The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

What were the affections of the greatest multitude that followed the Gospel in this former rest and abundance, is easy to be judged, if the life and conversation of every man should have been thoroughly examined: For who lived (in that rest) as that he had refused himself?¹ Who lived in that rest, as that he had been crucified with Christ? Who lived in that rest, as that he had certainly looked for trouble to come upon him? Yea, who lived not rather in delicacy and joy, and seeking the world and pleasures thereof, caring for the flesh and carnal appetites, as though death and sin had clean been devoured?² And what was this else, then to make of Christ an earthly King?³ The Word that we professed daily cried in our ears; that our Kingdom; our joy, our rest and felicity, neither was, is, nor should be upon the earth, neither in any transitory thing thereof, but in heaven, into which we must enter by many tribulations.⁴ But (alas) we slept in such security, that the sound of the Trumpet could of many never be perfectly understood, but always ⟨p. 46⟩we persuaded our selves of a certain tranquility, as though the troubles whereof mention is made within the Scriptures of God, appertained nothing at all to this age, but unto such as of long time are passed before us: and therefore was our heavenly Father compelled to withdraw from us the presence of his verity (whose voice in those days we could not believe) to the end that more earnestly we may thirst for the same, and with more obedience embrace and receive it, if ever it shall please his infinite goodness, in such abundance to restore the same again.

What were the affections of the greatest multitude that followed the Gospel in this former rest and abundance, is easie to be judged, if the life and conversation of every man should have beene thorowly examined: For who lived (in that rest) as that he had refused himself?¹