The corporal evils may be referred to 4 heads: First,1 those injuries and wrongs that Gods children sustain at the hands of worldly men that here oppugn and oppress them.2 For all that will live, godlily, while they live here, must look to suffer persecution1; and the way to Gods kingdom is through many tribulations2: the world hateth them, because though they be in it, yet are they not of it3: and this hatred will last so long as the world lasts4; so long as the one is in it,7 and the other of it: neither will it cease to discover it self in mischievous attemptsa, so oft as ability and opportunity shall meet. In regard whereof, Christian men, saith our Apostle, had they hope only in this life, were of all men the most miserableb. Christian men therefore as they have no cause to love life; so they have no need to fear death: yea as they have little cause to love this life, considering the wrongs that here daily they endure; so they have great cause to desire death, that putteth an end to them all; that setteth them and the wicked so far asunder, that they can not one come any more at the otherc, to vex or molest or annoy one the other. In respect whereof it is well said by some of the Ancients, that Gods children are never better delivered, then when delivered by death: for that then they are delivered not out of one, but out of all troubles at onced; and so delivered as they need no further deliverance any moree.
The corporall euils may be referred to 4 heads: First,1 those iniuries and wrongs that Gods children sustaine at the hands of worldly men that here oppugne and oppresse them.2 For all that will liue, godlily, while they liue here, must looke to suffer persecution1; and the way to Gods kingdome is through many tribulations2: the world hateth them, because though they be in it, yet are they not of it3: and this hatred will last so long as the world lasts4; so long as the one is in it,7 and the other of it: neither will it cease to discouer it selfe in mischieuous attemptsa, so oft as abilitie and opportunitie shall meete. In regard whereof, Christian men, saith our Apostle, had they hope onely in this life, were of all men the most miserableb. Christian men therefore as they haue no cause to loue life; so they haue no neede to feare death: yea as they haue litle cause to loue this life, considering the wrongs that here daily they endure; so they haue great cause to desire death, that putteth an end to them all; that setteth them and the wicked so far asunder, that they can not one come any more at the otherc, to vex or molest or annoy one the other. In respect whereof it is well said by some of the Ancients, that Gods children are neuer better deliuered, then when deliuered by death: for that then they are deliuered not out of one, but out of all troubles at onced; and so deliuered as they neede no further deliuerance any moree.
- 1EvilsEuils
- 2Corporal 1.Corporall 1.
- 12. Tim. 3. 12. nunquā deerit persecutio Christiano, sicut nec Christo, Si ergo pro Christo pressuram nondum pateris, vide ne piè vivere in Christo nondū ceperis. Aug. in Psal. 55. Fidenter dico, quia minus piè vivis, si minus persecutionem pertuleris. Greg. ep. 27. l. 6.2. Tim. 3. 12. nunquā deerit persecutio Christiano, sicut nec Christo, Si ergo pro Christo pressuram nondum pateris, vide ne piè viuere in Christo nōdū ceperis. Aug. in Psal. 55. Fidenter dico, quia minus piè viuis, si minus persecutionem pertuleris. Greg. ep. 27. l. 6.
- 2Act. 14 23.
- 3Joh. 15. 19.
- 4Luk 21. 12, 16, 17.
- 7Troa. 29. 17.
- aJoh. 16. 2. Psal. 37. 12. 14.
- b1. Cor. 15. 19.
- cLuk. 16. 26.
- dAug. in Psal. 34. 17, 19.
