which we ought alwayes to accōpt for his plāts with a dayly study to be of that numbre which the Prophet Dauid speaketh of that haue all their affection delight in the lawe and ordinance of the Lorde and doo meditate and walke in the same bothe day and night bicause we might fructifie and bringe foorthe good fruite in dewe season God dyd plant vs in his sonne giuing him vnto vs to be our redéemer the footesteppes of whome we should followe and with whose rightuousnesse our faults were couered And therfore we ought to haue a constant faythe and beléefe that he is such a one as wée confesse him to be in our Créede or twelue Articles of our Faythe and reioyce that we haue him to be our eternall highe Preste Kinge and Sauiour that liueth eternally to be an intercessour for vs and to fulfill for vs all that God dooth commaunde or aske for that in him is hidden all science treasure and wysedome This is the faythe that muste be in our hartes by the which we are ioyned to Christ Iesus and dooe knowe the sufficiency that we haue in his ritches by him to whose goodnesse we must be appendant but not as in the tyme of our blindenesse when we confessed him with our mouthes and denyed him in our workes We confessed that wée dyd loue and beleue him but it was a lye false and nothinge so We sayde that we dyd beleue he was our sauiour but it was not true for why wée sought healpe and healthe in vaine thinges that he dyd neither commaunde nor yet alowe and also dyd liue in the beléefe and follow those vaine vanities vntill now of late We confessed him to be Christ King of all Kings and principall highe Preste and yet we gaue no place vnto the fruite of his Gospell in our hartes where it should haue béene and he also haue liued We sayde hée was a highe Preste but yet we accounted better of Antechrist and made him our high Prest Of him onely dyd we séeke pardon for our sinnes and sinfull delightes we set a syde Iesus Christe our true remitter whome by his moste precious deathe and passion dyd make and fulfiill suche satisfaction to our GOD his Father for our offences as none but hée coulde doo the like Yea although the wrath and heauie displeasure of GOD were neuer so fully satysfied yet wée dyd thincks our selues to make satisfaction by our owne deuised merittes and nothing estemed the merites of Iesus Christ which were of a most infinite and vnspeakeable vallour for the healthe of his elected beleuers Yet now déerely beloued let vs account for vaine all our owne deseruinges and all mens merites so full of vnrightuousnesse trust onely to his mercy in his diuine iudgement in which none may perfectly percist but onely his owne He was giuen vnto vs for our onely euerlasting Aduocate to God the Father commaūding vs that we should aske any thinge that we haue néede of at the handes of god the Father in his name But making little price hereof lesse regarding him we sought other mediatours as to this sainct and by the diuillish helpe of that relique c. What was this but to denie the fayth by ours workes which we confessed with our lippes bicause therein we would be accompted christians yet in our hartes we were condempned for vngodly For why with our mouthes we made confession to serue and honour Christ when as in déede with all our workes and studies we serued curssed Antichrist and walked in errors euery man after his owne way and accordyng to our owne inuentions as sayeth the Prophet Esay But now sith it is so apparant that by the great goodnes and singular benifit of the almightie God we doe beleue truely in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne our sauiour Let vs accordingly liue in that godlinesse and trueth that he hath taught and shewed vnto vs by his word and spirite hée hath marked vs for his owne with the same signe seale the which he hath marked his chosen They which doe persecute vs doe not knowe vs but doe both holde accompt vs for aliaunts and straungers vnto themselues they maye nor can not suffer vs in the world no more then they might suffer our Lord Iesus Christ who hath done such a benifite for all mankinde and of whom assuredly we are So that we ought to vnderstand and accompt for most certeine and sure that all the causes of our troubles wherewith we are so hated afflicted persecuted in this world is as S. Paule saith bicause we trust beleue in the lyuing God who is the sauiour of all the faithfull Notwithstāding the false coulers which they vse in their quarelsome war that they make with vs they couer thēselues with a cloak say that we are heritikes that they are holy it is so in déede but yet it is but a fayned holynesse the which God by his worde hath cōdempned for abhominable Wherfore let vs arme our selues with a firme sure hope the God yea our God will bée our sure helper defender against thē in all our troubles for that we be the worke of his handes he hath made vs redéemed vs and we be his owne the cause is his and will suffer no harme nor euil to touch vs Let vs not fal from nor yet be weake in this truth which God hath reuealed vnto vs but let vs be fully assured that it is his might power will the deliuereth vs saueth all beleuers We are set sure therby from all perils dangers and taken out of all afflictions S. Simon in the gospel of S. Luke doth prophesie that Iesus Christ was sent for the rysing falling of many people in Israel that by him are reuealed the thoughtes of meny hartes that wée should be saued from all that hate vs Euen now in these dayes is this prophesie fulfilled Assoone as the worde of the Gospel was preached amōgst vs and that it did reueale vnto vs thē our lord Iesus both they we might haue séene the effect of this prophesie euen so it may be still some of them he did please to condempne for that they did resist furiously did persecute condempne him Others which were thē that did beleue were reysed edifyed and saued by him for whose sake they are hated held accoūted for abhominable in the world And the thoughtes of some that were holy hallowers sanctifiers of mē were are discouered and shewed to be of such cōditiō qualitie that they cānot suffer the holines of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ but do so rebell against him that they vse their vttermoste force wyth crueltye to throw him out of the world Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ c. Cap. ix BVt sith it hath pleased God that our lotte hath bene so luckye our happe so
did God proue Abraham found him faythfull And he was so faithfull in déede as was possible wherby he vnderstoode that by the same fayth which God had gyuen hym he was made rightuous before his diuine maiestie that it was a true fayth and did vse all his loue and procure all that he loued and did delight in all things to doe and fulfill hys holy commaundements In Mathew and Marke vppon the Gospel of God which they did write it is sayd that there be foure kyndes of people which did and doe heare the word of God all of them sayd they beléeued but when tribulatiō came vppō them for the words sake that they wer tryed therby there was but one parte of them foūd that had receiued the truth and they were thorowly tried by passing the pikes of persecution with patiēce and did fructifie aboūdantly some thirtie fold some sixtie folde some more some lesse So that in such maner I mean by persecution the Lord doth try out distinguishe the true beléeuers from the false fayned As when by a blast of wynde the wheate is discouered from the chaffe so known to be perfect Euen so by puffes of persecution care calamitie trouble other the scourges of God a perfect true Christian is certeinely surely tryed and knowen Wherefore it is written in Iesus the sonne of Syrache as followeth what knoweth he that was neuer tempted and he that was neuer tryed nor experyenced What can he vnderstand such a one is as a man that sléepeth doeth not know nor estéeme christianitie without a tryall or experience Before that we be experienced by patience in bearyng the crosse will any of vs bée so bolde as Peter was to resist agaynst the enimyes of our master and the trueth till he sée himself out of daunger of imprisonment peril and persecutiō by such like persecutors no surely it is muche to bée doubted But yet when God hath sent vppon vs persecutions and troubles and of his mercy hath gyuen vs patyence and constancie wherby we haue confessed before our aduersaryes the fayth which by the gospel we haue receiued and when that to folow our Lord maister we haue put in proofe to aduenture our lyues and so passe thorough all the euils and afflictions that can be offered to vs Euen then and not til then we doe remayne tryed by the touchstone of trueth and doe know by experience that our fayth is firme true and of great effycacie and valour before god Bycause then wée are by him so vnyted in Christ that neyther Castles prysons tormentes threatnings dishonours losses of substance nor yet the same death that hée him selfe dyed can seperate vs from hym So that then haue we suche experience as Peter had and then dare we to strike of Malchus the high priest his seruaunt his right eare if néede were But yet the experyence that Peter had was not altogither by the persecution which hée suffered hymselfe but rather by that which he had séene hys pure good master to suffer c. So that this experience and firme knowledge that we haue to know the good from the euill and wherevppon to grounde our fayth that wee might boast and reioyce in God for it is ingendred and begotten of that constant pacience which by fayth wée haue to tollerate and beare the tribulations that we are brought into for the profession of his name Paciēce also bringeth vnto vs experyence of the pure goodnes truth of our faith doth assure vs that we ar not deceued nor liue by the vain imaginatiōs of men but by the word of god Wherby Christ is reuealed vnto vs we doe know our saluatiō Also there is verified herein that which is spokē by S. Peter in the last tyme ye shal reioyce though now for a season ye be in many temptations yet your fayth once tryed being muche more precious then Goulde that perysheth thoughe it bée tryed with fyre you shal be found in lande glorie and honor at the appearing of Iesus Christ our sauiour Hovve that good experience bringeth forth hope of a shadovv of certein persecutions Cap. xix EXperyence gotten by patience doth beget and bryng foorth hope for hauyng experience in the might and potencie of God wée come and grow to haue a sure hope in hym bycause that how much the more greater our trial experience is so much the more firme certeine sure is our hope as Dauid Danyell and many other holy men which hauing prooued and being experiēced by great terrible tribulatiōs haue passed thorough the pikes of thē with great hope for that they had a feeling of the power presence of God in them thereby assured of the fauour of him that they were imboldened and brought into so sure a hope that none enimy nor nothing could ouercom nor preuaile against them Dauid beyng moued with the féeling of this fauor and full of firme hope in the goodnesse of the Lord which did susteine him against his enimies bring him forth of all his troubles with victorie sayd with all my hart haue I called on thée O Lorde and I will loue thée O my strēgth O Lord thou art my strēgth my Rocke my defēce my libertie and my god And I wil put my whole hope and trust in thee my buckler and my shield I wil call vppō thee so I shal bee deliuered from myne enymyes The troubles sorows of death haue invironed cōpassed me round about but I called vppon the Lorde and hée hath hard me from his holy Temple In lyke maner it happeneth and falleth out to all the faithfull for after that our faith is proued experienced and founde good by the pacience sufferance that God hath giuen vs Euen then our hope doeth so increase that we conceiue a moste firme securitie and certeintie of our saluation And so by means therof we begin to féele and know without doubt that we can not be lost nor forsaken but that for a more certeintie we shall obteine and come to the pure port of eternal health And hereof S. Iames speaketh and sayeth Blessed and happie is the man that suffereth temptations for when he is tryed he shal receiue the crowne of lyfe which God hath promysed to them that loue him In varyable and firme is this hope bycause it is founded grounded vppon Iesus Christ of his wordes and promises Wherof it is spoken in Mathew and Luke in Christes Gospell by them wrytten Blessed arte thou that mournest for thou shalte be comforted Blessed arte thou when men reuyle and abhorre thée persecute thée and speake all maner euill sayings of thée for my name sake Blessed arte thou the wéepest for thou shalt laugh Blessed art thou when men hate thée thrust thée out of their company and rayle abhorre thy name as an euill thing for the sonne of mans sake
compell me to kéepe my bed and chamber viij or ix wéekes I had read this booke in Spanish diuers times before and had begunne to translate a parte thereof the which with the whole matter deare friendes in the booke contayned was no small pleasure for mée to remember Surely it was my excéeding comfort I vowed then to finish the translation therof the which now I thanke God is done ended with a generall publication therof among you beséeching you and euerie of you to whose handes it shall come to pervse it diligeÌ„tly ouer that ye may perfectly haue the same in mynde so that if néed be you may therby receiue coÌ„solation answere in my behalfe against as many as shall reprooue mée in myne absence for my trauail therin I am sure that some will reprooue me and say quam quisque norit artem in hac se exerceat let euerie man exercyse him selfe in the arte or facultie which he knoweth Sed stultus stulta loquitor but a foole speaketh foolish things And therfore as one that passeth not greatly what be sayd against me by any of them I doe banish all feare and waxe sturdie considering that Audaces fortuna Iuuat fortune helpeth men of good courage for Timidi nunquam Statuerunt ad tropheum cowerdes neuer got victorie And therefore as one thus imboldened I rest to abyde the batterie of any assalter whatsoeuer trustyng of your ayde as necessitie requyreth the which if I haue you make me yet more boulder to gyue a greater attempt Thus fare ye well Iohn Daniell Faultes escaped in the printing Leafe lyne page fault Correction 7 9 1 Ioquitor Ioquitur 14. 16 2 not our selues we our selues 15 20 2 satissie satisfie 16 24 2 know knew 18. 11 2 is mercy his mercy 36. 14 2 see him see in him eodem 27  vnhappie happie 40. 3 2 tosse toase 50. 5 1 as vs 52. 9 1 dootst dooest 57 8 1 we depriued we be depriued 87 6 2 captiuitie captiuate 110 8 1 tryed tiered 112 6 2 so to be poped so all to be poped 113. 6 1 masters master 215. 25 1 were are 128 6 1 we die it die 132. 2 2 by their by the 134 10 2 deserneth deserueth 137 17 2 blasphemie blasphemors 142 23 1 Hrophet prophet eodem 20 2 cares cares from vs 145 5 2 triant tirant 148 22 2 perisheth perished 152 11 1 also and also 153 20 1 There is we be not ignorant of that which is superfluous bicause it is printed twise 154 9 1 doeth he he doeth 155 27 2 sodaine so disdaine 157 10 2 sheetes sheates 158 3 1 byâ—ause bicause 159 14 1 Membrothe Nembrothe eodem 5 2 much is much 160 2 1 to the Israelits his Israelits The Argument of the Booke THe Aucthor heereof was a Spanyard and liued in Spaine a couÌ„trey of great persecutioÌ„ by the spirit of God he did rightly vnderstand the scriptures beeing greatly persecuted hee doeth verie diuinely comfort hym selfe giuing heereby the lyke vnto others in any kinde of calamitie exhorting therwith patience and doeth proue that patience bringeth experience and that experience bringeth hope and so loue c. with a conclusion that great blessednesse is the ende of all Also he doth expresse by shadowes diuers kindes of cruelties practised by diuers Tyrants in parties beyond the Seas with a plaine declaration of the constancie of diuers Martirs that haue dyed by many kindes of death truely testified by aucthoritie sufficient so comfortable delightfull as is possible c. In Mundo in coelis in perpetuisque tenebris est labor est requies et sunt sine fine dolores hunc fer vt hanc speres illos conamene vites G. R. ¶ Of the wyll of God an entry into the comfort with a perswasion to know the will of God perfectly The first Chapter THe grace and peace of God our father and of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you al that trust in his mercy and that call vpon him with a pure hart desire his comming and the setting forth of his glory By the which may it please him to comfort vs all and to geue vs streÌ„gth by the vertue of his holy spirit againste all the common temptacions that we which are partakers of his reconsiliation are afflicted with in this world For that by theÌ„ we might not be discouraged but rather made constant til the end in the grace that god hath geuen vs to know his sonne Iesus Christe for the aucthour of our saluacion and euerlasting aduocat before his diuine maiestie bicause we might haue by his onely rightuousnes a firme sure hope to enioy wholly the eternall inheritaÌ„ce promised to all those which are saÌ„tified by the word of trueth Amen God is so faithful that he wil suffer nothing to touch vs without his expresse wil whose poteÌ„cy might is without any determinate ende equal with his wil for that he may can all that he will wil nothing that doth not serue for his honour glory for the helth of his chosen which maketh that al things how aduersse so euer they be do serue vs for our helth welth prosperitie And for the god hath giuen vs of his clemeÌ„cy Iesus Christ his sonne to be our head made vs all meÌ„bres of his holy body it is not possible so being but that one of vs shuld féele spiritually the pain trouble of another how far soeuer we be distant a sondre corporally bicause the spirite of Iesu Christ by the which we his meÌ„bres do liue hath coÌ„ioined knit vnited vs more nigher closer togither theÌ„ is the soule to the body Forasmuch dearly beloued brethre according to my hope that I am partaker of the mercy that we all shal receue in the name behalfe of the lord that dyd giue his lyfe for ours I haue thought it good to coÌ„fort you in your afflictioÌ„s with the which you are troubled and oppressed in this world only bicause you wold liue faithfully in Christ Iesu For the quickned streÌ„gthened by the word of trueth I am partaker of the ioy of your consolacion comfort also of the firmnesse of your faith for the I haue hope in his goodnes that he wyll make perfect his worke in euery one of vs in such maner sort that by all wayes meanes possible he may be glorified all be it we liue or dye bicause that in lyfe death he is our gaine we his glory The persecutioÌ„ that we suffer now at these dayes is cruel very perilous dangerous for that they which persecute vs are no Turks nor PagaÌ„s in their professioÌ„ but baptised as we are and that saye they haue a zeale and loue to god as we haue and in that they vse and put in vre to afflict vs with they doo it to serue god to merit or deserue Heauen But greatly deceaued no doubt wherefore we ought to
procure to be so much the more certaine and sure of our vocacion and calling of the good will that God had and hath vnto vs and that we doo not doubt by no way nor meanes of the immutabilitie and firmnesse of his diuine councel with and by the which he dyd determine before the beginninge of the worlde to saue vs in Christ Iesu in knowledge of whome dothe concist all our wealth comfort and consolacion The want of knowledge the doubt had hereof is wont to dooth engender great amasednesse dismayinges troubles in the myndes of some of the faithfull it dooth make them fearfull weake full of cowardise sad discomforted mistrustfull and doth put them into great forgetfulnesse of the benefits which they haue receiued of god From hence dooth also arise growe springe those déepe moorninges groninges and sighinges with the which many séeinge themselues afflicted for the trueth doo repent them that they haue vsed their eares heard and beleeued the voyce of the lord Bicause that they séeinge the aduersities that doo succede follow by reason of professing and confessing the name of Iesu Christ they call it guile and deceit and doo retorne againe to wallow in the dirtie mire of their olde errours and supersticions in which they were before their calling doo become more enemies to God and more cruell against the trueth by meanes wherof their last ending is worser then theyr beginninge And for the contrary to know the trueth thereof aright and well and to haue the same printed in the hart it dooth make the good christian the stronger againste all kindes of aduersities and the more mightie to warre and fight magnanymousely manfully against all the might force of hell and neuer more to turne his shoulders to the enemie but doth become from day to day the more inriched with heauenly giftes whereby he is made the more exceptable to god All that is agaīst Iesus Christ in the world maketh war contradiction againste him but yet he ouercommeth all victoriously and most triumphantly by the vertue and strength of his perfect knowledge thereof And how much the more as it is printed in his heart so much the more shal be increased his cōfort in the time of affliction persecucion more strong firme constant in aduersitie more burning in desire to be with god greater in disdaine of the worlde and of all the delights the reigneth therein know the better how to sanctifie the name of the Lord and to demaunde with more feruent zeale that his kingdome may quickly come bicause his enimies might be destroied wholly and that he alone might be obeyed and reigne in the consciences of all those which he hath redéemed with his most precious bloud What we were before our being reduced to god Cap. ii IF we dyd vnderstād how the sinne which we dyd commit against God in the beginning dyd leaue vs after it had once gotten power emperye ouer vs we should vnderstand aswel how great the loue goodnesse of him was that dyd redeeme and take vs out of the same and deliuer vs from the condēpnacion so iustly due vnto vs for it The diuell by sinne dyd breake in and destroy all goodnesse that God had indued vs with by the which we were cléerely knowen to be his owne workmāship he did blot out the Image of god which was grauē in our soules so that the likenes of him by whom we were created was taken quite frō vs we depriued of all kinde of holines rightuousnes also made strāgers to all trueth cleannes He did leaue vs without the direction libertie that we had to cōfort our selues with in all thīgs by the diuine wil of god Finally we did remaine voyde emptied of all those gifts graces with the which God had adorned bewtified enritched vs to be serued by Bicause we might haue him euermore to be our god and that we might be known to be his childrē by the effect of those his wicked works in the world he dyd destroy in vs all the good that god had geuen vs so that we remayned full of all euill that is to be abhorred and cōtrary to god For that the diuel in place of the perfect picture Image and likenesse of him that was in vs did put his owne And so we were ful of all vnrightuousnesse of life hipocrisie fornicacion mallice couetousnesse enuie guyle hatred wickednesse abhominable abhorrours haters of god and his trueth proud vaine glorious disobedient vnfaithfull without vnderstandinge altogether blynde and without mercy made at the last a pestilent picture euen like vnto the diuell whose captiues we were In the Epistle to them of Ephesus Sainct Paule declareth and in them to vs that such was our condicion before God did call vs And you sayth he were dead by your owne delightes of sinne in the which sometyme ye walked according to the course of this world after the prince and gouerner that ruleth in the Ayre which is the spirit that now worcketh in the children of vnbeléefe amonge the which we all in tymes past haue béene conuersant in desires of the flesh and fulfylled the wyll and mynde thereof so that by nature we wer the children of wrathe And thus he concludeth that in vs there was not one spot of goodnesse nor rightuousnesse but that we were in all subiect to the diuell that all our delightes and pleasure was in naughtinesse and infidelitie so that all our works were of the flesh corrupted and accursed Bicause that if the flesh be an enemie to God and not subiect to his lawe nor may nor can be All the worckes that procéede thereof is so likewise and plaine demōstracions of the hatred of the truth wherewith the hart should be possessed And if that all humaine thoughts or thoughts of men doo from the beginning tend to euil all workes done by them be of the same qualitie euil cōdempned lost prouokers of gods great indignacion and ire so that all our euil commeth by nature At the first we were the childrē of god now by sinne we are the children of his wrath that is wholly lost banished disinherited of his riches goodnesse moreouer enimies to all that dooth please him All of vs are corrupted abhominable saith the Prophet there is none that dooth good there is none no not one Then being by sinne and the flesh al corrupted what may spring come therof but curssed stick of such efficacie the it corrupteth all goodnesse by the which it passeth By reasō wherof we are compared by the same prophet to an open sepulchre wher ther is nothing but bodies dead rotten ful of worms frō whēce may nor can come nothing but suche cruel stincke as dooth infect corrupt and kill The mouth of this sepulchre is our throfe as the said Prophet saith
no none but with charitie for that is our callinge and therein are we taught bothe by the wordes and workes of Iesus Christe our swéete sauiour redemer pastour and shéepeherde Let not vs take any regarde at all of the euill and harme that our persecutours vse towardes vs but let vs chiefely regarde and looke diligently to that which Iesus Christ did amongst vs and commaund vs vnto The imitacion of him let vs not abhorre condempne nor speake euill of but rather let vs doo the contrary Let vs loue to imitate him and let vs doo the workes of loue The cause why that our enimies and afflictours dooe persecute vs is declared by our Sauiour Lorde Iesus Christ who sayth they shall cast you out of their Sinnagogs excomunicate you persecute you vnto deathe for my name sake shall thincke they doo therin to God very great seruice they shal do these thinges bycause they haue neyther knowen me nor yet my Father There is not nor can not be a greater mischiefe then to be ignorant of or not to know at all our God and Father almightie nor yet his sonne Iesus Christ The want of knowledge hereof maketh all them which lacke the same to be possessed of the diuell seruaunts of sinne and heires and inheritours of hell And also dooth make them to beare carry and mainteine continually a curssed cruel capital war against god heauen and all that is his The which dooth bring vnto them their vtter distruction perdicion for euer Their hell they doo alwayse carry with them their owne consciences doo condempne them bicause the worme thereof euer dying and neuer deade doothe and will for euer accuse them The iudgement of GOD doothe lye very heauy vppon them the Lawe hathe curssed them and the woorckes and déedes which they dooe in persecutinge the faythefull are euident tokens testimony of their vtter condempnation Bycause that those whom they persecute with persecutions slaunders condempnations curses cloathed with saint Benits crosses shut vp in close prysons and afterward burned are little or nothing touched thereby but Iesus Christ in them It is he it is he that beareth the spitefulnesse of their passions and Persecutions as hée hymselfe did declare to Saint Paule before his conuersion for when that he had cruelly persecuted the Christians our sauiour Christ sayde with a terrible voyce Saule Saule why persecutest thou mée What greater euill may be thought then to persecute our swéete sauiour and redéemer how can the wrath of God be more euident vnto to them then when they may sée that he careth not for them but suffereth them to fall and runne headlong into that loathsome lake of perdition and yet in vsing the same they think themselues in suche securitie of saluation that they solemnise their tiranycall dispositions as if they did solemly halow some festiuall feast And doe think they doe God good seruice Oh lamentable case that they know not the truth in those their wicked doings Sin hath so captiuated and blynded them that they estéeme light for darkenesse the truth of God for deceyueable errours and the rightuousnesse of heauen for iniquitie And therefore with the bowels of pitifull compassion we ought to pray to God for them beséechyng him of his mercy that hée will take them out of that so mortal deadly and dampnable estate Now then sith it is God that is the aucthor of our afflictious calamities and griefs if we take them at his hands they wil be healthfull for vs and make vs to be true imitators and folowers of Christ hys sonne so that we shall not at all dysdaine our enimies nor shal in no wise vse them euilly for euil but rather desire that they may be brought into the bowels of his loue and so reduced into the way of health With faintnes are we filled with edible wrath indignatiō against thē bicause we thinke that with their irefull hatred their caluminate strifes flaūderous reportes their false testimonies and burning desires to shead our blud they doo or can do as much grief or harme But if we doe vnderstande Gods diuine counsell a right doo not looke a wrye from his worde we shall and may know perfectly wel how impossible it is for thē to doo vs any kynd of dammage with all that euer they can doe or imagine whatsoeuer it bée If we doe but heare the words that the holy Ghost speaketh by the Prophet Dauid we may wel vnderstand sée that they can not preiudice vs in any thing at all An excelent comfort to the afflicted Cap. xiij HE that dwelleth sayeth he vnder the defence of the highest shall be sure vnder the shadow of the almightie The defence wherin doeth consist our sureste securitye is the fyrme truste and affyaunce that the Lords hath giuen vs to haue in him By the which we are made partakers of hys omnipotencie and as his omnipotencie is in securitie from all kynde of euill euen so are we thereby bycause he is onely our hope our foretresse our strength and God in whom wée chiefly trust And the chiefe ground of his promise is that he will deliuer vs from all euilles and that hys trueth shall be vnto vs a buckler and shield And also the Prophet sayth in the same Psalme Bycause thou haste put thy selfe vnder the guarde and custodie of the most highest there shall no euill happen vnto thée neyther shall any plague come néere thy dwellynge Whereby it appeareth playnly what vayne traueyles our enimyes take in hand when they séeke rather to afflict vs or fight so furiously as they doe against the truth For that as they can not preuayle against the truth so shall they not preuayle against them that folow it bycause the auctthor thereof is their mightie defendor Héere the Lord doeth promyse and certifie that no euill shall happen vnto vs nor plague come to our dwelling or Tabernacle if we know and feare hym So that it followeth the euilles and mischiefes that our aduersaries doe séeke towardes vs cannot hurte vs if we be faithfull Bycause the elected whose tutor and gouernour is God are not neither riches honor dignity high estate bodily or corporal health lyfe nor any thing els whereof there is any vertue or power giuen to the wicked But are the liuing members of Iesus Christ vnited and knit vnto him most surely and therefore inuisible to the children of this world as is the same lord And bycause the wicked should not sée howe to doe them harme in that true being which they bee God did so fauour them that by hym they were incorporated in Iesu Christ for that as hée is firme sure substanciall strong and may not bée throwen out of the throne of his maiestie So be those his members of such strength and force in him that they may in no wyse be separated frō him That which by tirannie of Tirants is to be taken
God is the Lord and that by his worde he ought to be serued and worshipped of all mankinde I say let them doe it if they can but in despight of them I say againe they cannot For all that euer they doe is no more but as if by spetling they shuld prooue or goe about to pearse the heauens and so spitte vpward accordingly and then the same fall backe again into their owne faces whereby they are filthily fouled to their owne reproche Wherefore let vs not feare them in none of their bragges but let vs put on the armour of the Apostles and throw away all humain affiance Let vs assure our selues that by our afflictions and death are distroyed and ouerthrowen the enimies contradytors and geinsayors of vs the Gospell For God doeth deale with our enimies nowe in the same order maner and forme as he did with them in tymes past which persecuted spake against the Prophets and Apostles bycause that they taught the same gospell of lyfe which we now haue and teach by Christ we liue and for him we suffer persecutiō euen so did they yet he hath alwayes gotten the victorie as well for them as for vs And therefore let vs not tempt God but let vs trust wholy in him his mercy power and strength And also haue in hatred all humaine helpes and fauours whatsoeuer What is the cause that so many do fainte fall become amased in their mindes so that they can not perseuer in that trueth which God hath commaunded And also that some other being wonderfully lighted with the cleare and pure light of the Gospell and séeing the workes and wonders so admirable that God doth shew vnto them by the same are so sluggyshe and colde that they stande at a staye and care not whither they goe forewardes yea or no Surely and without doubt there is none other cause but that onely by the instigatiō of the diuill they are so deceiued that they robbe God of his honour put their trustes wholy one in an other taking men for their staffe to staye vppon to the end they might stande in all their troubles regardyng humayne fauor so muche that they leaue God and flye therevnto for refuge in all theyr aduersities and calamities Some doe trust in their ryches others in theyr honours some in the friendshippe of great men other some in that they be Gentlemen and of the noble bloude and so foorth in other the lyke prerogatiues What other thing is thys but as if one should trust in a shadow or a smoake which vanysheth almost so soone as it is seene When that we consider the causes for which we are afflicted whereof God is the author from whom we flée and doe put our trust in men or in any thing that they can doe for vs is as muche in our ayde as to truste vnto Egipt or to the strength of the Egyptians or as in a broken Réede whiche one holdeth to staye him selfe by and it doeth not onely suffer him to fall but also with the slyuers thereof doeth so prick and hurte hys handes as maketh him repent that he had no more vnderstandyng in tyme then to trust thervnto It belongeth to one that is a Christian and faythfull to bée buylded and firmely founded vppon that fyrme Rocke or stone which is Christ and not to flee from the same to any humaine helpe or succour that perisheth for that against this true foundation the wyndes of tribulations tempests of torments nor stormes of mischiefs and wickednesse cannot preuayle agaynst it or make it to remoue or alter And therfore hauing so sure a foundatiō as Christ let vs assure our selues that there is nothyng in the worlde that can remoue vs from it As the holy Ghost doeth testifye saying hée that trusteth in the Lord shal neuer bée confounded but shal be alwayes firme sure as the holy hyll of Syon Hovv vve ought to bee instructed in trueth and veritie and to haue no confidence in mens traditions The xxij Chapter GOd will that we beliue trust and be ruled by him and his word onely and not in no maner of wyse by the aucthoritie of men although they séeme neuer so wyse holy and faythfull if they teach and instruct not by the prescript worde of God wherein is all trueth Bycause if our trust in God be accordyng to had by theyr outward fained holines and goodnes it serueth for little or nothing but to make vs so weake and féeble that we cannot tast the drink of the liquor of lyfe which is the fruit of the Gospell with so stiffe stoute a stomake as we oughte And also that the rather our weakenesse shall bée made more weake our infirmitie more infirme and sicke But if we belieue onely in Iesu Christ trust stedfastly in him we shall be necessarily instructed and strengthened not to dismaye vs but to be more firme and strong agaynst all kynde of euill and wickednes Yet for all that the ministers of God will onely teache according to the worde that mē should repose their trust wholy in Christ as aforesayde and that he is the aucthor of all truth and rightuousnesse Their intent is nothyng but to be faithfull to the Lord which sent them And to prepare his waye teachyng and shewyng vnto men by the law the condempnation in which they were by sinne and howe seuere God is in his iudgementes to the vnbeléeuers and superstitious aucthors of guyle and deceipt and the folowers thereof contrary to true religion they will reduce and induce as many as they can to Iesus Christ their master by the gospell onely as to one in whom is alwayes a remedie for any kynde of mischiefe For that from him the elected doe receiue all things and doe know by him that God is theyr father almightie they do not nor wil not sel nor giue them selues for gods nor yet maintain themselues for gods Viccars generall vppō earth nor one of them doeth not chalenge more authoritie in bynding and loosing blessing or curssing nor in distributing the word of God then an other doth they shewe them selues for men subiecte to all humaine infirmities as wel one as another of them They doe teache and preach that our faith must not come from men from them but from God the word of truth doth teach them this doctrine and vs also And therfore let vs not attribute any kind of thing vnto any maner of mā neither faithfull holy nor Saincte but vnto God who giueth lyfe to the dead some time conuerteth the hartes of and calleth our persecutors into the way of rightuousnesse and truth Although the men be weake lacketh strength doth often stumble to do any thing that is good yet Gods truth which they teache is not so Although they be discoraged afraid bicause of the persecution which they sée yet the word of trueth is almightie fayleth not All the disciples themselues fainted and feared
at the death of the redéemer of the world yet he fainted nor feared not in his truth to shew what he was nor yet did his truth loose any parte of the valor for all the terrible trouble and pagan passions and persecutions that happened vnto him So true so good so iust a iustifier so immutable so almightie was he as was none yet his own denied him were in such feare and doubtes of his doings as though they had neuer knowne him So that the truth of God dependeth nothing vppō men although they be euen his verie disciples ministers but on him selfe onely Although they fainted feared and doubted of him bicause of his passions persecutiōs which he suffered yet for all that did not he forget put out of knowledge abhorre nor deny thē but did most louingly reduce thē and bring them again vnto the truth true knowledge therof And there where now he is sitting on the right hande of his father he hath not altered his cōdition nor yet hydden hys accustomed loue from them that be his Although they were weake strayed out of the way stombled fell with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution yet did he make them partakers of his mercie with a free forgiuenes or pardon generall and did giue them strength and force a freshe to ouercome all their weakenesse And therefore he being such a one as he is that did loue the weakelinges so that hée would nor did not cast them away for all their weakenesse rebellion Wée also being lyke vnto them oughte to loue him not to forget nor forsake him but to hope and trust that he wil doe with vs as hée dyd with his fyrst disciples which had the first fruites of the spirite Let vs not be of the number of the enimies of God nor of those which haue any enmitie vnto hym or hys which doe take and vse all hys workes so that it is an occasion why they are set farther distant from him doe refuse to loue him as he ought and in the company of his aduersaries doo blaspheme his holy name But rather as obedient and faithfull children let vs vnderstand the intent of our celestiall father and take and gather out of his workes only all such fruite as he doeth pretend in them Which is the better to knowe him the more to submit our selues to his good pleasure and will and not to flye further from him as the wicked doe but to cleaue more nigher vnto hym by fayth that by recouerie of newe force wée maye perseuer in the way of truth Now if there be any weakenesse in any of vs as no doubt there is contrary to our expectation that weakenes commeth not of nor from the truth but from our selues our filthy flesh Let vs not think it a straunge thing that there is such weaknesse in man for that all of vs in as muche as wée are men and of the fleshe our delight is in nothing but in weaknes things of no validitie nor force but of the flesh Here we may all of vs vnderstād and sée what great necessitie we haue as well those which stande vpright as they which bend and fall of the helpe and power of Christ without whome we can in no wise indure to doe any parte of our dueties And therfore let vs be vigilant looke vppō the weaknesse falling one of another as in a glasse bicause therby we might know our owne weaknesse so humble our selues before God as we ought for of our selues wée are cleane repugnant vnto him to all goodnes whereof he is the author And sith that we are all called to the crosse of affliction and calamitie and to fight against the pride and presumption that is in vs and so to be occupyed in contemplation therfore Let none of vs iudge a wrye or amisse of those which are fallen or doo fall but let him which is vpright and on his féete take héede he fall not also Bycause that God is almightie and wil raise vp and cast down whom him lifteth will not forsake but rayse vp them that fall will exalte the humble and méeke and knit close theyr cracks and breakings most sure The cause whye hée doeth not forsake them that are fallen is for that they bée his children and that he wil make hys glorious workes to illustrate and appeare more brighter in thē by the meanes thereof bycause where as sinne doeth abound there doeth grace superabound and his mercy and goodnesse is shining the brighter The wicked worlde cannot abyde that any man shuld repugne or geinsay agaynst his iudgement nor yet allow any thing that is condempned therein But the children of God as they haue a sence féeling of Christ so they doe allow by Christ all which God doth commaund And so likewise by him doe they reproue cōdempne the iudgement of the world for abhominable and wicked And therfore the worlde and his worldlings togither doe against them all the mischief they can to the ende to banish from them this féeling of the truth and so by consequent to dispoyle them from God whose they are But in consideration thereof hée will confounde both the worlde worldlings and their iudgements altogither And if it happen that the chyldren of God doe stumble and fall with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution giue wrong iudgement disalowing the truth which they ought to alow and doe alowe a lye which they ought to reproue yet their louing god and father wil bring it so to passe that it shal serue them for their best greatest cōmoditie to bring them to be enriched with true humilitie with their onely trust in God whose goodnesse is wonte to ryse stirre and take out of greatest euilles and wickednesse most great blessednesse and happinesse For that those which loue him he doth cōuert vnto them all things for the best yea euen out of sin he doth take great riches to glorify them with As he did to Noah Dauid to Peter after their fals he tooke such occasiō therby as he turned many thinges to their greate goodnes commoditie did make to shyne in them great light out of the darkenesse the which they were in By meanes hereof wée béeyng forsaken of the world and crucified therin And also the worlde béeyng forsaken of vs wée shall come to great knowledge by experyence that neyther honors riches noblenes of birth humayne fauour wisedome nor yet estimation had of men is of no force nor valour in our spirituall batteile But onely a sure fayth and hope in God our Lord. And so beeyng made mightie méeke and hūble in this maner we remain vnited and suerly knit with the vine which is Iesus Christ more prompt and ready to receiue his gifts then at the first The cause why the father doth so picke prime purge and make clean the braūches which
at any tyme if he had béene a tyrant or had béene cruell vnto vs or if he had at any tyme deceiued vs then had we had some reason to forsake him to flée frō him and to leaue him to the ende we might get out of his wily deceits and tyranny But beinge alwayes a God vnto vs so louing as he hath beene a God that hath sauid vs and brydeled the diuell so that he cānot hurt vs. He that hath commaunded his creatures for our sustenaunce when we were his enimies he that hath deliuered vs from so many great perills and dangers of death and hath béene alwaies our tutor gouernour and defēdour and we without shame so to deny and forsake him most greuous is our folly falte therein and so greuous that we haue deserued thereby that he should for euer forsake vs and condempne vs to be vnder the tiranny of the diuel and antichrist eternally To forget so many vndeserued benefites as he hath preferrid vs vnto and to leaue him for so small and light troubles and afflictions as are those which we haue suffered and are to suffer for the profession of his name it is a thing worthy of most gréeuous punishment If Iesus Christ had not beene first crucifyed himself and made a cursse for vs and for our transgression and sinne so callid vs to the crosse of worldly tribulacion we might well haue béene deceiued or thought our selues so but that is moste infallible and certeine for so he called vs to the profession of the same and therefore to crosses and tribulacions and not to worldly honours ritches and delightes of this lyfe What a gréeuous thing were it therfore to deny him from whence may or can there arise accrewe or grow and procede suche a masse of misery as that and that we dooe not nor haue not vnderstande and knowen aright the ende of our calling which was especially and vppon purpose to make vs like vnto himselfe by passions persecucions and afflictions surely it is a most monstrous offence For that to forsake the trueth thereby to eschew the crosse is none other but to forsake Christ our onely Sauiour bicause there is no way to Christ Iesus without heauie crosses of affliction and persecution nor yet no true crosse of calamitie and persecucion but is a way to passe by vnto him So that it resteth and is moste fit and conuenient for vs to haue a great and greuous gréefe in mynde with repentance that euer we dyd forsake or deny him and to leade the residue of our lyfe in a perfect and perpetuall repentance for the same And therefore let vs be conuerted and torne vnto him and behoulde attentiuely that he although offended with vs is not our enimie nor doothe not desire nor procure our perdicion but is our good GOD and Father which doothe desire and wyill performe our perfect health and saluacion As truely as I dooe liue saythe the Lorde I wyll not the deathe of a sinner but rather that he torne from his wickednesse and lyue It is god our Father that we haue denyed in our dooinges and sore offended we haue moste worthely styrred hys wrathe to bée wreaked vppon vs and yet hée spareth vs. He is allwayes oure Father and loueth vs as a moste louinge Father and also dothe greatly reioyce at our conuercion from wickednesse he dooth séeke and vse great meanes to induce reduce and bring vs again vnto his house and presence after the wasting and quite consuming of that good porcion that he dyd giue vs for our parpetuall patrimony We dooe imitate the apostles altogether in fainting and fearing at the crosse of Christ and doo flée from it and denye him as they dyd for the vaine feare of death let vs also doo as they dyd in conuerting againe vnto him for as he dyd receiue them euen so will he receiue vs and will comfort and imbrace vs with no lesse loue then he dyd vse shew vnto them for that he is aswell our maister and redéemer now as he was theirs then he is our good God a god almightie and doothe loue vs aswell sithens we fell as he dyd before we dyd fall for that the naturalnes and burning bowels of loue that is in the father is not nor wil be remoued by the infirmities and weaknes of the children The prodigall childe after that he had consumed and wasted quite the goods and substanciall ritches of his father or that his father had giuen him dyd retorne againe vnto him with a most humble submission and confession of himselfe with repentaunce to be vnworthy to be called his sonne But the father séeing him come a farre of did méete him on the way with such a feruent ioye that the sonne had scarce opened his mouth to confesse his sinne and dysobedience when he fel vpon his neck imbraced and kissed him with great ioye most zealously and gladly and commaundyd him to be clothed with new and costly ritche garments making moste merueilous feast with reioycing for his so penitent a conuersion Behoulde here the father was found no lesse louing to his sonne beinge penitent at the last then he was at the first notwithstanding so great a disobedience and contemptuous offence He was alwayes a father vnto him aswell before his folly in falling and offending as afterwardes he was not thereby remoued nor altered one iote from his fatherly goodnesse neyther in loue qualitie nor condicion he dyd not vpbraide nor caste him in the téeth with his falts although they wer most greuously great in his sight but dyd rather reioyce for his penitit conuercion so muche that his ioye would giue no place to his sonne to confesse his faltes and offences Bicause he had already pardoned and put them quite out of memory and dyd wyll and commaunde that he with all the reste in his house should reioyce with him for the happy recouery of his sonne that was first dead and then aliue An excelent kyndely and comfortable perswasion of the faythfull to reioyce in any calamitie c. The .xxiiii. Chapter TO vs my bretheren and fellow membres that haue played the part vppon this worldly stage of the Prodigal childe in wasting spoyling and consuming of our porcions of the ritches goods and goodnesse of God our father the holy ghost dooth speak Propoūding this example the which we ought to follow after our fallinge bicause we might féele by experience the loue so ardent which he hath now towardes vs I say now when as we be wounded so full of shame and confusion that we doo abhorre sinne and conuert Therein he dooth confirme and assure vs of our francke and frée pardon and remission for all our sinfull fallinge how great so euer it be or haue béen as a thinge due vnto all that are penitent Bicause if our hartes he woūded with true griefe and repentance and doo with a hart vnfayned earnestly loath and abhorre the
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their