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…

As it is said in Saint Paul to the Corinthians. When I suffer, I suffer not alone, Jesus Christ and all the Christians suffer with me, as God him self saith. He that toucheth you toucheth ⟨p. 52⟩the apple of mine eye. Also the Church doth feel and bear with my burden, their virtue is my virtue, the faith of the Church and congregation doth strengthen my Infidelity. The chastity of the Church doth help to bear with the temptation of my flesh. The prayer of them is watchful for me, and also most necessary. Briefly the members have such care the one for the other, that the most honest do cover the most simple, they do serve them and honour them, as the Apostle doth very well describe to the Corinthians. Now in this case I may glory, that is, in the goodness of other as in mine own proper, and also they be mine own when I am content to communicate with them. Now though I be filthy and wretched, yet those that I love and of whom I am one, be fair and beautiful, by the which love I make not only their goodness mine: but also them selves be made mine, ⟨image 65⟩and therefore under the glory of them my shame shall be covered and beautified, by their abundance: my poverty shall be fulfilled. Who is he then that can despair in his sins? Who is he that will not now rejoice in his afflictions and sufferings? For behold he beareth no more his afflictions and pains, but they do bear with him, he beareth them not alone: but is holpen by a blessed company of the Children of God, and of Jesus Christ him self. Such an excellent thing is it to be of the Communion of the faithful, and of the Church of Jesus Christ. But if there be any that believeth not these things to be thus: he is an Infidel, and doth disallow Jesus Christ and his Church, because he feeleth not these things which be infallible true. But what is the cause that thou fallest not into despair, and that thou art not become utterly unpacient? Is it thy virtue? No truly, but the communion of ⟨p. 52⟩the faithful. For otherwise thou couldest not bear the least sin that is, nor suffer one word of a man spoken against thee. So good is Jesus Christ to thee, and so nigh to thee is he and his Church. This is it that we say, I •eleeve in the holy Ghost & the holy universal congregation or Church. What is it to believe the holy Church universal, but the communion of the holy and faithful?