nor withoulde our selues from them that doo execute vnto vs our afflictions griefes and calamities Let vs not doo so much as lowre or looke with an euill countenaunce therefore bicause they are but instruments very necessary that God dooth vse as scourges ministers of his will. For that we may behould that he doothe chasten vs but as his children with them for his vncurelesse care thought is otherwise towardes vs then our persecutours doo thincke for bicause all that God dooth vnto vs is for our euerlasting delighte That which they doo vnto vs is nothing but euill God dooth chastise vs bicause he loueth vs they doo afflict persecute vs bicause they horribly hate and abhorre vs and to the ende that they would vtterly and wholly destroy vs. Great were the losses troubles calamities and causes of calamitie to the sighte of men in this worlde that happened to that holy man Iob and diuers were the afflictions and persecucions that he dyd suffer the ministers whereof were the diuell his seruantes But that faythfull fellow of ours did take it neither of him nor them but at the handes of God bicause that he knew that all did procéede from him If we receiue sayth he the good thinges from the handes of the Lorde why should we not receiue the bad also yea how aduersse so euer they be the Lorde giueth and also taketh away blessed be the name of the Lorde and so he dyd conclude with giuing of thankes aswel for the worst as for the best So likewise let vs doe no lesse for our afflictions and troubles then for our ioyes and prosperitie bicause all are the benefits of god and giuen to one selfesame ende for them that be called and elected to his knowledge and grace Iesus Christ our redéemer and sauiour dyd acknowledge his father to be the onely authour of all the troubles crosses passions that he did suffer he did take them as from the hands of him not from the handes of his enimies He sayd to S. Peter whē as he went about to resist against and to let his aduersaries and to make other lets that he should not suffer as it were rebuking him beinge angry offended what Peter I say wouldest thou let it shall not I drinke of the cuppe that my father hath giuē me Surely with a harty and singuler good will dyd he drinke it for that it came from the hāds of his Father So that we may see he looked for nor desired nothing at all but euen as his father would that he ordeigned that he himselfe should beare and suffer He was not angry he dyd not persecute againe he did not speake euill nor vsed any kinde of iniury for any part of reuenge to them that crucifyed and intreated him so cruelly and vngodly But he was rather sory for them and loued them although they were wicked and with a great affection dyd pray to god the father for them in taking the cuppe or challis from the handes of his Father he neither did nor saide any thinge contrary to his will nor yet contrary to the healthe and saluacion of them for whome he dyed sée and behoulde my dearely beloued bretheren fellowe membres what an example this is that he hath here shewed vnto vs so diuine if we vnderstande well what paines and passions he our head dyd suffer we that are his membres of force shall vnderstād what we ought to doo His very footesteppes must we followe trauaile passe by if we wil be in conformitie with him We be now afflicted as euil doers we are cōdempned for common barratours and curssed abhorred so horribly as may be Shal we cursse abhorre do the like to thē no no not for thought god for bidde we should As they desire all the mischiefe that may be to vs shall we doo the like vnto them no in no maner wise But rather sith that we be the sonnes of god let vs kepe his cōmaundemēts which are cleane to the contrarye Loue sayth the Lord your enimies blesse them that cursse you doo good to them which abhorre you and doo you harme praye for thē which persecute you for that you be sonnes and children to your Father which is in heauen that maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and euill and dooth send his reigne vpon the iust vniust Let vs consider how louingly our Lorde sauiour Christ Iesus dyd answere to so and such curssed works and to such obstinate and euill myndes and how truely he dyd loue his euill doers Although they were giltie had greatly offended he dyd excuse them before his father sayīg they know not what they doo O Father forgiue them for thy name sake Oh immensable charitie of God Oh celestiall heauenly example worthy to be followed If we doo consider attentiuely our vocacion and calling with the which God hath called vs to his knowledge we shall fynde it in this like maner that he dooth teach vs. Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience c. Cap. xii GOd dyd call and vnite vs to his flocke dyd put vs in his fowlde which is his Churche catholicke for that we should be his shéepe might haue his sonne Iesus Christe to be our shéepeheard We were wolues before we were called but nowe are we shéepe and the shéepe cannot nor dooth not knowe how to dooe any kinde of euil but yet is subiect to take receiue any euill that is offered She hath no tongue to cursse nor speake spitefully no téethe to byte no nailes to scratch no anger to be irefull no hatred to abhorre and finally she hath nothinge wherewith to doo euill but hath many thinges wherewith to doo good Euen so it ought to be with vs bicause we beare the name of christians the which doothe import in all points asmuch as I haue spoken of Men doo persecute vs like fearce Lyons they doo afflict vs with fury lyke raueninge Wolues they dooe teare vs in péeces lyke Tygers they search vs by suttelties and wyles lyke fine fickle Foxes They doo leaue neither arte nor crueltie vnvsed nor vnpractised against vs Is it méete or were it well that we should pay them with theyr owne mony or with the lyke againe No God forbid for why we were not called to be lyke vnto them but for that we should be lyke vnto himselfe He dyd call vs to be his children so that we must be like vnto his sonne Iesus Christ he is our head God hathe bidden and commaunded vs to be guyded by him And bicause we should learne of and followe him Christe saythe Sainct Peter dyd suffer for vs geuing vs example to followe his footesteppes In what should we follow them mary in suffering the euil which our enimies offer vs and in answeringe them againe the best we can therefore what with enuie
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
in their cōspiracies which they vse against vs to deuide apart and seperate vs therby from gods trueth But let vs laugh at their folly with our good father who dooth nothing but laugh at and deride them for the same Of gods exceding loue greatly to the comfort of his people c. The .xiiii. Chapter ANd also sith that those fonde foolish fooles cannot harme nor gréeue vs and that we cannot be harmed nor gréeued by any kinde of calamitie For that we be in such securitie with God and that we be not made by our naturall weakenesse to follow their vanities and so brought with them to be subiect to the wrath and ire of god Let vs assure our selues of the great loue that god hath towardes vs consider the causes of our afflictions and so giue him thanckes accordingly And also let vs loue him as his true children for the loue of Iesus Christ with the same loue that his father hath loued him Of all those that were and should be his disciples he spake to his father the night before he should suffer saying O Father thou hast loued them with the same loue that thou hast loued me The loue with the which God loued his sonne is perpetuall and euerlasting and yet with the same loue hath he loued vs As it is sayde by Ieremy the prophet I haue loued you sayth the Lord with a loue charitie euerlasting Though all thinges perish vanish consume vade away yet this loue neither perisheth nor vanisheth but indureth for euer in one most mighty force being whether it be in prosperitie or aduersitie God dothe loue and except vs as his owne The which is verified experienced and proued by the Prophet Dauid which being in the toppe and chéefe of his tribulacions GOD dyd knowe him and deliuer him So that hée puttinge hys truste in him sayde althoughe my fréendes haue forsaken mée and my parents haue cast mée foorth yet the Lord my God wil deliuer mée and take mée vp Iesus Christe was loaden with all the sinnes of mankynde and with paines and passyons moste bytter intollerable and cruell for the same he was forsaken of his fréendes ouerwhelmed with enimies and extréemely persecuted yet GOD dyd loue him moste déerely was alwaies with him and dyd not nor wyll not neuer forsake him but dyd heare him in all his agonies and troubles Also he sayde to his Disciples euery one of you shal be afrayed of mée and scattered awaye and I shal be left alone yet I am not alone bicause the Father is with mée Also the Prophet sayth sith god is on my right hande I will not faynt nor feare what men doo to mée Wherby it apeareth that God dooth loue them that be his and wil be alwaies on theyr right hande when they be in greatest agonyes troubles and distresses How Iesus Christ dooth loue vs he himselfe dooth testifie and saye as the father hath loued me euen so haue I loued you He loued me most dearely vpon the crosse euen so doo I loue you He dooth loue vs as himselfe bicause we all which beleue be membres of his body of his fleshe and of his boanes There is no man that will forget and abhorre his owne flesh for when any part or mēbre of the body is wounded and most sicke then yea euen then is his loue the greater and greatest of all with greatest tendernesse doothe shew his might loue without forgetfulnesse So that in our greatest calamities afflictiōs we are of him best beloued for that he cannot nor will not forget vs. By the Prophet Esay he sayth can the mother by possibilitie forget hir selfe of hir owne onely sonne which she dyd beare in hir belly and bringe vp with milke euen from hir tendre breast Is it possible for hir so to forget him that she should neuer more take pitie vppon him If she doo forget hir selfe yet will I neuer forget you Bicause I haue you written in my handes at my fingers endes O worthy wordes spoken with suche a maiestie let vs not be mistrustful of thē for that God dooth speake them himselfe and to vs he doothe directe his speache And therefore when we depriued of our wealth and worldly riches most cruelly afflicted and héeld and accounted for abhominable Let vs thincke that God dooth and wil gouerne and helpe vs and will not forget but remembre vs as a thing most dearely beloued of him He sayth that he dyd write vs in his fingers endes and handes bicause that as the hands fingers endes be alwayes in sighte and cannot be forgotten So thereby doothe be giue vs to vnderstande that he dooth alwaies looke vpon his elected and wyll neuer forget them Bicause he dooth loue them with an affection more tēder a great deale then is that of the Mother towardes hir childe The which he declared right well to his disciples when he should depart from them by death he made a great many of very louing comfortable countenaunces vnto them and dyd promise great consolacion comfort in all their griefes and calamities though they wer neuer so great after his departure And therefore as assured of this great loue and charitie that the Lord our God hath towards vs perpetually Let vs not giue place to any thinge that is contrary to vs against him for that our firmnesse cōstancy and perseuerance dooth concist therein The conformitie which god dooth pretende that we which be his should haue with Christ by meane of the crosses and afflictions that we are to passe through is a sure and manifest signe and token of this his great loue with the which he loueth vs Bicause the effect thereof is so admyrable that it cannot procéede but from so high principle grounde or beginning as is our election the vocation with the which God dyd call vs doothe procéede from the loue which he hath towards vs in Christ So that all the meanes practises that he dooth vse towards vs to bring vs to the ende of our election which is to be gloryfied with him of necessitie must néedes procéede from the same originall When he dyd open our eies to sée our perdicion in the which we were and did giue vs the power and vertue of his spirit to imbrace and receue his sauing health it was a perfect sure signe that he dyd loue vs that we should not doubt thereof bicause he had done so great a pleasure for vs And therefore let vs now not feare that which thē we wer put out of doubt of bicause that all those afflictions calamities which now wée suffer from our Lord god are fruits a confirmacion of our calling And bicause we are so called beloued of him we are therefore so afflicted hated of the world Yet let vs not faint nor fal◠from the trueth bicause that which the holy ghost doth testifie to all the mēbres of the
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
and grieue with persecutions him in his members The which will take effecte as S. Paule sayeth when our Lorde Iesus shall manifest and shewe him selfe from heauen with his mightie holy Angels in flames of fyre then will hée take vengeance of those that doe not know him nor obey not the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne and will giue them punishment of eternal dampnation from the presence of our Lord God and from the glorie of his potencie when he shall come to be glorifyed in his Sainctes and bée made admirable to all those whiche stedfastly beléeue An Inuectiue against the vvicked vvith a merueylous comfort to the godly Christian c. Cap. xvij ALthough that God for a tyme doe staye and doeth not shewe his vengeance presently that hee hath prepared agaynste them that condempne his rightuousnesse yet he doth not allow any thing which they say or doe against him His patience and long suffering is no certain signe nor seale that may confirm them any sufficient acquittance from him for condempning of them whom he doeth best loue in the worlde nor yet for any other kynde of their wickednesse vsed But he is mercifull to all yea euen to them although they dispise and disdayne hym hys mercy and all that is in him and doe truste to theyr owne penitenciary merites They doe thinke to haue a prosperous successe in all their doings and why mary bycause sinne is so setled in thē and hath such rule Lordship and power ouer them But all their prosperitie and good successes is nothynge but a heapyng vp of the fulnesse of the measure of the Lordes wrath till it bée so full in déede as vppon the sodayne when they looke not for it it must and will runne ouer or turne the bottome vpwarde vppon them and destroye and dryue them to the déepest dungeon in hell and they shall be suffered stil to ryse the higher that their falles may be the greater And therfore the holy ghost doth commaūd the faithfull that they should not flie from the truth although their aduersities bée neuer so great nor thoughe the prosperitie of their aduersaries be neuer so sublimate and high By the Prophet Dauid he sayeth Fret not thy self against the vngodly neyther bée thou enuyous agaynste the euyll dooers for they shall sodeynly be cut downe lyke grasse and withered like the gréene hearbes Obey the Lord with patience bycause the wicked shall be deuoured and destroyed and they that trust in the Lorde shall inherite the earthe And therfore let vs be firme in rightuousnesse and feare as the spirite of God doeth commaunde vs For sithe that wée can not nor maye not escape the afflictions and calamityes in this worlde muche lesse shall our persecutors escape but our temporal tribulatiōs are nothing to be cōpared to their paynes eternall Temporall tribulations are but momentary to the eternall troubles which are to touche the vngodly in tyme to come for that they beléeue not the Gospel and are persecutors of the rightuous As S. Peter sayeth be ye mery and glad to be persecuted that you may be partakers of Christes passions and so be glorifyed in him for by that mean shal we be strengthened to withstand the feare of any present euil Sylence and hope sayeth the Prophet shall be your foretresse and bulwarke Howe much the more we are sylent trustfull in tolleratyng of trouble in our trials So much the more are we strēgthened and anymated to drinke of the clearenesse of the cuppe which the Lord shall giue vs So that it shall be no detrimēt nor harme to vs more then is already spoken of by his word The Apostle S. Paule in the Epistle that hée doeth wryte to them of Corinthe sayeth when that wée bée iudged of the Lord we are but chastised bycause wée should not be dampned with the world In this the spirit of God doeth testefie vnto vs that by the means of those tribulations which we doe suffer we be made frée from the condempnation of the world the which of necessitie is to bée condempned So that the punishments persecutions which we suffer God doeth not suffer vs in them to loose vs or seperate vs from him and his trueth as our flesh and the world doe iudge or imagine but to correct and consume in vs all those things which are lets and stumbling blockes to put vs from the similitude or lykenesse that wée ought to haue vnto his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord redéemer Bycause that howe muche the more we bée afflicted and troubled with so much the more affyance and trust in his mercy we should deplore and bewayle our sinnes and wickednesse lyke his children of mercy and so be banished from the participation or part taking of the condempnation of the world And this is the effect of the supplication or praier that our Lorde Iesus Christ dyd make at his last supper when he dyd pray to hys father for thē onely which did beleue in him by his worde and he was hearde But sithe he dyd not pray for the wicked which he calleth the worlde wée oughte not to merueyle at theyr peruersenesse for that all the peruersitie whiche they doe vse doeth leade them with stealyng steppes to the brincke of theyr perdition and dampnation Hée did pray for vs that wée myght be deliuered from euil and euen now boholde howe by afflictions he doeth deliuer vs from the condempnation due for sinne and wickednesse and doeth reserue the same onely for the children of vnbeliefe And therefore it is sayde by the Prophet Blessed is the man that thou haste chastened O Lorde and instructed in thy law that thou mayest gyue hym patience and reste in the tyme of aduersitye vntyll the pitte bée dygged vp for the vngodly Héerein are we surely certified of our blessednes by the afflictions that we suffer for that we are corrected of the Lord that we should not be cast of but inioy our porcions of his sauing health And therfore the holy woman Iudith sayde Let vs beleue that the Lord doth correct vs but as his seruauntes not to our losse but to our gain not to spoile vs but to amend vs. And Esdrasse a man of God sayeth the hunger the plagues the tribulations and the vexation of mynde with the whych the Lorde doeth scourge vs they are but to correcte and purge vs of and for our sinnes And therefore the Apostle Paule sayeth to the bretheren of Thessalonia ye are the children of lighte and of the day and not of the night nor of darkenesse Wherefore let vs not sléepe as others doe but let vs watche and bée sober armed with the brest plate of fayth and loue and with the helmet of hope of saluation For God hath not appoynted vs to wrathe and condempnation but to obteine saluation by the meanes of our Lord sauior Iesus Christ which died for vs the whither we wake or
Reioyce you all then and be glad for beholde your rewarde is great in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophets The foundation of our hope beyng grounded vppon these promises and such lyke The Apostle sayeth it shall neuer be confounded For that if wée beleue and trust firmely in the fulfylling of thē we shall neuer be defrauded from the fruites of our hope nor shall not be confoūded before the childrē of this world nor yet haue shame of our hope and trust in those diuyne promises For that we shall be assured to obteine the fulfilling of them and besides remayne without feare of our worst enimyes for they shall not bée able to say that our hope is had in vaine but shall with their owne eyes full surely sée vs saued therby Dauid doth declare and confirme this vnto vs by his owne experience saying in the Lord haue I trusted I shall neuer be cōfounded And Esay sayeth he that beleueth in the Lord shall not be cōfoūded And by S. Paul it is said by hope we be alreadie saued Fynally by the holy ghost it is pretēded to giue vs all to vnderstande that as many as trust in God shall bée saued set frée from all tribulations both temporall and eternall by Iesus Christ So that being anymated and imboldened by this hope wée may reioyce in them and say with Sainct Paule if God bée with vs who can bée against vs Hée that spared not his owne sonne but gaue hym for vs all howe is it possible that hée shoulde not gyue vs all thyngs in hym Who shall accuse or laye any thyng to the charge of the chosen it is God that iustifieth who shall then condempne it is Christ that is deade yea rather rysen agayne which is also on the ryght hande of God and maketh intercession for vs. Who shall seperate vs from the loue of hym shall tribulation anguyshe persecution hunger nakednesse perill or the sworde No God forbyd for that it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long are accounted as shéepe appoynted to be slayne And yet in all these things we are victors victorious by that good god our father who so loueth vs Thus if the foundation of our hope be by faith we are thē perfectly sure we shall neuer come to confusion and that no creature can parte nor seperate vs from the loue and charitie of God which is in Iesu Christ our Lorde Bycause of necessitie by hys rightuousnesse he is to fulfill in vs all things as the holy Ghost hath spokē That is to say if we suffer with Christ we shall also reigne with hym and if we be dead with him we shall lyue togyther with him also And therfore if we doe communicate togither in his passions and do suffer and be killed with him we may assure our selues that we shal also liue with him for euer So that the tribulatiōs and persecutions which we suffer for his sake with pacience is a frée confirmation and full assurance of our hope in his eternall kingdome of the which he hath alreadie taken possession is glorified and doeth reigne therin to his owne vse and ours So that we may sée that all that God doeth is to assure vs to make confirmation accordyngly of our saluation the which hée hath giuen vs in Christ And to confirme in vs also the rest of the effect of his diuine counsell which was determined before the beginning of the worlde And as this his counsell is mutable so muche the more is the fuming furie of his enymyes and of the diuill their capteyne set agaynst vs who as he is the principall minister of all the mischief and tribulatiōs that we suffer So he doth as muche as in hym is to obteyne the victorie of vs as wel in administring temptations to vs interiorly as exteriorly wherby he would by one mean or other plucke and seperate vs from the right way When he doeth come to the combate to fighte for victoorie the villayne is so nymble dyligēt and subtil as is possible all his armye of Soldiors and warriours are armed and set in aray for the best aduauntage as hée thynketh And all to deriue vs from the firmnesse of our faith that we haue in Christ He doth shew vs the greatnesse of his estate and of all his furniture for that hée woulde make vs afrayd to faynt and bée dismayed at the full fiersenesse of hys force And when as this is thus shewed vnto vs there is a certeyn number of vs that are troubled and doe thinke them selues as shéepe among Wolues in the mouthes of Wolues When as they sée them selues forsaken of theyr friendes and famyliars abhorred denyed of theyr kinsfolks forsaken and without helpe of them that were déepest in debte for theyr friendship And that all the world doth reioyce to sée them so afflicted as whē the sentences of their condempnors thunder out so terribly against them as though it were from the mouth of almightie God pronoūced Thē great are the troubles sorowes that they suffer in their myndes it séemeth then vnto them that both heauen earth is beset with ire wrath against thē that god his creatures make mortal war euen to distroy them Thē for another practise may they sée the kings Princes rulers which ought to be their defēdors in Gods causes to rise stand vp against them doe say all with one voice togither kill thē kil thē as traytors enimies to God our kingdō On the other side they sée torments tortures and stout sturdy stomackt tormētors stād redy prepared for them with shame infamy cōfusion reproch to be receiued before their friends familiars enimies they doo sée the terrible fearful face of direfull death the slauish hāgman or executioner ready to light the fire to burn them to stretch the roape to strāgle them In all these troubles there is not one to cōfort them but in stead place of cōfort they doo vse exortatiōs to blaspheme or speake blasphemy of the redēption obteined by Iesus Christ These I say these are wōderfull anguishes sorows troubles in their thus troubled minds And yet they doo increase frō degrée to degrée for all this time they either thinke the God is a sléepe there is no God or els that he hath forgotten them And then the diuil plyeth him by all the meanes he may to bring them to dispair he doth procure persuasions vnto them that they would deny abhorre cursse God thē he doth leaue to entreat them in this maner will suffer no man to succor them So that more gréeuous is this anguish to the mynde of those members thē were presēt death to their bodies A pure proofe vnto vs that vve are beloued of God in our greatest griefs c. The xx Chapter ANd yet al these mischieuous thīgs are but mystic cloudes of darkenes cast
shew that it is not against vs nor yet that hée is angrie with vs bycause he cannot let be nor leaue beare the fatherly affection that he hath towards vs Let vs enter into the withdrawyng place or chamber that hée doeth commaunde vs and then although hée séeme neuer so disformed outwardly yet we shal finde him inwardly such as he hath shewed hym selfe to bée in Christ that is to say a father full of mercy whose bowels doe burn with loue for and towardes vs So that then we need not to dispaire nor yet be dismayed in our selues Although the warres and contradictions of the wicked worldlinges and the worlde béee neuer so great agaynst vs or the misformed and the ilfauored face of death be neuer so gréeuous to our bodies which are mortall yet our most louyng father God almightie will not leaue but be with vs in the middest and greatest of all our temptations troubles vexations calamities and outragious griefes yea euen to their vtter confusion To all the faithfull that are vexed troubled surcharged or ouerloadeÌ„ with the crosse the holy ghost doeth giue aduice by Esay the Prophet in this maner Say vnto the weak and faint of hart comfort your selues and doe not feare behold the Lorde your God that wil take vengeauce on your enimyes and gyue vnto them payment accordyng to their deserte the same God shal come in proper person and saue you This is as much as if he had sayd I pray you heare me my dearly beloued friendes the troubles which you doe suffer is bycause you are myne and gouerned by my worde and for that you haue cast away the yoke of impietie and false religion and haue receyued myne looke not in exterior things which are troubles vnto your fleshe onely but know for a certeyntie that as there is nothyng that the worlde doeth more abhorre or that doeth more suffer the rage and furye thereof then you So for the contrarie there is nothing in the world that I loue better then you And therefore my children haue you a sure trust in me for I haue alreadie ouercome all those thinges that doe torment you and sith your enimyes doe not feare to molest make warre against you doe not you cease to receiue comforte in the ryches of my promyses whiche are yours and are for you If they doe accompt you for cursed and abhomynable doe you praye for them I saye pray and bée not wéery let not your hands be loosed but holde fast the sword of your defence which is my worde be of good cheare feare not bée stoute and of a good courage for why your enimyes doe fable and lye in all that they tell you I am not absente from you as they say but am alwaies with you present apte and ready to defend yon as I haue promysed I doe not abhorre you nor yet I haue not forsaken you but doe loue you and am so nigh that those which touch you doe touche euen the very balles of myâ—â— eyes I euen I saieth the Lord will take vengeance of them that trouble you I my selfe in myne owne person will deliuer you perseuer and goe forwarde constantly in a sure fayth and affiaunce in my loue for your aduersaries haue done what they can and yet know not what they haue don against you in me let the eyes of your harte be setled in me Although your sences be shut vp with smoke ashes and flames of fyre yet doe not think that I am fled or from you one ynch or any thing at all For I will not leaue you but bée alwayes present with you although you sée me not I my selfe am hée that doeth fight for you although you féele it not feare you not that your enimies shall ouercome you according to their determinations assure your selues that I wil giue you the victorie in the ende I haue promised it and I my selfe will fulfill it These and such lyke are the louing words of our good God and sauiour vnto vs that be his choseÌ„ such louing swéet amorous spéeches doth he vse vnto vs notwithstanding that we bée persecuted and afflicted with fyre and other kinde of crosses before we can come to him A persuasion to trust only in God and to avoyd all vaine trust had in any humain helpe c. The xx Chapter SYth therefore that we sée that our swéete God is so present with vs when we think him to be farthest of that he doeth loue vs dearely when wée thynke our selues forsaken and abhorred and that hée doeth not forgette vs when we thinke our selues farre out of fauour remembrance Let vs put our whole truste and confidence onely in hym for that he is altogither sufficient to and wil staÌ„d with vs for our defence in all our troubles and aduersities And also let vs saye with holy Iob Although he giue me vnto death I will not leaue to trust in him As our fleshe is the greatest enimy that wée haue so is it that which doeth make the greatest warre with vs Bicause it doeth not onely deny this fauourable presence of God but also doth not let to fyght agaynst it that is to say against the promises of God and doe leane and trust to things which are vaine thinkyng to bée defended and deliuered by the helpe thereof from all the harme calamitie and griefe that it doeth féele And so doeth not onely fall out to the contrarye but also is an occasion why that greater griefes doe folow And therfore it behoueth vs to be vigilant and to take héede that we doo not tempte God with puttyng anye vayne trust or hope in men whither they séeme or shewe to be good or bad faithfull or vnfaithfull for any thing touching saluatioÌ„ or dampnation For so the wicked by their wickednesse would deuise and be of strength and efficacy sufficient to blinde and bring vs into doubtes and like to dispayre by means of our doubtfull and weake beliefe Bicause that all of vs are full of that monstrous masse of sinne euer fallyng and in déede fully subiecte to fall into all kinde of miserie But let vs giue héede to that which the holy ghost doth commaund by the Prophet Dauid doe not trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of men bicause there is no health nor helpe in them Miserable are the successes of suche as put their trust in men For that as the Prophet Ieremy sayeth cursed is he that putteth his trust in man. Therefore let vs put our trust onely in God and depend and put our trust onely in his moste faythfull promises And so shall we be sure that he will fight for help and defend vs against the world the flesh all other the snares of the diuill As the Prophet Esay sayth if we beleue this word of the Gospel we haue obteyned victorie alreadie Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth our faith is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world Saint SteueÌ„ being
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their