then let us bethink us of that which we have forgotten: that is too wit, that we be but rottenness and a thing of nothing. For when men are in prosperity, they make themselves drunken, they flaunt it, they sore in the air, and they be not touched with any care. But as soon as God smiteth §50them, then they storm, and they consider neither whence they are come, nor whither they must return. Also the men of old time, to the end too bring all this to remembrance, used the said Ceremony: thereby yielding themselves faulty before God, as though they had been wretched offenders. And the thing that is required at offenders hands, is that they should acknowledge their faults, crave pardon, yield themselves guilty before God, and return unto him with true repentance. Job had good occasion so to do: and his friends also could not show forth §60their friendship, if they had not done the like. For we be bound to take upon us the person of our neighbours, too ask God forgiveness in their behalf. The greatest relief that we can give to such as are in distress, is too pray God that he will not shake them off altogether. But we cannot by our prayers succour those that are in adversity, without having that which I have recited: that is too wit, without keeping of them company, to humble our selves afore God, and without coming to them too mourn with them. David protesteth that he did it even for his enemies, and that when he saw them running into destruction, he was sorry for them in his hart, and shed bitter tears and sighs for them. If David have done thus for his enemies that persecuted him: why should not we do it for them whom we know to be the children of God? Certainly we ought to follow David, in praying for our enemies. For without we do so, Christ will not avow us to be his Disciples. But it is an overgreat lewdness if we have not such pity upon those in whom we perceive some sign of godliness and religion, and which are instructed in all one doctrine with us. Therefore when they come to sue for pardon at Gods hand: it becometh us to join with them in that case. Behold (I say) what ye have to mark when it is said, that Jobs friends rent their garments, cast themselves against the ground, and sprinkled dust upon their heads. Herewithall we note, that although such Ceremonies be signs of repentance:
then let vs bethinke vs of that whiche wee haue forgotten: that is too wit, that wee bee but rottennesse and a thing of nothing. For when men are in prosperitie, they make themselues drunken, they flaunt it, they sore in the ayre, and they be not touched with any care. But assoone as God smyteth §50them, then they storme, and they consider neither whence they are come, nor whither they must returne. Also the men of olde tyme, to the end too bring all this to remembrance, vsed the sayd Ceremonie: thereby yeelding themselues faultie before God, as though they had beene wretched offenders. And the thing that is requyred at offenders handes, is that they should acknowledge their faults, craue pardon, yeeld themselues guiltie before God, and returne vnto him with true repentance. Iob had good occasion so to do: and his friendes also could not shew forth §60their friendship, if they had not done the like. For we bee bound to take vpon vs the persone of our neighbours, too aske God forgiuenesse in their behalfe. The greatest reliefe that we can giue to such as are in distresse, is too pray God that he will not shake them off altogither. But wee cannot by our prayers succour those that are in aduersitie, without hauing that which I haue recited: that is too wit, without keeping of them companie, to humble our selues afore God, and without cōming to them too mourne with them. Dauid protesteth that he did it euen for his enimies, and that when he saw them running intoo destruction, hee was sorie for them in his hart, and shead bitter teares and sighes for them. If Dauid haue done thus for his enemies that persecuted him: why shoulde not we doo it for them whom we knowe to be the children of God? Certainly we ought to follow Dauid, in praying for our enemies. For without we do so, Christ will not auow vs to be his Disciples. But it is an ouergreat leudnesse if wee haue not such pitie vpon those in whom we perceyue some signe of godlinesse and religion, and which are instructed in al one doctrine with vs. Therefore when they come to sue for pardon at Gods hande: it becōmeth vs to ioyne with them in that case. Behold (I say) what ye haue to marke when it is sayd, that Iobs friendes rent their garments, cast thēselues against the ground, and sprinkled dust vppon their heades. Herewithall we note, that although such Ceremonies bee signes of repentance:
