The.xx. Chapter. A Summary commendacion of tribulacion •

ANd therefore good Cosin, to finyshe oure talking for thys time, leste I shoulde be to lōg a let vnto your other busines if we lay fyrst for a sure grounde a verye faste fayth, whereby we beleue to be true all that the Scripture sayth vnderstanden truely, as the olde holy doctors declare it, and as the Scripture of god instructeth his catholique churche: than shal we consider tribulacion as a gracious gift of god, a gift that he gaue speciallye his speciall frendes. The thing that in Scripture is highly commended and praised, a thing wherof the cō trary long continued is perilous, a thyng whiche but if God send, it men haue nede by penaunce put vpon themselfe and seke it, a thing that helpeth to pourge oure synnes passed, a thyng that preserueth vs from synnes that ells woulde come, a thyng that causeth vs to set lesse by ye world, a thyng that excite[…]h vs to drawe more towarde God, a thyng that muche minisheth our paynes in purgatory, a thing that much encreaseth oure finall rewarde in heauen, the thing by whiche oure Sauioure entred hys owne kyngdome, the thing with whiche all his Apostles folowed him thither, the thing whiche our Sauiour exhorteth all menne to, the thing withoute whiche he sayeth we be not his Disciples, the thing withoute whiche no man can geat to heauē. Whoso these thinges thinketh on, and remembreth well, shall in his trybulacyon neyther murmure nor grudge, but first by pacience take hys payne in worth, and than shall he growe in goodnes and thynke hymselfe wel worthy, than shall […]e consyder that God sendeth it for his weale, and thereby shall he be moued to geue God thanke therefore[…] therewith shall his grace encrease, and God shall geue him suche comforte by consydering that God is in his trouble euer more nere vnto hym[…] Quia deus iuxta est iis qui tribulato sunt corde. God is neare saieth the Prophete to them that haue theyr hearte in trouble, that hys ioye thereof shall minishe muche of hys payne, and he shall not seke for vayne comforte ells where, but speciallye truste in God, and seke for helpe of hym, submytting hys owne wyll wholy to Goddes pleasure, and praye to God in hys hearte, and praye hys frendes praye for hym, and speciallye the Priestes, as Sayncte Iames byddeth, and beginne fyrste with confessyon, and make vs cleane to God, and ready to departe, and be glad to goe to God, puttyng purgatorye to his pleasure: if we thus doe, thys dare I boldely say, we shall neuer lyue here the lesse of half an houre, but shal with his comforte finde our hartes lighted, and therby the griefe of our tribulaciō lessed and the more likelyhod to recouer and to liue the lenger. Nowe if god will we shall hence, than dooeth he muche more for vs. For he that this waye taketh, cannot goe but well. For of him that is loth to leaue thys wretched worlde, my heart is much in feare lest he die not wel: harde it is for him to be welcome that cometh agaynst his wyll, that sayth to god whan he cometh to fetche hym, welcome my maker magrye my teeth: but he that so loueth him, that he longeth to goe to him, my harte cannot geue me but he shalbe welcome, all were it so that he should come ere he were wel pourged. For charitie couereth a multitude of synnes, and he that trusteth in god cannot be confounded. And Chryste sayeth[…] he that cometh to me I wyll not cast hym oute. And therfore let vs neuer make our reconing of long lyfe, kepe it while we maye because God hath so commaunded: but if God geue thoccasion, that with hys good wyll we maye goe, lette vs be gladde therof, and longe to goe to hym. And than shall hope of heauen comfort our heauines[…] and out of our transitory tribulacion shall we goe to euerlasting glory, to whiche my good Cosin I pray god bryng vs both

☞Vincent. Mine owne good vncle I praye God rewarde you, and at this time wil I no lenger trouble you. I trowe I haue thys daye done you much tribulacion with my importune obieccions of very litle substaūce. And you haue euē shewed me an ensample of sufferaūce, in bearing my foly so long and so paciently. And yet shall I be so boulde vpō you farther, as to seke some tyme to talke forth of the remnaunte the most profitable poynte of tribulacion, whiche you sayde you reserued to treate of last of all.

Anthony. Let that be verye shortelye Cosin hardely[…] while this is freshe in minde.

☞Vincent. I truste good Uncle so to put thys in remembraunce, that it shal neuer be forgotten with me. Our lorde sende you such coumforte as he knoweth to be best.

Anthony. That is well sayed good Cosin, and I pray the same for you and for all our other frendes that haue nede of cōfort, for whome I thinke more thā for your selfe, you neded of some counsaile.

Vincent. I shall wy[…]h thys good counsayle that I haue heard of you, dooe them some coumforte I truste in GOD, to whose kepynge I committe you.

Antony. And I you also: Farre well my owne good Cosin.