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BIcause we that are of the nū∣bre of the faythfull, are suche a perticuler worke of GOD, that of his goodnesse he wyll not that there be any thinge in vs which he loueth not, but that we be wholly cleane: & also that with our holinesse and cleannesse of lyfe and doctrine, we dooe declare our selues to be his children: and therefore wyll destroy in vs all the workes of the di∣uell,* 1.1 which are so repugnant vnto
him, as are the wicked inclinacions of the fleshe, and all whatsoeuer els that doothe let our true obedience to his holy heauenly will. To ende and consume it altogether: he dooth laye his crosses vpon vs, to be as it were a Purgatory in this world to purifie vs,* 1.2 and he will there with that we take it as a testimony of his loue, and that we be his verye familiars and fréendes. I, sayth the Lorde,* 1.3 dooe re∣prehend and chastise those whome I loue. And hereof it groweth,* 1.4 that the more he loueth vs, so much the more he hateth & abhorreth the sinne that is in vs, and also so much the more he will correct and chastise vs. And as there is none that he dooth more loue then those which he hathe called and incorporated in Iesus christ, so is ther none yt is more afflicted in this world.
Euen as a carefull Father that hath many children, and one among thē more beloued then the rest, whom he will make his heire, and the more he loueth him, so much the more vigi∣lant he is, to kéepe all vice & daunger
from him, that might depriue him of his inheritance, & yet the sonne with dolefull dollour & griefe that he dooth féele, dooth bewayle and thincke in fée∣linge his fatherly correction, that it doothe procéede of ire, and doothe not consider his fathers pure pretence, but rather taketh it for a signe of ha∣tred, which for a most sure certeintie, is a true testimony of loue & good will. Euen so it dooth fall out, betwene god the celestiall father and vs, for that we doo not vnderstande the intent of him in his fatherly reprehensions and chastisements, ye which of truth (deare fellow membres) are bicause he doth loue vs most singulerly, as childrē to dispose vnto vs, his most inestimable and blessed inheritāce, and to destroye in vs all ye vices yt should let or hinder vs frō ye same. We do sorrow & gréeue at his friendly & fatherly correctiō, we doo not estéeme it as we ought to doo, nor as instruments ye tend to so ioyful an ende. And therefore let vs heare & follow the counsel of ye holy ghost, spo∣kē by & out of ye mouth of ye apostle S.
Paul.* 1.5 My sonne despise not ye chastinīg of ye lorde, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him,* 1.6 for whome he loueth him he chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne yt he receueth. If we can endure his correctiō, he offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto his sonnes, for what sonne is yt whom his father chastiseth not, & is beloued. He yt is not vnder correctiō (wherof we all be partakers) is a ba∣stard & not a sonne. Wherby it appea∣reth, & we may plainly sée, yt it is he ye scourgeth vs, bicause he loueth vs, & dooth certeinly assure vs yt we are his children, for yt by his crosses and cala∣mities with ye which he scourgeth vs, he will distinguish vs frō those which are none of his, but are reprobats. So yt if we should be frée frō his paternal or fatherly correction, we should also be set voyd & frée from ye inheritance of his blessed kingdom. And moreouer it were then made manifest vnto vs, yt we were bastterds illegittimate and not sonnes lawfully begottē of our lo∣uing father. But sith that by his singu¦ler & infinit mercy, he hath made vs
legittimate. Let vs like lawfull loo∣uing children put aside all pusilanimi∣tie, weakenesse, and cowardise, and withall earnestie and firme zeale, sub∣mitte our selues, to the ordinaunce & will of the eternall God our heauen∣ly father,* 1.7 and let vs vnderstande fur∣ther the saying of S. Paule. We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more, but we haue receiued the spirite of adoption, by the which we crye & call Abba, father, the same spirit certifieth vs that we are the sonnes of god, and therby heires with Christ, & therefore let vs suffer with him that we may bée also glorifyed together. And forasmuch as we dooe knowe the effect of the benefit of his amorous and louely correction, let vs suffer as sonnes and heires, to the I∣mitacion of his eldest sonne our head & eldest brother Iesus Christe, which being best beloued dyd suffer most ex∣cessiue paines & passions. And as the greatnesse of the same was a true te∣stimony of the loue with the which he loued (& was beloued of the) father:
Euen so, how much ye greater our af∣flictions, troubles & calamities are, so much the more testimony haue we of his excéeding loue & good wil towards vs.* 1.8 For it is written (by Iesus ye son of Sirache) that the crosse is mercy. So yt the more greater yt our crosses & calamities are, so much more ye clear∣er demonstracion haue we, ye god doth loue vs the more profoundly, hath the more pittie of vs, & maketh vs liue in disdaine with ye diuel & all his workes. From whence it springeth, that how much more we be oppressed with per∣secucion or any kinde of calamitie, so much the nigher are we at an ende of ye consumption & destroy of all ye euil & mischiefe yt is in & towards vs, against the which ye Lord our God dooth make batteile, warre, & fight for vs. And for this cause, in the most extremitie of al our troubles and calamities whatsoe∣uer. We ought to haue greatest con∣tent, comfort, & ioye,* 1.9 bicause then our most franke, frée, & ful libertie, for the knowledge of God draweth neare, whereby we shall sée him face to face,
& shal know him as he doth know vs. Let vs not thē as yonge babes, blush, feare, stoppe or staye, from the feeling of those troubles & calamities, which are present in the world. But let vs passe to the consideracion yt god doothe pretend by them,* 1.10 which is to make vs wholly rightuous,* 1.11 and that there re∣main not one spot of vnrightuousnes nor corruption in vs,* 1.12 but yt we should be the irreprehensible sonnes of god, without spotte or wrinckle. So that we might come to enioy ye most bles∣sed fruite thereof, which is as a thing of inestimable vallew appendant and regardant or belonging to the excer∣cisours of the same.
Iohn. 3. & 16.19.20.
No Purga∣tory but in this lyfe.
Pro. 3. &. 11.12.
The causes of calami∣tie to the faithfull.
Hebr. 12. & 5.6.7. &c.
Prou. ••. & 11.12.
Rom. 8. & 15.16.17.
Sirach. 2. &. 2.6.12.
1. Iohn. 3. &. 2.7,
Colo. 1. &. 5
Ephe. 5. &. 9.
Hebr. 12. & 10.11.