A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
T…at they may follow Christs examples, and imitate the patience of the Saint in all Ages.
16. Reason,
6. IN the sixth and last place, they beare the slanders and persecutions of wicked men patiently, that they may follow Christs example, and imitate the patience of the Saints in all ages.
Christ also suffered for you (saith Saint Peter) leaveing you an example, that you should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2. 21. And it is written of him, that When he was reviled, he reviled not againe, when he suffered he threatned not, 1 Pet. 2. 23. He was called of his enemies, Conjurer, Samaritane, Wine-bibber, &c. was scoft at, scorned, scourged, Crucified, and what not: yea, he suffered in every place, in every part.
First, In every place, hunger in the desart, resistance in the Temple, sorrow in the Garden, contumelyes in the Judgement Hall, Crucifying without the City, and so forth.
Secondly, in every part, his eyes run downe with teares, his temples with blood, his eares tingled with buffettings, glowed with reproaches; they afflicted his taste with Gall, spit in his face, pearst his head with thornes, his hands with nayles, his side with a speare: his heart was full of sorrow, his soule of anguish, his whole body was sacrificed as an offering for sinne: and yet he suffered all for us; to the end he might leave us an example, that wee should follow his steps. Neither was it so much what he suffered, as with what affection, willingnesse, and patience he suffered, that did Nobilitate the merrit of his sufferings. As touching the first, why descended he to take our flesh? but that we might ascend to take his Kingdome; he descended to be crucified, that we might ascend to be glorified; he descended to Hell, that wee might ascend to heaven.
Touching the second, what King ever went so willingly to be Crowned, as he to be crucified; Who so gladly from execution, as hee to it: What man was ever so desirous to save his life, as Christ was to lose it; witnesse that speech, I have a Bap…isme to bee baptized with, and how am I pained till it be accomplished, Luke 12. 50. His minde was in paine, till his body and soule, came to it: And to him that disswaded him from it, he used no other termes than avoid Satan.
And thirdly, with what patience he suffered all, let both Testaments determine; he was oppressed and afflicted, yet did he not open his mouth; he was brought as a Sheepe to the slaughter, and as a Sheepe before the Shearer is dumbe, so opened he not his mouth, Isaiah 53. 7. His behaviour was so mild and gentle, that all the malice of his enemies, could not wrest an angry word from him. Yea, when his owne Disciple was determined to betray him; I see not a frowne, I heare not a check from him againe: but what thou doest doe quickly. O the admirable mecknesse of this Lamb of God: Why doe wee startle at our petty wrongs, and swell with anger, and breake into furious revenges, upon every occasion, when the patterne of our patience lets not fall one harsh word, upon so foule and bloody a Traytor. When the Jews cryed out crucifie him, as before they cryed out, his blood be upon us and upon our Children, he out cryes, Father, pardon them; being beaten with Rods, crowned with Thornes, pierced with nayles, nayled to the Crosse, bathed all his body over in blood, filled with reproaches, &c. in the very pangs of death; as unmindfull of all his great griefes, he prayeth for his persecutors, and that earnestly, Father forgive them, Pendebat, & tamen petebat, as Saint Augustine sweetly: O patient and compassionate love. Ye wicked and foolish Jewes, you would be miserable, he will not let you: His eares had beene still more open to the voyce of griefe, then of malice; and so his lips also are open to the one, shut to the other.
Thus Christ upon the Crosse, as a Doctor in his chaire, read to us all a lecture of patience; for his actions are our instructions: and the same that Gideon spake to Israel, he speakes still to us: as ye see me doe, so doe you: And no man be he never so cunning, or practised, can make a straight line, or perfect circle by steddinesse of hand, which may easily bee done by the helpe of a Rule of Compasse. Besides, is Christ gone before us in the like sufferings, what greater incouragement, when wee reade that Caesars example (who not onelyonly was in those battels, but went before them) yea, his very Eye made his Souldiers prodigall of their blood, When wee reade that young King Philip, being but catryed in his Cradle to the Warres, did greatly annimate the Souldiers. Besides, what servant will wish to fare better than his Lord; is it meet that hee who is not onelyonly thy Master, but thy Maker, should passe his time in continuali travell, and thou in continuall case.
When a lewd Malefactor being condemned to dye with just Phocion, rayled at the Judge, the Law, his Accusers, and looked on Death with terrour, and amazednes; hee thus cheered him with encouragement, Dost thou grudge to dye with Phocion: so say I to thee, Dost thou grudge to suffer with thy Saviour: O blessed Jesu! O thou Coeternall Sonne of thine Eternall Father, why should I thinke strange to bee scourged with tongue, or hand, when I see thee bleeding: what lashes can I feare, either from Heaven, or Earth, since thy scourges have beene borne for me; and have sanctified them to me.
True, it is Satans policy to make men beleeve, that to doe, and suffer, as a Christian is so extreamely difficult for them, that it is altogether impossible; where in he deales like the inhospitable Salvages of some Countries, who make strange fires, and a shew of dismall terrou…s upon the shores, to keepe passengers from landing: But if Christ be gone before us in the like, and it is for his sake that we smart; then we may be sure to have him present with us (even within us by his spirit, 1 Peter 4. 12, 13, 14.) to assist us, and prevent our enemies: and is not be able enough to vindicate all our wrongs.
Learne we therefore from him, to suffer
Innocently.
Patiently.
Wilt thou (saith one) looke to raigne, and not expect to suffe…? Why, Christ himselfe went not up to his glory, untill first hee suffered paine: Or wilt thou (saith Saint Cyprian) be impatient, by seeking present revenge upon thine enemies, when Christ himselfe is not yet revenged of his enemies? Doe thou beare with others, God beares with thee; is there a too much, which thou canst suffer for so patient a Lord? But to goe on; wilt thou follow Gods example? Then note, whereas Christ hath in many particulars commanded us to follow his example; yet in no place (saith Saint Chrysostome) he inferreth we should be like our Heavenly Father, but in doing good to our enemies. And therein resemble we the whole three Persons in Trinity. God was only in the still winde; Christ is compared to a Lambe, the Holy Ghost to a Dove. Now if we will resemble these three Persons, we must be softly, Lombes, Doves; but if on the contrary wee be fierce, cruell, and take revenge, so using violence, we resemble rather the Devill, who is called a roaring Lyon; and the wicked, who are termed Dogs, Wolves, Tygers, &c.
3. To adde to the precept of God, and the practice of our Saviour, the example of Gods people; they are patient in suffering of injuries, that they might imitate the Saints in all ages. They were so, and wee are likewise commanded to follow their steps, as in all things which are good; so especially in this. Take my brethren the Prophets (saith Saint James) for an example of suffering adversities, and of long patience. James 5. 10. Brethren, saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, Yee are become followers of the Churches of God, which in Judes are in Christ Jesus, because yee have also suffered the same things of your owne Countrey-men, even as they have of the Jewes, 1 Thess. 2. 14. And to the Philippians, Be yee followers of me, Brethren, and looke on them which walk so, as yee have us for an example, Phil. 3. 17. And see how hee followed his Masters example; for which amongst us so loves his Benefactors, as Saint Paul loved his Malefactors? he would doe any thing (even be rased out of the booke of life) to save them that would doe any thing to kill him. Amongst many examples recorded for thy imitation, and mine; behold the patience of Job, James 5. 11. of Abraham, Gen. 20. 17, 18. of Isaas, Chap. 26. 15. of Joseph, Chap. 37. 32, 33. who notwithstanding his brethren hated him for his goodnesse, and could not speake peaceably unto him, conspired to kill him, stript him of his Coat, cast him into a pit, sold him for a slave, recompenst them good for evill; when he was armed with power to revenge: for when these his enemies did bunger, hee fed them; when they were thirsty, he gave them drinke; whereas they stript him of his parti-coloured-coat, hee gave them all change of rayment; whereas they sold him for twenty peeces of money, hee would not sell them corne, but gave it them freely, and put their money againe into their sacks; whereas they cast him into a pit, without either bread or water, hee brought them into his owne lodging, and feasted them sumptuously with delicate fare; and gave them of the best Wine: Thus he gave them a good measure, pressed downe, and shaken together; yea, running over into their bosomes, of kindnesse for unkindnesse. And thus holy David trod in the steps of good Joseph, Psal. 38. 12. to 15. 1 Sam. 26. 20. For when Saul had bent his howe, and made ready the arrowes within his quiver, to shoote at this upright in heart, and sweet singer of Israel: Yea, when this Fowler hunted him like a Partridge to the mountaines; so that his soule was faine to aske for the wings of a Dove, that hee might fly away and bee at rest: Yet see when his mortall foe was delivered into his hand in the Cave, he would not lay hands on his enemy, nor suffer his bloud-thirsty followers to fall upon him, but onelyonly to give him notice what hee could have done: cut off the lap of his garment, and rendered him good for evill; as Saul himselfe confessed: 1 Sam. 24. 18. Yea againe, when hee found him asleepe in the field, he spared his life which was in his hand; and to give him a second warning, onelyonly took away his pot of water, and his speare: 1 Sam. 26. And lastly of Steven, who when the Jewes were stoning him to death, kneeled downe, and cryed with a loud voyce, Lord, lay not this sinne to their charge, Acts 7. 60. A true Scholler of CHRIST: for first, hee prayed for enemies; secondly, for mortall enemies that stoned him; thirdly, in hot bloud, at the time when they wronged him most; as being more sorry for their ryat, then for his owne ruine. Now what is it that wee suffer, being compared with their sufferings? even nothing in a manner: Yee have not (saith Saint Paul to the Hebrewes) yet resisted unto bloud: Wee have passed (saith the Prophet) through fire and water; not fire onelyonly, as the three Children; nor water onelyonly, as the Israelites; but fire and water, all kinde of afflictions and adversities. For shame then let us passe through a little tongue-tryall, without the least answering, or repining.
Now all ye scoffers, behold the patience of the Saints, and stand amazed. That which you (not for want of ignorance) esteemed base, sottish, and unworthy, yee see hath 16. sollid Reasons, as so many pillars to support it; and these hewen out of the Rock of Gods Word. Yee see the Childe of God is above nature, while hee seemes below himselfe; the vilest creature knowes how to turne againe; but to command himselfe, not to resist being urged, is more than Heroicall. Here then is matter worth your emulation, worthy your imitation.
Againe, behold the reasons why God suffers you to deride, hate, and persecute his people, which are likewise declared to be 16. in number, and those no lesse weighty; of which three concerne his owne glory; thirteene our spirituall and everlasting good, benefit, and advantage. Yea, reflect yet further you seed of the Serpent, and see *In the cure of prejudis.the Originall, continuance, properties, causes, ends; and what will be the issue of your devillish enmity against the seed of the Woman? And then you will acquit the religious with Christ, and his Apostles for well doing; or confesse that you condemne Christ and his Apostles with them: as Erasmus said in his owne defence. But if of the two, you will choose to goe on and perish, your bloud be on your owne heads, and not on mine; I have discharged my duty.