r2 1 DECAD. VI. ltiit*iwt4ft+~Tiifiii~~~~t.~tf~i ToMr. JOHN MoLE, ofalong timenowprifoner under the Inquifition at Rome. E P. IX. TixciliHg him lo hi1 P'Oilltdc.nft•h<J, And enco•rtging himloMarl)rd'"''· A W Hat palfage can thefe lines hope to finde imo that ycur flrai randcurious rhraldome? Yet who would not adventure the lofie cf this pains for him, which is ready to lofe himfelfe for Chrifl? what c6e we not owe toyou which have thus given yourfelfe for the common failh? Bl<f!ed btthe na~e ofthat God who bath fingled you out for his Champion,andmade ycu invincible: hLw fa8 mous are yourbonds?howglorious your conllanq1-0h,that out ofyour clofe cbfcu· rity,youcould but fee thehonour ofyour fuffering,rhe atreaicns ofGodsSainrs,and in fome,an holy envy at your diflrefied happimfie. Thofewals cannot hide) ru:No manis attendedwith fo many eies from earrh and heaven:The Churchycur Mother heholdsyou,nor wirhmore compatfion,rhan joy: Neither can it befaid,hcv. !he at once pitiesyourmifery,and r<joyces in your patience:The bldfed Angels look upon you with gratulation and applaufe.The adverfarieswith an angry farrow ro feethemfelves overcomeby their captive, their obllinare cruelty over-matched with humble refolution,l!<. faithful! perfeverance. Your Saviour feesyou from abol'e nor as ameer fpefraror,bnt as apatientwith you,in ycu, fcr )'Cu:yea,as an agent in ytur indurance & viaory,giving new cturagewith the one hand,and holdiEgour aCrown with the C other. Whomwould nor rhefe fi~hrs incOUf"£e? who nowcan pity your folirat ines? Thebtartsofall good menarewith you Neitl:<r c:n that placel:e but full ofAngel•, which isthecominuall obj<:a offo man) prayers;yea rheGcdofheaven was nevufo neer you,as now you are r<moved from men. L<t me fFeakabold,l:ut trueword. It is as potfible for him robe abfent from his heaven, as from rheprifonsofhisSaint!. The glorified fpirits above fing to him; the perfecmed fcu ls below,futfer fer him,and cry to him; he is magnified in both,preftnt with both;the faith ofthe or.e,is as plealing to him,as the triumph of the Nher. Nothingoblig<th mmm fo much, as (matting forus;wordsofdefence are worrhyofrhank,,bm pain iseO«rnrd above recompence.Howdoe we kilfe the woundswhich are taken for our fakes, and profdTethar we would hare our felves,ifwe did not lcve tbofe tbat dare bleed for us? Hewmuch more fhallrhe God of mercies be fenfibleofyomfcrrows, and crown ycurpati0 ence? Towhom you may truly ling that ditty ofthe Propher,Swrt!f forth,fol.! .,,1 jlaine conlin••ll!,•nd amco••ttd'''jlmpfor thtf/a•ghttr. What need I to llir up your conllancy, which bath already amazed,andwearied ycur perfecurors? No fufpirion fhall drive mehereto; but rather the rhirll ofyour praife.He that txhorts ro perfift i• well-doing,while he perfwad.,,commendeth:Whither fr.ould I ratherfend ycu,than to the fight ofyot11'own Chrilliao fortitude? which neither prayers,nor rhreats,havt been able to fhake : Here fiands on the one hand,libeny, prcrnotion, pleafure, life, and (which ealily exceeds all tbefe)the dear refpeaofwifeand children(whcm) cur only refolmion !ball make widow and orphanes ) thefewith (miles, and vow<!, and teares,feemtoimportune you.On the othu hand, bondago,folitttde,hnrwr, dtath, (and themolllingring ofall miferies) ruine llffCfleriry: thefe" irh frcw'ns ard rre· naces labour to affright you: Betwixt both,you haveOood ur.moved;fixmg yrur t ies either right forward upon the caufe ofyour fufferiog, or upwards up'on thecrown cf yourrcward : It is an bappything when ourown aft ions may be ettherexompl<s, orargumentsofgood. Thefe bl<lfed proceedings call you on royour rerfr8ion : Therewardofgood beginningsprofecured, isdoubled; nqdelled,is loll. How vaine are rhofe temptations, which would make ycu a lof<r of all this praite, this reccmpence? Goe on therefore happily; keepeyour eyes where rh<y ore, ar.d your heart cannot bebut where it is, ann whereitought: Look llill,for whatyen futfer, andfor whom: For the truth, for Chrifi: what can befoprecious as truth?Nor l~fc t[
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=