god that we haue hard that we haue seene with our eyes Luc. 1. as they haue delyuered vs whiche from the begynnyng haue seene it with theyr eies 2. Pet. 1. But those thinges which we haue sene with our eies Al scripture heuēly inspired 2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 1. The prophecie in old tyme was not giuen by the wyl of man but the holy men of god spake dryuen with the holy gost Ephe. 5. As it is nowe reueled to his holy apostelles and prophetes by spirite Matt. 22. So Christ cōfirmeth Dauides wrytynges Howe doth Dauid thē in spirite call him lorde Certaynely I am fully perswaded and doute nothinge at al that the holy scriptures are inspired from heauen 22 If the temptator saye thou haste not kepte the lawe of god wherfore thou arte accursed SAy thou Christ whiche was made a curse for vs Galath 3. hath redemed vs from the curse of the lawe Agayn Ephe. 2. Euacuatyng and taking awey the lawe of commaundmentes set in decrees Colo. 2. Takynge away the handewrytynge agaynste vs which is in decrees and is contrary to vs. Roma 6. For ye are not vnder the lawe but vnder fauour delyuered from synne For the deathe of Christ hath delyuered vs from the lawe For truely by Christes deth we are now in conscience fre from the lawe that is from the wrothe of god and euerlastynge deathe For the lawe can not be fulfylled of nature for it is spirytuall as vndoubtedly the apostels decreed The yocke that neither c. Again Acto 15. Deuter. 5. Luc. 18. who can gyue them such a minde Whiche is impossible to men 23 If he say thou must forsake the worlde VVhat then Answere thou cōtrary wise I shal obteine heuen For blessed ar the dead Apoc. 14. 1. Ioh. 5. Ibidem which dye in the lorde Agayne All the world lieth in wickednes Agayn All thyng whiche is borne of god ouercometh the world and this is the victory which ouercometh the world our fayth Who is he whiche ouercometh the worlde but he that beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of god I am sure therfore in Christe All the worlde shall peryshe with his lustes and desyres Agayne 1. Ioan. 3. Loue not the worlde nother those thynges whiche are in the world We ar strangers in this worlde and citizens of heauen Ye sonnes of men howe longe are ye harde harted Psal 4. Why loue ye vanyties and seke lyes Agayne Howe lōg loue you infancy or childhode and foles desire those thinges whiche are hurtfull Agayne Vanitie of all vanities Eccles 1. and all thynges ar vanitie 1. Ioh. 2. The cause is this for all thynges whiche are in the worlde as luste of the fleshe concupiscēce of the eyes and pryde of lyfe are not of the father but of the world and the world passeth and his lust also but he that dothe the wyll of god taryeth for euer The ende ⧠THE PREPARATION TO DEATHE AND howe they which be in point of deathe shulde be comforted the .ii. boke ¶ What is deathe Cap. i. DEATHE IS NOthinge els but a separation or diuision of the soule frō the bodye It is a quiet rest from the afflyctions and troubles of this worlde in the whiche they that be deade be so refreshed and newely made that from thense they shall ryse far aboue all other most happye not into a lyfe which shall dye ageyne as it is in a slepe but into an euerlastynge life ¶ What is the cause of deathe Cap. ii THE CAVSE of deathe is synne For out of synne deth flowed and is the punishement or peyne or rewarde of synne or the reuengeaunce of yll thynges as the holy scripture beareth witnes Fyre Eccle. 39. hayle hunger and deathe be created for punishement as witnesseth the psalme For anger and dethe be in his indignation Psal 29. and lyfe in his wyl Roma 6. Hiere 3. The wages or rewarde of synne is death In what daye so euer thou shalte eate of it that is thou shalte synne therof thou shalt dye God dyd not make deathe Sap. 1. nor doth not reioyce in the destruction of the lyuynge Also Throughe the malyce and enuy of the dyuell Sap. 2. death hath entred And Paule saythe Rom. 5. By one man synne entred into the world and through synne deathe Ezech. 33 And in Ezech. I wil not the deathe of a synner but rather that he conuerte and tourne from his synne and liue Also The soule whiche shall synne shal dye Therfore where deathe is there necessaryly synne dydde go before whiche dwelleth in vs whiche we haue by inheritaunce whiche is spronge forthe into vs all of the whiche synne the fyrst father to vs was Adam from whom we haue by inherytaunce origynall synne whiche is a naturall dysposytion and inclination to synne whiche hath with hym in felowship blindnesse of harte dulnesse towardes vertue the loue of hym selfe the hatred of god fleynge frome the crosse hatred of the lawe and disdaynynge of his neyghbour For by Adams disobedience our fleshe is become disobediente to god soo long as it is not enspyred with the holy gost and for the sayde synne of Adam al we be called synners And so in hym we be all deade for we be his flesshe and his chyldren of his owne substaunce He is the grayne and sede of whom all we be spronge out As he is deade so shall we dye and frome Adam is spronge into vs bothe orygynall synne and deathe the peyne of synne is come forthe And the tyranny of the dyuell to whom our nature is subiecte and in whome the dyuell vseth crueltie and doth exercise it with feare and all kyndes of myserye and also doth kyl And moreouer enforceth to al maner of vnhappines to blasphemy murther and hatred ¶ Two maner of deathes Cap. ii THE ONE is of the body or of nature to whome all men be subiecte for al haue sinned and haue broken the lawe of god that is when this bodyely lyfe is broken aweye when we gyue vp the goost and do not occupie this mortall lyfe As it is wrytten to the Hebrewes Hebre. 9. It is ordeyned and decreed that all men shall dye ones and after that iudgement By Adams synne nature is subiecte of necessitie to dye as Iesus Sirach wryteth Eccle. 40. There is a heuy yocke vppon the chyldren of Adam frome the daye of the commynge oute of theyr mothers wombe vntyll the daye of theyr burial into the mother of all The other deathe is of the soule or of fayth or of helth When the vnbeleuers drowned in theyr wyckednes not carynge for god nor desyrynge god nor askyng forgyuenes of god be made bondemen to eternall darkenesse which is called euerlastyng death Whiche is a perpetuall feare of conscience throughe the wrothe of god Sap. 5. whiche Satan doth encrece Exaumple of these two maner of deathes is the riche gloton
He hath obteyned victorye ouer hel administringe eternal glory For as in Adam all dyed soo in Christe all shall be reuyued For by Adams disobedience synne death punyshment and that moste cruell tirant Satan dyd chalenge bothe ryght and rule ouer all howe many soo euer were borne of hym The lawe of synne is to kyll the wages of synne is death the ryght of death is to damne the ryght of afflyctions is to greue make heuye the ryght of the dyuell is to destroye Into al these rightes and powers Adam by his disobedyence hath caste vs. And Adam then had ben vtterly extinct and vndone if that he hadde not be comforted ageyne reuyued with the word of grace But he was receyued vnto grace and the father dyd take from hym feare of deathe and anguyshe for he did fele and perceyue the wroth of god and god to be his ennemy and also all creatures soo that he could not tel which wey to tourne him This feare I say the father hath taken away frō him through the most swete absolution and promyse of grace when he sayde vnto the serpent Gen. 3. I wyl put enmite betwyxte the and the womanne and that sede shal al to breake thy hed This worde when Adam dyd here and beleue he was holpen and delyuered and came from hell and nowe beleued the worde of god thinkyng vnder this forme This god hath spoken whiche can not lye or deceyue In this faythe Adam dyed and after Adam all the faythfull vnto Aabraham whiche dyd also cleaue faste to this word thynkynge thus he wyl come yea suerly at the laste he wyl come bycause the lorde hath so promysed whiche canne not lye and in this faythe they were saued ¶ Althoughe the godly dye yet they shall lyue Cap. iiii THE godlye and iuste people haue most comfort although in this lyfe they be put to deathe and seme to be forsakē of god cast into hell and as shepe ordeyned to be slayne Roma 8. As scripture wytnesseth of them For thy sake we be iuged as shepe ordeined to be slayne Also I thynke veryly 1. Cor. 14. that god hath shewed that we whiche be the last apostelles are as it were apointed to suffer deathe For we 2. Cor. 4. whiche lyue be alway delyuered to death for Iesus sake yet they do not dispeyre no not in death but as they which be sure that they shall passe through deathe to life eternal and crye to god and suffer the hand of the lorde and be pacient and put theyr hope in god Also they haue this comforte that their deathe is good and precyouse They also knowe that throughe Chrystes deathe deathe is ouercome and abolyshed 1. Cor. 14. Osee 3. Gen. 3. Deathe is supped of in victory O Deathe I wyll be thy deathe The sede hath broken the heade of the serpente Therfore if any man taken in the panges of deathe do holde faste and beleue this worde in the myddel of death he shall haue lyfe for verylye the christyans doo lyue when they be estemed and thought to dye Sap. 5. 2. Cor. 6. Ioh. 16. The rightuouse shal lyue for euer And soo Paule saythe Beholde we be euer as dyenge and yet we lyue Also Christ sayth Ioh. 16. In me you shal haue peace but in the worlde you shall suffer oppression And Sap. 3. The tourment of death shal not touche them Also Esai 26. Thy deade personnes shal lyue they shal ryse with theyr bodyes He shall not taste deathe Io. 5. et 11 And he whiche beleueth in me althoughe he were deade yet he shal lyue They shall not taste deathe Marc. 9. Sap. 2. The iuste man althoughe he be preuented with deathe yet he shal be refreshed Also Psal 15. Thou shalt not suffer thy holyon to se corruption Also Psal 32. Ioh. 5. et 11. et 3. That he may pulle out from deathe the soules of them He shal passe ouer from deathe to lyfe He shall not see eternall deathe He shall not dye for euer He dothe not peryshe but hath eternall lyfe Seke god Psal 68. and your soule shall lyue Esai 55. Bowe your eares and come to me here you and your sowle shall lyue ¶ These places ought to be well noted for the comforte of them before whose eies deathe is presente whiche if they beleue in Christe they be not loste but haue eternall lyfe Therfore they be not called onely deade but the deade of god as suche as dye in the lorde for suche do ryse ageyne in glory and none other Danie 12. as it apereth ī Daniel ¶ The deathe of the godly is a slepe Ca. v. CHRISTE calleth the death of the godly a slepe Lazarus our frende slepeth Ioh. 11. For by the benefyte and goodnes of Christ death is made a slepe which by his deth hath changed deathe into a slepe So Paule dothe call the feythful 1. Thes 4. whiche be deade slepers sayinge I wyll not you to be ignorante of them that slepe So Steuē slept Acto 7. And so the godly to the outwarde syght and perceuerāce dieth But withoute doubte that death is but a slepe For how many so euer dye in Christe all slepe in hym and he shall reyse them in the laste daye I haue slept and do slumber Psal 3. and I haue rysen Here slepe betokeneth deathe of the body as in Genesis Abram slepte with his father Psal 4. Psal 15. I wyll slepe and rest in peace to god with other Also My fleshe shal rest in hope Therfore in deth not so moche the deathe it selfe as suer lyfe and resurrection is to be considered to theym whiche be in Christ accordynge to Christis sayinge He that shall kepe my word Ioh. 8. shall not see deathe euerlastynge Howe shall he not see deathe shal he not fele it Shal he not dye no veryly but he shal se onely a slepe and beholdyng stedfastly with the eies of faythe in the resurrection by deathe he shall so passe awaye that surely he shall not see deathe And death veryly to hym shal not be deathe ¶ All these thynges be begonne in baptisme and be fynysshed in the ende of lyfe Rom. 6. For we be buryed with him throughe baptisme in to deathe Therfore faythe exercised with diuers passions causeth that naturall deathe to the faythefull is but a slepe For the faythful die suerly in hope and loke after the laste daye and the commynge of Christe This securitie they gette in this lyfe by the spirite of fayth that they maye saye with Paule By hope we be made safe Roma 8. Rom. 5. And agayne Hope dothe not confound That is to dwell in the Paradyse of god the kyngedome of heauen in the churche of the lyuinge god And the lord sayth Leuit. 26. Esai 31. To slepe with out feare To syt in the beautie of peace in the tabernacles of fayth and truste and
suche as maye be made hole to repentaunce as the scripture saythe Prou. 19. When the mocker or scorner is punyshed the vnlerned is made wyser Gen. 8. So the angell dydde shewe Abraham what shulde become of the Sodomites that he myght teache his chyldren the iugement of god Also Christe saith Luc. 13. that all shal peryshe as they were kylled of Pylate if that they doo not repente ¶ Howe the feythfull be tempted Capi. iii. THe faythful be tempted with a natural and spiritual temtation an outward an inward that is of the fleshe of the worlde and of the dyuell For the crosse signifieth as wel the inward temtation as the outwarde Of the fyrste speketh the apostell 1. Cor. 10. Let no temptation take you excepte the naturall temptation that is euery persecution whiche maye happen in this worlde whiche dothe not hurte the lyfe but rather prouoketh to the blessed lyfe but the spirituall or inwarde temptation is the inwarde feare of synne and deathe it is the afflyction or temptation of the conscience such temtations be mooste greuouse and where god is not they brynge the tempted to deathe eternal Of the whiche Paule to the Hebrewes saythe It is impossible that they Hebre. 6. whiche ones be enlyghtened and haue tasted the good word of god and the vertue of the worlde to come if they slyde and fall agayn to be renued by repentaunce as Demas Hymeneus and Philetus professynge the faythe dyd fall from it and that is synne to deathe synne in the holy gooste synne of vnbelefe synne of spirituall pryde Wherfore Christ dyd commande vs to pray Luc. 11. Let vs not be led into temptation They that beleue do synne but they fal not vtterly away so that they consent not to the fleshe the world and the deuil but by the grace of god they be preserued and go awaye hauinge victory and triumphe ¶ The crosse is of god onely Cap. iiii FYRSTE we muste consider that in all our afflictions no calamitie or pensiuenes falleth on vs by fortune or chaunce but by the appoynted councell of god by his wyll and sufferaunce as witnesseth holy scripture Exod. 20. Feare not for god commeth not but for to trie vs. Deut. 13. The lord your god trieth you to make it knowen whether ye loue or not Iob. 9. The lorde hath giuen the lorde hath taken awaye The lorde kylleth 1. Samu. 2. and gyueth life agayne he bryngeth euen to hell and backe agayne Prouer. 3. Refuse not the chastising of god neyther grudge thou when he correcteth the. For whom god loueth he correcteth and yet delyteth noo lesse then the father in the chylde Psal 65. for thou hast proued vs o god and haste tryed vs as the syluer is tryed by fyer Thou hast ledde vs into a snare thou hast laden our backes ful of troubles thou haste appoynted mē to be heades ouer vs we haue passed thorow fier and water and yet hast thou refreshed vs. Psal 118. It is for my welthe that thou haste broughte me vnder to lerne thy ryghteousenesse Psal 20. Blessed is that man which is vnder the loue and nurture of the lorde Hiere 31. Thou haste stryken me and I haue repented thou hast chastened me lorde and I am taughte as one vnder age wylde and vntamed Threno 3 Whoo can say that any thynge can be done without the lordes commaundemente From the mouthe of the hyghest gothe there not good and yll By which saying the prophet rebuketh the wycked whiche denie that afflictions happen by the councell and prouydence of god Suche also rebuketh Sophon Sopho. 1. I shall viset men drowned in theyr dregges whiche say in theyr hartes The lorde wyll not doo bothe good yll Matth. 10. Are not two sparowes solde for a farthynge and yet not one of them falleth on the erthe without the wil of your father Roma 11. Al thynges are of hym by hym and in hym 1. Cor. 11. While we iudged we are punished of the lord lest we shuld with the world be condemned ¶ It is vndoubtedly noo smalle comforte to be assured that the crosse is of god and that we are chastened of god and not of the dyuell or els of any wycked man which vtterly can haue no power vpon vs not so moch as to moue one heare of our hed besyde the wyll of the lorde without the sufferaunce of god as Chryste hym selfe comforteth vs saying Matth. 10. Euen the heares of your headde are all nombred As thoughe he shoulde saye if god be carefull for the sparowes how moche more shal he be carefull for you whiche are his people and shepe of his pasture that nothyng happen rashely vnto you without his beneuolente wyll Seinge also that the dyuell had no power vpon swyne moch lesse vppon them that are godly whom he can not hurt at al. Matth. 9. for so the euāgelistes wryte that the diuelles prayed Christe and sayde If thou caste vs forthe Marc. 5. suffer vs to enter into the herde of swyne And he sayde vnto them Goo ye They haue then no power vppon the holye no trewely not on the swyne excepte that god shall suffer them no they dare not nor can not any thynge agaynst them but by the sufferaunce of god for god alone bindeth this dragon and he alone louseth him as Christ saith No man can enter into the house of a stronge man Marc. 3. and spoyle him of his vessell and treasure oneles he fyrste bynde the stronge man For the dyuel is chayned bound so strayghtly that he may do nothynge before that god appoynt hym Iob. 1. as it is written in Iob. The lorde sayde to Satan Lo al that he hath are in thy hande but extende not thy hande vppon hym Satan dothe nothynge but that that god suffereth and wyll Also all the godly as the sonnes of god are euer in goddes presence For whome the lorde euer careth for tenderynge them nuryshyng them kepynge and defendynge them from all yll what greatter comfort then can there be of faith as a sure rocke then that the godly ar well assured and know them selues euermore set before the lordes eyes and to be kept vnder his hande Can mysery oppresse the can the crosse can sinne can deth can hell Be assured that thou art in the presence of god they shall not preuayle the lorde careth for the the lordes eye is dyrected towarde the. whom then shalt thou feare if by faythe thou be made the sonne of god God careth for the yea and sendeth his aungelles to kepe and defend the according to the wytnes of Dauid Psal 90. He hath commaunde his aungels of the to kepe the in all thy wayes The aungell of the lorde shall be sente abrode among al them that feare hym and shal delyuer them And if god giue lybertie to the diuell to tempte vs let vs surelye beleue that with
and when thou arte brought lowe haue pacience He that is pacient Prou. 14. is ruled with moche wysedome He that is impatient sheweth forthe his folyshenes In your pacience shall ye pocesse your soules Matt. 10. Roma 5. Afflyction bringeth forthe pacience pacience probation or triall probatiō hope and hope shall neuer be a shamed So Dauid 2. Re. 16. paciently suffered the persecution of his sonne and the curse of Semei Iob is a notable exāple of pacience The lord gaue the lorde hath taken away Abraham was pacient Gen. 12. when his wyfe was taken away and set in Pharaos house Chryste is the onely captayne and moste perfecte example of pacience So farre is it of that aduersities shuld noy or hurt vs that they are very profytable vnto vs. For the good the more they ar afflycted the more pacient they are knowynge that through moche trouble is the way of heauen for they knowe that by moch pacience they ar tried and proued as Peter sayth 1. Pet. 1. wherby the triall of our faythe maye be more preciouse then golde whiche perysheth and is tried by fier wherfore a proffe or triall helpeth to the increase of hope For when we consider that in no suche so great afflitions we are not forsaken we gather confidently that neuer after this shal we be forsaken we ought therfore pacientely to suffer those ylles which happen on vs in this worlde for if we be impacient we be not christians For as many as haue ben sythen the begynnynge of the worlde hytherto godly and christian men they haue al ben afflycted with manyfolde troubles But forbycause they haue ouercome thē with pacience their hope set and fyxed in god therfore they ar made safe as witnesseth the examples of the holy from the fyrste Abel vnto those ryghtuouse whiche in these days ar on lyue Wherfore it behoued euen Chryste hym self by the crosse to entre into life And this in all aduersities is gret comforte and of great strength to knowe that god requireth pacience and that myngled with ioy But mans reason perceyueth not that Colo. 1. but god teacheth it For our reason is therfore troubled vexed in persecution bycause it thinketh that we ar afflycted bycause god other hateth vs or dothe not regarde vs nother wyl helpe vs. These false opiniōs god plucketh from vs and teacheth vs that we ar afflycted not bycause he hateth vs but bycause he wyll other amende vs or when we be amended so to continue accordynge to that sayinge He correcteth the sonne whom he loueth Agayn I wyl not the deathe of a synner Ezech. 18. Agayne He hath concluded all vnder synne not to dystroye all but to haue mercye on all And this thynge engendereth gladnes in our myndes to knowe and fele that it pleaseth god to haue vs afflycted For we must be lyke the ymage of his sonne More ouer that in our affliction he wyl helpe vs and kepe vs and also comfort vs with the holy gost and set our conscience at peace and make vs be gladde in god so that we desire helpe of hym For he commaundeth that we shulde loke for helpe at his hande accordynge to this All they that tarye the Esai 49. shal not be confounded And god commaundeth lykewyse that we shuld aske helpe of hym Call on me in the daye of trouble and I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte gloryfie me Of this pacience and comfort god alonely is the auctour which also giueth pacience Psal 70. Psal 61. Hiere 29. For thou art my pacience o lord yet o my soule be vnder and subiecte to god for of hym is my pacience Thynke the thoughtes of peace that I maye gyue you the ende and pacience Rom. 15. The god of pacience and comforte c. This christian pacience hath certayne condycions wherby it is knowē to be the true pacience Fyrste it grudgeth not nother excuseth it selfe as though it shulde suffer vnworthily for his synnes wherfore he sitteth downe and holdeth his peace as Hieremie saythe Thren 3. He sytteth alone and speketh no worde for he hath laid a yocke vpon hym Secondely it casteth all carefulnes on god 1. Pet. 5. and committeth it selfe al hole to god that goddes wyl be done and not his Thyrdely it humbleth hym selfe and casteth of ryotte and the pleasure of the worlde Fourthly he is mery and redye to suffer yet more heuyer and more greuouse ylles ¶ Socour in affliction muste be asked of god Capi. ix VVE MVSTE loke for helpe in al afflyctions for god promyseth his helpe sayenge I am with you feare ye not I wyll strengthe you Agayne Ioh. 15. Without me ye are able to doo nothynge But when he is presente we are able to doo all thynges throughe hym And if he be with vs Roma 8. who shall be agaynste vs Of what daunger shall we be aferde of he hath promysed trewely to be with vs vntyll the ende of the worlde and vndoubtedly he wyll be Let vs cal therfore on his helpe he is trewe and is redy to al them that call on hym in truthe Iudit 6. Iudith desyrynge helpe of god sayd Helpe me thy handemaiden Hest 14. which haue none other helpe but the lorde Giue vs helpe from the holy place or elles Psal 19. he sendeth helpe from his holy place and from Sion wil he defende the. Psal 69. O god gyue hede towarde my helpe and hast to helpe me o lorde Blessed is that man whose helpe is of the. Psal 83. Psal 107. Helpe vs from tribulation For vayn is the helthe of man Psal 120. My helpe is of the lorde whiche made heauen and erthe In tyme of tribulation we oughte from aboue to loke for the helpe of god but the maner tyme and kynde of helpe is vnknowen vnto vs that fayth and hope may haue place which sticketh to those thynges whiche are not sene nor harde Do not therfore in tyme of trouble runne without thy selfe but tary within thy selfe and tary the strength of the lorde He wyll come if thou departe not he wyl strengthe the if thou seke none other strengthe For he commeth not to them that flee but to them that tarye boldelye Tribulation must not be ouercome with flight but with constancye and stycking in the faythe of the name of god Also the helpe of the lorde is ouer them that onely put theyr confydence and truste in god he is redy with all his angelles when al other thynges forsake theym he hath a respect to his in afflyction continually He kepeth them and comforteth them 3. Re. 17. To Helias when he was fled and was hungry he sent a rauē which brought him bread Agayne 2. Re. 19. he sente hym bread water by his aungell He was with the elder Tobie Tobi. 5. Hest 9. and at length heled hym of his blyndenes He turned the waylinge of the Iewes in to ioye
a great comfort to the godly that the wycked whom god dothe vse as a rodde to scourge the godlye people go not clere awaye without punishement whome he maketh other shamefullye ashamed or throughe theyr owne councell he dothe take them and bryngeth theym into the same dystruction whiche they theyr selfes haue studyed founde out for other As it is right before god that he shulde rewarde euery man accordyng to his workes What is soo iuste before god as that they whiche doo oppresse the godly in this worlde and throughe persecution make them exiles in the worlde to come shall suffer the same persecution whiche they haue doone to other The godly that they maye be in reste with other saynctes whiche commynge from greatte trouble shall nowe receyue the kyngdome eternal For when we be gon here hence all labour and sorowe shall ceasse and reste and ioye shall folowe and to the wycked shall folowe cleane contrary lyke as we rede in the gospell dyd folowe to the ryche glotten Sonne remembre Esai 10. c. Wo be to the Assure the rod of my angre fury I wyl teare the breke the as the bough of a tree Also Paule It is ryght sayth he before god to gyue afflyction to them which do punyshe you and to you whiche be punished release and delyueraunce therof Rom. 9. Exod. 9. Daniel 5. Esai 10. Micha 5. Examples hereof be Pharao Balthasar Daniel Sennacherib Saul Absalom the Phariseis Caiphas and Pilate The cause is for he that hurteth one faythefull hurteth not onely hym but god the whiche dothe reuenge the iniurye and wronge done to the faythful as iniurie done to hym self as the lorde sayde to Samuell 1. Re. 8. They haue not cast the away but me He forbiddeth to touche his faythful sayinge Psal 104. Do not touche myne annoynted and say not yl of my prophetes Hiere 2. They whiche deuour Iacob do synne and yll shall come vpon them Zacha. 2. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of myne eye They that spoyle the Hiere 10. shal be spoiled Also Christe He that hereth you hereth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me And soo god dydde speake from heauen to Paule Acto 9. saying Saul Saul why doste thou persecute me ¶ The goodnesse of god is not to be despised or lyghtly regarded before afflyctions whirby god wyl punishe and gyue warnynge Capi. xiiii GOD THERFORE giueth warnynge and monition before that men shulde repente and so repentynge shulde beleue and receyue grace and they whiche wyll not beleue shuld be without excuse and suffer punisshemente iustely Gen. 6. So Noe in his tyme dyd admonishe men an huÌ„dreth yeres And Lothe dyd warne the Sodomites 2. Pet. 2. Gen. 19. Also Egypte was in peryll to peryshe theÌ„ Moyses was sent It was shewed before by the prophetes that the .x. trybes shulde be caryed to Babylon Hierusalem shulde be ouerthrowen by the Chaldees and the peple broughte to captiuitie Hieremie was sente whiche preached forty yeres Daniel 3. Nabugodonosor was made a frayde in his dreame Soo Chryste dyd bewayle and shewe before the destruction of HierusaleÌ„ The place of repentaunce with god is before the sentence gyuen but not so if it be wrytten the folyshe virgins dyd aske oyle in vayne when the yates were shutte vp Esau murned to late when Iacob had goten the blessynge So the psalm Seke the lorde whyle he maye be founde Kyng Balthasar dyd not seke the lorde nor dyd not fynde hym but Nabugodonosor dyd seke hym and dyd fynd hym Also the vnfaithful ministers bounden both hand and fote were cast out into outwarde darkenesse When the wrothe of the lorde is consummate or at the full the godlye be punysshed with the wycked The iugement of god when he is angry is gyuen vppon all as well good as yll Esai 64. Psal 43. as Esai teacheth Also the psalm The godly conceyue a hope of felycitie and grace as they do confesse We haue not forgotten the. Psal 76. The lorde shal not cut awaye his mercye for euer And they whiche be chastened do suffer iudgement and at length do obteyne mercy He wyl not be angry for euer Psal 67. Therfore the lorde dothe punyshe all the godly whiche do repent with peynes in this world as he punysshed Dauid that he myght make them more lowlyer he dothe instructe them with lernynge and maketh them more circumspecte and ware God doth euer send before bothe messengers and tokens that men myghte repente and to theym whiche wyll not repent no excuse shall be left as the prophetes Chryst and his apostelles did warne men in theyr tyme as it is written Prouer. 1. Wysedome sitteth without the dores and preacheth in the stretes and cryeth aloude c. He councelleth and stirreth his to repentaunce that they maye feare ne leste he caste them amonges the blasphemers But they be not cast away the whiche made aferde by goddes worde do beleue Chryst but rather Christe draweth them to hym self saieng Come to me all you which labour and be burdened and ladeÌ„ and I wyll refreshe you But thou wylt saye The proper worke of god is to fauour and to haue mercy and therfore he wyll reuoke his sentence It is trewe for it is a straÌ„ge worke to hym to be angry for verely he wolde not the deathe of a synner but rather that he shulde be conuerted and liue But vnder this condition he wyl reuoke his sentence if we knowlege our synnes Ezech. 18. wherby we haue prouoked god to wrothe and do repent If the wycked do repent c. But Repentaunce is conuertion and turnynge of the wycked man whose two partes be contricion faith Contrition is to knowledge the synne and by the iudgement and sentence of god truely to be made afrayde sayinge We haue sinned onely to the beholde Psal â—0 thou art angrye Also I am he whiche haue synned But Fayth is a constante truste of mercy by the whiche we decree and recken surely that our synnes be forgyuen vs for Chrystes sake Then shall god reuoke his senteÌ„ce when there is yet time to pacyfie god as we rede in Ionas of the drownynge of the Niniuites And the word of god was spoken to Esai Go and say to Ezechias This sayth the lorde god of Dauid thy father I haue hard thy prayer and seene thy teares wepynges beholde I wyll adde and put to thy days fyftene yeres c. So Chryste dyd set forthe the fayth of the woman of Chananie whiche before he semed to put awaye Is god therfore to be estemed mutable no for althoughe he reuoketh the sentence whiche he wylleth to be secrete and hydde from vs yet he doth not chaunge his eternall councell but for this cause those thynges be doone by the godly prouydence of god that the feyth of the ryghtuouse might be proued Therfore the decreed purposes of god be irreuocable and can not be called ageyne
lorde shal be theyr defender for god bothe wyll and is able to cherysshe myne to nouryshe and defende them Exod. 22. Psal 36. For he is the father of the fatherles and widowes I forget thynges behynde my backe Philipp 3. and indeuour my selfe to those thynges that are before my face Agayne 1. Cor. 7. They whiche haue wiues let them be as though they had none and they that wepe as thoughe they wepte not We muste be dylygente that we leaue our wife and children wel instruct and taughte in the feare of god For the feare of god is better and more preciouse then a chest full of golde and syluer 14 If thou be tempted of condemnation that thou arte condemned of god SAy thou Roma 3. That is no condemnation to them which are graffed in Christe that is synne canne not dampne them be it neuer soo moche in them for they are made one body throughe fayth For the synne whiche they haue is forgiuen them and is not imputed vnto them for Chrystes sake in whō we are graffed whiche is the hed and we the membres Ioh. 3. He that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastyng lyfe Rom. 10. Psal 36. Al they which beleue in hym shal not be confounded Whē the rightuouse falleth he shal not be broysed for the lorde setteth his hande vnderneth hym Prou. 24. The rightuouse falleth seuē tymes in a day 15 If the dyuell saye thou arte a synner and arte not graffed in Christe CHRISTE CAME into the worlde to make safe synners For the deathe of Chryste hath satisfied for all synnes 1. Tim. 1. through his strokes Esai 53. are we all made safe For he hath borne our synnes in his body 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 1. by whom we haue redemption throughe his bloude I came not to calle the ryghtuouse but synners They whiche are hole 1. Ioan. 2. nede not the phisition And if any doo synne we haue an aduocate and spokesman to the father Iesus Christ The godly haue synne also but god imputeth it not Psal 31. The sayntes do euer pray Forgyue vs our trespaces If we confesse 1. Ioh. 1. that we haue synnes he is faithful and ryghtuouse to forgyue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from all iniquytie We haue many exaumples Marye Magdalyn also Paule was a blasphemor of the thiefe whiche went from extreame punishement to ioye of zacharie Matth. and Peter 16 If he continue and saye but thy synnes passe the sonde of the see AS FAR as the east differeth from the west Psal 104. so far of hath he made that our synnes are from vs. Esai 1. If thy synnes be as redde as scarlet yet shall they be as whyte as snowe and if they be as red as purple yet shall they be as whyte as woll Psal 31. I haue sayde I wyl confesse my vnryghtuousnes agaynst me and thou haste forgyuen the wyckednesse of my synne 2. Re. 12. I haue synned lorde Esai 38. c. And the lord hath taken thy synne frome the. Thou haste caste all my synnes behynde thy backe Miche 7. And he hath throwen al our synnes in the bottome of the sees Ezech. 18. If the wycked shall repente c. For god hath promysed remission of sinnes to them that repent 17 If he saye suche promyses are made to the godly thou arte an apostata and a loste man Luc. 15. AND the prodigall sonne was loste and an apostata yet he founde grace ▪ so great is the loue of god towarde vs he wyl saue al them that wyll knowlege theym selues He hath so great care euen for the leaste that are loste in the syght of the worlde Examples ar Dauid Peter and the thefe and also Paule God sometyme suffereth his sayntes to erre for a season but he calleth again at length He bryngeth theym in to dyuerse troubles that they maye knowe hym He yeldeth theym vp sometymes into the handes of Satan and his membres that they maye knowe howe moche easyer it is to serue hym then the prynce of this worlde The confession of the prodigall chylde is greate Luc. 15. Father I haue synned agaynste heauen and agaynste the. So Dauid Psal 50. Esai 64. I haue done yll agaynste the. Lo all oure rightuousnes are as a blody cloth of a woman Luc. 1. This mekenesse god beholdeth he is moued with mercye as the father of the prodygall chylde Rom. 5. We are therfore receyued without all our meryte or deseruynge for we are yet ennemies 18 But god hereth no synners nor strayers awaye SAy thou It is truthe god hereth not synners which repent not whiche sorowe not nor are borne agayne by faythe those are the vngodly and hypocrites whiche praye not to god and if they praye yet praye they not in fayth Then shall they call on me Prouer. 1. and I wyll not here theym Soo in the psalm Zacha. 7. They shall crye and I wil not here them But he graciously hereth the contrite and them that repente and are borne agayne by faythe in Christe Psal 50. A contryte and humble harte o god thou wylt not despise Iaco. 5. The busye prayer of the ryghtuous is moche worthe 19 But thou commest very late with thy contricion CONTRARY wyse answere thou Luce. 23. None commeth to late into the vyneyarde of the lorde as witnesseth the hystory of the thefe whiche was full of wycked dedes and yet sayde to Iesus Remembre me lord when thou shalt come into thy kyngedome And Iesus sayde vnto hym Trewelye I say vnto the this daye c. 20 But he hadde a stronge faythe in god whiche thou lackest ANSVVERE Therefore pray I with the apostels Luc. 17. O lorde increase faythe within vs helpe our vnbelefe 21 What if all holy scripture be false for they were men which spake it and wrote it SAy thou contrary Moyses the prophetes and apostelles were truely men but yet they neyther spake nor wrote with the spirite of man but with the spyrite of god they set not forthe theyr owne doinges but those thynges whiche eyther they sawe with theyr eyes or receyued of the lorde So sayde the lorde to Moyses Exod. 4. Who hath made the mouthe of man Or who hath made the dome and the deffe the seinge and the blynde not I Goo forthe then and I wyll be in thy mouthe and wyll teache the what thou shalt speake Say not I am a chylde Hiere 1. for thou shalte go to all those to wome I wyll sende the to thou shalt speake al that that I shall commaundethe Luce. 21. He gyueth the apostelles both mouth and wysedome Agayne Ye are not whiche speake but the spirite of your father So Paule Rom. 15. I dare not speke any thyng which Christ hath not wroughte by me 1. Pet. 4. 1. Ioh. 1. If any man speake let hym speke as the wordes of
Luc. 16. which beinge deade was buried in hell and Lazarus the begger beinge deade and caryed of angelles into the bosome of Habram This man hath comforte and contrary wise the ryche man was punyshed and buried in hel that is he died with an yll conscience he sawe in his deathe his owne wyckednesse and damnation as al wicked men do This is the worme Esai 66. whiche dothe not dye Euen then the folishe virgins do first see Matt. 25. that the wise haue oyle Then it commeth to remembrance to whom they haue doone bothe good and euyll There the lawe dothe fyrste shewe hym selfe the gospell beinge taken awaye thenne they seke for grace but all to late and in vayne Prouer. 1 There god dothe cut of all hope of recouerye of helthe or fauoure the sentence of the cruell iudgement of god is then as sayth saynt Iames Iaco. 2. Iugement without mercy shall be to them whiche haue not done mercy I haue hūgered Matt. 25. and you haue not gyuen me c. Therfore the worde of god doth teache vs how we shulde avoyde eternal punishment and howe we shal be saued whiche if we neglect set nought by there is no cause why we shuld haue any further hope Of these two kyndes of dethes the psalmes make mention Psal 33. The deathe of sinners is yl And contrarywyse The deathe of saynctes is preciouse in the syght of god Psal 113. Psal 6. Matt. 7. Matt. 11. Also Go frome me all you workers of iniquitie I knowe you not Come to me all you that do labour and be burdened and I wyll refreshe you Also In theyr synne they shall dye And Paule sayth Philipp 3. Whose ende is death Also of the feythefull is wrytten They shall not faute al they whiche truste in hym Psal 33. The Lord doth kepe theyr bones and one of them shall not perysshe or be broken Rom. 8. There is no damnation to theym whiche be in Christe Iesus Apoc. 14. Blessed be the deade whiche die in the lorde As there is two lyues a yerthely and an eternall lyfe soo there is two deathes the one a temporall the other an euerlastynge deathe The erthly lyfe hath a begynnynge and a endynge and is subiect to many miseries and this lyfe no christen man dothe greatly esteme but saith daily with Paule Christ is my lyfe Philipp 1. and death is lucre And if it fortune me to lyue in the fleshe then it is profytable to me to worke and what I shall chose I know not I am constrained of these twayne desyrynge to be dissolued and to be with Christ whiche thynge is moche better for me but to lyue in the flesshe is more nedefull for you Galath 6. Soo in an other place God forbeade that I shulde reioyce in any thynge but in the crosse of our lorde Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucyfyed vnto me and I vnto the worlde I lyue but not I onely Gala. 2. but Christ liueth in me for in that that I lyue in the fleshe I lyue in the faithe of the sonne of god whiche loued me and gaue hym selfe for me Therfore he that knoweth not Christe nor doth not truste in hym feareth death as that which threteneth and bryngeth eternall ruine and destruction but he whiche knoweth Christ and hath him doth not feare death whom Christ beinge victor hath ouercome and ouerthrowen ¶ To the efecte and faythfull eternall deathe by Christe is ouercome Cap. iii. THIS is the great comfort of them that be in the painges of deathe whiche comforteth and lyfteth vp the fearefull myndes that is that Christe hath vtterlye abolysshed deathe takyn awaye synne and that surelye throughe Christe they shall obteyne remyssion of synne be reputed ryghtuouse and haue euerlastynge lyfe Therfore Christ the promised sede the sonne of god came downe frō heuen and became manne by his crosse deathe and resorrection hath saued vs and delyuered vs from eternall deathe and he payed for vs all our dette as it is written in the epistle to the Hebrewes Ones he is offered Hebre. 9. that he shulde take awaye the synnes of manye Also 1. Pet. 3. He hath ones suffered for our synnes And 1. Ioh. 1. The bloude of Iesu Chryst hath made vs cleane from all our synne And Matth. 1. Thou shalte call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people frome theyr synnes Also Hebr. 2. That through death he shulde put awaye hym whiche had rule ouer death that is the diuell that he myght delyuer them whiche all theyr lyfe were brougte in bondage through feare of deth For verylye he hath delyuered vs from the power of Synne that it shulde not kyll vs frome the power of deathe that it shoulde not condemne vs from the power of affliction that it shulde not greue vs from the power of the dyuell that he shoulde not destroye vs hath restored vs to iustice ioy lyfe and to the beste and mooste myghty god that is he hath made vs fre men and partakers of god whiche before were captyues and bondmen to the deuyl So our iniquities dyd cast vs hedlynge into the depenesse of hell and there did drowne and bury vs but god moued with mercy hath caste all our iniquities vpō the shulders of his sonne delyuerynge vs all frome synne deathe and hell hath satisfyed for vs whiche of god is made to vs wysedome iustice holynes 1. Cor. 1. and redemption Whiche hath giuen hym selfe for our synnes that he myghte delyuer vs frome this present yll world And vnder such forme by Christe we be delyuered frome deathe synne and hell that they vtterlye haue noo maner of ryght in vs nor can not destroye and damne vs As Osee sayth Osee 13. I wyll delyuer them from the hand that is from the power of hel frō deathe I wyll redeme them O deathe I wyll be thy deathe O hell I wyll be thy bytte Deathe 1. Cor. 15. where is thy stynge Hell where is thy victory Thankes be to god whiche hath gyuen vs vyctorye throughe our lorde Iesus Christe So great is the power of faythe and we be broughte into so greate lybertie throughe fayth We fele punishemente in this worlde but through fayth we peryshe not We be kylled but we shal not dye We bren in hel fyer but we be not consumed in dede and soo of all the reste whiche be not taken awaye frome the beleuer Ioh. 16. In the worlde saith he ye shal haue affliction c. Nor the beleuers be not delyuered from the felynge of theym in this world but they be delyuered from the power and rule of them and the stynge is taken from theym wherby all men dyd peryshe The christen man is therfore sure that as deathe eternall coulde not preuayle agaynste Christ so lykewise ageynst him it hath no power For Christ hath taken away sinne bringynge in iustice he hath strangeled deathe gyuynge lyfe
in a ryche reste ¶ Baptisme is a comforte in the poynte of deathe Cap. vi SVCHE as be at the poynte of deathe ought to take comforte and be stronge in that they know they carye with them bothe letter and token which is baptime wher by theyr death is incorporate with the deathe of Christ and that it is not theyr deathe but the deathe of Christe Wherfore let them suerly truste that they shall ouercome as the deathe of Christ hath ouercome For baptime is a sure token of the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe And as we knowe suerlie that Christe passed through death to lyfe So let vs not doubte but that we shal suerly passe throughe deathe to lyfe Christe hath ouercome synne and death Let vs nothynge doubte but that we shall ouercome synne deathe Synne shal not beare rule ouer you Rom. 6. a Figure of this thynge was the passynge ouer the see whiche was the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe So in baptime we receiue a token of deathe that by death of the body we myght trust suerly to come to the trewe lyfe In baptime Pharao with all his hoste dyd lye vnder foote to vs that is throughe fayth in the worde of promyse we haue escaped the tyrannye of the prynce of darkenesse with all vyces so that the lorde wyll not impute them to vs nor they can not take awaye from vs the entree or goinge in to the kyngdome of heuen But yet not withstandynge synne dwellyng in our fleshe doth not reste in the meane tyme to assaulte vs that is vncleane affections whiche muste be put awaye with dayly mortifieng of the fleshly desyres vntyll our baptime be fully cōplete and finished in deth So greately the hope of all chrysten men dothe stande in baptime and so beginneth from death that deathe to vs is wynnyng that is an entraunce to lyfe Roma 6. Be you ignorant that all we whiche be baptised into Christe Iesu are baptised into his deathe For we be buried together with hym by baptime in to deathe that as Christe was reised vp from the deade by the glory of his father euen soo we also shuld walke in a newe lyfe Colo. 2. You be buried to geder with him through baptime in whom you are also rysen agayne with him Gala. 3. Who so euer of you be baptised in Christe haue put vpon you Christe 1. Pet. 3. Baptime is the promyse of a good conscience towardes god wherby we be sure that god is pleased with vs. It is therfore a token that we be delyuered from the dyuel and a sygne of our translation from the kyngdome of Satan in to the kynge of Christe that we be reconsyled vnto god it is a token whiche beareth wytnesse of the good wyll of god towardes vs. Therfore remember that thou arte baptysed that is that thou hast receyued remission of synnes that thou haste made a couenaunt with god that thou arte delyuered frome the dyuell deathe and synne reconsiled to god This is a great comforte agaynste deathe the dyuell and synne So the promyse made to Abrahā of the sede to come had ben sufficiente yet god dyd put therto circumcisiō that Abraham might haue a sure token of goddes goodnes towardes him that he was accepted of god So baptime is a token of goddes fauour and good wyll towardes vs throughe the worde of promyse wherevnto is knyt an ernest bargaine of a good conscience with god For fyrst god maketh promyse with vs that he wyl forgyue vs that faute and blemyshe whiche we haue drawen by originall synne from our forefathers that he wyl receyue vs into his fauour and that he wyll not onely forgyue vs our synnes but also not ley or inpute them to our charge We agayne do bynde our selues to god by lyke reason that we shall mortifie our fleshe all our lyfe tyme and purge out our olde leuen our concupiscence desyres and dispositions to do synne and vtterly to cast out all the dregges and to wrestel agaynste and vtterlye forsake the worlde the dyuell and al theyr pompes Therfore if thy conscience be troubled and vexed with the borden of synne thou mayst pray on this maner O lord god remembre thy promyse that thou haste made to vs thou haste promysed to vs in baptime remissyon of synnes and eternall lyfe when thou dyddeste saye Marc. 16. He that beleueth and is baptysed shall be saued nor do not make voyde thy couenaunt nor let not thy wordes be in vayne whiche haue passed thy mouthe Psal 89. Thou shalt performe that thou hast promysed thou cāst not deny thy selfe neyther our infirmitie or infidelitfe or any other thynge can make voyde thy feythfull promyse ¶ The godlye knowe the tyme of dyinge to be determyned of god Cap. vii VNTO the godlye this is a gret comfort that they know that deathe is not in the power of tyrantes nor put in the hande of any creature leste they shoulde be troubled ouer moche carefull for deathe but that they maye dye as chyldren when pleaseth the lorde For soo wryteth Ecclesiastes Eccle. 3. All thynge hath tyme and al thynges vnder heauen haue theyr conuenient season A tyme is of byrthe and a tyme of deathe Iob. 14. and so Iob. Thou haste appoynted to hym a a tyme whiche he shall not passe Also the psalme Psal 103. Thou hast lymitted a tyme whiche they shall not ouer passe Psal 38. Beholde thou hast put my dayes to a certayne nombre And so Christe doth comforte his One heare shal not fall from your heade without the wyll of your father Matt. 10. Also My houre is not yet come Ioh. 2. 1. Reg. 2. Esai 38. So the mother of Samuel God dothe kyll and reuiue agayne And The yeres of lyfe be of the lorde As he promysed to Ezechias 4. Re. 20. 2. Re. 7. Beholde I wyl adde vnto thy days .xv. yeres So. When thy dayes shall be ended For the corporal lyfe is determined of god with certayne lymyttes and with god is a certayne pointe and measure set to euery mannes lyfe and also to the same the yeres monthes oures and also the mynutes of houres And also the heares of your hedde be nombred Therfore if our heares be noumbred in the syght of god howe moche more ar the mynutes and artycles of our lyfe nombred before hym We can not therfore lyue any longer then the lorde hath appoynted We shal not dye althoughe we be in the greattest peryl and extreme ieoperdye before our houre Therfore it skylleth not what maner of death or with what instrument swerde fyer water sodeyne death or that thou be taken awaye by chaunce before the course of nature requireth it For god hath gyuen the houre the meane and that kynde of deathe Whiche doth not force whether thou dye of this death or that deathe of a lyttell wounde or a great of whom the tyme bothe of our lyfe and deathe is determined