of mortall body from our breath What 's that but a cessation from cares and from a liuing death What 's that cessation Why it is a sleepe by which we wholly are refreshed Yea but in sleepe who shall vs keepe euen he that guards his owne redeemed But who made death it was made by sinne and what is sinne the lawes transgression Of that how should I vantage winne all sinne is weakened by confession But by death's dint 't is ouercome and whence came sinne from hell beneath When was 't first bred in Mothers wombe when will it end not till our death This seemeth strange but this is true by nature sinne is hatch'd in vs Old Adams Rules till God renue Why then I see the case stands thus As sinne goes in so life goes out as sinne goes out so life comes in So by the Lord 't is brought about sinne conquers life life conquers sinne Though life by sinne be still annoy'd and sinne of death by strength and sting Yet viprous sinne by death 's destroy'd life killeth death when death kills sinne The death of body or of nature is that where to all subiect bee Cause sinne hath taintod euery creature according vnto Gods decree When bodies life doth â—ade away and we giue vp our dying ghost And thâ—… our corpes is clad in clay and vnto God our soulâ—s doth post It is ordained and decreed that all men by necessity Through that first Adams sinfull deede are subiect made the death to dye To dye for sinne 't is due for sinne to aye in sinne a heauie case To dye to sinne is to beginne to leaue our sinne and liue to grace The death in sinne without repenting in affect effect and aspecting In thinking doing and frequenting and offered grace of God reiecting I wretched wofull execrable haue plague of God by sinne for sinne Of miseries most miserable to them that liue and dye therein But he that dies before he dies when he is dead he is not dead But old age dies and he shall rise with glory from the graue his bed And he that 's toucht with conscience pricke whose sence of sinne is sharpe and quicke That man is sicke ere he is sicke and when he 's sicke he is not sicke I looke poore wretch on mine estate and others monish by mine harmes That was neere death but now of late by sinne enchanted by her charmes Had I not dyed sure I had dide O happy Phaenix liuing death Still let my flesh be mortifide O let me breath a liuing breath Sweet Iesus thou didst dye for me and in thy death with thee I dide O liue in me and I in thee shall liue and euermore abide And wormes meate thou durt clay slime kill carnall lust thy soule to saue Quaile vild affections whilst hast time that life through death by grace maist haue Shake hands with sinnes and all offences and learne to dye before thou dye When bidst adiew vnto thy sences then shalt thou liue eternally The cause of death The cause of death is wicked sinne for out of sinne our death did flowe From thence did all our plagues begin out of this tree our ills did growe Hunger fire death and all created were for punishment And layd on man for Adams fall and was the cause of our torment God said to Adam Scripture saith what houre soeuer thou shalt eate Thou shalt be sure to dye the death doe thou not taste forbidden meate Through enuious malice of the deuill into the world came this estate Sinnes entered with all actions euill by Adams fault not by our Fate Two sorts of death from death by sinne proceedes as effects from their cause The death of nature doth begin and death of grace next by Gods lawes By which we are made slaues for euer in darknesse called death eternall From worme of conscience freed neuer depriu'd of all the ioyes supernall As by example euident two sorts of death approued well The glutton rich to hell was sent his body buried quick in hell And Lazarus poore beggar dead to Abrahams bosome carried is With Angels wings with glory spread where is true ioy and comforts blisse The one hath heauen the other hell the one hath blisse the other bale The one in heauen still must dwell and the other deuils pull and hale He died with his conscience euill in death he sawe his wickednesse And his damnations with the deuill as holy Scriptures doe expresse This is the consolation great of them that in their death-beds lie Their mindes flie vp to the mercy seate and there for mercy lowdly crie By Christ which death abollished and sinne that 's cleans'd by his blood Whose merits pardon purchased for all our sinnes and death withstood To vs his goodnesse is imputed to him the sinnes that we committed And we for righteous are reputed and all our sinnes they are remitted For he alone by death hath bought vs from power and paine of deuill of hell Beat Sathan downe with iron rod to place where damned spirits dwell Eternall death could not preuaile 'gainst him nor ouer him haue power Christ strengthned those whom sinne did quaile his might the mighty did deuoure O're death o're sinne and hideous hell he gaue vs life and victory To all those that keepe his precepts well and them enstalls in endlesse glory For as by Adam all men dyed for sinne and by iniquity In Christ shall all men be reuiu'd to liue with him eternally The godly and iust people haue most comfort though with paine and griefe They suffer death and lye in graue and seeme forsaken saue reliefe They are sheepe which men ordaine to death and slaughter to be put As silly guiltlesse Lambes are slaine when Butchers knifes their threats doe cut For we which liue shall giuen be to death for Jesus Christ his sake If they doe not dispaire in thee no feare of death can cause them quake But rest assured they shall passe through death to life eternally Who aske for mercy and for grace and vnto God for Faith doe cry They suffer both his hand and rod and when he strikes are patieut They put their hope and trust in God who comforts them with hearts content Their death is good and of great price they also know through Christ his passion Death 's ouercome in wonderous wise and so receiue they consolation If any touch'd in latest paines of dire full death this faith holds fast In midst of death his liâ—t attaines and shall haue lasting life at last The Christians surely doe beleeue that when they seeme to be most dead That then they most of all doe liue and so with ioy lift vp their head Christ calls the death of godly men a sleepe his owne a death and why The souldiers speare was made a pen his blood the Inke to write thereby Quietus est for-Christians all and then the same to vs was sealed A sleepe he iustly may it call cause by his stripes our wounds were
healed His was a death cause death was due in him di'd all he died for all Gods Iustice vs to death doth sue he pay'd it and repair'd the fall That we might sleepe he suffered paines that we might laugh he oft did weepe His was the losse ours was the gaines thus did he change death to a sleepe To Christ did Stephen yeeld vp his spirit for he 's the way the truth the life He purchast life by death and merit the husband's he the Church his wife He is that Noah his Church the Doue that holds his hand for to receiue vs He bids vs come to embrace his Loue we flye to him when all deceiues vs. The heauens the earth the Lord commands to him all creatures runne but wee None can vs take out of his hands in life and death to him we flee Pillar of faith Basis of blisse of true Religion true supporter The point of Resurrection is in death it is the chiefe Comforter If this doe fall all faith may faile what Article doth vs refresh When life and health and strength doth quaile the Resurrection of the flesh Our bones shall blossome as the grasse we shall be raised out of dust The body that before time was by Christ his power arise it must The first fruits Christ the head is rais'd the members shall the same likewise The Lord God for the same be prais'd we know that we shall also rise If he ad aboue the water be how can the body then be drowned We shall arise and Iesus see and with him shall be Kingly crowned Of life and death the true directour who in his life and in his dying Of our misdoing is Correctour and into all our actions prying Christ is afflicted for our sake left vs example that we should Follow his steps and his way take thy crosse to beare with courage bold Our Sauiour Iesus teacheth thee how can that be say'st thou behold Example if thou punish'd be with sicknesse hunger thirst and cold With thy selfe reckon and account how it cannot compared be With his thornes his nayles surmount the greatest paine that paineth thee Art thou restrain'd of thy desire and lusts that draw thou know'st not whither Thinke on Christs Crosse his wrath and ire and put his tortures all together If pride puffe vp thy minde with motions looke on Christ nayl'd on the Crosse And thinke as bound by due deuotions of our great gaine by his great losse If thou in filthy lust doest burne or any other ill desire Thinke but how Christ his flesh was torne to saue thy soule from flames of fire With stripes thrust through and all to broken his drinke was Eysell mixt with gall With his last gaspe the earth was shaken who suffered for the sinnes of all If enuie hate reuenge thee grieue thinke with thy selfe how Christ did pray O Father doe them all forgiue for them that tooke his life away God vs commanded to forgiue and sayeth then we shall be forgiuen Without offence no man can liue and God his ballance hangeth euen He â—hat doth not forgiue his brother will then the Lord his faults remit No as he deâ—…h with another another shall repay 't is sit And when you kneele to God and pray forgiue if you haue any thing Gainst any liuing man that day that Christ may you remission bring And when thy gift thou do'st present and on the Altar sacrifice First with thy brother make consent and him forgiue in any wise When thou to Christ wast enemie and strengthened in great extreames Yet then did he giue remedie and o're thee spread his mercy beames He gaue to thee his holy spirit to guide and leade thy soule aright And gaue thee heauen there to inherit all ioyes and blisse aye in his sight When thou from him was gone astray be sought thee out and did thee finde And finding thee brought thee away vnto his fold he thee resignde Thanke God therefore and render praise exalt and laude his holy name Vnto the heauens sing alwayes All men on earth doe yee the same Henceforth my soule walke in his path and erre not from him any more Lest thou prouoke his heauy wrath and then art worse then wert before Let not Gods gifts be giuen thee to worke thy condemnation With feare and trembling walke sincere confirming thy Saluation Shunne thou all wicked Company with doers ill associate not Lest thou from faith should'st fall and 〈◊〉 and soule and body soile and spot But blesse his name who called thee vnto the state of righteousnesse And thy sinnes vengeance tane hath he to giue thee heauens happinesse Blesse thou his blessed Holinesse his praise let heart and minde record And let thy tongue and voyce confesse the gracious goodnesse of the Lord Prostrate thy selfe downe at his feete offer thy seruice with free heart O yeeld God all for 't is most meete since he made sau'd and blest each part Who spared not his onely Sonne but let him dye thy soule to saue To pay and ransome thy faults done and to redeeme thee from the graue So in the Prayer of our Lord we doe forgiue what 's done against vs As God forgiuenesse shall afford our Sauiour Christ doth teach vs thus A Prayer to beare patiently the Crosse of Christ or any affliction And if God so please to call vs to that triall euen to reioyce in Martyrdome O Almighty God most mercifull and louing Father that hast decrced that through manifold tribulations and afflictions in this world we that trust in thee must enter into the Kingdome of heauen And those that will follow thee my Sauiour and be thy Disciples must take vpon them by the constraint of the world as Simon of Cyrene to beare thy Crosse and to follow thee and those that liue godly in thy Son must suffer reproach and affliction And that there is neuer a Son whom thou louest but must like Peter drinke of thy Cup and endure chastening And in so doing thou offerest thy selfe an assured louing Father and assurest vs that wee are thy sonnes because it is giuen vs not onely to beleeue in thee but also that wee should suffer for his names sake O Lord I am willing not onely to liue with thee but also to dye with thee My Spirit is willing though my flesh bee weake Wherefore if it bee possible let this bitter Cup passe from me or if thou please and hast appointed that I by death should glorifie thee and with my blood seale and confirme thy truth sweet Iesus giue mee strength comfort and patience blessed be thy name and thy most holy will be done O Lord manifest thy power in my weakenesse and strengthen me that I may by the same power whereby thou raisest thy selfe from death to life patiently beare and willingly suffer that for thy name sake which otherwise for flesh and blood seemeth fearefull to be endured O Lord when I consider the hazards that wee runne through for the obtaining of
these present profits and delights of this life and with what vnwearied paines wee prosecute the winning of this worlds vanities that in the end are nothing worth but to pamper the body and make it vpon euery slight occasion most willing to deny thee O Lord when I consider the pleasure of this world and the abundance of content I haue in this life wanting nothing for my bodie Oh what a Coward doth it make mee that with the young man that was most ready to follow thee yet when thou biddest him sell all his worldly riches and follow thee O simple man hee neuer came at thee more So me thinkes I feele Sathan to say vnto me What a foole art thou to leaue father or mâ—ther wife and children houses lands gooâ—s a certainty for an vncertainty to follow thee O Lord how am I tempted by the Papists the Enemies of the Gospell to think this way foolishnesse a Sect and heresie lately risen and seperated from the Church meaning themselues Oh how they doe tempt mee by the examples of my â—ore-fathers that for many genâ—rations time out of minde haue liued and died in the Romish Religion and why should I thinke my selfe wiser then they O heauenly Father see and behold these subtill instruments of Sathan and keepe me that these crafty baytes of Sathan arising from the flesh and the world preuaile not ouer me that like Peter in the water or the young man I let goe my true faith not to beleeue in lyes and errours and so finally forsake thee who hath so dearely loued me and bought me But O God my Sauiour strengthen my faith that I be not moued to let goe my first loue with which I haue been so much comforted in thee O strengthen me that neither Sathan by himselfe nor by his Antichristian Instruments which hee ruleth at his pleasure preuaile against me either to doubt of my faith much lesse to denie thee my Lord and Sauiour but as thou for my sake didst not contemne nor despise the reproach of the wicked nor yet the cursed death of the Cross but for the ioy that was set before thee and which thou hadst with the Father before the world was endured the same and though thou wert reuiled yet thou reuilest not againe but with infinite patience committed thy cause to thy Father So O Lord graunt that by my faith in thy power I may bee no lesse assured of patience in the greatest torment that shall be inflicted vpon my body For I know that although they kill my body yet they cannot touch my soule but that it shall liue with thee for euer And in despight of their malice while they thinke to destroy my soule with death they shall extract my spirit into glorious life with God the Father and his Christ for euermore Sweet Sauiour as Sampson in his death triumphed most gloriously ouer his enemies so graunt to me that they seeing my patience and beholding my vnmoueable hope may be so ashamed and in their conscience so affrighted that they may like Saul at the death of Stephen be conuerted and after their change of minde magnifie as most pretious the death of thy Saints and by preaching the truth strengthen the brethren and stand fast in the Faith vnto the end O Lord strengthen mee that I may not faint vnder the crosse because thou hast appointed vs thereunto that in thy crosse wee should be more then conquerours and by his example whose steps we should onely follow account our selues most happy that thou wilt call vs and grace vs to lay downe our liues for his name sake as thou hast layd downe thy life for our sakes O God if the righteous scarcely be saued as it seemeth vnto the world through these bitter torments with which wee are to be scourged and made cleane vessels to serue thee in thy Kingdome where shall the wicked and sinners which regard not thy crosse appeare O Lord being confident of thy mercy in the merits of thy Sonne doe I submit my selfe in soule and body to doe seruice and sacrifice vnto thee as vnto a faithfull Creatour knowing that a crowne of glory remaineth for mee Father into thy hands doe I commend my spirit Lord Jesus after death receiue my soule as thou hast all those braue champions that were slaine with the sword that wandered about in Sheepe-skins and Goat-skins and thought it better to liue with beasts in woods and dennes to enioy thee then to liue among men Gentiles and Antichristians and denie thee being destitute afflicted and tormented wandering in Desarts mountaines and dens and holes of the earth to auoyde the beastly and cruell enemies of thy word O Lord as thou hast made thy wrath smoke against the Heathens the Assirians the Egyptians the Moabites the Ammonites that first trampled vnder foote the blood of thy Saints by labouring an vtter consuming of them So O Lord either graunt the conuersion or else let thine indignation appeare in these our dayes against the Turkes Heretikes Athiests and all Antichristian enemies that like Herod and Iulian obstinately persecute and scorne thy name And this though a most vnworthy Suppliant I beseech thee to graunt and that for the honour of thy great name in which thy true Church doth onely trust Amen Amen A thanksgiuing for Gods temporall and spirituall blessings O Most bountifull and kinde Creatour vnto thee in Christ Iesus doe I come and returne most humble and heartie thankes not onely for the generall goodnesse which thou hast extended vnto all mankinde but for that especiall part which thou hadst diuided vnto mee in more speciall manner O Lord I giue thee most humble thankes and praise for that portion of thy blessings set forth vnto mee to my present vse and comfort in this life as for thy daily preseruations of mee not onely in the wombe of my parents but for my safety in my birth that I was not mishapen in breeding nor in comming forth into this world and that after my birth in the time of my swadling bands infancie childhood and youth no mishap nor mishape befell me to the defacing of that perfect shape in which at first thou broughtest me forth O Lord how many children and youth haue beene maymed at nurse and through the carelesnesse of those vnto whom they haue beene committed vnto trust how many haue fallen into the fire and beene burned noâ— onely in some part but in thâ— whole body vnto death and by other chances whereof thiâ— world is full as drowned bruised broken in the body armes backe legges thighes feet in the eyes nose and face O Lord how innumerable arâ— the perils and dangers of this life vnto which euery man is subiect and doth continually run througâ— in euery state and degree of thiâ— present age and life and yet re ceiue no dammage O Lord foâ— these deliuerances from dangers through which I haue passed anâ— receiued no hurt and for whicâ— I haue neuer giuen thee thanks 〈◊〉