hee hath sometimes made vs of his anger doe not beget in our hearts too great a feare whereof may follow a mistrust of him and of the promises of saluation which hee hath made vs let vs heare what saith this Prophet speaking to the Church in the name of God Isay 54. I haue forsaken thee for a little while but I will gather thee againe by great compassion I haue a little as in a moment of indignation hid my face from thee But I haue had compassion on thee by an euerlasting benignity saith the Lord thy Redeemer And this shall be as Noahs waters for as I sware that I would no more passe the waters of Noah vpon the earth So haue I sworne that I will no more bee angry with thee and will reprooue thee no more For although that the mountaines bee moued and the little hils shake my mercy shall neuer goe from thee and the alliance of my peace shall not stirre saith the Lord who hath compassion ouer thee God in Ose to this purpose saith vnto his Church Ose 2. that hee will espouse her for euer in faith iustice verity mercy and iudgement declaring thereby vnto it that the alliance that hee will contract with it shall bee firme and inuiolable and for to bee such as hee shall sound it in himselfe that is to say in his mercy verity and iustice requiring only that it walke vpright before him â—nd that in all its wayes it follow a roundnesse and integrity keeping it selfe as much as it may from deceit and hypocrisie Which must bee diligently noted for the Diuell for to astonish vs and to make vs to doubt of the effect of the promises of GOD when wee are ready to appeare in iudgement and when being adiourned our cause is ready to bee called vpon if hee see that we stand firme and that for to answere thereunto wee are setled vpon the word of his Gospell in the which hee offereth vs his grace hee yeelds vnto vs that God is true in all that hee saith and likewise that he offers vs his grace and life by his promise But that hee is hindred from accomplishing it and exhibiting that which hee hath promised by our indignity and vnworthinesse because that hauing so much offended him euen since wee were illuminated and regenerate by the knowledge of his truth and that hee hath done vs so much fauour as to receiue vs into his family and to adopt vs for his children wee by our ingratitude haue made our selues altogither vncapable of these benefits and vnworthy that hee should fulfill the promises which hee hath made vs. Therupon to driue back this temptation which is the strongest and most dangerous wherewith wee can be assailed Wee must first note that as the only good pleasure of God hath beene the beginning and only motiue by the which hee hath beene induced to desire to contract an alliance with vs and to offer vnto vs the promise of saluation by the which hee declares himselfe our God and receiues vs to bee his people that also his grace is the only meanes that may stirre him vp to accomplish it towards vs. By the meanes whereof Saint Paul said Rom. 6. that the reward of sinne is death but that grace is life Although that to dispose well and set downe the Antithese it seemes that hee ought to haue said to oppose member against member That as life is the reward of our righteousnesse also is death of our sinnes But to giue vs to vnderstand that life which is the effect of the promise is gratis as well as is the promise which offereth it vnto vs hee hath wholly attributed it to the grace of God without making any mention of our workes nor vertues Whereunto ought to bee referred that which hee alleageth in the two and thirtieth Psalme where Dauid declares that the beatitude of man consists in that God alloweth him his iustice without workes saying Happy are they whose iniquities are remitted and whose sinnes are couered Happy is the man vnto whom God hath not imputed his sinne Seeing then that the beatitudes which God offereth vs in his promises are not graunted in the contemplation and fauour of the merits and vertues which are in man but by the only grace of God thence it followes that as the price and dignity of our workes cannot purchase vs euerlasting life that also our indignity and vnworthynesse cannot hinder vs from attayning it For it is a meere gift of God which hee bestoweth on whom hee pleaseth according to his mercy and not according to the merit of our iustices the which are not only imperfect but also defiled with much filthinesse by reason that our hearts from whence they proceede can neuer bee so well cleansed in this world but there doth still remayne much corruption whereby they are contaminate Which is the cause that the Prophet prayeth God so feruently not to enter into iudgment with him In iudgment with thy seruant Lord Oh enter not at all Psal 143. For iustified be in thy sight Not one that liueth shall And else where Psal 130. O Lord our God if thou dost weigh Our sinnes and them peruse Who shall then escape and say I can my selfe excuse And that St. Augustine in his booke of Confessions saith this good and memorable sentence Mishap to all our righteousnesse if it be examined and iudged without mercy But neuerthelesse that cannot hinder but God will giue vs eternall life as he hath promised prouided that wee know feele and confesse our indignity For there is nothing that makes vs capable and if it may bee so spoken worthy of the fauours and blessings of our God but the knowledge and feeling which wee haue in our selues to bee altogither vnworthy of them And what worthinesse could bee noted in the Theefe hanged vpon the Crosse at one of the sides of Iesus Christ who had continued in his theeuery and wickednesse vntill the extremity of his life Luk. 23. without euer hauing knowen his Sauiour vntill the houre that hee was ready to giue vp the Ghost And neuerthelesse hee had no sooner opened his mouth generally to confesse and to require the mercy of Iesus Christ but it was presently said vnto him Thou shalt bee this day in Paradise with me Luk. 16. What worthinesse was there in the poore Publicane who for the great shame and horror which hee had of his life passed durst not life vp his eyes yet neuerthelesse presently when hee had acknowledged his pittifull and miserable estate wherein hee was and prayed God to haue pitty on him then al his sinnes were forgiuen him and hee went home iustified What dignity was found in Saint Paul when hee went to Damascus transported with rage and furie to informe himselfe according to the commission which he had obtained of the high Priest Act. 9. of all those that did confesse the name of Iesus Christ to bring them bound and
then assayled with many and sundry feares and tyred with many cares it is good to thinke vpon it in good time and foreseeing it make a good prouision in our minds of that which may comfort and strengthen vs against all the apprehensions that either may any way trouble or disturbe them in vs. Whereunto nothing is more necessarie then to haue the word of God alwayes ready and at hand thereby to strengthen our faith on euery side where the diuell would either breake or make breach therein as wee see our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST did who by this meanes sent backe Satan confounded who came to present himselfe vnto him in the wildernesse to tempt him And it is an vndoubted thing that a faith so grounded vpon such rockes as are the promises of God and Iesus Christ who is the warranty thereof can neuer be beaten downe what shockes soeuer the diuell and our other enemies can hit against it Which is the reason that hath induced mee to write this little Treatise of the comfort of the sicke wherein I haue briefly gathered the passages of the Scripture which haue seemed mee most fit to treate and deduct this matter well If it may profit and bring any edification to the Church of God it is all that I haue pretended or desired in the writing therof A TREATISE TO COMFORT THE SICKE AND TO ASSVRE THEM AGAINST THE FEARES AND APPREHENSIONS OF THEIR SINS OF DEATH OF THE DIVEL of the Law and of the Anger and Iudgement of God THE life of all men that liue in the world is besieged on euery side with many aduersities whereof some are particular to some and the others are generall and common to all as are Death and the diseases which tend therevnto the which ordinarily astonish vs by so much the more as they are more dangerous and that there is lesse meanes to auoid them For although that Kings Emperours and other Princes and great Lords can sometimes with the helpe of God and the great meanes which hee hath administred vnto them preserue and warrant themselues from many dangers yet none of them can saue or exempt themselues but in the end they must die either in the warres by the sword or in their beds through age or sicknesse or elsewhere by such accidents as God by his prouidence euen before they were borne had appointed vnto them which Dauid teacheth vs in many places as in the 82. Psalme where he speakes of Princes Psal 82. I had decreed it in my sight As Gods to take you all And children to the most of Might For loue I did you call But not withstanding yee shall die As men and so decay Psal 49. Though Princes you yet must you passe As others cleane away Item elsewhere where he speakes in general of the condition and end of all men Psal 89. What man is he that liueth here And death shall neuer see Or from the hand of hell his soule Shall be deliuered free or And againe in the Psalme following Thou grindest man through griefe and paine Psal 90. To dust to clay and then And then thou sayest againe returne Againe yee sinnes of men So here we see it is an inuiolable decree and ordinance of God that all men that come into the world come with this charge not to stay there long like vnto trees which are fastned to it by the rootes but to thrill lightly through it as doth the water 2. Sam. 14. and to goe forth of it as soone as it shall please the Lord to call them And although that the most part of vs indeauour as saith the Prophet to make alliance with death Isay 28. or at the least to haue some truce or respit with it for to put backe and stay the comming thereof we experiment neuerthelesse euery day that our time being come and the day of our assignation past we must appeare before the Iudge at the houre present and at the very instant to heare from his mouth a diffinitiue sentence by the which life or death is adiudged vnto vs. Then the first and principal care which we ought to haue Psal 62. is not too seeke as did the King Asa for the Phisitions 2. Chro. 16. and to vse the recreates and directions which they appoint vs to arme vs against the diseases which may befall vs nor yet presentatiues as vsed Metridates to auoide the danger of poisons which our domesticques or others may prepare for vs nor finally a strong horse Psal 33. a well tempered sword a corslet of proofe to assure vs againe the hazards of a battaile for there is nothing of all these that can breake the ordinances of God or warrant vs from his anger nor in briefe in any sort turne the effects and executions of his will But the first thought that should present it selfe before our eyes whether it be that we will anticipate the euils which wee foresee may happen or turne away those which are already happened vnto vs is to desire and seeke after the fauour and grace of God which is the most soueraigne and fittest remedy that men can choose sodainly to preuent all their aduersities Now by reason that I haue beene prayed by some brethren my friends to gather together set downe in writing some passages and places of Scripture to comfort the Sicke and to strengthen them against the terrors and apprehensions which then they may haue as well of their Sinnes as of Death of the Diuell and of the Iudgment of God Rom. 13. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 12. Ephes 4. which is yet more fearefull then all the rest knowing that charity binds mee vnto it by the which as with a band all the members of the body of IESVS CHRIST are straightly tyed together and that also it was one of the parts of the charge which God did impose not only vpon the Ministers of the Gospell but also vpon the ouerseers which are giuen and associated vnto them for helps and assistants I would not refuse them although I am not ignorant that diuers of my fellowes vnto whom God hath imparted more of his graces are more sufficient to deale therein then I am neuerthelesse seeing that the members in what rancke or degree soeuer they bee ought not to denie any labour to the body which is in their power I will assay with the helpe of my God what by his grace I can doe for to content them and satisfie to their desire Leauing then apart all other sorts of affliction wherewith it pleaseth God to chastise and exercise his children Let vs here only speake of sicknesse and of death and let vs propound briefly the meanes and consolations the fittest we can for to instruct and accustome men to take and beare them wisely and moderately beginning at sicknesse which is not a casuall thing and which happens rashly now to some then to others as it fals out but we must thinke that it is sent
holy ordinances of God wittingly and willingly almost as many times as he hath bene inuited and solicited by the diuell and his owne desires Item to be banished and shut out of the kingdome of heauen seeing that the flesh according to the which hee hath liued cannot inherite nor possesse it 1. Cor. 15. for if our first parentes haue beene shamefully hunted out of Paradise Rom. 5. whither they had beene called after their creation by reason of their disobedience what doth man now deserue by so many rebellions and iniquities which hee drinkes and swallowes downe euerie day as if it were water Item to be condemned to euerlasting death and consigned for euer to fire and torments with the diuell and the reprobate seeing that it is the recompence and reward of sinnes and for conclusion that hee hath deserued to be buried in hell and there in the flame to suffer such torments as doth the euill rich man Luc. 16. for hauing disdained the poore and their afflictions and hauing made no reckoning to succour them at their need and vse such humanity towards them as he would haue desired of others Simil. being reduced to like necessity When the sick shall be thus brought downe and that in the law as in a looking glasse his iudgement condemnation shall be represented vnto him and when he shall be seene to be wounded and pierced with sorrow in his heart then must be applied to his sore lenitiue medicines Simil. and do as doth a mason when he cuts a stone first they giue it great strokes with the hammer till they get out great flakes presently after they polish plain it in such sort with the chisell that the blowes are no more perceiued So it must be that after the sicke hath bene so rudely intreated and hauing by the rigorous threatnings of the law let him downe into hell be is drawne vp againe by propounding vnto him the sweete and amiable promises of the Gospell to the end that by the sweetnesse of this oyle the biting sowernesse of the law may be sweâ—â—ned and that the ioy of the good things of the grace of God may make him to passe away forget the sorrow despaire whereinto the law reduceth him first he must be shewed that the bond which was against vs Col. 2.2 and the which lay in the ordinances was coÌ„trary vnto vs hath bin blotted out abolished fastned on the crosse of Iesus Christ Item that Iesus Christ hath bought vs againe from the malediction and curse of the law when he was made a curse for vs for it is written Gal. 3. cursed is he that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham should come vpon the the Gentiles through Iesus Christ to the end that wee should receiue the promise of the spirit of faith That Christ is the end of the law Rom. 9. and of iustice to all beleeuers And finally that by the perfect obedience which he hath rendred to God obseruing all his commaundements without breaking theÌ„ in any thing or omitting one only little point of them to the enduring of the cursed death of the Crosse for vs because that such was the will of his Father he hath procured a generall remission abolition of all our sin an acquittaÌ„ce of all our debts obligatioÌ„s the which he hath paid not in gold siluer or precious stones Peter 2. but with his own bloud which is an incomparable price and ransome And ouer and aboue he hath purchased vs a righteousnesse the which being allowed vs by the faith and assurance which we haue thereof as well by his word and Sacraments as his spirit which giues testimony thereof in our hearts wee ought to take away all feare and apprehension that we may haue of our sins of death of the diuell of the rigour malediction of the law and finally of the wrath iudgement of God Rom. 4. For to begin at our sinnes being cloathed with the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ we ought to assure our selues not onely that they are couered hid from being perceiued and discouered before the eyes and face of our God but altogether blotted out as it were with a spunge and disperced as are the clouds by the Sun and the wind and although they were as red as vermelion or scarlet yet shall they become as white a snow as saith Isay And before him Dauid Isa 1. Psal 51. If thou with Isope purge this blot I shall be cleaner then the glasse And if thou wash away my spot The snow in whitenesse shall I passe And it makes no matter what manner of sinnes not in what number they be so they be not sinnes against the holy Ghost not yet in what sort and manner they haue bene committed whether by ignorance weakenesse or of set malice for the sin cannot so much abound but the grace of God which is procured vs by the death and iustice of Iesus Christ doth yet more abound And although that the sinne being committed against the infinit maiesty of God be also for that regard reputed infinite yet that hinders not that the bloud of Christ which by the eternall spirit hath offered him selfe to God himselfe without any spot doth cleanse our consciences from dead works to serue the liuing God Heb. 9. as writeth the Apostle to the Hebrewes For the diuinity being vnseparably vnited to the humanity in the person of Iesus Christ is cause by his omnipoteÌ„ce that his death hath an infinite vertue to redeeme vs and his iustice to sanctifie vs and his life to quicken and make vs happy insomuch as being God as he is stronger then the diuell also are his workes more powerfull to saue then are those of his enemies to destroy and to consume His iustice hath more force to iustifie vs then sinne whereof the diuell is author hath to condemne vs and his puritie to wash and make vs cleane then this filthy spirit hath by his filthinesse to defile vs. And his light is more strong for to illuminate and lighten vs then the darknesse of the Prince of the world to blinde vs and his truth to instruct vs then the errours of the father of lies to abuse vs briefe his life hath more vertue to raise vs againe and quicken vs then the enuie of this murtherer homicide hath to kill and slay vs. Whereby wee see that the Sonne of God as saith St. Iohn is not come into the world to any other end but to destroy the workes of the diuell and that in his bloud all our enemies that is to say all our sinnes haue bene drowned no more nor lesse then in old time Pharao and the enemies of Gods people were all discoÌ„fited and drowned in the red sea It is that strong one which St. Luke saith surpriseth an other strong one Luc. 11. whom he hath combated and ouercome and from whom he hath taken all the
shackled to Ierusalem to the end to prosecute against them to cause them to be condemned to death And neuerthelesse although he was so horrible a blasphemer of Iesus Christ and his Church and by that meanes vnworthy not only to bee of the number of the Apostles as hee himselfe confesseth but also of the sheepe God forgetting in an instant all these iniuries which had beene done to him and to his Church made an elected and chosen instrument of him and a trumpet chosen among all his fellowes for to publish his Gospell throughout the world Who will say that hee had any regard to his merit and to the dignity of his gestures and actions when hee raised him to such a degree of honour and hath done him as much or more fauour then to any of all his fellowes Seeing that hee himselfe doth so highly magnifie grace whereunto hee attributeth all that hee euer thought said or did that was commendable It is then the only grace of God that is the foundation and meanes of the life which wee hope for as it also is of iustice and holynesse by the which wee attayne it Which Iesus Christ plainely teacheth vs when speaking of his sheepe hee saith that they heare his voice Iohn 10. and follow him and in the meane time that hee giueth them eternall life signifying thereby that it is freely graunted vnto them and of meere gift and not in contemplation and respect that they haue heard his voice and followed his steppes Which also cannot bee gathered by the wordes of Moyses in the twentieth of Exodus Exod. 20. where God promiseth to continue his mercy to a thousand generations towards those that loue him and keepe his commandements Whereupon wee must note that he promiseth no other recompence to his seruants for all their seruices but to vse mercy towards them and their posterity As much may we obserue in the foure and twentieth Psalme where the Prophet speaking of those that shall goe vp into the mountaine of the Lord saith that it shall be a man Whose hands are harmelesse Psal 24. and whose heart No spot there doth defile His soule not set on vanity Whose heart hath sworne no guile And addeth afterward Him that is such a one the Lord Shall place in blessefull plight And God his God and Sauiour Shall yeeld to him his right This is the broode of Trauellers In seeking of his grace As Iacob did the Israelites In that time of his race For to giue to vnderstand that what duty soeuer wee haue done in obeying to God in washing our hearts from all euill thoughts and affections and our handes from all euill workes in humbling our selues vnder the hand of God and presuming nothing of our selues nor of our vertues neuerthelesse that for all that we shall not goe vp into the mountaine of our Lord but that it shall bee only in fauour of the grace which hee giueth vs and of the mercy that it pleaseth him to shew towards vs. And it is much better to comfort and assure vs our hope entirely that it be grounded vpon his mercy and truth which are firme and immoueable then vpon the dignitie of our workes and vertues which are so imperfect Now when yee shall see the sicke well resolued of the remission of all his sinnes and that in his heart there shall no more remayne any feare of them that doth any more trouble his conscience then you must proceede farther and arme him against the horrour and apprehension that hee may haue of death in shewing vnto him out of the word of God that it hath bene done away and swallowed vp by the death of Iesus Christ who speaking by the mouth of the Prophet sayeth to Death Ose 13. 1. Cor. 15. O Death I will be thy death For seeing that the sting of death is sinne and the power of sinne is the law Iesus Christ accomplishing the law for vs hath by that meanes taken away the sting of death so that it can hurt vs no more And likewise broken the power of sinne so that it can no more condemne vs. And although the decree and ordinance of God beares that all men must die and that being come out of the dust they shall returne to dust againe neuerthelesse to speake properly the separation of the bodie and the soule in the faithfull man ought not to bee called death Also IESVS CHRIST speaking to his Disciples of Lazarus Iob. 11. who was dead tolde them that hee slept This manner of speaking is very vsuall in the old Testament to signifie the death of the Fathers St. Paul vseth it also when hee writeth to the Corinthians and Thessalonians 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thessa of those that shall be departed before the day of the resurrection which be calleth sleeping But he speaks yet more magnificently in the Epistle which hee writeth to the Philippians where he calles the departure of soules from bodies Phil. 1. dislodging Which agreeth well with the saying of Iesus Christ who being desirous to aduertise his Disciples of his approaching death said vnto them That the howre drewe neere Iohn 13. that hee was to passe from this world to goe to God the Father calling the corporall death a passage by the which we must passe out of this vale of misery for to enter into the fruition and possession of a Paradise that is to say of a place of assured rest and full of delectation The which the ancient Greekes haue also taught by the name which they haue giuen to death calling it Thanaton which is as much to say according to the Tymologie which Temiste hath giuen of it that ano eis ton theon in French is now vp to God and Telutin eion ei teletin consecration as if he would say that death is like vnto a solemne ceremonie by the which the faithfull are altogether consecrated and dedicated to God for afterwards to apply themselues to no other exercise then to sing the praises of God and to sanctifie his holy name And for that regard Iesus Christ did also call it Baptisme Mat. 20. because that by death we passe as by a port and thorow a water to arriue in a place of rest and pleasure whither we pretend And if the bodie which the Greekes call Soma to shew that it is a sepulcher to the soule which they call by a name comming very neere to the other to wit Sima where it seemes that during this life it is as it were buried and interred when it pleaseth God to take it away is it not as if he made it to come out of a tombe and that he raised it What occasion then can men haue to flie from bodily death and to abhorre it so seeing that separating the soule from the bodie it puts the soule out of prison and sends it in libertie to heauen there to be received into the bosome of Iesus Christ and to enioy with him and all the
happie spirits the euerlasting consolations which are there promised and reserued for the elect And the bodie on the other side in the earth as in a bed there for to sleepe and rest at his ease without that his slumber be any more interrupted or troubled neither by troublesome dreames nor by cares and solicitudes nor by feares nor by alarmes and violent noyses nor by any other occasion whatsoeuer and that vntill the day of the resurrection in the which it shall be awaked by the sound of Gods trumpet reunitted to the soule hauing lost his mortalitie corruption 2. Cor. 15. dishonour and weakenesse in the earth and bing clothed againe with glory force immortalitie and incorruption Wherin we may see that it is without reason that men are so greatly affraid of the bodily death the which for a time separates the body from the soule to the great profit of the one and the other For the bodie is by that meanes out of all danger not onely of sinne and of miseries which it draweth along with it but also of all temptation lying resting in the earth in assured hope of the resurrection and euerlasting life And although it seeme to be altogether depriued of life in the earrh because that the soule departing from it leaues it without any mouing or feeling and also that it rots and is reduced to dust neuerthelesse being alwaies accompanied with the spirit and infinite vertue of God who quickneth all things it is not altogether separated from life as saith St. Paul If the spirit of him that hath raised vp Iesus Christ from the dead dwelleth in vs he that hath raised him vp wil also quickē your mortal bodies because his spirit dwelleth in you And it is the reason for the which elsewhere he being willing to giue vs a picture of the resurrection to come of our bodies doth propound it vnto vs vnder the figure of a seed put into the groūd which hath life in it selfe although that being in a garner it hath no shew of any and that holding it in our hands we can iudge no otherwise of it but that it is a dead thing neuertheles whē it is put into the earth where it might seeme that the life which should be in it should there bee quite stifled and smothered it shewes it selfe and comes forth euen as out of the rottennesse from whence we see spings the stalke which afterward taketh nourishment and growth which are effects and demonstrations of the life which was hid therein before it was put into the earth And albeit that God in the Scripture calles himselfe the God Abraham Mat. 22. euen after his death and that he is not the God of the dead but of the liuing from thence it followes that not onely the soule of Abraham which he hath redeemed by the death of his Sonne is yet liuing after it is separated from the body but that also the body which doth participate in this same redemption and which is vnited and incorporated with IESVS CHRIST for to bee of his members and which finally hath beene consecrated and dedicated vnto God to the end that hee should dwell in it as his Temple is not depriued of life 1. Cor. 3. euen at that time when it is rotted in the earth Because that it is alwaies accompanyed with the grace of God and comprehended as well as the soule in the euerlasting alliance which hee hath made with his people the which alliance is a spring and veine of life not vnto the soules onely but vnto the bodies also of all the faithfull And if as saith St. Iohn in his reuelations those are happy that die in the Lord Reuel 14 and there is no beatitude without life from thence wee must conclude of two thinges the one eyther that the beatitude commeth not to the bodie or if it doth reach to it that it is not exempt from life lying in the earth For although that beeing all worme-eaten it doth not in such estate shew any appearance of life yet doth it alwaies retaine as it were a seed thereof and budde which shall appeare at the day of the resurrection when the Spirit of God powring his infinite vertue vpon our bodies it shall raise them and shall adorne them with glory and excellency which God hath promised to his elect And euen as in an egge there is a chicken Simil. and life hidden the which is put in euidence when the hen commeth to heate and broode it with her heat so the immortality and life to the participation whereof as well our soules as our bodies haue bene called from that time that by faith we haue receiued the Gospell which is a word of life and an incorruptible seed shall be as it were disclosed at the latter day by the power of our God who will reuiue vs as the heauen 2. Peter 3. the earth and all other creatures which thē shal be deliuered quite from the bondage of corruption Rom. 8. Whereof we are also assured by the Baptisme which hath bene communicated vnto vs in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost for the water which hath bene powred on our bodies which the Scripture calleth the washing of regeneration is not to assure vs that our soules onely are washed and cleansed in the bloud of Iesus Christ by the remission of our sinnes but also our bodies And that both together being couered and cloathed with the iustice and innocency of the Sonne of God and ouer and aboue sanctified by his Spirit are presently put in possession of life and altogether freed and deliuered from the bondage of death which hath no power as we haue said but there onely where sinne reigneth which is the onely cause of death The Lords Supper in the which by faith taking the bread and wine which therein are administred by the M◅ster we are receiued to the participation of the flesh and bloud of Iesus Christ and so vnited and incorporated with him that for euer as saith St. Iohn he dwelleth in vs and we in him Ioh. 6. doth it not also assure vs that being inseparably conioined with life and the meanes of life wee cannot die neither in soule nor in body by the meanes of this vnion which is common to both of them The bodily death then should not seeme so horrible and feareful vnto vs as it is to many who are affrighted with it Simil. as are children with a maske and false visage for if a mother did present her self before her child in a shape mōstrous and hideous to behold he would be affraid of it and crying would runne from it but as soone as she hath lifted vp her maske and that he knoweth her againe he will runne towards her to embrace and kisse her We also to be deliuered from this naturall feare and fright which we haue of death we ought to vnmaske it and looke vpon it now in
Gen. 1. hee did not make you to destroy you for he is the Sauiour of all men 1. Tim. 2. and desires not the death of a sinner but that hee turne and liue Wherefore I pronounce vnto you in the name of God Mat. 9. Marc. 2. that by his great goodnesse and mercy hee hath giuen you a pardon and full remission of all your sinnes Luc. 5. Titus 3. through the onely merite of his sonne IESVS CHRIST our Lord in the shedding of his most precious bloud Tim. 1. Act. 4. Reuel 1. 1. Iohn 2. for hee is the propitiation not onely for your sinnes but for the sinnes of the whole world Mat. 17. B. S. N. Iesus Christ saith with his owne mouth that all things are possible to him that beleeueth Beleeue then without doubting at all Rom. 1. Phil. 2. 1. Pet. 1. that Iesus Christ putting on our flesh made himselfe perfect man whereby hee died for you hauing borne all your sinnes in his bodie to abolish and blot them out Present vnto God the precious death of his Sonne Iesus Christ and by the merite of that death and passion aske him forgiuenesse and mercie saying from the bottome of your heart in all humilitie and repentance LOrd God Almightie be mercifull to mee poore miserable sinner for the loue of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST my Lord and Sauiour Rom. 3. Iohn 14. and through the merite of his death and passion that it may please thee to receiue my soule Mat. 26. the which I recommend into thy hands B. S. N. Put your firme confidence in God for seeing hee is with you Rom. 8. no man will bee against you Iesus Christ who is the imaculate Lambe hath ouercome all for you Isa 61. Heb. 7.8.9 hee hath offered himselfe once for you and by that onely oblation hath quite done away all your sinnes he hath done away your folly vnrighteousnesse abhomination and obligation with this good Lord IESVS CHRIST God the Father hath giuen you all things B. S. N. Strengthen your selfe in IESVS CHRIST Rom. 8. who calleth and inuiteth you by his Prophets Apostles and Euangelists to addresse your selfe directly vnto him saying All that are thirstie Isa 55. Mat. 11. come to the great fountaine Isa 55. Mat. 11. Come to me all yee that are heauy laden and I will refresh you B. S. N. Beleeue stedfastly that IESVS CHRIST hath discharged you of all your sinnes 1. Iohn 5. and hath reconciled you to God his Father vnto whom in all humility and repentance say from the bottome of your heart Rom. 3. Iohn 14. LOrd God Almighty be mercifull vnto mee poore miserable sinner for the loue of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST my Lord and Sauiour and by the merit of his death and passion Mat. 26. Psa 30. that it would please thee to receiue my soule the which I commend into thy hands B.S.N. Bee in hope for for a certayne hee will receiue your soule as his owne for the loue of Iesus Christ his Sonne our Lord Marke 16. Deut. 18. Psal 2. Isa 53. Genes 3. 22. Mat. 9. who is the Sauiour and Redeemer of all those that beleeue in him Moyses and all the Prophets haue testified that all people shall receiue saluation and blessing through Iesus Christ The Apostles and Euangelists testifie that Iesus Christ is not come to call the iust Iohn 10. Luke 22. but sinners to repentance and to giue his soule for the redemption of many for hee hath shedde his bloud for the remission of sinnes Beleeue then and doubt not at all for IESVS CHRIST hath made the purgation of all your sinnes Heb. 1. hauing promised that all those that beleeue in him and in his Father that sent him shall haue eternall life Iohn 5. and shall not come to iudgement but shall passe from death to life Got to then B. S. N. Take courage in Iesus Christ for hee hath loued you Isa 53. Reuel 1. and washed you from all your sinnes in his bloud Rom. 5. haue this firme faith to fight valiantly against the aduersarie haue no other buckler to defend you but that precious bloud of Iesus Christ who by vertue of his death and passion hath reconciled you to God his Father vnto whom from the bottome of your heart in all humilitie and repentance present this prayer LOrd God Almighty be mercifull vnto mee poore miserable sinner Rom. 3. Iohn 14. for the loue of thy Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour and by the merit of his death and passion that it may please thee to receiue my soule the which I recommend into thy hands Math. 26. Psal 30. B. S. N. Haue this hope and stedfast saith that this good God full of mercy will receiue your soule as his into his handes for the loue of his Sonne Iesus Christ Iohn 10. Act. 4. for there is no other name vnder Heauen giuen to men whereby wee must be saued and there is no saluation in any other but in IESVS CHRIST Then arme your selfe well with Iesus Christ For hee hath done all for you he hath accomplished the law for you Rom. 8. Rom. 10. he hath ouercome all for you Go to then B. S. N. Reioyce in God be alwaies stedfast in this liuely saith follow and imitate the holy Patriarkes Heb. 11. Prophets and Apostles who are all saued in this faith who do all assure you that the aduersarie cannot in any wise hurt you for your cause is gotten through IESVS CHRIST Iohn 5. 1. Iohn 2. who is your Iudge and your aduocate likewise wherefore say alwaies in this firme faith Although I should walke in the middest of the shadow of death yet would I dread none euill Psal 22. for thou Lord God art with mee B. S. N. Also bee neuer wearie with saying from the bottome of your heart in all humilitie and repentance LORD God Almightie bee mercifull vnto mee poore miserable sinner for the loue of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST my Lord and Sauiour Rom. 9. Iohn 14. and by the merite of his death and passion may it please thee to receiue my soule Mat. 26. Psalm 36. the which I recommend into thy hands So be it A singular Prayer for a bodie greatly afflicted with sicknesse who is more likely to die then to liue With a little Catechisme made expresly to instruct the sicke and to make him by faith behold the mysterie of our redemption ECCLESIASTICVS 18. Before sicknesse take Phisicke and before iudgement examine thy selfe and in the presence of God thou shalt find propitiation NOw the Lord doth admonish vs to pray continually Mat. 26. principally when wee are touched with his correction Wherefore all such parents and faithfull friends as visite the sicke bodie ought not onely to visite and solicite the bodie Mat. 6. but also seeke after and desire the spirituall Phisicke for their soules Which ought
to be done by good prayers confession of sinnes and Christian exhortations according to the word of God Mat. 4. without the which man cannot liue And to that end that all things may be done in good order and with zeale first it shall bee conuenient to fall downe before the Maiestie of God and pray vnto him beginning Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen and earth Then present vnto him the generall confession of sinnes and consequently this present prayer as followeth LOrd God Almighty and father of mercy we heere assembled in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Mat. 18. Iohn 14. in his fauour haue bene so bold as to present our selues before thee to call vpon thy holy name hauing our onely refuge to thy soueraigne goodnesse the which we doe not onely desire to feele and taste in our selues but also in the necessitie of thy poore creature being afflicted with sicknesse in body Iames. 5. affliction and calamitie of minde We know Lord that thou hast iustly visited and chastised him with thy rod 1. Cor. 11. to make him to vnderstand thy fatherly affection But thy great mercies the which thou hast vsed towards our fathers Psal 78. are not quenched and consumed For thou art the great God euerlasting Mat. 26. Psal 102. propitious and mercifull that neuer alterest Thy holy word teacheth vs plainely that the whole earth is full of thy mercies the which do much surmount this iudgement wherefore Lord appease thy wrath towards thy creature Haue pitie and compassion on him for the loue of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST our Lord Looke not vpon his sinnes Iohn 14. Heb. 7. 9 but looke vpon the face of thy Christ who hath sufficiently satisfied thee for him in offering vnto thee the great Sacrifice of his bodie on the Crosse VVee beseech thee then O God most benigne and full of mercie to make him to feele thy grace which thou diddest neuer refuse to thy children And because thou art our eternall Father Mat. 6. knowing well what is expedient and necessay for our saluation wee doe not pray thee to prolong his life or to abridge it For wee relie vpon thy holy will vnto the which onely wee desire to please Rom. 11. Thou art wise without counsell to dispose of thy creature according to thy good pleasure If it please thee to call him who is it that can resist Rom. 8. Iohn 11. If thou please to restore him to health againe who is it that can reproue thee For all thinges are in thy handes and nothing is done without thy will and holy prouidence Neuerthelesse Lord if by thy fauour thou doest prolong his daies Psal 22. thy rod shall serue for a chastisement vnto him to amend and conuert him vnto thee and wee with him will render thee thankes and praise But if thy will bee setled to make him passe into a better life wee beseech thee in the fauour of thy Sonne Iesus to forget all his faults and sins the which it was thy will to haue blotted out Reuel 1. and washed in the shedding of his precious bloud May it please thee by the merite of the death and passion of thy Sonne to receiue his soule into thy handes Mat. 16. Psal 20. when it shall please thee to call him out of this world Lord God doe not despise the worke of thy handes Psalm 137. Psal 129. Psal 51. for behold thy poore creature almost consumed who calleth vpon thee out of the bottome of his sorrowes presenting vnto thee his sorrowfull and penitent soule with his humbled heart which wee beseech thee to accept in good part for the loue of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Iohn 14. in whose name thou hast promised to grant our requestes Wherefore Lord wee beseech thee to receiue vs into thy holy keeping illuminating our hearts and vnderstandings to addresse our selues towards thee and to call vpon thy holy name Mat. 6. as thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord hath taught vs to pray vnto thee for all our necessaries saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Finally O God most benigne Father and full of mercie that it may please thee alwaies to sustaine vs by thy grace and vertue to the end that through the infirmitie of our flesh wee doe not fall And because that of our selues wee are so weake that wee were not able to remaine stedfast one minute of time may it please thee to fortifie vs by thy holy Spirit and to arme vs with thy graces that wee may constantly perseuere in faith without the which it is not possible for to please thee Heb. 11. May it please thee then to confirme vs from day to day in it whereof we will make a confession with heart and mouth saying I beleeue in God the Father c. The prayers ended you may looke how the sicke bodie doth and inquire of his health with friendly wordes and Christianlike speeches And if you perceiue that hee declineth and that no signe of health doth appeare a little after you may chuse a fit time to speake to the said sicke bodie and aske him whether hee hath a good minde to talke of God and to hearken to his word whiles hee is yet in his good sence that if hee bee of God Iohn 8. you may beginne this little Catechisme that followeth A SHORT CATECHISME which is not only to instruct the Sicke but also to refresh their memories with the great mysterie of our redemption Eccles 18. the which well to vnderstand and keepe in his latter dayes hee ought to make Confession of his faith before the assistants of the faithfull whereof one of them in the absence of the Minister ought to examine him as followeth THE MINISTER B.S.N. EVery man that knoweth himselfe well and is not ignorant of his condition and quality surely he ought to confesse that notwithstanding that he is created after the Image and likenesse of God Genes 1. neuerthelesse that he is conceiued and borne in the sinne of old Adam Psal 51. Ephes 2. Rom. 5. whereby he is made a poore miserable sinner ignorant inconstant and full of iniquity and consequently subiect to all miseries afflictions aduersities and finally to death All which sinne hath caused which because God would not leaue vnpunished he afflicts vs daylie and to speake better he chastiseth vs in this world to the end not to damne vs with the world wherfore 1. Cor. 11. Psal 31. B.S.N. Bee patient in your sicknesse and you shall possesse your soule in spirituall ioy Acknowledge your sinne and accuse your selfe before the Maiesty of God vpon whom you must looke by faith making confession thereof with heart and mouth before all the assistants for it is written Rom. 10. that men beleeue in heart to righteousnesse and with their mouth confesse to saluation Hearken
temporall things wherein he sees and discouers so much inconstancy and such sudden and frequent mutations or changes and that by such a despising of vncertaine casuall things he should stir vp himselfe vnto a contemplation of those that are diuine and heauenly And forsaking that which is heere perishing and transitorie vnto worldly men hee should chuse his part in heauen and should stay himselfe at that which is permanent and eternall For the like reason Philip the father of Alexander the great a man of good vnderstanding and of very great consideration to the end that in the middest of his great prosperity he should not forget himselfe in his dutie gaue order that one of his Gentlemen should eeuery day at his awaking come and speake these words vnto him King haue in remembrance that thou art a mortall man Iesus Christ also our Sauiour and Maister tending to the same end doth exhort vs to watch to lay vp treasures in heauen and not on earth where all things are vncertaine and changeable Wee see by that that during our life we cannot doe better then to thinke vpon death and our bodie being vpon the earth to accustome our selues to haue alwaies our spirit and heart in heauen Now because that the remembrance of death is a fearefull thing to many I haue bethought my selfe to passe away my griefes and to recreate my selfe from my other studies and also to giue you a testimony of the Obligation which I thinke I haue towards you as well for the good which you haue done vnto mee as for the friendship which you beare me to write vnto you and to present this small Treatise wherein I haue briefely touched certaine points wherewith the faithfull may arme themselues against death which hee ought to doe in time and prepare himselfe to receiue it with assurance at such time as it shal please God to send it for that which doth astonish many is that the comming thereof is suddaine vnto them and that they are surprised vnlooked for We see by experience in a frontier towne that when it is well victualled and prouided of all things necessary for to withstand a long siege those within are a great deale the more assured and bold whereas if it were vnprouided they would stand amazed and tremble with feare if they should chance to see the approaching of the siege It is easie to iudge by that of what importance it is to haue preuented a danger and to bee prepared for it Then to prouide and arme the faithfull man against death wee must note that there are two sorts of it the one is temporall of the body which Christiās ought to desire the other is eternall of bodie and soule which they ought not to feare perfeuering in the faith of our Lord. That it is so all feare presupposeth euill and danger we doe not feare that which is good but long after desire and pursue it and when it offers it selfe we receiue it ioyfully But an euill we apprehend and feare we flie from it and when it happens vnto vs we sorrow and do complaine If then it doth appeare by good and euident proofes that the faithfull man is not in danger of this second death may we not then conclude that if we feare it it is foolish and without occasion And surely if we had iudgement and neuer so little faith it were sufficient presently to take away the feare of it from vs. For first the proper nature of faith is to animate and quicken our heart so soone as it is receiued in vs. The iust saith the Prophet shall liue by faith Now euen so as the bodie whiles the soule is in it liueth and dieth not vntill such time as it be separated from it no more doth the faithfull man perseuering in the faith which hath bene inspired and put into his heart by the grace of God Although saith Dauid I should walke in the middest of the shadow of death I will not feare for thou art with mee O Lord. What was the cause of this assurance was it not faith wherewith we ought no more to feare death then wee doe sicknesse when we are in perfect health well disposed and in good liking or pouerty when we haue plenty and abundance of all good things Secondly by faith we haue remission and an abolition of all the faults which we haue done why doe wee then feare death There is no death where there is no sinne by sinne death came into the world saith St. Paul and else where The reward of sinne is death sinne causeth God to be angrie with vs and that in his anger he condemnes vs to death Now all seedes doth bring forth euery one according to their sort and qualitie The wheat bringeth forth wheat and the Rie Rie and we must not hope for any fruit if there be not seede before hand That being true and witnessed in a thousand places of the Scripture that vnto a Christian all his sinnes and debts are quitted him by the grace and mercy of God that they are forgotten that they are couered that they are not imputed and that they are remitted and pardoned that they are cast as farre from vs as the East from the West Prouided that there be no more seede thereof we neede not looke for any fruite That is to say if there be no more sinne there is no more anger of God nor of death and by consequent that also there ought to be no more feare Thirdly by faith wee haue the word and the promises of God whereupon it is grounded Among others this Who so beleeueth shall not die but is passed from death to life Now this promise can no more faile then he that gaue it vs. It is eternall And all that God saith is as sure and permanent as heauen or earth For this cause when wee looke into them wee ought in them to consider the vertue and power of this word by the which they were once created and euer since preserued and maintained in that estate wherein now we see them and to inferre thereupon that being of the same power and efficacy in all other things nothing is impossible nor vncertaine of all that which God doth say and promise vnto vs. And therefore as St. Iames saith Receiuing his holy word by faith in our hearts and the promises which hee hath made vs to giue vs eternall life wee ought to assure our selues of it and take away all feare and apprehension of death What was the cause of the ruine of vs and our forefathers was it not because they did decline from the word of God to follow their owne fancies and the counsell of Satan If then to the contrarie wee will cleaue to it without leaning any iot neither to the right hand nor to the left wee shall liue by it and in it Hearken vnto mee saith God speaking by Esay and your soule shall liue And Zacharie in his Canticle Hee hath giuen vs a science
the seruice and force of the diuell what do we feare being then children of God and consequently brothers of Iesus Christ Is it possible that he can euer denie or abandon his flesh and blood or suffer them to die hauing power to saue them Conclusion Being the children of God our Father hee loueth vs with a loue vnfained and fatherly And if as saith S. Paul during the time that we were his enemies hee had such a care ouer vs that not sparing his onely begotten Sonne he hath deliuered him ouer to death to preserue vs from it and to reconcile vs vnto himselfe now that wee are his friends and in his fauour will he not saue vs Who is that man who considering these reasons will not presently assure himselfe and doe away all feare which he had of death That which also ought to assure vs against death take away all feare which we haue of her and the dishonour of the tribulation of the horror and anguish prepared for the reprobate and damned is our calling that God of his grace hath vouchsafed to withdraw vs out of the darkenesse wherein we were and to illumine vs by his holy spirite teaching vs by his holy word wherein we ought to trust and wherein lieth our saluation and so what we ought to doe to please and obey him to the end that walking in his law and seruing him in all iustice and holinesse we might after we haue a little suffered in this world be faithfully glorified with him in the end for that which God beginneth he will accomplish and when he hath determined to call any one to him and to saue him hee neuer changeth his counsell neyther doth repent himselfe of the good that he will doe vnto him He is vnchangeable and so stedfast in his purpose and determination that that which he once willes and ordaines he doth execute without being turned from it If then we feele in our selues that God hath giuen vs the grace to heare to beleeue and to loue his word and to flye from and reiect all that which is contrary to it and to haue an affection to obserue that which he commandeth vs and a dislike if haply by infirmity or otherwise we chance to commit any thing against his law let vs not doubt but we are regenerate elected and predestinated to eternall life and consequently out of danger of death Let vs then take away all feare and let vs say with Saint Paul What shall separate vs from the loue and charity of God what shall make vs to thinke that he hath not a will to saue vs It shall not bee paine affliction hunger persecution nor any aduersity nor death nor any creature whatsoeuer shall make vs to doubt that hee doth not loue vs in the fauour of Iesus Christ and that hauing chosen called and iustified vs in him but that finally he will also glorifie vs by him The Sacraments which IESVS CHRIST hath left vs for the confirmation of our faith ought likewise to assure and strengthen vs against the feare of death First Baptisme by the which wee are buried and die with Christ that wee may rise againe with him in the which wee are washed from all our sinnes and clothed with his innocency to the end that presenting our selues to the Father so adorned and couered with the robe of our elder brother we may receiue his holy blessing and be saued from the great deluge wherein all the infidels perish as Noe was in his time by the Arke Hauing then the promises of God as we haue said before and ouer and aboue his signe by the which he is bound to render that life to vs which we haue lost by our sin wherfore doe we feare death doe we thinke that he wil reuoke or that he wil denie and disauow his signe Secondly the Lords Supper where wee take the bread and the wine for to be receiued into the Communion and participation of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christ and by consequent into the fruits of them that is to haue part in his obedience in his iustice in his satisfaction and redemption in the Testament and new alliance and generally in all the promises of God the which by his death haue beene ratified It remaineth now to conclude our purpose and to inferre vpon the precedent things that if we feare death it is for want of considering them or if wee doe consider them it is for want of beleeuing them for there is no man so timorous being firmely perswaded of that which is spoken but will take away all feare of death and will say with Dauid I shall not die but alwaies liue to declare perpetually the workes of the Lord and praise him And who will not scorne at it with S. Paul and insult vpon it saying O death where is thy victory where is thy sting where is thy strength where is the terrour and feare which men had of thee Iesus Christ our Sauiour perceiuing the time of his death draw neare said that in short time hee should passe from this world to goe to his Father calling death a passage which should greatly comfort vs. We haue almost all this opinion rooted in vs and it is that which doth so discourage vs that it is a dangerous passage vneasie Now for to take it from vs and to stirre vp our hearts he would needes passe it before vs and as it were sound the depth to the end that we seeing that he did not sticke at it should take courage as also we see before and after him the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and other holy personages haue done it who hauing passed it without any apprehension of danger and being escaped safe and well doe now reioyce with God that they are gotten to the land and to the port where they did aspire Shall we then be such cowards shall we be so faint-hearted and of such render and effeminate courage as to feare to goe by a place so frequent and a way so great and beaten that men go it as said some of the Auncients blindfolded Likewise we see that not one alone of those that trusted in God calling vpon his ayde that put themselues to passe it did euer miscarry when the children of Israell did feare at the passage of the redde Sea Moyses did shew vnto them that if they would trust in God they should see his glory and power which they did see passing safely through the middest of the danger whereas their enemies did remaine so shall all the faithfull through the straights of death prouided that they commend themselues to God and doe onely set their trust vpon him They being in the desarts although they were bitten by the Serpents yet were they preserued from the danger in looking vpon him that Moyses had caused to be erected although also that the cursed and enuious serpent hath tainted vs with his venome yet shall we not die if by faith we looke vpon Iesus
lye hid in him so that at the day of the separation of our soules from our bodies wee may finde it wholly in heauen waiting with assured rest and ioy the happy resurrection of this flesh in the which all corruption infirmity and ignominie being abolished and death being swallowed vp of victory wee shall liue eternally with thee in an incomprehensible happinesse in thee by the which thou shall be glorified Maintaine then thy children O Lord in this faith and hope finishing thy worke in vs vntill they be altogether with thee for to enioy the inheritance and the glory which thine onely Sonne hath by his merit purchased for them Amen Prayer LOrd Iesus Christ Creator and Redeemer of mankind who hast said I am the way the truth and the life I do beseech thee by this vnspeakable charity which thou hast shewed in yeelding thy selfe to death for vs that I may neuer stray any iot from thee who art the way nor that I doubt of thy promises seeing thou art the truth and dost accomplish that which thou promisest Cause that I may onely take pleasure in thee who art the eternall life beyond the which there is nothing to be desired neyther in heauen nor earth Thou hast taught vs the true only way to saluation because we should not abide erring like strayed sheep in the lost waies of this world shewing vs so clearly that nothing can be more that which wee ought to beleeue to do to hope and wherein we ought to yeeld settle our selues It is thou that hast giuen vs to vnderstād how cursed we are in Adam and that there is no way to escape from this perdition in the which we are all plunged but by faith in thee Thou art that faire light which doest appeare to those that walke in the desert of this life who hauing drawen vs out of the darknesse of the spirituall Egypt hast driuen away the darknesse of our vnderstandings and doest enlighten vs to the end we may tend towards the promised inheritance which is the life euerlasting into the which the mistrustfull doe not enter but those that haue assuredly relied vpon thy holy promises O what a goodnesse that thou hast vouchsafed to descend from thy Fathers bosome and from the euerlasting throne to the earth to put on our poore nature of master to become seruant to the end that by thy doctrine thou mightest doe away the darkenesse of our ignorāce to guide our feet into the way of peace to make plaine the way of saluatiō vnto vs a way made vnto vs the which if we follow we cannot stray nor wax weary seeing that thy grace power do accompanie vs therin all the daies of our life Moreouer by thy spirit thou doest strengthen vs in it and double our courage Thy word is bread which nourisheth vs therein thy promise is the staffe which vpholds vs. Thou thy selfe by thy secret and incomprehensible vertue doest beare and maintaine vs in it in an admirable manner to the end that both in faire and foule weather we may walke with all alacrity vnto thee And as in preseruing vs thou hinderest that we do not fall into the snares of Satan the world also seeing thou art the truth thou takest away all doubts scruples mistrusts which may trouble let vs or turne vs during our course thou causest vs to behold the supernall vocation the misery and vanity of the world the frailty of this present life the gate of death the most happy life which is beyond that And as thou art this true life euen in this world thou dost quickē by thy truth vs that are poore wretched and dead in sinne thou doest augment that life by the ministery and efficacie of thy holy Gospell and doest confirme it by the vse of the Sacraments which thou hast established to confirme the faith of those that are thine vntill that our corruption what we haue of mortality in vs being abolished by the resurrection we shall bee and liue euerlastingly with thee both in bodie and soule when thou shalt be all in all Life euerlasting is to know the true God and thee his Sonne which wert sent vnto vs. Now we see thee by faith in a glasse and in obscuritie but one day we shall behold thee face to face and shall be transformed into thy glory and wholly reformed vnto thy image I doe beseech thee mercifull Sauiour to increase my faith that I may be so well grounded in the doctrine of my saluation that nothing may turne mee from it increase in my heart the reuerence which I owe thee that I may neuer turne from thy obedience strengthen mee in such sort that the allurements nor threatnings doe neither intrappe nor astonish mee but that constantly I may cleaue vnto thee who art my life till death Cause that in vertue of thy holy promises and of thy Spirit I may heate my selfe more and more in thy loue and leauing behind mee the things of this world I may tend to that which is firme and perfect Increase thy grace in mee that euery day I may die in my selfe for to be quickened and guided by thy fauour fearing no other but thou God Almighty louing nothing but thee as there is nothing but thee to be loued boasting my selfe in nothing but in thy onely grace and mercy which is the glorie of all thy seruants seeking no other good but thee nor desiring any thing but thee who art the full and entire felicity of all the faithfull Amen An other LOrd Iesus who art alwaies mercifull who doest not sticke to be my Sauiour as well in aduersitie as in prosperity giue me the grace in all humble obedience to yeeld vnto thy will when it shall please thee to mingle bitternes amongst so many sweet things which thou causest me to taste in liuing vnder thy protection Thou art admirable and most good in the time of afflictions In that by such meanes thou doest heale spirituall diseases and in visiting of vs in this world thou disposest vs to meditate of a better life hauing thy selfe shewed vs the example thereof True it is that I find it verie hard to digest but thou hast beene brought to a more strange condition when for to draw me out of hell thou wentest downe into it thy selfe and for to reconcile mee to thy heauenly Father thou hast vndergone his curse by reason of my sinnes I haue so often deserued hell and the fiery torment and thou deliueredst me assuring mee that I haue part in the merits of thy death and thy obedience and that I am one of thy coheires for to reigne one day with thee in thy kingdome and at this present in the middest of so many afflictions to be neuerthelesse set in the heauenly places Hauing part in so many good things why shall I vexe my selfe for a little endurance by the meanes whereof thou wilt awake mee and make me better and draw mee so much
The Apostle saith that they shal feele a feruentnesse of fire which shall deuoure them S. Iohn declareth that they shall bee cast into the lake of fire brimstone which is the second death For although they shal liue yet by reason of these incredible torments they ought rather to be called dead then aliue Now although that by all these similitudes it is demonstrated vnto vs that the damned shall be grieuously and euerlastingly tormented yet neuerthelesse man cannot thinke nor comprehend how great the euerlasting sufferings shall be no more then he can comprehend the ioy of the children of God Marc. 9. 1. Cor. 2 Hebr. 10. Wherefore with good cause the Author to the Hebrewes saith that it is a terrible and fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God For although that we should see one continually knawed with wormes and burnt with fire that torment should notwithstanding be as nothing in regard of that which is prepared for the wicked For besides that their bodies shall be horribly afflicted their soules shall be in incredible distresses and sorrowes This ought wel to stirre vs vp to watch and pray and to refraine from doing euill Reu. 3. Mat. 24. 1 Thes 1. Psal 25. 51. Iere. 31. Lamen 5. Cant. 1. Luc. 17. Ioh. 3. Wisd 4. 5. and to moue vs to serue God and to desire him with the Prophets and Apostles to change reuiue and increase our faith that so being made new creatures we may escape this place of torment and be numbred amongst the sonnes of God Which the Lord grant for the loue of his welbeloued Sonne our Sauiour to whom be all honor and glory for euer and euer AMEN A conclusion of this booke conteyning an exhortation to all estates to prepare themselues to die well for feare least the vncertaine howre of death should surprise them MOreouer my brethren friends it remaines that this booke be not onely in our hands but also in our hearts and if we haue any desire to amend ous liues let it not be deferred till to morrow for when to morrow shall come wee will yet referre all to the next day and so consequently the whole yeare shall passe yea our whole life If then at this present howre there bee some little good affection in vs let vs not suffer it to be quenched let vs not kill that grace which God hath giuen vs but to the contrary by all meanes which shall be possible to vs let vs endeuour our selues in such sort that from howre to howre it may not onely be confirmed but also augmented God is mercifull enough and liberall to grant vs our requests but he will be importunated not in his owne regard but ours for he knoweth how backward we are to pray and call vpon him and how soone we are weary of it although we should desire nothing more in this world for it is no small thing to speake vnto God And which ought yet more to moue vs is that he doth willingly hearken vnto vs and neuer puts backe those which come vnto him I speake this because I see not that by any other better meanes we can preuent confusion than by prayer Surely if euer men had need of this aide we are in great necessity of it in these last daies and olde age of the world for we must not doubt but that Satan now doth set himselfe in armes perceiuing well that the howre drawes neere that he shall not be able to doe that which hee hath done heretofore and that the Sonne of God must be manifested to all creatures and that then the perfection ought to come of the blessed and the finishing of their happinesse of the which hee knoweth well hee hath no part If then for his part he sets himselfe forth in his strength it remaines that we should do the like for vs that wee may be furnished with all celestiall armour and that we bee not daunted with all his plots and treacheries for surely the victorie is in our handes so that we fight against him and not with him as doth almost all the world at this day although that the most part thinke the contrary for so they haue the name of a Christian and be without reproch before men who are no better then thēselues they then thinke themselues very well assured Others thinke that they shall need but a good sigh as they say at the last howre for to blot out all the rest of their life passed and presently to transport them into the kingdom of heauen but who hath assured them that God will giue them the grace to make that sigh and to haue a true repentance of their sins at the howre of their death Where haue they had pattents and good assurance that they shall not die a sudden death Is not that to mocke God openly If that may serue verily St. Peter and St. Paul and the other Apostles should haue bene much deceiued to labour and to toyle so much and to beare so grieuous a Crosse if it were so easie a matter to enter into the kingdome of heauen I meane by the meanes which those Libertines doe pretend Let vs assure our selues that the way is straite which leadeth to saluation and that there are few that go therein These words are no lies but I pray God that we may not experiment the truth of them to our great paine and griefe I know well that the mercie of our God is incomprehensible and infinite but it is towards his seruants it is towards those that feare and reuerence him Besides I know that among the children and seruants of God there are many infirmities euen a great imperfection in all vertue and iustice and which endures till death but there is a great difference between your life O worldlings and the life of the elect of God The iust man sinneth seuen times a day but he shall be raised seuen times Now you continue in your euill and goe to bed with your sinne as with your friend and companion Men will say an Aue Marie beat themselues on the breast or perhaps will haue some distaste of their sinne and wickednesse But if we neerely looke into all we shall finde that it is nothing but meere hypocrisie If our friend or kinsmen dies if we loose our goods if wrong or iniury be offered vnto vs if our good name be taken away if we be stricken or hurt behold we are presently in choller or very extremely sad our hearts euen closed vp with melancholy but if our spirit dies and if we loose the euerlasting riches by our transgression we make no account of it we are not moued with it we grieue more for the losse of this world which is nothing then we doe for the losse of God which is all In seeing all which cannot such men yet feele their griefe can they not yet know how much the opinion which they haue of their vertue and prudence is vaine and friuolous Can they not see how farre they are from their reckoning Certainly the world is full of such people that haue no feeling of their sinne but the prophesies must needs be accomplished to the end when the Sonne of man shall come he may finde no faith vpon the earth Verily this howre commeth on a pace the signes thereof are very manifest But because we should not bee dismaid seeing such a danger round about vs let vs be sure that the Lord will bee with vs till the end of the world prouided that our Lampes be burning and in steed that the wicked euery day shall be worse and worse for our parts let vs endeuour to goe forward in all holinesse and iustice I know well that they will mocke at vs and at our simplicity that we shall be cast out of their companies But we shall be exalted of God and receiued of the most blessed assembly VVherefore let vs with all patience waite for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs labour that so we may be found of him without spot and without reprehension Surely that day ought to be very fearefull to the wicked but as for vs we ought so much the rather desire it knowing for a certaine that there is no cōdemnation for those that are in Iesus Christ knowing well the great goodnesse and kindnesse of him which is to come with whom God grant wee may liue for euer and euer Amen A Prayer vnto God on the same subiect ALas when shall wee come before the face of God our Father and when shall we haue a dwelling in his house and vntill when shall we be in this exile wherunto by sinne we haue bin regenerate But how shall the sinner cōsist before this great God How shall this poore flesh be able to go vp into this heauenly euerlasting Paradise O how vncertaine should our hope be if we had not the true promises of our God how miserable should we be if we did relie vpon our selues But O great God thou wilt that all things be possible to beleeuers for the beleeuers do trust only thy promise in thy mercy Do not then O Lord regard so many sins which are in vs. Remember rather that we are thy creatures the worke of thy hands VVe are vnworthy to be called thy children but it pleaseth thee to be our Father It was thy will that thy Sonne Iesus should come downe to vs here beneath to make that we should go vp to thee We feare not death O Lord for thou hast promised to bee with vs death lost her strength when thy deere Sonne died so that when our bodies shall be knawne with wormes in the sepulcher our soules shall reioyce in heauen with the holy Angels We desire then to die to see thy amiable and glorious face to liue with Iesus Christ out head O our God open vs then the gates of thy Kingdome Cause vs to heare that sweet speech which was spoken to the poore theefe vpon the crosse which is This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Alas Lord we are vnworthy of it but thy mercy and thy promises do giue vs assurance Giue vs also O heauenly Father the strength to perseuer and desire the immortall and glorious life to come which thou hast purchased for vs through thy Sonne Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory for euermore So be it FINIS
THREE GODLY TREATISES 1. To Comfort the Sicke 2. Against the feare of Death 3. Of the Resurrection WRITTEN IN FRENCH By Mr. I. D. L'Espine Preacher of the word of GOD in ANGEERS And Translated into English by S. VEGHELMAN ¶ Nullo nisi in Deo Salus LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Richard Baâ—â—…werth dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Sunne 1611. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Sir THOMAS MIDLETON Knight and Alderman of this Citie SIr your Worship may well account mee bold to dedicate this my bare Translation vnto you but indeede I know not well how to auoid the imputation because that if I should haue presented it to any other I must haue done you wrong as the case standeth for may it please you to vnderstand that being in your Sonnes studie at Grayes Inne vnto whom for a while I read the French tongue he chanced amongst other bookes to find out the originall of the two last Treatises of this booke which in our perusing J in my poore iudgement found to be such worthy matters that I could not content my selfe with the reading of them but borrowed the booke of him and my wast times tooke occasion as well for my owne further satisfaction as to impart it vnto others my particular friends to translate it into our English tongue not meaning to haue had it published in print Which when your said Son whom J haue still found to bee a louer of such godly workes vnderstood hee was very desirous to haue it printed alledging that it could not chuse but bee verie profitable for the Common-wealth whereunto although somewhat vnwilling in regard of my weaknesse in the performance thereof yet at last I condescended and to amplify the volume annexed another excellent Treatise to comfort the sicke written by the same Author which for order sake I haue placed before the other two and do present them together vnto your Worship as belonging vnto you of right beseeching you to take them in as good part as they are willingly offered and to haue in mind in your iudiciall censure that although I haue not shewed the part of an excellent Orator in setting of it forth in our newe refined Phrases yet that J haue done the duty of a faithfull Translator in following the originall word for word so neere as with sence J could And if this my first little labour shall proue agreeable and profitable I shall not only thinke it well bestowed but also be much encouraged to goe on with the rest of the same Authors works which will bee of a greater continent wherein at the request of some J am already well entred And thus beseeching the Almighty to grant you plentie of his Graces I commend you and all yours to his most blessed protection From my house in London this 14. of May. 1611. Your Worships at commaund S. Veghelman ¶ To the Ouerseers of the Church of ANGEERS IEsus Christ not without cause amongst those things which he commands vs to require of God in our praiers doth enioyne vs to demaund that hee leade vs not into temptation for regarding on the one side the weaknes infirmity which is in vs on the other the enuy and desire which the diuell hath of our ruine the diligence pursuit which he vseth to procure it and finally the subtilties meanes and practises that he holds to attaine thereunto incessantly searching for to deuoure vs like vnto a roaring Lyon rauening after his prey we haue great neede to stand vpon our gard and to watch and pray for to preuent his ambuscadoes and surprisings to the end we bee not caught in his nets And for as much as the last assaultes which an enemie giues to those that are besieged are ordinarily the hardest most furious we must prepare betime and prouide our selues during our life of those things which shall be necessary for vs at our death for to arme our selues against the great assaults which then the diuell makes to cary vs away knowing wel that if he faile at that time the place is lost for him and that it behoues him shamefully to raise his siege without hope to come thither any more Now the weapons engins wherewith we should principally furnish our selues are faith and the word of God faith by the which we apprehend the grace of God and the iustice of Iesus Christ for to serue vs for a buckler and target to couer and defend vs from the flames of the enemy And the word for to assault him vigorously and to cast him on the ground as did Iesus Christ For there are but these two means by the which we are able to withstand or repulse his assaults and carry away a full victory ouer him Therfore is it my brethren that I haue gathered you out of the Scripture some notes proper for to comfort strengthen you against the tentations wherewith you may be assaulted at the point of death But I pray you not to stay till that howre to take them to arme your selues with them doing as do the negligent Captaines who stay to furnish the places which are committed vnto them with things needfull for to keepe them till they are compassed and enuironed with men of war wherby it often hapneth that finding themselues vnprouided of means needfull for to defend themselues and so finding themselues astonied they presently forsake them easily yeeld vnto the enemy But by the example of the Ant and the Bee make your prouision in due time and season to the end that when the winter comes you may be wel prouided of all that shal be needfull easily to passe sustaine the rigor thereof Aboue all I pray you to note in the treaty which I send you those places which are therein alledged against rashnes and presumption For they are the two principall tentations which the diuell ordinarily employeth for to ouerthrow vs representing before our eyes either the multitude greatnesse of our sins for to cast vs headlong into a mistrust of the mercy of God or our vertues and good works for to raise vs vp vnto presumption and vaine confidence therin These are the two ropes saith S. Augustin which this tormeÌ„ter doth continually vse to strangle stifle men with if they take not heed of him But it shall be easie for you to preuent these dangers calling often to minde that which is said in the scriptures touching the corruption vanity of men to humble them and on the other side that which is also spoken of the great and infinite mercy and grace of God to assure them of their saluatioÌ„ I hope that with his helpe my labour writing vnto you this little Treatise and yours in the reading of it attentiuely shal not be vnprofitable So be it THE PREFACE FOR asmuch as death of it selfe is fearefull and that we cannot chuse naturally when we see it come neere vs but we must abhorre it and that our minds must bee
and so ample demonstrations of the goodnesse and mercy of God towards him were not a great deale more easie for him to digest then the great reproches which he gaue him for his ingratitude 1. Sam. 12. after hee had oftended him and the fearefull threats which he added thereunto to discouer and publish his sinne to cause that his house should be filled with murder with bloud that the honor of his wiues should be tamted by his owne son and neuerthelesse although that such exploits of the iustice of God were heard a burthē which was importable vnto him yet did he yeeld his shoulder vnto him and old submit himselfe altogether to his will assuring himselfe alwaies vpon his mercy of the which hee did remember himselfe alwaies in his iudgements that the charge which he should lay vpon him should not be altogether to presse him downe Abac. 3. And we haue a singular example of his patience of this humble obedience which he was resolued to render vnto God in all his aduersities when with so peaceable and so moderate a spirit he bare the great and scandalous iniuries that Semei spake vnto him at that time when for to saue himselfe from the conspiracy made by his sonne and by his people against him 2. Sam. 16. he was constrained to flie in great diligence and to abandon the Citie of Ierusalem for the principall cause which made him so soft and supple was that he did referre all the insolencie and brauery which that little mastiffe did vnto him vnto the prouidence of God which had stirred him vp to speake those iniuries vnto him to humble him and trie his patience and vertue Which was cause likewise Iob. 1. 2. that Iob after so many notable losses of all his goods and children and finally of the health of his bodie did praise God as cheerefully as he did in his abundance and when he had the scope of his desires except the regard which he had to the prouidence of God the which he did contemplate in all his miseries for 〈◊〉 them at his hands as speciall blessings and fauours which hee doth to his children yea the most deare and best beloued And it sufficeth not that wee beleeue that all our sicknesses come from God but wee must beleeue it in all the circumstances thereof as that they are great long tedious painfull languishing and sometimes incurable that by reason of their contagion they let our friendes and kindred from comming to visite and comfort vs that wee finde no remedie no more then that poore woman that had the bloodie flixe which held her twelue yeares Mat. 9. Luc. 5. Iohn 5. and the poore man who was eight and thirtie yeares bound in his bed by reason of a palsie wherewith hee was stroken in all the members of his bodie Wee must also attribute all that to God and thinke that he is equally free to dispence of the good and euill which hee drawes from his treasures vnto whom hee thinkes good and in such portion and measure as it pleaseth him without that any one can iustly complayne of him or with reason demaunde of him why hee doth so or so After that we are resolued in our minds that not only the sicknesses but also all other euils happen vnto vs by the prouidence of God and that from them we haue gathered all the comforts which may be drawne Then to comfort vs yet more we must consider who is this God that sends them vnto vs and how neare he is vnto vs for it is not such a God as are those that these foolish people worship Psal 96. and are but a thing of nothing whereto they giue themselues Psal 115. who cannot see anything with their eyes nor heare with their cares nor smell with their nose nor taste with their tongues nor speake with their mouthes nor take nor giue with their hands nor walke with their feetes who in briefe can neither doe well nor ill for they are not only mortall like vnto men and beasts but things altogether dead who haue neither sense nor vnderstanding nor mouing nor feeling nor force nor vigour But the God in whom we beleeue Act. 14. Hebr. 1. is the Creator of heauen and earth who causeth euery thing to liue and die and breathe who beares the world and all things contained therein by the only vertue of his powerfull word who with one of his fingers measures and poises the earth as with a beame Esay 40. Psal 147. who knoweth the number and names of the Starres Rom. 4. Reuel 1. who cals the things that are not as well as if they were who beares the keyes of life and death who is infinite in himselfe and all his vertues are infinite for his Goodnesse Mercy Wisedome Iustice and Vertue are so high and so great that the length thereof can be no more couered then the breadth nor the breadth then the thickenesse Now this most good and most great God is not farre from vs 1. Cor. 3. Psal 5. Psal 17. neither in presence nor in affection he is in vs as in his Temple for to sanctifie vs and round about vs for to couer vs with his fauour and to hide euery part of vs vnder the shadow of his wings He dwelleth in vs as in his house 2. Cor. 6. for to gouerne and inrich vs to furnish and adorne vs our vnderstandings and our hearts are his galleries wherein he walkes and takes his pleasure there deuising with vs by the diuine thoughts and holy affections which he hath inspired And albeit that he replenisheth heauen and earth and that the loue which he beareth to his creatures and the care which he hath of them are cause that he doth assist and accomodate them with all that is necessary for to preserue and entertayne them Neuerthelesse Psa 148. we are nearer to his heart Job 3. Ephes 6. hauing receiued of him so many fauours as to haue espoused conioyned and vnited our selues inseparably vnto him and by the meanes of this vnion to receiue vs into a participation and communalty of all his goodnesse Then euen as a woman that knowes her selfe well beloued of her husband and which doth wholly possesse him cannot feare that hee should vse to her any euill intreatment Simil. also wee ought to assure our selues that God who loueth vs infinitely cannot doe nor suffer any thing to be done vnto vs to hurt vs Rom. 5. for if as saith S. Paul when we are enimies we were reconciled vnto him by the death of his Sonne much more rather being already reconciled vnto him shall we be deliuered by his life Is there any thing more absurd then to thinke that God who is the soueraigne good can be the authour of any euill Iam. 3. doth a fountaine cast our both sweet and bitter water The Heretikes themselues as Marcion and the Manicheans for the horror which
they had of such a blasphemy would establish two principles the one of life and of the light the other of death and of darkenesse not being able to perswade themselues that of God Psal 36. who is the fountaine of life and all happinesse can proceede any misery Wherein they were not deceiued but insomuch only that from a good maxime they drew a bad conclusion For indeede the good in such a degree as God is that is to say soueraigne and infinite can no more produce euill then fire cold light darkenesse and life death And it is the reason for the which God after he had created the world and all that therein is contained and attentiuely considered all his workes did testifie that they were all very good which ought not only to be referred to the workes themselues of the creation but extended generally vnto all that God doth without any exception For seeing God is alwaies like vnto himselfe and that in him as saith S. Iames Psal 102. Iam. 1. there is no mutability nor shadow of changing as his goodnesse is eternall also at all times it can produce nothing but good workes and good things And this is the reason for the which answering by his Prophet vnto the people Ose 13. who did complaine of the great calamities which had befallen them hee saies that he was not the cause of them and that as for him he had only procured their good and their saluation But that they themselues were cause of their ruine and of all the desolations that were seene in their Countrey Simil. for as the fire produceth fire and all other things produce or bring forth their like so doth God from whom no euill can come Yea but sicknesse famine pouerty sterility warres are they not euils which God sendeth and so is the author of them God sends them indeed as well to the good as to the wicked to the one to punish their sinnes which is a iust laudable act to the other to exercise their vertue or to draw and bring them to repentance And if wee would be good husbands and appropriate our sicknesse well and referre it to the ends for the which God sends them vnto vs wee might gather much fruit and many good lessons by it In the first place there is nothing that is so necessary as to know our sinnes and the vice and corruption which is in vs to humble our selues to God and to dispose our selues to require and seeke after his grace which is the only meanes by the which they may bee remitted couered and hidden before him to auoide his iudgement and the condemnation which otherwise should therein bee prepared for vs if they were not pardoned vnto vs. Now so it is that naturally we are blind in the iudgment which we haue of our selues by reason that the excessiue vnmeasured loue which we haue of our selues doth blinde our eies in such sort that wee cannot perceiue nor discouer the malice the hypocrisie the pride the vanity the mistrust the iniustice the impiety the idolatry the inhumanity and all the infinite peruersity which from our child-hood is bred in our hearts and discloseth it selfe with the time according to the occasions which are presented vnto vs. For although that we doe all indeauour for a time to hide the malice which we haue conceiued in our hearts Simil. like vnto women that desire to steale their children Neuerthelesse when the belly comes to swell and that their time of childing drawes neare they are constrained to auouch that which they had alwaies denyed Also wee neuer confesse our debts vntill such time as by certaine proofs we are conuinced of them yet will wee then shuffle and alwaies abate something if we can of the enormity of our faults whereof wee haue a notable example in our first Parents who although they were before God from whom nothing can bee hidde nor couered and that they were liuely pursued and accused by their owne consciences neuerthelesse they sought all the slights they could to disguise and turne from them the fault which they had committed Gen. 3. and could not be brought neither by the feare and reuerence of God who spake to them neither by the accusation and witnessing of their owne cōscience which vrged them on euery side to come to this point to confesse clearely and without any inuolution their disobedience their ingratitude and their ambition by the which they were precipitate wherein men may see how difficult it is to men to acknowledge and confesse their sinnes in verity and without hypocrisie It may likewise bee seene in the Patriarks who did so long dissemble their wickednesse and the cruell and inhumane conspiracie Gen. 42. which they had made against their poore brother the which they did neuer acknowledge vntill such time they were compelled thereunto by the anguish and distresse whereunto God reduced them to put them in minde thereof and Dauid how long did he sleepe in his sinne whereupon he neuer thought earnestly vntill such time as he felt himselfe touched to the quicke by the hand of God and that he found himselfe almost vndone as he himselfe doth confesse it Psal 32. For night and day thy hand on me So grieuous was and smart That all my blood and humors moist To drynesse did conuert I did therefore confesse my fault And all my sinnes discouer Then thou ô Lord didst me forgiue And all my sinnes passe ouer And S. Peter after he had so oftentimes denyed his Master euen cursing and swearing that he neuer knew him Would hee not haue perseuered therein and altogither haue abandoned the Church of God as wel as Iudas and infinite more Apostates that goe from it euery day if Iesus Christ had not cast his eye vpon him Luk. 22. and by his looking on penetrated into his conscience for to make him to feele and weep for his sinne And S. Paul who like vnto a furious rauening beast sought euery where for Christians to slay and deuour them would he euer haue repented of these faults But to the contrary would hee not haue beene obstinate and hardened Act. 9. to haue spoiled and dispersed the flocke if the strong hand of the Sheep-heard who watched ouer it had not held him backe slaid him short and compelled him perforce to know and feele the great euill that he had done By these few examples may be clearely perceiued that although men are couered and filled with an infinite number of sinnes they cannot neuerthelesse know nor feele them if God doth not giue them the grace to set them before their eyes Which is the reason for the which in many passages of the Scripture Penitence which cōsists partly in the knowledge and displeasure that man hath of his sinne is called the gift of God 2. Tin 2. For as wee cannot know God nor the goods which we ought to seeke for in him and hope for of his
weapons wherein he trusted that is to say sinne death and the law leading euen with him captiuitie captiue Eph. 4. when he ascended into heauen so that the diuell being so disarmed hath no more meanes to hurt vs neither by our sins which Iesus Christ hath washed away in his bloud neither by death which he hath swallowed vp dying neither by the law vnto the which he hath fully satisfied accomplishing at and submitting himselfe for vs to the curse which in it was ordained for vs. And albeit that he be alwaies our aduersarie and that for the hatred that he beares vs and the desire which he hath to hinder vs and let vs from attaining to the felicitie from whence he was put away by his pride he walks like a roaring Lyon round about vs seeking whom he may deuoure neuerthelesse we may resist him being strong in the faith 1. Pet. 5. and abiding ancred in the perswasion which wee haue of the remission of sinnes which is euerlasting as is the vertue and efficacie of the death of IESVS CHRIST by the which it was obtained for vs it is the freedome of the Church in the which all that are faithfull ought to retyre themselues to bee in safetie when they are pursued by their owne consciences and the other Sergeants of the iustice of God VVhereunto Dauid also exhorteth vs. Let Israel then boldly In the Lord put his trust Psal 30. Hee is the God of mercy That his deliuer must For hee it is that must saue Israel from his sinne And to all such as surely haue Their confidence in him And else where Psal 51. The heauie heart the minde opprest O Lord thou neuer doest reiect And to say truth it is the best And of all sacrifice the effect And Iesus Christ who is the soueraigne medicine of our soules and who came into the world but to seeke those that were lost and to heale that which was sicke and as saith the Prophet to beare our infirmities Isa 53. can he take more pleasure then to see vs comming towards him to be discharged for our sinnes did he euer reiect a Publicane or sinner that came to present himselfe before him as saith the Prophet Psal 103. The Lord is kind and mercifull When sinners doe him grieue The slowest to conceiue a wrath And readiest to forgiue We may plainly see it in the examples of the Publicane of the woman sinner of the prodigall of the good theefe of Dauid of St. Peter Mat. 16. of St. Paul and of the seruant that was indebted tenne thousand Talents to his master which were acquitted him as soone as hee had confessed the debt and had requested and prayed his master to haue pitie on him Ha to what end hath the father sent hither his sonne why was he annointed by the holy Ghost Is it not to declare vnto the captiues that hee came from heauen to pay their ransom and to draw them out of captivity Isa 61. and to the prisoners that he is come to open the prison for them and to the indebted that he is come to acquit them and to the sicke for to heale them And the Apostles which he hath sent throughout the world as he was sent of his Father what charge had they was it not to publish the Gospell that is to say the remission of sinnes to all creatures in the name of Iesus Christ If then that their labour be not in vaine and that likewise of the faithfull Ministers which came after them we must assure our selues of the remission of our sinnes There is yet more that if they were not pardoned vs in beleeuing him the Birth the Death the Resurrection the Ascension the Intercession Briefe all the mysterie of Iesus Christ should be as nothing barren and fruitlesse 1. Cor. 15. and our faith altogither vaine Item how could we beleeue him to bee our Iesus and our Emanuel Mat. 1. if he did not saue vs from our sinnes Isa 59. Heb. 8. Iere. 3. and carry away by that meanes the enmities that are betweene him and vs which turne away and hinder him that hee cannot associate with vs What assurance would wee haue more then that the new alliance which hee hath contracted with vs was confirmed and ratified by his death and the blood which he hath shedde if hee had not forgotten all our iniquities and did not write his lawes in our hearts by his holy Spirit seeing that they are the promises and conditions vnder the which it hath beene conceiued and yeelded What fruit would come vnto vs of his Priest-hood and of the Sacrifice which he hath offered to his Father for our redemption if we remaine in our sinnes 1. Iohn 2. If also it were not purposely for our sinnes and not only for ours but also for those of the whole world How could we assure our selues that he is our Mediator and Aduocat and vnder that assurance goe to the throne of grace to obtaine mercy to finde grace to be aided in time of neede Wee must not then doubt the remission of sinnes And as saith Dauid Psal 103. God doth remoue our sinnes from vs And our offences all As farre as is the Sunne rising Full distant from his fall And how can we doubt of it seeing wee carry it printed and sealed not only in our hearts and consciences but also in our bodies with the two great seales of the Chancellor of the Kingdome of heauen to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper Let then the sicke assure themselues that beleeuing the remission of his sinnes hee obtaine It presently For hee dealeth with vs according to our faith And S. Ambrose writes that all that we beleeue we obtaine for we cannot beleeue but what God hath told and promised vs who is so faithfull and true in his promises Rom. 3. that euen the vnbeleefe and infidelity of men cannot abolish his truth And although that the wicked reiecting and contemning the word and promise of God hinder that by their contempt and obstinacy it doth not bring forth his effect in not shewing the vertue which it should haue to saue them if they did beleeue it neuerthelesse that cannot preiudice others that receiue and obey it nor hinder that beleeuing in it and by faith receiuing it into their hearts but they shall be quickened Simil. euen as a man that should close his eyes against the light and flie from it cannot hinder but he that openeth his eyes shall enioy and bee enlightened with it For the light and colour are the obiects of the eye which being opened whole and well disposed apprehends them presently Also is the promise of God the obiect of the faithfull which causeth that man receiueth it so soone as it is denounced vnto him and that he hath heard it published prouided that by the spirit of God his heart be before hand prepared For otherwise if it should continue in its
stony nature the spirituall seede were not able to take roote therein nor to fructifie no more then the bodily seede cast vpon a stone for a land vntilled The sicke being then thus resolued of the remission of all their sinnes neede not in any sort to doubt but that they are in the grace and fauour of God and that from thence they may infallibly hope for eternall life For there is nothing that can exclude vs from it but sinne only the which being not imputed vnto vs but being couered and quite blotted out what is it that can hinder or keepe backe God from vs And if by faith as hath been said we remaine conioyned and vnited inseparably with him who is a fountaine of life Ephes 3. and the scope of all good things what can we desire but we shall presently finde it in him Psal 56. What mishap or misery can wee feare being in his fauour If he be with vs who shall be against vs Then are we assured that the good will that hee beares vs shall be continued for euer and that there is no creature in the world that shall be able to turne it from vs as writeth S. Paul to the Romans I am assured that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principallities nor Power nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which he beareth vs in Christ Iesus our Lord. And a little before this passage What shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall it be tribulation or anguish or persecution or hunger or nakednesse or perill or sword All men then that haue beene ingrafted once by faith into the body of Iesus Christ and by consequent adopted of God and receiued into his fauour and into his house as his child neuer departs from thence afterwards But as he is assured of his election by his vocation and iustification which haue followed Rom. 5. also is he of his glorification which is the conclusion and as it were the crowne of his saluation For the gifts and the vocation of God are without repentance which the Apostle writes very plainly to the Romans Rom. 8. Those that he hath predestinate he hath also called and those that he hath called he hath also iustified and those that he hath iustified he hath also glorified And although that there are alwaies many vices and infirmities in vs and that it euen happens sometimes vnto vs to fall very heauily as it happened to Dauid S. Peter S. Paul and almost to all the Saints yea the perfectest that euer were neuer he lesse there is a point vpon the which we should be alwaies grounded and which ought greatly to comfort vs and vphold vs against all the assaults and temptations of Sathan which is that which Saint Iohn saith 1. Iohn 3. Whosoeuer is borne of God doth not sinne meaning to death for the seede of him remaines in him and hee cannot sinne because he is of God which he declares yet better else where 1. Iohn 5. All iniquity faith he is sinne but there is some sinne which is not to death we know that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not For by that hee giueth sufficiently to vnderstand that faith and the word of God which is in the soule and in the foundation are neuer altogither drawne away and exterminate out of the hearts of the elect and that by that reason they cannot commit that sinne which S. Iohn cals to death For although that faith bee sometimes as it were buried in them hauing not any mouing nor feeling no more then a dead thing neuerthelesse it is not altogither quenched no more then a fire couered in the ashes Simil. although it neither shew his light nor heate nor likewise dead no more then a tree in winter when the sappe being drawne to the roote bringeth forth neither flowers nor leaues nor fruit that shew any life which neuerthelesse is clasped vp within and hidden in the roote There is the reason for the which Dauid speaking of the faithfull man in the 27. Psalme saith Though that he fall Psal 37. yet is he sure Not vtterly to quaile Because the Lord stretcheth out his hand At neede and doth not faile And eeke his seede I will sustaine Psal 89. For euer strong and sure So that his seate shall still remaine While heauen and earth endure If that his sonnes forsake my law And so beginne to swerue And of my iudgments haue none awe Nor will not them obserue Or if they doe not vse aright My statutes to them made And set all my commandements light And will not keepe my trade Then with my rodde will I beginne Their doings to amend And with scourging for their sinne When that they doe offend My mercy yet and my goodnesse I will not take him fro Nor handle him with craftinesse And so my truth forgoe But sure my couenant I will hold With all that I haue spoke No word the which my lips haue told Shall alter or be broke Psal 23. And finally while breath doth last Thy grace shall me defend And in the house of God will I My life for euer spend Psal 30. For why his anger but a space Doth last and slacke againe But in his fauour and his grace Alwaies doth life remaine Though gripes of griefe and pangs full sore Shall lodge with vs all night The Lord to ioy will vs restore Before the day be light Psal 65. The man is blest whom thou doest chuse Within thy courts to dwell Thy house and temple he shall vse With pleasures that excell Psal 119. Of thy goodnesse still shewd to me Thou wilt not Lord I frustrate be All these passages and others like out of the Scripture must be alleaged to the sicke to strengthen their faith on euery side and to furnish and arme it strongly against the inflamed darts and arrowes of the Diuell to the end that on which side soeuer hee may shoote them hee may not finde any place bare where hee may reach or wound him For wee must not doubt but then hee will vse all his forces and all his sleights for to shake our faith and to ouercome vs. But the meanes to defend our selues is to keepe our selues alwaies in our fortresse and neuer to depart from the promises of God whatsoeuer hee can alleadge to the contrary Let vs propound vnto him that which I say saith that Israel is saued by the Lord with an eternall saluation Isay 45. and that we shall not be confounded nor ashamed from this time forth for euermore And elsewhere Isay 51. The heauens shall vanish away like smoake and the earth shall bee worne out like a garment and the inhabitants thereof shall likewise bee abolished But my saluation shall be for euer and my iustice shall neuer faile And to the end that the demonstrations which
the forme whereunto Iesus Christ by his death hath brought it for eueÌ„ as by his crosse he hath discharged vs of the curse vnto the which we were bound and hath conuerted it into a blessing for vs also by his death hath he not onely oâ—â—rcome it in vs but also quickned our death insomuch that now it is a hand of health vnto vs and a port to enter into the kingdome of heauen and to take possession of the most happy life which God hath promised to his children That which maketh vs so to feare it is that we behold it in the loking glasse of the law which represents it vnto vs a fearefull figure to behold and in guise of a Sergeant armed with the wrath of God all the threatnings and curses propouÌ„ded in his law against all those which transgesse it who comes to do his exploit and to adiourne vs presently to appeare before his iudgement seate and there to heare a sentence of the last soueraigne Iudge by whom we may be sent into an euerlasting fire without hope of consolation nor to haue euer other company but that of diuels to torment vs. Which happening it is not possible when death presents it selfe so before our eyes but we must haue such an apprehension that it were sufficient altogether to confound cast vs headlong into the gulfe of despaire if it did continue long But for to turne it from vs we must do as they that haue their sight dimmed dazelled which being too long setled vpon a colour too glistering for to get it againe Simil. they turne and cast it vpon another which is more cheerefull geâ—enish delightsome Also to get our spirits againe when we feele them straied from vs because of the apprehension which the law hath giuen vs of death we ought to behold the image therof in the looking glasse of the gospell in the which Iesus Christ propounds it vnto vs as faire and more gracious and amiable Act. 2. then Moses in his law had shewed it vs vgly and fearefull without that she hath any more sting to pricke vs nor cordes chaines or bands to retaine vs vnder her power For Iesus Christ rising againe hath broken them as Sampson in times past by a meruellous strength brake as if it had bene a small twined flaxen threed the great cords and cables wherewith the Philistines thought they had so straitly bound and shakled him that he could neuer haue escaped them And neuerthelesse they found themselues deceiued when thinking to haue set vpon him with great fury and impetuositie they saw him breake them as easily as another man would a towe threed halfe burnt So death thinking by causing Iesus Christ to die that he had ouercome all and brought all vnder his power and so assured his Empyre that it should neuer bee shooke found her selfe vanquished and beaten downe in such sort that she shall neuer be able to rise againe as the Apostle writes to the Corinthians that death hath bene swallowed vp of victory 1. Cor. 15. to wit that which it had thought to haue obtained when it caused Iesus Christ to die Then death ought not to be fearefull for the reasons which we haue deduced but to be wished for for those which we shall deduce hereafter For first it puts our soules in libertie and deliuers them from the torments anguishes feares mistrustes cares and desires wherewith they are cruelly tortured whiles they are inclosed in the filthie prisons of our vicious mortall and corruptible bodies And deliuers likewise our bodies from innumerable dangers whereto they are exposed as well by sea and by land as in all places where they are to be found Item from so many sorts of diseases and languishings which do vndermine and consume them with insupportable dolours Item from the necessitie and paine of labour vnto the which they are made subiect by sinne And finally from a continuall care which they haue to enquire and seeke after the meanes to be nourished cloathed lodged and fitted with all things necessarie for their entertainment But all that is nothing in regard of the good which it doth vs putting vs out of the danger of sinning any more and of being any more tempted of the diuell of the world and of our owne desires which cease not to solicite vs to do euill and to prouoke vs incessantly to offend God and by that meanes to draw vpon vs all the curses where with he threatens in his lawes all those that transgresse them and disobey him With what heate and vehemencie with what sighes and gronings did the Apostle desire and demaund of God that he would deliuer him from that pricking which he felt in his flesh 1. Cor. 11. from that Angell of Satan that buffeted him And after that long and lamentable complaint which he maketh of this law Rom. 7. which he saw in his members against the law of his vnderstanding rendering it captiue to the law of sin which was in his members vpon the conclusion of his discourse what a lowde crie commeth he to cast from the bottome of his heart Miserable man that I am who shal deliuer me from the body of this death whereby a bodie may know the mourning which this holy man made to see in himselfe the tyranny of sinne and to feele the violence which it vsed towards him constraining him to doe the euill that he would not to forsake the good which he desired to do with all his heart O then happy death who puttest vs out of so cruel troblesome a bondage Who shall also consider what a miserie it is to liue euen in the middest of the Church amongst barbarous people and such as the Apostle foretold should come in those latter times â— Tim. 3. to wit people louing themselues couetous boasters proud scandalous disobedient to father and mother vnthankfull contemners of God without naturall affection backbiters without temperance cruell hating the good traytours rash puffed vp louers of their pleasures rather then of God hauing a shew of godlinesse but denying the forme thereof And to be on the other side inuironed and besieged on euery part by people coniured and mortall enemies of the Gospell of Iesus Christ and of his Church mad and rauening dogs and wolues phrenticke dispiting God and his graces curious violent outragious prophane blasphemers hauing neither faith nor law nor feare nor conscience that can reproue or retaine their malice who I say shall regard what an anguish it is to conuerse in the middest of a nation so wicked and peruerse and to be constrained to see their abhominable impieties and sacriledge and heare their horrible blasphemises which without feare and shame they disgorge against heauen against the throne and Maiesty of God and will not complaine of the length of his life and say with Dauid Alas too long I slacke Within the tents so blacke Psal 120. Which Cedars are by name By
an appetite and in glutting vs they leaue vs hungrie they quench our thirst and yet wee are alwaies drie insomuch that in contenting and satisfying our appetites they leaue vs a desire to remaine alwaies in that estate which maketh that wee are neuer wearie They are then the true pleasures which wee ought alwaies to desire and seeke after and not the worldly pleasures that are all itchie and scabbie Simil. For as those that are scabbie take pleasure and feele some ease whiles they doe scratch their scabbes the which neuerthelesse lasteth but a little being presently followed with a paine that smarteth afterward Also the voluptuous men haue neuer any pleasure but it is intermingled with a thousand sorrowes Simil. And their pleasure is like vnto that which those feele that are tickled the which hath I cannot tell what kinde of paine and toyle which maketh him to forget and hate it There is yet a griefe that may much torment the sicke and which must be taken away to wit for their wiues and children from the presence and companie of whom they feare to bee separated by death Now the consolation which ought to be giuen them the remedy which ought to be applied thereunto is to alledge vnto them the promises which God maketh to widowes that he takes them into his protection and promiseth to haue a particular care ouer them and to defend maintaine them against those that shall oppresse them and to doe a horrible vengeance for the outrages and iniuries that shall be done vnto them Item it must be alledged vnto them that although they be forsaken of their mortall husband whom they had espoused notwithstanding that there remaineth another immortall for them to wit Iesus Christ who will neuer forsake them no more then all the rest of the faithfull who altogether relie vpon him and that leauing them in the keeping of such an executor they can want nothing you must also shew them that going out of this world it is as if they and their wiues vndertooke a iourney together whither the one goeth first and the other followeth soone after And finally that as in the beginning of their mariage it hath not grieued him to forsake father and mother to cleaue to his wife that now also it should not bee grieuous to him to leaue his wife for to returne to God who ought to be dearer to vs then fathers mothers wiues children or any thing else As for the children you must set before them that faire promise which God made to them and to their children and which hee hath sealed and ratified in the Baptisme of the one and the other to wit that he will be their God and to their seede after them for that ought to assure them that the same fauors that God hath done for them shall be continued to their posteritie as he promiseth expresly in Exodus that he will shew mercy to a thousand generations in those that loue him and feare him and are curious in keeping of his commaundements What then can those children want who being imitators of the faith and godlinesse of their fathers are assured by the promise of God to be alwaies enuironed and couered with his grace goodnesse which grace is the spring head from whence all happinesse and prosperity floweth vpon vs Moses saith that man liueth not by bread onely Deut. 6. but of euery word proceeding from the mouth of God which is not to be referred to the nourishment onely but to all the other commodities of mans life The fathers that shall leaue this word with their childrē ought not to be in care for the nourishment nor the apparrel nor all the entertainment of their children for they are certaine by the word of God that in seeking his kingdome and his iustice hee will accommodate them with all things necessarie for this present life for being their Pastor as he hath bene to their fathers can he euer forget them or leaue the care that he hath of his sheepe Dauid saith speaking of the prouidence of God and exhorting euery one to relie vpon it as he did Psal 23. The Lord is onely my support And hee that doth mee feede How can I then lacke any thing Whereof I stand in neede Item else where where he compareth the condition of the wicked with that of the good he speaketh thus of the good Psal 37. They shall not bee discouraged When some are hard bested When other shall bee hungerbit They shall be clad and fed For whosoeuer wicked is And enemie to the Lord Shall quaile yea melt euen as lambs grease Or smoake that flieth abroad And going on Behold the wicked 〈…〉 much And neuer payeth againe Psal 37. Whereas the iust by liberall gifts Makes many glad and faine For they whom God doth blesse shall haue The land for heritage And they whom hee doth curse likewise Shall perish in his rage And a little after I haue bene yong but now am old Psal 37. Yet did I neue see The iust man left nor yet his seede To beg for misery But giues alwaies most liberally And lends whereas is neede His children and posteritie Receiue of God their meede Let him then that is sicke leaue his childrē in Gods keeping For he cannot giue them a better nor a more faithfull executor and you must not feare prouided that they containe thēselues in his obediēce that they walke in his feare that they goe alwaies before him with a roundnes simplicity of heart that any mishap befal them Now hitherto we haue treated and spoken of the things which are fitting to be propounded to the sick as wel to instruct the as to comfort and exhort them to do their dutie and also the meanes that they must follow to arme themselues against the temptations wherewith they may be assayled in their sicknesses It remaines to make the summe of all these discourses to the end the Reader may comprehend and note briefely all that is therein handled and serue himselfe therewith in the comforting of those that are sicke as hee shall finde to bee expedient for them Eccles 7. Salomon saith that it is better to goe into the house of mourning then into the house of banquetting because that there is the end of all men and the liuing puts that in his heart To teach that the principall studie and exercise whereto man ought to apply himselfe during this life is the meditation of the frailtie misery breuitie inconstancie and vncertainty thereof And to present his end before him it is death which alwaies followeth vs step by step and wee know not the howre nor the day when it must call vs like vnto an husher before our Iudge to giue him an account of all our life It is then good that we haue alwaies our memory present and keeping our selues readie and that holding our lampes burning and lightned in our hands we bee not surprised with the
brother to a man the second sister to a woman and the third that you must name the partie by their proper name For it ought not to be honoured with names of worldly honour and dignity but to oppose it selfe against Satan in the name of the Lord it ought to be named by the proper name which it receiued at the holy Sacrament of Baptisme Which doing thou shalt obey vnto God whom I beseech to be fauourable vnto thee at the day of his comming * ⎠* COMFORT FOR THOSE THAT ARE SICKE DRAWEN OVT OF THE HOLY SCRIPTVRES FOR to prepare them to die B.S.N. HE that is of God hearkeneth to the word of God Iohn 8. and doth not onely hearken vnto it but keepeth it and puts it in execution for all things shall haue an end Mat. 7. Hebr. 1. Isa 40. and waxe old as doth a garment but the word of God dureth for euer Now seeing it is so that by a man sinne came into the world Rom. 5. and by sinne death and consequently all afflictions and aduersities thereon depending with iust occasion the life of man is but a continuall warfare vpon earth Rom. 7. so that the flesh fighteth against the spirit and the spirit against the Diuell the World and the Flesh which are the enimies of our soules But following the counsell of the Apostle to obtayne victorie in this spirituall battaile wee must constantly resist by faith 1. Peter 5. For the victorie that surmounts the world is our faith 1. John 5. The which is a certaine and a firme knowledge of the loue of God towards vs Hebr. 11. according as by his Gospell hee declares himselfe to bee our Father and Sauiour by the meanes of IESVS CHRIST Hauing then such a firme faith for your principall foundation Acknowledge and confesse without feyning before the maiesty of God that you are a poore and miserable sinner Psal 51. conceiued and borne in iniquity and corruption inclined to doe euill vnprofitable to all good and that through your vice you haue without ceasing transgressed the holy Commandements of God Luke 17. which doing you haue purchased by his iust iudgement ruine and perdition vpon you Neuerthelesse you are displeased with your selfe that you haue offended him and doe condemne both you your vices with true repentance desiring that the grace of God may succour you in your calamity Pray then in such a firme faith Psal 51. if you cannot with your mouth say it with your heart That God our benigne father and full of mercy enter not in iudgement Psalm 142. nor in account with you but that it would please him to haue pitie on you in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and that he would blot out all your spottes and vices by the merite of the death and passion of the same Iesus Christ in whose name present vnto him his holy prayer the which hee hath taught vs saying with all your heart Our Father which art in heauen Matth. 6. hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen B. S. N. Acknowledge with all your heart your vnrighteousnesse haue a displeasure for your sinnes repent incessantly and the kingdome of God will draw neere vnto you Matth. 3. Acknowledge that there is no righteousnesse nor innocency nor any good workes from you nor in you Titus 3. but that like vnto a childe of wrath conceiued and borne in the sinne of old Adam you merite euerlasting death and damnation Neuerthelesse that neither that nor all the sinnes in the world Ephe. 2. Psal 51. Rom. 8. although you should haue committed them doe not make you affraid For IESVS CHRIST true Sonne of the euerlasting God is become man conceiued of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgine Mary to sanctifie and cleanse you Rom. 1. Luc. 1. Mat. 1. hee hath suffered vnder Pontius Pilate many afflictions iniuries and outrages yeelding himselfe to bondage Phil. 2. Act 3. Mat. 27. to set you at full liberty IESVS CHRIST was crucified as accursed vpon the Crosse to deliuer you from the euerlasting curse IESVS CHRIST died and shed his most precious bloud Isa 13. Reuel 1. Heb. 9. to wash you to redeeme you to deliuer you wholy from death from hell and from the power of Satan 1. Pet. 1. Rom. 6. Act. 2. 1. Pet. 2. Iesus Christ was buried in a Sepulcher to burie all your sinnes the which hee hath borne and blotted out Iesus Christ descended into hell suffering an extreme agonie for to deliuer you from all the paines dolours of death Marc. 16. Iesus Christ is risen againe from the dead to make you rise in your proper body 1. Cor. 15. and glorious immortality Act. 1. Iesus Christ ascended into heauen to make you ascend thither after him Col 3. Iesus Christ fitteth at the right hand of God his Father Almightie being your aduocate and intercessour towards him 1. Iohn 2. Heb. 7. Mat. 25. Psalm 61. Rom. 8. and the attonement of all your sinnes we waite for his comming to iudge the quicke and the dead to render vnto euery one according to his workes But to the faithfull that beleeue in him Mat. 25. he will not impute their sins but hauing iustified them through his grace wil make them to reigne with him for euer in his heauenly throne B. S. N. Such is the great mysterie of our redemption the which by the meanes of the holy Ghost you must firmely beleeue hath bene done for your saluation And doubt not but by the merits of Iesus Christ the head of his Church you are one member incorporated therein Eph. 1. giuing him thankes in all humilitie that he hath giuen you the grace to liue in the communion of his faithful ones hauing nourished you with his word with his body and with his bloud Mat. 4. 1 Cor. 11. acknowledging as well assured the great mercy of God in the remission of all your sinnes Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 15. the which is shewne you through Iesus Christ who shal cause you to rise againe at the latter day to reigne with him in euersting life Marc. 16. the which he hath promised to all those that beleeue in him being baptized in his name Then B. S. N. seeing you haue this faith doubt not but to receiue the promise of faith for God is true he is no lyar like vnto men Rom. 3. Mat. 24. Heauen and earth shall passe but the word of God shall endure for euer Isa 40. God is your Father and Creator you are his Creature and the workmanship of his hands
then vnto the questions which now I shall demaund you and answere faithfully according to the vnderstanding that you haue receiued of the Lord which if you cannot by reason of the weakenesse and hinderance of your sicknesse Mat. 10. I will answere for you and it shall suffice for you to giue vs your heart and constancy of faith in the which you must liue and die Now I aske you wherefore and to what end you were created in this world Genes 2. The Sicke To know God The Minister Was it necessary for you to know God Psal 16. 17. The Sicke Yes surely for seeing hee is my soueraigne good without the knowledge of him I had beene more wretched then the brute beasts The Minister Seeing you know God you know well that hee is the mighty the wisedome and the infinite good Genes 1. Iohn 1. Luke 1. 1. Iohn 5. Genes 18. one God in three persons Father Sonne and holy Ghost It is the only God that Abraham Isaacke and Iacob worshipped in spirit and truth It is the only euerlasting God who hath created heauen and earth and all things therein The knowledge that you haue of God is it not such The Sicke Yes The Minister But such a simple knowledge of God were it able to conduct you to eternall life The Sicke Very hardly for euerlasting life Iohn 17. is to confesse and knowledge one only God and him whom hee hath sent his euerlasting Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ The Minister Wherefore is it necessary for you to know and confesse the Lord Iesus Christ The Sicke Because that I must recouer in IESVS CHRIST Rom. 5. Psal 51. Luke 24. Psal 21. Rom. 11. that which I haue lost in my selfe through the sinne of the old Adam whereunto I was conceiued and borne Therefore it hath beene needfull for my saluation that IESVS CHRIST true God and true Man hauing put on our flesh should giue me by his grace all that I had lost in Adam The Minister It is very well said That is the reason why Iesus Christ was conceiued by the holy Ghost Mat. 1. Luke 1. and borne of the Virgin Mary to purge and sanctifie you For cleane contrary to him Ephes 2. Psal 51. you were conceiued and borne in sinne and of sinnefull parents Wherefore doe you not confesse that without Iesus Christ you had remayned a wretched and miserable sinner Rom. 8. in euerlasting death The Sicke Yea certainly but I beleeue and confesse Rom. 6. that this good Iesus Christ hath reconciled me to God his Father The Minister But how did he reconcile you to God his Father Mat. 26. Heb. 7. 9. The Sicke By his Death and Passion the shedding of his most precious blood for to deliuer me out of al euerlasting paine this good Iesus Christ hath suffered vnder Pontius Pilate for me many afflictions iniuries and tribulations Act. 3. Mat. 27. It is Iesus Christ who hath beene crucified for me as accursed vpon the Crosse to deliuer mee from the euerlasting curse vnto the which Adam had bound me This my Sauiour IESVS Christ was truly buried to bury al my sinnes with him to the end they bee not imputed to me before God It is my Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Rom. 6. who descended into hell Act. 2. 1. Peter 2. suffering an extreme temporall anguish for to deliuer mee from the euerlasting The Minister All that you haue now confessed of Iesus Christ was it sufficient to saue you The Sicke No according as the holy Scriptures ought to bee accomplished in all things Isa 53. Mat. 26. For what had it profited mee that Iesus Christ was borne crucified dead buried and descended into hell for me onely without rising againe Wherefore Marke 16. 1. Cor. 15. I beleeue and confesse that my Lord my head and Sauiour Iesus Christ is risen againe from the dead to cause mee to rise againe with him as one of his little members in euerlasting life The Minister Consequently it is written that hee ascended into heauen Act. 1. being now set at the right hand of God his Father But what doth this Ascension profit you The Sicke My Lord my head and my Sauiour Iesus Christ is gone vp into heauen to make mee ascend after him Colos 3. 1. Iohn 2. Rom. 8. For where the head is there are the members also And I beleeue that being set at the right hand of God his Father hee is my Aduocate Rom. 8. Intercessor and only Mediator towards him assuring me very well that no man can hinder mee Iohn 5. seeing Iesus Christ is my Aduocate Mat. 25. and Iudge also wherefore I haue no occasion to feare his iudgement when hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead For I beleeue and confesse with a stedfast faith that there is no iudgement nor condemnation for those that are faithfull members in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. The Minister VVho hath giuen you the grace to know and vnderstand all these things The Sicke It is by the grace of the holy Spirit 1. John 5. one only God with the Father and the Sonne by the meanes whereof wee receiue all the goods and gifts which are offered vnto vs in Iesus Christ The Minister Seeing you haue already confessed that you are a member of Iesus Christ it followeth then that you are also incorporated in his Church the which hee hath caused you to beleeue to bee Holy Catholike and Vniuersall The Sicke I verily beleeue the holy vniuersall Church Ephes 5. washed and cleansed in the precious blood of IESVS CHRIST for the which I giue him thanks with all humility that hee hath giuen mee the grace to bee one of the small members of his Church and being baptised in his name hath caused mee to liue in the communion vnity and charity thereof hauing instructed mee with his holy word Mat. 4. 1. Cor. 11. and nourished mee with his very body made mee drinke of his precious blood in hope of eternall life The Minister Now seeing you are so well grounded vpon the liuely Rocke which is IESVS CHRIST 1. Cor. 10. in knowing your selfe aright you must acknowledge and confesse the principall good which you haue receiued of this good IESVS CHRIST The Sicke It is very reasonable For I will not bee vnthankefull to remember the goods and gifts that I haue receiued of God wherefore I confesse that I miserable sinner Psal 51. haue incessantly offended the goodnesse and iustice of God hauing transgressed his holy Commandements Luke 17. in which doing I haue deserued euerlasting death and damnation Neuerthelesse appealing to the mercy of GOD I haue asked forgiuenesse and doe beleeue and confesse without doubting any whit that full and entire remission of all my sinnes is giuen me Act. 4. Reuel 1. by the only merit of the death and passion of my Lord and Sauiour
of saluation And Saint Peter speaking to IESVS CHRIST Thy wordes are wordes of eternall life If God the Prophets and Apostles doe assure vs that the word of God receiued by a true faith in our heartes doth there quicken keeping and retaining it what occasion haue wee then to feare death Moreouer by faith wee dwell in IESVS CHRIST and haue him dwelling in vs who hauing life in himselfe as his father doth quicken vs and all those vnto whom he doth communicate himselfe Wherefore then being his members flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones briefe being one with him shall wee feare death Hath not hee power ouer it and not onely for himselfe but also for vs He saith St. Cyprian who hath once ouercome death for vs will alwaies ouercome it in vs. Hath not hee beate downe dispossessed chased and spoyled Satan the Prince and Lord of death hath not hee accomplished the law and by this perfect obedience which hee hath borne to God his Father appeased his anger satisfied his will and abolished the malediction of the law which is nothing else but death Did not hee die to make it die when hee rose againe hath not he broken and dissipated all the torments plucked downe the gates of Hell and triumphed ouer her and all her power Say not henceforth saith St. Paul who shall go vp into heauen or who shall descend into the depthes for to bring life vnto vs for IESVS CHRIST is dead and risen againe from the dead for to deliuer vs from death and risen againe to restore vs to life Hee is our Pastor And for this reason wee ought not to feare that any creature should snatch vs by violence out of his handes or can hinder him from giuing vs eternall life He is our Aduocate we ought not then to feare to be ouerthrowne in iudgement nor that by sentence we should be condemned to death He is our Mediator we neede not to feare the wrath of God Hee is our light we neede not to feare the darkenesse He is our shadow and our cloude we ought not then to feare the heate of the fire eternall no more then did the children of Israel the heate of the Sunne in the Wildernesse being hidden vnder the pillar Let vs then for these reasons forsake and cast behinde vs all feare of death the which hauing had no power nor aduantage ouer the head shall haue no power ouer his members Item By faith we haue with Iesus Christ God his Father and are allied ioyned together with him as he saith by his Prophet I will marry thee if thou wilt promise me thy faith and Iesus Christ in St. Iohn Hee that loueth me will keepe my worde and I and my Father will come and dwell in him for this reason we are also called his Temples because we are consecrated and dedicated vnto him by his holy spirite that he should dwell in vs. Now seeing God is with vs we haue the originall the fountaine the cause the beginning and the author of life we haue the great Iehouah of whom all things depend by whom all things are and moue in whom the Angels Arch-angels Principalities the heauens and all the elements consist we haue him that is the true Zeus from whom al creatures visible and inuisible take their life and their being by the participations which they haue with him We haue him who is the true Promitefz most perfect and soueraigne worke-man of all things who by his breath doth quicken and make them to liue We haue ton Theon that is to say he who discoursing all things by his power infinite doth preserue them Wee haue to make short AEL that is to say he who onely can satisfie and by his presence cause that of life of all other good things we shall haue and thinke we haue enough Shall we then feare death in such company If as S. Augustine saith God is the soule of our soule we cannot die but by being separated from him the which Dauid doth confirme in one of his Psalmes saying Those shall perish O Lord who doe depart and go from thee which being considered let vs striue onely to keepe him with vs by faith and obedience and besides let vs take away all the feare which we may haue of death Againe by faith wee haue the spirite of God you are not carnall sayth S. Paul writing to the Romanes but are spirituall for who hath not the spirit of God are none of his And else-where speaking to the Galathians Haue you not the spirit of God by faith Now this spirit is the spirit of life if God withdrawes it from his creatures they die they perish and come suddenly to nought to the contrary when he pleaseth to send and powre it vpon them he raiseth and restoreth them in an instant euen as we see a Hen brooding of her egges by a secret vertue doth disclose and bring them to life albeit that before they were without soule or feeling Euen so doth the spirit of God al creatures by his diuine power He giueth testimony and doth assure vs in our hearts that we are the children of God to the end that from him as from our father by a certaine and assured hope wee should waite and looke for life He is as a pledge vnto vs for feare left wee should doubt Hauing such earnest of life hauing testimony from him who being the spirit of truth cannot lie nor abuse hauing him himselfe who is the preseruer of all creatures shall we feare death It is as much as who should feare the darkenesse at none-day the spirite of him who hath raised againe Iesus Christ and who hath vp-held him because he should not be ouercome of death being in vs will quicken vs also saith Saint Paul and wil preserue vs from it let vs then put away all feare of it Faith also causeth that God doth adopt and repute vs for his children you are all children of God by faith saith S. Paul and S. Iohn he hath giuen power to al those that shall receiue him and beleeue in his name to be made the children of God then being children we are the heires co-heires with Iesus Christ and we are by the meanes of this adoption certaine once to come vnto life vnto the rest and vnto the glory wherein we shall reigne eternally with his Father Moreouer being children of God we are of his houshold and it is not in his house where death dwelleth it is in hell in the diuels house in heauen and the place where God abides there is an vnspeakeable light so great a beatitude and happinesse that in the contemplation thereof Dauid crying out said O that they are happy that doe inhabite and dwell in thy house And else-where In this consists all my good Lord that I may be neere vnto thee Again being children we are at liberty free from sinne free from death free from the condemnation and rigor of the law freed from
Christ crucified Let death come let it take vs let it binde vs yet shall wee breake the bonds as easily as did Samson those of the Philistines his enemies let it swallow and deuoure vs as the Whale did Ionas yet shall it be faine to disgorge and cast vs vp againe if in the middest of the depth wee doe remember God and call vpon him Let it bury vs as it once did Iesus Christ yet shall wee rise againe as hee did and it shall be impossible for this Tyrant to retaine vs vnder his power After hauing shewed how wee should arme our selues against the apprehensions of eternall death let vs also shew that we ought not only nor to feare the temporall but also desire it and when it pleaseth God to send it vnto vs to thanke him for it to reioyce at it to embrace it and to sing for ioy whether it be that we behold the misery the mishappes and euils of this life from which it doth deliuer vs or else the ioy and contentment of eternall life wherto it doth bring vs. As for the pouerties miseries incertitudes fragilities accidents and mutabilities of this life not onely the Scripture but also diuers wise and great Philosophers doth shew them vnto vs And there is one amongst them who declaring the originall of the Greeke phrase signifying life sayeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is that life hath beene so called of the Greekes because of the violence of the assaults excesse pains and outrages which therein we suffer which are innumerable both in body and soule Our bodies are subiect to colde to heat to hunger to thirst to time to age and to so many diseases that there is no part but hath his particular infirmity the feete are subiect vnto the goutes the belly vnto gripings the sides to pleurisies the stomack to rawnesse the lights to the cough the head to a thousand diseases we neede but a Spider or other little worme to kill vs wee neede but a haire or a crumme to strangle vs in summe the flesh with all it strength is nothing else but grasse Is it to day greene and pleasant let but the Sithe passe it will cut downe a thousand leaues at once which in an howre will be drie and withered The Greekes doe call the body of man in their language Soma and Demas whereof the one is taken from a phrase which signifieth to binde and the other comes neere to that which signifieth Sepulchre for to shew vnto vs in what estate and disposition soeuer he be he doth represent rather death vnto vs then life and seruitude then liberty As for the soule it is first subiect to all the euils and diseases of the body for it is vnpossible if that be ill but that for the coniunction amity which is betweene them it must endure and feele paine Moreouer shee hath her owne as ignorance sinne mistrust suspicion iealousie hatred enuie loue lust ambition and passions the which as tormentors do hale her the one one way the other another as if they would pull it to pieces I leaue a million of importunities which she hath and which man taketh to attaine to his purposes to liue in rest and at ease to be in honour to maintaine his alliances and friendships to beware of his enemies to encrease his house to maintaine and keepe it in it greatnesse the which doe torment vs oft-times in such sort that we can neither eate nor sleepe at ease And we must not thinke that there is any estate exempt from this misery begin at the highest Prince or Emperour that euer was in the world and so discoursing descend to the poorest begger that euer the earth did beare and you shall not finde one content neither the Artificer nor the Merchant nor the Aduocate nor the Gentleman nor the Duke nor the King enter into their closets there you shall often finde them as said Menander laid vpon their beds with a mournfull voyce and pittifull crying Alas alas Valeriê° speaketh of a King vnto whom the Scepter and Diademe were offered before he put it on his head he tooke it in his hands then hauing looked long vpon it he cryeth out O Diademe if one knew the miseries and incumbrances which thou doest bring there is no man that finding thee vpon the ground would once take thee vp shewing by that exclamation that the life of Kings is lesse happy then that of priuate persons Tiberius Caesar vnder whom Christ was crucified and who commanded that he should be worshipped as a God also as Tertullian recordes it after the death of Augustus his predecessour who by will had left him heire as well of his goods as of the Empire which being offered him by the Senate according to custome doubted a great while whether he might accept of it by reason of the feare that hee had of the weight of this charge and of the paine that he was to suffer in the vndergoing of it Dioclesian after hee had held the Empire some twenty yeares left it of his owne accord chose for the rest of his time to liue a peaceable and domesticall life wherin after the great agitations and stormes of trouble which he had had during the time of his gouernement he found the rest to be so sweet and pleasing his minde so contented and freed that many times amongst his familiars he did witnesse that the time had neuer seemed so good to him nor his sun-shine daies so pleasant shewing by these wordes how he did abhorre the imperiall life although that few Emperours before or after him had had such honours in victories and other prosperities as he had These examples do sufficiently shew that the life of Kings is not so happy as some men sometimes esteeme them more by errour then by reason and they are so farre from being at quiet and without trouble that by reason of the great care and trouble that they haue the auncient Greekes surnamed them anacas dia tô anacôs échin sayth Plutarke in expounding the words which is as much according to his exposition as who should say carefull By how much a tree is planted and seated in higher place by so much the more is it subiect to the winde also are the great men more then the commons to diuers fortunes and accidents the thunder-bolts and the tempests fall ordinarily in high places so do the great and pittifull misfortunes vpon men of state and renowne And if in this world the estates which wee esteeme most of are subiect to so many mishaps what may we thinke of others which we our selues by reason of the discommodities which are ioyned vnto them doe flie from the esteeme vnhappy So wee see that there is not any estate that of it selfe doth make a body happy or contented and as in estates besides the common miseries euery one hath his owne particular also haue all the ages of man euils which are proper vnto them In his child-hood he is
is it not a perpetuall rest whereinto he himselfe is entred since the creation of the world When we do pray vnto him that his kingdome come is it not to the end that we should be in peace and rest Finally what doe wee hope for at his handes is it not that Then the rest which God hath promised vs which we demaund of him which we wait for briefe which we doe purpose as the end and conclusion of al that we doe and vndertake is giuen vs by no other meanes but by death Some seeke for it in their goods which they loue supposing there to finde it others in study others in voluptuousnesse and worldly pleasures but all that is but an abuse For it is found but in death which we ought more to loue for this reason then the world doth his pleasure the couetous man his treasure the scholler his bookes or the ambitious his humours by reason that in one houre it putteth into our hands and giues vs the enioying of goods which they cannot finde by great labour all their life time in the aforesaid things Afterwards death causeth that by it we are content satisfied and very happy Happy are those which depart in the faith of our Lord saith S. Iohn Then is this blessednes the soueraigne good whereunto we aspire and which we cannot finde in this world where we are neuer content If we haue goods we desire knowledge if we haue knowledge wee desire honours if we haue honours we desire health if we haue health we desire to be young briefely we alwaies want something which we seeke after and when we cannot get it that is a cause of grudging and discontentment Then shall we be fully satisfied as saith Dauid when by death we are come to the Kingdome of God and his glory hath appeared vnto vs. In it are all things it is the soueraigne good which in it dooth comprehend all other therefore when wee shall haue it our appetite and desire shall rest in it we shall rest there without going any further without demaunding or seeking for any thing else Then shall be accomplished that which IESSVS CHRIST hath promised to all his faithfull who beleeuing in him with an entire faith and such a one as God requires in his word will raise vp in their hearts a spring of water of life springing to life eternall We shall no more feare any thing being no more in danger we shall desire nothing hauing all in our possession we shall hope for nothing for all promises shall bee accomplished wee shall no more aske any thing for we shall haue no more neede God shall bee all in all If wee will be rich we shall then haue him that doth inrich all those that call vppon his holy name If we will be wise we shall haue the heauenly wisedome if we will be mightie we shall haue the Almightie if we desire to be good we shall haue the onely excellent good if we will be faire we shall haue the great Architect and perfect workman of all things If we will be healthfull and liue long we shall haue the eternall All our senses shall be rauished with the greatnesse of the pleasures which they shall haue and feele Our eyes seeing the great sumptuous and magnificent Pallace of our God seeing the perfect soueraign beauty of his bright shining face seeing the Sun of iustice the fountaine of water of life the tree of life the Paradice that is to say the pleasant garden of our God his faire and noble company of Angels of Apostles Patriarches Martyrs and of all the blessed spirits And if the onely sight of Iesus Christ transfigured in the mountaine was of such great power that S. Peter all other thinges forgotten in an instant was thereby transported out of himselfe and desired so to remaine perpetually what may we thinke of the ioy and pleasure that he receiues who seeth IESVS CHRIST glorified and with him his Father his holy Spirit and all the abouesaid assembly Eye hath not seene eare hath not heard heart hath neuer conceiued the good the pleasure the rest and the contentment prepared for those which God hath elected to saluation Our eares shall likewise be rauished hearing the discourses and Sermons of the incomprehensible wisedome of our God Againe the good musicke the sweet and pleasant accords of the Angels and Saints reigning with him which sing without ceasing To the holy holy holy God of battailes be honor and glory for euer and euer Salomon vpon the earth rauished the people and made them astonished at the great wisdome and knowledge that was in him So did IESVS CHRIST also when he preached What can he then now do in heauen where all the great treasures of his diuine eloquence are vnfolded and laid open When Aeschines had repeated to the Rhodians the Oration of Demosthenes for the which he was banished seeing that they maruelled at it What would you haue done said hee if you had heard him pronounce it We also that are so rauished onely with the reading of the holy Scriptures when wee shall heare Iesus Christ pronounce them and with open mouth discourse continually with vs shall we not stand stocke still before him In the like extasie as was S. Paul being rauished into the third heauens shall we not haue our eyes setled with continuall looking vpon our Master and our eares alwaies attentiue to hearken vnto him Plato gaue God thankes for three thinges for that he was a man for that he was a Grecian for that he had bene so happy as to heare Socrates And shall not we giue him thanks for that we are Christians for that we are heauenly and for that by the meanes of death wee hope once to haue facultie to heare the wisedome of God VVe haue said what wee shall see and heare what shall we tast we shall be set at the table of our Lord where we shall haue abundance of all good things It shall be all couered with meates that he hath fattened and reserued a long while since for that banquet we shall there be fed with the bread of Angels we shall be made to drink in brooks of pleasure we shall be glutted and filled with all good things we shall be alwaies at Nuptials and in an instant we shall forget all the delights of the earth hauing tasted those of heauen as did the companions of Vlysses all other meates when they had eaten Lotos so celebrated by Homer It is an other manner of Manna then that of the children Israel for they waxed weary of it and were sorry in the desert that they had lost the quailes and flesh-pots of Egypt But we in heauen at the first taste of the meates which there shall be serued vs shall loose then all the lickorishnesse of this world VVee haue heere eaten of the fruites of the tree of knowledge of good and euill against the command of the Physitian VVhereupon followed the sicknesse of all and
when he seeth the day comming wherin he doth hope to haue liberty and quietly to enioy his goods So ought euery faithfull man seeing the day of his death draw neere in the which he shall be put in possession of all the goods which God hath giuen him and the gift wholly resigned When a man that hath vndertaken some long and tedious iourney hauing trauelled many daies and being wearied on the way seeth the gate of the town whither he goes doth he not reioyce and as it were leape for ioy Doth he not giue God thankes going into the towne that it hath pleased him to conduct and bring him safely thither Now euer since wee were borne we haue alwaies bene in this world as strangers we haue done nothing else but trauell in this low place as in great desert we haue heere wearied oâ—â—elues then seeing death neere vnto vs that is to say the gate whereby wee must enter into the kingdome of our God and the staires whereby wee must ascend vnto his holy mountaine haue wee not occasion to consolate our selues and to leape for ioy considering that we are almost arriued at the place where we hope to rest perpetually If poore Adam being driueÌ„ out of the earthly Paradise after he had tasted of the miseries whereinto hee had precipitate himselfe by his sinne had beene called thither againe and set in his first estate what occasion should he haue had to reioyce And we also who after so many and diuers afflictions are called out by God by the means of death into no earthly but heauenly Paradise not Adams but Gods where there is no sin where there is no Serpent where there is no forbidding briefe where there is no feare nor shame When Noah after the flood and falling of the waters which had broken and torne all began to see the firme land he did reioyce and for ioy sacrificed to God for a thanksgiuing although it was accursed and brought forth thornes and thistles as before VVhat more great occasion shall wee haue when after the great flouds and desolations which wee haue seene in this world 〈◊〉 shall beginne to see and salute the land of the liuing the blessed land the land that was promised to the good the land flowing with Milke and Honey and all sweete and sauory things When Ioseph after hee had a long time beene prisoner in great calamitie suddenly without thinking thereone was raised to such dignitie that hee was next the King in Egypt making lawes and ordinances for to dispose the State and Kingdome had not hee matter of consolation VVee haue no lesse but much more when after our prisons captiuities seruitudes banishmentes and so many other afflictions which wee suffer in this world wee by death are in a moment lifted vp from the dunghill into heauen there to reigne with IESVS CHRIST and to bee partakers of his glory of his honour of his faith of his rest and of his table VVas it not a great ioy to the Iewes who had beene captiue three score yeares in Babylon amongest the Idolaters in great miserie depriued of the vse and commoditie of spirituall thinges as to assemble together to prayse God and to heare his word and to doe other thinges appertayning to the office of a Christian weeping sometimes when they were by themselues and hanging vp their Harpes and Instruments through griefe that they could not serue God according to their desires nor sing his prayses among the strangers for to haue the Kings letters to returne into their countrey build their Temple and there according to their ancient manner in all liberty serue praise and worship their God It is lesse to vs when after a long and redious captiuitie that we haue endured in this world conuersing with Idolaters vnbeleeuers blasphemers despisers of God and of his word we are deliuered and haue our pasport to goe into this celestiall Ierusalem and into the holy Temple of our God there for to praise him perpetually and in beholding his goodnesse to glorifie and sanctifie his holy name Death is also to be desired by reason that with our sorrowes it also ends our mourning we in this world are alwaies sad heauie and malancoly In it we weepe we sigh and alwaies weare the blacke weede But when by death wee goe forth of it to goe into the house of our Bridegroome wee put off and leaue the mourning weed for to take our goodly and sumptuous abiliments With goodly Robes rich and imbrodered Before the Kings she shall in state be led Saith our diuine Poet Esay and euerlasting ioy shall be powred on those which haue bene the faithfull sereants of God and then shall be accomplished that which hath bene promised them You that doe weepe in this world are happie for you shall laugh there shall be no more griefe nor complayning nor teares for God at our comming into his kingdome will wipe them away from our eyes we shall be comforted and we shall rest in Abrahams bosome as did Lazarus there shall be no other question but of singing and saying euery one to our soules Go to praise God in all things oh my soule And all my parts without let or controlle Praise his most good holy and blessed name Say to the Harpe and other instruments Go to awake that you may now be set vp againe in the estate to serue God and praise him for his goodnesse say to all the Church Giue vnto God praise and renowne For hee 's louing and kinde And which is more his gracious loue Shall dure world without end Say to all creattures blesse the Lord in all his works praise and exalt his name Blesse God ye Angels of heauen Sunne Moone Fire Ayre Water Earth Trees and Beasts A maide that hath long time bene betrothed desires that the day of her mariage were come and when it is come shee reioyceth seeing that shee shall soone be brought to her husbands house to dwell perpetually with him wee ought also to comfort our selues when the time drawes neere that our Lord must come and wee ought to attend him waking as did the fiue wife Virgines that so soone as hee shall bee come wee may goe in to the wedding with him and that the gate be not shutte against vs as it was against the fiue foolish becaue they were fallen asleepe An other reason why death is to bee wished for is that it causeth vs to see our friend and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST of whom we haue as yet seene but the picture The Prophets and Apostles haue described him vnto vs so faire of such a comely stature so courteous so vertuous so loyall so eloquent so louely so noble so rich so louing of vs that for our saluation hee did abandon his owne life which ought more to moue vs then any other thing Where is that maid who hauing heard of so many perfections to be in her friend would not burne and be altogether transported with desire and affection to
see him If our King or some Prince of renowne comes into our countrey we desire to see him because of the report which we haue heard of his vertue and valour If Hercules Alexander the great Caesar Cato of whom we so much commend the ancient pictures were now in this world we would through curiositie goe a hundred miles to see them with what an affection then should we aspire to that day in the which we shall face to face see and behold that so mightie Prince who with an inuincible force hath broken the head of all our enemies who like vnto a valiant Iosua in despite of them hath brought vs through the dangers and conducted vs into the land which God had promised vs What a pleasure shall it be to vs to see him glorious in order and in triumphant array and round about him the goodly trophees of his great victories set vp It is said that when Alexander had ouercome Darius King of the Persians entring into the place where he made his residence He sits downe in his throne and that presently a Greeke Gentleman of his company began to weepe for ioy in speaking these words O happy day in the which we see our King victorious against the Barbarians and their pride troddeÌ„ vnder foot O that all Grecia had now the sight the pleasure of this spectacle Think what ioy it will be also to euery faithfull man to see Iesus Christ in his royal seat holding vnder his feet all his enemies ours but specially the serpeÌ„t whose head is alreadie broken and now hee doth nothing else but wagge his tayle waiting his finall end which shall bee at the day of iudgement May Kings and Princes did with great affection desire to see him when he was on earth accustomed like a seruant Simeon because he saw him so did so reioyce and was so satisfied that he feared no more to die ought not we more to desire to see him in heauen in a kingly robe with company greatnesse maiestie and pompe and in the state of a Lotd The Queene of Saba who being induced by the rumour which was spred ouer all the earth of the great Court of King Salamon came running thither from the farthest part of the South to see him and to heare his wisedome after she had diligently considered his great and maruellous wisedome the order the splendour and state of his house stood all astonied with great admiration said O how happie are the seruants of thy house who may see thy face euery day and heare thy diuine speeches let vs say also O thrice and foure times happy are the faithfull who dying goe directly to heauen to be hold the face of Iesus Christ who is much more then Salomon For the onely contemplation of it makes man content in euery point in taking from vs the memory and feeling of all other pleasures causeth that we cannot nor will not turne our eyes and thoughts from it Now death doth not onely cause vs to see Iesus Christ but maketh vs with him to behold the Angels the Patriarkes the Prophets the Apostles the Martyrs which haue beene singular in graces and vertues And if any man that hath a hart towards God desires to see the Church well ordered in this world and preferreth it to all that can be giuen him albeit the order of is neuer so great but that there will be many things more to be desired with what vehemence and heate should he wish to see it in heauen without spot or wrinkle shining like the Sunne clothed in robes as white as Snowe set forth in nuptiall order The last reason for the which wee ought to desire death is that by it our spirite being parted from the body which doth clog it is more at liberty and more capable to looke into the mysteries of God We liue all in this world with a natural desire to know therefore is it that for our contentment we seeke alwayes to heare and see some nouelties then is it not possible that here beneath we should come to any great knowledge chiefely of the truth as well because that of it selfe it is obscure and hard to know as for the cares perturbations afflictions passions c. wherewith our minde is intangled and hindered whiles it is in our bodies which are vnto it as dust in a mans eye which doth hinder it from discerning any thing vnderstandingly It is the reason wherefore God said to Moyses that whiles we liue wee cannot see it cleerely for the which also S. Paul sayth That we know but in part and S. Iohn That we see the mysteries of our God but as it were in a glasse or through a window but when our soule shall be parted from this body and the vaile taken away which blindeth her eyes then shal it behold and see God face to face then shal it haue the perfect knowledge of him of Iesus Christ his Sonne in it eternal life We shal behold that which now we worship for we shal enter into the Sanctuary of our Lord and there shall looke on him without ceasing the propitiation the Cherubins nothing neither of the law nor the Gospell shal be any more vnknowne or hid from vs. God wil shew vnto vs as vnto his friends familiars all the riches of his house he will talke friendly with vs wil impart all vnto vr An ancient man turning from merchandise being entred into the hall where Demetriê° Phalereê° read when he had hard him a litle while begins to complaine said O vnhappy man that I am haue the good of this world bin cause that I haue bin so long depriued of such good things as these Let vs also say O miserable life wilt thou dure much longer wilt thou not shortly let vs go whither we aspire which is the schoole of our God Must we lose so many dayes Happy death wilt thou not hasten to bring vs thither We see by these reasons what occasion we haue to feare flie from and complain of death which is a rest sleepe most delightfull aboue all other for there is no noise nor dreames to trouble or interrupt it it is a holsome medicine which being swallowed doth heale vs of all diseases taketh al pain from vs. Which Socrates considering after he had drunke the poyson by the commandement of the Athenians who had vniustly condemned him to die when the venom was dispersed in his members his friend Crito a litle before he gaue vp the ghost had asked him if he would commaund him nothing no said he but that thou offer sacrifices to Aesculapiê° the god of physick to giue him thankes for I neuer tooke a medicine of such great force nor which wrought better It is a great shame that these Pagans in their ignorance and infidelity seeme to bee better instructed and more vertuous then wee are for wee feare death and flie from it as an euill thing and they hold
and esteeme it as an incomparable good Epaminondas at the houre of his death perceiuing his friends about his bedde weeping comforted them saying Reioyce O my friends for your friend Epaminondas is going to begin to liue Is death then an euill which hath nothing else of that which we esteeme death but the name and reputation for indeed it is a life Also is this life a good which hath but the name of it for in effect it is a very death both the one and the other as saith Saint Iohn Chrysostome is masked and haue both false faces Life which is so euill fauoured hath the faire which maketh it to be beloued death which is so faire hath the vgly which maketh it to be feared and hated When it presents it selfe vnto vs so masked at the first it seemes fearefull but if wee put vp the maske wee shall finde it vnderneath so faire and beautifull that presently wee shall bee inflamed with the loue of it Let vs then take away this vaine feare of death let vs beleeue that which is true that it is the greatest good that can happen vnto vt That which anciently Apollo answered to Pindar being questioned what thing hee did esteeme the most healthfull profitable to man To die answered he It is said of Cleobis and Biton that God would recompence them for their piety and obedience respect which they had borne towards their mother Now hauing giuen them leaue to demaund what they would they referred themselues to his iudgement as knowing best what is most profitable and necessary for vs then our selues What came of it the same day they died Whereby did appeare that there is nothing more profitable vnto man then death by the which we are ledde into a place of pleasure where we begin to liue In the olde time the Sepulchres were built in gardens which was done not onely for to bring into our mindes our end in taking of our pleasures and delights and by that meanes to moderate them but also for to instruct vs that death is a consecutiue after pleasure and Paradice and is as a passage for to enter into a pleasant Orchard it is the reason for the which at Athens when they buried the dead bodies they turned their faces towards the East and not towards the West to shew that in death our life and light begins Why doe we put our bodies in Sepulchres as in chests if it be not to shew that they are not lost but layed vp as pretious vessels of the holy Ghost that in time they shall be taken forth and shall be put into light for the decoration of the house of their Lord. These things considered let vs take away all feare and apprehension of death let vs reioyce and sing as doe the Swannes when they are neere their death let vs say with Dauid Lord I haue beene glad when it hath beene said vnto me Goe to let vs goe into the house of our Lord. It remaines now before we end this present Treatise to shew how we should behaue our selues at the death of our friends and how to mittigate the sorrowes which we conceiue for them which to do we must consider that which followeth First the vnauoidable necessity of al men the which cannot be remedied neyther by counsaile nor any other meanes Dauid hauing a regard thereunto did comfort him-himselfe after the death of his little childe for whom hee had wept and prayed so much during his sickenesse when there was yet some hope to impetrate of God by humble prayers that he would restore him to health but when he saw that it was too late that all teares were now vaine and vnprofitable he left his mourning and began to reioyce Iesus Christ saith that euery day hath afflictions enough of it selfe to trouble vs without that we should heape on those of others or of those that are gone renuing it by the remembrance of them or of those which are to come anticipating by feare and coniecture It is an instruction most necessary and which we ought all to take for the rest and tranquillity of our mindes Secondly we must consider whē our friends die that it is the will of God which doth nor ordeyneth nothing but for the good of his children as saith S. Paul to those that are loued of God all things succced turne to their profit if we do not beleeue that we are vnbeleeuers if we beleeue it we ought not to grieue for any thing that befals vs for all is profitable to vs. Now there is no great reason that we should hide vs from our profit The soueraigne wisdome of God is cause that there is nothing better done then that which he doth and his goodnes that there is nothing better if there be nothing better nor better done then that which he ordeyneth and disposeth and he disposeth of vs and of our affaires and generally of all that which hapneth vnto vs why do we 〈◊〉 row why doe we desire any thing else For we cannot haue any thing that is better why do we complaine For all is well and cannot be better done We must thirdly thinke that to dye is a thing general and common to all We passe and flye away as doth the water of a brook and it is an act and statute of our God that we must dye all if then that happen vnto vs which is common to all is it not a great folly and pride in vs to desire to be exempt from the common condition and to wish for a particular What are we the worse that our friends are dead so doe those of our neighbours die Menander writing to a friend of his to comfort him alleadged this reason vnto him Thou shouldest haue sayth he iust occasion to grieue if thy fortune and destiny were worse then other mens but if it be alike why dost thou complain There are more that if we would diligently consider and make an intire comparison betweene vs and others we should finde there are an infinite many worse fortuned then we are And that is true which Anaxagoras said as reporteth Valerius the great that if it were possible to assemble all the miseries of the world on a heape for afterwards to part them by equall portions there is not hee but would rather chuse his owne then his part of the whole heape Seeing that we are not alone losing our friends and that if we will looke into it wee shall finde that there are enough more ill at ease then we let vs content our selues that so it pleaseth God and let vs not desire immortall friends where we see those of others to be but mortall Againe let vs thinke that it is a naturall thing to die as it is for winter to be colde and sommer hote Our bodies saith S. Paul are mortall Then let vs not maruell if in winter there be raine frost and snow for the season brings it Let vs not maruell that the night
God tooke him as he did Enocke for feare lest by the malice and corruption of this age he should change When the fruit is ripe must it not be gathered for feare lest it should rot on the tree Others say hee died in the prime of his age by so much the happier is he for as said Anacharsis that shippe is happiest which arriueth first at the port Moreouer there is no certaine time determined for all men to die but as we see in fruit time some are gathered sooner then the others so is it amongst men There are some also that say we must honour the dead by mourning for them falling into the superstition of the Iewes who holding this opinion did hire certaine singers musitians to sing pittifull funeral songs for the death of their friēds which Iesus Christ did reproue in the house of the Prince of the Synagogue not without cause for it is not good in praise of a body to mourne for it complaints teares are rather signes of miserie then any thing els We do not now weep for the holy Martyrs which yet we should doe if in teares there did consist any honor but we honor them by a remembrance of them with blessing thankesgiuing and by paine and study we endeauour to follow them If likewise wee haue a friend whom we will honor after his death it must not be with teares and lamentations but rather by an honorable mention which we are to make of him and of his vertues and by a desire which we haue to imitate and follow his good and laudable fashion It is time to conclude this present Treatise and to resolue the precedent reasons that wee must neither feare nor flie from death but rather loue and desire it more then life and preferre the day of our death before the day of our birth for by our birth we come to paine and affliction and dying we goe to God and to a perpetuall rest Which the Greeks haue very fitly shewed vs for in their language the day of our natiuity is called Genethlia that is to say in the same language Genesis ton athlon and in our French tongue beginning of troubles and death is called Thanatos which is as much as to say according to the interpretation of Themiste Now vp to God Let vs then strictly examin them iudge of them that wee may take away the feare of the one the excessiue loue of the other God through his holy spirit giue vs the grace to do it So be it Prayers and Meditations touching Life and Death THE life of Christians ought to be occupied in considering the things that follow and to put them in practise to wit to haue alwaies in remembrance the benefits which they haue receiued at the hands of God to giue him thanks for them without ceasing both wih heart and mouth to loue him who is the goodnesse it selfe to feare and worship him seeing he is the Almightie and onely wise to be stirred vp by the loue which they beare to God also to loue their neighbours The loue of God drawes vs from the loue of corruptible things lifts vs vp to heauen and inflames our hearts to a holinesse of life The loue of our neighbour turnes vs from all troublesomenesse in will or in deed doth stirre vs vp to integrity and well doing An other LET vs often thinke what we are The principall part of vs is the Soule the which is endued with vnderstanding with reason and with iudgement to know the soueraigne good which is God to loue him to adhere and vnite our selues vnto him that we may haue part of his immortality and happinesse Now we forsake and contemne this great good for to grouell vpon the earth and to goe downe into the pit of carnall desires applying the vigour of our vnderstanding and iudgement to things that are not worth the paines that we employ in them We burie our selues quicke by manner of speaking of heauenly we become earthly and of men created for eternall life we endeuour as much as in vs lieth to set our selues in the ranke of brute beasts God doth not forsake vs neuerthelesse although that our ingratitude hath well deserued it but calles vs vnto him by his word presents vnto vs infinite testimonies of his grace continues it daily he supports exhorts counsels chides and fatherly chastiseth vs Neuerthelesse we continue blinde deafe and negligent despising his goodnesse or vse it not as we should or indeed abusing it which is worse we loue vaine and transitory things better and haue our mindes too much fixed and setled vpon them God stretcheth forth his hand to conduct vs we draw back ours and flie when he calleth vs. If he put vs into the way of saluation we grudge and repine for the worlde we looke behinde vs deferring and remitting our desire to dwel til to morrow Let vs awake then let vs not alwayes stick in the mire let vs strengthē ourselues in the vertue of him that supports succours vs let vs a little vndertake to despise corruptible things and to desire those that are truly good and euerlasting When God calleth vs let vs hearken if he guides vs let vs follow him that we may come to his house let vs receiue his good things and himselfe too for he giues himselfe vnto vs in the person of his Sonne He shewes vs the meanes to get to heauen let vs then desire of him to giue vs the will and the courage by faith repentance charity and hope to ayme thither and that he would maintaine his grace in vs vntill the end to sigh in this mortall life and to waite through the assurance of his mercy for our departure out of this world and our last day which shall be the beginning of our true life Prayers and Meditations HOW great are the illusions and impostures of the enemy of our saluation He sheweth vs a farre off things that are ridiculous and vaine and perswades vs that it is all good and happinesse he scares vs with things that we ought not to feare makes vs to flie from those things which we ought to embrace Hee calleth inticeth and flattereth vs by the intermission of our desires if that will not serue he roares and stormes and endeuours to astonish vs within and without O eternall light and veritie O Lord and mercifull Father disperse those clouds of ignorance and errour illuminate our vnderstandings and doe not suffer vs to come neer to that which thou hast commanded vs to flie from and which is hurtfull and pernicious vnto vs let vs not desire but what is truly to be desired to wit thy selfe who art the spring-head of all goodnesse of our life and of eternall happinesse All flesh is grasse and the glory of man is like the flower of the field cause then that we may seeke for our firmenesse and contentment in the grace which thy Sonne hath brought vs let our life
the more to thee But seeing thou knowest mee better then I know my selfe if it be thy pleasure to put me to any triall giue me necessary force patience to glorifie thee conuerting all the euill that may happen vnto mee to good and saluation And if in supporting my weaknesse thy goodnesse is pleased to aduertise mee by some light affliction cause that this thy well willing may draw mee more and more to loue and honour thee to giue thee thanks for the care which thou hast of thy poore little seruant and by that meanes to dispose me to weight for thee at my death that after it I may finde the life which thou hast purchased for me by thy death and therein with thee to haue part in ioy and rest for euer Amen An other LOrd God heauenly Father when I consider in how many sorts I haue sinned before thy face and against thy high maiesty I haue horrour in my selfe in thinking that I haue so often turned from thee Propitious and fauourable Father I detest my ingratitude seeing in what seruitude of sinne I haue bene too often precipitate selling as much as in me lay the precious liberty which thy Son had purchased for mee I condemne my folly I altogether dislike of my selfe I see nothing but death and mishap hanging ouer my head and my conscience rising for a Iudge witnesse of my iniquities But when on the other side I enter into a contemplation of thy infinite mercy the which surmoūteth all thy works and in the which if so I dare to speake thou surmountest thy selfe my soule is comforted And indeed why should I make my selfe beleeue that I cannot find grace before him that summons and so often and gently calles the sinners to repentance protesting expresly that hee desires not the death of a sinner but rather that he turne from his wickednesse and liue Moreouer thy onely Sonne hath so well assured vs that we shall finde fauour in thy sight by the sweete wordes which he himselfe hath vttered as that of the lost sheepe and of the prodigall sonne the image of whom I acknowledge my selfe to bee that I should be most vnthankfull incredulous and wicked to goe backe to be ashamed of thy presence although I am wretched seeing thou dost so stretch forth thy hand vnto mee and draw mee to thee with such a pitifull affection I haue very vildly forsaken thee O benigne Father I haue vnhappily let slip thy graces and adhering to the desires of my flesh and straying from thy obedience I haue wrapped my selfe in the base seruitude of sinne I am fallen into extreme misery I know not whither to retire vnlesse it be towards thee whom I haue abandoned Let thy mercy receiue this poore supplication whom thou hast supported during his errours I am vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee or to call thee Father But I pray thee bow downe thine eyes to mee seeing thou wilt haue it so and that without that I am in the power of thine enemies The sight of thy face will reuiue me and bring me againe to thee Seeing I haue some displeasure in my selfe I know thou lookest vpon me that thou hast giuen mee eyes to see the danger wherein I was thou hast sought found me in death and in the world hast through thy mercy giuen mee a desire to enter into thy house I dare not desire that thou shoudest kisse and embrace mee nor that thou shouldst weepe for ioy that thou hast found thy poore seruant and slaue I do not demaund the pretious ornaments wherewith thou doest honour thy great seruants and most affectionate children It is inough for me to bee in the troope of the least of thy house amiddest the greatest sinners that haue obtained pardon of thee and that haue some shelter in thy Pallace where there are so many dwellings That euen in thy house I may bee as little as thou shalt please prouided that thou wilt auouch me thine for euer O mercifull Father I beseech thee that for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne my onely Sauiour thou wouldest giue mee thy holy Spirit which may I purifie my heart and strengthen mee in such sort that I may alwaies dwell in thy house there to serue thee in holinesse and iustice all the daies of my life Amen Prayers WHat doe we in this world but heape sinnes vpon sinnes so that the morrow is alwaies worse then the day before and we doe not cease drawing thy indignation vpon vs But being out of this world in thy heritage we shall be altogether assured of our perfect eternall felicity the miseries of the bodies shall be abolished the vices filthinesse of the soule shall he done to nothing O heauenly Father increase our faith in vs for feare lest we should doubt of things so certaine imprint thy grace and thy loue in our hearts which may lift vs vp to thee and strengthen vs in thy feare And because thou hast lodged vs in this world there for to remaine as long as it shall please thee without declaring vnto vs the day of our departure the which thou alone knowest I doe beseech thee to take mee out of it when thou shalt know the time to hee come and then to doe me that good that I may acknowledge the same that in the meane while I may fit my selfe thereunto as thou hast appointed by thy holy name Amen An other THis bodie is the prison of the Soule yea a darke prison narrow and fearefull wee are as it were banished men in this world our life is but woe and misery to the contrary Lord it is in thy heauenly kingdome that we finde our liberty our countrey and our perfect contentment Awake our soules by thy word to the remembrance and apprehension of such a good imprint in our hearts the loue and the desire of the euerlasting good things and onely to bee wished for giue vnto our consciences some taste of that ioy wherewith the happie soules which are in heauen are filled that I may hold as doung and filth all that which the worldlings find so faire and couet so much which so obstinately they retaine and doe adore with such feruency Cause that finding taste but in thy verity and grace I may waite for calling vpon thee the day of my perfect deliuerance through IESVS CHRIST thy Sonne to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be glory euerlasting Amen Another LOrd Iesus the onely saluation of the liuing life euerlasting of the dead I submit my selfe to thy holy will whether it be thy pleasure yet to suffer my soule to bee some space within this body for to serue thee or that it please thee to take it out of prison being assured that what thou keepest cannot perish I am content with all my heart that my body returne into the earth from whence it was taken beleeuing the last resurrection which shall make it immortall incorruptible and full of
glory I doe beseech thee to fortifie my soule against all temptation enuiron me with the buckler of thy mercy to beate backe the darts of Sathan as for me I am weakenes it selfe but I relie vpon thy strength and goodnesse I cannot alleadge any good thing before thee whereof to boast to the contrary alas my sinnes infinite in number accuse and torment me but thy merite assures me that I shall be saued for I hold for certaine that thou wert borne for me that thou wert tempted that thou hast obeyed to God thy father that thou hast taught and bought life euerlasting for me seeing thou hast giuen thy selfe to mee with all these good things let not such a gift be vnprofitable let thy blood wipe out the filth of my faults thy iustice couer my iniquities thy merites make me to finde grace before the heauenly Throne If my euils doe increase augment thy grace in me so that faith hope and charity may not die but rather waxe strong in me that the apprehension of death doe not daunt me but that euen after this body shall be as it were dead cause that the eyes of my soule may lift themselues vp to heauen that the heart may then crie feruently vnto thee Lord I commend my soule into thy hands fulfill thy worke for thou hast bought me I am thine by the gift of thy Father to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be euerlasting glory AMEN TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND PVISSANT PRINCESSE THE Lady Iagueline of Rohan Marquiso of Rothelin Princesse of Castelaillon c. THat which hath giuen me occasion Madame to write this Treatise of the Resurrection in the which consisteth all the hope of our saluation is to warrant the faithfull against the impiety of those who desiring neuer to giue accounts of their workes ordinarily scoffing at this doctrine and say with those that were in the time of the Prophets Isa 21. 16. Let vs eate and drinke for to morrow we shall die Wisd 2. Which is cause that they not onely abandon themselues to all impiety perswading themselues that after this life there is neither pleasure nor sorrow but also doe stirre vp others to doe the like perswading them that the Lord doth so abide in heauen enioying of his happinesse that he cares not for the gouernement of men of whom there shall be no more mention after death then of other creatures Which heresie taking away all hope of euerlasting happinesse doth also take away from those that follow it the courage to liue wel holily for in all actions as saith Chrysostome whether corporall or spirituall Mat. 22. Hom. 41. that which causeth to doe is the hope of the prise to come for he that tilleth tilleth to reap he that fighteth fighteth for victory Seeing then that it is so difficult in this life to keepe holinesse and iustice who is he that would take it in good part to fight daily against himselfe if he had not some regard to the hope of the resurrection wherefore who so taketh away this hope taketh with it all the reuerence due to piety and iustice Now so it is Madam that hauing seene the booke which is dedicated vnto you of the preparation of death and hauing knowen the pleasure that you take in the reading thereof for the singular deuotion which you haue to the heauenly countrey where through Iesus Christ our common hope you looke for your perfect and soueraigne beatitude I haue perswaded my selfe that for to increase in you this holy desire it would not be to ill purpose that I did offer vnto you this my little Treatise yet the better to mitigate the horror that we haue all naturally of the separation of the soule from the bodie knowing that there is no doctrine that can cause vs to seeke for heauen with a better heart and to despise the world then this and that all the reasons that may bee alleadged for to prepare vs to goe willingly out of this miserable age are of very little power if they be not grounded vpon this Article of faith as also hee that is well perswaded cannot but must desire with the Apostle to be out of this world Phil. 2. for to be with Iesus Christ his Sauiour Wherefore knowing the singular graces which God bestowes vppon you in ratifying his dilection vnto you and giuing vnto you a full resolution of your saluation in his Sonne by a liuely faith shining in you by the most ardent desire that you haue to perseuere in his seruice in the middest of his Church I present vnto you this my little labour in the which you shall finde a liuely Image and true and certaine description of that euerlasting happines vnto the which God calleth you for the which you haue learned to despise the vanity of the world and to settle your hart altogether vpon the inestimable treasures of the kingdom of heauen It is true that in describing the felicity to come of the iust and the euerlasting condemnation of the vniust I haue taken the similitudes and comparisons which the scripture vseth not only when it speaketh of the future felicity and beatitude of the elect and condemnation of the reprobate but euen those which it vseth to specifie the prosperity which God giueth his in this world and the punishment wherewith he threatneth and punisheth the wicked euen in this life But I haue done that because that according to my opinion the felicity of the one and the ill hap of the others which are incomprehensible vnto vs in this life are more liuely represented vnto vs by such holy circumlocutions or examples Now Madam I humbly beseech your excellency to receiue this little present with as good will as it is presented vnto you by him who all his life shall be your obliged seruant And so Madam after I haue commended my selfe very humbly vnto your excellencies good graces I will beseech our eternall God Madam that in giuing you and all yours health long and happy life he will augment vnto you from day to day the gifts and graces of his spirit that you may better and better serue to the aduancement of his glory and to the edification of his people So be it A BRIEFE AND CLEERE DECLARATION OF the Resurrection of the DEAD FOr as much as in all times there haue beene some who haue mocked at the Resurrection and haue vtterly denied it Mat. 12. Act. 17. 1. Cor. 15. it is not without good cause that the Apostle S. Paul doth so carefully teach vs that the dead shal rise againe for euen as this knowledge doth bring vnto vs a soueraigne ioy and consolation and doth giue vs a will and affection to follow vnto the end IESVS CHRIST our head and Spouse Eph. 5. to bee crowned with him with that eternall beatitude which God hath prepared for his children Also likewise those that are not assured of the resurrection Mat. 25. which is
of this life and not to loade their soules with the burthen of sinne to the end that dying they may bee raised vp towards God our Father and IESVS CHRIST our Sauiour vnto whom we ought with a stedfast faith recommend them Now euen as the faithfull doe reioyce at it the vnfaithfull on the other side knowing the soules to bee immortall Jam. 1. 1. Pet. 1.4 are so much the more fearefull of death seeing the eternall paines and torments to bee prepared for them at their going forth of this world So that which serueth to the elect for ioy and instruction is vnto the wicked nothing but sorrow and occasion of despaire THE SECOND POINT TOuching the body it is all apparant that it is subiect to die as well because that we know that those that were in times past are dead and that we see that those of our time die one after another as principally because that the Lord declares to Adam that by reason of his sinne Gen. 3. he with his posterity shall be subiect to returne into the earth from whence he was taken The Apostle sayes that by a man sinne came into the world Rom. 5.8.6 and by sinne death and so death came vnto all men by reason that all haue sinned and the reward of sinne is death whereof the houre is vncertaine vnto vs. Luc. 12. Although we are certaine that it is the iourney that euery man must go Jos 12. 1. King 2. by reason that vnto them all it is ordeined to die once and that the Lord hath set bounds for mans life the which he will neither aduance nor put backe Heb. 9. Iob 14. The Scripture is full of testimonies vpon this matter although it be well enough knowne of all by euery dayes experience The Pagans themselues without instruction of the word of God haue well vnderstood that vnto man it is a thing that cannot be auoyded as Euripides shewes it in the Tragedie of the Supplicants saying that euery part of man must returne from whence it came the spirit into heauen the body into the earth which is the mother nurse thereof Wherefore it is a noted thing to all that we must die and all the faithfull ought to be perswaded that the Angels wait for the departure of men for to carry their soules into their place The holy Angels carry away those of the faithfull according to the charge which they haue for their saluation into Abrahams bosome and into the place of the happy and the euill Angels those of the wicked into hell That is the reason wherefore men often heare and see many things when a man is to die the Angels giuing to vnderstand therby of their presence and the neere departure of men But there is this difference that that which is seene before the departure of the iust is lesse fearefull comming from soft and peaceable spirits and seemes to serue but for an admonition to those that are neere to the sicke for to stirre them vp to pray vnto God and to comfort their brother and to exhort and encourage him to prepare himselfe for the will of God to go cheerefully out of this world that he may be with IESVS CHRIST his Sauiour Then the faithfull being departed all such things cease although it may happen that the faithfull shall be in all extremity assaulted by Sathan to make him fall from faith if it were possible for him but those are extraordinary things and in the meane time the Lord giueth victory to his 1. Ioh. 5. Mar. 16. 1. Thes 1. Gen. 24. 31. and makes them the better to know the power of their faith and the assistance of the holy Angels But ordinarily that which is seene and heard at the departure of the wicked is fearefull comming from the destroying Angels and enemies of men Authors of troubles the which do all they can to bring the vnfaithfull to desperation and to keepe thē in it endeuour as much as in them lieth to hinder and trouble the praiers of the assistāts for the feare that they haue lest their damnation should bee prolōged knowing well that the prayers of the iust made for the sicke are of great power and efficacy towards God for the faith which they haue in Iesus Christ Then after the departure of the wicked Satan returnes Iames. 5. Iohn 11. appeares and makes a noyse in the place which he did enioy before him that was his Mat. 12. willing as it were to keepe the place of his child deceased and take possession and enioy of that which he had gathered him together And we see that the Scripture declares that the habitations of the wicked after they shall bee hunted out of it shall be the habitations of diuels Apo. 18. Ier. 51. Isa 13. Ier. 50. and a resort for all euill spirits and of all filthy and execrable fowle wherefore it is a great folly and abuse to thinke that the soules of the children of men appeare in this world after their death for those of the faithfull do enioy such and so great felicity Mat. 17. and find that it is so good remayning where they are Marc. 9. that although they could they would not nor desire not to returne hither Luc. 9. but rather forgetting that which is of this life are continually rauished in the praise and seruice of the holinesse of the Eternall Apo. 4. 7. and in the contemplation of his glory Mat. 17. Psal 16. which is their soueraigne good Those of the wicked would faine come againe and haue so much respit but they cannot otherwise the euill rich man would very willingly haue done his message to his brothers himselfe Luc. 16. which hee did request to be done by the Lazar. For the Scripture doth not know this third place which Antichrist hath forged contrary to the declaration of Iesus Christ Mat. 7. for to inrich himselfe purge the substance of the world for the intertainment of her creatures Satan being very glad thereby to suggest vnto him some matter and colour after the decease of the Infidels and Idolaters Now by how much it is easie to beleeue that necessity to die is imposed vpon vs by so much is it more difficult to beleeue that our bodies being returned to dust shall rise againe and indeede the sensuall man cannot comprehend any thing therein neyther hath any thought of it as we see that the Pagans neuer thought of it although that they haue disputed of the immortality of soules But the man that is regenerate by the Spirite of God doubts not but that the Lord can raise the dead seeing he will haue it and that nothing can hinder his will For as sayeth the Prophet Psal 115. Apoc. 4. he doth what he will We must then see how the Scripture doth assure vs that the bodyes as well of the good as of the wicked shall rise againe the first to be
12. 21. and by the word of their testimony and haue not loued their liues to the death it shall bring vnto them an vnspeakeable ioy making them to lift vp their heads aloft seeing their perfect deliuerance come For their Sauiour shall send his Angels with great sound of Trumpets Esay 35. Zach 9. Luc 22. Rom. 8. Mat. 25. to gather them together how farre in funder soeuer they be from the foure windes from the end of the earth to the end of heauen and then they shall be altogether caught within the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Ayre for to be ioyned with their head 2. Thes 4. as members of his body and shall be alwayes with him who will separate them from the reprobates as the shepheard doth the sheep from the Goates Mat. 25. to put them both in body and soule in full possession of the euerlasting heritage and happinesse by them so long hoped for The estate of the elect that are risen againe THen their bodies which shall be risen againe in triumph shall be changed not in substance but in quality being discharged of the earthly heauinesse for to be made spirituall bodies 1. Cor. 15. to the end to be fit for the heauenly habitation where they shall haue no need of meats which doe corrupt Reu. 7. for they shall be no more hungry nor thirsty and they shall die no more but shall vse of the heauenly food which is the word of God Luc. 20. they shall also be deliuered from the bondage of sinne for to serue euermore to iustice For these are the two principall things which hinder man from beholding the face of God this heauy earthly body and infectious sinne As for the first we see that the Lord said to Moyses Exod. 33. who was desirous to see him Man shall not see me vpon the earth and liue As for the other it was cause that the wicked Angels were cast downe from heauen and man out of Paradice Gen. 3. for there is nothing common betweene God and a sinfull man Wherefore the faithfull shal haue a spirituall body discharged and purified from al sinne There shall also be no defect in their bodies nor imperfection and all deformity and vice which commeth of sinne shall be done away for the Lord will transforme their vile and contemptible bodies make them conformable and like vnto his glorious bodie Moreouer Phil. 3. 1. Joh. 3. they shall no more suffer any torments paines sickenesse nor any other aduerse thing because there shall be no more mourning nor weeping nor laboring for the Lord will wipe away all teares from their eyes And there shall happen no more corruption to them by death Reu. 21. Isa 25. Reu. 7. 21 whereof there shall be no more remembrance but being made immortall they shall be made incorruptible deliuered from al suffering for to be in a happy estate for euer Their soule which before was a liuing soule shal be changed into a quickening spirit Gen. 2. then it shall be deliuered from all sorrowes griefes annoy 1. Cor. 15. perturbatious and feare which came through sinne and shall bee set in rest Psal 61. ioy consolation happinesse good hope and perpetuall assurance without being any more troubled nor defiled with troublesome affection Then being put in so excellent estate both of body and soule the image of God shall truely shine vpon them hauing this power to serue God being perfectly wise holy pure irreprehensible innocent without spot 1. Cor. 1. Ephes 5. Col. 1. good iust true immortall and incorruptible being resplendant in glory and honour before the Throne of God The which shall be the white vesture wherewith S. Iohn sayth they shall be clothed Reu. 14. 21. Reu. 3 4.6.7 which is the pure and shining Sipirs which are the iustifications of the Saints that shall hold the palmes in their handes in signe of victory after that the bookes being opened Reu. 19. they shall heare the voyce full of meekenesse grace and mercie receyuing in the presence of the wicked Reu. 7. who iudged them the out-casts of the earth the sentence of eternall blessing Reu. 10. being found written in the booke of life which is the booke of the Lambe Sap. 4. 5. 1. Cor. 4. Reue. 13. 21. 2. Cor. 5. Gal. 3. Apoc. 14. being clothed with the innocency of Iesus Christ and hauing the name of their Father written in their forehead they shall be with Christ the Spouse crowned with the incorruptible crowne of life and eternal glory being pronounced the sonnes and heyres of God and co-heyres with Iesus Christ Reu. 2. 2. Tim. 4. 1. Pet. 5. Rom. 8. Gal. 4. and Iudges with him of all the Apostate Angels and of all the reprobate for all power and iudgement is so giuen to the Sonne that he wil receiue the Saints to participate in this honour as his assistants Wisd 3. Mat. 19. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 6. Iohn 5. they shall be put in possession of the Kingdome of heauen hauing praise of God which is the incorruptible heritage which cannot contaminate nor wither and which is preserued in heauen for them they shall shine therein as the firmament and as the Sunne Reu. 2. Mat. 25. 1. Cor. 4. Pet. 1. Dan. 12. Mat. 13. Wisd 3. Reu. 2.21 22. and as the starres for euer Then they shall haue their right in the tree of life and shall enter into the new celestiall Ierusalem in the which there shall be no temple for the Lord Almighty is the temple thereof and the Lambe They shall be in it euerlasting Kings and high Priests offering sacrifices of praise and thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde Then being in the house of God Reu. 15. 7. which is the blessed house which the faithfull haue in heauen which is not made with handes 2. Cor. 5. they shall be filled with the magnificence of the Lord and shall budde like the Oliue branch and blossome like the Palme and like the Cedar which is in Lebanus Psal 16.17.52 92. being immortall and incorruptible and shall not be importuned by Sathan to sinne and offend God The face of God which is the fountaine of light 1. Cor. 13. Psal 16. Reu. 22. the brooke of pleasure and sea of good hap they shall see it which shall giue them such a great and perfect ioy that all the ioyes which may be compared to that Marc. 9. are but as a sparkle compared to a great fire It will make them forget all terrestrial Heb. 11. 12. what pleasure soeuer they could take in them in the world and they shall not remember any thing that may bring them sorrow or griefe They shall be ledde to the mountaine of Sion and to the citie of the liuing God which hath no need of the Sunne nor Moone to shine in it Reu. 21.22 for the light of God hath
the foundation of our Religion are lesse affectionate to follow the Lord and to giue themselues to piety and iustice And we must not doubt but the wicked who abandon themselues to all impiety against God who without remorse of conscience doe exercise all sorts of wickednesse against their neighbours they doe it by so much the more freely as they perswade themselues that so they escape the iudgement and punishment of men they shall heare nothing of it after this life For seeing that to auoyde onely the vengeance of the Magistrate in this world they hide as much as they can their iniquities and giue such good colours to their misdeedes as possible they can to the end not to be conuicted wicked how much more doe you thinke they would be bridled from doing euill if they were perswaded that although their bodyes die yet their soules shall remaine immortal and shall endure the iudgement of God which it hath deserued and that one day their bodies shall rise againe Heb. 10. that both body and soule may be eternally tormented in hell by the iudgement of God so horrible and fearefull Heb. 10. whereupon we may see how necessary it is to know that the dead shall rise againe being this doctrine the principall vpholder of Christian Religion of the which if a man be not altogether perswaded all the rest is nothing And it is impossible to perseuere amongst so many difficulties and afflictions which are daily present at the seruing of the Lord for if the hope of the resurrection were not we should be the most miserable of the earth seeing that in this world the faithfull are ordinarily more afflicted then the infidels 1. Cor. 15. but our consolation is the promise of Iesus Christ that although the world shall reioyce for a time and that we shall weepe Ioh. 16. Rom. 8. Psal 37. 73. the time will come that our Head will visite vs and reioyce our hearts with a ioy that shall neuer be taken from vs. Now for to vnderstand this Article of faith we must well vnderstand these three points First we must now know whether the soule dieth with the body or no. Secondly whether the body returnes so into the earth that it cannot rise againe Thirdly if it doth rise who it is that doth raise it and in what estate it shall be being risen THE FIRST POINT AS for the first part The Lord for to declare vnto vs the immortality of soules compares death to the sleepe of man and sayeth that those that are dead sleepe assuring vs that euen so as when the body doth sleepe the soule doth not sleepe as appeares by so many dreames which men haue that also although the body shall be put into the Sepulchre as in a place of sleep neuerthelesse the immortall soule shall be gathered and assembled in its place from the which it shall come againe at the day of iudgement to put on her body that therein she may enioy the happy life or suffer eternall punishment The Apostle speaking of the daughter of Iairus Rom. 2. Mat. 25. Luc. 8. whom the Lord did raise againe sayth That the spirite did returne into her shewing that it was not dead like the body but onely that she was gone to the place from the which by the commandement of Iesus Christ shee came againe to re-enter into her body as also that of Lazarus of Bethleem Ioh. 11. For euen so as the body doth returne to the earth from whence it was taken so the spirite doth returne to God who gaue it The same Euangelist declares that the soule of dead Lazarus liues in heauen Luc. 16. and that of the euill rich man in hell The Lord dying to shew that the soule was not subiect to death as the body Luc. 22. Act. 7. did recommend his soule to his Father Saint Steuen that first Martyr recommended his to Christ Saint Paul desired to be dissolued and to be with Iesus Phil. 1. knowing that after his soule should be deliuered out of the prison of his body it should goe to the ioy of the children of God Vnto the theefe it was said This day thou shalt be with me in Paradice Luc. 23. which cannot be vnderstood of the body but shewes that the faithfull dying Ioh. 5.6 make the passage from death to life The which ought only to be vnderstood of the soule seeing that the body must first be brought to earth and that it must put off all corruption for to rise at the last day incorruptible and in glory Iesus Christ against the Saduces who denied the immortality of soules shewes Mat. 22. that for as much as GOD calles himselfe the God of Abraham of Isaacke and of Iacob Exod. 3. infallibly the soules departed doe liue for hee is not the God of those that are dead in such sort that they are no more but he is the God of those that are and that liue and doth good to the posterity of those that are and not of those that are not which cannot be vnderstood but of their soules seeing their bodies were returned to the earth Whereby we see that they deceiue themselues greatly that say that their soules die and vanish with the body where they sleepe also those likewise who thinke that they enter into other bodies Mar. 6. Luc. 9. Euen the Pagans by naturall apprehensions haue beleeued that the soules were immortall as we see that Euripides in the Tragedy which hee intituled Hecuba doth declare it when he brings in Polixena speaking to Hecuba and dying saying to her What shall I say to Hector thy husband who was dead she answered her tell him that I am the most wretched in the world And in that which he intituled The supplicants he sayes The spirite shall returne to heauen Likewise Pholicides sayes That the soule is immortall and liuing alwayes waxeth not olde Pythagoras in his golden verses said If when thou hast left the body thou commest into heauen thou shalt be as God liuing alwayes and being no more mortall Cicero likewise writes of it in his booke of friendship and in that which he writ of age in some sort comforting himselfe in the hope which he had of the immortality of his soule We see then that it is a thing most assured that the soule is immortall as the Lord by his word which is the infallible truth of heauen doth shew it vs and likewise the Pagans how ignorant soeuer they were of the true religion haue well vnderstood it Wherefore those that denie the immortality of soules accuse God of lying make themselues in worse estate then the Pagans This knowledge is a great consolation to the faithfull in all their afflictions and doth take from them the feares of death knowing that their soules being separated from their bodies liue in heauen 1. Ioh. 2. in which they are admonished not to settle themselues vpon the transitory things