in the rewarde of
sufferinge / then it is that we do heere suffer in the affliction
it self /

[[Rom. 8.]]

saying: for I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe / are not
worthie of the glorie which shal be shewed vpon vs. Who is it then
that will not labor with all his poure to come vnto so greate an
excellencie / that he may become the frend of Godd / and
forthwith ioye with Christ? that after famin and banishement or
tormentes and punishementes / which are but earthely / he may
attayn vnto heauenly rewardes? Yf it be a glorius thinge for
worldly souldiours to returne in to ther countrie triumphing after
they haue vanquished their enemie / how mutch more worthi a thing
is it for vs / after our fleshe the world and deuell beinge
ouercomme / to go again with triumphe into paradise? And to offer
vnto Godd a gifte most acceptable / faith incorrupte / the sownd
vertue of mynd / and sincere confession of faithe / a notable
praise of deuotion. To comme in his companye when he commith to
take vengeaunce of his enemies / To stond by his syde when he
shall sytte down to iudge / to be made the felow heire of
Christe / to be made equall with the angels / to reioyce in the
possession of the heauenly kingdom with the patriarches / with
thapostles / with the prophetes / and all confessours and
martirs. What persequution can vanquishe theis thoughtes / which
are not uain / but of force / and of poure / in the holy ghoste?
what tormentes can ouercome them? The mynd ons grownded in theis
godly meditacions doth endure stronge and stable / and that mynd
abydeth immutable against all the terrors of the deuell / and
the threttes of the world / and of Antichriste / that mynd I say
which the certayn and sure faith of thinges to come doth
strenghthen. The eyes be shutt vpp in theis persequutions of the
earthe / but heauen is open. Antichriste threatneth / but the
lord Christe defendith. The world is taken from him that is
killed / but paradise is gyuen to him being therunto restored.
Temporall lyfe is taken awaye / but the euerlastinge lyfe is
repayred. What a dignitie (o brethern) is it / how great a
safetie / for a man to depart myrily from hens / to depart so
through oppressions and trobles? It is a glorius thinge to shutt
vpp the eyes in a moment / with which men and the world wer
seene / and forthewith to open the same to se Godd and Christe.
But that we maye behold theis thinges in mynde and thought /
that we may (I saye) nig