of God of the Holy Ghost which thou hast promised to send vs from the Father 〈…〉 so said 〈◊〉 mâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ek thâ—â— buâ— thâ—â—◠〈◊〉 theâ— Thou art the onely euer last 〈◊〉 â—â—vasâ—parable truth There 〈◊〉 do I sâ—edfastly beleeuâ— by knowledge of the Sâ—â—tyâ—uâ—eâ— that thou art to mâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—o all Ecleeuers a 〈◊〉 hâ—pnest a seat of Grace and Aâ—uacate so thy heauenly Father and I beleeue veâ—rily notwithstanding that reason is astonished thereat that through no other Oblation workes or meanes either in Heauen or on Earth our sinnes Death Hell and damnation is ouercome and taken away and we at agreement with God thy heauenly Father but onely through thee Iesus Christ whereon I will trust and also die thereon Thereto helpe thou me thou deare God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Amen O LORD Iesus Christ which with the Father and the Holy Ghost aâ—â— one vnseparable Essence and a Fountaine of all Grace I thanke and praise thee alâ—waies that thou hast also reuealed vnto mee thy grace for my better comfort as thou hast endued thy deaâ—e Mother Mary and also other Saints with great grace and wrought wonderfull workes in them I pray thee therefore heartily to look vpon on mee with the eyes of thy mercy as thou diddest looke vpon the euill doer which was hanged vpon the Crosse by thee and diddest open his heart that hee confessed his sinnes and was mightily afraide of them but yet despaired not but confessed desired thy grace and mercy which thou gauest to him willingly and plentifully Also Saint Peter which denied thee and Mary Magdalen in her sinfull liuing And hast also respected Mathew the Customer in open estate Saint Paul a raging and earnest persecutour of Christians Also in the old Testament Dauid King Manasses the Tyrant and other sinners more which thou didst bring to repentance and confession of their sins and of pure loue grace and mercy which thou didst reueal vnto them by thy holy Word hast placed them with thee in thy Kingdome Therfore dear God and mercifull Father will I strengthen my self so much the more and doubt nothing thereof These and other godly people of worth which thou of thy grace hast taken out of this sinfull life to righteousnes are a comfort and example to mee and all beléeuing Christians that thou wast mercifull to them and so wilt be to me and to euery sinner which repents according to thy owne pure loue which the holy Ghost through faith in the Gospell worketh in vs both gracious and mercifull and grants vs a happy end in such acknowledging of thy Name Which help thou me with and all Christians dear God Father Sonne and holy Ghost which art in three inseparable persons one only and euerlasting GOD for euer Amen Heer follow certain Praiers to call vpon God for strengthening of our faith O LORD â—ESUS CHRIST strengthen mée also with thy holy Spirit in my feare and quaking And admonish me that I thinke vpon thy sacred Wounds in my last end And let not thy holy and bitter Passion bee lost on mee poore sinner thou which art therefore come that thou maist destroy the Diuels worke and pay and counterpoize my sinnes with thy hard and painfull labor and thou which hast sworne Thou wilt not the death of a sinner Strengthen my weak faith and kéep mee through thy Spirit of grace and of praier vnto a happy end Amen A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ I confesse vnto thée my great and manifold sins and the righteous wrath of God and euerlasting punishment which I haue deserued But I comfort my self with the great loue and pure mercy of thy Father and pray thee séeing thy bloud is more than the sinnes of the whole world and thou art our Mediatour and Aduocate that thou wilt bee Intercessor for mee to thy Father that my faith doo not diminish and that I neuer despaire of thy mercy for my sinnes Amen A Praier O Lord Iesus Christ increase my faith and trust in thée that I despair not of thy gracious mercy nor in my greatest sin perish in vnbeleef O Lord preserue for mee thy promised grace in the holy Gospell let it not come out of my heart Thou art my onely comfort and hope stand to me in this my sorrow Let not my poor soule come into the hands of my horrible Aduersary and giue him no power ouer me But shew mee thy goodnes at this present for thou art my Sauiour and Redéemer Amen A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ I pray thee through thy goodnes and mercy that thou wilt strengthen my soule vpon thy holy way which lyeth before me into thy heauenly and euerlasting Kingdome I beléeue that thou diedst for my sake hast of thy grace and mercy forgiuen mee my sins and that euerlasting life is promised to mee Of this my faith O Lord shall thou be witnes and all thy Elect and in this faith shall bee my last Will to die therein O Lord in thy pure mercy And although I through griefe want of sense or other troubles should fall off from the same yet O Lord let mâ—e not die in vnbelief and blasphemy but strengthen and increase my faith that neither sinne hell nor diuell hurt me Thou art stronger and of more power than all they whereunto I will trust Lord let me not be confounded Amen A comfort out of holy Scripture against the feare of sinne ESAY 12. Behold God is my saluation I am safe and feare not for God the Lord is my strength my Psalm and my saluation The first Comfort How a man should comfort himself against sin and the just anger of God out of the comfortable promises of the holy Scripture The first comfortable sentence GENESIS 3. The Seed of the Woman shall tread down the head of the Serpent THis is the first Euangelicall Doctrine of the euerlasting Sonne of God in Paradise reuealed vnto the fallen and damned mankinde whereby he might be released againe from death Gods wrath Sinne Hell and power of the Diuell and might obtaine through beliefe in these words Comfort Grace Remission on of sinnes and euerlasting life And with this Promise haue all the holy men comforted themselues vntill Abraham two thousand yéers long for héer doth GOD tell vs that he euen of pure loue and mercy will send vnto vs poore damned sinners his onely and deare Sount borne of a Uirgine to take vpon him mortall and humane flesh and bloud who should with his absolute Obedience and Passion pay the ransome of our sinnes pacifie GOD's wrath kindled by reason of our sinnes destroy Death through his death and with his victory and rising againe restore againe righteousnesse resurrection and euerlastinâ—g life This comfort should wée conceiue with faithfull harts and bee certaine thereof that the Diuels workes are destroyed for oâ—r sakes and all his power taken away that wee neuer néed to bée afraid of sinne death hell or God's anger but through Iesus Christ our Lord true God and
mee out of my troubles Looke vpon mine aduersitie and miserie and forgiue me all my sinnes O kéepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not be confounded for I haue put my trust in thée The Lord is my light and my saluation whom then should I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then should I bee afraid Though an hoast of men were laide against mee yet shall not my heart bee afraide and though there rose vp war against mee yet will I trust in him O hide not thou thy face from mée cast not thy seruant off in displeasure Thou art my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God my Sauiour The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart hopeth in him In thee O Lord is my trust let mee neuer bee put to confusion Bowe downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer mee Thou art my strong hold and my castle O bee thou my guide and leade mee for thy Names sake Into thy hands I commend my Spirit deliuer me O Lord God of truth O Lord consider my trouble and know my Soule in aduersitie My hope is in thee O Lord thou art my God Shew mee the light of thy countenance help me for thy mercies sake Let mee not be confounded O Lord for I call vpon thée Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come about mee O compasse thou mee about also with the ioy of deliuerance Striue thou with them O Lord that striue with mee fight thou against them that fight against mee and stand vp to helpe me Awake Lord and stand vp auenge thou my cause my God and my Lord. Thou art my helper and redéemer make no long tarrying O my God Arise O Lord help me and deliuer mee for thy mercies sake Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord after thy goodnesse and according to thy great mercies do away mine offences For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Against thée onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight Cast mee not away from thy presence Heare my prayer O Lord and hide not thy selfe from my Petition Take heede vnto mee and heare me and preserue my soule Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon mee and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed me Bee mercifull vnto me O God bee mercifull vnto mee for my soule trusteth in thee and vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge Heare my crying O God giue heede vnto my prayer for thou art my hope a strong Tower for mee against the enemy Take mee out of the myre that I sinke not Heare mee O Lord and turne thee vnto me according vnto thy great mercie I am poore and in miserie haste thée O God for to helpe mee For thou art my helpe my Redéemer and my God oh make no long tarrying In thee O Lord is my trust let me neuer bee put to confusion For thou art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth Forsake mee not O Lord when my strength fayleth mee for mine enemies that lay white for my soule take their counsell together Go not farre from mee O my God my God hast thee to helpe mee O remember not mine iniquities but haue merey vpon me and that soone Helpe me O Lord my Sauiour for the glorie of thy Name O deliuer mee and forgiue mee my sinnes for thy Name sake Comfort the soule of thy seruant for thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercie vnto all them that call vpon thee In the time of trouble I call vpon thee turne to me haue mercie vpon mee giue thy strength to thy seruant Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercie long-suffering great in goodnesse and truth The snares of death compassed mee round about the paines of hell gat holde vpon me I found trouble and heauinesse O Lord deliuer my soule Thy mercie O Lord endureth for euer despise not the worke of thine owne hands Enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Bring my soule out of trouble for I am thy seruant A Prayer O My God my Lord and Father now shew vnto my poore soule that she may perceiue that thou art my strong rock castle shield tower defence hope succour refuge defender and goodnes that I in this great trouble for mine enemies through thy godly grace helpe and assistance may bee preserued Lord in thee I put my trust let me not bee put to confusion Into thy hands I commend my spirit deliuer mee Lord God of truth Amen A Prayer O Father receiue againe the thing which thou hast created O Sonne receiue the thing which thou hast gouerned O Holy Ghost fetch the thing which thou so bountifully hast preserued Three persons and one verie God I beséech you remember not mine offences for euer For I crie Lord God and Father mercie Lord God Sonne mercie Lord God Holy Ghost mercie Amen When thou departest from a sicke person say vnto him IN your trouble and necessitie call vnto the Lord and crie vnto your God and hée will heare your voice and your crying commeth before him in his eares And God which called you vnto his eternall glorie by Christ Iesu shall his owne selfe after you haue suffered a little affliction make you perfect shall settle strength stablish and saue you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer FINIS
all and what soeuer hee hath earned and obtained with his Obedience Death and Passion With this holy Sacrament should wee admonish and comfort our selues when sorrow and the combate of death is at the greatest that wee cannot rememâ—er any thing else and think and say thus much in our hearts I am baptized whereby God the holy Trinity hath made an euerlasting couenant with mée that he will bée and continue my GOD and hath not grounded the same vpon my goodnes but vpon his infinite mercy the merits of his onely Sonne and vpon the grace and power of the holy Ghost So am I absolued through Christ and haue oftentimes receiued the holy supper of the Lord according to his institution therefore I am certaine of the forgiuenes of all my sins Gods grace and saluation of my soule For if the euerlasting mercifull God and my Lord Iesus with the holy Ghost would not haue mee saued or taken me to mercie he would not haue suffered mee to be baptized or called mee to his Kingdome through his holy Gospell nor let mee so often receiue the holy Sacrament Therefore should we haue these worthy Sacraments in great estimation and often resort to the holy Communion of our Lord vsing the same in right worthinesse for confirming of our faith and comfort against sin and the wrath of God in our last end A Prayer O Thou euerlasting true mercifull God and Father I thanke thee through Iesus Christ thy deare Son in the power and vnspeakeable sighing of the holy Ghost that thou hast suffred mee to be baptized in the name and power of the holy Trinity and taken me vp for thy child and through power of the keies hast absolued me from all my sinnes and fed mee with the body and bloud of thy deare Sonne for the strengthening of my faith and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes And I pray thée dear Father that thou wilt vphould me through thy holy Spirit in true saith and confidence to my end that I may sléep in peace like to holy Simeon and rise againe with the righteous to euerlasting glory through Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Praier to bee said when a man will receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ O LORD IESVS CHRIST thou liuing Sonne of God which before thy Death and Passion didst institute and ordaine to all Christians a new Testament of the most worthy Sacrament of thy most holy Body and Bloud which I poore sinner am not worthy to vse or take thy holy Body and Bloud into my vncleane mouth or vpon my sinnefull tongue and that thou béeing so great a Lord shouldest come vnder the couer of my house or into my vnprofitable Bodie I am alas not worthy But I pray thée O dear GOD and Brother open thou my mouth touch thou my tongue and purge thou my heart from all sinnes and make mee thy poore seruant worthy of thy most holy Testament that I may receiue take and vse ' thy most worthy bodie and pure deare bloud of thy Sacrament to the health and saluation of my soule strengthning of my faith amendment of my life in burning loue towards thee true loue towards my neighbour and bring mee to euerlasting life Amen A Praier of Thanksgiuing O Almighty and euerlasting God I praise and thanke thy godly mercifulnesse that thou hast fed mee with the flesh and blood of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour and doe pray thee most humbly thou wilt with the Holy Ghost so worke within mee that I which haue receiued this blessed Sacrament with the mouth may also with constant faith conceiue and alwaies keepe fast thy godly grace of remission of sinnes and iustification with Christ which is therein shewed and promised and euerlasting life through our Lord Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne who with thee in vnitie of the holy Ghost liueth and raiâ—neth one true God for euer and euer Amen A godly confession of the deare and worthy man M. Iohn Stoliz MY sins doe trouble mee Gods grace ioyeth me Two things know I A poore sumer am I God is mereifull The first acknowledge I The second beléeue I. O God bée mereifull to mée poore sinner God giueth Christ meriteth Faith conceiueth Workes do witnesse Come to helpe mee thou good God weake is mans helpe in tune of need Esay 42. The bruised Reede shall bee not breake and the glowing Tow shall â—ee nâ—t quench out O Lord strengthen increase our faith Amen Of Gods gracious and euer lasting Prouidence and Maintenance a most true comfort Psalme 37. WHen I haue but thee my Lord Iesus Christ I care not for heauen or earth When my body and soule fayle mee yet art thou alwaies God the comforter of my heart and portion Zachary 12. OVer the house of Dauid and ouer the Citizens of Ierusalem will I powre out the Spirit of Grace and of Prayer for they shall looke vpon mée whom they haue pearced HEere doth the Lord promise to send his Holy Ghost to vs poore sinners as Saint Iohn in the 15. and 16. Chapters often maketh mention of this promise for because wée are weake and of little faith when sinne and Gods wrath doe terrifie vs to the end our faith cease not then shall the Holy-ghost as a true Comforter strengthen and comfort vs and bee witnesse to our hearts that our sinnes bee forgiuen and that weere in grace and she children of GOD and shall help vs to sigh and pray with vnspeakeable sighing Therewithall also shall the How-ghost for the comfort strengthening of our faith admonish and shew vs the holy wounds whereby wee may acknowledge that he was wounded and pearced for our sins and his blood shed for the clensing and washing away of all our sinnes II. Esay 54. SO haue I sworne that I will not bée angrie with thee nor yet reprooue thee for the Mountaines shall remoone and the hills shall fall away but my Grace shall not â—oe away from thee and the Conenant of my Peace shall not fall away saith the Lord thy compassioner GOd the Almighty hath through Christ his hest beloued Sonne erected a Conenant of peace with vs and confirmed the same with an doth That if we do beleeue in Christ hee will not punish nor yet concernne vs for euermore but continue our deare and louing Father eternally Such promise is so certaine that the Mountaines shall fall down yea Heauen and Earth shall passe away before such words faile A very glorious and comfortable cause doth the Prophet set héereunto The Lord thy Compassioner hath said that is God is so mercifull that hee will not condemne you for your sinnes Whosoeuer beléeueth in Christ with a faithfull heart shall rest in grace and hee will for euer release and helpe him out of all misfortune III. Esay 54. Feare them not thou shalt not bée ashamed Bee not weake for thou shalt not bée mocked THESE are faire and comfortable words
and made him a great Prince ouer all the Land of Egypt So will God also doo with vs his deare children a certaine time will he leaue vs to bée troubled in misery but afterwards will he accept of vs and take pity with his euerlasting mercy will perfectly reioyce vs preserue and bring vs to euerlasting glory A Prayer O Lord God heauenly father which of thy fatherly well meaning wilt keep me thy deare Child héere on earth vnder thy rodde to the end I may bée like thine onely Sonne both in passion and afterwards in glorie I pray thee comfort mee in my tribulations and crosses with thy holy Spirit that I despaire not but according to the promises of thy Sonne doe take sure holde of this comfort that the crosses of me and all faithfull be but a little and that thou wilt with thy grace accept of vs againe in our troubles with euerlasting pitty that euerlasting ioy may follow That I through this hope may with patience ouercome all misfortunes Amen Lamen 3. It is a precious thing for a man that he carry the yoke in his youth MAny a one doth GOD lay his crosse and yoke vpon betimes in his young bloud and youth Although our flesh and bloud doe shrinke for it and would gladly forbeare it yet should wee know that it is a costly thing for a man that hée be exercised from his youth vnder the Lords yoake and bée rocked with the deare Crosse for thereby teacheth hée not onely to estéeme much of Gods help but also to thanke God from his heart for his gratious care hath kept him thereby from so many terrible sinnes which the Aduersarie in his youth did trouble him with And because hee is from his youth vsed to the Crosse therefore is hee patient for hée knoweth well that he shall find no better life heere Therefore hath hee is minde and longing to another world and occasioned to pray vnto GOD for the gracious coâ—â—â—ing of his kingdome For such and the like causes will GOD preserue vs alwaies vnder his yoke For when one crosse is scant past there cometh soone another And heere must 〈◊〉 tell an example of a Christian Pastor and Preacher which soone after the beginning of the Gospel did preach in the precinct of Weida This honest and godly man without doubt loued the Lord GOD and his holy Word entirely therefore was the Diuell his sore enemy And GOD the Lord through many afflictions did trie his faith For first not onely hée but his whole houshold wife and children were taken with a long lasting sickenesse of the French disease on which his wise and children died Not long after the horrible plague of Pestilence fell vpon him in the time of which sickneg the wilde-fire kindled in oâ—e of his armes that hee was forced to haue the same sawed off and was after wards bereaued of his senses that hée was kept in chaines Vpon whom the Lord shewed himselfe so gracious and merciful that he gat his senses againe But shortly after when hee sound himselfe very ill and weake hee called on his deare God with these and such like words O Deare God I thanke thee for thy gracious helpe and euerlasting Redemption which thou hast shewed to mee poore sinner through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and let so happen vnto me that thou mightest preserue mee in the same thy euerlasting grace and mercie Oh how many tribulations and sicknesses hast thou layd die vpon me from my youth hast visited me with the French disease Pestilence hast let my wife children die sent the wilde fire into my arme to bee bereaued of my wits and memorie and hast giuen mee the same againe O my deare GOD what wilt thou doe more with me and what is thy pretence Euen at that houre as he thanked his deare GOD for his euerlasting helpe that hee had so heartily accepted of his Soule and yeelded him further to GODS will and pleasure without doubt for dissoluing of this life praying with Saint Paul with his heart the falling sicknesse tooke him by the meanes whereof hee departed out of this life but was perfectly heard As God now dealt with this Christian in sending him one sorrow after an other First on his wife then shortly after vpon his children and his owne bodie c. So will hee often times do with his Christians in this life from their youth and it shall stand vs in good stead For nothing can bee dannable to them which bée in Christ Iesus This same is somewhat a horror for our senses to hear but a Christian should yéeld himselfe with patience vnto Gods will and pleasure as this Christian man did For like as the Lords yoake is a very costly thing so againe is it also a costly thing to beare the same with patience and tarry for his helpe Therefore whosoeuer is subiect vnder the Lords yoke and crosse let him here learne with the Prophet Dauid to comfort himselfe and to pray thus O deare God behold how I am heere in subiection vnder thy yoke with many miseries and troubles I know if it bée thy will that thy right hand can turne away all But if it bée not thy godly pleasure to helpe mee bodily as thou knowest what is best then giue mée the comfort of thy holie Spirit I reioyce and am glad of thy goodnesse that thou hast respect of my miserie and knowest my soule in aduersitie Psalme 31. I hope vpon thee for thou art mercifull My heart reioyceth that thou so willingly helpest Therefore O deare God although thou kill mee and let mée die vnder thy yoake and crosse yet will I not doubt nor despaire of thine euerlasting helpe A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ the flesh is weake and vnpatient O deare Lord burne hew strike and plague mée how thou wilt I onely pray thee for patience and méekenesse Amen III. Wherefore God layeth the Crosse vpon vs. Esay 48. Behold I wil cleanse thee but not as siluer but I will make thee selected in the Furnace of Affliction for my sake will I doe it WE poore Creatures haue often gone away from God and forgotten him Therefore it is néedfull that he do cast vs into the melting Quen like vncleane and falsified siluer to bée clensed and purified to the end hée may againe haue a pleasure and delight in vs And so wée deliuered from sinne and comne againe into the feare of God may kéepe his word This is for all that no euill thing but the chiefest pretence and meanes that God spareth thy Soule taketh a while thy body thy goods wife and children c. Therewith hee thrusteth thée into the furnace of affliction that thou maiest thereby learn to acknowledge thy sinnes to be sorry for them to humble thy selfe before GOD and pray for Gods grace c. whereas otherwise if thou diddest not sticke in this furnace thou wouldest alwaies goe forward in sin and more and more fall into damnation But now whilst
neither goods fâ—iends riches mony or gold nor any other temporall matter or thing wherein he had peraduenture héere to fore put his trust can counsell or help yet hath he heere by Christs word a sure and certayne comfort and a powerfull counsell whereby hee shall bee râ—ght and well yea prosper and bee holpen for euermore This dee the poore Christians acknowledge in 〈◊〉 Therefore when they should depart out of this miscrable life and leaue all that is temporall they doe take hold of this happie comfort and counsell of the holy Gospel in their hearts and die therein happily Thus Saint Peter comforted himselfe Iohn 6. Thou hast the word of life And the Apostle Saint Paul in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans The Gospel of Christ Iesus is the power of of God to saluation to all that beleeue How a man should comfort him selfe against sinne and Gods iust indignation Other general comfortable sentences ESAY 1. IF your sinnes were redde like blood yet shall they bee white as Snow and if they were like purple they shall be like wooll Esay 2. The Lord will not iudge according to the sight of his eies nor punish according to the hearing of his eares But will with righteousnes iudge the poore Esay 6. Thou kéepest continuall peace according to sure promise for man relyeth vpon thée Therefore rely you vpon the Lord alwaies for God the Lord is an euerlasting Rocke Esay 27. God is not angry with me Esay 38. Thou hast heartily accepted my Soule that it perish not for thou hast cast all my sins backward behind thee Esay 40. Comfort my people saith your God speake faire to leru â—aleâ—r and preach to her that her warrefare is at air end her misdeâ—des are pardoned for shee hath receiued double from the hands of the Lord for all her sinnes Esay 44. Israel d ee not forget mee I driue away thy misdeeds like a cloud and thy sinnes like a mist Turne thee vnto me for I haue redâ—emed thee Reioyce yee Heauens for the Lord hath done it Esay 53. Hée was wounded for our misdeeds and beaten for our sins The punishment was laid vpon him that we might haue peace and through his wounds are wee healed Esay 53. Through his knowledge shall my righteous Seruant make many righteous for he beareth their sinne Esay 64. Thou Lord art our Father and Redeemer from the beginning hitherto that was thy name Esay 66. I haue respect to the wretched and him that is of a lowly spirit which is afraid of my Word â—zechiel 33. So sure as I liue I will not she death of a sinner but that hée turne from his wickednesse and liue Dan. 9. In the Lord our God is mercifulnesse and forgiuenesse Zachary 9. Thou redeemest also through the bloud of thy Couenant thy Prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water Micheas 7. Who is such a God as thou art which forgiuest sins and releasest misdeeds Ierem. Hée is mercifull hee will take pitty on vs againe put downe our wickednesse and cast all our sins into the bottome of the Sea Ionas 4. I know that thou art gracious mercifull long suffering and of great goodnesse and repentest thée of euill Psal 13. I hope vpon thée because thou art so merciful my heart reioyceth that thou so willingly helpest Psal 25. The Lord is good and gracious therefore directeth hée sinners vpon the right way Psal 22. I said I will confesse my trans ressions vnto the Lord and thou forgauest mee the inquity of my sinne Psal 31. I rejoyced and was glad in thy goodnesse that thou didst consider my misery and know my soule in his need Iohn 3. God hath sent his Sonne into the world not to iudge the world but that the world through him might bee saued Whosoeuer beléeueth on him shall not bee iudged Iohn 3 Like as Moses sifted vp the Serpent in the Wildernesse so must the Sonne of man bee lifted vp to the end that all which beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Iohn 1. This is the Lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world Iohn 6. This is the will of him which sent mee that whosoeuer looketh on the Son and beléeueth in him hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Iohn 6. Verily verily I say vnto you whosoeuer beleeueth on mee hath euerlasting life Math. 1. The Angell saith of Christ Hée shall saue his people from their sinnes Mathew 9. I am come to call sinners to repentance and not the righteous Luke 24. Thus it is written and so must Christ suffer And in his name doe they preach Repentance and forgiuenesse of sins amongst all people Acts 4. There is no other saluation nor any other name giuen to mankinde whereby they should be saued Acts 10. Of Christ doo all the Prophets witnesse that through his Name all they which beléeue in him should receiue remission of sinnes 1. Tim. 1. This is a true and worthy Saying that Iesus Christ is comne into the world to saue poor sinners 1. Tim. 2. There is one GOD and one Mediatour betwirt God and man namely the Man Christ Iesus who gaue himself for vs to the redemption of all 1 Iohn 2. If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with GOD the Father Iesus Christ who maketh vs righteous and hee is the atonement for our sinnes 1 Iohn 4. GOD hath loued vs and sent his Son for a reconciliation of our sins 1 Peter 2. Christ hath offered vp our sinnes himselfe with his body vpon the Crosse to the end we might be frée from sinne and liue vnto righteousnesse through whose wounds you are healed 1 Cor. 1. Christ is made to vs from God for righteousnes glory and redemption 1 Thes 5. GOD hath not appointed vs to wrath but to attaine saluation through our Lord Iesus Christ which died for vs. 1 Pet. 1. Ye are not redéemed with transitorie siluer or gold but with the most precious bloud of Christ like a guiltlesse and vnspotted Lamb. 1. Iohn 1. The bloud of Iesus Christ maketh vs cleane from all sinne Mat. 9. Be comforted my sonne thy sins are forgiuen thée The second comfort against sin and the right wrath of God out of examples of holy Scripture BEsides these mercifull promises God hath caused many comfortable examples to bee written in the sacred Scriptures how hee hath taken the greatest sinners to mercy when they haue méekely acknowledged and confessed their sinnes belieued in Iesus Christ and amended their liues and all for the comfort of vs poore sinners For when sinne and Gods wrath is rightly felt in our harts some man is somtimes so troubled therewith that no comfortable Sayings will enter into the heart but hée thinks alwaies Ah! GOD speaks not of such great sinners as thou art But that the mercifull God not onely promiseth forgiuenes of all great and manifold sinnes but sheweth also indéed what sinners and wicked people hee
thou dost conuert God hath a liking to thee and taketh thée agayne to his mercie for his Names sake that is onely therefore that he will through Christ bee mercifull vnto vs to the end wee acknowledge his Name and Mercie and praise the same 1 Cor. 11. When we are iudged then shall wee bee chastised of the Lord that we be not damned with the world HEere doth Saint Paul shew the cause why God doth lay the crosse vpon his people Hée doth the same that wée may attaine vnto his holines For it is certaine if GOD should giue to vs all that wee would willingly haue wee should bée safe and haue no regard of our sinnes neither thinke on the Word or Prayer But when all goeth ouer and ouer and now one affliction and then another hapneth then hath a man cause to hasten not onely to prayer but also to thinke how wee with our sinnes haue well deserued such correction And therefore hencefoorth to prepare our selues more earnestly for amendement of our liues As it is saide in the Epistle to the Hebrews Our Father in Heauen doth chastise vs for our good that we may attayne vnto his holinesse A Prayer O Deare and heauenlie Father who of thy well meaning and loue to keepe mée vnder thy childely obeysance for obtayning of thy holinesse and to make mée selected hast laide so manifold corrections vpon mee Take pitty on my Soule and come to help me in these mine afflictions occurrences and temptations of the raging Diuell Deliuer my soule in this great néede from the hellish dogges Amen Lament of Ieremy 3. It is a costly thing to bée patient and to tarry for the Lords helpe MAny men do often fall vnder the crosse into Impatience and Despaire for they know not yet what the good God meaneth towards vs with the Crosse and this impatience is a great affliction of the Diuell by which the vnfaithfull are brought either to seeke meanes that bee forbidden or through despaire when a had conscience meeteth with it doe run their owne heart out doe poyson drowne hang or kill themselues c. for they haue no comfort in their hearts It fareth with them as the Prophet Micheas in the 7. Chap. saith When the day of thy Preacher commeth they shall not know what to do Against such afflictions doth Ieremy héere strengthen vs O saith hée what a terrible woful thing it is when a man will not acknowledge what a louing heart God hath towards him He begins to bee impatient murmureth against God and despaireth against which if any doe thinke thus in his heart I know I haue a mercifull God in heauen who esteemeth of mee as of other his deare children and will through these my afflictions sicknesse woes and miseries c. put mee in minde of my sinnes and admonish mee to repentance that I may bee more godly and shall keepe mee from sinne These are precious and happy thoughts for they are the comfort of the Holy Ghost and worthy to bée praised For whosoeuer hath such thoughts in his heart is patient vnder the Crosse seeketh helpe by GOD with prayer and hopeth for the Lords gracious houre of helpe and is of sure hope that it will come if not corporally yet the Lord will perfectly heare him Therefore tarrieth hée for his helpe with patience So did the Prophet Abacuk comfort in the 2. Chap. The promise shall bee yet fulfilled in due season and lastly come to light and not tarry away Though it linger tarry you it will surely come and not stay A Prayer O Heauenly Father giue mee thy holy Spirit to strengthen mee that I may beare thy will with patience that both in good and euill I may alwaies breake my will offer and mortifie my selfe and not murmure against thee although I thinke it goeth otherwise with mee then I gladly would I would rather that it went alwaies after my will that I might bee without Crosses but O Lord doe thou thy will vpon mée and giue mee obedience and patience in all Crosses and Afflictions Amen IIII. God will also deliuer from the Crosse 1 Cor. 10. GOd is trusty who will not let you bee tempted aboue your abilitie but maketh the temptation to get an end that you may beare it HEere doth Saint Paul encounter with two great afflictions which greatly hinder our faith especially when wee grone lie bedred The first that wee thinke the Crosse to bée heauy and too great and feare wee must vnder it goe to the ground The second that wee sée no way nor meanes whereby wee may bee holpen then wée make account we are vndon and begin to doubt and to despaire Therefore doth Saint Paul heere comfort vs Why should you so despaire vnder the crosse you haue yet a true mercifull God which laieth vpon no man more then his ability yea hee himselfe giueth strength and power to them which bee not able and maketh the affliction a gracious meanes and end that how heauie soeuer the same seemeth yet those which are his doe goe through with it and beare it for the crosse is to a Christian but a slight burthen and a light yoake Math. 11. vnder which the Lord himselfe did put his godly arme necke and shoulders and will comfort them as hee promiseth Esay 51. I euen I am your Comforter c. And how long or endless the crosse séemeth to our vnderstanding yet shall there be a happy end and but a small thing as the Lord himselfe reckoned his suffering that it was but little Iohn 16. So also the Lord GOD comforted his Christians Yet a little while then shall my anger for thy sinnes and my displeasure haue an end Esay 10. Heere doth the Lord giue a fine comparison Iohn 16. of a Woman in Child-bed with whom it séemeth also as if the Crosse were importable both Mother and Childe must goe together The poore woman can doe no more but yeeldeth her selfe in such smart and deadly paine vnto Gods will and pleasure and saith Whether I liue or die I am the Lords Now when the paine is at the greatest and no power more to beare behold it goeth then after the common prouerbe Where mans helpe endeth there Gods helpe beginneth It is but for a little time and then in stead of death two liues are brought into the world and the woman thinketh no more on the paine for great ioy that shée hath brought a merry birth into the world Likewise should wée also comfort our selues that it is but a while then shall Gods helpe bee vnto vs and in stead of sorrow ioy and comfort shall bee found A Prayer O Thou most true and good Lord GOD and Father giue mée for thy Son Iesus Christs sake through thy holy Spirit a strong trust in thee that I may assure my self and goe thorow with all the afflictions of the Crosse and stedfastly beléeue although the Crosse to my thinking and to all mens reason séemeth too heauie and importable
and withall endlesse that it presse mée not downe but bée vnto mée a light burthen and a light yoke And lend mée likewise strength and ablenesse in putting-to thy holy arme and help to beare it till I through thy godly help shall with patience ouercome the same and that thou wouldest send to mee a happy end and hour of help with grace Amen Rom. 8. I am assured that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory of God which shall be shewed to vs. HEer Saint Paul the Apostle puts all the miseries of mankinde together what name soeuer they haue All diseases plagues sicknesses crosses and passions and how heauy and great such woes and miseries doo séem vnto vs and saith If all the troubles of this world were heaped together yet were all much too slight to bee compared to God's glory Why wilt thou then complain so much of troubles and mans miseries It is but a little times and then shall follow to euery Christian Beléeuer an vnmeasurable and euerlasting glory Héer in this life let no man think that it will bee better with him as Christ himselfe saith In the world you shall haue troubles c. For wée are héer in the diuels house if thou hold not with the host thou shalt haue small fauour in thy lodging Many a one thinks hee will go to another place and flée away from the mischief but wheresoeuer he commeth he findes the hoste at home Look what great dangers the Apostle Paul endured as in his first Epistle to the Corinthians and eleuenth Chapter but the hope of euerlasting life and glory to-come caried him thorow that with patience hee ouercame all As it is true that No eye hath séen nor ear hath heard nor euer came into the heart of man vhat ioyes habitation and glory is prepard for Christians and shall bee reuealed vnto them So is it most certain that they shall haue holy cleare immortall and powerfull bodies and therefore néed not feare any humane miseries death nor diuell And all these great gifts shall they haue through Christ for euermore All shall bee Gods and haue enough A poor scabbed boy or wench a poor scholar a despised begger c. which put their trust in Christ shall haue more and bée more rich thâ—n all the Emperors and Kinâ—s in this life for they shall possesse the euerlasting glory in which the Lord Iesus Christ shall crowne them with his vnwithered Garland of honour to euerlasting heauenly honour as wée vse to set Garlands on for an honour All worldly honour shall bée but childrens play to such honour and glory for there shall the Christians in glory hee like the Son of GOD himself yea Lords ouer all tyrants and persecuters ouer the holy Angels who shall bée their seruants shall stand about them and wait on them and shall in such honour and glory haue a merry constant and quiet conscience where no mis-fortune more shall ouerthrowe their ioyes their euerlasting righteousnes innocency and saluation Of which glory wee all should comfort our selues in all our afflictions then may wee through such hope with patience ouercome the Crosse So doth Saint Peter comfort vs You shall reioyce in the saluation who were a small time in sorrow Likewise S. Paul saith 2 Cor. 4. Our small and slight troubles cause to vs a far more excellent and an eternall waight of glory for wee look not vpon the visible but on the inuisible things A Praier O Dear and heauenly father I acknowledge that I for my sins sake haue well deserued all woes and miseries wherein I doo stick besides euerlasting punishment But I thank thée with all my heart that thou hast through Christ redéem'd me from such euerlasting woes and doo beléeue that these my sorrows and troubles are but smal and that vpon the same shall follow to me and all the faithfull an euerlasting and aboue all measure an excéeding glory I pray thée that thou wilt preserue me in this poor troublesome life which is so full of woes and miseries throgh comfort of thy holy Spirit in sure hope and patience to thy euerlasting honour and glory for thy dear Son Christ Iesus sake his redemption death power resurrection life and glory Amen Set thou thy cause on God indeed Hee will thee help in time of need For he that God doth trust Speed well alwaies he must Help thou Lord God euery where The body heere and the soule there A COMFORT against the fear and terror of Death and the Graue BEING An Exposition of Doctor MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end LONDON Printed by H. L. for Iohn Parker 1624. An Exposition of D. MARTIN LVTHER written a little before his end IOHN 8. Verily verily I say vnto you If any keep my word he shall neuer see death HOW incredibly is this spoken and against manifest and daily experience in that we sée one carried away and buried Yet it is true when a man séeks after Gods Word with his hart beléeues on him and vpon the same sléeps or dies he sinks and goes hence before he might sée death or beware thereof and is for certain saued by the Word in that hee beleeueth and determineth to depart from hence Therefore should we Christians not be afraid of death Iohn 5. Verily verily I say vnto you He that hears my word and beléeues on him that sent me shal haue euerlasting life and not come into iudgement but shall passe through death into life THis may be called an excellent comfort and ratified with a solemne Oath That wee Christians when wee onely beleeue in Iesus Christ and that the Father sent him for our righteousnesse then néed we take no care for dying nor bée afraid of damnation but doo passe through this temporall death to euerlasting life that is so soone as we are dead before all mens eyes wée are in the twinkling of an eye with God in euerlasting life Who would then feare to die O vnbeliefe O originall sinne that thou shouldest so hardly beléeue so many Promises so many Miracles and such solemne Oaths of the true Son of God made vnto the Saints and children of Christ Iohn 11. I am the Resurrection and life He that beléeueth on me shall liue although hee die and who liueth and beléeueth on me shall not die for euer IN this Saying the Lord teacheth vs for what cause death is no death to vs but a beginning of eternall life for our Lord Iesus Christ liueth and is the Resurrection and the life because we are members of Christs Body incorporated to him in holy Baptism Therefore shall wee liue with him for euer as sure as he our head liueth onely because our life is hidden with Christ in GOD. But when Christ our life shall appeare then shall wee also appeare with him in glory Colos 3. O Lord strengthen my faith 1 Thes 4. For if we belieue that Iesus Christ is dead and risen so shall they which do sléep
But the Baker that is the vngodly dreameth alwaies of the Diuell and how the birds doe eate his Bread out of the Basket The Birds are the Diuels which eate away Gods word from him Such eating and gnawing must they féele for euer whereof wee haue a similitude which our Elders fained of Prometheus that the Eagle did eate out his heart and the heart did grow within him againe and the eating neuer had end The same doe the wicked féele truely as the wofull tragedy of the Rich man sheweth That there are two resurrections whereby all men may direct themselues God causeth to bee preached vnto vs in the time of Grace Therefore whosoeuer will escape such euerlasting gnawing eating consciences hellish paine and torment let him take hold of the sweete doctrine of the Holy Gospell and in the Sacraments put therewith comfort into his heart trust and beléeue as Gods word doth plentifully shew him for so it must bée as Christ very comfortably promiseth Mark 16. Whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued Amen A Prayer O Euerlasting God and Father which art not a God of the dead but of the liuing For in thée doe all they liue which rest vnder the Earth in their Chambers Wee pray thy fatherly goodnesse that thou wilt not let the thinking of death or of his sting bee a feare vnto vs but wilt through grace of thy holy Spirit keepe vs in she right faith of thy déere Sonne who is the truth and life and giue vs a good conscience that wee may liue Christianly and depart happily out of this vale of miserie sleepe in peace and ioy ' and rest quietly vntill thou open our Graues And thorough the sound of the trumpet bée waked againe to life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen 1. Cor. 15. It is sowed a naturall body c. HEere the Holy Ghost vseth another word and calleth Dying To be sowed which is a friendly similitude wee are the Wheatcornes as Christ himselfe saith Ioh. 12 Now is the séed which the Husbandman soweth glory and bring foorth much fruit whereon God the holie Trinitie shall haue euerlasting ioy and pleasure Therefore should wee not bée afraide of death A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ come and sowe vs and our Children in thy Churchyard that wee neuer neede to bee afraide for any trouble néede warres or hearts sorrow Amen Luke 2. The old man Simeon singeth Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace THis olde Christian Simeon calleth Death a Departing in Peace which is also the saying of the Holie Ghost for there is nothing in our whole body vpon earth but vnrestfulnesse and disquietnesse one after another But when we our Lord and GOD shall goe out of this vale of miserie and come into our euerlasting Countrey then come wee vnto Peace What man would not then once haue also such peace and rest Philip 1. I desire to depart or to bée dissolued and to bee with Christ which is also much better HEere Saint Paul calleth Death A Dissoluing or a departure for héere we are bound to sinnefull flesh to paines and labour and cannot sooner bee quit thereof then through the happie houre 2. Pet. 1. I know that I shall quickly put off my Tabernacle SAint Peter nameth Death héere the Going out of a poore ruinated sinfull and wofull Habitation and to be remooued into a glorious paradise or to put off an olde worne gowne and to put on an immortall and heauenly apparell whereof we ought by good reason to reioyce Esay 26. Go hence my people into a chamber and shut the doore after thée hide thée awhile till the indignation bee ouerpast Esay 57. The righteous are plueked away from their misfortune and they which haue wandred righteously do come into peace and rest in their chambers HOW friendly and ioyfully speaketh the Holie Ghost of the death of Christians and giueth the same fiue beautifull names First Dying hee calleth Going into a Chamber to goe into a pleasant Parlour as often-times a man buildeth a pleasant roome for himselfe where hee would willingly héee alone and bee quiet from his children and houshold Secondly he nameth death Hiding one a while till Gods wrath and punishment bee ouerpast as when one stands vnderneath for soule weather or hideth his daughter when an army passes thorow so doth the Lord God lay vs vp that no misfortune hurt vs. Thirdly Death is called Plucking away from misfortune for when GOD will punish the World for their sinnes hee taketh first his Christians away gathereth them together remooueth them into a place of safetie that they be not hurt Fourthly it is called Departing in peace as Simeon did Fiftly Resting in their chambers for else vpon earth will be small rest or peace But the Graue of the Christians hee calleth our Chambers and resting beds wherein no man shall disquiet vs or awake vs nor any man can driue vs out There would many a one also haue gladly a resting Chamber vpon Earth and buildeth often with great charges in quiet places euen where hee heareth no knocking or running especially when hee is sick but all is to no effect for on Earth is no such fléeping Chamber to bée had wee are awaked with care sorrow need world and Diuell So are our Chambers vpon earth but hired Chambers although wee haue bought them wee know not when wee shall goe foorth of them But the Chambers in the Church-yard are quiet and our owne There shall no care sickenesse nor Diuell make vs vnquiet neyther shall anie man driue vs out till the Lord Iesus awake vs to euerlasting life This is comfortably and ioyfully spoken of the death of Christians and of the Graue Hee that beléeueth it will béeglad from his heart for the houre Philip. 1. Christ is my life and Death is my gaines SAint Paul giueth Death heere a fayre name his greatest and best gaines for there hee layeth in exchange a mortall needefull defectiue sinnefull weake sicke and vnperfect body and taketh for the same againe for vsurie and gaines an euerlasting immortall holy strong and spirituall body which may be called a Gaines who would be afraid to die Psal 116. The death of his Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. BEfore the world and our fiue Senses nothing is more horrible nor terrible yea nor more dishonourable then death and a dead body But before the face of Almightie God the Death of Christians is the fairest Relique Gen. 15. God saith to Abraham Thou shalt goe to thy Fathers with peace HEere God himselfe nameth Death a Going home into his Country and to come to his Parents and Friends And withall vpon the iourney to be conducted with peace As a childe that hath beene long amongst strangers reioyceth in his heart that hee may once goe home so should wee also reioyce when our deaths houre approacheth that wee may goe home into our euerlasting Country and with all Christendome haue an euerlasting Nuptiall day and