A09935:487
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.
he is a great thing that I desire o Lord Jow be it sith thou art god a great Lord / and king over all gods / he doth the injury which asketh small things of thee. All transitory and corruptible things are but small in thy sight: but spiritual & everlasting things are great / and precious. Take away the spirit / and soul from the body / and what remaineth but most vile dung dust & a vain shadow therefore even so much difference is between the spirit and the body / as is between the ⟨image 121⟩body & his shadow / so may I conclude that he which asketh bodily things asketh but vain trifles but he that desireth spiritual things doth surely desire great things / but specially he that desireth thy saving health / what is thy saving health but Jesus thy son? which is very god / & everlasting life / why shall I not then ask of the this thy saviour / sith thou art almighty and most liberal father / which gavest him unto the death of the cross for me. Now sith thou hast so offered him for me / why should I be ashamed to ask him of thee? It is a great and noble present nether am I worthy to have such a gift how be it it becometh thy worthy liberality to give such noble gifts / for this therefore thine ineffable gentleness I dare presume to come boldly unto thee and to desire thy saving health in whom I might fully rejoice. For if of his carnal father any son ask fish / will he teach him a serpent. And if he ask an egg / will he give him a scorpion? or if he ask breed / will he give him a stone? Now if carnal fathers being evil and sinners / will give unto their childer good gifts which they have received ⟨image 122⟩of thee: how much more thou heavenly father which of thine own substance art good / wilt give a good spirit to them that desire it of thee? Behold thy son which is returned from a far country sorrowing and repenting / asketh of the the fish of faith / for as the fish lieth secrete under the water / even so is faith of such things as are not seen / he asketh I say a true faith that he may rejoice in thy saving health: wilt thou reach him a serpent?
he is a greate thinge that I desyre o Lorde Iow be it sith thou arte god a greate Lorde / and kynge ouer all goddes / he doth the iniurye which asketh small thinges of the. All transitorye and corruptible thinges are but small in thy syght: but spyrytuall & euerlastynge thinges are greate / and precyous. Take awaye the sprete / and soule from the bodye / and what remayneth but most vyle dounge dust & a vayne shadowe therfore euē so moch difference is betwene the sprete and the bodye / as is betwene the ⟨image 121⟩bodye & his shadowe / so maye I conclude that he which asketh bodelye thynges asketh but vayne tryfles but he that desyreth spyrituall thynges doth surelye desyre great thinges / but speciallye he that desyreth thy sauinge helthe / what is thy sauīge helth but Iesus thy sonne? which is verye god / & euerlastinge liffe / why shall I not then aske of the this thy sauyoure / sith thou arte amyghtye and most liberall father / whych gauest hym vnto the deeth of the crosse for me. Now sith thou hast so offered hym for me / why shuld I be ashamed to aske hym of the? It is a great and noble present nether am I worthie to haue such a gift how be it it becometh thy worthy lyberalyte to geue such noble gyftes / for this therfore tyne ineffable gentlenesse I dare presume to come boidlye vnto the and to desyre thy sauinge helth in whom I myght fullye reioyce. For yf of his carnal father any sonne aske fysh / will he teach him a serpent. And yf he aske an egge / will he geue hym a scorpion? or yf he aske breed / will he geue hym a stone? Now yf carnall fathers beynge euell and synners / wil geue vnto theyr childer good gyftes whych they haue receaued ⟨image 122⟩of the: how moch moare thou heuenlye father whych of thyne awne substance arte good / wilt geue a good sprete to thē that desyre it of the? Beholde thy sonne whych is retourned from a farre countre sorowinge and repentinge / asketh of the the fish of fayth / for as the fish lyeth secrete vnder the water / euen so is fayth of such thynges as are not sene / he asketh I saye a true fayth that he maye reioyce in thy sauinge helth: wilt thou reath hym a serpent?
wilt thou give him the venom of unfaithfulness which proceedeth from that old and crooked serpent the devil I desire of the o Lord the egg of hope / that even as out of an egg we hope for a chicken / so thorough hope / that thou wilt grant me to come unto the sight of thy saving health that out of my hope may come this wholesome sight as the chick doth out of the egg. I desire the egg of hope / that my soul through hope may be sustained in this vale of tears and may rejoice in thy saving health. Wilt thou give me the scorpion of desperation that as a scorpion hath poison in the end of her tail / so I in the last end of my life should reserve sin / delighting my self ⟨image 122⟩and taking he my pleasure with the enticements of this world which seem beautiful and flattering / even as a scorpion doth in the face.
wilt thou geue hym the venome of vnfaythfulnes which proceadeth from that old and croked serpent the deuell I desyre of the o Lorde the egge of hope / that euen as out of an egge we hope for a chyken / so thorow hope / that thou wilt graunte me to come vnto the syght of thy sauynge health that out of my hope maye come this holesome sight as the chicke doth out of the egge. I desyre the egge of hope / that my soule thorow hope maye be sustayned in this vale of teares and may reioyce in thy sauinge helth. Wilt thou geue me the scorpion of desperacyon that as a scorpion hath poyson in the ende of her taile / so I in the last ende of miliffe shulde reserue synne / delytinge my selfe ⟨image 122⟩and taking he my pleasure with the entisemētes of this worlde which seme beautifull and flateringe / euē as a scorpion doth in the face.
I desire of the also (o Lord) the breed of Christs charity by the which he doth communicate him self (even as breed) unto all men / that I may ever rejoice in thy saving / health / wilt thou give me a stone / that is to say hardness of heart? God forbid / why shall I them my struste for to desire and / and obtain great things of the o Lord / seeing thou stirrest me up / and biddest me ask and knock / even till I see me importunate? And what thing can I ask which thou shalt be better content with all / or else that should be more wholesome for me them that thou shouldest make me rejoice in thy son our saving health.
I desyre of the also (o Lorde) the breed of Christes cherite by the which he doth communycate hym selfe (euen as breed) vnto all men / that I maye euer reioyce in thy sauynge / helth / wilt thou geue me a stone / that is to saye hardnes of harte? God forbid / why shall I them my struste for to desyre and / and optayne greate thinges of the o Lorde / seinge thou sturrest me vpp / and byddest me aske and knocke / euen tyll I se me importunate? And what thynge can I aske whych thou shalt be better content with all / or els that shuld be moare holesome for me them that thou shuldest make me reioyse in thy sonne oure sauinge helth.
Now have I tasted how sweet the Lord is / how easy / and pleasant his burden is. I remember what peace and tranquillity of mind I was in / when I joyed in god. And rejoiced in Christ my Lord and saviour / therefore am I now in more sorrow / for I know what goodness.
Now haue I tasted how swete the Lorde is / how easye / and pleasaunte hys burthen is. I remember whate peace and tranquilite of mynde I was in / when I ioyed in god. And reioysed in Chryst my Lorde and sauyoure / therfore am I now in moare sorow / for I know what goodnes.
And commodylye I have lost / therefore ⟨image 123⟩will I cry more importunately: Make me again to rejoice in thy saving health restore me again that thing which my sins have lost. Restore me that which through my fault is perished in me. Restore me (I beseech thee for his sake that ever is on thy right hand and maketh intercession for us) thy gracious favour / that I may perceive that through him thou art pacified towards me / that it may be as a seal upon my heart / and that I may say with the Apostle Paul Gala. ij. I am crucified with Christ / I live verily / yet now not I / but Christ liveth in me.
And commodylye I haue loste / therfore ⟨image 123⟩will I crye more importunatlye: Make me agayne to reioyse in thy sauīge helth restore me agayne that thynge whych my sinnes haue lost. Restore me that whych thorow my faute is perysshed in me. Restore me (I besech the for his sake that euer is on thy ryght hande and maketh intercession for vs) thy gracious fauoure / that I maye perceaue that thorow hym thou art pacefyed towardes me / that it maye be as a seale vppon my harte / and that I maye saye wyth the Apostle Paule Gala. ij. I am crucefyed with Chryst / I lyue verelye / yet now not I / but Chryst lyueth in me.
But because my frailty is great / strength me with a principal spirit that no troubles or afflictions may separate me from Christ / that no fear may cause me to renay thee and that no pains may make me slide from thee. My strength is not sufficient to resist / and fight with that old serpent / and to prevail against him.
But because my frayltye is greate / strēght me wyth a pryncypall sprete that no troubles or afflyctions maye seperate me from Chryst / that no feare may cause me to renye the and that no paynes maye make me slyde from the. My strength is not suffycyent to resyst / and fyght wyth that olde serpent / and to preuayle agenst hym.
Peter hath taught me how great our infirmity is / he saw the with his bodily eyes (Lord Jesus) & was most familiarly conversant with thee: he tasted of thy glory in the mountain / when thou wast transfigured: ⟨image 123⟩he hard the fathers voice: he saw thy manifold and wondrous works / ye and through thy power did him self many miracles. He walked on his feet upon the waters / and hard daily thy mighty and sweet words: he thought him self most fervent and hot in the faith and said that he was ready to go with the both in to prison & unto very death. And when thou toldest him that he should deny the he believed thee not the trusted in his own strength / and trusted more unto him self being but a man / then unto the being very god. But when the handmaiden said unto him. Thou art of the same company / he was afraid by and by and denied it.
Peter hath taught me how greate oure infirmitye is / he sawe the with his bodely yies (Lorde Iesu) & was most familiarlye conuersaunt wyth the: he tasted of thy glorye in the mountayne / whē thou wast trāsfigured: ⟨image 123⟩he harde the fathers voyce: he sawe thy manifold and wondrous workes / yee and thorow thy power dyd hym selfe many miracles. He walked on his fete vppon the waters / and harde daylye thy mightye and swete wordes: he thought hym selfe most feruent and hote in the faith and sayde that he was readye to go with the both in to preson & vnto verye deeth. And when thou toldest hym that he shuld denye the he beleued the not the trusted in his awne strength / and trusted more vnto hym selfe beynge but a man / then vnto the beynge verye god. But when the handmayden sayde vnto hym. Thou arte of the same cōpanye / he was afrayde by and by and denyed it.
There came another maid and said: Surely thou art of the same folk: And he denied the again.
There came a nother mayde and sayed: Surelye thou arte of the same folke: And he denyed the agayne.
He could not stand before women / how should he then have stand before kings & tyrants? And when he was yet once more enquired of the bystanders and was accused to be one of his disciples / he began to curse and to swear that he knew thee not / what think you he said? I suppose that he sware by god and by the law of ⟨image 124⟩Moses that he knew thee not / adding such words. Think you that I am the disciple of this Samar •ane which / deceiveth the people which is inspired with the devil and destroyeth our law? I am the disciple of Moses / and know not from when•• this fellow is. Blessed be God that they accused enquiring any further / for else would he never have ceased denying the / so that a thousand interrogations would have made a thousand staite negations: ye a thousand curses and perjuries: yet were these interrogations but words / what would he have done (I pray thee) if they had scourged him & buffeted him well? Truly he would have sought & proved all means / denying / forswearing / cursing / and blaspheming until that he had escaped their hands. But thou most meek Lord lookedst back upon him and by and by he knowleged his offence.
He coude not stande before wemē / how shuld he then haue stonde before kynges & tyrauntes? And when he was yet once moare enquired of the bystanders and was accused to be one of his disciples / he beganne to curse and to swere that he knew the not / what thinke you he sayed? I suppose that he sware by god and by the lawe of ⟨image 124⟩Moses that he knewe the not / addīge such wordes. Thinke you that I am the disciple of this Sama• •ane which / deceaueth the people which is inspired with the deuil and destroyeth oure lawe? I am the disciple of Moyses / and knowe not frō when•• this felowe is. Blissed be God that they acused enquyrīge any further / for els wold he neuer haue ceased denyenge the / so that a thousande interrogacyons wolde haue made a thousand staite negacyons: yee a thousand curses and periuryes: yet were these interrogacyons but wordes / what wold he haue done (I praie the) yf they had scourged hym & buffeted hym well? Trulye he wold haue sought & proued all meanes / denyenge / forsweringe / cursinge / and blaspheminge vntyll that he had escaped their handes. But thou most meke Lorde lokedst backe vppon hym and by and by he knowleged his offence.
Nether yet durst he leap in to the midst of them and confess the to be the son of God / for he was not yet strengthened with power from above / so that with our doubt he would have denied the again / if he had seen any jeopardy at hand / therefore ⟨image 124⟩as it was most mere for him / he went forth and wept bitterly. But thou after thy resurrection appearedst unto him and comfortedst him / & yet kid he him self for fear of the Ives? he saw the so gloriously ascending unto heaven & was strengthened by the sight and comfort of Angels / & yet durst he not go abroad / for he had learned by experience to know his own fragility / and had proved his weakness.
Nether yet durst he lepe in to the myddes of them and confesse the to be the sonne of God / for he was not yet strengthed with power from aboue / so that with our doute he wold haue denyed the agayne / yf he had sene any ieopardye at hande / therfore ⟨image 124⟩as it was most mere for hym / he went• forth and wepte bitterlye. But thou after thy resurrecyon appearedst vnto hym and confortedst hym / & yet kyd he hym selfe for feare of the Iues? he sawe the so gloryouslye assendynge vnto heauē & was strengthed by the syght and comforte of Angels / & yet durst he not go abroade / for he had lerned by experyence to knowe his awne fragilite / and had proued his wekenesse.
¶Therefore did be tarry and wait for the holy ghost which was promised / when he was come and had filled Peters heart with grace / then stepped he forth: then began he to speak / and then with great power and signs bare he witness of thy resurrection.
¶Therfore dyd be tarye and wayte for the holye ghost which was promysed / whē he was come and had fylled Peters harte with grace / then stepte he forth: then beganne he to speake / and then with greate power and sygnes bare he wytnesse of thy resurreccyon.
Then feared he nether the hit priests nether yet kings / but rejoiced in tribulations & received the cross with all m••th and gladness. Therefore strengthen me Lord with a principal spirit that I may continually rejoice in thy saving health / or else can I not bear so many assaults against me. The flesh coveteth contrary to the spirit. The world assaileth me on every side. The devil sleepeth not.
Then feared he nether the hyt preastes nether yet kynges / but reioysed in tribulacyons & receaued the crosse with all m••th and gladnes. Therfore strengthen me Lorde with a principall sprete that I maye contynuallye reioyce in thy sauynge helth / or els can I not beare so manye assautes agenst me. The flessh coueteth contrarye to the sprete. The worlde assayleth me on eueryesyde. The deuell slepeth not.
Give me the strength of thy spirit that the there may fallely my side a thousand an• then thousand by my right hand that I may be a sure and strong witness of thy saith. For if Peter whom thou enduedst with so many favourable gifts / did fall so wretchedly / what should I do Lord which have nether seen thy natural presence: nether have tasted of thy glory in the mountain: nether have seen thy gracious miracles: yea and have scarcely perceived thy marvellous works / & have never hard thy voice / but have been ever subdued under sin therefore strength me with a principal spirit that I may persevere / in thy service and give my life for thy sake.
Geue me the strenght of thy sprete that the there maye fallely my syde a thousand an• then thousande by my right hande that I maye be a sure and stronge witnesse of thy sayth. For yf Peter whom thou enduedst with so manye fauourable gyftes / dyd fall so wretchedlye / what shuld I doo Lorde which haue nether sene thy naturall presence: nether haue tasted of thy glorie in the mountayne: nether haue sene thy gracious myracles: ye and haue scarcelye perceaued thy meruelous workes / & haue neuer hard thy voyce / but haue bene euer subdued vnder synne therfore strength me with a principall sprete that I maye perseuer / in thy seruyce and geue my lyffe for thy sake.
I will instruct the wicked that they may know thy ways / and the ungodly shall be converted unto thee.
I will enstructe the wyked that they maye knowethy wayes / and the vngodlye shalbe conuerted vnto the.