A word in season

And here we may not look to those things which the World especially esteemeth and magnifieth, but we must behold the ⟨p. 31⟩Church as it is afflicted, oppressed, and full of Calamity. For this is the true face of the Church of God, that it is weak, environed with all deadly Engines, and compassed with all the furies of the Devil, the World, the Flesh, Sin and Death. These things he that will not behold, but flieth and abhorreth them, shall never find out the true Church indeed. For that is not the the true picture and image of the Church which the Painters set forth, which paint her as a goodly Virgin, as a City well armed, adorned and beautified. Indeed that is a true picture, but not according to the Eyes of the Flesh. But spiritual Eyes do see this great Beauty, that Christ is her Husband, and begot her unto himself by the Holy Ghost, beautified her and made her glorious with his own blood, with his merits and with his righteousness. Of all these things the flesh can see nothing, can judge nothing, but seeth rather the contrary, how she is subject to most bitter hatred, malice, vexations and torments. Wherefore if it would paint her out in such sort as he seeth and beholdeth her, then must it paint and set her forth as a deformed and poor maiden, sitting in a dangerous Wood or Desac, in the midst of cruel and hungry Lyons, Bears, Wolve, Swine, and Venomous Serpents: also in the midst of outrageous and furious men, attempting with Sword, Fire and Water to destroy her, and to root her out from the face of the Earth. As there is in the Apocalypse set forth a goodly Picture,¹ (then the which there is nothing more excellent in that book) that the Church as a desolate woman, flieth from the old Serpent or Dragon persecuting her and her Child. Wherefore these words which David here useth, may very well be applied to her: Many times have mine Enemies afflicted me, many times have they vexed me.

And here we may not look to those things which the World especially esteemeth and magnifieth, but we must behold the ⟨p. 31⟩Church as it is afflicted, oppressed, and full of Calamity. For this is the true face of the Church of God, that it is weak, environed with all deadly Engines, and compassed with all the furies of the Devil, the World, the Flesh, Sin and Death. These things he that will not behold, but flyeth and abhorreth them, shall never find out the true Church indeed. For that is not the the true picture and image of the Church which the Painters set forth, which paint her as a goodly Virgin, as a City well armed, adorned and beautified. Indeed that is a true picture, but not according to the Eyes of the Flesh. But spiritual Eyes do see this great Beauty, that Christ is her Husband, and begot her unto himself by the Holy Ghost, beautified her and made her glorious with his own blood, with his merits and with his righteousness. Of all these things the flesh can see nothing, can judge nothing, but seeth rather the contrary, how she is subject to most bitter hatred, malice, vexations and torments. Wherefore if it would paint her out in such sort as he seeth and beholdeth her, then must it paint and set her forth as a deformed and poor maiden, sitting in a dangerous Wood or Desac, in the midst of cruel and hungry Lyons, Bears, Wolve, Swine, and Venemous Serpents: also in the midst of outragious and furious men, attempting with Sword, Fire and Water to destroy her, and to root her out from the face of the Earth. As there is in the Apocalyps set forth a goodly Picture,