OF THEM which suffer for their evil deeds,1 Peter speaketh, saying: what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? And again.2 See that none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a these, or as an evil doer, or a busy body in other mens matters. But if it chance so, that we must suffer for an evil deed done of us, the deserved punishment may be an holy suffering, no less pleasant to god, than the suffering of the innocent martyrs. For if the evil doer confess his sin before god, and believe that his sin is forgiven, through Jesus Christ: then by Jesus Christ it is brought to ⟨image 101⟩pass, that the deserved punishment is sanctified, to obtain the crown of everlasting glory: was not the these, hanging on the cross upon the one side of Christ, sanctified in his punishment,3 as soon as he acknowledged his sin, and through faith commended his health to Christ? Was it not said also to him, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise? Neither is it marvel, that evil doers through faith, can in their deserved punishments, be sanctified as innocent martyrs. For as the martyrs in their suffering do testify and witness Christ and the gospel, so evil doers in their punishment, do testify and witness the law of god, and be examples to other, that they avoid evil deeds, lest they be punished in like ⟨image 101⟩manner. To be an example, that mischievous deeds be avoided, is it not a work of holiness? Therefore whether a man do suffer justly or unjustly, let him believe in Jesus Christ, and his suffering shall cause him to obtain of the lord a garland that never shall wither away. Therefore no man ought to despair.4 For Christ hath given him self a redemption for all. There is one god, and one mediator of god and man, namely the man Christ Jesus, which gave him self a ransom for all men. Behold, he saith for all. Therefore also, He will,5 that all return to repentance. And he saith,6 I came not to call the just, but sinners, of whom he would be borne. Judah, David,7 Manasseh, Tamar, Rachab, and Bathsheba be examples. Therefore he commandeth ⟨image 102⟩the gospel to be preached to every creature.8 He will not the death of a sinner, but the health of all men. So he calleth all to him which be burdened.9 So he received to him zach. Magdalene, Peter, Matthei, the woman of Canaan.10 So he received to favour the these.
OF THEM whiche suffer for theyr euyll dedes,1 Peter speketh, sayinge: what prayse is it, if whan ye be buffeted for your fautes, ye take it pacientely? And agayne.2 Se that none of you suffer as a murtherer, or as a thefe, or as an yuell doer, or a busy body in other mennes matters. But if it chaunce so, that we must suffer for an euyll dede doone of vs, the deserued punishemente maye be an holy sufferynge, no lesse pleasaunt to god, than the sufferynge of the innocent martyrs. For if the euyll doer confesse his synne before god, and beleue that his synne is forgiuen, throughe Iesu Christe: then by Iesu Christe it is broughte to ⟨image 101⟩passe, that the deserued punysshement is sanctified, to obteyne the crowne of euerlastyng glory: was not the thefe, hāging on the crosse vpon the one syde of Chrst, sanctified in his punishement,3 as soone as he aknowleged his synne, and throughe faythe commended his helthe to Christe? Was it not sayd also to hym, This daye thou shalt be with me in Paradise? Neyther is it meruayle, that euyll dooers throughe faythe, can in theyr deserued punishementes, be sanctified as innocent martyrs. For as the martyrs in theyr sufferynge do testifie and witnesse Christ and the gospell, so euyll doers in theyr punishment, do testifie and wytnesse the lawe of god, and be examples to other, that they auoyde euyll dedes, lest they be punished in like ⟨image 101⟩maner. To be an example, that mischeuouse dedes be auoyded, is it not a worke of holynesse? Therfore whether a man do suffer iustly or vniustely, let hym beleue in Iesu Christe, and his sufferynge shal cause hym to opteyne of the lord a garland that neuer shal wyther away. Therfore no man oughte to dispeire.4 For Christe hath gyuen hym selfe a redētion for al. There is one god, and oone mediator of god and man, namely the manne Christ Iesu, which gaue him selfe a ransome for all men. Beholde, he sayth for al. Therfore also, He wil,5 that all retourne to repentaunce. And he saith,6 I came not to cal the iuste, but synners, of whō he wold be borne. Iuda, Dauid,
- 11. Pet. 2.
- 21. Pet. 4.
- 3Luce. 22.
- 41. Tim. 2.
- 52. Pet. 3.
- 6Luc. 5.
- 7Matth. 1.
- 8Ezec. 18.
- 9Matt. 11. Luc. 19.
- 10Matth. 5. Matt. 27.
