shewe the cause of so supreme a benifit Sayinge I giue thée thankes O Father Lorde of heauen and earthe bicause thou haste hidden these thinges from the wyse prudēt of the world and openid it vnto babes euen so father for so it pleased thée The cause of this benefit and of all ioyned with it commeth to vs by the great good will of God and the delight which he hath in his sonne As before it is sayde forasmuch as we doo knowe it is so let vs desire that we may be of that numbre of the lyttle ones that our Sauiour Christe dyd giue thankes vnto his Father for and not leane to any false variable doctrine whose ende is to bringe them that doo beleue in the same from the vnitie of the true faith which the prophets Apostles and Iesus Christ himselfe hath taught vs. Wherefore being partakers of the fruite of redempcion that our sauiour and Lorde Iesu Christ hath redemed vs with and by fayth that we haue in the Gospel let vs concider wel what we haue to doo that to our best power we may perseuer and increase in that rightuousnesse and holinesse that he hath communicated vnto vs Before we were called and when we had not receiued pardon for our sinnes we were such and euen the lyke as the children of perdicion were But now being reconciled to GOD by his sonne Iesus Christe we are taken foorthe of the Empire rule and dominion of the diuell and receiued of GOD by the holy Ghost and by the vertue of the same ioyned with Iesu Christ made one body with him From whome as from our head there is deryued into vs membres with lyfe and spirit by the which we ought to doo the works of lyfe for that thereby is a plaine testimony that Iesu Christe who dyd pardone vs of our sinnes and paye his moste precious bloud for a raunsome for the same dooth liue in vs and that he onely is the foundacion of our hope and affiaunce and also that of him and by him we are beloued of god the father as his childrē As teacheth sainct Peter saying that Iesus Christe is the liuinge Stone refused of men but elected chosen and precious with god and sayth further you also as liuing stones are built in one spirituall buildinge and one holy presthoode for to offer a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to god by Christ Iesu and a little after that you that beléeue and trust in Iesus Christ which in tymes passed were no people are nowe the people of God but before now you had not obteined mercy yet now you haue and are a chosen lynnage a royall presthoode a holy nacion a peculiar people for that you preach and shew the vertues of him that called you from the darcknesse in which you were to an admirable most merueilous light In this he dooth giue vs to vnderstand how we ought to spend our whole lyfe tyme and that is in perpetuall sacrifise of prayse vnto the Lord for that he hath béene so mercifull and pittifull towards vs so that all our woorks ought to be with a chearfull voyce singinge and makinge proclamacions of his glory of his vertuous prayse For to dooe this saythe Sainct Paule we ought to renounce and deny the vngodly worldly desires of the flesh and in this transitory lyfe to liue temperatly in rightuousnesse and godlinesse tarying and looking for that blessed hope glorious apearing of the mightie God our Sauiour Iesus Christ So that we ought to put away all kinde of supersticion false religion all desires and concupisences of the flesh and the worlde and to liue a godly lyfe according to the wil of God the which is declared vnto vs by his worde But sith that we are bought with the inestimable pryce of the most precious bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne so made his seruants we ought not to serue him in anye other maner nor with any other thinges then those which hée hath commaunded by his worde and lawe The Lorde dyd call and electe vs for that we should be holy and without reprehencion but we be prophane before him and no such saints if we serue him with any other thinge then that which his lawe dooth commaund or by the rule of his cōmaundements For that we be called in Iesu Christ as Sainct Paule sayth in the same Chapter bicause we should dooe the good workes that God dyd ordeyne for hs and that we should walke in them for those onely are good that he hath commaunded by his worde we ought also to imploy our whole studies in those workes For the apostle dooth teache vs that Iesus Christ dyd giue him selfe for vs to redéeme vs from all kinde of wickednesse and to purify vs that we might be a peculier people vnto him and that we might be onely dedicated to his seruice feruently giuen to good works All true beleuers sayth the Prophet Esay are tréese of rightuousnes and planted by the heauenly Father that he might be glorifyed in them Wherefore we ought to adresse our whole myndes all our affections and all our desires and thoughtes to glorifie him with all those things which we are sure and certeine he dooth and will allowe But sith he euen our God hath opened our eyes for to sée the lighte it were not iuste nor reason that we should walke any more in darcknesse that is to say thincking falsly that those thinges will content his goodnesse which dooth content vs or those thinges which are allowed of men without the holy Ghost Of the cause of Christes comming and of the fruites of christians The .viii. Chapter GOd hath giuen vs Iesus Christe to be our onely maister and teacher and doothe commaunde vs to heare him bicause he is the onely expositer declarer of his wyll and most mightie power and to direct vs for the accomplishment of the same So that they that doo heare the woorde of god and kéepe it for a rule in their doings and workes doo shewe themselues to be tréese of rightuousnesse planted beloued of him and that his spirit is resident and remayning in them But of them that teache and doo to the cōtrary he sayth by Sainct Mathewe they are plants that his heauenly Father hath not planted and althoughe they florishe for a tyme and be séene yet in th end they wil be withered dry and rotten Thus Iesu Christ doothe testifie that those which are gouerned and séeke to serue him by the commaūdemēts of men are none of his plāts We ought to abhorre and houlde for abhominable all such maner of seruices for that we are instructed by the word of trueth that al they which doo delight in them are subiect to the condempnacion wherein they were firste borne The hatred of them with all the rest that god hath forbidden and the obedience of his commaundemēts diuine are those fruites
no none but with charitie for that is our callinge and therein are we taught bothe by the wordes and workes of Iesus Christe our swéete sauiour redemer pastour and shéepeherde Let not vs take any regarde at all of the euill and harme that our persecutours vse towardes vs but let vs chiefely regarde and looke diligently to that which Iesus Christ did amongst vs and commaund vs vnto The imitacion of him let vs not abhorre condempne nor speake euill of but rather let vs doo the contrary Let vs loue to imitate him and let vs doo the workes of loue The cause why that our enimies and afflictours dooe persecute vs is declared by our Sauiour Lorde Iesus Christ who sayth they shall cast you out of their Sinnagogs excomunicate you persecute you vnto deathe for my name sake shall thincke they doo therin to God very great seruice they shal do these thinges bycause they haue neyther knowen me nor yet my Father There is not nor can not be a greater mischiefe then to be ignorant of or not to know at all our God and Father almightie nor yet his sonne Iesus Christ The want of knowledge hereof maketh all them which lacke the same to be possessed of the diuell seruaunts of sinne and heires and inheritours of hell And also dooth make them to beare carry and mainteine continually a curssed cruel capital war against god heauen and all that is his The which dooth bring vnto them their vtter distruction perdicion for euer Their hell they doo alwayse carry with them their owne consciences doo condempne them bicause the worme thereof euer dying and neuer deade doothe and will for euer accuse them The iudgement of GOD doothe lye very heauy vppon them the Lawe hathe curssed them and the woorckes and déedes which they dooe in persecutinge the faythefull are euident tokens testimony of their vtter condempnation Bycause that those whom they persecute with persecutions slaunders condempnations curses cloathed with saint Benits crosses shut vp in close prysons and afterward burned are little or nothing touched thereby but Iesus Christ in them It is he it is he that beareth the spitefulnesse of their passions and Persecutions as hée hymselfe did declare to Saint Paule before his conuersion for when that he had cruelly persecuted the Christians our sauiour Christ sayde with a terrible voyce Saule Saule why persecutest thou mée What greater euill may be thought then to persecute our swéete sauiour and redéemer how can the wrath of God be more euident vnto to them then when they may sée that he careth not for them but suffereth them to fall and runne headlong into that loathsome lake of perdition and yet in vsing the same they think themselues in suche securitie of saluation that they solemnise their tiranycall dispositions as if they did solemly halow some festiuall feast And doe think they doe God good seruice Oh lamentable case that they know not the truth in those their wicked doings Sin hath so captiuated and blynded them that they estéeme light for darkenesse the truth of God for deceyueable errours and the rightuousnesse of heauen for iniquitie And therefore with the bowels of pitifull compassion we ought to pray to God for them beséechyng him of his mercy that hée will take them out of that so mortal deadly and dampnable estate Now then sith it is God that is the aucthor of our afflictious calamities and griefs if we take them at his hands they wil be healthfull for vs and make vs to be true imitators and folowers of Christ hys sonne so that we shall not at all dysdaine our enimies nor shal in no wise vse them euilly for euil but rather desire that they may be brought into the bowels of his loue and so reduced into the way of health With faintnes are we filled with edible wrath indignatiō against thē bicause we thinke that with their irefull hatred their caluminate strifes flaūderous reportes their false testimonies and burning desires to shead our blud they doo or can do as much grief or harme But if we doe vnderstande Gods diuine counsell a right doo not looke a wrye from his worde we shall and may know perfectly wel how impossible it is for thē to doo vs any kynd of dammage with all that euer they can doe or imagine whatsoeuer it bée If we doe but heare the words that the holy Ghost speaketh by the Prophet Dauid we may wel vnderstand sée that they can not preiudice vs in any thing at all An excelent comfort to the afflicted Cap. xiij HE that dwelleth sayeth he vnder the defence of the highest shall be sure vnder the shadow of the almightie The defence wherin doeth consist our sureste securitye is the fyrme truste and affyaunce that the Lords hath giuen vs to haue in him By the which we are made partakers of hys omnipotencie and as his omnipotencie is in securitie from all kynde of euill euen so are we thereby bycause he is onely our hope our foretresse our strength and God in whom wée chiefly trust And the chiefe ground of his promise is that he will deliuer vs from all euilles and that hys trueth shall be vnto vs a buckler and shield And also the Prophet sayth in the same Psalme Bycause thou haste put thy selfe vnder the guarde and custodie of the most highest there shall no euill happen vnto thée neyther shall any plague come néere thy dwellynge Whereby it appeareth playnly what vayne traueyles our enimyes take in hand when they séeke rather to afflict vs or fight so furiously as they doe against the truth For that as they can not preuayle against the truth so shall they not preuayle against them that folow it bycause the auctthor thereof is their mightie defendor Héere the Lord doeth promyse and certifie that no euill shall happen vnto vs nor plague come to our dwelling or Tabernacle if we know and feare hym So that it followeth the euilles and mischiefes that our aduersaries doe séeke towardes vs cannot hurte vs if we be faithfull Bycause the elected whose tutor and gouernour is God are not neither riches honor dignity high estate bodily or corporal health lyfe nor any thing els whereof there is any vertue or power giuen to the wicked But are the liuing members of Iesus Christ vnited and knit vnto him most surely and therefore inuisible to the children of this world as is the same lord And bycause the wicked should not sée howe to doe them harme in that true being which they bee God did so fauour them that by hym they were incorporated in Iesu Christ for that as hée is firme sure substanciall strong and may not bée throwen out of the throne of his maiestie So be those his members of such strength and force in him that they may in no wyse be separated frō him That which by tirannie of Tirants is to be taken
slepe we might liue togither with hym Also the same Apostle sayeth to vs The persecutions and troubles which you suffer are tokens of the rightuous iudgement of God that yée may bée counted worthie of his kingdome for the which you also suffer It is verily a rightuous thing with God to recompence them with tribulations againe that trouble the faithfull and rest vnto them so troubled with hys chosen at the last day when the Lord shall come in the maiestie of his glorie to iudge the worlde Whereby it appeareth that the persecutiōs which we suffer are to vs a sure and moste firme zeale of the saluation health that we haue by Christ that wée bée frée from fynal and euerlasting dampnation and also they are sure testimonyes of the swéete rest which is for vs to haue after thys lyfe in our Lorde Iesus And therefore we ought to suffer them with a ioyfull mynde bycause it is a priuiledge not incident to all but to vs only which beleue For which cause the Apostle sayth to them of Philippia it is not onely giuen to you to beleue in Iesus Christ but also that you suffer with him Bycause as faith is not giuen sayeth S. Paule to all no more it is not giuen that all should suffer for him Wherfore it is most manifest the to suffer for Christes sake is a great and principall pryuiledge giuen to vs by God by meanes wherof all they which suffer are assured of their frée libertie in Christ Iesus And for this cause it is graunted vnto them that are faithfull to suffer in him and to be so euil intreated and desolued of and from eternall dampnation before hys dyuine iuste iudgement As euery father doeth gyue to his children that which hée knoweth to bée most best profitable for them So God doeth gyue vnto vs that bée his paines calamities afflictions and persecutions bicause he by his diuine wisdom doth know that they be most best and commodious for vs Aduersitie and persecution is muche better then prosperitie bicause affliction for the worde of God is onely perticuler and priuate to the rightuous but prosperitie in worldly delightes are publique and common to all people wicked and sinfull What things may or can be more profitable healthfull to vs then those by the which we are certified assured of the great good will and loue which god hath towards vs and the we are frée of and from the condempnation due vnto the world what thing is there better that we can desire here whilest we liue in this vale of miserie then to passe our tyme in the company of Iesus Christ clothed with his liuery coate cognisaunce which is fayth and loue to suffer in for with him What greater prosperitie can be imagyned or thoughte of thē to be saued with eternal saluatiō and to haue a déed as the cōmō lawyer of englād saith of cōfirmatiō to assure vs that we shal enter into a ful possession of his holy heauēly kingdō purchased and fully bought of him for vs by the most precious bloud of his son our sauiour Iesus Christ God our blessed father in sēding vs calamities afflictions tribulatiōs in suffring vs to be persecuted for his name and gospel sake doth it to none other end but vppō purpose to cōfirme vnto vs all his promises to assure vs that it is necessarie for vs to suffer as his sonne did And therfore S. Peter doth admonish vs to reioyce in as muche as we are partakers of Christes passions that whē his glory appeareth we may be mery and glad if we be railed on in the name of Christ we are happy bicause the spirit of glorie the spirit of God resteth vppon vs S. Ieames considering the great riches that God doeth communicate vnto his people in their afflictions and griefes sayth my bretheren accompt it great ioye when yée fall into dyuers temptations bicause that you know the triall of your faith bringeth patiēce Let vs reioyce saith S. Paule in the hope of the glorie of God for that he hath made vs partakers of the grace reconsiliation of Christ that we beleue in him And not only this but also that we reioice in tribulatiō bycause we know the tribulatiō bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experiēce experience bringeth hope The which hope shall neuer be confounded Of pacience and an exhortation therevnto c. Cap. xviii NOw dearely beloued bretheren swéet fellow mēbers let vs sée and behold how God loueth vs in giuing vs such a benifite accompanyed with so many riches Surely there is nothing that we haue so greate a necessitie of in this lyfe as of pacience that we might fructifie and increase in the fruites of the Gospell to the obedience wherof we are called There be many that doe heare the worde of God yet for all that there is none that doeth fructifie thereby but those which are armed with pacience and doe suffer the hand and chastisement of the lord Wherefore the Apostle sayeth truely you had néede of pacience bycause that after you haue done the will of God you may obteyne the riches of his promise Wherby appeareth that without pacience we cannot obteyne them and also if wée haue not pacyence we can not doe as we ought But bycause we shuld haue pacience God doeth suffer vs to be troubled for that by tribulation is wonted to spryng and growe pacience in those that bée his children who knowing the good will and loue of him wherewith they are beloued do perswade themselues that from his hand can come nothing how aduerse so euer it be to the worlde but of force it must be to a profitable end vnto them and serue greatly to the glorie of God and also as they doo sée them selues beloued they doo loue him and doe accept all things in good and ioyfull parte that he doeth mynister vnto them be it afflictiō trouble calamitie sorow persecution or other passion whatsoeuer For by his Gospell is reuealed vnto them and vs all his good will if we doe receiue it and the full certeintie thereof to some more to some lesse euen as it pleaseth him and séeth conuenient Of this pacience is begotten experience the which is the touchstone frō whence wherby our faith is examined prooued and tryed whither it be weight measure yea or no. Dearely beloued sayth S. Peter be yée not troubled nor do ye not merueile whē you doo sée your selues tryed by fyre as if there had happened any straūge thing to you which were not commen to the faythfull For by the patience which God doeth giue vs is prooued experienced tryed whither our faith that we haue of him bée true or fayned Bicause we be the children of light he will not that we walke in ignorance and darknes but that we haue experiēce to know wherfore we shuld loue him and he loue vs For so
the cause thereof The .iiii. Chapter BVt persisting and going forewarde in suche estate as then was ours which was without Christ reputed as alients and straūgers to the common wealth of Israell and to the couenaunts conteyned in the testament and promise of reconciliacion voyde of hope and without God in this worlde It pleased him who is most ritche in mercy thorough his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen whē we were dead by sinne To quicken vs againe in Christe together with him by whose grace we be saued raysed vp made to sitte together in heauenly thinges through him notwithstādinge as I say that we were dead by sinne and at the brimme or brincke of our condempnacion yet he called vs to his knowledge that we might haue lyfe together in Christ Iesus and beinge so farre from him he called vs nigher by the power vertue of his most precious bloud And so sayth Sainct Paule in another place that God dyd set out and cōfirme his loue and charitie in vs for that we as yet beinge sinners enimies vnto him and so iustly condempned he dyd giue his own sonne to most direfull death to reconcile vs vnto him therby and to make vs partakers of his rightuousnes and sanctificacion So that the whole cause of our perdicion was in our selues bicause that by vs sinne had his first beginninge for that we dyd throw our selues so voluntaryly into his cursed handes who dyd dispoile and robbe vs of all goodnesse Wherfore God so louing vnto vs thought it most necessary for our saluacion to take all vpon him selfe for that wée might thereby obteine remission and forgiuenesse of all our transgression for euer And that being at the first true the condempnacion that we had deserued it might aswell be true the healthe and saluacion graunted to deliuer vs from the same So the holy Ghost dooth testifie vnto vs by the Prophet Osea sayinge from thée thy selfe O Israell doothe proceede thy perdicion and from mée onely doothe come thy saluacion And by the holy Apostle sainct Paule it is sayde that when the beninge kyndenesse and loue of our Sauiour God to man warde apeared he saued vs not by the workes which we had done and are vnrightuous but conformable to his mercy by the washing of the regeneracion or new birth and renewing of the holy ghost the which he hath shedde abundantly vppon vs by Iesu Christe our Sauiour for the iustifyed by his grace we should be made heires thorough according to our hope of the lyfe eternal Wherby it apeareth that of the calling by the which God dyd by is mercy most pitifully call vs vnto him dooth procéede all our health and saluacion Bicause as at the beginning God did make vs of himselfe without receiuinge any helpe of our partes and so gaue vs the being of men that we might be wholly his owne pure woork Euen so hath he now called vs and now that we be called he hath reformed and sāctified vs without our helpe in any thing that we might be his children If Lazarus were dead foure dayes buryed and stincking in his graue and coulde not frée himselfe therefro but the God dyd rayse him from death giue him a newe lyfe Much lesse may we frée our selues from death for that we be captiuated and buryed so by the help of sinne that we are much more deade stincking before God then was the corporall body of Lazarous to the sighte of men But as by the might strēgth vertue and power of that voyce with the which Iesus Christ dyd call him he was set frée from the prison stinge of death purifyed of all corrupcion restored to a new lyfe euen so we by the voyce of the same Lorde are raysed againe to a new lyfe Bicause god dooth call those things which are not as though they were For by the efficacie and strengthe of the voyce with which he dooth cal he doth giue a new being For the euill being of a sinner is as no being before god But in callinge himselfe to mynde to call vpon God with a feruent fearefull and louing heart vnfayned his louinge almightifull kindenesse will giue him a diuine essence participated ioyned with the same woord with the which he called him when as he had no sufficiencie at all to doo the woorks of lyfe We our selues in the estate which we were could not by any meanes doo any kinde of thing that might be pleasant or acceptable to God but dyd cōtinue still sléeping possessid of deathe without any féeling of lyfe We dyd not call nor séeke vpon God but were of the numbre of those which Dauid hath spoken of before which haue not knowen God bicause we called those dead which liue dyd séeke the things we knewe not And therefore it was sayde by the Prophet Esaye I am founde of them that haue not sought me haue apeared manifestly to those which haue not asked after me For that we should vnderstand that he onely did séeke vs dyd call vs and giue him selfe to be knowen vnto vs Yet we in the meane tyme were dronken with obliuion buried in sinne in all kinde of wickednesse also were possessid with the diuel whome we dyd obey in such sort that we accoūted his coūsell and workes for the vphouldinge and rule of our lyfe The cause why that God dyd so call vs out of that duskye darckenesse in the which we were to his admirable light was onely the loue that he had to vs in his sonne Iesus Christe by whome he dyd determine to saue vs By Christ Iesus sayth S. Paule we are chosen to the inheritance predestinated accordīg to the purpose of him which dooth will all thinges conformable to the councell of his diuine wil so that we which doo put our trust in him should be in all thinges for the setting foorth of his honour and glory Of the cause of our calling and redempcion Cap. v. BY the purpose counsell of GOD which he dyd ordeyne before the beginninge of the world that we might be partakers of his healthe and saluacion is the cause why he suffered vs to fall that wée might be made knowen vnto his son by whose merittes we should be made acceptable vnto him Sainct Peter sayth that we haue béene elected and chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctificacion of the spirit to obey him and to be cleansed washed in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ Sainct Paule considering the goodnesse of god for his benefits so much vndeserued of men dooth giue thankes vnto him for himselfe and for all the faithful that haue béene called to the participacion thereof and sayth Blessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe which hath blessed vs with all maner of spiritual blessing in heauenly things by Christ according as he had
Iesus Christ to be glorifyed and lifted vp aboue all creatures So that it was conuenient that he dyd suffer before he entered into his glory or tooke possession of his kingdome He himselfe dyd declare the same to his desciples sayinge it is necessary that the sonne of man doo suffer many thinges and that he be reproued of the elders and high prestes that he be slaine and doo arise againe the thirde daye After that he sayde to them that went to Emaus that it was conuenient that he should suffer and so enter into his glory All the church doo witnesse the same by the holy ghost when Christe was greuously afflicted he vsed this prayer and sayd O Lord thou that art the God of heauen and earth the sea and all that is therein which diddest say by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid why haue the Gentiles fretted and shewed the people vaine things the kinges of the earth haue conspired and the princes haue gathered themselues togither against the Lorde and againste his Christe I pray you swéete fellowe membres is not this truely come to passe dyd not Herode Poncius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israell conspire and gather themselues togither to doo all that God in his diuine councell had determined against the holy anointed Christ Iesus For why it was onely by the determinacion ordinance of God that Christ dyd suffer and also that all those which be his membres should doo the same and so be like vnto him in all that may be And as he dyd suffer a many of persecutions passions and tribulacions before that he could reigne in his kingedome euen so must we suffer a great moultitude of persecutions afflictions and troubles before that we be glorifyed and reigne with him bicause he dyd predestinate vs to be like vnto him in the same For if we did not beare many crosses and tribulacions we should then in no point beare his true similitude and likenesse so that then there would be great dysconformitie betwene him our head and vs his membres But suffering first with him and so made like vnto him by bearing of his crosse of necessitie we are to reigne with him in glory bicause that those which doo accompany him in suffering may not be seperated from his company in reigninge for that bothe the one and the other is the ordinaunce of God the which he will not lette to fulfill to the vttermost as he himselfe hath sayde by the Prophet Esaye that his councell shall bée firme and sure and all his wyll shal be done the Lorde of Hostes dyd ordeigne it and who can derogate his ordinaunce Of the prouidence of God for them which are called c. The .xi. Chapter THere is nothinge more saludable or healthful for vs then to submit our selues wholly to the diuine counsell of god bicause he dyd determine by the same to make vs partakers of his heauenly kingedome And for that that god dyd ordeigne for vs that we should passe by this way we must néedes beleue that there is nothing in the worlde whereof he doothe make so particuler accompt nor whereof he dooth esteme so much as of his beleuers Of all liuing thinges that he created he hath a care yet much more greater care without comparison hathe he of vs which be called to his knowledge and that doo trust onely in his mercy So likewise dooth the Lord declare to all his faythfull saying that the celestiall and heauenly Father hath such an inestimable care of them that he hath numbred euen the very heires of their heads so carefully that he will not one of them shall perrishe And sayth further if your father which is in heauen haue so muche care ouer little Sparrowes whereof two are soulde for one farthing and that he wil not suffer one of them to fall from theyr nest or pearch and perish without his will much more greater care without comparison will he haue of you which are of much more vallew and estimacion then many sparrowes If the diligence of the fawckners or fowlers doo not preuaile except God dooe helpe them to their game much lesse shall the persecutours of the Gospel preuaile against vs if the ordinaunce of God be not to permit them accordingly for his owne glory for our health and saluacion In the generall gouernement of this world nothinge may be done if it be not first determyned in the consistory of god doo passe by the consent of his owne will much lesse can or may any thinge hurte or much them which he hath elected and called onelesse that he will and commaunde it The booke of wisdome dooth declare thy prouidence O Father dooth gouerne all thinges From the beginninge the Lord hath made all thinges and they doo come to vs by his will both good and euill lyfe and death pouertie and riches come from him I am the Lorde sayth Esay the Prophet and there is none but I that formed the light and created the darckenesse that dyd make peace and create the euill I am the Lord that dyd all these thinges And it is sayde further behoulde I am onely and alone and there is none other gods but me I will kill make a liue againe I will wounde will make whole Reioyse in thy riches in the tyme of prosperitie sayth the wyfe man and haue thou pacience in the daies of aduersitie bicause as god made the one so dyd he make the other The holy Ghost dooth teach vs that all and euery thinge that dooth happen vnto vs aswell aduersitie as prosperitie the good as the euil dooth passe and come by the prouidence and will of God and that without his ordinance nothinge taketh effect Bicause he dooth all thinges in all accordinge to the counsel of his diuine will pleasure And therefore sith it is so that he is the author of all and dooth nothinge without it be first ordeined that his prouidence is so vigilāt ouer vs it resteth then that all is saludable healthfull for vs that he of his good will doothe make to take effect in vs and that we must take all in good part which dooth succede and happen vnto vs not as of or from the handes of an enimy or tyrant but as of and at the hands of a true louing father which dooth loue vs most tenderly When we do sée our selues oppressed with diuers kindes of calamities afflictions let vs surely thinke be resolued that he himself doth afflict vs he dooth imprison vs he doth make vs poore he dooth depriue vs of our worldly honours he himself doth make vs sicke doth heale vs againe he dothe kil vs and reuiue vs againe there is nothinge that doothe happen vnto vs how aduersse or cruell so euer it be but is by him ordeyned to that ende that we might thereby be brought to great ioye and felicitie Let vs not deteigne
holy body of Christ in general he dooth testify say the same to euery one of them in particuler And therefore euery one perticulerly ought to apply and assure himselfe to him in none other maner nor forme then of him onely it was sayde and spoken by Sainct Paule who saythe we haue not receiued the spirit of this world but the spirit which commeth of god bicause we might knowe the thinges which are of him that he doothe geue vs and not be ignorant therein nor yet doubt thereof Of Purgatorie and the causes of calamitie c. Cap. xv BIcause we that are of the nūbre of the faythfull are suche a perticuler worke of GOD that of his goodnesse he wyll not that there be any thinge in vs which he loueth not but that we be wholly cleane also that with our holinesse and cleannesse of lyfe and doctrine we dooe declare our selues to be his children and therefore wyll destroy in vs all the workes of the diuell which are so repugnant vnto him as are the wicked inclinacions of the fleshe and all whatsoeuer els that doothe let our true obedience to his holy heauenly will. To ende and consume it altogether he dooth laye his crosses vpon vs to be as it were a Purgatory in this world to purifie vs and he will there with that we take it as a testimony of his loue and that we be his verye familiars and fréendes I sayth the Lorde dooe reprehend and chastise those whome I loue And hereof it groweth that the more he loueth vs so much the more he hateth abhorreth the sinne that is in vs and also so much the more he will correct and chastise vs And as there is none that he dooth more loue then those which he hathe called and incorporated in Iesus christ so is ther none that is more afflicted in this world Euen as a carefull Father that hath many children and one among thē more beloued then the rest whom he will make his heire and the more he loueth him so much the more vigilant he is to kéepe all vice daunger from him that might depriue him of his inheritance yet the sonne with dolefull dollour griefe that he dooth féele dooth bewayle and thincke in féelinge his fatherly correction that it doothe procéede of ire and doothe not consider his fathers pure pretence but rather taketh it for a signe of hatred which for a most sure certeintie is a true testimony of loue good will. Euen so it dooth fall out betwene god the celestiall father and vs for that we doo not vnderstande the intent of him in his fatherly reprehensions and chastisements the which of truth deare fellow membres are bicause he doth loue vs most singulerly as childrē to dispose vnto vs his most inestimable and blessed inheritāce and to destroye in vs all the vices that should let or hinder vs frō the same We do sorrow gréeue at his friendly fatherly correctiō we doo not estéeme it as we ought to doo nor as instruments the tend to so ioyful an ende And therefore let vs heare follow the counsel of the holy ghost spokē by out of the mouth of the apostle S. Paul. My sonne despise not the chastinīg of the lorde neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whome he loueth him he chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne that he receueth If we can endure his correctiō he offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto his sonnes for what sonne is that whom his father chastiseth not is beloued He that is not vnder correctiō wherof we all be partakers is a bastard not a sonne Wherby it appeareth we may plainly sée that it is he the scourgeth vs bicause he loueth vs dooth certeinly assure vs that we are his children for that by his crosses and calamities with the which he scourgeth vs he will distinguish vs frō those which are none of his but are reprobats So that if we should be frée frō his paternal or fatherly correction we should also be set voyd frée from the inheritance of his blessed kingdom And moreouer it were then made manifest vnto vs that we were bastterds illegittimate and not sonnes lawfully begottē of our louing father But sith that by his singuler infinit mercy he hath made vs legittimate Let vs like lawfull loouing children put aside all pusilanimitie weakenesse and cowardise and withall earnestie and firme zeale submitte our selues to the ordinaunce will of the eternall God our heauenly father and let vs vnderstande further the saying of S. Paule We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but we haue receiued the spirite of adoption by the which we crye call Abba father the same spirit certifieth vs that we are the sonnes of god and therby heires with Christ therefore let vs suffer with him that we may bée also glorifyed together And forasmuch as we dooe knowe the effect of the benefit of his amorous and louely correction let vs suffer as sonnes and heires to the Imitacion of his eldest sonne our head eldest brother Iesus Christe which being best beloued dyd suffer most excessiue paines passions And as the greatnesse of the same was a true testimony of the loue with the which he loued was beloued of the father Euen so how much the greater our afflictions troubles calamities are so much the more testimony haue we of his excéeding loue good wil towards vs. For it is written by Iesus the son of Sirache that the crosse is mercy So that the more greater that our crosses calamities are so much more the clearer demonstracion haue we the god doth loue vs the more profoundly hath the more pittie of vs maketh vs liue in disdaine with the diuel all his workes From whence it springeth that how much more we be oppressed with persecucion or any kinde of calamitie so much the nigher are we at an ende of the consumption destroy of all the euil mischiefe that is in towards vs against the which the Lord our God dooth make batteile warre fight for vs And for this cause in the most extremitie of al our troubles and calamities whatsoeuer We ought to haue greatest content comfort ioye bicause then our most franke frée ful libertie for the knowledge of God draweth neare whereby we shall sée him face to face shal know him as he doth know vs Let vs not thē as yonge babes blush feare stoppe or staye from the feeling of those troubles calamities which are present in the world But let vs passe to the consideracion that god doothe pretend by them which is to make vs wholly rightuous and that there remain not one spot of vnrightuousnes nor corruption in vs but that we should be the irreprehensible sonnes of god without spotte or wrinckle So that we might come to
did God proue Abraham found him faythfull And he was so faithfull in déede as was possible wherby he vnderstoode that by the same fayth which God had gyuen hym he was made rightuous before his diuine maiestie that it was a true fayth and did vse all his loue and procure all that he loued and did delight in all things to doe and fulfill hys holy commaundements In Mathew and Marke vppon the Gospel of God which they did write it is sayd that there be foure kyndes of people which did and doe heare the word of God all of them sayd they beléeued but when tribulatiō came vppō them for the words sake that they wer tryed therby there was but one parte of them foūd that had receiued the truth and they were thorowly tried by passing the pikes of persecution with patiēce and did fructifie aboūdantly some thirtie fold some sixtie folde some more some lesse So that in such maner I mean by persecution the Lord doth try out distinguishe the true beléeuers from the false fayned As when by a blast of wynde the wheate is discouered from the chaffe so known to be perfect Euen so by puffes of persecution care calamitie trouble other the scourges of God a perfect true Christian is certeinely surely tryed and knowen Wherefore it is written in Iesus the sonne of Syrache as followeth what knoweth he that was neuer tempted and he that was neuer tryed nor experyenced What can he vnderstand such a one is as a man that sléepeth doeth not know nor estéeme christianitie without a tryall or experience Before that we be experienced by patience in bearyng the crosse will any of vs bée so bolde as Peter was to resist agaynst the enimyes of our master and the trueth till he sée himself out of daunger of imprisonment peril and persecutiō by such like persecutors no surely it is muche to bée doubted But yet when God hath sent vppon vs persecutions and troubles and of his mercy hath gyuen vs patyence and constancie wherby we haue confessed before our aduersaryes the fayth which by the gospel we haue receiued and when that to folow our Lord maister we haue put in proofe to aduenture our lyues and so passe thorough all the euils and afflictions that can be offered to vs Euen then and not til then we doe remayne tryed by the touchstone of trueth and doe know by experience that our fayth is firme true and of great effycacie and valour before god Bycause then wée are by him so vnyted in Christ that neyther Castles prysons tormentes threatnings dishonours losses of substance nor yet the same death that hée him selfe dyed can seperate vs from hym So that then haue we suche experience as Peter had and then dare we to strike of Malchus the high priest his seruaunt his right eare if néede were But yet the experyence that Peter had was not altogither by the persecution which hée suffered hymselfe but rather by that which he had séene hys pure good master to suffer c. So that this experience and firme knowledge that we haue to know the good from the euill and wherevppon to grounde our fayth that wee might boast and reioyce in God for it is ingendred and begotten of that constant pacience which by fayth wée haue to tollerate and beare the tribulations that we are brought into for the profession of his name Paciēce also bringeth vnto vs experyence of the pure goodnes truth of our faith doth assure vs that we ar not deceued nor liue by the vain imaginatiōs of men but by the word of god Wherby Christ is reuealed vnto vs we doe know our saluatiō Also there is verified herein that which is spokē by S. Peter in the last tyme ye shal reioyce though now for a season ye be in many temptations yet your fayth once tryed being muche more precious then Goulde that perysheth thoughe it bée tryed with fyre you shal be found in lande glorie and honor at the appearing of Iesus Christ our sauiour Hovve that good experience bringeth forth hope of a shadovv of certein persecutions Cap. xix EXperyence gotten by patience doth beget and bryng foorth hope for hauyng experience in the might and potencie of God wée come and grow to haue a sure hope in hym bycause that how much the more greater our trial experience is so much the more firme certeine sure is our hope as Dauid Danyell and many other holy men which hauing prooued and being experiēced by great terrible tribulatiōs haue passed thorough the pikes of thē with great hope for that they had a feeling of the power presence of God in them thereby assured of the fauour of him that they were imboldened and brought into so sure a hope that none enimy nor nothing could ouercom nor preuaile against them Dauid beyng moued with the féeling of this fauor and full of firme hope in the goodnesse of the Lord which did susteine him against his enimies bring him forth of all his troubles with victorie sayd with all my hart haue I called on thée O Lorde and I will loue thée O my strēgth O Lord thou art my strēgth my Rocke my defēce my libertie and my god And I wil put my whole hope and trust in thee my buckler and my shield I wil call vppō thee so I shal bee deliuered from myne enymyes The troubles sorows of death haue invironed cōpassed me round about but I called vppon the Lorde and hée hath hard me from his holy Temple In lyke maner it happeneth and falleth out to all the faithfull for after that our faith is proued experienced and founde good by the pacience sufferance that God hath giuen vs Euen then our hope doeth so increase that we conceiue a moste firme securitie and certeintie of our saluation And so by means therof we begin to féele and know without doubt that we can not be lost nor forsaken but that for a more certeintie we shall obteine and come to the pure port of eternal health And hereof S. Iames speaketh and sayeth Blessed and happie is the man that suffereth temptations for when he is tryed he shal receiue the crowne of lyfe which God hath promysed to them that loue him In varyable and firme is this hope bycause it is founded grounded vppon Iesus Christ of his wordes and promises Wherof it is spoken in Mathew and Luke in Christes Gospell by them wrytten Blessed arte thou that mournest for thou shalte be comforted Blessed arte thou when men reuyle and abhorre thée persecute thée and speake all maner euill sayings of thée for my name sake Blessed arte thou the wéepest for thou shalt laugh Blessed art thou when men hate thée thrust thée out of their company and rayle abhorre thy name as an euill thing for the sonne of mans sake
worthie of the moste spytefull death of the crosse to professe the name of Iesu Christ and to acknowledge and confesse that hée onely is the redéemer heade and quyckner of his church Amongest such audiences and iudgement places of mischieuous mercyful nay rather mercilesse men there doeth aryse spryng procéede and growe nothyng but homicyde and suckyng of bloud from the beginning And therefore there can be nothyng in them but vnrightuousnesse crueltie which shineth in them according to the doctryne which they teach And how much the greater and more their tiranny is braueth against the faithfull their doctrine which is a moste pure truth So much the more pure celestiall diuine comfortable is it to the author therof who is Iesu Christ And therfore my dearely beloued be no more deceyued by reposing any truste or confidence at all in their mercy so mischieuous For whereas they so mercifully nay mercilesly doe suffer you to inioy the liues of your bodies they doe therein dispoile you of the liues of your soules which is the true fayth of the Euangelicall Gospell The maner of parte of the persecution in Spaine vvith a comfort against the lyke c. The xxv Chapter THe signes tokens and fruites that commeth groweth and are shewen of them is verie like vnto the mercie which is in them They giue for a liuery Saint Bennets coate which is in signe of pennance about a yarde and a halfe of yellow cloth with a hole cut in the middest thereof where through the recantantes doe put their heads so that the one halfe thereof is worne before on the brest the other halfe behynde on the shoulders the which hath twoo red crosses called by them S. BeÌ„nets crosses the one before the other behynd this they do appoint to be worne for certaine yeares within a certaine precinct vppon payne of death To signifie that by them and the wearers thereof the fayth of Christ is denyed that they bée wholy guided by the diuilish doctrine of Antichrist and the diuell his fellow to whome they are faythful with a fayth vnfayned most vnfaythfull to God that they haue chaunged the ioyes eternal for vaine ioyes and vanitie it selfe which perisheth and haue according to the prouerbe like a dogge torned againe to theyr vomit or like a sowe well washed torned againe and wallowed in the myre So that this signe or liuery is a perfect shew signe and token of the mischeuous minde that is in them and of theyr mercilesse mercy so vnequall to the true mercy which GOD dooth shew vnto his elected persecuted by them beinge his enimies wherefore we ought not to séeke nor trust to any other for mercie but onely to god nor to change his mercy for any feare flattery or crueltie whatsoeuer of men nor the diuell although they doo thonder it out with theyr dissembled sounde or voice neuer so fiersly Let vs vnderstande that the mercie which god dooth shew vnto his people is very great when that for his name sake our liues are taken from vs by such or those which ought to doe their best to kéepe lyfe in vs we may bée bold to take it to be a substancial and most certayne and sure signe that wée are partakers of and doe perteyne to the kingdome of God when that for his loue or for the confession of his name we be euill entreated and condempned of men and the worlde let vs not feare nor flée away so fast from death that for to liue eight dayes longer in this lyfe we will loose the lyfe euerlasting which is the true life a lyfe perdurable which neuer will haue end What other thing is the lyfe which they graunt vs by their mercy as they say but a cruell continuall death full of sorowes troubles of no coÌ„tinuance to true life but many times taken away dispatched by light occasioÌ„s Wherfore for that for so short a thing a thing of so momeÌ„tary a béeing we aduenture our humayne liues for eternall blessednes a lyfe that neuer shall haue end our lot or hap is the better more blessed in that we dye with such dishonors theÌ„ is the lotte of our persecutors though they lyue with neuer so muche péeuish popishe pompe Our death here is a true testimony of the life which we haue in christ with eternall resurrectioÌ„ by him and wher as they cruelly kil craftily coÌ„dempne vs it is an infallible signe testimony most true that they be clean from Christ haue no parte with them Blessed are they saith S. Iohn the dye in the lord And the prophet Dauid saith the death of the Sainctes are precious in the presence and sight of god And therefore our death béeyng a thyng which the Lord doth loue a testimony that we are blessed we ought not to feare it in no maner of wyse béeyng his children but rather to glorifie hym in the same to the imitation of the Apostles Let vs giue attentyue eare to the wordes of our sauiour Christ Iesus directed to them that will folow him He that loueth father or mother more theÌ„ me is not worthy of me he that will not take vp his crosse and folow mée is not worthy of me For whosoeuer will saue his lyfe shall loose it but he that wil loose his life for my sake the same shall saue it For what auayleth or profiteth it a man to win the whole world then to loose his owne soule or what may a man giue to redéeme his soule from death And also he that shall be ashamed of mée or of my worde before the men of this adulterous and sinfull generation the sonne of man shall bee also ashamed of hym when hée shall come before mée in hys glorie accompanyed with holy Angelles So that the forme and order of keping sauing our liues according to the doctrine of Iesus christ is to loose them by affliction for hys sake for the profession of his name And thereby it is manifest that we kéeâ—â— and saue our liues most sure wheÌ„ as and at such time as they doe take theÌ„ from vs for that by the meanes therof we are put in the hands of god Let vs not be ashamed of Iesus Christ nor of his word although they dishonour vs neuer so muche therefore but let vs rather account theyr most dishonored spite vsed towardes vs for our most triumphant honour and victory yea lette vs accompt euen the verye sweardes axes fleshookes stranggeling stringes paynted myters liueries of mockery faggots fire rackes boiling leade pitche rosen and tarre tortures and all other their instrumentes of torment to be enseignes of honour vnto vs badges of the eternall kingedome to the which we be brought by bearing and sufferinge of them Iesus Christ was the sonne of God and kinge of all creatures such a one as was promised by the Prophets But yet his crucifiers
farre better in the worlde to come both in being and suffering It is not lawfull nor requisite to depryue our selues of our liues nor yet to desire death for any euill that happeneth whatsoeuer for whye it perteyneth onely vnto God to take and giue life accordyng to hys good will and pleasure Hée dyd make vs and can vnmake vs when it pleaseth him hée willeth and desireth nothing but onely that wée be readie and doe gyue our selues wholy to his honour and glorie in suche sorte as he hath prescribed vnto vs by hys worde Whyther it be with losse of life if néede requyre or worldly possessions It maketh no matter bycause that so is executed the offyce indéede of true and perfect disciples What reason haue we thē to feare death for a thing so holy and of such rightuousnesse if it were not for that wée thynke that hée with his vglye and lothsome lookes would haue seignorie ouer vs and take vs into hys rule or Lordship when they so cruelly kill vs If we will giue credit to the word of the Lord we shal clear and plainly sée that then we die not we can not die These same are the words verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word beléeueth in him the sēt me shal haue life euerlasting and shal not come in cōdempnation But hath alreadie escaped from death to life He saith also I am the resurrection the life he that beleueth in me although hée were dead yet shall he liue And also all that liue beléeue in me shall neuer tast of sée death nor yet dye These are the true wordes of Gods owne mouth by the which we be fully assured that there is no death at all to them that beléeue in Christ Iesus and that in béeing his he hath alreadye dyed for vs and wée shall dye no more For that by him death is alreadie distroyed and hath no more but as it were the name thereof onely to the faithfull S. Iohn in his reuelation calleth death to the faithful a rest from traueils And in deed to die or departe this lyfe is onely to vs a rest most comfortable with God our lord The lyfe which we liue in this world diserneth not the name of life bicause it is so full of perils daungers but by death as our enimyes terme it we are vppon a sodaine taken foorth of them and deliuered from all and so brought into rest and ioye eternally And therfore S. Paul right wel did desire to be desolued or loosed from his bodie and to be with Christ to ioye of that full libertie alreadye spoken of Iesus Christ dyd distroye death and as death had no power ouer hym no more hath he in none of his members He him selfe sayeth by the Prophet Osée death I will be thy death S. Paule writeth that death hath lost the victorie and is swallowed vp therein And death where is thy sting hell where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the power of sinne is the lawe But thankes be to God that hath giuen vs the victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ So that death hath no power nor naught els wherewith to hurte the faithfull for sinne is the weapon wherewith hée woundeth the which is distroyed by Christ so is death ouercome thus the lyfe that is in vs is eternall and we shall neuer dye And that which our aduersaries offer vnto vs is but a representation of death the which alreadie wee haue ouercome by our conseruator and heade Christ Iesus by whom we possesse the victorie Of the cause that Christ did feare death and hovve constant diuers martirs haue bene sithens in their martirdome c. The xxx Chapter THe cause why that our sauiour séemed to fear death was onely to shewe him self in his manhoode and that he had taken vppon him the sinnes of all mankinde bycause he would winne the victorie of all his enimyes so dryue away the doubt that was in the amased myndes of the faythfull And also to shewe that bicause de dyed death was kylled thereby and could haue no more power ouer vs The true credite and beliefe héereof dearely beloued is verie requisite and necessarie for vs. It hath béene séene that many seruants of God animated by beliefe or faith in the truth of the same haue taken their crosses with great courage ioye and contentment of mynde as if they had gone to feastes of greate honour or as if they ledde a tryumphant Bryde by the hande to sette hyr in some beautyfull throne with the Brydegroome That vertuous Virgyne Agatha when shée was caryed to death out of pryson where long shée had bene with no great worldly delyghtes I warrant you for professing the truth in the Gospell which faithfully shée beléeued sayde that euen then shée went to feastes or a feaste of greate ioye Saincte Vincent or that good holye confessor being laide vppon hoat burnyng coales a broyling for the same trueth made a mocke at his masking persecutors and sayde that the like crosse and death to any Christian was great cause of ioye to hym and all his companion members The godly man Ignacius Bishoppe of Antyoche in the persecution that the terrible Tyrant Traiano committed and vsed against the christians beyng by him an Infidell and his fidell confederates condempned to bée throwen vnto wylde beastes to the ende that most terriblie hée should bée torne in péeces by their terrible téethe Hee hearyng the roaryng of the Lyons prepared amongest other their panyons to execute the sentence gyuen so against him said with great ioy I am the wheat of Iesu Christ which shal be ground by the téene sharp téeth of those execrable beastes to bée made pure and cleane vnto the Lorde And by report of an english mā my friend this translator there was in Essex where as he was borne in England diuers faithfull witnesses as Wats Hawkes Pigot Cawson Ardely Sympson with many others there and as well in other countreis with in the sayd Realme did most ioyfully receiue valiently stande to their tryall by the fire and in the myddest thereof with great gladnesse of their forewardnesse in getting the victorie dyd imbrace the golden flames of the same eche of them saying with great courage O Lord receyue my soule and Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redéemed mée O Lord God of truth Moreouer many of them in going therevnto gladly and in a most triumphant maner like men goyng to moste gladsome ioyes would with great and mightie good will bid their friendes farewell and so in token therof and of the sure hope which they had in the méeting of God and his heauenly company as well those gone before as they that were to come after would drinke a cup of burned wine vnto them as wel therfore as also to moist a little their sences whereby they might be the
harte and secondly all that his worde teacheth to belonge vnto it Let vs heare the wordes of the Apostle attentiuely who sayeth be you not deceiued for God wil not be mocked as men are if be haue ordeyned that wée shal professe Iesus Christ openly and publiquely and that we shall suffer for his rightuousnes let vs doe it in such order as it may appeare the Gods good admonishion hath taken place in vs. As Sainct Peter exhorteth saying let vs leade a life so holy and worthy of the Lord which called vs that none of vs be afflicted as an homicide or a théefe blasphéemer adulterer or one that hath committed sacraledge one full of strife an euill doer or a person that is couetous of the goods of other men least our harmes happen to vs by a iust occasion for if we suffer for any of these crymes we doe dishonor and vse greate iniurie to our father which is in heauen bycause béeyng his children we must néedes dishonor him greatly where as otherwyse we ought to honour and sanctifie his holy name according to our calling by him Let vs so rule our selues that the wicked haue none occasion to persecute vs but onely bicause wée doe abhorre vyce loue vertue doe séeke and desire the light which they flée from and bicause wée flée from that filthie darkenesse which they desyre to imbrace Let vs so doe that they may haue no other cause to abhorre vs but bycause we will not be conuersant with them in dissolution in concupiscence in surfeting in gluttonie in drunkennesse and abhominable Idolatrie and that we doe not runne with them in that vnbrideled lyfe so full of insolencie and dissolute that we bée lyke to them in nothing nor that we be not as they are which can not suffer the light of Gods trueth bicause it discouereth all their wickednesse and vice as the suÌ„nne doth discouer the drousie darknes of the night Also let vs take héede that we be not lyke to many that bée so wyse and prudent that they will suffer nothing for Christes sake in his beloued church and so being full of fleshly prudencie they doo accompt it christian spirituall wisedome as though God did not knowe howe to fynde out the subtelties of those wyse and subtile dissemblers as if Iesus Christ had allowed them place among the louers of the gospel or as if they might burie their taleÌ„ts which God had giueÌ„ them in the grouÌ„de of forgetfulnesse lyke vnto the slouthfull and disobedient seruant spokeÌ„ of in the euangelical scriptures Bicause by such kinde of bestiall blindnes we may sée a many of them vse the knowledge that God hath gyuen them so peruerslie that they thinke theÌ„selues satisfyed in theyr owne opinions and so doe yéelde them selues euerie day most beastlye and blyndly to bende theyr knées before blockish Baal and sodain Iesus Christ being most shamfully ashamed both of him and his gospel And not contented with this mischieuous monstruous doings in this dishonoring of him his trueth they doe the worst best they can to driue by their diuillish dealings in that order all those which are the simple ignorant know little into merueilous doubtes And moreouer we may sée theÌ„ with great rage rashenes iudge and condempne the innocentes onely for their firmenesse in faith and constancie to maintaine the same by Iesu Christ who yéeld their liues therfore most magnanimously Therfore let vs runne away flée most ferueÌ„tly from them and let vs not allow their counsailes and prudencie nor yet follow none of their workes Bycause that all their pretence is nothing but to plucke appart vs secreatly from the crosse of Christ and from our glorification thereby Let them alone in their way by wicked Antichrist let vs kéepe our way by our sauior Iesu Christ who hath called vs to the same Let not vs vse the grace goodnes of god wickedly for a cloake to couer our vice and iniquitie and so make our concupiscences full of lycencialitie which the spirite of God doeth commaund vs to refrain But let vs mortefie our terestriall and earthly members and cast of our olde corrupted Adam so that in tyme of tribulation when we be tempted out of the way on the lefte hand wée may call vppon God and desire of hym strength to stand that we fall not vnder the fardell of affliction nor fainte not in the worke of the lord The which is not better for vs to be thought vppon and done in the tyme of aduerse necessitie then when we are in purest prosperitie Bicause it is much more difficult and harde to continue in fyrme fayth in tymes of prosperitie then in the cruell tyme of aduersitie Amongest the people of Israell which are as a myrrour or glasse for vs to looke in so for the gouernement guyding of our humaine liues we haue diuers examples of the lyke one of Dauid which suffitiently and singularly sheweth the vnloyall or desseall trueth that he vsed to God in the tymes of his princely prosperitie many crimes of adulterie incestious fornication and homicide did he most wickedly commit whilest he forgot his louing Lorde who had elected hym to glorie notwithstanding Verie godly exhortations for all men that are afflicted and also for those vvhich are in prosperitie The xxxiiij Chapter ANd therefore if it happen that we liue in rest and quiet without any aduersitie or persecution let vs not forget the Lord but follow his counsaile deuised and published by his diuine wisedom let vs then remember also the dangerous dayes of dollor trouble and aduersitie that the children of Israell had in the land of Canaan let theyr bondage and captiuitie in Egipte bée had in remembrance of vs let vs bée vigilant watche and pray more then in the prosperitie of ours then at any other tyme Let vs not lyue to our selues in leasings sléeping in the cradle of securitie as some of the Israelites did promising theÌ„selues rest fantasticall Let vs be alwayes as men on the Seas which are good expert sailors although it be calme that no wynde doe blow yet they haue theyr hallyards shéetes sayles tackes and bowlines in a readynesse y are to strike hoyse hall and set in any tempestious time of tossing the troublesome Sea of tribulation most dangerous Likewise let vs watch be in a readines what tempest of tribulation so euer shall happen in these dangerous seas the world wherin we do liue and saile let vs set hope to the healme let faith stand to let flie the sheat let humilitie strike the sayle and let our fâ—re affiance and trust in God be our pilat to invocate and call for helpe to the tacke and Bowlyne to straine and grype thorow the tempest of troubles into the porte hauen of health Let vs not let slippe this prouision least we bée taken voyde and without those helping mates