bodye rise againe not corruptible bryckle fraile feeble as now it is but faire cleane beautifull strong of perfite force and immortall vnto euerlasting lyfe This is the way by thys corporall death vnto true and eternall lyfe into oure true countrey 1. Cor. 15. Flesh and blood cannot inherite the kingdome of God wherein is nothing but lyfe and therefore this mortalitie must put on immortalitie Esac 25. Oseae 13. Then shall the saying come to passe which is written Death is swalowed vp into the victorie they nowe whiche beléeue in Christ haue ouercome sinne death and hell They therefore contemning death being strong and bolde in Christ will say Hell where is thy victorie Sinne is the sting of death the lawe is the strength of sinne But prayse be vnto God which hath giuen vs the victorie through our lorde Iesus Christ We wyll adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort 1. Cor. 4. HE that raysed vp the lorde Iesus Christ from death shall rayse vs vp also Phill. 3. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for a sauiour euen the lorde Iesus Christ which shall chaunge our vile bodies that they maye be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodye according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto him Colos 3. Yée are dead and your lyfe is hidde with Christ in God When Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe himselfe then shall ye also appéere with him in glorie I woulde not brethren 1. Thes 4. haue you ignorant concerning them which are fallen a sléepe that ye sorrow not as other do which haue no hope For if we beléeue that Iesus Christ dyed and rose againe euen so they also which sléepe by Iesus will God bring againe with him And saint Paule doth comfort Tymothe his scholar in the articles of the resurrection by these wordes Remember sayeth he that Iesus Christ being of the séede of Dauid rose againe from death 2. Timo 3.2 according to my gospell If we are dead with Christ we shall also liue with him If we suffer with him we shall raigne with him Saint Paule sayeth that Christ Hebr. 2. by the grace of GOD should taste of death for all men And in the same place he sayeth also that Christ was made partaker of our flesh and blood that is to saye hée became perfite man that hée might put downe through death him that had lordship ouer death that is to wit the diuell and that he might delyuer them whosoeuer through feare of death were all there lyfe time in daunger of bondage God saued vs 2. Timo. 1. and called vs with an holy calling not according to our déedes but according to his owne purpose grace which grace was giuen vs through Christ before the world was but is now declared openly by the appéering of our sauior Iesu Christ which hath put away death hath brought lyfe and immortalitie to light 1. Ioan. 3. We know that we are translated from death vnto lyfe bicause we loue the brethren 1. Ioan. 4. In this appéered the loue of God to vs warde bicause that God sent his onely begotten sonne into the world that we might liue thorow him Iob. 19. I am sure that my redéemer lyueth and that I shall ryse out of the earth at the last day and that I shall be clothed againe with this skin and sée God in my fleshe yea I my selfe shall beholde him not with other but with the same eyes He that diligently doth meditate thinke vpon these testimonies of scripture cannot choose but take much comfort and great ioy therof Saint Paule may be a most euident example thereof vnto vs which hartily reioyseth in his owne behalfe that he knoweth Christ Phill. 3. and the power of his resurrectiō whereby our death is slaine Now therfore death is dead vnto all them which beléeue in Christ there is nothing now in death terrible which is to be dreaded and feared besides the onely ymage and shape thereof Euen as a serpent being kylled kéepeth notwithstanding that his olde and fearefull figure but hath no power in him to doe harme Num. 21. and euen as the lyue serpentes died when the brasen serpent was looked on which Moyses set vp in the wildernesse by the might of the power of God and the Iewes could not be infected with venome of the lyue serpentes Likewise also our death his dead and made harmlesse and nothing to be feared if we looke vpon and beholde the liuely death of Christ wyth the eyes of our fayth And to be short death is like the verie ymage and shadowe of death yea more rather she is the beginning and enteraunce into the true lyfe Christ which is the veritie it selfe sayeth Ioan. 24. Ioan. 8. If a man kéepe my wordes he shall neuer sée death How I pray you may this be I will showe you howe A man that trusteth in the mercie of Christ by the fayth which he hath taken out of the gospell is so incorporated as I may so terme it and so vnited and coupled vnto his lorde and mayster Christ which is the true lyfe Ioan. 14. that he may not be pulled or separated from him This body therefore is sundred and deuided from the soule in moste sure hope of the glorious resurrection vnto euerlasting lyfe For within short space the body shal be restored againe vnto the soule that they maye both enioy felicitie And he that thus beléeueth in Christ shall not sée eternall death of body and soule that is to witte perpetuall damnation which is the true death The death of godly men is a going forth into the company of the elect For the death of godlye men is a going forth and departing out of this mortall life into immortalitie vnto Christ vnto the angelles and vnto all the saints What is to bee done when hell or eternall damnation comming in our minds doth feare vs. THe malignant spirite maketh man verie solicitous pensiue about his predestination putting those cruell and horrible thoughts of predestination in hys mynde What if thou shouldest not please God What if he hath vtterly cast thée off How knowest thou that thou art one of the number of them whome God hath elected and chosen vnto euerlasting lyfe These and the lyke temptations are most bitter and doe most gréeuously torment and vexe the minde Wherefore thou must here stande fast on both féete as the prouerbe is and it is needefull that thou constantly defend thy selfe in this conflict But it thou wouldest obtaine the victory in this battell thou must set vpon him by this policie craft Forthwith as soone as these temptations come vnto thée from the Diuell beware thou enter not into disputation with him beware thou deale not with him neyther answere him againe But put him off from thée chased awaye with these wordes and cogitations Sathan get thée hence depart
hearts with moste vehement ingines of sorrowes and heauinesse There will be great daunger in those Agonies and troubles of the minde if oure heart bée not established with a sure and constant faith least we now béeing weakned and wearied with the multitude and greatnesse of temptations do dispaire For those things which come in our mindes when we are sicke séeme to be most horrible and gréeuous and for none other cause then that oure faith is verie little and doth wauer neyther yet is so strong that trusting vnto the worde of God is able to apprehende that vnmeasurable and ineastimable treasure and riches of God the sonne that is to wit the remissiō of sinnes through Christ the resurrection of the fleshe that most pleasaunt and exoptable felowship of all the elect and the lyfe euerlasting and that all these things are giuen vs fréely in Christ and for Christ We ought daylie to exercise our selues in these Articles of our faith and to fastē them in vs diligently pondering weighing them in our mindes Also we shoulde oftentimes come vnto the Sacrament Synaxis or the Table of the Lords supper But we must first diligētly trie fashion and prepare our selues For we ought especially to beware of this that we meddle not with the most royall Sacrament Eucharist or of thankesgiuing with vnwashed mindes and spotted consciences It is truely a shamefull matter and much to be lamented that this many yeares this Sacrament of the body and bloude of Iesus Christ hath béene supersticiously administred and of some other it hath béene handled vnreuerently and little according to the worthinesse thereof in so much that of some Heretikes it hath béene vtterly contemned and dispised The present punishments and afflictions doe sufficiently declare vnto vs how haynously they offended therein wherof S. Paule foretold vnto the Corinthians 1. Corin. 11. This Sacrament surely is a great and marueylous pledge of his especiall loue and singular mercy towards vs which he would haue to be testified and declared vnto vs in that his last Supper how that he adioyneth vs vnto him as his mysticall members that we may know and vnderstande that we are beloued regarded and preserued of him Thus doe godlye mindes determine that Christ is effectuall in vs. I woulde to God we would learne to consider in our mindes the worthynesse of this so royall a gifte that we might be therefore thankfull and when we aduaunce lift vp our faith we mought then also haue a reuerent feare and thinke how detestable an offence and ingratitude is and what horrible punishments will ensue the prophanatiō or vnholy vsing of this so worthie a mysterie And it is not to bée thought those moste grieuous threatnings which Saint Paule maketh mention off to be vaine and of none effect For God is alwaies true And I suppose assuredly that the greatest parte of those publicke euilles which haue béene in our dayes are to be imputed vnto the disorderly and grosse vsing of that most holy pledge Let vs therefore oftentimes prepare our selues to come vnto the Communion Table with feruent desire of vertue and holynesse that our mindes béeing refreshed and comforted with that heauenly foode of the soule faith and charitie maye bée daylie increased and strengthened in vs. The Articles of our Faith are diligently to be considered of the Sicke WEe ought also furthermore to remember and alwayes haue in our mindes all the Articles of our Catholike Faith But foure especially are diligently to be considered and to be poured into vs by often repiticion in the Agonies and troubles of death that is to saye the communion of Saintes the forgiuenesse of sinnes throughe the bloode of Christ the rising againe of the fleshe and the eternall lyfe Wherefore sicknesses ar sent vnto vs from God THen as death is the punishment of sinne Euen so diseases are many times sent vnto vs from God for our sinnes the whiche thing is manifest by manye testimonies of Scripture as in Ioan. 5. Psalme 88. Deut. 28. 2. Reg. 24. We are also often afflicted that oure fayth thereby mought be tryed For then surely a man may sée how much wée loue God how muche we trust in him when we are afflicted and oppressed with some gréeuous crosse Then here aboue all things sée that thou repent vnfaynedly turning thy whole heart minde and senses vnto God that thou maiest confesse and bewayle thy sinnes before him For sinne is the onely cause why we deserue the most iust wrath heauie plague of God Ioan. 20. And thou shalt gather out of Saint Iohn his Gospell the most aboundant comfort off absolution or remission of sinnes which Christ hath instituted and left vnto his vniuersall Church This vnmeasurable treasure is opened and offered vnto thée dailye Christ sayth receiue yée the holy Ghost Math. 18. whose sinnes soeuer yée forgiue they are forgiuen them and whose sinnes soeuer yée retaine they are retained Now when we haue desired and obtained forgiuenesse of our misdéedes without all question to the contrarie the paine and griefe or affliction also béeing on vs either will cease and leaue vs either will redownd vnto the saluation of the sicke body according to the passing good will and pleasure of almightie God For thou must be throughly perswaded that thou nothing doubt herein but that the paine or crosse although it séeme vnto the flesh a verie heauie yoke and burthen is a méere fatherly rodde and correction whereby God doth withhold and call backe thée his childe from committing of sinne entising and alluring thée vnto him God verily loueth vs with a feruent zeale hée willingly tendereth our saluation and worketh all things vnto this ende and purpose that he may correct vs and bring vs vnto good For looke whome he loueth him doth he correct him doth he chasten afflict in this world least after this lyfe he should be tormented with the euerlasting paine of vnquenchable fire And wauer not but perswade thy selfe most certainely that God is thy most louing Father and much desirous of thée howsoeuer he seeme to be angry with thée This is not the wrath of a Tiraunt and an executioner but of a father intéerely louing vs which would not that we should be lost and cast awaye but that we béeing corrected shoulde amende and obtaine saluation This is a most certaine truth if so be that we whose faith is so weake can beleue it First of all therefore aske thou forgiuenesse and remission of all thy sinnes but through Christ and with a verie repentant heart that thou mayest well accorde with God that thou mayest find him pacified and mercifull vnto thée After this done thou mayest also beséech him to delyuer thée from the affliction which troubleth thée So doth Ecclesiasticus teach vs whereas he sayth Eccle. 38. My sonne despise not thy selfe in thy sickenesse but pray vnto the Lorde and he shall heale thée And so doth the Psalmist praye Remember not O Lorde our olde
23. Luc. 19. thou shalt finde the theefe hanged on his right hande thou shalt finde the publicane Zachaeus and many others whom he receyued with marueilous kindnesse pronounced them free from all their sinnes were they neuer so gréeuous For Christ is verie grace it selfe mercie aide consolation life ioy and saluation to all them which desire those things of him and doe put their trust and confidence in him God which is veritie and cannot lye hath promised al these things for Christ his sake vnto vs. He therefore will neuer deceiue vs beguile vs nor forsake vs. Furthermore it will come into thy minde also when thou art in daunger of death if thou haue hurted or endammaged thy neighbour by any meanes as if thou eyther haue stollen or taken away any thing from him or if thou haue slaundered him Here thou shalt doe euen the same thing which Christ did hanging vpon the Crosse Luc. 23. thou shalt praye for all thine enimies and shalt forgiue them from the bottome of thine hart all the wrongs they haue done vnto thée If any thing of thine be stolen from thée thou shalt not violently requyre it agayne If thou haue taken awaye anye other mans good restore it againe if thou maye or prouide that it may be restored againe neyther shalt thou kéepe any thing priuie but shalt confesse it vnto God and aske forgiuenesse of the same and be sorie that thou hast so offended If so be that thou be not able for thy pouertie to repaie the thing thou hast wrongfully taken it shall bée sufficient if thou forgiue others which haue done eyther wrong or violence to thée in body or goods or haue takē away thy good name If I say thou forgiue them with all thine hart there is no cause why thou shouldest be carefull Be of good comfort and doubt not but God will forgiue thée the wrongs which thou hast done vnto others Truely hée can not but release his sinnes which forgiueth his neighbour For he himselfe hath taught vs this order and way of recompensing Math. 6. and loosing If yée shall forgiue other men there trespasses your heauenly father shall also forgiue you Whether the sick may lawfully seeke the phisitions help and vse phisick or no. THe sick body shall neyther despise the phisition his help nor haue it in admiration Let his chéefe hope be stedfastly fastined vppon God which as he alone did put the soule into the body So he onely taketh it awaye when it pleaseth him Sometime notwithstanding the phisition is to bée sent for least we shoulde séeme to tempt God For séeing medicines of themselues neither can restore health nor cause diseases yet notwithstanding when they are ministred of a naturall wise phisition well exercised in reasonable rules thei are wholesome and worthily called the handes of God as Herophilus witnesseth the which thing also holye scripture testifieth For it is written Honor the phisition Eccle. 38. For the most highest hath created him for necessities sake The most highest hath created medicine out of the earth and the prowdest man will not abhorre it Tellers of destinies inchauntours wicked coniurers and deceyuers which pretende to cure the sicke with false prayers and orisons are to bée driuen awaye and eschued as the pestilence For witches are the handes of the diuell and not of almightie God by whose worde and power all things ought to bée gouerned What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. THou shalt thinke that death is conquered and vtterly destroyed by Christ And except Christ hauing compassion on vs had suffered death for vs the feare of death woulde haue troubled vs with great and horrible heauinesse and intolerable tormentes of minde But death béeing ouercome and destroyed by Christ the soules of them which trust in him can not dye and perishe but they go straight wayes vnto Christ after their departing out of this bodye As the théefe béeing in extremitie heard it sayed vnto him Luc. 23. This daye thou shalt be with me in paradise The body in the meane season resteth in sure hope to rise againe in the last daye vnto that most blessed immortall lyfe with great glorie magnificence and honour as renewed and clarified that it may liue togither with the soule for euer with Christ and all his elect amongst whom we shall finde many which were either our fréendes or kinsfolks here in this worlde The death of godly mē is called a sleepe Therefore holy Scripture calleth the death of godly men a sléepe For the verie same our brickle fraile weake mortall and corruptible body shall be raysed vp in the last day as a man stirred out of his sléepe and forthwith death extinct and abolished it shall appéere incorruptible glorious beautifull sounde helthfull immortall whole pure perfite spirituall as it is written vnto the Corinthians 1. Cor. 15. Psal 116. And hereof the psalmist sayeth Right déere in the sight of the lorde is the death of his saints Waighe those things diligently in thy minde déerely beloued that thou mayest not be seduced with the wicked world which supposeth vs vtterly to dye the body togither with the soule to decaye and perishe and that no part of vs shall remayne after the departing out of this lyfe But they are farre out of the waye and greatly deceyued therein Our body is not so vile and so little regarded in the sight of God but great honour glorie and saluation is prepared and appointed for it For the verie same body which we carie about with vs and the same which lyeth vpon the bedde afflicted and tormented the verie same body I say renewed and glorified shall liue togither with the soule for euer If so bée that wée shoulde léese our body and neuer recouer it againe the death of saintes were not precious and honorable but vile horrible and most cruell Wherfore these things considered diligently thou shalt support and holde vp thy wauering mind erected by sure hope in the sentences of holy scripture Beléeue them and doubt nothing at all For it is vndoutedly true that I tell thée As the body of Christ béeing buried euen vntill the thirde daye rose againe the thirde day vnto a new and eternal life neuer to die againe so the bodies of all them which haue slept in Christ that is to say which haue beléeued on Christ doe rest in there graues onely for a time to rise againe in the last daye in sure hope of the most ioyful and glorious resurrection into a new and perpetual life where shall bée neyther sinne nor anye death calamitie or any other thing Apoc. 21. than righteousnesse innocencie lyfe ioy blisfulnesse and saluation worlde without ende God which is of infinite power and veritie it selfe hath promised those things They shall therefore come to passe vndoubtedly Therefore trust thou stedfastly vnto hys promises Furthermore the testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the fleshe are
2. Cor. 5. God hath made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne that we by his meanes should be righteous Wherfore if thou beléeue Ioan. 1. Rom. 8. Gala. 3. Rom. 6. thou art nowe becomme the sonne of God If thou be the sonne of God thou art also the heire of God and the fellow heyre with Christ If so be that eternall lyfe be the inheritaunce and gift of God as saint Paule doth call it thou canst not deserue it by the paynes and gréefe of thy sicknesse But God woulde haue thée punished wyth this disease vnto this ende purpose that thou shouldst therby keepe downe breake and mortifie this thine olde man that at the length he maye cease from committing of sinne 1. Cor. 15. the ende whereof commeth onely by this corporall death And for this cause wée muste dye that our soules may depart vnto euerlasting saluation For death is the gate Death is the enterance vnto eternall lyfe and entraunce vnto eternall lyfe where in the ende we are deliuered from all calamities †Apoc. 21. myseries and wretchednesse from all errours and deceytes of the diuell that we shall no more be defiled with the moste filthy spottes of sinne neyther shall we be seduced into heresies or errours neither be cast headlong into desperation 1. Cor. 15. Then there shall be an ende of all euills of all aduersities and discommodities Then shall we rest in the lorde and shall obtaine lyfe and euerlasting ioyes Death therfore is not to be detested and abhorred yea rather it is earnestly to be desired and imbraced seing that we passe thorow it into eternall ioyes And that is a most true saying which saint Paule speaketh Rom. 8. That all things vnto the godly shall turne vnto good Truely death vnto the worlde séemeth to be a thing most odious most horrible and cruell but vnto the beleeuers it is moste swéete pleasant and acceptable Although our olde Adam doth tremble at hir comming abhorreth escheweth hir Our inward man notwithstanding is readie chéerefull quick and willing to die seing that he vnderstandeth and knoweth that he shall be deliuered from al filthinesse of sinne wickednesse vice and wredchednesse by hir and shall go forth vnto eternall ioyes How those are to be comforted which lye in the daunger of death GOD thy good and moste louing father hauing compassion on thée déerely beloued doth call thée out of this most miserable and wretched lyfe wylling to translate bring thée vnto himselfe into the perpetuall ioyes of the celestiall life Therfore giue and commende thy selfe and all thine wholy vnto him and whatsoeuer he will haue done will thou the same also Math. 26. Mark 14. Luc. 22. Io. 6. Lu. 23 And say thy wil be done O God my father and not mine Cry vnto Christ as the théefe did which hanged on the crosse Remember mée O lord when thou commest into thy kingdome Crie with the publican Luc. 18. O lord be mercifull vnto me a wretched sinner Crie instantly with the woman of Cana that heathen gentile Oh sonne of Dauid haue mercie on mée Math. 15. And doubt not but Christ will heare thée calling vnto him and haue compassion on thée He will forgiue thee thy sinnes and thou shalt be with him in paradise Therefore take thou holde by this Christ sticke fast vnto him and sée that thou commit thy soule vnto him Crie thou with this Christ crucified vnto GOD which is father vnto you both In thée O lorde I put my trust Psal 31. let mée neuer bée put to confusion delyuer me in thy righteousnesse Bowe downe thine eare to mée make hast to delyuer me Be thou my strong rock and house of defence that thou mayest saue mée Thou art my strong rock and my castle be thou my guide also Into thy handes I commend my spirite Crie thou with Dauid also O lorde thou art my strength the lorde is my stony rock and my defence God is my sauiour and my buckler the horne also of my saluation Vnto thée O lorde Psal 18. Psal 25. haue I lifted vp my soule my God I haue put my trust in thée O let me not be confounded Leade me forth in thy truth For thou art the God of my saluation Call to remembraunce O lorde thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesse which hath bene euer of olde Oh remember not the offences of my youth but according to thy mercie thinke thou vpon me O lord for thy goodnesse For thy names sake O lorde bée mercifull vnto my sinne for it is great Turne thée vnto mée haue mercy vpon me O bring thou me out of my troubles Forgiue mée all my sinnes O keepe my soule and deliuer mée Let me not bée confounded For I haue put my trust in thée If thou call for Gods ayde and succour after this maner God will helpe thée in a conuenient time and will say as it is written in the psalme Psal 91. Bicause he hath set his loue vpon me I will therfore delyuer him I will set him vp bicause he hath knowne my name He shall call vpon me and I will heare him yea I am with him in trouble I will deliuer him and bring him to honor Wherefore O thou christian here fight a good fight fight thou valiantly stoutely constantly as it becommeth a true christian to doe Beware thou giue no ground nor go backwards there is no perill Thou fightest not here alone But the king Iesus Christ is thy captaine in this agony Follow him going before thée in this conflict This thy capitaine shal be thy reuenger he shall saue and defende thée in this battell from all thē enimiys of thy soule from all perill from al calamitie He is not a king as others are but he is of infinit and vnspeakable power He hath vanquished and subdued for thy sake death sathan and hell Esa 25. Oscae 13. 1. Cor. 15. Death is swalowed vp into the victorie Christ died for thée Therefore eternall death hath no power on thée Christ descended into hell that he might deliuer thée frō this eternall darknesse Be thou therfore of a valiant stout courage runne into the front of the battell with a bold hart put away all feare here is no daunger There is no cause why thou shouldest feare the seuere streight iudgement of God 1. Ioan. 2. 1. Timo. 2. 1. Petr. 2. Rom. 5. Iesus Christ is thy mediatour before God He is thine aduocate patrone He is both thy bishop priest He hath recōciled thée vnto God and hath restored vnto you his fatherly loue which was alienated from thée for thy sinnes sake God now is now thy father for Christ his sake Esay 63. Iohn 14. He taketh care of thée He entéerly loueth thée as his most tender childe Now séeing that this so mighty a king standeth on thy side who shall be able to trouble thée Who shall be
diligently to be thought vpon and earnestly to be beaten into our mindes by often repeticion Thus doth saint Paule teache vs 1. Thes 4. that we strengthen one another with such communication of the resurrection that we mought thereby be comforted There can be none more certaine nor more plentifull consolations giuen vnto vs than those which we seeke out of the testimonies of holye scripture for the approbation of the resurrection Wée declare not the wordes of man but of God which surely and mightily will performe and bring to passe all that he hath spoken No man can alter the the will of God no man can let or hinder his purpose and counsell His power cannot be measured he is true and faithfull his goodnesse and mercie is endlesse Therfore let no man doubt thereof The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the deade Math. 23. THe iust men shall shine as bright as the Sunne in the kingdome of there Father Ioan. 5. Verily verily I saye vnto you hée that heereth my words and beléeueth on him that sent mée hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come into damnation but is escaped from death vnto lyfe Ioan. 6. This is the will of him that sent me that euery man which seeth the sonne and beléeueth on him haue euerlasting lyfe and I will rayse him vp at the last day Ioan. 8. Verily verily I saye vnto you if a man kéepe my sayings he shall neuer sée death Ioan. 11. Christ sayde that Lazarus did sléepe which notwithstanding had yéelded vp the ghost whose deade body was committed vnto the graue But Christ restoreth the dead vnto lyfe againe and calleth those things which be not as though they were Therefore he addeth this saying I am the resurrection Rom. 4. Ioan. 11. and the lyfe He that beléeueth on mée yea though he were deade yet shall lyue and forthwith after those wordes hée raysed vp Lazarus which had layne foure daies in his graue being putryfied and smelling And bicause we are fearefull and faint-harted by nature in those agonies that we maye haue the better helpe to beléeue that there shall be a Resurrection many were restored from death to lyfe in the dayes of the prophets and the apostles Christ raysed vp from death to lyfe the wydowes Luc. 7. He raysed vp also the maister of the Sinagoge his daughter Iairus was hir father Luc. 8. He restored Lazarus vnto lyfe Ioan. 11. Act. 9. Act. 20. 4. Reg. 4. Peter likewyse made Tabytha aliue again Paule reuiued Eutychus Helyseus the prophet reuiued his Hostes dead sonne Helias the prophet reuoked the womans childe of Sareptha to lyfe againe 3. Reg. 17. God also assumed and tooke vnto him that two most holy Gene. 5. 4. Reg. 2. mighty men Enoch and Elia rapt alyue both body and soule togithers out of this frayle and wretched world that he might by them giue vs some taste and signification of the true lyfe to come least we also shoulde beleue that no parte of vs remayneth after this miserable lyfe according to the opinion of the heathen gentiles and Epicures Furthermore the faint harted sick body is to be admonished that he remember and thinke what that greatest and mightie lord both of lyfe and death Iesus Christ sayed in saint Luke his gospell Luc. 8. Iairus daughter Wéepe not for the damsell is not deade but sléepeth Mans reason harde of beléefe not vnderstanding the secrete mysteries of God did laugh these wordes to scorne But Christ making it true verifying his words restored the dead mayden vnto life againe as soone as he had spoken the wordes The very same lord Iesus Christ wil receiue thy soule and will preserue it and in the last day he wil restore thy body vnto thy soule againe will couple them vnto eternall lyfe Ioan. 5. The time shall come when al they which are in there graues shall heare the voice of the sonne of God and they that haue done good shall come forth vnto the resurrection of lyfe If so be that the spirite of him that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen hée that raysed vp Christ from death Rom. 8. shall quicken your mortall bodies bicause that his spirite dwelleth in you God hath raysed vp the lorde Christ and shall rayse vs vp by his power The .xv. 1. Cor. 6. chapter of the first epistle to the corinthians is full of most sweete and effectual consolations hereof no golde is to be compared vnto them Saint Paule in the same chapter so knitteth and fasteneth our resurrection vnto the resurrection of Christ that it maye not be pulled or seperated from it as by this reason Christ is risen againe from the deade the which thing is most certeine Therefore without all doubt wée also shall ryse againe For Christ is our heade Ephe. 4.5 Ioan. 12. and we are hys members mystically This head is not wtout his members neyther doth he leaue and forsake his members Where Christ is Ephe. 5. there shall we be also For we are members of his bodye of his fleshe and of his bones Who can sufficiently declare according to the worthynesse thereof that vnmeasurable glorie of inestimable vnspeakable grace and mercy that God descending from heauen into the lowest partes did vouchsafe to become a mortall man that this frayle and bryckle nature of man vnited vnto his deuine nature mought be brought vnto euerlasting life being made partaker of the heauenly kingdome by the infinite and incomprehensible might and efficacie of his diuinitie and godhead If we beléeue that so great riches were bestowed vpon vs and that so blessed a lyfe remayneth for vs how I praye you can we be false harted or troubled in minde The nature of all faithfull people which haue béene both before and also since Christ and those which are yet to come without all question hath put on immortalitie in Christ being perfite God and perfite man The comfort therfore of Christ his resurrection is most plentiful and effectuall wherewith saint Paule doth strengthen the mindes of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 15. where as he sayeth Christ is risen from the deade and is become the first fruites of them that sléepe For by a man came death and by a man came the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made alyue and euery man in his own order The first is Christ than they that are Christs Here saint Paule maketh a similitude of naturall things whereby the resurrection maye be the more cléerely and manifestly perceyued And the similitude is taken of drie seede which the husbandman casteth into the earth It dieth rotteth after a fashion Yet notwithstanding that which is committed vnto the earth doth not vtterly perishe but it commeth forth of the earth againe freshe and new with a pleasant hansome ioyful forme and shape And euen so shall our
able to assault inuade thée Who I pray thée shall be able to doe thée wrong What daunger can there be Harcken what saint Paule sayth Rom. 8. If God sayeth he be on our side who can be against vs Which hath not spared his owne sonne but hath yéelded him vp for vs all howe can it be that he also will not giue vs all things with him Who shall go about to laye anye crime against Gods elect It is God that iustifieth Who is he then that can condemne It is Christ that died yea rather which is raysed vp againe and is at the right hand of God and there maketh intercession for vs. Who shall separate vs from the loue of God I am thorowlye perswaded that neyther death neither life neither heigth neither depth neither any other creature can be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in our lord Iesus Christ Séeing that therfore Christ is giuen thee with al his riches with all his righteousnesse innocency and saluation Eternall life is giuen thée also Sainct Paule testifying the same vnto the Corinthians sayth 1. Corin. 1 That Christ is made of God to vs wisdome and also righteousnesse and sanctifying and redemption Therefore sée that thou haue all thy hope and confidence placed and fixed vpon this Christ and vpon this corner stone This stone is a sure soūd This stone is Christ 1. Petr. 2. Esay 28. and firme foundation wherevnto thou mayst leane and safely commit thy selfe No tempest be it neuer so black and boysterous no shower no stormes are able to throwe downe and ouerturne this foundation Let all thy hope and aide I say be placed and set on this Christ cast thy selfe vpon him sticke fast vnto him let no temptation or calamity be able to withdrawe and pull thée from him although all things seeme to happen vnto thée very absurdly and ouerthwartly Although fleshe and blood doe interprete it farre otherwise and reason thinke it contrary although the deuill doth nowe and then whisper in thy minde saying That thou art vndone that God is highly offended with thee that thou hast deserued the paine of hell fire and that thou muste be damned For faith is a substaunce that is to wit Hebr. 11. an expectation of things hoped for Hypostasis that is of promises and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as much to say as a sure argument and knowledge of things that are not séene Rom. 4. Gen. 15.17 Thou muste beleue with that holy Patriarch Abraham in hope ouer and aboue hope Thy faith and hope muste resist and set it selfe against all those things which eyther blinde reason suggesteth either that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our most subtile and by all meanes most crafty enimy going about to worke vs deceyt and our destruction doth instill and poure into vs. Wherfore thou must learne well the maner and custome of God which he vseth in preseruing those that are his Looke whome he will lift vp into heauen him will he first seeme to bring downe vnto hell 1. Reg. 2. Looke whom he entendeth to quicken him will he first mortifie and kill Vppon whom he mindeth to shew his notable mercy and fauor he first maketh semblance triing him as though he would cōdemne him Wherfore whē thou perceyuest none other thing but present death when God séemeth to be gréeuouslye offended with thée when that thou thynkest that he is gone most fardest from thée and that he hath vtterly forsaken thée as one refused and condemned then is he most néerest vnto thée ready to defend and deliuer thée he then loueth thee most especially then thou art chiefly regarded of him For when trouble and affliction commeth vpon vs then doth he remember his mercye according to the prophets saying Psal 30. For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye he will not be angry for euer For like as a father pitieth his owne children Psal 103. euen so is the lord merciful vnto them that feare him For he knoweth wherof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust But the mercifull goodnesse of the lorde endureth for euer and euer The lord is full of compassion and mercye long suffering and of great goodnesse Wherfore submit put vnder giue and commend thy selfe wholy vnto Christ closing thine eyes reiecting the iudgement of thy senses reason take it in good parte howsoeuer he intreateth thée Thou must not estéeme and consider death and horrour or the dolours of death according to the iudgemēt of thine eyes sense and reason but according to the worde of God Dauid sayeth Psal 116. Right déere in the sight of the lorde is the death of his saints Lykewise he sayeth Blessed are the dead Apoc. 14 Ioan. 8. which die in the lorde Christ also sayeth He that beléeueth on mée shall not tast of death If any thing therefore come into thy memorie which attempteth to turne thée away from Christ and to cast thée into desperation put all that out of thy minde and stick thou fast vnto the liuely worde of God meditate and ponder thereon print it in thy minde repeating it now and then among For thou canst neuer vnderstand by the consideration and sharpnesse of reason how it may be done that by death thou shalt passe vnto the true lyfe how thou yéelding vp thy ghost mayest depart here hence how thy soule maye be preserued and rest in the lorde euen vntill the last day and how also thy body being rotten consumed and deuoured with wormes maye come forth at the last iudgemēt with a new and a beawtifull shape Reason cannot comprehende this faith onely can Therefore oftentimes thinke thou vpon the articles of thy beléefe diligently consider and attentiuely examine euery particular thereof After what sort he is to bee called vpon which lyeth at the point of death NOw sée déerely beloued in Christ that thou fight a good fight Sée that thou cōstantly and valiantly defende thy self throughly fastē in thine hart the promises of Christ thy redeemer I am the resurrection Ioan. 11. and the lyfe sayeth Christ He that beléeueth on me shall lyue and shall neuer sée death Christ taking vpon him the nature of man subiect to the infirmities of our estate did offer vp himselfe to be a sacrifice for our sinnes dying vpon the aultar of the crosse He by his blessed blood did purge and clense the sinnes of all mankynde This Christe will not forsake thée he taketh a regarde of thée Thou canst suffer no iniurie or calamitie seing that Christ doth preserue and defende thée 2. Timo. 2. Ioan. 10. The sure foundation of God standeth fast hauing this seale the lorde knoweth which are his my shéepe héere my voice and I know them and they folow mée and I giue vnto them eternall lyfe and they shall neuer perishe neyther shall any man pluck them out of my hand My father which gaue them me is
†Sirach 6. If thou sée a wise man go thou vnto him early in the morning and let thy foote tread the path vnto his gate For this counsell is not only good for them that cannot reade but also for them that can For many there be which read and know not what they read Take héede therefore that thou doe not little regarde the * 2. Cor. 6. grace bestowed on thée by the frée gift of Christ but be thou carefull to séeke how thou mayest please the lorde that thou mayest procure and get vnto thée the blisfulnesse of his saintes For it is written Blessed are they Psal 119. which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole hart See that the enimie let thée not that when thou wouldst read he make thée slouthfull and put other businesse in thy heade which shall pull thée awaye saying First finishe thou these small affaires and so shalt thou reade without trouble of minde For howe often sendeth he in those things that maye encourage thée vnto handie labour And he obiecteth such matters that he may the sooner withhold thée from reading being the greater profite For as much as the deuill perceyuing man to be disposed to reade setteth against him by these and other lyke occasions seeking if he may by any meanes possible let him yet coâ—â—ent thou not vnto him but be euen as the Hart Psal 42. which thirsteth and desireth to come vnto the water springs that is to say vnto the holy scriptures that thou mayest drinke out of them such things as are méete and profitable for thée as for example When it is giuen thée to know any sentence let it not escape thée but pouder vpon it in thy minde write in thine hart and thou shalt kéepe it neuer able to bée rased out of thy memorie For it is written I will thinke vpon thy righteousnesse Psal 119. And againe I haue hidde thy words within my hart that I shoulde not sinne against thée And in an other place Wherewith shall a yong man clense his waye Euen by ruling himselfe after thy worde For who is he that is mindefull of the worde of the lorde and amendeth not his wayes Is not hée alwaies a reprobate a cast awaye caytife which remembereth nothing but rather forgetteth that which he once knew Truely God sayth vnto such an one Psal 50. Wherefore talkest thou of my righteousnesse and takest my testimony in thy mouth WhervpoÌ„ he commaundeth that thing to be takeÌ„ from him which he séemeth to haue Math. 25. And what was there commaunded to bée taken from him which he séemed to haue Faith For he calleth himselfe a christian Tit. 1. but denyeth it in his déedes and he is worse than an infidell And therefore he commaundeth the holy ghost to be taken from him which he receyued in the daye of his redemption and that he séemed to haue also And such a man shal become like vnto a wine vessell thorow the which the wine is spilte and lost they that sée him know it not supposing him to he full but when wine shoulde be drawen out of him then he appéereth vnto all men to be emptie Therefore euen so such a man shall appéere emptie in the daye of iudgement and his déedes shall be manifest vnto all the world And such are they which wil saye vnto the king in that day Math. 7. Lorde haue not we prophesied in thy name and haue done many great things in thy name And the king will answere and saye vnto them Verily I saye vnto you I knowe you not Thou seest déerely beloued that such a man hath nothing at all Be thou therfore mindfull of the worde of God and amende thy lyfe Beware thou suffer not the birdes to descende and deuoure the seede of the sonne of God For he himselfe saide that the séede is the worde which ye haue heard Math. 13. Therefore hide thou the séede in the sorowes of thy lande that is to wit hide the worde in the middell of thine hart that thou mayest bring forth some fruit vnto the lord in feare And when thou readest read diligently and boldly and handle eche lyne moderatly considering thereof Endeuor not to reade ouer many leaues but if any obscure sense happen vnto thée let it not gréeue thée to pervse the verse twice or thrice vntill thou vnderstande the meaning and force thereof Furthermore when thou preparest thy selfe to sit downe and read or to heare an other first praye vnto God saying thus Scripture is attenttyfely to be reade with prayer Psal 119. O lorde Iesu Christ open myne eyes and the eares of my hart that they may heare thy words and vnderstande them and may O lorde fulfill thy wyll hide not thy commaundements from me bicause I am a straunger on the earth but open and discouer mine eyes and I will consider the maruellous things of thy lawe For in thée Oh my God haue I trusted that thou shouldst lighten mine hart Also I beséeche thée so praye vnto God alwaies that he will illuminate thy minde and open vnto thée the effect and force of his worde For many haue erred Rom. 1. counted themselues wise they became fooles not vnderstanding what was written and falling into blasphemies haue therein perished Therfore if thou in reading finde any thing hard to be vnderstoode take héede the enimy teach thée not to say within thy selfe it is not so as this word expresseth for how should it be so and suche lyke But if thou beléeue God beléeue his word also and say vnto the enimie Come behinde me sathan For I know thée not The worde of God is a pure worde as tryed siluer clensed Psal 11. and purged from the earth seauen folde and in it is no peruerse matter other else haulting as the prouerbe is but all things therein séeme good in the wise mans sight and are righteous before them that finde knowledge and I truely am a foole and knowe not the scriptures but well vnderstande they are spiritually written For the apostle sayeth Rom. 7. that the lawe is spirituall Then looke vp towardes heauen saying these wordes Lorde I beleue thy worde and doe not gaine say it but I trust in the worde of thy holy spirite Preserue me therefore O lorde that I may finde fauour in thy sight For I séeke none other thing but only to be saued Oh mercifull father that I maye obtaine thy grace and fauour For thine is the kingdome and mercie for euer and euer Amen Peroratio I Beséeche you therefore brethren déerely beloued in the lorde that ye endeuour your selues to haue these things daylie in memorie I meane faith hope charitie and humilitie that they may be sealed vp by prayers vnto God and meditations of holy scriptures For if you haue those things and doe abound in them they will not leaue you emptie and barren touching the knowledge of Iesus Christ For the 〈◊〉 man which hath not those things but neglecteth his owne saluation is blind groping the waye with his hande 2. Petr. 1. forgetting that he is cleansed from his olde sinnes and it shall happen vnto him as it is sayde in the true prouerbe 2. Petr. 2. The dogge is returned againe vnto his domite and the washed swine vnto his durâ—ie puddle They therefore 2. Petr. 2. that haue escaped the pollutions of the worlde as it is written and haue renounced them in there baptisme and are come vnto the knowledge of our lord Iesus Christ and are afterwards againe entangled with them there ende shall bée worse than there beginning For it had bene better for them not to haue knowne the waye of truth then when they haue knowne it to returne backe againe vnto the things which were forsaken Let vs therfore being the déere and faythfull seruauntes of God and his christian chosen souldiours diligentlye and earnestly take vp the foresaide armour in oure hartes and not haue them in minde by an outwarde showe that we battayling well and treading downe al the power of the enimie Ephe. 5. Collos 3. may be deliuered from the curse to come vpon the children of vnbeléefe and that we maye finde grace Hebr. 4. and mercie in that horrible daye before the iust iudge Rom. 1. which will rewarde euerie man according to his déedes to whome with the almightie father and the holy spirite belongeth honor and glory now and for euer world without ende Amen FINIS The Table PHisick for the soule verie necessarie to be vsed in the agony of death and in these extreme and most perillous seasons c. folio 1. Faith is chiefely necessarie for the sick to abide the paines of the bodye and the temptations wherwith he is pestered folio 3. The articles of our faith are diligently to be considered of the sick folio 5 Wherefore sicknesses are sent vnto vs from God folio 5 There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble oure mindes in the agonie of death that is to wit sinne death hell or damnation folio 8 ¶ A prayer for the same folio 8 What is to bee done when sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences folio 9 The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes through Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick c. folio 11 Whether the sick may lawfully seke the phisitions helpe and vse phisicke or no. folio 18 What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. folio 18 The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the dead folio 20 We will adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort folio 23 What is to be done when hell or eternall damnation coÌ„ming in our minds doth feare vs. folio 25 Of the making of a testament and confession of sinnes vnto God folio 34 Of the sacrament of the lords supper folio 35 The sorow which many take more then is requisite for the death of their parents and frendes ought to be tempered by the right rule of reason folio 37 A precept contayning an exhortation vnto al them which professe the name of Christ folio 39 Peroratio folio 40 A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick folio 41