himself sincerely and to aske mercy and pardon of Iesus christ but he heard by and by this day shalt thou be with me in paradice What worthines might the poore Publican haue who for the great shame and horrour that he had of all his life before past durst not lift vppe his eies to heauen neuertheles as soone as he began to confesse the pitiful and miserable estate wherin he was and prayed God to haue compassion vppon him all his sins were pardoned him and he went iustified and righteous home to his owne house What worthines I pray you was found in Sainct Paul at Damascus when transported with a rage and fury to giue information according to his Commission that he had obtayned of the high Priest for all them that confessed the name of Iesus to bring them bound and manacleâ—… to Ierusalem there to endict them and to condemn them to death and yet for al that he was so horrible a blasphemer and persecutor of Iesus Christ and of his Church and therefore not onely vnworthy to be numbred amongst his Apostles as he himselfe confesseth but also amongst his shéepe God forgetting in a moment all the iniuries that he had done vnto him and vnto his Church made him a speciall instrument and a chosen trumpet amongst all his companions to publishe his Gospell throughout al the world Who would say that he had any respect vnto the merit and worthines of his gestes and actions when he did aduaunce him to so great honoure Louing him as much or more then hee did any of his fellowes Séeing that hee himselfe doth so highly commend the grace of God to the which he doth attribute what good thing soeuer he did either thinke or speake or doe in all his life It is then the onely grace of God which is the foundation and meane of life euerlasting that wee hope for as it is also of the righteousnes and holines of life by the which we attayn vnto it This Iesus christ did teach when speaking of his shéepe hee saith that they heare his voice and follow him and yâ—…t for all that hee giueth them eternall life Signifiyng thereby that it is fréely geuen them and of a pure gist and not in lieue or respect that they haue heard his voice and followed his traces This may also be gathered out of the words of Moises in the 20. of Exodus where God promiseth to shew mercy vppon thousandes towardes them that loue him and kéep his commandements Whereby we must note that he doth not promise his seruantes any other recompence for their good déedes but to shew mercy towards them and their posterity And as much may we obserue in the 24. Psalme Wher the Prophet speaking of those that went vp to the hill of the Lorde saith that it shalbe He that hath innocent hands and a pure heart which hath not lift vppe his mind vnto iniquity nor sworne deceitfully and a litle after he saith He shal receiue a blessing from the Lord and righteousnes from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that séeke him of them that séeke the face of the God of Iacob to giue vs to vnderstand that whatsoeuer we haue done to obey God to washe our hearts from all wicked thoughtes and affections and our hands from all wicked workes to humble our selues vnder the hand of God and to presume nothing of our selues nor of our owne vertues notwithstanding al this wee cannot goe vppe into the hill of the Lord but onely by the gracious fauour that hee shall shewe vnto vs and by the merciful dealing that it shal please him to vse towards vs. And this is the best thing to comfort vs withal and to put our hope in full assurauncè that it bee grounded vppon his mercy truth which are firme and immutable and not vppon the merites and worthines of our workes and vertues which are very vnperfect Now if wee perceiue the sicke man to bee fully resolued of the remission of his sins and that in his mind there remain no feare or conceyte of them that may trouble his conscience then must we goe further with him to strengthen him against the horrour and apprehension that hee may haue of death shewing him by the word of God that it is vanquished and swallowed vp by the death of Iesus Christ who speaking by the mouth of his Prophet he saieth vnto death O death I wil be thy death and destruction For séeing that the stinge of death is sinne and the power of sinne is the lawe Iesus Christ fulfilling the lawe for vs hath by that meanes taken awaye the sting of death So that it cannot hurt vs any more and hath ouercome and vanquished the power of sinne so that it cannot condemne vs no more And althoughe it be a certain decrée and ordinance of god that all men shall die and that comminge from dust they shall returne to dust neuerthelesse to speake properly the seperation of the body and the soule in the faithfull ought not to be called death So Iesus Christ speaking to his disciples of Lazarus who was dead said that he slepte This phrase of spéeche is very vsuall in the old Testament to signifie the death of the Fathers Saint Paul vseth it likewise writing to the Corinthians and Thessalonians of those that should depart this life before the day of the resurrection whom hee calleth sléeping But hee giueth it a more honorable title in his epistle to the Philippians where he calleth it a dislodging or departing of the Soule from the Bodye Which agréeth well with the wordes of Iesus Christ who aduertising his Disciples of his death that was at hande tolde them that the houre drewe neare in the which he should passe out of this worlde to God his father calling the death of his body but a passage by the which we goe out of this vale of misery to enter into possession of Paradise that is to say of a place of assured tranquillity and rest and full of all delight pleasure The ancient Gréeks called death Thanaton which is as much to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in english thus From hence to God or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth consecration as one should say a solemne Ceremony by the which the faithfull are wholly dedicated vnto God neuer afterward to do any thing but sing praise to him and sanctifie his holy name And also our Sauiour hath also called it baptisme for that by death we passe as it were through a gate and as it were ouer a water to goe to a place of rest and pleasure whether we purpose to goe And if the body which the Gréekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that it is as it were the graue and sepulchre of the soule which they call with a name very neare vnto the other called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein it séemeth in this life the
to wash vs and make vs cleane then this vncleane spirite hath filthines and vncleanes to polute and defyle vs. His light is clearer to lighten vs than the darkenesse of the prince of this world to make vs blinde His trueth to instruct vs then the lyes and errours of the father of lyes to deceiue vs. To be briefe his life hath more vertue to raise vs vp to life againe then the enuiâ—… of the murtherer and man-slayer hath to kill and slaye vs. Wherein we see that the sonne of God as Saint Iohn sayeth is not come into the world but to destroye the workes of the diuell and that in his bloud all our enemies that is to saye all our sinnes haue béene drowned as Pharao and the Egyptians enimies of the people of God were discomfeted and swallowed vp in the red Sea This is the stronger man whome S. Luke saide came vpon another strong man fought with him and ouercame him and tooke from him all his weapons and armour wherein he did trust that is sinne death and the lawe leading with him Captiuitie captine when he ascended vp into heauen so that the diuell being now disarmed hath no power to hurt vs any more neither by our sinnes which Iesus Christ hath washed awaye in his bloud nor by death which he hath ouercome and swallowed vp in dying for vs nor by the lawe which he hath fulfilled and satisfied fully submitting himselfe for vs to the curse which was to light vpon our heades And although the diuell be alwayes our aduersarie and that by the enuie that he beareth vs and the malice that he oweth vs to do vs a mischiefe and to hinder vs for euer attaining to that felicitie from the which he was cast downe headlong by his pride he runneth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whome he maye deuoure yet we may resist him well ynough standing firme in our faith and anchoring in the assurance that we haue of the remission of our sinnes the which is perpetuall as is the vertue and efficacie of the death of Iesus Christ by the which it hath been obtained for vs this is the freedome of the Church within the which all the faithfull must retyre themselues when they are pursued by their owne consciences and followed with other Sergeants of Gods Iustice whereunto the Prophet Dauid doth exhort vs Let Israel wait on the Lorde for with the Lord is mercie and with him is great redemption and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities And in another place The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirite a contrite a broken heart the Lorde will not despise And Iesus Christ the soueraigne Phisition of our soules who is come into this worlde but to seeke that which was lost to cure and heale that which was sicke and as the Prophet sayeth to beare our infirmities and langours vppon him shall hee haue any greater pleasure then to see vs runne to him to be disburdened of our heauie sinnes hath he at any time refused a sinner or publican that hath come vnto him He is as the Prophet Dauid sayeth The Lord is full of compassion and mercie slowe to anger and of great kindnesse He will not alway chide neither keepe his anger for euer Wee may see that clearely by the examples of the Publican of the poore woman sinner of the prodigall sonne of the good thiefe of Dauid of Saint Peter of S. Paul and the Steward that owed his master tenne thousand Tallents which were forgiuen him as soone as he by acknowledging and confessing the dett had desired his master to haue pittie on him Tell mee for what ende hath the father sent his sonne into this worlde Wherefore was he annointed with the holy Ghost was it not to tell the poore Captiues that he was come from heauen to paye their raunsome and to fetch them out of captiuitie and to tell the poore prisoners that he was come to set open the prison doores vnto them to tell those that were endebted vnto him that hee would forgiue them all and to the sicke that hee woulde heale them all The Apostles that he sent into all partes of the worlde what did he giue them in charge was it not to publish the glad tydings of the Gospell that was the remission of sinnes to all In the name of Iesus Christ If then their labour were not in vaine and in like manner the labour of all the true and faithfull ministers of Iesus Christ that haue been since their time we must assure our selues of the remission of our sinnes And more ouer if our sinnes bee not pardoned by beleeuing in him the birth death resurrection ascension intercession and in summe all the mysterie of Iesus Christ and our redemption shoulde be nothing woorth made of no efficacie and valour and all our faith but vaine Likewise how can wee beleeue that hee is our Iesus and Emmanuell if he doe not saue vs from our sinnes and so take awaye the enimitie that is betweene vs and him which let him that he cannot ioyne himself vnto vs And what assurance should we haue that the newe aliance and couenant that he hath made with vs hath beene good in lawe and ratified by his death and bloud which he hath shed for vs if he had not forgotten quite all our iniquities and written his lawes in the tables of our hearts by his holy spirite seeing that those are the promises and conditions vpon the which it was bargained and agreede vpon What profit should we haue by his priesthood if the Sacrifice that he offered to his Father for our redemption if wee abyde yet in our sinnes And what shall it auayle vs if he were not the propitiation and agreement for our sinnes and not onely for ours but also for the sinnes of the whole worlde How can wee assure our selues that he is our aduocate and mediatour and vnder this assurance go to the throne of Grace to obtaine mercie fauour to helpe vs in time of neede We must not then doubt of the remission of our sinnes And as Dauid sayeth As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. How can we stand in doubt of this seeing that we beare the marke print not onely in our hearts and consciences but also in our bodies of the two great broad seales of the Chauncellor of the kingdome of heauen that is to wit Baptisme and the Holie Supper of the Lorde Let the sicke man then assure himselfe if he beléeue in the forgiuenes of sinnes he obtayneth it by and by For God dealeth with vs according to our faith Saint Ambrose writeth that all that we firmely beléeue we obtaine for we can beléeue nothing but that which God hath promised vs who is moste faithful and so true in his promises that the verie infidelitie and vnbelife of men cannot make him a lyar And albeit the
that he should please to commaund vs to praye and praise God vncessantly to depende whollie vpon his prouidence to referre our selues and all our affaires vnto him to resigne our will whollie vnto his and finally to loue him with all our heart with all our soule and all our thought and to loue our neighbour as our owne selues Then after wee haue proposed vnto the sicke person the faultes that he hath committed to make him affeard and by this meanes to prepare him to require and receiue the grace of God we must set before his eyes what he hath iustly deserued by his sinnes that is to be swallowed vp by the anger and displeasure of God which he hath heaped vp vnto himselfe perseuering in his sinnes abusing so long time the pacience and long sufferance of his mercie and likewise to be ouertaken by his iudgement which as the Apostle sayeth is readie for all them which disobey God and especially for those his seruaunts which know his wil and being throughly instructed of their duetie neglect and make none account thereof Likewise that all the curses contayned in the Lawe set downe for the transgressours thereof fall vpon his head for that he hath not onely once or twise by reason of ignorance and fraylenesse behaued himselfe lewdly but hath violated the holy ordinances of God as often as he hath beene prouoked thereunto by the instance of the diuell and of his owne concupiscence likewise that he is banished and shut out from the kingdome of heauen for that the flesh after the which he hath liued cannot inherite the kingdome of heauen For if our first parents were chased shamefully out of Paradice wherein they were placed after their creation for one onely disobedience What doeth he deserue now that doeth suppe vp and drinke dayly so manye rebellions and iniquities as it were water Likewise that hee is condemned to death eternall and appointed for euer to the â—…ire of Hell with diuels and the reprobate for that is the rewarde and hire of sinne And to bee short that hee hath deserued to goe straight downe to Hell and there to bee buryed and to suffer in the vnquenchable flames such â—…ormentes as the wicked riche man did for hauing disdayned the poore in their affliction and neglecting to succour them in their neede not vsinge such humanitie towardes them as he desired of others being driuen to the same necessitie himselfe When he haue layde all this to the sicke mans charge and in the Lawe as in a Mirrour wee haue set before his eyes to beholde his iudgement and sentence of condemnation When we perceiue him wounded and pearced to the heart with sorrowe we must then laye to his wounde some asswaging medicine do as the Masons do when they hewe their stone first they giue great blowes with their hammer make gret péeces fall off then they poolish it ouer so with a plaine that the strokes are no more séen so must we do after we haue handled the sickpatient roughly thrust him down to hel by the rigorous threats of the lawe we must comfort him and fetch him againe by the swéete and amiable promises of the Gospel to the ende the sowplenes of this oyle may asswage the nipping sharpnes of the law for the good tydings and newes that he shall heare of the grace of God shall make him cleane forget all the sorrowe and desperation into the which the lawe had before driuen him shewing him first that the handwriting that is against vs which was contained in the lawe is cleane torne in pieces abolished hung vpon the Crosse of Iesus Christ and that Iesus Christ hath redéemed vs from the cursse of the lawe when he became cursed for vs himselfe For it is written cursed is euery one that hangeth on the tree and this he suffered that the blessing of Abraham might come vpon the Gentiles and that we might receiue the promise of the Holie Ghost by faith And that Christ is the ende of the law in righteousnes to al beléeuers who by the perfect obedience that he shewed God his Father in fulfilling all his commandements in euery point not missing one iote forsaking not the cursed death of the crosse for our sakes for such was the will of his father he hath purchased vs a pardon and generall abolishing of all our sinnes and a release of all our debtes and obligations the which he hath payde for vs not in gold siluer or precious stones but with his owne bloud which is a price and raunsome incomparable to be spoken of Hauing purchased vs besides a righteousnes the which he alloweth vnto vs by our faith the assurance that wee haue by his worde and sacraments whereof his holy spirite doth beare witnes within our heartes we ought to cast awaye all feare and conceit of our sinnes of death the diuell of the rigour and curse of the lawe and finally of the anger curse of God For to begin with our sinnes we being clothed with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ must assure our selues that all our sinnes are so hid and couered that they may not be perceiued or discouered before the eyes and face of our God but being altogether wyped out as with a sponge and scattered as a clowde with the winde and the Sunne and although they were as redd as Scarlet yet shall they be as white as snowe as Esaie sayeth and before him Dauid Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane Wash mee and I shall be whitter then snowe And it skilleth not what nor in what number they be so that they be not sinnes against the Holy Ghost neither skilleth it in what manner they haue been committed be it by ignorance infirmitie or deliberate malice for sinne cannot so abound but the grace of God which is our meanes and mediatour by the death and righteousnes of Iesus Christ must needes abound more And albeit the sinne which is committed against the Maiestie of God which is infinite be therefore reputed infinite yet that argueth not that the bloud of Iesus Christ which by the eternall spirit is offered vp to God himselfe without any spot doeth not purge and make cleane our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God as the Apostle writeth to the Hebrewes For the diuinitie being inseparably vnited with the humanitie in the person of Iesus Christ is cause by his omnipotencie that his death hath an infinite vertue to redeeme vs his righteousnes an infinite power to sanctifie vs and his life to quicken vs and to make vs happie immortall and blessed for that being God as he is stronger than the diuell so also are his workes more of force to saue vs than are those of his enimie to confounde and destroye vs. His righteousnes hath more force and efficacie to iustifie vs than sinne whereof the diuell is authour hath to condemne vs. His innocencie and purenesse
wicked reiecting and contemning the worde and promise of God by their contempt and obstinacie make it that doth not produce the effect in shewing the vertue that it would haue to saue them if they did beléeue it yet that cannot bring any preiudice vnto others that do receiue it and obey it and cannot hinder that they beleeuing and by faith apprehending it in their heartes be not quickened no more then a man that would shut his eyes in the daye and would see no light can hinder him that holdeth his eyes open and beholdeth the light For the light and couller are the obiects of the eye the which being open sound and of a quicke fight apprehendeth by and by things obiect vnto it So the promises of God be the obiectes of Faith which causeth a man to receiue them incontinent as they are announced vnto her so that the spirite of God haue touched and prepared his heart before For otherwise if it remaine in his stonie nature the spirituall seede which is sowen can take no roote at all nor fructifie no more then the seede that is sowen vppon stones or vppon ground that is not tilled The sicke man being resolued then of remission of all his sinnes may not doubt but that he is in the fauour of God and that thereby he must looke for life euerlasting vndoubtedly and all the blessednes that God hath promised to his children for there is nothing that may shutt or debarre vs from it except onely sinne the which being not imputed vnto vs but couered and blotted out cleane what may nowe hurte vs or bring vs out of Gods fauour And if by faith wee be vnited inseparably with him who is the fountaine of life and the fulnesse of all good what can wee desire but wee shall straight finde in him What mischiefe or miserie may wee feare being in his fauour Nowe being assured that he will continue towardes vs the good will that hee beareth vs for euer and that there is no creature in the whole worlde that can alter it from vs as Saint Paul sayeth to the Romanes I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shalbe able to seperate vs frō the loue of god which is in Christ Iesus And a little aboue this place saith he What shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or peril or sworde Euery man then that hath once beene graffed in by faith into the bodie of Christ Iesus by consequent is the adopted sonne of God receiued into his grace into his house as his childe departeth not from thence any more but euen as he is assured of his election by his calling and iustification which followed the one the other so is he also of his glorification which is the conclusion and as it were the crowning of his saluation for the giftes and calling of God are without repentance That which the Apostle writeth most euidently to the Romans Those whom he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whome he hath called he hath also iustified and those whom he hath iustified he hath also glorified And although we haue yet many vices and infirmities in vs and that it chaunce that wee fall grieuously sometimes as it happened to Dauid S. Peter S. Paul and almost to all the Saintes yea to the perfectest that euer were yet there is one point vpon the which we must rest be well grounded wherby we must comfort our selues greatly and hold out against all the assaults and temptations of Sathan this is it that Saint Iohn saieth Who soeuer is borne of God sinneth no more that is to saye the sinne vnto death for the séede of God remaineth in him that cannot sinne because he is borne of God That which hee declareth better in another place All iniquitie saith he is sinne But there is a sinne which is not vnto death Wee knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is borne of God standeth vpon his garde that the tempter touch him not For by this he giueth vs ynough to vnderstande that faith and the worde of God which are the soule and the foundation be neuer whollie and altogether plucked vp and banished from the heart of the elect and therefore they cannot sinne in that sinne that Saint Iohn calleth to death For although that faith be sometime as it were buryed in them hauing no mouing or feeling no more then a dead thing Yet it is not altogether extinguished no more then fire couered with a fewe cenders albeit it shewe not the flame and heate nor no more dead than a tree in Winter when all the sappe is got into the roote and it bringeth foorth no blossomes nor leaues nor fruite as though it were not aliue the sappe neuerthelesse remaineth at the heart hidden within in the roote and this is the reason why Dauid speaking of the faithfull man sayeth Though he fall he shall not be cast off for the Lorde putteth vnder his hande And in another place I will keepe my promise that I haue sworne vnto him and shewe my fauour vnto him for euer And in the foure score and nynth Psalme I saide Mercie shoulde be set vp for euer Thy trueth shalt thou establish in the verie Heauens I haue made a couenant with my chosen c. And in another place more plainlye I will not faile Dauid his seede shall endure for euer and his throane shall bee as the Sunne before mee He shall bee established for euer more as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in Heauen But if his children forsake my lawe and walke not in my iudgementes If they breake my statutes and keepe not my commaundements Then will I visite their transgressions with the rodde and their iniquitie with strokes yet my louing kindnesse will I not take from him neither will I falsifie my trueth My couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes And in the 23 Psalme Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall followe thee all the dayes of thy life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lorde And in the thirtieth Psalme Hee endureth but a while in his anger but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide ar euening but ioye commeth in the morning Likewise in the 65 Psalm Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee Hee shall dwell in thy courtes and wee shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thine holie Temple And last of all in the 119 Psalme I pray thee that thy mercies may comfort mee according to thy promise These and other like places of holie Scriptures must wee alleage vnto the sicke pacient to strengthen his faith and to arme him
soule is buried when it pleaseth God to fetch it from thence it is not as though he should make it come forth of the graue and raise it vp againe What is the occasion then that men may haue to flye from this corporall death and to haue it in such horrour Séeing that seperating the soule frō the body setteth the soul out of prison and sendeth it to enioy liberty in heauen there to be made much of in the bosome of Iesus christ and to inioy with him and with all the happy soules the eternall comforts promised and reserued for the elect people of God The body on the other side liethe in the earth as in a bed there to sléep and take his rest at his ease being neuer wake or troubled in his sléepe neither by fearefull dreames nor cares nor feares nor cries noyses or any thing els that maye disquiet the same sléeping there til the day of the resurrection when it shalbe waked by the sound of Gods Trumpet and knit againe to the Soule hauing left behind in the earth his mortality dishonour and weakenesse hauing put on his robes of glory power immortality and corruption Whereby we may sée that it is without curse that men feare so much this corporall death the which doth but seperate for a time the soule from the body for y ◠great profite of the one and of the other For the body is by this meanes out of all daunger not onely of sinne and of the miseries that waite thereuppon but also of all temptation remaining and resting in the earth in certaine hope of the resurrection and of the life euerlasting And although it séeme to be altogether depriued of life lyinge in the earth because that the soule being departed from it leaueth it without any mo uing or féeling and it putrifieth and goeth into earth yet being alwaies accompanied with the spirit and infinit power of God which quickeneth all thinges it is not altogether void of life as Saint Paul saith If the spirite of him which raised Iesus Christ vp from the dead dwell within you He also which hath raised him vp shal also quicken your mortal bodies because of his spirit which dwelleth in you This is the reason why in another place drawing out vnto vs the portrature of the resurrection of our bodies to come he brings in an example of the séede which is cast into the earth the which hath life in it although being in the Garner it semeeh to haue none and holding it in our hands wee cannot iudge but that it is a thinge dead and without life Yet when it is cast into the earth where a man would think the life if it had any would be smothered and taken away it showes it selfe and growes as it were from the rottennesse from whence wee sée the eare commeth which nourisheth and grows afterwards shewing plainely by euident tokens the life that was hidde in it before it was cast in the earth So God in the holy scripture caleth himself the God of Abraham long time after Abrahams death and saith that he is not the God of the dead but of the liuing Then it followeth that not only the soule of Abraham which he redeemed by the death of his Sonne is yet liuing since it hath béen seperated from the Body but that the bodye which is partaker of the same redemption which is knit and incorporate to Iesus Christ to be one of his members and hath bene consecrated and sanctified vnto God that he may dwel therin as in his holy Temple is not clean without life although it be putrified in the bowels of the earth For so much as it is alwaies accompanied with the grace of God and iointly with the soule comprised in the euerlasting couenant that hee hath made with his people which couenant is a fountaine and vaine of life not onely to the souls but also the bodies of al the faithfull And if as Saint Iohn saith they bee most happy and blessed which die in the Lord and that no blessednes can be without life we must needes conclude the one of these two things either that no blessednes can come to the body or els if it may come that the body is not depriued and void of all life lying in the earth For although it be putrified and haue no signe of life in it at all yet retayneth it in it selfe as it were a séede and stack which shal appeare at the day of the resurrection when the spirite of God pouring out his infinite vertue on our bodies shal raise them vppe againe and shall make them shine with the glory and brightnes that hee hath promised his elect And euen as in an egge there is a chicken and a certain life which is euidently perceiued when the hen hath heated and hatched it by her heate so immortality and life euerlasting whereof both our soules and bodies are called to bée partakers from the time that we haue receiued the Gospell of Christ which is a worde of life and a séede incorruptible shal shut vp till the last day by the power of our God which shall then make vs newe againe as hee shall doe the Heauens the earth and all other creatures which then shall fully be deliuered from the bondage of corruption Whereof we are also assured by the baptisme that is giuen vs in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost For the water which hath bene poured vpon our bodies whiche the Scripture calleth the lauer of Regeneration is not onely to assure vs that our soules are washt and purged cleane by the bloud of Iesus Christ for the remission of our sinnes but also our bodies And that being both together couered and clad with the righteousnes and innocency of the son of God and besides sanctified by his holye Spirite they are by and by put in possession of life euerlasting and altogether made frée and deliuered frō the slauery of death which hath no power as we said but onely where sinne raigneth which is the onely cause of death The holy Supper of our Lord in the which taking by faith breade and wine which are giuen vnto vs by the handes of the minister we are receiued to the partaking of the flesh and bloud of Iesus Christ and so vnited and incorporate with him that for euer as Saint Iohn saith he dweleth in vs and we in him doth it not assure vs also that being inseperably ioyned with the life and with him that is cause of life wee can neither die either in soule or body by reason of this vniō which is common both to soule and body The death of the body ought not to séeme so hor rible and hideous as it doth vnto others who are frighted as little children with a maske or false vizard For if the mother should come to her childe with a monstruous and vgly face to be séene he would be afraid and
runne away from her crying but so soone as shee should haue plucked off her false vizard he would runne vnto her and kisse and embrace her So muste wee doe to bee deliuered from feare and frighting of death wherewith we are naturally faised wee must plucke off her maske and vizard and must beholde it with that forme and face that Christ oure Sauiour did when he ouercam death For eueÌ„ as by his Crosse he hath discharged vs of the curse vnder the which we were and hath turned the curse into a blessing So by his death hath he not onelie mortified but also quickened our death so that now it is become an hauen of health and a dore to enter into the kingdome of heauen and to take possession of that blessed life which God hath promised to his elect children That which doth cause vs to feare is that wee doe behold it in the mirrour of the lawe where it doth shew it selfe vnto vs vnder a most terrible shape to beholde and like a Sergeant armed with the anger of God and with all the threats and curses set downe in the law against those that do transgresse the same who commeth to execute his office and to cite vs to appeare presently before the iudgement seate and to heare the sentence of the last and soueraigne Iudge by whom we are sent vnto euerlasting fire without any hope of comfort or euer to haue any other company but with Diuels to torments vs. Which imagination if it come in our mind when we are ready to die it cannot bée but wée shall take such a conceite and apprehension that shalbe inough to ouerthrowe vs cleane and cast vs downe into the pit and gulfe of desperation if it should continue long with vs. But to get it away wee must do as they who haue their eies dazeled by looking too long of one couller that is twinkling and glimmering To gette their sight again they must cast their eies vppon some other couller that is more liuely for the recreation So when we féele our selues brought into so dangerous a case by reason of the feare and apprehension that the lawe causeth vs to haue of death we must behold her face in the mirrour of the Gospell where Iesus Christe setts it downe to be more swéete well fauored and most amiable where as Moyses in his lawe had made it most vgly and horrible to beholde It hath nowe neuer a sting to prick vs neither any cords chains or bands to kéep vs vnder her iurisdiction For Iesus Christ being risen from the dead hath broken them as Sampson by a marueilous strength did breake as man would breake a threade the great cordes and cables wherewith the Philistines thought they had bound him so sure and so manicled him that they thoughte hee would neuer haue escaped their handes Yet they were deceiued for when they came vpon him with great fury and violence then they perceiued hee broke them all a sunder as easely as a maÌ„ should break a litle string halfe burned a two So death thought when she had made Iesus Christ to die shee had ouercome all and subdued all things vnder her power and that shee had sette her Empire in so sure estate so that it could neuer decay yet shée founde her self vanquished and throne vnder féet that shee shall neuer bee able to rise againe For so writeth the Apostle to the Corinthians that death hath béene swallowed vp in victory that is meant of that which shée thought to haue gotten when shée made Iesus Christ to die Death then is not to be feared for these reasons that we haue already alleadged but rather to bée desired for some that I wil alleadge hearafter For first it setteth our soules at liberty and maketh them frée from torments anguishes feares desperations cares coueteousnes and other lustes whereby they are cruelly tortured meane while they are penned in this loathsome prison of our vicious mortall and corruptible bodies It deliuereth likewise ouâ—… bodies from innumerable dangers wherunto they are opposed as well on sea as land as in any other place wheresoeuer they conuerse From many kindes of sicknesses and sores which doe vndermine and bringe vs to our ende with intollerable paine and 〈◊〉 Likewise from necessity and paine of working and labouring vnto the which we are subiect by reason of sinne and lastly from a great care that we haue continually to get and séeke out all meanes to nourish cloth get vs abiding places and al other things that are néedefull to maintaine this miserable life But al this is nothing in respect of the good it doth vs putting vs out of al daunger of sinning any more and of being temted of the diuell of the world and of our owne proper lustes and concupiscences which neuer cease to stirre vs vp to doe euill and prouoke vs euery houre to offend God and so to procure vppon our selues al the curses that he threatneth in his law to all those that transgres and disobey them With what zeale and vehemency with what sighes and grones did the Apostle aske and beséech of God to deliuer him froÌ„ the body of sinne From this angel of Sathan which did buffet him And after this long and lamentable complainte that hee made of the law which he saw in his meÌ„bers contrary to the law of his vnderstanding which made him captiue to the law of sinne which was in his members at the conclusion of his discourse what a loud cry he made from the bottome of his hart Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of sinne Sée then what piteous mone this holy personage made to sée in himselfe the tiranny of sinne and to sée himselfe so forced and constrained to doe that euil which he detested and to leaue vndone the good which he desired and coueted to doe with all his heart O most hapy death the which doth bring vs out of so cruell and irkesome slauery who will then consider what a misery it is to liue in the midst of the Church amongst the barbarous people and such as the Apostle did prophesie shoulde come in these latter daies that is to say men that should loue themselues auaricious persons vanters proud backebiter disobediente to father and mother ingratefull persons despisers of God without any natural affection false accuâ—…ers immodest cruell hating those y â— are good traiterous rash ambitious louers of wordly pleasures rather then of God hauing but an apparance of godlines but obseruing no forme thereof And on the other side to be inuironed and compassed in round with the professed and mortall enemies of the Gospel and of Iesus Christ and of his Church which made dogs and wolues which made men which care neither for God or his grace curious persons ouer hasty outragious prophane blasphemers hauing neither â—…aith law feare or conscience to represse there malice and malignity Who shall but regard what a trouble and vexation it
is to liue in this wicked peruerse world and be forced to see so many abhominable impietie and sacriledges committed and to heare so many execrable and horrible blasphemies that they spit out without any feare or shame against Heauen against the throne and maiesty of God shall he not lament his life so long in this world and say with the Prophet Dauid Woe is me that I remaine in messhech and dwell in the tents of Kedar my soule hath too long dwelt with them that hate peace I seeke peace and when I speake thereof they are bente towarre Ely séeing the people of Israell had forsaken GOD and had giuen themselues ouer to Idolatry and perceiuing the strange cruelties on the other side that Achab and Iezabell did vse against the Prophets and seruants of God being a weary of his life got him into the desart vnder a Iuniper trée and ther he praied vnto god that hee would take him out of this life that he might not behold any loÌ„ger that he did then behold and sée so also is it not possible for a man be he neuer so stronge harted séeing the disorder and confusion that raignes now a daies in the world and how euery where except in very few places Piety and Iustice are altogether ouerthrowne faith and the feare of God vertue and verity are clean banished from the company of most men but he shal féele in his heart strange pangs and passions of sorrow and that to turne away his eies from such pitifull sightes hee shall desire with all his heart that his soule mighte dislodge quickely from this earthly Tabernacle to take vppe and haue a newe dwelling place in Heauen where wee haue a permanent Cittye and an habitation well fenced and fortified againste all dangers and that then shalbe fully accomplished that which the Prophet saith The Lorde shall preserue thee from all euill he shal keepe thy soule The Lord shall preserue thy going out and thy comming in from henceforth and for euer And besides this will greatly increase our desire for that dislodging from this world we shalbe sodenly transported vp into Heauen where we shall sée God face to face and Iesus Christ in his glory by which sight the Angells af heauen and all blessed Spirites are so rauished that they desire and séeke none other thinge at all for their contentment and pleasure as saith the Prophet In thy presence is the fulnes of ioy at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore The Quéen of Saba hauing séene Salomon and heard his great wisedome by the aunswere that he made to all questions that shée demanded hauing moreouer considered and remarked the order and pomp of his Court being as one rauished and in an estasis shée began to cry O how happy are the seruants of thy house that may behold thy face euery day and vnderstand thy profound wisedome that commeth from thy lippes How much more happy then they shall we be then séeing fully the glorious face of our God all the diuine treasures of his heauenly wisedome being opened vnto vs. If Moyses thought himselfe happy and was accounted one of the greatest Prophets of the world because he had séene on ly the hinder part of God what shall wâ—…e be when we shall sée him face to face as he is in all his glory Many kings and prophets in the time of our Fathers haue greatly desired the comming of Iesus Christ and would haue thought themselues most happy if they had séene God manifestly in the flesh as Saint Iohn Baptist Simeon the Apostle did how happy then may we thinke our selues at this present day when by our death wee haue this prerogatiue to se him in his glory and maiesty clothed with his royall robe sitting at the right hand of God his Father hauing auctority and power in heauen and earth to gouerne and dispose all things according to his good pleasure treading vppon all his enemies as vpon a footestoole vnder his féete When hee transfigured himselfe in the mountaine Peter Iohn and Iames séeing but a little beame of his glorie were so soddenly rauished in theÌ„selues that forgetting all other things they desired for all felicitie but that they might continue still in that ioy and pleasure wherein they were at that houre Now let vs thinke if neuer so little taste of the life to come hath béene able so to rauish these thrée Disciples how shall it be with vs when according to the good hope that we haue we shall haue the whole precious stone and drinke our fill in this streame or rather in this Sea of pleasure and al perfect contentment When this euerlasting ioy whereof the Apostle speaketh shalbe poured vpon our heads And this ioy shalbe doubled when with Iesus Christ we shall see this noble and glorious company of Angels Archangels dominions powers patriarches prophetes apostles martirs and generally all the triumphant Church of the blessed soules which doe nothing but sing incessantly the praises of God crying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty who wast art and art to come for euer Likwise to him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lambe be honour praise glory and power for euer euer It was merueilous pleasant in olde time to beholde the solemne méeting of all the Tribes of all the people of Israell in Ierusalem when Salomou hauing finished the Temple did dedicate it with an infinite number of burnt offerings and other sacrifices with swéete parfume and incence with praiers and thankesgiuing and such mirth and melody of al the people that the like was neuer séene nor heard off before There was likewise two other notable assemblies in IerusaleÌ„ which are very famous in holy Scripture the one in the raigne of Ezechias the other in the raign of Iosias when these two good princes moued with a zeale of godlines and the seruice of God that before had béene pittifully corrupted by the idolatry and impiety of their predecessors with an heroical and magnanimious hart vndertook to puâ—…ge y â— holy land of al filthy stinking abhominations wherwith both the bodies soules of diuers were infected taking clean away y â— stewes Idols of al the county of Iudaea and abolishing cleane all the false seruices that their hipocritical fathers had inuented and established against or cleane beside the worde and ordinance of God hauing no warant for it at all And to renew the couenant of God which was almost forgotten and cleane defaced out of the peoples heart assembled all the inhabitants of the Countrey with whom after the law was read publikely they solemnised the Easter with great solemnity then euer was séene or heard of before And who was he amongst that company think ye that séeing such an assembly gathered together for so good an end whose heart did not leape in his belly for ioy séeing God present in the midst of his holy people hearing the agréement that was
the merite of the death and passion of the same Iesus Christ in whose name you present vnto him this holy prayer the which he taught vs saying from the bottome of your heart Our Father which art in heauen c. Then do acknowledge from the bottome of your heart your vnrighteousnes be sorrowfull for your sinnes repent your selfe vnfainedly and the kingdome of God will drawâ—… nigh vnto you Confesse that there is no righteousnes no innocencie no good workes neither of yours nor in you but that as the childe of wrath conceiued and borne in the sinne of olde Adam you merite eternall death and damnation And yet all the sinnes in the world when you shall haue committed them all are not able to make you afeard For Iesus Christ the very sonne of the eternal God became verie man conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Marie to sanctifie you and make you cleane from sinne He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate many afflictions and iniurious torments making him selfe a slaue and a captiue to set you out of captiuitie Iesus Christ was crucified as one accurst vpon the trée of the crosse to deliuer you from the eternall curse Iesus Christ was dead and shedde his precious bloud to wash you to redéeme you and to deliuer you from death hell and the power of Sathan Iesus Christ was buryed in the graue to burie all your sinnes with him the which he hath borne and blotted out Iesus Christ descended into hell in suffering an extreame anguish to delyuer you from all the paines and dolours of death Iesus Christ is risen vp again from the dead to make you rise againe in your own bodies resplendent with glorious immortalitie Iesus Christ is ascended vp into the heauens that after him you should ascend also Iesus Christ sitteth at y â— right hand of God the father almightie béeing your aduocate and mediator to him the propitiation for all your sinnes We looke that he shal come to iudge the quicke the dead to reward euerie man according to his workes But to the faithfull that beléeue in him he shall not impute their sins for hauing iustified them by his grace hée shal make them raigne with him for euer in his heauenly throne N. Such is the great mysterie of our redemption the which by the grace of the holy Ghost you ought firmely beléeue to haue bene wrought for your saluation Doubt not then at al but by the merite of Iesus Christ the head of his Church you are incorporate and engrafted a member into the same thanking him in all humilitie that it hath pleased him of his greate grace that you haue liued in the communion and fellowship of his faithfull people nourishing you with his word and with his bodie and bloud confessing assuredly the great mercie of God by the forgiuenesse of all your sinnes the which hée hath vouchsafed you thorough Iesus Christe who shall rayse you vp againe at the last daie to make you raigne with him in life euerlasting the which he hath promised to all those that beléeue in him being baptised in his name Nowe N. séeing that you haue this faith doubt not but to receiue the promise of faith for God is true of his promise he is no liar as men are First heauen and earth shall passe but the word of God abideth for euer God he is your father and creator you are his creature the workmanship of his handes He hath not made you to destroy you For he is the sauiour of all men and will not the death of a sinner but rather that he turn from his wickednes and liue Wherefore I announce vnto you in the name of God that by his great bountie and mercie hee doeth fréely giue vnto you full pardon and remission of all your sinnes by the onely merite of his sonne Iesus Christe our sauiour in the shedding of his most precious bloud for it is the propitiation not onely for our sins but also for the sinnes of the whole world N. Iesus Christ sayeth by his owne mouth that all things are possible to him that beléeueth Beléeue then without all doubt that Iesus Christ inuesting our flesh is become verie man and died for vs hauing borne all our sinnes in his owne bodie to wipe them out and deface them Present vnto God the precious death of his sonne Iesus Christ and by the merit of the same death and passion aske him mercie and forgiuenes saying with great humilitie and repentance from the bottome of your heart Lord God Father almightie haue mercie vpon me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lorde and Sauiour and by the merite of his death and passion please to receiue my soule the which I commend into thy hands N. You must haue a firme beléefe and trust in God For if hee bée on your side who can be agaynst you for Iesus Christ who is the immaculate lambe hath ouercome all for you He hath offered himselfe once for all and by that one oblation hath defaced all our sinnes He hath raced out our folly and vnrighteousnes abhomination and the obligation that the deuill had against you and with this good Lord and master Iesus Christ God the father hath giuen you all things N. Fortifie your selfe then in Iesus Christ who calleth and inuiteth you by his Proohets Apostles and Euangelists to come fréely vnto him saylng All you that thirst come to mee and drinke your fill Come io me all ye that trauaile and bee heauie laden and I will refreshe you N. Beléeue assuredly that Iesus Christ hath acquited and discharged you from all your sinnes and hath reconciled you to God his Father vnto whom with great humility and repentance say from the bottome of your heart Lord God Father almightie haue mercie vpon me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christe my Lorde and Sauiour and by the meriâ—…e of his death and passion please to receiue my soule the whiche I commende into thy hands N. Haue then a good hope for certainly hée will receiue your soule as his owne for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde who is the Sauiour and redéemer of all those that beleeue in him Moses and all the prophets haue witnesses that all Nations shall receiue saluation and blessing from Iesus Christe The Apostles and Euangelistes witnesse that Iesus Christ is not come to call the iust but sinners to repentance and to giue his lyfe for the redemption of many for hee hath shed his bloud for the remission of sinnes Beléeue then and doubte not in anie case For Iesus Christ hath purged and washed you cleane from all your sinnes hauing promised that all those that beléeue in him and his Father who sent him shoulde haue life euerlasting and shoulde not come into iudgement but