and all without sinne and whâ— he shal be yet in any sinne the sinne shall not greene him but bee perdâ—ned because of y e insuperable righteousnes of the Lord Jesus the whiche dooth as it were swalow vp all our sinnes â–ª vpon whome our faith is stayed hoping sted fastly that Jesus Christe is euen suche a one as we beleue that he is And he that beleeueth not this it is to him as one y e tolde him a fable or as to a dum man or one that knoweth not Christe nor what he dooth profite him nor what vtilitie is in Jesus Christe Where fore if we had no other meditations or considerations but this onely it were sufficient to fulfil vs with vnspeakable consolation if it bee diligently considered w t an attentife hart we shall not onely be sorowful for our euelles but also we shall glory and reioyce in out tribulations thorow the great ioy that we haue in our Lord Jesus and shall scantly feele our miseries and euelles That good Lord Jesus our God blessed for euer make vs to feel and perceiue this Glory So be it ¶ A breefe Table of the principall matters coÌ„tained in this book and heere you shall vnderstand that this letter a be tokeneth the first side of the leafe the letter b betokeneth the last syde and l be tokeneth the numbre of the lines on the same side A Abundaunce of riches bringeth not so great coÌ„solation as dooth a good conscience fo 28. b. line 9 AfflictioÌ„s are to be loued fo 24. a. l. 23 Afflictions good to vs fo 25. a. l. 4 Afflictions of a Christian be not as y e afflictioÌ„s of y e wicked fo 25. a. l. 19 Agathe went into prisoÌ„ fo 49. b. l. 13 B Benignitie of God is great fo 15. a. li. 21. Bodily graces can not be estemed Fo 27 b. li20 C Care of God for vs fo 9. a li. 19. fo 10. b li. 14. Fo 42. b. li. Christian ought to bee greeued with the misery of others fo 15. b. li. 3. Christian is alwaies better and increceth in goodnes whether he liue or dy fo 34. a. li. 20. Comfort to man is that hee feeleth not all his finnes Fo. 3. a. li. 3. Communion of Saintes what it is so 51. b. li. 2. it is in good and euel fo 53. a. li. 13. Confession of sinnes proceeding froÌ„ faith iustifieth and sanctifieth fo 22. b. li. 16. Corporall tribulation is aduertisement of the inward euel fo 1. b. l. 11 Curse is the cause of blessing fo 24. a. li. 18. D Dauid the figure of Christe fo 38. a. li. 16. Dampnation of some for lesse euellê then we doo fo 13. a. li. 14. Death greatest of all terrible thingê fo 6 â–ª a. li. 4 Death feared of Saintê fo 6. b. li. 3. Death feared of Christe fo 6. b. li. 4. Death is to be desired rather theÌ„ this life if we loue God fo 8. a. li. 11. Death is rather to be chosen then to returne to the whole kinde of life passed Fo. 8. b. li. 11. Death of the wicked is often times deserued of other which God dooth keep fo 12. a. li. 11. Death good to vs. fo 25. a. li. 5. Death of a Christian likened to the brasen serpent fo 25. a. li. 7. Death is the beginning of life fo 25. a. li. 23. Death is neuer tasted of him that kepeth the wurd of Christe fo 25. b. li. 1 Death of the faithful is precious Fo 34. a. li. 4. Death of the wicked is moste vnhappy Fo. 34. a. li. 12. Death maketh an ende of euellê and paines vice and sinnes Fo. 35. b. li â–ª 21. Fo. 36. a. li. 20. Death whiche was the paine of sin is now the end of sinne and beginning of righteousnes fo 36. b. li. 21. Death the cause of al good Fo. 37. a. li. 21. E Euelles within a man moste miserable fo 1. a. l. 11. Euelles ful knowne would make a man perishe Fo. 1. b. li. 5. Euelles long continued we make no count of them Fo. 4. a. li. 7. Euelles be not measured according to the fact but after thoppinion Fo. 4. a. l 13 Euelles what soeuer one suffereth none can be surely exempted from them Fo. 5. b. li. 19. Euelles common to all men Fo. 6. b. li. 13. Euelles to come are moste to be feared Fo. 6. b. li. 18. Euellê of aduersaries letted by God Fo 14. b. li. 7 Euellê of other shall make our owne seeme light Fo 17. b. li. 25 Euelles and sorowes be molified â—â— 18. b. li. 4 Euelles of the soule bee worse then the euelles of the body fo 36. a li. 5. Eâ—ample of euel liuers doo help to our aduertise mentes fo 43. b. li. 14 F Feeble and weake haue moste neede of comfort in death Fo 6. b. li. 11 Felicitie of Christians through afflictions and death Fo. 33. b. li. 15. G God dooth chasten vs benignly discouering vnto vs the least euelles fo 1. b. l. 1 Goliath was the figure of sin Fo. 38. a. li. 14. Goodnes that GOD dooth to the wicked moueth vs to consider his goodnes to the good fo 47. a. li. 14. Goodê of y e wicked be spurrê to moue vs to trust in the inuisible goodê set light by the euelles whiche wee doo suffer Fo. 47. b. li. 8. Goodes that a man hath in his owne person cannot be nombred Fo. 27. b. li. 15. Goodes of the spirit more excellent then the goodes of honour fame c. Fo. 28. b. li. 9. H Hermit complained because he was one yeere without trouble Fo. 21. b. li. 7. Hye degree is subsect to many temptations Fo. 14. b. li. 15. Honorable estate engendreth feare Fo. 5. a. li. 13. Horror of diseased personnes Fo. 16. b. li. 12. Hurtful thingê y t seem to hurt y e beleuers doo theÌ„ moste good Fo. 59. a. li. 3. I Ignomini mother of glory Fo. 24. a. li. 20. Ingratitude not to esteeme wurthely the benefites of God Fo. 13. b. line 11. Iniuries sanctified by Christ Fo 24 b. li. â— Justice of God is but one Fo. 13. a. l. 16 L Lot was â—exed by the wurkes of the wicked Fo 16. a li 15 Lot increased in righteousnesse thorow suffering wicked examples of the Sodomites Fo 48. b. li. 13 Loue of righteousnesse is the loue of death Fo 36. b. li. 25 M Maladies hurtig the body be named CCC Fo 5. a. li. 2 Mankinde is noble and can doo many thinges that no oother creature caÌ„ doo Fo 28. a. li. 2 Meat among volupteous men is not found good with out sauce Fo 29. a li 16 Members of one body help one an other Fo 52. a. line 10 Mountain of mirre what it is Fo 23. a. line 18 Parentes louing their Children Fo 1. b. line 23 Passion of Christe called a baptisme Fo 24. b. li. 14 Passion of Christe is â—â— somuche the lesse strength in a man as he is far ther from the loue of suffring troubles of this worlde fo 27. a. l. 3 Percecutions sanctified by Christes suffringes Fo 24. a. li. 11 Pleasure and volupte ousnes engelldre werines Fo 29. a li. 2 Pouertie inriched by Christe fo 24. a. li. 16 Presence of God among vs Fo 9. b. li. 21 Prouidence of God is alway present toward vs Fo 39. b. li. 21 Purpose of manne Fo 9. a. line 4 R Rebukes of the worlde are rather to be imbraced and kissed then the Apparel Cups or other be sselles that Christe touched Fo 25. b. li. 23 Reliques doo not so muche good as troubles in this world fo 26. a line 8 Resurrection of Christe what good it dooth to vs Fo 55. a. lin 18 S Saint John Baptâ—â—â— beheaded Fo 19. b. li. 9 Saintes praied for the euelles of other fo 15 b. li. 25 fo 18. a. li. 7 Soule of the Sinner more horribls then the sore diseased body fo 17. a. line 3 Saintes haue suffered tormentes to haue a Crown of life Fo 18. b. l. 16 Sensuall man vnderstandeth not the thinges that be of God Fo 21. a. l. 15 Shame is glorified by christe Fo 24. a. line 15 Shames of the world be to be imbraced Fo 25. a. line 23 Sin is destroyed by his owne frute Fo 38 a li. 4 Sufferinges of other domoue vs to praise God Fo 44. a. li. 14 Suffring of our troubles is nothing if it be compared to the sâ—â—â—â—ing of the Saintes Fo 21. â— li. 18 Supper of the Lord Fo 53. a. li. 16 W Wicked be as a raging Sea Fo 17. b. line 4. World likened to the Sea Fo 4. a line ◠¶ Faults escaped in y e printig Leaf â—de line fault correction 11 1 11. it spoken it is spoken 14 1 21. same of the. sea saÌ„d of the sea 1â— 2 25. the the euelles the euelles 28 1 24. riches abuÌ„daÌ„ce riches â— abundance 31 1 â— yea yet 50 2 〈◊〉 albeit also 51 2 〈◊〉 reâ—oice reioice ⧠Imprinted at London at the Long Sâ—… adioining vnto Sainct Mildreds Churche in the Pultrieê by John Alde Ro. 15. Ro. 11 â–ª
be engraued within our hartê and a singuler coÌ„fort of great powre in our temptations For certainly Job did not onely suffer but with the same hee was tempted with impatience of his owne wife the whiche said to him contemptuously Thou remainest stil in thy siÌ„plicity Blaspheme the Lorde and dye as if shee had said All meÌ„ may plainly see that there is no God that wil leaue thee so and forsake thee Wherefore then doost thou put thy trust in him and doost not rather deny him And in suche sort after shee had angred him said Wherfore doost thou not knowledge thy self to be mortall and that nothing is left vnto thee after this life There is none of vs the whiche his owne wife that is to say sensualitie shal not furnish inough of suche matters for the sensuall man vnderstandeth not the thinges that â—e of God Now all goodes that be corporall be common to all but the Christian and faithful hath other goodes muche more excellent whiche be inward goodê that is to weet the faith of Jesus Christ of whom it is said in the Psalme 44. The kinges daughter is all glorioê° within her clothiÌ„g is all of wrought golde For as yeâ— haue seene the euelles in the first coÌ„sideration that there is no euell so greate in man as the euell within him Also the faithful may not nor caÌ„not se the inestimable great goodnes or felicitie that is with in him for if he felt it be holde hee should bee incontinent in heauen for y e kingdome of heauen is within vs as saith Jesê° Christe For to haue faith is to haue the trueth the wurd of God Now to haue the wurd of God is to haue God the creator maker of all thiÌ„gê And if these thinges were reueled to the soule in suche perfection as they be in deede shee would spring out of the body incontinent for the great abundaunce of ioy and sweetnesse Wherfore of good right the louing corrections of whiche we haue spoke before be called aduertisementes of the goodes whiche wee haue within vs the whiche our good God declareth to vs by the same because this life can not bear nor suffer that they vereueled to it but thorow the great goodnes and mercy of God they bee hidde to vs vntil toey bee growen in their perfect measure This is it that the Fathers and Mothers doo geue to their Children sometimes little Horses Tabors Pipes and other trifels by the whiche they doo incite and stur vp the mindes of their children to greater and more excellente thinges Neuertheles they doo break foorthe and shew them selues sometimes as when the conscience reioiceth and triumpheth in the confideÌ„ce and sure trust of God and when shee speaketh willingly and frely of God when shee heareth his wurd with a gratioê° eare and an attentife heart when she is brought to be ready and diligent to serue him obey him to doo good wurkes and to suffer aduersities the whiche thinges be certain tokens of an inestimable good which is therein hidden the whiche springeth out thorow a certain conduit by small droppê although it happeneth sometimes that this is reueled more fully at large vnto those spirites whiche be geuen to contemplation so they finde them selues as it were swallowed vp y t they wot not where they be as Saint Augustine confesseth him self to be and many others ¶ The second Chapiter of the second consideration the which is the good to come or before vs. THose that be no Christians can finde no great comefort in hope of the good to come in the middes of their troubles because all thinges be to them vncertaine For this affection and vaine hope dooth bring to them a certaine tumult but thorow faith wee doo comfort one an other freendly And wee doo hope for better thinges but the weaker doo at tempt clime vp to great thingê and ofteÌ„ in vncertitude yet they be ofteÌ„ deceiued voyd of their hope as Jesus Christe sheweth in y e. 12. of S. Luke of him y t said to his soule I wil pul down my barns make theÌ„ greater say to my soule Take thy rest driÌ„k eat make good cheer for y u hast goodê inough for many yeers but God said Fool this night shal thy soule be taken froÌ„ thee the goodê that y u hast heapid together whose shall they be theÌ„ Euen so is it w t him y t gathereth treasure is not riche in God But y e Christians haue a more excelleÌ„t felycitie whiche commeth certainly but it is thorow afflictions death Also they reioice in a certaine sure hope so that the present euel endeth and contrary y e good augmenteth whiche is the verity in Jesus Christe where in they prospet and profit from day to day and for the loue thereof they liue in hope and ouer aboue these thinges they haue two moste great commodities in the death to come First the death is an end of all the tragedy of euelles of this present life as it is written The death of the faithfull is pretious before the face of God againe I shall sleepe in peace and rest me If the righteous be preuented by death hee findeth quickening and comfort And contrary the death to the wicked and Infidels is the beginning of euelles as it is said The death of the wicked is moste vnhappy also the euel dooth ouertake and katche y e wicked in his death In this maner was Lazarê° coÌ„forted y t which hath receiued heere his euel and the riche glotton vnhappy was tormented because hee receiued his goodes heere in this life By this meanes also it commeth that the Christian findeth him self alwayes better and encreasing in goodnesse whether he liue or whether he dye so blessed a thing it is to be a Christian and to beleue in Jesus Christe and therefore Saint Paule saith Christ is to me aduauntage whether I liue or whether I dy And to the Romaines 15. Hee that liueth liueth to the Lorde and he that dieth dieth to the Lorde be it whether we liue or whether we dy we be the Lordes Jesus Christe hath begotten vs this assurance For he is dead and risen againe to thend that he might be Lorde of the quicke and the dead hauing powre to make vs sure and to certify vs aswel in the death as in the life as is said in the. 23. Psalme Though I should walke in the middest of the shadow of death yet wil I feare no euel for thou art with mee But if we be not certified of this aduauntage of death it is a sign that the faith of Jesê° Christ is in firm and weak in vs the whiche doo not wurthely esteeme the gaine and price of his moste precioê° death They cannot beleue yet the death to be good because that is letted by the olde man and the wisedome of the fleshe whiche hath yet to muche vigour and strength and therfore wee ought to assay and
supper Who is he that dooth despise the least porcion of the bread the whiche likewise may not be saide that he hath despised the holy communion or supper Wherefore if wee be angred if we suffer yea if we dy cast our eyes vpon this and beleeue firmly be wee certaine that it is not wee that be sadde or heuy or that doo suffer or that doo dy no we be not alone but Jesus Christe and his Churche suffreth with vs. So is it that Jesus Christe hath willed that the way of death should bee to vs comfortable and that we should passe ouer all our miseries by the same the whiche all meÌ„ haue in horrour and be afraid of But now wee entring into the way of the passion and of the death hauing all the Churche to accompany vs and the Church dooth suffer more constantly then we can our selues so that we may truly appropriat take to our selues that whiche Elie sayde to his seruaunt Giezi whiche was taken with feare in the second of Kinges the sixt Chapiter Feare not for there are more on our sides then of our ennemies And after Elie had praied hee said Lorde y t it may please thee to open the eyes of this Lad that he may se and then the Lord opened the eyes of Giezi and he saw and beholde the mountaine was ful of souldiers and of Chariottes round about Elie. And now their lacketh no more to vs but that wee pray that God wil open our eyes that wee may see the Churche or congregation of GOD round about vs yea the eyes of our faith theÌ„ ther shalbe nothiÌ„g so horrible nor fearful that shall make vs a fraid as is said in the. 134. Psalme As the hye mountaines are round about him euen so standeth the Lorde about his people from this time forth for euermore Amen ¶ The seuenth Chapiter of the seuenth consideration of the good whiche is aboue vs. I Doo not speake of the eternall and celestiall goodê whiche the blessed doo enioy as in a clear light and vision of God but rather or at the least I speake of those according to faith and after the meanes by the whiche these thinges may bee comprehended of vs. Also this seuenth consideration is Jesê° Christ the king of glory rising from death For as we reade in the seuenth consideration of euelles he suffred died was buried so heerewe may beholde y e souerein iÌ„estimable ioy of our hartê and the strength of our felicitie and comfort The Sonne of God beeing raised froÌ„ death dieth no more death shall no more reigne nor haue domination ouer him This is the furnace of Charitie and the fire of GOD in Sion as saith Esay For Jesê° Christ is born to vs and not onely so but is also geuen to vs and therfore his resurrection is mine and all that he hath accomplished by his moste glorious resurrection And as Saint Paul in the. 8. to the Romaines dooth glory and reioyce saiyng How shall he not geue vs all thinges with him Now what hath hee doone in rising from death He hath destroyed sinne he hath raised the righteoê° and iust hee hath swalowed vp death he hath brought life hee hath obtained victory ouer hel and prepared for vs euer lasting glory Beholde the inestimable goodes so that the vnderstanding of man can very hardly perceiue oâ—beleeue that they be geuen to him As Jacob in the. 45. Chapiter of Genesis hearing that his Son Joseph reigned in Egipt he as rising from a deepe and profound dreame myght not beleeue those whiche tolde him those thinges vntil they shewed him the Chariottes with stuffe sent from Joseph Also as difficil and hard a thing it is to vs to beleeue y t so great goodes is prepared for vs by Jesus Christe to vs whiche be so vnwurthy except he him self doo make vs beleue it by his wurd in many sure textes places And as he did appeere and declare him self to his disciples by many apparitions Also he dooth now allure and draw vs to him as by Chariottes by long experience and vsage and this is a Chariot moste gratioê° louing that he is made of God to vs righteousnes wisedome sanctification and redemption As Saint Paul saith 1. Corinthians the. 1. Chapiter I am a sinner but I am borne and lifted vp in his righteousnesse which is made mine I aÌ„ filthy shameful and miserable but his holinesse is made to me my sanctification and my purgation in the whiche I am moste graciously and louingly trained and brought vp I am foolish but his wisedome dooth sustaine and bear me I am wurthy of damnation but his liberty is my sufficient rauÌ„some O Chariot moste sure so that y e Christian and faithful person whiche beleueth the same may asmuche glory and reioyce in all these goodes and merites of our Lorde Jesus Christe as him self had doone them They be his owne proper so that now he may boldely abide the iudgement of God the whiche without this is of all men importable This faith is a thing moste excellent for it bringeth to vs suche inestimable goodes so glorioê° that it dooth constitute vs the glorioê° Children of God for wee can not bee Children but wee must possesse and obtaine the goodes of our father and the enheritaunce Now the Christians may boldely say death where is thy victory O death where is thy sting that is to say sinne for the â—â—ing of death is sinne â–ª and the strength of sinne is the lawe Thankes bee to our Lorde God whiche hathe made vs to obtaine victory by Jesê° Christe our Lord y t is to say The law dooth constitute and declare vs sinners sin maketh vs culpable of death and daÌ„p nation Now who hath vanquished these thinges Is it our righteousnes Is it our good life No truly it is the Lord Jesus rising from death coÌ„demning death and sin making vs partakers of his righteousnesse resigning to vs his merites putting his hand vpon vs and taketh vs to him and fulfilleth the law and ouercommeth sinne and death Now for all these thinges honour geuing of thankes and praise bee to our good God for euer and euer Amen This is the moste souereigne consideration in the whiche we be all redy so by lifted vp not onely aboue our euelles but also aboue our goodnesse and be all ready in possession of the goodes of others gotten by the labor of other in place where we were couched before in the euells of other and conquered by the sinnê of other and augmented by our owne â–ª We be now couched and set in the place of the righteousnes of Jesus Christe y t whiche is to him righteousnes for as muche as we are ioyned to hi which is agreable to God and as a mediatour dooth intercede make request for vs and this moste holy sacrificator and aduocate is made whole altogether oures These thing doo make the Christian to be ful of all strength Lorde of all thinges hauing all â—â—â—nges
Apostle Who wil not be astonied at these wurdê of the Apostle wherby he declareth openly that those whiche bee not corrected and chastised of God bee not the children of God But to be more strongly comforted in this text let vs consider that those whiche bee chastysed by the hand of God be his welbeloued and dear children and that they be garnished and armed with the coÌ„munion of all the faithful saintê and that it is not they alone that doo suffer And truly this meditation shall moderate our paines and torment in our correction But heere let vs not trouble our selues in that one dooth suffer thinges lesse greeuous the other more hard for temptation is geuen to euery man by measure and not aboue his strength as it is said in the .79 Psalme Thou hast fed vs with the bread of teares and hast geuen vs to drink of teares by measure Saint Paule saith also God is faithful whiche permitteth not that ye bee temptid and afflicted aboue your strength but shall deliuer you in your temptations that ye may suffer and beare it and in that y e one dooth feele or taste moste greef there hath hee moste frute and help of God in suche wise that it should see me rather to bee an inequality of passions then otherwise For Saint John Baptist whiche was miserably beheaded by Herod may it not make vs all astonied that suche a great excellent personage as hath not beene one emong those that are borne of women so great the singuler freend of y e spouse christ forerunner of the Sonne of God greter then all the Prophettes neuertheles was not put to death by publike sentence nor is not accused of malice or enuy as was Jesê° Christe nor yet because of the people but for the loue of a dauncer the daughter of an adulteresse and in prison this shamefull death of this holy person and his life taken away so vilainly â—ud of so wicked a maner beeing in â—he handes of suche a moste poisoned â— abhominable adulterer this ought at the least for to mitigate our euellê and all our afflictions But where was God then whiche might haue seen all these thingê Or where was the Lorde Jesus now whiche hearing these thinges and hath fained to dissemble or not to heare them This holy prophet and wurthy man is perished as though it had bene vnknoweÌ„ to God to man to all other creatures What suffer we wherin we may reioice or more aptly too speak wherein wee be not confounded if wee make comparison of our suffringes with his death Wel now where shall wee become if wee wâ—l nothing suffer seeing so great and excellellent personages haue suffered and dispised the death so valiantly the whiche they haue not deserued and their bodyes to be sette for the as a mocking stock to their enemies after their death as it is said by Jeremy Beholde these that are not condemned to drink of the cup doo drink thereof and shalt than continew Innocent Thou shalt not continew Innocent except y u drink therof Wee rede of a certain Hermite that complained whiche had bene sick almoste all his life felt him self wel one yeere to gether hee was greatly troublid and sorowful in his minde and complained that GOD had vtterly forgotten him and had refused to geue him his grace Somuche is necessary vnto helth the correction of the Lord to all Christians Now we may see that it whiche we suffer is lesse then nothing if we consider the Prisons Manacles Irons Fyer wilde beastes and other infinite number of tormentes that the Saintes haue sufferid Or elles if we wil way the temptations of those that suffer presently with vs in this life so many persecutions 〈…〉 greuous temptations of the deuel 〈…〉 their conscience for there be maâ—y of those y t suffer inwardly thingê â—ore greuous more sharp then doo â—e aswel in sprit as in body Some â—oo vse to say heere thus I may laâ—ent for my passions and afflictioÌ„s â—ay not be compared to those of the â—aintes because I am a sinner and â—ot wurthy to be compared to them They haue sufferid for innocency â— for my sinnes And therefore it is â—o meruail though they sufferid ioyfully all these thinges Verely this is a wurd of great folly For if thou suffer for thy sinnes thou oughtest to reioice for as muche as thy sinnes are purgid The saintes them selues were they not sinners But thou fea rest least thou be like Herode or the euel theefe on the crosse no thou art not if thou be patient For what difference was there between the two theeues or what did iudge the one to be good and the other euell but patience thorow faith But thou art a sâ—â—ner wel the theefe was a sinner but patience hath brought him this glory that he is righteous and holy also thou doo the like for thou maist not suffer but ether for thy sinnes or for righteousnes Bothe these passioÌ„s 〈…〉 sanctifie and render a man blessed if a man doo embrase them wherfore now restith no excuse Moreouer so soone as thou hast confessed vnfainedly that thou sufferest iustly for thy sinnes and of good right thou art then iust and holy euen as the good theef was made iust and holy For the confession of sin proceading from faith iustifieth and sanctifieth and in this maner as soone as thou hast made this confession then thou sufferist no more for thy sinnes but for innocency for the righteous suffreth not but innocently Now thou art made righteous by the confession of thy suffringes and passion and thorow the confession of thy sinnes and therfore thy suffering is iustly â—f good right compared to the suffering of the saintes as thy faith may â—e iustly and of good right compared â—o the faith of the saintes for all had â—ne confession of sinnes all had one â—aith all had one passion or suffering â—f euelles all the saintes communicate together trewly in all and by all â—nd ouer all ¶ The seuenth Chapiter of the seuenth consideration which is the euel or misery aboue vs. FInally we must lift vp ouâ— hartes on hy and ascend vp to y e mountain of mirre to the spouse This mountaine is the Sonne of God Jesus Christe crucified hed of all the faithful saintes Prince of all those that suffer of whom many haue written notable thinges and altogether hath writteÌ„ all that ought to be written and the memory of the same is recommended to the churche where it is said Set me for a signe in thy hart as a butte or mark vpon thine arme The blood of the lamb sprinklid vpon the entre of the houses staied the aungel froÌ„ striking And likewise the spouse is praised because her heares bee as the purple of the king that is to say her meditation is redde by the remembraunce of Jesus Christ This is the wood that Moises cast by commaundement into the waters of marah that is
to say Into the bitter passions and were made sweet There is nothing but this passion that can make sweet y t is to say death as saith the espouse His lippê be as y e distilling lilly drawing out soueraigne mirrhe y e whiche proporcion of lillies and tippes signify the act of misticall thinges For as y e lilly is white the lippê red that is y e wurdê of the Lord Jesê° be moste white moste pure in y e whiche is no bitternes nor bloody slaughter but sweetnes plesauntnes from whom distilleth soueraine mirrhe these lippes moste pure moste sweete haue powre to put away the great bitternes of death and to conuert it into sweetnes puritie whitenes sweet sauour as the excellent mirrhe putteth away all stinckingnes of sinne that is to say When we heare that Jesus Christe the sonne of God hath clensed and sanctified by his moste holy suffringes all persecutions and passions yea the very death he hath blessed the curse hee hath glorified y e shame and ignomini and inriched the pouerty so that death is constrained to be the gate of life the curse is constrained to bee cause of blessing and the ignomini mother of glory Now how can wee be so ingrate and vnthankful that we doo not earnestly desire yea and loue all these passioÌ„s and afflictions dipped and sanctified by the moste pure flesh and moste holy blood of the Son of God the whiche be made to vs moste helthful blessinges For if by the touching of his moste pure flesh hee hath sanctifyed all the waters to be holy and needful to baptisme yea all creatures how muche more hath he sanctified by baptism of y e spirit or of blood all death all passions all iniuries all outragies all maledictions all ignomini that by the blessed touching of his flesh and blood whiche is moste precious as hee saith in the. 12. of Saint Luke of this baptisme namely the passion I shalbe baptised with a certaine baptisme and how am I pained vntil it be ended Heere we see with what ardent desire hee desired to sanctifie the passions also dooth and hath made them sweet and amiable to vs for he knew wel that wee would be astonied at the afflictions did wel foresee that we would be afraid of death and abhorre it also willing to make an end of this our euilles as a moste meek and prouideÌ„t pastor and as a moste faithful phisicion he hasted him self and prolonged not the death that hee might make y e afflictions passions yea the very death good to vs by his holy suffring so that wee may estéeme the death to a Christian as the brasen serpent of Moises whiche had the fygure of a serpent ouer all and in all pointes and yet was nothing lesse then liuing he was without venim without mouing without byting so likewise it seemeth to the eyes of the foolishe that the faithful dy but truly they be in peace we be like theÌ„ y t dy and the apparence of our death is none other but as others bee Neuerthelesse the trueth is otherwise for to vs death is dead also all our afflictions and passions bee like to their afflictioÌ„s but it is only by appareÌ„ce For verely our passions be the beginninges of impassibilitie as the death is the beginning of life And this is it that the Lorde Jesus saith in the. 8 of Saint John If any keepe my woord he shall neuer taste of death How shall he not see death Because that in dying hee beginneth to liue and so the life that he be holdeth causeth that he doothe not see death The night is heer made bright as the day for asmuche as the brightnesse of the life beginning is clearer then the death departing These thinges bee moste certaine to all those whiche beléeue in Jesus Christe but not to the vnfaithful Now if they doo kisse if they loue and embrase the apparrel the vesselles the cuppes and finally those thinges whiche Jesus Christe hath touched or that he vsed so they honour theÌ„ as great reliques with great deuocioÌ„ because they say that he hath saÌ„ctified theÌ„ by the touching therof But wherfore doo we not the embrace kisse and loue rather the the paines the shames rebukes the opprobries the euilles of the world and the very death the whiche were not onely sanctified by his holy touching but also be blessed dipped in his moste precioê° blood embrasing them with a moste ardent zeale and great charity eueÌ„ to the very death Beholde in these thingê wee haue much more reward helth goodnes then in reliques For truly by these thingê wee doo optain victory ouer death hel and all our sinnê not by reliques O good God if we might look into the hart of y e Sonne of God and se perfectly wheÌ„ he was strained on the crosse y t he might reÌ„der death dead ouercome and w t what ardent zeale affection he embrased y e death and the paines therof for those y t bee fearful for those y t abhorre death the paines therof and w t what redines wil hee hath first drunk of this moste bitteâ— cup after hath somonid y e weak diseased to drink therof to the end y t they should not feare to drink after him Beholde se that no euell is happened vnto him but rather a great inestymable benefyte hath followed in that he rose again It is moste certain that this pretious mirrhe is made moste sweet and amiable distilling by the lippes and the woordes of Jesus Christe praising them as the sweet sauour and beauty of lillies Also Saint Peter saith in his 4. Chapiter in his 1. Epistle For asmuche as Christe hath suffred in the fleshe arme your selues with the same minde And to y e hebrewes 12. Chapiter Thapostle saith Consider diligently him that hath suffred suche gaine saying of sinners against him self to the end that you should not bee wery nor slack in youre mindes Wherfore if we haue learned to suffer paciently the euellê that be about vs and enclose vs beholde in this last considerations of our afflictions shadowed in Jesus Christe surmountith all euelles and maketh y t we not onely endeuouring our selues to suffer but also to loue to wish and serch for it And the farther that one is from this affection and zeale the lesse strength hath the passion of Jesus Christe in him And those that wil worship the Roodes Baners and Crosses of Christe for to put away death and afflictions that they may not suffer them and so not to dye beholde they vse meanes cleane contrary to the crosse of Christe and his death And for this cause it is necessary in this seuenth consideration y t all y e afflictions whiche we suffer should bee consumed that it may not greeue vs to suffer but rather to pleasure in sufferiÌ„g This ought euer to bee in our hartes and to be liuely rooted in our
thee For as thou oughtest to reioyce in the iustice of God perse cuting thy sinne euen so reioice in the execution against sinners enemies to God and to man We heare now what excelleÌ„t benefites is fouÌ„d in great and horrible euelê and how we ought to reioyce in our great miseries not because of y e euelê it self but because of the inestimable goodnesse and iustice of God the which taketh vengeaunce of oure sinnes and wickednes ¶ The fift Chapiter of the fyfth consideration of the good on the left hand HEre is to be spoken of the aduersaries that be yet liuing in the world for in the Chapiter going before we haue treated of the aduersaries that be all damned made like to the deuelles but we must consider these heere with an other affection and consider them two maner of waies First they abound and prosper in temporall thingê in suche sort that the Prophetê them selues were almoste moued to enuy theÌ„ because of their felicitie as it is said in the. 73. Psalme My foot had all moste slipped my steps were almoste gone seeyng the wicked in suche prosperitie and felicitie I had euen all moste borne them enuy And in the same Psalme Beholde the wicked habunding in iniquitie haue obtayned great riches And in the. 12. of Jeremy Thou art verely righteous Lord when I doo argue against thee neuerthelesse I shall consider of the thinges that be righteous with thee Wherfore doo I see the wicked prosper the affaires of all those whiche wurk wickednesse and goe forward But y e questions is Wherefore dooth he poure vpon them so great benefites and so vndeserued but to the end to comefort vs and to shew how good he wil be to them that are of an vpright hart as it is saide in y e same Psalme He that is so good to the wicked how muche more wil he be good to the faithful and in that he dooth not tormeÌ„t the wicked with any maner euelles but the good he prooueth them by many euellê that they may know that he is good to them not onely in goodes that be present but also in riches whiche bee hidden and inuinsible that they may say with the Psalmist It is good for me to ioyne my self to the Lorde and to set my hope and trust in my God as if he had said Although I suffer seeing them deliuered and free without trouble yet I haue this confidence that God wil let me feele his clemency and goodnesse muche more then shall they And therefore the disible goodes of the wicked bee spurres to moue vs to trust in the inuisible goodê and to dispise set light by the euellê whiche we suffer It is it that y e Lord Jesus commaundeth vs in the sixt Chapiter of Saint Mathew to beholde the birdes of the ayre and the Lillyes of the feeld saying If God so clothe the grasse whiche is to day in his flowre and to morow cast into the furnace how muche rather wil he clothe you O ye of little faith Wherefore by the comparison of the goodê whiche the wicked abuse and the euelles and miseries whiche wee suffer our faith is exercised and wee obtaine consolation in God whiche is the moste holy consolatioÌ„ and comfort So necessary it is that all thingê happen to the best to y e faithful The other goodes whiche is muche more to be meruailed at is that their euelles be turned to our good and profite as GOD hath ordeined it For all though their sinnes be offensiue to y e weakest and infirm and feeble sâ—â—lê neuertheles they be exercises of vertue and of spirituall battaile and of greater helth to the strong and faithful For blessed is the man that suffreth in temptation for when he shal be tried he shall receiue a crowne of life Now is there a greater temptation then these multitude of moste euell examples And y e cheefe reason why the world is called an enemy to the faithful and electe of God is that by their enticementes and wicked wurkes they may draw vs allure prouoke and turne vs from the way of God to their wayes As is saide in y e. 6. of Genesis The Sonnes of God saw the daughters of men that they were faire and ioyned them selues to them Also in Numeri 25. Chapiter The Children of Israel are falleÌ„ with the daughters of the Moabites insomuche that it is a thing helthful to vs to be continually pressed holden down by some misfortune so that we striuing with the euell occasions of the world fall not into sinne and wickednesse we I say that be so weake Also Saint Peter in the. 2. Chapiter of his second Epistle commendeth Lot for that he suffred many wicked examples of the Sodomites so that he profited and encreaced in righteousnes thorow these thiÌ„gê Therfore it is necessary y e offences happen whiche engender warre and victory Yet notwithstanding wo bee to y e world because of offences Now if God procure vs so great goodnesse in the sinnes and wickednesse of others how muche more ought we to beleeue with all our hartes that hee shall procure and turne into good our euelles and misfortunes although the sence and feeling of the fleshe iudgeth otherwise The world bringeth vs no lesse goodnesse on the other side with his euelles whiche is called aduersitie misery For those whiche he can not swallow by enticementes and incorporate to him self by offences hee assayeth to repulse and put fro him by adueruÌ„tyes and driueth them of by paines and tormentes procuring alwaies against them snares by examples of sin foining out his furies by horrible tormentes and paines This is the monster that the Poets doo call Chimery whiche hath the hedde of a damosell and gratious countenaunce the wombe of a Lion and the taile of a venemus serpent For the ende to whiche the world pretendeth what with his volupteousnes and what w t his tiranny is poisoned death and dampnation eternally So now wee see that God hath made vs to finde our cheef goodê in y e midst of the sinnâ— of y e world to thend that y e persecutious and afflictions whiche he sendeth be not to vs idle nor vaiÌ„ They be or deyned vs for the encreasing of oure benefites in suche wise that the same wherewith the world dooth noy and molest vs be constrained to profit vs. As Saint Augustine saith of the litle Children that Herod put to death That hee neuer profyted so muche by loue and good wil as hee did by hate And Saint Agathe went into the Prison very ioyously as to a banket saying thus If thou doost not tame my bodye by thy tormentors my soule shall not come into heauen for to receiue y e moste blessed crown And as the graine of wheat is not laid vp into the barnes but first is driuen out of the eare and sore beateÌ„ in the ayer barne But wherefore doe wee tary vpon thinges so small seeyng the holy scriptures and all
y e sayinges of the auncient fathers the actes of all the holy faithfull saintes and seruauntê of God accord to this For those that seem to be moste hurtful to the beleuers be those that doo them moste good if they doo suffer it patiently As Saint Peter saith in the. 3. Chapiter of his 1. Epistle And who is hee that can hurt you if ye folow that is good And in the Psalme â—â— His enemy shall not ouertake him and the sonne of wickednes shal not hurt him And how shall he not hurt him Doothe hee not kil often But yet in hurting and melesting he dooth seruice and profit very much to the faithful So now we may see our selues dwelling in the midst of al perfect goodnes whiche compasseth vs about on euery side If we be wise and consider them with a godly eye and notwithstanding yet we remain in the midst of thaforsaid euelles So wunderfully be thinges tempered and mingled by the coÌ„ning and meruelous wurk of Godê diuine power ¶ The sixt Chapiter of the sixth consideration of the good on the right hand THis benefit is the Church or congregation of the faithful the new creature of God our brethern and freendes wherein we see nothing but all goodnes and consolation although we se not this continually with the corporall eyes as we may see in the contrary Image of euelles but w t the spirituall eye and also that those goodes whiche we see the faithful possesse be not to bee reiected but rather to consider y t God dooth comfort vs in such coÌ„modities For the Psalmist in the. 73. Psalme durst not condemne nor reiect those that possessed riches of the worlde saithe If I should speak so I should condemn the generatioÌ„s of thy Children that is to say If I should say that they be all wicked and that all those that be riche honorable helthful be reprobate I should condemne thy very seruauntes of whom there be riche honorable helthfull And also where as Saint Paul exhorteth Timothe to geue commaundement to the riche of this world that they be not proud yet hee dooth not forbid to haue riches and the scriptures sheweth that Abraham Isaac and Jacob were riche and Daniell and his felowes were honored in BabiloÌ„ and also many other kingê in Juda were found faithful seruauntes of GOD. The Psalmist casteth his eyes vpon these and saith If I had so sayd I had reproued the generations of thy Children GOD I say geueth abundance of these riches to his people of tentimes for the releefe aswel of theÌ„ selues as of others but these goodes be not there owne proper effectuall goodes but onely figures and shadowes of the true goodes whiche bee faith hope charitie and other graces and giftes whiche bee all made commoÌ„ by charitie This is the communion of saintes in the whiche wee should glory And who is he that wil not recoyce now yea although it be in the middest of great euelles if hee beleue that this is true that is to say If he beleeue that the goodnesse of all the Saintes be his and that his euel is their euel also This Image is moste pleasaunt and amiable to beholde whiche the Apostle to the Galathians painteth and describeth to vs in this sorre Beare the burthens one of an other and so fulfil the law of Christe Is not this a good thing to be in suche a â—ace that when one member suffreth all the rest suffer also and when one is glorified all the other reioyce with him As it is said in Saint Paule to the Corinthians When I suffer I suffer not alone Jesus Christe and all the Christians suffer with mee as God him self saith He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye Also the Churche dooth feele and beare with my burthen their vertue is my vertue the faith of the Churche and coÌ„gregation dooth strengthen my Infidelitie The chastitie of the Churche dooth help to beare with the temptation of my fleshe The praier of them is watcheful for mee and also moste necessary Breefly the members haue suche care the one for the other that the moste honest doo couer the moste simple they doo serue them and honour theÌ„ as the Apostle doothe very wel describe to y e Corinthians Now in this cace I may glory that is in the goodnes of other as in mine owne proper and also they be mine owne when I am content to communicate with them Now though I bee filthy and wretched yet those that I loue and of whome I am one be fair and beautifull by the whiche loue I make not onely their goodnes mine but also them selues bee made mine and therefore vnder the glory of theÌ„ my shame shalbe couered and bewtified by their habundance my pouertie shalbe fulfilled Who is he theÌ„ y t can dispaire in his sinnes Who is he that wil not now reioyce in his afflictions and suffringes For beholde he beareth no more his afflictions and paines but they doo beare with him he beareth theÌ„ not alone but is holpen by a blessed company of the Children of God and of Jesus Christe him self Suche an excellent thing is it to be of the Communion of the faithful and of the Churche of Jesus Christe But if there be any that beleueth not these thinges to be thus he is an Infidel and dooth disalow Jesus Christe and his Churche because he feeleth not these thinges whiche be infallible true But what is the cause that thou fallest not into dispaire and that thou art not become vtterly vnpacient Is it thy vertue No truly but the communion of the faithfull For otherwise thou couldest not beare the least sin that is nor suffer one wurd of a man spoken against thee So good is Jesus Christe to thee and so nigh to thee is he and his Churche This is it that we say I â—eleeue in the holy Ghoste the holy vniuersal congregatioÌ„ or Churche What is it to beleeue y e holy Churche vniuersall but the communion of the holy and faithful But now in what thinges doo the saintes communicate They communicate in good and euel For all thinges be to all men as the sacrament of the supper of the Lorde representeth the same to vs in bread wine where wee bee called by Saint Paul one onely body one bread and one drink For who is he that can offend or hurt the least part of our body but by and by he greeueth the whole body in the same Who may suffer the least prick in our toe but all the body wilbe greued with the same What good is doone to the foote but all the body wil reioyce Euen so are wee all one body for all that one suffreth I suffer also and what soeuer good is doone to one is doon to my self For who can take any part or porcion of the bread or supper of the Lorde how little so euer it bee to whome it may not be said that he hath receaued the Lordes