mine Psalme 31. Lord on thee doe I trust let mee neuer bée confounded deliuer mee through thy righteousnesse Item Be comforted and not dismayed all you that tarry for the Lord. Psal 32. The vngodly hath many sorrowes but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with goodnesse Psal 91. Though a thousand fall at thy side and tenne thousand on thy right hand yet shall it not touch thee Psal 91. Vpon the Lion and Adder shalt thou goe and tread vpon the young Lion and Dragon Psal 23. Goodnesse and mercifulnesse shall follow mee all my life time and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for euermore Iohn 14. In my Fathers house are many dwellings if it were not so I would haue told you I goe hence to prepare the places for you Iohn 14. I will not leaue you fatherlesse I liue and you shall also liue Iohn 14. I will come againe and take you vnto mee that you may be where I am Iohn 12. Where I am there shall also my seruant be Item When I shall be lifted vp from the earth then will I draw them all vnto me Iohn 10. I knowe my shéep and am knowne of mine and no man shall pull them out of mine hands Rom. 8. If God bée with vs who shall bée against vs who also hath not spared his onely son but hath giuen him for vs how can hes not but giue vs all with him Rom. 8. I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angell nor principality nor power neither things present nor to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Amen A Prayer LAud praise and thankes bee vnto thée my Lord Iesus Christ for thy holy incarnation for thy martyrdom and litter passion out of which I acknowledge that thou art my Redéemer and Sauiour and do beléeue that thou hast ouercome sin death hell and the diuell that they cannot hurt me With this onely doo I comfort me héervpon build I there standeth my hope there will I bée found Onely bee gracious and mercifull vnto mee as I doubt not of thy sure promise O Lord let mee not sink or despaire in this my great tribulation and necessity but preserue mee happily by such sure comfort Amen Esay 49. Thou shalt vnderstand that I am the Lord of whom they shall not bee ashamed which tarry for me c. A comfort for poore sicke people which are troubled by reason of their grieuous sicknes Psal 118. THe Lord thastiseth mée but giueth me not ouer to death Psal 119. It is good for mée that thou hast chastised me that I may learn thy Lawes WHen any outward mis-fortune crosse or sicknesse falleth vpon vs then are wée sundry waies assaulted wée behaue our selues impatiently and doo comolain and wéep for it Such impatience is a great torment to a Christian for when the diuell can doo nothing else on him then commeth he with impatience that many in their miseries doo snarle and powt But if we could remember this onely word as Dauid saith It is good Lord that thou hast chastised mee we should rather wéepe and cry when we are without crosses sickenesse or other aduersity But what prosit or goodnesse this Crosse is of should euery Christian earnestly thinke on in all his temptations The chiefest profit of the Crosse is this First that thereby fleshly lust and desire may bée hindred that it be not lasciuious and throwe vs not into damnation as our noerest enemie which wée daily carry in our bosomes for as a man must spurre a Horse and hold him with the bridle and bring him forward Psalm 32. so must the Lord God also spur and bridle our olde Adam through the Crosse without which correction wée shall neuer come there whereunto woe through the Crosse haue cause 2 Then shall wee thereby be driuen to the Word and to Prayer and brought also to be penitent as the Prophet Esay saith Onely mischance and tribulation teach vs to mark the Word or as Dauid chastised mee that I might learn thy Lawes 3 If it should alwaies bée with vs according to our own carnall wils then should wée be proud and insolent c. But when God catcheth hould on vs with sicknes or any other crosse then wee acknowledge our disability 4 Wee shall bee thereby occasioned to esteeme and acknowledge Gods gracious and almighty help that hee is to vs a Rock a Bulwark Defense Protection Help and Strength in all our néed and necessity without which gracious help wée despaire of all things and must bee without comfort Now when the diuell with his poison pestilence and beggerly sicknesse is worst-minded towards vs and scattereth his plagues and sickenesse among vs yet then haue wee Christians GOD for a sure comfort wee are vnder his godly protection defense and do trust alwaies on Gods help therfore shall we neuer be ashamed 5 Then when wée haue obtained and gotten GOD's helpe others shall in like maner be therewith strengthned and comforted that they in all their tribulation and néed may set their comfort hope on the Lords gracious help 6 Although the Crosse doo bring such profit that many more causes might bee rehearsed yet the greatest comfort vnder the Crosse is that wee bee thereby assured that wee are the children of God for euer and so shall remain seeing that euery father correcteth his deare childe if hée take it vp to the end it may bée kept in kindly obedience Hebrews 12 Prouerbs 20. And héer it goeth after the common Prouerb as often as the honest Parents do say before their Children O dear Rod Thou makest me good Thou makest me gētle to be That the Hangman Be not troubled with me Such causes how fatherly soeuer our Lord God means that hée layeth so many kinde of crosses vpon His and withall the great bountifull goodnesse and profit that the same tribulations bring vnto vs let vs earnestly thinke vpon when we are in misery sicknesse or other calamities and not murmure against GOD for he knowes his creatures best and can tell what is good and profitable both for soule and body So did the Lord Iesus well see before the tribulation that his Disciples should haue after his death and passion but he comforted them Iohn 16. It is good for you that I goe hence for if I goe not the Comforter wil not come to you but if I go hence I will send him to you Therefore should wée set our will to GOD's will as Syrach in the 2 Chap. admonisheth My Childe if thou wilt bee Gods Seruant then prepare thee to tribulation leane thou vnto God and shrink not that thou maist bee alwaies stronger Suffer whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee and bee patient in all thy troubles for like as gold is tried in the fire so shall they whom God pleaseth bee tried through the fire of aduersity I. Against the first assaulting vnder the
and withall endlesse that it presse mée not downe but bée vnto mée a light burthen and a light yoke And lend mée likewise strength and ablenesse in putting-to thy holy arme and help to beare it till I through thy godly help shall with patience ouercome the same and that thou wouldest send to mee a happy end and hour of help with grace Amen Rom. 8. I am assured that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory of God which shall be shewed to vs. HEer Saint Paul the Apostle puts all the miseries of mankinde together what name soeuer they haue All diseases plagues sicknesses crosses and passions and how heauy and great such woes and miseries doo séem vnto vs and saith If all the troubles of this world were heaped together yet were all much too slight to bee compared to God's glory Why wilt thou then complain so much of troubles and mans miseries It is but a little times and then shall follow to euery Christian Beléeuer an vnmeasurable and euerlasting glory Héer in this life let no man think that it will bee better with him as Christ himselfe saith In the world you shall haue troubles c. For wée are héer in the diuels house if thou hold not with the host thou shalt haue small fauour in thy lodging Many a one thinks hee will go to another place and flée away from the mischief but wheresoeuer he commeth he findes the hoste at home Look what great dangers the Apostle Paul endured as in his first Epistle to the Corinthians and eleuenth Chapter but the hope of euerlasting life and glory to-come caried him thorow that with patience hee ouercame all As it is true that No eye hath séen nor ear hath heard nor euer came into the heart of man vhat ioyes habitation and glory is prepard for Christians and shall bee reuealed vnto them So is it most certain that they shall haue holy cleare immortall and powerfull bodies and therefore néed not feare any humane miseries death nor diuell And all these great gifts shall they haue through Christ for euermore All shall bee Gods and haue enough A poor scabbed boy or wench a poor scholar a despised begger c. which put their trust in Christ shall haue more and bée more rich thâ—n all the Emperors and Kinâ—s in this life for they shall possesse the euerlasting glory in which the Lord Iesus Christ shall crowne them with his vnwithered Garland of honour to euerlasting heauenly honour as wée vse to set Garlands on for an honour All worldly honour shall bée but childrens play to such honour and glory for there shall the Christians in glory hee like the Son of GOD himself yea Lords ouer all tyrants and persecuters ouer the holy Angels who shall bée their seruants shall stand about them and wait on them and shall in such honour and glory haue a merry constant and quiet conscience where no mis-fortune more shall ouerthrowe their ioyes their euerlasting righteousnes innocency and saluation Of which glory wee all should comfort our selues in all our afflictions then may wee through such hope with patience ouercome the Crosse So doth Saint Peter comfort vs You shall reioyce in the saluation who were a small time in sorrow Likewise S. Paul saith 2 Cor. 4. Our small and slight troubles cause to vs a far more excellent and an eternall waight of glory for wee look not vpon the visible but on the inuisible things A Praier O Dear and heauenly father I acknowledge that I for my sins sake haue well deserued all woes and miseries wherein I doo stick besides euerlasting punishment But I thank thée with all my heart that thou hast through Christ redéem'd me from such euerlasting woes and doo beléeue that these my sorrows and troubles are but smal and that vpon the same shall follow to me and all the faithfull an euerlasting and aboue all measure an excéeding glory I pray thée that thou wilt preserue me in this poor troublesome life which is so full of woes and miseries throgh comfort of thy holy Spirit in sure hope and patience to thy euerlasting honour and glory for thy dear Son Christ Iesus sake his redemption death power resurrection life and glory Amen Set thou thy cause on God indeed Hee will thee help in time of need For he that God doth trust Speed well alwaies he must Help thou Lord God euery where The body heere and the soule there A COMFORT against the fear and terror of Death and the Graue BEING An Exposition of Doctor MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end LONDON Printed by H. L. for Iohn Parker 1624. An Exposition of D. MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end IOHN 8. Verily verily I say vnto you If any keep my word he shall neuer see death HOW incredibly is this spoken and against manifest and daily experience in that we sée one carried away and buried Yet it is true when a man séeks after Gods Word with his hart beléeues on him and vpon the same sléeps or dies he sinks and goes hence before he might sée death or beware thereof and is for certain saued by the Word in that hee beleeueth and determineth to depart from hence Therefore should we Christians not be afraid of death Iohn 5. Verily verily I say vnto you He that hears my word and beléeues on him that sent me shal haue euerlasting life and not come into iudgement but shall passe through death into life THis may be called an excellent comfort and ratified with a solemne Oath That wee Christians when wee onely beleeue in Iesus Christ and that the Father sent him for our righteousnesse then néed we take no care for dying nor bée afraid of damnation but doo passe through this temporall death to euerlasting life that is so soone as we are dead before all mens eyes wée are in the twinkling of an eye with God in euerlasting life Who would then feare to die O vnbeliefe O originall sinne that thou shouldest so hardly beléeue so many Promises so many Miracles and such solemne Oaths of the true Son of God made vnto the Saints and children of Christ Iohn 11. I am the Resurrection and life He that beléeueth on me shall liue although hee die and who liueth and beléeueth on me shall not die for euer IN this Saying the Lord teacheth vs for what cause death is no death to vs but a beginning of eternall life for our Lord Iesus Christ liueth and is the Resurrection and the life because we are members of Christs Body incorporated to him in holy Baptism Therefore shall wee liue with him for euer as sure as he our head liueth onely because our life is hidden with Christ in GOD. But when Christ our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory Colos 3. O Lord strengthen my faith 1 Thes 4. For if we belieue that Iesus Christ is dead and risen so shall they which do sléep
But the Baker that is the vngodly dreameth alwaies of the Diuell and how the birds doe eate his Bread out of the Basket The Birds are the Diuels which eate away Gods word from him Such eating and gnawing must they féele for euer whereof wee haue a similitude which our Elders fained of Prometheus that the Eagle did eate out his heart and the heart did grow within him againe and the eating neuer had end The same doe the wicked féele truely as the wofull tragedy of the Rich man sheweth That there are two resurrections whereby all men may direct themselues God causeth to bee preached vnto vs in the time of Grace Therefore whosoeuer will escape such euerlasting gnawing eating consciences hellish paine and torment let him take hold of the sweete doctrine of the Holy Gospell and in the Sacraments put therewith comfort into his heart trust and beléeue as Gods word doth plentifully shew him for so it must bée as Christ very comfortably promiseth Mark 16. Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued Amen A Prayer O Euerlasting God and Father which art not a God of the dead but of the liuing For in thée doe all they liue which rest vnder the Earth in their Chambers Wee pray thy fatherly goodnesse that thou wilt not let the thinking of death or of his sting bee a feare vnto vs but wilt through grace of thy holy Spirit keepe vs in she right faith of thy déere Sonne who is the truth and life and giue vs a good conscience that wee may liue Christianly and depart happily out of this vale of miserie sleepe in peace and ioy ' and rest quietly vntill thou open our Graues And thorough the sound of the trumpet bée waked againe to life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen 1. Cor. 15. It is sowed a naturall body c. HEere the Holy Ghost vseth another word and calleth Dying To be sowed which is a friendly similitude wee are the Wheatcornes as Christ himselfe saith Ioh. 12 Now is the séed which the Husbandman soweth glory and bring foorth much fruit whereon God the holie Trinitie shall haue euerlasting ioy and pleasure Therefore should wee not bée afraide of death A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ come and sowe vs and our Children in thy Churchyard that wee neuer neede to bee afraide for any trouble néede warres or hearts sorrow Amen Luke 2. The old man Simeon singeth Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace THis olde Christian Simeon calleth Death a Departing in Peace which is also the saying of the Holie Ghost for there is nothing in our whole body vpon earth but vnrestfulnesse and disquietnesse one after another But when we our Lord and GOD shall goe out of this vale of miserie and come into our euerlasting Countrey then come wee vnto Peace What man would not then once haue also such peace and rest Philip 1. I desire to depart or to bée dissolued and to bee with Christ which is also much better HEere Saint Paul calleth Death A Dissoluing or a departure for héere we are bound to sinnefull flesh to paines and labour and cannot sooner bee quit thereof then through the happie houre 2. Pet. 1. I know that I shall quickly put off my Tabernacle SAint Peter nameth Death héere the Going out of a poore ruinated sinfull and wofull Habitation and to be remooued into a glorious paradise or to put off an olde worne gowne and to put on an immortall and heauenly apparell whereof we ought by good reason to reioyce Esay 26. Go hence my people into a chamber and shut the doore after thée hide thée awhile till the indignation bee ouerpast Esay 57. The righteous are plueked away from their misfortune and they which haue wandred righteously do come into peace and rest in their chambers HOW friendly and ioyfully speaketh the Holie Ghost of the death of Christians and giueth the same fiue beautifull names First Dying hee calleth Going into a Chamber to goe into a pleasant Parlour as often-times a man buildeth a pleasant roome for himselfe where hee would willingly héee alone and bee quiet from his children and houshold Secondly he nameth death Hiding one a while till Gods wrath and punishment bee ouerpast as when one stands vnderneath for soule weather or hideth his daughter when an army passes thorow so doth the Lord God lay vs vp that no misfortune hurt vs. Thirdly Death is called Plucking away from misfortune for when GOD will punish the World for their sinnes hee taketh first his Christians away gathereth them together remooueth them into a place of safetie that they be not hurt Fourthly it is called Departing in peace as Simeon did Fiftly Resting in their chambers for else vpon earth will be small rest or peace But the Graue of the Christians hee calleth our Chambers and resting beds wherein no man shall disquiet vs or awake vs nor any man can driue vs out There would many a one also haue gladly a resting Chamber vpon Earth and buildeth often with great charges in quiet places euen where hee heareth no knocking or running especially when hee is sick but all is to no effect for on Earth is no such fléeping Chamber to bée had wee are awaked with care sorrow need world and Diuell So are our Chambers vpon earth but hired Chambers although wee haue bought them wee know not when wee shall goe foorth of them But the Chambers in the Church-yard are quiet and our owne There shall no care sickenesse nor Diuell make vs vnquiet neyther shall anie man driue vs out till the Lord Iesus awake vs to euerlasting life This is comfortably and ioyfully spoken of the death of Christians and of the Graue Hee that beléeueth it will béeglad from his heart for the houre Philip. 1. Christ is my life and Death is my gaines SAint Paul giueth Death heere a fayre name his greatest and best gaines for there hee layeth in exchange a mortall needefull defectiue sinnefull weake sicke and vnperfect body and taketh for the same againe for vsurie and gaines an euerlasting immortall holy strong and spirituall body which may be called a Gaines who would be afraid to die Psal 116. The death of his Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. BEfore the world and our fiue Senses nothing is more horrible nor terrible yea nor more dishonourable then death and a dead body But before the face of Almightie God the Death of Christians is the fairest Relique Gen. 15. God saith to Abraham Thou shalt goe to thy Fathers with peace HEere God himselfe nameth Death a Going home into his Country and to come to his Parents and Friends And withall vpon the iourney to be conducted with peace As a childe that hath beene long amongst strangers reioyceth in his heart that hee may once goe home so should wee also reioyce when our deaths houre approacheth that wee may goe home into our euerlasting Country and with all Christendome haue an euerlasting Nuptiall day and
ioy Genes 25. Abraham was gathered to his people SO doth the Holy-Ghost speak of Abrahams death For heer on earth wee are among a sort of euill degenerated people with whom wée shall bée plagued and martyred as the Children of Ifrael were of the Aegyptians and of their Taske-maisters This Sentence of holie Scripture should wee conceiue and keepe wherewith wee may in dangerous times learne to prepare vs and to comfort our selues and pray with our hearts for an happy houre And when we sée death before our eyes or thinke therof not to be afraid Vpon these sentences out of holy Scripture haue the honest Christians alwaies had goodly wordes wherewith they haue comforted themselues against Death Of which wee will rehearse some Cicely a godly Christian woman of Rome when her kindred would perswade her she should deny our Lord Iesus Christ and what shee did meane to make such light account of her body and life the highest treasure and best pawn we haue Shee answered If it had concerned onely our life wee should not willingly lose it But I beléeue another better life which lasteth for euer of which IESUS CHRIST hath preached vnto vs. This true Martyr and Confessor of the true Christian faith did take holde on the right comfort Shee was not afraid of the horrible Death for shee knew that this temporall Death was a beginning of euerlasting life Item whereas wee Christians doo say and confesse Miseria hominis moritur non homo that is Of a Christian dieth nothing but his warres and miseries hee dieth not And it is true No ioyfuller houre can happen vnto vs Christians vpon earth than the happy houre of death for euen in the twinkling of an eye all our woes and miseries doo 〈…〉 incessantly deaths sting and sicknesse but when wee are dead in the sight of the world then doo wée first liue and doo neuer feél any more either danger or death For our temporall death is an end of death and a beginning of life Item whereas the Christian saith Without the knowledge of Christ death 〈…〉 sinne 〈…〉 ledgeth Christ to him is temporall death the best remedy for sinne whereby finally sin is scoured quite out of our flesh and bloud body and soule that we neuer sinne more Therefore wée should by good reason be glad of death that wée may bée once rid of that shamefull sinne wherewith wee are plagued and tormented day and night as Saint Paul cryeth out ouer this prosecuting sinne Romans 7. Now as honest Christians haue out of Gods Word for their comfort spoken friendly and familiarly of death so haue they also giuen comfortable names to the Graues and to Burials Prudentius dooth call the Graue Our Lord God's Iewell-house wherein hée hath his deare Gold and Reliques and halloweth the Ashes and Bones of his Christians and will at the last Day demand them again by waight The holy Scripture nameth the Buriall-place A House of the Liuing who dwell there aliue indeed All other dwellings vpon earth although they bee built of pure Cypresse and Marble are but Pest-houses where men doo sicken and die Onely the Graues of Christians are the Houses of the Liuing The Latine Church calls the Church-yard A sléeping house The Dutchmen call it God's Field wherein God soweth vs as hath béen said before Besides all these Christ our Lord was buried hee hath hallowed and warmed the graue for vs and left his linnen clothes therein And the holy Angels dwell in the graue doo watch and kéep vs in our resting bed Now he that is so instructed in Gods Word and beléeueth desireth from his hart to bee out of his groning bed of sorrow and to bee in his resting bed Whereupon the Lord Iesus Christ help vs through grace of thy holy Spirit Amen Rom. 14. Whether I liue or die I am the Lords A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ all they which are baptized in thee are baptized in thy death I am baptized in thée therefore am I also baptized in thy death I will with thy help die merrily and willingly hoping that as I haue bin partaker of thy troubles I shall be also partaker of thy glory O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast prayed vpon the Crosse Father forgiue them So Lord doo I forgiue all that haue done against mee that thou maist pardon mee of all my sinnes O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast called vpon the Crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Lord leaue mee not at the point of death O Lord thou hast said vpon the cross Eather into thy hands I commend my spirit euen so Lord do I commend my poor soule into thy hands Amen Psalm 31. Into thy hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redéemed me O Lord GOD of truth An Epitaph of Gasper Huberin Oh a sinner Born aliue and dead am I. Christ my Lord Renew forgiue and wake me vp I am faithfull Preserue make cleare and saue me Psalme 4. I laid me downe and slept quietly for thou onely O Lord helpest me that I dwel in safetie How wee in the euerlasting life to come shall see and knowe one another I beléeue a resurrection of the flesh and an euerlasting life WHen one preacheth of the resurrection of the dead and hath heard how the dead doo rise there ariseth a question amongst many If wee also in the euerlasting life to-come shall knowe one another as we doo héer Of the Resurrection is no doubt thereof are wee certaine enough and withall we know that if any haue a defect or want on his body that he halted were lame or a Cripple and had not all his limbs the same shall be all taken away in the resurrection of the dead and shall bee altogether whole and haue all his members wholly But shall wee in another life knowe one another Héerto doo the learned men giue this answer Yes wee shall knowe one another there Séeing that God will make the whole man aliue againe with flesh and bones shall knowledge and memory be gone Nothing at all Therefore shall you héer learne that wee shall knowe all not onely those which we now knowe but those which wée knew not nor in our life time had euer séen the same shall we see and knowe how to call them and they vs again The Learned also doo say that the Christians shall not onely knowe one another but the vngodly also and the wicked shall knowe them whom they haue héer oppressed and persecuted Sapience chap. 5. There shall the wicked say with repentance Are not these they whom wee haue mocked Oh how are they now reckoned among the children of God! I. Testimony of Scripture THe first proof they take from Adam You know that God made Heauen and Earth with all the Creatures and Adam was made last of all Then GOD let all that Beasts passe by him and when he saw them he knew euery Beast and his property and gaue to euery Beast his name according to his property As Adam now
all and what soeuer hee hath earned and obtained with his Obedience Death and Passion With this holy Sacrament should wee admonish and comfort our selues when sorrow and the combate of death is at the greatest that wee cannot rememâ—er any thing else and think and say thus much in our hearts I am baptized whereby God the holy Trinity hath made an euerlasting couenant with mée that he will bée and continue my GOD and hath not grounded the same vpon my goodnes but vpon his infinite mercy the merits of his onely Sonne and vpon the grace and power of the holy Ghost So am I absolued through Christ and haue oftentimes receiued the holy supper of the Lord according to his institution therefore I am certaine of the forgiuenes of all my sins Gods grace and saluation of my soule For if the euerlasting mercifull God and my Lord Iesus with the holy Ghost would not haue mee saued or taken me to mercie he would not haue suffered mee to be baptized or called mee to his Kingdome through his holy Gospell nor let mee so often receiue the holy Sacrament Therefore should we haue these worthy Sacraments in great estimation and often resort to the holy Communion of our Lord vsing the same in right worthinesse for confirming of our faith and comfort against sin and the wrath of God in our last end A Prayer O Thou euerlasting true mercifull God and Father I thanke thee through Iesus Christ thy deare Son in the power and vnspeakeable sighing of the holy Ghost that thou hast suffred mee to be baptized in the name and power of the holy Trinity and taken me vp for thy child and through power of the keies hast absolued me from all my sinnes and fed mee with the body and bloud of thy deare Sonne for the strengthening of my faith and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes And I pray thée dear Father that thou wilt vphould me through thy holy Spirit in true saith and confidence to my end that I may sléep in peace like to holy Simeon and rise againe with the righteous to euerlasting glory through Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Praier to bee said when a man will receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ O LORD IESVS CHRIST thou liuing Sonne of God which before thy Death and Passion didst institute and ordaine to all Christians a new Testament of the most worthy Sacrament of thy most holy Body and Bloud which I poore sinner am not worthy to vse or take thy holy Body and Bloud into my vncleane mouth or vpon my sinnefull tongue and that thou béeing so great a Lord shouldest come vnder the couer of my house or into my vnprofitable Bodie I am alas not worthy But I pray thée O dear GOD and Brother open thou my mouth touch thou my tongue and purge thou my heart from all sinnes and make mee thy poore seruant worthy of thy most holy Testament that I may receiue take and vse ' thy most worthy bodie and pure deare bloud of thy Sacrament to the health and saluation of my soule strengthning of my faith amendment of my life in burning loue towards thee true loue towards my neighbour and bring mee to euerlasting life Amen A Praier of Thanksgiuing O Almighty and euerlasting God I praise and thanke thy godly mercifulnesse that thou hast fed mee with the flesh and blood of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour and doe pray thee most humbly thou wilt with the Holy Ghost so worke within mee that I which haue receiued this blessed Sacrament with the mouth may also with constant faith conceiue and alwaies keepe fast thy godly grace of remission of sinnes and iustification with Christ which is therein shewed and promised and euerlasting life through our Lord Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne who with thee in vnitie of the holy Ghost liueth and raiâ—neth one true God for euer and euer Amen A godly confession of the deare and worthy man M. Iohn Stoliz MY sins doe trouble mee Gods grace ioyeth me Two things know I A poore sumer am I God is mereifull The first acknowledge I The second beléeue I. O God bée mereifull to mée poore sinner God giueth Christ meriteth Faith conceiueth Workes do witnesse Come to helpe mee thou good God weake is mans helpe in tune of need Esay 42. The bruised Reede shall bee not breake and the glowing Tow shall â—ee nâ—t quench out O Lord strengthen increase our faith Amen Of Gods gracious and euer lasting Prouidence and Maintenance a most true comfort Psalme 37. WHen I haue but thee my Lord Iesus Christ I care not for heauen or earth When my body and soule fayle mee yet art thou alwaies God the comforter of my heart and portion Zachary 12. OVer the house of Dauid and ouer the Citizens of Ierusalem will I powre out the Spirit of Grace and of Prayer for they shall looke vpon mée whom they haue pearced HEere doth the Lord promise to send his Holy Ghost to vs poore sinners as Saint Iohn in the 15. and 16. Chapters often maketh mention of this promise for because wée are weake and of little faith when sinne and Gods wrath doe terrifie vs to the end our faith cease not then shall the Holy-ghost as a true Comforter strengthen and comfort vs and bee witnesse to our hearts that our sinnes bee forgiuen and that weere in grace and she children of GOD and shall help vs to sigh and pray with vnspeakeable sighing Therewithall also shall the How-ghost for the comfort strengthening of our faith admonish and shew vs the holy wounds whereby wee may acknowledge that he was wounded and pearced for our sins and his blood shed for the clensing and washing away of all our sinnes II. Esay 54. SO haue I sworne that I will not bée angrie with thee nor yet reprooue thee for the Mountaines shall remoone and the hills shall fall away but my Grace shall not â—oe away from thee and the Conenant of my Peace shall not fall away saith the Lord thy compassioner GOd the Almighty hath through Christ his hest beloued Sonne erected a Conenant of peace with vs and confirmed the same with an doth That if we do beleeue in Christ hee will not punish nor yet concernne vs for euermore but continue our deare and louing Father eternally Such promise is so certaine that the Mountaines shall fall down yea Heauen and Earth shall passe away before such words faile A very glorious and comfortable cause doth the Prophet set héereunto The Lord thy Compassioner hath said that is God is so mercifull that hee will not condemne you for your sinnes Whosoeuer beléeueth in Christ with a faithfull heart shall rest in grace and hee will for euer release and helpe him out of all misfortune III. Esay 54. Feare them not thou shalt not bée ashamed Bee not weake for thou shalt not bée mocked THESE are faire and comfortable words
in Iesus Christ be carried away with him c. 1 Cor. 11. Behold I tell you a mystery we shall not all sléep THE Holy Ghost hath a strange spéech who calleth that a Sléep which the world nameth Dying and the dead sléeping With these words doth the holy Ghost declare vnto vs in a familiar comparison that the death of Christians is no death but a life and describeth to vs the temporal death of the faithfull Christians after the friendliest manner For euen as there is nothing tearer or pleasanter to a sicke body vpon the earth than a swéet sléep when hee stretches himself in his body and tumbles himself certaine times to and fro vpon his bed and feeleth grief as if a mans head did ake But before he bée aware a soft sléep falleth vpon him there sléepeth hée and knowes not how or when Hee heareth nothing nor knoweth hee any thing hée sleepeth away both thundring and lightning neither can he tell how long hee hath slept When he awaketh his wearinesse and sicknes is gone and hee is as if hee were new borne which euery one hath tried oftentimes in his sléep So saith the Lord God is it also with the death of euery Christian When wee haue wrought our selues weary vpon earth and haue suffered and liued and often-times tossed our selues to and fro vpon our groning bedde by reason of our bodily sicknes for Christians must also for their sinnefull flesh sake haue their bodily sickenesse and griefe then when in the last combate the sinfull flesh and blood is killed and the heart hath yéelded it selfe prisoner that wee may bee spunne new and holy which is not done without griefe a swéet sléep commeth vpon vs where all griefes and afflictions doo cease There a Christian doth not knowe how he fell asléep he is not aware of any death nor knoweth hée of any but liueth in the Lord GOD. And in this sléepe shall wée sléep out all sinne defects miseries sicknesse woes and necessities and shall awake at the last Day and rise againe in a new holy spirituall immortall effectuall and clarified body and shall behold GOD and his glory face to face and whole Christendome in euerlasting ioy And although one haue slept fiue thousand yéeres vnder the ground it shall bée as if he had slept but one houre as the Christians in olde time were wont to describe vnto children and to the simple with example of the 7 Sléepers With these words should we comfort our selues against the feare and bitternesse of death whereas wée also beléeue and with Simeon do sing with peace ioy I hence depart in Gods wil my heart is comforted béeing quiet and still as God hath said Death is my sleep I am not afraid O Mercifull God and Father I pray thée throgh the death and resurrection of thy Son when I haue liued and groned mee weary and that mine houre is comne grant mee O Lord a sweet sleep and take my soule into thy hands Amen Dan. 12. Many which haue slept vnder the ground shal awake some to euerlasting life some to euerlasting reproofe and shame THe Prophet Daniel vseth heer to speake after an Euangelicall manner and calleth death also a sléepe As Christ speaketh of the illuminate Schoole maisters daughter The Mayden is not dead but sleepeth And nameth Death a sléepe And without doubt the Holy Ghost had respect heere to the death and Resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom all power is taken away from death Esay 25. Therefore should wée Christians remember such friendly kind and comfortable speeches That wee speak not iestingly of the death of them that sleepe as the wicked and rude people do He is gone into the old World Hee is gone into the old Market Hee is at Trores His spoone is fallen downe No it is called fallen asléep S. Paul nameth it a departure to bée dissolued Saint Peter to put off his Tabernacle c. But in what manner such sléepe is can wee not perceiue or vnderstand more then of temporall sléepe know wee perfectly As for example In the mothers body the mother knoweth nothing till it stirre So we in bodily sléepe can do nothing what can wee know of the sleepe of the Holy Ghost But Christ instrueteth vs that beléeue of such sleepe Luke 20. They liue in God saith hee And heere it is to bée noted that not onely Christians haue their sleepe but the wicked also but it is an vnlike sleepe a soft and swéete sleepe against an vnquiet and heauy sleepe As when one is sicke hee hardly sléepeth but he which is in health sléepeth soundly But the vngodly do dreame alwaies of the diuell as the Rich-man Esay 66. Vermis eorum non morietur But the Christians do rest in Christ quietly and peaceable like a little innocent Chilue which often sléepeth so soundly as a man saith Like a vong Hare The same did Dâ—uid acknowledge therefore saith hée Psal 4. I will lay mee downe and sleepe quietly for thou onely O Lord makest mee to dwell in safety From such sleep shall be also a waking to all them which beleeue on Christ and haue holden with his holy Word and Sacraments and they shall bée comforted They shall rise againe to euerlasting glory and receiue the euerlasting garland of honour the Heauenly euerlasting and immortall Crowne and escape euerlasting iudgement and shame But the vngodly which haue done euill forgotten the couenant of their Baptisme and not beleeued on Christ they shall awake to euerlasting reproofe and shame A faire similitude of hoth resurrections haue wée Gen. 40 on loseph the Butler and Baker They were all thrée laid in prison and came to liberty againe which signifieth the Resurrection One of them was set free came to honour and to his Office againe The other was also quit of his troubles but commeth to the Gallowes Ioseph signifieth our Lord Iesus Christ who was also put into this prison but guiltlesse The Butler signifieth all honest Christians which acknowledge their sins and with hearty repentance and sorrow haue beléeued on Christ they shall at the latter day bee placed with him in euerlasting glory The Baker signifieth all the vngodly they shall bee also quit of their prison that is their Graues but to euerlasting damnation Surely surely the graue is a very soft resting bed for Christians which the Lord Iesus hath before warmed for them that they neede not bee afraide thereof Therein haue they a good soft and quiet sleepe There shall they alwaies dreame of the Vine For the Vine signifieth Christ and the Grapes the sweete doctrine of the holy Gospell as iâ—t Mathew 7. appeareth Doe men gather Grapes on Thornes Iohn 15. Ego sum vitis vera c. There dreame the Christians in death and Graue alwaies on the Lord Iesus Christ and of his swéeâ—e Doctrine And in such soft dreames rest they so soft that they thinke many thousand yeares bee as though they had scantly slept an houre
named them so must they bée called at this present day If Adam then in the naturall body and before the Fall had such sharp eyes that he could see the Beasts in his heart as for example what the nature and property of the Stork is which hath a naturall born loue to the old ones that haue brought her vp shall not we much more in the new spirituall body which shall beare the Image of Christ bee a thousand times wiser and knowe all This is a right good argument The II. Argument THis is like the first that Adam knew Eue so soon as God brought her to him when hée had made her of his ribs before GOD said one word vnto him There it is rightly said Ille est felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas Therefore said Adam according vnto the Hebrew speech This is mercifulnes she shall haue a true hart and shall bee called Woman c. Whil'st Adam in his naturall life had such sharp eies shall wee not much more in the spirituall and euerlasting life haue much sharper eies that wee knowe one another and also those which in this life we haue not knowne I cannot finde any thought in me to withdraw it from mee that it should not be The III. Argument THe third proof they take from Christ when Mary Magdalen mette him in the garden who being yet in her sinnefull body did quickly knowe him by his spéech and likewise the Apostles also much more shall wee knowe one another when wee shall haue pure clarified eies The IIII. Argument CHrist laieth before vs the Rich-man and poor Lazarus which is no similitude but a true History acted although it bée wonderfull and strange vnto vs that in another life they shall both know one another In brief There shall be a right perfect knowledge that wée shall also knowe the high Maiesty of God and sée him face to face as Iob comforted himself chapter 19. I shall see God in my flesh Such knowledge shal happen vnto vs as the custome was in old time amongst our Elders when they kept the hallowing of their Church when all the friends and kinred came together once in a yéer which had in a long time before not séen one another as they vse often at Easter and Christmasse to visit their good friends There are they knowne amongst the kinred Is not that my Vncle Is not this my Aunt Are not these also my cousins and friends So that they knowe one another with great ioy Then knowe that at the later Day shall be the right renewed day that right Church Holy-day shall begin where all Christendome shall come together make themselues knowne one to another and shall haue an euerlasting Church-Feast a perpetuall Easter-Feast and a day of eternall ioy These things should a Christian remember for they serue to this end that many a one may bée comforted therewith when hée must depart from a good Friend Father or Mother Brother or Sister goeth far off and knoweth not at his returne if hée shall finde them in health Or else in the time of mortality when we should depart one from another then may one comfort himself in thinking thus I shall not yet lose him altogether I know that our Lord God hath appointed a Church-holy-day where my dearest children brethren sisters and good friends come to mee again there will wee consult together for euer The same is a notable comfort when his father mother and kinred bee dead that hée be not discourâ—ged but know that they bee but gone before him And therefore it is called thus Coming again makes me sure That I esteem not departure A Praier O LORD Iesus Christ which art the conductor of life thou through thy death hast ouercome euerlasting death in victory made sin and death to be nothing and confirmest with a double oath that we which kéep thy word stedfastly in our hearts shall not see death eternally doost comfort and promise to vs thy faithfull that we shall be for euer in the height of ioy and saluation where thou art Therefore wee pray thee from our hearts O Lord Iesus Christ that thou wilt through the grace of thy holy Spirit preserue vs constantly in such faith that thy Kingdome may quickly come that wee may bee deliuered out of this vale of misery that wée and our faithfull Children Parents Brethren and Sisters all our kinsfolks and all godly people through thy spirituall grace may bee brought one to another as thou didst bring to the widow of Naim her dear son in bodily maner That thou wouldest also as thy Word comforteth graciously grant that as Adam in the state of innocency knew Eue of whom he before did knowe nothing and as thou after thy holy resurrection didst make thy self knowne we likewise may sée and knowe one another in the highest ioy of thy saluation and to thy laud praise may consult together euerlastingly Amen Lord Iesus Christ Amen Heer after follow godly Sayings and Prayers taken out of the Psalms of Dauid to be vsed in the extreme necessity of death O Lord rebuke me not in thy Indignation neither chasten thou mee in thy heauy displeasure Haue mercy vpon mée O Lord for I am weake my soule also is sore troubled but Lord how long Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule O saue me for thy mercies sake O Lord my God in thée haue I put my trust saue me from all them that persecute me and deliuer me Haue mercy vpon mee O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate mee thou that liftest me vppe from the very gates of death O Lord thou art hee that tooke mee out of my mothers womb thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brests Go not from me then for trouble is hard at hand and there is none to help me I am powred out like water all my bones are out of ioynt my heart in the midst of my body is euen like melting waxe My strength is dried vp like a potshard my tongue cleaueth to my gummes but be not thou farre from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to helpe me Tarry not long O Lord for I am very faint Quicken my soule O Lord and bring me foorth in the way of righteousnesse for thy names sake Vnto thee O Lord I lift my soule my God I trust in thee O let me not be confounded lest mine enemies triumph ouer mee For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed Thou art the God of my saluation Call to remembrance thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesses which haue euer béene of olde Remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according vnto thy mercie thinke vpon mee O Lord for thy goodnes For thy Names sake O Lord be mercifull vnto my sinne for it is great Turne thee vnto me and haue mercie vpon me for I am desolate and oppressed The sorrowes of my heart are great O bring
mee out of my troubles Looke vpon mine aduersitie and miserie and forgiue me all my sinnes O kéepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not be confounded for I haue put my trust in thée The Lord is my light and my saluation whom then should I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I bee afraid Though an hoast of men were laide against mee yet shall not my heart bee afraide and though there rose vp war against mee yet will I trust in him O hide not thou thy face from mée cast not thy seruant off in displeasure Thou art my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God my Sauiour The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart hopeth in him In thee O Lord is my trust let mee neuer bee put to confusion Bowe downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer mee Thou art my strong hold and my castle O bee thou my guide and leade mee for thy Names sake Into thy hands I commend my Spirit deliuer me O Lord God of truth O Lord consider my trouble and know my Soule in aduersitie My hope is in thee O Lord thou art my God Shew mee the light of thy countenance help me for thy mercies sake Let mee not be confounded O Lord for I call vpon thée Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come about mee O compasse thou mee about also with the ioy of deliuerance Striue thou with them O Lord that striue with mee fight thou against them that fight against mee and stand vp to helpe me Awake Lord and stand vp auenge thou my cause my God and my Lord. Thou art my helper and redéemer make no long tarrying O my God Arise O Lord help me and deliuer mee for thy mercies sake Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord after thy goodnesse and according to thy great mercies do away mine offences For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thée onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight Cast mee not away from thy presence Heare my prayer O Lord and hide not thy selfe from my Petition Take heede vnto mee and heare me and preserue my soule Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon mee and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed me Bee mercifull vnto me O God bee mercifull vnto mee for my soule trusteth in thee and vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge Heare my crying O God giue heede vnto my prayer for thou art my hope a strong Tower for mee against the enemy Take mee out of the myre that I sinke not Heare mee O Lord and turne thee vnto me according vnto thy great mercie I am poore and in miserie haste thée O God for to helpe mee For thou art my helpe my Redéemer and my God oh make no long tarrying In thee O Lord is my trust let me neuer bee put to confusion For thou art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth Forsake mee not O Lord when my strength fayleth mee for mine enemies that lay white for my soule take their counsell together Go not farre from mee O my God my God hast thee to helpe mee O remember not mine iniquities but haue merey vpon me and that soone Helpe me O Lord my Sauiour for the glorie of thy Name O deliuer mee and forgiue mee my sinnes for thy Name sake Comfort the soule of thy seruant for thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercie vnto all them that call vpon thee In the time of trouble I call vpon thee turne to me haue mercie vpon mee giue thy strength to thy seruant Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercie long-suffering great in goodnesse and truth The snares of death compassed mee round about the paines of hell gat holde vpon me I found trouble and heauinesse O Lord deliuer my soule Thy mercie O Lord endureth for euer despise not the worke of thine owne hands Enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Bring my soule out of trouble for I am thy seruant A Prayer O My God my Lord and Father now shew vnto my poore soule that she may perceiue that thou art my strong rock castle shield tower defence hope succour refuge defender and goodnes that I in this great trouble for mine enemies through thy godly grace helpe and assistance may bee preserued Lord in thee I put my trust let me not bee put to confusion Into thy hands I commend my spirit deliuer mee Lord God of truth Amen A Prayer O Father receiue againe the thing which thou hast created O Sonne receiue the thing which thou hast gouerned O Holy Ghost fetch the thing which thou so bountifully hast preserued Three persons and one verie God I beséech you remember not mine offences for euer For I crie Lord God and Father mercie Lord God Sonne mercie Lord God Holy Ghost mercie Amen When thou departest from a sicke person say vnto him IN your trouble and necessitie call vnto the Lord and crie vnto your God and hée will heare your voice and your crying commeth before him in his eares And God which called you vnto his eternall glorie by Christ Iesu shall his owne selfe after you haue suffered a little affliction make you perfect shall settle strength stablish and saue you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer FINIS
our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by reason of our sinnes which hee took vpon him Thirdly and also out of the fearefull examples of holy Scripture how God alwaies punisheth the vnrepentant which continue in their sinnes and are bound to confesse the same if they will bee quit thereof and die happily Therefore should we poor creatures with the great fearefull miseries and woes wherein we alas through sinne are grieuously fallen repaire vnto our deare God with hearty sighing and wéeping earnestly call for mercy as the holy Prophet Dauid did also Enter not into judgement with thy seruant O Lord. And let vs take héed that we blaunch not our sins as the Hypocrites and the Pharises did Luke chapter 18. For the Cherubins and Angelles of GOD which are wholly holy doo couer their faces and feet that is to say all their glory works and dooings and will not bée praysed but doo sing with their voice their Gloria laâ—â— and Gloria in excelsis Dee to the end that GOD the Lord onely may bée acknowledged for holy honoured and praysed But in such confession of sur let vs not créep into corners as Adam did Genesis the third chapter but call vpon God from the bottome of our hearts for grace and forgiuenesse through the worthy deseruing of Christ Iesus as ieremy the fourtéenth chapter Lord we acknowledge our wickednesse and the misdeeds of our fathers For we haue sinned against thee and the offenses wherwith wee haue angred thee are great But for thy names sake let vs not bee brought to confusion Let not the throne of thy glory be mocked Remember yet and let not thy Couenant with vs cease Thou art yet the Lord our God on whom wee hope for thou canst do all this So did Dauid pray in the 25 Psalme Remember not O Lord the sinnes of my youth nor my transgressions but thinke vpon me according to thy mercy for thy goodnes sake And in the two and thirtith Psalm hee speaketh very comfortably I said I will confess my transgressions and thou forgauest mee the wickednes of my sinnes Likewise Daniel in his ninth chapter prayed Lord our God c. we haue sinned haue alas bin wicked O Lord for thy righte ousnes sake turne away thy wrath and anger for our sins sake wee are blamed of all them that are rouÌ„d about vs and now our Lord God heare the prayers of thy seruant his complaints and behold with fauor thy holie place which is destroyed for the Lords sake So likewise should euery Christian comfort himselfe beléeue with his heart that hée for Christs sake through such faithfull prayer shall surely obtaine Gods grace and forgiuenesse of his sinnes as it is said and promised to all the faithfull Iohn 16. Verily Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you desire of the Father in my name he wil giue it you â—id Ieremy 14 saith Thou art the Lord our God and canst and wist doe all this same Amen Heere follow certain Prayers how a man should call to God for grace and forgiuenesse O Almighty and Euerlasting God most gracieus and mercifull Father I poore sinner acknowledge from my heart and confesse it also before thee with my mouth that I am alas a great sinner conceuied borne and growne vp in sinne and so haue many times transgressed thy holy commandements with evill sinfull vncleane and vnseemely thoughts woâ—â—â— and wicked deeds All which I do repent from my very heart and pray and desire thee of thy Grace O heauenly Father indue mee with the Grace and forgiue me all my sinnes in the name of thy deare and onely Senne my Lord and Samour Iesus Christ in whom thou hast promised me comfort and remission of all my sinnes I comfort my selfe with this gracious promise Iohn 6. where thy deare Sonne saith Who eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud That is Who beleeueth on mee hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Such godly and gracious promises of thy Son doe I trust vnto and beleeue and am certaine that I through such saith haue forgiuenes of my sinnes and shall bee a child of thy Kingdome and remaine so for euermore Amen Amen Another Prayer O Thou Almighty and Euerlasting God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of Heauen and Earth and of all Creatures I poore miserable and sinfull creature come héere before thy diuine Maiesty full of sin and vnrighteousnesse and fall downe at thy féet before thy glorious Maiesty for I haue mightily offended thee my Lord and God and sinned against thy commandements and done against thy godly will But because I cannot other wise bee quit and free from this my heauy burthen but onely through thée my Lord and God Therefore doe I now from my very heart complaine vnto thee my woe and misery and especially what I haue at this present franed in and haue accomplished the same against thy godly will besides all other alas which I daily commit with deceit in shew and false heart with negligence euill lusts and otherwise whether it bee with euill thoughts words or workes wittingly or vnwittingly secretly or openly whether it bee against thee or the loue of my neighbour All which I acknowledge vnto thee and confesse it also from the bottome of my heart and pray thee that through thy grace thou wilt graciously and fatherly forgiue mee all my sinnes Haue respect onely to the bitter death Martyrdome and bloud-shedding of thy onely deare Sonne in whom thou art pleased who innocently died for mee poore sinner O my Lord and God looke vpon thy deare Sonne and especially on the great loue which hee shewed vnto vs poore sinners when hee went so patiently and willingly to death O looke vpon the great obedience which thy deare Sonne hath â—usâ—â—red for our sakes and hâ—â—â—bled himselfe vpon the erâ—â—â—â— deâ—th graue and hell O looke also vâ—on the great glâ—â—â— to wherewith thou hast adorned thy Sonne in thâ—â— thou hast made him Lord ouer all For which â—our 〈◊〉 bâ— on â—ee and â—â—oâ—y â—â—ou wouldst graciously â—eâ—â—â—â—ue me this daies offence whereinto I by temptation 〈◊〉 sâ—llen with all my formâ—r sames which I haue done from my youth For in sinne was I conceiued borne and brought vp and yet doe liue therein without ceasing So that sinne hath gone through my whole bodie marrow and bones Therefore I beseech thee most gratiously to remit and forgiue me all such sinnes to cast the same behind thée and neuer thinke more on them nor punish my body or soule either in this world or the world to come for thou art rich vnto all that call vpon thée And because thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he turne from his wickednes and liue therefore do I pray thee to giue me a good meaning to amend my life especially in that thou hast promised mee also through thy deare Sonne to giue mee whatsoeuer I aske in his name Therefore do I pray thee
hath iustified he hath set downe diuers examples which in our feare and despaire wee may set before vs for a singular comfort First as these first Adam and â—â—e the greatest sinners blasphemers and murderers of all mankinde by whose sins and disobedience all sin shame death and euerlasting damnation came ouer all men and yet GOD made them pure and holy after his owne Image Then when they were fallen into sin and disobedience GOD shewed this mercy vnto them and receiued them again for the promised blessed Séeds sake as the first Euangelicall Promise was giuen to them for a comfort Genesis 3. which they beséeued though they had no example of the forgiuenesse of sins Secondly Abraham was an idolatrous man and serued the idols of Vr in Chaldea to him did GOD giue the Promise of the blessed Séed and made him a Father of all Beléeuers that is as Esay in his fortith Chapter reporteth Comfort my people saith the Lord for their offenses are forgiuen and they haue receiued double from the Lords hands for all their misdeeds But this is double that GOD first remitteth to vs the sinne and releaseth to vs the punishment of the sinne and after giueth vs withall euerlasting righteousnes and saluation that wee may liue and raigne with him in euerlasting righteousnes ioy and glory Thirdly Dauid though an abominable wedlock-breaker and murderer hath forgiuenes of sins for Christ's sake and is saued for euer Fourthly Manasses the cruell and raging tyrant who with a Saw caused the holy Prophet Esay to bee cut in sunder when he had preached eighty yeers in great pain and labour and spilled much innocent blood set vp all heathnish idolatry letting his owne son passe through the fire and lastly offred him vp aliue to Moloch then when he was in prison he turned and humbled himselfe vnto God and prayed him with teares the Lord God did heare him and brought him again to Ierusalem to the earthly and heauenly Kingdom 2 Kings 27. Fiftly what a great sinner was the thief on Christs right hand and other intolerable Vsurers Publican sinners Sirtly how grossely haue the deare Apostles oft-times gon astray How horribly fel Saint Peter when he denied his Master in taking-vpon him so much cursed himself What innocent bloud did Saint Paul help to spil when he was a persecuter of Christ his Congregation For all these Christ prayed forgaue them all their sinnes and saued them for euer Also through them hee did much good in Christendome Seuenthly Christ also had many sinners in his kinred and are so registred which were his Grandfathers and Grandmothers according to the flesh as Iuda the bloud-thirsty Rachab the common Harlot and Heathen at Iericho to shew thereby that he was comne into this world to saue sinners These examples hath Almighty GOD through the holy Ghost written vp for the learning and comfort of vs poor and wretched sinners that wée should beleeue God will forgiue vs all our sinnes for his Sonnes sake as often and as horribly as wée haue offended not that wée should thinke our selues safe and presumptuously sin on such mercy of the â—ord but that we might haue a sure comfort and consolation against sinne and damnation that wée despaire not by reason of our sinnes or flée away from Christ which is the onely sin whereby the world was damned Iohn the sixtéenth Chapter As the Apostle Saint Paul also sheweth vs this profit 1 Tim. 1. where hee writeth thus This is a true Saying that Iesus Christ is comne into the world to saue sinners among which I am the chief But mercy is shewed to me in this respect that Iesus Christ hath shewed patience on mee for example that all that beléeue in him should haue euerlasting life Therefore to God the eternal king the vntransitory inuisible and onely wise God bee all praise and glory for euer Amen A Praier O Lord Iesus Christ thou onely Fountaine of all grace and mercy thou neuer didst deny thine endless mercy neither to Mathew nor the Publican nor Mary Magdalen nor the lost sonne nor to Peter nor Zacheus the Tole-keeper nor to the Thief on the Crosse nor yet to any mankinde Thou hast spoken with fatherly comfortable spéeches Come vnto me all you that labour and are heauy laden and I will refresh you O take care of mee and look vpon mee with thine eyes of godly compassion euen as thou didst look vpon Peter I a poor and vnworthy sinner doo stand before thée laden with so many great sins and offenses that by reason thereof I cannot look vp being both abashed and asham'd before that godly Maiestie whom I haue grieuously offended and knowe not what to say O Lord be mercifull to me a wretched sinner turn away thy wrath and impart thy mercy with me Which I do desire with hearty tears through the merits of Christ Iesus our alone Lord and Redéemer The third comfort against sinne and Gods wrath out of the holy Sacrament Esay 4. THe Lord shal wash away the filthinesse from the daughter of Sion and shall purge the bloudy sinne from Ierusalem by the Spirit of iudgement and by the Spirit of burning Esay 12. With ioy and consolation shall you draw water from out of the Well of Saluation Zach. 13. At that time shall the house of Dauid and the Citizens of Ierusalem haue a free and open Well against sinne and vncleannesse Mark 16. Whosoeuer beléeueth and is baptized shall be saued Acts 2. Peter saith Repent and let euery one bée baptized in the Name of Iesus Châ—ist our Sauiour for the remission of sinnes Iohn 20. Christ saith to his Apostles Receiue the holy Ghost whose sins you forgiue they are forgiuen Mat. 26. Christ saith This is my bloud of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins BEcause oftentimes tribulation grief is so great and sorrow with the combate of death so ouertakes vs that we cannot hastily and in such great weaknesse remember our selues of any sentence or example and that a man begins often to despair whether God hath forgiuen him his sinnes and will be mercifull to him and if Christs bloud especially bee shed for him also so there hath the Lord of his great loue not onely giuen vs his holy promise and set downe comfortable examples especially the holy and worthy Sacraments that is to say Baptism and his holy Supper which hee hath instituted and ordained for remission of sinnes especially to all them that are baptized in his bloud and absolueth euery one of all their transgressions that hée may bée sure hée is also cleare thereof in heauâ—n before the face of God and féedeth euery one seuerally with his Body and precious Bloud to the end hée may bee assured Christs Bloud was shed for his sins and his Body offred vp also for his mis-déeds and giueth the same to euery one that receiueth the same in true Faith acknowledging his sinnes and in good pretense