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A14944 A moste frutefull, piththye and learned treatise, how a christen ma[n] ought to behaue himself in the dau[n]ger of death Werdmüller, Otto, 1511-1552.; Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Grey, Jane, Lady, 1537-1554. aut 1555 (1555) STC 25251; ESTC S100738 68,910 312

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ascension of Christ be cōsidered For the sonne of god hath promysed and sayd Father I wyl that where I am they also be whom thou hast geuen me Seyng that Chryst now with body and soule is go te vp to heauen what can be thoughte more comfortable for a man at hys death then that we Chrystyans shall also after death be takē vp into the ioie of heauē In heauen sytteth Chryste at the ryghte hande of god Chryste sy●teth at the ryghte hand of god Lorde and kyng ouer synne deuil death and hel Him we haue in that heauenly lyfe wyth god an assured faythfull mediator and helper Though we must fyghte in extremitie of death yet are we not alone in thys conflyct or battayl euen the valeaunt heauenly captayne hymselfe who vpō the crosse ouer came death and all misfortune for our sakes hath respecte vnto vs from tyme to time goeth beefore vs in oure battayle and fyghteth for vs Deut 1 c 20 Exo 14 c Iosu 23. a 1 Pat 6 a 2 Pat 20 32 4 reg ● d Zach 10 a kepeth vs from all mischaunces in the way to saluacyon so that we nede not care nor feare that we shal sinke or fal down to the bottome He shall cause vs with oure own bodely eyes to see the glorious victory and triumphe in the resurrecciō of the dead to haue experyence therof in oure own body and soule Death is euen as a darke caue in the grounde but who so taketh Chrystes light candell puttyng hys truste in hym and goeth into the dymme darke hole the mysre flyeth before him and the darkenesse vanysheth awaye In Chryste haue we a mighty effectuous ymage of grace of life and of saluacyon in suche sorte that we Chrystyans should feare neyther death nor other misfortune Summa he is oure hope our safegarde oure triumph our crowne Wrinesse of scripture Iohn 1● I am the resurreccion and the lyfe he that beleueth one me yea though he were dead yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die Forth wyth after he had spoken these wordes raysed he vp Lazarus who had lyen fouer dayes in the graue and beeganne to corrupte and stynke As by Adā al die so by Christ shall all be made aliue 1 Cor 13 euery one in hys order Item oure burgershyppe is in heauen from whens we loke for a sauioure Philip 3 euē Iesus Chryste whyche shall chaunge oure vyle bodyes that they maie bee fashyoned lyke vnto hys gloryous body accordyng to the working wherby he is able to subdue all thynges vnto hymself Also Ye are dead Colossiās 3 and your lyfe is hid wyth Chryste in god But whan Chryst your life shal shewe hym selfe then shal ye also appeare with hym in glory Here dooeth Paul declare that our life is not in this worlde but hyd wyth Chryste in god and shall thorowe Chryst in hys tyme be gloryously opened After thys maner should Christe be prynted into the feble troubled and doubtfull consciences of the sycke And withal diligēce ought the office of Chryst to be considered how that he accordyng vnto the scripture comming into thys world for our welth did also for our wealth preache wrought miracles suffred died to deliuer vs oute of thys false vnhappye worlde to open vnto vs the ryght● dore into eternall lyfe to bring vs with body and soule into heauen Wherin neyther sinne death nor deuill shall be able to hynder vs for euermore Who shall euer be able sufficiently to prayse and magnify the infinite glori of the grace of god What would we haue the Lorde oure God to dooe more for vs to make vs lustely steppe forth beefore the face of death manfullye to fyghte in all trouble and wyllynglye to wayte for the delyueraunce ¶ That god hath promysed hys helpe and comfort The .21 Chapter OVte of thys exceadynge grace of god for the blessed sedes sake proceade gods comfortable promises in the olde and newe testament Psal 32 Psal 91 Myne eyes shall still be vpon thee that thou peryshe not The Lorde shall delyuer thee frō the snare of the hunter and from the moste noysome death Wyth hys owne wynges shall he couer thee so that vnder hys fethers thou shalt bee safe Hys trueth faythfulnes shall be thy shylde buckler so that thou shalt neither nede to feare any inconuenyence by nyght neyther swyfte arowe in the daye season neyther the pestilence that crepeth in darknes nor yet any hurt that destroyeth by day tyme. Though a thousand fall on thy lefte hande and ten thousande on thy ryght yet shall it not touche the. Heare dooeth god euydently promyse that he wyll gracyously preserue hys own chyldrē First from suche temptacion phantasy and disceaueablenes as come vp on a man by nyghte in the darke Secondly from the violence of wycked vnthriftes and all myschaunces that ouertake men opēly in the daye season yea sometyme sodenly and vnwares Thirdly from the pestylence that we nede not to feare it thoughe there dye of it a thousande on the lefte hande and ten thousand on the ryghte The pestilence shal either not take vs or not woūde vs vnto death or els serue to oure euerlastyng welfare Fourthlye from hote feuerous syckenesses suche as commenlye growe in hote countryes whan the sonne shyneth most strongly Vnder these foure plages are all mischaunces comprehended In the ende of thys Psalme stād these words I am with him in trouble I wil deliuer him and bryng hym to honour Whan god saith I am with hym cōsyder not thou thine own powers for thei helpe nothing at al. Behold much more the power of him that is with the in trouble Whan thou hearest I wyll delyuer hym thou must not be faint hearted though the trouble doe seme longe to continewe whan thou hearest I wyl bryng hym vnto honour bee thou sure that as thou arte partaker of the death of Chryste so shalt thou be also of hys glory Math 11 Chryste calleth thee to hym cryeth yet styll come to me all ye that laboure and are laden and I wyll ease you Take my yoke on you and learne of me that I am meke and lowly in hearte and ye shall fynde rest vnto your soules Agayn verely vereli I say vnto you Iohn 8 If any mā kepe mi sayinges he shall neuer see death Vnderstande that the light of life doeth shine clearer then the darkenesse of death can blynde For the faithfull thorowe hys belefe is after suche sorte incorporated and ioyned vnto the lord Chryste that true lyfe that he shal not be separated from hym Thoughe bodye and soule departe a sunder now for a season yet is that done in an assured vndoubted hope of the blessed resurreccion that veri shortlye both bodye and soule shall come together agayne to eternall ioye And thus the Christiā beleuer neyther seeith feleth nor tasteth the euerlasting death of his body and soule that is
shal we neuer bee able to comprehende how it commeth to passe that the soule muste depart out and yet bee preserued the wormes consume the bodye and that thesame yet shal ryse agayne and lyue for euer Therefore is there required faythe in Chryste and in his word The summe her of haue we in the twelue articles of the olde aunciente vndoubted Christian belefe And though it bee our dewtye alwaye speciallye at the tyme of death earnestly to consider al the articles yet pryncipally whā we dye we oughte to exercyse the foure last articles The communyon of saintes The Frutes of faith the forgeuenes of sinnes the resurreccion of the body and the lyfe euerlastynge For these foure in themselues comprehēde al the power commoditie frute of faythe Namelye whosoeuer doeth stedfastly loke for al grace and help at gods hande thorowe the concepcion and birth death passyon resurreccyon ascensyō intercessyon merytes of Iesus Chryst and standeth lyueth and dieth in the same faith though all synnes deuils death hel would fall vpon hym and oppresse him yet canne they not hurt hym To bee shorte it is not other wise possible he must nedes haue feloshyppe wyth God and the elect and be quite discharged from all synnes and ioyfully rise again to eternal life Yea what soeuer the sōne of god himselfe hath can do and is able that same hath thys beeleuer also obteyned neyther can it goe other wyse wyth hym but prosperously in lyfe death here and in the world to come tēporally and eternally Wytnesse Whoso hath Chryst hath already the true lyfe and all blessing for Christ is the life the resurreccion and a plentefull sufficiency of all good thinges Thorowe fayth Ephesi 3. doeth Chryste dwell in our hartes Therfore thorowe fayth we obteyne all consolacion and blessyng That fayth is the true absolucyon it may be perceaued by the wordes of Chryste whā he saith so oft in the gospell be it vnto the accordyng to thy belefe Item God wyll constauntlye stand to hys worde and promes he is of nature the trueth it selfe Heauen and earth shall passe but hys wordes shall not passe Luke 21. What are nowe the promyses of god Iohn 3. So god loued the world that he gaue hys onelye begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleueth on hym shoulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe O howe blessed a promys is thys that if we beleue in Chryste the sonne of god we shall thorowe hym inheryte eternall lyfe Item Iohn 5. vereli verely I say vnto you he that heareth my woordes and beleueth on hym that sēt me hath euerlastyng lyfe and shall not come into damnacyon but is escaped from death vnto lyfe Lorde howe comfortable a thing is thys that a faythfull beleuer by temporall death escapeth thorow yea is already escaped into euerlastyng lyfe Againe Iohn ● ▪ this is the will of my father which hath sente me that euery one whych seeth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue eternall lyfe and I shall raise him vp at the laste day As though he said Thys is the most gētle good will of god the father of god the sonne that such a man as styll endureth in stedfaste confidence vpon the grace worde of God shall bee preserued saued for euer And euen as litle shall synne hell and the deuyll be able to hurte hym as they could hurte Chryste hymselfe A pithie similitude Whan the darknes of the night falleth down it couereth the whole world dymmeth the coloure and fashion of all creatures feareth discomforteth them yet is it not of such power as to darken suppresse quenche the least light of al that is founde in the worlde For the darker the night is the clearer dothe starres shyne yea the lest lyght of a candell wtstandeth the whole night and geueth light rounde about in the middes of darknes A litle sparke also of a coale can not the darknes couer much les is it able to quēch it 1. Ihon ● Now is god the true euerlastyng heauēly light And al they that put their truste in hym are as a burnīg candle For thorow fayth doeth god dwell in our hartes we ar the liuing tēple of god Christs disciples ar called the lightes of the world Hereout foloweth it the though the prince of spiritual darknes thrust in with his noisome poisō plages Yet shal we beholde in faith that he with his poisō plages can neyther apprehēd nor destroy any true faithful mā or womā but shal be sinitten back dryuen away perforce A lytle vayne of water An apte similitude breaketh forth out of the groūd sometyme scace a fynger bygge and whan the water is gathered into a dyche or ponde it spryngeth neuerthelesse And though the water become heuy of certain hūdreth wayght and moue about the fo●●tayne yet can it not dryue backe 〈◊〉 fountaine but it driueth the whol● waighte of the water backward● and forwarde and spryngeth st●● continually tyll the dyche bee s● full that it goe ouer And if the other water be foule and trouble● it can not myngle it selfe among the freshe cleare water of the fo●●tayne but the same remayneth pu●● and fayer tyll in tyme it com● farre from the head spryng Iere. 2. Psal 36. Nowe is god the only plentifull fountayne of all lyfe An● the faythfull are verye flowyng wels For Chryste saieth Whos● beleueth on me Iohn 7. out of hys body as sayth the scripture shal flow streames of the water of lyfe Whyche wordes he spake of th● sprete that they which beleue o● hym should receaue Thus no m●●chaunce of thys world can spoil● any faythful man of his comfort and lyfe forasmuche as god the eternall well spryng of life dwelleth and floweth in hys hearte and dryueth all noysome things 〈◊〉 awaye from it To the intente now The exercyse of fayth that thou mayest be partaker of al the frutes of faith thou must māfulli striue and exercyse thy belefe after this maner If any imaginacion or thoughte concernynge synne or death wil feare the though flesh and bloud tell thee otherwyse though thyne owne naturall reason woulde make thee to beeleue none other and thou thy selfe felest not the contrari but the god of very wrath wyll kyll thee dāne thee for euer yet let no dispayer plucke the noble comforte of the sauioure out of thyne hearte let not thy hart wauer in the louing and fatherly promes of god Let the terrible cogitacions passe as much as is possible Remember the comfortable gracious worde of the lord Iesu Blessed of godis he that ●ath thys ●ynde Comprehend and kepe it sure in a stedfast belefe confydence and hope Plucke vp thi●e heart and say O death thy false feare woulde fayne disceaue me and wyth lying cogitacions pull me awaye from Chryst the worthy I mai not harkē to thy feare neyther accepte it I knowe of a deare
Chryst Therfore must we wyth draw our selues frō al creatures praying and desyryng all things at gods hande onely thorow the name of Iesu How oughte a man to call vpō god thorowe Chryste What is to call vpon god in Chryste Wyth belefe that we doubt not but oure prayer is heard already To such a fayth and confydence are we occasioned in that God hath commaunded vs to pray and promysed that he wyl graciouslye heare vs knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you ▪ c. For what thynge oughte we to make our prayer vnto god For the vnderstandīg of his word for remissiō of sinnes for increace of fayth for loue euen towardes our enemyes for helpe pacience comforte and all spiritual giftes To pray for health and long lyfe The moderacion of praier for temporal thynges is not vnryghte so farre as we cōmitte and referre it vnto the holy wyl of god For we can not make it better then the faithful father that knoweth best of all And to pray for a long lyfe is oft tymes nothyng els then to desyer to be kept long in miserye Esai 38. Good Ezechyas yet prayed wyth teares that he myght lyue for a season Chryst the most perfect ensāple of al did pray Father if it be possible take thys bitter draught fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thyne bee done Lyke as he nowe prayed thus the seconde and third time moste earnestlye So ought we also without ceassynge to cal vnto god Some appoynte god afore hande what death he must suffer them to dye But they doe best of all that prescrybe vnto the lord theyr god neyther fashyon of death nor tyme neyther other circumstaunce but referre al vnto him who knoweth what is profitable and good better then we ourselues Moreouer we must praye for wife and childe for frende and enemy and for the whole congregacion of the Chrystians that god may graciouslye take thē all into hys own proteccion Vnto praier belōgeth it also cherfulli to geue god thankes for all bodelye and gostly benefites ¶ The fourme of prayer The .32 Chapter Praier to god the father O Almightie euerlastynge god mercyful father of heauē thou hast created me after thyne owne image and endewed me wyth exceadyng plentiful giftes Confessyon Yet not wythstandyng all thy benefites I haue many and sondry wayes contemned and transgressed thy commaundementes All my dayes are passed foorth with greuous synnes I feare and flye from thee as from a righteous iudge Althys what soeuer it be I freelye knowledge and confes and am sory for it frō the ground of my heart Desyre of grace But O heauenly father I cry and call for thy large and great mercy O enter not with me into iudgemente remember not the synnes of my youth O thynke vpon me accordyng to thi mercye for thy names sake and for thy goodnes which hath ben from euerlastyng Vouchesafe to graunt me thy mercy which thou according to the contentes of the gospel hast promised and opened thorow thy beloued sōne in such sort that whoso beleueth on him shal haue euerlastyng lyfe Now is my belefe in Iesu Christ euen in the only redemer of the whole worlde I vtterly refuse all other comforte helpe and assistaunce and my hope is onely thorowe Chryste to haue pardon of my sinnes eternal life Thi wordes are trewe be it vnto me accordīg to thy wordes O let me enioye y● passion and death of thyne onely begottē sonne Take for my sīnes the satysfaccion and paymente of our lord Iesus Chryste accordīg to the tenour of my belefe Of thys my fayth thou shalt thy selfe O Lord be wytnesse and al thine elect My last wil also shall it be vpon thy mercy to dy in this fayth Though I now by occasiō of pain lacke of reasō or thorowe tēptaciō should happen or would fall awaye suffer me not yet O lorde to sticke fast in vnbelefe blasphemy but helpe myne vnbelefe strength and increace my fayth that synne death the deuil and hel dooe me no harme Thou art strōger and mightier thē thei that is onely my trust and confydence O lord the flesh is feble vnpacient laye not thou my weakenes to mi charge but burne smit prycke and plage as thou wylte thy selfe Pacience and lowlynes is the signe of a Chrystyan only Ibesech the graūt me pacience and lowelynesse of mynde Be thou the strength of my soule in this farre iournei which I haue now to go in an vnknowē lande Now shewe thy selfe vnto my poore soule so as it may fele that thou art my refuge my help proteccyon defence comforte castel my sure stony rocke my safegarde my treasure prosperyte health and wellfare I yelde my selfe wholy vnto thee with soule and body let me neuer bee confounded Helpe also Prayer for the enemy o heauēly father that accordyng vnto thy cōmaundement I may loue myne enemyes and pray for them that haue hurte me Math 5. c roma 12 b. c. And bryng to pas thorowe thy holy sprete that all thei whō I haue done harme vnto may also forgeue me to the cōmoditie and health of their owne soules For it reweth me and sory I am that at any time I haue broken Christian loue and charytie and begiled desceaued or offēded any man wyth euill ensample or with to fewe benefites I besech the O lord thorow Iesus Christ forgeue thou all them that euer haue hurt me in thought worde or dede Praier for eueri man To thy faythfulnes and proteccion O dearest father I commit all that concerneth me speciallye wyfe children frendes all such as thou hast put vnder my gouernaunce Comfort and helpe thou all those that ly in bandes and ar persecuted for thy wordes sake Haue mercy vpon al such as are in prison pouertie sickenes and heuines O bring thou the whole world to the knowledge of thi holy word that they may liue accordyng to thy godly wyl and thorow out all troubles to endure continue styll in the Christiā faith O Lorde Iesu Chryste Praier to god the sonne I besech the thorowe thine owne merites haue mercye vpon me Seinge I my selfe can not make satisfaccion or sufficient amēdes towards the father for my synnes I laye thē vpō the in hope that thou haste already taken them awaye For thou hast payed that we ought oure woundes hast thou healed O increace thou in me and other men fayth pacyence and consolacion what aduersitie or trouble soeuer we be in Thou lord Iesu in thy passion diddest pray Father if it be possible let thys cup passe fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thine be done and that is my praier also Vpō the crosse that dydst pray Father forgeue thē Euē so lord forgeue I al those that euer haue done any thing agaīst me Thou didst cry my god my god why hast thou forsakē me O lorde forsake not thou me then in my deadlye trouble Vpon the crosse thou
The preacher sayth remember thy maker in thy youth Eccle. 11. or euer the dayes of aduersitie come and afore the yeares drawe nye when thou shalt saye I am wery of my lyfe Agayne we reade examine correcte thy selfe Sirac 1● afore the iudgement come so shalte thou fynde grace in the syght of god Hūble thy selfe afore thou be sycke and declare in season that thou wylte ceasse from sinne Be not hindred to pray in due tyme and differre not thy amendement vntil death No man knoweth the time place or maner how he shall ende this lyfe Many one hopeth yet longe to liue thynketh I am yet yōg I wil folow the world Whā I am olde or haue a wife kepe house then wyl I begynne to frame my selfe But o thou fooll who hath promysed thee that thou shalt be an old man yea that thou shalt lyue to morow As nothynge is more certayn then death so is nothing more vncertayne then the houre of death whiche the Lorde hath not opened to hys best frendes Therfore euery daye thynke thou none other in thy mynd but that thy glasse is runne out A frendly warnyng let euerye day be vnto thee the last day seyng thou wotest not whether that shalt lyue tyll to morowe Learne to beware by the example of other men vpon whom stretche legge came sodenly and slewe them euen whan they thought nothing lesse then to dye Yea of death ought we to thinke as of that whiche is presente for we haue death by the fote and carye hym aboute wyth vs in oure whole body Lyke as one in a shyppe whether he syt stande awake or slep is euer styll borne and caryed forwarde althoughe he marke it not greatly neyther fele it so our life in a continuall mocyon dooeth euery twynklyng of an eye steale forth and priuely crepe to the end thoughe we marke not howe the tyme passeth Dauid sayeth oure tyme goeth foorth swiftlye Psal 90. as though we did flie As if he wold saye there can nothyng runne or flye awaye more swiftlye And Sirac sayeth Sirac 14. remember the death taryeth not Paul sayeth I dye dayly 1. Cor. 15. For euen in the middest of lyfe ar we in death yea death dayly assone as we are borne taketh awai som what of our life After thys meanīg writeth Augustine The time of thys lyfe is nothyng els but arounyng vnto death Moreouer death is daylye set before our eyes we heare the sighing and lamentable voyces of thē that dye we see the coarses caryed to the buriall we gooe by the graues of the dead we bee styll talkyng of those that ar dead and buryed If the ensample of others touch vs but a litle then lette vs consyder our selfes Where is there one of vs that hath not somtyme ben in daunger of lyfe either thorow tempest sicknes pestylence murthur warre or other misfortune Therefore seeyng death waiteth for vs on euery side we doe wisely whan we also on euery syde wayte for him that he take vs not vnprepared or catche vs sodenly Though a man perfectly know as no man doth in dede that it should belonge afore he dyed yet were it exceadyng daungerous to differ the preparaciō til thā And more profitably could not one hāble the matter then by tyme and in due season to directe himselfe vnto that place where he desireth euerlastynglye to remayne For vncertayne he is whan the laste houre cōmeth whether he shall conuerte hymselfe to God and whether he shal haue hys ryhgte mynde or not Thoughe he bee not robbed of hys ryghte mynde yet in deadlye sicknes he hath so muche to doe wyth the trouble that it is heard than for hym to learne that he hath not comprehended learned afore The vnspeakeable payne of the bodye the horryble syght of thyne owne synnes the terrible feare of gods iudgement and the cruell temptacyon of the deuill come altogether vpon one heape in the perturbaunce and cōbraunce of death and hynder exceadyng much in euerye thynge that one ought to thynke speake or doe Yf thou now hast lightly regarded al warning and so diest in thy synnes thou shalt not bee able after death to amende any more Al repentaunce sorowing from that tyme forth shall bee in vayne Prou. 11. Whan the vngodly dyeth hys hope is gone Forasmuch thē as it is so that in death we must abyde the sorest and most daungerous cōflict and battayl euery reasonable man may wel perceue that we ought by tyme and in season yea all our lyfe tyme to prepare afore hande agaynste the sayd battayll ¶ That the foresayed thynges oughte by tyme and in due season to bee taken in hande The .40 Chapter THy laste wyll and testament The frute of makyng thy testamente in tyme of health beyng made while thy bodye is whole and sounde causeth not thee to dye the soner as oure feble vnderstanding ymagineth but is an occasion that thou diest the more quietly and that thou then goeste not firste aboute suche thornes whā thou liest vpon thy death bed Well don is it whan one that dyeth dooeth restore euyll gotten goods But vnto god it is an hundreth tymes more acceptable if thou restore it thy selfe while thou art whol and soūd in body It is wel don to bestow one porciō of goods for the relief of the poore But yet is it a muche more acceptable offerynge vnto God whan one hymselfe in hys lyfetyme geueth vnto the poore For that whych thou vpon thy death bead apoyntest for them is not alwaye distributed and though it be yet is it nomore thyne Some do euē as the wyfe that would geue none of her potage to any body tyll her pot was ouerthrown then called she that pore vnto it It is well done in the ende to forgeue all men and to pray vnto god that he also will forgeue all thyne enemies ▪ but much more cōmendable is it to forgeue them afore while thou hast thy health and not doe it for feare of death but for the very loue of Chryste As for other wayghtye makers wherewyth thou arte wrapped concernyng wyfe children neighbours debtes frendes or enemyes those lykewyse oughteste not thou to differre tyll the laste daye wherein thou haste inough to dooe wyth the worlde whych thou arte lothe to forsake wyth deathe whom naturallye thou hateste wyth the deuyll who practyseth all hys crafty falshod and subtyltie wyth the feare of hell the terroure whereof is horrible By meanes of such things an vnprepared manne dooeth oft forgette the grace of GOD and the souls health For if thou hauynge alwaye a louynge frend in estymacyon dooeste contrarye wyse litle regarde a poore neyghbour It were no wonder if thou shouldest forget the same neyghbour in the meane season whan thy deare frende is departed Euen so whan one now hath alway cast what maye dooe the bodye good howsoeuer it goeth wyth the soule no meruayll that the soules health is
¶ A moste frutefull piththye and learned treatise how a Christen mā ought to behaue himself in the daūger of death and howe they are to be releued and cōforted whose deare frendes ar departed oute of thys worlde moste necessarye for this our vnfortunate age and sorowfull dayes Iohn 6. Verely verely I say vnto you he that beleueth in me hath euerlastyng lyfe Vnto all those that vnfaynedly desyer to lyue vnder the feare of god and with pacience abide the commyng of our lord and sauiour Iesus Chryste thorowe the workynge of the holy gost grace and peace be multiplyed THough al kīdes of bestes haue some thynges commen one with another as in that thei see heare fele desier moue frō one place to another yet hath euery beaste also hys own speciall propertie as the birde hath another nature then the fishe the lion another disposicion then the wolfe Euē so in other my bookes heretofore by me publyshed I haue sette forth a generall comforte concerninge trouble sicknesse pouertie displeasure derth warre imprisonment death vnder the whiche I haue comprehended al the crosse and afflyccyon of man Neuertheles euerye mischaunce or aduersity hath also hys owne speciall consideraciō And forasmuch as among terrible thynges vpon earth death is estemed the most cruel of al and it can yet wyth no wysdome of man be ryghtfullye iudged how it goeth with a Christian in and after death Therefore the greatest necessitye requireth that we Christians be diligently instructed by the infallyble worde of god in especiall touchyng the ende and conclusion of our lyfe For whā the laste houre draweth nye whyche we euerye daye yea euery twincklyng of an eye loke for whether the soule after it be departed do liue whether the corrupted body shal ryse agayn whether eternal ioye and saluacion be at hande and which way conducteth and leadeth to saluacyon therof hath the moste subtyle worldly wise man bi his owne naturall reason no knoweledge at all Plato Aristotel Cicero the gretest learned and wysest wryte of these high waightie maters very childishly and folyshli and as for consolacion that they geue it is in no sorte nor wyse to be compared vnto the holi diuine scripture which onlye ministreth the true Christian comforte in lyfe and death And though euery manne ought daily to consider his ende and at all tymes to make hymselfe ready for death seying tha● he knoweth not how where and whan god shal lay hys hand vpō hym Yet neuertheles at this present tyme we haue moe occasiōs to talke and treate thereof nowe that almightie god doth wyth diuers and sundry plages more greuously then here to fore visite our vnrepentant lyfe for that he all thys whyle hath perceaued in vs but litle amēdment neyther nede we to thynke that these the raigne and other plages shall ouerleape vs. Cōsidering now that I though vnworthy and vnmete was called by auctoritie but specially of god to teache to exhort and to cōfort I haue wyth great laboure out of the holy Scripture and out of olde and newe authours collected howe a man shoulde prepare himselfe vnto death how he is to be vsed that lyeth a dying how they ought to be cōforted whose deare fredes ar departed Which thynges as they be orderly set in thys boke righte dearly beloued and louyng reader I do present dedicate and offer vnto the. And though I can consyder that this lytle boke is to small and slender a gyfte because of my persō yet is it neyther litle nor to be despysed for the fountaynes sake that it floweth out of and by reason of thē mater wherof it is wryttē For herein out of the vnchaūgeable worde of god are noted the head articles of our last conflyct and battayll wherupō depēdeth eyther eternall victorye honoure and ioye or els euerlasting losse and endles payne of the whiche thynges we canne neuer thynke talke nor treate sufficiētly Wherfore wheras this litle boke goeth forth vnto thy vse that arte an vnfayned Christian and to the cōfort of al suche as are afrayed of death I praye the for Chrystes sake not onely to accept it as the testymonie of a wyllyng and louyng mynde towarde the but also to haue styll an earnest desier to that that it hath pleased god by me at thys time to cōmunicate vnto the that wyth thy thankfulnes thou mayest moue other to the life that can do better and by thi profet styrre the haruest lord to sende more haruest men into his haruest Whych he cānot but do outcept he coulde deny hymselfe that came into the worlde nother to put out the flax that smoketh nor to breake the reade that is but broosed but to open to thē that knocke to hym ¶ Loue god leue vanitye and lyue in Chryst Vale et ●i●e●● cum fortuna ¶ The contentes of the fyrste booke ☞ The first Chapter cōteineth ☞ What death is folio 1 ☞ The .2 Chapter ☞ That the tyme of death is vncertayne folio 6 ☞ The .3 Chapter ☞ That it is god whiche hath layed the burden of death vpon vs. folio 7 ☞ The 4. Chapter ☞ That god sendeth death beecause of synne folio 9 ☞ The .5 Chapter ☞ That god turneth death vnto good folio 12 ☞ The .6 Chapter ☞ That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodi and soule fo 13 ☞ The .7 Chapter ☞ That we all commenly are afrayed of death folio 22 ☞ The .8 Chapter ☞ A commoditie of death whā it delyuereth vs from this shorte transitorye tyme. folio 26 ☞ The .9 Chapter ☞ Another commoditie whan death deliuereth vs from this miserable tyme. folio 29 ☞ The .10 Chapter ☞ Witnes that thys life is miserable folio 37 ☞ The .11 Chapter ☞ That the cōsideraciō of death afore hande is profitable to all vertues folio 40 ☞ The .12 Chapter ☞ In death we learne the ryght knowledge of our selues and of god also and are occasyoned to geue ouer oure selues vnto god folio 43 ☞ The .13 Chapter ☞ That the dead ceasseth from synne folio 45 ☞ The .14 Chapter ☞ That the dead is delyuered from this vicious worlde hauīg not onlye thys aduauntage that be sinneth no more but also is discharged from others synnes folio 48 ☞ The .15 Chapter ☞ That the dead obteyneth saluacion folio 50 ☞ The .16 Chapter ☞ Similitudes that death is wholsome folio 52 ☞ The .17 Chapter ☞ Witnesse that death is wholsome folio 59 ☞ The .18 Chapter ☞ That death can not bee auoyded Item of companions of thē that dye folio 62 ☞ The .19 Chapter ☞ Of natural helpe in daunger of death folio 66 ☞ The .20 Chapter ☞ That God is able and wyll helpe for Chrystes sake foli 68 ☞ The .21 Chapter ☞ That god hath promysed his helpe and comfort folio 79. ☞ The .22 Chapter ☞ God setteth to hys owne helpyng hande in such wyse and at such time as is best of all fo 84 ☞ The .23 Chapter ☞
Examples of gods helpe folio 88 ☞ The .24 Chapter ☞ That it is necessari to prepare for thys iourney folio 90 ☞ The .25 Chapter ☞ Prouision concernyng temporal goodes chyldren and frēdes whyche muste be lefte behynde folio 92 ☞ The .26 Chapter ☞ Preparacion concerning gostly maters wyth what cogitaciō● the mynde oughte moste to be exercysed folio 97 ☞ The .27 Chapter ☞ Of repentaunce and sorowe for synne folio 102 ☞ The .28 Chapter ☞ Of trewe fayth folio 103 ☞ The 29. Chapter ☞ Of hope folio 116 ☞ The .30 Chapter ☞ Of the sacramentes fol. 117 ☞ The .31 Chapter ☞ Of prayer folio 120 ☞ The .32 Chapter ☞ The forme of prayer fo 124 ☞ The .33 Chapter ☞ A forme of prayse and thākesgeuyng folio 130 ☞ The .34 Chapter ☞ That the prayer is harde fol. 133 ☞ The .35 Chapter ☞ That the word of god is to be practised and vsed fol. 134. ☞ The .36 Chapter ☞ Amendment of lyfe necessarye foli 136 ☞ The .37 Chapter ¶ Exhortacion vnto pacyence folio 139 ☞ The .38 Chapter * The original and frute of pacyence folio 145 * The .39 Chapter * That a man whyle he is yet in health ought to prepare himself afore hande folio 147 * The .40 Chapter * That the foresaid things ought by tyme and in due season to bee taken in hande fol. 155 ¶ The contentes of the seconde booke * The .1 Chapter * How the sicke oughte to be spoken vnto if nede shall require folio 164 * The .2 Chapter * Of the buriall and what is to be done towardes those that are departed hence folio 180 ¶ The contentes of the thirde boke * The .1 Chapter * How they oughte to be comforted whose deare frendes are dead foli 186. * The .2 Chapter * That vnto such as dye it is profitable to depart out of this lyfe foli 195 * The .3 Chapter * What profit the death of frēds bryngeth to such as are lefte behynde alyue foli 204 * The .4 Chapter * Companions that suffer like heuines of hart folio 212 * The .5 Chapter * Thorowe gods helpe all hearte sorowes are eased fol. 214 * The .6 Chapter * We muste furnyshe oure selues wyth prayer and pacience folio 217 * The .7 Chapter * Ensamples of pacience in lyke case folio 222. The .8 Chapter * The commoditie of pacience folio 228 The .9 Chapter We oughte so to loue our children and frendes that we maye forsake them folio 231 The .10 Chapter * Of the death of yonge persons in especiall folio 234 * The .11 Chapter * Of the death of the aged fo 24● * The .12 Chapter * Of straunge death fo 244 The firste boke of death declarynge what death is ¶ The .i. Chapter HOly scripture makethe mencion of foure maner of deathes and lyues 1. The firste is called a naturall lyfe so longe as the soule remayneth with the bodye vpon earth The naturall death is it that separateth the soule from the body 2. The seconde is a spirituall vnhappye death here in tyme of lyfe whan the grace of God for our wyckednesse sake is departed from vs by meanes wherof we were deed frō the Lorde our God and from all goodnes allthoughe as yet we haue the lyfe natural Cōtrary vnto this there is a gostly blessed lyfe whā we thorowe the grace of the Lorde our God lyue vnto hym and to all goodnesse Ephe. 2. Hereof wryteth Paull after thys maner God whych is riche in mercy thorow hys great loue wherewyth he loued vs euen whan we were ded in synnes hath quickened vs together in Christ 3. The thirde is a gostly blessed death here in tyme whan the fleshe beyng euer the longer the more separated from the spirite dyeth away from hys own wycked nature Contrari hereunto is there a gostli vnhappy life whā the fleshe wyth hys wycked disposicion continuallye breakethe forth and liueth in al wilfulnes Agaynst thys doth Paul exhort vs saying Collossiās Mortyfye therefore your members whyche are vpon earth fornicacion vnclennesse vnnatural lust euil concupiscēce couetousnes c. 4. The fourth that the scripture maketh mencyon of is an euerlastyng lyfe an euerlasting death Not that the bodi soule of man shall after thys tyme lose their substaunce and be vtterlye nomore For we beleue vndoubtedly that our soule is immortal and that euen thys present body shal arise againe But forasmuch as we our selues graunt that life is swete death a bitter herbe thys word lyfe by a figuratiue speche is vsed for mirth and ioy Thys worde death for heuines and sorowe Therefore eternall lyfe is called eternall ioye and eternall death eternall damnaciō Of these manyfolde deathes haue we commenlye a peruerse iudgement We abhorre the death of the body and hast on a pace to the vnhappy gostli death which yet in it self is a thousand times more terrible then any death corporall For whan a man delyteth in hys owne wyckednes though as yet he lyue vpon the earth he is neuertheles dead before god and the soule must continew stil damned for euermore In thys boke my handelynge is of naturall death which beefore our eyes semeth to be an vtter destruccion and that there is no remedy wyth the dead euen as whan a dogge or horse dieth and that god hath nomor respect vnto them Yea the world swimmeth ful of such vngodly people as haue none other meanynge Els doubtles woulde they beehaue themselues otherwyse towardes god Death vereli is not a destruccion of man but a delyueraunce of bodi soule Where as the soule beeyng of it selfe immortall dooeth eyther out of the mouth ascende vp into heauen or els from the mouth descēdeth into the pit of hel The body losyng hys substaunce tyll domes daye shall than by the power of god bee raysed from death and ioyned agayne to the soule that afterwarde the whole man with body and soule maye eternallye inherite either saluacion or els damnacyon ¶ That the time of death is vncertayne The .2 Chapter THe body of mā is a very frayle thyng Sickenesse maye consume it wylde beastes may deuoure it the fyer may burne it the water maye drowne it the ayer may infect it a snare maye choke it the prickyng of a pynne maye destroye it Therefore whan hys temporall lyfe shall ende he can not tell The principall cause why we knowe not the tyme of death is euen the grace of god to the intēt that we by no occasiō should lynger the amendemente of oure lyues vntill age but alway feare god Luke 12. as though we should dye to morowe But assone as the houre commeth no man shall ouerleape it Hereof speaketh Iob Iob. 14. whan he sayeth that god hath appointed vnto man hys bondes which he cannot goe beyonde ¶ That it is God which hath layed the burden of death vpon vs. The .3 Chapter IT becommeth all Christians not only to suffer
but also to commende and praise the wil of the heauenly Lord kyng Now is it hys wyll that we dye For if the sparowes wherof two are bought for a farthing fall not on the grounde without god the father muche lesse we men whom God hymselfe estemeth to be of more value thē many sparowes yea for whose sakes other thīges were created do fal to the groūd thorowe death wythout the wyl of god Lyke as the souldiour tarieth in the place wherin he is appointed of the chef captaine to fyght against the enemies if he cal him frō thēce he willingly obeyeth Euē so hath the heauenlye captayne set vs vpon earth Ephesi 6. where we haue to fyghte not wyth fleshe and bloude but wyth wycked spretes Therefore if he geue vs leue and call vs frō hence we oughte by reason to obeye hym Lyke as one shoulde not withdrawe himselfe frō payeng what he oweth but gentle to restore the mony So hath God lent vs thys lyfe and not promysed that we maye alwaye enioye it Therfore is death descrybed 〈◊〉 be the payment of natural debt ¶ That God sendeth death because of synne The .4 Chapter ACcordyng hereunto ponder thou the iuste iudgement of god For out of the third Chapter of the first boke of Moses it is euydently perceaued that death is a penaltye deserued layed vpon vs al for the punishmēt of sinne As the little worme that groweth out of the tree gnaweth and consumeth the tree of whom it hath hys begynnyng So death groweth waxeth oute of synne and synne with the body it cōsumeth And specially that venymous sickenes whiche they cal the pestilēce is sente of God as a scourge for the punishment of our naughtynes Herof speaketh the word of god in the fifth boke of Moises after thys maner Deut. 28. If thou wylte not harken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy god to kepe and to doe all hys commaundementes and ordinaunces which I cōmaunde thee thys day then shal al these curses come vpon thee and ouertake thee The Lorde shall make the pestilence to cleue vnto thee vntil he haue consumed thee frō the lande whether thou goest to enioye it The lord shal smyte the with swelling with feuers heat burning wetheryng wyth smyting and blastyng And they shal folowe thee tyll thou peryshe Yet among the most gracious chasteninges is the pestilence rekened of the holy Prophete and kyng Dauid ● Reg. 14. c. who after that he of a pride 1. Par. 22. ● had caused the people to be numbred whan the elecciō was geuē him whether he would rather haue seuen yeares dearth three monthes ouerthrowe in warre or three dayes pestylence in the land made this aunswere I am in a meruelous strayt But let me fall I praye thee into the handes of the lord for muche is hys mercy and let me not fall in to the handes of men 2. reg 24. 1. Para. 22. Then sent the lord a pestylence into Israel that there died of thē .70000 mē Wherefore if god ouertake thee with this horrible disease be not thou angry with Saturnus and Mars nor with the corrupt aier and other meanes appoynted of god but be displeased with thine own synnefull lyfe And whan any fearefull ymage of death cōmeth before thee remember that thou wyth thy synnes haste deserued muche more horryble thinges whych god neuertheles hath not sente vnto thee ¶ That God turneth death vnto good The .5 Chapter ALthoughe thou haste deserued an hundreth thousande greater plages yet shalte thou comforte thy selfe before hande after thys maner A father dooth hys childrē good and not euil Now is my beleue in god as in mi gracious father thorow Iesus christ and sure I am that Chryste vpō the Crosse hath made a perfecte payment for all my synnes and with his death hath taken away the strengthe of my death Yea for me hath he deserued and broughte to pas eternall lyfe Wherefore though death in the syght of myne eyes and of naturall reason be bytter and heauy Yet by meanes of the passyon and death of Iesus Christe it is not euill or hurtfull but a benefyte a profitable and wholsome thyng euen an intraunce to euer lastyng ioye That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodye and soule The .6 Chapter WHat grefe and hurte death doeth bring with it I wil nowe declare To the intēte that whan we haue considered the same before trouble come we maye in oure distresse bee the lesse a frayed holdyng agaynst it the greate commodities of death that Chryste hath obtayned for all faythfull It greueth a man at hys death to leaue the pleasaunt beholdynge of heauen and earth hys owne yong bodi and chereful stomack hys wyfe and chyldren house lande feldes and medowes siluer and golde honoure and auctoritie good frendes and olde companions hys mynstrelsy pastyme ioye and pleasure that he hath had vpon earth Afterwarde whan death knocketh at the dore then begynneth the greateste trouble to woorke Whan the diseases be fallen vpō the body of man in greater nomber they are agaynst al the members in the whole bodi breaking in bi heapes with notable grefes so that the p●wer of the body is weakened the mynde combred the remembraunce astonied reason blynded slepe hindred the senses all to broken By meanes whereof the eyes are darkened the face is pale the fete are colde the handes blacke the members out of course the brow hardened the chynne falleth down the breth minisheth the deadlye sweate breaketh out Yea the whole mā is takē in and disturbed in suche sort that he is now past mīding of any other thing Death also is so much the more bytter and terrible because that the feble discomforted nature doth print the horrible ymage of death to depe in it selfe and feareth it to sore And hereunto is the deuyl lykewise busi to set before vs a more terrible euill death then euer we saw heard or read of To the intent that we beyng opprest with such imaginacions or thoughtes should fly and hat● death and be driuen to the loue and carefulnes of thys lyfe forgettyng the goodnes of god and to be founde disobedient at our last ende Moreouer whoso of hymselfe is not thorowly assured knoweth yet synne by himselfe he is not astonied for naughte for asmuche as synne caryeth wyth it the wrathe of god and eternall damnacyon Now not only the euill but also the good haue greuous and manifolde synnes yea moo thē they themselues can thinke vpō with the which in daungers of bodye and lyfe theyr mynd is opprest as it were wyth a violente water that fearcely rageth and gusheth out yea euen the same praise worthy and cōmendable thing which the godly haue practised alreadi that dooe they yet perceyue not to be perfect but myxte wyth vnclennesse Herof speaketh Esaye in thys wyse Esa 64. we offende haue been euer in synne and there is not one whole We are al
as an vncleane thyng all oure righteousnesses are as a cloth stayned wyth the flouers of a woman Dauyd prayed Psal 143. Lorde enter not into iudgemente wyth thy seruaunt for in thy syght shal no man lyuing be iustified Gregory wryteth wo vnto the commendable life of men if it be led wythout mercy Item the Apostell Peter geueth warnyng youre aduersarye the deuil goeth about as aroring lyen seking whō he may deuour If one that is about to shote a gonne be vnsteady at the letting of it goe he mysseth all together and all that he prepared for it afore is in vayne Euen so at the ende of thys lyfe are the deuyls most busy to turne vs from the ryght marke that our former trauayle and laboure maye be loste forasmuche as they knowe that there remayneth but a very small tyme of lyfe So that if the soule escape them now they shall afterwarde goe wythoute it for euermore Euen as myghtie enemyes do besege and lay assaulte to a citie So the deuels compace the soule of man wyth violence and subtiltie to take possession of the pore soule to apprehende it and bring it to hel Whan we are yet in prosperitie the deuils would haue vs to make but a small matter of it as thoughe we were in no daunger to godwarde albeit we blaspheme be dronken and committe whordome breake wedlocke c. But in the daunger of death they bryng forth those wycked sinnes in most terrible wyse putting vs in mynde of the wrath of God how he in tymes paste here and there dyd punishe and destroye wycked doers to the intente that our soules might be hindred snared shut vp bounde and kepte in prison from repētance and faith and neuer to perceiue any waye how to escape to be deliuered And by reason therof wholye to dispayre and to beecome the deuils porcion Furthermore good frendes companyons are loth to departe a sunder speciallye suche as are new knit and boūde together one to another as two maryed persons Now is the bodi and soule nerest of all bounde and coupled one to the other but in the distresse of death the payne is so greate that it breaketh thys vnitie and parteth the soule from the body for the whych cause a man at his death doth naturally sygh in him selfe Good companyons vpon earth though they departe one from another haue an hope to come together agayne But whā the soule ones departeth frō the bodi it hath no power to returne agayne to the body here in thys tyme. Iob. 14. Whereof Iob geueth two similitudes A tree if it bee cutte down there is some hope yet that it will budde and shute forth the braunches agayne Lykewise the floudes whan they be dryed vp and the riuers whan thei be emptye are fylled agayne thorow the flowynge waters of the sea But whan man slepeth he risethe not agayne vntill the heauen perysh Thys vnderstande that after the commen course one commeth not agayne in thys presente lyfe one cannot die twise and after death cannot a man accomplyshe any more that he neglected afore tyme. How goeth it now both wyth the body and soule after death Assone as the soule from the body is departed the body is spoyled of all hys powers bewtye senses and beecome a miserable thynge to loke vpon Augustyne sayeth a man that in his life time was exceadyng bewtiful pleasaunt to embrace is in death a terrible thing to beholde How nobly and preciouslye so euer a man hath lyued vpon earth hys body yet begynneth to corrupte and stynke and becommeth wormes meate by meanes whereof the worlde is of thys opinion that the body commeth vtterly to naught for euer The world also knoweth nothyng concernyng the immortalitie of the soule they whiche already beeleue that the soule is immortall doubte yet whether it shal be saued Yea they say plainly it were good to dy if one wist what chere he should haue in yonder worlde To them is death like vnto a misty darke hole where one woteth not what wil become vpon hym ¶ That we al cōmonly are afrayed of death The .7 Chapter BY meanes of the occasions aforesayde certaine heathē men haue geuen vncomfortable and desperate iudgement concernyng the passage of death In the Poet Euripides in oreste one sayth It is better to lyue il then to dye well Which wordes are very vnchristenli spoken Yet are there founde ensamples euen of holy men that they had a natural feare of death The holy Patriarke Abraham thinkyng that he stode in daunger of death by reason of his wifes beutie woulde rather suffer all that els was exceadyng heuy and bitter He iudged it a smaler mater to call hys wyfe hys sister then to be destroyed hymselfe Ezechias an vpright valeaunt kynge Esay ● whan the Prophet tolde hym he shoulde not lyue was afraide of death and praied earnestly that his life might bee prolōged In the newe testament whan the Lorde Iesus drewe nere to hys passion and death he swet bloud for very anguishe and sayd My soule is heuy euē vnto the death And thus he prayed Father if it be possible Math. 26. take thys cuppe fro me The Lorde sayeth vnto Peter Verely verely I saye vnto thee Whan thou wast yonge Iohn 21 thou girdedst thy self and walkedst whither thou wouldst but whā thou art olde thou shalt stretche forth thy hādes and another shal girde thee and leade thee whither thou wouldest not Loe Peter beeing excellentlye endewed wyth the spirite of God and stedfaste in fayth had yet in hys age a naturall feare of death for the Lorde said vnto him afore that another shoulde leade hym whether he woulde not Therefore wryteth gregory not vnright whā he saith Yf the pilours treble what shall the bordes doe Or if the heauēs shake for suche feare howe wyll that be vnmoued which is vnder That is if famous saynctes dyd feare to dye it is much lesse to be maruayled at when we poore Christians are afrayed Experience wytnesseth howe febly we set oure selues againste death Many an olde or otherwise vexed man can neither liue nor dye for in hys aduersytie he ofte tymes wysheth death Note And whā death approcheth he would rather suffer what soeuer els vpō earth if he mighte therebi escape death Many of vs haue hearde the gospell a long season and studyed it throughly so to say yet are we so afrayed of the death of oure selues and of oure frendes as though there were none other lyfe more to loke for euen lyke as thei that be of Sardanapalus sorte doe imagyn or els mistrust the promes comforte and helpe of god ▪ as thoughe he were not able or would not succour and deliuer vs. Yea some there be that if death be but spoken of thei are afrayed at it ¶ The commoditie of death whan it delyuereth vs from thys shorte transitorye tyme. The .8 Chapter AL the aforesayd disprofites and grefes doe iustlye vanyshe
sorowefull euen in laughter Prouer. 14. and the ende of myrthe is heuynes Philip the kyng of the Macedonians whan he vpon one daie had receaued thre glad messages one that the victory was hys in the stage playe of Olympus the seconde that his captaine parmenio had wyth one battayle ouer come the Dardanes the thyrde that the Quene his wife was delyuered of a sonne he helde vp his handes towardes heauē and sayed O ye goddes I beeseche you that for so great and manyfolde prosperite ye wyl poynte me a competent misfortune The wyse prudent kyng feared the in constancye of fortune whych as the heathen talke therof enuyeth greate prosperite And therefore hys desyer was that hys exceadyng well fare myghte be sauced wyth a litle trouble Experience it selfe teacheth vs. Where dyd euer one liue the space of a moneth or one whole day in pleasure and ease so thorowelye but some what hath offended or hyndred hym Therfore earthlye ioye is not so greate so durable nor so pure but that the whole life of man may wel be called a vale of misery VVytnesse that thys lyfe is miserable The .10 Chapter TEstimony of the scripture Iob. 9. mā is borne to miseri as the bird is to fly Iob. 7. The daies of mā are like the daies of an hired seruaunt euen a breth nothing but vain Loke thorowe the whole booke called Ecclesiastes the preacher Augustyne wryteth Yf a manne were put to the choysse that eyther he must die or els liue again afreshe and suffer lyke thynges as he had suffered already afore he would rather dye specially if he thorowly consider how many daungers and mischaunces he scace yet hath escaped Whoso now knoweth likewise that God thorowe death dooeth make an end of miseri vpō earth It bryngeth hym greate comfort and ease Yea he shall rather desier death then feare it For euē holi Iob himselfe also whā he was robbed of hys health ryches and chyldrē and rebuked of his wife and frendes wished rather to die then to lyue 〈◊〉 19. Helyas beeing sure in no place desyred to dye Tobias beeynge stryken wyth blyndenes and misintreated of his wife praid thus O lord deale wyth me according to thy wyll and commaunde my sprete to be receaued in peace for more expedient were it for me to dye then to lyue If holy mē now by reason of their great troubles desyred death It is no meruayle if we that are weaker and of more imperfeccion be werye of this life Yea an vnspeakeable foly is it a mā to wishe for to continew still in the lyfe of misery and not to prepare himselfe to another and better lyfe ¶ That the consideracion of death afore hand is profitable to al vertues The .11 Chapter A Very mad and vnhappye man muste he nedes bee whych thorowelye considereth that vndoubtedly he must depart hence he knoweth not howe nor whan and whether he shall than haue hys ryght mynde directyng him selfe to God and desiring grace he cannot tell and wyl not euen nowe oute of hande beginne to feare God and serue hym more dilygently As the pecoke whan he loketh vpon hys owne fethers is proude but whan he beholdethe hys fete letteth the fethers downe euen so doeth manne ceasse from pride whan he considereth hys ende For in the ende he shall bee spoyled of al temporall bewtye strengthe power Iob. ● honoure and goodes Naked came I oute of my mothers wombe and naked shall I turne thyther againe Thorowe the consyderacion of death maye a man despyse all fleshelye luste and worldly ioye For euen the same fleshe that thou so pampereste wyth costly daintyes and vaine ornamentes muste shortelye bee a porcion for wormes neyther is there a more horryble caryon then of man Mani one thorow feare of death geueth almes exerciseth charitie doth his busines circumspectly To be shorte the consideracyon of death is euen as a scourge or spurre that prouoketh forwarde and geueth a man suffycient occasyon to auoyde eternall death whereof the death of the bodye is a shadowe Therefore the Niniuites Ionas 3. fearing their owne ouer throwe and destruccion repented and fell to a perfecte amendemente ¶ In death we learne the ryghte knoweledge of our selues and of God and are occasyoned to geue ouer our selues vnto God The .12 Chapter MAny a man in hys lyfe time can dissemble and shewe a fayer countenaunce but at the point of death no ipocrisie or dissimulacion hath place There verely shall we be proued and tried what maner of fayth loue cōscience and comfort we haue and how much we haue comprehēded out of the doctryne of Christ Then doth god let vs se our own strength howe that all worldly strength is a thousād times lesse thē we euer would haue thought al the daies of our life Then perceyue we seingly and felingly so to saye that we stande in the only hande and power of god and that he alone endureth stil lorde and master ouer death and lyfe Then learne we ryghte to fele the worthines of the passion death of Chryste and in oure selues to haue experyence of the thynges wherof we neuer toke so diligēte hede afore in our lyfe tyme. Then come the fittes of repentaunce for sinnes committed that we thynke O If I had knowen that god would haue been so earneste I woulde haue lefte many thynges vndone whyche I alas therfore haue commytted Then were we forced to receiue loue the gospel which els here to fore might not come to such stout and ioly yonkers Then begyn we to runne to god to call vpon hym to magnifie and praise him faithfully to cleue vnto hym and vpryghtly to serue hym ¶ That the dead ceasseth from synne The .13 Chapter ALl Christians desyer to bee free from sinne for sinne and vice doth farre farre vexe the faythful more then al misfortunes of the bodye Nowe though one dooe kepe himselfe from synne Yet standeth he in a slipperye place the fleshe is weake strong is the deuyll of whom it is easelye ouercome whoso standeth let hym loke that he fall not 1. Corin. 10. Whyle the captayne yet fyghteth it is vncertayne whether he shall haue the victory tryumphe euen so thoughe a man doe valeauntly defende himselfe agaynst the lustes of the flesh temptacyons of the deuyll he maye yet fall and lose the victorye Yea if we alwaye lyued we should doe more euill synne ceasseth not tyl we come to be bleste with a shuffell Death cutteth awaye synne from vs and delyuereth vs from vnclene sēses thoughtes wordes and dedes For though death in paradise was enioined vnto mā ▪ for a penaltie of synne Yet thorowe the grace of God in the merites of Chryste it is become vnhurtefull Yea a medicine to pourge oute synne and a verye workehouse wherin we are made readye to euerlastyng ryghtuou●nesse Lyke as terrible Goliath with hys own sworde was destroyed of Dauid euen so wyth death ● came by the
Cor. 15. Our home is paradise in heauen our heauenly father is god the earthy father of al men is Adam oure spirituall fathers are the patriarkes prophetes and apostles whiche altogether wait and long for vs. Seyng nowe that death is the path and waye vnto them we ought the lesse to fly it to the intente that we maye come to oure righte home salute our fathers and frendes embrace thē Hebre. 13. end dwel with them foreuer We haue heare no remayninge citie but we seke one to come Psalme 3. Our conuersaciō burgership is in heauē But if any man be afrayed of death and force not for the country of heauen onely because of tēporal pleasures thesame dealeth vnhonestlye euen as dooe they that wheras they ought to go the next way home set them down in a pleasaunt place or among companions at the tauerne Where they lying styl forget their owne country and passe not vpon their frendes and kynsfolkes Howe euill thys becommeth thē euerye man may wel cōsider bi himselfe The lord Iesus geueth thys similitude except the wheate corne fall into the grounde and dye it ●ydeth alone but if it dye it bryngeth foorthe muche frute Lykewyse Paull compareth vs men vnto graynes of corne the churcheyarde ● Corin. 15 to a felde To dye he sayeth is to be sowne vpon Gods felde The resurreccyon with the life that foloweth after resembleth he to the pleasaunte grene corne in Sommer If a man laie in a darke miserable pryson wyth thys condicion that he should not come forth tyl the walles of the tower were fallen down vndoutedly he would be right glad to see the walles begynne to fall our soule is kept in wythin the body vpon earth as in captiuitie and bondes Nowe assone as the body is at a poynt that it muste nedes fall why woulde we be sory For by thys approcheth the deliueraūce whō we out of the pryson of miserye shal be brought before the moste amiable countenaunce of god into the ioyefull fredome of heauē Accordynge to thys dyd Dauyd pray Psalm 14● Bryng my soule out of pryson O Lorde that I maye geue thankes vnto thy name Item in many places of scripture to dye is called to slepe death it selfe aslepe Lyke as it is no grefe for a mā to goe slepe 1. Cor. 15. Thessa 4 ▪ nor whā he seith hys parentes and frendes laye them downe to reste for he knoweth that suche as are aslepe doe soone awake and rise again so whā we or our frendes depart awaye by death we oughte to erecte and coumforte oure selues with the resurreccion VVytnesse that death is holsome The .17 Chapter FOr the strengthnyng of ou● fayth I wyll alledge euydente testimonye of Gods worde Ecclesia 7. The preacher sayth ▪ The day of death is better thē the day of birth As if he would say in the daye of thy birth the● arte sente into the colde into th● heat into hūger and thirst whe●in is synne and wretchednesse in the day of thy death thou shal● be deliuered from all euil Agai● we reade Sapien. 4. thoughe the righteous be ouertaken with death yet shal● he be in rest Iohn 5. Verely verely I say vnto you he that heareth my wordes an● beleueth on him that sēt me ha●● euerlastynge lyfe and shall no● come into damnacyon but is sca●●ed from death vnto lyfe Rom. 14. a. 2. Cor. 4. b Yf w● lyue we lyue vnto the Lorde 〈◊〉 we dye we dye vnto the Lorde ▪ Therfore whether we liue or dy● we are the Lordes Behold how comfortably thys is spoken of all Christians That death can not be auoyded Item of companyons of them that dye The .18 Chapter VPon thys condicion are we borne into the worlde into thys light not to continewe alway therin but whā god wil thorowe temporall death to laye asyde and put of the trauayle of thys miserable lyfe Wyttie men haue foūde out how hard stones may be brokē mollified how wilde beastes may be tamed but nothing could they inuent wherby death myght bee auoyded It is not vnwyselye sayd Goddes hande maye a man escape but not death Metrodorus wryteth that against bodeli enemies there may be made fortresses castels bulworkes but so farre as cōcerneth death all men haue an vnfensed citie In other daungers power money flight counsayll and policy mai helpe But as for death it can neyther be banyshed with power nor boughte wyth moneye nor auoyded wyth flying away nor preuented wyth counsayle nor turned backe wyth polycye And though thou be now delyuered from syckenes yet wythin ● litle whyle thou muste whether thou wylte or no departe hence to deathes home for the higheste law geuer of all tolde oure fyrs● father so afore In what daye soeuer thou eatest therof thou shalte dye the death Gene. ● vnderstande that the death of the soule bryngeth with it the death of the body Whoso now grudgeth and is not contente to dye what is that els but that he forgettyng hymselfe and hys owne nature complayneth of God in heauen that he suffered hym to be borne and made hym not an aungell Why should we refuse the thing that we haue commen with other men Nowe doeth death touche not onely vs but highe and lowe estate younge and olde man and woman master and seruaunte As many as came of the first mā muste laye downe theyr neckes Death is an indifferent iudge regardeth no person hath no pitie on the fatherles careth not for the poore dispēseth not with the rich feareth not the myghtie passeth not for the noble honoureth not the aged spareth not the wyse pardoneth not the folyshe For like as a riuer is poisoned in the well spryng or fountayne so was the nature of man altogether in our first parētes And forasmuch as they themselues were maymed thorow sinne they haue begotten vnright and mortal children roman 5. Touching this saieth Paul by one man came death vpon all men Now let vs consider what excellent companions and holi feloshyp they also haue that ar dead Paul wryteth that we muste bee lyke shapen vnto the ymage of the sonne of god If he nowe that of nature was immortall and innocent became mortal for our sakes euen Iesus Chryste our sauiour why would we then that manye and sondry wayes haue deserued death continewe here styll and not dye Abraham the faythful Sampson the stronge Salomon the wyse Absalom the fayer one yea all the Prophetes and Apostles kynges and Emperours thorowe death departed oute of thys lyfe A very deintie and tender body must that be whych cōsydering so great multytudes of coarses doth yet out of measure vexe hymselfe beecause the lyke shall happen vnto him That wer euen like as if one woulde take vpon hymselfe to be better then all ryghtuous and holy men that euer were sithens the begynnyng of the worlde Of naturall helpe in daunger of death The .19 Chapter WHoso wyll helpe hymselfe from
them then muste we requyer hym to depart and let vs alone Whoso hath a trayne hanging vpon hym as father mother sisters brothers wyfe chyldren frendes the same is the sorer laid at For naturally we all are lothe to depart from them Math 10 Here muste we remember the words of Christ He that loueth father or mother mor thē me is not worthy of me And he that loueth sōne or daughter more then me is not mete for me And whoso taketh not vp his crosse and foloweth me is vnapt for me Therfore must thou breke thyne own wil take vp thy crosse and geue ouer thy selfe vnto the will of god Specialli forasmuch as euen they whom thou art loth to leaue behynde thee vpō earth shall shortelye come to thee And in the meane seasō whan thou departeste from thy frendes thou goest the nexte waye and spedest thee vnto better and more louing frendes And therefore the holye patriarke Iacob sayed Gene. 49. whan he should dye I shal be gathered to my people Item vnto Moyses and Aaron sayd god Thou shalt goe to thy people and vnto thi fathers Hereby is it declared that death is a passage to many mooe folkes and better frendes thē we leaue here There is God our father hys sonne our brother hys heauen our enherytaunce and al aungels and sainctes our brethrē systers and kinsfolkes with whō we shal enioie eternal goodes for euer Agayne whoso leaueth behynde hym a poore wyfe chyldren not brought vp and frendes that are in necessitie muste also dooe hys best commyttyng them to the protection helpe and cōfort of god wyth an earnest prayer that he wyl graciously take the gouernaunce of them For our wiues children and posteritie doeth the seconde commaundement sette in goddes tuicion whan it saith mercy and kindnes shew I vnto thousandes of thē that loue me and kepe my commaundementes Exod. 22. Psal 145. Item god wryteth hymselfe a father of the wedowes and fatherles and taketh them into his own proteccyon Nowe if thou receaue not thys godly consolaciō and comfort then to thyne owne greate notable hurte thou disquietst thy selfe so greuously that thou canste consider nothīg that is right and iust eternall or heauenly Preparacion concernyng gostly maters with what cogitacions the mynd ought most to be exercysed The .26 Chapter MOreouer the sicke must geue all other worldlye matters theyr leue that the soule be not tangled wyth any earthye busynes but directed vpwarde into heauen where it desyreth euerlastingly to liue Heare shal it be nedeful that our mynd haue an assured vnderstandīg of the holy gospel In this cōsideracion endure thou styll hang thou thereupon wyth stedfaste faythe where oute growe these fruites prayer ryghteousnes pacyence and all goodnes After the doctryne of the true gospell without thyne owne and religious mens workes without the merites of saynctes arte thou iustified made ryghteous and saued onely thorowe Chryst who alone is thy mediatour aduocat helper satisfaccion hope cōforte and lyfe It is Chrystes wyll to conueye thee awaye from synne from the world from the deuyll and from hell and to take thee to hys grace into the eternall paradyse though all creatures were agaynste thee Probacyon oute of the scripture Iohn 17. Thys is the lyfe eternall that they knowe thee to be the onely true God and whom thou haste sent Iesus Christ With this euāgelicall doctrine with nothing els must our heart be occupyed what temptacions soeuer happē whyche vndoubtedly will not tary behynde While we go about yet mery and in health it bryngethe excedynge great profit if we exercyse oure selues wyth the cogitacyons of death But in sickenes and whan we must dye that is whan the horrible ymage of death would make vs afrayed we must not vnquiet our selues with heuy remembraūce of death We should not beholde or consider death in it selfe nor in our own nature neyther in them that ar slayne thorow the wrath of god But principallye in Chryste Iesu and then in hys saynctes whyche thorowe hym ouercame death and dyed in the grace of god From thys syght maye not we suffer our selues to be dryuē though all aungels and all creatures yea though god hymselfe in our opinion would laye other thynges before our eyes whiche they doe not Howbeit the euyll sprete maketh such an appearāce For Chryst Iesus is nothyng els but lyfe saluacion Yea the more depely and stedfastly we do set prynt and beholde Christ before vs the more shal death bee despysed and deuoured in lyfe the harte also hath the more rest and maye quietly dye in Chryste Therfore sayth Christe Ion 16. In the world that is also in your selues ye shal haue trouble but in me peace Be ye of good comforte I haue ouercome the worlde Apoc. 14. Nu 21 Ion. 3. Blessed are thei that dy in the Lorde Thys aforetyme was figured and signified Whan the children of Israell betyng bitten of fyerye serpentes myghte not struggle with thē but behold the brasen serpente namely Chryst So the quicke serpentes fell away of themselues and vanyshed Whan we now beholde death and the panges of death in it self wyth our own feble reason with out Chryst without gods worde specially out of season that is to say in the daunger of death then hath death his whole power and strength in our feble nature and kylleth vs wyth the greater pain so that we forgette God and are lost for euer ¶ Of repentaūce and sorowe for synne The .27 Chapter TO the intent that our wil hearte and mynde maye ryghte and truly receaue and apprehende the lorde Chryste We must fyrste be throughly sorowfull for oure synnefull lyfe and confesse that there was no remedy but of oure selues we should haue been damned for euer Thys shryft or confession of synnes must not forth with be done to the priest but vnto god wyth harty sorow and repentaunce after the ensample of the poore sinner And of the Publycane Luke 7. ● 18. Therefore muste we also acknoweledge that wyth all our own power and workes we are able to preuayle neyther againste death nor other mischaunce For how were it possible that we pooresely wormes feble and weake in body and soule shoulde be able to endure the stormy waues and intolerable burthen of death yf the ryghte hande of god himself were not presente to helpe our infirmitie Ful truli spake a certain kyng in Fraunce whan he lay on hys death bed I haue been very riche I haue had exceding much honoure my power was passing greate and yet for all my ryches power and frēdes I am not able to obteyne of death so muche as one houres respyte ¶ Of trewe faith The .28 Chapter TO suche a confessyon bee longeth the Chrystian belefe that we turne oure selues awaye from al cōforte of man yea from all creatures to the only creator thorowe Iesus Chryst and to geue our selues ouer wholly vnto him Wyth all our naturall reason and wysdome
valeaunt worthi and victorious man that sayd bee of good comforte I haue ouercome the world That is to say sine deth deuyll hell and whatsoeuer cleaueth to the world And verely verely Iohn 6. he that beleueth and putteth hys trust in me hath eternal life Wyth the whyche wordes the same deare valeaunt worthy and victorious man doth applye also vnto me his victory and power With him will I continew and kepe me to hys worde and comforte whether I lyue longer or must dy Here ought we perfectly to be sure that the greater the battayll of death is the nerer is Iesus Christ to crown vs with mercy and louing kindnes Euident ensamples out of the new and olde testament Paul reioyseth and bosteth agaynste the terrour of death Death is swalowed vp in victory Death 1. Cor. 15. where is thy victory Hel where is thy styng As though he wold say To the fayt●●full death is a comforte O death thou mayest wel make one afrayed as a death image of wood maye doe but to deuoure thou hast no myghte For thy victorye stynge and power is swalowed vp in the victory of Chryste And thorow Iesus Christ our lord hath god geuē vs the victory agaynst thee so that all true faythfull Christians are become lordes ouer death hell Out of suche a fayth is Paul not afrayed to say Whether we liue or dye Roma 14. we are the lordes And agayne thus he speaketh exceadyng comfortably Chryste is to me lyfe Philip. 1. Oh that these wordes were printed in our hartes and death is to me aduauntage For hereby goe we frō labour to rest from shame to honoure from heuynes to ioye frō death to lyfe 1. Iohn 5. We knowe that we are translated frō death vnto life Though I walke in the valey of the shadowe of death Psal 23. yet feare I no euyll for thou lord god arte with me Vnbelefe Therfore let them feare death that know not Christ neither beleue in hym euen suche as from temporal death passe vnto death euerlastynge For God geuethe charge and cōmaundement that we shoulde receaue coumforte in the lord Iesu as the words soūd be of good comforte How god 〈◊〉 blasphemed by our fear of death I haue ouercome the world Whoso now wil not be comforted wyth the lorde Iesu doth vnto god the father the sonne the greatest dishonour as though it were false that he byddeth vs be of a good comforte as though it wer not true that he hath ouercome the worlde The fearer o● death arme●● the deuyll agaynst hymselfe And by this whereas the deuil sinne and death is ouercome alreadye we strengthen them to bee oure own tirannes againste the faythfull true sauiour Trust in ou● own strēgt● is the way to desperacyon Hereof procede such wordes as these I wote not how to endure and abyde it alas what shal be come of me What is that els but to haue respect vnto our owne strengthe as thoughe Chryst were not at hande to take our part and to fynish the matter Item thorowe vnbelefe a man desyreth to remayne here longer whether god be content with all or no. In the sight of the worlde he is taken to bee no honeste man that vily forsaketh hys bodelye master doth not be then procure vnto hymselfe euerlastyng shame that in trouble of death pyketh hymselfe away from Chryst the heauēly master Witnes he that beleueth not Mark 16. Iohn 3. shal be damned He that beleueth not on the sonne of god shal not see lyfe but the wrath of god abydeth on hym ¶ Of hope The .29 Chapter The worke strēgth of the lyuely fayth FAyth though it be no greater then a litle sparke gendreth hope which loketh and wayteth for the deliueraunce to come and shall vndoubtedlye not come to confusion Committe thy cause vnto the lord hope vpō hym Psal 37. and he full wel shal bryng it to passe Ipse faciet he hymselfe wyll be the doer The good Patriarck Abraham is set forth vnto vs for an ensample of fayth and hope Like as he hoped against hope that is to say there as nothyng was to hope euen so must our hope stande fast and sure agaynst al that our own naturall reason or the wycked enemye can obiect or cast in oure waye ¶ Of the Sacramentes The .30 Chapter TO the confirmaciō of faith and hope serue the holye sacramentes of baptisme and of the supper of the Lord. The vse or frute of Baptime Baptime is an vndoubted true token and euidēce of the grace of god fastened euē vpon the bodi wyth the which god promyseth byndeth himselfe that he wil be thy god father for hys sonnes sake and wyl also preserue the with hys owne sprete in thy greateste parels for euermore The sacramente of the body bloud of Chryst muste be exercysed and practised The place of the supper and persons onely in the commyng together of the whole congregacion and church according to the ensample of the Apostles Therfore let the sycke satisfy him selfe with the generall breakinge of bread whereof he was partaker wyth the whole congregaciō But let hym diligently consyder the frute therof after this maner The frute of the supper god hath promysed me his grace in Christ and geuē me an assured token from heauen in thys sacrament that Chrystes lyfe hath in hys death ouercome my death that hys obedyence in hys passiō hath destroyed my synnes Thys godly promes token and euidēce of my saluacyō shal not disceaue me I wyll not suffer thys to bee taken fro me to dy for it I wil rather deny al the world my selfe also then to doubt in gods token and promes Here the deuyl tēpteth a man to say yea but thorow my vnworthynes I may spil the giftes of god that are offered me by the worde token and so bee spoyled of thesame for euer Our worthynes to communicate Answere God geueth thee nothynge for thyne own worthynes sake yea he buyldeth thee vnworthy vpon the worthynes of his owne sonne If thou beleue on the sōne of god thou art and continueste worthy before the face of god Item forasmuche as thou hast gone heretofore vnto the supper of the lord thou art thorowe the same sacramēt incorporated and conioyned wyth al them that are sanctified in god and art already come in to the feloweshyp of the sainctes so that they with thee in Chryst dye and ouercome Of prayer The .31 Chapter NO man shoulde presume to exercyse fayth hope or other spiritual giftes out of his owne power but humbly to prai vnto god for all suche thynges Oure sufficiency is from god as are nedeful And seing we haue nede of one mediatour and aduocate god hath geuen vs hys sonne Iesus Christ Neither is ani of our prayers acceptable vnto god Hebru 1● but such as we offer thorowe Iesus
in al temptacions most gently and mekely to geue ouer oure wils into the wil of god I spake not of such a pacience valeaūtnes as vtterly to fele no more terrour of death For that is a verye blockishe vnsensiblenes of wylde madde barbarous people but al suche feblenes as is felte must a Christē man ouercome and with faythful confidence vpon the grace of god cherefully steppe foorthe before the eyes of death In the passion and death of Chryst we haue a perfecte ensample not onli of pacience but also of eueri other thyng that hitherto is written concerning preparacion vnto death 1. Cor. 1. Colossi 2. For he is geuē vnto vs of god not only to be oure redempcyon but also to be vnto vs wysedom wherby we must learne al that is necessary for our health The seuen words that the lord spake vpon the crosse are specyally to be pondered weied and consydered The first father forgeue thē for they wote not what they doe The seconde woman loe there is thy sonne The thyrde thys daye shalte thou be wyth me in paradyse The fourth my god my God why hast thou forsaken me The fift I am a thirst The sixt It is fynished The seuenth Father into thy handes I commende my sprete Thorowe the knowledge of Iesus Chryst Ensamples of saynctes dyd all holye fathers and seruauntes of god in the olde and new testament geue ouer thēselues wyllyngly vnto death the waye of al fleshe Luke 2. Holy Simeon sayth lord now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace accordyng to thy word For mine eyes haue seen thy saluacyon whyche thou haste prepared beefore the face of al people c. Seeyinge than that euerye faythfull Christian A lesson to learne to dye dooeth no lesse see Chryst with the eyes of his heart he ought with prayse and thankes to saye forasmuche as I am assured and doe constātly beleue that I am redemed and deliuered by Iesus Chryste and not destroyed but onelye chaunged thorowe the death of the body I am ryght wyllyng and wel contente to departe hence and to dye whan soeuer nowe it shall please the lord my god The murtherer vpon the crosse dyd wyllingly suffer the death that he had deserued and so he obteyned the euerlastyng tryumphe of a Martyr Actes 7. Holy Steuen was content to suffer the fearce crueltye of the enemyes for in hys laste trouble he kneled downe and cryed wyth a loude voyce Lord Iesu receaue my sprete lord lay not this sinne to their charge Philip. 1 Paul the chosen vessel of god speaketh thus very comfortably My desyer is to bee loosed to departe hence out of misery and to be wyth Chryst whyche thynge is best of all for Chryst is to me lyfe and death is to me aduauntage These and such noble ensamples of other holi martirs should by reason prouoke vs feble sluggishe Christians to bee the more hardy and stoute and to thynke thus well goe to Thou haste as yet suffered no great thyng for the lord Christes sake therfore now euē as a lambe geue ouer thy self cherefullye vnto death for hys names sake Thou haste daylye made thy prayer Prayer requireth paciēce as Chryste hath taughte thee that god wyll take thee oute of thys wycked worlde into hys kyngedome Mathe. 6. and that his wyll be done Now if he wyll gracyously conuey thee into his kingdom thou oughtest frō the botome of thy heart to reioyse and as hys owne chylde willinglye to obeye them Forasmuch as the famous heathen man Socrates being before the seate of iudgement where the mater touched his body and life desyred no aduocate neyther submitted hymselfe to the Iudges but valeauntly disputed beefore them and proued that there is no euil in death It should sound very euil If we which oute of the infallible worde of God are instructed cōcernyng a better lif shoulde forsake thys lyfe of misery with les paciēce and with more vnquietnes of mind thē dyd the heathen mā The original and fruyte of pacyence The .38 Chapter TO the intēt that the feblenes of our nature which quaketh at death as at a thyng terrible may shew Christiā paciēce we must cleaue vnto Iesus Chryste wyth true fayth which shal warme our hartes to haue a loue and desyre after the heauenly glori and euerlastyng saluacion Yea rather to lose an hundreth bodies if it wer possible then to bee destitute of the holy gospell wherby we are assured of deliueraūce from sīne deuil hel by meanes of the bloud shedding of Iesus Chryste Vnpaciēt folkes grudge against god pouryng out al vnthankefulnes for that they wer not created immortal and so imagen thei in thēselues a terrible cruell god Gene. 13. b roman 4. Galathi 3. a. Gene. 12. c 10. a. .26 a. b Yea al maner of vices grow oute of impaciency Abraham who other wyse is set forth for an ensāple of fayth and ryghteousnesse fearyng death to sore synned greuously denying Sara to be hys wyfe Note thys wel What Christē hart can read this withoute ●eares In these later dayes the more pitie god bee mercyful vnto vs it is become a commen thynge for feare of death to cary the true belefe only in hart secret outwardely to deny the holi gospel with mouth behauour gesture to serue Antichrist ¶ That a man whyle he is yet in health oughte to prepare hymselfe afore hande The .39 Chapter THis preparacion ought no man to lynger or dyffer tyll another tyme thoughe he beē neuer so whole and sounde but euery one forthwyth and dayly to begynne to make hymself for death to the intente that at all houres he maye be founde ready Lyke as a stoute and valeaunte souldier whan he muste bee vp and fyght wyth the enemyes ouerslepeth not hym selfe but kepeth hys standyng and hath his weapons and harnes alreadye vpon hym so muche more oughte we Christiās at al tymes to wait vpon our heauēly captayne whā he bloweth the trompe that we mai be readi to pas forth with him Let your loynes be girded about and your lyghtes brennyng Luke 12. and ye your selues lyke vnto me that wayte for theyr master whan he wyll returne from the weddyng that assone as he commeth and knocketh they may opē vnto him immediatly Happy are those seruauntes whom the lord whā he commeth shal fynde wakinge Wyth thys similitude doethe Chryst exhorte euery man that at all tymes we prepare our selues agaynst his comminge whan he knocketh thorowe sycknes and other daūgers whan he calleth vs out of thys lyfe and whan he shal come agayne out of hys heauēly palace to iudge the lyuīg and the dead The ryghte preparacyon is true faith feruent loue and charitie the cleare shyne of al vertues and specially a gentle wyllynge mynde to open vnto the lord to let hym in and with him to passe forth into hys royal and matrimonial palace of the euerlastyng ioifull kyngdome
many miseries Agaynst the whych there helpeth nether gold nor syluer nether power nor nobilitie nether policy nor natural wytte To day we are whole sound tomorowe sick to day mery to morow sory to day rich to morowe poore to day honored ▪ to morow despysed to day alyue tomorow dead Moreouer vice cōmenly hath so the vpper hande that none can lyue vpon earth but he must displease eyther god or man or els them both Therefore seeyng thy louing frend is gotten out of the myre and gone out of the sweate bath that thou yet sittest in arte thou sory now that he is releaced vnburdened of so much misery Thou shouldst rather geue thāks and prayse vnto god for it specyally forasmuche as death dooeth vtterly destroye nether bodi nor soule nether honesty nor vertue wherin he that is now departed dyd here exercyse hymselfe in tyme. For loke what good thīg on hath done it shal not be quēched out thorow death but the prayse and commendaciō therof among al such as are good doth rather increase then minish after death The soule departing in true faith passeth strayghte to the ioye of heauen The lest parcell of the bodye doth not vtterly peryshe but the whole body shal at the laste day be called to immortalitie where our frendes shal be a thousande tymes better richer more pleasaunt and more blessed then euer they were vpon earth whan we all shall come to them agayn see them knowe them and haue perpetuall company wyth them and all saynctes After this sort dyd Adam and Eue trust that Abel who was slayne should bee restored agayne vnto them beecause of the sede that was promised A similitude if a great Lorde had called the and thy sonne and promised you much welth good shouldest thou wepe whan thy sonne goeth to hym and thou thy selfe wylte shortly folowe after No verely but thou wouldest order thy matter so that thou mightest be there out of hande Why vnquietest thou thy selfe then so sore for the death of thy sonne or frende The almightie Lorde hath called hym and thee to hys eternall kyngdome to place thee and hym amonge the prynces of heauen Thy sonne passeth hence thorowe the gates of death he shall ryse againe to honour Why vexest thou then thy selfe Why ordrest not thou thy selfe ioyfully to folowe him For thou haste not loste hym but only sent hym afore If it were possible that thy sonne knewe of thy vnmeasurable waylyng and howlyng and could speake vnto thee wythout all doubt he hymselfe would rebuke it and say why will ye vexe your age with vnprofitable yea wyth vnreasonable mournyng Wherfore wil ye blame god his ordinaunce and prouydēce Will ye enuy me the greate honor and ioye that I am promoted vnto Thinke ye it is a thyng to be bewayled and lamented that I am brought out of daunger into safgarde out of misery into welfare and oute of the wycked worlde into the cōpany of angels I wil goe some what nerer vnto you I pray you if it lay in your strēgth and power to sende for me into the tēporal lyfe agayn would ye calme down agayn into the misery of yours With what greate faulte haue I deserued such vnfaithfulnes at youre handes And if ye shoulde not call me agayne why mourne ye then so and lamente Vpō such words we must nedes be ashamed of our vnmeasurable sorow heuynes That we ought thus to iudge of faythfull Chrysten men that are departed we may learne bi the words of Christ who testifieth vnto Martha I am the resurreccion and the lyfe Iohn 1● He that beleueth on me shal liue although he dye And he that lyueth and beleueth on me shal neuer dye How deare precious Psal 11● in the sight of the lord is the death of hys saintes Vnderstand that god doth faythfulli take them in to hys proteccyon and hath respect vnto their soules to receaue them into eternall lyfe Nowe sayest thou Alas if I knewe that my wyfe chylde or frende were saued I coulde the better awaye wyth hys death As for a thefe he nede not to be glad whan he is caryed from prison to the galows Thys manne hath been all hys lyfe a chylde of the world he neuer feared God but dyed in synne happly wythout repentaunce and peraduenture from the carte of thys miserye he is yoked in the charet of eternall fyer Answere no man can tel how he behaued hymselfe at hys last ende happly he repented and is pardoned We ought euer to hop the best tyll we haue suffycyent euidences that the man is lost Secondly though his damnacyon were open and manyfeste yet ought a faythfull man to reioyce in the righteousnes of god The rauens muste haue dogges garbage partriches must be sette vpon the borde beefore lordes a murthurer muste be laied vpon a whele It is as mete for Iudas to sitte in hell as for S. Peter to be in heauen Thirdly thou saiest if he had lyued longer he would peraduēture haue amended Whereupon take thys answer he might haue happened assoone to ben worse A prudente mā loketh for no better but feareth the worse in thys blasphemous worlde S. Iohn Chrisostome testyfieth playnly that assoone as God taketh away a mā thorow death the same man from thence forth shoulde neuer haue been better Verely God is to bee praysed and thanked whan he taketh awaye the vngodly For the more a man heapeth vp synne vpon synne the greater punyshmente muste he suffer afterwarde for gode rightuous iustice sake The vngodly synneth euer the longer the more vpō earth but by death doth god plucke him down from hys synnefull lyfe thoughe not spiritually and inwardly yet with exterior members the same must ceasse from synne Therefore to such as are hard hearted and disordered there is nothyng better then to dye the soner ¶ Vvhat profyte the death of frendes bryngeth to suche as are lefte beehynde alyue The .3 Chapter THat the death of the vngodly doeth profyt other men it is easy to perceiue for therby are the wycked vpon earth some what minished and swepte out and other poore wretches faer the better But that the death of the righteous shoulde bryng any commoditye to suche as remayne alyue it soundeth straung in our eares therefore shall it be declared Whan a man endewed wyth excellent gyftes is made an idol Almightie God cannot suffer it For God hymselfe wyll bee he of whom all good thynges vndoutedly must be hoped and loked for and vnto hys dyshonour it serueth if the heart cleane not only vnto hym And blessed is the man that setteth hys loue comforte and hope vpon the Lorde Agayne cursed be the manne as the Prophete sayeth that vpon man doeth put hys trust Now commeth it lightly to pa● that we set to muche by riche parentes by fayer children honourable frendes and men of good propertyes Therefore god plucketh them away frō vs to draw vs awaye from creatures and that we myght perceaue hys
folkes The answer is taken oute of the fore rehearced grounde The wyll of God Yf god who hath al in his owne power had promysed euery one a long lyfe then mightest thou complayne at the shortnyng of the lyfe of thy selfe or of thy frendes agaynste gods promes Now hath god compared clothed the soule wyth the body that what day or what twinklīg of an eye soeuer he cōmaundeth it to depart it kepeth the same time wherin one finisheth his course Therefore hath no man cause to complayn of an vntimely death but loke whatsoeuer one hath lyued ouer and beside the first day of hys birth it is an increace Moreouer god knoweth much better then thou and we al whan it is beste for euerye one to dye And so faithful is he for the lord Iesus Chrysts sake that he in no wyse wyll be to hasty vpon vs. Secondli The shortne● of this tyme ▪ though we remain a long season in thys fickle transitory lyfe yet is al our tyme but short specially towards the endlesse eternitie Therefore it hath but a slender differēce to depart hence in youth or in age Thyrdly Misery thorowe death is a yong person wythdrawen away fro many troubles whyche els were at hys dore For commenly the longer a man liueth the more miserable is he Take ensamples oute of olde storyes Yf Themistocles after the most gloryous victory agaīst Xerxes whan all the Grekes aknowledged and cōmended him for their redemer and delyuerer had dyed shoulde it not haue serued hym to a perpetuall prayse and honoure Then shoulde not he afterwarde haue been rated as a betrayer of Grekelande then neded not he to haue been in bōdage not to haue fallen downe at the foote of the kyng of Barbarye as beefore a god whom he before had dryuē out of grekelande Howe thrall and vile a thyng was it to be estemed before the world that The misrocles must nedes come beefore kyng Xerxes What is to be said of Marcus Cicero who confesseth hymselfe that if he had died sooner he had escaped exceadīg great troubles And forasmuche as he so sayed whyle the mater was yet tolerable howe woulde he fyrste haue thought and lamēted in his age to see wyth his eyes the drawne swordes ouer the senatours and Citizens heades and whan the moste principall mennes goods were parted among murtherers Catilina was a sedicious man yea whā wheras afore tyme ther was one catilina the citie was now become full of suche sedicious persons The ensamples of dayly experience declare sufficiently before our eyes whereby we maye euidently perceyue that death though they call it vntimeli deliuereth yet from great misfortune and aduersitie Fourthlye the innocency and clennes of youth is of their own nature and thorowe euyll ensamples defyled and stayned with the life and cōuersacion that foloweth after Augustine sayeth the older the worse Therfore whan a yonge man falleth on slepe knowe thou that God sheweth greate grace vnto hym in that he suffereth him not as many other to remaine long in thys blasphemous worlde to the intente he should no more bee hyndered and defyled wyth it but hath called hym from hence to a right good state He speaketh of Henoch that wyth hymself and al the electe he might possesse the kyngdome of heauē Witnes of the scripture Sapience 4. sodenly was he taken away to the intēte that wickednes shoulde not alterhys vnderstandyng Hys soule pleased god therefore hasted he to take hym awaye from among the wycked Similitudes He that is vpō the sea and wyth a good stronge wynde is caryed soone to the hauē or lande where he woulde be is happier then he that for lacke of wynde is fayne to sayll stil many yeares and dayes vpon the sea with much trouble and werines Euē so the more happy is he whō death taketh awaye from the stormy and raging sea of this world Seyng there is set before vs an vniuersal natiue country and he that is long in goyng thyther obteyneth nomore then he that is spedely gone thither before hād should not one wishe that he had soone ouercome the foul daungerous way that leadeth to the heauenly harborow The sooner one payeth hys debt the better it is If there were none other remedi but thou with an hundreth moo must nedes be beheaded and thou arte the fyrste that is put to execucion art thou not then the fyrste that is dispatched of the payne Fynally if thou consyder the mischaunces of other folkes thou hast the lesse cause to complaine One dyeth in the mothers wōbe afore he be borne Another dyeth in the very birth The thirde in hys florishynge youth whan he fyrst delyteth to lyue falleth away as a bewtiful rose Among a thousand is there not one that commeth to the perfect age ¶ Of the death of the aged The .11 Chapter VvHā old aged folkes are gredye of thys wretched life they doe euen as those the whan the wyne is all spent wyll nedes drynke out the wyne lyes also Whoso dwelleth in an olde rotten house that synketh down nedeth not lōg to seke proppes to vnder set it but should rather be glad to get him out of it euen so old aged folks by reason of theyr decaied body should rather be cōtēt to departe from it And thys aduauntage they haue that their death is not so fearce and paynful as the death of yong folkes Thys is chefely to be considered that the lord our god wil not haue vs carefull whyche thynge belongeth vnto hym alone but to be faythfull and true and diligently to laboure Olde fathers and mothers are not able to trauayll any more and yet wyth erneste carefulnesse they thynke to bryng all thynges to pas Thys special fault they haue that they thynke they shal euer lacke Therfore vnto them verely it is beste that god take them away from al care sorowe and trouble place them in quiete reste wyth other faythfull Chrysten folkes ¶ Of straunge death The .12 Chapter VvHoso is taken with the pestilence or dyeth els of sycknes in hys bed ought gladly to suffer the hand of god for euery bodi hath deserued a farre worse death And a very small rod is thys towards it that god sendeth ouer the vngodlye yea ofte tymes ouer hys own deare children whan one is beheaded Psal 44.1 Roma 8. c. ● Cor. 4. b. another burnt the third drowned c. where they altogether may syng with Dauid for thy sake are we kylled euery day and cōpted as shepe appoynted to be slayn But if one dye an vnwont death as one is destroied by the hangmā another dyeth a sodain death the third as happly a mans chylde falleth down dead frō an hyghe place thys take we for aterrible death cannot tell els what to say of it as though eueri kind of death in it selfe were not terrible vnto the nature of man Though one dyeth vpon the whele for murther there is some tyme more
hope of hym that he hath founde grace at gods hand then of many one that dyeth at home in hys bed Ensāples also are to be cōsidered for a great sort of gods elect died not a ryghte death as we vse to terme it Abel was murthured of his own naturall brother The prophet beeyng sent to Hieroboam was destroied of a Lyon Esaye was sawne a sonder thorowe the myddes Hieremy lyke as Steuen also was stoned to death Iames being thrown downe from the pulpet was slayne of a fuller Peter at rome was fastened to a crosse Vpon Paul was execucion done wyth the sworde such like ensamples hast thou Heb. 11. Item the most excellent heithē men came miserably out of thys world The good Socrates was poysoned Euripides was all to torne of dogges Sophocles was choked wyth a litle stone of a grape bury very sorowfull combraunce dyd fret out the heart of Homerus Innumerable ensamples declare that there happeneth no new thing vnto vs what death soeuer we or oure frendes dye Specially let vs obserue this rule death is terrible to thē that haue no god but of vs which ar gods children ought not the horible ymage of death to be feared but to bee welcome vnto vs. For god himselfe comforteth vs with these wordes folowyng I lyue Iohn 14. and ye also shall lyue Of this ar we assured in Christ Iesu who vpon the crosse dyed the most horrible deth for our sakes to whō with the father the holy goste be all honor and glori for euer and euer Amen ¶ Onely vnto God geue the praise An exhortacion wrytten by the Lady Iane the night before she suffred in the end of the new testamente in Greke whych she sent to hir sister Ladye Katherine I Haue here sent you good sister Katherin a booke whych although it be not outwardly trymmed with golde yet inwardlye it is more worth then precyous stones It is the booke deare sister of the law of the lord it is hys testament last wyll whyche he bequethed vnto vs wretches whyche shall leade you to the path of eternal ioye And if you with a good minde reade it and with an earnest desier folowe it it shal bryng you to an immortal and euerlasting life It wil teache you to lyue learn you to dye it shall wynne you more then you shoulde haue gained by the possessions of youre wofull fathers landes For as if god hadde prospered hym you should haue inherited his lādes so if you apply diligentlye thys boke sekyng to directe your lyfe after it you shal be an inheritour of suche ryches as neyther the couetous shal wythdrawe frō you neyther the thefe shall steale nether yet the mothes corrupte Desyer wyth Dauid good sister to vnderstande the lawe of the Lorde your God Liue styl to dye that you by death maye purchace eternall lyfe or after your death enioie the life purchaced you by Christes death And truste not that the tendernes of youre age shall lengthen your life For assone if god call goeth the yonge as the olde and labour alwaye to learne to dye deny the world defye the deuyll and despyse the fleshe and delite your selfe only in the Lorde Be penitent for your synnes and yet despayre not Be strong in faith and yet presume not And desyer wyth S. Paul to bee dissolued to be wyth Chryste wyth whom euen in death there is lyfe Bee lyke the good seruant and euen at midnight be waking lest whā death commeth and stealeth vpō you like a thefe in the nyght you be wyth the euill seruaunt found slepinge and leaste for lacke of oyle ye be founde lyke to the fine folysh wemen and like him that had not on the weddyng garment and then be cast out from the maryage Reioyce in Chryste as I trust ye doe And seyng ye haue the name of a Chrystian as nere as ye can folowe the steppes of your master Chryst and take vp your crosse laye your synnes on hys backe and alwayes embrace him And as touching my death reioyce as I dooe good sister that I shal be deliuered of this corrupcyon and put on vncorrupcyon For I am assured that I shal for losyng of a mortall lyfe wynne an immortall lyfe The whych I praye god graunt you sende you of his grace to liue in his feare and to dye in the true Chrystyan fayth From the whyche in gods name I exhorte you that ye neuer swarue neyther for hope of lyfe nor feare of death For if ye wil deny hys trueth to lengthen your lyfe god wyll denye you and yet shorten your dayes And if ye wyll cleaue to hym he wil prolonge your dayes to your cōforte and hys 〈…〉 the whyche glory god bring me now and y● hereafter whan it shall please God to call you Fare well good sister and put youre onely trust in god who only must helpe you Your louing sister Iane Dudley