death Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortal can not inherit the kyngdō of god wher nothing is but life Therfore this corruptible body must put on īcorrupciō thys mortal must put on immortality Ore xiiii Esa xxv Than shal the saing that is writtē be fulfilled Death is swalowed vp in victory They that beleue in Christ hath nowe ouercomed synne deathe and hel Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge bold and wel harted in Christe they may saye deathe where is thy sting death where is thy victorie The stinge of deathe is synne and the power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto god which hathe geauen vs the victorie through our lorde Iesus Christe Let vs heare also more sentēces full of godly and mightie consolacion He that hathe raised vp Iesus shall raise vs vp also with Iesus ii Cor. iiii Phili. iii. Our conuersaciō is in heuin frō whence we do loke for the sauiour our lorde Iesus christ which shal chaūge our vile body that it may be like fashioned vnto his glorious bodie according to the workinge of his power by the which also he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him self Col. iii. Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god but when christ your life shall appere then shal ye also appere in glorie with him i. Tesso 4. We woulde not brethern that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that sleepe that ye sorowe not also as other do whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus christ died and rose againe euin thē also which are a slepe through Iesus shal God bringe with him ii Tim. ii Sainct Paule also doth comforte Timothe with the article of resurrection saing Remembre the the lord Iesus Christ beinge the seed of Dauid rose again from the dead accordinge to my gospell And if we be dead with him we shall also liue with him Yf we suffer paciētly we shal also raign with him It is writen also to the Hebreus that Christe tasted deathe for all men Hebre. ii and that he was partaker of flesche and bloode .i. became verie mā that he might destroy him which had the rule of death that is the deuil and that he might deliuer theim which were in bondage all their life tyme by the reason of the feare of death God hathe deliueryd vs ii Tim. i. and called vs with an holie calling not accordinge to our workes but accordinge to his purpose grace whiche is geauen vs in Christe Iesu before the tyme of the world but is nowe made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which trulie hath destroied death and hathe brought life and immortalitie to lighte by the gospell i. Io. iii. We knowe that we are translated frome life to death because we loue the brethern i. Io. 4. In this hathe the loue of god apperid in vs because God sent his onlie begotten sonne into the world that we might liue through him Iob. xix I knowe that my redemer dothe liue and in the last daie I shall rise againe and againe be wrapped in my owne skine And in my owne flesshe shall see God whome I my self shall see these my eyes shall beholde and none other These places of hollie scripture and suche like if we diligentlie remēbre faithfullie imbrace we shall perceaue great consolacion and conforte Phi. iii. And euin with saincte Paule reioyse that we knowe christe and the power of his resurrection wherby deth is ouercomed Nether is there nowe to these that beleue in Christ any thinge in deathe terrible or to be feared sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme hurt it can not Like as a dede serpent keapith stil his old fearful shape and forme but to stinge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And like as by the brasin serpente whiche Moses by goddes commaundemente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpō through the power of goddes woord men were deliuerid frome daunger of the liuelie and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the fear and daunger of it so oft as with the eys of our faithe we do beholde the helthefull and medicinable dethe of Christe In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a Image and shadowe of deathe yea the entraunce and gate to life For Christ who is trueth it self saithe Yf any man kepe my worde Io. viii he shall neuer see deathe For a man trustinge to the mercy of God through faithe which he conceauith by heringe of Christes gospell is so vnite and knitt to christ his lorde and maister that he can not be plucked nor seperate from him The body in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certaine hope of risinge againe to euerlastinge life And so he that beleuithe in Christe dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule which is euerlastinge dampnacion For the deathe of good men is nothinge els but a departure from this transitory and mortal life to immortality to christ to his angelles and sainctes Hell and dampnacion DOth offer it self at the hour of death so that manye tymes man doth greatly feare lest he be abiect frō the fauour of god and appoynted to euerlastyng payne The deuyll which seketh by all meanes howe to deuoure vs steringe vp in oure myndes manye daungerous and troubellous thoughtes concerninge our eleccion and predestinacion A medicine against the feare of hel and dampnacion WHen the deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our election whether we be of the numbre of theim that are appointed to euerlastinge life or no In any wais let vs not be to boulde in copinge with him let vs not enter disputacion against him for he is to subtile and expert for vs but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sorrowe it is writen thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God For seing that god as a most louinge father hathe not only geauen vs life fedde and preseruid vs to this houre but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to time with his singuler benefites what madnes were it contrary to our former experience nowe to dout of his mercy He hathe receauyd vs in to his flocke by baptime He hathe sente vs the gospell of his grace wherein he hathe promised to become oure father we haue be fedde with the flesshe and bloode of his sonne oure sauioure CHRISTE in remembraunce that oure debtes be paide and we acquited whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good will of GOD towarde vs lette vs not therefore admitte the doutfull and daungerous Imaginacions of oure predestinacion which the deuill like a craftie and malicyous marchaunt doth labor to iustill But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God would haue our myndes occupied withall whiche Chryst him selfe hath prescribed as Iohn .iii. where he sayethe GOD hathe so loued the
A godlye and holesome preseruatyue against desperatiō at all times necessarye for the soule but then chiefly to be vsed and ministred when the deuill doth assault vs moost fiersely and deth approcheth niest Be sobre and watch for your aduersary the deuyll as a roring lyon walketh about seking whō he may deuoure whom resist stedfast in the fayth 1. Pet. 5. The preface THis preseruatiue gentle reader is prepared for thy profit that thou reding it at leasure maist chose oute suche comfortable sentences as may bothe staye thy owne conscience in the tyme of temptacion also quiet others when the Deuil shal be busie with them 2. Cor. ii For we be not ignoraunte of the thoughtes of satan how he continually furnisheth him selfe to bende his ordinaunce against man And now with the cōsideration of the greatnes and multitude of synne Now with the terrour of death dampnacion Eph. 6. do labour to beate the buckler of faith out of our handes i. Tess 5. to strike the helmet of hope from our head Eph. 6. And to wrest frō vs the swerd of the spirite which is gods word But here christian reader is thy swerd and buckeler deliuered vnto the here is thy helmette put vpon thy heade here thou shalte finde suche armour and weapon wherby thou shalt both be able to withstande the forse of cure commen enemy the Deuill and also by thy councell to rescue others that they perishe not Yea here thou shalt find choise of moste comfortable sentences wherby mans cōscience may be staide from dampnable desperation i. Co. xvi Watche therfore stande stedfaste in faithe playe the man and be of good comfort Iaco. iiii Resist the deuyll and he will flee frome the. Not for feare of thy own power strength or holines but for feare of Christe in whome by faythe thou art ingraffed For it is christ thorough whome god hath geuē i. Cor. xv vs victory against synne deathe hell the deuyll Acto iiii Nether is there any other name vnder heuē geuē vnto man wherein we may be saued but the name of Iesus Christe oure lorde To whome with the father and holye ghost be al honoure and glorye AMEN A preseruatiue FOrsomuche as the diseases of the body and corporall deathe dothe so trouble mannes mynde that we commonly trimble and quake at the onely mencion of them How much ought we to feare the sicknes of the soule and death of the same then whiche there can no greater nor more fearefull calamytye chaunce vnto man And seinge that euery man doth auoyde so muche as in him lyethe the payne myseryes diseases and deathe of the bodye howe much more ought we to decline and eschewe the causes of these euilles which be sinnes and offences and feare the ire of god which we so by oure enormities do prouoke Yf we be neuer so lytle sick in our body by and by we sende for the phisicion we spare no cost we seke for medicines and remedye though they be neuer so chargable al to patch and clout vp this earthen vessell of our bodye whiche do we neuer so muche can not laste longe And whye vse we not lyke dylygence in desiring seking remedies against the diseases of the soule whiche like as they be more greuous euē so they bring with them without comparison infinitely more daunger For what can it profitte a mā thoughe he haue all the riches in the world though he liue a thousande yere and that in such helthe pleasure that he is not once touched with sickenes or greife his soule in the meane time being poisoned with sinne being captiue to satan hauyng God displeased with him and dampnacion readye for him after this lyfe For truelye this lyfe muste once haue an ende nether know we whan where after what maner or how soone Therfore saith Christe watch for ye nether know the day nor hour when the sonne of man wyl come Mat. xxv And lest we this short time of our abode omittinge thinges moost waightye and profitable shulde folow trifulles thinges of smal price he hath vouchesaue to prescribe vs an order and as it were a breue certaine and sure way to come vnto true felicite saienge Seke first for the kingdom of god and righteousnes therof Math. vi and all thinges shal be added vnto you Care for lyuynge care for riches care for worldly dignitie worldlye fauoure worldlye estimacion and such lyke transitory thinges which in dede doth litle profitte but many times be cause bothe of filthie vices and also of greuous calamities doth besy doth vexe doth trouble doth euē defatigate vs both daye and night but in sekynge for and procuring of godly heuenly thinges we be most negligent most slack moste dull most forgetfull And I pray you what can be a greater blindnes or a more dangerouse madnes whiles we be lustie whiles we be in helthe whiles we be in prosperity we scasely thynke vpon any lyfe to come we remember not once that we shal dye But when we be in perell and daunger by sickenes and deathe beginnethe to knocke at oure doore Euen at that same houre when we should playe the menne and fyght against oure enimy beinge sufficiently armed weponed afore thē begin we first to thinke vpon oure armoure to thinke vpō our weapon to think vpon mending of our lyfe These thinges declare vs to be smallye exercised soudiers to be mē of preposterouse iudgement and verye weaklinges in faith God be mercyfull vnto vs. Amen But yet though a man be neuer so old though the day be neuer so far past so he amend whiles he is here eare it be night his repētāce cometh not out of season Neuertheles it were to be wisshed that no man shuld differ his repentāce to his last most dangerous cōflict For euē thei shal haue much a do to stande to defend them selues from the assaultes the guiles inuasions of the enemy which in the time of their helth prepared armed them selues what then shall come of them whiche not fearing god neither minding once repentaunce hathled a dissolute filthie and naughtye life how shal thei fighte howe shall they be able to withstand the force of satan ¶ Seinge therefore the multitude of people is great and the ministers of the gospel very few nether able to be euery where to do their office to euery man I hauing a will to help al men haue gathered to gether writen oute of scripture a certaine brief forme how to admonishe instructe and comfort such as be sick that they either reding these thīges or hearing them red by others may conceiue certaine hope perfit consolaciō lest in this most daūgerous cōflict they faint geue ouer like cowardes so be ouercomed perish For this is certain when soeuer a mā is taken with extreme sicknes is in daunger of deth he is assawted with diuers many greuous
worlde that he hathe geuyn his onelye begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleuythe in him shall not perishe but haue life euerlastynge Loo here we see that he whiche beleuithe in Christ which faythfullye acknowlegeth christ to be his sanctifycacyon iustyce redemption and satisfaccion can not be dampned but is assured of euerlastynge lyfe So manye as conceaue faithe by hearynge of Goddes worde and so trust sted fastelye vpon the mercy of christ Vndoubtedlye they be of the number of those which be chosen to euerlastyng blysse knowen before in CHRIST predestinate and wrytten long sith in the boke of lyfe These thynges be mooste certaine and moost true God can neither deceaue nor be deceaued Rom. viii Such is his good wyll so hathe he purposed and decreed afore the worlde beganne what thynges soeuer therefore oure ennemye the deuyll spytynge our saluacion and sekynge our destructyon shall put in our mynde contrarye to this doctryne Let them not moue vs lette them not make vs afrayde but lette vs trust truly in chryste and so shall he become oures and we become his who beyng our good LORD we can not perysshe nor be dampned Io. x. For he wyl lose none of those that his father hathe geuen him we muste fyxe oure eyes vppon Chryste we muste flee to hym we muste cleaue to hym He is oure onelye and true sauyoure who muste be apprehended and imbraced by faythe yf we loke to be saued For they that beleue ryghtelye in Christ they are predestinate to euerlastynge lyfe Here we muste diligentlye remēbre and earnestelye expende the godly exhortacion of saynt Paul which he writeth in the .xii. to the Hebrewes whose words be these Lette vs runne by pacyence vnto the battell that is sette afore vs He. xii lokynge vnto Iesus the auctore and finisher of faithe whiche when the ioye was set afore hym suffered the crosse and dyspysed the shame and sitteth at the right hand of the seate of GOD Furthermore all the greuous tentacions and afflictions that CHRISTE suffered he sufferyd them for oure sakes As saincte Paule saithe also in the iiii to the hebrues He. iiii We haue not a highe priest that is not able to haue compassion on our weakenes but suche one as was prouyd in all pointes without synne let vs therfore with bouldnes go vnto the seate of his grace that we may obtaine mercy and fynde grace to help in tyme of nede Let vs in any ways consider and deplie imprinte ī our harts christ to be geuin vnto vs not only to th end that we might be redemid recōciled made partakers of euerlastinge saluaciō but also that ī him we might haue an example bothe howe to liue and also how to end oure life Nether can any man liue suffer or dye well vnles he loke vpon and folowe the life sufferinge and dethe of Christ yf therfore we desire to end this life well and godlie let vs consider and remembre howe Christe behaued him self in that bitter and smart agonie when hanginge vpon the crosse he was assaulted with diuers fyersse and most greuous temtacions and pray that we may haue grace to folowe his example First he was temptyd with syn whan beinge hanged betwixt two theues as a notable haynous synner it was said vnto hī yf thowe beist the sonne of God mat xxvii come downe from the crosse By this cōtumelious voice what do they signifie elles but that they iudged him a noughtie and vngodly person such one as by craft subtiltye falsheade sossery and other vnlawfull meanes had deceaued the people hadde blinded the worlde and to be nothinge lesse then the sonne of GOD. Euen in lyke maner at the houre of deathe doth the deuyll tempte man what soeuer man hath committed againste god al the sinnes that euer he dyd he sheweth vnto hym he doth exaggerate them to the vttermoste to th ende that the multitude and hainousnes of thē considered and perceauid manne shulde doubte of the mercye and fauoure of god and so fall into desperacion Here we had nede to stande sure And euery one of vs had nede to aunswer our enemye thus temptinge vs after this maner I knowlege my selfe to haue synnes aboue all numbre and measure but Christe who neuer synned in whose mouth was foūd no guile who is that verye innocent lambe hathe suffered deathe for my synnes he hathe wasshed them awaye he hathe satysfied aboundantlye for them Esa liii howe many and howe greate so euer they were Christes deathe partaineth also to me he was wounded also for my iniquities he was brused for my vngraciousenes by his strypes I am also healed All my synnes hath CHRISTE taken to hym selfe so that nowe I haue none thankes be to CHRISTE who hathe satysfyed for theym in hys owne bodye CHRISTE was tempted also with death when it was sayde vnto hym he hathe saued other Mat. xx7 but he canne not saue hym selfe As though it shoulde bē saide he is nowe at appointe he muste dye there is no remedye he can not escape Thus dothe oure olde and irreconciliable enemy labour to feare vs with death but let vs holde out the buckeler of faythe in Christ againste hym Lette vs remember that Christe our Lorde kynge of glorye and prynce of lyfe coulde not be ouercommed nor holden of death but thoughe he once tasted of death he nowe lyueth and raigneth for euer Thys LORDE of ours wyll not leaue vs nor suffer deathe to execute anye tyrannye agaynste vs that after he hathe suffered vs to be tempted a while he wyll also that we dye corporally al that is wholy for our welth Neyther coulde we other wayes come to euerlasting life but by temporall deathe We must therfore leaue this present life ere we can inherite the eternal life Also this corporall deathe bringethe this comoditie that by tastinge the bitternes and sowernes of it we haue experience and knowe the excedinge loue that Christe bare toward vs and the inestimable benefitt the he did for vs in clensinge our synnes in abolisshynge of death in breaking vp of hel gates and al by his death Other ways we could neuer haue knowen the power of christ in abolishinge of death we could neuer haue iustly estemed the excellency of this benefit we could neuer haue sene how iust cause we haue to giue thankes to christ our lord and redemer Christe liuinge truly we shall also liue and this corporall deth to vs shal be nothinge elles but a swete and holsome slepe an intraunce and gate in to the true blessed lyfe For after this transitory lyfe then beginne we first truly to lyue THirdly Christ was tempted with hel or euerlastynge damnation whā it was said vnto him he hath trusted in GOD let him now delyuer him yf he wyll As thoughe they should say Nowe it appearethe that he hathe hoped in god in vain For god wyl none of hym he hathe forsaken hym he likethe hym not he dothe abhorre hym he will