The Christian Combat, Book 2
THE SECOND Booke, of afflictions proper vntounto the children of God.
CHAP. I. The difference between those afflictions that are common to all men, and those that are proper vntounto the children of God.
ALL those afflictions which we hauehave spoken of heeretofore, are afflictions that befall indifferently to all men, as well good as bad: Sauing that God is accustomed to visit oftener his children with his rods, and keepe them in a continuall exercise of humility, because hee is carefull of their saluation. Doing as a father, who for the selfesame fault committed by his sonne, and by his seruant, will chastise his sonne, and will leaue his seruant vnpunished. But in this second Treatise we will onelyonly speake of afflictions that are proper to the children of God, and which befall them for the profession of the Gospell.
There is great difference betwixt these two sorts of afflictions. For those happen to vsus, as to men weake, or as to sinners; but these, as to Christians, and for Gods cause. Those are an exercise of patience, these ouer and aboue, are matter of glory. Those are chastisements which God sends; these are ouer and besides scarfes of our warfare, honourable markes, conformities with the eternall Sonne of God. Wherefore the Apostle, very well exercised in this warre, placeth these afflictions amongst the free gifts of our God, saying, aPhil. 1.29For vntounto you it is giuen, in the behalfe of Christ, not onelyonly to beleeue on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Wherefore we seeke comfort against those other afflictions, but these are euen a comfort to a Christian; because hee receiues them as testimonies of his heauenly calling, & makes this conclusion in himselfe, that seeing God fashions him to the sufferings of his Sonne, hee will also fashion him vntounto his glory, and that God leades him to the fame end, by the same way.
To beare these afflictions, is to charge vponupon himselfe the Crosse of Christ, and march after him. For although the man fearing God, beares wifely these other afflictions, and profits by them, notwithstanding the holy Scripture doth not honour them with this honourable title of the Crosse of Christ. So Simon, a man of Cyrene, bearing the Crosse of Christ Iesus after him, was the image of a Christian. But the two theeues that were nailed to their owne Crosse, bare the punishmēts of their crimes: one of the which was conuerted to Christ Iesus, in the extremity of his paines, to the end that those whom God causeth not to beare the Crosse of Christ, and exempts from persecution for the Gospell, may learne by this example to profit in their owne afflictions, and so to beare their owne crosse, that it may serue to conuert them to Christ. But here we speake onelyonly of afflictions which are proper to the faithfull, and which alone may bee tearmed the Crosse of Christ.
CHAP. II. The Scripture doth prepare vsus to afflictions, and hath this condition annexed to the profession of the Gospell.
THe Apostles S. Paul and Barnabas visiting the Churches, bAct. 14 22.doe exhort them to continue in the faith, and that wee must, through much tribulation, enter into the Kingdome of God. And the Apostle Saint Paul elsewhere saith, c2. Tim. 3.12.that all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus, shall suffer persecution. Since God hath said that he would put enmity between the seed of the woman, and that of the Serpent, the Church hath alwaies, wayes been perfited. Her sufferings hauehave begun in Abel, and will finish at the Day of Iudgement. As soone as God limited his Couenant to the Family of Abraham, of two children that hee had, hee that was borne after the flesh, did hate him that was borne after the Spirit. Iacob and Esau representing two contrary Nations, struggled together in the belly, and their quarrell began before their life. Wherefore the Church makes her complaint, dPsal. 129.that shee hath beene often afflicted from her youth. Now therefore that shee is come to her old age, can shee hope for any prosperity in this world, seeing that Satan hath not changed his nature, and that the world waxeth worse and worse?
Through this way hauehave passed the Prophets and Apostles, & all that eHeb. 11.cloud of faithfull witnesses, of whō the world was not worthy; wherof the Apostle speaketh. The Gospel propounds to vsus nothing but ye Crosse; and the booke of the Reuelation is nothing else but an allegoricall tissue of the combates of the Church of God. He will not be offended at the tribulations of the Church, who will remember what Iesus Christ hath foretold vsus, fIob. 16.20Ye shall weepe and lament, but the world shal reioyce. True it is, that the persecutors shall hauehave their turne to weepe: but notwithstanding that sentence of the Apostle Saint Peter remaines alwayes firme, g1. Pet. 4.17.that iudgement must begin at the house of God. So that in stead of maruelling to see vsus afflicted and persecuted, wee should rather maruell if it happened otherwise. As a traueller to whom one hath said, Your way will be by a stony Country, & a ground full of bushes and briars, would iudge himselfe out of the way, if he found nothing else but faire medowes, and a smooth way.
This multitude of examples is set before our eyes, not for to comfort vsus by the multitude of companions in misery, which is the comfort of the wretched: But that considering, that God hath dealt thus with those whom hee hath most loued, ye come not by reason of your afflictions to doubt of Gods louelove: but contrariwise, that yee hauehave in that a proofe and euidence of the truth of your Religion, seeing that the true Religion alone can bee so much hated and contradicted by men, and that not without cause, for it alone impugnes the king dome of Satan. h….1, 1….If ye were of the world (saith our Sauiour) the world would louelove his owne.
Therefore whosoeuer hauing the knowledge of true Religion, deferres to apply himselfe to it, till it bee exempted from perfection, puts off his conuersion for a huge long time, and expects that Satan be at agreement with God, and forging to himselfe a Iefus Christ without the Crosse, changeth, as much as in him lyeth, the nature of the Gospell. With that our Lord Iesus began his first Sermon, saying, iMath. 5.Blessed are they that mourne; lest that any one imbracing the profession of the Gospell, and promising to himselfe prosperity, finding himselfe deceiued in his calculation, should giuegive ouer this holy profession: like vntounto him who hauing tasted of a tun of excellent good wine, intending to buy it, hauing heard of the price, hath no mind to it, vnwilling to bestow so much. Or to that kLuk. 14.28.builder in the Gospell, who hauing ill calculated his expences, is disc ouraged, and leaues his building imperfect. For the Sonne of God will hauehave a man, before hee resolue himselfe to follow him, to know how much hee must spend, and that eueryevery one make this reckoning by himselfe, Must I put to it the halfe of my goods? I will put it willingly: if that doth not suffice, I will put to it all my goods; if that bee not enough, I will put also my honour and reputation. What, must I put my life also? I will expose it willingly; yea, had I many liues, I would couragiously leese them in so good a cause: for what doe wee not owe to Christ Iesus, seeing wee owe him our selues, and that he hath giuen himselfe to vsus, and hath exposed his life for our saluation? Besides, we must forgoe these things with alacrity, esteeming that there is no gaine so profitable as this losse; and that it is a dishonor to possesse an honour wherein God is dishonored: incouraging one another, saying, as Thomas said to his fellow Disciples, lIoh. 11.16Let vsus also goe, that wee may dye with him. In a word Iesus Christ will hauehave vsus put all to it, and serue him without excepting any thing, without compounding, or making any reserution. mLuk. 9.62.No man hauing put his hand to the Plough, and looking backe, is fit for the Kingdome of heauen. Whosoeuer will goe out of this Sodom, must not looke backe from behind him towards the things lost, but hasten to saue himselfe in Gods Mountaine.
Not that Iesus Christ willes vsus, that without necessity we runne headlong into dangers for his sake; but rather he willes vsus, that when they nMat. 10.23.persecute vsus in one City, wee fly into another. The faith of the faithfull holds the meane betweene faintnesse and rashnesse; it runnes not headlong against euils, without necessity; but it supports then constantly, when God calles vsus to them: it is not faint-hearted and fearfull, but also it is not angry against her owne life. Then is it time to dye for Iesus Christ, when a man cannot saue his life but by disloyalty, and without abating something of that freenesse and liberty that we owe to Gods cause: in that case, the mā fearing God, ought to beleeue, that God will make vse of his blood, for the sealing of the doctrine of the Gospell: then must he, after the example of Ioseph, forgoe willingly his garment, to saue his conscience; and willingly strippe himselfe of this body, that he may saue his soule.
True it is, that God giues sometimes truce to his Church, and, as it were, a day of rest, between two fits of a Feauer, that shee may breath a little, and lest she should sinke vnderunder the length of oppression. But if this rest be longer then ordinary, that ought to be taken as a good not looked for; during which time, he must liue so, as that this peace be a prentiship of persecution, and that this rest may serue to recouer strength for the labour to come.
And if there bee any faithfull, whom God hath spared and exempted from persecutions, you shall find, that God hath visited him with other trials, and hath not left him without exercise. If hee hath not lost his goods, hee hath possessed them, as not possessing thē, and as being ready to leese them. If he hath not been banished for the Word of God, he hath liued at home as a stranger, and thinking incessantly to depart. If hee hath not suffered death for the Word of God, his life hath been a continuall mortification, according to the rules of Gods Word. If he hath not suffered the paines of Martyrdome, hee hath had the zeale and affection to it.
CHAP. III. Three causes for the which the Church of God is subiect to Afflictions.
THE causes for the which the Church is subiect to many afflictions, are to bee taken, 1. in part from the Wisdome and Iustice of God: 2. in part from the nature of the world, and of the diuell: 3. in part from the nature of the Church, who hath need of this exercise.
The Wisedome and Iustice of God ought to march first; 1Cause, the Wisedome and tustice of God.for it is it which dispenseth with all other causes, and makes vse of them according to his will. This Wisedome and Iustice requires, that seeing the calling of a Christian consists in nothing else, then to follow Iesus Christ, and all his felicity, to be made conformable vntounto Christ Iesus; that those whom hee will make partakers of his Kingdome, partake with him in his sufferances. It is iust, and stands with reason, that they hauehave a part with him in his combates, that will hauehave a share with him in his victory: that hee that will carry hard by him the Crowne of glory, carry first after him the crowne of thornes: that he drinke first in that cup steeped in gall and vineger, before he drinke of the riuer of his pleasures. oLuk. 22.28, 30.Ye shall bee with me at my table (saith he:) ye which hauehave continued with me in my tentations. p2. Tim. 2.11.If we be dead with him, we shall also liue with him.
And seeing that Iesus Christ is our Head, there is no reason that the condition of the members bee differing from that of the Head, as Iesus Christ saith, qIoh. 15.20The seruant is not greater then the Lord; if they hauehave persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they hauehave kept my saying, they will keepe yours also. rMath. 10.25.If they hauehave called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his houshold? It is an vniust daintinesse to desire to attaine vntounto saluation by another way, then by that, by the which Iesus Christ hath passed; to wish to eate of the Lambe, without bitter herbes; and being ashamed of his Crosse, to desire to hauehave part of his glory. And it seemes that Iesus Christ, to goe to Ierusalem, did ordinarily passe through Bethania, because that in the holy tongue Bethanie signifies, The house of grief; & the word Ierusalem, signifies as much as the vision of peace; to the end that by his example wee make account to passe by afflictions, and thorow the valley of teares, before wee can see peace, and enter in the heauenly Ierusalem.
Is it so great a matter? yea is it not a iust thing to spill some teares for him, who hath spilt his blood for vsus? to expose our goods for him, who for vsus hath exposed his life? to dye for the testimony of him, who died for our saluation? Let sHeb. 13.13.vsus goe forth vntounto him without the Campe, bearing his reproches; tHeb. 12.2.looking vntounto Iesus, the Authour and finisher of our faith; who for the ioy that was set before him, endured the crosse, despising the shame, and is set downe at the right hand of the throne of God.
The second cause for the which the Church is subiect to afflictions, 2 Cause, the nature of the world and of the deuill.is the nature of the world and of the deuill. For the holy Scripture speakes to vsus, of this world, as of a Countrey where the Church is a stranger. EueryEvery man fearing God, is heere below like to a strange plant brought from a farre countrey, who hath much adoe to grow; but the wicked are like to nettles which grow without watering of them, because the earth is their owne mother. uIob. 18.36.The Kingdome of Iesus Christ is not of this world. Now his Kingdome is the Church of God. Wherein Christian Religion corrects Philosophy, which saith, that a wise man is a Citizen of the whole world; but Gods Word teacheth that he is a stranger from the beginning of the world. Cain was a tiller of the ground, and fastened to the earth; but Abel, a man fearing God, was a keeper of sheep, which is a rolling occupation, and not tyed to one place. Abraham the Father of the faithfull, spake thus to the children of Heth: xGen. 23.4I am a stranger and soiourner with you; and for all his possession hee purchased but a Sepulchre. For it is that which the faithfull can pretend and lay claime to on earth: Therefore the Israelites that were the onelyonly people of God, were called Hebrewes, that is to say, passengers and trauellers, that in their name they might hauehave notice of their condition; and the Tabernacle was portatiue and ambulatorie vntill Salomons time; to shew that the Church hath no stay here on earth, vntill that the true Sonne of Dauid hath built her an assured house. Iesus Christ himselfe yIoh. 1.11.came vntounto his owne, and his owne receiued him not; and vntounto him appertaineth that which is said in the Psalme; zPsal. 69.8.I am become a stranger vntounto my brethren, and an aliant vntounto my mothers children. The Church therefore as burgesse of heauen, being a stranger here on earth, we must not maruell if it findes no stay nor any firme rest; and, if passing thorow a strange Country, it meetes with thornes, with troublesome and dangerous wayes. Wherefore by this title of trauellers and strangers, God prepares his children to Affliction. Nay there is more, namely, that this strange Countrey, thorow the which wee hauehave to passe, is the Kingdome of Satan. For Iesus Christ calling the deuill aIoh. 12.31.the prince of this world, cals by consequence this world the Kingdome of the deuill. Now it were ill taking of one measures, as to imagine to ones selfe, that Gods children can long liue in peace in the Kingdom of Satan. And surely as often as the Scripture names vsus the children of God, shee prepares vsus couertly to persecution: and who doubts but when Iesus Christ will chase the deuill out of a Countrey by the preaching of the Gospell, that the deuill doeth not what lies in him to resist him? Wee may with good reason compare an estate where idolatry raignes, to a body possessed with an euill spirit. Euen as therefore when Iesus Christ commanded an vncleane spirit to goe out of a body, the euill spirit did wreath and teare that body with all his power. So when Iesus Christ, with the preaching of his Word, will driue away idolatry out of a Country, and dispossesse the deuill of some corner of his Empire; this vncleane spirit teares the Country with ciuill wars, stirres vp troubles, excites scandals; to the end that if he cannot ouer-whelme the Church, hee may make at the least the doctrine of saluation odious among the people, as causes of these confusions.
The Spirit of God hath foretold vsus this, where, at eueryevery bReuel. 6.opening of the Seales, wherewith the Booke was shut, which are as many manifestations of the doctrine of the Gospell, there happen great earth-quakes, and men kill one another, and these troubles are followed with famine and mortality; for the deuill, who imitates Gods actions preposterously, and corrupts them in counterfetting them, seeing that the sores and emerods, wherewith the Philistines were strucken, were a cause that the Arke was sent backe out of the Country, as a cause of all that euill, endeuours to follow this example, troubling and spoyling a Country, so soone as the Gospell is entred into it, that the princes and people prouoked, imputing these euils to the Gospell, may expell it out of their Country. Which was the cause, why cMatth. 8.when Iesus Christ came into the Country of the Gergesenes; the deuils did cast headlong into the sea the herd of many Swine of that Country; to the end that the Gergesenes troubled with this losse, might beseech Iesus Christ, that he would depart out of their coasts; which withdrawing of Iesus Christ will happen vntounto all those, that hauehave more affected their Swine and their temporall commodities, then the profitable presence of the Sonne of God.
It is the selfesame spirit, that moued the Iewes, Rebels to Gods Word, to say vntounto Ieremy, dIerem. 44.10.Since wee left off to burne Incense to the Queene of heauen, and to powre out drinke offerings vntounto her, wee hauehave wanted all things, and hauehave beene consumed by the sword and by the famine; as if the seruice of the true God, were the cause of the publike calamity.
So the Infidels did impute vntounto the Christian Religion, the plagues, Tertull. Apol.barrennesse, and the publike disasters. If the Nyle had not couered their fields, if the Tyber had sweld ouer their wals, if the heauen did stop, if the earth was shaken, the inraged people required, that the Christians should be exposed to the Lyons of the Amphitheater, as sacrifices of expiation, for the saluation of the Common-weale.
The like hath not beene done to other Religions, though very much different among themselues. The Romans hauing conquered a Country, brought the gods of the Country prisoners, and led them in triumph. But a little after, they builded Temples to the very same captiue gods. By this meanes an hundred false religions liued together in peace, euen in one City. Against the sole Christian Religion, the whole world hath beene stirred vp, because It alone beats downe the Empire of the deuill. Many lies may concurre together, but neuer can vntruth agree with truth.
So yet euen to this day wee see at Rome whole streetes of Iewes, who hold that Iesus Christ was a seducer, and liue in peace vnderunder the shade of the Papall seat, and vnderunder the protection of him, who stileth himselfe the Vicar of Iesus Christ. The Mahumetans liue also there without danger. There are but those that are of the true Religion, that are not permitted. If any one saith, that the people ought to read the holy Scripture, and vnderstand himselfe speaking to God; or if any one saith, that there is no other purgation of our sinnes, then the blood of the Sonne of God; nor no other sacrifice of Redemption then his death. If any one saith, that we must not pray vntounto the dead, nor adore Images, and that to adore Iesus Christ, wee must lift vp our hearts towards heauen, where hee sits at the right hand of God; and we must not beleeue that God can be made by men; such a man must not be permitted to liue; against such a one all cruelty is too gentle, and all torments are light. Which is an euident marke of the truth of our Religion, seeing it is most odious to the world, where nothing pleaseth it but that which displeaseth God; and that the Pope of Rome suffering at the feete of his Throne the sworne enemies of Iesus Christ, cannot tolerate our Religion.
The third Cause of the Afflictions of the Church, 3Cause, the nature of the Church.is the nature of the Church it selfe, and the vices that creepe in by peace and prosperity. For euen as the sweet showres causing the corne to grow, causeth also therewith many bad weeds to spring vp; and as the Sunne at the Spring with many faire flowers causeth many sorts of vermine. So peace restored to the Church after persecution, hauing restored vntounto vsus the preaching of the Word, hath also brought many vices.
After the Massacres which hauehave diminished vsus, and the banishments which hauehave scattered vsus, God had reestablished vsus by an excellent deliuerance; and wee were a miraculous example of Gods fauour before the eyes of forraine nations, who were rauished in admiration to see, that at the view of a Court, and in the grand Cities of this Kingdome, where our bloud hath beene so often spilt, the Church was set vp againe with luster, and the Gospell preached with such liberty; They said that which is said in the Psalme: Surely ePsal. 126.the Lord hath don great things for thē.
But wee hauing nothing wanting to vsus, hauehave beene wanting to our selues, and hauehave not well acknowledged the time of our visitation. For few hauehave had care to raise vp the ruins of the House of God, but eueryevery one hath beene ready enough to repaire his owne; and addict himselfe to gather goods, in stead of making prouision of good workes. Couetousnesse and insolencie are increased, but godlinesse is diminished. The quarrels hauehave beene kindled, and zeale waxe cold. The apparell hauehave beene sumptuous, and the almsedeeds sparing. Wee hauehave bin impatient in our owne iniuries, but little sensible of the iniuries against Gods honour. In lieu of incouraging mutually one another in the worke of the Lord, wee hauehave beene enuious one against another. And though the souldiers made difficulty to teare our Sauiours coat, wee hauehave made no conscience to teare his body. By this meanes, besides the hatred that our enemies bore vsus already, wee hauehave opened our owne sides to our selues, and wakened the hopes of those that hate vsus. In stead of drawing vntounto vsus the ignorant by our good life, wee hauehave driuen away the domesticall, and offended the weake by our euill conuersation.
That generous Nobility, who in the time of our fathers did burne with zeale, and was the stay and ornament of Gods Church; whose vertue supports as yet our vices; which was sober, honest, and couragious, esteeming that to lose for Iesus Christ was a great gaine; so liberall of her bloud, so sparing of Gods glory; hath left a posterity, who for the most part is not hot, but to pleasure; not couragious, but for quarrels; but remisse and weake against vices; full of an arrogant ignorance, ready to sell their brethren for a little money, and to turne their backe to God for a morsell of bread.
The haunting of our Aduersaries hath corrupted our manners, and wee were scarce distinguished from them, but by the difference of profession; As if Satan had plucked vp in the night the bounds that separated vsus; or as if wee were come forth out of persecutions to re-enter into vices.
The reprehensions of faithfull Ministers hauehave bin ill taken, and some hauehave beene incensed against them; as if a deformed person brake the looking glasse, in the which it hath seene her deformity. And the Word of God hath not had that ordinarie efficacie; as if the Spirituall sword had lost his point, or had beene blunted against the hardnesse of hearts; as if the threatnings that God makes by his Prophets concerning the corporall bread, that hee would take away his strength and nutritiue vertue, were happened to the Spirituall bread of his Word.
Yea in this present Affliction, how many shall wee finde amongst vsus, that are more offended when the Name of God is blasphemed, then when men doe reuile them? or that beares more impatiently his domesticall losses, then the Affliction of the Church? Who is it, that in this calamity apprehends not more the losse of his estate, the confiscation of his land, the breaking of his hous-hold-stuffe, thē to see idolatry set vp againe, and the Kingdome of Satan restored? And who in the Affliction of his brethren, would not easily comfort himselfe, if he were assured to liue in peace in his owne house? Who is it that consecrates his closet, and his houres of solitarinesse to holy Meditations, and to powre out his sighs before God, rather then to count his money, and looke to his domesticall affaires? Who is it that endeuoureth not rather to leaue riches to his children, then to teach them to make vse of them rightly, and to leese them couragiously for the profession of the Gospell? And if the feare, and the present perill, and the calamitie that presseth vsus doth not range vsus in order, what would wee doe in full prosperity? And when persons so ill disposed, and whose zeale is so cold, shall be pressed, and that their turne will bee to suffer after others, what can one hope of their perseuerance?
Some feares are befalne vsus since tenne or twelue yeeres, and dangers which at diuers times hauehave brought vsus euen at the doore of persecution. Then did wee fast, and humbled our selues before God, and there was seene amongst vsus a kinde of repentance. But the perill being past, we returned incontinently to our ordinarie dissolutions: quarrels hauehave beene awakened, and God hath not beene better ferued. This Gourd growne vp in a moment, withered a while: after, being strucke by the worme of our prophanation.
Meane while you saw the darkenesse of ignorance thicken, and errour gather strength. In our enemies, superstition was a great deale more feruent, then true Religion in vsus. They tooke off, euen to their earings, to melt a golden calfe: but wee were niggards in the building of the holy Tabernacle. Their Images were couered: and our poore naked: and their blind deuotion did arraigne our irreuerence. Many amongst vsus, who hauehave mocked at those that durst not read the Scriptures, for feare of being seduced, hauehave not cared to read it, or at least by the reading are not become better. Many amongst vsus hauehave mocked at those that pray without vnderstanding themselues: but they themselues make their prayer to God, not thinking on that they say, and their gesture witnesseth their want of reuerence. Those are ignorant, but these prophane; those know not what they doe, but these doe not what they know; those erre in the night, but these doe expresly stray out of the way at noone.
There was a time that they testified of our integrity, and did know vsus by our plainenesse and homelinesse in clothes, and sincerity in our actions, by our mutuall, charity and concord, and because Gods Word was in our mouthes; and said that which the Iewes of the hous-hold of Caiphas said vntounto Peter. fMatth. 26.73.Surely thou art one of them, for thy speech bewrayeth thee. But sithence they hauehave begunne to alter their manner of speech, and to say, How hauehave these folkes endured so many euils for a Religion, whereof they make so little esteeme? And can this Religion bee good, seeing that thereby men wax worse and worse? Now wee conceiue why they denie meates: it is because they would dispence with themselues about good workes. Now it appeares why they mockt at Purgatory: it is because they pretend to enter into Paradise with their vncleanesse. And to what tends this iustification by faith, without workes, but onelyonly that they should not bee bound to do good works? and the confidence & trust in the mercies of God, but onelyonly that they may fall asleepe on this pillow, and plunge themselues into vices? By this meanes wee hauehave beene the cause that Gods holy Name hath bin blasphemed, and his truth made stinking among men; wee hauehave hardened the ignorant, and giuegive occasion of scandall to the weake.
And it is good that therupon we be taught by our enemies; if perchance those that hauehave not been moued by the sweetnesse of the voyce of our God, can bee pricked by the sharpnesse of the reproches of those that hate vsus. For as one may doubt, which is the better of the two, either to bee faithfully reprooued by his friends, or be praised by his enemies; so is it a thing out of doubt, that the praises of our friends are not so profitable to vsus, as the blames and reproches of our aduersaries.
But behold wherewith we are to be more astonished; for such a thing is befalne in the time of prosperity and of rest, that was vnheard of before, and which is not happened in the time of fiers, and in the heate of persecution. For then, if any Minister of Gods Word had reuolted, that had been esteemed a wonder; and hee that had seene him then, would hauehave suspected his owne eyes, and would hauehave had much adoe to beleeue it. But these latter yeeres hauehave produced a number of such examples, and the holy Ministery hath been possessed by traitors. Bellies are mounted vp in the Pulpit, who for a little money hauehave sold their soules to the diuell; who hauehave not done so much hurt by their apostasie, as they had done by their euill life, seeing that in going out, they hauehave disburthened the body of the Church of an inward plague, as if it had vomited out a worme, or cast out a filth out of the House of God.
And if men seeke for the zeale and constancy of our forefathers amongst vsus, they shall seeke for that which God findes not there; for they did snatch at the bread of the Word of God from the middest of the flames, and did seeke after it amidst the perils: but we are in distaste with it amidst our plenty. If they were imprisoned for glorifying God, in the selfe-same prison they glorified God to the double. They ranne to martyrdome, and wee to pleasure, and to couerousnesse. They were more prodigall of their liues, then wee of our money. They suffered more willingly for Iesus Christ, then we do speake for him. They increased and edified the Church of God by their good life, which wee destroy by our peruerse life. And if these faithfull seruants of God, who amidst the fires and the persecutions, hauehave planted so many Churches with so great and good successe, should rise vp from the dust; they could not know their flockes, and would be astonished, how in so little time Satan hath made so great a distraction.
In a word, our Churches doe resemble the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar, whose head was of gold, and the stomake of siluer, and the belly of brasse, and the thighes of iron, and the feet mingled with earth: for the more wee descend, and the worser wee waxe. And as the seuen leane kine that appeared to Pharaoh, deuoured the seuen fat ones that marched before them: our latter yeeres hauehave consumed the plenty of the former, and hauehave brought vsus the want of the Word of God.
Thereupon, as the expert Mariners beholding the foame shaping it selfe on the sea, and the Fowles of the sea retiring themselues by flockes towards the land, doe presage a storme: so the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell, whom God hath established Watchmen ouer his House, seeing this corruption, did presage with a loud voyce, the tempest to come, and did foresee the euill that is befalne vsus.
The euents hauehave verified our words: they hauehave been true, to their great griefe, and their threatnings hauehave beene prophesies against their will. For God in an iustant hath turned away his fauorable countenance; he hath brought the dayes of weeping, and of anguish, and of desolation: dayes, wherein after the teares drawn dry, remains nought, according to the world, but sorrowfull silence, full of confusion, and an expectation of worser things. Dayes, in the which the blood of the faithfull is spilt, and the wilde Bores hauehave broken vp the inclosures of the Lords inheritance; & the remembrance of the seruices of Ioseph is lost. Wherein our Townes are sacked, the people numbred by the sword, and wee are driuen out of the Countrey, which we hauehave defended for those that did expell vsus. Dayes, wherein the threatnings of the Prophets are fulfilled, prophecying, that amidst the ruines of the House of God, should bee heard the Cormorant, and the Owle; and the Satyrs should skip and sport there: that is to say, that the children of darkenesse, and the euill spirits should reioyce amidst the desolation of the Church.
For God hath said in himselfe, Seeing that this people doth corrupt himselfe in prosperity, wee will see if hee will amend in aduersity; Seeing that my words hauehave not mooued them, I will mooue them with paine; Seeing that he hath not heard the sweetnesse of my voyce, he shall feele the waight of my hand. Because we hauehave bin tyed to our goods, as if wee were children of this world, God driuing vsus from our houses into a strange Countrey, makes vsus to feele in effect, that we are allies and strangers on earth. Because wee hauehave not heard the voyce of the afflicted, God hath not heard vsus in our affliction: because we hauehave been so quicke to quarrell, God hath stirred vp a stronger quarrell; that as the burning Feauer dries vp the itch; so the feare of our enemies may smother vp these pettie riots that itch vsus. Hee punisheth the distastes of his Word with the want, and the abuse of prosperity with persecution. He sends a famine not of bread, but of the Word of God, according to the threatning of the Prophet Amos, gAmos 8.12.They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the North, euen to the East; they shall runne to and fro to seeke the Word of the Lord, and shall not finde it. Then they lament those happy dayes, whereof they made so little esteeme; wherein they went in great troopes to serue God, wherein the ensigne of his Gospell was lifted vp. They consider with a heart pierced with griefe, that in those places where the Word of God was preached with full liberty, there they see an heape of ruines, a horrid silence, or a prophane laughter and an insulting of the enemies. O Lord, that thy hand is heauie, and that thy iudgements are iust, wee adore thy counsels with silence, we passe a voluntary cōdemning ouer our selues, we giuegive thee glory in humbling our selues.
CHAP. IV. The benefit God makes to his Church by Afflictions.
ALthough afflictions, wherewith God visits his Church, are iust punishments; notwithstanding, that hinders not, but that God drawes from them other wholesome effects, and diuerts them to another vse. These effects are either 1. in regard of hypocrites; or 2. in regard of his children that suffer; or 3. in regard of those vntounto whom this example is propounded; of which three kindes of fruits it is needfull to treat in order.
In the first place. 1Fruits of persecutions, in regard of hypocrites.Our God by afflictions is accustomed to cleanse his Church, and to make the hypocrites to goe out of it. He sifts his Church, to separate the filth from it; hMat. 3.12whose Fan is in his hand, to purge thorowly his floore, that the chaffe and light spirits may be carryed away by the wind of persecution. Those are the waters of triall, iIudg. 7.whereunto God leades men to call them, and retaines for himselfe none but such as lappe with their hand of the water in passing, and doe not stop for the inioying of the commodities of this life. But hee sends backe those that wallow in them, and giuegive themselues wholly ouer to them. Could wee know what true faith is, if there were no hard trials? Could one discerne the true Christians from the hypocrites, if they were not tried in the Cruet of affliction? Then it appeares, how much different things they are, to speake and to doe well. Then is knowne the difference betweene faith and carnall security; betweene zeale and affected violence; betweene to be of the true Religion by custome, or by birth; and to be by affection. As Simeon said to the mother of our Lord, kLuk. 2.35A sword shall pierce thorow thine owne soule, that the thoughts of many hearts may bee reuealed. For it is easie to follow Iesus Christ at weddings, or when he giues bread: But to follow him vntounto the Crosse, appertaines but to the Virgin Mary, and to Saint Iohn, and to a few of the faithfull, who burne with zeale, and whom God strengthens with his Spirit. God puts such persons in sight, trying against them the poynt of afflictions. He shakes the tree which hee hath planted, to make that fruit fall, that hauehave the core tainted; and that adhere not to the Church of God, but by humane considerations, and not by a firme confidence and assurance in the promises of the Gospell. And it seemes that God will bring foorth a time, wherein none shall perseuere in the profession of the true Religion, but hee that shall hauehave a faith greater then a graine of Mustard-seed.
Notwithstanding, the falles and the reuolts of some, serue to confirme the rest. For obseruing by what meanes Satan hath seduced those that are falne, they auoyd his ambush, and doe withdraw themselues from the place where the pace is slippery, and Satan lies in ambush. They obserue, that this man hath been surprised with couetousnesse, that man corrupted by pleasure, that other carried away by haunting the wicked; and thereupon being seazed with an holy feare, and with a trembling to saluation, they implore earnestly the help and assistance of God. And so that sentence of the Sonne of God is verified, who saith, that God lIob. 15.purgeth and lops his Church as a Vine-dresser, that that which remaines may beare more fruit.
It was neuer otherwise, and it shall bee alwayes so. The Prophet Elias thought he remained alone; so great were the reuolts. Many of Iesus Christs Disciples forfooke mIoh. 6.66him, and walked no more with him. And the Apostle doth foretell, that n1. Tim. 4.1.in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. Can a man wonder if a body that hath voyded much fleame in his youth, doth voyd yet more in his old age? And if the sea that hath alwayes cast much fome and filth on the shore, continues yet to cast it now a dayes? If you say, I but the Church leeseth by these reuolts, and is weakened: I answere, that a body is not weakened in voyding of bad humours, nor a Common-weale in leesing traitors: And that peace did corrupt many more, then affliction doth ouerturne. For as one takes more birds with bird-lime, then one kils with the Peece: so ease belimes more, then persecution beates downe.
From the very same afflictions the children of God gather many fruits. 2Fruits of persecutions, in regard of the faithfull that suffer.For God by this meanes keepes them in feare; awakes their zeale which languished; pluckes from them the very heart-burning sighes; drawes teares from their eyes; inflames their prayers by anguish. And if hauing acknowledged, that the cause of the euill is in them, and that their sinnes hauehave stirred vp this tempest, they cast this Ionas into the sea; God will appease the tempest, and will restore to them a calme.
By this meanes also hee weanes them from earthly delights; plants in their hearts a contempt of the world; and fashions them to humility and obedience, wherein they hauehave the Lord Iesus himselfe for example, who, saith the Apostle, oHeb. 5.8.Though hee were a Sonne, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. By banishments, he teacheth them that they are strangers in this world. By reproches, hee stirres them vp to seeke their glorie in Iesus Christ; for if wee had here on earth all things according to our desires, wee should not thinke of our going from hence, and wee would say, pMatth. 17.4.It is good for vsus to be here: let vsus make here Tabernacles.
The very same Afflictions doe serue to strengthen the faith of the faithfull; for after this shocke, the faithfull, seeing himselfe standing vpright without hauing staggered, hath a great euidence of his election, and of the fauour of God, who hath supported him in so great a tentation. So the metals purified and dryed by the fire, are more durable. qRom. 5.Experience worketh hope, which maketh not ashamed; and that will happen which Saint Peter saith, r1. Pet. 1.7That the triall of our faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, will be found vntounto praise, and honour, and glorie, at the appearing of Iesus Christ. So that all being well considered, it appeares that those that persecute vsus, doe serue vsus; and that our enemies are our Physicians against their intention; and these Horse-leeches, or bloud-suckers a-thirst of our bloud doe heale vsus. So the King of Assur is termed sIsa. 10.5, 7.the rod of Gods anger, as sent from God to punish his Church: Howbeit hee meaneth not so, nor doth his heart thinke so, but it is in heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few: In seruing his owne ambition, hee serues the counfell of God, and the saluation of his children.
By these same Afflictions, God makes knowne what is the efficacie of his Spirit in those that appertaine to his election: for who is he, that reading the martyrdome of many holy women, doth not admire in a body so weake, so great a force of courage? How comes it that such tender and delicate creatures, who before durst not snuffe a candle with their fingers, hauehave resolued to cast themselues whole into the fire? In the same histories you see persons taken from the dregs of the people, that hauehave confounded the subtilties of the Inquisitors by their wise answers, and ouercome the cruelty of the tyrants by their constancie: that that sentence of the Apostle may be verified, tPhil. 4.13.I can doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth me; and that the promise of the Sonne of God may be fulfilled; uLuk. 21.15.I will giuegive you a mouth and wisdome, which all your aduersaries shall not bee able to gainesay nor resist.
Euen as GOD giues stronger rootes to those trees which hee hath planted on the toppe of high rockes, because they are more roughly beaten with the windes; so God giues more force to those persons, whom he exposeth to rough temptations, and giues faith according to the temptation. Hee puts not out his children to the Combate, to forsake them in their neede; for neither doe we enter into this conflict grounded on our forces, but on his assistance. It is in this extremity, that the Angell of God wipes off the drops of bloud, and Iesus sheweth to the eyes of faith the crowne; and the Spirit of God, who is the comforter, speakes to the heart of Gods children, and kindleth within them a heate that is victorious ouer the heate of the fire. For if God at all times receiues the sighes of the faithfull, how much more the last sigh of one of his children, that suffers for his Name? If God gathereth vp their teares, how much more their bloud? If Iesus Christ on the Crosse praied for those that crucified him, how much more will he in his glory make intercession for those, that are crucified for his sake? Surely xPsal. 116.15.precious in the sight of the Lord is eueryevery kinde of death of his Saints. How much more precious is that kinde of death particularly consecrated and deuoted vntounto the defence of his quarrell? VntoUnto such hee hath prepared crownes, and a rest, whereof wee will speake hereafter.
Finally, 3Fruit of persecutions, in regard of those to whom this example is propounded.God makes vse of the sufferings of his seruants, to build his Church, and incourage the weake; as the Apostle teacheth vsus, I yPhil. 1.12, 13, 14.would yee should vnderstand (brethren) that the things which happened vntounto me, hauehave falne out rather vntounto the furtherance of the Gospell. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident in my bonds, are much more bold to speake the Word without feare. There is nothing so perswading as the words of a dying man, yea without words his sufferances speake, and perswade more then any preaching; for then all the affections are layd open vntounto view, and dissimulation hath then no place. The ashes of the Martyrs at all times hauehave beene the seed of the Church. Neere by these ashes wee warme againe our zeale, which hath taken cold; their constancie awakes our faintnesse; for if they doe not serue vsus for example, they will serue to accuse vsus. Their example will serue vsus, if considering their zeale and the greatnesse of their sufferings, wee put our selues in their place, & thinking what wee would doe, if wee were called to the like triall, and if wee are prouided of sufficient armour for so great a combate.
The which I say of the death of Martyres, is to be applied also to all those sufferings, by the which the faith of the faithfull is tried and layd open vntounto view. For as the drugges doe yeeld more sent when they are stamped in a morter; so the faith of the faithfull is of better odour during Affliction. So that the Tyrants and persecutors hauehave often serued, without their thinking, to build the Church, and to enlarge it, and hauehave spred the good sauour of the Gospell. Thus the dissipation of the Church of Ierusalem by the persecution of Saint Stephen, serued to spread the doctrine of saluation to the Countries thereabout; and to raise a number of Churches: That happening vntounto persecutors, which might happen to the man, who to put out a quicke fire of coales, should scatter it ouer all the chamber, and so should set on fire the whole house.
The Tyrants themselues hauehave oftne beene astonished to see themselues disappointed of their intention. They hauehave often beene affrighted at the constancie of Martyrs; and the breaking of these earthen vessels hath affrighted the Madianites, & hath put out to view the Lampe of faith that was therein inclosed.
CHAP. V. Comforts wherwith the Word of God furnisheth against persecution. And first, the example of Iesus Christ, and the conformity with him.
THe Word of GOD goes yet further. For in these selfesame persecutions, by the which God chastiseth vsus iustly, it findes not onelyonly meanes to profit, but also matter to reioyce and to glorie therein. So the Apostle Saint Paul saith, that aRom. 5.3.wee glorie in tribulation; and the Apostle to the Hebrewes commends the faithfull Iewes, for that bHeb. 10.34.they tooke ioyfully the spoyling of their goods. And all the Apostles together, after they had beene beaten, cAct. 5.41.departed from the presence of the Councell, reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name.
One of the principall grounds of this ioy, is to hauehave in these sufferances Iesus Christ for our Chiefe and companion, and to take part with him in his reproch. For what is there more honourable, then to carrie the Crosse after Iesus Christ, seeing that in it hee hath triumphed ouer hell, and dCol. 2.15.made a shew openly of all the power of the deuill? What greater honour can there be, then to bee made conformable vntounto Iesus Christ, and eGal. 6.17.to beare in his body the markes of the Lord Iesus? Or who would be ashamed to weare a garment, which the King of heauen hath worne? Those that in times past hauehave beene prisoners with our Kings taken in battell by the enemies, hauehave thereby got great honour; and their memorie is ingrauen in the histories long agoe. How much more is it an honourable thing to be a companion of the sufferings of the eternall Sonne of God, who makes vsus partakers of his Afflictions, that hee may make vsus partakers of his Kingdome? Truely it is a more honourable thing to suffer with Christ, then to triumph with the world. It is better to be blamed for Iesus Christ his sake, thē to bee commended without him or against him. It is a greater honour to be inserted in the Booke of Martyrs, then to be put in the Chronicles of the Kingdome. For seeing that we hauehave not life but by the death of Iesus Christ, wee must not thinke that wee can hauehave any true glory then by his ignominy. And seeing that our life is so short and so miserable, to what more excellent vse can wee imploy it, then to mingle our blood with the blood of the Sonne of God, and subsigne and ratifie by our death the doctrine of the Gospell?
Moreouer, we not onelyonly suffer, according to the Conformity of Christs sufferings, but also Christ declares, that when we suffer, hee suffereth also with vsus. fMatth. 25.40, 45.In as much as ye hauehave done it vntounto one of the least of these my brethren, yee hauehave done it vntounto me. Himselfe spake from heauen, saying, gAct. 9.4.Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou mee? Although that the Lord was then in his glorie. For hee suffers euen now-a-dayes in his members, as the Apostle Saint Paul sayth, hColos. 1.I fill vp that which is behinde of the Afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake which is the Church. Whē they massacre the faithfull, they pierce againe his feete and his hands; and when they take their goods from them, they cast lots vponupon his coate.
If then yee are banished from your Country for the profession of the Gospell; remember that our Lord Iesus, to shew that hee was here on earth a stranger, would be borne in an Inne, and being as then in his cradle, fled into Egypt. Are yee poore? remember our Lord Iesus, who liued of the substance of certaine women fearing God. Are yee ill bedded? remember Iesus Christ, who had not where to rest his head. Are yee by pouerty constrained to drinke water? remember that Iesus Christ, who suffered for you, was put to drinke vineger.
Are yee by the ruine of Churches, where the Gospell was preached, brought to assemble together in chambers and secret places, while the false doctrine is preached vnderunder vaulted roofes, and in loftie Churches? put before your eyes Iesus Christ, who preached in a boate tossed, & amidst the noise of the waues, whilst that the Scribes and Pharises did preach in the Temple of Salomon. Doubtlesse this tossing of the ship, and the noise of waters amidst which hee preached, did serue to prepare his Disciples to the preaching of the Gospell amidst the agitation of troubles, and amidst the noise of those great waters; whereof mention is made in the Reuelation, iReuel. 17.which are peoples and contrary nations.
Are yee charged maliciously, and blackt with iniuries, as seditious and perturbers of the Kingdome, and as enemies to all good worke? Remember that our Lord Iesus was called a deuill; notwithstanding he was the Sonne of God; that he was accused to bee an enemie to Caesar, and that hee would vsurpe the title of King, though hee payd tribute to Caesar, and exhorted others to it. That hee was accused as if hee would abolish the Law, notwithstanding hee came to fulfill it.
CHAP. VI. The second Comfort, the example of Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs.
IT is not a small honour also to march after so many Martyrs, after so many Prophets and Apostles, that hauehave made plaine the way. Iezebel did put to death the Prophets of Israel, and Abdias did hide an hundred of them in two caues. Zechariah the sonne, of Iehoiada, k2. Chron. 24.22.was killed in the Court of the House of the Lord, by the commandement of King Ioash. The History of the Iewes doth testifie, that Isaiah was sawed in two by the commandement of the King Manasses. That Ieremiah was stoned to death at Taphnes in Egypt. And the Apostles hauehave not beene better vsed. We are inrolled and mustered for the selfesame warre, and maintaine the selfesame, cause though with lesse vigour. And although we are inferiour to them in vertue, notwithstanding God doth vsus that honour, to make vsus of their bands, and propounds vntounto vsus the very same Crowne. Who had not rather be in prison with the Apostle Saint Paul, then bee with Nero on a throne? Or who esteemes not the condition of Iohn the Baptist more happy then that of Herod, a slaue to his concupiscence? By the example of these excellent seruants of God, Iesus Christ incourageth vsus: lMat. 5.11, 12.Blessed are yee, when men shall reuile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of euill against you falsely for my sake: Reioyce, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heauen; for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you.
If any one be ill lodged and fitted, let him remember, that the ancient Christians did hide themselues in Caues: if his table be ill furnished, let him say, The Apostles had not so much; & this is better worth then the Locusts & the wild hony of S. Iohn the Baptist. If hee be put to get his liuing with his hands for the Word of Gods sake; let him remember the Apostle Saint Paul, who laboured with his hands, and got his liuing with making of Tents; and let him perswade himselfe, that seeing God makes him conformable to his faithfull seruants in their afflictions, hee will make him conformable to them in that glory which they inioy. Who is it that burnes not with zeale, reading the booke of Martyrs? Who is it that feeles not himselfe touched to the quicke, by the example of Hierome of Prague, chiding the executioner that would light the fire behind him, and saying, Put the fire before me, for if I feared the fire, I would not be heere? Or by the example of that woman, who in the time of Valens, ranne with her haire loose about her eares, holding a child in her armes toward the place where the Martyrs were executed; and demanded whither she ran, answered, Crownes are giuen to day, and I will bee partaker of them.
But that whereunto Iesus Christ doth principally prepare vsus by his abouementioned words, is to indure calumnies and outragious iniuries for his sake, after the example of the Prophets. Doe not finde it strange, if men perswade Kings, that our doctrine is iniurious to Soueraignes, and tendeth to the diminution of their authority: For so hath the Prophet Amos been handled by an idolatrous Priest, who accused him to Ieroboam, saying, mAmos 7.10.Amos hath conspired against thee, in the middest of the house of Israel; the Land is not able to beare all his words.
Doe no finde it strange, if on these calumnies, those that serue God in purenesse are expelled out of the house of the King; for cōmandement was incontinently giuen to the same Prophet, nAmos 7.13.Prophecie not againe any more at Bethel, for it is the Kings Chappell, and it is the Kings Court.
No more are you to wonder, if now adayes the faithfull are accused of sedition, and to bee the cause of the troubles of the Kingdome; and the Kings are prouoked to persecute thē, and to cut their right hand with their left. For it is the same whereof the Apostle Saint Paul was accused by Tertullus, oAct. 24.5Wee hauehave found this man a pestilent fellow, and a moouer of sedition. And that which is the most intolerable, is, that those that put those blames vponupon vsus, are those that hauehave their hands dyed in the blood of our Kings; who of fresh memory hauehave stirred vp the French to rebellion, out of whose schoole are issued the Paricides; and who by expresse bookes burnt in publike by the hand of the executioner, doe teach, that the Pope may take away the life and Crowne from our Kings, and dispose of their Kingdom. We should hauehave a bad opinion of our selues, if such men spake well of vsus. God forbid they should praise vsus, while that they speake ill of Gods Word, who is iniured and wronged with vsus, and is ioyned with vsus in this quarrell; who also will change their curses into blessings, and will set in view our innocency, as hee promiseth vsus, pPsa. 37.6.God shall bring foorth thy righteousnes as the light, and thy iudgment as the noon day. The day will come, wherein God will heare againe our aggrieuances and wrongs in full iudgement; and will bring for the last time our suit vntounto an hearing, and will render vntounto eueryevery one according to his workes.
No more also must wee maruell, if all the mischances of the Countrey are imputed to vsus. For it is that wherewith Ahab charged the Prophet Elias; q1. King. 18Art thou he that troubleth Israel? as if he had been the cause of the famine.
Neither is it at this time onelyonly, that the true Religion is accused that it corrupteth manners, and giues liberty to all dissolution; for the enemies of the Gospell hauehave they slandered the Apostles, vnderunder colour that they preached the grace of God in Iesus Christ, affirming rRom. 3.8.that they say, Let vsus doe euill, that good may come; and, sRom. 6.1.Let vsus continue in sinne, that grace may abound. Satan following the same steps, did of old defame the Christian Affemblies, as if they did commit filthines one with another, the candles being put out; and kild a child, whose blood they sucked, inuenting a thousand such impostures.
It is therefore a great honour to vsus, that we are blamed with such persons, whom God hath so much honoured. It is better to be defamed with the Prophets and Apostles, then to bee praised with the world, whose praises are rather an accusation.
CHAP. VII. The third comfort, the greatnesse of the reward.
TO incourage vsus to beare the reproch of Christ, the holy Scripture propounds vntounto vsus also the greatnesse of the reward: tMat. 5.12Reioyce and bee exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heauen. for if Iesus Christ declares vntounto vsus, that that man shall not leese his reward, that shall uMat. 10.42.hauehave powred and giuen a cup of cold water to a poore man in his necessity; hee that shall hauehave powred out all his blood for the Word of God, shall hee hauehave no reward? If x2. Tim. 2.12.wee suffer with him, wee shall also raigne with him. It is hee that tels vsus, yReu. 2.10Bee thou faithfull vntounto death, and I will giuegive thee a Crowne of life: zReu. 13.10.Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints. If men take away our goods, we hauehave aHeb. 10.34.in heauen a better and an induring substance. If they doe chase vsus away, Iesus Christ doth acknowledge vsus for his brethren. If we are banished, as well are we strangers in this world; and it is no further from hence to heauen, then from the place from whence we were banished. If they make vsus weepe, Iesus Christ wipes off our teares, and the promise of God comforteth vsus. If they cause vsus to dye, euen by that, they make vsus to liue. Thinking to destroy a Christian in putting him to death, is as if one would drowne a fish: for it is to put him in the place where onelyonly is his life. What imports it vsus, if wee end this life by a feuer, or with the sword? If we render vp our soules by the mouth, or by a wound? If we dye by an emotion of humours, or by a ciuill commotion? so that wee render vp our soules into the hands of him that hath purchased them with so great a perill, and that wee bee placed in the possession of his glory?
Here surely appeares the great stupidity of man, and his blindnesse; for wee see souldiers expose themselues to the danger of the shot, for a pay of sixe pence a day: but for the testimony of Iesus Christ, who giues so great a reward, they recoyle by cowardize. Many heathen men are dead couragiously for the defence of their Countrey. Contrariwise, many Christians forsake shamefully the cause of God, and to saue their liues, leese their saluation. Shall ambition hauehave greater power in the heathen, then zeale in vsus? The louelove of their Countrey, shall it bee of greater force, then the louelove of God, and the hope of saluation?
Now to inforce this exhortation, the holy Scrip…ure compares the present afflictions with the glory to come, and putting them in a ballance, findes no comparison. b2. Cor. 4.17.For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for vsus afar more exceeding and eternall waight of glory. And, cRom. 8.18I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be reuealed in vsus. dPhil. 1.21For to mee to liue is Christ, and to dye is gaine. To leese this life for the louelove of him, is as who should cast off his cloke to saue his life. To suffer for his sake, is as if a mā should cast a few drops of sweat, to gaine a great treasure.
I confesse indeed, that to vsus that are carnall, and tyed to the things present, afflictions seeme bitter: that it is a hard & offensiue thing to this flesh, to forgoe house, land, friends, to flie into a strange Country. That it is a hard thing to digest, when a man represents to himselfe, that the profession of the Gospell is fit for to share a wallet to his children, and to espouse perpetuall pouerty. And if God will trie vsus further, and call vsus to martyrdome, and will hauehave vsus to giuegive our liues for his Word, then the flesh stirres vp great conflicts, and hath much adoe to resolue; seeing that Iesus Christ testifieth euen of Saint Peter, that when he eIoh. 21.18.should be led to martyrdome, a nother should gird him and carrie him whither hee would not; and that he would willingly hauehave beene contented to exempt himselfe from this torment, if hee could hauehave done it without offending God. But also it is then when God workes powerfully in the hearts of his seruants; and euen as afflictions doe abound, so doe the comforts abound in greater measure. And God forsakes not his children, but makes them feele his secret power, and what is the seale of the Spirit, that white stone, that inward witnesse, that earnest of our inheritance; that Spirit of adoption, who speaketh to the hearts of Gods children, who represents the goods to come as present to him, and giues him in this body a taste of the glory to come.
Now the comparison betweene the afflictions of the present life and the glory to come, The Comparison in the continuance.consists, either in the continuance; or in the greatnesse and excellencie. As for the continuance; Iacob had already liued an hundred and thirty yeeres, when hee said fGen. 47.9that the dayes of the yeeres of his pilgrimage had beene few and euill. And God by his Prophet Isaiah, speaking of the affliction and captiuity of the Church which should last seuenty yeeres, saith, gIsa. 54.8.For a small moment hauehave I forsaken thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with euerlasting kindnesse will I hauehave merciemercy on thee. And although affliction should last the whole life of a man, notwithstanding, the affliction cannot be long, seeing that life is short. But God is accustomed to giuegive some respit and some dayes of refreshing, and to stirre vp some Simon of Cyrene, who easeth vsus of this burden for a while. But the life promised to Gods children, is a thing without end. A thousand millions of yeeres make not a part of the eternity, for if at the end of eueryevery million of yeeres the sea should but leese a drop; I say, that at the last it would bee drie, and that there would bee some end in this diminution. But take from eternity ten thousand of millions of yeeres, it is not diminished at all, and there is alwayes so much remayning as was before. This word For EVER is a bottomlesse depth, a conceptiō without end, where the thoughts doe leese themselues in the infinitenesse.
Which makes me often thinke, seeing that this short life drawes after it so great a traine and consequence, and that it is a moment whereon infinitnesse depends; and that the euill which men doe, cannot be amended after the course ended: how it commeth to passe that men leese and languish out needlesse their time, as if they had alwayes more remayning, and liue without thinking to dye, and dye without hauing had a thought to liue well, and goe out of this world, without knowing why they came into the world, being cast into a sleepe by a profound lethargy in the fruition of present things.
As for the excellent greatnesse of the heauenly glory, The compariton in the greatnesse and excellencie.in comparison of the lightnesse of affliction; it is a thing wherein we finde our selues much incombred, and our words are much beneath our thoghts, and our thoughts much below the truth. For God measures not his gifts according to the capacity of our thoughts and desires, but according to the greatnesse of his riches and his bounty. And if the Apostle speaking of the doctrine of the Gospell, saith, that they are things that eye hath not seene, h1. Cor. 2.9.nor eare heard, neither hauehave entred into the heart of man: How much more doth the fulfilling of these things, surpasse the capacity of our vnderstanding? If the Apostle Saint Peter hauing seene Iesus Christ transfigured, was in such wise rauished; how much more would hee hauehave beene rauished, if hee himselfe had beene transfigured; as our bodies shall be in the day, wherein the Lord iPhil. 3.21shall change our vile body, that it may bee fashioned like vntounto his glorious body?
The fathers naming the death of the faithfull, a birth, and the day of their martyrdome, the day of their natiuitie; did shew how much esteeme they did make of the life to come; excellent and glorious in comparison of this present life. And such difference as there is betwixt the life of a childe in his mothers belly, and the life of a perfect man, that leads an armie, or gouernes a Common-weale; such a one, yea greater is the difference bewixt the life of the faithfull in this body, and the life which hee shall enioy in the Kingdome of heauen. And such a comparison as there is of the corrupted darkenesse of the wombe where the childe moues it selfe, with the brightnesse of the Sunne; such is the comparison of the brightnesse of the Sun which wee enioy in this body, with the brightnesse of Gods presence, which wee shall enioy in the heauenly glory. That such a comparison as there is of the narrow place where the childe is shut vp, with this space of the earth, wheron wee walke; such is the difference betweene the widenesse of the earth, and the out-stretcht cope of the Kingdome of heauen; and as the childe comming into the world, comes forth out of darkenesse, and leauing the secondine that wraps him in, enters into the light; so the soule going forth out of this body, as out of an obscure prison, leauing this body, enters in the light of God: and that as a child, if it had the vse of reason, would rather laugh, seeing that hee is come out of an infectious and darke place, to inioy the light of the Sunne, in stead that it cries at his comming into the world. Euen so a man laments when he must dye; but if hee knew what this light is, whereinto the faithful enter by death, he would reioyce at the going out of this body, in stead of being sorrowfull.
In this life our delight is to change places, apparell, and food, and to see, or to doe some new thing; but there our felicity will consist in rest, and in not changing for euer our occupation, & in being alwaies bandied to one action, which we can neuer change without losse.
Here our soules are distracted with a thousand and a thousand diuers actions, occupied in making the heart, and the arteries, and the panting veines to beat, to puffe vp the lungs, to digest and distribute the food, to receiue the relation of ye fiue senses, to reuolue a thousand thoghts, to hold the bridle of affections, and to make it act a thousand seuerall matters at one time. But there our soules wil admire themselues, to see thēselues disburthened of all this toyle in a moment; and to enioy a peace without trouble, a happinesse without measure, a contentment without interruption, a good that satisfies all desires, and excludes all feare.
There not onelyonly shall bee no more vices nor paine, but also the most part of vertues shall bee no more, because they are rather remedies vntounto vices, and a supply against our infirmities. Faith shall be no more, for we shall hauehave the sight. Nor hope, for wee shall inioy the things hoped for. Nor patience, for there shall be no more paine. Nor continency, because there shall bee no more temptation. Nor merciemercy, for there shall be no more misery. The onelyonly knowledge of God shall fill vp our vnderstandings, and the alone louelove of God shall possesse our affections.
Those that hauehave the knowledge of true Religion, and liue in a Country where idolatry reignes, and where it is not permitted to gather together to serue God; if they happen to passe thorow a Country, where there is liberty of conscience; then finding themselues in the great assemblies of the faithfull, where the Gospell is purely preached; they admire the good hap of that people that enioyes the Word of God in such plenty. How much more thinke ye, that those soules which God hath gathered together in heauen, are rauished with ioy; when after hauing so long heard the Name of God blasphemed on earth, and his couenant prophaned; they finde themselues in the assemblies of the happy Spirits, and mixe themselues with the Saints and Angels; kReuel. 14.3.where are other songs, another kinde of thankesgiuing, that new song which none can vnderstand but those that sing it; where God being fully knowne, is also entirely serued and without any diuertion?
But how much greater shall the contentment be, to see Iesus Christ, and to visit him so neere, who is come to visit vsus from so farre off? Who is come downe on earth, to lift vsus vp to heauen? And if to see some false and supposed reliques of Iesus Christ, or to see the place of his birth or of his passion, the superstitious passe the seas, take and make long iournies with danger and cost; what would they not giuegive to see him in his glorious Maiesty, sitting at the right hand of his Father?
But the fulnesse of contentment and of glory consists in seeing the face of God, as it is said, lPsal. 16.11.In thy presence is fulnesse of ioy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for euer-more. And, I mPsal. 17.15.will behold thy face in righteousnesse: I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse. It is a face that is all eye, a face that transformes into his likenesse those that doe behold him, as a lookingglasse exposed to the Sun, as Saint Iohn saith, n1. Iob. 3.2Wee shall be like to him, for wee shall see him as hee is. And Dauid saith, oPsal. 34.6.They that looke vntounto him, are lightened; God fils them with light and perfection by the Sunbeames of his face, and by the irradiation of his Holinesse. Hee causeth them not onelyonly to see his light, but he makes them also to be light. Hee makes them to see his Brightnesse, not as wee see the brightnesse of the Sunne by two little windowes, which wee call eyes; but as if a man were eye thorowout all his body, and should receiue the light on all sides.
And who could conceiue things worthy of this sight; seeing that the corporall Sunne, which is but darkenesse in comparison of it, dazles our sight? Seeing that Moses himselfe, at the signes of the presence of God, much inferiour to this glorious view, said, pHeb. 12.21.I exceedingly feare and quake? Seeing q1. King. 19.13.that Elijah at lesser signes wrapped his face in his mantle? Seeing that the Seraphins that stand before the Throne, couer their faces with their wings, not able to endure the brightnesse of his Maiestie? Therefore wee put our finger on our mouth, and adore with silence that which wee cannot expresse with words.
Then shall we draw out of the wel-spring of goods. Then God will wipe all our teares. Then God will be all in all, that is to say, that by the fruition of this one good, hee will make vsus enioy all kindes of good, and by on good thing will satisfie vsus in all that we can desire. The number of ioynt-heires shall not diminish the portion of any one; for heauenly goods are possessed solidly and by parts vndiuideable; no lesse then eueryevery one enioyeth the whole light of the Sun. As formerly Ionathan had his strength, and his eyes enlightened, as soone as he had tasted of the hony dropping from the rocke; so the faithfull, toyled with euils, and fainting vnderunder the burthen, recouer strength, hauing tasted something of this soueraigne good. It is that that strengthened the Martyrs during their torments, and that made their faith victorious ouer death, and made them glorifie God in the middest of the flame.
It may be that there are many, who for the seruice they doe to God, would bee well contented that God would reward them with temporall riches and blessings. But God will not reward his children so ill; hee will not giuegive corporall wages for a Spirituall labour. As hee regards not what wee deserue, so hee not resolues that which wee desire; and measureth not his liberality by the weakenesse of our desires; but hee considers what is meete for his greatnesse. For also he rewards not our workes, but his gifts, & crownes the worke which hee hath begunne in vsus.
CHAP. VIII. The fourth Comfort, The weakenesse of the enemies.
VNtoUnto this Comfort drawne from the excellency of the promised reward, the Scripture addes another, taken from the weakenesse of the enemies of the Church, in cōparison of the power of God. The Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Kings of Syria and of Israel, persecutors of the Church, rIsa. 7.4.calls them in contempt, The two tailes of smoking fire-brands. The tyrants may driue vsus out of our natiue Country: but they cannot exclude vsus from the Burgesseship of heauen. They may beate downe our Temples: but mauger them, our hearts are the Temples of the holy Ghost. They may take away our money: but they cannot take away our riches. They may take from vsus our worldly honours: but not the honour to be the children of God. They may depriue vsus of our liues, but not of our saluation. And the executioner that cut off Saint Pauls head, hath not taken away his Crowne. God holds the deuill fettered with the chaine of his prouidence, which he lengthens according to his will. Sometimes he permits this Lyon to stretch out his clawes and tallons to our clothes; sometimes euen to our bodies: but an Iniunction is giuen him, not to touch our soules. Our enemies doe nothing but by Gods permission, who loues vsus. They moue not and breathe not but by the assistance of our Father. And when they hauehave done vsus all the euill they could doe vsus; God is powerfull to make, and good to will, that all things worke together for our good and saluation. In the recoiling hee findes approchings. The worst tooles serue him to make an excellent worke. Hee hath hidden wayes; hee followeth a way that is vnknowne to vsus.
And if wee consider the number, wee shall finde, that though that which appeares for vsus, seemes to be almost nothing; notwithstanding that sentence of the Prophet Elisha is true, namely, f2. King. 6.16.That they that be with vsus, are more then they that be with them. For he encampeth legions of Angels round about them that feare him. One Angell alone is stronger then all the men together; and Iesus Christ our brother and our Sauiour is stronger then all the Angels together. tIoh. 10.28.None shall plucke vsus out of his hand. He hath the number of his elect, who euen all of them shall come in their time, what hinderance soeuer Satan and the world shall put thereunto. As by our sorrow wee cannot augment the number of the elect, so our enemies cannot diminish them by their violence.
CHAP. XI. The fifth comfort, Gods promise.
ANd thereupon to succour our faith hardly assaulted, it is necessary to hauehave alwayes before our eyes the promises of God, and to hold them as a sure and firme Anchor of the soule, and as a sure foundation, and more firme then heauen or earth. Now hee hath promised, uIoh. 14.18.that hee will not leaue vsus Orphanes: hee hath made promise to vsus, that xHeb. 13.5he will not leaue vsus nor forsake vsus. He hath promised yMat. 28.20.to be with vsus always, euen vntounto the end of the world. O eternall Sonne of God, holy and true; those are thy words on the which we hauehave relyed, which being found true heretofore, will hauehave no lesse firmenes and certainty for the time to come. Now therefore seeing forces faile vsus, make vsus feele the effects of thy promises, and let not those bee confounded nor ashamed that hauehave rested on thy Word. Thou that doest number our haires, doest thou not number also our sighes, and yet more our soules? Thou that hast deliuered vsus out of hell, wilt not thou deliuer vsus out of these troubles, and out of the hand of those that persecute vsus? For what hinders vsus, but that in speaking to God, wee may imitate Dauids speech, resoluing himselfe to the combat with Goliah? z1. Sam. 17.37.The Lord that deliuered mee out of the paw of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Beare, hee will deliuer mee out of the hand of this Philistim. Let vsus also say after the same manner: That great God that hath deliuered vsus out of the iawes of the diuell, and out of the power of hell, will also deliuer vsus out of the hand of our enemies. Surely God will not aPsal. 94.forsake his people, and will be mooued with compassion towards his children. If hee suffer his Church to bee cast into the furnace of persecution, for not bowing the knee before the Idoll; the Sonne of God is in the Furnace with it to protect her. Hee makes his Church to bee like to the burning bush which was not consumed, because that God was in the middest of it. bPsal. 125.3.For the rod of the wicked shall not rest vponupon the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands vntounto iniquity. c1. Cor. 10.13.God will not suffer vsus to be tempted aboue that wee are able, but will with the tentation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to beare it. For although wee are great sinners, wee are notwithstanding his children; and wee are hated not for our sins, but for his quarrell. And besides, there will be found amongst vsus some faithfull soules that feare God feruently, for whose sake God will leaue a remnant, which hee will cause to increase, and make it an example of his blessing. Perhaps they shall not bee the greatest, nor the richest, but some poore that sigh in secret, whose lifting vp of hands will doe more then the sword of those that fight. It is the obseruation which the Wise man makes; dEccles. 9.14, 15.There was a little City, and few men within it, and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, and built great Bulwarkes against it. Now there was found in it a poore wise man, and he by his wisedome deliuered the City, yet no man remembred that same poor mā.
It is an vniust and illgrounded feare, to feare that the Church of God can euer be wholly abolished out of the world; seeing that the world is but made for the Church of God. It will neuer happen that the Sunne will rise to light only the enemies of God, and for to serue onelyonly as a lampe in a temple of idols. But then hee will leese his light, and the heauens will fall, when there shall be no more of Gods children to be borne, and that the number of the Elect bee fulfilled. Remember the forepassed ages, wherein the Church of God beaten downe, and ready to giuegive vp the ghost, set her selfe on foot againe, and became suddenly dreadfull to her enemies. Like vntounto a ship that defies the tempest, & which was thought often to bee drowned, and which is seene againe to appeare amidst the waues, against all hope: for there within is a Pilot that is Master of the winds, and who seemes now to sleepe; but he will awake himselfe, and chide the windes that blow on those waters, on the which the great whore sits, and will giuegive againe a calme. Remember also the ages of old, in the which the great and potent Empires are falne, but the Church remaines on foot amidst the ruines: euen as after a boysterous wind of many dayes, you finde the great Okes broken and cast to the ground, but the Time and Marioram whole and standing vp; for the worldly Empires hauehave for their support the strength of men, but the Church of God is held vp with ye selfesame hand, which vpholdeth heauen & earth. And if Satan could ouerturne the heauens, hee had long agoe turned them vpside downe, for he is an enemy of Gods workes: but hee cannot, because that the heauens are vpheld by the Word of Gods power; and notwithstanding the Church of God is vpheld by a firmer word; to wit, by the Word of his Couenant in Iesus Christ, whereof it is written, eMath. 24.35.Heauen and earth shall passe away, but my words shall not passe away. That Word hath brought forth the light of the eyes, but this is the light of the soules; that Word hath made the earth to bring forth fruit, but this makes our faith to beare fruit; that hath stretched out the heauens, but this procures them to vsus, and brings vsus into them; the foundations of the Church are in heauen, farre from the vndermining of the diuell, and where the indeuours and powers of the enemies cannot attaine vntounto.
True it is, 6Consideration, the punishing of a Countrey, when God takes away his Word.that for the sinnes of a Nation, and for to execute his counsell, touching the election and reprobation of men, God sometimes takes away his Church out of a Countrey, and transports this Candlesticke, to carry it into another Countrey, and to another Nation that will bring forth better fruits. For the sinnes and crimes of the Churches of Greece, and of Asia, God suffered Mahumetisme to raigne there; and for the vices of the Westerne Churches, hee hath suffered the sonne of perdition to set vp his throne there. And we know not what the counsels of God are for the time to come. But when such a thing happens, we must not thinke that God doth it onelyonly to punish his Church, for the greater part of the punishment lights on his enemies, and on a rebellious Nation that hath long time resisted his Word. Seeing therefore that this Kingdome is since so many yeeres imbrued with the blood of the faithfull; and seeing that the French Nation since so long time resisteth the Gospel, and doth wilfully oppose himselfe against the truth by a wilfull blindnesse: Is it not reason that God remoue from that people his Word, and take away from them the means of their conuersion? Is it not reason that God powre vponupon such a stiffe-necked Nation darkenesse thicker then euer before, and that it be plunged more then euer before in errour, and inthralled to idolatry? When Lot was compelled to goe out of Sodom, and to lose all his goods, who was the most punished, Lot, or the people of Sodom?
Let the Father of mercy, the God of all consolation, rather punish vsus with any other punishment in this life, then by taking away from vsus his Word. Let him leade vsus thorow the hideous Desarts; let him cause vsus to passe amidst the rolling waues, and thorow fiery Serpents, so that hee causeth to raine on vsus alwayes the Manna of his Word, and that Bread of heauen, vntill wee come vntounto the inheritance which he hath promised vsus; and that whilome the thundring voyce of the Lord breakes the Cedars, and maketh the Desart and Liban to tremble, and the Hindes to cast their Calues; withdrawing vsus in his house, we may bee comforted by his Word. That it will please him to let yet his Tabernacle to remaine in this Shiloh, and soften rather the hearts of those that persecute vsus; and not suffer that the seeds of his knowledge that are in many weake soules, which the hardnesse of time hinders from conuerting themselues, come to be altogether choked by an oppression without recouery. God forbid, that because wee hauehave preached the Gospell within, and neere vntounto the chiefest City of the Kingdome, it should onelyonly serue to make her vnexcusable, and to draw vponupon her the horrible iudgements of God, after it hath serued for a testimony in such a stiffe-necked age. For doubt not, but as the retrait of the Church of the Apostles from Ierusalem at Pella, was incontinently followed with the desolation of the Countrey; so if so great an euill should happen, as that the Church of God were rooted vp from so many places where it hath been planted; you should presently see exemplary Iudgements of God, and the viols of Gods anger proceed vponupon a people, that hath reiected his grace, and turned vpside-downe the Candlesticke of his Word: fLuk. 23.31.for if these things be done in a greene tree, what shall be done in the dry? g1. Pet. 4.18.And if the righteous scarcely bee saued, where shall the vngodly and the sinner appeare? Which we say not by wish, but with feare; not to make any predictions, but to propound that which God declares to vsus by his Word.
CHAP. X. An exhortation to bee ioyfull during Affliction.
BVt to returne to our selues, and to set together againe these comforts: The Apostle Saint Iames begins thus his Epistle, hIam. 1.2.My brethren, count it all ioy, when yee fall into diuers tentations. And Saint Paul writing to the afflicted Thessalonians, exhorts thē i1. Thes. 5.16.to reioyce euermore. And Iesus Christ himselfe saith, kMat. 5.11, 12.Blessed are yee when men shall reuile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of euill against you for my sake. Reioyce, and bee exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heauen. Which commandement the Apostles practifed, when they were beaten and scourged, lAct. 5.reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And the Apostle giueth this testimony to the faithfull Hebrewes, mHeb. 10.34.that they tooke ioyfully the spoyling of their goods, knowing in themselues, that they hauehave in heauen a better and an induring substance.
Now when Iesus Christ saith, Blessed shall yee bee when men hauehave reuiled you, and persecuted you for my sake; he doth not onelyonly declare the iudgement hee maketh of our afflictions, but declares also his will, which is, to make those blessed that suffer for his name. And when he saith, Reioyce, and bee exceeding glad: this incouragement containes a promise; for he that saith, Reioyce, is the very same that giues the true causes of ioy, and that giues that Spirit which is likened vntounto the oyle nPsal. 45.7of gladnesse. Whereupon also he is termed oIoh. 14. and 15.the Comforter. For it is hee that comforts the hearts, and disperseth the clouds of sorrow, and brings the true peace and tranquillity of conscience, namely, pPhil. 4.7.that peace that passeth all vnderstanding. Which is a small cantle of that peace and rest that is in heauen. qGal. 5.22.The fruit of the Spirit, is louelove, ioy, peace, and long-suffering.
For the feare of God doth hardly agree with a fretfull spirit, that nourisheth his griefes inwardly, and feedeth himselfe with melancholy, that corrupts all the blessings of God by an obstinate peeuishnesse, as the Snailes soyle the fairest flowers with their frothy slauer. After that God hath humbled vsus by repentance, he raiseth vsus by faith. After the lamentations for the wound of the Church, he comforts vsus with his promises, and with the expectation of our saluation, and with the honour whereby we are made like to his Sonne, and hauehave the Prophets and Apostles for companions. There is no reason, that the reproch of men should hauehave more power to make vsus sad, then the honour to bee the children of God hath power to make vsus ioyfull. There is no reason wee should bee more sorrowfull for the warre man makes against vsus, then we are glad for our peace and reconciliation with God. And wee must take heed, that our sorrow, besides weaknesse, hauehave not also ingratitude.
Therefore let vsus not suffer our selues to bee ouercome by an excessiue sorrow and an obstinate forgetfulnesse; and let vsus soak the bitternesse of our afflictions with the comforts which Gods Word affoords vsus. For are not these newes of peace and of reconciliation, which the eternall Sonne of God hath brought vsus from heauen, a great cause of ioy, by the vertue whereof we apprehend no more the face of our God, as of an angry Iudge, but we hauehave accesse vntounto the Throne of his grace, and can powre out our teares into his bosome, and speake to him with assurance, as children doe to their father?
Adde vntounto this the honour of the Couenant, in the which wee are entred by Iesus Christ, seeing we are the brethren of the eternall Sonne of God, and thereby made the children of the high God. Whosoeuer lifts vp his heart to such an high thought, and so full of glory and of comfort, beholds from aboue the commotions of peoples, and of Princes, and the confusions of this age, as things that are a great deale vnderunder him, and that cannot trouble the peace of his conscience. Euen as those that are on the top of the Alpes, are aboue the showres and tempests; see it lighten, and heare it thunder vnderunder their feet, and with a rauishment of their spirits, behold the plaine region and Country beaten with tempests, while that in place where they are, the ayre is still, the skie cleare, and the weather calme.
But who can expresse the sweetnesse of the prayer of the faithfull, and of his secret and solitarie consultation and communication with God? For seeing that a man in powring out his griefes into the bosome of his friend, findes himselfe eased, although hee can finde no remedie to it: How much more in disburdening himselfe on God by feruent and familiar prayers, seeing it is he that can, that will, and that hath promised to apply remedies to them? Therefore the Apostle in the same place where hee saith, r1. Thess. 5.16, 17.Reioyce euermore: addes thereto, Pray without ceasing. And elsewhere, sPhil. 4.6.Be carefull for nothing, but in eueryevery thing by prayer and supplication with thankesgiuing, let your request be made knowne vntounto God: for hee knew and had experience, that the soueraigne remedie to discharge himselfe of fretting and care, was to conuerse often with God. Happy is hee, who hauing had secret conference long with God, departs with a merrie coūtenance, and with a calme Spirit, as proceeding from a sweet and gracious entertayning.
It will be good also for the comforting of ones self in his afflictions, to remember often the words so sweet, and so full of comfort, whereof the Word of God is full, whereby God assures vsus; tPsal. 56.8That he gathereth vp our teares. uJsa. 49.15.That though a woman should forget her suckling childe, that shee should not hauehave compassion on the sonne of her wombe; yet will hee not forget vsus, nor forsake vsus. xZach. 2.8That he that toucheth vsus, toucheth the apple of his eye. yPsal. 34.7.That God is neere vsus, and that the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that feare him. zIoh. 14.13.That whatsoeuer wee aske in the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, that will hee doe. aIoh. 16.20.That wee shall weepe and lament, and the world shall reioyce, but our sorrow shall be turned into ioy. bMatth. 5.12.Reioyce and bee exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heauen.
Specially when the case is concerning the deliuerance of his Church, and the helpe which God promiseth vntounto his children; the Prophets are rich in exquisit termes, and in words full of maiesty, and of a sweet efficacy. cIsa. 40.1, 2.Comfort yee, comfort ye my people, shall your God say. Speake ye comfortably to Ierusalem, and cry vntounto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. dIsa. 54.7, 8, 10.For a small moment hauehave I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnesse will I hauehave mercy on thee. For the mountaines shall depart, and the hils be remoued, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. eIsa. 52.10The Lord shall make bare his holy arme in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the saluation of our God. fIsa. 25.8.Hee will swallow vp death in victory, and will wipe away teares from off all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God, wee hauehave wayted for him, wee will be glad and reioyce in his saluation. It is hee that breakes the lyons teeth, gIsa. 37.29.That puts a hooke in their nose; hPsal. 65.7.That stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of the waues, and the tumult of the people. iPsal. 94.14.Surely the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
These Comforts are a Spirituall restoratiue to the faithfull, a supply to his faith assaulted, which makes him to say with Dauid, kPsal. 3.6.I will not be afraid of tenne thousands of people, that hauehave set thēselues against me roūd about; Yea lPsal. 23.4though I walke thorow the valley of the shadow of death, I will feare no euill; for thou art with mee, thy rod & thy staffe they cōfort me. mPsal. 16.8, 9.I hauehave set the Lord alwayes before mee; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be mooued; therefore my heart is glad, and my glory reioyceth, my flesh also shall rest in hope. Euen to say with the Apostle, nRom. 8.38, 39.I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor any other creature shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. For as the same Apostle saith, oRom. 15.4.Whatsoeuer things were written afore-time, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might hauehave hope.
Let vsus meditate on these things (my brethren) and let vsus be holily couragious, cōforting our selues in God, trusting in his promises, and suffering our selues to be guided by his wisdome. For if the way by the which he leads vsus, is rough, yet is it right; and let eueryevery one, hauing powred out his sighes and his familiar complaints, raise vp himselfe in an holy assurance, and say, I will reioyce in my God in the midst of my afflictions, were it but to doe spight to the deuill, who thinkes to ouerwhelme mee with griefe, and to make my faith to stagger. But all being well pondered, when I put in a ballance the subiects of griefe, against the subiects of ioy, and that I weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary; I finde that the subiects of ioy ouerweigh very much the ballance, both in regard of the continuance, and of the greatnesse of the goods. This persecution is a rough tempest, which cannot last alwayes; either it will carrie vsus away out of this world, or God will remoue it from vsus. But amidst and through the tempestuous time, I hauehave a glimpse of the hauen of saluation, where the windes blow not, and where brightnesse and tranquillity is euerlasting. p2. Cor. 4.17, 18.Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for vsus a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory; while wee looke not at the things which are seene, but at the things which are not seene. For the things which are seene, are temporall, but the things which are not seene, are eternall.
CHAP. XI. Profitable Counsels for perseuerance in time of persecution, whereof the first, is, to withdraw ones selfe from vices.
THe Comforts aboue specified, may serue for counsels during afflictions. For whosoeuer shall hauehave a taste of them, shall hauehave a great helpe to perseuerance. Besides the which, behold yet some more Counsels, which Christian piety and prudence doe minister vntounto vsus.
The principall counsell and the most wholesome of all, is, to eschew vices, and to giuegive ones selfe to integrity, honesty, and a good conscience. The first vice that one hath to fight withall, is couetousnesse; for it is that vice which resists most a mans courage and Christian constancie, & which frameth it selfe least vntounto the profession of the Gospell in time of persecution: Because it is a trembling vice which doth mistrust eueryevery thing, which thinkes that eueryevery one spies out his money. Loade a valiant man with crownes, and hee will presently be come fearefull and apprehensiue; there is nothing so faint-hearted, as a man that puts his trust in his riches. It is an impatient vice, which makes a couetous man thinke that one flayeth him, when one doth vnclothe him, and that one taketh from him his life, when one taketh away from him his money, and that hee leeseth all that hee gaines not. It is a vice, that makes that the couetous man is content to serue God, so that he hauehave first a pawne in his hands for better security, as those that plead, hauing the morgage in their hand. He will well beleeue in Iesus Christ, but by the benefit of the Inuentory, and without charging himselfe with any discommodity. How can it possible be, that a man thirsting after money, and that placeth all his delight in his riches, can resolue with himselfe to carry all naked the crosse, and to leese all in one day for the profession of the Gospell?
By that, corruption is entred amongst vsus, and that prodigious disloyalty, whereby the salable soules in selling themselues for money, hauehave sold the life and liberty of those Churches, the protection of which was committed vntounto them. From thence come those reuolts, and that shamefull forsaking which is seene in many: for as the Apostle saith, The q1. Tim. 6.10.louelove of money is the roote of all euill, which while some coueted after, they hauehave erred from the faith, and pierced themselues thorow with many sorrowes. Of the number of those was Demas, of whom the Apostle complaineth, saying, r2. Tim. 4.10.Demas hath forsaken mee, hauing loued this present world. Euen as the Rauen sent forth of the Arke, a figure of the Church, returned not againe vntounto the Arke any more, because hee found some carrion whereon hee lighted. So many hauing taken the flight out of the Church, returne no more vntounto it, because they hauehave found a prey, and receiued some wages of vnrighteousnesse.
The same is of other vices, the which whosoeuer hath not tamed, will finde himselfe vncapable to carrie the Crosse of Christ. For a proud man will hauehave much adoe to indure contempt and reproch for Iesus Christ, and see him brought to a base condition. The heate of quarrels, and the heate of the zeale of the House of God, cannot dwell together. Euen as wee see by experience, that the refiners of the point of honour, that are subtill to forme a quarrell ordinarily, flinch away cowardly in a good cause; and that he that is quarrelsome in time of peace, is commonly faint-hearted in warre; so eueryevery riotous and hot fellow in his owne quarrell, will be found cold and fainting in Gods quarrell, and the defence of the Church; like vntounto horses that are impatient with flies, but hard to the spurre.
The same we say of pleasure, of gluttony, and drunkennesse, and curiosity to serue this body. For it is not credible that a glutton or a drunkard will willingly for the Word of God be brought to bread and water in prison, or in a strange Country. That a Libertine will easily suffer captiuity. That a man softened with ease, can bee firme against griefe. That a woman, which by daintinesse cannot indure the Sun, can resolue with her selfe to indure the fire.
In a word, as they who by purges hauehave emptied their bodies of bad humours, are afterwards more fit to labour; so if by the Meditation of the Word of God, which is a spirituall purgation, and by the Spirit of his feare ye cleanse your hearts of euill desires, you will feele your selues strong to carrie the Crosse of Christ. A man must mortifie his flesh afore death come, that hee may die willingly with Iesus Christ, dye first vntounto sinne, and crucifie his concupiscence. Which hee must accustome betimes to make it to bee silent, lest that when hee is to resolue himselfe to persecution, it intrude not it selfe importunately to tell her minde, and diuert our resolution.
If vnderunder colour of good will it comes to vsus, to warne vsus to thinke and consider of our life, and our honour, and the commodity of our family; wee must chide it roughly, saying, sMatth. 16.23.Get thee behinde me, Satan, thou art an offence vntounto mee; for thou sauourest not the things that bee of God, but those that be of men. And hold for a sure maxime, that the true ground of perseuerance, is the feare of God, t1 Tim. 1.19.and a good conscience, which some hauing put away, concerning faith hauehave made shipwrake.
CHAP. XII. A second Counsell, To cast off the shame of men.
THat wee may the better beare the Crosse of Christ, it is no lesse necessary to cast off a certaine euill shame, which is to be found in many, whereby euen in peace, and out of persecution, and among our friends, we are ashamed to speake of God and of his Word, in stead that wee should take greedily hold of occasiōs of glorifying God, and defending his cause. Can a man hope that you would speake couragiously for Gods cause before a fire, or a criminall Iudge, if you dare not doe it among your friends, and for the cause of God? Shall we be ashamed to speake for him, that was not ashamed to dye for vsus? Shall we refuse our tongues to him, that hath not refused vsus his Kingdome? Or shall wee dissemble a thing, that alone ought to be our glorie, and a perpetuall subiect of thankesgiuing?
Some excuse themselues on the feare of men whom they feare to offend, and to bee importunate to them. But this feare is wicked, this discretion is vngratefull, and iniurious towards God; seeing that for feare to displease men, they feare not to displease God; and despise that sentence of the Sonne of God, declaring vntounto vsus, that uMark. 8.38.of him shall the Sonne of God be ashamed, when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels, that shall bee ashamed of him, and of his words, in this adulterous and sinfull generation.
CHAP. XIII. A third counsell is, to hauehave an abridgement of Popery.
IT is also a counsel which helpes much our perseuerance, to consider well the greatnesse of the errours, and darknesse of Popery, and to hauehave an abridgement, and as it were a short table, which may represent vntounto vsus to the life, the face of the Church of Rome; where is celebrated daily another sacrifice of expiation for the redemption of soules, then the death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Where the communion of the Cup, so expresly commanded in the Word of God, is taken away from the people. Where the reading of the holy Scriptures is not permitted, as if the Word of God were a dangerous Booke. Where the poore people prayeth to God, not vnderstanding himselfe, & is present at a seruice which hee vnderstandeth not. Where they worship Images of stone and of wood. Where God himselfe is represented in stones and pictures. Where they adore the bones of the dead, and their reliques. Where men doe vaunt that they can make God with words, and can giuegive God to the people, though they cannot giuegive them saluation. Where there is another purgation of our sins, then the blood of Iesus Christ. Where they will hauehave God burne the soules of his children in a fire of many ages, for faults remitted, and for sinnes already pardoned, and for the which Iesus Christ hath fully satisfied; and that not for to amend them, but to content himselfe, and satisfie his owne iustice. Where they teach, that the death of our Sauiour exempteth vsus not from the satisfactory punishment due vntounto our sinnes committed since Baptisme. Where a man rules, who in his decrees & counsels is called GOD, and, The Diuine Maiesty; who placeth the Crosse at his feet, and vaunts that hee cannot erre in the faith; and distributes vntounto men the super-abounding satisfactions of Saints and Monkes, which he saith hee hath in his treasure. And hauing heaped together riches surpassing the riches of Kings, hee boasteth to bee the successor to Saint Peter, in quality and title of the head of the Catholike Church, without producing any one word out of the Word of God, that speakes of this succession. Where they teach, that a man cannot onelyonly fulfill the Law, but also make workes of supererogation more holy and more perfect then those which God hath commanded. Where marriage is forbidden, and the Stewes open, especially at Rome, and in the sight of the Pope, and that by his permission. Where they hold, that man is iustified by his works, which bindes them to teach, that a man cannot bee assured of his saluation. Whence it happeneth that men dye with terrour, and would be quitted of it, on condition they might bee rosted fiue hundred yeeres in the fire of Purgatory, which they say is seuen times hotter then our ordinary fire. Where the trafficke of Pardons is publike, and where they do no particular seruice for the soule of a man that hath giuen nothing to the Church. Where they aske of God saluation, not onelyonly by the intercession of Saints, but also by their merits. Where they call vponupon creatures that know not the hearts, and Saints whom the Pope hath made Saints; yea, many fabulous saints, and those that neuer were in the world; for the authorizing of which things they hauehave found an vnwritten word. And the Church of Rome hath made it selfe a soueraigne Iudge in all questions and matters of faith; yea, in questions where question is of the duty of the Church, and of her authority, so that it is both Iudge and party, and iudge of the Word of God.
EueryEvery man fearing God, will behold these things with an horrour mixt with compassion; and consider with griefe, millions of people, whom the prince of this world hath blinded, and drags (their eyes being bound) into perdition, tyed by custome & a trembling superstition: And thereupon turning his eyes on himselfe, will admire the singular grace that God hath done him, that hath withdrawne him from that dangerous cliffe and steepe downe-fall, by inlightning his eyes with his Word, and deliuering him from so horrible a slauery; not for his owne merits, but to make him an example of his grace. Like vntounto him that from the top of a Mountain beholds a flood, and a great ouerflowing of a big swolne riuer, that trailes along men, cattell, and houses, and carries away in one day the worke of many ages; by which violent irruption himselfe being carryed away, saues himselfe with great difficulty.
This thought will hearten the courage of a man fearing God, and make him to take a holy resolution, and to say in himselfe, Should I be so miserable, as to forget and neglect those inestimable graces, which I hauehave receiued from my God? Should I for so short a life and so miserable, decline from the way of eternall saluation? Should I come to plunge my selfe againe in this mire, and in lamenting the Garlike and Onions of Egypt shamefully, turne backe by a mutiny of my desires, and turne my backe to God, and breake my promise with him, and offend the Church in her oppression, and ranke my selfe with those that persecute her? Let the earth sinke vnderunder me, and let men try against me all their cruelty, before any so wicked a thought rise in my mind, or that I giuegive eare neuer so little to such a dangerous tentation.
It were surely to purchase dearely a few yeeres of a miserable life, as to purchase them with the renouncing of the profession of the Gospell, and with a continuall torment of the conscience, and with the losse of ones saluation: for the remnant of life after it, is a continuall anguish, and a torture of the conscience. How can hee after that, lift vp his eyes to God, whom hee hath denied and abiured? How can hee hope for eternall life of him, whom he hath renounced for this temporall life, and hauing beene inrolled by Iesus Christ, in the list and catalogue of souldiers, how can he hope for the pay which is giuen to none but such that hauehave faithfully fought? Then to a faint-hearted and disloyall man, the remembrance of the time comes in his minde, wherein hee glorified God in the assembly of the faithfull, hee sets before his eyes the Martyrs, whose company hee hath abandoned, which hee promised to keepe. Each day of his life after his reuolt, will be a new torment: for hee will consider, that his life henceforth serues for nought but to dishonour God, and that eueryevery step that hee makes, is a crime and a scandall, and an accusation against the Church of God. The right time to dye is when that which remaines of our life, serues no more to glorifie God: how much more when it waxeth hurtfull, and serues onelyonly to the defamation of the truth of the Gospell? Epi. haere. 64.Thus Origen, who had exhorted other to Martyrdome, hauing himselfe bowed vnderunder the persecution, could neuer more open his mouth to preach the Gospell, though he were often requested to it. OnelyOnly on a day hauing taken for his Text, xPsal. 50.16.VntoUnto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldest take my Couenant in thy mouth? Hee wept very much, and could speake no more. And the Histories of those times doe furnish vsus examples of persons, who falling sicke after their reuolt, hauehave refused all comfort in their death.
Not that I would despaire of the saluation of a man, falne by feare and infirmity; onelyonly I say, that few folkes doe raise vp themselues from so great a fall; and for so great a fault there needeth a very great repentance. Feare & weaknesse excuseth not, seeing the Spirit of God placeth yReu. 21.8.the fearefull and vnbeleeuing with the abominable, and murtherers, and forcerers, and idolaters, and sends them together to the Lake of hell, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. For it is a kind of rebellion in a sonne, to feare lesse his father, then the seruants of the house.
CHAP. XIV. A fourth counsell, Continuall Prayer.
NOw that these counsels may profit vsus, it is necessary to be earnest with God by continuall prayers, and after the example of Iacob, zGenes. 32.26.not to let him go, before he hath giuen vsus his blessing; saying with Iob, aIob 13.15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. This obstinacy is acceptable vntounto him, hee takes pleasure to bee thus importuned and vrged. By the delaying of his helpe, hee kindleth our prayers, and sharpens our faith. Thus our Sauiour did put backe twice bMath. 15.the woman of Canaan, but at the third time he gaue testimony of her faith, and grants her her request. And if that wicked Iudge did right to the Widow, ouercome by her importunity, cLuk. 18.7.8.Shall not God auenge his owne elect, which cry day and night vntounto him, though hee beare long with them? I tell you, that he will auenge them speedily. And if Abraham beleeued dRom. 4.18.in hope, against hope; hath hoped against all appearance of hoping well: Why we hauing so many promises of God, and so many trials of his succour; should wee not hope in the goodnesse of our God, although hee seemeth to giuegive way to the ruining of his Church; and demolish himselfe in his anger that, which hee hath builded in our fore-fathers time with so many wonders?
Therefore let vsus not bee aweary to cry vntounto God, and let vsus not faint vnderunder the length of affliction. eLuk. 21.19.In your patience possesse your soules. fExod. 14.13.Stand still, and behold the saluation of the Lord; and know, that these violent indeuours, which Satan doth in these last times, are a proofe that his time is neere, and that hee feeleth himselfe prest with the approching Iudgement of God. You therefore that feare God, bee not weary, but cry strongly vntounto God; and as the Prophet Isaiah saith, gEsa. 62.6, 7.Ye that make mention of the Lord, keepe not silence, and giuegive him no rest, till he establish, and till hee make Ierusalem a praise in the earth. And thereupon God permits, not only that we presse him with continuall prayers, but also that wee forme our complaints with an holy liberty; saying, O God, seeing it is thy cause, why sufferest thou thine enemies to hauehave the vpper hand? Art thou aweary to bee serued, and to be called vponupon by vsus? Wilt thou that Satan rule absolutely, and that the darkenesse of ignorance couer againe the face of the earth? Hast thou builded so many Churches with the blood of thy Martyrs, and by the preaching of the Gospell, to vndoe now that which thou hast done, and thy selfe to dissolue thine owne worke? Wherefore shouldst thou permit thy glory to be set at nought, and thy holy Name to bee blasphemed, without punishment, and that our enemies doe aske, Where is now your God? O God, holy and true, where are thy promises and thy zeale? Where thy ancient compassions, and the sounding of thy fatherly affections? Is thine arme shortened, or thine eares stopt vntounto our prayers, or thine eye shut, that thou seest not the wrong and outrage done vntounto thy children, the dissipation of thy poore people? And why hast thou not taken away my soule from this body, before it see this desolation? Why was thy will that I should outliue the prosperity of thy Church? O Lord, hearken vnderstand, pardon, looke downe from thy habitation. Turne thy selfe to vsus, and we shall bee turned; Lord Iesus, stay with vsus, for the night beginneth to come, and the darkenesse of ignorance doth much increase. Yea, as Ieremiah saith, hIer. 6.4.The day goeth away, and the shadowes of the euening are stretched out. God takes pleasure in such a contestation, so it bee without murmuring, and when it is set forth to our griefe, or to aske for instruction. Thus the Prophets spake, as the Prophet Ieremiah, iJer. 12.1.Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I pleade with thee, yet let mee talke with thee of thy iudgements. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper, wherefore are they all happy that deale very trecherously? And in the 89. Psalme, there are many complaints, as if God had failed of his promises, or broken his Couenant. And the Prophets with a holy priuate familiarity, doe set before him his promises, his Couenant, the fore-past deliuerances, the oppression of the innocent, the blaspheming of his great Name, and the iniury done to his glory. kEsa. 51.9.Awake, awake, put on strength, O arme of the Lord, awake as in the ancient dayes, in the generation of old. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon? Art thou not it which hath dryed the sea, the waters of the great deepe? lEsa. 63.15Looke downe from heauen, and behold from the habitation of thy holines, and of thy glory. Where is thy zeale, and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies towards me? are they restrained? O mIer. 14.7 8, 9, 21.Lord, though our iniquities testifie against vsus, doe thou it for thy names sake; for our back-slidings are many, we hauehave sinned against thee; O the hope of Israel, the Sauiour thereof in time of trouble; why shouldest thou be as a mighty man that cannot saue? Yet thou, O Lord, art in the middest of vsus, and we are called by thy name: leaue vsus not, do not abhorre vsus, for thy name sake, doe not disgrace the Throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy Couenant with vsus. O Lord, it is thou that bringest downe to the graue, and bringest vp, that hast the issues of death in thy hand. God, true in thy words, wise in thy counsels, full of compassion towards those that feare thee: Thou art our hope, and our comfort, thou wilt not suffer vsus to be altogether confounded.
FINIS.