A treatise co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of true & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…A treatice co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of trew & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…

¶ The .i. Chapter of the first considerat on which is the inward evil

¶ The .i. Chapiter of the first considerat on whiche is the inwatd euil

IT is a thing certain and most true, (whether man giveth credit thereto or not) that there cannot be in a man a greater torment or unquietness more miserable then the evils with in himself, which be so many & so great, above that he doth either feel or perceive. For if he did taste or feel them: he should feel Hell. For in a certain manner, a man hath Hell within himself. The question is, how or by what means, the Prophet saith all men are liars? and again. The living man is but vanity. Now to be a liar and vain: is to be void of the trueth, and of the perfect substance. And to be without trueth and perfection: is to be without God and to be lost. And what is that but to be in Hell and damned? And for ⟨image 14⟩this cause God doth chastise us benignly and meekly, discovering unto us the least evils, and chargeth us but with the lightest, knowing that if he brought a man to the full knowledge of his sin and evil: he should perish in a moment, and to sum he permitteth and giveth to feel it. Of whom it is said. He leadeth to hell, and bringeth out again. Wherefore these which call corporal tribulation a certain advertisement of the inward evil, say well. And the apostle to the Hebrews calleth them Fatherly corrections of God, seeing he chastiseth all the children that he receiveth and doth this to the end, that by his loving corrections of light evils: he putteth back the great and he•y evils that we never feel them, as it is said. Folly sticketh in the hart of the Child, but the rod of correction driveth it away. The Parents truly loving their Children be more grieved with them if they be thieves or of a wicked ⟨p. 2⟩life: then if they were woun•ed or hurt in body. Yea they do ra•her beat them and punish them them elues, that they should not become icked. What letteth them that the depth of evil & misery is not felt? That is s I have said, by the disposition of God. That man should not fall, in seeing nd feeling his secret evils. For God shadoweth them, willing that hey should be looked upon by Faith, when he openeth them by sum sensible evil, and therefore in the day of uils or tribulation, be mindful of the prosperous or good days. And remember what a benefit it is, not to eele all the evils and sins. Be mindful of this benefit: and thn shalt be less tormented, with the present sensible evil. Also the contrary. In the day of prosperity: