Secondly, hence it appears, that prosperity is not always a sign of love and favour from God. Rome makes it a note of the true Church: if that were so, 1then the Egyptians were in a righter way then the Israelites: 2the Philistines, the Ammonites, the Midianites, and afterward the Babylonians and the Persians, might have pleaded that their gods were true gods, and to be worshipped rather then the God of Israel: and when the ten Tribes broke off from Judah, and yet often prevailed against Judah, and were more prosperous, they might have pleaded that they were in the right, that their worshipping of God was more accepted, then that which was at Jerusalem. And afterwards the Heathens might have pleaded this argument against the Christians; and thus indeed they did, as we find in the 30. Epistle of Ambrose: 3he answers to one Symmachus, a great man, who pleaded strongly against the Christians, and for the maintenance of Idols, by this argument, saying, That they prospered and flourished more in worshipping of ⟨p. 63⟩their gods, then the Christians did in the worshipping of theirs. Certainly, the ancient godly Fathers could not have heard this argument of outward prosperity, of outward pomp and glory in the world, pleaded as a sign of the true Church, and of Gods love, but with much indignation; How cross is this to Scripture? where we find the estate of Gods people hath usually been a poor afflicted estate. And surely, the Papists could not always plead this argument; time hath been when the Goths, Vandals, Huns, and Turks, have been more prosperous then they. The Emperor, Henry the fourth, was much hated by the Bishop of Rome, and yet he was not unprosperous in his way: when the Pope cursed him, and made another Emperor, namely, Rodulphus King of Swevia; 4yet this Emperor of his setting up, prospered not at all, but was overcome, and slain by Henry: The Pope after set up another, and he was slain by a woman: yea, he set up a third after him against Henry the fourth; he likewise was taken in a Mill, and 5slain by the Emperor: at the last, the Pope himself was cast out of his Seat, and cast into Prison, and dyed in extreme dolours of mind, for that he had so wronged the Emperor; and as it is reported, he asked pardon of him.
Secondly, hence it appears, that prosperity is not always a sign of love and favor from God. Rome makes it a note of the true Church: if that were so, 1then the Egyptians were in a righter way then the Israelites: 2the Philistims, the Ammonites, the Midianites, and afterward the Babylonians and the Persians, might have pleaded that their gods were true gods, and to be worshipped rather then the God of Israel: and when the ten Tribes broke off from Judah, and yet often prevailed against Judah, and were more prosperous, they might have pleaded that they were in the right, that their worshipping of God was more accepted, then that which was at Jerusalem. And afterwards the Heathens might have pleaded this argument against the Christians; and thus indeed they did, as we finde in the 30. Epistle of Ambrose: 3he answers to one Symmachus, a great man, who pleaded strongly against the Christians, and for the maintenance of Idols, by this argument, saying, That they prospered and flourished more in worshipping of ⟨p. 63⟩their gods, then the Christians did in the worshipping of theirs. Certainly, the ancient godly Fathers could not have heard this argument of outward prosperity, of outward pomp and glory in the world, pleaded as a sign of the true Church, and of Gods love, but with much indignation; How cross is this to Scripture? where we finde the estate of Gods people hath usually been a poor afflicted estate. And surely, the Papists could not always plead this argument; time hath been when the Goths, Vandals, Hunnes, and Turks, have been more prosperous then they. The Emperor, Henry the fourth, was much hated by the Bishop of Rome, and yet he was not unprosperous in his way: when the Pope cursed him, and made another Emperor, namely, Rodulphus King of Swevia; 4yet this Emperor of his setting up, prospered not at all, but was overcome, and slain by Henry: The Pope after set up another, and he was slain by a woman: yea, he set up a third after him against Henry the fourth; he likewise was taken in a Mill, and 5slain by the Emperor: at the last, the Pope himself was cast out of his Seat, and cast into Prison, and dyed in extreme dolours of minde, for that he had so wronged the Emperor; and as it is reported, he asked pardon of him.
- 12.
- 2Non omne quod faeliciter bene, neque in hac vita omne quod bene faeliciter Greg Mor l. 30. c 3.
- 3Ambrose F. p. 30.
- 4Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diidema Rodulpho.
- 5Whitake•us de Eccles. controversia quinta. c: 16.
