But somewhat before that time shall Christendom be
straitened sore, and brought into so narrow a compass that,
according to Christ's words, "When the Son of Man shall come
again"--that is, to the day of general judgment--"thinkest thou
that he shall find faith in the earth?" as who should say, "but a
little." For, as appeareth in the Apocalypse and other places of
scripture, the faith shall be at that time so far faded that he
shall, for the love of his elect, lest they should fall and perish
too, abridge those days and accelerate his coming. But, as I say,
methinketh I miss yet in my mind some of those tokens that shall,
by the scripture, come a good while before that. And among others,
the coming in of the Jews and the dilating of Christendom again
before the world come to that strait. So I say that for mine own
mind I have little doubt that this ungracious sect of Mahomet shall
have a foul fall, and Christendom spring and spread, flower and
increase again. Howbeit, the pleasure and comfort shall they see
who shall be born after we are buried, I fear me, both twain. For
God giveth us great likelihood that for our sinful wretched living
he goeth about to make these infidels, who are his open professed
enemies, the sorrowful scourge of correction over evil Christian
people who should be faithful and who are of truth his falsely
professing friends.
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