Mirabilia opera dei certaine wonderfull works of God which hapned to H.N. even from his youth: and how the God of heaven hath united himself with him, and raised up his gracious word in him, and how he hath chosen and sent him to be a minister of his gracious word, / published by Tobias a fellow elder with H.N. in the houshold of love. Translated out of Base Almain.

CHAP. XXVII.

1 BUt at the same time in the nine and [ A] fiftieth year of the age of H. N. (in the time of Maximillian the first, being made Roman Emperour, by vertue [or power] of the Electoral Princes of the Roman Em∣pire and the German Nation) then sought the Magistrate where H. N. dwelled in the East (through the false relations of the enemies of H. N. (and through the false slanders which they had spoken against him among the people) to lye in wait for H. N. for to lay him fast in Prison: And so with the consent of the same aforesaid Magistrate) was H. N. (in the same Land where he dwelled) very vehemently perse∣cuted. And many ambushes were laid for him, for to bring him into prison. But the Lord smote them all witha great blind∣ness, who were his enemies and persecuted him: insomuch that they could by no means apprehend H. N.

2 Now when the Officers of the said Magistrate, had used all their diligence, to bring H. N into their hands: then the Lord manifested his mercy and assistance to him, carried him (by the hand of hisb Angels) openly before the eyes of his perse∣cutors away from that land without hurt:

And no man knew him, or could finde out which way he travelled.

3 Now when H. N. (for the uprighta righteousness of God, and the Godliness of Jesus Christ, and because that he attested and published the same under the obedience of the Love) was thus (through persecuti∣on) driven away through the hand of the Lord) he travelled away before the eyes of his persecutors: notwithstanding they writ very earnestly after him to several places, and his enemies made very dili∣gent search after him, to find him out, ne∣vertheless he kept on in his journey (in the way of Patience) towards another land, which the Lord shewed him, and wherein it should be more quiet and peaceable for him to inhabit.

[ B] 4 He was sometime also in his journey (through his persecutors and through all false aspersions, and undecent contume∣lies, which were cast after him) much per∣plexed and bnrthened: and that for the most part, because those which were Letter∣learned, and did seem to be so wise: And to whom he had shewed all love and friend∣ship, were yet so ignorant, blind, and mis∣understanding, that they envied him, and unadvisedly resisted thed Truth of God: and shamefully despised the fulfilling of the

godliness in Jesus Christ; and undecently reproched thee holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ: and also persecuted him with wicked hearts off lying slanderous lips, whom they had most cause to love, for as much as hee shewed all love and all mini∣strations to the Godliness in full explana∣tion to them.)

5 And so in his travelling and sadness, H. N. took unto him to read the Psalms of David: especially that Psalm, which the holy Prophet David (the anointed of the Lord) had formerly spoken, wheng Saul (after the good Spirit of the Lord was de∣parted, and was much disquieted with an evil spirit from the Lord) persecuted him: and sought to take away his life: and when he was betrayed byh Doeg the Edomire: and first he made his preface to the Lord, and said.

6 O Lord God (heavenly Father) how [ C] perverse and wicked of heart, have thei wise of the World alwayes been, who do not fear thee, O God, with an humble heart, nor walk uprightly before thee.

7 And how imbitteredk and hardned of heart, and how bloud-thirsty in their spirits and minds, have alwayes been the Letter-learned, and also the urgers of ce∣remonial Services, who have not (O God)

believed thee in the Word of thy holy Pro∣phets, nor been obedient thereunto: And also all those who forsake the Doctrine of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, andl his hu∣mility and meekness, and have not learned the upright righteousness to the cleansing of their hearts, but framed and chose to themselves (out of the letter, counterfeit ceremonial services, and invented holi∣nesses, and have neither known, nor recei∣ved m the holy anointing of thy holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ.

8 For like as Sauln (with his evil and restless spirit) envyed and persecuted thine anointed David (who walked uprightly, and without deceit before thee: and like as the false hearts, of the Letter-learned have despised, belyed, reproached, and with fal∣shood defamed, and persecuted as evil do∣ers and seducers, thyo holy Prophets, and thyp deare sonne (thine anointed Jesus) and hisq witnesses, and had an intention to root them out: Even so (O God) this wicked Generation of the same wicked seed, and nature of the aforesaid false-hearts, have persecuted, reproached, and belyed me H. N. thy chosen servant because (O God) I love all people to the Godlinesse in Jesus Christ, And attest and set forth before them, thy commiserating

Grace and Love, and the upright righte∣ousnesse r and holinesse of thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ, (out of thy holy and gracious Word and Spirit of Love) and call and invite them all thereunto: And they have resisted ands reproached also thy holy Spirit, whom thou now in these last times, hast sent to declare the Truth of thy Christ.

9 Therefore must I now also with thy [ D] Prophet David take up a speech against mi••e enemies, and persecutors, and ut∣ter forth the same against their wicked deeds: And will (O God) abase my selfe before thee:t glory in thee and thy Good∣nesse: Supplicate and pray unto thee, and give thanks and praise to thee O God, for all the Goodnesse, which thou O heavenly Father hast bestowed on me H. N. thy cho∣sen servant.

10 And thereupon when H. N. had spo∣ken these words before the eares of the most high, then he began this speech against his enemies out of the Psalme of David and said.

Notes

• a

  Kings 6 b.
• b

  Acts 12. a. b.
• a

  Mat. 5 ••.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••scaped.
• d

  Rom. 2. a. •• Th••ss. 2 b.
• e

  Mat 12. b. H••b. 18. c.
• f

  Psal. 5 a. Je••. 9. a. Rom. 3. a.
• g

  1 Kings 16. b. 1S. b. 19. a.
• h

  1 Ki••gs 12. b.
• i

  Exod. 1. 3 Kings 22. c. Mat. 21. 23.
• k

  Acts 7. s
• l

  Mat. ••1. c.
• m

  John 14 c,
• n

  1 Kings 16. 18, 19.
• o

  3 Kings 22 c. Jer. 28. a. 26.
• p

  Mat 23. 26.
• q

  Act. 4. 7, 9, 12 14, 16, 21.
• r

  Luke 1. f. Ephes. 1. a. b. Col. 1. ••. 3. b.
• s

  Mat. 12. c. Heb. 10. c.
• t

  Job 12. a.