and put to death Now then vnto as many as beleeue in Christ death is vtterly vanquished and is dead as it were there is nothing now in death that is dreadfull or to be feared besides onely a certaine image and appearance As a serpent that is dead retaineth his wonted forme which is dreadfull and terrible but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse so oft as it was beheld and looked on the fierie Serpents wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died so as the people could not be infected with their poyson euen so our death dieth as it were and is made harmelesse and in no wise to be feared if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse and dying for vs. Whereof the said brasen serpent was a liuely image and representation as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life In a word death is but a certaine resemblance or image of death or rather it is the beginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life Christ who is truth it selfe telleth vs Ioh. 8.51 If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death How I pray you commeth this to passe The case standeth thus Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God and merits of Christ Iesus by meanes of his faith is so incorporated as I may say and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord Sauiour who is the true life that he cannot be separated nor plucked away froÌ„ him This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule in an assured and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life For as much as within a short compasse of time the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to enioy eternall blisse and happinesse And so beleeuing in Christ he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule that is of eternall damnation which is the onely death indeed forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe and of all his holy Saints and Angels CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare and horror of Hell and eternal Damnation THat malicious wicked spirit the diuel and Satan here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predestination by suggesting vnto them these or the like horrible and dreadfull cogitatations What if for all this thou do not please God what if God haue reiected thee and cast thee out of his fauour or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those whom God hath elected and chosen vnto eternall life These and the like dangerous tentations will be readie to offer themselues which indeed are very hard and sharpe and will very grieuously tormeÌ„t and disquiet the minds of men especially in sicknesse And therefore a man hath need in this case to stand fast and manfully to defend himselfe Now if in this combat and conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie Straightway as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan take heed thou do not enter into the lists with him or condescend to make him answer or to dispute and reason the matter with him but repell him rather and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitations Auoid Satan depart get thee hence it is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children that are neare and deare vnto him When as God of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me alwaies hath bestowed so exceeding great infinite blessings and benefits vpon me hauing endued me with life and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued maintained the same hitherto hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life yea ministred vnto me abundantly all things behoouefull and profitable both for my soule and bodie that so farre aboue my desert beyond my desire and expectation ô what madnesse were it once to doubt of his mercie When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and number of Christian beleeuers when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me how should I not expect and looke for all good from him how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me how should not his good will and affection be most readily inclined toward me What needeth to say much in this case It is a thing both foolish and also dangerous to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination It behoueth thee rather to preuent to auert turne away and so to ouercome these cogitations with other considerations wherewith God will haue thy mind occupied as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gospell where he saith That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish Ioh. 3.15.16.36 but hath euerlasting life Hearest thou not that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ and that acknowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse sanctification and redemption can in no wise be damned but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life saluation As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfeinedly in the mercy of God and merits of Christ Iesus are of the number of them who are elect and chosen vnto eternall life being foreknowne and predestinate in Christ and registred and written long ago in the book of life But they who are predestinate vnto eternall life Rom. 8.29 are made like vnto the Image of Christ being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne Therefore by this their faith they are vndoubtedlie saued These things are most certaine and true God neither can be deceiued neither can he deceiue any man Now this is the will and counsell of God our most louing Father who is truly and indeed Philanthropâ—s a louer of mankind These things he hath thus fore-purposed and decreed from euerlasting and therefore there is no cause of feare no cause why those thingâ— should hinder thee or make thee afraid which the enemie of thine the diuell enuying thy welfare and saluation seeking the destruction of thy soule shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things Onely see that thou pâ—â— thy
done Seâ—ondly if freely thou conâ—esse and acknowledge the same and be heartily sorâ—ie and grieued at the remeÌ„brance of it And thirdly if thou shalt freely and from thy very heart forgiue â—thers that haue any way either in thy body or goods or thy good name and estimation offered or done wrong and iniurie vn-thee If thus thou shalt from the bottome of thy heart vnfainedly pardon and forgiue others be of good comfort doubt not bâ— that God will also pardâ— and forgiue thee whatsoâ—uer wrongs iniuries doâ— either to himselfe or to â—thers For God cannot bâ— remit and forgiue that mâ—â— his offences who readiâ— and freely forgiueth hâ— neighbour For as much aâ— he himselfe hath taught 〈◊〉 this way of requitall Matâ— 6.14 If ye do forgiue mâ— their trespasses Mat. 6.14 your heauenâ—â— Father will also forgiue you CHAP. VII Of the lawfull vse of Physick in time of sicknesse A Question NOW here a question may be made whetheâ— the sicke man may with a good conscience craue the helpe of the Physition and also vse physickâ— oâ— ought onely to depend vpon God for the recouerie of his health Answer Hereunto I answer that the sicke man as he must not despise the counsaile and helpe of Physitions and of physicke so in any wise he must take heed that he do not adore and relie vpon the same too much His chiefe hope and confidence must be fixed and set vpon God who as he inspireth and giueth life and breath vnto these our bodies so he alone taketh the same away againe wheÌ„ it pleaseth him Howbeit notwithstanding sometimes it is not amisâ— to vse the helpe and couâ—sell of the Physition leâ— herein we should seeme 〈◊〉 tempt God in neglecting oâ— despising his ordinance anâ— meanes appointed for restoring of nature and recouery of health For howsoeuer medicines of theÌ„selues can do nothing neither haue any power and vertue to gâ—ue health without the blessing of God and his secret worke and operation yet notwithstanding wheâ— the same are ministred and applied by the learned and wel experienced Physition they are to be held esteemed not onely healthfull profitable but also needfull and necessarie and may also rightly be called Manus Dei the very hand of God himselfe Hereupon it is that Sirach Chap. 38. counselleth to honour the Physition with the honour that is due vnto him Eccles 38.1.4 that because of necessitie For the Lord saith he hath created ordained and appointed him For of the most High cometh healing And againe the Lord from out of the earth hath created medicines and the man that is wise will not abhorre theÌ„ As for witches and wisards inchanters and sorcerers and the like who will take vpon theÌ„ to heale and cure the sicke by certaine fained and deuised ceremonies or by a certaine number of words or prayers whereunto they ascribe the vertue and power of healing diseases these are by all meanes to be auoided and to be put away farre from vs. For they are the very hand and instruments of the diuels and euil spirits and not the hand of almightie God by whose word and power all things are and ought to be ruled and gouerned CHAP. VIII A Remedie against the feare and terrour of Death IF at any time thou be terrified with the feare of death bethinke with thy selfe and consider that by Christ death is vtterly vanquished and put to death as it were Indeed if that Christ in compassion toward vs had not died for vs the feare of death must needs haue vexed and troubled vs. But now death being vanquished cast downe and troden vnder foote by the death of Christ the soules of them that beleeue in Christ cannot die nor perish but after their departure out of these bodies they go straight vnto him Phil. 1.23 as it was said vnto the thiefe on the crosse being readie to giue vp the ghost This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 And in the meane time the bodie resteth in assured hope that it shall at the last day rise againe vnto a most blessed and happie life which is immortall and neuer fadeth and that the same bodie shall rise with exceeding great glorie and maiestie and with such beauty and comlinesse as cannot be expressed that so being renewed againe and glorified together with the soule it may liue for euer with Christ and with all the elect Among whom many shall be found which here on earth were knit and ioyned vnto vs in the bond of amitie and friendship And therefore the sacred Scripture vsually calleth the death of the godly by the name of sleepe Death a sleepe For this same weake fraile mortall and transitorie body which now rotteth in the graue shall at the last day be raised vp euen as a man that is fast asleepe is rouzed and raised vp out of his sleepe And then forthwith death being quite extinguished and abolished it shall appeare glorious and beautifull strong in perfect health sound and entire pure and spirituall immortall and incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.53 When this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortalitie Whereupon it is that the Prophet Dauid pronounceth the death of the Saints to be precious Psal 116.15 of excellent account Psal 116.15 and 16.9 and in another Psalme His heart within him leapeth for ioy and his tongue reioyceth his flesh also resteth in hope Why Because God will not leaue his soule in graue neither will suffer his holy one to see corruption These things deare brother ponder and consider well in thy mind that thou be not deceiued with the world which imagineth that when we die we die for altogether that our bodies perish together with our life and that nothing remaineth of vs after our departure hence But the world is herein altogether deceiued For our bodie is not so little set by nor so despised in the sight of God it hath his peculiar honour and welfare prepared and ordained of God For this same bodie which now we carry about vs which is now vexed and tormented with so many griefes paines this same body I say being changed glorified shall together with our soule liue for euermore Whereas indeed if wee should for altogether lose and forgo this bodie and neuer recouer the same againe at any time the death of the Saints and children of God should not be precious and honorable but rather vile and of no worth yea horrible and dreadfull Considering therfore these things diligently raise vp and comfort thy wauering mind and strengthen the same with sentences of holy Scripture Beleeue them faithfully doubt nothing For the same are most certaine vndoubted and true As Christ his body being buried and lying in the graue rose againe on the third day vnto a new life the same eternall and euerlasting neuer to die againe so the bodies of all such as are asleepe
in Christ that is who haue beleeued in Christ being now dead they rest in their graues onely for a time in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection whereby they shall rise againe in the last day vnto a new life and that eternall and euerlasting wherein shall be nether sinne nor death nor any miserie and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse life and saluation ioy and happines for euer and euer These things God himselfe hath promised who is of infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promised and who is also truth it selfe and therefore neither will nor can faile in performance thereof Trust stedfastly then in his promises and wauer not CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead MOreouer it is good for thee to repeate often and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testimonies of holy Scripture which concerne the resurrection of the flesh Hereof it is that Saint Paul admonisheth vs in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians That we raise vp confirme comfort both our selues 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the resurrection Neither indeed can there be any consolations more fruitful and plentifull or more sure and certaine then those which we fetch from those testimonies of Scripture which concerne the resurrection of our bodies they being the words not of man but of God who both can and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken as hath bene said There is none that can alter or change his will and determination none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell He is of power infinite in his word and promises most faithfull and true yea truth it selfe his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie And therefore let no man doubt thereof Math 13.43 Christ saith Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Iohn 5.24 Likewise Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Chap. 6.40 And Chapter 6.40 This is the will of my Father that hath sent me that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Againe Chapter 8.51 Verily Chap. 8.51 verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death And Chap. 11.11 Christ saith that Lazarus slept and 11.11 who notwithstanding was dead and his dead corps did then lie in the graue But Christ raiseth the dead to life againe and calleth those things which are not Rom. 4.17 as if they were as Saint Paule saith And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse Ioh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And by and by after the vttering of these words he raised vp Lazarus from death hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies And because in these conflicts of sicknesse and death we are naturally very fearefull and faint hearted to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward the more to beleeue that there shall be a resurrection many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Prophets and Apostles In the new Testament Christ raised from the dead the widowes sonne at Naim Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus Act. 20. In the old Testament the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha 1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his hostesse sonne the Shunamite 2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. ◠Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp Henoch and Elias aliue both bodie and soule out of this miserable and transitorie life and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto himselfe Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come lest according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens we should imagine that after this life nothing else remained vnto vs. Furthermore consider thinke with thy selfe what that great and mighty Lord of life death Iesus Christ saith Luke 8.52 Weepe not Luke 8.52 the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth Reason not beleeuing this notvnderstanding the mysteries of God maketh a mock of these things Wherupon it is added that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it But Christ making good his owne words as soone as he had said it he raised vp the maid that was dead and restored her to life And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ not onely receiue thy soule and preserue the same in sure custodie but will also at the last day render and deliuer againe this body vnto thy soule and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall Iohn 5.28 Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plainly Ioh. 5.28 That the day and houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shal come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life And Daniel prophecieth foretelleth also Dan. 12.2 That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake vnto euerlasting life and that they that be wise shall shine euen as the brightnesse of the firmament and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer euer Saint Paule in like manner prooueth and confirmeth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies by many strong and infallible reasons arguments Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.11 If saith he the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell 〈◊〉 you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke◠your mortall bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in you And 1. Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 6.14 The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ he shall also raise vs vp by his power And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolations and comforts of wonderfull force and efficacie In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our resurrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other Christ saith he is risen frō the dead which is a thing most certaine and sure therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise againe For Christ is our head and we his
torment pardon and forgiue thee thy sinnes For there is no other satisfaction nor other recompence for thy sinnes but onely the death of Christ In this case God regardeth nothing else neither doth he accept of any thing else but of his beloued Sonne He is that Lambe of God which onely taketh away the sinnes of the word Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.2 He is a sufficient perfect and absolute sacrifice and oblation for the sinnes of the whole world As for thy paines or sicknesse or whatsoeuer torments or afflictions be the same neuer so great or intollerable they are not able to make satisfaction recompence vnto God for the least of thy sinnes much lesse then can the same deserue saluation as Saint Paul witnesseth I account saith he that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 No creature either in heauen or in earth no man nor Angell was able to papacifie or to mitigate and asswage the wrath and indignation of God the Father much lesse then is this sicknesse of thine and this momentanie affliction able to do it Yea that more is hee that must pacifie the wrath and indignation of almightie God and so reconcile God vnto man it was necessarie that hee should be both God and man being to vndertake and deale yea and to make intercession and attonement betweene God offended and displeased and man standing guiltie and condemned Therefore it was necessarie that the Sonne of God should be made man that in his body and in his flesh hee might satisfie the wrath of God his Father by his sufferings for vs and so saue and deliuer vs from the same as the Prophet witnesseth saying Esa 53.4.6.8 Hee hath borne our iniquities and carried our sorrowes And againe The Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all And againe For the transgressions of my people was he plagued And Saint Peter telleth vs 1. Pet. 2.24 that his own selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the Crosse and that by his stripes we are healed For thy Lord Christ his sake it is then that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee and for no other thing in the whole world for no affliction nor suffering though neuer so hard and sharpe Christ only and alone is our righteousnesse our satisfaction redemption out health and saluation 2. Cor. 5.21 Him God made sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made righteous yea the righteousnesse of God in him Wherefore if thou beleeue stedfastly Iohn 1.12 thou art now alreadie the childe of God and if thou be the child of God then art thou also the heire of God and coheire together with Christ Rom. 8.17 as Saint Paul witnesseth Rom. 8. Now if eternall life be the inheritance of Gods children the gift of God Rom. 6.23 as S. Paul calleth it surely thou canst not deserue it by any suffering of paine or sicknesse But God will therfore haue thee tormented and vexed with this sicknesse that so thy old man might be subdued and ouercome repressed and kept vnder yea mortified and put to death as it were that so at length it may ceasse to offend And that will be finally at the last by the death of the body And for this cause are we to vndergoe this death that our soule may depart out and enter into eternall blisse For this death of ours is the gate vnto eternal life Then and thereby at the length we are and shall be deliuered from all calamities miseries and troubles and from all errors deceits and suggestions of the Diuell Neither shall we any more be defiled with the most lothsome filthinesse of our sinnes neither shall we be seduced any more or misled into heresies and errors nor cast headlong into any despaire or doubting Then shall be an end of all miseries and aduersities and of all troubles and dangers Then resting in the Lord we shall enioy euerlasting life and ioyes without end And therefore death is in no wise to be abhorred nor feared Nay rather the same is earnestly to be wished for and desired forasmuch as thereby wee passe vnto euerlasting ioyes And it is most true which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.28 That vnto the godly all things worke together for good Sith that death it selfe a thing in the sight of the world of all other most hatefull and most hideous and horrible is become vnto the faithfull most sweete and pleasant and most ioyfull and acceptable Although our old Adam that is this flesh of ours doth abhorre it and by all meanes flye from it yea and trembleth for feare of it yet notwithstanding the inward man is ready chearefull yea glad and willing to vndergo it forasmuch as thereby he seeth knoweth that he is freed and deliuered from the mire and filthinesse of al his sins and corruptions from all paines and griefes and all cares and troubles and also obtaineth a passage entrance into euerlasting blisse and glorie before the throne of God and of the Lamb Christ Iesus In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Psal 16.11 CHAP. II. How to comfort such as are in apparent danger of Death GOod brother be of good comfort lift vp thy heart and raise vp thy spirit for behold the day of thy redemption and dissolution draweth nigh Thy most gracious and louing Father in great mercy toward thee doth now call for thee out of this wretched and miserable life to translate and conuey thee vnto himselfe vnto the endlesse ioyes of the heauenly life And therefore now giue ouer and wholy commend vnto him both thy selfe and all thine And let thy will and his will be all one Say within thy heart Thy will be done ô God my heauenly Father and not mine Cry out vnto Christ thy Sauiour with the good theefe vpon the Crosse Remember me ô Lord when thou cōmest into thy kingdom Luk. 23.42 or rather now that thou sittest and reignest in thy glorious kingdome Cry with the Publican Lord be mercifull vnto me Luk. 18.13 a most miserable and wretched sinner Cry instantly and earnestly with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22 O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me And when thou thus criest doubt not but Christ will heare thee and will haue mercy vpon thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes And whensoeuer thou shalt depart hence thou shalt assuredly be with him in his kingdome euen in Paradise Lay hold therfore vpon this thy Christ sticke fast vnto him and commit thy soule vnto him as vnto a faithfull Creator 1. Pet. 4.19 With this thy Christ crucified vpon the Crosse cry vnto God the common Father of you both in the words of the Prophet Dauid Psal 31.1 Psal 31. In thee ô Lord I put my trust let me neuer be confounded Deliuer me in thy
AN AMVLET OR PRESERVATIVE AGAINST SICKNES AND DEATH IN TWO PARTS The first containing Spirituall Direction for the Sicke at all times needfull but especially in the conflict of sicknes and agonie of death The second a Method or order of comforting the Sicke Whereunto is annexed a most pithie and comfortable Sermon of Mortalitie written by the blessed Martyr S. CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage translated into English by A.M. Together with sundry Prayers needfull in time of sicknesse Collected and set forth for the comfort of distressed soules most especially in time of sicknes mortality By A. M. Minister of the word of God in Henley vpon Thames LONDON Printed by R. F. for THOMAS MAN and Ionas Man dwelling in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1617. ⧠To the right Worshipfull and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Elizabeth Periam of Greenlands A. M. Wisheth a long happy life with health and prosperitie here on earth and euerlasting glorie in the highest heauens GOOD MADAM I Do vnfainedly acknowledg and confesse that in my priuate iudgment I haue alwaies distasted the too much forwardnes of this age in publishing vnnecessary bookes and pamphlets So farre haue I bene from once intending my selfe to offend in that kind First in consideration of mine owne weaknesse and insufficiencie best knowne vnto my selfe Next in regard of that great light of learning knowledge which shineth most brightly euery where at this day And lastly in respect of the great peruersnesse curiositie that reigneth in the minds of sundrie men whom nothing pleaseth and contenteth but that which they them selues do or at the least wise affect Howbeit notwithstanding after that I had for mine owne priuate vse collected and gathered these spirituall directions and consolations and also perceiued how that the same might be of some good vse to others not onely in time of sicknesse but also in all other afflictions and distresses whether of mind or bodie I esteemed it a part of that great dutie which I owe vnto the Church of God to communicate impart these my poore endeuours vnto such and for the benefite comfort of all such as shall stand in neede thereof in times of sicknesse and mortalitie in the conflict of death and other sharpe and bitter daies of triall and temptation whensoeuer their sins shall stand vp against them to vrge and accuse them or the vgly appearance of death shall affright them or the feare and horror of hell and damnation shall seeme to dismay them Against all which fearefull dangerous assaults of death of sinne of Satan here in this small Treatise are prouided selected out of the rich Armorie of the sacred Scriptures seuerall and peculiar weapons and armour of proofe both defensiue offensiue both for the withstanding and resisting and also for the repelling and quenching of all the fierie darts of the wicked Now I haue bene bold to dedicate and offer the same vnto your Ladiship being moued thereunto partly by the sundry fauours receiued from your Ladiship by my selfe in particular and partly by those gracious works of pietie and charitie wrought and the great and manifold benefits from time to time conferred by your Ladiship in and vpon the whole Towne or Parish in generall ouer which God hath placed me though his most vnworthy seruant minister accept I beseech you this small present being as the poore widdowes mite which here I presume to offer vnto your Ladiship as a pledge and testimonie of my vnfeined thankfulnesse Almightie God who is rich in mercie grant that as you haue extended the bowels of compassion and mercie alwaies for the relieuing and comforting of many his poore children so also you may find abundant mercie in the last day may be filled with ioy and comfort at the glorious appearing of his Son Christ Iesus Amen Your Ladiships in all humble manner to be commanded A. M. A preface to the Christian Reader THe sicknesses and diseases which vexe and annoy these our mortall bodies together with the remembrance of death ensuing therupon how greatly do they cause both our bodies and minds to quake and tremble Insomuch that many times we shake and are afraid at the onely mention thereof Verily the nature of man being such as had rather not be at all then to be ill appaied or to be in miserie cannot whensoeuer these things befall but be much vexed and perplexed yea and sometimes readie to faint And yet behold the sicknesse and death of the soule farre more dreadfull and more horrible then which can befall vnto a man no greater miserie and torment There is no man but he doth feare and abhorre yea and by all meanes flie from corporal punishments and afflictions and from corporall sicknesses and deaths how much more then should we labour to eschue and auoid the causes of all these euils which are our sinnes and how ought we to feare the wrath and displeasure of almightie God which we daily prouoke against our selues by so manifold sinnes and offences If the bodie be neuer so little crazed we runne straightway to the Physition we spare no cost nor charge preferring our life and health before all things else yea we are content to disburse we care not what that we may procure remedies and preseruatiues for the same and all to patch vp this tattered garment of our flesh this rotten carcasse and clod of clay which notwithstāding must needs very shortly decay and perish and be brought to corruption Why then do we not with like earnestnesse and carefulnesse seeke for remedies against the sicknesses of the soule being farre more deadly and dāgerous For what should it profite a man to liue a whole thousand yeares and during that time to possesse all the riches in the world and to enioy the most exquisite pleasures of this life without being troubled with any sicknes or griefe or other calamitie and in the meane time to haue his soule tainted and infected with the leprosie of sinne and in bondage to the tyrannie of Satan and therupon to haue God alwaies his vtter enemie and his wrath and indignation raging against him and lying heauily vpon him so as he knew and were assured after this life to suffer and vndergoe the iudgement of eternall death and condemnation both of body and soule Hereof our Sauiour Christ admonisheth vs Math. 16.26 saying What shall it profite a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule And therefore in another place he warneth vs to watch to wit ouer our soules watch for ye know neither the day nor the howre when the Sonne of man will come And lest we should without regard passe ouer farre better things and things farre more profitable and should pursue after toyes and trifles things base and contemptible therefore he sheweth vs the shortest and surest way whereby to come vnto true happinesse which willeth vs Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the
able to rest and relie vpon the word of God and therein to apprehend and lay hold vpon that infinite inestimable treasure and riches belonging to Gods deare children to wit the forgiuenesse of all their sinnes through Christ the resurrection of their bodies at the last day that most wished for and most sweet and ioyfull communion with the Saints in glorie comfortable societie and fellowship of the elect of God Meanes of strengthning our faith and life euerlasting and all these freely giuen and bestowed vpon them in Christ and through Christ Wherefore in these and other articles of our Christian faith Continuall meditation on the articles of our faith in time of sicknesse very needfull it behooueth vs daily and continually to exercise our selues and diligently to meditate thereupon But especially in time of sicknesse and agonie of death we are seriously and earnestly to meditate in our minds and to inculcate repeate often those foure last articles of our Creed Namely concerning the communion of Saints in which number we beleeue and trust stedfastly that we our selues are and shall be reckoned concerning the Remission of all our sinnes through the bloud of Christ Iesus concerning the resurrection of our bodies at the last day and life euerlasting Now vnto the serious meditation of these articles of our faith there must be adioyned 3 other things First of all feruent and continuall prayer for the increase Prayer and strengthning of our faith praying with the Apostles of our Sauiour Luk. 17.5 Luk. 17.5 O Lord increase our faith and with the father of the child that had the dumbe spirit Mar. 9.24 Marke 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe Vnto prayer ioyne carefull studie and diligence in reading and hearing of the word of God Reading hearing the word of God Rom 10.17 Esa 57.19 For faith is both wrought and also increased by hearing of the word Rom. 10. whereupon it is called the fruite of the lips that is of the words of God Esa 57.19 And Acts the 10.44 it is said that while Peter spake those words Act. 10.44 the holy Ghost fell vpon all them that heard the word Yea hereupon it is called the arme of the Lord Esa 53.1 Esa 53.1 and the power of God vnto saluation Rom. 1.16 Rom. 1.16 See therfore that the word of God dwell plenteously in thee Col. 3.16 which alone is able to make thee wise vnto saluatiō through faith in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3.15 2. Tim. 3.15 And let thy heart and mind be euermore possessed with the meditation and consideration of those three maine pillars and grounds of thy faith whereof thou hast assurance in the same word namely First the infinitenesse of Christ his merites which thou shalt oppose vnto the infinitenesse and greatnesse of thy sinnes Next the omnipotencie of Gods power and his natural inclinatiō vnto mercy and to pardon and forgiue sins and sinners Eze. 18.32 And lastly the vniuersalitie and generality of his gracious promises made vnto all in which number thou art to reckon thy selfe Vnto the carefull and diligent studie and meditation in the word of God and prayer Oft receiuing the Sacrament adde this also to frequent and to haue often accesse vnto the holy Sacramen◠of the bodie and bloud o◠Christ while yet thou ar◠in sound perfect health But beware that thou come vnto it rightly instructed prepared and that thou presume not to handle the same with defiled hands nor to receiue it with an vnpure and vnsanctified heart And indeed it is an horrible and feareful thing and much to be lamented that for so many yeares this holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ hath bene so vnworthily receiued The vnreuerēt handling of the Sacrament dangerous and so vnreuerently handled and of many contemned and lightly regarded Wherein how greeuously dangerously men offend euen the iudgements and punishments which the Lord sendeth euery day among vs do more then sufficiently witnesse testifie as S. Paul hath foretold should come to passe 1 Cor. 11.30 1 Cor. 11.30 For euen for this cause many are weake and sicke and many sleepe and are dead It is verily an exceeding great and a sure signe and token of singular and incomprehensible loue toward vs The benefit offered in the Sacrament that in this Sacrament of his Supper Christ will haue it plainly confirmed vnto vs that he hath giuen and bestowed himselfe wholly vpon vs knitting and ioyning vs vnto himselfe as members to the head to the end we may know and bee assured that we are regarded and loued defended and saued by him Thus ought all godly minds to esteeme and make account that Christ is effectuall and powerfull in them And it were to bee wished that we would at length consider deepely of the greatnesse and worthinesse of so excellent a gift that so we might be thankfull and might stirre vp our wauering and languishing faith remembring how heynous and horrible a sin vnthankfulnesse is in this kinde and how fearefull punishments must needs follow the prophanation of so holy a mystery Neither indeed are we to imagine that the grieuous threatnings vsed by S. Paul are in vaine for God is true yea truth it selfe and certainly we are to thinke that the greatest part of those plagues iudgments both publike and priuate which befall in these last times is to be imputed vnto the prophanatiō of this most holy mysterie It behooueth vs then with godly care and zeale to haue often accesse vnto that holy Sacrament wherin our soules being refreshed and comforted with that heauenly food our faith and our repentance our hope and our confidence may be more more strengthned and increased CHAP. III. Of three things which in the agonie of death do most greeuously torment terrifie and trouble our minds The remembrance of our sinnes the feare of death and the horror of hell together with the seuerall remedies thereof FIrst the sinnes which in our whole life time we haue wickedly and wretchedly committed Sinne. and wherby we haue most greeuously offended both against God and against our neighbours these when on the bed of sicknesse they come vnto our remembrance must needs greatly terrifie vs and much vexe torment vs remembring that saying of S. Paul Rom. 2.9 Rom. 2.9 That indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish shall be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill Againe inasmuch as this old Adam and flesh of ours is most vnwiliing to die Death therof it is that when death approcheth mens hearts begin to quake and tremble and are readie to faile them through exceeding great sorrow and griefe For this our fearefull nature or naturall man is miserably afraid lest being once dead buried in the earth it shall neuer returne no◠come againe to the forme state but thinketh now tha◠it is past all helpe and hop◠of recouerie
denque corpus expositum ad redimendum Haec quanta sint cogitato haec in statêra cordis appendito vt totus tibi figatur in corde qui totus pro te fixus est in cruce Behold and looke stedfastly vpon the wounds of him that hanged on the crosse for thee vpon the bloud of him that dyed for thee vpon the price of him that redeemed thee He hath his head bowed downe on the crosse to kisse thee his armes stretched out wide to embrace thee and finally his whole bodie exposed and offered to redeeme thee CoÌ„sider of how great price and of how great weight and moment these things are and weigh well and ponder the same in the ballance of thine owne heart that the same Christ may be wholy fixed and fastened in thy heart who was wholy fixed and fastened vpon the crosse for thee And assuredly perswade thy selfe that not thou but Christ is charged with the sinnes which haue bene committed by thee and that they are all laid vpon his shoulders who hauing taken them vpon himselfe hath discharged vs and made ful satisfaction and payment for vs so as he will neuer impute them vnto vs not lay them to our charge but will freely forgiue them all as in our Creed we professe and say I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes CHAP. V. Here it will be very necessarie and profitable for the comfort of the patient or sicke partie to vrge and repeate often some testimonies of the word of God concerning the forgiuenesse of sinnes by and through Christ as these and the like IOhn the 1.29 Ioh. 1.29 Iohn the Baptist crieth out maketh this proclamation Ecce Agnus Dei Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Saint Peter likewise 1 Epist Chap. 1.18 Know this 1 Pet. 1.18 that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersation but with the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and withouâ— spot Let these things deare brother sinke deepe into thy minde to confirme and comfort thee Thou hast no cause to doubt of the remission and forgiuenesse of thy sinnes for in as much as thou hast professed the Name of Christ and puttest confidence in his mercie he will also take away thy sinnes And if thou nothing doubt but stedfastly beleeue this thou art alreadie freed and discharged from all thy sins and art alreadie become the child of God there is no cause for thee to wauer or to feare But yet heare and hearken vnto further testimonies and so heare them that thou imprint them throughly in thy mind Iohn 3.16 Ioh. 3.16.18 God so loued the world saith our Sauiour that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And againe Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not be condemned c. And againe Mat. 9.13 I am not come saith he to call the righteous Mat. 9.13 but sinners to repentance and Math. 11.28 and 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that are weary and laden and I will ease you Marke how that he calleth al vnto him he refuseth none he reiecteth and casteth off none In this word All he concludeth thee And therefore call thou and crie vnto him for mercie and he will assuredly accept thee and will refresh thee Rom. 5.8 Rom. 5.8 God setteth onâ— herein his loue toward vs tâ— that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shall be saued from wrath through him This ioyfull tydings full of singular comfort deare brother almightie God thy most tender and louing father will haue to be preached and proclaimed vnto thee for thy comfort For eueÌ„ for thee it is that Christ was sent for thee it was that he died Only beleeue and commit thy selfe vnto Christ thy redeemer and sauiour Likewise in the same Chap. to the Romans verse 10. If when we were enemies Rom. 5.10 we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life And 1. Cor. 1.30 Christ Iesus is made vnto vs of God 1 Cor. 1.30 wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Now then deare brother lift vp thine heart and comfort thy selfe Albeit thou art neuer so great and grieuous a sinner no cause there is wherefore thou shouldst therefore be discouraged but acknowledge and confesse thy selfe before God to be such a one beg and craue for mercie in and through Christ aske paâ—don and forgiuenesse anâ— beleeue Christ to bee thâ— onely Sauiour thy righteousnesse and saluation And he will euermore 〈◊〉 thine and will hide and couer all thy sinnes and vtteâ—ly abolish them so as thaâ— shalt not need to feare theâ— by any hurt or danger Againe 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.21 God hatâ— made him who knew no sinnâ— to be sinne for vs that 〈◊〉 might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Like wise Gal. 1.4 Galat. 1.4 Christ hatâ— giuen himselfe for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present euill world according to the will of God euen our father And Ephes 1.7 Ephe. 1.7 By Christ we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes according to his rich grace And 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners saith Saint Paule of whom I am chiefe Now then brother haue thou also good hope and beleeue these words as Saint Paule did and then shalt thou assuredly be in the number of them that are iustified and saued 1 Tim. 2.6 S. Paul saith That Christ Iesus gaue himselfe a ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 Beleeue this then stedfastly and without controuersie thou art now one of them alreadie that are ransomed and redeemed Furthermore Math. 26.26 Thou hearest Christ in 〈◊〉 last Supper talking wâ— thee and thou seest hâ—â— nourishing feeding thâ— with his body and also oâ—fering and giuing vnto thâ— his bloud to drinke vnto â—uerlasting life Math. 26.26 wheÌ„ he saitâ— Take eate this is my bodâ— which is giuen for you do tâ— in remembrance of me Likâ— wise also after he had suppeâ— he tooke the cup and said 1 Cor. 11.25 Thâ— cup is the bloud of the 〈◊〉 Testament which is shed â— you and for many for the râ—mission of sinnes Do this often as ye shall drinke it remembrance of me These words deare brâ—ther it behooueth thee 〈◊〉 fixe fast in thy memorie 〈◊〉 to thinke theÌ„ spoken to thâ— selfe For when as he speaketh vnto all he speaketh vnto thee also And all the things which Christ did or suffered shall be auaileable vnto thee and shall turne to thy saluation and to thy benefit no lesse then they did to Peter or Paul 1 Pet. 2.24 it is said That Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree 1 Pet. 2.24
members This head neither is nor can be without the members neither doth he leaue or forsake his members Where Christ therefore is there also must we needs be Ephe. 5.30 For we are members of his bodie of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.30 Now who can sufficiently praise and magnifie according to the worthinesse thereof the infinitenesse of that inestimable vnspeakeable grace meâ—cie of God who vouchsafed so to debase himselfe aâ— to come downe from heâ—uen and to be made a mortall man in all things likâ— vnto vs sinne onely excepted that this corruptible 〈◊〉 fraile nature of man being vnited and ioyned vnto hâ— diuine nature might by the infinite and incomprehensible vertue and power oâ— his diuinitie bee aduanced vnto immortall life and made partaker with it of the heauenly kingdome 〈◊〉 we did beleeue so great riches to be giuen vnto vs to be laid vp in store for vs and that so blessed and happie a kind of life shall hereafter befall vs how I pray you could we be daunted or troubled The humane nature of all the faithfull which haue bene before since Christ and which shall be hereafter in Christ who is both true man and also true God hath and doth put on immortalitie glorie Abundant then and of great force and effect is that comfort concerning the resurrection of Christ wherewith Saint Paule doth fortifie and establish the minds of the Corinthians when he saith 1 Cor. 15.20 c. That Christ is risen from the dead being the first fruites of them that are fallen asleepe for since by man came death by man also cometh the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all die euen so also by Christ shall all be maâ— aliue But euery man in 〈◊〉 owne order the first fruites 〈◊〉 Christ afterward they thaâ— are of Christ at his coming c. And after all this Sainâ— Paule addeth a similitude concerning naturall things wherby the resurrection of our bodies is most clearely perceiued verse 36. and plainely demonstrated The similitude or comparison is taken from seede which being drie when it is cast into the ground by the seedsman or husbandman it dieth as it were and rotteth in the ground But yet doth it not perish altogether but it sprouteth and cometh forth out of the earth fresh and new in an elegant and a delightfull shape and forme Euen so also shall our bodies arise not corruptible or subiect to corruption not fraile and transitorie not weake and feeble not withered and decayed and readie to die as now it is but comely and beautifull strong and lustie immortall and incorruptible and full of brightnesse and glorie This is the way by which we are to passe into our true countrie which is aboue euen by death vnto euerlasting life Flesh and bloud cannot inherite the kingdome of God wherein is nothing else but life and immortalitie For which cause 1 Cor. 15.33 This corruptible bodie must put on incorruption and this mortall bodie must put on immortalitie thâ—â— shall come to passe the saying that is written Death is swalowed vp into victorie They that beleeue in Christ haue now vanquished sin death and hell And therefore coÌ„temning despising death and through Christ being now become bold and couragious they shall triumph and say Hos 13.14 1 Cor. 15.55 â— death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie The sting of death iâ— sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Hereunto also may be added other sentences of holy Scripture full of comfort as that 2. Cor. 4.14 He that hath raised vp the Lord Iesus from the dead shall also raise vs vp by the same Iesus And that to the Philippians Chap. 3.20 Phil 3.20 Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the mightie working whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Againe Colos 3.3 Ye are dead Colos 3.3 and your life is hid with Christ in God but when Christ which is your life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glorie And 1. Thes 4.13 1. Thes 4.14 I would not saith Saint Paul haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe that ye sorrow not as others which haue no hope For if we beleeue thaâ— Iesus is dead and is risen againe Euen so them thaâ— sleepe in Iesus will God bring with him In like manner doth S. Paul comfort his disciple Timothie 2. Tim. 2.8 Remember 2 Tim. 2.8 that Iesus Christ made of the seed of Dauid wâ— raised againe from the deaâ— according to my Gospell And verse 11. verse 11 If we be dead wâ— Christ we shall also liue wiâ— him If we suffer with him 〈◊〉 shall also reigne with him Anâ— againe 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Tim. 1.9 God haâ— saued vs saith he and calleâ— vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purposâ— and grace which was giuen through Christ Iesus before the world was but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie And in his Epi. to the Heb. Chap. 2.14 he saith That Christ was made partaker of flesh and bloud that is Hebr. 2.14 was made true man that throgh death he might destroy him that had power of death that is the diuel and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage S. Iohn likewise in his 1. Epistle Chap. 4.9 telleth vs that 1 Ioh. 4.9 In this appeared the loue of God toward vs that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world that we might liue through him to wit eternally and for euer and Chap. 3.14 and 3.14 We know that we are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren And to conclude in the same manner Iob comforteth himselfe in the middest of all his afflictions Chap. 19.25 Iob. 19.25 I am sure saith he that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my reines be consumed within me These testimonies of holy Scripture whosoeuer he be that pondereth well and meditateth on the same diligently he cannot but be filled with exceeding great ioy and comfort A most euident example whereof we haue in Saint Paul Phil. 3.10 Phil. 3.10 Where he professeth himselfe to reioyce glorie in nothing more then this that he knoweth Christ and the power of his Resurrection whereby our death was slaine as it were
trust and confidence iâ— Christ comfort thy selfe in an assurance of his mercy and behold there neither is nor can be any danger For if thou fixe thy hope and confidence in Christ Christ now is thine and thou art his He hauing redeemed thee thou canst in no wise perish nor be damned For as much as they that beleeue in Christ are by the Father drawne vnto Christ Ioh. 6.44 and by him the Fathers will is that they shold be saued neither will he haue any of them to perish Iohn 10.28 Ioh. 10.28 Be of good comfort then beleeue faithfullie and haue stedfast hope in Christ For whosoeuer beleeue in Christ the same are predestinated vnto eternall life Vpon Christ then it behoueth thee wholie to fixe the eyes of thy mind to fly vnto him and to lay fast hold vpon him by faith if thou wilt be saued Remembring that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Heb. 12. Heb. 12.2 That with patience we run the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God CHAP. XI How Christ his temptations and sufferings were all for our sakes FVrthermore all the sufferings and temptations wherwith Christ was assailed and tempted being exceeding many and grieuous he suffered them all for vs and for our sake as the same Apostle witnesseth in the same Epistle saying Heb. 4.15.16 We haue not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but which was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sinne Therefore let vs go boldly vnto the Throne of grace that we may receiue grace and find mercie to help in time of need Imprint these things deare brother stedfastly in thy mind Christ giueÌ„ vnto vs for two ends Christ was giuen vnto vs for a two-fold end First that he might redeeme vs and reconcile vs vnto God his heauenly Father and so make vs partakers of eternall saluation And secondly that he might be an example vnto vs both of liuing godly and dying happily See then that thou set Christ his death before thine eyes and that thou end thy life after his example for as much as Christ is set downe vnto vs for as example to be followeâ— both in his life and in his sufferings and death For there is no man that shal be able to liue godly no maâ— able to suffer afflictions oâ— to vndergo death happily vnlesse he shall propose vnto himselfe both the life and death of Christ for his imitation By Christ his death it is that the death of all the godly is swallowed vp and quite abolished Iâ— wil be good for thee therefore diligently to meditate and consider in thy mind what manner of death hee died and how he behaued himselfe in that most sharpe and bitter conflict of all others when as hanging vpon the crosse he was ouerwhelmed as it were with most grieuous and horrible temptations Imitate and follow him and call vnto God for helpe that thou maist be enabled thereunto CHAP. XII Of Christ his threefold Temptations FIrst the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the feare of death 1 Temptation of Christ as one in their opinion vtterly vnable to deliuer himselfe from the same when as it was obiected vnto him on the Crosse saying He saued others himselfe he cannot saâ—e as if they shold say Now his case is altogether desperate for he must die and so vtterly perish None shall by force or otherwise take him away nor deliuer him out of our hands After the like manner will that vnreconciled enemy of man the diuel be ready also to strike into thee a scare terror of death But proceed and go on forward boldly bee strong and of good courage comfort Christ hath vanquished this enemy and vtterly cast him down And thou also through the same Christ shalt likewise cast him downe and ouercome him Stretch out thy shield of faith in Christ Iesus Thy Lord and Sauiour Christ being Lord of life King of eternall glory was not so made subiect vnto death as to be ouercome or to bee holden still of death but he liueth and reigneth for euer In this case then thy Lord and Sauiour liuing and reigning for euer doubtlesse he wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee neither will he suffer death to exercise tyrannie and dominion ouer thee He cannot deceiue thee nor falsifie his word and promise made vnto thee sith he is truth it selfe Haue this confidence in him and assure thy selfe of his goodnesse and of his loue and care tender affection toward thee and behold thou shalt most assuredly liue with him for euer A twofold benefit we receiue by death And whereas he will haue thee through many afflictions and trials to vndergoe this bodily death it is for thine owne sake and for thy good For first there is no other way whereby to passe into the true and euerlasting life then by this bodily death We must then leaue and lay downe this life if we will enioy eternall life and so after this life begin to liue truly and indeed Besides this bodily death is good and profitable in this respect that hauing tasted the sharpnesse and bitternesse therof thou mightest by experience know and perceiue how feruent the loue of Christ was toward thee and how inestimable a benefit he bestowed vpon thee when as dying for thee in his owne bodie he discharged and made satisfaction for all thy sinnes death being altogether extinguished and abolished and the very gates of hell shaken in peeces cast downe and ouerthrowne For otherwise thou couldest not perceiue nor vnderstand the operation and power of life in Christ how great it is which hath swallowed vp our death neither shouldest thou acknowledge the greatnesse of the benefit nor giue due thankes as thou oughtest vnto Christ thy Lord and thy redeemer Wherefore in that Christ liueth thou also shalt liue this death shall be vnto thee a happie and pleasant sleepe and â— dore or entrance into that true and most blessed life 2 Temptation of Christ Againe secondly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the guilt of sin as being a wicked man and a man guilty of horrible sin wheÌ„ it was cast in his teeth If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauedst others why theâ— doest thou not saue thy sâ—lfe These reprochfull wordes what else did they meane and intend but that by imposture guile and cosenage he deceiued and deluded men and that he was nothing lesse then the Sonne of God nay rather that he was a most vngracious and wicked man In like manner Satan tempting a man that is in extremitie of sicknesse and readie to die he layeth before him whatsoeuer at any time he hath coÌ„mitted against God or his neighbour and he
approue of thee yea and he vnderstanding and perceiuing thee to haue such strength and courage in readinesse to suffer will assuredly recompence and reward thee for it Had Cain when he offered vp his gift and oblation vnto God at that time killed his brother Noâ— yet notwithstanding the murther that he had conceiued in his mind God saw beforehand and thereupon reproued and condemned the same So as his wicked and mischieuous conceit and imagination was in Gods prouidence foreseene and knowne Euen so also is it in the true seruants of God which haue a purpose and will to confesse Christ and which conceiue martyrdome in their hearts and minds the very will and affection being giuen and inclined to goodnes is crowned of God in his iudgement It is one thing for the mind and will to want or to be withouâ— martyrdom and another thing for martyrdome to want or to bee without the mind and will Looke after what manner God doth finde thee when he calleth for thee As a man iâ— found so shall â—e be iudged after such manner likewise wil he iudge thee for as much as he himselfe witnesseth saying Apoc. 2.23 All Churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reines and the heart Neither indeed doth God require or take pleasure in your blood but in your faith For neither Abraham nor Isaac nor Iacob were slaine and put to death and yet notwithstanding they being honored with the reward and benefit of faith and righteousnesse deserued to be reckoned the chiefe and principal among the Patriarchs vnto whose fellowship societie whosoeuer is found faithful and righteous laudable and praise worthy shall assuredly be gathered We must remember that wee are to do not our owne will but Gods wil according to that which God hath willed vs daily to pray Now how preposterous and how peruerse a thing is it and contrary to reason that wheras we desire and pray that God his will may be done we should not straightway when God calleth and sendeth for vs out of this world readily submit our selues vnto the power and gouernment of his will In words we rest relie hereupon but yet indeed doe struggle and striue against it and like stubborne seruants are vnwillingly and with griefe drawne into the presence of our Lord and Maister departing hence as being thereunto bound by necessity not through any readinesse of will and wee desire to be honored of him with rewards in heauen vnto whom we come by constraint and against our will To what purpose theÌ„ do we pray and desire that Gods heauenly kingdome may come if this earthly bondage doe so much please and delight vs Why do we with often redoubled prayers beg and craue that God will hasten his kingdome make speed to admit vs thereinto if our wishes and desires be greater and more earnest to serue the Diuell heere then to reigne with Christ there * A vision is heere reported by the Author which I thought good to omit How often also hath it beene reuealed vnto vs the least and meanest of others how many times hath God vouchsafed to giue open and manifest charge that I should make daily protestation and publikely declare that our brethren are in no wise to be lamented being at Gods call and appointment freed and set at liberty out of this world knowing that they are not lost and forgone but are sent before that departing hence they doe but tread the way before vs and that as trauellers and passengers they should be wished for and desired of vs but not lamented Neither should wee take vnto vs blacke mourning weeds here when as they haue already receiued white robes and garments there And withall that we should not giue occasion vnto the heathens and Pagans iustly to reproue and worthily to reprehend vs for that wee sorrow and mourne for those as vtterly lost and perished whom we affirme notwithstanding to liue with God and that by the testimony of our owne hart and conscience we reiect disalow the faith which in word and voyce we declare and professe We are betrayers of our hope confidence and of our faith holy profession All that we say seemeth to be but in dissimulation and to be but feined and counterfeit It auaileth nothing at all to talke of grace and vertue and in our deeds to destroy the truth and verity Lastly the Apostle Saint Paul misliketh those yea and he rebuketh and blameth them that are too much greeued for the death and departure of their friends 1. Thess 4. 1. Thess 4. I would not brethren haue you ignorant saith he concerning them that sleepe that ye sorrow not as others doe which haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus died and rose againe euen so also them that sleepe in Christ shall God bring with him Where mark how he saith that it is for such to be sorry for the death and departure of their friends who are voide of hope But as for vs which liue in hope and by hope we who haue hope in God and confidently beleeue that Christ hath suffered for vs and is risen againe so long as we abide and continue in Christ and rise in him and through him why either are we our selue so vnwilling to depart hence out of this present world or why doe we grieue and lament for our friends wheÌ„ they depart as if they were lost and perished especially when as Christ himselfe our Lord and God admonisheth vs Ioh. 11. saying I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer If we belieue in Christ let vs haue trust and confidence in his words and promises and we shall not dye for euer and let vs with ioyfull securitie goe vnto Christ with whom we shal liue and reigne for euermore And whereas in the meane while we die as concerning our bodies we do but passe by death vnto immortality Neither indeed can euerlasting life succeed and come in place vnlesse it fall out vnto vs to depart hence It is then not a doath but a passage and after this temporal race and voyage ended a passing vnto things eternall Now what man would not make haste to haue enioy better things who would not wish to be changed and renewed and fashioned after the image and likenesse of Christ and to come as soone as he can to enioy the honour and dignitie of that heauenly reward and benefit Sith that the Apostle Saint Paul plainly pronounceth Phil. 3.20 saying Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we looke for the Lord Iesus Christ who shall transform and change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie And that we shall be such our Sauiour Christ also promiseth when as he prayeth vnto the Father for vs that we may be with him and