A word in season

The lot of the just is as much to say as the Portion, that is, the Number or Congregation of the just. Like as Christ calleth them the Little Flock, and Paul, The poor Saints. Over these, saith he, although the Tyrants do rule, yet shall not their power endure. Although the Persecutors of the Church do oppress the faithful, yet shall they not do so always, neither shall their Counsels have the success which they desire. For they think to root out this Doctrine for ever; but that shall they never be able to do: Therefore albeit ye suffer in the mean time, saith the Holy Ghost, yet know ye, that my will is, That they which believe in me shall never perish, but shall be preserved to Life Everlasting. ⟨p. 22⟩Here then have ye whereunto ye may trust in all your Tentations.

But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost here useth to prove that the Sceptre of the wicked shall not rest upon the just. God is moved saith he, to help and defend the just. For else it might so come to pass that God should have no Church at all, and the just should put forth their hands to Wickedness. So we find in Jeremiah, that before the People were delivered into the hands of the Babylonians, they had promise that after seventy years they should return again to Jerusalem, because they should not be brought into doubt of Gods Mercy, and so utterly despair, and falling away from God should turn to Gentilism; as it is in the Psalm, least the godly should turn to foolishness, that is to say, should blaspheme and become impatient, This is the cause why God joineth the promise of the Word with the Execution and Performance of the Deed; or else the godly should be driven to Desperation. We see how many are cast down with Adversity by the loss of Goods, Wife, Children, and other things which are dear unto them. Except therefore their minds were raised up again and comforted, first, with the Word and Promise, and then, with the Performance and Execution of the same, many would say there were no God. Therefore God must needs show himself to be a God, not only in Word but also in Deed.

But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost here useth to prove that the Scepter of the wicked shall not rest upon the just. God is moved saith he, to help and defend the just. For else it might so come to pass that God should have no Church at all, and the just should put forth their hands to Wickedness. So we find in Jeremiah, that before the People were delivered into the hands of the Babylonians, they had promise that after seventy years they should return again to Jerusalem, because they should not be brought into doubt of Gods Mercy, and so utterly despair, and falling away from God should turn to Gentilism; as it is in the Psalm, least the godly should turn to foolishness, that is to say, should blaspheme and become impatient, This is the cause why God joyneth the promise of the Word with the Execution and Performance of the Deed; or else the godly should be driven to Desperation. We see how many are cast down with Adversity by the loss of Goods, Wife, Children, and other things which are dear unto them. Except therefore their minds were raised up again and comforted, first, with the Word and Promise, and then, with the Performance and Execution of the same, many would say there were no God. Therefore God must needs shew himself to be a God, not only in Word but also in Deed.