A47584:1315
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Even so, most dearly beloved, is happened now to the afflicted Church of God within the Realm of England: At all times the true Word of God suffered contradiction and repugnancy; And so the wind blew against us even from the beginning of the late up rising of the Gospel in England, but yet it could not stop our course, till now of late days, that the raging wind bloweth without bridle upon the unstable Seas, in the midst whereof we are in this hour of darkness.
Even so, most dearly beloved, is happened now to the afflicted Church of God within the Realme of England: At all times the true Word of God suffered contradiction and repugnancie; And so the winde blew against us even from the beginning of the late up rising of the Gospel in England, but yet it could not stop our course, till now of late days, that the raging winde bloweth without bridle upon the unstable Seas, in the midst whereof we are in this hour of darknesse.
1To write my mind plainly unto you, beloved brethren: This wind that always hath blown against the Church of God, is the malice and hatred of the devil, which rightly in this case is compared to the wind: For as the wind is invisible, and yet the poor disciples feel that it troubleth and lettereth their Ship;2 So is the pestilent envy of the devil working always in the hearts of the reprobate so subtle and crafty, that it cannot be espied by Gods Elect, nor by his Messengers, till first they feel the blasts thereof to blow their Ship backward: And as the vehement wind causeth the waves of the Sea to rage,3 and yet the dead water neither knoweth what it doth, neither yet can it cease nor refrain; so that both it is troubled by the wind, and also it self doth trouble Christs disciples in their poor Ship: So by the envy and malice of the devil, are wicked and cruel, as well subjects as Princes (whose hearts are like the raging Sea) compelled to persecute and trouble the true Church of Christ; and yet so blinded are they, and so enthralled under the bondage of the devil, that neither can they see their manifest iniquity, neither yet can they cease to run to their own destruction. And hereof, England, hast thou manifest experience: For in the time of King Henry the eighth,