The general session conteining an apologie of the most comfortable doctrine concerning the ende of this world, and seconde comming of Christ, written by Thomas Rogers. The first part, wherein for the comfort of the godlie is proued not onely that God wil, but also that he doth iudge this world.

CAP. 16. (Book 16)

Whether the saints in this worlde endure greater affliction, than other men; and whie they do so. (Book 16)

THus, I trust it is euident that the saints deserue their troubles, because theie are sinners.

But some wil yet againe obiect and saie, they deserue not greater troubles in this word, because they are not so egregi∣ous offenders, as others be.

Of which their obiection it must fol∣low, that if they haue more miserie, and yet deserue greater mercie; that God is both partial in iudging, and not al holie for fauoring the wicked. But this is an in∣tolerable reproch against the maiestie of god. For it is none hard matter to proue, that neither the wicked haue more fauor; nor the godlie deserue lesse troubles, than they do suffer.

For, touching the first point, who are more afflicted, I praie you, theie

whose soules doe triumph with ioie, though their bodies do smart; or they ra∣ther whose bodies be at ease, and their minds tormented? they whom God doth scourge of louea 1.1, or they whom he spa∣reth of hatred? they which in fewe things b 1.2, or they which many waiesc 1.3, are puni∣shed? they which fauorablie are forsaken for a litle while in this worldd 1.4; or they which both now in this life seuerelie are,* 1.5 and in the time to come shal euerlasting∣lie be tormentede 1.6?

Againe, what troubles suffer the godlie, but the wicked are made to feele y^e same? Is it pouertie? The wicked are poore. Is it sickenesse? The wicked be diseased. Is it imprisonment? The wicked haue not their libertie. Is it vnnatural deathes? The wicked come vnto them.

But not so manie wicked men are poore, as godlie. Who shal be iudge? shal magistrates? They wil saie; for one god∣lie man that is poore, they are troubled with twentie wicked; some through vn∣thriftines, some through idlenesse, some through falsehoode. Which vices no godlie man but doth detest. And there∣fore in reason there must bee moe of the wicked, thā of y^e godlie in à poore estate.

But not so manie wicked are sicke as

godlie. Who shalbe iudge? shal the lear∣ned Physicions? They wil saie, for one godlie person that is sicke, they are trou∣bled with twentie wicked; some through dronkennesse, some through gluttonie, some through incontinencie. Which vi∣ces no godlie man but from his heart doth abhorre. And therefore moe of the wicked than of the godly diseased.

But not so manie wicked are impriso∣ned. Who shal be iudge? shal the iudges of realmes? They wil answere; for one godlie man they sende twentie wicked vnto the iayle, some for polling, some for roaging, some for quarreling, some for periurie, which vices the godlie wil not defile themselues withal. And there∣fore more wicked, then godly impriso∣ned.

But not so many wicked come to vn∣natural ends, as godlie. Who shalbe iudg? Shal common experience? That must needes declare, that for one godly person an hundred come vnto euil ends, some for thefte, some for murther, some for trea∣son, some through desperation. With which vices the godlie wil not be stained for al the goods in the world. And there∣fore mo of the wicked than of the godlie doe come vnto vnnatural ends.

On the otherside, what prosperity hath God promised, for this life, but the god∣lie enioy y^e same so wel as the wicked? For riches, they are welthie, for health, lustie; for power, mighty; learned for knowledg wise for experiēce, honorable for calling; for fame renowmed, so wel as they. Yea, but al the godly are not such. Neither be al the wicked: But moe wicked yet than godlie be such. Howe canst thou tel that? the scripture saithg 1.7 by outward things no mā knoweth either loue or hatred,* 1.8 al things come alike to al: and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked; to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, & to him that sacrificeth, & to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an othe. But doe the wicked more florish? Let them assure themselues they haue their reward. And haue y^e godly lesse prosperity? They are to reuiue their spirites through consideratiō that à time wil come, when they shal fully be cōfor∣ted, and the vngodlie tormentedh 1.9.

Againe, be it that they find lesse fauor, & moe troubles in the world, not for mani∣fest wickednes, but through the malice of Sathan and his mēbers, than the wicked doe: yet are theie punished, as vniustly of man, so iustly of the Lord: and that, both

because he exacteth à greter righteousnes of them than of other men, which he fin∣deth not, & also looketh for more thank∣fulnes for his extraordinary benifites cō∣ferred vpon them, and they yeeld it not.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. 12, 6.
• b 1.2

  Wisd. 3, 6.
• c 1.3

  Wisd. 12, 22.
• d 1.4

  Isai 54, 7. 8.
• * 1.5

  8.
• e 1.6

  Math. 25, 41.
• g 1.7

  Eccles. 9, 1.
• * 1.8

  2.
• h 1.9

  Luk. 16, 25.