And God, likewise, who is displeased with cruelty, who also doth no evil, nether suffereth it to be done unpunished, useth evil deeds, wrath, and ⟨image 6⟩savage cruelty of his enemies unto the commodity of y• faithful, their deeds the while being naught, and nothing thereby the better. Poison is evil by his own nature, but by the skill of the Physicians the which is naught by nature is applied in medicines unto the commodity of men. So said Joseph to his brethren that they imagined mischief against him, when they sold him into Egypt, howbeit god turned it to good, so likewise doth God in persecutions. For in this first persecution, we behold evidently, as it were in a glass, what is the substance & state of all other persecutions. For although this persecution were very cruel & unkind: notwithstanding it tended unto the salvation & glory of all those whom it touched. And likewise all other persecutions of the faithful, although they be sharp & cruel, yet are they profitable & honourable unto those that suffer them. And like as the wise will not much dispute in this place, why god suffered those children to be slain: so are the faithful of a moderate and quiet mind in persecutions, nether do they accuse god demanding why he doth this or ye for wicked men, suffering ⟨p. 4⟩the godly & innocent to be oppressed. For they know, & believe, ye gods government is in all things good & just, & without all reprehension. And like as the guiltless innocents were killed for christs sake and amongst them Christ was sought to be slain: so in all persecutions the faithful a• murdered for Christs sake, & Christ is he whom the persecutors seek and study to make away. And like as christ then was nether found, nor slain, but escaped so all persecutions may slay the godly, but they are never able to extinguish christ. But as Herod, contrary to his hope & expectation, notwithstanding this murder could not be careless nor quiet in mind: so likewise, all persecutors, although they kill never so many yet are they not at rest but always remaining in fear, & carefulness. Ambition and desire to rule only enforced Herod to commit these horrible slaughters: all other persecutions likewise 1have sprung forth from the like disease & evil affection.
And God, likewise, who is displeased with crueltie, who also doth no euell, nether suffreth it to bée doone vnpunished, vseth euell déedes, wrath, and ⟨image 6⟩sauage crueltie of his enemies vnto the cōmodity of y• faithful, their deedes therwhile being naught, and nothyng therby the better. Poison is euil by his own nature, but by ye skil of the Phisitions ye which is naught by nature is applied in medecines vnto ye commoditie of men. So said Ioseph to his brethren that thei imagined mischief against him, whē thei sold him into Egipt, howbeit god turnd it to good, so likewise doth God in persecutions. For in this first persecution, wée béeholde euidently, as it were in a glasse, what is the substance & state of al other persecutions. For although this persecution were very cruel & vnkind: notwithstanding it tended vnto the saluation & glory of all those whom it touched. And likewise al other persecutions of the faithful, although they be sharp & cruell, yet are they profitable & honorable vnto those that suffer them. And like as the wise wil not much dispute in this place, why god suffred those children to be slaine: so are ye faithful of a moderate and quiet mind in persecutions, nether do they accuse god demaunding why he doth this or ye for wicked men, suffring ⟨p. 4⟩the godly & innocēt to be oppressed. For they know, & beleue, ye gods gouerment is in al things good & iust, & without all reprehention. And like as ye giltlesse innocēts were killed for christes sake and amongst them Christ was sought to be slayne: so in al persecutions ye faithful a• murdered for Christs sake, & Christ is he whom ye persecutours séek and study to make away. And like as christe then was nether found, nor slain, but escaped so al persecutions may slay ye godly, but they are neuer able to extinguish christ. But as Herod, contrary to his hope & expectation, notwithstāding this murther could not be careles nor quiet in mind: so likewise, al persecutors, although thei kil neuer so many yet ar thei not at rest but alwaies remaining in feare, & carefulnes. Ambition and desire to rule only enforced Herod to cōmit these horrible slaughters: al other persecutiōs likwise 1haue sprong foorth from ye like disease & euill affection.
- 1The cause of this persecution.