Consolation for poor maligned and molested Christians, whose weakness the power of the wicked seeks to play upon: and whose means the pompous proud worldlings have in derision, and strive also to make contemptible to all others. The highest sinner in the world is unable to hurt the lowest saint, or the most glorious among them, to shame the most feeble among these. It is as possible for a young child by force to wring the weapons out of a giants hand, or take his money out of his bosom, or to draw his heart blood out of his body, as it is to strip any one good man of his reverent estimation. And what mean they then to surmise that a few of them, and such as be in disgrace with God, and all prudent men can bring down, and cast to the ground the whole Church of God? Let them know that every woman of Christ his army, is too hard for any man, for all men, yea and for all the fiends that are in Satan's camp: Every child may bid defiance to him, and his whole host of persecutors. God is our defence, and therefore they cannot overthrow us: God is our glory, and accounteth us for glorious, and therefore they cannot shame us. In Isaiah this is often pressed, Fear thou not, I am with thee, be not afraid, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, and help thee, and will sustain thee with the right hand of my justice. Behold, all they that provoke thee, shall be ashamed and confounded: and they that strive with thee shall perish. Fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel: I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the holy one of Israel. Thou wast precious in my sight, and thou wast honourable and I loved thee, &c. Isa. 41. 10. 11. 14. and 43. 4.
Consolation for poore maligned and molested Christians, whose weakenes the power of the wicked seekes to play vpon: and whose meanes the pompous proude worldlings haue in derision, and striue also to make contemptible to all others. The highest sinner in the world is vnable to hurt the lowest saint, or the most glorious among them, to shame the most feeble among these. It is as possible for a young childe by force to wring the weapons out of a giants hand, or take his monie out of his bosome, or to draw his heart bloud out of his body, as it is to strip any one good man of his reuerent estimation. And what meane they then to surmise that a few of them, and such as bee in disgrace with God, and all prudent men can bring downe, and cast to the ground the whole Church of God? Let them know that euery woman of Christ his armie, is too hard for any man, for all men, yea and for all the fiends that are in Sathans campe: Euerie child may bid defiance to him, and his whole host of persecutors. God is our defence, and therefore they cannot ouerthrow vs: God is our glorie, and accounteth vs for glorious, and therefore they cannot shame vs. In Isaiah this is often pressed, Feare thou not, I am with thee, be not afraid, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, and helpe thee, and will sustaine thee with the right hand of my iustice. Behold, all they that prouoke thee, shall bee ashamed and confounded: and they that striue with thee shall perish. Feare not thou worme Iacob, and yee men of Israel: I will helpe thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the holy one of Israel. Thou wast precious in my sight, and thou wast honourable and I loued thee, &c. Isa. 41. 10. 11. 14. and 43. 4.
