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…

This benefit is the Church or congregation of the faithful, the new creature of God, our brethren and friends, wherein we see nothing but all goodness and consolation, although we see not this continually with the corporal eyes as we may see in the contrary Image of evils: but with the spiritual eye, and also that those goods, which we see the faithful possess, be not to be rejected: but rather to consider that God doth comfort us in such commodities, For the Psalmist in the. 73. Psalm durst not condemn nor reject those that possessed riches of the world, saith. If I should speak so: I should condemn the generations of thy Children, that is to say. If I should say, that they be all wicked, and that all ⟨p. 51⟩those that be rich, honourable, & healthful, be reprobate: I should condemn thy very servants, of whom there be rich, honourable, & healthful. And also where as Saint Paul exhorteth Timothy to give commandment to the rich of this world that they be not proud, yet he doth not forbid to have riches: and the scriptures showeth that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were rich, and Daniel and his fellows were honoured in Babylon, and also many other kings in Judah were found faithful servants of GOD. The Psalmist casteth his eyes upon these, and saith. If I had so said: I had reproved the generations of thy Children, GOD (I say) giveth abundance of these riches to his people of tentimes, for the relief aswell of them selves as of others, but these goods be not there own proper & effectual goods: but only figures and shadows of the true goods, which be faith, hope, charity and other graces