away to hyde vs and to distrust of him So that albeit it should happen that we being forsakē of all creatures shoulde be driuen to haue refuge vnto God we shoulde not altogether recommend our selues in any wise with our whole hearts vnto him nor with a stedfast confidēce and sure Hope to be heard as is fit and conuenient for vs to doe and so much the more as that God hath neuer suffered the like we could not thinke that he would haue compassion of vs. Whereas on the other parte for that the creatures be afore our eyes we haue with them agréement and lykenesse they haue some pitie of vs and a great deale of themselues they not onely haue not ben by vs hurt and iniuried but haue receiued benefites at our handes we are bent to put our trust in them rather then in God and especially in men bicause they are of the same forme and kinde that we be and singularly in friends and kinsfolke bicause they are most néere vnto vs but aboue al we are inclined to trust in our selues being vnto vs I will not say more lyke and néere but one and the selfe same thing with our selues And héere may be séene the great ignoraunce blyndenesse pride of man for that hauing their béeing and all beatitudes from God by whom alone he may trust for and haue all benefites doth leaue him and doth rest with his Hope on vayne shadowes of this world which of themselues béeing most vayne and depending onely vppon God can not of themselues doe any good For the Sonne of God descending from heauen hath taken it vppon him not the Angells but the séede of Abraham to the intent that he béeing to vs the next neighbour lyke to vs of the same forme man together with vs our déere friend our next kinsman and brother we should be altogether vnexcusable if we doe not put our confidence in him And so much the more as with his spirit with a speciall illuminating to his elect he maketh them more properly féele that it is not their owne spirit For this cause also Christ would both in his passion and in other things except in sinne be made lyke vnto his bretheren to the intent that knowing that Christ our high Priest hath experience our miseries we might thinke that he will haue compassion on vs and so we might trust in him He also would dye for vs vpon the Crosse to the ende that séeing in him thorough him satisfaction is made for our sinnes and God is reconciled with vs we should not feare to goe vnto him but should hasten thether with a most sure confidence At all times therefore when we consider of God without Christ by diuers respectes we can-not haue a true Hope in him inasmuch as he appeareth to be a very great way off from vs vnlike vs such a one as we are not worthy off that he cōmeth not néere vnto that he loueth vs not that he estéemeth vs not And further bicause we haue done him iniury it appereth vnto vs that he is our enimy angry with vs vniust and cruell wherefore we cannot put our trust in him In Christ alone therefore God is discouered vnto vs and we sée him and hee is mercifull vnto vs a most delycate friend and a most déere Father in him alone is séene how much he loueth vs how he holdeth vs in price and estimation and how great his pittie mercie goodnesse and loue which he hath vsed towardes vs is Wherefore lyke as thorough Christ alone our Mediatour all graces descende from God vnto vs so onely by him we may lyfte vp to God all our Hope let vs fixe our selues stedfastly therefore vppon Christ with the eye of a lyuely Faith to the ende that thorough him our Hope béeing lyfted vnto Heauen wée maye yéelde vnto the Father all prayse honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen How that hee which trusteth in God can not be confounded but of necessitie must obtaine all that hee hopeth for Sermon 4. IT is no meruayle if manye trusting that thorough their good workes GOD ought to giue them beatitudes in this present lyfe and more-ouer afterwarde euen the fruition of Heauen doe abide with confusion with-out obtayning that which they hope for forasmuch as that is no true Hope but a presumption bicause it is founded vppon their owne workes where-as true Hope hath no other foundation but the pure grace and goodnesse of GOD and therefore is euer safe firme and stedfast There be also many which as they say hope to haue continuaunce in a good lyfe and further to haue it amended and this to be gotten by the grace of God which as they iudge shall neuer fayle and thys bicause they haue their will and arbitrement frée and be wise as they think they giue themselues to marke what they can doe they will knowe and be willyng to doe that good thing to perseuer and continue therein chiefly thorough the meanes of their owne good deuices wherefore they binde themselues with continuall vowes Now this is also is a presumption and distrusting bicause it hath not God alone for the foundation but also the wisedome power goodnesse of man And God most iustly suffereth such as these to fall to the intent the opening theyr eyes and knowing their foolishnesse weakenesse and malice they might learne not onely not to put confidence anye more in themselues but rather dispayre thereoff and so put their whole trust in God Also that Hope which many haue is not true who beléeue that God will bestowe his gracious giftes vpon him thorough the intercession of Saints or of the Virgin Mary They wickedly imagine that the Saints and Saintesses whilest they were in this present life did workes which wer in themselues of such goodnesse and excellencie that by them they did merite not onely that glory in which they are but that also moreouer they deserued to be heard when they béeing in Paradice doe pray for vs. This also is not true Hope séeing in some parte it is founded vppon mennes workes It is very true that I maye and ought intreate people that be in this present lyfe that they would make prayers for me to exercise vs in vertue and not bicause I should thinke that they must of necessitie be hearde thorough the worthinesse and excellencie of their prayers but onely thorough Christ and the méere goodnes of God Now this is the true Hope founded wholly in the bountifull goodnesse of God and therefore most sure and certaine Lykewise to speake of worldly thinges I say that those be no true Hopes which beeing mens guides they hope to haue preseruation or recouery of health by meanes of Phisitians or Medicines with putting confidence therein to haue and obtaine iudgement fauourable toward them by meanes of Iudges Aduocates procurators friends kinsfolke fauours gifts sleights or reasons to haue meanes to defend themselues or to ouercome their enimies by force of theyr owne
honour glorie thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of the triumph of Faith Sermon xiiii THere is not founde in the world a more weak creature then man wheÌ„ he is without fayth for that not onely a séely womaÌ„ wil make him hir prisoner so that he cannot be master of himselfe but being a slaue also of his immoderate affectitions passsions shall euer be turmoyled offended disquieted and tumnbled on the waueringe whéele of vayne shaddowes of the worlde So that as a féeble and vnarmed straunger who trauayleth alone thorough a thick darke woode full of most cruell wilde beastes and theeues if he doth but perceiue a bough wagge he trembleth for feare Euen so a man whilest that he maketh his course in this preseÌ„t life if he be wtout faith he is afraid of euery thing he cannot be safe by any meanes he hath all the diuells for his enemyes the world the flesh and himselfe Hée is ready to distrust in God in men he ought not trust yea he is afraide euen of himselfe and this bicause not hauing God by him he hath the contrarye and hée to whom God is an enemie Luc. 11. to him euery thing is hurtfull like as euery creature is profitable to them who haue God for their friend I would not now thou shouldest thinke that God had in the beginning created man so feeble and imperfect as hée is nowe Rom. 8. Forasmuch as like as in all other perfections he made him superiour to euerye creature lykewise also in power so that bearing rule ouer all other nothing could hurt him he was full of God and of his vertue Gen. 1 But after that by sinne man was seperated from God he lost that perfect vertue And albeit that God assisteth euery creature yet he leaueth him the bridle vpon his necke after that distrusting him he presumeth of himselfe wherfore he remaineth feeble and impotent and so much the more as that falling from that high diuine libertie hée remayneth bounde with the yron cheynes of humaine affections and is plunged in the myrie puddle of this worlde in which hée shoulde still euer haue bene if the sonne of God putting vppon him our frayle flesh had not vnited himselfe to vs with communicating that his diuine vertue It is néedefull therefore for to bée strong Luc. 24. that wée bée lifted vp thorough fayth and béeing vnited to God by the meanes of Christ we doe embrace him as our owne and further with receiuing his spirit to bée clothed with his vertue And then béeing exalted aboue the vaine shadowes of this worlde hauing GOD for our God wée néede not feare saying with Paul if God be with vs who shall be against vs The faithfull haue God in them and therefore they be feared of all the vnfaithfull although they were armed with all the force of the world Ioan. 8. Gen. 21. Gen. 26. 1. Reg. 19 Mar. 6. Act. 5 1. Reg. 17 Luc. 4. Ioan. 18. Luc. 10. as is manifest in Abraham Isaac of whom Abimelech was afraide although concerning humane streÌ„gth he was far mightier And likewise Saul feared Dauid Herode Iohn Baptist At the presence also of the Apostles the Princes and chiefe men of the Iewes were amased He that is strong thorough Faith in God with Dauid careth not for worldly weapons and with Christ passing safely thorough the midst of his enimies euery thing giueth him place as the multitude of Iewes fell downe before Christ Faith is so mightie that he which is armed therewith throweth to ground the great Diuel and bringeth his kingdome to nothing 1. Pet. 1. wherefore Peter exhorteth vs to be strong in Faith Those which haue a liuely Faith in God if they were in the middest of all the aduersities of the world yet they should be altogether happye this bicause Act. 7. as Stephen did the Heauens being open and séeing Christ in their fauour they know that God is their father who hath so singular a care of them Rom. 8. that euery thing shal serue to their saluation Wherefore they liue without any seruile feare without suspition anguish vexation and worldly misery frée from all disdaine troubles aduersities and euills with Christ walking safe Ioan. 6. Dan. 5. vppon the raging waues of the sea of this present life can not be hurt But we be like vnto Peter bicause that when we be in a smal ship of worldly prosperitie we séeke sometimes to go vnto him vppon the waues of aduersities and afterwards when we be there for that we faint in Faith and distrust in our selues of diuine grace fearing not to denye him in persecutions we begin to be drowned therin 1. Ioan. 5. There is nothing that can ouercome the world but onely Faith God doth communicate his strength to those which beléeue yea he giueth them Christ with all his vertues graces victories triumphs and felicities he which beléeueth is found alwayes and in euery estate happy so that in pouertie hée is founde rich in persecution quyet in daungers safe in necessitie liberall in sicknesse hayle in infamie and dishonour of the world glorious and in miseries happy He â—â—â—weth that God is euer mercifull vnto him so much the â—â—re merciful as he hath the more neede When a man hath Faith he feareth not death yea seeing that to dye is none other but to passe into a more happy estate accounting death for life he séeketh and desireth for it with Paul Vnto him that beleeueth euery thing is possible Philip. 1 Mar. 11. inasmuch as he that walketh by Faith is moued with the spirite of God which bringeth to good successe euery enterprise that he taketh in hande yea to him that beléeueth euery thing is easie forasmuch as Faith easeth all labour and payne maketh lyght euery heauie thing and maketh swéete all things that be sowre as appeareth in the Martyrs vnto whom euen death was pleasaunt With the shielde of Faith we may defende our selues from the poysoned arrowes of the Diuells and make vs able to disdaine all theyr power and this bicause that such as haue Faith know that the Diuells can-not doe anye thing but what God will and so much the more as they sée that God kéepeth them and vseth them for instruments to his glorye and the felicitie of the elect Mat. 16. Rom. 5 Sinnes do not raigne in them doe not preuayle against them which by Faith be ingrafted in Christ there is none that can remaine with-out pricks of conscience but he that hath a liuely Faith whose sinnes be pardoned thorough Christ Faith then resisteth and vanquisheth all Ioan. 19. where an ignorant body although he vsed all his strength and were armed with all morall vertues he could not resist against the assaults and force of the world of the flesh and of the Diuell which appeareth in Pilate to whom being sayd that if he let goe Christ he should not be Caesars friend he being
ouercome with feare of the worlde as one that depended not vppon God but on Caesar gaue iudgement that he shoulde be crucified which he would not had done if he had had a true Faith in God Faith as that which is the mother of all vertues Mar. 28. includeth in it the strength of them all wherefore he that is armed with Faith is most mightie I will say moreouer that as Christ to whom the Father hath giuen al power in heauen and in earth can not be ouercome but ouercommeth and triumpheth ouer all so those who by Faith be vnited are his members and haue the selfe same spirit Heb. 11. are not onely inuincible but doe triumph ouer all Faith as a thing that is aboue nature and custome doth ouercome the concupiscences beateth downe to the ground vnbridled passions confoundeth carnall wisedome and mortifieth wholly the carnall man so that being borne again we doe chaunge our companyes friendships thoughts Mat. 2. desires wills manners and lyfe It appeareth by the wise men who came from the East how much Faith is able to doe séeing that when they hauing vnderstanding that Christ was borne immediately and without any difficultie leauing their pleasaunt countrey and all that they had they were moued to make so long a voyage And albeit not finding by the way but in darke Ierusalem that they were moued to séeke Iesus wisdome moued them that they should not follow the way any further yet Faith preuayling in theÌ„ they ceased not yea knowing how much it would displease Herode to vnderstand that the King of the Iewes was born they ceased not to confesse and say openly with zeale lybertie that Christ was borne with enquiring of the place and lastly vnderstanding with he ought to be borne in Bethlem although no body wil led them yet they ceased not to goe thether with the same zeale And their Faith was so perfecte that albeit he was founde in a rude and simple place and wrapped in simple clowtes theyr Faith didde not therefore fayle them but they worshipped him for the Sonne of GOD. Faith is so constant might ye and inâ—â—â—â—ble that if it sawe Christ dead vppon the Crosse in the middest of two Theeues forsaken of all men denyed scourged wronged it would in no wise be offended at him it would not faint but with the good Thiefe it would confesse him to be the Sonne of God oan 19. The vertue of Faith appeareth in Ioseph and Nicodemus seing that at such time as he coulde not with-out great daunger and shame shew himselfe a friend of Iesus being knowen for one of his louing Disciples craued of Pilate the body of Iesus and buried it honourably trusting to haue life by him who had séene death And that I must néedes more say Faith is so mightie that it ouercommeth euen God inasmuch as he is forced to doe vnto vs those graces which with a liuely Faith we are promised to haue of him otherwise it must néedes be said the the goodnesse of God were limitted and bounded out and so little that it could not aunswere to our hope Seing then that without Faith we be most féeble although we were young hayle armed with all worldly force and on the other side albeit we were without strength weake forsaken of al the world and further if all creatures were our enimies hauing true Faith in God we should be in euery respect so mightie the we should triumph ouer all the enimies of God Let vs pray him therefore that he would giue vs this Faith so that we my render to him all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ Of the triumph of the Truth Sermon 15. THe Truth is so mightie that not onely it cannot be extinguished nor ouercome but preuayleth alwayes against the enimyes thereoff and triumpheth aboue all things First it is so ful of force and strength that not only it cannot be extinguished it may well behidden for a time but it is neuer brought to confusion If it might be that in the world were no Faith that Charitie were quenched Iustice diminished Hope quyte dead and all other vertues brought to naught yet it were not possible that truth should faile inasmuch as if a matter hath bene once true it must néedes be that it be euer after true for that it hath bene a certeine time truth it is néedful necessary that it be truth euer after neither can it be contrary by any meanes If thou hast committed an offence it will alwayes be that thou hast coÌ„mitted it it wil neuer be possible that it shall be by thée vndone so likewise if thou hast done a vertuous deede it must be considered that we take heed of vitious déeds exercise our selues in works of vertue Truth then is without defect Rom. 1. it cannot be extinguished it well may for a time be hidden oppressed and buried by the wicked But whereas other vertues when they are oppressed be féeble many times do faint Truth when it is impugned or fought against awaketh it selfe taketh strength againe Esdr 3.4 and sheweth it selfe more manifest mightie and glorious Truth then as that which is inuincible not onely continueth safe and with-out anye feare in the middest of all the enimies and as being most mightie confoundeth and ouercommeth them all but also comforteth giueth a minde and strength to al those which loue it wil draw néere vnto it so that the innocent feareth not to appeare before the tribunall seate of Iustice yea he that hath truth on his side Psal 90. shall appeare safe before the Iudgement seate of God Truth alwayes kéepeth company with those that suffer thorough loue and giueth them Hope comforteth them bringeth them consolation it is a shield with which they may be defended from all the strikings and wounds of the world and moreouer it maketh persecutions pleasaunt causeth that in miseries they bée happy and lastly with discouering it selfe it doth not onely delyuer from false miseries but maketh men more glorious then euer they were Peraduenture thou wilt say that I might the better know the victories and triumphs of the truth I would know what thing truth is To this I say that as if thou diddest make a print on a lyttle péece of waxe with a seale and afterward hauing put this seale amongst many others within a while after wouldst séeke it out and know which it was the way should be to proue all with the print made in that waxe for in so doing no other seale would fit the print in all respects as the right seale which printed it that alone would fit it wherefore thou wouldest say I haue found the right feale which I sought So lykewise that thing is truth which fitteth the vnderstanding or true according to the very perfect propertie after some mens opinion which we haue of that thing and it is séene by experience that when a man goeth on séeking
notwithstanding after that he was cast into the Sea deuoured of the fish and sawe that he liued he opened his eyes and perceyued that it was god which sustayned him wherefore he recommended himselfe vnto him from his heart and gaue him thanks but we although we be in the Sea of this miserable tempestuous world already thorough our sinnes swallowed in by Sathan and God for all this preserueth vs we yet doe not in any wise seale his grace his benefits in his goodnesse and we thinke that creatures and not God doth susteyne vs. God beeing willing to make vs sure of our saluation coulde not giue vs any greater knowledge signe of our saluation then his own son vppon the crosse nor a more sure pledge then his owne spirit Christ hanging vppon the Crosse forsooke himselfe aboue the senses of man and woulde concerning his passion be abandoned euen of his Father to the intent that wée might haue confidence in him and might thinke that he would neuer forsake vs any more Wherefore we doe a most great iniurye to God if wée trust not in him And so much the greater as on the other part besides God there is nothing in whiche wée ought or may iustly put our confidence And this bicause that creatures be all most vaine shaddowes the which as without the good will of God they cannot hurt vs so they cannot helpe vs. Séeing that the thinges of this world are not stéedfast the whéele thereoff alwayes turneth therefore if wée arme them vpon vs with our own Hope we must néeds be in continual turmoilings miseries and trauayles The men also in whom GOD doth not reigne although they appeare now thy déere friendes or they be now thy bounden kinsfolkes and to reach a great way they wil shew themselues to be selfe louers lyars vnfaythfull and trayterous If also thou wilt put confidence in Saints thou shalt displease both them and God they cannot helpe thée God shall be hée who will suffer thée to forsake thy selfe to the intent thou mayst be constrayned to goe for helpe vnto him Thou must thinke that it is not without cause that god by his prophet hath cursed those which put their trust in men And if thou shalt put confidence in thy selfe thou shalt put confidence in the greatest enemie that thou hast Ier. 17 Also if thou shalt trust in thine own proper wisdome power and goodnesse this shall be none other but to put trust and repose thy selfe vpon foolishnesse in impotencie and malice And what néede I say more the power of Aegypt the strength of the world Esay 36. is nothing els but a most vaine réede whervnto if any man leane by and by it breaketh with hurting those that would rest theron If the thinges of the strong men of the worlde as Iob did write be lyke a spiders web Iob. 8. what shall those be which are most weak All the wisdome of the world in the sight God as Paul sayth 1. Cor. 3. is nothinge but foolishnesse the goodnesse thereoff abhomination Wherefore in God alone we ought to trust Luc. 16. on whome alone dependeth all our helpe He onely therefore is happy who as a true and good diuine hath god for all his goodnesse dependeth on him alone and in him onely doth repose himselfe This is a most high diuinitie which cannot be learned in bookes nor taught by men wée must néedes haue Christ our onely Master to teach it vs with imprinting it in our heartes with his spirit and with makinge vs vnderstande by experience not of the flesh but of the spirit so that thorough him we may render vnto the father all prayse honour and glory Amen ¶ Whereoff it groweth that men with hope doe not depend wholly vpon God Sermon 3. MEn haue many desires amongst which this is principal that they would be like vnto god The which thing is manifest inasmuch as ther is no man the naturally doth not abohorre seruide We all would if it were possible be as GOD Lordes ouer all know all thinges haue power and dominion ouer all be in euery place and time most happye and to conclude we would haue a beeing that were infinitly noble perfect and excellent without passions immortal euerlasting necessary without depending vppon any and most diuine And for as much as this desire is so high that it conteyneth all things which can be of men desired therfore aboue al others it is most mightie in vs. Man therefore by his owne nature in Adam béeing corrupted and thorough the pride which he hath for inheritaunce woulde if it were possible be as a God vpon the earth and neuer to haue néede neither of creatures nor of God And for as much as he is not by nature happie he desireth to purchase him heauen by himselfe bicause he would not acknowledge it to be of god as he should doe if he had it by grace And this his diuellish pride is puffed vp with so vnbrideled and blinde a loue of himselfe that whereas he hath néede not onely of God but also of all the creatures of God he perswadeth himselfe that hée is able euen to saue himselfe He is also so blinde of himselfe that his vices doe appeare vertues vnto him so that it may bée thought how he can know his miseries By our great pride therefore in not willinge to bende or humble our selues to craue helpe at others and by being deceiued by the vnbrideled blinde loue which we beare vnto our selues in beléeuing and thinking that we can and know howe to helpe our selues and that we shal euer haue a will to doe it in our owne power doth grow all the confidence and trust that we put in our selues And if sometimes we be by open and manifest necessitie constrayned to seeke other helpe besides our selfe we haue not accesse vnto God as we ought but vnto creatures And this bicause as carnal people we beléeue not that god hath care of vs. The graces benefits which we cōtinually receiue we do not acknowledge to be of God from whō they doe come being inuisible but frō creatures which are before our eyes vsed by him for instrumēts to do vs good So that although God being vnmeasurable is most ready at our handes with his presence yet notwithstanding forasmuch as he is most high and in such sort that betwixt vs and him is no agreement lykenes nor any proportion but an infinite distaunce it appeareth that he is most farre off from vs and as though he were not at all And if that sometimes we haue any smal opinion of God that he regardeth vs by and by knowing that we haue offended him and not séeing that he is pacified with Faith in Christ and that he is our most deare Father we imagine him to be as a most seuere Lord and Iudge angred against vs wherfore we can not place any of our Hope in him but he constrayned with our first Father to run
grace being our guyde we may loue him as much as we would and forasmuch as diuine grace doth neuer faile therefore it is alwayes in our power io loue him and that in what sorte it pleaseth vs. Vnto this also I aunswere and say that there is experience to the contrarye inasmuch as men doe not loue God as much as they would yea although the reprobate shoulde vse all their witte and strength they could in no wise loue him It must néedes therefore be sayd that this grace of louing him is not graunted alwayes nor to all men nor yet to loue him after our fashion yea the elect themselues haue not alwayes this grace to be able to loue him at their instance nor in such sort as they ought wherefore like as Faith is giuen of God so also is Charitie And they deceyue themselues who thinking to haue alwayes in them power to loue God driue off to repent and conuert vnto the latter ende of their life Séeing then that Charitie is a diuine and supernaturall fire let vs praye vnto GOD that thorough his grace he would kindle it in our hearts to the intent that we may render vnto him all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen How the waye of Heauen is easie Sermon 7. THere bée some which thinke that the waye of Heauen is most difficult and this bicause lyke as Christ sayde for to enter into euerlasting lyfe it is néedefull that wée obserue the Commaundements of GOD wherefore we must loue our neighboures as our selues that wée pardon from our hearts all iniuries with louing our bretheren all our enimies It is néedefull also that we patiently suffer all aduersities and all sicknesses euen death with contenting our selues with whatsoeuer it shall please God to appoint vs. That we despise riches pleasures honours friends parents and all other worldly benefites that we mortifie all our affections our own will our iudgements with accounting our selues of no reputation and that we loue God with all our hearte soule minde and vertue And for that the dooing of the foresayd thinges is very difficult vnto vs séeing that as in Adam be we made blinde as the concupiscences of the flesh be most mightie in vs the world most corrupt thorough euill examples and temptations most mightie thorough subtiltie malice and power of the Diuell therfore they say that the way of Heauen is most difficulte and hard which thing also they confirme by Christ who sayd that straight is the path which leadeth vnto syfe Whereoff it groweth that many beléeuing that béeing afrayd of the difficultie dare not walke by the waye of God but retire backe from it And I saye that although the path be straight and the gate narrow which entreth into the spirituall kingdome of Christ and this bicause into it no man can enter but by a lyuelye Faith the which is not in our power wherfore not depending on vs it is hard for vs yea impossible to enter by our selues into the spirituall kingdome of Christ notwithstanding séeing that by grace and thorough Christ we be regenerated and alreadye entred into the kingdome of Christ hauing of God a liuely light and a spirituall tast and féeling we doe loue him aboue all other things doe walke thorough good workes without any difficultie inasmuch as in such a case the loue of God maketh vnto vs all painfull trauaile easie all bitternesse swéete euerye yoake pleasaunt and euerye burthen lyght as Christ sayed And it is séene by experience that when one in truth hath fixed his loue vppon God that it is not harde matter for him to pardon for his loue all iniuries to loue his enimes to despise the world yea and himselfe to bring downe himselfe with watchings fastings abstinences disciplines and other kindes of penaunce so that they be done thorough force of loue not onely they are not sharpe and grieuous but also pleasaunt light in such sort that suffering for Christ they iudge thēselues happie Thou wilt say I sée yet many which make profession that they are willing to serue God that do afflict thēselues with fasting abstinence watchings disciplines nakednesse pilgrimages and with dooing and suffering these and many other most difficult things I aunswere and saye that to goe vnto Heauen there is no ordinarie néede that we walke by such lyke extremities if we bée not thereto mooued singularly by the spirite of God but it is sufficient that we walke by the way of mediocritie in which truely consisteth vertue with ordering all our lyfe to the glory of God Wherefore at anye time when we haue Faith and in vs is sobrietie sparingnesse temperaunce and other vertues we be in the way of God and not when abiding bare-footed and naked in a wildernesse we eate nothing but rootes of hearbes All they therfore that be so extreame in their lyfe as they which be out of the way of God and be not drawen to liue so by the honour of God but by the honour of the world by other their proper gaine by the spirite of pride or by some other diuelish and vnclean spirit And if thou wouldest say that the Patriarches the Prophets the Apostles the Martyrs and all other Saints haue suffered much and lykewise that other shall suffer forasmuch as according to Paules iudgemēt all they which would liue godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution Thou wilt say that the elect whilest that they are in this presēt life do not abide in idlenesse nor in carnall delights but that they worke take paines although moderately and in honest matters do suffer much but forasmuch as al the which they do suffer they do suffer it for the loue of god wherfore willingly ioyfully and without difficultie yea with pleasure more or lesse according to the measure of loue When therefore in working we do féele any il-willyngnesse it is a signe also that we be not perfect in Charitie Knowest thou to whome it is hard to doe good workes and thus to suffer vnto him that worketh and suffereth by force and contrary to his will Goe forward and consider the life of carnall men and thou shalt sée that they trauaile and suffer for to haue worldly benefits much more then the elect doe for God and yet notwithstanding if thou wouldest demaund of them which were the hardest either the way of God or the way of the world they would say that the way of heauen were the hardest and this bicause that hauing their loue set vpon the world they do not féele the difficultie in working suffering for it wheras on the other side for that they loue not God they adiudge it a most hard matter to obey him I say not that in the way of Heauen men do walk without paines sufferings but I say that forasmuch as we goe not vnto God neither are moued by him except when we be moued by his spirit drawn by his loue the which