suche as maye be made hole to repentaunce as the scripture saythe Prou. 19. When the mocker or scorner is punyshed the vnlerned is made wyser Gen. 8. So the angell dydde shewe Abraham what shulde become of the Sodomites that he myght teache his chyldren the iugement of god Also Christe saith Luc. 13. that all shal peryshe as they were kylled of Pylate if that they doo not repente ¶ Howe the feythfull be tempted Capi. iii. THe faythful be tempted with a natural and spiritual temtation an outward an inward that is of the fleshe of the worlde and of the dyuell For the crosse signifieth as wel the inward temtation as the outwarde Of the fyrste speketh the apostell 1. Cor. 10. Let no temptation take you excepte the naturall temptation that is euery persecution whiche maye happen in this worlde whiche dothe not hurte the lyfe but rather prouoketh to the blessed lyfe but the spirituall or inwarde temptation is the inwarde feare of synne and deathe it is the afflyction or temptation of the conscience such temtations be mooste greuouse and where god is not they brynge the tempted to deathe eternal Of the whiche Paule to the Hebrewes saythe It is impossible that they Hebre. 6. whiche ones be enlyghtened and haue tasted the good word of god and the vertue of the worlde to come if they slyde and fall agayn to be renued by repentaunce as Demas Hymeneus and Philetus professynge the faythe dyd fall from it and that is synne to deathe synne in the holy gooste synne of vnbelefe synne of spirituall pryde Wherfore Christ dyd commande vs to pray Luc. 11. Let vs not be led into temptation They that beleue do synne but they fal not vtterly away so that they consent not to the fleshe the world and the deuil but by the grace of god they be preserued and go awaye hauinge victory and triumphe ¶ The crosse is of god onely Cap. iiii FYRSTE we muste consider that in all our afflictions no calamitie or pensiuenes falleth on vs by fortune or chaunce but by the appoynted councell of god by his wyll and sufferaunce as witnesseth holy scripture Exod. 20. Feare not for god commeth not but for to trie vs. Deut. 13. The lord your god trieth you to make it knowen whether ye loue or not Iob. 9. The lorde hath giuen the lorde hath taken awaye The lorde kylleth 1. Samu. 2. and gyueth life agayne he bryngeth euen to hell and backe agayne Prouer. 3. Refuse not the chastising of god neyther grudge thou when he correcteth the. For whom god loueth he correcteth and yet delyteth noo lesse then the father in the chylde Psal 65. for thou hast proued vs o god and haste tryed vs as the syluer is tryed by fyer Thou hast ledde vs into a snare thou hast laden our backes ful of troubles thou haste appoynted mē to be heades ouer vs we haue passed thorow fier and water and yet hast thou refreshed vs. Psal 118. It is for my welthe that thou haste broughte me vnder to lerne thy ryghteousenesse Psal 20. Blessed is that man which is vnder the loue and nurture of the lorde Hiere 31. Thou haste stryken me and I haue repented thou hast chastened me lorde and I am taughte as one vnder age wylde and vntamed Threno 3 Whoo can say that any thynge can be done without the lordes commaundemente From the mouthe of the hyghest gothe there not good and yll By which saying the prophet rebuketh the wycked whiche denie that afflictions happen by the councell and prouydence of god Suche also rebuketh Sophon Sopho. 1. I shall viset men drowned in theyr dregges whiche say in theyr hartes The lorde wyll not doo bothe good yll Matth. 10. Are not two sparowes solde for a farthynge and yet not one of them falleth on the erthe without the wil of your father Roma 11. Al thynges are of hym by hym and in hym 1. Cor. 11. While we iudged we are punished of the lord lest we shuld with the world be condemned ¶ It is vndoubtedly noo smalle comforte to be assured that the crosse is of god and that we are chastened of god and not of the dyuell or els of any wycked man which vtterly can haue no power vpon vs not so moch as to moue one heare of our hed besyde the wyll of the lorde without the sufferaunce of god as Chryste hym selfe comforteth vs saying Matth. 10. Euen the heares of your headde are all nombred As thoughe he shoulde saye if god be carefull for the sparowes how moche more shal he be carefull for you whiche are his people and shepe of his pasture that nothyng happen rashely vnto you without his beneuolente wyll Seinge also that the dyuell had no power vpon swyne moch lesse vppon them that are godly whom he can not hurt at al. Matth. 9. for so the euāgelistes wryte that the diuelles prayed Christe and sayde If thou caste vs forthe Marc. 5. suffer vs to enter into the herde of swyne And he sayde vnto them Goo ye They haue then no power vppon the holye no trewely not on the swyne excepte that god shall suffer them no they dare not nor can not any thynge agaynst them but by the sufferaunce of god for god alone bindeth this dragon and he alone louseth him as Christ saith No man can enter into the house of a stronge man Marc. 3. and spoyle him of his vessell and treasure oneles he fyrste bynde the stronge man For the dyuel is chayned bound so strayghtly that he may do nothynge before that god appoynt hym Iob. 1. as it is written in Iob. The lorde sayde to Satan Lo al that he hath are in thy hande but extende not thy hande vppon hym Satan dothe nothynge but that that god suffereth and wyll Also all the godly as the sonnes of god are euer in goddes presence For whome the lorde euer careth for tenderynge them nuryshyng them kepynge and defendynge them from all yll what greatter comfort then can there be of faith as a sure rocke then that the godly ar well assured and know them selues euermore set before the lordes eyes and to be kept vnder his hande Can mysery oppresse the can the crosse can sinne can deth can hell Be assured that thou art in the presence of god they shall not preuayle the lorde careth for the the lordes eye is dyrected towarde the. whom then shalt thou feare if by faythe thou be made the sonne of god God careth for the yea and sendeth his aungelles to kepe and defend the according to the wytnes of Dauid Psal 90. He hath commaunde his aungels of the to kepe the in all thy wayes The aungell of the lorde shall be sente abrode among al them that feare hym and shal delyuer them And if god giue lybertie to the diuell to tempte vs let vs surelye beleue that with
⧠OF THE PREPARATION TO THE CROSSE and to Deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and deathe two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede translated from latyn to englysshe by Rycharde Tracy 1534 TO THE RYGHT HONORABLE AND HIS syngular good lorde and mayster Lord Thomas Crumwel Lorde Priuy seale Rycharde Tracy desyreth and wysheth bodely prosperous helth and to the soule eternall lyfe and felycitie WHEN I consider the weake frailtie of man and howe naturallye we be subiecte to many troubles aduersities and temptations as well of the body as of the soule and also when I call to my remembraunce the wordes of Christe spoken to his elect Ioh. 16. That in this world they shulde suffer persecution and oppression and lykewyse the sayinge of the apostel Paule 2. Tim. 3. That al they whiche wyll lyue godly in Christe Iesu muste suffer persecution I thynke surely that euery chrysten man dothe expect Christes promises and constantly beleueth that the scriptures shal be fulfilled and founde true Wherfore seing there is no euasion nor meane to escape the aduersities temptations and crosse whiche god shal laye on the shulders of his electe and nature is so inconstant frayl and weake that of our own myght and power we are not able to resyste nor can not wyllyngely and paciently susteyne and beare such aduersities and crosse it behoueth euery christen man to serch out and prouide some godly consolation and remedy to comforte and make stronge his mynde that he may paciently suffer all tribulation all temptation al aduersitie which god shal sende to hym alwaye reknowlegynge that there is no power but of god and that god wyl not send to his electe any suche crosse but therwith he wyll also gyue grace and meane paciently to suffer the same so that he shall not be found disobediēt to the good wyl of god Of the cōfortes agaynst the crosse of tribulation one in especiall of late I founde Not a yere paste it pleased God to sende me some aduerse tribulations whiche were to stronge for Nature to suffer and beare pacientely but my chaunce was so good throughe the mercifull prouydence of god that in my troubles this lyttel boke was sent me from a frende whiche when I had red ouer and delyberately perused it animated made me strōg not onely paciētly to suffer al mine aduersities but also for theym to gyue god ryghte hartye thankes that it wolde please hym of his abundante mercy and goodnesse to remembre me his miserable creature with his so ernest a token and moste sure pledge of his godly fauour and loue accordynge to his promyse Hebr. 12. which is whom the lord loueth hym he chasteneth yea and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receyueth For in the readynge of this boke I receyued suche consolation and cōfort that I thought it moste necessary yea and expedient seinge I haue by experyence felte what good fruyte commeth therof to translate the same in to englyshe and so to put it forthe in printe that it myghte be the more common and that many chaunsynge to fall into lyke crosse of aduersitie maye be partakers and optein like consolation as I haue receiued therby And I haue dedicated this boke to you my synguler good lorde master for as moche as I euydently perceyue that you are endewed not onely with godly knowledge and doctryne but also haue a right feruēt zeale good mynd and desyre to set forth all suche thynge as may be for the vtilitie helpe and comforte of the hole congregation and churche of this realme Therfore with al humilitie I desyre your accustomed benignitie to accept this the firste fruite and labour of me your pore seruant which am and shall be euer redy and glad with al diligēce to do you the seruice that I can dayly pray almyghty god to preserue you in longe lyfe welth honour and prosperitie Amen ⧠THE PREPARATION TO THE crosse and howe it muste be paciently borne FOR as moche as Christe commandeth vs to denye ourselues and to folowe hym and suffer the crosse he commaundeth vs also to prepare vs to suffer the crosse paciently sayinge Matth. 16. If any man wyll come after me let hym denye hym selfe and take vp my crosse and folowe me And who so euer doth not beare my crosse and folowe me can not be my discyple Soo councelleth the wise man saying Eccle. 2. Sonne whan thou doest come to the seruice of god stande in righteousenes and feare and prepare thy soule to suffer temptation but bycause there be dyuers crosses ne lest a man paraduenture shuld take a straunge crosse which perteyneth not to hym that is to say shulde feine to him selfe newe turmentes as prescript dayes of fastynge vowed chastitie shurtes of heare disgysed garmentes and such other trifles which god hath not commaunded therfore Christ hath put to this terme sciliceth his owne whiche is as moche to saye that euery man study to mortifie his owne fleshe the synne whiche reygneth in him beinge euer redy to suffer what soo euer god dothe sende hym ¶ What the crosse is Cap. i. A CROSSE is euery affliction and tribulation or euery aduersitie and heuines sent by god to euery kynde of lyuynge throughe faythe and the word of god when that euery thyng doth not prospere euen as a man wold haue it whiche in some place is called lernynge or correction and temptation a rodde and a staffe Wherfore it is a folishe and an heuy crosse whiche we by our owne presumption do take vpon vs not commaunded of god as the priestes of Ball and all hypocrites do take vppon them But that is the trewe crosse whiche god doth lay vpon vs whiche when it is layed vpon vs we suffer paciently euery body in his vocation and kynd of lyuinge as to gette our breade with the sweate of our countenance and women to bring forthe theyr chyldren in peynes to suffer paciently the good wil of the lord to mortifie our mortall membres vppon the erthe to be euer busily occupied in the commaundementes of the lord and for the word of god to suffer al scornes and mockes lyes persecutions and not to feare the moste cruell ye euen the most shameful death Therfore to suffer a crosse is nothing els then to suffer pacientely what so euer come to vs by the godly and beneuolent wyll of the lorde ¶ Two kyndes of crosses Cap. ii THERE BE two kyndes of crosses the oone a straunge crosse the other our owne the one of the faythefull the other of the wycked for the vnfeythful be punished that they may be an example of theyr owne iniquytie and that they be perpetually condemned but the feythful be punished that they maye be made stronge and that the lorde be gloryfied in them So strange punishementes be a warninge to put the faythful in mynde of the good wyll of the lorde For the lorde doth punyshe some in this lyfe that he may prouoke
Luc. 16. which beinge deade was buried in hell and Lazarus the begger beinge deade and caryed of angelles into the bosome of Habram This man hath comforte and contrary wise the ryche man was punyshed and buried in hel that is he died with an yll conscience he sawe in his deathe his owne wyckednesse and damnation as al wicked men do This is the worme Esai 66. whiche dothe not dye Euen then the folishe virgins do first see Matt. 25. that the wise haue oyle Then it commeth to remembrance to whom they haue doone bothe good and euyll There the lawe dothe fyrste shewe hym selfe the gospell beinge taken awaye thenne they seke for grace but all to late and in vayne Prouer. 1 There god dothe cut of all hope of recouerye of helthe or fauoure the sentence of the cruell iudgement of god is then as sayth saynt Iames Iaco. 2. Iugement without mercy shall be to them whiche haue not done mercy I haue hūgered Matt. 25. and you haue not gyuen me c. Therfore the worde of god doth teache vs how we shulde avoyde eternal punishment and howe we shal be saued whiche if we neglect set nought by there is no cause why we shuld haue any further hope Of these two kyndes of dethes the psalmes make mention Psal 33. The deathe of sinners is yl And contrarywyse The deathe of saynctes is preciouse in the syght of god Psal 113. Psal 6. Matt. 7. Matt. 11. Also Go frome me all you workers of iniquitie I knowe you not Come to me all you that do labour and be burdened and I wyll refreshe you Also In theyr synne they shall dye And Paule sayth Philipp 3. Whose ende is death Also of the feythefull is wrytten They shall not faute al they whiche truste in hym Psal 33. The Lord doth kepe theyr bones and one of them shall not perysshe or be broken Rom. 8. There is no damnation to theym whiche be in Christe Iesus Apoc. 14. Blessed be the deade whiche die in the lorde As there is two lyues a yerthely and an eternall lyfe soo there is two deathes the one a temporall the other an euerlastynge deathe The erthly lyfe hath a begynnynge and a endynge and is subiect to many miseries and this lyfe no christen man dothe greatly esteme but saith daily with Paule Christ is my lyfe Philipp 1. and death is lucre And if it fortune me to lyue in the fleshe then it is profytable to me to worke and what I shall chose I know not I am constrained of these twayne desyrynge to be dissolued and to be with Christ whiche thynge is moche better for me but to lyue in the flesshe is more nedefull for you Galath 6. Soo in an other place God forbeade that I shulde reioyce in any thynge but in the crosse of our lorde Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucyfyed vnto me and I vnto the worlde I lyue but not I onely Gala. 2. but Christ liueth in me for in that that I lyue in the fleshe I lyue in the faithe of the sonne of god whiche loued me and gaue hym selfe for me Therfore he that knoweth not Christe nor doth not truste in hym feareth death as that which threteneth and bryngeth eternall ruine and destruction but he whiche knoweth Christ and hath him doth not feare death whom Christ beinge victor hath ouercome and ouerthrowen ¶ To the efecte and faythfull eternall deathe by Christe is ouercome Cap. iii. THIS is the great comfort of them that be in the painges of deathe whiche comforteth and lyfteth vp the fearefull myndes that is that Christe hath vtterlye abolysshed deathe takyn awaye synne and that surelye throughe Christe they shall obteyne remyssion of synne be reputed ryghtuouse and haue euerlastynge lyfe Therfore Christ the promised sede the sonne of god came downe frō heuen and became manne by his crosse deathe and resorrection hath saued vs and delyuered vs from eternall deathe and he payed for vs all our dette as it is written in the epistle to the Hebrewes Ones he is offered Hebre. 9. that he shulde take awaye the synnes of manye Also 1. Pet. 3. He hath ones suffered for our synnes And 1. Ioh. 1. The bloude of Iesu Chryst hath made vs cleane from all our synne And Matth. 1. Thou shalte call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people frome theyr synnes Also Hebr. 2. That through death he shulde put awaye hym whiche had rule ouer death that is the diuell that he myght delyuer them whiche all theyr lyfe were brougte in bondage through feare of deth For verylye he hath delyuered vs from the power of Synne that it shulde not kyll vs frome the power of deathe that it shoulde not condemne vs from the power of affliction that it shulde not greue vs from the power of the dyuell that he shoulde not destroye vs hath restored vs to iustice ioy lyfe and to the beste and mooste myghty god that is he hath made vs fre men and partakers of god whiche before were captyues and bondmen to the deuyl So our iniquities dyd cast vs hedlynge into the depenesse of hell and there did drowne and bury vs but god moued with mercy hath caste all our iniquities vpō the shulders of his sonne delyuerynge vs all frome synne deathe and hell hath satisfyed for vs whiche of god is made to vs wysedome iustice holynes 1. Cor. 1. and redemption Whiche hath giuen hym selfe for our synnes that he myghte delyuer vs frome this present yll world And vnder such forme by Christe we be delyuered frome deathe synne and hell that they vtterlye haue noo maner of ryght in vs nor can not destroye and damne vs As Osee sayth Osee 13. I wyll delyuer them from the hand that is from the power of hel frō deathe I wyll redeme them O deathe I wyll be thy deathe O hell I wyll be thy bytte Deathe 1. Cor. 15. where is thy stynge Hell where is thy victory Thankes be to god whiche hath gyuen vs vyctorye throughe our lorde Iesus Christe So great is the power of faythe and we be broughte into so greate lybertie throughe fayth We fele punishemente in this worlde but through fayth we peryshe not We be kylled but we shal not dye We bren in hel fyer but we be not consumed in dede and soo of all the reste whiche be not taken awaye frome the beleuer Ioh. 16. In the worlde saith he ye shal haue affliction c. Nor the beleuers be not delyuered from the felynge of theym in this world but they be delyuered from the power and rule of them and the stynge is taken from theym wherby all men dyd peryshe The christen man is therfore sure that as deathe eternall coulde not preuayle agaynste Christ so lykewise ageynst him it hath no power For Christ hath taken away sinne bringynge in iustice he hath strangeled deathe gyuynge lyfe
He hath obteyned victorye ouer hel administringe eternal glory For as in Adam all dyed soo in Christe all shall be reuyued For by Adams disobedience synne death punyshment and that moste cruell tirant Satan dyd chalenge bothe ryght and rule ouer all howe many soo euer were borne of hym The lawe of synne is to kyll the wages of synne is death the ryght of death is to damne the ryght of afflyctions is to greue make heuye the ryght of the dyuell is to destroye Into al these rightes and powers Adam by his disobedyence hath caste vs. And Adam then had ben vtterly extinct and vndone if that he hadde not be comforted ageyne reuyued with the word of grace But he was receyued vnto grace and the father dyd take from hym feare of deathe and anguyshe for he did fele and perceyue the wroth of god and god to be his ennemy and also all creatures soo that he could not tel which wey to tourne him This feare I say the father hath taken away frō him through the most swete absolution and promyse of grace when he sayde vnto the serpent Gen. 3. I wyl put enmite betwyxte the and the womanne and that sede shal al to breake thy hed This worde when Adam dyd here and beleue he was holpen and delyuered and came from hell and nowe beleued the worde of god thinkyng vnder this forme This god hath spoken whiche can not lye or deceyue In this faythe Adam dyed and after Adam all the faythfull vnto Aabraham whiche dyd also cleaue faste to this word thynkynge thus he wyl come yea suerly at the laste he wyl come bycause the lorde hath so promysed whiche canne not lye and in this faythe they were saued ¶ Althoughe the godly dye yet they shall lyue Cap. iiii THE godlye and iuste people haue most comfort although in this lyfe they be put to deathe and seme to be forsakē of god cast into hell and as shepe ordeyned to be slayne Roma 8. As scripture wytnesseth of them For thy sake we be iuged as shepe ordeined to be slayne Also I thynke veryly 1. Cor. 14. that god hath shewed that we whiche be the last apostelles are as it were apointed to suffer deathe For we 2. Cor. 4. whiche lyue be alway delyuered to death for Iesus sake yet they do not dispeyre no not in death but as they which be sure that they shall passe through deathe to life eternal and crye to god and suffer the hand of the lorde and be pacient and put theyr hope in god Also they haue this comforte that their deathe is good and precyouse They also knowe that throughe Chrystes deathe deathe is ouercome and abolyshed 1. Cor. 14. Osee 3. Gen. 3. Deathe is supped of in victory O Deathe I wyll be thy deathe The sede hath broken the heade of the serpente Therfore if any man taken in the panges of deathe do holde faste and beleue this worde in the myddel of death he shall haue lyfe for verylye the christyans doo lyue when they be estemed and thought to dye Sap. 5. 2. Cor. 6. Ioh. 16. The rightuouse shal lyue for euer And soo Paule saythe Beholde we be euer as dyenge and yet we lyue Also Christ sayth Ioh. 16. In me you shal haue peace but in the worlde you shall suffer oppression And Sap. 3. The tourment of death shal not touche them Also Esai 26. Thy deade personnes shal lyue they shal ryse with theyr bodyes He shall not taste deathe Io. 5. et 11 And he whiche beleueth in me althoughe he were deade yet he shal lyue They shall not taste deathe Marc. 9. Sap. 2. The iuste man althoughe he be preuented with deathe yet he shal be refreshed Also Psal 15. Thou shalt not suffer thy holyon to se corruption Also Psal 32. Ioh. 5. et 11. et 3. That he may pulle out from deathe the soules of them He shal passe ouer from deathe to lyfe He shall not see eternall deathe He shall not dye for euer He dothe not peryshe but hath eternall lyfe Seke god Psal 68. and your soule shall lyue Esai 55. Bowe your eares and come to me here you and your sowle shall lyue ¶ These places ought to be well noted for the comforte of them before whose eies deathe is presente whiche if they beleue in Christe they be not loste but haue eternall lyfe Therfore they be not called onely deade but the deade of god as suche as dye in the lorde for suche do ryse ageyne in glory and none other Danie 12. as it apereth ī Daniel ¶ The deathe of the godly is a slepe Ca. v. CHRISTE calleth the death of the godly a slepe Lazarus our frende slepeth Ioh. 11. For by the benefyte and goodnes of Christ death is made a slepe which by his deth hath changed deathe into a slepe So Paule dothe call the feythful 1. Thes 4. whiche be deade slepers sayinge I wyll not you to be ignorante of them that slepe So Steuē slept Acto 7. And so the godly to the outwarde syght and perceuerāce dieth But withoute doubte that death is but a slepe For how many so euer dye in Christe all slepe in hym and he shall reyse them in the laste daye I haue slept and do slumber Psal 3. and I haue rysen Here slepe betokeneth deathe of the body as in Genesis Abram slepte with his father Psal 4. Psal 15. I wyll slepe and rest in peace to god with other Also My fleshe shal rest in hope Therfore in deth not so moche the deathe it selfe as suer lyfe and resurrection is to be considered to theym whiche be in Christ accordynge to Christis sayinge He that shall kepe my word Ioh. 8. shall not see deathe euerlastynge Howe shall he not see deathe shal he not fele it Shal he not dye no veryly but he shal se onely a slepe and beholdyng stedfastly with the eies of faythe in the resurrection by deathe he shall so passe awaye that surely he shall not see deathe And death veryly to hym shal not be deathe ¶ All these thynges be begonne in baptisme and be fynysshed in the ende of lyfe Rom. 6. For we be buryed with him throughe baptisme in to deathe Therfore faythe exercised with diuers passions causeth that naturall deathe to the faythefull is but a slepe For the faythful die suerly in hope and loke after the laste daye and the commynge of Christe This securitie they gette in this lyfe by the spirite of fayth that they maye saye with Paule By hope we be made safe Roma 8. Rom. 5. And agayne Hope dothe not confound That is to dwell in the Paradyse of god the kyngedome of heauen in the churche of the lyuinge god And the lord sayth Leuit. 26. Esai 31. To slepe with out feare To syt in the beautie of peace in the tabernacles of fayth and truste and
in a ryche reste ¶ Baptisme is a comforte in the poynte of deathe Cap. vi SVCHE as be at the poynte of deathe ought to take comforte and be stronge in that they know they carye with them bothe letter and token which is baptime wher by theyr death is incorporate with the deathe of Christ and that it is not theyr deathe but the deathe of Christe Wherfore let them suerly truste that they shall ouercome as the deathe of Christ hath ouercome For baptime is a sure token of the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe And as we knowe suerlie that Christe passed through death to lyfe So let vs not doubte but that we shal suerly passe throughe deathe to lyfe Christe hath ouercome synne and death Let vs nothynge doubte but that we shall ouercome synne deathe Synne shal not beare rule ouer you Rom. 6. a Figure of this thynge was the passynge ouer the see whiche was the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe So in baptime we receiue a token of deathe that by death of the body we myght trust suerly to come to the trewe lyfe In baptime Pharao with all his hoste dyd lye vnder foote to vs that is throughe fayth in the worde of promyse we haue escaped the tyrannye of the prynce of darkenesse with all vyces so that the lorde wyll not impute them to vs nor they can not take awaye from vs the entree or goinge in to the kyngdome of heuen But yet not withstandynge synne dwellyng in our fleshe doth not reste in the meane tyme to assaulte vs that is vncleane affections whiche muste be put awaye with dayly mortifieng of the fleshly desyres vntyll our baptime be fully cōplete and finished in deth So greately the hope of all chrysten men dothe stande in baptime and so beginneth from death that deathe to vs is wynnyng that is an entraunce to lyfe Roma 6. Be you ignorant that all we whiche be baptised into Christe Iesu are baptised into his deathe For we be buried together with hym by baptime in to deathe that as Christe was reised vp from the deade by the glory of his father euen soo we also shuld walke in a newe lyfe Colo. 2. You be buried to geder with him through baptime in whom you are also rysen agayne with him Gala. 3. Who so euer of you be baptised in Christe haue put vpon you Christe 1. Pet. 3. Baptime is the promyse of a good conscience towardes god wherby we be sure that god is pleased with vs. It is therfore a token that we be delyuered from the dyuel and a sygne of our translation from the kyngdome of Satan in to the kynge of Christe that we be reconsyled vnto god it is a token whiche beareth wytnesse of the good wyll of god towardes vs. Therfore remember that thou arte baptysed that is that thou hast receyued remission of synnes that thou haste made a couenaunt with god that thou arte delyuered frome the dyuell deathe and synne reconsiled to god This is a great comforte agaynste deathe the dyuell and synne So the promyse made to Abrahā of the sede to come had ben sufficiente yet god dyd put therto circumcisiō that Abraham might haue a sure token of goddes goodnes towardes him that he was accepted of god So baptime is a token of goddes fauour and good wyll towardes vs throughe the worde of promyse wherevnto is knyt an ernest bargaine of a good conscience with god For fyrst god maketh promyse with vs that he wyl forgyue vs that faute and blemyshe whiche we haue drawen by originall synne from our forefathers that he wyl receyue vs into his fauour and that he wyll not onely forgyue vs our synnes but also not ley or inpute them to our charge We agayne do bynde our selues to god by lyke reason that we shall mortifie our fleshe all our lyfe tyme and purge out our olde leuen our concupiscence desyres and dispositions to do synne and vtterly to cast out all the dregges and to wrestel agaynste and vtterlye forsake the worlde the dyuell and al theyr pompes Therfore if thy conscience be troubled and vexed with the borden of synne thou mayst pray on this maner O lord god remembre thy promyse that thou haste made to vs thou haste promysed to vs in baptime remissyon of synnes and eternall lyfe when thou dyddeste saye Marc. 16. He that beleueth and is baptysed shall be saued nor do not make voyde thy couenaunt nor let not thy wordes be in vayne whiche haue passed thy mouthe Psal 89. Thou shalt performe that thou hast promysed thou cāst not deny thy selfe neyther our infirmitie or infidelitfe or any other thynge can make voyde thy feythfull promyse ¶ The godlye knowe the tyme of dyinge to be determyned of god Cap. vii VNTO the godlye this is a gret comfort that they know that deathe is not in the power of tyrantes nor put in the hande of any creature leste they shoulde be troubled ouer moche carefull for deathe but that they maye dye as chyldren when pleaseth the lorde For soo wryteth Ecclesiastes Eccle. 3. All thynge hath tyme and al thynges vnder heauen haue theyr conuenient season A tyme is of byrthe and a tyme of deathe Iob. 14. and so Iob. Thou haste appoynted to hym a a tyme whiche he shall not passe Also the psalme Psal 103. Thou hast lymitted a tyme whiche they shall not ouer passe Psal 38. Beholde thou hast put my dayes to a certayne nombre And so Christe doth comforte his One heare shal not fall from your heade without the wyll of your father Matt. 10. Also My houre is not yet come Ioh. 2. 1. Reg. 2. Esai 38. So the mother of Samuel God dothe kyll and reuiue agayne And The yeres of lyfe be of the lorde As he promysed to Ezechias 4. Re. 20. 2. Re. 7. Beholde I wyl adde vnto thy days .xv. yeres So. When thy dayes shall be ended For the corporal lyfe is determined of god with certayne lymyttes and with god is a certayne pointe and measure set to euery mannes lyfe and also to the same the yeres monthes oures and also the mynutes of houres And also the heares of your hedde be nombred Therfore if our heares be noumbred in the syght of god howe moche more ar the mynutes and artycles of our lyfe nombred before hym We can not therfore lyue any longer then the lorde hath appoynted We shal not dye althoughe we be in the greattest peryl and extreme ieoperdye before our houre Therfore it skylleth not what maner of death or with what instrument swerde fyer water sodeyne death or that thou be taken awaye by chaunce before the course of nature requireth it For god hath gyuen the houre the meane and that kynde of deathe Whiche doth not force whether thou dye of this death or that deathe of a lyttell wounde or a great of whom the tyme bothe of our lyfe and deathe is determined
hot burnynge fyer and out of thy handes O kynge So thou muste commytte all the matter to god whether thou be predestinate or no do not curiously serche out the maieste of god Prou. 25. lest thou be opprest of his glory In trouble and deth it semeth to manye that god is a slepe and vtterly forsaketh them as Christe cryeth God yea my god why haste thou forsaken me So the gospel setteth forthe to vs an example of them to whome it seemed Marc. 5. that Christe slepte in the shyppe But nowe Christe deathe beinge ouercome hath promysed he wyll be to vs a sauiour as it is in Mat. xi Come to me al you that labour be bordened Matth. 11. and I wyll refreshe you Luce. 12. Agayne Feare not lyttell flocke for it hath pleased your father to gyue to you a kyngdome Therefore by such examples of the gospell weake men oughte to be encouraged to whō it semeth that Christe is a slepe that be of inconstante and wauerynge mindes whiche doubte whether god be mercifull to them and whether god be in them They ought to be monished that they trust constantly to Christe that although Christ seme to them to be a slepe yet lette them continewe and the lorde wil reuenge and delyuer theym out of all theyr euylles soner than it can be spoken Esai sayth Esai 54. for a lyttel season at a pynche I haue forsaken the and in greatte mercies I wyl gather the together 1. Reg Iob. 13 cap. 5. The lord leadeth downe to hell and bryngeth from thense ageyne yea althoughe he kyl yet I wyll truste in hym He dothe wounde and giueth remedy he smyteth and his handes shall make hole ¶ They that be dienge muste be exhorted to forgyue Cap. xiii Matth. 6. BICAVSE god commandeth Forgyue and it shal be forgiuen you and putteth thervnto a condition He that dothe not forgyue his brother to hym god doth forgyue nothynge and if god do not forgyue synnes we can not be saued Luc. 16. Marc. 11. Forgyue and it shal be forgyuen you And when you shall stande prayinge forgyue if you haue any thynge agenst any man that your father also may forgiue you Matt. 5. When thou offrest thy gift at the aultare fyrst reconsile thy selfe to thy brother Matt. 18. If you wyl not forgyue eche of you your brothers fautes that with al your hartes your father wyll not forgyue you Colo. 3. If any man haue a quarel ageinst his brother as Christ hath forgyuen you so do you forgyue So in the prayer of the lorde we desyre forgyuenesse to be done to vs as we forgyue them whiche be our detters that is that we forgyue them of whom in any thinge we haue ben hurte eyther in dede to be wrongefully handeled or elles in worde to be shamefully intreated And to theym that be at the poynte of deathe this shoulde be mynded If they at any tyme haue hurte or endamaged theyr neighbour or taken any thynge frome hym by extortion or robberye or haue defamed any man Here also they muste doo as Christe dyd on the crosse lette them praye for all theyr ennemies and forgyue them theyr wronges with all theyr hartes And if any thynge of theyrs be taken awaye by thefte lette them not requier it agayn with violēce If they haue takē away any thing of a nother mannes let them yelde it agayne if they may or let them labour that it maye be restored nor let thē kepe secrete any thyng but confesse theyr faute be sorye that they haue offended and desyre forgyuenesse If for lacke of ryches they be not able to make satisfaction it shall be suffycyente that they forgyue other whiche haue harmed them other in body or goodes If they forgyue theym with all theyr harte god wyll forgiue them the wrōg done to other As Christe teacheth Matth. 6. If you forgyue men theyr offences your heuenly father shall forgyue you ¶ Suche as be diynge shulde be admonished that they receiue the Sacrament of Christes body and bloud Ca. xiiii IT IS a great token of the inestimable loue of god and of his abundant mercy towarde vs that in his supper he wolde shoulde be wytnessed that Christe dothe deliuer and gyue hym selfe to vs and dothe ioyne vs to hym as his mēbres that we maye knowe that the lorde loueth vs hath respecte to vs and saueth vs. Forthermore in this supper we here Christ spekynge to vs fedynge vs with his body proferyng vs that we shuld drynke his bloud for eternall lyfe where he saythe Take eate you Matt. 26. Marc. 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. this is my body whiche for you is gyuen Do you this in my remembraunce Lykewise after he hadde supped takyng the cuppe he said This cuppe is the newe testament in my bloude whiche is shedde for the remission of your synnes Do you this as oft as you shal drinke it in the remembrance of me Good brother thynke that these wordes be spoken to the. prynte them most depely in thy mynde for when he speaketh to all he speaketh also to the to the to the I say they profit All thynges whiche Christe hath suffered shall profite the no lesse then they do helpe Peter Paule This sacramente is veryly bothe commanded instituted of Christ him selfe for the remyssion of our synnes and eternall lyfe For the promyse soundeth soo the whiche he that receyueth by fayth and beleueth that whiche he saith Gyuen for you and Shed out for you hath and obteyneth without doubte remission of his synnes ¶ Diuerse consolations that the life and tyme of affliction is shorte Cap. xv IT IS a greate comforte that affliction shall not endure continually Roma 8. The afflictions of this tyme are not worthy of the glory whiche shall be shewed vppon vs. The eie hath not sene Esai 64. nor the eare hath not harde c. the ioyes that god hath prepared for his electe 1. Cor. 2. Through many troubles we must enter into the kyngedome of god Acto 14. Our trouble whiche is but temporall and lyght worketh an excedynge and an eternall weyght of glory vnto vs whiche loke not on the thynges that are sene but on them whiche are not seene The soules of them Apoc. 6. whiche were kylled cryed out vnder the aulter to whom it was answered that they shulde reste yet a lyttell tyme. As a lyttell mynute of an houre vntyl the wroth be passed by Esai 26. Also Christ in the gospel calleth the time of afflyction Ioh. 16. Esai 54 A lyttell tyme. A lyttell whyle you shall not seme In dystresse for a lyttell season I haue forsaken the but in eternall mercies I haue gathered the togeder ¶ The comfort of wydowes Orphans THOV wylte saye I am now a wydowe and haue no man which careth for me here Dauid whiche saythe Psal 145. To the fatherlesse and wydowe thou shalte be a