forsake hym when he ys tormented for his worde Sapi. 1. Were this a good opinion off the lorde as the holy scripture commandethe vs to haue No truly Even so neuer entred it into the harte off a fayghtfull man But what a moÌ„gest other thynges ought a christean man to thynke when he comethe to the fyre to be borned He ought truly to remember that which ys writteÌ„ in the .xvi. chapter off the boke off wysdome wher as we rede this saynge The fyre forgate his owne strenght by cause the ryghtous myght be noryshed for thy creature that seruethe the which art the maker ys feirse in ponyshynge the vnryghtous but doth asswage it selfe and ys easye and gentyl to do good vnto shuche as put they re truste in the. Thesse wordes do not declare that the torment of fyre ys an intollerable payne vnto a christean but contrary wysse that the payne ys lyght and easye to beare for as myche as by the power off the confydence that we haue in God the lorde creator off all thynges the vyolence off the fyre ys so tempered and asswaged vnto vs that wheras the vnbeleuers do burst out by impacience and mourmer agaynst God we do suffer paciently and wyllynglye in gyvynge prayses vnto the lorde in the myddes off all oure extremites In folowynge therin the example off the thre younge meÌ„ who beyn bounde in the myddes off a flambynge fornes dyd sanctifie and prayffe the forde God who performed and accomplyshed then vnto them that which he before promysed by the mouthe of his holy prophet sayinge yff thow walkesie thorowe the fyre Esai 43. it shall not borne the and the flambe shall not kendyll vpon the for I am the lorde thy God the holy one off Israel thy Savioure Ys there now any apparant reason or cause why a christean who only hathe his coÌ„fidence in God by Iesus Christe shoulde fere the fyrye flaÌ„be wherwith men do threaten them The fyre ys not noyful vnto a christean man but very profytable for as witnessethe the scripture Sapi. 3. Pro. 11.17 Psal 65. 1. per. 1. It workethe the lyke effecte in a christean that it dothe in gold or syluer that ys to saye It doth proue hym it doth purifie pourge hym with on t consumynge And truly is waye the thinge dyrectlye a christeaÌ„ maÌ„ throwen into the fyre maye worthely he compared vnto the fyrye bushe that Aloyses sawe in the mount Dreb Exod. 3. which bushe for all that it was on a flambye fyre yet dyd it not consume Be may also be coÌ„pared vnto the chinyng worme that beynge in the fyre dothe not peryshe nor consume but contrarywysse ys therby purged from fylth made more bewtyfull then yff it were washed with all the watter off the worlde Wherfor let vs then assure oure selves and from hens forthe let vs neuer fere the fyre that so sone vanyâ—het awaye for I am sure that wheÌ„ we haue passed through the fyre we shall saye with Iesus the soune off Syrache I was not bornte no not in the myddes off the fyre Let vs not fere men that worke no thynge els vniuersallye but vanite Let vs not also fere deathe for to fere deathe as sayeth a certayne wysse maÌ„ ys no thynge els but to seme to be wysse and yet in very dede to be no thynge lesse Fynally let vs not stande in fere off any manner off crcatures Let vs fere God only let vs gyve ouer oure selues vnto hym and abyde vnder his protection and that done let vs not care for nor passe off any thynge for so the spiryte off goo admoni heth vs by S. Paul saying 1. Cor. 7. I wyll that you be with ont all solicitude And agayne care not for any thynge And by the mouthe off S. Peter 1. pet 5. he sayeth Last your care vpon God for he carethe for you But peraduenture you wyll obiecie agaynst me How dare you now go a bout to perswade vs that we shoulde not care Was there euer in all oure lyffes a greater occasion off care ministred theÌ„ there ys at this present Who dothe not se how some are exiled out off they re natyve coutrye compassed a bout with miserye pouertye and sondrye afflictions voyde off all conforte and consolation on the other syde some impresoned shut vp from all fryndes acquayntance and kyndred abydyng every moment the sentence off comdemnation to be gyven over into the handes off the haÌ„g men to be executed Some other haue lost all they re goodes and landes they re howses sealed vp they re wyffes chyldren lyinge vpon they re handes voyde off all releffe and forsaken off the worlde beyinge be come an obloque and a laffyngstocke vnto al people and as it were poynted at with the fynger And yet you saye vnto vs that we should not care for any thiÌ„ge Ys it now tyme to saye care not at all Truly my fryndes I haue in very dede so sayed vnto you do so saye agayne for as myche as God who ys your God wyll showe hym selfe to be your God hath commanded you to do so for he sayeth playnly Lare not for any thynge Lan ye now then take care for any off your affayres be they never so great with on t offendynge and dysspleasynge off your God and father It ys not possible Wherfore I woulde consayll you to depend wholy vpon hym Who hath sayde Cast your care vpon the lorde and he wyll helpe in the tyme off nede And on the other syde all thought you myght iustly be carefull for your affayres with out offence tell me yff it please you wherto seruethe all your care What comodyte doth hit brynge Truly none at al. Knowe ye not that of many cares great thought taking there comethe no thynge but dremes GalomoÌ„ spekiÌ„ge in the sprirete in the v. chapter of the Ecclesiastic dothe playnly testifie the same vnto vs Lykwysse yff we had dylygently ingrauen that diuine and frutfull lessou that the soune of God dothe leue vnto vs in the ende off the .vi. chapter off S. Matthew ye should wel persayue that all oure care and thought takynge cannot in ony respect further the lest bysoues that we haue Wyll you the for no thynge dysquyete your selfes breke your hede and in so doyinge offende youre father in queÌ„shynge therby his fatherly prouidence and great care that he hath ouer you Ye allege that ye are out off your natyve contrye who seeth not how vayne this your allegation ye Yff ye thought your selfes rahter the childrin off God then the sonnes off mortall men after the freshe ye woulde consyder that where so euer you become vpon the face off the earthe that you are in the contrye and kyngdom off your father for dothe not the scripture playnely teache vs that the earthe ys the lordes c. Which thynge yff it be trew as there ys no thynge more certayne then are we not out off oure owne
contrye wher so euer we become for that land or contrye wherin we dwell ys oure fathers by creation pocession and gyfte and it ys oures by promys gyven vnto vs his childerin Are not thesse sayinges then the blossomes off incredulite Yes truly for yff we dyd not more savor of the fleshe theÌ„ of the spiret yf we were not more worldly theÌ„ heaveÌ„ly they should newÌ„ proced out of oure mouthe Forther more yf oure love were but as perfitly fixed vpoÌ„ our spouse Iesê¯ as the love of a faightful wyffe ys vpoÌ„ hir husbaÌ„de we woulde be coÌ„teÌ„ted for his sake to abandon all go where as he ys For what fayghtfull honest woman ys there that havynge hyr husband in a straÌ„ge contrye sendynge for hyr dothe not furth with forsake father-and mother frynde and acquayntance goodes and landes no thynge regardyng neyther peryll nor pouertye that may happen vnto hyâ— so that she may be in the folowshype and coÌ„panye off hyr husbande And wherfor By cause she louethe hym and hath hyr confidence and trust in hym and ys sure that she shal participate with hym what so euer he hathe And ought not we christeans vnles we wolde be reputed vnnaturall branches vnkynde lovers and insolent persons to abandoÌ„ and forsake for the loue off oure heavenly spouse Iesus Christ who hathe maryed vs vnto him selfe with the rynge off fayght all wordly fleshlye pleasure what and howe manye so ouer they be yea and oure lyves to As dyvers vertious wymen haue done in tyme paste as the histories testifye for the love off theyr husbandes Wherfor now yff your celestiall husbond Iesus Thriste for your salvation and coÌ„modite and be cause he woulde make you lyke vnto hym selfe dothe now call you out off your owne contrye do ye refusse to folowe him which ys the author of lyffe the preseruer from perylles the gyver off all good gyfftes and the most fayghtfull louer off oure soules wheras a weake woman wold not refusse to followe hyr vukynde husbande who ys no thynge els but earthe asshes fleshe blond and corruption hauynge no certayntie off his lyffe nor no full assurance of his person nor presence O to mychs ingratitude O loue imperfete or rather vtterly queÌ„ched or els bestowed vpoÌ„ straÌ„ge lovers the very enymes off thy lovynge spowse Can there be a greater iniure then this No truly But ye wyll an swer me and saye It were but a small matter to be out off oure contrye yff we had any certayne dwellynge place whervnto we myght repayre but we knowe not where to be come nor whyther to go We neuer traueled so farre and the contrye people ys vtterly vnknowen vnto vs My fryndes let it suffice that god of his goodnes hath hytherto gyven you howsses to dwell in for in that respect truly he hath done more for you then he dyd for his owne naturall sonne who neuer had any The foxes sayeth he hath holes Math. 8. Luc 9. and the byrdes off the eayre haue nestes but the sonne aff man hath not wheron to rest his hedd Do you not se how that the sonne off God hym selfe had no earthly maÌ„sion nor dwellynge place off his owne and yet not with standynge he dyd not complayne off any thynge he dyd not dyscomfort hym selfe Neyther yet was he at any tyme destitute off lodgynge for his father in whom he only trusted dyd prouyde for hym wherfor yff that you now beyinge in strange contryes are with out habitatioÌ„ off your owne reioysse therin for in that respect you are confyrmable and lyke vnto the sonne off God Behaue your selfe in this estate as you knowe he dyd gouerne hym selfe and it shall happen vnto you as it dyd vnto hym that ys to saye Content your selues with thynges present trust in God and he wyll never leve you nor forsake you Iesus Christ also your celestiall husband wyll neuer forsake you dyd ye euer knoÌ„we any good husbande that in lyme off nede dyd abandon his espowsed wyffe in suffeinge hyr to range at ryote with out hauynge any respect vnto hyr Iesus Christe ys that only good husbande for he hath gyden his lyffe for his wyffe Were it possyble now that he woulde forsake hyr in levynge hyr destitute off healpe In myn opinion it were not possyble his infinite gooddes coulde not suffer it Wherfor no doute he wyll prouyde lodgynge for you assure your selves off that and trulye it ys an easye thynge for hym to do it for all the howses and dwellynges off the worlde are his as wytnesset he the prophet Dauid who sayethe The earthe and all the plenytude theroff ys the lordes For it ys with God as with a husbande that hathe diuers mansion places the which also by the common ryght off mariage belonge vnto his wyffe who causethe his wyffe to dwel in which howse it pleaseth hym and when he lyste he causethe hyr to remove and to change habitation as he thynketh best and al wayes the wyffe vs contented beying an honest woman belytynge in the company of hyr husbande Then so Iesus Christe who ys the lorde off the vâ—â—uersall worlde who also by fayght hathe espoused you Ole 2. wyll haue this prerogatyâ—fe also naÌ„ly to place you in which of his howses it pleasethe hym beste your parte ys to obaye wyllyngly to dwell in that place where he wyll haue you And there to remayne in lea dynge a christean lyffe tyll shuche tyme as he call you thens vnto some other place The which thynge yff ye are contented to do theÌ„ do ye pacieÌ„tly followe your vocation in gyvynge hym thankes for al thynges havynge all wayes a sure confidence that he wyll never leave you vnprovyded that ye shall new waÌ„t a howffe to lodge in seynge that for his sake you haue lefte that which was your owne For he hathe so promysed vs in his gospel sayinge I saye vnto you off a truthe the re ys no man that dothe forsake his howsse pareÌ„tes brytherin Math. 19. Mar 10. Luc. 18. wyffe or childrin for the kyngdom off God that shall no. ressayve myche more in this worlde in the worlde to com everlastyng lyffe Are ye in doute that Iesus Christ wyll not performe vnto you this his promys Doute it not for wheras you do forgo but one howsse for his sake ye shall fynde a great many off howsses off your fayghtfull brytherin open redy to ressayve you The lorde wyll prouide for you as he dyd for his prophete Elias fleyng from the face off Achab 9. Reg. 17 out off his contrye a wydowe off Gerepta a frynde in a strange lande that shall minister vnto your necessâ—â—â—s yea he wyll prouyde for you as he dyd for his seruant Paul a trew Aquila and a very Pryscills who wyll not only be redy to ressayve you Ito they re houses but also instructe you in a more aÌ„ple knowlege off the truthe as they dyd Apollo Wherfor my dere brytherin
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
astoyned nor denyed oure fayght but haue boldly confessed thesame before the face of oure enymes no thynge extemyng oure lyffes with S. Paul But haue wil lyngly dyspyced and abandoued the same for the verytes sake accordyng to the doctrine of Iesus Christ oure onely master most perfyte exampler Then are we proued then do we persayve and knowe by experience that oure fayght ys good lyvely theÌ„ dothe oureÌ„ companyons knowe vs and then dothe God hym selfe know vs as he sayeth to AbrahaÌ„ Gene. 22. Now I knowe that thow fearest God So that there ys no doute but that this probation and experience off oure fayght to be good godly coÌ„methe off the pacient constancye constant pacience that God hath gyveÌ„ vs in oure tribulations For truly the reprobate and vnbelevers haue neuer pacience in they re aduersites But they mourmer all wayes agaynst God blaspheme his maiestye Which thynge consydere noved S. Paul to saye pacience bryngethe eyperience to wytt experience off oure fayght that ys to saye pacience dothe gyve vs experience that oure faight ys good as a good souldioure that hath dilygently done his indevoure in the bataill consayveth a certayne and sure hope that his prince for whom he hath fought hasarded his lyffe wyll gyve hym thaÌ„kes recoÌ„perâ—se hym gyve hym prefarmeÌ„t charge and credyte in his real me Even so when as by constant pacience oure fayght hath byn proved and founde good then dothe oure hope incresse more then ever it dyd and do conseve a fyrine assurance and sure certitude off oure salvation Then begyne we as it were partly to knowe and lyvely to feile that we cannot be damned but that we shall be most certaynly saved Tob. 3. as witnesseth the good Tobias Who so ever lovethe God sayeth he and serueth hym a ryght ys sure off this that yff his lyfe be tempted and proved it standeth in tryynge and yff he contynewe in pacience he shall haue a rewarde and be hyghly crowned To the which agreethe the holy apostel S. Iames saynge Iam. 2. Blyssed ys that man that endure the temptation for affter that he hath byn proved he shall ressayve the crowne off lyffe that God hath promysed to thosse that love hym And this ys it that the apostell teacethe vs when as he sayethe probation Rom. â— that ys to saye the experience that throught pacience we haue off oure stronge and invinsyble fayght workethe or rather engendrythe hope But vpon what thiÌ„ge ys this oure hope founded and bylded Yff it were founded and stayed vpon the force worthynes off oure pacience theÌ„ should it haue but a slender fondation myche lyke vnto that edifice that ys bylded vpon the sande But wher vpon theÌ„ ys it situatede vpoÌ„ the onely certayntey off the verytable promysses off the lorde who sayeth in S. Matthew Blyssed are all thosse that suffer persecution for ryghtousnes sake Math. 10 for theyrs ys the kyngdome off heaven and agayne he sayethe He that wyll go about to save his sowll that ys to saye his carnall and temporal lyffe he shall losse thesame but he that shall losse his fowll that ys to saye he that shall wyllyngly abandon his lyffe for my sake for the gosples he shal surely save it Vpon thesse promysses and other lyke which are infinite in the scriptures ys oure hope all wayes founded bylded as the only foundation theroff And not vpon oure owne workes pacience or worthynes And this hope ys not confouÌ„ded sayeth saynt Paul that ys to saye that all thosse that do fyrmely hope after the thynges that God hath promysed them they shall never be dyssayved not frustrated off they re expectation and attente They shall neuer be confounded befor the vngodly vnbeleuers they re enymes It shall never repent them neyther shall they be asshamed for that they haue beleved in the promisses off God For assuredly they shall haue that they haue hoped for namly that which God hath promysed them And on the other syde the vnbelevers and vngodly shall haue no ocasion to laffe theÌ„ to skorne For out off all dout they shall be saved as testifiethe the prophet Esaias Esai 28. Whosoeuer belevethe in hym shall not be confounded Also it ys written in the psalmes Blyssed ys the man that hopethe in the lorde Psal 33. ffor God savethe thosse that trusiethe in him But what nede I here to allege the sayinges off thesse .ij. prophetes Dauid Esaias seyng that all the scriptures tendythe to none other ende and al most reacethe noneother doctrine but onely that all thosse that vnfaynedly do reposse they re confidence in God shal be delyvered froÌ„ all they re tribulations and shal be saved trought the grace and mercye off the lorde Iesus Christ And there for gyve eare vnto the lyvely and puysance consolation that the aposiell dothe gyve vnto vs in his epestell to the Ebrieus els where Hebr. 12. saynge Wherfor let vs also for as myche as we are compassed about with so great a multitude of witnesses that ys to saye so great a nomber off them that are gone before vs. Laye a waye all that presseth downe and the synne that hangethe so fast on let vs roÌ„ne with pacience vnto the battaylle that ys set before vs lokynge vn to Iesus the captayne and fynysher off oure fayght which for the ioye that was set before hym a bode the crosse and dysspyced the shame and ys now set downe on the ryght hande off the throne off God Consyder therfor and consyder agayne how he indured suche contradiction off synners leste ye should be weryed faynt in your myndes for ye haue not yet resisted vnto bloud stryvynge agaynst synne and haue forgotten the exhortation that speaketh vnto you as vnto childerin My sonne dispyse not thow the chastenynge of the lorde neyther faynte when thow art rebuked off hym for whom the lorde lovethe hym he chastynethe yea he skorgethe euery sonne that he resayvethe yff ye indure chastenynge God offrethe hym selfe vnto you as vnto sonnes What sonne ys he whom the father chastynethe not Yff ye be not vnder correction wheroff all are pertakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Therfor seynge we haue had fathers off oure owne fleshe which corrected vs and we gave them reuerence shall we not myche rather be in subiection vnto the father off spirites and lyffe And they verely for a fewe dayes nortered vs after theyâ—e owne pleasure but he norterethe vs for oure profyte to th ende that he may minister off his holines vnto vs. No manner chastenynge for the preseÌ„t tyme semethe to be ioyous but grevous never the lesse after warde it bryngethe the quyete frute off ryghtousnes vnto them that are excercysed thereby For thought oure outwarde man peryshe yet the inward man ys renewed day by day for oure tribulation 2. Cor. 4 which ys momentany and lyght preparethe an excedyng and an eternall wayght
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
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
I beseche you ys a sholler abone his master or a seruaÌ„t greater then his lorde whom he seruethe Or rather ought not the skoller to be contented when as he ys intreated as his master and the seruant as his loâ—de Gyve eare I praye to a worthy senteÌ„ce that a certayne christean hath spoken in oure tyme. O saruantes do ye thynke that it behoue the you to rest and take youre ease when as the lorde dothe trauaylle take payne Truly all the faughfull seruantes and good christeans that were in the tyme off Iesus christ and also syns his deathe haue had no reste but haue all wayes trabyled they haue all byn persecuted as was theyr master wheroff he warned them also beforre hande Marh 10. Mar. 13. saynge yff they haue persecuted me even so wyll they persecute you Wherfor yff the worlde dyd make warre agaynst the master ys it reason that we his seruantes lyve 〈◊〉 peace and pleasure Or rather ys it possible that we should not suffer seynge the master hath suffred Who euer knewe the members in healthe the hea de sycke who euer harde off any shuche shynge And forther more yff the prynce hym selfe go vnto the warres for the comen wealthe off his contrye ys he not alto gyther a cowarde and a dastard that sekethe hys ease at home and wyll not accompany his prince who willyngly de the abandon hym selfe to emyneÌ„t danger for the vtilite off the comen wealthe Bow myche more yff the sonne off God Ebr. 12. who ys oure only prince be in his owne person in the batayll armed at all poyntes are we fayghfull seruantes are we worthy soldiours are we trew christeans yff we do not accompany hym And yff all ouer companyons be about oure prince berynge the brounte off the battayll with hym and we tarrynge behynde do we not meryte to be erpulsed his baÌ„de felowsbyppe to be rased on t off the boke off lyffe and to be reprobated and accursed for euer Truly we deserue no thynge els and then so shall it happen vnto vs. Barken I besyche you what the angell off the lorde God sayeth in the boke off the iudges Curse ye the Lyte of Meros sayeth the angell of the lorde curse the inhabiters therof by cause they came not forthe to helpe the lorde neyther to helpe the myghty Here may ye se a most certayne malediction and cursse vpon shuche as are slacke and neclegent to assyst the lorde in the tyme off tribulation In tyme past also when Gedeon made warre agaynst the Madianites he lefte be hynde hym and dyd not call the men off Ephraim to assyst hym wher for they were grevouslye offended with hym Iudg. 7. kendlyd in shuche indignation that it wanted lytell that they had not oultraged dystroyed hym Why hast thow serued vs thus sayed they that thow calledest vs not with the wheÌ„ thow wentest to fyght with the Madianites Ye may se that the men of Ephraim dyd not desyre to tarry at home seke theyr ease when as theyr captayne Gedion with his armye was in perryll and in danger off the ennymes Lykwyse we reade in the boke off Samuel 2. Sam. 11 that when David kynge off IerusaleÌ„ was aduertised that Harsabe the wyffe off Vryas was with childe He sent vnto his cheffe captayne Ioab commanded hym to send him Vryas who was as theÌ„ in the campe amongest the other captaynes soldiours off the kynge When Vryas was come and after the kynge had inquyred off him the estate off his armye he sayd to Vryas go into thy howsse washe thy fette And Vryas as sayeth the hystorye departed out of the kynges howsse and there followed hym a seruyce ffrom the kynges table But Vryas slepte at the gate off the kynges pallace with other off his lordes seruantes and went not downe into his howsse off the which thynge when kynge Dauid was informed he sayed to Vryas are not thow come froÌ„ the fylde why then doest not thow go downe into thy howsse But now I besyche you brytheren gyve eare and consyder dylygently the worthy answer off Vrias the which truly ys worthy off perpetuall coÌ„mendation and neuer to be forgotteÌ„ But what sayde he The arck off God Israell Iuda dwell in the teÌ„tes sayeth he my lord Ioab and the seruantes off my lorde lye vpon the face of the earthe and shall I then go into myn howsse to eate and dryncke to lye with my wyffe for thy healthe and for the healthe of thy Soule I wyll not do this thynge O moste excellent whorthy and vertious man O constant mynde neuer werye off troble and payne O saynge neuer to be forgotten For he wold not take his case when it was tyme to travayll but wolde go with the rest beare his parte off the burden Ys it lawfull theÌ„ for vs brytherin to seke oure ease and to refuse to suffer seynge that all oure companyons haue suffred and do suffer also our only hedd Iesus Christ with them There ys no apparant excuse why we shoulde do so Iphe 2.4 Iom 12. Wherfor David in his tyme spekynge in the person off Christe off his mystycall bodye that ys to saye of vs he sayd I am ordayned to be wypped and beaten And. S. Peter in his fyrst epistell sayeth the lyke 1. Pet. 2. Yff for well doynge sayeth he ye suffer wronge and take it pacyently then ys there thanke with God for there vnto veryly were ye called Consyder ernestly derely beloved thesse 2. sentences Dauid affirmethe that we are ordayned to be afflicted and G. Peter sayethe that we are called to suffer Namly to suffer paciently that for ryghtousnes sake Math. 5. Ys there any excuse then why we should refuse paciently to suffer for ryghtousnes sake seynge we are there vnto ordayned and called of god Ought we to refuse wyllyngly to drynke off that cupe that God our father hath ordayned and gyven vnto der that were no perfyte obedience to the diuine ordynance Math. 2â— That were no dyrecte followynge off oure vocation That were no trew expression off the example off the sonne off God oure only hope 1 Tim. 1. Tiâ—â— 2 That were no thynge confirmable vnto this order of prayer Oure father thy will be done To conclude that were no waye to declare oute selfes to be christeans but rather to manyfest our selves enymes and aduersaâ—yes to the most holy and tyghtons wyll off God Yea it were no thynge els but dyrectly to mourmure agaynst God It ys written in the boke of Iudgethe how that thosse that resayved not the temptatione Iudg. 8. with the fere off God but put them selfe forthe with vnpaciencye and murmorynge agaynst God peryshed off the dystroyer and were slayne off serpentes Do we thynke then to escape the extermination and ponyshment off God yff we become murmorers repyners agaynst his determinate ordinance pleasure In sekynge