Last of all, it is manifest that to 1deny the truth, thereby to escape persecution, is not the way to keep our wealth and quiet state, but rather the means to loose them, yea, by so doing we are made infamous to all good men of every age and nation. For we see that they, which would not for Christ and the cause of his trueth hazard their riches, but chose rather by dissimulation and renouncing of the truth to keep their worldly wealth, did retain for ever, infamous reproach, and daily augment most terrible torments, which vexed horribly their guilty conscience, loosing nevertheless in the devils name y• wealth, which they would not once hazard in the cause of their Saviour. But they on y• other side, which jeoparded themselves and all their substance in the quarrel of Christ, despising manfully all dangers that could happen, did always find a sweet and pleasant comfort, which strengthened the minds of their afflicted bodies. For they cry with the Apostle: We have learned in whatsoever estate we are, therewith to be content. We know how to be low, we know also how to exceed: every where and in all things we are instructed both to be full, and to be hungry, both to have plenty, and to suffer need. We can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us. They know that the same Apostle hath said: Ye have suffered with joy, the spoiling of your goods, knowing that ye have in heaven a far more excellent substance, which will endure. For the Lord in the Gospel also said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospels, but he shall receive an hundred fold now at this present with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. Mar. 10. So than the Saints and faithful servants of God are oppressed with servitude in this present world: but therewith all they know and consider that the Lord himself became a servant for us men, whereby they, that are servants in this world, are made free thorough Christ, and by terrestrial servitude a way is made to celestial 2liberty. The faithful are exiled or banished their country: but the heathen Poet saith, A valiant hearted man, takes every country for his own. Verily in what place of this world soever we are, we are in exile as banished men.
Last of all, it is manifest that to 1denie the truth, therby to escape persecution, is not the way to kéepe our wealth and quiet state, but rather ye meanes to loose them, yea, by so doing wee are made infamous to all good men of euery age and nation. For we sée that they, which would not for Christ and the cause of his trueth hazard their riches, but chose rather by dissimulation and renouncing of the truth to kéepe their worldly wealth, did reteyne for euer, infamous reproch, and daily augment most terrible tormentes, which vexed horiblie their guiltie conscience, loosing neuerthelesse in the diuels name y• wealth, which they would not once hazard in the cause of their Sauiour. But they on y• otherside, which ieoparded themselues and all their substaunce in the quarell of Christe, despising manfully al daungers that could happen, did alwayes finde a swéete and pleasant cōfort, which strengthened the minds of their afflicted bodies. For they crie with the Apostle: Wee haue learned in whatsoeuer estate wee are, therewith to be content. Wee know how to be lowe, wee know also howe to exceede: euerie where and in all thinges we are instructed both to be full, and to be hungrie, both to haue plentie, and to suffer neede. We can doe all thinges through Christ who strengtheneth vs. They know that ye same Apostle hath said: Ye haue suffered with ioy, the spoyling of your goods, knowing that ye haue in heauen a farre more excellent substance, which will endure. For the Lord in the Gospel also said, Verilie I say vnto you, there is no man that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or landes for my sake and the Gospels, but he shall receiue an hundred folde now at this present with persecutions, and in the world to come eternall life. Mar. 10. So than the Saincts and faithful seruauntes of God are oppressed with seruitude in this present world: but therewith all they know and consider that the Lord himselfe became a seruaunt for vs men, whereby they, that are seruauntes in this world, are made frée thorough Christe, and by terrestriall seruitude a way is made to celestiall 2libertie. The faithfull are exiled or banished their countrie: but the heathen Poet sayth, A valiaunt harted man, takes euerie countrie for his owne. Verilie in what place of this world soeuer wee are, wée are in exile as banished men.
- 1To deny the truth is not the way to keep our Goods.To deny the truth is not the way to keepe our Goodes.
- 2[…]〈…〉
