corporall death Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortall cannot inherit the kydgdoÌ„ of god wher nothing is but life Therfore this corruptible bodi must put on iÌ„corrupcioÌ„ Oze xiiii Esa xxv this mortal must put on immortality Than shal the saing that is writteÌ„ be fulfilled Death is swalowed vp in victory They that beleue in Chryste hath nowe ouercommed synne deathe and hel Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge hold and well harted in Chryste they maye saye deathe where is thy sting death where is thy victorye The stinge of death is synne and the power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto God whiche hathe geauen vs the victorye through our lord Iesus Chryste Let vs heare also more senteÌ„ces full of godly and mightye consolacion He that hath raised vp Iesus shal rayse vs vp also with Iesus ii Cor iiii Our conuerâ—acion is in heueÌ„ froÌ„ whence we do loke for the sauiour our lord Iesus christ which shall chauÌ„ge our vile body that it may be like fashioned vnto hys glorious body accordyng to the workynge of his power Philli. iiii by the which also he is able to subdue al thinges vnto him selfe Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god Col. iii. but when christ your life shal appere then shall ye also appere in glory with him We wolde not brethern that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that slepe i. Tess iiii that ye sorow not also as other do whyche haue no hope For if we beleue that Iesus chryst died and rose agayne euen theÌ„ also which are a slepe through Iesus shal god bringe with him Saynct Paule also doth coÌ„fort Timoth ii Tim. ii with the article of resurrection sayng Râ—membre the the lord Iesus Christe beyng â—he sede of Dauid rose again from the dead according to my gospell And if we be deade with hym we shal also lyue with him If we suffer pacieÌ„tly we shal also raign with him It was written also to the hebrus Heb. ii that Chryste tasted deathe for all men and that he was partaker of fleshe and bloude .i. became very man the he mighte destroye hym which had the rule of death that is the deuell and that he myghte delyuer them which were in bondage al thâ—ir lyfe time by the reason of the feare of death God hath delyuered vs ii Tim. i and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his purpose and grace whyche is geauen vs in Chryste Iesu before the time of the world but is now made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which truly hath destroyed deathe and hath broughte lyfe and immortalite to lyghte by the gospell i. Ioh. iii We know that we are translated from lyfe to deathe because we loue the bretherne Iohn 41 In this hathe the loue of god appered in vs because god sente his onely begotten sonne into the world that we mighte lyue through him Iob. xix I knowe that my redem er doth lyue and in the last daye I shall ryse agayne and agayne be wrapped in my owne skine And in my owne fleshe shall see God whome I my selfe shall se these my eyes shall beholde and none othere These places of holye scrypture and suche lyke yf we diligentlye remeÌ„bre faythfully imbrace we shall perceaue greaet consolacion and conforte And euen wyth sayncte Paule reioyse Phil. iii. that we knowe Chryste and the power of his resurrectyon wherby death is ouercomed Nether is there nowe to these that beleue in Christ any thynge in deathe terrible or to be feared sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme hurte it can not Lyke as a dede serpente keapeth stil his old fearefull shape forme but to stynge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And lyke as by the brasin serpente whyche Moyses by goddes commaundemente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpon through the power of goddes woorde men were delyuered fromâ— daunger of the lyuelye and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the feare and daunger of it so ofte as wyth the eyes of our faythe we do beholde the helthefull and medycynable dethe of Chryst In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a Image and shadowe of deathe yea the entrauÌ„ce and gate to lyfe For Christ who is trueth it self sayth Yf anye man kepe my worde Iob. viii he shall neuer see death For a man trustynge to the mercye of God through faithe whiche he conceauith by herynge of Chrystes gospell is so vnite and knyt to christ his lord and mayster that he can not be plucked nor seperate frome hym The bodye in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certayne hope of risinge agayn to euerlastinge lyfe And so he that beleuethe in Chryst dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule which is euerlasting dampnacion For the death of good men is nothynge els but a departure from thys transitory and mortal life to immortality to chryst to hys angelles and sainctes ¶ Hell and dampnacion DOth offer it self at the hour of death so that many tymes man doth greatli feare lest he be abiecte froÌ„ the fauour of god appoynted to euerlastynge payne The deuyll whyche seketh by al meanes howe to deuoure vs sterynge vp in youre myndes manye daungerous troubellous thoughtes concernyng our electyon predestinacion ¶ A medicine against the feare of hell and dampnacion WHen the deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our electioÌ„ whether we be of the numbre of them that are appointed to euerlastyng lyfe or no In any wayes let vs not be to boulde in copynge wyth hym let vs not enter dysputacyon agaynste hym for he is to subtyle and expert for vs but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sorrowe it is written thou shalte not tempt the lord thy God For seing that god as a most louyng father hathe not onlye geauen vs lyfe fedde and preseruyd vs to thys houre but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to tyme with hys singuler benefites what madnes were it contrary to oure former experyence nowe to doubt of his mercy He hathe receauyd vs into hys flocke by baptime He hathe sente vs the Gospell of hys grace wherein he hathe promysed to become oure father We haue he fedde wyth the fleshe and bloude of hys sonne oure sauiour CHRISTE in remembraunce that oure debtes be payd and we acquyted whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good wyl of GOD towarde vs lette vs not therfore admytte the doutfull and daungerous Imagynacyons of oure predestinacion which the deuell like a crafty and malicious marchaunt doth labor to iustiâ—l But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God woulde haue our mindes occupied wyth all whych Christe hym selfe hath prescribed as Iohn iii where he sayethe GOD hathe so
he wyll caste hym downe to hel perpetually coÌ„dempne hym When therfore the temptor shall lasche at vs with lyâ—e temptacyons we maye not shrinke we may not be afraid wâ— may not be dyscoraged but coÌ„mend our self wholy to CHRISTE hange vpon hym who is wholye oures who hath geueÌ„ him self wholy to vs so that synne deathe nor hel hath no thynge to do wyth vs. Chryste with a inestimable price his owne bloude hathe deliueryd vs frome the tyranny of the deuyl and euerlastinge dampnacioÌ„ he is become our innocency our lyfe and oure iustice Let vs take hede in anye ways that we turne not our hartes from CHRISTE crucifyed Yf we cleue to hym we are set vpon a sure and inexpugnable rocke agaynste the whyche all the power of hell is able to do nothinge So that we may boldli exclame and euery one saye â—â—th CHRISTE I prouided the lorde afore my eys all waye Psal xvi for he is at my ryght elbowe that I shulde not be mouyd therefore my harte hath be gladde and my tonge hathe reioysed moreouer my flesshe shall reste in hope By faythe in CHRISTE we become the sonnes of GOD the bretherne and coheires of Chryst and partakers of euerlastynge lyfe by this faith departing hence we shall go to the kyngdome preparyd for the electe afore the beginnynge of the world And if in the feruentnes of these teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s our faythe begine to wauer yf we do not bere pacyentlye the wyll of oure heuinlye Father if our loue towarde god waxe faynt and cold yf oâ—â—â— hope beginne to be feble weake and therfore we begynne to feare lesse god and we be not all at a full poynt but that he is yet desplesed with vs which tentacion surely is verye greuous painful dangerous and hard to ouercome we must cal to remembrance Christ to haue suffred for vs so intollerable and inuincible tentacions that there apered no help no confort no refuge wherin GOD and the whole worlde semyd to haue for saken him and to be against him In so mouche that he exclamed O mi god o mi GOD why haste thou forsaken me Oh here was a greuous tentacion A sharpe and a bytter deathe that CHRSTE suffered for vs and all to make the way of the crosse and death easy vnto vs. Therfore seynge that CHRISTE of hys owne free wyll caste hym selfe in to the felynge of intollerable payne calamâ—ty and anxeity GOD our most louynge Father beyng therwith contente vndoubtedlye he knoweth and considereth our enfirmite vndoubtedly he will not deale with vs accordynge to the rigour of the lawe but will bere much with vs and pardon many thinges to our infirmity Dothe not CHRIST speake to all men doth he not call men when he sayth Come vnto me all you that do labour and are laden and I shal refresh you how can ther be any greater consolacyon how coulde CHRISTE speake more mercyfull to vs. There be many thinges that pynche â–ª vexe and trouble man greuously but what thyng is it that can trouble the conscience of a synner more theÌ„ wheÌ„ he doubteth of the mercy of god then whan he feareth lest God will cast him of then whan he caÌ„ not persuad him self to conceaue ani trust of gods mâ—rci but Imagine that us withered member he shall cut of and cast away Here we had nede of christs preseÌ„t helpe here we had nede of spedi coÌ„fort lest this violente tempest ouerwhelme and drowne vs. But let vs not feare CHRISTE is no decembler he wyll stande by his worde he wyll perfourme hys promise He wyll helpe and refreshe Therefore when we begynne to trimble and feare in our conscience when we beginne to doubt of goddes mercy when we perceaue our faythe to be feable Let vs forthwith call vppon GOD and that feruentlye and that indesinantlye euen from the bottome of oure harte that he tourne not his face from vs. Lette vs power beâ—ore hym all that dothe trouble vs. Let vs disclose to hym oure meserye oure imbecillitye oure incredulity Let vs crye wyth the disciples Lorde increase oure fayth And wyth the Father of the Lunatycke Luc. xvii Lorde we beleue helpe our incredulyte And with the prophet Marci i Lorde make haste to help vs. For thy mercy is aboue all thy workes O mooste louyng O moste mercyful father lord god of our healthe Psa lxi our onlye helpe and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Chryste is our iustyce oure redeption and innoceÌ„cy he for vs hath suffered most bitter cruel death Let these thynges moue the o father of mercy For this thi son our sauior chrystâ—s sake haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs confirme and strength our harte in fayth coÌ„fort vs with the consolacions of thy holy sprâ—t that we may finally optayne Ioy euerlastyng through Iesus christ Amen After thys sort yf we laboryng wresting and stryuinge wyth our imbecillyty accusing afore god lamentinge our pusilianitye and incredulity do catch hold of christ and clene fast to hym earnestlye and feruently desiryng hys help that he wyl vouchsafe to take our place to supplye that is lackyng in vs. These thinges if we do surely all thinges shal be well we shal auoyde and escape easly al daunger peril we shal be safe inough For these two to beleue in Chryst and with hart to desire fayth doth not much differ the one froÌ„ the other For though we fele yet great weaknes and imperfection in our selfe yet this ought to comfort vs that god willeth commaundeth that he shoulde be called vpon that he hath promised to here and help these that cal ryghtly vpon hym Now as nothing is more iustli or necessarily desyred theÌ„ true fayth euen so god hearyth no prayer soner or more gladly theÌ„ whan man findyng no goodnes in hym selfe doth acknowlege his owne infyrmity hys owne mysery hys owne beggerlines dothe accuse and lament his owne increduliti with depe sighes harti desâ—res calleth for fayth These sighes these desyres these pâ—ayers this litil sparke of faithe is the very sede of God wrought in vs by him which saith of chryste by the Prophet Esay that he shall not quenche the smoking filaxe nor breake the brusyd rede Therfore let vs stedfastly beleue or at the leaste earnestelye and hartely pray that we maye beleue bewayling afore god our lacke of fayth whiche thinges if we do we nede not doubt bot we be acceptid of god we be taken for his childreÌ„ For it is not for noughte nor in vayne that he hathe layde oure imbecillitie and synnes vpon hys only begoten sonnes backe In Mathew Math. v. it is said blessed be those that mourne for thei shal be comforted blessed be those that hoÌ„ger after righteousnes for â—hey shal be satisfiâ—d These wordes ar spokâ—n also to vs they may iustly be applied to vs we mourne and are sorye in our hartes the we haue mispendid our life past We wish and desire yea we euen honger
thirst after righteousnes Let vs be of good chere we shall oâ—tain our desyre we shal be comforted we shal be counted iust afore god for Chryst our sauioure his sake Finally let vs after this example of Chryst and sainct Steuen coÌ„mend our soules into the handes of god your heueÌ„ly father sayng euery one after this maner O Most merciful father I commend into thy holye handes my spirit yea thy spirit for thou hast creat it thou haste commytted it for a tyme to the body thou hast geuen it thy owne Image and simylitude Thou hast sente for the redeÌ„ption of it thi owne most derely belouyd sonne to shed his bloud Thys the spirite I resigne into thi handes O GOD of all mercye I am thyne al that I am I beseche the refuse not thy owne but receaue kepe and place me in euerlasting glory for the sake of Iesus Christ thy only begotten sonne Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayde at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whych art the onely health of al menne liuynge and the euerlastynge lyfe of them whyche dye in thy fayth I wretched synner geue and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will And I beynge sure that the thynge cannot peryshe whych is coÌ„mytted vnto thy mercy wyllyngly nowe I leaue thys frayle and wycked fleshe in hope of the resurreccion which in better wyse shal restore it to me againe I beseche the most mercyful lorde Iesu Chryst that thou wylte by thy grace make stronge my soule agaynst all temptacyons and that thou wylte couer and defende me wyth the buckler of thy mercye agaynst al the assaultes of the deuyl I se and knowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluacion but al my confidence hope trust is in thy mooste mercyful goodnes 〈◊〉 haue no merytes nor good workes which I maye allâ—ge before the Of sinnes euyl workes alas see a great heape but thorowe thy mercy I truste to bee in the numbre of theÌ„ to whomâ— thou wylt not impute theyr sinnes but take and accept me for ryghteous and iust to be thinheritour of euerlastynge lyfe Thou mercyful Lord werte borne for my sakâ— thou dyddest suffâ—e bothe hungre and trust for my sake the dydest preache and teache thou didst pray faste for my sake thou diddest all good woorkes and dedes for my sake thou sufferedest most greuous paines and tormeÌ„tes for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precyous body to dyâ— and thy bloud to be shed on the crosse for my â—ake Nowâ— moost mercyfull sauyour let all these thynges profyte me whyche thou freely haste geuen me that haste geuen thy selfe for me let thy bloude cleâ—â—e washe awaye the spottes and foulnesse of my synnes Lette thy ryghteousnesse hyde and couer myne vnryghteousnesse Lette the merytes of thy passyon and bloude be the satisfaccion of my synnes Geue me Lord thy grace that my faythe and saluacioÌ„ in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be fyrme and constante that the hope of thy mercy and lyfe euerlastynge neuer decaye in me that charytye ware not colde in me fynallye that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome wyth the feare of death Graunte me mercyfull sauioure that when deathe hath shutte vp the eyes of my bodye yet that the eyes of my soule maye styll beholde and loke vpon thee that wheÌ„ death hath taken awaye the vse of my tonge and speache yet that my harte may crye saye vnto the In manâ—s tuas domine commendo spiritum meum that is to sâ—y O lord into thy handes I gâ—ue and commytte my soule Domine Iesu accipe spirituâ— meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Imprynted at London by Wyllyam Copland for Rychard Kele