An excelent comfort to all Christians, against all kinde of calamities no lesse comfortable, then pleasant, pithy, and profitable: Compendiously compiled by Iohn Perez, a faithfull seruant of God, a Spaniard (in Spanish) and now translated into English by Iohn Daniel, of Clements Inne, with diuers addicions by him collected and therevnto annexed.

An Inuectiue against the vvicked, vvith a merueylous comfort to the god∣ly Christian, &c. Cap. xvij.

ALthough that God for a tyme doe staye, and doeth not shewe his vengeance presently, that hee hath prepared agaynste

them that condempne his rightuous∣nesse: yet he doth not allow any thing which they say or doe against him. His patience and long suffering, is no cer∣tain signe nor seale that may confirm them any sufficient acquittance from him, for condempning of them whom he doeth best loue in the worlde: nor yet for any other kynde of their wic∣kednesse vsed. But he is mercifull to all: yea euen to them, although they dispise and disdayne hym, hys mercy and all that is in him: and doe truste to theyr owne penitenciary merites. They doe thinke to haue a prosperous successe in all their doings,* 1.1 and why: mary, bycause sinne is so setled in thē, and hath such rule, Lordship, and po∣wer ouer them. But all their prospe∣ritie and good successes,* 1.2 is nothynge but a heapyng vp, of the fulnesse of the measure of the Lordes wrath, till it bée so full in déede, as vppon the sodayne when they looke not for it, it must and will runne ouer (or turne the bottome vpwarde) vppon them: and destroye and dryue them to the

déepest dungeon in hell: and they shall be suffered stil to ryse the higher, that their falles may be the greater. And therfore the holy ghost doth commaūd the faithfull, that they should not flie from the truth, although their aduer∣sities bée neuer so great, nor thoughe the prosperitie of their aduersaries be neuer so sublimate and high. By the Prophet Dauid he sayeth:* 1.3 Fret not thy self against the vngodly, neyther bée thou enuyous agaynste the euyll dooers, for they shall sodeynly be cut downe lyke grasse, and withered like the gréene hearbes.* 1.4 Obey the Lord with patience, bycause the wicked shall be deuoured and destroyed, and they that trust in the Lorde shall in∣herite the earthe.

And therfore let vs be firme in righ∣tuousnesse and feare, as the spirite of God doeth commaunde vs. For sithe that wée can not, nor maye not, e∣scape the afflictions and calamityes in this worlde, muche lesse shall our persecutors escape: but our temporal tribulatiōs are nothing to be cōpared

to their paynes eternall. Temporall tribulations, are but momentary, to the eternall troubles, which are to touche the vngodly in tyme to come, for that they beléeue not the Gospel, and are persecutors of the rightuous. (As S. Peter sayeth) be ye mery and glad to be persecuted,* 1.5 that you may be partakers of Christes passions, and so be glorifyed in him: for by that mean shal we be strengthened to withstand the feare of any present euil.* 1.6 Sylence and hope (sayeth the Prophet) shall be your foretresse and bulwarke. Howe much the more we are sylent & trust∣full in tolleratyng of trouble in our trials. So much y^e more are we strēg∣thened and anymated to drinke of the clearenesse of the cuppe which the Lord shall giue vs. So that it shall be no detrimēt nor harme to vs, more then is already spoken of by his word.

* 1.7The Apostle S. Paule in the Epi∣stle that hée doeth wryte to them of Corinthe, sayeth: when that wée bée iudged of the Lord, we are but chasti∣sed, bycause wée should not be damp∣ned

with the world. In this the spirit of God doeth testefie vnto vs, that by the means of those tribulations which we doe suffer, we be made frée from the condempnation of the world, the which of necessitie is to bée condemp∣ned. So that the punishments & per∣secutions which we suffer, God doeth not suffer vs in them to loose vs, or se∣perate vs from him and his trueth, as our flesh and the world doe iudge or imagine: but to correct and consume in vs, all those things which are lets and stumbling blockes, to put vs from the similitude or lykenesse that wée ought to haue vnto his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord & redéemer. Bycause that howe muche the more we bée af∣flicted and troubled, with so much the more affyance and trust in his mercy, we should deplore and bewayle our sinnes and wickednesse: lyke his chil∣dren of mercy, and so be banished from the participation or part taking, of the condempnation of the world.* 1.8 And this is the effect of the supplication or prai∣er, that our Lorde Iesus Christ dyd

make at his last supper, when he dyd pray to hys father, for thē onely which did beleue in him by his worde, and he was hearde. But sithe he dyd not pray for the wicked which he calleth the worlde) wée oughte not to mer∣ueyle at theyr peruersenesse, for that all the peruersitie whiche they doe vse, doeth leade them with stealyng steppes, to the brincke of theyr per∣dition and dampnation.

Hée did pray for vs that wée myght be deliuered from euil: and euen now boholde howe by afflictions, he doeth deliuer vs from the condempnation, due for sinne and wickednesse, and doeth reserue the same onely for the children of vnbeliefe. And therefore it is sayde by the Prophet,* 1.9 Blessed is the man that thou haste chastened (O Lorde) and instructed in thy law: that thou mayest gyue hym patience and reste in the tyme of aduersitye, vntyll the pitte bée dygged vp for the vngodly.

Héerein are we surely certified of our blessednes, by the afflictions y^t we suf∣fer,

for y^t we are corrected of the Lord, that we should not be cast of but inioy our porcions of his sauing health. And therfore y^e holy woman Iudith sayde:* 1.10 Let vs beleue that the Lord doth cor∣rect vs but as his seruauntes, not to our losse, but to our gain: not to spoile vs, but to amend vs.* 1.11 And Esdrasse a man of God sayeth, the hunger, the plagues, the tribulations, and the vexation of mynde, with the whych the Lorde doeth scourge vs: they are but to correcte and purge vs, of and for our sinnes. And therefore the Apo∣stle Paule sayeth to the bretheren of Thessalonia,* 1.12 ye are the children of lighte, and of the day: and not of the night, nor of darkenesse. Wherefore let vs not sléepe as others doe, but let vs watche and bée sober, armed with the brest plate of fayth and loue, and with the helmet of hope of saluation. For God hath not appoynted vs to wrathe and condempnation, but to obteine saluation, by y^e meanes of our Lord & sauior Iesus Christ which died for vs: y^e whither we wake or slepe we

might liue togither with hym.* 1.13 Also the same Apostle sayeth to vs: The persecutions and troubles which you suffer, are tokens of the rightuous iudgement of God, that yée may bée counted worthie of his kingdome for the which you also suffer. It is (veri∣ly) a rightuous thing with God, to recompence them with tribulations againe, that trouble the faithfull, and rest vnto them so troubled, with hys chosen at the last day, when the Lord shall come in the maiestie of his glo∣rie to iudge the worlde. Whereby it appeareth: that the persecutiōs which we suffer, are to vs a sure and moste firme zeale, of the saluation & health that we haue by Christ, that wée bée frée from fynal and euerlasting damp∣nation,* 1.14 and also, they are sure testimo∣nyes of the swéete rest, which is for vs to haue after thys lyfe in our Lorde Iesus. And therefore we ought to suf∣fer them with a ioyfull mynde, by∣cause it is a priuiledge not incident to all, but to vs only which beleue. For which cause the Apostle sayth to them

of Philippia,* 1.15 it is not onely giuen to you, to beleue in Iesus Christ: but also that you suffer with him. Bycause as faith is not giuen (sayeth S. Paule) to all:* 1.16 no more it is not giuen that all should suffer for him.* 1.17 Wherfore it is most manifest, y^e to suffer for Christes sake, is a great and principall pryui∣ledge, giuen to vs by God, by meanes wherof all they which suffer are assu∣red of their frée libertie in Christ Ie∣sus. And for this cause it is graunted vnto them that are faithfull to suffer in him, and to be so euil intreated and desolued of and from eternall damp∣nation, before hys dyuine iuste iudge∣ment. As euery father doeth gyue to his children that which hée knoweth to bée most best & profitable for them. So God doeth gyue vnto vs that bée his, paines, calamities, afflictions, and persecutions, bicause he by his diuine wisdom doth know, that they be most best and commodious for vs. Aduersi∣tie and persecution is muche better then prosperitie: bicause affliction for the worde of God is onely perticuler

and priuate to the rightuous, but pro∣speritie in worldly delightes are pub∣lique and common to all people wic∣ked and sinfull. What things may or can be more profitable & healthfull to vs, then those by y^e which we are cer∣tified & assured, of the great good will and loue, which god hath towards vs: and y^e we are frée of and from, the con∣dempnation due vnto the world, what thing is there better, that we can de∣sire here whilest we liue in this vale of miserie, then to passe our tyme in the company of Iesus Christ, clothed with his liuery, coate, & cognisaunce: which is fayth and loue, to suffer, in, for, & with him. What greater prospe∣ritie can be imagyned or thoughte of, thē to be saued with eternal saluatiō, and to haue a déed (as y^e cōmō lawyer of englād saith) of cōfirmatiō, to assure vs y^t we shal enter into a ful possession of his holy heauēly kingdō: purchased and fully bought of him for vs, by the most precious bloud of his son our sa∣uiour Iesus Christ. God our blessed father, in sēding vs calamities, afflic∣tions,

& tribulatiōs: & in suffring vs to be persecuted for his name and gospel sake, doth it to none other end, but vp∣pō purpose, to cōfirme vnto vs all his promises, & to assure vs y^t it is necessa∣rie for vs to suffer as his sonne did. And therfore S. Peter doth admonish vs to reioyce,* 1.18 in as muche as we are partakers of Christes passions, y^t whē his glory appeareth we may be mery and glad: if we be railed on in y^e name of Christ, we are happy: bicause y^e spi∣rit of glorie & the spirit of God resteth vppon vs. S. Ieames,* 1.19 considering the great riches, that God doeth commu∣nicate vnto his people, in their af∣flictions, and griefes, sayth my brethe∣ren: accompt it great ioye when yée fall into dyuers temptations, bicause that you know, the triall of your faith bringeth patiēce. Let vs reioyce (saith S. Paule) in y^e hope of y^e glorie of God for y^t he hath made vs,* 1.20 partakers of the grace & reconsiliation of Christ, & y^t we beleue in him. And not only this: but also y^t we reioice in tribulatiō, by∣cause we know y^e tribulatiō bringeth

pacience: pacience bringeth experiēce: experience bringeth hope: The which hope shall neuer be confounded.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iere. 19. & 15
• * 1.2

  Rom. 2. &. 2 3.4. &c.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 37. & 1.2.3. &c.
• * 1.4

  Sirach. 2. in all.
• * 1.5

  2. Pet. 4. & 12.13.
• * 1.6

  Esay. 30. &. 20. Esay. 30. & 29.
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 11. & 32.
• * 1.8

  Iohn. 17. & 11, 20.23. &c.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 94. & 12.
• * 1.10

  Iudit. 8. &. 27.
• * 1.11

  4. Esdr. 16. & 20.
• * 1.12

  1. Thes. 5. & 6.8. &c.
• * 1.13

  2. Thes, 1. & 4.5.6. &c.
• * 1.14

  1. Pet. 1. & 6.
• * 1.15

  Phil. 1. & 29.
• * 1.16

  2. Thes. 3. &. 20.
• * 1.17

  The Priui∣ledges of thē which suffer for the gospel.
• * 1.18

  1. Pet. 4. &. 13.
• * 1.19

  Iames. 1. & 1.2.
• * 1.20

  Rom. 5. & 2.3.4.5.