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
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
and sette Also many dye by tempestes or hayle And yet do not thou condemne as wycked suche as be smytten with lightning For the iugemētes of god be rare and vnknowen in priuate personnes whiche for as moche as perteineth to hym careth not whether oone dye of this deathe or that Many tymes innocentes and baabis do dye But thou wylt saye that many dye wylfullye throughe theyr own rashenes the whiche myght haue lyued lenger Somme haue cast away them selfes hedlong c. Coulde they not haue preserued theyr lyfe I aunswere noo God gaue that houre that meane and that kynde of deathe which thing experyence dothe teache Some deadely wounded are lyghtly healed and do lyue Some other are scarselye hurte and yet they die Some Astronomers ascrybe this to the sterres and some to fortune but holy scripture attributeth it to god with whom the tyme both of our lyfe and deathe is lymytted who also careth not whether thou dye of a great or smal wound that he maye confounde all wysedome and mannes imagination Soo that it is a thynge most like madnesse vayne and frustrate to be afrayde or curiouse of any maner of deathe For there is noo cause why it shuld make any man aferd For other the appoynted tyme of deathe is not yet come or elles if it be come he ouer whom it hāgeth wolde nat prefer any pleasure before deathe For death as I haue sayde hathe his apoynted tyme lyke as Christ sayth Luce. 21. The heares of your heade doo not fall If che heares of your heade doo not fall without the apointed wyl of god by what meane maye the hole body dye without the fire wyl of god So great is the care of god ouer the godly whose lyfe death yeres dayes houres and mynutes of houres he hath in his hand which can not die but at the houre apointed of god ¶ Notwithstandyng the vngodly shall not liue out halfe theyr dayes Cap. viii AS holy scripture witnesseth in all places In the psalm The deceytefull shall not liue out halfe theyr days Also Iob Psal 54. Iob. 16. In the tyme whiche is not his he shall make an ende And The feare of the lorde prolongeth the lyfe the yeres of the wycked be short For the godly be euer redy watchyng whē the lorde shall come whether it be in the first watche or in the fourth they in the meane tyme folowe theyr callynge as long as the lord wyll nothynge determyninge for them selfe nothynge carynge for theyr lyfe whether it shall ende on the morowe or .x. yeres after for they haue lyued all theyr tyme althoughe they dye yonge Sap. 4. As the wyse manne saythe Thoughe the rightuouse be ouertakē with deth yet shall he be in rest The vngodly do appoynte vnto them selues longe tyme as he whiche sayde in Luke Luce. 12. My soule thou hast moch goodes layde vp in store for many yeres They do so and lyue so as they shuld liue a long season but in the myddel of theyr lyfe beyng voyde of faythe they be taken awaye in the daye whiche they dyd not loke for and the houre whiche they dyd not knowe Matt. 25. So the foolyshe virgins beinge vnredye in the myddell of theyr dayes were called away So for the most part alwayes the iudgemente of god dothe catche the vngodly carelesse negligent and not watching So in Daniel Daniel 5. Balthasar the kīg was slayne in the nyght of his ennemies Also in the gospell The tumultuous seruauntes the Sodomytes and they whiche were in the tyme of the flodde the vngodly deathe dothe alwaye fynde vnredy but all the godly tary vntyll theyr full tyme that is they be euer redy ¶ The godly also in the tyme of hunger pestilence and warre be punyshed and dye with the wycked Cap. ix IT IS trewe that the godly be punysshed with the vngodlye where the wrothe of god is consūmate For the iudgemente of god when he is angrye is gyuen vpon all bothe good and bad but the godly conceyue a hope of felycitie and fauor Psal 76. He shall not withdraw his mercye for euer And soo they that be punished suffer iugement and at the laste shall opteyne mercy For the godly do knowe that god dothe punishe sinners which doo repente in this lyfe as he punished Dauid that he myght humble them enstructe theym in lernynge and make them more ware and circumspecte And althoughe they dye in the tyme of hunger pestilence or warre with the wicked yet they knowe it to be done by the good wyll of god And bycause they know that they ones shal die Therfore they offer them selues to the good wyll of god which dothe al thinges after the councel of his wyll Ephe. 1. And they knowe that they haue a tyme apoynted to dye and they desyre to be dyssoluyd in the tyme of dienge appoynted by god and to be with Christ Otherwise Nother pestylence hunger nor warre can hurte the godly except the appoynted tyme of deathe ordeyned of god be present For god can well delyuer his as he dyd in tymes paste delyuer Lothe Noe Daniel Ieremy and other as Iacob being caryed with his children in to Egipte And lyke wyse the Israelytes in Egipt 2. Pet. 2. For these coulde not dye but in theyr houre So al the feythful can not dye although they be in the greattest peryll and in extreme desperation but in theyr houre Then wherfore shall they feare deathe They can not lyue lenger then the lorde hath appoynted nor die any soner ¶ To whom they that dye oughte to commytte theyr spirite Cap. x. STEVEN dydde yelde vp his spirite into the hādes of Christ For it is he that hath ouercome deathe Acto 7. in death he doth quicken vs. This is he which sayd Matt. 12. Come vnto me al you that labour and be burdened and I wyl refreshe you And farther this is he whiche oughte to be called vpon that he delyuer vs in afflyction and receyue our spiryte in the houre of deathe Luc. 23. So dyd Chryste Father I commende my spiryte in to thy handes Psal 30. So Dauid Lord I commende my spirite into thy handes There it shall be suer vnder the shadowe of thy winges thou shalt kepe it vnhurte and that whiche is taken away thou shalte restore Let the spirite retourne to the lord whiche dyd gyue it Eccle. 12. Also Christ to the thefe Luc. 23. This daye thou shalte be with me in Paradise This Paradise is a true and perfyte quietnes in Christ amiable ioyful and moste swete And so Lazarus rested in the bosome of Abraham to whom Lazarus soule was caryed by angelles that is he is conteyned in the handes of our god and of the lorde Iesu Christe and leadeth the moste pleasante lyfe For the bosome of Abraham is the promise made to Abraham of the sede whiche is Christe in whom all the godly from Abraham vnto Christ were kepte and
creature Ezec. 18. He wyl not the death of a synner but the helth of al men So he calleth al to him whiche be burdened Matt. 11. Luc. 19. So he receyued to hym zache Maudelyn Peter Matthei the woman of Cananee Matth. 5. Matt. 27. So he receyued to fauour the thefe Also he apered after his resurrection to Mary Maudelyne out of whom he had expelled seuē dyuelles Matth. 16. He admytteth and receiueth Thomas the harde beleuer He conuerteth Saul beyng a persecutour moste greuouse Acto 9. Brefely he refuseth no man he receyueth all that repente with a fatherlye mynde He sheweth mercye he taketh the repentaunte to his sonne Therfore he commandeth to pray Matth. 6. Let thy kyngdome come forgyue vs our trespases Ioh. 16. Also what so euer ye pray the father in my name it shall be gyuen you Aske Matth. 7. and it shal be gyuen you knocke and it shall be opened vnto you ¶ Sentences out of holy scripture to styrce vp a desyre to dye VVE are strangers before the 1. Par. 30. as were all our fathers Our days be as it were a shadowe vpō the erth and here is none abiding ¶ The lyfe of man is a warfare vpon the erthe and his days Iob. 7. as the dayes of a hired seruaunt ¶ A man borne of a woman Iob. 14. lyuynge a short tyme is replenished with moche mysery He commeth forth lyke a flower and goth away lyke a shadowe and neuer remayneth in one estate ¶ What man is he that lyueth Psal 88. shall not se deathe Psal 89. ¶ Our yeres passen awaye as a cop webbe the dayes of our age be three score and ten or in the chefest foure score yeres and the mooste part of these is labour and peyne Psal 101. ¶ My dayes be wasted as a shadowe and I am dryed vp as the grasse Psal 144. ¶ A man is made lyke to vanitie his days passe away as a shadow Eccle. 7. ¶ The day of death is better then the daye of lyfe Heb. 13. ¶ We haue not here a dwellynge citie but we seke for one to come Iaco. 4. ¶ What is our lif it is a vapour aperynge a lyttell whyle and afterwarde vanisheth awaye 1. Pet. 1. ¶ All fleshe is as hey and all the glory of man as the flower of hey the hey is dryed vp and the flower falleth ¶ FINIS ¶ THE TABLE OF THE fyrste boke THE preparation to the Crosse howe it must be paciētly borne ¶ What the Crosse is Cap. 1. ¶ Two kindes of crosses Ca. 2. Howe the faithful be temted 3. ¶ The Crosse is of God onely Cap. 4. Crosse is the worke of the good wil of god 5. ¶ The godly are the fyrste that are afflycted of God to theyr good and welthe Cap. 6. ¶ In tribulation we muste pray Cap. 7. Of prayer and the maner therof in tribulatiō Whose prayers are harde of god The promyse of god Faythe To aske in the name of Iesu The affecte to desyre any thynge Thankes gyuynge ¶ We oughte to be patient in affliction not to be angry not to speake euyll of god Cap. 8. ¶ Soccur in affliction must be asked of god 9. ¶ Yet in affliction or syckenesse medycine and councell are not to be despised Ca. 10. In affliction no tyme may be apoynted to god nor way wherby we wolde be delyuered ca. 11. ¶ It is great comfort to them that be in affliction to remember that Christ was also temted and exercysed with yl as we be wont 12. ¶ It is great comfort in affliction that no mā cā hurt the faithfull except Christ wil. Ca. 13 ¶ The goodnes of god is not to be despysed or lightly regarded before afflictions wherby god wyll punishe gyue warning Ca. 14. ¶ There be dyuerse craftes of the dyuel wherby he tempteth and where one crafte profyteth nothynge he addeth many other Ca. 15. 1 ¶ If thou be tempted in pryde or vayenglory answere hym agayne 2 ¶ If thou be tempted in wrothe or anger 3 ¶ If thou be tempted in feastynge or glottony and dronkennesse 4 ¶ If thou be temted in auarice or couetousnes 5 ¶ If thou be tempted with hunger pouertie or carefulnes of lyuynge 6 ¶ If thou be tempted of idelnes 7 ¶ If thou be temted of securite 8 ¶ If thou be temted of fornication adultery 9 ¶ If thou be tēted with lying or light wordes 10 ¶ If thou be temted of confessyng the gospel or sufferynge persecution for the gospell 11 ¶ If thou be temted of the faythe of thy parentes as wherfore beleuefte thou not that whiche thy forefathers haue beleued 12 ¶ If thou be temted of strange religyon or of worshypping of saynctes or ymages or men 13 ¶ If thou must dye and leaue wyfe chyldren and thy dere frendes 14 ¶ If thou be tempted of condemnation that thou arte condemned of god 15 ¶ If the dyuel say thou art a synner and art not graffed in Christe ¶ If he continue and say but thy synnes passe 16 the sonde of the sea ¶ If he say suche promyses are made to the 17 godly but thou art an apostata and a lost man But god hereth no sinners nor straiers away 18 But thou comest very late with thy contricion 19 ¶ But he had a stronge faythe in god whiche 20 thou lackest ¶ What if all holy scripture be false for they 21 were men whiche spake it and wrote it ¶ If the temptator say thou hast not kepte the 22 lawe of god wherfore thou art accursed ¶ If he say thou must forsake the worlde 23 The table of the seconde boke VVHAT is deathe Cap. 1. ¶ What is the cause of deathe Ca. 2. ¶ Two maner of deathes Cap. 2. ¶ To the electe and faythfull eternall deathe by Christe is ouercome Cap. 3. ¶ Although the godly die yet they shal liue 4. ¶ The deathe of the godly is a slepe Cap. 5. Baptisme is a cōfort in the poynt of deathe 6. ¶ The godly knowe the tyme of dyinge to be determined of god Cap. 7. The vngodly lyue not out halfe theyr dayes 8. ¶ The godly also in the tyme of hunger pestilence and warre be punished and dye with the wycked ca. 9. ¶ To whom they that dye ought to commyt theyr spirite cap. 10. ¶ The body is buried but it shall ryse agayne in the laste daye ca. 11. ¶ In the panges of deathe and in all temptations the remedies be to be lerned of the sufferaunce of Christe cap. 12. ¶ The dieng must be exhorted to forgiue 13. ¶ Suche as be dienge shulde be admonysshed that they receyue the sacrament of Christes body and bloude ca. 14. ¶ Diuerse consolations that the life and tyme of affliction is but shorte ca. 15. ¶ The comfort of wydowes and Orphans ¶ The comfort of womē trauailing with child ¶ A comfort for them that lament the deade ¶ A consolation for theym whiche suffer for theyr offences ¶ Sentences out of holy scripture to styrre vp a desyre to dye ¶ FINIS ¶ LONDINI in aedibus Thomae Bertheleti typis impress Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ANNO. M.D.XL
that temptation god shall gyue increase that is that the temptatiō shall be for our welthe and profytte and that we shal be able to suffer 1. Cor. 10. He shal strike and his handes shall make hole Temptations also haue theyr lymittes Iob. 5. nother can they ouerpasse theyr ende appoynted And as the see is compassed rounde with borders euen so haue al crosses their borders and endes beyonde the whiche they maye not ouerpasse Let euery one therfore whiche is of god and beleueth in god kepe him selfe and the wicked or yl shal not touche hym 1. Ioh. 5. For that thousand wily craftesman gothe forth and tempteth the godly as he temted Dauid Adā and Peter with a thousande snares but he hath neuer the victory In the crosse or temptatiō god hath one purpose and the dyuel an other Wherfore there ar two kyndes of tēptation bothe common to the godlye and vngodly although dyuersly The one kinde is when god trieth men with moch aduersitie that as wel the mekenes as the faythe of the godly maye shyne forthe and be made more open not to other onely but to theym selues also and contrary wyse that the wyckednes of the wycked whiche they without shame deny or els vnder some false colour of religiō cloke may openly apere and also be punished The other kynde is when we are tempted by suggestions of the dyuell and affections of the fleshe and oftentimes vnder such temptations they fall and lye vnder where some so fall to euerlastynge deathe that they neuer aryse agayn other after their fal ar made more lowe and more ware God therfore correcteth to make hole and not to dystroye he punyssheth the godly for that they shuld not be condemned with this frowarde worlde to proue and exercise theyr fayth to mortifie their flesshe and to kendell in theym a more feruent desyre of the euerlastynge lyfe to come last of all lest they shuld by reason of great giftes be blowen vp with pride and therby they are proued also to be the very trewe sonnes of god and not vnlauful and bastardes But the dyuel tempteth to distroy and to drawe into desperation and vnbelefe Luc. 22. Act. 5. He roted in the hart of Iudas to deliuer vp Christ He temted Ananias and Saphira and had the mastry He tempted Iob Iob. 1.2 and was redy to destroy hym if he had ben soo suffered Matth. 4. He tempted Christ but he preuayled nothing He was busy with the apostels to syfte them as wheate but the lord prayed and he wanne nothynge He styrred vp Dauid to number Israell he obeyed the temtation Para. 22. and brake the precept of god So Peter forsware Chryste and yet they obteyned mercye Thus he runneth about sekynge whom he may deuoure So the godly ouer come in temptation althoughe somtyme through the good councell and prouydence of god they be ouercome but al thinges worketh with them to their welth and for the best Wherfore we pray our father that he leade vs not in to temptation that he wyl not tempt vs aboue that we shall be able to beare but to make with the temptation increase and delyuer vs from yll Satan therfore nor dareth nor can do any thing against the holy but by gods sufferance Al thynges are done after goddes arbitrye or wyll withoute whose becke or graunt no aduersitie can happen God sendeth afflictions somtyme by him selfe through his owne wyl onely sometyme by his minysters for he bothe dystroyeth the wicked with the countenance of his wrothe and also by contrary angelles and persecutours he suffereth his sonnes to be exercysed For god gyueth power sometyme to the dyuell to assaute the ryghtuouse man but bycause his cursednes is insaciable tyll he deuoure a man all together there is a lawe prescribed vnto him beyōd the whiche he may not tempt For god is faythefull and measureth our fyghte or battayle accordyng to our strengthes wherfore let no mannes hart fayle hym god knoweth howe farre it is expedyente that our mekenesse be exercysed that from henseforth we maye be mete to do greatter thynges For vndoubtedly if god had not knowen the strength and cōstancie of Iob his souldiour he wolde not haue gyuen so moche lybertie to Satan agaynst him sodenly and at ones to despoyle one so ryche so blessed of al his substance and to plucke hym from all his felycitie After we are wel taught these thynges of goddes prudencie we shall the easier beare the crosse ¶ Crosse is the worke of the good wyll and mercy of god Cap. v. IT IS not inoughe to fele and consyder that we are afflycted throughe the councell and wyll of god but we must moreouer mark the cause and intente of his godly wyll for reason iudgeth that we ar punished to the ende to be hurt or dystroyed and examples lykewise moue vs of them that haue bē punished and cast of from god as of Pharao Saul and other lyke but we must forsake reason and fle such examples and cleaue to the worde of god The word of god teacheth that we suffer affliction to our helth and saluation For afflictions are not signes of wrathe and displeasure but of grace and fauour God calleth to repentaunce and by affliction he in a maner speketh and declareth that he wyll forgyue For as baptisme or eatynge of the lordes body do wytnesse vnto vs that we are forgyuen euen so nerehande affliction maye be called a certain sacrament For it sygnifieth that god wyll forgyue And why doth it so signifie for euen as other sacramentes haue the worde of the element so to afflictiō is the word annexed wherby is promysed grace for soo sayth Paule 1. Cor. 11. while we are punished we are corrected of the lorde leaste we shulde with this world be condempned Afflition calleth to repentaunce that we peryshe not And he correcteth the sonne Psal 50. whome he loueth It is good for me that thou haste broughte me vnder that I maye lerne thy rightuousenes Esai 26. Lord in tribulation haue they visited the it is thy lerning to them that they shulde crie to the in anguishe and sorowe Esai 28. Trouble gyueth vnderstandyng agayne To the ende to doo his owne worke he dothe an other worke that is to the intent to make safe he chasteneth and scourgeth Psal 50. A troubled spirite is a sacrifice to god A sacrifice is that that pleaseth god Wherfore for so moch as affliction pleaseth god it signifieth not those which ar afflicted to be reproued and cast of from god for he wyl not the death of a synner Ezech. 33. but that he conuerte and lyue We must therfore in affliction stedfastly beleue that our trouble commeth not by chaunce but that it is gouerned of god Moreouer that god wyll not vs therfore to be troubled to hurte and dystroy vs but to calle vs to repentaunce to exercyse vs and saue vs as holy scripture euerye where declareth Psal
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
helper Psal 9. Also The poore is left to the also to the fatherlesse thou shalte be a helper And Christe saythe I wyl not leaue you fatherlesse Ioh. 14. that is without helpe So great care hath god ouer the fatherlesse and wydowes that he wyll comforte theym in theyr trouble Hereof we lerne that we also shoulde be moued with pitie towardes the wydowes and fatherlesse and that we shulde aide and succour them For this is a pure and an vndefyled religion before god the father Iaco. 1. to vysete the fatherlesse and wydowes in theyr trouble God doth diligently commende to vs this sorte of men bothe in the lawe and in all the prophetes thretenynge greuous punyshemente to them whiche eyther do oppresse them or elles doo not soccour and delyuer them when they be oppressed Exody .xxii. Esai i. .x. Iere. v. .xii. Zacha. vii So Paule cōmandeth Timo. to honour the widowes ¶ The comforte of women trauelynge with chylde THE chylde is in the hande of god and is not borne before the tyme appoynted whiche is not in our power but in the wyll of god at whose hande we must loke and seke for fauor and helpe And suerlye the lorde is nyghe to them whiche call vpon hym in trouthe He wyll fulfyll the wyll of theym Psal 144. whiche feare hym and wyll here theyr prayer and saue them But we muste consyder that all thynges haue theyr tyme and that all thynges vnder heauen passe forth by certayne lymyttes and spaces There is a tyme of byrthe Eccle. 3. and a time of dyeng The tyme that god hath ordeyned muste be loked for in the faythe of goddes promyse The promyse is this Thou shalt bryng forth thy children although with peyne but he promyseth the delyuerance and byrth This promyse requireth feythe For he that promyseth is able to performe And more ouer it requireth obedience that the woman be obediente to the wyll of god vppon whome this crosse is layd by god the merciful father For it is a great mercye of god that god deliuereth the soule from misery and vexeth the body with mysery the soule I say is delyuered and is the doughter of god by faythe as Paule wytnesseth sayinge 1. Tim. 2. The woman shal be saued through bearyng of children if she continue in fayth loue and sanctification with sobernes And Christe saythe The woman Ioh. 16. when she trauayleth is in sorowe bycause her hour is come But whē she hath brought forth her chylde she remembreth not her trybulation for ioye that a man is borne in to the worlde ¶ A comforte for them that lamente the deade COMEN honestie and charitie of our neyghbour requyreth that we adorne and worship the burialles of our frendes whiche slepe in the lorde with conuenient mornynge But we must not lamente and mourne of vngodlynesse and supersticion as the vnfeythefull heathen do whiche beleue not the resurrectiō of the ded which knowe not that god liueth and careth for vs althoughe our frendes dye For of theym Paule sayth 1. Thes 4. We wyll not bretherne that ye shuld be ignorant of them that slepe that ye sorowe not as other do which haue no hope For if we beleue that Iesus died and rose agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus shall god brynge with hym Here humanite and the workes of mercy are not condemned Gen. 23. et 50. 2. Re. 1. For Ioseph mourned his father Abraham lamented his wyfe Sara Dauid bewayled Saul and also certayne relygyous persones buryed Steuen Acto 8. Ioh. 19. and made great lamentation vpon hym Nichodemus and Iosephe of Aramathie are praysed bycause they buried Christe Therfore Paule condemneth not moderate mourning and sorowe whiche spryngeth of faythefull charitie but he condēneth the immoderate heathenyshe sorowe and mourning as vngodly and superstitious For the hope of Christen men is perfytely assured that the dead peryshe not but slepe Ioh. 11. as Christe saythe Lazarus our frynde slepeth Therfore to lament the dead by affection of loue is the duetie of charytie but it is hethnishe and vngodly to lament the deade of infidelytie For it is gyuen vs naturally to bewayle the deathe of them whiche in their liues were derelye beloued of vs but we must remembre the saying of holy Iob The lorde hath gyuen Iob. 1. and the lorde hath taken awaye Some tyme our parentes our dere frendes our wyfe and our chyldren be taken away from vs that we maye lerne the wyll of god and haue a respecte onely to god the gyuer and not to the gyftes ¶ A consolation for them whiche suffer for theyr offences OF THEM whiche suffer for theyr euyll dedes 1. Pet. 2. Peter speketh sayinge what prayse is it if whan ye be buffeted for your fautes ye take it pacientely And agayne 1. Pet. 4. Se that none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a thefe or as an yuell doer or a busy body in other mennes matters But if it chaunce so that we must suffer for an euyll dede doone of vs the deserued punishemente maye be an holy sufferynge no lesse pleasaunt to god than the sufferynge of the innocent martyrs For if the euyll doer confesse his synne before god and beleue that his synne is forgiuen throughe Iesu Christe then by Iesu Christe it is broughte to passe that the deserued punysshement is sanctified to obteyne the crowne of euerlastyng glory was not the thefe hāging on the crosse vpon the one syde of Chrst sanctified in his punishement Luce. 22. as soone as he aknowleged his synne and throughe faythe commended his helthe to Christe Was it not sayd also to hym This daye thou shalt be with me in Paradise Neyther is it meruayle that euyll dooers throughe faythe can in theyr deserued punishementes be sanctified as innocent martyrs For as the martyrs in theyr sufferynge do testifie and witnesse Christ and the gospell so euyll doers in theyr punishment do testifie and wytnesse the lawe of god and be examples to other that they auoyde euyll dedes lest they be punished in like maner To be an example that mischeuouse dedes be auoyded is it not a worke of holynesse Therfore whether a man do suffer iustly or vniustely let hym beleue in Iesu Christe and his sufferynge shal cause hym to opteyne of the lord a garland that neuer shal wyther away Therfore no man oughte to dispeire 1. Tim. 2. For Christe hath gyuen hym selfe a redētion for al. There is one god and oone mediator of god and man namely the manne Christ Iesu which gaue him selfe a ransome for all men Beholde he sayth for al. Therfore also He wil 2. Pet. 3. that all retourne to repentaunce And he saith Luc. 5. I came not to cal the iuste but synners of whō he wold be borne Iuda Dauid Matth. 1. Manasse Thamar Rachab and Batseba be examples Therfore he commaundeth the gospell to be preached to euery