The great Bishop of our souls shall shortly appear, to the comfort of us that now mourn (1 Pet. 2:25).
When I ponder within myself, right dearly beloved brethren, what was the estate of Christ's true kirk immediately after the death and passion of our Saviour Jesus, and what were the changes and great mutations in the commonwealth of Judah, before the final desolation of the same; as I cannot but fear like plagues to strike the realm of England; and in fearing, God knows, I lament and mourn; so can I not but rejoice, knowing that God's most merciful providence is no less careful this day over his weak and feeble servants, than he was that day over his dispersed and sorely oppressed flock.
What was the estate of Christ's kirk between his death and resurrection, between his resurrection and ascension, between his ascension and the sending of the Holy Ghost upon his disciples, and from that time to the final destruction of Jerusalem? The plain scriptures do witness it was most afflicted, without all comfort and worldly consolations, and that sometimes it was so oppressed with care, dolour, and desperation, that neither could the witnessing of the women, the appearing of the angels, nor the very voice and presence of Christ himself, remove all doubts of a long continuance from the hearts of his apostles. What were the mutations and troubles in Judea and Jerusalem before the destruction thereof, such as be exercised in reading histories, and principally in Josephus and Hegisippus,[1] cannot be ignorant. What were the plagues that reigned over that unthankful people? to wit, cruel tyrannical, and ungodly magistrates, by whom the people were oppressed and spoiled of their liberties; of which occasion was stirred up sedition, and thereupon followed so cruel persecution, under the name of justice, that no small number were burned quick [alive]. After which cruelty, followed such murder universally in the city and in the fields, that the fathers feared their sons, and the brothers their brethren. Which disquietude ceased not, till God's severe vengeance was at once poured forth upon such as obstinately refused, and cruelly persecuted Christ Jesus and his doctrine.
And yet amongst the extremity of these calamities so wondrously was Christ's kirk preserved, that the remembrance thereof is unto my heart great matter of consolation. For yet my good hope is, that one day or other Christ Jesus, that now in England is crucified, shall rise again in despite of his enemies, and shall appear to his weak and sorely troubled disciples (for yet some he has in that wretched and miserable realm), to whom he shall say, "Peace be unto you. It is I; fear not" (cf. Luke 24:36; 20:19 ff.; Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:5; John 6:20). And this shall he do for his own mercies' sake, to let us know, and in practice understand, that his promises are infallible, and that he will not treat us according to the offences of our corrupt and frail nature, which always is ready to fall from our God, to distrust his promises, and to forget that ever we have received benefit or comfort at his hand, when trouble or danger appears.
This I write, beloved in the Lord, that albeit you find your hearts sometimes assaulted with dolour, grudging, or with desperation, that yet you be not troubled above measure, as that Christ Jesus should never visit you again. There falls nothing to you, nor yet to the flock of Christ Jesus this day within the miserable realm of England, which did not fall on Christ's true and beloved disciples before and after his death.
Before his death, they were advertised and plainly admonished that trouble should apprehend them, that he should suffer a cruel and ignominious death, that they should every one be ashamed and flee from him. This could they not believe, but boldly durst promise the contrary; and yet as Christ Jesus forespoke, all came to pass. He oftentimes promised and did assure them that he should rise again, that he should visit them and should give them consolation, and should remove their dolour.
But trust you, that in the time of their anguish, any remembrance of Christ's resurrection, comfort, or returning, was in their hearts? It is easy to be espied, that there was none, but that dolour and desperation had so pierced their tender hearts, that after many apparitions their wavering minds fully could not be established.
In the same case, I now consider the true professors of Christ's holy and sacred evangel to be within the realm of England. The days of this our dolour have been blown in our ears; our weakness and our infirmities have been painted out before our eyes; but, alas! then could we not believe that the time approaches so near, neither yet that so short a tempest should have overthrown so great a multitude. ("O Lord, increase our faith; be merciful to us; and let us not drown in the deep for ever!") But, dearly beloved, the same voice that forespoke our dolours, forespoke also our everlasting comfort with Christ Jesus: which promise, peradventure, does not greatly now rejoice our hearts, by reason that the body stands in fear, and our souls are in anguish by torments that are threatened by such as shall shortly perish. Such imperfections were in Christ's apostles, and yet they did not impede his again coming unto them; no more shall they do unto us, providing that Judas' obstinacy (his impenitent and traitorous heart) be absent from us. And therefore, beloved in the Lord, hope now against all worldly appearance; the power of our God shall be known unto his own glory in despite of these conjured enemies, whose judgment shall not sleep, but suddenly shall fall upon them to their perpetual confusion. "Haste Lord, and tarry not, for they have violated thy law, and profaned thy holy testament!"
You would know, perchance, my judgment, by what means shall the tyrants of England, and most obstinate and abominable idolaters, be punished. To determine unto them a certain kind of worldly punishment it appertains not to me. But hereof I am so sure, as I am that my God lives, that beside their perpetual condemnation and torment in hell, they shall also be plagued in this present live, except they repent; that likewise, as men have heard their abominations and enormities shown to their faces, insomuch that they have bitten their tongues for very despiteful anger, and yet did never repent from their iniquities; so also shall men, that this very day see their tyranny, behold the plagues of God's vengeance poured forth upon them even in this present life; and yet shall they not cease to rebel against his Holy Majesty; for the deadly venom of that malicious serpent, their father the devil can never be purged from their cankered hearts. And therefore after worldly punishment (which they shall not escape), is the fire that never shall be quenched prepared for their portion; and so these tyrants are more to be pitied and lamented, than either feared or hated except it be with a perfect hatred, which the Spirit of God moves in the hearts of God's elect against the rebellious contemners of his holy statutes; wherewith Jeremiah the prophet was inflamed when that he prayed, "Let me see thy vengeance taken upon thy enemies, O Lord" (Jer. 11:20; 20:12). Which also he obtained and beheld with his corporeal eyes, as I am assured some that at this day sob, under their cruel tyranny, shall see of the pestilent Papists within the realm of England. But what shall be the kind of their plagues, and whom God shall use to execute his wrath, I cannot say; but let it be sufficient that they shall not escape the punishment that is prepared, no more than Haman did the gallows that he made for Mordecai the Jew.
Now, beloved in the Lord, seeing that neither can the cruelty of tyrants, nor yet the infirmity that rests in this our corrupt nature, withhold from us the merciful presence of our Saviour Christ Jesus; but that he will visit us again by the brightness of his word to our sure comfort and consolation, when all our enemies shall tremble, fear, and be confounded: Let us patiently abide, with groaning and with sobs, the time that is appointed to our correction, and to the full ripeness of their malicious minds, avoiding with all study such offences as separate man from the society and fellowship of God. And these are sins known, maintained obstinately, used and defended as that they were no sin nor offensive before God; these sorts of sins, because they are without repentance, divide man from God's favour. God the Father, for Christ Jesus his Son's sake, preserve and keep your hearts from that temptation, and by his Holy Ghost so quicken your senses and purge your understanding, that what you have professed in the days of rest, now in the days of trouble, in your hearts you may acknowledge, and with your mouths confess (when the glory of his holy name shall require the same) to be the infallible and undoubted verity of God. And also, to abhor, detest, and avoid, by all means possible, that which you know (and openly before the world have professed) to be abominable idolatry, the maintainers whereof shall not escape God's vengeance.
My own estate is this: since the 28th of January, I have travelled through all the congregations of Helvetia [Switzerland], and have reasoned with all the pastors and many other excellent learned men upon such matters as now I cannot commit to writing; gladly I would by tongue or pen utter the same to God's glory. If I thought that I might have your presence, and the presence of some other assured men, I would jeopardize my own life to let men see what may be done with a safe conscience in these dolorous and dangerous days. But seeing that it cannot be done instantly, without danger to others than to me, I will abide the time that God shall appoint. But hereof be assured, that all is not lawful nor just that is statute by civil laws; neither yet is everything sin before God, which ungodly persons allege to be treason. But this I supersede to more opportunity; if by any means I may, I intend to speak with you ere it be long. God of his infinite mercy, for Christ Jesus his Son's sake, grant that I may find you such as my heart thirsts. Amen.
The peace of God rest with you.
When I ponder within myself, right dearly beloved brethren, what was the estate of Christ's true kirk immediately after the death and passion of our Saviour Jesus, and what were the changes and great mutations in the commonwealth of Judah, before the final desolation of the same; as I cannot but fear like plagues to strike the realm of England; and in fearing, God knows, I lament and mourn; so can I not but rejoice, knowing that God's most merciful providence is no less careful this day over his weak and feeble servants, than he was that day over his dispersed and sorely oppressed flock.
What was the estate of Christ's kirk between his death and resurrection, between his resurrection and ascension, between his ascension and the sending of the Holy Ghost upon his disciples, and from that time to the final destruction of Jerusalem? The plain scriptures do witness it was most afflicted, without all comfort and worldly consolations, and that sometimes it was so oppressed with care, dolour, and desperation, that neither could the witnessing of the women, the appearing of the angels, nor the very voice and presence of Christ himself, remove all doubts of a long continuance from the hearts of his apostles. What were the mutations and troubles in Judea and Jerusalem before the destruction thereof, such as be exercised in reading histories, and principally in Josephus and Hegisippus,[1] cannot be ignorant. What were the plagues that reigned over that unthankful people? to wit, cruel tyrannical, and ungodly magistrates, by whom the people were oppressed and spoiled of their liberties; of which occasion was stirred up sedition, and thereupon followed so cruel persecution, under the name of justice, that no small number were burned quick [alive]. After which cruelty, followed such murder universally in the city and in the fields, that the fathers feared their sons, and the brothers their brethren. Which disquietude ceased not, till God's severe vengeance was at once poured forth upon such as obstinately refused, and cruelly persecuted Christ Jesus and his doctrine.
And yet amongst the extremity of these calamities so wondrously was Christ's kirk preserved, that the remembrance thereof is unto my heart great matter of consolation. For yet my good hope is, that one day or other Christ Jesus, that now in England is crucified, shall rise again in despite of his enemies, and shall appear to his weak and sorely troubled disciples (for yet some he has in that wretched and miserable realm), to whom he shall say, "Peace be unto you. It is I; fear not" (cf. Luke 24:36; 20:19 ff.; Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:5; John 6:20). And this shall he do for his own mercies' sake, to let us know, and in practice understand, that his promises are infallible, and that he will not treat us according to the offences of our corrupt and frail nature, which always is ready to fall from our God, to distrust his promises, and to forget that ever we have received benefit or comfort at his hand, when trouble or danger appears.
This I write, beloved in the Lord, that albeit you find your hearts sometimes assaulted with dolour, grudging, or with desperation, that yet you be not troubled above measure, as that Christ Jesus should never visit you again. There falls nothing to you, nor yet to the flock of Christ Jesus this day within the miserable realm of England, which did not fall on Christ's true and beloved disciples before and after his death.
Before his death, they were advertised and plainly admonished that trouble should apprehend them, that he should suffer a cruel and ignominious death, that they should every one be ashamed and flee from him. This could they not believe, but boldly durst promise the contrary; and yet as Christ Jesus forespoke, all came to pass. He oftentimes promised and did assure them that he should rise again, that he should visit them and should give them consolation, and should remove their dolour.
But trust you, that in the time of their anguish, any remembrance of Christ's resurrection, comfort, or returning, was in their hearts? It is easy to be espied, that there was none, but that dolour and desperation had so pierced their tender hearts, that after many apparitions their wavering minds fully could not be established.
In the same case, I now consider the true professors of Christ's holy and sacred evangel to be within the realm of England. The days of this our dolour have been blown in our ears; our weakness and our infirmities have been painted out before our eyes; but, alas! then could we not believe that the time approaches so near, neither yet that so short a tempest should have overthrown so great a multitude. ("O Lord, increase our faith; be merciful to us; and let us not drown in the deep for ever!") But, dearly beloved, the same voice that forespoke our dolours, forespoke also our everlasting comfort with Christ Jesus: which promise, peradventure, does not greatly now rejoice our hearts, by reason that the body stands in fear, and our souls are in anguish by torments that are threatened by such as shall shortly perish. Such imperfections were in Christ's apostles, and yet they did not impede his again coming unto them; no more shall they do unto us, providing that Judas' obstinacy (his impenitent and traitorous heart) be absent from us. And therefore, beloved in the Lord, hope now against all worldly appearance; the power of our God shall be known unto his own glory in despite of these conjured enemies, whose judgment shall not sleep, but suddenly shall fall upon them to their perpetual confusion. "Haste Lord, and tarry not, for they have violated thy law, and profaned thy holy testament!"
You would know, perchance, my judgment, by what means shall the tyrants of England, and most obstinate and abominable idolaters, be punished. To determine unto them a certain kind of worldly punishment it appertains not to me. But hereof I am so sure, as I am that my God lives, that beside their perpetual condemnation and torment in hell, they shall also be plagued in this present live, except they repent; that likewise, as men have heard their abominations and enormities shown to their faces, insomuch that they have bitten their tongues for very despiteful anger, and yet did never repent from their iniquities; so also shall men, that this very day see their tyranny, behold the plagues of God's vengeance poured forth upon them even in this present life; and yet shall they not cease to rebel against his Holy Majesty; for the deadly venom of that malicious serpent, their father the devil can never be purged from their cankered hearts. And therefore after worldly punishment (which they shall not escape), is the fire that never shall be quenched prepared for their portion; and so these tyrants are more to be pitied and lamented, than either feared or hated except it be with a perfect hatred, which the Spirit of God moves in the hearts of God's elect against the rebellious contemners of his holy statutes; wherewith Jeremiah the prophet was inflamed when that he prayed, "Let me see thy vengeance taken upon thy enemies, O Lord" (Jer. 11:20; 20:12). Which also he obtained and beheld with his corporeal eyes, as I am assured some that at this day sob, under their cruel tyranny, shall see of the pestilent Papists within the realm of England. But what shall be the kind of their plagues, and whom God shall use to execute his wrath, I cannot say; but let it be sufficient that they shall not escape the punishment that is prepared, no more than Haman did the gallows that he made for Mordecai the Jew.
Now, beloved in the Lord, seeing that neither can the cruelty of tyrants, nor yet the infirmity that rests in this our corrupt nature, withhold from us the merciful presence of our Saviour Christ Jesus; but that he will visit us again by the brightness of his word to our sure comfort and consolation, when all our enemies shall tremble, fear, and be confounded: Let us patiently abide, with groaning and with sobs, the time that is appointed to our correction, and to the full ripeness of their malicious minds, avoiding with all study such offences as separate man from the society and fellowship of God. And these are sins known, maintained obstinately, used and defended as that they were no sin nor offensive before God; these sorts of sins, because they are without repentance, divide man from God's favour. God the Father, for Christ Jesus his Son's sake, preserve and keep your hearts from that temptation, and by his Holy Ghost so quicken your senses and purge your understanding, that what you have professed in the days of rest, now in the days of trouble, in your hearts you may acknowledge, and with your mouths confess (when the glory of his holy name shall require the same) to be the infallible and undoubted verity of God. And also, to abhor, detest, and avoid, by all means possible, that which you know (and openly before the world have professed) to be abominable idolatry, the maintainers whereof shall not escape God's vengeance.
My own estate is this: since the 28th of January, I have travelled through all the congregations of Helvetia [Switzerland], and have reasoned with all the pastors and many other excellent learned men upon such matters as now I cannot commit to writing; gladly I would by tongue or pen utter the same to God's glory. If I thought that I might have your presence, and the presence of some other assured men, I would jeopardize my own life to let men see what may be done with a safe conscience in these dolorous and dangerous days. But seeing that it cannot be done instantly, without danger to others than to me, I will abide the time that God shall appoint. But hereof be assured, that all is not lawful nor just that is statute by civil laws; neither yet is everything sin before God, which ungodly persons allege to be treason. But this I supersede to more opportunity; if by any means I may, I intend to speak with you ere it be long. God of his infinite mercy, for Christ Jesus his Son's sake, grant that I may find you such as my heart thirsts. Amen.
The peace of God rest with you.
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