12 Rejoicing in hope. These three are both joined together amongst them selves, and also in a manner they seem to appertain unto that, Serving the time. For he doth best apply himself unto the time, and useth the occasion to run on courageously, who putteth his joy in the hope of the life to come, and beareth tribulations patiently. Howsoever it be (for it is no great matter, whither you join them together, or separate them) first he forbiddeth us to set our hearts upon the present good things, ⟨image 182⟩and in earth and earthly things to seek our joy, as though our felicity were there: but he biddeth us erect our minds to heaven, where we may enjoy perfect and full joy. If our rejoicing shall be contained in the hope of the life to come, thereupon shall patience grow in adversity: because no abiding or suffering of sorrow can oppress that joy. Therefore these two depend one of another, joy conceived of hope, and patience in adversity. For no man will cheerfully, and with a quiet mind, submit himself to bear the cross, but he who hath learned to seek for his felicity out of the world, that with the consolation of hope, he may mitigate,1 and qualify the bitterness of the Cross. But because both these are far above our strength, we must be earnest in prayer, and beseech GOD continually, that he suffer not our harts to faint, fall to the ground, & or to be broken with adversity. Finally, Paul doth not only provoke us to prayers, but plainly requireth perseverance of us: because we have a continual warfare, and daily new conflicts arise, to the bearing whereof, yea even the strongest are unmeet, unless they now & then gather new strength. Howbeit that we faint not, the best remedy is, the continuance of prayer.
12 Reioycing in hope. These three are both ioyned together amongst them selues, and also in a maner they seeme to appertein vnto that, Seruing the tyme. For hee doth best applie himself vnto the time, and vseth the occasion to run on couragiously, who putteth his ioy in the hope of the life to come, and beareth tribulations patiently. Howesoeuer it be (for it is no great matter, whither you ioyne them together, or seperate them) first he forbiddeth vs to set our heartes vpon the present good things, ⟨image 182⟩and in earth and earthly thinges to seeke our ioy, as though our felicitie were there: but he biddeth vs erect our mindes to heauē, where we may inioye perfect and ful ioy. If our reioycing shalbe conteyned in the hope of the life to come, thereuppon shall patience growe in aduersitie: because no abiding or suffering of sorow can oppresse that ioy. Therefore these two depende one of another, ioy conceiued of hope, and patience in aduersitie. For no man will cheerefully, and with a quiet mind, submit himselfe to beare the crosse, but he who hath learned to seeke for his felicitie out of the world, that with the consolation of hope, he may mitigate,1 and qualifie the bitternes of the Crosse. But because both these are farre aboue our strength, we must bee earnest in prayer, and beseech GOD continually, that he suffer not our harts to faint, fall to the ground, & or to be broken with aduersitie. Finally, Paul doth not only prouok vs to prayers, but plainly requireth perseuerance of vs: because wee haue a continuall warfare, and dayly new conflicts arise, to the bearing whereof, yea euen the strongest are vnmeete, vnlesse they nowe & then gather new strength. Howbeit that we faint not, the best remedie is, the continuance of prayer.
- 1Joy conceived of the life to come and patience coupled together.Ioy conceiued of the life to com and patience coupled together.
