But that peace off it self is an aide to godly increase / and ⟨p. CCXLIIII⟩confirmation off the church: it is manifest / by that all the churches in Jury, Galilee, and Samaria, being in peace were edified, 1and walking in the fear off God, were multiplied. Now if they in the time off peace multiplied / having no further aide of the magistrate / then that he hurt them not: what condemnation shall it be / if our churches which have assistance off the magistrate / cannot uphold them in that fear off God / but they must fall into such riot / as the A. supposeth? And if multiplying off open wickedness / and decrease of former godliness were so general / and so incident to the peace off the gospel / as you pretend: there is no cause why we should pray so earnestly / and often for it / nay rather there should be good cause / off praying against it. For when it is given us of God / partly for our ease / and especially for the glory of God in increase of all virtue: the chief part which is the glory off God / being by you shut out: there is no cause why we should pray for the other. Your reason of having a better feeling in the time off persecution, then in the peace of the gospel, is very insufficient: especially to that you use it unto / off proving greater plenty off knowledge in time off persecution / then in peace. considering that those wicked which never were in persecution / nor have that spirit which is often times sharpened / and quickened by persecution: know notwithstanding the mysteries of God / as the children of God them selves. And although the persecution should give some advancement to knowledge that ways: yet it hindereth more otherwaies / in that it letteth the often meetings to hear the word of God / whereby knowledge is bred: in that also poverty (where with it is continually yoked) draweth many cares for this present life / for them / and theirs. Likewise continual fear they be in / even during the time of their meetings for the word off God (enemy unto the understanding / and putting to flight the powers of the mind / wherewith knowledge is gotten) and also the often / and sudden shiftings from place / to place: must needs be a let to that tainment off knowledge / in the word off God. Where you call upon answer unto your reason:
But that peace off it selfe is an aide to godlie increase / and ⟨p. CCXLIIII⟩confirmacion off the church: yt is manifeste / by that all the churches in Iurie, Galile, and Samaria, beinge in peace vvere edified, 1and vvalking in the feare off God, vvere multiplied. Now if they in the time off peace multiplied / hauinge no further aide of the magistrate / then that he hurte them not: vvhat condemnatiō shall yt be / if our churches vvhich haue assistance off the magistrate / cannot vpholde them in that feare off God / but they muste fall into suche riote / as the A. supposeth? And if multiplying off open wickednes / and decrease of former godlines vvere so generall / and so incident to the peace off the gospell / as yow pretende: there is no cause vvhy vvee shoulde praie so earnestly / and often for it / nai rather there shoulde be good cause / off praying againste it. For when it is giuē vs of God / partlie for our ease / and especially for the glorie of God in encrease of all vertue: the cheife parte vvhich is the glorie off God / beinge by yow shutte owte: there is no cause vvhy vve shoulde praie for the other. Yowr reason of hauinge a better fealinge in the time off persequution, then in the peace of the gospell, is very insufficiēte: especially to that yow vse it vnto / off prouinge greater plentithe off knowledge in time off persequution / then in peace. considering that those wicked which neuer were in persequution / nor haue that spirite vvhich is often times sharpened / and quickedned by persequution: knowe notwithstanding the misteries of God / as the children of God them selues. And althowghe the persequution shoulde giue some aduancement to knowledge that waies: yet it hindreth more otherwaies / in that it letteth the often meetinges to heare the vvorde of God / vvherby knowledge is bredd: in that also pouertie (wher with it is cōtinually yoked) draweth many cares for this present life / for them / and theirs. Likwise continuall feare they be in / euen duringe the time of their meetinges for the vvorde off God (enemie vnto the vnderstanding / and puttinge to flighte the powres of the minde / vvherwith knowledge is gotten) and also the often / and soudein shiftinges from place / to place: muste needes be a lett to that tainment off knowledge / in the vvord off God. Where yow call vpon answer vnto your reason:
- 1Act. 9. 31.
