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…

Thirdly, persecutions are sent from god unto the Church, to declare his glory, and Majesty. For when the Disciples upon a time, had enquired of the Lord touching the man that was borne blind, whether he or his parents had deserved the same by their offences: the lord answered them, as appeareth in John the ix. chapter, that this was done, that the glory of God might be declared in him. The like also he said of the sickness of his friend Lazarus, in John the 12. that the infirmity was not unto death: but sent to the glory of God, that the sun of God might be glorified thereby. For in persecutions, the power of God is declared whereby he preserveth his in the midst of afflictions, and when he seeth time, delivereth them with great glory, as it is evidently expressed in the stories of Daniel, Esther, and Esdras. Wherefore, it is written by Saint Paul: we have the treasure of the Gospel in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power thereof may be Gods, and not our ⟨p. 116⟩own, while in allthings we are pressed but not wrong: we are in trouble but we do not want, we suffer persecution but we are not therein forsaken, caste down, nor perish. we carry the mortification of our Lord Jesus Christ about with us in our body, to the intent that the life which cometh by Jesus Christ: may be made manifest in our body, the .ii. to the Corinthians, the. 4. Chapter. For which cause, the same Apostle writeth how it was said unto him by the Lord: my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect through weakness, the 2. to the Corinthians, the xii. chapter.¹

Thirdly, persecutions are sent from god vnto the Church, to declare his glorie, and Maiestie. For when the Disciples vpon a time, had enquired of the Lorde touching the man that was borne blind, whether hée or his parentes had deserued the same by their offences: the lorde answered them, as appéereth in Iohn the ix. chapter, that this was doone, that the glory of God might bée declared in him. The like also hée said of the sicknes of his frend Lazarus, in Iohn the 12. that the infirmitie was not vnto death: but sent to the glorye of God, that ye sun of God might bée glorified therby. For in persecutions, the power of God is declared wherby hée preserueth his in the midst of afflictions, and when hée séeth time, deliuereth them with great glory, as it is euidently expressed in the stories of Daniell, Hester, and Esdras. Wherfore, it is writen by Saint Paule: wée haue the treasure of the Gospell in earthen vesselles, that the excellencie of the power therof may be Gods, and not our