is dead and I am glad in your behalfe But when he raised him from death then did he weepe because he raised him to the miseries of this life Wherupon S. Augustine in a book which he wrote of the visiting of the sicke sayeth O death most to be desiered O death the end of al miseries that this world bringeth forth O death the end of al euil and the begining of al good 5. To thinke that God doth know and vnderstand al things and therfore seeth vvhat is most necessarie for man For happely if such a man had not them died he might haue bene damned whereas now he is saued Or else by liuing longer he might haue growen worse To which purpose Sap. 4. Sâ—lomon sayeth of a certaine person He was taken out of the world lest malice might haue changed his vnderstanding or imaginations haue deceiued destroied his souleâ— 6. To consider that superfluous sorrow doth hurt thee and nothing benefit thy frend which is dead So we reade that king Dauid wepte bitterly so long as his sonne lâ—y sicke 2. Reg. 12. but so soone as he was dead he ceased to mourne yealding thankes to God began to eate and being asked him why he did so he answered that before the death of his sonne he lamented if happely thereby he might haue obtained his life but being once dead he ceased to mourne acknowledging it was the wil of God to haue it so 7. To call to mind that excessiue sorrow hurteth both thee and thy frend departed because thereby thou canst not haue thy minde free to pray for thy selfe or for him that is dead For this cause the wise man sayeth Ec. 38. Yeald not thy hart to sorrow but driue it far from thee remember the last things forget them not for after death there is no returning and thy sorrow shal not benefit thy freÌ„d departed but therby thou shalt hurt thy selfe 8. Thinke that many haue bene damnned for the inordinate loue which they haue borne to their children their husbandes their wiues kinsfolkes and frendes Then againe considering it is vncertaine whether thy childe or frend might haue bene cause to thee of thy damnation if he had liued thou hast no cause to lament hâ—s death 9. Remember that thy frend departed shaâ— rise againe and that thou shalt see hâ—m Wherupon S. Paulâ— sayeth Be not 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 which haue no hope 1. Thes 4. Ec. 22. And Ecclesiasticus Lament litle for those thâ—t are â—â—parted 10. Consider that thy frend whose death thou bewaylest is perhappes in a place of ioy and then oughtest thou to be gâ—ad because he may pray for thâ—e A remâ—diâ— for thoâ—â— who feare Death ouermuch THere are many that can hardly endure to heare others talke of death and are terrified euen wâ—th the thought thereof Which cometh ether for that they are clogged with many enormious sinnes which they wil not forsake or because they haue litle confidence in the happines of the worlde to come or else by reason they are ouermuch wedded to the pleasures of this life whereof they would not willingly be depriued therfore is the memory of death most grieueous vnto them considering that death wil seperate them from these delightes whether they wil or no. First therfore let vs free our selues from this seruitude of sinne let vs shake of this inordinate loue of the world and then shal we soone be deliuered from this feare of death yea we shal willingly desire it ioyfully embrace it A good remedie also againâ—t the feare of death is often to thinke and meditate vpon death For contraries are expelled by contraries and the more oftner we set death before our eies the more easily and the sooner doe we remoue al such occasions as may make it fearful to our apprehension S. Auâ—ustine sayeth That an euil death neuer followeth a good life Labour therfore to dye to thy selfe and the world and to liue to God and death wil neuâ—r be fearful vnto thee A certaine learned Father writeth that the diuel laboureth al that he can to keepe from our mindes the remembrance of death thereby to make vs carelesse how we liue and after at the hower of our deathes to deceiue vs. Therfore ought we euer to set death before our eies and so carefully and vertuously to spend our liues to the honor of God that when death shal approach our ghostly enimie may haue no power ouer vs. An other sayeth Euen as he that wil drawe a toothe out of his head doth first cause the flesh to be loosened round about it and after to be stirred and moued vntil with two fingers it may easily be pulled out for if he should attempt at one pull with the instrument to drawe it out he must needes put him selfe to exceeding paine so they who doe often meditate on death doe neuer finde it so terrible vnto them as they who neuer thinke thereon vntil it assault them A certaine Doctor sayeth As Princes pallaces or other weightie affaires are not begun and finished at once so death being a thing which doth most concerne vs which once we must vndergoe can neuer be wel finished except by often meditation thereof we make it familiar vnto vs. There are two thinges of importance one to die and that is common to al men an other to die wel and that proper to few and only to such as feare God and hould them selues but bannished men whilst they liue in this world and continually haue the memorie of death fixed before their eies 1. Cor. 7. S. Paule counceâ—leth that those that haue wiues should liue is if they had no wiues and those that are conuersant in the affaires of this world should cary them selues as men exempted from thâ— world As if he should say that we ought nâ—t to giue our selues to the world and least that we should be addictâ—d to it that we should often meditate on the hower of death For this day we line and to morowe hapily we may die this lay spend our time in the vanities of the world and to morowe in our graue without any further memorie of vs. Death should be fearful only to Infidels and to such as care not to liue in the feare of God and those be such as neuer would heare that they must die but say that to thinke on death maketh men fooles and subiect to melanchâ—ly These men neuer remember how they contradict God Ac. 7. saying Remember thy laâ—â—en's emongst which death is one where note how necessary that remembrance is vnto vs when our Sauiour addeth and thou shalt not sinne Hence it followeth that by remembring death men be admonished to refraine from sinne and therein no fooles but men endued with the truest wisdome yea he that wil not indure to thinke on death sheweth him selfe therin most fâ—olishe forsaking God and receiuing the diuel refusing heauen and imbracing the earth he â—â—eth from vertue and folâ—â—weth â—iâ—e
for these benefits thou shouldest say Hallowed be thy name Call to minde that I haue made him the seruant of men to the intent I might make thee à Queene of heauen and that by a longinge and feruent desier to be with me in my glorie thou mightest say Thy kingdome come Remember that for thy sake he humbled him selfe and that he became obedient euen to the death of the Crosse that thou mightest resigne thy selfe vnto me and say Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Thou canst noâ— be ignorant that I gaue my SoÌ„ne to eate the bread of sorow that thou mightest be nourished with the sweete tastinge bread of the worde of God And that for thy sake I haue left him in the moste B. Sacrament that thou mightest be there fed with his flesh and as it were made dronke with his blood and finally become a daylie guest at my Table and say Giue vs this day our daylie bread How thinkest thou then I could permit thee to sitt at my Table if I were offended and displeased with thee or if I did not loue thee as my dearly beloued daughter Thou canst not be ignorant that I haue laied on the showlders of my only Sonne al thy sinnes and iniquities that euer thou hast committed and that I haue accepted his paines as a ful satisfaction and also haue left vnto thee his most pretious blood that therwith thou migtest pay thy vttermost dett and say Forgiue vs our trespasses Which blood thou receiuest so often as thou receiuest my Sonne in the B. Sacrament By reason whereof I looke not vpon thy sinnes for the partialitie of my loue obscureth thy defectes Nether doe I behould in thee that which is thine but that which is myne not with the eie of a strict iudge but of a most louinge and kinde Father For if I should seuerely looke into thy sinnes to what end had I created thee at the begining Consideringe also that I haue made thee a reasonable creature not vnreasonable a Christian not an Infidel a Catholike not an Heretike and for that cause doe I feede thee with this swete and heauenlie Manna and not with the sower Onyons and Garlike of Egipt Thou canst not beignerant tâ—at I suffered my only beloued Sonne to be nayled to the Crosse for the purginge of thy sinnes And that I would haue him forgiue his persecutors that depriued him of al he had and lastly of his life thereby to leaue an example vnto thee that thou mightest likewise pardon and forgiue thyne enimies and say As vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs. For if I would pardon and forgiue those cruel enimies that in my owne sight most barbarouslie crucified my only Sonne at the which sight the earth was amazed and trembled the Sunne was obscured the rockes did cleaue and rent in sunder the monuments opened the dead beinge astonished arose againe if I say I haue pardoned such haynoâ—â— offenders wil I not pardon thee that louest me and desierest to be myne I that haue forgiuen giuen life vnto my enimies is it likely that I wil suffer myne owne daughter to perishe When thou didest refuse and denie to be myne euen then was I pleased that my only Sonne should die for thy redemption and wil I now thinkest thou be vnmindful of thee when most willingly thou doest offer thy selfe vnto me If I haue bin so bountiful and merciful to the murderers of my SoÌ„ne wil I be so seuere to thee that so oft receiuest him into thy hart How canst thou thinke it my daughter my delight When as thou only followedst after wordly vanities and turnedst a way thy face from my sighte I yet loued thee expected thee bare patiently with thee protected thee from fallinge into great perilles and dangers and euermore requited thee with good for euil wil I now when thou resignest thy selfe wholie vnto me renouncest the worlde detestest al sinne art ready rather to die then once to offende me and with such seruent desire inuitest me to rest in the harbour of thy hart wil I forget thee thinkest thou Wil I turne away from thee and render euil for good vnto thee Is it vnknowen vnto thee that I suffered my B. Sonne to faste fortie dayes and fortye nightes in the desert to be conuersant amongst wilde beastes and there to be tempted of Sathan Al which I haue done to this end that thou mightst not be ouercome by any wicked suggestions but euer mayest say And lead vs not into temtation Is it vnknowen vnto thee that to ease and disbarthen thee of al incumbrances I heaped and burthened my owne Sonne with al maner of afflictions How then canst thou thinke that I seeke thy hurte or rather not thinke that I wholie seeke thy good For if I wished thee ill then would I permitt thee to doe as offenders doe then would I neuer haue so louinglie bestowed my only Sonne vpon thee Thou canst not therefore thinke that I wishe thee hurte if thou doe but remember this so great a bountie If thou remember what is past thou shalt easily vnderstand how wel I haue wished thee that would haue my only beloued Sonne to die on the Crosse for thy redemption If thou wilt consider what is to come thinke that I haue prepared for thee the kingdome of heauen where my selfe and all my Saintes in blisse doe with ioy and exultation expect thy cominge Is not this a signe of my loue and not of my indignation But if thou respect only that which is present then doe but remember that thou art fed with the flesh and blood of myne only Sonne Now then bethinke thy selfe O soule shake of al these scruples and lay aside al this inordinate feare and euen as I offer my selfe vnto thee like a most louinge Father so doe thou present thy selfe before me as it beseemeth a louinge daughter Behould I daylie make thee as it were a cleare shininge heauen that so I may inhabit the secret corners of thy hart whether I resorte that I may purifie thee and replenishe thee with peace and with al kinde of happines Behould also thy Sauiour IESVS my Sonne euer readie in al thy needes who cometh to giue thee life and not to take it from thâ—â— whose loue to thee is such that to deliuer thee from death he would die him selfe receiue thou him therefore with a glad and ioyful desire Behould he cometh to thee that he may raigne in thy hart if therefore he be with thee who shal be against thee If he rule and guide thee what can be wantinge vnto thee I am no tirant o Daughter nether deale I like a tirant with thee I am thy Lorde ful of al mercie and gentlenes and with a hart replenished with al Fatherly loue I come to meete and imbrace thee euen as the Father receiued the prodigal childe when his hart was moued with al tendernes of affection towardes him Thou knowest o Daughter my will and
Luc. 2. and the breath of dumbe beastes to keepe him warme 6. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Who suffered The verie Sonne of God What suffered he Innumerable stripes vnspeakable reproaches incredible torments For whom did he suffer them For me knowinge how vngrateful I would be in time to come By whom did he suffer By the most abiect and cruel wretches that euer liued Why did he suffer Therby to purchase my redemption and saluation 7. Crucified For my sake was he crucified And who was he that was crucified The only SoÌ„ne of God With whom was he crucified In the midest betwene two theeues Where was he crucified Vpon the mount Caluarie a most infamous and loathsome place At what time of the yeare When the whole world should repaire to Hierusalem In what maner was he crucified Naked and set as is seemed to be scorned of al men O most doleful and lamentable spectacle 8. Dead He died thoroughe thirste that he mighte as it were make vs drunke with his blood Lost hâ—s owne life to ransome ours euen he that giues life vnto al men O my soule what thinkest thou what canst thou answere hereunto 9. And buried For my sake his most pretious body became a dead coarse O matter of amazement And fortie howerâ— remayned in the Sepulcher A thinge neuer enough admired 10. He descended into hel For me he descended into hel that thereby he mighte deliuer me from the bitter torments of hel How oft alas had I fallen headlong thither if he had not of his great mercie houlden me back How often hath he with his omnipotent hand pulled me out from thence as it were by violence 11. The third day he rose againe from the dead For me the third day he arose from death conuersing with those few that were his faithful frendes comforting them and eatinge amongst them and shewinge vnto them his most sacred body neuer remembring the iniuries done vnto him finally cherishing and cheeringe them by al meanes possible he him selfe hauing no necessitie of their indeuours 12. He ascended into heauen For my saluation he ascended into heauen there to receiue for me the possession of Paradise where being accompanied with the whole fellowship of heauen he expecteth me with an incredible desire that there deuoide of al feare I freely may enioy the presence of the holie Trinitie conuerse and liue with the most noble and blessed spirites â—nd for euer abound with al ioy peace iubilie And for this cause hath he created vs and for this would he be present for vs wretched sinners in the most B. Sacrament 13. Sitteth at the right hand of God the Father For vs and our saluation he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father hauing vs continually in his memorie A most sweet memorie a most holie memorie a memorie ful of all consolation euer without intermission speaking to his Father for vs. And what doth he obtaine Peace râ—coÌ„ciliaâ—ion remission of our offences In our behalfe he sheweth daylie his woundes to his eternal Father offering vp his sâ—cred death life and passion The mother sheweth to â—ir Sonne to obtaine mercie for vs the breast where with she gaue him sucke And the Sonne againe sheweth to his Father his woundâ—s and scarres which he suffered for vs. What can the Sonne denie to such a Mother Or what can the Father denie to such â— Sonne 14. From thence shal he come to iudge the quiâ—k and the dead For vs and for our greater glorie he shal come most glorious at the day of iudgment to praise and extoll vs in the presence of the whole worlde and in great honor and triumphe to carrie vs glorified to raigne with him in his kingdome thereby to exalt vs who here haue bin humbled there to glorifie vs who here haue contemned glorie 15. I beleeue in the Holie Ghoste For vs and for our saluation he sent downe the Holie Ghoste the Spirit of loue the Spirit of peace the Spirit of deuotion and of al sweetnes and consolation that we might alwayes loue him alwayes reioyce with him alwayes be linked and vnited with him in a most sweete bond of loue and charitie alwayes be holie like as the children of a most holie Father that our soules being replenished with the Holie Ghoste we may lead our liues in al sanctitie and holines and in the end enioying the company of the glorious Angels may singe incessantly Holie Holie â—olie 16. The Holie Catholike Church For vs and as euerie one may say for me and my saluation he first planted the Holie Catholike Church which as a most louing mother might weane me with the sweete milke of the worde of God and after might feede me with hir holie Sacraments and sometimes by one meanes sometimes by an other might moue and stirre me vp to praise loue and serue him that in the end for euer I might liue and raigne with him 17. The communion of Saintes For my sake hath he suffered his blessed Saintes and Martyrs to be wearied mortified and afflicted with torments that he might make me partaker of their singular meritts and that I might offer them vp as myne owne vnto the eternal Father And not only the meritts of al the holie Saintes but euen his owne meritts who is the holie of al holies to present them to his heauenly Father as myne owne patrimony and inheritance 18. The forgiuenes of sinnes For my sake amongst other thinges he first instituted the Sacrament of Pennance that thereby I might euer haue in store a medecine to purge me from al filthe of sinne and so to perseuer and continue euer in his grace And to this end he came into the worlde liued died and was buried descended rose againe and ascended into heauen 19. The resurrection of the flesh For me and for my greater glorie he will raise at the latter day my flesh that euen as with it I haue serued God so likewise with the same I may enioy the kingdome of heauen Thrice happie be they that so can chastice their flesh in this world that it may for euer after raigne with him in glorie Matt. 22. 2. If our Lorde reproued those who being inuited yet refused to come to the mariage what wil he doe to such who once hauing tasted the delightes of this heauenly banquet doe after thoroughe slouth or necligence absent them selues from it 3. By how much the gift of some noble Prince bestowed on a priuate person is of the more price and estimation by so much the greater is the offence and iniurie if such a gift be ether had in litle regard or any way contemned 4. If kinge Assuerus refused to accept hir for his wife who at his sendinge neclected to come vnto his table and maryinge with an other commanded forth with al the iewels and ritch ornaments to be taken from the first and in his sighte to be brought and deliuered to the second what wil God doe vnto him that
euil woman is not at the first peruerted but by degrees is corrupted and becometh naught so by venial sinnes as by steppes and degrees we fall in the end into the greatest euils And againe euen as a garment is not at the first worne olde but is defaced and consumed in tracte of time and as houses decay not and fall downe at once but growe ruinous and olde by continuance so fareth it with men in the exercise of a spritual life if they be not careful of venial sinnes Wherein the olde prouerbe is rightlie verified that if we neglect the nayle we soone lose the shooe losinge the shooe the horse faileth and the horse once failing the horseman perisheth Further he sayeth that no sinne whatsoeuer can be so smale but the contempt thereof is accompanied with great danger Nether ought we to esteeme that thing smale which hath his reference to so highe and end as is the diuine loue of almightie God Whereunto may be compared the saying of our Lord in the gospel He that is faithful in litle thinges Luc. 11. is also faithful in much Similitudes for this purpose EVen as a good childe a louing wife and a faithful seruant wil carefully fore see that in the least degree whatsoeuer they offend not their father husband or maister so ought we most diligently and carefully to prouide that by no meanes whatsoeuer we offend our Lord God Nether to thinke our selues excused by the smalnes of our sinne but to consider the commandement of God which forbiddeth vs to sinne and to remember his greatnes and power who at the latter day of iudgment wil require of vs an exact account of euery idle worde S. Gertrudes sayinge concerning venial sinne OVr Lord God vpon a time reuealed vnto hir that there were two seueral kindes of venial sinnes The one certaine defects which vnaduisedly are committed euen by the most deuoutest persons And these God permiteth vs to fall into that thereby we may haue cause to humble our selues and not to growe proude of any worke of our owne but to labour to perfection by vertuous exercises The other kinde of venial sinnes are such which as thinges of smale account are not regarded and which is worse are often defended as if they were no sinnes at al and thorough such defectes as these doth a man endanger his saluation and he that is subiect vnto them doth profit litlâ— in vertu That scrupulous persons may receiue consolation herein but those of large consciences cause of feare SOme persons are so scrupulous that whatsoeuer they doe they imagin they commit a sinne in doing it and are as much perplexed in a venial sinne as if they had offended mortally their comfort may be that God permitteth such defectes in them for their further good and to teach them humilitie Others there be who make no account of venial sinnes and such men may iustly feare their owne estates A question vvhether a man may liue in this vvorld and commit no venial sinne DVrandus answereth to this question wel and with a good distinction First he saieth that there be certaine venial sinnes which are soddainly and without aduisement committed that is thorough inconsideration ignorance frailtie or such like so that a man neuer obserueth when he falleth into them as when a man eateth or drinketh some litle more then is conâ—enient laugheth speaketh ouer liberally is distracted in prayer whispereth or iestingly telleth some vntruthes without the which in some kinde no man liueth from whence that saying of scripture is taken Seauen times in the day the iust man falleth Other venial sinnes saith he there are which are wilfully committed as when a man wittingly and willingly telleth a lye and from these sinnes a man is especially bound euer to refraine which easily he may doe These be such sinnes which bring with them those mischiefes whereof before we haue sundrie times made mention Whether after a venial sinne be forgiuen the punishment be also remitted IT is answered that it is not except the contrition be so great that thereby the punishment due to the same be also taken away as it was in Marie Magdalen Venial sinnes are taken away by these meanes following 1. FIrst by Contrition 2. By Confession 3. By receiuing the B. Sacrament 4. By saying the Confiteor and Miserere 5. By deuout taking of Holy water 6. By saying the Pater noster 7. By the Bishops benediction 8. By hearing of Masse deuoutly 9. By examining our consciences 10. By entring into consecrated Churches according to Dionysâ—us the Carthusian 11 By knocking our breast sayinge God be merciful vnto me a sinner 12. By exercising the workes of mercie Remedies for auoiding of venial sinnes 1. FIrst in the morning to resolue with our selues that râ—â—â—er we wil die then willingly to commit one venial sinne 2. To auoid al accasions busines and conuersations that may minister matter whereby we may sinne 3. Presently to be sorâ—â— if we fail into venial sinne to craue pardon of God and to purpose an amendment 4. To examin our conscience at night before we goe to rest and sometimes to take some voluntarie penance 5. Often to commend our selues vnto God and to frequent the holie Sacraments REMEDIES TO COMFORT those vvhich are afflicted and sorrovvful for the death of their frendes out of S. Antonynus 1. FIrst we must consider that it pleaseth God to haue it so and then why should we resist his blessed wil Why doe we say daylie Thy vvil be done and yet not conforme our selues vnto his wil For which cause the Master of the Sentences sayeth Let that thing please men which pleaseth God and therfore let it please men because it pleaseth God 2. To remember that al thinges created are the creatures of God and therfore we ought not to grieue if God take from vs that thinge which he hath lent vs. For S. Hierom sayeth He taketh away nothing of thine who hath but lent thee that which is his owne And S. Augustine sayeth He that loueth God truly is neuer grieued for the death of any one wherupon blessed Iob sayed at the death of his children Our Lord gaue me them and our Lord hath taken them away as it hath pleased our Lord so be it done the name of our Lord be blessed 3. Consider that it is ordayned by God that al men of what degree or condition soeuer shal once dye And if God haue not spared his only deare Sonne as S. Bernard noteth why should we looke that he should spare others For which cause S. Ambrose sayeth What can be more absurde then to lament for a thing that is common to al men 4. Remember that death doth free vs from many miseries Cap. 6. Wherupon Ecclesiastes sayth Al the dayes of man are ful of miseries and sorrowes nether by night findeth he rest For this cause our Sauiour Christ reioyced in the death of Lazarus saying to his disciples Iohn 11. Lazarus our frend
â—â—nounceth eternal happines and sekâ—th tâ—mporal delightes And when he might both in this world and the next finde the ioyes of Paradise liuing alwayes in the grace of God which yeldeth peace contentment and delight he had rather here in this world receiue an earnest peny of hell As the Poet sayeth To noble mindes death is no worse Then fight from prison vile Petrarcha To abiect mindes it bringes more feare Then prison or exele It is the extremest folly that that may be to deceiue and perswade our selues as if we should neuer die which they doe that wil neuer thinke on death It is true wisdome therfore euer to haue it in our minde that we may alwayes be exercised in some good worke so long as we liue in this world and not to deferre to doe wel vntil the last hower of our life much like the foolish virgins who wanting oyle in their lampes that is good workes were shut out from the wedding Wherupon a certaine writer sayeth Reforme thy life whilst thou hast time Deferre no day to mend For death doth bring to weale or woe That neuer shal haue end What we ought to doe daylie to the end we may not feare death TO call hartely vpon God that it wil please him to send vs his grace to remember death and to consider amongst other thinges foure or fiue principal anguishes where with sinners are most afflicted at the hower of their death 1. The first is that then they must leaue and forsake al worldly delightes and that those thinges which most inordinatly they loued before at the hower of death wil cause their greatest sorrowe euen as is hapned to Absalon who hauing nothing which he more esteemed then his faire haire was brought by the same to his final destruction 2. The remorce of conscience 3. The infernal diuels accusing them 4. The good Angels forsaking them 5. The dreadful Iudge all in wroath whom easily before they might haue made their frend especially by frequenting the holy Sacraments by almes deedes and the like Then when we haue acknowledged how worthely we haue deserued these most grieueous punishments to craue the assistance of Gods holy grace that truly we may amend the imperfections of our liues in dying to the world the flesh the diuel all sinne and our owne willes and to liue only to God so that at the hower of death being freed from these terrors we may finde consolations in the mercies of Christ A remedie for those that feare not death but the paines of death THere be further some persons that liue in the feare of God who feare not death but the griefes and paines of death which the ghostly enimie putteth into their mindes whereby the remembrance thereof becometh most dreadful vnto them This feare ariseth other from melanchâ—ly 〈◊〉 else from a certaine distrust which we haue in God â—s if he were not faithful louing ful â—f mercie and being our Father yet that he wil lay amoâ—◠〈◊〉 burtâ—â—n vpon vs then we are able to bearâ— and so suffer him selfe to â—e surmâ—unted in sweetnes loue and affection euen by our earthly parents For this cause we ought wholy to resigne our selues into the handes of God and to put our confidence in him that he wil so temper the paines of death that we may be wel able patiently to endure them And if they chance to be more griueous that he wil strengthen and asist vs with so much the greater aide For such is the merciful nature of God that the 〈◊〉 he seeth the danger of man to be the readier he is to send his asistence and the more violent he findeth our ghostly enimie to afflict vs the nerer he is with his presence to giue vs comfort and consolation Nether doth the holy Scripture tel vs any one thing more often then of the exceeding care and Fatherly prouidence of God twardes his children and then especially when he seeth them thorough their distresses to stand most in need of his helpe Doe but behould with what cruel torments and exquisite punishments he suffered his B. Martyrs to be tried in this world in which notwithstanding they peâ—seuered most câ—nstantly and cheerfully embraced their cruel deathes Consider how many good men thou seest to die daylie and what comfort and consolation God sâ—ndeth them in their agonies which the sâ—me merciful Lord wil noâ— dâ—ny thee at they death if thou put thy confidâ—nce in him Remembâ—r that hytherto God neuer layed a heauâ—er burthen vpon thee then he gaue thee strength and abilitie to beare Yea thou hâ—st vndergone some burthens which thou thoughtest thy selfe wholy vnable to haue indured and thinkest thou that he wil forsake thee in thy agonies of death It is good to cal to remembrance some sâ—n ences of holy Scripture especially at such time as these feares shal assault thy weake minde Psal 30. As to say O Lord I haue put my trust in thee let me neuer be confounded If God be for vs who can be against â—s Rom. 7. Who hath put his confidence in God and was euer confounded and such like And if our Sauiour IESVS haue already once died for thee and were willing againe to die for thy sinne if neede should so require how then canst thou imagin that he wil forsake thee in thy last agonies And if with such signes of his loue he hath so often giuen him selfe vnto thee in the B. Sacrament how can he forsake thee when thou shalt most of al neede his asistance Besides he sayeth him selfe by his Prophet Esay Esay 49. That sooner the mother shal forget hir owne tender babe then he wil forget or be vnmindful of vs thereby to declare that his loue is greater then the loue of any tender mother If therfore a mother shew so great loue to hir beloued sonne what wil God doe towardes vs whom he esteemeth as his dearest children S. Iohn sayeth when our Sauiour IESVS Christ had loued his in this life Io. 13. he loued them vnto the end for that is the propertie of true and perfect loue And if in that instant when he suffered al his paines and torments on the crosse he was mindful not only of his B. mother and his beloued disciple S. Iohn but of those his enimies also who spoiled him of his fame his goodes and his most pretious life how then wil he forget or be vnmindful of those at their â—â—aths who adict themselues to his holie seruice Let vs then say with S. Augustine O Lord in this world â—urnâ— me or rent me in peeces if it should â—o please thee so that in the next world thou deale mercifully with me Thy blessed wil 〈◊〉 Lord be done If at our deathes we confidently commend our soules into the handes of God why should we be more fearful to commit it our bodies If daylie we say Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen that is both in soule and body the wil