But with what face can we look for this, that are so fearful, unwilling and arsward, to leave that, which, will we nil we, we must leave: and that so shortly, as we know not the time when? ⟨p. 16⟩Where is our abrenouncing and forsaking of the world and the flesh, which we solemnly sware in baptism? Ah shameless cowards that we be which will not follow the trace of so many fathers, Patriarchs, kings, priests prophets Apostles, Evangelists and saints of god, yea even of the very son of God? How many now go with you lustily, as I and all, your brethren, in bands & exile for the gospel? Pray for us, for (god willing) we will not leave you now: we will go before you. You shall see in us, that we preached no lies nor tales of tubs, but even the 1very true word of God, for the which we, by gods grace a help of your prayers, will willingly and joyfully give our blood to be •ed, for the confirmation of the ⟨p. 71⟩same: as already we have given liberally our goods, living, friends, and natural country. For now we are certain, that we be in the high way to heavens bliss, as Paul saith: By many tribulations & persecutions we must enter into gods kingdom. And because we would go thither our selves and bring you thither also, therefore the devil stirreth up the coals. And forasmuch as we all loitered in the way, he therefore hath received power of god, to over cast the weather, & to stir up storms: that we God's children might go faster, making more speed and hast to go on forwards.
But wyth what face can we loke for thys, that are so fearful, vnwyllyng and arsward, to leus that, whych, wyll we nyl we, we must leaue: and that so shortli, as we knowe not the tyme whan? ⟨p. 16⟩Where is our abrenouncing and forsakyng of the world and the flesh, which we solēpnely sware in baptisme? Ah shamelesse cowardes that we be whyche will not folowe the trace of so manye fathers, Patriarks, kīgs, pristes prophetes Apostles, Euangelystes and sainctes of god, yeaeuen of the very sonne of God? How many now goe wyth you lusreli, as I and al, your brethrē, in bandes & exyle for the gospel? Pray for vs, for (god wyllyng) we wyl not leaue you nowe: we wil goe before you. You shal see in vs, that we preached no lyes nor tales of tubbes, but euen the 1very true worde of God, for the which we, by gods grace a helpe of your prayers, wyll wyllyngly and ioifulli geue our bloud to be •ed, for the confirmacion of the ⟨p. 71⟩same: as already we haue geuen liberally oure goodes, liuynge, frendes, and naturall countrye. For now we are certayne, yt we be in the hygh way to heauens blisse, as Paul sayth: By manye tribulacions & persecucions we must enter into gods kyngdom. And because we would goe thether our selues and brynge you thether also, therfore the deuyll stereth vp the coales. And forasmuch as we al loitered in ye way, he therfore hath receaued power of god, to ouer cast the wether, & to stere vp stormes: yt we godes children myghte goe faster, makyng more spede and hast to goe on forwardes.
- 11. Peter. 2.
