sorowefull euen in laughter Prouer. 14. and the ende of myrthe is heuynes Philip the kyng of the Macedonians whan he vpon one daie had receaued thre glad messages one that the victory was hys in the stage playe of Olympus the seconde that his captaine parmenio had wyth one battayle ouer come the Dardanes the thyrde that the Quene his wife was delyuered of a sonne he helde vp his handes towardes heaueÌ„ and sayed O ye goddes I beeseche you that for so great and manyfolde prosperite ye wyl poynte me a competent misfortune The wyse prudent kyng feared the in constancye of fortune whych as the heathen talke therof enuyeth greate prosperite And therefore hys desyer was that hys exceadyng well fare myghte be sauced wyth a litle trouble Experience it selfe teacheth vs. Where dyd euer one liue the space of a moneth or one whole day in pleasure and ease so thorowelye but some what hath offended or hyndred hym Therfore earthlye ioye is not so greate so durable nor so pure but that the whole life of man may wel be called a vale of misery VVytnesse that thys lyfe is miserable The .10 Chapter TEstimony of the scripture Iob. 9. maÌ„ is borne to miseri as the bird is to fly Iob. 7. The daies of maÌ„ are like the daies of an hired seruaunt euen a breth nothing but vain Loke thorowe the whole booke called Ecclesiastes the preacher Augustyne wryteth Yf a manne were put to the choysse that eyther he must die or els liue again afreshe and suffer lyke thynges as he had suffered already afore he would rather dye specially if he thorowly consider how many daungers and mischaunces he scace yet hath escaped Whoso now knoweth likewise that God thorowe death dooeth make an end of miseri vpoÌ„ earth It bryngeth hym greate comfort and ease Yea he shall rather desier death then feare it For eueÌ„ holi Iob himselfe also whaÌ„ he was robbed of hys health ryches and chyldreÌ„ and rebuked of his wife and frendes wished rather to die then to lyue 〈◊〉 19. Helyas beeing sure in no place desyred to dye Tobias beeynge stryken wyth blyndenes and misintreated of his wife praid thus O lord deale wyth me according to thy wyll and commaunde my sprete to be receaued in peace for more expedient were it for me to dye then to lyue If holy meÌ„ now by reason of their great troubles desyred death It is no meruayle if we that are weaker and of more imperfeccion be werye of this life Yea an vnspeakeable foly is it a maÌ„ to wishe for to continew still in the lyfe of misery and not to prepare himselfe to another and better lyfe ¶ That the consideracion of death afore hand is profitable to al vertues The .11 Chapter A Very mad and vnhappye man muste he nedes bee whych thorowelye considereth that vndoubtedly he must depart hence he knoweth not howe nor whan and whether he shall than haue hys ryght mynde directyng him selfe to God and desiring grace he cannot tell and wyl not euen nowe oute of hande beginne to feare God and serue hym more dilygently As the pecoke whan he loketh vpon hys owne fethers is proude but whan he beholdethe hys fete letteth the fethers downe euen so doeth manne ceasse from pride whan he considereth hys ende For in the ende he shall bee spoyled of al temporall bewtye strengthe power Iob. â— honoure and goodes Naked came I oute of my mothers wombe and naked shall I turne thyther againe Thorowe the consyderacion of death maye a man despyse all fleshelye luste and worldly ioye For euen the same fleshe that thou so pampereste wyth costly daintyes and vaine ornamentes muste shortelye bee a porcion for wormes neyther is there a more horryble caryon then of man Mani one thorow feare of death geueth almes exerciseth charitie doth his busines circumspectly To be shorte the consideracyon of death is euen as a scourge or spurre that prouoketh forwarde and geueth a man suffycient occasyon to auoyde eternall death whereof the death of the bodye is a shadowe Therefore the Niniuites Ionas 3. fearing their owne ouer throwe and destruccion repented and fell to a perfecte amendemente ¶ In death we learne the ryghte knoweledge of our selues and of God and are occasyoned to geue ouer our selues vnto God The .12 Chapter MAny a man in hys lyfe time can dissemble and shewe a fayer countenaunce but at the point of death no ipocrisie or dissimulacion hath place There verely shall we be proued and tried what maner of fayth loue coÌ„science and comfort we haue and how much we haue compreheÌ„ded out of the doctryne of Christ Then doth god let vs se our own strength howe that all worldly strength is a thousaÌ„d times lesse theÌ„ we euer would haue thought al the daies of our life Then perceyue we seingly and felingly so to saye that we stande in the only hande and power of god and that he alone endureth stil lorde and master ouer death and lyfe Then learne we ryghte to fele the worthines of the passion death of Chryste and in oure selues to haue experyence of the thynges wherof we neuer toke so diligeÌ„te hede afore in our lyfe tyme. Then come the fittes of repentaunce for sinnes committed that we thynke O If I had knowen that god would haue been so earneste I woulde haue lefte many thynges vndone whyche I alas therfore haue commytted Then were we forced to receiue loue the gospel which els here to fore might not come to such stout and ioly yonkers Then begyn we to runne to god to call vpon hym to magnifie and praise him faithfully to cleue vnto hym and vpryghtly to serue hym ¶ That the dead ceasseth from synne The .13 Chapter ALl Christians desyer to bee free from sinne for sinne and vice doth farre farre vexe the faythful more then al misfortunes of the bodye Nowe though one dooe kepe himselfe from synne Yet standeth he in a slipperye place the fleshe is weake strong is the deuyll of whom it is easelye ouercome whoso standeth let hym loke that he fall not 1. Corin. 10. Whyle the captayne yet fyghteth it is vncertayne whether he shall haue the victory tryumphe euen so thoughe a man doe valeauntly defende himselfe agaynst the lustes of the flesh temptacyons of the deuyll he maye yet fall and lose the victorye Yea if we alwaye lyued we should doe more euill synne ceasseth not tyl we come to be bleste with a shuffell Death cutteth awaye synne from vs and delyuereth vs from vnclene seÌ„ses thoughtes wordes and dedes For though death in paradise was enioined vnto maÌ„ â–ª for a penaltie of synne Yet thorowe the grace of God in the merites of Chryste it is become vnhurtefull Yea a medicine to pourge oute synne and a verye workehouse wherin we are made readye to euerlastyng ryghtuouâ—nesse Lyke as terrible Goliath with hys own sworde was destroyed of Dauid euen so wyth death â— came by the
shal we neuer bee able to comprehende how it commeth to passe that the soule muste depart out and yet bee preserued the wormes consume the bodye and that thesame yet shal ryse agayne and lyue for euer Therefore is there required faythe in Chryste and in his word The summe her of haue we in the twelue articles of the olde aunciente vndoubted Christian belefe And though it bee our dewtye alwaye speciallye at the tyme of death earnestly to consider al the articles yet pryncipally whaÌ„ we dye we oughte to exercyse the foure last articles The communyon of saintes The Frutes of faith the forgeuenes of sinnes the resurreccion of the body and the lyfe euerlastynge For these foure in themselues compreheÌ„de al the power commoditie frute of faythe Namelye whosoeuer doeth stedfastly loke for al grace and help at gods hande thorowe the concepcion and birth death passyon resurreccyon ascensyoÌ„ intercessyon merytes of Iesus Chryst and standeth lyueth and dieth in the same faith though all synnes deuils death hel would fall vpon hym and oppresse him yet canne they not hurt hym To bee shorte it is not other wise possible he must nedes haue feloshyppe wyth God and the elect and be quite discharged from all synnes and ioyfully rise again to eternal life Yea what soeuer the soÌ„ne of god himselfe hath can do and is able that same hath thys beeleuer also obteyned neyther can it goe other wyse wyth hym but prosperously in lyfe death here and in the world to come teÌ„porally and eternally Wytnesse Whoso hath Chryst hath already the true lyfe and all blessing for Christ is the life the resurreccion and a plentefull sufficiency of all good thinges Thorowe fayth Ephesi 3. doeth Chryste dwell in our hartes Therfore thorowe fayth we obteyne all consolacion and blessyng That fayth is the true absolucyon it may be perceaued by the wordes of Chryste whaÌ„ he saith so oft in the gospell be it vnto the accordyng to thy belefe Item God wyll constauntlye stand to hys worde and promes he is of nature the trueth it selfe Heauen and earth shall passe but hys wordes shall not passe Luke 21. What are nowe the promyses of god Iohn 3. So god loued the world that he gaue hys onelye begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleueth on hym shoulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe O howe blessed a promys is thys that if we beleue in Chryste the sonne of god we shall thorowe hym inheryte eternall lyfe Item Iohn 5. vereli verely I say vnto you he that heareth my woordes and beleueth on hym that seÌ„t me hath euerlastyng lyfe and shall not come into damnacyon but is escaped from death vnto lyfe Lorde howe comfortable a thing is thys that a faythfull beleuer by temporall death escapeth thorow yea is already escaped into euerlastyng lyfe Againe Iohn â— â–ª this is the will of my father which hath sente me that euery one whych seeth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue eternall lyfe and I shall raise him vp at the laste day As though he said Thys is the most geÌ„tle good will of god the father of god the sonne that such a man as styll endureth in stedfaste confidence vpon the grace worde of God shall bee preserued saued for euer And euen as litle shall synne hell and the deuyll be able to hurte hym as they could hurte Chryste hymselfe A pithie similitude Whan the darknes of the night falleth down it couereth the whole world dymmeth the coloure and fashion of all creatures feareth discomforteth them yet is it not of such power as to darken suppresse quenche the least light of al that is founde in the worlde For the darker the night is the clearer dothe starres shyne yea the lest lyght of a candell wtstandeth the whole night and geueth light rounde about in the middes of darknes A litle sparke also of a coale can not the darknes couer much les is it able to queÌ„ch it 1. Ihon â— Now is god the true euerlastyng heaueÌ„ly light And al they that put their truste in hym are as a burniÌ„g candle For thorow fayth doeth god dwell in our hartes we ar the liuing teÌ„ple of god Christs disciples ar called the lightes of the world Hereout foloweth it the though the prince of spiritual darknes thrust in with his noisome poisoÌ„ plages Yet shal we beholde in faith that he with his poisoÌ„ plages can neyther appreheÌ„d nor destroy any true faithful maÌ„ or womaÌ„ but shal be sinitten back dryuen away perforce A lytle vayne of water An apte similitude breaketh forth out of the grouÌ„d sometyme scace a fynger bygge and whan the water is gathered into a dyche or ponde it spryngeth neuerthelesse And though the water become heuy of certain huÌ„dreth wayght and moue about the foâ—â—tayne yet can it not dryue backe 〈◊〉 fountaine but it driueth the wholâ— waighte of the water backwardâ— and forwarde and spryngeth stâ—â— continually tyll the dyche bee sâ— full that it goe ouer And if the other water be foule and troubleâ— it can not myngle it selfe among the freshe cleare water of the foâ—â—tayne but the same remayneth puâ—â— and fayer tyll in tyme it comâ— farre from the head spryng Iere. 2. Psal 36. Nowe is god the only plentifull fountayne of all lyfe Anâ— the faythfull are verye flowyng wels For Chryste saieth Whosâ— beleueth on me Iohn 7. out of hys body as sayth the scripture shal flow streames of the water of lyfe Whyche wordes he spake of thâ— sprete that they which beleue oâ— hym should receaue Thus no mâ—â—chaunce of thys world can spoilâ— any faythful man of his comfort and lyfe forasmuche as god the eternall well spryng of life dwelleth and floweth in hys hearte and dryueth all noysome things 〈◊〉 awaye from it To the intente now The exercyse of fayth that thou mayest be partaker of al the frutes of faith thou must maÌ„fulli striue and exercyse thy belefe after this maner If any imaginacion or thoughte concernynge synne or death wil feare the though flesh and bloud tell thee otherwyse though thyne owne naturall reason woulde make thee to beeleue none other and thou thy selfe felest not the contrari but the god of very wrath wyll kyll thee daÌ„ne thee for euer yet let no dispayer plucke the noble comforte of the sauioure out of thyne hearte let not thy hart wauer in the louing and fatherly promes of god Let the terrible cogitacions passe as much as is possible Remember the comfortable gracious worde of the lord Iesu Blessed of godis he that â—ath thys â—ynde Comprehend and kepe it sure in a stedfast belefe confydence and hope Plucke vp thiâ—e heart and say O death thy false feare woulde fayne disceaue me and wyth lying cogitacions pull me awaye from Chryst the worthy I mai not harkeÌ„ to thy feare neyther accepte it I knowe of a deare
valeaunt worthi and victorious man that sayd bee of good comforte I haue ouercome the world That is to say sine deth deuyll hell and whatsoeuer cleaueth to the world And verely verely Iohn 6. he that beleueth and putteth hys trust in me hath eternal life Wyth the whyche wordes the same deare valeaunt worthy and victorious man doth applye also vnto me his victory and power With him will I continew and kepe me to hys worde and comforte whether I lyue longer or must dy Here ought we perfectly to be sure that the greater the battayll of death is the nerer is Iesus Christ to crown vs with mercy and louing kindnes Euident ensamples out of the new and olde testament Paul reioyseth and bosteth agaynste the terrour of death Death is swalowed vp in victory Death 1. Cor. 15. where is thy victory Hel where is thy styng As though he wold say To the faytâ—â—full death is a comforte O death thou mayest wel make one afrayed as a death image of wood maye doe but to deuoure thou hast no myghte For thy victorye stynge and power is swalowed vp in the victory of Chryste And thorow Iesus Christ our lord hath god geueÌ„ vs the victory agaynst thee so that all true faythfull Christians are become lordes ouer death hell Out of suche a fayth is Paul not afrayed to say Whether we liue or dye Roma 14. we are the lordes And agayne thus he speaketh exceadyng comfortably Chryste is to me lyfe Philip. 1. Oh that these wordes were printed in our hartes and death is to me aduauntage For hereby goe we froÌ„ labour to rest from shame to honoure from heuynes to ioye froÌ„ death to lyfe 1. Iohn 5. We knowe that we are translated froÌ„ death vnto life Though I walke in the valey of the shadowe of death Psal 23. yet feare I no euyll for thou lord god arte with me Vnbelefe Therfore let them feare death that know not Christ neither beleue in hym euen suche as from temporal death passe vnto death euerlastynge For God geuethe charge and coÌ„maundement that we shoulde receaue coumforte in the lord Iesu as the words souÌ„d be of good comforte How god 〈◊〉 blasphemed by our fear of death I haue ouercome the world Whoso now wil not be comforted wyth the lorde Iesu doth vnto god the father the sonne the greatest dishonour as though it were false that he byddeth vs be of a good comforte as though it wer not true that he hath ouercome the worlde The fearer oâ— death armeâ—â— the deuyll agaynst hymselfe And by this whereas the deuil sinne and death is ouercome alreadye we strengthen them to bee oure own tirannes againste the faythfull true sauiour Trust in ouâ— own streÌ„gtâ— is the way to desperacyon Hereof procede such wordes as these I wote not how to endure and abyde it alas what shal be come of me What is that els but to haue respect vnto our owne strengthe as thoughe Chryst were not at hande to take our part and to fynish the matter Item thorowe vnbelefe a man desyreth to remayne here longer whether god be content with all or no. In the sight of the worlde he is taken to bee no honeste man that vily forsaketh hys bodelye master doth not be then procure vnto hymselfe euerlastyng shame that in trouble of death pyketh hymselfe away from Chryst the heaueÌ„ly master Witnes he that beleueth not Mark 16. Iohn 3. shal be damned He that beleueth not on the sonne of god shal not see lyfe but the wrath of god abydeth on hym ¶ Of hope The .29 Chapter The worke streÌ„gth of the lyuely fayth FAyth though it be no greater then a litle sparke gendreth hope which loketh and wayteth for the deliueraunce to come and shall vndoubtedlye not come to confusion Committe thy cause vnto the lord hope vpoÌ„ hym Psal 37. and he full wel shal bryng it to passe Ipse faciet he hymselfe wyll be the doer The good Patriarck Abraham is set forth vnto vs for an ensample of fayth and hope Like as he hoped against hope that is to say there as nothyng was to hope euen so must our hope stande fast and sure agaynst al that our own naturall reason or the wycked enemye can obiect or cast in oure waye ¶ Of the Sacramentes The .30 Chapter TO the confirmacioÌ„ of faith and hope serue the holye sacramentes of baptisme and of the supper of the Lord. The vse or frute of Baptime Baptime is an vndoubted true token and euideÌ„ce of the grace of god fastened eueÌ„ vpon the bodi wyth the which god promyseth byndeth himselfe that he wil be thy god father for hys sonnes sake and wyl also preserue the with hys owne sprete in thy greateste parels for euermore The sacramente of the body bloud of Chryst muste be exercysed and practised The place of the supper and persons onely in the commyng together of the whole congregacion and church according to the ensample of the Apostles Therfore let the sycke satisfy him selfe with the generall breakinge of bread whereof he was partaker wyth the whole congregacioÌ„ But let hym diligently consyder the frute therof after this maner The frute of the supper god hath promysed me his grace in Christ and geueÌ„ me an assured token from heauen in thys sacrament that Chrystes lyfe hath in hys death ouercome my death that hys obedyence in hys passioÌ„ hath destroyed my synnes Thys godly promes token and euideÌ„ce of my saluacyoÌ„ shal not disceaue me I wyll not suffer thys to bee taken fro me to dy for it I wil rather deny al the world my selfe also then to doubt in gods token and promes Here the deuyl teÌ„pteth a man to say yea but thorow my vnworthynes I may spil the giftes of god that are offered me by the worde token and so bee spoyled of thesame for euer Our worthynes to communicate Answere God geueth thee nothynge for thyne own worthynes sake yea he buyldeth thee vnworthy vpon the worthynes of his owne sonne If thou beleue on the soÌ„ne of god thou art and continueste worthy before the face of god Item forasmuche as thou hast gone heretofore vnto the supper of the lord thou art thorowe the same sacrameÌ„t incorporated and conioyned wyth al them that are sanctified in god and art already come in to the feloweshyp of the sainctes so that they with thee in Chryst dye and ouercome Of prayer The .31 Chapter NO man shoulde presume to exercyse fayth hope or other spiritual giftes out of his owne power but humbly to prai vnto god for all suche thynges Oure sufficiency is from god as are nedeful And seing we haue nede of one mediatour and aduocate god hath geuen vs hys sonne Iesus Christ Neither is ani of our prayers acceptable vnto god Hebru 1â— but such as we offer thorowe Iesus
The preacher sayth remember thy maker in thy youth Eccle. 11. or euer the dayes of aduersitie come and afore the yeares drawe nye when thou shalt saye I am wery of my lyfe Agayne we reade examine correcte thy selfe Sirac 1◠afore the iudgement come so shalte thou fynde grace in the syght of god Hūble thy selfe afore thou be sycke and declare in season that thou wylte ceasse from sinne Be not hindred to pray in due tyme and differre not thy amendement vntil death No man knoweth the time place or maner how he shall ende this lyfe Many one hopeth yet longe to liue thynketh I am yet yōg I wil folow the world Whā I am olde or haue a wife kepe house then wyl I begynne to frame my selfe But o thou fooll who hath promysed thee that thou shalt be an old man yea that thou shalt lyue to morow As nothynge is more certayn then death so is nothing more vncertayne then the houre of death whiche the Lorde hath not opened to hys best frendes Therfore euery daye thynke thou none other in thy mynd but that thy glasse is runne out A frendly warnyng let euerye day be vnto thee the last day seyng thou wotest not whether that shalt lyue tyll to morowe Learne to beware by the example of other men vpon whom stretche legge came sodenly and slewe them euen whan they thought nothing lesse then to dye Yea of death ought we to thinke as of that whiche is presente for we haue death by the fote and carye hym aboute wyth vs in oure whole body Lyke as one in a shyppe whether he syt stande awake or slep is euer styll borne and caryed forwarde althoughe he marke it not greatly neyther fele it so our life in a continuall mocyon dooeth euery twynklyng of an eye steale forth and priuely crepe to the end thoughe we marke not howe the tyme passeth Dauid sayeth oure tyme goeth foorth swiftlye Psal 90. as though we did flie As if he wold saye there can nothyng runne or flye awaye more swiftlye And Sirac sayeth Sirac 14. remember the death taryeth not Paul sayeth I dye dayly 1. Cor. 15. For euen in the middest of lyfe ar we in death yea death dayly assone as we are borne taketh awai som what of our life After thys meanīg writeth Augustine The time of thys lyfe is nothyng els but arounyng vnto death Moreouer death is daylye set before our eyes we heare the sighing and lamentable voyces of thē that dye we see the coarses caryed to the buriall we gooe by the graues of the dead we bee styll talkyng of those that ar dead and buryed If the ensample of others touch vs but a litle then lette vs consyder our selfes Where is there one of vs that hath not somtyme ben in daunger of lyfe either thorow tempest sicknes pestylence murthur warre or other misfortune Therefore seeyng death waiteth for vs on euery side we doe wisely whan we also on euery syde wayte for him that he take vs not vnprepared or catche vs sodenly Though a man perfectly know as no man doth in dede that it should belonge afore he dyed yet were it exceadyng daungerous to differ the preparaciō til thā And more profitably could not one hāble the matter then by tyme and in due season to directe himselfe vnto that place where he desireth euerlastynglye to remayne For vncertayne he is whan the laste houre cōmeth whether he shall conuerte hymselfe to God and whether he shal haue hys ryhgte mynde or not Thoughe he bee not robbed of hys ryghte mynde yet in deadlye sicknes he hath so muche to doe wyth the trouble that it is heard than for hym to learne that he hath not comprehended learned afore The vnspeakeable payne of the bodye the horryble syght of thyne owne synnes the terrible feare of gods iudgement and the cruell temptacyon of the deuill come altogether vpon one heape in the perturbaunce and cōbraunce of death and hynder exceadyng much in euerye thynge that one ought to thynke speake or doe Yf thou now hast lightly regarded al warning and so diest in thy synnes thou shalt not bee able after death to amende any more Al repentaunce sorowing from that tyme forth shall bee in vayne Prou. 11. Whan the vngodly dyeth hys hope is gone Forasmuch thē as it is so that in death we must abyde the sorest and most daungerous cōflict and battayl euery reasonable man may wel perceue that we ought by tyme and in season yea all our lyfe tyme to prepare afore hande agaynste the sayd battayll ¶ That the foresayed thynges oughte by tyme and in due season to bee taken in hande The .40 Chapter THy laste wyll and testament The frute of makyng thy testamente in tyme of health beyng made while thy bodye is whole and sounde causeth not thee to dye the soner as oure feble vnderstanding ymagineth but is an occasion that thou diest the more quietly and that thou then goeste not firste aboute suche thornes whā thou liest vpon thy death bed Well don is it whan one that dyeth dooeth restore euyll gotten goods But vnto god it is an hundreth tymes more acceptable if thou restore it thy selfe while thou art whol and soūd in body It is wel don to bestow one porciō of goods for the relief of the poore But yet is it a muche more acceptable offerynge vnto God whan one hymselfe in hys lyfetyme geueth vnto the poore For that whych thou vpon thy death bead apoyntest for them is not alwaye distributed and though it be yet is it nomore thyne Some do euē as the wyfe that would geue none of her potage to any body tyll her pot was ouerthrown then called she that pore vnto it It is well done in the ende to forgeue all men and to pray vnto god that he also will forgeue all thyne enemies ▪ but much more cōmendable is it to forgeue them afore while thou hast thy health and not doe it for feare of death but for the very loue of Chryste As for other wayghtye makers wherewyth thou arte wrapped concernyng wyfe children neighbours debtes frendes or enemyes those lykewyse oughteste not thou to differre tyll the laste daye wherein thou haste inough to dooe wyth the worlde whych thou arte lothe to forsake wyth deathe whom naturallye thou hateste wyth the deuyll who practyseth all hys crafty falshod and subtyltie wyth the feare of hell the terroure whereof is horrible By meanes of such things an vnprepared manne dooeth oft forgette the grace of GOD and the souls health For if thou hauynge alwaye a louynge frend in estymacyon dooeste contrarye wyse litle regarde a poore neyghbour It were no wonder if thou shouldest forget the same neyghbour in the meane season whan thy deare frende is departed Euen so whan one now hath alway cast what maye dooe the bodye good howsoeuer it goeth wyth the soule no meruayll that the soules health is
but also to commende and praise the wil of the heauenly Lord kyng Now is it hys wyll that we dye For if the sparowes wherof two are bought for a farthing fall not on the grounde without god the father muche lesse we men whom God hymselfe estemeth to be of more value theÌ„ many sparowes yea for whose sakes other thiÌ„ges were created do fal to the grouÌ„d thorowe death wythout the wyl of god Lyke as the souldiour tarieth in the place wherin he is appointed of the chef captaine to fyght against the enemies if he cal him froÌ„ theÌ„ce he willingly obeyeth EueÌ„ so hath the heauenlye captayne set vs vpon earth Ephesi 6. where we haue to fyghte not wyth fleshe and bloude but wyth wycked spretes Therefore if he geue vs leue and call vs froÌ„ hence we oughte by reason to obeye hym Lyke as one shoulde not withdrawe himselfe froÌ„ payeng what he oweth but gentle to restore the mony So hath God lent vs thys lyfe and not promysed that we maye alwaye enioye it Therfore is death descrybed 〈◊〉 be the payment of natural debt ¶ That God sendeth death because of synne The .4 Chapter ACcordyng hereunto ponder thou the iuste iudgement of god For out of the third Chapter of the first boke of Moses it is euydently perceaued that death is a penaltye deserued layed vpon vs al for the punishmeÌ„t of sinne As the little worme that groweth out of the tree gnaweth and consumeth the tree of whom it hath hys begynnyng So death groweth waxeth oute of synne and synne with the body it coÌ„sumeth And specially that venymous sickenes whiche they cal the pestileÌ„ce is sente of God as a scourge for the punishment of our naughtynes Herof speaketh the word of god in the fifth boke of Moises after thys maner Deut. 28. If thou wylte not harken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy god to kepe and to doe all hys commaundementes and ordinaunces which I coÌ„maunde thee thys day then shal al these curses come vpon thee and ouertake thee The Lorde shall make the pestilence to cleue vnto thee vntil he haue consumed thee froÌ„ the lande whether thou goest to enioye it The lord shal smyte the with swelling with feuers heat burning wetheryng wyth smyting and blastyng And they shal folowe thee tyll thou peryshe Yet among the most gracious chasteninges is the pestilence rekened of the holy Prophete and kyng Dauid â— Reg. 14. c. who after that he of a pride 1. Par. 22. â— had caused the people to be numbred whan the eleccioÌ„ was geueÌ„ him whether he would rather haue seuen yeares dearth three monthes ouerthrowe in warre or three dayes pestylence in the land made this aunswere I am in a meruelous strayt But let me fall I praye thee into the handes of the lord for muche is hys mercy and let me not fall in to the handes of men 2. reg 24. 1. Para. 22. Then sent the lord a pestylence into Israel that there died of theÌ„ .70000 meÌ„ Wherefore if god ouertake thee with this horrible disease be not thou angry with Saturnus and Mars nor with the corrupt aier and other meanes appoynted of god but be displeased with thine own synnefull lyfe And whan any fearefull ymage of death coÌ„meth before thee remember that thou wyth thy synnes haste deserued muche more horryble thinges whych god neuertheles hath not sente vnto thee ¶ That God turneth death vnto good The .5 Chapter ALthoughe thou haste deserued an hundreth thousande greater plages yet shalte thou comforte thy selfe before hande after thys maner A father dooth hys childreÌ„ good and not euil Now is my beleue in god as in mi gracious father thorow Iesus christ and sure I am that Chryste vpoÌ„ the Crosse hath made a perfecte payment for all my synnes and with his death hath taken away the strengthe of my death Yea for me hath he deserued and broughte to pas eternall lyfe Wherefore though death in the syght of myne eyes and of naturall reason be bytter and heauy Yet by meanes of the passyon and death of Iesus Christe it is not euill or hurtfull but a benefyte a profitable and wholsome thyng euen an intraunce to euer lastyng ioye That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodye and soule The .6 Chapter WHat grefe and hurte death doeth bring with it I wil nowe declare To the inteÌ„te that whan we haue considered the same before trouble come we maye in oure distresse bee the lesse a frayed holdyng agaynst it the greate commodities of death that Chryste hath obtayned for all faythfull It greueth a man at hys death to leaue the pleasaunt beholdynge of heauen and earth hys owne yong bodi and chereful stomack hys wyfe and chyldren house lande feldes and medowes siluer and golde honoure and auctoritie good frendes and olde companions hys mynstrelsy pastyme ioye and pleasure that he hath had vpon earth Afterwarde whan death knocketh at the dore then begynneth the greateste trouble to woorke Whan the diseases be fallen vpoÌ„ the body of man in greater nomber they are agaynst al the members in the whole bodi breaking in bi heapes with notable grefes so that the pâ—wer of the body is weakened the mynde combred the remembraunce astonied reason blynded slepe hindred the senses all to broken By meanes whereof the eyes are darkened the face is pale the fete are colde the handes blacke the members out of course the brow hardened the chynne falleth down the breth minisheth the deadlye sweate breaketh out Yea the whole maÌ„ is takeÌ„ in and disturbed in suche sort that he is now past miÌ„ding of any other thing Death also is so much the more bytter and terrible because that the feble discomforted nature doth print the horrible ymage of death to depe in it selfe and feareth it to sore And hereunto is the deuyl lykewise busi to set before vs a more terrible euill death then euer we saw heard or read of To the intent that we beyng opprest with such imaginacions or thoughtes should fly and hatâ— death and be driuen to the loue and carefulnes of thys lyfe forgettyng the goodnes of god and to be founde disobedient at our last ende Moreouer whoso of hymselfe is not thorowly assured knoweth yet synne by himselfe he is not astonied for naughte for asmuche as synne caryeth wyth it the wrathe of god and eternall damnacyon Now not only the euill but also the good haue greuous and manifolde synnes yea moo theÌ„ they themselues can thinke vpoÌ„ with the which in daungers of bodye and lyfe theyr mynd is opprest as it were wyth a violente water that fearcely rageth and gusheth out yea euen the same praise worthy and coÌ„mendable thing which the godly haue practised alreadi that dooe they yet perceyue not to be perfect but myxte wyth vnclennesse Herof speaketh Esaye in thys wyse Esa 64. we offende haue been euer in synne and there is not one whole We are al
the pestyleÌ„ce wyth flying awaye leauyng his own wyfe frendes and neyghbours he declareth vnperfectnes of faith and standeth not wyth Chrystian charitie where we owe vnto others the same that we in like case would gladly haue at theyr handes Graunt that the pestylence is such an infectuous sickenesse as one taketh of another What thaÌ„ If one stande in battayle raye to fyghte for hys country must not he also looke for a gonne stonne to be sente hym into hys bosome to carye home doeth it therefore beseme hym to breake the araye and to fly Lyke as there the enemyes of the bodye are at hande So here doe the gostlye aduersaryes besege the soule of hym that is a dying where one Chrystyan shoulde helpe another wyth worthy talke Therfore is that a folish vnaduised counsayll whan we wyth neglectynge of oure owne members wil flie from the wrath of god thynkyng thorowe synne to escape the punyshmeÌ„t of synne Experyence also doth shew that such folkes doe ofte perysh aswel as other yea soner then they that fled not at al. But phisicke is permytted of god as in the tyme of pestylence wyth fyers and perfumes to make the ayer more wholsome from poysoÌ„ and to receaue somewhat into the bodye for the consumyng of euil humours and to hinder the infeccion IteÌ„ whan one is taken with a dysease to be let bloud to sweate to folow the phisicians instruccioÌ„ such thiÌ„ges are in no wyse to be repreheÌ„ded So that whether it turne to deathe or lyfe the hearte onely and hope hange vpon God The physicion shoulde neyther bee despysed nor worshypped For to thynke scorn to vse medecyne in syckenesse what were that els but euen to tempt god ¶ That god is able and wyll helpe for Chrystes sake The .20 Chapter SPecially whaÌ„ death is at haÌ„d a man fyndeth no helpe in any creature of heauen and earth whereby he might fortunatly suppresse the exceading greate feare of death but only in god the father in Christe hys sonne and in the holy sprete of them both It is god that knoweth the parels of thy death and can medle wythall Thorowe hys power shalt thou get thorow and drinke the bitter draught Though we dyyet liueth god before vs with vs after vs and is able to preserue vs for euer Chryst sayeth wepe not the damosel is not dead but slepeth Faythles reason vnderstandeth not the mistery of God and laugheth But Chryst the true god hath both the woorde worke together saieth no more but arise and the soule came again to the bodye she arose Oute of thys and suche lyke ensamples oughtest thou faynte hearted man to vnderstande the infinite power of god who can receaue thi soule also and preserue it Not only is god able but wil also helpe graciousli Whi should not he lay vpon thee some greate thyng as death is seyng he addeth so greate aduauntage helpe and streÌ„gth therto Math. 10. d. Luke 12. a. Psal 34. Psal 55. c. 1. Pet. 5. a to proue what hys grace and power maye doe For he hath nombred all the heares of our head that is he alwai hath hys eies vpon vs and careth euer for vs. Yea that he loueth vs more theÌ„ we loue oure selues and maketh better prouision for vs then we can wysh he hath openly and euidently testified in his own deare sonne Marke 16. c. Luke 22. c. whoÌ„ he caused to take our miserable nature vpon hym and therein for the synnes of all the world to suffer to dye to ryse agayne to ascende vp to heauen Acre 7. â— roma 8. â— Eph. 1 â–ª c. 4. Philip. 2. a Col. 3. a 1. Pet. 3. c Heb. 1. a 2 â— 10 b 12 a Psal 110 a where he sytteth at the right haÌ„d of god the father almyghtye Among the whych articles euerye one doth helpe and comfort such as are a dying The naturall sonne of god him selfe from heauen became a mortall man The humanâ—â—tie of Chryâ—â— to the intent that mans mortal nature thorowe the vnityng thereof with the immortall nature of the Godheade in hys owne onely person myght be exalted to an immortall lyfe He The passion of Chryst hauyng a natural feare of death said my soule is heuy eueÌ„ vnto the death He prayed also father if it be possible take thys cup from me But thys feare and terrour dyd he ouercome Math 26 â— Marke 14 â— Io 12 c Luke 22 â— for he addeth thereto and sayeth father not my wyll but thyne be fulfylled Thorowe thys victorye of Chryst maye al Chrystyans also ouercome such terrour and feare as they be in Item though the Iewes blaspheme neuer so muche and saye lette hym come downe from the crosse Math 27 Marke 14 d Luke 22 c he hath helped other lette hym nowe helpe hymselfe as though they woulde saye There there seyft the death like a wretche must thou dye and no man is able to helpe thee Yet dyd the lorde Iesus holde hys peace thereto as if he heard and saw them not He made no aunswere agayne but onely regarded the good wil and pleasure of his father Therfore though we haue an horrible temptacion of death as thoughe there were neyther comforte nor help for vs ani more yet in Christ and with Chryst we may endure all and wayte styll vpon the gracious good wyll of god He dyd not onely suffer the horrour and temptacyon of deathe but death it selfe yea the moste horryble death wherby he tooke from vs the death eternall and some deale mollified and swaged our temporall death yea besides thys he made it profytable and wholsome So that death 2 Cor 5 â— Phil 1 c roma 7 c Hebru 2 which of it selfe shoulde els be a beginning of euerlastyng sorowe is become an intraunce into eternall saluacyoÌ„ Accordyng to this meanyng are the wordes of Paul whaÌ„ he sayth that Chryst by the grace of god tasted death for all men Item he became partaker offlessh and bloud to put down thorowe death hym that had the lordshyp ouer death that is to say the deuyll and that he myghte delyuer them whyche thorowe feare of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage Chrystes resurreccyon Moreouer that Chryst is the lyuing immortall ymage against death yea the very power of our resurreccyon and of lyfe euerlastyng he hymselfe hath testifyed wyth hys owne ioyefull and victoryous resurreccion also with that that in hys resurreccyon many other sayntes that were dead rose from death agayne Math 27 Agayne howe full is it of comforte and pure treasure that S. Paul ioyneth our resurreccioÌ„ vnseparably 1 Cor 15 to the resurreccyon of Iesus Christ Lykewyse doth S. Paul comforte hys disciple Timothy with the resurreccion and sayeth 2 Tim 2 â—om 6 b 8 b If we dye wyth Chryst we shall lyue wyth hym if we be pacyent we shal also reigne with hym Chrystes ascensyon No lesse must the frute of the
Chryst Therfore must we wyth draw our selues frō al creatures praying and desyryng all things at gods hande onely thorow the name of Iesu How oughte a man to call vpō god thorowe Chryste What is to call vpon god in Chryste Wyth belefe that we doubt not but oure prayer is heard already To such a fayth and confydence are we occasioned in that God hath commaunded vs to pray and promysed that he wyl graciouslye heare vs knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you ▪ c. For what thynge oughte we to make our prayer vnto god For the vnderstandīg of his word for remissiō of sinnes for increace of fayth for loue euen towardes our enemyes for helpe pacience comforte and all spiritual giftes To pray for health and long lyfe The moderacion of praier for temporal thynges is not vnryghte so farre as we cōmitte and referre it vnto the holy wyl of god For we can not make it better then the faithful father that knoweth best of all And to pray for a long lyfe is oft tymes nothyng els then to desyer to be kept long in miserye Esai 38. Good Ezechyas yet prayed wyth teares that he myght lyue for a season Chryst the most perfect ensāple of al did pray Father if it be possible take thys bitter draught fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thyne bee done Lyke as he nowe prayed thus the seconde and third time moste earnestlye So ought we also without ceassynge to cal vnto god Some appoynte god afore hande what death he must suffer them to dye But they doe best of all that prescrybe vnto the lord theyr god neyther fashyon of death nor tyme neyther other circumstaunce but referre al vnto him who knoweth what is profitable and good better then we ourselues Moreouer we must praye for wife and childe for frende and enemy and for the whole congregacion of the Chrystians that god may graciouslye take thē all into hys own proteccion Vnto praier belōgeth it also cherfulli to geue god thankes for all bodelye and gostly benefites ¶ The fourme of prayer The .32 Chapter Praier to god the father O Almightie euerlastynge god mercyful father of heauē thou hast created me after thyne owne image and endewed me wyth exceadyng plentiful giftes Confessyon Yet not wythstandyng all thy benefites I haue many and sondry wayes contemned and transgressed thy commaundementes All my dayes are passed foorth with greuous synnes I feare and flye from thee as from a righteous iudge Althys what soeuer it be I freelye knowledge and confes and am sory for it frō the ground of my heart Desyre of grace But O heauenly father I cry and call for thy large and great mercy O enter not with me into iudgemente remember not the synnes of my youth O thynke vpon me accordyng to thi mercye for thy names sake and for thy goodnes which hath ben from euerlastyng Vouchesafe to graunt me thy mercy which thou according to the contentes of the gospel hast promised and opened thorow thy beloued sōne in such sort that whoso beleueth on him shal haue euerlastyng lyfe Now is my belefe in Iesu Christ euen in the only redemer of the whole worlde I vtterly refuse all other comforte helpe and assistaunce and my hope is onely thorowe Chryste to haue pardon of my sinnes eternal life Thi wordes are trewe be it vnto me accordīg to thy wordes O let me enioye y◠passion and death of thyne onely begottē sonne Take for my sīnes the satysfaccion and paymente of our lord Iesus Chryste accordīg to the tenour of my belefe Of thys my fayth thou shalt thy selfe O Lord be wytnesse and al thine elect My last wil also shall it be vpon thy mercy to dy in this fayth Though I now by occasiō of pain lacke of reasō or thorowe tēptaciō should happen or would fall awaye suffer me not yet O lorde to sticke fast in vnbelefe blasphemy but helpe myne vnbelefe strength and increace my fayth that synne death the deuil and hel dooe me no harme Thou art strōger and mightier thē thei that is onely my trust and confydence O lord the flesh is feble vnpacient laye not thou my weakenes to mi charge but burne smit prycke and plage as thou wylte thy selfe Pacience and lowlynes is the signe of a Chrystyan only Ibesech the graūt me pacience and lowelynesse of mynde Be thou the strength of my soule in this farre iournei which I haue now to go in an vnknowē lande Now shewe thy selfe vnto my poore soule so as it may fele that thou art my refuge my help proteccyon defence comforte castel my sure stony rocke my safegarde my treasure prosperyte health and wellfare I yelde my selfe wholy vnto thee with soule and body let me neuer bee confounded Helpe also Prayer for the enemy o heauēly father that accordyng vnto thy cōmaundement I may loue myne enemyes and pray for them that haue hurte me Math 5. c roma 12 b. c. And bryng to pas thorowe thy holy sprete that all thei whō I haue done harme vnto may also forgeue me to the cōmoditie and health of their owne soules For it reweth me and sory I am that at any time I haue broken Christian loue and charytie and begiled desceaued or offēded any man wyth euill ensample or with to fewe benefites I besech the O lord thorow Iesus Christ forgeue thou all them that euer haue hurt me in thought worde or dede Praier for eueri man To thy faythfulnes and proteccion O dearest father I commit all that concerneth me speciallye wyfe children frendes all such as thou hast put vnder my gouernaunce Comfort and helpe thou all those that ly in bandes and ar persecuted for thy wordes sake Haue mercy vpon al such as are in prison pouertie sickenes and heuines O bring thou the whole world to the knowledge of thi holy word that they may liue accordyng to thy godly wyl and thorow out all troubles to endure continue styll in the Christiā faith O Lorde Iesu Chryste Praier to god the sonne I besech the thorowe thine owne merites haue mercye vpon me Seinge I my selfe can not make satisfaccion or sufficient amēdes towards the father for my synnes I laye thē vpō the in hope that thou haste already taken them awaye For thou hast payed that we ought oure woundes hast thou healed O increace thou in me and other men fayth pacyence and consolacion what aduersitie or trouble soeuer we be in Thou lord Iesu in thy passion diddest pray Father if it be possible let thys cup passe fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thine be done and that is my praier also Vpō the crosse that dydst pray Father forgeue thē Euē so lord forgeue I al those that euer haue done any thing agaīst me Thou didst cry my god my god why hast thou forsakē me O lorde forsake not thou me then in my deadlye trouble Vpon the crosse thou
that they came of one father beyng borne vnder one motherly hearte broughte vp in one house eating and drinking at one table If it were els a mans companion he thynketh he was my faythfull deare frende he dyd no man hurt nor harme but desired to doe euery mā seruice and that so honestlye that a man myghte haue trusted hym with his owne soule If he were a good ruler we thynke he was to hys owne natyue country trew and faithfull and excellently well enclyned to the welfare therof who hath not then good cause to be sory for his departyng Thys is the cause that the bloud naturally gathereth together so that we are sorier for the death of suche one then of another priuate man Suche heuynesse pitie and compassion dooeth GOD alowe For he hath not created vs to bee stones and blockes but hath geuen vs fyue senses and made vs an hearte of fleshe that we myghte haue feling and loue oure frendes beeyng sorye whā they suffer trouble and dye Yea GOD hateth vnfrendlye and vnmercyfull people and whose heartes are not moued whan theyr frendes are vexed or taken awaye from them Therefore the holy Patryarck Abraham Gene. 23. lamented and mourned for Sara his wife whan she was dead Good Ioseph made great lamentacyon for Iacob hys father Gene. 50. Paull lykewyse Philip. ◠wryteth thus My helper and felow souldyar Epaphroditus was deadly sycke but GOD had mercye vpon hym and not onelye vpon hym but also vpon me that I shoulde not haue one heuynes vpon another But as in all thynges so in thys there oughte a measure to be kepte that we continue not in fleshly vnordynate heuynes but styll resyste the sorowe and cōforte oure selues with thys accoūpt folowyng what dooe we meane thus to mourn and lamēt What wyll we dooe The Lorde is great and doeth no man wrōg And thesame is an honeste good wyll that conformeth it selfe to the wyll of god A notable saying For the good heathen mā Seneca wrote vnto his scholar Lucillus after thys maner a mā ought to bee contente with euery thing that god is pleased wythall only because it pleased god Nowe is euery thyng ordred by the prouidence of god as holi Augustyne de ciuitate dei saieth Lib. 5. cap. 11 without an orderly diuision and conueniente ioyning together of the partes hath not God lefte so much as the bowels of any best how vile or smal so euer the same be nor the fethers of a birde nor the floure of the herbe neyther the leafe of the tree so that there can nothynge bee founde that is not subiect to the prouidence of god neyther can there any litle birde dye wythoute his deuice charge and commaundemente Yf god now haue so diligent respect to such small things how then could thy frende whō thou mournest for departe awaye by death wythout the prouidence of god Therefore if we speake against the lordes works and cry agaynst hys wyll what is that els but euen as though we therefore lyued vpon earth that we as lordes rulers should prescrybe lawes for the almightie Which thyng to thynke I wil not say to speak were yet horrible Whan thou geuest foorth thy chyld to a nource she hath kept it long inough thou takest it home agayne the nourse hauīg no reasonable cause to complayne vpon the for takyng agayn thine own Yet muche les cause haue we to grudge against god our creditor whā he by death taketh his own agayn For as for father and mother brother and sister wife and childe frende and louer yea and all other thynges that we haue what are they els but lent goods and free gyftes of god whych he hath cōmitted vnto vs whiche we as long as he lendeth vs thē ought to esteme as aduaūtage Whan a Lorde hath lente vs a fayer costelye table whether should we gladly wyth thankes restore it hym agayne whan he requireth it or braull wyth hym after thys maner O thou terryble lord how happeneth it that thou hast robbed vs of so costly a table How cōmeth it that thou hast taken it from vs agayn so sodenly Vpon such a complaynte might not he with good ryghte answer Is that now mi reward for lending you so costly a table whyche I did of loue vndeserued on youre parte that ye mighte haue commoditie pleasure ther of a while Yea the more worthi the gift was that I lent you to vse the more thākful should ye be vnto me Yea with rougher wordes myght god iustly rebuke vs that bee so vnpaciente When the house fell vpon Iobs x. lyuing childrē vii sonnes .iii. daughters and whan his .vii. M. shepe wer brēt wyth fyer from heauen and his enemyes caryed awaye hys fyue hundreth yoke of oxen and fyue hundreth asses as the other enemyes droue away three hūdreth Camels slew also his seruātes in al this misery hurt Iob comforteth h̄imself thanketh God who had lent him such thynges and taken them away again The lord saith he hath geuen thē the lord hath takē thē euē as it hath pleased the lord so is it com to pas blessed be the name of the lorde Let vs therefore also saye wyth Iob the Lorde gaue vs this father that chylde such a frende the Lord hath taken hym agayn blessed be hys name But whā thou shouldst laude and prayse god it hyndereth the exceadyngly if thou feare that god of a wrath and enemitie agaynst thee hath taken away frō thee thy sonne or thy wyfe c. Such an opinion cōmeth not of god but is euen a practyse of the deuyll And herewyth agreeth our feble nature what soeuer is song or sayed we thynke in trouble that god is angrye and that our wyll is good and profytable and not gods wyll Contrary hereunto are we instructed by holy scripture that thoughe we knowe not perfectly for what cause God sendeth vs thys or that punishmente yet ought we to bee satisfied in this that god is gracious and fauourable vnto vs for hys beloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake Neuertheles to the intente that we maye both the better vnderstande and be the more glad to receaue the good wyl of God I wyll declare what profite such a death bryngeth to hym that departeth and to those that remain ¶ That vnto such as dye it is profitable to departe oute of thys lyfe The .2 Chapter IF thei that be dead from hēce hadde not suffered trouble in thys world whan thei were alyue it were no maruaill to se vs mourne out of measure for theyr departyng As for all their ioye and pastyme vpō earth thei are scace to be accōpted dreāes in comparyson of the true ioyes and treasures aboue Agayne who wyll vndertake to nomber the aduersities that al menne of what estate so euer they be must be possessours of We may well say wyth Iob man that is borne of a woman lyueth but a shorte time and is replenished with
depart geuyng all temporal things ther leaue hauyng a ryght vnderstandyng of the holy gospell and exercising the true belef therof by feruente prayer charitable loue and pacyence Turne thee for gods sake froÌ„ all creatures to the creator and maker turne thee from wyfe and chylde turne thee from temporal goods and honour consyderyng that none of them can helpe the neyther from siÌ„ne nor froÌ„ death All that thou leauest behynd the the lord accordyng to his almighty prouideÌ„ce shal wel and fatherli take care for theÌ„ He that hath created thy wyfe and children shal also prouide them a lyuing as he hath sente vnto thee al thyngs necessary eueÌ„ vnto thys houre Afterwarde ought not the minde of the sick to be disturbed or pointed hether thether vp down as the more pitie they vse to do in the Papistry but onelye vnto God the father thorowe Iesus Chryst accordyng to the coÌ„teÌ„tes of the whole ghospell after thys meanyng The spirituall comfortâ—â— Doest thou beleue and confes from the grounde of thy heart that there is but one onely god who hath geuen thee bodye and soule meate and drynke lodgyng and clothyng with al other necessaryes graciously helped thee out of many greuous mischaÌ„ces and miseryes The sicke Then lette the syck say yea that I knoweledge and confesse Doest thou also confesse The coÌ„forteâ— that thou oughtest aboue al thynges to haue feared and worshypped this thy gracyousse maker and father and to haue loued hym wyth al thy heart with al thy soule wyth al thy streÌ„gth and for his sake thy neyghboure also as thy selfe Hath not god deserued that at thy hande The sicke Then let hym saye O Lorde god I shoulde in dede haue done so The comforter Knowledge thou lykewyse that thou oft and many a tyme haste wyttyngly and willingli of very vngraciousnes done against god and thy neyghboure by meanes wherof thou hast iustli deserued the euerlastyng wrath plage and indignacion of god in bodye and soule Then let hym saye Oh sir it is al to true The sicke I yelde my self giltie and confesse it before God Well The coÌ„forter greater and more horrible synnes then these couldeste not thou doe if thou wouldeste styll not regarde the wrath and rigorous iudgement of god as thou haste done heretofore How arte thou mynded Doest thou desier and pray from the grounde of thy heart that God wyl preserue the from such slender regardynge of thyne owne synnes and of hys iust wrath and iudgement Desireste thou also wyth thy whole hearte that God wyll not deale wyth thee after hys diuyne iudgement and iustice but accordiÌ„g to hys fatherly mercye and that he wyll remitte and forgeue thy synnes and trespaces Then let hym say Yea that is my desyer The sicke from the botome of my hearte God from heauen dyd sende vnto thee hys deare and only begotten sonn The coÌ„forter who toke vpon hym the nature of manne and in hys death vpon the crosse he bare not only our trespace but the paine also and punishment due for the same makyng ful payment and satisfactioÌ„ for vs. Iohn the Baptist with hys fynger poynteth vnto Christ and sayeth lo thys is gods laÌ„be that taketh away the synne of the world And Iohn the Euangelist sayth 1. Iohn 1. The bloud of Iesus Christ clenseth vs from all synne Doest thou now confesse that Iesus Chryst the sonne of God dyed and rose agayne for thee also And wylt thou as one parcell of the world one brokeÌ„ rede one pece of smoking flax and one lost shepe cast al thy siÌ„nes vpoÌ„ him embracyng thys comforte of the gospell in thy heart and comprehendyng it wyth a stroÌ„g stedfast belefe Then let hym say O lord Iesu The sicke my heartes desyer is of the to be healed coÌ„forted and refreshed And thankes be vnto God for euermore that I maye haue him my mediator and redemer I wyl wholly committe and yelde my selfe vnto hym Then vpon thys The coÌ„foâ—â— â–ª the Lord Iesus Chryst by hys godlye worde and gospel sendeth thee this message Thy sinnes are forgeueÌ„ the and in hys syght all are taken away not onely the synne but the payne also due for the same namely euerlastyng death hel and daÌ„nacyon So that thou shalte be receaued agayne as a deare acceptable chylde and heire of eternal lyfe Beleuest thou thys comfortable promes of Iesu Chryste Then let hym saye yea The sicke but O mercyfull god strength thou my weake belefe The coÌ„fortâ—â— The summe of all thys is conteyned in the articles of the Christian belefe whyche wyth the aforesayed interpretacion maye bee rehearced vnto the sycke And to the intente that thy hearte maye bee sette at reste and the assured in thy fayth therefore hath Chryst instituted his holy supper and sacrameÌ„t of his body and bloud wherein he dooeth signifie wytnesse and put to hys seale that euen thou also art one of those many for whom he gaue his body and shed hys bloude Now whan synne death hel deuill and gods wrath teÌ„pteth and turmoileth thy conscience thou must wyth the same sacrament as with the word of god comforte thy coÌ„science that Chryst Iesus with hys body and lyfe is thy suertye and that hys soule and bloud and all that he is standeth for thee and on thy syde agaynste al bodelye and gostly enemyes Moreouer thou must byd the sick call vpon god for fayth pacience and other spirituall giftes Some tyme recite before hym the Lordes prayer with a shorte exposicion that he may direct his prayer the better Exhorte also al suche as staÌ„d about the sick to praye for hym consideryng that our lorde hath made a rich and faithful promes Where two or three are asseÌ„bled in hys name he hymselfe wyl be in the myddes among them and graunt them their desyer And for asmuch as al instructions must be taken of the word of god therfore before the sick these parcels folowyng may bee read The .6 Psalme which begineth Lord rebuke me not in thyne anger c. The .22 Psalme Mi god my god c. The .25 Psalme Vnto thee O Lorde c. The .27 Psalme The lord is my lyghte c. The .42 Lyke as the harte longeth c. The .51 Haue mercye vpon me c. The .91 Whoso dwelleth c. The .116 I am well pleased c. The .139 O lord thou searchest me c. The .143 Heare my prayer O Lorde c. The prayer of kyng Ezechias Esay 38. The Psalme of Simeon NuÌ„c dimittis Luke 2. The .11 Chapter of Iohn Of Lazarus The .14 and .17 of S. Iohns gospell The passion of Chryst and specyally concernyng the one of the two murtherers The .8 Chapter to the Romaines The .1 Corinthians 15. Al which places serue to make the prayer feruente and to strengthen true belefe Furthermore the sicke oughte to be told of the fruites of fayth because of prouokyng thankefulnes
frēdes louers of thys Fabius that stode about hym whan they heard thys wepte very sore But he alone being vnmoued wēt forward stoutly in the busines that concerned the cōmē welth Here because of shortnesse I leaue out a multitude of ensamples of sondry mē named Galli Pisōes Sceuole Metelli Scauri Marcelli whō in such pointes to folowe it is laudable worthy of commendacyon I wyll yet shewe one ensample of the vertuous woman Cornelia whych was daughter vnto Scipio Aphricanus Whan she vnderstode that her two sōnes Tiberius Gracchus and C. Gracchus who beyng Magistrates had honourably and well behaued themselues were slayn and she of her frendes was called miserable she sayed I wyll neuer thynke my selfe a miserable womā forasmuch as I haue broght forth such men Thys woman now ouercame her owne naturall feblenes and motherly heart should not thē a man whyche woorde noteth the stronger kynde and more valeāt stomack declare hymselfe euen as stout That an heithnish vnbeleuynge woman coulde despyse should that make a faythful Christen man so vtterly faynt herted That she wyllyngly gaue againe vnto nature wilt not thou suffer god to haue it whā he requireth it of thee She toke vpon her with an vnbroken mynde the death of many childrē and wilt not thou that forgoest but one chyld be cōforted agayne The heathny she womā knew none other but that after death there remayneth nothyng behynde yet made not she an vnmeasurable howlīge Thou knowest that after thys tyme there remayneth an euerlastynge lyfe so much the worse then besemeth it a Christen man to vnquiet hymself wyth excesse of heuynes ¶ The commoditie of pacyence The .8 Chapter VNsemely sorow for thee sakes that are dead is vnprofitable and hurtfull Vnprofitable for assone as the soule is once departed out of the bodye it commeth either into heauen or into hel and wyth no crying shall it bee called back agayne or altered Neyther canste thou serue the dead wyth any thyng more then that hys remembraunce be deare and had in honoure with thee The heithnishe Poete Sophocles writeth if the dead might with teares be called agayne thē should wepīg be cōpted more worth thē golde But O my good olde mā it may not be that he which once is buried should come agayne to the lyghte For if weping myght help mi father had ben aliue agayn Hurtful herof hath the heithnish poet Philemon written ryght wisely many of them thorowe ther own fault increace misfortune to thēselues make the same more greuous then it is of nature Example whan one hath hys mother chyld or frēd dead if he thought thus he was a man and therfore he dyed thys aduersitie should be no greater then nature bryngeth wyth it But if he cry I am vndone I shall see hym no more he is gone loste for euer suche one heapeth vp yet more sorow to that he hath already But who so consydereth euery thyng with discrecion maketh the aduersity to be lesse vnto hymselfe and obteyneth the more quietnes It were a veri scornful thing if whan a man hath hurt on fote he would therfore marre the other also or if whan one part of hys goodes is stollen away he wold cast the rest into the see and say that he so bewayleth hys aduersitie No les folyshly dooe they that enioy not such goodes as ar presente and regarde not theyr frendes that be alyue but spyl marre themselues because theyr wyues chyldren or frendes bee departed Though one of the husbande mans trees doth wyther awaye he heweth not down therfore al the other trees but regardeth the other so much the more that they maye wynne the thynge agayne whyche the other loste Euen so learne thou in aduersitie wyth suche goodes as are lefte thee to comforte and refresh thy selfe agayne ¶ Vve oughte so to loue oure chyldren and frēds that we maye forsake them The .9 Chapter AL suche thynges oughte of vs to be consydered taken in hande and exercysed while our wiues and frendes are yet aliue Namely if thou haue father or mother husbande or wyfe chyld or frēdes lay not thyne heart loue and affeccyon to much vpon thē how good profitable and honest so euer they be Loue thy frendes beecause god hath commaunded the to loue them and not for affeccyon to them and thē wylt thou be contented wyth gods good wyll and pleasure Note the saying of an heathen man gretly to our shame but remember alwaye that they are transitorye thynges which thou mayest lose and forgoo whā time requireth Loue him most of all whō thou canst not lose euen thy redemer who to drawe the vnto his loue and to delyuer the from the loue of the world stretched oute hys armes and suffred the most vile death for thee vpon the crosse Seneca sayeth not vnwysely I lende my selfe vnto the thynges of the world but I doe not geue my selfe vnto thē He saith more ouer that nothyng is possessed as it ought to bee except one be ready at all tymes to lose it But if we fasten our heartes so to say vpon our children and frendes that is if we loue them to muche and not god aboue all thynges then hath our sorow no measure as ought as they are altered or taken awaye Therefore if thou hast not prepared thy self to aduersitie by tymes and arte once ouertaken wyth vndiscrete heuynes then let it be vnto the a warnyng from hēce forth to kepe thee from the greater loue of trāsitorye thynges whyche hath brought thee into such heart sorow to the intent that at other tymes thou mayst take the deth of thi wife and childrē in good parte and wyth more constanci of mind ¶ Of the death of younge personnes in especiall The .10 Chapter AFter the generall instruccyon concernynge death must certayne obiecciōs be answered that hetherto are not resolued If a yong man or if a yong daughter dye Lorde what a greate mournyng begynneth there to be alas he is taken awaye in hys younge dayes afore hys tyme he shoulde fyrst haue been maried and had a good wyfe vpon earth and in hys last age haue dyed in peace and rest Herof commeth it that we thynke the death of chyldren to be vnnaturall euē as whā the flame of fyer thorow water is violently quenched The death of the aged we thinke to be natural as whan the fyer quencheth of it selfe accordyng to the saying of Cicero Item the death of young persons is compared to vnripe apples that wyth violēce ar pluckt of from the tree the death of the aged is thoughte to be as whā rype apples fall downe of themselues Item As it is hard to vndoo two bordes newly glewed together but olde ioininges ar lightly broken a sunder so we cōplain that young folkes dye with greater payne then the olde Yea it greueth the fathers and mothers heart whan as they counte it the mater is turned vpse down that chyldrē depart out of this world afore olde
folkes The answer is taken oute of the fore rehearced grounde The wyll of God Yf god who hath al in his owne power had promysed euery one a long lyfe then mightest thou complayne at the shortnyng of the lyfe of thy selfe or of thy frendes agaynste gods promes Now hath god compared clothed the soule wyth the body that what day or what twinklīg of an eye soeuer he cōmaundeth it to depart it kepeth the same time wherin one finisheth his course Therefore hath no man cause to complayn of an vntimely death but loke whatsoeuer one hath lyued ouer and beside the first day of hys birth it is an increace Moreouer god knoweth much better then thou and we al whan it is beste for euerye one to dye And so faithful is he for the lord Iesus Chrysts sake that he in no wyse wyll be to hasty vpon vs. Secondli The shortne◠of this tyme ▪ though we remain a long season in thys fickle transitory lyfe yet is al our tyme but short specially towards the endlesse eternitie Therefore it hath but a slender differēce to depart hence in youth or in age Thyrdly Misery thorowe death is a yong person wythdrawen away fro many troubles whyche els were at hys dore For commenly the longer a man liueth the more miserable is he Take ensamples oute of olde storyes Yf Themistocles after the most gloryous victory agaīst Xerxes whan all the Grekes aknowledged and cōmended him for their redemer and delyuerer had dyed shoulde it not haue serued hym to a perpetuall prayse and honoure Then shoulde not he afterwarde haue been rated as a betrayer of Grekelande then neded not he to haue been in bōdage not to haue fallen downe at the foote of the kyng of Barbarye as beefore a god whom he before had dryuē out of grekelande Howe thrall and vile a thyng was it to be estemed before the world that The misrocles must nedes come beefore kyng Xerxes What is to be said of Marcus Cicero who confesseth hymselfe that if he had died sooner he had escaped exceadīg great troubles And forasmuche as he so sayed whyle the mater was yet tolerable howe woulde he fyrste haue thought and lamēted in his age to see wyth his eyes the drawne swordes ouer the senatours and Citizens heades and whan the moste principall mennes goods were parted among murtherers Catilina was a sedicious man yea whā wheras afore tyme ther was one catilina the citie was now become full of suche sedicious persons The ensamples of dayly experience declare sufficiently before our eyes whereby we maye euidently perceyue that death though they call it vntimeli deliuereth yet from great misfortune and aduersitie Fourthlye the innocency and clennes of youth is of their own nature and thorowe euyll ensamples defyled and stayned with the life and cōuersacion that foloweth after Augustine sayeth the older the worse Therfore whan a yonge man falleth on slepe knowe thou that God sheweth greate grace vnto hym in that he suffereth him not as many other to remaine long in thys blasphemous worlde to the intente he should no more bee hyndered and defyled wyth it but hath called hym from hence to a right good state He speaketh of Henoch that wyth hymself and al the electe he might possesse the kyngdome of heauē Witnes of the scripture Sapience 4. sodenly was he taken away to the intēte that wickednes shoulde not alterhys vnderstandyng Hys soule pleased god therefore hasted he to take hym awaye from among the wycked Similitudes He that is vpō the sea and wyth a good stronge wynde is caryed soone to the hauē or lande where he woulde be is happier then he that for lacke of wynde is fayne to sayll stil many yeares and dayes vpon the sea with much trouble and werines Euē so the more happy is he whō death taketh awaye from the stormy and raging sea of this world Seyng there is set before vs an vniuersal natiue country and he that is long in goyng thyther obteyneth nomore then he that is spedely gone thither before hād should not one wishe that he had soone ouercome the foul daungerous way that leadeth to the heauenly harborow The sooner one payeth hys debt the better it is If there were none other remedi but thou with an hundreth moo must nedes be beheaded and thou arte the fyrste that is put to execucion art thou not then the fyrste that is dispatched of the payne Fynally if thou consyder the mischaunces of other folkes thou hast the lesse cause to complaine One dyeth in the mothers wōbe afore he be borne Another dyeth in the very birth The thirde in hys florishynge youth whan he fyrst delyteth to lyue falleth away as a bewtiful rose Among a thousand is there not one that commeth to the perfect age ¶ Of the death of the aged The .11 Chapter VvHā old aged folkes are gredye of thys wretched life they doe euen as those the whan the wyne is all spent wyll nedes drynke out the wyne lyes also Whoso dwelleth in an olde rotten house that synketh down nedeth not lōg to seke proppes to vnder set it but should rather be glad to get him out of it euen so old aged folks by reason of theyr decaied body should rather be cōtēt to departe from it And thys aduauntage they haue that their death is not so fearce and paynful as the death of yong folkes Thys is chefely to be considered that the lord our god wil not haue vs carefull whyche thynge belongeth vnto hym alone but to be faythfull and true and diligently to laboure Olde fathers and mothers are not able to trauayll any more and yet wyth erneste carefulnesse they thynke to bryng all thynges to pas Thys special fault they haue that they thynke they shal euer lacke Therfore vnto them verely it is beste that god take them away from al care sorowe and trouble place them in quiete reste wyth other faythfull Chrysten folkes ¶ Of straunge death The .12 Chapter VvHoso is taken with the pestilence or dyeth els of sycknes in hys bed ought gladly to suffer the hand of god for euery bodi hath deserued a farre worse death And a very small rod is thys towards it that god sendeth ouer the vngodlye yea ofte tymes ouer hys own deare children whan one is beheaded Psal 44.1 Roma 8. c. ◠Cor. 4. b. another burnt the third drowned c. where they altogether may syng with Dauid for thy sake are we kylled euery day and cōpted as shepe appoynted to be slayn But if one dye an vnwont death as one is destroied by the hangmā another dyeth a sodain death the third as happly a mans chylde falleth down dead frō an hyghe place thys take we for aterrible death cannot tell els what to say of it as though eueri kind of death in it selfe were not terrible vnto the nature of man Though one dyeth vpon the whele for murther there is some tyme more
hope of hym that he hath founde grace at gods hand then of many one that dyeth at home in hys bed Ensāples also are to be cōsidered for a great sort of gods elect died not a ryghte death as we vse to terme it Abel was murthured of his own naturall brother The prophet beeyng sent to Hieroboam was destroied of a Lyon Esaye was sawne a sonder thorowe the myddes Hieremy lyke as Steuen also was stoned to death Iames being thrown downe from the pulpet was slayne of a fuller Peter at rome was fastened to a crosse Vpon Paul was execucion done wyth the sworde such like ensamples hast thou Heb. 11. Item the most excellent heithē men came miserably out of thys world The good Socrates was poysoned Euripides was all to torne of dogges Sophocles was choked wyth a litle stone of a grape bury very sorowfull combraunce dyd fret out the heart of Homerus Innumerable ensamples declare that there happeneth no new thing vnto vs what death soeuer we or oure frendes dye Specially let vs obserue this rule death is terrible to thē that haue no god but of vs which ar gods children ought not the horible ymage of death to be feared but to bee welcome vnto vs. For god himselfe comforteth vs with these wordes folowyng I lyue Iohn 14. and ye also shall lyue Of this ar we assured in Christ Iesu who vpon the crosse dyed the most horrible deth for our sakes to whō with the father the holy goste be all honor and glori for euer and euer Amen ¶ Onely vnto God geue the praise An exhortacion wrytten by the Lady Iane the night before she suffred in the end of the new testamente in Greke whych she sent to hir sister Ladye Katherine I Haue here sent you good sister Katherin a booke whych although it be not outwardly trymmed with golde yet inwardlye it is more worth then precyous stones It is the booke deare sister of the law of the lord it is hys testament last wyll whyche he bequethed vnto vs wretches whyche shall leade you to the path of eternal ioye And if you with a good minde reade it and with an earnest desier folowe it it shal bryng you to an immortal and euerlasting life It wil teache you to lyue learn you to dye it shall wynne you more then you shoulde haue gained by the possessions of youre wofull fathers landes For as if god hadde prospered hym you should haue inherited his lādes so if you apply diligentlye thys boke sekyng to directe your lyfe after it you shal be an inheritour of suche ryches as neyther the couetous shal wythdrawe frō you neyther the thefe shall steale nether yet the mothes corrupte Desyer wyth Dauid good sister to vnderstande the lawe of the Lorde your God Liue styl to dye that you by death maye purchace eternall lyfe or after your death enioie the life purchaced you by Christes death And truste not that the tendernes of youre age shall lengthen your life For assone if god call goeth the yonge as the olde and labour alwaye to learne to dye deny the world defye the deuyll and despyse the fleshe and delite your selfe only in the Lorde Be penitent for your synnes and yet despayre not Be strong in faith and yet presume not And desyer wyth S. Paul to bee dissolued to be wyth Chryste wyth whom euen in death there is lyfe Bee lyke the good seruant and euen at midnight be waking lest whā death commeth and stealeth vpō you like a thefe in the nyght you be wyth the euill seruaunt found slepinge and leaste for lacke of oyle ye be founde lyke to the fine folysh wemen and like him that had not on the weddyng garment and then be cast out from the maryage Reioyce in Chryste as I trust ye doe And seyng ye haue the name of a Chrystian as nere as ye can folowe the steppes of your master Chryst and take vp your crosse laye your synnes on hys backe and alwayes embrace him And as touching my death reioyce as I dooe good sister that I shal be deliuered of this corrupcyon and put on vncorrupcyon For I am assured that I shal for losyng of a mortall lyfe wynne an immortall lyfe The whych I praye god graunt you sende you of his grace to liue in his feare and to dye in the true Chrystyan fayth From the whyche in gods name I exhorte you that ye neuer swarue neyther for hope of lyfe nor feare of death For if ye wil deny hys trueth to lengthen your lyfe god wyll denye you and yet shorten your dayes And if ye wyll cleaue to hym he wil prolonge your dayes to your cōforte and hys 〈…〉 the whyche glory god bring me now and y◠hereafter whan it shall please God to call you Fare well good sister and put youre onely trust in god who only must helpe you Your louing sister Iane Dudley
meanes of synne iâ— synne ouercome and vanquished of Chryst Yf it greued vs from our heartes that we dayly se and fynde howe we continuallye vse our selues against the most swetâ— wyll of oure moste deare father and were assured withal that in death we ceasse from synne and begin to bee perfect ryghteous howe were it possible that we should not set litel by death and pacientlye take it vpon vs Oute of suche a feruente gelousye and godly displeasure Paul after he had earnestlye complayned that he founde another lawe whyche stroue agaynste the law of God syghed and cryed romanes 7. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Agayne so long as death hath so euil a tast in vs and we will perforce continue styll in the lyfe of the flesh we bewray oure selues that we doe not well nor sufficiently vnderstande our owne defaultes neyther fele them deepe inough nor abhorre theÌ„ so muche as we shoulde Yea that we bee not earnest desyrers of innocency nor feruent louers of our heauenly father ¶ That the dead is deliuered from his vicious world hauyng not onely thys aduauntage that he synneth no more but also is discharged from other synnes The .14 Chapter WHoso leaueth nothing els worthy behinde him but that he is quyte from vicious people may wel be the gladder to depart hence partly for that he can bee nomore tempted of them nor enticed by their euill ensample partly for that thoughe he could not be deceaued by others yet it greueth hym at the heart to see other foâ—kes practyse their wilfulnes Now hath vice sinne eueri where gotten the vpper hande the trueth is despised god hymselfe dishonoured the pore opprest the good persecuted the vngodly promoted to auctorite Antichrist tryumphing Great complaining there is that the worlde is euer the longer the worse Forasmuch theÌ„ as thorowe death we be discharged of so vicious a world whoÌ„ should it delite to lyue heare any more Thys meaning doeth the preacher set forth in the .4 chapter of Ecclesiastes sayinge So I turned me coÌ„sidered al the violeÌ„t wrong that is done vnder the soÌ„ne And behold the teares of such as were opprest there was no man to comforte them or that woulde deliuer and defende them from the violence of their oppressours There is at thys daye by the grace of God many a worthy Chrystian that desireth rather to dye then to bee a loker vpon such deuelyshe wylfulnes as commonly goeth forwarde ¶ That the dead obtayneth saluacion The .15 Chapter AS for vicious vnrepentant people whan they dye I knowe no comfort for theÌ„ Theyr bodyes in dede shal ryse at the last day but foule and marked to eternall payne Theyr soules shal be delyuered vnto the deuill to whom they haue done seruice An ensample hereof standeth of the rich man Luke 1â—â— agayn there is thensample of good Lazarus that al Christians are taken vp of the aungels into eternall ioie and saluacion We must not fyrste be purged in purgatory but thorow death we escape the deuill the worlde and all misfortunes that thys tyme is oppreste wythall Yf we nowe shoulde lose oure bodies and not haue them again then were death in dede a terryble thyng neyther precyous nor much worth But our body is not so litle regarded before god for euen vnto the body also hath he alreadye prepared saluacyon Yea euen for thys intente hath he laied vpon our neckes the burthen of naturall death that he myghte afterward clothe vs with a pure renewed and cleare body and to make vs gloryous in eternal lyfe Therefore death also whiche is a begynnyng of the ioyful resurreccyon ought to bee estemed deare and precyous in our eyes After death verely is the soule in it self clensed from all synnes and endewed with perfect holynes wysedome ioye honour and glory for euermore Similitudes that death is whole some The .16 Chapter IF an olde siluer goblet be melted and new fashioned after a bewtiful maner then is it better then afore neyther spilte nor destroyed Euen so haue we no iust cause to complayne of death whereby the body beeyng delyuered from all fylthynesse shall in hys due tyme be perfectly renewed The egge shell thoughe it bee goodly and faire fashioned must bee opened and broken that the yong chicken maye slip oute of it None otherwyse doth death dissolue and breake vp our bodi but to the intent that we maye attain vnto the lyfe of heauen The mothers wombe caryeth the child seuen or nyne moneths and prepareth it not for it selfe but for the world wherin we are borne Euen so thys present time ouer al vpon earth serueth not to thys ende that we must euer bee here but that we should be brought forth and borne oute of the body of the world into another euer lasting life Hereunto behold the wordes of Christ Ion. 17. a woman whaÌ„ she trauayleth hath sorowe beecause her houre is come But assone as she is delyuered of the chylde she remembreth nomore the anguishe for ioye that a man is borne into the worlde Namely lyke as a chylde oute of the small habitacion of his mothers wombe wyth daunger and anguishe is borne into this wyde world Euen so goeth a man thorowe the narowe gate of death with distresse and trouble out of the earth into the heauenly lyfe For thys cause did the olde Christians call the death of the sayntes a newe birth Therefore oughte we to note well thys comforte that to dye is not to perish but to bee fyrste of all borne a ryghte The death of the faythfull formeth in dede to be lyfe vnto the death of the vnbeleuers but verely thys is as great a difference as betwene heauen earth Our death is euen as a death Image made of wood whyche gyrneth wyth the teeth and feareth but canot deuour Our death should be estemed euen as Moyses brasen serpente whych hauynge the fourme and proporcyon of a serpent was yet wythout bytynge without mouing without poysoÌ„yng Euen so thoughe death bee not vtterly take nawaye Yet thorow the grace of god it is so weakened made voyde that the only bare proporcioÌ„ remayneth WhaÌ„ the master of the ship thynketh he is not wyde from the place where he must land discharge he sayleth on forth the more cherefully and gladly euen so the nearer we drawe vnto death where we must lande the more stowtly ought we to fighte agaynste the gostlye parels Lyke as he that goeth a farre iourney hath vncertayne lodgyng trauayll and laboure and desyreth to returne home to hys own country to his father and mother wyfe childreÌ„ and frendes among whom he is sureste and at moste quiete by meanes wherof he forceth the lesse for any roughe carefull pathe or waye homewarde euen so all we are straungers and pilgremes vpon earth Par. 30. c. â—sa 39.119 c Peter 2. b. Cor. 5. a. â—hilip 3. c. â—c 11. c. 13. b