The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

First in all outward troubles, and in the heaviest trials, thou shalt be pitied in them: though Christ be gone up to heaven, yet he hath his bowels of pity and of mercy with him, and his bowels of mercy in heaven, earn over a poor dismayed creature, that is dismayed either because ⟨p. 295⟩of thy sins, or because of those punishments which thou fearest for sin: Hebrews 4.15. We have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted in like sort: we have not an high Priest that is a stranger to crosses and troubles, neither have we an high Priest like Gallio, that cared nothing for those things, that is, he was not troubled with the persecutions of others: as their cups are full, and they are not troubled with the poverty of others, they are at rest and ease, and they are not troubled with those that are in misery, but he was tempted in all things like unto us: and so Hebrews 2.13. wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful, and a faithful high Priest, because he suffered and was tempted; he is also able to succour those that are tempted. When the poor do cry, oh pity and compassion for the Lords sake: oh you know not what belongs to a hungry belly, nor to a naked back; so I say, you know not what it is to have a distressed conscience, and therefore you have no remorse to them that are such; but you must not think that Christ was not touched with our infirmities: though he sit at the right hand of the Father, yet he hath not forgotten his people, but he hath left his love, and his compassion with us, and he is touched when we are troubled: Paul persecuted the Church, and Christ saith, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? the foot is pricked in earth, and the head complaineth of it in ⟨p. 296⟩Heaven; he felt the rage and malice of Pauls persecutions, though haply poor goodman such a one, and poor goody such a one was persecuted, yet our Saviour was touched and troubled with it: therefore let me tell you how to succour your selves, when you find the wrath of God lie heavy upon you, and the anguish of soul lies sore upon you:

First in all outward troubles, and in the heaviest trials, thou shalt be pittied in them: though Christ be gone up to heaven, yet hee hath his bowels of pitty and of mercy with him, and his bowels of mercy in heaven, earne over a poore dismaid creature, that is dismaid either because