The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.

The beginning of the Letter.

THE Eternall Providence of the same God, who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transistory and wretched life, a battell strong and difficile, hath also appointed their finall victory by a marvellous fashion, and the manner of their preservation in their battell more marvellous; their victory standeth not in resisting, but in suffering; as our Soveraign Master pronounceth to his Disciples, that in patience they should possesse their soules: And the same foresaw the Prophet, Esay, when that he painteth forth all other battell to be with violence, tumult, and blood-shedding, but the victory of Gods people to be in quietnesse, silence and hope; meaning that all others that obtain victorie, do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries, to shed bloood, and to murther: But so do not the Elect of God, but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer; being most assuredly perswaded, that then one∣ly they triumph, when all wen judge them oppressed: For in the Crosse of Christ alwayes is included a secret and hid victory, never well known till the suf∣ferer

appear all together to be (as it were) exterminate; for then onely did the blood of Abel crie to God, when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished; and so (I say) their victory is marvellous, and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion, the eye of man perceiveth not: But he, whose power is infinite, by secret and hid motions, toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them, with very pietie and compas∣sion to save his people, as (in times past) he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives, to preserve the men-children of the Israelites, when command was given of Pharoah for their destruction. The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise, to pitty Moses in his young infancy, exposed to the danger of the waters. The heart of Nabu∣chadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive, and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters: And finally, The heart of Cyrus, to set at liber∣ty the people of God, after long bondage and thraldome. And thus doth the invisible power and love of God, manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time, for two causes specially. First, to comfort his weake warriers in their manifold temp∣tations, letting them understand, That he is able to compell such as sometimes were enemies to his people, to fight their Cause, and to promote their deliverance. And secondarily, to give a testimony of his favour to them, that by all appearance did l••ve before (as Saint Paul speaketh) wanting God in the world, as strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel, and without the league of his mercifull promise and free grace m••de to his Church: For who would have affirmed, That any of these persons aforenamed, had been of that nature and clemency, before occasions were offered unto them? But the works of mercie shewed to the afflicted, have left to as assurance, That God used them as vessels of his honour. For pitie and mercie shewed to Christs afflicted flock, as they never lacked reward temporall, so if they be continued, and be not changed into crueltie, are assured signes and seales of everlasting mercy to be received from God, who by his Holy Spirit mo∣veth their heats to shew mercy to the people of God oppressed and afflicted.

Notes

• Gen. 3. Matt••. 10. Act. 4.
• Matth. 5. Joh. 14 16. Esay. 9.
• In the Crosse of Christ i•• vi∣ctory hid.
• Esay 40.41.51.
• Exod. 2.
• 4 Reg. 25. Jerem 52. Esd. 1.
• Note.
• ••phes 2.