That the Church is confirmed euen by the schismes of Heresies. CHAP. 51.
NOw the deuill seeing his Temples empty & al running vnto this Redeemer, set heretiques on foote to subert Christ, in a christiā vizar, as if there were y• allowance for them in the heauenly Ierusalem which their was for contrariety of Philosophers in the deuills Babilō. Such therfore as in the church of God do dis∣tast any thing, and (a) being checked & aduised to beware, do obstinately oppose themselues against good instructions, and rather defend their abhominations then discard them, those become Heretikes, and going forth of Gods House, are to be held as our most eager enemies: yet they doe the members of the Catho∣like Church this good, that their fall maketh them take better hold vpon God, who vseth euill to a good end, and worketh all for the good of those that loue him. So then the churches enemies whatsoeuer, if they haue the power to im∣pose corporall afflictiō, they exercise her patience: if they baite her with with op∣position onely verball, they practise her in her sapience: and shee in louing these enemies excerciseth his beneuolence, and bounty, whether shee goe about them with gentle perswasion or seuere correction: and therefore though the deuill hor chiefe opponent, mooue all his vessells against her vertues, cannot iniure her an inch. Comfort she hath in prosperity, to bee confirmed, and constant in ad∣uersity: and excercised is shee in this, to bee kept from corrupting in that: Gods prouidence managing the whole: and so tempering the one with the other that the psalmist sayd fitly. In the multitude of the cares of mine heart thy comforts haue ioyed my soule. And the Apostle also: Reioycing in hope and patient in tribulation. * 1.1 For the same Apostles words saying, All that will liue Godly in Christ shall suffer per∣secution, must be held to be in continuall action: for though ab externo, abroad, all seeme quiet, no gust of trouble appearing, & that is a great comfort, to the weake especially: yet at home, ab intus, there doe wee neuer want those that offend and molest the Godly pilgrim by their deuillish demeanour, blaspheming Christ and the Catholike name, which how much dearer the Godly esteeme, so much more griefe they feele to heare, if lesse respected by their pernicious brethren then they desire it should bee: and the Heretiques themselues, beeing held to haue Christ, and the Sacraments amongst them, greeue the hearts of the righteous ex∣treamely, because many that haue a good desire to christianity, stumble at their dissentions, and againe many that oppose it, take occasion hereby to burden it with greater calamities: the Heretiques bearing the name of christians also. These persecutions befall Gods true seruants by the vanity of others errours, al∣though they be quiet in their bodily estate: this persecution toucheth the heart, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 body: as the psalme saith, in the multitude of the cares of mine heart: not of my body. But then againe, when wee revolue the immutability of Gods promises, who as the Apostle saith, knoweth who be his, whom hee hath predesti∣nate to (b) be made like the Image of his Sonne, their shall not one of these bee