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…

Here let us set before our eyes, the great number of the wicked adversaries, and consider first in them how many evils, miseries, and shrewd turns they would have done unto us, and yet have not, neither to our bodies, goods, renown, nor our souls, the which they would have done but that the permission of God would not suffer them. And the greater that one hath his estate spread forth, and set in high degree: so much the more is he subject to escarmisshes, conspirations, deceits, detractions, and temptations of enemies, so that in all things we may know and perceive, the present hand of God, and his favourable kindness toward us. Is it then marvel, if we be then sometime stricken and scourged with one of these evils? Also ⟨p. 15⟩let us consider their evil purpose and ententes, and lament and pity them, for they be commonly given •p, and subject to all evils, even as •e be, as is to be seen here before, not withstanding they be in this case much more miserable then we, that is to wit, without the society and brotherly fellowship of the Church, as well corporal as spiritual. And these evils that we do suffer, is nothing in comparison of that they be in. In sin, infidelity, under the wrath of God, under the power of the devil, bond slaves, accursed, full of iniquity & sin, so that if all the world should curse them, it could not be said, to be more execrable & horrible, which if we consider well all these things as appertaineth: we shall see by and by, how great is the benignity of God, we suffering a certain little incommodity or evil of our bodies, being in faith in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, under the most blessed yoke of God, that which ⟨image 28⟩incommodity we can not scarcely perceive, so great is the abundance of the true good things. But the christian and faithful hart, ought to be moved and grieved with the misery of others, esteeming their anguishes to be his own. For as Saint Paul, in the .2. to the Philippians, commandeth us to do likewise saying. Let none of you look upon the things that be his own, but of others. Let there be such affection in you as was in Jesus Christ, which although he were in the form of God: nevertheless hath taken the shape of a servant. &c.

HEere let vs set before our eyes, the great numbre of the wicked aduersaries, and consider first in them how many euelles, miseries, and shreud turnes they would haue doone vnto vs, and yet haue not, neither to our bodies, goodes, renoum, nor our soules, the whiche they would haue doone but that the permission of God would not suffer them. And the greater that one hathe his estate spred forth, and set in hy degree: somuche the more is hee subiect to escarmisshes, conspirations, deceiptes, detractions, and temptations of ennemies, so that in all thinges we may know and perceiue, the present hand of God, and his fauourable kindnes toward vs. Is it then meruail, if we be then sumtime striken and scourged with one of these euelles? Also