thys thynges that are to be hoped that is to saye promysed and a certenâ—e and euyden knowelege of those thynges thaâ— doo not appeare wyth that holy 〈◊〉 Patriarche Abraham thou must beleue vnder hope agaynste hope thy faythe and hope muste nedes resyste and set them selfes agaynste all those thynges whych euer blinde reason dothe Imagyne or that mooste sutle and craftye enemye doo brynge to remembauns and worke agaynste the wherfore thou muste thoroulye learne what cuâ—â—tme God dothe kepe in sauynge hys whome he wyll lyfte vp into heauen hym he bryngethe downe fyrste vnto Hell Whome he wyll â—uycken hym dothe he fyrste kyll vpon whome he wyll exercyse hys excedynge Mercye hym wyll he fyrst trye and make asthoughe he woulde dampne hym And thys is that vnfained purgatory and that true purgyng fyre into the which God castethe hys Seruauntes and prouethe them as Golde in the fyre wherefore when thou fealeste none other thynge then moste presente deathe when God â—emeth to be mooste angry wyth the to be gone awaye moost furdeste from the and to haue forsaken the vtterlye yea when he semethe that he hathe cast â— the awaye and wyll condemne the euen then thynke thou mooste certenly that he is mooste nyhhe vnto the that he wyl defende the and delyuer the yea that he then moste entyerly loueth the and carethe moost of all for the for when he doth layâ— afflyction and trouble vpoÌ„ the thâ— dothe he remember hys mercye asâ— the Prophete saythe He is not angry for euer as the father hath pytye of hys sonnes so hath the Lordâ— compassion of them that feare hiâ— for he knowethe our makynge and remembreth that we are but dusteâ— The mercy of the Lorde endureth euer and euer The Lorde is a tender fauorer and mercyfull he is longe sufferynge and full of compassyon Wherfore spare the eyes of thy senses caste away the iudgemente of reason and submyt yelde gyue ouer and commende thy selfe wholly to Chryste and take it to good worth howe so euer he handleth the esteme not deathe and the dredefnlnes and sorowes therof after the iudgemente of the eyes senles or reason but after the worde of God Dauid say the precyons is the deathe of Sayntes in the syghte of the Lorde Agayne Blessed are the ded whych dye in the LORDE Chryste also saythe he that beleueth in me shall not taste â—eathe Therfore yf any thynges come to remembraunce whyche go aboute to turne the from Chryste and to â—aste the into desperation cast them all out of thy minde cleue to the lyuely worde of God wyth tothe and nayle haue thy medytation in that and euer be whettynge of that in thy mynde For thou shalte neuer by the perspycacyte and quyckenis of thy reason perceyue howe it maye be possyble that by Deathe thou shouldeste goo vnto the true lyfe howe when thou gyueste vp the Ghoste thou shouldest departe vnto a better state howe thy soule shoulde be kepte in the Lorde and reaste vnto the laste daye agayne howe thy body beynge rotten consumed and eaten of wormes maye ryse agayne at the laste Iudgemente and come forthe in a newe godly forme shape or fashon Thys can not reason comprehende Fayth alone is able to do it Therfore call to thy remembraunce contynually the artycles of thy faythe and boulte oute euerye parcell of them dylygently and weyghe them earnestly in thy harte ¶ Howe he is to be spoken vnto whyche is redy to gyue vp the Ghoste O Brother in Chryst now loke that thou fyghteste a good fyghte loke that thou abydeste in the faythe valeauntly and stedfastly Infyxe and depely engraue in thy breste the Promyses of Chryste thy redemer I am the resurrection and lyfe sayth Christ. He that beleuethe in me shall lyue and neuer dye Chryste toke the nature of man vpon hym sufferynge many iniuryes and wronges and when he dyed he offred hym selfe a sacryfyce for our sinnes on y â— altare of the Crosse he wyth hys holye bloudthorowlye and in all poyntes clensed the synnes of al mankynde thys Chryste wyll not forsake the thys Christ wil not leaue y â— socourles this Christ careth for the Christ saueth the defeÌ„deth the so that no yll or misery shall chauns vnto the the foundatioÌ„ of God standeth sure hauing this seale THE LORDE KNOVVETH VVHYCHE ARE HYS Christe saythe my shepe heare my voyce I know theÌ„ and thei folow me I giue theÌ„ euer lastynge lyfe neyther shall they peryshe for euer nor yet shall any man plucke theÌ„ out of my hande my father whych gaue theÌ„ to me is greater then al noman can plucke theÌ„ out of my fathers hande I and my father am one Wherfore o brother in Christ coÌ„mende thy soule to God the father which loueth y â— so derely crye with Christ thy brother when he honge on the crosse o father into thy handes I commende my spirit God the Father of all mercye moughte lede the into euerlastynge lyfe and saue the vnto that most ioyefull resurrection of the last iudgement AMEN Virescit vulnera virtus A prayer to be sayde of the syckman beynge in perell of deathe O Most mercyfâ—ll God o father of al mercy the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ be mercyful to me a synuer haue pytie on me and quyckely helpe me poore wretche for thy mooste bytter and moost precious passion and deathe of Iesus Chryste thy onely begoten sonne and oure onely redemer and sauyoure Amen Entre not into Iudgemente wyth thy seruaunte o Lorde handle me not accordynge to my deserues and merites neyther rewarde me after myne iniquytie but for thyne infynite and vnmesurable bounte and excedyng great mercy receyue me I miserable and weake creature am in thy hande I am thy bonde seruaunte and thy debter O most gentle God o moste fauorable Father forsake me not cast me not away pore wretche that I am I am thyn wyth al that euer I can make Noman is able to confirme me noman is able to delyuer me nomaÌ„ is able to helpe me but y â— alone Thou art the true helper in aduersite yâ—are the moste sure present coÌ„fort iu al necessite y â— alone art our helpe our buluarke our fortresse our most mighty stronly defence fence towre y â— o god art our refuge thou art our strenght thou art our helper in al our tribulatioÌ„s In the o Lord do I trust let me not be coÌ„fouÌ„ded let me neuer be put to shame let me not be deceyued of my hope but preserue me for thyn righteousnes Bow down thin eare vnto me make hast to deliuer me Be my defeÌ„der o god my strong holde that thou maist saue me for thou art my strength my refuge yea y â— arte my god my destenies ar in thy haÌ„des LighteÌ„ thy couÌ„tenauÌ„s vpoÌ„ thy seruauÌ„t saue me for thy mercyes sake o Lorde And forasmuche o swete Father
The solace OF THE SOVLE AGAYNST the bytter stormes of sycknes and deathe greatly encouragynge the faythfull paciently to suffer the good pleasure of God in all kynde of aduersite newly set forth in Englysshe by Thomas Becon Prouerbi iii. Refuse not the chastenynge of God nether grudge thou when he correcteeh the. Anno. M.D.XLVIII TO THE REDER VERE notable is thys saiyng of our LORD and sauiour Iesu Christ he that continueth vnto the ende shal be safe for it declareth vnto vs that thoughe the most and greatest parte of oure lyfe semeth to be spente bothe faythfully and godly yet yf we perseuer not in thaâ— fayth and godlynes euen vnto the last breath but let slyppe our holde that we haue hadde heretofore of fayth and godly conuersatyon in Christ Iesu all the laboures paynes and trauayles that we haue susteyned in the former parte of our lyfe are frustrate and vayne For noman that putteth hys hande to the Ploughe and loketh backe is mete vnto the kyngdome of God And it is wrytten in the ReuelatioÌ„ of saint Iohn Be faithful vnto the â—eath aud I shal gyue the y â— crown of lyfe the crowne of lyfe is promâ—sed But to whome verely to those that be faythfull euen vnto deathe as saynte Paule sayth Noman is crowned excepte he stryueth laufully to stryue laufully is not to play the cowarde in the battell of Christ our captaine to giue place to our aduersaryes but at all tymes valeauntly to fyghte agaynt them with the stronge and myghty shylde of faith and so to contynue euen vnto the ende And albeit thys conflycte betwene the faythfull Christyanes and ther enemyes be at all tymes ieoperdous and full of peryl yet in in the tyme of syckenes and when deathe begynneth to drawe nyghe it is most daungerous In healthe and prosperite Satans assaultes seme to be but tryfles and thynges of daliauns but in aduersite trouble sycknes and death they appere moost vehement greuous terrible and not able to be resysted at whych tyme yf we gyue place we are vndone yf we manfully resist the victory is oures We muste therefore godly reder agaynst thys so perillous tyme of sycknes and death so furnyshe our selfes vnto thys battayll that we be not put to flyghte euer remembrynge that oure stryfe and fyghting is not against bloud and fleshe but agaynste Rulers agaynst powers against the lordes of the worlde the Gouernours of the darkenes of thys worlde agaynst spiretuall subtilities or wylynesses in heueÌ„ly thynges I meane Satan with all his infernall army and deuellysh warryours And forasmuche as our pryncipal conflycte and chefe battel is in y â— tyme of sycknes paynes of death and seyng we haue then most nede of consolation and comforte that we be not ouercome nor subdued of our enemyes but know how we shal both take the crosse of Christ appere it to y â— fleshe neuer so painful put our aduersaries to flight so continue faithful to the ende I haue traÌ„slated this lytel treatise folowing wherin y â— shalâ— finde most swet preseÌ„t coÌ„fort both for thy selfe other an armoures or wepens to defende thy selfe agaynst all thyn enemies that not they ouer the but thou ouer them mayst full gloriously triumphe get the victori through Iesus christ our graÌ„dâ— captayne this lytyl worke I wyshâ— to be in the haÌ„des of al the faithful at all tymes but specially in y e time of ther sycknes y â— thei might learnâ— vnfainedly to reioyse in tribulatioÌ„ and valeaÌ„tly to striue agaynste thâ— enemies the slesh the world y â— diuiâ— hell syn death and desperatioÌ„ Yeaâ— I wishe y â— al the faithful in the timâ— of ther sicknes might haue this trâ—atyse red vnto theÌ„ ether of ther cuâ—rates or of some other faithful christians so shuld thei wtout al doubt finâ—e exceding great coÌ„forte paciently thankfully beare the crosse that god laieth vpoÌ„ theÌ„ with glad hartes wyshe wyth S. Paule to be losoned froÌ„ this wretched body and to be with Christ in glory Farewel good Reder pray that the Gospel of our health whych is the myghty power of god vnto saluatioÌ„ for euery one that beleueth may haue free passage emonge vs vnto the vtter subuersioÌ„ of Antichrist his kingdom Pray also that we may so lede our lyfes in al thinges coÌ„formable to the wyl of god that through our godly maners Christen coÌ„uersation we may garnyshe beautifye the doctrine of our sauiour Lord Iesu Christ to whome wyth the father and the holy ghost be al glory prayse and honour worldes wythout ende AMEN THE SOLACE OF THE SOVLE THOV SHALTE Euer be at this pointe o thou Christiane which art sycke and dyseased faithfulli to beleue that thy punyshement trouble cometh not vnto the by chauns or fortune but by the appoyntmente councell and sufferauns of God What soeâ—er syckenes calamyte or myscry chaunchethe to the godly all that come to passe at the appoyntmente wyll pleasure of God For in hym we lyue moue and haue our beyng He hath made vs and not we oure selfes Nether shalte thou doubte but that of a ryghte good and very fatherly mynde he sendeth the what so euer dysease thou hast not to destroy the but to call the vnto repeÌ„tauns and to exercyse proue trye and store vp thy fayth For afflyctions are the sure sygnes vndoubted tokeÌ„s of Gods high mercy and syngulare good wyll WhoÌ„ he loueth hym he correcteh sayth SalomoÌ„ He scourgeth euery sonne that he receyueth that thy moste tender heauenly father whyche so derely loueth the accordiÌ„g to his singulare good appointmeÌ„te of an ernest bent good wyll towarde the wyth thys thy aduersyte euen as it were wyth bondes doth plucke backe refrayne and mortifye thy olde man that y â— mayst crucyfye wyth Christe the gladlier more cherfully thi body offer it as a sacryfice thys thy diâ—ease therfore wherwith thou art vexed is a fatherly chastysemente layde vpon the not that thou shuldest be distroied but that thou shuldest be amended quickened made a new man Paraduenture God the the father seeth that thy olde Adam is fearse stobborne froward vnruly take his pleasure liueth more licenciously theÌ„ becometh him foloweth hys awn carnal affectes can kepe hym selfe in no good order therfore doth he cast thys as an halter vpon hym snarle hym wyth thys fetters and chenes spearethe hym in thys prison dengden ouercometh hym with thys punyshment that he may brydle him knocke him downe and kepe him vnder awe that he cast in to perell put in extreme ieoperdye thy most noble and precious soule fleshe and bloude reygne and beare more rule in the thaÌ„ the spirit here is god present with thy spirit helpeth her stryuing against the fearse vnrulâ— and rebellious flesh that she maye ouercome subdue and treade vnder foote the fleshe Yf that were in good health and
is most swet most acceptable and most pleasauÌ„t And although it be so that our oldâ— Adam treÌ„bleth at it excheweth and abhorreth it yet the inward man iâ— redy and wylling to suffer it for asmuche as he perceyueth knoweth that by it he is delyuered frome all fylthines of syn vice wretchednes and departethe vnto euerlastynge ioyes ¶ How they are to be comforted whyche are in parell of death THE best God and thy most louing father hauyng pytie on the o Brother calleth the from thys most wretched miserable lyfe wyllyng to remoue the vnto him and to cary the into y â— perpetual ioyes of the heaueÌ„ly life Therfore yelde gyue ouer coÌ„mende to hym wholly thy selfe all that euer thou hast what so euer hys wyl is lette thy wyll be thesame and saye lette thy wyl be done o father God and not myne cry vnto Christ with the thefe fastened to the crosse remeÌ„ ber me o Lorde when thou comeste into thy Kyngdome erye wyth the Publican Lorde be mercifull to mâ— wretched synner cry instanstly with that earneste woman the Cananite o sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Yf thou cryest thus Chryste wyll heare the doubte not he wyll haue mercy on the he wyll forgyue the thy synnes yea thou shalte be wyth hym in paradyse therfore lay hande on thys Christe cleue to him wyth tothe and nayle commyt thy soule vnto him cry wyth this christ crucifyde vnto God the comon father o Lorde my truste is in the let me neuer be putte to confusion but rydde me and delyuer me thorowe thy ryghteousnes Bowe downe thyne eare vnto me make haste to delyuer me Be thou my God and stronge holde wherunto I may alwaye fle that thou mayst helpe me for thou arte my strenght and refuge thou art my defender Into thy handes I coÌ„mende my spirite crye also wyth Dauid o Lorde thou art my strenghte my sure holde my refuge and my delyuerer O my God thou art my helper my defeÌ„der and the horne of my health and my protection Unto the o Lord lyfte I vp my soule o my God my truste is in the let me not be dryuen to shame dyrecte me in thy truth thou art the God my sauionre RemeÌ„ber o Lord thy tender mercies and thy pyteful compassions whiche thou hast euer vsed Remember not the trespasses of my yonghe Accordynge to thy mercye remember me for thy goodnes sake for thy names sake o lord forgyue my synne for it is muche loke on me and haue pytye on me deliuer me from my necessities forgyue me all my offenses kepe my soule and delyuer me Lette me not be put to coÌ„fusion for my hole trust is in the. Yf on thys maner thou wylte call for the helpe of God with and hole hart god wyl surely helpeâ— the in tyme conuenient and he wyll say vnto the that whyche is in the Psalme Forasmuch as he hath put his trust in me I wyl delyuer him I wyll defeÌ„de hym because he hath knowen my name He hathe cryed vnto me I wyll fauorably heare hym I am wyth hym in hys tribulatioÌ„ I wyll delyuer him glorifie hym Wherfore o thou Christiane fyght here a good fyght stryue valeauÌ„tly with a good corrage as it becometh a true christeaÌ„ man take hede y â— geuest not ouer take hede thou turnest not thy backe ther is no daunger thou stryueste not here alone but Iesus Christ the kyng is thy guyde in thys agony thys thy guyde captaine shal be thyn auen ger in this battel he shal defende and delyuer the froÌ„ all the enemyes of thy soule froÌ„ all perell from all misery and wretchednes folow this captayn goyng before the in this coÌ„flicte and battell he is a kynge not like to other but of an exceding and infinite powre he hath alredy ouercome and throwne vnder the foote for thy sake death Satan and hell death is swallowed vp into victory Christ dyed for the Therfore euerlastyng death hath no power in the Christ went down for the vnto hel that he myght deliuer the from this euerlasting darknesses therfore be on a lustye and boldâ— mynde and wyth a valeauÌ„te courage brast into the army Put awaye all feare ther is no daunger in thys behalfe ther is no cause why thou shuldest feare the fearce and streyghte iudgement of God Christe Iesus is a mediatour before God the same is an aduocate yea and thy Patrone defender Byshoppe and Preeste He hathe reconcyled the to God and hathe restored to the hys fafatherly mynde whych before was estraunged from the for thy sinnes God for Christes sake is nowe thy father he taketh charge of the he entierly loueth the as his most tender sonne Nowe seynge that so noble a kyng staÌ„deth on thy syde who shall putte the to any busynes who shall be bolde to assayle the or ones fyght agaynst the who I pray the shal do the any wronge what dauÌ„ger caÌ„ ther be heare Paule Yf god be on our syde sayth he who can be agaynst vs whyche spared not hys awne son but gaue hym for vs all how is it possible that wyth him he shoulde not gyue vs all thynges who shal lay any thyng to the charge of Gods electe It is God that iustifieth who is he that caÌ„ condemne it is Christ that dyed yea whych rose agayne whyche also is at the right hande of god and maketh intercession for vs Who shall sepaâ—ate vs from the law of God I am sure that neyther death nor lyfe nor â—yghenes nor depenes nor any other creature can seperate vs from tha law of God whych is in Christ Iesu oure Lorde Therfore seynge that Christ is gyuen to the wyth all that euer he hathe so folowethe it that hys ryghteousnes innocency health and euerlastynge lyfe is gyuen to the as Paule wytnesse the sayinge Christe is made of God oure wysdome ryghteousnes sanctification and redemptioÌ„ Therfore putte all thy hope truste and confidence in thys Christe whyche is the heade cornerstone Thys stone is a valeaunte stronge stedfaste and sure fouÌ„dation wherunto thou mayste safely truste and commytte thy selfe No tempest although neuer so blacke and horryble no showers no stormes caÌ„ shake and topple euer thys foundation In thys Christe I saye let all thy hope and confydence be sette Caste thy selfe wholly on hym yelde thy selfe altogyther to hym cleue to hym wyth stronge fayth let no trouble or teÌ„ptation plucke the froÌ„ him although all thynges seme neuer somuche to the go to hauocke althoughe sleshâ— and bloude yell the neuer so muche the contrary and reason thynkethe farre otherwyse yea althoughe thâ—â— Deuyll sometyme whysper in thy mynde that thou arte vtterlye vndone that God is an extreme enemy vnto the and that thou haste deserued the punishment of hel fyre and therfore thou must nedes be daÌ„pned â–ª For faith is a sure confidence and â— lokynge for of