First, Let me persuade you to appear more and more §1publicly in this Cause. There are many that think it fit only for poor men that have nothing to loose, to appear openly in a good Cause, but as for those that have great Estates, it becomes them to be wary and circumspect, and to seek rather to save their Estates then to hazard all. Such a one was Nicodemus that came to Christ by night, though afterwards he repented and amended, as you may read, John 7. 50, Such were those chief Rulers, Joh. 12. 42, That believed in Christ, but durst not confess him so fear of the Pharisees, least they should be put out of the Synagogue. And many such there are in our days. But a true Christian is so far from being hindered by his riches and greatness from appearing for God, 1that he is glad that he hath riches and Honours to loose for God, he receives joyfully the spoiling of his goods. He willingly parts with all for Christs Cause. And if you ask him why he doth so, he will answer with Paulinus Nolanus, Ut levius ascenderet scalam Jacobi, That he might go the lighter to Heaven. He saith as that famous Noble-man Hormisdas did, who when he was deposed from all his Honours because he would not forsake his Religion, and afterwards restored to his Honours again, and then commanded by the King of Persia to renounce his profession. Answered, Si propter ista me denegaturum Christum put as, ist a denuo acoipe. If you think I will deny Christ for to keep my Honours,2 take them all back again. S. Austin in his Confessions relates an excellent Story of one Victorinus a great man at Rome that had many great friends that were Heathen, but it pleased God to convert him to the Christian Religion, and he comes to one Simplicianus, and tells him secretly that he was a Christian. Simplicianus answers, Non credam, nec deputabo ⟨p. 48⟩te inter Christianos, nisi in Ecclesiâ Christi te videro. I will not believe thee to be a Christian, till I see you openly profess it in the Church. At first Victorinus derided his answer, and said, Ergone parietes faciunt Christianum? Do the walls make a Christian? But afterwards remembering and often pondering that Text of our Saviour, He that is ashamed of me before men, 3I will be ashamed of him before my Father, &c. he returns to Simplicianus, and professeth himself openly in the Church to be a Christian.
First, Let me perswade you to appeare more and more §1publikely in this Cause. There are many that thinke it fit onely for poore men that have nothing to loose, to appeare openly in a good Cause, but as for those that have great Estates, it becomes them to be wary and circumspect, and to seeke rather to save their Estates then to hazard all. Such a one was Nicodemus that came to Christ by night, though afterwards he repented and amended, as you may reade, Iohn 7. 50, Such were those chiefe Rulers, Ioh. 12. 42, That beleeved in Christ, but durst not confesse him so feare of the Pharisees, least they should be put out of the Synagogue. And many such there are in our dayes. But a true Christian is so far from being hindred by his riches and greatnesse from appearing for God, 1that he is glad that he hath riches and Honours to loose for God, he receives joyfully the spoiling of his goods. He willingly parts with all for Christs Cause. And if you aske him why he doth so, he will answer with Paulinus Nolanus, Vt levius ascenderet scalam Iacobi, That he might goe the lighter to Heaven. He saith as that famous Noble-man Hormisdas did, who when he was deposed from all his Honours because he would not forsake his Religion, and afterwards restored to his Honours again, and then commanded by the King of Persia to renounce his profession. Answered, Si propter ista me denegaturum Christum put as, ist a denuo acoipe. If you thinke I will deny Christ for to keepe my Honours,2 take them all back againe. S. Austin in his Confessions relates an excellent Story of one Victorinus a great man at Rome that had many great friends that were Heathen, but it pleased God to convert him to the Christian Religion, and he comes to one Simplicianus, and tells him secretly that he was a Christian. Simplicianus answers, Non credam, nec deputabo ⟨p. 48⟩te inter Christianos, nisi in Ecclesiâ Christi te videro. I will not beleeve thee to be a Christian, till I see you openly professe it in the Church. At first Victorinus derided his answer, and said, Ergone parietes faciunt Christianum? Doe the walls make a Christian? But afterwards remembring and often pondering that Text of our Saviour, He that is ashamed of me before men, 3I will be ashamed of him before my Father, &c. he returnes to Simplicianus, and professeth himselfe openly in the Church to be a Christian.
- 1Heb. 10. 37.
- 2Lib. 8. Consess.
- 3Mark. 8. 38.
