As touching the defence of God towards his people in this life:1 it is marvellously set forth by Christ in his prayer, a little before his death: where he prayed unto his father, not to take his Apostles out of this world:2 but to preserve them in this world from sin.3 So that he would his friends with Gods defence, should abide for a time in the world. And what they should have in the world for all Gods defence, Christ told them: In the world (sayeth he) ye shall suffer affliction: and ye shall weep, and the world shall laugh. Again,4 he said unto them, that He sent them forth as sheep amongest wolves. Whereby we may see, that Gods favour and Gods defence saveth not his very elects in this life from troubles and afflictions. For (Saint Paul saith,) As many as will live godly, shall suffer persecution. ⟨p. 57⟩Therefore the holy Ghost placeth the faithful congregation, the spouse of Christ (whom God loveth and defendeth) amongst thorns, and brambles: 5and sometime likeneth the faithful congregation unto a ship, tossed upon the sea with danger of drowning: sometime unto a house, whereupon bloweth all winds and weather: and sometime to a woman travelling with child, before whom standeth a foul dragon ready to devour both child and mother. So that by this prophet Asaphes words that saith,6 He shall not greatly fall, and by these other places, we learn, that in this life, such as God loveth & defendeth from the eternal fire of hell, he (notwithstanding for this life) under great crosses, and wonderful troubles: yet Christ willeth us to be of good comfort, for He hath overcome the world. And the prophet saith,7 God is my rock and my salvation: I shall not greatly fall. 8And to consider the trueth, such as God most strongly defendeth, and best loveth in this world, suffer many times, greatest troubles. Yea, and God beginneth with his friends sometimes first, and most sharply: as S. Peter saith. And S. Paul saith, We be predestinate to be made like unto Christ in troubles, whiles we be in this troublesome world: But the defence of God and his love in the world to come, is void from all bitterness and pain, and from all troubles and adversities. 9As it is most comfortably and joyfully written in the Ballads of Solomon:10 where (for a time) the Lord defended his spouse that stood in the middest of sharp and pricking briers and thorns:
As touching the defence of God towards his people in this life:1 it is meruellously set foorth by Christ in his prayer, a little before his death: where he prayed vnto his father, not to take his Apostles out of this worlde:2 but to preserue them in this worlde from sinne.3 So that he woulde his friendes with Gods defence, shoulde abide for a time in the world. And what they shuld haue in the world for all Gods defence, Christe tolde them: In the worlde (sayeth he) ye shall suffer affliction: and ye shall weepe, and the world shal laugh. Againe,4 he said vnto them, that He sent them foorth as shéepe amongest woolues. Whereby we may sée, that Gods fauour and Gods defence saueth not his verie elects in this life from troubles and afflictions. For (Saint Paule saith,) As many as will liue godly, shall suffer persequution. ⟨p. 57⟩Therefore the holy Ghost placeth the faithfull congregation, the spouse of Christ (whome God loueth and defendeth) amongst thornes, and brambles: 5and sometime likeneth the faithfull congregation vnto a ship, tossed vpon the sea with daunger of drowning: sometime vnto a house, wherevppon bloweth all windes and weather: and sometime to a woman trauelling with child, before whom standeth a foule dragon readie to deuour both childe and mother. So that by this prophet Asaphes wordes that saith,6 He shal not greatly fall, and by these other places, we learne, that in this life, such as God loueth & defendeth from the eternall fire of hell, he (notwithstanding for this life) vnder great crosses, and wonderfull troubles: yet Christ willeth vs to be of good comfort, for He hath ouercome the world. And ye prophet saith,7 God is my rocke and my saluation: I shall not greatly fall. 8And to consider the trueth, such as God most strongly defendeth, and best loueth in this world, suffer many times, greatest troubles. Yea, and God beginneth with his friends somtimes first, and most sharply: as S. Peter saith. And S. Paule saith, We be praedestinate to be made like vnto Christ in troubles, whiles we be in this troublesome world: But the defence of God and his loue in the world to come, is voyd from al bitternes and paine, and from all troubles and aduersities.
- 1Defence of God towards his people in this life.
- 2John. 17.Iohn. 17.
- 3They that will live in Christ must suffer persecution John. 16.They that wil liue in Christe must suffer persequution Iohn. 16.
- 4Matth. 10.
- 5Cant. 2. Matt. 13. 7, The faithful congregation is likened to a ship, a house, & a woman travelling with child, &c.Cant. 2. Matt. 13. 7, The faithfull congregation is likened to a shipp, a house, & a woman trauelling with child, &c.
- 6Apoc. 12.
- 7John. 17.Iohn. 17.
- 8Who do suffer in this world greatest troubles. Proverb. 3. Hebr. 12. Apocal. 3. 1. Peter. 4. Rom. 8.Who doe suffer in this world greatest troubles. Prouerb.
