[ 455] Self-tryall smoothes the way to all other tryals.
BIlney,* 1.1 a Martyr in Q. Maries dayes, tryed his finger by himselfe in the Candle, before he tried his whole body in the fire at the stake: If thou hast run with the footman (faith God by the mouth of the Prophe••) and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou match thy self with Horses, Jer. 12. 5? How shall our faith abide the ••iery triall by others,* 1.2 if it have never been put to the fiery trial by our selves? How shall that faith try a match with horsemen, smile at torments, stare a disguised death in the face, that never yet tried a match with footmen, that never tried it selfe in private, that never strugled with naturall corruptions? Surely selfe tryal will pave the way smooth to all other tryals; And that man will never abide to be tryed at a bar or stake, that is loath to be tryed in his Closet or his Chamber.