A Golden Chain

After I have thus prepared them, I then demand, whether they have been ever in this case or no? Nay, (say they, for the most part) the time was, when I was in great joy and peace of conscience I served the Lord, then was I an happy person, full of faith, full of hope: But now wretch that I am, I have lost my first love, and there is nothing vexeth me more, then to remember those times past. But say I, whether consideration is more grievous unto thee, the apprehension of Gods judgements, or the dislike of thy self that thou shouldest offend so gracious and so loving a father? Both, say they, but especially the latter. Therefore, say I, sin also displeaseth thee in that it is sin, namely, because it is evil, and God who is goodness it self, is offended with it? It is even as you told us, say they, and I am now ashamed that so vile and wicked a wretch as my self, should come before so gracious and merciful a father. Then I tell them, that no man is offended, but rather is glad, when he can injury one whom he hateth: this they grant, and withal say, God forbid, that albeit the Lord hate me, I in like sort should hate him, unto whom, if it were possible, I would be reconciled again. Then I add this: Be of good comfort, my dear brother, you are in good case. For who can love God, especially when he is wounded by him? who can bewail the loss of his friendship? who can desire to come again into his favour, but he, whom God still loveth although for a time he be angry with him? except peradventure you have not learned thus much, that the knowledge of our salvation cometh not from flesh and blood, but from God himself, who first vouchsafed to instruct us, and from Christ Jesus, manifesting the Father unto us: And that it is Gods ⟨p. 184⟩blessing, that we do love God, who loved us first, when we were his enemies. You have therefore, my good brother, just cause, why you should be greatly displeased with many things past, but there is no cause why you should despair. Briefly, you have inwardly, and, as it were, dwelling with you, evident testimonies of you future reconciliation with God: especially if you cease not to pray unto him earnestly, who hath laid the foundation of repentance in you, to wit, a dislike of sin, and a desire to be reconciled unto him.

After I haue thus prepared them, I then demand, whether they haue beene euer in this case or no? Nay, (say they, for the most part) the time was, when I was in great ioy and peace of conscience I serued the Lord, then was I an happie person, full of faith, full of hope: But now wretch that I am, I haue lost my first loue, and there is nothing vexeth me more, then to remember those times past. But say I, whether consideration is more grieuous vnto thee, the apprehension of Gods iudgements, or the dislike of thy selfe that thou shouldest offend so gratious and so louing a father? Both, say they, but especially the latter. Therefore, say I, sinne also displeaseth thee in that it is sinne, namely, because it is euill, and God who is goodnesse it selfe, is offended with it? It is euen as you tolde vs, say they, and I am now ashamed that so vile and wicked a wretch as my selfe, should come before so gratious and mercifull a father. Then I tell them, that no man is offended, but rather is glad, when he can iniurie one whome hee hateth: this they graunt, and withall say, God forbidde, that albeit the Lord hate me, I in like sort should hate him, vnto whome, if it were possible, I would be reconciled againe. Then I adde this: Bee of good comfort, my deare brother, you are in good case. For who can loue God, especially when he is wounded by him? who can bewaile the losse of his friendshippe? who can desire to come againe into his fauour, but he, whom God still loueth although for a time he be angrie with him? except peraduenture you haue not learned thus much, that the knowledge of our saluation commeth not from flesh and blood, but from God himselfe, who first vouchsafed to instruct vs, and from Christ Iesus, manifesting the Father vnto vs: And that it is Gods