The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…

Secondly, God sendeth persecution unto such, as ought to be the people of God, and partly also are indeed, and so are named: but are not so innocent, pure, and holly, as of duty they should be, as we said erewhile of the people of God, which were lead away into Babylon: And Cyprian testifieth, that the cause of the persecution at his time under the Emperor Decius: was the dissolute life of the faithful. Eusebius showeth the like causes, where he describeth the persecution of Diocletian. And it is seen, that booth guilty and unguilty, ⟨p. 115⟩good and bad, altogether are subject to the cross. I call unguilty, those which being unlike to the children of this world: are not defiled with all kind of wickedness, nevertheless have their imperfections, and as it were, certain moles and stainings. Wherefore, they confess their faults and defects unto God, and glory nothing of themselves. According unto which sense and opinion, Job saith: Surely I know it is true, that no man is just if he be compared to God. If he will strive with him: he is not able to answer him unto one for a thousand. And although I have done some just deed: yet will I not answer, but entreat my judge. And David in the. 142. Psalm saith: Enter not into judgment with thy servant O Lord, for there shall no living creature be justified in thy sight. Wherefore, those which be guiltless, although they be subject to persecution with the most wicked men: notwithstanding they murmur not against y• Lord, but according to the scriptures they confess and say: Thy judgements ⟨image 98⟩are just, O Lord, and all thy ways are trueth, and holiness.

Secondly, God sendeth persecution vnto sutch, as ought to bée the people of God, and partly also are indéede, and so are named: but are not so innocent, pure, and holly, as of duetie they should bée, as wée sayd erewhile of the people of God, which were lead away into Babylon: And Cyprian testifieth, that the cause of the persecution at his time vnder the Emperour Decius: was the dissolute life of the faithfull. Eusebius sheweth the like causes, where hée describeth the persecution of Dioclecian. And it is séene, that booth giltie and vngiltie, ⟨p. 115⟩good and bad, altogither are subiect to the crosse. I call vngiltie, those whiche béeynge vnlike to the children of this worlde: are not defiled with all kynde of wickednesse, neuerthelesse haue their imperfections, and as it were, certein moales and staynyngs. Wherefore, they confesse their faultes and defectes vnto God, and glorie nothyng of themselues. Accordyng vnto which sence and opinion, Iob sayth: Surely I know it is true, that no man is iust if hee be compared to God. If hee will striue with him: hee is not able to aunswere him vnto one for a thousand. And althogh I haue doone some iust deede: yet will I not answere, but intreate my iudge. And Dauid in the. 142. Psalme saith: Enter not into iudgment with thy seruant O Lorde, for there shall no liuing creature bee iustified in thy sight. Wherfore, those which bée giltlesse, although they bée subiect to persecution with the most wicked men: notwithstandinge they murmur not against y Lorde, but accordinge to the scriptures they confesse and say: Thy iudgements