A right comfortable treatise containing fourteen points of consolation for them that labour and…A right comfortable treatise containing fourteene pointes of consolation for them that labor and…

Doth not the example of John Baptist, ¹whose feast we celebrate at this day that he was beheaded of Herod, greatly amaze us all, that so great a man, then whom a greater hath not risen among them that are begotten of women, the special friend of the bridegroom, the forerunner of Christ, greater then all the Prophets, that such a one I say, was not put to death at the least by public judgement, was not at the least accused of some feigned crime, as Christ was, nor for the peoples sake, but at the request of the daughter of an harlot which had danced before Herod, was beheaded in the prison? The ignominious death of this one Saint; and his life so vilely and after so unworthy a sort yielded up into the hands of a most malicious and cruel adulteress, ought to lighten and assuage all our evil. Where was God here, who might see such things? where was Christ, who hearing this, did quite hold his peace? ⟨p. 30⟩He dieth as though he were unknown unto God, men, and all creatures. What do we suffer, wherein, I will not say we may boast, but not at all be troubled, if it be compared to the death of this man? Or where shall we appear, if we will suffer nothing, when as so great men do undeservedly suffer so shameful and ignominious death, and their bodies are mocked and scorned of their enemies after their death? Behold, saith the Lord in Jeremiah, they that men thought were umneete to drink of the cup have drunk with the first, & thinkest thou then to be free? No no, thou shalt neither be quit nor free, but thou must drink also.

Doth not the example of Iohn Baptist, ¹whose feast we celebrate at this day that he was beheaded of Herode, greatly amaze vs all, that so great a man, then whome a greater hath not risen amonge them that are begotten of women, the speciall friend of the bridegrome, ye forerunner of Christ, greater then all the Prophets, that such a one I say, was not put to death at the least by publike iudgement, was not at the least accused of some fayned crime, as Christ was, nor for the peoples sake, but at the request of the daughter of an harlot which had daunced before Herode, was beheaded in the prison? The ignominious death of this one Sainet; and his life so vilely and after so vnworthy a sort yeelded vp into the handes of a moste malitious and cruell adulteresse, ought to lighten and asswage all our euill. Where was God here, who might see such things? where was Christ, who hearing this, did quite hold his peace?