t enough to consider that we shall not pass the
time that God hath limited and determined us to live, but we must
assuredly persuade ourselves that we shall live as long as He hath
ordained us to live; and so shall we do, in despite of all our
enemies.

"And tell me, have men given us our life? No, forsooth. No more can
they take it away from us. God hath given it, and God only doth take
it away, for He is the Lord of death as well as of life; wherefore
when the appointed time of our death is come, let us assure ourselves,
that it is God only and none {p.284} other that doth kill us, for He
saith, It is I that kill and make alive again.

"Let us follow the example of Christ, our Master, who seeing His death
approaching, said to God, My Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt;
thy will be done, and not mine.--Let us offer then, unto God our
Father, ourselves for a sacrifice, whose savour, although it be evil
in the nose of the world, yet it is good and agreeable unto God, by
Jesus Christ his Son, in the faith of whom we do dedicate and offer
ourselves, when we perceive our hour to approach.

"And, whatsoever betide, let us not fear men; let us not fear them.
God doth inhibit and forbid us in the same, saying, by his prophet,
Fear them not, for I am with you; and seeing God doth forbid us to
fear men, can we fear them without sin? No truly. To what purpose do
we fear them? Men of themselves can do nothing, and if at any time
they have any power, the same only cometh unto them from God, and is
given unto them only to accomplish the will of God. But peradventure
ye will say to me that Jesus Christ himself, in the time of his cross,
did fear death, and therefore it is no marvel though we do fear it, in
whom is no such perfection and constancy. Truly the flesh doth always
abuse herself with the example of Jesus Christ; she doth abuse it, for
she cannot rightfully use it, inasmuch as the flesh is in all ways
repugnant unto the spirit and the good will of God. Forasmuch as ye
will herein follow Christ--well, I am contented--fear death, but fear
it as he did fear it. If you will say that Christ had fear of death,
consider the same also to be on such sort as the fear did not keep him
back from the voluntary obedience of his Father, and from saying, with
unfeigned lips, Thy will be done.

"Ye will say, We fear not death for any fear we have to be damned,
neither for any diffidence that we have of eternal life; but we fear
dea