Considering that, and forasmuch as ⟨image 10⟩his hand is not now any shorter than it was than, and that he hath at this day in so great recommendation the defence of his people, truth and verity, as ever he had: Doubt ye not, but that he will help you, and not only for one time, but in as many temptations as he shall send unto you. If the most part of the world resist the Gospel, and likewise enforceth themselves, with all rage and violence, to impeach and hinder the setting forth thereof:1 We ought not to think it strange. For it is the unthankfulness of men, which ever have been and shall be, to recoil when GOD approacheth to them, ⟨image 10⟩and also to stumble against him, when he will charge them with his yoke. Moreover, for that of their nature they be given to hypocrisy, they may not endure to be brought to the light of the word of GOD, which discovereth their infamy and shame, nor to be drawn out of the superstitions which serveth unto them as hiding places, for to give them shadow. It is then no new thing, if there be great contradiction, when one goeth about to bring them to the pure obedience of GOD.2 And also we have advertisement of our Lord Jesus, the which sayeth to us, that he hath brought the sword ⟨image 11⟩with his evangely. But this must not astonish us, nor make us worse willing or fearful: for in the end when men shall have well mutinied and put forth all their malices, they shall be confounded in a moment, and shall overthrow themselves, with their own violences. It is true (as it is said in the second psalm) that god shall not but laugh at their stirrings,3 that is to say, that in dissimulyng he shall leave them tormented, as the thing touched him not. But for all that, in the end they shall be always driven back by his power, of the which if we be armed, we have a good perfect and ⟨image 11⟩invincible munition against all conspiracies, whatsoever the Devils may procure against us. And in the end we shall know by experience,4 that as the gospel is the messenger of peace, & of the reconciliation between God and us: So can he aswell for us pacify men. And by this mean, we shall feel that Isaiah hath not said in vain, that when Jesus Christ shall reign amongst us by his doctrine, the swords shall be converted into plough shares, and the spears into Scythes.
Consideryng that, and for asmuch as ⟨image 10⟩hys hād is not now any shorter than it was than, and that he hath at this day in so gret recommendacion the defence of his people, truth and veritie, as euer he had: Doubte ye not, but that he wil helpe you, and not onelye for one tyme, but in as many temptacions as he shall send vnto you. If the moste parte of the worlde resiste the Gospell, and lykewyse enforceth themselues, with all rage and violence, to empeache and hyndre the settyng furth therof:1 We ought not to thynke it straunge. For it is the vnthankefulnesse of menne, which euer haue bene and shalbe, to recoyle when GOD approcheth to them, ⟨image 10⟩and also to stumble agaynste hym, when he will charge them with hys yoke. Moreouer, for that of theyr nature they bee geuen to hipocrisie, they maye not endure to bee brought to ye light of ye woord of GOD, whiche discouereth their infamye and shame, nor to be drawen out of the supersticiōs which serueth vnto thē as hyding places, for to geue them shadowe. It is then no new thing, if there bee greate contradiccion, whē one goeth aboute to brynge them to the pure obedyence of GOD.2 And also we haue aduertisemente of oure Lorde Iesus, the whiche sayeth to vs, that he hathe brought the sweorde ⟨image 11⟩with his euangelye. But this muste not astonyshe vs, nor make vs wurse willynge or fearefull: for in thende when men shall haue well mutined and put furth all theyr malices, they shalbe confounded in a momente, and shal ouerthrow themselues, with theyr owne violences. It is true (as it is sayde in the seconde psalme) that god shall not but laughe at theyr styrrynges,3 that is to say, that in dissimulyng he shall leaue them tormented, as the thyng touched hym not. But for all that, in thende they shalbe alwayes drieuen backe by hys power, of the whiche if we be armed, we haue a good perfite and ⟨image 11⟩inuincible municion againste all conspiracies, whatsoeuer the Deuilles maye procure agaynst vs. And in thende we shall knowe by experyence,4 yt as the gospel is the messenger of peace, & of ye reconciliacyon betwene God and vs: So can he aswel for vs pacifye men. And by thys meane, we shall feele that Esai hath not sayd in vayne, that when Iesu Christe shall reygne emonges vs by hys doctrine, the sweordes shall be conuerted into plough shares, and the speares into Sythes.
- 1The ingratitude of men doeth ever more resist God approaching unto themThe ingratytude of men doeth euer more resist God approchīg vnto them
- 2Jesus brigeth the sword with the gospelIesus brigeth the swerd with the gospel
- 3Howe god laugheth at the malicious stirring of persecutors.Howe god laugheth at the malicious stirring of persecutours.
- 4The Gospel that maketh a reconciliation between god and us, can also a pease menThe Gospell that maketh a reconciliacion betwene god and vs, can also a pease men
