Because the wicked men prosper so well in this world: the people of God conform, and apply them selves to do as they do, and frame their lives and manners, unto the rule and fashion of such wicked people as prosper. And they suck and draw into their minds, the wicked mens opinions and conversations: and so replenish themselves with iniquity, as the thirsty man doth replenish himself with water. And when the people see the best part turn unto the manners of the worst, and be as evil or worse then the worst: they muse and think whether there be any God, or knowledge in God, that suffereth these abominations. And not only the common people (saith the prophet Asaphe,) stood in a mammering whether God took any heed or cared for the world, seeing that wicked men did so prosper, and the godlier sort so vexed: but I may self also considering these things with my self, fell into such madness and error of judgement, that I had done evil so to apply my self to virtuous and godly life: seeing I was vexed and turmoiled with continual ⟨image 69⟩miseries, & seeing that there was never a day, that did not bring her cross and trouble to the servants of God, and virtuous people. These things (saith the prophet,) fondly and foolishly I spake to my self many times: but when I weighed the thing with more judgement, and considered the matter more deeply with my self, I thought, If I thus judge and speak of God, do I not improve, reprehend, and condemn the life, conversation, and labours of all godly men? The which will not be drawn nor enticed from godly life, and the love of virtue by no misadventures, nor afflictions in this world: neither do they judge that they have studied, and followed godliness in vain, whatsoever trouble hath happened to them in this world. And therefore, when I assayed to compass the cause, and verity of these things: the greatness thereof brought me into much fear, and carefulness. And further I perceived, that I could not come to the knowledge of these things, except the Almighty God would reveal, and open unto me the mysteries and secretes of his providence, and wisdom: that I might see, and understand, what end and outgoing these wicked men should have, that with most abomination and blasphemy in this life had most felicity, and pleasure.
Because the wicked men prosper so well in this world: the people of God conforme, and applie them selues to do as they doe, and frame their liues and manners, vnto the rule and fashion of such wicked people as prosper. And they sucke and drawe into their mindes, the wicked mens opinions and conuersations: and so replenish themselues with iniquitie, as the thirstie man doth replenish himselfe with water. And when the people sée the best part turne vnto the manners of the worst, and be as euill or worse then the worst: they muse and thincke whether there be any God, or knowledge in God, that suffereth these abhominations. And not onely the common people (saith the prophet Asaphe,) stoode in a mamering whether God tooke any héede or cared for the world, séeing that wicked men did so prosper, and the godlier sorte so vexed: but I may selfe also considering these things with my selfe, fell into such madnesse and error of iudgement, that I had done euill so to applie my selfe to vertuous and godly life: séeing I was vexed and turmoyled with continuall ⟨image 69⟩miseries, & séeing that there was neuer a day, that did not bring her crosse and trouble to the seruaunts of God, and vertuous people. These thinges (saith the prophet,) fondly and foolishly I spake to my selfe many times: but when I weighed the thing with more iudgement, and considered the matter more déepely with my selfe, I thought, If I thus iudge and speake of God, doe I not improue, reprehende, and condemne the life, conuersation, and labours of all godly men? The which will not be drawen nor inticed from godly life, and the loue of vertue by no misaduentures, nor afflictions in this world: neither doe they iudge that they haue studied, and followed godlinesse in vaine, whatsoeuer trouble hath happened to them in this world. And therfore, when I assayed to compasse the cause, and veritie of these thinges: the greatnesse thereof brought me into much feare, and carefulnesse. And further I perceiued, that I could not come to the knowledge of these thinges, except the Almightie God would reueale, and open vnto me the mysteries and secretes of his prouidence, and wisedome: that I might sée, and vnderstand, what ende and outgoing these wicked men should haue, that with most abhomination and blasphemie in this life had most felicitie, and pleasure.
