for1 we ought to be so encouraged with such constancy of faith, as to endure for the name of Jesus Christ, ⟨image 48⟩what so ever pleaseth god to lay upon us, seeing that life is made manifest before our eyes, and that we have a2 better and more familiar knowledge thereof, then had the ancient fathers. Whereof the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrews speaketh,3 where we read that the ancient fathers never shrank, but had such a marvellous constancy, that the hearing thereof were enough to astonish us. For we know how they were tormented by tyrants and enemies of the truth, and yet constantly suffered the same. The state of the church is at this present day no harder, nor more troublesome, than it was than. And seeing it so is, shall we make it more strange, to follow after Christ Jesus, who hath ⟨image 48⟩showed us the way? But to the end we be not to fearful nor over cold, let us mark well how4 he saith, that Jesus Christ hath made manifest the life and immortality through the gospel, for that that as often as the grace of god is preached unto us, it is as much as if the kingdom of heaven were opened unto us, as if god stretched forth his hand and certified us, that the life is at hand, and that he will participate unto us of his heavenly in herytaunce. For that is spoken unto us, to the end that until we have seen Jesus Christ lifting us up with him, and bringing us unto a life certain, we should content our selves with this present life. We would gladly remain here in this world, ⟨image 49⟩5but by force must we be drawn hence. But when we shall behold the life which our lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for us, we6 shall set but little by all that might retain us here, considering we have to ascend up to heaven. So then let us not be willingly blind, when Jesus Christ setteth daily before our eyes the life and immortality, which we have spoken of. But let us note well, that when saint Paul speaketh of the life, and addeth the word immortality, that it betokeneth as much, as if he said: We enter even now into the kingdom of god thorough faith. For though we be as7 strangers here in this earth, and that it seemeth there is but death and malediction in ⟨image 49⟩us, yet will the life and grace, whereof we are made partakers through our lord Jesus Christ, bring forth his fruit in his convenient time:
for1 we ought to be soo encouraged with suche constancie of faythe, as to endure for the name of Iesus Chryste, ⟨image 48⟩what so euer pleaseth god to laye vpon vs, seyng that lyfe is made manyfeste before oure eyes, and that we haue a2 better and more familiar knowledge therof, then had the auncyente fathers. Wherof the Apostle in his Epystle to the Hebrues speakethe,3 where we reade that the auncyente fathers neuer shronke, but had suche a marueilous constācie, that the hearyng therof were inough to astonyshe vs. For wee knowe howe they were tormented by tirantes and ennemyes of the truthe, and yet constantely suffered the same. The state of the church is at this present daie no harder, nor more troblesome, thē it was than. And seynge it so is, shal we make it more strange, to followe after Chryste Iesus, who hathe ⟨image 48⟩shewed vs the waye? But to the ende we be not to fearefull nor ouer cold, let vs marke wel howe4 he saythe, that Iesus Chryste hath made manyfest the life and immortalytie throughe the gospell, for that that as often as the grace of god is preched vnto vs, it is as much as if the kyngdom of heauen were opened vnto vs, as if god stretched forth his hād and certyfyed vs, that the life is at hande, and that he wyl participate vnto vs of his heauenly in herytaunce. For that is spoken vnto vs, to the ende that vntyll we haue sene Iesus Chryste lyftynge vs vp with hym, and bringyng vs vnto a lyfe certayne, we shoulde contente our selues with this present lyfe. We wold gladly remayne here in this worlde, ⟨image 49⟩5but by force must we be drawen hence. But when we shal behold the lyfe whiche our lorde Iesus Chryst hath opteyned for vs, we6 shall sette but lyttle by all that myghte reteyne vs here, consyderyng we haue to ascende vp to heauen. Soo then let vs not be wyllyngely blynde, when Iesus Chryste setteth dayly before our eyes the lyfe and immortalytie, whiche we haue spoken of. But let vs note wel, that when sainct Paule speaketh of the lyfe, and addeth the worde immortalitie, that it betokeneth as muche, as if he sayde: We entre euen nowe into the kyngedome of god thoroughe faythe. For thoughe we be as
- 1Heb. 12.
- 2Luk. 10.
- 3Heb. 11.
- 42. Tim. 1
- 5Hebr. 9.
- 6Phil. 3.
- 71. Pet. 2
