The Church of God under her troubles is neither to become (with the Poets Niobe) a senseless stone, despising the affliction of God; nor yet with (their Hecuba) a mad dog, raging through impatience at Gods Providence towards her; For whether God exerciseth her with outward persecutions, it is (as Austin said) to try her patience; or with heresies and errors, it is to prove her sapience and wisdom. And this may satisfy us, that Gods love and care for his Church, and truth, is greater then ours can be; and the loss of his glory is dearer to him, then the loss of our temporal comforts can be to us. It is true, as God to demonstrate the divine authority of the Scriptures, useth not such arguments, that agree with a proud and carnal wit, but such as are agreeable to the holiness and majesty ⟨image 3⟩of the things contained therein; so also God in his Providence towards his Church goeth not in such a way which our hearts would expect, but in that which is most beseeming his love, wisdom, & power; & this hath made those, who have much appeared for God, to say (as Tully, when Pompey had the worse by Caesar, whose cause he judged the better) In divinis magna est caligo, Gods Presence is sometimes in a great cloud. Be not therefore dismayed (honourable Senators) notwithstanding the many oppositions in the way of this your begun Reformation, and think not to be quiet, as long as the popish adversary can work; For as Austin observed of the Romans (while Pagans) among the many Temples they built to several Goddesses, there was one also built to Quies, to whom notwithstanding they never sacrificed, because of their delight in war. The same may be applied to Rome, now Antichristian, who delights to make her self drunk in the blood of the Saints. But God hath frustrated her many plots, and expectations, of which this Fifth day of November is a famous memorial. The Lord so prosper you in your work, that neither fraud, or force may destroy it.
THe Church of God under her troubles is neither to become (with the Poets Niobe) a senseless stone, despising the affliction of God; nor yet with (their Hecuba) a mad dog, raging through impatiencie at Gods Providence towards her; For whether God exerciseth her with outward persecutions, it is (as Austin said) to try her patience; or with heresies and errours, it is to prove her sapience and wisdome. And this may satisfie us, that Gods love and care for his Church, and truth, is greater then ours can be; and the losse of his glory is dearer to him, then the losse of our temporall comforts can be to us. It is true, as God to demonstrate the divine authority of the Scriptures, useth not such arguments, that agree with a proud and carnall wit, but such as are agreeable to the holinesse and majesty ⟨image 3⟩of the things contained therein; so also God in his Providence towards his Church goeth not in such a way which our hearts would expect, but in that which is most beseeming his love, wisdom, & power; & this hath made those, who have much appeared for God, to say (as Tully, when Pompey had the worse by Caesar, whose cause he judged the better) In divinis magna est caligo, Gods Presence is sometimes in a great cloud. Be not therefore dismayed (honourable Senators) notwithstanding the many oppositions in the way of this your begun Reformation, and think not to be quiet, as long as the popish adversary can work; For as Austin observed of the Romans (while Pagans) among the many Temples they built to severall Goddesses, there was one also built to Quies, to whom notwithstanding they never sacrificed, because of their delight in war. The same may be applyed to Rome, now Antichristian, who delights to make her selfe drunke in the bloud of the Saints. But God hath frustrated her many plots, and expectations, of which this Fifth day of November is a famous memoriall. The Lord so prosper you in your work, that neither fraud, or force may destroy it.
