Phile. That God being faithfully called upon, will help in the time of sickness: we have many examples in the holy scriptures, which may worthily comfort us & stir up our faith toward God, looking for help at his most merciful hand. But for this present, let this one example of king Hezekiah suffice,1 whom being appointed to die, after he had called ⟨p. 117⟩•n the name of the Lord, the lord our God graciously heard his request, restored him to his health, & gave him .xv. years mo to live in this world after that his sickness. Notwithstanding, brother Epaphroditus, all be it we doubt not but that you praying unto God in this your sickness, God will mercifully hear you, and work that in you which shall be most unto his glory: and the health of your soul, yet forasmuch as you know not what is most expedient for you, be content in all your prayers to submit your will do the good will of God, which without all doubt tendereth the health of your soul more than any mortal friend tendereth the health of your body. In all temporal & worldly things, that you crave of God in your prayers, prefer the will of God unto your own will, and be content ⟨p. 118⟩to receive at the hand of God, as shall be his godly pleasure to appoint. For whether we live or die,2 we are the Lords. An example hereof have you of our saviour Christ,3 which a little before his passion, being greatly dismayed with the terrors and fears of death, prayed unto his heavenly father, that these bitter pains and torments, which were at hand for him to suffer, might be removed from him, so that he might not suffer them, but be free from them. Notwithstanding knowing that the will of his heavenly father is ever best and most perfect, and that all wills of men ought t• give place unto his godly will, h• wished rather the will of God t• be done, then the will of him be•yng man, and so submitted hy•• self to Gods holy will, being contented to suffer in his body, wha•soever ⟨p. 119⟩should be his godly pleasure to appoint. The words of Christs prayer in this behalf, are these:4 O my father, if it be possible, let this cup depart from me, notwithstanding not as I will, but as thou wilt. Again, O my father, if this cup can not go from me, but that I must drink it, thy will be done.
Phile. That God being faithfully called vpon, wyll helpe in the time of sicknesse: we haue many examples in the holy scriptures, whiche may worthely comfort vs & stir vp our faith toward God, lokyng for helpe at his most mercifull hand. But for this present, let this one example of kyng Ezechias suffice,1 whome being apoynted to die, after he had called ⟨p. 117⟩•n the name of the Lord, the lord our God graciously heard his request, restored him to his health, & gaue him .xv. yeares mo to liue in this world after that his sicknes. Notwithstanding, brother Epaphroditus, all be it we doubt not but that you praying vnto God in this your sicknes, God wil mercifully heare you, and worke that in you whiche shall be moste vnto his glory: and the health of your soule, yet forasmuch as you know not what is most expediēt for you, be content in all your prayers to submit your will do the good will of God, whiche without all doubt tendereth the health of your soule more than any mortall frend tendereth the healthe of your body. In al temporal & worldly things, that you craue of God in your praiers, prefer the wil of God vnto your owne will, and be content ⟨p. 118⟩to receiue at the hand of God, as shall be his godly pleasure to appoynte. For whether we lyue or die,2 we are the Lordes. An example hereof haue you of our sauiour Christe,3 whiche a little before his passion, being greatly dismaid wt the terrours and feares of death, praied vnto his heauenly father, that these bitter paynes and tormentes, whiche were at hand for him to suffer, myght be remoued from hym, so that he myght not suffer them, but be fre from them. Notwithstanding knowing that the will of his heauenly father is euer best and moste perfecte, and that all willes of men oughte t• geue place vnto his godly will, h• wyshed rather the will of God t• be done, then the wyll of hym be•yng man, and so submitted hy•• selfe to Gods holy wil, being con•tented to suffer in his body, wha•soeuer
- 1iiii. Reg. xx.
- 2Rom. xiiii.
- 3Math. xxvi. Mark. xiiii. Luk. xxii.
- 4Math. xxvi.
