is it not done without a speciall battayll of fayth For suche helpe doth he promyse vs in hys holy worde that we shulde beleue it And yf we beleue it it happeneth vnto vs accordynge to oure fayth Therfore sayeth the prophet more ouer hys truth is speare and shylde That is hys godly promyses The veapens of fayth whych are sure and true notherlye nor deceaue Those be our weapens wherwyth we fyght and ouercome all aduersyte But lyke as speare shylde are not profytable vnto hym that can not vse them nor wyll Euen so also do not the promyses of God profyte hym that can not fyghte therwyth and wyll not beleue theron For that is the ryght scyence in this battayll whan mysfortune The sciēce of the warre of fayth aduersite or tentacion commeth that we loke aboute vs accordynge vnto Gods worde Namely what comforte and promyse he hath made vnto vs in suche a case wyth a ryghte belefe to take holde of the same as of a shylde and to comforte and defēde oure selues ther with so can ther no mischaūce do vs harme as the holye Saynt Paule in the last chapter of hys Epistle to the Ephesians teacheth and sayeth Before all thynges take the shylde of fayth wherwyth ye maye quenche all the fyrye dartes of the wycked c. Agaynste the same namelye agaynste Sathan oure head enemye is suche worde of God euen the ryghte speare wherwith we wounde and ouercome hym Nothynge hurteth the Deuell so sore as the worde of God For no bodely wapen hurteth and hyndreth men so sore as the worde of God stoppeth and hyndreth Sathan yf it be thrust vnder hys nose agaynste hys venymous dealynge and temtacion For yf a seruaūt that dealeth wrongeously and vnthriftely in hys maysters goodes busynesses be afrayed vexed and persed thorowe the harte whan a symple man sayeth vnto him Thou vnthrift why doost thou so that is not thy maysters wyll and meanynge he dyd not so cōmaunde the. Howe much more goeth it thorowe Satans harte whan a vertuous Christen man holdeth the worde of God vnder hys eyes and bryngeth witnesse ouer hym that he as a wycked creature hādleth agaynst hys maker agaynst hys chosen chyldren Therfore doth holye saynte Paule call Gods worde also the swearde of the sprete Mat. iiii And the LORDE Christe defendeth hymselfe onely wyth the same agaynste all temtacions of Satan in the wyldernesse Howe whan thou takest holde thus of Gods promyses thorow fayth and vsest thē for speare and shylde to defende thy selfe and to smyte Satan then out of the same it followeth as the prophete sayeth farther That thou nedest not to feare for the horryblenesse of the nyght For the arowes that flye in the daye tyme. For the pestilence that commeth pryuely in the darke For syckenesse that destroyeth in the noone daye For these foure aduersites set forwarde and shorten the lyfe of the vnbeleuers But the faythfull hath such consolacion and promes The horriblenesse of the nyghte that he nedeth not to be afrayed Fyrst for the horryblenesse of the nyght That is for all maner of tentacion and deceate that happen vnto men by nyght in the darknesse For thys we all perceaue that in the nyght and in the darknesse we are weaker mynded of more despayre and more afrayed then in the lyghte The bloude runneth to oure hartes the heere 's stonde vpryght and all the body waxeth colde for feare Out of thys cōmeth it thē that we thynke we se heare perceaue somwhat which in very dede is not so Then goeth ther one astray another leseth hys coloure the thyrde falleth sycke the fourthe is become crocked the fyfthe goeth out of hys wyt And so men thynke that the deuell hath done it where as it is yet a playne natural workynge of the exceadynge grete feare whyche wolde destroye a man euen by daye tyme yf it were so greate The deuil is cause of horryblenesse Howbeyt true it is that the deuell causeth such feare and prynteth it in that he maye begile and destroye vs by feare as by a naturall workynge Yet is it nothynge but a feare For the prophete calleth it not an euel or good sprete but planely the horryblenesse of the nyght Nother is it ony thynge els also but an horrour feare and continueth an horrour and feare Therfore where a ryght belefe is there is no feare Where no fearfulnesse is there is also no horrour nor fātasye of spretes or deceatfulnesse of the nyght The cause of lygtenynges and such lyke but playne corage and boldnesse Yf onye thynge els be sene as fyre or lyghte they be but naturall thynges out of the heate of the ground lyke as lyghtenynges draggons fallyngestarres and cometes be in the ayre and in the heauē But here wythall wyll not I speake agaynst the wouderfull visions and tokens whyche god sendeth for a warnyng be for greate myschaunces to come The arowes in the daye tyme Secondarely is the faythfull sure for the arowes that flye in the daye tyme. That is all maner of myschaunces which ouertake a man openly in the daye and yet so sodenly and vnwares that he can not escape them As whan a tyle falleth from the roofe of an house whan a wycked beast doth euell or whan an vngracious personne doth hurt in body name or good For suche misfortunes come for the moost perte so sodenly that a man can not preuente them but must let them hyt as wyth an arowe and afterward restore heale the harme wyth greate trauayle and laboure But nowe wyll God preserue hys faythfull from such misfortune yf they haue hys promyses before theyr eyes beleue theron and ordre theyr lyues therafter The pestilence Thyrdly a faythfull person nedeth not also to be afrayed for the pestilence that slyppeth in preuely in the darke Thys is verely a comfortable promyse in thys daungerous tyme for the whiche we shulde by ryght put oure trust in God and thanke him therfore for asmuch as it is one of the moost perlous and horryble plages wherwyth he visyteth and punyssheth the synne of the worlde For it taketh hold of lyfe vnwares and plucketh a man awaye in two or thre dayes or euer he can ordre hys busynesse and house make hys testament crepeth in preuely in the darke so that no man knoweth what it is or whēce it commeth or whyther it goeth therfor can no man kepe hymselfe surely from it For yf it were in meate or drynke it myghte be eschued Yf it were an euell tayst it myght be expelled wyth a swete sauoure Yf it were an euel wynde the chābre myghte wyth diligence be made close therfore Yf it were a cloude or myst it myght be sene and auoyded Yf it were a rayne a man myghte couer hym selfe for it But now is it a secret mysfortune that crepeth in preuely so that it can nother be sene nor herde nother smelled nor taysted
power setteth hym selfe agaynst it for thys treasures sake Inwardly plageth he the congregacion of God wyth hys venymous fyrye dartes Outwardly treadeth he her downe by sectes and offences Then kyndleth he also hys brande vpon her euen the worlde which mynystreth vnto her all sorowe and heuynesse of harte with persecutynge sklaundrynge blasphemynge condemnynge and murthurynge In so muche that it were no wōder that deare flock of Christ were vtterly destroyed in the twyncklynge of an eye by such greate soltytye and myght both of the deuell and of the worlde For she cā not kepe her selfe from hyr enemyes they are farre to stronge to deceatfull and to myghtye for her She is euen as the prophet doth here descrybe her An innocent symple and wapenlesse lambe whiche nother wyll nor can do ony mā harme but is alway readye not onely to do good but also to take euell for good Howe happeneth it then that the congregacion of Christ in such weaknesse Howe the flocke of Christ winneth can escape the craftinesse and tyrāny of the deuell and the worlde The LORDE is hyr shepeherde therfore lacketh she nothynge He fedeth and refressheth her goostlye and bodely he kepeth her in the ryght waye he geueth her also hys staf and shephooke in steade of a swearde which she beareth not in the hand but in the mouth And not onely comforteth the sorowfull therwyth but dryueth awaye the deuell also and all hys Apostels be they neuer so sotyll and spitefull Besydes thys the LORDE hath prepared for her also a table and Easter lambe Whan hyr enemyes are verye wrothfull gnasshe theyr tethe together ouer her are mad vnreasonable in a rage and out of theyr wyttes and take all theyr sotyltye power and myghte to helpe them for to destroye her vtterlye Then doth the beloued bryde of Christe set her downe at hyr LORDES table eateth the Easter-lambe drinketh of the fresh water is mery and syngeth The LORDE is my shepherde I shall lacke nothynge These are hyr weapens and gōnes wherwith she hath hetherto smytten ouercome all hyr enemyes and after the same maner shall she haue the victorye styll vnto domes daye The more also that the deuell and the worlde doth hurt vexe her the better is it with her For hyr edifyenge and increace stondeth in persecucion affliction and death Out of thys occasion dyd one of the olde fathers saye The bloud of martyrs is a sede A notable sayenge where one is caste there ryse an hundreth vp agayne Of thys wonderfull victory synge certayne Psalmes as the .ix. x. c. After thys same maner haue I also thorowe the grace of God behaued my selfe thys eyghtene yeare The authour of this boke I haue euer suffred myne enemyes to be wroth to threatē to blaspheme and condemne me to cast theyr heades styll agaynst me to ymagin many euell wayes to vse diuerse vnthryftye poyntes I haue suffred them to take wonderous greate thought howe they myght destroye me and myne yee gods doctrine Morouer I haue ben glad and merye but more at one tyme then at another and not greatly regarded theyr ragynge madnesse but haue holden me by the staf of cōforte and had recourse vnto the LORDES table That is I haue cōmitted the cause vnto God wherin he hath so led me that I haue optayned all my wil and mynde And in the meane tyme haue I done lytle or nothinge but spokē vnto hym a pater noster or some lytle Psalme This is al my harnesse wherwith I haue defended me hetherto not only agaynst myne enemyes but also thorow the grace of god brought so much to passe that whan I loke behynde me call to remēbraunce how it hath stond in the Papistrye I do euē wonder that the matter is come so farre I wold neuer haue thought that the tenth parte shulde haue come to passe as it is now before oure eyes He that hath begon it shal brynge it well to an ende Yee though nyne helles and worldes were set on an heap together agaynst it Let euery Christen man therfore learne thys science namely that he hold hym by this staf shepehooke resort vnto this table whan heuynesse or ony other mysfortune is at hande And so shall he doutles receaue strength cōforte agaynste euery thyng that oppresseth hym The oyntment The second similitude is of the oyntmēt wherof ther is mēciō made ofttymes in the holy scripture It was some precious oyle as Balme or els som other swete smellinge water the vse was to anoynte the kynges prestes withal Whan the Iewes also held theyr solemne feastes and were disposed to be mery they dyd anoynte or sprenkle them selues with such precious oyntmēt as Christe declared lykewyse in the sixte of Mathewe wher he sayeth whan thou fastest anoynte thyne heade and wash thy face c. The vse then of this oyntmēt was had among those people whan they were disposed to be mery glad Lyke as the Magdalene also thought to make the LORDE mery whan she poured vpon hys heade the precious water of Nardus for she sawe that he was heuy The full cuppe The thyrde similitude is of the cuppe which they broughte in theyr Gods seruice whan they offered drynke offerynges and were merye before the LORDE Wyth these wordes then Thou anoyntest my head with oyle The ryche comfort of christē mē and fillest my cuppe ful wyll the prophete descrybe the greate ryche comforte which they that are faythfull haue by the worde of God so that theyr consciences are quyete glad and at rest in the myddes of all tentacions and troubles Yee euen of death As yf he wold saye doutlesse the LORDE maketh me a maruaylous man of warre and harnesseth me wonderously agaynst myne enemyes I thought he shulde haue put materiall harnesse vpon me set an helmet vpon myne heade geuē me asweard in my hande haue warned me to be circūspecte to take diligent hede to my matter lest myne enemyes shulde ouertake me Nowe commeth he and setteth me downe at a table and prepareth me a goodly banket anoynteth myne heade with precious Balme Or after the maner of our contry setteth a garlande vpon myne heade as yf I shulde go to some pastyme or daūsynge and not fyght with myne enemyes And to the intent that ther shulde be no scarcenesse he fylleth my cuppe full that I maye drynke make good chere be dronken The table thē prepared is my harnesse the precious oyntmēt is my helmet the ful cuppe is my sweard With these do I ouercome all myne enemies Is not this a maruailous preparyng to warre yet a more wonderfull victory Thus wyll he saye LORDE thy gestes whiche syt at thy table that is to saye the faythfull shall not onely be stronge and valeaunt giauntes agaynst al theyr enemyes but they shal be mery also and dronken Spiritual drōkēnesse For why thou makest them good chere as a ryche hooft
shall smyte the wyth swellynge feuer heate burnynge blastynge drouth c. and shall persecute the tyll he vtterly destroye the and brynge the to naught And certaynly this is the playne truth and the very originall of these plages No man ought to doute theron For thoughe the forsayd natural causes do somwhat also thereto yet is it sure and vndouted that the same causes be sent and steared vp oute of Gods wrath for our synne and vnthank fulnesse And truely that it is euen so the holy scripture declareth not wych bare wordes onely but sheweth it also wyth notable ensamples For in the fourth boke of Moses the fourtenth Chapter whan all the spyes excepte Iosua and Caleb spake euell of the lāde of promyse and made the people vnpaciente and vprourysshe so that they chose them a captayne and thought to go agayne into Egypte and to stone Moses and Aaron which commaunded them the contrarye we reade thus Then appeared the glorye of the LORDE and spake vnto Moses Howe longe doth thys people blaspheme me And howe longe wyll they not beleue me for all the tokens that I haue done vpon them therfore wyll I smytte and destroye them with pestilence and make of the a grater nacion then thys Lykewyse also whan Dauid caused the people to be nombred agaynste Gods commaundemēt he displeased the LORDE God horibly therwith Therfore layed he the punyshment vpon hym so that he was fayne to chose hym selfe whether he had rather haue seuen yeares derth or thre monethes myschaunce in battayl or thre dayes pestilence in the lande And whan he chose the pestilence ther dyed in thre dayes seuentye thousande men as it is wrytten in the laste Chapter of the .ii. boke of Samuel Seynge then that out of the word of God we knowe the very cause of thys horryble plage Namely that it is the defaute of our synnes as vnbelefe disobedience vnthankfulnesse therfore before all thynges it shall be necessary that we refrayne from the same repent and aniende our lyues Yf we wyll els be preserued and delyuered from thys horrible plage For yf God punysh vs because of synne it is good to consydre that we must fyrst knowlege and eschue our synnes in case that he shall withdrawe and take awaychys wrath punyshment from vs. Yf we amēde not God continueth ī puny shynge For yf we cōtinue in our euell synfull and culpable lyfe certaynly he shal not ceasse with the punyshment but go forth more more tyll he geue and recompence accordynge to our workes But yf we knowlege our synne refrayne frō it repent and axe grace thē shall he also take awaye hys wrath And thys horrible wrath with other heuy burthens as warre derth that lye vpon oure neck shall he mercyfully take away from vs agayne As holy Paule sayeth .i. Cor. xi Yf we iudged our selues we shulde not be iudged But whan we are iudged we be chastened of the LORDE that we shulde not be damned with the worlde And out of all thys maye youre charyte well perceaue howe vnwysely and vnchristenly they do that out of inordinate feare of thys plage leaue theyr callynge and offyce maliciously wythdrawyng the loue helpe faythfulnesse which they out of gods commaundement are bounde to shewe vnto theyr neghbours and so do synne greuously agaynst the commaundement of God For certaynly they do but steare vp the wrath of God more earnestly agaynste themselues that he may the sooner take hold vpon them and pluck them awaye with thys plage For men maye heare on euery syde A pyteous case that some do shone and flye not only the syck but also the whole Yee that yet more foolyshe is euen the platters and candelstyches whiche come out of straūge houses as though death dyd surely styck therin And out of suche fonde chyldyshe feare it commeth that not onely some syck folkes be suffred to dye away with out all kepynge helpe and comforte but the wemen also greate wyth chylde be forsaken in theyr nede or els commeth there vtterly no man vnto them Yee a man maye heare also that the chyldren forsake theyr fathers and mothers and one houshold body kepeth hymselfe awaye from another and sheweth no soue vnto hym Whyche neuertheles he wolde be glad to se shewed vnto hymselfe yf he laye in lyke necessite Howbeyt I suppose ther come not manye such chaunces to passe neuerthelesse I must speake therof that it be done nomore from henceforth For certaynly it is vnwysely vnchristenly handled we nede not thynke that the same is the waye to escape thys plage but rather an occasion that it raygne the more myghtely ouer vs. The more we flye the punishment the farther daunger we rūne in For seynge it is sure as ye haue herde afore that such plage is sent for punyshment of oure synnes and Christe hath geuen vs a new cōmaundemēt that we shulde loue one another as he hath loued vs it followeth that the farther we departe from the loue of our neghboure the more we lade synne vpō vs and deserue thys plage but the more Agayne the more diligētlye that we take hede vnto the loue of oure neghboure the surer shall we be from thys plage No man nedeth to doute therof Noman ought to preasse in the daūger wythout necessite But here wythall wyll I also counsell or compell no man to ony vnuedeful daunger that he is not bounde vnto by his callynge nor by loue but onely warne those whyche for feare leaue that whiche they are bounde to do before God To the intent that for suche naked feares sake they do not transgresse nor omytte the commaundemēt of God hope by synne to escape this plage which neuerthelesse cōmeth because of synne For that were a foolysh vnaduysed counsel yf one wolde go aboute to escape the wrath of God by transgression and by synne to auoyde the punyshment of synne Besydes thys doth experience shewe also that they which be so sore afrayed do cōmunly miscary Agayne they that wayte vpon theyr offyces and serue theyr neghbours be delyuered As it is well sene in the minysters of the churche and other mo that shone not the syck but muste vyset and comforte them wyth Gods worde and prouyde for them wyth the holy sacrament For we se no where that they therfore must also be soone syck and must dye Yee how must the hygher powers of the worlde do which by reason of theyr callynge and for the cōmune profyt regimentes sake abyde also in the ioperdy and must mynystre because of loue Specyally the chefest on one wherof ther lyeth more thē on a thousād of other And yet doth God cōmunly preserue thē also that they be delyuered left styl on lyue and dye in a good quyet age Vnbelefe and mist rust in God is cause of flyenge Therfore certaynly such inordinate feare and flyenge agaynst Gods commaundemēt is nothynge els but a declaryng of a greate and sore
vnbelefe that men do not beleue and trust in God that he can and wyll delyuer And thus is verifyed the sayenge The vngodly haue no peace Esay lvii For yf we wyll feare and flye where no parell is whan wyll we then bestowe oure lyues for oure neghbours as Christ hath done for vs we also be bounde to do lykewyse .i. Io. iii. Who so now desyreth to escape the wrath of God thys horrible plage let hym not axe his own reason how he shal do but beleue follow the word of God which teacheth hym not to flye euell ayre infecte places which he maye well do neuerthelesse he remayneth yet vncertayne wheter it helpeth or no but it teacheth hym to leaue of from synne as from the very originall cause of thys plage and punyshment and by true repentaunce and amendemēt of lyuyng to walke agayne in the ryght waye For that is the onely sure wholsome flyenge in thys daūgerous tyme wherby a man may escape thys plage But whyther a man ought to flye therof wyll we heare the holy gooste by the prophete in thys psalm He knoweth it much better then we can thynke and sayeth after thys maner Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest and abydeth vnder the shado we of the almyghtye He sayeth vnto the LORDE My hope and my stronge holde My God on Whom I hope For he delyuereth me from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence These wordes my moste dearely beloued shall ye take to hart and marke them well wyth all diligence For they be not the wordes of men whyche can lye and deceaue Hewbeyt though they were mens wordes some olde wyse man spake them or some well learned physician ye wolde not yet despyse them but receaue and kepe them But now be they the very wordes of the hye maiestye of God which the holy goost speaketh by the mouth of the prophete And they teach vs whether we ought to flye for thys plage that we maye be safe And certaynly they must nedes be the very truth For heauen and earth must passe but my wordes shall not passe sayeth the LORDE But that ye maye vnderstande them ryght and well ye shall remembre that it is the vse of the holy scripture specially in the psalmes to declare one meanynge with two maner of sayenges as ye haue oft tymes herde For so doth the prophete here sayeth Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest and abydeth vnder the shadow of the almyghtye To syt vnder the defence of the hyghest For to syt vnder the defence of the hyghest is euen as much to saye as to abyde vnder the shadow of the almyghtie And with these wordes meaneth the holy prophet nothynge els but who so putteth hys truste in God with aryght sure Christē belefe geueth hymselfe ouer into his proteccion and defence For such people doth God receaue to grace thē holdeth he for his owne deare chyldren and euen so they be and geueth them his holy sprete whiche worketh in them very saluacion and godly workes Therfore remayneth he also vpō them and all thynges must serue for theyr wealth as Paule sayeth Rom. viii Suche proteccion also and defence of God is set forth vnto vs euery where in the scripture as an ouershadowyng coueryng with wynges For lyke as the two Cherubins spred out theyr winges ouer the Arke Exod. xxxvii Euen so doth God sprede out the wynges of hys protectiō ouer hys electe Therfore sayeth Moses Deuter. xxxii Lyke as an Aegle steareth vp hys nest and flyeth ouer hys yonge ones so spredde he out hys fethers and bare hys people vpon hys wynges After this maner spake the holy angell Gabriell also vnto the mooste blessed and pure virgyn Mary whā she shulde be the mother of God The holy goost shall come vpon the and the power of the hyghest shall ouershadowe the Luc. i. In lyke maner spake Christ also vnto Jerusalē How oft wolde I haue gathered thy chyldren together as an henne gathereth hyr chekens vnder hir winges ye wold not Mat. xxiii For though a true beseuyng man be in dede the temple of God God dwelleth in hym yet vseth the scripture oft to speak therof as though he dyd flye aboue vs in asmuche as he doth ouershadow couer defende vs and that because the heauen and the heauen of all heauens as Salomon sayeth can not comprehende nor conteyn hym .iii. Reg. iii. But though he dwelleth in vs yet flyeth he wyde hye and lowe not only on the outsyde of vs but also on the outsyde and ouer all creatures And so in all these wordes ther is nothynge els sayde but who so euer is a ryght beleuynge Christen Marke nowe then that he sayeth not Who so is wyse strōge ryche whole or well frended Nother sayeth he also who so kepeth hym selfe thence or flyeth thether holdeth hym selfe well or vseth good phisycke but who so putteth hys trust in God Not that the foresayd good thynges be euell or maye not be had or vsed wyth profyte But that they where fayth is not may euen as soone do harme as good are in no wyse able to delyuer from the wrath of God But what doth the beleuer He sayeth vnto the LORDE my hope They that misvse Gods creatures cōmitte spiritual whordome But this do not the vngodly and vnbeleuers but set theyr hope in the forsayd poyntes put theyr trust in them and boast theron and so commyt spiritual whoredom therwith and make ydols therof But to God do not they lyfte vp theyr eyes nother thynke they vpon hym nor feare hym And whan he commeth then with hys wrath and ouertaketh them wyth a plage so that of necessite they must nedes thynke vpon hym than feare they and be afrayed of hym flye away and knowe not where to abyde Then vanysheth awaye theyr hope and boastynge whych they in tyme of prosperite had vnto the creatures Horrible is the death and ende of the vnryghteous And so commeth it to passe that theyr wysedome hath ben playne foolyshnesse theyr strength theyr own mysfortune theyr ryches theyr owne destruccion theyr health theyr owne harme theyr frēdes theyr owne ypocrytes traytours Sapie iii. ‡ Jo. viii a Psal i. b Pro. x. a. and. xi a Eccls v b Jacob. i. b ‡ And all that whyche they trusted vnto can not helpe thē Whan they wolde hyde themselues on the backsyde therof it is euen as much as whan one hydeth hym behynde a ladder And whan they wolde seke helpe thereby it is euen lyke as yf a wolfe shuld defēde a shepe or a goose But thus goeth it not wyth the beleuer for who so putteth hys trust in the LORDE shal not be cōfounded Therfore sayeth he not only that the LORDE is his hope but also hys stronge holde whyche he maye flye vnto in the whyche he maye shutte hymselfe close and be delyuered therin As Salomon sayeth in the .xviii.
tyll it haue done the harme The more daungerous the pestilence is the more excellent is the promyse Therfore the more daungerous and noysome that the plage is the better more excellent is the promyse that no man shulde haue cause to despayre For how might God make vs a more excellent and fayrer promyse then that he promyseth to delyuer frō the pestilence vs that be hys chyldren and that we nede not to be afrayed therof though a thousande dye of the same at oure left syde and ten thousāde at our ryght syde Yet shall it not reach vnto vs yf we do but beleue thys promyse and let it be oure speare and shylde For yf we so do then shall suche poysoned arowes eyther not hytte vs at all or els not wounde vs to death The sycknesse that destroyeth in the noone daye Fourthly God wyll also preserue hys chyldren from the sycknesse that destroyeth in the noone daye For the noone day whan the Sonne is at the strongest is cause of muche heate and feuerous sycknesse specyally in those contryes where the Sonne ryseth hye and commeth nye ouer mens heades For greate heate bryngeth much sweate consumeth and altereth the bloude causeth inordinate drynkynge and maketh that the people are gladde to coole thē selues agayne foolyshly Wherout then aryse all maner of perlous diseases whyche be not very vnlyke the sycknesse of the pestilence Now whether it be feare of the nyght or arowe of the daye whether it be pestilence or sycknesse that commetht by the euel South wynde or what plage it wyl that lyeth vpon the worlde because of theyr synnes God the LORDE wyll preserue hys faythfull there from or delyuer them from it and that shall come to passe so certaynly and so wonderfully that as the Prophete sayeth thoughe a thousande fal at thy left syde and ten thousāde at thy ryghte syde yet shal it not touche the. Thys is doutlesse a louynge mercifull cōfortable and fayre promyse wheron oure hart by reason shulde truste and chefely reioyce in the same For he that speaketh it is Almyghty and true therfore shulde we by reason geue exedence vnto hym For we can do God no greater dyshonoure then to dyspayre in hys holy worde We oughte therfore to be much more afrayed of the inordinate feare then of death it selfe for death can not hurt vs in asmuch as we thorowe baptyme are grafted and buryed vnto like death with Christ Fearfulnesse doth moost hurte But fearfulnesse whych is nothynge els but an vnbelefe maye harme vs and brynge vs into imprudence Wherfore my moost dearely beloued take these promyses to harte strength youre hart mynde and vnderstandynge therewyth and be not fayntharted So shal ye proue by experience that God is true and faythfully perfourmeth that whyche he promyseth And that ye maye the more easely beleue it I wyll declare it vnto youre charite by a symilytude howe it commeth to passe and whence it spryngeth that a ryght faythfull Christen man can be so safe and fre from all these plages For it is good to vnderstande and comfortable to knowe A similitude of the darckenesse of the nyght Youre charyte seyth and proueth dayly by experience howe myghtye horrible thynge the darknesse of the nyght is For whan it falleth it couereth all the whole world darkeneth the coloure and fashion of all creatures captiuateth all men and beastes lyuyng that they must be styll and rest yee maketh them fayntharted and fearfull and so of all thynges it is a myghty inuincible tyraunt whom no mā may withstāde Neuerthelesse it is not yet so myghtye that it can darken ouerwhelme and quench the least lyght that is founde in the worlde For we se that the darker the nyght is the clearer do the starres shyne The candle lyghte ouercommeth darknesse Yee the leest candle lyght that is lyghted withstandeth the whole nyght suffreth not onely the darknesse not to couer or oppresse it but geueth lyght euē in the myddes of the darknesse and smyteth it backe a certayne space on euery syde and thyther as it is borne must darknesse depart and geue place vnto the lyghte all the power and fearfulnesse therof can not helpe agaynst it And though a lyght be so weake that it geueth not lyght farre aboute it nother can smyte the darknesse abacke as the sparke of an whotecole yet can not the darknesse couer it much lesse to quenche it but it geueth lyght it selfe alone so that it maye be sene a farre of in the darknesse and remayneth vnouercome of the same though it cā not helpe other thynges nor geue lyght vnto them Yee that yet more wonderfull is a rotten shynynge pece of woode whiche neuerthelesse hath the fayntest lyghte that can be founde remayneth inuincible of all the power of darcknesse and the more it is compassed aboute wyth darcknesse the clearer lyght it geueth so lytle can darcknesse ouer come or hold downe ony lyght but it ruleth vanquysheth and expelleth the darkenesse whych els ouerwhelmeth snareth putteth all thynges in feare A similitude of a sprynge of a well Euen so lykewyse doth a well sprynge also for there maye we se how a lytle vayne of water breaketh out of the grounde somewhere scarce so great as a fynger And whan it is closed in rounde aboute that the water maye gather together and must nedes be a dych or a pyt yet spryngeth it neuerthelesse And though the water be certayne hundreds weyght aboue the sprynge yet maye not it dryue the sprynge backe but the sprynge dryueth the whole burthen of the water backe and aboue it selfe and spryngeth styll more and more tyll the pole flow ouer And yf the other water be foule and vncleane it cā not myxte it selfe vnder the freshe clere water of the sprynge but it remayneth clere tyll it come farther abrode from the fyrste heade therof as it maye all be sene wyth eyes and also be proued by daylye experience Yf a naturall lyghte then be so myghtye agaynste the darkenesse of the nyghte an earthen well sprynge so stronge in stryuynge agaynst all standynge waters howe muche more doth it then the true euerlastynge and heauenly lyght and the onely inuyncible sprynge of all lyfe namely God the LORDE oure maker and Sauioure God is a 〈◊〉 lyghte That God is the true euerlastynge and heauenly lyght wytnesseth Ihon the euāg elist in the fyrst Chapter sayeth God was the worde in hym was the lyfe and the lyfe was the lyghte of men Lykewyse also in hys Canonicall epistle in the fyrst Chapter God is lyght and in hym is no darknesse God is a quicke sprynge In lyke maner That he is the onely inuincyble sprynge of all lyfe wytnesseth the prophete Ieremy in the seconde chapter For there sayeth the LORDE My people commytteth a dubble synne they forsake me the lyuynge sprynge of lyfe and make them selues fayre welles whyche neuerthelesse geue no water And Dauid sayeth in the