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scripture_n	apostle_n	believe_v	faith_n	6,183	5	5.3553	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20673	The practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Written by a religious man of the congregation of St. Elias the prophet, and the order of our Blessed Lady of mount Carmell, restored by the Blessed mother Teresa. The second part. Containing directions how to end all controuersies, and take away all discontentments, and euils, and attaine vnto true ioy of minde, and content of heart, and all good; Practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Part 2	Doughty, Thomas, fl. 1618-1638.	1619 (1619)	STC 7072.6; ESTC S106011	123,081	516

to Abraham was to be fulfilled in Christians S. Paul euerie where witnesseth saying Of Act. 13. 25. his Seed God according to his Promise hath brought forth to Israel a Sauiour Iesus Againe Wee preach vnto Act. 13. 32. you the Promise which was made to our Fathers that God hath fulfilled the same to our Children Againe Paul Rom. 1. 1. the Seruant of Iesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated in the Gospel of God which before he had promised by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures of his Sonne by whom we receiue grace and Apostleship for obedience to the Faith in all Nations Againe Abraham contrarie to Rom. 4. 18. hope beleeued in hope that he might be made the Father of many Nations according to that which was said to him So shall thy Seed be as the starres of Heauen and the sand of the Sea Againe Know yee therefore that they that are Gal. 3. 7. of Faith the same are the children of Abraham And the Scripture fore-seeing that God iustifieth the Gentiles by Faith shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee all Nations shall be blessed Againe Christ hath Gal. 3. 17. redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ Iesus that wee may receiue the Promise Againe to the Galathians conuerted to Christianitie he saith Wee brethren according to Isaack are the children of the Promise And speaking of this Promise of God to Abraham more at large saith God promising Heb. 6. 13. to Abraham because he had none greater by whom hee might sweare hee sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and multiplying I shall multiply thee c. for mensweare by greater then themselues and the end of their controuersie for confirmation is an oath Wherein God meaning more abundantly to shew to the Heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell he interposed an Oath that by two things vnmoueable wherby it is impossible for God to lye we may haue a most strong comfort who haue fled to hold fast the Hope promised which wee haue as an Anchor of the Soule sure and firme So S. Paul Whereby thou seest deare Reader that our Catholike Faith is as certaine the Faith of God Almightie planted by our Sauiour as it is certaine that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworne since there is not nor euer was any one Faith or Religion so dilated ouer the World as our Catholike Faith is at this day in the East West North and South in Europe Asia Africa and America ouerflowing the Isa 66. 12. glorie of the Gentiles according to the Oath of God and Promises to the Patriarks and Prophets Though Sects and Heresies haue somtime occupied many parts of the World yet they either in short time returned to the vnion of our Catholike Church or else were conquered by barbarous Nations and made their slaues according to the Promises and Prophecies As the Arrians in Lumbardie and other places by the Gothes the Donatists in Africa by the Vandales the Greekes by the Sarazens and Turkes The Brittans auncient Inhabitants of this Island admitting of the Pelagian Heresie were soone after conquered by the Pagan Saxons and their name extinguished and they for the most part destroied that poore remnant of them excepted which were hemmed vp in that part of the Realme which is now called Wales For a few yeares before the comming of the Saxons into this Land the Pelagian Heresies were brought in saith Beda in his first Book and 15. Chapter Since Schismatikes and Heretikes will not honour God by maintaining his Oathes and Promises to his Seed and returne vnto the vnion of our Catholike Church that they may be partakers of his Blessings God Almighty will be honoured by manifesting the fulfilling of his Maledictions and Curses vpon them that the Iust may see and feare and Ps 51. 8. confesse that God is true and iust in all his Wordes and Oathes Reuenge is mine saith Deut. 32. our Lord and I will repay them in time that their foote may slide They haue prouoked me in that which was no God and haue angred me in their vanities and I will prouoke them in that which is no People and in a foolish Nation will I anger them And in this God Almightie hath been so faithfull in his Promises that he alwaies raised vp the most barbarous foolish Nations of the Earth to be their Conquerors And as for Protestants if euer there hath beene any Kings Kingdomes or Nations which haue made profession of that Faith Protestants doe now before King Henrie the eight we see by experience that the Curses and Maledictions of God Almightie spoken of by the Prophets hath so fallen vpon them that they were as people that descended into Hell quick Ps 54. 16. of vvhom there is no memorie in any Booke Chronicle Antiquitie or Historie Those enemies of God vpon whom the Prophet Moyses speaking sayth in the Person of GOD I said Deut. 32. 26. Where are they I will make their memorie to cease from among Men. In such sort that there is lesse memorie of them then of Sodome and Gomorra vvhich vvas destroyed by fire from Heauen or of Core Dathan and Abiron who were swallowed vp into the Earth quicke of whom yet there is some mention made in other mens Writings But of Protestant Kings Kingdomes or Nations professing the Faith Protestants doe now there is not anie mention or memorie Yet a little while and the Ps 36. 10. sinner shall not be and thou shalt seeke his place and shalt not finde it The enemies Ps 36. 20. of our Lord forthwith as they shall be honoured and exalted vanishing shall vanish as smoake I haue seene the Impious highly exalted and aduanced as the Caedar of Libanus And I passed by and behold he was not and I sought him and his place was not found The Vniust shall perish together the remaines of the impious shall perish Againe He loued Cursing it shall come Ps 108. to him and he would not Blessing and it shall be farre from him In one generation let his name be cleane put out Which Prophecie wee see of late yeares to be fulfilled in Henrie the eight King of England and Henrie the second King of France Henrie the eight was the first founder of the Parliamentarians and author of giuing authoritie to Parliaments to determine matters of Faith and Religion Henrie the second Serres in the life of Henry the second King of France became Protector of the Protestants of Germanie rebelling against Charles the fift their lawfull Emperour and went in person to their ayde with thirtie thousand men Henrie the eight had sixe Wiues and fiue or sixe Children Henrie the second had fiue Sons Francis the second after King of France Lewis Duke of Orleans Charles after King of France Henrie the third King of France and Hercules after called

beleefe in God Almightie is necessarie to Mans Content and Happinesse but not onely Faith without the coniunction and connextion to other vertues THat Faith and beleefe in God is necessarie to Mans Content Happinesse is first manifest by reason for that the first thing which is to be sought for in any Question is Whether the thing be or no and Arist post li. 2. c. 1. vntill we beleeue it to be it is in vaine to seeke how or after what manner it is Secondly by the Scriptures which say that without faith it Heb. 11. 5. is vnpossible to please God for he that commeth to God must beleeue that he is and is a rewarder of them that seeke him Againe He that beleeueth not shall be Mat. 16. 16. Io. 3. condemned Again He that doth not beleeue is alreadie iudged Yet that Faith only without the connexion to other vertues is not of it selfe sufficient to Happinesse is manifest by the light of Grace Nature First For that wee beleeue many things to be which we would not haue nor enioy as Hell and eternall paines Secondly To beleeue that there is Happinesse is not to be happie otherwise the Deuils and damned soules in Hell should be happie since they beleeue that there is Happinesse and lament for the losse of it saying Wee Sap. 5. 4. sencelesse esteemed their life madnesse and their end without honour Behold how they are accounted among the Children of God and their lot is among the Saints Thirdly Faith endeth with 1. Cor. 13. 12. 1. Io. 3. 2. this life so if Happinesse consisted in onely Faith there were no Happinesse after death Fourthly Faith may stand with sinne and malice sinne and malice is wittingly to doe against that we beleeue in conscience and so one might be both happie and wretched together which is contrarie to experience Fiftly If onely Faith were sufficient to Happinesse without the connexion or coniunction to other vertues there could be no impietie committed nor no man should be wicked vniust or vnhappie for any fact how horrible soeuer vnlesse hee denied Articles of Faith and all Lawes and execution of Iustice vpon any one whosoeuer but vpon such as denyed Articles of Faith should be Tyrannie and Crueltie as made to put to death a happie and iust man who had committed no vnhappinesse or impietie Sixtly It is contrarie to experience that a man should be happie by Faith onely For though the whole English Clergie of Protestants in the eleuenth Article of their English Creed affirme in these words That we are iustified by Faith onely is a most wholesome Doctrine and very full of comfort yet we shall neuer heare or find that any of their Clergie hath left the comfort of a Benefice good Fare fine Apparrell worldly Riches and Commodities to practise and enioy this most wholesome Doctrine and very full of comfort Happinesse by faith onely Neither will they be well content to be put to the practice of their Doctrine and liue separated from all other Contents to enioy no other comforts but what they can receiue by Faith onely without connexion or adherence to any other vertue Againe the Scriptures neuer absolutely affirme but absolutely denie Iustification by Faith onely saying By Workes Ia. 2. 23. a man is iustified and not by Faith onely Againe Doe not 1. Cor. 6. 9. erre neither Fornicators nor seruors of Idols nor Adulterers nor the Effeminates nor the Lyers with Mankind nor Theeues nor Couetous nor Drunkards nor Raylers nor Extortioners shall possesse the Kingdome of Heauen Againe The workes of the flesh Gal. 5. ● are manifest which are Fornication Vncleanenes Immodestie Lechery seruing of Idols Witchcraft enmity cōtentions angers brawles cōmessations such I foretell you as I haue fore-told you that they which doe such things shall not obtaine the Kingdome of God Not onely such as want faith shall goe to Hell but also the Apo. 21. 8. fearefull and incredulous and execrable and Murderers and Fornicators and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers their part as well as the incredulous shall be in the Poole burning with fire and brimstone and the smoake Apo. 14. 11. of their torments shall ascend vp for euer and euer And our Lord esteemeth those who should heare the Scriptures read or preached and doe not practise what they say to be so farre off from Happinesse that he accounteth them fooles saying Euery one that heareth these Mat. 7. 26. my words and doth them not shall be like a foolish man that built his house vpon the Sand. And to conuince fooles there cannot be found a more forcible argument then that of Aristotles When they are in affliction necessitie paines to let them haue neither the loue of God nor loue of their Neighbours to helpe comfort or giue content vnto them but their comfortable Doctrine of onely Faith and you shall see how quickly they will not onely beleeue with S. Iames that by workes a Ia. 2. 23. man is iustified and not by faith onely but also preach the doctrine of our Sauiour and his Saints Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercie Mat. 5. 7. Againe Get you away from me Mat. 25. ye cursed into fire euerlasting which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels for I was an hungred and you gaue me not to eat I was thirstie and you gaue me not to drinke I was a stranger and you tooke me not in naked and you couered me not sicke and in Prison and you did not visit me as long as you did it not to one of these lesser neither did you it to me And these shall goe to punishment euerlasting not for want of faith but for want of good workes That S. Paul in his third Epistle to the Romans and third to the Galathians sayth that we are iustified by faith he there and many times explicateth himselfe saying The Rom. 3. 22. Iustice of God by faith of Iesus Christ Againe Iustifying him Rom. 3. 26. that is of the faith of Iesus Christ whose faith was as he fayth not to breake the Law but to fulfill For assuredly I say vnto Mat. 5. 18. you vntill Heauen and Earth passe one iot or one tittle shall not passe of the Law vntill all be fulfilled This is the faith of which S. Paul speaketh of a faith that doth establish the Law as hee himselfe in plaine words confesseth saying Doe we then destroy the Rom. 3. 31. Law by faith God forbid but we doe establish the Law Whereas S. Paul in the same Chapters seemeth to speake against Iustification by workes hee disputeth against workes done without faith in Iesus Christ such as are Circumcision the Ceremoniall Law and workes done before our Conuersion to the Faith as is manifest by his words in the same Chapters and places saying What preheminence Rom. 3. 1. hath the Iew or what is the profit of Circumcision

Againe Rom. 3. 29. Is he God of the Iewes only Is he not also of the Gentiles for it is one God that iustifieth Circumcision by faith and Prepuce by faith Doe we then destroy the Law by faith God forbid but we do establish the Law by denying Iustification by Faith onely without Workes and Iustification by Workes onely without Faith in Christ Iesus he established the Law and the Prophets The same Law-giuer Moyses and the same Law which telleth vs that we ought to obserue it the same also telleth vs that we ought to beleeue Deu. 18. 13. in Christ Iesus A Prophet Act. 3. ●● sayth Moyses shall the Lord your God raise vp to you of your brethren as my selfe And Deu. 18. ●5 it shall be euery soule that shall not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed out of the people So the Apostle by denying Iustification by Workes of the Law onely without Faith in this Prophet our Sauiour and by denying Iustification by faith onely without obseruing the Law saying Not the hearers of Rom. 8. 13. the Law are iust with God but the doers of the Law shall be iustified establisheth the whole Law Faith in Christ and keeping the Commandements of God And for the vnderstanding of many places of S. Paul thou must obserue that the Faith which Saint Paul speaketh of when he saith that we are iustified by faith is a Faith that worketh by Charitie a Faith rooted Gal. 5. 6. and founded in Charitie Eph. 3. 18. So likewise when our Lord promiseth saluation by faith saying He that beleeueth in me Io. 21. 26. shall liue c. He meaneth such a faith as is rooted and founded in Charitie Faith without Charitie being but a dead faith deserueth not the name of faith no more then a dead man deserueth the name of a man As it is an error in speech to discourse of men without addition and meane dead men so it should be an error in speech to speake and discourse of faith without addition and meane a dead faith vvhich serueth those who haue it for nothing else but encrease of eternall Torments According to the Testimonie of our Lord who sayth Hee Luc. 12. 47. that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Faith Ia. 2. 17. if it haue not Workes is as dead in it selfe Without Loue Aug. in Ioan. trea 10. sayth S. Augustine Faith is vaine the Faith of Christians is with Loue the Faith of Deuils without Loue. Againe If neglecting De Fide et Operib c. 1● tom 4. the Commaundements we might be saued by onely Faith which without Workes is dead how should it be true which he wil say to them whom he shall place on his left hand Goe ye into eternall fire which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels neither doth he find fault with them for that they did not beleeue in him but because they did not good Workes c. So they shall goe into euerlasting combustion there shall be an euerlasting combustion as of Fire and they shall goe into it saith Truth whose not Faith but good Workes he hath declared to be wanting So Saint Augustine Whereby is manifest that Faith is necessarie to Content and Happinesse but not Faith only CHAP. V. That Man cannot be content and happie without embracing and beleeuing the Faith which was planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ the Sonne of God HAuing found out that Faith is necessarie to Mans Content and Happinesse and excluded the Faiths of all sorts of Protestants who defend Iustification by Faith only from euer finding any true Content or Happinesse it followeth to seeke out what Faith is necessarie to Mans Happinesse that we may embrace it and be happie First That it is the faith vvhich vvas planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is manifest to reason for that the Faith which our Lord planted teacheth vs many Truths Secrets and Mysteries which to the greatest Philosophers were not knowne neither in any other Doctrine can or may they be learned as of the Trinitie the Creation and Redemption of the World the Communion of Saints the Forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Dead the Life to come and many things more of the greatest content and comfort that can be to the heart of Man which were not made known vnto the World but by the Sonne of God our Sauior that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets saying The Orient from on high Luc. 1. 78. hath visited vs to illuminate them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feet in the way of peace Againe The Land of Zabulon and Land Mat. 4. 16. of Nephtali the way of the Sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles the people that sat in darknesse hath seene great Light and to them that sat in a Country of the shadow of Death Light is risen to them By knowing Truths Verities before the comming of our Sauiour not knowne vnto the World Secondly It is manifest by the Scriptures that the Faith which conducteth vs to Happinesse is the Faith which was planted by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ for that when the Scriptures say that we are iustified by faith they intend the Faith planted by our Sauior as Iustifying him Rom. 3. 26. that is of the faith of Iesus Christ Againe We also beleeue in Iesus Gal. 2. Christ that we may he iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ Againe Gal. 3. 23. The Scriptures haue concluded all things vnder sinne that the Promise hy faith of Iesus Christ might be giuen Whereby is manifest that none can be truely content or happie who doe not beleeue and embrace the Faith planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sonne of God Wherefore it is necessarie that we seeke it out that thou mayest embrace it and lay a sure foundation of thy happinesse which I will doe in the three next ensuing Chapters CHAP. VI. That our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour vpon Earth is proued by the light of Reason in generall FIrst by reason taken from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith that people of all Nations Tribes and Countries differing in Languages and Gouernment dispersed ouer the whole Earth should all beleeue as one and one as all and all with one voice and in one sense and signification professe one and the same Articles of Faith and those of so deepe vnderstanding high mysteries and secrets as in particular the reason of Man is not able to reach or comprehend is a sufficient demonstration to anie reasonable Man that our Catholike Faith is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as God Almightie is so must his Faith and Religion be God Almightie as Aristotle

the Faith Word of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vpon Earth to the great Content Ease and Rest of thy minde and assurednesse of knowing diuine Truths and Verities without deceit because God Almightie cannot deceiue thee nor faile of his Oath and Promises whereupon they are grounded So Saint Paul telleth the Colossians and in them all Christians that they shall be holy and immaculate and blamelesse Col. 1. 27. before God if yet you remaine in the Faith grounded and stable and vnmoueable from the hope of the Gospel which you haue heard which is preached among all Nations that are vnder Heauen CHAP. VIII How our Catholike Faith is so founded vpon the Oathes and Promises of God that it is not possible for any man to be an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort without affirming in effect and deed that God Almightie is periured and forsworne OVR Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is not founded vpon Men as Protestant Ministers tell thee but vpon two things immoueable The Oath of God and That it is impossible for God to lye By my selfe Gen. 22. haue I sworne saith our Lord I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seede as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand which is by the Sea-shore thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Not only the Brittans in an Iland diuided from the whole World but all the Nations of the Earth The Scripture foreseeing that God Gal. 3. 8. iustifieth the Gentiles by Faith by Faith that worketh by Gal. 3. 22. Charitie shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee shall all Nations Gal. 5. 6. be blessed For God promising Heb. 6. 13. to Abraham because he had none greater by whom hee might sweare hee sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and multiplying shall multiply thee c. for mensweare by greater then themselues and the end of all their controuersie for confirmation is an oath So God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell hee interposed an Oath that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye wee may haue a most strong comfort who haue fledde to hold fast the Hope proposed That in the Seede of Abraham our Sauiour not one or few Nations but all the Families of the Earth Act. 3. 25. should be blessed Vpon these two things vnmoueable are founded our Catholike Church holy Faith the Oath of God That it is impossible for God to ly or violate his Oath Promises euery where spoken of in the Scriptures to be fulfilled vpon Christians beleeuing in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ of the Seed of Dauid of the Seed of Abraham that in his Seed Gen. 22. Luc. 1. 55. should be blessed all the Nations of the Earth as hee spake to our fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer So that it is not possible for any man by any means to become an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort vnlesse he affirme in effect and deeds that God Almightie is a lyer and forsworne nor possible for any man sincerely to maintaine or defend in effect and deeds that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworn but he must be of that Religion which Protestants call Papistrie doe what hee can Whereupon S. Paul sayth An Heretike sinneth being condemned 1. Tit. 3. 10. by his owne iudgement For that he knoweth that he preacheth against the Oathes and Promises of God and pronounceth in his workes and deeds God Almightie to be forsworne and a lyar and hereupon our Sauiour sayth He that doth not beleeue is alreadie iudged Hee that will not beleeue God Almightie when hee sweareth and reneweth his Oath so often as hee doth in the Scriptures there are no meanes left to conuince him but by Aristotles argument viz. Punishment and Paines Those who Li. 1. Top ca. 9. doubt sayth Aristotle whether they should honour the Gods or no stand in need of Paines And according to this are the words of our Sauiour where Luc. 16. 30. hee sayth If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets neither if one should rise from the dead will they beleeue Such as will not beleeue the Oathes of God Almightie recorded by Moyses and the Prophets there is no other meanes left for to make them confesse truth but by eternall Torments Eua beleeued the Deuill that God Almightie could lye when he told her No you shall not die whereas God Almightie Gen. 3. 4. had told her that shee should if she eate of the forbidden fruit and by this meanes deceiuing her hee depriued her and all her posteritie of the Ioyes of Paradise and brought them to Miseries and temporall Death Take thou example by thy Mothers fall and doe not beleeue the Deuill or Sectaries when in effect and deeds they shall perswade thee that God Almightie can lye or be forsworne and suffer his Catholike Church to erre faile and decay contrarie to his Oath and Promises that they draw thee not from the Content and Happinesse of Grace in this life and Glorie in the other into the horror of all temporall Discontents and after death into eternall Torments Saint Augustine in his time vrged the Donatists with this foundation of our Catholike Faith the Oath of God and the Impossibilitie for him to lye saying to them as wee in his wordes say now to Protestants changing onely Donatists for Elizabethians and Africa for Brittanie To you Elizabethians the Catholike Church doth say O sonnes of men how long are yee of heauie heart Why doe you loue vanitie and seeke after a Lye Wherefore haue you diuided your selues by a wicked sacrilegious Schisme from the vnitie of the whole World You giue eare to Falsehoods which are told you of Man either lying or erring from the tradition of the Scriptures that you may die in your Hereticall Seperation And doe not attend what the Bookes themselues say that you may liue in Catholike 〈◊〉 Wherefore doe you open your eares to Men telling you that which they could neuer proue and are deafe against the Word of God which saith Our Lord Ps 2. 7. said to me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine Inheritance and thy Possession the ends of the Earth To Abraham are the Promises Gal. 3. 16. made and to his Seed hee doth not say to his Seedes as in many but as in one and to thy Gen. 22. Seed which is Christ In thy Seed Gal. 3. 8. shall be blessed all Nations Lift vp the eies of your hearts and consider the whole Globe of the Earth how in the Seed of Abraham all Nations are blessed Then it was beleeued of one when it was not yet seene now you see it

saith the Apostle Phi. 4. in him that comforteth mee Comfort vs O Lord and wee can doe all things yea loue our heauiest Persecutors as our selues Since from God Almightie proceedeth all our good and strength the first means of atteining vnto the loue of our Persecutors as our selues is much to loue his Diuine Maiestie To them Rom. 8. that loue God all things cooperate in good Againe If any Io. 14. 23. loue me he will keepe my word loue his Enemies and pray for his Persecutors Loue is Cant. 8. 6. as strong as Death The Loue of God nothing can ouercome Many Waters of tribulation Cant. 8. cannot quench Charitie neither shall Flouds of Persecution ouerwhelme it Wherefore the first meanes is much to loue God Almightie and often to make the aforesaid Acts of Loue and Charitie towards God set downe in the eleuenth Chapter and then thou wilt easily loue thy most alienated enemies with all thy heart The second meanes is often to reflect vpon the prouidence of God Almightie who since hee intendeth to crowne none but such as 2. Tim. 2. shall ouercome in combate first giueth the grace and force to ouercome and then permitteth myserable people to practise cruelties and persecutions vpon thee that thou by his grace ouercomming them and remaining through Patience and Charitie a Conquerour he may crowne thee with abundance of temporall Content in this life and after death in the other with eternall glory according to the words of S. Iames saying Blessed is the man that suffereth Iam 1. 12. temptation for when he hath beene proued he shall receiue the Crowne of life which God hath promised to them that loue him Insomuch as by ouercomming thy gaine is so great that if a persecuting King Prince or Potentate should spoile himselfe of his Scepter and Crowne and bestow them both on thee together with his Kingdome yet thou shouldest not receiue by his meanes so great a benefit as the Martyr whō he putteth to death either publikely or by long priuate imprisonment or other distresses for our Catholike Faith My Num. 23. 10. soule die the death of the iust and my last ende be made like to them So in truth and veritie there is no cause why thou shouldest hate or wish any euill vnto thy seuerest Persecutors but much cause why thou shouldest wish well vnto them and loue them tenderly since that by their meanes and by their losse both of temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse thou perseuering in Charitie art to receiue a greater benefit then otherwise thou couldest expect euer to haue receiued viz. to be crowned with a Crown of Apoc. 3. 10. eternall glory to rest in the ioy of our Lord before the throne of God and serue him Apoc. 7. day and night in his Temple and be conducted by the Lambe our Sauiour to the liuing Fountaines of Waters And for this cause the wisest men that be vpon the face of the Earth haue a pious enuie at our happinesse here in England For that we are killed Ps 43. 22. all the day we are esteemed as Sheepe of slaughter for the Catholike Faith which wee professe and goe continually as the Prophet Dauid sayth With our liues alwayes Ps 118. in our hands to offer them to God Almightie in Sacrifice knowing that our reward is very great in Heauen for so Mat. 5. 12. they persecuted the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs that were before vs To whom our Sauiour sayth You are they that haue remained with me in my temptations and I dispose to you as my Father disposed to me a Kingdome that Luc. 22. 28. you may eate and drinke vpon my Table and in my Kingdome and may sit vpon Thrones iudging the twelue Tribes of Israel Thou seest what labour paines and dangers euerie worldly man would be content to take if he might but hope to ascend vp to be an earthly King or Prince or come to attaine some grace and fauour in the Court where in truth and veritie their greatest Pleasures are mixt with so many Woes that if they would but looke vpon them with reason they haue more cause to lament their euill mishap then to take glorie in their seeming high estate How much more shouldest thou be content gladly and willingly to suffer some seuen yeares paines and persecution in hope to enioy the Kingdome of Heauen the glorie of the other life and that eternally A third meanes is to stirre vp and reuiue thy Faith in thee by making many Acts of Faith founded vpon the Promises to patient suffering Iniuries and Persecutions for the loue thou bearest to God as often to make these or the like Acts. He that will saue his life Mat. 16. 25. shall lose it and he that shall lose his life for me shall finde it What doth it profit a man if Mat. 16. 26. he gaine the whole world and sustaine the dammage of his Soule What permutation shall a man Mar. 26. giue for his Soule What wilt thou take that the Deuill may haue thy Soule for to burne in Hell eternally and trie but for a quarter of an houre how thou canst endure thy hand or foot to be burnt in this fire vpon Earth And then thou wilt laud the mercies of our Lord that by his Grace and thy suffering patiently so little paines he hath ordained to redeeme thee from eternall Torments Wee suffer with Christ Iesu Rom. 17. that we may be glorified also with him The sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to Rom. 8. 18. come that shall be reuealed in vs. Our tribulation which is momentarie 2. Cor. 4. 17. and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs. If 2. Tim. 2. 11. wee be dead in Christ then wee shall liue also together with him If we shall sustaine we shall also reigne together So to liue by Faith according as it is written The iust Gal. 3. 12. liueth by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God For hee that commeth to God Heb. 11. 6. must beleeue that hee is and is a rewarder of them that seeke him And this is the Faith of the Saints so renowmed and often spoken of in the Scriptures the Faith of Henoch Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moyses Gedeon Barac Sampson Iephte and the Apostles who by Faith ouercame Kingdomes wrought Iustice obtained Promises stopped the mouth of Lyons extinguished the force of Fire repelled the edge of the Sword recouered of their Infirmities had triall of Mockeries and Stripes of Bonds and Prisons were Stoned Hewed Tempted dying in slaughter of the Sword went about in Sheepe skinnes and Goats skinnes needie in distresse afflicted of whom the World was not worthie wandering in Desarts in Mountaines and Dennes and in Caues in the Earth As thou seest Religious men and Priests and Lay Catholikes doe in the time of this our persecution