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THe sword that I spake of partly in the first Chapter, is like to be drawen this yeare; for why the Sunne, Mars, and Mercurius cannot a∣grée together; how accordeth the world
with Christ and the Gospell, they shall neuer be at one.* 1.1 Sore eyes cannot a∣bide the cleare light of the Sunne, they will not consent to the works of dark∣nesse, neither will the beléeuers haue part with infidels, and no concord with and betwixt Christ and Belial. Thus can there be no agréement, for they be of contrary natures, againe a scorner (as Salomon saith,) loueth not him that rebuketh him,* 1.2 the children of this world are scornefull, and therefore are they not content to be reformed by the Gospell, which neuerthelesse, though it haue many enemies, as it hath euer had, yet because it is the truth it shall beare away the victory, and that short∣ly,* 1.3 for God hath put into the heart of diuers Princes to fulfill his will, and to hate the whore of Babylon, to make her desolate and naked, and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire, and vtterly to set her out of her soyle, so that it appeareth euidently, that Sathan shall no more haue so great dominion, as he hath had in times past, and now because that he séeth that his kingdome shall haue a fall, he worketh and shall
doe all that he can by the Children of vnbeliefe, specially by the shauen Ma∣dianites, Iesuites, Seminaries, excommu∣nicate Papists, and Catholike Romaines, as they terme themselues, to stirre vp warres, seditions, secret treasons, and vtter defiances, both amongest Princes, and Communities, for such aduersaries of the truth doe wickedly resiste the ordinance of God, in the au∣thoritie of their prince, and not submit themselues to the Gospell. And where∣as God hath raised vp good men to preach his word, the diuell is so mad at it, that he hath sent them a letter of defiance by some of his members, euen with such an answere as was giuen to Ieremie the prophet, for they say plaine∣ly,* 1.4 the word that thou hast spoken to vs in the name of the Lord, we will not heare it of thee, but we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth, as to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen, and to powre out drinke-offerings vnto her, as we haue done, both we & our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes in the Citties of Iuda, and in the streets of Ierusalem, and what is our peoples saying, I pray
you? we will haue libertie of con∣science according to other Nations yea and some haue their priuie Masse as is well knowne, and they say we will doe as our rathers haue done be••ore vs, for when we so did, then had we plenteous∣nesse of victuals, and were well, and felt no euill, but since we left off to burne incense to the Quéene of h••auen, and to powre out drinke offerings vn∣to her, we haue had scarsenes of all things, and haue bin consumed by the sword, and by famine, and is not this the speaking of the Papist, Atheist, ignorant aud prophane people altog••∣ther, neuer grace since this religion came vp, ignorantly ascribing Gods plagues and punnishments for sinne, to the word and the preaching thereof, such strife and debate shall h••ppen this yeare, because of the word o•• God, or the enemies thereof had rather draw their daggers at it. ••nd I am perswa∣ded it is the thing they daily looke fo••, then to be reformed, but ••h•• louers of it, shall spare no labour to con••ert them,* 1.5 and specially the Ministers and teachers must not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but must be gen∣tle
towards all men, apt to teach, suffe∣ring the euill men, patiently instructing them with meeknes, tha•• are contrary minded, prouing if God at any time will giue them repentance, that they may know the truth, and that they may come to amendement out of the snare of the deuill, which are taken of him at his will, therefore thou louer of God and of his word, when any trouble happeneth vn∣to thée (for great are the troubles of the righteous,* 1.6 but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all,) maruell not at it, as though it were a strange thing, but re∣ioyce inasmuch as thou art partaker of Christs afflictions, that when his glory appeareth, thou maist be merry and glad, & be as content to be reuiled as he was,* 1.7 who when he was reuiled, reuiled not againe, when he suffered, he threatned not, but committed it to him that iudgeth righteously, for there is no disciple aboue his Master, nor the seruant aboue his Lord, it is sufficient for the dis∣ciple to be as his Maister is, & the seruant as his Lord,* 1.8 if they haue called the Mai∣ster of the house Belzebub, how much more, them of his houshold. So these
and many other swéete words saith he himselfe vnto thée, that in him thou maist haue affliction,* 1.9 but be of good com∣fort, for he hath ouercome the world.
2. Cor. 6. 41
Pro. 15. 12
Reu••. 17. 16. 7
Ierm. 44. 16 17. 18.
2. Tim. 〈…〉〈…〉 25. ••6.
Psal. 34. 19
1. Pet. 2. 23
Mat. 10. 24 25.
Iohn. 16. 33.