then, if we be of this
mind, and submit our will unto his, and call and pray for his
grace, we can tell well enough that he will never suffer them to
put more upon us than his grace will make us able to bear, but will
also with their temptation provide for us a sure way. For "God is
faithful," saith St. Paul, "who suffereth you not to be tempted
above what you can bear, but giveth also with the temptation a way
out." For either, as I said, he will keep us out of their hands,
though he before suffered us to be afraid of them to prove our
faith (that we may have, by the examination of our mind, some
comfort in hope of his grace and some fear of our own frailty to
drive us to call for grace), or else, if we call into their hands,
provided that we fall not from the trust of him nor cease to call
for his help, his truth shall, as the prophet saith, so compass us
about with a shield that we shall not need to fear this incursion
of this midday devil. For these Turks his tormentors, who shall
enter this land and persecute us, shall either not have the power
to touch our bodies at all, or else the short pain that they shall
put into our bodies shall turn us to eternal profit both in our
souls and in our bodies too. And therefore, cousin, to begin with,
let us be of good comfort. For we are by our faith very sure that
holy scripture is the very word of God, and that the word of God
cannot but be true. And we see by the mouth of his holy prophet and
by the mouth of his blessed apostle also that God hath made us
faithful promise that he will not suffer us to be tempted above our
power, but will both provide a way out for us and also compass us
round about with his shield and defend us that we shall have no
cause to fear this midday devil with all his persecution. We cannot
therefore but be very sure (unless we are very shamefully cowardous
of heart and out of measure faint in faith toward God, and in love
less than luke-warm or waxed even key-cold) we may be very sure, I
say, either that God will not suffer the Turks to invade this land;
or that, if they do, God shall provide such resistance that they
shall not prevail; or that, if they prevail, yet if we take the way
that I have told you we shall by their persecution take little harm
or rather none harm at all, but that which shall seem harm indeed
be to us no harm at all but good. For if God make us and keep us
good men, as he hath promised to do if we pray well therefore, then