Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of…Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of…

Of this adversity and anguish of the soul,¹ we may learn many things: First, that as long as sin appeareth not, nor is felt, the mind of man is quiet, jocund, and pleasant: and the mirth and pleasure of the mind rejoiceth the body, and maketh it lusty and pleasant: not feeling at all the breach of Gods commandments,² neither passing any thing at all of sin,³ nor evil conversation: but rather delighting in things that displease God,⁴ then in any virtue or honesty. But when trouble, sickness, or death cometh,⁵ then most commonly, though men see not the horror of their sins to repent: yet feel they the horror thereof to desperation: and that once felt in the soul, all the joys of the world can not comfort the troubled person. As Adam with all the solace of Paradise could not rejoice, when his soul felt the abomination of his offence towards God. Cain could never pluck up merry countenance for the cruel killing of his brother Abel.⁶ Peter could not stint weeping for his denial of Christ,⁷ until Christ looked upon him.⁸ Mary Magdalene could not put up her head from under the table,⁹ for shame of her sin,¹⁰ until Christ had forgiven her: nor the poor woman that was taken in adultery, until her offences were pardoned. Neither yet ⟨p. 94⟩could this Prophets spirit take any consolation,