folkes The answer is taken oute of the fore rehearced grounde The wyll of God Yf god who hath al in his owne power had promysed euery one a long lyfe then mightest thou complayne at the shortnyng of the lyfe of thy selfe or of thy frendes agaynste gods promes Now hath god compared clothed the soule wyth the body that what day or what twinklīg of an eye soeuer he cōmaundeth it to depart it kepeth the same time wherin one finisheth his course Therefore hath no man cause to complayn of an vntimely death but loke whatsoeuer one hath lyued ouer and beside the first day of hys birth it is an increace Moreouer god knoweth much better then thou and we al whan it is beste for euerye one to dye And so faithful is he for the lord Iesus Chrysts sake that he in no wyse wyll be to hasty vpon vs. Secondli The shortne◠of this tyme ▪ though we remain a long season in thys fickle transitory lyfe yet is al our tyme but short specially towards the endlesse eternitie Therefore it hath but a slender differēce to depart hence in youth or in age Thyrdly Misery thorowe death is a yong person wythdrawen away fro many troubles whyche els were at hys dore For commenly the longer a man liueth the more miserable is he Take ensamples oute of olde storyes Yf Themistocles after the most gloryous victory agaīst Xerxes whan all the Grekes aknowledged and cōmended him for their redemer and delyuerer had dyed shoulde it not haue serued hym to a perpetuall prayse and honoure Then shoulde not he afterwarde haue been rated as a betrayer of Grekelande then neded not he to haue been in bōdage not to haue fallen downe at the foote of the kyng of Barbarye as beefore a god whom he before had dryuē out of grekelande Howe thrall and vile a thyng was it to be estemed before the world that The misrocles must nedes come beefore kyng Xerxes What is to be said of Marcus Cicero who confesseth hymselfe that if he had died sooner he had escaped exceadīg great troubles And forasmuche as he so sayed whyle the mater was yet tolerable howe woulde he fyrste haue thought and lamēted in his age to see wyth his eyes the drawne swordes ouer the senatours and Citizens heades and whan the moste principall mennes goods were parted among murtherers Catilina was a sedicious man yea whā wheras afore tyme ther was one catilina the citie was now become full of suche sedicious persons The ensamples of dayly experience declare sufficiently before our eyes whereby we maye euidently perceyue that death though they call it vntimeli deliuereth yet from great misfortune and aduersitie Fourthlye the innocency and clennes of youth is of their own nature and thorowe euyll ensamples defyled and stayned with the life and cōuersacion that foloweth after Augustine sayeth the older the worse Therfore whan a yonge man falleth on slepe knowe thou that God sheweth greate grace vnto hym in that he suffereth him not as many other to remaine long in thys blasphemous worlde to the intente he should no more bee hyndered and defyled wyth it but hath called hym from hence to a right good state He speaketh of Henoch that wyth hymself and al the electe he might possesse the kyngdome of heauē Witnes of the scripture Sapience 4. sodenly was he taken away to the intēte that wickednes shoulde not alterhys vnderstandyng Hys soule pleased god therefore hasted he to take hym awaye from among the wycked Similitudes He that is vpō the sea and wyth a good stronge wynde is caryed soone to the hauē or lande where he woulde be is happier then he that for lacke of wynde is fayne to sayll stil many yeares and dayes vpon the sea with much trouble and werines Euē so the more happy is he whō death taketh awaye from the stormy and raging sea of this world Seyng there is set before vs an vniuersal natiue country and he that is long in goyng thyther obteyneth nomore then he that is spedely gone thither before hād should not one wishe that he had soone ouercome the foul daungerous way that leadeth to the heauenly harborow The sooner one payeth hys debt the better it is If there were none other remedi but thou with an hundreth moo must nedes be beheaded and thou arte the fyrste that is put to execucion art thou not then the fyrste that is dispatched of the payne Fynally if thou consyder the mischaunces of other folkes thou hast the lesse cause to complaine One dyeth in the mothers wōbe afore he be borne Another dyeth in the very birth The thirde in hys florishynge youth whan he fyrst delyteth to lyue falleth away as a bewtiful rose Among a thousand is there not one that commeth to the perfect age ¶ Of the death of the aged The .11 Chapter VvHā old aged folkes are gredye of thys wretched life they doe euen as those the whan the wyne is all spent wyll nedes drynke out the wyne lyes also Whoso dwelleth in an olde rotten house that synketh down nedeth not lōg to seke proppes to vnder set it but should rather be glad to get him out of it euen so old aged folks by reason of theyr decaied body should rather be cōtēt to departe from it And thys aduauntage they haue that their death is not so fearce and paynful as the death of yong folkes Thys is chefely to be considered that the lord our god wil not haue vs carefull whyche thynge belongeth vnto hym alone but to be faythfull and true and diligently to laboure Olde fathers and mothers are not able to trauayll any more and yet wyth erneste carefulnesse they thynke to bryng all thynges to pas Thys special fault they haue that they thynke they shal euer lacke Therfore vnto them verely it is beste that god take them away from al care sorowe and trouble place them in quiete reste wyth other faythfull Chrysten folkes ¶ Of straunge death The .12 Chapter VvHoso is taken with the pestilence or dyeth els of sycknes in hys bed ought gladly to suffer the hand of god for euery bodi hath deserued a farre worse death And a very small rod is thys towards it that god sendeth ouer the vngodlye yea ofte tymes ouer hys own deare children whan one is beheaded Psal 44.1 Roma 8. c. ◠Cor. 4. b. another burnt the third drowned c. where they altogether may syng with Dauid for thy sake are we kylled euery day and cōpted as shepe appoynted to be slayn But if one dye an vnwont death as one is destroied by the hangmā another dyeth a sodain death the third as happly a mans chylde falleth down dead frō an hyghe place thys take we for aterrible death cannot tell els what to say of it as though eueri kind of death in it selfe were not terrible vnto the nature of man Though one dyeth vpon the whele for murther there is some tyme more
¶ A moste frutefull piththye and learned treatise how a Christen maÌ„ ought to behaue himself in the dauÌ„ger of death and howe they are to be releued and coÌ„forted whose deare frendes ar departed oute of thys worlde moste necessarye for this our vnfortunate age and sorowfull dayes Iohn 6. Verely verely I say vnto you he that beleueth in me hath euerlastyng lyfe Vnto all those that vnfaynedly desyer to lyue vnder the feare of god and with pacience abide the commyng of our lord and sauiour Iesus Chryste thorowe the workynge of the holy gost grace and peace be multiplyed THough al kiÌ„des of bestes haue some thynges commen one with another as in that thei see heare fele desier moue froÌ„ one place to another yet hath euery beaste also hys own speciall propertie as the birde hath another nature then the fishe the lion another disposicion then the wolfe EueÌ„ so in other my bookes heretofore by me publyshed I haue sette forth a generall comforte concerninge trouble sicknesse pouertie displeasure derth warre imprisonment death vnder the whiche I haue comprehended al the crosse and afflyccyon of man Neuertheles euerye mischaunce or aduersity hath also hys owne speciall consideracioÌ„ And forasmuch as among terrible thynges vpon earth death is estemed the most cruel of al and it can yet wyth no wysdome of man be ryghtfullye iudged how it goeth with a Christian in and after death Therefore the greatest necessitye requireth that we Christians be diligently instructed by the infallyble worde of god in especiall touchyng the ende and conclusion of our lyfe For whaÌ„ the laste houre draweth nye whyche we euerye daye yea euery twincklyng of an eye loke for whether the soule after it be departed do liue whether the corrupted body shal ryse agayn whether eternal ioye and saluacion be at hande and which way conducteth and leadeth to saluacyon therof hath the moste subtyle worldly wise man bi his owne naturall reason no knoweledge at all Plato Aristotel Cicero the gretest learned and wysest wryte of these high waightie maters very childishly and folyshli and as for consolacion that they geue it is in no sorte nor wyse to be compared vnto the holi diuine scripture which onlye ministreth the true Christian comforte in lyfe and death And though euery manne ought daily to consider his ende and at all tymes to make hymselfe ready for death seying thaâ— he knoweth not how where and whan god shal lay hys hand vpoÌ„ hym Yet neuertheles at this present tyme we haue moe occasioÌ„s to talke and treate thereof nowe that almightie god doth wyth diuers and sundry plages more greuously then here to fore visite our vnrepentant lyfe for that he all thys whyle hath perceaued in vs but litle ameÌ„dment neyther nede we to thynke that these the raigne and other plages shall ouerleape vs. CoÌ„sidering now that I though vnworthy and vnmete was called by auctoritie but specially of god to teache to exhort and to coÌ„fort I haue wyth great laboure out of the holy Scripture and out of olde and newe authours collected howe a man shoulde prepare himselfe vnto death how he is to be vsed that lyeth a dying how they ought to be coÌ„forted whose deare fredes ar departed Which thynges as they be orderly set in thys boke righte dearly beloued and louyng reader I do present dedicate and offer vnto the. And though I can consyder that this lytle boke is to small and slender a gyfte because of my persoÌ„ yet is it neyther litle nor to be despysed for the fountaynes sake that it floweth out of and by reason of theÌ„ mater wherof it is wrytteÌ„ For herein out of the vnchauÌ„geable worde of god are noted the head articles of our last conflyct and battayll wherupoÌ„ depeÌ„deth eyther eternall victorye honoure and ioye or els euerlasting losse and endles payne of the whiche thynges we canne neuer thynke talke nor treate sufficieÌ„tly Wherfore wheras this litle boke goeth forth vnto thy vse that arte an vnfayned Christian and to the coÌ„fort of al suche as are afrayed of death I praye the for Chrystes sake not onely to accept it as the testymonie of a wyllyng and louyng mynde towarde the but also to haue styll an earnest desier to that that it hath pleased god by me at thys time to coÌ„municate vnto the that wyth thy thankfulnes thou mayest moue other to the life that can do better and by thi profet styrre the haruest lord to sende more haruest men into his haruest Whych he caÌ„not but do outcept he coulde deny hymselfe that came into the worlde nother to put out the flax that smoketh nor to breake the reade that is but broosed but to open to theÌ„ that knocke to hym ¶ Loue god leue vanitye and lyue in Chryst Vale et â—iâ—eâ—â— cum fortuna ¶ The contentes of the fyrste booke ☞ The first Chapter coÌ„teineth ☞ What death is folio 1 ☞ The .2 Chapter ☞ That the tyme of death is vncertayne folio 6 ☞ The .3 Chapter ☞ That it is god whiche hath layed the burden of death vpon vs. folio 7 ☞ The 4. Chapter ☞ That god sendeth death beecause of synne folio 9 ☞ The .5 Chapter ☞ That god turneth death vnto good folio 12 ☞ The .6 Chapter ☞ That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodi and soule fo 13 ☞ The .7 Chapter ☞ That we all commenly are afrayed of death folio 22 ☞ The .8 Chapter ☞ A commoditie of death whaÌ„ it delyuereth vs from this shorte transitorye tyme. folio 26 ☞ The .9 Chapter ☞ Another commoditie whan death deliuereth vs from this miserable tyme. folio 29 ☞ The .10 Chapter ☞ Witnes that thys life is miserable folio 37 ☞ The .11 Chapter ☞ That the coÌ„sideracioÌ„ of death afore hande is profitable to all vertues folio 40 ☞ The .12 Chapter ☞ In death we learne the ryght knowledge of our selues and of god also and are occasyoned to geue ouer oure selues vnto god folio 43 ☞ The .13 Chapter ☞ That the dead ceasseth from synne folio 45 ☞ The .14 Chapter ☞ That the dead is delyuered from this vicious worlde hauiÌ„g not onlye thys aduauntage that be sinneth no more but also is discharged from others synnes folio 48 ☞ The .15 Chapter ☞ That the dead obteyneth saluacion folio 50 ☞ The .16 Chapter ☞ Similitudes that death is wholsome folio 52 ☞ The .17 Chapter ☞ Witnesse that death is wholsome folio 59 ☞ The .18 Chapter ☞ That death can not bee auoyded Item of companions of theÌ„ that dye folio 62 ☞ The .19 Chapter ☞ Of natural helpe in daunger of death folio 66 ☞ The .20 Chapter ☞ That God is able and wyll helpe for Chrystes sake foli 68 ☞ The .21 Chapter ☞ That god hath promysed his helpe and comfort folio 79. ☞ The .22 Chapter ☞ God setteth to hys owne helpyng hande in such wyse and at such time as is best of all fo 84 ☞ The .23 Chapter ☞
Examples of gods helpe folio 88 ☞ The .24 Chapter ☞ That it is necessari to prepare for thys iourney folio 90 ☞ The .25 Chapter ☞ Prouision concernyng temporal goodes chyldren and frēdes whyche muste be lefte behynde folio 92 ☞ The .26 Chapter ☞ Preparacion concerning gostly maters wyth what cogitaciō◠the mynde oughte moste to be exercysed folio 97 ☞ The .27 Chapter ☞ Of repentaunce and sorowe for synne folio 102 ☞ The .28 Chapter ☞ Of trewe fayth folio 103 ☞ The 29. Chapter ☞ Of hope folio 116 ☞ The .30 Chapter ☞ Of the sacramentes fol. 117 ☞ The .31 Chapter ☞ Of prayer folio 120 ☞ The .32 Chapter ☞ The forme of prayer fo 124 ☞ The .33 Chapter ☞ A forme of prayse and thākesgeuyng folio 130 ☞ The .34 Chapter ☞ That the prayer is harde fol. 133 ☞ The .35 Chapter ☞ That the word of god is to be practised and vsed fol. 134. ☞ The .36 Chapter ☞ Amendment of lyfe necessarye foli 136 ☞ The .37 Chapter ¶ Exhortacion vnto pacyence folio 139 ☞ The .38 Chapter * The original and frute of pacyence folio 145 * The .39 Chapter * That a man whyle he is yet in health ought to prepare himself afore hande folio 147 * The .40 Chapter * That the foresaid things ought by tyme and in due season to bee taken in hande fol. 155 ¶ The contentes of the seconde booke * The .1 Chapter * How the sicke oughte to be spoken vnto if nede shall require folio 164 * The .2 Chapter * Of the buriall and what is to be done towardes those that are departed hence folio 180 ¶ The contentes of the thirde boke * The .1 Chapter * How they oughte to be comforted whose deare frendes are dead foli 186. * The .2 Chapter * That vnto such as dye it is profitable to depart out of this lyfe foli 195 * The .3 Chapter * What profit the death of frēds bryngeth to such as are lefte behynde alyue foli 204 * The .4 Chapter * Companions that suffer like heuines of hart folio 212 * The .5 Chapter * Thorowe gods helpe all hearte sorowes are eased fol. 214 * The .6 Chapter * We muste furnyshe oure selues wyth prayer and pacience folio 217 * The .7 Chapter * Ensamples of pacience in lyke case folio 222. The .8 Chapter * The commoditie of pacience folio 228 The .9 Chapter We oughte so to loue our children and frendes that we maye forsake them folio 231 The .10 Chapter * Of the death of yonge persons in especiall folio 234 * The .11 Chapter * Of the death of the aged fo 24◠* The .12 Chapter * Of straunge death fo 244 The firste boke of death declarynge what death is ¶ The .i. Chapter HOly scripture makethe mencion of foure maner of deathes and lyues 1. The firste is called a naturall lyfe so longe as the soule remayneth with the bodye vpon earth The naturall death is it that separateth the soule from the body 2. The seconde is a spirituall vnhappye death here in tyme of lyfe whan the grace of God for our wyckednesse sake is departed from vs by meanes wherof we were deed frō the Lorde our God and from all goodnes allthoughe as yet we haue the lyfe natural Cōtrary vnto this there is a gostly blessed lyfe whā we thorowe the grace of the Lorde our God lyue vnto hym and to all goodnesse Ephe. 2. Hereof wryteth Paull after thys maner God whych is riche in mercy thorow hys great loue wherewyth he loued vs euen whan we were ded in synnes hath quickened vs together in Christ 3. The thirde is a gostly blessed death here in tyme whan the fleshe beyng euer the longer the more separated from the spirite dyeth away from hys own wycked nature Contrari hereunto is there a gostli vnhappy life whā the fleshe wyth hys wycked disposicion continuallye breakethe forth and liueth in al wilfulnes Agaynst thys doth Paul exhort vs saying Collossiās Mortyfye therefore your members whyche are vpon earth fornicacion vnclennesse vnnatural lust euil concupiscēce couetousnes c. 4. The fourth that the scripture maketh mencyon of is an euerlastyng lyfe an euerlasting death Not that the bodi soule of man shall after thys tyme lose their substaunce and be vtterlye nomore For we beleue vndoubtedly that our soule is immortal and that euen thys present body shal arise againe But forasmuch as we our selues graunt that life is swete death a bitter herbe thys word lyfe by a figuratiue speche is vsed for mirth and ioy Thys worde death for heuines and sorowe Therefore eternall lyfe is called eternall ioye and eternall death eternall damnaciō Of these manyfolde deathes haue we commenlye a peruerse iudgement We abhorre the death of the body and hast on a pace to the vnhappy gostli death which yet in it self is a thousand times more terrible then any death corporall For whan a man delyteth in hys owne wyckednes though as yet he lyue vpon the earth he is neuertheles dead before god and the soule must continew stil damned for euermore In thys boke my handelynge is of naturall death which beefore our eyes semeth to be an vtter destruccion and that there is no remedy wyth the dead euen as whan a dogge or horse dieth and that god hath nomor respect vnto them Yea the world swimmeth ful of such vngodly people as haue none other meanynge Els doubtles woulde they beehaue themselues otherwyse towardes god Death vereli is not a destruccion of man but a delyueraunce of bodi soule Where as the soule beeyng of it selfe immortall dooeth eyther out of the mouth ascende vp into heauen or els from the mouth descēdeth into the pit of hel The body losyng hys substaunce tyll domes daye shall than by the power of god bee raysed from death and ioyned agayne to the soule that afterwarde the whole man with body and soule maye eternallye inherite either saluacion or els damnacyon ¶ That the time of death is vncertayne The .2 Chapter THe body of mā is a very frayle thyng Sickenesse maye consume it wylde beastes may deuoure it the fyer may burne it the water maye drowne it the ayer may infect it a snare maye choke it the prickyng of a pynne maye destroye it Therefore whan hys temporall lyfe shall ende he can not tell The principall cause why we knowe not the tyme of death is euen the grace of god to the intēt that we by no occasiō should lynger the amendemente of oure lyues vntill age but alway feare god Luke 12. as though we should dye to morowe But assone as the houre commeth no man shall ouerleape it Hereof speaketh Iob Iob. 14. whan he sayeth that god hath appointed vnto man hys bondes which he cannot goe beyonde ¶ That it is God which hath layed the burden of death vpon vs. The .3 Chapter IT becommeth all Christians not only to suffer
but also to commende and praise the wil of the heauenly Lord kyng Now is it hys wyll that we dye For if the sparowes wherof two are bought for a farthing fall not on the grounde without god the father muche lesse we men whom God hymselfe estemeth to be of more value theÌ„ many sparowes yea for whose sakes other thiÌ„ges were created do fal to the grouÌ„d thorowe death wythout the wyl of god Lyke as the souldiour tarieth in the place wherin he is appointed of the chef captaine to fyght against the enemies if he cal him froÌ„ theÌ„ce he willingly obeyeth EueÌ„ so hath the heauenlye captayne set vs vpon earth Ephesi 6. where we haue to fyghte not wyth fleshe and bloude but wyth wycked spretes Therefore if he geue vs leue and call vs froÌ„ hence we oughte by reason to obeye hym Lyke as one shoulde not withdrawe himselfe froÌ„ payeng what he oweth but gentle to restore the mony So hath God lent vs thys lyfe and not promysed that we maye alwaye enioye it Therfore is death descrybed 〈◊〉 be the payment of natural debt ¶ That God sendeth death because of synne The .4 Chapter ACcordyng hereunto ponder thou the iuste iudgement of god For out of the third Chapter of the first boke of Moses it is euydently perceaued that death is a penaltye deserued layed vpon vs al for the punishmeÌ„t of sinne As the little worme that groweth out of the tree gnaweth and consumeth the tree of whom it hath hys begynnyng So death groweth waxeth oute of synne and synne with the body it coÌ„sumeth And specially that venymous sickenes whiche they cal the pestileÌ„ce is sente of God as a scourge for the punishment of our naughtynes Herof speaketh the word of god in the fifth boke of Moises after thys maner Deut. 28. If thou wylte not harken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy god to kepe and to doe all hys commaundementes and ordinaunces which I coÌ„maunde thee thys day then shal al these curses come vpon thee and ouertake thee The Lorde shall make the pestilence to cleue vnto thee vntil he haue consumed thee froÌ„ the lande whether thou goest to enioye it The lord shal smyte the with swelling with feuers heat burning wetheryng wyth smyting and blastyng And they shal folowe thee tyll thou peryshe Yet among the most gracious chasteninges is the pestilence rekened of the holy Prophete and kyng Dauid â— Reg. 14. c. who after that he of a pride 1. Par. 22. â— had caused the people to be numbred whan the eleccioÌ„ was geueÌ„ him whether he would rather haue seuen yeares dearth three monthes ouerthrowe in warre or three dayes pestylence in the land made this aunswere I am in a meruelous strayt But let me fall I praye thee into the handes of the lord for muche is hys mercy and let me not fall in to the handes of men 2. reg 24. 1. Para. 22. Then sent the lord a pestylence into Israel that there died of theÌ„ .70000 meÌ„ Wherefore if god ouertake thee with this horrible disease be not thou angry with Saturnus and Mars nor with the corrupt aier and other meanes appoynted of god but be displeased with thine own synnefull lyfe And whan any fearefull ymage of death coÌ„meth before thee remember that thou wyth thy synnes haste deserued muche more horryble thinges whych god neuertheles hath not sente vnto thee ¶ That God turneth death vnto good The .5 Chapter ALthoughe thou haste deserued an hundreth thousande greater plages yet shalte thou comforte thy selfe before hande after thys maner A father dooth hys childreÌ„ good and not euil Now is my beleue in god as in mi gracious father thorow Iesus christ and sure I am that Chryste vpoÌ„ the Crosse hath made a perfecte payment for all my synnes and with his death hath taken away the strengthe of my death Yea for me hath he deserued and broughte to pas eternall lyfe Wherefore though death in the syght of myne eyes and of naturall reason be bytter and heauy Yet by meanes of the passyon and death of Iesus Christe it is not euill or hurtfull but a benefyte a profitable and wholsome thyng euen an intraunce to euer lastyng ioye That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodye and soule The .6 Chapter WHat grefe and hurte death doeth bring with it I wil nowe declare To the inteÌ„te that whan we haue considered the same before trouble come we maye in oure distresse bee the lesse a frayed holdyng agaynst it the greate commodities of death that Chryste hath obtayned for all faythfull It greueth a man at hys death to leaue the pleasaunt beholdynge of heauen and earth hys owne yong bodi and chereful stomack hys wyfe and chyldren house lande feldes and medowes siluer and golde honoure and auctoritie good frendes and olde companions hys mynstrelsy pastyme ioye and pleasure that he hath had vpon earth Afterwarde whan death knocketh at the dore then begynneth the greateste trouble to woorke Whan the diseases be fallen vpoÌ„ the body of man in greater nomber they are agaynst al the members in the whole bodi breaking in bi heapes with notable grefes so that the pâ—wer of the body is weakened the mynde combred the remembraunce astonied reason blynded slepe hindred the senses all to broken By meanes whereof the eyes are darkened the face is pale the fete are colde the handes blacke the members out of course the brow hardened the chynne falleth down the breth minisheth the deadlye sweate breaketh out Yea the whole maÌ„ is takeÌ„ in and disturbed in suche sort that he is now past miÌ„ding of any other thing Death also is so much the more bytter and terrible because that the feble discomforted nature doth print the horrible ymage of death to depe in it selfe and feareth it to sore And hereunto is the deuyl lykewise busi to set before vs a more terrible euill death then euer we saw heard or read of To the intent that we beyng opprest with such imaginacions or thoughtes should fly and hatâ— death and be driuen to the loue and carefulnes of thys lyfe forgettyng the goodnes of god and to be founde disobedient at our last ende Moreouer whoso of hymselfe is not thorowly assured knoweth yet synne by himselfe he is not astonied for naughte for asmuche as synne caryeth wyth it the wrathe of god and eternall damnacyon Now not only the euill but also the good haue greuous and manifolde synnes yea moo theÌ„ they themselues can thinke vpoÌ„ with the which in daungers of bodye and lyfe theyr mynd is opprest as it were wyth a violente water that fearcely rageth and gusheth out yea euen the same praise worthy and coÌ„mendable thing which the godly haue practised alreadi that dooe they yet perceyue not to be perfect but myxte wyth vnclennesse Herof speaketh Esaye in thys wyse Esa 64. we offende haue been euer in synne and there is not one whole We are al
as an vncleane thyng all oure righteousnesses are as a cloth stayned wyth the flouers of a woman Dauyd prayed Psal 143. Lorde enter not into iudgemente wyth thy seruaunt for in thy syght shal no man lyuing be iustified Gregory wryteth wo vnto the commendable life of men if it be led wythout mercy Item the Apostell Peter geueth warnyng youre aduersarye the deuil goeth about as aroring lyen seking whō he may deuour If one that is about to shote a gonne be vnsteady at the letting of it goe he mysseth all together and all that he prepared for it afore is in vayne Euen so at the ende of thys lyfe are the deuyls most busy to turne vs from the ryght marke that our former trauayle and laboure maye be loste forasmuche as they knowe that there remayneth but a very small tyme of lyfe So that if the soule escape them now they shall afterwarde goe wythoute it for euermore Euen as myghtie enemyes do besege and lay assaulte to a citie So the deuels compace the soule of man wyth violence and subtiltie to take possession of the pore soule to apprehende it and bring it to hel Whan we are yet in prosperitie the deuils would haue vs to make but a small matter of it as thoughe we were in no daunger to godwarde albeit we blaspheme be dronken and committe whordome breake wedlocke c. But in the daunger of death they bryng forth those wycked sinnes in most terrible wyse putting vs in mynde of the wrath of God how he in tymes paste here and there dyd punishe and destroye wycked doers to the intente that our soules might be hindred snared shut vp bounde and kepte in prison from repētance and faith and neuer to perceiue any waye how to escape to be deliuered And by reason therof wholye to dispayre and to beecome the deuils porcion Furthermore good frendes companyons are loth to departe a sunder speciallye suche as are new knit and boūde together one to another as two maryed persons Now is the bodi and soule nerest of all bounde and coupled one to the other but in the distresse of death the payne is so greate that it breaketh thys vnitie and parteth the soule from the body for the whych cause a man at his death doth naturally sygh in him selfe Good companyons vpon earth though they departe one from another haue an hope to come together agayne But whā the soule ones departeth frō the bodi it hath no power to returne agayne to the body here in thys tyme. Iob. 14. Whereof Iob geueth two similitudes A tree if it bee cutte down there is some hope yet that it will budde and shute forth the braunches agayne Lykewise the floudes whan they be dryed vp and the riuers whan thei be emptye are fylled agayne thorow the flowynge waters of the sea But whan man slepeth he risethe not agayne vntill the heauen perysh Thys vnderstande that after the commen course one commeth not agayne in thys presente lyfe one cannot die twise and after death cannot a man accomplyshe any more that he neglected afore tyme. How goeth it now both wyth the body and soule after death Assone as the soule from the body is departed the body is spoyled of all hys powers bewtye senses and beecome a miserable thynge to loke vpon Augustyne sayeth a man that in his life time was exceadyng bewtiful pleasaunt to embrace is in death a terrible thing to beholde How nobly and preciouslye so euer a man hath lyued vpon earth hys body yet begynneth to corrupte and stynke and becommeth wormes meate by meanes whereof the worlde is of thys opinion that the body commeth vtterly to naught for euer The world also knoweth nothyng concernyng the immortalitie of the soule they whiche already beeleue that the soule is immortall doubte yet whether it shal be saued Yea they say plainly it were good to dy if one wist what chere he should haue in yonder worlde To them is death like vnto a misty darke hole where one woteth not what wil become vpon hym ¶ That we al cōmonly are afrayed of death The .7 Chapter BY meanes of the occasions aforesayde certaine heathē men haue geuen vncomfortable and desperate iudgement concernyng the passage of death In the Poet Euripides in oreste one sayth It is better to lyue il then to dye well Which wordes are very vnchristenli spoken Yet are there founde ensamples euen of holy men that they had a natural feare of death The holy Patriarke Abraham thinkyng that he stode in daunger of death by reason of his wifes beutie woulde rather suffer all that els was exceadyng heuy and bitter He iudged it a smaler mater to call hys wyfe hys sister then to be destroyed hymselfe Ezechias an vpright valeaunt kynge Esay ◠whan the Prophet tolde hym he shoulde not lyue was afraide of death and praied earnestly that his life might bee prolōged In the newe testament whan the Lorde Iesus drewe nere to hys passion and death he swet bloud for very anguishe and sayd My soule is heuy euē vnto the death And thus he prayed Father if it be possible Math. 26. take thys cuppe fro me The Lorde sayeth vnto Peter Verely verely I saye vnto thee Whan thou wast yonge Iohn 21 thou girdedst thy self and walkedst whither thou wouldst but whā thou art olde thou shalt stretche forth thy hādes and another shal girde thee and leade thee whither thou wouldest not Loe Peter beeing excellentlye endewed wyth the spirite of God and stedfaste in fayth had yet in hys age a naturall feare of death for the Lorde said vnto him afore that another shoulde leade hym whether he woulde not Therefore wryteth gregory not vnright whā he saith Yf the pilours treble what shall the bordes doe Or if the heauēs shake for suche feare howe wyll that be vnmoued which is vnder That is if famous saynctes dyd feare to dye it is much lesse to be maruayled at when we poore Christians are afrayed Experience wytnesseth howe febly we set oure selues againste death Many an olde or otherwise vexed man can neither liue nor dye for in hys aduersytie he ofte tymes wysheth death Note And whā death approcheth he would rather suffer what soeuer els vpō earth if he mighte therebi escape death Many of vs haue hearde the gospell a long season and studyed it throughly so to say yet are we so afrayed of the death of oure selues and of oure frendes as though there were none other lyfe more to loke for euen lyke as thei that be of Sardanapalus sorte doe imagyn or els mistrust the promes comforte and helpe of god ▪ as thoughe he were not able or would not succour and deliuer vs. Yea some there be that if death be but spoken of thei are afrayed at it ¶ The commoditie of death whan it delyuereth vs from thys shorte transitorye tyme. The .8 Chapter AL the aforesayd disprofites and grefes doe iustlye vanyshe
meanes of synne iâ— synne ouercome and vanquished of Chryst Yf it greued vs from our heartes that we dayly se and fynde howe we continuallye vse our selues against the most swetâ— wyll of oure moste deare father and were assured withal that in death we ceasse from synne and begin to bee perfect ryghteous howe were it possible that we should not set litel by death and pacientlye take it vpon vs Oute of suche a feruente gelousye and godly displeasure Paul after he had earnestlye complayned that he founde another lawe whyche stroue agaynste the law of God syghed and cryed romanes 7. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Agayne so long as death hath so euil a tast in vs and we will perforce continue styll in the lyfe of the flesh we bewray oure selues that we doe not well nor sufficiently vnderstande our owne defaultes neyther fele them deepe inough nor abhorre theÌ„ so muche as we shoulde Yea that we bee not earnest desyrers of innocency nor feruent louers of our heauenly father ¶ That the dead is deliuered from his vicious world hauyng not onely thys aduauntage that he synneth no more but also is discharged from other synnes The .14 Chapter WHoso leaueth nothing els worthy behinde him but that he is quyte from vicious people may wel be the gladder to depart hence partly for that he can bee nomore tempted of them nor enticed by their euill ensample partly for that thoughe he could not be deceaued by others yet it greueth hym at the heart to see other foâ—kes practyse their wilfulnes Now hath vice sinne eueri where gotten the vpper hande the trueth is despised god hymselfe dishonoured the pore opprest the good persecuted the vngodly promoted to auctorite Antichrist tryumphing Great complaining there is that the worlde is euer the longer the worse Forasmuch theÌ„ as thorowe death we be discharged of so vicious a world whoÌ„ should it delite to lyue heare any more Thys meaning doeth the preacher set forth in the .4 chapter of Ecclesiastes sayinge So I turned me coÌ„sidered al the violeÌ„t wrong that is done vnder the soÌ„ne And behold the teares of such as were opprest there was no man to comforte them or that woulde deliuer and defende them from the violence of their oppressours There is at thys daye by the grace of God many a worthy Chrystian that desireth rather to dye then to bee a loker vpon such deuelyshe wylfulnes as commonly goeth forwarde ¶ That the dead obtayneth saluacion The .15 Chapter AS for vicious vnrepentant people whan they dye I knowe no comfort for theÌ„ Theyr bodyes in dede shal ryse at the last day but foule and marked to eternall payne Theyr soules shal be delyuered vnto the deuill to whom they haue done seruice An ensample hereof standeth of the rich man Luke 1â—â— agayn there is thensample of good Lazarus that al Christians are taken vp of the aungels into eternall ioie and saluacion We must not fyrste be purged in purgatory but thorow death we escape the deuill the worlde and all misfortunes that thys tyme is oppreste wythall Yf we nowe shoulde lose oure bodies and not haue them again then were death in dede a terryble thyng neyther precyous nor much worth But our body is not so litle regarded before god for euen vnto the body also hath he alreadye prepared saluacyon Yea euen for thys intente hath he laied vpon our neckes the burthen of naturall death that he myghte afterward clothe vs with a pure renewed and cleare body and to make vs gloryous in eternal lyfe Therefore death also whiche is a begynnyng of the ioyful resurreccyon ought to bee estemed deare and precyous in our eyes After death verely is the soule in it self clensed from all synnes and endewed with perfect holynes wysedome ioye honour and glory for euermore Similitudes that death is whole some The .16 Chapter IF an olde siluer goblet be melted and new fashioned after a bewtiful maner then is it better then afore neyther spilte nor destroyed Euen so haue we no iust cause to complayne of death whereby the body beeyng delyuered from all fylthynesse shall in hys due tyme be perfectly renewed The egge shell thoughe it bee goodly and faire fashioned must bee opened and broken that the yong chicken maye slip oute of it None otherwyse doth death dissolue and breake vp our bodi but to the intent that we maye attain vnto the lyfe of heauen The mothers wombe caryeth the child seuen or nyne moneths and prepareth it not for it selfe but for the world wherin we are borne Euen so thys present time ouer al vpon earth serueth not to thys ende that we must euer bee here but that we should be brought forth and borne oute of the body of the world into another euer lasting life Hereunto behold the wordes of Christ Ion. 17. a woman whaÌ„ she trauayleth hath sorowe beecause her houre is come But assone as she is delyuered of the chylde she remembreth nomore the anguishe for ioye that a man is borne into the worlde Namely lyke as a chylde oute of the small habitacion of his mothers wombe wyth daunger and anguishe is borne into this wyde world Euen so goeth a man thorowe the narowe gate of death with distresse and trouble out of the earth into the heauenly lyfe For thys cause did the olde Christians call the death of the sayntes a newe birth Therefore oughte we to note well thys comforte that to dye is not to perish but to bee fyrste of all borne a ryghte The death of the faythfull formeth in dede to be lyfe vnto the death of the vnbeleuers but verely thys is as great a difference as betwene heauen earth Our death is euen as a death Image made of wood whyche gyrneth wyth the teeth and feareth but canot deuour Our death should be estemed euen as Moyses brasen serpente whych hauynge the fourme and proporcyon of a serpent was yet wythout bytynge without mouing without poysoÌ„yng Euen so thoughe death bee not vtterly take nawaye Yet thorow the grace of god it is so weakened made voyde that the only bare proporcioÌ„ remayneth WhaÌ„ the master of the ship thynketh he is not wyde from the place where he must land discharge he sayleth on forth the more cherefully and gladly euen so the nearer we drawe vnto death where we must lande the more stowtly ought we to fighte agaynste the gostlye parels Lyke as he that goeth a farre iourney hath vncertayne lodgyng trauayll and laboure and desyreth to returne home to hys own country to his father and mother wyfe childreÌ„ and frendes among whom he is sureste and at moste quiete by meanes wherof he forceth the lesse for any roughe carefull pathe or waye homewarde euen so all we are straungers and pilgremes vpon earth Par. 30. c. â—sa 39.119 c Peter 2. b. Cor. 5. a. â—hilip 3. c. â—c 11. c. 13. b
Cor. 15. Our home is paradise in heauen our heauenly father is god the earthy father of al men is Adam oure spirituall fathers are the patriarkes prophetes and apostles whiche altogether wait and long for vs. Seyng nowe that death is the path and waye vnto them we ought the lesse to fly it to the intente that we maye come to oure righte home salute our fathers and frendes embrace theÌ„ Hebre. 13. end dwel with them foreuer We haue heare no remayninge citie but we seke one to come Psalme 3. Our conuersacioÌ„ burgership is in heaueÌ„ But if any man be afrayed of death and force not for the country of heauen onely because of teÌ„poral pleasures thesame dealeth vnhonestlye euen as dooe they that wheras they ought to go the next way home set them down in a pleasaunt place or among companions at the tauerne Where they lying styl forget their owne country and passe not vpon their frendes and kynsfolkes Howe euill thys becommeth theÌ„ euerye man may wel coÌ„sider bi himselfe The lord Iesus geueth thys similitude except the wheate corne fall into the grounde and dye it â—ydeth alone but if it dye it bryngeth foorthe muche frute Lykewyse Paull compareth vs men vnto graynes of corne the churcheyarde â— Corin. 15 to a felde To dye he sayeth is to be sowne vpon Gods felde The resurreccyon with the life that foloweth after resembleth he to the pleasaunte grene corne in Sommer If a man laie in a darke miserable pryson wyth thys condicion that he should not come forth tyl the walles of the tower were fallen down vndoutedly he would be right glad to see the walles begynne to fall our soule is kept in wythin the body vpon earth as in captiuitie and bondes Nowe assone as the body is at a poynt that it muste nedes fall why woulde we be sory For by thys approcheth the deliuerauÌ„ce whoÌ„ we out of the pryson of miserye shal be brought before the moste amiable countenaunce of god into the ioyefull fredome of heaueÌ„ Accordynge to thys dyd Dauyd pray Psalm 14â— Bryng my soule out of pryson O Lorde that I maye geue thankes vnto thy name Item in many places of scripture to dye is called to slepe death it selfe aslepe Lyke as it is no grefe for a maÌ„ to goe slepe 1. Cor. 15. Thessa 4 â–ª nor whaÌ„ he seith hys parentes and frendes laye them downe to reste for he knoweth that suche as are aslepe doe soone awake and rise again so whaÌ„ we or our frendes depart awaye by death we oughte to erecte and coumforte oure selues with the resurreccion VVytnesse that death is holsome The .17 Chapter FOr the strengthnyng of ouâ— fayth I wyll alledge euydente testimonye of Gods worde Ecclesia 7. The preacher sayth â–ª The day of death is better theÌ„ the day of birth As if he would say in the daye of thy birth theâ— arte sente into the colde into thâ— heat into huÌ„ger and thirst wheâ—in is synne and wretchednesse in the day of thy death thou shalâ— be deliuered from all euil Agaiâ— we reade Sapien. 4. thoughe the righteous be ouertaken with death yet shalâ— he be in rest Iohn 5. Verely verely I say vnto you he that heareth my wordes anâ— beleueth on him that seÌ„t me haâ—â— euerlastynge lyfe and shall noâ— come into damnacyon but is scaâ—â—ed from death vnto lyfe Rom. 14. a. 2. Cor. 4. b Yf wâ— lyue we lyue vnto the Lorde 〈◊〉 we dye we dye vnto the Lorde â–ª Therfore whether we liue or dyâ— we are the Lordes Behold how comfortably thys is spoken of all Christians That death can not be auoyded Item of companyons of them that dye The .18 Chapter VPon thys condicion are we borne into the worlde into thys light not to continewe alway therin but whaÌ„ god wil thorowe temporall death to laye asyde and put of the trauayle of thys miserable lyfe Wyttie men haue fouÌ„de out how hard stones may be brokeÌ„ mollified how wilde beastes may be tamed but nothing could they inuent wherby death myght bee auoyded It is not vnwyselye sayd Goddes hande maye a man escape but not death Metrodorus wryteth that against bodeli enemies there may be made fortresses castels bulworkes but so farre as coÌ„cerneth death all men haue an vnfensed citie In other daungers power money flight counsayll and policy mai helpe But as for death it can neyther be banyshed with power nor boughte wyth moneye nor auoyded wyth flying away nor preuented wyth counsayle nor turned backe wyth polycye And though thou be now delyuered from syckenes yet wythin â— litle whyle thou muste whether thou wylte or no departe hence to deathes home for the higheste law geuer of all tolde oure fyrsâ— father so afore In what daye soeuer thou eatest therof thou shalte dye the death Gene. â— vnderstande that the death of the soule bryngeth with it the death of the body Whoso now grudgeth and is not contente to dye what is that els but that he forgettyng hymselfe and hys owne nature complayneth of God in heauen that he suffered hym to be borne and made hym not an aungell Why should we refuse the thing that we haue commen with other men Nowe doeth death touche not onely vs but highe and lowe estate younge and olde man and woman master and seruaunte As many as came of the first maÌ„ muste laye downe theyr neckes Death is an indifferent iudge regardeth no person hath no pitie on the fatherles careth not for the poore dispeÌ„seth not with the rich feareth not the myghtie passeth not for the noble honoureth not the aged spareth not the wyse pardoneth not the folyshe For like as a riuer is poisoned in the well spryng or fountayne so was the nature of man altogether in our first pareÌ„tes And forasmuch as they themselues were maymed thorow sinne they haue begotten vnright and mortal children roman 5. Touching this saieth Paul by one man came death vpon all men Now let vs consider what excellent companions and holi feloshyp they also haue that ar dead Paul wryteth that we muste bee lyke shapen vnto the ymage of the sonne of god If he nowe that of nature was immortall and innocent became mortal for our sakes euen Iesus Chryste our sauiour why would we then that manye and sondry wayes haue deserued death continewe here styll and not dye Abraham the faythful Sampson the stronge Salomon the wyse Absalom the fayer one yea all the Prophetes and Apostles kynges and Emperours thorowe death departed oute of thys lyfe A very deintie and tender body must that be whych coÌ„sydering so great multytudes of coarses doth yet out of measure vexe hymselfe beecause the lyke shall happen vnto him That wer euen like as if one woulde take vpon hymselfe to be better then all ryghtuous and holy men that euer were sithens the begynnyng of the worlde Of naturall helpe in daunger of death The .19 Chapter WHoso wyll helpe hymselfe from
Chryst Therfore must we wyth draw our selues frō al creatures praying and desyryng all things at gods hande onely thorow the name of Iesu How oughte a man to call vpō god thorowe Chryste What is to call vpon god in Chryste Wyth belefe that we doubt not but oure prayer is heard already To such a fayth and confydence are we occasioned in that God hath commaunded vs to pray and promysed that he wyl graciouslye heare vs knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you ▪ c. For what thynge oughte we to make our prayer vnto god For the vnderstandīg of his word for remissiō of sinnes for increace of fayth for loue euen towardes our enemyes for helpe pacience comforte and all spiritual giftes To pray for health and long lyfe The moderacion of praier for temporal thynges is not vnryghte so farre as we cōmitte and referre it vnto the holy wyl of god For we can not make it better then the faithful father that knoweth best of all And to pray for a long lyfe is oft tymes nothyng els then to desyer to be kept long in miserye Esai 38. Good Ezechyas yet prayed wyth teares that he myght lyue for a season Chryst the most perfect ensāple of al did pray Father if it be possible take thys bitter draught fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thyne bee done Lyke as he nowe prayed thus the seconde and third time moste earnestlye So ought we also without ceassynge to cal vnto god Some appoynte god afore hande what death he must suffer them to dye But they doe best of all that prescrybe vnto the lord theyr god neyther fashyon of death nor tyme neyther other circumstaunce but referre al vnto him who knoweth what is profitable and good better then we ourselues Moreouer we must praye for wife and childe for frende and enemy and for the whole congregacion of the Chrystians that god may graciouslye take thē all into hys own proteccion Vnto praier belōgeth it also cherfulli to geue god thankes for all bodelye and gostly benefites ¶ The fourme of prayer The .32 Chapter Praier to god the father O Almightie euerlastynge god mercyful father of heauē thou hast created me after thyne owne image and endewed me wyth exceadyng plentiful giftes Confessyon Yet not wythstandyng all thy benefites I haue many and sondry wayes contemned and transgressed thy commaundementes All my dayes are passed foorth with greuous synnes I feare and flye from thee as from a righteous iudge Althys what soeuer it be I freelye knowledge and confes and am sory for it frō the ground of my heart Desyre of grace But O heauenly father I cry and call for thy large and great mercy O enter not with me into iudgemente remember not the synnes of my youth O thynke vpon me accordyng to thi mercye for thy names sake and for thy goodnes which hath ben from euerlastyng Vouchesafe to graunt me thy mercy which thou according to the contentes of the gospel hast promised and opened thorow thy beloued sōne in such sort that whoso beleueth on him shal haue euerlastyng lyfe Now is my belefe in Iesu Christ euen in the only redemer of the whole worlde I vtterly refuse all other comforte helpe and assistaunce and my hope is onely thorowe Chryste to haue pardon of my sinnes eternal life Thi wordes are trewe be it vnto me accordīg to thy wordes O let me enioye y◠passion and death of thyne onely begottē sonne Take for my sīnes the satysfaccion and paymente of our lord Iesus Chryste accordīg to the tenour of my belefe Of thys my fayth thou shalt thy selfe O Lord be wytnesse and al thine elect My last wil also shall it be vpon thy mercy to dy in this fayth Though I now by occasiō of pain lacke of reasō or thorowe tēptaciō should happen or would fall awaye suffer me not yet O lorde to sticke fast in vnbelefe blasphemy but helpe myne vnbelefe strength and increace my fayth that synne death the deuil and hel dooe me no harme Thou art strōger and mightier thē thei that is onely my trust and confydence O lord the flesh is feble vnpacient laye not thou my weakenes to mi charge but burne smit prycke and plage as thou wylte thy selfe Pacience and lowlynes is the signe of a Chrystyan only Ibesech the graūt me pacience and lowelynesse of mynde Be thou the strength of my soule in this farre iournei which I haue now to go in an vnknowē lande Now shewe thy selfe vnto my poore soule so as it may fele that thou art my refuge my help proteccyon defence comforte castel my sure stony rocke my safegarde my treasure prosperyte health and wellfare I yelde my selfe wholy vnto thee with soule and body let me neuer bee confounded Helpe also Prayer for the enemy o heauēly father that accordyng vnto thy cōmaundement I may loue myne enemyes and pray for them that haue hurte me Math 5. c roma 12 b. c. And bryng to pas thorowe thy holy sprete that all thei whō I haue done harme vnto may also forgeue me to the cōmoditie and health of their owne soules For it reweth me and sory I am that at any time I haue broken Christian loue and charytie and begiled desceaued or offēded any man wyth euill ensample or with to fewe benefites I besech the O lord thorow Iesus Christ forgeue thou all them that euer haue hurt me in thought worde or dede Praier for eueri man To thy faythfulnes and proteccion O dearest father I commit all that concerneth me speciallye wyfe children frendes all such as thou hast put vnder my gouernaunce Comfort and helpe thou all those that ly in bandes and ar persecuted for thy wordes sake Haue mercy vpon al such as are in prison pouertie sickenes and heuines O bring thou the whole world to the knowledge of thi holy word that they may liue accordyng to thy godly wyl and thorow out all troubles to endure continue styll in the Christiā faith O Lorde Iesu Chryste Praier to god the sonne I besech the thorowe thine owne merites haue mercye vpon me Seinge I my selfe can not make satisfaccion or sufficient amēdes towards the father for my synnes I laye thē vpō the in hope that thou haste already taken them awaye For thou hast payed that we ought oure woundes hast thou healed O increace thou in me and other men fayth pacyence and consolacion what aduersitie or trouble soeuer we be in Thou lord Iesu in thy passion diddest pray Father if it be possible let thys cup passe fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thine be done and that is my praier also Vpō the crosse that dydst pray Father forgeue thē Euē so lord forgeue I al those that euer haue done any thing agaīst me Thou didst cry my god my god why hast thou forsakē me O lorde forsake not thou me then in my deadlye trouble Vpon the crosse thou
saidst into thī handes I commende my sprete Euen so now lord commende I my poore soule into thy handes O thou holy sprete Praier to god the holy gost Great is the anguish and distresse of my hert haue mercye vpon me for Iesus Christes sake I am afflicted so are many moe O vouchsafe thou to illuminate comfort strēgthē me and them vnto al goodnes cōuey thou and bryng vs out of all trouble and fayle vs not neither forsake vs for euermore Amen ¶ A fourme of prayse and thankes geuyng The .33 Chapter Thankes geuyng to god the father O Almightie eternal merciful god and father I laude and prayse the that thou hast created me a reasonable man and as a father haste preserued me to thys houre keping me from great daūgers euer sithens I was borne doing me more good then euer I was or am worthy Specyally I geue thee thankes for thy endles grace whiche thou shewest vnto me and all faythfull thorowe thy moste deare beloued sonne In that he for my synnes would be tempted so many wayes and suffer so vyle a death to the intente that I from hence forth myght be assured of faythfull assistaunce Magnified and blessed be thy name that thou sufferest me not to dye wythout knoweledge of the holy gospell I thanke thee also dearest father that thou visiting me wyth thys syckenes and daunger doest not forgette me For in the meane season also thou comfortest fortest and helpest and full graciously shalt thou bryng the matter to an ende Thankesgeuing to the sonne Honour prayse and thankes be vnto thee my most deare lord Iesu Christ for thy holy incarnacion for thy martirdom and bytter passyon wherby I am perfectly assured that thou art my redemer and Sauiour Vpon that onely set I my building thither warde standeth my hope there wil I be founde Rom. 6. b. rom 8. b. 2. Timo. 2. b Cherefully and gladli with thy helpe wil I depart hēce trustyng that as I am partaker of thi troubles so shall I also haue my part in thy euerlastyng glorye Namely that at the last daye thou shalt raise vp this my poore mortall body takyng my soule vnto thee immediatly at my departing hence Thankesgeuing to the holi goost O the holy sprete I rēder vn to the prayse and thākes for the true vnderstandyng belefe comfort pacience al giftes whiche thou graciously doest minister geue by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ That the praier is harde The .34 Chapter HEre vnto serue al psalmes of prayer and thankesgeuing Howbeit whatsoeuer cōcerneth prayer it is all cōprehended with few wordes in the holy pater noster if it be diligētly earnestly considered Notwithstādyng no Christian prayer can be done in vayne that it should not be faythfully heard God sayth Psal 91. He hath a desier vnto me and I wyl deliuer him Whan he calleth vpō me I shal heare hym yea I am with him in his trouble whereoute I wyll delyuer hym and bring him to honour He knoweth my name therfore wil I defende hym Wyth longe lyfe wyll I satisfye hym and shewe hym my saluaciō Yea the whole psalter is ful of such cōfortable promyses Luke 23. d. Ensample if thou pray with the murtherer vpō the crosse that Chryst wil remember thee in his kyngdome thou shalte also in thy heart he are the gracyous comfort thys day shalt thou be wyth me in paradyse Neuertheles whosoeuer is in trouble heuines or aduersitie ought earnestly to desyer the intercessions prayers of faythfull beleuers ¶ That the word of God oughte to bee practysed and vsed The .35 Chapter FArthermore he ought alwaye to haue gods word before his eyes and feruētly to exercise him selfe therin For wheras he faythfully calleth vnto god he dooeth it vpon hys worde and in the word of god he is taughte howe to behaue himselfe towardes al what soeuer commeth in his waye If a man now can not geue hymselfe true informacion out of the holye scripture whether it be cōcernīg synnes committed or other tēptacyons then ought he to aske counsayll of hys learned soule shepeheard or of some other mē of godly vnderstandyng The lord saith not for naught My shepe heare my voice and I know them Iohn 10. and they folowe me and I geue thē eternall lyfe and they shal neuer peryshe ¶ Amendement of lyfe necessarye The .36 Chapter THe trewe faith bryngeth wyth it naturally a stedfast purpose to liue from hence forth accordyng vnto all the cōmaundemēts of god Chryst lykewise exhorteth euery man rightly to exercise and well to vse the giftes of god Hereof bryngeth he in a parable A certayn man taking a iourney into a straunge countrye Math. 25. called his seruauntes and deliuered vnto thē his goodes And vnto on he gaue fiue talētes to another two and to the third one c. Vpon the same doth the lorde appointe the faythful seruaunt his reward and punysheth the slougish and euil seruaunt The righteousnes of faith cōprehēdeth the feare of god loue of thy neyghbour pacience all vertue Of thys feare Prou. 14. it is wrytten The feare of god is a foūtain of lyfe to auoyde the snares of death Neyghbourly loue doeth first and principalli require that we frendlye and vnfeynedlye for gods sake forgeue all them that euer haue offended vs and again to vndertake as much as lieth in vs to reconcyle al our enemyes Then dooeth charitie require to geue almes to comforte the heuy hearted and to practyse al works of mercy and loke who hath done the good in thi sicknes it is requisite that thou geue them thankes Among benefites this is not the lest whan one moueth and exhorteth another to kepe himselfe frō al filthines As for bodeli thīgs the sycke shoulde dyspatche thē wyth fewe woordes but such as concerne nourtour honesty the fear of god safegard in hym and the homage which is due vnto hym that ought to be done with more deliberacyon For loke what one speaketh at the poynt of death the same goeth deper to the hearte of such as heare it partly because it cannot be thought that a mā on hys death bed beyng in greatest trouble wyl vse ipocrisye or dissemble partly for that whan the soule begynneth to be discharged of the bodi it oft times sheweth some token of the fredome ioy wyth the which it shall euē now forthwith be perfectly endewed Ensample the deare worthy patriarkes in the olde testament before theyr departyng out of thys lyfe sent and called for theyr children and other folkes instructīg and exhortyng them to submitte themselues vnto the law of god and diligently to walke therein How faythfully dyd Mathathias at hys death 1 Mach. ◠speake to his noble sonnes comfortyng them out of gods worde agaynst all theyr enemyes Exhortacyon vnto pacyence The .37 Chapter FInally we can not doe better than wyth gods helpe beeyng pacient in all aduersitie and stedfast
many miseries Agaynst the whych there helpeth nether gold nor syluer nether power nor nobilitie nether policy nor natural wytte To day we are whole sound tomorowe sick to day mery to morow sory to day rich to morowe poore to day honored ▪ to morow despysed to day alyue tomorow dead Moreouer vice cōmenly hath so the vpper hande that none can lyue vpon earth but he must displease eyther god or man or els them both Therefore seeyng thy louing frend is gotten out of the myre and gone out of the sweate bath that thou yet sittest in arte thou sory now that he is releaced vnburdened of so much misery Thou shouldst rather geue thāks and prayse vnto god for it specyally forasmuche as death dooeth vtterly destroye nether bodi nor soule nether honesty nor vertue wherin he that is now departed dyd here exercyse hymselfe in tyme. For loke what good thīg on hath done it shal not be quēched out thorow death but the prayse and commendaciō therof among al such as are good doth rather increase then minish after death The soule departing in true faith passeth strayghte to the ioye of heauen The lest parcell of the bodye doth not vtterly peryshe but the whole body shal at the laste day be called to immortalitie where our frendes shal be a thousande tymes better richer more pleasaunt and more blessed then euer they were vpon earth whan we all shall come to them agayn see them knowe them and haue perpetuall company wyth them and all saynctes After this sort dyd Adam and Eue trust that Abel who was slayne should bee restored agayne vnto them beecause of the sede that was promised A similitude if a great Lorde had called the and thy sonne and promised you much welth good shouldest thou wepe whan thy sonne goeth to hym and thou thy selfe wylte shortly folowe after No verely but thou wouldest order thy matter so that thou mightest be there out of hande Why vnquietest thou thy selfe then so sore for the death of thy sonne or frende The almightie Lorde hath called hym and thee to hys eternall kyngdome to place thee and hym amonge the prynces of heauen Thy sonne passeth hence thorowe the gates of death he shall ryse againe to honour Why vexest thou then thy selfe Why ordrest not thou thy selfe ioyfully to folowe him For thou haste not loste hym but only sent hym afore If it were possible that thy sonne knewe of thy vnmeasurable waylyng and howlyng and could speake vnto thee wythout all doubt he hymselfe would rebuke it and say why will ye vexe your age with vnprofitable yea wyth vnreasonable mournyng Wherfore wil ye blame god his ordinaunce and prouydēce Will ye enuy me the greate honor and ioye that I am promoted vnto Thinke ye it is a thyng to be bewayled and lamented that I am brought out of daunger into safgarde out of misery into welfare and oute of the wycked worlde into the cōpany of angels I wil goe some what nerer vnto you I pray you if it lay in your strēgth and power to sende for me into the tēporal lyfe agayn would ye calme down agayn into the misery of yours With what greate faulte haue I deserued such vnfaithfulnes at youre handes And if ye shoulde not call me agayne why mourne ye then so and lamente Vpō such words we must nedes be ashamed of our vnmeasurable sorow heuynes That we ought thus to iudge of faythfull Chrysten men that are departed we may learne bi the words of Christ who testifieth vnto Martha I am the resurreccion and the lyfe Iohn 1◠He that beleueth on me shal liue although he dye And he that lyueth and beleueth on me shal neuer dye How deare precious Psal 11◠in the sight of the lord is the death of hys saintes Vnderstand that god doth faythfulli take them in to hys proteccyon and hath respect vnto their soules to receaue them into eternall lyfe Nowe sayest thou Alas if I knewe that my wyfe chylde or frende were saued I coulde the better awaye wyth hys death As for a thefe he nede not to be glad whan he is caryed from prison to the galows Thys manne hath been all hys lyfe a chylde of the world he neuer feared God but dyed in synne happly wythout repentaunce and peraduenture from the carte of thys miserye he is yoked in the charet of eternall fyer Answere no man can tel how he behaued hymselfe at hys last ende happly he repented and is pardoned We ought euer to hop the best tyll we haue suffycyent euidences that the man is lost Secondly though his damnacyon were open and manyfeste yet ought a faythfull man to reioyce in the righteousnes of god The rauens muste haue dogges garbage partriches must be sette vpon the borde beefore lordes a murthurer muste be laied vpon a whele It is as mete for Iudas to sitte in hell as for S. Peter to be in heauen Thirdly thou saiest if he had lyued longer he would peraduēture haue amended Whereupon take thys answer he might haue happened assoone to ben worse A prudente mā loketh for no better but feareth the worse in thys blasphemous worlde S. Iohn Chrisostome testyfieth playnly that assoone as God taketh away a mā thorow death the same man from thence forth shoulde neuer haue been better Verely God is to bee praysed and thanked whan he taketh awaye the vngodly For the more a man heapeth vp synne vpon synne the greater punyshmente muste he suffer afterwarde for gode rightuous iustice sake The vngodly synneth euer the longer the more vpō earth but by death doth god plucke him down from hys synnefull lyfe thoughe not spiritually and inwardly yet with exterior members the same must ceasse from synne Therefore to such as are hard hearted and disordered there is nothyng better then to dye the soner ¶ Vvhat profyte the death of frendes bryngeth to suche as are lefte beehynde alyue The .3 Chapter THat the death of the vngodly doeth profyt other men it is easy to perceiue for therby are the wycked vpon earth some what minished and swepte out and other poore wretches faer the better But that the death of the righteous shoulde bryng any commoditye to suche as remayne alyue it soundeth straung in our eares therefore shall it be declared Whan a man endewed wyth excellent gyftes is made an idol Almightie God cannot suffer it For God hymselfe wyll bee he of whom all good thynges vndoutedly must be hoped and loked for and vnto hys dyshonour it serueth if the heart cleane not only vnto hym And blessed is the man that setteth hys loue comforte and hope vpon the Lorde Agayne cursed be the manne as the Prophete sayeth that vpon man doeth put hys trust Now commeth it lightly to pa◠that we set to muche by riche parentes by fayer children honourable frendes and men of good propertyes Therefore god plucketh them away frō vs to draw vs awaye from creatures and that we myght perceaue hys