The fortress of the faithful against [the] cruel assaults of poverty and hunger newly…The fortresse of the faythfull agaynst [ye] cruel assautes of pouertie and honger newlye…

Philemon. Well neighbours, to knit up our talk ⟨image 90⟩with few words, ye have heard how beneficial God is to them that put their trust in him, and live according to their vocation: so that those that be faithful need not to despair of comfort, seem the scarceness of things so great, that it bringeth present death almost with it. For in that dearth and penury, the faithful man that casteth his care on God, and hangeth wholly on his fatherly providence,¹ may well say with the Psalmograph. If I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of any evil, for thou art with me. God is ever present with his people in all their tribulation,² & he will undoubtedly deliver them, & save them harmless. This now remaineth, that when ye come among the poor needy Christians, ye comfort them with these sweet scriptures that ye have ⟨image 91⟩heard, which without all doubt shall greatly stir and quiet their minds, and refrain them from attempting any unlawful redress of things after this. Again, according to your ability, relieve their poverty with your riches. Exhort your rich neighbours likewise to be beneficial to the poor, as the faithful stewards of God, remembering that unto that end god hath endued them with their possessions. Pray unto god that he may give unto the covetous worldlings, a merciful and liberal heart, that after this they may no less willingly seek the profit of their neighbours, then hitherto they have sought their own private lucre, and singular commodity. To conclude, pray unto god, that every one of us may so live, and so frame our life according to his will, that he may vouchsafe ⟨image 91⟩to bless us, and send us necessaries for our living, that we may the more freely, and with the more quiet minds, serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.³ Well neighbours, I pray you take the pains to come into the parlour with me. Ye shall take your part of such homely fare as I have. And I pray yon be no strangers: The oftener ye come the more welcome shall you be.