484 .RevelationoftheApoca1ypre. C A P.14.- that theymuff needs be truly godly,who could bear offhis affault va- liantly, and yet would not forfake their profeffìon. Of which fury gerr.rny is a witneffe, which bymeans hereof, did wholy overflow with the flaughters and blood of the godly, Chap. i r.7. And no leffe did-our CountryofF.nçland,according tothe quantity thereof ,which burnt out every where at that time with the'fires that were made ofthebodies of thefaithful!. How horriblewere the maffacres that were made in France ? Merindol and C'abriers with their allies, do yeeld a lamentable fpec`tacle of his molt favage cruelty. Now then there was needof great courage, without which no man could be able to ftand. And that we mayunderftand how great danger therewas of fal- ling,by reafon of the extreme troubles,we read that the Captains and Coronels themfelves, were perplexed with fear. How pitifully was that Holy man Melanaon diflxeffed through fear, till Luther incou- raged-and comforted him ? Doubtleffe the like fear (mote the hearts ofmany other men that then lived. Verf. 13. Then Ihearda voycefrom heaven, &c. Another Confo- lation is here provided by a voyce Pent from heaven: For to the end that the Saints might be the more cheerfull in undergoing danger, it is avouched by this voyce from heaven,that the laft andgreateft evil!, Which the %'irkedcouldbringupon them, is the means ofthe.preíentfeli- city ofthefaithful;and that it that not be invain for them to call them- felves upon fo great perils-forthe truths fake, though it_feemeth otherwife unto the world; for their Works.fiallfollow them; the moft pleafant fruit whereof they fhall reap forthwith, and the reward whereof;which is molt ample andbleffed, they !hall obtain at length. Neither is it for nought,that there is fo expreffe mention ofthe time, from now,that I may fo fay,That is,.from this time; .ih. Bcxa.thinketh that this particle is to be joyned neceffarily ;With Blefed,to which he lets it nexr,Blefedfrom henceforth, but as it feemeth,it is not to be flit.- red out of that place which the Holy Ghoftdoth give it purpofely, joyning it with dying; Bleifedare.thof+dead Which die from henceforth in the Lord. Net but that thofe that died in former Ages were alto bleffed,:but becaule thcfe times did require this fingular comfort.. As long as the Church was inconfit with the Heathen., that perfecu- . tedChriff in his members p;ofeifedly, itcould not be dotibtef of any man,but that he ought to fpehd his life in that caufe..But in this fight Whîch was to be úndertaken with thofe,who gloried in.this,rhat they were the only true Chriflians, the fimpler fort might worthily flick in
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