¶ A frutefull treatise and ful of heauenly consolation against the feare of death Wherunto are annexed certeine sweet meditateons of the kingdom of Christ of life euerlasting and of the blessed state felicitie of the same Gathered by that holy marter of God Iohn Bradford ¶ Perused corrected augmented according to the originall Imprinted in Fletestrete neere to saint Dunstons Churche by William Powell Ecclesiasti 5. MAke no taryinge to turne vnto the lord and put not of from day to day For suddenly shal his wrathe come and in the day of vengeance he shall destroy thee Stande fast in the way of the lord bee stedfast in thine vnderstandinge and followe the word of peace and righteousnes ¶ A treatise agaynst the feare of death BEING mynded through the helpe of God for myne own comfort and encouraging of others to speake something of Deathe at whose doores thoughe I haue stande a great while yet neuer so nere to mans iudgement as I do now I think it most requisite to cal cry for thy helpe Oh blessed saut our Iesus Chryste whiche hast destroyed death by thy deathe brought in place thereof life and immortalitie as by the gospell it appereth graunt to mee true liuely fayth wherethrough men passe from deathe to eternal lyfe that of practyse and not of naked speculation I may somethynge wryte cōcernyng death whiche is dredful out of thee in it selfe to the glory of thy holy name to myne owne comfort in thee and to the edifying of al them to whō this writing shall come to be red or hearde Amen ¶ There be .iiii. kindes of death one whiche is naturall an other which is spiritual a third which is temporall and a fourth which is eternal Concerning the first and the last what they be I nede not to declare but the second and the third perchaunce of the simple for whose sake especially I wryte are not so soone espied By a spirituall deathe therfore I mean such a death as the body lyuing the soule is dead Wherof the Apostle maketh menciō in speaking of widdowes which linyng daintely being a liue in body are dead in soule Thus you see what I meane by the spirituall death Nowe by a temporall death I mean such a death wher throught the body and affections therof are mortified that the spirite may lyue Of which kynde of deathe the Apostle speaketh in exhorting vs to kyl our mēbers And thus muche of the kindes of death wherin the iudgement of the worlde is not to it approued for it careth lesse for spiritual dea the then for naturall deathe it estemeth lesse eternall death then temporal death orels wold men leaue syn which procureth both thone and the other I mean spiritual eternal death and chose temporally to dye that by naturall death they myght enter into the full fruition of eternall lyfe whiche none can enioy nor enter into that here wil not temporally dye that is mortifie their affections and crucifie their lustes and concupicences For by obeying them at the first came death as we may reade Genesis the. 3. If Eue had not obeyed her desire in eatinge the forbydden fruite wherby she died spiritually none of these kyndes of death had euer come vnto man nor ben knowen of vs. Therfore as I said we must nedes here temporally dye that is mortifie our affectiōs to escape the spiritual death and by naturall death not onely escape eternal death of soule body but also by it as by a dore enter into eternall life which Christ Iesus our Sauiour hath procured and purchased to and for al that be in him translatinge eternall deathe into a sleepe or rather into a delyueraunce of soule body from all kinde of mysery synne By reason wherof we may se that to those that be in Christe that is to such as do beleue which beleuers I meane are discerned frō others by not walking after the flesh but after the sprite to those I say death is no dāmage but a vantage no dreadfull thing but rather desierable of all messengers most mery whiles he is loked vpon with the eyes of faith in the gospell But more of this hereafter Thus haue I briefely shewed thee the kyndes of deathe what they be whence they come and what remedy for thē But now̄ for as muche as I am purposed hereafter to entreate onely of the first kynd of death that is of natural death somthing to comfort my self others against y e dreade and paynes of the same I wyll speake of it as God shal instructe mee and as I accustome with my self to muse on it now̄ then the better to be prepared against the houre of temptation I haue shewed howe that this naturall death came by spiritual death y t is by obeying our affectiōs in y e trāsgressiō of gods preceptes but through the benefite of Christ to such as be in him die temporally that is to suche beleeuers as labour to mortyfie their affections it is no destruction but a plaine dissolution both of soule and body from all kynde of perils daungers miseries and therefore to such is not to be dread but to be desired as wee se in the Apostle whiche desired to be dissolued And in Simeon which desired to be losed saying dismisse or lose mee O lorde By whiche wordes he semeth plainly to teache that this life is a bōdage and nothinge to be desired as now I wyll somthing shewe First consyder the pleasures of this life what they be how long they last how painefull we come by them what they leaue behind them and thou shalt euen in thēse nothing but vauitie As for example how long lasteth the pleasure that man hath in the acte of generatiō How painfully do mē behaue theym selues before they attayne it how doth it leaue behind it a certaine lothsomnes and fulnes I wyl speake nothing of the sting of cōscience if it be come by vnlawefully Who wel seinge this and forecasting it aforehād woulde not forgoe the pleasures willingly as farre as neede wyl permyt suffer If then in this one wherunto nature is moste prone and hath most pleasure in it be thus alas how can we but thincke so of other pleasures Put the case that the pleasures of this life were permanente during this life yet in that this life it selfe is nothing in comparyson and therfore is ful wel compared to a candell light whiche is sone blowne out to a flower whiche fadeth away to a smoke to a shdowe to a sleepe to a runnynge water to a day to an houre to a momente and to vanitie it selfe who wold esteme these plesures and commodities which laste so lyttle a while Before they be begonne they are gone and past awaye Howe muche of our tyme spende wee in slepyng in eating in drinking and in talking Intancie is not perceiued youth is shortly ouerblowen
ioyful together If sinne the lawe the deuyll or any thinge would crepe into the bed and lie there then complaine to thy husband Christ and forth wyth thou sahlte see hym playe Phinees parte Thus my dearly beloued I haue geuen you in fewe wordes a summe of all the Diuinitie which a christian conscience can not want ¶ A Prayer whiche Ihon Bradford sayd a little before his death in Smithfelde MErcifull God and Father to whom our sauiour christ approched in hys feare and nede by reason of death founde comforte gracious God most bounteous Christe on whoÌ„ Stephen called in hys extreame neede receiued strength moste beninge holy spirite which in the middest of all crosses death diddest comfort the apostle s Paule with more consolations in christ then he felt sorrowes terrours in the worlde haue mercy vppon me a most miserable vile wretched sinner which nowe drawe nere the gates of death deserued both in soule body eternally by reson of my manifold horrible old newe transgressions which to thine eyes O lorde god are opeÌ„ and kuowen Oh be merciful vnto me and forgeue me for the bitter death and bloud sheddinge of thine onely sonne Iesus Christe And thoughe thy Iustice do require in respect of my sinns that nowe thou sholdest not heare me contemning thy dayly callinges yet let thy mercy which is aboue all thy works and wherwith the earthe is filled let thy mercy I say preuayle towardes me thorow the merites mediation of christ our sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bringe me forth now as one of his witnesses a record bearer of thy verity and trueth taught by him to geue my life therfore To which dignity I do acknowledge deare god that there was neuer anye so vnworthy and vnmeete no not the thefe that haÌ„ged with him on y e crosse I humbly therfore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly ayde helpe assist me with the streÌ„gth and heauenly grace y t with christ thy sonne I may finde comforte with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power wyth Paule and all others whych for thy names sake haue suffred afflictious and death I maye finde so present with me thy gracious coÌ„solation that I may by death glorify thy holy name set forth ratify thy verity comforte y e hartes of the heauy confirme thy church in thy truth coÌ„uert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world wher I do nothing but dayly heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy wherof now geue increase in me a liuely taste sense and felinge wherthrough the terrour of death the torments of fier the pains of sin y e darts of Sathan the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome mee but may be driuen away through the working of that most gracious spirite whych now pleÌ„teously endue me withal that through the same spirite I maye offer as nowe I desire am redye to do in christ by him my self wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am alwaies haue ben euen froÌ„ my mothers wombe yea euen before y e world was made to whoÌ„ I commende my selfe faith name familye frendes countrey and al the whole church yea euen my very ennemies accordinge to thy good pleasure besechinge thee entierly to geue once more to this realme of Englande the blessinge of thy worde againe with godly peace to the teaching and settinge forth of the same Oh deare Father now geue me to come vnto thee purge so purify me by this fier in Christes death and passioÌ„ thorowe thy spirite that I may be a burnte offeringe of swete smel in thy sight which liuest raygnest with the Sonne the holy ghost nowe and foreuermore worlde without ende Amen Ephe. v. ☞ Awake thou that slepest and arise from the Dead and Epriste shal shew light vnto thee Certein faults escaped In the 7. leafe first side reade in the margent thus By loking on our olde faulles In the 13. leafe and second syde adde to y e later note iÌ„ y e margeÌ„t Felicitie which we obtain by Death In the 43. leafe in y e title of the Introduction read Diuinitie And in the other titles for Instruction read Introduction iiij kindes of death Spiritual death what it is 2. Tim. 5 Temporal death Cols 3. Sinne is the cause of death By what meanes death came into the world Roma 8. Naturall death Death what it is to christians Philip. 1. Luke 2. This liffe is not to be loued in respect of the pleasures ther of beinge nothynge else but vanitie What this lyfe is marke here and learne This life is more to be loched for the myseries theÌ„ loued for the pleasures ther of The myseries of this life concerniÌ„g the body The miseries of this life concerniÌ„g the soule BylokiÌ„g on our olde falts teÌ„ptatioÌ„s and other mès falts we maye see what daunger we are al wais ready to fall into Great weighty causes for vs to be sadde and heauy lyttle to ioy in the pleasures of this lyfe An apte coÌ„parison betwene a ship on the sea the lif of man for what daungers are so great what so like Beholde the greate miseries mischiefs that this life is in danger of on euerye syde 1. Cor. 2. Iob. 5. Iob 8. Iaco. 4. Iohn 8. Psal 91. How short transitory and misera The life of man is the scriptures doe euerie where declare The breuitie vanitie and miserie of this life shoulde cause vs little to regarde it 1. Pet. 7 Apoc. 7. The commodities wherto death bringeth vs shoulde make vs wylling to forsake this lyfe The commodities of this lyfe mixed with discommodities lest we should loue them to muche The pleasures of this life what they are in coÌ„parison of the pleasure of the life to coÌ„e The blessed state of the life to come 1. Co. 2. Psal 84. The vehement desire and loÌ„ging of Goodes sainctes to be dissolued and to be with god Psal 24. Psal 63. Roma 8. Apoc. 22. Philip. 1. Math. 24. 1. Thes 4. Math. 2â— Apoc. 7. The glory and felicitie of Gods children in the kingdomâ— of God Death y e Hauen of eternall life The miseries and dangers we passe and the Phil. 3. Mat. 13. Dan. 12. Mat. 17. Cor. 15. Io. 3. 1. Cor. 15 Now folish sensles are thei which in respecte pect of so glorious a state will not gladly forsake so miserable a lyfe 1. Cor. 2. Apo. 44. The claritie and brightnes of Gods children in his kingedome aboue the seuen told brightnes of the suÌ„â— Apoc. 22. Apoc. 21. Lacke of fayth is y e cause whi we do so lyttle desire to be out of this synfull lyfe An obiection procedinge of the sense of synne reason whiche is an aduersary to fayth 1. Iohn 1 Iob. 25. Psal â—â—â— Psal 141 Thre thinges wher by the afflicted conscieÌ„ce may be assured of pardon forgeuenes Esay 43. Esay 1. Ezech. 33 Iohn 3. Philip. 2. Math. 11 Iohn 3. Luke 5. Iohn 15. Heb. 5. 1. Tim. 1. Act. 16. Heb. 9. Act. 8. Mark 6. Luke 17. 1. Iohn 1 1. Iohn 2 Luke 1. Rom. 5 Rom. 8. Rom. 10. 1. Thes 4. 1. Cor. 15. The greatest dishonor to god is to dout of his mercy Luke 1. in y e word only wee beholde gods loue fauoure towardes vs therfore wee shold geue credit to it against al our sense reasoÌ„ and iudgmeÌ„t * Iohn 12 Psal 130 Deathe what it is by y e word of god 2. Cor. 5 whi death oughte to be premeditate and thoughte often vpoÌ„ Iob. 14. Luke 12. Luke 11. The .iiij. last Artycles of the fayth ofteÌ„ to be meditate and thoughte vpon No synne or wante of anye thynge what so euer it bee shoulde cause vs to dispaire of Gods finall fauour and mercy That we are partakers of this communion felowship wee maye not doubt beinge receued ther vnto by baptysme None so greate or grenous a sinner but there is mercy for him wyth the Lord. Cantic 5 Philip. 3 1. Cor. 15 Exod. 34 1. Cor. 13 Roma 6. Iohn 18. Iohn 17 Rom. 8. Esay 12. Esay 11. Psal 44. Iohn 16. 2. Tim. 3 2. Thes 2 1. Peter 2 1. Dan. 7 Psal 45. Luke 17 Math. 13 Esay 53. Daniel 9 1. Cor. 16 Where this eternal life is 1 Iohn 4 1. Tim. 6 Act. 8. 7 What maner of thing this euerlastiÌ„g life is 1. Cor. 2. Iob. 19. 1. Cor. 13 Heb. 11 1. Iohn 3 1. Cor. 19 Psal 16. Psal 17. Apoca. 5. Apoc. 21 Rom. 7. Luke 2. Psal 142 1. Cor. 2. Apoca. 4 Apoca. 5. Psal 84. Psal 24. Psal 13. Roma 8. Apoc. 22. Philip. 3. Math 14 Math 25 Math. 12 Math. 13 Apoc. 7. Psal 77 ☞ 2. Pet. 1. ☞ Math. 26 Actes 7. 2. Cor. 1.
shonide thinke I meane therby any other merits or meane to saluation then onely the merites and name of the lord Iesus but that I would the pore christian conscience which by baptisme is broght into gods church and made a member of the same thorow faith shoulde not for hys sinnes sake or for the want of anye thinge he hath not dispaire but rather should knowe that he is a member of Chrisses church mistical body therefore cannot but haue communion and felowship of both that is of Christ himselfe being the lord husband and heade thereof and of all that euer hath ben bee or shalbe mēbers of it in al the good things that euer they haue had haue or shal haue Stil doth the church pray for vs by Christes cōmaundement forgeue vs our sinnes leade vs not into temptation deliuer vs from euil yea Christ himself doth pray for vs being members of vys bodie as we vs in deede if that we beleue though it be neuer so litel God graūt this faith vnto vs al and increase it in vs. Amen Out of this church no Pope nor prelate can caste vs or excōmunicate vs in dede although exteriourly they segregate vs frō the societie of gods sainctes But enough of this As I woulde haue vs often to muse vpon the catholike Church or cōmuniū of saints wherof we may not doubte in what state so euer we be vnder payne of damnatiō being baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holy Ghost so woulde I haue vs to meditate vpon the other artycles folowing that is remissiō of sinnes resurrection of the fleash life euerlasting It is an article of our faithe to beleue that is to be certayne y t our sinnes are pardoned therfore doubt not therof leste thou become an Infideil Though thou haue sinned neuer so sore yet nowe despaire not but be certayne that god is thy God that is that he forgeueth thee thy sinne Therfore as I said dout not thereof for in so doinge thou puttest a sallet on the heade of thy soule that the dew of gods grace can not in dede droppe into it but slippe by as faste as it droppeth Therefore without that sallet or soule nightecap bee bareheaded that is hope still in the mercy of the Lorde and so mercye shall compasse thee on euery side In like manner the article of the resurreiction of the flesh haue often in thy minde beinge assured by this that thy carcase and body shalbe raysed vp againe in the last day when the Lord shall come to iudgement and shalbe made incorruptable immortall glorious spiritual perfect light and euen lyke to the gloryous body of our Sauiour Iesu christ for hee is the firste fruytes of 〈◊〉 dead and as god is all in all so shal he be vnto thee in Christe Loke therfore vppon thine owne estate for as he is so shalt thou be As thou hast borne y e image of the earthly Adam so shalte thou beare the Image of the heauenly therfore glorifie thou nowe god both in soule and body Wayt and loke for this day of the lord with groning and sighing Gather together testimonies of this which I do omitte for times sake Laste of all haue often in thy minde life euerlasting wherunto thou art euen landinge Death is the hauen that caryeth thee vnto this lande where is all that can bee wished yea aboue all wishes and desires for in it wee shall see god face to face which thing now we can in no wise doe but muste couer our faces wyth Boyses Heltas tyll the face or foreparts of y e lorde be gone by Now must we loke on his backe partes beholding him in his worde and in his creatures in the face of Iesus Christe our mediatoure but then we shal se him face to face we shall knowe as we are knowen Therfore let vs often think on these thinges y t we may haue fayth lustely and cherefully to arriue at the happy hauen of death which you se is to be desired and not to bee dread to all those that are in Christ that is to suche as to beleue in deede which are discerned from those that onely saye they do beleue by dyeng tēporally that is by labouring to mortify thorow gods spirite the affections of the flesh not y t they should not be in thē but that they should not raigne in thē that is in theyr mortal bodies to geue euer them selues to serue sinne whose seruaunts we are not but are made sernauntes vnto righteousnesse being nowe vnder grace and not vnder the lawe and therfore hath god mercifully promised that sinne shal not raigne in vs The whych he continually graunte for his truth power mercies sake Amen A meditation A Meditatiō cōcerning y e kingdome of Christ that it is no corporall thing as the Iewes Anababtistes do faine to whō y e Papistes in maner assent makinge the church so glorious and gay a dame far vnlike to be christes Spouse who was here on earth in no such felicitie worldly glory as their church is They make more of the good wise then of the good men and therefore set forth to vs a strumpet for Christes spouse OPen mine eies deare lord to see thy kyngdome for it is spirituall and of carnall eies simply cannot be considered therfore lesse ought we to maruell to see it contempned and the children therof persecuted y e most part of men and specially y e great men of the world being carnall not spirituall althoughe by title manye bee called so Geue me thy light to see that thy kingdōe O christ is thy sitting on the right hande of thy father ours thy interpellation and mediation for vs also thy geuing of pardon forgeuenes of sinnes the holye sprite to thy church that is such as beleue in thee and cal vpō god the father throughe confidence in thee hereto thy sanctifyinge of of them that thou maist raise thē vp in y e laste daye to life glory euerlasting Graūt me to know y t for the atteining of al these bene fits which be the liberties priuilegies of thy kingedome thou haste ordeined y e ministery of thy gospel sacramentes thereby to cal bringe men to y e knowledge of thy father thee which is eternal life Graunt y t I may feele in my self liuely cōfortably y e efficacy and vertue of thy holy ghoste which is effectual by y e ministery word And lest afflictiōs shuld dismay me y e cōpany of euil mē mingled w t the godly ouerthrow me or offend me graunt y t I may not only know how y t thy church the true chyldren therof shal in this world vntil y e last day suffer persecution that gotes will be amongest the shepe vntil the day of iudgement but also y t I maye in affliction reioyce and glorifye