members This head neither is nor can be without the members neither doth he leaue or forsake his members Where Christ therefore is there also must we needs be Ephe. 5.30 For we are members of his bodie of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.30 Now who can sufficiently praise and magnifie according to the worthinesse thereof the infinitenesse of that inestimable vnspeakeable grace meâ—cie of God who vouchsafed so to debase himselfe aâ— to come downe from heâ—uen and to be made a mortall man in all things likâ— vnto vs sinne onely excepted that this corruptible 〈◊〉 fraile nature of man being vnited and ioyned vnto hâ— diuine nature might by the infinite and incomprehensible vertue and power oâ— his diuinitie bee aduanced vnto immortall life and made partaker with it of the heauenly kingdome 〈◊〉 we did beleeue so great riches to be giuen vnto vs to be laid vp in store for vs and that so blessed and happie a kind of life shall hereafter befall vs how I pray you could we be daunted or troubled The humane nature of all the faithfull which haue bene before since Christ and which shall be hereafter in Christ who is both true man and also true God hath and doth put on immortalitie glorie Abundant then and of great force and effect is that comfort concerning the resurrection of Christ wherewith Saint Paule doth fortifie and establish the minds of the Corinthians when he saith 1 Cor. 15.20 c. That Christ is risen from the dead being the first fruites of them that are fallen asleepe for since by man came death by man also cometh the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all die euen so also by Christ shall all be maâ— aliue But euery man in 〈◊〉 owne order the first fruites 〈◊〉 Christ afterward they thaâ— are of Christ at his coming c. And after all this Sainâ— Paule addeth a similitude concerning naturall things wherby the resurrection of our bodies is most clearely perceiued verse 36. and plainely demonstrated The similitude or comparison is taken from seede which being drie when it is cast into the ground by the seedsman or husbandman it dieth as it were and rotteth in the ground But yet doth it not perish altogether but it sprouteth and cometh forth out of the earth fresh and new in an elegant and a delightfull shape and forme Euen so also shall our bodies arise not corruptible or subiect to corruption not fraile and transitorie not weake and feeble not withered and decayed and readie to die as now it is but comely and beautifull strong and lustie immortall and incorruptible and full of brightnesse and glorie This is the way by which we are to passe into our true countrie which is aboue euen by death vnto euerlasting life Flesh and bloud cannot inherite the kingdome of God wherein is nothing else but life and immortalitie For which cause 1 Cor. 15.33 This corruptible bodie must put on incorruption and this mortall bodie must put on immortalitie thâ—â— shall come to passe the saying that is written Death is swalowed vp into victorie They that beleeue in Christ haue now vanquished sin death and hell And therefore coÌ„temning despising death and through Christ being now become bold and couragious they shall triumph and say Hos 13.14 1 Cor. 15.55 â— death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie The sting of death iâ— sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Hereunto also may be added other sentences of holy Scripture full of comfort as that 2. Cor. 4.14 He that hath raised vp the Lord Iesus from the dead shall also raise vs vp by the same Iesus And that to the Philippians Chap. 3.20 Phil 3.20 Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the mightie working whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Againe Colos 3.3 Ye are dead Colos 3.3 and your life is hid with Christ in God but when Christ which is your life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glorie And 1. Thes 4.13 1. Thes 4.14 I would not saith Saint Paul haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe that ye sorrow not as others which haue no hope For if we beleeue thaâ— Iesus is dead and is risen againe Euen so them thaâ— sleepe in Iesus will God bring with him In like manner doth S. Paul comfort his disciple Timothie 2. Tim. 2.8 Remember 2 Tim. 2.8 that Iesus Christ made of the seed of Dauid wâ— raised againe from the deaâ— according to my Gospell And verse 11. verse 11 If we be dead wâ— Christ we shall also liue wiâ— him If we suffer with him 〈◊〉 shall also reigne with him Anâ— againe 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Tim. 1.9 God haâ— saued vs saith he and calleâ— vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purposâ— and grace which was giuen through Christ Iesus before the world was but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie And in his Epi. to the Heb. Chap. 2.14 he saith That Christ was made partaker of flesh and bloud that is Hebr. 2.14 was made true man that throgh death he might destroy him that had power of death that is the diuel and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage S. Iohn likewise in his 1. Epistle Chap. 4.9 telleth vs that 1 Ioh. 4.9 In this appeared the loue of God toward vs that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world that we might liue through him to wit eternally and for euer and Chap. 3.14 and 3.14 We know that we are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren And to conclude in the same manner Iob comforteth himselfe in the middest of all his afflictions Chap. 19.25 Iob. 19.25 I am sure saith he that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my reines be consumed within me These testimonies of holy Scripture whosoeuer he be that pondereth well and meditateth on the same diligently he cannot but be filled with exceeding great ioy and comfort A most euident example whereof we haue in Saint Paul Phil. 3.10 Phil. 3.10 Where he professeth himselfe to reioyce glorie in nothing more then this that he knoweth Christ and the power of his Resurrection whereby our death was slaine as it were
and put to death Now then vnto as many as beleeue in Christ death is vtterly vanquished and is dead as it were there is nothing now in death that is dreadfull or to be feared besides onely a certaine image and appearance As a serpent that is dead retaineth his wonted forme which is dreadfull and terrible but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse so oft as it was beheld and looked on the fierie Serpents wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died so as the people could not be infected with their poyson euen so our death dieth as it were and is made harmelesse and in no wise to be feared if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse and dying for vs. Whereof the said brasen serpent was a liuely image and representation as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life In a word death is but a certaine resemblance or image of death or rather it is the beginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life Christ who is truth it selfe telleth vs Ioh. 8.51 If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death How I pray you commeth this to passe The case standeth thus Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God and merits of Christ Iesus by meanes of his faith is so incorporated as I may say and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord Sauiour who is the true life that he cannot be separated nor plucked away froÌ„ him This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule in an assured and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life For as much as within a short compasse of time the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to enioy eternall blisse and happinesse And so beleeuing in Christ he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule that is of eternall damnation which is the onely death indeed forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe and of all his holy Saints and Angels CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare and horror of Hell and eternal Damnation THat malicious wicked spirit the diuel and Satan here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predestination by suggesting vnto them these or the like horrible and dreadfull cogitatations What if for all this thou do not please God what if God haue reiected thee and cast thee out of his fauour or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those whom God hath elected and chosen vnto eternall life These and the like dangerous tentations will be readie to offer themselues which indeed are very hard and sharpe and will very grieuously tormeÌ„t and disquiet the minds of men especially in sicknesse And therefore a man hath need in this case to stand fast and manfully to defend himselfe Now if in this combat and conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie Straightway as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan take heed thou do not enter into the lists with him or condescend to make him answer or to dispute and reason the matter with him but repell him rather and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitations Auoid Satan depart get thee hence it is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children that are neare and deare vnto him When as God of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me alwaies hath bestowed so exceeding great infinite blessings and benefits vpon me hauing endued me with life and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued maintained the same hitherto hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life yea ministred vnto me abundantly all things behoouefull and profitable both for my soule and bodie that so farre aboue my desert beyond my desire and expectation ô what madnesse were it once to doubt of his mercie When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and number of Christian beleeuers when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me how should I not expect and looke for all good from him how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me how should not his good will and affection be most readily inclined toward me What needeth to say much in this case It is a thing both foolish and also dangerous to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination It behoueth thee rather to preuent to auert turne away and so to ouercome these cogitations with other considerations wherewith God will haue thy mind occupied as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gospell where he saith That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish Ioh. 3.15.16.36 but hath euerlasting life Hearest thou not that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ and that acknowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse sanctification and redemption can in no wise be damned but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life saluation As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfeinedly in the mercy of God and merits of Christ Iesus are of the number of them who are elect and chosen vnto eternall life being foreknowne and predestinate in Christ and registred and written long ago in the book of life But they who are predestinate vnto eternall life Rom. 8.29 are made like vnto the Image of Christ being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne Therefore by this their faith they are vndoubtedlie saued These things are most certaine and true God neither can be deceiued neither can he deceiue any man Now this is the will and counsell of God our most louing Father who is truly and indeed Philanthropâ—s a louer of mankind These things he hath thus fore-purposed and decreed from euerlasting and therefore there is no cause of feare no cause why those thingâ— should hinder thee or make thee afraid which the enemie of thine the diuell enuying thy welfare and saluation seeking the destruction of thy soule shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things Onely see that thou pâ—â— thy
done Seâ—ondly if freely thou conâ—esse and acknowledge the same and be heartily sorâ—ie and grieued at the remeÌ„brance of it And thirdly if thou shalt freely and from thy very heart forgiue â—thers that haue any way either in thy body or goods or thy good name and estimation offered or done wrong and iniurie vn-thee If thus thou shalt from the bottome of thy heart vnfainedly pardon and forgiue others be of good comfort doubt not bâ— that God will also pardâ— and forgiue thee whatsoâ—uer wrongs iniuries doâ— either to himselfe or to â—thers For God cannot bâ— remit and forgiue that mâ—â— his offences who readiâ— and freely forgiueth hâ— neighbour For as much aâ— he himselfe hath taught 〈◊〉 this way of requitall Matâ— 6.14 If ye do forgiue mâ— their trespasses Mat. 6.14 your heauenâ—â— Father will also forgiue you CHAP. VII Of the lawfull vse of Physick in time of sicknesse A Question NOW here a question may be made whetheâ— the sicke man may with a good conscience craue the helpe of the Physition and also vse physickâ— oâ— ought onely to depend vpon God for the recouerie of his health Answer Hereunto I answer that the sicke man as he must not despise the counsaile and helpe of Physitions and of physicke so in any wise he must take heed that he do not adore and relie vpon the same too much His chiefe hope and confidence must be fixed and set vpon God who as he inspireth and giueth life and breath vnto these our bodies so he alone taketh the same away againe wheÌ„ it pleaseth him Howbeit notwithstanding sometimes it is not amisâ— to vse the helpe and couâ—sell of the Physition leâ— herein we should seeme 〈◊〉 tempt God in neglecting oâ— despising his ordinance anâ— meanes appointed for restoring of nature and recouery of health For howsoeuer medicines of theÌ„selues can do nothing neither haue any power and vertue to gâ—ue health without the blessing of God and his secret worke and operation yet notwithstanding wheâ— the same are ministred and applied by the learned and wel experienced Physition they are to be held esteemed not onely healthfull profitable but also needfull and necessarie and may also rightly be called Manus Dei the very hand of God himselfe Hereupon it is that Sirach Chap. 38. counselleth to honour the Physition with the honour that is due vnto him Eccles 38.1.4 that because of necessitie For the Lord saith he hath created ordained and appointed him For of the most High cometh healing And againe the Lord from out of the earth hath created medicines and the man that is wise will not abhorre theÌ„ As for witches and wisards inchanters and sorcerers and the like who will take vpon theÌ„ to heale and cure the sicke by certaine fained and deuised ceremonies or by a certaine number of words or prayers whereunto they ascribe the vertue and power of healing diseases these are by all meanes to be auoided and to be put away farre from vs. For they are the very hand and instruments of the diuels and euil spirits and not the hand of almightie God by whose word and power all things are and ought to be ruled and gouerned CHAP. VIII A Remedie against the feare and terrour of Death IF at any time thou be terrified with the feare of death bethinke with thy selfe and consider that by Christ death is vtterly vanquished and put to death as it were Indeed if that Christ in compassion toward vs had not died for vs the feare of death must needs haue vexed and troubled vs. But now death being vanquished cast downe and troden vnder foote by the death of Christ the soules of them that beleeue in Christ cannot die nor perish but after their departure out of these bodies they go straight vnto him Phil. 1.23 as it was said vnto the thiefe on the crosse being readie to giue vp the ghost This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 And in the meane time the bodie resteth in assured hope that it shall at the last day rise againe vnto a most blessed and happie life which is immortall and neuer fadeth and that the same bodie shall rise with exceeding great glorie and maiestie and with such beauty and comlinesse as cannot be expressed that so being renewed againe and glorified together with the soule it may liue for euer with Christ and with all the elect Among whom many shall be found which here on earth were knit and ioyned vnto vs in the bond of amitie and friendship And therefore the sacred Scripture vsually calleth the death of the godly by the name of sleepe Death a sleepe For this same weake fraile mortall and transitorie body which now rotteth in the graue shall at the last day be raised vp euen as a man that is fast asleepe is rouzed and raised vp out of his sleepe And then forthwith death being quite extinguished and abolished it shall appeare glorious and beautifull strong in perfect health sound and entire pure and spirituall immortall and incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.53 When this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortalitie Whereupon it is that the Prophet Dauid pronounceth the death of the Saints to be precious Psal 116.15 of excellent account Psal 116.15 and 16.9 and in another Psalme His heart within him leapeth for ioy and his tongue reioyceth his flesh also resteth in hope Why Because God will not leaue his soule in graue neither will suffer his holy one to see corruption These things deare brother ponder and consider well in thy mind that thou be not deceiued with the world which imagineth that when we die we die for altogether that our bodies perish together with our life and that nothing remaineth of vs after our departure hence But the world is herein altogether deceiued For our bodie is not so little set by nor so despised in the sight of God it hath his peculiar honour and welfare prepared and ordained of God For this same bodie which now we carry about vs which is now vexed and tormented with so many griefes paines this same body I say being changed glorified shall together with our soule liue for euermore Whereas indeed if wee should for altogether lose and forgo this bodie and neuer recouer the same againe at any time the death of the Saints and children of God should not be precious and honorable but rather vile and of no worth yea horrible and dreadfull Considering therfore these things diligently raise vp and comfort thy wauering mind and strengthen the same with sentences of holy Scripture Beleeue them faithfully doubt nothing For the same are most certaine vndoubted and true As Christ his body being buried and lying in the graue rose againe on the third day vnto a new life the same eternall and euerlasting neuer to die againe so the bodies of all such as are asleepe
also the truth as hee witnesseth in the same place And therefore neither will nor can deceiue vs but the promises of God in him and through him are 〈◊〉 and Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 2. Corinth 1.20 And to the end that thou maiest nothing doubt but that God will abide by his words promises he hath by an especiall and peculiar couenant and signe added vnto thy body bound and tyed himselfe as it were vnto thee For of an earnest loue and desire of thy saluation hauing sent his owne Sonne into the world to giue vp himselfe vnto death for thee he hath made a couenaÌ„t of grace with thee through Christ in whom he hath promised that if thou beleeue and be baptized he wil freely giue vnto thee eternall life he will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee but will be a Father vnto thee and will crowne thee with his goodnesse mercie Now the signe and seale of his couenant is thy Bapâ—isme Wherefore vnto the promises annexed vnto this signe it behoueth thee to cleaue fast to lay sure hold vpon the same For God hath giuen thee this signe in thy flesh that thou mightest nothing doubt of his fauour and mercie promised and of his faithfulnesse goodnesse towards thee Rom. 6.3 Thou art baptized as S. Paul saith into the death of Christ that his death may become thy death and that he might make a full and perfect satisfaction vnto God for thee Gal. 3.26 Yea thou hast put him on as it were in Baptisme for so saith the Apostle vnto the Galathians that so thou mightest be wholly in him and he in thee Baptisme therefore is such a couenant and such a figure and signe as comforteth reioyceth quieteth thy conscience before God as Saint Peter witnesseth assuring thee 1 Pet. 3.21 that God will neuer condemne thee for thy sinnes being throughly purged and washed away in the bloud of his Sonne For being iustified by faith Rom. 5.1 thou hast peace with God Ro. 5.1 A quiet peaceable chearefull conscience is this true peace Now thou hast receiued Baptisme as a most certaine signe and seale of this thy iustification and of the remission of all thy sins that thou mightest assuredly beleeue that God hauing mercie and compassion vpon thee for Christ his sake will saue and deliuer thee Now then forasmuch as God hath a fauor vnto thee and will be a Father vnto thee and consequently will neuer forsake thee and forasmuch as thou hast so infallible a signe and testimonie thereof thou oughtest to commit and giue ouer both all thy affaires and thy selfe also wholly vnto him to obey his will and to suffer patiently his hand vpon thee whether it be his will that thou liue or die praying and desiring that his good will may be done vnto his praise and glory And it is vnpossible if thou trust stedfastly in Gods mercie promised through Christ and thus dedicate thy selfe wholly vnto him it is vnpossible I say that thou shouldest perish or be condemned Forasmuch as God hath promised that he will be thy Father euen the same God who is most true of his word yea truth it selfe while thou doest beleeue acknowledge him so to be and thereupon hopest and lookest for all good things from him he cannot but as a tender Father take care of thee and so consequently in good time saue and deliuer thee how hardly soeuer for the present he may seeme to intreate thee yea forasmuch as he hath promised to be a Father not onely vnto thee but also vnto thy seede after thee thou stedfastly beleeuest these his promises he will without all doubt haue a diligent and prouident care both of thee and thine And therefore mayest thou well recommend vnto him not onely thy bodie and soule but also thy wife and thy children thy kinsfolke and thy friends and briefly all that thou hast belonging vnto thee Nothing doubting but that he will be a true Father vnto thy children a true husband vnto thy wife and a true friend vnto thy kinsfolke and friends For God hath hitherto vsed thee in these toward these onely as a Steward And now when he will haue thee to leaue the execution of this office and charge he will doubtlesse substitute in thy stead another Steward ouer them who shall faithfully and diligently take care of them If with full confidence of heart thou shalt hope and looke for this from him there is no doubt but that he will do it as I haue said Wherefore shake off from thee and cast out of thy mind al care for thy friends and for all thy worldly affaires and commit the same ouer vnto God Be rather careful for thy selfe and bethinke how to prouide for thy soule and to resigne the same ouer into the hands of thy Creator and Redeemer And now whereas God hath freely for Christ his sake pardoned and forgiuen thee all thy sinnes he requireth nothing else of thee for this infinite and inestimable benefite but that thou in like manner from thy very heart forgiue all those that haue done wrong and iniury vnto thee And he promiseth that he will forgiue vnto vs our trespasses so as we shall forgiue vnto men their trespasses Wherfore hauing from the bottome of thy heart pardoned all wrongs and offences so as thou intendest not euer after to renew nor call to minde againe the remembrance thereof pray earnestly and heartily for them that haue any way â—â—iured or hurt thee according to the doctrine and example of Christ himselfe And if thou shalt recouer of this thy sicknesse helpe them to the vttermost of thy power if they shall stand â—n need of thy helpe Now if thou hast thy mind thus voide and free from inward grudge malice and displeasure thou hast also an vndoubted signe that God hath pardoned thee all thy sinnes vtterly rased them out of his sight For faith whereby thy heart is purged shewing it self bringing forth her fruits in thee for the blessings and benefits of God towards thee being infinite in pardoning all thy sinnes which are in number infinite it cannot but stirre thee vp in like maner to forgiue thy neighbour and to do good vnto him Here the fruite of thy loue and charitie witnesseth vnto thee and putteth thee in assurance that thy faith is a true and liuely faith when it bringeth forth good fruite and such as is vnfained This is that which S. Peter meaneth when he willeth vs to giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure by our good workes 2 Pet. 1.10 giuing vs to vnderstand that those good works are witnesses and tokens that we are elect chosen of God and adopted to be his sons and consequently to be heires of eternall life and saluation Howbeit notwithstanding al this know that thou canst not neither must thou in any wise hope or looke that God will for the painfulnesse or grieuousnesse of thy sicknesse and
wrath and displeasure In stead of death and after death grant vnto him life euen life euerlasting that he may for euer liue with thee in glory And if thou thinke it better more expedient for him that he abide yet longer in this mortalitie either for the benefit of others and for the vse and seruice of the Church or else for his owne behalfe and benefite that he may more nearely be conformed and made like vnto the example and image of thy Sonne Christ Iesus restore vnto him mercifull and gracious Lord his former health strength and with health and strength increase in him euery day more and more the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit Howbeit thy will be done alwaies in all things which cannot but euermore be for the best All these things grant vnto vs we beseech thee most gracious and merciful Father and to this our feeble and distressed neighbour and brother for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake who is our onely helper and redeemer for his sake who for the comfort of sinners translated by the ministerie of his blessed Angels the theefe on the crosse into Paradise and the soule of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome euen for his sake who sitteth at thy right hand of power and glorie to be our Aduocate and to make intercession for vs who also liueth and reigneth together with thine owne maiestie in the vnitie of the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Sicke partie LOrd Iesus thou that art the health of al men liuing and the life euerlasting of all that in thy true faith depart out of this wretched transitorie world I submit and wholly giue ouer my selfe vnto thy most blessed will whether it plâ—aâ—e thee that this silly soule of mine shall abide in this house and tabernacle of my bodie yet for some longer time to do thee seruice or whether thy will be that I shall shortly depart hence being certainly assured that the same can in no wise perish which is committed and deliuered ouer into thy mercifull hands O Lord I am most readie and willing to lay downe this fraile and corruptible flesh in certaine hope of the resurrection thereof at the last day when it shall be restored vnto me againe much more glorious and happie In the meane time confirme and strengthen my soule I beseech thee with thy grace holy Spirit against all temptations and against all assaults of Satan Gird compasse me about with the shield of thy mercie as thou diddest in times past thy holy Saints and Martyrs making them thereby strong inuincible against all torments and deaths though neuer so cruell or so fearefull and horrible I see that there is no helpe in my selfe ô Lord but all my helpe and hope my trust confidence is in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie I haue no deserts nor good works ô Lord that I can bring or alledge before thee But of misdeeds alas I see many and infinite as the sands of the Sea which hauing passed and gone ouer my head are as a grieuous burthen too too heauie for me to beare But yet through thy precious death and bloudshedding I beleeue that they are all quite purged and washed cleane away And through thy most perfect righteousnesse and obedience imputed vnto me I trust and am assured that I shall be yea and am already registred and receiued into the number of thy righteous Saints and seruants It was for me and for my sake that thou wast borne into the world and wast subiect vnto all the miseries and infirmities of this life Thou didst hunger and thirst for my sake thou didst teach and preach and worke many strange wonders and miracles for my sake thou didst fast and pray for me and for my sake For my sake it was that thou didst so many good deeds while thou liuedst and didst conuerse amongst men for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter paines and torments yea and gauest thy precious bodie and soule vnto death vpon the crosse for my sake Now let all these things sweete sauiour Iesus Christ be auaileable and profitable vnto me thy poore seruant who hast willingly performed all these things for me and hast giuen and bestowed thy selfe wholly vpon me and for me Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse and let thy merits stand for me before thy tribunall seate of iudgement And as my sicknesse and paine increaseth so increase ò Lord in me thy good gifts and graces both of faith and of patience and of constancie and perseuerance that my faith confidence may neither wauer nor stagger nor my loue toward thee be abated nor my humane weakenesse be deiected and cast downe by feare of death But after that death hath seized vpon closed vp the eyes of my body the eyes of my mind may not sweâ—ue nor turne aside from thee And when it hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet let my heart without ceassing crie vnto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for thou hast dearely bought it and redeemed it euen with thy most precious bloud Sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ receiue my soule Saue and keepe me protect and defend me vnder the shadow of thy wings that I sleepe not in death Saue and deliuer me euen in death from the power of death In thee ô Lord my God do I put my trust let me not be confounded Thou art my onely Lord Sauiour leaue me not neither forsake me ô God of my saluation But be thou still present with me to sustaine and vphold me to refresh and comfort me and finally at the time which thou hast appointed to conuey my soule into thy heauenly kingdome which thou hast purchased prepared for me before the beginning of the world Euen so come Lord Iesus Amen Amen A prayer for the Sicke being readie to giue vp the Ghost LOrd Iesus Christ thou which art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall not die for euer looke downe from heauen euen from thy Sanctuarie and holy habitation Behold visite and relieue this thy seruant Correct him not in thine anger neither chasten him in thy displeasure but according to the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon him we beseech thee with a fatherly affection Restore him if it be thy gracious will and pleasure vnto his former health and strength that so he may liue to glorifie thy name Or if it stand with thy will otherwise to deale with him euen by this present sicknesse to call him home vnto thine owne selfe out of this vale of wretchednes and miserie giue vnto him constancie to endure faithfull vnto the end and patience to suffer quietly and meekely thy rod and fatherly correction His flesh ô Lord is weake and fraile assist him with thy grace strengthen his weaknesse by the mightie power of thy holy Spirit His spirituall enemies are many and the craft and malice of Satan neuer wanting especially in the houre of death when the bodie is most weake to daunt affright if it be possible the soules of thy seruants that so he might destroy the soule together with the bodie Couer him therefore deare Father vnder the shadow of thy wings against all the assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that neither through the infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh nor through the grieuousnesse and painefulnesse of his sicknes nor the loue desire of this world nor the multitude of his sinnes nor the malice of Satan nor by any other meanes he be drawne away from his loue towards thee and his assured trust and confidence in thee We coÌ„fesse ô Lord that there is in himselfe as in our selues no power nor strength to helpe at all being borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity whereunto also haue bene added many actuall sinnes and transgressions both in thought word and deede whereby he hath prouoked thy iust wrath indignation In whom then shall he trust and from whom shall he looke for helpe but onely in thee from thee which art the Sauiour of all that put their trust in thee Thou didst vouchsafe for his sake to be borne into the world and to humble thy selfe to the state of a seruant to suffer all the miseries and infirmities of this life for his sake to sustaine beare all manner of reproches iniuries for his sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie to die and thy bloud to be shed vpon the crosse for his sake Now let all these things profit him we beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour Let thy most precious bloud wash away the multitude of his sinnes let that pure and vnspotted garmeÌ„t of thine obedience and righteousnesse hide couer his vnrighteousnesse let thy grace and power euermore defend succour him and let the sweet comfort of thy Spirit neuer depart from him vntill thou hast called him out of this vale of miserie into the blessed inheritance purchased for him where he may rest for euer with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Saints of God Heare vs we beseech thee most gracious and mercifull Sauiour saue thy seruant that putteth his whole trust in thee Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still his defence Let thy holy Spirit coÌ„firme strengthen him let thy louing kindnesse and mercte still abide and continue with him and be his stay and comfort alwaies vnto the end and in the end and for euermore Amen FINIS
AN AMVLET OR PRESERVATIVE AGAINST SICKNES AND DEATH IN TWO PARTS The first containing Spirituall Direction for the Sicke at all times needfull but especially in the conflict of sicknes and agonie of death The second a Method or order of comforting the Sicke Whereunto is annexed a most pithie and comfortable Sermon of Mortalitie written by the blessed Martyr S. CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage translated into English by A.M. Together with sundry Prayers needfull in time of sicknesse Collected and set forth for the comfort of distressed soules most especially in time of sicknes mortality By A. M. Minister of the word of God in Henley vpon Thames LONDON Printed by R. F. for THOMAS MAN and Ionas Man dwelling in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1617. ⧠To the right Worshipfull and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Elizabeth Periam of Greenlands A. M. Wisheth a long happy life with health and prosperitie here on earth and euerlasting glorie in the highest heauens GOOD MADAM I Do vnfainedly acknowledg and confesse that in my priuate iudgment I haue alwaies distasted the too much forwardnes of this age in publishing vnnecessary bookes and pamphlets So farre haue I bene from once intending my selfe to offend in that kind First in consideration of mine owne weaknesse and insufficiencie best knowne vnto my selfe Next in regard of that great light of learning knowledge which shineth most brightly euery where at this day And lastly in respect of the great peruersnesse curiositie that reigneth in the minds of sundrie men whom nothing pleaseth and contenteth but that which they them selues do or at the least wise affect Howbeit notwithstanding after that I had for mine owne priuate vse collected and gathered these spirituall directions and consolations and also perceiued how that the same might be of some good vse to others not onely in time of sicknesse but also in all other afflictions and distresses whether of mind or bodie I esteemed it a part of that great dutie which I owe vnto the Church of God to communicate impart these my poore endeuours vnto such and for the benefite comfort of all such as shall stand in neede thereof in times of sicknesse and mortalitie in the conflict of death and other sharpe and bitter daies of triall and temptation whensoeuer their sins shall stand vp against them to vrge and accuse them or the vgly appearance of death shall affright them or the feare and horror of hell and damnation shall seeme to dismay them Against all which fearefull dangerous assaults of death of sinne of Satan here in this small Treatise are prouided selected out of the rich Armorie of the sacred Scriptures seuerall and peculiar weapons and armour of proofe both defensiue offensiue both for the withstanding and resisting and also for the repelling and quenching of all the fierie darts of the wicked Now I haue bene bold to dedicate and offer the same vnto your Ladiship being moued thereunto partly by the sundry fauours receiued from your Ladiship by my selfe in particular and partly by those gracious works of pietie and charitie wrought and the great and manifold benefits from time to time conferred by your Ladiship in and vpon the whole Towne or Parish in generall ouer which God hath placed me though his most vnworthy seruant minister accept I beseech you this small present being as the poore widdowes mite which here I presume to offer vnto your Ladiship as a pledge and testimonie of my vnfeined thankfulnesse Almightie God who is rich in mercie grant that as you haue extended the bowels of compassion and mercie alwaies for the relieuing and comforting of many his poore children so also you may find abundant mercie in the last day may be filled with ioy and comfort at the glorious appearing of his Son Christ Iesus Amen Your Ladiships in all humble manner to be commanded A. M. A preface to the Christian Reader THe sicknesses and diseases which vexe and annoy these our mortall bodies together with the remembrance of death ensuing therupon how greatly do they cause both our bodies and minds to quake and tremble Insomuch that many times we shake and are afraid at the onely mention thereof Verily the nature of man being such as had rather not be at all then to be ill appaied or to be in miserie cannot whensoeuer these things befall but be much vexed and perplexed yea and sometimes readie to faint And yet behold the sicknesse and death of the soule farre more dreadfull and more horrible then which can befall vnto a man no greater miserie and torment There is no man but he doth feare and abhorre yea and by all meanes flie from corporal punishments and afflictions and from corporall sicknesses and deaths how much more then should we labour to eschue and auoid the causes of all these euils which are our sinnes and how ought we to feare the wrath and displeasure of almightie God which we daily prouoke against our selues by so manifold sinnes and offences If the bodie be neuer so little crazed we runne straightway to the Physition we spare no cost nor charge preferring our life and health before all things else yea we are content to disburse we care not what that we may procure remedies and preseruatiues for the same and all to patch vp this tattered garment of our flesh this rotten carcasse and clod of clay which notwithstāding must needs very shortly decay and perish and be brought to corruption Why then do we not with like earnestnesse and carefulnesse seeke for remedies against the sicknesses of the soule being farre more deadly and dāgerous For what should it profite a man to liue a whole thousand yeares and during that time to possesse all the riches in the world and to enioy the most exquisite pleasures of this life without being troubled with any sicknes or griefe or other calamitie and in the meane time to haue his soule tainted and infected with the leprosie of sinne and in bondage to the tyrannie of Satan and therupon to haue God alwaies his vtter enemie and his wrath and indignation raging against him and lying heauily vpon him so as he knew and were assured after this life to suffer and vndergoe the iudgement of eternall death and condemnation both of body and soule Hereof our Sauiour Christ admonisheth vs Math. 16.26 saying What shall it profite a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule And therefore in another place he warneth vs to watch to wit ouer our soules watch for ye know neither the day nor the howre when the Sonne of man will come And lest we should without regard passe ouer farre better things and things farre more profitable and should pursue after toyes and trifles things base and contemptible therefore he sheweth vs the shortest and surest way whereby to come vnto true happinesse which willeth vs Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the
and 3.18 And Chap. 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs vnto God And Saint Iohn 1 Epistle 1.7 saith 1 Ioh. 1.7 That the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne and Chap 2.1 If any man sinne and 2.1 we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the reconciliation fâ—â— our sinnes and not for ouâ— onely but also for the sinnes 〈◊〉 the whole world Thou hast heard heâ— deare brother the word not of man but of the holy Ghost which witnessâ— onely that God the fatheâ— who willeth not the death of a sinner EZech. 18. but that heâ— should conuert and liue euen he of his infinite louâ— toward thee hath easeâ— thee of the heauie burtheâ— of thy sinnes and hath laiâ— them on the shoulders oâ— his best and onely beloueâ— Sonne He hath borne them and suffered for them in hiâ— body that they cannot aâ— any time condemne thee For as much as God accepteth and reputeth the death of his Sonne in stead of plenarie and perfect repentance and of full payment and satisfaction for all thy sinnes so that thou beleeue in his Sonne Christ Iesus Forasmuch then as thy sins being laid vpoÌ„ Christ could not hold him in death neither condemne him verily satisfaction is now already made for them and to thee they are all now remitted pardoned Beleeue these things and thou shalt liue eternally for euer Christ himself hath borne thy sins and also died for them But he is risen againe and the sinnes of all true beleeuers are by the death of Christ more then sufficiently purged and discharged and the strict and seuere iustice and iudgement of God abundantly satisfied for thy sins by Christ Iesus Christ now then is thine togetheâ— with all his benefits with his death Rom. 8.32 resurrection and ascension into heauen with his merits righteousnesse obedience and finally witâ— his life and endlesse glorie Satan therefore hath no right nor interest in thee nor power ouer thee neither can he do vnto thee any hurt or iniurie sith thou art iustified by Christ seeing thou art freed and deliuereâ— from all thy sinnes and seeing thou art the child oâ— God For behold God is thy father and such a father aâ— entirely loueth thee for Christ his sake who hath reconciled thee vnto himselfe Be of good comfort then Phil. 4.4 and reioyce againe againe in the Lord. For as much as thou art in the hands of almighty God thy most tender and louing father who is also most true and faithfull in his word promises thou art safe and out of all danger so as no euill can befall thee being vnder his custodie and enuironed about and garded with a troope of Angels as he hath promised Psal 91.11 That he will giue his angels charge ouer thee Psal 91.11 to keepe thee in all thy waies Christ also is thine how mightie soeuer he be in power how rich soeuer in goodnesse and how great and high soeuer in maiestie and glorie He it is that hath couered all thy sinnes with the cloke of his innocencie and obedience and taken them all quite away Rom. 8.32 so that none shall be able to wrest or plucke thee out of the hands of thy heauenly Father As soone as thou shalt haue suffered and passed ouer this bodily affliction and temporall crosse which being compared vnto euerlasting life is light and momentany thou hast then got the victorie Christ Iesus hath gone before thee in suffering the like yea and a farre more sharpe and bitter Luke 22.44 and a farre more terrible conflict Now he is thy head vnto whom thou must of necessitie be conformed made like vnto him by dying vnto thy sinnes and by leauing and laying downe this life so embrued and defiled with sinne that so with thy Lord Christ thou maist liue the blessed life and that for euer Let not thy sinnes then vexe and trouble thee there is no cause why for them thy conscience should be disquieted seeing that they are alreadie taken away and abolished the euil spirit that seeketh the destruction of our soules is for thee vanquished and ouercome cast downe and trodden vnder foote God now in fauor looketh vpon thee he taketh care of thee to defend and keepe thee yea the societie and fellowship of all the blessed Angels attend vpon thee they watch ouer thee and pitch their tents about thee readie to minister vnto thee to carrie thy soule into the bosome of Abraham so that thou canst in no wise be condemned no more then could thy head Christ Iesus so that with thy whole heart thou fixe and repose thy confidence in him If sinne death and hell be not able to do any harme or displeasure vnto thy Lord Christ no more theâ— can they do vnto thee for as much as thou art iâ— Christ and Christ in thee thou canst neuer be condemned whereas indeed if thou were to sustaine and beare thine owne sins and to make satisfaction for them thou shouldest neuer be able to sustaine and vndergoe so great a burthen but thy sinnes would weigh and presse thee downe into hell vtterly ouerwhelme and swallow thee vp But now Christ being the selfe same true God and true man he hath willingly offered himselfe for thee and hath substituted himselfe in thy stead making full payment of all for thee as he saith Psal 69.4 Psal 69.4 That he made payment of the things which he neuer tooke Thou hast indeed in thy selfe coÌ„mitted many sinnes but Christ hath in thy stead discharged and made satisfaction for them all He it is that hath set thee at liberty that hath made thee partaker with himselfe of eternall life if onely thou shalâ— beleeue and giue credencâ— vnto this word and Gospel Yea assuredly deare brother though the sinnes of the whole world did liâ— vpon thy necke alone yeâ— notwithstanding behold there is infinite mercy with God abundantly sufficient or rather more then sufficient for them all Now God hath promised in Christ his blessing of grace and mercie vnto thee And the same his promise is in thy Lord Christ ratified and assured and fully accomplished and performed vnto thee so as thou canst not but be saued if onely thou do but cast thine eyes vpon Christ There is then nothing more sure and certaine then thy saluation For Christ being the naturall Sonne of God and in his diuine essence truth it selfe he is in respect of humane nature our flesh and bloud Who then shall be or can be more trustie and more faithfull to giue and performe this promise of grace and mercie then this Christ who is himselfe the truth of the promise who loueth vs so feruently and earnestly that he chose rather to suffer death voluntarily and willingly theâ— that we shold be frustrated of any promise Wherefore if thou shalt beleeue in
in Christ that is who haue beleeued in Christ being now dead they rest in their graues onely for a time in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection whereby they shall rise againe in the last day vnto a new life and that eternall and euerlasting wherein shall be nether sinne nor death nor any miserie and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse life and saluation ioy and happines for euer and euer These things God himselfe hath promised who is of infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promised and who is also truth it selfe and therefore neither will nor can faile in performance thereof Trust stedfastly then in his promises and wauer not CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead MOreouer it is good for thee to repeate often and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testimonies of holy Scripture which concerne the resurrection of the flesh Hereof it is that Saint Paul admonisheth vs in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians That we raise vp confirme comfort both our selues 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the resurrection Neither indeed can there be any consolations more fruitful and plentifull or more sure and certaine then those which we fetch from those testimonies of Scripture which concerne the resurrection of our bodies they being the words not of man but of God who both can and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken as hath bene said There is none that can alter or change his will and determination none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell He is of power infinite in his word and promises most faithfull and true yea truth it selfe his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie And therefore let no man doubt thereof Math 13.43 Christ saith Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Iohn 5.24 Likewise Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Chap. 6.40 And Chapter 6.40 This is the will of my Father that hath sent me that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Againe Chapter 8.51 Verily Chap. 8.51 verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death And Chap. 11.11 Christ saith that Lazarus slept and 11.11 who notwithstanding was dead and his dead corps did then lie in the graue But Christ raiseth the dead to life againe and calleth those things which are not Rom. 4.17 as if they were as Saint Paule saith And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse Ioh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And by and by after the vttering of these words he raised vp Lazarus from death hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies And because in these conflicts of sicknesse and death we are naturally very fearefull and faint hearted to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward the more to beleeue that there shall be a resurrection many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Prophets and Apostles In the new Testament Christ raised from the dead the widowes sonne at Naim Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus Act. 20. In the old Testament the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha 1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his hostesse sonne the Shunamite 2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. ◠Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp Henoch and Elias aliue both bodie and soule out of this miserable and transitorie life and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto himselfe Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come lest according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens we should imagine that after this life nothing else remained vnto vs. Furthermore consider thinke with thy selfe what that great and mighty Lord of life death Iesus Christ saith Luke 8.52 Weepe not Luke 8.52 the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth Reason not beleeuing this notvnderstanding the mysteries of God maketh a mock of these things Wherupon it is added that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it But Christ making good his owne words as soone as he had said it he raised vp the maid that was dead and restored her to life And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ not onely receiue thy soule and preserue the same in sure custodie but will also at the last day render and deliuer againe this body vnto thy soule and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall Iohn 5.28 Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plainly Ioh. 5.28 That the day and houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shal come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life And Daniel prophecieth foretelleth also Dan. 12.2 That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake vnto euerlasting life and that they that be wise shall shine euen as the brightnesse of the firmament and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer euer Saint Paule in like manner prooueth and confirmeth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies by many strong and infallible reasons arguments Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.11 If saith he the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell 〈◊〉 you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke◠your mortall bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in you And 1. Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 6.14 The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ he shall also raise vs vp by his power And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolations and comforts of wonderfull force and efficacie In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our resurrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other Christ saith he is risen frō the dead which is a thing most certaine and sure therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise againe For Christ is our head and we his
trust and confidence iâ— Christ comfort thy selfe in an assurance of his mercy and behold there neither is nor can be any danger For if thou fixe thy hope and confidence in Christ Christ now is thine and thou art his He hauing redeemed thee thou canst in no wise perish nor be damned For as much as they that beleeue in Christ are by the Father drawne vnto Christ Ioh. 6.44 and by him the Fathers will is that they shold be saued neither will he haue any of them to perish Iohn 10.28 Ioh. 10.28 Be of good comfort then beleeue faithfullie and haue stedfast hope in Christ For whosoeuer beleeue in Christ the same are predestinated vnto eternall life Vpon Christ then it behoueth thee wholie to fixe the eyes of thy mind to fly vnto him and to lay fast hold vpon him by faith if thou wilt be saued Remembring that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Heb. 12. Heb. 12.2 That with patience we run the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God CHAP. XI How Christ his temptations and sufferings were all for our sakes FVrthermore all the sufferings and temptations wherwith Christ was assailed and tempted being exceeding many and grieuous he suffered them all for vs and for our sake as the same Apostle witnesseth in the same Epistle saying Heb. 4.15.16 We haue not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but which was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sinne Therefore let vs go boldly vnto the Throne of grace that we may receiue grace and find mercie to help in time of need Imprint these things deare brother stedfastly in thy mind Christ giueÌ„ vnto vs for two ends Christ was giuen vnto vs for a two-fold end First that he might redeeme vs and reconcile vs vnto God his heauenly Father and so make vs partakers of eternall saluation And secondly that he might be an example vnto vs both of liuing godly and dying happily See then that thou set Christ his death before thine eyes and that thou end thy life after his example for as much as Christ is set downe vnto vs for as example to be followeâ— both in his life and in his sufferings and death For there is no man that shal be able to liue godly no maâ— able to suffer afflictions oâ— to vndergo death happily vnlesse he shall propose vnto himselfe both the life and death of Christ for his imitation By Christ his death it is that the death of all the godly is swallowed vp and quite abolished Iâ— wil be good for thee therefore diligently to meditate and consider in thy mind what manner of death hee died and how he behaued himselfe in that most sharpe and bitter conflict of all others when as hanging vpon the crosse he was ouerwhelmed as it were with most grieuous and horrible temptations Imitate and follow him and call vnto God for helpe that thou maist be enabled thereunto CHAP. XII Of Christ his threefold Temptations FIrst the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the feare of death 1 Temptation of Christ as one in their opinion vtterly vnable to deliuer himselfe from the same when as it was obiected vnto him on the Crosse saying He saued others himselfe he cannot saâ—e as if they shold say Now his case is altogether desperate for he must die and so vtterly perish None shall by force or otherwise take him away nor deliuer him out of our hands After the like manner will that vnreconciled enemy of man the diuel be ready also to strike into thee a scare terror of death But proceed and go on forward boldly bee strong and of good courage comfort Christ hath vanquished this enemy and vtterly cast him down And thou also through the same Christ shalt likewise cast him downe and ouercome him Stretch out thy shield of faith in Christ Iesus Thy Lord and Sauiour Christ being Lord of life King of eternall glory was not so made subiect vnto death as to be ouercome or to bee holden still of death but he liueth and reigneth for euer In this case then thy Lord and Sauiour liuing and reigning for euer doubtlesse he wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee neither will he suffer death to exercise tyrannie and dominion ouer thee He cannot deceiue thee nor falsifie his word and promise made vnto thee sith he is truth it selfe Haue this confidence in him and assure thy selfe of his goodnesse and of his loue and care tender affection toward thee and behold thou shalt most assuredly liue with him for euer A twofold benefit we receiue by death And whereas he will haue thee through many afflictions and trials to vndergoe this bodily death it is for thine owne sake and for thy good For first there is no other way whereby to passe into the true and euerlasting life then by this bodily death We must then leaue and lay downe this life if we will enioy eternall life and so after this life begin to liue truly and indeed Besides this bodily death is good and profitable in this respect that hauing tasted the sharpnesse and bitternesse therof thou mightest by experience know and perceiue how feruent the loue of Christ was toward thee and how inestimable a benefit he bestowed vpon thee when as dying for thee in his owne bodie he discharged and made satisfaction for all thy sinnes death being altogether extinguished and abolished and the very gates of hell shaken in peeces cast downe and ouerthrowne For otherwise thou couldest not perceiue nor vnderstand the operation and power of life in Christ how great it is which hath swallowed vp our death neither shouldest thou acknowledge the greatnesse of the benefit nor giue due thankes as thou oughtest vnto Christ thy Lord and thy redeemer Wherefore in that Christ liueth thou also shalt liue this death shall be vnto thee a happie and pleasant sleepe and â— dore or entrance into that true and most blessed life 2 Temptation of Christ Againe secondly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the guilt of sin as being a wicked man and a man guilty of horrible sin wheÌ„ it was cast in his teeth If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauedst others why theâ— doest thou not saue thy sâ—lfe These reprochfull wordes what else did they meane and intend but that by imposture guile and cosenage he deceiued and deluded men and that he was nothing lesse then the Sonne of God nay rather that he was a most vngracious and wicked man In like manner Satan tempting a man that is in extremitie of sicknesse and readie to die he layeth before him whatsoeuer at any time he hath coÌ„mitted against God or his neighbour and he
torment pardon and forgiue thee thy sinnes For there is no other satisfaction nor other recompence for thy sinnes but onely the death of Christ In this case God regardeth nothing else neither doth he accept of any thing else but of his beloued Sonne He is that Lambe of God which onely taketh away the sinnes of the word Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.2 He is a sufficient perfect and absolute sacrifice and oblation for the sinnes of the whole world As for thy paines or sicknesse or whatsoeuer torments or afflictions be the same neuer so great or intollerable they are not able to make satisfaction recompence vnto God for the least of thy sinnes much lesse then can the same deserue saluation as Saint Paul witnesseth I account saith he that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 No creature either in heauen or in earth no man nor Angell was able to papacifie or to mitigate and asswage the wrath and indignation of God the Father much lesse then is this sicknesse of thine and this momentanie affliction able to do it Yea that more is hee that must pacifie the wrath and indignation of almightie God and so reconcile God vnto man it was necessarie that hee should be both God and man being to vndertake and deale yea and to make intercession and attonement betweene God offended and displeased and man standing guiltie and condemned Therefore it was necessarie that the Sonne of God should be made man that in his body and in his flesh hee might satisfie the wrath of God his Father by his sufferings for vs and so saue and deliuer vs from the same as the Prophet witnesseth saying Esa 53.4.6.8 Hee hath borne our iniquities and carried our sorrowes And againe The Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all And againe For the transgressions of my people was he plagued And Saint Peter telleth vs 1. Pet. 2.24 that his own selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the Crosse and that by his stripes we are healed For thy Lord Christ his sake it is then that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee and for no other thing in the whole world for no affliction nor suffering though neuer so hard and sharpe Christ only and alone is our righteousnesse our satisfaction redemption out health and saluation 2. Cor. 5.21 Him God made sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made righteous yea the righteousnesse of God in him Wherefore if thou beleeue stedfastly Iohn 1.12 thou art now alreadie the childe of God and if thou be the child of God then art thou also the heire of God and coheire together with Christ Rom. 8.17 as Saint Paul witnesseth Rom. 8. Now if eternall life be the inheritance of Gods children the gift of God Rom. 6.23 as S. Paul calleth it surely thou canst not deserue it by any suffering of paine or sicknesse But God will therfore haue thee tormented and vexed with this sicknesse that so thy old man might be subdued and ouercome repressed and kept vnder yea mortified and put to death as it were that so at length it may ceasse to offend And that will be finally at the last by the death of the body And for this cause are we to vndergoe this death that our soule may depart out and enter into eternall blisse For this death of ours is the gate vnto eternal life Then and thereby at the length we are and shall be deliuered from all calamities miseries and troubles and from all errors deceits and suggestions of the Diuell Neither shall we any more be defiled with the most lothsome filthinesse of our sinnes neither shall we be seduced any more or misled into heresies and errors nor cast headlong into any despaire or doubting Then shall be an end of all miseries and aduersities and of all troubles and dangers Then resting in the Lord we shall enioy euerlasting life and ioyes without end And therefore death is in no wise to be abhorred nor feared Nay rather the same is earnestly to be wished for and desired forasmuch as thereby wee passe vnto euerlasting ioyes And it is most true which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.28 That vnto the godly all things worke together for good Sith that death it selfe a thing in the sight of the world of all other most hatefull and most hideous and horrible is become vnto the faithfull most sweete and pleasant and most ioyfull and acceptable Although our old Adam that is this flesh of ours doth abhorre it and by all meanes flye from it yea and trembleth for feare of it yet notwithstanding the inward man is ready chearefull yea glad and willing to vndergo it forasmuch as thereby he seeth knoweth that he is freed and deliuered from the mire and filthinesse of al his sins and corruptions from all paines and griefes and all cares and troubles and also obtaineth a passage entrance into euerlasting blisse and glorie before the throne of God and of the Lamb Christ Iesus In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Psal 16.11 CHAP. II. How to comfort such as are in apparent danger of Death GOod brother be of good comfort lift vp thy heart and raise vp thy spirit for behold the day of thy redemption and dissolution draweth nigh Thy most gracious and louing Father in great mercy toward thee doth now call for thee out of this wretched and miserable life to translate and conuey thee vnto himselfe vnto the endlesse ioyes of the heauenly life And therefore now giue ouer and wholy commend vnto him both thy selfe and all thine And let thy will and his will be all one Say within thy heart Thy will be done ô God my heauenly Father and not mine Cry out vnto Christ thy Sauiour with the good theefe vpon the Crosse Remember me ô Lord when thou cōmest into thy kingdom Luk. 23.42 or rather now that thou sittest and reignest in thy glorious kingdome Cry with the Publican Lord be mercifull vnto me Luk. 18.13 a most miserable and wretched sinner Cry instantly and earnestly with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22 O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me And when thou thus criest doubt not but Christ will heare thee and will haue mercy vpon thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes And whensoeuer thou shalt depart hence thou shalt assuredly be with him in his kingdome euen in Paradise Lay hold therfore vpon this thy Christ sticke fast vnto him and commit thy soule vnto him as vnto a faithfull Creator 1. Pet. 4.19 With this thy Christ crucified vpon the Crosse cry vnto God the common Father of you both in the words of the Prophet Dauid Psal 31.1 Psal 31. In thee ô Lord I put my trust let me neuer be confounded Deliuer me in thy
Written by that famous and blessed Martyr Saint CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage Wherein he exhorteth to a vehement desire of leauing this miserable life Declaring withall and shewing that whereas the iust and vniust dye alike we must not thinke their end to be all one forasmuch as the righteous are called away vnto endlesse rest and happinesse and the wicked are violently haled and caried away to be punished HOwsoeuer it be true dearely beloued brethren that there appeares to be in many of you a sound mind and a stedfast faith an holy deuout will and desire which is nothing moued nor daunted at the greatnesse of this mortalitie but rather as a firme â—trong rocke beateth back and ouercometh all the violent and tempestuous assaults of the world It selfe being assailed and tried but not vanquished nor ouercome with any temptations yet notwithstanding for as much as I perceiue some of the common sort of people either through weakenesse of mind slendernes of faith or through the sweetnes of this worldly and temporall life or through the tendernesse of their sexe or that which is more through error and ignorance of the truth not to stand so strongly manfully as they should nor to shew forth the diuine and inuincible courage of their hearts and minds It was a matter not to be concealed nor passed ouer in silence but that according to the measure of our abilitie the cowardlinesse and lazinesse of such nice and daintie minds ought by strong force and by some discourse conceiued and gathered out of the word of our Lord Iesus Christ to be repressed and subdued and that whosoeuer hath already begun to be a man of God and of Christ might be esteemed worthy of God and of Christ For whosoeuer he be beloued brethren that warreth vnder the ensigne of God and of Christ and being placed in the heauenly boast and army is alreadie in hope and expectation of heauenly things that man ought to acknowledge and to auow and professe himselfe to be such a one that amidst the stormy tempests and troubles of the world there be in vs no feare nor doubting Especially seeing that the Lord hath foretold that these things shold so come to passe prouidently encouraging instructing and teaching yea arming and preparing confirming and strengthening his people and true members of his Church vnto all patience and abiding of things to come Foretelling and admonishing that there shold be warres and dearths and earthquakes and pestilences in all places And lest that the vnlooked for and sudden feare of new and fresh troubles might haply dismay vs he hath warned vs before hand that in the last times worldly crosses and afflictions should be more and more increased Behold the things which were foretold are now com to passe And when the said things which were foretold doe come to passe then shal follow also whatsoeuer hath bene promised the Lord himselfe making vnto vs this warrantise and assurance saying Luke 21. When ye shall see all these things come to â—asse know ye that the kingdome of God is neare The kingdome of God beloued brethren is now neare at hand the gladsome tidings and ioyfull reward of eternall life and saluation and the ioyfull possession of Paradise which before was lost is now come in this last passage end of the world Heauenly things do now succeed and come in place of earthly things things of great weight and account in place of things of no price and value and things eternall and euerlasting in place of things fraile and transitory What place then is there here for care and vexation and anguish of mind What man amidst these things will or can be fearefull and pensiue but he that is vtterly voide of faith and hope It is indeed for him to feare death that is vnwilling to go vnto Christ and it is for him to be vnwilling to go vnto Christ that beleeueth not how that now alreadie he hath begunne to reigne with Christ For it is written that the iust man liueth by his faith Rom. 1. If thou be made iust and righteous then thou liuest by faith If then thou hast faith and by the same faith doest truly and stedfastly trust in God why doest thou not shew thy selfe as one that shall assuredly be with Christ and as one that is secure and assured of the Lords promise Why doest thou not I say with gladnesse of heart receiue and embrace this thy calling vnto Christ and reioyce that thou hast not any more to do with this earth and grauell Furthermore that iust man Simeon Simeon Luke 2.25 who was truly iust and righteous and with stedfast faith kept the commandements of God when as a reuelation was giuen vnto him froÌ„ God that he should not see death before he had seene the Lord Christ and that Christ being a little child was now come with his mother into the Temple he knew in the spirit that now Christ was borne of whom it was foretold him whom as soone as he saw he knew he should die quickly And therfore being glad because of his death which was now at hand being secure voide of care for his calling hence which was not far off he took the child in his hands or in his armes and praising God he cried out and said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation Prouing vndoubtedly testifying that then the seruants of God haue peace haue free and quiet rest when as being drawne and taken away from the stormes and tempests of this troublesome world they ariue at the hauen of euerlasting rest and safetie when as this death being quite abolished and put away they enter into the state of immortalitie For that is our peace that is our sure rest tranquility that is our constant and stedfast yea endlesse euerlasting safetie and securitie Moreouer what other thing else do we in this world but euery day wage battell against the diuell what else but with continuall conflicts fight against him and withstand and resist his darts and arrowes We are to encounter with couetousnesse and worldlinesse Enemies with whom we are to encounter in this world with vncleannesse and wantonnesse with anger and furiousnesse with ambition and with pride and haughtinesse We are to wrastle and struggle dayly and continually yea that with no small difficulty and danger against the sensualitie and corruptions of our flesh and against the allurements and enticements of the world The minde of man being compassed about and inclosed on euery side with the trouble and molestation of this base earth and grauell is hardly able to resist and withstand euery one of these If couetousnesse be put to flight ouerthrowne behold lust and sensualitie riseth vp in place If lust and sensualitie be repressed ambition succedeth in their stead If ambition be despised and vnregarded then anger rage whetteth
through abundaÌ„ce of blood to be inflamed some to haue their feete and other parts and members of the bodie that are corrupt for feare of infecting the rest of the body to be cut off and that by reason of feeblenes proceeding of some hurt of the bodie the going is weakned or the hearing is stopped or the sight is darkned all this is good for vs and profitable for the triall of our faith For to encounter by the puissance of a constant and stedfast minde against so manifold assaults of destruction and of death what great valour and magnanimitie is it and what an height of glorie amidst the ruines of mankind to stand vpright and not to lie prostrate ouerthrowne with them who haue no hope nor confidence in the Lord How ought we not rather to reioyce and gladly to receiue and embrace the benefite of the time in that we while we stedfastly shew forth our faith by suffering griefe and trouble patiently go on forward vnto Christ by that streight way which he hath set downe vnto vs we receiue euen by his owne sentence and iudgement the end of our faith confidence euen the reward of eternall life To whom death is terrible Let him indeed then feare to die who being not borne againe of water and of the Spirit is deliuered vp to the bondage and thraldome of hell fire Let him feare to die that is not reckoned with those who shall be partakers of the crosse and passion of Christ Let him feare to die who shall passe from this death vnto the second death Let him feare to die who as soone as he departeth out of this world shall be tormeÌ„ted in flames euerlasting with paines which neuer shall haue end Let him feare to die who hath this onely benefit by longer tarrying here that in the meane time his torment and sorrow is a little differred Many of our friends in this time of mortalitie do deceasse and depart hence that is many of our friends are released and deliuered out of this wicked world This death and mortalitie as it is a plague and punishment vnto Iewes and Pagans and other enemies of Christ so to the seruants of God it is a comfortable departure and behouefull for their welfare and saluation Whereas then without any difference of mankind the righteous and the wicked both die alike wee must not thinke that good men and bad men haue all one end For behold the righteous are called hence vnto ease and rest and the wicked are haled and carried away vnto endlesse punishment and torment The faithfull are the more speedily receiued and taken into sure and safe keeping and the faithlesse and vnbeleeuers the sooner deliuered ouer to be punished How improuident and vnaduised then are we beloued brethren and how vnthankfull for Gods benefits in not acknowledging nor considering what a good turne here is done vnto vs Behold how virgins depart in peace and out of danger together with all their glorie not fearing the threats of Antichrist when he commeth nor yet to be corrupted by the stewes and brothelhouses Little children escape the danger of that slipperie age of theirs and do happily attaine vnto the reward of their integritie and innocency The delicate and daintie dame doth not now feare nor feele any torments hauing gained her freedome from feare and hazard of persecution and of the stroke and torment of the hangman and executioner by the speedinesse of her death Further also by the feare of their mortality and of their short abiding here cold and lukewarme Christians are more inflamed and are made more feruent and zealous dissolute persons are restrained the sluggish and slothfull are awakened and pricked forward straglers and such as haue gone astray are coÌ„pelled to returne backe againe heathens and Pagans are made to beleeue the people of God which hath bene faithfull of old are called vnto rest and a fresh and more plentifull band and troope with greater strength and courage is gathered together being readie to fight without feare of death whensoeuer the battell should be seeing they come so readily and chearefully to fight and encounter at the time of their death Againe moreouer what say you vnto this beloued brethren what a thing is it how pertinent â—ow needful and necessary That this death and pestilence which seemeth to be so mortall and deadly trieth the righteousnesse of euery man what it is searcheth out examineth the minds and dispositions of men whether the whole and sound will be readie to prouide and care for them that are sicke and weake whether kinsfolkes and neare friends haue any good loue and sincere affection one to the other Whether masters haue any pitie or compassion on their sicke seruants Whether Physitions will forsake and giue ouer their Patients or no being sicke and earnestly crauing their helpe Whether insolent and outragigious persons will represse and lay aside their rage and violence Whether greedy couetous men will at the least through feare of death be drawne and mooued to quench and abate the heate of their outragious auarice which otherwise is neuer satiâ—fied whether the proud and haughtie will bow and â—end whether wicked and obstinate persons will modera e and asswage their rashnesse and presumption whether rich men when they see their deare friends eye as their wâ—â—es or children or neare kinsfolk and being theÌ„selues like to dye without heires will be moâ—ed thereby to distribute giue more liberally to the reâ—eefe of the poore Yea admit that this death mortality shall bring no further benefite yet hath it done this great good turne vnto vs Christians vnto vs that are the true seruants of God that we haue now begun willingly to desire martyrdom whilest we learne not to feare death These things then are but exercises vnto vs not dolours and mournful funerals they bring vnto the mind the glorie and renowne of fortitude and courage and by the contempt of death they prepare vs and make vs fit and ready for a crowne But perhaps some man will here obiect and say Obiection yea but this is a thing that grieueth and troubleth me much in this present mortalitie that whereas I was prouided and prepared to confesse Christ euen to the shedding of my best blood yea and had solemnly vowed with all my heart and with ful courage to endure suffer whatsoeuer I am now depriued of my martirdom while I am preuented by death Answer Yea but first it behoueth thee to know that to be a Martyr to suffer martyrdome is not in thine owne power but in Gods acceptation if he shall or will vouchsafe to accept thee to call thee to such honour And thou canst not say that thou hast lost that which thou knowst not whether thou art held worthy to receiue Then againe God who is a searcher of the reines and of the heart and an examiner and beholder of all secrets he seeth thee and he doth commend
approue of thee yea and he vnderstanding and perceiuing thee to haue such strength and courage in readinesse to suffer will assuredly recompence and reward thee for it Had Cain when he offered vp his gift and oblation vnto God at that time killed his brother Noâ— yet notwithstanding the murther that he had conceiued in his mind God saw beforehand and thereupon reproued and condemned the same So as his wicked and mischieuous conceit and imagination was in Gods prouidence foreseene and knowne Euen so also is it in the true seruants of God which haue a purpose and will to confesse Christ and which conceiue martyrdome in their hearts and minds the very will and affection being giuen and inclined to goodnes is crowned of God in his iudgement It is one thing for the mind and will to want or to be withouâ— martyrdom and another thing for martyrdome to want or to bee without the mind and will Looke after what manner God doth finde thee when he calleth for thee As a man iâ— found so shall â—e be iudged after such manner likewise wil he iudge thee for as much as he himselfe witnesseth saying Apoc. 2.23 All Churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reines and the heart Neither indeed doth God require or take pleasure in your blood but in your faith For neither Abraham nor Isaac nor Iacob were slaine and put to death and yet notwithstanding they being honored with the reward and benefit of faith and righteousnesse deserued to be reckoned the chiefe and principal among the Patriarchs vnto whose fellowship societie whosoeuer is found faithful and righteous laudable and praise worthy shall assuredly be gathered We must remember that wee are to do not our owne will but Gods wil according to that which God hath willed vs daily to pray Now how preposterous and how peruerse a thing is it and contrary to reason that wheras we desire and pray that God his will may be done we should not straightway when God calleth and sendeth for vs out of this world readily submit our selues vnto the power and gouernment of his will In words we rest relie hereupon but yet indeed doe struggle and striue against it and like stubborne seruants are vnwillingly and with griefe drawne into the presence of our Lord and Maister departing hence as being thereunto bound by necessity not through any readinesse of will and wee desire to be honored of him with rewards in heauen vnto whom we come by constraint and against our will To what purpose theÌ„ do we pray and desire that Gods heauenly kingdome may come if this earthly bondage doe so much please and delight vs Why do we with often redoubled prayers beg and craue that God will hasten his kingdome make speed to admit vs thereinto if our wishes and desires be greater and more earnest to serue the Diuell heere then to reigne with Christ there * A vision is heere reported by the Author which I thought good to omit How often also hath it beene reuealed vnto vs the least and meanest of others how many times hath God vouchsafed to giue open and manifest charge that I should make daily protestation and publikely declare that our brethren are in no wise to be lamented being at Gods call and appointment freed and set at liberty out of this world knowing that they are not lost and forgone but are sent before that departing hence they doe but tread the way before vs and that as trauellers and passengers they should be wished for and desired of vs but not lamented Neither should wee take vnto vs blacke mourning weeds here when as they haue already receiued white robes and garments there And withall that we should not giue occasion vnto the heathens and Pagans iustly to reproue and worthily to reprehend vs for that wee sorrow and mourne for those as vtterly lost and perished whom we affirme notwithstanding to liue with God and that by the testimony of our owne hart and conscience we reiect disalow the faith which in word and voyce we declare and professe We are betrayers of our hope confidence and of our faith holy profession All that we say seemeth to be but in dissimulation and to be but feined and counterfeit It auaileth nothing at all to talke of grace and vertue and in our deeds to destroy the truth and verity Lastly the Apostle Saint Paul misliketh those yea and he rebuketh and blameth them that are too much greeued for the death and departure of their friends 1. Thess 4. 1. Thess 4. I would not brethren haue you ignorant saith he concerning them that sleepe that ye sorrow not as others doe which haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus died and rose againe euen so also them that sleepe in Christ shall God bring with him Where mark how he saith that it is for such to be sorry for the death and departure of their friends who are voide of hope But as for vs which liue in hope and by hope we who haue hope in God and confidently beleeue that Christ hath suffered for vs and is risen againe so long as we abide and continue in Christ and rise in him and through him why either are we our selue so vnwilling to depart hence out of this present world or why doe we grieue and lament for our friends wheÌ„ they depart as if they were lost and perished especially when as Christ himselfe our Lord and God admonisheth vs Ioh. 11. saying I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer If we belieue in Christ let vs haue trust and confidence in his words and promises and we shall not dye for euer and let vs with ioyfull securitie goe vnto Christ with whom we shal liue and reigne for euermore And whereas in the meane while we die as concerning our bodies we do but passe by death vnto immortality Neither indeed can euerlasting life succeed and come in place vnlesse it fall out vnto vs to depart hence It is then not a doath but a passage and after this temporal race and voyage ended a passing vnto things eternall Now what man would not make haste to haue enioy better things who would not wish to be changed and renewed and fashioned after the image and likenesse of Christ and to come as soone as he can to enioy the honour and dignitie of that heauenly reward and benefit Sith that the Apostle Saint Paul plainly pronounceth Phil. 3.20 saying Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the Lord Iesus Christ who shall transform and change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie And that we shall be such our Sauiour Christ also promiseth when as he prayeth vnto the Father for vs that we may be with him and
vntrue in his word he will assuredly in due time make his promises to appeare he will helpe refresh and comfort vs. Whensoeuer then thy faith thy hope is not firme stedfast as it should be when thou seest and perceiuest thine heart smitten with feares and terrors when thou findest in thy selfe that thou beginnest to doubt of Gods mercie and that thou hast little or no faith at all forthwith call vpon God for helpe as Peter did when he was readie to sinke and to be drowned Math. 14.30 Implore and craue for mercie from him Mat. 14.30 and deplore and lament thine vnbeleefe and incredulitie before him Request desire his helpe with earnest prayer and intreatie and he will ease thee refresh and comfort thee and thereupon thou shalt glorifie praise him Psal 50.15 God hath vndertaken to do it and he will do it Onely see that thou ceasse not to call vpon him Beg craue incessantly with sighes and grones proceeding from the very bottome of thy heart at the hands of almâ—ghtie God the father of all mercies the God of all comfort that he will not turne his face from thee Crie out with the Disciples Luke 17.5 Lord increase my faith and with the father of the lunatick child Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe Mar. 9.24 A Prayer O Lord make haste to helpe me before I be pressed downe with this heauie burden and ouerwhelmed with the same Thy mercie is aboue all thy workes O most meeke most mercifull and most gracious Father O Lord God of my saluation my refuge and deliuerer enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Christ is my righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 sanctification and redemption He it is that for me and for my sake hath endured yea and most willingly hath offered himselfe to die a most sharpe and cruell death Let these things moue thee and preuaile with thee O Father of all mercies For this Christ thy Sonne his sake haue mercie on me confirme and strengthen my heart with true and stedfast faith in thy Sonne Christ Iesus and comfort me with the consolations of thy holy Spirit that so I may haue the fruition of true and perfect ioyes in Christ Iesus for euer and euer Amen In this maner labouring and wrastling and fighting striuing with thine owne weaknesse yea and accusing and bewailing vnto God thine vnbeleefe and faint-heartednesse if thou shalt withall lay hold on Christ and shalt cleaue and sticke fast vnto him with feruent and incessant prayer crauing and desiring his helpe that he substituting himselfe as it were in thy stead would supply whatsoeuer is wanting vnto thee if thou shalt do this then behold all is well with thee then there is no danger thou art safe enough for as much as there is little difference betweene these two betweene beleefe in Christ a feruent or earnest desire to beleeue How weake therefore and faint-hearted soeuer thou art let this comfort and releeue thee that God willeth and commandeth thee in thy greatest trouble and distresse to call vpon him Psal 50.15 and that he hath promised if thou do call vpon him he will heare thee and helpe thee Moreouer as nothing is or can be more iustly and rightfully desired of God then true faith so he heareth no prayer sooner nor more willingly then that which a man powreth forth finding no goodnesse in himselfe acknowledging his owne weakenesse and wretchednesse deploring and lamenting his owne incredulitie and vnbeleefe with feruent and earnest prayers and often sighes and grones desiring and begging for faith to be giuen him These desires and requests these sighs grones these prayers this little faith though it be neuer so little or so slender it is verily a cleare sparke of that holy fire it is the good seed of God which can in no wise spring vp in vs but by the effectual working of God who by his Prophet Esay thus speaketh concerning Christ That he will not quench the smoking flaxe Esay 42.3 nor bruise the broken reede Wherefore see thou beleeue stedfastly in Christ thy Sauiour or else pray heartily and feruently that thou mayest beleeue lamenting in the meane time and complaining vnto God of thine vnbeleefe If thou do this thou needest not doubt but that thou art accepted and reputed righteous before God and art the child of God who not in vaine laid vpon Christ his onely Sonne our weaknes and our sinnes In the fift Chapter of S. Mathew his Gospell Christ himselfe saith Math. 5. That blessed are the poore in spirit blessed are they that mourne and blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse These things Christian brother are spoken vnto thee do properly belong to thee Thou art humbled and cast downe thou art poore in thine own eyes and in thine owne conceit euen poore in the graces of Gods spirit thou mournest and art grieued and vexed from thy verie heart for thy leude and wicked life formerly spent thou doest hunger thirst for righteousnesse desiring to haue faith wherby thou mayest be iustified and saued Be of good cheare and comfort thy selfe thou shalt haue that thou desirest thou art euen now alreadie become righteous before God And hereupon thou mayest boldly by the example of Saint Steuen Act. 7.59 Act. 7. and of Christ himselfe also Luke 23.46 Luk. 23. commend thy spirit into the hands of God thy heauenly Father saying A Prayer O most mercifull and louing Father into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for as much as thou hast made it and inspired it and placed it in this earthly tabernacle of my bodie committing the same onely vnto my charge and custodie for a short time for as much as it is thine owne proper image made after thine owne similitude and likenesse and for as much also as for its sake and to redeeme it thine onely begotten Sonne hath vouchsafed to shed his most precious bloud This Spirit of thine I say I commend againe and againe into thy hands O most gracious Father thou God of all mercies thine I am whatsoeuer I am Receiue thine owne I beseech thee Saue preserue defend and keepe it and finally of thy free mercie giue vnto it euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy true Sonne and our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen CHAP. XIII A short Admonition touching the making and ordaining of last Wils and Testaments IT were to be wished that while men are in sound and perfect health they would be carefull to set in order all their worldly affaires and by their wils and bequests or otherwise to dispose of their temporall estate and of such earthly blessings as God hath lent them weighing and remembring the frailty and vncertaintie of this present life lest if perhaps they deferre this businesse vnto the last moment and period of their life they be preuented by death or at the least wise hindered by extremitie of
sicknesse from performance of the same Howbeit if either through negligence or vpon some vrgent and necessary causes thou hast put off and deferred this businesse vntill sicknesse suddenly and vnawares seize vpon thee be carefull then without further delay or protracting of time to salue thy former error and negligence by speedie diligence and readinesse in disposing of thy worldly estate be it more or lesse first vnto them who are according to the flesh nearest and dearest vnto thee as wife children and parents whom God and nature hath commended to thy care and prouidence next vnto thy poore kinsfolks being in want and necessitie and after them according to thy substance and abilitie vnto the poore in generall as for the releefe of poore widowes and fatherlesse children of the aged and impotent the lame and the blinde and vnto other holy and charitable vses And if the sicke partie haue got into his hands any monie or goods of another mans or is indebted vnto any man let him in any case make it knowne and prouide carefully for the payment and discharge thereof Which being done let him repell and put away from him all such as shall goe about to interrupt and trouble him with worldly matters Wherein a great many both men and women do aboue all measure offend who seeing and beholding their friend or neighbour now readie to giue vp the ghost and to breath out his soule into the hands of his Creator are readie to cast into his mind diuers and sundry scruples and doubts concerning his will and other externall and worldly matters Yea and sometimes they enforce him to subscribe and set his hand vnto Deeds and other writings against his will when as indeed his mind is not to doe any such thing yea rather in his heart he abhorreth and detesteth the importunity of such friends as enforce him thereunto by whose meanes it commeth to passe that he cannot die quietly nor depart in peace These men howsoeuer they pretend loue friendship vnto the partie dying and to his issue and posteritie yet indeed can there be nothing more vnfriendly or more hurtfull vnto their friend in such a case And therefore ought the same by all meanes to be auoyded CHAP. XIII How to mitigate and asswage the greefe which we conceiue many times more thē is meet for the death of friends FOr men to cast off all measure and moderation in sorrowing for the death and departure of friends though neuer so neare or deare vnto them as it is affirmed by S. Paul to be the part not of Christians but of Ethnicks and Heathen men that haue no hope 1. Thes 4.13 1. Thess 4.13 so is it conuicted by this only reason to be a thing bootlesse and vaine In that no weeping nor wailing nor shedding of teares though shed in neuer so plentifull measure or continued for neuer so many yeares together can yet call againe from death vnto life one man greater or lesse And therefore are all such teares fruitlesse and vnprofitable vaine and of no effect Whereof we haue a memorable example in King Dauid 2. Sam. 12.16 who so long as the child was sicke that was borne of Bathseba he fasted and shed plentie of teares he went into his priuy chamber and lay all night on the earth intreating the Lord for the life and recouery of the child But as soone as he perceiued and vnderstood by the whispering of his seruants that the child was dead then he cast away his mourning attire and changed his raiment and washed his face and annointed himselfe did eate his meat chearefully Which when his Servants admired supposing that he would haue sorrowed more as soone as he should vnderstand of the death of the childe seeing hee had so punished himselfe with fasting and weeping while the child was aliue and thereupon asked him the cause and reason why he did so he made them this answer While the childe was yet aliue I fasted and wept Verse 22. for I said who can tell whether God will haue mercie on me that the child may liue But now he being dead why should I now fast can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne vnto me In which words Dauid wisely declareth and sheweth that we ought not to greeue and lament for that which cannot be recouered nor called againe And this is that which the holy Father Saint Cyprian protesteth in his Sermon of Mortalitie that he had bene of ten admonished by diuine reuelation yea and charged also and commanded of God that he should publikely aduertise all men in his preaching teach and instruct them not to sorow or lament ouermuch for the brethren which depart out of this world when God calleth them for that such sorrowing is hatefull and displeasing vnto God Notwithstanding that we may not seem hard harted or that we loued our friend that is dead very slenderly or no better then other common men it is meete and requisite that we bestow vpon him some teares and those proceeding from the sincere affection of commiseration and of hartie and vnfained loue toward him but yet alwaies measured and guided by the right rule of reason and of true pietie and godlinesse For Christ our Lord Sauiour himselfe being the most perfect absolute patterne of all vertues did of a louing and tender affection weepe for Lazarus being dead Ioh. 11.35 And his holy and godly sisters Marie and Martha are greatly commended for lamenting the death of their brother Likewise of those seruiceable women which stood by the Crosse Luke 23.27 and beheld while our blessed Sauiour suffered such extreme torments it is not with out Iohn 20.11 cause registred in the Gospell to their especiall praise and commendation that they shed teares ouer him at his death and buriall And concerning the first Martyr S. Stephen we reade in the Acts of the Apostles Act. 8.2 that certaine men fearing God carried him to be buried made great lamentation for him Whereupon it is that the Sonne of Sirach giueth aduice and counsel to bestow some teares vpon the dead but yet in any wise he willeth that the same be immoderate nor continued ouer long Eccl. 22.11 Weep saith he for the dead because he hath lost the light but make small lamentation for him because he is at rest And hereunto doe tend all those consolatorie Epistles of that holy Father Saint Ierome wherein he comforteth the liuing for the death of their friends hence departed auouching and prouing both by authority of holy Scripture and by strong reasons and arguments that they ought not to sorrow or weepe immoderately for them that are departed hence and haue changed this life as that Epistle written to Heliodor cōcerning the death of Nepotian the Epistle written to Paula concerning the death or sleepe of her daughter Blesilla the Epistle to Tyrasius concerning the death of his daughter and the rest