A09935:316
Certain prayers and godly meditations very needful for every ChristenCerteine prayers and godly meditacyons very nedefull for euery Christen
Emprented at Malborow i.e. Antwerp : The year of our Lorde et M.CCCCC.XXXviii. per me Joannem Philoponon i.e. H. Peetersen van Mideelburch?, 1538Emprented at Malborow i.e. Antwerp : The yeare of our Lorde et M.CCCCC.XXXviii. per me Joannem Philoponon i.e. H. Peetersen van Mideelburch?, 1538
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ The third chapter of the third mage / which is the evil that is passed or behind us.
¶ The thirde chapiter of the thyrdey mage / whiche is the euyl that is passed or behind vs.
IN this chiefly / above all other doth the sweet mercy of god our father shine and set forth it self which is able to comfort us in all vexation / and jeopardies. Nether is there any man which feeleth the hand of god more ready with him then when he doth rehearse & meditate the years of his life past. Saint Augustine sayeth / if that the choice were given to a man / that he should other dye or else to live his life passed again / as he hath lived it / that he would chose rather to dye: seeing his great jeopardies & evils which (scarcely and with great peril) he hath escaped which opinion is very true if it be well esteemed. Here he may see how often he hath ⟨image 55⟩done many things with out study and regard / yea clean contrary to his purpose. And hath also suffered many things with out council and provision before they were done and when they were done / in so much that (marvelling with him self) he is compelled to say how are these things come to pass / which I never thought to do but rather contrary. So that the proverb is found very true / man purposeth / & god disposeth / that is to say bringeth to pass other things then man doth purpose. So that by this one text it is more evident then we can deny / that our life and goods are governed by the high and marvellous power / provision / and goodness of god / and not by our own wisdom.
IN thys chiefly / aboue all other doth the swete mercy of god oure father shyne and set forth it selfe whiche is abyll to comforte vs in all veracyon / and ieoperdyes. Nether is there any man whiche fealeth the hand of god more ready with hym then when he doth reherse & meditate the yeares of his lyfe past. Saynt Austine sayeth / yf that the choyse were gyuen to a man / that he shulde other dye or elles to lyue hys life passed agayn / as he hath liued it / that he wolde chose rather to dye: seyng his greate ieoperdies & euilles whice (scarcely and with great peryll) he hath escaped whiche opynyon is verey true if it be well extemed. Here he may se howe often he hath