Man haue gotten againe righteousnesse and euerlasting life Do did an honest Christian at â—reiberge in Misnia in the yéere of our Lord 1547 comfort himself with this sentence and got victory ouer the diuell who did trouble him by reason of his sinnes and GOD's wrath For as hee was troubled in his sicknes the diuell came to him in visible forme with Ink and Paper and sate him downe besides the sick man and said Hee should rehearse his sinnes hee was therfore there to write them vp and to giue sentence vpon them The sicke man was affraid but yet hee remembred himself of this sentence answered the diuel and said he should write The seed of the Woman should tread downe the head of the Serpent Straight-waies the diuell vanished away and left such a stinke behinde him in all the house as if hée would baue choaked them all The second comfortable Sentence GENESIS 22. Through thy Seed shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed THis is the second Promise and Preaching of the Lord Iesus Christ All other mankinde from the first Adam vntill the last were by nature full of wickednesse God was angry with them and became their enemy for there was no blessing with them but cursing because they were sinners But through this Man Iesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary the onely Son of the Father full of Grace and Truth is the onely right Séed of Abraham wherein all the Nations of the earth must bee blessed if they will attaine vnto euerlasting saluation In this Sentence behold what Saint Paul writeth to the Gâ—lat 3. where hee saith Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law for it is written â—ursed is that man which hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come among the Gentiles in sesus Christ And we doo receiue the promised Spirit through faith In this place Saint Paul placeth these two words one against another First the curse and then the blessing All men are of themselues poore cursed and damâ—ed sinners For as the fouretéenth Psalme saith They are all gone astray there is none that dooth good no not one Against the which this blessed Séed bringeth the blessing vnto vs and redéemeth vs from the curse of the Lawe in that hée was a curse for vs for hee as the onely immaculate Lamb of God hath taken our sinnes vpon him and as S. Peter saith Offred our sinnes himselfe with his body on the Crosse Wee should henceforth bee quit from sinne and liue vnto righteousnes or as Saint Paul saith To come to the blessing by him and to receiue the Holy Ghost and be the children of God In this bespoken blessed séed did Abraham trust and was happy Abraham beleeued alwaies on God and it was counted to him for righteousnes The third comfortable Sentence ESAY 43. Thou hast made me labor with thy sinnes and hast made mee weary with thy misdeeds I will wipe out thy transgressions for my names sake and wil not think vpon thy sinnes IN this comfortable saying the Lord Iesus Christ teacheth vs that hee onely hath paid the ransome and satisfaction for our sinnes with his bloudy sweat bitter passion death and that hée through his owne merits hath forgiuen vs all our sinnes in such sort that they shall be wholly put out and cleane wiped away before the face of God and cast into the bottome of the sea as though they had neuer béen and shall neuer be thought vpon Therefore let vs not be afraid of the greatâ—es or multitude of our sinnes that wee despair not of Gods mercy as â—ain Lucas did but câ—mfort our selues with the â—â—ssion sâ—tâ—sfaction of our Loâ—d Iâ—sus Christ and some vpon thâ—sâ— words So did king Ezecâ—â—â—s comfort himselfe Eâ—ay 3â— in his great tribulation by reason of his sinnes and the wrath of God where hee saith Behold I was much grieued for want of comfort but thou hast heartily accepted of my soule that it doo not perish for thou castest all my sinnes behinde thee that is thou wilt no more know nor think vpon my sinnes Likewise did King Dauid also pray in Psal 51. Wash me from mine iniquiry O Lord and clense me from my sins then shall I be whiter than snowe For no other washing of anointing on earth can help The fourth comfortable Sentence EZECHIEL 33. So sure as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of the vngodly but rather that hee turne from his wickednes and liue HEER the euerlasting Sonne of GOD our onely Lord and Rock sweareth an oath by himselfe because hée hath no greater as true as he is a liuing eternal and almighty GOD hée will not that a sinner die and bée damned for euer but that hée in acknowledging of his sinnes and sure confidence of Christs bloud and merites in true inuocation and good pretence turne vnto GOD so shall hee surely obtayne remission of sinnes euerlasting righteousnes and the Holy Ghost with eternall life Vpon this deare constant and true oth should wee haue respect when wee are troubled by reason of our sinnes and Gods wrath and also in our last end and say or thinke I care not now how often and how greatly I haue sinned and angred my Lord God but I look vpon the oath and comfort my selfe that the true GOD hath sworn and hée cannot repent it he will not the death of a sinner so will hee not also that I bee damned but for his Sonnes sake will forgiue mee all my sins and take mee with him into euerlasting life So did the holy Apostle S. Paul comfort himselfe and others as in the first epistle to Timothy and in the first chapter It is certain and true saith he that Iesus Christ is comne into the world to saue poor sinners The fift comfortable Sentence IOHN 3. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely-begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeued on him should not perish but haue euerlasting life THis is one of the chiefest Sayings in all the new Testament which IESUS CHRIST whom God the Father from heauen commaÌ„ds vs to hear did himselfe bring out of the bosome of his Father and preached the same to his louing Câ—t câ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—holar Nichodemus Wherein he teacheth vs his Father will what the eternall GOD is determined towards the world that is towards all great sinners as euer were in the world or yet may bee that hée loueth them and will not haue them lost And this great loue did hée shewe and set foorth vnto vs when-as there was no other meanes whereby the sinnes of the world might bée taken away Gods wrath pacified death and hell vanquished then spared hee not his onely Sonne but did let him take humane flesh and bloud vpon him and to fulfill all which was vnpossible for vs to obserue and suffer all payne and punishment which all the world with their sinnes had deserued Whereby Gods righteousnesse might bee fully accomplished and wee released
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
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
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
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
of his meer mercy When thy conscience doth lay before thée thy manifould sins and sendeth thée to good works then remember that Christ hath paid for thy sins vpon the Crosse Let not vnprofitable thoughts trouble thee as If God would lengthen thy life thou wouldst think to become more holy and more apt to die for although thou mightst liue yet which is vnpossible an hundred yéers thou canst deserue nothing with thy holinesse before God Although all creatures were against thée yea although God himselfe should lay before thée his fearfull indignation and terrible indgement and shew himself none otherwise than as though he were thine enemy although thou shouldst see nothing but diuels about thee yet care not for it whatsoeuer thou feelest shut the eyes of thy minde take hold of faith and trust in the Gospell There is no Diuell so strong that is able to ouerthrowe it Trust to God and feare not Cast all thy care on the Lord and hee will prouide and preserue thee Hitherto thou hast béen as dead but now shalt thou first begin to liue for death is a doâ—â— of life a beginning of resurrection and a departing from sin and pain Forsake the world and receiue death which is seat vnto thee by the grace of God willingly for it is thy owne and must also serue thee for thy wealth This smart and paine is ordained for thee of God and hee doth not chasten thee because he hateth thée but that hee may preserue and receiue thée as his sonne Therefore faint not séeing thou art chastened of the Lord. No maner of chastising for the present time seems to bée ioyous but grieuous neuerthelesse afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousnes vnto them which are therein exercised The afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vpon vs. Tribulation anguish persecution hunger nakednesse perill sword death life Angels rule power things present nor things to come height lownesse neither any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God If thou didst truly remember and consider the vnfaithfulnesse falshood blasphemy and the Antichristian conuersation and life of this world truely thou wouldst not couet to liue any longer A thousand liues if it were possible oughtst thou to lose onely because thou hast heard and tasted the gospell namely that thou hast obtained redemption and forgiuenesse of sinnes through the bloud of Christ and not through thine owne merits Thou hast prayed daily that it would please GOD to take thee out of this euill world into his Kingdom and that his will might be done Wherefore séeing hée will now through his grace bring thee into his Kingdome thou oughtst as his son willingly and gladly to obey and to reioice with all thy heart that thou out of the diuels Kingdom out of this vallie of misery and out of this wretched life commest to thy Father and all his Elect in euerlasting Paradise The Heathen which notwithstanding were without hope did for the loue of the life to come destroy themselues and shouldst thou béeing a Christian to whom so much comfort hope and euerlasting life is promised despaire in death and desire not to die with all thy heart The Iewes die merrily which neuerthelesse haue crucified Christ and are damned for euer and shouldest not thou being a Christian man be more earnest and bolder to die to whom such ioy is promised as the eie hath not séen the eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the hart of man and wouldest thou now giue place to the miscreant and cursed Heathen and Iewes in bodily dying The seruant is not aboue his Lord nor yet the Disciple aboue his Master Christ thy Master and Lord suffered and died for thée thou must also suffer and die All they which are baptized to die are baptized thou art baptized therfore art thou also baptized to dy For Gods sake art thou killed and art counted as a shéep appointed to bee slame What were a slaughter shéep if it were not slaine or what were a Christian man if he should not be assaulted suffer and die Faint not in this affliction to which thou knowest thy self to be constituted Now will Christ thy Sauiour and Redéemer prooue whether thou wilt stand by him or no whether thou wilt for his sake valiantly abide death and bee like vnto the shape of his passion or not Therefore suffer now as a good warrior of Iesus Christ and think not to be crowned vnlesse thou fight valiantly for if thou die with Christ thou shalt also liue with him thou shalt also triumph with him Unfaithfull and without honour is hee counted before the world that giueth-ouer his holde in his dominions shouldst thou not bee without honour if in the necessity of death thou shouldest shrink from Christ thy Sauiour Take vp thy Crosse and death and follow him Knowest thou not with what great ioy and desire all the Apostles and seruants of Christ haue shed their bloud for Christs sake and haue gon euen to meet death For Christs sake hast thou not yet suffred any speciall thing Therefore giue thy self willingly and ioyfully vnto death as a shéep for Christs sake God is by thée in thy trouble he will pluck thée out of it and bring thée to honor and he is at thy right hand that he may help thée Put now thy trust in God and thou shalt be holpen Bee of good comfort and bestowe thy stinking carcase which is but wormes-meat vpon Christ thy Redeemer and Sauiour and trust onely to him and his holy Gospell which is the power of GOD to saluation to all that beleeue Abide the Lord and let thy heart take sure hold Commit thy cause vnto the Lord and trust in him hée shall order it well enough Be sober and watch for thine aduersary the diuell as a roaring lyon will go about thée séeking how he may denoure thée whom resist stedfast in the faith Ye wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against rule against power and against worldly Rulers of the darknesse of this world against the spirits of wickednes yea against sinne death hell and the diuell For this cause behaue your self as a Christian champion and take vnto you the armour of God that ye may bee able to resist in the euill day and to stand perfect in all things Stand therefore and your loynes girt about with verity hauing on them a brest-plate of righteousnes and shod with shooes prepared by the Gospell of peace Aboue all take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith yee may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the helmet of saluation and the swoâ—d of the Spirit which is the word of GOD. And pray alwaies in all manner of necessities ¶ A short instruction of the confession of sinnes FIrst because all mankind by the lawes of GOD Secondly and also out of the sorrow of death the cruell martyrdome and bitter death of
Crosse God esteems vs not Esay 27. I The Lord do kéep my vineyard that is my Christians and water it quickly that his leaues doo not wither I will preserue it day and night Héer doth God the Lord comfort vs that his Christians should not bee grieued with the Crosse for he compareth his Christendome to a pleasant Vineyard that standeth open on all sides that euery one may come in and no man keeps it but lets it ly yea that it wants rain and all will wither and bee dry So doo wee also think vnder the Crosse that God careth not for vs else should wee hée better But it is certain that God himself wil be Guardian ouer his Christians and will send them the rain of grace comfort in all their temptations as hee héer saith â—â—â—e Lord doo keep it and will quickly water it I will keep it both day and night that no man hurt it that is My Christians shal not méet with any euill so graciously will I watch and ward them But hoâ—â— is such watching and warding and yet a man doth not see it Although it séemeth God hâ—th no great respect with his guarâ—ing of temporal things and whatsoeuer is corporall whilâ—st they belong not to his Kingdom yet must the world and the diuell let it alone and not doo all things as pleaseth them seeing the hairs of our head are numbred As wee haue an example thereof in Mat. 8. that the diuell without Christs leaue could not goe into a filthy Swine And such doo the Histories sufficiently shew But the right guard and protection of vs Christians goeth inwardly to the heart which God with his holy Spirit and Word puts into vs and day and night keeps vs that sin growe not quite ouer vs and that Satan be not too mighty for vs. Of such guard speaketh he shortly after The sin of Iacob shall thereby cease that is through the Crosse God defends vs against sinne and mortifieth the old Adam Many a one doth lie in his bedde who if hee were well would doo all mischief Many a one hath another assaulting which driueth him to Sermons and Praiers and to amendment of his life who if that were not would care nothing at all for God or his Word Against such assaulting should we earnestly think vpon this defense of our Lord God for the world doth not sée it and the Christians also somtimes do forget it in their néed and think God doth not regard them he hath forgotten them So did Dauid comfort himself Psalm 32. Thou art my dâ—fense thou wilt keep me from sorrow A Praier O Lord thou kéeper of Israel which doost neither slumber nor sléep and hast promised to thy faithfull that lift vp their eies toward heauen to thee and tarry for thy godly grace comfort help that thou wilt kéep them day and night in their tribulations and with the comfort of thy holy Spirit wilt moisten their hearts and graciously accept of them which is easie for thee to doo I pray thée let mee not forget thy watching and warding in my aduersity nor bee weak in mine owne cause that thou wouldst kéep me from trouble O kéep me from all tribulation O kéep me from all euill O kéep my soule and deliuer me let me not be ashamed O kéep thou my going out and comming in both now for euermore Amen II. Against the other aâ—saulting God is our enemy Esay 27. With me is no anger Lamen 3. The Lord troubleth but he hath compassion again according to his great goodnes for hee vereth not nor troubleth man from his heart O God whosoeuer could beléeue this should yet bee merry although hee were ill But all sorrows and complaints come of this that we think God is angry with vs. Therefore he giueth vs in Esay a pleasant similitude I cannot bee so angry with my Vmeyard that is with my Christians because I attend the same so diligently It is a deare Iewell vnto me Therefore doe I dresse it I hack it I cut it not that I hate it but because I loue it and will further it that it bring forth fruit which otherwise would not come foorth if I should not in such sort hack it and cut it for although it seem not friendly that the hedger standeth ouer the Vine with his knife and cutteth it hath the Mattocke in his hand and heaweth it with all his might yet is it but for the good of the Vineyard that it beare the more fruit So shall you my deare Christians saith the Lord vnderstand it sol kewise and hold it for a certaine that I loue you Prouerbs 3. when I come ouer you with the Crosse with the Wine-hook and Mattocke cut and hack you Another fine similitude giueth he afterward of plowing in chapter 28. Hearken with your eares and heare my voice When a Husbandman breaketh and ploweth his field it séemeth that hée doth much harme especially when hee oftentimes in the yéere yea thrée or foure times turneth it ouer and ploweth through the same Wherefore doth hee it It goeth heere after the common Prouerb The fourth kinde bringeth the fourth Sheaf Therefore dooth hee not let it rest after plowing but when hee hath plowed thorow his field hee soweth it then followeth faire and goodly fruit So saith the Lord GOD doo I also I plow you with the Crosse and send one thing after another now pouerty then sickenesse c. which dooth grieue you but it procéedeth not of anger as if I were your enemy it is done for your good that the stones and rocks may be rooted out and the ground made readie for fruit Therefore doe I chastise you thorow right and doctrine Likewise doth leremy in this place also comfort The Lord troubleth me c For that is his work as Psalm 4 saith Hee dealeth strangely with his Saints he thrusteth them first unto hell and lets them come into need before he do help them out hée lets one bee first sick before hee make him whole But in such Crosses and Tribulations doth hée leaue them helplesse No but hath such a heart as is full of loue and compassion Therefore is hee mercifull againe according vnto his great goodnesse and sheweth himselfe like a helpfull GOD and beareth a fatherly heart toward vs. For like as a father dooth carry an heart towards his deare childe in that hee restraineth him to the end he come to goodnes and may see both ioy and honesty in him So in GOD's heart towards vs also that he vexeth not nor troubleth vs men from his heart but that he may preserue vs his deare children to his glory kingdom and euerlasting life Heer of hast thou a fine example of Ioseph which praied a long time hee was guiltlesse and cast into Prison God heard him not so soone else had he come home to his parents and béen a poor shepherd all his life time but afterward God took pity of his misery released him of his imprisonment