Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	life_n	love_n	love_v	2,826	5	6.6025	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17689	Of the life or conuersation of a Christen man, a right godly treatise, wyrtten [sic] in the latin tonge, by maister Iohn Caluyne, a man of ryghte excellente learnynge and of no lesse godly conuersation. Translated into English by Thomas Broke Esquier Paymaister of Douer. An[no] M. D. XLix. The first day of Ianuary	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Broke, Thomas.	1549 (1549)	STC 4436; ESTC S110975	42,086	164

dedicate theÌ„ wyth our handes vnto the geuer of them it is plaine that the abuse is euil which sauoreth not of suche dedicacion or appliyng of them Yea but thou wylte saye that thou shouldeste to no purpose make oure Lorde ryche wyth the departiuge from thy substaunce vnto hym Wel then syth thy liberalitie can not extende vnto hym Pâ— xvi as the prophete sayeth thou muste exercise the same vpon his holy ons or sainctes whyche lyue here in earth Furthermore leste we shoulde be wery of wel doinge whiche thynge by and by muste els needes come to passe vnto thys muste be added also the other thynge whiche the Apostle speaketh of charitie to be pacient not sone stirred to wrath Our Lorde commauÌ„deth vs to do good vniuersally to al men of whom a greate part are very vnworthy if they should be estemed after their owne desertes here the scripture healpeth by a strong reason when it teacheth that of vs is not to be regarded what meÌ„ of them selues deserue but in al men the Image of god is to be considered vnto whom we owe al honour loue But yet in those of the houshold of fayth the same ymage is most diligently to be had in reuereÌ„ce because that by the spirite of Christ it is renued and repared Therfore what soeuer man be offered vnto the whiche lacketh thy healpe thou haste no cause why thou shouldest let to bestow thy selfe vpoÌ„ hym Say he is an Alyaunt or a stranger yea but oure Lorde hath set vpon hym a marke whiche thou oughtest to be acquaynted or familiar with saye he is in no estimation nor any thynge worth no but oure Lorde sheweth hym to be one vnto whom he hath vouchsaued to geue the honoure of his lykenes Saye thou arte not bounde to hym by any benefite that he hath done the no but god hath as in his owne stede appoynted hym in suche sorte that towards hym thou shouldeste consider and as muche as in the lieth requite the whole goodnes and great benefites for the whyche thou arte bound vnto God him selfe saye he is vnworthye that for hys cause thou shouldeste laboure any thynge at all but the image of God whereby he is set before the is worthy that thou shouldest geue vnto him thy self and all thyne Nowe if he haue not onely deserued at thy hande no goodnes but hath also prouoked the wyth wronges and hurt yet is thys no iuste cause wherefore thou shouldeste seace boeth to loue hym and to execute the workes of loue vpon hym He hath thou wylte saye deserued farre other wyse at my hande Yea but what hath oure Lorde deserued Who while he biddeth the to forgeue hym what so euer he hath offended agaynste the wol surely recken it euen as forgeueÌ„ to him self Surely by this one waye men come vnto that thynge whiche is not only hard vnto mannes nature but also vtterly agaynste it to wytte that we loue them whyche beare hatered vnto vs that we requite euylles wyth goodnes and rendre blessynges for curssynges by thys one waye I saye we atteyne therunto if we remembre that we maye not regarde the malice of men but muste behold in theÌ„ the ymage of god whiche Image their synnes being hid blotted out oughte to allure vs hertely to loue and imbrace theÌ„ for the bewtie worthynes of it Therefore thys mortification shall then onely take place in vs if we haue feruente charitie but he hath so not that alonly doth execute all the offices or partes of charitie thoughe he pretermitte none but he that of a pure affectioÌ„ of loue doeth the same for it maye be that some man paye fully to all men what so he oweth them so farre as belongeth to the outwarde dutie and neuertheles he maye the whylest be far froÌ„ the true maner of paying For thou maiest se sone who wyll seme very liberall who yet geue nothing which with a proud couÌ„tenauÌ„ce yea loftines of wordes to thei cast not a man in the teeth with afterwardes And vnto this calamity in this our vnhappy daies is it come that almoste no almes at the leste way of the most part of meÌ„ is geuen without rebukes or tauÌ„tes which frowardnesse or churlyshnes oughte not to be tollerable no not amonge Ethnikes for of christeÌ„ meÌ„ there is somwhat more required then that they shal shewe a cherefulnes in their couÌ„tenaunce with familiaritie of wordes cause the thing whiche they of dutie do to be wel taken For first they must beholde the parson of hym whoÌ„ thei perceiue to lacke their helpe and euen so muste pitie his necessitie as if they them selues felt and suffered it so that by the felynge of mercy coÌ„passion they may be no otherwyse desirous to healpe hym then if he were theÌ„selfe Who soeuer being thus encouraged cometh to healpe his bretherne he not onely shal not with any lostines or casting in the teeth defile the doinge of his duty toward his neighbour but also shal not despise his brother to whom he doeth a good turne as one that lacketh his healpe nor shal therfore brynge hym in subiection as one greatly bounde vnto hym for it No more surely then either we reioyce that a membre of oure bodye is sycke when to the healpynge of it the reste of the bodie laboureth or elles thynke that membre speciallie bounde to the other membres because it hath had more laboure done vnto it then it hath requited For the commune ministration of the membres in doinge of their offices one to an other is beleued to haue nothynge that it loketh to be recompensed for agayne But rather reckeneth the same to be a payinge of that thynge whiche by the lawe of nature is owynge and due By thys meanes also shall it come to passe that he shall not thynke hym selfe quitte or discharged whiche hath done in one maner his dutie as it is comonly wont to come to passe that a worldely ryche man after he hath geuen somewhat of his to the poore he wyll appoynte vnto other men the other charges as thoughe they nothynge belonge to hym But thus rather shal euerye maÌ„ thynke wyth hym selfe that how great so euer he be he oweth him selfe to hys neyghbours that he must appointe no other tyme of seacynge to shewe mercy and freÌ„dship vnto them but only theÌ„ wheÌ„ he lacketh powre and habilitie to do it which habilitie how much it is is to be limited after the rule of charitie Now let vs declare the chief parte of deniynge of oure selfe whyche we sayde dyd perteyne vnto god Mani thinges are alredy spokeÌ„ touching it which to repete were in vaine It shal suffice to speake of it so far forth as it teacheth vs equanimitie patientnes that is to saye a quiet moderatioÌ„ of mynde that is neither extolled in prosperitye nor discoÌ„forted in aduersitie but taketh al thinges in good parte In the beginning therfore in the seeking either of the coÌ„moditie or the

naturall man be tamed and vsed as it were wyth a yoke lest stubbournli as the very propertie of it is it waxe as wylde as â— bucke of Sherewod is not the iustice and truth of God worthy that we shoulde labour and take payne to know it nowe if the vndoubted equitie and ryghtuousnesse of God appeareth in oure aflictions we can not without iniquitie either murmure or resist against them We allowe not nowe this colde songe or faynte excuse saiynge we wyl geue place because we caÌ„ not chuse but rather this lyuely teachynge full of efficacie thynkyng thus we wyl obey because it is wickednes to resist or murmure we wyl patiently suffre it because impatience is a stubbournes against Gods iustice Nowe because that thing at the lest way pleaseth vs wel whiche we thinke is for our owne helth and aduauntage or goodnes in this behalfe also oure good father coÌ„forteth vs while he affirmeth that in that he aflicteth vs with a crosse he worcketh oure health saluatioÌ„ â˜ž TheÌ„ if this be once of a suretie that tribulations healpe vs to saluation wherfore shoulde we not receiue them wyth a thankful and ioyful mynde wherefore in the patient sufferynge of them we are not ouercharged or greuouslie burdened with necessitie but we leane coÌ„descend or agree vnto theÌ„ yea recreate our selues with the goodnes yâ— cometh to vs by them These thoughtes I saye cause that somuch as our myndes are dismayed in the crosse by the natural feelinge of the griefe so much agayne are they chered with spirituall gladnes whereupon also followeth geuyng of thankes which caÌ„ neuer be wythout ioye in the thynge that the same thankes are geuen for Wherefore if the praysing of our Lord and geuynge of thankes vnto hym can not flowe but from a glad and mery hert and againe there oughte nothynge to interrupt or hyndre that prayse and thankes in vs hereupon it appeareth how necessary it is that the griefe of the crosse be tempered wyth spiritual gladnes But with what soeuer kind of tribulation we be oppressed alwayes we muste loke to thys ende that we coÌ„tinually vse our selues to sette litle store by thys present lyfe by that meanes be stirred to the coÌ„teÌ„placion of the lyfe to come And because oure Lorde knoweth very wel howe greatly we are by nature bente vnto the blinde and beastly loue of this world he geueth vs very good cause to plucke ourselues backe therfrom and to shake of our slugishnes leste we shoulde sticke to faste in the same loue There is none of vs whiche wyl not seme greatly to desire endeuoure all this short course of his lyfe to atteyne to heauenly immortalitie For we are ashamed to passe in nothynge brute beastes whose condition or state shoulde be nothynge worse then ours if we had not assured hope of euerlastyng lyfe after the natural death here But if yâ— examin the couÌ„sailes purposes mindes and deedes of euery man thou shalt fynde no other thyng there but earth And there vpon commeth suche lacke of felynge that oure mynde beinge ouercome dased by the vayne glitteringe of riches powre and honours as dimmed so that it seeth no furder of yea and oure herte being set on couetousenes desire of honour and vnlaufull lustes is so pressed downe that it ryseth no higher finally the hole soule beynge caughte in a snare wyth the flatterynge intisementes of the fleshe or naturall man seketh in earth hir hole felicitie Oure Lorde to healpe thys mischeife wythall by dayly documentes or lessons of miserie teacheth vnto his the vanitie of thys life Therfore lest thei shuld promesse to them selues greate and sure peace in it and so rekeÌ„ with out their hoste he suffereth them often tymes to be vnquited and troubled eyther with war or vprores or robryes or other iniuries yea lest with to much gredynes they shoulde gape on vnstable and transitorye riches or else wheÌ„ they haue them shoulde put their trust in them he driueth theÌ„ sometime by banishement sometime by barreÌ„nes of th earth somtime by burning of their houses and sometyme by other meanes into pouertye or at leste waye keepeth them backe in a meane state leste they shoulde be ouer muche delighted in the commodites of mariage either with the biternes or vnthriftines of their husbondes or the shrewdnes or naughtines of ther wyues he causeth them to be vexed or by euel chyldreÌ„ bringeth them lowe and abateth their pride or by takinge their chyldren from them afflicteth theÌ„ Nowe if in al these thynges he somewhat cocker or spare them for all that leaste eyther throughe folyshe reioysinge they shoulde waxe proude or throughe truste in those thinges shoulde excedingely reioyse he setteth before their eyes at the leaste way be other mens deseases and daungers howe vnstedfaste and slypper are all those goodes as men cal them which are transitorye or subiect to mortalitie Therfore then only haue we well profited in the doctrine of the crosse when we learne that thys lyfe when we esteme it in it selfe only is vnquiet troublesom innumerable wayes miserable and no waye thorowly blessed or happie and that all the thinges whyche be called the goodes of it are vncerteyne transitorye vayne yea and defiled with many myngled myscheffes what thereupon we do there wyth decre nothynge here to be soughte for or hoped but conflicte or batayl and therefore that our eyes ought to be lyfte vp vnto heaueÌ„ where we loke to haue a crowne â˜ž For thys we must reken the minde neuer to be ernestely lyfte vp vnto the desier and contemplacion of the lyfe to come except it be fyrst taught to dispise or set light by thys preseÌ„t lyfe For betwen the these two ther is no midle poynte but eyther the earth must be estemed of vs as vile or else it wyll keape vs bounde vnto it wyth an inordinate loue Therefore if we haue any desier of euerlastinge lyfe we must diligentely loke vnto thys that we maye vnshakell oure selues out of these noughty giftes Furthermore because thys presente lyfe hath many pleasant toyes wherby entiseth vs many outwarde apparaunces of pleasures and of gyftes and of thynges swete in taste whereby it flattereth or inticeth vs strokynge oure heades and calling vs goldpolles it standeth vs muche vpon euer nowe and then to cal our selues backe lest we be bewitched with suche pleasaunt disceitfulnes or disceitful pleasure â˜ž For howe woulde the worlde go wyth vs I praye ye yea howe would we dote vpon it if we shoulde haue here continual aboundaunce of goodes and felicitie when with continuall prickes and scabbes of euyls we can not inough be moued to considre the miserie of thys lyfe Mans lyfe to be lyke a smoke or shadowe is not onely knowen to learned men but also the coÌ„moÌ„ people vse no prouerbe more in their mouthes And because they sawe it was a thing very profitable to be knowen thei haue commended it or set it forth wyth many goodly sentences

agaynste it and mayest see the vilenes of thy sinnes to be excedyng greate by the punishemente that is thretened theruÌ„to which is the curse of god and euerlastynge dampnation Unto the knowledge of sinne Rom. iii. c. by the lawe are broughte not onely the faythful but also the wicked But in deede it worketh in either of them coÌ„trary effectes For the vngodly when by the law is declared vnto them the ryghtuous wyl of God and the punishment that is due to the transgressours of the same they streighte waye either vtterly dispayre of the mercy of God whiche of al synnes is the greatest or els turning their hertes awaye froÌ„ that holy lawe Gen. iiii b. Mat. xxvii a whiche should be a lyght to their feete to lead theÌ„ vnto ryghtuousnes they geue theÌ„ selues ouer into securitie of synne murmuring agaynst God the geuer of the law Ephe. iiii c. Rom. iiii c But contrawise the faythful wheÌ„ by the law they knowe them selues innumerable wayes traÌ„sgressours are theÌ„ by it Rom. iii. c Gal. ii d. as by a scole maister broughte vnto Christe But theÌ„ wher before by the lawe they saw their offeÌ„ces to be hainous great Heb ix d. Ro. vii d now by the price the was payed for their raunsome the vilenes of theÌ„ appearth more horrible and greuous a greate deele so that they are vtterly dismayed and as it were in an extasy therby But considre marke well that then they herken and geue eare mooste gladlye vnto Christ. Ie. iii. d. Who sayth he that beleueth in me hath euerlastynge lyfe O most merciful promes most confortable newes He saieth also Mat. xi d. come vnto me al ye the laboure and are ladeÌ„ and I wyll refreshe you O moste ioyefull voyce to theÌ„ that are burthened with fear of hel paynes for the iust reward of their sinnes ther owne consiences witnessinge agaynste theÌ„ But howe wil he refreshe them for soth meruelously Rom. ii c Ro. iii c. d Iohn iii c Mat. x. c. for he promiseth vnto al that beleue in him firste fre forgeuenes of their sinnes secondarily after this life euerlasting ioye and thirdli whil thei lyue in this wretched world to kepe and defend them so that one here of theyr head cannot be minished without his wyl pleasure Rom. viii c yea and therwithal promyseth to turne vnto the beaste for them what so euer thyng at any tyme shal come to them either by the deuyll or any other euyl creature Me thinke I here the say if I were assured to atteyne this greate mercy at Goddes hande then shoulde I haue greate ioye in my herte I answere considre dearely beloued two thynges fyrste Io. iii. c. that it is God that hath made the promise who is faythfull and can no more cease to be true i. Cor. i. â— Nu. xxiii c. then he can cease to be god therefore he wyll fulfyll his promise for his truethes sake Mat. xi d Iâ— iii. c. Ro. iii c. d Mat. x. â— Ga. iii. d And agayne considre that he hath made that promise to all that beleue it to be true Nowe why doest thou not then beleue it thou doubtest peraduenture of thy fayth lest it be but an opinion well I shal tel the or rather I haue told the already and nowe once agayne I do tell the howe thou mayest know and feele whether it be a lyuely fayth For if it worcke in thy hert a lothsomnes of thy synne and a desyre to do goddes wyll ' then arte thou sure that thou haste a true fayth for thy repentaunce on the one syde and thy desyre to worcke rygtuously on the other side do testify it yea that thou hast already and as I maye saye or euer thou arte ware obteyned goddes mercy for they are the ryghte fruite of a lyuely fayeth Ro v. a. yea onely Eph. v. c of suche a fayeth as through the holy goste hath apprehended mercy and of suche a conscience as wherein the same spirite who is the earnest of euer lastynge lyfe doth dwel for euer Haste thou not nowe cause then to haue greate ioye in thy herte Ro. xiili c naye rather howe canst thou but haue excedynge greate ioye and Phi. iiii d. the peace of god also whiche passeth all vnderstandynge Thus thou seest the fayth is not a vayne opinion but an assured coÌ„fideÌ„ce of thinges hoped for and of thinges whiche are not seene And what is more to be hoped for or lesse can be seene then God hym selfe then fayth is an assurednes and a certentie of the hauyng of god yea of hauynge God to be oure mercifull father oure tenderly louynge brother and sauiour our continually present and moste strongest comforter Hym therefore of a thankefulnesse for his mercy and goodnes let vs al our lyfe long so vnfeinedly loue that our lyfe and conuersation maye declare that we haue thus tasted of his plentuouse mercye and in is holye ryghtuous and good lawe lette oure meditation be daye and nyghte And nowe that we maye the more redilie walke therein beholde we haue here before oure eyes the conuersation of a trewe beleuer or Christian so godlie so playnlie and so learnedlie sette forth that if we shall expresse the same in oure selues we shall declare that we are not feyned Christians but worthy warryours of Iesu Christe agaynst selfe loue synne and Sathan And furthermore we shal shewe that Christ by fayeth dwelleth in oure hertes not idelly but workynge yea myghtelie workynge being neuer vnlyke vnto hym selfe so that nowe thou shalt in thy lyfe and conuersation shewe thy selfe an other certeyne Christe vnto thy neighbour in so muche that where Christe came into thys worlde and bestowed hym selfe vpon vs and to oure vses euen so Christ wyll nowe do the same in vs as once he dyed for vs euen so wyll he kyndle in oure hertes a loue to oure bretherne and that in so sure feruÌ„et wyse that we shall reioyse not onely to be euyll spoken of or to suffre losse of goodes or imprisonment but allo if neede require to suffre death for their sakes Thou wylt say I am weake and fraile I am not able to do thus no. But haue fayth and thou shalte be stronge Io xvi g. for all thynges are possible to hym that beleueth and thou arte able to do al thynges thorugh him that strengtheneth the dwelleth in the. Therfore merueilous thynges shal he do by the his instrument For as when Christe was conuersaunte here on earth he lette nothynge passe hym whereby he myghte expresse his great loue towardes vs euen so nowe Christe shall likewise be mynded in the as theÌ„ for oure loue Christe was scourged crucified and put to open shame euen so nowe Christe shal be pacient and sufferynge in the as then Christe moste liberally gaue hym selfe and all that he had vnto vs while we were synners and his enemies euen so nowe Christe

faithfull man in these thynges also muste behold the mercy and very fatherly loue of God Therefore if he se his owne house left alone al his neighbours beinge taken away yet then he shal not cease to praise the Lord but rather shal turne hym selfe to this thought for all thys the grace or mercie of oure Lorde whiche dwelleth in my house shall not leaue it desolate or yf his corne being blasted with lyghtenyng or destroyed wyth cold or beaten downe wyth hayle he see famin to be at hande yet for al that he shall not be discomforted in his hert nor shall murmure against God but in thys sure truste shal stande faste thynkynge we yet be in the Lordes keepynge and be sheepe bred vp in his folde he therefore wyll minister vnto vs fode yea in moste greatest barennes Or if he shall be visited wyth sycknes he then shall not be so ouercome thorowe the greuousnes of his sorowe that he shoulde breake forth into impatientnesse and so shoulde chyde or fynde faulte wyth God But consideryng in the rodde of god boeth iustice and mercie he wyl call hym selfe backe to patient receyuynge of it And finally what so euer shall happen because he shal knowe that it is ordeyned by the hande of God he shall take it wyth a ioyfull and thankful hert And shal not stubournly withstande the commaundemente and pleasure of him vnder whose powre he hath once willingly throweÌ„ hym selfe and al thinges that be his First of all lette be caste awaye out of christen mens hertes the folishe and most miserable consolation of the infidels who to strengthen the mynde agaynst aduersities dyd impute them vnto sodayne chaunce and fortune agaynst which to murmure or to be angry they thought it folishnes because it was in vaine and to no purpose for so muche as fortune being blynd did wound them that sorowed aswell as them that sorowed not But contrariwise this is the rule of godlines or true honouringe of God to thinke that the onely haÌ„d of god is the iudge or orderer of both the fortunes or states to wit of prosperitie aduersitie and that he ruÌ„neth not forth headlynge in a rage without al coÌ„sideratioÌ„ but by most true ordre of iustice appointeth both the good thinges and the euyll Yea yet higher must a godly mind asceÌ„d to wit thither as Christ calleth his disciples that euery man take vp his owne crosse For who soeuer our Lord hath choseÌ„ to his childreÌ„ hath vouchsaued that they shoulde haue felowship with his thei must prepare theÌ„ selues to a life or coÌ„uersatioÌ„ very hard full of labor vnquiet stuffed ful of many sundry kindes of euyls Truly it is the wyl of our heauenly father to exercise his children after this sort that he may haue sure experience or tryall of them yea begynynge at Christe his fyrst and onely begotten naturall sonne he kepeth the same ordre and way wyth all his childreÌ„ For where he was his sonne before al other beloued and in whom the fathers mynde was fully at reste and well pleased yet we see how he was delt with al not dayntely and wantonly that it maye truly be spoken not only that he was exercised wyth a continuall crosse so longe as he dwelte vpon the earth but also that his whole lyfe was nothynge elles but the representation of a continuall crosse Wherfore then do we go about to rydde oure selues out of that state or condition into whiche it was necessarie that Christe our heade shoulde entre specially syth he intred into it onely for oure cause to the entente that eueÌ„ in hym selfe he would shewe vnto vs an example of pacience Wherfore the Apostle teacheth that all the chyldren of God Rom. viii are appoynted vnto thys ende to wytte to be made lyke vnto Christe whereupon also thys very excellent consolation commeth vnto vs that in harde thynges and sharpe the whiche are counted vnfortunate and euyll we suffre wyth Christe that euen as he from the hurlepole of al euylles wente into celestial glorie so by sundry tribulatioÌ„s we myghte be brought into the same Phi. iii For thus sayeth the same Paul in another place whyle we learne to suffre wyth hym we therwyth laye hande vpon the powre of the resurrection and whyle we be made lyke vnto his death we so be prepared vnto the felowship of his resurrection Howe muche is thys able to aswage make pleasauÌ„t al the bitternes of the crosse that the more we be aflicted with aduersities trobles the more certeÌ„ly our fellowship with christ is coÌ„firmed by suffering with whom our sufferinges and aduersities be not only made blessed or happie vnto vs but also thei greatly helpe to the atteyning of our saluatioÌ„ Put hereunto that our Lorde had no neede to take vpon hym the bearyng of the crosse but did for our sakes testifie acknowledge to the father his obedieÌ„ce But we haue many waies nede to leade our lyfe in a continuall crosse for fyrst as by nature we are to muche enclined to attribute all thynges vnto our fleshe or the onely naturall man so except our weaknes as it were with an eye be shewed vnto vs we do sone esteme oure owne powre or streÌ„gth more then it is doubte not what so euer may happeÌ„ the same oure strength to be able to endure it yea and thynke that is it is inuincible against al daungers Wherupon we are lift vp into a folishe vayne coÌ„fidence or truste of the fleshe or naturall maÌ„ wherein while we trust stoburnly by by we waxe proude against god him self as though our owne powres were at the full sufficieÌ„t for vs yea wythout his grace Thys arrogancy or presumptuousnes can not better be beaten downe then when we learne by expererieÌ„ce how much both weaknes frailnes is in vs. Therfore either with reproch or pouertie or losse of freÌ„des or wyth sycknes or other calamities he scourgeth vs whiche to susteyne we as touchynge oure owne powre are farre vnable so are ouerthrowen therewyth And beinge so brought lowe we lerne to cal for the powre of him who only vnder the heuye burden of oure afflictions maketh vs to endure Yea the most holy men or seintes here in earth how so euer they knowe them selues to stande by the mercy of God not by ther owne strengthes yet they trust to muche in ther owne strength and stedfastnes except our Lorde by triall of the crosse do brynge them into a more inward knowledge of them selues Because therfore in prosperitie they do flatter them selues wyth an opinion of greater stedfastnes and pacience then in dede they haue they be made humble by aduersities and so lerne that it was Ipocrisye By suche documentes I say when the fayth full be warned of ther diseases they atteyne to lowlines of hert that castinge of the stoborne confidence of the fleshe or naturall man they maye get them to the grace and mercy of God Furthermore

But almoste there is nothyng but either we weigh it to negligently or remembre it to litle For we go aboute all thynges as though we ordeined vnto oure selues immortalitie here in earth If ani corse be brought forth or if we walke among graues because then the Image of death is preseÌ„t before oure eyes excellently I coÌ„fesse we reason and dispute of the vanitie and frailnes of thys lyfe though yet we do not thys alwaye for many tymes al these thynges moue vs nothynge at all But when it happeneth that suche thynges moue vs the consideration is very shorte the whiche alas as sone as oure backes be turned is quite gone leaueth hehinde it no maner of token that once we remembred it for we forget not onely death but also that we are mortall Yea and as though we had neuer hearde tel of the mater or knew what it ment we be lulled and rocked in a safenes or retchlesnes of earthie inmortalitye If any man the whyleste reherse this prouerbe that man is here to day and gone to morow in dede we acknowlege the same but yet with out hauing any consideratioÌ„ therof so that the thinkinge of coÌ„tiuÌ„ance here doth neuertheles abyde styll in oure myndes Therfore now who denieth that we haue all verye greate nede I say not by wordes to be warned but by as manye experiences as may be possible to be taught the miserable state of thys earthye lyfe wheÌ„ we now that be taught it whether we wyll or not yet neuertheles we scacely ceasse to be astoned wyth the naughtye and folishe wonderinge at it euen as though it conteined in it all maner of goodnes Nowe if it be nedefull that oure Lorde teache vs thys it is agayne oure duties to geue eare vnto our Lorde while he calleth vs and rebuketh oure slogishnes that the world being despised we may endeuour with all our herte contemplate or behold the lyfe to come But lette the faythfull accostome them selfe to suche a dispising of thys life as neyther may beget hatered of it neyther vnthaÌ„kefulnes towardes God For albeit thys lyfe be ful of neuer so many miseries yet it is not with out cause reckened amonge the good blessings or giftes of God Wherfore if we therin acknowledge or consider no benefite of God we are then giltie of muche vnkindnes against God For the faythful oughte chiefly to beare witnes of Goddes mercie syth the same is wholly apoynted to worke their saluation for before that he sheweth openly vnto vs the enheritaunce of eternal glorie he wyl firste by smaller experimentes declare hym selfe to be a father vnto vs to witte by the good thynges whiche he dayly geueth vnto vs. Therefore syth thys lyfe serueth vs to vnderstande the goodnes of God shal we disdaine or loth it as though it had not a myâ—e or crome of goodnes in it naye Therefore we muste be indued wyth thys vnderstandynge mynde that we nuÌ„bre it among the excellent giftes of goddes mercy kyndnes towardes vs. For if there lacked hereof testimonies of scripture whiche are many very playne yet nature it selfe exhorteth vs to geue thankes to god that he hath brought vs forth in to the light of the same lyfe and that he hath grauÌ„ted vs the vse of it that he geueth vs al maner of helpes necessarie to the coÌ„seruatioÌ„ of it And furthermore there is yet a muche greater cause theÌ„ this if we shall coÌ„sidre that in it we are after a sort prepared vnto the glory of the heaueÌ„ly kingdoÌ„ For thus our Lord hath ordeyned that they whiche in tyme to come shal be crowned in heaueÌ„ shal entre first into coÌ„flict here in earth that they may not triumph but hauing firste ouercome the hardnes of the battail hauing gotteÌ„ the victory And yet there is an other cause to witte that by sundry benefites we may begin in it to tast the swetnes of goddes goodnes mercy towarde vs wherby our hope desire maye be whet and stirred vp longly to loke for the full reueling or openinge of it When this is once decreed that it is the gift of gods mercy that we lyue this terrestiall lyfe that as we be bounde vnto hym for it so we oughte to haue it in remembraunce to be thankful to hym for the same theÌ„ in good time we shal come downe to this poynte I meane to coÌ„sidre the wretched state of it that therby we may be rydde from the ouer gredy desiring of that whereunto we are by nature as I saied of our selues greatly inclined Furthermore what so euer is wythdrawen froÌ„ the naughtie loue of it oughte to be applied vnto the desire of the better life I confesse that they iudged rightly who thought it best not to be borne nexte that very shortly to dye for why what could they se in it that was not vnhappy euyl they beinge destitute of the light of god and true religion or ryght honouryng of god And thei lacked not reason whiche mourned wept at their childrens birth made solemne ioy and reioysyng at their burials But that dyd they wythout profite because lacking the true doctrine of fayth howe that thynge turneth vnto goodnes towards the godly which of it selfe is neither blessed nor worthy to be desired they therefore ended their iudgemeÌ„t in desperatioÌ„ Let this therfore be the marke that the faith ful shote at in the estemynge of thys mortal lyfe that whylest they perceyue it to be of it selfe nothing but miserie and wretchednes the more merily the more redyly lette them therefore gette them selues to the coÌ„templation of the euerlastynge lyfe to come When we once come to the comparinge of these two liues together then truly thys earthye life not alonly is eassely set lyght by but also in consideracion of the heauenly is vtterly contempned and dispised â˜ž For if heauen be oure countrie what other thing is the earth here but a banishemente if the goynge out of the worlde be the enterynge into lyfe what other thynge is the world then a graue in it to tary what is it else but to be drowned in death yf to be deliuered from the body is to be plaÌ„ted into perfect libertie what other thing is the bodye but a prison if to haue the presence of God be the highest some of felicitie is not the lackynge of it miserye And more ouer til we haue escaped clean out of the worlde we be straungers from God ii Cor. v Therefore if the earthye lyfe be compared wyth the heauenly no doubte it wyll sone be sette lyght by or dispised and troden vnder fote But yet it is not to be hated but in that it holdeth vs subiecte vnto synne Although yet that hatred can not properly be turned or applied vnto it For howe soeuer it be yet it becometh vs so onely to loth or hate it that desiringe the ende of it we may also be readie at the Lordes pleasure to abyde in

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