Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy.

¶Crosse is the worke of the good wyll and mercy of god. Cap. v.

IT IS not inoughe, to fele and consyder, that we are afflycted throughe the councell and wyll of god, but we must moreouer mark the cause and intente of his godly wyll, for reason iudgeth, that we ar punished, to the ende to be hurt or dystroyed: and examples lyke∣wise moue vs, of them that haue bē punished and cast of from god, as of Pharao, Saul, and other lyke, but we must forsake reason, and fle such examples, and cleaue to the worde of god. The word of god teacheth, that we suffer affli∣ction,

to our helth and saluation. For afflictions are not signes of wrathe and displeasure, but of grace and fauour. God calleth to repentaunce, and by affliction he in a maner speketh and declareth, that he wyll forgyue. For as bap∣tisme, or eatynge of the lordes bo∣dy, do wytnesse vnto vs, that we are forgyuen: euen so nerehande affliction maye be called a certain sacrament. For it sygnifieth, that god wyll forgyue. And why doth it so signifie? for euen as other sa∣cramentes haue the worde of the element: so to afflictiō is the word annexed, wherby is promysed grace, for soo sayth Paule.* 1.1 while we are punished, we are corrected of the lorde, leaste we shulde with this world be condempned. Affli∣tion calleth to repentaunce, that

we peryshe not. And he correcteth the sonne,* 1.2 whome he loueth. It is good for me, that thou haste broughte me vnder, that I maye lerne thy rightuousenes.* 1.3 Lord in tribulation haue they visited the: it is thy lerning to them, that they shulde crie to the in anguishe and sorowe.* 1.4 Trouble gyueth vnder∣standyng agayne. To the ende to doo his owne worke, he dothe an other worke. that is, to the intent to make safe, he chasteneth and scourgeth.* 1.5 A troubled spirite is a sacrifice to god. A sacrifice is that that pleaseth god. Wherfore for so moch as affliction pleaseth god it signifieth not those which ar af∣flicted, to be reproued, and cast of from god, for he wyl not the death of a synner,* 1.6 but that he conuerte and lyue. We must therfore in af∣fliction

stedfastly beleue, that our trouble commeth not by chaunce, but that it is gouerned of god. Moreouer, that god wyll not vs therfore to be troubled, to hurte and dystroy vs, but to calle vs to repentaunce, to exercyse vs and saue vs, as holy scripture euerye where declareth.* 1.7 He wyll not styll be angry, he wyll not continually threten vs. He hath begonne,* 1.8 and wyll make vs safe, he shall stryke and make vs hole.* 1.9 The lorde lyf∣teth vp al them that fal, and pluc∣keth vp all those whiche are broi∣sed.* 1.10 Can the woman forgette her babe, that she haue not compassi∣on of the chylde of her wombe? And if she be forgetfull, yet wyll not I forget the.* 1.11 So Christ com∣forteth his. The womanne, when she bryngeth forthe:* 1.12 whiche are

borne of my wombe, whiche are borne of my bealy, euen to the old age I my selfe wyll carie, euen to the hoore heares, I haue done it, and I wyll beare, I wyl cary and make safe.* 1.13 Morne and be busy o doughter of Sion, as a woman traueylinge, for nowe thou shalte go forthe from the citie, and shalt dwell in a region, and shalte come euen to Babilon, there shalt thou be delyuered, there shall the lorde redeme the.* 1.14 Teachynge them, he instructeth with lernyng, to pluck a man from those thinges, which he hath done, and to delyuer hym frome pryde.* 1.15 So Abraham was tempted to be tried, that his faith mought be made noble and mani¦fest, he tempted hym, and setteth forthe before vs suche example to folowe, when he tempteth and tri∣eth

our faythe.* 1.16 So Iob was tem∣ted of the lorde, that his faythe mought be made more clere. So Dauid,* 1.17 so Manasses on euery side vexed, repēted. Also Tobias was therfore made blynde, to gyue ex∣ample of pacience, to his after cō∣mers. Likewise Iudith. we ought to be myndfull, howe our fathers were tempted, to be tried.* 1.18 Soo it happened in the woman of Cha∣naan.* 1.19 And to the womanne labo∣rynge with the issue of bloud. by whiche examples we are taughte and cōfirmed, to be plucked from god by no temptations, by no op∣pressions, by no chastisynges, be they neuer so great: but the more that god tempteth vs, chasteneth, and repelleth, so moche the more let vs crye to hym, tyll he gracy∣ously here vs. It is therfore noo 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 50.
• * 1.3

  Esai. 26.
• * 1.4

  Esai. 28.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 50.
• * 1.6

  Ezech. 33.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 102.
• * 1.8

  Hosie. 6.
• * 1.9

  Hos. 144.
• * 1.10

  Esai. 49.
• * 1.11

  Matt. 16.
• * 1.12

  Esai. 46.
• * 1.13

  Mich. 4.
• * 1.14

  Iob. 33.
• * 1.15

  Gen. 22.
• * 1.16

  Iob. 1.2.
• * 1.17

  2. Par. 13. Tobi. 2.
• * 1.18

  Matth. 15.
• * 1.19

  Matth. 9.