heauens for vs Titus 3 that is for our loue For after that the bountie loue and humanitie of our Sauiour Christ appeared towards men he saued vs for no desert of ours neither for anie works of iustice that we haue done but according to his owne mercy thorough the washing of regeneration and renewing of the spirit which he plentifullie powred vpon vs by our sauior Iesus Christ that iustified by his grace we might be made heires according to the hope of eternall life Which saying is certaine and vndoubted and by all meanes to be imprinted in the mindes of men Seeing therefore God beareth so great loue good will to mankinde and that his fauour and hartie affection was so great that besides the vse and commoditie of all thinges he bestowed his onelie begotten son to be the redeemer of mankind that by the death and resurrection of Christ he might obtaine grace and reconciliation it is verie meete and the rule of equitie and gratification of a good turne receiued requireth that euerie one place all his hope and truste in him that we giue him great praise and euer to appâ—oue our liues and manners to him please him with a faith not vaine and idle but guarded with the workes of charitie consecrate our selues wholie vnto him by denying vngodlinesse and carnal lustes and walke soberly iustlie and godlie in this worlde expecting the blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the great God Titus 2 and of our sauiour Iesus Christ our lord who hath giuen himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purchase him a chosen people to him selfe Rom. 5 making them followers of good works And then when we haue laide this sure foundation to good life by the helpe and comfort of the Holie ghost we shall bee at peace and quiet in our mindes shaking off the terror and feare of death making our entrance to immortalitie blessednes by the guide of our captaine Christ Iesus For death is not the destruction of the bodie but a renuing of it not the queÌ„ching of nature but the entrance into a new life and the gate or first going into the heauenlie Citie and eternall life Of the certaintie of which no man should doubt or distrust the promise of God because the truth it selfe which cannot erre Psal 61 115 Rom. 3 perfourmeth faithfullie that which he promiseth for God is true and euerye man a lyar that is God deceiueth no man faileth no manne nor frustrateth any that haue a firme faith and trust in him he promiseth not slightlie as men doe which breake their promises frustrate their couenantes and with a certaine coosening deceit breake their contracts but he is constant stable faithfull and payeth and performeth assuredlie all the promises he maketh but euery man is a lyer that is deceitfull craftie vnconstant slipperie light vncertaine mutable doubtfull wauering cousening fraudulent vaine captious disloyal and which speaketh one thing standing and another sitting so vncertainlie that one cannot relie vppon him Which faults are farre remooued from his Diuine maiestie as in whome no humaine affections doe abide vvherefore vve must leane vnto him with a certain faith and laie on him al our prayers hopes and desires whether danger destruction death or confusion hang ouer vs. For all troubles by his fauour and presence are aswaged all sower and bitter thinges are made sweet Faith in him driueth awaie feare of death and all feare and trembling is taken out of our heartes For the loue of him we despise and contemne all delights and pleasures of this life By his vertue and helpe we suffer sorrowe and discommodities vvhich compasse vs about euerie moment Strengthened with a firme hope and expectation of immortality we cheerefullie depart the prison of this world and by the conduct of Christ are brought to a blessed habitation And with lesse griefe are we separated from the socierie of this bodie and abode in this life and our last conflict with death doth make vs lesse doubtfull wherein almost all men haue a distrust and a kind of desperation besiegeth their minde but that we are sure by the merites of Christ redemption and grace is prepared for vs. For the mediator betvveene God and manne Christ Iesus hath reconciled vs and washed away our sinnes with his bloud Iohn 1 and by the power of his resurrection hath brought righteousnesse vnto vs. For Christ was deliuered for our sinnes Rom. 4 as Paule saith and is risen againe for our iustification So that confirmed by the resurrection of Christ as with a pledge we hope vvee shall be saued and raised againe by his power Phil. 3 For hee as the Apostle saith shall transforme our vile bodies and make them like vnto his glorious bodie according to his power wherewith he can subdue all things For albeit according to the doctrine of Paule the earthlie house of this our tabernacle must be destroyed as a ruinous building 2 Cor. 4 and 5. which by loosenesse of the iointes and fastnings and by plucking awaie the rafters is ouerthrovvne which building we haue of God not made with hands but eternall in heauen for God that raised the Lord Iesus wil raise vs also by him and will make vs partakers of the glorie of the generall resurrection which most certaine hope worketh this in vs that we suffer our selues to be drawn vnto him with lesse corruption and void of all pollution Of the Nature conditions and manners of Women and why that sex when they are angrie are more fierce then Men conceiue anger sooner chide more vnmeasureablie and are sooner ouercome with any affection then men And by the waie in what sence this saying of the Wise man it to be taken The iniquitie of a man is better then the good deedes of a Woman Chap. 60. THe cause why not onelie comicall Poets Orators and Philosophers vvho were alienated from true religion but also the Wisemen and Prophets of the Hebrues who were indued plentifullie with the knovvledge of Gods word do so much euery vvhere inueygh and speake against women was because the wickednesse and dishonestie of diuers of them deserued it And albeit all are not stained with these imperfections neither are all vvomen found to be shrewes and skoldes for there are some matrones who by the benefite of education indewed and decked with manie great giftes of Nature are nothing inferiour nor giue any place to verie excellent men yet the indifferent sorte of women as Citizens and countrey Gentlewomen and the common scum of Women as the basest sort are so proud so foolish so shrewish so imperious our their husbandes Esdras 3. Cap. 4 and for inticements of the flesh pronenesse to lust of such an vntamed and vnbrideled concupiscence that they may vvell bee tyred but neuer satisfied with the acte of Venerie yet so that some are farre more inclined and their affections more addicted that vvaies then othersome are And albeit
the gaule of their consciences there riseth more greefe and trouble and more ielousie and suspicion from an hired and time seruing lemman then from a lawful and trusty wife being maried And albeit in this estate as in many other pleasant things are mingled with sower things bitternesse with sweetenesse pleasure with sorrow and griefe with ioie and that there is in marriage no want of brawles contentions chidings iealous affections as in deed there is no estate of life whatsoeuer euery way perfect yet is there no fault to be laid on the institution of mariage For albeit many discommodities attende on this estate and great sorrow care and trouble of mind both in bringing vp their children and as Paule saith in ordering of a house 1 Cor. 5 yet doth mutual loue mittigate and aswage all these sorrowes by procreating of children according to the ordinance of God For children are a great reioicing and singular delight in marriage by whose meanes the loue of the married is increased and nourished a great comfort riseth to them both But if it happen contrary to their minds and wils that they haue no children and that they haue no hope to leaue a posterity behind them yet must the bond of mariage be kept vndefiled and the society of this life main tained one propping and holding vppe the other as fruitfull trees set in a ranke doe the vine who leaning on them and as it were marrying and fastning it tendrels to them climeth the very toppes of them and so spredeth it selfe abroad For as a vine destitute of props and bearers is weake and falleth to the ground so marriage vnlesse it be propped vp with the mutuall labour of man and wife decaieth and cōmeth to ruine And if there be any fault in this fellowship any disorder suspicious falings out discords it is rather to be ascribed to the stubborne affections of the man or the woman or both then to this holy and sacred ordinaunce for these are not the faultes of marriage but of a noughty nature and troublesome minde drawn from the infection of originall sinne from whence all euill springeth By what meanes a man forseeing death by nature may not be afraid of it Chap. 56. SEing that of all thinges in this worlde there is nothing certaine and sure but that all thinges are vanishing fraile and weake yea the moste beawtifull things that are must come to ruine there is no reason why any one should so greatlie esteeme them or so greedilie vsurpe them or be more affected to thē then necessity requireth but rather lifting vp his heart and mind to heauen should meditate and looke after thinges perfect and euerlasting For whosoeuer hath faith in GOD the Father through Iesus Christ he is led with a certaine hope and expectation of immortalitie and such a one feareth no imminent chaunces or discommodities such a one feareth no disease calamitie daunger no nor death it selfe which is greatlie feared of those that are destitute of the spirit of GOD and vvere neuer indued vvith any knowledge of his deitie For such as put their trust in GOD being strengthened by the holie Ghost doe couragiouslie and vvith stoute stomackes resiste all aduersities Rom. 8 2. Tim. 1. Galat 4 1. Iohn 4. because vvee haue not as Paule saieth receiued the Spirit of bondage and feare but the Spirit of adoption and the Spiritte of power and loue by vvhich wee boldlie crie Abba Father In this saith Iohn is our loue perfect in vs that we haue hope in the day of iudgement Feare is not in loue but perfecte charity reiecteth all feare because feare bringeth trembling and torment Wherefore to the ende wee may shake off all feare of deathe from our mindes Colos 2 and all terrours that it maie bringe vnto vs let vs cast all our cogitations hope vowes and truste on our mercifull Father and on Iesus Christ who hath reconciled vs with his bloud and hath deliuered vs from sinne and the tyrannie of death blotting out the hand writinge that accused vs whereby wee were bounde and pledged to the Diuell and as the Dutch man saieth In hem ghehouden Teghens hem verbunden that is helde fast and tyed to him But to the ende Christ might strengthen our fearefull and tymerous mindes and declare all our hope and trust to consiste in him hee saieth Be of good comforte Iohn 16 Iohn 12. for I haue ouercome the worlde Nowe the Prince of this worlde is iudged that is hee that brought deathe into the worlde is by my death ouercome beeing condemned in iudgemente and strypped of his power to hurte The Prince of this worlde commeth but hee hath nothing in me With which comfortable words hee declareth Sathan and those which are confederate with him in this worlde through sinne to haue no power either against Christ or anie of his members that cleaue vnto him and are ingrafted into him by faith These sauing and quickning speeches doe worke this in the mindes of men which doe leane vnto his helpe that shaking off the feare of death doe cheerfully arme themselues against all troubles that happen vnto them which maketh them inuincible and with bolde courage to breake out into these wordes Mine eies waite alwaies on the Lorde Psal 3. Psal 22 because hee hath plucked my feete out of the snare The Lord is my light and my saluation of whom then shal I be afraid The lord is the protector of my life whom shall I then feare If whole armies come against mee my heart shall not feare I will not bee afraid of thousandes of people that compasse me about if warre be raised against me in him will I trust yea although I should walke in the shadowe of death yet will I feare none euil Iob. 13. because thou art with me Albeit he kil me yet wil I put my trust in him that is if he set before me the shadow of death that he take away my life from me yet wil I trust in him who with his prouidence wil finde some meanes to preserue me Psal 117. Heb. 11 Cap. 17 The Lorde is my helpe I will not feare what flesh can do vnto me And that saying of Ieremy Beholde they say where is the worde of the Lorde let him come and I will not bee troubled following thee my shephearde And thou knowest I haue not desired the day of a man that is I desire helpe no where else then of thee so that I lightly regarde and nothing feare them which threaten death I am not afraide of thee which art my hope in the day of mine affliction let them feare I am nothing afraid Paul also inflamed with the same feruēcy of faith and trusting vpon the helpe of God boldly pronounceth There is nothing so horrible and fearefull that can bring a terror into godly mindes or can remooue from thē the loue and trust in God For I am certainlie perswaded Rom. ◠saith he that neither
Tim â— vvhom he hath plentifullie poured into vs haue obtained grace and inheritance it is verie meete and the repairing of our saluation requireth that placing all hope and faith vppon so bountifull a father and vppon his sonne Iesus Christ whoe hath abolished death and sinne wee should submit our selues vnto him and make good our liues maners and affections to him and that vve shoulde endeuour with all puritie of heart holy and blamelesse conuersation with dailie and feruent praier to binde him vnto vs to the ende we may obtaine his grace and fauor What profite Baptisme bringeth to man and what it warneth vs to doe Chap. 5. BEcause Baptisme or the holie washing is the first entrance doore and porche into the Congregation and companie of the faithfull it bringeth vs to the truste and hope of our saluation For by faith and repentance that is the detestation of our former life our bodies being mortified and mindes renewed wee are ingrafted into Christ who vvasheth avvay clean seth and abolisheth the spottes and sinnes of our soules vvith the vse of this externall signe by pouring into our mindes the holy Ghoste vvherby the certaintie of our saluation once conceiued wee boldie cry Abba father Which prayer or inuocation beeing doubled and oftentimes repeated is so forceable and present at hande to helpe that it obtaineth all thinges of our bountifull father so that we direct our prayers vovves requests and sighes to him thorough Christ 1 Iohn 5 Iames 1. For vnder this captaine and Mediatour vvhich hath assured his Grace vnto vs with his bloud we shall obtaine all things that are profitable for vs and our prayers shall neuer returne vnto vs fruitelesse and in vaine For the eares of so bountifull a Father are not stopped at their praiers for whose redemption he hath bestowed his onelie sonne After God wee must bee charitable to our Neighbour Chap. 6. NOwe as our loue tovvardes GOD ought to be so great Deut 6 Leuit. 7 Mark 12 Luke 10 that vve shoulde ovve all thinges vnto him and that all humaine powers of our mindes and harts or soules and spirites should be poured out tovvardes him so ought there no lesse intire loue and charitie to be shevved towardes our Neighbour that is euerie one of our ovvne nature and condition then wee shewe vnto our selues to the ende all of vs may perfourme our duties cheerefullie to God And if at anie time neede require and occasion bee profered which we ought quicklie to catch to helpe the poor and to ayde him both with counsell and money For this is the chiefest fruit of faith and the moste sounde and certaine testimonie of christian Religion What ought to bee the dutie of Children towardes their Parentes Chap. 7. BVt as we owe all thinges to God many thinges to our Countrey and friends so is our debt also very great to our parentes What dutie and reuerence we ovve vnto them I need not bestow much labour to write because there is a naturall loue and good vvill ingrafted in al thinges towardes their owne yea euen amongst the Heathen Math. 5. Pro. 28 as Christ vvitnesseth yet so that albeit this affection be dutifullie performed by the heathen deserueth no praise but onelie seemeth to auoide the crime Neuerthelesse this ought to be earnestlie imprinted in vs from our very infancy that we carefullie and heartilie loue our parents by whose helpe and ministerie wee haue obtained our first entrance into this light and our beginning of life so that vvhatsoeuer reason biddeth and equitie requireth wee shoulde bee dutifull and obedient to them Luke 2 as we reade Christ was to Mary and Ioseph For pietie obedience and reuerence tovvardes our parents Exod. 20 Deut. 5 Marth 15 Ephes 5 is pleasing and acceptable vnto God the which is strictlie prescribed vnto vs both in the old and new Testament This also is a notable saying of Pittacus the Philosopher Looke what allowance thou bestowest on thy parentes the selfe-same and no better expect from thy children Matth. 7 Marke 4 And the saying of our sauior Christ serueth excellently vvel for this purpose in these words Looke with what measure thou meatest to thy parentes the â—â—me shall thy children measure to thee againe From this error and ouersight it commeth often to passe that Parents find their children stubborn disobedient nay altogither carelesse of them in such sort that when their children come once to yeares they scorn and despise their parents admonitions Marke this you that wil haue no appearancâ— of euill in your houseâ— yea and that as a iust reuenge deseruedly inflicted vpon them bicause they themselues were not humble obedient kind to their parentes before proudlie scornfullie and cruelly checking and bitterlie controlling them How euerie one ought to carie himselfe towards them that are their instructors Chap. 8. GIue no lesse honour to those maisters that instruct and garnish thy minde with learning then thou doest to thy parents For thus did Iuuenal commende his forefathers and prayed for them because they honoured them with no lesse loue and kindnesse then they did their parents saying Dent inquit Dij maiorum vmbris tenuem sine pondere terram Satyr 7. Spirantesque crocos et in vrna perpetuum ver Qui praeceptorem sancti voluere parentis Esse loco Which is word for word God grant our elders ghosts may haue light earth that wanteth waight Sweete spices and a lasting spring within their buriall potte vvhoe woulde a maister should be had in place of reuerent sire Which because it smacketh so much of Heathenisme whoe vvere woont to burne their dead corps and put their ashes into a potte I haue thought good to turne it after this sort into the best Christian sence and rime I could God grant our ancestors may come to graue in peace rest And at their resurrection with heauenliâ—â—oyes be blest Who made their sons to reuerence their maâ—sters w e like feare Which they expected for theÌ„sâ—lues how â—â—ch so â—re they were And Fabius admonisheth his disciples â—â—b 2 cap. 10 that they shoulde loue their maisters no lesse than they doe their studies and esteeme them to bee parents not of their bodies but of their mindes For to be borne and to be instructed are equals and almoste of the same nature for the one bringeth foorth the bodie and the other fashioneth the mind Now if the parentes indued with all knowledge of humanitie doe take the paines themselues to instruct and teache their children or if they themselues be destitute of those helpes and hire a learned maister to instruct and helpe to bring them to learning and wisedome they can bestow nothing on them more profitablie then by that meanes to decke and adorn them with vertue For by framing their liues after this forte their mindes are not onelie beautified with excellent vertues as soundnesse of life honestie of manners chastitie meeâ—â—enesse placabilitie modestie curtesie
great noble or honorable thing happen vnto thee in this fraile and weake body or in this momentany and fleeting life if yâ— haue couÌ„try farms large fields thereto be longing if welth riches abound comelines honesty honor dignity glory adorne these externalblessings if thy mind be indued with knowledge scieÌ„ce of many things if thou hast wit in thee accompanied with wisedome to be short if thou haue a body that is lusty strong or if any good thinge be in thee besides 〈◊〉 must acknowledge thy selfe to haue receiued al these thinges of God thy most liberall father 2 Cot. 4 from whome euery good thing doth spring and is deriued Paule cal leth to this place the proude and such as swell with a vaine perswasion of themselues and taketh away from them their confidence in themselues in these wordes What hast thou that thou hast not receiued and if the hast receiued it why doest the brag as if thou hadst receiued it not God also himself vrgeth the same Câ—p. â— teaching it to all men by Ieremy saying Let not the wise man reioice in his wisdome nor the strong man glory in his strength nor the rich man in his wealth but let him that glorieth reioice in this that he knoweth himselfe Let him that glorieth faith Paule glorie in the Lorde 1 Cor. 1 2 Cor. 10 from whom we receiue aboundantlie thorough Iesus Christ euery good thing vvho was made of God for vs wisedome Iustice sanctification saluation and redemption And to the end no man should reioice and flatter himselfe or should waxe proud either of externall or internall blessings Paule exhorteth vs to beare this treasure about with vs in earthen vessels that is in this fraile and mortal bodie to the ende it may appeare to al men that this ought to be giuen to the honour and glorie of God and not to the power of man And as all the perseuerance that is in man al his wisedome vertue and iustice ought to bee giuen to God and the father of lightes from whome all indumentes and giftes doe descend Cap. 1 as I ames the apostle doth witnesse so what vice or naughtinesse soeuer whatsoeuer blindnesse and ignorance whatsoeuer wâ—â—kednesse corruption is in the minde of man that vvholie ought to be ascribed to our malicious wil and not so muche as the least fault to bee attributed to God For sinne and the transgression of the Law Wiâ—d 2 was the cause of all griefe and sorrow and of all diseases both of body and minde and in the end of death planting all pronenes to euill in the minde Great consideration and difference must bee hadde in choosing that kinde of life which a man meanes to liue in Chap. 53 IN making choice of that kinde of life thou meanest to followe and wherein thou purposest to abide and quietlie to continue all thy life this ought cheefly to bee regarded that thou vndertake all thinges with good consideration addicting thy selfe rashlie to no enterprice of which afterwarde thou mayest repent thee but thou canst not forsake it or winde thy selfe out of it For those that in an vntimelie age before sufficient trial search be made of the aptnesse of nature do sodainelie take to themselues any trade of liuing and bind themselues vnto it during life they lead a verie vnquiet life ful of griefe and sorrovv especiallie if it fall out as oftentimes it doth that they beginne to loath their maner of liuing or thinke themselues vnable to wielde that charge Wherefore to the ende no man doe vnaduisedlie trappe himselfe in this net before hee embrace any kinde of life vvhatsoeuer let him take time to deliberate what course of life he were best to folow or addict himselfe vnto In which deliberation Cicero counselleth thee to take aduise of thine owne Nature Lib. 1. 〈◊〉 to the ende that applying all care to make choice of thy life thou mayest constantlie continue in it with a resolute determination For there are diuers that vndertaking the best trades doe misse of their purposes not so much thorough their vvilles as thorough the errour of their ovvne liuing and so vvandering from that marke which Christ sette before them fal into superstition that is become falslie religious Therefore ought vve chiefelie to aske the helpes of our saluation from Christ who alone beeing our pilot in the Sea of this worlde dooeth guide and bringe vs to the desired port Iohn 10 He is the doore that openeth vs the way and entrance vnto the Father he is the waie the truth and the life from vvhom Satan goeth about to seduce vs vvho transforming himselfe into an Angel of light by his false teachers suggesteth false thinges for true doubtful for certaine fayned for syncere and hurtful for healthful things to the mindes of menne And this was the first deceit of our enemie wherewith hee set vppon Adam and blinded his minde with the myst of Ignorance beguiling his carelesse incredulitie with a shew of veritie so that he ceaseth not to practise the same on al his posteritie abolishing the true worship of God and perfect religion to bringe in superstition Idolatrie false doctrine and doubtful and daungerous instructions to be short he omitteth no craft wherevvith he may leade al mankinde from the knowledge of GOD quenching the light of the trueth dullinge the sight of Faith and indeuouring to bring blindnes and vtter darkenesse into the minde Of the Lawful societie of Wedlocke Chap. 54. MAtrimonie is a lawfull and vnseparable coniunction of manne and woman ordained by God partlie to bridle lust and to auoid fornication and wandring copulation and partlie for procreation of children Lib. 12. cap. 1 And as Columella besides Paule shevveth out of the Oeconomickes of Xenophon maryage was deuised of nature to the end we shoulde enter into a societie of life which is not onelie plesant but also most profitable and least mankind in protract of time should come to ruine Genes 2 it ioyned man to womaÌ„ with an infused blessing from aboue that by this inseparable coniunction there should not bee wanting a helpe wherewith besides a loue to gette children it might binde them together with a mutual coniunction of life and goods Wherefore seeing the hauen of wedlocke is the safest harborough and surest roade for mankinde to lie in in whome is naturallie ingrafted a desire to get children that man prouideth best for his owne securitie which betaketh himselfe thereunto especiallie if he be of sufficient yeares and gotten vnto him a manlie courage But verie inconsideratelie do they and without regard of their yeares who vntimelie and vnseasonably enter into it before their strength be tried and the force of nature approoued For there are some with almost neuer a haire on their faces who either through some inconsiderate rashnesse or being prouoked thereto by the allurementes of vvomen or else by the compulsion of their parentes gaping for some great
death nor life neither Angels nor the inuisible creatures neither principalities nor powers neither thinges present nor things to come nor any other creature can seperate mee from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord so that Paule boldly pronounceth Psal 50 that he which is grafted into God though Christ will boldly withstande all terrors whatsoeuer happen vnto him against the rage and fury of the enemy against the horrour of death whether it bee procured by the enemy or by sicknesse or whether it come by the course of nature Seeing then there is nothing of more force to take away the feare and terrour of death out of mens mindes then by a firme faith in GOD through Christ by which wee haue a certaine hope of our resurrection and an expectation of euerlasting happinesse hither should all men hasten and desire to come euerie one should embrace and followe this wholesome doctrine imprinte it in their mindes and strengthen themselues in all daungers when they are brought to extremities herewith shoulde they quiet their consciences and by thinking on this remooue all griefe of heart shaking off all sorrowe and lamentation which commeth to them by the death of their parentes and friendes Hitherto tendeth that liuely comfort of Paule Thes 4. wherewith hee incourageth the Thessalonians with the expectation of the resurrection and a certaine hope of eternitie willing them to staye their teares and not to mourne for their friendes departed out of this life after the manner of the Gentiles saying I woulde not haue you ignoraunt brethren concerning them that are a sleepe as it were but fallen a sleepe and not dead that you greeue not at them as those that haue no hope of the resurrection For if wee beleeue that Iesus is dead and risen againe so also can God raise them with him that are fallen a sleepe and bring them to their former estate Our conuersation saith he is in heauen from whence vvee looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ who vvil transforme our vile bodies Phil. 4 and make theÌ„ like to his glorious bodie according to his power wherewith hee subdueth all thinges In which wordes Paule vvarneth all men that they comforte and strenthen then themselues in afflictions with the loue and desire of immortalitie and that they feare nothing in the whole course of this life that may withdrawe them from a better life to which Christ hath opened vs the waie by the power of his resurrection Wherefore vvhen wee come to the last daie of our life and death presseth vppon vs vvhich is fearefull to al men vnlesse Christ doe holde them vppe or where there commeth any thought of death to them that are founde and in perfecte health or if pouertie oppresse vs or any disease or any other discommodities of this life trouble vs let vs cast all our hope desire and prayers on Christ who hath payed the punishment due vnto vs by his death who hath pardoned all our offences who is the propitiation for our sinnes who is our aduocate as Iohn saieth and mediatour vvith GOD the Father Colos 3 1. Iohn 2. 1. Tim. 2 Esay 50 Ephet 2 Colol 1. Iohn 1 who is the reconciler of GOD and man and who as Paule saieth hath giuen himselfe to bee a redemption and sacrifice for vs. In him standeth our saluation and the resurrection of life by him wee haue accesse and entraunce in one Spirit to GOD the Father by his bloudshedding wee haue obtayned redemption and remission of sinnes because it pleased the father that al fulnesse should dwel in him and make all thinges pleasing vnto him by his bloudsheading Seeing therefore wee haue an high prieste as the Authour saieth to the Hebrewes Heb. 4 who hath pearsed the heauens euen Iesus Christ the Sonne of GOD who tempted in all things and yet without sinne was affected with the feeling of our infirmities Let vs come with saith to that throne of grace that wee may obtaine mercie of him that will helpe vs in due season beeing sustained with the helpe of so greate a guide and attended on with so sure a guard we shall be able to resist the monsters of the Diuell who so soone as the light of the Gospell appeared vanished awaie yea wee shall preuaile against sinne Death and Hell and shall bee carryed out of the vncertaine state of this life to the desired hauen and to a blessed habitation And if it fallout in the course of this life that anie discommoditie or misfortune happen vnto thee if it chaunce thou fall into any incombraunces of this life if oppressed with pouertie greeued with diseases troubled with thy enemies if oppression and calamitie come vppon thee if wickednesse abound if the innocent bee iniured and their liues taken awaie from them if sounde and wholesome doctrine bee contemned if heresies and wicked opinions doe bud forth and naughtie errours are sowne abroade in such a confusion of thinges wee must go vnto Christ and require of him the helpes of our saluation let vs rest wholie on him let vs as it were with an Anchor take fast holde on him And to bee shorte let vs haue that saying of Dauid in our mindes Psal 15 I will alwaies sette the Lorde before mine eyes because hee is on my right hande that I cannot bee remooued In which wordes hee sheweth hee had his eyes alwaies fastened on GOD and trusted to his helpe not doubting nor carryed awaie with euerie blast of doctrine but was stable and constant Ephe. 4. Hebru 1 Psal â—â— and coulde not bee remooued from the faith he had in God and that onelie for this cause that hee hadde tryed GOD to bee his propitiation and to assist him in all thinges so that hee boldelie brake out into these speeches Beholde the Lorde is my helpe my heart hoped in him and he helped me my flesh reioiced in him and I wil willingly confesse him Of the greatnesse of the name of Iesus Christ his maiestie and power wherewith we must only resist magicall inchantments and ouercome the illusions of the Diuel or any other hurt that shall happen to body and mind Chap. 57. SEeing that a little before I haue shewed inchantmentes and magicall artes are to be rooted vppe and no man should vse sorcery and witchcraft It remaineth that I shewe by the way with what force and power with what wordes and praiers minds assailed afflicted and intangled in the iuglings of the Diuel may bee cured Then by what meanes wichcraft may be taken away which the ministers of the Diuell do bring vpon men and vexe their mindes and bodies They enter secretly into mans bodie and do violently assaile his nature and spoile the same of power or at least wise weaken it These euill spirits do enter into our meate and drinke and breath which we take from the aire and into such thinges as we receiue into our bodies and wherewith we liue and all other things that