in our trouble,2 Chr. 15.4 and he will be found of vsus; and it is our dutie with Moses (for our encouragement) more to looke vntounto the infinite and transcendent measure of reward in the kingdome of heauen, then eyther the Sunne-shine of present prosperity, or the blustering windes of persecution.
Fifthly, persecution doth only touch the vestment and garment of our body, but cannot reach vntounto the fort of our faith, nor the hold of our heart, and therefore it ought the lesse to astonish and distract vsus.
Sixthly, let it bee our wisedome and practise in the blustering tempests, and the weltering waues of the worlds persecutions, to adhere vntounto, and stand fast vponupon Christ the rocke; and then wee shall not néede to feare the waues vnderunder vsus, much lesse dread drowning.
Lastly, if it please God temporally to deliuer vsus, let vsus receiue Gods precious word with greater ioy: for when men and outward meanes faile vsus, it wil be a staffe and stay to vsus in all our tribulations, and fill vsus full of comfort and hope:Rom. 5.4. Psal 19.7.8. for the law of the Lord is perfite, conuerting the soule, the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giueth wisedome to the simple, the statutes of the Lord are right and reioice the heart, the commaundement of the Lord is pure, & giueth light to the eyes. Let vsus praise and magnifie God for our gratious deliuerance,Amos. 6.6. let vsus remember Ioseph his afflictions, and helpe our persecuted brethren by our goods and money (if wee can): and (at least) by our praiers and intercessions: for this euidently proueth that we are feeling members of the same mysticall body, wherof Christ is the head.1 Cor. 12 26.