35 Who shall separate? Now that security or boldness is extended unto inferior things. For he which is persuaded of the love of God towards him, is able to stand in most grievous afflictions: which are therefore wont so greatly to torment men, either because they think not, they happen by the providence of God, ⟨image 126⟩or they interpret them to be tokens of Gods wrath, or that they think they are forsaken of God, or that they look for no end, or remember not there is a better life, or some other such like. But the mind which is purged from such errors shall easily be at rest and be quiet. Finally, this is the meaning of the words, whatsoever happeneth, we must stand in this faith, namely that God who hath once loved us, will never cease to care for us. For he doeth not simply say, there is nothing can separate God from the love of us: but he would that the knowledge and lively sense of love which he testifieth •nto us should so flourish in our hearts, that it might alway shine in the mist of afflictions. For as the clouds, although they darken the clear sight of the Sun, yet do not altogether deprive us of his shine: even so God in adversities, sendeth through clouds, the beams of his grace, least any tentation should overwhelm us with despair: yea our faith being supported by the promises of God, as by wings, ought through all impediments which are in the way to pierce up into the heavens. Indeed it is true that adversities are tokens of Gods wrath, if they be esteemed by themselves: but when pardon and reconciliation is gone before, we are to be resolved, that although God doeth chasten, yet he will never forget his mercy. Verily he admonisheth what we have deserved, but withal he testifieth that he hath a care of our salvation, whiles he provoketh us unto repentance. And he calleth it the love of Christ. Because the father in a manner doeth open his bowels unto us in him. Seeing then the love of God is not to be sought for out of Christ, worthily doeth Paul call us hither: that in the beams of the grace of Christ, our faith might behold the clear countenance of the Father. The sum is, that this faith ought not to be shaken with any adversity: for God being gracious unto us, nothing is against us.
35 Who shal separate? Now that securitie or boldnes is extended vnto inferiour thinges. For he which is perswaded of the loue of God towardes him, is able to stand in most grieuous afflictions: which are therfore woont so greatly to torment men, either because they thinke not, they happē by ye prouidēce of God, ⟨image 126⟩or they interprete thē to be tokēs of Gods wrath, or yt they thinke they are forsaken of God, or that they looke for no ende, or remē ber not there is a better life, or some other such like. But ye mind which is purged from such errours shall easily be at rest and be quiet. Finally, this is ye meaning of the words, whatsoeuer happeneth, we must stand in this faith, namely that God who hath once loued vs, will neuer cease to care for vs. For he doeth not simply say, there is nothing can separate God from the loue of vs: but he woulde that the knowledge and liuely sence of loue which he testifieth •nto vs should so floorish in our heartes, that it might alway shine in the mist of afflictions. For as the cloudes, although they darken the cleare sight of the sonne, yet doe not altogether depriue vs of his shine: euen so God in aduersities, sendeth through cloudes, the beames of his grace, least anie tentation should ouerwhelme vs with dispaire: yea our faith being supported by the promises of God, as by winges, ought through all impedimentes which are in the way to pearce vp into the heauens. Indeede it is true that aduersities are tokens of Gods wrath, if they be esteemed by themselues: but when pardon and reconciliation is gone before, we are to be resolued, that although God doeth chasten, yet he wil neuer forget his mercy. Verily he admonisheth what wee haue deserued, but withall he testifieth that he hath a care of our saluation, whiles he prouoketh vs vnto repentaunce. And he calleth it the loue of Christ. Because the father in a manner doeth open his bowelles vnto vs in him. Seeing then the loue of God is not to bee sought for out of Christ, woorthily doeth Paule call vs hither: that in the beames of the grace of Christ, our faith might beholde the cleere countenaunce of the Father. The summe is, that this faith ought not to bee shaken with anie aduersitie: for God beeing gracious vnto vs, nothing is against vs.
