The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Two vices lurk in this our nature; the one is, That we cannot tremble at Gods threatenings, before that the plagues apprehend us, albeit, that we see cause most just, why that his fierce wrath should burn as a devouring fire. The other is, That when calamities before pronounced, fall upon us, then begin we to sink down in despair, so that we never look for any comfortable end of the same.

Two vices lurke in this our nature; the one is, That we cannot tremble at Gods threatnings, before that the plagues apprehend us, albeit, that we see cause most just, why that his fierce wrath should burn as a devouring fire. The other is, That when calamities before pronounced, fall upon us, then begin we to sinke down in despair, so that we never look for any comfortable end of the same.

To correct this our mortal infirmity in time of quietness, We ought to consider what is the justice of our God, and how odious sin is. And above all other, how odious Idolatry is in his presence, who hath forbidden it, and who hath so severely punished it in all ages, from the beginning; And in the time of our affliction we ought to consider, what have been the wondrous Works of our God, in preservation of his Church, when it hath been in uttermost extremity: For never shall we find the Church humbled under the hands of Traitors, and cruelly tormented by them; but therewith, we shall find Gods just vengeance to fall upon the cruel persecutors, and his merciful deliverance to be showed to the afflicted: And in taking of this trial, we should not only call to mind the Histories of ancient times, but also we should diligently mark what notable Works God hath wrought even in this our age, as well upon the one, as upon the other. We ought not to think that our God beareth less love to his Church this day, then that he hath done from the beginning: For as our God in his own nature is immutable, so remaineth his love towards his elect, always unchangeable; For as in CHRIST JESUS he hath chosen his Church, before the beginning of all ages, so by him will he maintain and preserve the same unto the end. Yea, he will quiet the storms, and cause the earth to open her mouth, and receive those raging floods of violent waters, cast out by the Dragon, to drown and carry away the woman which is the spouse of Jesus Christ, unto whom, God for his own Names ake,