cannot stande steadfast one minute of an houre strengthen vs by thy holy spirite and so arme vs with thy spiritull giftes and graces that wée may constantly perseuere in the faith without the which it is not possible to please thée Strengthen vs then day by daie in the same faith whereof we will make confefsion vnto thée with heart and mouth saying I beleeue in God the Father c. Then may they looke howe the sicke person doth vsing gracious and Christian spéeches vnto him but if no signe of amendement appeare soone after they may find out a fit timeâ—…to aske of him if he would willingly heere to speake of God and to heare his worde whilest hée is in perfect sense and memorie then may they beginne this little Catechisme which followeth A SHORT CAtechisme to refresh the memorie of the sick person in points of Christianitie and to make him chieflie vnderstand the mysterie of our Redemption The Minister N. BRother euerie man who knoweth himselfe well and séeth of what condition and qualitie hee is must surely confesse that albeit he be created after the image and likenesse of God yet that he is conceiued and borne in the sinâ—…e of olde Adam and so made a poore and miserable sinner ignorant vnconstant and full of all iniquitie and by consequent subiect to all miseries afflictions and aduersities and finally to death Of all which sinne is the cause the which God wil not suffer to bee vnpunished but afflicteth vs therfore daily and doth plague and punishe vs in this worlde least hée should condemne vs with the worlde Wherefore déere brother N. haue patience in your sicknesse and affliction and you shall possesse your soule in spirituall ioy Confesse your sinne and accuse your selfe before the maiestie of Godvnto whome you must cast vp your eyes to contemplate him by faith confessing your faith with heart and mouth before all this assistance of your faithfull Brethren For it is written With the heart man beléeueth vnto righteousnesse and with the mouth man confesseth to saluation Hearken then to these questions that I shall demand of you and answere to them faithfully according to the vnderstanding that God hath giuen you But if you cannot answere by reason of your féeblenesse I will answere for you and it shall suffice vs verie well to vnderstande your meaning and the constancie of your faith in the which you must liue and die Nowe I must first aske you wherefore and to what end were you created in this world The Sicke To know God The Minister Was it necessarie for you to know God S. Yea verily for séeing that he is my soueraigne God without the knowledge of him sure I had béene more miserable then the brute beastes M. Séeing that you know God you know well that he is power wisedom and infinite bountie one God in thrée persons the Father Sonne and the holy Ghost The onely God that A braham Isaac and Iacob haue worshipped in spirit and truth The onely eternall God who hath created heauen and earth and all thinges therein contained Is not the knowledge that you haue of God such S. Yes M. But so simple knowledge of God is it sufficient to bring you to life euerlasting S. Uery hardly For it is life euerlasting to confesse and to know one onely God and him whom hee hath sent his onely Sonne for euer our Lorde Iesus Christ. M. Wherefore is it necessarie for you to confesse and know the Lorde Iesus Christ S. Because I must recouer in Iesus Christ all that I lost in my selfe by the sinne of old Adam in the which I was borne and conceiued therefore it was méete for my saluation that Iesus Christ verie God and verie man inuesting our flesh should giue me of his grace and fauour againe that which I had lost in Adam M. Uerie well saide And therefore was Iesus Christ conceiued of the holy Ghost and borne of the virgin Mary to purge and sancttifie you but you for your part were conceiued and borne in sinne and of sinfull parents Wherefore you must confesse that without Iesus Christ you had remained a poore and miserable sinner iudged to eternall death S. So in déed I had But I firmely belieue and confesse that this good Iesus Christ hath reconciled mee to God his Father M. But how hath he reconciled you to God the Father S. By his death and passion in shedding of his most precious bloude for to deliuer mee from euerlasting paines This good GOD Iesus Christ hath suffered for mee vnder Pontius Pilate manie afflictions iniuries and tribulations This Iesus Christ was crucified for mee as one accursed vppon the trée of the Crosse to deliuer mee from the eternall cursse vnto the which Adam had made me subiect This my Sauiour Iesus Christ was verily buried to burie with him all my sinnes to the ende that they shoulde not bee imputed vnto mee before God This is my Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ who descended into hell suffering an extreame anguish and pangue for the time to deliuer mee from eternall paines of hell M. All this that you haue now confessed of Iesus Christ is it sufficient to saue you S. No for the holie scriptures must bee in all thinges fulfilled For what had this profited mee that Iesus Christ was borne crucified dead and buried and gone downe into hell onely for mée and if hée had not rose againe Wherefore I belieue and confesse that my Lord my heade and Sauiour Iesus Christ is risen from the dead to make me rise againe with him as one of his little members into euerlasting life M. Consequentle it is writen that he is ascended vp into heauen sitting now at the right hand of God his Father But what profit get you by his ascention S. My Lord my heade and Sauiour Iesus Christ is ascended vp into heauen to make me ascend after him for where the head is the members are also and I constantly belieue that sitting at the right hand of God his Father he is mine aduocate intercessor and mediator towards him assuring me that nothing may hurt me he being both mine aduocat and Iudge Wherefore I néede not to feare the day of his iudgement when he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead for I belieue and confesse with a stedfast beliefe that there is no iudgement or 〈◊〉 for them that are faithfull members in Iesus Christ. M. Who hath giuen you the grace to vnderstand and doe these things S. It is by the grace of the holy Ghost one onely God with the Father and the Sonne by whom wee receiue all these gifts and graces which are offered vnto vs in Iesus Christ. M. Séeing y â— you haue already coÌ„fessed y â— you are one of y e meÌ„bers of Iesus Chrst it followeth then that you are incorporate also into his church the which you
being such good God what good faith or beleefe can wee haue in thee Faith as saith Saint Peter purifieth our hearts What faith then can they pretende to haue who haue their hearts yet full of filth and corruption Who haue them puffed vp and swollen with ambition pride auarice pleasures impatience reuenge hatred enuie and other like passions and affections of the flesh altogether disordinate and without all measure Faith doeth regenerate vs and make vs newe creatures of earthly it maketh vs heauenlye of carnall men it maketh vs become spirituall of the children of wrath and darkenes it maketh vs children of light and grace and to be short of verye diuels it maketh vs Angels of heauen Who so euer then hath his heart tyed to earthly things and thinketh nothing or little at all on the thinges which are from aboue who ioyneth not himselfe with the spirite in the battaile to fight against the flesh but being assailed and set vpon by his owne concupiscences geueth them place straighte and maketh him selfe his owne slaue and prisoner hee abuseth the grace of God and in steede of retaining it and keeping it still with him liuing in his feare and in the obedience of his holye will turneth it cleane away and driueth it farre from him by licenciousnes of life whereunto he doeth giue ouer himself vnder a vaine confidence that he hath to find it alwayes at his pleasure readie to excuse and couer all his sinnes So he deceiueth himself much weening to be faithfull and yet hath no better faith than the verie diuels neither can his faith assure him at the daye of iudgement more than theirs can Likewise doeth not faith exempt vs from the iudgement and condemnation of God as Iesus Christ sayeth He that beleeueth shall not come into iudgement at all And Saint Paul saith That there is no condemnation to them which by faith are graffed into the bodie of Iesus Christ but they which liue after the flesh and stand in no awe to do those things which God hath forbidden and contrariwise to omit and neglect those things which he hath commanded to be done howe can they escape the iudgement of death and of the curse pro nounced in the lawe against all them that transgresse it seeing that they doe it weetingly willigly and of deliberate purpose If their conscience condemne them God who is greater than their conscience who knoweth and soundeth the depth of their hearts howe shall he forgiue them Likewise faith when it is a true faith doeth inuest vs with Iustice and the spirite of Iesus Christ which are so linked together and doe so follow one another that the one cannot be found without the other Seing then that the spirit of God cannot be resident in vs but must needes worke his effect that is to saye must illuminate sanctifie quicken guyde and gouerne vs in all our counsels thoughtes affections wordes and actions What faith I pray you do we thinke we haue if we do not shewe it foorth by an holye and laudable conuersation mortifying and crucifying our flesh with all the lustes thereof putting off our old man with all his affections flying and detesting all kind of sinne and embracing all kind of vertue abstaining not onely from euill but also from all that which hath any shewe or apparance of euill And to conclude continuing this holy exercise without any interruption vnto the ende of our life For if any one shall as the Prophet sayeth doe the best he can to liue well for a while and after shal come to wander and goe aside from the right way before he be arriued at the ende of his iourney God shal haue no remembrance of any good deedes that he had done before and shall not allowe him so much as one of them when he shal come to heare his count For he promiseth not saluation life euerlasting to those that shall begin to doe well but to those onely who shall couragiously and with an inuincible heart perseuere to the end And he giueth not the price and crowne of immortalitie but to those that runne out to the ende of the lease and haue truely combated all the time of their life For what auayleth it a merchant which sayleth into India to rigg his shippe with some rich merchandize if after he hath escaped manye perils at Sea and sayled fortunately 14. or 15. Monethes together he then come to strike against some rocke suffer shipwracke before he euer come to his iurneyes ende All those which departed out of Egypt vnder the cōduct of Moses entered not into the land of Canaan for the greatest part were left behinde and dyed by the way and were shut out of the rest that God had promised to their fathers because of their infidelitie other vices which the Apostle nameth in the first Epistle to the Corinthians So we must neuer hope to enioy that life euerlasting and most blessed happie estate that he hath promised and reserued for his elect if we do not perseuere vnto the end in the faith of his worde and in the obedience of his holy will which thing to do is granted to verie fewe persons Moreouer faith when it is true liuely is it not accompanied with a certaine zeale dehemencie of the spirite which bringeth it foorth to confesse the name of God publikely to sing Psalmes to him to set foorth and tell of all his wondrous workes and to make also publike profession of Iesus Christ and of his gospell and without all feare shame and dissimulation to maintaine and defende the trueth constantly against all those which resist and withstand the same But if we will examine throughly and without all flatterie truely iudging of all our actions we must needes confesse and acknowledge that in the most of vs there hath been a maruelous great slacknes of duetie herein for that wee haue beene wonderfull colde fearfull when we should oppose our selues against the wicked and haue endured to see heare them blaspheme the holy name of God of Iesus Christ to speake yll of religion of the Gospell and of the truth holding our peace and suffering in our presence the honour of God not only to be dishonored spoken yll of but also to be trodē vnder foote without euer opening our lips in speaking one word in defence thereof What zeale haue we shewed also to restore the Tabernacle of Iacob which was thrown down to the ground What pitie cōpassion haue we had seeing the ruynes and horrible desolations happened so long time together to the poore citie of Syon Is there any one amongest you that can truely saye he hath laboured as much as in him lyeth by all meanes possible to builde againe the Temple of God and to make vp againe the breaches that the enimies had made in euery side of his church Howe many may be found amongest vs that may not
that he should please to commaund vs to praye and praise God vncessantly to depende whollie vpon his prouidence to referre our selues and all our affaires vnto him to resigne our will whollie vnto his and finally to loue him with all our heart with all our soule and all our thought and to loue our neighbour as our owne selues Then after wee haue proposed vnto the sicke person the faultes that he hath committed to make him affeard and by this meanes to prepare him to require and receiue the grace of God we must set before his eyes what he hath iustly deserued by his sinnes that is to be swallowed vp by the anger and displeasure of God which he hath heaped vp vnto himselfe perseuering in his sinnes abusing so long time the pacience and long sufferance of his mercie and likewise to be ouertaken by his iudgement which as the Apostle sayeth is readie for all them which disobey God and especially for those his seruaunts which know his wil and being throughly instructed of their duetie neglect and make none account thereof Likewise that all the curses contayned in the Lawe set downe for the transgressours thereof fall vpon his head for that he hath not onely once or twise by reason of ignorance and fraylenesse behaued himselfe lewdly but hath violated the holy ordinances of God as often as he hath beene prouoked thereunto by the instance of the diuell and of his owne concupiscence likewise that he is banished and shut out from the kingdome of heauen for that the flesh after the which he hath liued cannot inherite the kingdome of heauen For if our first parents were chased shamefully out of Paradice wherein they were placed after their creation for one onely disobedience What doeth he deserue now that doeth suppe vp and drinke dayly so manye rebellions and iniquities as it were water Likewise that hee is condemned to death eternall and appointed for euer to the â—…ire of Hell with diuels and the reprobate for that is the rewarde and hire of sinne And to bee short that hee hath deserued to goe straight downe to Hell and there to bee buryed and to suffer in the vnquenchable flames such â—…ormentes as the wicked riche man did for hauing disdayned the poore in their affliction and neglecting to succour them in their neede not vsinge such humanitie towardes them as he desired of others being driuen to the same necessitie himselfe When he haue layde all this to the sicke mans charge and in the Lawe as in a Mirrour wee haue set before his eyes to beholde his iudgement and sentence of condemnation When we perceiue him wounded and pearced to the heart with sorrowe we must then laye to his wounde some asswaging medicine do as the Masons do when they hewe their stone first they giue great blowes with their hammer make gret péeces fall off then they poolish it ouer so with a plaine that the strokes are no more séen so must we do after we haue handled the sickpatient roughly thrust him down to hel by the rigorous threats of the lawe we must comfort him and fetch him againe by the swéete and amiable promises of the Gospel to the ende the sowplenes of this oyle may asswage the nipping sharpnes of the law for the good tydings and newes that he shall heare of the grace of God shall make him cleane forget all the sorrowe and desperation into the which the lawe had before driuen him shewing him first that the handwriting that is against vs which was contained in the lawe is cleane torne in pieces abolished hung vpon the Crosse of Iesus Christ and that Iesus Christ hath redéemed vs from the cursse of the lawe when he became cursed for vs himselfe For it is written cursed is euery one that hangeth on the tree and this he suffered that the blessing of Abraham might come vpon the Gentiles and that we might receiue the promise of the Holie Ghost by faith And that Christ is the ende of the law in righteousnes to al beléeuers who by the perfect obedience that he shewed God his Father in fulfilling all his commandements in euery point not missing one iote forsaking not the cursed death of the crosse for our sakes for such was the will of his father he hath purchased vs a pardon and generall abolishing of all our sinnes and a release of all our debtes and obligations the which he hath payde for vs not in gold siluer or precious stones but with his owne bloud which is a price and raunsome incomparable to be spoken of Hauing purchased vs besides a righteousnes the which he alloweth vnto vs by our faith the assurance that wee haue by his worde and sacraments whereof his holy spirite doth beare witnes within our heartes we ought to cast awaye all feare and conceit of our sinnes of death the diuell of the rigour and curse of the lawe and finally of the anger curse of God For to begin with our sinnes we being clothed with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ must assure our selues that all our sinnes are so hid and couered that they may not be perceiued or discouered before the eyes and face of our God but being altogether wyped out as with a sponge and scattered as a clowde with the winde and the Sunne and although they were as redd as Scarlet yet shall they be as white as snowe as Esaie sayeth and before him Dauid Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane Wash mee and I shall be whitter then snowe And it skilleth not what nor in what number they be so that they be not sinnes against the Holy Ghost neither skilleth it in what manner they haue been committed be it by ignorance infirmitie or deliberate malice for sinne cannot so abound but the grace of God which is our meanes and mediatour by the death and righteousnes of Iesus Christ must needes abound more And albeit the sinne which is committed against the Maiestie of God which is infinite be therefore reputed infinite yet that argueth not that the bloud of Iesus Christ which by the eternall spirit is offered vp to God himselfe without any spot doeth not purge and make cleane our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God as the Apostle writeth to the Hebrewes For the diuinitie being inseparably vnited with the humanitie in the person of Iesus Christ is cause by his omnipotencie that his death hath an infinite vertue to redeeme vs his righteousnes an infinite power to sanctifie vs and his life to quicken vs and to make vs happie immortall and blessed for that being God as he is stronger than the diuell so also are his workes more of force to saue vs than are those of his enimie to confounde and destroye vs. His righteousnes hath more force and efficacie to iustifie vs than sinne whereof the diuell is authour hath to condemne vs. His innocencie and purenesse
wicked reiecting and contemning the worde and promise of God by their contempt and obstinacie make it that doth not produce the effect in shewing the vertue that it would haue to saue them if they did beléeue it yet that cannot bring any preiudice vnto others that do receiue it and obey it and cannot hinder that they beleeuing and by faith apprehending it in their heartes be not quickened no more then a man that would shut his eyes in the daye and would see no light can hinder him that holdeth his eyes open and beholdeth the light For the light and couller are the obiects of the eye the which being open sound and of a quicke fight apprehendeth by and by things obiect vnto it So the promises of God be the obiectes of Faith which causeth a man to receiue them incontinent as they are announced vnto her so that the spirite of God haue touched and prepared his heart before For otherwise if it remaine in his stonie nature the spirituall seede which is sowen can take no roote at all nor fructifie no more then the seede that is sowen vppon stones or vppon ground that is not tilled The sicke man being resolued then of remission of all his sinnes may not doubt but that he is in the fauour of God and that thereby he must looke for life euerlasting vndoubtedly and all the blessednes that God hath promised to his children for there is nothing that may shutt or debarre vs from it except onely sinne the which being not imputed vnto vs but couered and blotted out cleane what may nowe hurte vs or bring vs out of Gods fauour And if by faith wee be vnited inseparably with him who is the fountaine of life and the fulnesse of all good what can wee desire but wee shall straight finde in him What mischiefe or miserie may wee feare being in his fauour Nowe being assured that he will continue towardes vs the good will that hee beareth vs for euer and that there is no creature in the whole worlde that can alter it from vs as Saint Paul sayeth to the Romanes I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shalbe able to seperate vs frō the loue of god which is in Christ Iesus And a little aboue this place saith he What shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or peril or sworde Euery man then that hath once beene graffed in by faith into the bodie of Christ Iesus by consequent is the adopted sonne of God receiued into his grace into his house as his childe departeth not from thence any more but euen as he is assured of his election by his calling and iustification which followed the one the other so is he also of his glorification which is the conclusion and as it were the crowning of his saluation for the giftes and calling of God are without repentance That which the Apostle writeth most euidently to the Romans Those whom he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whome he hath called he hath also iustified and those whom he hath iustified he hath also glorified And although we haue yet many vices and infirmities in vs and that it chaunce that wee fall grieuously sometimes as it happened to Dauid S. Peter S. Paul and almost to all the Saintes yea to the perfectest that euer were yet there is one point vpon the which we must rest be well grounded wherby we must comfort our selues greatly and hold out against all the assaults and temptations of Sathan this is it that Saint Iohn saieth Who soeuer is borne of God sinneth no more that is to saye the sinne vnto death for the séede of God remaineth in him that cannot sinne because he is borne of God That which hee declareth better in another place All iniquitie saith he is sinne But there is a sinne which is not vnto death Wee knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is borne of God standeth vpon his garde that the tempter touch him not For by this he giueth vs ynough to vnderstande that faith and the worde of God which are the soule and the foundation be neuer whollie and altogether plucked vp and banished from the heart of the elect and therefore they cannot sinne in that sinne that Saint Iohn calleth to death For although that faith be sometime as it were buryed in them hauing no mouing or feeling no more then a dead thing Yet it is not altogether extinguished no more then fire couered with a fewe cenders albeit it shewe not the flame and heate nor no more dead than a tree in Winter when all the sappe is got into the roote and it bringeth foorth no blossomes nor leaues nor fruite as though it were not aliue the sappe neuerthelesse remaineth at the heart hidden within in the roote and this is the reason why Dauid speaking of the faithfull man sayeth Though he fall he shall not be cast off for the Lorde putteth vnder his hande And in another place I will keepe my promise that I haue sworne vnto him and shewe my fauour vnto him for euer And in the foure score and nynth Psalme I saide Mercie shoulde be set vp for euer Thy trueth shalt thou establish in the verie Heauens I haue made a couenant with my chosen c. And in another place more plainlye I will not faile Dauid his seede shall endure for euer and his throane shall bee as the Sunne before mee He shall bee established for euer more as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in Heauen But if his children forsake my lawe and walke not in my iudgementes If they breake my statutes and keepe not my commaundements Then will I visite their transgressions with the rodde and their iniquitie with strokes yet my louing kindnesse will I not take from him neither will I falsifie my trueth My couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes And in the 23 Psalme Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall followe thee all the dayes of thy life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lorde And in the thirtieth Psalme Hee endureth but a while in his anger but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide ar euening but ioye commeth in the morning Likewise in the 65 Psalm Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee Hee shall dwell in thy courtes and wee shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thine holie Temple And last of all in the 119 Psalme I pray thee that thy mercies may comfort mee according to thy promise These and other like places of holie Scriptures must wee alleage vnto the sicke pacient to strengthen his faith and to arme him
renewed betwéene the parties and the solemne promises and protestations first that GOD made respectiuelye to his people assuringe them of his fauour for euer and then that his people made vnto him promising him neuer to goe from him but to kéep his couenant for euer and neuer change his true seruice euer hereafter honoring him only and sanctifying his holy name And sure such assembles of y â— militant church wherof some steps we haue séen in this latter age if Antichrist and his adherents did not disturbe them would bee an excellent thing and most to be desired of all earthly treasure as the Prophet saith O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thyne house the place where thine honor dwelleth And also here he saith As the heart braieth for the riuers of waters so panteth my soule after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuinge God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God And in the 92. Psalm It is a good thing to praise the Lord and to sing to thy name O most highest To declare thy louinge kindnesse in the morning thy truth in the night These places and infinit other doe shewe sufficiently what accounte we ought to haue of holy asseÌ„blies which he did prefer before all worldly pleasures And to say the truth euery man which knoweth and féeleth in himselfe what is the loue bounty swéetenes mercy goodnes wisedom faithfulnes patience truth power greatnes maiesty iustice liberality and other soueraigne and infinite vertues of God can neuer content himselfe sufficiently to thinke vpon them to declare them to others to admire and adore them and to inuite not onely the angels and all the holy company of Heauen but also all the elements al liuing creatures al plants yea all creatures without life to magnifie his holy name and to bee filled with ioye when he shall heare it exalted and glorified Albeit the praises and thankesgiuing that men yet liuing doe sing vnto the Maiesty of God cannot be so holy or wel directed but they want somewhat for being alwaies vnperfect as we are vnto what degree of faith and charity soeuer we haue attained and hauing besides this flesh with vs which doth fight continuallye against the spirite and kéepeth it in bridle and pulleth it backe when it would lifte it selfe vp vnto God it is impossible that we should heare the word of God with such zeale attentiuenes as we ought neither that we should make our confessions praiers and thankesgiuing with such humility and affection as is required of vs. Yet when we heare in the midst of the assembly the Psalmes and spirituall songs resound from the mouths of the faithfull although they be but weak fraile poore and miserable sinners we reioice and are rauished with the ioy that we fele inwardly in our hearts What may we then thinke of the pleasure and ioy that we hope to receaue in Heauen when our soules being departed out of our bodies and asceÌ„ded thither shall heare the swéete musicke and harmony of Angels and other blessed spirites singing together the praises of God with so melodious a tune that â—…he contentment and pleasure that they shal take thereby shal make them in an instant forget not onely all other displeasure but also all other pleasure that euer they felt As a pale of water being cast into the sea is by and by no more perceiued and as the brightnes of the starres appeares no more as soone as the Sunne beginneth to shine and to cast his glorious beames ouer the face of the earth Moreouer when we die in the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ at that very instant we are blessed and moste happy that is to say wee haue no more thoughts and desires but such as are pure and holy and at the very houre of death haue their full periode Which is no small felicity for we haue the flesh no more contrary to our spirite our appetites no more rebelling against reason nor the lawe of our members no more repugning the law of God but all tumultes and troubles being asswaged in our hearts wee haue a soule spirituall calme peaceable liuing to God altogether which doth alwaies cleau so fast vnto him that it can no more by any temptation or any otherwayes bee withdrawen from his loue or his seruice nor from beholding of his face Is there any thing more pleasant to behold then a City gouerned with good pollicy where al the Citizens and inhabitants are so louing one to another firmely ioyned together with an vnfaigned bond of amity which committeth no wranglinges strifes debates quarrels partiallities diuisions tumults or seditions to arise amongst theÌ„ they doe hold so together and liue all in amiable loue and concord Is there likewise any thing more to be desired then to sée a family well ordered where the father and mother the children seruants do liue together in the feare and obedience of God and doe containe themselues within their dutie and doe not let slip or go beyonde in anie thing the rule measure that God hath set downe in his lawe Saint Paul in many places doth tel vs of the wonderfull harmonie which is betwéene the meÌ„bers of mans bodie of their mutuall communication faculties powers not one enuying the dignitie of another or despising his companion for his basenes by this comparison teaching the Church what fraternitie iust proportion ought to be betwéene the members thereof for the health preseruation of euery member in particular and of the whole bodie in generall What goodlier sight is there then this to be séene amongst men And what better melodie can there be then a Lute well tuned and well touched But what heauenly harmonie is there in the soule when it agréeth so well in all her powers that our vnderstanding thinketh on nothing more then on God our will loueth desireth and aspireth to nothing but to him our memorie hath nothing to remember but him for so is it with her when hauing lefte this bodie she is receiued into Paradice For then shée is filled with GOD who is in her From thence forwarde all things as the Apostle saith that is to saie all her thoughtes all her loue and desire all her cogitation to bée bréefe all her good all that euer shee hath all her wishing and contentation is fixed in God Séeing then that by death wée doe atchieue so greate a benefite that in all this life in what estate so euer wée bée wée cannot finde the like for there is liuing in this miserable worlde neither King nor Caesar noble man of marke or marchant lawyer or labourer who complaineth not of his estate often and hath iust occasion so to doe when his affayres fall out contrarie to his desire hope and expectation are not wee then greatly beholding to death that in the twinkling of an eie doth giue vs the fruition of the soueraigne felicitie which doth consiste
must resist being grounded in the faith And Saint Iohn saith Ye are strong and the word oâ—… God remaineth among you and ye haue ouercome the wicked spirit And Iesus Christ speaking of faith did hee not promise that the gates of hell that is to saie all the counsell craft fetches meanes and power that the deuill is able to deuise and make are not able to encounter with her and cannot resist the worde of God That which we sée cléerely appeare in the example of Iesus Christ. For the deuill being come to assaile him and hauing assaied all meanes possible that he could to make him fall in distrust of God he could bring nothing to passe but lost his labour for he founde him so well armed on euerie side with the word that he was gladde to forsake the field and was glad to be gone with shame leauing him If wee then bee also well armed we néede not feare what he can hurt vs nor stand in doubt but wée shall bée couquerours both of him and of all our other enemies As Saint Paul sayth The weapons of our warre are not carnall but mighty through God to cast downe holdes casting downe the imaginations euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God Whosoeuer then would stand in feare of the deuill béeing armed with saith and with the worde of GOD shoulde shewe thereby that hée knoweth not what is the force of the one or of the other nor what is the power and might of him who conducteth vs and knoweâ—…h not vnder what standarde wée fight For hath not our Captaine broken the serpents head Hath hée not dispossessed the strong man of his fortresse and taken all his armour from him Is it not hee that hath cast out the Prince of this worlde and destroyed all the workes of the deuill Is it not this grand Captaine Michael who already hath got the victorie against the Dragon and his Angelles and hath them in chase till hée haue defeated and vlterly ouerthrowen them for euer But to take better héede of him we must note two speciall pointes of pollicie in him whereby hée thinketh to ouer-catch vs if he sée vs vertuous to puffe vs vp with a vaine presumption of our selues of our owne workes and vertues But on the contrarie side if hee sée that wee are vicious and that in this life we haue béene licentious and dissolute then will hée laie before our eies as much as possiblie hee can the grieuousnes and enormitie of our sinnes that he may thrust vs heaâ—…long into a desperation of the grace of GOD. These are the two halters wherewith as Saint Augustine saith this hangman of mankinde doeth vse to strangle men But wee haue alreadie shewed how we may auoide these temptations And as for our good workes we knowe that they are al so filthy vnperfect y â— we can make no more account of them before the face of God then of olde and vncleane rags And againe y â— our sins cannot be so great but y e mercy of God doth surmouÌ„t them nor so vncleane but the righteousnes blood of Iesus Christ is able to wash theÌ„ cleane make theÌ„ as white as snow Nor finally so damnable but in confessing them with humilitie and contrition God will shew himselfe faithfull to pardon and forgiue them euery one It resteth nowe that we set down some assurance to comfort the sick man against the feare that he may haue of y e iudgemeÌ„t of God For wheÌ„ we sée our selues cited by sicknes to appeare quicklie personally before his tribunall seate if we haue in vs but the least sparke of grace we shall call to mind that which is sayd in the holy Scripture that is to say that it is an horrible thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God First that there is no partialitie or exception of persons that is to say no respect vnto greatnes dignitie noblenes riches beautie knowledge parentage allyance to no such matter which is of account and much regard among men causing them oftentimes to swarue a little go awry in their iudgementes from the true rule of iustice but it is not â—…o in the iudgements of God which beeing immumutable and impassible can nothing at all alter his will By reason whereof all his iudgements are measured by the rule and pronounced according to the rigour of the lawe Then that all our thoughtes affections wordes déedes and actions and generally all the course of our life from the beginning to the ending is vnfolded and sifted out throughly That the bookes and registers are brought forth wherein are noted all the faults that euer we haue coÌ„mitted by thought worde or déede with all their circumstances Likewise that iudgement shall be giuen without mercie and to be short that no vertue of ours is allowed of nor any righteousnes accepted that is not pure and perfect in all pointes I saie then when wee come to set these thinges before our eies concerning this fearefull iudgement the which we can by no meanes auoide or escape And on the other side wheÌ„ we come to set these things before our eyes the vice the corruption and imperfections which are in vs and y â— infinit number of sins that we haue committed against the first and second Table that is to say against God and man it must néeds be that we remaine greatlie astonished and forlorne considering that we haue so many aduersaries and accusers which will not cease to persecute vs extreamly that is to saie the deuill the lawe and our owne consciences which produce against vs a thousande a thousand informations séeking to condemne vs considering the qualitie of the crimes whereof we are conuinced And these things caÌ„not we withstand nor any wise escape the rigor of the iudgement of God but in confessing our debts first and then next to haue recourse to the death of our sauiour Iesus Christ to bée forgiuen For it is otherwise in the iudgement of God then in the iudgement of men by the which a person accused is condemned as soone as he hath by mouth confessed himselfe to be guiltie of the offence but contrariwise the confession of our offences is one of the meanes whereby wee obtayne remission and are absolued and iustified before God as saith Saint Iohn If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull iust to pardon them and to make vs cleane from all iniquitie And Dauid sayth I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquitie for I thought I will confesse against my selfe mine wickednes vnto the Lord thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne After the confessing and acknowledging of our sinnes wee must haue recourse vnto Iesus Christ the iust who isour aduocate to God the Father and the propitiation for our sinnes and repose our selues wholy vpon him referring our cause vnto him for hauing put it into his handes it cannot choose but
must beliue to be holy catholike vniuersall S. I belieue verily the holy Church vniuersall to be washed and made cleane in the precious bloud of Iesus Christ and I giue him most humble thankes that he hath giuen me grace to bee a little member of his church And being baptised in his name hath made me liue in the communion vnitie and charitie of the same hauing taught and instructed mee by his holy word nourished me with his verie bodie and giuen mee his most pretious bloud to drinke in hope of eternall life M. Séeing you are so surely grounded vpon the corner stone which is Iesus Christ in knowing your selfe pefectly you must also acknowledge the principall good that you haue receiued of this good God Iesus Christ. S. Not without good reason For I will not bee ingratefull to acknowledge the gifts and graces which I haue receiued at Gods handes Therefore I confesse that I am a poore and miserable sinner who haue grieuously offended the bountie and iustice of God hauing transgressed his most holy commandements wherein I haue deserued eternall death and damnation Neuerthelesse appealing to the mercie of God I aske him forgiuenesse and belieue and confesse without all doubt that he hath giuen mée full absolute forgiuenesse of all my sins by the onely merit of the death and passâ—…on of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in the shedding of whose most precious bloud I assure my selfe sufficiently and throughly to be washed and made cleane which is the greatest benefit and contentment that I could euer receiue This is my faith in the which I wil liue and dye by the grace of his holy spirite M. Séeing that you haue receiued so greate a benefite at Gods hand by the meanes of his sonne Iesus Christe it is meet also that you shoulde doe that which he commandeth you For euen as he hath pardoned and remitted all your sinnes so likewise must you pardon from the bottome of your heart all those that haue at any time offended you for otherwise you walke not in Gods commaundements S. Herein I acknowledge the law of Iesus Christ to bée moste holy and perfecte commanding vs to loue our neighbours our friends and enemies as our selues Wherefore I beséeche all those whom by word or déede I haue offended to forgéeue me with as good a will as I forgéeue all those that by any means haue euer offended mée wishing with al my heart that I might do them as good seruice pleasures as vnto my best friends dearest brethreÌ„ M. Séeing that it is the ordinaunce of God that all men shall die wée cannot resist his ordinaunce But we must alwaies conforme our selues to his most holly wil. Wherefore deare brother you must not think il if I speak vnto you y â— which y â— holy prophet Esay told vnto king Ezechias hauing his message from God Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not liue This good counsell should moue you to haue a great care for the spirituall disposing of your conscience that is first to turne your selfe vnto the Lord and bewaile your sinnes as this good king did crauinâ—… pardon and pittie at his handes and crying him mercy for your sinnes say from the bottom of your hart Lord God haue pitty and mercy on me a poore wretched sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Secondly you must not forget your familie which by your last will and testament you must set in so good order that after your decease it may be in peace and quiet without strife contention or going to law Then must you sâ—… order your familie that euerie one haue their owne without defrauding any person Leaue your wife your heire your children and kinsmen in good loue and charitie one with an other that there arise afterwardes no diuision amongst them This done you must so forget all cares and sorrowes of this wicked world which shall passe and 〈◊〉 awaie with all the 〈◊〉 therof But he which doth the will of God shall abide for euer As for your children you are but onely their naturall Father for a time but God is their spirituall Father for euer who hath then in his timely and holy protection to kéepe nourish and preserue them from all euill so that they will walke in his waies Moreouer being that you are a Christian borne a newe in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme you know long since that we haue héere no abiding Citie but wee looke for a better dwelling place that shal continue for euer Therfore I besech you in y â— name of God not to be sorrie to â—…orgo any thing in this world For here we are all but strangers as our fathers were If it please the Lord God then that you shal dislodge and come before him are not you readie to obey his will and commandement Or if he sée it more expedient for your saluation to prolong your life as he did to this good King Ezechias will not you bee content with that which it shall please him to doe with you Yes surely For he is your Lord and maâ—…ter you are but his seruants hee is your creator you are but his creature and the workmanship of his hands So then you must dispose of your selfe at his will vnto the which onely you must conforme and submit your selfe saying from your verie heart Lord God thou knowest my necessitie before I aske if it be thy will to prolong my life thy will be done if it please thée to cal me to thée ward thy will be done also for thy creature Lorde hath none other will but thine Now déere brother comfort your self in the Lord who if hee haue ordayned to call you your calling shall be most happie for you must beléeue hope with a strong faith that hee will raise you vp againe in your owne bodie in a glorious immortalitie the which is alreadie purchased and giuen vnto you gratis by the vertue and efficacie of the precious bloud of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ. In the name of which Lord and Sauiour God blesse you and kéepe you and make the light of his countenance to shine vppon you and be mercifull vnto you Therefore God turne his chéerefull face towards you and kéepe you in good prosperity for euer So be it This done if the sicke person doe not amend but drawe towards his end in the agonie of his death they should reade vnto him aloude the Christian Consolation which is before and beginneth Whosoeuer is of God c. And God no doubt shall giue him his grace to die his true and faithfull seruant like a good Christan and member of Christ Iesus So be it FINIS Psal. 82. Psal. 49. Psal. 89. Psal. 90. 2. Sam. 14. Psal. 62. 2 Chro. 16. Psal. 38. Rom. 13. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. Lament 3. 38. Amos. 3. Psal. 6. Psal. 38.