An excelent comfort to all Christians, against all kinde of calamities no lesse comfortable, then pleasant, pithy, and profitable: Compendiously compiled by Iohn Perez, a faithfull seruant of God, a Spaniard (in Spanish) and now translated into English by Iohn Daniel, of Clements Inne, with diuers addicions by him collected and therevnto annexed.

Of the prouidence of God for them which are called. &c. The .xi. Chapter.

THere is nothinge more salu∣dable or healthful for vs then to submit our selues wholly to the diuine counsell of god, bicause he dyd determine by the same to make vs partakers of his heauen∣ly kingedome. And for that, that god dyd ordeigne for vs, that we should passe by this way, we must néedes be∣leue that there is nothing in y^e worlde whereof he doothe make so particuler accompt, nor whereof he dooth esteme so much, as of his beleuers. Of all li∣uing thinges that he created he hath a care: yet much more greater care without comparison, hathe he of vs which be called to his knowledge, and that doo trust onely in his mercy. So likewise dooth the Lord declare to all his faythfull (saying) that the celesti∣all and heauenly Father hath such an inestimable care of them, that he hath

numbred euen y^e very heires of their heads, so carefully that he will not one of them shall perrishe. And sayth further, if your father which is in hea∣uen haue so muche care ouer little Sparrowes, whereof two are soulde for one farthing, and that he wil not suffer one of them to fall from theyr nest or pearch and perish without his will: much more greater care with∣out comparison will he haue of you, which are of much more vallew and estimacion then many sparrowes. If the diligence of y^e fawckners or fow∣lers doo not preuaile, except God dooe helpe them to their game, much lesse shall the persecutours of the Gospel preuaile against vs, if the ordinaunce of God be not to permit them accor∣dingly: for his owne glory, & for our health and saluacion. In the generall gouernement of this world, nothinge may be done if it be not first determy∣ned in the consistory of god & doo passe by the consent of his owne will: much lesse can or may any thinge hurte or much them which he hath elected and

called, onelesse that he will and com∣maunde it. The booke of wisdome dooth declare, thy prouidence O Fa∣ther dooth gouerne all thinges. From the beginninge, the Lord hath made all thinges and they doo come to vs by his will, both good and euill, lyfe and death, pouertie and riches, come from him. I am the Lorde (sayth Esay the Prophet) and there is none but I, that formed the light and created the darckenesse, that dyd make peace and create the euill: I am the Lord that dyd all these thinges. And it is sayde further, behoulde: I am onely, and a∣lone, and there is none other gods but me: I will kill & make a liue againe, I will wounde, & will make whole. Reioyse in thy riches in the tyme of prosperitie (sayth the wyfe man) and haue thou pacience in the daies of ad∣uersitie, bicause as god made the one, so dyd he make the other. The holy Ghost dooth teach vs, that all and eue∣ry thinge that dooth happen vnto vs, aswell aduersitie as prosperitie, the good as the euil dooth passe and come,

by the prouidence and will of God: and that without his ordinance no∣thinge taketh effect. Bicause he dooth all thinges in all, accordinge to the counsel of his diuine will & pleasure.

And therefore sith it is so, that he is the author of all, and dooth nothinge without it be first ordeined, & that his prouidence is so vigilāt ouer vs: it re∣steth then y^t all is saludable & health∣full for vs, y^t he of his good will doothe make to take effect in vs, and that we must take all in good part which dooth succede and happen vnto vs (not as of or from the handes of an enimy or tyrant) but as of and at the hands of a true louing father, which dooth loue vs most tenderly. When we do sée our selues oppressed with diuers kindes of calamities & afflictions, let vs surely thinke & be resolued y^t he himself doth afflict vs, he dooth imprison vs, he doth make vs poore, he dooth depriue vs of our worldly honours, he himself doth make vs sicke, & doth heale vs againe, he dothe kil vs, and reuiue vs againe, there is nothinge that doothe happen

vnto vs, (how aduersse or cruell so euer it be,) but is by him ordeyned, to that ende that we might thereby be brought to great ioye and felicitie. Let vs not deteigne nor withoulde our selues from them that doo execute vnto vs our afflictions, griefes and ca∣lamities. Let vs not doo so much as lowre or looke with an euill counte∣naunce therefore: bicause they are but instruments very necessary, that God dooth vse as scourges & ministers of his will. For that we may behould y^t he doothe chasten vs but as his chil∣dren with them, for his vncurelesse care & thought is otherwise towardes vs, then our persecutours doo thincke for: bicause all that God dooth vnto vs is for our euerlasting delighte.

That which they doo vnto vs is no∣thing but euill. God dooth chastise vs bicause he loueth vs, they doo afflict & persecute vs, bicause they horribly hate and abhorre vs, and to the ende that they would vtterly and wholly destroy vs.

Great were the losses, troubles,

calamities and causes of calamitie, (to the sighte of men in this worlde) that happened to that holy man Iob, and diuers were the afflictions and persecucions that he dyd suffer, the ministers whereof were the diuell & his seruantes. But that faythfull fel∣low of ours, did take it neither of him nor them, but at the handes of God, bicause that he knew that all did pro∣céede from him. If we receiue (sayth he) the good thinges from the handes of the Lorde, why should we not re∣ceiue the bad also, yea how aduersse so euer they be, the Lorde giueth and also taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lorde, and so he dyd conclude with giuing of thankes, aswel for the worst, as for the best. So likewise let vs doe, no lesse for our afflictions and troubles, then for our ioyes and pros∣peritie, bicause all are the benefits of god, and giuen to one selfesame ende, for them that be called and elected to his knowledge and grace.

Iesus Christ our redéemer and sa∣uiour, dyd acknowledge his father to

be the onely authour of all the trou∣bles, crosses & passions that he did suf∣fer, he did take them as from y^e hands of him, & not from the handes of his enimies. He sayd to S. Peter, whē as he went about to resist against, and to let his aduersaries, and to make other lets y^t he should not suffer (as it were rebuking him, & beinge angry & offen∣ded) what Peter I say, wouldest thou let it: shall not I drinke of y^e cuppe y^t my father hath giuē me. Surely with a harty and singuler good will dyd he drinke it, for that it came from y^e hāds of his Father. So that we may see, he looked for, nor desired nothing at all, but euen as his father would, & that he ordeigned, that he himselfe should beare and suffer. He was not angry, he dyd not persecute againe, he did not speake euill, nor vsed any kinde of in∣iury for any part of reuenge to them that crucifyed and intreated him so cruelly and vngodly. But he was ra∣ther sory for them and loued them, al∣though they were wicked, and with a great affection dyd pray to god y^e father

for them, in taking the cuppe or chal∣lis from the handes of his Father, he neither did, nor saide any thinge con∣trary to his will, nor yet contrary to the healthe and saluacion of them for whome he dyed, (sée and behoulde my dearely beloued bretheren & fellowe membres (what an example this is y^t he hath here shewed vnto vs, (so di∣uine) if we vnderstande well what paines and passions he our head dyd suffer, we that are his membres of force shall vnderstād what we ought to doo. His very footesteppes must we followe, trauaile & passe by, if we wil∣be in conformitie with him. We be now afflicted as euil doers, we are cō∣dempned for common barratours, and curssed & abhorred so horribly as may be. Shal we cursse, abhorre, & do y^e like to thē, no, no, not for thought: god for bidde we should. As they desire all the mischiefe that may be to vs, shall we doo y^e like vnto them, no: in no maner wise. But rather sith y^t we be y^e sonnes of god, let vs kepe his cōmaundemēts which are cleane to the contrarye.

Loue (sayth the Lord) your enimies, blesse them that cursse you, doo good to them which abhorre you and doo you harme, praye for thē which persecute you, for that you be sonnes and chil∣dren to your Father which is in hea∣uen, that maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and euill and dooth send his reigne vpon the iust & vniust. Let vs consider how louingly our Lorde & sauiour Christ Iesus, dyd answere to so and such curssed works, and to such obstinate and euill myndes, and how truely he dyd loue his euill doers. Al∣though they were giltie & had great∣ly offended, he dyd excuse them before his father, sayīg, they know not what they doo, O Father forgiue them for thy name sake. Oh immensable cha∣ritie of God, Oh celestiall & heauenly example worthy to be followed. If we doo consider attentiuely, our voca∣cion and calling with the which God hath called vs to his knowledge, we shall fynde it in this like maner that he dooth teach vs.

Notes

• Math. 10. & 29.30. &c.
• Act. 21. & 34.
• Sapi. 14. &. 3.
• Sirac. 11. &. 14.
• Esay. 45. &. 7.12.
• Eccle. 7. &. 14.
• Colo. 1. &. 9
• Ephe. 1. & 4.5.7.
• VVe must take al our afflictions from the handes of God.
• Iob. 1. &. 15.16.19.
• Iob. 2. &. 8.10.
• Math. 16. &. 23
• Iohn. 18. &. 11.
• 1. Pet. 2. & 20.21.22.
• Luc. 23. & 24.
• Luke. 22. &. 41.
• Math. 5. & 44. &c.
• Luck. 6. & 26.27. &c.
• Luke. 23. & 34.
• The voca∣cion of god