THE example of living and dying is set forth before our eyes in Christs life and passion: for so saith Peter.1 Christ is afflicted for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steppes. But how can we follow his steppes? Here thou: If thou receive thy cross on thee, as Christ ⟨image 91⟩techeth thee. How can that be,2 sayest thou: Behold, take an example. If thou be punished with sickness reckon with thy self, how it is not to be compared with Christs crown of thorn and his nails. If thou be restrained of thy desires and lusts, remember Christ led hither and thither. If pride stir thy mind, remember Christ nailed on the cross between two thieves. Whereof Isaiah saith.3 And we have seen him, and there was no fairness in him, and we have desired the despising of all men. If thou burn in lechery, or any other ill desire, remember how Christs tender flesh was all to torn with stripes, thrust through, and all to broken. Whereof the scripture saith,4 They have numbered all my bones. If thou be vexed ⟨image 92⟩with envy or desire of revenging, think with thy self, that Christ did prey to his father for them, which crucified and scorned him. Which when he was reviled, did not revile again.5 As a sheep led to be slain. If sin troubleth thee, caste thy self upon Christ, believe all his to be thine, and that by his work thou art saved. If thou look so only in Christ, thou shalt have peace, and thou shalt rejoice that god is thy god. And although thy sin be great, yet the grace of god is much greater. Therefore say: Although I alone had committed all the since of the world, they were utterly none, if I may obtain the grace of god through Christ. God suffereth his to fall, yea and that sometimes grievously, as David and ⟨image 92⟩Peter: that they might rise and thank god more fervently. Therefore no sinner should despair, seeing that so great men have sinned so grievously, and by the grace of god have repented and amended their living. If Satan do tempt the of predestination, whether thou be amongest them, which be ordained to the kingdom of heaven, be deaf, taking example of Christ, which hanging on the cross said nothing at all to this, when they said: He hath trusted in god, let him deliver him if he will. So Daniel,6 When the king of Babylon said: And what god is he, that may deliver you out of my hands? They answered:
THE example of lyuynge and dienge is set forth before our eies in Christes lyfe and passyon: for so sayth Peter.1 Christe is afflicted for vs, leauynge vs an example, that we shuld folowe his steppes. But howe can we folowe his steppes? Here thou: If thou receyue thy crosse on the, as Chryste ⟨image 91⟩techeth the. How can that be,2 saiest thou: Beholde, take an example. If thou be punished with sickenes reken with thy selfe, howe it is not to be compared with Chrystes crowne of thorne and his nayles. If thou be restrayned of thy desyres and lustes, remembre Christ led hyther and thyther. If pryde styrre thy mynde, remembre Christ nayled on the crosse betwene two theues. Wherof Esai saythe.3 And we haue sene hym, and there was no fayernesse in hym, and we haue desyred the despysynge of all men. If thou brenne in lechery, or any other yll desyre, remembre howe Christes tender flesshe was all to torne with strypes, thrist through, and al to broken. Wherof the scripture sayth,4 They haue nombered all my bones. If thou be vexed ⟨image 92⟩with enuy or desyer of reuenging, thinke with thy selfe, that Christe dyd preye to his father for theym, whiche crucified and scorned him. Whiche when he was reuyled, did not reuyle ageyne.5 As a shepe led to be slaine. If sinne troubleth the, caste thy selfe vpon Christe, beleue all his to be thyne, and that by his worke thou arte saued. If thou loke so onely in Christe, thou shalt haue peace, and thou shalt reioyce that god is thy god. And although thy synne be great, yet the grace of god is moche greatter. Therfore saye: Althoughe I alone hadde commytted all the synnes of the worlde, they were vtterlye none, if I maye obteyne the grace of god throughe Christe. God suffereth his to fall, yea and that sometymes greuousely, as Dauid and ⟨image 92⟩Peter: that they myghte ryse and thanke god more feruently. Therfore no synner shulde despeire, seinge that so great men haue synned so greuously, and by the grace of god haue repented and amended theyr lyuynge. If Sathan do tempte the of predestination, whether thou be amongest them, whiche be ordeyned to the kyngedome of heauen, be deafe, takynge example of Christe, whiche hanging on the crosse sayde nothynge at all to this, when they sayde: He hath trusted in god, let him deliuer him if he wyll. So Daniel,
- 11. Pet. 2.
- 2Matt. 10.
- 3Isaiah. 53.Esai. 53.
- 4Psal. 21.
- 51. Pet. 2. Isaiah. 53.1. Pet. 2. Esai. 53.
- 6Danie. 3,
