WElbeloued in our sauiour Jesus Christ , vnderstandyng of your great trouble and the greuons persecutions of our brethren in Christ in Spaine and els where , I could not but some what accordyng to my dutie , and to the talent which God hath geuen me , write ( although it were but smal ) trustyng that it should be to the coumforte of those , that for the truth be in anie place afflicted : vsyng none other order , nor collecting no other Scripture ( as a perticuler thyng to treat of ) but whollye to refer you , accordyng to your godly vnderstandyng , to the. 2. 2. Tim. 1 epistle of S. Paule to Timothe where he noteth fyrst vnto him with what he is indued , that is with an vnfeigned faith , in Timothe is indued with an vnfeined faith . the self same faith which dwelt before in his grandmother Lois , and in his mother Eunica . And here S. Paule comforteth not only Timothe , that his grandmother and mother was such : but also conforteth them ( if they were then alyue ) that they had such a sonne . Here is also to be noted , what coumfort parents and children may haue ech of other ( yf they be Godly ) but I leaue that to be considered . But to the matter , sith that he knoweth Paule & Ti mothe , is of one spirite , where with he is indued , he willeth him to be stedfast , for God ( saith he ) hath not geuen vs the spirite of feare : but of power , and of loue , and of a sound mynde . Be not ashamed of the testimonie of our Lord , neither of me his prysoner : but be partaker Paule is prsoner in Rome . of the affictions of the gospell , accordyng to the power of GOD . That worthy thyng which was committed vnto thee kepe , through the Holy ghost .

* They of Asia be turned from me , of which sort are Phigelus and Hermogenes . Thus Paule by a certaine maner dismaieth Timothe : yet not withstandynge he encorageth him againe , and willeth him not only to be stedfast because he is endued with the spirite and power of God : but also to be pacient , though all should depart from him , and he put in prison : yet though Phtgelus 2. Lim. 2 and and Hermogenes , be The faithful wyl sticke to one , when the wicked wil forsake him . gone from the preaching of the Gospel : yet Onesiphorus wyll visite thee in prison , & wyl not be ashamed of thy chaynes .

Wherby Paule doth geue to vnderstande , though the greatter number forsake thee : yet the faithful in Christ wyl not leaue thee And therfore saith Paule , looke what thou hast heard of me by many witnesses , y● put forth . As who should say : thou hast be ne a diligent learner , and thou hast nothing , but that which is approued by many witnesses , go foreward in it , make no stay , detract no time , lookyng this way or that way , be not as a reed shaken with the wynd : but lyke a bould soldiour of Jesus Christ , suffer aflictions . Therfore I besech you , you that haue learned in Gods scoole , and haue your doctrine approoued by many witnesses , stand stedfast in it : be pacient . Though your freendes , kinred , or cuntry men departe from it , Gala. 4. be you feruent , continue you styll , let your light so shyne before Math. 5 men , that they may glorify your father which is in heauen . Therfore saith Paule , I suffer al thynges , & for the elects sake it is , that they might also obtaine the saluation which is in Christ Jesus , with eternall glory . For yf ( saith he ) with Christ we suffer , we shal also raigne with him . Yf we deny him , he also wyl deny vs . Therfore saith he , studie to shew thy self approued vnto GOD , a workeman that needeth not to be ashamed . For God reueleth to the faithfull , the wickednes of the time before it come . know that in the last daies shal come perillous times , for men shall be louers of themselues , couetous , boasters , proude , cursed speakers , disobedient to parents , vnthankefull , vnholye , withoute naturall affections , 2. Tim. 3 truce breakers , false accusers , This is the state of our ●●u●e , we are therfore in a perillous time . intemperate , fyerce , despysers of them which are good , traytours , heady , high mynded , louers of pleasure more then the louers of God , hauyng a show of godlines , but haue denied the power thereof . Courne away therfore from such . As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moyses , Exodus . 7 so do these also resist the truth , men of corrupte myndes , reprobate concernyng the faith : but they shal preuayle no longer . For their madnes shal be euident vnto all men , as theirs was . To trauel in explicating of the matter I need not , for the words be so playne , that it may passe without : and therfore I leaue it to your good considerations , puttyng you in remembraunce of that which is written by S. Paule to the Romaines . That Rom. 15. whatsoeuer is written , is written for our learnyng , & for our coumfort . But thou Timothe , 2 Tim. 3. thou hast knowen my doctrine , not in part , but in whole . Fully thou hast knowen it , my maner of liuyng to my doctrine is not vnknowne vnto thee . My mynd , purpose , and wyll , thou knewest : my faith thou vnderstodest , my long suffryng , loue , and pacience , is not hyd from thee : and also my persecutions , and afflictions , which came vnto me at Antioch , at Iconium , and at Listra , thou art not ignorant of , which persecutions I suffred : but from them al the Lorde deliuered me . Therfore The Lorde only doeth deliuer from trouble Timothe , yf thou continue in this doctrine which thou haste begun : kepe the manner of lyuyng to thy doctrine , as thou hast had example of me , beyng faith full , beynge readye to beare all greefes , showyng all loue , and vsyng pacience : then be sure that the Lorde in persecutions , wyl Aspecal comforc . deliuer thee . For this I tel thee of a truth , that al that wil liue godly in Christ Jesus , shal suffer 2 Tim. 3. persecutions . And here S. Paule geueth Timothe a watch A watch word to the godly of all states , geuen by S. Paule to Timothe . word , and not to him alone , but to al pastors and teachers . Not to pastors & teachers only , but to al people in generall , of what callyng soeuer they be of , whether they be high or lowe , rych or poore , oulde or young , Kyng or subiect , yf he wyl liue godly in Christ Jesus ( saith S. Paule ) he then must suffer persecutions . But here perchaunce you wyl aske me how it may be A question . that Kynges should be persecuted for the testimonie of Jesus Christ , and who it is that dare persecute them for the same ? But whether Kynges haue ben Aunswer . persecuted or no. I referre it to them to tell , which are skylfull in the Chronicles , and who they were that did persecute them . Paule doth not say here , yf ye liue godly in the godlynesse of the Augustines , that you shall be The godlynes of the papacy , is not persecuted . persecuted : or in the godlynes of the Fraunciscanes , that you shal haue any trouble take holde of you : or yf you liue godly in the godlines of the Benedicts , or Dominickes and such like , that any hurte shall come vnto you . But yf you lyue godly in Christ Jesus ( saith Paule ) you must 2. Tim. 3. suffer persecutions . Well saith our Sauiour Christ , happy are ye when men reuile you & persecute The faithful hated . you for my names sake , for Math. 5 you shal not lose your rewarde . For this I tel you , you shall be Math. 24 hated of all men for my names sake , therfore yf the world hate you : know ye , that it hated me Christ was hated . John . 16 before you , but for as much as ye are not of the world , but that I haue chosen you out of the world Wherfore the faithful is hated of the world . therfore doth the world hate you . But be of good chere , I haue ouercome Luke . 12 the worlde : and therfore feare not little flocke , for it The faithful shall be rewarded with a kyngdome is your fathers wil to geue you a kingdom . And feare not them that can kyl the body , but feare Math. 5 him that can cast both body and soule into hel fyre , be faithfull Apoc. 2 They shal be ●round with the crowne of euerlastyng lyfe . therfore vnto the death , and I wyl geue thee the crowne of lyfe . Therfore ( my beloued ) sith that we haue such swete promises of God the father , in his son Christ Jesus : let vs cleaue vnto him , he wyll performe them , he neuer God ●● faithful fayled none that put their trust in him , as the prophet Dauid saith , I haue called vpon the Lorde and he hath heard me , I haue trusted in the Lord and he hath holpen me , he therfore often times crieth , as in the. 12. Psal. 12 psalme . Help me O God , in the 69. psalm . Saue me O God , in Psal. 69 the. 16. psalme . Preserue me O Psal. 16 Psal. 30 God , in the. 30. psalme . I haue called vpon the Lord in my trouble , and he hath heard me , and deliuered me . Therfore doe you now with the prophete Dauid in the. 66. psalme , burste foorth Psal. 66 and saye : Thou ( O God ) haste and doest proue vs . Thou also , hast and wylte trye vs , euen as Siluer is tried . Thou broughtest vs in to the snare , and laidst trouble vpon our loynes . Thou suffredst men to ryde ouer our heades , we went & go through fyre & water , but we know that thou wylt bryng vs in to a comfortable place . Thus said Christ to his disciples , that where I am , John . 14 there shal ye be also . Therfore we besech thee most merciful father , to ayd vs with thy grace , and assist vs with thy holy spirite , that we mai perfectly learn to know thee to be our creatour , & Jesus thy son to be our only sauiour , and the Holy ghost to be our only sanctifier . To these three , as to one eternal God , be all honour and glory , now and for euermore . Amen .