The consideration of this good is easy, by the contrary consideration of the evil past, we think it sufficient only to help him that shall consider hereof. 1Herein B. Augustin doth excellently well in his confessions, where in a most goodly sort he rehearseth the benefits of God bestowed upon him from his mothers womb. The same doth David in that notable 138. Psalm, the beginning whereof is: O Lord, thou hast tried me, where among other things wondering at the providence of God over him, he saith: Thou understandest my thoughts long before: thou compassest my paths & my lying down. As if he said: Whatsoever I have ever thought, whatsoever I have wrought, and whatsoever I was to obtain or possess, I see now, how it was not done by mine own industry, but ordained by thy care long before. Finally thou hast foreseen all my ways: and there is not a word in my tongue, where then? even in thy power. These things we learn by ⟨p. 57⟩our own experience. For if we call to mind our life past, is it not a wonderful thing that we have thought, willed, done, and said such things, as we never could foresee, but would have done far other things, if we had been left to our own free will, which we now first perceive, namely we see that the hand of God hath been so present with us, that his care hath been so constant over us, that we could neither have spoken, neither willed nor thought those things which we have, unless he had given ability, as it is said in the book of wisdom chap. 7: In his hand are both we and our words. And Paul saith: who worketh all things in us. Why then are we not ashamed being senseless and hard hearted, who being taught by our own experience, do see how careful the Lord hath been for us until this hour, and hath given us all good things? and yet we can not commit the same care of us to him in a small present evil, but we so behave our selves, as though he had forsaken us, or could by any means forsake us. David did not so in the 39. Psalm, where he sayeth: As for me, […] ⟨p. 60⟩him. For we see this most manifestly appear unto us commonly in all infants, so that so many examples let forth to our folly & hardness, ought worthily to make us greatly ashamed, if we doubt that even the least good or evil cometh unto us without the singular care of God. 2Blessed Peter saith: Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you.
THe consideration of this good is easie, by the contrary consideration of the euil past, we thinke it sufficient only to help him that shal cōsider hereof. 1Herein B. Augustin doth excellently well in his confessions, where in a most goodly sort he rehearseth ye benefits of God bestowed vpon him from his mothers wombe. The same doth Dauid in that notable 138. Psalme, ye beginning wherof is: O Lord, thou hast tried me, where among other things wondering at ye prouidence of God ouer him, he sayth: Thou vnderstandest my thoughts long before: thou compassest my paths & my lying downe. As if he sayd: Whatsoeuer I haue euer thought, whatsoeuer I haue wrought, and whatsoeuer I was to obtayne or possesse, I see now, how it was not done by mine owne industry, but ordained by thy care long before. Finally thou hast foreseene all my wayes: and there is not a word in my tongue, where then? euen in thy power. These thinges we learne by ⟨p. 57⟩our owne experience. For if we call to minde our life past, is it not a wonderful thinge that we haue thought, willed, done, and sayd such thinges, as we neuer coulde foresee, but would haue done farre other thinges, if we had bene left to our owne free will, which we nowe first perceiue, namely we see that the hande of God hath bene so present with vs, that his care hath bene so constant ouer vs, that we could neither haue spoken, neither willed nor thought those thinges which we haue, vnles he had giuē abilitie, as it is sayd in the booke of wisedom chap. 7: In his hande are both we and our wordes. And Paule saythe: who worketh all thinges in vs. Why then are we not ashamed being senslesse and hard harted, who being taught by our owne experience, doe see howe careful the Lorde hathe bene for vs vntill this howre, and hath giuen vs all good things? and yet we can not committe the same care of vs to him in a small present euill, but we so behaue our selues, as thoughe he had forsaken vs, or coulde by any meanes forsake vs. Dauid did not so in the 39. Psalme, where he sayeth: As for me, 〈…〉 ⟨p. 60⟩him. For we see this most manifestly appeare vnto vs commonly in all infantes, so that so many examples let forth to our folly & hardues, ought worthely to make vs greatly ashamed, if we dout that euen the least good or euill commeth vnto vs without the singular care of God. 2Blessed Peter sayth: Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you.
- 1We are moved to the consideration of the good past, that is of Gods goodness bestowed upon us heretofore, and to take con fort thereby, by the examples of Augustin David, and by our own experience.VVe are moued to the consideration of the good past, that is of Gods goodnes bestowed vpon vs heretofore, and to take cō fort thereby, by the examples of Augustin Dauid, and by our own experience.
- 2We must cast our care on God for that he careth for us.VVe must cast our care on God for that he careth for vs.
