Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	lord_n	soul_n	time_n	6,068	5	3.8390	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14946	A spyrytuall and moost precyouse pearle Teachyng all men to loue and imbrace the crosse, as a mooste swete and necessary thyng, vnto the sowle, and what comfort is to be taken thereof, and also where and howe, both consolacyon and ayde in all maner of afflyccyons is to be soughte, and agayne, how all men should behaue them selues therein, accordynge to the word of God. Sett forth by the moste honorable lorde, the duke hys grace of Somerset, as appeareth by hys epystle set before the same.; Kleintot, von trost und hilff. English.	Werdmüller, Otto, 1511-1552.; Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Somerset, Edward Seymour, Duke of, 1506?-1552, attributed name.; Becon, Thomas, 1512-1567.	1550 (1550)	STC 25255; ESTC S105089	87,629	226

pacyence whyche thynge only Christ alone hath done And yet shall we be rewarded for oure pacyence and aduersyte and they shall profite vs euerlastyngly ●…ast of al pacyence is profytable and bryngeth syngular commodyte not only to hym that hath the same vertue but also to other people For whan another perceyuyth thy constant trueth fydelyte and stedfastnes he taketh example and occasyon to exercyse lyke pacyence and stedfastnes It is manyfest by dyuers true and cre dyble storyes whan as the Christians haue dyed manfullye and boldlye for the Christen fayeths sake that certen of the persecutors and enemyes of Christe haue wonderyd so sore there at that they by that and no nother occasyon were conuer tyd and turnyd to the fayth and relygyon of Christ. Item pacyence and stedfastnes haue wroughte peace and quyetnes in comon welthys in the church and in many nacions cyteys and townys As Scipio a wyse and noble ruler for as muche as he dyd resrayne hym self and woulde rather forsake the cyte of Rome than to subdewe and oppresse his ennemyes wyth force of armes it turnyd to the syngular welth and commodyte of the whole comon welth And contrarywyse a bytter cruell and vnpacyente mynde bryngyth workyth and occasionyth infynite harme destruccion in comon welthys heresyes in the church of god For Marius as he came agayne to Rome and coulde not refrayne hym self thorowe hys vnpacyentnes wrought great tyrannye and shewed muche cruellnes causynge dyuers of the pryncypall people of the contrarye parte that helde agaynste hym moste cruellye to be murtheryd and put to death wherevpon dyd folowe and insewe muche inconnenyence Also Arrius because he could not obteyne hys purpose nor bryng hys dyuyse to effect for very frowardnes and impacyency he vexed and dysquyeted the church of Christ with horrible heresyes In lyke maner thorow our vnpacyentnes in the crosse a●…d aduersyte we geue occasyon to them that be weake in the fayth to dowt whether our fayth and relygyon be the true fayeth and relygyon or 〈◊〉 whan we confesse saye of god that he is our comfort and refuge both in thys world and in the world to come and yet we shewe our selues so desperate and heuy in aduersyte as though God had vt terly forsaken vs as though there were no better lyfe after thys Wherfore we oughte to arme and prepare our selues to all maner of aduersyte in tyme whyle we are here in good welth and prosperyte and not to depend hang ouer much vpon transytorye goodes and prosperyte that whansoeuer nede shall re quyre we may be content wyth pacience to forgoo and forbeare them and contynue stedfast in the true fayth wherein whosoeuer shal cōtinue vnto the end shalbe sauyd Mat. xxii●… x AMEN To god only be al honor and prayse A humble peticyon to the lord practysed in the commune prayer of the whole famylye at Shene during the trou ble of their Lord and mayster the duke of Somerset his grace gathered set furth by Thomas Becon Minister there Whych trouble began the. vi of October the yeare of oure Lorde M. D. xlix and ended the. vi of Februarye than next ensuyng O Lorde father of mercies and God of all consolacyon whiche rulest and dis posest all thynges after thyvnsearcheable wysedome and workeste in thy creatures accordynge to thy blessed wil which is alwayes good and godlie howsoeuer blinde and frayle flesh iudgeth of it we thy ●…nprofitable seruantes know and vnfainedly confesse thy om nipotencye and almightye power Wee knowe that thou arte able to dooe whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is Wee knowe that thou bryngeste downe to the graue and fetcheste vppe agayne Thou punyshest with pouertye and makeste welthy agayne Thou bringeste lowe and lifteste vp agayne Yea thou O Lord kil●…est and makest aliue again O●… wonderfully doest thou worke in al thy creatures specially in them whom thou haste appointed to be vesselles of mercie and inheritours of thy eternal glorie If they at any tyme greuously offende thy diuine maiestie as we be al sinners and readie at euery moment to fal thou doest neither longe winke at their wickednes nor yet for euer cast them from thy fauoure but lyke a louyng phisicyon wyth some emplastre or salue although bitter to y e flesh yet holsom to the soule thou healeste thē And like a tender and ientle father correc test them with some tēporal punishment that by the meanes they escaping euerlasting punyshment may repeute them of theyr vngodly behauiour confesse their wickednes flee vnto thy mercye and for euer after be the more cyrcumspect in trea dyng the pathes of thy holye lawe On thys maner dyddest thou handle the Israelytes when they offended thy fatherly goodnes On this maner dyddest thou deale wyth kynge Dauyd and prophete Ionas for theyr dysobedyence wyth manye other whom not wythstandynge for thy mercyes sake after they had knowledged theyr offences and called vpon thy holye name thou wonderfully delyueredst and broughtest agayne as it were into the heauen of quyetnes We therefore thy poore and sorowfull creatures perceyuynge in the holye scryptures so large fountaynes of thy greate mercyes plenteously issuyng out toward al them that be of a contryte and broken heart are bold at this present for thy promyse sake to come vnto the most humbly beseching the that as thou delyueredst Ionas oute of the whales bellye Danyell from pryson Peter thy Apostle out of warde Da uyd from the handes of hys enemyes Susan from the power of her aduersaryes wyth dyuerse other so in lyke maner thou wylt delyuer and set at lybertye thy serruaunt our Lord and mayster y●…a and that on such sort that it may be to thy glo rye to his honor and to the comfort of al vs hys fayethfull and true seruauntes And although we for oure imperfeccyon be not worthye to craue and enioye so great comfortable benefyte at thy mercyfull handes yet we doubt not but for thy ●…rely beloued son Iesu Christes sake thou wylt moste fauourablye heare vs most fatherly pytye vs and moste bounteously graunt vs thys oure humble request And we agayn receyuyng thys benefyte of our Lord and maysters delyueraunce at thy hand shall not be vnthankfull but contynually magnytye thy holy and glorious name whych dealest so fauourably wyth thy seruantes when they call vpon the in the name of Iesu Christ thy only begotten sonne and oure alone medyatour and aduocate to whom wyth the and the holy ghoste be all prayse and honor for euer and euer Amen A thankes geuyng for hys graces delyueraunce SO oft as we consyder thy wonderfully worckes O blessed and heauenly father which thou wor kest of thyne own good wyll for so many as in their trouble and aduersyte flee for refuge vnto thy holye name as vnto a strong hold and mighty fortresse we can not but confesse and acknowledge thy sin gular kindnesse vnspeakeable good wil which thou contynually through thy fatherly goodnes bearest

delite in the death of the vngodly but wouldest rather that he shoulde turne from hys wayes lyue than shuld his synnes whiche he hath commytted neuer be vpbrayed vnto hym Moreouer thou hast sayde by thy Prophetes Turne and repeute for all your synnes and the same your synnes shall not be to your destruccyon Retourne vnto me for I wyll not haue the death of the synner Therfore heare lord in heauen from the seate of thyne habitaciō our prayer callynge let thyne eares be attentyfe to the prayer of thy seruauntes whyche desyre to feare thy name and be gracyous vnto the people whyche hath synned agaynste the open thyne eyes to oure prayer and heare vs open the same and beholde for the deade whyche are gone to theyr gra●…es whose soules are out of theyr body●… geue the o Lorde neyther prayse nor instifyenge but the soule that for the multitude of her synnes is afflicted she walketh beynge troubled and weake whose eyes are weake yea suche a hungry soule laudeth and prayseth thy mercy and righ teousnes Lonuerte vs lorde vnto the we shall be conuerted and yf thou shall conuerte vs than shall we repente and thou shalte haue mercy vpon vs and we shall be as we were before thou dyddest reiecte vs. Graunte vs that we maye come wyth boldenes vnto the seate of thy grace that we maye obtayne mercy and fynde grace in the tyme of nede For thou a●…te able to make vs ryche in all grace that we in all thynges hauyng alwaye suffycyent may be plenteous to euerye good worcke For thou art gracyous and mercyfull haste respect to thyne electe Geue vs a true fayeth wythoute the whyche we can not please the by the whych we maye knowe the the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent and maye thorough hym fulfyll thy wyll in heauen in erth Graunt Lorde that we may onely in the kepe stedfast the confydence and reioysyng of hope vnto the ende For thou art onely oure God oure refuge and stronge defence our god in whō we put our trust Geue vs aboue all thynges a true christian loue whych is the bande of perfeccyon that we maye moost dylygently endeuoure our selues to loue the oure God aboue all creatures and euermore contynue in the same loue and that we maye through the samevnfaynedly withoute dissymulacyon loue all men frō the hart and also by mouth not onely frendes but also our enemyes and maye also declare the same towards them by our workes Turne awaye thy wrath and indignacyon from vs for very fewe are there left because of the same Geue vs thys day our daylye breade for thou art onely he that geueth sede vnto the sower also geuest breade to eate whych also hast geuen to oure fathers in the deserte breade from heauen in theyr honger and hast also plenteously powred oute water oute of the rocke whan they where thursty Fede vs also o Lord with thy mooste hossame bread of thy worde whyche is the lanterne of oure fete the true light of our pathes a well of hyghe wysedom and a fyery shyld to them that put theyr truste in the. Refreshe vs wyth the lyuely water of the fountaine y t springeth into euerlasting lyfe y t we maye neuer thyrste That we maye knowe by thy trueth y t a man lyueth not onelye by breade but by euerye word which procedeth from thy mouth But vanities and wordes of vanite let be farre from vs o Lorde A prayer for the kynges mayestye and for peace O Kyng aboue all kynges Lorde aboue all lordes graunt vnto our kynge wyth his people vyctory against the enemies of thy name for thou arte our god and our conquerour for thou arte onely he that geueth victory vnto the people that we with one accorde maye la●…de and praise thy victorious hande for we beleue and do also knowe that the victory consisteth not in the mulmultitude of people but that y e strenght is geuen frō heauen thou geuest the vyctory according to thy pleasur Thou hast also promysed vs that if we will turne from our sinnes vnto the thou wilt bring all our enemies into captiuyte that all they which waste vs shal also be wasted and that all they whyche spoyle vs shall also be spoyled Put away frō vs the multytude of oure hurtful infirmityes graunte vs perpetual health of body soule For thou arte he y t hath power ouer lyfe death whiche bringest into the gates of death leadest out againe Thou kyllest and quyckenest again heale vs o lord we shal be whole for thou arte our prayse myghty God O mighty god and bountyful father graunte vs these prayers thorough thyne onely sonne our lorde Iesus Christe whō thou hast sent into this worlde not to con demne vs. But that we by hym should be saued He came into the worlde that he shuld saue vs myserable synners In him haue we obtayned the redemption namely the forgeuenes of synnes accordyng to the ryches of thy grace whych thorough him thou hast powred vpon vs and thorough the sheding of hys bloud hast washed awaye all oure synnes to thintent that we mighte be thy sonnes and heyres also felow heyres with the same Iesus Christe for euer Amen Imprynted at London for Gwalter Lynne dwellynge on Somers kaye by Byllynges gate In the yeare of our Lord M. D. L. And they by to be sold in Poules churchyard next the great schole at the Signe of the spled Eagle Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Luk. x. d ☜ ☜ 〈◊〉 cor x. b Rom. ix i. re ij b. deu xxxij Sa. xvi c Tob. xiij Iob. iij mat xxv Exo. xx God punysheth syn with like syn 〈◊〉 Re. xi Gene. iij Dan. ix Iob. iij. Luc. xv Ihō viij Ro. viij God a father God is takē for a mother ☜ God a scholemaister God a physicyon God a shepeherde God a husband man Mat. x. xv ma●… vii●… Luk. ix xiiij Ioh. xij The right kno weledge of God i. Petr. v To lear ne wysdome in aduersy te i. Para xxij c. ☞ ☞ ☞ iiij Reg. xxi a i●… Para. xxxiij a Co laud God ☜ Ion. ij c Eccl. vij Eccl. vij math 〈◊〉 Exo. vij viij ix x ij reg xv ij reg xi xiij xiiij xv xvi xvij xviij c. Pro. xi d i. Petr. iiij c. Ieremi xxv d. xlix b. ●…zechiel ix d. Prouer. xi d. i. Petr. iiij c. ●…at xi 〈◊〉 x ▪ ●…xi Loue of God Dan. iij. Dan. iii●… Mekenes and lowlynes ●…iij ●…e xxi a ij Par. xxxiij a Act. ix a Iohan. xiij 〈◊〉 Roma xv a Gal. v●… Ecclesi vij a Mathe. xi 〈◊〉 Pacyence The. xvi Chapt. Temperancy measure ij re xiij xiiij xv xvi xvij xviij c. Dylygence feruency Su●… 〈◊〉 Ge. xx a

eyther to forsake and denye ●…ure faythe or el●… to 〈◊〉 anye maner of thynge agaynst the wyll of God And it is very expedyent for vs to pray with the loste desperate sonne Luk. x●… I am no moreworthy from henceforth to be called thy sonne make me as one of thy hyered seruauntes I wyll gladlye with all my harte haue sorowe and trouble vpō earth euen as an laborynge seruaunte that goth for hys hyre so that thou wylte but suffer me to dwell and remayne in thy house for euer But nowe how shulde we ●…ray Z. Iame●… in his fyrst chap. teacheth vs that we shulde praye in faith without waueryng nothinge doute but y t God doeth mercifully heare vs. We must cōtinually loke vpon the promes of god haue that alwayes befor●… our eye●… that we do not only ●…ke helpe remedye at hys handes but also hope loke surely for it committynge both body soule with a good wil vnto him Psa. l. call vpon me in thy ●…ede I will helpe and delyuer the so shalte thou prayse me Psal. xci Let him call vpon the sh wyll I hea●… hym I am by hym in his trouble I wyll delyuer hym oute and brynge hym to honor Iohn xvi Veryly veryly I saye vnto you whatsoeuer you shall praye for vnto the father in my name that is to saye in y e trust confidence vpon my merytes he shal geue it vnto you For example Whē Moyses helde vp hys handes vnto God prayed hys enemyes the Amalechytes were ouercome Exod. x●…ij The. ij blynd men which dyd crye after the Lorde Oh sonne of Dauid haue mercye vpon vs were hearde Math. ix Of such lyke exāples are the Gospels full Item in trouble aduersyte we oughte to prayse God to geue him thanckes y t he hath not forgotten vs but thorow hys fatherly vysitacyon calleth draweth vs vnto him graciously helpeth vs to bear all maner of burdens Euen so dyd Paul in hys aduersyte prayse God ij Chor. i. praysed be God the father of oure Forde Iesus Christ the father of mercye God of all consolacyon whiche comforteth vs in all oure troubles and affliceyons The. xxvij Chapter Repentaunce and amendement of lyfe in trouble and aduersyte is necessary NOwe there must go wyth al this repentaunce heauynes sorowe for the synnes whiche we haue cōmitted in time past amendemēt of life the loue of God y t fear of God al vertu god●…yues Manasses was sory penitent for hys wicked lyfe cruell tyrannye therfore dyd God delyuer hym out of the bandes and captyuyte of the kinge of Ba bylon and restored hym agayne to hys kyngedome in Israel By Ionas was it preached and proclaymed vnto the greate cytye of Nyniue that God shuld destroy and ouerthrowe it within r●… dayes The Niniuites beleued this proclamacion and preachynge and began to repente and amende theyr lyues wyth a greate and a syngular humblenes and submyssyon And so God of his mercye spared them Nowe is Gods mercifull harte nothyng diminished yf we do as the Nynyuytes dyd he both can and wyll pardon spare vs as he dyd them The. xxviij Chapter Christen and godlye persuasions and examples out of the word of god to moue men vnto pacience in affliccyon and aduersyte AMonge all other vertues in aduersyte pacyence is mooste necessarye Not suche a pacyence as to suffer all thinges to passe whether they be good or bad ryght or wrong settinge all on sixe and seuen but when we are in troble and aduersyte and can auoyde it by no lauful meane where as after the desyre and lust of oure fleshe we wolde mur●…ur forsake and geue ouer both God and al maner of ryghtuousnes then to resiste and stryue agaynst oure ryghtuousnes and affeccyons and sorowful thoughtes and as a mā wolde saye to speare vp and to captyuate and subdewe oure naturall eyes wytte reason vnder vnto the obedience of god yeldinge and submitting our selues vnto him sufferinge whatsoeuer it be wyth a good and redye wyll euen though it were most bytter and cruell deathe rather then we wold sware ufrom the word of God yea and moreouer to prayse God and to geue him thāckes that he wyl vouchsaue so fatherlye to vysyte vs and that he hath not forgotten vs Thys is called a ryghte Christen paciēce For it is Gods precept and cōmaundement that we shulde not murmur or grudge agaynst him when he chasteneth vs but that we shulde submit oure selues most humbly vnto hys holye wyl and after a certen maner to wyshe y t is to saye willingly to suffer beare such ponyshment correccyon whereby we re mayne and continue obedyente vnto hys godly ryghtuousnes i. Chor. x. murmur not as certen murmured were destroyed of the destroyer Num. xxi Wherfore we ought to shewe pacience in all thinges as a poyut of oure deuty And it is a grenous synne to murmur grudge against the iudgement of God and to resiste and stryue agaynst Gods wyll And God doth not onlye commaunde pacience but also is hym selfe paciente longe sufferyng whiche destroyeth not at ●…s the hore●…ouger the extorcyouer and other suche lyke wicked and damnable people wyth a lyghtnyng or thonderbolt althoughe hys holy and strayght ryghtu ousnes requyreth no lesse He geueth tyme and space suffycyent for the man to re pente and to returne to grace agayne Roman xij Dost thou despyse the aboundaunt ryches of hys goodnes hys pacyence and longe sufferynge knowest thou not that the goodnes and geutylnes of God calleth the to repentaunce Accordynge vnto thys Godly example though it be so that we muste suffer somewhat agaynst oure wyll and contrarye to oure myndes and affeccyons yet shuld we not murmur and grudge but amende oure ly ues and paciently loke and wayte for bet ter And specyallye the vnspeakeable fydelyte and loue of God towardes vs oughte laufully to moue and perswade vs to suffer God to worke wyth vs euen accordynge to hys wyll and pleasure For by thys meanys we geue God thys honor that he doth vs no wronge nor iniury but dysposeth all thynges moste wyse ly and wyll dyrecte them to a good ende On the contrarye parte the vnpacyente man murmureth and grudgeth agaynste God and is angrye with hym as though hys iudgementes and workes were not iuste and ryghte for as muche as the wic ked vngodlye lyue in pompe pleasure and all dissolutenes and the vertuous Godly in pouertye sorowe and myserye He may parauenture fansy and ymagine wyth him self that God ouercharged his faythful chyldrē to hard will suffer thē to remayne in perell necessite dan̄ger wil not heare thē And thus he is so poyso ned w t bitternes and obstinacy that he begynneth to hate and to blaspheme God in heauen and seketh vnlaufull meanes to helpe and remedye hym self lyke as Saul dyd runnynge after wytches and

towarde thy seruauntes And for the same not merited of any man but freely of thy mere mercy ge uen we rendre vnto the according to our moste bounden duetye most hartye prayses and entier thankes In consyderacion wherof the chyldren of Israell b●…ynge in miserable captyuytye lamentably lamen tyng before the their to muche sorowfull state by hearty prayers after that thou haddest delyuered them from that lande of seruitude brast out into exceding great prayses glorifyinge thy moste holye and blessed name for their swete and comfortable delyueraunce The cytezens of Bethulia lykewyse beyng in great dystresse called vpon thy glorious name and thou most mercyfullye delyueredst them And they agayne wyth merye voyces more ioyful heartes song vnto the most hearty thankes In lyke maner after thou haddest delyuered Ioseph danyell Peter many other thy seruauntes from their so rowes and calamities ah who is able to expresse with howe ready and glad myndes they magnifyed the thy holy name We therfore synfull wretches excyted styrred vp wyth the godlye examples of these thy seruautes knowyng how greatly thou delightest in the sacrifice of praise confessyng also such is our beggery that we haue no other thyng worthye to offre vnto thy dyuyne maiesty are at thys present gathered together to celebrate thy greate mercyes to magnyfye thy blessed name and to rendre vnto the moste humble thankes and immortal prayses that it hath pleased the of thy excedynge goodnes the rather at the contemplacyon of our prayers to shew thy fauourable mercy in the delyuerance of thy seruaunt our Lord and mayster vnto our syngular ioy and great comfort For thye thy benefyte most benefycyal father we so heartylye thanke the as heart can thynke most entyerly beseching the that thou wylt geue vs all grace neuer to be vumyndfull of thys thy benefyte nor to cōmit any thing hereafter that should offend thy fatherly goodnes or prouoke thy wrath againste vs lest through our disobedience we after this feele more bitter tokens of thy heuye dyspleasure than hetherto we haue done but in all oure enterpryses so to behaue oure selues accordinge to thy blessed wyll that thou mayest delight in vs as a father in hys chyldren and vouchsafe to blesse vs with all spiritual blessyng to enryche vs wyth the knowledge of thy heauenly word and to worke in vs a lyfe con formable to the same that other seyng our godly maners and Christian conuersacion maye be encouraged to embrace thy blessed word to magnyfy thy holy name and in all poyntes to frame their lyfe accordyng to the rule of thy holy commaun dementes through the inspyracyon of thy blessed spirit to whom with the thy derely beloued son Iesu Christ be al honor prayse and glory for euer and euer Amē A Godlye prayer and Confessyon of our synnes to god our heauenly father with the rehersall of the punishmentes and plages of the same callynge therein vpon the mercy of God LOrd god of heauen great myghty terryble god fearfull dreadfull is thy name whom all creatures do feare and tremble for the power of thy face for intollerable is the threatenyng of thyne indignacion ouer the synner We are not ashamed to knoweledge and to confesse vnto the our trespasses 〈◊〉 synnes for we haue synned aboue the numbre of the sande whyche is in the sea Yea Lord we haue synned offended and haue ben vngodlye and knowledge oure transgressyons and oure synnes are euer before vs we haue synned in dede and departed from the we haue neither heard nor yet kept thy commaundementes ney ther we haue done as thou hast commanded vs. Lord thou hast knowen our weakenes and infyrmytye that neyther oure fathers nor yet we haue ben able to heare al thy commaundementes lawes and ordynaunces whyche thou haste geuen vs by thy faythfull seruaunt Moses wherfore thou hast had mercy vpon vs and in the fulnesse of thy promysed tyme haste sent vs our sauyoure and redemer thyne onelye sonne whom thou hast put vnder the lawe that he myghte redeme vs from the heauy burthen of the lawe and wythoute oure deseruyng freely geuen vs the ryghteousnes so that onelye we woulde knowledge oure synnes and beleue that the same are forgeuen thoroughe thyne onelye sonne Ielus Christe But we vnthankefull synners do nothynge belongynge to repentaunce and haue also after our stubburne impenitent hartes hoorded vp a treasure of thy wrath in the daye of thy wrath and of the declaryng of thy ryghteous iudgemente for oure synnes reache vnto heauen we haue synned greuouslye vnto thys daye Yea father we haue synned agaynste heauen and before the and are not worthye to be called thy chyldren we be ashamed to lyfte vp oure eyes vnto the Lorde for we knowledge that we haue offended the verye sore For oure synnes sake is thyne indygnacyon descended ouer vs the indygnacyon of thyne vnmercyfulnes whyche thou ha●…t sente into vs by the wycked Angels Hon ger famyne and dearth hast thou heaped ouer vs and hast destroyed our prouysyon of bread to the expyracyon of our children and bretheren But amonge vs that are a lyue for oure vnthankefulnes sake hast thou sent honger not onely of the bo dely bread but the honger of the spyritual breade and we haue gone and runne hether and thether sekynge the same but haue not founde it and oure yonge chyldren haue also sought the bread but there was none to breake it vnto them Thou hast brought vpō vs the sweard of the vn beleuynge and geuen the carcases of our chyldren into destrucciō before the face of theyr fathers oure townes villages are conf●…med wyth fyre oure cityes are wasted and few inhabitours left in the same oure frendes are fallen by the swordes of our enemies their bodyes are become meate for the foules of the ayer and for the wylde beastes of the earth alas thys haue oure eyes sene Lord thou hast plaged and striken vs w t more buyles sores and wyth dyseases which haue not ben heard of before that we coulde not be healed more pestylence haue we hadde than euer oure fathers knewe of Al these plages hast thou Lord brought vpon vs our chyldren and our bretheren and they are not yet at an ende for these are the dayes of thy vengeaunce But Lord thou arte oure God our refu ge and strenght oure helpe in the greate afflictions whiche are come vpon vs a meke true longe sufferinge pacient god a God of mercy and all conforte which conforted vs in al our troubles Thou art also riche in mercies in the which thou orderest all thynges for incōprehensible vnseearcheable is the mercy of thy promyse Thou art the moste hyeste god ou●…r all earth thou wylt not the destruccyon of the soule for thou hast according to thy goodnes promysed vs repētaunce for the remissyon of synnes sayenge That thou hast no

appereth vnto the and thou knowest not what God meaneth thereby yet oughtest thou as a chylde vnto the father to geue vnto hym honor laude and prayse that he dysposeth all thynges wyth such wysdome and in suche order And when he seyth tyme he wyll rewarde consyder all such thynges as haue bene wroughte committed heretofore agaynst hys most ryght iust lawes accordynge as they haue deserued The iiij Chapter All maner of affliccions are sent and come from God of a louynge fatherlye mynde towarde vs. IT is not suffycient for vs to know that all maner of affliccyon commeth by the permyssyon and sufferaunce of God of hys iuste iudgemente by reason of our synnes For in extreme temptacyons and in greate necessyties these are the fyrste thoughtes and ymagy nacyons that come into oure myndes For as muche as I haue greuouslye offended God wyth my synnes therfore is he displeased wyth me and nowe become myne enemye and hath caste hys fauor from me And yf we preuent not shyft awaye such fantasyes ymaginacyōs in tyme they wyll make vs to flee frō God to forsake hym and to abhorre grudge agaynst hym As Saul dyd which ymagyned fully persuaded with hym self y t God punyshed hym of hatered displeasure agaynst hym And therfore Sauls hart turned from God and forsoke him and so he began to hate and abhorre hym as a cruell tyranne Wherfore vnto suche poyntes and articles as are taught heretofore thys admonicyon doth also apper teyne We ought to receyue wyth hyghe thankefulnes what soeuer God of a fatherly louynge mynde not of any indygnacyon towarde vs sendeth vnto vs whether it be to the fleshe pleasant or greuous The Forde God vy●…iteth vs with temporal transitorye myserye euē for the very carefull and fatherlye harte that he beareth towarde vs and not of any hatred or indignacyon agaynst vs. For God is reconcyled and at one wyth all Christen men thorow hys sonne and loueth them euen from the verye ground of hys harte For the whiche cause howe so euer or by what maner of meane it be that God pouysheth correcteth vs he doth it because he hateth as thoughe he wolde vtterlye refuse and cast vs away but of very pyty compassyon onelye to receyue vs as hys chyldren to kepe and preserue vs to exercyse and practyse vs to humble and to brynge vs downe and to styrre and prycke vs forwarde that prayer fayth the ●…eare of God obedience other vertuys maye ware and increase in vs to hys honor and our saluacyon Testymonyes for thys haue we fyrst in the xxxiij of Ezechiel As trulye as I lyue I haue no pleasure in the deathe of the synner but that he turne liue Here ●…owe doth God sweare that he doth ponyshe not to destroye but to allure reduce bryng vs vnto penans Item Prou. iij. Whome the Lorde loueth hym doth he chasten and yet not withstandinge he hath pleasure in hym as a father in hys chylde Thys is an euydent testimony that affliccyon trouble and vexacyon are no tokens of the wrath and dyspleasure of God but rather holye tokens of hys grace mercy and fauor whereby god assueryth vs of hys mercyfull will and fatherlye harte towarde vs. Item in the. viij to the Romaynes We know that vn to suche as loue God al thynges serue to the best And in the. xi of the. i ▪ to the Cho rinth we are corrected ponyshed of the lorde that we shulde not be condemned with the world All thys mayest thou also marke in the whole story of Iob thorow oute Lykewyse Ioseph was solde of hys brethren and delyuered vnto the Heathē of very malyce and enuye by the prouoc●… cyon and suggestion of the deuyll But y e most faythfull God turned it to the profyte and welth both of the house of Israel and also of the whole kyngdome of Egypt For so dyd Ioseph hym selfe interprete it in the. x●…v of Genesis Agayne the churche of Christe that is to saye the Christen congregacyon which is Christes spowse muste suffer vexacyon and affliccyon here vpon earthe But for as muche as God loueth thys hys spowse of hys sonne namely the congregacyon of the faythfull and mynded to comforte her and to be most benefycially vnto her therfore lyke as he hath raysed vp Christe her brydegrome heade and Kynge from deathe euen so wyll he also delyuer her from all affliccyon and geue her a ioyfull victorye of all suche thynges as do oppresse her But it is the infyrmyte and faulte of oure weake eyes that we can not espye the mercyfull louing goodnes of God in and vnder the rodde and scourge Whansoeuer we are vysyted wyth affliccyon and miserye it is our du●…ye in dede fyrste to acknowledge and remember oure synnes and agayne to cō syder the ●…ock bandes of the deuill for synne but we ought not to iudge ymagyne of suche affliccyon according to the purpose and wyll of the deuill as he of a malyce a myscheuous mynde that he beareth vs myndeth towarde vs ▪ which seketh contynually nothynge els but the vtter destruccyon and confusyon of all mankynd but rather we ought to esteme cōsyder of al such troubles afflicciōs according as God meaneth receyueth thē which of his mere goodnes turneth them to our welth profyte workynge fynyshing therby our perfyght saluacyō And wheresoeuer the harte can not conceyue thys comforte that God correcteth pouysheth for very mercyfull fauor loue towarde vs there of necessyte must the temptacyon and grefe be moche the greater and the party at lengthe fall to vtter desperacyon ¶ The. v. Chapter That onely God for Christes sake and that of very mery loue and fauor doth correcte and pouyshe vs. THe very ryght and onelye cause of the mercyfull and fatherly wyl of God towarde vs haue we in the onelye merytes of Iesus Christe vnto whome we ought to lyfte vp oure hartes towarde heauen and to behold and consyder hym wyth our myndes contynuallye after thys maner Oure synnes and mysdedes deserue honger dearth warre pestilence and al maner of plages Now hath Christ rāsomed and made full satisfaccyon for all the synnes that we haue committed He hath redemed payde discharged and made harmeles vnto vs al our mysdedes wyth hys bytter deathe victoryous resurreccyō hath satisfyed hys fathers ryghteousnes As S. Paule doth testifye verye comfortably i. Corin. i. sayinge Iesus is becomme and made vnto vs our wysdome our ryghteousnes our satisfaccyon and oure redempcyon So that nowe yf affliccyons hurt vs only by reason of our synnes and oure synnes satysfyed dyscharged thorowe the death and passyon of Iesus then must it nedes folowe that all oure affliccyons al so are lykewyse harmeles vnto vs and can not hurte vs. Yea Christe wyth and thorowe hys passyon and affliccyon hath blessed and sanctyfyed all maner of affliccyons that they all shulde serue and redounde

vnto all faythfull Christians for their greatest welthe vp the ordynaunce and prouysyon of God their heauenlye father He is the trew physycyon whiche after he perceyued that affliccion dyd feare vs toke vpon hym selfe to suffer all maner of trouble yea the moost greuous sorowes and extremytyes because he wold set and appoynt a certayne measure and ende vnto oure sorowes and also blesse sanctifye yea also make pleasaunt and delectable very death it selfe vnto vs. Oh yf we coulde fele beholde and cō syder the harte mynde of Christ whan he dyd wyllyngly hange vpon the crosse and suffered hym self so cruelly paynefully to be tormented ponyshed for no nother cause but that he myghte vtterlye take away the whole strength of all oure synnes sorowe and deathe and destroye hell that none of them shoulde hurt vs. And agayne that he tasted dranke of the cup before vs that we beyng sycke weake myght the rather drinck tast of it after hym for as muche as no euyl mis happened vnto hym therof but immedyatly rose vp agayne from death Oh yf the knoweledge and remēbraunce of thys myght remayne in our hartes vprighte shyne contynually before vs then shulde we neuer syncke or faint nor yet despaire of the mercy and goodnes of God al●… thoughe we should labor in neuer so dangerous greuous a battell thoughe we oure selues shulde tast fele the dewe ponyshmente that oure synnes haue deserued then shulde we be able to stande sty●… felye agayuste the gates of hell And all maner of sorowe heuynes temptacyon feare and mysfortune shulde thereby be vtterly consumed and swalowed vp And ●…uen thys is the hyghest moste specyall comforte that euer was harde or red of from the begynnynge of the worlde He is onelye alone suffycyent yf we consyder hym and take holde of hym as we shulde do to plante and grafte suche a mynde in vs that we shall not onelye not sorowe nor be heauye but also tryumphe and reioyse in and of oure myserye and affliccyon as Paule triumpheth excellentlye and hyghlye Roman viij where he sayth yf God hath not spared hys onelye sonne but hath geuen hym vp for vs all howe shulde he not geue vs all thynges wyth hym What make we then wyth oure vayne fearfulnes care sorowe and heauynes Wherfore yf we wil be right Christians we muste wyth al thankefulnes set furth extoll and magnifye thys excellent infynyte and heauenly grace and benefyte of God and the hyghe and singular comforte whyche we haue by Christe For all they that lacke the knoweledge of the benefyte that we haue by Christe and refuse thys excellent hygh treasure whether they be Iewes or Heathen of Mahometis or of the Popyshes●…cte they can not be able to geue anye trew perfyght or halsome conforte eyther to them selues or to any other in any maner of feare or doubt of the conscience or in any other affliccyon and necessyte So longe as they are quyete and safe and neyther fele nor consyder the payne of deathe nor any other grefe or necessite they may well lyue securely and boldely wythoute any maner of feare but when the euyll houre ones cometh that the wether changeth a lytle that eyther thorow the reuelacyon and openyng of the lawe they fele and perceyue the wrath of God ouer them or els thorowe the manyfeste and euydent tokens and preachynge of the iuste ponyshmente and vengeaunce of God and thorowe the present taste of some plage they are sodenly taken stryken wyth feare as than doth all theyr wysdome counsell and polycye wherewith to withstand any such euyll vtterly fayle thē sodenly deceyue them Thē fle they frō God and can not tell whether to runne nor where to hyde them selues And how small soeuer their temptaciō or plage is theyr hart is dashyd and as sore afrayd as Moyses sayth of the noyse of a leafe as of a thonderclap And wyth suche maner persous the whole trade of their former lyfe wyth al their labor tra uail and a●…ians in their supersticious ser uing of God and in their hard strayte lyfe is vtterly lost and spent in vayne Yea what comforte soeuer they haue sought besyde Christ it is al nothing els but an augmentacion of their sorowfull feare and a traynyng of them towardes desperacion So that wythoute and besydes the Lord Iesus there is no maner of comforte ayde nor succor at all to be loked for The. vi Chapter ¶ Symilitudes and comparisons declaryng howe after what maner God doth plage and chasten vs of very loue mercye and fauor towardes vs. UUhen as allmightye God for the merites of his son not of any irefull mynd or displeasure but of a good wyll and louynge hart towardes vs doth correcte and punysh vs he maye be comparyd and lykenyd vnto a father a mother a maister a physycyon an husband man a goldsmyth and suche lyke after thys sense Lyke as the naturall father fyrst teacheth his dere beloued child and afterwarde gyuyth hym warnynge and monycyon and than correcteth hym at laste euyn so the eternall God assayth all maner of wayes wyth vs whych are well growen and old in yeares but yong and teuder in fayth Fyrst he teacheth vs hys wyll thorowe the preachynge of hys word and gyuyth vs warnyng Now if so be that we wyll not folow hym than he beateth and gierketh vs a lytle wyth a rodde as some tyme wyth pouerty some tyme wyth sycknes and dyseasys or with other afflyccyons whych shoulde be namyd estemyd as nothyng els but chylderns roddys or the wandys of correccyon Now if suche a rodd or wand wyl not helpe nor do anye good than takyth the father a whyp or a styck As in case hys sonne waxeth stubburn wyl spend hys mony and thryfft wantonly and ryotosly at the typplyng hows wyth euyll companye than comyth the father pullyth hym oute by the heare of the heade byndyth hys handes and fete and beateth hym tyll hys bones crack and sendyth hym into pryson or banysheth hym oute of the countrye Euen so whan we waxe obstynate and stubburne and care in maner neyther for wordes nor for strypys than sendeth God vnto vs more heuy and vnyuersall plages as pestylens dearth sedycyon vproure casualtye of fyre murther warre losse of vyctory that beynge taken of oure ennemyes we are sed awaye prysoners and captyues c. And all thys he doeth to feare and to tame vs as it were wyth vyolence and so to dryue and euen to force vs vnto repentance amendement of our lyues Nowe trueth it is that it is agaynste the fathers wyll to stryke hys chylde he woulde muche rather do hym all the good that euer he coulde But thorowe longe sufferance and ouer muche cheryshyng the chyldren waxe rude and forget all nurture ¶ Therefore doeth he punish them but yet in the myddes of all hys anger and punishment hys fatherly hart brea●…eth out In case that he

power auctoryte honor such like euē vnto the wicked vngodly Why shuld not we determine cōclude vpon the same y t he wil deale di stribute a. M. times hygher greater be●…yfites vnto y e godly right faithful christians although they neyther see nor receiue those gyftes at that present instant Besydes thys the Lorde also comfortyth vs Math. vi If God take care for the foules of the ayer and the floures of the feld and prouydeth norishmente and clothinge for them truelye he wyll deale as faythfully wyth vs men whyche excell many wayes the fowles of the ayer and grasse of the felde The thyrde and laste parte of thys booke The. xxv Chapter We must dyrect our fayth hope and confydence towards God HEtherto hath it bene declaryd y t the very ryght and true help succor and comforte restyth in God thorow Christ and for his sake now shall it consequently be taught howe we shuld order and behaue our selues agayn wyth fayth hope prayer repentance amendemente of lyfe and pacyence that God ma●… party●…ypate dystrybute and extend hys grace and myghty mercyfull hande toward vs. Fyrst of all although we must vtterly despayre of all maner of help and succor of man and can in no wyse diuyse or yma gyne what way or after what sorte God wyll or may help ayde vs yet not withstanding we must vtterly resyste and banysh all maner of heuy sorowful and desperate fansyes and ymagynacyons of the mynde and geue no place vnto them but conceyue stedfastlye thys sure truste and confydence in god that he both knowyth and wyll take and hytt the ryghte tyme measure and meanes to help vs and wyll valyantly gloriously delyuer vs. Let vs commyt altogether yoyfully and boldly wythout feare vnto god let hys mercy gracyous goodnes more reioyse comfort vs than all the mysery sorow vnder heauen vpon earth or in hell maye feare vs. Yea we nede to care sorow for nothing so muche as for this y t we be not to carefull sorowfull for oure selues as though god had geuen ouer all his care sorow for vs. For lyke as the gouerner fa ther or good man of the house takyth al y e care sorowe vpon him self how he shall fynd feede susteyne his famyly and the houshold seruantes ough●…e to loue theyr maisters to haue a good trust opinyon of them And also to labor and ●…o do such seruyce as they are appoynted vnto faith fully Euen so all maner of care sorowe for vs belongyth vnto god And our partes and duty is no more but to trust and beleue in hym and to serue in that vocacyon condycyon of lyfe wherevnto we are called appointed of god faithfully Now if god be most victorios inuyn●…ible and his deare beloued sonne also an euerlasting strength that can neuer fayl●… against the deuyll and the world again both Christ god him self thorow faith are ours and dwel in vs Ephe. ii●… Tha●… is there no cause why the faythfull Christen man shuld feare neyther hys owne feble fle●…h and body nor hys weake impotent age nor yet the whole powr of the deuyll though he be armed and weaponeth wyth a thousand thousand craftes and suttel●…yes For if so be that in god be all maner of ioy blessednes and felycyte And we thorow fayth do proue and fynd hym a gracious and mercyfull god vnto vs than may we lawfully reioyse in god euen in the myddest of the hyghest sorow and aduersyte that can be To wy●…esse ▪ Psalm xxv There shall none be confounded and put to shame that hopeth in the. Psal. 〈◊〉 Cast thy care and sorow vpon the Lord and he shall defend and susteine the what can be thought or ymagyned more swete or comfortable For example Math. xv The heathnish woman of Ca●…any all hope and comfort in the remedy concell of man sett apart des●…ryth help and succor of Christe And although the lord geueth her at the fyrste rough and sharpe answers yet she is nothing abashed nor will not so be answered Euen so hold thou on lykewyse wyth the heathnysh woman sayinge and cryeng styll O thou sonne of dauyd haue mercy vpon me And so shalt thou heare at length thys comfortable Gospell and absolucyon Thy fayth is great be it vnto the as thou desyeryst S. Barnard she wyth very comfortably what a fayth he had in these goodly wordes O lord it is much better for me to suf fer trouble so that thou onely mayest be by me ▪ than to rule and lyue pleasantly costly wythout the. It is better and more pleasant vnto me to be in an hote burning and flaming ouen wyth the than to be euen in heauen wythout the. And who dyd euer trust in the Lorde whom he euer forsoke Besydes all this almightye god commandeth that we should hope truste and loke fo●… help at hys hande Whych hope bryngeth wyth her a mytygacyon easement of the smart sorow Psal. xxvi I hope in the lord therfore shal I not fall Psal. xxviij Hope thou only in God so shalt thou be holpen Roma v. Hope is neuer confoundyd nor put to shame The xxvi Chapter Of prayer in trouble and aduersyte THe holye scrypture teacheth vs in all maner of necessytyes as wel bodylye as ghostlye to call vpon god and to flee vnto hym And here doth it profyte very much if one be myndefull of another 〈◊〉 hys prayer But what shuld a man pray for Fyrste and most specyally for remissyon of hys sinnes For whan we haue ones obteined of god pardō of our sinnes than certenly shal the sycknes aduersyte or ponyshmēt eyther clearelye cease or els thorowe the gracyous wyll and goodnes of God it shall redounde to the furtheraunce of our saluacyon Secondarelye we muste also praye eyther that God will helpe and delyuer vs n●…t after the deuyse and fansy of our own braynes but after such wyse as shal seme vnto hys godlye wysdome or els that he wyl mytigate and ease oure payne and po nyshment that oure weakenes maye not vtterlye faynt and sinck doune to the bottem Lyke as a sycke parson althoughe he doute nothynge of the faythfulnes honestye and tendernes of hys Phisycyon or surgen towardes hym yet for all that he desyereth hym to handle his wounde and to dresse hym as easely and tenderly as is possyble for hym Euen so in lyke maner maye we call vpon God that yf it be not agaynst hys honor glory he wyl vouch saue to geue some mytygacyon and easement of the payne And specyallye let vs desyre of hym to grant vs strengthe that we faynt not nor be ouercomme w●…th the feare or greatnes of oure sorowe gre●…e whereby we myght forsake hym and fall to some wickednes but that we maye rather after the example of the holye ma●…ters suffer death moste intollerable tormentes then