bodye rise againe not corruptible bryckle fraile feeble as now it is but faire cleane beautifull strong of perfite force and immortall vnto euerlasting lyfe This is the way by thys corporall death vnto true and eternall lyfe into oure true countrey 1. Cor. 15. Flesh and blood cannot inherite the kingdome of God wherein is nothing but lyfe and therefore this mortalitie must put on immortalitie Esac 25. Oseae 13. Then shall the saying come to passe which is written Death is swalowed vp into the victorie they nowe whiche beléeue in Christ haue ouercome sinne death and hell They therefore contemning death being strong and bolde in Christ will say Hell where is thy victorie Sinne is the sting of death the lawe is the strength of sinne But prayse be vnto God which hath giuen vs the victorie through our lorde Iesus Christ We wyll adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort 1. Cor. 4. HE that raysed vp the lorde Iesus Christ from death shall rayse vs vp also Phill. 3. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for a sauiour euen the lorde Iesus Christ which shall chaunge our vile bodies that they maye be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodye according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto him Colos 3. Yée are dead and your lyfe is hidde with Christ in God When Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe himselfe then shall ye also appéere with him in glorie I woulde not brethren 1. Thes 4. haue you ignorant concerning them which are fallen a sléepe that ye sorrow not as other do which haue no hope For if we beléeue that Iesus Christ dyed and rose againe euen so they also which sléepe by Iesus will God bring againe with him And saint Paule doth comfort Tymothe his scholar in the articles of the resurrection by these wordes Remember sayeth he that Iesus Christ being of the séede of Dauid rose againe from death 2. Timo 3.2 according to my gospell If we are dead with Christ we shall also liue with him If we suffer with him we shall raigne with him Saint Paule sayeth that Christ Hebr. 2. by the grace of GOD should taste of death for all men And in the same place he sayeth also that Christ was made partaker of our flesh and blood that is to saye hée became perfite man that hée might put downe through death him that had lordship ouer death that is to wit the diuell and that he might delyuer them whosoeuer through feare of death were all there lyfe time in daunger of bondage God saued vs 2. Timo. 1. and called vs with an holy calling not according to our déedes but according to his owne purpose grace which grace was giuen vs through Christ before the world was but is now declared openly by the appéering of our sauior Iesu Christ which hath put away death hath brought lyfe and immortalitie to light 1. Ioan. 3. We know that we are translated from death vnto lyfe bicause we loue the brethren 1. Ioan. 4. In this appéered the loue of God to vs warde bicause that God sent his onely begotten sonne into the world that we might liue thorow him Iob. 19. I am sure that my redéemer lyueth and that I shall ryse out of the earth at the last day and that I shall be clothed againe with this skin and sée God in my fleshe yea I my selfe shall beholde him not with other but with the same eyes He that diligently doth meditate thinke vpon these testimonies of scripture cannot choose but take much comfort and great ioy therof Saint Paule may be a most euident example thereof vnto vs which hartily reioyseth in his owne behalfe that he knoweth Christ Phill. 3. and the power of his resurrectiō whereby our death is slaine Now therfore death is dead vnto all them which beléeue in Christ there is nothing now in death terrible which is to be dreaded and feared besides the onely ymage and shape thereof Euen as a serpent being kylled kéepeth notwithstanding that his olde and fearefull figure but hath no power in him to doe harme Num. 21. and euen as the lyue serpentes died when the brasen serpent was looked on which Moyses set vp in the wildernesse by the might of the power of God and the Iewes could not be infected with venome of the lyue serpentes Likewise also our death his dead and made harmlesse and nothing to be feared if we looke vpon and beholde the liuely death of Christ wyth the eyes of our fayth And to be short death is like the verie ymage and shadowe of death yea more rather she is the beginning and enteraunce into the true lyfe Christ which is the veritie it selfe sayeth Ioan. 24. Ioan. 8. If a man kéepe my wordes he shall neuer sée death How I pray you may this be I will showe you howe A man that trusteth in the mercie of Christ by the fayth which he hath taken out of the gospell is so incorporated as I may so terme it and so vnited and coupled vnto his lorde and mayster Christ which is the true lyfe Ioan. 14. that he may not be pulled or separated from him This body therefore is sundred and deuided from the soule in moste sure hope of the glorious resurrection vnto euerlasting lyfe For within short space the body shal be restored againe vnto the soule that they maye both enioy felicitie And he that thus beléeueth in Christ shall not sée eternall death of body and soule that is to witte perpetuall damnation which is the true death The death of godly men is a going forth into the company of the elect For the death of godlye men is a going forth and departing out of this mortall life into immortalitie vnto Christ vnto the angelles and vnto all the saints What is to bee done when hell or eternall damnation comming in our minds doth feare vs. THe malignant spirite maketh man verie solicitous pensiue about his predestination putting those cruell and horrible thoughts of predestination in hys mynde What if thou shouldest not please God What if he hath vtterly cast thée off How knowest thou that thou art one of the number of them whome God hath elected and chosen vnto euerlasting lyfe These and the lyke temptations are most bitter and doe most gréeuously torment and vexe the minde Wherefore thou must here stande fast on both féete as the prouerbe is and it is needefull that thou constantly defend thy selfe in this conflict But it thou wouldest obtaine the victory in this battell thou must set vpon him by this policie craft Forthwith as soone as these temptations come vnto thée from the Diuell beware thou enter not into disputation with him beware thou deale not with him neyther answere him againe But put him off from thée chased awaye with these wordes and cogitations Sathan get thée hence depart
Phisicke for the Soule verye necessarie to be vsed in the Agonie of death and in those extreme and moste perillous seasons aswell for those which are in good health as those which are endewed with bodily sicknesse Translated out of Latine into Englishe by H. Thorne Quid prodest homini si vniuersum mun 〈…〉 tur animae autem suae detrimentum pa 〈…〉 MATH 16. What shall it man auaile if all the worlde he gaine And after that of his owne soule he do the losse sustaine Pervsed and allowed according to the Queenes Maiesties Iniunctions IMPRINTED AT LONDON by Henry Denham Phisick for the Soule very necessary to be vsed in the Agonie of death and in these extreme and moste perilous seasons as well for those that are in good health as those which are endued with bodily sicknesse Translated out of Latine into â—â—â—lishe by H. Thorne DIseases troubling our bodies and corporall death shakâ— our mindes with hoâ—rible feare 〈◊〉 much that of◠〈◊〉 wee trembâ—◠〈◊〉 the recyâ—â—â—cion of them Mans natur◠〈◊〉 had leauer not to bee at all 〈…〉 cannot but waxe pale 〈…〉 when these sicknesses doe ap◠〈◊〉 déede no calamitie can b◠〈◊〉 more cruell none more horrible none more houge then the sicknesse of the soule and the death and destruction therof Euery man abhorreth euery man detesteth and escheweth by Sea and lande punishments pitifull labors diseases and this bodily death But we ought much more to endeuor our selues to auoide and leaue off the occasions of those euilles that is to wit sinne and wickedâ—â—sse and that we ought to dread the heauie 〈◊〉 of God which wée prouoke against 〈◊〉 â—ers and manifold offences 〈◊〉 â—our bodily health is ympaired we straighâ— wayes poste vnto the PhisitioÌ„ here we spare for no charges we lesse estéeme all things then the safegarde of our life we procure medicines remedies at a great price 〈◊〉 the intent that this oure earthen vessell 〈◊〉 â—otsheard mought be againe repaired 〈◊〉 â—â—thin short space after notwithstan◠〈…〉 â—die to breake Why doe wée not 〈…〉 â—die and carefulnesse desire and 〈…〉 â—ies against the diseases and 〈…〉 Soule béeing farre more 〈…〉 â—ore perillous For what 〈…〉 â—an take if he did abounde 〈…〉 â—s of the whole worlde and did liue a thousand yeares togithers aâ—â— ioyed continual and most exquisite pleasuâ—â— of this lyfe and were not incumbred wiâ— any trouble of sicknesse or other calamitiâ— But yet in the meane while his soule 〈◊〉 infected with the deadlye gilt and poysâ— sinne and oppressed with the cruell tirâ— of Sathan God was displeased at him 〈◊〉 he most certainly knewe that after the 〈◊〉 of this life hée shoulde suffer eternall deâ— and damnation both of body soule Therfore Christ said Watch. For ye know neâ—ther the day nor yet the howre in the wiâ—â— the sonne of man shall come And le◠〈◊〉 shoulde followe light friuolous 〈◊〉 things the good most profitable no â—ded he showeth vs a most compendiâ—â—taine and sure way to aspire vnto trâ—◠〈◊〉 citie where as he sayeth Séeke ye 〈◊〉 kingdome of heauen and the righteou◠〈◊〉 thereof and all these things shall bée â—stred vnto you The cares of lyuing and 〈◊〉 establishing of oure wealth other 〈◊〉 yea many times foolishe bruckle 〈◊〉 â—ting which nothing preuaile vs b◠〈◊〉 â—ten the occasions of verie greeuou◠〈…〉 and most wicked offences 〈…〉 〈…〉 vs night and day But in the séeking getting of heauenly â—â—ches what thing is more flow theÌ„ we are â—â—hat more negligent what more vnaduiâ—â—â—â— what more foolish What blindnesse or â—â—â—â—nesse I pray you ought more to be fea◠〈◊〉 Whilst wee liue in good health scarce 〈◊〉 â—uch as one little thought at any time 〈◊〉 â—meth in our mindes of the lyfe to come 〈◊〉 of that our temporall death But when 〈◊〉 we lie downe and are sicke death nowe as 〈◊〉 were knocking at oure dores when wée â—â—ould stande vp in the front and fight then 〈◊〉 â—ast we begin to thinke of the taking 〈◊〉 â—r weapons against Sathan and of 〈◊〉 â—endment of oure life These things 〈◊〉 â—ufficient argument to prooue that we 〈◊〉 â—dued with a slender and weake fayth 〈◊〉 â—at we are little exercised in the christi◠〈◊〉 â—arfare God be mercifull vnto vs. â—ut truely euerie age is méete to amend â—â—d no repentance commeth to late so that it 〈◊〉 â—ne before the ende of this lyfe Yet I 〈…〉 â—ll and earnestly giue admonishment 〈◊〉 â—â—an do linger and deferre the doing 〈…〉 â—e vntill this last and most bitâ—◠〈…〉 â—or euen they which are strong and in good health all their life 〈◊〉 haue prepared and furnished theâ—â—e â—gainst this howre of departing they 〈◊〉 and with much adoe scarcely defende â—selues from the deceiptes guiles 〈◊〉 and inuasion of that most passing 〈◊〉 subtill enimie what shall bée dâ—â—â—â— those which beeing voide of al feare of 〈◊〉 knowing not howe to repent haue liâ—â—â—â— filthie and dissolute and naughtie life 〈◊〉 I besech you shall they fight how shall thâ— resist Now therfore seeing that there is a grâ—â—â— multitude and aboundance of people eueâ—â— where and séeing that the Ministers of 〈◊〉 Gospell are not néere at hand in all plaâ—â— neyther are able to performe their diligeâ—â— or office alwaies and vnto all men we of good and godly minde willing to profite a men haue written this waye and formeâ— comforting instructing and admonishinâ— the sick collected out of the worde of God 〈◊〉 their commoditie profite especially whichâ— are yet ignoraunt and not instructed suffiâ—â—ently in the Sentences of holy Scripture 〈◊〉 such occasioÌ„s that they hearing those thing read vnto them maye thereof conceiue truâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—solation or comfort least they 〈…〉 â—alse hearted should dispaire and peâ—â—â—in the bitter Agonie of death 〈◊〉 is chiefly necessarie for the Sick 〈◊〉 â—de the paines of the body and 〈◊〉 temptations wherwith he is pestered MAn therefore lying on bed by vehemencie of sickenesse and béeing in daunger of death is assayled and ouerwhelmed with dyuers and gréeuous teÌ„ptations against 〈◊〉 which he must contende and striue And 〈◊〉 of all this is a most bitter temptation 〈◊〉 â—hen the most horrible Image of death béeâ—â—g as it were before our eies wée thinke â—at we must forsake and leaue the most deâ—â—ctable and pleasaunt light of this lyfe and â—â—ll our deare kinsfolkes and friends Finally â—hat wée muste héere forgo all our pleasant 〈◊〉 welbeloued things And anon our sinnes â—â—mmitted against the will and commaunâ—â—ment of God doe present themselues vnâ—o 〈◊〉 vs rushing in with a great violence are cléerely renued and waxe raw againe and they séeme to be many moe in number and more gréeuous then euer they did before so that they maruellously torment vexe and trouble our conscience Here death Gods iudgement Hell damnation feare and trembling like an hoste gathered togither torment our olde man with moste violent and troublous stormes of verie great dolors and terrors and doth assault and shake our
hearts with moste vehement ingines of sorrowes and heauinesse There will be great daunger in those Agonies and troubles of the minde if oure heart bée not established with a sure and constant faith least we now béeing weakned and wearied with the multitude and greatnesse of temptations do dispaire For those things which come in our mindes when we are sicke séeme to be most horrible and gréeuous and for none other cause then that oure faith is verie little and doth wauer neyther yet is so strong that trusting vnto the worde of God is able to apprehende that vnmeasurable and ineastimable treasure and riches of God the sonne that is to wit the remissiō of sinnes through Christ the resurrection of the fleshe that most pleasaunt and exoptable felowship of all the elect and the lyfe euerlasting and that all these things are giuen vs fréely in Christ and for Christ We ought daylie to exercise our selues in these Articles of our faith and to fastē them in vs diligently pondering weighing them in our mindes Also we shoulde oftentimes come vnto the Sacrament Synaxis or the Table of the Lords supper But we must first diligētly trie fashion and prepare our selues For we ought especially to beware of this that we meddle not with the most royall Sacrament Eucharist or of thankesgiuing with vnwashed mindes and spotted consciences It is truely a shamefull matter and much to be lamented that this many yeares this Sacrament of the body and bloude of Iesus Christ hath béene supersticiously administred and of some other it hath béene handled vnreuerently and little according to the worthinesse thereof in so much that of some Heretikes it hath béene vtterly contemned and dispised The present punishments and afflictions doe sufficiently declare vnto vs how haynously they offended therein wherof S. Paule foretold vnto the Corinthians 1. Corin. 11. This Sacrament surely is a great and marueylous pledge of his especiall loue and singular mercy towards vs which he would haue to be testified and declared vnto vs in that his last Supper how that he adioyneth vs vnto him as his mysticall members that we may know and vnderstande that we are beloued regarded and preserued of him Thus doe godlye mindes determine that Christ is effectuall in vs. I woulde to God we would learne to consider in our mindes the worthynesse of this so royall a gifte that we might be therefore thankfull and when we aduaunce lift vp our faith we mought then also haue a reuerent feare and thinke how detestable an offence and ingratitude is and what horrible punishments will ensue the prophanatiō or vnholy vsing of this so worthie a mysterie And it is not to bée thought those moste grieuous threatnings which Saint Paule maketh mention off to be vaine and of none effect For God is alwaies true And I suppose assuredly that the greatest parte of those publicke euilles which haue béene in our dayes are to be imputed vnto the disorderly and grosse vsing of that most holy pledge Let vs therefore oftentimes prepare our selues to come vnto the Communion Table with feruent desire of vertue and holynesse that our mindes béeing refreshed and comforted with that heauenly foode of the soule faith and charitie maye bée daylie increased and strengthened in vs. The Articles of our Faith are diligently to be considered of the Sicke WEe ought also furthermore to remember and alwayes haue in our mindes all the Articles of our Catholike Faith But foure especially are diligently to be considered and to be poured into vs by often repiticion in the Agonies and troubles of death that is to saye the communion of Saintes the forgiuenesse of sinnes throughe the bloode of Christ the rising againe of the fleshe and the eternall lyfe Wherefore sicknesses ar sent vnto vs from God THen as death is the punishment of sinne Euen so diseases are many times sent vnto vs from God for our sinnes the whiche thing is manifest by manye testimonies of Scripture as in Ioan. 5. Psalme 88. Deut. 28. 2. Reg. 24. We are also often afflicted that oure fayth thereby mought be tryed For then surely a man may sée how much wée loue God how muche we trust in him when we are afflicted and oppressed with some gréeuous crosse Then here aboue all things sée that thou repent vnfaynedly turning thy whole heart minde and senses vnto God that thou maiest confesse and bewayle thy sinnes before him For sinne is the onely cause why we deserue the most iust wrath heauie plague of God Ioan. 20. And thou shalt gather out of Saint Iohn his Gospell the most aboundant comfort off absolution or remission of sinnes which Christ hath instituted and left vnto his vniuersall Church This vnmeasurable treasure is opened and offered vnto thée dailye Christ sayth receiue yée the holy Ghost Math. 18. whose sinnes soeuer yée forgiue they are forgiuen them and whose sinnes soeuer yée retaine they are retained Now when we haue desired and obtained forgiuenesse of our misdéedes without all question to the contrarie the paine and griefe or affliction also béeing on vs either will cease and leaue vs either will redownd vnto the saluation of the sicke body according to the passing good will and pleasure of almightie God For thou must be throughly perswaded that thou nothing doubt herein but that the paine or crosse although it séeme vnto the flesh a verie heauie yoke and burthen is a méere fatherly rodde and correction whereby God doth withhold and call backe thée his childe from committing of sinne entising and alluring thée vnto him God verily loueth vs with a feruent zeale hée willingly tendereth our saluation and worketh all things vnto this ende and purpose that he may correct vs and bring vs vnto good For looke whome he loueth him doth he correct him doth he chasten afflict in this world least after this lyfe he should be tormented with the euerlasting paine of vnquenchable fire And wauer not but perswade thy selfe most certainely that God is thy most louing Father and much desirous of thée howsoeuer he seeme to be angry with thée This is not the wrath of a Tiraunt and an executioner but of a father intéerely louing vs which would not that we should be lost and cast awaye but that we béeing corrected shoulde amende and obtaine saluation This is a most certaine truth if so be that we whose faith is so weake can beleue it First of all therefore aske thou forgiuenesse and remission of all thy sinnes but through Christ and with a verie repentant heart that thou mayest well accorde with God that thou mayest find him pacified and mercifull vnto thée After this done thou mayest also beséech him to delyuer thée from the affliction which troubleth thée So doth Ecclesiasticus teach vs whereas he sayth Eccle. 38. My sonne despise not thy selfe in thy sickenesse but pray vnto the Lorde and he shall heale thée And so doth the Psalmist praye Remember not O Lorde our olde
iniquities let thy mercies spéedily preuent vs Psal 79. help vs O God our Sauior Conuert vs O thou Lorde God of power shewe vs thy louing countinance and we shall be safe how long wilt thou be angrie First he desireth forgiuenesse of his sinnes that he might be iustified by the grace of god Next he entreateth against the wrath of God And when thou prayest for the deliuerance and easement of the crosse which oppresseth thée thou shalt alwayes put to this additiō Thy most blessed and holy will be done For we cannot better sée vnto our selues then cā our most faithfull Father of his endlesse power wisedome and infinite goodnesse which neuer turneth his eies from vs but with all diligence taketh care of vs which knoweth the number of the heares of our heads Math. 10. which doth quicken comfort cherishe couer nourish preserue and defend all things which helpeth and prouideth for all men much more and farre better then any creatures can bée able yea to wish for There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble our mindes in the Agonie of death that is to wit Sinne Death Hell or Damnation Sinne WHen those Sinnes come in our mindes we lying sicke wherein wée haue wickedly noughtily passed ouer our lyues wherby we haue very gréeuously offēded both God and our neighbor we are striken with great feare and sorrow euen as S. Paule sayeth vnto the Romaines Indignation wrath Rom. 2. tribulation and anguishe shall come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill Death ADam our flesh dieth very vnwyllingly Wherefore when death approcheth neere mans heart is altoo shaken wyth great dolors and heauinesse which no tongue is able to expresse For our fearefull affection and oure naturall man dreadeth miserablie least that when he is once dead and buried vnder the earth he shall neuer returne againe and liue but supposeth that he is vndone for euer Hell fire and Damnation WHen those things come as it were before our eyes then man feareth least he bée vtterly cast away from the presence of God and séeth none other thing in himselfe but euerlasting death Wée haue neede therfore of a good courage in this case and of a strong and valiant heart that there appeare in vs no point of cowardnesse and desperation ¶ A Prayer for the same O Most mercifull God and most louing Father I beséech thée aide vs and graunt that we which bée yet in good health and safetie may learn to feare and dreade thée may loue and imbrace thy holy worde and that we may set thée before vs as a scope and marke whervnto we may direct all our doings and that we being alwayes mindefull of the most bitter agonie of death may so prepare arme our selues that we maye order all our deedes to thy glory as doe the godly which feare thée and that we may in the ende obteyne euerlasting lyfe Amen What is to be done when Sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences THinke with thy selfe that the sonne of GOD came downe from heauen into the lowest partes and was made man he tooke vpon him thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole worlde hée willingly dyed on the crosse for them and made full satisfactiō for them all suffering for thy sake most gréeuous paines The moste precious blood of Christ was shed for thy saluation and thou art partaker of his death if so be that thou constantly beleue on Christ that he died as wel for thée as for Peter and Paule And thou oughtest not to doubt any thing at all but that hée dyed as effectuallye for thée as for Paule Thou art baptised throughe the death of Christe This thing ought to comforte thée this thing ought to lift vp and strengthen thy minde For séeing that thou art baptised through the death of Christ his death shall ayde and saue thée through his death thou shalt not die in thy sinnes but through his death thou shalt vndoubtedly obteine forgiuenesse of them all and in the ende through Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnto a new and euerlasting life For baptisme is a sure token Babtisme pledge and signe of Gods grace and fauour wherein thou art reconciled vnto God that thou maiest haue a ioyous and quiet conscience through him Math. 26. Mark 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes by Christ his resurrection And he certeinlye speaketh vnto thée in the institution of his last supper where as he professeth and testifieth that his blood was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therfore although thou haue not liued an vpright and pure life in eche respect yet Rom. 10. there is no cause why thou shouldest dispaire but spéedily call vpon the name of of the lorde without ceassing and thou shalt bée safe And thus begin thou to saye O moste mercifull GOD A prayer O father of all compassion father of oure lorde Iesus Christ bee mercifull vnto mée a sinner haue compassion on me a poore wretch and make haste to helpe mée for that most bitter yea moste precious passion and death of Iesus Christ thy onely begotten sonne and our onely redéemer and sauior Enter not into iudgemēt with thy seruant oh lorde Psal 143. deale not with mée according to my desertes neyther rewarde me according to mine iniquities but receiue me for thine infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercies sake I a wretch and séely creature am in thine hand power and daunger oh moste mightie and mercifull God oh most louing father cast mée not awaye vtterly refused in miserie I am thine whatsoeuer I am No man can comfort mée no man can help me besides thee onely Thou art the true propulsour driuer awaye of all mischiefe from men Thou art the most sure and readie helpe ayde succour and defence Thou art the moste strong tower Thou art O God our hope Psal 46. Psal 31. and strength thou art a very present help in trouble In thée O Lorde do I put my trust let me not be cōfounded let me neuer bee ashamed my hope béeing in vayne but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Bow downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer me And be thou my strong rock and house of defence that thou mayest saue mée Thou art my strong rock my castle Thou art my lorde my porcion is in thine handes Lighten thy face vpon thy seruant and saue me O lorde in thy mercie Further thou that art sick must be chiefly admonished of this point that thou think not what sinnes thou hast committed but rather haue before thine eies to cōtemplate and looke on the image of Christ his most holesome precious death Fasten it surely in thy minde and thorowly perswade thy selfe Esay 53. Math. 8. that thou art not now oppressed with thy sinnes for Christ and that they are all layed vpō his shoulders which taking them vpon him hath made satisfaction
and redemption for vs Pet. 32. Rom. 4. so that he will neuer impute them vnto vs but will fréely forgiue them all euen as we saye in the articles of our faith I beleue the remission of sinnes The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes throughe Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick wherof I haue here vnder recited some that they may be in a readynesse BEholde the Lambe of God Ioan. 1. which taketh away the sinnes of the worlde Wée are not redéemed with bryckle thinges 1. Petr. 1. as with corruptible siluer and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot Let these things enter into the bottome of thine heart let these things lift thée vp and giue thee comforte There is no cause why thou shouldest doubt of the forgiuenesse of sinnes if thou constantly professe the name of Christ and trustest in his mercie he will also take away thy sinnes If so be that thou nothing stick nor stacker but vndoubtedly beléeuest this nowe thou art become the sonne of God there is no cause why thou shouldest wauer there is nothing that thou shouldest feare Hearken vnto the testimonies of scripture but so hearken vnto them that thou mayest surely print them in thy minde Ioan. 3. So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that none that beléeue in him should perishe but should haue euerlasting lyfe He that beléeueth on him shall not be condemned Math. 9. I came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentance Math. 11. Come vnto mée all yee that labour and are laden and I will refresh you He calleth all men vnto him he refuseth no man he casteth no man in the téeth Thou art also comprehended in this worde All. Call vpon his mercie and he will comfort thée Rom. 5. God setteth out his loue that he hath to vs séeing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then nowe séeing that we are iustified in his blood shall we be saued from wrath thorowe him God the father which earnestly loueth thée would that this gospell full of comfort shoulde bée also declared vnto thée For Christ was sent vnto thée and he also died for thee beléeue onely and commende thy selfe vnto Christ thy preseruer and defender If when we were enimies Rom. 5. we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his sonne muche more séeing we are reconciled wee shall be preserued by his lyfe Christ is made to vs wisedome 1. Cor. 1. and also righteousnesse and sanctifying and redemption Here déerely beloued brother take a good hart although thou bée neuer so great an offender yet there is no matter why thou shouldest despeire but confesse and acknowledge thy selfe before Christ to be a sinner Call vpon his mercie and desire pardon of him aske forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and beléeue that Christ is thy onely sauiour thy health and iustification and euer will be Rom. 4. he will both couer and also abolishe all thy sinnes that thou shall neither feare perill nor dammage for them God hath made him to bée sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. which knew no sinne that we by his meanes should be that righteousnesse which before God is allowed Gala. 1. Christ gaue himselfe for our sinnes to delyuer vs from this presente euill worlde through the will of God our father Ephe. 1. By Christ we haue redemption thorowe his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace 1. Timo. 1. Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners Haue thou a confidence in these wordes and giue good credite vnto them and thou shalt be iustified and saued as wel as saint Paule 1. Timo. 2. Christ Iesus gaue himselfe a ransome for all men Constantly beléeue this and without all question to the contrarie thou art one of that number which shall be saued Hebr. 10. We are sanctified by the offering vp of the body of Iesus Christ once for all Thou hearest Christ also speaking vnto thée in his laste supper féeding thée with his body and giuing himselfe vnto thée spiritually that thou mightest drink his blood vnto euerlasting lyfe Luc. 22. Where as he sayeth Take eate this is my body Math. 26. Mark 14. 1. Cor. 11. which is gyuen for you This do in the remembrance of mée And likewise when he had supped he tooke the cup saying This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shedde for you for the forgiuenesse of sinnes Doe this as often as yée shall drinke it in the remembrance of mée Thinke thou déerely beloued that those wordes were spoken vnto thée fasten them in the bottome of thine heart For when he speaketh generally vnto al men Mark 13. he speaketh to thee also All things which Christ suffered shall doe thée good they shall redownde vnto thine aduantage and saluation they shall profite thée as much as they shall the déere saintes of God Christ himselfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the trée 1. Petr. 2. Christ hath once suffered for sinnes 1. Petr. 3. the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God The blood of Iesus Christe clenseth vs from all sinne 1. Ioan. 1. If anye man sinne 1. Ioan. 2. we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ which is righteous He it is that abteyned grace for our sinnes Thou mayest take moe fewer or lesse sentences of scripture for this purpose euen as thou shalt perceyue the sick to be affected The words which thou hast now heard are not the wordes of man but of the holy Ghost which plainly testifie that God the father whiche woulde not the death of a sinner Ezech. 18. but that he might be conuerted and liue for that his feruent loue which he beareth towardes thee hath eased and released thée from the burthen of thy sinnes hath layed them on the shoulders of his deerely beloued sonne Esay 53. which hath so borne and suffered them all in his body that they shal neuer be thy condemnation For if so bée that thou beléeue in Christ God reputeth and accepteth the death of his sonne in the stead of a full and sufficient repentance satisfaction and absolution for all thy sinnes Séeing therefore thy sinnes layed vpon Christ coulde not deteyne or kéepe him in death and condemne him ransome is truely payd for them and they are all fréely forgiuen thée Beléeue this and thou shalt liue eternally Christ himselfe suffered for thy sinnes Rom. 4. 1. Ioan. 2. died for them But he rose againe and the sinnes of all faithfull beléeuers are by his death acquited purged and clensed so that the straight iustice seuere iudgement of God is aboundantly satisfied through Christ Nowe therefore Christ is become thine and all others which beleeue with al his benefites with his death with his resurrection with his
assension into heauen with his lyfe with his merites and with his glorie Wherfore sathan hath no power ouer thee at all he can not hurte thée Rom. 8. séeing that thou art iustified through Christ séeing that thou art deliuered from all thy sinnes séeing that thou art become the child of GOD. God is thy father earnestly louing thée for Chiist his sake which hath reconciled and made a tonement for thée Wherefore be thou of good courage and reioyce thou in the lorde For séeing that thou art in the hands of almightie God thy good and most faithfull father thou art in safetie and out of al daunger For thou art enclosed and compassed about with the custodie of God and garde of angelles Christ is altogither become thine he couereth and taketh awaye all thy sinnes Ioan. 10. by his innocencie and righteousnesse No man can by violence pluck thée out of the handes of thy heauenly father Thou hast now the victorie when thou hast suffered and passed ouer this corporall crosse affliction the which being truely compared with eternall lyfe shal appere very easie 2. Cor. 4. Heb. 6. Ephe. 1. momentanie but of a short time Christ was in the like agony yea in a farre more bitter more horrible He is gon before thée he is thine head to whom thou must néedes become lyke and die vnto sinne and must lay aside this lyfe spotted and embrued with wickednesse that thou mayest after lyue the true life for euer with thy mayster Christ Let not thy sinnes trouble thée There is no cause why thy cōscience should be tormēted séeing that thy sinnes are now done away and abolished Thou hast ouercome and hast cast vnder foote that malignant spirite which goeth about to worke the destruction of our soules God now hath compassion on thée he careth for thée he doth defende and kéepe thée all the felowship of saintes and aungels doe regarde thée And euen as Christ can not be damned so lykewise thou canst not be damned if so be that thou beleue on him with the full confidence of thine whole hart If sinne death and hell can nothing hurt thy lorde and mayster Christ neyther can they hurt thée for thou art mistically graffed into Christ by fayth and Christ is effectuall in thée therefore thou canst neuer be damned If so be that thou thy selfe shouldst beare thy sinnes and make a tonement for them thou wouldst by no meanes be able to susteine and beare so great and heauie a burthen they woulde bee farre to weightie for thée they woulde deuour thée as one drowned into the bottome of hell But Christ being perfite God and perfite man did offer himself vp of his owne accord for thée he did put himself in thy roume discharging paying all things for thee as it is written in the Psalme Psal 69. I payde them the things I neuer tooke Truely thou diddest commit sinne against thy selfe but Christ purged them and made satisfaction for thée and planted thée in libertie if so be that thou beléeue this Gospell Although al the sinnes of the whole world were layde vpon thée onely yet God hath grace and mercie sufficient for them more then sufficient God hath promised thée his grace and blessing in Christ and the same is ratified certeine full absolute and perfite in Christ thy lorde and mayster Thou must néedes be saued if so be that thou fastē thine eyes vpon Christ Hypostasis For Christ is the naturall sonne of God in diuine substance veritie it selfe and touching his humanitie he is our fleshe and blood Who will be more sure and certeine then this Christ to giue and perfourme the promise of grace which is himselfe the veritie of his promise and loueth vs vnfaynedly in somuch that he had léefer dye then to disappoint vs in any parte of his promise Wherefore if thou beleue in Christ thou art now made partaker of his heauenly blessing thou art now eased of the burthen of thy sinnes nowe thou art the eire of God and the fellowe eire with Christ for euer Math. 24. For heauen and earth shall passe but the worde of the lorde endureth for euer Therefore beléeue and strengthen thy minde with good hope and doubt not but GOD is chéefest and almightie yea euen for thée hee became man for thy saluation he was also borne for thy sake hée dyed on the crosse he rose from the deade for thy sake and ascended into heauen he offered vp and performed all things which were promised vnto vs. For all the promises of God 2. Cor. 1. by Christ are yea and are by him Amen Wherfore desire of God to haue his mercy and then looke for none other thing at his hand but méere grace and mercy and the same for Christ and through Christ For without him truely there is no consolatiō no health no hope no helpe or succour In this only Christ is all comfort all ayde and staye and to be bréefe all the meanes of our saluation In him is all grace and mercie much more infinite and greater more highe plentifull and abundant then anye man can either comprehend or wyshe for God vouchsafe to graunt vs a sure and constant fayth After this maner thou shalt comfort the sick body either with longer or shorter communication as the matter shall require And I admonish thée déere brother in the lorde that thou withdrawe thy minde with as great endeuor and studie as thou mayest from the horrible contemplation of sinne and death and bend all thy thoughts vpon Christ onely fasten the eyes of thy minde vpon him cleane vnto him with all thine hart and as it were drinke him into thée call vpon him with full trust of minde and commit thy selfe wholy vnto him For thou shalt finde none other thing in this Christ than excellent innocencie righteousnesse lyfe and saluation all the which being deryued from Christ into thée are now become thine if so be that thou wilt acknowledge him to be thy redéemer and authour of thy saluation Wherefore I warne thée doe oftentimes beate it into thée by repetition and that for good cause that thou renue not or call to minde the remembraunce of thy sinnes nor torment thy self by waying the multitude and greatnesse of them Whē thy sinnes are banished farre off from thée set Christ crucified onely before thine eies fasten him in thine hart let thy whole minde senses be surely set on him cleane fast vnto him with all thine heart neuer to be pulled away By this meanes thou shalt withstande and preuaile against the gates of hell be they neuer so cruell be they neuer so horrible and terrible Call to minde with how great humanitie and clemencie with what gentlenesse benignitie Christ in the Euangelicall historie Math. 9. hath receyued and vsed all sinners which truely repenting haue asked forgiuenesse and besought his ayde and mercy And thou shalt finde Marie of Magdalene Luc. 8. Luc.
commoditie Thou must therefore leaue and forsake this lyfe if thou wilt enioy euerlasting lyfe So after this lyfe thou shalt in the ende begin to lyue in deede Furthermore this corporall death profiteth thée to this purpose that when thou hast tasted the bitternesse and sharpnesse therof thou mayest trie know how feruent the affection of Christ his loue was towardes thée what an vnestimable benefite hée bestowed vpon thée that he dying for thée did paye and make satisfaction with his bodye for all thine offences death throughly extinguished and abolished and the gates of hell throwne downe destroyed and also broken For thou couldest neuer any other wayes know and vnderstand the strength and power of life in Christ which hath swalowed vp our death thou shouldst not know the largenesse of his benifits neither shouldest thou be able to giue so harty thankes to Christ thy lorde and redéemer Wherfore seing that Christ doth liue thou also shall lyue by him and this same death shal be vnto thée a certeine happy wholesome sléepe It shall be also an entrance and gate into that true and most blessed lyfe Secondly Christ was also tempted with sinne when they did reuile and vpbraide him as a verie wicked man and giltie of most gréeuous crime Math. 27. If thou be the sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauest others why doest thou not saue thy selfe also What other thing meane these contumelious wordes then that they supposed and thought that he deceiued the people by fraude dole slight wiles noughtie craftinesse and that he was not in déede the sonne of God yea they iudged him rather to be most wicked most abhominable and most worthy of reproch Euen likewise sathan will tempt man being in daunger of death he will present vnto him whatsoeuer he hath done and committed against the commaundement of God and will put into his minde whole waynlodes as it were of sinnes the same heaped vp into a great abundance that by the outragiousnesse and greatnesse of sinnes he maye bring man into desperation which staggereth and doubteth of Gods mercie and pardon And here thou must stand fast and strongly and shalt enterteine thine enimy assaulting thée with these wordes I confesse that I am a most manifold and gréeuous sinner But Christ frée from all sinne he that innocent lambe in whose mouth was founde no guile 1. Petr. 2. hath suffered cruell death for my sinnes he hath clensed them all be they neuer so great nor neuer so many and hath made sufficient satisfaction for them all Christ his death is the propitiation for al my sinnes 1. Ioan. 2. Christ verily hath suffered all my féeblenesse He in déede hath caried all my sorowes He was wounded for mine iniquities Esay 53. He was smitten for my sinnes By his woundes am I healed He hath takē vpō him al my sinnes I now acknowledge none I thank Christ which hath payed ransome for them all Thirdly he was also tempted with hell or eternall damnation when they obiected against him saying He hath trusted in the Lorde Math. 27. let him take him let him saue him bicause he will haue him as thoughe they should say All his hope in God shal deceyue him God is his aduersarie and abhorreth him and will cast him awaye for euer as one thrust downe into hell When the same tempter prouoketh thée with such lyke temptations take héede thou stand fast There is no cause why thou shouldest feare there is no cause why thou shouldest tremble Let the thing which he offereth and presenteth vnto thée nothing moue thée at all bée it neuer so gréeuous Put out of thy minde and banish awaye farre from thee as well sinne as death and hell They haue no power ouer thée if thou fasten thine eies vpon Christ Take holde on him and commend thy selfe wholy vnto him Christ is thine and he bestoweth himselfe wholy vpon thée He hath redéemed thée from the tirannie of the diuell and euerlasting damnation by an inestimable price This Christ is thine innocencie thy lyfe and thy righteousnesse Take héede onely that thine hart be neuer withdrawne from Christ crucified by any temptations If thou cleaue fast vnto thys Christ thou shalt be safe against all the gates of hell as one that is placed vpon an high most sure and inuincible rocke that thou mayest crie out with Christ Psal 16. I haue set God alwaies before me He is on my right hand Therfore I shal not fal Wherfore my hart was glad and my glorie reioysed my fleshe also shall rest in hope Thou hast shewed me the pathes of lyfe In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioye and at thy right hande is pleasure for euermore Thou art become through such a faith in Christ the childe of God the brother and felow eire with Christ Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Rom. 3. Gal. 3. Ephe. 2. and partaker of eternall lyfe This fayth iustifieth the righteous that is to saye those which beleue in Christ For this faith thou shalt be reputed the blessed child of God thy heauenly father and when thou departest hence thou shalt enter into the kingdome of heauen Math. 25. prepared for the elect children of GOD from the beginning of the worlde But if so be that thy fayth wauer and be doubtfull in temptations and when thou doest not suffer moderately and paciently ynough the wil of thy heauenly father when thy loue towardes God is somewhat colde when thy hope is weake and slender and for this cause fearest lest thou shouldest not well accorde with God or lest he will be offended with thée Truely this is a most greeuous most painefull and hard temptation But thou shalt thinke in thy minde and perswade with thy selfe that Christ suffered for thée moste intolerable Inuincible touching mere māhood and inuincible temptations wherein there appéered no helpe comfort ayde or defence any where wherein God and the whole world séemed to be his most cruell malycious enimies when that he cryed aloude My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh horrible and most cruell temptation oh good God how sharpe how greeuous how cruel how bitter was the death which he suffered for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore seing that Christ willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intolerable sorrowes and calamities our most louing heauenly father wylling the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmity out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extréemely deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecilitie weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him say Come vnto me Math. 11. al ye that labor and are heauie laden and I wil refresh you what more plentifull what greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs Truly many very gréeuous things do molest trouble mā For what thing can more
grace through Christ that he would fréely giue thée euerlasting lyfe if thou beleue and art baptised that he woulde neuer forsake thee that he will be thy father that he will crowne thee with grace and mercie Baptisme is a seale of saluation And thy baptsime is the seale and token of this league whervnto his promises being added it is requisite that thou stick fast vnto them For he gaue this singe that thou shouldest nothing doubt of his couenant and promised grace Thou art baptised into the death of Christ as saint Paule sayeth Rom. 6. that his death should be made thine and that he should make satisfaction in all things for thée and thou hast put him on in thy baptisme Gala. 3. that thou shouldest wholy be in him and hée in thée Therefore baptisme is a league lifting vp making merie and quieting thy conscience before god as saint Peter beareth witnesse 1. Pet. 3. that hee wyll neuer condemne thée for thy sinnes For thou iustified by fayth Rom. 5. art at peace with God A quiet calme and pacified conscience is the true peace The true peace And thou hast receiued baptisme as a most sure token and certeine seale of this iustification and remission of sinnes that thou shouldst stedfastly beléeue that God will haue mercye on thée that hée will preserue and delyuer thée Now therefore seing that God fauoreth thée and will be thy father and will neuer forsake thée and seing that thou hast receyued an infallible token and testimony hereof commende and vtterly giue all the matter and thy selfe also wholy vnto him and be thou obedient vnto his good will pleasure and thou must paciently abide and suffer his hande whether he will haue thée to dye or lyue so that his owne blessed will may be done vnto his owne praise glory Albeit it is not possible that thou canst be damned if thou consecrate and dedicate thy selfe wholy vnto him surely trusting in his mercie promised for Christ his sake For he hath condicioned that he will be thy father And bicause he is true when thou doest acknowledge him to be thy father and doest looke for and hope to receyue all goodnesse of him he cannot but be thy father and preserue thée by what meanes soeuer he sharply vseth thee for a little space Seing therefore he hath promised to be thy father thou trustest vnto his promises without all question he taketh earnest care of thee and all thine Wherefore thou shalt commend vnto him not onely thine owne body but also thy wyfe and children thy kinsfolkes and fréendes and to be short all that thou hast and doubt not but he will be vnto thée in the steade of a verie father a wyfe a true fréend and cosine For hitherto he hath vsed thée as a dispensatour and steward in those things But now séeing that he will haue thée to lay aside the function of this office he wil appoint in thy roume an other steward for them which shall diligently and faithfully take care of them If thou hope for this of him and looke for it with a ful confidence of hart there is no doubt but he will do as I haue tolde thée Wherefore put out of thy minde all care of them and commit it vnto God Be rather carefull for thy selfe prouide for thy soule and thinke how to yéelde it vp vnto God And seing that God hath fréely forgiuen thée all thy sinnes for Christ his sake he will require nothing of thee at all for this his great and inestimable benefite but that thou againe forgiue from the bottome of thine hart all them which haue offended thée And he doth promise Math. 6. that he wil remit all our trespasses if we forgiue other men there misdéedes Therefore when thou hast so forgiuen all offences vnfaynedly that thou neuer reuiue them nor call them vnto memorie againe praye also for them which haue done thée harme according to the doctrine and example of Christ and if thou recouer help them néeding thine aide as much as thou mayest If thou haue such a minde voyde of strife enuie malice and wrath thou hast also a signe and token that God hath forgiuen thée thy sinnes For fayth whereby thine hart is purified and clensed exercising hir selfe and bringing forth hir fruits according to Gods infinite benifits cannot choose but likewise forgiue and doe good vnto hir neighbour This fruit of loue and charitie testifieth and doth ascerteine thée A liuely fayth bringeth foorth true fruites that thy faith is a true a liuely faith seing that she bringeth forth good and true fruites †2. Petr. 1. This is the thing that saint Peter would haue whereas he biddeth vs to giue the more diligence to make our calling and election sure by good workes For he meaneth that those workes are witnesses and signes that thou art chosen and adopted of God to be his sonne vnto the ioyes of eternall saluation But thou shalt not hope déerely beloued that God will forgiue thée thy sinnes Payne cannot merite the remission of sinnes for the payne and gréeuousnesse of thy crosse sicknesse †Act. 4. Ioan. 1. For there is none other saluatiō ther is none other recompēce for thy sinnes then the onely death of Christ God truely respecteth none other thing in this case hée accepteth none other thing but his déerely beloued sonne This is the lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world And this thy sicknesse and paynes cannot make satisfaction vnto God so muche as for thy least offence muche lesse can it deserue saluation As S. Paule testifyeth saying I suppose that the afflictiōs of this lyfe Rom. 8. are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs. No creature Peter saieth Act. 4 there is no saluation in anye other than in Christ neyther in heauen neyther in earth no Angell coulde mitigate and pacifie the wrath of GOD the father then this thy disease and temporall affliction is much lesse able to aswage it And farder it was requisite that he which should pacifie that wrath and reconcile god vnto man should be both God and man as one ready to pleade and make intercession betwéene God being offended man condemned Therefore it behoued the sonne of God to be made mā that he might appease and satisfie the wrath of his father deliuer vs from it as the prophet witnesseth saying Hée taketh away our infirmities Esa 53. beareth our paynes God hath layd our iniquities vpon him I haue smitten him sayth god for the sinnes of my people 1. Petr. 2. And s Peter fayth By whose stripes we ar healed Thy sinnes therefore are forgiuen thée for this thy lord Christ his sake and for none other thing in all the world For none afflictiōs be they neuer so bitter and gréeuous can helpe vs. Christ is our only iustification 1. Cor. 2. redemptiō satisfaction and saluation
able to assault inuade thée Who I pray thée shall be able to doe thée wrong What daunger can there be Harcken what saint Paule sayth Rom. 8. If God sayeth he be on our side who can be against vs Which hath not spared his owne sonne but hath yéelded him vp for vs all howe can it be that he also will not giue vs all things with him Who shall go about to laye anye crime against Gods elect It is God that iustifieth Who is he then that can condemne It is Christ that died yea rather which is raysed vp againe and is at the right hand of God and there maketh intercession for vs. Who shall separate vs from the loue of God I am thorowlye perswaded that neyther death neither life neither heigth neither depth neither any other creature can be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in our lord Iesus Christ Séeing that therfore Christ is giuen thee with al his riches with all his righteousnesse innocency and saluation Eternall life is giuen thée also Sainct Paule testifying the same vnto the Corinthians sayth 1. Corin. 1 That Christ is made of God to vs wisdome and also righteousnesse and sanctifying and redemption Therefore sée that thou haue all thy hope and confidence placed and fixed vpon this Christ and vpon this corner stone This stone is a sure soūd This stone is Christ 1. Petr. 2. Esay 28. and firme foundation wherevnto thou mayst leane and safely commit thy selfe No tempest be it neuer so black and boysterous no shower no stormes are able to throwe downe and ouerturne this foundation Let all thy hope and aide I say be placed and set on this Christ cast thy selfe vpon him sticke fast vnto him let no temptation or calamity be able to withdrawe and pull thée from him although all things seeme to happen vnto thée very absurdly and ouerthwartly Although fleshe and blood doe interprete it farre otherwise and reason thinke it contrary although the deuill doth nowe and then whisper in thy minde saying That thou art vndone that God is highly offended with thee that thou hast deserued the paine of hell fire and that thou muste be damned For faith is a substaunce that is to wit Hebr. 11. an expectation of things hoped for Hypostasis that is of promises and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as much to say as a sure argument and knowledge of things that are not séene Rom. 4. Gen. 15.17 Thou muste beleue with that holy Patriarch Abraham in hope ouer and aboue hope Thy faith and hope muste resist and set it selfe against all those things which eyther blinde reason suggesteth either that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our most subtile and by all meanes most crafty enimy going about to worke vs deceyt and our destruction doth instill and poure into vs. Wherfore thou must learne well the maner and custome of God which he vseth in preseruing those that are his Looke whome he will lift vp into heauen him will he first seeme to bring downe vnto hell 1. Reg. 2. Looke whom he entendeth to quicken him will he first mortifie and kill Vppon whom he mindeth to shew his notable mercy and fauor he first maketh semblance triing him as though he would cōdemne him Wherfore whē thou perceyuest none other thing but present death when God séemeth to be gréeuouslye offended with thée when that thou thynkest that he is gone most fardest from thée and that he hath vtterly forsaken thée as one refused and condemned then is he most néerest vnto thée ready to defend and deliuer thée he then loueth thee most especially then thou art chiefly regarded of him For when trouble and affliction commeth vpon vs then doth he remember his mercye according to the prophets saying Psal 30. For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye he will not be angry for euer For like as a father pitieth his owne children Psal 103. euen so is the lord merciful vnto them that feare him For he knoweth wherof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust But the mercifull goodnesse of the lorde endureth for euer and euer The lord is full of compassion and mercye long suffering and of great goodnesse Wherfore submit put vnder giue and commend thy selfe wholy vnto Christ closing thine eyes reiecting the iudgement of thy senses reason take it in good parte howsoeuer he intreateth thée Thou must not estéeme and consider death and horrour or the dolours of death according to the iudgemēt of thine eyes sense and reason but according to the worde of God Dauid sayeth Psal 116. Right déere in the sight of the lorde is the death of his saints Lykewise he sayeth Blessed are the dead Apoc. 14 Ioan. 8. which die in the lorde Christ also sayeth He that beléeueth on mée shall not tast of death If any thing therefore come into thy memorie which attempteth to turne thée away from Christ and to cast thée into desperation put all that out of thy minde and stick thou fast vnto the liuely worde of God meditate and ponder thereon print it in thy minde repeating it now and then among For thou canst neuer vnderstand by the consideration and sharpnesse of reason how it may be done that by death thou shalt passe vnto the true lyfe how thou yéelding vp thy ghost mayest depart here hence how thy soule maye be preserued and rest in the lorde euen vntill the last day and how also thy body being rotten consumed and deuoured with wormes maye come forth at the last iudgemēt with a new and a beawtifull shape Reason cannot comprehende this faith onely can Therefore oftentimes thinke thou vpon the articles of thy beléefe diligently consider and attentiuely examine euery particular thereof After what sort he is to bee called vpon which lyeth at the point of death NOw sée déerely beloued in Christ that thou fight a good fight Sée that thou cōstantly and valiantly defende thy self throughly fastē in thine hart the promises of Christ thy redeemer I am the resurrection Ioan. 11. and the lyfe sayeth Christ He that beléeueth on me shall lyue and shall neuer sée death Christ taking vpon him the nature of man subiect to the infirmities of our estate did offer vp himselfe to be a sacrifice for our sinnes dying vpon the aultar of the crosse He by his blessed blood did purge and clense the sinnes of all mankynde This Christe will not forsake thée he taketh a regarde of thée Thou canst suffer no iniurie or calamitie seing that Christ doth preserue and defende thée 2. Timo. 2. Ioan. 10. The sure foundation of God standeth fast hauing this seale the lorde knoweth which are his my shéepe héere my voice and I know them and they folow mée and I giue vnto them eternall lyfe and they shall neuer perishe neyther shall any man pluck them out of my hand My father which gaue them me is
greater then all and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hand And I and my father are one Wherefore O déerely beloued in Christ commend thy soule vnto God thy father which loueth thée singularlye Crie out with thy brother Christ Math. 27. Luc. 27. hanging on the crosse Into thy handes O father I giue and commend my spirite God the father of all mercie bring thée vnto euerlasting lyfe and preserue thée vnto the most ioyfull resurrection of his last iudgement Amen The ende of the fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick ¶ A prayer to be sayde vnto God for the sick ALmightie euerlasting and most mercicifull God which art woont amoÌ„gst thy sundry disciplines and manyfolde chastisements wherewith thou doest prouoke and allure vs vnto thée to bridle our fleshe with diuers diseases the securitie thereof taken awaye by perillous sicknesse and doest both admonishe vs of the ende of oure naughtie lyfe past and also of ymminent death through paines which are hir fore messengers and likewise of thy iudgement in the last daye and of the eternall lyfe to come which shall be reserued for the good and godly vnto glorie and felicitie but for the euil vnto shame and condemnatioÌ„ of hell fyre Of the which things fleshe being let runne at hir owne will hath no remembrance But now we perceyue this seelye man is layed on his bedde by his impayred health vnto whome is stirred vp the féeling of his sinnes and the ymage of death often flyeth as it were before his eyes We wretches therefore which looke for the lyke houre of aduersitie acording to the condition of our nature doe beseeche desire thée togither with him that thou practise not righteous iudgement with him for his deserts for our lord Iesus Christ his sake which hath made satisfaction on the crosse for the offences of this sicke body and vs all But rather graunt hym as to one redéemed grace and strength of mind that he maye quietly take this thy fatherly discipline and visitation paciently beare it and that he may suffer wyllingly with perfite obedience himselfe to be subiect and obeysant vnto the good will and pleasure of thée his punisher Succour him in all his aduersities and be thou vnto him a refuge and a defence against this instant daunger wherewith he is now in perill especially of his reueled conscience the secret sinnes of his hart doe accuse him vnto thée Therefore set thou against it for his preseruation the moste bitter torments and voluntarie sacrifice of thy sonne Christ which did beare our infirmities 1. Pet. 2. and accomplished the paine due vnto vs beeing made sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. Apoc. 1. Rom. 4. whilst that he died for our sinnes which he washed away with his precious blood and rising from the deade for our iustification was made our perfite redéemer Let him perceiue through faith the force of these fruits and benifites Let him being oppressed in this misery féele thine aide and let him tast in this moment of time some fruite of suche benifits and gifts in Christ Bring to passe euen nowe by true fayth that there maye be offered vnto him so great a treasure of felicitie that is I meane the forgiuenesse of his sinnes for Christ his sake which by the misterie of the preaching of his worde as is before saide and the vse of his sacramentes frequented in the church is offered vnto him that he maye effectually and of a suertie receiue it to his comfort ayde and defence against the troubles of his conscience gréeuously accusing him and the subtiltie of the deuill And also that the same faith maye be vnto him an armour wherewith he being defenced may enter through death into lyfe â—â—â—â—n he taking hold may enioy the same for euer Therefore O heauenly father we doe wholy commit him vnto thée for thou shalt heale him bicause he is sicke Hée is weake thou shalt strengthen him he lyeth a long thou shalt set him vp he acknowledgeth his spottes and vncleanesse thou shall washe him he is wounded thou shalt cure him he is feareful thou shalt giue him courage And for bicause thou knowest all things and canst bestowe according to thy wil thou shalt satisfie him For he is greatly gréeued with huÌ„ger and thirst after thée Imbrace him For he straight waye flyeth vnto thée and make hym constant to fulfill thy commaundements And to be briefe forgiue him all things wherwith he hath prouoked thy heauie displeasure against him Graunt him in the steade of death life with thée in glorye But if we shall néede him in thy vineyarde in this mortall life and that he maye be imbettred vnto the example of Christ then preserue him vntill that he be increased with more ample benifites Thy will notwithstanding which alwayes is best be euer fulfilled GrauÌ„t all those things vnto vs and this sicke body through Iesus Christ only thy sonne our lord which is our only redeemer helper and which brought the théefe on the crosse with him into Paradyse for the example and great comfort of al sinners which liueth and reigneth with thée in the vnitie of the holy ghost one God world without end Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayd vnto Christ O Lorde Iesu which art the onlye health of all men liuing the euerlasting life of them which die in faith I giue and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy moste blessed will whether it pleaseth thée that this my séelie soule shall tary any longer in the mansion of this my wretched bodye to serue thée or whether thou wilt haue it to depart out of this world being assured that the thing cannot perish which is coÌ„mited vnto thy mercy Willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinfull flesh in hope of the resurrection which shall restore it vnto me againe far better than now it is I besech thée that thou wilt streÌ„gthen my soule with thy grace against all temptations and that thou wilt compasse me about and defende me with the shielde of thy mercy against al the assaultes of sathan wherewith in time past thou madest thy martyrs inuincible against horrible torments and moste cruell deathes I sée and confesse that in my selfe there is no help of saluatioÌ„ but all my hope and confidence is in thine vnspeakable goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I maye alleage before thée of sinnes alas I sée a great heape but through thy mercy and righteousnesse I shall be reckened in the number of the iuste Thou wast borne for my sake Thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou didst preach and teache fast and praye for my sake Thou didst all good works in this life for my sake Thou gauest thy most precious bodie vnto death vpoÌ„ the crosse for my sake Let all these things profite me which thou hast fréely giuen mée which hast giuen thy selfe for me Let thy blood washe awaye the spots of mine offences Let thy
†Sirach 6. If thou sée a wise man go thou vnto him early in the morning and let thy foote tread the path vnto his gate For this counsell is not only good for them that cannot reade but also for them that can For many there be which read and know not what they read Take héede therefore that thou doe not little regarde the * 2. Cor. 6. grace bestowed on thée by the frée gift of Christ but be thou carefull to séeke how thou mayest please the lorde that thou mayest procure and get vnto thée the blisfulnesse of his saintes For it is written Blessed are they Psal 119. which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole hart See that the enimie let thée not that when thou wouldst read he make thée slouthfull and put other businesse in thy heade which shall pull thée awaye saying First finishe thou these small affaires and so shalt thou reade without trouble of minde For howe often sendeth he in those things that maye encourage thée vnto handie labour And he obiecteth such matters that he may the sooner withhold thée from reading being the greater profite For as much as the deuill perceyuing man to be disposed to reade setteth against him by these and other lyke occasions seeking if he may by any meanes possible let him yet coâ—â—ent thou not vnto him but be euen as the Hart Psal 42. which thirsteth and desireth to come vnto the water springs that is to say vnto the holy scriptures that thou mayest drinke out of them such things as are méete and profitable for thée as for example When it is giuen thée to know any sentence let it not escape thée but pouder vpon it in thy minde write in thine hart and thou shalt kéepe it neuer able to bée rased out of thy memorie For it is written I will thinke vpon thy righteousnesse Psal 119. And againe I haue hidde thy words within my hart that I shoulde not sinne against thée And in an other place Wherewith shall a yong man clense his waye Euen by ruling himselfe after thy worde For who is he that is mindefull of the worde of the lorde and amendeth not his wayes Is not hée alwaies a reprobate a cast awaye caytife which remembereth nothing but rather forgetteth that which he once knew Truely God sayth vnto such an one Psal 50. Wherefore talkest thou of my righteousnesse and takest my testimony in thy mouth WhervpoÌ„ he commaundeth that thing to be takeÌ„ from him which he séemeth to haue Math. 25. And what was there commaunded to bée taken from him which he séemed to haue Faith For he calleth himselfe a christian Tit. 1. but denyeth it in his déedes and he is worse than an infidell And therefore he commaundeth the holy ghost to be taken from him which he receyued in the daye of his redemption and that he séemed to haue also And such a man shal become like vnto a wine vessell thorow the which the wine is spilte and lost they that sée him know it not supposing him to he full but when wine shoulde be drawen out of him then he appéereth vnto all men to be emptie Therefore euen so such a man shall appéere emptie in the daye of iudgement and his déedes shall be manifest vnto all the world And such are they which wil saye vnto the king in that day Math. 7. Lorde haue not we prophesied in thy name and haue done many great things in thy name And the king will answere and saye vnto them Verily I saye vnto you I knowe you not Thou seest déerely beloued that such a man hath nothing at all Be thou therfore mindfull of the worde of God and amende thy lyfe Beware thou suffer not the birdes to descende and deuoure the seede of the sonne of God For he himselfe saide that the séede is the worde which ye haue heard Math. 13. Therefore hide thou the séede in the sorowes of thy lande that is to wit hide the worde in the middell of thine hart that thou mayest bring forth some fruit vnto the lord in feare And when thou readest read diligently and boldly and handle eche lyne moderatly considering thereof Endeuor not to reade ouer many leaues but if any obscure sense happen vnto thée let it not gréeue thée to pervse the verse twice or thrice vntill thou vnderstande the meaning and force thereof Furthermore when thou preparest thy selfe to sit downe and read or to heare an other first praye vnto God saying thus Scripture is attenttyfely to be reade with prayer Psal 119. O lorde Iesu Christ open myne eyes and the eares of my hart that they may heare thy words and vnderstande them and may O lorde fulfill thy wyll hide not thy commaundements from me bicause I am a straunger on the earth but open and discouer mine eyes and I will consider the maruellous things of thy lawe For in thée Oh my God haue I trusted that thou shouldst lighten mine hart Also I beséeche thée so praye vnto God alwaies that he will illuminate thy minde and open vnto thée the effect and force of his worde For many haue erred Rom. 1. counted themselues wise they became fooles not vnderstanding what was written and falling into blasphemies haue therein perished Therfore if thou in reading finde any thing hard to be vnderstoode take héede the enimy teach thée not to say within thy selfe it is not so as this word expresseth for how should it be so and suche lyke But if thou beléeue God beléeue his word also and say vnto the enimie Come behinde me sathan For I know thée not The worde of God is a pure worde as tryed siluer clensed Psal 11. and purged from the earth seauen folde and in it is no peruerse matter other else haulting as the prouerbe is but all things therein séeme good in the wise mans sight and are righteous before them that finde knowledge and I truely am a foole and knowe not the scriptures but well vnderstande they are spiritually written For the apostle sayeth Rom. 7. that the lawe is spirituall Then looke vp towardes heauen saying these wordes Lorde I beleue thy worde and doe not gaine say it but I trust in the worde of thy holy spirite Preserue me therefore O lorde that I may finde fauour in thy sight For I séeke none other thing but only to be saued Oh mercifull father that I maye obtaine thy grace and fauour For thine is the kingdome and mercie for euer and euer Amen Peroratio I Beséeche you therefore brethren déerely beloued in the lorde that ye endeuour your selues to haue these things daylie in memorie I meane faith hope charitie and humilitie that they may be sealed vp by prayers vnto God and meditations of holy scriptures For if you haue those things and doe abound in them they will not leaue you emptie and barren touching the knowledge of Iesus Christ For the 〈◊〉 man which hath not those things but neglecteth his owne saluation is blind groping the waye with his hande 2. Petr. 1. forgetting that he is cleansed from his olde sinnes and it shall happen vnto him as it is sayde in the true prouerbe 2. Petr. 2. The dogge is returned againe vnto his domite and the washed swine vnto his durâ—ie puddle They therefore 2. Petr. 2. that haue escaped the pollutions of the worlde as it is written and haue renounced them in there baptisme and are come vnto the knowledge of our lord Iesus Christ and are afterwards againe entangled with them there ende shall bée worse than there beginning For it had bene better for them not to haue knowne the waye of truth then when they haue knowne it to returne backe againe vnto the things which were forsaken Let vs therfore being the déere and faythfull seruauntes of God and his christian chosen souldiours diligentlye and earnestly take vp the foresaide armour in oure hartes and not haue them in minde by an outwarde showe that we battayling well and treading downe al the power of the enimie Ephe. 5. Collos 3. may be deliuered from the curse to come vpon the children of vnbeléefe and that we maye finde grace Hebr. 4. and mercie in that horrible daye before the iust iudge Rom. 1. which will rewarde euerie man according to his déedes to whome with the almightie father and the holy spirite belongeth honor and glory now and for euer world without ende Amen FINIS The Table PHisick for the soule verie necessarie to be vsed in the agony of death and in these extreme and most perillous seasons c. folio 1. Faith is chiefely necessarie for the sick to abide the paines of the bodye and the temptations wherwith he is pestered folio 3. The articles of our faith are diligently to be considered of the sick folio 5 Wherefore sicknesses are sent vnto vs from God folio 5 There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble oure mindes in the agonie of death that is to wit sinne death hell or damnation folio 8 ¶ A prayer for the same folio 8 What is to bee done when sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences folio 9 The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes through Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick c. folio 11 Whether the sick may lawfully seke the phisitions helpe and vse phisicke or no. folio 18 What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. folio 18 The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the dead folio 20 We will adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort folio 23 What is to be done when hell or eternall damnation coÌ„ming in our minds doth feare vs. folio 25 Of the making of a testament and confession of sinnes vnto God folio 34 Of the sacrament of the lords supper folio 35 The sorow which many take more then is requisite for the death of their parents and frendes ought to be tempered by the right rule of reason folio 37 A precept contayning an exhortation vnto al them which professe the name of Christ folio 39 Peroratio folio 40 A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick folio 41