Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	father_n	lord_n	redeemer_n	2,002	5	9.8210	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02229	A notable and marueilous epistle of the famous doctour, Matthewe Gribalde, Professor of the lawe, in the Vniuersitie of Padua: co[n]cernyng the terrible iudgemente of God, vpon hym that for feare of men, denieth Christ and the knowne veritie: with a preface of Doctor Caluine; Francisci Spirae. English	Gribaldi, Matteo, d. 1564.; Aglionby, Edward, 1520-1587?; Shepherd, Luke, fl. 1548. Godlye and holesome preservatyve against desperation.; Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.	1570 (1570)	STC 12366; ESTC S115661	48,478	114

to be perceiued howe much we loue God what faith w● haue in him how we trust him whe● we be pressed and grieued with aduersitie In thys case therefore we must ●● wayle and acknowledge our synnes fo● the whiche wée haue iustly incurred Gods displeasure deserued most grieuous paine we must turne to God wit● true repentaunce in all oure hearte a● mynde without all fayning and counterfeyting we must haue recourse 〈…〉 the Gospell where we shall finde 〈…〉 bountifull consolation First absolutio● or remission of our synnes which Chris● hath instituted in the Church Iohn ● Receyue sayth Christe the holy Gho● whose synnes ye forgiue they are for●●uen This inestimable treasure is day● opened and offered vnto vs When ●●mission of synnes is thus desired and ●●tayned vndoubtedly then the paine ● ●ynne whiche is the disease or affliction ●hall soone ceasse and leaue vs or else ac●ording to the most beneficiall will of our ●eauenly father shall turne to the pro●te and soule helth of him that is disea●ed or afflicted For this may we be sure ●f that the paine affliction in the body ● this worlde séeme it neuer so grie●ous a burthen or heauie yoke to the ●eshe as commonly nothing else but a ●therly rodde wherewyth God doeth ●aw vs his children from synne and call ●s home to him Truely our heauenly ●ther doth loue vs most feruently he ●eareth vs good minde doth all thinges ●r our amendemente and profite for ●home God loueth him he chastiseth ●rrecteth vs temporally here that wee ●oulde not be punished in hell euerla●ngly Though he séemeth angrye hée ●eth singulerly Neyther is his yre the ●e of a Tyraunt or tormentor desiring ●r perdition but of a father seeking our ●endemente and safetie First there●e we must crie God mercie desire par●n and forgiuenesse of our synnes but ● Christ but with a hart truely peni●t that we may be at one with God and haue him mercifull vnto vs This done we may then desire God to deliuer vs from the imminent and present affliction and disease For so teacheth Ecclesiast Sonne in thy infirmitie neglect not thy selfe but praye to the Lorde and he shall deliuer thee Also in the Psalme remember not O Lorde God our olde iniquities but let thy mercie speedily preuent vs for we be verie miserable helpe vs God our Sauiour Lorde God of power turne vs shewe thy face and we shall be saued Here we be taught first to desire remission of synne that we may be at one with God and after that to haue hys wrath and the tokens of the same taken away But whensoeuer we desire to be deliuered or to be eased of the crosse that presseth vs we must alwaye annexe this addition Thy wyll O heauenly Father bee fulfilled Neyther knowe wee so well what is profitable vnto vs Neither can we so well prouide for our selues as our most louing heauenly father Whiche is both of infinite power and also of incomprehensible wisedome whiche neuer turneth his eyes from vs whiche careth cōtinually for vs whiche knowethe the number of our yeres whiche doeth quicken nourishe feede keepe defende prouide for all his creatures muche better than they can wishe or desire But to drawe to the more perticuler temptations and to shewe what thinges doe mooste fiercely and daungerously at the tyme of death assaulte vs And how wee shall withstande them ¶ There be three thynges ▪ whiche at the houre of death doeth wonderously vere trouble and feare our myndes that is to saie synne death hell or damnation Synne WHerein wee haue vngodlie mispente our life whereby we haue greeuously offended GOD and our neighbour this commyng to our remembraunce when wee lye vpon our death bed doeth driue vs to a wonderous feare pensiuenesse and anxietie As S. Paule saieth Wrathe indignation too trouble and anguishe against euery soule of man that doeth euill ¶ A medicine against synne vexyng and troublyng our conscience LET vs call earnestly to remembraūce that the sonne of GOD came donne from heauen became man tooke vpon his backe the synnes of the worlde died for theim vppon the Crosse there makyng satisfaction for vs and paiyng our debtes This moste precious bloud of Christe was shed also for vs and of his death we be also partakers so we rightly beleue in Christe Neither neede wee to doubte but Christe died as well for vs as for Peter and Paule For wee bee baptised also as Saincte Paule saieth in the death of Christ This ought to comforte vs This ought to erecte and ●●a●e our myndes For seyng we bee baptized in the death of Christe Christes death bryngeth also vnto vs healthe and saluation By Christes death we bee also dead to sinne by Christes death we haue also certain and sure remission of our sinnes by Christes death we bee raised also to a newe and euerlastyng life For baptisme is a couenaunte betwixte God and vs And a signe of his grace and 〈◊〉 toward vs wherein wee bee reconciled and made at one with God again so that wee maie now haue a ioyfull and quiete conscience for so muche as our synnes bée forgiuen vs through the resurrection of Iesus Christ yea Christ also in the institution of the moste blessed Sacrament of his last supper speaking also to vs saiyng that his bloud is shed for the remission of synne Now although we haue not liued alwaie innocently neither leade suche a life as wee ought to haue dooen yet wee maie not dispaire but without delaie resort vnto God by true repentaunce call faithfully vpon his name and we shall be ●aued Yea lette euery one of vs with a meeke harte burst out into these or like wordes and saie O moste mercifull God Father of all mercie father of our Lorde Iesu Christe bee mercifull vnto mee a wretched synner make speede to deliuer me for the moste bitter but moste precious death and passion of Iesu Christ thy onely begotten soonne our redemer and onely Sauioure Amen Enter not O lorde into iudgement with thy seruaunt handle me not accordyng to my deser●yng neither doe vnto me after my iniquities but accordyng to thy infinite 〈◊〉 botomelesse goodnesse and mercie t● mee vnto thee I a miserable and wre●ched creature am in thy hande I am thy debte and daunger thou maiest d 〈…〉 with me what it please thee O m 〈…〉 mercifull father forsake me not nor 〈…〉 me of I am thine all that I am there 〈…〉 no man comforte no man helpe no 〈…〉 deliuer me but thou alone Thou art 〈…〉 true comfort the moste present help t 〈…〉 surest Bulwarke in all necessitie The God art my refuge my strength my 〈…〉 in all trouble Thou art my Lorde in t 〈…〉 handes resteth all my chaunce and aff 〈…〉 res Shewe thy louyng and merci 〈…〉 face vpon thy seruaunte saue me in t 〈…〉 mercie O Lorde but in any waies in 〈…〉 extreme sickenesse and affliction let 〈…〉 beware wee looke not to earnestly

〈…〉 ther too longe vpon our synnes But 〈…〉 ther lette vs haue the Image of Chri 〈…〉 moste healthfull and precious death 〈…〉 fore our eyes Let vs fixe in our mynd and bee full perswaded that Christe now burdened with our synnes that 〈…〉 hath nowe taken theim vppon his o 〈…〉 shoulders and so hath satisfied for t 〈…〉 〈…〉 d washed them awaie that he will ne 〈…〉 r charge vs with theim but freely for 〈…〉 e vs them as we professe in our Crede 〈…〉 ē we saie Credimus remissionem pec 〈…〉 orum wee beleeue the remission of 〈…〉 nes And that thou maiest be assured thereof g 〈…〉 ‑ 〈…〉 ell reader with a full perswasion of faithe I haue noted out of Gods holie woorde some places shewyng .i. Howe Christe our true Messias was promised from the beginnyng of the worlde and so from tyme too tyme .ij. The assuraunce that he is come 〈…〉 j. To what ende Christes commyng is GOD saied vnto Abam the Seede of the woman shall treade doune the Serpentes heade God saied vnto Abraham thy seede all the nations of the yearth all bee blessed bicause thou hast heard ●y voice Moises saied vnto the children of Is 〈…〉 ell a Prophet shall the lorde your God 〈…〉 I se vp vnto you euen of your own bre 〈…〉 en like vnto me hym shall you heare 〈…〉 all thynges whatsoeuer he shall sa●● 〈…〉 t● you God saied vnto Dauid I will sette vp ●y ●e●de after thee whiche shall procede out quities but accordyng to thy infinite ● botomelesse goodnesse and mercie ta● mee vnto thee I a miserable and wreched creature am in thy hande I am thy debte and daunger thou maiest do● with me what it please thee O mos● mercifull father forsake me not nor ● me of I am thine all that I am there t● no man comforte no man helpe no ma● deliuer me but thou alone Thou art th● true comfort the moste present help th● surest Bulwarke in all necessitie Th● God art my refuge my strength my hel● in all trouble Thou art my Lorde in th● handes resteth all my chaunce and aff●res Shewe thy louyng and mercif●● face vpon thy seruaunte saue me in th● mercie O Lorde but in any waies in o● extreme sickenesse and affliction let ● beware wee looke not to earnestly n●●ther too longe vpon our synnes But rather lette vs haue the Image of Christ● moste healthfull and precious death b●fore our eyes Let vs fixe in our mynd● and bee full perswaded that Christe now burdened with our synnes that ●●ath nowe taken theim vppon his ow● shoulders and so hath satisfied for the●● 〈…〉 d washed them awaie that he will ne●r charge vs with theim but freely for●e vs them as we professe in our Crede ●hē we saie Credimus remissionem pec●torum wee beleeue the remission of ●nes And that thou maiest be assured thereof gē●ell reader with a full perswasion of faithe I haue noted out of Gods holie woorde some places shewyng .i. Howe Christe our true Messias was promised from the beginnyng of the worlde and so from tyme too tyme .ij. The assuraunce that he is come iij. To what ende Christes commyng is GOD saied vnto Abam the Seede of the woman shall treade doune the Serpentes heade God saied vnto Abraham thy seede all the nations of the yearth all bee blessed bicause thou hast heard ●y voice Moises saied vnto the children of Is●●ell a Prophet shall the lorde your God ●ise vp vnto you euen of your own bre●ren like vnto me hym shall you heare ● all thynges whatsoeuer he shall sat●●nto you God saied vnto Dauid I will sette vp ●y seede after thee whiche shall procede out of thy bodie and I will stablishe th● seate of his kyngdome for euer and ● will bee his father and he shall bee m● sonne and my mercie will I neuer tak● from hym Dauid saieth in the spirit of God th● art my soonne this daie begat I thee Againe thy seate O God indureth fo●euer Beholde a virgine shall conceiue an● beare a soonne and thou his mother sh● call his name Emanuell that is to sa● God with vs. Vnto vs a childe is borne vnto vs soonne is giuen vpon his shoulder sh● the kyngdome lye he shall be called ● his owne name wonderfull the giuer ● counsaile the mightie GOD the euerlastyng father the prince of peace There shall a Rodde spryng out of th● kinred of Iesse a blossome shall spryn● out of his Roote and the Spirite of th● Lorde shall rest vpon hym Beholde my seruaunte vpon whom● leane my electe in whom my soule ● pacified Beholde saieth the Lorde the sy● shall come that I will raise vp a righ● ●s braunche vnto the house of thy ser●unte Dauid whiche kyng shall beare ●le and he shall prospere in wisedome The Aungell of the Lorde saied vnto ●●seph feare not to take vnto thee Ma● thy wife for that whiche is conceiued her commeth of the holie Ghoste she ●ll bryng forthe a sonne and thou shall ●l his name Iesus for he shall saue his ●●ople from their synnes The Prophete Zacharie saieth bles● bee the Lorde God of Israell ▪ for he ●th visited and redemed his people and ●th raised a mightie saluation for vs ▪ in ●e house of his seruaunte Dauid as he ●●ke by the mouthe of his holie Pr●●etes whiche hath been since the world ●●●ne that wée should bee saued from 〈…〉 enemies and from the handes of all ●t ●ate vs. Lorde now lettest thou thy seruaunt ●art in peace accordyng to thy worde ● myne eyes haue seen thy Saluation ●iche thou hast prepared before the face ●ll thy people to bee a light to lighten 〈…〉 Gentiles and to bee the glorie of thy ●ple Israell Sain● Ihon Baptist saieth Beholde the Lambe of God whiche taketh awaie the synnes of the worlde 5 Our heauenly father saieth This is my deare soonne in whom I doe delight heare hym Who saieth the whole neede not the Phisition but thei that are sicke for I come not to call the righteous but the synners to repentaunce The sonne of manne came not to bee ministered vnto but to minister and to giue his li●e for many He that beleueth and is baptized shall bee saued but he that beleueth not shall bee da 〈…〉 ed. God so loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten soonne that whosoeuer beleueth in hym should not perishe but haue euerlastyng life He that beleueth on hym shall not bee condemned but he that beleeueth not i● condemned alreadie because he beleued not in th● name of the onely begotte● soonne of God. He that heareth my woordes and b●leueth on hym that sente me hath euerlastyng life and shall not come into 〈…〉 nation but is escaped from death to life Christe saieth this is the woorke of GOD that he beleue on hym whom he hath sent Verily verily I saie vnto you he that ●eleueth

thynges to our infirmitie Dooeth ● Christ speake to all men Dooeth he ● cal men when he saieth Come vnto ● all you that doe labour and are laden ● I shall refreshe yōu How can there ● any greater consolation Howe could ●riste speake more mercifull too vs here be many things that pinche vexe ● trouble manne gréeuously but what 〈…〉 ng is it that can trouble the consciēce ● synner more then when he doubteth ●he mercie of God then when he fea●h least God will cast hym of then whē can not perswade hymself to conceiue ● truste of Gods mercie but imagine ●t as a withered member he shal cutte and cast awaie Here we had neede of Christes present ● here we had nede of spedie comfort ●st this violent tempest ouerwhelme ●une vs But let vs not fear Christ is ●issembler he will stand by his worde wil performe his promise he wil help ●refreshe Therefore when we begin ●remble and feare in our consciente when we begin to doubt of Gods mer● when we perceiue our faithe to be f●●● Let vs forthwith call vpon God and t● feruently and that instantly euen fr●● the bottome of our harte that he tou● not his face from vs. Let vs poure before hym al that do● trouble vs Let vs disclose to hym all ● miserie our imbecilitie our increduli● Let vs crie with the Disciples Lorde ● crease our faiche And with the Father the lunaticke Lorde we beleue help● incredulitie And with the Prophet lo● make haste to helpe vs For thy merci● aboue all thy woorkes O moste louy● O moste mercifull father Lorde God our healthe our onely helpe and refu● Enter not into iudgement with thy ●nauntes Christ is our iustice our rede●ption and innocencie he for vs hath s●fered moste better and cruell death Let these thinges moue thée O fat● of mercie for this thy soonne our saui● Christes sake haue mercie vpon vs ●firme and strength our harte in faith● fort vs with the consolations of thy ●● spirite that we maie finally obtaine ●● euerlasting through Christ our lord AFter this sort if we labouring wrestyng and striuyng with our imhecilitie accusing before God and lamentyng our puci●itie ▪ and Incredulitie doe catche holde Christ and cleaue fast to hym earnest ▪ ●nd feruently destryng his helpe that wil vouchsafe to take our place and to ●lie that is lackyng in vs These thin● if we doe surely all thynges shall bee ●ll wee shall auoide and escape easely ●aunger and perill wée shall bee saufe ●ugh For these twoo to beleeue in ●ifte and with harte to desire faithe ●th not muche differ the one from th●●r For though wee féele yet greate ●kenesse and imperfection in our self ● this ought to comforte vs that God ●eth and commaūdeth that he should ●alled vpon that he hath promised to ●e and help these that call rightly v● hym Now as nothyng is more iust● necessarily destred then true faithe ●so God heareth no praier soner nor ●● gladly then when man findyng no ●lesse in hym●elf doeth acknowledge ●wne infirmitie his owne miserie ●wne beggerlinesse doeth accuse and lamente his owne incredulitie and ●● deepe ●ighes and hartie desires calle● faithe These sighes these desires t● praiers this little sparke of faithe is ● very séede of God wrought in vs by ● whiche saieth of Christe by the Pro● Esaye that he shall not quenche the ●● kyng flaxe nor breake the brused Re● Therefore let vs stedfastly beleeue ● the least earnestly and hartely praie ● wee maie beleeue bewailyng afore ● our lacke of faithe whiche thynges i● doe we neede not doubte but we be●●ep●ed of God we bee taken for his ●dren For it is not for nought nor in ● that he hath laied our imbecillitie ● synnes vpon his onely begotten soo● backe ▪ In Matthewe it is saied bless● those that mourne for thei shall bee ●forted blessed bee those that hunger● righteousnesse ▪ for thei shall bee sati● These wordes are spoken also to vs● maie iustly be applied to vs we mo●● and are sorie in our hartes that we ● mispended our life paste Wée wish● desire yea we euen hunger and thi●●ter righteousnesse Lette vs bee o● cheare wee shall obtaine our desire ▪ ●ll bee comforted we shall bee compted ●e afore God for Christe our Sauiour ● sake Finally let vs after this exam● of Christe and saincte Steuen com●de our soules into the handes of God ● heauenly father saiyng euery one af● this maner O Moste mercifull Father I cōmende into thy holie handes my spirite yea thy spirite for thou hast created it thou hast committed it for a ●e to the bodie thou hast giuen it thy ●e Image and similitude Thou haste ●e for the redemption of it thy owne ●e dearely beloued soonne to shed his ●d This the spirite I resigne into thy ●es O God of all mercie I am thyne ●at I am I beseche thee refuse not ●y owne but receiue keepe and place me in euerlastyng glorie for the sake of Iesus Christ thy onelie begotten sonne Amen Esay 26. ● Ihon. 2. He had a tedie mynde to vnderstande the scriptures The holie ghost inspiryng Cōscience is a thousande witnesses The ●utter in remembraunce of our inwarde thoughtes Christian libertie Doe not become the seruauntes of menne The warnyng of the spirite Merites affianceof workes freewill Purgatorie intercessions of Sainctes Pardons of Bishops satisfactiōs c ▪ Whosoeuer denieth me be fore men I will also bee ashamed of hym Dooe not make the holie ghost sorrowfull He recanted thē in Maie Hister Nilus be greate riuers He ●●●led th● knowē truth for the peace of menne He knewe hymself to be foreknowne The principall ende of this matter You bee welcome and I ill founde He doeth alledge his reprobation or refusyng The seconde daies worke Eccle. ix Faithe is the gift of God. Fewe chosen The state of the desperate manne The iij. dayes woorke Roma xj Christ onely iustifieth He had not true charitie Often error ij Peter The rightuousnes which is in Christ iustifieth The beginnyng of a disputation The place of soules Mille is a small seede The .iiij. dayes woorke That maye ye see in the Preface ij Cor. ij Ephe. vj. j. thess. v. Ephe. vj. j. Cor. xvj Iacob iiij j. Cor. xv Actes iiij Matth. 25 ▪ Matth. 6. Rom. 6. Psal. 88. Heb. 12. 1. Cor. 11. Eccle. 3. Psal. 70. Matth. 5. Rom. 2. Rom. 6. Beleuyng the Gospell Rom. 10. Gen. 2. Christ our Messias promised Gen. 12. Deuter. 18. Actes 3. ● Kings ● ▪ Gen. 2. Christ our Messias promised Gen. 12. D●uter 18. Actes 3. ● Kings ▪ ● ▪ Psal. 2. Psal. 2. Esay 7. Esay 9. Esay 11. Esay 42. Ieremy 23. Matth. 1. Fyue wytnesses amōg many that the true Messias is come Luke 1. Ihon. 1 ▪ Matth. 9. 17. To what end Christes comyng is Matth. 20. Mark. 16. Marke 3. Ihon. 5. Ihon. 6. Ihon. 6. Ihon. 11. Ihon. 12. Ihon. 14. Ihon. 17. Actes 4 ▪ Actes 1● Actes xiij Rom. 1. Rom. 3. Rom 4. Roma v. Roma v. Roma vj. Roma viij Roma x. Corrin i. Corin. vj. Corin. xv Corin. xv Corin. xv Corin. j. Corin. iiij Corin. v. Gala. j. Gala. ij Gala. iij. Gala. iij. Gala. v. Gala. v. Gala. vj. Cala. vi Ephesi j. Ephe. ij Ephesi ij Ephesi iiij Philip. j. Colos j. Colos j. Colos ij Timo. j. Timo. ij Timo. ij Titus iij. Hebre. j. Hebre. ij Hebre. vij Hebre. x. Hebre. x. i. Peter j. Peter j. Peter iij. Ihon. j. Ihon. ij Ihon. iij. Ihon. iij. Ihon. iij. Ihon. iij. Ihon. iiij Ihon. iiij Ihon. iiij Ihon. v ▪ ●hon v. Apoca. j. Apoca xvi● ▪ Apoca. xxj Apoca. xxij The ende Exod. xij Ihon. j. Ephe. v. Peter ij Exod. xvj Exod. xvij Deut. xxj Ihon. ii●● Math. iij. x●●● Math. xviii Luke ● Luke xv Math. xi An exhortation Roma v. i. Cor. j. ij Cor. ● ▪ Gala. j ▪ j. Titus j ▪ j. Titus ij ▪ i. Peter ij Esay liij Qui proprio filio suo non sepercit Ihon. viij Math. vj. ● Cor. xv Ihon. vj. Ihon. v. Roma ▪ viij j. Cor. vj. Ihon. xj Luke vij Luke j. Ihon. xj Actes ix Actes xx iiij Reg. iiij iiij Reg. xvij G●●e v. iiij Reg. ii Ephe. v. j. Corin. xv Oze xiiii Esay xxv ii Cor. iiii Philip. iiii Colos iii. i. thess. iiii ii Tymot ii Hebr. ii ▪ ij Tim. iiij j. Ihon. iij. Ihon. iiij Ihon. xix Philip. iij. Ihon. viij ▪ Ihon. x. Hebr. xij Hebre. iiij Math. xxvij Esay liij Math. ij Psal. xvj Luke xvij Marke ix Plal. lxix Matth. v.

without all hope of your saluatiō and suppose that the spirite of God is no 〈…〉 cleane taken from you to whom he aunswered What comfort can happen to cursed and damned man yea whatsoeuer I speake heare see tast or féele all 〈…〉 turned vnto my confusion and cursse to whom the Lord Vergerius said Ah dea● Maister Francis why should ye not hop● of the goodnesse and mercie of God Do 〈…〉 not the Lorde leade doune into Hell and bring backe againe Consider Dauid the Prophet who beyng brought downe 〈…〉 Hell and to death yet praied vnto G 〈…〉 with gronyng and teares to graunt hym the renuyng of harte and spirite And hee made aunswere Dauid was alwaies elect and in Gods fauour and although he fell grieuously yet the spirite of God neuer departed from hym Yea hee praied vnto God that he woulde not caste hym from his face and that he would not take the holy ghoste from hym But I am in farre vnlike estate neither elected nor in Gods fauour but haue béene alwaies reprobate and cursed neither can I pray ●nto hym not to take awaie the holy Spirite from mee for hee is quite taken awaie alreadie and neuer shall be resto●ed I know that god doth raise vp again ●hose that are bodily dead and restoreth to 〈…〉 fe those that are brought vnto hell that 〈…〉 to their Sepulture as Christ raised vp ●azarus and brought hym againe from 〈…〉 ll But I that am condemned to eter 〈…〉 ll death haue no hope left of bringyng 〈…〉 gaine but so that I could conceiue neuer 〈…〉 little hope or trust of the mercy of god would moste gladly those to liue ten 〈…〉 〈…〉 ousand yeres and more in all the pai 〈…〉 s and torments of hel so that at length might hope for some ende But I dooe ▪ moste firmely beleue that I shall thus long remaine in life and in al cursing and desperation that the iudgement of God may be fulfilled in mee that I maie be an example to all the worlde of Gods vengeaunce and iuste indignation againste a reprobate man would God I were dead ▪ and in the place of any dampned person Then said I Maister Frauncis here me a little I cannot vtterly dispaire of your saluation For I dare take it in good part ▪ that the blessed GOD hath so grieuously tormented you in this present life and hath not reserued your punishment to another worlde so that I haue some hope ▪ that God will haue mercie vpon you And he made aunswere Nay I knowe moste assuredly my refusing and reprobation ▪ and that he hath not corrected my synne with corporoll punishment but rebuking mée in his anger and furie hath condemned my soule harte and spirite with perpetuall hardnesse and confusion Wou 〈…〉 God he had sodainly vexed my body and had left my spirite frée What shall I say more We talk 〈…〉 with him till it was night of manye 〈…〉 ces of Scripture and of the marueyl 〈…〉 iudgemēts of god Amōgst other things I demaunded of him what he thought of the sleeping of soules And he aunswered Although a certaine Doctour of Germany supposeth that this is not manifestly ynough declared by the scriptures yet I beleue that the soule of the elect doth 〈…〉 raight way ascend into the place of e●erlasting blisse and doth not sleepe with the buried body Then the reuerēd Lorde ●ergerius taking his tale by the ende ●f this sayde he ought we in no wise to ●oubt There be for this many places of 〈…〉 ripture as this day thou shalt be with 〈…〉 e in Paradice and it is also manifestly prooued by the story of Lazarus and the 〈…〉 h man and Paule desired to bee dead 〈…〉 at he might be in heauen with Christ 〈…〉 t the length beholdyng the vncurable 〈…〉 ague as me thought of this desperate 〈…〉 lowe I was so bolde to aske him thys 〈…〉 estion Maister Frauncis I praye you answere me for as much as through 〈…〉 er desperation ye saye that in this 〈…〉 e ye are worse than if ye were with 〈…〉 dāpned folke in hell and for as much I sée you cōtinually to wish for death 〈…〉 t ye might go to hell as though now ▪ bothe your body and soule were in more painefull torment as yée doe opēly wytnesse I demaūd of you if ye had a sworde in your hande would ye kyll your selfe as all desperate persones for the moste part doe that haue sticked themselues with weapon or strangeled themselues by hanging Then saide he giue me a sworde and ye shalt see what I will doe Nay sayde I I doe but desire you to shewe vs your will I can not tell saide he neyther can I saye what my will t 〈…〉 should be And when he had thus saide ▪ the reuerende Lorde Vergerius obtayned of him againe with much a doe 〈…〉 saye the Lordes prayer But he sayde 〈…〉 no more with such affection of hart as he was woont to doe Moreouer ▪ he did protest that his heart was quite from God and that he called hym not father with his heart but rather curssed and blasphemed him and therfore he sayde ▪ there was no cause why wee should labour any more in vaine to comfort and bring him home againe For it was euen as possible to bring him to any hope or trust 〈…〉 the mercie of God towardes him as 〈…〉 was possible to fill the whole worlde with one grain of Mill. Then all we honoring the wonderfull iudgemēt of God hade him farewell and departed And for as much as his kinsfolke had prouided a Chariot were purposed the next daye to conuey him from Padua to the place of Citadell we gaue them warning in no wise to forsake him but continuallye shoulde get him the companye of godlye men that the blessed God if it were possible by the continuall prayer and comfortyng of good men might vouchsafe to graunt him his mercie The next day after when the wretched man was readie to take his iorney and hauyng his apparell on was brought from his bed he behelde all the chamber with a fierce and cruell countenaunce horrible eyen and by chaunce espied a Woodknife liyng vppon the table which by and by he snatched to sticke hymselfe But his two sonnes that were alwaies by him tooke him sodainely by the hand and plucked the knife from him wherby we maye plainly knowe what we maye vndoubtedly thinke of that demaunde whiche we asked him the day before of kylling him to the which he would make none aunswere ●yding his intent And this did the reuerend Lorde Vergerius signifie vnto mée as an enterprise worthy to be noted being aduertised of the same by his forenamed kinsfolkes Thus was this miserable man conueyed to his house at Citadell But howe he doth and what ende hee hath I shall by all meanes go about to vnderstande and being aduertised of the truth I shall by Gods fauour declare you the whole ▪ Fare yee well From Padua the

xxvij of Nouember 1548. These things haue we séene and sensibly knowne and haue thought good to write them vnto you to the praise and glorie of the high God whose kingdome we earnestly desire to be openly knowne to the whole worlde ¶ Here followeth a godly Prayer against desperation A godly prayer against desperation OLyuing God and most mercifull father which alone of thy almighty power prouidence and wisedome diddest create heauen earth with all things therein in most comely forme ▪ and de●●●● order and that of verye loue that thou dearest chiefly towardes mankinde ▪ whome thou diddest not onely much safe to make after thine ●wne similitude and likenesse but also diddest ●●ke m●● Lorde and gouernour ouer 〈◊〉 thy other good creatures placing him in the Paradice of all felicitie ▪ forbidding him nothing ▪ but onely the eating of one ●●uite among many that this one commaundemēt shoulde be a meane for him ▪ to knowe his superiour and to practise his obediēce towardes his Creator But our father Adam nothing regarding thy fatherly loue nor inestimable benefites ▪ not waiyng the Royall state and felicitie that he was in did most vnthankfully nothing staiyng hymselfe by thy fore admonition trāsgresse and wilfully break 〈…〉 thy commaundement thereby deiectin● himselfe cleane out of thy godly fauou 〈…〉 vtterly losing all his former beatitude 〈…〉 felicitie making himself of the frée son 〈…〉 of God bondslaue to the deuill of immo●tall euer to haue lyued in all feliciti 〈…〉 mortall and subiect to death and all 〈…〉 serie And alas not onely casting away● hymselfe by his vnfaithfull disobedienc● but for that he hauing the sentence 〈…〉 death and dampnation layde vpon hy● begatte vs as the whole parent of ma● kinde he in his offense most iustly c 〈…〉 demned me all his posteritie Here 〈…〉 so haynously displeased thy Maiestie 〈…〉 so iustly procured thy wrath and i 〈…〉 gnation that all our deedes all our me 〈…〉 tes no not all the intercessions and 〈…〉 rites of all the creatures that euer liu 〈…〉 in this worlde coulde not once moue t 〈…〉 righteous iustice to pardon him nor 〈…〉 offence committed in him But as t 〈…〉 godly prouidence did frō euermore for 〈…〉 sée that miserable fal of manne so did t 〈…〉 mercy from euerlasting determine 〈…〉 redéeme man againe for thou so loue 〈…〉 the worlde that at the time appointe● thou didst sende downe thy onely begot●en sonne incarnate to suffer death for mākinde and by his death once for euer ●o make the frée sacrifice and omnisuffi●ient satisfaction to thy iustice for the 〈…〉 nnes of the whole world fréely to make ●ust in thy sight all that vnfainedly be●éeue therein Therefore for as much as 〈…〉 t hath pleased thee oh father so to open 〈…〉 y minde and darke senses that I doe ●ertainely knowe and vndoubtedly be●éeue all these things by that infallible ●estimonie of thy sacred and holy Scri●ture not onely that thou of thy mercie 〈…〉 oost fréelye forgiue me the offence of mine originall sinne for Christes sake ●ut also my manifolde and dayly sinnes ●ōmitted actually ▪ against thy maiestie 〈…〉 most humblye beséech thée here being 〈…〉 rostrate and lowlye submitting me be●ore the throne of thy mercie alwayes to graunt me thy peace whiche passeth al ●nderstanding that when or how soeuer ●he worlde doe rage against me The so●icitie or care of lyuing losse of goodes or ●riendes or any thing visible or inuist 〈…〉 le doe molest trouble me that I may 〈…〉 uer haue thy peace rest and quietnesse in my conscience and to put my wh 〈…〉 trust and affiaunce in thée and so to pr●serue mee from the subtill perswasio 〈…〉 and cruell assaults of Sathan that whatsoeuer my calamities my losses or min● aduersities bee or how great hainous 〈…〉 manifolde soeuer my sinnes be that 〈…〉 neuer fall into any kinde of desperation other of body or soule But that I maye alwayes remember and knowe thy bottomlesse mercie to surmount and passe the number and grauitie of all mine offences That I maye alwayes trust in thy mercie that thou wilte other preserue me frō sinne or of thy mere mercy fréely forgiue mee all my sinnes for thy sonne Iesu Christes sake And that tho● wilt neuer take from me thy spirite but euer graunt me grace that in all my necessities and troubles other of bodye or soule I maye truely repent my sinnes call vpon thée for helpe and aide and that I maye stedfastly beleue that thou lyke a mercifull father for thy sonnes sake wilt fauourably heare me mercifully forgiue me and mightily defend me against all my enimies and in all my troubles that I neuer commit nor consent to the destruction of my bodye or ●oule but euer to lyue here in thy feare and dreade vntill it shall please thée of thy mercie to call me to raigne with thée in glorie euerlasting Amen Here followeth the Godlye and wholsome preseruatiue against desperation c. I. PETER V. Be sober and watch for your aduersarie the Deuill as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may deuoure whom resist stedfast in the faith The Preface THis preseruatiue g 〈…〉 tle reader is prepar 〈…〉 for thy profite Th 〈…〉 thou readyng it at l 〈…〉 sure maiest chose o● suche cōfortable se●tences as maie bot● staie thyne owne conscience in the ty 〈…〉 of temptation and also quiet others w 〈…〉 the Deuill shall bee busie with them 〈…〉 we bee not ignoraunt of the thoughtes Sathan how he cōtinually furnisheth hy● self to bende his ordinaunce against m 〈…〉 And nowe with the consideration of t●● greatnesse and multitude of synne No● with the terrour of death and dampna 〈…〉 on d●oe labour to beate the buckler 〈…〉 Faithe out of our handes to strike the he met of hope from our heade and to wr 〈…〉 from vs the swearde of the spirite whi●● is Gods worde But here christian reader is thy swo 〈…〉 and buckler deliuered vnto thee her● thy helmet put vpon thy heade here th 〈…〉 shalte finde suche armoure and weap●● whereby thou shalt be able to withsta●● the force of our common enemie the D 〈…〉 〈…〉 and also by the counsaill to rescue 〈…〉 ers that thei perish not Yea here thou 〈…〉 lte finde choise of moste comfortable ●●ntences whereby mannes conscience 〈…〉 e bee staied from dampnable despe●ion ▪ Watche therefore stande stedfaste in the plaie the manne and bee of good 〈…〉 mforte Resiste the Deuill and he will 〈…〉 from thee Not for feare of thine owne 〈…〉 wer strength or holinesse but for feare Christe in whom by faithe thou art in●ffed For it is Christe through whom ●od hath giuen vs victorie against synne ●ath hell and the deuill Neither is there any other name vnder heauen giuen vnto manne wherein we maie be saued but the name of Iesus Christe our Lorde To whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor and