HERE are we taught, what a christen man must do in temptation, when he seeth him self forsaken of all men, that is, to pray, and not to cease to pray, but to pray in faith, mistrusting nothing,1 for he that mistrusteth, is like the rage of the see, which is carried with the wind, and tossed and driven with violence. Which thing also Christ warned us of,2 saying. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. So like wise Solomon: Son,3 in thy sickness despise ⟨image 20⟩not thy self, but pray to the lord, and he shall heal thee. Thereto god hath also commanded, that we should in tribulation call on him: yea and calleth that invocation or crying on him, a sacrifice, the true and most accepted honour. For so saith the psalm.4 Call to me in the day of thy trouble. And he addeth promises, And I will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour me And he said before in the psalm, that he regarded not the oblations of beasts and such other works, but that he delighteth in this sacrifice. if that we call on him in trouble, and believe, that he will help us: and when we are holpen, to give thanks, and preach his benefit. And so like wise he calleth the hope,5 whereby we tarry his help in affliction, sacrifice. Sacrifice ⟨image 21⟩you the sacrifice of justice, and hope ye in the lord. as though he should say, that hope is a sacrifice, whereby we yield justice to god, that (seeing he hath so promised) he will pluck us out, and deliver us: for so much he is righteous and true. Thou seest then, that christian patience hath ever hope annexed: but that hope beholdeth no creatures, but only the word and promise of god, and holdeth hope against hope, as saith Paul: that is when all creatures fail, and show no help at all, yet is there hope, that god will help. And though he give us not those things, which we would, or by that way or means that we will, yet governeth he so the end, through his wisdom and goodness, that we perish ⟨image 21⟩not, and that our prayers be not spent in vain. Paul teacheth the same in this gradation. Tribulation bringeth patience, when he cometh thither, and teacheth us, that we ought to hold a sure hope in time of trouble, and addeth a promise.6 Hope maketh us never a shamed. We must therefore believe, that we are hard of god, that god will help us, and that we are defended of god. For so the psalms command us to believe and pray.7
HERE are we taughte, what a chrysten man muste doo in temptation, whenne he seeth hym selfe forsaken of al men, that is, to praye, and not to ceasse to praye, but to praye in feyth, mystrusting nothinge,1 for he that mystrusteth, is lyke the raige of the see, whiche is caried with the wynde, and tossed and dryuen with vyolence. Whiche thinge also Chryste warned vs of,2 sayinge. Watche and praye, that ye entre not into temptation. So lyke wyse Salomon: Sonne,3 in thy syckenesse despyse ⟨image 20⟩not thy selfe, but pray to the lorde, and he shal heale the. Therto god hath also commaunded, that we shulde in tribulation call on hym: yea and calleth that inuocation or crying on hym, a sacrifice, the true and mooste accepted honour. For so saythe the psalm.4 Call to me in the day of thy trouble. And he addeth promyses, And I wyll delyuer the, and thou shalt honour me And he sayde before in the psalm, that he regarded not the oblatiōs of beastes and such other workes, but that he delyteth in this sacrifice. if that we cal on hym in trouble, and beleue, that he wyll helpe vs: and when we are holpen, to gyue thankes, and preache his benefyte. And soo lyke wyse he calleth the hope,5 wherby we tary his helpe in affliction, sacrifice. Sacrifice ⟨image 21⟩you the sacrifice of iustice, and hope ye in the lord. as though he shulde say, that hope is a sacrifice, wherby we yelde iustyce to god, that (seinge he hath soo promysed) he wyl plucke vs out, and delyuer vs: for soo moche he is ryghtuouse and true. Thou seest then, that christian pacience hath euer hope annexed: but that hope beholdeth no creatures, but onely the word and promyse of god, and holdeth hope agaynste hope, as sayth Paule: that is when al creatures fayle, and shewe no helpe at all, yet is there hope, that god wyll helpe. And thoughe he gyue vs not those thynges, whiche we wolde, or by that waye or meanes that we wyll, yet gouerneth he so the ende, throughe his wysedome and goodnesse, that we perysshe ⟨image 21⟩not, and that our prayers be not spente in vayne. Paule teacheth the same in this gradation. Tribulation bryngeth pacience, when he commeth thither, and teacheth vs, that we ought to holde a sure hope in tyme of trouble, and addeth a promyse.
- 1Ja. 1.Ia. 1.
- 2Matt. 16.
- 3Eccle. 38.
- 4Psal. 49.
- 5Psal. 4.
- 6Roma. 4.
- 7Psal. 17.
