1Wherefore it is most certain, that when a Christian hath begun to believe, by and by tentation and persecution will assail him. Which if it come not to pass, it is a sign that his faith is not yet sound, and that he hath not as yet truly received the Gospel. For wicked Satan hath a very sharp sight, he by and by spieth out where is a true Christian, wherefore he applieth himself wholly unto this, that he may enforce him to fall, and may besiege him, and assail him on every side: for he can not suffer that any should revolt from his kingdom. It is perilous therefore for a man to believe, for the Devil is ready that he may set upon him, and overthrow him, which sometime chanceth even to very holy men, which understand the word of God well,2 when they stand upright, and think themselves safe, that privy wicked fend cometh upon them by little and little, and wrestleth with them so long, till he overthrow them, and cast them to the earth. Set before thine eyes Moses and Aaron, who were guides of the Jews, they had an excellent faith, when they brought the people out of Egypt, and all the people in faith passed through the read sea, death, the wide wilderness, and many other marvellous things, whereby they showed their faith, but at the last they fall grievously, they fear that ⟨p. 409⟩they shall perish with hunger. Is it not a thing most miserable, that by so great signs they show their faith, they go into death and through death, wrestle with it, and overcome it, and yet while they think them selves surest, they fall, and suffer themselves to be overcome of the belly, murmur against God, and are so grievously tempted, that they fall all together. Wherefore it is not certain and sure, if one begin to believe, and doth not always more and more increase in faith. Yea that godly man Moses, who had so great and so strong a faith, did fall also, when as he should bring water out of the rock with a staff, he doubted, and talked thus to the people: Come let us see whether we can bring water out of the rock. That good Moses, which had showed so many and so great signs, falleth into reason and carnal understanding, fearing lest the incredulity of the people would hinder so great a miracle & sign. But it had behoved him to cleave fast to the word of God, and to think it higher, greater, stronger, and mightier, then the unbelief of the people:
1Wherefore it is most certaine, that when a Christian hath begon to beleeue, by and by tentation and persecution will assaile him. Which if it come not to passe, it is a signe that his faith is not yet sound, and that he hath not as yet truly receiued the Gospell. For wicked Satan hath a verie sharpe sight, he by and by spieth out where is a true Christian, wherefore he applieth himselfe wholy vnto this, that he may enforce him to fall, and may besiege him, and assaile him on euerie side: for he can not suffer that any should reuolt from his kingdome. It is perilous therefore for a man to beleeue, for the Deuill is ready that he may set vpon him, and ouerthrowe him, which sometime chaunceth euen to verie holy men, which vnderstand the word of God well,2 when they stand vpright, and thinke themselues safe, that priuie wicked fende commeth vpon them by litle and litle, and wrastleth with them so longe, till he ouerthrow them, and cast them to the earth. Set before thine eyes Moses and Aaron, who were guides of the Iewes, they had an excellent fayth, when they brought the people out of Egypt, and all the people in fayth passed through the redde sea, death, the wide wildernes, and many other meruelous thinges, whereby they shewed their fayth, but at the last they fall grieuously, they feare that ⟨p. 409⟩they shall perish with hunger. Is it not a thinge most miserable, that by so great signes they shew their faith, they goe into death and through death, wrastle with it, and ouercome it, and yet while they thinke them selues surest, they fal, and suffer themselues to be ouercome of the belly, murmure against God, and are so grieuously tempted, that they fall all togither. Wherefore it is not certaine and sure, if one begin to beleue, and doth not alwayes more and more increase in faith. Yea that godly man Moses, who had so great and so strong a faith, did fall also, when as he should bring water out of the rocke with a staffe, he douted, and talked thus to the people: Come let vs see whether we can bring water out of the rocke. That good Moses, which had shewed so many and so great signes, falleth into reason and carnall vnderstanding, fearing lest the incredulitie of the people would hinder so great a miracle & signe. But it had behoued him to cleaue fast to the word of God, and to thinke it higher, greater, stronger, and mightier, then the vnbeleefe of the people:
- 1True Christians are not free from ten tatiō, for the devil bendeth his force especially against them.True Christians are not free from tē tatiō, for the deuel bēdeth his force especially against them.
- 2The Saints of God do sometimes fall even grievously.The Saincts of God doe sometimes fall euē grieuously.
