The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Hereof have the Tyrants their admonition, and the afflicted Church inestimable comfort; The Tyrants that do oppress, shall receive the same end that they did which have passed before; that is, They shall die and fall with shame, without hope of resurrection, as is foresaid, not, That they shall not arise to their own confusion and just condemnation; but, that they shall not recover power to trouble the servants of God, neither yet shall the wicked arise (as David saith) in the Council of the Just: Now have the wicked their Councils, their Thrones, and finally handling (for the most part) of all things that are upon the face of the earth; but the poor servants of God are reputed unworthy of mens presence, envied, mocked; yea, they are more vile before these proud Tyrants, then is the very dirt and mire that is trodden under foot: But in that glorious ⟨p. 105⟩resurrection this state shall be changed; for then shall such as now by their abominable living and cruelty, destroy the earth and molest Gods children, see him whom they have pierced;¹ they shall see the glory of such as now they persecute, to their terror and everlasting confusion. The remembrance hereof ought to make us patient in the days of affliction, and so to comfort us, that when we see Tyrants in their blind rage, tread under foot the Saints of God, that utterly we despair not, as if there were neither Wisdom, Justice nor Power above in the Heavens to repress such Tyrants, and to redress the dolours of rhe unjustly afflicted; No brethren, let us be assured that the right hand of the Lord will change the state of things that be most desperate: In our God there is Wisdom and Power in a moment, to change the joy and mirth of our enemies, into everlasting mourning, and our sorrows into joy and gladness that shall have no end.

Hereof have the Tyrants their admonition, and the afflicted Church inestimable comfort; The Tyrants that do oppresse, shall receive the same end that they did which have passed before; that is, They shall die and fall with shame, without hope of resurrection, as is foresaid, not, That they shall not arise to their own confusion and just condemnation; but, that they shall not recover power to trouble the servants of God, neither yet shall the wicked arise (as David saith) in the Councell of the Just: Now have the wicked their Councells, their Thrones, and finally handling (for the most part) of all things that are upon the face of the earth; but the poor servants of God are reputed unworthy of mens presence, envyed, mocked; yea, they are more vile before these proud Tyrants, then is the very dirt and mire that is trodden under foot: But in that glorious