let us come to those Worthies' that have been nearest to us, and take the brave examples of our own age. Through zeal and envy, the most faithful and righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted, even to the most grievous deaths. Let us set before our eyes the holy Apostles: Peter, by unjust envy, underwent, not one or two, but many sufferings; till at last being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was due unto him. For the same cause, did Paul in like manner receive the reward of his patience. 'Seven times he was in bonds; he was whipped, was stoned; he preached both in the east and in the west, leaving behind him the glorious report of his faith and so having taught the whole world righteousness, and for that end travelled even to the utmost bounds of the west, he at last suffered martyrdom, by the command of the governors, and departed out of the world, and went unto his holy place; being become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages. VI. To these holy Apostles were joined 10 a very great number of others, who, having through envy undergone, in like manner, many pains and torments, have "left a glorious example to us. For this, not only men, but women, have been persecuted and having suffered very grievous and cruel punishments, have finished the course of their faith with firmness; and, though weak in body, yet received a glorious reward. This" has 14 13 1 Combatants, wrestlers. * The faithful and most righteous. 4 Labours. 5 And so. 3 Good. 9 Vid. Pearson de Success. c. viii. sect. 9. 6 By envy. He received the, &c. 10 Men who have lived godly, is gathered together. 11 Become an excellent example among us. 19 Envy. 15 Envy, or emulation. 13 The names of Danae and Dirce I omit.-See Junius, Annot. in loe. 14 Cursed afflictions, or torments. alienated the minds even of women from their husbands, and changed what was once said by our father Adam: This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh'. In a word, envy and strife have overturned whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth. VII. These things, beloved, we write unto you, not only for your instruction, but also for your own remembrance; for we are all in the same lists, and the same combat is "prepared for us all wherefore let us lay aside all vain and empty cares; and let us come up to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us consider what is good, and acceptable, and wellpleasing in the sight of him that made us'. Let us look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious his blood is in the sight of God; which, being shed for our salvation, has obtained the grace of repentance for all the world. search into all the ages that have gone before us; and let us learn that our Lord has, 10 in every one of them, still given place for repentance to all such as would turn" to him. Noah preached repentance; and as many as hearkened to him were saved. Jonah denounced destruction against the Ninevites howbeit they, repenting of their sins, appeased God by their prayers, and "were saved, though they were strangers to the covenant of God. the Let us VIII. Hence we find how all the ministers of grace of God have spoken, by the Holy Spirit, of repentance. And even the Lord of all has 8 himself 'declared with an oath concerning it: As I live, saith the LORD, I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he should repent. Adding farther this good sentence, saying, Turn from your iniquity, O house of Israel. Say unto the children of my people, Though your sins should reach from earth to heaven, and though they should be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth'; yet, if ye shall turn to me with all your heart, and shall call me Father, I will hearken to you as to a holy people. And in another place, he saith on this wise: Wash 7 ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. These things has God established by his Almighty will, desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance. 9 IX. Wherefore let us obey his excellent and glorious will; and, 10 imploring his mercy and goodness, let us fall down upon our faces before him, and "cast ourselves upon his mercy; laying aside all "vanity, and contention, and envy, which leads unto death. Let us look up to those who have the most perfectly ministered to his excel lent glory. Let us take Enoch for our example; who, being found righteous in obedience', was translated, and his death was not known. Noah being proved to be faithful, did, by his ministry,preach regeneration to the world; and the Lord saved by him all the living creatures, that went with one accord* together into the ark. 8 X. Abraham, who was called God's friend', was in like manner found faithful, inasmuch as he obeyed the commands of God. By obedience he' went out of his own country, and from his own kindred, and from his father's house; that so forsaking a small country, and a weak affinity, and a little house, he might inherit the promises of God. For thus God said unto him: Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And again, when he separated himself from Lot, God said unto him: Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. And again he saith, "And God brought forth Abraham, and said unto him, Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: so shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Through faith and hospitality, 'he had a son given him in his old age; and through obedience he offered him up in sacrifice to God, upon one of the mountains which God shewed unto him. 3 XI. By hospitality and godliness was Lot saved out of Sodom, when all the country round about was destroyed by fire and brimstone: the Lord thereby making it manifest, that he will not forsake those that trust in him; but will bring the disobedient to punishment and correction. For his wife, who went out with him, being of a different mind, and not continuing in the same obedience, was for that reason 'set forth for an example, being turned into a pillar of salt unto this day. That so all men may know, that those who are double minded, and distrustful of the power of God, are 'prepared for condemnation, and to be a sign to all succeeding ages. XII. By faith and hospitality was Rahab the harlot saved. For when the spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun to search out Jericho; and the king of Jericho knew that they were come to spy out his country; he sent men to take them, that so they might be put to death. 10 Rahab, therefore, being hospitable, received them, and hid them under the stalks of flax, on the top of her house. And when the messengers" that were sent by the king came unto her, and asked her, saying, "There came men unto thee to spy out the A son was given unto him. 2 Gen. xix. 2 Pet. ii. 6. Jude 7. 4 But those that turn another way, he puts, &c. 5 Not in concord. 6 Put for a sign. 7 Become. 8 Jos. ii. 1, &c. 9 He sent men that should take them, that being taken, &c. 10 Therefore hospitable Rahab. 11 Men being sent by the king, and saying. 1 Jos. ii. 3. |