And here is to be noted, that the dangers that man is subject unto in this life, be not alone such as heretofore king David hath made mention of, as sickness, treason, sedition, war, poverty, banishment, and the death of the body: but he felt also (as every man of God shall feel and perceive) that there be greater perils and dangers that man standeth ⟨p. 36⟩in jeopardy of, then these be, by occasion of sin, the mother of all mans adversity.1 Sin bringeth a man into the displeasure and indignation of God, the indignation of God bringeth a man into the hatred of God, the hatred of God bringeth a man into despair and doubtfulness of Gods forgiveness, despair bringeth a man into everlasting pain, and everlasting pain continueth and punisheth the damned creature with fire never to be quenched, with Gods anger & displeasure which can not be reconciled nor pacified. These be the troubles of all troubles, & sorrows of all sorrows, as our saviour Christ declareth in his most heavenly prayer in S. John,2 Non rogo ut tollas eos è mundo, sed ut serues eos à malo. That is to say, I do not (saith Christ to his heavenly father) pray, that thou shouldest take those that I pray for out of the world, but that thou preserve them from evil. And in this prayer he hath wonderfully taught us, that a Christian man is subject to two troubles, one of the body, and an other of the soul, one of the world, and another of the devil. As for the troubles of the world he saith,3 It is not so expedient, that Christian men be delivered from them, least in idleness we should seek our selves, and not God, as the children of Israel did: but this he knew was most necessary, that the father should preserve us in the midst of these troubles with his help, from all sin, & transgression of his holy laws: & this he assured his disciples of, & all other that put their trust in him: not that they should in this life be preserved & kept from troubles and adversities: but that the heavenly father should always give unto his, such strength and virtue against all the enemies of GOD, and mans salvation, that they should not be over come with troubles, that put their trust in him.
And here is to be noted, that the daungers that man is subiect vnto in this life, be not alone such as heretofore king Dauid hath made mention of, as sicknesse, treason, sedition, warre, pouertie, banishment, and the death of the body: but he felt also (as euery man of God shall féele and perceiue) that there be greater perills and daungers that man standeth ⟨p. 36⟩in ieopardie of, then these be, by occasion of sinne, the mother of all mans aduersitie.1 Sinne bringeth a man into the displeasure and indignation of God, the indignation of God bringeth a man into the hatred of God, the hatred of God bringeth a man into despaire and doutfulnesse of Gods forgiuenesse, despaire bringeth a man into euerlasting paine, and euerlasting paine continueth and punisheth the damned creature with fire neuer to be quenched, with Gods anger & displeasure which can not be reconciled nor pacified. These be the troubles of al troubles, & sorrowes of al sorrowes, as our sauiour Christ declareth in his most heauenly prayer in S. Iohn,2 Non rogo vt tollas eos è mundo, sed vt serues eos à malo. That is to say, I do not (saith Christ to his heauenly father) pray, that thou shouldest take those that I pray for out of the worlde, but that thou preserue them from euil. And in this prayer he hath wonderfully taught vs, that a Christian man is subiect to two troubles, one of the body, and an other of the soule, one of the worlde, and another of the diuell. As for the troubles of the world he saith,3 It is not so expedient, that Christian men be deliuered from them, least in idlenesse we should séeke our selues, and not God, as ye children of Israel did: but this he knewe was most necessa••e, that the father should preserue vs in the midst of these troubles with his help, from al sinne, & transgression of his holy lawes: & this he assured his disciples of, & al other that put their trust in him: not that they should in this life be preserued & kept from troubles and aduersities: but that the heauenly father should alwayes giue vnto his, suche strength and vertue against all the enimies of GOD, and mans saluation, that they should not be ouer come with troubles, that put their trust in him.
- 1What sin bringeth a man unto.What sinn bringeth a man vnto.
- 2John. 17.Iohn. 17.
- 3It is not expedient that we be without troubles, least we seek our selves and forget godIt is not expedient that we be without troubles, least we seeke our selues and forget god
