A Golden Chain

Thirdly, because we believe in God, therefore another duty is, to deny our selves utterly, and to become nothing in our selves. Our Saviour Christ requires of us to become as little children, if we would believe. The beggar depends not on the relief of others, till he find nothing at home: and till our hearts be purged of self-love and pride, we cannot depend on the favour and goodness of God. Therefore he that would trust in God, must first of all be abased and confounded in himself, and in regard of himself be out of all hope of attaining to the least spark of the grace of God.

Thirdly, because wee beleeue in God, therefore another dutie is, to denie our selues vtterly, and to become nothing in our selues. Our Sauiour Christ requires of vs to become as little children, if wee would beleeue. The begger depends not on the releefe of others, till hee finde nothing at home: and till our hearts bee purged of selfe-loue and pride, wee cannot depend on the fauour and goodnesse of God. Therefore hee that would trust in God, must first of all be abased and confounded in himselfe, and in regard of himselfe be out of all hope of attaining to the least sparke of the grace of God.

Fourthly, in that we believe in God, and therefore put our whole trust and assurance in him: we are taught, that every man must commit his body, his soul, goods, life, yea all that he hath into the hands of God, and to his custody. So Paul saith,¹ I am not ashamed of my sufferings, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. A worthy saying: for what is the thing which Paul committed unto the Lord? it was his own soul and the eternal salvation thereof. But what moves him to trust God? surely his persuasion whereby he knew that God would keep it.² And Peter saith: Let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful creator. Look as one friend layeth down a thing to be kept of another, so must a man give that he hath to the custody of God. Few or none can practise this, and therefore when any evil befalls them either in body or in goods, or any other way whatsoever, then they presently show them-selves rather beasts then men in impatience. For in prosperity they had no care to put their trust in God, and therefore in adversity when crosses come, they are void of comfort. But when a man hath grace to believe, and trust in God, then he commits all into Gods hands: and though all the world should perish, yet he would not be dismayed. And undoubtedly if a man will be thankful for the preservation of his goods, or of his life, he must show the same by committing all he hath into God hands, and suffer himself to be ruled by him.