A declaration of the true manner of knowing Christ crucified

Secondly, the meditation of the Passion of Christ is a most notable means to breed repentance and reformation of life in time to come. For when we begin to think that Christ crucified, by suffering the first and second death, hath procured unto us remission of all our sins past, and freed us from hell, death, and damnation: then, if there be but a spark of grace in us, we begin to be of another mind, and to reason thus with our selves: What? hath the Lord been thus merciful to me, that am in my self but a firebrand of hell, as to free me from deserved destruction and to receive me to favour in Christ? yea, no doubt, he hath, his name be blessed therefore: I will not therefore sin any more as I have done, but ever hereafter endeavour to keep my self from every evil way. And thus faith purifies both heart and life.

Secondly, the meditation of the Passion of Christ is a most notable meanes to breed repentance and reformation of life in time to come. For when wee beginne to thinke that Christ crucified, by suffering the first and second death, hath procured unto vs remission of all our sinns past, and freed vs from hell, death, and damnation: then, if there be but a sparke of grace in vs, we beginne to be of another minde, and to reason thus with our selues: What? hath the Lord beene thus mercifull to me, that am in my selfe but a firebrand of hell, as to free me from deserued destruction and to receiue me to fauour in Christ? yea, no doubt, he hath, his name be blessed therefore: I will not therefore sinne any more as I haue done, but euer hereafter endeauour to keep my selfe from euery euill way. And thus faith purifies both heart and life.

Thirdly, when thou art in any pain of body ⟨p. 21⟩or sickness, think how light these are compared to the agony and bloody sweat, to the crown of thorns and nails of Christ When thou art wronged in word or deed by any man, turn thine eye to the cross, consider how meekly he suffered all abuses for the most part in silence, and prayed for them that crucified him. When thou art tempted with pride or vain-glory, consider how for thy proper sins Christ was despised and mocked and condemned among thieves. When anger and desire of revenge inflame thine heart, think how Christ gave him-self to death to save his enemies, even then when they did most cruelly entreat him, and shed his blood: and by these meditations, specially if they be mingled with faith, thy mind shall be eased.