Beside that, our Lord had no need to take upon him to bear the §2cross, but to testify & prove his obedience to his father: but we for diverse causes, have need to lead our life under a continual cross. First (as we be naturally bent to attribute all things to our flesh) unless our weakness be showed us as it were before our eyes, we do easily esteem our own strength above due measure, & doubt not that what soever happen, it will continue unbroken & unovercome against all hard assaults. Whereby we are carried into a foolish & vain confidence of flesh, and then trusting thereupon, we stubbornly wax proud against God himself, as though our own powers without his grace did suffice us. This arrogance he can no way better beat down, than when he proveth unto us, by experience not only how feeble, but also how frail we be. Therefore he afflicteth us either with shame, or poverty, or loss of children, or sickness, or other calamities, which we being unable to bear in respect of our selves, do by and by sink down under them. Being so humbled, we learn to call upon his strength, which only maketh us to stand upright under the heavy burden of afflictions. Yea the most holy, how well so ever they know that they stand by the grace of God and not by their own force, yet are to much assured of their own strength and constancy, unless by the trial of the cross, he bring them into a more inward knowledge of themselves. The slothfulness crept into David:1 I said in my rest, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou hadst stablished in thy good pleasure a strength to my hill, thou hiddest away thy face, I was stricken. For he confesseth that with sluggishness in prosperity his senses were dulled, that not regarding the grace of God, upon which he should have hanged, he leaned unto himself, to promise himself perpetual continuance. If this chanced to so great a Prophet: which of us ought not to be fearful, that we may be heedful? Therefore whereas in prosperity they flatter themselves with opinion of a greater constancy and patience, ⟨image 243⟩when they are ones humbled with adversity, they learn that their former opinion was but hypocrisy. The faithful (I say) being admonished by such examples of their diseases, do thereby profit to humility, that being unclothed of the wrongful confidence of the flesh, they may resort to the grace of God.
Byside that, our Lord had no neede to take vpon him to beare the §2crosse, but to testifie & proue his obedience to his father: but we for diuerse causes, haue neede to leade our life vnder a cōtinual crosse. First (as we be naturally bent to attribute all thinges to our flesh) vnlesse our weakenesse be shewed vs as it were before our eyes, we do easily esteme our owne strēgth aboue due measure, & doubte not that what soeuer happen, it wil cōtinue vnbroken & vnouercōme against al hard assaultes. Whereby we are caried into a foolish & vaine confidence of flesh, and then trusting therupon, we stubbornly waxe proude against God himself, as though our owne powers without his grace did suffice vs. This arrogancie he cā no way better beate down, thā whē he proueth vnto vs, by experience not only how feble, but also how fraile we be. Therfore he afflicteth vs either with shame, or pouertie, or losse of childrē, or sicknesse, or other calamities, which we beyng vnable to beare in respect of our selues, doe by and by sinke downe vnder them. Beyng so humbled, we learne to call vpon his strength, whiche only maketh vs to stand vpright vnder the heauy burden of afflictiōs. Yea the moste holy, how wel so euer they know that they stand by the grace of God and not by their owne force, yet are to muche assured of their owne strength and constancie, vnlesse by the tryall of the crosse, he bring them into a more inward knowledge of thēselues. The slouthfulnesse crept into Dauid:1 I sayd in my rest, I shall neuer be moued. Lorde, thou hadst stablished in thy good pleasure a strength to my hill, thou hiddest awaye thy face, I was striken. For he confesseth that with sluggishnesse in prosperitie his senses were dulled, that not regardyng the grace of God, vpon whiche he should haue hanged, he leaned vnto himselfe, to promise himselfe perpetuall continuance. If this chaūced to so great a Prophet: which of vs ought not to be fearfull, that we may be heedefull? Therefore whereas in prosperitie they flatter themselues with opinion of a greater constancie and patience, ⟨image 243⟩when they are ones humbled with aduersitie, they learne that their former opinion was but hypocrisie. The faythfull (I saye) beyng admonished by such examples of their diseases, do thereby profit to humilitie, that beyng vnclothed of the wrongfull confidence of the flesh, they maye resort to the grace of God.
- 1Ps. xxx.vi•
