hedd go into a place one waye the members a nother waye vnlese they were devyded cut of Math. 27 Marc. 15. Luc. 23. Act. 1.2 Iesê° Chryst entred into the kyngdome of his father by Ignomyne Reproffe shame sklander Revylynge persecution affliction Crosse and can we his meÌ„bers yff we do contynew the members of his body enter any other waye no truly For then were there awaye besydes the lytel narowe waye which he hath showed vs. Then were thesse his saymges tryed vntrew Whereas he sayd vnto his dysciples in them to vs. Yff they haue persecuted me Ioh. 15 Math. 10. Ioh. 16. 〈◊〉 Reg. 22 Psal 80. Psal 30. Psal 44. they shal also persecute you Yff they haue called the master off the howsse Belzebub how myche more shall they cal the howshold seruantes so Dure porsioÌ„ in this lyffe ys to wepe morne To tast the bread off aduersyte the water of troble To be as sheppe appoynted to the slaughter Thesse are the daynty dyshes that God hath prepared for his chyldrin to ffede on in this worlde To th ende that in the worlde to come Ioh. 16. Apoc. 7.22 they may laughe reioyse hauynge al teares wyped a waye ffrom theyr eyes ffede with the celestial maÌ„na water off lyffe in triumphynge ouer they re enymes For in this worlde as sayeth S Paul we are iudged afflycted 1. cor 11. All thoughs vve are in this vvorld coÌ„demned jet in the vvorlde to coÌ„ vve shal be glorified Luc. 16. be cause we shoulde not be condeÌ„ned with the worlde Whereby it ys manifest that to seke to enioye the quyetnes off this worlde ys no thynge els but to seke to be condemned with the vngodly whosse porâ—â—â—n ys here to laughe and reioysse here after to wepe wayle As it apperethe by the hystorye of Dyves to whom Abraham sayd Sonne remember that thow in thy lyffe tyme ressayvest thy pleasure coÌ„trary wysse Lazarus ressayved payne but now ys he comforted and thow art ponyshed So that to lyve here in pleasure securite with delectasion in the same ys no thynge els but to ressayve payne with out comfort in the lyffe to come Wherefor dere reader fle froÌ„ all earthly ioye pleasure as from a most pestilent poyson for all thought the present tast therof be pleasant yet ys the ende theroff eternall damnation to as many as delyte there in Be vvare of the vaine Stoppe thyn eares at the swet singinge of thesse byssevable Serenes Lest thow beynge lulled a slepe ther by Psuâ—â—â—on of vvordlj meÌ„ to â—ijxe thij hart on ertlij thijng Dani. â— Apoc 18. Math. 7. thow peryshe euerlastyngly Be ware be not dyssayved with the melodious musycke pleasat armonye of this worlde which serveth for no thyng els but to allure the from God vnto the devell from the narowe pathe off salvation vnto the brode waye off damnation From the trew honorynge off God vnto all kynde off idolatrye and from the ryght religion vnto servyle supersticion Lerne to be warned as sayeth the prouerbe by an other mans harme Let the wofull traged ye off oure fyrst father Adam serve to admonyshe vs for the old serpent the devell hathe not forgotten his accustomed tryckes to temple vs as hs tempted Adam with the apple off wordly pleasure securyte case Gene. 3. the which all thought it haue a pleasant taste in the mouthe yt ys it very bytter damnable to the soul And therfor oure hedd and master Iesus Christe the secouÌ„d Adam fountayne off al wysdom wold gyve no place vnto shuche suttell assautes off the devell Math. 4. but sayed vnto hym heus froÌ„ me Sathan thow adversarye tempter O that we wolde lerne of this oure scholmasteâ— The vvorlde js no leÌ„ger to be imbraced then to byde the worlde farwell when as we cannot enioye the same with a pure consyente in the fere off God vvhiâ—lles vve mai pocesse christ vvith the same and obediently to bende oure backes to bere the borthen off christes crosse in the coÌ„fession off his worde And to th ende thow mayst the better he incorraged paciently to bere the crosse that it shall please christ to charge the with all I haue accordynge to myn accustomed rudnes traÌ„slated this excellent epystell out off the frenche into oure Inglyshe tounge The coÌ„teÌ„teâ— of this Epiâ— tâ—ll The Authors name I knowe not To coÌ„mende it I nede not for good wyne nedethe no banner Fyrst reade then Iudge Off this I am sure that in hyt thow shalt lerne yff truthe may teache the to throwe done thy selfe vnder the myghty hande of god iÌ„ wyllyngly submyttynge thy selfe vnto his wyll which ys the fyrst prynciple off trew chrystianyte Thow shalt also serue what ys the wyll off God towardes his churche how he hathe intreated hyr froÌ„ tyme to tyme. Fynally bycause I wyll a voyde prolyxite besyde plenty off other pyththy matters in hyt thow hast abreffe Somacye and gatherynge togyther of al the comfortable places of the scryptures that may sarve to induce vs paciently to suffer afflyction for the testimonie of the truthe in what sorte it shal please the eternall God oure most dere lovynge father to laye thesame vpon vs. Yff thow art any thynge therby comforted strenthened as I am sure thow shalt be yff thow reade thesame with a syngle pure mynde not by cause thow woldest be counted a reader off many new bokes but bycause thow desyrest to be edyfyed by them gyve the glorye vnto God Red not for novelties saâ—â—e but to be edified who hath wrought shuche worthy workes in his creatures And I dout not but here in thow shalte fynde thyne expectacion to thy synguler consolation The name off the Lorde be praysed who hath made bothe heaven and earthe and in dyspyte off his enymes hath prepared a restynge place for his churche AMEN ¶ THE EPISTEL AMONGEST OTHER NEcessary thynges that Iesus Christe the alone Savioure off the worlde the only trew perfyte master of the vniuersall churche hath comanded vs to aske of God his father oures throught hym we fynde wryten that he hath expresilly coÌ„manded vs all wayes to saye Dure father thy wyll be done And as this prayer ought not to prosede from the mouthe only Math. 6. Luc. 11. so ys it necessarye that the mouthe do all wayes speke off the abondance of the harte Math. 12. that ys to saye not faynedly but perfectlye intyrlye all wares desyrynge the accomplyshynge off the good wyll off God oure celestiall father Beynge all wayes redy to gyve thankes to reioyse when we shall se the wyll off God accomplyshed ether vpon vs or vpon any other ether in prosperyte or adversyte the which all wayes the flesshe dothe abhorre For that prayer that ys voyde off this vnfayned desyre beynge presented vnto God ys not only a mere
Ipocresye but also a playne mockynge off hys maiestye Math. 6. But on the other syde this devyne chrystean desyre dothe yelde oure prayer all to gyther impoluted and perfyâ—e before the lorde For all thynges duly coÌ„sydered there are dyvers vrgeÌ„t causes that ought all wayes to move vs to besyre the performance off the wyll off God oure most benynge father Do we not knowe perfytly that the lorde hath made all thynges accordynge to his owne pleasure Gene. 1. Eccle. 39. for hym selfe So not we vnderstand that all thynges were created by the wyll off the lorde God only Yff it be so then that all thynges were made by the only wyll off God What othere thynge ought we to desyre but only that this his wyll be accomplyshed performed The which can be non other but good Iuste Yff we were wysse I nought to vnderstand this perfyt lesson that the lorde God dothe preche vnto vs by the example mynystration off all his other creatures TheÌ„ wolde we most wyllyngly gladly desyre to se the accomplyshment off this his wyl vpon vs in al thynges that it pleaseth hym to do with vs. We are not ignoraÌ„t off this that God hath not created his creatures to th eÌ„d they should be subiect to vanyte that ys to save to mutacion corruption to the abus off the vnbelevers For it ys most certayne that all the creatures on they re behalfe do rather desyre not to be subiecte vnto ifydeles Rom. 8. then to be subiect for naturally they do desyre all to gyther to enioye they re perfyte state wherin they were created But when as after they re fassion they do consyder that God hath so ordayned it that for a tyme they should serue the wycked vnbelevers they beare with out repynyng this myserable seruytude for the honour off hym that hath subiected theÌ„ there vnto in hopynge most certaynly that ons they shal be delyuered froÌ„ that bondage all thought they do neyther for se the tyme when not the meanes how Now then I wold demande off you brytherin most derely beloved not in Adam 1 Cor. 15 in whom ys no thynge but perdyction but in Iesus Chryste in whom only ys oire perfyte salvation Act. 4. Hebre. 2 standythe it with any equyte or reason that all other creatures obaynge the good wyll of God the lorde that we should gaynsaye obstynatly with stande thesame when as he dothe with vs accordynge as it best pleaseth hiÌ„ Truly God ys more vnto vs then he ys vnto all other hys creatures for he ys oure father and we are more vnto hym then all his other creatures for we are his chylderne and we are his heyres we ought theÌ„ to love hym more then al other his creatures we ought to haue in hym a more lyvely hope confydence with greater effycace then all other creatures So that by good consequence we ought more wyllyngly to submyte oure selfes vnto his good pleasure then all other his creatures in saynge all wayes Thy wyll be done But what suppose we to be the wyll ordynance off God S. Paul do the notably teache vs thesame where as he saythe Rom. 8. Thosse whom God hath know en from the begynynge he hath predestinated theÌ„ to th ende they should be made coÌ„fyrmable to the image off his Soune This breffe sentence off the holy apostell well vnderstanded dothe playnly exprese vnto vs what the wyll and ordynaÌ„ce off God ys to vs warde The which dothe this myche sygnyfye vnto vs that God hath immutablye ordayned that all thosse whom he hath chosen before the coÌ„stytution off the worlde should be made lyke vnto Iesus Chryste his sonne I appese here vnto all your coÌ„syences D ye christians and do demaunde off you ys there any ryches ys there any honour ys there any glorye ys there any tryvnâ—phe lyke vnto thys â—amly to be made coÌ„fyrmable vnto the sonne off God No truly iudge ye yourseldes wherfor praysed be the eternall name off the Lord our God who trought his infynyte bounty with out any off oure desertes Ephes 1. hathe chossen vs made vs worthy off this incomparable felycyte and honour But this avay lethe no thynge vnto hym that vnderstadeth not thesame Wherfor it behoveth vs dylygently to waye coÌ„syder what the scrypture mene the wheÌ„ it affyrmethe vnto vs that it ys the wyl of the lorde God oure father that we should be lyke vnto the image off his sonne who ys the naturall and only sonne off God even Iesus Christe in whom we do beleve of whoÌ„ we do beare the holy name off christians And where ys he now he ys lyvynge raynynge with God his father in immortalyte most happye Rom. 8. whosse wyll ys that we shoulde be coÌ„fyrmable in glorye to the image off his sonne as wytnesethe S. Paul in the place before resyted To the which also agreethe S. Iohn 1 Ioh. 3. when as he sayethe whe knowe that when he shall appere we shalde lyke vnto hym Wherby it ys manyfese that we shal vs lyve raigne with hym the which thynge most certaynly shall come to pas for he hym selfe dothe make vs there off a most perfyt promys Luc. 12. in thesse wordes ffere not lytiell flocke for it hath pleased your father to gyve you a kyngdom Shall not we then haue it Truly we shall haue it for as saythe Mardocheur Estâ—r 13. The lorde ys an allmyghty kynge all thynges are in his power there ys no man that can resyst his wyll wherfor yff he haue purposed to delyuer Israell who shal lett it shall we not then be all saved yes shall we not all lyve and raigne with Chryst who wyll comunycate vnto vs his glorye immortalyte as the fyrst borne a moÌ„gest many brytherne that oure God hath wylled it so to be hath ordayned it to be so There ys no doute theroff And truly I suppose there ys none off vs all that wold not gladly be pertaker with Iesus Christ in this respecte For we all delyre to be saved we all desyre to be happye we all desyre to lyve raigne with Iesus Christe but how theÌ„ Yf we do no thynge els but raigne with hi we shall not theÌ„ in all respectes be lyke vnto the Sonne off God For the Sonne off God doth not only raigne but before he assended into his glorye he was a seruant he was a subiect he suffred Math. 10. he was crucyfyed all for vs. Wherfor yff we desyre to be made perfytly lyke vnto Iesus Christe then most we beare his crosse ffor yff we should raigne with hym with out beynge trucyfyed with hym we should be as it were but in one respect lyke vnto hym but God hath wylled that we shoulde be coÌ„fyrmable lyke vnto hym not in halfe or in parte but in all thynges Ephes 1. Then ys it off necessyte that we suffer
daye That ys to saye we are no lesse detestable vnto the worlde then were thosse that the geÌ„tylles dyd customablye throwe into the watter for the preseruation off the commen wealthe And in a nother place he saythe We are troubled on euery syde yet are we not forsaken we are in povertye but yet not vtterly with out some what We suffer persecution but are not relynquythed therin We are cast downe neuerthelesse we peryshe not We all wayes beare about in our bodyes the mortification of the lorde Iesus that the lyffe off Iesus myght appere in oure bodyes for we which lyde are all wayes delyvered vnto deathe for Iesus sake that the lyffe off Iesus myght also appere in oure mortall fleshe Now haue ye harde what S. Paul testifyeth off his estate and off the other apostles Now I besyche you gyne eare vnto that he wrytethe off the estate off all the sayntes in generall that is to saye off all the electe trew chylderin of God by Iesus Christe Throught fayght sayeth he they haue subdewed kyngdomes Hebr. 11. wrought ryghtousnes obtayned the promys stopped the mouthes off lyons quenched the violence off fyre escaped the edge off the sworde out off weaknes they were made stronge waxed valiant in fyght turned to flyght the armes off the aliantes the wymeÌ„ ressayded they re dead to lyffe agayne Other were racked woulde not be delyvered that they myght inheryte a better resurrection Agayne other were tryed with mockynges and skornynges more over with bondes and prisonment were stoned were hewen a sonder were tempted were slayne with the sworde walked vp and downe in shepskyns and gotskyns beynge destitute troubled and vexed they waÌ„dred in wyldernes in mountaynes and in caves off the earthe off which meÌ„ the worlde was not worthy off Beholde the lyffe beholde the estate and intretyng off the childerin off God durynge the tyme they were in this worlde Ys there any greater teÌ„ptations then thesse which we haue hard rehersed And yet neuer the lesse Iesus Christ and his membres before vs haue suffred them But in all thesse extreme temptations how dyd they behaue them selves Were they at ony tyme astoyned or dyscomforted No truly As wytnesseth S. Paul saynge Blyssed be God the ffather off oure Lord Iesus Christe which ys the father off mercye God off all consolation 2. Cor. 1. which conforteth vs in all our tribulations in so myche that we are able to coÌ„fort them that are in any manner of trouble eveÌ„ with theâ— same comfort that we oure selfes are coÌ„forted off God for as the afflictions off Christ are plentious in vs even so ys our consolation plentious by Christe Cor. 12. Iâ—eÌ„ he sayeth in a nother place Therfor wyll I very gladly reioysse in myn infirmites that the strenght off Christ may dwell in me Therfor haue I my delectation in infirmites and in rebukes in necessites in persecutions and in anguyshes for christes sake for when I am weake then am I stronge Here by it ys apparant that G. Paul was not dyseomforted not dyscorraged in the middes off his tribulatioÌ„s but suffred all thynges very gladly quyetly even very deathe for the testimony of the truthe he wold not also that his frindes should be moued or troubled for any thynge that myght happen vnto hym but rather that they should reioyse with him The which coÌ„fortable lesson he truly lerned in the most floryshynge skolle off his master Iesus Christ who sayed vnto his dyssiples Let not your hartes be greved neyther fere ye haue hard how I sayed vnto you Ioh. 14. I go and come agayne vnto you yff ye loued me ye wold verely reioyse bycause I go vnto my father The which thinge truly the dissiples dyd showe in the ende that they dyd love hym vnfaynedly For after that he was visibley departed from them as towchynge his bodyly presence and assended vp into the heavens wheras he remaynethe resedent vnto this hower lyvynge and raignynge prayng for vs. They retorned vnto Ierusalem with great ioye and gladnes as testyfyeth G. Luc. Act. 1. But dyd Paul and the other apostles only reioysse in tribulation Al the other christeans who haue suffred for the veryte sake dyd not they also reioysse in beringe they re crosse Yeas truly thaÌ„kes be giueÌ„ vnto oure god The which thiÌ„ge G. Paul spekiÌ„ge as wel of other as of hym selfe dothe sufficiently declare saynge We do not only glory in the glore off the sonne of God but also we do glorie in tribulation As who wold saye we christeans are not off that opinion that the worldly men are of for worldly meÌ„ do hate and deteste all tribulations call theÌ„ evelles Thynkyng it an evell odious shamfull thynge to suffer â–ª persecutioÌ„ But contrarywysse the trew christeans do glorye and reioysse in all they re persecutioÌ„s That ys to saye they are assured that they re persecutions make for they re glorye honestye wealthe vtilite and synguler profyte For the which cause they do glory in suffrynge Iam. 1. and do reioysse For. G Iames in the name off God dothe comanÌ„de them to do so saynge My brytherin extyme it an excedyng ioye when you fal into dyuers temptations 1. pet 4. G. Peter also exhorteth them vnto thesame thynge when he sayethe dearly beloued maruell not that ye are provyd by fyre which thiÌ„ge ys to trye you as thought some strange thynge happyned vnto you But reioysse in as myche as ye are pertakers of christes passions that when his glory apperethe ye may be mery and glade For truly all christeans yff they be in very de de christeans do not only reioysse glorye in they re tribulations but also they gyve harty thankes vnto God therin praysse his holy name In which doynge they folowe the example off the .iij. chylderin that beinge throwen into the fornace bounde Dany 3. walkynge in the myddes off a great fyre dyd gyve thankes prayse and glorifye the lorde They also folowe the example off Iob Iob. 1. who sayed yff we haue ressayued good thynges at the handes off God why not eâ—ell also The lorde hath gyven and the lorde hath taken awaye even as it pleasethe the lorde so ys it come to pas blyssed be the name off the lorde S. Peter also dothe gyve them in comandment to do the lyke saynge 1. Pet. 4. Yff ye be rayled vpon for the name off Christe happye are ye for the glorye and the spirit off God resteth vpon you but se that none off you do suffer as a mortherer or as a theefe or an evell doer or as a busy body in other mens matters yff any maÌ„ suffer as a christean let hym not be ashamed but let hym glorifye God on his behalffe But wherfor ys it that the christeans do so greatly reioyse in they re tribulations And do gyve thankes and praysse the name off God in the myddes off they re afflictions G. Paul in his Epistell
and yet not wyt staÌ„dynge she showed hyr selfe more vertuous worthy then the meÌ„ off hyr tyme. The lorde gyve now vnto wymeÌ„ the hart of Sebora Also Ierobaal other wyffe called Gedeon Iudg. 6. was he exempted from aduersyte I report me to the boke off the Iudges Lykwyffe Sampson whom the lorde had blyshed Iudg. 16. was not he afflycted by the philistians who puttyng out his eyes they made they re foule off hym Saynt Paul in the .13 chapter off the Acâ—es beare the wytnes that God found Dauid a man after his owne harte And yet not withstandyng all the lyffe of Dauid well consydered 1. Sam. 19 20 21.22 2. Sam. 15 was no thynge els but trouble afflictioÌ„ aduersite What suffred he at the hande off Saul What suffred he by his sonne Absolon whom he loued so enterely Yea he suffred so many thynges so grevous to be borne that it cannot be expressed And yet in this perpetuall crosse in thesse quotidian afflictions in theis contyneuall tormeÌ„tes as well of the soull as of the bodye how dyd Dauid behaue hym selfe What sayd he He sayd I am redy that the lorde do with me as it semethe vnto hym best I am redy to beare paciently with a good wyll all that it shall please hym to sende me O saynge worthy off recordation in the hart off a christian O voyce all to gyther heavenly O flâ—sse perfytly beaten downe or rather all to gyther mortyfyed by the myghty mallet and power off the sprete able to ouerthrowe mountaynes To the which saynge agreethe the wordes of Hely the prest 1. Sam. 3. To whom when Samuel had shewed the rewyne off his howsse he answered He ys the lorde let hym do what it best semeth vnto hym O that the Soules off thosse men are most fortunate whose carnall affections and flesly cogitatioÌ„s the fyre off Godes spirete hath so perfytly consumed and brought to this pas that they can willingly saye vnto the lorde there God O God thow art master do with vs what so euer is pleaseth the thy will be done But thesse men before mensioned dyd they for al they re persecutions at any tyme forsake the lorde or be came slacke in well doynge No truly Tob. 3 whervnto I appele as a wyttnes the good Tobias who diuers wayes was afflicted yet not withstandynge all his afflictions dyd neuer forsake the waye off verite and truthe I produce also to witnes the fayghtfull Iob off whom ye haue hard the affliction and pacience Iob. 23. What saye ye also to al the prophetes who haue borne a bout the worde off verite We will saye off them that which Iesus Christ dothe teache vs when as he sayed vnto his dissiples and in them to vs. Blyssed are ye when men revyle you saye all manner off evell saynges agaynst you for my names sake Math. 5. reioyse beglad for great ys your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophetes which were before you But what dyd they persecute some of the prophetes and lefte other some vn afflicted No. They haue vniuersally persecuted them all with out any exception The which thynge to be trew ys evydent by the wordes off S. Sthephen Act. 7. Which off the prophetes ys there sayth he whom your fathers haue not persecuted from the fyrst vnto the last And not only the prophetes but Iohn also who was more theÌ„ a prophet even suche a one as wytnesseth Iesus Christ as there was not a greater borne a mongest the childeren off women Math. 11 Ther was no prophet greater then Iohn Baptisie and yet was he persecuted But how was he persecured They dyd vnto hym all to gyther what so euer they wolde and yet was he that Helias as testifieth Iesus Christ that was promysed to come Math. 17 Here we haue no small occasion to staye oure selves diligently to consyder the profounde and admirable Iudgment off the lorde For. S. Iohn was a most holy and vertuous man he sought in all thynges the glory off God he neuer dyd iniure to any man lyvynge he was a man all to gyther inreprehensible And yet all this not withstandynge the lorde gave hym ouer into the handes of his enymes to erecute they re tyrannye vpoÌ„ hym Math. 3. Marc. 1. Iohn 1. the which thynge also he most paciently suffred Ought we then to be abashed marvayll yff he suffer vs wreched synners to faull into the handes off oure aduersaryes capitall enymes Or rather how myche ovght we hyghly to thanke hym for his gentyll correction paciently endure thesame Truly my fryndes it ys oure duty so to do But it ys but a small thynge that the enymes off the faygh dyd vnto saynt Iohn all thought they dyd what so ever they coulde For they dyd vnto Iesus Christ the soune off God what so ever they wolde As he hym selfe prophesied before in saynt Mathew saynge Math. 17 I saye vnto you that Helias ys come all redy they knew hym not but haue done vnto hym what so ever they lusted in lykewysse also shal the sonne off man suffer off them But who ys this sonne off man The sonne off man in this place ys to saye the sonne off God Math. 1 the only trew Messias that ys to saye the only trew savioure off the worlde to be breffe it ys Iesus Christ hym self who spake it who oÌ„ly a boue all other ys most worthy to be called man or the sonne off man not by cause off his humylyte and abiection not by cause he ys not borne off man and woman as other ate but for by cause that he only who ys bothe God and man ys the honoure the glorie and the perfyte savyoure off the humayne nature for it ys he only that hath repayred and restored thesame agayne into his perfection it ys he that makethe meÌ„ perfyte men for with out hym man ys no maâ— that ys to saye the image of god but a beaste worse then a beaste yea the perfyte image of the devell And this maÌ„ this sonne off man who only ys the perfyte man Math. 1. and also Emmanuel that ys to saye God with vs and consequeÌ„tly the glorye of man was gyven into the haÌ„des of synners to th eÌ„de that they myght do with hym what so euer they wolde that ys to saye what so euer God his father had before ordayned off hym to be done and they dyd it Now my brytherin and fryndes I do demande off you Yff God the eternall father hath not spared his owne proper sonne as sayeth Gaynt Paul but hathe abandoned hym to the wyll off synners Ought we to thynke it strange yff he do gyve vs into the handes off synners we wiche are also synners to th ende we may be made confirmable and lyke vnto his sonne Rom. 8. accordig to his determination before the fondatious off the earthe And tell me