deare blessed worde and that we can be in a place where it may be frelye preached and professed openlye A Christen mā therfore that belongeth vnto a church wherein the worde of god is taught as oft as he goeth in shuld thynke vpon thys Psalme out of a ioyfull harte wyth the prophete to geue God thākes for hys vnoutspeakable grace that he hath set hym as hys owne shepe in a pleasaunt grene medowe where ther is plentye of good grasse and fresh water That is that he maye be in a place where he maye heare learne the worde of God conceaue ryche comforte therout both in bodye and soule Thys blessed Dauid dyd well vnderstonde how worthy a treasure it is whan it maye so be had therfore can he boast singe so well of it magnifyethys benefite aboue all that is in onye estymacion or worshippe vpō earth At hym oughte we to learne thys science What we ought to learne here of Dauid and accordynge to hys ensample not onely to be thankfull vnto God oure louynge and faythfull shepherde to magni fye his vnout speakeable gyft which he of very louynge kyndnesse hath geuen vs as Dauid doth here in the fyrste fyue verses but also earnestly to desyre and pray hym as he doth in the last verses that we maye abyde by thys ryches and neuer to fal away from hys holy Christen churche And such a prayer is exceadynge necessarye For we are very weake and as the Apostle saynt Paule sayeth we carye thys treasure aboute in earthen vessels 2. Cor. 4. The deuell also our aduersary beareth deadly hate vnto vs for thys treasures sake Therfore doth he not rest but goeth aboute as a roarynge Lyon seketh how he maye deuoure vs. Besyde all thys he hath a quarel vnto vs because of our olde sacke which we carye yet vpō oure neckes wherin ther be yet also dyuerse concupiscences and synnes More ouer the deare flocke of Christe is spotted fyled with so many horrible offences or sklaūders that because of the same ther do many fall awaye frō thē Therfore I saye it is necessary that we praye and put thys vncorrupt doctryne styll in practise defēd oure selues therwith agaynst all sklaūders that we maye cōtinue vnto the ēde be saued Thys madde and blynde worlde knoweth vtterly nothynge of thys treasure and precious stone The blindnesse of the worlde but ymagyneth onely euen as a swyne or vnreasonable beast how they maye here fyll the belly Or els whan it cōmeth to the poynt they follow lyes ypocrisye As for the truthe and fayth they set it passe Therfore do they synge no Psalme vnto God for hys holy worde but rather whan he offreth it vnto them they blasphe me it and condemne it for heresye And as for those that teache it or wyl be knowen of it the worlde persecuteth them and putteth thē to death lyke as yf they were deceauers and the most vngracyous wretches that are in the worlde It shal be good therfore for thys small flocke to knowlege suche a benefyte wyth the prophete to synge a Psalme or songe of thankesgeuyng vnto God for it Of them the wolde and can not haue the worde of God But what saye ye of them that can not haue the preachynge of Gods worde As namely they that dwell here and there amonge tyrauntes and enemyes of the truthe No doute where as the worde of God is preached there can it not passe awaye wythout frute as Esay sayeth in the .lv. Chap. The good christen people also of the same place haue one vauntage which in dede is deare vnto them For they that be Christen men coūte it a very great thynge that they may be in a place where the worde of God is frely and openly taught and knowleged and the sacramentes mynistred after Christes institucion But as for these they be sowē very thynne The false christen are alwaye mo then the good The great multitude careth nothynge for Gods worde nother do they knowlege it for a benefyte that they may hear it without al harme parel Yee they are soone fylled and weery of it and esteme it but a payne to heare it and to receaue the holy sacrament Agayne they that suffre vnder tyrauntes complayne daye and nyght and long greatly for it And yf a smal morsel of oure bread that Christe hath geuen vs so rychely doth come vnto them they receaue it wyth great ioye and thankfulnesse and do them selues muche good withall Men ware weery of the worde of God where as oure swyne in the meane seasō hauynge the worthy bread them selues so rychely and many whole baskettes full therof cā not reache vnto it they are so weery of it Yee they cast it downe walowe them selues therin treade it vnder theyr fete and runne ouer it Therfore goeth it euē after the prouerbe Whā a thynge beginneth to be comune it is nomore set by but despysed be it neuer so precious And suche Prouerbes are specially founde true in the worde of God Where men haue it there wyl they not away withall Agayne where men haue it not there wolde they be gsad to haue it Where men haue a church at theyr dores wherin the word of God is taught there go they vp downe in the market in the preachynge tyme and lurcke about the graues Where they be ten or twentye myle from it there wold they be glad to go with the multitude and to passe ouer with them vnto the house of God with ioyfulnesse and thankesgeuynge as it is in the .xli. Psalme Of them the dwelvnder tyrauntes Therfore shortelye thys is myne answere vnto the question cōcernyng thē that dwel vnder tyraūtes Blessed be they which are now scattered abrode vnder the Turke or Pope beynge desritute of Gods worde wolde yet be glad wyth all theyr hartes to haue it in the meane season receaue wyth thankesgeuynge suche morsels as they can get tyll the meale be better Nowe yf they be not farre from the place where the worde of God is preached and the blessed sacrament mynyfired accordyng vnto Christes institucion they maye well go thyther enioye the same treasure lyke as many do and are therfore punyshed of theyr wycked rulers both in body and goodes But yf they dwel farre frō suche places yet do they not ceasse at the leest to sighe therafter No doute Christ oure LORDE wyll heare theyr sighynge in processe of tyme wyl he turne back theyr captyuyte Agayne vnhappye yee and vnhappie agayna are they that haue this treasure plenteouslye at theyr dores and yet care not for it On them shall the word of Christ be fulfylled where he sayeth Mathei 8 Many shall come from the easte and west shall syt wyth Abraham Isaar and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen but the chyldrē of the kyngdome shal be cast out c. Let thys be sayde for an introduccion Nowe wyll we shortly go
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
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
as heretikes false spretes or enemyes and blasphemers of Gods worde for they magnifye not his name but theyr owne And though I walke in the valley of the shadowe of death yet fear I no euell for thou art with me Thy staffe and thy shephooke do comforte me Hetherto hath the prophete declared that they whiche haue loue the worde of God cā lacke nothynge For the LORDE is theyr shepherde which doth not only fede thē in a grene pasture leadeth thē to the freshe water that they may be fat stronge and refreshed both bodely goostly but also taketh suche care for thē that they be not weery of the good pasture fresh water leauyng the grene medowe departe agayne from the ryght way into the wyldernesse This is the fyrst parte of this Psalme Nowe teacheth he farther how that they whiche are the shepe of thys shepeherde What the prophet teacheth in this verse be compassed aboute with many ieopardyes and misfortunes Neuerthelesse that LORDE sayeth he not onely defendeth thē but delyuered them also out of al tēptacions troubles For he is amonge thē Nowe after what maner he is with them he declareth lykewyse well fauouredly Here thou seyft that as soone as the worde of God goeth forth and as soone as ther be ony that receaue it abide by it immediatly the deuell all his angels steppe forth moue the worlde with all the power therof agaynst it to put it downe vtterly to destroye them that haue it knowlege it Persecucion For loke what our LORD god speaketh or doth it must be tried go thorow the fyre This is very nedfull for chrysten men to knowe els myght they fayle thynke thus in theyr myndes How stondeth this together The prophet sayeth afore The LORDE is my shepherd I shall lacke nothynge And here he sayeth cōtrary namely that he muste walke in the darke valley And in the nexte verse followynge he confesseth that he hath enemyes Where by he geueth sufficiently to vnderstand that he lacketh many yee all thynges For he that hath enemyes and lyeth in a darke valley seyth no lyghte that is to saye he hath nother comforte nor hope but is forsaken of euery man and euery thynge is blacke darke before his eyes yee euē the fayre clear Sōne How is this true then that he shulde lacke nothynge We maye not ordre our selues after that our warde syght Here must thou not ordre thy selfe after thyne owne eyes followe natural reason as doth the worlde vnto whome it is vnpossyble to se this ryche and gloryous comforte of Chrysten men that they shulde lacke nothynge Yee certaynly they holde that the contrary is true namely that ther are no people vpon earth more poore more myserable and more vnhappy then christen men Yee with all theyr diligence corage helpe they therto that they maye be moost abhominably persecuted bānyshed shamed and put to death And in so doynge they thynke they do God seruyce therin It appeareth therfore outwardly as though christen men were but shepe dryuen awaye and forsaken of God and geuen ouer already in to the wolues mouthes and to be euen such as lacke nothynge but altogether The seruaūtes of Māmon Agayne they that serue that greate God Mammon or the belly appeare in the worlde to be those good shepe whiche as the Psalme sayeth lacke nothynge beynge rychely prouyded for of God cōforted and preserued from all parell and mysfortune For they haue theyr owne hartes desyre honoure good ioye pleasure euery mans fanoure c. Nother nede they be afrayed to be persecuted or put to death for that faythes sake For as longe as they put not theyr trust in Chryst the onely true shepherd nor knowlege hym whether they beleue on the deuell or his dāme or do what so euer they wyll besyde with couetousnesse c. they are taken not onely for well doers therin but also for the lyuyng sayntes which byde styll by the olde fayth and wyll not be deceaued thorowe heresye whiche is as Dauid teacheth here that the LORDE onely is the shepeherde So abhominable and greueous mortall synne is it to beleue on this shepeherde and to knowlege hym The pope wyll not forgeue hym that putteth his whole trust in Christ that ther cam neuer suche a synne vpon earth For euen the Popes holynes which els can dispense with all synnes and forgeue them can not remytte this onely cryme Therfore I saye in this thynge do not thou followe the worlde thyne owne reason whiche whyle they iudge after the outwarde appearaunce become foolysshe holde the prophete but for a lyar in that he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge But as I sayde afore holde thou the faste vnto the worde and promyses of God herken vnto thy shepherde how and what he sayeth vnto the and ordre thy selfe accordynge vnto hys voyce not accordynge to that which the eye seyth or the harte feleth And so haste thou the victory Thus doth the prophere He confesseth that he walketh in the valley of the shadowe of death Howe the Prophet behaueth hymself in tentacion trouble That is that he is cōpassed aboute with trouble heuynesse anguysshe necessite c. as thou mayst se more at large in hys storyes and other Psalmes Item that he hath nede of comforte wherby it is sufficiētly declared that he is in heuynesse Item that he hathe enemyes And yet he sayeth Though my tentacions were mo and greate and though I were in a worse case Yee though I were in deathes mouth alreadye yet do not I feare onye mysfortune Not that I am able to helpe my selfe thorowe myne owne prouysion trauayle laboure or succurre Nother do I trust to myne owne wysdome vertue kynglye power and ryches For in thys matter the helpe counsel comforte and power of all men is farre to lytle But thys is it that doth it euen that the LORDE is wyth me As yf he wolde say Certaynly of myne owne behalfe I am feble in heuynesse vexed and compassed aboute wyth al maner of parell and misfortune My harte also and conscience is not quyete because of my synnes I fele an horrible fearfulnesse of death and hel so that I myght in a maner dispayre But though al the worlde yee and the gates of hell be set agaynst me yet wyll I therfore not be dyscoraged Yee I wyll not be afrayed for all the mysfortune and payne that they are able to saye vpon me For the LORDE is wyth me The LORDE I saye whiche made heauen and earthe and all that therin is vnto whom al creatures angels deuels men synne death c. are subiecte Summa he that hath all thynges in hys owne power is my counselgeuer my comforter my defender and helper Therfore am I afrayed of no mysfortune After thys maner doth Asaph speake also in the .lxxii. Isaph Psalme where he comforteth the Christen agaynst that greate
stomblynge block that the vngodlye haue such prosperyte vpon earth And that the beloued sayntes of God on the other syde are euer plaged c. and sayeth Yf I haue but the o LORDE I passe not vpon heauen nor earth Though both body and soule shulde perysshe Yet thou o God arte the cōforte of my harte and my porcion Now after what maner the LORDE is with hym he sheweth farther more and sayeth Thy staf and thy shepehooke do comforte me Howe the LORD is p̄sent with many faithful men The LORDE sayth he is wyth me but not bodely that I may se or heare hym Thys presence of the LORDE wherof I speake is not comprehended wyth the fyue wyttes Onely fayth seyth it The same is sure that the LORDE is nyer vnto vs then we are to oureselues Wherby euen by the worde Therfore sayeth he Thy staf and thy shepehooke comforte me As yf he wolde saye In al my troubles and necessityes I fynde nothynge vpon earth whereby I maye be helped to be at rest Onely the worde of God is my staf shepehooke where by I holde me and stonde vp agayne And sure I am lykewyse by it that the LORDE is with me and doth not onely strengthe and cōforte me by the same worde in all troubles and tentacions but also delyuereth me from all myne enemyes spyte of the deuell and the worlde Wyth these wordes Thy staf and thy shepehooke do cōforte me cōmeth he agayne vnto the similitude of the shepherde the shepe The similitude of the shepherd wyll say thus much Lyke as a bodely shepherde ruleth his shepe with the staf or shepehooke leadeth them to the pasture to fresh water where they fynd meate and drynke and defendeth them wyth the shepehooke agaynst all parell Euen so doth the LORD the true shepeherde gyde and rule me with hys staf That is to saye with hys worde to the intēt that in hys syght I shuld walke wyth a good belefe and a mery conscience and knowe to beware of vntrue doctryne and false holynesse Besyde thys he defendeth me also agaynst al ieopardy and mysfortune bodely and goofily and deliuereth me from all myne enemyes with his staf that is to saye wyth the same worde doth he strengthe and comforte me so rychelye that ther is no mysfortune so greate whether it be bodelye or goofilye but I am able to come out of it and to ouercome it this goeth spiritually to worke By thys thou seyste that the prophete speaketh here of no helpe defence or comforte of man Nother draweth he out ony swearde c. It goeth here all secretely and preuelye to worke euen by the worde So that no man can spye thys defence comforte but onely they that beleue And here doth Dauid wryte a generall rule for all Christen men whiche is well to be noted Namelye that ther is none other meane waye vpon earth for onye man to be delyuered out of all tentations saue onely to cast all hys burthen vpon God and to hold hym faste by hys worde of grace to cleue surelye vnto it and in no wyse to suffre it to be taken frō hym Who so doth thys can be content whether he be in prosperite or aduersyte whether he lyue or dye And fynally he can endure and must nedes prosper agaynst all deuels the worlde and mysfortune Thys me thynke is a greate prayse of the good worde of God and a greater power is ascrybed here vnto it then is the power of all angels men Thus doth S. Paule prayse it also Rom. i. The Gospell sayeth he is the power of God for the saluacion of all them that beleue thereon The office of preahige And with thys doth the prophet touche the offyce of preachynge for by the mouthly preachynge of the worde whiche goeth in at the eares and that the harte taketh holde vpon thy fayth and by the holy sacramentes doth oure LORDE God brynge ass thys to passe in his Christen congregaciō namely to the intent that the people maye haue fayth be strenthed in belefe and preserued in the true doctryne Item that they maye fynally endure agaynst all temptacions of the deuell and the worlde For sence the begynnynge of the worlde hathe God dealte thus with all his sayntes by his worde and besyde the same hath he geuē thē outwarde tokens of grace This I saye because that no man shuld take vpō hym without these meanes to medle with God or to chose hym selfe a peculyar waye vnto heauen els shall he fall and breake his necke as the pope and his hath done And as the Anabaptistes other sedicious spretes do yet this daye And with these wordes Thy staffe and thy shepehooke do comfort me wyll the prophete shewe some speciall thynge As yf he wolde say Moses is ashepherde lykwyse and hath also a staffe a shephooke neuerthelesse he doth nothynge els but cōpell and punysshe his shepe and ouerladeth thē with an intollerable burthen Act. xv Esay ix Therfore is he a fearfull a terrible shepeherde of whō the shepe are afrayed and flye from hym Neuerthesesse thou LORDE with thy staffe and shephooke compellest not thy shepe nother makest them afrayd nor ouerchargest them but geuest them comforte Therfore speaketh he here of the office of preachynge the newe Testament whereby tydynge is brought vnto the worlde that Christ came vpon earthe to saue synners and therby hath optayned them suche a saluacion that he hath geuen hys lyfe for them All they that beleue thys shall not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Ioh. iii. Thys is the staf and shephooke wherby the soules take refreshynge The staf the shephoke comforte and ioye Wherfore in the spirytuall shepefolde that is to saye in the kyngdome of Christe ther ought none other sawe to be preached but the Gospell which the prophet with ornate wordes calleth the staf and shephooke of cōforte whereby they be strengthed in fayth refresshed in theyr hartes and receaue consolacion in all maner of troubles and euen at the poynt of death what they be thatlede Christes shepe in a grene medowe They that so preach vse the spirytuall shepherdes offyce aryght fede the shepe of Christ in a grene medowe leade them to the fresh water refresh theyr soules kepe them that they be not deceaued comforte them with the staf and shephooke of Christ c. And where thou hearest suche one be sure thou hearest Christ hymselfe Suche men also oughte to be taken for true shepherdes that is to saye for the mynysters of Christ and the stewardes of God Nother oughte it to be regarded that the worlde cryeth out vpon them and calleth them heretikes and deceauers Agayne they that teach ony thynge els contrarye to the Gospell causynge men to trust to theyr owne workes merites to theyr owne fayned holinesse these no doute though they boast thē neuer so muche to be the successours of the Apostles decke
power setteth hym selfe agaynst it for thys treasures sake Inwardly plageth he the congregacion of God wyth hys venymous fyrye dartes Outwardly treadeth he her downe by sectes and offences Then kyndleth he also hys brande vpon her euen the worlde which mynystreth vnto her all sorowe and heuynesse of harte with persecutynge sklaundrynge blasphemynge condemnynge and murthurynge In so muche that it were no wōder that deare flock of Christ were vtterly destroyed in the twyncklynge of an eye by such greate soltytye and myght both of the deuell and of the worlde For she cā not kepe her selfe from hyr enemyes they are farre to stronge to deceatfull and to myghtye for her She is euen as the prophet doth here descrybe her An innocent symple and wapenlesse lambe whiche nother wyll nor can do ony mā harme but is alway readye not onely to do good but also to take euell for good Howe happeneth it then that the congregacion of Christ in such weaknesse Howe the flocke of Christ winneth can escape the craftinesse and tyrāny of the deuell and the worlde The LORDE is hyr shepeherde therfore lacketh she nothynge He fedeth and refressheth her goostlye and bodely he kepeth her in the ryght waye he geueth her also hys staf and shephooke in steade of a swearde which she beareth not in the hand but in the mouth And not onely comforteth the sorowfull therwyth but dryueth awaye the deuell also and all hys Apostels be they neuer so sotyll and spitefull Besydes thys the LORDE hath prepared for her also a table and Easter lambe Whan hyr enemyes are verye wrothfull gnasshe theyr tethe together ouer her are mad vnreasonable in a rage and out of theyr wyttes and take all theyr sotyltye power and myghte to helpe them for to destroye her vtterlye Then doth the beloued bryde of Christe set her downe at hyr LORDES table eateth the Easter-lambe drinketh of the fresh water is mery and syngeth The LORDE is my shepherde I shall lacke nothynge These are hyr weapens and gōnes wherwith she hath hetherto smytten ouercome all hyr enemyes and after the same maner shall she haue the victorye styll vnto domes daye The more also that the deuell and the worlde doth hurt vexe her the better is it with her For hyr edifyenge and increace stondeth in persecucion affliction and death Out of thys occasion dyd one of the olde fathers saye The bloud of martyrs is a sede A notable sayenge where one is caste there ryse an hundreth vp agayne Of thys wonderfull victory synge certayne Psalmes as the .ix. x. c. After thys same maner haue I also thorowe the grace of God behaued my selfe thys eyghtene yeare The authour of this boke I haue euer suffred myne enemyes to be wroth to threatē to blaspheme and condemne me to cast theyr heades styll agaynst me to ymagin many euell wayes to vse diuerse vnthryftye poyntes I haue suffred them to take wonderous greate thought howe they myght destroye me and myne yee gods doctrine Morouer I haue ben glad and merye but more at one tyme then at another and not greatly regarded theyr ragynge madnesse but haue holden me by the staf of cōforte and had recourse vnto the LORDES table That is I haue cōmitted the cause vnto God wherin he hath so led me that I haue optayned all my wil and mynde And in the meane tyme haue I done lytle or nothinge but spokē vnto hym a pater noster or some lytle Psalme This is al my harnesse wherwith I haue defended me hetherto not only agaynst myne enemyes but also thorow the grace of god brought so much to passe that whan I loke behynde me call to remēbraunce how it hath stond in the Papistrye I do euē wonder that the matter is come so farre I wold neuer haue thought that the tenth parte shulde haue come to passe as it is now before oure eyes He that hath begon it shal brynge it well to an ende Yee though nyne helles and worldes were set on an heap together agaynst it Let euery Christen man therfore learne thys science namely that he hold hym by this staf shepehooke resort vnto this table whan heuynesse or ony other mysfortune is at hande And so shall he doutles receaue strength cōforte agaynste euery thyng that oppresseth hym The oyntment The second similitude is of the oyntmēt wherof ther is mēciō made ofttymes in the holy scripture It was some precious oyle as Balme or els som other swete smellinge water the vse was to anoynte the kynges prestes withal Whan the Iewes also held theyr solemne feastes and were disposed to be mery they dyd anoynte or sprenkle them selues with such precious oyntmēt as Christe declared lykewyse in the sixte of Mathewe wher he sayeth whan thou fastest anoynte thyne heade and wash thy face c. The vse then of this oyntmēt was had among those people whan they were disposed to be mery glad Lyke as the Magdalene also thought to make the LORDE mery whan she poured vpon hys heade the precious water of Nardus for she sawe that he was heuy The full cuppe The thyrde similitude is of the cuppe which they broughte in theyr Gods seruice whan they offered drynke offerynges and were merye before the LORDE Wyth these wordes then Thou anoyntest my head with oyle The ryche comfort of christē mē and fillest my cuppe ful wyll the prophete descrybe the greate ryche comforte which they that are faythfull haue by the worde of God so that theyr consciences are quyete glad and at rest in the myddes of all tentacions and troubles Yee euen of death As yf he wold saye doutlesse the LORDE maketh me a maruaylous man of warre and harnesseth me wonderously agaynst myne enemyes I thought he shulde haue put materiall harnesse vpon me set an helmet vpon myne heade geuē me asweard in my hande haue warned me to be circūspecte to take diligent hede to my matter lest myne enemyes shulde ouertake me Nowe commeth he and setteth me downe at a table and prepareth me a goodly banket anoynteth myne heade with precious Balme Or after the maner of our contry setteth a garlande vpon myne heade as yf I shulde go to some pastyme or daūsynge and not fyght with myne enemyes And to the intent that ther shulde be no scarcenesse he fylleth my cuppe full that I maye drynke make good chere be dronken The table thē prepared is my harnesse the precious oyntmēt is my helmet the ful cuppe is my sweard With these do I ouercome all myne enemies Is not this a maruailous preparyng to warre yet a more wonderfull victory Thus wyll he saye LORDE thy gestes whiche syt at thy table that is to saye the faythfull shall not onely be stronge and valeaunt giauntes agaynst al theyr enemyes but they shal be mery also and dronken Spiritual drōkēnesse For why thou makest them good chere as a ryche hooft
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