tentacions First it is a greuous and vehemente tentacion when he seeth the most terrible image of deathe afore his eyes when he seeth he muste leue thys light leue this life leaue frendes leaue landes goodes kinsfolke father mother wife childern all thinges wherin he had here ether pleasure or comforte Then suche synnes as he against the will and pleasure of god hathe committed shall shewe and present them selues and shal appeare more in nūbre and more greuous then euer they semed afore and so shall wonderousely vex and torment the cōscience Then dethe iudgemente hell dampnacion as it were in a plumpe shall assaut and lay sege with diuers daungerous engins against the olde man of ours In these Agonies except a mā be armed with a sure and constāt faith it is to be feared leste he be weried tired and at last ouercommed For these tentacions which chaunce vnto men lyeng in extremes appere most houge feareful and daungerouse and that for by cause our faith is verye sclender and waueringe neither yet able to see perceaue or apprehend the incomprehēsible and inestimable riches of the childern of god whiche be remissiō of synnes through christe resurrection of the flesh communion of saintes euerlastinge life and all these geuen vnto vs in Christ and for Christ In these articles of our faithe we must dailye exercise oure selues These we must diligently reuolue and earnestly expende in our mindes For thoughe all the articles of our faith are diligentlye to be remembred and without al waueringe beleued yet in the Agonye and pointe of deathe these foure that is the communion of sainctes remission of sinne by the blood of Christe the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlasting lyfe are chiefely to be mynded expended and inculcated For like as deth is the paine stipend of sinne Roma 6. euen so for synne God dothe commenly punysh vs with diuers diseases and plages As it is to be sene ī diuers places of scriptur Io. 5. Ps 88. Deute 28. 2. Reg. 24. Neuertheles afflictions be many tymes laid vpon vs that our faith may be tried For than is it easy to be perceauyd howe much we loue GOD what faithe we haue in him howe we trust him when we be pressed greuyd with aduersitie In this case therfore we must bewaile acknowlege our synnes for the which we haue iustlie incurred goddes displeasure and deseruid most greuous paine We must turne to God with true repentaunce in all our hart mynde without all faynynge and conterfaitinge we must haue recourse vnto the Gospel where we shall fynd most bountifull cōsolaciō .i. absoluciō or remissiō of our synnes which christ hath instituted ī the churche Io. 20. Receaue saithe Christe the hollie ghoste whose siftes ye forgeue thei are for geauē This inestimable treasure is daily openyd offred vnto vs. When remissiō of sinne is thus desired optained vndoutedly thē the paine of sinne which is the disease or afflyccion shal sone ceasse and leaue vs or elles accordinge to the most beneficiall will of our heuenly father shall tourne to the profit and soule helth of him that is diseased or afflicted For this maye we be sure of that the paine and affliction of the body in this worlde seme it neuer so greuous a bourden or heuie yoke to the flesshe is comenly nothinge elles but a fatherlie rod Psal 88. wherwith god dothe drawe vs his childern frō synne and call vs home to him Truly our heuinly father dothe loue vs moste feruentlie he bearithe vs good mynde and dothe all thinges for our amendemente and profitte Heb. xii for whome God louithe him he chastisethe and correctith vs temporally here that we should not be punished in hell euerlastinglie 1. Cor. xi Thoughe he semith angrie he louithe singulerlye Nether is his Ire the Ire of a tyraunt or tormētour desyringe our perdycion but of a father sekinge our amendmēt and sauftie First therfore we must crye God mercy desire pardō forgeuenes of our synnes but by christ but with a hart trulie penitent that we may be at one with God and haue him mercyful vnto vs. This done we maye then desire GOD to deliuer vs from the Imminent and present affliction and disease For so teacheth ecclesiast Ecclesi 3 Sonne in thy infirmity neglect not thy self but pray to the Lord and he shall deliuer the. Also in the Ps Psal 70. remember not o lord god our old iniquities but let thy mercie spedely preuent vs for we be verie miserable helpe vs God our sauiour Lord God of power turne vs howe longe wilt thou be angrie shewe thy face and we shal be saued Here we be taught firste to desire remission of sinne that we may so be at one with god and after that to haue his wrathe and the tokens of the same takē away But when soeuer we desire to be deliueryd or to be eased of the crosse that presseth vs we must alwaye annexe this addicion Mar. vi Thy wil o heuenly father be fulfilled Neither knowe we so well what is profitable vnto vs. Nether cā we so well prouide for our selues as our most louing heuēly father Which is both of infinite powre and also of incomprehensible wisdom which neuer tournethe his eys from vs which caryth continually for vs which knowith the number of our heres which doth quicken norish fede kepe defend prouide for al his creatures much better than thei can wish or desire But to drawe to the more perticuler temptacions to shewe what thinges do most fiersly daungerously at the time of death assault vs. And how we shall wtstād thē ¶ There be thre thinges which at the houre of death doth wonderously vex trouble feare our myndes that is to saye synne death hel or dampnacion Synne WHerein we haue vngodlye mispent our life wherby we haue greuously offēded god and our neighbour This cōming to our remembraunce when we lie vpon our death bed doth driue vs to a wonderous feare Roma ii pensiuenes and anxiety As sainct Paule saithe wrathe indignacion trouble and anguishe against euerye soule of man that doth euill A medicine against synne vexinge and troubelinge our conscience LEt vs cal earnestly to remembrance that the sonne of God came downe from heuen became man toke vp on his backe the synnes of the worlde died for them vpō the crosse there makinge satisfaction for vs and paing our dettes This most precious blod of christ was shed also for vs and of this deth we be also partakers so we rightlie beleue in Christe Nether nede we to doubt but Christ died aswell for vs as for Peter and Paule Rom. 6. For we be baptized also as sainct Paule saith in the deth of Christ This ought to comfort vs this ought to erect and stay our myndes For seinge we be baptized in the dethe of Christe Christes dethe bringeth also vnto vs helth and saluacion By Christes deth we be also
death Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortal can not inherit the kyngdō of god wher nothing is but life Therfore this corruptible body must put on īcorrupciō thys mortal must put on immortality Ore xiiii Esa xxv Than shal the saing that is writtē be fulfilled Death is swalowed vp in victory They that beleue in Christ hath nowe ouercomed synne deathe and hel Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge bold and wel harted in Christe they may saye deathe where is thy sting death where is thy victorie The stinge of deathe is synne and the power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto god which hathe geauen vs the victorie through our lorde Iesus Christe Let vs heare also more sentēces full of godly and mightie consolacion He that hathe raised vp Iesus shall raise vs vp also with Iesus ii Cor. iiii Phili. iii. Our conuersaciō is in heuin frō whence we do loke for the sauiour our lorde Iesus christ which shal chaūge our vile body that it may be like fashioned vnto his glorious bodie according to the workinge of his power by the which also he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him self Col. iii. Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god but when christ your life shall appere then shal ye also appere in glorie with him i. Tesso 4. We woulde not brethern that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that sleepe that ye sorowe not also as other do whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus christ died and rose againe euin thē also which are a slepe through Iesus shal God bringe with him ii Tim. ii Sainct Paule also doth comforte Timothe with the article of resurrection saing Remembre the the lord Iesus Christ beinge the seed of Dauid rose again from the dead accordinge to my gospell And if we be dead with him we shall also liue with him Yf we suffer paciētly we shal also raign with him It is writen also to the Hebreus that Christe tasted deathe for all men Hebre. ii and that he was partaker of flesche and bloode .i. became verie mā that he might destroy him which had the rule of death that is the deuil and that he might deliuer theim which were in bondage all their life tyme by the reason of the feare of death God hathe deliueryd vs ii Tim. i. and called vs with an holie calling not accordinge to our workes but accordinge to his purpose grace whiche is geauen vs in Christe Iesu before the tyme of the world but is nowe made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which trulie hath destroied death and hathe brought life and immortalitie to lighte by the gospell i. Io. iii. We knowe that we are translated frome life to death because we loue the brethern i. Io. 4. In this hathe the loue of god apperid in vs because God sent his onlie begotten sonne into the world that we might liue through him Iob. xix I knowe that my redemer dothe liue and in the last daie I shall rise againe and againe be wrapped in my owne skine And in my owne flesshe shall see God whome I my self shall see these my eyes shall beholde and none other These places of hollie scripture and suche like if we diligentlie remēbre faithfullie imbrace we shall perceaue great consolacion and conforte Phi. iii. And euin with saincte Paule reioyse that we knowe christe and the power of his resurrection wherby deth is ouercomed Nether is there nowe to these that beleue in Christ any thinge in deathe terrible or to be feared sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme hurt it can not Like as a dede serpent keapith stil his old fearful shape and forme but to stinge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And like as by the brasin serpente whiche Moses by goddes commaundemente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpō through the power of goddes woord men were deliuerid frome daunger of the liuelie and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the fear and daunger of it so oft as with the eys of our faithe we do beholde the helthefull and medicinable dethe of Christe In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a Image and shadowe of deathe yea the entraunce and gate to life For Christ who is trueth it self saithe Yf any man kepe my worde Io. viii he shall neuer see deathe For a man trustinge to the mercy of God through faithe which he conceauith by heringe of Christes gospell is so vnite and knitt to christ his lorde and maister that he can not be plucked nor seperate from him The body in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certaine hope of risinge againe to euerlastinge life And so he that beleuithe in Christe dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule which is euerlastinge dampnacion For the deathe of good men is nothinge els but a departure from this transitory and mortal life to immortality to christ to his angelles and sainctes Hell and dampnacion DOth offer it self at the hour of death so that manye tymes man doth greatly feare lest he be abiect frō the fauour of god and appoynted to euerlastyng payne The deuyll which seketh by all meanes howe to deuoure vs steringe vp in oure myndes manye daungerous and troubellous thoughtes concerninge our eleccion and predestinacion A medicine against the feare of hel and dampnacion WHen the deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our election whether we be of the numbre of theim that are appointed to euerlastinge life or no In any wais let vs not be to boulde in copinge with him let vs not enter disputacion against him for he is to subtile and expert for vs but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sorrowe it is writen thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God For seing that god as a most louinge father hathe not only geauen vs life fedde and preseruid vs to this houre but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to time with his singuler benefites what madnes were it contrary to our former experience nowe to dout of his mercy He hathe receauyd vs in to his flocke by baptime He hathe sente vs the gospell of his grace wherein he hathe promised to become oure father we haue be fedde with the flesshe and bloode of his sonne oure sauioure CHRISTE in remembraunce that oure debtes be paide and we acquited whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good will of GOD towarde vs lette vs not therefore admitte the doutfull and daungerous Imaginacions of oure predestinacion which the deuill like a craftie and malicyous marchaunt doth labor to iustill But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God would haue our myndes occupied withall whiche Chryst him selfe hath prescribed as Iohn .iii. where he sayethe GOD hathe so loued the
A godlye and holesome preseruatyue against desperatiō at all times necessarye for the soule but then chiefly to be vsed and ministred when the deuill doth assault vs moost fiersely and deth approcheth niest Be sobre and watch for your aduersary the deuyll as a roring lyon walketh about seking whō he may deuoure whom resist stedfast in the fayth 1. Pet. 5. The preface THis preseruatiue gentle reader is prepared for thy profit that thou reding it at leasure maist chose oute suche comfortable sentences as may bothe staye thy owne conscience in the tyme of temptacion also quiet others when the Deuil shal be busie with them 2. Cor. ii For we be not ignoraunte of the thoughtes of satan how he continually furnisheth him selfe to bende his ordinaunce against man And now with the cōsideration of the greatnes and multitude of synne Now with the terrour of death dampnacion Eph. 6. do labour to beate the buckler of faith out of our handes i. Tess 5. to strike the helmet of hope from our head Eph. 6. And to wrest frō vs the swerd of the spirite which is gods word But here christian reader is thy swerd and buckeler deliuered vnto the here is thy helmette put vpon thy heade here thou shalte finde suche armour and weapon wherby thou shalt both be able to withstande the forse of cure commen enemy the Deuill and also by thy councell to rescue others that they perishe not Yea here thou shalt find choise of moste comfortable sentences wherby mans cōscience may be staide from dampnable desperation i. Co. xvi Watche therfore stande stedfaste in faithe playe the man and be of good comfort Iaco. iiii Resist the deuyll and he will flee frome the. Not for feare of thy own power strength or holines but for feare of Christe in whome by faythe thou art ingraffed For it is christ thorough whome god hath geuē i. Cor. xv vs victory against synne deathe hell the deuyll Acto iiii Nether is there any other name vnder heuē geuē vnto man wherein we may be saued but the name of Iesus Christe oure lorde To whome with the father and holye ghost be al honoure and glorye AMEN A preseruatiue FOrsomuche as the diseases of the body and corporall deathe dothe so trouble mannes mynde that we commonly trimble and quake at the onely mencion of them How much ought we to feare the sicknes of the soule and death of the same then whiche there can no greater nor more fearefull calamytye chaunce vnto man And seinge that euery man doth auoyde so muche as in him lyethe the payne myseryes diseases and deathe of the bodye howe much more ought we to decline and eschewe the causes of these euilles which be sinnes and offences and feare the ire of god which we so by oure enormities do prouoke Yf we be neuer so lytle sick in our body by and by we sende for the phisicion we spare no cost we seke for medicines and remedye though they be neuer so chargable al to patch and clout vp this earthen vessell of our bodye whiche do we neuer so muche can not laste longe And whye vse we not lyke dylygence in desiring seking remedies against the diseases of the soule whiche like as they be more greuous euē so they bring with them without comparison infinitely more daunger For what can it profitte a mā thoughe he haue all the riches in the world though he liue a thousande yere and that in such helthe pleasure that he is not once touched with sickenes or greife his soule in the meane time being poisoned with sinne being captiue to satan hauyng God displeased with him and dampnacion readye for him after this lyfe For truelye this lyfe muste once haue an ende nether know we whan where after what maner or how soone Therfore saith Christe watch for ye nether know the day nor hour when the sonne of man wyl come Mat. xxv And lest we this short time of our abode omittinge thinges moost waightye and profitable shulde folow trifulles thinges of smal price he hath vouchesaue to prescribe vs an order and as it were a breue certaine and sure way to come vnto true felicite saienge Seke first for the kingdom of god and righteousnes therof Math. vi and all thinges shal be added vnto you Care for lyuynge care for riches care for worldly dignitie worldlye fauoure worldlye estimacion and such lyke transitory thinges which in dede doth litle profitte but many times be cause bothe of filthie vices and also of greuous calamities doth besy doth vexe doth trouble doth euē defatigate vs both daye and night but in sekynge for and procuring of godly heuenly thinges we be most negligent most slack moste dull most forgetfull And I pray you what can be a greater blindnes or a more dangerouse madnes whiles we be lustie whiles we be in helthe whiles we be in prosperity we scasely thynke vpon any lyfe to come we remember not once that we shal dye But when we be in perell and daunger by sickenes and deathe beginnethe to knocke at oure doore Euen at that same houre when we should playe the menne and fyght against oure enimy beinge sufficiently armed weponed afore thē begin we first to thinke vpon oure armoure to thinke vpō our weapon to think vpon mending of our lyfe These thinges declare vs to be smallye exercised soudiers to be mē of preposterouse iudgement and verye weaklinges in faith God be mercyfull vnto vs. Amen But yet though a man be neuer so old though the day be neuer so far past so he amend whiles he is here eare it be night his repētāce cometh not out of season Neuertheles it were to be wisshed that no man shuld differ his repentāce to his last most dangerous cōflict For euē thei shal haue much a do to stande to defend them selues from the assaultes the guiles inuasions of the enemy which in the time of their helth prepared armed them selues what then shall come of them whiche not fearing god neither minding once repentaunce hathled a dissolute filthie and naughtye life how shal thei fighte howe shall they be able to withstand the force of satan ¶ Seinge therefore the multitude of people is great and the ministers of the gospel very few nether able to be euery where to do their office to euery man I hauing a will to help al men haue gathered to gether writen oute of scripture a certaine brief forme how to admonishe instructe and comfort such as be sick that they either reding these thīges or hearing them red by others may conceiue certaine hope perfit consolaciō lest in this most daūgerous cōflict they faint geue ouer like cowardes so be ouercomed perish For this is certain when soeuer a mā is taken with extreme sicknes is in daunger of deth he is assawted with diuers many greuous
to vs he can not medle with vs he hath no power to hurt vs. Forsomuch as we be iustified by christ purged from our sinnes and made the children of god by Christ who hath reconciled vs wrought our peace we must therfore be of good cōforte For seinge we be in the handes of god that is omnipotent who is now our best most louing trusty father we be in a sure porte we be with our daunger there cā no incommodity nor aduersitie hurt vs for we be inuironed with the custody of god the gard of angels oute of the handes of this heuenly father can no creature by force pluck vs When we be at an ende by death of this crosse and corporal affliction then haue we ended our iourney then haue we finished oure warre Christe hathe borne the same crosse Christe hathe passed the same waye he hathe suffered like deathe he is oure heade we muste be like to him we must suffer with hī if we intend to raigne with him we must leue this corporall lyfe ere that we can inioye lyfe euerlastinge Lette not oure synnes trouble vs lette them not tormente oure conscience as though they coulde not be forgeuen They are alredy forgeuen yf we repent and beleue Christ is al ours as muche as he is He by his innocency hath couered and taken awaye oure synnes As Christe can not be dampned euen so we can not be dampned yf with a ryghte faithe we cleaue vnto hym As synne deathe and hell hadde no power against Chryste so haue they no power against vs so we be in Christe and Chryste in vs. Yf the matter hadde be left and cōmitted to vs to haue borne our owne synnes and to haue satisfied for them they wolde haue be to heuie for vs we had not be able to stande vnder theym they wolde haue pressed and sunke vs downe to hell But christe bothe god and man hath of his owne free will offered him selfe for vs. he hath taken our turne he hathe plaide our part and paide for vs all that we ought As it is in the Psalme spoken in the person of christe I paid that I ought not We had trespased we were the detters so farre behind hand that all that was in vs was not able to paie the lest sōme we ought Christe became our suertie paid for vs acquited vs and set vs at libertie yea made vs coheires with him of euerlastinge glorye Yf it were possible for one man to commit the sinnes of the whole worlde so he truely repente and cleaue by true faith to Christe he can not be dampned his synnes be sufficiently and abundantly by Christe satisfied for For Christe as towchinge his godhed one in substance with the heuinlie father As towchinge his manhede our very fleshe and blood hath purchased and trulie bought grace and pardon for vs. For Christ became man for vs was borne for vs died vpō the crosse for vs rose from dethe for vs ascended into heuin for vs and hath accomplished and performed all thinges mete for our saluacion for vs. Yf therfore we beleue in christ we are become partakers of gods fauor we are eased of the packe bourdē of synne we are made the heires of god and coheires with Christe for euer and that by Christ and for Christ For without Christ there is no consolaciō no helth no hope no helpe In Christe alone is all comforte all helth all hope all succour all refuge all grace and mercy more habundant more plēteous more excellent than any mā is able either to comprehend or to wishe God graunte vs therfore a true and a constant faith In this forme or in like sort we must comfort our selues in our sickenes or calamitie and our brother beinge visited But in any wais and with al dilygence it is to be foreseene that we withdrawe oure mynde from the fearefull and terrible contemplacion of synne death and damnacion And that we fixe these of our mynd and whole thoughte vpon Christ only that we cleue vnto him that we cal vpon him that we cōmit our self wholy to him For in Christe we shal espie nothing but innocencie iustice life saluacion which al be deriued from Christe into vs so that we will acknowledge him receaue him for the author of our saluacion and only redemer yf we haue christ crucified afore our eys yf we imprinte him in our hart yf we flee to him with our faith if we wholy cleue to him Then shal hel gates nothing preuaile against vs then shall we be able to withstand al the forcible assaultes of Satan though they be neuer so sore neuer so fierce neuer so terrible Let vs cal to remembraunce with what lenitie what gētilnes what humanitie what clemency Christe as it is in the euangelical history hath called vnto him and receued al suche sinners as hath repented them and desired his helpe We shall finde Mary Magdalen the synner that honge vpon the right hand of christ crucified the publicane zache with other mo whom Christe most louingly receiuinge pronounced clere frō sin though they had synned greatlye and the childern of saluacion Christe is very grace mercy helpe comfort life ioye and saluacion to al those which loke for these thīges at his hādes and put their trust in him And all these thinges hathe God who is truethe it self can not lie nor will not deceyue promysed vnto vs for christes sake Fynallie whē deth approcheth we must do as Christe dyd vpon the crosse we must praie for our enemyes and forgeaue them with our harte Yf we haue offended any man we must be hartelie sorye for it we must desire forgeuenes yf we haue iniured any man we must make him amendes or take suche order that amendes maie be made vnto him yf it passithe our power to make restitucion and amendes it shal be ynoughe that we desire forgeauenes And with our hartes forgeaue others which hath hurt vs either in name bodie substance or estimacion For yf we trulie forgiue god hathe promised we shal be forgiuen as it is in the syxt of Mathew It is verie necessarie also and profitable for the confirmaciō and strenghteninge of our faithe to receaue the moste blessed sacrament of the bodie and blood of our sauiour christ which we ar cōmaunded to receaue in remembraunce of his benefites that hereby we maie be trulie certified in our conscience his body to be geuen for vs and his blood to be shed for remission of our synnes Dethe OF our flesshe fraill nature is so feared abhorred that whē he approcheth mans hart is filled and laden with suche sorowes panges and anxieties as tonge is not able to expresse A medicine against the feare of death WE muste call to our remembraunce dethe to be ouercomed and abolished by Christe So that nowe the soules of so many as trust in Christ cā not die nor perishe but departinge frome the body goeth straight to christe For thus was it
caste hym downe to hell perpetualy cōdempne him When therfore the temptor shal lasche at vs which lyke temptacions we maye not shrinke we may not be afraid we may not be discoraged but cōmend our self wholy to CHRISTE hange vpon him who is wholy oures who hath geuin him self wholy to vs so that synne dethe nor hel hath nothing to do with vs. CHRIST with a inestimable price his owne blood hathe deliueryd vs from the tyranny of the deuil and euer lastinge dampnaciō he is become our innocency our life and our iustice Let vs take hede in any ways that we turne not our hartes from CHRISTE crucifyed Yf we cleue to him we are set vpon a sure and inexpugnable rocke againste the whiche all the power of hell is able to do nothinge So that we may boldly exclame and euery one say with CHRISTE I prouided the Lorde afore my eys all way Psal xvi for he is at my righte elbowe that I shulde not be mouyd therefore my harte hathe be gladde and my tonge hath reioysed moreouer my felsshe shall reste in hope By faithe in CHRISTE we become the sonnes of GOD the bretherne and coheires of Christ and partakers of euerlastinge life by this faith departing hence we shall go to the kingdome preparyd for the electe afore the beginnynge of the world And if in the feruentnes of these temptaciōs our faithe begin to wauer yf we do not bere pacientlye the will of oure heuinlye Father if oure loue towarde god waxe faint and cold yf oure hope beginne to be feble weake and therfore we begin to feare lest god and we be not all at a full point but that he is yet displeasyd with vs which tentacion surely is very greuous painful daungerous and hard to ouercome we must call to remembrance Christ to haue sufferyd for vs so intollerable and inuincible tentacions that there apperyd no help no comfort no refuge wherin GOD and the whole world semyd to haue forsaken him and to be against him In somouche that he exclamyd O my god o my GOD why haste thou forsaken me Oh here was a greuous tentacion A sharpe and a bitter death that CHRISTE sufferid for vs and all to make the way of the crosse and deathe easy vnto vs. Therfore seing that CHRISTE of his owne free wyll caste him selfe into the felinge of so intollerable paine calamity and anxiety GOD our most louinge Father beinge therwith contente vndoubtydlye he knowith and consyderyth our infirmite vndoubtydly he will not deale with vs accordinge to the rigour of the law but will bere muche with vs and pardon many thinges to our infirmity Doth not CHRIST speake to al men dothe he not call men when he saith Come vnto me all you that do labour and are laden and I shal refresh you howe can ther be any greater consolaciō howe could CHRISTE speake more mercyfully to vs. There be many thinges that pinche vex and trouble man greuously but what thinge is it that can trouble the conscience of a synner more thā whan he doubteth of the mercy of god then whan he fearethe leaste GOD will cast him of then whā he can not persuade him self to conceaue any trust of gods mercy but Imagine that as a witheryd member he shal be cut of and cast away Here we had nede of christes presēt helpe here we had nede of spedy cōforte lest this violent tempest ouerwhelme and drowne vs. But let vs not feare CHRISTE is no dissembler he wyll stande by his worde he wyll perfourme hys promyse He wyll helpe and refresshe Therefore when we begynne to trymble and feare in oure conscyence when we begin to doubte of goddes mercy when we perceaue our faithe to be feable Lette vs forthwith call vpon GOD and that feruently and that indesinantly leuen from the bottome of oure hart that he tourne not his face from vs. Lette vs power before hym all that dothe trouble vs. Let vs disclose to hym oure myserye oure imbecillitie oure incredulity Let vs crye with the disciples lorde increase oure faith Luc. xvii And with the Father of the Lunaticke Lorde we beleue helpe our incredulity And with the prophet Marci ix Lorde make hast to helpe vs. For thy mercy is aboue all thy workes O moste louing O moste mercyful father lord god of our healthe Ps lxix our only help and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Christe is our iustice our redemption and innocēcy he for vs hathe sufferyd most bitter cruel death Let these thynges moue the o father of mercy For thys thy son our sauior Christes sake haue mercy vpō vs confirme and strength our harte in faith comfort vs with the consolacions of thy holy sprit that we may finally optayne Ioy euerlastyng through Iesus christ Amen After this sort if we laborynge wresting and striuinge with our imbecillity accusing afore god lamentinge our pusilianimity and incredulity do catch hold of christ and cleue fast to hym earnestlye and feruently desirynge hys help that he wyl vouchsafe to take our place to supply that is lackinge in vs. These thinges if we do surely all thinges shal be well we shal auoyde and escape easly all daunger peryl we shal be safe enogh For these two to beleue in Christ and with hart to desire faith doth not much differ the one frō the other For though we fele yet great weaknes and imperfection in our self yet this ought to comfort vs that god wylleth commandeth that he shoulde be called vpon that he hath promised to here and help these that call ryghtly vpon him Now as nothing is more iustly or necessarily desired thē true faith euen so god hearith no praier soner or more gladly then whan mā findyng no goodnes in hym selfe doth acknowlege his owne infirmity his owne mysery his owne beggerlines dothe accuse and lament his owne incredulity with depe sighes harty desires calleth for faith These sighes these desires these prayers this litle sparke of faithe is the very sede of GOD wrought in vs by him which saith of Christe by the Prophet Esay that he shall not quenche the smokinge flaxe nor breake the brusyd rede Therfore let vs stedfastly beleue or at the leaste earnestelye and hartely pray that we may beleue bewaylyng afore god our lacke of faithe whiche thinges if we do we nede not doubt but we be acceptid of god we be taken for his childrē For it is not for noughte nor in vaine that he hathe layde our imbecillitie and synnes vpon his only begoten sonnes backe In Mathew Math. v. it is said blessed be those that mourne for thei shal be cōforted blessyd be those that hōger after righteousnes for they shal be satisfied These words are spokē al so to vs they may iustly be applyed to vs we mourne are sory in our hartes that we haue mispendyd our life paste We wishe and desyre yea we euē honger thriste after righteousnes Lette vs be of good chere we shall optayne oure desire we shal be comfortyd we shall be counted iuste a fore GOD for CHRISTE oure sauior his sake Fynally let vs after the example of Christ and sainte Steuin commend our soules into the handes of GOD our heuenly father sainge euery one after this maner O Most mercyfull father I cōmēd into thy holly hādes my spirit yea thy spirite for thou hast create it thou haste commytted it for a tyme to the body thou haste geuen it thy owne Image and similitude Thou haste sent for the redēption of it thi owne most derely belouyd sonne to shed his blood This the spirite I resigne into thi handes O GOD of all mercy I am thyne all that I am I beseche the refuse not thy owne but receaue kepe and place me in euerlasting glory for the sake of Iesus Christ thy only begoten sonne Amen ¶ Imprinted at London by Iames Burrel dwellyng without the Northe gate of Paules in the cornor house of Pater noster rowe openinge in to chepesyde Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum