But god used his mercy and loving1 kindness yet furthermore, even in the midst of all correction: for when he would now expel man out of Paradise in to misery, he doth unto him in every condition, even as a faithful father, which for some misdeed putteth his son away from him. Notwithstanding leaveth him not utterly comfortless, but provideth him a garment, & comforteth him with friendly words, and then first sendeth him away from him Even thus doth God the father of heaven also. For first he clotheth Adam and Eve against the frost and tempest of weather, inasmuch as (by the means of sin) the weather, the earth, the air, and all creatures, were no more so subject, tame and obedient unto man, as they were afore the fall. Therefore even now at this present time what soever inconvenience ⟨image 20⟩& harm is in the good creatures of God, it cometh by the means of our since. Afterward doth the Lord comfort the miserable wretched man with very loving words after this manner: Behold. Adam is become like one of us,2 or: lo, Adam shall be as one of us, and it shall happen unto him as to one of us, and he shall know good and evil. This doth God speak, which is one in substance, and three in persons: he Prophecyt•he here unto Adam, that he shall know or have experience of good and evil. That is to say, that upon earth he must feel prosperity and adversity, misery and trouble, sower and sweet, and must suffer necessity, pain and affliction. Yet in all this, must he be constant & patient, forasmuch as nothing shall happen unto him, save3 even the same that shall happen to one of them. And he meaneth the son our Lord Jesus Christ the second person in the holy Trinity. With this his passion & through the same doth he comfort Adam. As though he would say: let the pain sorrow and trouble which thou must suffer upon earth, not vex thee, and consider that one of us also shall take upon him the kind and nature of man, and that the serpent (as it is said afore) shall tread him on the heel that is to say, he shall dye, he shall be oppressed, and have much affliction & trouble, all the days of his life. In the same meaning also did the holy Apostle Peter say: Christ suffered for our sakes, and gave us ⟨image 21⟩an ensample, that we should follow him, and go in his footsteps4
But god vsed hys mercy and louynge1 kyndnesse yet furthermore, euē in the myddes of all correction: for whan he woulde nowe expell man oute of Paradyse in to misery, he doth vnto hym in euery condycion, euen as a faythfull father, whych for some mysdede putteth hys sonne awaye from hym. Notwythstādyng leaueth hym not vtterly comfortles, but prouideth him a garment, & comforteth hym wyth frēdly wordes, and then fyrste sendeth hym awaye from hym Euen thus doth God the father of heauē also. For fyrst he clotheth Adam and Eue agaynst the frost and tempest of wether, in asmuche as (by the meanes of synne) the wether, the erth, the ayre, and all creatures, were nomore so subiecte, tame and obedient vnto man, as they were afore the fall. Therfore euen now at thys presente tyme what soeuer inconuenience ⟨image 20⟩& harme is in the good creatures of God, it commeth by the meanes of oure synnes. Afterwarde doth the Lorde comforte the myserable wretched man wyth verye louynge wordes after thys maner: Beholde. Adam is become lyke one of vs,2 or: lo, Adam shalbe as one of vs, and it shall happē vnto hym as to one of vs, and he shall know good and euyll. Thys doth God speake, whyche is one in substaunce, and thre in personnes: he Prophecyt•he here vnto Adam, that he shall knowe or haue experience of good and euyll. That is to say, that vpon erth he must fele prosperite and aduersite, misery and trouble, sower and swete, and muste suffer necessite, payne and afflyction. Yet in all thys, must he be constant & pacient, for asmuch as nothynge shall happen vnto hym, saue3 euen the same that shall happen to one of thē. And he meaneth the sonne our Lorde Jesu Christ the second personne in the holy Trinite. With thys hys passyon & thorow the same doth he comforte Adam. As though he wolde saye: let the payne sorow and trouble whych thou must suffer vpon erth, not vexe the, and considre that one of vs also shall take vpon him the kynde and nature of man, and that the serpent (as it is sayde afore) shall treade hym on the hele that is to saye, he shall dye, he shalbe opprest, and haue muche asslyction & trouble, all the dayes of hys lyfe. In the same meanyng also dyd the holy Apostle Peter say: Chryst suffred for our sakes, and gaue vs ⟨image 21⟩an ensample, that we shulde folowe hym, and go in hys fotesteppes4
- 1Comfort help & loving kindness in the midst of correction.Cōforte helpe & louing kindnes in the myddes of correction.
- 2Gene. iii.
- 3Comfort & patience in Christ.Cōforte & paciēce in Christ.
- 4i. Pet. ii.
