But I determined this in my self, that I woulde not come again to you in heauines. For if I make you sory, who is it that shoulde make me glad, but the same whiche is made sory by me? And I wrote this same vnto you, leste if I came vnto you, I shoulde take heauines (vpon heauines) of them of whome I ought to reioyce. This confidence haue I towarde you all, that my ioye, is the ioye of you all. For out of greate affliccion and anguish of hert, I wrote vnto you with many teares: not that ye shoulde be made sorie: but that ye mighte perceaue the loue, whiche I haue, moste specially vnto you.
BVt rather, forasmuche as I with my former letters, of necessitie made you heauye and pensife, by condemning the incestuouse fornicatoure, I thoughte it not meete with my comming thither with anye newe heauinesse to vexe and trouble eyther you or my self. Fayne would I alwayes vnto you bee pleasaunte, and neuer painful ••nlesse ye prouoke me. But yf I at anye tyme bee tho∣roughe your outragiousnesse compelled, whiles I cor∣recte a fewe, to make you all sorye, when I my self am by these meanes made sorye, who canne make me gladde agayne, but the same manne, whiche is by me made heauye and sadde? And surely ioyfull shall I bee yf I through suche sharpe correccion finde him healed, and fynde you likewise nowe reioysing of his recouerye, as ye to fore were of his sorowe partakers.
And euen for this cause wrote I this epistle vnto you beefore my cummyng, leste, yf when I come vnto you, I might by suche take sorow, by whome mete were it, and seaming, that I toke pleasure and comfort, specially synce I surely perswade my selfe, that ye are after suche sorte minded towardes me, that whether I mourne for the correccion and punishemente of some, that my hea∣uinesse will bee commen to you all: or if I bee gladde for some of youre amen∣dementes, ye will also all bee gladde with me. Nothyng is there more greuous vnto me, than if I among you see suche thynges, as beseame not your religion, and agayne no man is more gladde, than yf I see nothyng in you woorthie re∣profe. I therefore beeyng exceadynglye astonied with suche an outragiouse of∣fence, being such as was wel knowē amōg you, wrote vnto you ye same letters, not without greate heauinesse of hearte, and great affliccion nor without ma∣ny teares, not with them to make you sory, but that ye might perceaue my loue and good wil towarde you, which the more readie it is, and more plentiful to∣ward you, so much ye more greueth it me, if there be any dishonestie amōg you.