Of the preparation to the cross, and to death and of the comfort under…Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder…
Of the preparation to the cross, and to death and of the comfort under the cross and death, two books very fruitful for devout people to read, translated from latin to english, by Richard Tracy.Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy.
John Frith 1503–1533Londini : In ædibus Thomæ Bertheleti typis impress. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno. M.D.XL. 1540Londini : In ædibus Thomæ Bertheleti typis impress. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno. M.D.XL. 1540
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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
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.
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,
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,7 Manasse, Thamar, Rachab, and Batseba be examples. Therfore he commaundeth ⟨image 102⟩the gospell to be preached to euery creature.8 He wyl not the death of a synner, but the helth of al men. So he calleth al to him whiche be burdened.9 So he receyued to hym zache. Maudelyn, Peter, Matthei, the woman of Cananee.10 So he receyued to fauour the thefe.
Also he appeared after his resurrection to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had expelled seven devils.1 He admitteth and receiveth Thomas the hard believer. He converteth Saul being a persecutor most grievous.2 Briefly he refuseth no man, he receiveth all that repent, with a fatherly mind. He showeth mercy, he taketh the repentant to his son. Therefore he commandeth to pray,3 Let thy kingdom come, forgive us our trespasses.4 Also, what so ever ⟨image 102⟩ye pray the father in my name, it shall be given you. Ask,5 and it shall be given you: knock: and it shall be opened unto you.
Also he apered after his resurrection to Mary Maudelyne, out of whom he had expelled seuē dyuelles.1 He admytteth and receiueth Thomas the harde beleuer. He conuerteth Saul beyng a persecutour moste greuouse.2 Brefely he refuseth no man, he receyueth all that repente, with a fatherlye mynde. He sheweth mercye, he taketh the repentaunte to his sonne. Therfore he commandeth to pray,3 Let thy kyngdome come, forgyue vs our trespases.4 Also, what so euer ⟨image 102⟩ye pray the father in my name, it shall be gyuen you. Aske,5 and it shal be gyuen you: knocke: and it shall be opened vnto you.
WE are strangers before thee,1 as were all our fathers. Our days be as it were a shadow upon the earth, and here is none abiding. ¶The life of man is a warfare upon the earth: and his days,2 as the days of a hired servant.
VVE are strangers before the,1 as were all our fathers. Our days be as it were a shadowe vpō the erth, and here is none abiding. ¶The lyfe of man is a warfare vpon the erthe: and his days,2 as the dayes of a hired seruaunt.
¶A man borne of a woman,1 living a short time, is replenished with much misery. He cometh forth like a flower, and goeth away like a shadow, and never remaineth in one estate.
¶A man borne of a woman,1 lyuynge a short tyme, is replenished with moche mysery. He commeth forth lyke a flower, and goth away lyke a shadowe, and neuer remayneth in one estate.
1¶Our years passen away as a cop web, the days of our age be three score and ten, or in the chefest four score years, and the most part of these, is labour and pain.
1¶Our yeres passen awaye as a cop webbe, the dayes of our age be three score and ten, or in the chefest foure score yeres, and the mooste part of these, is labour and peyne.
