dye with him we shall also lyve with him yff we be paciente we shal also raigne with him yff we denye him he shall also denye vs. This ys the ordinance determination of God ouer vs. But now let is se what the scripture speketh off vs that scripture I say which in all thinges ys confirmable to the ordinance of God the which also to speke more properly ys no thynge els but an expressive regester off the divine all mighty ordinance off the lorde 1. Tim. 2. But what saieth this scripture coÌ„cernynge vs It saieth Marc. 9. Euery man shal be salted with fyre euery sacrifice shal be sesoned with salt What ys that to saye I take it as yff the lord had sayed God sayed in the lawe off Moises all thy sacrifices shal be sesoned with salt Leuiti â— nether shalt thow take a waye the salt off the covenant off thy God froÌ„ off the sacrefice but thow shalt offer salt on all thyne oblations Wherby it ys apparant that it was requisite in the lawe that euery sacrefice should be sesoned with salt Even so ys it necessarye sayeth oure savioure Iesus Christe that euery man who ys also a sacrefice be salted with fyre that ys to saye it behovethe euery man that dothe dedicate hi selfe vnto god or with out faynynge doth truly imbrace the christean religion that he be sprynkled salted with tribulation I meane that he be persecuted beare his crosse This ys it truly that Christe teatethe when as he sayde Ioh. 16. ye shall haue afflyction in this worlde 2. Tim. 2. This ys it that S. Paul by expresse wordes declare the saynge All thosse that wyll lyve godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution This ys that purgatorye wherof s Paul dothe admonyshe vs in his epistell to the Corynthes 1. Cor. 3. in thesse wordes Every maÌ„s worke shall appare for the day off the lorde that ys to saye the tyme off afflyction shall declare it Which shal be showed in fyre the fyre that ys to saye the crosse shall trye euery mans worke what it ys For this cause also the Autor off the boke that we call Ecclesiasticus sayeth Eccle. 2. My sonne when thow comest into the seruyce off God kepe thy selfe in ryghtousnes and fere prepare thy soull to suffer temptation Wher vnto ys to be refarred the saynge off Iesus Christ Iff any man wyll folowe me Luc 9. let hym renounte forsake hym selfe take vp his crosse and folowe me For as he sayeth in S. Mathew Math. 10. be that dothe not take vp his crosse folowe me ys not worthy off me What ys that to saye He ys not worthy off me It ys to saye as wytnesseth S. Luc he cannot be my dyssyple he cannot be a chrystean For a chrystean beleve the a christean hopethe a christean lovethe a christeaÌ„ suffrethe gladly for the glory off God and who so euer dothe not so he ys no thynge lesse than a christean Behold here trow my brytherin most dere fryndes behold I saye the ordynance of God behold also what the most certayne holy scryptures dothe teache conseruynge oure estate And truly all vertyous and godly men that haue byn syns the begynynge haue perfeâ—â—ly tasted and felte the effycacie power of this diuine ordinance which ys all to gyther voyde off mutacion And they haue knowen by experience the truther off Godes worde which promiseth vnto vs in this worlde no thynge but the crosse Act. 14. saynge that by many tribulations we must enter into the kyngdoÌ„ off heaven But how and wherin haue they felte the power off this his prouidence How haue they experimented the effecte off this his holy worde Well I nought For all they to gyther with out any exception haue byn afflycted yll entreated off the wordlynges The which thynge to be trewe Iudeth 8. the holy woman Iudethe dothe witnesse the same vnto vs in hyr boke where as she sayethe All the fayght full that in tyme past haue pleased God haue passed by many tribulations And yff ye lyâ—e to beholde the examples off they re lyffe Ye shall fynde no thynge more certayne Gene. 4. Math. 23. Tell me I pray you Abel whom Iesus Christ calleth ryghtous was he not persecuted When as his owne brother dyd most cruelly morther him Noye who a wholl yere to gyther was inclosed in the arke vpon the waters Gene. 7. with all maÌ„ner off beasres a none after was deryded off his owne naturall soâ—ne Rom. 4. Gene. 12.13.14.20.22 23. Gene. 19. had he no tribulation Abraham whom S. Paul callethe the father that ys to saye the example off all belevers tasted he no adversyte Alas he never had here any other thynge Loth also his â—â—weu suffred he no iniure 11. Sodome Isaac had he not a great and marvelous temptation when as at the comaundmeÌ„t off God Gene. 22. Abraham his father who lo â—ved hym so tenderly toke hym bounde hym Gene. 27 to make hym a sacrefice Iacob was he not molesied affacted by his brother Esau when as he thrratened to â—yll hym Gene. 37.39 And Ioseph how was be entreted off his brytherin what iniure ressayyed he by a lassyvyous womaÌ„ who falslie accused hym off adulterye But this crosse was the meanes off his exaltation and prefarmeÌ„t And of Moyses what shal we saye it shal suffice to reherse that which ys wrytten of hym in the epistell to the 〈◊〉 breus To wyt Hebr 11. Exod. 12. when Moyses was great by fayght he refused to be called the sonne off Pharaos doughter chosse rather to suffer aduersite with the people off God then to enioye the pleasures off synne for a season extemed the rebuke off Christe greater ryches theÌ„ the treasures of Egypte O Moyses the trew seruaÌ„t off God thow dydest then consyder that thynge which syns the holy gost hathe vttred by the mouthe off Salomon kynge off Ierusalem namly prouer 16 It is better to be persecuted with the humble then to part the spoylle with the prowde arrogant O that thow wart then byrectly led with that spiret who syns thy tyme hath sayd vnto vs. I had rather be a dore keper iÌ„ the howsse of God then to dwell in the tabernacles off the vnryghtous that ys to saye I had rather beare the crosse with the people off God then to raigne tryumphe with his enymes O godly mynde O divine and christean affection But let vs retorne to oure matter Iosua the successor off Moyses Iosua 1.10 to whosse voyce the lorde God obayed wheÌ„ he stayed the course off the Sonne dyd he enter into the lande off promys with out crosse tribulation Iudh. 4. The scriptures recorde the coÌ„trary And Debora beynge a most vertuous woman most iustly governynge the people off God had not the aduersite as well as the other Yea that she had
off glorye vnto vs whylles we loke not on the thynges that are sene but on the thynges which are not sene For the thynges which are sene are temporall but the â—higes which are not sene are eternall For we knowe that yf the earthly mansioÌ„ of this body were dystroyed 2. Cor. 5. we haue a byldige of god an habitatioÌ„ not made with handes but eternall in heauen My fryndes and brytherin thesse worthy saynges are written for oure doctryne to th eÌ„de that we throught pacience and consolatioÌ„ off the scriptures myght haue hope Rom. 15. CoÌ„fort your selves then in thesse wordes haue pacience be thankfull all wayes vnto oure particuler and generall father Yff at any tyme it pleasethe hym to make you pertakers off the healtfull suffrynges of Iesus Christ his onely sonne and off all the fayghtfull christeans that here to fore haue suffred ffor his name sake Haue a sure hope that yff you suffer wish the sonne off God ye shall also raigne with hym And yff ye do comunicate with him paciently berynge his crosse in this worlde be cause you wolde be founde obedient vnto the good wyll off God his father ye shall also be made lyke vnto hym lyvyng raignyng in heaven in immortalite most happye And all wayes remember and fayghtfully consyder this one thynge wheroff the holy gost by the pen off saynt Paul dothe admonyshe vs saynge The afflictions off this worlde are not worthy off the glorye to come the which shal be reueled on vs. In this firme confidence coÌ„myte your selues holy to the more then fatherly prouidence off our God And saye vnto hym with a good wyll and ernest mynde with out all dissimulation Our ffather thy wyll be done And then saye also With a sure confidence as sayeth Hebr 13. Psal 55. Psal 117. S. Paul The lorde ys my helper I wyll fere no thynge that man can do vnto me Fere not that God wyll forsake you in what so ever miserable state it pleasethe hym to brynge you For he hath sayd Ios 1. I wyll not forsake the nor abandone the. Ye wolde not relynquyshe not forsake a maÌ„ that hath suffred any thynge for you And do ye thynke then that god who onely ys good wyll forsake vs who onely haue suffred for his name sake O fryndes let it neuer enter into your hartes for it ys not possible assure your selves And forther more be ascartayned that no thynge shall happen vnto you but that which God hath eternally ordayned for you And all thought all the tyrantes off the worlde and the wholl worlde it selfe should conspyre agaynst you they are not to be feared For you can drynke no thige els but that cuppe that God hath prepared for you from the begynnynge Ye can suffer no more nor non other wysse nor at non other tyme then God hathe ordayned Do not ye knowe that the kynde off deathe off the sonne off God was before determyned It behoved hym to be exalted as he hym selfe tescifie the in S. Iohn that ys to saye it behoved hym to be ceucifyed Ioh. 3. he coulde not dye off any other deathe And the tyme also wherin it be hoved hym to dye was it not certayn lye ordayned and apoynied Yeas truly as witnesse the Daniel in his 9. chapter How often tymes hane ye read in the historye of the lyffe off Iesy Christe that his ennymes sought dyuers meanes to take hym and yet they could not by cause that his howre was not come that ys to saye Ioh. 19. that the tyme was not them come that God his father had determined that he should be taken But when his houre was come they toke hym at theire pleasure trought the ineuitable ordinance off God who theÌ„ dyd delyuer hym into they re handes and gaue them power ouer hym as he sayed to Pilate Thow shouldest haue no manner off power ouer me yff it were not gyven vnto the from a houe Lykwysse he sayed vnto the Iewes Ye are come forthe as it were agaynst a theaffe with swordes staues for to take me WheÌ„ I was daiely with rou in the temple ye sireched forthe no handes agaynst me Luc. 22. but sayeth he in S. Luke This ys eveÌ„ youre very houre the power off darcknes The place lykwysse wheras he should suffer was it not also determyned Be hym selfe declareth vnto vs that yeas For he sayeth It ys not possible that the prophet that ys to saye the Alessias or the annoynted of god should pery she but at Ierusalem And of thosse that should comdemne hym Math. 20 put hym to deathe was there no thynge determined in the secret counsayll off he deite What should we doute theroff for he hym self sayed Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and the sonne off man shall be delyuered into the handes off the hyghe preistes and scrybes and they shall comdemue him to deathe and shall delyuer hym to the gentylles to be mocked and to be scourged to be crucifyed the thyrde daye he shalrysse agayne And off hym that dyd betraye hym what was there no thynge determined before Math. 26 BarkeÌ„ what he hym selfe sayethe Verely I saye vnto you that one off you shall betraye me c. The sonne off man goethe as it ys wrytten off hym but wo vnto that maÌ„ by whoÌ„ the soÌ„ne of maÌ„ ys betrayed It had hyn good for that man yff he had not hyn borne Then Iudas which betrayed hym sayed master ys it I Iesus sayd vnto hym thow hast sayde that ys to saye thow hast sayed the truthe it ys even thow that was ordayned for thit purpose from the begynnynge This maye ye se how all thynges consernyng Iesus Christ was gyded by the prouidence and determination of god his father Truly there happyned no thynge vnto hym that was not certainlye ordayned and appoynted before Wherby we may easely gather that no thyng shal happen vnto vs his members that God hath not ordained for vs thought all the men off the worlde wolde conspyre to gyther and with them all the develes in hel or in the eayre with all they re iniquite crastes treasons wyckednes thretenynges strenght and condemnations yet caÌ„ they not abrydge oure course not proloÌ„ge oure lyffe one moment How great then ys oure pusillanimite weaknes When as al thynges dependynge enterely vpon the only prouideÌ„ce of god in whosse sure safgard and protection we are and haue our beynge and yet for all that we fere a mortall man and that more ys a weake woman that to daye ys greue as the gresse and to morowe shal be cast into the fornace Continewally as sayeth the prophet Esaias we stande in fere off the furye off them that trouble vs and in the meane tyme do forget the lorde that hathe created vs that hathe siretched on t the heavens and hath layde the fondations of the earthe O that we are people off lytell fayght But some man paraduenture wyll replye and
with hym and that ons ended we are certayne that we shal be gloryfyed with hym So that there ys non other waye to enter into the glory off God but only that waye wherby Iesus Chryste his sonne ys entred And this waye ys the crosse For yff we do dyrectly coÌ„syder how Christ entred into the glory off his father wayinge therin the immutable ordynance off God the infallyble veryte off his holy worde we may saye saye truly that it was off necessyte that Iesus Christ dyd enter into his glorye by crosse afflyction and deathe for other wysse the ordynaÌ„ce of God had byn all to gyther infrynged and brokeÌ„ the holy scryptures foâ—â—â—de fals For God by his eternall counsayll had before determy ned that he should be put to deathe Math. 16.20.28 the scryptures lykewysse dyd before testyfye the same the which thynge to be trew namly that God hath before ordayned that Iesus his sonne should suffer deathe he hym selfe doth wyines vnto vs the same when as in S. Luc he sayethe Truly the sonne off man dothe go accordynge as it is determyned off hym c. Lykwysse S. Peter speking vnto the Iewes oâ— hym dothe manyfestly declare the same by thesse wordes ye haue sayth he kylled hym Act. 3. in affiyetynge hym by the haÌ„des off vnryghtous men after he was delyuered by the determyuate counsayll and fore knowlege off God Also the prymatyve churche in a prayer written in the Actes wherin they make rehersall off thosse thynges that the sonne off God dyd suffer they do euydently declare vnto vs that all that euer happyned vnto hym caÌ„to pas Act. 4. by the only wyll pleasure ordynance off God his father for they saye truly Herode PoÌ„cius Pilate with the gentylles the people off Israell haue gathered theÌ„ selves to gyther in this cyte agaynst thy holy câ—ylde Iesus whoÌ„ thow hast anoyncted But where to came they to gythere For to do what so euer thy hande thy counsyll had before determyned to be done Ys it not now apparant before your eyes how that the holy gost who spekynge by the holy scryptures doth attrybute all the suffrynge off Iesus Chryst vnto the determynate counsayll immutable ordynaÌ„ce off God his father Lykwisse Iesus Chryst hym selfe beynge entred into the depe perfyte coÌ„syderation off this immutable determynation sayed vnto his dyssyples Luc. 9. hyt be hovethe the sonne off maÌ„ to suffer many thynges to be reproved off the elders off the hyghe prestes Scrybes be slayne the thyrde daye to rysse agayne But wherfor O lorde Iesus behoved it so to be It behoved it so to be for as myche as God had so ordayned it who sayeth by the mou the off the prophet Esaias truly it shal be as I have determyned Esai 62.50 and shall com to pas as I haue purposed it in my mynde The lorde off hostes hath decreed it who ys he that can cansell that decre My couÌ„sayll shall take place a byde sayeth the lorde God all my wyll shal be accomplyshed For as myche then as God hath wylled that Iesus his sonne should be put to deathe hauynge so ordayned it by his eternall counsayll Was it not then off necessyte that it should so come to pas Hyt could be non other wysse Wherfor to prowe that the holy scriptures dyd testifye before that Iesus the only savyoure of the worlde should be put to deathe shuche as haue but a lytell pervsed the word off God are not ignorant off the same Sothe not he hym selfe saye Math. 26 Marc. 14 Luc. 22. Iohan. 5. Esa 30.52 The sonne off man goethe as it ys wrytten off hym Yff we would take the payne as we ought to do as we are comaunded to serche dyrectly the scryptures we should fynde that not only they haue prophesyed his deathe but also they haue prophesied yea that partycularely all other thynges that he hathe suffred for vs. So that it behoved hym off necessyte to suffer all that he hath suffred And therfor he sayd vnto his dyssyples it behoued me to accomply she all that was wrytteÌ„ of me in the lawe off Moyses Luc. 24. in the prophetes in the psalmes And agayne he sayd vnto them thus it ys it written thus it behobed Chryste to suffer And a lytell before that he sayd vnto tow off his dissyples which were goynge vnto Emaus Luc. 14. O folles slowe off hert to beleve all that the prophetes haue spoken was it not requysyte that Chryst shoulde suffer thesse thynghe so enter into his glorye He sayethe that it ys requysyte necessarye that by the crosse he should enter into his glorye But wherfor was it so requysyte necessarye It was necessarye fyrst for as myche as God had so ordayned it SecouÌ„dly by cause it was so wrytten prophesyed off hym But for all that it behoved hi necessarily to suffer beathe yet not with standynge he dyd not suffer the same by coaction and constraynt or agaynst his wyl but he dyd wyllyngly obaye the most mercyfull ordynaÌ„ce off God his father with a fre consent off hart dyd accoÌ„plyshe the holy scryptures to th ende he myght render vnto God his father the glory off all truthe And to prove that Iesâ— Christ hath bothe wyllyngly obedyently submitted hym selfe vnto the wyll off God his father the holy scrypture testyfyeth euery where it is evydently apparant vnto all thosse to whom God hathe giveÌ„ grace to knowe parfytly what ys Iesus Chryst for he ys properly that trew Dauyd who hathe fully accomplyshed the wyll off his lorde God that ys to saye he hath done all that he wolde haue hym do But no maÌ„ can accomplysh the wyll off God yff he do it not wyllyngly with all his harte ffor the lawe ys spyrytuall as sayeth O. Paul Rom. 7. that ys to saye it requy rethe the spirete the fre coÌ„sent off the harte can none other wysse be accoÌ„plyshed but by doynge wyllynglye the thynge that it commandethe yea a man must haue his wholl delyte in the law off God as sayeth the prophet other wysse it ys no thynge els but mere Ipoerysye a playne mockynge off God psal 1. But Iesus Chrisre which ys the veryte it selfe coulde bens hypocryte TheÌ„ dyd he willynglye accomply she the wyll off God his father in all thyng namlye in suffrynge It ys evydent then that he hathe willyngly gladly and with all his harte suffred that he dyd suffer yea yff we will narowly examyne the matter we shall fynde that he neuer desyred any thynge so ernestly as to accomply she the good will pleasure of his father or rather to speke more truly we shal fynde that he neuer desyred any other thynge The which thyng to be trew he hym selfe dothe evydently wytnesse thesame vnto vs Ioh. 4. in thesse wordes My me ate
meanes to avoyde the crosse which he dothe present vnto vs for the glorie of his name and oure commodite Alas O lorde Act. 5. Gal 6. 2. tim 4. so miserable ys oure estate condyssion and so greatly doth it dyffer froÌ„ oure Ancesters and fathers For the Apostels and fyrste christeans dyd reioyse when God dyd them this honoure as to suffer iniurye persecution ffor the name off Iesus Christe And they dyd not reioyse with out a cause Math. 5. for as mythe as the scripture saye the. Blyssed are ye yff ye suffer any thynge for ryghtousnes sake eya blyssed are ye when meÌ„ revyle you and persecute you and shall falsly saye all manner off evell saynges agaynst you for my sake reioyse and be glad for great ys your reward in heaven that ys to saye the kyngdom of heaven ys yours as he sayd a lytell before Blyssed are thesse that suffer persecutioÌ„ for ryghtousnes sake for theyrs ys the kyngdom off heaven Thesse confortable wordes saynges of oure savyoure Iesus Christ beynge fyrinly imbraced and credyted off the apostelles and prymatyve christeans moved them boldly and stoutly to imbrace the crosse in willyngly submittynge theÌ„ selfâ— vnder the same For they had a mestâ—eltayne assurance founded vpon the omnipotent verytable worde off the sonne off God 1. Cor. 3. That in so doynge they were happy and blyssed and that they should haue parte in the consolations glorye off Iesus Christe as thei had participated with hym in his tribulations But are we christeans of thesse dayes come to this Issew Haue we avansed oure selfes so farre or do we as they dyd Alas no. The lorde be mercyfull vnto vs. For that cursed loue of oure selues surmouÌ„teth in vs the love off God And the affection that we haue vnto fryvolous and transitore thynges that are permanent and eternall do cause vs to haue in hatred Math. 10.16.20 Mat. 8. Luc. 9 the persecutioÌ„ and crosse which the sonne off God hym selfe hath with saffed to beare before vs and for vs. And what may be the cause heroff I pray you But only oure incredulyte for that we do not fyrmly beleve the worde off God which his owne sonne hath most fayghtfully testified vnto vs. This vicious loue and this damnable affection which doth so drawe vs froÌ„ the thynges where vnto we are called caÌ„ they prosede from any other thynge then from a diffidence and mystrust that we haue in the saynges and promyses of the sonne off God I report me to your consyerces Truly the apostles and prymatyve churche who were perfyte christeans And dyd fayghtfully beleue the saynges of the sonne of God They dyd not governe theÌ„ selfes on this sorte but suffred gladly for Iesus Christ and for the testimonye of his gospell when it pleased the good will off God that they should be afflicted They dyd neuer disswade one another to suffer but contrary wysse they dyd anymate bolden one another even to the very deathe Paraduenture ye wyll answer me and saye all this ys trew we acknowlege But the crosse off the Apostles and off the fyrst chrysteans was not so hard so cruell nor so evell to be borne As ys the crosse that God layeth vpoÌ„ oure shoulders in thesse dayes Wherfor they bare they re crosse easely and we wyth more payne O vnadvysed saynge O obiection worthy off reproffe Do we supposse that the crosse off the Apostles and prymatiue christeans was easy to be borne I praye you let vs take the payne to consyder what was they re crosse and that done we shall easely deserne which ys the more grev user Trulye yff we wolde with a syngle eye consyder all thynges we should fynde that we al togyther dyd new suffer the tenthe part of the payne trouble that S. Paul hym selfe only dyd taste and endure And therfor dothe he boste hym selfe that he ys a better seruant off Iesus Christ theÌ„ were a certayne kynde off falls prophetes amongest the Corrinthians off when he maketh mension Wherfor yff it please you let vs here him selfe speake 2. Cor. 11. They are the ministers off Christ sayeth he I am more in labours more abondant in strypes aboue measure in prison more plentiouse in peryll off death often off the Iewes fyve tymes ressayved I forty strypes saue one thrisse was I beaten with roddes I was ons stoned I suffred thrysse shypwrake nyght and day haue I byn in the depe see in iorneynge often in perylles off waters in perylles of robbers in ieoperdes of myn owne nation in ieoperdes amongest the heathen in perylles in the Cyte in perylles in the wildernes in perylles in the sea in perylles amongest fals brytherin in labour travayll in watchynge often in honger thyrst in fastynge often in colde nakednes besyde the thiges that out wardly happen vnto me Here may you se what saynt Paul dyd suffer ffor the testimonie off Iesus Christe 2. Cor. 1. And in an other place he sayethe Britherin I woulde not have you ignorant off oure trouble which happened vnto vs in Asia for we were greued out off measure passyng strength so greatly that we dyspayred even off lyffe Also we ressayved an answer off deathe in oure selfes that we should not put oure trust in oure selfes but in god which raisethe the dead to lyffe agayne and which delyuered vs from so great a deathe and dothe delyuer on whoÌ„ we trust that yet here after he will delyver by the helpe off your prayers for vs that by the meanes off many persons thankes may begyuen off many on oure behalfe for the gifte gyueÌ„ vnto vs. Here may ye se my fryndes here maye ye se the crosse off Saynt Paul here may ye se what he hath suffred and yet this ys not all For he hath suffred manye other thynges as wytnessethe the boke off the Actes off the Apostles and fynally be suffred deathe for the witnessynge off Iesus Christ For there more S. Paul hath not only made meÌ„ncion off that which he dyd suffer hiÌ„selfe but also he hath made rehersall off the estate off the other apostles off his tyme Wherfor for Godes sake harkeÌ„ what he sayeth off them to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 4. Truly I beleue sayeth he that god hath set vs forthe we which are the last apostels as it were men appoynted to deathe for we are a gasyng stocke vnto the worlde and to the angelles to men we are folles for chrystes sake but ye are wysse through christe We are weake but ye are stronge Ye are honorable but we are dyspysed Even vnto this tyme we hounger and thurste and are naked and are buffyted with fystes and haue no certayne dwellyng place and labour workynge with oure owne handes We are reuyled and yet we blysse we are persecuted and suffer it we are evell spokeÌ„ off and we praye we are made as it were the fylthynes off the worlde and the off scowrynge off all thynges even vnto this
to the Romaynes dothe gyve vs a playne resolution theroff in thesse wordes We knowe fayeth he that tribulation bryngethe pacyence Roma â— pacience bryngethe experience experience bryngethe hope hope maketh vs not ashamed by cause the love off God ys shede a brode â—n cure hartes by the holy goste which ys gyven vnto vs. What meanethe this sayn Tribulation bryngethe pacyence ys it the nature off tribulation to make all men pacient indifferently that are afflicted and troubled No truly For yff tribulation naturallye dyd worke pacience in all them that are troubled theÌ„ should be all men generallye paciently heare they re tribulations But euery one dothe not so For we do se at thys tyme the most part off men mourmer and grudge with out a cause and folyslye coÌ„playne in they re afflictions and aduersites What haue I done saye they Wherin haue I offended Lan thesse wordes prosede froÌ„ a pacient harte that willyngly dothe submyte hym selfe vnder the most iust iudgment off God It ys certayne that it can not And therfor it semethe that the Apostell here speke the agaynst the experience that we haue off thynges But on the othersyde yf we do diligeÌ„tly waye to who me he here spekethe namly vnto the christeans he beynge also a christean we shal easely gather where vnto the tendethe For it behoueth vs to consyder and vnderstande that the tribulations whereoff he now treatethe are not the tribulations off the worldlynges But rather they are the tribulations off the electe and trew childerin off God whosse properiyes he here declarethe and sayeth What tribulation that ys to saye the tribulation off o christean bryngethe pacyence But which waye A christean man that seethe hym selfe troubled and afflicted vnderstaÌ„deth forth with that his tribulatioÌ„ dothe not happen to him by fortune or chauÌ„ce for he ys not off that vnhappy and dainnable feet off infideles that bare denye the diuine prouidence off God laying as we reade in the boke of Ieremyes lameÌ„tacioÌ„s That from the mouthe off the lorde prose dethe neyther good not evell LameÌ„t 3. The lorde seethe vs not Ezech. 9. he hath forsaken the ear the. And as it ys writteÌ„ in the boke of Iob. Tushe how should God knowe dothe his dominion reache beyonde the cloudes Iob. 22. Tushe the cloudes cover hym that he may not se for he dwelle the aboue the scyrcie off the heavens All thesse wordes or rather blasphemes signifye no thynge els nor tende to none other ende but to make vs beleve that God that hath made heaven and ear the doth not entermedel with humayne and earthely thynges And that it ys not he that sendethe vnto man good and evell prosperite aduersite which we tast in this lyffe But a trew christe and doth not gyve any credyte vnto so pestilent and diabolicall a lye For to thynk off God a thynge so myche vnworthy his maiestye ys not the worke off a christean but off an Epicurian or of an Aristoteler A christean man gyvethe reuerence vnto the worde off God in belevynge fyrmly dwellyng vpon the same all thought al the vniuersall worlde wolde contensiouslye affirme the contrarye And the worde off God sayethe Tua pater prouidentia ab initio cuncta gubernat O father sayethe the scripture thy prouideÌ„ce gouernethe all thynge from the begyuynge And agayne if sayethe Who ys he there that sayethe that any thynge ys done with out the comandment off the lorde Forther more the lorde our God spekynge by the mouthe of the prophet Esaias saye the. Esai 45. I am the lorde and there ys none other besyde me fformynge the lyght and creatyng the darcknes makynge peace and creatynge evell yea I am the lorde that dothe al thesse thiÌ„ges sayeth the all myghty God Deut. 32. And in Seutrend he sayethe behold I am the God alone and there ys none but I. I kyll and wyll make alyve agayne I wounde and I wyll heale agayne And also Tobias hauynge respect vnto this sentence sayed vnto the lorde Great art thow o sorde for euer more and thy kyngdome worlde with oÌ„t ende for thow skourgest hea leste thow leadest vnto hell and bryngest out agayne and there ys none that maye escape thy hande Where vnto agreethe the author off the Ecclesiasticus saynge Eccle. 11. prosperite aduersyte lyffe and deathe pouertye and ryches come all off the lorde And to that ende dothe the prophet Amos enquyre saynge Dothe there any evel happeÌ„ in the cyte Amos. 3.8 that the lorde hath not wrought Vse thy ryches in the dayes off prosperite sayeth Iesus the sonne off Syrach and haue pacience in the tyme off aduersite for even as God hath made the one even so hathe he made the other All thesse textes and other infinite contayned in the holy scriptures declare sufficiently that the worlde ys not gouerned by forture and chauÌ„ce as the infideles dare affirme and that agaynst the evydent testimonie and iudgement off theire owne coÌ„syences which witnesseth vnto them that the worlde ys all to gyther gouerned by the only prouidence off God And that as well ryches as pouer tye good and evell that ys to sayâ— all tribulations persecutions losses afflictions turmentes and miseryes that we suffer doth only prosede from God and that by the will ordinance and commaÌ„dment off God who dothe all in all thynges accordynge to the counsayll off his owne wyll Wherfor when that a maÌ„ that ys a christean dothe persayve him selfe in any respect afflicted in what sort so euer it be he dothe not doute but ys certaynly persuaded that it ys god hym selfe that doth afflicte hym In sendyng hym that same tribulation that he hathe and that all the wycked men off the worlde yea even the develles and all other creaturee that seme to afflycte are no thynge els but the roddes and ministers off his diuine will and ordinance as it ys wrytteÌ„ in the prophet Esaias Esai 10. Assur ys the rod of my furye and my staffe Also in the â–ª 54. chapter the lord sayethe Beholde I create the smythe that bloweth the colles in the fyre and he maketh a weapon after his owne handy worke and I makâ— also him that kylleth to dystroye A christean man now ys sufficiently assured that his tribulation ys all to gyther a worke off God and doth not only consyder that it ys God that afflictethe but also the ende where vnto he tendythe by afflicâ—â—Ì„ge him But which waye should he knowe it By the scriptures only for the scriptures doth not only most certaynly assure hym that it ys God that afflictethe But also when that God afflictethe he doth it not off hatred nor for any pleasure that he takethe in oure affliction as testifiethe the boke off wysoome which sayethe Sap. 1. That God hatethe no thynge of that he hath made neyther takethe he pleasure in the distruction off the lyvynge The which thynge also Tobias confessethe in thesse wordes