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A09620 Phisicke for the soule verye necessarie to be vsed in the agonie of death, and in those extreme and moste perillous seasons, aswell for those, which are in good health, as those, which are endewed with bodily sicknesse. Translated out of Latine into Englishe, by H. Thorne. John Chrysostom, Saint, d. 407. De patientia et de consumatione huius sæculi, de secundo advento. aut; Thorne, Henry, fl. 1567-1584. 1567 (1567) STC 19893A.7; ESTC S106667 56,136 144

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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
greater then all and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hand And I and my father are one Wherefore O déerely beloued in Christ commend thy soule vnto God thy father which loueth thée singularlye Crie out with thy brother Christ Math. 27. Luc. 27. hanging on the crosse Into thy handes O father I giue and commend my spirite God the father of all mercie bring thée vnto euerlasting lyfe and preserue thée vnto the most ioyfull resurrection of his last iudgement Amen The ende of the fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick ¶ A prayer to be sayde vnto God for the sick ALmightie euerlasting and most mercicifull God which art woont amōgst thy sundry disciplines and manyfolde chastisements wherewith thou doest prouoke and allure vs vnto thée to bridle our fleshe with diuers diseases the securitie thereof taken awaye by perillous sicknesse and doest both admonishe vs of the ende of oure naughtie lyfe past and also of ymminent death through paines which are hir fore messengers and likewise of thy iudgement in the last daye and of the eternall lyfe to come which shall be reserued for the good and godly vnto glorie and felicitie but for the euil vnto shame and condemnatiō of hell fyre Of the which things fleshe being let runne at hir owne will hath no remembrance But now we perceyue this seelye man is layed on his bedde by his impayred health vnto whome is stirred vp the féeling of his sinnes and the ymage of death often flyeth as it were before his eyes We wretches therefore which looke for the lyke houre of aduersitie acording to the condition of our nature doe beseeche desire thée togither with him that thou practise not righteous iudgement with him for his deserts for our lord Iesus Christ his sake which hath made satisfaction on the crosse for the offences of this sicke body and vs all But rather graunt hym as to one redéemed grace and strength of mind that he maye quietly take this thy fatherly discipline and visitation paciently beare it and that he may suffer wyllingly with perfite obedience himselfe to be subiect and obeysant vnto the good will and pleasure of thée his punisher Succour him in all his aduersities and be thou vnto him a refuge and a defence against this instant daunger wherewith he is now in perill especially of his reueled conscience the secret sinnes of his hart doe accuse him vnto thée Therefore set thou against it for his preseruation the moste bitter torments and voluntarie sacrifice of thy sonne Christ which did beare our infirmities 1. Pet. 2. and accomplished the paine due vnto vs beeing made sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. Apoc. 1. Rom. 4. whilst that he died for our sinnes which he washed away with his precious blood and rising from the deade for our iustification was made our perfite redéemer Let him perceiue through faith the force of these fruits and benifites Let him being oppressed in this misery féele thine aide and let him tast in this moment of time some fruite of suche benifits and gifts in Christ Bring to passe euen nowe by true fayth that there maye be offered vnto him so great a treasure of felicitie that is I meane the forgiuenesse of his sinnes for Christ his sake which by the misterie of the preaching of his worde as is before saide and the vse of his sacramentes frequented in the church is offered vnto him that he maye effectually and of a suertie receiue it to his comfort ayde and defence against the troubles of his conscience gréeuously accusing him and the subtiltie of the deuill And also that the same faith maye be vnto him an armour wherewith he being defenced may enter through death into lyfe ●●●●n he taking hold may enioy the same for euer Therefore O heauenly father we doe wholy commit him vnto thée for thou shalt heale him bicause he is sicke Hée is weake thou shalt strengthen him he lyeth a long thou shalt set him vp he acknowledgeth his spottes and vncleanesse thou shall washe him he is wounded thou shalt cure him he is feareful thou shalt giue him courage And for bicause thou knowest all things and canst bestowe according to thy wil thou shalt satisfie him For he is greatly gréeued with hūger and thirst after thée Imbrace him For he straight waye flyeth vnto thée and make hym constant to fulfill thy commaundements And to be briefe forgiue him all things wherwith he hath prouoked thy heauie displeasure against him Graunt him in the steade of death life with thée in glorye But if we shall néede him in thy vineyarde in this mortall life and that he maye be imbettred vnto the example of Christ then preserue him vntill that he be increased with more ample benifites Thy will notwithstanding which alwayes is best be euer fulfilled Graūt all those things vnto vs and this sicke body through Iesus Christ only thy sonne our lord which is our only redeemer helper and which brought the théefe on the crosse with him into Paradyse for the example and great comfort of al sinners which liueth and reigneth with thée in the vnitie of the holy ghost one God world without end Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayd vnto Christ O Lorde Iesu which art the onlye health of all men liuing the euerlasting life of them which die in faith I giue and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy moste blessed will whether it pleaseth thée that this my séelie soule shall tary any longer in the mansion of this my wretched bodye to serue thée or whether thou wilt haue it to depart out of this world being assured that the thing cannot perish which is cōmited vnto thy mercy Willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinfull flesh in hope of the resurrection which shall restore it vnto me againe far better than now it is I besech thée that thou wilt strēgthen my soule with thy grace against all temptations and that thou wilt compasse me about and defende me with the shielde of thy mercy against al the assaultes of sathan wherewith in time past thou madest thy martyrs inuincible against horrible torments and moste cruell deathes I sée and confesse that in my selfe there is no help of saluatiō but all my hope and confidence is in thine vnspeakable goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I maye alleage before thée of sinnes alas I sée a great heape but through thy mercy and righteousnesse I shall be reckened in the number of the iuste Thou wast borne for my sake Thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou didst preach and teache fast and praye for my sake Thou didst all good works in this life for my sake Thou gauest thy most precious bodie vnto death vpō the crosse for my sake Let all these things profite me which thou hast fréely giuen mée which hast giuen thy selfe for me Let thy blood washe awaye the spots of mine offences Let thy
† 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 co●●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 Whervpō he commaundeth that thing to be takē 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 dur●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 cōming 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
iniquities let thy mercies spéedily preuent vs Psal 79. help vs O God our Sauior Conuert vs O thou Lorde God of power shewe vs thy louing countinance and we shall be safe how long wilt thou be angrie First he desireth forgiuenesse of his sinnes that he might be iustified by the grace of god Next he entreateth against the wrath of God And when thou prayest for the deliuerance and easement of the crosse which oppresseth thée thou shalt alwayes put to this additiō Thy most blessed and holy will be done For we cannot better sée vnto our selues then cā our most faithfull Father of his endlesse power wisedome and infinite goodnesse which neuer turneth his eies from vs but with all diligence taketh care of vs which knoweth the number of the heares of our heads Math. 10. which doth quicken comfort cherishe couer nourish preserue and defend all things which helpeth and prouideth for all men much more and farre better then any creatures can bée able yea to wish for There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble our mindes in the Agonie of death that is to wit Sinne Death Hell or Damnation Sinne WHen those Sinnes come in our mindes we lying sicke wherein wée haue wickedly noughtily passed ouer our lyues wherby we haue very gréeuously offēded both God and our neighbor we are striken with great feare and sorrow euen as S. Paule sayeth vnto the Romaines Indignation wrath Rom. 2. tribulation and anguishe shall come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill Death ADam our flesh dieth very vnwyllingly Wherefore when death approcheth neere mans heart is altoo shaken wyth great dolors and heauinesse which no tongue is able to expresse For our fearefull affection and oure naturall man dreadeth miserablie least that when he is once dead and buried vnder the earth he shall neuer returne againe and liue but supposeth that he is vndone for euer Hell fire and Damnation WHen those things come as it were before our eyes then man feareth least he bée vtterly cast away from the presence of God and séeth none other thing in himselfe but euerlasting death Wée haue neede therfore of a good courage in this case and of a strong and valiant heart that there appeare in vs no point of cowardnesse and desperation ¶ A Prayer for the same O Most mercifull God and most louing Father I beséech thée aide vs and graunt that we which bée yet in good health and safetie may learn to feare and dreade thée may loue and imbrace thy holy worde and that we may set thée before vs as a scope and marke whervnto we may direct all our doings and that we being alwayes mindefull of the most bitter agonie of death may so prepare arme our selues that we maye order all our deedes to thy glory as doe the godly which feare thée and that we may in the ende obteyne euerlasting lyfe Amen What is to be done when Sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences THinke with thy selfe that the sonne of GOD came downe from heauen into the lowest partes and was made man he tooke vpon him thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole worlde hée willingly dyed on the crosse for them and made full satisfactiō for them all suffering for thy sake most gréeuous paines The moste precious blood of Christ was shed for thy saluation and thou art partaker of his death if so be that thou constantly beleue on Christ that he died as wel for thée as for Peter and Paule And thou oughtest not to doubt any thing at all but that hée dyed as effectuallye for thée as for Paule Thou art baptised throughe the death of Christe This thing ought to comforte thée this thing ought to lift vp and strengthen thy minde For séeing that thou art baptised through the death of Christ his death shall ayde and saue thée through his death thou shalt not die in thy sinnes but through his death thou shalt vndoubtedly obteine forgiuenesse of them all and in the ende through Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnto a new and euerlasting life For baptisme is a sure token Babtisme pledge and signe of Gods grace and fauour wherein thou art reconciled vnto God that thou maiest haue a ioyous and quiet conscience through him Math. 26. Mark 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes by Christ his resurrection And he certeinlye speaketh vnto thée in the institution of his last supper where as he professeth and testifieth that his blood was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therfore although thou haue not liued an vpright and pure life in eche respect yet Rom. 10. there is no cause why thou shouldest dispaire but spéedily call vpon the name of of the lorde without ceassing and thou shalt bée safe And thus begin thou to saye O moste mercifull GOD A prayer O father of all compassion father of oure lorde Iesus Christ bee mercifull vnto mée a sinner haue compassion on me a poore wretch and make haste to helpe mée for that most bitter yea moste precious passion and death of Iesus Christ thy onely begotten sonne and our onely redéemer and sauior Enter not into iudgemēt with thy seruant oh lorde Psal 143. deale not with mée according to my desertes neyther rewarde me according to mine iniquities but receiue me for thine infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercies sake I a wretch and séely creature am in thine hand power and daunger oh moste mightie and mercifull God oh most louing father cast mée not awaye vtterly refused in miserie I am thine whatsoeuer I am No man can comfort mée no man can help me besides thee onely Thou art the true propulsour driuer awaye of all mischiefe from men Thou art the most sure and readie helpe ayde succour and defence Thou art the moste strong tower Thou art O God our hope Psal 46. Psal 31. and strength thou art a very present help in trouble In thée O Lorde do I put my trust let me not be cōfounded let me neuer bee ashamed my hope béeing in vayne but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Bow downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer me And be thou my strong rock and house of defence that thou mayest saue mée Thou art my strong rock my castle Thou art my lorde my porcion is in thine handes Lighten thy face vpon thy seruant and saue me O lorde in thy mercie Further thou that art sick must be chiefly admonished of this point that thou think not what sinnes thou hast committed but rather haue before thine eies to cōtemplate and looke on the image of Christ his most holesome precious death Fasten it surely in thy minde and thorowly perswade thy selfe Esay 53. Math. 8. that thou art not now oppressed with thy sinnes for Christ and that they are all layed vpō his shoulders which taking them vpon him hath made satisfaction
commoditie Thou must therefore leaue and forsake this lyfe if thou wilt enioy euerlasting lyfe So after this lyfe thou shalt in the ende begin to lyue in deede Furthermore this corporall death profiteth thée to this purpose that when thou hast tasted the bitternesse and sharpnesse therof thou mayest trie know how feruent the affection of Christ his loue was towardes thée what an vnestimable benefite hée bestowed vpon thée that he dying for thée did paye and make satisfaction with his bodye for all thine offences death throughly extinguished and abolished and the gates of hell throwne downe destroyed and also broken For thou couldest neuer any other wayes know and vnderstand the strength and power of life in Christ which hath swalowed vp our death thou shouldst not know the largenesse of his benifits neither shouldest thou be able to giue so harty thankes to Christ thy lorde and redéemer Wherfore seing that Christ doth liue thou also shall lyue by him and this same death shal be vnto thée a certeine happy wholesome sléepe It shall be also an entrance and gate into that true and most blessed lyfe Secondly Christ was also tempted with sinne when they did reuile and vpbraide him as a verie wicked man and giltie of most gréeuous crime Math. 27. If thou be the sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauest others why doest thou not saue thy selfe also What other thing meane these contumelious wordes then that they supposed and thought that he deceiued the people by fraude dole slight wiles noughtie craftinesse and that he was not in déede the sonne of God yea they iudged him rather to be most wicked most abhominable and most worthy of reproch Euen likewise sathan will tempt man being in daunger of death he will present vnto him whatsoeuer he hath done and committed against the commaundement of God and will put into his minde whole waynlodes as it were of sinnes the same heaped vp into a great abundance that by the outragiousnesse and greatnesse of sinnes he maye bring man into desperation which staggereth and doubteth of Gods mercie and pardon And here thou must stand fast and strongly and shalt enterteine thine enimy assaulting thée with these wordes I confesse that I am a most manifold and gréeuous sinner But Christ frée from all sinne he that innocent lambe in whose mouth was founde no guile 1. Petr. 2. hath suffered cruell death for my sinnes he hath clensed them all be they neuer so great nor neuer so many and hath made sufficient satisfaction for them all Christ his death is the propitiation for al my sinnes 1. Ioan. 2. Christ verily hath suffered all my féeblenesse He in déede hath caried all my sorowes He was wounded for mine iniquities Esay 53. He was smitten for my sinnes By his woundes am I healed He hath takē vpō him al my sinnes I now acknowledge none I thank Christ which hath payed ransome for them all Thirdly he was also tempted with hell or eternall damnation when they obiected against him saying He hath trusted in the Lorde Math. 27. let him take him let him saue him bicause he will haue him as thoughe they should say All his hope in God shal deceyue him God is his aduersarie and abhorreth him and will cast him awaye for euer as one thrust downe into hell When the same tempter prouoketh thée with such lyke temptations take héede thou stand fast There is no cause why thou shouldest feare there is no cause why thou shouldest tremble Let the thing which he offereth and presenteth vnto thée nothing moue thée at all bée it neuer so gréeuous Put out of thy minde and banish awaye farre from thee as well sinne as death and hell They haue no power ouer thée if thou fasten thine eies vpon Christ Take holde on him and commend thy selfe wholy vnto him Christ is thine and he bestoweth himselfe wholy vpon thée He hath redéemed thée from the tirannie of the diuell and euerlasting damnation by an inestimable price This Christ is thine innocencie thy lyfe and thy righteousnesse Take héede onely that thine hart be neuer withdrawne from Christ crucified by any temptations If thou cleaue fast vnto thys Christ thou shalt be safe against all the gates of hell as one that is placed vpon an high most sure and inuincible rocke that thou mayest crie out with Christ Psal 16. I haue set God alwaies before me He is on my right hand Therfore I shal not fal Wherfore my hart was glad and my glorie reioysed my fleshe also shall rest in hope Thou hast shewed me the pathes of lyfe In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioye and at thy right hande is pleasure for euermore Thou art become through such a faith in Christ the childe of God the brother and felow eire with Christ Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Rom. 3. Gal. 3. Ephe. 2. and partaker of eternall lyfe This fayth iustifieth the righteous that is to saye those which beleue in Christ For this faith thou shalt be reputed the blessed child of God thy heauenly father and when thou departest hence thou shalt enter into the kingdome of heauen Math. 25. prepared for the elect children of GOD from the beginning of the worlde But if so be that thy fayth wauer and be doubtfull in temptations and when thou doest not suffer moderately and paciently ynough the wil of thy heauenly father when thy loue towardes God is somewhat colde when thy hope is weake and slender and for this cause fearest lest thou shouldest not well accorde with God or lest he will be offended with thée Truely this is a most greeuous most painefull and hard temptation But thou shalt thinke in thy minde and perswade with thy selfe that Christ suffered for thée moste intolerable Inuincible touching mere māhood and inuincible temptations wherein there appéered no helpe comfort ayde or defence any where wherein God and the whole world séemed to be his most cruell malycious enimies when that he cryed aloude My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh horrible and most cruell temptation oh good God how sharpe how greeuous how cruel how bitter was the death which he suffered for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore seing that Christ willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intolerable sorrowes and calamities our most louing heauenly father wylling the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmity out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extréemely deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecilitie weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him say Come vnto me Math. 11. al ye that labor and are heauie laden and I wil refresh you what more plentifull what greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs Truly many very gréeuous things do molest trouble mā For what thing can more
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