IN this evil shineth most excellently, and above the others, the great bountifulness ⟨image 21⟩& mercy of God our father, mighty to comfort us in all our anguishes and sorrows. For there is not one of us all, that shall feel the hand of God more presently upon him: then when he calleth to memory the years of his life past. Saint Augustine saith, if the choice were given to a man, to die or to return again, to his first life, he would rather choose the death, seeing so many evils and so great dangers, that he hath passed, and with how great difficulty, and pain. The which sentence is true if it be well considered. For as we may see here, how often times that man without his own endeavour, without any care, yea with out and against his own desire, hath done and suffered many things of which if he had taken counsel before they were done, or that he did take counsel, that after the work being finished, he was constrained and abashed in him self, and to say. Too ⟨p. 9⟩what purpose are these things happened to me? or how are they come to pass, contrary to my intent and thought? or that I have purposed far other wise. So that this proverb is true. Man purposeth and God disposeth. That is to say, he doth it otherwise, and clean contrary to that man hath purposed. So that if we had but only this to behold: we can not deny but our operations, our life and our acts to be governed by the counsel and bountiful puissance of God, & not by our own prudence. Here we may see how often times God hath been with us, when we saw him not, nor felt him, and how veritable it is that Saint Peter hath said. That the merciful God hath care for us all. Wherefore if we had neither books nor preaching, yet our own lives carried and led through so many evils and dangers: would show us sufficiently the divine bountifulness of God is very near us, as ⟨image 22⟩though he had borne and kept us, in his bosom without our deliberation and without any feeling of us in any things, as saith Moses in Deuteronominū. 32 Chap. The Lord hath maī teined and defended him, as the apple of an eye. He hath led him over all, and borne him upon his shoulders. And from thence cometh these exhortations which be contained in the Psalms. I have remembered the days past. I have meditated all thy works, and I have thought upon the works of thy hands.
IN this euell shineth mōste excellently, and aboue the others, the great bountifulnes ⟨image 21⟩& mercy of God our father, mighty to comfort vs in all our anguithes and sorowes. For there is not one of vs all, that shall feele the hand of God more presently vpon him: then when he calleth to memory the yeeres of his life past. Saint Augustine saith, if the choice were geuen to a man, to dy or to returne againe, to his first life, he would rather choose the death, seeing so many euilles and so great daungers, that he hath passed, and with how great difficulty, and pain. The whiche sentence is true if it be well considered. For as we may se heere, how often times that man without his own endeuour, without any care, yea with out and against his own desire, hath doone and suffred many thinges of whiche if he had taken councell before they were done, or that he did take councel, that after the wurk being finished, he was constrained and abasshed in him selfe, and to say. Too ⟨p. 9⟩what purpose are these thinges happened to me? or how are they come to passe, contrary to my entent and thought? or that I haue purposed far other wise. So that this prouerbe is true. Man purposeth and God disposeth. That is to say, he dooth it otherwise, and clean contrary to that mā hath purposed. So that if we had but onely this to beholde: we can not deny but our operations, oure life and our actes to be gouerned by the counsaile and bountifull puissaunce of God, & not by our owne prudence. Heer wee may see how often times God hath bene wt vs, when we saw him not, nor felt him, and how veritable it is that Saīt Peter hath said. That the mercifull God hath care for vs all. Wherefore if wee had nother bookes nor preaching, yet our owne liues caried and led thorow so many euelles and daungers: would shew vs sufficiently the deuine bountifulnes of God is very neer vs, as ⟨image 22⟩though he had borne and kept vs, in his bosome without our deliberation and without any feeling of vs in any thingꝭ, as saith Moises in Deuteronominū. 32 Chap. The Lord hath maī teined and defended him, as the apple of an eye. Hee hath led him ouer all, and borne him vpon his shoulders. And frō thence commeth these exhortations whiche be conteined in the Psalmes. I haue remembred the daies past. I haue meditatid all thy woorkes, and I haue thought vpon the woorkes of thy handes.
