and sette Also many dye by tempestes or hayle And yet do not thou condemne as wycked suche as be smytten with lightning For the iugemētes of god be rare and vnknowen in priuate personnes whiche for as moche as perteineth to hym careth not whether oone dye of this deathe or that Many tymes innocentes and baabis do dye But thou wylt saye that many dye wylfullye throughe theyr own rashenes the whiche myght haue lyued lenger Somme haue cast away them selfes hedlong c. Coulde they not haue preserued theyr lyfe I aunswere noo God gaue that houre that meane and that kynde of deathe which thing experyence dothe teache Some deadely wounded are lyghtly healed and do lyue Some other are scarselye hurte and yet they die Some Astronomers ascrybe this to the sterres and some to fortune but holy scripture attributeth it to god with whom the tyme both of our lyfe and deathe is lymytted who also careth not whether thou dye of a great or smal wound that he maye confounde all wysedome and mannes imagination Soo that it is a thynge most like madnesse vayne and frustrate to be afrayde or curiouse of any maner of deathe For there is noo cause why it shuld make any man aferd For other the appoynted tyme of deathe is not yet come or elles if it be come he ouer whom it hāgeth wolde nat prefer any pleasure before deathe For death as I haue sayde hathe his apoynted tyme lyke as Christ sayth Luce. 21. The heares of your heade doo not fall If che heares of your heade doo not fall without the apointed wyl of god by what meane maye the hole body dye without the fire wyl of god So great is the care of god ouer the godly whose lyfe death yeres dayes houres and mynutes of houres he hath in his hand which can not die but at the houre apointed of god ¶ Notwithstandyng the vngodly shall not liue out halfe theyr dayes Cap. viii AS holy scripture witnesseth in all places In the psalm The deceytefull shall not liue out halfe theyr days Also Iob Psal 54. Iob. 16. In the tyme whiche is not his he shall make an ende And The feare of the lorde prolongeth the lyfe the yeres of the wycked be short For the godly be euer redy watchyng whē the lorde shall come whether it be in the first watche or in the fourth they in the meane tyme folowe theyr callynge as long as the lord wyll nothynge determyninge for them selfe nothynge carynge for theyr lyfe whether it shall ende on the morowe or .x. yeres after for they haue lyued all theyr tyme althoughe they dye yonge Sap. 4. As the wyse manne saythe Thoughe the rightuouse be ouertakē with deth yet shall he be in rest The vngodly do appoynte vnto them selues longe tyme as he whiche sayde in Luke Luce. 12. My soule thou hast moch goodes layde vp in store for many yeres They do so and lyue so as they shuld liue a long season but in the myddel of theyr lyfe beyng voyde of faythe they be taken awaye in the daye whiche they dyd not loke for and the houre whiche they dyd not knowe Matt. 25. So the foolyshe virgins beinge vnredye in the myddell of theyr dayes were called away So for the most part alwayes the iudgemente of god dothe catche the vngodly carelesse negligent and not watching So in Daniel Daniel 5. Balthasar the kīg was slayne in the nyght of his ennemies Also in the gospell The tumultuous seruauntes the Sodomytes and they whiche were in the tyme of the flodde the vngodly deathe dothe alwaye fynde vnredy but all the godly tary vntyll theyr full tyme that is they be euer redy ¶ The godly also in the tyme of hunger pestilence and warre be punyshed and dye with the wycked Cap. ix IT IS trewe that the godly be punysshed with the vngodlye where the wrothe of god is consūmate For the iudgemente of god when he is angrye is gyuen vpon all bothe good and bad but the godly conceyue a hope of felycitie and fauor Psal 76. He shall not withdraw his mercye for euer And soo they that be punished suffer iugement and at the laste shall opteyne mercy For the godly do knowe that god dothe punishe sinners which doo repente in this lyfe as he punished Dauid that he myght humble them enstructe theym in lernynge and make them more ware and circumspecte And althoughe they dye in the tyme of hunger pestilence or warre with the wicked yet they knowe it to be done by the good wyll of god And bycause they know that they ones shal die Therfore they offer them selues to the good wyll of god which dothe al thinges after the councel of his wyll Ephe. 1. And they knowe that they haue a tyme apoynted to dye and they desyre to be dyssoluyd in the tyme of dienge appoynted by god and to be with Christ Otherwise Nother pestylence hunger nor warre can hurte the godly except the appoynted tyme of deathe ordeyned of god be present For god can well delyuer his as he dyd in tymes paste delyuer Lothe Noe Daniel Ieremy and other as Iacob being caryed with his children in to Egipte And lyke wyse the Israelytes in Egipt 2. Pet. 2. For these coulde not dye but in theyr houre So al the feythful can not dye although they be in the greattest peryll and in extreme desperation but in theyr houre Then wherfore shall they feare deathe They can not lyue lenger then the lorde hath appoynted nor die any soner ¶ To whom they that dye oughte to commytte theyr spirite Cap. x. STEVEN dydde yelde vp his spirite into the hādes of Christ For it is he that hath ouercome deathe Acto 7. in death he doth quicken vs. This is he which sayd Matt. 12. Come vnto me al you that labour and be burdened and I wyl refreshe you And farther this is he whiche oughte to be called vpon that he delyuer vs in afflyction and receyue our spiryte in the houre of deathe Luc. 23. So dyd Chryste Father I commende my spiryte in to thy handes Psal 30. So Dauid Lord I commende my spirite into thy handes There it shall be suer vnder the shadowe of thy winges thou shalt kepe it vnhurte and that whiche is taken away thou shalte restore Let the spirite retourne to the lord whiche dyd gyue it Eccle. 12. Also Christ to the thefe Luc. 23. This daye thou shalte be with me in Paradise This Paradise is a true and perfyte quietnes in Christ amiable ioyful and moste swete And so Lazarus rested in the bosome of Abraham to whom Lazarus soule was caryed by angelles that is he is conteyned in the handes of our god and of the lorde Iesu Christe and leadeth the moste pleasante lyfe For the bosome of Abraham is the promise made to Abraham of the sede whiche is Christe in whom all the godly from Abraham vnto Christ were kepte and
wherby we yelde iustyce to god that seinge he hath soo promysed he wyl plucke vs out and delyuer vs for soo moche he is ryghtuouse and true Thou seest then that christian pacience hath euer hope annexed but that hope beholdeth no creatures but onely the word and promyse of god and holdeth hope agaynste hope as sayth Paule that is when al creatures fayle and shewe no helpe at all yet is there hope that god wyll helpe And thoughe he gyue vs not those thynges whiche we wolde or by that waye or meanes that we wyll yet gouerneth he so the ende throughe his wysedome and goodnesse that we perysshe not and that our prayers be not spente in vayne Paule teacheth the same in this gradation Tribulation bryngeth pacience when he commeth thither and teacheth vs that we ought to holde a sure hope in tyme of trouble and addeth a promyse Roma 4. Hope maketh vs neuer a shamed We muste therfore beleue that we are harde of god that god wyll helpe vs and that we are defended of god For so the psalmes commaunde vs to beleue and praye Psal 17. And in my trouble haue I cried to the lorde and to my god haue I called and he hath graciousely frome his holye temple harde my voyce Psal 80. In trouble thou hast called on me and I haue delyuered the I haue graciously herde the in the darkenes of trouble He hath cryed to me Psal 9◠and I wyll here hym I am with hym in trouble I wyll delyuer hym and he shall glorifie me Of this matter we haue noo fewe ex-examples Chyldren prayed in the myddes of the fornace and they were harde and delyuered Danie 3. Daniel in the myddes of captiuitie praied and in the den of lions and he was preserued Daniel 9. Susan forsaken of all men prayed and she was harde Ionas 2. Esai 38. Ionas in the bealy of the fyshe prayed Hezechias syckened euen to the deathe he tourned his face to the wall and prayed to the lorde and the lord harde hym and was made hole 4. Re. 20. Luc. 22. Christ in the time of his tribulation and passiō praied sheding forth dropes of bloud Stephan in the myddes of theym that stoned hym Act. 7. prayed Whyle Peter was kepte in pryson Act. 12. there was prayer made of the congregation for hym Suche examples oughte to styrre vp our myndes and our faythe to praye more dyligently and with a more feruentnes For affliction and the great waylynges and sorowe of the afflycted are regarded of god soo moche that noo more acceptable sacrifice can be offered to god thē if ye offer a contrite and an humble harte whiche god neuer refuseth as sayth the prophete Psal 112. Who is lyke the lorde our god whiche dwelleth in the hyghe and yet regardeth and beholdeth lowe thinges Whom shall I loke on Esai 66. but on the poore and cōtrite in spirite and hym that feareth my worde The lorde is nyghe them Psal 36. whiche haue a troubled harte We are taught also that the lorde beholdeth and hereth the prayers and crye of synners of those synners whiche althoughe they haue committed neuer so filthy offences yet beleue that the lorde god is theyr god for his promyse made to Abraham that is whiche beleue that they haue god the father pacified in heauen for Iesus Christes sake and through this fayth call to god and are hard through this faythe theyr synnes commytted ar washed away And the praier of the afflycted gothe throughe to the trone of the grace of god This faythe is moche worthe to perswade the hart of the afflycted in temptation that his prayer is harde And for as moche as god is more redier to here then we to praye we ought surely to beleue that our prayers are not ydel but that they please god and are vndoubtedly harde as Sirach also doth warne vs Eccle. 18. Before thy prayer prepare thy soule and be not as a man that tempteth god that is lyfte vp thy mynde with a sure confidence that god wyl here the but not for thy worthynesse But fyrste bycause thou arte sure that god hath commanded vs to pray and for bycause god hath promysed graciously to here vs. Secōdly for bycause thou haste a forme and maner of prayer assygned of hym Wherfore we nede not to feare that our prayer shuld offend hym for god casteth of no manne that commeth vnto hym yea he calleth all men vnto hym whiche are troubled in hart Matth. 11. Come to me all ye that labour and are laden and I shall refresshe you Mary Magdalyn was a synner whiche afterwarde she beganne to washe Christes fete with her teares she harde of Chryste Luc. 7. Thy synnes are forgiuen the. Also the thefe in his extreme sufferynge went to ioye Lyke wyse of zach Matth. Peter Matth. 9. For he came not to calle the ryghtuouse but synners He came to seke the loste shepe and loste dram or grote Luc. 18. He hath promysed to them that repente remission of synnes and receyueth them in to his fauour as the prodigal sonne If we confesse our synnes he is feythefull and ryghtuouse to forgyue vs our synnes 1. Ioh. 1. and to clense vs from al iniquitie Psal 31. I haue said I wyll confesse agaynste my selfe my vnryghtuousenes and thou haste forgyuen the wyckednes of my synne Also if the wycked shal repent from all his synnes Ezech. 18. which he hath done and shall kepe al my preceptes and wyll kepe iudgement and iustice he shal lyue and shall not dye ¶ Of prayer and the maner of prayer in tribulation ¶ PRAYER is the desyre of the harte for any thynge to be required of god it is the pensyfe syghe of godlye myndes whiche calle on the name of the lorde We are commaunded to praye Matt. 16. 1. Tes 5. Colo. 4. watch and pray Also Aske and ye shal haue Aske and it shal be gyuen you also Praye contynually Agayne Be busy in prayer and watche in it Luc. 18. For god dothe not onely suffer vs to praye but also commaundeth as he hath commaunded vs not to kyll not to committe adultery Wherfore lyke as they sinne that kyll or robbe euen so do they that neuer praye ¶ Whos 's preyars are hard of god Eccle. 9. ¶ THE desyre of the pore god hereth The praier of him that meke neth him selfe penetrateth goth throughe the cloudes Psal 101. He hath regarded the praier of the meke and hath not despysed theyr prayers The lorde is nyghe all them Psal 144. Ioh. 4. that crye vnto hym in truthe Suche worshyppers god requireth whiche worshyp hym in spiryte Psal 33. The ryghtuouse haue cryed and the lorde hath hard them and he hath delyuered them from al theyr truble Psal 60. From the endes of the worlde haue I called to the whē my hart was dysmaied and in a rocke hast
fluxe of bloud The voice of Christ called forthe Lazarus The voyce of Christ called forth vncleane spirites from men The shadowe of Peter expelleth syckenes So moche can the creature do taken into the handes of the almyghty whiche hath not this strengthe of nature but of the euerlastyng word of god of whome it receyueth the strength of doinge that it resteth not but is euer workynge and myghtye For there is nothynge made of god in vayne althoughe it be neuer soo vyle For therfore god created those vile thynges to signifie that he him selfe worketh in those abiecte and vyle thinges but the wycked doo attrybute the strengthe of curynge healynge multiplieng and bringyng forth to the erthe nature and herbes but the faythefull attribute it to the lyuynge worde of god and to the present power of god For god worketh all thynges by the erthe herbes and other his creatures as by instrumentes but yet we ought not to attribute those thinges to trees herbes althoughe god vse those thīges for our sake but to god which worketh al thinges in all thynges that all thynges maye be referred to theyr first well sprynge Wherfore it is sure that god by instrumentes dothe worke clense heale and make safe So god only fedeth vs Matt. 6. your heauenly father fedeth them yet vseth he bread as an instrument to fede by Psal 104. Bread confyrmeth the harte of man Agayn God alone kepeth vs and defendeth vs accordynge to this Psal 227. Except the lorde do kepe the citie he that kepeth it watcheth in vayne and yet he kepeth it with the mynistery of angelles and gouernours Fynally god is the auctour and lorde of al thynges he hath his organes and instrumentes with the which as with meanes he doth what he wil. ¶ In afflyction no tyme may be appoynted to god nother yet maner wherby we wolde be delyuered Ca. xi THERE IS no time nor measure of afflyction to be prescrybed or lymytted to the lord although he deffer the matter a lōg season as it apereth in the .v. chapiter of Iohn Ioh. 5. that the infirmitie of the sycke was prolonged vntyl the .xxxviii. yere by the wyll of god vntyll Chryste shulde come and be glorified So let vs beleue certaynly all our afflictions to indure the longer throughe the myghtye wyll and worke of god that at the laste the lorde be glorified in vs. Ioh. 9. A certayne manne was borne blynde and dyd continue so blynde vntyll he came to the perfect aege of a man but wherfore Veryly that the worke of the lord myght be shewed in hym In like wyse the Israelytes were not onely greuouselye punysshed vnder Pharao in Egypt but also a long season not that they shulde be destroyed but rather that the name of the lorde shulde be glorified in them Iob also was cast into greuouse hel paynes many monthes that by the continuaunce of his peynes it myght be made manyfeste that all men were lyers and god onely trewe that is that the name of god by hym myghte be glorified In lyke maner Ioseph hauynge knowlege by his dreme that he shulde be a gouernour was kepte longe tyme partely vnder greuouse seruitude and bondage and partely in prison but for none other cause but that the name of god by hym delyuered from soo lowe humilitie and broughte to so great honour myght be gloryfied God wyl therfore helpe when nede shall require whenne we be compelled to despeyre in all humayne helpe and when all carnal councell shall deceyue vs for god onely wyll be gloryfied Ioh. 2. Chryste dyd not chaunge water into wyne at the begynnynge but dyd tarye vntyll it appered manyfestly to al the gestes that there lacked wine that the glory onely to god and to none other myght be gyuen It semeth oftentymes that god doth leaue his elect in the middel of all yll but sodeynely he helpeth and gyueth socour specially when all thynge is broughte to desperation and besyde al hope with some rare and seldome shewen myracle he helpeth althoughe natural remedy do lacke and trouble aboūd on euery syde soo that it semeth that the lorde hath forgotten his elect but afterwarde he fayleth not to deliuer them out of the middes of al theyr troubles more gloriousely He myght haue let Pharao that he shuld not haue punished the chyldren of Israell but when all mans helpe was past he delyuered his people from Pharao in the red see The lorde dothe prolong helpe for our vtilitie and profyte that he myghte exercyse and proue faythe by temptation so that he onely might possesse the title and name of a helper that we myght lerne the better to truste in god and to haue compassion vppon other that be tempted as in the psalm Psal 17. And thy lernynge hath corrected me for euer and thy disciplyne shal teache me Hebre. 2. So Paule speaketh of Chryste It behoueth that Christe in all thynges shuld be made lyke his brethern that he myghte be mercyfull ouer theym We ought not therfore to despeire in the tyme of afflyction specially when we knowe certaynely that the terme and ende of punishment and payne is to be prescribed lymitted and appoynted of god as the prophetes beare witnes Whē the yeres beginne to be fullfylled Hiere 29. I wyl viset you and rayse vppon you a good worde Hiere 30. Also and the daye shall be that I wyll breake his yoke from thy necke and strāgers shal beare no more rule ouer it Esai 28. Abac. 2. He whiche shall beleue shall make noo haste He whiche yet semed a farre of shall appere at the ende and shall not lye althoughe he tary yet loke for hym for he is commynge and at the last he shal come and shal not be slowe wherfore we muste saye Matt. 6. Marc. 1. The wyll of the lorde be fulfylled Also Lord if thou wylte thou mayste make me cleane Also Paule sayth 1. Cor. 10. The lorde is faythefull whiche wyll not suffer you to be temted aboue your myght but shall gyue with temptation power to resyste that you maye be able to suffer Iob. 13. Althoughe he kyl me yet I wil trust in hym Psal 22. If I shall walke in the myddell of the shadowe of death I wyll not feare euyl thynges bicause thou arte with me Iudith in the .vii. and .viii. chapiter is a good exaumple The people of Israell were forty yeres in desert God dydde not gyue to Abraham shortely that whiche he promysed So Chryste sayde his houre was not yet come Ioh. 2. Matt. 14. Matth. 4. The womanne of Chananie is a good example Also Chryst was tempted of the dyuell in wyldernes forty dayes ¶ It is a great comfort to them that be in affliction to remembre that Christe was also tempted and exercised with yll as we be wont to be exercised Cap. xii FYRST VVE se Christ tempted in whom we haue an example of pacience and longe sufferynge This is our
lorde shal be theyr defender for god bothe wyll and is able to cherysshe myne to nouryshe and defende them Exod. 22. Psal 36. For he is the father of the fatherles and widowes I forget thynges behynde my backe Philipp 3. and indeuour my selfe to those thynges that are before my face Agayne 1. Cor. 7. They whiche haue wiues let them be as though they had none and they that wepe as thoughe they wepte not We muste be dylygente that we leaue our wife and children wel instruct and taughte in the feare of god For the feare of god is better and more preciouse then a chest full of golde and syluer 14 If thou be tempted of condemnation that thou arte condemned of god SAy thou Roma 3. That is no condemnation to them which are graffed in Christe that is synne canne not dampne them be it neuer soo moche in them for they are made one body throughe fayth For the synne whiche they haue is forgiuen them and is not imputed vnto them for Chrystes sake in whō we are graffed whiche is the hed and we the membres Ioh. 3. He that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastyng lyfe Rom. 10. Psal 36. Al they which beleue in hym shal not be confounded Whē the rightuouse falleth he shal not be broysed for the lorde setteth his hande vnderneth hym Prou. 24. The rightuouse falleth seuē tymes in a day 15 If the dyuell saye thou arte a synner and arte not graffed in Christe CHRISTE CAME into the worlde to make safe synners For the deathe of Chryste hath satisfied for all synnes 1. Tim. 1. through his strokes Esai 53. are we all made safe For he hath borne our synnes in his body 1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 1. by whom we haue redemption throughe his bloude I came not to calle the ryghtuouse but synners They whiche are hole 1. Ioan. 2. nede not the phisition And if any doo synne we haue an aduocate and spokesman to the father Iesus Christ The godly haue synne also but god imputeth it not Psal 31. The sayntes do euer pray Forgyue vs our trespaces If we confesse 1. Ioh. 1. that we haue synnes he is faithful and ryghtuouse to forgyue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from all iniquytie We haue many exaumples Marye Magdalyn also Paule was a blasphemor of the thiefe whiche went from extreame punishement to ioye of zacharie Matth. and Peter 16 If he continue and saye but thy synnes passe the sonde of the see AS FAR as the east differeth from the west Psal 104. so far of hath he made that our synnes are from vs. Esai 1. If thy synnes be as redde as scarlet yet shall they be as whyte as snowe and if they be as red as purple yet shall they be as whyte as woll Psal 31. I haue sayde I wyl confesse my vnryghtuousnes agaynst me and thou haste forgyuen the wyckednesse of my synne 2. Re. 12. I haue synned lorde Esai 38. c. And the lord hath taken thy synne frome the. Thou haste caste all my synnes behynde thy backe Miche 7. And he hath throwen al our synnes in the bottome of the sees Ezech. 18. If the wycked shall repente c. For god hath promysed remission of sinnes to them that repent 17 If he saye suche promyses are made to the godly thou arte an apostata and a loste man Luc. 15. AND the prodigall sonne was loste and an apostata yet he founde grace ▪ so great is the loue of god towarde vs he wyl saue al them that wyll knowlege theym selues He hath so great care euen for the leaste that are loste in the syght of the worlde Examples ar Dauid Peter and the thefe and also Paule God sometyme suffereth his sayntes to erre for a season but he calleth again at length He bryngeth theym in to dyuerse troubles that they maye knowe hym He yeldeth theym vp sometymes into the handes of Satan and his membres that they maye knowe howe moche easyer it is to serue hym then the prynce of this worlde The confession of the prodigall chylde is greate Luc. 15. Father I haue synned agaynste heauen and agaynste the. So Dauid Psal 50. Esai 64. I haue done yll agaynste the. Lo all oure rightuousnes are as a blody cloth of a woman Luc. 1. This mekenesse god beholdeth he is moued with mercye as the father of the prodygall chylde Rom. 5. We are therfore receyued without all our meryte or deseruynge for we are yet ennemies 18 But god hereth no synners nor strayers awaye SAy thou It is truthe god hereth not synners which repent not whiche sorowe not nor are borne agayne by faythe those are the vngodly and hypocrites whiche praye not to god and if they praye yet praye they not in fayth Then shall they call on me Prouer. 1. and I wyll not here theym Soo in the psalm Zacha. 7. They shall crye and I wil not here them But he graciously hereth the contrite and them that repente and are borne agayne by faythe in Christe Psal 50. A contryte and humble harte o god thou wylt not despise Iaco. 5. The busye prayer of the ryghtuous is moche worthe 19 But thou commest very late with thy contricion CONTRARY wyse answere thou Luce. 23. None commeth to late into the vyneyarde of the lorde as witnesseth the hystory of the thefe whiche was full of wycked dedes and yet sayde to Iesus Remembre me lord when thou shalt come into thy kyngedome And Iesus sayde vnto hym Trewelye I say vnto the this daye c. 20 But he hadde a stronge faythe in god whiche thou lackest ANSVVERE Therefore pray I with the apostels Luc. 17. O lorde increase faythe within vs helpe our vnbelefe 21 What if all holy scripture be false for they were men which spake it and wrote it SAy thou contrary Moyses the prophetes and apostelles were truely men but yet they neyther spake nor wrote with the spirite of man but with the spyrite of god they set not forthe theyr owne doinges but those thynges whiche eyther they sawe with theyr eyes or receyued of the lorde So sayde the lorde to Moyses Exod. 4. Who hath made the mouthe of man Or who hath made the dome and the deffe the seinge and the blynde not I Goo forthe then and I wyll be in thy mouthe and wyll teache the what thou shalt speake Say not I am a chylde Hiere 1. for thou shalte go to all those to wome I wyll sende the to thou shalt speake al that that I shall commaundethe Luce. 21. He gyueth the apostelles both mouth and wysedome Agayne Ye are not whiche speake but the spirite of your father So Paule Rom. 15. I dare not speke any thyng which Christ hath not wroughte by me 1. Pet. 4. 1. Ioh. 1. If any man speake let hym speke as the wordes of
god that we haue hard that we haue seene with our eyes Luc. 1. as they haue delyuered vs whiche from the begynnyng haue seene it with theyr eies 2. Pet. 1. But those thinges which we haue sene with our eies Al scripture heuēly inspired 2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 1. The prophecie in old tyme was not giuen by the wyl of man but the holy men of god spake dryuen with the holy gost Ephe. 5. As it is nowe reueled to his holy apostelles and prophetes by spirite Matt. 22. So Christ cōfirmeth Dauides wrytynges Howe doth Dauid thē in spirite call him lorde Certaynely I am fully perswaded and doute nothinge at al that the holy scriptures are inspired from heauen 22 If the temptator saye thou haste not kepte the lawe of god wherfore thou arte accursed SAy thou Christ whiche was made a curse for vs Galath 3. hath redemed vs from the curse of the lawe Agayn Ephe. 2. Euacuatyng and taking awey the lawe of commaundmentes set in decrees Colo. 2. Takynge away the handewrytynge agaynste vs which is in decrees and is contrary to vs. Roma 6. For ye are not vnder the lawe but vnder fauour delyuered from synne For the deathe of Christ hath delyuered vs from the lawe For truely by Christes deth we are now in conscience fre from the lawe that is from the wrothe of god and euerlastynge deathe For the lawe can not be fulfylled of nature for it is spirytuall as vndoubtedly the apostels decreed The yocke that neither c. Again Acto 15. Deuter. 5. Luc. 18. who can gyue them such a minde Whiche is impossible to men 23 If he say thou must forsake the worlde VVhat then Answere thou cōtrary wise I shal obteine heuen For blessed ar the dead Apoc. 14. 1. Ioh. 5. Ibidem which dye in the lorde Agayne All the world lieth in wickednes Agayn All thyng whiche is borne of god ouercometh the world and this is the victory which ouercometh the world our fayth Who is he whiche ouercometh the worlde but he that beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of god I am sure therfore in Christe All the worlde shall peryshe with his lustes and desyres Agayne 1. Ioan. 3. Loue not the worlde nother those thynges whiche are in the world We ar strangers in this worlde and citizens of heauen Ye sonnes of men howe longe are ye harde harted Psal 4. Why loue ye vanyties and seke lyes Agayne Howe lōg loue you infancy or childhode and foles desire those thinges whiche are hurtfull Agayne Vanitie of all vanities Eccles 1. and all thynges ar vanitie 1. Ioh. 2. The cause is this for all thynges whiche are in the worlde as luste of the fleshe concupiscēce of the eyes and pryde of lyfe are not of the father but of the world and the world passeth and his lust also but he that dothe the wyll of god taryeth for euer The ende ⧠THE PREPARATION TO DEATHE AND howe they which be in point of deathe shulde be comforted the .ii. boke ¶ What is deathe Cap. i. DEATHE IS NOthinge els but a separation or diuision of the soule frō the bodye It is a quiet rest from the afflyctions and troubles of this worlde in the whiche they that be deade be so refreshed and newely made that from thense they shall ryse far aboue all other most happye not into a lyfe which shall dye ageyne as it is in a slepe but into an euerlastynge life ¶ What is the cause of deathe Cap. ii THE CAVSE of deathe is synne For out of synne deth flowed and is the punishement or peyne or rewarde of synne or the reuengeaunce of yll thynges as the holy scripture beareth witnes Fyre Eccle. 39. hayle hunger and deathe be created for punishement as witnesseth the psalme For anger and dethe be in his indignation Psal 29. and lyfe in his wyl Roma 6. Hiere 3. The wages or rewarde of synne is death In what daye so euer thou shalte eate of it that is thou shalte synne therof thou shalt dye God dyd not make deathe Sap. 1. nor doth not reioyce in the destruction of the lyuynge Also Throughe the malyce and enuy of the dyuell Sap. 2. death hath entred And Paule saythe Rom. 5. By one man synne entred into the world and through synne deathe Ezech. 33 And in Ezech. I wil not the deathe of a synner but rather that he conuerte and tourne from his synne and liue Also The soule whiche shall synne shal dye Therfore where deathe is there necessaryly synne dydde go before whiche dwelleth in vs whiche we haue by inheritaunce whiche is spronge forthe into vs all of the whiche synne the fyrst father to vs was Adam from whom we haue by inherytaunce origynall synne whiche is a naturall dysposytion and inclination to synne whiche hath with hym in felowship blindnesse of harte dulnesse towardes vertue the loue of hym selfe the hatred of god fleynge frome the crosse hatred of the lawe and disdaynynge of his neyghbour For by Adams disobedience our fleshe is become disobediente to god soo long as it is not enspyred with the holy gost and for the sayde synne of Adam al we be called synners And so in hym we be all deade for we be his flesshe and his chyldren of his owne substaunce He is the grayne and sede of whom all we be spronge out As he is deade so shall we dye and frome Adam is spronge into vs bothe orygynall synne and deathe the peyne of synne is come forthe And the tyranny of the dyuell to whom our nature is subiecte and in whome the dyuell vseth crueltie and doth exercise it with feare and all kyndes of myserye and also doth kyl And moreouer enforceth to al maner of vnhappines to blasphemy murther and hatred ¶ Two maner of deathes Cap. ii THE ONE is of the body or of nature to whome all men be subiecte for al haue sinned and haue broken the lawe of god that is when this bodyely lyfe is broken aweye when we gyue vp the goost and do not occupie this mortall lyfe As it is wrytten to the Hebrewes Hebre. 9. It is ordeyned and decreed that all men shall dye ones and after that iudgement By Adams synne nature is subiecte of necessitie to dye as Iesus Sirach wryteth Eccle. 40. There is a heuy yocke vppon the chyldren of Adam frome the daye of the commynge oute of theyr mothers wombe vntyll the daye of theyr burial into the mother of all The other deathe is of the soule or of fayth or of helth When the vnbeleuers drowned in theyr wyckednes not carynge for god nor desyrynge god nor askyng forgyuenes of god be made bondemen to eternall darkenesse which is called euerlastyng death Whiche is a perpetuall feare of conscience throughe the wrothe of god Sap. 5. whiche Satan doth encrece Exaumple of these two maner of deathes is the riche gloton
as many as dyd beleue were preserued Philipp 1. So Paule desyreth to be loused and to be with Christ And in an other place Whether we lyue or dye we be the lordes Therfore the hande of the lorde receyueth the soules of suche as be faythfull and they rest quietly in the hande and word of god vntyl the day of iudgement come For they be in peace and entred in to rest Tourne my soule in to thy rest For they be in pleasure in ioy Sap. 3. Hebre. 4. Psal 114. in blessednes in suertie in Christ and with Christ in comforte ¶ The body is buried but it shall ryse agayne in the laste daye Cap. xi IT IS the onely comfort of the godly to holde suerly in all aduersitie this article of our faythe that is to saye the resurrection of the flesshe the whiche oughte to comforte the ryghtuouse bycause through the grace of god they shal be reuiued and reysed vp as well the body as the soule the soules to iustice the bodyes to glorye This hope the wycked haue not For theyr bodyes shall be the more punished and ouerthrowen downe to the grounde althoughe they haue semed here to be mighty but their bodyes shal be reysed vp and quickened by the worde of god to whō all thynges obeye Of whose promyse the very emptye and dry bones shall be partakers Ezec. 37. This saith the ruler the lorde of these bones Beholde I doo brynge into you a spirite and you shal be quickned and I wil put vpō you sinnowes and I wyll reyse vp fleshe vppon you and I wyll couer you with a skynne and I wyll put in you a spirite and you shal lyue and you shall well knowe that I am the lorde Iob. 19. Thou shalte reyse vp my skynne which this flesshe beareth And I do knowe that my redemer dothe lyue and at the last he shall reyse me vp of dust and shal compasse my body about with skynne and in my fleshe I shall se god ¶ Veryly the holye scripture declareth that the resurrection of the deade shall be for that the bodye for his nature and power shall be made perfyte in the knowledge of the lorde The glorye of the soule redoundeth into the reformed body In the meane tyme the sowle lacketh not the knowlege of god and of his Christe For he is with Christe and hath in hym eternall lyfe and moste lyuely and blessed knowlege Ioh. 17. But the perfyt blessednes is not vntyll the bodyes be borne agayne Danie 12. Many which slepe in the duste of the erthe shall ryse agayne some into eternall lyfe some into shame The deade shall ryse agayne and they shall be reysed vp Esai 26. that be in graues Thy deade shall lyue lorde and they whiche dye in me shal ryse again Your bones shall blossome as the grasse Esai 66. Therfore we beleue that there shall be a resurrection of this fleshe by goddes power and that the deade shal be quickened ageyn by the spirite of Chryste Whiche shall quicken your mortall bodies throughe his spirite Rom. 6. dwellynge in you The fyrste ground of this article is that Christe is rysen If Christe be preached 1. Cor. 15. that he hath rysen from deathe howe can some of you saye that there shall be no resurrection If Christe hath rysen we shall also ryse Christe the fyrste begotten of the deade hath sufficiently declared his resurrection What so euer was in Christe the heade the same shall be in his membres and we ought to beleue that we shall suerly atteyne that whiche our heade nowe dothe obteyne accordynge to the measure of our fayth The fruites of Christes resurrection is our resurrection and wakynge for if god hath reysed vp our lorde Iesu he shall also reyse vp vs through him So Paule 1. Cor. 15. through the hole chapter 1. Thes 4. And the deade in Christe shall ryse Ioh. 5. Do not meruel for bycause the houre shall come that all such as be in theyr graues shal here his voyce and shal come forthe c. Also thy brother shall ryse Cap. 11. Martha answered I knowe that he shall ryse in the laste day ¶ In the panges of deathe and in all temtations the remedies be to be lerned of the sufferaunce of Christ Ca. xii THE example of lyuynge and dienge is set forth before our eies in Christes lyfe and passyon for so sayth Peter 1. Pet. 2. Christe is afflicted for vs leauynge vs an example that we shuld folowe his steppes But howe can we folowe his steppes Here thou If thou receyue thy crosse on the as Chryste techeth the. How can that be Matt. 10. saiest thou Beholde take an example If thou be punished with sickenes reken with thy selfe howe it is not to be compared with Chrystes crowne of thorne and his nayles If thou be restrayned of thy desyres and lustes remembre Christ led hyther and thyther If pryde styrre thy mynde remembre Christ nayled on the crosse betwene two theues Wherof Esai saythe Esai 53. And we haue sene hym and there was no fayernesse in hym and we haue desyred the despysynge of all men If thou brenne in lechery or any other yll desyre remembre howe Christes tender flesshe was all to torne with strypes thrist through and al to broken Wherof the scripture sayth Psal 21. They haue nombered all my bones If thou be vexed with enuy or desyer of reuenging thinke with thy selfe that Christe dyd preye to his father for theym whiche crucified and scorned him Whiche when he was reuyled did not reuyle ageyne 1. Pet. 2. Esai 53. As a shepe led to be slaine If sinne troubleth the caste thy selfe vpon Christe beleue all his to be thyne and that by his worke thou arte saued If thou loke so onely in Christe thou shalt haue peace and thou shalt reioyce that god is thy god And although thy synne be great yet the grace of god is moche greatter Therfore saye Althoughe I alone hadde commytted all the synnes of the worlde they were vtterlye none if I maye obteyne the grace of god throughe Christe God suffereth his to fall yea and that sometymes greuousely as Dauid and Peter that they myghte ryse and thanke god more feruently Therfore no synner shulde despeire seinge that so great men haue synned so greuously and by the grace of god haue repented and amended theyr lyuynge If Sathan do tempte the of predestination whether thou be amongest them whiche be ordeyned to the kyngedome of heauen be deafe takynge example of Christe whiche hanging on the crosse sayde nothynge at all to this when they sayde He hath trusted in god let him deliuer him if he wyll So Daniel Danie 3 When the kyng of Babylon sayd And what god is he that maye delyuer you oute of my handes They aunswered we ought not of this matter to answere the. Beholde our god whom we worshyppe maye delyuer vs frome this fornace of
thou exalted me Psal 119. To the lord haue I cried in my trouble and he hath graciousey harde me Esai 66. He beholdeth the lowly and broken in spirite and suche as feare his worde Partes of trewe prayer are the promyse faythe the affecte to desyre in the name of Chryste and thankes gyuynge ¶ The promyse of god ¶ VVHAT so euer ye aske the father in my name Ioh. 14. he shall gyue it you Psal 49. Crye on me in the day of thy trybulation and I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte gloryfie me He shall gyue good thynges to them that aske hym Matth. 11. Marc. 11. I saye vnto you what so euer thynges ye aske in your prayer beleue that ye shal receyue and they shal happen vnto you Aske and it shall be giuen you Matt. 18. If that two of you agree of any thynge vpon the erthe what so euer thynge they shall requyre it shal be giuen them of my father which is in heuen Hiere 33. Call to me and I wyll gracyousely here the. In prayer goddes promyse muste be consydered howe god hath promysed that he wyll here vs. For he whiche hath commaunded to praye hath promysed that he wyl bothe here vs and helpe vs. ¶ Faythe Ia. 1. 1. Ioh. 5. ¶ VVE muste praye with a confidence doubtyng nothynge This is the confidence whiche we haue towarde hym that what soo euer we desyre accordynge to his wyll he hereth vs. A prayer withoute fayth obteyneth nothinge at goddes hand We must therfore pray in faythe And if we aske in fayth he hereth vs. Fayth is assuredlye to beleue that god forgyueth vs our synnes for Christes sake and not only forgiueth our sinnes but also is present with vs ruleth and gouerneth vs that he maye make vs safe In this faythe if we aske any thynge god dothe graciousely here vs. For god wyll gyue all thinges to theÌ„ that beleue in him ¶ To aske in the name of Iesu ¶ IS to haue a respect to the glory and wyll of god that the name of god maye be glorifyed For the ende of euery prayer is the glory of god To aske therfore in the name of Iesu is to aske and desyre the glory of Chryste and the spredynge abrode of his name ¶ The affecte to desire any thinge ¶ THE lordes prayer teacheth playnely what thynge we shulde praye for More ouer fayth hope loue pacience We must also pray that we be not tempted for prayer onely obteyneth the victory of all temptations Also for publike and common necessities for offycers for peace ¶ Thankes gyuyng Psal 49. Psal 115. ¶ OFFER TO god prayse To the shal I sacrifice the host or oblation of prayse and I shall calle on the name of the lorde Psal 33. I wyll blesse the lorde at all tymes his prayse shal euer be in my mouthe None turned agayne Luc. 11. to gyue glory to god but the straunger The faythfull gyue thankes that they ar delyuered of theyr trouble they magnifie god and preache forth his gyuynge of benefyâ—â—es but god oftentymes deferreth to here to exercise the faythe of the godly as it apereth in Syrophenisse also Luc. 18. and yet stynte not they to praye Luc. 18. nor mystruste god althoughe they obteyne not streight wayes that whiche they aske and desyre but continue styll in prayer For continuance in praier hath the rewarde Daniel 9. He continued in praier he praied the hole day through euen to euentyde and was visited of Gabriell We must prescrybe or appoynte no tyme to god Iudith 9. He that continueth knockynge to hym it shall be opened God gaue not to Abraham streyghte wayes that which he promised Therfore must we saye If thou wylte lorde Marc. 1. Iob. 13. thy wyll be fulfylled Althoughe he shall kyll me yet shall I truste in hym ¶ We oughte to be pacient in affliction not to be angry nor to speake yuell of god Cap. viii PACIENCE is to feele and consider that god doth scorge vs to call vs to repentaunce and therfore gladly to suffer the hand of god and to haue a confidence that god wyl forgiue vs and that he wyll delyuer vs. Of this pacience to godward spryngeth forth pacience towarde men For when the harte is at peace with god it tarieth helpe of hym and vtterly setteth aside lust to auenge Thus pacience can neuer be but when by fayth we are assured that we please god and that at lengthe it shall come to passe that we shal be saued Christen pacience therfore is the comfort and ioye of the hart in afflyctions to whome there is annexed hope For faythe presently receiueth reconciliation and forgyuenes of synne a promyse of the ende Hope taryeth and loketh for the ende to come as sayth Esai In silence and hope shall be your strengthe Esai 20. For Hope hath his eye to the wyll of god and knoweth that god hath care on hym And it shall come to passe that god wyll gouerne the endes accordynge to his promyse althoughe there appere no helpe at all in any creatures as it is spokeÌ„ of Abraham Agaynste all hope he beleued in hope that is althoughe in the hole compasse of nature there be no hope at al yet beholdynge the worde of god felte inwardly that that whiche god hadde promysed shoulde come to passe Who as saythe Paule calleth those thinges whiche are not as thoughe they were Therfore the mynd is quiete in christen pacience For it consydereth that afflyctions are not yll nor are layed on vs of god to our destruction For he is well assured that he is temted through the good wyll of god and exercysed to repentaunce for his helthe And for as moche as the mynd is fyxed towarde this wyl of god he is not angrye with god For he knoweth howe this calamitie or trouble commeth not by chaunce or fortune without a cause but rather reioyseth in affliction that is it that Esai speaketh In silence and hope shall be your strengthe that is be ye not angry in god or with god Psal 5. Be ye angry but synne not that is Be ye not angry with god bicause he suffereth you to be punyshed and doth not by and by helpe you be ye not for that moued to exercyse vengaunce or to forsake god but speake closely within your hartes that is consider the word and accordyng therunto suffer affliction Suche pacience is stedfaste and sure yea euen when al mannes comfort and councell forsake vs. whiche thing holye scripture euidently proueth euery where for he wyl not be forgetfull of the poore continually The pacieÌ„ce of the poore shall not peryshe at length Tary the lorde Psal 26. do manfully comforte thy harte and suffer the lord Esai 30. In silence and hope shall be thy strengthe Thren 3. It is good to loke for the helthe of the lorde in silence Eccle. 2. What soo euer is layde on the receyue it