The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

This saw that notable servant of Jesus Christ, Athanasius, who (being exiled from Alexandria by that blasphemous Apostate Julian the Emperor) said unto his flock, who bitterly wept for his envious banishment; Weep not, but be of good comfort, said he, For this little cloud will suddenly vanish. A little cloud, he called both the Emperor himself, and his cruel tyranny; And albeit, That small appearance there, was of any deliverance to the Church of God, or yet, of any punishment, to have apprehended the proud tyrants, when the man of God pronounced these words, Yet shortly after, God did give witness, That those words did not proceed from flesh, nor blood, but from Gods very spirit. For not long after, being in warfare, he received a deadly wound, whether by his own hand, or by one of his own soldiers, the Writers clearly conclude not, But casting his own blood against the Heaven, he said, Vicisti tandem Galilee, That is, At last thou hast overcome thou Galilean; So in despite, he termed the Lord Jesus, and so perished that tyrant in his own iniquity; The storm ceased, and the Church of God received now comfort.

This saw that notable servant of Jesus Christ, Athanasius, who (being exiled from Alexandria by that blasphemous Apostata Iulian the Emperour) said unto his flock, who bitterly wept for his envious banishment; Weep not, but be of good comfort, said he, For this little cloud will suddainly vanish. A little cloud, he called both the Emperour himself, and his cruell tyranny; And albeit, That small appearance there, was of any deliverance to the Church of God, or yet, of any punishment, to have apprehended the proud tyrants, when the man of God pronounced these words, Yet shortly after, God did give witnesse, That those words did not proceed from flesh, nor blood, but from Gods very spirit. For not long after, being in warfare, he received a deadly wound, whether by his own hand, or by one of his own souldiers, the Writers cleerly conclude not, But casting his own blood against the Heaven, he said, Vicisti tandem Galilee, That is, At last thou hast overcome thou Galilean; So in despite, he termed the Lord Jesus, and so perished that tyrant in his own iniquity; The storm ceased, and the Church of God received now comfort.

Such shall be the end of all cruel persecutors, Their reign shall be short, their end miserable, and their name shall be left in execrations to Gods people; and yet shall the Church of God remain to Gods glory, after all storms. But now shortly, let us come to the last point.