A01278:3
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.
Londini : 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
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, AND HIS singular good lord and master, Lord Thomas Cromwell, Lord Privy seal, Richard Tracy desireth and wisheth bodily prosperous health, and to the soul eternal life and felicity.
TO THE RYGHT HONORABLE, AND HIS syngular good lorde and mayster, Lord Thomas Crumwel, Lorde Priuy seale, Rycharde Tracy desyreth and wysheth bodely prosperous helth, and to the soule eternall lyfe and felycitie.
WHEN I consider the weak frailty of man, and how naturally we be subject to many troubles, adversities, and temptations, as well of the body as of the soul, and also when I call to my remembrance the words of Christ, spoken to his elect,1 That in this world they should suffer persecution and oppression, and likewise the saying of the apostle Paul,2 That all they ⟨image 3⟩which will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution: I think surely, that every christen man doth expect Christs promises, and constantly believeth, that the scriptures shall be fulfilled and found true. Wherefore seeing there is no evasion nor mean, to escape the adversities, temptations, and cross, which god shall lay on the shoulders of his elect, and nature is so inconstant, frail, and weak, that of our own might and power we are not able to resist, nor can not willingly and patiently sustain and bear such adversities, and cross, it behoveth every christen man, to search out and provide some godly consolation and remedy to comfort and make strong his mind, that he may patiently suffer all tribulation, all temptation,