and withall endlesse that it presse mée not downe but bée vnto mée a light burthen and a light yoke And lend mée likewise strength and ablenesse in putting-to thy holy arme and help to beare it till I through thy godly help shall with patience ouercome the same and that thou wouldest send to mee a happy end and hour of help with grace Amen Rom. 8. I am assured that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory of God which shall be shewed to vs. HEer Saint Paul the Apostle puts all the miseries of mankinde together what name soeuer they haue All diseases plagues sicknesses crosses and passions and how heauy and great such woes and miseries doo séem vnto vs and saith If all the troubles of this world were heaped together yet were all much too slight to bee compared to God's glory Why wilt thou then complain so much of troubles and mans miseries It is but a little times and then shall follow to euery Christian Beléeuer an vnmeasurable and euerlasting glory Héer in this life let no man think that it will bee better with him as Christ himselfe saith In the world you shall haue troubles c. For wée are héer in the diuels house if thou hold not with the host thou shalt haue small fauour in thy lodging Many a one thinks hee will go to another place and flée away from the mischief but wheresoeuer he commeth he findes the hoste at home Look what great dangers the Apostle Paul endured as in his first Epistle to the Corinthians and eleuenth Chapter but the hope of euerlasting life and glory to-come caried him thorow that with patience hee ouercame all As it is true that No eye hath séen nor ear hath heard nor euer came into the heart of man vhat ioyes habitation and glory is prepard for Christians and shall bee reuealed vnto them So is it most certain that they shall haue holy cleare immortall and powerfull bodies and therefore néed not feare any humane miseries death nor diuell And all these great gifts shall they haue through Christ for euermore All shall bee Gods and haue enough A poor scabbed boy or wench a poor scholar a despised begger c. which put their trust in Christ shall haue more and bée more rich thâ—n all the Emperors and Kinâ—s in this life for they shall possesse the euerlasting glory in which the Lord Iesus Christ shall crowne them with his vnwithered Garland of honour to euerlasting heauenly honour as wée vse to set Garlands on for an honour All worldly honour shall bée but childrens play to such honour and glory for there shall the Christians in glory hee like the Son of GOD himself yea Lords ouer all tyrants and persecuters ouer the holy Angels who shall bée their seruants shall stand about them and wait on them and shall in such honour and glory haue a merry constant and quiet conscience where no mis-fortune more shall ouerthrowe their ioyes their euerlasting righteousnes innocency and saluation Of which glory wee all should comfort our selues in all our afflictions then may wee through such hope with patience ouercome the Crosse So doth Saint Peter comfort vs You shall reioyce in the saluation who were a small time in sorrow Likewise S. Paul saith 2 Cor. 4. Our small and slight troubles cause to vs a far more excellent and an eternall waight of glory for wee look not vpon the visible but on the inuisible things A Praier O Dear and heauenly father I acknowledge that I for my sins sake haue well deserued all woes and miseries wherein I doo stick besides euerlasting punishment But I thank thée with all my heart that thou hast through Christ redéem'd me from such euerlasting woes and doo beléeue that these my sorrows and troubles are but smal and that vpon the same shall follow to me and all the faithfull an euerlasting and aboue all measure an excéeding glory I pray thée that thou wilt preserue me in this poor troublesome life which is so full of woes and miseries throgh comfort of thy holy Spirit in sure hope and patience to thy euerlasting honour and glory for thy dear Son Christ Iesus sake his redemption death power resurrection life and glory Amen Set thou thy cause on God indeed Hee will thee help in time of need For he that God doth trust Speed well alwaies he must Help thou Lord God euery where The body heere and the soule there A COMFORT against the fear and terror of Death and the Graue BEING An Exposition of Doctor MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end LONDON Printed by H. L. for Iohn Parker 1624. An Exposition of D. MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end IOHN 8. Verily verily I say vnto you If any keep my word he shall neuer see death HOW incredibly is this spoken and against manifest and daily experience in that we sée one carried away and buried Yet it is true when a man séeks after Gods Word with his hart beléeues on him and vpon the same sléeps or dies he sinks and goes hence before he might sée death or beware thereof and is for certain saued by the Word in that hee beleeueth and determineth to depart from hence Therefore should we Christians not be afraid of death Iohn 5. Verily verily I say vnto you He that hears my word and beléeues on him that sent me shal haue euerlasting life and not come into iudgement but shall passe through death into life THis may be called an excellent comfort and ratified with a solemne Oath That wee Christians when wee onely beleeue in Iesus Christ and that the Father sent him for our righteousnesse then néed we take no care for dying nor bée afraid of damnation but doo passe through this temporall death to euerlasting life that is so soone as we are dead before all mens eyes wée are in the twinkling of an eye with God in euerlasting life Who would then feare to die O vnbeliefe O originall sinne that thou shouldest so hardly beléeue so many Promises so many Miracles and such solemne Oaths of the true Son of God made vnto the Saints and children of Christ Iohn 11. I am the Resurrection and life He that beléeueth on me shall liue although hee die and who liueth and beléeueth on me shall not die for euer IN this Saying the Lord teacheth vs for what cause death is no death to vs but a beginning of eternall life for our Lord Iesus Christ liueth and is the Resurrection and the life because we are members of Christs Body incorporated to him in holy Baptism Therefore shall wee liue with him for euer as sure as he our head liueth onely because our life is hidden with Christ in GOD. But when Christ our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory Colos 3. O Lord strengthen my faith 1 Thes 4. For if we belieue that Iesus Christ is dead and risen so shall they which do sléep
in Iesus Christ be carried away with him c. 1 Cor. 11. Behold I tell you a mystery we shall not all sléep THE Holy Ghost hath a strange spéech who calleth that a Sléep which the world nameth Dying and the dead sléeping With these words doth the holy Ghost declare vnto vs in a familiar comparison that the death of Christians is no death but a life and describeth to vs the temporal death of the faithfull Christians after the friendliest manner For euen as there is nothing tearer or pleasanter to a sicke body vpon the earth than a swéet sléep when hee stretches himself in his body and tumbles himself certaine times to and fro vpon his bed and feeleth grief as if a mans head did ake But before he bée aware a soft sléep falleth vpon him there sléepeth hée and knowes not how or when Hee heareth nothing nor knoweth hee any thing hée sleepeth away both thundring and lightning neither can he tell how long hee hath slept When he awaketh his wearinesse and sicknes is gone and hee is as if hee were new borne which euery one hath tried oftentimes in his sléep So saith the Lord God is it also with the death of euery Christian When wee haue wrought our selues weary vpon earth and haue suffered and liued and often-times tossed our selues to and fro vpon our groning bedde by reason of our bodily sicknes for Christians must also for their sinnefull flesh sake haue their bodily sickenesse and griefe then when in the last combate the sinfull flesh and blood is killed and the heart hath yéelded it selfe prisoner that wee may bee spunne new and holy which is not done without griefe a swéet sléep commeth vpon vs where all griefes and afflictions doo cease There a Christian doth not knowe how he fell asléep he is not aware of any death nor knoweth hée of any but liueth in the Lord GOD. And in this sléepe shall wée sléep out all sinne defects miseries sicknesse woes and necessities and shall awake at the last Day and rise againe in a new holy spirituall immortall effectuall and clarified body and shall behold GOD and his glory face to face and whole Christendome in euerlasting ioy And although one haue slept fiue thousand yéeres vnder the ground it shall bée as if he had slept but one houre as the Christians in olde time were wont to describe vnto children and to the simple with example of the 7 Sléepers With these words should we comfort our selues against the feare and bitternesse of death whereas wée also beléeue and with Simeon do sing with peace ioy I hence depart in Gods wil my heart is comforted béeing quiet and still as God hath said Death is my sleep I am not afraid O Mercifull God and Father I pray thée throgh the death and resurrection of thy Son when I haue liued and groned mee weary and that mine houre is comne grant mee O Lord a sweet sleep and take my soule into thy hands Amen Dan. 12. Many which haue slept vnder the ground shal awake some to euerlasting life some to euerlasting reproofe and shame THe Prophet Daniel vseth heer to speake after an Euangelicall manner and calleth death also a sléepe As Christ speaketh of the illuminate Schoole maisters daughter The Mayden is not dead but sleepeth And nameth Death a sléepe And without doubt the Holy Ghost had respect heere to the death and Resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom all power is taken away from death Esay 25. Therefore should wée Christians remember such friendly kind and comfortable speeches That wee speak not iestingly of the death of them that sleepe as the wicked and rude people do He is gone into the old World Hee is gone into the old Market Hee is at Trores His spoone is fallen downe No it is called fallen asléep S. Paul nameth it a departure to bée dissolued Saint Peter to put off his Tabernacle c. But in what manner such sléepe is can wee not perceiue or vnderstand more then of temporall sléepe know wee perfectly As for example In the mothers body the mother knoweth nothing till it stirre So we in bodily sléepe can do nothing what can wee know of the sleepe of the Holy Ghost But Christ instrueteth vs that beléeue of such sleepe Luke 20. They liue in God saith hee And heere it is to bée noted that not onely Christians haue their sleepe but the wicked also but it is an vnlike sleepe a soft and swéete sleepe against an vnquiet and heauy sleepe As when one is sicke hee hardly sléepeth but he which is in health sléepeth soundly But the vngodly do dreame alwaies of the diuell as the Rich-man Esay 66. Vermis eorum non morietur But the Christians do rest in Christ quietly and peaceable like a little innocent Chilue which often sléepeth so soundly as a man saith Like a vong Hare The same did Dâ—uid acknowledge therefore saith hée Psal 4. I will lay mee downe and sleepe quietly for thou onely O Lord makest mee to dwell in safety From such sleep shall be also a waking to all them which beleeue on Christ and haue holden with his holy Word and Sacraments and they shall bée comforted They shall rise againe to euerlasting glory and receiue the euerlasting garland of honour the Heauenly euerlasting and immortall Crowne and escape euerlasting iudgement and shame But the vngodly which haue done euill forgotten the couenant of their Baptisme and not beleeued on Christ they shall awake to euerlasting reproofe and shame A faire similitude of hoth resurrections haue wée Gen. 40 on loseph the Butler and Baker They were all thrée laid in prison and came to liberty againe which signifieth the Resurrection One of them was set free came to honour and to his Office againe The other was also quit of his troubles but commeth to the Gallowes Ioseph signifieth our Lord Iesus Christ who was also put into this prison but guiltlesse The Butler signifieth all honest Christians which acknowledge their sins and with hearty repentance and sorrow haue beléeued on Christ they shall at the latter day bee placed with him in euerlasting glory The Baker signifieth all the vngodly they shall bee also quit of their prison that is their Graues but to euerlasting damnation Surely surely the graue is a very soft resting bed for Christians which the Lord Iesus hath before warmed for them that they neede not bee afraide thereof Therein haue they a good soft and quiet sleepe There shall they alwaies dreame of the Vine For the Vine signifieth Christ and the Grapes the sweete doctrine of the holy Gospell as iâ—t Mathew 7. appeareth Doe men gather Grapes on Thornes Iohn 15. Ego sum vitis vera c. There dreame the Christians in death and Graue alwaies on the Lord Iesus Christ and of his swéeâ—e Doctrine And in such soft dreames rest they so soft that they thinke many thousand yeares bee as though they had scantly slept an houre
ioy Genes 25. Abraham was gathered to his people SO doth the Holy-Ghost speak of Abrahams death For heer on earth wee are among a sort of euill degenerated people with whom wée shall bée plagued and martyred as the Children of Ifrael were of the Aegyptians and of their Taske-maisters This Sentence of holie Scripture should wee conceiue and keepe wherewith wee may in dangerous times learne to prepare vs and to comfort our selues and pray with our hearts for an happy houre And when we sée death before our eyes or thinke therof not to be afraid Vpon these sentences out of holy Scripture haue the honest Christians alwaies had goodly wordes wherewith they haue comforted themselues against Death Of which wee will rehearse some Cicely a godly Christian woman of Rome when her kindred would perswade her she should deny our Lord Iesus Christ and what shee did meane to make such light account of her body and life the highest treasure and best pawn we haue Shee answered If it had concerned onely our life wee should not willingly lose it But I beléeue another better life which lasteth for euer of which IESUS CHRIST hath preached vnto vs. This true Martyr and Confessor of the true Christian faith did take holde on the right comfort Shee was not afraid of the horrible Death for shee knew that this temporall Death was a beginning of euerlasting life Item whereas wee Christians doo say and confesse Miseria hominis moritur non homo that is Of a Christian dieth nothing but his warres and miseries hee dieth not And it is true No ioyfuller houre can happen vnto vs Christians vpon earth than the happy houre of death for euen in the twinkling of an eye all our woes and miseries doo 〈…〉 incessantly deaths sting and sicknesse but when wee are dead in the sight of the world then doo wée first liue and doo neuer feél any more either danger or death For our temporall death is an end of death and a beginning of life Item whereas the Christian saith Without the knowledge of Christ death 〈…〉 sinne 〈…〉 ledgeth Christ to him is temporall death the best remedy for sinne whereby finally sin is scoured quite out of our flesh and bloud body and soule that we neuer sinne more Therefore wée should by good reason be glad of death that wée may bée once rid of that shamefull sinne wherewith wee are plagued and tormented day and night as Saint Paul cryeth out ouer this prosecuting sinne Romans 7. Now as honest Christians haue out of Gods Word for their comfort spoken friendly and familiarly of death so haue they also giuen comfortable names to the Graues and to Burials Prudentius dooth call the Graue Our Lord God's Iewell-house wherein hée hath his deare Gold and Reliques and halloweth the Ashes and Bones of his Christians and will at the last Day demand them again by waight The holy Scripture nameth the Buriall-place A House of the Liuing who dwell there aliue indeed All other dwellings vpon earth although they bee built of pure Cypresse and Marble are but Pest-houses where men doo sicken and die Onely the Graues of Christians are the Houses of the Liuing The Latine Church calls the Church-yard A sléeping house The Dutchmen call it God's Field wherein God soweth vs as hath béen said before Besides all these Christ our Lord was buried hee hath hallowed and warmed the graue for vs and left his linnen clothes therein And the holy Angels dwell in the graue doo watch and kéep vs in our resting bed Now he that is so instructed in Gods Word and beléeueth desireth from his hart to bee out of his groning bed of sorrow and to bee in his resting bed Whereupon the Lord Iesus Christ help vs through grace of thy holy Spirit Amen Rom. 14. Whether I liue or die I am the Lords A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ all they which are baptized in thee are baptized in thy death I am baptized in thée therefore am I also baptized in thy death I will with thy help die merrily and willingly hoping that as I haue bin partaker of thy troubles I shall be also partaker of thy glory O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast prayed vpon the Crosse Father forgiue them So Lord doo I forgiue all that haue done against mee that thou maist pardon mee of all my sinnes O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast called vpon the Crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Lord leaue mee not at the point of death O Lord thou hast said vpon the cross Eather into thy hands I commend my spirit euen so Lord do I commend my poor soule into thy hands Amen Psalm 31. Into thy hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redéemed me O Lord GOD of truth An Epitaph of Gasper Huberin Oh a sinner Born aliue and dead am I. Christ my Lord Renew forgiue and wake me vp I am faithfull Preserue make cleare and saue me Psalme 4. I laid me downe and slept quietly for thou onely O Lord helpest me that I dwel in safetie How wee in the euerlasting life to come shall see and knowe one another I beléeue a resurrection of the flesh and an euerlasting life WHen one preacheth of the resurrection of the dead and hath heard how the dead doo rise there ariseth a question amongst many If wee also in the euerlasting life to-come shall knowe one another as we doo héer Of the Resurrection is no doubt thereof are wee certaine enough and withall we know that if any haue a defect or want on his body that he halted were lame or a Cripple and had not all his limbs the same shall be all taken away in the resurrection of the dead and shall bee altogether whole and haue all his members wholly But shall wee in another life knowe one another Héerto doo the learned men giue this answer Yes wee shall knowe one another there Séeing that God will make the whole man aliue againe with flesh and bones shall knowledge and memory be gone Nothing at all Therefore shall you héer learne that wee shall knowe all not onely those which we now knowe but those which wée knew not nor in our life time had euer séen the same shall we see and knowe how to call them and they vs again The Learned also doo say that the Christians shall not onely knowe one another but the vngodly also and the wicked shall knowe them whom they haue héer oppressed and persecuted Sapience chap. 5. There shall the wicked say with repentance Are not these they whom wee haue mocked Oh how are they now reckoned among the children of God! I. Testimony of Scripture THe first proof they take from Adam You know that God made Heauen and Earth with all the Creatures and Adam was made last of all Then GOD let all that Beasts passe by him and when he saw them he knew euery Beast and his property and gaue to euery Beast his name according to his property As Adam now
EVERY-DAYES SACRIFICE Wherein are comprehended many comfortable Prayers and Meditations very necessary for all Christâ—â—ns ALSO Many comforts for the sicke which are afflisted by the sight of their sins and the terrour of deaâ—h Written by D. M. Luther a little before his end With most true comforts out of holy Scripture of the knowledge we shall haue of one another in the world to come Translated by W. R. S. LONDON Printed by Humfrey Lownes for Iohn Parker and are to be sold at his Shop in Paules Church yard at the sign of the three Pigeons 1624. The Translator to the Reader IT pleased Almighty God gentle Reader in his last great visitation 1603. amongst a great multitude of others to take to his mercy al my Children to the great griefe and sorrow of my heart which caused me to remember the saying of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in his holy Gospel If these things bee done vnto a greene Tree what shall bee done to a dry And therefore it beseemed mee rather to prepare for my selfe that I might bee ready when it pleased God to call mee then to lament for them which are at rest with Christ All which considered caused mee to reade ouer diuers comfortable Bookes and at last light vpon this which as it appeareth in the beginning of this book was first penned for the comfort of one that was in great affliction by reason of sicknesse who besides a great number of others receiued great comfort of the same for which cause it was first penned The like coÌ„fort hath it by the goodnesse of God effected in mee which moued mee to vndertake the publishing hereof in as plaine and fruitfull manner as I could for the good of euery Christian without any borrowed phrases And therefore such as it is I commend to thy fauorable acceptance praying God that it may work such comfort in thee and in all other that shall reade it as it hath done in mee for the glory of his holy name vnto whose most mighty protection I commit thee Exhortations to make the sick desirous of death WE bee but strangers and soiourners as were all our fathers our daies on earth also are but as a shadow and there is no abiding The dayes of man are the daies of an hireling yea wind and nothing We are made as dust and must return to dust as a leaf that is carried of the winde dry stubble and a garment that is moth-eaten Man is burthened with many calamities he cometh vp is cut down like a flour and he lieth as it were a shadow short be his dayes and the Lord hath appointed him his bands which he shall not passe Where is there any man that liueth and soeth not death Our daies passe away swiftly and we are gone A man in his time is but as grass and florisheth as a flour of the field foâ— as soon as the winde goeth ouer it it is gon and the place thereof knowes it no more Man is like to a thing of nought his daies passe away like a shadow Euery thing hath a time yea all that is vnder heauen hath his conuenient season There is a time to bee borne and a time to dy Death doth not forget him self By one man death entred into the world and went ouer all men and through one sin of one man all men are subiect vnto death All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man is as the flower of grasse Our life is euen as a vapor that appears for a little tune and then vanisheth away Héer haue we no continuing city but wée seek one to come Whatsoeuer hath béen borne since the beginning of the world vnto this day hath been subiect vnto death and whatsoeuer is yet aliue or shall be born must néeds die euery-while Whosoeuer receiueth life must also suffer death remedilesse On this condition camest thou into the world that thou shouldst leaue it again Thou hast béen sure of death euer since thou wast conceiued in thy mothers womb Whatsoeuer thou hast liued ouer the first day of thy birth is superfluous and too much and God hath suffred thee to liue long enough There is no remedy but that thou must néeds die and no man can saue thee nor defend thee for thou art dust and must bee turned into dust again Think none other in thy minde but that the end of thy life is comne This misery geeth not only euer thee for great and small rich and poor yong old Lord seruant man woman and all men must take this iourney in hand This debt hast thou owed a great while and thou must néeds pay it the sooner the better If thou shouldst be put to death or execution with a hundred more besides thy selfe what should it auaile thee whether thou were the first or the last He that is first dispatcht is soonest rid out of his pain Thou hast full well deserued at the hand of God to die a worse and a more sudden death wherefore thou art bound to thank him that hee handleth thee so graciously This life is short childehood flowes away like water youth and manhood are full of sin and labour age is full of infirmities although not one among a thousand doth attain to it This life is but a prison full of heauinesse calamity bondage incombrance painfulnesse labour trauailes vnlustinesse sinne diseases temptations yea 't is nothing but a crosse From all which miseries death dooth deliuer vs. The day of death is better than the day of birth In the day of birth thou art put to cold heat hunger thirst tediousnesse sinne and wretchednesse In the day of death art thou deliuered from all bodily impediments Therefore doo Iob and Ieremy curse not onely the day of birth but also him that brought the message to their father that a child was born The bitternesse of death which is sent thee passeth all the paine that euer thou dibst seele in all thy life but it lasteth not long and it is soon done Through the grace help of GOD canst thou wade through this danger drink this cup. Thou didst neuer truely feel the passion of Christ in all thy life wherefore now in the houre of death thou shalt patiently féel and taste In case the diuell by force for his last feat would proue himself vpon thee then bée thou sure that he is a mightlesse enemy and is ouercome by Christ and can gette no more at thy hand but onely as much as thou fearest him and doubtest in Christ If there happen vnto thée any fearfull temptation giue thanks to God that he handleth thee so gratiously for thou art worthy to haue a more grieuous punishment The wicked spirit which tempted Christ wil not leaue thée vntempted but hée cannot preuaile against thée for he hath nought in Christ nor in thée Many temptations shall assault thee which thou must patiently suffer thinking that the Lord might iustly send thée greater temptations which neuerthelesse he leaues vndone
of God of the Holy Ghost which thou hast promised to send vs from the Father 〈…〉 so said 〈◊〉 mâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ek thâ—â— buâ— thâ—â—◠〈◊〉 theâ— Thou art the onely euer last 〈◊〉 â—â—vasâ—parable truth There 〈◊〉 do I sâ—edfastly beleeuâ— by knowledge of the Sâ—â—tyâ—uâ—eâ— that thou art to mâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—o all Ecleeuers a 〈◊〉 hâ—pnest a seat of Grace and Aâ—uacate so thy heauenly Father and I beleeue veâ—rily notwithstanding that reason is astonished thereat that through no other Oblation workes or meanes either in Heauen or on Earth our sinnes Death Hell and damnation is ouercome and taken away and we at agreement with God thy heauenly Father but onely through thee Iesus Christ whereon I will trust and also die thereon Thereto helpe thou me thou deare God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Amen O LORD Iesus Christ which with the Father and the Holy Ghost aâ—â— one vnseparable Essence and a Fountaine of all Grace I thanke and praise thee alâ—waies that thou hast also reuealed vnto mee thy grace for my better comfort as thou hast endued thy deaâ—e Mother Mary and also other Saints with great grace and wrought wonderfull workes in them I pray thee therefore heartily to look vpon on mee with the eyes of thy mercy as thou diddest looke vpon the euill doer which was hanged vpon the Crosse by thee and diddest open his heart that hee confessed his sinnes and was mightily afraide of them but yet despaired not but confessed desired thy grace and mercy which thou gauest to him willingly and plentifully Also Saint Peter which denied thee and Mary Magdalen in her sinfull liuing And hast also respected Mathew the Customer in open estate Saint Paul a raging and earnest persecutour of Christians Also in the old Testament Dauid King Manasses the Tyrant and other sinners more which thou didst bring to repentance and confession of their sins and of pure loue grace and mercy which thou didst reueal vnto them by thy holy Word hast placed them with thee in thy Kingdome Therfore dear God and mercifull Father will I strengthen my self so much the more and doubt nothing thereof These and other godly people of worth which thou of thy grace hast taken out of this sinfull life to righteousnes are a comfort and example to mee and all beléeuing Christians that thou wast mercifull to them and so wilt be to me and to euery sinner which repents according to thy owne pure loue which the holy Ghost through faith in the Gospell worketh in vs both gracious and mercifull and grants vs a happy end in such acknowledging of thy Name Which help thou me with and all Christians dear God Father Sonne and holy Ghost which art in three inseparable persons one only and euerlasting GOD for euer Amen Heer follow certain Praiers to call vpon God for strengthening of our faith O LORD â—ESUS CHRIST strengthen mée also with thy holy Spirit in my feare and quaking And admonish me that I thinke vpon thy sacred Wounds in my last end And let not thy holy and bitter Passion bee lost on mee poore sinner thou which art therefore come that thou maist destroy the Diuels worke and pay and counterpoize my sinnes with thy hard and painfull labor and thou which hast sworne Thou wilt not the death of a sinner Strengthen my weak faith and kéep mee through thy Spirit of grace and of praier vnto a happy end Amen A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ I confesse vnto thée my great and manifold sins and the righteous wrath of God and euerlasting punishment which I haue deserued But I comfort my self with the great loue and pure mercy of thy Father and pray thee séeing thy bloud is more than the sinnes of the whole world and thou art our Mediatour and Aduocate that thou wilt bee Intercessor for mee to thy Father that my faith doo not diminish and that I neuer despaire of thy mercy for my sinnes Amen A Praier O Lord Iesus Christ increase my faith and trust in thée that I despair not of thy gracious mercy nor in my greatest sin perish in vnbeleef O Lord preserue for mee thy promised grace in the holy Gospell let it not come out of my heart Thou art my onely comfort and hope stand to me in this my sorrow Let not my poor soule come into the hands of my horrible Aduersary and giue him no power ouer me But shew mee thy goodnes at this present for thou art my Sauiour and Redéemer Amen A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ I pray thee through thy goodnes and mercy that thou wilt strengthen my soule vpon thy holy way which lyeth before me into thy heauenly and euerlasting Kingdome I beléeue that thou diedst for my sake hast of thy grace and mercy forgiuen mee my sins and that euerlasting life is promised to mee Of this my faith O Lord shall thou be witnes and all thy Elect and in this faith shall bee my last Will to die therein O Lord in thy pure mercy And although I through griefe want of sense or other troubles should fall off from the same yet O Lord let mâ—e not die in vnbelief and blasphemy but strengthen and increase my faith that neither sinne hell nor diuell hurt me Thou art stronger and of more power than all they whereunto I will trust Lord let me not be confounded Amen A comfort out of holy Scripture against the feare of sinne ESAY 12. Behold God is my saluation I am safe and feare not for God the Lord is my strength my Psalm and my saluation The first Comfort How a man should comfort himself against sin and the just anger of God out of the comfortable promises of the holy Scripture The first comfortable sentence GENESIS 3. The Seed of the Woman shall tread down the head of the Serpent THis is the first Euangelicall Doctrine of the euerlasting Sonne of God in Paradise reuealed vnto the fallen and damned mankinde whereby he might be released againe from death Gods wrath Sinne Hell and power of the Diuell and might obtaine through beliefe in these words Comfort Grace Remission on of sinnes and euerlasting life And with this Promise haue all the holy men comforted themselues vntill Abraham two thousand yéers long for héer doth GOD tell vs that he euen of pure loue and mercy will send vnto vs poore damned sinners his onely and deare Sount borne of a Uirgine to take vpon him mortall and humane flesh and bloud who should with his absolute Obedience and Passion pay the ransome of our sinnes pacifie GOD's wrath kindled by reason of our sinnes destroy Death through his death and with his victory and rising againe restore againe righteousnesse resurrection and euerlastinâ—g life This comfort should wée conceiue with faithfull harts and bee certaine thereof that the Diuels workes are destroyed for oâ—r sakes and all his power taken away that wee neuer néed to bée afraid of sinne death hell or God's anger but through Iesus Christ our Lord true God and
from the curse of the Lawe This purchased treasure through the onelie perfect oblation the Holie-Ghost doth put into the Word of the Gospel into the holie Sacrament and causeth to bée preferred to the whole world All that beleeue that is which doe acknowledge this onely Sauiour and comfort themselues with heartie resuge to his demerits shall not be lost but haue eternall life Therefore let vs out of these words learne to know Gods gracious will and fatherly loue and comfort our selues against all tribulations against sinne and against the Lords anâ—er These sayings the deare and godly man Master Doctor Martin Luther and the mightie Prince Iohn Fredericke Duke of Saxon of godly memorie haue had in their last houre for a happie comfort and so departed both of them happily and with merry and quiet consciences And euen so did the poore Publican comfort himselfe in the Temple Luke the eightéenth chapter when he did pray vnto the Lord God be mercifull vnto mee a poore sinner that is to say a wicked creature am I and the most part of the world but I doe recomfort my selfe with the fountaine of pure mercy and endlesse loue of my most déere God which he hath manifested vnto me in the passion and oblation of his onelie begotten Sonne our Redéemer Iesus Christ the Righteous who hath payed and satisfied the ransome of my sinnes and â—aâ—ous transgressions and hath pacified Gods wrath and hath giuen vnto me euerlasting life The sixt comfortable Sentence MAT. 11. Come vnto mee all you that labour and are â—eauie laden and I will refresh you WHat can wée heare more kindly yea or more louingly then that the euerlasting Sonne of God calleth vnto him all that be weary and oppressed in heart and troubled for their sinnes and biddeth them come to his holy word naming himselfe a gentle and humble Teacher Let euery one reioyce in his heart that God hath sent such holy comfort and refreshing vpon earth and promiseth in plaine words that all whether they be poore or rich yong or old shall surely find by him rest peace ioy refreshing ease help and assistance shall bee comforted in their soules and bee made aliue againe Therefore when any is tormented by reason of his sinnes that he féele his heart troubled with sorrow and almost ouerthrowne with discomfort Let him not creepe into a corner or run away from the people as Adam did Genesis 3. but let him run to the Lord Christ and to these and such other the like comfortable words which wee shall finde in the house of God before his face or where God hath appoynted in remembrance of his name that is in preaching in the holy Sacraments and in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles for so soone as we seeke Christ hée will méete vs as hée saith in the first chapter of Zacharie Tuâ—ne ye vnto me then will I turne vnto you So doth the Lord méete Mary Magdalen a poore troubled sinner from whom our Lord and Sauior had before cast out seuen diuels and maketh himselfe knowne vnto her soone after his resurrection and comforted her heartily when shee sought him Iohn 20. The seuenth comfortable Sentence ROM 5. But where Sinne is mighty there is Grace more mightie through Iesus Christ c. HEere doth S Paul méet with a great tribulation and heauy thoughts When wee do often thinke My sins are too great Oh if I had not such great sins vpon my heart then would I hope I should be saued There doth Saint Paul answere If Sinne be great yet Grace is greater and excéedeth farre all our sinnes that is one droppe of Iesus Christs blood is greater more glorious powerfull yea and stronger then all the greatest and fearefullest sinnes of the whole world yea as a little moat in the Sun is not to be compared towards Heauen and Earth so is the whole worlds sinne not to be compared to the precious blood of Iesus Christ And as the cleare Sunne darkens al the starres of heauen that they cannot be seene in day time although they do stand in the firmament euen so when the right Sun rising shineth from aboue all sinnes are quenched Whosoeuer with heartie faith catcheth hold on the bloud of Christ his sinnes are all couered before the face of GOD that GOD will neuer sée them and is reckoned so cleare and holy as if hee had troubled no water all his life time For the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of Almightie God purgeth vs of all our sinnes So did the holy Prophet Esay comfort himselfe and his people in the first chapter where he saith Though your sins were like Purple they shal be white as Wooll Likewise Dauid the Prophet a man after Gods owne heart in his déepest hell tribulation comforteth himselfe thus with the Lord is merâ—ie and much redemption as in the hundred and 30. Psalme for the more sins that Christ forgiueth vs the more is his praise honor and glory as he himselfe teacheth in the seuenth chapter of Saint Lukes Gospel where he doth speake of the great and open sinner To her are many sinnes forgiuen because shee loued much But to whom little is forgiuen the same loueth little The eightth comfortable Sentence PSAL 16. I thanke the Lord that hath counselled me WHenas the first man through the craft of the old poisoned and fierie Serpent and through their disobedience fell into sinne Gods wroth and iustice which after succéeded vpon all Adams Children there was no comfort not counsell to sinde except the helpe and redemption of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ But through the wonderfull counsell of the high and godly Maiestie at the intercession of the onely and euerlasting Mediatour our Lord Christ it was concluded that the Sonne of almighty God borne of the Father euerlasting should take humane Nature vpon him pacifie Gods fierce and iust anger and bring vs out of the Diuels power and euer counsell and help vs from whence he carrieth the name so that Flay the Prophet in the ninth chapter amongst other glorious names calleth him a Counseller Now when wée are ouerwhelmed by reason of our manifold sinnes and transgressions then let vs cause such help as a harty and true counsell to be brought before vs by preaching of the holie Gospel And let it be preached vnto vs that through confidence of his gracious help and redemption wée shall be quit of our sinnes released from death and obtaine his grace righteousnesse and euerlasting life This is such a true counsell that in all tribulations we may stade and haue some comfort therein which Dauid did acknowledge and thereforre saith Had it not beene for thy Word I had perished in my miserie Psal 119. and heere hee giueth the Lord harty thanks for all such mereifull comfort and help I thank the Lord my GOD which hath counselled mee For this is also a counsell of such power that if a man should now depart out of this life and that
of his meer mercy When thy conscience doth lay before thée thy manifould sins and sendeth thée to good works then remember that Christ hath paid for thy sins vpon the Crosse Let not vnprofitable thoughts trouble thee as If God would lengthen thy life thou wouldst think to become more holy and more apt to die for although thou mightst liue yet which is vnpossible an hundred yéers thou canst deserue nothing with thy holinesse before God Although all creatures were against thée yea although God himselfe should lay before thée his fearfull indignation and terrible indgement and shew himself none otherwise than as though he were thine enemy although thou shouldst see nothing but diuels about thee yet care not for it whatsoeuer thou feelest shut the eyes of thy minde take hold of faith and trust in the Gospell There is no Diuell so strong that is able to ouerthrowe it Trust to God and feare not Cast all thy care on the Lord and hee will prouide and preserue thee Hitherto thou hast béen as dead but now shalt thou first begin to liue for death is a doâ—â— of life a beginning of resurrection and a departing from sin and pain Forsake the world and receiue death which is seat vnto thee by the grace of God willingly for it is thy owne and must also serue thee for thy wealth This smart and paine is ordained for thee of God and hee doth not chasten thee because he hateth thée but that hee may preserue and receiue thée as his sonne Therefore faint not séeing thou art chastened of the Lord. No maner of chastising for the present time seems to bée ioyous but grieuous neuerthelesse afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnes vnto them which are therein exercised The afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vpon vs. Tribulation anguish persecution hunger nakednesse perill sword death life Angels rule power things present nor things to come height lownesse neither any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God If thou didst truly remember and consider the vnfaithfulnesse falshood blasphemy and the Antichristian conuersation and life of this world truely thou wouldst not couet to liue any longer A thousand liues if it were possible oughtst thou to lose onely because thou hast heard and tasted the gospell namely that thou hast obtained redemption and forgiuenesse of sinnes through the bloud of Christ and not through thine owne merits Thou hast prayed daily that it would please GOD to take thee out of this euill world into his Kingdom and that his will might be done Wherefore séeing hée will now through his grace bring thee into his Kingdome thou oughtst as his son willingly and gladly to obey and to reioice with all thy heart that thou out of the diuels Kingdom out of this vallie of misery and out of this wretched life commest to thy Father and all his Elect in euerlasting Paradise The Heathen which notwithstanding were without hope did for the loue of the life to come destroy themselues and shouldst thou béeing a Christian to whom so much comfort hope and euerlasting life is promised despaire in death and desire not to die with all thy heart The Iewes die merrily which neuerthelesse haue crucified Christ and are damned for euer and shouldest not thou being a Christian man be more earnest and bolder to die to whom such ioy is promised as the eie hath not séen the eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the hart of man and wouldest thou now giue place to the miscreant and cursed Heathen and Iewes in bodily dying The seruant is not aboue his Lord nor yet the Disciple aboue his Master Christ thy Master and Lord suffered and died for thée thou must also suffer and die All they which are baptized to die are baptized thou art baptized therfore art thou also baptized to dy For Gods sake art thou killed and art counted as a shéep appointed to bee slame What were a slaughter shéep if it were not slaine or what were a Christian man if he should not be assaulted suffer and die Faint not in this affliction to which thou knowest thy self to be constituted Now will Christ thy Sauiour and Redéemer prooue whether thou wilt stand by him or no whether thou wilt for his sake valiantly abide death and bee like vnto the shape of his passion or not Therefore suffer now as a good warrior of Iesus Christ and think not to be crowned vnlesse thou fight valiantly for if thou die with Christ thou shalt also liue with him thou shalt also triumph with him Unfaithfull and without honour is hee counted before the world that giueth-ouer his holde in his dominions shouldst thou not bee without honour if in the necessity of death thou shouldest shrink from Christ thy Sauiour Take vp thy Crosse and death and follow him Knowest thou not with what great ioy and desire all the Apostles and seruants of Christ haue shed their bloud for Christs sake and haue gon euen to meet death For Christs sake hast thou not yet suffred any speciall thing Therefore giue thy self willingly and ioyfully vnto death as a shéep for Christs sake God is by thée in thy trouble he will pluck thée out of it and bring thée to honor and he is at thy right hand that he may help thée Put now thy trust in God and thou shalt be holpen Bee of good comfort and bestowe thy stinking carcase which is but wormes-meat vpon Christ thy Redeemer and Sauiour and trust onely to him and his holy Gospell which is the power of GOD to saluation to all that beleeue Abide the Lord and let thy heart take sure hold Commit thy cause vnto the Lord and trust in him hée shall order it well enough Be sober and watch for thine aduersary the diuell as a roaring lyon will go about thée séeking how he may denoure thée whom resist stedfast in the faith Ye wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against rule against power and against worldly Rulers of the darknesse of this world against the spirits of wickednes yea against sinne death hell and the diuell For this cause behaue your self as a Christian champion and take vnto you the armour of God that ye may bee able to resist in the euill day and to stand perfect in all things Stand therefore and your loynes girt about with verity hauing on them a brest-plate of righteousnes and shod with shooes prepared by the Gospell of peace Aboue all take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith yee may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the helmet of saluation and the swoâ—d of the Spirit which is the word of GOD. And pray alwaies in all manner of necessities ¶ A short instruction of the confession of sinnes FIrst because all mankind by the lawes of GOD Secondly and also out of the sorrow of death the cruell martyrdome and bitter death of
our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by reason of our sinnes which hee took vpon him Thirdly and also out of the fearefull examples of holy Scripture how God alwaies punisheth the vnrepentant which continue in their sinnes and are bound to confesse the same if they will bee quit thereof and die happily Therefore should we poor creatures with the great fearefull miseries and woes wherein we alas through sinne are grieuously fallen repaire vnto our deare God with hearty sighing and wéeping earnestly call for mercy as the holy Prophet Dauid did also Enter not into judgement with thy seruant O Lord. And let vs take héed that we blaunch not our sins as the Hypocrites and the Pharises did Luke chapter 18. For the Cherubins and Angelles of GOD which are wholly holy doo couer their faces and feet that is to say all their glory works and dooings and will not bée praysed but doo sing with their voice their Gloria laâ—â— and Gloria in excelsis Dee to the end that GOD the Lord onely may bée acknowledged for holy honoured and praysed But in such confession of sur let vs not créep into corners as Adam did Genesis the third chapter but call vpon God from the bottome of our hearts for grace and forgiuenesse through the worthy deseruing of Christ Iesus as ieremy the fourtéenth chapter Lord we acknowledge our wickednesse and the misdeeds of our fathers For we haue sinned against thee and the offenses wherwith wee haue angred thee are great But for thy names sake let vs not bee brought to confusion Let not the throne of thy glory be mocked Remember yet and let not thy Couenant with vs cease Thou art yet the Lord our God on whom wee hope for thou canst do all this So did Dauid pray in the 25 Psalme Remember not O Lord the sinnes of my youth nor my transgressions but thinke vpon me according to thy mercy for thy goodnes sake And in the two and thirtith Psalm hee speaketh very comfortably I said I will confess my transgressions and thou forgauest mee the wickednes of my sinnes Likewise Daniel in his ninth chapter prayed Lord our God c. we haue sinned haue alas bin wicked O Lord for thy righte ousnes sake turne away thy wrath and anger for our sins sake wee are blamed of all them that are rouÌ„d about vs and now our Lord God heare the prayers of thy seruant his complaints and behold with fauor thy holie place which is destroyed for the Lords sake So likewise should euery Christian comfort himselfe beléeue with his heart that hée for Christs sake through such faithfull prayer shall surely obtaine Gods grace and forgiuenesse of his sinnes as it is said and promised to all the faithfull Iohn 16. Verily Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you desire of the Father in my name he wil giue it you â—id Ieremy 14 saith Thou art the Lord our God and canst and wist doe all this same Amen Heere follow certain Prayers how a man should call to God for grace and forgiuenesse O Almighty and Euerlasting God most gracieus and mercifull Father I poore sinner acknowledge from my heart and confesse it also before thee with my mouth that I am alas a great sinner conceuied borne and growne vp in sinne and so haue many times transgressed thy holy commandements with evill sinfull vncleane and vnseemely thoughts woâ—â—â— and wicked deeds All which I do repent from my very heart and pray and desire thee of thy Grace O heauenly Father indue mee with the Grace and forgiue me all my sinnes in the name of thy deare and onely Senne my Lord and Samour Iesus Christ in whom thou hast promised me comfort and remission of all my sinnes I comfort my selfe with this gracious promise Iohn 6. where thy deare Sonne saith Who eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud That is Who beleeueth on mee hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Such godly and gracious promises of thy Son doe I trust vnto and beleeue and am certaine that I through such saith haue forgiuenes of my sinnes and shall bee a child of thy Kingdome and remaine so for euermore Amen Amen Another Prayer O Thou Almighty and Euerlasting God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of Heauen and Earth and of all Creatures I poore miserable and sinfull creature come héere before thy diuine Maiesty full of sin and vnrighteousnesse and fall downe at thy féet before thy glorious Maiesty for I haue mightily offended thee my Lord and God and sinned against thy commandements and done against thy godly will But because I cannot other wise bee quit and free from this my heauy burthen but onely through thée my Lord and God Therefore doe I now from my very heart complaine vnto thee my woe and misery and especially what I haue at this present franed in and haue accomplished the same against thy godly will besides all other alas which I daily commit with deceit in shew and false heart with negligence euill lusts and otherwise whether it bee with euill thoughts words or workes wittingly or vnwittingly secretly or openly whether it bee against thee or the loue of my neighbour All which I acknowledge vnto thee and confesse it also from the bottome of my heart and pray thee that through thy grace thou wilt graciously and fatherly forgiue mee all my sinnes Haue respect onely to the bitter death Martyrdome and bloud-shedding of thy onely deare Sonne in whom thou art pleased who innocently died for mee poore sinner O my Lord and God looke vpon thy deare Sonne and especially on the great loue which hee shewed vnto vs poore sinners when hee went so patiently and willingly to death O looke vpon the great obedience which thy deare Sonne hath â—usâ—â—red for our sakes and hâ—â—â—bled himselfe vpon the erâ—â—â—â— deâ—th graue and hell O looke also vâ—on the great glâ—â—â— to wherewith thou hast adorned thy Sonne in thâ—â— thou hast made him Lord ouer all For which â—our 〈◊〉 bâ— on â—ee and â—â—oâ—y â—â—ou wouldst graciously â—eâ—â—â—â—ue me this daies offence whereinto I by temptation 〈◊〉 sâ—llen with all my formâ—r sames which I haue done from my youth For in sinne was I conceiued borne and brought vp and yet doe liue therein without ceasing So that sinne hath gone through my whole bodie marrow and bones Therefore I beseech thee most gratiously to remit and forgiue me all such sinnes to cast the same behind thée and neuer thinke more on them nor punish my body or soule either in this world or the world to come for thou art rich vnto all that call vpon thée And because thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he turne from his wickednes and liue therefore do I pray thee to giue me a good meaning to amend my life especially in that thou hast promised mee also through thy deare Sonne to giue mee whatsoeuer I aske in his name Therefore do I pray thee
through Christ thou wouldst forgiue mee all these my sins and poure thy holy Ghost into my heart that I may constantly abide in a godly life All which grant vnto mee for thy deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauior Amen Another prayer to our Lord Iesus Christ the euerlasting Son of God for grace and forgiuenesse O My deare Lord Iesus Christ I confesse vnto thee from the bottome of my heart with great sighing that I am alas a pooâ—e sinner conceiued and home in sinne and iniquity to haue liued wickedly against thee and thy holy Word with vngodly and vnthankefull heart for which I am heartily sorry But I am comfored in my heart that thou wilt not the death of a sinner which thou hast sworne and confirmed with an oath That thou wilt not be angry with me for euer nor yet for euer punish mee Thou dost call and entice all them that are weary oppressed comfortlesse sorrowfull bearts and consciences to thee and thy holy Word and namest thy selfe A heauenly Physicion which takest vpon thee our woes and miseries wherein wee through sinne are fallen and bringest to vs thy euerlasting helpe and refreshing by Preaching of thy holy Gospell wherewith wee may be holpen for euermore vpon such thy gracious promises come I to thee and pray thee from the bottome of my heart O my Lord God and Sauiour to be mercifull to me poore sinner like as thou hast promised such mercy for the loue of thy owne grace merits Amen Lord Iesus Christ Amen The Lords Prayer contained in a short forme ABba deare Father wée thy vnworthy children call vpon thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ through thy holy Ghost vphold vs by thy holy Word giue vs honest and true Teachers and Preachers to distribute the same amongst vs Release vs quickly out of the Diuels kingdome bring vs to thy Kingdoom of Grace and to euerlasting life And giue vs thy holy Spirit that wee as the Angels of God may liue holily according to thy will and pleasure Nourish blesse and preserue our households Wiues Children and Seruants in this life couer our trespasses and of fences and giue vs a louing heart to forgiue all those that haue offended vs. Let vs not consent vnto sinne nor fall from thy onely Word of saluation but keepe vs from the euill Fiend and from all his deceites Thou art a most mightie King powerfull to rule thou canst and wilt grant vs all these things For which wee will giue thee thankes and praise thee for euer Amen A Prayer wherein the confession of our Christian Faith is simply contained wherewith a man may cal vpon God for stâ—engthening of his faith O Almightie and euerlasting God which art a Father of all grace and mercy and a God of all comfort for vs poore sinners which I and all Christians through reuealing of thy Word doe acknowledge and beleeue for certain Therefore doe I land honour and praise thee deare Father of heauen for such thy vnspeakable loue wherewith thou hast graciously had respect to vs thy enemies transgressors of thy commandements and damned creatures Namely in that thou hast not spared thy onely Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ who is equall with the God head and with the holy Ghost Especially that thou hast let him bee incarnate for our sinfull nature and doings with our actuall misdeeds and howsoeuer we haue thereby deserued and into manifold horrible reproches and finally to yeeld himselfe to the shamefull death of the Crosse And so of pure fatherly loue hast ordained him a Lambe to carry my sinnes and the sins of the whole world vpon the Crosse and to be a perfect Oblation therefore and dost proffer proclaime and promise the same throughout the whole world commandest also the same to be beléeued vpon paine of losing euerlasting saluation for thereby and by no other meanes must it onely bee applyed and impropriated to me and to all the faithfull and to bée our owne Therefore deare Father do I constantly beleeue according to the same reuealing of the holy Gospell all this same and doubt not thereof any thing at all as I thy Childe am bound and will doe not respecting my vnworthinesse In Christ thy onely Sonne are all my sins and all which beleeue and boldly trust vnto it sufficiently punished corrected spent and through his perfect obedient death of the Crosse all killed and taken away And that I am and also all ChristiaÌ„s through such faith planted in the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne as the holy Scripture saith by whom we haue redemption through his bloud namely remission of sinnes I beleeue also verily that in the death of Christ thy deare Sonne my death is ouercome that it shall neuer hurt mee nor consume mee into damnation as the Scripture saith Christ hath â—aâ—ed of death for all hath taken into his power and brought to lighten vntransitory life and being through his Gospell I beleeue also that the destroying of â—â—ell which was done by thy deare Sonne is destroyed and torne asunder for mee and all faithfull that the same cannot consume or deuoure mee nor any of the right beleeuers as the Scripture saith â—â—ll where is thy victory And in another place The gates of Hell shall not preuaile against the right Beleeuers And The Prince of this world is iudged I beleeue also that thy Commandements with all the power thereof which they haue haue no more right ouer mee although I cannot absolutely keepe them For the Lord Christ thy deare Sonne hath through his obedience perfectly kept the same for mee and taken from them the right and interest which they had in mee wherewith thou almighty Euerlasting and Mercâ—full God and Father art satisfied I beleeue also that the resurrection of Christ thy deare Sonne is a new life vnto mee and to all faithfull vnto euerlasting life Finally I beléeue also as the Scripture saith that hee is ascended into Heauen and hath taken rule on the right hand of his Father and answereth for me and al the faithfull that hencefoorth the Diuell and all his power is taken must bee subiect and lie at the feete of mee and all the Faithfull Therefore I pray thée O Lord GOD thou infinite Fountaine of all grace that through the power working of the Holy Ghost thou wilt giue mée such faith and acknowledging this day and lawaies to the end of my life And I pray thee also my Lord Iesus Christ which art true and perfect GOD with the Father and the Holy Ghost forasmuch as thou hast put thy selfe vnder the tyranny of the Law which by reason of sinne it had towardes mee and all mankind and hast taken on thée my sinne Death Hell and damnation which I by all reason right and rigour thereof should haue borne that thou wilt help to still and pacifie these great misdeedes betwéene GOD our heauenly Father and mee especially in my conscience which continually disquieteth mee through the power
The Holy Ghost seeth how flesh and bloud doe forment vs Christians for although they haue exceeding promises and sure comfort yet is this weakenesse continually by it that their hearts bee fearefull and weake They are astonished at the diuels power and are afraide by reason of their vnablenesse for because examples doe stand before our eyes how God doth sometime let the godly fall therefore feare they the like will happen vnto them but God comforteth them they shall not bee ashamed nor mocked that is God will not let them die or perish in their sinnes but he will redéene them and help them for euer For to bee ashamed is nothing else in the Scripture but when hope faileth and is in vaine So the Rich man hoped in his money goods but he was ashamed therby for a thousand things may happen to them where neyther money nor goods will help at all So must therbe â—shamed who hope vpon I clatrie their owne goodnesse But they which set their hope on God that hee will for Christs sake bée mercifull and help and saue them this hope is sure â—letteth them not be ashamed So did Dauid comfort himselfe Psalme 31. Vpon thee doe I trust let me not be ashamed release me through thy righteousnesse III. Esay 54. Thou shalt bée prepared through righteousnes Thou shalt bee farre from force and wrong that thou needest not bée afraide thereof for it shall not come neere thee HEere must thou not apply these wordes force wrong and feare temporally for with Christians héere it shall not bée otherwise but that they shall bée oppressed and sundry wayes made afraid as Experience sheweth And Christ saith In the world you shall haue sorrow But the Holy Ghost speaketh of Force Wrong and Feare that is euer and eternally from which Christians are sledde away through remission of sinnes which they beléeue through Christ for they know that GOD is their Father although he let them suffer corporally they comfort themselues with his helpe and grace and know whilest they haue Christ they cannot misse V. Esay 49. Sion saith The Lord hath forsaken me The Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her Childe that shée take not pitty of the sonne of her body and although shée should forget it yet will I not forget thee Behould I haue marked thee in the very hand When the Lord God a little suffereth vs to fall into apparent need crosse and sufferance and helpeth not quickly then faileth often-times our comfort and we thinke God hath forgotten vs. In such tribulation hee sheweth vs a comfortable Image to looke vpon and to learne therby to strengthen our faith Thou art saith he a father or mother hast louing children tell me if thy child should be for a while from thee couldest thou forget it Oh no it is impossible for any that are in their right wits or that haue any reason or vnderstanding for children come from the heart and goe to the heart againe But to me saith the Lord it is more impossible for my heart is not so sickle as mans neither is my grace so short or narrow I haue an eternall grace and mercy therefore can I as little forget my Christians as mine hand they are noted in my hand I thinke on them continually they are alwayes before my godly eies that I must see them and cannot forget them yea doe vphold them also through the right hand of my Righteousnes so that no man neither Sinne Hell Death nor Diuell can by any meanes pull them out of my hand VI. Psal 8. Thou hast put all things vnder his feete WEe poore Creatures are afraid of this vile naughty world the Turke Death and his beggerly sicknesse and of the very Diuell and are afraide of his tyranny and hellish power which is naturall but when wee acknowledge our Lord Iesus Christ and what power and might hée hath wherefore neede we be afraid As the Church singeth very comfortably out of the sixe and fortie Psalme If all the world fell diuels were and would vs all deuoure Yet need we not theÌ„ for to seare of vs they haue no power For this Champion which is alwaies our Sauiour and Emanuel is alwayes by vs and hath such power to defend vs and to vphold vs that hee will bee our stedfast rocke and bulwarke against all our Aduersaries Sinne Death and the Diuell and preserue vs euermore for God the Father hath put all things vnder his feete And this saying must not bee vnderstood of Sheepe Oren wilde beasts and Fishes of the Sea but by this word All vnderstand all Diuels all hellish rabblement Turks and Heathens In summâ— the very gates of Hell all sickenesse Plague Pestilence c. is all put vnder Christs seet that is to say vnder his power Therefore is it a sure comfort vnto vs that wee haue a strong couragious Lord to defend vs. For all the Diuels how horrible soeuer they seeme with all their armies and hellish power are noâ— able to make a Christian die without the will of the Lord Iesus Christ they must all acknowledge him to bee â—he â—â—â—rd and now the kâ—ee before him When dare not once sâ—â—re recâ—pt 〈◊〉 bee â—is will much lesse seeing hee hath with his owne blood bought vs to his euerlasting Kingdome and will not hinder vs of our saluation This comfort should euerie Christian bée sure of that hée may say I beléeue in Iesus Christ our Lord c. I am certaine that Iesus Christ is Lord of heauen and Earth yea of all in the water in the depth of Hell that hee hath all in his hands in his power and command in such sort that all the Diuels Hell and Death how raging soeuer they bee cannot crooke a â—â—ire of mée or of any member of Christ Also all diseases sicknesse or pestilence without his will cannot poyson one little veine in mee But if it doe happen with his will then must it not bee hurtfull vnto mee but a furtherance and seruiceable to my saluation A praier O My God my Lord and Father shew vnto my poore soule that it may perceiue thou art my rocke bulwark shield tower treasure defence trust helpe refuge protection and goodnesse that I in this my great néede and tribulation may through thy godly grace haue help and assistance against my aduersaries and bee preserued for euer Lord vpon thee do I trust let me neuer be ashamed Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit O Lord thou true God release thou me Amen Generall comfortable Sentences wherewith a man may comfort himselfe with Gods eternall preseruation Esay 41. THOU shalt bée my seruant for I haue chosen thee and cast thee not away Feare not I am with thée Goe not aside for I am thy God I strengthen thee I helpe thee also and I pâ—eserue thee through the right hand of my Righteousnes Esay 43. Feare thou not I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by thy Name thou art
thou dost conuert God hath a liking to thee and taketh thée agayne to his mercie for his Names sake that is onely therefore that he will through Christ bee mercifull vnto vs to the end wee acknowledge his Name and Mercie and praise the same 1 Cor. 11. When we are iudged then shall wee bee chastised of the Lord that we be not damned with the world HEere doth Saint Paul shew the cause why God doth lay the crosse vpon his people Hée doth the same that wée may attaine vnto his holines For it is certaine if GOD should giue to vs all that wee would willingly haue wee should bée safe and haue no regard of our sinnes neither thinke on the Word or Prayer But when all goeth ouer and ouer and now one affliction and then another hapneth then hath a man cause to hasten not onely to prayer but also to thinke how wee with our sinnes haue well deserued such correction And therefore hencefoorth to prepare our selues more earnestly for amendement of our liues As it is saide in the Epistle to the Hebrews Our Father in Heauen doth chastise vs for our good that we may attayne vnto his holinesse A Prayer O Deare and heauenlie Father who of thy well meaning and loue to keepe mée vnder thy childely obeysance for obtayning of thy holinesse and to make mée selected hast laide so manifold corrections vpon mee Take pitty on my Soule and come to help me in these mine afflictions occurrences and temptations of the raging Diuell Deliuer my soule in this great néede from the hellish dogges Amen Lament of Ieremy 3. It is a costly thing to bée patient and to tarry for the Lords helpe MAny men do often fall vnder the crosse into Impatience and Despaire for they know not yet what the good God meaneth towards vs with the Crosse and this impatience is a great affliction of the Diuell by which the vnfaithfull are brought either to seeke meanes that bee forbidden or through despaire when a had conscience meeteth with it doe run their owne heart out doe poyson drowne hang or kill themselues c. for they haue no comfort in their hearts It fareth with them as the Prophet Micheas in the 7. Chap. saith When the day of thy Preacher commeth they shall not know what to do Against such afflictions doth Ieremy héere strengthen vs O saith hée what a terrible woful thing it is when a man will not acknowledge what a louing heart God hath towards him He begins to bee impatient murmureth against God and despaireth against which if any doe thinke thus in his heart I know I haue a mercifull God in heauen who esteemeth of mee as of other his deare children and will through these my afflictions sicknesse woes and miseries c. put mee in minde of my sinnes and admonish mee to repentance that I may bee more godly and shall keepe mee from sinne These are precious and happy thoughts for they are the comfort of the Holy Ghost and worthy to bée praised For whosoeuer hath such thoughts in his heart is patient vnder the Crosse seeketh helpe by GOD with prayer and hopeth for the Lords gracious houre of helpe and is of sure hope that it will come if not corporally yet the Lord will perfectly heare him Therefore tarrieth hée for his helpe with patience So did the Prophet Abacuk comfort in the 2. Chap. The promise shall bee yet fulfilled in due season and lastly come to light and not tarry away Though it linger tarry you it will surely come and not stay A Prayer O Heauenly Father giue mee thy holy Spirit to strengthen mee that I may beare thy will with patience that both in good and euill I may alwaies breake my will offer and mortifie my selfe and not murmure against thee although I thinke it goeth otherwise with mee then I gladly would I would rather that it went alwaies after my will that I might bee without Crosses but O Lord doe thou thy will vpon mée and giue mee obedience and patience in all Crosses and Afflictions Amen IIII. God will also deliuer from the Crosse 1 Cor. 10. GOd is trusty who will not let you bee tempted aboue your abilitie but maketh the temptation to get an end that you may beare it HEere doth Saint Paul encounter with two great afflictions which greatly hinder our faith especially when wee grone lie bedred The first that wee thinke the Crosse to bée heauy and too great and feare wee must vnder it goe to the ground The second that wee sée no way nor meanes whereby wee may bee holpen then wée make account we are vndon and begin to doubt and to despaire Therefore doth Saint Paul heere comfort vs Why should you so despaire vnder the crosse you haue yet a true mercifull God which laieth vpon no man more then his ability yea hee himselfe giueth strength and power to them which bee not able and maketh the affliction a gracious meanes and end that how heauie soeuer the same seemeth yet those which are his doe goe through with it and beare it for the crosse is to a Christian but a slight burthen and a light yoake Math. 11. vnder which the Lord himselfe did put his godly arme necke and shoulders and will comfort them as hee promiseth Esay 51. I euen I am your Comforter c. And how long or endless the crosse séemeth to our vnderstanding yet shall there be a happy end and but a small thing as the Lord himselfe reckoned his suffering that it was but little Iohn 16. So also the Lord GOD comforted his Christians Yet a little while then shall my anger for thy sinnes and my displeasure haue an end Esay 10. Heere doth the Lord giue a fine comparison Iohn 16. of a Woman in Child-bed with whom it séemeth also as if the Crosse were importable both Mother and Childe must goe together The poore woman can doe no more but yeeldeth her selfe in such smart and deadly paine vnto Gods will and pleasure and saith Whether I liue or die I am the Lords Now when the paine is at the greatest and no power more to beare behold it goeth then after the common prouerbe Where mans helpe endeth there Gods helpe beginneth It is but for a little time and then in stead of death two liues are brought into the world and the woman thinketh no more on the paine for great ioy that shée hath brought a merry birth into the world Likewise should wée also comfort our selues that it is but a while then shall Gods helpe bee vnto vs and in stead of sorrow ioy and comfort shall bee found A Prayer O Thou most true and good Lord GOD and Father giue mée for thy Son Iesus Christs sake through thy holy Spirit a strong trust in thee that I may assure my self and goe thorow with all the afflictions of the Crosse and stedfastly beléeue although the Crosse to my thinking and to all mens reason séemeth too heauie and importable
But the Baker that is the vngodly dreameth alwaies of the Diuell and how the birds doe eate his Bread out of the Basket The Birds are the Diuels which eate away Gods word from him Such eating and gnawing must they féele for euer whereof wee haue a similitude which our Elders fained of Prometheus that the Eagle did eate out his heart and the heart did grow within him againe and the eating neuer had end The same doe the wicked féele truely as the wofull tragedy of the Rich man sheweth That there are two resurrections whereby all men may direct themselues God causeth to bee preached vnto vs in the time of Grace Therefore whosoeuer will escape such euerlasting gnawing eating consciences hellish paine and torment let him take hold of the sweete doctrine of the Holy Gospell and in the Sacraments put therewith comfort into his heart trust and beléeue as Gods word doth plentifully shew him for so it must bée as Christ very comfortably promiseth Mark 16. Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued Amen A Prayer O Euerlasting God and Father which art not a God of the dead but of the liuing For in thée doe all they liue which rest vnder the Earth in their Chambers Wee pray thy fatherly goodnesse that thou wilt not let the thinking of death or of his sting bee a feare vnto vs but wilt through grace of thy holy Spirit keepe vs in she right faith of thy déere Sonne who is the truth and life and giue vs a good conscience that wee may liue Christianly and depart happily out of this vale of miserie sleepe in peace and ioy ' and rest quietly vntill thou open our Graues And thorough the sound of the trumpet bée waked againe to life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen 1. Cor. 15. It is sowed a naturall body c. HEere the Holy Ghost vseth another word and calleth Dying To be sowed which is a friendly similitude wee are the Wheatcornes as Christ himselfe saith Ioh. 12 Now is the séed which the Husbandman soweth glory and bring foorth much fruit whereon God the holie Trinitie shall haue euerlasting ioy and pleasure Therefore should wee not bée afraide of death A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ come and sowe vs and our Children in thy Churchyard that wee neuer neede to bee afraide for any trouble néede warres or hearts sorrow Amen Luke 2. The old man Simeon singeth Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace THis olde Christian Simeon calleth Death a Departing in Peace which is also the saying of the Holie Ghost for there is nothing in our whole body vpon earth but vnrestfulnesse and disquietnesse one after another But when we our Lord and GOD shall goe out of this vale of miserie and come into our euerlasting Countrey then come wee vnto Peace What man would not then once haue also such peace and rest Philip 1. I desire to depart or to bée dissolued and to bee with Christ which is also much better HEere Saint Paul calleth Death A Dissoluing or a departure for héere we are bound to sinnefull flesh to paines and labour and cannot sooner bee quit thereof then through the happie houre 2. Pet. 1. I know that I shall quickly put off my Tabernacle SAint Peter nameth Death héere the Going out of a poore ruinated sinfull and wofull Habitation and to be remooued into a glorious paradise or to put off an olde worne gowne and to put on an immortall and heauenly apparell whereof we ought by good reason to reioyce Esay 26. Go hence my people into a chamber and shut the doore after thée hide thée awhile till the indignation bee ouerpast Esay 57. The righteous are plueked away from their misfortune and they which haue wandred righteously do come into peace and rest in their chambers HOW friendly and ioyfully speaketh the Holie Ghost of the death of Christians and giueth the same fiue beautifull names First Dying hee calleth Going into a Chamber to goe into a pleasant Parlour as often-times a man buildeth a pleasant roome for himselfe where hee would willingly héee alone and bee quiet from his children and houshold Secondly he nameth death Hiding one a while till Gods wrath and punishment bee ouerpast as when one stands vnderneath for soule weather or hideth his daughter when an army passes thorow so doth the Lord God lay vs vp that no misfortune hurt vs. Thirdly Death is called Plucking away from misfortune for when GOD will punish the World for their sinnes hee taketh first his Christians away gathereth them together remooueth them into a place of safetie that they be not hurt Fourthly it is called Departing in peace as Simeon did Fiftly Resting in their chambers for else vpon earth will be small rest or peace But the Graue of the Christians hee calleth our Chambers and resting beds wherein no man shall disquiet vs or awake vs nor any man can driue vs out There would many a one also haue gladly a resting Chamber vpon Earth and buildeth often with great charges in quiet places euen where hee heareth no knocking or running especially when hee is sick but all is to no effect for on Earth is no such fléeping Chamber to bée had wee are awaked with care sorrow need world and Diuell So are our Chambers vpon earth but hired Chambers although wee haue bought them wee know not when wee shall goe foorth of them But the Chambers in the Church-yard are quiet and our owne There shall no care sickenesse nor Diuell make vs vnquiet neyther shall anie man driue vs out till the Lord Iesus awake vs to euerlasting life This is comfortably and ioyfully spoken of the death of Christians and of the Graue Hee that beléeueth it will béeglad from his heart for the houre Philip. 1. Christ is my life and Death is my gaines SAint Paul giueth Death heere a fayre name his greatest and best gaines for there hee layeth in exchange a mortall needefull defectiue sinnefull weake sicke and vnperfect body and taketh for the same againe for vsurie and gaines an euerlasting immortall holy strong and spirituall body which may be called a Gaines who would be afraid to die Psal 116. The death of his Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. BEfore the world and our fiue Senses nothing is more horrible nor terrible yea nor more dishonourable then death and a dead body But before the face of Almightie God the Death of Christians is the fairest Relique Gen. 15. God saith to Abraham Thou shalt goe to thy Fathers with peace HEere God himselfe nameth Death a Going home into his Country and to come to his Parents and Friends And withall vpon the iourney to be conducted with peace As a childe that hath beene long amongst strangers reioyceth in his heart that hee may once goe home so should wee also reioyce when our deaths houre approacheth that wee may goe home into our euerlasting Country and with all Christendome haue an euerlasting Nuptiall day and
named them so must they bée called at this present day If Adam then in the naturall body and before the Fall had such sharp eyes that he could see the Beasts in his heart as for example what the nature and property of the Stork is which hath a naturall born loue to the old ones that haue brought her vp shall not we much more in the new spirituall body which shall beare the Image of Christ bee a thousand times wiser and knowe all This is a right good argument The II. Argument THis is like the first that Adam knew Eue so soon as God brought her to him when hée had made her of his ribs before GOD said one word vnto him There it is rightly said Ille est felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas Therefore said Adam according vnto the Hebrew speech This is mercifulnes she shall haue a true hart and shall bee called Woman c. Whil'st Adam in his naturall life had such sharp eies shall wee not much more in the spirituall and euerlasting life haue much sharper eies that wee knowe one another and also those which in this life we haue not knowne I cannot finde any thought in me to withdraw it from mee that it should not be The III. Argument THe third proof they take from Christ when Mary Magdalen mette him in the garden who being yet in her sinnefull body did quickly knowe him by his spéech and likewise the Apostles also much more shall wee knowe one another when wee shall haue pure clarified eies The IIII. Argument CHrist laieth before vs the Rich-man and poor Lazarus which is no similitude but a true History acted although it bée wonderfull and strange vnto vs that in another life they shall both know one another In brief There shall be a right perfect knowledge that wée shall also knowe the high Maiesty of God and sée him face to face as Iob comforted himself chapter 19. I shall see God in my flesh Such knowledge shal happen vnto vs as the custome was in old time amongst our Elders when they kept the hallowing of their Church when all the friends and kinred came together once in a yéer which had in a long time before not séen one another as they vse often at Easter and Christmasse to visit their good friends There are they knowne amongst the kinred Is not that my Vncle Is not this my Aunt Are not these also my cousins and friends So that they knowe one another with great ioy Then knowe that at the later Day shall be the right renewed day that right Church Holy-day shall begin where all Christendome shall come together make themselues knowne one to another and shall haue an euerlasting Church-Feast a perpetuall Easter-Feast and a day of eternall ioy These things should a Christian remember for they serue to this end that many a one may bée comforted therewith when hée must depart from a good Friend Father or Mother Brother or Sister goeth far off and knoweth not at his returne if hée shall finde them in health Or else in the time of mortality when we should depart one from another then may one comfort himself in thinking thus I shall not yet lose him altogether I know that our Lord God hath appointed a Church-holy-day where my dearest children brethren sisters and good friends come to mee again there will wee consult together for euer The same is a notable comfort when his father mother and kinred bee dead that hée be not discourâ—ged but know that they bee but gone before him And therefore it is called thus Coming again makes me sure That I esteem not departure A Praier O LORD Iesus Christ which art the conductor of life thou through thy death hast ouercome euerlasting death in victory made sin and death to be nothing and confirmest with a double oath that we which kéep thy word stedfastly in our hearts shall not see death eternally doost comfort and promise to vs thy faithfull that we shall be for euer in the height of ioy and saluation where thou art Therefore wee pray thee from our hearts O Lord Iesus Christ that thou wilt through the grace of thy holy Spirit preserue vs constantly in such faith that thy Kingdome may quickly come that wee may bee deliuered out of this vale of misery that wée and our faithfull Children Parents Brethren and Sisters all our kinsfolks and all godly people through thy spirituall grace may bee brought one to another as thou didst bring to the widow of Naim her dear son in bodily maner That thou wouldest also as thy Word comforteth graciously grant that as Adam in the state of innocency knew Eue of whom he before did knowe nothing and as thou after thy holy resurrection didst make thy self knowne we likewise may sée and knowe one another in the highest ioy of thy saluation and to thy laud praise may consult together euerlastingly Amen Lord Iesus Christ Amen Heer after follow godly Sayings and Prayers taken out of the Psalms of Dauid to be vsed in the extreme necessity of death O Lord rebuke me not in thy Indignation neither chasten thou mee in thy heauy displeasure Haue mercy vpon mée O Lord for I am weake my soule also is sore troubled but Lord how long Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule O saue me for thy mercies sake O Lord my God in thée haue I put my trust saue me from all them that persecute me and deliuer me Haue mercy vpon mee O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate mee thou that liftest me vppe from the very gates of death O Lord thou art hee that tooke mee out of my mothers womb thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brests Go not from me then for trouble is hard at hand and there is none to help me I am powred out like water all my bones are out of ioynt my heart in the midst of my body is euen like melting waxe My strength is dried vp like a potshard my tongue cleaueth to my gummes but be not thou farre from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to helpe me Tarry not long O Lord for I am very faint Quicken my soule O Lord and bring me foorth in the way of righteousnesse for thy names sake Vnto thee O Lord I lift my soule my God I trust in thee O let me not be confounded lest mine enemies triumph ouer mee For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed Thou art the God of my saluation Call to remembrance thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesses which haue euer béene of olde Remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according vnto thy mercie thinke vpon mee O Lord for thy goodnes For thy Names sake O Lord be mercifull vnto my sinne for it is great Turne thee vnto me and haue mercie vpon me for I am desolate and oppressed The sorrowes of my heart are great O bring