vayne glorye and would perswade vs that we haue deserued Heauen and eternall life by our workes vnto whome we muste answere in this sort O thou horrible enchanter thou bearest me in hande that I am a Saincte to the ende thou mightest make me a Diuell Who is he that doth that which is commanded him to doe none no not one wher are then my deserts I wil shew thee Sathan my Lorde Christ hathe taken from mee all my sinnes and hath nayled them to his crosse and hath cancelled the obligation which was againste me yea he hath done more for me he hathe giuen mee all his deserts to witte his obedience iustice righteousnesse and innocencie as to a member of his bodye wherefore I being a member of his body can no more bee damned than my Lorde Christe may Now when hee seeth himselfe thus aunswered and proued a lyar by the sacred Scriptures of God whiche are the onely weapon wherewith to put him to flight he then yeeldeth all lost therfore we may easily see how needeful it is to be armed against Sathan with the most blessed word of God wherwith to quenche all his fierie dartes and to repulse all his assaults Wherfore I haue turned this exhortation into our english tongue the whych was written in the French by a reuerend worthy learned and godly father to a noble martiall and Christian Gentleman of France his good Lorde and friende wherewith in the time of his quietnesse he might fitte his armoure and weapons in suche sort as by battayle he might valiantly fighting obtayne a glorious and victorious Crowne For as your honor knoweth he that will be a good Souldioure must enter timely into the warres therefore I saye I haue turned into the Englishe the same exhortation for the profite of the Churche of God heere in Englande And albeit that the wordes be not many they be of singular valew and effecte the whiche I haue published vnder your honors name doubting not but that you will take my poore trauel in this behalfe in good part I haue added in the ende of it a Table of certayne consolatorie passages of Scripture whiche I haue gathered out of the old and new Testament for confirmation of oure faith in the moste sweete and comfortable promises of the almighty For when we shal come to the battayle the which we must once sighte eyther in the time of our health or else in the article of deathe for none is crowned that fighteth not and a Christian life is a continuall warre by the grace of God thys shorte exhortation shall greatly helpe as manye as shall make the same familiar vnto them towardes the obteyning of the victorie agaynste the aforesayde trayned experimented cunning mightie and cruell enimie In London the twentith of Marche Anno Domini 1579. Your honours humble euer to commaunde I. S. To the faithfull Reader saluation FRiende Reader take in good parte the exhortation the vvhich I haue heere vvritten for the great comfort and profit of al persons vvhich feare God vvherevvith to serue them at neede vvhen it shall please the Lord to call them But note you that to vse thys vvell that of these three letters B. S. N. the firste letter signifieth brother if the partie be a manne the seconde Sister being a vvoman and the third signifyeth the propre name of the person vvherby he must be named For vve may not then honor them by names of vvorldlye honour and dignitie but to stand firmely against Satan in the vertue of the Lorde We must name thē by their proper names vvhiche they haue receyued at the holye Sacramente of Baptisme This doing thou shalt obey God vvhome I beseech to be merciful vnto thee in the secret day of his comming ¶ To my Lorde my Lord of Senarpont Knight of the Kings order Captayne of fiftie men at armes and his Lieutenant generall in Picardie MY Lorde hauing oftentimes considered the beginning the continuance and the ende of mās life I haue plainelye knowen as by an ordinarie experience that men are more curious and carefull for the entertaynement and conseruation of this their life than to prepare themselues to a more happie ende according to God for man being in this bodily prison as blinde and not perfectlye regenerated do the better loue the darkenesse of suche an earthly prison than hee doth the heauenlye lighte for the whiche cause it is written that hee that is of the earthe speaketh of the earth As beeyng like the sonnes of Agar whiche soughte the wisedome of this worlde the whiche is foolishnesse before god Howe manye bee there at this day vnto whome the remembrance of death is very vnpleasaunt yea rather detestable so delighting themselues in their worldly pleasures that they seeme to haue forgotten God not caring any thing at all for Religion nor for the vengeance and iudgement of God terrible and fearefull to all those which haue their names written in the earth being scraped out of the booke of life VVherefore my Lord to the end you walke not in the large way which bringeth to destruction being taught by the wise man saying In all thy workes see thou doe remember thy latter dayes and thou shalt neuer sinne I haue thoughte good to drawe out of the holye Scriptures a Christian exhortation to bee recited with a loude voyce before euerie faithfull person the whiche approcheth to this bodily death couered with a casuall life passing on to one muche better and more happie For hauing this done I will attribute to my selfe nothing for I am but earth and durt yet notwithstanding I do not thinke to haue laboured in vayne considering that the Lorde Iesus Christ do the admonishe vs that we shoulde be alwayes readie not knowing the houre for the day of the Lord wil come suddainely as a theefe in the night O how happie then shall they be whiche shall put themselues into his safegard VVherefore my Lord I do present you this little Christian exhortation very humbly beseeching you to keepe the same to serue you at youre neede at what time it shall please the Lorde God to call you I know well that when the same tyme shall come you shall haue good meanes to haue with you some man learned and furnished with holy letters to declare vnto you the worde of life yet for all that not knowing the time nor the place ne yet the oportunitie that we may haue I dare boldly say without beast that hearing thys exhortation redde with a loude voyce being in mortall agonie it maye be vnto you as holesome as the Christian consolation of the best learned Doctor of the Religion for they might preach no more vnto you than the Prophets and Apostles doe preach vnto you in the sayd exhortation the which I beseech you to receyue with as good heart as I do desire the supreme gouernour to giue you the grace my Lorde to glorifie him as well in your life as in your
vsed towardes oure fathers are not yet quenched and consumed for thou art the great eternall God fauourable and mercifull whiche neuer changest Thy holy worde teacheth vs very playnely that all the earthe is full of thy mercies the whiche doe farre surmount thy Iustice wherefore appease thy rigour towardes thy creature haue pitie and compassion of him for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christ our lord Looke not vppon his sinnes but beholde the face of thy Christe who hathe sufficientlye satisfyed for the same in offering to thée vppon the Crosse the greate Sacrifice of hys body we beséeche thée then most louing and mercifull God to make him to féele thy grace the whyche thou neuer denyest to thy Children And for so much as thou art oure eternall father whiche knowest well what is necessarie and expediente for our saluation we doe not pray thée to prolong or to shorten hys life for we do repose our selues vpon thy holy will the which we doe only desire to do Thou arte wise not néeding councell to dispose of thy creature according to thy good pleasure but if it please thée to call him who is he that maye resist and if thou wilt send him health which is he that maye controll thée For all things are in thy hand and nothing is done without thy will and holye Prouidence Yet notwithstanding O Lord if of thy mercie thou doest prolong his dayes thy scourge shall serue hym for chastizemente to amende and to turne to thée and wée wyth hym shall yéelde vnto thée thankes and prayses But if thou haue determined to passe him into a better life we beséeche thée for the loue of thy sonne Iesus to forget all hys faultes and offences the whyche thou hast willed to be blotted out and washed in the shedding of his pretious bloud That it maye please thée for the merit of the death and passion of thy sonne to receyue his soule into thy hands when thou shalte call him out of thys Worlde O Lord God despise not the workemanship of thy handes for beholde héere thy poore creature in manner vtterly beaten downe the whyche calleth vpon thée from the deapth of all his euils presenting vnto thée his sorowfull and penitente hearte the whiche we beséeche thée to haue for acceptable for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde for whose sake thou hast promised vs to heare our requestes Wherefore O Lord we beséech thée to receyue vs into thy holy conduct lightning our heartes and vnderstandings to addresse vs towardes thée and to call vpon thy name so as thy sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde hath taughte vs to pray for all oure necessities saying Our Father whiche arte in Heauen c. Lastly O God and most mercifull Father that it maye please thée euer to susteyne vs by thy grace and power to the ende that through the weakenesse of our fleshe we fall not And for so muche as of our selues we are so féeble that we are not able to stande fast the space of one minute may it please thée to fortifie vs by thy holy Spirit and to arme vs with thy graces to the end that we may constantlye perseuere in thy Fayth without the whiche it is not possible to please thée it may please thée to confirme vs dayly in the same whereof wée wyll make confession both wyth heart and mouth saying I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. The Prayers being ended they may sée how the sicke person doeth and enquire how he féeleth himselfe with Christian and gratious spéech but if they sée that he decline and that within shorte time after no token of recouerie doe appeare they may chose some mete time to speake to the sicke person and to aske hym if he do desire to heare spéech of God and to hearken to his word whilest he hath yet good remembrance For if he be of God they maye then beginne thys little Catechisme which followeth * ⎠* A shorte Catechisme vvhiche is not onely to instructe the sicke but also to refreshe his memorie with the great mysterie of oure Redemption for the good vnderstanding and remembrance whereof in his latter dayes he ought to make confession of his faith before the company of the faythful of the which one in the absence of the Minister hould demaund of hym as follovveth The Minister B. S. N. Euery man whiche knoweth well himselfe and is not ignorante of his estate and qualitie certaynely ought to acknowledge that albeit he is created to the image and likenesse of God yet notwythstanding he is conceyned and borne in the sinne of the olde Adam wherby he is made a poóre and wretched sinner ignorant inconstant and full of iniquitie and consequentlye subiecte to all miseries afflictions aduersities and lastly to deathe the cause whereof is sinne the whyche God not willing to leaue it vnpunished doth afflicte vs dayly and to speake it playnely he chastiseth vs in this world to the end we shoulde not be damned wyth the worlde Wherefore B. S. N. be patiente in your sicknesse and you shall possesse your soule in spiritual ioy acknowledge youre sinne and accuse youre selfe before the Maiestie of God whome you must looke vpon and behold by Faith making confession of the same both with heart mouth before the whole company For it is written that man beléeueth wyth his hearte to iustice and confesseth with his mouth to saluation Harken then to the demaundes whyche now I will make vnto you and answere me faithfully according to the vnderstanding that you haue receyued of the lord But if you can not bycause of your weakenesse and impeachment of your sicknesse I wyll answere for you and it shall suffice vs that ye giue vs to vnderstand by some token your heart and cōstancie of faith in the whiche you must liue and dye Now I aske of you For what cause and to what end were you created in this worlde The sicke For to know God. Minister Was it necessarie for you to know God The sicke Yea truely for so muche as hée is my soueraigne goodnesse withoute the knowledge of him I shoulde bée more miserable than the brute beastes Minister Séeing that you know God you know well that he is an infinite power wisedome and goodnesse one onely God in three persons father sonne and holy Ghost It is the onlye God which Abraham Isaac and Iacob did worship in spirit truth It is the only eternall God whiche hathe created Heauen and Earthe as all the thyngs whyche are in them the knowledge of GOD whiche you haue is it not suche The sicke Yes Minister But coulde suche a simple knowledge of God bring you well to eternall life The sicke Very hardly for it is eternall life to confesse and knowe one onely God and hym whome hée hathe sente hys onely eternall sonne oure Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christ Minister For what
death and in the meane time that it maye please him to make you to prosper from good to better and to giue me to perseuere in your seruice as your very humble and very obedient seruant for euer * ⎠* A Christian exhortation the vvhyche must bee recited with a loude voyce before euery faithfull person being in the agonie of Death HE that is of GOD let him heare the word of GOD and let hym not only hear it but let him kéepe it and put it in execution for all thinges shall haue an ende and shall weare as a garmente but the worde of the Lorde GOD remayneth eternally Nowe séeing it is so that by one man sinne is come into the worlde and by sinne death and consequentlye all afflictions and aduersities depend of the same therefore iustly the life of man is nothing else but a continuall battell vpon the earth in suche sorte that the flesh sighteth against the spirite and the spirite against the Diuell the Worlde and the Flesh which are the enimies of our soules But following the counsell of the Apostle to obteyne victorie in that spirituall battayle you must constantly resist by Faith for the victorie which ouercommeth the world it is our faith the whiche is a true and stedfast knowledge of the loue of God towards vs according as by his Gospell he declareth himselfe to be oure father and sauioure by the meane of Iesus Christ Hauing then suche a stedfast Faith for your principal foundation acknowledge and confesse without fayning before the Maiestie of God that you are a poore and miserable sinner conceiued and borne in iniquitie and corruption prompte to all euill doing vnapte to anye good thing and that by youre vice you haue transgressed without ende and withoute ceassing the whole commaundementes of god In which thing doing you haue drawen by hys iust iudgemente ruine and destruction vpon you yet for all that you are displeased in your self that you haue offended him and do condemne your selfe and youre vices with true repentance desiring that the grace of God doe help your calamitie Praye then in such stedfast fayth if you can not with youre mouth pray wyth youre hearte that God our very louing and most mercifull father doe not enter at all into iudgement nor into accompt with you but that hée will haue pitie vpoÌ„ you in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and that it may please him to blotte out our vices and spottes by the merites of the death and passion of the same Iesus Christe in whose name presente you to him his holy Prayer the whiche he hath taught vs in saying with a pure hearte Our Father which art in Heauen thy name be halowed Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And pardon vs our offences as we pardon them whiche haue offended vs And leade vs not at all into temptation but deliuer vs from the euill For thine is thy Kyngdome the power and the glorie throughout all ages So be it B. S. N. Acknowledge with all youre hearte your vniustice be forse for your sinnes repent you continually and the Kingdome of God shal draw néere vnto you acknowledge that there is no iustice nor innocencie nor anye good workes of you or in you but as a child of wrath conceyued borne in the sinne of the old Adam you do deserue eternall death and damnation Yet for all that let not the same nor all the sinnes of the world if you should haue committed theÌ„ feare you at al for Iesus Christ the true and eternall sonne of God is made verye man conceyued by the holy Ghost borne of a holy Virgin To sanctify and to cleanse you he hath suffered vnder Ponce Pilate many afflictions iniuries and outrages making himselfe a seruante and captine to sette you into full libertie Iesus Christ was crucifyed vpon the woodde of the Crosse to delyuer you from the eternall cursse Iesus Christ dyed in sheding his precious blaud for youre redemption to deliuer you fully from deathe from Hell and from the power of Satan Iesus Christ was buried in the Sepulchre to burie all youre sinnes the which he hathe borne blotted out Iesus Christe is descended into the lower partes in suffering an extreame anguish to deliuer you from all paynes and griefes of death Iesus Christe arose agayne from the dead to make you to rise agayne in your proper body and glorious immortalitie Iesus Christ is gone vp into Heauen to make you to go vp after him Iesus Christ is set at the right haÌ„d of God his father almightie being youre aduocate and intercessor towardes him and the appointment of all your sinnes We a waite for him that he shall come to iudge the liuing and the dead to yeèlde to euery one according to his workes but to his faithfull ones whiche beléeue in him he will not impute at all their sinnes but hauing iustified them by his grace will make them to raigne for euer with him in hys heauenly throne B. S. N. Such is the great misterie of our redemption the whiche by the helpe of the grace of the holye Ghoste you oughte stedfastly to beléeue to baue bin wrought for youre saluation And doubt not at all but that by the merite of Iesus Christe the head of his Churche you are made a member incorporate to the same yéelding him thankes in great humilitie that he hathe giuen you the grace to haue liued in the communion and companye of his faithfull hauing nouâ—ished you with hyword with his bodye and with hys bloud acknowledging as well assured the great mercie of God by the remission of all youre sinnes the which he hath giuen you by Iesus Christ who will make you to rise againe at the latter daye to raigne with him in the life eternall the which he hath promised to all those whiche beléeue in him being baptised in his name Nowe B. S. N. séeing that you haue this Faith doubt not at all to receyue the promise of Faith for God is true he is not a lyar as man is rather Heauen and Earth shall passe but the worde of God remayneth for euer God is youre father and creator you are hys creature and the worke of his hands he hath not made you to destroy you for hée is the sauiour of all men and willeth not the deathe of a sinner but that he conuert and liue wherefore I declare vnto you in the name of God that of his great goodnesse and mercie he giueth you full pardon and remission of all your sinnes by the onely merite of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde in the sheding of his pretious bloud for he is the propitiation not only of all your sinnes but of all the sinnes of the whole world B. S. N. Iesus Christ sayeth with his owne mouth that all things are possible to him
which beléeueth beléeue then without any doubte that Iesus Christe taking to him oure flesh became very man wherefore he dyed for you hauing borne all your sinnes in his body to blotte and put them out Present vnto God the pretious deathe of his sonne Iesus Christ and by the merit of the same death and passion aske him mercie in saying from the bottome of youre heart in great humilitie and repentance LOrd God Almightie be merciful to me poore wretched sinner for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christe my Lord and Sauiour And for the merite of his deathe and passion it maye please thee to receiue my soule the which I recommend into thy hands B. S. N. Put your strong trust in God for séeing that he is for you none shall be against you for Iesus Christ which is the Lamb without spotte hathe ouercome all for you he offered himselfe once onely for you and by the same only oblation hathe wholly wiped out all youre sinnes he hath made of none effecte your folly imustice abhomination with thys good Lord Iesus Christ God the father hathe giuen you all things B. S. N. Fortifie your selfe in Iesus Christ the whiche calleth you and iuuiteth you by his Prophets Apostles and Euangelistes to addresse youre selfe fréely to him saying all you which haue thirst come to the great fountayne Come to me all ye that laboure and are loden and I will ease you B. S. N. Beléeue stedfastly that Iesus Christ hath set you frée from all your sinnes and hath reconciled you to God his father to whome in great humilitie and repentance say you from the bottome of your heart LOrd God Almightie be mercifull vnto mee poore wretched Sinner for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christ my Lorde and Sauioure And for the merit of his deathe and passion it may please thee to receiue my Soule the which I recommende into thy hands B. S. N. Be of good chéere for vndoubtedly he will receyue youre soule as his for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde whiche is the Sauioure and Redéemer of all those which beléeue in him Moyses and all the Prophets haue borne witnesse that all people shal receiue saluation and blessing by Iesus Christ The Apostles and Euangelistes witnesse that Iesus Christe is not come to call the iust but the sinners te repentance and to giue his soule for the Redemption of many for hée hath shedde his bloud for the remission of sinne Beléeue then and doubt not at all for Iesus Christe hathe made the purgation of all youre sinnes hauing promised that all those which shal beléeue in him and in his father which hath sent him shall haue eternall life and shall not come at all into iudgemente but shall passe from death into life Go to now B. S. N. reioyce in Iesus Christe for he hathe loued you and washed you from al your sinnes in his bloud Take this strong faith wherewith to fighte valiantlye against the aduersarie haue none other buckler to defende youre selfe withall but this pretious bloud of Iesus Christ the which by the vertue of his deathe and passion hathe reconciled you to God his father vnto whome from the bottome of your hearte in great humilitie and repentance presente this Prayer LOrd God Almightie shew mercie vnto me poore wretched sinner for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christe my Lorde and Sauiour and for the merite of his death and passion it may please thee to receyue my soule the whiche I commend into thy handes B. S. N. Holde fast this hope and stedfast fasth that thy good God full of all mercie will receyue youre soule as his into his handes for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe for there is none other name vnder the Heauen giuen to men by the which we maye be saued and there is no saluatiō in any other than in Iesus Christ arme you then well wyth this good Iesus Christe for he hathe done all for you he hath fulfilled the Law for you he hathe ouercome all for you Now go too B. S. N. reioyce you in God stand alwayes fast in thys liuely fayth Followe and imitate the holy Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles which are all saued in this faith who do all assure you that the aduersarie can in no wise hurt you for youre cause is wonne by Iesus Christe whiche is youre Iudge and your aduocate both togither wherefore saye alwayes in this stedfast faith Albeit I shoulde walke in the middest of the shadowe of deathe I will feare no euill for thou Lorde God art with me B. S. N. Be you also neuer wéerie to say from the bottome of youre heart in great humilitie and repentance LOrde God Almightie be mercifull to me poore wretched sinner for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christe my Lord and Sauiour And for the merite of his death and passion it may please thee to receyue my soule the whiche I commende into thy hands So be it A singular Prayer for one whyche is greately afflicted wyth sickenesse the whiche is more lyke to dye than to liue With a little Catechisme made of purpose to instructe the sicke person and to cause him to behold by Faith the greate misterie of oure Redemption Ecclesiasticus 18. Before the sicknesse vse medicine and before thou come to Iudgemente examine thy selfe and in the presence of God thou shalte finde fauoure Nowe the Lorde admonisheth vs to pray alwayes chiefely when we are touched with his rods Wherefore all the faithfull parentes and friends which visit the sicke person shoulde not onely visit and comforte the body but also should searche and enquire for spirituall medicine for his soule whiche thing shoulde bée done by good Prayers confession of sinnes and Christian exhortation according to the word of God without the whiche man can not liue but is deade béeyng yet lyuing And to the end that all these things may be done in good order and wyth zeale first it is néedefull to prostrate themselues before the Maiestie of God and to pray vnto him begynning in this sort Our helpe is in the name of the lord c. Then to presente vnto hym the generall confession of sinnes and consequently thys presente Prayer as followeth O Lord God Almighty and father of all mercies we are aēssbled in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe in the fauour of whome we are bold to presente oure selues vnto thée to call vpon thy most blessed name hauing oure onely resuge to thy soueraigne goodnesse the whiche we doe not desire to féele and tast in oure selues only but also in the necessitie of thy poore creature being afflicted both with bodily sicknesse and affliction and calamitie of the spirite We know O Lord that thou doest iustly visit and chastice him wyth thy roddes to cause hym to vnderstande thy fatherly affection but thy great mercies whiche thou hast
mercifull and haue pitie vpon me wretched sinner for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and sauioure This done you maye not forget your house and familie the why he you ought so well to ordeyne and dispose by good festamente or other last will that it maye be after youre deceasse in peace and quietnesse but to shew you the better to vnderstand howe to giue order and to dispose of your house it is that you giue vnto euery man that whiche is his due withoute deceyuing any man that you leaue youre wife heire youre childreÌ„ and kinffolke in good agréement and quietnesse to the end that after your deceasse they haue no occasion to be diuided This done you must forget al the cares and griefes of this worlde the whiche passeth away with all his concupiseence but he that doth the will of God remaineth eternally Touching your children you are only their naturall father for a time but God is euerlastingly their spirituall Father hauing them in his holy keeping and protectioÌ„ to kéepe and nourish them and to preserue them from all euill prouided that they wyll walke in his wayes For the rest séeing that you are a Christian regenerate at the holy Sacramente of Baptisme it is long since that you did know that we haue héere no permanente citie for we looke for a better which is euerlasting wherefore I pray you in the name of God trouble not your selfe at all with anye kinde of worldly griefe for we are héere but straungers as oure fathers were when then our Lord God shall haue ordeyned that you shall dislodge and marche before vs will you not then submitte your selfe to his holy wyll and ordinance Also if he sée it expedient for your saluation to prolong your life as he did to his good Kyng Ezechias will not you be contented w it the it shall please him to dispose of you yes certainely for he is Lord and maister you are but a seruant he is your creator you are his creature and the worke of his hands Euen so then will he dispose of you according to his wyll wherevnto you shoulde humble and conforme your selfe saying with a good heart O Lord God thou knowest my necessitie if it be thy pleasure to prolong my life thy will be done if it please thee also to cal me vnto thee thy will bee done for thy creature O Lorde nathe none other will but thine Now my brother comforte your selfe in God who if he haue ordeyned to call you your calling shall hée happie for you must beléeue and trust with a strong faith that hée will make you to rise in your owne body in a glorious immortalitie to cause you to raigne with him in the eternall life the whiche is wonne and giuen to you in the vertue of the most pretious bloud of our Lord and Sauioure Iesus Christe in whose name the Lord God blesse conserue you and cause hys countenance to shine vpoÌ„ you and be merciful vnto you The Lord God turne his face towardes you and maineteyne you in good estate So be it This being done if they sée the sicke person to impaire and to draw néere his deathe as willing to tende to his appoynted ende forthwith in his mortall agonie fayle ye not to recite wyth a loude voyce before him the Christian exhortation the which is placed here before thus doing God will giue him grace well faithfully to dye in him So be it I Woulde desire héere to saye something more but there is I can not tell what griefe in my heart which maketh me to holde my peace in the middest of my purpose when I thinke vpon the blindnesse and horrible darkenesse of the time passed For the Monkes and Priestes refusing in this laste necessitie the comforts that the Scripture giueth and the confirmations against the feare of Death they brought forth of the one side and of the other I can not tell what trash Firste beholde the faire exhortation whiche they gaue to those which were vpon the pittes brinke to trust in the Popes Bulles wherein they did promise them forgiuenesse of their sinnes and tooke froÌ„ them all feare of the fire of Purgatorie Now all this what was it other than to leane againste a wall that was readie to fall or to trust to a broken réede Further they exhorted the poore sicke persons to communicate and to take part of the good works whiche should be done in all their order as fastings abstinences watchings Prayers and other such lyke dayne thynges and to haue theyr parte therein they myghte in no wise spare anye siluer no if they woulde saue their soule For it is in this forte that these furred pawes and hooded beastes haue accustomed to set forthe their workes of superabundance that they might sell to others leauing alwaye that whiche was prositable and necessarie to obteyne saluation And of this matter men maye yet at this daye bring forth faire obligations passed which shall giue testimonie of these things The sicke persons then being néere deathe were admonished to thinke howe greate merits they had for so muche as Heauen was due vnto them howe manye good works they had with the multitude whereof they were cleane couered in suche forte as a man coulde not knowe whether they had offended God or no. Behoâ—d there the goodly comforts which they were wont to giue to poore languishing persons and such as they do giue at this day vnder the Popes rayne And aboue all the holynesses beholde this great superstition which hath place that if any man did dye being clad wyth the habite of a Frier the Diuell should haue no power ouer hym Among the whiche manye Italians haue bin drunken with this foolishe superstition yea men of renoune and of great wisedome the whyche woulde be receyued before they departed out of this world into the familie of S. Frances and after their death would be bursed in hys habit Nowe I speake not héere at all of Obsequies Vigilles Anniuersaries Peligrimage taken in hand for the saluation of the dead nor of other suffrages of the liuing nor of merits satisfactioÌ„s and good works wherein they did put their onely hope and trust to obteyne saluation And to auoyde the paynes of Purgatorie I will not speake of the other things which these idle bellies were wont to set forth to poore sicke persons to prepare them to death I leaue to spoke of these blasphemies WheÌ„ they shaped this goodly hunne to the Virgin Marie in the Article of deathe Marie mother of grace mother of mercie defend vs from the enimie and receyue vs at the houre of death Now let vs acknowledge the inestimable benefites of oure onely God and heauenlye Father who in our dayes hath restored the doctrine of the Gospell and hathe stirred vs vp to serue him in all purenesse in true reuerence and honor and hathe drawen vs out froÌ„ the deadly darkenasse to bring vs to the knowledge
of his sonne our Lord only sauiour Iesus Christ And euen as the good old mâ—n Simeon of whom S. Luke maketh mention after that he had séene according to the promise made vnto him Iesus Christ whome hee had wayted for and desired of long time blessing and praysing God did say Lorde thou lettest goe nowe thy seruante in peace according to thy word for so much as mine eyes hane séene thy saluation the whiche thou hast prepared before the face of all people a lighte for the lightening of the GeÌ„tiles the glory of thy people Israell Euen so we after that wée haue knowen the sonne of God oure mediator and Aduocate after that we haue séene him with the eyes of our saith with the good old Simeon yea he whiche is the Christ and anoynted of the Lorde let vs gyue thankes with ioy and gladnesse to the great liuing God and let vs sing very Christian songs prayses and himites in the holye company of the faithful and let vs depart from thys life willingly with a glad hearte at what time soeuer it shall please this good heauenly father yea and being in good healthe lette vs desire with S. Paule to be separated from this body to be leste in peace with Simeon to the ende that we maye lastly come to that only and eternal ioy of Angels and of men whych is Iesus Christ after whom the faithfull doe languishe with a burning zeale to enioy his so amiable company with all the Saincts God the author of euery good thing and blessing the father the sonne and the holy Ghost make vs partakers of this holye grace vnto whome bée prayse euerlastingly So be it Hebr. 13. Remember those which are afflicted as being your selfe of the same bodye and subiecte to endure as much The end of the Catechismes ¶ Heere followe certayne consolatorie sentences concerning the loue of God towards man and of the benefits of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe bestowed vpon vs taken out of holy scripture for the comfort and confirmation of the afflicted in mind whome Sathan by all his cunnings would drawe into desperation and he that would escape comforte of thys small collection must haue the Bible by hym and turne to the sentences heerein vvritten and not onely reade the sentences heere cyted but also that vvhich goeth next before it and that also vvhich follovveth next after is * ⎠* FIrst God is the God of loue and peace 2. Cor. 11. God deliuereth vs froÌ„ ouil Esa. 3. a. 63. ye know the he appeared the he might take away our sins in him is no sinne Ioh. 3. b but God setteth out his loue toward vs séeing that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for vs Ro. 5. b. for those which he hathe predestinate to be made like to the image of his son to the end he should be the first born amongst very many brethreÌ„ Ro. 8. f. and that which I liue now in the flesh I liue in the faith of the son of God who hath loued giuen himselfe for me Gala. 2. d and walke in loue eueÌ„ as Christe bath loued vs hathe giuen hymselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sméet smelling sauoure to God Ephe. 5. a. Grace and Peace be vnto you froÌ„ hym that is that was and that is to come from the seauen spirites which are before his throne froÌ„ Iesus Christ which is a faithfull witnesse the first borne of the dead and Prince of the Kings of the earth vnto him that loued vs and washed vs in his bloud froÌ„ oure sins Apoc. a. b. for the Lorde doeth chastice him that he loueth euen as the father doth the childe in whome he delighteth my sonne despise not the chastning of the Lord neither fainte when thou arte rebuked for whome the Lord loueth he chastneth and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth If ye endure chastizemeÌ„t God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sons for what sonne is he c. Hebr. â— i. b. c. Prouer â— b. But Sion sayd the Lord hath forgotten me can a woman forgette hir childe and not haue coÌ„passion of the sonne of hir wombr though they should forget yet I will not forget thée Esay 49. d.e. I haue sound thée saith the Lord with an euerlasting loue therefore with merrie haue I drawen thée Iere. 31. a. b. What shall we then saye to these things if God be on our side who caÌ„ be againste vs who spared not hys owne sonne but gaue him for all to deathe howe shall he not with hym giue vs all things also Rom. 8. f. So we doe therefore loue him bycause he loued vs first Iohn 4. d. as my father knoweth me euen so knowe I my father and I lay downe my life for my Shéepe Ioh. 10. b. c. the false Prophete whiche woulde drawe vs from the loue and perfecte trust that we ought to haue in God ought not to be heard but slayne Deut. 13. a. b. c. Call vppon me in the daye of thy trouble and I will deliuer thée and thou shalt glorifie me Psalm 50. c. for O Lorde thou arte good and mercifull of greate kindnesse vnto all theÌ„ which call vpon thée Psal. 80. â— The Lorde is ful of compassion and mercie flowe to anger and of greate kindnesse he will not alwayes chide nor kéepe his anger for euer Ps. 103. a. The Lord is gratious merciful flowe to anger and of great mercie The Lord is good to al his mercies are ouer al his works Psalm 102. At what time soeuer a sinner doth repeÌ„t him of his sin from the bottome of hys hart I wil put all his wickednes out of my remeÌ„braunce saith the Lorde Ezechiel 18. g. A sorrowfull spirite is a sacrifice vnto God dispise not O Lord humble and contrite harts Ps. 51. Séeke the Lord whilst hée may be souÌ„d cal vpoÌ„ him whilest he is néere let the wicked forsake his wayes the vnrighteous his own imaginations returne to the Lord he will haue mercie vpoÌ„ him to our God for he is very ready to forgiue Esa. 55. b. c. Then shall ye crie vnto me and yée shall goe and pray vnto me and I will heare you and yée shall séeke me and find me bycause ye shal séeke me with all your hearte and I wyll bée founde of you sayth the Lorde and I will turne awaye youre captiuitie Ierem. 29. c. Grace be vnto you and peace from God the father and from oure Lorde Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for our sinnes to deliuer vs from this presente wicked world according to the will of God dure Father to whome be glorie for euer So be it Galath i. a. Amend your liues for the kingdome of God is at hande Math. 4. c. I am not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance Math. 9. b. Come vnto me all ye that are loden and wéerie and I will ease you Math. â—â— d. If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christe the righteous and he is the reconciliation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 1. Iohn 2. a. * ⎠* The Ende 2. Cor. 12.13.14 Hebr. 1.10 14. 2 Cor. 5. d. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 15. g. Ephes 1.19 Ephes 2.1.13 Coloss 1.20 2.14.15 Iohn 3. Baâ—â—c 3. 2. Cor. 1. Eccles 41. Psal. 52.72 Psalme 68. Math. 7. Eccles 7. Luc. 12. Math. 24. 2. Pet. 3. 1. thess. 5. Psal. 2. Iohn 8. Math. 7. Esay 40. Rom. 7. Note Hebr. 11. Psalme 51. Psal. 142. Math. 3. Tit. 3. Ephes 2. Psal. 51. Rom. 8. Rom. 1. Math. 1. Philip. 2. Acts. 3. Math. 27. Esay 53. Apocal. 1. Hebr. 9. 1. Pet. 1. Rom. 6. Marke 16. 1. Cor. 15. Actes 1. Coloss 3. Hebr. 7. Math. 25. Psalme 61. Rom. 8. Math. 25. Ephes 1. Math. 4. 1. Cor. 11. An excellent gifte Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 15. Marke 16. Rom. 3. Math. 24. Esay 40. Genes 1. 1. Tim. 2. Tit. 3. 1. Tim. 1. Actes 4. Apocal. 1. ☞ 1. Iohn 2. Math. 17. Rom. 1. Philip. 1. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 3. Iohn 14. Math. 26. Psalme 30. Rom. 8. Esay 55. Math. 11. 1. Iohn 5. Rom. 3. Iohn 14. Math. 26. Psalme 30. Marke 16. Deut. 18. Psalme 2. Esay 53. Genes 3.3 Math. 9. Iohn 10. Luc. 22. Hebr. 1. Ionh 5. Esay 53. Apocal. 1. Rom. 7. Rom. 3. Iohn 14. Marke 26. Psalme 30. Iohn 10. Actes 4. Rom. 8. Rom. 10. Hebr. 11. Iohn 5. 1. Iohn 2. Psalme 22. Rom. 3. Iohn 14. Math. 26. Math. 26. Math. 18. Iohn 14. Iames. 5. 1. Cor. 11. Psalme 74. Math. 26. Psalm 102. Iohn 14. Hebr. 7. Math. 6. Rom. 11. Rom. 8. Iohn 1. Psalme 30. Psalme 71. Psalme 51. Iohh 14. Math. 6. Hebr. â—â— Iohn 8. Eccles 18. Genes 1. Psalme 51. Ephes 2. Rom. 5. 2. Cor. 11. Psal. 31. Rom. 10. Genes 1. Psalme 26. Genes 1. 1. Iohn 1. Luc. 1. 1. Iohn 5. Genes 18. Iohn â—7 Rom. 5. Psalme 51. Luke 24. Psalme 21. Rom. 1â— Math. 1. Luc. 12. Ephes 2. Psalme 51. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. Math. 26. Hebr. 7. Actes 3. Bray 53. Math. 26. Marke 16. 1. Cor. 15. Actes 1. Coloss â— 1. Iohn â— Rom. 8. Iohn 5. Rom. â— 1. Iohn 5. Ephes 5. Math. 4. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 10. Psalme 51. Luke 17. 1. Tim. 1. Actes 4. Apocal. 1. Math. 26. Math. 10. Marke 11. Math. 5. Math. 16. Luke 23. Hebr. 9. Genes 3. Esay 38. Esay 55. 〈…〉 Math. 6. Psalme 38. Esay 38. 1. Cor. 15. Apocal. 1. Note this blasphemie Luke 2.