dedicate thē 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 P◠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 commaūdeth 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 mē 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 reuerēce 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 vpō 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 forgeuē 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 thē the ymage of god whiche Image their synnes being hid blotted out oughte to allure vs hertely to loue and imbrace thē 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 affectiō 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 frō the true maner of paying For thou maiest se sone who wyll seme very liberall who yet geue nothing which with a proud coūtenaūce 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 mē is geuen without rebukes or taūtes which frowardnesse or churlyshnes oughte not to be tollerable no not amonge Ethnikes for of christē mē there is somwhat more required then that they shal shewe a cherefulnes in their coūtenaunce 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 whō 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 cōpassion they may be no otherwyse desirous to healpe hym then if he were thēselfe 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 mā 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 frēdship vnto them but only thē whē 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 spokē 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 moderatiō of mynde that is neither extolled in prosperitye nor discōforted in aduersitie but taketh al thinges in good parte In the beginning therfore in the seeking either of the cōmoditie 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 ◠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 cā 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 cōforteth vs while he affirmeth that in that he aflicteth vs with a crosse he worcketh oure health saluatiō ☞ Thē 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 cōdescend or agree vnto thē yea recreate our selues with the goodnes y◠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 cā 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 cōtinually vse our selues to sette litle store by thys present lyfe by that meanes be stirred to the cōtēplacion 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 y◠examin the coūsailes 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 rekē 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 whē they haue them shoulde put their trust in them he driueth thē sometime by banishement sometime by barrēnes 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 chyldrē bringeth them lowe and abateth their pride or by takinge their chyldren from them afflicteth thē 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 heauē where we loke to haue a crowne ☞ 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 presēt 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 ☞ 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 cōmō 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
when they haue once get them hither they haue experience fele the presence of gods powre in the which ther is helpe inough inough agayne And thys is it that Paule teacheth where he sayth tribulatioÌ„s to be get pacience pacience to be get triall for where goddes promise is that he wyl healpe the faythful in trobles that do they proue or fele to be true when beinge strengthened by hys hande they patientely endure the thynge whiche by ther owne powre they were by no meanes able Pacieence therefore bryngeth experience to godly and holy men that oure Lorde doeth in dede when nede is geue the healpe whyche he promised them We se nowe howe manye goodnesses attonce come of the crosse For turninge awaye that opinion of oure owne strength whyche wrongfully we take vpon vs to haue and disclosinge oure Ipocrisie whyche maketh vs to delyghte therein it shaketh of the parelous confidence of the fleshe or naturall man and teacheth vs after we are so once brought downe to truste only in one God wherby it commeth to passe that we nether be ouercome nor yet geue ouer but after the victory there foloweth also hope for so muche as oure Lorde in fulfyllyng that he hath promised doth ratefye stablishe and confirme his trueth touchinge thynges for to come Surely thoughe there were no more causes then these it appereth howe necessarye it is for vs to be exercised wyth the crosse And it is not a thynge of small importaunce the blinde loue of thy selfe to be wyped awaye that thou mayste be made wel to know thin owne wekenes and by feling of thyn own wekenes that thou maist learne to distrust thi selfe that thou maist repose thi assured trust in god and to repose and laye vp thy sure truste in God that hauinge his healpe thou mayst perseuer vnto th ende vnuanquished to perseuer in his grace that thou mayst know him to be true in hys promisses and to knowe assuredly by experience the certentye of hys promises that thy hope thereby maye be strenthened Our Lord hath also another purpose whie he afflicteth and scouregth his to wete that he maye proue there pacience and may teache them obedience Not that they can yelde to him any other obedience then that whych he hym selfe hath geuen them but so it pleaseth him by euident documentes or exaÌ„ples to make the graces and gyftes whych he hath geuen to hys lyuinge seintes or holy men to be boeth knowen and honorable leste they should lurke ydelly within theÌ„ Therefore when he bringeth openly furth the vertu strength of pacience wherewyth he hath instructed hys seruauntes he is sayde to trye their pacience wherupon come these sayinges God proued Abraham Gen. xxiiii and had sure knowledge of hys godlines in that he had not sticked to slay his own only sonne in sacrifice And Peter teacheth that our fayth is tried by tribulatioÌ„s i. Pet. ii no otherwyse then golde is tryed by fyre in a furnes Who therefore can saye that it is not meete that the moste excellent gyfte of patience whiche the faythfull receyue of God be brought forth to the enteÌ„t it may be made certeyne and euident For els men shal neuer esteme it as it is worth Therefore if oure Lorde leste the vertues which he hath bestowed on his faythfull shoulde be hidde in the darke or rather shoulde lye a syde vnprofitably and be loste for lacke of occupiynge doeth rightuously and well when he ministreth matter wherewyth to stir theÌ„ vp then the aflictions of holy men ryse on a good cause yea for wythout it they shoulde haue no patience I say also that by the crosse they be taught obedience because so thei be taught to lyue not after their owne desires but accordynge to goddes pleasure Truly if all thynges shoulde folowe after their owne myndes they should not knowe what it were to folow god And thys Seneca sayth was the olde prouerbe when men exhorted any maÌ„ patiently to beare aduersitie folowe god Wherby truly they dyd signifie that then onely a maÌ„ came vndre gods yoke when he dyd offre his hande or backe to his correction Nowe then if it be good reason that we shewe our selues in al thynges obedient to our heaueÌ„ly father we maye not surely refuse that by al maner of meanes he bring vs in vre to geue due obedience vnto hym Neither do we for all thys perceiue how necessary vnto vs this obedieÌ„ce is except we also coÌ„sidre of how great streÌ„gth force to caste of the yoke of god the waÌ„tonnes of our fleshe or of the natural maÌ„ is after that once it is a litle softly geÌ„tly handled For it fareth altogether wyth it as with horsses but halfe brokeÌ„ which if a fewe daies they stand vp pampered in the stable vnlaboured afterwardes for wyldnes and fersnes can not be tamed neyther knowe they their ryder whose gouernmeÌ„t pleasure before they dyd some what obeye And wythout fayle that thyng is coÌ„tinually in vs which our lord lameÌ„teth to be in the people of Israell Deu xxxii For beinge made fat pampered wyth delicates we wynche and lashe out wyth oure heeles at hym who hath fedde and nourished vs. In deede the liberalitie and kyndnesse of oure Lorde towardes vs oughte greatly to moue vs to consider and hertely to loue his goodnesse But seinge oure wyckednes is suche that by his continuall gentlenes we be the soner corrupted and euyll it is more then necessarie that oure nose be holdeÌ„ to the grynstone and we kepte in by some correction leste we breake out into suche waÌ„toÌ„nes So lest we waxe ferse and wylde by to muche aboundaunce of rychesse leste set vp in honours we waxe proude or leste puft vp wyth other gyftes eyther of the soule or of the bodye or of fortune we waxe insolente and forgette oure selues oure Lorde as he forseeth to be expedient meeteth vs on the waye and healpeth vs and wyth the remedye of the crosse subdueth and bridleth the wyldnesse of oure fleshe or naturall man and that sundrie wayes euen so muche as is needfull for euerie one of vs. For neyther haue we all one disease or be in lykewyse payned in oure syckenes neyther are we of lyke difficultie to be healed Where vpon we may se that some haue one kynde of crosse and some an other layed vpon them But for so muche as the heauenlye phisitioÌ„ desireth the health and saluation of vs al he handleth some veri geÌ„tly purgeth other some wyth verie sharpe remedyes and so letteth none escape scotfree or vntouched because that he knoweth that al yea euery one of vs is sycke Adde hereunto that oure most mercifull father hath neâ—e not onelie to preuente oure infirmitie but also to correcte often tymes oure synnes paste that he maye make vs to couche quayle maye keepe vs in lawfull obedience towardes hym Therefore as often as we be aflicted by by oughte to come to our mynd the
to beare the crosse paciently â–ª is not to be inseÌ„sible as a block to lacke the felyng of all sorowes as the stoykes folyshely discribed hym to be a valiante or stronge man whiche layinge a syde humanitie or the naturall propertie of a man shoulde in aduersitie and prosperite in mirth and heuines be lyke wyse affected or minded yea that lyke a stone shoulde be affected or moued with nothing What goodnes toke thei of this their highe wysdome for sooth they paynted furth an image or representation of such a wisdom as nether was nor can be found at anye tyme a monge men no but rather while they go aboute to haue to exacte and precise a patience they dyd take awaye the strenght or vertue of it from the conuersacion of man Nowe also be amonge christians newe stoykes in whose opinioÌ„ not only to mourne wepe but also to be soroweful or careful is synne And thys doctrine for the moste parte commeth furth from ydle men who occupiynge them selues more in the speculation or beholdyng of such thynges then in doynge of them can bringe furth to vs nothynge but suche preceptes But we haue nothing to do wyth these yron lyke Philosophers whom Christe oure Lord and maister not only with his worde but also wyth his example condemned For he lameÌ„ted and wepte both for his owne hurtes and the hurtes of other and taught his Disciples no other wise The worlde sayeth he shal reioyse but you shal mourne wepe And lest any man should find fault therw t a coÌ„mauÌ„demte being put furth he pronouÌ„ced theÌ„ blessed whiche mourne And no meruel for if al teares were reproued what shoulde we thynke of the Lorde him selfe out of whose bodye teares lyke bloude tricled downe If euery feare be iudged infidelitie in what place shoulde we recken that feare whereby we rede that he hym selfe was not a littel a fearde if all heuines myslyke vs howe shall it lyke vs that he confessed his soule to be heauie euen vnto death I haue spoken these wordes for thys cause to call backe godly mindes from desperacioÌ„ I mean lest straight waye they shoulde geue ouer the hertye desyre or loue vnto pacience because they can not put of the naturall affection or felynge of sorowe Whiche desperacion or distrust must nedes come vnto those which make of pacience an amasednes and of a stroÌ„g and stedfast man a blocke The scripture geueth prayse to the seintes or godly men for their sufferauÌ„ce and pacience while they are so afflicted wyth that hardnes of euils that yet they dispeire not neither geue ouer and whyle they are so abashed in the betternes of their payne that yet therwithall they are indued wyth spiritual ioye while they are so oppressed wyth aâ—guishe that yet beinge chered by the consolation of God they take herte of grace vnto them thys repugnaÌ„cie being neuertheles in the meane time in their hertes that on the on side the feling of their nature feleth and abhorreth those thynges whiche it feleth contrary vnto it but on theother syde the godly affection or desire laboureth and stryueth eueÌ„ through these difficulties to obey Goddes wyl Thys repugnauÌ„cy our Lord expressed when he saied thus to Peter Iohn xxi wheÌ„ thou waste yonge thou dyddest gyrde thy selfe and walkedest whether thou listed but when thou arte olde an other shal guide the leade the thither as thou wouldest not Surely it is not lykely that Peter sith it was necessarie that he shoulde glorifie or honour god by his death was drawen thereunto spite of his teeth or he resistynge agaynst it For thaÌ„ his martirdom should haue had smal prayse But although wyth al reioysynge of herte he dyd obey vnto the ordinaunce of God yet because he had not put of humanitie or the very nature and propertie of a man he was bouÌ„de with a double wil. For whyle by it selfe alone he regarded coÌ„sidered the cruell death whereof he shoulde dye then being smytten wyth the feare therof he woulde gladly haue escaped But againe when he remeÌ„bred that he was called therunto by the wyll of God nowe the feare ouercome and troden vndre fote he wente vnto it gladly yea ioyfully to Therfore thys thynge we must endeuour if we wyl be disciples of Christe that our myndes maye be taughte so to waite vpon God and to obey hym that we tame make subiect all contrary affections vnto his ordinaunce So shal it come to passe that wyth what soeuer kynde of crosse we be vexed yea in the greatest anguishes of our herte we shall styll keepe patience stedfastly For the aduersities shall haue their sharpnesse or pinchynges whereby we shal be greued so being aflicted with diseases we shal mourne and be vnquieted yea and desire health to so beinge punished wyth pouertie we shal be wronge wyth the griefe boeth of carefulnes sadnes so shall we be stryken wyth the sorowe of open shame vile estimation and wronges and so in burialles of our friendes we shal paye the teares that nature oweth But yet thys sentence shal alwayes be at hande ☞ Wel our Lorde would haue it thus therefore let vs obey his wyl Yea whyle we shal be presently stonge wyth sorowes eueÌ„ amongest oure gronynges and weepynges needes muste that same thoughte beate a stroke wyth vs whiche wyl incline our herte gladly to beare and suffre those thynges which are the very cause why the hert is so greued But because we haue grouÌ„ded the chiefe cause of patient bearynge of the crosse vpon our consideryng of the wyl of God it is to be shewed in fewe wordes what diuersitie there is betwene the pacience of Philosophers and of christians Fewe of the philosophers atteyned to the knowledge to vnderstande that by aflictioÌ„s we are excercised of Gods hande to thinke that it is our dutie to obey God in this behalfe No they bring no other reason but thys because it is of necessitie or needes must be so But what is that to saye but thou must geue place to god because thou labourest in vaine to resist hym for truly if we obey God alonly because we muste do so thaÌ„ if we could otherwise do we woulde no loÌ„gar obey him But the scripture biddeth vs to coÌ„sidre a far other thinge in the wyl of god that is to saye firste his iustice equitie then the diligeÌ„t care of our saluation ☞ Therfore suche as these be are the exhortatioÌ„s of a christian vnto pacieÌ„ce whither pouertie banishmeÌ„t imprisonment rebuke sicknes or losse of friendes or what soeuer like thing trouble vs we must thinke that none of these thinges happeÌ„ without the becke prouidence of our Lorde that God doth nothing but by moste iuste ordre For alas do not our innumerable and daylie offences deserue that we shoulde be punished more greuouslye and wyth sharper scourges then these be wyth whyche of hys mercye we nowe are plaged is it not good reason that oure fleshe and
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 ☞ 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