shall not perish, but rather by his temptation take great force and might. So it is evident that the triumph, victory, and glory of Christ is the greater, having in such sort subdued the devil; that whereas he was prince and lord of the world, holding all creatures in captivity, now Christ useth him as an instrument to punish the wicked, and to exercise and make strong the elect of God, in Christian warfare.

Christ likewise hath overcome death in a more glorious manner, if it be possible, because he hath not taken it away; but leaving universally all subject to the same. He hath given so much virtue and spirit, that whereas afore we passed thereto with great fear, now we are bold through the Spirit, for the sure hope of the resurrection, that we receive it with joy. It is now no more bitter, but sweet; no more feared, but desired; it is no death, but life.

And also it hath pleased God that the infirmities and adversities do remain to the sight of the world; but the children of God are by Christ made so strong, righteous, whole, and sound, that the troubles of the world are comforts of the spirit, the passions of the flesh are medicines of the soul; for all manner of things work to their commodity and profit; for they in spirit feel that God their Father doth govern them, and disposeth all things for their benefit; therefore they feel themselves sure. In persecution, they are quiet and peaceful; in trouble, they are without weariness, fears, anxieties, suspicions, miseries; and, finally, all the good and evil of the world worketh to their commodity.

Moreover, they see that the triumph of Christ hath been so great, that not only he hath subdued and vanquished all our enemies and the power of them, but he hath overthrown and vanquished them after such a sort, that all things serve to our health. He might and could have taken them all away, but where then should have been our victory, palm, and crown? For we daily have fights in the flesh, and by the succour of grace have continual victories over sin; whereby we have cause to glorify God who, by his Son, hath weakened our enemy the devil, and by his Spirit giveth us strength to vanquish his offspring.

So do we acknowledge daily the great triumph of our Saviour, and rejoice in our own fights; the which we can no wise impute to any wisdom of this world, seeing sin to increase by it; and where worldly wisdom most governeth, there most sin ruleth; for as the world is enemy to God, so also the wisdom thereof is adverse to God, and, therefore,

CATH. PARR.

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Christ hath declared, and discovered the same to be foolishness. And, although he could have taken away all worldly wisdom, yet he hath left it for his greater glory, and the triumph of his chosen vessels. For before, whereas it was our ruler against God, now, by Christ, we are served of it for God, as of a slave in worldly things; albeit, in supernatural things, the same is not to be understood. And further, if, at any time men would impugn, and gainsay us with the wisdom of the world, yet we have, by Christ, so much supernatural light of the truth, that we make a mock of all those that repugn the truth.

Christ also, upon the cross, hath triumphed over the world. First, because he hath discovered the same to be naught; and that, although it was covered with the veil of hypocrisy, and the vesture of moral virtues. Christ hath showed, that, in God's sight, the righteousness of the world is wickedness, and he hath yielded witness, that the works of men, not regenerated by him in faith, are evil; and so Christ hath judged and condemned the world for naught. Furthermore, he hath given to all his so much light and spirit, that they know it, and dispraise the same; yea and tread it under their feet, with all vain honours, dignities, and pleasures; not taking the fair promises, neither the offers which it presents, nay, they rather make a scorn of them. And, as for the threatenings and force of the world, they nothing fear.

Now, therefore, we may see how great the victory and triumph of Christ is, who hath delivered all those the Father gave him from the power of the devil, cancelling upon the cross the writing of our debts. For he hath delivered us from the condemnation of sin, from the bondage of the law, from the fear of death, from the danger of the world, and from all evils in this life, and in the other to come. And he hath enriched us, made us noble, and most highly happy, after such a glorious and triumphant way, as cannot with tongue be expressed; and, therefore, we are forced to say, his triumph is marvellous.

It is also seen and known, that Christ is the true Messiah; for he hath delivered man from all evils, and by him man hath all goodness, so that he is the true Messiah. Therefore, all other helpers are but vain and counterfeited saviours; seeing that, by this, our Messiah, Christ, wholly and only, we are delivered from all evils, and by him we have all goodness. And that this is true, it is evident and

clear, because the very true Christian is a Christian by Christ. And the true Christian feeleth inwardly, by Christ, so much goodness of God, that even troublous life and death are sweet unto him, and miseries are happiness. The true Christian, by Christ, is disburdened from the servitude of the law, having the law of grace, graven by the Spirit, inhabiting his heart, and from sin that reigned in him, from the power of the infernal spirits, from damnation, and from every evil; and is made a son of God, a brother of Christ, heir of heaven, and lord of the world; so that, in Christ and by Christ, he possesses all good things.

But let us know that Christ yet fighteth in spirit in his V elect vessels, and shall fight even to the day of judgment; at which day shall that great enemy, death, be wholly destroyed, and shall be no more. Then shall the children of God rejoice in him, saying, O death, where is thy victory and sting? there shall be then no more trouble nor sin; nay, rather, none evil, but heaven for the good, and hell for the wicked. Then shall wholly be discovered the victory and triumph of Christ, who, according to Paul, shall present unto his Father the kingdom, together with his chosen saved by him.

It was no little favour towards his children, that Christ was chosen of God to save us, his elect, so highly by the way of the cross. Paul calleth it a grace, and a most singular grace. We may well think, that he, having been to the world so valiant a captain of God, was full of light, grace, virtue, and spirit; therefore, he might justly say, "It is finished." We, seeing then that the triumph and victory of our Captain Christ is so marvellous, glorious, and noble, to the which war we are appointed; let us force ourselves to follow him, with bearing our cross, that we may have fellowship with him in his kingdom.

THE SIXTH CHAPTER.

That we ought to submit ourselves to the school of the cross, and still look and learn in the book of the cross.

TRULY, it may be most justly verified, that to behold Christ crucified in spirit, is the best meditation that can be. I certainly never knew mine own miseries and wretchedness so well by book, admonition, or learning, as I have

done by looking into the spiritual book of the cross. I lament much I have passed so many years, not regarding that divine book; but I judged, and thought myself to be well instructed in the same; whereas now I am of this opinion, that if God would suffer me to live here a thousand years, and I should study continually in the same divine book, I should not be filled with the contemplation thereof. Neither hold I myself contented, but always have a great desire to learn and study more therein. I never knew mine own wickedness, neither lamented for my sins truly, until the time God inspired me with his grace, that I looked in this book; then I began to see perfectly, that mine own power and strength could not help me, and that I was in the Lord's hand, even as the clay is in the potter's hand; then I began to cry and to say:

"Alas! Lord, that ever I have so wickedly offended thee, being to me, from the beginning, so gracious, and so good a Father, and, most specially, now thou hast declared and showed thy goodness unto me, when, in the time, I have done thee most injury, to call me, and also to make me know, and take thee for my Saviour and Redeemer."

Such are the wonderful works of God, to call sinners to repentance, and to make them to take Christ, his well-beloved Son, for their Saviour; this is the gift of God, and of all Christians to be required and desired. For, except this great benefit of Christ crucified be felt and fixed surely in man's heart, there can no good work be done acceptable before God; for in Christ is all fulness of the Godhead, and in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge: even he is the water of life, whereof whosoever shall drink, he shall never more thirst, but it shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. St. Paul saith, There is no damnation to them that are in Christ, which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Moreover he saith, If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the death of his Son, much more, seeing we are reconciled, we shall be preserved by his death. It is no little or small benefit we have received by Christ, if we consider what he hath done for us, as I have perfectly declared heretofore. Wherefore, I pray the Lord, that this great benefit of Christ crucified may be steadfastly fixed and printed in all Christians' hearts, that they may be true lovers of God, and work as children, for love, and not as servants, compelled with threatenings, or provoked with hire.

The sincere and pure lovers of God do embrace Christ with such fervency of spirit, that they rejoice in hope, are bold in danger, suffer in adversity, continue in prayer, bless their persecutors. Further they are not wise in their own opinion, neither high-minded in their prosperity, neither abashed in their adversity, but humble and gentle always to all men. For they know, by their faith, they are members all of one body, and that they have all possessed one God, one faith, one baptism, one joy, and one salvation. If these pure and sincere lovers of God were thickly sown, there should not be so much contention and strife growing on the fields of our religion as there is. Well, I shall pray to the Lord to take all contention and strife away, and that the sowers of sedition may have mind to cease their labour, or to sow it among the stones, and to have grace to sow gracious virtues, where they may both take root, and bring forth fruit, with sending also a godly unity and concord amongst all Christians, that we may serve the Lord in true holiness of life.

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.

A Christian bewailing the miserable ignorance and blindness of men.

THE example of good living is required of all Christians; but especially in the ecclesiastical pastors and shepherds. For they are called in Scripture, workmen with God, disbursers of God's secrets, the light of the world, the salt of the earth; at whose hands all others should take comfort in working, knowledge of God's will, and sight to become children of light, and to taste of seasonable wisdom. They have, or should have, the Holy Spirit, abundantly to pronounce and set forth the word of God, in verity and truth. If ignorance and blindness reign amongst us, they should, with the truth of God's word, instruct and set us in the truth, and direct us in the way of the Lord.

But thanks be given unto the Lord; that hath now sent us such a godly and learned king, in these latter days, to reign over us; that, with the virtue and force of God's word, hath taken away the veils and mists of errors, and brought us to the knowledge of the truth, by the light of God's word; which was so long hid and kept under, that the people were nigh famished, and hungered, for lack of

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