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he in his paciēt body did susteine in the flame of fire. For so his cruell enemies hādled him, that they burned him with greene woode, & other smothering rather then burning fewell, which put him to much more payne, but that þ^e grace & most plentifull consolation of Christ, which neuer forsaketh his seruauntes, & gaue strength to S. Laurence gaue also pacience to this MarginaliaA Comparison betweene Laurence Saunders and S. Laurence.Laurence, aboue all that his tormēts could worke agaynst: which well appered by his quiet stāding, and sweet sleeping in the fire, as is aboue declared.

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MarginaliaStrength to stād in Christ, commeth not of our selues, but it is the gift of God.And to the intent to geue to the Reader to vnderstand the better, what the grace of Christ worketh in his seruāts, and agayne, how feeble & weake man is of himselfe without this grace geuen from aboue, though he seeme otherwise neuer so stout in himselfe: here therfore haue we added to the foresayd story of Laurence Saunders, the communication which in the beginning of his trouble, was betwene him and Doct. Pendleton, by the example whereof, such as stand,may learne to vnderstād and take heed with due feare, & not to bragge, to leane to the grace of the Lord, and not to presume in themselues.

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MarginaliaTalke betweene M. Saunders, & Doctour Pendleton. D Pendleton a stout preacher of the Gospel in K. Edwards time.AT the chaunge of religion in this Realme, and the beginning of Queene Maries reigne, Doct. Pendleton and M. Saunders men knowne to the world, not only to be learned but also earnest preachers of Gods word in the time of blessed king Edward, met together in the country, where by occasiō they were at that time, and as the case required (by reason of the persecution that was then at hand) fell to debate what was best for them to doe, in so daungerous a season. Whereupon M. Saunders, whether thorow very fraylty in deed of his weake flesh that was loth to tast of the bitter cup,  

though his spirite were ready thervnto: or whether it were vpon the mistrust of hys owne strength, that he might receiue the greater power from aboue: or whether it were not for any one of the sayd causes alone, but for both together, or such like: MarginaliaM. Saunders timerous in Christes cause at the first beginning.semed so fearefull and feeble spirited, that he shewed himselfe in appearance, like either to fall quite from God and his word, whiche he had taught, or at least to betake him to his heeles and to fly the land, rather then to sticke to his profession and abyde by his tackle: so as Doctor Pendleton (who on the cōtrary side, appeared not so big of body, but as bold in courage, nor so earnest before in Pulpit, but as ready now to seale the same with his bloud) tooke vppon him to comfort M. Saūders all that he might, admonishing him (as he could

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do it very well) not to forsake cowardly his flocke when hee had most neede to defende the wolfe from them: neither hauing put to his hand to Gods plough, to start now aside and geue it ouer, nor yet (that is worst of all) hauyng once forsakē Antichrist, to fall either himselfe, or to suffer others by his example to returne to theyr vomit agayne.

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After which and such like perswasions bidding him be of good comfort, and to take a good hart vnto him: what man (quoth he) there is a great deale more cause in me to be afeard thē in you, for as much as you see, I cary a greater masse of flesh vpon my backe then you do, and being so laden with a heauier lump of this vile carkase ought therfore of nature to be more frayle then you: & yet sayth he, MarginaliaThe stout bragges of D. Pendleton at the first beginning.I will see the vttermost drop of this grease of mine moltē away, & the last gobbet of this flesh consumed to ashes, before I wil forsake God and his truth. Wherunto the other answering but litle, & MarginaliaGod geueth strength where feeblenes is confessed.wishing that almighty God woulde geue him more strength thē he presently felt in himselfe, acknowledging his owne weaknes, consēted notwithstanding though it were somewhat fayntly, to ioyne w^t him in the profession of the Gospell, & so to go vp to London & set forththe same: wherupon they gaue ech other theyr hāds.

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Now when they were come to London, Lord what a great chaunge was there betwene these two persons. The poore feeble faynt harted Saunders, by the goodnes of almighty God, taking hart of grace to him, seking the same in humility, boldly & stoutly confirmed his flock out of the pulpit, where his charge lay, mightely beating down Antichrist, & lustely preached Christ his maister, for the which he afterward suffered most willingly as is afore declared. Wheras on the other side, MarginaliaExample how feeble man is of himselfe without the Lord support him.Pendleton the proud (who, as it appeared by the sequele, had bene more stout in words, thē constant in deeds, and a greater bragger, then a good warrior) folowed Peter so iustly in crackes, howsoeuer he did in repentance (which God onely knoweth) that he came not so soone to London but he chaūged his tipet,  

& playd þ^e Apostata,   preaching in stede of sound doctrine, nothing almost but errors & lyes, aduauncing Antichrist, and ouerthrowing poore Christ with all his mayne:   so his former boldnes came to nothing, vnlesse it were a contrarye key, becomming of a faithfull pastour a false runnagate, and of a true Preacher a sworne enemy of Gods euerlasting Testament, to the great offence of his brethren, the hurt of hys flock, and the vtter vndoing, withour Gods greater mercy, of his owne soule. Wherein are specially to be considered the deepe and maruellous iudgementes of God, who as he can and doth make strong whome it pleaseth hym, when he seeth his time, & most commonly such as appeare most feeblest: euen so contrariwise throweth he downe o-

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