A Christian Library, Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. III.
Convert. BUt how should I a novice, a punie, a white-liver, shake off this slavish yoke of bondage and fear in which Satan for the present holds me?
Minister. By well observing what the Scriptures in this case hold forth for the encouragement of all that thus suffer. I will commend to your serious consideration only six things, and I pray minde them well; for Virgil most excellently and profundly, couples the knowledge of cause, and the conquest of all fears together.
First observe, that grievous temptations and persecutions, do always accompany the remission of sins. That all men, as Austin speaks, are necessitated to miseries, who bend their course towards the Kingdom of Heaven: neither can Gods love be enjoyed without Satans disturbance. Yea the world and the devill therefore hate us, because God hath chosen us. If a convert comes home, the Angels welcome him with songs, the devils follow him with uprore and fury, his old acquaintance with scorns and obloquie, as you sufficiently finde. Godly men are thorns in wicked mens eyes, as Iob was in the devils, because they are good, or for that they are dearly beloved of God. If a mans person and ways please God, the world will be displeased with both: whence we are so often foretold and forewarned of it, that we may be the better forearmed and prepared to entertain it: All that will love godly in Christ Iesus, shall suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. Ye shall be hated of all men and nations for my Names sake, Matth. 10.22. and 24.9. Behold I send you forth, as sheep in the midst of wolves, Matth. 10.16. and many the like. Whe…ce also those many and strong encouragements in the word, which may serv… … so many flaggons of wine, to comfort and strengthen us against whatsoever we meet withall in the world: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for … teousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven, Matth. 5.10. Blessed are … when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evill a … you falsly for my sake. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your … in Heaven, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you, … Rejoyce, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings; that when … shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. For if ye … ed for the Name of Christ, happy are ye. For the spirit of glory and … upon you, which on their part is evil spoken of, but on your part is … 12, 13, 14. Lo here is reward enough, for all that men or devils … gainst us; which hath made thousands even ambitious to imbrace the flames. Your cruelty is our glory, said the Martyrs in Tertullians time to their persecutors, for the harder we are put to it, the greater shall our reward be in Heaven. It is to my loss (said Gordius the Martyr) if you bate me any thing of my sufferings: See more Phil.. 1.28, 29. Rev. 2.13.
And so much to shew, that he refuseth to be an Abel, whom the malice of Cain doth not exercise, as Gregory speaks: For it is an everlasting rule of the Apostle, He that is born after the fl…sh, will persecute him that is born after the Spirit (Gal. 4.29.) not because he is evill, but because he is so much better then himself, 1 Iohn 3.12. Because his life is not like other mens, his ways are of another fashion, Wisd. 2.15.
CHAP. IV.
SEcondly consider, That as we are every where in the word forewarned of it, so it is not our case alone; for search the whole Bible over, and you shall not finde one holy man mentioned, without mention of something he suffered from ungodly men; as it were easie to instance, how Abel, Lot, Noah, righteous men; Abraham the father of the faithful; Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph, Patriarchs and Fathers of the Church; meek Moses, upright Samuel, Iob that none-such, all the Lords Priests, Prophets, Apostles, yea the harmlesse Babes, and our Saviour Christ himself did severally suffer from wicked and ungodly men: Yea never man came to Heaven, but first he past through this Purgatory. God had one Son without sin, but never any one without suffering. Which makes our Saviour say, Wo be to you when all men speak well of you, that is, when evill men speak well of you; for so did the Iews of the false Prophets, Luke 6 26. Wherefore marvel not though the world hate you, as St. John speaks, 1 Job. 3.13. Neither count it strange, as St. Peter hath it, concerning the fiery triall, which is amongst you to try you, as though some strange thing were come unto you, 1 Pet. 4.12 For Christ and his Crosse are inseparable, Luke 14.27. Whence that distinction of Luther, that a Christian is a Crosse-bearer. He that will be my discipl…, let him take up his crosse daily and follow me, Luke 9.23. and 14.26, 27.