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 nuÌbre and more greuous then euer they semed afore and so shal wonderously vexe and torment the coÌscience 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 constaÌt 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 incompreheÌsyble 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 coÌsolacioÌ i absolucioÌ or remissio of our sinnes which christ hath instituted iÌ the churche Io. xx Receaue sayth Christe the holye ghooste whose siÌnes 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 nâuer 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 tormeÌtour desirynge our perdycion but of a father âeking our ameÌdement 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 heueÌly father Which is both of infinite powre and also of incomprihensible wisdome whyche neuer turneth hys eys from vs whiche carieth continually for vs whâch 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 wtstaÌd theÌ Â¶ 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 offeÌded God and our neighbour This coÌmyng 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 remeÌbrauÌce 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
vs he can not medle with vs he hathe no power to hurt vs. Forsomuch as we be iustified by christ purged from our synnes and made the chyldren of god by Chryst who hath reconcyled vs wrought our peace we must therfore be of good coÌforte For seinge we be in the handes of god that is omnipotent who is now our best most louiÌg trusty father we be in a sureporte we be wtout dauÌger there caÌ no incommodity nor aduersitie hurt vs for we be inuironed with the custodi of god the gard of angels oute of the handes of this heuenly father can no creature by force pluck vs When we be at an end by deathe of thys crosse and corporal afliction then haue we ended our iourney then haâe we fynyshed oure warre Christ hathe borne the same crosse Chryste hathe passed the same waye he hathe suffered lyke deathe he is oure heade we must be lyke to hym we mâst suffre with hiÌ yf we intend to raygn with him we must leue thys corporall lyfe ere that we can enioye lyfe euerlasting Lette not oure sinnes trouble vs lette them not tormente oure conscyence as though they coulde not be forgeuen They are alredy forgeuen if we repent and beleue Christ is al ours as muche as he is He by hys innocency hath couered and taken away our synnes As Chryst can not be dampned euen so we can not be dampned yf with a ryghte faythe we cleaue vnto hym As synne deathe and hell hadde no power agaynst Chryste so haue thei no power against vs so we be in Chryste and Chryste in vs. Yf the matter hadde be left and coÌmitted to vs to haue borne our owne sinnes and to haue satisfied for them they wolde haue be to heuy for vs we had not be able to stande vnder theym they wold haue pressed and sunke vs downe to hell But christe bothe god and man hathe of hys owne free will offered hym selfe for vs. he hath taken our turne he hathe playd our parte and paide for vs all that we ought As it is in the Psalme spoken in the persone of christ I payd that I oughte not We had trespased we were the detters so farre behind hand that all that was in vs was not able to paie the lest soÌme we ought Christ became our suerty paid for vs acquited vs and set vs at libertie yea made vs coheires wyth hym of euerlasting glorye If it were possible for one man to commit the sinnes of the whole worlde so he truelye repente and cleaue by true fayth to Chryst he can not be dampned hys synnes be sufficiently and abundaÌtly by Christ satisfied for For Chryst as touching hys godhead one in substance with the heuenly father As touchynge his man hede oure very flesh and bloode hath purchased and truely boughte grace and pardon for vs. For Chryst be came man for vs was borne for vs died vpon the crosse for vs rose from death for vs ascended into heuen for vs and hath accomplyshed and perfourmed all thynges mete for our saluacion for vs. If therfore we beleue in christ we are becoâe partakers of Gods fauor we are eased of the packe bourdeÌ of sinne we are made the heires of god and coheiris with Chryst for euer and that by chryste and for christ For withoute Christ there is no consolacion on helth no hope no helpe In Chryste alone is all comforte all helthe all hope all succoure ⪠all refuge all grace and mercy more habundant more pleÌteous more exceleÌt than any man is able either to comprehend or to wishe God graunte vs therfore a true and a constant faith In this forme or in like sort we most comfort our selues in our sickenes or calamitye and our brother beinge visited But in ani wais and with al dilygence it is to be foreseene that we wythdrawe oure mynde from the fearefull and terryble contemplacyon of synne death and damnacyon And that we fixe these of our mynd and whole thoughte vpon christe onlye the we cleue vnto him that we call vpon hym that we coÌmit our self wholy to hym For in christ we shal espie nothng but innocencie iustice lyfe saluacyon which al be deriued from Chryste into vs so that we wyll acknowledge him receaue him for the author of our saluacion and only redemer yf we haue christ crucified afore our eyes if we imprinte him in our hart yf we flee to hym with out fath if we wholy clyue to him Then shal hel gates nothyng preuayle against vs then shal we be able to wythstaÌd al the forcible assaultes of Satan though thei be neuer so sore neuer so fierce neuer so terrible Let vs cal to remembraunce with what lenitie what geÌtilnes what humanitie what clemency Chryst as it is in the euangelicall history hath called vnto him and receued al suche sinners as hath repented them and desired his helpe We shall finde Mary Magdalen the synner that honge vpon the right hand of christ crucified the publicane zache wyth other mo whoÌe Chryst most louyngly receiuinge pronouÌced cleare froÌ sin though they had synned greatlye and the chyldern of saluacion chryste is very grace mercy helpe comfort life ioye and saluacion to al those which loke for these things at his haÌdes and put theyr trust in hym And all these thynges hathe God who is truethe it selfe can not lie nor wyl not deceyue promysed vnto vs for chrystes sake Fynallye wheÌ deth approcheth we must do as Chryste dyd vpon the crosse Mat. vi we must praye for our enemyes and forgeaue them with our harte Yf we haue offended any man we must be hartely sory for it we must desire forgeuenes yf we haue iniured anye man we must make hym amendes or take such order that amendes maye he made vnto him yf ât passeth oure power to make restytucyon and amendes it shal be ynoughe that we desire forgeuenes And wyth our hartes forgeaue others which hath hurt vs ether 11. name body subââance or estimacion For if we truely forgeue god hathe promysed we shal be fyrgeuen as it is in the syxt of Mathew It is verye necessarye also and profitable for the confirmacion strengthening of our fayth to receaue the most blessed sacramente of the body and bloud of our sauyour christ which we ar coÌmaâded to receaue in remembrauÌce of his benefytes that hereby we may be truely sertyfied in our conscyence hys body to be geuen for vs and his bloud to be shed for remission of our synnes Dethe OF our flesh fraill nature is so ferd abhorted that wheÌ he approcheth mans hert is filled and laden wyth suche sorowes panges and anxieties as tong is not able to expresse ¶ A medicine agaynst the feare of death WE muste call to our remembraunce deathe to be ouercomed and abolyshed by Chryst So that nowe the soules of so many as trust in Christ caÌ not dy nor peryshe but departynge from the body goeth straight to Chryst
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 coÌscience for somuch as our sinnes be forgeueÌ vs through the resurrection of Iesus chryst yea christ also in the institucion of the most blesed sacrameÌt 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 repentauÌce 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 laÌbe 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 coÌfesse and knowledg our synne let vs call for mercye and pardon let vs vnfainedly beleue christ to be our only helth Iustice and redeÌpt 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 dauÌger ii Cor. v Him that knew no sinne hath god made sinne .i. a payment of sinne for vs that we shuld becoÌe the righteousnes of god by hym Gal. i Christ gaue him selfe for our sinnes that he myghte delyuer vs fro this preseÌt 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 coÌstantly 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 âi 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 soÌne 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 daÌpne 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
thirst after righteousnes Let vs be of good chere we shall oâtain our desyre we shal be comforted we shal be counted iust afore god for Chryst our sauioure his sake Finally let vs after this example of Chryst and sainct Steuen coÌmend our soules into the handes of god your heueÌly father sayng euery one after this maner O Most merciful father I commend into thy holye handes my spirit yea thy spirit for thou hast creat it thou haste commytted it for a tyme to the body thou hast geuen it thy owne Image and simylitude Thou hast sente for the redeÌption of it thi owne most derely belouyd sonne to shed his bloud Thys the spirite I resigne into thi handes O GOD of all mercye I am thyne al that I am I beseche the refuse not thy owne but receaue kepe and place me in euerlasting glory for the sake of Iesus Christ thy only begotten sonne Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayde at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whych art the onely health of al menne liuynge and the euerlastynge lyfe of them whyche dye in thy fayth I wretched synner geue and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will And I beynge sure that the thynge cannot peryshe whych is coÌmytted vnto thy mercy wyllyngly nowe I leaue thys frayle and wycked fleshe in hope of the resurreccion which in better wyse shal restore it to me againe I beseche the most mercyful lorde Iesu Chryst that thou wylte by thy grace make stronge my soule agaynst all temptacyons and that thou wylte couer and defende me wyth the buckler of thy mercye agaynst al the assaultes of the deuyl I se and knowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluacion but al my confidence hope trust is in thy mooste mercyful goodnes ãâã haue no merytes nor good workes which I maye allâge before the Of sinnes euyl workes alas see a great heape but thorowe thy mercy I truste to bee in the numbre of theÌ to whomâ thou wylt not impute theyr sinnes but take and accept me for ryghteous and iust to be thinheritour of euerlastynge lyfe Thou mercyful Lord werte borne for my sakâ thou dyddest suffâe bothe hungre and trust for my sake the dydest preache and teache thou didst pray faste for my sake thou diddest all good woorkes and dedes for my sake thou sufferedest most greuous paines and tormeÌtes for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precyous body to dyâ and thy bloud to be shed on the crosse for my âake Nowâ moost mercyfull sauyour let all these thynges profyte me whyche thou freely haste geuen me that haste geuen thy selfe for me let thy bloude cleââe washe awaye the spottes and foulnesse of my synnes Lette thy ryghteousnesse hyde and couer myne vnryghteousnesse Lette the merytes of thy passyon and bloude be the satisfaccion of my synnes Geue me Lord thy grace that my faythe and saluacioÌ in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be fyrme and constante that the hope of thy mercy and lyfe euerlastynge neuer decaye in me that charytye ware not colde in me fynallye that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome wyth the feare of death Graunte me mercyfull sauioure that when deathe hath shutte vp the eyes of my bodye yet that the eyes of my soule maye styll beholde and loke vpon thee that wheÌ death hath taken awaye the vse of my tonge and speache yet that my harte may crye saye vnto the In manâs tuas domine commendo spiritum meum that is to sây O lord into thy handes I gâue and commytte my soule Domine Iesu accipe spirituâ meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Imprynted at London by Wyllyam Copland for Rychard Kele