Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	good_a	work_n	work_v	6,969	5	7.2984	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14946	A spyrytuall and moost precyouse pearle Teachyng all men to loue and imbrace the crosse, as a mooste swete and necessary thyng, vnto the sowle, and what comfort is to be taken thereof, and also where and howe, both consolacyon and ayde in all maner of afflyccyons is to be soughte, and agayne, how all men should behaue them selues therein, accordynge to the word of God. Sett forth by the moste honorable lorde, the duke hys grace of Somerset, as appeareth by hys epystle set before the same.; Kleintot, von trost und hilff. English.	Werdmüller, Otto, 1511-1552.; Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Somerset, Edward Seymour, Duke of, 1506?-1552, attributed name.; Becon, Thomas, 1512-1567.	1550 (1550)	STC 25255; ESTC S105089	87,629	226

vnder the shadow and back of the crosse and pourg●…th reformyth comforteth and strengh●…yth them ●…rkyth all these forsayd commodyteys in them Now lyke as the holy scrypture attributyth a certen rewarde vnto oure good worckes whych worckes not wythstandyng it is not we that worcke them but the Lord only whych vsyth vs as an instrument of hys Philip. 〈◊〉 ij Corin. iij. Euen so is the crosse an instrumente of God wherby he subduyth our fleshe kepyth vs in the schole of correccyon and forcyth vs as it were by vyolence from euyll to goodnes Nowe wheresoeuer the holy ghost wyll take hys restynge place for the muste parte he sendyth before hys puruyors forronner whych are sorowe and affliccyou trouble aduersyte that they maye vere comber humble meken and vtterly ouerthrow and bryng downe the hart of man whereby the holy ghoste may fynd the more place and so work all goodnes therein And therefore whatsoeuer is hether to spoken specyally of the spirituall commodyteys of the crosse and aduersyte it is so remaynyth all true so that it be vnderstād of the faythful godly which are induyd wyth the spirite of God to whom all thynges turne to their comfort and saluacyon And now on the contrary partfo●… the better vnderstandyng of y e matter I will declare shewe what the crosse worketh in the vnfaythfull and vngodly whyche lack the spyryte of god The vnfaythfull do ascribe their prosperyte and felicyte to their own wysdom workyng pollycy not to god And their mysfortune and aduersite they ascrybe to blynd fortune As though fortune had a certē powr to work of her self without the workyng of god Take Sermachery●… the lord ruler of y e Assyrians for an example whiche by the sufferance of god brought y e whole world in maner in 〈◊〉 Whych thynge he ascrybed to his own power polycye not to god For he dyd both hate blaspheme the very true god of Israell But shortelye after dyd God sende an aungell which slew in one night an C. iiij score fyue of his men And here woulde he not confesse that it was god that dyd it But parauenture he thought that it was 〈◊〉 ne mischance or some other thinge y t was the occasyon For if he had knowledgy●… this punishmente to haue comme bene sent of god he would not afterward haue worshipped done his deuocyon in the ydolatres temple of the false god ydoll Mesrach i●… ●…e xix as he dyd In lyke maner whan any mysfortune hapnyth to the vngodly they put all the f●…t only in the next mydle or meane y t they fantasy them selues or els verye wyckedly they ascrybe it vnto all those that are not of their fayth and sect As for example Whan as it raynyd not for the space of iij. yeares vi monethes in the tyme of Achab the kyng of Israell iij. reg xviij The king 〈◊〉 the cause vnto the godly Prophete ●…elpas Lykewyse in our tyme whan any tēpest hurteth the co●…n wyne other fruytes of the earth many there are that crye This may we thancke this newe lernyng this new fangle fayth c. As though they thē selues were so holy that god durst not or ought not to punish them It can be none but the poore shepe y t disturbyth the wafer that the wolff can not drynck y e po●…re ●…hepe comyth not nerer to the ryuer but only to the very drynck but at the verye brynck of the ryuer thereof there drinketh Yea euen they also whyche haue some tast of the gospel can not wel beare aduersite pacientlye nor confesse them selues gyltye but woulde fayne shy●…the faute from them selues would lay it either vpon the rulers or the preachers or els vpō some other thyng And although theyr synnes be an excedyng heape that God would fayne dry ue them to repentaunce by ponyshyng chastisyng of thē yet can not they consyder the heuy burthē of their synne nor spye the cleare daye of the ryghtuousnes of God whych can suf fer no synne vnponyshed And therefore for as muche as they will not take thys small lyght ponyshment thanckfullye but woulde goo free haue no maner of plage at all if they myght chose for that cause doth God send vnto thē afterward plages paynfull ponyshmentes by heapys so that it happenyth vnto them as it dyd vnto the asse whose s●…yn beynge put ouer a dromm or a taber as he wyshed desyeryd was beatyn strykē more than euer it was before as Esope sayth in his fables And for as much as thorow incre dulyte lack of fayth whiche is the mother of all blasphemyes abhominaciō they wyll not consyder nor call toremēberance who it is y t hath layd hys hande vpon thē Or els knowing y t it is y t hand of god yet wil not take it in good worth nor amende no otherwyse but as sowr ale in somer by this meanys they become lyke vnto desperate chyldren which wyll neyther turne and amende with threatenynge nor yet with beatinge And therfore the scripture testyfieth very well Prouerb xvij that one sharpe worde of reproche doth more good to him that hath vnderstanding than an hūdreth strypes to a fole As for exāple The longer the sharper y t God ponished Pharao the more obstinatelye dyd he swarue declyne frō him The wicked and vngodly do not on lye take no maner of occasyon to reforme and amende theyr lyues by theyr crosse sorowe but also they spew oute all maner of impacientnes bytternes and spytefull poison agaynst the rightuousnes of god sayinge theyr crosse is greater then theyr transgressyon and that they haue wronge are ponyshed to sore as for an example of this we haue one of the theues hāging vpon the crosse with Christe which blasphemed Christe very spytefully sayinge yf thou beist Christe helpe bothe thy selfe and vs. By the whiche wordes he declareth that he iudgeth him self euen as wor thy of helpe as Christ the sonne of God euen as thoughe God must forget all hys ryghtuousnes help by by euerre blasphemous wretche and loke thorowe the fyngers vpon the wicked world Which is one of the greatest blasphempes vnto God that can be When they haue tumbled waltered in their miserie For God wil not help them because they haue no trust nor confydence in him And haue sought helpe hy creatures both in heauen earthe and founde none then beginneth their crosse aduersyte to open their eyes so wyde that they must nedes spye and acknowlege y t wrath and hande of God ouer them And then doth thys outwarde crosse sorowe euen kyndle in them an inwarde tremblynge doutfulnes oute of the whiche spryngeth the hyghest desperacyon in so muche that they crye oute to the deuyll to helpe them yf God will not For althoughe they be broughte to the knoweledge of their

¶ A Spyrytuall and moost precyouse Pearle Teachyng all men to loue and imbrace the crosse as a mooste swete and necessary thyng vnto the sowle and what comfort is to be taken thereof and also where and howe both consolacyon and ayde in all maner of afflyccy●ns is to be soughte And agayne how all men should behaue them selues therein accordynge to the word of God Sett forth by the moste honorable Lorde the duke hys grace of Somerset as appeareth by hys Epystle set before the same IESVS Uerely verelye I saye vnto you Whosoeuer beleueth on me hath euerlastyng lyfe The Contentes of thys boke are conteyned in the next leafe The contentes of the most precyous and spiritual pearle The fyrst Chapter ¶ That all trouble afflyccyon comyth from God Fol. i●… The seconde Chapter ¶ That trouble afflyccion and aduersyte are sente vnto vs of God euen for the ponyshment of our synnes Fol. i●… The thyrde Chapter ¶ All maner of troubles afflyccyons whatsoeuer they be are allweys much●… lesse and lyghter than are oure synnes Fol. v ▪ The fourth Chapter ¶ All maner of afflyccyons are sent and come from God of a louyng and fatherly mynd toward vs. Fol. viij The fyft Chapter ¶ That only God for Christes sake and that of verye mere loue fauor doeth correct and punyshe vs. Fol. x The sy●…t Chapter ¶ Symylytudes comparysons dec●…arynge howe and after what maner God doth plage and chasten vs of verye loue mercy and fauor towards vs. Fo. xii●… ▪ The. vij Chapter ¶ Trouble and afflyccyons do serue 〈◊〉 proue and to trye vs wyth all Fol. xxi The. viij Chapter ¶ Trouble and affliccions do help further vs to the knowledge of oure selues and of God also and specyally to wysedome Fol. xxv The. ix Chapter ¶ Trouble afflyccyons doo helpe and further vs to the ryght knowledge of our synnes and to perfyte sorow and repentance for them Fol. xxvi The. x. Chapter ¶ Trouble afflyccyon and aduersyte do helpe and further vs to the exe●…synge a●…d increasyng of our fayth Fol. xxvi●… The. xi Chapter ¶ Trouble aduersyte geuyth vs occasyon to pray vnto God and to laude and prayse hym Fol. xxxij The. xij Chapter ¶ Trouble aduersyte doo further vs to vertu and Godlynes Fol. xxxiiij The. xiij Chapter ¶ Sorowe and affliccion do help and further vs towarde the feare and loue of God Fol. xxxviij The. xiiij Chapter ¶ Trouble and afflyccyon is good an●… profytable to teache man pacience mekenes and lowlenes Fol. xli The. xv Chapter ¶ Trouble and aduersyte is good to teache men pyty compassyon and pacyence towards other Fol. xlij The. xvi Chapter ¶ Trouble and aduersyte makyth men harde and stronge and teacheth them sobernes and temperancy Fol. xliij The. xvij Chapter ¶ Trouble and aduersyte teachyth men to contemne despyse and defye the world to be dylygent and feruente in all godlynes and vertu Fol. xliiij The. xvii●… Chapter ¶ Trouble and aduersyte is also an occa syon and help of much transytory quyetnes and commodyte in thys worlde Fol. x●…ij The. xix Chapter ¶ Trouble and aduersyte is a furtherance to eternall lyfe Fol. xlix The. xx Chapter ¶ How and in what respect trouble and aduersite can be so profytable and of such vertue seynge that the vnfayethfull do●… waxe more obstynate and peruers●…●…row trouble and afflyccyon Fol. l. The. xxi Chapter ¶ Felowe companyons in trouble and aduersyte Fol. liiij The seconde parte of thys boke The. xxij Chapter ¶ By what naturall meanys or wayes trouble and aduersyte maye be qualyfyed easyd and ouercomme Fol. lvi The. xxiij Chapter ¶ The best and suerest succor and comfort in aduersyte restyth only in the myght power wyll and goodnes of God Fol. lix The. xxiiij Chapter ¶ Examples of the helpe and ayde of God Fol. lxiiij The thyrd and last part of thys boke The. xxv Chapter ¶ We must dyrect our fayth hope confydence towards God Fol. lxvi The. xxvi Chapter ¶ Of prayer in trouble and aduersyte Fol. lxviij The. xxvij Chapter ¶ Repentance and amendemente of lyfe in trouble and aduersyte is necessarye Fol. lxx The. xxviij Chapter ¶ Christen godly persuasyons and examples out of the word of God to moue men vnto pacyence in afflyccyon and aduersyte Fol. lxxi The. xxix Chapter ¶ Examples causes taken out of naturall thynges and of heathen men whereby a man maye be mouyd to pacyence in aduersyte Fol. lxxvi The. xxx Chapter ¶ By what meanys pacyence ma●…e be obteyned goten And ones had howe it may be kept and increasyd Fol. lxxxiij The. xxxi Chapter ¶ The fruyte profyte and commodyte of pacyence as well corporall as spyrytual Fol. lxxxix ¶ An humble petycyon to the Lord practysed in the commun prayer of the whole famyly at Shene durynge the trouble of theyr Lord and mayster the duke of Somerset hys grace gathered and set furth by Thomas Becon Mynister there Whych trouble began the. vi of October the yeare of oure Lorde M. D. xlix and ended the vi of February than next ensuyng Fol. xcvij. ¶ A thankes geuyng for hys graces delyueraunce Fol. xcviiij ¶ A godly prayer and confessyon of our synnes to God our heauenly father with the rehersall of the punishmentes and plages of the same callyng therein vpon the mercy of God Fol. c. ¶ A prayer for the kynges mayestye and for peace Fol. ciij. Edward by the grace of God Duke of Somerset earle of hertford vycount Beachamp lorde Seimour vncle to the kynges excellent maiestye knyght of the most noble ordre of the garther c. to the Christian reader Gretyng YF they be worthye prayse who for a zeale and desyre that they haue to do theyr neyghbours good do wryghte and put in prynte suche thynges as by experyence they haue proued or by heare saye of graue and trustye men they haue learned or by reading of good and auncyent authores they haue vnderstanded to be a salue or medycyne to a mans body or to a parte or membre of the same how muche more deserue they thank and prayse that teache vs a true comfort salue medycyne of the soule spyrit mynde The whych spyryte and mynde the more precyous it is then the bodye the more daungerous be hys sores and syknes and the more thancke worth the cure thereof For a well quyeted mynde to a troubled bodye yet maketh quyetnes and sycknes of bodye or losse of goodes is not muche paynfull to hym that estemeth it not or ●…aketh it pacyently But an vnquyet mynde yea to a moste hole bodye maketh helth vnpleasaunt death to be wyshed And an vnsacyable mynde and sore wyth desyre of more maketh ryches pouertye and health a syknes strengthe an infyrmyte bewty a deformyte and welth pouertye wken by comparyng hys felycytye wyth a better it leseth the grace and ioye of that it hath and felyth the smart of that it hath not The●… to amende thys in wealthe and

spare no labor or trauell so that they maye brynge to passe theyr wycked luste and desyre And yet oft tymes they mysse also And why than should not a right godly ma●… be constant paynefull and pacyent in honeste good thynges As Saynct Barnarde wryteth verye well sayinge What a fayntnes sluggyshnes and dullnes is thys that such as are wycked and vngodly shoulde be more seruent to wyckedues and abhomynacyon than we shuld be to honestye and goodnes Yea that they should ro●…n more swyftly to the deuyll and to death than we should to god and to lyfe Furthermore thy fearefulnes and impacyency is a great pleasure and comfort to thy●…ooes and a great heuynes and dys comfort to thy fryndes For dowtles all that wyshe the good doo reioyse in thy strength and constantnes Thynck also that thou fyghtest in the presence of the holy angels whyche by the prouysyon and appoyntmente of god do dwell wyth the and moue and exhort the to●…sted fastnes And they reioyse whan thou cōtynuyst stedfast in goodnes i. Co. iiij And agayn we shuld to the vttermost of our power flee and abhorre all suche thynges as myghte delyghte and reioyse the deuyll For he is the deadly arch enmye of God and of all mankynd Nowe this is the verye purpose of hys temptacions and suggestions and al that he sekyth that we whan we are poore should steale and whan we are syck that we should murmur agaynst god And in warre afflyccyon and aduersyte that we should forsake our Christen fayth and relygyon Constantnes faythfulnes stedfastnes towarde God and the Christen churche doeth greue and displease hym Therfore we to reioyce the angels and to greue the deuyll ought y t rather to be con stant and pacyente in the myddest of all aduersyte The. xxx Chapter By what meanys pacyence maye be obteyned and goten And ones had how it may be kept increased NOt wythstanding that we know and perceyue that pacyence is so profytable and fruyteful a thing vnto vs yet we fele in oure flesh a certen myslykynge grudge toward the crosse Who can be content and glad to see hym self depryuyd of hys lyfe honor estymacyon goodes chyldern or wyfe The rememberance of the pleasure and prosperyte that we haue had in tymes past doth so greue vs that wyth Loths wyfe we syghten loke back after Sodoma Gen. xix And wyth the children of Israell we lust after the fleshpottes in egipt Ex. xvi And lyke weakenes do we also fynde in the noble kyng and prophete Dauyd as he hym selfe sayeth Psall lxxvi Manye saye vnto my soule he hath no god My soul would receyue no comfort my spirit is waxen weake and feble Item our sauyour Iesus in hys innocent flesh dyd shewe and declare the fear fullnes and angwysh of the fleshe whan as he knelyng vpon the mount Olyuete consydered hys passyon and marterdom that was commynge and at hande and swett for sorowe and angwyshe so that the droppes of hys swett gusshed vpon the earth lyke droppes of blood and he prayed vnto hys father that if it were his wyll that cupp myght be taken from hym In lyke maner beynge vpon the crosse he sayd my god my god why hast thou forsaken me howe longe wylt thou thus deale wyth me But it is not to be vnderstande as though Christ dyd dowt of hys fathers fauor and grace but the weakenes of his fleshe could haue bene contente to haue sufferyd no more Nowe lyke as the spyryte forepasseth and ouercommyth the fleshe in Christe Euen so muste it doo in vs also that we haue more respecte vnto God and vnto the lyfe euerlastynge than vnto thys wormeeten fleshe And therefore nowe wyll we declare by most sure and infallyble reasons by what meanes and wayes a man maye mayster and ouercome hys fleshe in the tyme of the crosse and afflyccyon and so shewe and declare true and perfyte pacyence Whyche vertue lyke as all other hath her fyrste begynnyng and increase of the grace power and spyryte of God wythout whom we can worke nothynge that good is neyther yet resyste or ouercome anye euyll i. Macha iii. it is wrytten The vyctory consisteth not in the multitude of men but the power and strength comyth from heauen Item Paul sayeth Philipp iiij I am able to doo all thynges thorow hym that maketh me myghtye whyche is Christe Wherfore allthough my fleshlye reason synckyth waueryth and fayleth neuer so muche yet doth God contynuallye preserue and vpholde my spyryte that it doo not vtterly faynt but contynewe prompt and wyllynge tyll suche tyme as it maye be delyueryd and eased But now howe shoulde we order and behaue our selues that God maye grant vs his strength and true pacience and boldnes Forsoth thorow fayth hope prayer loue trueth faythfulnes vertue and godlynes we may obt●…yne it of god Fyrste we must fur●…ysh and comforte our hartes and myndes wyth fayeth towarde god For whosoeuer doeth knowe perfytely and is certen that god whyche is the lord of al happes and myshappes of prospe●…te and aduersyte is pacyfyed and reconcyled wyth him and that he for that cause ca●…ot be depryued of eternal saluacyon the same shall be able to contemne and to defye all worldlye honor pomp and lustes And agayn there can be no pay●… so bytter sharp greuous vnto hym that can bryng hym out of pacieuce In o●…r Christen faith we confesse and beleue an holy vnyuersall churche and that we haue felowshyp and partycypacyon wyth all sayntes and electe of god also we confesse beleue remissyon of synnys resuerec●…yon of the flesh and lyfe euerlastyng And Christe geueth vnto euery one that hath fayth thys absolucyon Ioh. 〈◊〉 Whosoeuer hearyth my word beleueth hym that hath sent me thesame hath euerlastynge lyfe and cometh not to iudgement but passeth thorowe from deathe to lyfe Wherfore thorow fayth a man obteyneth power strength pacyence constancye and stedfastnes in all goodnes If strong and myghty enemyes shuld come vpon the assaulte and belege the thou haddest on thy syde one whom thou knewest certenlye to be Lorde to haue power ouer al thyne enemyes thou migh test laufully be bolde and wyth●…t feare Nowe haue we thorowe faythe Christe on oure syde which is Lorde ouer all Lor des whiche hath full power ouer all fortune and mysfortune prosperyte and aduersyte Therfore thou muste not longe thyncke and looke vpon the weakenes of thy fleshe but thou muste styrre aboute wyth thy fayth that is to saye thou must earnestlye and dylygently consyder the myghte and true loue of Iesus Christe whiche bothe can and wyll comforte and reioyse the more then all mysfortune is able to dyscomforte the or to make the heauy Peter sayth i. Petr. v. Your enemy the deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roaryng lyon and se●…yth whom he may deuour whom resp●… ye stedfastly with faieth Item S. Iames sayth that your approuyd fayth worketh 〈◊〉 The

holy and faythfull apostles dyd euydentlye declare that accordinge to the inward man it was a ioy and 〈◊〉 comfort●… vnto them to be 〈◊〉 and scourged for the lordes sake ●…ct ii●… v. Agayne all troubles and afflyccyon●… are greuous by reason of ●…ure weake fayth whyche is yet but lytle exercysed and hath not well and fullye talled the ryches and treasure of the chyldern of God Yet not wythstandynge no man oughte to despayre thoughe he haue not a perlyghte stronge fayeth It happenyth oft tymes that the fayth beynge lytle and weake in the tyme of necessyte and afflyccyon draweth back and is lyke to a b●…and and 〈◊〉 that hath but a lytle fyre vpon it whyche the lorde Iesus ●…yll not quench but increase so that we doo but praye wyth the deare Apostles and saye O Lorde strengthen our●… fayth But wha●… a man is vtterlye destytute of fayth as he that knoweth of no nother nor of no better lyfe than thys it is no meruell at all though he despayre at length Yea the more he trustyth in hym selfe or in anye worldlye or transytorye thynge the more vnable is he to resyste and contynewe in trouble and aduersyte For there is no ryght comfort nor su●…or in any maner of thyng besydes the Lorde Iesus There are two kyndes of hope the one is of nature and the other commyth of fayeth The naturall hope is a specyall gyfte and benyfyte of God whych ●…fter a certen maner do●…th helpe and comforte a man that is troubled and 〈◊〉 that he doo not viterlye despayre but in the myddeste of all aduersyte hopeth that it wyll wythin a whyle be bet●…er and so way●…th and 〈◊〉 tyll the aduersyte be ouerblowen Now if this na turall h●…e haue such a strength and vertue shuld not the other hope whyche the spyryte of God doeth newly inspyre tho●…we sayrth worke a 〈◊〉 greater and perfyghter pacyence and strength that a man in the myddeste of hys crosse shall hope and wayte for heauenlye comf●…rte and ayde of God for Christes sake And althoughe the natural hope doth of●… and manye tymes fayle and deceyue and is alwayes vncerten yet thys Christe●… hope doth neuer fayle nor deceyue The husband man consydereth not on lye hys labor and trauayle and what tem pest and myschaunce of wether maye for tune but for as muche as he trusteth and hopeth that the frute shal wa●…e and come forthe when the tyme is therfore he laboreth stowtely and wyth a good wyll Fuē●…o in the spyrytuall vyneyarde vnder the yock of the Lorde the hope and truste of honor and rewarde maketh men pacyent and wyllynge and geueth them courage Roman vi●… Yf we hope for that thynge which we see not we wayte for it thorow pacyence Furthermore we muste seke vpon God feruentlye and wythoute ceasynge thorowe prayer that he wyll geue vs a bolde and a stronge spyryte to suffer all thinges and to contin●…e stedfast vnto the ende Thus doynge he wyl surely heare v●… 〈◊〉 accordynge to hys promes and faythfully geue vs hys spyrituall gystes moste specyallye When a man maketh hys complaynte openeth hys nede grefe vnto hys specyal friude he seketh a certen ease afterwarde so that hys payne and grefe by the rehersynge thereof is after a certen maner releued remedyed and taken awaye Moche more comforte and ease shall we receyue by tellynge and openynge oure grefe and complaynte vnto God For man is sone wery and yrk of oure complaynynge But yf we shulde spende the whole daye in prayenge cryeng and complaynyng to God he wolde loue comfort and strengthen vs the more Luk. xviij Agayne to searche heare and learne the worde of God for a man to exercyse hym selfe therein is a great furtheraunce and help to pacyence For God hath not reueled and opened hys worde in vayne vnto vs but hath shewed set before vs in the same most swete and louynge promises and comfortable examples that we myghte lear●…e therby hys goodnes faith fulues and louynge kyndnes and so com forte and strengthen oure selues by thesame in all maner of trouble and aduersyte For an example doth the holy word of God sownde In the worlde ye shall haue sorowe and trouble but be of good comfort for I haue ouercome the world Ite●… God is our hope and strength O Lorde thou forsakest not them that seke the c. Many suche god lye promyses and excellente comfortable sayinges haue we whyche we oughte to seke and to fetche thoughe it were euen from Ierusalem vpon oure kneys and neuer to cease laudynge and praysynge of God that he in these latter dayes hath made vs partakers of the eternall and infallyble comfort of oure sowlys in hys worde and gospell Whyche worde is nothynge 〈◊〉 pure vertue and lyfe as all faythful ha●… tes doo ●…le and perceyue And it ough●… no nother wyse to be receyued of 〈◊〉 but as thoughe we hearde the ve●… ●…yce of GOD hym selfe from 〈◊〉 uen 〈◊〉 all suche thynges 〈◊〉 ●…e heare 〈◊〉 o●… the olde and newe 〈◊〉 Agayne the loue whyche waxeth and spryngeth oute of fayth worketh pacyence in aduersyte and constan●…ye and 〈◊〉 fastnes in goodnes Iacob seruyd seuen yearys for the damsell Rachell Gene. xxix And by reason of the hartye loue that he bare vnto her the ty●…e was but shorte vnto hym And the dayes that he seruyd for her semyd but fewe vnto hym Euen so whosoeuer louyth God shall beare and take pacyentlye whatsoeuer GOD layeth vpon hym and whatsoeuer he sufferyth for Gods sake Nowe syckenes and other plages doo not happen vnto vs wythoute the wyll and prouydence of God Therefore if we loue God hartylye as we oughte to doo for as muche as he is oure mercyfull father and we hys childern and heyres we can not mur mur agaynste hys vys●…tacyon no●… be dyscontente wyth it but we shall rather ronne after hym thorowe all maner of wayes be they neuer so roughe and shall contemne all thynges be they neuer so hard and greuous and euermore prease vnto him thorow thycke thynne vntyll suche tyme as we come to perfyte reste in hym accordynge to the example of the holye Apostles and martyrs whose loue towarde God dyd mytygate ease all theyr sorowe crosse and aduersyte Item to geue almes and to exercyse al kyndes of vertu and godlines worketh pacyence and that specyally for these two causes Fyrst because God doth increase hys spyrytuall gyftes in them whiche do well vse and bestowe them For to hym that hath shall more be geuen And secondarelye whosoeuer behaueth hym selfe godlye and vertuouslye the same hath a better and a more quyete conscyence and so muche more boldnes and confidence but yet onelye buyldyng and steynge vpō the ryghtuousnes of Iesus Christe Item lyke as a soudger fyrste for feare of pryson and of the shameful death whiche he shulde suffer yf the battel shuld be soste And agayne in hope of the

practyse his wysdome and other vertues in the meane tyme so that he obteynyd thereby an immortall name among all the heathen And to speake after the comon practyse and experyence There is no exceadinge yoye or tryumphe but some sorowe or heuynes goyth before it The spryng tyme folowyng and coming immediatelye vpō the rough hard wynter is the more acceptable pleasant and welcome vnto vs. In battel the sorer our ennymyes doo assault and fyght agaynst vs the greater is the ioy and tryumph at the victory and ouerthrow of them He that hath kept hys bed a long tyme and lyen syck a great ceason afterwarde whan he is recoueryd helth is a more precious treasure vnto him tha●… euer it was before that he felt what syckenes was And also such as mour●…yd and were sory for hys sycknes doo receyue an infynyte ioy an exceadyng reioysing at hys resto ryng vnto helth again Euen so doth God depryue vs for a tyme of ryches welth prosperyte our naturall ●…outry bodylye helth and such other transytorye benyfytes For this purpose that whā he geuyth them again vnto vs we may the more reioyse and be the gladder of them An example haue we of the lost shepe of the lost desperate sonne for the which there was suche ioye at the fyndynge of them agayne as neuer had b●…ne if they had not haue bene loste where as before there was neuer thought nor sorow taken for them Now in case we neuer fynde nor haue restoryd vnto vs again here in this world that thing whyche we haue lost yet oure conscyence is both quyet and also ioyfull in God Whych quyetnes and ioye farre exceadyth all the pleasurys of the whole worlde In summa to be shorte after trouble aduersyte folowyth al maner of goodnes and felycyte First for as much as God here in this world doth plentyfullye and ●…ychelye rewarde and recompense godly ues pacyence and godlye constancye Se condarelye for as muche as thys is the nature and propertye of God to throwe downe that he maye rayse vp agayne to brynge vnto death●… dore that he maye restore vnto lyfe agayne Roosys whiche are the mooste pleasaunt floures do sprynge and waxe oute of thornes Euen so of harde and greate trauel springeth the most pleasaunt frute The litle bee gathereth the most swea teste honye oute of the mooste bytter blomes and floures Euen so men of wysdō and vnderstandynge receyue muche vtylytye and frute of the present sorowe and affliccyon For example Ioseph was hated of his brethren and solde of them into a stran̄ige and foren countreye Whiche banyshmēt of hys turned to his greate honor welth and profyte for as muche as he was sord and gouernou●…e ouer the whole kingdom of Egypte The more the greate tyran Pharao wente aboute to oppresse and rydde the chyldren of Israell oute of his lande the more dyd they prosper and increase to an infynyte nomber Exod. i. The deuyl lefft nothing vnto the godly man Iob but depryuyd and spoyled hym of all that he had but the Lorde restoryd hym all agayn doble euen in thys world He that markyth and consideryth wel shall perceyue that some tyme a man beyng of no reputacyon at home where he is knowen is banyshed awaye and commyth to other people whych doo hyghly esteme him and make muche of hym yea and hyghly honor hym So that oft tymes a mans aduersyte hath turnyd to his syngular commodyte and welth The. xix Chapter Trouble and aduersyte is a furtheraunce to eternall lyfe THe trouble and aduersyte of the Godlye do gyue an exceadynge great testymony vnto them of im mortalyte of a generall iudgemente and also of an euerlastyng lyfe For it is impossyble that the beste creatures onelye shoulde be ordeynyd and creatyd to all ●…ow and trauell and the moste wyckyd vngodly to escape and remayne vnponished It were dyrectly agaynst the righ tuousnes of God Now it is euident that here vpon earth apperyth no difference ve twene Paul and Nero hauyng respect to the reward of them both Yea the moste godly and vertuous haue most comonlye worst luck and least reward wherfore of necessyte there must nedes be another life to come where euery one shall receyue ac cordynge to the demerytes of hys lyfe here vpon earth And agayn the crosse way is poynted to be the very ryght way vnto eternall lyfe Lyke as the corne is fyrst thresshed faunyd and rydd from the chaff than layd vp reseruyd in the barn or in the spyke euen so Christen men vpon earth are beaten mishandled euyll intreatyd whereby they are purgyd and ryd of many wylde and light mauers and so are brought into the euerlastynge barne or spyke of the kyngdom of heauen Lyke as no man can tryumph or be crowned excepte he hath foughten and warryd manfullye whyche can not be wythout great danger labor and trauell Euen so can no man atteyue to the crown eternall lyfe excepte he hath fyrste suffered much trouble sorowe and aduersyte The man that is sycke muste receyue the purgacyon and medycyne how sowr or bytter soeuer it be that he may recouer agayne and not dye Euen so whan we suffer the hand of God to rule and order vs beyng content and pacyent therwith allthough it smartyth and greuyth vs yet it shall profyte and helpe vs to euerlastyng helth and sowndnes Testymonyes and wytnes of scrypture to proue this Math. v. Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comfortyd Math. vij Narowe is the gate and strayte is the waye that leadyth to lyfe Luke vi Blessed are they that wepe here for they shall laugh But woo vnto you that be ryche c. Act. xiiii We muste enter into the kyngdome of god thorowe muche trouble and afflyccyon Roma viij If we be childern than are we heyres namely the heyres of god and felow heyres of Christe so that we suffer wyth hym that we maye also be glorified together wyth him By these words doth Paul euydently declare that he that will reygne wyth Christ must also ron●… thorow the fyre wyth hym i. Co. xi Wha●… we are iudged we are chastenyd of y e lord y t we shuld not be cōdemnyd w t y e world The. xx Chapter How and in what respecte trouble and aduersyte can be so profytable and of such vertue seyng that the vnfaythfull doo waxe more obstynate and peruerse thorow troble and affliccion HEtherto haue we entreated of the corporall and spyrytuall temporall and eternal profyte and com modyte whych Christen men receyue by the crosse trouble and aduersyte Which is not to be takēafter this sense as though the crosse or aduersyte of it selfe of her own natur could bring work such hygh commodytyes For than shulde Pharao and other wycked parsons in their trouble and aduersyte haue bene co●…uertyd and so sauyd also but the spyryte of God restyth secretely and lyeth hydden in the faythfull