¶It is undoubtedly no small comfort, to be assured, that the cross is of god, and that we are chastened of god, and not of the devil, or else of any wicked man: which utterly can have no power upon us, not so much as to move one hear of our head, beside the ⟨image 10⟩will of the lord, without the sufferance of god, as Christ him self comforteth us, saying,1 Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. As though he should say, if god be careful for the sparrows, how much more shall he be careful for you? which are his people and sheep of his pasture, that nothing happen rashly unto you, without his benevolent will. Seeing also that the devil had no power upon swine, much less upon them that are godly, whom he can not hurt at all.2 for so the evangelists write, that the devils prayed Christ, and said, If thou caste us forth,3 suffer us to enter into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Goo ye. They have then no power upon the holy, no truly not on the ⟨image 11⟩swine, except that god shall suffer them, no they dare not, nor can not any thing against them, but by the sufferance of god. for god alone bindeth this dragon, and he alone louseth him, as Christ saith, No man can enter into the house of a strong man,4 and spoil him of his vessel and treasure, oneles he first bind the strong man. For the devil is chained & bound so straitly, that he may do nothing, before that god appoint him,5 as it is written in Job. The lord said to Satan, Lo, all that he hath, are in thy hand, but extend not thy hand upon him. Satan doth nothing, but that, that god suffereth and will. Also all the godly (as the sons of god) are ever in God's presence. For whom the lord ever careth ⟨image 11⟩for, tendering them, nourishing them, keeping and defending them, from all ill. what greater comfort then can there be of faith, as a sure rock, then that the godly are well assured and know, them selves evermore set before the lords eyes, and to be kept under his hand? Can misery oppress thee? can the cross? can sin? can death? can hell? Be assured, that thou art in the presence of god. they shall not prevail, the lord careth for thee, the lords eye is directed toward thee. whom then shalt thou fear, if by faith thou be made the son of god?
¶It is vndoubtedly noo smalle comforte, to be assured, that the crosse is of god, and that we are chastened of god, and not of the dyuell, or els of any wycked man: which vtterly can haue no power vpon vs, not so moch as to moue one heare of our hed, besyde the ⟨image 10⟩wyll of the lorde, without the sufferaunce of god, as Chryste hym selfe comforteth vs, saying,1 Euen the heares of your headde are all nombred. As thoughe he shoulde saye, if god be carefull for the sparowes, how moche more shal he be carefull for you? whiche are his people and shepe of his pasture, that nothyng happen rashely vnto you, without his beneuolente wyll. Seinge also that the dyuell had no power vpon swyne, moch lesse vppon them that are godly, whom he can not hurt at al.2 for so the euāgelistes wryte, that the diuelles prayed Christe, and sayde, If thou caste vs forthe,3 suffer vs to enter into the herde of swyne. And he sayde vnto them, Goo ye. They haue then no power vppon the holye, no trewely not on the ⟨image 11⟩swyne, excepte that god shall suffer them, no they dare not, nor can not any thynge agaynst them, but by the sufferaunce of god. for god alone bindeth this dragon, and he alone louseth him, as Christ saith, No man can enter into the house of a stronge man,4 and spoyle him of his vessell and treasure, oneles he fyrste bynde the stronge man. For the dyuel is chayned & bound so strayghtly, that he may do nothynge, before that god appoynt hym,5 as it is written in Iob. The lorde sayde to Satan, Lo, al that he hath, are in thy hande, but extende not thy hande vppon hym. Satan dothe nothynge, but that, that god suffereth and wyll. Also all the godly (as the sonnes of god) are euer in goddes presence. For whome the lorde euer careth ⟨image 11⟩for, tenderynge them, nuryshyng them, kepynge and defendynge them, from all yll. what greatter comfort then can there be of faith, as a sure rocke, then that the godly ar well assured and know, them selues euermore set before the lordes eyes, and to be kept vnder his hande? Can mysery oppresse the? can the crosse? can sinne? can deth? can hell? Be assured, that thou art in the presence of god. they shall not preuayle, the lorde careth for the, the lordes eye is dyrected towarde the. whom then shalt thou feare, if by faythe thou be made the sonne of god?
- 1Matth. 10.
- 2Matth. 9.
- 3Marc. 5.
- 4Marc. 3.
- 5Job. 1.Iob. 1.
