dead to synne by Chrystes deathe we haue also certaine and sure remission of our synnes by chrystes deth we be raised also to a newe and euerlastynge lyfe For baptyme is a couenand betwixt god and vs. And a sygne of his grace and fauour towarde vs wherin we be reconciled and made at one wyth god againe so that we may nowe haue a ioyfull and quiet coÌ„science for somuch as our sinnes be forgeueÌ„ vs through the resurrection of Iesus chryst yea christ also in the institucion of the most blesed sacrameÌ„t of his last supper speaketh also to vs saynge that hys bloud is shed for the remission of synne Nowe although we haue not liued alwaye innocentlye nether led suche a lyfe as we ought to haue done Yet we maye not dispaire but without delay resort vnto god by true repentauÌ„ce cal faithfully vpon hys name and we shal be saued Rom. x Ye let euery one of vs with a meke harte burst out into these or like wordes and say O most mercyful god father of al mercy father of oure LORD Iesu Chryste be mercyfull vnto me a wretched synner make spede to deliuer me for the moste bitter but moost precious death and passion of Iesu Chryste thy only begotten sonne our redemer and only sauioure Amen Enter not o lord into iudgement wyth thy seruaunte handle me not accordynge to my deseruyng neyther do vnto me after my iniquities but according to thy infinite and botomles goodnes mercye take me vnto the. I a miserable and wretched creature am in thy hand I am in thy debt daunger thou mayst do with me what it please the. O moost mercyfull father forsake me not nor caste me of I am thine all that I am There can no man comfort no man help no man delyuer me but thou alone Thou art the true comforte the most present helpe the surest bulwarke in all necessite Thou god art my refuge my strengthe my helpe in al troublâ— Thou art my Lord in thy handes resteth al my chaunce and affaires Shew thy louinge and mercifull face vpon thy seruant saue me in thy mercy O lord but many wayes in our extreme sicknes and affliction let vs beware we loke not to earnestly nether to longe vpon oure sinnes But rather let vs haue the image of Christes moste helthfull and precious deth before our eys Let vs fix that in our mynd and be full perswaded that Christe is now bourdened with his synnes that he hathe nowe taken theym vpon his owne shoulders and so hath satisfied for theim and wasshed them awai that he wil neuer charge vs with theÌ„ but frelye for geaue vs theim as we professe in our Crede wheÌ„ we sai Credimus remissioneÌ„ peccatorum we beleue the remission of synnes ¶ Here it shal be mete that in our syckenes we call to remembraunce such places of holy scripture as testifieth of remission of synne purchased by Christe of the which some be here subscribed Ioh. i. BEhold the laÌ„be of God which takith away the synne of the worlde We are bought with no golde nor siluer i. Pet. i nether any corruptible price but with the precious bloud of the vnspotted and vndefyled lambe Iesus Christ ¶ So god hath loued the world that he gaue hys onely begotten sonne to the ende that we so beleuynge in hym dothe not peryshe but haue lyfe euerlasting Io. iii I come not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentaunce Mat. ix Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I shall refresh you Lo he calleth all Mat. xi he refuseth he excludeth none we must includ also our selues within his words All we must resorte to him and he wil receaue and reffeshe vs God setteth forth hys loue toward vs For Christ died for vs Rom. v when we were yet sinners muche more now therfore we being iustified bi his blood shal be sauffe froÌ„ wrath by him i. Cor. i Christ Iesus is be commed vnto vs wisdom righteousnes holines redempcioÌ„ Here let vs confort our selues that though we haue be neuer so gret sinners let vs coÌ„fesse and knowledg our synne let vs call for mercye and pardon let vs vnfainedly beleue christ to be our only helth Iustice and redeÌ„pt on and strayght waye he is so he wyl by and by couer and put awai our sinnes in such sort that we shal nede fere no peril nor dauÌ„ger ii Cor. v Him that knew no sinne hath god made sinne .i. a payment of sinne for vs that we shuld becoÌ„e the righteousnes of god by hym Gal. i Christ gaue him selfe for our sinnes that he myghte delyuer vs fro this preseÌ„t wicked world acording to the wil of god our father In Christ we haue redemption throughe hys bloude Ephe. â— euen the remession of synnes according to the riches of his grace Christ Iesus is come in to this world to saue synners i. Tit. i Christe Iesus hathe geuen hym selfe a redempcioÌ„ for al meÌ„ i. Tit ii This let vs coÌ„stantly beleue vndoubted we be of the nombre of those that shal be saued For wheÌ„ he is come a redemption for all these thynges the he hath suffered pertayneth no lesse to the me euery one of vs so we beleue than to Peter or Paule Christ hath borne our sinnes in his body vpon the crosse i. Pet. ii Christ died ones for our synnes the ryghteous for the vnrighteous i. Pe. ii The bloud of Iesus chryst clenseth vs from all sinne i. Ioan. i If ani man doth sinne we haue a aduocate with the father eueÌ„ Iesus i. Ioan â—i Chryst the ryghteouse and he is the attonemente for our synnes Not for ours onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde By these places and suche lyke we maye se howe god the father which wyll not the death of a sinner but that we shulde turne and lyue for that moost feruente burnyng loue that he beareth toward vs hath eased vs of the burden of our sin hath layd it vpoÌ„ the back of his most dere beloued sonne which his soÌ„ne hath so takeÌ„ borne and suffered for them that they can neuer condemne vs. For god taketh and reputeth the deathe of his sonne for a full satisfactyon paiment for al our sinnes so that we truly beleue in hym For seing that our sinnes thus layde vpon Chryst could not ouercome hym retain him in deth nor daÌ„pne him for why he rose againe vndoubtedly a full satisfaccion is alredye made for them the iustyce of god is fully answered and they be vtterly hid and forgeuen Let vs beleue thys and we shall not perysh euerlastingly For chryst is nowe become ours with al that he hath with hys death with hys resurrection wyth his assencion into heauen with his lyfe Qui proprio filio suo non sepercit his merites hys glorye As saynt Paule wytnesse Rom. viii wherfore Satan hath nowe no title to
he wyll caste hym downe to hel perpetually coÌ„dempne hym When therfore the temptor shall lasche at vs with lyâ—e temptacyons we maye not shrinke we may not be afraid wâ— may not be dyscoraged but coÌ„mend our self wholy to CHRISTE hange vpon hym who is wholye oures who hath geueÌ„ him self wholy to vs so that synne deathe nor hel hath no thynge to do wyth vs. Chryste with a inestimable price his owne bloude hathe deliueryd vs frome the tyranny of the deuyl and euerlastinge dampnacioÌ„ he is become our innocency our lyfe and oure iustice Let vs take hede in anye ways that we turne not our hartes from CHRISTE crucifyed Yf we cleue to hym we are set vpon a sure and inexpugnable rocke agaynste the whyche all the power of hell is able to do nothinge So that we may boldli exclame and euery one saye â—â—th CHRISTE I prouided the lorde afore my eys all waye Psal xvi for he is at my ryght elbowe that I shulde not be mouyd therefore my harte hath be gladde and my tonge hathe reioysed moreouer my flesshe shall reste in hope By faythe in CHRISTE we become the sonnes of GOD the bretherne and coheires of Chryst and partakers of euerlastynge lyfe by this faith departing hence we shall go to the kyngdome preparyd for the electe afore the beginnynge of the world And if in the feruentnes of these teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s our faythe begine to wauer yf we do not bere pacyentlye the wyll of oure heuinlye Father if our loue towarde god waxe faynt and cold yf oâ—â—â— hope beginne to be feble weake and therfore we begynne to feare lesse god and we be not all at a full poynt but that he is yet desplesed with vs which tentacion surely is verye greuous painful dangerous and hard to ouercome we must cal to remembrance Christ to haue suffred for vs so intollerable and inuincible tentacions that there apered no help no confort no refuge wherin GOD and the whole worlde semyd to haue for saken him and to be against him In so mouche that he exclamed O mi god o mi GOD why haste thou forsaken me Oh here was a greuous tentacion A sharpe and a bytter deathe that CHRSTE suffered for vs and all to make the way of the crosse and death easy vnto vs. Therfore seynge that CHRISTE of hys owne free wyll caste hym selfe in to the felynge of intollerable payne calamâ—ty and anxeity GOD our most louynge Father beyng therwith contente vndoubtedlye he knoweth and considereth our enfirmite vndoubtedly he will not deale with vs accordynge to the rigour of the lawe but will bere much with vs and pardon many thinges to our infirmity Dothe not CHRIST speake to all men doth he not call men when he sayth Come vnto me all you that do labour and are laden and I shal refresh you how can ther be any greater consolacyon how coulde CHRISTE speake more mercyfull to vs. There be many thinges that pynche â–ª vexe and trouble man greuously but what thyng is it that can trouble the conscience of a synner more theÌ„ wheÌ„ he doubteth of the mercy of god then whan he feareth lest God will cast him of then whan he caÌ„ not persuad him self to conceaue ani trust of gods mâ—rci but Imagine that us withered member he shall cut of and cast away Here we had nede of christs preseÌ„t helpe here we had nede of spedi coÌ„fort lest this violente tempest ouerwhelme and drowne vs. But let vs not feare CHRISTE is no decembler he wyll stande by his worde he wyll perfourme hys promise He wyll helpe and refreshe Therefore when we begynne to trimble and feare in our conscience when we beginne to doubt of goddes mercy when we perceaue our faythe to be feable Let vs forthwith call vppon GOD and that feruentlye and that indesinantlye euen from the bottome of oure harte that he tourne not his face from vs. Lette vs power beâ—ore hym all that dothe trouble vs. Let vs disclose to hym oure meserye oure imbecillitye oure incredulity Let vs crye wyth the disciples Lorde increase oure fayth And wyth the Father of the Lunatycke Luc. xvii Lorde we beleue helpe our incredulyte And with the prophet Marci i Lorde make haste to help vs. For thy mercy is aboue all thy workes O mooste louyng O moste mercyful father lord god of our healthe Psa lxi our onlye helpe and refuge Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes Chryste is our iustyce oure redeption and innoceÌ„cy he for vs hath suffered most bitter cruel death Let these thynges moue the o father of mercy For this thi son our sauior chrystâ—s sake haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs confirme and strength our harte in fayth coÌ„fort vs with the consolacions of thy holy sprâ—t that we may finally optayne Ioy euerlastyng through Iesus christ Amen After thys sort yf we laboryng wresting and stryuinge wyth our imbecillyty accusing afore god lamentinge our pusilianitye and incredulity do catch hold of christ and clene fast to hym earnestlye and feruently desiryng hys help that he wyl vouchsafe to take our place to supplye that is lackyng in vs. These thinges if we do surely all thinges shal be well we shal auoyde and escape easly al daunger peril we shal be safe inough For these two to beleue in Chryst and with hart to desire fayth doth not much differ the one froÌ„ the other For though we fele yet great weaknes and imperfection in our selfe yet this ought to comfort vs that god willeth commaundeth that he shoulde be called vpon that he hath promised to here and help these that cal ryghtly vpon hym Now as nothing is more iustli or necessarily desyred theÌ„ true fayth euen so god hearyth no prayer soner or more gladly theÌ„ whan man findyng no goodnes in hym selfe doth acknowlege his owne infyrmity hys owne mysery hys owne beggerlines dothe accuse and lament his owne increduliti with depe sighes harti desâ—res calleth for fayth These sighes these desyres these pâ—ayers this litil sparke of faithe is the very sede of God wrought in vs by him which saith of chryste by the Prophet Esay that he shall not quenche the smoking filaxe nor breake the brusyd rede Therfore let vs stedfastly beleue or at the leaste earnestelye and hartely pray that we maye beleue bewayling afore god our lacke of fayth whiche thinges if we do we nede not doubt bot we be acceptid of god we be taken for his childreÌ„ For it is not for noughte nor in vayne that he hathe layde oure imbecillitie and synnes vpon hys only begoten sonnes backe In Mathew Math. v. it is said blessed be those that mourne for thei shal be comforted blessed be those that hoÌ„ger after righteousnes for â—hey shal be satisfiâ—d These wordes ar spokâ—n also to vs they may iustly be applied to vs we mourne and are sorye in our hartes the we haue mispendid our life past We wish and desire yea we euen honger
it is a greuous and vehemente tentacyon when he seeth the moste terrible image of deathe afore hys eyes when he seeth he must leaue thys light leue this life leue frendes leaue landes goodes kynfolkes father mother wyfe childern all thinges wherin he had here ether pleasure or comforte Then such synnes as be against the wil and pleasure of god hathe committed shall shewe and present them selues and shall appere more in nuÌ„bre and more greuous then euer they semed afore and so shal wonderously vexe and torment the coÌ„science Then death iudgemente hell dampnacyon as it were in a plumpe shal assault and lay sege with diuers daungerous engens agaynst the old man of ours In these Agonies except a maÌ„ be armed with a sure and constaÌ„t faith it is to be feared leste he be weried tired and at last ouercommed For these tentacious whych chaunce vnto men lyeng in extremes appeare most houge fearful and daungerouse and that for bicause our fayth is verye slender and waueringe nyether yet able to see perceaue or apprehend the incompreheÌ„syble and inestimable riches of the children of god whyche be remissioÌ„ of synnes through Christ resurreccion of the fleshe communion of saynctes euerlasting life and all these geuen vnto vs in Christ and for Chryst In these articles of our fayth we must dayly exercyse our selues These we must diligentli reuolue and earnestly expend in our mindes For thoughe all the artycles of our fayth are diligentlye to be remembred and without al waueringe beleued yet in the Agonye and poynte of deathe these foure that is the communion of saynctes remission of sinne by the bloud of Christe the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlastinge lyfe are chiefely to be mynded expended and inculcated For like as deth is the paine stipend of sinne Rom. 6. euen so for sinne God dothe commenly punish vs with diuers diseases and plages As it is to be sene iÌ„ diuers places of scryptur Io. v. Psa 88. Deut xxviii ii Reg. xxiiii Neuertheles afflictions be many tymes layd vpon vs that our fayth may be tried For than is it easy to be perceaued howe much we loue GOD what faythe we haue in him howe we trust hym when we be pressed greuyd with aduersytie In this case therfore we must bewayle acknowledge our sinnes for the which we haue iustlye incured Goddes displeasure and deserued most greuous paine We must turne to god with true repentaunce in all our harte mynde withoute all faynynge and conterfating we muste haue recourse vnto the Gospell where we shall fynd most bountiful coÌ„solacioÌ„ i absolucioÌ„ or remissio of our sinnes which christ hath instituted iÌ„ the churche Io. xx Receaue sayth Christe the holye ghooste whose siÌ„nes ye forgiue thei ar for geuen This inestimable treasur is dayly opened offred vnto vs WheÌ„ remission of sinnes is thus desire optayned vndoutedly theÌ„ the paine of sinne which is the disease or affliccion shall sone ceasse and leaue vs or elles accordinge to the most beneficiall will of our heuenly father shall turne to the profit and soule helth of him that is diseased or afflicted For this maye we be sure of that the paine and affliccion in the body in this worlde seme it nâ—uer so greuous a bourden or heauye yoke to the flesh as comenlye nothinge elles but a fatherly rod wherwyth god doth drawe vs his children from synne Psal 88. and call vs home to hym Truly our heuynly father dothe loue vs moste feruentlye he beareth vs good mynde Heb. xii and dothe all thinges for our amendmente and profit for whome GOD louethe him he chastisethe and correctythe vs temporally here â— Cor. 11. that we shuld not be punished in hell euerlastingly Thoughe he semith angrie he louith singulerlye Nether is his Ire the Ire of a tiraunt or tormeÌ„tour desirynge our perdycion but of a father â—eking our ameÌ„dement and sauftly First therfore we muste crye God mercy desire pardoÌ„ forgeuenes of our sinnes but by Chryst but with a hart truely penetente that we may be at one wyth God and haue him merciful vnto vs This done we may then desyre GOD to deliuer vs from the Imminente and present affliction and disease For so teacheth ecclesiast Ecclesi â— Sonne in thy infermitye neglecte not thy selfe but pray to the lorde and he shall delyuer the. Also in the Ps Psal 70 remembre not o lord god our old iniquites but let thy mercye spedely preuent vs for we be verye miserable helpe vs God oure sauiour Lord God of power turne vs howe longe wilte thou be angrie shewe thy face and we shall be saued Here we be taught fyrst to desire remyssion of synne that we may so be at one with God and after that to haue his wrathe and the tokens of the same taken awai But when so euer we desire to be deliuered or to be eased of the crosse that presseth vs we must alwaye annexe this addicion Mar. vi Thy wyll o heuenlye father be fulfylled Neither knowe we so well what is profytable vnto vs. Nether caÌ„ we so well prouide for our selues as our most louing heueÌ„ly father Which is both of infinite powre and also of incomprihensible wisdome whyche neuer turneth hys eys from vs whiche carieth continually for vs whâ—ch knoweth the numbre of our yeres whych doth quicken norish fede kepe defend prouide for al his creatures much beter then thei can wish or desire But to drawe to the more perticuler temptacions to shewe what thinges do most fierlly â— daungerously at the time of deth assault vs. And how we shal wtstaÌ„d theÌ„ ¶ There be thre thinges whych at the houre of death doth wonderously vexe trouble feare our mindes that is to saye synne death hell or dampnacion Syne WHerten we haue vngodlye myspent our life wherby we haue greuosly offeÌ„ded God and our neighbour This coÌ„myng to oure remembraunce when we lye vpon our death bed doth dryue vs to a wonderous feare Rom. ii pensiuenes and anxiety As sainct paule sayth wrath indignacion to trouble and anguishe agaynst euerye loule of man that doth euell ¶ A medicine agaynst synne vexinge and troublynge our conscience LEt vs call earnestly to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce that the sonne of god came downe from heuen became man toke vp on his backe the synnes of the worlde died for them vpoÌ„ the crosse there makynge satisfaction for vs and paing our dettes This most precyous blod of christe was shed also for vs of this death we be also partakers so we ryght lye beleue in Chryste Nether nede we to doubt but Chryste died aswell for vs as for Peter and Paule Rom. 6. For we be baptised also as saynct Paule sayth in the deth of chryst Thys ought to comfort vs this ought to erect and stay our myndes For seinge we be baptised in the deathe of chryste Chistes deathe bryngethe also vnto vs helth and saluacioÌ„ By Chrysts deth we be also
corporall death Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortall cannot inherit the kydgdoÌ„ of god wher nothing is but life Therfore this corruptible bodi must put on iÌ„corrupcioÌ„ Oze xiiii Esa xxv this mortal must put on immortality Than shal the saing that is writteÌ„ be fulfilled Death is swalowed vp in victory They that beleue in Chryste hath nowe ouercommed synne deathe and hel Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge hold and well harted in Chryste they maye saye deathe where is thy sting death where is thy victorye The stinge of death is synne and the power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto God whiche hathe geauen vs the victorye through our lord Iesus Chryste Let vs heare also more senteÌ„ces full of godly and mightye consolacion He that hath raised vp Iesus shal rayse vs vp also with Iesus ii Cor iiii Our conuerâ—acion is in heueÌ„ froÌ„ whence we do loke for the sauiour our lord Iesus christ which shall chauÌ„ge our vile body that it may be like fashioned vnto hys glorious body accordyng to the workynge of his power Philli. iiii by the which also he is able to subdue al thinges vnto him selfe Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god Col. iii. but when christ your life shal appere then shall ye also appere in glory with him We wolde not brethern that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that slepe i. Tess iiii that ye sorow not also as other do whyche haue no hope For if we beleue that Iesus chryst died and rose agayne euen theÌ„ also which are a slepe through Iesus shal god bringe with him Saynct Paule also doth coÌ„fort Timoth ii Tim. ii with the article of resurrection sayng Râ—membre the the lord Iesus Christe beyng â—he sede of Dauid rose again from the dead according to my gospell And if we be deade with hym we shal also lyue with him If we suffer pacieÌ„tly we shal also raign with him It was written also to the hebrus Heb. ii that Chryste tasted deathe for all men and that he was partaker of fleshe and bloude .i. became very man the he mighte destroye hym which had the rule of death that is the deuell and that he myghte delyuer them which were in bondage al thâ—ir lyfe time by the reason of the feare of death God hath delyuered vs ii Tim. i and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his purpose and grace whyche is geauen vs in Chryste Iesu before the time of the world but is now made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which truly hath destroyed deathe and hath broughte lyfe and immortalite to lyghte by the gospell i. Ioh. iii We know that we are translated from lyfe to deathe because we loue the bretherne Iohn 41 In this hathe the loue of god appered in vs because god sente his onely begotten sonne into the world that we mighte lyue through him Iob. xix I knowe that my redem er doth lyue and in the last daye I shall ryse agayne and agayne be wrapped in my owne skine And in my owne fleshe shall see God whome I my selfe shall se these my eyes shall beholde and none othere These places of holye scrypture and suche lyke yf we diligentlye remeÌ„bre faythfully imbrace we shall perceaue greaet consolacion and conforte And euen wyth sayncte Paule reioyse Phil. iii. that we knowe Chryste and the power of his resurrectyon wherby death is ouercomed Nether is there nowe to these that beleue in Christ any thynge in deathe terrible or to be feared sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme hurte it can not Lyke as a dede serpente keapeth stil his old fearefull shape forme but to stynge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And lyke as by the brasin serpente whyche Moyses by goddes commaundemente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpon through the power of goddes woorde men were delyuered fromâ— daunger of the lyuelye and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the feare and daunger of it so ofte as wyth the eyes of our faythe we do beholde the helthefull and medycynable dethe of Chryst In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a Image and shadowe of deathe yea the entrauÌ„ce and gate to lyfe For Christ who is trueth it self sayth Yf anye man kepe my worde Iob. viii he shall neuer see death For a man trustynge to the mercye of God through faithe whiche he conceauith by herynge of Chrystes gospell is so vnite and knyt to christ his lord and mayster that he can not be plucked nor seperate frome hym The bodye in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certayne hope of risinge agayn to euerlastinge lyfe And so he that beleuethe in Chryst dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule which is euerlasting dampnacion For the death of good men is nothynge els but a departure from thys transitory and mortal life to immortality to chryst to hys angelles and sainctes ¶ Hell and dampnacion DOth offer it self at the hour of death so that many tymes man doth greatli feare lest he be abiecte froÌ„ the fauour of god appoynted to euerlastynge payne The deuyll whyche seketh by al meanes howe to deuoure vs sterynge vp in youre myndes manye daungerous troubellous thoughtes concernyng our electyon predestinacion ¶ A medicine against the feare of hell and dampnacion WHen the deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our electioÌ„ whether we be of the numbre of them that are appointed to euerlastyng lyfe or no In any wayes let vs not be to boulde in copynge wyth hym let vs not enter dysputacyon agaynste hym for he is to subtyle and expert for vs but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sorrowe it is written thou shalte not tempt the lord thy God For seing that god as a most louyng father hathe not onlye geauen vs lyfe fedde and preseruyd vs to thys houre but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to tyme with hys singuler benefites what madnes were it contrary to oure former experyence nowe to doubt of his mercy He hathe receauyd vs into hys flocke by baptime He hathe sente vs the Gospell of hys grace wherein he hathe promysed to become oure father We haue he fedde wyth the fleshe and bloude of hys sonne oure sauiour CHRISTE in remembraunce that oure debtes be payd and we acquyted whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good wyl of GOD towarde vs lette vs not therfore admytte the doutfull and daungerous Imagynacyons of oure predestinacion which the deuell like a crafty and malicious marchaunt doth labor to iustiâ—l But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God woulde haue our mindes occupied wyth all whych Christe hym selfe hath prescribed as Iohn iii where he sayethe GOD hathe so