From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions, and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Soldiers: That of Esther for the preservation of the people of God: Well, saith she, I will go in unto the King, which is not according to the law, 1and if I perish, I perish. That of Micaiah, solicited strongly by the messenger to temporize, in managing his Ministry with suitableness, and conformity to the Kings pleasure, and plausibleness of the false prophets: As the Lord liveth, what the 2Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. That of Nehemiah; Should such a man as I flee? As if he should have said; Tell3 not me of fleeing, my resolution was pitched long ago, if need require, to lay down my life, and lose my blood in the Lords battles. That of Paul, when his friends were weeping, and wailing about him: What mean you to weep, said he,4 and to break mine heart? For I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus. That of Jerome: If my father stood weeping on his knees before me, and my mother hanging on my neck behind me, and all my brethren, sisters, children, kinsfolk, howling on every side, to retain me in sinful life with them; I would fling my mother to the ground, despise all my kindred, run over my father, and tread him under my feet, thereby to run to Christ when he calleth me. That of Luther, dealt with, earnestly, and eagerly, not to venture himself amongst a number of perfidious, and bloodthirsty Papists: As touching me (saith he) since I am sent for, I 5am resolved, and certainly determined to enter Worms in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; yea, although I knew there were so many Devils to resist me, as there are tiles to cover the houses in Worms. That of a most renowned Italian Marquess, Galeacius Carracciolus, tempted by a Jesuit with a great sum ⟨p. 53⟩of money, to return from Gods Blessing at Geneva, to the warm Sun in Italy: Let their money perish with them, who 6esteem all the Gold in the world, worth one days society with Jesus Christ, and his holy Spirit. That of George Carpenter, Martyr: My wife and my children are so dearly beloved unto 7me, that they cannot be bought from me, for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria: but for the love of my Lord God, I will willingly forsake them.
From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions, and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Souldiers: That of Hester for the preseruation of the people of God: Well, saith she, I wil goe in vnto the King, which is not according to the law, 1and if I perish, I perish. That of Micaiah, sollicited strongly by the messenger to temporize, in managing his Ministery with sutablenesse, and conformity to the Kings pleasure, and plausiblenesse of the false prophets: As the Lord liueth, what the 2Lord saith vnto mee, that will I speake. That of Nehemiah; Should such a man as I flee? As if he should haue said; Tell3 not mee of fleeing, my resolution was pitcht long agoe, if need require, to lay downe my life, and lose my blood in the Lords battels. That of Paul, when his friends were weeping, and wailing about him: What meane you to weepe, said hee,4 and to breake mine heart? For I am ready, not to be bound onely, but also to die at Hierusalem, for the name of the Lord Iesus. That of Ierome: If my father stood weeping on his knees before mee, and my mother hanging on my necke behind me, and all my brethren, sisters, children, kinsfolke, howling on euery side, to retaine me in sinfull life with them; I would fling my mother to the ground, despise all my kinred, run ouer my father, and tread him vnder my feet, thereby to run to Christ when hee calleth me. That of Luther, dealt with, earnestly, and eagerly, not to venture himselfe amongst a number of perfidious, and bloodthirstie Papists: As touching me (saith he) since I am sent for, I 5am resolued, and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ; yea, although I knew there were so many Deuils to resist me, as there are tiles to couer the houses in Wormes. That of a most renowned Italian Marquesse, Galeacius Carracciolus, tempted by a Iesuite with a great sum ⟨p. 53⟩of money, to returne from Gods Blessing at Geneua, to the warme Sunne in Italy: Let their money perish with them, who 6esteeme all the Gold in the world, worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ, and his holy Spirit. That of George Carpenter, Martyr: My wife and my children are so dearely beloued vnto
- 1Hest. 4. 16.
- 21. King. 22. 14.
- 3Neh 6. 11.
- 4Act. 21. 13.
- 5Fox in the Story of Marti• Luther, pag. 849.
- 6See the Story of his life, pag. •7.
- 7Fox, pag. 884.
