.xxxv. Psalme Wyth the is the sprynge of lyfe and in thy lyght se we light Yf God the LORDE thē be the true lyght it followeth that all they which put theyr trust in hym be as a burnynge candle for by fayth doth God dwell in our hartes and we are the lyuynge tēple of God as Paule to the Corinthians doth wytnesse more thē once Therfore sayeth Christe of hys disciples Math. v. Ye are the lyght of the worlde And of Ihon the Baptyste He was a burnynge and shynynge lyght Ioh. v. Lykewyse yf God be the euerlastynge lyuynge fountayne it followeth that the faythfull be euen flowynge sprynges Therfore sayeth Christ also Ioh. vii Who so beleueth on me as the scripture sayeth out of hys body shall flowe streames of lyuyng water But this he sayd of the sprete whiche they that beleue on hym shulde receaue Lyke as the darkenesse of the nyght nowe can hurte no earthly or wordly lyght but must geue place and flye from the lyght Euen so Sathan also whyche is a prynce of spirytuall darkenesse can do no harme to a true ryghte beleuyng Christen mā but must feare and flye from hym For God whyche is the euerlastynge lyghte dwelleth and shyneth in hys hart and dryueth and expelleth farre from hym all the workes of darknesse And lyke as no heape of water can dryue bache ony fountayne of the grounde and hynder the quycke sprynge therof and lyke as no vnclennesse can make it foule euen so also can no aduersyte of this worlde take awaye or shorten ony Christen mans lyfe For God whyche is the fountayne of all lyfe dwelleth and lyueth in hys harte dryueth all hurtfull poyson and mortall sycknesse farre awaye from thence so the not only it can not harme hym but he also helpeth other people and delyuereth them by hys presence euen as a lyght that shyneth farre aboute it and as a sprynge the alwaye floweth runneth and maketh the grounde moyst an frutefull And thys is it that the LORDE sayeth in the Gospell in the last of Marke The tokens that shall followe them whyche beleue are these In my name shall they cast out deuels speake wyth new tunges dryue away serpentes yf they drynke ony deadlye thynge it shall not hurte them They shall laye handes vpon the sycke and they shall recouer So is it red also in the Actes of the Apostles the .v. Chapter that the sycke were made whole onely of saynt Peters shadow So vtterly must vanyshe euery thynge that is contrary and agaynste the euerlastynge lyghte and sprynge of lyfe where a ryght Christen man is in whom God dwelleth by a true belefe and out of whome the holy goost shyneth and floweth Let Sathan then preasse in here wyth all hys darknesse and wyth all hys hurtfull infection Satan is dryuen back by fayth yet shall ye se in belefe that he can not take nor destroye ony Christen mā therwyth yf he continue in fayth and kepe God in hys harte But he shal be smytten backe and dryuen awaye by force as the wonderfull workes of Christe and of all sayntes do manyfestly declare Therfor is it a great shame for a Christen man to be so afrayed for the plage of the pestilence It is a greate shame for a Christen man to feare the pestilence as to flye from them whome he is bounde to serue by Gods commaundement For by reason he shulde wythout al feare make haiste vnto them not onely to fulfyll Gods commaundemente but also by hys presence to helpe them yf theyr fayth do els worke wyth all But yf it come not to passe yet is he sure for as much as God dwelleth in hym and he walketh and goeth in Gods commaundement For certaynly thys promyse shall not fayle hym Though a thousande fall at thy syde and ten thousande at thy ryght syde yet shall it not touch the. But wyth fayth must these wordes be taken holde vpon for naturall reason doth not comprehende them in as muche as in dede it appeareth farre otherwyse And no man nedeth to thynke nor iudge that they whyche dye of thys plage be all vnchristen and faythlesse but we ought not to doute but that ther dye therof many vertuous mē and leaue many vngodly Naturall death happeneth two wayes Thys is done because that death maye happen to a mā two maner of wayes One waye after the commune course of nature accordynge as euery mans death is appoynted hym of God and we haue consented vnto it in baptyme Of thys sayeth the prophet Iob in the .xiiii. Chapter A man hath hys appoynted tyme the nōbre of hys monethes standeth wyth the thou hast appoynted him hys boundes whyche he shall not ouerpasse Another waye maye death happen to a man before the tyme by reason of hys greate greuous synnes As the LORDE hath threatened by Moses that yf hys cōmaundement be not kept he wyll cause pestilēce to reygne Wherout it is certayne that whan they be kepte the plage abydeth out Lykewyse sayeth he in the commaundementes Honour father and mother that thou mayest lyuelonge c. Out of the whyche it is certayne that hys lyfe whyche doth them not Hys lyfe that kepeth not Gods commaundementes shal be shortened shal be shortened In lyke maner sayeth Dauid in the .lv. Psal The bloud thyrsty shall not bryng theyr lyfe to the halfe nombre Wherout it is sure that they shulde lyue muche longer yf they shed not innocent bloud Lykewyse sayeth Christ Luce. xii Yf ye do not repent ye shall all peryshe as they that the tower in Siloa fell vpon Where by it is certayne that who so repenteth not maye loke for all mysfortune And of thys vntymely death onely speaketh thys Psalme and promyseth the faythfull Christen men that they shal be fre from it For from the ryght appoynted death into the whyche we haue consented in baptyme we can nor shal be delyuered Wherfore yf a vertuous ryghte Christen man dye of thys plage it is certaynly hys very houre appoynted vnto hym of God whyche he can not preuente But doutlesse ther dye of it many synners also besyde whyche myghte well lyue longer yf they repented And though some be taken because of theyr synnes yet be they not therfor damned but yf they axe forgeuenesse of synnes and beleue they shall be saued As Paule sayeth Whan we be iudged we are chastened of the LORDE that we shulde not be condemned wyth the worlde Thus goeth it then together that iuste men dye theyr owne ryght death but the wycked dye an vntymely death and therwyth doth God punyshe the worlde sorest of all because of theyr synnes but spareth hys owne for theyr faythe 's sake Therfore shulde they not be fearful nor fayntharted but as the prophete sayeth they shulde loke beholde how the vngodly are recompenced For whether the wycked dye before the tyme or the iuste in the ryghte season yet is it done both for the punyshement and plage of
great comforte helpe and counsell agaynst the iudgemēt of God agaynst Gods wrath and euerlastynge death scyng that by our selues and other we haue experience dayly and hourely how we can nother counsell nor comforte our selues in smal bodely necessityes Therfore conclude thus hardely I playne cōparison As lytle as a natural shepe can helpe it selfe in the thynges that be leest of all but muste loke for all benefites at his shepherdes hāde much lesse can a man rule comforte helpe or geue counsell vnto hymselfe in thynges belongynge to saluacion but muste loke for all such at the only hand of God his shepherd with to fulfyl ony thyng for hys shepe that is to be done is a thousande tymes more wyllynge and diligent then ony other vertuous shepherde in the worlde As for thys shepherde of whom the prophete had spoken so longe before Christe is our shepherde it is euen Christ oure louynge master which is farre an other maner of shepherde then Moyses which is harde and extreme vnto his shepe dryueth them backe in to the wyldernesse where they fynde nother pasture nor water but playnescarcenesse Exod .iii. But Chryste is the gracyous and louynge shepherde which rūneth after the famy shed and lost shepe in the wyldernesse and seketh it there And whā he findeth it he taketh it vp gladly vpon his shulders Luc .xv. Yee geneth his lyfe also for his shepe Io .x. This must nedes be a louynge shepeherde Who wolde not be glad then to be a shepe of his This shepherdes voyce wherwith he speaketh and calleth vnto his shepe The shepherdes voyce is the holy gospell wherby we be taught that we optayne grace remissiō of synnes and euerlastyng saluacion not by Moses law wher thorow he putteth vs in the more feare drede and dispayre whiche were to fearful to sore afrayed and dispayred to muche afore but by Chryst whiche is the shepherde and bysshoppe of our soules .i. Pet. it whiche hath sought vs myserable and lost shepe and fetched vs out of the wyldernes that is to say from the lawe from synne frō death from the power of the deuell from euerlastynge damnacion And in that he gaue hys lyfe for vs optayned he vs grace remission of synnes cōforte helpe and strength agaynst the deuell and all mysfortune yee and euerlastynge lyfe also This is now vnto the shepe of Chryste a louynge swete voyce which they are hartely glad to heare which they knowe ryghte well and ordre them selues therafter As for a straunge voyce that soundeth otherwyse they nother knowe it nor herken vnto it but auoyde flye awaye from it c. Ioh. x. The pasture wherwith Chryste fedeth his shepe The pasture is also the comfortable gospell wherby the soules are fed and strengthed kepte from erroure comforted in all temptacions and troubles defēded agaynste the craft and power of the deuell and fynally delyuered out of all trouble Neuerthelesse for as muche as his shepe are not all alyke stronge but some yet lost and scattred here and there abrode woūded sycke yonge and feble he doth not therofre cast them awaye but hathe much more respecte vnto them careth more dilygētly for them then for the other that haue not suche nede For as the prophete Ezechiel sayeth in the .xxxiiii. Chap. He seketh them that be lost bryngeth together them that be scattred abrode byndeth vp suche as be wounded loketh to them that be sycke And the weake lambes that be but yonge at the fyrste sayeth Esaye he taketh vp into his armes and beareth them and suche as be with yonge ones doth he dryue forth fayre and softly All this doth our louynge mayster Christ by the office of preachynge and distributynge of the holy sacrament as it is ofte and with many wordes taught in other places For to set it forth here worde by word as nede shulde requyre it were to lōge The prophete also hym selfe wyll declare it afterwarde in the Psalme We haue ben deceaued By this then maye we easely perceaue how shamefully we haue ben seduced vnder the papacy For Chryst was not so louyngly set forthe vnto vs as the dearly deloued prophetes Apostles and Chryste hym selfe doth but so fear fully was he described vnto vs that we haue ben more afrayed of hym then of Moyses yee we thought Moyses doctryne muche more lyghter and to haue much more swetnesse in it then the doctrine of Chryst And so we knewe nothynge els but that Chryst had ben a wrothfull iudge whose displeasure we myght haue reconcyled with our good workes and with our holines whose pardō we myght haue optayned through the merytes and intercessions of sayntes This is not onely a shamefull lesynge and a miserable deceauyng of poore consciences but also the hyghest blasphemy of the grace of god a denyenge of the death resurreccion and ascension of Chryste c. and of all his vnoutspeakeable benefytes sclaunderynge and condemnynge of his holy gospell a destroyenge of faythe and in steade therof a settynge vp of vtter abhomynacions lyes and errours c. Yf this be not darkenesse then can not I tell what darkenesse is Blyndnesse Yet coulde no mā in a maner perceaue it but euery mā toke it for the playne verite yet vnto this day wyl our papystes nedes take it for the ryght way and shed much innocent bloude for the same Go to then yf we can kepe and gide our selues yf we can preserue our selues from errour yf we can optayne grace and remissiō of synnes resyst the deuell all misfortune ouercome synne and death by our owne merytes Then must all the scripture be false which testifyeth of vs how that of our selues we are but lost scattred abrode woūded weake and feble shepe And so shulde we haue no nede of Chryste to be shepherde to seke vs to brynge vs together to gyde vs to bynde vs vp to loke vnto vs to strēgth vs agaynste the deuell And so hath he also geuen his lyfe for vs in vayne For yf we cābrynge al this to passe optayne it through our owne strēgth and goodnesse then haue we no nede of Chrystes helpe thys well But here thou hearest the contrary namely that thou art but a lost shepe of thy selfe canst not come to the shepherd agayn but to go astraye onely that canst thou well do And yf Chryst thy shepherd dyd not seke and fetch the agayne thou must nedes be a praye vnto the wolfe But nowe he cōmeth seketh fyndeth and bryngeth the vnto his folde that is to saye into his Chrysten congregacion through the worde sacrament geueth his lyfe for the and holdeth the styll by the ryght hande lest thou shuldest fall in to ony errour There hearest thou nothyng of thyne owne strēgth of thyne owne good workes and merytes except thou wylt call it strength a good worke and meryte to go astray to be feble and lost Chryst worketh deserueth and sheweth here
Dauid se and he rehearseth it for a speciall benefyte to be vnder the custodye of the LORDE whyche shulde not onely fede hym in a grene pasture but also in the heate bryngynge hym to the fresh water c. Shortly his meanynge is to declare the as lytle as a mā can come to the knowlege of God and the truthe to the ryght fayth without the worde of God So lytle can ther ony comforte and peace of conscience be founde without the same Without gods word cā no mās conscience be at rest The worldly haue also theyr comforte and ioye howe be it that endureth but the twinkelynge of an eye Whan trouble and anguysh commeth and specyally the last houre it goeth awaye As Salomon sayeth Pro. 14. After laughter commeth sorowe and after ioye commeth heuynesse But as for them that drynke of this fresshe and lyuynge water they maye well suffre trouble disease in the worlde but they shal neuer lacke the true consolacion And specyally whan it commeth to the poynt the leafe turneth ouer with them whiche is as much to saye as After shorte wepynge cōmeth euerlastynge laughter and after a lytle sorow commeth excellent ioye ii Cor. iiii For they shall not wepe mourne both here and there but as Chryste sayeth Blessed are you that wepe here for ye shall laugh Luce. vi He quyckeneth my soule and bryngeth me forthe in the vvaye of ryghteousnesse for his names sake Spiritual pasture 〈◊〉 water Here doth the prophet declare hymselfe of what maner of pasture and fresh water he spake namely euen of the same the strengtheth and quyckeneth the soule This can be nothynge els but Gods worde But for as muche as our LORDE God hath two maner of wordes the lawe and the gospell the prophete whan he sayeth He quyckeneth my soule geueth suffycienlty to vnderstonde that he speaketh not here of the lawe but of the gospell The lawe The lawe can not quycken the soule for it is a worde that requyreth and commaundeth vs to loue God wyth all our hartes c. and our neyghbour as our selues Who so doth not this hym it condempneth and speaketh this sentence ouer hym Cursed be euery man which doth not all that is written in the boke of the law Deut. 27. Galat. 3. Now is it certayne that no man vpon earth doth this therfore commeth the lawe with his iudgement fearyng and vexynge the consciences And yf ther be no helpe it goeth thorow so that they must nedes fall into dispayre and be cōdempned for euer Of this occasion doth S. Paule saye Rmo. 3. By the lawe cōmeth but the knowlege of synne Item the lawe causeth but wrath Rmo. 4. As for the gospell it is a blessed worde It requyreth none suche of vs The gospell but bryngeth vs tydynges of all good namely that God hath geuen vs poore synners his onely sōne to be our shepherde to seke agayne vs famished and dispersed shepe and to geue his lyfe for vs that he myght so delyuer vs from synne from euerlastynge death and from the power of the deuel This is the grene grasse and the fresh water where with the LORDE quyckeneth oure soules And thus are we made lowse from euell cōsciences and heuy thoughtes Of this shal we speake more in the .iiii. verse He bryngeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse Here sayeth he doth not the LORDE my faythfull shepherde leaue that he fedeth me in a grene medowe leadeth me to the fresh water so quickeneth my soule but he bryngeth me forth also in the right waye that I departe not asyde go astraye so perysshe That is he holdeth me fast to the pure doctrine that I be not deceaued by false spretes To be led in the ryght way what it is and that I fall not awaye by ony other temptacion or offence Item that I maye know how I ought to leade myn outward conuersacion lyfe that I suffre not my selfe to be perswaded by the holynes and strayte lyfe of ypocrites Item what is the true doctrine fayth and seruice of God c. An excellent vertue of Gods worde This is now agayne a goodly frute vertue of the worde of God that they whiche cleue fast there vnto do not onely receaue strength cōforte of the soule therby but are preserued also from vntrue doctrine false holynesse Many mē optayne this treasure but they can not kepe it For as soone as a man is to bolde presumptuous and thynketh hymselfe sure of the matter it is done with hym Or euer he can loke aboute hym he is deceaued For the deuell also can pretende holynesse and transforme hymselfe into an angell of lyght as saynt Paul sayeth And euen so lykewyse can his minysters shewe thēselues as though they were the preachers of ryghteousnesse come ī shepes clothyng amonge the flocke of Chryst but inwardly are they rauenynge wolues Therfore is it good here to watch praye as the prophete doth in the last verse that our shepherd maye kepe vs by this treasure whiche he hath geuen vs. They that do not this certaynly they shall lese it And the ende of that man as Christ sayeth shall be worse then the begynnynge Luce. 11. For they shall afterwarde become the moost poysened enemyes of Christes flock and do more harme with theyr false doctryne then the tyrauntes with the swearde This had saynt Paul well proued by the false Apostles that made the Corinthians Galathians to erre so soone and afterwarde made diuision in all Asia We se it our felues also this daye by the Anabaptistes and other false spretes For his names sake The name of God The name of God is the preachyng of God wherby he is magnifyed and knowen to be gracyous mercyfull longe sufferyng true faythfull c. which notwithstādynge that we be the chyldren of wrath and gyltye of euerlastynge death forgeueth vs all our synnes and taketh vs for his owne chyldrē and inheritours This is his name thys doth he cause to be proclamed by his worde Thus wyll he be knowen magnifyed and honoured And accordynge vnto the fyrste commaundement he wyl euen thus declare hymselfe towarde vs as he hath caused it to be preached of hym Lyke as he doth styll strengtheth and quyckeneth our soules spiritually and kepeth vs that we fall not in to erroure hetteth vs lyuynge for our body and preserueth vs from all misfortune This honoure that he so is as we haue now sayd is geuen hym onely of them that cleue fast vnto his worde these beleue confesse playnly that all the gyftes goodes whiche they haue goostly and bodely they receaue them of God euen of his mere grace goodnesse That is to saye For his names sake not for theyr owne workes and deseruynges For this do they geue thankes vnto hym and declare the same vnto other This honour can not be geuen vnto God of ony presumptuous iusticiaryes
them selues with the name and tytle of the Christen stenchurch yeethough they raysed vp dead men yet are they wolues and murtherers whiche spare not the flocke of Christ scatter them abrode torment them and kyll thē not onely spiritually but bodely also as mē mayese now before theyr eyes The names that the worde of God hath in this Psalme Lyke as the prophete here afore doth call Gods worde or the gospell grasse water the ryght waye a staffe a shephooke Euen so afterwarde in the fyfth verse he calleth it a table prepared an oyntment a full cuppe And thys simslitude of the table oyntmēt and cuppe doth he take out of the olde testament from the Gods seruyce of the Iewes and sayeth euen in a maner the same that he had sayd afore namely that they whiche haue the worde of God are rychely prouyded for in all poyntes both concernynge the soule and body saue onely the he speaketh it here wyth other fygures and allegoryes Fyrst bryngeth he in the similitude of the table A table where vpon the shewebreads laye contynually Exod. xxv xl And then declareth he what the same dyd sygnifyeth and sayeth Thou preparest a table before me agaynst myne enemyes thou anoyntest myne heade wyth oyle and fyllest my cuppe full Here doth he knowlege playnly that he hath enemyes But he sayeth he kepeth hym from them and dryueth them backe by this meanes namely because the LORDE hath prepared a table before hym agaynst those his enemyes Is not this a wonderfull defender I wolde haue thought he shulde haue prepared before hym a stronge wall a myghtye hulworke depe dyches armour and other harnesse weapens where by he myght be sure from his enemyes and discomfite them And now cōmeth he and prepareth before hym a table to eate and drynke on and so to smyte hys enemyes There coulde I be content to fyght also yf the enemyes myghte be ouercome without ony teopardye care trauayle and laboure And I to do nothyngeels but to syt at a table to eate and drynke and be mery With these wordes Thou preparest a table befor me agaynst myne enemyes wil the prophet declare the great excellēt The great power of Gods worde wōderful power of the worde of God As yf he wolde say Thou offrest me such kyndnesse OLORDE and fedest me so well and rychely at thy table whiche thou hast prepared for me that is Thou enduest me so psenteously with the exceadynge knowlege of thy good worde so that thorow the same I haue not onely plenteous consolacion in wardly in my harte agaynst myne owne euell conscience agaynst feare and drede of death and the wrath and iudgemēt of Godt but outwardly also thorowe the same worde I am become so valeaunt and so inuincible a giaunt that al myne enemyes can bryng nothynge to passe agaynst me The more wroth madde and vnreasonable they are agaynst me the lesse I regarde it Yet I am so much the more quyete in my selfe glad content And that of none other occasion saue onely that I haue thy worde The same geueth me such power and corage agaynst all myne enemyes So that whan they rage fearsly and are moost madde of all I am better content in my mynde then yf I satte at a table where I myght haue all that my harte coulde desyre meate drynke myrthe pleasure mynstrelsye c. An hye cōmendaciō of Gods worde There hearest thou agayne how hyghly this holy Dauid magnifyeth prayseth the good worde of God namely how that by the same they that beleue ouercome and wynne the victory agaynst the deuell the worlde the fleshe synne a mans owne conscience and agaynst death For yf a man haue the worde and take sure holde of it by fayth then must all these enemyes whiche els are inuincible be fayne to geue backe and to yelde them selues And it is a maruaylous victory and power yee and a very stoute boastynge of suche as beleue that they subdue and ouercome all these horrible yee and in maner almyghtye enemyes not with ragynge not wyth bytynge not wyth resystynge not with strykyng agayne not with takynge of vengeaunce not wyth sekynge of counsell and helpe here and there but with eatynge drynkynge pleasure syttynge beynge mery and takyng of rest Which thynges as it is sayde afore come all to passe thorowe the worde To eate and drynke what it is For to eate and drynke is called in the scripture to beleue to take sure holde on Gods worde wherout ther followeth peace ioye comforte strēgth c. The naturall reason of man Natural reason can geue no iudgemēt in this wonderfull victory of the faythfull for here commeth the matter to passe cleane contrarye to the outwarde senses of man The worlde doth alwaye persecute slaye the Christen as the moost hurtfull people vpon earthe Now whan naturall reason seyth thys it can not thynke otherwyse but that the Christen lye vnder agayne that theyr enemyes preuayle and haue the victory Thus dyd the Iewes intreate Christe the Apostles and the faythfull and put thē euer to execucion Whan they had slayne them or at the leest banished thē then cryed they Now haue we the victory these fellowes that haue hurte vs shall now trouble vs no more Now shall we handle euery thyng as we wyll But whan they thought them selues to haue bene surest of all our LORDE God sent vpon them the Romaynes whiche dealte so horriblye wyth them that it is a terrible thynge to heare Then after certayne hundreth yeares as for the Romaynes whiche thorow oute all the empyre of Rome had slayne manye thousande martyrs God rewarded them afterward and suffred the cytie of Rome in few yeares to be four tymes spoyled by the Gothies and Vandalyes finally to be brent destroyed and the empyre to decaye Who had now the victory The Iewes and Romaynes that shed the bloud of sayntes lyke water or the poore Christen that suffred them selues to be ordred lyke slaughter shepe and had none other harnesse and weapen but the good worde of God Howe it goeth with the multitude of thē that beleue in Christe Thus doth Dauid declare wyth these wordes howe it goeth wyth the holy Christen congregaciō For he speaketh not here of his owne person only setteth her forth in hyr coloures and descrybeth her well fauouredly Namely how that in the syghts of God she is euen as a pleasaunt grene medowe whiche hath plentye of grasse and fresshe water That is to say that she is the paradyse and pleasaūt garden of God garnysshhed wyth all hys gyftes and hath hys vnoutspeakeable treasure the holy Sacramentes and that good worde wherewyth he instructeth gydeth refresheth and cōforteth his flocke But in the syght of the worlde hath thys congregacion a farre other appearaunce euē as though she were a blacke darke valleye where a man can se nother pleasure nor ioye but trouble sorowe and aduersyte For the deuell wyth al his
vseth to do to his gestes thou fedest them well thou makest them lusty glad thou fyllest into them so muche that they must nedes be dronkē This is al done by the worde of grace For by the same doth the LORDE oure shepherde fede and strength so the hartes of his faythfull that they dare defye al theyr enemyes and say with the prophete I am not afrayed for thousandes of the people that cōpasse me roundeaboute Psalme iii. And here afore in the fourth verse I fear no euell for thou LORDE art with me With this yee euen thorow the same worde doth he geue them also the holy goost whiche maketh them not onely to take good stomackes vnto them to be of good corage but so quyet also in thē selues and mery that for the same great exceadynge ioye they are euen dronken This must be spiritually vnderstande He speaketh here then of a spirytuall strength of a spirituall myrth and of a spirituall dronkēnes which is a godly strēgth Rom. i. A ioye as saynt Paul calleth it in the holy goost Rom. xiiii And a blessed dronkennesse whan people are not full of wyne wherout followeth incōuenience but full of the holy goost Ephe. v. This is the harnesse the weapens wherwith our LORD God prepareth his faythfull agaynst the deuell and the worlde namely in theyr mouth geueth he them hys worde and in theyr harte he geueth corage that is to saye the holy gooste Wyth suche ordinaunce put they from them all feare and wyth gladnesse bukle they wyth all theyr enemyes smyte them and ouercome them with all theyr myght wysedome and holynesse Such souldyers were the Apostels on whitsondaye whan they went vp to Ierusalem agaynste the commaundement of the Emperoure and the hye prestes and ordred thē selues as yf they had ben very goddes and all the other but greshoppers and went euen thorowe with all power and ioye as yf they had bene dronken In so muche the some had them in derision therfore sayd They were full of swete wyne Neuerthelesse S. Peter declared out of the prophet Ioel that they were not full of swete wyne but ful of the holy goost And so he smote aboute hym with hys swearde that is he opened his mouth and preached the worde of God and felled downe thre thousande soules at once from the power of the deuell Actu ii This strength ioye and blessed dronkennesse doth not onely shewe it selfe in the faythfull whan they be in prosperite haue peace but also whan they suffre and dye As whan the counsell at Ierusalem caused the Apostles to be beaten they were glad of it that they were worthy to suffre rebuke for the name of Christe Actu v. And in the v. to the Romaynes doth saynt Paule say We reioyce also in troubles c. Afterwarde were ther many martyrs also The stedfast ioyfull hartes of them the haue fusfred death for the word of God whiche with mery harte and laughynge mouthes wente vnto theyr death as yf they had gone to somepastyme or daunce Lyke as we reade of saynt Agnes and saynt Agatha whyche were virgins .xiii. or .xiiii. yeare olde and of other mo whiche were of suche inwarde corage and confydence that they dyd not onely ouercome the deuell and the worlde by theyr death but also made good chere euen then with theyr hartes as though they had ben dronken of very ioye And this greueth the deuell excedynge sore namely whā men are at suche quyetnesse in them selues that they despyse his great myght and gyle In our tyme also haue ther be many which for the knowlege of Christe haue bene glad to suffre death We se more ouer that ther be many whyche wyth perfecte vnderstondynge and fayth dye vpon theyr beddes and saye wyth Simeon LORDE now lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace c. that it is a ioye to beholde thē of whom I haue sene many my selfe And all thys commeth because that as the prophete sayeth they be anoynted with the oyle whiche the .xliiii. Psalme calleth the oyle of gladnesse and because they haue dronke of the full cnppe whiche the LORDE hath fylled Yee but thou wylt saye Obiection I fele not my selfe yet so apte that I coulde be content to dye c. That maketh no matter Answere Dauid also as it is sayd afore hath not bene sure of that science at all houres but somtyme complayned that he was cast out of gods syght Other holy men also haue not alwaye had an hartye confidence towarde God and a perpetuall delyte and pacience in theyr troubles and temptacions Note this well Saynt Paul somtyme is so sure certayne in hym selfe and maketh suche boast of Christe that he careth not for the curse of the law for synne death nor for the deuell I lyue not nowe sayeth he Galat. ii but Christe lyueth in me Item I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christ Phil i. Item Who shall separate vs from the loue of God whiche spared not is owne sonne but hath geuen hym for vs all How shall he not with hym geue vs al thynges also Shal trouble anguysh persecucion swearde c. separate vs from hym Ro. viii There speaketh he of death of the deuell and of all euell with suche a corage as yf he were the strongest and greatest of all sayntes vnto whom death were but asporte But incontinently in another place he speaketh as thoughe he were the weakest and greatest synner vpon earth i. Cor. ii I was with you sayeth he in weaknesse in feare and in muche tremblynge I am carnall solde vnder synne and takē presoner in the lawe of synne whiche is in my membres O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me frō the body of this death Roma vii And in the fyfth to the Galath he teacheth that in the sayntes of God ther is a continual stryfe of the fleshe agaynst the sprete c. Therfore oughtest thou not immediatly to dispayre though thou felest thy selfe feble and fayntharted but praye diligently that thou mayest endure by the worde and increace in the fayth and knowlege of Christ As the prophete doth here teacheth other men lykewyse so to do and sayeth Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE for euer For as muche as the deuell neuer ceasseth to plage the faythfull inwardly with feare outwardely wyth deceatfulnesse of false doctours or teachers and with the violence of tyrauntes he prayeth here therfore at the ende earnestly that God which hath geuen hym this treasure wyl kepe hym fast by it also vnto the ende And sayeth O gracyous God shewe me such fauour that thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy maye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe Why the prophet maketh this prayer And immediatly he declareth what he calleth this louynge kynonesse and mercy namely that he maye remayne in the house
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
the vngodly God punysheth men by the death of other Yf vertuous fathers mothers dye from wycked dysobedient chyldren then be the chyldren plaged for they are afterwarde euell nurtoured hanged or slayn Yf yonge chyldren dye from wycked fathers and mothers then be the chyldren delyuered the fathers and mothers punyshed in that they haue gathered theyr goodes for those that they wyshe them not vnto Yf tyraūtes dye then bethey punyshed and the persecuted Christen delyuered Yf good rulers dye which wyth theyr wysdome haue maynteyned peace and good gouernaunce then be they in peace And so the vngodly whyche are left alyue rayse vp warre and sedicion and be alwaye punyshed worse and worse Shortly who so hath eyes of fayth seyth that true beleuers dye in a ryght season Good mē dye or lyue for theyr welth but the wycked for theyr punyshment but the vngodly before the tyme. Wherfore whether good mē dye or lyue it is done for theyr welthe But whether the wycked dye or lyue it is done for theyr punyshment and by all wayes shall they be plaged and theyr wyckednesse shall be rewarded them Wherfore my moost derely beloued take ye such doctrine comforte to harte and follow the same Flye in good earnest by true repentaunce amendement from synne wher wyth the world hath deserued thys horryble plage And flye by a true vpryght fayth vnto Gods word wherin is the fountayne of lyfe and the lyght of men Then shall ye be whole and safe from thys and other plages so lyue to the honoure of God and welth of your neghbour tyll the appoynted tyme come wherin God the father in the death of Christ that we be baptised in shal sende for vs out of thys myserable lyfe to hys owne euerlastynge kyngdome Which God graūt vnto vs all Amen ⧠Howe they ought to be comforted that are in bodyly sycknesse or trouble DEarly beloued brother I truste ye beleue that all thynges whether it be sycknesse anguyshe or what misfortune so euer it be it commeth all from almyghtye God For yf he be your faythfull father Rom. viii All thynges serue for the beste vnto thē that loue God thā doth he it to your furtheraunce that he taketh holde on your olde Adam and leadeth hym presoner wyth thys bonde of your sycknesse and helpeth you to tame and to mortyfy hym that so ye maye yelde youre selfe the better vnto your LORDE God and hange on the crosse wyth Christe For thys cause is suche sycknesse of yours a fatherly chastenynge For whome God loueth Heb. xii hym doth he chasten And of hys fatherly mercy taketh he thus holde vpon you wyth very truthe and loue Happely he seyth that your olde Adam wyll be to wanton and rash for you and waxeth to stronge fearce for you And for thys cause putteth the LORDE a brydle into hys mouth whereby he be not hurtfull vnts your noble soule and myscary her Flesh and bloude is stronger in you thā the sprete therfore helpeth he your sprete to fyghte Perchaunce yf ye were whole it myghte entyce you to synne agaynste God whereby hys holy name myghte be blasphemed and so were youre soule the more cursed for the fylthynesse of manyfolde synnes But nowe doth he auoyde all that from you thorow fatherly mercy and turneth awaye youre flesh and bloude that alwaye rageth agaynste the sprete Rom. vii and leadeth it captiue so that it hath no more rowme nor occasion to couet all maner of synnes Seynge than that hys fatherly wyll is suche and that suche thynges do happen vnto you to good therfore do I earnestly admonysh you that by no meanes ye do wythstande hys fatherly wyll but praye hartely that hys wyll be done and fulfylled in you vnto hys prayse And hūbly beseke to graunte you his mercy tha tye may beare thys crosse of hys paciently Rom. v. For pacience bryngeth experience experience bryngeth hope but hope letteth vs not come to confusion Thus haue ye nowe occasion to be paciente and wyllyngly to suffre al maner of thynge that God sendeth vnto you for so muche as ye perceaue in your harte that he meaneth the thynge in very dede and thys commeth by tryenge For wythout ye assaye it wyth the dede how good it is so to retayne the LORDE as Dauid sayeth Psal c. xviii i. It is good to my that I haue ben in trouble that I maye learne thy ryghteousnesses ye can not hope and truste in hym In so muche as ye haue not assayed that such fatherly loue is hyd vnder thys rodde But whan ye haue perceaued suche a thynge than are ye bolde in all sufferynge and take hope vnto you the lōger the more seynge God doth so truely assiste you And though he do let you syncke a lytle whyle styck faste yet doth he drawe you forth agayne though it be longe He suffreth you a lytle to swymme and to douke but not to drowne Wherby ye maye perceaue that he wyll neuer forsake you whyche hath so ofte and many tymes ayded you Yf he doth brynge you sometyme in greate anguyshe Dan. xiiii so that ye myght thynke it all to be done wyth you yet forsake hym not but let your trust and hope remayne faste and sure in hym for ye haue heretofore learned well ynough the propertye and nature home he goeth aboute wyth hys ye knowe also that it is not done of anger or hate but of pure and entier loue Abyde therfore for the LORDE in all your sufferynge and truste wholy and inceassaūtly in his mercy and helpe how longe so euer he wythdraweth hymselfe and taryeth And be fully persuaded that thys your sycknesse or suche other grefe is not vnto death Ioh. ix xi but for the honoure of God and your profyte saluacion For who so darre truste so in God and beleue his promyses stedfastly the same shall neuer dye as Christe hymselfe sayeth Yee and byndeth it also wyth an oth that it be so in dede Ioh. viii sayenge Verely verely I saye vnto you Yf ony man kepe my word he shall neuer se death And in another place sayeth Christe Ioh. xi I am the resurrection and the lyfe He that beleueth on me shall lyue though he were deade already and who so euer lyueth beleueth on me shall neuer dye Kepe and holde sure thys comforte and be bolde there vpon For who so beleueth in Christe shall not tayste of death but is already passed from death to lyfe Euen as he wytnesseth of hymselfe where he sayeth Who so beleueth on me Ioh. v hath euerlastynge lyfe But thys is the lyfe euerlastynge Ioh. xvi◠that they knowe the that thou only arte the true God whom thou hast sente Iesus Christ The lyfe euerlastyng begynneth here in this lyfe ēdureth euer For who so hath Christ thesame truely hath very lyfe for he hym selfe is the lyfe Ioh. xv He is also the truth What so euer