An other comfort hast thou, that as the 1weak powers of the world defend the doctrine of the world: so the mighty power of God, defendeth the doctrine of God. Which thing thou shalt evidently perceive, if thou call to mind the wonderful deeds which God hath ever wrought for his word in extreme necessity, since the world began, beyond all mans reason. Which are written (as Paul saith, Roma. 15.) for our learning, (and not for our deceiving) that we through patience, and comfort of the scripture might have hope. The nature of Gods word 2is to fight against hypocrites. It began at Abel, and hath ever since continued, and shall (I doubt not) until the last day. And the hypocrites have alway the world on their sides, as thou seest in the time of Christ. They had the elders, that is to wit, the rulers 3of the Jews, on their side. They had Pilate, and the Emperors power on their side: They had Herod also on their side. Moreover, they brought all their worldly wisdom to pass, and all that they could think▪ or imagine, to serve for their purpose. First, to fear the people withal, they excommunicated all that believed in him, and put 4them out of the temple, as thou seest John. 9. Secondly, they found the means to have him condemned by the Emperors power, and made it treason to Cesar, to believe in him. Thirdly, they obtained to have him hanged as a thief, or a murderer, which after their belly wisdom, was a cause above all causes, that no man should believe in him: For the Jews take it for a sure token of everlasting damnation, if a man be hanged. For it is written in their law, Deutero. 21. Cursed is whosoever hangeth on tree. Moses also in the same place commandeth, if any man be hanged, to take him down the same day, and bury him, for fear of polluting or defiling the country, that is, least they should bring the wrath and curse of God upon them. And therefore the wicked Jews themselves, which with so venomous hate persecuted the doctrine of Christ, and did all the shame, that they could do unto him, (though they would fain have had Christ to hang still on the cross, and there to rot, as he should have done by the Emperors law, yet for fear of defiling their Sabbath, and of bringing the wrath and curse of God upon them,) begged of Pilate to take him down. Joh. 19. which was against them selves.
An other comfort hast thou, that as the 1weake powers of the worlde defende the doctrine of the worlde: so the mighty power of God, defendeth the doctrine of God. Which thing thou shalt euidentlye perceiue, if thou call to minde the wonderfull deedes whiche God hath euer wrought for his word in extreame necessitie, since the worlde began, beyond all mans reason. Whiche are written (as Paule sayth, Roma. 15.) for our learning, (and not for our deceauing) that we through patience, and comfort of the scripture might haue hope. The nature of Gods word 2is to fight agaynst hypocrites. It beganne at Abell, and hath euer since continued, and shall (I doubte not) vntyll the laste daye. And the hypocrites haue alway the world on their sides, as thou seest in the time of Christ. They had the elders, that is to witte, the rulers 3of the Iewes, on theyr side. They had Pilate, and the Emperors power on theyr side: They had Herode also on theyr side. Moreouer, they brought all theyr worldlye wysedome to passe, and all that they coulde thinke▪ or imagine, to serue for theyr purpose. Fyrst, to feare the people withal, they excommunicated all that beleeued in him, and put 4them out of the temple, as thou seest Iohn. 9. Secondly, they founde the meanes to haue him condemned by the Emperors power, and made it treason to Cesar, to beleeue in him. Thirdly, they obtayned to haue him hanged as a theefe, or a murtherer, which after theyr belly wisedome, was a cause aboue all causes, that no man should beleeue in him: For the Iewes take it for a sure token of euerlasting damnation, if a man be hanged. For it is written in theyr lawe, Deutero. 21. Cursed is whosoeuer hangeth on tree. Moyses also in the same place commaundeth, if any man be hanged, to take him downe the same day, and bury him, for feare of polluting or defiling the countrey, that is, least they shoulde bring the wrath and curse of God vpon them. And therfore the wicked Iewes themselues, which with so venemous hate persecuted the doctrine of Christ, and did all the shame, that they coulde do vnto him, (though they would fayne haue had Christ to hang still on the crosse, and there to rotte, as he shoulde haue done by the Emperors lawe, yet for feare of defiling theyr Sabboth, and of bringing the wrath and curse of God vpon them,) begged of Pilate to take him downe. Ioh. 19
- 1God defendeth his doctrine him self.God defendeth his doctrine hym selfe.
- 2Gods word sighteth against hypocrites.Gods word sighteth agaynst hipocrites.
- 3Now our master Christ was entreatedNowe our master Christ was entreated•
- 4The craft o• the hypocrites.
