MASTER NEGA TIVE NO. 92-80614 MICROFILMED 1992 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK „ as part of the Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project" Funded by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Library COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The copyright law of the United States - Title 17, United States Code - concerns the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material... Columbia University Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfilhnent of the order would mvolve violation of the copyright law. A UTHOR : [WERDMULLER, OTTO] TITLE: SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUSE PERLE,... PLACE: LONDON DA TE : 1812 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARHFT Master Negative # Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record v.. ■ t *tf f ^^,.^ *<.•■/< ; wa reciouse. peTle...^priyTted 1550. Lo-ndov! 1812. 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Beside the main topic this book also treats of On page j Subject No. On page ■). i \ t ( jr A Spiri- tual and most pre- ciouse perle, teacliynge all men to loue & imbrace y^ crosse as a most swete and necessarye thinge unto the soule : Printed 1550. Reprinted 1813. Sold by Messrs. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Qrme, and-Browne, FaternosterKow; X I ~4 \ ^^ ^1 < m 11 S. GotmtL, Pritltcri little Qaoga Sitcct, £Dnclua. PREFACE TO THE I PITESENT lEDITION. \ ( . f The Tract now reprinted is usually supposed to have been written by Ed- ward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and protector during theshort reign of King Edward VI. who was his nephew. But it is, in fact, the production of fFor^ Tuu/erus, and was first translated into the English language, from the ori- gmal German of that author, by Miles Coverdale. When the '• Protector" sank beneath the violence of party, and was committed to the Tower, a manuscript copy of the '' Spiritual Pearr afforded so much genuine con- solation to his hours of melancholy pri- vacy and political disgrace, that, on his release, he caused it to be printed, and prefixed that recommendatory address a 2 ,--s Q Q ' -J '-/ ( PKEPACE TO THE which does so much honour to his prin- ciples and understanding. The firm sense and soundnessof general religious opinion contained in the work caused the ediiion published by the Duke to be eagerly procured by all parties. It is probable that the number of impres- sions was originally small, and thebook has latterly become so scarce that a considerable price has been offered for a copy, by public advertisement. Independent of its curiosity, it fs presumed that the reader will find much to admire in this work. The charity, good-will, and unaffected humility of pious disposition evident in every page, •seem calculated to interest the' whol^ Christian world^ in despite of that va- riety of opinions which so unhappily prevails in regard to certain doctrinal points. The *' Spiritual Pearl" ap- plies to the heart and conscience of man in a season when pride and perti- nacity vyaver — the season of his trouble I It analyzes the source of his grief; it r rtlESENT EDITION". reasons with him on the propriety of his lamentation : and directs him, in language naturally energetical, and iri terms remarkably pure and unembar- rassed for the era of the writer, to the only true means of consolation — the mercy and grace of God as revealed in the Gospel. - The temperate modesty of the writer's opinions is highly creditable to the spirit of the early reforming age. Truth, like the sun of the natural day, rises in mists ; and we frequently see the pages even of those who led to the conquest of systematical error, tainted by such harsh sentiments, or indications of personal acerbity, asthq weakness of nature will too often ob- trude on the best and most elevated intentions. From these the author of the present tract will be found, in ge- neral, happily exempt. The Duke of Somerset, to whose partiality for this book we owe its a 3 ( .PREPACK TO THB PRESENT EDITION. translation into the English tongue, |ias been greatly misrepresented by the piore violent of yarious parlies, aS well political as religious. He was a warm advocate of the Reformation, and thence arose the larger portion of his political troubles. He was pos~ sessed of all but kingly power, and the partizans of the Romish cluirch were uniformly boisterous and intolerant. .^* Let us now see," says a modern writer*, " how he conducted him- self. The former reign afforded an ample excuse for severity, but Somer^ set chiefly employed the means of ar- gument and mercy. Gardiner vvas ihe principal opposer of the Protector's ^ innovations;* for which opposition ti^was confined, for a time, in the Fleet, but no faggot was lighted to •settle the opinions of the vehement bishop." * Brewer, in his Historical Description of iplendid l^alacea^ &:c. The great work of the Reformationf y/as^ then, in its infancy, and Somer-* ^t must be supposed subject to many of the failings of half-enlightened un- derstanding ; but It is satisfactory to find that the man who imbibed conso- lation from a work of such genuine piety as the " Spiritual Pearl," was conspicuous for clemency and urba- nity of habit. Some factious writers, among whom Parsojis may be distinguished, have not scrupled to assert that the Pro. tector was so ignorant as scarcely to be able to read or write. So far is this from the fact, that, besides the original Preface to the present work, there was written by him a book under the title of " Epistola Ex- hortatoria luissa ad Nobilitatem ac jplebem iiniversumquePopulum Regni Scotiae." Printed in 4to. at London, J 548. It is, likewise, known that Calvin addressed to hini an epistle *' of godly Consolation," .\yhich Le transi? {. FREPACE TO THE fated from French into English, and which was printed in 1550, hv Edward n hitchurch, under the title of *' An Epistle, both of godly Conversaciou and also of Advertisement, written by John Calvine, thePastour and Preacher of Geneva, to the right Noble Prince, Edwarde, Duke of Somerset, before the Tyme or Knowledge had of his Irouble, but delyvered to the sayde Duke m the Time of his Trouble, and so translated out of Frenshe by the same Duke." Many of the Protec- tor's letters are preserved in C. C. C. Cambridge, and there are several among the Harleian Manuscripts. Although the Duke of Somerset prevailed over the rancour of his ene- mies, on his first committal to the lower he was, at length, completely reduced by it. The circumstances at^ tendmg his final downfal are thus nar. rated m the historical and descriptive work before quoted :— ^^ Though the hunnhation of the Duke had been so rKESKNT EDITION. complete as to satisfy, for some tii^i^, the malignity of his most bitter oppci- nents, yet the jealous ambition of Warwick (shortly dignified with the title of Duke of .Northumberland) caused him to look with dislike on the popularity Somerset still possessed, ,in spite of comparative poverty and. de- gradation. Even the alliance that ex- isted between the families (Northum- berland's son had married the Protec- tor's daughter) availed nothing. Nor- jthumberland gained, by sinister means, the confidence of Somerset's prin- cipal servants. The unguarded Duke often broke out into menacing ex- pressions against his enemy. At other times he formed rash projects, which he immediately abandoned, and his treacherous confidents carried to their employer every passionate word which dropped from him. — At length, these very betrayers suggested to Somerset a plan for murdering Northumber- land, Northampton, and Pembroke, at a bancjuet to be given by Lord Pa- PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. •get. An insurrection in the North was to second the enterprise ; the Tower was to be secured ; and a rebel-* lion excited in London. This sug- gestion was made the instrument of his utter ruin. In one night the Dukei of Somerset, and nearly the whole of his small residue of friends, were com- mitted to custody ; and, next day, the Dutchess, with her favourite attend- ants, were thrown into prison. *^ Somerset was tried on the double charges of high treason and felony. With indecent malignity, Northum- berland, Pembroke, and Northamp- ton, composed threeof the jury. Still, the treasonable part of the charge wast so weakly supported, that a majority of the peers gave a verdict in favour of the accused. " The intention of assaulting privy- counsellors was, however, so far esta- blished by evidence, that he was con- victed of felony, and received sentence i accordingly. The crowds without, who waited with deep anxiety the issue of this important trial, expressed their opinion of the question by loud and reiterated shouts, when the pri- soner was exonerated from the first part of his accusation ; and the grief occasioned by his conviction of felony was denoted in terms no less sincere, and scarcely less boisterous. "This once-potent and magnifi- cent Duke met his fate on the scaffold on Tower-hill. He was attended by immense throngs of spectators, whose clamorous friendship broke forth in demands for his pardon, even to the last moment. — Many of them rushed forward, to dip their handkerchiefs in his blood, which they long preserved as a precious relique; and some of them, soon after, when Northumber- land met with a like doom, upbraided him with this cruelty, and displayed to him these symbols of his crime,** THE CONTENTS or THE SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS Preface, THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOOK. CHAP. I. Thai fill trotiile and affiitiiontdmeik^ from God, CHAP. \t That f rouble is sent unto usqfGodf6£ - the pimishfnent>of bur Mn^, CHAP. III. 'All manner of troubles and affllctioiis^ whatsoever they' bep are always r fnuch 'les^ and lighter than ^f^e-om- ; iins, CHAP. IV. i«4// manner of afflictions are sent from God, of a fatherly mind toward iLS, CHAP. V. Tliat only God, for Chrhessake;^and that of very mere love ^ and favour, doth correct and punish us. ■ ■''*»-«li'"^ _^mtMm».md,.,m CONTENTS OP THB TRECIOUS PEARL. CHAP. VI. Similitudes and comparisons declaring flow and after what manner God doth plague and chasten us of verxf love^ mercy ^ and favour towards CHAP. VII. Trouble and afflictions do serve to trif CHAP. VIII. Trouble and afflictions do help and further us to the knowledge ofouT" selvesy and of God also, and specially to. wisdom, CHAP. IX. Trouble and afflictions do further us to the right knowledge of our sins, and perfect repentance for them. H Trouble, affliction, and adversity, do Iwlp and further v^ to the exercising^ and increasing of our faith. CHAP. XL ' Tfouble and adversity give us occasion to pray unto God, and to laud • ^ him. CHAP. xn. Trouble and adversity do further lui to virtue and godliness. CHAP. XIII. Sorrow and affliction do help andfur^ ther us toward the fear and love of Cod. CHAP. XIV. Trouble and affliction are good and profitable to teach men patience, meekness, and lowliness. CHAP. XV. Trouble and adversity are good to teach men pity, compassion, and patience towards other. CHAP. XVI. Trouble and adversity make men hard and strong, and teach them sober- ness and temperance. A 2 I J I i CONTENTS OP THE TRECIOUS PEARL. CHAP. VI. Similitudes and comparisons declaring how and after what manner God doth plague and chasten us of ver^ love, mercy, and favour towards us. CHAP. VII. Trouble and afflictions do serve to try us. CHAP. vni. Trouble and afflictions do help and further us to the knowledge of our- selves, and of God also, and specially to wisdom* CHAP. IX. Trouble and afflictions do further us to the right knowledge of our sins, and perfect repentance for them. CHAP. X» Trouble, affliction, and adversity, do lielp and further us to the exercising , and increasing of our faith. CHAP. XL Trouble and adversity give us occasion to pray unto God, and to laud him. CHAP. xn. Trouble and adversity do further tut to virtue and godliness. CHAP. XIII. Sorrow and affliction do help andfur^ ther us toward the fear and love of God. CHAP. XIV. Trouble and affliction are good and profitable to teach men patience, meekness, and lowliness. CHAP. XV. Trouble and adversity are good to teach men pity, compassion, and patience towards other. CHAP. XVI. Trouble and adversity make men hard and strong, and teach them sober^ ness and temperance. A 2 i CONTENTS OF THE CHAP. XVII. Trouble and adversity teach men (o deft/the world, and to he diligent and fervent in all godliness and^vitiuH CHAP. XVIII. Trouble and adversity are also an oc^ casion and help of much transitory quietness ^nd commodity in this , world. CHAP. XIX. Trouble and adversity are afurih^r-^ ance to eternal life, CHAP. XX. How and .in what respect^ trouble jand adversity can be so prof table and of such virtue, seeing that the unfaith- ful do wax more obstinate and per^ verse through trouble and affiic* tions, CHAP. XXL ^Fellow -companions in trouble and M* versity. PRECIOUS PEARL. THE SECOND PART OF THIS BOOK. [ CHAP. XXII. By tvhat natural means or ways trouble and adversity may be qualified^ eased, and ouerco?ne, CHAP, xxni. The best and surest succour and com- fort in adversity resteth only in the wight, power, tvill, and goodness of God^ CHAP. XXIV. Es^amples of the help and aid of God. THE THIRD AND LAST PART OF THIS BOOK. CHAP. XXV, We must direct our faith, hope, and confidence towards God. CHAP. XXVL (>f prayer in trouble and adversity, CHAP. XXVIL Repentance and amendment of life, A 3 CONTENTS. CHAP. XX VIII, Godly persuasions and examples out ef the word of God to move men unto patience in adversity, CHAP. XXIX. Examples and causes, taken out of natural things, and of heathen men^ whereby a man may be moved to pa-- tience in adversity, CHAP. XXX. By what means patience may be obtain^ ed, and once had be kept and in*^ creased. CHAP. XXXI. The fruit, profit, and commodity of patience, as well corporal as spi^ ritual. V t THE PREFACE. JinwARD, by the grace of God, Duke p( Somerset, uncle to King Edward 4|ie, Sixth, his excellent Majesty, &c. to the. Christian reader greeting. If they be worthy praise, who for a zeal and desire that they have to do their neighbours good, do write and .put in print such things as by expe- • ,rience they have proved, or by hearsay ff grave and trusty men they have ,l^\vor^hy )Jie care ibereof. ' THE PREFACE. For a well-quieted mind to a trou- bled body yet maketh quietness; and sickness of body or loss of goods is pot much painful to him that esteem- eth it not, or taketh it patiently. But an unquiet mind, yea, to a most whole body, maketh health unplea- sant, and death to be wished ; and an imsatiable mind with desire of more maketh riches poverty, and health a sickness, strength an mfirmity, beauty a deformity, and wealth beggary : when by comparing liis felicity with a better, it loseth the grace and joy of that which it hath, and feeleth the gmart of that it hath not. Now then, since to amend this in wealth, and to take away sorrow and grief even thence, where in very deed is no apparent cause of grief, through our weakness, is no less than the work; of a very great master of pliysic, and deserveth much commendation; what is he worthy of, that can ease true grief indeed, and make health where ^ very sore resteth? I mean, that caa 1/ I THE PKEPACE. €ase a man set in affliction, take away grief from him that is persecuted, loose l6e prisoner yet in bonds, remove ad- versity in adversity, or jnake grievous wckness not to be felt, and extreme beggary to be rejoiced at. . Jp^ vers learned men heretofore, by reasons grounded of man's knowledge, wrote and invented great comfort ?gain5t all kind of griefs ; and so among the, gentiles' and philosophers' books be books of comfort. .^ .But whosoever followeth but worldly and man's reason to teach comfort to Ibe troubled mind, he can give but a cojLinterfeit medicine ; as the surgeon doth, which colourably healeth, or th^ physician which giveth medicines that do but astonish the sore place, and so deceive the patient. But the true healing of grief and sorrow they had not, for they lacked the ground ; they lacked that that should heal the sore at the bone first, that is, true faith in Christ and his holy word. All medi- fin^of the soiil^v'hich belaid on the \} THE PREFACE, sores thereof, not having that cleanser with ihem, be but over-healers : they do not take away the rankling within ; and many times, under colour of hasty healing, they bring forth proud flesh in the sore, as evil or worse than that wliich was first corrupt. This man, whosoever he be, that was the first author of this book, goeth the right way to work : he bringeth his ground from God's word: he taketh with him the oil and wine of the Samaritan : he carrieth the hurt man from thence where he lay hurt, and bringeth him to his right host, where, no doubt, he may be cured, if he will apply himself thereto. It is read in histories, that the marif^ ner among the old Egyptians or As- syrians was, when any were sick to lay him abroad, that every man that passed by might tell if he had been vexed with such-like sickness, what thing that was that did cure and heal him, and so they might use it to the patient. And by this means it it I > THE PREPACB.T thought, that the science of physic was tirst found out : so that it may appear that this readiness for to teach another that thing wherein a man feeleth ease of grief, is not only Chris- ten, but also natural. In our great trouble, which of late did happen unto us (as all the world, doth know), when it pleased God for a time to attempt us with his scourge, and to prove if we loved him, in read- ing this book we did find great com- fort, and an inward and godly work- ing power, much relieving the grief of our minds^ The which thing now calling to remembrance, we do think it our duty not to be more unnatural, than the old Egyptians were ; but ra- ther, as the ofiice of a Christian is, to be ready to help all men by all ways possible that we can, and specially those that be afflicted. And hereupon we have required him, of whom we liad the copy of this book, to set it forth in print, that not only we, or one or two more, but THE PREPACKr lill that be afflicted, may take prnfitJ and consolation, if they will i yea, and' they that be not afflicted, may either see what they should have done ia- their troubte, or what hereafter the/ ought to do, if any like happenethr tmto them; knowing certainly, that 80ch' is the? Uncertainty of the world^ and all human things, that no man? standeth^so sure, bdt the tempest of; affliction and adversity may overt^kff him; and if the grace Of God do nod singoterlyhelp him, cast him dovVnd and make himfall.' * Wherefore it is most necessarjrfilis ways- to'havfe in readiness Siith god!y» meditations and medicines ■^$ may paif cify God^s wrath beginning to fcindte,? and defend in part the bitterness -^rf affliction, ■' whferebf t hlsr' book is veryi plenteous find fi^Jh Fare you w^^ SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. &c. That all trouble and ajliction cometh from God, THE FIRST CHAPTER. I CALL all that trouble and affliction, whatsoever is reputed to be contrary to the desire and appetite of man's na- ture; as the unquiet suggestions of the flesh, the temptations of the devil, sickness of body, a wicked and froward mate in matrimony, to have disobedient children, unkind and un- thankful friends, loss of goods, to be deprived of any old liberty or privi- lege, loss or blemish of name and iame, the malice and displeasure of 2 A SPIRITUAL AJ^D men, hunger, dearth, pestilence, war,- imprisonment, and death. And in this register do I put all kinds of crosses and afflictions, whether they be bodily or ghostly, our own or our friends', private and singular, or universal and general, privy and secret, or open and manifest, deserved or undeserved. In all such things, I say every Christian man ought first of all ta consider the very root, ground, and beginning, after this wise : that all things, whatsoever God sendeth, we ought to take and receive them pa- tiently. For this is once true, that God is our Creator and Maker, and we his workmanship : he is our King, onr Lord, and Father; and likeas it is not seeming that the pot should murmur against the potmaker (Isa. xlv. hiv. Jer. xviu.), even so is it much less convenient, that w^e should mur- mor and grudge against God's will and judgement. And although trouble and affliction riseth and springeth oftentimes by the wickedness of ene- Mto murn^ur against l)is will, and to gtvive against, his judgment^ it cannot 1^ hot an heinous and grievous sin. nat trouble^ and affliction^ and ad- versitT/^ are sent unto us of God; even for the punishment of our sins. THE SECOND CHAPTER. Now whdt thing moveth or causeth God to send home unto us, ^nd visit ps with afflictions, trouble, and vexa- tion ? Concerning this point mark %h\% well. Whatsoever any man hath B 3 A SPIRITUAL AND merited ond deserved, that ought he to bear and to suii^r willingly and gladly. (Prov* xxii.) Let every man appose and examine himself, whether he hath notde$erved to be corrected and chastened of God, if it be not for any special ^hing at the present instant, ym. v. vi. Nwn. xiv. Nahum, i*) ; for he saith in tfaie second commandment, *' I the Lord which am thy God, atn a jealous and ean^est God, and I will visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, even until the third and fourth generaiion, if they hate and contemn me/' And in the fifth book of Moses* are all the plagues rehearsed, one after an- other, which shall be poured out upon the wicked and ungodly : and in Luke ((hap. xiii,) it is said thus: '• If ye MO^T PRECIOUS PEARL. fft 4o not amend, ye shall all' perish." And that we may perceive even before our eyes evidently,: how ^tbat punish- ment and plagues are the due rewards for sin, God lefnpereth and frameth the punishment even ..like unto the §i;i ^ so that they do bath agth age other; yea, but now thou wilt say, So much the more loath and unwilling am I to forbear and to he without her, seeing I lived so ieng a time so quietly with her. For we forget soon such pleasures and com, modities as we have proved and tasted but a little time only. But to answer to this, take thou heed that thou be not found unthankful, if thou wilt only weigh and cons«er what thou hast lost, and not remember how Ionf>- thou didst enjoy her. ** And again, m the verj^ time and imdst of affliction and tribulation, God giveth us grace to consider othfer good and prosperous things, which we have and errjoy still, that through the remembrance and consideration of them, our smart and pain may be eased, mollified, and mitigated. As for an example: thou art a weak, impotent, and a diseased man m thy body ; but yet hath God given thee reasonable and convenient goods »nd possessions to sustain thee with > c 2 A SriHiTUAL AND MOST PIIECTOUS PEARL. or else, if thou hast scarceness and lack of goods and riches, yet thou hast no Jack of bodily health. Now if we will not set and weigh the one against the other, then ai-e %¥e like unto little children, which if ^rjy man happen a little to disturb or hinder their play or game, or lo take any manner of thing from them, they will by and by cast away all the rest also^ and will iall on weeping. Even ^o, were it possible enough for us to do likewise, whensoever any misforr tune should happen unto us, to wax angry and displeased ; and to have no maniner of lust nor desire to yse not to enjoy that good, that still remain- eth and is left behind. Be it in case that thpu wert deprived pfall manner of bodily comfort ; yet in thy breast and heart thou hast the Jenowledge of Jesus Christ, which hath redeemed thee oat pf hell and damna- tion, that was due unto thee ; in re- spect of tlie which damnation all plagues upon earth are to be esteemed I . as one little drop of water against the whole se^. (Rom. v. j Cor. v. Col. i. ii. 1 Pet. iii. Heb. ix. &c.) Besides this, also through faith thoti feelest a confidience and assurance of everlasting and eternal }oy. As St. Paul doth write of the same, saying • " I suppose the afflictions pf this world are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed unto us.'* (Rom. viii.) An example have we set before our eyes in the prodigal and desperate son, which did so humble and submit himself, that he desired no more to be taken for a son, but to be put to la- bour as a day-labourer and an hired servant, so that he might but only re- main in his fiither's house. (Luke, xvi.) Even so, whatsoever God sendeth ought we to take patiently, so that we inay but only dwell in the house of God in heaven with him everlastingly. Mow if any man should think thus : God dotii not punish others which bave committed much more heinous sinSjVvith so great and grievous plagues C 3 A SPIRITUAL AND and diseases as lie doth iis ; that were unrcycn-iitly and unchristianlv ima- gined ot God. For uliat if thou thy- self be more wicked tlian any other > Uut he It so, that others do hvemore Wick^ly and licentiously than *hon. what wottcst thou how .God doth pu- nish thein i The: greatest aqd most gneyous pains and punishments are the inwai-d sorrows and secret punish- ments of the mind, which are not seen With the outward eye. And although they have no special sorrow nor singular grief that appear- eth unto thee, and thou knowestnot What God meaneth thereby, yet oueht- est thpu (as a child unto the fuher) to g.ve unto him honour, laud,and praise, that he disposeth all things with such wisdom, and in such order. And when he seeth time, he will reward and consider all such things as tZ^" "'™"S'?t ''"'1 committed and .^rr^'"""'' '"''"°^' "-ighteou. ■11; MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. ^f// manner of qffliciions are sent and come from God, of a loving and fa^ iherly mind towards us, THE FOURTH CHAPTEK. It is not sutficient for us to know, that all manner of affliction cometh by the permission and sufferanGC of God, of his just judgment by reason of our sins. For in extreme tempta- tions, and in great necessities, these are the first thoughts and imagina- tions that come into our minds: For- asrancii as I have grievously offended God with my sins, therefore is he dis- pleased with me, and now become my enemy, and hath cast his favour from me. And if we prevent not, and shift away such fantasies and imaginations in time, they -will make us to fly from God, to forsake him, and to abhor and grudge against him ; as Saul did, which imagined and fully persuaded himself that God punished liimof ha- tred and displeasure against him.. And A SPIRITUAL ANB MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. therefore Saul's heart turned from God, and forsook him, and so he be- gan to hate and abhor him, as a cruel tyrant, (i Sam. xviii.) Whw-efore unto such points and Jirticles as are taught heretofore, this admonition doth also appertain : vve ought to receive with high thankful- ness whatsoever God of a fatherly and lovmg mind, and not of any indigna- tion towards us, sendeth unto us, whe- ther it be to the flesh pleasant or griev- ous. The Lord God visiteth us with temporal and transitory misery, even for the very careful and fatherly heart that he beareth towards us, and not of any^hatred or indignation against us. (Tobit, xii. Job, V. Hosea, vi. im. IV. Heb. xii. Rev. iii.) ; For God is reconciled and at one wub all Christian men, through his Son; and loveth them, even from the very ground of his heart. For the which cause, howsoever or by what manner of means it be that Pod punisheth and correcteth us he doth It not because he hateth us, as though he would utterly refuse and cast us away ; but of very pity and compassion, only to receive us as his children ; to keep and preserve us, to exercise and practise us, to humble and to bring us down, and to stir and prick us forward ; that prayer, faith, the fear of God, obedience and other virtues, may wax and increase in us, to his honour and our salvation. Testimonies for this have we, first : *' As truly as I live, I have no plea- sure in the death of the sinner, but that he turn and live." (Ezek. xviii.) Here now doth God swear, that he doth punish, not to destroy, but to allure, reduce, and bring us unto re- pentance. Item: '' Whom the Lord loveth, him doth he chasten, and yet not- withstanding he hath pleasure in him, as a father in his child." (Prov. iii.) This is an evident testimony that affliction, trouble, and vexation, are no tokens of the wrath and di.splea* N t A SPiniTUAL ANB sure of God, but rather sure ^oleni? of his grace, mercy, and 6vour, where^ by God assureth us of his inercifiil will and fatherly heart towards us. Item : ^' We know that unto such as love Gc>d, all things serve to the best.** (Rom. viii.) And again : " We are corrected and punished of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (i Cor. xi.) All this mayest thou also mark in the whole story of Job throughout. £»ikewise Joseph was sold of his bre* thren, and delivered unto the heathen, of very malice and envy, .by the pro- rocation and suggestion of the devil fiut the most faithful God turneth it to the profit and wealth, both of the house of Israel, and also of the whole ^mgdom of Egypt : for so did Joseph himself mterpret it. (Gen.xxxvii. xlv.) , Again, the church of Christ, that ^^, ^o, ^'^y» the Christian congregation which IS Christ's spouse, must suffer vexation and affliction here upon earth. MOSl* PRECIOUS PEARL. ^But forasmuch as God loveth this his spouse of his Son, namely, the congregation of the faithful, and mind- cth to comfort her, and to be most beneficial unto her ; therefore likeas he- hath raised up Christ her bride, groom, head, and king, from death, even sa will he also deliver her from all afHiction, and give her a joyful vic- tory of all such things as do oppress her. But it is the infirmity and fault of our weak eyes, that we cannot espy the merciful and loving goodness of God, in and under the rod and scourge. Whensoever we are visited with affliction and misery, it is our duty, indeed, first to acknowledge and re' member our sins, and again to con- sider the yoke and bands of the devil for sin; but we ought not to judge and imagine of such affliction accord- ing to the purpose and will of the devil (as he ofa malicious and a mischievous ' mind that he beareth us, mindeth to- wards us ; which seeketh continually I" A SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. nothing else, but the utter destruction and confusion of all mankind) ; but rather we ought to esteem and consider of all such troubles and afflictions, according as God meancth, and so re- ceive them, which of his mere good- ness turneth them to our wealth and profit, working and finishing thereby our perfect salvation. And wheresoever the heart cannot conceive this comfort, that God cor- recteth and punisheth for very merciful favour and love towards us, there of necessity must the temptation and grief be much the greater, and the party at length fall to utter desperation. That only God, for ChrisCs sake, and that of very mercy, love, and favour, doth correct and punish us. THE FIFTH CHAPTER. The very right and only cause of the merciful and fatherly will of God towards us, have we in the only merits oi Jesus Christ, unto whom we ought to lift up our hearts toward heaven,, and to behold and consider hipi vvith our minds continually, after this manner : Our sins and misdeeds deserve hun- ger, death, war, pestilence, and all manner of plagues. Now hath Clirist ransomed and made full satisfaction for all the sins that we have commit- ted. (Isai. liii. John, i. iii. Rom. v. vi. viii. Eph. ii. Col. i. ii. 1 Pet. iii. 1 John, iv. Heb. ix. &c.) He hath redeemed, paid, discharged, and made harmless unto us all our misdeeds with his bitter death, victory, and resur- rection, and hath satisfied his Father's righteousness, as St. Paul doth testify very comfortably, saying, " Jesus is become and made unto us our wis- dom, our righteousness, our sanctin- catioi., and our redemption." (1 Cor. i.) So then, now, if afl[iictions hurt us only by reason of our sins, and our sins be satisfied and discharged through the death and passion of Jesus, then iuust.it needs follow, that all our af- \ A SPiniTUAL AND MOST PRECIWS PE4JIL. I flictions also are likewise harmless unto us, and cannot hurt us. Yea, Christ, with and through his passion and affliction, hath blessed and sanctified all manner of afflictions, that they all should serve and redound unto all faithful Christians for their greatest wealth, by the ordinance and* provision of God, their heavenly Fa- ther. He is the true physician, which after he perceiveth the affliction did fear us, took upon himself to suffer all manner of trouble, yea, the most grievous sorrows and extremities, be- cause he would set and appoint a cer- tain measure and end unto our sor- rows, and also bless and sanctify, yea, and also make pleasant and delectable very death itself unto us. Oh ! if we could feel, behold, and consider the heart and mind of Christ, when he did willingly hang upon the cross, and suffered himself so cruelly and painfully to be tormented and pu- nished, for no other cause but that h^ might utterly take away the whole I I strength of all our sins, sorrow, and death, and destioy hell, that none of them should hurt us. And again, that he tasted and drank of the cup be- fore us, that we being sick and weak «nght the rather drink and taste. of It afcer him, forasmuch as no evil mis- liappened unto him thereof, but im- njediately rose up again from deatJi, Oh, it the knowledge and remem- brance of this might remain in our hearts upright, and shiiie continually before us! Then should we never sink or faint ; nor yet despair of the mercy and goodness of God, altliough we should labour in Uiiver so dan- gerous and grievous lxi.ne,anci thoutch we ourselves should taie an^ kd the due punishment that o« • is have deserved : then should wc b.; able to stand stiffl) against tlie gat- s ot hell ; and all manner of sorrow, heavir.'css, temptation, fear, and misfortune' sbpuld thereby 1>q utterly consumed and swallowed up. . And even thiij is the highest and D 2 A SPIRITUAL AND tnost special comfort that ever wat> heard or read of from the beginning of the world. He is only alone suf- ficient (if we consider him and take hofd of him as we should do) to plant and graft such a mind in us, that we shall not only not sorrow nor be heavy, but also triumpfi, and rejoice in and of our misery and affliction, as Paul triumphed excellently and highly, where Ikj saith, " If God hath not spared [lis only Son, bcit hath given him up for us all, how should he not give us all things with him ?" (Rom. viii.) What make we then with our vain fearfulness, care, sorrow, and hea^- viness ? Wherefore (if we will be rightGhris- tians) we must with all thankfulness set forth, extol, and magnify this ex- eellent, infinite, and heavenly grace and benefit of God, and the high and singular comfort which we have by Christ. For all they that lack the knowledge MOST PRECIOUS PEAEL. of the benefit that we have by Christ, and refuse this excellent and higli treasure, whether they be Jews or Heathens, Mahometans or Popi.sh, they cannot be able to give any true, per- fect, or wholesome comfort, either to themselves or to any other, in any manner of tear or doubt of the con- science, or in any other affliction and necessity. So long as they are quiet and safe, and neither ieel nor consider the pain of death, or any other grief or neces-. sity, they may well live securely an4 boldly without any manner of fear i hut when the evil hour once cometh, that the weather changeth a little ; that either through the revelation and opening of the law they feel and per- ceive the wrath of God over them, or else through ihe manifest and evident tokens and preaching of the just pu- nishment and vengeance of God, and through the present taste of some plagues, they are suddenly taken and stricken with fear, then doth all their D 3 A SPIRITUAL AXD Wisdom, counsel, and policy, where- with to withstand any such evil, ut- terly fail them, and suddenly deceive them. Then fly they from God, and can- not tell whither to run, nor where to hide themselves. And how small soever their tempta- tion or plague is, their heart is dashed, and as sore afraid (as Moses saith) of the noise of a leaf, as of a thunder- clap. (Levit. xxvi. Prov. xxviii.) And with such manner of persons the whole trade of their former life, with all their labour, travail, and afflictions, in their superstitious serving: of God, and in their hard and strait life, is utterly lost and spent in vain. Yea, what comfort soever they have sought beside Christ, it is all nothing else but an augmentation of their sor- rowful fear, and a training of them towards desperation. So that without and besides the Lord Jesus, there is »o manner of comfort, aid, nor sue- MOST FRECIOUS PEARL. cour, at all to be looked for. (Acts^ • Til • I • • V V ^ IV. Phd. II.) i Similitudes and comparisons, declaring how and after vjfmt manner God doth plague and chasten us of very love, mercy, and favour towards us. THE SIXTH CHAPTER. Whenas Almighty God, for the merits of his Son, not of any ireful mind or displeasure, but of a good will and loving heart towards us, doth correct and punish us, he may be com- pared and likened unto a father, a mo- ther, a master, a physician, an hi>s- bandman, a goldsmith, and such-like, after this sense : likeas the natural f Jther first teacheth his dear beloved child, and afterward giveth him warn- ing and monition, and then correcteth him at last ; even so the eternal God assayeth all manner of ways with us, which are well grown and old in years, but young and tender in faith. First he teacheth us his will through A SPIRITUAL AND the preaching of his word, and giveth us warning. Now if so be ihat we will not follow him, then he beateth andjirketh us a little with a rod, as soTietime with poverty, sometime with sickness and diseases, or with other afflictions, which should be named and esteemed as nothing else but chil- dren's rods, or the wands of correction. Now if such a rod or wand will not help nor do any good, then taketh the father a whip or a stick. As in case his son waxeih stubborn, and will epend his money and ihrift wantonly and riotously at t^ie tippling- house with evrl company, then cometh the father and pulleth him out by the hair of his head, bindeth his hands and feet, and beateth him till his bone^ crack, and sendeth him into prison, ^rbanisheth him out of the country : ^ven so when we wax obstinate and stubborn, and care in manner neither for words not for stripes, then sendeth God unto us more heavy and universal plagues, as pestilence, dearth, sedi- MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. tion, uproar, casualty of fire, murder, war, loss of victory, that, being taken of our enemies, we are led away pri- soners and captives, &c. All this he doth to fear and to tame us, and as it were with violence to drive and to force us unto repentance, and amendment of our lives. Now truth k is, that it is against the fa- ther's \\\\\ to strrke his child ; he would fnuch rather do him all the good that ever he could. But through long suf- ferance and over-much cherishing, the children wax rude, and forget all nun. ture. Therefore doth he punish them; but yet, in the niidst of a^l his anger and punishment, his fatherly heart hreaketh out. In case that he pulteth his son away from him for some grievous fault, yet he sendeth him not away altogether comfortless, but giveth him some gar- ments, and some comfortable words, and so sendeth him from him, not to remain for evermore in banishment, but when he is once a little humbled. A SPIRITUAL AND ineekene(l,and amended, to turn home ^agaiii. And this is only the father's .mind, to turn aiid keec) from his son all such things as might hurt and de- stroy him, and never mindeth to cast .away or utterly to forsake his child. Even so, certainly uhcn God send- etli misery and affliction upon our necks, there layeth hidden under that rod a fatherly heart and affection. For the peculiar and natural property of God IS to be loving and friendly, to heal, to lielp, and to do good to his children, mankind. . Adam and Eve, when they were put into paradise, were they not plen- teously endowed with all good things ? But they could not order nor use f}^^ >*;ghtly, as none of us all can (Gen. iii.) ; but as soon as we have all tilings at pleasure, and lack no- thing that we could desire, th(?n forth- .^vith wax we both negligent and slothful. And therefore God sendeth us evil, that he may do us good ; and yet iti MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. I the midst of all affliction and punish- ment he sendeth some mitigation, comfort, and succour. And we may take example by our foresaid first pa- rents, Adam and Eve ; whenas God was fully determined upon the very point to exclude and banish them out of paradise, first he cloilied them against the frost and violence of the weather ; and he comforted them also with the promise of the blessed seed (Gen. iii.), which maketh all manner of affliction not only easy and harmless, but also wholesome and prolitable unto us. And this same nature doth the im- mutable God never change, but keep- eth it continually; he will not utterly forsake us, but only suffer us a little to smart for the sins that we have com- mitted, and so preserve us from sin afterward, that we ran not into the danger of eternal pain. Furthermore be it, in case that the father hath two sons, whereof the one behaveth himself wickedly, and yet A SPIRITUAL AX0 liis father ptmishethor correcteth lum nothirig at all, tl}€ other for the least fault that he doth is taken up and corrected by and by ; what thing else is the cause of this, but that the fa- ther hath no hope of amendment at all of the one, and therefore inindeth to put him clearly from his heritage, and to give him no [xirt thereof? For the heritage pertaineth wholly to that son that is chastened and corrected. And yet the same poor son that is thus chastened, thinketh in his mind that bis brother is much more happy than he, forasmuch as he is never beaten nor stricken. And therefore he sighs and mourneth by himseUV and thinketh thus : Well, my bi'other doth what he will against my father's will, and without his leave, and yet my father giveth him not one foul word; he suffereth him to take his pleasure, and to run where h€ will ; and towards me he sheweth not so much as a good look, but is ever in my top if I do but look awry, kc. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL* Here now mayest thou mark the foolishness and ignorance of the child,, which hath respect only unto the pre- sent grief, and never remembereth nor considereth what is reserved and kept in store for him. Even such thoughts and imaginations have Christian mea and women also, vvheiias they sgfFer much tribulation, and see on the other side how prosperously it goeth with the wicked and ungodly sort ; whereas they ought rather to comfort them- selves with the remembrance of the heritage that is reserved for them in heaven, which appertaineth unto them, as good and virtuous children. As for the other, that hop and spring, make merry, and .take their pleasure now for a while, they shall bd deprived of the heritige everiast- ingly as strangers, and shall have no part thereof. And this proveth St. Paul, where he saith, " My son, fear not when thou art cx)rrected of the Lord, but receive his punishment thankfully, and E i I A SflRlTUAL AND with a good will ; for whomsoever the Lotd loveth, him doth he chastise and punish, and scourgeth every child that he receiveth. Now if ye be partakers of correction, then doth God ofFer and shew himself unto you as a father. And if all those that be children be corrected, and ye without correction, are ye not then bastards, and nut children?" (Heb. xii.) In these words doth St. Paul evidently compare and liken the punishment of the Lord unto the correction of a natural father. And whom should not tliese wordf! make to tremble a^d quake ? whereas he saith, those are^ bastards, and not right and lawful children, which are not punished. And again, whom should not this thing rejoice and corn- fort ? whereas he saith, they that are punished are children. Wherefore, although the Almighty Lord sheweth himself displeased with us, it is nothing else but a displeasure of a most kind and loving father,which fcceketh not our destruction and un- MOST PRECIGCS PEARL. doing, but only our reformatiSn; amendment, and wealth. Give over thyself, therefore, patiently to the will of God thy faithful father. Rejoice in the correction of the Lord, foras- much as thou art sure and certain thereby that he beareth a gracious and a fatherly heart, mind, and will towards thee. Furthermore, God is also in this be- half compared to a mother. The mo- ther feedeth and nourisheth the child ;. and all the good she can do linto it, that doth she, even of a tender and motherly heart ; and yet through the* frowardness and unruliness of the' child, is she sometimes so moved and provoked, that she is angry with it;* chideth it, rebuketh it, and beateth it. Even so were it the very natureanc} property of God to suffer no manner of misfortune to happen unto us, but yet through our manifold sins he is provoked to punish and chasten us. Now as little as the motter denieth, forsaketh, or giveth over the child, £ 2 A SPIRITUAL AM© though she be angry with it and dis- please it, even as little doth God for- sake or give over us in our need and necessity, misery and affliction, though he seem never so much to be dis- pleased with us. Scripture for this have we ; '* If a mother can forget her child, then may I also forget thee, saith the Lord: but if she should forget her child, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah, xlix.) There is never a schoolmaster, nor handycraftsman, which taketh any scholar or apprentice unto him to teach, but he will make these condi- tions with him expressly : that the lad shall not be self-willed nor stubborn, nor follow his own brain and mind, but with all possible diligence shall mark and take heed unto that which the master teacheth him ; and if he will be negligent, or play the truant, and not give himself unto his busi- ness as he ought to do, if he, being his master, should beat and punish him therefor, that he be content to MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. take it patiently and with a good will. Now the master doth not correct and punish his scholar or servaot-for any iiiteht to hurt him, or for any milioe or evil will towards him, but only that he should learn better afterward, be more diligent, and take better Iieed*^ Even so likewise Christ receiveth nd scholar or disciple unto him, but he maketh conditions with him most ne- cessary for every Christian man, which are expressed in Matthew, xvi. The word of God ought to be the only rule whereby we should be orw dered ; but we had rather to follow ftur own head and our own brain, by the means whereof oft-times we go awry, and miss the right way ; and therefore the heavenly Schoolmaster knappeth us on the fingers, till we apprehend and learn his will more perfectly. Likewise, the physician or surgeon must cut away and burn out the rotten and dead flesh with his iron and in- strument, that the whole body be not infected and poisoned, and so perish : £ 3 A SPIRITUAL AN© even so doth God sometimes plague 6ur bodies sharply and grievously, that our souls may be preserved and healed. And how deep soever God thrusteth his iron into our flesh and bodies, he doth it only to remedy and to heal us ; and if it be so that he kill us, then will he bring us to the right life. The physician, in making of his trial, occu« pieth serpents and adders, and such- like poison, to drive out one poison with another: even so God, in af- flicting and correcting of us, occupieth and useth the devil and wicked people, but yet all to do us good withal. As long as the physician hath any hope of the recovery of his patient, he assayelh all manner of means and medicines with him, as well sour and sharp, as sweet and pleasant ; but as soon as ever he beginneth to doubt of his recovery, he sufFereth him to have and to take all manner of things what- soever the patient himself desireth. Even so the heavenly Physician, as long as he taketh us Christians for his. .> V MOST PRKCI0U5 PEASL. aiid hath any hope to recover or to heal us, he restraineth us from our lyill, and will not always suffer us to have what we most desire ; but as soon as he hath no. more hope of us, and giveth us over, then he suffereth us for a time to have and enjoy all our own will and pleasure. This similitud|S? and comparison is taken out of thcfiftL chapter of Job : *' If the Lord God ctoth wound, then doth his hand heal again ; &c." Furthermore, when a horse-breaker giveth unto a lusty fresh young horse too much of the bridle, he is wild ^nd wanton, and goeth not well as he should do, and by chance in a slippery and sliding place he might fall head and legs over and over : even so, if our Creator and Maker should suffer us overmuch, and give us too large liberty, we should soon wax wild, and proud thereof; and it might happen that we should undo and destroy our- selves ; therefore he giveth us a sharp bit in our mouths, and helpeth us to A SPIRITUAL AXD MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. brKlleancl to tame our flesh, that the "oble and precious soul perisli not. Again, likeas the carter or poor man JTketh his horses witli the whi# and stnketh them sharply when they will not draw nor go forward, and yet fa- vourcth and sparelh them also, that fie may enjoy them tlie longer ; even so God striketh and whippeth us wlien we do not right as we should do! •md yet nevertheless spareth us, and ^vill not make utterly an end of us. Likeas the poor shepherd, also, when hjs foohsh sheep stray abroad in the wild wilderness among the xvoKcs driveth them from strange ways into he nght way, and hunteth them into their sure sheepfold, where they may be m safe guard ; even so we likewise prasmuch as we mix ourselves oft- times among the worldlingjj, and have fe lowship with those that^'e enemie' no our Chr^tmn and true religion, chnmhus^ from them, tliat we should not be destroyed, and perish together with them. The herdman will suffer such calves I as are appointed shortly to the slaugh- ter, to run and spring about in the pasture at pleasure ; and again, such as are reserved to labour are kept and used under the yoke: even so Al- mighty God doth suffer and permit unto those ungodly persons whose de- struction is at hand, to have all plea^ sure and lust upon earth, and to fulfil and accomplish their pleasures and de- sires : but the godly, whom lie will use to his honour and glory, those keep- eth he under the yoke, and restraineth them from the pleasant lusts of the world. A wise and skilful hqsbandman doth not cast nor sow his seed in a field or ground that is not broken, ploiighed, and tilled as it ought to be, but he h spanneth his oxen, and goeth to the / field and casteth up the earth with his ploughshare, and so tilleth and bar- roweth il i and then first of all he A SPIRITUAL AND soweth it, that if any rain fall the seed may be saved, driven into the earth, and take hold and wax therein. Even such an husbandman is God, and we are his tillage, (l Cor. iii.) And he bestoweth not his spirit and truth upon such as are wild, and past all fear of God. Moreover, likeas the gardener hedg- eth his garden round about, and fenceth it with thorns and briers, that no beasts nor noisome cattle hurt it ; even so God defendeth, keepeth, and preserv- eth us from evil company, and from all manner of sin, through thorns and briers, that is to say, through the cross and afflictions, as Hosea saith (chap.* ti.) • *' I will beset their ways with thorns, and their foot-paths will I hedge." If the gardener cut off the knobs and the crooked boughs from the trees in his garden, and loppeth tl)em a little, yet as long as the roots remain the trees are never the worse, but wax nevertheless, and bring forth fruit : even so doth God lop and htw Most precious peaiil. the crabby old Adam with the cross, not to the intent to hurt or harm us,' but to keep us in awe, and to teach us godly manners. And surely, as long as the root of faith remainetii with us, tliough we be spoiled and destitute of all riches, and of all manner of worldly and bodily comfort, yet shall we bring forth good fruits to the high honour and glory of God's holy name. (John, xvi.) Christian men without the cross are like unto grapes which hang upon the vines, and have the fruition of the open air, and remain still upon the stock unfruitful, and no man is the better for them. Wherefore the heavenly Vine-man brmgeth the Christians unto the wine- press, where they are beaten, pressed, stamped, and broken, not to their de- struction, but that they. may be deli- vered from the corruption and infec- tion of worldly lusts, and may bring fprth svvoet wine, and bear pleasant fruits. \i A SPIRITUAL AND The goldsmith casteth a lump of gold into the oven and into the fire, not to consume it away with the fire, but to purge it from the corruption that is inMt ; and that all that hangeth about it, and is no gold, should be burnt away with the fire, and con- sumed unto ashes: even so is God the goldsmith, the world the oven, affliction the fire, the faithful Chris- tians the gold, and the filth and cor- ruption is sin. Now will Grod purge and make clean those that belong unto him from all manner of blots, blemishes, and cor- ruption, and make them glorious and beautiful unto him. The free-mason hevveth the hard stones, and heweth off here one piece, and there another, till the stones be fit and apt for the place where he will lay them : even so God, the heavenly Free-mason, buildeth a Christian church, and he frameth and polisheth 1*6, which are the costly and precious stones, with the cross and affliction. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. that all abomination and wickedness, which do not agree unto this glo- rious building, might be removed and taken out of the way. (1 Pet. ii.) Again, as the dyer bleachetli, or the laundress washeth, beatcth, lump- eth, and clappeth the fuul, unclean, and defiled clothes, that they may so be white, pure, and clean ; even so doth God some time handle atid deal with ns, to make us pure and clean* (Dan. vi.) Trouble and afflictions do serve to prove and to try us witkaL THE SEVENTH CliAPTEn. Trouble and afl[lictions do prove, try, instruct, confirm, and strengthen the faith ; provoke and stir up prayer; drive and force us to amendment of life, to the fear of God, to meekness, to patience, to constancy, to gentle- ness, to soberness and temperance, and to all manner of virtues ; and are tkeoccasion of exceeding much good. I A SPIRITUAL AXD as well transitory as eternal, in tliii? world as in the world to come. Bf affliction and trouble will God prove and assay, mark and spy, how deep thy heart hath entered with God, how riHich thy faith is able to suffer and to bear, wliethcr thou canst forsake both thyself and all other creatures in tiie world for his sake. In suninia, to be short, he will try how thou wilt behave thyself, when he taketh utterly from thee, and out of thy sight, that wherein thou most de- lightest and hast any pleasure upon earth. God knoweth well enough be- fore how thou wilt take it, and behave thyself; but he will shew and declare to thyself and to other also, what is in thee; for oft-times people do ,so extol a man, and loake such boast of bun, to be the wisest, most circom- spect. manly, and honest man in a. country ; but when the time of trial cometh, there appeareth no such thing in bun as was thougjit and looked for. A man cannot learn to know a lustv I ( / MOST PRECIOUS I'EARL. and a stout man of war in the time of peace, but best of all in the time of war, when the cruel and fierce ene- mies do invade and assault his aiptain. When a great tempest ariseth in thd sea, then doth it appear whether the shipmaster be cunning in ruling the stern or no. Again, those are the most honest and most chaste matrons, which being sore tempted, assaulted, and provoked unto wickedness, do ne- vertheless keep their spouse-faith to- wanls tlieir husbands undefiled. Even so can no man know nor prove per- fectly how the Christian church keep- ethher spouse-faith and fidelity towards her spouse and bridegroom Jesus Christ, until such time as antichrist assaulteth and tempteth her with false doctrine, tyranny, and persecution. Such trees as have strong and deep roots, and sufficient natural sap, can no violent heat of the sun hurt nor harm ; but sudi as are felled and cut clown, are soon dried up with the heat ©f the sun, likeas the grass also that F 2 I A SPIRITUAL AND is mowed down doth soon wither: even so likewise such faithful persons as arc rooted in Christ Jesus, cannot troubles nor afflictions hurt, they grow and wax ?freen notwithstanding ; but the un- aithful do betmy themselves, and shew what they are, as soon as they sep any heat of trouble or persecution coming. With one flail are both the stalks and ears of the corn beaten, and also the corn itself tlireshed and purged out : even so with one manner of trouble and affliction are the faithful purged and provoked to pray unto God, and to Jaud and magnify him, and the un- faithful also to murmur and curse; and so are they both tried, proved, and known. When the corn is threshed, the ker* nel lieth mixed among the chafF, and afterwards are they dissevered asunder with the fan or windle : even so the people in the church do first hear the preaching of God's word; now some stumble, repine, and are offended at It, and other are not offended, and MOST PBECIOUS PEARL. vet they dwell together one with ano- ther; but when they are fanned orwin. dh^d, and when the wind of trouble and afflictions beglnneth once a little to How, then is it easy to sunder and to know the one from the other, the feithful from the unfaithful. Art thou pure corn? What needest thou then to fear either the flail or tfie wind ? In the threshing and in the wjnd thou Shalt be dehvered and sun- dered from the chaff; and shalt be made more pure than thou wastbefore. Let them fear that are chaff, which are not able to abide the wind, but must be blown away, and so cast out for ever. A rotten and an old weak house atandeth awhile for a time; but as soon as a wind cometh and bloweth, it ap. poarcih unto all men how feeble the foundation and stay of it was. Even so are there such Christian men without ground or foundation, vhich so long as all things go well and prosper with them , they aregoo(iGhris• F 3 A SPIRITUAL AND tians; but in the time of trouble and persecution, their dissimulation is known and breaketh out. (Wisd. iii.) As gold is tried in the oven, wherein It IS molten ; even so hath God tried and purged them. Now if thou be gold, what needest thou to fear the iire, which doth more profit than hin- der or hurt thee? To this purpose doth this true pro- verb serve : in need doth a man try which be his friends. ^ Examples: AhnigljtyGod did tempt and prove Abraham, and bade him offtr up and kill his only son (Gtti. xxn.) : tnen was Abraham in a ereat clisiress perplexity, and heaviness ; h^ bad rather have lost all his goods and possessions, and all ihat ever he had upon earth, than that he should slay his dear son. But yet, though it were agamst nature, and an untolerable thing, yet earned his son forth three days journey to kill him with his own nands : he overcame his flesh by faith and would be obedient untoGod, Then MOST PRECIOUS I'EARL. \s;i mi God unto him, Now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not spar^^ thy only dear son for my sake. And Moses saith, '' Remember all the ways through the which the Lord thy God hath \vx\ and guided thee these forty years in the wilderness, because he would chasten and prove thee, that it might appear and be known what was within thy heart, whether thou iR'ouIdest keep his commandments or no.*' (Deut. viii.) Set Pharaoh and I>iivid together the one against the other, two notable kings ; Pharaoh perse voreih and con- tinueth obstinate!^', stubbornly, and perversely in his wicked purpose, not- withstanding the manifold plagues that ^^ ^?.'.' ^^^ I'giiten upon him. (Exod. ^'ii- viir. ix.) Contrariwise, how soon did David give over and break out with all meekness, submission, pa^ 4ience, and acknowlerlging of his whoredom, whenas he fled from Ab- ^lom, Sbinici rebuking- and revilinf^ him most shamefully ! (a Sam. xvi.>" A SPIRITUAL AN'JI Job was Stricken with manygrievoiis sores, that there was nothing sound or whole in him, from the sole of his foot to the top of his head ; not that he had deserved such heavy punish- ment more than other men, but that God would declare to all the world his patience and faithfulness. But his wife did then shew her weak faith and wicked corrupt nature. (Job,i.ii.) Who was more faithful and more fervent than Peter ? and jet he denied and forsook Christ before a simple woman. (Matt, xxvi.) Who ought not therefore to fear himself, except he hath before in the trial been found faithful, steadfast, and constant ? In like manner daily experience teacheth us to know the faithful and unfaithful asunder in persecution and affliction. Tliere are some that cleave to the Gospel for a time ; but when they see they cannot attain that they sought and looked for, then they for- sake it, and fall from it again, yea, and m the time of temptation they fall to MOST PliEClOUS PDARt. blasphemy of the holy Gospel; bivt the godly, which have it fixed in their hearts, stand steadfastly by God both in life and death. Troiibfe and ajiiction do help andfitr- ther us to the knowledge of ourselves^ and of God aho, and esbeeia/h/ to ' THE EIGHTH CHAPTER. Besides this, it is a profitable and a good thing for a man to know himself well. . Felicity and prosperity blindeth a man ; but when he is under the cross he beginneth to mark the frailness of his body, the uncertainty of his life, the feebleness of his understanding* the infirmity and weakness of his own strength and power. He shall spy and perceive how far he is entered in the way of virtue, how the n^atter standeth between God and him, whether he be a champion of God or of the devil ; for a man think- A SPiniTUAL AND el! I li imself oft- times to be well groiind- rd and stablished, but in the time of temptation he feeleth how lightly and easily he is tossed and turned of every blast of the wind. Item, by affliction and misfortune God will put thee in remembrance how many tliousand perils are yet hanging over thy head, which should lighten and fall upon thee, if he did not keep and preserve thee from them. And the same God saith thus unto thee : The wicked enemy, with an in- numerable and infinite heap of all evils and mischiefs, doth assault thee, and lay watch for to subdue thee, and to swallow thee up ; but I have appointed him his bounds, over the which he cannot pass. The longer thou art under the cross, the better mayest thou learn all the virtues and goodness of God ; as his just judgmentand strait justice, where- by he shewelh his wrath and displea- sure against the wicked and ungodly, and sendeth upon their necks terrible MOST PRECIOUS PKABL, plagues ; and the obstinate and unre- pentant he condemneth everlastingly. Item, his infinite power, whereby he can help and comfort thee in most ex- treme misery and necessity. Item, his immutable truth, whereby he doth faithfully perform all his pro- mises, and bringeth to pass all his threaten ings. Item, his exceeding mercy and free grace, whereby he preventeih all evil towards us, and will not suffer us to be caught and oppressed with any mis- fortune. .. Item, his eternal and everlasting providence, whereby like a father he taketh charge and care over us, and governeth all things most wisely. (1 Pet. V.) Item, his glory, magnificence, and lauds for the foresaid virtues, which do shine most clearly in affliction and ad- versity; for the which cause St. Ber- nard writeth thus : Whereby we do know that He that dwellcth above is among us here beneath, forsooth by •A ,S1»IRITUA'L AND iliis, that we do Stick in trouble and afflictions. For who could be able to sustain,, bear, and abide them with- out Gad ? A man hath need at all times of wisdom, circumfpection, prudence, and soberness. Likeas prosperity shutteth and blindeth the eyes of men, even so doth adversity and trouble. Open them. Likeas the salve that remedieth the disease of the eyes doth first bite and grieve the eyes, and maketh them to water, but yet afterward the eyesight is clearer and more sharp than it was ; even so trouble and affliction doth grieve and vex men wonderfully at the first, but afterward it helpeth and lighteneth the eyes of the mind, that it is aftenvard more reasonable, wise, and circumspect. For trouble bringeth experience, and experience bringeth wisdom. The rod and punishment do bring wisdom. (Ec- cles. xxxiii. Prov. xxix.) And of thi$ did these proverbs first spring up:..Tho^ MOST PRECIOUS PEAKL. more plentiful land, the more foolish andAvicked people; and again, Adver- sity causeth men to look well and far about them ; item, There is no man wise, but with his hurt and loss; item, That man may well learn to swim, which hath the water at his mouth. David saith, " O Lord, how good and profitable is it unto me, that thou hast chastened and humbled me, that I might learn thy righteousness and thy commandments!" (Psa. cxix.) Trouble and auctions do help and fur- ther us to the right knowledge of our sins, and to perfect sorrow and repentance for them. THE NINTH CHAPTER. God requireth that the knowledge of our poisoned and corrupt nature, and cif the wrath of God, should wax and increase in us, whereby we might conceive an hearty sorrow and repent- ance for our sins, and so daily amend arid wax better. Now truth it is, that A SPIRITUAL ANB in our hearts naturally sticketh a rough secureness and retch lessness, whereby we do little regard and esteem the inward filthiness of our hearts; and especially when we feel no manner of taste of the cross and affliction, we do not consider the miserable wretched- ness of our sins, nor the just judg- ment of God, and the terrible punish- ment due for the same. But when the hand of God doth humble and pluck down some special persons or a whole congregation, then remember we the greatness and hea- viness of sin, that God's wrath and in- dignation is not too sore, without some special and most just causes. And then break we out into such words as these : «' O Lord, we have de- served these plagues a thousand ways. O good and most just God, thou re- vyardest the misdeeds and transgres- sions of the fiithers in the children, if they follow their fathers' steps, even unto the lliird and fourth generation.'* (Exod. XX. xxxiv. Numb. xiv. Dent, v.) MOST PRECIOUS PEAItL. Lifceas the hard copper and tin do melt in the fire, even so in trouble and affliction the hard, rough, and stub- born hearts do melt and fall to mislik- ing and loathing their sins. A trespasser doth then first of all perceive his faults rightly, when he is brought unto the judgment to be pu- nished, and is adjudged and condemned unto death. And for this cause doth God use such rough and hard means with us. And both the common and general, and also the particular and special plagues and adversities, may well be called a part of God's law, and, as it were, God's preaching, which testify and declare unto us, that God is heavily displeased with all manner of wickedness and abomination that reigneth in the world, that all men should humble and submit themselves unto God, bewail and lament their sins unto him with a sorrowful and a right penitent heart, and desire his grace and mercy. For an example : Joseph's brethren G % A SPiniTUAI- AND in Egypt did then first of all spy their wickedness committed against their brother, whenas very need and neces- sity did vex them in a strange country. (Gen. xlii.) Whenas the Lord did send into the wilderness, among the Israelites, venomous serpents, which did bite them, and set them on fire ; then came they first to Moses, and said. We have sinned, forasmuch as we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee. (Num. xxi.) When the pestilence did rage, then said David unto the Lord, Behold, it is I that have sinned; what have these sheep done? (I Chron. xxi.) Now, therefore, if it be so that knowledge of the sin, and an hearty displeasure against it, be profitable and necessary, then can we not well forbear trouble and adversity. I MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. TVowZ'/e, affliction^ and adversity y do help and further us to the exercising and increasing of our faith. THE TENTH CHAPTER. That our faith is proved and tried through the cross, and through adver- sity, it is declared before. And now shall it be evidently proved, that our faith is then first right stablished, ex- ercised, and augmented, when adver- sity Cometh. The very true Christian faith is grounded only upon the grace, mercy, power, and help of God through Christ. Which thing cannot be right comprehended with vain thoughts, imaginations, and speculations ; but God cometh upon the miserable sin- ners with heaps of miseries. Whatso- ever they attempt, go about, or take in hand, itgoeth backward with them, and their whole life is made so bitter as gall unto them, that they can no where find any rest. And why ? forsooth it is done for G 3 A SPIRITUAL AND this purpose, that they should iitterl)j neglect and despise all manner of coun- sel and comfort of man ; that they should be plucked from all manner of trust in the policies and powers of the world ; and that they should utterly despair of all help in any creature. And instead of that they should set and fix* their hearts and minds only in God, and that nothing at all should else re- main in them, but only unspeakable sighing unto God, proceeding out of a true faith, in whose help and mercy only it altogether consisteth. Testimonies of Scripture: Moses witnesseth that God suffered the Is. raelites to be diversely vexed, and to be brought into great distress, and yet preserved them wonderfully ; for this cause, that when they should come into the land of promise, they should not say, Mine own power, and the strength of mine own hands, were able to bring this to pass ; but thou should- est think upon the Lord thy God, |br he it is which . grveth thee, sych MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. power, whereby thou art able to per- form and bring any thing to pass, (Deut. viii.) And so did God deal afterward witk the children of Israel, which of their own brain and wisdom sought help, succoiu-, and maintenance, at the king of the Assyrians, and at the king o( Egypt, which were the very same that afterward did besiege them, slay them, and carry them away prisoners. And so after that they felt and proved that there was none that could succour and help them, but only the Lord, unto whom they yielded and gave over themselves at length; as, I looked for no other but that I should die. (Jer. X. Hosea, ii. iv. vi.) But it wasf done for this purpose, that we should not put any trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth up the dead again. (2 Cor. i.) Item : Whatsoever stirreth up and jBxerdseth our faith, of that ought we not to be afraid, but rather to rejoice in it. WhenWe live in idlcne^, m A SPIRITUAL AND all lusts and pleasures, the devil snap- peth lis up, and so blindeth us in our weakness, that we think God doth not regard us, and all things in the world to happen without any workingor fore- sight of God. But as well in special as general adversities, there is greater matter and occasion to practise and to exercise the faith. God suffereth thee to fall into po^ verty, or thy most dear friends to be taken from thee by death, or some other disquietness to happen unto thee. As then hast thou a great occasion to awake and to practise thy faith ; arid first to call to remembrance the pro- mises of God, contained in his word, and then to call upon him for his grace and assistance, and so to resist and withstand all manner of natural doubt- fulness and despair, that hangeth in this flesh, how grievous soever the necessity seem to be, and howsoever any man doth imagine that God hath withdrawn his face from thee, and will not help thee at all. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. In like maimer, in all common ne- cessities and general, this is the right exercise of faith, and the most holy service of God, that we first consider and weigh earnestly all manner of perils and assaults of the church, and of the commonwealth. And after that, that we pray unto God with a constant and a lively faith, that he will deliver and preserve the church from false doctrine, superstition, and hypocrisy, and that he will graciously rule and govern it. And that he will also preserve the commonw-ealth in good order and qui- etness, and will grant wholesome air and seasonable weather, and will also restrain and let the wild and dissolute behaviour and conversation of the common sort of people; and wiH grant, maintain, and preserve a Chris- tian discipline, behaviour, and honesty, whereby his holy and godly name may be lauded and magnified, his king- dom augmented, increased, and con- A SPIRITUAL AND firmed, and the kingdom of the devil subverted and confounded. And remember this also, vvhenso* ever thou considerest thy adversity, forget not to desire of God, hope and trust for comfort, aid, and security ; and look that thou strive and fight mightily and manfully against all manner of mistrust, and put away all manner of despair, how grievously soever thy ad- versity and sorrow doth increase ; and thus is thy faith well rightly practised and exercised. An example: from holy Job was taken all that ever any man might take any comfort in : wife, children, goods, antl friends ; and one trouble, sorrow, and heavy message aime still in an- other's neck, and he had not one drop of blood in his body that was not con- sumed and wasted. And he sat in the sight of all the world, was their laugh- ing-stock, and so exercised and prac- tised his faith, and gave over himself wholly and only unto God. (Job, i. ii. in.) MOST PRECIOUS PEARL* Unto Abraham was promised a seed, which should be in multitude as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of the sky (Gen.xii. xviii. Eccles. xliv.) ; and yet was his wife barren and unfruitful, and he also waxen old and aged, that after the judgment of natural reason it was not possible that that promise should be fulfilled and come to pass, by the means whereof Abraham did exercise, try, and practise his faith. (Gen. xxxvii. xxxix. xl. xli.) And thus did Joseph, David, Daniel, all patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, as well in the common and general adversities of the church, as in their own private and peculiar afflictions, exercise and practise their faith ; and this was their highest God's service, wherewith they honoured and served God. (2 Sam. xv. Dan. iii. vi.) ^ Wherefore in onr time also God giveth us great and marvellous occa- sion, through trouble and adversity, to awake, stir up, and to exercise our faith. And by such exercise is the A SPIRITUAL AND faith increased and confirmed ; yea, and shineth more brightly, and is made more beautiful and glorious. For whatsoever a man hath proved and tried himself, then believerh lie after- ward the more steadfastly. Now he that is a Christian man or woman proveth and feeleth indeed, that in the midst of his sorrow and affliction he is ruled, defended, comforted, and pre- served of God ; for hope cannot be confounded. And therefore the Christian and tlie faithful man, through trouble and ad- versity, is made more bold and hearty, and concludeth with himself, moi-e than ever he did before, that God hath a special regard and consideration of those that are in trouble and misery, and will graciously help and deliver them out. Likeas one that hath sailed oft upon the sea, and proved and escaped great and dangerous tempests, and hath been sore tossed with the fearful waves, is afterward the more bold and hardy MOST PRECIOOS PEARL. to go unto the sea, forasmuch as he hath ever escaped well, and hath had good fortune before ; even so a Chris- tian man, whom the cross hath oft assaulted and exercised, forasmuch as he hath always found comfort, aid, and help of God, afterward he trusteth God, the longer the more, though the same affliction and adversity come again unto him that he had before. And to this purpose hear and mark two especial and notable examples : one out of the Old, and another out of the New Testament. David, when he prepared himself to fight against the valiant giant Goliah, said these words: *' The Lord, which hath de- livered me from a lion and from a bear shall deliver me also from this Philis- tine." (1 Sam. xvii.) And again, Paul ' saith, '^ God hath delivered us from so great a death, and delivereth us daily and we hope that he will deliver us from henceforth also." (2 Cor. i.) And to the same purpose doth this also appertain, to consider that the A SPIRITUAL AND cross assureth those that bear it in the Lord, of the grace and favour of God, whereby they know certainly tliat they are of the number of the elect, and the children of God, forasmuch as he looketli upon them fatherly, to reform and to correct them. (Job, v. Hos.vi. Prov. iii. Tobit, xii. J Pet. iv. Heb. xii. Rev. iii.) For why, thus it is written : Yea all those that ever did please Gofl liave been proved and tried by many and clivers troubles, and have been foiind constant and stcndfast in faith. Item: All those that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and af- fliction. (2 Tim. iii. Eccles. ii. Psalm xxxiii.) 'Trouble and adveisil?/ giveth tis occa- sion to pray luilo God, and to land and praise him. THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER. Every Christian man knoweth this, that it is necessary and profitabk for MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. him to pray and to call upon Cod most fervently and devotedly. Now when a man liveth in all prosperity, then he prayeth very little, or very slenderly and coldly, lie hath no great afFection or mind upon it. That prayer that is not pressed and thrust out with the cross, floweth not out from the depth and bottom of the heart. But sorrow, heaviness, and adver- sity, kindleth the mind and setteth it on fire ; driveth, chaseth, and hunteth It unto God, and compelleth it to call upon God fervently and earnestly ; for at such time we feel and perceive wel^ that we can do nothing of ourselves, and what great need we have of God^ that he will vouchsafe to govern, aid, and defend us. Likeas the water, as long as it floweth and runneth over the even, plain, wide, and broad fields, breaketli not out by any violence, but disperseth and spreadeth itself abroad every where alike ; but when it is gathered together H 2 A SPIRITUAL AND fcy cunning and science, and conveyed into a narrow room, as into a pipe or conduit, then it springeth or spouteth out on high : even so the mind of man, as lorg as it is quiet, idle, and without sorrow or trouble, it walketh and wan- dereth abroad at large and at liberty ; but when it is brought in, restrained, nnd driven to a strait and a narrow issue through trouble and adversity, it brejiketh out aloft to God in heaven with an earnest, hearty, and fervent pmyer for grace, aid, and comfort. (Eccles. )ixxv. Acts, x.) Whereupon there is a common pro- ?erb sprung : Need and necessity teacli- ^th men to pray. " O Lord, when trouble and adversity is at hand, then c)o men seek thee: when thou chas- tisest and punishest them, then call they upon thee lamentably." (Is;iiah, XXVI.) Examples : when the children of Israel heard of the coming of their enemies the Philistines, they wer« afraid, and said unto Samuel, " Cease npt to cry unto the Lord our God for MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. us, that he may help us out of the hands of the Philistines." (1 Sam.)' Manasses, which all the days of his life was a very bloodhound and a tyrant, was bound with chains, and led away into Babylon. And when he was irf extreme anguish and necessity, he made his humble prayer and supplica- tion before the Lord his God ; and God heard his humble prayer, and brought' him again to Jerusalem.' (•2 Kings. 2 Chron. xxxiii.) When there arose a great tempest upon the sea, insomuch that the shi^ was overwhelmed with the waves, and Christ slept, then the disciples hasted unto him, and waked him up, sayingi " Lord, help us, for we perish." ( Matt t viH. Mark, iv.) ^ The examjile of the heathen woman doth teach thee how the Lord pro- longeth anddeferreth his aid and help some lime for the nonce that we should be kindled up to cry the more fervently, and to continue importu^ nately in earnest prayer. H 3 A SPIRITUAL AND St. Austin writeth thus : They th^t are godly are oppressed and vexed jn the church or congregation for tliis purpose, that when they are pressed they should cry, and when tliey cry that they should be heard, and when they are heard, that they should laud md praise God, And likeas the cross and adversity doth further and prick us forward unto the first part of prayer, which is to de- sire and crave of God : even so doth |t also further and provokp us all unto the second part of prayer, which iis to love Gpd) and to give him thanks. The alnnighty power, wisdom, righ* IcQUsness, mercy, and truth of God, these high and excellent godly virtues, M'orthy of all laud and honour, do appear in the cross, affliction, apd ad- versity of Christian men, when God visiteth miserable sinners, comforteth thgse that are in distress ^nd misery, Jielpeth und delivereth them out of all inaniier of necessity. At these things cjo pU Chmtiiip^ MOST PRECIOUS FEARL. people wonder and marvel liighly, and therefore break they out to magnify, praise, and extol God, with unspeak- able laud and praises. We have such a treasure in earthly vessels, that the power that lieth above, and hath the victory, might appear to be of God, and not of us. ('2 Cor. iv.) That is to say, we are weak and mi- serable vessels, that God's honour and glory should be furthered, and not ours. For an example take the story of Paniel, chap, iii.: how the imprison- ment -and captivity of tlie Jews did serve wondertully to the glory and praise of God. Our Saviour Christ sheweth the cause why the man was blind from his very nativity and birth, namely, that the works of God should appear and be made manifest in him, (John, ix.) JMoreover, all the prophets, apostles, and elect of God, by whom God wrought wonderful and marvellous things, were contemned and despised^ A SPIRITUAL A\D yea, and sometimes slain and murder ed, that all men mi(rht spy and per- ce,ve that their faith and working, which did not shrink, but continued "pnght, was a work of God, and no power of man, and, tlierefore, that God rmi8t be lauded and j)raised above \ HI. 2 Cor. IV. I Mac. n. 2 Mac. vi.vii.) Trouble and aclverutij do further us to virtue and god/iness. THE TWELFTH CHAPTER. The cross and tribulation do banish and dry away the former sins, and hmder and resist those that areto come hereafter, and help to plant, exercise, and increase nil manner of virtues that the ungodly may be provoked and lurtliered to repentance, and amend, inent, and reformation of their lives and the godly to further virtue and godhness. For what affliction soevet- the fl^slulotii sudhr, it grievcth it very MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. sore ; it would rather be merry, at rest and quiet. Now every one that hath any rea- son, knoweth this right well, that he through his own lusts and behaviour bringeth much adversity and affliction upon his own neck ; and therefore, in consideration of that, he beginneth toc beware, and to take heed afterward of all inordinate and dissolute living, as the cause, ground, and occasion of all misery and sorrow, that, besides this present affliction, he be not plagued also eternally. Which I u^ill declare and prove, first with similitude ; se- condarily, with testimonies of thcholy Scripture ; and, thirdly, by familiar examples. A water that is continually standing, how clear soever it seem, yet it is cor- rupt and naught. But that water which hath his continual course, the more it fAisheth and struggleth over the stones and sands, the more lively, fresh, and better it is; even so a godly man, in tlie absence pf the cross^ is sluggish^ A SPIRITUAL AND dull, and litherly, but through the cross and afHiction he is quickened and exercised, and increased in all good- ness. The rusty and cankered iron, through tlie file is made bright and smooth : even so the old rusty Adam hath need of trouble and adversity to tile and purge him from the cankered rust of sin. A knife, though it be ever so smooth, if It be not used, it waxeth rusty, and the same rust fretteth it and marreth It 5 but the more it is occupied, though it be somewhat worn thereby, yet it is the more bright : even so, although some person hath a good nature and mclmation, if he be not occupied and exercised with trouble and adversity, he waxeth rusty, cankered, and rotten I but through the cross and tribulation^ tiiougk the rust have worn somewhat of him, being a man and weak, yet he shall thereby be made more bright clear, and beautiful again. ' The seed that is cast into the field must suffer the wind, rain, snow, frost. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. and all manner of ten^ests, and yet it waxeth and bringeth forth fruit ; even so the spiritual seed, which is the word of God, being r^eived of a devout and fervent heart, is not destroyed through trouble, but bringeth forth right good and profitable" fruit. A walnut-tree, the more it is beaten the better it is, and not the worse: even so man, through many stripes and much adversity, turneth from ill, and waxeth good. For the thick and hard skin of an horse or an ass, is nothing better than a very sharp whip, to jerk him with : even so, for our stubborn and haughty flesh, there is nothing more fit and profitable than much sorrow and vex- ation, whereby it may be stirred and pricked forward. Cloth must be oft beaten and brushed, whereupon there is a proverb : thus must woollen cloth be used, that there breed no moths in it. Even so shall spiritual moths and worms, wickedness, sin, and abomina- tion, have the less power to breed in A SPIRITUAL AN& Its, if we be well brushed and beaten in time with affliction and adversity. The flesh that comet h fresh out of the shambles unsalted, waxeth soon unsavoury, and worms breed in it, but the salt with his sharpness keepeth it sweet from corruption : even so dotli God cast and sprinkle salt upon us, through divers temptations and afflic- tions, that they may bite and s^'ason us, that we corrupt not, nor perish in sin. That body that is always idle, and never moveth nor hatli no exercise, is easily subject unto sickness and in- firmities ; but those bodies that have their exercise and labour, are more lusty and sound, and can better con- tinue : even so the soul that is well exercised and occupied with trouble and aflSiction, hath occasion and causa to be beautiful, sound, and clear. It is a very true saying, the sharper that the lie is, the cleaner taketh it away all manner of filth : even so our corrupt and poisoqed nature iiad need 3V10»T PRECIOUS FEAItL. -of a sharp and a biting medicine. The greater and sharper the trouble and ad- versity is, the more filth and inconve- nience it biteth away. For a raw and weak stomach, which is of a naughty digestion, bitter wormwood is very gxDod and wholesome : even so for the weak and feeble soul is bitter trouble and affliction very wholesome and ne-- cessary. Remember this proverb : after tlie sick man hath recovered his sore, lie liveth worse than ever he did before. And therefore sicjtncss is more neces- sary for him, that he wax not worse, and live not more wickedly. Now will I allege Scripture. God threateneth to send a plague sevenfold greater, if any man wilj not amend at the lighter and easier punishment, that he sent first. Whereby the Lord him- self declareth, through Moses, that trouble and adversity should teach us an alteration and amendment ol our lWe9. (Lev. 3^xvi.) Strokes and wounds do pprge and A SPIRITUAL AND cleanse our evil and corruption, and stripes purify the inward parts of man. (Prov. XX.) No manner of chasten- ing for the present time seemeth to be joyous, but heavy and grievous ; but afterward it bringeth a quiet fruit of riojhteousncss unto those that are ex^ ercised therein. (Heb. xii.) . Ho that suffereth in theflesh ceaseth from sin, timt from henceforth (the time that is remnant in the flesh) he n»av hve not alter the kists of men, but iiiXvv the will of God. (2 Pet. iv. Rom. vi. 1 John, ii.) And this shall example make more manifest. Under Joshua had the ciiiidien of Israel many battles, and were driven to fight against tlieir enemies ; and they did never fall nor swerve from the Lord, until after- ward that they eame unto rest, and had all things plenty. (Jqshua,!. Judith, ii.) This is an example of a whole mul- titude. Now take examples of special persons. The Prophet Jonah, being in the whale's belly, remembered his sins, al- MOST PRECIOUS PEAIlL. tered himself, turned, and was obe- dient unto God. (Jonah, ii.) The lost and desperate son did then first of all run home again unto his father, when he saw and felt his misery and poverty. (Luke, XV.) Mark the daily experience. We imagine oft-times thus with ourselves : Oh, if I were once whole and restored again, I would surely behave and or- der myself well as I ought to do, and would help and serve every man. Oh, if I were rich, I would gladly distribute unto the poor people faithfully. But as soon as we come out of the danger indeed, we have clean forgotten alto- gether. As long as we have no manner of Deed, no man can hinder or restrain our wickedness. For an example, imagine two sun- dry houses, whereof in the one is ce- lebrate and kept a marriage, where there is mirth, joy, and good cheer. And in the other is one sick on his death-bed. In the bride-house, where I 2 A SPIRITUAL AND IS dancing, is used all manner of ligfit- ness and dissoluteness, gross and filthy words,ba\vdy songs and ballads, shame- less behaviour and manners, and wan- ton and light apparel. One leapeth and winceth like an horse; another stampeth like an ass ; the third drink- eth himself drunk ; and the fourth doeth nothing that honest is; so that a man might say the people were be- come very brute beasts. But by him that lieth on his death-bed is all still, not a word spoken, but honest and seemly. All things are done sadly, demurely, and discreetly. And at that time not only the men, but also the women and children, and all that are in the house, are godly occupied; they pray, they comfort,and break out into such words as these: What is man ? How transitory and vain are all tilings that we have here upon earth ! but in the life to come it shall be far otherwise. (Eccles. xiv.^ Job, iv. X. xxxiv. P.sal. Uxviii. xc. ciii* cxlvi, Isaiah, xl.) MOST PRECIOUS PEAllL. Again, from the marriage or bride- house goeth many on home heavy and sad, vexed in his mind, and disdainful, that he rs not so happy and fortunate aK other be ; and suddenly is ravished with the beauty of some wife or maiden that he saw at the dancing, which hath wounded and stricken hun to the lifcart. And when he cometh home, H^e looketh sourly on his wife, he is fVoward toward his children, and testy agjiinst all the household, so that no man can please him. , But he th.'it goeth home from the monming-house, thinketh himself well blessed and hap})y that he himself lieth not in any such extreme necessity. If be hath had any sickness or vexation in time past, now he is able to bear it the' mor^ easily and patiently, when ho conhpareth rt to the grievous and into- lerable pain of the man that lieth in nangs of death. By reason whereof h\i' is the more patient, gentle, and friendly towards his wife, children, and- his whole household ; yea, he taketh' 1 3 A SPIRITUAL AND ixrasion thereby to reform and amend his evil life. Sorrow and affliction do kelp andfur^ ther us toward /he fear and love of God. -^ THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER. Trouble and affliction do engender the fear of God in them which suffer it, and in other likewise which do hear and know of it 5 so that many take ex^ Pinple and instruction thereby, and afterward attempt not any thing ti- morously and rashly against the will and pleasure of God. For He is law- fully (o be feared and dreaded which can bring and lay upon us all manner of plagues, and also hath just causo ?nd right toward us so todo.(Matt,x.) Now we, being feeble and weak, are In no wise able to resist and withstand the strong and mighty God : no ; we are not able to withstand or put off the least ill day of an ague ; yea, we annot choose but mffer be lea^t an* MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. nio^t contemptuous and feeble crea- tures to plague and disquiet us, as lice, fleas, flies, and such-like vermin, which did master and overcome the mighty Pharaoh, kingof Egypt. (Ex- od. vn. viu. IX, X. 2 Mac. ix. Acts, xii.) It IS a very true proverb, a burnt hand dreadeth the fire. For in the same sense and meaning spake Moses unto the fearful people : " God is come to tempt and prove you, that the fear of him may be before your eyes, to consider and remember that ye sin not." (Exod. XX. Deut. viii, and xiii. Judges, It. and iii.) As for an txam^ 5 the more the i-ord did exeroise and hunt about Da* vid> the more diligently did he look Wfxw the Lord, and feared him. (i Sam, Kv.) And not only David, but others 9ho, when they $aw and perceived tntif misery and wretchedness, they took occasion thereby to fear God more than they did before i and spe. Diallv when they saw afterward how Cod punished XJavid's manslaughter A SPIRITUAL AxVD and whoredom with sedition, uprair, murder, and with loss of much people. (2 bam, xi. xiii. xiv. xv. xvi. &c.) HoJy Scripture setteth before our eyes divers like terrible examples, that vve should not esteem the fear of God *or a light thing, but should be afraid ot all manner of wickedness, sin, and abomination. When a trespasser is led out to be beheaded, hanged, burnt, or otherwise to be punished, others that see him do learn to fear and to beware of that thnig which brought him to his Jast end : even so when God sendeth any plague either upon some special per- son, or else upon some whole coml munity, all other ought so to consider tbe same, as though they themselves were m the place of the afflicted per- son, as though his trouble and sorrow were their own, that they may the ra^ ther fear God, and take heed that thev wr not into like vengeance of God Ami }n very deed, as wdl the good MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. and faithful, as the wicked and un- faithful, have cause to fear. (Prov. xi.) For the faithful can consider there- by, that these transitory plagues are tokens and evident testimonies of the eternal punishments that are to come, which are a thousand thousand times more grievous, and never have end. {) Pet. iv.) Therefore both their own and other men's afflictions and sor- rows do give them occasion enough to redress and forsake that thing, whereby all men do bring eternal plagues upon their necks. The wicked and unfaithful, if they be not utterly obstinate and perverse, but have any use of reason at all, do also begin to fear God, and to think thus with themselves : If God visits etb, scourgeth, and assaulteth with trouble and vexation the good and faithful, which are nothing so wicked as we, how shall it then go with us, which have deserved ten, yea, twenty times nK)re giievous punishment than A SPIRITUAL AND they? (Jer. xxv. xlix. Ezek. ix, Prov. xiii. I Pet. iv.) Mark and behold. I begin to plague the city vvhereunto my name is given: think ye then that ye shall escape free and un[)iinished? ye shall not go quit and (r€e, (Jer. xxv.) I^ this be done in the green wood, what shall be done in the dry? (Luke* xxiv.) It is time that judgment begin at the house of God : seeing then it beginneth first with us, what an end shall they have which believe not tlie Gospel of God! (Matt. xi. l Pet, iv. Luke, x. xi.) An innocent dog that hath not of. fended, is beaten Ijefore the lion ; that the lion, when he knoweth that he hath angered and displeased his master, should be put in the more fear. St, Gregory writeth thus : If God striketh those so sore whom he favoureth, how sharply and sore will he strike them which he favoureth not I The crucified and afflicted Chris- tians do love God the more fervently. f I (i MOST PBECIOUS PEAliL. forasmuch as in the midst of the cross they feel the sweet comfort that comcth from their heavenly Father, of whose merciful will they cannot doubt nor mistrust. A dog that is of a good nature, if his master strike him, yet he loveth his master notwithstanding, and fawn- eth again upon him. .A good child, although it be beaten, yet it lovetii the father or mother neveithcless, and de- sireth to have their favour again : even in like manner are the trueChris- tians minded toward their heavenly Father; but such children asbe wicked, and of an evil disposition, when they be a httle scourged, they run away from their fathers, and murmur against them. Trouble and aff!.icti(yn is good and pro- Jitable to teach men patience ^ meek- ness y and lowliness, THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER. Pride is a dangerous thing, whereof Cometh no manner of good. Now A SPIRITUAL Ayro felicity and prosperity all at pleasure, engendereth pride and contempt of other people ; but the cross and afflic- tion engendereth meekness and lowli- ness, that a man is not too proud in his own conceit, but is content that otiier be esteemed as well as he, con- fessing himself to have need of their help and counsel. Likeas men use to clip and to cot shorter the feathers of birds or other fowls, when they begin to fly too high or too far from them : even so doth God diminish our riches, possessions, estimation, honour, authority, and power, that we should not pass otir bounds, and glory too muclr of such gifts. Likeas the body, when it is wearied and consumed with labour and travail, desireth ease and rest, that., it may lie still : even so the soul, being laden and oppressed with trouble and affliction, is brought to a narrow issue, and then it hasteth after rest and quietness, and nothing vexeth it leis than pride« MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. Nebuchadnezzar did glory of h?s Eower, victorious acts, and costly uildings, and was wonderfully proud of them ; but after his fall and adver- sity he learned to ascribe all praise, honour, and glory unto God. (Dan, iv.) Paul confesseth that a buffet was given him of the messenger of Satan, that he should not glory out of mea- sure in the abundance of revelation. (2 Cor. xii.) Experience itself teach- eth, that when rich, famous, notable, and proud men are robbed and spoiled of their goods, they are afterward more humble^ meek, and gentle ; for then they perceive the uncertainty and unstableness of temporal and transi- tory things, and so learn, the longer they live, the less to trust themselves. Therefore trouble and affliction is olt-thnes as necessary unto men as meat and drink. The cross, adversity, and affliction make a man soft, tame, patient, so- ber^ loving, and friendly,^both towards himself and towards all other also. 2M0ST PRECIOUS PEARL. A SPIRITUAL AXD A piece of iron or of silver stricken or beaten wiih a hammer waxetli broader, thinner, smootlier, and softer: even so the stony and hard hearts of men through heaviness and adversity, are made more buxom and pliant, that a man may wind tliem (as a man might say) even round about his finger. A curst wild colt hath a snaffle put in his mouth, that he bite not him that handleth him: even so the snaffle of the cross and adversity doth let and hinder us (being froward, furious, and full of spite, malice, and ven- geance), that we commit the less vvic* kedness, abomination, and uncha- ritableness in our lives. For an example: the furious raging king Manasses was meek, still, and tame enough, after that he was once bound, taken prisoner, and led away captive. ('ZKings, xxi. 2Chron. xxxiii.) Paul before Damascus was stricken down as a raging and avenging wolf; H t but he rose up again a meek lamb, (Acts, ix.) Trouble and adversity is good to teach menpitif, compassion, and patience towards olh(fr, THE FIPTEKXTH CHAPTER, To have pity and compassion of people that are in misery and distress,' is a Christian and a necessary virtue ; but he that never felt temptation, ad- versity, or affliction himself, can have but little pity and compassion of other. One sick man can tell the lack and necessity of another, one poor man likewise of another ; and also one that is in misery and affliction himself, knovveth the better the grief of an- other that is in like case. i As fcr an example: why and for what cause can our High Priest Christ have such pity and compassion upon us mi- serable wretches, that we dare be bold to come unto him cheerfully without fear, and to look for succour^ help, A SPIRITUAL AKD MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. and comfort at his hands ? Forsooth, even for this cause and by this means, as saith St. Paul, that he was also tempted, and suffered most bitter pain and grief himself. (Heb. xv.) And veij experience doth teach even the self-same thing also. For whosoever hath once lain sick in a spittal -house himself, can have the more compassion of other that are in like case after- wards, and is ever after the more ready and prompt to help those that be in such case. The noble and precious virtue called patience hath no place to put her head in the time of prosperity. When a man hath been a long season health- ful and without any manner of sick- ness, he cannot take sickness by and by so patiently as he ought to do ; and likewise he that never felt any af- fliction or adversity, whensoever any happen unto him, he is sore vexed with impatientness. But adversity teacheth men pa- tience, and practiseth them therein. • / i First, when a man seeth that all goeth backward and against him, and that it will be no better, but ratlier worse and worse ; what doth he. but of this ne-' cessity maketh a virtue, and so is content, and at a point, howsoever iH goeth with him ? ; , Secondly, when a man is continu- ally used to trouble and afflictiort, this same use and custom maketh it light and easy unto him, especially consi- dering that God will -^Uo heli^, aid, and comfort him. Paul saith,'* Trouble or affliction bringeth patience, and pa-, tience bringeth experience, &c." (Rom. v.) The desperate and lost son learned such patience in his misery and affliction, that ho said to his fa^ ther, ^* Take nor use me not from henceforth as a son, but as an hired servant. I desire no more but that I may remain in thy housc.^' (Luke, xv.) Even so ought we also to suffer all things willingly and patiently, whatso- ever thev be, so that God will not ba-, pish ^rtcl put us oat of his hoas?. A SPIRITUAL Aim MOST PRECIOUS PtiARL. Unto that noble heathen man So- crates did his curst and shrewd wife serve for this use and purpose, that he learning patience at home, might the better suffer, and the more patiently hear the people that he had to do with abroad. Trouble and adversity maketh men hard and strong, and teadteth them so-> berness and temperance. THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER. An ox getteth himself hartler hoofs upon rough, stubble, and crabbed ground, and is able to draw and to labour better, than if he were fed in rank pasture. Those cliildren that are nursed by fostermen's fires are for the most part more hard and strong than they which are daintily brought up in all excess, and wantonness, and su- perfluity, in their own fathers' houses. Even so thewiu and minds of men, through pleasure and abundance, wax tender mi weak, and effeminate and wild ; but being restrained thi*6ugh some painful necessity and affliction, they wax harder, stronger, and more manly and sober. For an example : the dear holy Apostles, the more per- secution and affliction they had, the more bold, strong, and constant were they, as the Acts of the Apostles do testify throughout. Paul saith, " I am content and think myself well in infirmities^ in re- bukes, in persecutions, in anguishes, for Christ's sake ; for when I am in such weakness, then am I strong." (2 Cor. xii.) The physician, when he perceiveth that his patient will eat over-much, and will wax too fat, he measureth and restraineth him, and by breaking somewhat from him he re- storeth him to his health again, and so saveth him : even so, when we do shamefully misuse wine, corn, bread, and drink, and other gifts and creatures of God, to maintain drunkenness, surfeiting, excess, and riot, then doth God punish us with hunger, dearth^ •I A SPIRITUAL AND penury, and with other plagues, that we should learn thereby to be tem- perate, and to keep measure, and to use his benefits thankfully. It is said, the hour of punishment and of correcT tion maketh us to forget all manner of pleasure and lust. (Eccles. xi.) As Pfivid soon forgot his lusty pleasures and wantonness utterly, when Absalom flrave him out of his kingdom. (1 Sam, xiii.) Trouble and adverslii/ teacheth men io contemn, despise, and defy the world, iifud to be diligent and fervent in all godliness and virtue. THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTEn. The cross and adversity taketh from us all love of the world, and draweth away all manner of dangerous and de-r licious lusts and pleasures of this tran, mory life. We would fain be rich, but Crod givcth us poverty ; we desire health of body, but God giveth us ^f|»kne£Sj and so purtureth aqd nursetl^ MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. us in misery and with affliction, that we can no more tell what a delicious and tender pleasant life in this world meaneth ; and thus begin we to con- temn and loath all transitory things, and to desire another, better, more precious, and eternal life, where all manner of misery shall have an end. He that taketh a jbumey in hand, and goeth mto a strange country, when he Cometh mto a pleasant town, where he meeteth merry company and good companions, peradventure he spend- eth away the time, and tarrieth too iong among them, and so forgetteth his household and things at home. tint It one hard mischance after another happen unto him, then he maketh the more haste home again to his wife and children, where he hath more rest and quietness. Even so when these transitory tinngs, as riches, health, beauty, much profit, honour, and dignity happen iliem and delight so much in them^ I I A SPIKITUAL A^D that we do the less regard and esteem the heavenly life ; then will God make the way rough and crabbed unto us liere in this life, that we should not take and esteem this transitory life in this world for our right natural coun. try, towards the which we take our journey. For example : the children of Is- rael had Httle lust to sing and to play upon any pleasant instruments, when tliey sat as prisoners by the rivers in Uabylon. (Psal. cxxxvii.) And this may a man see and prove now-a-days by those that are in any dangerous sickness, or in any hard prison, or in any anguish and misery, ^ho before were too fond upon eating, drinking, gallant apparel, dancing] toying, playing, and gaming, or upon such-like worldly felicity. For the cross and his heaviness wipe away and Jick off all such things as clean, as the hot sun lickejih and melteth away the snow. Farthermore, they that be poor and MOST PHECIOUS PEARL. in distress and heaviness, are always readier to forsake this world, and are more desirous to depart hence to God, than those that have riches, health,' and felicity at pleasure. And therefore St. Austin, in liis book De Symbolo writeth thus: '^ Behold, how God hath replenished and filled the world with so many afflictions and with so much troublesome adversity. It is bitter, and yet it is loved; it is ruinous and ready to fall, and yet it is inhabit- ed. O thou my dear darling world, what should we do, if thou wert sweet, stable, and permanent, seeing we do thus now I O thou foul and unclean world, if thou art bitter, and yet de- cei vest and beguilest us,whom wouldest thou not deceive and beguile, if thoa wert sweet I" And the cross doth not only drive and set us forward to all manner of virtue, and putteth us in mind of all godliness, but it quickeneth and kin- dleth also a diligence and fervency in VS to proceed and go forward in all I A SPIillTUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. goodness lustily, stoutly, earnestly, manfully, and not litheriy or faintly. Likeas a man sometime must spur his horse, although he be a good and quick horse, that he may go and run the faster and speedier : even so we cannot go forward in our vocation and calling so speedily nor so well as we ought to do, except we be pricked for- ward with sharp spurs and scourges. When the master striketh his slothful, dull, and sleepy servant, then he la- boureth the more diligently, and is more profitable unto him : even so we all for the most part of us have the na- ture of such slothful and sluggish ser- vants, which will do nothing well, ex- cept we be driven by compulsion, and even whipped and beaten unto it. Although tliose be evil servants which will do nothing unless a man be ever upon their bones with a cudgel, yea and then will do nothing well either ; yet notwithstanding must a man never cease driving and forcing of them, until such time as they begin to nmend and to serve willingly and with a good heart : even so although no compelled service, that is violently wnuig out of a man, doth please God, yet the continual inuring and exer- cising in goodness, may make it at length so pleasant and delectable unto us, that we shall have delight therein. Trouble and adversity is also an occa^ si on and kelp of much transitory quietness and commodity in this world. THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER. Hitherto have we taught of the spi- ritual profit of adversity, whereby the soul of man is endued and garnished with wisdom and all kinds of virtue : now let us see what transitory com- modities do oft accompany or follow after trouble and adversity. Such as dwell in valleys and in deep and low habitations, are not lightly hurt by any lightning : even so that state of life, that is low and mean, keepeth and 1 ., A SPFRITUAL ANB ma'intarneth itself most sure and with least danger against all manner cf storms. Likeas precious and costly spiceg. and odours ckj smell and savour best when they are bruised, broken, or set on fire : even so the praise and com- incndation of virtue through continual use and exercise, and through advcr^ sity, is spread wide abroad, and made manifest and known every where. For an example : what an excellent and singular honour, renown, praise, and commendation was it unto Abra- ham at length, that he went out of his natural country uito banishment, and there suffered great trouble and much adversity ! (Gen.xx.) ThechiJ- dren of Israel were sore kept under and oppressed in Egypt ; but they were led out and set free again u ith such glory and renown, as never was heard or read the like. The banishment of Ulysses for tha- space often years was an occasion unto hiin to exercise and practise his wis- MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, dom and other virtues in the mean time ; so that he obtained thereby an immortal name among all the heathen, And to speak after the common practice and experience, there is no ex- ceeding joy or triumph, but some sor- row or heaviness goeth before it. The spring-time following and coming im- mediately upon the rough and hard winter, is the more acceptable, plea- sant, and welcome unto us. In battle, the sorer our enemies do assault and fight against us, the greater is the joy and triumph at the victory and overthrow of them. He that hath kept his bed a long tiine, and lain sick a great season, afterward, when he is recovered, health is a more precious treasure unto him, tJian ever it was before that he felt what sickness was ; and also such as mourned and were sorry for his sick- ness, do receive an infinite joy and an exceeding rejoicing at his restoring unto health again. Even so doth God deprh'e ns for a h 2 A SPIRITUAL AND time of riches, wealth, prosperity^ our natural country, hodily health, ai:d such other transitory benefits, for this purpose, that when he giveth them again unto us, we may the more re- joice and be the gladder of them. An example have we of the lost sheep and of the lost and desperate son ; for the which there was such joy at the finding of them again, as never had been if they had not been lost ; whereas before there was never thought nor sorrow taken for them. (Matt, xviii. Luke, xv.) Now in case we never find nor have restored unto us again here in this world that thing ^vhicli v\ e liave lost, yet our conscience is both quiet and also joyful in God. Which quietness and joy far exceed- ethall the pleasures of the whole world. In sum ma, to be short, after trouble and adversity, follovveth all manner of goodness and felicity : first, forasmuch as God here in this world doth plen- tifully and richly reward and recom- pense godliness, patience, aiid godly I MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. constancy: secondly, forasmuch as this is the nature and property of God, to throw down, that he may raise up again, and to bring unto death's door, that he may restore unto life again. (Deut. xxx'ii. 1 Sam. ii. Psalm cxii* Wisd. xvi.) Roses, which are the most pleasant flowers, do spring and wax out of thorns : even so of hard and great travail springeth the most pleasant fruit. The little bee gathereth the sweet- est honey out of the most bitterblooms and flowers : even so men of wisdom and understanding receive much uti- lity and fruit of the present sorrow and afliiction. For example : Joseph was hated of his brethren, and sold of them into a strange and foreign country, which banishment of his turned to his great honour, wealth, and profit ; forasmuch as he was lord and governor over the whole kingdom of Egypt. The more the great tyrant Pharaoh went about l3 A SPIRITUAL ANO 1 MOST PRECIOUS PEAKJ*. to oppress and rid the children of Is- rael out of his land, the more did they prosper and increase to an infinite number. (Exocl. ii.) Thedevil left nothinguntothe godly man Job, but deprived and spoiled him of all that lie had ; but the Lord re- stored him all again double, even in this world. (Job, i. xlii.) He that niarivetli and considcrcth well, shall percciv.? tliat some tinv a man, bcinj^ oi no rc})uiati()n at h( • where he is known, is banished away, and cometh to otlier j)eople, which do hip;hly esteem him, and make much of him, yea, and highly honour liim ; so that oft-tiuiesa man's adversity hath tiuuiid to his singular commodity and wealth. (Matt. xiii. Mark, vi. Luke, iv. John' iv.) ' Trouhle and adversity is a furtherance io eternal life, THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER. The trouble and adversity of the godly do give an exceeding great tes- tf, 14" timony unto thee of immortality, of a general judgment, and also of an ever- lasting life. For it is impossible that the best creatures only should be or- dained and created to all sorrow and travail, and the most wicked and un-, godly to escape and remain unpunish- ed. It were directly against the rigli- teousness of God. Now it is evident, that here upori earth ap()eareth no difference between Paul and Nero, having respect to the reward of them both; yea, tlie most •Xodly and virtuous have most com- monly worse luck and less reward. Wherefoie of necessity there must needs be another life to come, where every man shall receive according to the demerits of his hfe here upon earth. And again, the cross way is pointed to be the very right way unto eternal life. (Psalm xliv. Rom. viii. 2 Cor. iv.) Likeas the corn is first threshed, fanned, and rid from the chafF, and then laid up and reserved in the barn : A SPIRITUAL AXD |] even so Christian men upon earth arc beaten, mishandled, evil treated, whereby they arepur/^cd of many wild and light manners, and so arc brought nito the everlasting barn of the kino-- dorn of heaven. ^ Likeas no man can triumph or be crowned except he hath fought and warred manfully (l Cor. ix. 2 Tim. 11.) ; which cannot be without great naiiger, labour, and travail : even so can no man attain to the crown of eternal life, except he hath first suf. iered much trouble, sorrow, and ad- versity. (2 Tim. iv. 1 Pet. v. James. K Kev. ii. iii.) The man that is sick must receive the purgation and medicine, how sour or bitter soever it be, that he may the sooner recover his liealth again, and not die : even so when we suffer the hand of God to rule and order us, being content and patient therewith although it smarteth and grieveth us! yet It shall profit and help us toever^ iastmg healtli and soundness. MOST PRECIOUS PEAIIL. Testimonies and witness of Scripture to prove this : '' Blessed are tliey that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matt, v.) '* Narrow is the gate and strait is the way that Jeadeth to life." (Matt, vii.) " Blessed are they that weep here, for they shall laugh ; but woe unto you that be rich, ^c." (Luke, iv.) '^ We must enter into the kingdomof God through much trouble and affliction." (Acts, xiv.) '' If we be children, then are we heirs, namc-r ly, the heirs of God and fellow-heir^ of Christ ; so that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together with him." (Rom. viii.) By these words doth Paul evidently declare, that he that will reign with Christ, must also run through the fire with him. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with tlie world. (I Cor. xi.^ A SPiniTUAT. ANB How and it what respect trouble and adversity can be so profitable, and «J such virUK, seeing t/tat the un- Jaitkful do wax more obstinate and perverse through trouble and af- ^ictions. THE TTTENTIETH CHAPTER. Hitlierto have we entreated of the corporal and spiritual, temporal and eternal, profit and commodity which Christian men receive by the cross trouble, and adversity. Which is not to be taken after this sense, as though the cross or adversity of itself, and of her own nature, could bring and work such high commodities; for then should Pharaoh and other wicked per- sons, m their trouble and adversity have been converted and saved also! -But the spirit of God resteth secretly and l.cti. hid in the faithful, under the shadow and bark of the cross, and purgeth, reformcth, comforteth, and MOS T PliECIOUs P£ Ant. strengtheneunh;;;;7;;;7„, j^ these foresaid commodities in them " but^traSt^''''"^'^-"P'"-"«^i- outetli a certain reward unto our c-ood Oi Ills : even sn. Ic fi.« »^« ^'"ji-ius cvcii bo IS tlie cross an in<^^rll (l^nilip. II. 2 Cor. i.J ^ ^"t.s. Now, wheresoever the HnK- ru * wiU take I.S resting I2%?r ■nost part lie sendeth befoS ht ' s«> tliat they may vex, cumber humble, meeken, and utterly over throw and bring down the heart of man, whereby the Holv rult find the more SLlL '°'' ."^"^ goodness thei^ir ' "'' '" ""'"^ "^' spoken, specially of the spiritual com- A SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS rKAKL. moditiesof the cross and adversity, it is and so remainetli all truth ; so that it be understood of the faithful and godly, which are endued with the spirit of God, to whom all things turn to their comfort and salvation. And now on the contrary part, for the better understanding of the mat- ter, I will flcclare and sliew what the cross workcth in the unfaithful and ungodly, which lack the spirit of God, Tlie unfaithful do ascribe their prospe- rity and felicity to their own wisdom, working, and policy, and not to God ; and their misfortune and adversity they ascribe to blind fortune, as tliough fortune had a certain power to work of herself, without the working of God, Take Sennacherib, the lord and ruler of the Assyrians, for an example ; which by the sufferance of God brought the whole world in a manner in sub- jection : which thing he ascribed to his own power and policy, and not to God ; for he did both hate and blas- pheme the very true God of Israel. But shortly after did God send an anpcl * which slew in one night an hundred ^^"^scoreand five thou.cand of his wcu And here would he not confess that it wasGodthatdidit;butperadvenrure he thought that it was fortune, mis- chance, or some other thinjv that wvs the occasion. (2 Kings, xix^) For if he had acknowleflped this punishment to have comeancfbcon of God, he would not afterward have- worshipped and done his devotion in the idolaters' temple of the false i,od and idoINisroch, as he did. In like manner, when any misfortune hai>^ peneth to the ungodly, they pi,t all the fault only in the next middle or mean, that they fancied theinscdve.s • or else, very wickedly, ihey ascribe it unto all those that are not of their faith and sect. As for example : Whenas it rained not for the space of three years and SIX months, in the time of Ahab, the king of Israel, the king imputed the cause unto the godly prophet Elias. M A SPIRITUAL AXD |l Kinnrs, xviif.) Likewise in our time, when any tempest luirtetli the corn, wine, and other fruits of the earth, many there are that cry. This may we thank this new learning for, and this ncw-fang-led faith, &c.; as though they themselves were so lioly, that God durst not, or ought not," to pu- nisli tlicm. It can be none bat the poor sheep that disturbeth the water, that the woU' cannot drink ; whereas, indeed, the poor slieep cometh but oiily to the bj-ink, and at the very brink of the river drinkcth. Yea, even thcv also which have some tasto of llieCjospcl, cannot well have adversity patiently, nor confess themselves t^Hiiky ; but would fain shift the fault from themsclvc's, and would lay it either u[)on the rulers or the I)ieachcrs, or else upon some otl>cr til in;]:. And altliougli their sins be an ex- ceeding he;ip, and that God would iain drive them to repentanee by |)u- nishing and chastising of thein, yet MOST PRECIOUS rEARL. rannot they consider the heavy burden of then- s„,, nor spy the clear day of thenghteousness of God, wliich can Sutter no sm unpunislied. And, therefore, forasmuch as thev wiH not take this small and Hght pu- nishment thankfully, but would go !^u "•r'' ^'""''^ "° '"^""'^'- of plague at all ,f they might choose, for that cause doth God send unto them after- ward plagues and painful punishments by heaps ; so that it happeneth unto them as it did imto the ass, whose Skin bemg put over a drum or a tabor, as he wished and desired, was beaten and stricken more than ever it was before as yEsop saith in his fables. And forasmuch as, through incre- duhty and lack of faith (which is the mother of all blasphemies and abo- mination), they will not consider nor call to remembrance who it is that hath laid his hand upon them ; or else, knowing that it is the hand of God yet will not take it in good worth, nor amend no otherwise but as sour ale in M 2 I % A SPIRITUAL AND It summer: by this means they become like unto desperate children, which will neither turn and amend with tlireatening, nor yet with beating. And therefore the Scripture testi- fieth very well, that one sharp word of reproach doth more good to liim that hath understanding, than a hundred stripes to a fool. (Prov. xvii.) As, for example, the longer and the sharper that God punished Pharaoh, the more obstinately did he swerve and decline from him. The wicked and ungodly do not only take no man^ ner of occasion to reform and amend their lives by their cross and sorrow, but also they pour out all manner of impatientness, bitterness, and spiteful poison, against the righteousness of God, saying, their cross is greater thai^ their transgression, and that they liave wrong, and are punished too sore. As for an example of this, we have one of the thieves hanging upon the cross with Christ,, which blasphemed MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. Christ very spitefully, saying, If thou be Christ, help both thyself and us. (Luke, xxiii.) By the which words he declared, that he judgeth himself even as worthy of help as Christ, the Son of God ; even as though God must forget all his righteousness, and help by and by every bIasj)hemous wretch, and look through the fingers upon the wicked world, which is one of the greatest blasphemies unto God that can be. When they have tumbled and wal- lowed in their misery (for God will not help them, because they have no trust nor confidence in him), and have sought help by creatures both in hca^ ven and earth, and found none ; then beginneth their cross and adversity to open their eyes so wide, that they must needs spy and acknowledge the wrath and hand of God over them. And then doth this outward cross and sorrow even kindle in them an inward trembling and doubtfulness, out of the which springeth the highest desj^era- M 3 Mpiiailll A SPIRITUAL AND tion ; insomuch that they cry out to the devil to help them, if God will pot. (1 Sam. xxviii. 2 Sam. xvii.) For although they he brought to the knowledge of their sin, and also to sorrow and repentance for the same, througli the cross, as Cain and Judas also were, yet liave they no trust nor confidence that the same sin shall be taken from them and forgiven them, but rave and rage, and give themselves over to the devil, aiid so depart wretch:: edly out of this world. (Gen. iv. Matt.^ xxvii.) Of whose destruction yet^ and con- fusion, these commodities do ensue : first, t()at they must of force cease any longer to make any disturbance by the wicked example of their life in the church and regiment of Goy no remedy be avoided, a very virtue, Now trouble and adversity doth so happen unto man, that he cannot help nor avoid it, though he would never so fain. Man must needs suffer trouble and adversity upon earth, there is no remedy. And again, why should any mai> ^vithout measure cumber himself abQu( A SPIRITUAL AN'D rliat tiling which is common unto all men, or to the most part, and not to him alone? By natural reason that hurden is lighter which many do bear together. iSow is the life of man a very mi- serable and lamentable thing. When another man prospcrcth so that all tilings go well with him, yet it farcth with iiim even as with a bloom or a flower in the field, which flourisheth for a w !}ilc, and is pleasant and dc- Icctahle to look upon, within a little wliile after it drieth up and fadeth away. As long as we are upon earth, we are, as it were, in a camp or a siege, where we must be skirmishing and iigluing, and know neither who shall break out and give the onset against us, nor where, nor how, nor when. Sometime a man is attacked and as- saulted in his body, in his goods, in ins name and fame. Sometime hap- pen unto him common mischances; as dearth, pestilence, war, which some- MOST PIIECIOUS I'EAKL. time continue very Jong, so that he may well say, no misfortune cometh alone, but bringeth one or other com- panion with it. If not at that present, yet hereafter it may ; and there is no misfortune so great, but may happen and light upon any of us all. At least ways we must all look for death, as it was said long ago unto our first parents. (Gen. iii.) To rehearse examples it were but folly and superfluous, forasmuch as there is no man but may lawfully com- plain of one thing or other ; and al- though some things happen after our minds, yet it is not without some sour sauce. And specially at this present, how are all Christ's realms compassed with sorrows, troubles, ajid miseries on every side I Look but upon our own country : there is neither good nor bad, godly nor ungodly, but hath one cross or other. And although some there be that can shift for a while, and can make jg^ A SPIRITUAL AXD pppvJsion for themselves for a time by craft, subtilty, and dissimulation, or by some falsehood in fellowship, as they call it, yet they bring themselves at length into the highest danger, confusion, and shame, both in this %vorld and in the world to come. And seeing that all the troubles and adversities in this world are a thousand times lighter and easier, yea, notliing in the respect of the eternal unquench- able fire, which is prepared and al- ready kindled for the unfaithful and kicked enemies of God, all faithful and godly persons ought to bear and suffer their transitory afflictions and adversities the more patiently, willing- ly, and tliankfully, considering and re- membering all tlie dear beloved friends ol God, which were wonderfully vexed and plagued of their enemies. (Rora, viii. 2 Cor. iv. V. 1 Cor. iii. Matt, xxy, isai. XXX. Dan. vii.) Abraham of the Chaldees, Lot of *he Sodomites, Isaac of Ishmael, Jacob ot tsim^ Aiosesof his people, David o£ ^lOirT vnncwvs tkat^l. Saul, and of his own son. As for Job lie had not one drop of blood in hi.^ body unconsumed. (Gen. xii. xix s:'i,.r-"- '^"■'- "• ■ s».. «-; John Baptist, the liolicst ti,;,t ever ^.thont a,,v mnnner of fonn or 'onl I " law, ngl.t or m,son, Ivhoadcl i, the prison, as thougi, God luul know «otl.mg .-.t nil of hi„,. (Matt." ' fiinrk, VI.) ^ • We have many thousand Jl Hou- tnartyrs and companions o/„„,. ,,,1^^,,, and adversity, in respect of whose in ! Beasts, and other means, uherewith ^'oy are tormente.I, all that ue sniS «s but a wmd or a pastime. • But specially this is to be consi- dered above all other in our trouble ihrffT'^'''^'f ''' haveJesusChrist tor a fellow and companion wifh us heren,, which suffered' upon earth (Isai. hu. Matt. x.xvii. Mark, xv.) A SPrrjTUAI, AND Now is not tlie servant above the master What reason uere it that the natural Son of God, being utterly in- nocent should be so cruelly intreatcd aiK mishandled ; and u-e which are his Children not by nature, but by adon. tnihv" . n''°"' ""^ '" ^" points ^mI: '°t '^' ""-"'P^ 'i"'*-^' '-"'d free ? (Matt. X. John, i. Kom. viii, i Cor 1. V.) "'^* Therefore, now, whosoever isasha.n- ed of he cross, and aggrieved there- with, t.ie same ,s ashamed and ag- gneved to have Ciirist for his felJovv and companion, and therefore shall the Lord Jesus Christ be ashamed of E^.T;" '' ''' '^''- ^'^U- (Gal. iy. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, 1 THE SECOND PART OF Tim BOOK. % zv/iat natural means or waijs trouhU and adversity may be qualified^ cased, and overcome. THE TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER. First and foremost, no man ought to meddle with other men's matters, which appertain nothing unto him, nop to cast himself into peril and danger without any need. For that wcre'^as much as to tempt God, and were clean contrary to the examples both of our Saviour Christ, and also of the holy Apostles; which by the commandment of Christ did sometime flee and avoid perils and dangers. (Matt, x.) But a man cimnot always honestly and con- veniently avoid them. Therefore, for the second point, likeas a waterman will never let out his sail so far but that he may soon pull it in again ^ even so every man^ as N ' J A slMnitrvt. AND long as nil things stand well and up- right with him, let him foresee and prepare in time for the contrary. For the which cause the Lord did tell his disci])les of his cross, death, and passion hetbrc, that they, seeing him sufKer an^ruish and sorrow, might tlie less cjuail and sin-ink at it. In like manner did he also declare hefore unto tliem, that they must be persecuted and sufier trouble, that they might look ior it, and be the more hurdy, bold, and strong, in |)ersecution, whenso- ever it should liappen. (Matt. xvi. xvii. XX. Mark, viii. ix. x. Luke, ix, xviii.) Thirdly : a great weiglit and sub- stance of the matter dejKndeth and hangeth upon this point, that a man conceive a right judgment and opinion of all things that happen and cfiance. For every thing appeareth so unto us, even as we in our thoughts and minds do fancy, imagine, and conceive it. If a man esteem worldly goods for a light thing (as they ought m very MOST PIIRCIOUS PEARL. .1 (J I// deed to be esteemed), tlien can he forbear the same with the less rrpief and pain. Contrariwise, if he make a god of them, and esteem them highly, then he trembleth,quaketh,and takcth on unmeasurably, when he is spoiled and deprived of them. In like manner in other things, a man oft-times fancieth and imagineth m himself that he can abide and suffer no manner of misfortune ; when, if it were well considered, that presen't evil which is so feared should soon seem but a trifle and no misfortune, but ra- ther a blessing or a good turn. And though it be not light and small in- deed, yet let it be esteemed and taken for light, forasmuch as it cometh alone, and bringeth not two, three, or aij hundred companions with it. For it is a wonder and a singular iTiiracle of God, that among s'.ch in- finite and innumerable perils as the w^orld and Satan have ready prepared, and even bent over us, we are not utterly headlong overwhelmed, ancl N 2 A SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS PEAKI,. sucldciilydestroyedofthem all. (] Pet. V.) And yet God sendeth and mixeth always some goodness and comfort be^ tween. As thou hast peradventure a sickly and diseased Body, but yet thy mind and heart is sound and strong. Or thou art vexed and cumbered in thy mind, yet liast thou an whole or a sound body. Or peradventure thou art robbed, spoiled, and deprived of thy temporal and worldly goods, and other transitory pleasures; yet hast many and divers Christian virtues and singular gifts of grace; where isa thou- sand times more felicity than in all health, beauty, strength, riches, friend- ship, wife, children, honour, dignitv, or power ; for this is not written in vam : O Lord, the earth is full of thv goodness. (Psal.civ.) ^ Here should an heart and mind that IS vexed and cumbered cease and leave off from the consideration of the pre- sent misery and affliction, and call to remembrance what other benefits of u God do yet remain, or what other wo have had, or at least what are yet to come and to happen to all faithful CIn-istians. And therefor there is an old common proverb, good to be re- membered : In advcrsilv reinember |)rosperity; and again, in prosperity thmk upon adversity. Again: oft-times manv a loss and mischance weareth lightly awav ac-ain, and IS soon remedied another wav! As, if some special friend of thine he taken from thee by death, thou mayest happen upon another as o-ood as hini, or else some other bcneiiis may hap- pen unto thee for that loss within a while. And he it in case that thy misery and misfortune continue a long while, yet is all manner of trouble that we suffer upon earth transitory, ever passing away, and not durable nor per- petual. ^ The length and process of time doth mitigate, ease, assuage, and lighten all manner of sjTiart, pain, and grief; if N 3 A SPIRITUAL AND the mind be a while used unto it, and somewhat exercised anci waxen hard in it. Yet such as be wise ought not to tarry till smart and grief wear and fret away of itself, hut to prevent tlie time by such means as we have hitherto taught, and hereafter shall follow. Fourthly : ordinary means are not to be condemned, despised, or refused. Likeas a ship-master, being upon the water, and foreseeing a temijest to be at hand, calleth upon God's aid and help ; and yet for all that he hath also a sure eye to the stern, to rule that as handsomely and cunningly as lie can, (Acts, xxvii.) Even so in all manner of necessities and perils it is lawful, and men ought also to use all manner of honest and convenient means ; as physic and me- dicines in sickness ; labour and travail with the sweat of our brows in pover- ty ; the power and authority of the magistrate in wrong, injury, debate, and dissension; battle array against the euemiesof our country, andsuch^ MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. I like ; so that no man build nor trust in any maimer of thing saving in the very living God only, which can lielp, deliver, and remedy all things, with- out any middle or mean, if there were none at hand. (Gen. iii. Matt. ix. 1 Sam. X.) Fifthly : when a man waiteth, tend- cth upon, and serveth his honest crat't, science, vof:ation, or office, where- unto God luiUi called him, and studieth to execute, perform, and follow it di- ligently, as he ought to do, itdriveth away many evil and vain fancies from a troubled mind, that is cumbered with any grief or affliction. Sixthly: likeas weak, tender, and diseased eyes are refreshed imd quick* ened with tureen and fresh pleasant colours, even so cumbered and troubled minds are wonderfully refreshed, re- vivcd,and restored to strength, through seemly, honest, and measurable mirth and pastime ; as through hearinof of instruments of music, by walking abroad, by altering and changing of r Ml A SPIRITUAL AND the air, and by going out of such places as be obscure and dark, into such as be very lightsome. And specially for a man in his trouble to v.sit his special friends, or to be vi- Sited ot them, bringeth a double com- tort and easement unto his sorrowful and unquiet mind. First, in declaring thy grief and dis- ease unto thy friend, and openinc- tlw who e heart, and pouring out thy whole mmd before him, thou iiudest a singular easement in thy mind there- by. And again ; a true and a faithfol tnend through his pity and benioan, mg ot thee, helpeth thee, as it were to bear the burden ; and althouG;!, Iq can takeaway no part of the substance of thy sorrow, yet his good heart and xviU and tnendly words, are a irrcat comfort unto thee. MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, The best and surest succour and com- fort in adversity resteth onbj in the mighty power, will^ and ^oodness of God. -^ THE TWEN^TY-THIRD CHAPTER. Now will r open and declare, that God both ran, may, and will help and succour sufficiently for Christ's sake, jn respect of whom he promised us all manner of help, aid, and comfort, and performeth it. And I will also shew by what means, and in what measure, ne worketh the same. God seeth and looketh upon us Iiow we stick and wrestle in peril and danger, and he knoweth best of all how and when to remedy, help, and deliver us, that hisglory and our wealth may be most furthered. And he is not one that only knoweth all things but he isalsonlmightv, and can work and bnng to pass all things. And if our affliction and adversity wax and in- crease from day to day, the longer the A SPIRITUAL ANO worse ; yet is God always a thoiisaiiJ times mightier and stronger than it. But so mighty cannot God be, but lie is as gracious and merciful also, and hath a greater lust and desire to shew and declare his true heart and love towards us, than we can w ish or desire. And although he seemeth in our sight to take utterly away all man- ner of light of his grace out of our eyes, yet he remainetli gracious and favourable towards us privily, and, as itvYtre, in secret; and certainly he will not forsake us, give us over, nor suffer us to stick and continue in such heaviness and danger. ^ And it is not our good works, me- rits, and deserts, that move him there- unto, but the infinite and endless merit and desert of Jesus Christ, which hath purchased unto us, through his death and passion, remission of our sins, the heavenly gifts of the Holy Ghost, and mitigation or easement of our troubles and adversities. And it is not possible that any man MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. that taketh hold of Christ and hath him, can be oppressed or overthrown either of sin, the devil, the world, or of all the creatures in heaven and earth; but shall continue and remain for ever nncler the wing and defence of God. (Uom. viii. Psal. xxxiv. Prov. xxiv.) ' Furthermore, Almighty God, being pacified and reconciled with mankind tln-ough Jesus Christ, hath promised both unto the children of Israel, and to all that be in any distress and vex- ation, through his ministers, ever- more, from time to time, help, suc- cour, and comfort. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite and broken heart, and will help them that have sorrowful and humble minds. (Psal. cxlvii.) He desireth me, and hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I am by him and with him in ins trouble ; I will bring him out, and set hnn in honour, &c. (Psal. xci.) O, how comfortable a tiling, and what an high honour is it, to have such a mighty A SPIRITUAL ANI> and so faithful a fellow-companion, which will so lovingly stand by us and aid us! Now as for the time, God will help in due and convenient season, and we must suffer hiin to take his time and leisure. For hkeas God seeth the trouble and affliction of his church, how it is vexed, even so hath he ap- pointed a just time, how long he will' suffer the wicked to take their plea- sure, and how far they shall go and attempt. And when that is expired, no longer nor further can they go. As the captivity of Babylon was appointed to continue seventy yeai's, and theu to cease. Yea, when thcsoirovv and heaviness is at the liigliest, and every one of us thinketh that God hath utterly for- saken us, then is God most ready to help us, and his aid is most nigh unto iis» Yea, and to speak certainly as the ft-bth is, God comforteth us continu- ally in the midst of all our troubles and MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. heaviness, and is never from us. (Psa. xlvi. Matthew, xxviii. John, xiv.) For the faithful man hath in his heart the spirit of God, the fountain and spring of the heavenly water, of tlie which he is evermore moistened, revived, and refreshed, to his singular comfort. (John, iv.) And the more that our sorrow and adversity augmenteth and increaseth, the greater aid and assistance shall we find and perceive. God will not suffer you to be temptet.it power stren^rthen- eth, susiaincth, and preservcth us. The Spirit succuureth and helpeth our weakness and infirmities. (Rom. vii .) And if the devil through his spirit doth drive and move the people, that t! vari rcM(lv and willing toallwicked- jk ..> lii 1 ihomination, thouirh it cost lives; why should not God u •! Ills Spirit make us as lusty and wHIiiig; to all goodness, whatso- ever sorrow or affliction we sufier ? SonietiineGt>dmitigaieth and easeth the punish iiicnts, that we may the iTiore easily overcome them. T!ic cap- tain giveth sometime his solcIiL-rs li- berty to take tlieir rest^ easc^ and MOSr PRECIOUS PEARL, pastime, that they may somewhat re- fresh themselves, and afterward fight iJie more manly and freshly : even so our spiritual Captain granteth oft- times unto his Cliristians, a certain recreation, case, and rest, whereby ihey may refresh and revive them- selves, that they may afterward handle themselves the more valiantlv in their spiritual afi-airs- And sometime he dischargcth ns utterly of all manner of trouble and uncjuietness,andrjestoreth all oarlosses and hiudrjHwes again, and delivereth us, to our singul;ir pre-eminence, praise, and connnendalion, and keep- eth and savetlj us from all manner of misery aijd imquietness in time to come. x\nd to perform this thing God useth not only his Spirit, but also other means ; as the angels, the stars, the elements, beasts, men, and all manner of creatures, Likeas a man of war hath a lust and a courage to fight, having divers va- liant servants about him, which will o 3 A SPIIUTUAL A\D MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, J^nfter liini to take no vvronrr ; even so tlic holy angels do rumpass us about '•;|^' <^:-^^nd us, that ill all maimer of airiichcjii raid ndversity we are bold nnd Mble to .stand and coiuinue va- ^niilly. (Psai. xxxiv. 2 Kings, xi%. Jo>iui;j, V.) i'Jias said to h's !)ov, Be not afraid • ^)r they th.it arc with us are n^orc than they that are with rhcin, kc (2 Kings, vi.) The Red Sea aiid the ilood of Jordan withdrew lheni>clves tliat the eliildren of Israel miglit gq €)ver (Ivy, and never wet tlieir feet. (Exod. xiv\ Josh, iii.) The sun and nioo!! stood still for Joshua's pleasure, and never njovcrl until suiii time as lie had slain tl;e five kings. (Jo.di. X.) Elias v.as wouderfidly fed of the ravens, (i King^ xvii.) Tinougii the inmd of a woman the Israelites uere d-jivorcd froin a ter- rible and cruel host of their enemies. And cuuunonly God coiufoitelh and U delivcreth men tlirongh other men, (Esther, vi. vii. viii. Judith, viii.) Antl specially this is a comfortable thing, that all faithful and holy Chris- tians u[)on earth liave fellowship and participation together in all manner of things, both good and had, as well one as another ; and therefore when- soever I suffer any smart, pain, or sor- row, hoth Christ and all true Chris- tians suMer witli me. For the Lord sa'th not, They were hungry and thirsty, &cc, but he saith, I was hun- gry, and I was thirsty. (Isa. h iii. Matt. XXV.) And furthermore, the whole con- gregation of Christ doth helf) me to hear my burden. Ft)r they that are the members of one body, take care and sorrow one for another : if the sole of the foot be hurt, doth it not grieve the whole body } (Gal. vi.) Now St. Paul calleth all Cin'istian men one body, and also one bread and one cup. (1 Cor. vi.) And therefore all other faithful Christians have compassion. A SPiniTUAL AN'O iind are heavy and sorrowful for me ; and whatsoever is light unto them, is also light unto me. Take a manifest example by the godly Prophet Jeremy ; which com- plan ed sore, and was in much distress, when he had no other cause, but that the Jews, his countryinen, were so evil hciudled and vexed, Examples of the help and aid of God. THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER. To this end and purpose ouulit we to consider and to c;ill unto mind the examples both of the Old and New Testament, If God had ever forsaken his faithful elect in their trouble and need, then might we have a just and lawful excuse tp mistrust him ; but for- asmuch as none that ever soui^ht upon God was forsaken of him (Psaini xxxvii,), ought not that to comfort ?ind strengthen us, that he will also Dicrcifully stand by us in all our need '^na necessity? MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, The godly man Noah, his sons nnd J^ons' wives, were preserved of God through an ark or a ship, whenas the whole world beside was destroyed with the sin-flood. Now if we with Noali believe in the blessed Seed, so shall we also with him be reputed for vir- tuous and good before God, and be preserved a^ he was. (Gen. iii.) . Lot was also delivered from the plague and punishment oi the Sodo- mites. (Gen. XIX.) Jacob was foin to flee from his bro- ther Esau, and to suffer great wrong and injury of his father-in-iavv, Laban; and )'ct he was nevertheless blessed and preserved of God. (Gen. xxxii.) Joseph being sold of his brethren, and hecause he would notcon)iT]itfi!thi- i:css and abomination v/ith his master's wife, was cast into prison ; but God delivered him, and exalted him to high honour. (Gen. xxxviii. xxxix. xli.) King Pharaoh threatened Moses very ^ovq, and the children of Israel also theiri-elves would have stoned, A SPIRITUAL AND liJm to death : but God preserved hi:n under his protection. (Exod. xiv. XV ii.) Unto the children of Israel God gave water out of a hard rock of stone, and bread from heaven, and quails and other necessary things, for the comfort of their necessity, wonder- fully in the wilderness. (Numb. xx. Exod. xvL xvii.) How graciously did God preserve king David and Heze- kiah in their trouble and necessity, and also the Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel among the heathen ; and like- wise defended he Judas Macchab^eus, ^vith other at that time, (i Sam. xix. xxiv, xxvi. xxviii. 2Chron. xxxii. Dan, vi. J Mac. ii.) Forty men had made a solemn vow, neither to eat uor drink till they had killed Paul ; but God did not suffer it tocometopass. (Acts,xxiii. Rom.xv.) These and other like examples arc written for this purpose, tliat we should give like judgment, and have like opi> MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. nion ofother like examples, which are not expressed. Beside this, it is also evident, and hath been marked, that some time such as have been the most timorous, weak, and fearful, afterward, being strengthened in faith through the might and power of God, have suf- fered martyrdom, banishment, and death, most willingly and joyfully ; and also have comforted boldly such as have suffered with them, even against the nature and disposition of the flesh of man. (Acts, iv. v. Rom. viii. 2 Cor. iv. Psalm xliv.) Yea, there is not one of us all but have oft felt and proved the help, pro- tection, and aid of God. For who can make his boast that he himself did help any thing at all to the matter, when he was formed in his mother's womb? of the which matter read Da- vid : Who hath kept us hitherto while we have been asleep. (Psalm cxix, cxxvii.) Who hath sorrowed and taken care A SPIIUTUAL AMD jviosT rpiECiors rriAr.t. fur us, when we have laboured or taken unr pastime, or else done some other .tiling, and never took thought the least moment for ourselves ? It may well happen that God may sometime suffer us to swim, but he will never suffer us to sink or drown. To be short: if tlicre were not so many examples before our eyes, if we would but look a little backward, and consider how we have passed and avoided the time that is pa-t, which surely liath been always full of great perils and dangers ; whether we will or will not, we shall be compelled to confess and grant, tliat the merciful o-oodness of God hath borne us in his bosom, and hath preserved us from divers dangers ancl perils, over and above all that ever we could think, imamne, or devise. Now if God hath thus holpen and delivered us many and divers ways, without any labour or study of our- selves, yea, without any manner of care or sorrow of our parts, whenas jye neither knew nor thougiit thnt he ,\vas present with us, we must needs be very obstinate, dull, and mad, if jwe do not from henceforth, in any jnanner of trouble or necessily, cast iour sorrow upon him, and suffer hiui to care for us ; but we in such case, oh shame! begin to doubt and fear lest he hath already for-nken us, or will from henceforth give us over. (Psalm XXXV. Matt. vi. Luke, xii. J Pet. v.) Item, if God of his natural love, be- neficialness, and free liberality givcth here in this transitory life health, strength, riches, wealth, f^ie^d^hi^^ !')ower, authority, honour, and sucii- ike, even unto the wicked and uu- godly ; why should not we determine and conclude upon the same, that he \vill deal and distribute a thousand times higher and greater bcneiits unto the godly and right faithful Christians, although they neither see nor receive those gifts at that present instant? Besides this the Lord also com- r -1 I A SPIRITUAL AND forteth us : if God take care for tlie fowls of the air and the flowers of the field, and provideth nourishment and cloth in 2: for them ; truly he will deal as faithfully w itli us men, which excel many ways tlie fowls of the air and grass of the field. (Luke, xii. Matt. vi. X.) THE THIRD AND LA.ST PART OF THIS BOOK. fFe must direct our faith, hope, and coii/idence towards God, THE TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER. Hitherto liath it been declared, that the very right and true lijlp, succour, and comfort resteth in God through Christ, and for his sake ; now shall it consequently be taught how we should order and behave ourselves ao-ain with faith, hope, prayer, rcpentance,amend- inent of life, and patience, that God may participate, distribute, and extend his grace and mighty merciful hand towards us. I ■ MOST PRKCIOUS PEAKL. S Flr^tofallj although we must ut- terly despair of all mnnnerof help and succour of man. and can in no wise de- vise or imagine wliat or after what sort God will or may help and aid ^is ; yet notwithstanding, we must utterly re- sist and banish all manner of heavy, sorrowful, and desperate fancies and imaginations of the mind, and give no place unto them, but conceive stcad- iastly this sure trust and confidence in God, that he both knoweth and will take and hit the right time, measure, and means to help us, and will va- liantly and gloriously deliver us. Let us commit altogether joyfully and boldly without fear unto God, and let his mercy and gracious goodness more rejoice and comfort us, than all the misery and sorrow under heaven, iJ]X)n earth, or in hell may fear us. Yea, we need to care and sorrow for nothing so much as for tliis, tliat we be not too careful and sorrowful for ourselves, as though God iiad given over all his care and sorrow for us : P 2 >1 I A SPIRITUAL AND for Ilkoas the governor, fatlier, of good man of the honse taketh all the care and sorrow upon himselt', how he shall tiiid, feed, and sustain his family ; and as llic household servants ought to love their masters, to have a good trust and opinion of them, and also to labour and to do such service as they are appointed unto, faithfully ; even so all manner of care and sorrow for us belongeth unto God, and our parts and duty is no more but to trust and believe in him, and to serve ia the vocation and condition of life, wheremito wc are alf called and ap- pointed of God, faithfully. Now if God be most victorious and invincible, and his dear beloved Sou also an everlasting strength, that can never fail against the devil and the world ; and again, both Christ and God liimFelf, through faith, arc ours, and dwell in us (Eph. iii.) ; then there is no cause why the fearful Cliristirin man should fear neither his jonn feeble fle>h and body, nor l}\6 K oJ / MOSJ PKECIOUS PEARL. weak and impotent age, nor yet thjs whole power of the devil, though he be armed and weaponed with a thou- sand thousand crafts and subtleties. (JPet.v.) For if so be that in God be all man- ner of joy, blessedness, and felicity, and we througli faitJi do prove and find him a gracious and merciful God tinto us, then may we lawfully rejoice in God, even in the midst of tha highest sorrow and adversity that can be: witness Psalm xxv. Iv, There shall none be confounded and put to shame, that hopeth in thee. Cast thy care and sorrow upon the Lord, and he shall defend and sustain thee, What can be thought or imagined more sweet or comfortable? For example : the heathenish woman of Canaan, all hope find comfort ir^ the remedy and counsel pf man set apart, desireth help and succour of Christ ; and although the Lord giveth iier at first a rough and sharp answer, p 3 A SPIRITUAL" AKW yat she is nothing abashed, nor will be so answered. (Matt, xv.) Even so hold thou on hkewise with the heathenish woman, saying and cry- ing still, *' O thou Son of David, have mercy upon me." And so shalt thou hear at length tliis comfortable Gospel and absolution : " Thy faith is great, be it unto thee as thou desirest." St. Bernard sheweth very comfort- £ibly what a faith he had in thes^e godly- words : '^ O Lord, it is much better for uie to suffer trouble, so that thou only mayest be by me, than to rule and hve pleasantly and costly without thee \ it is better and more pleasant unto me to be in a hot, burning, and flam- ing oven with thee, than even to be in heaven without thee." And who did ever trust in the Lord, whom he at length forsook? Besides all this. Almighty God com- mandeth that we should hope, trust, and look for help at his hands ; which hope bringeth with her a mitigation and easement of the smart and sorrowr '-« \ '^ST PRECIOUS PEARL. J hope in the Lord, therefore shall I iH)t full. Hope thou only in God, so 8halt thou be holpen. Hope is never confounded nor put to shame. (Psa. xxvi. xxviii. Kom. v,) Of prayer in trouble and adver&ilij. THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER. The holy Scripture tcachcth us in oil manner of necessities, as well bodily as gliostly, to call u})on God, and to iiee unto him. And here doth it pro- pi VL^-y much, if one be mindful of (1 not her in his prayer. But what should a man pray for? First and most specially, for remission of liis sins ; for when we have once obtained of God pardon of our sins, then certainly shall the sickness, ad- versity, or punishment either clearly cease, or else, through the gracious will and goodness of God, it shall re- dound to the furtherance of our sal- vation. ' Secondarily, we must also pray either ' 'J A SPIRITUAL AXD ■■- II Hill J that God will liel()an(l deliver us, not after the device and fancy of our own brains, but after such wise as shall seem iTieet up to his godly wisdom ; cr else tliat he will mitigate and ease our pain and punishment, that our weakness may not utterly faint and sink down to the bottom. Likeas a sick person, although he doubt nothing of the faithfulness, ho- nesty, and tenderness of his physician or surgeon towiirds him, yet for all that desin'th him to handle his wound, and to dress him as easily and tenderly as is possible for him : even so in like manner may we call u[)on God, that if it be not against his honour and glory, he will vouchsafe to give some initigati(jn and easement of the |)ain. And specially let us desire of him tognmt us strength that we faint not, nor be overcome with the fear or greatness of our sorrow and grief, whereby we might forsake hitn, and fall into some wickedness ; but that we may rather, after the examples pf MOST PKECIOUS PEAKL. .! the holy martyrs, suffer death and most intolerable tonnents, than either to forsake and deny our faith, or else to do any manner of thing against the v\ili of God. (Kom. viii.) And it is very expedient for us to pray with the lost and desperate son, '* I am no more ivorthy from henceforth to be called thy son ; make me as one of thy hired servants." (Luke, xv.) I will gladly with all my heart have sorrow and trouble upon earth even as a labouring servant, thatgoeth for his hire, so that thou wilt but suffer me to dwell and remain in thy house for ever. But now liow should we pray ? St. James, in his lirst chapter, teacheth us, that we should pray in ftiith without wavering, and nothing doubt but that God doth mercifully hear us. We must continually look upon the pro- mises of God, and have this always before our eyes, that we do not only seek lielp and remedy at his hands, but also hof)e and look surely for it, committing- both body and soul witii a A SPiniTUAL AND MOST I'RECIOrs rKAllL/ £!oo(l will unto hnn. (Matt. xxi. Mark XI.) ' '' Call upon mc iu thy need, and I ^yill help and deliver thee, andsoshalt tiiou praise me : let him call upon me so will I hear iiim : lambyiiim in his trouble, I will deliver him out and hnngWun to honour." (Rsalm l.'xci.) And again, " Verily, verily, I say mito you, whatsoever you shall pray iorunto tlie Father in my name (that IS to say, in ti^e trust and confidence upon my merits), he shall give it unto you. (John, XIV.) For example : wbeii Moses held up his liands unto God and prayed, his enemies, the Amalekites were overcome. (Exod. xvii.) The. two blind men which did cry alter tlie Lord, ^' O Son of David, have mercy upon us," were heard. (Matt, ix.) Of such-like examples arje thcGospels fulL Item, m trouble and adversity we .ought to praise C^od, and to give him nianks tliat he hath not forgotten us JhU through his fatherly visitation czUcih and draueth us unto him and graciously helpeth us to bear all mair* ner of burdens : even so did Paul in his adversity praise God. ('2 Cor. i.) *' Praised be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy, and God of all consolation, which comforteth us in all our troubles and afflictions.'* Repentance and amendment of life in troid'le. and adversity is necessary^ TUE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER* Now there must go with all this re- pentance, heaviness, and sorrow for the 8ins which we liave committed in time past, amendment of life, the love of God, the fear of God, all virtue and godliness. Manasseh was sorry and pe- nitent for his wicked life and cruel ty- ranny, and therefore did God deliver him out of the bands and captivity of the king of Babylon, and restored him again to hiskingdom in Israel. (2Kings, xxi. 2 Chron. xxxiii.) By Jonah was it preached and proclaimed unto the . \. A^ ^ ^^ Il>; MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. A SPIRITUAL AND great city of Nineveh, that God shouW destroy and overthrow it vvitliin forty days. The Ninevites believed this pro- claujation and preaching, and began to rc[)cnt and amend their lives witli a great and a singular humbleness and submission ; and so God of his mercy S[)ared th. ;n. (Jonah, iii.) Now isGcxl's merciful heart nothinc: diujiuishcil : if we do as the Ninevites did, lie both can and will |>'inlon and s[)are us as lie did them. (Numb. xi. Isa. I. lix.) Christ'mn and i^ocIJi/ pcrsuaswJis and examples uiU of the v:or(i of Gad^ to wore men unto patience in ajjiiction and adversity, THE TWEXTY-EIGHTH CHAPTER. Amojig all other virtues, in adversity patience is most neecssm me; bat thy will, and not mine, be done." Wliere did he ever once murmur or grudge, or cast out so much as one untowartl andunpatient word, when he was mocked and scorn- ed, scourged and beaten, and most cruelly m^isordered and dealt withal? (Matt. XX vi. Mark, xiv. Luke, xxii. John, vi. xviii. Isa. liii.) Print this well and surely in thy mind, that he did pray upon the cross for his greatest enemies, and said, '* Father, forgive them, for they know a 3 1 ;' ii A SPIRITUAL AND not what they do." (Luke, xxiii. Acts, vii.) If he through his heavenly and divine might and power rid himself of all liis pain, sorrow, and danger, and tliat we in in our sorrow, anguish, and necessity had not felt any heavenly strength nor power from God, then coiikl we not have comforted ourselves at all with our Saviour Jesus Christ. But Ire would not put off* his bitter passion through his almighty power, hut rather overcame it throue:h weak- liess. i\o\v then if He, whom all angels and creatures in heaven and earth do heboid and look upon (Psalm xcvii. Heb. i.), yea, whom they all must serve and fear, doth suffer innocently undeserved, with all patience and meek- ness, more than ever any Christian man was attempted with, it ought lawfully to make even a heart of stone or iron to yearn and melt, and to take these small afflictions well deserved, most patiently and willingly, and to suRer and bear them most meekly* JVI0»T PRECIOUS PEAKL. And tills practice did the holy elect of God in the old time not only in- culcate and teach with words, but also express and perform in deed. It was a heavy cross unto Abraham to slay and offer up his most dear son ; and yet lie with all patience shewed him- self obedient unto God therein. And Isaac, perceiving that it stood upon his life, and that he should die, we read not that he did resist, nor once open his mouth against it. (Gen. xxii.) Jose[)li, when he was delivered of his brethren unto tlie heathen, which were strangers unto him, yet he for- gave it his brethren, and did them good for it. (Gen. xxxvii. xlv.) Aloses being reviled of the Israelites as a de- ceiver and a betrayer, }et had such compassion on them that he prayed for them, saying, " O Lord, either forgive them, or else wipe uie out of thy book." Here is he willing and ready to take all the Israelites' sins and offences upon himself, that God slK)uld i (*; •r A SPIRITUAL AND pniiish him for them. ^Exod. xvii- xxxii. Rom. ix.) David was tain to he a hanishcd out- cast a l(Hii!:t»me,and to lice everywhere from Saui, whom notwithstanding lie n]i3L*:iit as easily liave destroyed and killed, as he might have catena bit of bread (I Sam. xviii.) ; and after that he was pnt to flight of his own son, yet said patiently, '* If I find orrace iind favour before God, then will he restore n^e again ; but if he say, I liave 110 pleasure nor delight in thee, bc- liold, here I am, let hiin do with me as pleasetli him best." ('iSam. xvi.) Job, the speetacle of patience, lacing full of sores in his body, spoiled of Ins goods, and de[)rivcd of his children, said tlius : " God gave it, and God hath taken it away, the name of the Lord be praised." Furthermore he saith, *' If he should kill me, yet will I put mv trust in liim." (Job, i.ii. xiii ) Wattathias,in the very highest peril and danger of liis body and life, at such time as they would have compelled and MOST PRECIOUS PEARL, forced him unto idolatry, made this answer unto the servants and ministers of Antiochus: '* We will not swerve nor depart from our faith, neither to the right hand nor the left." (1 Mac, ii.) The Apostles did rejoice that they were worthy to be scourged, beat, and reviled for thename of Jesus. (Acts, v.) We should learn to cry with Paul, *^ I am sure that neither death nor life, neither height nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ our Lord." After the time of the holy Prophets and Apostles, many thousand martyrs (among whom were divers notable matrons, chaste virgins, and other young people) did suffer most grievous torments and afflictions for the truth's sake. (1 Mac. ii. 2 Mac. vi. vii.) But now here might some man ob- ject and say, It is no marvel that the holy saints did suffer joyfully and boldly, fot- they did suffer innocently, unworthily, and without desert ; but as s, A SPIRITUAL AND :«IOST PRECIOUS PEARL. f' " me, T must needs complain that I uretrlicd sinner, and that which r i> for my deserts and sins, so J li^t'or v\orlhily ; and there tV)re 1(1 arH"'tion can in no wise i or hkened unto the cross .>. -' i»s.&c. This objection ii]. V an-wered in lew words. i'iie holy sJnls, every one of them, roncernin^T tht insclves and their own nature, vere miserable sinners; but aLani thiy vere holy and righteous tiirono-'i j-sus Christ, which hath dis- tribi!^»^d ami given unto them also, through true faith, his holiness and rJiihieoLisncFs. (Job, iv. xiii. Isa. xiv, 2 Pet. ii. Rev. xx.) Furthermore, these two virtues, trtie faith and Cliristian patience are so nioh of affinity, and so annexed and knit in fellowship together, that al- wavs the one helpeth the other. Faitli, if stirred up, exercised, put in ure, and practibcd, receiveth in- i:rea?e and more strength through pa- tience in horrow and affliction; whenas Vve for Christ's sake do both desire and also wait for help and strength of God against our nature, vvnich can nothini^ but doubt and despair ; and al-o against the weakness of the flesh, .i^ainst the temptation of the devil, and against the assaults of the world. And again, patience is exerrjspd, proved, and made stronger througii true faith. For whosoever knoueti;, and is fully persuaded that he hath a graci o u s an d a m e vc\ f "u 1 Go( 1 , w . ; : i whom after tliis miserable life he hhail live everlastingly, the same shall sulK r all manner of trouble -and advc; ity patiently, christtanly, and thankfully. Again, through faith in Christ, vvt^ are set at one, and reconciled with Go>], and assured of his grace, mercy, .u I favour for Jesus Christ's sake and the merits of hii passion. (Rom. iy. Gal. iv. Eph. ii.) For example: David, forasmuch as he believed trulv and steadfastly in God, spake bohily with a courage: God is our hope and strength, a very M A SPIRITUAL AXD ^ present help in all the sorrows and iie^ cessities that have assaulted us. There- fore will we not fear, though the world should sink, and though the hills should be carried away in the midst of the sea, &c. (Psal. xlvi.) Yea, every Cliristian man (if it were possible) should be content to lose a thousand bodies and fives, if it were for no other thing but that Fie hath heard, tasted, and believed the holy Gospel. But for any man lo be impatient, and so to remain, it is an evident token that the same person never had any true faith ; or else, if he had^ that it is quenched and gone away. For im- patiency falleth unto murmuring and tlisobedience against God, and begin- rieth to hate God, and to bbspiieme him. Also Christian prayer is a great help and furtherance to patience ; for in prayer we desire the sanctification of the name of God. Now is the name of God most praised and sanctified, wheu we, being in the highest danger MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. and necessity, do depend and hang upon God (through faith and patience) as upon one that will dispose all things well, and to a good end. Again, in prayer we desire that the kingdom of God may come unto us. (Matt. vi. Luke, xi.) Now, if God will confound and destroy in us the kingdom of the devil and of the flesh, or else >vould utterly lead and draw us into his godly and heavenly kingdom through the cross, were it not as much as to pray against ourselves, if we should be impatient under the same ? We pray, likewise, that God's will be done. Now if it be God's will that we should have sorrow, trouble, and adversity upon earth, how dare or can We resist or grudge against his will ? » T< -i A SPFRTfUAL A^'B MOST -PBECIOVS PE^ARL. Examples and causes taken out ofM-^ twral things, and of heathen meu, wheieby a man mity be moved to pa- Mence in ndversily, THE TWKNTY-NINTH CITAPTKR. ff thei-e wefeno I>oIv Scripture at all, yet might a i/van of his oun rea- Sim take example of bFute beasts, ol Aaiural things, m of body hikI sckiK «nd the fiatnral parts mito them be- lofiging; a! jo of heathen men, Jews, and handy craftsmen, and of all man- ner of states and degrees of men ; aiid likewise of tlie atigirls, and of the devil ; whereby tlicy ibight condude lind leafn, that they ought to behave themseh-es patiently, boldly, m\d u law- fully, in adversity and misfortime. A lamb or a sl'ieep is led unto the slaughter, and never crieth nor opeii- elh the mouth, but snMlrethandabideth it patiently and meekly. Even so ought the holy elect of God, wheu they are ciirsed and reviled, uot to curse oi I iTvile again ; when they are smitten, not to smite again ; but to sufter ^11 manner of smart and pain, and n^t once to open their mouths against it^ Our body is but very worm's meat;; and if we could bestpw the same to the honour of our Redeemer and Sa- viour Christ, ought we not to be glad and r^oice, if we might so do ? (Job, xix. 1 Cor. xv. Eccles. v») . Likeas they that are sick and dis- eased can be content to suffer and abide any of the members of their body to be cut off, and to be burnt, so that they might be any thing re- lieved and eased thereby of thdr^re^t smart and continual pain (>yhidi is yet but transitory), and be made whole and sound again : even so ouglit we gladly and willingly to suffer our Lo^d God, and to be still and quiet when he sendcth us adversity, whereby we may be relieved and discharged of eternal pain, and obtain health, bless- ing, and salvation for our souls. If thou canst consider the order a^d R 2 if H r "^^ A SPIKITUAL AND course of nature, that is na^turally written in thy heart, thou shalt thereby learn and conclude that a man ought to be so strong and steadfast, that he should not be moved by any smart, pain, or other temptation, to do any thing that is unseemly or against ho- nesty. And out of this honesty, wrought and planted in nature, sprang the learning and examples of the wise and notable heathen men, which we call philosophers, among whom this was a common proverb and sentence : "Bear and forbear." The first word whereof teacheth us, that we should suffer the cross patiently, and to be still and meek wlien we are visited therewith. And the second signifieth, that we should hate, flee, and avoid all man- ner of examples, words, or deeds, that might give any manner of occa- sion to any evil. Aristotle, in his book ofuKinncrs, teacheth, that feli- city and blessedness consisteth not specially in health of body, in abun* MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. drince of goods, or in worldly hopQur, dignity, and estimation, but rather ip (be exercise and practice of virtue^ Out of the which it followeth, that ^ .man that is virtuous may be blessed^ though he have never so much trouble and adversity ; and he reckoneth and taketh trouble or adversity for the very matter and occasion whereby vir- tue is most stirred up an^ exercised, and wherein it doth most shine ^nd appear. And the same Aristotle also com- pareth an honest and virtuous maa nnto a good captain : for likeas fi ffood captain leadetl) and ordereth his host, according as the occasion rcr quireth ; eycn so a virtuous man be- haveth hiniself patiently and well in j^dversity, and makcth the best of it. The Stoics did teach plainly, that it was not to be reckoned an evil thing for us to live in poverty, sickness, and misery ; but this only to be. evil, tp fbrsa|>;e virtue, and shew any point of i^ishonesty, Cicero, one of* the raojit a 4 A SPIRITUAL AND potable and excellent Romans, writeth thus : " Remember and persuade this with thyself, that besides sin and disr honesty, nothing can happen to a mai> whereat he ouirht to be astonished or abashed/' And according to this ex- ample did one heathen man oftqi comfort another by all manner of cir- cuinstances and things, as these fol- ^wing, and others. It beseemeth not a man to weep and wail like a child, or a woman. And Seneca writeth thus : It is easier to subdue and overcome a whole na- tion, than one only man. Item : Thou art no more a child of a year, but thou liast age and years, and therefore more is recjuired of thee than of a child. Thou iiast been brought up and instructed from thy youth in godly wisdom and knowledge ; the same |Tiust thou now practise and shew forth. Bpfore this time thou cpuldest com-* forif arid give good counsel unto others; (|o not now, therefore, like the eyjl physicians^ which boast ancj MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. s i 4 « pretend that they can help other men, and cannot help themselves. Before this tinie hitherto thou hast shewed and behaved thyself manfully ; there- fore be now like unto thyself, and go not backward. It were an unseeming thing to wax from day to day worse, and weaker, and such-like. Although this doctrine of the hea^ then men in this and such other points is to be commended, yet the storie§ do make mention of many unseemly acts that they did : as this, that Co- riolanus, for desire of revenge, did war against his own natural country ; also Cato and Antonius, for sorrow and heaviness, did kill and murder them- selves. But the very reason of man can discern and judge, that such things 2lre against nature, and against all virtue and honesty. But thq very right and the most notable heathen men have commended and set forth patience, not only witl^ words, but also have shewed the same ip example ^nd deed, A^^ong the » '1 .';. i A SPIRITUAL A^fXt Grcciaqs, Aristides, ^n excellent vir^ tubus man, being banished out of his country, did take and suffer his misery very manfully and patiently. Among the Romans, Caniillus and A^ttiliuif Pegulus were highly commended and praised for their excellent patience and stoutness, which they sliewed in ad- versity. Scipio could have defended and re- venged himself of the seditious rebeU lion with force and strong hand. But of an ew:ol|ent princely heart he went out of the sight of his enemies for q time, and sutfered n)uch trouble and injury of them, for the profit of liis laud, lest he should give the occasion to more bittenie^s and fierceness. Yea, we r^ad of certain women, as of Cor- nelia, which in affliction' and adver, sity did shew manly heart3 and great Itoutness. ^ But we must always mark the mht diffcrence between the heathenish aqd the Christian patience. As Socrates \ix his adver^it/ did wojjdijr at the ua^ MOiT PRECIOUS PEARL. 1 righteousness of men, and thought that it was but a chance and fortune that he was afflicted ; but David knew and confessed that his visitation and affliction came from God. ('2 Sam. xxiv. 1 Chron. xii.) Socrates, forasmuch as he sufFereth innocently, and without a cause, he cannot find by his reason that we should wish and desire punishment and affliction ; but David, after a cer- tain manner, wisheth and desireth the cross; for he knoweth that it is God*s will to testify, and to open ma- nifestly, through the cross and adver- sity, his wrath and displeasure against 6in. Socrates, in his manly suflTerance and patience, neither desireth nor looketh for any help, comfort, or mi- tigation of his afflictions from God. Yea, the notable Cato, hearing Pom- peius, being a good man, was over- come and subdued of Julius, which was a wicked man, began to doubt and despair. But David in his patience A SPiaiTUAl, A^p MO^ fRECrOUS PEARL* 5ifid obedience colleth pppn God for iielp and deliverance, and i^ cerf^iu i*nd sure that the Almighty Lord dotli assist him for the holy and blessed seed's sake, whereof thq heathen have no knou ledge nor uqderstandin^. (Psi V. Gen. iii.) ^ ^^^ Thus, by comparing the one to the otljer, we shall fii>d and Rerc^ive that the doctrine of the Gospel is ^^qi^ pleasant and acceptabFe, and movetji us unto more thankfulness tpw^rd? this Gospel of JesqsChriat; through whpin and by whose means, we obtain ^i whole and a perfect corpfort, Nq^v from tlie old ethiiics and h^^then m^fi let us descend and come to the Turk? Jews, and to other d^rees of iperi! .Many a Turk and Jew would suffer himself to be martyred and tormented mosit cruelly, rather than he would deny or forsake Mahomet's religion, and his per\wse and naughty faith ; and why should not a Christian then much more be content to sujffer stoutly irneed shoukl require, for the Chris- tian religion and faith's Sake? Amerdiant-man maketh far voyages and great journeys, and ventureth body dnd goods, and nothing is too hard and ^oWr for him, only for worldly and transitory gain and lucre. And yet his hope is uncekain, whether bis chance shalt be good or evil. And though he happeneth never so well, jet he bringeth hotne nothing but frail and transitory goods, which shall have aft end. Now all we have a long voyage to inake also, even from earth to heaven. And should not we be as well con-tent, as prompt, gkd, and wiHing, to suffer »U manner of perils and dangers that fnaiy happen bv the Way, seeing that we have an inmlHble jmd sure hope of eternal and everlasting riches, for Jesu^ Christ's sake ? A wayfaring man, that goeth froni home, dthough he passeth many plea- sant houses and go6d]y meads, yet minding altogether hom^wnfd {again,' ii J I A SPIRITUAL AND all such things do nothing tempt nor grieve him: even so, whensoever >ve have not all our pleasure and deligfk here, let us stablish our comfort and delight ourselves with our country and habitation in heaven. (2 Cor. v. Phil iii.) When a man of an high and nohle birth is contemned and mishandled in a strange land, where he is not knowa, itgrieveth him nothing so much as if the like should happen unto him at home in his own natural country. Now is our natural country m^iea- ven ; upon earth we are but strangers and pilgrims. Therefore we ought the rather to suffer all things patiently here only that we may have rest among the inhabitants in our right eternal land and country. (Heb. xiii. Phil. iiL 1 Pet. i.) A man of war, preparing himself with all manner of things appertaining to warfare, though his enemy be never so strong, yet he forgetteth all feac, and never once thiuketh upon thb MOST PIIECIOUS PEAP.n. ^V»T Strokes and Wounds, but only upon the victory and triumph, and goeth fcs way and fighteth manfully like a giant against his enemies, only for worldly glory and lucre : which thing may redound to the great slander and shame of Christian people, if they for the honour, glory, and pleasure of God should not as promptly, willingly, and manfully, fight against their ghostly enernics for higher and greater triumph, lucre, and commodity. A ploughman or an husbandman goeth to the field, dungeth, plough- eth, soweth,and harroweth his ground, and hath much sorrow therewith, and waiteth for fruit and profit thereof. jBy the same example doth tlie holy Apostle St. James move and exhort us unto patience. Turn a four-cornered stotie how thou wilt, and it shall always stand upright: even so, howsoever a right Christian be tempted and assaulted, lie will ever, notwithstanding, remain upright/ When a man playeth at the .yra^ A SMRITUAL AN1> tables, he cannot always cast what he WGiiIvi have, but whatsoever he hath oast, he must make the best of it. To this game doth Plato liken our life, wherein happen many things contr^jy to our will, which we must take s^ni turn^all to the best, and never despair. When a little child that can scarcely go chanceth to stumble upon a stone, he falleth down by and hv in the same place, and there lietli still, weeping and crying till somebody take him up. But people of reason and understand- ing must not do like children, but must iise and endeavour theajselves, what i?ickness or inconvenience soever hap- pen, by and by (so far as is possible) to ease, lieal, and rcmed.v it. A virtuous child will not forsake his father ni hi> need or trouble, nor an honest wite her husband and spouse, nor yet a faithful servant his master And why, then, should we forsake God our father, or Christ our spouse and lieavenly lord and master, in trouble and adversity ? MO^T PRECIOUS PEARL. Such as are money-merchants, am- bitioiis and vain-glorious, fornicators, v^remongers, and murderers, care neither for shame nor for any thing else, and spare no labour or travail, sq ihat they may bring to pass their wicked lu&t and desire, and yet oft-times they miss also. And why, then, should nof a right godly man be constant, pain- ii\l, and patient, in honest and gooore fervent to wickedness and abomination, than we should be tQ lionesty and goodnesff ; yea, that they should run more swiftly to the devil and to death, than we should to God and to life ! Furthermore, thy fearfulness and impatiency is a great pleasure and com- fort to thy foes, and a great heaviness wod discomfort to thy friends. For ^foubtless all that wi$h thee good, dp rejoice in thy strength and constant- s 2 A SPIRITUAL AND uess. Think also that thou fightest in the presence of the holy angei^, which by the provision and appoint- ment of God do dwell with thee, and move and exhort thee to steadfast- ness; and Ihey rejoice when thou contiuLieststeadfastingoodness. (iCor. iv.) And again : we should to the ut- termost of our power flee and abhor all such things as might delight and rejoice the devil ; for he is the deadly arch enemy of God, and of all man- kind. (1 Pet. iv.) Now this is the very purpose of his temptations and suggestions, and all that he seeketh, that v\e, when we are poor, should steal ; and when we aresick, that we should murmuragainst God; arid in war, Jiffliction, and adi versily, that we should forsake our Christian faith and religion. Constant- ness, faithfulness, and steadfastness towards God and the Christian church, doth grieve and dispknse him ; there- fore we, to rejoice the angels, and.ta MQST riiiiCIOUS PE^nL. 9 grieve the devi-K oHp,ht the ratlicrto be constant and paLicnl in llif midst of all adversity. JJz/ 7i-fiCit mcan.$ patience 7ncnj he oh^ tQhied fjud gotlen\ ar?d once had^ how it viajj be htpt and i;urc-astd. THE THIRTIISTH CHAPTIiK. Notwithstanding thntwcknow ancl perceive thaL patience is so profitable and fruitful a thing unto us, yet w<^ feci in our flesh a cei tain misl iking and grudge toward the cross. Wlio fcan be content and glad to see himself "deprived of his life, honour, estima- ti(>n, good.'i, children, or wife ? The remembrance of the pleasure and pro- sperity that we liave had in times pa^t doth so grieve u^;, that with Lot's wife we sigh and look back afterSodom (Gen. xix.) J and with the children of jsroel we lust after the flesh-pots iiji l^ypt. (Expd. xvi.) And like weak.- Ijess do we also find in the poble king and prophet David, as he himself saitlu s 3 I I A SPIRITUAL AND MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. Many say unto my soul. He liMh no God ; my soul would receive no comi fort, my spirit is waxen weak and feeble. (Psalm Ixxvii.) Item, our Saviour Jesus, in his ini nocent flesh, did shew and declare the fearfiilness and anguish of the flesh, whenas he, kneeling upon the Mount Ohvet, considered his passion and martyrdom that was coming and at hand, and sweat for sorrow and an- giiisJi, so that the drops of his swe^t Rushed upon the earth like drops of blood, and he prayed unto his Fathei* tluit, if it were his will, that cup might be taken from him. (Luke, xxii.) In like mrmner, being upon the cross, he said. My God, my God, why liast thou forsaken me ? how long wilt thou thus deal with me? (Psalm xxii. Matt, xxvii.) But it is not to be understood as though Christ did doubt of his Fathers favour and grace; but the weakness of his flesh could have been content to .. liava suffered no more. (Mark, xiv. lA^ke, xxii. Jolin, xviii. Gal. v.) Now likeas the spirit far passeth and overcometh the flesh in Christ : even so must it do in us also, that we have wore respect unto God, and unto the Itfe everlasting, than unto this worm- eaten flesh. And therefore now wilf we declare by most sure and infallible reasons, by what means and ways a 4pan may master and overcome his flesh in tl^ time of the cross and ^pffliction ; and so shew and declare Jkme and ^)erfect patience. Which virtue (likeas all other) hath -her first beginning and increase of the :grace, power, and spirit of God, with- out whom we can work nothing that ^good is, neither yet resist or overcome miy evil. It is written, The victory consisteth SK^ in the nuiltitiKle of men, but the 2power and strength cometh from hea-. veiu (1 Mae. iii.) '■\ Item r 1 am able to do all things through Him that maketh h>€ mighty. ^- ii I MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. 'ff A SPIRITUAL AND - which is Christ. (Phil, iv.) Wherefore, althoiigli my fleshly reason sinketh^ wavereth, and faileth never so mugh, yet doth God continually preserve and uphold iTiy spirit, that it do not utw- terly faint, but continue pronopt and willing till such time as it may be de* livered and eased. . But now how should we p^r^^r and behave ourselves that God may grant us his strength, and true patienqer and boldness ? Forsooth, through faith, ho})e, prayer, love, true faiths fulness, virtue, and godliness, vve may, pbtain it of God. First, we must furnish and comfort pur henrtsand minds with faith towards God ; for whosoever doth know per»* feclly, and is certain that Qod, which is the Lord of all haps and mishaps, of prosperity and adversity, is pacifiedaiid reconciled with him, and that he for that cause cannot be deprived of etewi nal salvation, the samq shall be able to contemn and defy all worldly hpnpur, pprop, and Justs, And.^in, ^tboee can be no pain so bitter, sharp, and grievous untohim, that can bring him out of patience. In our Christian faith we confess and believe an holy universal church, and that we have fellowship and par- ticipation with all saints and elect of God ; and also we confess and believe remission of sins, resurrection of the fie&h, and life everlasting. And Christ giveth unto every one that hath faith lliis absolution : Whosoever heareth my word and bdieveth Him that hath fignt me, the same hath everlasting Bte, and cometh not to judgment, but j/asseth through from death to life. (John, V.) Wherefore through faith a man obtaineth power, strength, pa- tience, constancy, and steadfastness in all goodness. (Rom. v. viii. Heb. X. xi.) - If strong and mighlyenemies should come upon thee, assault and besiege thee, and thou hadst on thy side one whom thou knewest certainly to be a lord^ and to have power over all thine A SPIRITUAL AND enemies, thou mightest lawfully bo bold, and without fear. Now havet we (through faith) Christ on onr side, which IS Lord over all lords, which hath full power over all fortune and misfortune, prosperity and adversity. . Therefore thou must not long think: and look upon the weakness of thy flesh, but thou must stir about with thy faith, that is to say, thou must earnestly and diligently consider the mighty and true loye q( Jesus Christ, which both can and will comfort and rejoice thee more than all misfortune IS able to discomfort thee, or to make tnee heavy. , It is said to us, Your enemy the devil goeth about like a roaring lion and seeketh whom he may devour- whom resist ye steadfastly with faith' (1 I et. V.) Item : St. James saiui that your approved faith worketh pn- tience. The holy and faithful Apostles did evidently declare, that according to the inward man it was a joy ^id comfort unto them to be beaten and * >1 MOST l*RECrOUS PEA>%L. scourged for the Lofd'^ sake. Again r all trouble and affliction are grievous by reason Of our weak faith, which is yet but little eKercised, and hath not well am plain like children, say^ ing, I would never have thought, I would never have believed that it should have come thus and thus to pass, and such-like. Item, impatiency entangleth and ensnareth the mind, and maketh a man sometimes dull, and at his wit's end* When a man submitteth and giveth over himself humbly unto the will of God, although his adversity cannot be remedied, yet it shall be easier and lighter unto him ; yea, there is no-# thing so bitter, sour, hard, or terrible to a man, but by this means shall be easy, sweet, light, and unto him com- fortable. And again, so long as a man doth not utterly give over and yield himself ! A SPIRITUAL AND to the good will of God, and will not suffer him to work hh pleasure with him, contented whatsoever he send-^ eth, his grief is the worse, and the more sharp is his pain, his mind never ceaseth gnawing and fretting, and of one sorrow he rnaketh tiiree or four. Likeas the bird that is caught ivith the lime-rod, the more it striveth to deliver itself, the more do the feathers cleave and hang to the lime ; and in like manner the more the fish that is caught in the net seeketh to come out, the more it windeth itself in ; and as he that is bound with chains or fetters of iron, the more he stray- cth abroad, the more harm he doth himself: even so such as are fro.vvard andunpatient in adversity, do increase their sorrow, and hurt themselves the more. He that hath a heavy burden upon his back, the more he shutletli and moveth the same, the more doth it grieve him : even so the more froward and unpatiept a man is under the MO^I^ PRECIOUS PEAltL. <^ross, the more grievous and painfdl is it unto him. It is not unwisely spoke of the heathen man Pliny, which saith, a good heart in adver- sity taketh away the half of his mi- sery ; and it is a common proverb of the heathen men, the fear of adversity and pain, before it cometh, is worse than the pain itself when it is come. All manner of punishment and ad- versity, which according to the merit and desert of man should be unto him a taste and beginning of everlasting pain and damnation, the patient maa taketh and useth for an occasion to exercise thereby all kinds of virtue ; whereby the spiritual gifts of grace dc^ wax and increase more and more. For ihey that are patient do keep the true faith toward God, cry and call upon- God througli fervent prayer; ho- nour, laud,"and praise God, not only for that he ruleth and disposeth all things, but also that he bringeth all things to a good end atld success, and thst he will so ctmtinually dor i " l "" I I I 'HH • Illllli Ill I MOST PR'ECrOUS PlARL. ' Af SPIRITUAL AN1> And thus through patience is pQti that vvp Fnerit pr deserve Qi^cml sal- MOST PRECIOUS PEARL. A SPIRITUAL AND vation for our patience, which thing only Christ alone hath done. Last of all, patience is profitable, and bringeth singular commodity, not only to him that hath the same virtue, but also to other ; for when another perceiveth thee to be constant in th