of his meer mercy When thy conscience doth lay before thée thy manifould sins and sendeth thée to good works then remember that Christ hath paid for thy sins vpon the Crosse Let not vnprofitable thoughts trouble thee as If God would lengthen thy life thou wouldst think to become more holy and more apt to die for although thou mightst liue yet which is vnpossible an hundred yéers thou canst deserue nothing with thy holinesse before God Although all creatures were against thée yea although God himselfe should lay before thée his fearfull indignation and terrible indgement and shew himself none otherwise than as though he were thine enemy although thou shouldst see nothing but diuels about thee yet care not for it whatsoeuer thou feelest shut the eyes of thy minde take hold of faith and trust in the Gospell There is no Diuell so strong that is able to ouerthrowe it Trust to God and feare not Cast all thy care on the Lord and hee will prouide and preserue thee Hitherto thou hast béen as dead but now shalt thou first begin to liue for death is a doâ—â— of life a beginning of resurrection and a departing from sin and pain Forsake the world and receiue death which is seat vnto thee by the grace of God willingly for it is thy owne and must also serue thee for thy wealth This smart and paine is ordained for thee of God and hee doth not chasten thee because he hateth thée but that hee may preserue and receiue thée as his sonne Therefore faint not séeing thou art chastened of the Lord. No maner of chastising for the present time seems to bée ioyous but grieuous neuerthelesse afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnes vnto them which are therein exercised The afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vpon vs. Tribulation anguish persecution hunger nakednesse perill sword death life Angels rule power things present nor things to come height lownesse neither any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God If thou didst truly remember and consider the vnfaithfulnesse falshood blasphemy and the Antichristian conuersation and life of this world truely thou wouldst not couet to liue any longer A thousand liues if it were possible oughtst thou to lose onely because thou hast heard and tasted the gospell namely that thou hast obtained redemption and forgiuenesse of sinnes through the bloud of Christ and not through thine owne merits Thou hast prayed daily that it would please GOD to take thee out of this euill world into his Kingdom and that his will might be done Wherefore séeing hée will now through his grace bring thee into his Kingdome thou oughtst as his son willingly and gladly to obey and to reioice with all thy heart that thou out of the diuels Kingdom out of this vallie of misery and out of this wretched life commest to thy Father and all his Elect in euerlasting Paradise The Heathen which notwithstanding were without hope did for the loue of the life to come destroy themselues and shouldst thou béeing a Christian to whom so much comfort hope and euerlasting life is promised despaire in death and desire not to die with all thy heart The Iewes die merrily which neuerthelesse haue crucified Christ and are damned for euer and shouldest not thou being a Christian man be more earnest and bolder to die to whom such ioy is promised as the eie hath not séen the eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the hart of man and wouldest thou now giue place to the miscreant and cursed Heathen and Iewes in bodily dying The seruant is not aboue his Lord nor yet the Disciple aboue his Master Christ thy Master and Lord suffered and died for thée thou must also suffer and die All they which are baptized to die are baptized thou art baptized therfore art thou also baptized to dy For Gods sake art thou killed and art counted as a shéep appointed to bee slame What were a slaughter shéep if it were not slaine or what were a Christian man if he should not be assaulted suffer and die Faint not in this affliction to which thou knowest thy self to be constituted Now will Christ thy Sauiour and Redéemer prooue whether thou wilt stand by him or no whether thou wilt for his sake valiantly abide death and bee like vnto the shape of his passion or not Therefore suffer now as a good warrior of Iesus Christ and think not to be crowned vnlesse thou fight valiantly for if thou die with Christ thou shalt also liue with him thou shalt also triumph with him Unfaithfull and without honour is hee counted before the world that giueth-ouer his holde in his dominions shouldst thou not bee without honour if in the necessity of death thou shouldest shrink from Christ thy Sauiour Take vp thy Crosse and death and follow him Knowest thou not with what great ioy and desire all the Apostles and seruants of Christ haue shed their bloud for Christs sake and haue gon euen to meet death For Christs sake hast thou not yet suffred any speciall thing Therefore giue thy self willingly and ioyfully vnto death as a shéep for Christs sake God is by thée in thy trouble he will pluck thée out of it and bring thée to honor and he is at thy right hand that he may help thée Put now thy trust in God and thou shalt be holpen Bee of good comfort and bestowe thy stinking carcase which is but wormes-meat vpon Christ thy Redeemer and Sauiour and trust onely to him and his holy Gospell which is the power of GOD to saluation to all that beleeue Abide the Lord and let thy heart take sure hold Commit thy cause vnto the Lord and trust in him hée shall order it well enough Be sober and watch for thine aduersary the diuell as a roaring lyon will go about thée séeking how he may denoure thée whom resist stedfast in the faith Ye wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against rule against power and against worldly Rulers of the darknesse of this world against the spirits of wickednes yea against sinne death hell and the diuell For this cause behaue your self as a Christian champion and take vnto you the armour of God that ye may bee able to resist in the euill day and to stand perfect in all things Stand therefore and your loynes girt about with verity hauing on them a brest-plate of righteousnes and shod with shooes prepared by the Gospell of peace Aboue all take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith yee may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the helmet of saluation and the swoâ—d of the Spirit which is the word of GOD. And pray alwaies in all manner of necessities ¶ A short instruction of the confession of sinnes FIrst because all mankind by the lawes of GOD Secondly and also out of the sorrow of death the cruell martyrdome and bitter death of
Crosse God esteems vs not Esay 27. I The Lord do kéep my vineyard that is my Christians and water it quickly that his leaues doo not wither I will preserue it day and night Héer doth God the Lord comfort vs that his Christians should not bee grieued with the Crosse for he compareth his Christendome to a pleasant Vineyard that standeth open on all sides that euery one may come in and no man keeps it but lets it ly yea that it wants rain and all will wither and bee dry So doo wee also think vnder the Crosse that God careth not for vs else should wee hée better But it is certain that God himself wil be Guardian ouer his Christians and will send them the rain of grace comfort in all their temptations as hee héer saith â—â—â—e Lord doo keep it and will quickly water it I will keep it both day and night that no man hurt it that is My Christians shal not méet with any euill so graciously will I watch and ward them But hoâ—â— is such watching and warding and yet a man doth not see it Although it séemeth God hâ—th no great respect with his guarâ—ing of temporal things and whatsoeuer is corporall whilâ—st they belong not to his Kingdom yet must the world and the diuell let it alone and not doo all things as pleaseth them seeing the hairs of our head are numbred As wee haue an example thereof in Mat. 8. that the diuell without Christs leaue could not goe into a filthy Swine And such doo the Histories sufficiently shew But the right guard and protection of vs Christians goeth inwardly to the heart which God with his holy Spirit and Word puts into vs and day and night keeps vs that sin growe not quite ouer vs and that Satan be not too mighty for vs. Of such guard speaketh he shortly after The sin of Iacob shall thereby cease that is through the Crosse God defends vs against sinne and mortifieth the old Adam Many a one doth lie in his bedde who if hee were well would doo all mischief Many a one hath another assaulting which driueth him to Sermons and Praiers and to amendment of his life who if that were not would care nothing at all for God or his Word Against such assaulting should we earnestly think vpon this defense of our Lord God for the world doth not sée it and the Christians also somtimes do forget it in their néed and think God doth not regard them he hath forgotten them So did Dauid comfort himself Psalm 32. Thou art my dâ—fense thou wilt keep me from sorrow A Praier O Lord thou kéeper of Israel which doost neither slumber nor sléep and hast promised to thy faithfull that lift vp their eies toward heauen to thee and tarry for thy godly grace comfort help that thou wilt kéep them day and night in their tribulations and with the comfort of thy holy Spirit wilt moisten their hearts and graciously accept of them which is easie for thee to doo I pray thée let mee not forget thy watching and warding in my aduersity nor bee weak in mine owne cause that thou wouldst kéep me from trouble O kéep me from all tribulation O kéep me from all euill O kéep my soule and deliuer me let me not be ashamed O kéep thou my going out and comming in both now for euermore Amen II. Against the other aâ—saulting God is our enemy Esay 27. With me is no anger Lamen 3. The Lord troubleth but he hath compassion again according to his great goodnes for hee vereth not nor troubleth man from his heart O God whosoeuer could beléeue this should yet bee merry although hee were ill But all sorrows and complaints come of this that we think God is angry with vs. Therefore he giueth vs in Esay a pleasant similitude I cannot bee so angry with my Vmeyard that is with my Christians because I attend the same so diligently It is a deare Iewell vnto me Therefore doe I dresse it I hack it I cut it not that I hate it but because I loue it and will further it that it bring forth fruit which otherwise would not come foorth if I should not in such sort hack it and cut it for although it seem not friendly that the hedger standeth ouer the Vine with his knife and cutteth it hath the Mattocke in his hand and heaweth it with all his might yet is it but for the good of the Vineyard that it beare the more fruit So shall you my deare Christians saith the Lord vnderstand it sol kewise and hold it for a certaine that I loue you Prouerbs 3. when I come ouer you with the Crosse with the Wine-hook and Mattocke cut and hack you Another fine similitude giueth he afterward of plowing in chapter 28. Hearken with your eares and heare my voice When a Husbandman breaketh and ploweth his field it séemeth that hée doth much harme especially when hee oftentimes in the yéere yea thrée or foure times turneth it ouer and ploweth through the same Wherefore doth hee it It goeth heere after the common Prouerb The fourth kinde bringeth the fourth Sheaf Therefore dooth hee not let it rest after plowing but when hee hath plowed thorow his field hee soweth it then followeth faire and goodly fruit So saith the Lord GOD doo I also I plow you with the Crosse and send one thing after another now pouerty then sickenesse c. which dooth grieue you but it procéedeth not of anger as if I were your enemy it is done for your good that the stones and rocks may be rooted out and the ground made readie for fruit Therefore doe I chastise you thorow right and doctrine Likewise doth leremy in this place also comfort The Lord troubleth me c For that is his work as Psalm 4 saith Hee dealeth strangely with his Saints he thrusteth them first unto hell and lets them come into need before he do help them out hée lets one bee first sick before hee make him whole But in such Crosses and Tribulations doth hée leaue them helplesse No but hath such a heart as is full of loue and compassion Therefore is hee mercifull againe according vnto his great goodnesse and sheweth himselfe like a helpfull GOD and beareth a fatherly heart toward vs. For like as a father dooth carry an heart towards his deare childe in that hee restraineth him to the end he come to goodnes and may see both ioy and honesty in him So in GOD's heart towards vs also that he vexeth not nor troubleth vs men from his heart but that he may preserue vs his deare children to his glory kingdom and euerlasting life Heer of hast thou a fine example of Ioseph which praied a long time hee was guiltlesse and cast into Prison God heard him not so soone else had he come home to his parents and béen a poor shepherd all his life time but afterward God took pity of his misery released him of his imprisonment
mine Psalme 31. Lord on thee doe I trust let mee neuer bée confounded deliuer mee through thy righteousnesse Item Be comforted and not dismayed all you that tarry for the Lord. Psal 32. The vngodly hath many sorrowes but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with goodnesse Psal 91. Though a thousand fall at thy side and tenne thousand on thy right hand yet shall it not touch thee Psal 91. Vpon the Lion and Adder shalt thou goe and tread vpon the young Lion and Dragon Psal 23. Goodnesse and mercifulnesse shall follow mee all my life time and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for euermore Iohn 14. In my Fathers house are many dwellings if it were not so I would haue told you I goe hence to prepare the places for you Iohn 14. I will not leaue you fatherlesse I liue and you shall also liue Iohn 14. I will come againe and take you vnto mee that you may be where I am Iohn 12. Where I am there shall also my seruant be Item When I shall be lifted vp from the earth then will I draw them all vnto me Iohn 10. I knowe my shéep and am knowne of mine and no man shall pull them out of mine hands Rom. 8. If God bée with vs who shall bée against vs who also hath not spared his onely son but hath giuen him for vs how can hes not but giue vs all with him Rom. 8. I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angell nor principality nor power neither things present nor to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Amen A Prayer LAud praise and thankes bee vnto thée my Lord Iesus Christ for thy holy incarnation for thy martyrdom and litter passion out of which I acknowledge that thou art my Redéemer and Sauiour and do beléeue that thou hast ouercome sin death hell and the diuell that they cannot hurt me With this onely doo I comfort me héervpon build I there standeth my hope there will I bée found Onely bee gracious and mercifull vnto mee as I doubt not of thy sure promise O Lord let mee not sink or despaire in this my great tribulation and necessity but preserue mee happily by such sure comfort Amen Esay 49. Thou shalt vnderstand that I am the Lord of whom they shall not bee ashamed which tarry for me c. A comfort for poore sicke people which are troubled by reason of their grieuous sicknes Psal 118. THe Lord thastiseth mée but giueth me not ouer to death Psal 119. It is good for mée that thou hast chastised me that I may learn thy Lawes WHen any outward mis-fortune crosse or sicknesse falleth vpon vs then are wée sundry waies assaulted wée behaue our selues impatiently and doo comolain and wéep for it Such impatience is a great torment to a Christian for when the diuell can doo nothing else on him then commeth he with impatience that many in their miseries doo snarle and powt But if we could remember this onely word as Dauid saith It is good Lord that thou hast chastised mee we should rather wéepe and cry when we are without crosses sickenesse or other aduersity But what prosit or goodnesse this Crosse is of should euery Christian earnestly thinke on in all his temptations The chiefest profit of the Crosse is this First that thereby fleshly lust and desire may bée hindred that it be not lasciuious and throwe vs not into damnation as our noerest enemie which wée daily carry in our bosomes for as a man must spurre a Horse and hold him with the bridle and bring him forward Psalm 32. so must the Lord God also spur and bridle our olde Adam through the Crosse without which correction wée shall neuer come there whereunto woe through the Crosse haue cause 2 Then shall wee thereby be driuen to the Word and to Prayer and brought also to be penitent as the Prophet Esay saith Onely mischance and tribulation teach vs to mark the Word or as Dauid chastised mee that I might learn thy Lawes 3 If it should alwaies bée with vs according to our own carnall wils then should wée be proud and insolent c. But when God catcheth hould on vs with sicknes or any other crosse then wee acknowledge our disability 4 Wee shall bee thereby occasioned to esteeme and acknowledge Gods gracious and almighty help that hee is to vs a Rock a Bulwark Defense Protection Help and Strength in all our néed and necessity without which gracious help wée despaire of all things and must bee without comfort Now when the diuell with his poison pestilence and beggerly sicknesse is worst-minded towards vs and scattereth his plagues and sickenesse among vs yet then haue wee Christians GOD for a sure comfort wee are vnder his godly protection defense and do trust alwaies on Gods help therfore shall we neuer be ashamed 5 Then when wée haue obtained and gotten GOD's helpe others shall in like maner be therewith strengthned and comforted that they in all their tribulation and néed may set their comfort hope on the Lords gracious help 6 Although the Crosse doo bring such profit that many more causes might bee rehearsed yet the greatest comfort vnder the Crosse is that wee bee thereby assured that wee are the children of God for euer and so shall remain seeing that euery father correcteth his deare childe if hée take it vp to the end it may bée kept in kindly obedience Hebrews 12 Prouerbs 20. And héer it goeth after the common Prouerb as often as the honest Parents do say before their Children O dear Rod Thou makest me good Thou makest me gētle to be That the Hangman Be not troubled with me Such causes how fatherly soeuer our Lord God means that hée layeth so many kinde of crosses vpon His and withall the great bountifull goodnesse and profit that the same tribulations bring vnto vs let vs earnestly thinke vpon when we are in misery sicknesse or other calamities and not murmure against GOD for he knowes his creatures best and can tell what is good and profitable both for soule and body So did the Lord Iesus well see before the tribulation that his Disciples should haue after his death and passion but he comforted them Iohn 16. It is good for you that I goe hence for if I goe not the Comforter wil not come to you but if I go hence I will send him to you Therefore should wée set our will to GOD's will as Syrach in the 2 Chap. admonisheth My Childe if thou wilt bee Gods Seruant then prepare thee to tribulation leane thou vnto God and shrink not that thou maist bee alwaies stronger Suffer whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee and bee patient in all thy troubles for like as gold is tried in the fire so shall they whom God pleaseth bee tried through the fire of aduersity I. Against the first assaulting vnder the
all and what soeuer hee hath earned and obtained with his Obedience Death and Passion With this holy Sacrament should wee admonish and comfort our selues when sorrow and the combate of death is at the greatest that wee cannot rememâ—er any thing else and think and say thus much in our hearts I am baptized whereby God the holy Trinity hath made an euerlasting couenant with mée that he will bée and continue my GOD and hath not grounded the same vpon my goodnes but vpon his infinite mercy the merits of his onely Sonne and vpon the grace and power of the holy Ghost So am I absolued through Christ and haue oftentimes receiued the holy supper of the Lord according to his institution therefore I am certaine of the forgiuenes of all my sins Gods grace and saluation of my soule For if the euerlasting mercifull God and my Lord Iesus with the holy Ghost would not haue mee saued or taken me to mercie he would not haue suffered mee to be baptized or called mee to his Kingdome through his holy Gospell nor let mee so often receiue the holy Sacrament Therefore should we haue these worthy Sacraments in great estimation and often resort to the holy Communion of our Lord vsing the same in right worthinesse for confirming of our faith and comfort against sin and the wrath of God in our last end A Prayer O Thou euerlasting true mercifull God and Father I thanke thee through Iesus Christ thy deare Son in the power and vnspeakeable sighing of the holy Ghost that thou hast suffred mee to be baptized in the name and power of the holy Trinity and taken me vp for thy child and through power of the keies hast absolued me from all my sinnes and fed mee with the body and bloud of thy deare Sonne for the strengthening of my faith and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes And I pray thée dear Father that thou wilt vphould me through thy holy Spirit in true saith and confidence to my end that I may sléep in peace like to holy Simeon and rise againe with the righteous to euerlasting glory through Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Praier to bee said when a man will receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ O LORD IESVS CHRIST thou liuing Sonne of God which before thy Death and Passion didst institute and ordaine to all Christians a new Testament of the most worthy Sacrament of thy most holy Body and Bloud which I poore sinner am not worthy to vse or take thy holy Body and Bloud into my vncleane mouth or vpon my sinnefull tongue and that thou béeing so great a Lord shouldest come vnder the couer of my house or into my vnprofitable Bodie I am alas not worthy But I pray thée O dear GOD and Brother open thou my mouth touch thou my tongue and purge thou my heart from all sinnes and make mee thy poore seruant worthy of thy most holy Testament that I may receiue take and vse ' thy most worthy bodie and pure deare bloud of thy Sacrament to the health and saluation of my soule strengthning of my faith amendment of my life in burning loue towards thee true loue towards my neighbour and bring mee to euerlasting life Amen A Praier of Thanksgiuing O Almighty and euerlasting God I praise and thanke thy godly mercifulnesse that thou hast fed mee with the flesh and blood of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour and doe pray thee most humbly thou wilt with the Holy Ghost so worke within mee that I which haue receiued this blessed Sacrament with the mouth may also with constant faith conceiue and alwaies keepe fast thy godly grace of remission of sinnes and iustification with Christ which is therein shewed and promised and euerlasting life through our Lord Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne who with thee in vnitie of the holy Ghost liueth and raiâ—neth one true God for euer and euer Amen A godly confession of the deare and worthy man M. Iohn Stoliz MY sins doe trouble mee Gods grace ioyeth me Two things know I A poore sumer am I God is mereifull The first acknowledge I The second beléeue I. O God bée mereifull to mée poore sinner God giueth Christ meriteth Faith conceiueth Workes do witnesse Come to helpe mee thou good God weake is mans helpe in tune of need Esay 42. The bruised Reede shall bee not breake and the glowing Tow shall â—ee nâ—t quench out O Lord strengthen increase our faith Amen Of Gods gracious and euer lasting Prouidence and Maintenance a most true comfort Psalme 37. WHen I haue but thee my Lord Iesus Christ I care not for heauen or earth When my body and soule fayle mee yet art thou alwaies God the comforter of my heart and portion Zachary 12. OVer the house of Dauid and ouer the Citizens of Ierusalem will I powre out the Spirit of Grace and of Prayer for they shall looke vpon mée whom they haue pearced HEere doth the Lord promise to send his Holy Ghost to vs poore sinners as Saint Iohn in the 15. and 16. Chapters often maketh mention of this promise for because wée are weake and of little faith when sinne and Gods wrath doe terrifie vs to the end our faith cease not then shall the Holy-ghost as a true Comforter strengthen and comfort vs and bee witnesse to our hearts that our sinnes bee forgiuen and that weere in grace and she children of GOD and shall help vs to sigh and pray with vnspeakeable sighing Therewithall also shall the How-ghost for the comfort strengthening of our faith admonish and shew vs the holy wounds whereby wee may acknowledge that he was wounded and pearced for our sins and his blood shed for the clensing and washing away of all our sinnes II. Esay 54. SO haue I sworne that I will not bée angrie with thee nor yet reprooue thee for the Mountaines shall remoone and the hills shall fall away but my Grace shall not â—oe away from thee and the Conenant of my Peace shall not fall away saith the Lord thy compassioner GOd the Almighty hath through Christ his hest beloued Sonne erected a Conenant of peace with vs and confirmed the same with an doth That if we do beleeue in Christ hee will not punish nor yet concernne vs for euermore but continue our deare and louing Father eternally Such promise is so certaine that the Mountaines shall fall down yea Heauen and Earth shall passe away before such words faile A very glorious and comfortable cause doth the Prophet set héereunto The Lord thy Compassioner hath said that is God is so mercifull that hee will not condemne you for your sinnes Whosoeuer beléeueth in Christ with a faithfull heart shall rest in grace and hee will for euer release and helpe him out of all misfortune III. Esay 54. Feare them not thou shalt not bée ashamed Bee not weake for thou shalt not bée mocked THESE are faire and comfortable words
and withall endlesse that it presse mée not downe but bée vnto mée a light burthen and a light yoke And lend mée likewise strength and ablenesse in putting-to thy holy arme and help to beare it till I through thy godly help shall with patience ouercome the same and that thou wouldest send to mee a happy end and hour of help with grace Amen Rom. 8. I am assured that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory of God which shall be shewed to vs. HEer Saint Paul the Apostle puts all the miseries of mankinde together what name soeuer they haue All diseases plagues sicknesses crosses and passions and how heauy and great such woes and miseries doo séem vnto vs and saith If all the troubles of this world were heaped together yet were all much too slight to bee compared to God's glory Why wilt thou then complain so much of troubles and mans miseries It is but a little times and then shall follow to euery Christian Beléeuer an vnmeasurable and euerlasting glory Héer in this life let no man think that it will bee better with him as Christ himselfe saith In the world you shall haue troubles c. For wée are héer in the diuels house if thou hold not with the host thou shalt haue small fauour in thy lodging Many a one thinks hee will go to another place and flée away from the mischief but wheresoeuer he commeth he findes the hoste at home Look what great dangers the Apostle Paul endured as in his first Epistle to the Corinthians and eleuenth Chapter but the hope of euerlasting life and glory to-come caried him thorow that with patience hee ouercame all As it is true that No eye hath séen nor ear hath heard nor euer came into the heart of man vhat ioyes habitation and glory is prepard for Christians and shall bee reuealed vnto them So is it most certain that they shall haue holy cleare immortall and powerfull bodies and therefore néed not feare any humane miseries death nor diuell And all these great gifts shall they haue through Christ for euermore All shall bee Gods and haue enough A poor scabbed boy or wench a poor scholar a despised begger c. which put their trust in Christ shall haue more and bée more rich thâ—n all the Emperors and Kinâ—s in this life for they shall possesse the euerlasting glory in which the Lord Iesus Christ shall crowne them with his vnwithered Garland of honour to euerlasting heauenly honour as wée vse to set Garlands on for an honour All worldly honour shall bée but childrens play to such honour and glory for there shall the Christians in glory hee like the Son of GOD himself yea Lords ouer all tyrants and persecuters ouer the holy Angels who shall bée their seruants shall stand about them and wait on them and shall in such honour and glory haue a merry constant and quiet conscience where no mis-fortune more shall ouerthrowe their ioyes their euerlasting righteousnes innocency and saluation Of which glory wee all should comfort our selues in all our afflictions then may wee through such hope with patience ouercome the Crosse So doth Saint Peter comfort vs You shall reioyce in the saluation who were a small time in sorrow Likewise S. Paul saith 2 Cor. 4. Our small and slight troubles cause to vs a far more excellent and an eternall waight of glory for wee look not vpon the visible but on the inuisible things A Praier O Dear and heauenly father I acknowledge that I for my sins sake haue well deserued all woes and miseries wherein I doo stick besides euerlasting punishment But I thank thée with all my heart that thou hast through Christ redéem'd me from such euerlasting woes and doo beléeue that these my sorrows and troubles are but smal and that vpon the same shall follow to me and all the faithfull an euerlasting and aboue all measure an excéeding glory I pray thée that thou wilt preserue me in this poor troublesome life which is so full of woes and miseries throgh comfort of thy holy Spirit in sure hope and patience to thy euerlasting honour and glory for thy dear Son Christ Iesus sake his redemption death power resurrection life and glory Amen Set thou thy cause on God indeed Hee will thee help in time of need For he that God doth trust Speed well alwaies he must Help thou Lord God euery where The body heere and the soule there A COMFORT against the fear and terror of Death and the Graue BEING An Exposition of Doctor MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end LONDON Printed by H. L. for Iohn Parker 1624. An Exposition of D. MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end IOHN 8. Verily verily I say vnto you If any keep my word he shall neuer see death HOW incredibly is this spoken and against manifest and daily experience in that we sée one carried away and buried Yet it is true when a man séeks after Gods Word with his hart beléeues on him and vpon the same sléeps or dies he sinks and goes hence before he might sée death or beware thereof and is for certain saued by the Word in that hee beleeueth and determineth to depart from hence Therefore should we Christians not be afraid of death Iohn 5. Verily verily I say vnto you He that hears my word and beléeues on him that sent me shal haue euerlasting life and not come into iudgement but shall passe through death into life THis may be called an excellent comfort and ratified with a solemne Oath That wee Christians when wee onely beleeue in Iesus Christ and that the Father sent him for our righteousnesse then néed we take no care for dying nor bée afraid of damnation but doo passe through this temporall death to euerlasting life that is so soone as we are dead before all mens eyes wée are in the twinkling of an eye with God in euerlasting life Who would then feare to die O vnbeliefe O originall sinne that thou shouldest so hardly beléeue so many Promises so many Miracles and such solemne Oaths of the true Son of God made vnto the Saints and children of Christ Iohn 11. I am the Resurrection and life He that beléeueth on me shall liue although hee die and who liueth and beléeueth on me shall not die for euer IN this Saying the Lord teacheth vs for what cause death is no death to vs but a beginning of eternall life for our Lord Iesus Christ liueth and is the Resurrection and the life because we are members of Christs Body incorporated to him in holy Baptism Therefore shall wee liue with him for euer as sure as he our head liueth onely because our life is hidden with Christ in GOD. But when Christ our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory Colos 3. O Lord strengthen my faith 1 Thes 4. For if we belieue that Iesus Christ is dead and risen so shall they which do sléep
mee out of my troubles Looke vpon mine aduersitie and miserie and forgiue me all my sinnes O kéepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not be confounded for I haue put my trust in thée The Lord is my light and my saluation whom then should I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I bee afraid Though an hoast of men were laide against mee yet shall not my heart bee afraide and though there rose vp war against mee yet will I trust in him O hide not thou thy face from mée cast not thy seruant off in displeasure Thou art my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God my Sauiour The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart hopeth in him In thee O Lord is my trust let mee neuer bee put to confusion Bowe downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer mee Thou art my strong hold and my castle O bee thou my guide and leade mee for thy Names sake Into thy hands I commend my Spirit deliuer me O Lord God of truth O Lord consider my trouble and know my Soule in aduersitie My hope is in thee O Lord thou art my God Shew mee the light of thy countenance help me for thy mercies sake Let mee not be confounded O Lord for I call vpon thée Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come about mee O compasse thou mee about also with the ioy of deliuerance Striue thou with them O Lord that striue with mee fight thou against them that fight against mee and stand vp to helpe me Awake Lord and stand vp auenge thou my cause my God and my Lord. Thou art my helper and redéemer make no long tarrying O my God Arise O Lord help me and deliuer mee for thy mercies sake Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord after thy goodnesse and according to thy great mercies do away mine offences For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thée onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight Cast mee not away from thy presence Heare my prayer O Lord and hide not thy selfe from my Petition Take heede vnto mee and heare me and preserue my soule Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon mee and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed me Bee mercifull vnto me O God bee mercifull vnto mee for my soule trusteth in thee and vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge Heare my crying O God giue heede vnto my prayer for thou art my hope a strong Tower for mee against the enemy Take mee out of the myre that I sinke not Heare mee O Lord and turne thee vnto me according vnto thy great mercie I am poore and in miserie haste thée O God for to helpe mee For thou art my helpe my Redéemer and my God oh make no long tarrying In thee O Lord is my trust let me neuer bee put to confusion For thou art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth Forsake mee not O Lord when my strength fayleth mee for mine enemies that lay white for my soule take their counsell together Go not farre from mee O my God my God hast thee to helpe mee O remember not mine iniquities but haue merey vpon me and that soone Helpe me O Lord my Sauiour for the glorie of thy Name O deliuer mee and forgiue mee my sinnes for thy Name sake Comfort the soule of thy seruant for thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercie vnto all them that call vpon thee In the time of trouble I call vpon thee turne to me haue mercie vpon mee giue thy strength to thy seruant Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercie long-suffering great in goodnesse and truth The snares of death compassed mee round about the paines of hell gat holde vpon me I found trouble and heauinesse O Lord deliuer my soule Thy mercie O Lord endureth for euer despise not the worke of thine owne hands Enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Bring my soule out of trouble for I am thy seruant A Prayer O My God my Lord and Father now shew vnto my poore soule that she may perceiue that thou art my strong rock castle shield tower defence hope succour refuge defender and goodnes that I in this great trouble for mine enemies through thy godly grace helpe and assistance may bee preserued Lord in thee I put my trust let me not bee put to confusion Into thy hands I commend my spirit deliuer mee Lord God of truth Amen A Prayer O Father receiue againe the thing which thou hast created O Sonne receiue the thing which thou hast gouerned O Holy Ghost fetch the thing which thou so bountifully hast preserued Three persons and one verie God I beséech you remember not mine offences for euer For I crie Lord God and Father mercie Lord God Sonne mercie Lord God Holy Ghost mercie Amen When thou departest from a sicke person say vnto him IN your trouble and necessitie call vnto the Lord and crie vnto your God and hée will heare your voice and your crying commeth before him in his eares And God which called you vnto his eternall glorie by Christ Iesu shall his owne selfe after you haue suffered a little affliction make you perfect shall settle strength stablish and saue you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer FINIS