Fourteen Points of Consolation, Chapter 4
The fourth chapter of the fourth conſideration, which is of the euill beneath vsus.
AS yet we hauehave ſeene no other in all the euills which we ſuffer, but that ye goodnes of God is ſo great, and ſo preſent with vsus, that among innumerable euills, wherewith we are compaſſed in this life, & wherin we are euen impriſoned, ſcarce a very few, and thoſe not at all times are ſuffered to aſſaile vsus, ſo that eueryevery preſent euill wherewith we are troubled, is but an aduertizement of certaine great aduauntage, which we hauehave through the goodnes of God, whiles that he ſuffereth vsus not to be oppreſſed with ye multitude of euills wherwith we are compaſſed. For it is a miracle, if one be aſſailed with infinit blowes, & be touched but with one alone, yea it is a grace that he is not ſtricken with all, a miracle that he is not ſtricken with many.
Nowe the firſt of the euills that are beneath vsus, is death, the ſecond, hell. The euills beneath vsus what they are, & how we may take comfort by the conſideration of the firſt of them.If we conſider the ſhamefull and vile death of others, wherewith ſinners are puniſhed, we ſhall eaſily perceiue with howe great aduauntage we ſuffer leſſe then we hauehave deſerued. For how many are hanged, drowned, or ſtricken with the ſword, which perhappes hauehave done farre leſſer ſinnes then we, ſo that their death and miſerie is ſette before vsus of Chriſt as a glaſſe, wherein we maye ſee what we hauehave deſerued: as Luke 13. when certaine ſhewed him of the Galileans, whoſe bloode Pilace had mingled with their ſacrifices, he aunſwered: ſuppoſe ye that theſe Galileans were greater ſinners then the other Galileans, becauſe they hauehave ſuffered ſuche thinges? I tell you, nay: but except ye amend your liues, ye ſhal all likewiſe periſh. Or thinke you that thoſe eighteene, vponupon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and ſlue them, were ſinners aboue all men that dwell in Ieruſalem? I tel you, nay: but except ye amend your liues, ye ſhal all likewiſe periſh. For we may not thinke that leſſer euils are due vntounto vsus, who hauehave committed greater or like ſinnes. Neither will the iuſtice and truth of God be vniuſt & falſe for vsus, who hath determined to giuegive to eueryevery man according to his deedes.
Moreouer, How we may take comfort by conſideration of the ſecond euill beneath vsus.in hell, & eternal damnation howe many thouſand are there, who hauehave not committed the thouſandth part of our ſinnes? how many virgins are there, children, & they whom we call innocents? how many religious men, Prieſtes, &c. who in their whole life ſemed to ſerue God, & perhapps through ſome one fall are puniſhed for euer? Here muſt be no diſſembling: the iuſtice of God is ye ſame in eueryevery ſinne, he hateth & condemneth ſinne alike in whomſoeuer it be found. Doe we not here ſee the ineſtimable mercy of God, which hath not condemned them who hauehave ſo often deſerued it? Howe muche, I praye you, is it which we can ſuffer euen in all our life, in reſpect of the eternall puniſhment, which they ſuffer hauing deſerued it perhaps by one offence, we in the meane time being free, and ſaued from many ſinnes which God paſſeth ouer and remitteth? Whereas we do not regard theſe benefits of God, or make light accoūt of them, it is through vnthankfulnes & a certaine ſenſeles hardnes of incredulitie.
Hereunto moreouer are to be referred ſo many Infidels, Gentiles, Iewes, vntounto whom if thoſe things had ben giuen which are giuen to vsus, they had bene, not in hell, but in heauen, and had farre leſſe ſinned. Examples hereof Chriſt ſetteth before our eyes Matth. II. ſaying: Wo be to thee Corazin: Wo be to thee Bethſaida: for if the greate workes which were done in you, had bene done in Tyrus and Sidon, they had repented long agone in ſackcloth & aſhes: but I ſay to you, it ſhalbe eaſier for Tyrus & Sidon at the day of iudgement, then for you. And thou Capernaum which art lifted vp vntounto heauen, ſhalt be brought downe to hell: for if the greate workes which hauehave bene done in thee, had bene done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day: but I ſay vntounto you, that it ſhal be eaſier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement, then for thee. We ſee therefore what great praiſe & louelove we owe to our moſt gracious God, in eueryevery euill of this life, for that we caſt ſcarce of one drop of them which we hauehave deſerued, which Iob compareth to the ſea, and to the ſande of the ſea.