A14136:330
The Obedience of a Christian Man
The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christ[n] rulers ought to govern, where in also (if thou mark diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceive the crafty conveyance of all jugglers.The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christe[n] rulers ought to governe, where in also (if thou marke diligently) thou shalt fynde eyes to perceave the crafty conveyance of all iugglers.
At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the second day of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the seconde daye of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528
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.
Christ is the cause why I love the why I am ready to do the uttermost of my power for thee / and why I pray for thee And as long as the cause abideth / so long lasteth the effect even as it is all way day / so long as the sone shineth. Do therefore the worst thou canst unto me: take away my goods: take away my good name: yet as long as 1Christ remaineth in mine heart / so long I love thee not a whit the less and so long art thou as dear •nto me as mine own soul / and so long ⟨image 126⟩am I ready to do the good for thine evil and so long I pray for the with all mine heart. For Christ desireth it of me & hath deserved it of me. Thine unkindness compared unto his kindness is nothing at all / yea it is swallowed up / as a little smoke of a mighty wind / and is no more seen or thought upon More over that evil which thou doest to me / I receive not of thine hand / but of the hand of God / and as Gods scourge to teach me patience and to nurture me. And therefore have no cause to be angry with the more then the child hath to be anger with his fathers rod or a sick man with a sour or bitter medicine that healeth him / or a prisoner with his fetters or he that is punished lawfully with the officer that punisheth him. Thus is Christ all and the whole cause why I love thee / And to all can nought be added Therefore can not a little money make me love the better or more bound to pray for the nor make Gods commandment greater.2 Last of all / if I be in Christ then the love of Christ compelleth me. And therefore I am ready to give the mine and not to take thine from the if I be able I will do the service freely / if not / then if thou minister to me again / that receive I of the hand of God which ministereth it to me by thee: For God careth for his and ministereth all things unto them and moveth turks and saracens and all manner infidels to do them good / 3as ⟨p. cxxvi⟩thou seest in Abraham / Isaac & Jacob / & how god went with Joseph in to Egypt & gate him favour in the prison & in every place / which favour Joseph received of the hand of God & to God gave the thanks. This is God & Christ all in all: good & bad receive I of God. Them that are good I love / because they are in Christ & the evil to bring them to Christ. When any man doeth well I rejoice / ye god is honoured / & when any man doeth evil I sorrow because / that God is dishonoured.