The comfort which is given in this case to the godly, is hidden within them. For to him that over cometh shall be given a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. The afflictions of this present time are 1not worthy the glory, which shall be showed unto us. When our saviour did see the time of his passion draw near, he said to his Disciples, You are they which have continued with 2me in my temptations. Therefore I appoint ⟨p. 26⟩to you a kingdom as my father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on seats, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And in his sermon upon the mountain, he saith, Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousness 3sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. The case shall be altered. It shall be between them and their persecutors as it was between Lazarus and the Rich man. When the wicked and cruel tyrants shall see them in the presence of the throne of God, because they came out of great tribulation, & have 4washed their long robes, and have made them white in the blood of the lamb: the god of Abraham shall say unto the wicked: sons, remember that you in your life time received your pleasures, & like wise these men pains: now therefore are they c•orted, & you tormented. They are taken out of affliction into rest, from their bonds into liberty, out of prison into a kingdom, out of misery unto glory, from life unto death. The promise of this comfort is often renewed. The prophet David saith, They that sow 5in tears, shall reap in joy. Our saviour telleth his Disciples, Ye shall weep and lament, and 6the world shall rejoice: and you shall sorrow, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy. S. John heard a voice from heaven, saying: Blessed be ⟨p. 27⟩7the dead, which hereafter die in the Lórd. Even so saith the spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them. He is commanded to write unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians. Fear none of those things which 8thou shalt suffer, Behold it shall come to pass, that the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, & ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, & I will give thee the crown of life.
The comfort which is giuen in this case to the godlie, is hidden within them. For to him that ouer commeth shal be giuen a white stone, and in the stone a newe name written, which no man knoweth sauing he that receyueth it. The afflictions of this present time are 1not worthie the glorie, which shal be shewed vnto vs. When our saniour did sée the time of his passion drawe neare, he saide to his Disciples, You are they which haue continued with 2me in my temptations. Therefore I appoint ⟨p. 26⟩to you a kingdome as my father hath appointed vnto me, that yee may eate and drinke at my table in my kingdome, and sit on seates, and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel. And in his sermon vpon the mountaine, he saith, Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnesse 3sake, for theirs is the kingdome of Heauen. The case shal be altered. It shal be betwéene them and their persecuters as it was betwéene Lazarus and the Rich man. When the wicked and cruel tyrantes shal sée them in the presence of the throne of God, because they came out of great tribulatiō, & haue 4washed their long robes, and haue made them white in ye bloud of the lambe: the god of Abraham shal say vnto the wicked: sons, remember that you in your life time receiued your pleasures, & like wise these men paines: now therfore are they c•orted, & you tormented. They are taken out of affliction into rest, from their bondes into libertie, out of prison into a kingdome, out of miserie vnto glory, from life vnto death. The promise of this comfort is often renewed. The prophet Dauid saith, They yt sowe 5in teares, shal reape in ioy. Our sauiour telleth his Disciples, Ye shal weepe and lament, and 6the world shal reioyce: and you shal forrowe, but your sorrowe shal be turned to ioy. S. Iohn heard a voice from heauen, saying: Blessed be ⟨p. 27⟩7the dead, which hereafter dy in ye Lórd. Euen so saith the spirite, for they rest frō their labours, and their workes follow them. He is commanded to write vnto ye Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians. Feare none of those things which
- 1Rom. […].Rom. 〈…〉.
- 2Luke. […].Luke. 〈…〉.
- 3Mat. 5.
- 4Reve. 7.Reue. 7.
- 5Psal. 126.
- 6John 16.Iohn 16.
- 7Reu. 14.
- 8Reve. 2.Reue. 2.