We suppose (saith Paul) we are made a gazing stock, and the off-scouring of the world: yet he fainted not, because he knew that howsoever vile he was in the eyes of the world, yet the Lord delighted in him, the Angels of God in heaven, the Church of Gods Saints on earth rejoiced in him, his own conscience felt joy & peace, through that patience wherein he possessed his soul. Wherefore our Saviour Christ said to his Disciples, Matth 5. Blessed are ye, when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you for my sake falsely, &c. Wherefore let us learn that we are to fight daily against self-love, and love of our credit, and let us be as contented to give our names to the Lord, as we are to give him our goods, our lives and our countries. Let us offer all that we have to the Lord, of whom we have received it, and of whom in his good time we shall receive it again. Abraham gave Isaac his son to the Lord in sacrifice, and yet he received him again. So let us give our names to the Lord by what means soever he pleaseth to receive them. For many would be content to do so, if they might leese their name, because they have been famous in war, or have come by it by some noble sufferings: but to suffer discredit wrongfully, and as traitors, or rebels, and to have most false indictments in the face of the world proceed against us, so that people clap their hands at us, as notable malefactors or heretics, is a thing very difficult. But if our Saviour Christ be contemned as a destroyer of the Temple, and S•even be accused to speak blasphemy against Moses, let us be content to leese our name as well-doers also, knowing that the Lord in time will take away the cloud which Satan as a veil doth put before us, who would persuade us, that when our name is gone, God seeth not, nor regardeth our righteousness. But he that draweth the light to shine out of darkness, he can also in time deliver our names out of discredit. Do the wicked then think to obscure the glory of Gods Martyrs? Noah, Lot, Elijah. and all the Saints and Martyrs of the Lord are most glorious, the Lord hath glorified them, we still praise them, and daily they are commended in the Church of God. Alexander the great, in all his royalty, nor Pompey, nor Caesar, nor Tully, have ever received such commendations in their greatest pomps, as have the dear Martyrs of God.
We suppose (saith Paul) we are made a gazing stocke, and the off-scouring of the world: yet he fainted not, because he knew that howsoeuer vile he was in the eyes of the world, yet the Lord delighted in him, the Angels of God in heauē, the Church of Gods Saints on earth reioyced in him, his owne conscience felt ioy & peace, through that patience wherein he possessed his soule. Wherefore our Sauiour Christ said to his Disciples, Matth 5. Blessed are yee, when men reuile you, persccute you, and say all manner of euill against you for my sake falsely, &c. Wherefore let vs learne that we are to fight daily against selfe-loue, and loue of our credit, and let vs be as contented to giue our names to the Lord, as we are to giue him our goods, our liues and our countries. Let vs offer all that we haue to the Lord, of whom we haue receiued it, and of whom in his good time we shall receiue it againe. Abraham gaue Isaac his sonne to the Lord in sacrifice, and yet he receiued him again. So let vs giue our names to the Lord by what meanes soeuer he pleaseth to receiue them. For many would be content to do so, if they might leese their name, because they haue been famous in warre, or haue come by it by some noble sufferings: but to suffer discredit wrongfully, and as traytors, or rebels, and to haue most false inditements in the face of the world proceed against vs, so that people clap their hands at vs, as notable malefactors or heretikes, is a thing very difficult. But if our Sauiour Christ be contemned as a destroyer of the Temple, and S•euen bee accused to speake blasphemie against Moses, let vs bee content to leese our name as weldoers also, knowing that the Lord in time will take away the clowde which Sathan as a vatle doth put before vs, who would perswade vs, that when our name is gone, God seeth not, nor regardeth our righteousnes. But hee that draweth the light to shine out of darknes, he can also in time deliuer our names out of discredit. Doe the wicked then thinke to obscure the glorie of Gods Martyrs? Noah, Lot, Eliah. and all the Saints and Martyrs of the Lorde are most glorious, the Lord hath glorified them, wee still praise them, and daily they are commended in the Church of God. Alexander the great, in all his royaltie, nor Pomp•y, nor Caesar, nor Tullie, haue euer receiued such commendarions in their greatest pomps, as haue the deare Martyrs of God.
