which promiseth afflictions to those that follow them as if it had beene to chase away the Hearer found it strange that Iesus Christ had sent Disciples that were Idiots to confound Philosophers poore Fishers for to establish him throughout a Kingdome also that the Gospell is hidden in tearmes very simple and without eloquence in a world where humane knowledges were in their height and humane eloquence was come vp to the top of perfection these things which seemed to be of so hard digestion to humane sence neuerthelesse being more carefully considered they are agreeable to wisedome and the power of God For to speake of the humilitie of the Incarnation of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God we need not thinke it strange although he were so humbled because he was come to satisfie for our pride seeing that man had so farre precipitated himselfe in desiring to make himselfe like vnto God it was needefull that God should make himselfe like vnto man for to saue him it was needfull that he should become man to dye and God for to vanquish and that hee might be infinite in riches because he was to pay an infinite debt As for the rest be not ye scandalized for the humilitie of his Birth but behold the star that then appeared the Angels that sung and Herode who was afraide If you thinke it strange that he was hungry of the other part behold how he fed fiue thousand people with a few loaues if it be a thing vnworthy for the King of Kings to pay Tribute to Cesar consider how he caused it to be paid with Fish Briefly saith the Apostle in the same Chapter and the fourth Verse Hee is dead but hee hath declared himselfe to be the Sonne of God c. And his diuine vertue appeared more euidently in his infirmitie euen as the splendor of a lightening appeareth better during the Night then at Noone-day We haue no cause to be offended that he would haue vs take vp his Crosse after him and prepare our selues for sufferings For what is there more iust then to be partaker of the afflictions of Christ seeing we desire to be partakers of his glory These are faire spots and an honourable opprobrie for to carry in his Body the wounds of our Lord Iesus Is it so great a matter to loose our goods for him that hath lost his life for our saluation to let fall our teares for him that hath lost his bloud to suffer corporall death for him that hath purchased eternall life for vs What matter is it to the faithfull whether hee loose his life by the mouth or by a wound if he dye of a Sword or a Feauer seeing he dyeth the death of the iust and that his soul enters into the promised repose with the Children of God Concerning the condition of the Apostles who were Fishers and Idiots it serueth to make Gods worke more admirable then did the vertue of the Lord appeare better when humane helpe failed To vanquish ignorance by knowledge is no admirable thing but to conuince the knowledge of wise men with the simplicitie of Idiots is a worke which none but God could doe who in an instant gaue to ignorant men the knowledge of all Tongues who changed the Barke of the Apostles into the Church their Fishes into Men their Nets into Sermons and of Saint Paul who was a Wolfe in an instant made him a Lambe and of a Lambe an excellent Shepheard to the end he should know that his vocation came not from Men but God Concerning scandale taken at the rudenesse and simplicity of the stile of the Gospell this simple stile is the stile of the Lawes which should loose their force if they were written with the flowers of Rhetoricke because that Kings will not shew their eloquence but their authoritie Also it is not reasonable to apparell a chaste Virgine in the fashion of a Strumpet nor to clothe heauenly wisedome in fantasticall and humane knowledge It may be you thinke that all this that is spoken is not spoken but against Persecutors and Tyrants or against Pagans and Infidels who striue to defame the Doctrine of the Gospell Let vs not abuse our selues for euen amongst our selues there are many to bee found that are ashamed of the Gospell of Christ How few are there amongst vs that reioyce in the Crosse of Iesus Christ who lay all their greatnesse at the feete of his Crosse and glorifie themselues in his approbic hold it for certaine that whosoeuer reioyceth more in his riches or in his noblenesse or in his honours then in the alliance of Iesus Christ not esteeming his true greatnesse to be one of the children of God through Iesus Christ such an one is ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Is it not too true that in Company and amongst our pleasures wee are ashamed of the Gospell of Christ for at any of these meetings who is he at any time that preferreth any speach of Religion tending to edification but if so happen hee haue any thought thereof feare presently conuerteth him least he should be thought to bring in an impertinent kinde of wisedome where men loue better to speake vnciuilly or filthily or any euill of his friend or Neighbour which truely declareth them to be ashamed of the Gospell of Christ But if these people should dwell in a Countrey where they should suffer persecution for the cause of the Gospell how quickely would they turne their backs on Christ For he that is ashamed of Iesus Christ amongst his friends how will he acknowledge him amongst his enemies Hee that in a garden or in company at Table dare not speake of Iesus Christ how dare he defend him being tortured or in the fire how can he sustaine aduersitie that is thus corrupt in prosperitie In like sort when a stormy winde bloweth vpon a Tree that is laden with fruits and rotten at the heart it presently falleth So when the winde of persecution getteth vp we see presently those which haue their hearts thus corrupted with hypocrisy or which hold not of Iesus Christ but by custome or for humane consideration how can they stand And thereupon when I read the History of Martyrs the vertue of whom euen at this day sustaineth our vices who in our Ancestors times haue beene so liberall of their bloud and so thirsty for Gods glory I finde that they dyed more willingly then wee now speake of the Gospell and that they powred out their bloud more willingly for the glory of God then we at this day spend our money for his seruice In such sort that if any one of those good seruants of God which haue planted the Church during persecution should now come againe he could not know his flocke but would be astonished how in so short a time they are so much degenerated He should finde riches encreased and zeale diminished more repose but much lesse vertue From whence it commeth that the Gospell is become odious and Popery insensibly
the Soule liueth to God and followeth the Lambe filled with the fulnesse of the presence of the Lord. And as one may obserue of those that sleepe very soundly yet if they be but called by their Names they will rise vp in astonishment so Iesus Christ at the last day shall call all the faithfull and they shall suddenly awake and come out of the Graue euen as he raised Lazarus when hee did rise after hee had called him by his name We may also say that after sleepe we finde refreshment our strength renewed so after death our strength shall be renewed with another kinde of vigour then euer we had before Briefly as the profound sleepe of Adam brought him forth a Wife so our death will bring vs neare vnto Iesus Christ our true Espouse who marrieth vs in Righteousnesse and Mercy for there is nothing but peace in Heauen in earth nothing but confusion Neare vnto the earth are Windes and Raine and heat after colde but high vp in the ayre nothing moueth So what peace must that be in Heauen where the King of peace himselfe raigneth and where the blessed spirits ioyne their Songs and affections to praise serue God with a holy Harmony Of the peace of the Blessed the faithfull feele here a kinde of taste which is the peace of Conscience giuing them repose euen vpon the torture which sustaineth Martyrs maketh them easily digest pouertie and misery by the inward contentment they feele in the loue of God to be reconciled vnto him through Iesus Christ For euen as a man that is in health will sleepe vpon a Bench but he that is sicke of the Stone cannot rest vpon a Bed euen so the tranquility of conscience maketh a man content amidst the incommodities of this life but the wicked in prosperitie finde no rest Doe you thinke it strange that Iacob slept quietly albeit he had but a stone for his Pillow seeing that God spoke to him sleeping and shewed him the gate of Heauen opened I thinke Ionas had more rest in the Whales belly then Iezabel in her bed or Nabuchadnezzar vpon his Throne whereof the Apostle in the 4. of the Phil. calleth the peace of Conscience the peace of God and saith that it passeth all vnderstanding Whereupon I gather that if the first Pastes and sparkes of eternall peace surpasse all vnderstanding how much more then the full repose and full peace with eternall contentment The faithfull seruants of God hauing but halfe dipped in the end of the finger into this Hony as Ionathan did had their eyes enlightened and with this sweetnesse ouercome the bitternesse of death and Saint Paul before he dyed tasted of this glory being rauished in spirit into the third heauens when hee came to speake of these things hee said that these are things which is not lawfull to expresse and putting his finger in his mouth glorifyeth himselfe in his infirmities and in his approbriousnesse for the name of Christ And Dauid in the 80. Psalme asketh in this life al the contentment that a man can haue in this world in asking That God would shine vpon him with the clearenesse of his face and yet this clearenes commeth from a-farre It is but like a little Raye of the Sunne shining through a little hole into a darke plaee what will this be then when the day shall shine all out so cleare and that God will shine clearely vpon vs so neare that he will shew his face vnto vs which no man did euer see and liue as God saith to Moses Many giue money for olde Coines and the formes of the buildings of auncient times but how much would a man giue to see the persons of those times and how much more would a man giue to see Abraham Isaack Iacob Dauid the Prophets and the Apostles To see the least of them you would trauaile a thousand leagues and how much more then would you giue to see all to see them all and all free from sinne and infirmitie such as they are in the Kingdome of God And how much more then aboue all the rest to see this Iesus Christ which is declared in the word and figured by the Sacraments who hath suffered all euill for vs who descended vpon earth for to raise vs vp to heauen who took vpon him our flesh to cloathe vs with his holy spirit who made himselfe the sonne of Man to make vs the Children of God who suffered death to giue vs life who daily receiueth our prayers presenteth them to God sendeth his Angels from aboue and maketh his blessings daily fall downe vpon vs your eyes see it which is declared vnto you amongst the troubles and throngs of this world you see it in the peace which Simeon did waite for Truely we doe but lightly esteeme these things a humane spirit moueth but with one wing we haue a greater desire vnto it then capacity to vnderstand it For wee ought to be more occupied in keeping on the high way to come to this peace then in the contemplation of the excellencie thereof We shall know it one day now let vs striue onely to tend that way This thought putteth another into my minde and maketh me admire many persons who know and beleeue these things and yet are not once moued therewith who knowing the truth being in their decrepit age and in the bed of death yet notwithstanding feare to confesse God for the displeasure of men they would willingly say with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace but the feare of men hindreth them from making their peace with God what hope they for or what feare they in this world who for an houre of life that they yet haue in this world would lose eternall life who to please men in dying would displease God after death There is certainely besides hardnesse and rebellion a blindnesse and an euident folly Some will say this peace is to be wished for I aspire to it euen with all my heart but the way to come thereto is very hard to finde out the passage to death is dolorous fearefull and Sathan lyeth in Ambush euen in the way and all the feare and feeblenesse and sorrow that is there is purposely placed to intrap a man in such extremitie it is a good thing to be dead but a grieuous thing to dye I confesse that death is very terrible in nature Men care to dye when they can deferre it no longer Many cut off Legges and Armes to saue the rest and are very glad so to liue with the one halfe of their body there are many troubled with the stone that resolue to be cut and although the combat be great yet they hope to escape but if they were assured to die they would resolue to be twenty yeares tormented Neuerthelesse he saith that death is not so terrible as they make it principally to the faithfull which are prepared for it It is not death that is so grieuous but the
things thereto belonging He that feareth God hath wherewithall to sustaine him in these trials for it is then that God assisteth all those that call vpon him call vpon mee in thy necessitie and I will heare thee and what greater Necessitie can there be then death Hee that giueth his Angels charge to defend those that liue in his feare how can he abandon those that dye calling vpon him Hee that openeth his eye ouer the prosperity of the wicked can hee haue his eare shut to the sighes of the good that call vpon him in their extremitie and although Sathan espie him the Angels watch ouer him to whom our defence is committed and besides Sathan is enchayned with a chayne both great and strong which is called the prouidence of God hauing his Head wounded to death and the souldiers that he setteth to assaile vs which are sorrow and the figure of death their Armes and weapons are no better then strawes and pinnes against the faith of the faithfull Some say the Diuell appeared to a dying man and shewed him a Parchment that was very long wherein was written on euery side the sinnes of the poore sicke man which were many in number and that there were also written the Idle words he had spoken which made vp three quarters of the words that hee had spoken in his life together with the false words the vnchaste words and the words of iniurie afterwards came in rancke his vaine and vngodly words and lastly his actions digested according to the Commandements whereupon Sathan said Seest thou Behold thy vertues see here what thine examination shall be Whereunto the poore sinner answered It is true Sathan but thou hast not set downe all for thou shouldest haue added and set downe here below The bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and this also should not haue bin forgotten That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life there are none so feeble as the Diuell nor so cowardly when he is to assaile a true Christian onely name Iesus Christ and hee flyeth a way for he wayteth but for the day when hee shall be bound in chaynes and cast into the bottomlesse pit which made him say to Iesus Christ art thou come to torment me before my time And he praied Iesus Christ that he would not send him into the Abisme If we haue the eyes of Faith open we shal not need to feare death but outface her make our selues familiar with her for shee annoyeth none but those that shee surprizeth and we likewise loue her like one that openeth the Prison doore to those that are in durance Euen as if the Children which come out of the Mothers wombe should haue some reason they would not weepe but reioyce to come out of such a noysome and obscure place to see the Sunne Euen so if our soules were instructed as they ought to be and had true reason they would not be sorry to goe out of the prison of the Body to come into the light of God for this issue is another Byrth whereof we ought not to be amazed if it be done with some sorrow it is a meanes to enter into the light For in the auncient Church the day of the celebration of the death of the Martyrs was called the day of Natiuity Let him feare death who hopeth not for life let him feare death who would not goe to Iesus Christ let him feare death that is a slaue to his Belly and to gormundizing but as for me Christ is gaine to me to liue and die Euen then when Iesus Christ was resolued to dye Peter disswaded him but Christ replyed Get thee behinde mee Sathan euen so wee checke the flesh which filleth vs with feares for it knoweth nothing of the things of God Now you see death which was common to vs is now become fauourable she is nothing fearefull but in shew for life is hidden vnder the Image of death as if one should send vs a faire present by a deformed Blackamore so God by the hand of hideous death presenteth vnto vs the heauenly life It is that pale terrible Horse which is spoken of in the 6. of the Apocalyps which is called Death wherupon we must get vp to goe to God It is the passage of the Red sea which is very fearefull to walke amongst the swelling waues that hang ouer the head but by that God opened the passage to the promised land It is the Lyon of Sampson out of the carrion whereof they got Honie as Sampsons companions said That out of that which was bitter came forth sweetnesse Indeede there is nothing more bitter then death when it is accompanied with the malediction of God when it carrieth with it a terrour of conscience an oppression of heart a trembling of the soule when it feeleth it selfe summoned to appeare before the iudgement seat of God but these things being taken away death is sweet and blessed for Iesus Christ hath borne our malediction and hath suffered all the deeds of the Iudgement of God nothing now remaining but onely so much euill as is needfull to open the gate for the soule to depart and be at liberty and this little sorrow that must be endured is not long lasting wonderfull little in regard of our sinnes light in comparison of the torments of hell which we haue deserued light in comparison of the sufferings of Christ Iesus light in comparison of the infinite glory and eternall waight of heauenly glory which stayeth for vs flesh is feeble but the spirit of God fortifyeth it mightily suffereth vnder sorrow but an Angell dryeth vp the droppes of bloud and Iesus Christ sheweth the Crowne You may say vnto mee This is true but wherefore is it that God will haue the death of the faithfull so full of dolour It is because hee will haue vs feele sinne still to dwell in vs seeing wee perceiue the effects doe shew it also hee will by these sorrowes make vs feele what the grace is that he hath done vs in deliuering vs from eternall death seeing that our death is an easie short and sweet death in comparison of euerlasting torments he would haue vs in dying pray ardently which sorrow serueth to inlighten our prayers quickned with the violency thereof and enforced by Necessity he knoweth that one cannot come out of an euill without euill he will not haue vs enter into this peace without combat and resistance All this good commeth by Iesus Christ who by his death hath taken the malediction from ours who hath changed our sepulchres into Couches our death into a peaceable sleepe and of the entry into Hell hath made it the entry into Paradise Shall we feare to enter into this prison after him Or to enter into death where he leadeth the way and holdeth vs by the hand I am saith he the resurrection and the life whosoeuer beleeueth in mee although he be dead shall liue This is the cause
that being cast into the water of Mara it maketh it sweete and wholesome It is impossible to loue Iesus Christ as wee ought but presently this life must needs become vnpleasant which hindereth vs from going to him vntill death put an ende to our banishment and bring vs neere vnto his presence Know then my Brethren that these benefits by which God maketh you liue teacheth you happily to dye and with this foode of life also teacheth you the preparations and consolations to die You haue not meanly profited if at your going away from the Sacrament you say with Simeon Lord now let thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and if you carry from hence a full confidence it will make you victorious against the terrours of death for if you haue this saluation which Simeon speaketh of it will bring you vnto a great peace of conscience which is a beginning of that peace whereinto Simeon desireth to enter Of this my Brethren you easily conceiu what the Text meaneth for although it seemeth not to speake of the Holy Supper yet it is not very farre from the meaning thereof because that this Sacrament renueth vnto vs the Contract of marriage and that the promises which are heere propounded are certaine remedies and preparations against death Whereof the Ancients were accustomed to send to the sicke from the Holy Table and at the same time of the action and administration thereof This Simeon who dyed when Iesus Christ was borne who being full of yeeres waited with impatience the comming of Christ Iesus to the end to raise himselfe from the sentitinell and to set his soule at libertie teacheth vs with what firmenesse we ought to attend death and with what desire to receiue him The life of man is not long lasting some commeth weeping some commeth in labour some with paine and the abiding is so short that man ordinarily dyeth then when hee hath but newly learned what it is to liue Iacob said that his dayes had been short and euill although hee liued vntill he was a hundred thirtie and three yeeres how short are ours then who rarely come to the halfe of that age and neuerthelesse sleepe and sorrow must likewise be taken away for in that time we liue not and most people die in the flower of their age with their Candle extinguished before it be halfe burnt out The Holy Scripture calleth death the way of all the earth it is a naturall debt which if a man should deny it were as much as pleading against his owne deed to striue to be exempt is to desire to be exempt from the generall Law and to desire that God for the loue of thee should change the Lawes of the world and make for thee another humane nature When death commeth it is in vaine to say any thing as Pope Gregory saith in his Dialogues of one whose name was Stephen that tolde Death being sicke he was mistaken and it was not he The Pagans who haue made Altars and seruices to vices and sickenesses to feare an euill happe neuer adressed any to death because they were assured that shee was alwayes inexorable and will entertaine no tearmes of composition This necessity being so strong and examples so frequent in such sort that although we daily bury our neighbours and carry and accompany to the earth the one halfe of our selues yet wee looke another way both in minde and heart still holding on the same course wee haue beene accustomed vnto as if wee should neuer dye For our designes wee make large liued and taske our selues to establish our Name vpon earth spending lauishing out the time as if we had but ouermuch still taking out by handfuls out of the sacke with an assured presumption neuer to be empty We would haue long life to loose it as if wee should accuse God that it is too long because we employ it in things either vnprofitable or wicked If any man in company speake of death it shall be esteemed troublesome vnfashionable and impertinent as if there were neuer any vse of such thoughts Yet being truely considered there is no thought or meditation so necessary It is better saith Salomon Eccles 7. To enter into the house of sorrow then into the house of ioy From hence is deriued the placing of Churchyards round about the Churches to the end that men may passe by the Graues before they present themselues before God that is to thinke and meditate well of death before wee come to looke for life and that first wee must acknowledge our selues mortals and sinners before we can come to implore the grace of God There is a great accord betweene the feare of God and the remembrance of death for the thought of death maketh vs feare God and the feare of God comforteth vs against death This thought disposeth vs to liue well because the day of death is the day when wee must make our account to God As Death shall finde vs so shall the last day iudge vs For it will be too late to speake for our selues vpon the gybbet it will bee too late to iustifie our selues when we are encompassed with Gods anger it behoueth therefore to make our peace whilest we haue time and to fortifie our selues with faith against the terrours of Gods Iudgements let vs mannage the time and liue as the faithfull die that is liue as we would haue wished to haue liued when we must die this preparation maketh a man couragious for what can he feare that feareth not death whosoeuer hopeth for death shall not feare the sorrows of life The threatnings of a Tyrant threatning death are promises vnto him He will shorten the sorrowes of the faithfull hee will open the doore of the prison of his soule to set it at liberty To thinke to loose a Man that feareth God in killing him is like him that in anger throweth a Fish away into a Riuer to drowne it for it is there where it liueth and in that death it findeth life This holy seruant of God Simeon carefully prepared himselfe because he hath not onely attended death but also runne before to meet it by the way For hee knew well hee should die so soone as hee had seene Iesus Christ and no sooner had hee heard tell that Iesus Christ was borne and carryed to the Temple without delay or detracting the time with himselfe in saying although he be borne yet I haue time enough to see him without making any great haste and I shall reioyce to see him great The desire to prolong life neuer came into his minde but without let or staying at all goes before Iesus Christ that is to say before death although that Iesus Christ was the Prince of life he attendeth not vntill he be entred into the Temple but meeteth him at the doore with ioy imbraceth him and humbleth his olde age before the infancy of Iesus Christ and desireth to dye
one that goeth out of prison that is to say with cheerefulnesse and assurance of saluation yet neuerthelesse wee make too much lamentation for him which is wrong to Iesus Christ as if his children were with him in misery it is also a wrong to the deceased for if wee should but taste a few drops and behold but the sparkles of the glory and contentment which they receiue with God we would say our teares are iniurious and wherfore should we enuy their repose Doubtlesse if our tears could bring him againe we ought not to doe it for they would say Wherefore hast thou troubled our rest and brought our soules againe into this filthinesse and put vs againe into the combat after the victory They had rather that we would prepare our selues to goe to them and that we will thinke they are not lost but gone before vs and let our chiefe worke bee to prepare our selues to dye instead of mourning for them and turne our mourning with a holy feare into a holy care and deepe contemplation And indeed the reason why God so soone taketh from vs those we so much affect is that hee would haue a pledge of vs in taking the one halfe of our selues vnto him to the end we may so dispose of our selues that he may also haue the rest and that all our desires may runne that way in so much that there be nothing in the house nor in the chambers nor moueables nor bookes whereof the dead was owner but that it may aduertise vs to be dissolued and in good time whilest it is day-light to dispose of our Soules euer thinking to goe the same way and to follow that currant These thoughts ought to change our sorrowes and desires and turne our mindes from the memory of euils past towards the blessings to come and to change sadnesse into hope and forepast euils into aduertisements to come Yet notwithstanding I find it sometimes very fit to be sorrowfull but with such a kinde of respect as it be alike for those that are without as for those that are at home When God taketh any that was an example of vertue and that was of speciall worth in the Church we ought to say God is angry hee maketh a breach in his house this world was vnworthy of so great vertue it presageth our miserie as the death of Iosias was presently followed with the Captiuity of Babylon or like the death of S. Augustine after which presently succeeded the ruine of the citie where he was Bishop For the life of this good man stayed the iudgement of God and was a kinde of Rampart to the Church Also Elizeus althogh he were old feeble hauing nothing but a staffe to vphold his weaknesse yet neuerthelesse it serued Israel for an entire Army which is called by King Ioram The Chariot of Israel disarmed and his men of War As if he should haue saide that by his death Israel was disarmed and all the force it had quite taken away For euen as we see Swallowes remoue their yong from an olde house that is like to fall euen so the soules of the Saints flie from this earth here below before the ruine thereof This kinde of dolour is healed with feare and the euill that one feareth is cured by amendment of life and the death of the faithfull shall then greatly profit if with the sorrow we learne to forme our selues by the example of the deceased I thinke good Brethren that such thoughts as these possessed the kindred and friends of Simeon by which they were not onely comforted in his death but also instructed and edified But as for Simeon how doe you thinke he prepared himselfe to dye and with what resolution did he goe before His prayer to God sufficiently sheweth when hee saide Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace Note well what hee saith Now without asking any delay He was prepared for it long before hauing nothing else to doe in the world but to die Like a Ship at Anchor which is already rigged and trimmed attending onely the wind at last it came and that winde was the Messias Hee is not the first seruant of God nor the last that desired to die Elias before him 1 Kings 19. said to God he was sorry to see the Idolatrie of Israel It is enough O Eternall now take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers And after him Saint Paul Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ And in another place I desire to dye and to be with Christ The end wherefore Simeon desired to dye was to enter into peace He calleth death a peace or a repose as Isaiah saith The iust is dead hee shall enter in peace they repose vpon their beds whosoeuer shall haue walked before him and so the spirit of God saith in the 14. of the Apoc. Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they Now saith the spirit rest from their labours Also death is called a peaceable sleepe as in the 2. of Iohn Lazarus our friend sleepeth but I goe to awake him And Saint Stephen slept after he had said Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Daniel 12. saith That many of those that sleepe in the earth shall rise to eternall life It is the language of Heauen the stile of the heauenly Court and the saying of the word of God to call sleepe that which we call death from whence it commeth that the Church-yard where the dead are buried is called a Resting place or a sleeping place For first of all euen as we put off our cloathes before we goe to sleepe euen so our soules going to rest put off our bodies Secondly if we sleepe quietly we must put off all care and lay it vnder the Pillow euen so to dye quietly and peaceably wee must put off all care and earthly thoughts and hauing disposed of our House as God said to Ezechias for the best Will you can make leaue your Soule to God who shall not be more rich but you shall be more happy Himselfe dying left his Purse to Iudas his Body to the earth but left his Soule to his Father for of that was his onely care Also euen as those that are sober and liue orderly sleepe with quietnesse but disordered people and Drunkards rest with terrour and griefe euen so shall they dye peaceably and religiously who haue so liued but those that haue liued disorderly and like Swine are in danger to dye wofully and lamentably And euen as the King Assuerus when he could not sleepe called for his Chronicle that after the reading thereof he might take rest so ought the faithfull during their liues exercise themselues in the reading of the holy Scripture which is the History and the lawes of the hand of their Father and to sleepe thereupon in a peaceable and sweet death And as in sleepe the body is vnmoueable but the soule moueth and exerciseth so whilst the Body remaineth in death
also why Simeon after he desired to dye and called death a peace and a repose commeth to the cause of this assurance that is to say to Iesus Christ whom he calleth the saluation of God let saith he goe thy seruant in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation that is to say the sauing health which thou offerest vnto vs and the onely meanes which thou hast ordained to saue vs. For it is he which is our Iesus because hee saueth the people from their sinnes It is he that God hath ordained for a propitiation by the blood of the Grosse and there is no other name vnder Heauen by which we can possibly be saued He is the Prince of life because we draw from him as from the fountaine of life euen as the foure first dayes of the Creation all was wholly light of it selfe but the fourth day God created the Sunne whereto he confined and placed all that that he had of light in the world that it might afterwards flow from the Sunne euen so all life is inclosed in Iesus Christ to the end that going to him wee may draw out of his fulnesse And euen as the Virgine vestals of the Pagans from whence proceedeth the Nunnes of these times had a continuall fire which if it happened by any mischance to goe out they might not giue it light againe but only from the Sun so our Naturall clearenesse and our life being extinguished by the sinne of Adam we cannot kindle againe but at the Sunne of Iustice which is our Lord Iesus Christ to whom belongeth that which is said in the 36. Psalme The Fountaine of life lyeth in thee and by thy clearenesse we see clearely It is saluation which is propounded in this Table which is Iesus Christ now offered vnto you Simeon embraced him in his armes but you imbrace him by faith Simeon saluted his birth in his infirmity but you adore and contemplate him in his glory Simeon came to dye besides his Cradle but you are made aliue by his kingdome Come neere vnto him with repentance receiue this meate with faith digest it with carefull meditation of the excellency of saluation make this saluation fruitfull and of sweet odour by your good works that dogs and swine come not neere to eate vp childrens bread prophane this holy Table I call them swine that wallow in the mire of their filthy pleasures who serue their belly more then God who liue of Gods gifts and looke not from whence they come like swine that eat Acornes and neuer looke vp to the Trees I call them swine likewise who do no good to any till they be dead who giue nothing whilest they are aliue and liue basely to dye Rich. I call those dogges which are iniurious in words who murmure against all men who byte the renowne of their neighbour who barke against God blasphemously and would wrong them that reproue and instruct them who after a little leauing of their vices returne to their vomitting againe With this company I ranke those that are negligent in participating of the holy Supper as an impertinent thing and loue not to declare the death of the Lord contemning the happy helpes which God hath ordained to strengthen faith Such people make their owne Inditements and in abstaining from the Lords Table acknowledge themselues vnworthy to be of his Houshold they will not receiue the body of the Lord and the Lord will not receiue their soules they contemne his Table and they shall not enter into his Kingdome As much or more are they to be blamed that know themselues stained with these things and yet not touched with repentance come without a holy purpose to doe better hereafter to take the Sacrament which is life and saluation to the faithfull but poyson and death to the vnbeleeuer and impenitent Doe you come to receiue the Sacrament of the Lord with prophane hearts Come you to take with hands full of Vsury and rapine the Body of the Lord Come you with riots and quarrels to receiue the assurance of your peace with God or with pride to declare the death of the Lord which is the miracle of Humiliation or to please men with curious apparell where onely your innocency ought to appeare before God But for you that are broken-hearted and displeased in your selues this Table is prepared Doe not say I am too great a sinner to come neere it for that is the cause wherefore thou oughtest to come neere for the more one is sicke so much more need is there of the Physition Iesus Christ is not come to saue the Iust but to call sinners to repentance onely be displeased with your selues to haue offended God and desire to amend and to doe better and aske helpe at Gods hands to assist you to this Combat He is sufficiently acceptable to God who is displeased with himselfe He is of the most perfect who acknowledging himselfe Imperfect seeketh his perfection in Iesus Christ whose righteousnesse is imputed vnto vs. The faithfull will haue fallings and weaknesses but he will alwayes returne againe Hee will reioyce in trembling Psalme 2. He will gather on in his way in stumbling He will say I beleeue but helpe my vnbeliefe This Sacament is a meanes to sustaine this feeblenesse a restoratiue for spirituall failings a succour to a combatted faith to the end that you representing this saluation and this grace you say I am lost and miserable and haue merited death but behold God calleth me and offereth me his grace and Redemption hee is no mocker and his vocation cannot be frustrated yet neuerthelesse I goe bathed with the teares of a holy sorrow powring at his feet this precious liquour of repentance and I doe assure my selfe hee will haue mercy vpon mee because he hath so promised I trust in his promises amidst my afflictions and for all my sinnes I feare not but to find a full Consolation And so I goe on my way saying with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation FINIS A HEAVENLY ALARVM OR THE HOLY SPIrituall Awakening By Mounsieur du MOOLIN Minister of PARIS at CHARRENTON LONDON Printed by Iohn Hauiland for THOMAS PAVIER 1622. THE HOLY SPIRITVALL Awakening IT is too much still to goe on and grow old in vanitie let not the foolish affections of our carnall desires transport vs any further we loue the things here below but too well let vs estrange our selues from them and addresse our selues to heauen without frustrating it of that that belongeth vnto it the example of Creatures without reason euen without sense leadeth vs vnto this reason we see the water come out of the water returning againe to the water the earth drawne from the earth seeketh for the earth and so consequently euery thing tendeth to his place but wee which are borne for heauen flie from it The eternall Beatitude and the knowledge thereof is our beatitude which we possesse alreadie by the assurance
calleth the second death you haue an entire and full freedome by the meanes of this faith which God hath giuen you In veritie saith the Sonne of God Iohn 5.24 I say vnto you that he that heareth my Word and beleeueth in him that sent mee shall haue euerlasting life and shall not come to condemnation but is passed from death to life And as for the corporall death of which we are assured it is neuer a testimony to the faithfull of the anger of God against them as it is alwayes to the wicked but a singular fauour of Gods bounty bringing an infinite number of blessings with it First of all it deliuereth vs from all sorts of dangers putting an end to so many miseries and griefes which vexeth vs without cease both in our soules and Bodies during the course of this miserable life or rather of this continuall death wherewithall wee languish here below Also it taketh vs away from amidst the throng of this wicked world with the corruption whereof we cannot but be infected and so we come to be freed from this vnhappy necessitie of sinfull liuing and from the daily and hourely offending of our Heauenly Father who is so bountifull and gracious a God vnto vs. Secondly this bodily death is an entrance to the true life by the death of Iesus Christ whose sacred selfe hath passed through this death to make our passage safe and happy vnto vs this is now an assured bridge to passe and make our trauaile from the world to God and from the mischieues of this life to the incomprehensible Beatitude of eternall life to that fulnesse of ioy which is as Dauid saith Psalme 16.11 In the contemplation of the face of the Eternall This is the good which your Soule shall enioy at the departing from your body And as for your body which shall be put into the earth it shall not be there to perish alwayes but onely for a while to rest attending the happy resurrection which is the cause why death is called in the Scripture A Sleepe and and they are saide to be sleeping in regard of their bodies which at the last day shal be awaked and rise from dust to possesse together with their soules the glorious mortality being made conformable to the glorious Body of our Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3.21 He is the head and they are the members and therefore it behoueth that the members be conformable to their Head What finde you then in death that may affright you seeing it deliuereth you from all euill and will raise you to the height of all goodnesse Rather you shall not meete with any thing but will giue you comfort and assurance to confirme your attendance with resolution and tranquillitie of spirit euen to aspire with all your hearr when the Houre will â—ome to say with Saint Paul My desire is to be dissolued and to be with Christ Against the feare of the Diuell For the feare that you may haue of the Diuell you see now there is no great cause to doubt seeing that death cannot annoy you but by death by which it domineareth But the Apostle testifieth that Iesus Christ hath not onely destroyed death but him also that hath the empire of death which is the Diuell Heb. 2.14 Our Lord himselfe saith that the Prince of this world hath nothing in him neither hath any thing in those that are his Members amongst which number you are by the grace of God Also this hath beene for vs and our profit that the Sonne of God hath vanquished and ouercome vpon the Crosse where He hath as Saint Paul saith to the Collossians 2.15 ouercome the principalities and powers of Hell which hee hath publikely brought in euidence therein triumphing ouer them I doubt not but the enemy of our saluation maketh warre against you for to astonish and trouble your Faith for as Saint Peter saith 1.5 Verse 8.9 Our aduersarie the Diuell walketh like a roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure Saint Peter addeth being firme in faith it behooueth vs to resist him Resist the Diuell as Saint Iames saith 4.7 and he will flie from you But for to resist and vanquish him it behoueth you to be defended with the armour of God whereof Saint Paul speaketh to the Ephesians Chap. 6. Verse 16. Taking aboue all as hee saith the Buckler of Faith by which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Against the Apprehension of the Iudgement of God Now remaineth the feare which you may take of the Iudgement of God before whom you must appeare But whereupon ground you your apprehension seeing that your sinnes shall be no more imputed vnto you seeing you shall be no more condemned to death seeing that it will nothing auaile Sathan to accuse you being thereby absolued and iustified by the grace of God It is the doctrine which the Apostle Saint Paul giueth vs Rom. 8. Verse 32.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that iustifieth Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. Euen so ought we to come before God but not as before a seuere and rigorous Iudge but as before a Father that is well-pleased with you through the intercession of Iesus Christ of Iesus Christ I say who is both your Intercessor and Aduocate to God the Father Hee will not be refused of the Father in his request for you by Iesus Christ whereof you are a Member For there is no condemnation to those that are in Iesus Christ saith Saint Paul Rom. 8.1 By Iesus Christ in the end in whom you beleeue But he that beleeueth in me saith he shall haue eternall life and shall not come to condemnation but is passed from death to life Is not this then Sir your Faith and firme beliefe which by the benefit of our Lord Iesus Christ you haue forgiuenesse of your sinnes Iohn 5.24 That you are saued from eternall death and freed from the rigour of Gods iudgements and by consequence Sathan cannot annoy you by his accusations and temptations and that this corporall death can be no other vnto you but profitable and euery way happy Also a protestation of charity must be drawne from the sicke party to his Neighbour As for the rest Sir you know Faith worketh by Charity and necessarily bringeth it forth seeing it hath pleased God to vnite you vnto him by Faith also of necessitie you must be vnited to all your Brethren and Neighbours by a true christian Charity And therefore tell vs if you freely renounce not all hatred rancour and enmity with euery one without exception and desire the good and saluation of all in generall and euery one in particular euen as of your owne Patient Yes Doe you not pardon with all your heart all those that might haue offended you in any sort as you likewise require
pardon of all those that might haue beene offended by you Patient Yes Now Sir it behooueth vs to addresse our prayer to God to the end that he will be pleased to fortifie you in faith which hee hath giuen you and to make his graces more and more abound in you and it is your part to humble your selfe with vs before him and to lift vp your heart to him to implore his Mercy from the bottome of your Heart A Prayer for the sicke when there is any signe of death O Lord our God Mercifull Father we are very vnworthy to lift vp our eyes vnto thee our sins and wicked deedes are so many wherewith wee are so polluted before thy face neither is this out of the confidence of our owne worth to be thus bolde to present our selues at the feete of thy diuine Maiesty but in the assurance of the great Compassions and perfect obedience which thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord hath made for vs with the righteousnesse whereof wee beseech thee couer vs with thy grace to the end wee may be by his fauour made agreeable and reconciled vnto thee But wee beseech thee O good God particularly vouchsafe thy great mercy to this thy poore seruant so feeble mightily deiected vnder thy powerfull hand poore sinner remaining vnder the weight and rigour of thy high Iustice if thou doest not extend thy great clemency towards him Giue him grace good Lord to enter more and more into a serious examination and acknowledgement of his faults to conceiue that true detestation which alwayes bringeth forth true repentance and set him forward intirely to renounce himselfe and his owne way to haue all his refuge in thee and in thy bounty In the meane while receiue him gratiously O Lord shew him the face of a father and assure and comfort him Say to his soule Soule I am he that can warrant thee Dispose of his heart patiently to receiue with Action of graces this Fatherly correction which thou hast sent him and to put himselfe wholly into thy hands to submit himselfe peaceably vnder all that thou shalt please to lay vpon him by thy holy prouidence Lord thou knowest better then he himselfe or any of vs what is most conuenient whether he shall liue or die If thy good pleasure be that hee shall liue let it be that he may onely liue to thee in such sort that hauing profited well by thy chastisements he may learne to loue thee honour and serue thee all the dayes of his life in thy Church perpetually studying to bring sorth fruits of piety and holinesse worthy of thy Gospel and conuenient for a childe of such a Father so that in him thou maist be glorified and his neighbours edified But contrarily of the other part it be thy pleasure to take him out of this miserable world assure him that it shall be to put him into the possession of thy Heauenly kingdome which thou hast prepared before the foundations of the world and which thy Sonne hath purchased by the merit of his death To this end O Father of light from whom proceedeth euery good gift that thou wilt be pleased to giue him a true and a liuely faith with the which he may search find and apprehend the propitiation for his sinnes and the true righteousnes in the obedience of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who hath suffered for our sinnes and risen againe for our iustification and ascended into Heauen to take possession in our Name and by this meanes giueth vs accesse and entrance which sinne had banished vs from Imprint in his heart a full assurance of all these thy graces to the end that by this meanes he may peaceably repose himselfe in thy mercy and happily ouercome all the snares and temptations which Sathan and his owne flesh would put before him to trouble the clearnesse of his faith and tranquility of his conscience That his sinnes then may not make him despaire because thy Iustice hath been so well payed not with gold or siluer but with the pretious blood of thy Christ as of the Lambe without spot or blemish Let not death affright him seeing sinne is abolished and destroyed in him which is the sting of death who now is disarmed and without all power that his spirit being separated from the body by this corporall death it shall be to come triumphantly to thee and deliuered from the captiuity of sinne to the end to taste of the enioying the most happy life which he neuer tasted in this world but by hope leauing his body in the earth but not for euer but to be refined transformed in time conuenient made conformable to the glorious body of his Redeemer by the benefit of his resurrection So Sathan shall no more astonish him but by sinne and death which he hath vtterly lost all power in ouer our visited Brother Assuring him in the end that this accuser can intend nothing against him before the Throne of thy iustice seeing hee is absolued iustified by thy grace there is no iudge that can condemne him That thou wilt also be pleased O good God to be likewise mercifull to all other sicke soules comfort and fortifie them according as thou knowest them needfull and aboue all giue them grace alwayes to embrace with a true and liuely faith thy mercy in Iesus Christ wherein they may euer be comforted Good Lord vouchsafe vnto vs all this grace that this example may profite and teach vs to renounce the world and our selues to imploy that time we haue here below to meditate thy wisedome walke carefully in thy feare retyre our hearts from the vanities of this life to raise them vp to attend and meditate vpon the Heauenly life and to this end to be alwayes prepared to appeare before thee with assurance to be gathered and receiued into thy mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord In whose name we beseech thee O Father of mercy heere vs in these things and in all other things which thou knowest better to be necessary for thy poore seruant and for vs then we doe our selues as we doe now request thee in that prayer which thou hast commanded vs to present our selues before thee Our Father which art in Heauen c. Lord giue vs a good increase of Faith which thou hast planted in the heart of this thy childe and seruant defend him as with a Buckler by the which he may extinguish all the fiery darts of the Diuell and make him perseuere constantly therin vntill the very last breath of his life and that hee may alwaies at the least in his heart render vnto thee a pure and Christian confession as we now present with heart and mouth I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. This is his Faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye in it through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord who in the vnitie of the Holy Spirit
liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen If the sicke person continue long and still in danger of death it will be conuenient to repeat at times necessary the abouesaid Comforts but especially those which are to assure and fortifie against the temptations and combats of Conscience And if it happen the sicke party be troubled with idle talke or cannot vnderstand a long discourse vse short sentences such as hereafter followeth speaking but at sometimes Sir it behooueth you to take good courage it is the fatherly hand of God that visiteth you for your good and saluation For to those whom God loueth all things worke together for good Lift vp your heart to God and confesse your sinnes and offences and imbrace by faith his mercy in Iesus Christ which hee hath promised to all those that repent and beleeue in him Haue you not alwaies a good assurance in the mercy of God a firme faith in Iesus Christ your Sauiour Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that Iesus Christ is dead for your sinnes and risen againe for your iustification Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that hee hath before the Father beene your wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Patient Yes Doe you not thinke that hee hath freely iustified you by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus Patient Yes Following this your faith doubt not but God will warrant you from all perdition and giue you euerlasting life For God hath giuen his Sonne to the end that whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall not perish but haue eternall life Ioh. 16. Feare not death seeing by faith you imbrace Iesus Christ who is your life I am saith he the resurrection and the life who shall beleeue in me although he be dead shall liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye Ioh. 11.25.26 If your sinnes doe afflict you addresse your selfe alwaies by faith and runne to Christ Iesus and you shall finde rest to your soule Come to mee saith Saint Matthew 11.28 all you that labour and are ouer-laden and I will ease you Doubt not the rigour of Gods iustice for there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus as the Apostle Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.1 And who is he Rom. 8.32.33 that will bring in accusation against the elect of God God is hee that iustifieth who will be hee that shall condemne Christ is he which is dead and which is more is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Be not sorry to leaue this miserable life which as Saint Iames saith 4.14 is but a vapour which appeareth a little while and afterwards vanisheth besides in exchange thereof euerlasting life shall be giuen vnto you and in that the very height of felicity so great and incomprehensible That eye hath not seene nor eare vnderstood and is not come vp into the heart of man that which God hath prepared for those that loue him When the sicke person is apparantly at the point of death or ready to yeeld vp the Ghost it is necessary to repeat this short consolation following with prayer Comfort your selfe Sir you now approach neare vnto the end of the Combat which cannot be otherwise but happy vnto you assure your selfe the victory is of your side by meanes of your faith which is the victory that ouercommeth the world and the Prince of the world Iesus Christ your head and Sauiour extendeth forth his hand and stayeth for you at the end of the lists to present vnto you the incorruptible Crowne of glory which he hath purchased with the price of his bloud commend your selfe vnto him now with all your heart goe vnto him with ioy throw your selfe into his Armes and say Into thy hands I commend my soule for thou hast bought me O God of truth Psal 31. Let vs againe pray to God that he will giue you his grace A Prayer O Lord Father of Mercy God of all Consolation let fall thy mercies and comforts vpon this occasion vpon this person thy poore childe and seruant Make him now gather and apply vnto himselfe excellent and abundant profit of the holy Instructions which in thy schoole thou hast taught him during the course of his life giue him an inuincible faith in this Combat Arme him with all thy spirituall Armour that hee may resist all the Temptations of Sathan and hauing ouercome all make him remain firme If thy Iustice astonish let thy mercie assure and comfort if his sinnes accuse him let the obedience of thy welbeloued excuse and iustifie him if the apprehension of death trouble him make him contemplate the open gate of euerlasting life to which thou goest to make him enter Thou hast giuen him it in thy Sonne make it perfectly happy to him Hee is of the flocke of this great Shepheard let it not be taken from him Thou hast begun his saluation let not the worke remaine vnperfect And now that thou hast brought him to the end of his sorrowfull course now receiue his soule into thy hands and bring it into thy heauenly paradice into the fulnesse of repose and beatitude into the company of thy blessed Angels and holy soules of thine Elect which thou hast gathered for euer to enioy together the perfection of all ioy which consisteth in the contemplation of his face Heare vs O Father of mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Son Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen A short comfort for those that are friends of the deceased to be giuen after the body is interred Friends it is needfull in this businesse for you to remember of the holy Christian instruction which you haue receiued in the schoole of Iesus Christ for to make your profit in bearing your affliction with patience and in humility resting in a quiet Spirit at the will of God to which we ought alwayes to be subiect and conformable Our Nature in such accidents leadeth vs to teares but the Spirit of God author of all Regeneration teacheth vs to keepe measure and not to afflict our selues like those that haue no hope 1 Thess 4.13 If we be men in weeping yet wee must shew our selues Christians adorned with faith and hope to assure vs that this corporall death is no other to the faithfull children of God but a happy port to enter into eternall life Ioh. 5.28.29 and as for the body it must remaine in earth vntill that day when they shall heare the voyce of the Lord which shall make them rise out of the graue into the resurrection of life That the deceased is of the number of Gods children the marks and testimonies which God hath giuen him by the good profession of piety and wisedome which hee hath made in the Church vnto the last breath of his life neede not leaue vs in doubt He hath liued to the Lord and is dead to the Lord by consequence is happy and resteth from his labour Apoc. 14.13 by the heauenly testimony of the Spirit of God himselfe You haue no cause to weep ouer him for the condition he is in being in euery kinde thrice happy He hath also a great aduantage of vs that remaine in this world behinde him For he is arriued at the port of saluation where as we are still beaten with the storme and torment of the confused and dangerous sea of this miserable world And therefore it is much better to aspire to go with him then to wish him to remaine here below with vs for the discommodity that you may receiue by his absence it behoueth you to consider that God that gaue him to you remaineth still with you who is enough for vs without all other things whereas all other things without him are nothing It is hee that will continue alwayes ouer you the care of his fatherly prouidence if you continue alwayes to walke in his feare I beseech God to giue you grace and fortifie you with a holy and constant resolution Amen FINIS
by the eare so God hath willed that life should enter in by the same meanes and as man is fallen by beleeuing the word of the Serpent so man should be raised againe by beleeuing the Word of God It is no wonder then if Sathan oppose himselfe at the preaching of the Gospel and enforce himselfe to make it seeme odious because it is the means to diminish his Empire Hee hath stitched the skinne of the Foxe to the skinne of the Lyon adding subtilty to force coupling together with persecution the stings of Philosophy Euen as the Sunne that bringeth in the Spring with Flowers and new Verdure begetting thousands of flies and vermine which serue to no end but losse and dammage Also in like sort so soone as God hath powred out his blessings vpon a Countrey with the Sun-shine of the Gospel presently there ariseth a thousand lyes trickes and conspiracies to extinguish the growing truth and to stifle the Church of God in the Cradle Before the preaching of the Gospell published by the Apostles there was a wonderfull confusion of contrary Religions and yet there was neuer any contention or fighting for Religion amongst themselues When the Romanes conquered any Countrey they carryed triumphantly away with them their Captiuates Gods of strange Religions and made Temples for their imprisoned Gods and so brought in into their Citie all sorts of Religion They neuer differed with any but the Christian Religion onely against it haue they enlighted their fire and vnsheathed their swords for many and diuers lies may dwell together but there is no accord between a lie the truth two false Religions agree much better together then the false with the true Pilate and Herode although they were enemies yet agreed together against Iesus Christ Also one may see at this present in Rome the Iewes who maintaine that Christ Iesus was a dissembler are suffered to dwell there with Greeks and Turks likewise Our Religion onely is not suffered there because that it alone ruinateth the Empire of Sathan professing Iesus Christ onely for the purgation of all our sinnes and his death onely for sacrifice and his Word for the onely rule of our faith Now although Sathan worke all that is possible against vs yet shall he neuer come to the end of his purpose For euen as the Rayes of the Sunne cannot be mooued with the winde out of their proper lines because their nature is heauenly so the world and the Diuell neuer extinguish the light of the Word of God because it commeth from Heauen and is of a spirituall nature Hee which could speake of these things with more experience then any other was St. Paul who suffered so many trauailes runne so many dangers endured so many ignominies for the testimonie of the Gospell And being strengthened with vertue from aboue loseth no courage but disgesteth his bitternesse mispriseth their misprises and glorifying himselfe in their contempt of him saying I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ c. The vnderstanding of these words depend vpon the Exposition of three points First what the Gospell of Christ is Secondly what the causes are that make men ashamed of the Gospell Thirdly what haue beene the considerations which haue encouraged our Apostle not to bee ashamed of the Gospell whereof hee propoundeth vnto vs the principall that is to say That it is the power of Christ c. To begin with the first point This word Gospell signifieth a new man and a happy the Gospell of Christ is the good newes which not onely declareth Iesus Christ vnto vs but also is declared vnto vs by Iesus Christ It is a happy newes whereof Iesus Christ is not onely the subiect and the substance but also the bringer and the reuealer To make vs vnderstand what the substance of this good newes is you ought to put for foundation that the good of the Creature dependeth vpon the Creator and that the felicitie of man proceedeth not from his owne proper vertue but from the grace of God which was the cause why God did not create Adam in the earthly Paradise but onely introduced him in to the end hee might learne that he was not heire of Paradise by nature but it was God that by his grace led man in euen as it were by the hand In this earthly Paradise God had planted two Trees which serue for two aduertisements the one setting out human infirmity the other claring the grace of God the Tree of knowledge of good and euill was a figure of the Law which gaue man to vnderstand the knowledge of good and euill and the Tree of life was the figure of the Gospell which presented vnto vs the fruit of life that is to say Iesus Christ as hee himselfe expoundeth it in speaking of his graces Whosoeuer shall ouercome I will giue him to eate of the Tree of life c. Now wee see that if before the fall of man God would by these documents make man know and vnderstand he did not subsist at all by his owne proper vertue but onely by the grace of God How much more must he now subiect and confesse his weakenesse seeing he is fallen away from this grace by his sinnes For if a liuing man subsist not of himselfe much lesse can a dead man raise himselfe vp by his proper vertue whereupon God promised to Abraham the possession of the land of Canaan which was a figure of the Kingdome of Heauen yet he would not put him into the possession thereof although he were the naturall Father of all the people of God to the end man might learne that the possession of the inheritance of Heauen commeth not by Nature but by the grace of God And moreouer God would not that Moses the bearer of the Law should introduce the people into the land of Canaan purposely to declare vnto vs that it is not by the Law or by our workes that wee can come to the Kingdome of Heauen What then The charge to bring in the people of God into the promised inheritance was giuen to Iosuah who was also called Iesus and a Sauiour being onely a figure of Iesus Christ Moses led the people to the borders of the Land and deliuered them into the hands of Iosuah because the law leadeth vs to the Gospell and is a Schoolemaster to bring vs vnto Christ chasing vs on our way by threatnings and representing it vnto vs by shadowes and figures Man then being so cast downe and fallen into death could not get vp againe but by the onely assistance and grace of God Hee that did blow vpon the face of Adam Respiration of life is he onely from whom man can receiue inspiration of spirituall life For as Epiphanius reciteth of those that trauailed by the desarts of Siria where are nothing but miserable Marishes and Sands destitute of all commodities if it hapned that their fire went out by the way then they lighted it againe at the Sunne by some deuice euen so
if man haue suffered the sparkes of diuine grace to dye in him he hath no other meanes to inlighten himselfe againe but at the Sunne of Iustice there to haue reliefe at the Sunne of Iustice and Father of lights The meanes that God vsed to raise man from his fall is that which he hath declared vnto Adam The seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 God himselfe being pleased to be the first Euangelist and as Woman brought to man the fruit of death Woman should bring to man againe the fruit of life the meanes is that in the accomplishment of times he hath sent his Sonne his eternall Word and taken vpon him our flesh allying by this meanes God with man making the Sonne of God our Brother to the end we might be the Sonnes of God He hath taken our humane nature vpon him to the end we should participate of his diuine nature hee hath taken our flesh for to giue vs his spirit hee hath made himselfe a stranger here below to the end wee should be domesticke with God he which is Father of eternitie was well pleased to haue it so and hath sent his word amongst vs to the end we might speake to God with assurance making himselfe a seruant to the end we might raigne with him By this meanes we haue familiar accesse to God seeing he hath taken away the rayes from his face and that Maiesty that would haue amazed and astonished vs shewing himselfe in a familiar and accessible fashion in his Sonne who is our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. In stead of the Prouerbe which was vsed in Israell Wee dye for wee haue seene God now we ought and may say Wee liue for God hath made himselfe visible and accessible by his Sonne The second Person of the Trinitie hath bin imployed in this work For by what means could we be made the Children of God but by him who is his onely Son which bringeth vs to vnderstand that he is the wisedome of the Father by whom hee telleth vs that he is the Word it selfe putting all things into order by him by which he hath created all things Yet this is not all for in this selfe-same flesh he would haue him suffer the paine which wee haue merited and to satisfie for vs the diuine iustice as he saith of himselfe I paid them the things that I neuer tooke Psalme 69.5 For Iesus Christ had not wherwithall to hide his head to the end we might haue where to repose our consciences Hee which is the bread of Life was hungry to the end wee might be filled Hee is dead to the end to giue vs life hauing drunke the Cup of the wrath of God to the end we should drinke at the Riuer of his pleasures and as Saint Peter saith 1 Pet. 2. Verse 24. Hee hath borne our sinnes vpon his Body vpon the Tree to the end that being dead to sinne wee should liue to righteousnesse by the breach whereof wee haue beene healed for saith Saint Paul Col. 1.19 the good pleasure of the Father that all fulnesse should dwell in him and to reconcile by him euery thing to himselfe hauing made peace with the bloud of his Crosse c. Death swallowed him vp but it was like the fishes that swallowing the Baite are taken so Death in taking Iesus Christ is surmounted and ouercome by him for he is life it selfe and also because of his righteousnesse and innocencie death hath no power ouer him There is nothing so admirable as this death by the which hee hath triumphed ouer the power of Hell and of the Diuell by the which God hath punished and pardoned our sinnes declaring in one onely Action his soueraigne iustice and his infinite mercy all the triumphes of Emperours are of no value in comparison of the death of Christ the life of all men are of no value in regard of the death of Iesus Christ all the Crownes of Kings are not comparable to the Crosse of Iesus Christ and all the glory of the world is inferiour to his opprobrie as it is the ground of our faith so it is the summe of our knowledge to know Iesus Christ crucified This death taketh away the bitternesse and malediction of our own and maketh it that although a farre off it seemeth a fantasie which walketh vpon the waters when it approacheth and commeth nearer vnto vs we shall confesse that it is Iesus Christ that commeth vnto vs and haue by the bloud of Iesus Christ liberty to speake to God with assurance that not onely wee may implore his mercy but also wee may call for iustice saying Lord thou are iust and therefore take not two payments for one debt and correct me not in thine anger for my sinnes for which thy Sonne hath beene punished By this meanes the iustice of God changeth nature towards vs and of iustice iudging becommeth iustice iustifying and of iustice which punisheth sinne it becommeth a iustice which maketh vs iust And consider what the Aduocate is who not onely pleadeth for vs but payeth for vs who not onely intercedeth for sinners but of sinners maketh them iust Where is the Phisitian which taketh the medicine and by it healeth his Patient Hauing so indured death for vs for vs also hath ouercome death as the combat of his death is for vs so the victory of his Resurrection is ours after the which hee ascended into Heauen from whence he sendeth his graces there hee receiueth our soules which he hath bought with his owne bloud Hee is our onely assurance in the Kingdome of Heauen to whom wee aspire and tend vnto as strangers in this world but domestickes with God as dying but heires of eternall life hauing to resist the Courts of this world to publique iudgements to customes receiued to the ouer flowing of vices and idolatrie like vnto diuers kindes of Fishes which alwaies swimme against the streame and tend towards the Fountaine attending his comming to iudge the quicke and the dead and raise our bodies from the earth to the end that in body and soule we may raigne with him eternally Behold my Brethren the substance of the Gospell of Christ whereof Saint Paul saith that hee is not ashamed but glorifieth himselfe notwithstanding humane iudgements and contradictions which contradictions wee haue to speake of in the second place and of the meanes wherewith Sathan and the flesh â—â—â—ue themselues for to make men distaste and be ashamed of the Gospell of Christ for Saint Paul saith that the Gospell is a scandall to the Iewes and folly to the Greekes that is to say that the Iewes were offended with it and the Gentiles mocked at it They were offended to heare spoken that God became man of a crucified God of one that was called the Sonne of Dauid and neuerthelesse he said he was before Abraham was They were offended to heare in the Gospell where the first clause thereof begun with Blessed are those that weepe and
gotten vp The infirme scandalize our prophane humour and impute our vices to Religion but God grant you long to preserue this peace and prosperity and preserue your King vnder whose wise conduct you liue quietly But you must vnderstand that the security of the Kings life is the piety and innocency of his subiects and the meanes long to preserue that grace which God hath giuen you is not to abuse it but to mannage the time and the Commodity which God hath giuen you which he hath not giuen to neighbour Nations but hath rather set before your eyes as it were for example of seruitude and obscure ignorance whereupon Sathan hath powred out a filthy smoake euen out of the pits of the Abisme whilest that in our owne Countrey shineth the clearnesse of the truth of the Gospell to the end that by this comparison you may learne to glorifie God and not to abuse and corrupt his blessings with ingratitude Out of all this you are to learne two poynts First what the Gospell of Christ is and next what it is to be ashamed of the Gospell Now let vs learne the third which is the resolution of Saint Paul by which he glorifieth himselfe in the reproch of the Gospell and contemneth the misprise of men saying I am not ashamed c. which is the exhortation he maketh to his disciple Timothy Be not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord Iesus but participate of the afflictions of the Gospell according to the power of God This holy Apostle knew what the hatred of the world was against the Gospell Hee knew the Egyptians naturally hated the Pastors as Ioseph said to his Brethren He esteemed it no shame to doe that which Dauid did which is to feed the flocke of his Father principally those which Iesus Christ hath bought with his bloud and glorified himselfe to be Heralde of the Ministery of reconciliation ambassadour for Christ and declarer of peace betweene God and men 2 Cor. 5. and as Saint Paul saint after Isaiah Rom. 10. Oh how faire are the feete of those which declare peace which say to Sion thy kingdome come He was not ashamed to beare that burthen which hee himselfe had carried For euen as a King maketh a company of Knights of his owne order of which order he himselfe is the principall So Iesus Christ hath instituted the Ministery of the Gospell of which order he himselfe is the chiefe hath vouchsafed to participate of the same charge Hee was not ashamed to publish to men the Diuine Mysteries which the Angels themselues admired and were diligent to behold with admiration euen to the very bottome as Saint Peter saith hauing regard to the structure of the Arke of allyance called the Eternall whereupon the Propitiator was placed as a figure of Iesus Christ our propitiation also there were put two Cherubins hauing their heads curled and their eyes blinded towards the propitiatory for to figure out vnto vs the attention of the Euangelicall spirits and to admire the mysteries of our Redemption in Iesus Christ whereupon we need not be dismayed if in the first of Samuel the Bethsemites hauing taken away the propitiatory for to looke within the Arke that is to say to approch to God without Iesus CHRIST were consumed with wounds and mortality To be short our Apostle was not ashamed to declare the mystery of our Reconciliation which is aboue all other mysteries euen surpassing the worke of the creation For if it be an admirable thing that the Creator hath made the creature it is also a thing much more admirable that the Creator was made a creature And as for the goods which God hath giuen vs so much difference is there betweene the earthly and celestiall Paradise betweene the Tree of life and betweene Iesus Christ betweene those foure Riuers which runne by the Garden of Eden and these other foure which proceede from Iesus Christ which Saint Paul numbreth vnto vs that he hath been made for vs Wisedome Iustice Sanctification and Redemption So much difference is there betweene the goods which wee haue lost in Adam and those which wee haue offered vnto vs in Iesus Christ In such sort that I dare say this fall of Adam hath beene happy for Gods children and that there was happinesse in this vnhappinesse and if we had not fallen into death we should not haue come to so happy a life But the principall reason why the Apostle glorifieth himselfe to be a messenger of the Gospell is that which he expresseth in this Text that it is the power of God to saluation to all beleeuers that is to say because it is the sauing vertue of God by which hee saueth all beleeuers For the Gospel is the meanes which serueth to purifie mens harts Now you are cleane through the Word of God which I haue spoken vnto you Ioh. 15. As the Spettle comming out of mans mouth makes Serpents dye so that which commeth out of the mouth of faithfull Pastors maketh wicked desires dye which are a legion of domesticall spirits that hold correspondency with the Diuell It is by the Word of God which God toucheth the hearts of the repentant and imprinteth Faith in them For Faith is by hearing and hearing by the Word of God It is a powerfull means which by a sweet violence and by a necessity vnconstrained directeth the hearts and draweth them into the way of saluation by reason of the efficacy whereof he is called the arme of the Lord because God by this meanes handleth the soules and pulleth them out of the power of Sathan leading them into the way of saluation The Apostle in the fourth to the Hebrewes compareth it to a two edged sword because of the double vertue Ieremy calleth it a fire and a Trowell which breaketh the stones for it warmeth the hearts with zeale and tameth the hardnesse thereof For as God writ with his finger the Law in stone so he engraueth his Gospell in our hard and rebellious hearts by the efficacy of his holy Spirit which is the finger of God Which I speake of the rather fearing that some should thinke by their eloquence to giue efficacy to the Word of God Beleeue it not in any sort for that vertue commeth vnto him and to euery man also euen from the Spirit of God which giueth it efficacy without the which the Word of God is but a dead letter a tinkling sound in the ayre We beat your eares but God toucheth your hearts we cast the seed but God sendeth the raine and maketh the Sunne of benediction light vpon him He which planteth and hee which watereth is nothing but hee that giueth the increase Who was euer more eloquent then Isay and his quality also seemed to enforce attention for hee was of the blood-royall neuerthelesse he complaineth that he laboured in vaine and none would beleeue in his preaching to the end that those whom God employeth in this worke if they would haue their labour
which hee hath put into his hands you shall perceiue it to increase and to multiply it selfe in your hands and the blessing of God to be poured out vpon your trauaile Seeing that the Gospell is the sauing-power of God let let vs take heed aboue all we take not away this efficacie by a wicked life contrary to our preaching For as the staffe of Elizeus had not the same vertue in the hand of Gehazi that it had in Elizeus hand so the instructions that are in the mouth of a man fearing God are full of force but in the mouth of a prophane Minister they haue no vertue at all and therefore the eternall hath said to the wicked Wherefore dost thou take my words in thy mouth And Iesus Christ commanded Sathan to hold his tongue when he cryed thou art the Christ the Sonne of God knowing that the Gospell in the mouth of the Diuell loseth the authority For the people will neuer truely beleeue the Pastor as long as they see him do the contrary and be like the Trumpets who incourage to the Combat and keepe themselues out of the Battaile or like him thar carrieth the Lantern and seeth the least How will you that the people should come to be sober and modest in apparell to be chast and holy in words if the Ministers be disordered sumptuous in apparell and contemners of the name of God How would you that the people should be turned from their idlenesse and from Theaters and vnchaste loues and lechery if the Pastor himselfe be giuen to it Wherefore as in the time of Heli the sacrificer because of the sinnes of his Children the Oblation was not accepted Euen so because of the vices of Preachers the people misprise Preaching For which cause howsoeuer eloquent and learned they be they cannot escape the Iudgement of God they shall be like the Carpenters which builded the Arke and yet were drowned in the floud or like the Tirrians Sidonians who furnished Salomon with Materials for the building of the Temple and yet notwithstanding were strangers of the house of God and his allyance In generall Brethren wee exhort you in the name of God and for the compassion of the Lord by the precious bloud of his allyance by the honour which you haue to be the Children of God for that you are desirous of Gods glory and your owne saluation that you cherish and esteeme the Gospell of Christ and not be carelesse of this grace of God to haue made shine in this Country so clearely the clearenesse of his Gospell for it is arriued in these quarters that which happened in Ierusalem then when the Law was hidden in the Temple and they thought it to be lost it was found againe and came to light As to the wise men who reioyced with great ioy at the sight of the blasing Starre which brought them to Iesus Christ As to Saint Iohn Apoc. 5. who wept that there was none found worthy to open the booke because of the seales but afterwards hee was comforted for that the Lambe of God which was also called the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda came before and opened the booke to manifest to men the will of God You are of those to whom it was manifested with most clearenesse with least trouble and incommoditie But take heede that you be not of the number of those that Saint Iude speaketh of who turne the grace of God into dissolution and with Gods patience are become idle and negligent Take heed that the ease of the world do not make you forget what the Crosse of Christ is Know that although God exempt you to flie from your Countrey for the Gospel so it is that you ought to liue like Trauellers and Strangers on the earth for as much as God exempteth you from the Crosse that you ought to crucifie your flesh and mortifie euery affection Although you loose not your goods for Christs Gospell yet ought you to be ready to loose and to possesse as not possessing being charitable to the poore making you friends of vniust riches which will receiue you into euerlasting Tabernacles These things are represented vnto you by your Pastors with more Doctrine both of grace and familiarity But it is good that God bee glorified in euery tongue and that you acknowledge the ioy and delight which the Stranger Churches doe receiue of Gods benedictions poured out vpon you and the vnion which is betweene you in the same Doctrine and vnion of Faith The God of Heauen who hath giuen his Sonne for our Sauiour poure downe his graces from aboue vpon your gracious King inspire him more and more with holy resolutions for the good of his Church and conduct by his holy Spirit the Pastors of his flocke abundantly blesse the people which is chosen for his inheritance to the end that after hee shall bee serued of you to glorifie his Name in this world he may glorifie you in Heauen Amen FINIS THE COMFORT OF A Communicant Jn a Sermon made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION By Peter Moulin Minister in the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. A SERMON made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION LVKE 2. VER 28.29.30 28 Simeon tooke the Child in his armes and blessed God and said 29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word 30 For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation YOV know that in all Contracts of Marriage there is speach of death but the alliance of Iesus Christ with vs is a spirituall marriage The contract of this marriage is that which we call the Gospell a Contract whereof the Apostles haue beene the Writers and Iesus Christ himselfe hath sealed it with his bloud Let it not seeme strange vnto you then if we speake of death to day and of the preparation to die because we are to speake vnto you of a contract of marriage and of our coniunction with the onely Sonne of the Eternall God For these Sacraments which wee administer vnto you at this Holy Table are kinds of assurances which serue vs as pledges of the assurance that Iesus Christ is ours Now although the consummation of this marriage shall not fully be made but in the kingdome of Heauen and that no man can enter in but at this gate which is called death which in times past was the gate of Hell but Iesus Christ hath altered and transported it from that place and hath made it the port of Heauen from whence it followeth that no man can thinke of Iesus Christ and our coniunction with him but he must also thinke of death There is nothing more neerely conioyned together then the promises of life and the preparation to death it is impossible for vs to thinke of Iesus Christ but presently we must thinke that by his death he hath taken away the bitternesse and malediction of death like vnto that wood
repent at this present and no longer prophane this speciall gift of God this gift of Repentance so pretious Hebr. 12.17 which Esau asketh with teares but was not granted him lest that the misery of the fiue foolish Virgins fall vpon vs who being not furnished with oile which their leisure would haue furnished them withall entred not in with the bridegroome but let vs keepe watch in walking in newnesse of life as already departed from the world not knowing the houre when we shall be called witnessing that we are dead to sinne and aliue to God through Iesus Christ in whom we are made new Creatures to serue to righteousnesse and now let vs truly shew to haue more care of heauenly than of earthly things the couetous man in renouncing his couetousnesse the ambitious worldling in renouncing his insolent ambition and the voluptuous in hating his vile fleshly affections for from thence springeth all our impietie it is the root and fountaine which begetteth and bringeth forth all wickednesse which wicked people so much esteeme Without particularizing the enormitie of these vices where the most guiltie will cleare himselfe in saying he is no such man although indeed he will not forbeare the honour of God euen to trample it vnder foote as much as he hath power to fulfill his disordinate desires willingly detracting from the way of saluation and hold against his conscience the wide way of the world with those that know not God adoring the Creature for the Creator not fearing to doe any thing that may please the appetite These sinnes draw after them all iniquitie and to make warre against God is no better than to renounce him can man with all the wickednesse of the world bee more abominable No no it is impossible it is in the height of iniquitie But to the end that wee may not condemne the parties without hearing them answer for themselues let vs understand what they can say God desireth the interiour and not the exteriour that which is within not that without and if they striue to be in better concord and societie yet they doe but apply themselues in shew onely that is but to seeke outwardly for vnion and by endeuour to preserue that which is not still inwardly remaining one the same they were before which is contrary to the way and walke of a good soule O true sentence most worthy noting Prov. 12.15 1 Cor. 3.19 That the way of a foole is right in his owne eies Poore blinde fooles thinke you by your humane wisdome folly before the eternall to put your selues safelier vpon the pitch-banke of Gods wrath than those whom you doe condemne heare what S. Paul saith of those desiring to be wise Rom. 1.21.22 You are become fooles in this that forasmuch as you haue knowne God yet haue you not glorified him as God let vs learne that he which knoweth the will of his master and doth it not shall be beaten more grieuously than hee that knoweth it not Your Hypocrisie is here most apparant in desiring to be thought of in better part than that which is within your heart a detestable sinne which Iesus Christ neuer speaketh of but in wonderfull anger it is the high way of Atheisme for he which enforceth himselfe to faine a religion that hee condemneth in his soule can haue no quiet in soule nor conscience vntill hee come to beleeue that all things are indifferent and there is no other meanes to vntie himselfe from the terror of Gods iudgements and to free his miserable conscience but to perswade himselfe that God will not so strictly looke to the cariages of men and then that maketh him a spirituall theefe or hauing lost the sense and feeling of diuine iustice it is a true testimony he knoweth God no more for to deny God and to deny his iustice is all one Doe we not see that these for the most part who fainingly adhere but to idolaters in the end wholly become idolaters or fall into the blindnesse of being of no religion hauing wholly forgot God and liue as if there were none who because men should thinke better of them are like the Camelion according as they meet withall sometimes this and sometimes that such the Prophet Elias crieth against in the 3. of Kings the 18. Wherefore do you halt of both sides if God be God wherfore doe you not follow him if Baal Baal But if yet they haue any sparke of knowledge that there is a God a terrible God that is to be feared in his iudgements when hee is angrie should they not be loth to heare the Eternall say in his anger Apoc. 3.16 They being neither hot nor cold but luke-warme hee will spue them out of his mouth And Ier. 48.10 saith Hee is accursed that doth the worke of the Lord loosely what can be more terrible but only the execution And you that say ye are the best you that agree with the Spirit in what you doe Lamentable wise fooles whose wisdome is folly do not you know that he that is Creator of the soule is also of the bodie Can wee with the one serue God and Mammon with the other Wherefore did not Daniel faigne as you vse when he was to be cast into the Lions den or Sidrack Misack and Abednego when they were to be cast into the furnace wherefore haue not all other Martyrs spoken your language and made a faire shew to haue escaped such horrible torments euen of death it selfe But what was the cause that made many of them euen with a yea or a no without any profession of religion being desired by those which thought to doe friendly offices for their escape rather chuse death and so abandon their liues than they would heare one word in hope thereof Rom. 10.10 No no we must as Saint Paul saith not only beleeue with the heart to be iustified but confesse with the mouth to haue saluation for God desireth the outward with the inward and would haue our light so shine before men to the end that seeing our good workes he may be glorified this is the doctrine of Iesus Christ let vs striue to doe this for otherwise we shall finde as in the Apocal. 2.16 Repent or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth But let vs take vp with our selues and at last sing with Dauid Psal 35. Our tongues shall sing highly of the iustice of the eternall and the humble shall heare that our soules shall glorifie the Lord whereat they will reioyce and as Saint Paul exhorteth vs Let vs glorifie our God not only in our spirit but also in our bodies which are Gods and let vs giue one another a good signe of our adoption that we haue in Iesus Christ which all men may witnesse that by him we are inheritors of the kingdome of heauen let vs reioyce in this glory which no glory can compare with and so pretious a blessing that no man
can value with any price Let our pietie shine cleerely for the instruction of our families and not shew our selues carelesse but carefull to make them know the riches of saluation with the means how it must be attained otherwise we are no better than the executioners of their soules worse than bruit beasts who but for a while care for their young ones or like those that sacrificed their children to Baal I say if we consent that they be nourished with the milke and venome of spirituall whoredome we doe as much as we can to make them one day participate of the malediction of the eternall euen as if we had vowed to be instruments to deliuer them vp into the hands of Satan which we do testifie if against our knowledge and conscience we nourish them not vp in the waies of the Lord. Let vs apply our whole studie to that after a sort doing as God hath committed to our charge for their holy conuersation to publish to euery one the truth of our profession as a thing that we make most esteeme of I pray you where is he that is borne of a noble familie who is not iealous to be acknowledged for one of that race What Lord will not set out his Titles and will not weare his Armes euen in the best places for to be most beheld although it be but of small continuance and little better than pure vanitie yet can it hold no comparison with this Title so high aboue all so full of glory the top of all Honour this Title I say of the childe and seruant of God coheire with Christ dignities O the most Noble and magnificent which make Monarks happie not for a while but eternally in regard whereof all other things be they neuer so pretious which are vnder Heauen are much lesse than nothing euen most vnhappy if this other be not adioyned vnto it and moreouer if the noble man of the family in his Armes will not suffer to take away or adde any thing lest the world should detract from his dignitie how much more should we be carefull to commit any thing that is not conuenient who are truly the children and seruants of God and in contempt of the world enforce our selues to walke in integritie and striue to be so esteemed which if we doe not how can we be esteemed to be in the grace and fauour of Heauen let vs not then be ashamed of the truth of Christs Gospell which is the vertue of God to saluation vnto all beleeuers for alas if it be so that we are become so bruit and bestiall that to possesse the world or for feare of it we will dissemble the knowledge that is in vs the Sonne of God himselfe saith vnto vs Luke 9.26 euen as we haue denied him before men he will also denie vs before his Father and there will be ashamed of vs and very iustly Let vs then hold the confession of our hope without varying for any thing according as S. Paul teacheth vs That that which is present and to come height depth pouertie nakednesse persecution affliction nor death nor life shall not separate vs from the loue of Christ alwaies prepared in euery place and before all to render a reason to euery one of the hope that is in vs and as truly faithfull let vs take our neighbours by the hand and say let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of Sion into the house of the God of Iacob and there will he teach vs his waies and let vs one stirre vp another to Charitie and good Workes without swaruing from the companie of the faithfull for S. Paul saith If we willingly sin after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there is no more sacrifice for sinne but a terrible looking for iudgement and a furie of fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Representing vnto vs that if any haue misprised the Law of Moses he was without all mercie put to death from thence then conclude how much greater torment doe they deserue who haue the bloud of IESVS CHRIST in no reuerence or holinesse by which they haue beene sanctified doing this iniurie euen to the spirit of grace afterwards that this commeth to be knowne the custom is to depriue such odious people of great mens fauours which maketh all faire designes proue abortiue this is no true nor faire proceeding but rather an incouragement still to continue in their wicked waies Here must the place be of the wrastling behold the Combat but before we enter the lists let vs know our enemies they are the World and the Flesh shall we aske of our enemies conuenient things to destroy them No that would be worse than to cast flaxe into the fire to quench it For to defend our selues from the first assault let vs ranke our selues like Daniel Sidrack Misack and Abednego let vs march their pace and we shall serue our selues with the like Armes of Martyrs which they did hauing our reines girt with the girdle of Truth cloathed with the brest-plate of Righteousnesse and our feete with the preparation of the Gospell of peace in euery thing taking the buckler of Faith the helmet of Saluation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God renouncing our selues to follow IESVS CHRIST as euery true Christian ought so shall we passe a greater conflict than this we haue at this present if we meete it and shall remaine conquerers as they haue done which haue not only knowne but also followed the will of the Eternall and not the sensualitie of the Flesh of the World a gift of God which he giueth to all that aske it of him with confidence knowing that the Almightie curseth the man that putteth his trust in Man and in the flesh of the arme for the greatest is but vanitie and lies and whosoeuer should weigh al the great ones of the earth against nothing yet should they all be found more light than nothing But they haue not waited for saluation from any other soueraigne but reposed wholly in him Doe we not see that there neuer was any Monarch in the world that displeased God but presently was reduced to nothing doe we want any proofes that God euer failed in his promises neither hath it beene euer knowne but the wrath of God followed him that trusted in his owne arme and power were it neuer so powerfull let vs at last renounce it for he that hath nothing but earthly force hath none at all Let vs therefore follow the counsell of Dauid and put our trust alwaies in God for he is good and will giue vs all that is conuenient mightie in power and truth and vnmoueable in all his promises for to bring euery thing to passe therfore let vs all say with him God is my force and my hope neither is there any other helpe but from him Psalme 28. Thou that fearest thy Honours and fearest that the goods of the earth will leaue thee which when they haue done so
in the Eucharist and euen at the same time the deuill entred into him can it bee conuenient or possible to thinke that Iesus Christ and the deuill entred into one body together and remained together One thing I thinke is very conuenient that in euery Sacrament as also at the sacrifice it is necessary that the thing which they administer to the people and that they offer to God bee consecrated but in the Eucharist of the Roman Church there is nothing of consecrate which is administred to the people nor which is offered to God for is this the bread which is consecrated No way for they say it is no more bread Is it the body of Iesus Christ it is not for Iesus Christ cannot bee consecrated but it is he that consecrateth vs. Are these the accidents of bread which are consecrated that they call formes that is to say the roundnesse the colour and taste of the bread It is not neither for these things are not offered to God in sacrifice neither are they giuen to the people for to sanctifie them But behold one Sacrament and one sacrifice where there is nothing consecrated where he doth make a Consecration but they cannot say what it is that is consecrated All this abuse commeth by the fault of some Priests who could if they would make vs all agree very easily in one way For all confesse that Iesus Christ hath instituted the holy Sacrament as it ought to bee and that there is nothing to say against it If then the Pope would reduce the Holy Supper into the same forme wherein Iesus Christ instituted it in speaking as hee did and doing as hee did without further dispute we should all agree and so wee should all come to be of one assembly vnanimously to glorifie God By this meanes diuine seruice should bee done in the vulgar tongue there should be no more priuate Masses All should communicate vnder both kindes there should be no more adoration of the Hoast nor any eleuation of the sacrifice the Priests bending ouer the Altar should not pray to God for saluation through the merit of Saints whose bones and reliques are hidden vnder the Altar But contenting our selues with the prescribed simplicity of Iesus Christ wee should reiect these additions which disfigure this Sacrament vnder the shadow of adorning it God giue vs grace to see this happy time and to that end dispose of the hearts of Princes and people for the loue of IESVS CHRIST our LORD Amen FINIS COMFORTABLE INSTRVCTIONS for the SICKE By Peter Moulin Minister in the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. Short and Familiar Instructions to comfort the SICKE When the sicknesse appeareth not to be mortall For the comfort of the party one may thus beginne SIR it behooueth you first to acknowledge that this sickenesse is not fallen vpon you by chance but by the wise conduct and prouidence of Almightie God our Creator and Father who so disposeth of prosperitie and aduersity health and sicknesse vpon his children that he neuer sendeth either the one or the other but to his owne glory and the parties good and saluation As the Apostle Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.27 Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God He purposely speaketh of afflictions wherein sicknesses are ranked Those people loue God who are first loued of him and as the Apostle saith called according to his owne determinated purpose That you are of this number you haue occasion to take assurance by the faith which hee hath giuen you in making you beleeue that he is your Father and Sauiour in his Welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord by which you receiue the spirit of adoption which is that that witnesseth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heires and co-heires with Christ Rom. 8.11.16.17 You must also take assurance by the sanctification of his holy spirit by which he hath brought you into his obedience For those that are led by the spirit of God are the children of God But to those which are such the Apostle Saint Paul saith that euery thing workes together for good afflictions sicknesses euen death it selfe all that they haue is turned by the grace of God to their owne profit and great good and for the aduancement furtherance of their saluation Three principall fruits God maketh vs gather of our maladies and afflictions The first is the amendement of our life which awaketh vs out of our sinnes For both in health and prosperity it is too ordinary to flatter and cherish our selues in sinne by reason of our great corruption in Nature which maketh vs inclined to all euill and vnprofitable to any good it is therefore necessarie to looke about vs and become more sensible of our sinnes to retire our selues and to be displeased with them which is made by the meanes of sicknesses and other aduersities of this life occasioned by sinne and very often purposely sent from God to chastise and correct vs and in that this good Father of Heauen sheweth how much he loueth vs hindering our vndoing and confusion in our inordinate life like a good Father that very well loueth his Children hee chastiseth and correcteth vs to hinder and draw vs backe againe lest we should be lost as Saint Paul saith in the 1. of the Corin. 32. Verse When we are afflicted we are taught by the Lord to the end we should not be condemned with the world and in another place he saith Heb. 12. Ver. 6.7 and 11. That the Lord chastiseth him he loueth and beateth euery childe whom he auoweth If you endure Chastisement God presenteth himselfe vnto vs as to his Children For who is the childe that the Father correcteth not and although that all discipline in the instant seeme not to be of ioy but of sadnesse neuerthelesse it brings a peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to those that thereby are exercised It behooueth vs therefore first of all to gather this excellent fruit of our sicknesses to feele the innumerable number of our sinnes and offences wherof we are culpable before God to aske pardon of him in all humility and repentance and to make a holy protestation to liue better hereafter and to walke in his obedience and feare by the grace of God and the conduct of his holy Spirit which we ought to aske with ardent prayers and with an assured faith to be heard according to his promises And so we may say with Dauid that excellent seruant of God Psal 119. Ver. 6â— 92. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue kept thy word It is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes Now we may behold the sicknesses of our Bodies how they come to be by Gods grace wholsome medicines for our soules The second good which sicknesses bring vs is to vnloose and pull away
Name of his blessed Son Iesus Christ our Lord doubt not but according to his promises hee will heare you and at the present be with you and fill your soule full of all holy consolation fortifying you with patience and in like sort comforting you as much as is fit for you by which meanes he will binde you so much more to reioyce in his bounty and to glorifie his holy Name with all obedience This is his owne saying to all that are afflicted as you are Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will heare thee Is it not then your desire that here wee call vpon him with you altogether that he will be pleased to assist you with his mercy Patient Yes A Prayer O Lord our God and mercifull Father we prostrate ourselues here in all humility at the feet of thy diuine Maiestie to acknowledge that it is too true that we are vnworthy of thy fauour and worthy of Hell if thou shouldest deale with vs according to thy Iustice for so many offences which we heare confesse our selues to be guilty of But we beseech thee remember thy infinite bounty be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners and take pity vpon vs for the loue of thy blessed Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord not beholding of vs in our selues but in the person of this Sonne of thy delight as members of his Body reconciled to thy Maiestie by the blessing of his death And as thou art the Father of mercy and God of all consolation rich in compassion and gratious to all those that call vpon thee and haue confidence in thee we beseech thee that thou wilt be pleased to shew thy selfe liberall in generall towards vs all who now cry out for mercy and particularly towards the person of this thy child and seruant lying in this bed of infirmity giue him first of all to vnderstand that no other hand hath strucke him but thine owne to the end hee may learne to submit himselfe to it in all humility and reuerence And to this end that he may remember that it is a fatherly hand and a gentle who strikes not to loose but to saue and after hauing wounded viuifieth and woundeth by the same wounds which it hath made make him feele that he is a miserable and poore sinner not onely proceeding out of this masse of corruption from whence we all doe come in Adam but also and principally that since it hath pleased thee to giue him grace to acknowledge thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ in whom consisteth eternall life manifesting by this meanes thy free adoption in thy welbeloued Sonne receiuing him to thee hauing also put him into the ranke amongst the number of thy children and seruants in thy Church although he hath not well knowne the aboundant riches of thy mercy to loue and serue thee with all his heart as he ought in renouncing the world and himselfe by reason of vnthankefulnesse naturally bred in him and in vs all continually rebelling and fighting against thy great bounty and grace O deare Father touch him in his heart with a liuely feeling of all his infirmities and offences to the ende that without flattering of himselfe he may condemne himselfe before thy Maiesty that he may acknowledge all Righteousnesse to thee and to himselfe nothing but confusion of face make him renounce himselfe wholly and confesse that iustly and rightly thou bringest vpon him these chastisements and that if thou shouldest deale with him according to his deserts thou shouldest binde him vp and throw him euen into eternall destruction Good Lord also grant that this acknowledgement be also but to humble him and not to deiect him into the bottome of despaire and so being of one side cast downe and laid vpon the ground by thy powerfull hand not so much from the feeling of his sickenesse as from the feeling of his sinnes he may be on the other side by the same blessed hand relieued and raised vp againe in assured hope by the consideration of this thy incomprehensible mercy whereof thou hast giuen vs so precious and so rich a pledge as thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast not spared but deliuered to death euen to the ignominious and wicked death of the Crosse to redeeme vs from the ignominious malediction of sinne Good Lord grant that from hence thy poore distressed seruant may receiue all his refuge fortifie his faith by the which hee may search and finde in this death and holy obedience of thy Sonne the forgiuenesse of all his sinnes and firmely embrace the perfect Righteousnesse thereof where withall being clothed he may finde peace with thee and glorifie himselfe in the hope of thy glory amongst all his tribulations And that the sorrow of his sickenesse wherewith hee is corporally visited may be sweetned with the repose and contentment of his soule And if it be thy pleasure to recouer him from this sickenesse to prolong his dayes whereof thou doest giue vs some signes good Lord giue him grace to vse it to thy glory perpetually beating in minde this thy grace to consecrate the rest of his life with much more affection and zeale then heretofore hee hath done And make him receiue this sickenesse as a fatherly affliction to draw him from sinne and to make him take a holy resolution by thy grace all the dayes of his life to remember the duty and obedience wherewithall he is bound to thee to walke in thy feare more purely and more feruently then euer heretofore Blesse the remedies which thou art pleased to let him vse that he may receiue comfort in his distresse moderate the sharpenesse of his colour and stay the course of it if thou Lord thinkest it fitting to the end he may glorifie thy Name and bee thankefull for thy mercy But if it be thy will still to continue or augment his paine make that it may be for his good and to giue him an increase of strength and constancy to beare these thy trials with a tranquile and sweet spirit without murmure or impatience and also in these testimonies of his faith and patience so Christianly we desire that thou maist be glorified and his neighbours edified and comforted And that he may by the experience of this miserable life be taught to withdraw his heart and affection and to raise them vp freely to the meditation and seeking of true repose and to the incomprehensible felicity which is prouided for vs in Heauen to liue eternally Grant also good Lord the same graces to all other that are sicke and afflicted Comfort them and fortifie them according to their necessitie and aboue all giue them grace and a liuely faith to embrace thy mercy in Iesus Christ for their comfort Heare vs O Father of mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ euen as he himselfe hath commanded vs to present our selues vnto thee Our Father which art in Heauen
c. And forasmuch O Lord as without faith we cannot be agreeable or acceptable vnto thee we beseech thee so to increase it in this thy seruant and in vs all that he may come to the last breath of life and we with him to perseuere therein and to be alwayes disposed to render a pure confession with heart and mouth as wee now present our selues vnto thee saying I beleeue in God c. This is his faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye herein through Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee eternally Amen When there is apparencie that the sickenesse is mortall follow this forme Sir It behoueth you to bee of good courage in the middle of your affliction which it pleaseth God still to continue vpon your body and be assured that he hath neither sent or continued it but for the good and saluation of your soule to teach you by this meanes to vnderstand your selfe as being a poore sinner more and more to detest your sinnes contemne the world to lift you vp to God and to inuocate and call vpon him with much more feruour with assurance to be heard following his holy promises and to obtaine of him Christian Constancy which is most necessary for you in this tryall The assurance of the mercy of God in Iesus Christ the true ground of all Consolation That which ought most to comfort you and with courage and patience to strengthen you is the assurance which you ought alwayes to take that God for the loue of his welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus hath imbraced you into his loue and free fauour hath pardoned your offences hath adopted you and receiued you amongst the number of his children to make you inherite the Kingdome of Heauen by vertue of the purchase which Iesus Christ hath made for you by the merit of his death such an assurance will make you alwayes certaine that nothing can happen vnto you whether it be in life or death which can be any other then the fauour and blessing of your Heauenly Father and so consequently are aides and meanes ordayned by his wise prouidence to conduct you to the blessed life This assurance commeth from Faith It is true that this assurance wee cannot take of our selues it is our good God that giueth it when by the vertue of his holy Spirit and holy Word he createth in our hearts a true and a liuely faith with the which we receiue and wee appropriate the promises of his grace which he hath ordayned vs in the preaching of the gospel Which promises in effect are That God hath so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Ioh. 3.16 If God then hath giuen you the grace to beleeue in his only Son to embrace him for your Redeemer and Sauiour as we gather hitherto by the profession you haue made and still continueth in the Church you may take from thence a holy assurance that God according to the infallible truth of his Word hath receiued you into his loue that you shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Now being so what can you feare Rom. 8.30.31 If God be with vs who can be against vs Hee who hath not spared his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall hee not with him also freely giue vs all things Hee hath giuen you the most that is his Sonne hee will not euerthelesse deny you any thing else that can be necessary for to keepe you from all sort of euill corporall and spirituall as well in life as in death Faith applyeth to all the faithfull the promises of the Gospell This application whereof I haue spoken which you must make to your selfe from the promises of the Gospel to gather such a holy assurance it is necessarily required by Faith For to beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not enough to beleeue in grosse that there is a Iesus Christ and who beleeueth in him hath eternall life neither is it enough to beleeue that the promises of the Gospell are altogether true the Diuell beleeueth so much yet notwithstanding hee hath no true beleeuing faith But to beleeue in Iesus Christ is when the faithfull beleeueth that there is saluation in Iesus Christ for him which the Diuell cannot beleeue And the true iustifying faith whereby the iust liueth chiefely consisteth in that that we apply and appropriate vnto our selues euery one in his own particular the promises of saluation that euery one in his owne behalfe may say that which St. Paul saith in the person of euery one of the faithfull Gal. 2.20 I liue in the faith of the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me and in the 2 Tim. 1.2 I know whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day and Rom. 8.37.38 I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which he hath shewed vs in Iesus Christ our Lord. This faith doth not bring vs a simple opinion or coniecture of our saluation but a certaine knowledge following that which Saint Iohn saith 5.14 Wee know that we are translated from death to life And Iohn 10. We know that we are of God and I haue saith he 1 Ioh. 5.13 written these things to you which beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of God to the end that you should know that you haue eternall life This faith freely lets vs goe to the treasure of Gods grace Heb. 4.10 With assurance as hee saith in the 10.22 euen with a true heart and a full assurance of faith as Saint Paul saith Ephes 3.12 that by Iesus Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse in our beleefe by the faith which wee haue in him This faith is called Hebrewes 11.1 the substance of things hoped for that is to say that maketh things beleeued and hoped subsist in our soules neither more nor lesse then if we were already in the very Actuall possession and inioying This Faith maketh vs finde peace and rest in our soules and consciences chasing away the feares and terrours which sinne would set before vs with the apprehension of Gods iudgements following that which Saint Paul saith Rom. 5. Verse 1. That being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lord by the which also wee haue beene led by Faith to this grace wherein we hold our selues fast and glorifye our selues in the hope of the glory of God The gift of perseuerance assured to the Faithfull Moreouer these passages propound vnto vs this holy assurance of Faith not onely for the present but also to come and containeth a promise which God giueth vs to perseuere in this Faith euen to the
you need not doubt a certaine assurance to be iustified and saued seeing that God hath giuen you this grace to beleeue with your heart to Righteousnesse and to make confession with your mouth to saluation Rom. 1.1 For the sicke person to resolue whether it be for life or death according to Gods will Being thus resolued vpon this firme foundation of faith now you must take a holy resolution constantly to attend without all feare what the Lord will be pleased to send vnto you in this your sicknesse with a firme perswasion that all will goe well with you whether it bee you shall remaine here below or that it be his pleasure to make you more happy If his pleasure be to restore you to former health againe as he is powerfull to draw the dead out of the sepulcher and make them liue againe which will bee if hee please for to make you more affectionate to the honour and seruice of God then euer heretofore you haue beene But if it be his will to leade you by this sickenesse to the end of your course it will be to receiue you into the possession of that perfect felicity which the Sonne of God hath so dearely bought with the price of his blood And therefore goe your wayes vnto him with a holy chearefulnesse in the assurance of his mercies Reioyce your selfe in the happy exchange of your remouing from earth to Heauen from this short and miserable life to the blessed life for euer to endure from these triuiall and perishing goods to those that are heauenly and eternall which eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard which are not yet come vp into the heart of Man which God hath prepared for those that loue him Are you not then well resolued in all this to conforme your will to your Heauenly Father to the end that whether you liue you liue to the Lord or whether you dye you die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 being well assured that Christ shall be alwayes to you to liue or to dye Phil. 1.21 Patient Yes God giue you the grace For to assure and comfort the sicke in the infirmitie of Faith I am not ignorant that your faith how great soeuer it may be yet notwithstanding it is both little in you and feeble for whilest the infirmities of this life remaine the Holy Spirit is not giuen vs but in a certaine measure according to the which we know not but in part and our spirituall renuing is yet but in the beginning it is certaine that here below we cannot attaine to the perfection of faith and therefore I doubt not but that your faith is yet weake and infirme and that it cannot but be moued with diuers temptations and combated with diuers assaults of doubt and distrust But yet neuerthelesse it behoueth you to be of good courage for this combat which you feele in your selfe is the combat which as Saint Paul saith to the Galatians 5. v. 17. is in the soule of euery faithfull betweene the flesh and the Spirit and therefore this is a sure testimony which you haue by faith For as the flesh fighteth in you through vnbeliefe so doth the Spirit fight in you by faith and this faith neuer faileth being fortified by the Spirit of God which maketh a man victorious and whatsoeuer imperfection it hath God will make it sufficient to saluation for it is not said Who shall perfectly beleeue shall be saued but simply Who shall beleeue Moreouer as you perceiue in your selfe your faith feeble and imperfect also I doubt not but you perceiue in your selfe a Holy desire that it may be encreased in you and made stronger and that in your heart you make your prayers to God that it may be so Is it not true Patient Yes But seeing it is so and that this faith and desire may encrease in you and that this prayer which you make to God proceed from the fruit of the Spirit and not of the flesh and seeing these are the fruits which the Spirit of God bringeth forth in you is it not a sure testimony that you are conducted by the same Spirit and so consequently the child of God for all those that are conducted by the Spirit of God are the children of God which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.14 Be of good cheere Sir and boldly say with the Apostle in the middest of your combats I am assured that nothing can seperate me from the loue of God which he hath shewed mee in Iesus Christ our Lord. For to assure the sicke against the affrights and temptations of Conscience There are foure things to be marked which in this spirituall combat may affright you shake your faith and trouble the peace of your conscience which is the feeling of your sinnes the apprehension of death the feare of the Diuell and the horror of Gods Iudgements before whom wee must make our appearance at the going out of this life But against the feare of all these things the bounty of God in the blessings of Christ and in the testimony of his Word furnisheth you with all sufficient remedies for to assure you and truely to confirme you in inuincible constancy Against feare proceeding from the feeling of sinne First of all for the respect of your sinnes it is very necessary to haue a liuely feeling thereof for to humble your selfe before God but seeing yon protest to haue a serious and true repentance and to search and apprehend by faith the satisfaction and expiation in the blood of Iesus Christ assure your selfe they can no way hinder the effect of your saluation If you bee a sinner So Iesus Christ is come into the world to saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 It is his blood which cleanseth vs from all iniquitie 1 Iohn 1.7.9 And whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall receiue remission of his sinnes through his Name Acts 10.43 And therefore he hath commanded that repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes should bee preached in his Name Luke 24.47 Hee himselfe inuiteth vs to come to him for to enioy this blessing Come vnto me all yee that labour and are ouer-laden and I will refresh you Matth. 11.28 Goe your wayes then vnto him if you finde your selues grieued with the burthen of your sinnes in assurance to finde remedy for your soules And for that very thing euery day hee maketh himselfe an Aduocate to the Father for vs. If we haue sinned saith Saint Iohn 2.1.2 wee haue an Aduocate with the Father that is to say Iesus Christ the Iust who is the propitiation for our sinnes Against the feare of Death In regard of death wherefore doe you feare it seeing that your sinnes are no more imputed vnto you for sinne was the cause that death entred into the world as Saint Paul Rom. 5.12 and by consequence there where no sinne is there can be no death And indeed concerning death eternall which the Scripture
COALES FROM THE ALTAR OR Foure religious TREATISES to kindle Deuotion in this colde AGE Written in French by Mounsieur du Moulin And Translated into English by N. M. LONDON Printed for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. TO THE RIGHT Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Norrisse the onely Daughter and heire of the Right Honourable Francis Earle of Berkeshire and Wife to the Right Worshipfull Mr. Edward Wray Esquire MADAME SO great is my Obligation to your Honour that your Honour may challenge the best seruices of my tongue or pen as due to your Ladiship for those brightest beames of your bounty lately cast vpon me whereby you haue comforted and reuiued my languishing and drooping fortunes The lesse I am able to discharge so great a debt the more I am bound to acknowledge it Anaxagoras finding Perides very ready to make vse of his learning in Philosophy but slow to contribute any thing to his maintenance brake with him in the end after this manner Sir if you desire to see by my light you must minister oyle to my lampe I must confesse and I willingly professe it Right Noble and vertuous Lady that you haue poured oyle into my Lampe in abundant measure and therefore by Anaxagoras his Apophthegne the light of my Lampe is yours by right A Lampe that burneth dimly at the first kindling yet afterwards yeeldeth a cleare and comfortable light which putteth me in some good hope that my labours how obscure soeuer they are now yet hereafter by more industry and practise in this kinde may serue not only to illustrate my Authors but also your Ladyships name For the present I must intreate a fauourable glance of your Ladiships eye vpon the worke I haue now aduentured to Translate and Dedicate to your Honour It consisteth of foure rare pieces drawne by an excellent hand The first presenteth to your view the liuely image of a Christians confidence in the word the second of his deuotion at the Sacrament the third of his patience in aduersitie the fourth of his watchfulnesse in prosperity All the parts and lineaments of these beautifull pictures I haue entirely represented in my translated draught but our language did not alwayes afford mee colours answerable to my Authors Which defect in them if your Ladyship will dispense with I doubt not but that they will seeme very agreeable to your Honour and not altogether vnworthy to be laid vp in your Ladyships rich Cabinet of spirituall rarities and diuine Treatises in this kinde which you rightly value aboue all other precious things in the world For iewels and precious stones adorne but the body these beautifie the minde and repaire the image of God in the hidden man of the heart The first of these will dispose you to the diligent hearing of the Word the second will prepare you to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament The third wil offer you comfort in sicknes and distresse The fourth will giue you wholesome counsell in prosperity Before you goe to Sermon to set an edge vpon your spirituall appetite for the foode of your soule I commend to your deuout meditations the first of them which discourseth of the excellency of the Gospell When you are bid to the Lords Table to take your Sauiour with Simeon into your hand peruse the second Treatise being wholly of that subiect And if God at any time shake his rod ouer you and you feare a fit of sicknesse or any grieuous trouble and affliction make vse of the cordiall contained in the third Treatise Lastly when you find your selfe dull and heauy in your deuotion in a manner lulled a sleep by the sweet enchantments of worldly comforts and delights then take the siluer Larum-Bell in the fourth Treatise into your hand and ring it out to awake you So shall your prosperity be secure your affliction cheerefull your receiuing the Sacrament most comfortable and your hearing the Word most delightfull and fruitfull Which he neuer ceaseth to pray for who remaines Your Ladyships humbly deuoted and perpetually obliged seruant NICH. METCALFE Errata PAge 6. line 14. reade a happy newes p. 7. l. 17. r. declaring p. 8. l. 11. r. acknowledge p. 9. l 21 r. driuing p. 15. l. 13. r. spirit ibid. l. 17. r. we p. 17. l. 5. r. being opposite to the course p. 18. l. 10. r. it spoken of God that he ibid. l. 19. r. it ibid. l. 2â— r. they p. 19. l. 1. r. his Kingdome ibid. l. 2. r. deliuered ibid. l. 11. r. to the p. 20. l. 15. r. by a p. 21. l. 1. r. shed his bloud for vs ibid. l. 20. by the sword or of p. 22. l. 17. r. he ibid. l. 23. r. plainnesse p. 23. l. 10. r. eloquence p. 24. l. 15. r. it ibid. l. 19. r. discourse p. 5. l. 19. r. riseth ibid. l. 24. r. how hardly they can stand p. 6. l. 3. r. beareth out or vp ibid. l. 24. r. growne p. 27. l. 1. r. weake are scandalized at our prophannesse ibid. l. 3. r. our ibid. l. 17. an ibid. l. 18. r. darke ibid. l. 20. r. the bottomelesse pit p. 28. l. 81. r. will ibid. l. 22. Shepheards p. 29. l. 6. r. proclaimer p. 30. l. 10. r. couered p. 31. l. 21. those good things p. 3â— l. 7. r. glorieth in being p. 33. l. 1. r. that ibid. l. 10. r. it p. 34. l. 9. r. it ibid. l. 14. r. strike ibid. l. 18. r. it p. 37. l. 6. r. within ibid. l. 7. r. on ibid. l. 23. r. The p. 38. l. 20. r. Wherefore p. 39. l. 12. r. life ibid. l. 13. r. implicit ib. l. 20. r. by an Atturney or a proxy p. 40. l. 2. r. his p. 41. l. 9. r. being p. 42. l. 22. r. strengthen p. 43. l. 1. r. who ibid. l. 2. r. who ibid. l. 11. r. needles p. 44. l. 15. r. prohibition which Christ gaue ibid. l. 17. r. wherefore ibid. l. 18. r. that he was sent p. 45. l. 21. r. Goshen ibid. l. 23. r. was ibid. l. 24. r. palpable FINIS THE BOLDNESSE AND CONFIDENCE OF A Christian In a SERMON made by Mounsieur du Moulin Minister of the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T. S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. A SERMON Made by Mounsieur du Moulin Minister of the Reformed Church at PARIS Expounding the first Chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romanes ROM 1. VER 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ seeing it is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth EVen as the Walles of Ierico fell at the sound of Iosuahs Trumpets So did the Walles of Babylon fall at the sound of the Trumpet of the Gospell For the preaching of the Gospell is the meanes by which God establisheth his Kingdome amongst men and maketh the Kingdome of the Diuell to tremble For euen as death entred into the world