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LECTƲRE LIX.
And the fellowshippe of his afflictions, and be made conformable to his death, if by any meanes I may attaine &c.
OH, but thou wilt say that thine afflictions, thy troubles, and thy sorowes are exceeding great and vnsupportable. Looke vpon Iobs afflictions in his goods, in his children, in his owne person. He had 7000. sheepe, and 3000. Camels, and 500. yoke of oxen, and 500. she asses: and of all these he was quickly depriued, some the Shebeans, some the Chaldeans tooke away violently, and some the fire of God consumed and burnt. He had also seuen sonnes, and three daughters, and a very great familie: and these all were slaine at once by the fall of a house. Himselfe likewise was smitten with sore boyles from the sole of his foote vnto his crowne, so that he sate downe in the ashes, and tooke a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall. His wife which should haue beene his helper, bid him blaspheame God and die. His friends which should haue comforted him encreased his sorowes; so that euery way he was most grieuously afflicted. Compare now then thine afflictions and sorowes with his, and see what comparison there is betwixt them for greatnesse and grieuousnesse. And if the Lord blessed his last daies more then the first in goods, and in children, and in euery good blessing; then let not thy great affliction trouble thee, but hope thou in the Lord, and abide patiently on him, and he shall make thy way to prosper. Againe, looke vpon Christ, persecuted Christ, euen from his birth, forced to flie euen then into Egypt for feare of Herod; tempted Christ, by the Deuill in the wildernesse; poore Christ, not hauing a hou••e to put his head in; betrayed Christ, by the hands of one of his owne Disciples; afflicted Christ, so that his sweat was like