and 3.18 And Chap. 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs vnto God And Saint Iohn 1 Epistle 1.7 saith 1 Ioh. 1.7 That the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne and Chap 2.1 If any man sinne and 2.1 we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the reconciliation fâ—â— our sinnes and not for ouâ— onely but also for the sinnes 〈◊〉 the whole world Thou hast heard heâ— deare brother the word not of man but of the holy Ghost which witnessâ— onely that God the fatheâ— who willeth not the death of a sinner EZech. 18. but that heâ— should conuert and liue euen he of his infinite louâ— toward thee hath easeâ— thee of the heauie burtheâ— of thy sinnes and hath laiâ— them on the shoulders oâ— his best and onely beloueâ— Sonne He hath borne them and suffered for them in hiâ— body that they cannot aâ— any time condemne thee For as much as God accepteth and reputeth the death of his Sonne in stead of plenarie and perfect repentance and of full payment and satisfaction for all thy sinnes so that thou beleeue in his Sonne Christ Iesus Forasmuch then as thy sins being laid vpoÌ„ Christ could not hold him in death neither condemne him verily satisfaction is now already made for them and to thee they are all now remitted pardoned Beleeue these things and thou shalt liue eternally for euer Christ himself hath borne thy sins and also died for them But he is risen againe and the sinnes of all true beleeuers are by the death of Christ more then sufficiently purged and discharged and the strict and seuere iustice and iudgement of God abundantly satisfied for thy sins by Christ Iesus Christ now then is thine togetheâ— with all his benefits with his death Rom. 8.32 resurrection and ascension into heauen with his merits righteousnesse obedience and finally witâ— his life and endlesse glorie Satan therefore hath no right nor interest in thee nor power ouer thee neither can he do vnto thee any hurt or iniurie sith thou art iustified by Christ seeing thou art freed and deliuereâ— from all thy sinnes and seeing thou art the child oâ— God For behold God is thy father and such a father aâ— entirely loueth thee for Christ his sake who hath reconciled thee vnto himselfe Be of good comfort then Phil. 4.4 and reioyce againe againe in the Lord. For as much as thou art in the hands of almighty God thy most tender and louing father who is also most true and faithfull in his word promises thou art safe and out of all danger so as no euill can befall thee being vnder his custodie and enuironed about and garded with a troope of Angels as he hath promised Psal 91.11 That he will giue his angels charge ouer thee Psal 91.11 to keepe thee in all thy waies Christ also is thine how mightie soeuer he be in power how rich soeuer in goodnesse and how great and high soeuer in maiestie and glorie He it is that hath couered all thy sinnes with the cloke of his innocencie and obedience and taken them all quite away Rom. 8.32 so that none shall be able to wrest or plucke thee out of the hands of thy heauenly Father As soone as thou shalt haue suffered and passed ouer this bodily affliction and temporall crosse which being compared vnto euerlasting life is light and momentany thou hast then got the victorie Christ Iesus hath gone before thee in suffering the like yea and a farre more sharpe and bitter Luke 22.44 and a farre more terrible conflict Now he is thy head vnto whom thou must of necessitie be conformed made like vnto him by dying vnto thy sinnes and by leauing and laying downe this life so embrued and defiled with sinne that so with thy Lord Christ thou maist liue the blessed life and that for euer Let not thy sinnes then vexe and trouble thee there is no cause why for them thy conscience should be disquieted seeing that they are alreadie taken away and abolished the euil spirit that seeketh the destruction of our soules is for thee vanquished and ouercome cast downe and trodden vnder foote God now in fauor looketh vpon thee he taketh care of thee to defend and keepe thee yea the societie and fellowship of all the blessed Angels attend vpon thee they watch ouer thee and pitch their tents about thee readie to minister vnto thee to carrie thy soule into the bosome of Abraham so that thou canst in no wise be condemned no more then could thy head Christ Iesus so that with thy whole heart thou fixe and repose thy confidence in him If sinne death and hell be not able to do any harme or displeasure vnto thy Lord Christ no more theâ— can they do vnto thee for as much as thou art iâ— Christ and Christ in thee thou canst neuer be condemned whereas indeed if thou were to sustaine and beare thine owne sins and to make satisfaction for them thou shouldest neuer be able to sustaine and vndergoe so great a burthen but thy sinnes would weigh and presse thee downe into hell vtterly ouerwhelme and swallow thee vp But now Christ being the selfe same true God and true man he hath willingly offered himselfe for thee and hath substituted himselfe in thy stead making full payment of all for thee as he saith Psal 69.4 Psal 69.4 That he made payment of the things which he neuer tooke Thou hast indeed in thy selfe coÌ„mitted many sinnes but Christ hath in thy stead discharged and made satisfaction for them all He it is that hath set thee at liberty that hath made thee partaker with himselfe of eternall life if onely thou shalâ— beleeue and giue credencâ— vnto this word and Gospel Yea assuredly deare brother though the sinnes of the whole world did liâ— vpon thy necke alone yeâ— notwithstanding behold there is infinite mercy with God abundantly sufficient or rather more then sufficient for them all Now God hath promised in Christ his blessing of grace and mercie vnto thee And the same his promise is in thy Lord Christ ratified and assured and fully accomplished and performed vnto thee so as thou canst not but be saued if onely thou do but cast thine eyes vpon Christ There is then nothing more sure and certaine then thy saluation For Christ being the naturall Sonne of God and in his diuine essence truth it selfe he is in respect of humane nature our flesh and bloud Who then shall be or can be more trustie and more faithfull to giue and performe this promise of grace and mercie then this Christ who is himselfe the truth of the promise who loueth vs so feruently and earnestly that he chose rather to suffer death voluntarily and willingly theâ— that we shold be frustrated of any promise Wherefore if thou shalt beleeue in
also the truth as hee witnesseth in the same place And therefore neither will nor can deceiue vs but the promises of God in him and through him are 〈◊〉 and Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 2. Corinth 1.20 And to the end that thou maiest nothing doubt but that God will abide by his words promises he hath by an especiall and peculiar couenant and signe added vnto thy body bound and tyed himselfe as it were vnto thee For of an earnest loue and desire of thy saluation hauing sent his owne Sonne into the world to giue vp himselfe vnto death for thee he hath made a couenaÌ„t of grace with thee through Christ in whom he hath promised that if thou beleeue and be baptized he wil freely giue vnto thee eternall life he will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee but will be a Father vnto thee and will crowne thee with his goodnesse mercie Now the signe and seale of his couenant is thy Bapâ—isme Wherefore vnto the promises annexed vnto this signe it behoueth thee to cleaue fast to lay sure hold vpon the same For God hath giuen thee this signe in thy flesh that thou mightest nothing doubt of his fauour and mercie promised and of his faithfulnesse goodnesse towards thee Rom. 6.3 Thou art baptized as S. Paul saith into the death of Christ that his death may become thy death and that he might make a full and perfect satisfaction vnto God for thee Gal. 3.26 Yea thou hast put him on as it were in Baptisme for so saith the Apostle vnto the Galathians that so thou mightest be wholly in him and he in thee Baptisme therefore is such a couenant and such a figure and signe as comforteth reioyceth quieteth thy conscience before God as Saint Peter witnesseth assuring thee 1 Pet. 3.21 that God will neuer condemne thee for thy sinnes being throughly purged and washed away in the bloud of his Sonne For being iustified by faith Rom. 5.1 thou hast peace with God Ro. 5.1 A quiet peaceable chearefull conscience is this true peace Now thou hast receiued Baptisme as a most certaine signe and seale of this thy iustification and of the remission of all thy sins that thou mightest assuredly beleeue that God hauing mercie and compassion vpon thee for Christ his sake will saue and deliuer thee Now then forasmuch as God hath a fauor vnto thee and will be a Father vnto thee and consequently will neuer forsake thee and forasmuch as thou hast so infallible a signe and testimonie thereof thou oughtest to commit and giue ouer both all thy affaires and thy selfe also wholly vnto him to obey his will and to suffer patiently his hand vpon thee whether it be his will that thou liue or die praying and desiring that his good will may be done vnto his praise and glory And it is vnpossible if thou trust stedfastly in Gods mercie promised through Christ and thus dedicate thy selfe wholly vnto him it is vnpossible I say that thou shouldest perish or be condemned Forasmuch as God hath promised that he will be thy Father euen the same God who is most true of his word yea truth it selfe while thou doest beleeue acknowledge him so to be and thereupon hopest and lookest for all good things from him he cannot but as a tender Father take care of thee and so consequently in good time saue and deliuer thee how hardly soeuer for the present he may seeme to intreate thee yea forasmuch as he hath promised to be a Father not onely vnto thee but also vnto thy seede after thee thou stedfastly beleeuest these his promises he will without all doubt haue a diligent and prouident care both of thee and thine And therefore mayest thou well recommend vnto him not onely thy bodie and soule but also thy wife and thy children thy kinsfolke and thy friends and briefly all that thou hast belonging vnto thee Nothing doubting but that he will be a true Father vnto thy children a true husband vnto thy wife and a true friend vnto thy kinsfolke and friends For God hath hitherto vsed thee in these toward these onely as a Steward And now when he will haue thee to leaue the execution of this office and charge he will doubtlesse substitute in thy stead another Steward ouer them who shall faithfully and diligently take care of them If with full confidence of heart thou shalt hope and looke for this from him there is no doubt but that he will do it as I haue said Wherefore shake off from thee and cast out of thy mind al care for thy friends and for all thy worldly affaires and commit the same ouer vnto God Be rather careful for thy selfe and bethinke how to prouide for thy soule and to resigne the same ouer into the hands of thy Creator and Redeemer And now whereas God hath freely for Christ his sake pardoned and forgiuen thee all thy sinnes he requireth nothing else of thee for this infinite and inestimable benefite but that thou in like manner from thy very heart forgiue all those that haue done wrong and iniury vnto thee And he promiseth that he will forgiue vnto vs our trespasses so as we shall forgiue vnto men their trespasses Wherfore hauing from the bottome of thy heart pardoned all wrongs and offences so as thou intendest not euer after to renew nor call to minde againe the remembrance thereof pray earnestly and heartily for them that haue any way â—â—iured or hurt thee according to the doctrine and example of Christ himselfe And if thou shalt recouer of this thy sicknesse helpe them to the vttermost of thy power if they shall stand â—n need of thy helpe Now if thou hast thy mind thus voide and free from inward grudge malice and displeasure thou hast also an vndoubted signe that God hath pardoned thee all thy sinnes vtterly rased them out of his sight For faith whereby thy heart is purged shewing it self bringing forth her fruits in thee for the blessings and benefits of God towards thee being infinite in pardoning all thy sinnes which are in number infinite it cannot but stirre thee vp in like maner to forgiue thy neighbour and to do good vnto him Here the fruite of thy loue and charitie witnesseth vnto thee and putteth thee in assurance that thy faith is a true and liuely faith when it bringeth forth good fruite and such as is vnfained This is that which S. Peter meaneth when he willeth vs to giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure by our good workes 2 Pet. 1.10 giuing vs to vnderstand that those good works are witnesses and tokens that we are elect chosen of God and adopted to be his sons and consequently to be heires of eternall life and saluation Howbeit notwithstanding al this know that thou canst not neither must thou in any wise hope or looke that God will for the painfulnesse or grieuousnesse of thy sicknesse and
Written by that famous and blessed Martyr Saint CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage Wherein he exhorteth to a vehement desire of leauing this miserable life Declaring withall and shewing that whereas the iust and vniust dye alike we must not thinke their end to be all one forasmuch as the righteous are called away vnto endlesse rest and happinesse and the wicked are violently haled and caried away to be punished HOwsoeuer it be true dearely beloued brethren that there appeares to be in many of you a sound mind and a stedfast faith an holy deuout will and desire which is nothing moued nor daunted at the greatnesse of this mortalitie but rather as a firme â—trong rocke beateth back and ouercometh all the violent and tempestuous assaults of the world It selfe being assailed and tried but not vanquished nor ouercome with any temptations yet notwithstanding for as much as I perceiue some of the common sort of people either through weakenesse of mind slendernes of faith or through the sweetnes of this worldly and temporall life or through the tendernesse of their sexe or that which is more through error and ignorance of the truth not to stand so strongly manfully as they should nor to shew forth the diuine and inuincible courage of their hearts and minds It was a matter not to be concealed nor passed ouer in silence but that according to the measure of our abilitie the cowardlinesse and lazinesse of such nice and daintie minds ought by strong force and by some discourse conceiued and gathered out of the word of our Lord Iesus Christ to be repressed and subdued and that whosoeuer hath already begun to be a man of God and of Christ might be esteemed worthy of God and of Christ For whosoeuer he be beloued brethren that warreth vnder the ensigne of God and of Christ and being placed in the heauenly boast and army is alreadie in hope and expectation of heauenly things that man ought to acknowledge and to auow and professe himselfe to be such a one that amidst the stormy tempests and troubles of the world there be in vs no feare nor doubting Especially seeing that the Lord hath foretold that these things shold so come to passe prouidently encouraging instructing and teaching yea arming and preparing confirming and strengthening his people and true members of his Church vnto all patience and abiding of things to come Foretelling and admonishing that there shold be warres and dearths and earthquakes and pestilences in all places And lest that the vnlooked for and sudden feare of new and fresh troubles might haply dismay vs he hath warned vs before hand that in the last times worldly crosses and afflictions should be more and more increased Behold the things which were foretold are now com to passe And when the said things which were foretold doe come to passe then shal follow also whatsoeuer hath bene promised the Lord himselfe making vnto vs this warrantise and assurance saying Luke 21. When ye shall see all these things come to â—asse know ye that the kingdome of God is neare The kingdome of God beloued brethren is now neare at hand the gladsome tidings and ioyfull reward of eternall life and saluation and the ioyfull possession of Paradise which before was lost is now come in this last passage end of the world Heauenly things do now succeed and come in place of earthly things things of great weight and account in place of things of no price and value and things eternall and euerlasting in place of things fraile and transitory What place then is there here for care and vexation and anguish of mind What man amidst these things will or can be fearefull and pensiue but he that is vtterly voide of faith and hope It is indeed for him to feare death that is vnwilling to go vnto Christ and it is for him to be vnwilling to go vnto Christ that beleeueth not how that now alreadie he hath begunne to reigne with Christ For it is written that the iust man liueth by his faith Rom. 1. If thou be made iust and righteous then thou liuest by faith If then thou hast faith and by the same faith doest truly and stedfastly trust in God why doest thou not shew thy selfe as one that shall assuredly be with Christ and as one that is secure and assured of the Lords promise Why doest thou not I say with gladnesse of heart receiue and embrace this thy calling vnto Christ and reioyce that thou hast not any more to do with this earth and grauell Furthermore that iust man Simeon Simeon Luke 2.25 who was truly iust and righteous and with stedfast faith kept the commandements of God when as a reuelation was giuen vnto him froÌ„ God that he should not see death before he had seene the Lord Christ and that Christ being a little child was now come with his mother into the Temple he knew in the spirit that now Christ was borne of whom it was foretold him whom as soone as he saw he knew he should die quickly And therfore being glad because of his death which was now at hand being secure voide of care for his calling hence which was not far off he took the child in his hands or in his armes and praising God he cried out and said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation Prouing vndoubtedly testifying that then the seruants of God haue peace haue free and quiet rest when as being drawne and taken away from the stormes and tempests of this troublesome world they ariue at the hauen of euerlasting rest and safetie when as this death being quite abolished and put away they enter into the state of immortalitie For that is our peace that is our sure rest tranquility that is our constant and stedfast yea endlesse euerlasting safetie and securitie Moreouer what other thing else do we in this world but euery day wage battell against the diuell what else but with continuall conflicts fight against him and withstand and resist his darts and arrowes We are to encounter with couetousnesse and worldlinesse Enemies with whom we are to encounter in this world with vncleannesse and wantonnesse with anger and furiousnesse with ambition and with pride and haughtinesse We are to wrastle and struggle dayly and continually yea that with no small difficulty and danger against the sensualitie and corruptions of our flesh and against the allurements and enticements of the world The minde of man being compassed about and inclosed on euery side with the trouble and molestation of this base earth and grauell is hardly able to resist and withstand euery one of these If couetousnesse be put to flight ouerthrowne behold lust and sensualitie riseth vp in place If lust and sensualitie be repressed ambition succedeth in their stead If ambition be despised and vnregarded then anger rage whetteth
approue of thee yea and he vnderstanding and perceiuing thee to haue such strength and courage in readinesse to suffer will assuredly recompence and reward thee for it Had Cain when he offered vp his gift and oblation vnto God at that time killed his brother Noâ— yet notwithstanding the murther that he had conceiued in his mind God saw beforehand and thereupon reproued and condemned the same So as his wicked and mischieuous conceit and imagination was in Gods prouidence foreseene and knowne Euen so also is it in the true seruants of God which haue a purpose and will to confesse Christ and which conceiue martyrdome in their hearts and minds the very will and affection being giuen and inclined to goodnes is crowned of God in his iudgement It is one thing for the mind and will to want or to be withouâ— martyrdom and another thing for martyrdome to want or to bee without the mind and will Looke after what manner God doth finde thee when he calleth for thee As a man iâ— found so shall â—e be iudged after such manner likewise wil he iudge thee for as much as he himselfe witnesseth saying Apoc. 2.23 All Churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reines and the heart Neither indeed doth God require or take pleasure in your blood but in your faith For neither Abraham nor Isaac nor Iacob were slaine and put to death and yet notwithstanding they being honored with the reward and benefit of faith and righteousnesse deserued to be reckoned the chiefe and principal among the Patriarchs vnto whose fellowship societie whosoeuer is found faithful and righteous laudable and praise worthy shall assuredly be gathered We must remember that wee are to do not our owne will but Gods wil according to that which God hath willed vs daily to pray Now how preposterous and how peruerse a thing is it and contrary to reason that wheras we desire and pray that God his will may be done we should not straightway when God calleth and sendeth for vs out of this world readily submit our selues vnto the power and gouernment of his will In words we rest relie hereupon but yet indeed doe struggle and striue against it and like stubborne seruants are vnwillingly and with griefe drawne into the presence of our Lord and Maister departing hence as being thereunto bound by necessity not through any readinesse of will and wee desire to be honored of him with rewards in heauen vnto whom we come by constraint and against our will To what purpose theÌ„ do we pray and desire that Gods heauenly kingdome may come if this earthly bondage doe so much please and delight vs Why do we with often redoubled prayers beg and craue that God will hasten his kingdome make speed to admit vs thereinto if our wishes and desires be greater and more earnest to serue the Diuell heere then to reigne with Christ there * A vision is heere reported by the Author which I thought good to omit How often also hath it beene reuealed vnto vs the least and meanest of others how many times hath God vouchsafed to giue open and manifest charge that I should make daily protestation and publikely declare that our brethren are in no wise to be lamented being at Gods call and appointment freed and set at liberty out of this world knowing that they are not lost and forgone but are sent before that departing hence they doe but tread the way before vs and that as trauellers and passengers they should be wished for and desired of vs but not lamented Neither should wee take vnto vs blacke mourning weeds here when as they haue already receiued white robes and garments there And withall that we should not giue occasion vnto the heathens and Pagans iustly to reproue and worthily to reprehend vs for that wee sorrow and mourne for those as vtterly lost and perished whom we affirme notwithstanding to liue with God and that by the testimony of our owne hart and conscience we reiect disalow the faith which in word and voyce we declare and professe We are betrayers of our hope confidence and of our faith holy profession All that we say seemeth to be but in dissimulation and to be but feined and counterfeit It auaileth nothing at all to talke of grace and vertue and in our deeds to destroy the truth and verity Lastly the Apostle Saint Paul misliketh those yea and he rebuketh and blameth them that are too much greeued for the death and departure of their friends 1. Thess 4. 1. Thess 4. I would not brethren haue you ignorant saith he concerning them that sleepe that ye sorrow not as others doe which haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus died and rose againe euen so also them that sleepe in Christ shall God bring with him Where mark how he saith that it is for such to be sorry for the death and departure of their friends who are voide of hope But as for vs which liue in hope and by hope we who haue hope in God and confidently beleeue that Christ hath suffered for vs and is risen againe so long as we abide and continue in Christ and rise in him and through him why either are we our selue so vnwilling to depart hence out of this present world or why doe we grieue and lament for our friends wheÌ„ they depart as if they were lost and perished especially when as Christ himselfe our Lord and God admonisheth vs Ioh. 11. saying I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer If we belieue in Christ let vs haue trust and confidence in his words and promises and we shall not dye for euer and let vs with ioyfull securitie goe vnto Christ with whom we shal liue and reigne for euermore And whereas in the meane while we die as concerning our bodies we do but passe by death vnto immortality Neither indeed can euerlasting life succeed and come in place vnlesse it fall out vnto vs to depart hence It is then not a doath but a passage and after this temporal race and voyage ended a passing vnto things eternall Now what man would not make haste to haue enioy better things who would not wish to be changed and renewed and fashioned after the image and likenesse of Christ and to come as soone as he can to enioy the honour and dignitie of that heauenly reward and benefit Sith that the Apostle Saint Paul plainly pronounceth Phil. 3.20 saying Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the Lord Iesus Christ who shall transform and change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie And that we shall be such our Sauiour Christ also promiseth when as he prayeth vnto the Father for vs that we may be with him and
Hell and damnation These things being thuâ— offered vnto our sight the at length a man begins tâ— feare lest haply he be quiâ— cast out from the face fauor of God beholding nothing else but eternal dead and condemnation Heâ— therefore men haue need 〈◊〉 be couragious of a coâ—stant heart and mind thâ—â— they faint not nor giue aâ— place vnto despaire Praâ— we therfore in this manneâ— A prayer O most gracious God â— most mercifull Father graâ—â— we beseech thee that by thy grace and helpe while we are yet in health and prosperitie we may learne to feare thee to loue thy holy word to beleeue and embrace thy sweete and coÌ„fortable promises to set thee before vs as the scope end of all our actions and that remembring alwaies this sharpe conflict and encounter which we are to vndergoe we may fortifie and arme our selues against this day of triall and so be saued preserued and defended that seruing and fearing thee we may direct all our doings to thy glorie and at the length obtaine and enioy eternall life which thine owne Sonne hath purchased for vs Amen CHAP. IIII. A Remedie against the feare and remembrance of our sinnes VVHensoeuer thy sins shall torment and trouble thee or terrifie thy conscience consider how that the Son of God himselfe for thy sake and for the purging and taking away of thy sinnes came downe from heauen and humbled himselfe to the lowest estate that may be that he being made man took vpon him thy sins and the sinnes of the whole world and of his owne voluntarieâ— will dyed for them vpon the crosse and made full satisfaction for them all by suffering most grieuous punishments in thy name and for thy sake This most precious bloud of Christ was shed euen for thee and for thy saluation Of this his death art thou also made partaker if onely thou shalt beleeue that he dyed as wel for thee as for Peter and Paul and others Neither oughtest thou any whit to doubt but that he died as well for thee as for Paule for in that thou art a sinner euen in this respect thou mayest and oughtest to bee comforted Math. 9.13 For Christ came not to call the righteous but to call sinners to repentance Mat. 9.13 and 1 of Tim. 1.15 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a true saying saith Saint Paul and by all meanes worthie to be receiued That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Yea admit thou were one of the greatest sinners in the world yet doubt nothing for such a one was Paule as he witnesseth of himselfe in the same place euen the greatest and chiefest among sinners an oppressor a persecutor and blasphemer Moreouer this may and ought to comfort thee and to confirme and settle thy mind Rom. 6.3 that thou art baptized into the death of Christ For seeing thou art baptized into the death of Christ Christ his death shall saue and helpe thee by Christ his death thou shalt die vnto thy sinnes by Christ hiâ— death thou shalt receiue vndoubted remission and forgiuenesse of all thy sins finally by Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnâ—o a new life here and to a life eternall and euerlasting in the world to come Thâ— remission of our sins confirmed in Baptisme and in the Lords Supper For Baptisme is a sure token and pledge and a certaine couenant as it were of Gods mercie and fauour in which thou art reconciled vnto God So that by meanes of it thou mayest euermore haue a quiet and chearefull conscience by reason of the forgiuenesse and pardoning of all thy sins through the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ Verily it is vnto thee also that Christ speaketh in the institution of his holy Supper wherein he professeth and witnesseth that his bloud was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therefore howsoeuer the life which thou hast led hath not bene altogetheâ— faultlesse blamelesse noâ— in all respects pure and free from sinne yet despaire not but without delay flie for refuge succour vnto that bloud of his which was thus shed for thy sinnes and without ceassing call vpon his Name and thou shalt be saued according to his promise Rom. 10.13 Rom. 10.13 Criâ—â— out vnto him therefore and call vpon him in these oâ— the like words A Prayer O most mercifull God and father of alâ— mercies father of our Lord Iesus Christ be fauourable and mercifull vnto me a sinner Take pittie and compassion vpon me miserable wretch and speedily helpe me euen for that most bitter but yet most precious death and passion of Iesus Christ thy only Son our redeemer and onely Sauiour Amen Amen Enter not into iudgement O Lord with thy seruant Deale not with me after my deserts neither do vnto mee according to my sinnes and iniquities but for thy infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercie receiue me vnto thy grace I miserable wretched weake and feeble creature am in thy hands in thy power and at thy disposing to do with me what it pleaseth thee â— most mightie and yet mosâ— meeke most gentle most gracious God and mercifull father leaue me not neither reiect and cast mee off as a wretch that is quite forlorne and forsaken I am thine whatsoeuer I am and there is none can comfort me none can helpe me none can deliuer me but thou onely Thou art the true preseruatiue and remedie against all euils and mischiefes and against all infirmities and sicknesses both of bodie and soule Thou art the surest and most present helpe refuge and succour a strong hold and a fortresse and castle in all necessities Psal 46. Thou ô Lord art our hope and strength in troubles Psalme 46. In thee O my God I put my trust Psal 71. 31. let me not be confounded nor ashamed as being frustrate and disappointed of my hope but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Incline thine care vnto me and saue me and make haste to deliuer me be thou vnto me a strong rocke and house of defence that thou mayest saue me For thou art my rocke my fortresse thou art my Lord and my God Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Let the light of thy countenaÌ„ce shine vpoÌ„ thy seruant saue me for thy mercie O Lord my God Moreouer here thou must especially be admonished to take heed that the suffer not thy selfe to much to be possessed wiâ—â— the cogitation and remembrance of thy sinnes in paâ—ticular But rather if thâ— same shall at any time stanâ— vp against thee set beforâ— thine eyeâ— the remembrancâ— of that most inestimabâ— price of Christ his death suffering and fasten thâ— same into thy minde diligently according to the aduice and counsell of Sainâ— Augustine Inspice vulnerâ— pendentis sanguinem morieâ—tis precium redimentis Capaâ— habet inclinatum in cruce aâ— osculandum brachia extensâ— ad amplexandum totum
done Seâ—ondly if freely thou conâ—esse and acknowledge the same and be heartily sorâ—ie and grieued at the remeÌ„brance of it And thirdly if thou shalt freely and from thy very heart forgiue â—thers that haue any way either in thy body or goods or thy good name and estimation offered or done wrong and iniurie vn-thee If thus thou shalt from the bottome of thy heart vnfainedly pardon and forgiue others be of good comfort doubt not bâ— that God will also pardâ— and forgiue thee whatsoâ—uer wrongs iniuries doâ— either to himselfe or to â—thers For God cannot bâ— remit and forgiue that mâ—â— his offences who readiâ— and freely forgiueth hâ— neighbour For as much aâ— he himselfe hath taught 〈◊〉 this way of requitall Matâ— 6.14 If ye do forgiue mâ— their trespasses Mat. 6.14 your heauenâ—â— Father will also forgiue you CHAP. VII Of the lawfull vse of Physick in time of sicknesse A Question NOW here a question may be made whetheâ— the sicke man may with a good conscience craue the helpe of the Physition and also vse physickâ— oâ— ought onely to depend vpon God for the recouerie of his health Answer Hereunto I answer that the sicke man as he must not despise the counsaile and helpe of Physitions and of physicke so in any wise he must take heed that he do not adore and relie vpon the same too much His chiefe hope and confidence must be fixed and set vpon God who as he inspireth and giueth life and breath vnto these our bodies so he alone taketh the same away againe wheÌ„ it pleaseth him Howbeit notwithstanding sometimes it is not amisâ— to vse the helpe and couâ—sell of the Physition leâ— herein we should seeme 〈◊〉 tempt God in neglecting oâ— despising his ordinance anâ— meanes appointed for restoring of nature and recouery of health For howsoeuer medicines of theÌ„selues can do nothing neither haue any power and vertue to gâ—ue health without the blessing of God and his secret worke and operation yet notwithstanding wheâ— the same are ministred and applied by the learned and wel experienced Physition they are to be held esteemed not onely healthfull profitable but also needfull and necessarie and may also rightly be called Manus Dei the very hand of God himselfe Hereupon it is that Sirach Chap. 38. counselleth to honour the Physition with the honour that is due vnto him Eccles 38.1.4 that because of necessitie For the Lord saith he hath created ordained and appointed him For of the most High cometh healing And againe the Lord from out of the earth hath created medicines and the man that is wise will not abhorre theÌ„ As for witches and wisards inchanters and sorcerers and the like who will take vpon theÌ„ to heale and cure the sicke by certaine fained and deuised ceremonies or by a certaine number of words or prayers whereunto they ascribe the vertue and power of healing diseases these are by all meanes to be auoided and to be put away farre from vs. For they are the very hand and instruments of the diuels and euil spirits and not the hand of almightie God by whose word and power all things are and ought to be ruled and gouerned CHAP. VIII A Remedie against the feare and terrour of Death IF at any time thou be terrified with the feare of death bethinke with thy selfe and consider that by Christ death is vtterly vanquished and put to death as it were Indeed if that Christ in compassion toward vs had not died for vs the feare of death must needs haue vexed and troubled vs. But now death being vanquished cast downe and troden vnder foote by the death of Christ the soules of them that beleeue in Christ cannot die nor perish but after their departure out of these bodies they go straight vnto him Phil. 1.23 as it was said vnto the thiefe on the crosse being readie to giue vp the ghost This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 And in the meane time the bodie resteth in assured hope that it shall at the last day rise againe vnto a most blessed and happie life which is immortall and neuer fadeth and that the same bodie shall rise with exceeding great glorie and maiestie and with such beauty and comlinesse as cannot be expressed that so being renewed againe and glorified together with the soule it may liue for euer with Christ and with all the elect Among whom many shall be found which here on earth were knit and ioyned vnto vs in the bond of amitie and friendship And therefore the sacred Scripture vsually calleth the death of the godly by the name of sleepe Death a sleepe For this same weake fraile mortall and transitorie body which now rotteth in the graue shall at the last day be raised vp euen as a man that is fast asleepe is rouzed and raised vp out of his sleepe And then forthwith death being quite extinguished and abolished it shall appeare glorious and beautifull strong in perfect health sound and entire pure and spirituall immortall and incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.53 When this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortalitie Whereupon it is that the Prophet Dauid pronounceth the death of the Saints to be precious Psal 116.15 of excellent account Psal 116.15 and 16.9 and in another Psalme His heart within him leapeth for ioy and his tongue reioyceth his flesh also resteth in hope Why Because God will not leaue his soule in graue neither will suffer his holy one to see corruption These things deare brother ponder and consider well in thy mind that thou be not deceiued with the world which imagineth that when we die we die for altogether that our bodies perish together with our life and that nothing remaineth of vs after our departure hence But the world is herein altogether deceiued For our bodie is not so little set by nor so despised in the sight of God it hath his peculiar honour and welfare prepared and ordained of God For this same bodie which now we carry about vs which is now vexed and tormented with so many griefes paines this same body I say being changed glorified shall together with our soule liue for euermore Whereas indeed if wee should for altogether lose and forgo this bodie and neuer recouer the same againe at any time the death of the Saints and children of God should not be precious and honorable but rather vile and of no worth yea horrible and dreadfull Considering therfore these things diligently raise vp and comfort thy wauering mind and strengthen the same with sentences of holy Scripture Beleeue them faithfully doubt nothing For the same are most certaine vndoubted and true As Christ his body being buried and lying in the graue rose againe on the third day vnto a new life the same eternall and euerlasting neuer to die againe so the bodies of all such as are asleepe
in Christ that is who haue beleeued in Christ being now dead they rest in their graues onely for a time in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection whereby they shall rise againe in the last day vnto a new life and that eternall and euerlasting wherein shall be nether sinne nor death nor any miserie and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse life and saluation ioy and happines for euer and euer These things God himselfe hath promised who is of infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promised and who is also truth it selfe and therefore neither will nor can faile in performance thereof Trust stedfastly then in his promises and wauer not CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead MOreouer it is good for thee to repeate often and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testimonies of holy Scripture which concerne the resurrection of the flesh Hereof it is that Saint Paul admonisheth vs in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians That we raise vp confirme comfort both our selues 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the resurrection Neither indeed can there be any consolations more fruitful and plentifull or more sure and certaine then those which we fetch from those testimonies of Scripture which concerne the resurrection of our bodies they being the words not of man but of God who both can and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken as hath bene said There is none that can alter or change his will and determination none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell He is of power infinite in his word and promises most faithfull and true yea truth it selfe his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie And therefore let no man doubt thereof Math 13.43 Christ saith Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Iohn 5.24 Likewise Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Chap. 6.40 And Chapter 6.40 This is the will of my Father that hath sent me that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Againe Chapter 8.51 Verily Chap. 8.51 verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death And Chap. 11.11 Christ saith that Lazarus slept and 11.11 who notwithstanding was dead and his dead corps did then lie in the graue But Christ raiseth the dead to life againe and calleth those things which are not Rom. 4.17 as if they were as Saint Paule saith And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse Ioh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And by and by after the vttering of these words he raised vp Lazarus from death hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies And because in these conflicts of sicknesse and death we are naturally very fearefull and faint hearted to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward the more to beleeue that there shall be a resurrection many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Prophets and Apostles In the new Testament Christ raised from the dead the widowes sonne at Naim Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus Act. 20. In the old Testament the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha 1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his hostesse sonne the Shunamite 2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. ◠Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp Henoch and Elias aliue both bodie and soule out of this miserable and transitorie life and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto himselfe Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come lest according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens we should imagine that after this life nothing else remained vnto vs. Furthermore consider thinke with thy selfe what that great and mighty Lord of life death Iesus Christ saith Luke 8.52 Weepe not Luke 8.52 the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth Reason not beleeuing this notvnderstanding the mysteries of God maketh a mock of these things Wherupon it is added that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it But Christ making good his owne words as soone as he had said it he raised vp the maid that was dead and restored her to life And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ not onely receiue thy soule and preserue the same in sure custodie but will also at the last day render and deliuer againe this body vnto thy soule and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall Iohn 5.28 Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plainly Ioh. 5.28 That the day and houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shal come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life And Daniel prophecieth foretelleth also Dan. 12.2 That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake vnto euerlasting life and that they that be wise shall shine euen as the brightnesse of the firmament and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer euer Saint Paule in like manner prooueth and confirmeth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies by many strong and infallible reasons arguments Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.11 If saith he the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell 〈◊〉 you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke◠your mortall bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in you And 1. Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 6.14 The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ he shall also raise vs vp by his power And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolations and comforts of wonderfull force and efficacie In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our resurrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other Christ saith he is risen frō the dead which is a thing most certaine and sure therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise againe For Christ is our head and we his
and put to death Now then vnto as many as beleeue in Christ death is vtterly vanquished and is dead as it were there is nothing now in death that is dreadfull or to be feared besides onely a certaine image and appearance As a serpent that is dead retaineth his wonted forme which is dreadfull and terrible but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse so oft as it was beheld and looked on the fierie Serpents wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died so as the people could not be infected with their poyson euen so our death dieth as it were and is made harmelesse and in no wise to be feared if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse and dying for vs. Whereof the said brasen serpent was a liuely image and representation as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life In a word death is but a certaine resemblance or image of death or rather it is the beginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life Christ who is truth it selfe telleth vs Ioh. 8.51 If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death How I pray you commeth this to passe The case standeth thus Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God and merits of Christ Iesus by meanes of his faith is so incorporated as I may say and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord Sauiour who is the true life that he cannot be separated nor plucked away froÌ„ him This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule in an assured and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life For as much as within a short compasse of time the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to enioy eternall blisse and happinesse And so beleeuing in Christ he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule that is of eternall damnation which is the onely death indeed forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe and of all his holy Saints and Angels CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare and horror of Hell and eternal Damnation THat malicious wicked spirit the diuel and Satan here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predestination by suggesting vnto them these or the like horrible and dreadfull cogitatations What if for all this thou do not please God what if God haue reiected thee and cast thee out of his fauour or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those whom God hath elected and chosen vnto eternall life These and the like dangerous tentations will be readie to offer themselues which indeed are very hard and sharpe and will very grieuously tormeÌ„t and disquiet the minds of men especially in sicknesse And therefore a man hath need in this case to stand fast and manfully to defend himselfe Now if in this combat and conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie Straightway as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan take heed thou do not enter into the lists with him or condescend to make him answer or to dispute and reason the matter with him but repell him rather and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitations Auoid Satan depart get thee hence it is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children that are neare and deare vnto him When as God of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me alwaies hath bestowed so exceeding great infinite blessings and benefits vpon me hauing endued me with life and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued maintained the same hitherto hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life yea ministred vnto me abundantly all things behoouefull and profitable both for my soule and bodie that so farre aboue my desert beyond my desire and expectation ô what madnesse were it once to doubt of his mercie When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and number of Christian beleeuers when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me how should I not expect and looke for all good from him how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me how should not his good will and affection be most readily inclined toward me What needeth to say much in this case It is a thing both foolish and also dangerous to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination It behoueth thee rather to preuent to auert turne away and so to ouercome these cogitations with other considerations wherewith God will haue thy mind occupied as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gospell where he saith That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish Ioh. 3.15.16.36 but hath euerlasting life Hearest thou not that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ and that acknowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse sanctification and redemption can in no wise be damned but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life saluation As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfeinedly in the mercy of God and merits of Christ Iesus are of the number of them who are elect and chosen vnto eternall life being foreknowne and predestinate in Christ and registred and written long ago in the book of life But they who are predestinate vnto eternall life Rom. 8.29 are made like vnto the Image of Christ being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne Therefore by this their faith they are vndoubtedlie saued These things are most certaine and true God neither can be deceiued neither can he deceiue any man Now this is the will and counsell of God our most louing Father who is truly and indeed Philanthropâ—s a louer of mankind These things he hath thus fore-purposed and decreed from euerlasting and therefore there is no cause of feare no cause why those thingâ— should hinder thee or make thee afraid which the enemie of thine the diuell enuying thy welfare and saluation seeking the destruction of thy soule shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things Onely see that thou pâ—â— thy
trust and confidence iâ— Christ comfort thy selfe in an assurance of his mercy and behold there neither is nor can be any danger For if thou fixe thy hope and confidence in Christ Christ now is thine and thou art his He hauing redeemed thee thou canst in no wise perish nor be damned For as much as they that beleeue in Christ are by the Father drawne vnto Christ Ioh. 6.44 and by him the Fathers will is that they shold be saued neither will he haue any of them to perish Iohn 10.28 Ioh. 10.28 Be of good comfort then beleeue faithfullie and haue stedfast hope in Christ For whosoeuer beleeue in Christ the same are predestinated vnto eternall life Vpon Christ then it behoueth thee wholie to fixe the eyes of thy mind to fly vnto him and to lay fast hold vpon him by faith if thou wilt be saued Remembring that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Heb. 12. Heb. 12.2 That with patience we run the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God CHAP. XI How Christ his temptations and sufferings were all for our sakes FVrthermore all the sufferings and temptations wherwith Christ was assailed and tempted being exceeding many and grieuous he suffered them all for vs and for our sake as the same Apostle witnesseth in the same Epistle saying Heb. 4.15.16 We haue not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but which was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sinne Therefore let vs go boldly vnto the Throne of grace that we may receiue grace and find mercie to help in time of need Imprint these things deare brother stedfastly in thy mind Christ giueÌ„ vnto vs for two ends Christ was giuen vnto vs for a two-fold end First that he might redeeme vs and reconcile vs vnto God his heauenly Father and so make vs partakers of eternall saluation And secondly that he might be an example vnto vs both of liuing godly and dying happily See then that thou set Christ his death before thine eyes and that thou end thy life after his example for as much as Christ is set downe vnto vs for as example to be followeâ— both in his life and in his sufferings and death For there is no man that shal be able to liue godly no maâ— able to suffer afflictions oâ— to vndergo death happily vnlesse he shall propose vnto himselfe both the life and death of Christ for his imitation By Christ his death it is that the death of all the godly is swallowed vp and quite abolished Iâ— wil be good for thee therefore diligently to meditate and consider in thy mind what manner of death hee died and how he behaued himselfe in that most sharpe and bitter conflict of all others when as hanging vpon the crosse he was ouerwhelmed as it were with most grieuous and horrible temptations Imitate and follow him and call vnto God for helpe that thou maist be enabled thereunto CHAP. XII Of Christ his threefold Temptations FIrst the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the feare of death 1 Temptation of Christ as one in their opinion vtterly vnable to deliuer himselfe from the same when as it was obiected vnto him on the Crosse saying He saued others himselfe he cannot saâ—e as if they shold say Now his case is altogether desperate for he must die and so vtterly perish None shall by force or otherwise take him away nor deliuer him out of our hands After the like manner will that vnreconciled enemy of man the diuel be ready also to strike into thee a scare terror of death But proceed and go on forward boldly bee strong and of good courage comfort Christ hath vanquished this enemy and vtterly cast him down And thou also through the same Christ shalt likewise cast him downe and ouercome him Stretch out thy shield of faith in Christ Iesus Thy Lord and Sauiour Christ being Lord of life King of eternall glory was not so made subiect vnto death as to be ouercome or to bee holden still of death but he liueth and reigneth for euer In this case then thy Lord and Sauiour liuing and reigning for euer doubtlesse he wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee neither will he suffer death to exercise tyrannie and dominion ouer thee He cannot deceiue thee nor falsifie his word and promise made vnto thee sith he is truth it selfe Haue this confidence in him and assure thy selfe of his goodnesse and of his loue and care tender affection toward thee and behold thou shalt most assuredly liue with him for euer A twofold benefit we receiue by death And whereas he will haue thee through many afflictions and trials to vndergoe this bodily death it is for thine owne sake and for thy good For first there is no other way whereby to passe into the true and euerlasting life then by this bodily death We must then leaue and lay downe this life if we will enioy eternall life and so after this life begin to liue truly and indeed Besides this bodily death is good and profitable in this respect that hauing tasted the sharpnesse and bitternesse therof thou mightest by experience know and perceiue how feruent the loue of Christ was toward thee and how inestimable a benefit he bestowed vpon thee when as dying for thee in his owne bodie he discharged and made satisfaction for all thy sinnes death being altogether extinguished and abolished and the very gates of hell shaken in peeces cast downe and ouerthrowne For otherwise thou couldest not perceiue nor vnderstand the operation and power of life in Christ how great it is which hath swallowed vp our death neither shouldest thou acknowledge the greatnesse of the benefit nor giue due thankes as thou oughtest vnto Christ thy Lord and thy redeemer Wherefore in that Christ liueth thou also shalt liue this death shall be vnto thee a happie and pleasant sleepe and â— dore or entrance into that true and most blessed life 2 Temptation of Christ Againe secondly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the guilt of sin as being a wicked man and a man guilty of horrible sin wheÌ„ it was cast in his teeth If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauedst others why theâ— doest thou not saue thy sâ—lfe These reprochfull wordes what else did they meane and intend but that by imposture guile and cosenage he deceiued and deluded men and that he was nothing lesse then the Sonne of God nay rather that he was a most vngracious and wicked man In like manner Satan tempting a man that is in extremitie of sicknesse and readie to die he layeth before him whatsoeuer at any time he hath coÌ„mitted against God or his neighbour and he
suggesteth vnto his mind whole cartlodes of his sinnes and he doth aggrauate the same as much as possible may be that so by the hainousnesse and greatnesse of his sinnes he may cause him to stand in doubt of Gods mercie and pardon so driue him to despaire Here also be sure to stand fast and to resist manfully And when the enemy in this maner setteth vpon thee entertaine him and repell him with these or the like words True it is I confesse my selfe to be as exceeding great and grieuous sinner but Christ who is not guiltie of any sinne who is also that vnspotted Lambe in whose mouth was found no guile he hath suffered most bitter cruel death for all my sinnes how manifold how great soeuer they be they are all discharged by him he hath made full and perfect satisfaction for them all Christ his death is a sufficient attonement and propitiation for all my sinnes Esay 53.4 Christ truly and indeed hath borne mine infirmities Christ truly and indeed hath carried my sorrowes hee was wounded for my transgressions he was broken for mine iniquities and by his stripes I am healed he hath taken vpon him all my sins So that now though they haue bene neuer so many yet now I acknowledge not any I thanke my God through Iesus Christ who in his owne bodie and in his owne person hath discharged and made paymeÌ„t and satisfaction for them all 3 Temptation of Christ Thirdly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the horror of hell and eternall damnation when they obiected vnto him and said He trusted in God that he would deliuer him Let him deliuer him if he will haue him as if they should say All his hope and trust in God shall be vaine and frustrate God hath forsaken him and reiected him he hateth and abhorreth him and he will cast him downe headlong into hell condemne him euerlastingly Whensoeuer then that Tempter doth vrge and trouble thee with such like temptations take heed thou moue not one foote for all that Feare not nor be afraid let not these temptations trouble thee which he presenteth vnto thee though the same bee neuer so sore grieuous but shake them off and banish out of thy minde both the feare of sinne of death and of hell For they haue no right nor power ouer thee if so be onely thou cast thine eies vpon Christ lay hold vpon him and coÌ„mit thy selfe wholly to him Christ is thine he hath giuen and bestowed himselfe wholly vpon thee and for thee He hath by an inestimable price redeemed thee and deliuered thee from the tyrannie of the diuell from eternall damnation Christ here is become thy life thy righteousnesse and innocencie Onely see that thy heart mind be not by any tentation withdrawne nor remoued from Christ crucified If thou cleaue sticke fast vnto Christ thou art safe against all the gates of hell as being placed and set vpon a most high tower and vpon a most strong and inuincible rocke So as thou mayest boldly crie out with Dauid a true type of our Sauiour Christ Psal 16.8 I haue see the Lord alwaies before me for he is on my right hand the I should not be moued Therefore is my heart glad and my tongue also reioyceth moreouer my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leâ—â— my soule in graue neither 〈◊〉 thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Thou hast shewed me the path of life and thou shalt fill me with the ioy of thy countenance For in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore By such a faith in Christ thou art made the child of God Gal. 3.26 brother and fellow heire with Christ and partaker with him of eternall life Ioh. 1.12 This faith iustifieth the righteous that is all euen as many as beleeue in Christ By this faith thou art made the blessed sonne of thy heauenly Father and as soone as thou departest hence thou shalt enter assuredly into the celestiall kingdome Mat. 25.34 which God hath prepared for all his elect children from before the beginning of the world Now if in the midst of thy temptations thy faith begin for all this to wauer and stagger If thou perceiue that thou doest not beare so meekely and patiently as thou shouldest the will and pleasure of God thy heauenly Father and his hand which is heauie vpon thee And if thou feelest and findest thy loue to warâ— somewhat cold thy hope weake and slender thereupon fearest that as yeâ— thou art not at agreement with God but that he is still displeased with thee This temptation indeed is very sore and grieuous and full of difficultie But yâ—â— deare brother thinke thou with thy selfe and consider how that Christ hath sustained for thee a farre more inuincible intollerable tentation wherein appeared no helpe nor comfort no defence nor succour when he cried out My God Mat. 27.46 my God why hast thou forsaken me O horrible and cruell temptation O how sharpe and bitter and how cruell rigorous was that death which he did vndergo for vs to the end that he might make the way of affliction easie vnto vs Seeing then Christ willingly submitted himselfe vnto these and plunged himselfe in these so horrible and intollerable miseries and distresses and that by the will appointment of our most louing heauenly Father he knoweth doubtlesse accepteth also our infirmitie weaknesse he verily is full of compassion and he will in no wise deale strictly with vs but will pardon and forgiue many things vnto our weakenes Psal 103.14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust c. Psal 103.14 Is it not he also who calleth all men vnto him saying Come vnto me all that labour and are heauie laden Mat. 11.28 and I will ease you I pray you what greater or more large and ample or more comfortable a promise could there be then this Many things there be indeed which molest and trouble a man especially in time of sicknes among which what can more grieuously terrifie or more cruelly torment and perplexe the conscience of a man ouerwhelmed with his sinnes then when he doubteth of Gods mercie and feareth lest God turne away his face from him and hath reiected and cast him off when he cannot conceiue a stedfast and assured confidence in Gods mercy and loue toward him but he imagineth himselfe to be cut off and cast away as a member that is dry and withered Here sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ be thou present at hand with thy aide and succour For here indeed is need of comforting and refreshing lest such violent and horrible waues and stormes as these ouerwhelme wretched maÌ„ and vtterly drowne him swallow him vp But for all this behold we haue no cause either of doubt or feare Christ is not vaine nor
entirely louing thee in his wise counsell tender affection which he beareth vnto thee doth by this sicknesse mortifie and bridle represse and keepe vnder thy old man fast bound as it were in ferters and chaines that so thou maist more willingly and chearfully offer vp thy body as a sacrifice to God and fasten it with Christ vpon his Crosse This sicknes of thine is therefore a fatherly chastisement not sent for thy hurt or for thy destruction but for thy great good to the end that thereby thou mayst be reformed yea quickned and restored as it were to life againe God thy heauenly Father seeth perhaps thy old Adam that is thy corrupt nature too lustie and vnruly and too froward and stubborne to wax wanton and proud and vnable to bridle and ouersway his lusts and that while he satisfieth too too much his own desires and affections he cannot restraine himself nor moderate and keepe himselfe in any good measure and therefore he doth shut him vp as it were in this prison and he bindeth him as it were with these fetters and chaines of weaknesse and sicknesse thereby to bridle represse and restraine him lest he should bring the most noble and precious soule in danger to be seduced Flesh blood doth reigne still and beare the sway in thee more then the Spirit Here therefore behold God is present with thy Spirit ayding and strengthening the same while it wrastleth against the rebellious and vnruly flesh that hauing vanquished the same it may subdue it and keepe it vnder It may be that if now at this time thou were in health and prosperitie perhaps thy flesh as it is alwaies inclined to nothing but euill hauing deceiued thee it would driue thee and cast thee headlong into many dangerous sinnes against thy God whereby the wrath of God shold be prouoked and a way prepared for thy soule vnto hell fire and damnation Now behold thy heauenly Father preuenting this losse and danger and prouiding better for thee and for thy welfare and safetie he restraineth and holdeth backe as it were with a bridle this flesh of thine which with tooth naile and with al her strength rebelleth against the Spirit and hauing taken it captiue as it were he restraineth the same that it tumble not into a sinke of sins but rather may be subdued and brought in obedience vnto the Spirit Now sith this is the good will and pleasure of thy heauenly father who doth all this in tender loue vnto thee and fith that all this tendeth to thy profite and welfare take heed in any wise that thou striue not nor oppose thy selfe against the same But rather suffer patiently and pray that thy heauenly Fathers wil may be accomplished and fulfilled that he will intreate thee and deale with thee according to his good pleasure that thou will and desire nothing but that which shall seeme good vnto him that all things may tend to the glorie and praise of God and that his grace may still be present with thee to enable thee to beare meekely and patiently the Crosse affliction that lyeth vpon thee For patience bringeth forth experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.4 Rom. 5.4 Here hast thou matter and occasion of learning and of exercising patience in all afflictions First thou learnest that God afflicteth and punisheth thee with a fatherly affection And this thou learnest by experiēce For vnlesse thou haue experience hereof indeed how behooueful profitable it is for a man wholy to yeeld giue himselfe vnto God to obey his will according to that saying of Dauid Psal 119. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me thou canst not conceiue sure and stedfast hope and confidence in him hauing not had proofe and experience before of so fatherly and louing affection of Almightie God towards thee to lie hid vnder his rod and chastisement But when thou hast learned the same before by experience and hast now already some taste therof thy mind is not daunted nor ouercome with any crosses or afflictions but thy hope confidence is still more and more increased when as once and againe thou hast had experience of the helpe of God still present with thee And if God through a certaine conniuency suffer thee sometimes to bee plunged and to sticke fast in the mire as it were for a time yet notwithstanding at the length he will reach out his helping hand to saue and deliuer thee Hee suffereth thee peraduenture to swim a while yea to be plunged in the water or in the mire but he will not suffer thee in any wise to be drowned Hereby thē thou mayest make sure account that he will neuer forsake thee nor cast thee off when as being in danger he hath so often preserued thee In afflictions therefore thou learnest to conceiue and cherish within thy selfe a certaine and vndoubted hope confidence in God So as in farre greater troubles and distresses when as no help appeareth from elswhere thou mayst boldlie put trust and confidence in him being already taught and assured of his vsual and ordinarie manner in sauing deliuering his children Thou hast learned that sicknesses and other crosses and afflictions are sent not in anger but in fatherly loue and kindnesse which when thou art perswaded of being taught it by experience thou dost patiently wait for help Neither art thou discouraged but stedfastly hopest that at the length hee will send thee help and deliuerance howsoeuer he deferreth long hideth his face making as if hee heard not And so at length thou vnderstandest well and acknowledgest that thy greefe and sicknes is not sent vnto thee for thy hurt or perdition but for the glorie of God and for thine own eternall welfare and saluation He that can thus commit and yeeld vp himselfe vnto God resting and relying vpon his promises he shall no wise dye for euer Which thing Christ himselfe affirmeth with an oath that we might not doubt of it saying Verily verily I say vnto you Ioh. 8.51 If any man shall keepe my word he shall neuer see death And in another place hee saith I am the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue though he be dead and he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer These words of thy sweet Sauiour Christ deare brother be carefull to keep diligently and to haue deeply rooted in thy mind and therewithall raise vp and comfort this wauering mind of thine He that beleeueth in me saith Christ shall not taste of death Ioh. 5.24 He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life Ioh. 17.3 And This is euerlasting life that they know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ This life euerlasting is begun in this world For whosoeuer hath Christ he hath the true life for Christ is the true life Ioh. 14.6 Ioh. 14.6 and he is
faith is the ground or expectation of things that are hoped for to wit being promised not of things that are sensible or conceiued by sense and it is the euidence of things not seene that is a sure and certaine knowledge and proofe of the things that appeare not Hebrews 11.1 It standeth thee vpon therefore with the holy and faithfull Patriarch Abraham euen beside hope and aboue hope 〈◊〉 beleeue vnder hope Rom. 4.18 Thy faith thy hope must set it self to resist all those things which either blinde reaâ—on shall suggest vnto thee 〈◊〉 that cunning and craftie â—nemie the diuel who lieth â—n waite to destroy shall seeke to infuse and put into thee Here therefore thou â—â—t to learne and obserue 1 Pet. 5.8 for thy coÌ„fort Gods manner and custome in sauing those that are his whom he will lift vp into heauen him â—e doth commonly first of all bring downe to hell Whom he will quicken and make aliue him he doth first bring downe to the gates of death Vpon whom he will shew his greatest mercie kindnesse in sauing and deliuering him him he suffereth before to be tempted and maketh as if he would condemne him Wherefore euen then when thou feelest nothing else but present death when God seemeth most of all to be angry with thee wheÌ„ he seemeth to be furthest from thee yea and to haue wholly and altogether forsaken thee cast thee off as one reproued and condemned euen then is he nearest vnto thee to protect defend and deliuer thee then he most of all loueth thee and then he â—ath greatest care ouer thee For in the middest of trouble and affliction God remembreth mercie as the Prophet in many places beareth witnesse Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinckling of â—n eye but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide at night but ioy cometh in the morning Lam. 3.31 And againe He will not forsake or be angry for euer yea rather As a father piâ—ieth his owne children so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust Now Psal 103.13 the mercie of the Lord is for euer and euer vpon them that feare him The Lord is gracious and full of compassion Psal 145.8 slow to anger and of great mercy yea our God is good vnto all how much more to his children to them that loue and feare him and his mercy is ouer all his workes as the same Prophet witnesseth Psalme 145.8 And therefore closing vp the eies both of thy mind and also of thy senses and vtterly casting off the iudgment of reason submit and giue ouer thy selfe wholy vnto Christ and take it in good part howsoeuer he shall deale with thee Thou must not esteem and iudge of death or of the horror and paines of death according to the iudgement of outward sight or of sense and reason but according to the word of God and the censure and iudgement thereof Dauid saith That Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 And the voyce of God himselfe from heauen cryeth in the Reuelation of S. Iohn Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. Apoc. 14.13 And Christ himselfe saith Iohn 8.51 He that beleeueth in me shall not taste of death Wherefore if any thing be presented vnto thee which may seeme to turne thee away from Christ cast the same wholly out of thy mind Sticke fast vnto the word of God which abideth for euer Meditate still vpon it and by often repeating the same imprint it stedfastly in thy mind For thou canst not indeed euer conceiue by the quicknesse sharpnesse of thine own reason how al this may be that thou shouldest passe thorough death vnto the true life how thou shouldst die and depart this world by breathing out thy soule how thy soule should bee kept safe in the Lord and should abide and rest with him vnto the last day and how also thy body being putrified and eaten vp of wormes and consumed to dust and ashes could rise again in the last day of iudgment and come forth in so fresh and glorious a forme maner This reason in no wise is able to conceiue onely faith can comprehend it And therefore still meditate vpon the Articles of thy faith and diligently weigh and consider in thy mind all the seuerall parts of the same with a particular application thereof vnto thy selfe CHAP. III. How the sicke partie is to be called on and comforted being ready to giue vp the Ghost NOw deare brother is the time that thou must fight that good fight and lay hold on eternal life Now therefore fight manfully and couragiously keep thy standing diligently lay hold fast on Christ Iesus that none take away thy Crowne Fixe stedfastly in thy mind the promises of Christ thy Redeemer I am saith he the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue and shall not dye for euer Christ hauing taken our nature vpon him with all those defects and infirmities whereto we are subiect and dying vpon the altar of his Crosse hath offered vp himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for all our sinnes He it is that by his most precious blood hath purged away the sinnes of all that truly and vnfainedly beleeue in him And this thy Sauiour Iesus Christ wil in no wise forsake thee He it is that vndoubtedly careth for thee to saue protect and deliuer thee Nothing therefore shall touch thee nor preuaile against thee to hurt thee The foundation of God remaineth sure hauing this seale 2. Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his Christ saith My sheepe Iohn 10.27 heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any be able to take them out of my hand My Father that gaue them vnto me a greater then all and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand I and my father are one Wherefore deare brother beloued in Christ commend thy soule into the hands of God thy heauenly Father who for his Son his sake doubtles doth entirely loue thee hauing ransomed and redeemed thee with so great a price as the death and bloodshedding of his only sonne Cry out therefore confidently with thy elder brother Christ O heauenly Father into thy hands I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed with so great a price Lord Iesus receiue my soule Now the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort and consolation confirme and strengthen thee conduct and leade thee and by the ministery of his holy Angels transport and carrie thee as they did Lazarus into the bosome of Abraham euen into euerlasting life and finally preserue and keepe thee vnto that most ioyfull resurrection at the last day Amen A SERMON OF MORTALITIE