experience and amongest manie temptations learned the deceites of the Diuell oftentimes said that one day he would put hand to penne to write a great volume against Satan to discouer his wiles and craftes and all the kindes of temptations wherewith hee was accustomed to fight against vs. Besides this hee did dailie aduertise the people both priuatelie and openlie that it was not a thing so light as men thought it to haue dailie Satan at our heeles and an enemie so craftie that spied out but the occasion to sift vs and to destroy vs. Now on a time Luther being requested by a good man who suffered manie tēptations and other vnquietnesse for some comfort Hee wrote this vnto him that followeth in a booke brieflie expounding this sentence of S. Iohn set downe before Satan from the beginning of the world was a lyar and through lyes hath a desire to tempt mankinde Behold how Adam and Eue our first parentes were ouertaken and caught which were created vnto the Image of God For hauing beguiled them through lies hee was therein also a murtherer in that that of the immortall they became mortall Not long after hee set Caine against his Brother Abel and did thrust forward the brother to imbrue his handes with the bloud of his brother And this is the manner and guise of all Satans kingdome Hee began through lying to seduce men afterward hee ceaseth not to stirre vp persecutions against the true faithfull which would not cleaue vnto his lies In the meane while hee bringeth his maintainers to dispaire as it is to be seene of Caine Iudas and others Therefore it is for vs to beware of so cruell and craftie an enemie Let vs also beware and take good heede of his false and dreaming doctrines which commeth forth out of his shoppe the end whereof is vtter destruction To be short let vs take heede of lying and crueltie seeing both the one and the other commeth of the Diuell Moreouer let vs marke that our comfort is that Iesus Christ was giuen vnto vs who appeared to ouerthrow and destroy the workes of the diuell And in deede hee was found the stronger that did buind his enemie Satan and draue away the Prince of the world Against his leinges he hath armed vs with the trueth of his Gospell Against death hee gaue vs life giuing himselfe to bee our Emanuel that is to say God with vs. What greater comfort should wee know to desire For if a man would say yea but Christ is in heauen Behold that which Iesus saith If anie man keepe my word hee shall not perish The doctrine of the lawe accuseth vs and setteth downe before vs our condemnation But the Gospell is the word of life and power of GOD to saluation O miserable and wretched world that forsaketh this pretious word The auncient Fathers haue woondred at a hearbe called Panacea which as some say healed all maner of diseases And seeing manie times we doe see that men esteeme more of some little experience of Phisicke that they shall haue against anie sicknes Why then doe they not commend and praise aboue all the doctrine of the Gospell which healeth vs against death Is it because that the world is so earthlie and lustfull which is not otherwise guided but by fleshlie considerations and neither trusteth in God nor in his promises But wee must feare the iudgementes of God For as they which doe keepe this word shall not feare death So contrariwise they that keepe it not shall see the first and the second death And howsoeuer it seeme vnto men that they passe away with eies closed vp vnto death yet neuerthelesse they doe see death whē the bitternesse thereof and the wrath of God present themselues before their eyes Now concerning the children of GOD they see them dailie dying and themselues also doe die But because their soules learne the word of GOD they see not death For hee teacheth them euen as those that doe goe into darke places by the light who see not the darknesse which is ouercome by the light So a faithfull man which possesseth Gods grace doeth not behold death in his nature and as Gods iudgement but as a sweete sleepe whereby wee doe passe into heauenlie rest and how much the more wee beleeue so much the more are wee assured and certaine against death But the more wee be negligent to heare the word of God so much the more wee lie open to terrours and feares O how strong is therefore the faithfull man who is a member of the Church which staieth himselfe vppon the word of God The great warriers Alexander Iulius Caesar and others hauing braued in the world haue beene famous for their onlie prowes they are dead and those commonlie are the most astonied when death commeth as it is read of Adrian the Emperour The Sorrowes of Adrian the Emperour who at the point of death made such like mournings O poore soule naked and a vacabond into what place goest thou now to yeelde thy selfe Alas what shall become of thee thou companion and ghest of my bodie Thou from hence forewardes shalt haue no more pastime Loe this is the vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse of the people of this world Let vs pray therefore as in the 90 Psalme that God will giue vs grace to consider the shortnesse of our dayes to the ende we may applie our heartes vnto wisedome A prayer vpon this place Out of the 14. of S. Iohn If any man loue me he will keepe my worde and my father will loue him and we will come vnto him and will dwell with him O Lord who is he which will not loue thee syth that thou hast so loued vs to haue giuen thy sonne for vs Nowe because that thou discernest those which do loue thee in deede from hypocrites when as they loue and keepe thy worde giue me grace yea vnto mee that naturally loue but vice and vanitie to loue thy word vnto me that can doe nothing but in thee and by thee to keepe thy worde and to yeelde obedience vnto thee For what a benefite is it to haue thy companie yea this sweete companie of thee and of thy sonne Iesus and of thy holie spirite which thou hast promised to them that wil yeeld themselues affectionated vnto thy worde What greater mischiefe could happen than to be thrust backe and depriued of such a companie For whosoeuer is not with thee it behoueth that hee be with Sathan that is to say with all euill Because that in as much as thou giuest peace felicitie and life vnto them with whome thou dwellest euen so also is sathan the authour of all euill and of all mischiefe Therefore O Lorde giue me grace to abide in thee as the braunch in the vine to bring foorth the fruites of thy glorie to liue in thee and vnto thee to feele thee daily with all the comfortes that thou giuest vnto thine Let thy good spirite succour mee in my weakenesse Rom. 8.
that haue thy worde and thy promises and with whome thou art reconciled as thou hast promised by thy prophet Esaiah Esay 54. That although for a time thou hidest thy face away from thine yet neuerthelesse thou hast sworne as in the daies of Noah that thou wouldest no more suffer the waters to ouerflowe the earth so also hast thou sworne that thou wilt be mercifull vnto thy people 1. Peter 3. Whereof thou giuest vnto vs assuraunce in the sacrament of Baptisme in which thou shewest vnto vs both life and death as vnto Noah death in the waters and life in the arke Our sinnes O Lorde are the meanes of thy wrath sufficient to drowne vs but in receiuing vs into thine Arke which is thy Church and graffing vs in thy sonne Iesus whereto thou giuest vs a visible signe and testimonie in baptisme wee be saued and quickened Albeit therefore though the faithfull be in small number as was also the familie of Noah made onely of eight persons yet suffer not that I turne away for this from thy Church or that euer O my God this desperate spite take me to drowne and destroy my selfe with the multitude But O heauenly father giue mee rather grace to watch and to continue that I bee not ouerwhelmed and sette vpon by thy iudgementes euen as they were in Noahs time which sported themselues and gaue themselues ouer to their delightes Matth. 24. but rather that I may be found watching and awayting patiently and constantly the comming of my good maister Iesus Christ So be it Ierusalem was also a figure of the Church of God For as it is sayde in the 122. Psalme Ierusalem is builded as a citie that is compact together in it selfe whereunto the Tribes euen the Tribes of the Lorde goe vp according to the testimonie of Israell to praise the name of the Lorde It is called the house of the Lorde in the which the brethren are set in order In the 56.7 of Esaiah the temple shall bee called the house of prayer for all people The tabernacle that was also so welbeloued for the testimonies that God gaue therein of his presence Psalm 84. and that there they did seeke the Lorde as it is saide in the 33. of Exodus was a figure of the Church where is the meeting and congregation of the Lorde The Church in the 10. Chap. of S. Iohn is compared vnto a sheepefolde whereof Iesus is the sheepehearde and in the which the sheepe doe heare and vnderstande the voice of the sheepheard In the 5. Chapter of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Ephesians as also often times in the prophetes the Church is compared vnto a welbeloued spouse in whom the Lorde taketh his pleasure and of whom he is the heade as the husbande of his wife whom he maketh much of and for whome hee hath giuen himselfe So then the true Church is compared in the scripture vnto a heauenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 and hath most excellent titles when as man doth respect the chosen of God and the companie of the true faithfull which the Lorde knoweth and approueth But when the scripture beholdeth this visible Church and considereth it at once and outwardly then is it compared vnto a great fielde that yeeldeth maniefolde and sundrie kinde of graines where amongest and in which there is great store of Darnell or else like vnto a nette Matth. 13. that hath taken all manner of fishes For all they which are outwardly Iewes as S. Paul saith in the 2. to the Romanes be not therefore very Iewes in deede So likewise all they that say Lorde Lorde Matth. 7. shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen But God doth alwaies reserue some seede in the middest of these corruptions and without that wee had as Esaiah sayeth euen a good while agone beene as Sodom and Gomorra Certaine places of the scripture concerning the Church of God and the profite of his worde Out of the 93. Psalme vers 5. Thy testimonies are verie sure O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer Out of the 94. Psalme vers 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lorde and teachest him thy lawe that thou maiest giue him rest from the daies of euill whiles the pit is digged for the wicked Out of the 119. Psalme vers 32. I will runne the way of thy commaundementes when thou shalt inlarge mine heart A prayer O Lorde my God because that the way of thy saluation is declared vnto vs in thy worde and that by so many testimonies of the prophets and Apostles wee do vnderstande what is the true and right way suffer me not to lose my selfe wandering through the large way of the world and going in the counsell of the wicked or following the traditions of men Psalm 73. Make me to knowe that all they which trust not in thee are in daungerous and slipperie places And suffer me not O good God that in this faire way wherein thou hast set me I waxe feeble or slowly walke but that rather I may runne out this holie course euen vnto the ende and that I may remaine constant in thy obedience and that I may by a true faith ouercome the offences and lettes that Sathan offereth vnto them which doe runne vnto thee Alas O Lorde I truely knowe that the best runners are some times subiect to stumble but keepe me from falling and if I fall let thy holie hande relieue mee and soone set me vpright that so Lorde feeling thy goodnesse and sweetenesse that I serue thee not vnwillingly and grudgingly but where as in times past I ranne after vanities and ydolatrie I may nowe runne O my God in the way that thy worde doeth appoint vs and to the ende I may runne set my heart at libertie Psalm 32. for our spirites are naturally so much let with worldly cares that we are become more duller and restiue than oxe or mule But it is thy vertue wherein I so hope and trust it is thy aide that I call for that by thy mighty spirite my weake spirite may be vnswathed and vnroled there may be nothing to stay me from walking in thy feare to the ende I may vowe my selfe in thy seruice O Lord blessed are they which be in thy schoole where thy worde soundeth and thy spirite gouerneth which comforteth and strentheneth vs against all afflictions namely against death 1. Cor. 9. declaring vnto vs that wee runne not in vaine but for the vncorruptible crowne of glorie O Lorde giue mee grace so to runne that I may learne him and come euen vnto thee We doe require as Dauid sayeth Psalm 119. in this worlde they face in thy Church But we doe not see as yet thy face vncouered we see thee in thy worde and in part But O happie are we when as wee shall see thy glorie and that we shall see thee such as thou art without sacrament or figure inioying the trueth and presence of thy
made of iron nor of steele but of a weake and variable substance And yet neuerthelesse they dispose not themselues vnto their end neither make anie prouision for those thinges which concerne the time to come The beastes herein doe passe vs as Ieremie sheweth in the 8. of his prophesie For by the skie the Storke knoweth the season of the yeare and the Turtle and the Crane doe marke what time is fittest for their comming and all these byrdes doe well knowe howe that it is not alwayes Summer and that Winter will come But men marke not the iudgementes of God but sleepe in the world as if they should neuer remoue It is a thing verie certaine that wee must all die seeing that wee be all sinners and that death is the reward of sinne as S. Paul writeth in the 6. to the Romans True it is that the scripture setteth downe vnto vs three kindes of death The one is the sundering of the soul from the bodie with making nothing of the bodie vntill the resurrection An other is the death of sinne as it is often said that men which are nourished in their sinnes are dead And Iesus Christ speaking of those which knew not God said Let the dead burie the dead The third is called in the Apocalyps the second death sometimes the eternall death whereunto the wicked shall bee condemned in the last iudgement Now albeit that the Painimes sometimes seeme to haue spoken pretilie of death Yet so it is that two thinges haue made them vncertaine in this matter and vnprouided of sound consolation The first is that they neuer well vnderstoode the cause of death neither the remedie thereof The one whereof was by the fall of Adam the other giuen by Iesus Christ Moreouer they neuer vnderstoode the spring of true life that lyeth in God and in the beholding of his face where of the children of God shall after the resurrectioÌ„ be the beholders both in soule and bodie Although then that Adam before his sinne was created according to the bodie of the dust of the earth yet in deed so it is that if hee had not sinned the diuine vertue and Image of God had swallowed vp in him all corruption and defended him against death in such sort as without griefe when it had pleased God he should passe into heauenlie life But his wilfull transgressing made him with his posteritie seruile vnto death so as hee had receaued for him and for his a most blessed condition if hee had not sinned And as concerning that the death of Adam did not follow for his sinne all at one time it was not but through the mercie of our good God whose will is to preserue mankinde in the meane time punishing sinne in that that Adam and all his rase haue bin and are of one mortall condition full of labor and miserie Wee doe also see the pitifull entrie that wee doe make into the world casting forth a thowsand gronings and sighes from our first ariuall into the world Furthermore euerie one will easilie coÌ„fesse that death is a thing most fearefull that can happen vnto man because that it doeth represent vnto vs at one time the wrath of God and a miserable vndoing of our life whereof naturallie wee are so desirous Behold wherefore wise men are manie times giuen to search out coÌ„forts wherewith to sweeten for vs the sourenesse of death But those that haue not tasted of the word of GOD haue nothing to stay vppon not finding anie resolution but that wee must beare that which is ordained for vs by an irreuocable arrest Manie of the Heathens being indued with a knowledge somewhat higher than the rest and affirming the immortalitie of the soule hold this for a resolution that in the other life the state of good men shall bee happie seeing that here belowe they be ordinarilie subiect to manie miseries And in deede wee must come to this point that by the temporall and present estate one caÌ„not iudge of mens happinesse as also contrariwise they that most doe prosper in this world in earthlie things die oftentimes as brute beastes hauing a soule buried in earthlie things albeit that there is a difference betwixt man and beast because euerlasting death is reserued for the wicked and because the end crowneth the worke Though that in this world a man receaued great giftes of God yet the continuance and all the vertues doe declare and shew themselues chieflie in the Agonies of death Therefore euen as one wretched nature hath brought vs vnto one lyke condition of death so doeth the grace of God make the difference that the one to wit the vngodlie die to their destruction And the other which bee the children of God guided by his spirit and by his word Psal 116. doe die for to liue more happilie so that their death is pretious before GOD. Then let vs say that which is said in the 23. of Numbers I pray God I may die the iust mens death which are assured as Iob saith in the 19. Chapter that one day they shall see GOD in their flesh This was the cause that men were customed to burie the dead with a certaine speciall care For as men locke vp their apparell in a chest meaning to weare them againe euen so are the dead bodies buried in full hope of a certaine rising againe Truelie wee ought well to wish this time where as Christ saith in the 22. of S. Matthew when wee shall bee like vnto Angels in happinesse and in pure conuersation and thoughtes Then shall this be the true fulfilling of our redemption wheÌ„ as we shal be gathered together on high where there is neither cold nor heate Apoca. 7. hunger nor thirst but a lasting blessednesse But to whome is death pleasant but to those that doe labour The poore day-laborer is glad that he hath done his dayes labour So is death sweete vnto the afflicted and the remembrance thereof is bitter to those that rest themselues in worldlie thinges The chiefe point is let vs labor whilest it is day and let vs learne to know God so long as we be in this world seeing that in the knowledge of him lyeth our saluation Oh what a comfort dooth a faithfull soule â—inde in that that Iesus hath spoken in the 17. Chap. of S. Iohn My Father I will that where I am those may be there also which thou hast giuen me So then when as wee doe meditate of these thinges in good time death will be sweete vnto vs. And thereuppon it commeth to passe euen as to those whose discourses and thoughtes haue bin sweete vnto them all day long that likewise their dreames bee all the night verie pleasant and quiet But the troublesome men and busie trotters vp and downe haue their dreames commonlie full of vnquietnesse Such like shall the death of those bee that doe incomber themselues with worldlie thinges And as S. Augustine saith What is this but death This is the leauing of the
bee all afflictions pouertie and ruines which wee doe see fall out in the compasse of the whole worlde Men complaine enough of their losses of their sorrowes and pouerties but how fewe are there that frame their complaintes against their vices against their falshood infidelitie against their impatiēce against their couetousnesse against their ambition such like wickednesse To bee short all saith S. Augustine complaine of the miseries of this life and yet the most part set their heartes vppon it and are more affected to it than to the euerlasting and heauenlie life How would it bee then if this life were left vnto vs altogether quiet sweete and delectable Who would remember the kingdome of heauen Who would euer aspire vnto Christ and vnto the glorious and euerlasting life Go to then let vs acknowledge the vanitie of our thoughtes and in steede of vexing our selues and fainting let vs woonder at the diuine prouidence acknowledging that then his helpes are more neere at hand when it seemeth that GOD is farthest off from vs. As Philo the Iewe once answered his fellow citizens when as he had an ill answere of the Emperor Caius towards whom hee had bin sent to intreate for the Iewes Eusebius 2. booke 5. Chap. The obiection that hath beene a long time awaited It must needes be nowe sayth hee that the vnfallible succours of God bee verie neere syth that all succour from man faileth vs. Yea but some man will say with the Iewes in the 8. Chap. of Ieremie We haue looked for peace and we fare not the better The time of health and lo here is nothing but trouble Answere I answere to this That in awayting we must take heede that we giue God leaue to appoint the time for it is enough for vs that he will come and that he will come to the purpose and to the point euen then to helpe vs when he seeth it best for vs. But if we must speake of our goodly waiting Alas how do we waite or howe haue we waited for him Surely some for the most part looke rather to men to the helpes of men thā to the Lord God of Hostes of whom a man may say that which is spoken in the 4. of the lamentation of Ieremie the prophet that their eies are consumed with waiting for a vaine helpe for looking after an emptie hope for looking for a nation that neither would nor could saue thē But it is saide in the 3. of Sophonie I will cause a poore an afflicted people to remaine in the middest of thee and they shall trust in the name of the Lorde See him on whō we must looke with true faith amending so great corruptions that are in the midst of the Churches by feruent cōstant calling on his holy name Moreouer others in steede of awaiting on the Lorde and in place of taking aduersities as a warning from the diuine maiestie these were that alas in great nūber stronglie throwne downe into the puddle of Idolatrie with the Papistes Reuolt or turning backe throwen downe say I yea and rushed in euen as a furious horse rusheth into a battaile so that they carie there all the sway in whō there is founde greater eagernesse after Idolatrie and towardes all kinde of iniquitie than in those old Idolaters who all their life long haue beene nourished vp therein I speake it with teares in deepe sorrowe of heart to be most true for I did see those which were of the same troupe and band which did goe with vs vnto the holy assemblies to whom God had alreadie giuen fauour to ouercome manie assaultes nowe to bee so wandering and giuen ouer to a spirit of darke vnderstanding O what other thing then are all men liuing but vanitie O how true is this which is spoken in the 17. of Ieremie That the heart of man is false and full of deceite and as it is saide in the fifth Chap. of the same prophet O Lorde are not thy eies on the trueth Thou hast striken them and they haue not sorrowed Thou hast consumed them but they haue refused to receiue thy discipline They haue made their faces more harder than a stone and they haue refused to returne vnto thee Feare ye not me sayth the Lorde Or will ye not be afraid at my presence O howe much more happie were they which passed into the foure cornerd house and into other places as it were true golde through the fire constantlie calling vppon the Lorde than those which burned them quicke seeking after Idolatrie and the vanitie of the worlde taking the way to that fire that neuer shall be quenched But what As it is saide in the 8. Chapter of Ieremie Shall he which is fallen not rise againe Or hee which is turned awaie shall hee not turne againe Ah my brethren I hope yet there will manie be founde who will say What haue we doone And there shall be of those of whome S. Cyprian speaketh in his treatise cōcerning those which are fallen whose bodies were rather ouercome than their heart Although that this saying of Tertulliā is more true In his book de corona militis that is to say that in the matter of faith and religion this excuse of necessitie of force can haue no place as if of necessitie one might be compelled to do any thing against his religiō Nonecessitie to euill For no necessitie ought to be pretended to doe euill forasmuch as there is saieth he but one necessity that ought to cōmand vs which is simplie necessary to wit to obey our God If there be any thing therfore that should feare man or should lay any necessity by enforcemēt vpō him it is the greatnesse and terrour of that which is most great and terrible that is to say of the liuing and euerlasting God If there were any allurement pleasure or commoditie that ought to drawe a man it is the riuer of the Lords delight they be the promises of euerlasting treasures and of the life to come which if we tasted were it neuer so litle all the world with her delight should be nothing vnto vs. And so likewise a faithfull man is greater and more excellent than this worlde being the childe of God and an inheritour of him a coheire with Iesus Christ See wherfore such a one desireth nothing of the worlde but his whole life is a renouncing and forsaking of the world If the question be of punishments banishments or other penalties they are not miserable which dy or be in banishment for the name of Christ but they who howsoeuer they yet liue and are in their pallaces in the middest of all their delightes are iudged and condemned by the word of God and by the lawes thereof being guiltie and worthie of a thousand deathes of a thousand banishments as for example these murtherers ydolaters and other such like are who haue their handes embrued in the bloud of our
and make head against the diuel for he himselfe doth alleage the scripture and therfore if we be not well seene or exercised therein he will trouble and ouercome vs. Let vs also pray this good God that he will giue vs his holy spirite which is the true teacher and expounder of the scripture the which the deuill in not being able to haue hath nothing but the barcke of the scripture and is easie to be vanquished and ouercome by those which are caried by the spirite of God Of prayer which is one of the effectes of Faith 7. Chap. of S. Matthewe Aske and it shal be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened PRAYER O Lorde GOD seeing that thou thy selfe doest offer thy selfe vnto vs with so great kindenesse and sweetenes suffer vs not that we be negligent in calling vpon thee neither permit that we become restiffe in asking when as thou art readie to giue And to this effect graunt vs grace to feele howe much thy helpe is necessarie for vs euen for vs poore creatures which haue not neither possesse we any thing but of thy fauour and grace and yet neither that which we haue can prosper without thy blessing We therefore namely do acknowledge the great wantes and defectes which are in vs in respect of those heauenly things For neither faith hope nor charitie can be in vs vnlesse thou doe store vs with thy light S. Iames. 1. and helpe our infirmities For all good guiftes doe come from aboue from thee thou father of light Wherefore should we not then call vpon thee hauing thy promises Or wherfore shold wee goe elsewhere synce that in thee is all aboundance and sufficiencie Giue vs grace O good God not onely to pray to thee but also to knocke at thy gate It seemeth that it is somtimes shut against vs and that thou hast no care ouer vs as in verie deede the gates of grace were shut vp against vs because of sinne But we haue our mediator Iesus Christ at thy right hande who hath promised to open it vnto vs. Open therefore vnto thy children that knocke thou which hast giuen thy deere sonne for vs giue vs faith that may bring vs vnto thee and also hope which may entertaine vs in faith and giue vs in summe that which thou knowest farre better than we to be necessarie for vs for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake A notable sentence to hold the faithfull in a true confession of Gods name taken out of the 10. Chap. of S. Matthew FEare ye not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kill the soule But rather feare him which is able to destroy both the Soule and bodie in hell Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen But whosoeuer shal denie me before men I will denie him before my father which is in heauen MEDITATION THe feare of death is the thing that dooth most turne away men from our Lorde The feare of death and from the imbracing of his worde For Iesus Christ sheweth what the follie of man is in this we feare death for feare of losing life But man cannot take away life wherefore are they then afraid For life is in the hand of God who hath giuen it But if it be a question of sorrowes and tormentes then death is no more it that we feare Iob. 5. for they are the sorrowes wherein we be borne as the bird to flie and those which we ought patientlie to beare euen as a valiant souldier beareth certaine woundes to be after crowned As concerning the bodie that is put in the graue we doe not thinke it lost because that nothing is lost but the infection and corruption the which wee doe desire to loose And our bodies shall rise againe glorious bodies For it is euē as when a man melteth a great masse or lumpe of Copper to make a faire Image of Truelie then is not the copper lost but fined and set in honour Moreouer as a good martyr named Simeon said of whome is spoken in the Ecclesiasticall historie of Sozomene in his second booke and 10. Chap. Seeing that of nature we be alreadie mortall wherefore should we not account this for a great honor when we die for Iesus Christ But our Lord dooth yet vse an other Argument If we feare death then wee must feare the great danger that is euerlasting And that is wherein God may cast those downe headlong that offend him This is the secōd death whereof is spoken in the Apocalyps in the 21. Chap. ver 8. Blessed are they that feare God more than men Alas he asketh no great thing of vs to be short he requireth but that we trust in him and that we confesse his name The Elementes Psal 16. the earth the trees and the riuers doe declare his glorie Psal 148. so doe the byrdes on the braunches Wherefore is it that man which is created vnto his likenesse will not praise the Lord And when we doe confesse him it dooth serue him but for little marrie it dooth bring much vnto vs that he confesseth vs in his glorie and that hee acknowledgeth vs to bee his Now what pitie is it when so manie men shew themselues so slacke and vnfaithfull vnto the Lord some forsaking him and openlie blaspheming him other some being ashamed of him hauing the knowledge of the trueth hidden and shut vp in them Moreouer Titus 1.16 how manie be there which confesse him by their tongues and denie him in their heartes and wicked life O Lord therefore open our lippes and make cleane our heartes so as wee may beleeue with the heart and confesse with the mouth that we be not confounded in this great comming of thy sonne Iesus Christ but rather that we may haue his honor to be reknowledged and also declared thy children and heires of thy kingdome That through faith we goe vnto Christ and what the yoke of the faithful is 11. Chap. of S. Matthew COme vnto me all ye that are wearie laden and I will ease you Take my yoke vppon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lowlie in heart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light A consideration vppon the said text BLessed are those saith Dauid in the 119. Psalme that are vpright in their way and walke in the lawe of the Lord. But what Where is the man that walketh vprightlie For they are all gone out of the way taking damnable pathes as it is said in the 14. Psalme and in such sort through infidelitie and disobedience are men turned away from the Lord and walke after vanitie they are turned againe into their course saith Ieremie in the 8. Chap. as the horse that rusheth into the battell Now see the sonne of God who so gratiouslie dooth call you againe and bid you to come againe vnto him
raging of the sea and the most greatest riuers to whom thou hast also giuen their boundes so shall it be as easie when it shall please thee to still and appease the stormes and tempestes that we do behold in these daies and to tame the furie of the enemies But graunt vs grace O heauenly father that among so many stormes wee may stay ourselues vpon thy holy and vndoubted witnesses that wee haue in thy worde that we may remaine constant in all thy seruices and in thy house vntill that thou hast drawen vs out of the waues of this worlde to guide vs vnto the blessed and happie life and vnto the hauen of saluation So be it A prayer grounded vpon Gods prouidence O Lorde our God thou God of vengeance and iudge of the earth if euer it were time that thou shouldest shewe thy selfe clearely displaying thy iudgementes vpon thine aduersaries and vpon thy people thy mercies nowe it is O Lorde that thy children of so long time haue beene and are oppressed by the conspirators of Antichrist yea massakers and murtherers yea with more horrible disloyaltie and crueltie than euer man sawe in such sort O Lorde as it maketh the wicked to lift vp themselues and waxe proude as if wee were vtterly vndone and as if there were no God in heauen that cared for his poore Church And moreouer O God the long time and the greatnesse of these afflictions would make vs a thousande thousande times lose courage were it not that wee should be more than brutish if we did not assure ourselues that thou seest our miseries and vnderstandest our sorowes and mourneful complaintes thou Lord which hast made the eye and planted the eare of man yea thou great God by whom wee liue and haue our mouing and being to be short thou which hast gouerned this whole worlde by thy so great wisedome from the beginning of the worlde chastice these people and make them know and see thy iudgementes It is the remembraunce of thy so great workes and of thy prouidence which comforteth vs and causeth vs to haue patience in our afflictions seeing that it is certaine that thou shuttest vp our teares in thy barrels keepest all our bones that not one of thē is broken Therefore O Lorde thou shalt be our defence for thy helping hande hath gathered vs together euer since we came forth of our mothers wombe and shalt be the rocke of our trust for euer more who knowest well to rewarde both in place and time vnto our enemies their outrage to destroy them through their owne malice A prayer taken out of the 26. of Esaie vpon the same matter concerning the prouidence of God TRust ye in the Lorde for euer more for the Lorde is strong for euer for he will bring downe them that dwell on high the high citie hee will abase euen vnto the grounde will he cast it downe and bring it vnto dust The foote shal tread it downe euen the feete of the poore and the steps of the needie The way of the iust is righteousnesse thou wilt make equall the righteous path of the iust Also wee O Lorde haue awaited for thee in the way of thy iudgementes the desire of our soule is in thy name and to the remembrance of thee with my soule haue I desired thee in the night and in my spirite within mee will I seeke thee in the morning for seeing thy iudgementes are in the earth the inhabitance of the worlde shall learne righteousnesse But yet let mercy bee shewed vnto the wicked and he will not learne righteousnesse in the lande of vprightnesse will he doe wickedly and will not beholde the maiestie of our Lorde O Lorde they will not consider thy hie hande but they shall see it and be confounded with the zeale of the people and the fire of thine enemies shall deuour them Lord vnto vs thou wilt ordaine Peace for thou also hast wrought all our workes for vs. Goodly warninges grounded vpon Gods prouidence that the mother made vnto her seuen sonnes executed by Antiochus taken out of the 2. Booke of the Machabees and the 7. Chap. THe mother did valiantly exhort euerie one of her seuen sonnes saying I can not tell howe you came into my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor life It is not I that set in order the members of your bodie but doubtlesse the creator of the worlde which formed the birth of man and founde out the beginning of all thinges will also of his owne mercie giue you breath and life againe as ye nowe regarde not your owne selues for his name sake The Apostles prayer vpon the same matter out of the 4. Chap. of the Actes O Lorde thou art the God which hast made the heauen and the earth the sea and all thinges that are in them which by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid hast sayd why did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine thinges The Kings of the earth assembled and the rulers came together against the Lorde and against his Christ For doubtlesse against thine holy sonne Iesus whom thou haddest annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israell gathered thē selues together to doe whatsoeuer thine hande and thy counsel had determined before to be done And nowe O Lorde beholde their threatninges and graunt vnto thy seruantes with all boldenes to speake thy worde Certaine goodly examples of Gods prouidence turning away the enterprises of the wicked helping his taken forth of Gene. the 50. Chap. IOseph being solde by his brethren and seeing thē to haue some remorse of conscience after his fathers death sayde thus vnto them Feare not for am not I vnder God whē ye thought euill against me God disposed it to good that hee might bring to passe as it is this day and saue much people aliue Behold how in one selfesame thing the worke of man is euill and that of Gods both good and holie the disloyaltie of Iosephes Brethren was euill and to bee reproued But as S. Augustine saith our God is so mightie and good that hee would neuer suffer euill to happen if he were not the almightie and that hee cannot turne it vnto good And let vs marke therefore what S. Augustine saith elsewhere of the same that is to wit that the iudgementes of God may well sometimes be hidden but the vniust neuer An other example taken out of the 1. Chap. of Exodus ANd Pharao said vnto his people Let vs worke wiselie against the children of Israel least they multiplie it come to passe that if there bee warre they ioyne themselues altogether vnto our enemies and fight against vs and get them out of the land A Prayer or Meditation O euerliuing and almightie God who is he therefore that shall feare mans enterprises Pharao wrought well and his people did agree with him They bestowed imploied all their wisdomes together And wherewith was it that they had so great a feare
vnto vs this honor to speake of ours Thou pronouncest by thy sonne that wee are blessed in hearing thy word and that when wee haue it and heare it that doeth not come of our selues but through thy great mercie It is thou thy selfe which openest and stoppest our eares Oh heauēlie Father how great is thy mercie But wo vnto this damnable vnthankfulnesse of them that laugh and gaude thereat in place of hearing it Wo vnto this our sluggishnesse that hindereth vs to pray and to demaund none other thing but that thy word might haue his course ◠Thes 3. Ephe. 6. and might be glorified and that thou raise vp good shepheardes to whome thy word may be giuen that with open mouth and with boldnesse of heart 1. Sam. 3. the secretes of the Gospel may be made knowen And that it happen not vnto vs that thy word bee take away for our vnthankfulnesse Ephe. 3. as wee doe reade that in the time of Eli it was rare in the request and there was little to be had of anie manifest vision Now vnto him which by his power may doe all in all abundance more than wee doe aske or thinke vnto him be glorie in the Church in Iesus and in all ages So be it Out of the 5. Chap. of the Gospell of S. Iohn Search the scriptures Of the profit in the true vnderstāding of the scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me MEDITATION MEn haue a naturall desire to the euerlasting life But where is it that they doe seeke it In themselues or in mens traditions And in so dooing they goe far off in place to drawe neere to it For it hath pleased this good God to comfort and quicken the people giuing vnto them his scriptures which is called the word of life in such sort as it is a woonderfull benefit that God bestoweth on a people when hee giueth vnto them his word Luke 10. And as it was said vnto Martha that it was needefull for vs to labour with care after so manie things But there is one thing that is truelie in euerie respect necessarie Iohn 6.27 To labour after the heeuenlie foode All the rest is but as an accessarie Let vs therefore trauaile and labour after the foode that shall neuer perish For there is no question to labour much the sonne of God presenteth it to vs. Let vs seeke into it Let vs here applie our studies and there let vs imbrace it and let vs choose as Marie did the better part Wee must not heare make readie neither armes teeth nor mouth to labour after this heauenlie meate We must beleeue as S. Augustine saith in the 25. treatise vpon S. Iohn But what manie doe reade the word of God but as it were to runne from it so that this is as a booke closed vp and out of the which they bring no profit For it behooueth to inquire thereof truelie to sound weigh and conferre the one with the other with calling vppon it in the name of God All euen as they doe which digge for the treasure of the earth they must imploy their labour and trie with all diligence the mettales For if they doe but scratch the earth aboue they shall neuer finde out the Ore or Mettall Other some doe reade it as the Iewes but it is with a veile and without seeking him there who is the end of the lawe to wit Iesus Christ The heritickes doe reade and read againe the scriptures as the Anabaptistes and others In what manner the heritiques doe alledge the scripture But as faith Clement Alexādrine in his 7. booke Stromat Although the heretickes doe in deede alledge the scriptures yet may a man by and by see their deceite for either they doe not conferre the scripture with scripture or they doe alledge it by peece meale and by little and little morsels and not wholie or else they will not acknowledge the phrase or manner of speaking of the scripture neither the scope or end of it And as an other verie auncient Doctor named Irenaeus saith in his third booke and 15. Chapter against heresies The heritickes to the end they might not bee discouered doe alledge the scripture well at the beginning to drawe on the people vnto them But so soone as they haue gotten scholers they wrest the scriptures to their owne side and make men beleeue that their rauing or raylinges bee the scripture and doe scorne at all the good Doctors Of correction Donat. falselie accusing and slaundering them Now the Lord saith S. Augustine suffereth heritickes to be that our faith and loue might be tried together Our faith whether we doe suffer our selues to be led away Our loue when as wee seeke to reforme instruct them Therefore let vs beware of such a companie of scoffers which say What haue we to doe to torment our selues after the reading of the scriptures One cannot know at these dayes what to beleeue some expound it thus othersome so Euerie heriticke doeth alledge the scripture It is true But as it is said if wee be deceaued it is for that wee will be beguiled because we will not truelie seeke out the scriptures Is it not easie enough to discerne the Spider from the Bee The one turneth all into poyson The other into honie Such is the difference betweene the heretickes and the true faithfull How the scripture ought to be read Now the faithfull reading the scripture will reade it with prayer that God may open his vnderstanding to know the woonders of his Lawe such prayers Dauid made in the 119. Psalme Then hee will reade it not to bee turned away from the preaching of the word But rather so much the more to knowe and vnderstand the doctrine which is preached Thirdlie hee will not reade the scripture to halues but will compare the old and the newe Testament together Lastlie hee will not seeke out there in subtilties nor curiosities but hee will seeke there Iesus Christ for whose loue all was written as wee doe reade in the 20. Chap. of S. Iohn And therefore will he reade the scripture to strengthen him in the faith alwayes hauing before his eyes the Articles of our faith as a guide to which hee will referre that which hee readeth as vnto certaine cōmon places Therefore Christ is the end of the lawe and of sacrifices Christ is hee to whome the Prophetes haue yeelded witnesse and this is the scripture that reuealeth it vnto vs and not Philosophie or humane reason Of the true ofspring of sectes and heresies Out of the 8. Chap. of S. Iohn verse 44. The diuel hath beene a Murtherer from the beginning abode not in the trueth for the trueth is not in him If anie keepe my word saith Iesus Christ hee shall neuer tast of death CONSIDERATION THey who haue knowen Martin Luther that seruant of God in his time write how hee hauing long
death and shewing that she had no more power sith that Christ is risen againe Nowe will some say howe doth this place agree with S Paule Wee must consider the thinges more neerer It was sayde that if the people had turned to God he had deliuered them through his diuine mercie But forasmuch as there was nothing in vs but sinne and so likewise death it behoueth vs to looke vpon Christ who hath ouercome death and vanquished Hell in such sort as they cannot hurt the children of God For being graffed in Christ we feare nothing Wherefore S. Paule who reioyceth himselfe in Christ and in his righteousnesse and who considereth that through him saluation is giuen vnto vs doth with good right dispite and tryumph ouer death and as concerning him he doth not recite the wordes of the prophet worde for word but he hath a respect to the intent and meaning of them By Christ then are we quickened therefore haue we sure hope of the resurrection so as that which the righteousnesse of the lawe could not do is fulfilled and wrought through Christ in whome wee feare not death Thus by faith we are deliuered from the whole curse Out of the 22. Chap. of S. Matthew Iesus disputing of the resurrection against the Sadduces sayde And concerning the resurrection of the dead haue ye not read what is spoken vnto you of God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaae and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing Out of the 5. of S. Iohn The houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shal heare the voice of the sonne of man And they shall come foorth that haue doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue doone euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation Excellent witnesses of the resurrection out of the 15. Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians If there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen But Christ is risen was seene of manie Then is there a resurrection of the dead If we haue our only hope in this life we shall be most miserable of all mankinde But our faith is not in vaine neither the witnesse that the holy Ghost doth yeelde vnto our heartes that wee be the children of God Then is there another entire life of man and consequently a resurrection The seconde Adam is truly as mightie at the least as the first Nowe all these die which are borne of Adam it followeth then that they which be borne againe in the seconde Adam which is Christ are also made liuing after the bodie and soule The sacrament of Baptisme is vnto vs also a sacrament which doth represent vnto vs our mortification our life and resurrection when the people were drawen through the water The saintes and faithfull neither fought nor suffered in vaine For if there were not another life in vaine should they suffer euen vnto death We haue likewise saith S. Paul an example of the resurrection in the graine of corne and in other seedes which die in the grounde and in dying doe in the spring time rise againe more fairer wherefore is it that that should not so likewise happen vnto our bodies Out of the 3. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Philippians Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the sauiour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto himselfe Out of the 2. Chapter of the 2. Epistle to Timothie S. Paule reproueth Hymeneus and Philetus which haue erred from the truth saying that the resurrection is past alreadie and doe destroy the faith of certaine I beleeue the life euerlasting Euerlasting saluation is the ende of our faith as sayeth S. Peter in the 1. Epistle and 1. Chap. This is truely the glorie of God which ought to be our ende and that whereunto wee doe aspire euen the price which is promised to this militant Church that is life euerlasting The soule of Lazarus separated from the bodie Luke 16.22 was receaued to euerlasting rest It was said vnto the good thiefe as he is called which confessed Christ with repentance To day shalt thou bee with me in paradise Now who is hee which could expresse the blessednes of the life euerlasting For this word Life comprehendeth all ioy peace glorie and honor as S. Paul saith in the 2. Chap. to the Romans Vnto those which with patience are giuē to goodnes shall bee giuen Glorie honor immortalitie and life euerlasting And they shall shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father as it is said in the 13. of S. Matthew Contrariwise the Infidels shall bee cast out from the face of the Lorde with anger with euerlasting tormentes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Behold what is the auncient faith that the Apostles haue held and S. Peter hath preached for the which our Churches are persecuted and wee are called heritikes But what Wee oftentimes call to remembrance that goodlie admonition that S. Paul made to Timothie in the 6. Chap. of his first Epistle Fight the good fight of faith Lay hold of eternall life whereunto thou art also called and of that which Dauid speaketh in the 138. Psalme Lorde though I walke in the middest of trouble yet wilt thou reuiue me And of this goodlie place which is in the 25. of Esai The Lorde will destroy death for euer and will wipe away the teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people wil he take away out of all the earth And in that day shall men say Lo this is our God wee haue awaited for him and hee will also saue vs. This is the Lorde wee haue awaited for him wee will also bee ioyfull and reioyce in his saluation And though wee bee deliuered to death for the name of Iesus yet doe wee know that his life shall bee manifested in our mortall flesh as it is said in the 4. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers Idolaters and lyers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Apoca. 21.8 Comfortes against death taken out of manie auncient Doctors IT is not without great reason that the great philosopher Plato saith that the life of a wise man ought to passe in a continuall meditation of death For wee shall in deede auoid a number of offences if we haue in remembrance our end and the estate of this life which is so short as it is said in the 7. of Ecclesiast Nowe it is a strange thing to consider the blockishnesse of men in this case which by dailie experience well see that they must die They see well that our bodies bee not
earthlie bodie and a heauie burden prouided alway that an other burden more daungerous which is sinne doe not ouercharge vs or as saith S. Paul in the third Chap. to the Thessalontans wee must then let our conuersation from henceforth be in heauen whence we doe await after our Sauiour Iesus Christ who shal transforme our bodies and make them conformable vnto his glorious bodie Oh wonderfull mercie of this great God that presenteth life vnto vs not deserued putteth death farre from vs that wee haue merited Oh what light is this word of God that giueth vs light in the graue and in the middest of death maketh vs to see Therefore now the children of God doe no whit feare death But as S. Cyprian writeth in a letter which he sent vnto the Confessors Martyrs of Iesus Christ Hee that hath once ouercome death in his person dailie beateth it downe in his mēbers So as we haue Iesus Christ not onlie a beholder of our combates but an assistant wrestler with vs. And as this good Doctor writeth in a treatise which he made of the mortalitie the onlie way for a man that wil not come to Iesus Christ is to feare death And not to be willing to come to him is as much to say as not to bee willing to raigne with him What trauailer is he which drawing neere vnto his home reioyceth not hauing passed through manie dangerous waies And who is he that wil not willinglie runne out of a house that is readie to fall downe about his eares What pleasure haue we in this world which approcheth dailie to his end and wherein wee buy the pleasures so derely which we receiue in this life What other thing is it but a continuall battaile and a sharp medley wherein we be wounded sometime with enuie sometime with one thing sometime with an other besides the alaromes which doe giue vs in our bodies a nūber of diseases Why shal we not say then with S. Paul in the first Chapter to the Philippians I desire to be loosed to be with Christ Wherfore we praie dailie Let thy kingdome come but only for the desire that we haue to see the accomplishmēt thereof in an other life For as S. Ierom doth largelie declare in the funeral Sermon of Nepotian vnto Heliodor if the Panims haue oftētimes cōquered their mourninges loosing their friends by the simple knowledge that they had that they were mortal Wherefore do we sorow grone with so many sighs teares the death of Gods childrē whom we know to be blessed Iesus Christ wept vpō Lazarus And S. Paul to the Thes doeth not altogether forbid mourning yet is it for vs to behaue our selues more vertuouslie than the Painims not to shewe so great a mourning for men as it were a disparing in vs of Gods mercies And as Saint Cyprian saith VVherfore do we put on our black mourning weedes when as our brethren goe to doe on their white garments to rest with the Lorde Let vs sorow for them rather as absent than dead not as people that we haue lost but that we a wait for to see againe Alas that which is to be wailed for it is that which men doe see in this worlde VVe reade of Xerxes the great Lord and generall howe that hee had a desire one day to viewe his whole armie which was of a maruelous number of people from the top of a mountaine and seeing so manie people began to weepe cōsidering that within one hundreth yeare after there should not be one of thē left aliue But if anie one could not get vp vppon such a mountaine whence he might discouer so manie sinnes as be in the world so manie murthers as be committed so manie cities and realmes as be ruined so manie deceites cousinages as be practised so much pouertie and infirmitie as is euerie where Alas hee should haue great occasion to fetch manie a sad sigh and to shead manie a whotte teare Wee see not in our selues the changes that happen vnto our persons first in our infancie then in our youth then in our full age last of all in our old age and so manie crosses the rest of our daies whereby wee must passe Then that which wee ought to doe is so to mislyke of this life which is but a vapour and a shadow of a true life a traueling and a fraile life that we suffer Christ to raigne and liue in vs to the end that by him wee may haue euerlasting life the which onelie deserueth to bee esteemed and called a life A Prayer O Lord my God if thou hast aduertised the king Ezechias by the Prophet Esai Esay 38. to dispose of his affaires when hee should die much more thy will is that wee going to death should haue regard to the disposition of our soules to present our selues before thee For alas death is certaine but his houre is vncertaine and there is nothing more dangerous than to leaue the soule in this fight doubtfull and vncertaine The sentence of S. Barnard O Lord what a Porter hast thou giuen vs at our passage from this world which will not suffer vs to carie away anie thing with vs But as wee came naked into this world euen so death causeth vs to passe out of the same state Wherefore should wee then tormēt our selues so much in worldlie things O Lord what is it that I should dispose of my selfe It is in thee to dispose of vs it is in thee to commaund and in vs to obay Beare vp our weakenesse through thy mercie For how is it that wee should not bee afraid of death sith the horror thereof hath made thy sonne Iesus to sweate water and bloud Mar. 14. Esai 53. But seeing that it is euen hee who hath also borne our sorrowes and that was wounded for our iniquities what gaine or aduauntage should death haue ouer vs syth that thy sonne Iesus hath saued vs And if thou be for vs who is he that can be against vs Yea man borne of a woman is thraled to many miseries and vanisheth away as a shadowe or flower of the fielde But yet O good God we doe knowe how thou desirest not the death of vs sinners Ezech. 18. thou rather wouldest that we should turne and liue We doe shed heere many teares but thou wilt euen at once make drie all my teares by calling me vnto thee Nowe O Lorde strike heere belowe so long as thou wilt hurt wounde seeing that thou art mercifull and fauourable vnto vs in the euerlasting life to come A sentence out of S. Augustine Rom. 8. What sorrowe or affliction should we feare synce that all thinges turne to thy children for their good Alas who would take much pleasure in this life sith that man liuing in it can not see thee and that all that is in it is but transitorie and miserable Graunt me therefore grace patientlie to awaite thy will that I may