submit their willes to his godlye wyll and pleasure Epa. O Lorde thy will be done and not mine I confesse O heauenly father that my manifold wickednesses and vnnumerable sinnes haue not only deserued this sickenesse which is thy most gentle fatherly and louing correction but also very hell and the bitter paines thereof if thou shouldest handle me according to my desertes I haue sinned I haue synned O lord God against thy holy lawes and I haue broken thy blessed commaundementes moste greuously offending thy glorious maiestie Whatsoeuer I suffer I worthely suffer ah wretch that I am My sinne I confesse and with an humble heart and broken spirit I fle vnto the throne of thy fauorable mercy most humbly besechinge thee for Iesus Christes sake to forgeue me all my synnes which I haue coÌ„mitted against thy deuine maiestie froÌ„ the houre of my birth vnto this preseÌ„t time and to receiue me into the holy felowship of those thy blessed and chosen people whome before the beginning of y e worlde thou diddest appoint heires of thi heaueÌ„ly kingdom in Christ Iesu our lord that they might for euer and euer raigne with thee in glory Ah lord geue me grace to bear this crosse both paciently thankfully Suffer me not once to murmur grudge or spurne against thy holye wil but with a pacient thankefull heart to waite on thy blessed pleasure being alway content to beare whatsoeuer burdeÌ„ thou laiest on my shoulders with this perswasioÌ„ and assured faith that whatsoeuer I suffer is vnto the glory of thy name and vnto the health of my soule O Lord thy will be done and not mine Amen Amen Neighbours I am very sicke and my paine encreaseth more more Phi. The Lords wil be done in you neighbour Epaphroditus Feare not no although present death were at hand For whether you liue or die ye are the Lordes God hath sealed you vp in Christes bloud vnto euerlasting lyfe Your name doubt ye not is written in the booke of life Ye are of y e nombre of those whome God before the foundations of the world were layd hath chosen in Christe to be his sonnes and heires ye are the dearly beloued sonne of God Ye are enheritours of Gods glorious kingdom God for your earnest faithes sake in the bloude of Christ hath forgeuen you al your sinnes that euer ye committed against him from the daye of your birthe vnto this houre He hath cast away all your iniquities â—ehind his backe so that he wyl neuer remember them any more Ye are counted among theÌ„ whose vnrighteousnesses are forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered vnto whome the Lorde imputeth no sinne God loueth you God careth for you God is on your syde who then can endomage or hurte you Who can lay any thyng vnto your charge It is God that iustifieth you who then can condemne you ye nede not fear ether sathan or sinne or any other thinge that should trouble your conscience For there is no damnation to theÌ„ that are in Christ Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite For the lawe of the spirite of life thorow Iesus Christ hath made you fre froÌ„ the lawe of sinne and death For what y e lawe could not do inasmuch as it was weke because of the flesh that performed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of sinfull fleshe by sinne damned synne in the fleshe that the ryghtedusnes of the lawe myght be fulfilled in vs whiche walke not after the flesh but after the spirite Epa. I thaÌ„ke you neighbor Philemon for your gostly and comfortable instructions For I am wel comforted with these your wordes and I faithfully beleue that God the father for his promise sake made vnto all faithfull peniteÌ„t sinners in Christes bloud hath so frely and wholy forgeuen me all my sinnes that he will neuer remember them more nor lay them vnto my charge but so loue me and tender my saluation as though I had neuer offended his fatherly goodnesse And in this faith I submit my self my body and soule all that I haue vnto his godly wil to do with me in al things whatsoeuer his good plesure shallbe For liue we die we we ar the Lords And lord I most humbly besech thee call to remeÌ„brance thy tender mercies thy louing kindnesses whiche haue bene euer of olde Oh remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but accordyng vnto thy mercy thinke y â— vpon me O lord for thy goodnes Turne the vnto me haue mercy vpon me for I am desolate in misery The sorowes of my hart ar enlarged O bring thou me out of my troubles Loke vpon mine aduersitie and misery and forgeue me al my sinne O kepe my soule and deliliuer me let me not be confounded for I haue put my truste in the. Phi. I much reioyce to see in you these workes of faithfull repentance This humbling of your self before y e maiestie of God this lamenting of your sinnes this faithfull and hartie calling on the Lordes name for remission of sins in Christes bloud for the tranquilitie peace quietnes and reast of conscience for the fauour grace of God for gods wil to be done in you is without doubt a sure seale vnto your conscience that God loueth fauoureth and tendereth you yea and that muche more theÌ„ any natural father maketh of his sonne Who so serueth God saith the wise man after his pleasure shalbe accepted and his praier reaâ—cheth vnto the cloudes The praier of him that humbleth him self goeth thorowe the cloudes till she come nie She wil not be comforted nor go her way vntill the hyghest God haue respect vnto her The Lord is nie vnto them y t are of a contrite heart saith the Psalmograph will saue suche as be of an humble spirite The sinfull Publican thus huÌ„bling him self obtained the fauor of God remission of sinnes went home more righteous than the proud Pharisey So likewise the Centurion coÌ„fessing his vnworthines for the receiuing of Christ into his house obtained health for his sicke seruaÌ„t Likewise the Leper with diuers other humbling them selues before Christe obtained their hartes desire For God saith Dauid hath respect vnto the prayer of the humble suche as be destitute despiseth not their desire but heareth â—heir mournings y t he may deliuer â—hem and saue them Euseb. Now neighbour how do you I pray you bee strong in God reioyce in his sauing health Epa. O neighboure Eusebius my body is weake my heare is faint my wits are feble my memory almost faileth me no part of me is fre from sicknes and paine But Lord I beseche thee strengtheÌ„ thou me endue me w t power from aboue that as y e spirit is ready so likewyse the flesh which is euer weake vnready may be obedieÌ„t to thy godly wyl frely consent to the working of
also least that SathaÌ„ will shortly returne vnto me and assaile mâ— with newe temptations Phi. Inâ—dede the propertie of Sathan isâ— whan he can not get his purpose one waye to attempt some other meanes But whereof are ye afraid Epa. Christ saith in the Gospel If thou wilte enter into lyfeâ— kepe the commaundementes Again do this and thou shalt lyue He speaketh of fulfilling the lawe And s. Paule saieth Not the hearers but the doers of the law shaâ— be iustified before God Moses also pronounceth theÌ„ cursed whiche abideth not in all thynges that ar written in the lawe What if Sathan should lay the lawe againste me and proue euidently that I haue not fulfilled the law of God and therfore I can not enter into eternall life but must neades be dampned Phi. The holy scriptur of God consisteth of two partes of the lawe and of the Gospell If sathan obiect y e lawe against you laye you againste him straighte-waies the Gospell For the lawe was geuen by Moses but y e Gospell that is grace fauour remission of sinnes truthe faithfulnes and euerlasting life came by Iesus Christe The lawe maketh afrayd but the Gospel comforteth The law troubleth but the Gospel quieteth The law vttreth sin but the Gospell pardoneth and forgeueth sinne The lawe declareth the fearse wrathe of God againste synners but the Gospelâ— preacheth the great and exceding mercies of God toward penitenâ— synners The law woundeth buâ— the gospel healeth The lawe maketh sicke but the gospell maketh whole and stronge The law driueth to desperation but the gospel ministreth consolation comfort The lawe killeth but the gospel quikneth The lawe throweth downe to hel but y e gospel lifteth vp to heauen Therfore if SathaÌ„ be busy and lay the lawe againsâ— you and that vnto you deathâ— and dampnation aunswere him with the Gospell which bringeth lyfe and euerlasting saluation For the law was not geuen vs oâ— God to iustifie and saue vs but to be a doctrine vnto vs what wâ— should either do or leaue vndone and to be a scholemaister to leade vs vnto Christe that of hym we might obtaine that whiche by no meanes may be gotten of y e lawe I meane the grace fauoure and mercy of God remission and forgeuenes of sinnes the quietnes of conscience a newe life the gift of the holy ghost and euerlasting life Flie you therefore from the heauy burden of the lawe whiche depresseth and wayeth downe the conscience and take on you the swete and comfortable yoke of the gospel and so shall you finde reast vnto your soul. For the yoke therof is easy and the burden light After this manner euen from the beginning haue all the godly in the conflicte of conscience fledde from the doctrine of the lawe vnto the mercifull promises of the Gospel as blessed Peter testifieth saying Now why tempt ye God to put on the disciples neckes the yoke whiche neither our fathers nor we were able to bear But we beleue that through the grace of the Lorde Iesu Christ we shal be saued as they were Our sauioure Christ said vnto the Iewes hath not Moses geuen you a law and yet none of you kepeth the lawe The doctrine of the law is such a burden that the holiest that euer liued Christ alone except was neuer hable to bear it No maruell for the lawe is spirituall but we are carnall Who among vs all is able to say my heart is cleane and I am free from sinne The holy scripture pronounceth vs all sinners and oure owne consciences beare witnes of y e same And how commeth it to passe but only that we do not obserue the lawe of the Lord our God but rather ar traÌ„sgressours breakers of that same in so much y t if our sauiour Christ had not come in the fleshe fulfilled the law for vs â–ª euen to the vttermoste so pacified the fathers wrath we had bene dampned for euer and euer But Christ is come and hath fulfilled the lawe with suche perfection as the law requireth euen at the full and his fulfilling is our fulfilling Whosoeuer beleueth this taketh Christ to be his wisdome rightuousnes sanctifying and redemption he cannot pearyshe but haue euerlasting life Epa. I pray you declare vnto me some comfortable sentenses out of the holy scripture that my conscience may be ascertained of Christes fulfillyng of the lawe for me Phile. Christ saieth in the Gospell Thinke not that I am come to destroy the law or y e Prophetes no. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill All we are destroyers and breakers of the law but Christ is a perfect fulfiller of the same not for him selfe but for vs and his fulfilling is our fulfilling The holy Apostle in his epistle to the Romaines sayeth There is no damnation to them whiche are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite For the lawe of the spirit of life through Iesus Christ hath made me fre from the law of sinne and death For what the law could not do inasmuch as it was weake because of the fleshe that parformed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of synnefull fleshe and by synne damned synne in the fleshe that the righteousnes of the lawe might be fulfilled in vs whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite Here see you that where as none of vs was able to fulfyll the lawe Christ the sonne of God hath fulfilled it for vs and by this meanes deliuered vs froÌ„ the lawe of sinne and deathe Againe in the same Epistle Christe is the perfect fulfilling of y e lawe to iustifie all that beleue So many therefore as beleue are iustified and for them Christe hath fulfilled the lawe to the vttermoste To the Galathians he also saieth Christ hath deliuered vs from the cursse of the lawe in as much as he was made accursed for our sake For it is writen Cursed is euery one that hangeth on a tree c. It Christ by his death and passion hath deliuered vs from the cursse of the law how than can the lawe condemne vs Item in the same Epistle when the time was full come God sent his sonne made of a woman and made bonde vnto the lawe to redeme them which were bond vnto the law that we through election might receiue thinheritaunce that belongeth vnto the naturall sonnes If Christ became maÌ„ and was made bond vnto the lawe to redeme and deliuer vs from the lawe what power than hath the lawe ouer vs that it may condeÌ„pn vs If we be through y e fre choyse of God admitted to be the sonnes of God theÌ„ are we no more slaues vnto the law nor any more bound to the subiection thereof that it may cast vs away as wicked traÌ„sgressours and heirs of eternal daÌ„nation For it is fulfilled for vs in
Christ. To the Ephesians he writeth on this manner Christe is oure peace whiche hath made of both one he speaketh of y e Iewes and Gentiles and hath broken downe the wal that was a stoppe betwene vs and hath also put away through his flesh the cause of hatred euen the law of commauÌ„dementes contained in the lawe writteÌ„ c. Here haue we the cause why god was angry with vs. Uerely because we fulfilled not the law Now is Christ come hath put away the cause of this anger and hatred that is to saye he hath fulfilled the law for vs and recoÌ„ciled vs vnto God so that nowe the father for his sake hateth vs no more but loueth vs is no more angry but wel pleased with vs accepteth his fulfilling of the law as our own fulfulling Also to the Collossians Christ saith he hathe put out the hand wryting y t was against vs contained in the lawe written and that hath he taken out of the waye and hath fastned it to his crosse and hathe spoyled rule and power and hath made a shew of them opeÌ„ly and hath triumphed ouer them in his owne person If Christ hanging on the Crosse hath by the vertue of his passion death put out the hande wryghting that was against vs contained in the lawe than is our bond made frustrate and voyde we set at libertie forasmuche as Christe by his bloude hathe bothe paid our debt vnto God y e father and also subdued and brought vnder fote al our ennemies The authour of the Epistle to y e Hebrues hath these wordes The coÌ„maundement that went afore is disanulled because of weakenes and vnprofitablenesse For the lawe brought nothynge to perfection but was an introduction to a better hope by the whiche we drawenie vnto God Here ar we taught also that forasmuche as by y e lawe no man can be made perfect for who amoÌ„g vs fulfilleth the law we haue our perfection in Christâ— â—y whome for our sake the law is fulfilled and remission of synnes and euerlasting lyfe is frely geueÌ„ vnto vs. This is the hope profit and libertie whiche so many as beleue receiue in Christ. Let therfore the terrours and cursse of the lawe neuer trouble you though Sathan do neuer so muche lay it vnto your charge but remember what the Apostle saieth ye are no more vnder the lawe but vnder grace Againe Now are we deliuered from the law and dead vnto it whereunto we were in bondage that we shoulde serue in a newe conuersation of the spirit and not in old conuersation of the letter For if righteousnesse commeth by the law then died Christ in vaine But we know saieth the Apostle that a man is not iustified by the dedes of the lawe but by the fayth of Iesus Christ. And we haue beleued on Iesus Christ that we might be iustified by the faith of Christe and not by the deedes of the lawe because by the deedes of the law no flesh shaâ— be iustified Againe as manye oâ— you as are iustified by the lawe aâ— falleÌ„ from grace We loke for and hope in the spirite to bee iustifed thorow faith For in Christ Iesuâ— neither is circumcision any thing worth nether yet vncircumcision but faith which worketh by loue â–ª Comfort your selfe neighbour Eâ—â—paphroditus against the assaults of Sathan with these swete sayinges of the holy scripture and sâ— shal nether the feare nor the curssâ— of the lawe hurt you Epa. God bâ— thanked I trust I am nowe weâ— enarmed against Sathan for this matter But what if he laye my sinfull life vnto my charge and so burden my conscience with that that I know not what to do but am like to fall vnto desperation What shal I aunwere How shal I escape For I confesse vnto you that I haue bene all my lyfe time a very greuous sinner and haue greatly offeÌ„ded the Lord my God Phi. Discomfort not your selfe but take a good heart vnto you You are in this behalfe in none other case then all the sainctes and faithfull people of God haue bene before you are at this daye For all haue sinned and want the glory of God All haue gone astraye lyke lost shepe We are vnprofitable seruauntes All our righteousnesses are as a clothe defiled with menstrue If we saye we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truthe is not in vs. But if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgeue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnes Epa. What 〈◊〉 I do than that synne may be 〈◊〉 clog vnto my conscience Phile. Let it repeÌ„t you that euer you ofâ—fended so louing a father and sâ— gentle a Lord. Be hartely sory foâ— your misdoings Lament and inâ—wardly bewail your wretchednesâ—ses which so wickedly haue transâ—gressed brokeÌ„ the holy coÌ„maunâ—dements of the Lord. For this haâ—ty and vnfained repentaunce is a goodly preparatiue to saluation â–ª and without it none can be â—aued Therfore Iohn Baptist Christ his Apostles begaÌ„ their preaching of repentaunce For whosoeuer is not brought into the knowledge of hym selfe he shall neuer haue delyghte to come vnto Christe â–ª For suche as thynke them selues whole haue no pleasure in a phisition but they that are sycke Epaphr And will God accept this my repentaunce Phi. Hear what God saith by the Prophet Whom shall I regard Euen hym that is pore and of a lowly troubled spirit standeth in awe of my wordes The Psalmograph also saith A sacrifice vnto god is a troubled spirite a broken and a contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise Again the Lord is nie vnto them that are of a troubled heart and he will saue them that are of a broken spirite Epa. O Lord take away from me that stony heart whiche can not repent and geue me that fleshly heart which gladlye and willingly lamenteth her synnes and miseries and vnfainedly delyghteth in a newe lyfe But what is repeÌ„tance ynough Phi. As you ernestly and from the very heart do repent you of your former sinnefull lyfe so likewyse huÌ„ble your self in y e sight of God and confesse your selfe vnto him a moste wicked miserable sinner Crie in your heart with Dauid say haue mercy vpon me O God after thy great goodnes Accorâ—dinge vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away myne offences Wash me thorowly from my wicâ—kednes clense me from my syn For I knowledge my fautes and my sin is euer before me Against thee only haue I sinned and donâ— euill in thy sight O turn thy facâ— from my sinnes and put oute alâ— my mysdedes Make me a cleanâ— heart O God and renue a righâ— spirite within me Cast me not aâ—way from thy presence and takâ— not thy holy spirite from me Cryâ— with that lost sonne and say O faâ—ther I haue sinned against heaueÌ„ and before thee and am no
vs. 159 Christ our phisitioÌ„ 385 Christ hath reconciled vs. 391 Christ a sauiour for al ages 394 Christ saueth vs frely 406 To Christ al thinges â—e subiect 234 Christes woundes Christes wordes healeth our woundes 414 Christes alter was the crosse 422 Christ ouercame SathaÌ„ for vs. 337 Christ the head corner stone 353 Christe fulfilled the lawe for vs. 367 Christ put away y e cause of hatred 369 Christ hath put out the handwriting idem Christ hath payde oure debt 570 Christe the Lorde of all faithfull 232 Christ the anointed 233 Christ our Lord. 234 Christes humanite 236 Christ a sacrifice for sinnes 242 Christes death hath conquered Sathan 249 Christes going down to hell idem Christes resurrectioÌ„ 250 Christes assention 251 Christ a sufficient mediatour 253 Christ the mighty Samson 254 Christ geueth giftes vnto men 256 Christ ascended to prepare a place for vs. 257 Christe taken vp in a cloude 258 Christ comming to iudgement 259 Christ wrought all thinges in his humanitie for vs. 260 Christes bloud washeth cleane our sinnes 88 Christ the true Samaritaine 103 Christ a louing Phisition 105 Christ submitted his will 121 Christ forgeueth both the faulte and payne 284 Christes churche lynked together 269 Christ gaue him selfe for his churche 282 Christ disciple who 23 ChristiaÌ„ why he feareth not death 287 ChristiaÌ„s ought to helpe scholers 144 Churche or Congregation 268 Communion 172 Complaint of the wycked 58 Comfort to them that calleth vpon God 29 Crosse of tribulatioÌ„ 17 Conscience quiet how 101 Comfortable calling of synners 388 Conscience at rest 128 Confession of synnes vnto God 375 CorrectioÌ„ in this world 54 D Daniel preserued by prryer 111 Dauid reioysed not in him selfe 50 Dauid mourned and fasted for his sonne 162 Death gate to euerlasting lyfe 304 Death a chaungyng to a better lyfe 308 Death a passage 158 Death of the righteous 67 Debters forgeuen 143 Debtes 12.14 Departed ar not lost 157 Desire of prayer 426 Doctrine of Papistes after this lyfe 194 Doubting faith obteyneth no promise 439 Dutie of good seruauÌ„ts 225 E Eldest sonne 138.139 Esay sawne in sonder 327 Ezechias â—â—ued .xv. yere more 110 Exhortation to the sick 46.449 Executours charge 169 Examples of olde wemen 219 F Fallen on slepe 157 Fatherles childreÌ„ what they ought to do 215 216 207 Faith 416 334 Faith and prayer sure armours 344 Faith in the sure promyses of God 377 Faith maketh vs the sonnes of God 380 Faith the rote of all vertues idem Fayth rycher then all treasures 380 Faith y t is vnshakeÌ„ 443 Faithfull shal haue possession in the kingdome â–ª 179. Faithfull rewarded and vnfaithfull 180. Faithful belefe neuer dieth 89. Flesh lusteth againste the spirite 15. Fyry Serpent 335. G God loueth where he chastiseth 14. God woundeth and maketh whole 21. God maketh a way out in temptacion 21.27 God a louing father 27 God helpeth in al nedes 82.30 God trieth his how 30 God wrought wonderfully for Ioseph 31. God gaue quietnes vnto Dauid after his stormes 32. God restoreth vs after his temptaâ—ion 33. God neuer forsaketh his 38. God present to our sicknes 46 God suffereth the wyc ked to florish 58. God not present where the crosse is absent 61 God taketh not his mercy from his 70 God wheÌ„ he repenteth 71 God poureth out his blessing when we sease to synne 72 God turneth his wrath 76 God why he punisheth 74 God hath no pleasure in the death of a syn 94 God commaundeth to call to him in our trouble 108 God hath respect to the poore 109 God heareth harty prayers idem God suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue oure strength idem God present in trouble 11â— God neuer forsaketh theÌ„ that trust in him 114 Goodes of the syck how to be disposed before death 123.133 God teÌ„dreth our soules health 117 god forgeueth frely 126 Gâ—d heareth the prayer of the humble 129 Goâ— a father a husband vnto the faithful wydowe 202.138 God forgeueth both the faut and paine 176 God the father 227 God doeth what his plesure is 228 God maker of heauen earth idem God the sonne 231 God the holy ghost 261 God the holy ghost quicneth al thinges idem God the holy ghost maketh vs newe vessels idem God the holy ghost teaâ—heth all y e faithful 261 God the father God the sonne God the Holye Ghost 263 Gods wrath terrible to conscience 330 Gods worde driueth away Sathan 342 Gods word heleth 344 God casteth downe and setteth vp 351 God bringeth oute of trouble 358 God apointeth no tyme of helpe 393 God a father of mercies 401 God delighteth in compassion 285 Gold and Siluer 323 H Harte stony 375 Harte circumcised 95 Harken vnto God 409 HeariÌ„g gods word 423 Heathen haue no hope 161 HeatheÌ„ wyshed eternal ioye idem Holy men tempted 95. Houshold of God 97 I Iames slayne with the sworde idem Iohn baptist beheaded 318 Iob a faithfull souldiour 37 Iob in him selfe same but synne 52 Ieremy stoned â–ª 317 Ioy commeth after heauynes 73 28 Ioye when our brethreÌ„ departe in the faithe â–ª 152 161 154 Ioies vnspekeable 200 Ioie in heauen when a synner repenteth 104 Iudas repented but had no faith 378 Iewes murmuring 75 Iewes repented idem Iewes beleue the immortalitie of c. 307 K Kingdome of God mete for who 24 Knowing one an other after this lyfe 326 L Labour and not loitour 396 Labour to winne Crist 411 Lawe maketh no man perfect 126 law an heuy burtheÌ„ 363 Lazarus gods freÌ„d 20 Lordes comminge vnknowen â–ª 4 Lyfe frayle and transytory 2 Lyfe vncertayne 3 Liue wel die wel 42 Lyfe ended our Ioy begynne 196 Lyâ—e foloweth death 7 M Man hath but a shorte tyme 1 Man hartye howe 5 Man blest whome God punisheth 21 Man not pure in the sight of God 48 Man an whole lompe of synne 49 Manasses an Idolater 77 Manrsses bounde with chaynes 79 Manasses repeÌ„teth 80 Manasses prayer 25 Manasses his sinnes in numerable 399 Martirs by diuers waies put to death 319 Maria magdalene a greuous synner 387 Mariage forbideÌ„ ought not to be 203 Maidens that be goely ought to be preferred before ryches 2â—3 Maids ought to bewarâ— of naughty packs 217 Mens willes ought to geue place 118 Men kdowen by theyr workes 190 men ar tried faithful 26 Mercye vnto the poore deliuereth from synne 213 Ministers 150 Monthmyndes 178 mothers ought to bring vp theyr children in y e feare of God 205 mothers a care for their chyldren 139 Mourning gowns 151 N The Name of Iesus howe all knees bowe therto 1â—1 O One oblation of Christe hath made vs pericte 177 P Papistes ennemies to y e crosse of Christ. 176 Papistes alledge scriptures 429 Papistes a kingdome of lyes 430 Papistes woulde haue vs doubte in our saluation 34 Papysticall scholinge 440 Peter repented and beleued 378 Predestination â–ª 415 People holpeÌ„ here 148 People desyrous to haue knowledge 149 Plages ceaseth 81 Pleasure not the waye to heauen 23 Pleasures of
saith as many as I loue I rebuke and chasten The wise man also saith My sonne despise not the chastening of the Lorde neither fainte when thou arte rebuked of him For whom the Lorde loueth hym he chasteneth and yet delyteth in him as a father in his owne soÌ„ne What sonne is he saith S. Paul whom the father chastneth not If ye be not vnder correction wherof all are partakers than are ye bastardes and not sonnes Epa. Ther is no father that so haÌ„dleth his sonne as I am handled Oh what a chaunge is this yea and that within two daies For from gladnes to sadnes from pleasure to sorow from healthe to sicknes from quietnes to trouble from strength to feblenes yea in a maner from life to death am I sodenly fallen O miserable wretch that I am Phile No maner chastising for the presente time semeth to be ioyous but greuous as the Apostle sayth neuertheles afterward it bringeth the quiet frute of rightuousnes vnto them whiche are exercised therby Blessed is the maÌ„ saith saincte Iames that suffreth temptation for when he is tried he shal receyue the crowne of life whiche the Lorde hathe promised to them that loue hym Epa. Me thoughte I was in case good ynoughe before I was oppressed with this sicknes For theÌ„ I liued pleasauntlye but now I lye here weping and mourning and full of sorow and care Phile. Thys is the iudgement of the flesh whiche â—uer lusteth against the spirit Against suche careles fleshli liuers â—eare what our Sauiour Christ saith Wo be vnto you that are rich for you haue your consolacyon Wo be vnto you that are full for ye shal hoÌ„ger Wo be vnto you that now laugh for ye shall wayle and wepe Heare what he saythe on the contrary part Blessed are they that mourne for they shal receiue comfort And also in a nother place he saithe Uerely Uerely I say vnto you ye shal wepe and lameÌ„t but contrariwise the worlde shall reioyce Ye shall sorow but your sorow shalbe turned to ioye The blessed Apostle saith also If we be dead with Christe we shall also liue with him If we suffer with him we shal also reigne with him Christo. Brother Epaphroditus the way to enter into glory is the Cros. For by that way did oure elder brother Chryste enter into the kingdome of his father And the blessed Apostle saythe By many tribulacions muste we enter into the kingdome of God Epaphro What meane you by the crosse Chri. Temporall affliction as penury honger euil report vndeserued persecution enprisonment los of Goodes sicknes and whatsoeuer mortifieth the olde man Epaphro I can not easly be parswaded that these things are sent of God to suche as he loueth but rather to suche as he hateth Christoph. Not so neighbor Epaphroditus For the righteous and godly tast more of the cros in this worlde then the wicked and vngodly Abel Iacob Ioseph Moses Dauid Helias Zachari Ieremie Miche Iob Toby Ihon Baptist StepheÌ„ Paule Iames Peter with many other whiche wer theâ—chosen people and frends of God wer not fre from the cros in so muche that many of them were moste cruelly put to deathe where as the wicked worldlings liued all in pleasure and had all thinges according to their hartes lust Eusebius This is also proued true by the saying of oure sauiour Christ ye shall wepe and lament saith he but contrariwise y e world shall reioyce And the Apostle saieth all that will lyue Godly in Christe Iesu shall suffer persecution Hither pertaineth the saying of S. Peter The time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of God If it first begin at vs what shal the ende of them be whiche beleue not the Gospell of God And if the rightous scarsely be saued where shall the vngodly and the sinner appere Wherfore let them that are troubled according to the will of God commit their soules to him with well doing as vnto a faithfull creatour Phi. This thing caÌ„ by no meanes better be perceiued then by considering the history whiche blessed Luke telleth in his Gospell of the vnmerciful riche man and of pore Lazarus The riche gloton was Gods enemy and an aduersary to all good meÌ„ vnkind churlish and vnmerciful and yet how plesantly and wealthely liued he all his life time We do not rede that he tasted any thing at all of the cros but that he was riche welthy galantly apparelled fared daintely euery day and liued in all kind of pleasures according to his hartes lust and yet thende of him was euerlastyng damnation that thys saying of our sauior Christ might be founde true Wo be vnto you that are riche for you haue youre consolation Wo be vnto you that are ful for ye shal hoÌ„ger Wo be vnto you that now laugh for ye shal waile and wepe Contrariwise Lazarus being Gods frende and dearly beloued of God was plaâ—ged with pouerty honger thirst colde nakednes sores sicknes diuers mortal diseases which neuer departed from him so long as he liued and notwithstandinge bothe paciently and thanckfullye did he beare this his Crosse euen vnto the deathe being perswaded that prosperitie aduersitie life and deathe pouerty wealth are of God and therfore immediatly after his departure oute of thys world he was receiued into euerlasting glorye This history brother Epaphroditus declareth euidentely that sicknes or trouble sent of God vnto the godly is not a token of Gods wrath and heauy displeasure but rather a sure argumente and manifest signe of his good will loue and fauour towarde vs. Blessed is he saithe the Psalmograph whome thou O Lord nourterest Again he saith it is highly for my wealth that thou O Lord hast corrected me that I may learne thine ordinances Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Paul When we are iudged of the Lord we are chastened that we shuld not be damned with the worlde In the history of Iob it is also written blessed is the man whom God punisheth therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the almighty For though he maketh a wouÌ„d he geueth a plaster though he smite his hand maketh hole again God is faithfull saith the Apostle whiche wil not suffer you to bee tempted aboue youre strength but shall in the mids of the temptacion make away that â—e may be able to beare it For he â—s the father of mercies and God of all consolacion whiche comforteth vs in all our trouble whiche knoweth also howe to deliuer the godly out of temtation All these textes borowed out of the holy scriptures with many other do euidently declare that the crosse is laid vpon the godly at Gods appoyntment and that not for their hurt and destruction but for their health and saluation For though our outward man perish yet thinward man is renued day by day For our trouble whiche is short light prepareth
sayeth â—od so loued the worlde that he â—aue his only begotteÌ„ sonne that â—hosoeuer beleueth on him shuld â—ot perishe but haue euerlastinge â—â—fe For God sent not his sonne in 〈◊〉 the world to coÌ„demne y e world â—ut that the worlde through hym â—ight be saued Epap Godly and â—omfortable sentences God geue 〈◊〉 grace neuer to forget them â—hristo Amen Epa. You brother â—hilemon haue rehearsed two notable and comfortable histories out of the old testament which declare that God punishing sinners for their disobedience doeth notwithstaÌ„ding afterward wheÌ„ they repent and turne forgeue theÌ„ and receiue them againe into his fauoure Rehearse vnto me also I pray you one or two histories out of the new testament concerning that matter Phi. I wil do it very gladly Ye remember the history of the prodigal sonne writteÌ„ in the Gospel of blessed Luke Ep. What is that I pray you Phil. Blessed Luke telleth that a certaine man had two sonnes and the yonger of them said vnto his father father geue me the porcion of the goods that to me belongeth And he deuided vnto them his substaunce Hitherto haue ye heard of the fathers liberalitie toward his soÌ„ne It foloweth and not long after â—hen the yoÌ„ger son had gathered 〈◊〉 y t he had together he tooke his â—â—urney into a far couÌ„trey â–ª there â—e wasted his goods with riotous â—â—uing Here se we the wickednes â—f the son Now behold y e plage of God And wheÌ„ he had speÌ„t al ther â—rose a great dearth in al y t lande â—nd he began to lack and went â—ame to a citezen of the same counâ—ry he sent him to his farme to â—epe swine And he wold haue filâ—â—d his belly with the cods that 〈◊〉 swine did eat no man gaue â—nto him Thus see ye into howe â—reat misery he is fallen for the â—ifusing of his goods Beholde â—ow again his repentant sorowâ—â—ll hart TheÌ„ he came to him self 〈◊〉 said how many hired seruantes 〈◊〉 my fathers haue bread inough â—â—d I perishe with honger I â—ill arise and go to my Father â—nd will say vnto him Father I haue sinned against heauen before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne make me as one of thy hired seruants And he arose and cam to his father Now marke also the pitiful compassion and tender mercy of the father toward his sonne But wheÌ„ he was yet a great way of his father saw him and had compassion ran and fell on his neck kissed him â–ª And the sonne sayde vnto hymâ— father I haue sinned against heuen thy in sight am no more worthy to be called thy son Buâ— the father said to his seruauntes bring forth the best garment anâ— put it on hym and put a ring oâ— his hand and shoes on his feete And bring hither that fat calf â— kill it and let vs eate be mery for this my sonne was dead iâ— aliue againe he was lost and iâ— found And thei begoÌ„ to be merâ— â—n this history do ye se y e exceding â—reat mercy of God toward peniâ—â—nt sinners moste liuely painted 〈◊〉 set forth So sone as this wastâ—â—l sonne repented him of his rioâ—ous liuing had a mynde to reâ—urne home vnto his father and 〈◊〉 humble him self before him and 〈◊〉 desire mercie and forgeuenesse â—f his sinnes oh how gladly and â—ow ioyful did his father louingâ—â— embrace him swetely kisse him â—â—â—endly salute him hartely enterâ—ain him so derely receiue him â—â—to his fauour as though he had â—euer offended Epa. O the great â—nd infinite mercies of God Phi. â—ere see ye that to be true whiche â—od him self saith by the prophet â—hou disobedient Israel tourn aâ—ain saith the Lorde I will not â—t my wrath fall vpon you For I â—n merciful saith the Lorde I â—il not alway bear displeasure against thee c. O ye disobedient children turn again saying lo we are thine for thou art the lorde our God and so shal I heale your back turnings By an other Prophet he also saieth as truly as I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but much rather y t the wicked turn from his way and liue Turn you turn you from your vngodliâ—waies O ye af the house of Israeâ— oh wherfore will ye die The wickednes of y e wicked shal not hurt hym whensoeuer he conuerteth from his vngodlines Again by y e aforsaid Prophet he saith repenâ— and turn you from al your iniquities your iniquities shall workâ— you no displeasure Cast away frâ— you all your wickednesses wherâ— in ye haue offended and make yoâ— a new hart and a new spirit Anâ— wherfore will ye die O ye housâ— â—f Israel For I wil not y t any maÌ„â—huld die sayth the Lord. Return â—herfore liue Ep. Are these worâ—es spokeÌ„ as wel to vs as to y e peoâ—le of Israel Phi. Yee to vs. Of a â—ruth saith blessed Peter I perâ—eiue y t ther is no respect of persoÌ„s 〈◊〉 God but in al people he y t feaâ—eth him worketh righteousnes â—s accepted w t him Is he y e God of â—he Iewes only Is he not also y e God of the geÌ„tils yea euen of the â—entiles also saith blessed Paule For it is God only which iustifiâ—th the circumcision y t is of faith â—ncircumcision thorowe faith â—or he is not a Iewe whiche is a â—ew outward nether is it circuÌ„â—â—sioÌ„ which is outward in y e flesh â—ut he is a Iew which is hid w t â—â— and the circuÌ„cision of the heart 〈◊〉 true circumcision which consiâ—eth in the spirite and not in the â—â—ter whose prayse is not of meÌ„ but of God There is no differeÌ„ce betwene the Iew and the gentill For one is Lorde of all whiche is riche vnto all that call vpon him For who so euer doth call on the name of the Lorde shall be safe Therefore what so euer thinges were written aforetime they werâ— written for our learning that we thorow pacience and the comforâ— of y e scriptures might haue hope The. Ye gentils saith s. Paul weâ— in times past without Christ beâ—ing aliauntes from the Commonâ—â—wealth of Israel and straungerâ— froÌ„ the testaments of the promes hauing no hope and being withâ—out God in this world But now by the meanes of Christ Iesu 〈◊〉 which somtime were a far of 〈◊〉 made nie by the bloud of Christâ— For he is our peace whiche hatâ— made of both one and hath brokâ— downe the wall that was a staâ— betwene vs and hath also put away through his fleshe the cause of hatred euen the lawe of commaundementes conteined in the law written for to make of twain one newe man in him selfe so making peace to reconcile both vnto God in one body through the crosse and slue hatred therby and came and preached peace to you which were a
the two theues whiche died with Christ. The one repented beleued and called for mercy vnto Christ God and man saying Lord remember me whan thou commest into thy kyngdom and Christ aunswered him This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Here se we that this theife both repented beleued for howe shall they cal on him sayth sainct Paule on whome they haue not beleued And therfore was receiued into glory The other whiche continued in his vnbelief and so died without repentaunce and faith obtained the reward of vnbelief that is to say the wrath of God and eternall damnation They therfore that die are either faithfull or vnfaithfull If they be faythfull so haue they out of haÌ„d the reward of fayth whiche is euerlasting glory if they be vnâ—faithfull than receiue they their reward of vnfaithfulnes and misbelief whiche is eternall damnation If the Papistes can fynde the third kind of men whiche are nether faithfull nor vnfaithfull then wyll we consent vnto theyr Purgatorie for such haue nether place in heauen nor in hell But suche sort of people the holie scripture knoweth not Therfore knoweth it not suche a place of purging after this life as the Papistes haue heretofore deuised Eus. The blessed Apostle S. Paule sayth God shall geue to euery one according to his owne dedes Againe to the Corinthians he also sayth Euery one shall receiue his â—owne labour In an other place he also sayeth We must all appear before the iudgemeÌ„t seat of Christ that euery man may receiue the workes of his body accordyng to that he hath done whether it bee good or bad Item Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he also reape For he that soweth in his flesh shal of the flesh reape corruption But he that soweth in the spirite shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting Let vs not bee weary of well doing For when the tyme is come we shall reape without wearines While we haue therefore tyme let vs doe good vnto all men and specially vnto them whiche are of the houshold of faith Hereto agreeth the saying of our sauiour Christ. The son of man shal come in the glory of his father with his aungels and then shall he rewarde euery man according to his dedes Againe I wyll geue euery one of you according to his dedes Out of these scriptures we learne â–ª that we shaâ— not be rewarded according to other mens dedes but accordinge vnto our owne deedes If we haue wrought nothing at all in oure lyfe what shall other mens dedes than do vs good after our death And I doubt whether any man Christ alone excepted haue good dedes sufficient for him self Chri. If we consider well the history of the tenne virgins it shall easly be perceiued that no maÌ„ haue scasely oyle inough for him selfe Yea wer not the great mercies of God set forth to all faithful peniteÌ„t sinners in y e precious blud of Christ we with al our oyl should perish For euerlasting life is the gifte of God through Iesus Christe oure Lord. If thou O Lord shouldest narowly loke vpoÌ„ our iniquities saith the Psalmograph O Lord who were hable to abide it But ther is mercy with the in store c. The. The holy scripture moueth vs to doe good whyle we are alyue and not to truste other mens workes to be done for vs when we be dead The wyseman saith doe good vnto thy frende before thou die and according to thy abilitie reache out thyne hand and geue vnto the poore Be not disapoynted of the good daye and let not the portion of the good day ouerpasse the. Shalt thou not leue thy trauails labours vnto other men In the deuiding of thy heritage geue and take and sanctify thy soule Worke thou ryghteousnes before thy death for after thy death there is no meat to fynd Again Abide thou not in the errour of the vngodly but geue God thaÌ„kes before death As for the dead thanckfulnes perisheth from him as nothing Geue thou thanckes in thy lyfe yea whyle thou art liuing and whole shalt thou geue thankes and prayse God and reioyce in his mercy O howe great â—s the louing kindnes of the lord and his mercifull goodnes vnto â—uch as turne vnto hym SalomoÌ„â—n his prouerbes saith withdrawe â—o good thing froÌ„ them that haue â—ede so long as thy hande is able â—o doe it Say not vnto thy neighbour go thy way come againe â—o morowe wil I geue thee wher â—s thou hast nowe to geue hym Hereto agreeth the saying of the â—reacher whatsoeuer thou art aâ—le to do do it out of hande for in â—he graue that thou goest vnto here is neither worke counsell knowledge nor wisdom The prophet also sayth Seke the Lorde â—â—hyle he may be founde and call â—pon him while he is nie Let the â—ngodly forsake his owne waies â—nd the vnrighteous his owne imaginations and turne againe vnto the Lord so shal God be merciful vnto him Our sauior Christ saith in the Gospell I must worke the worckes of him that sent me while it is daye The night commeth when no man can worke Walke while we haue light least y e darknes come on you c. While ye haue light walke in the light that ye may be y e children of light I say vnto you make you frendes of the vnrighteous MammoÌ„ that when ye shal haue nede they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations That seruaunt which receiued one talent of his Lord and gained nothing therew t but went his way and hid it in the ground was cast into vtter darknes wherâ— wepinge and gnashinge of teeth shalbe The .v. folishe virgins because they had no Oyle in theyr lampes were not suffred to enter into the mariage Moreouer the most worthy Apostle S. Paule saith While we haue tyme let vs do good vnto all men and specialâ—y vnto them which are of y e houshold of faith These and diuers other textes of the holye scripture moue vs to doe good our selues while we be aliue in this worlde and not to trust the workes of other to be done for vs wheÌ„ we be dead For by our own works and not by other meÌ„s shall we be iudged Euery maÌ„ shall bear his own burdeÌ„ Euery man shal receiue the works of his own body according to y t he hath done whether it bee good or bad euery maÌ„ shal receiue his reward according to his own dedes Beholde I come quickely saith our sauiour Christ and my reward is with me y t I may geue to euerye one accordinge as his worke shalbe And saint Iohn pronouncing them blessed which die in y e Lord saith on this maner Their workes folowe theÌ„ He saith not other mens workes shal folow theÌ„ wheÌ„ they be dead but their owne workes do follow and presently accoÌ„pany them â–ª as the shadow doth y e body euen vnto y
e throne of Gods maiestie to be testimonies witnesses of their true and vnfained sayth They therfore are to much fond and negligent of their owne saluation which trust other more then them selues in matters pertayning vnto the health of their soules Chri. There is an old saying in Latin and as I thinck noâ—â—les true thaÌ„ old It is this Da tua dum tua sunt post morteÌ„ tunc tuae non sunt Geue thy goodes while they be thine for after thy death they be none of thine Euse. I remember whan I was a child I learned .ii verses of my scholemaister which I haue not yet forgotten I wyll rehearse them vnto you Quod sibi quisque serit praesentis teÌ„pore vitae Hoc sibi messis erit cum dicitur Ite Venitae That a maÌ„ soweth for him self in y e time of this present life that shalbe his haruest or reape when it is saide Go Come Epap What meane you by that Go Come Eu. You know that to the vnfaithfull it shalbe sayd go ye cursed in to euerlasting fire whiche is prepared for y e deuill and his angels But to the faithfull it shalbe said on this maner Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome whiche was prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning of the world The. S. Paule hath a sentence muche lyke vnto your verses whatsoe â—er a man soweth saith he y t shall he also reape For he that soweth in his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption But he that soweth in the spirit shall of y e spirite reape life euerlasting Phil. It is not w tout cause that the holy scripture doth so diligently call vs vnto repentaunce faith and good works in this present worlde For euerlasting life euen in this worlde is ether gotten or loste As God findeth vs so iudgeth he vs. Euerye tree is knowen and iudged by her owne fruite and not by the fruite of other trees Euery man lykewyse is iudged by his owne workes not by the workes of other as Christ saith to the vnprofitable seruaunt Of thine owne mouthe wil I iudge thee thou euil seruaÌ„t Teophilact saith The vertue of my neighbour shall scacely be inough to defend him selfe so farre is it of that it can profit me also For all men shall be declared to be righteous by their owne workes and not by the workes of theyr neighboures Euse. The Preacher saieth When the tre falleth whether it be toward the Southe or north in what place so euer it fall there it lieth Epap What is ment by that Euse. The tre signifieth euery one of vs y t are the children of Adam We fal that is to say we die ether toward the south or toward the north that is either in the state of saluation or damnatioÌ„ In what state soeuer we die in the same remaine we There is no chaunge after this life Ether with poore Lazarus we goe into the bosome of Abraham or els with that vnmercifull ryche man into the fier of hell There are but two places after this life hel and heauen If we depart in the faith of Christe we goe straighawayes vnto the glory of heauen But if we die in vnbelief than go we to the Deuill as the scripture sayth He that beleueth on y e sonne hath euerlasting life But he that beleueth not on the sonne shall not see lyfe but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Christo. S. Iohn Chrisostome saith he that washeth not awaye his synnes in this present life shall finde no comfort afterward c. Theph The same doctor also hath this saying Let vs not thinke saith he that wheÌ„ we come thither he meaneth vnto the iudging place of God mercy shal be geuen vnto vs seing we do not so behaue our selues in this world that we may deserue to haue forgeuenes though Abraham shuld pray for vs though Noe though Iob though Daniell shuld make intercessioÌ„ for vs. Therfore while we haue tyme let vs prepare for our selues that whiche may stand vs in steade a fore God an other day Eus. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Ciprian Then that is to say after death shall repentaÌ„ce be without fruite and the sorowe of paine weping also shall be in vayn and praier shalbe to no purpose Therefore make prouision while ye may for your safegard life Again he saith When we be once departed out of this worlde there is no more place for repentaunce there is no effect of â—atisfaction In this worlde life is either lost or gotten Here through the worshipping of God and the fruit of fayth prouision is made for euerlasting saluation Epa. I se than both by the aucthoritie of y e holy scriptures and of the auncieÌ„t doctours that the workes whiche are done for them that are departed out of this worlde by other are but vayne and vnprofitable whether they departe in fayth or otherwyse For y e faithfull departe straightwaies vnto glory and the vnfaithful vnto euerlasting pain The one sort haue no nede of praier for they be already in most blessed state and ioyful reast And the other are in so damnable case that praier can do no good for them no though Abraham Noe Iob Daniel and all the best that euer lyued shuld pray for theÌ„ For in hell there is no redemption And Abraham said to the rich maÌ„ There is betwene vs and you a great space set so y t they whiche wold go from heÌ„ce vnto you caÌ„not neither may they y t are there come hither vnto vs. Phi. The truth is neighbor Epaphroditus y e papistes haue long bewitched the eies of y e simple by making theÌ„ beleue that the soules of the faythfull goe not straightwaies after their departure vnto eternal glory but rather vnto purgatory a place of their own deuising for the maintenance of their idle bellies there to lie miserablie puling til they be redemed by treÌ„talles by pilgrimages going by pardons c. Our sauiour Christe in the gospell teacheth maketh meÌ„cion of two waies But y e third is not found in the holy scripture One is a straight way which leadeth vnto life fewe ther be that finde it The other is a brode way which leadeth vnto destruction many ther be y t go in therat Ep. I beleue am throwly perswaded y t by y t merits of his precious bloud which said vnto y e penitent thefe this day shalt thou be with me in paradise my soule immediatly after the departure froÌ„ this vile body shall be receiued vnto glory â—se y e glorious maiestie of God face to face as y e Psalmograph sayth I beleue to see the pleasures and good thinges of the Lorde in the land of the liuing I fear the Popish purgatory the paynes therof nothing at all My pain endeth in this life And the ende of this life is the beginning of my ioye This hope lieth vp buried in
euen that they shuld set forth magnifie prayse and commend the maiestie power might and glory of this moste myghty glorious god And whatsoeuer he made he made it thorow his only begotten sonne by whoÌ„ al things were made and without whome was made nothing y t was made For when he made the heauens this his only begotten sonne was present whan he haÌ„ged y e cloudes aboue when he fastned the springes of the depe when he shut the sea within certaine boundes that the water should not go ouer the marckes that he commaunded When he laide the foundations of the earth he was with hym ordring all thynges deliting daily and reioysing alway before hym For the sonne of God caused the iyght that fayleth not to aryse in the heauen and couered all the earth as a cloud And that prince like Prophet sayeth By the word of the Lord which word is Christ the natural sonne of God are the heauens made and all the hostes of them by y e breath of his mouth This God the father almightye maker of heauen and earth I beleue am fully perswaded that he for Christes sake by fayth is my moste mercifull father that I am borne againe of him not by mortall but immortall seede thorowe the worde of God which liueth and abideth for euer and so am become his sonne and that he therfore loueth and fauoreth me gouerneth and defendeth me â—eadeth and nourysheth me and finally hath made me his heire and fellow heir of eternall glory with his only begotten and moste derely beloued sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde and sauiour Now haue ye heard my fayth concerning God the father Phil. It is a faith both true and christen and from the beginning receiued of all godly parsons Will it please you likewyse to reherse your faith concerning Iesus Christ y e sonne of God yea God and man Epaph. This it is I vnfainedly beleue with my heart and frely confesse wyth my mouth y e Iesus Christ the seconde persone in the godhead is the only begotten sonne of God yea and true immortall and euerlasting God begotten of God the father before any beginning of lyke maiestie myght power glory with God the father of the same nature essence being and substance I beleue that this Iesus Christe whiche is the very brightnesse of his fathers glory and the very image of his substance first begotten before all creatures is oure Lord euen the Lord of all y e faithfull And I beleue that as he is called Iesus that is to saye a sauiour so likewyse he is both able and will saue me froÌ„ al my sinnes A God that is righteous suche one as saueth there is none but he There is saluation in none other Neither is there any other name vnder heauen geuen vnto men wherein we may be saued but only the name of Iesus Of hym therfore alone as of an almighty sauiour doe I loke for my saluation For vain is the sauing health that is loked for of any other And as he is called Christ y e is to saye annoynted because he is the Kyng and Priest of all the people of God and is annoynted with the true oyntment eueÌ„ with the fulnes of the holy ghoste for God geueth not the spirite by meâ—ure vnto him but he hathe annoynted him with the oyl of gladnes aboue his fellowes eueÌ„ so do I beleue that out of hym euen as out of a liuely spring and flowing fountaine this oyle of gladnes I meane the holy ghoste come forth vpon all the members of Christ and they also in him thoâ—om him are made Christes that â—s to say the annointed of the lord For of his fulnes haue all we receiued euen grace for grace And whosoeuer beleueth on hym as sayeth the scripture flouds of lyuing water shall flowe out of his belly As I am of this Christ called a christian so do I beleue that this Christ hath annoynted me w t his holy spirite and therwith also sealed me vp vnto euerlasting life â–ª For they that are led with the spirit of God are the sonnes of God For the same spirit certifieth our spirite that we are the sonnes of God If we be sonnes then ar we also heires the heires I meane oâ— God fellow heires with Christ of eternall glory Furthermore I beleue thaâ— Iesus Christe the onlye begotten sonne of God is called our Lord not only because he is Lorde of alâ— thinges in asmuche as he is Goâ— and hath all thinges in subiection vnto hym by the ryght of his diâ—uine nature but also because hâ— is the Lord ruler gouernour of all the elect and chosen people of God myghtely deliuereth them from the power violence and tiranny of Satan sinne and death by this meanes making them his owne and peculier people continually defendeth and preserueth them against all euils and perils wherunto they should dayly fall thorow the deceitfull suttelties of Satan the vaine perswasions of the world the poysonfull entisements of the flesh if by the mighty power of him they wer not preserued For althogh there be many lords yet haue we but one lord eueÌ„ Iesus Christ by whoÌ„ ar althings we by him And this Iesê° Christ y e only begotteÌ„ son of god I faithfully beleue to be my lord my protector my mighty shield bukler defender and y t he hath deliuered me froÌ„ the tirany of SataÌ„ from y e law of sin and death and broughâ— me in thorowe faithe vnto this grace wherin I staÌ„d and reioysâ— in hope of the glory of God Moreouer I vnfainedly beleue with my heart frely confesse w t my mouth that this Iesus Christ the only begotten sonne of God is also very true and naturall man of the same flesh bloud with vs and like vnto vs in all poyntes sinne alone except And he became man not after the maner of other men but by the wonderful operation and aboue natural working of Gods naturall spirite For he was conceiued of the holy ghost borne of the Uirgin Mary That which was conceiued in her was not of man but it came of the holy ghost For y e holy ghost came vpoÌ„ that godly maid and the power of the hiest ouershadowed her so conceiued she and brought forth Christ her true natural sonne a pure and vndefiled Uirgin before the birth in the birth after the birth It was necessary that Iesus Christ shuld be so both conceiued and borne that by this his pure and cleane birth he myght washe and put away the corruption and filthinesse of our nature which was distained in the fall â—inne of Adam For it was not coÌ„â—enient that he which was come â—o purge the world from all sinne â—huld in any point be spotted with â—iune
blessed spirit that he may put his whole trust in the. Ph SeÌ„d him present help froÌ„ thy holy place Th. And euermore mighteâ—y defeÌ„d him against sathan sinne desperation death hell ph Let his enemy the deuill haue none aâ—uantage of him Eu. Nor y e wicked aproche to hurt him Phi. Be vnto him o lord a stroÌ„g toure a mighty castell sure fortres Chr. To defeÌ„d him froÌ„ the face of his enemy Phi. O Lord hear our prayers Eu And let our cry come vnto thee Phi. O Lord loke down from heaâ—uen behold visit relieue thiâ— thy seruaunt Loke vpoÌ„ him with thy eyes of thy mercy geue hym comfort and sure coÌ„fidence in theâ— defend him from the daunger oâ— the ennemy and kepe him in perâ—petuall peace and safetie through Iesus Christ our Lord. The. AmeÌ„ â–ª Phi. Heare vs almighty and mosâ— merciful God and sauiour exteÌ„d thy accustomed goodnes to this thy seruaunt whiche is greued with sicknes visit him O lorde as thou diddest visit Peters wiues mother and the Capitaines seruaunt Restore vnto this sick parson his former health if it bâ— thy wil or els geue him grace so to take thy visitation that after this painfull life ended he maye dwel with the in life euerlasting Chr. Amen Phi. Arise and let vs go againe vnto our sicke brother Now neighbour Epaphroditus how do you Reioyce I pray you in the Lord and beare this crosse which God hath now laied vpon you both paciently and thanckefully Epap If I haue heretofore bene glad to receiue health at the Lordes hand why shuld not I also nowe take in good worth this his moste gentle and louing visitation The Lord gaue me health and the Lord hath taken it away againe It hath chaunced vnto me as the Lords pleasure is blessed be the name of the Lord. The. This coÌ„forteth vs greatly to hear so good and godly wordes procede out of your mouth For of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh saith our sauiour Christ. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forthe good things Ep. No man is good but God alone We are al vnclene vnprofitable seruaunts If any goodnes we haue it is of God as blessed Iames saith Euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue commeth downe from y t father of lyghtes that he whiche reioyseth shoulde reioyse in the Lord. Chr. Now good neighbour how fele you your self Epa. O brother Christopher I perceiue ther is none other waye with me but one euen to depart from this lyfe Phi. Let it neuer greue you moost genle neighbour to geue ouer vnto nature and to depart from this worlde at the callynge of God There is a time to be borne and a time to die We must be as wel coÌ„tent to die as we were to liue and as wel pleased to leaue the world as we were to come into it We ar mortal we therfore must nedes die Let vs not bear heauely that necessitie importeth God creaâ—â—d vs that we shuld once die let vs not therefore repugne and striue against the good pleasure of God There shal none other thing chaunce vnto vs by death than that hathe heretofore chaunced vnto our predecessours and shall likewyse chaunce vnto our posteritie Who hath lyued that hath not died Who doth now or shall liue that shall not also tast death One the same way must nedes be troden of all Adams posteritie There is no meane to escape Adam sinned and became mortall All we haue sinned also in Adam therefore all we are made in him mortall and subiect vnto death As by one man saith S. Paule sinne entred into the worlde and death by the meanes of sinne EueÌ„ so death also went ouer al men in so muche as all we haue synned The reward of sinne is death God in dede created maÌ„ at the beginning to be immortall and not to be destroyed by death yea after the Image of his owne likenesse made he him Neuerthelesse thorow enuy of the deuil came death into the world The history of Adams fal is known in whoÌ„ we also fel. Sence that time he all his posteritie haue bene mortall haue died shal die We al ar now flesh earth dust ashes So sone as we be borne so sone begin we to die This our life is nothing els then a very passage vnto death Noble and base pore and riche faire and foule wel fauoured and il fauoured mighty and weake wise folish fortunate and wretched ruler and subiect faithfull and vnfaithfull Christian and Painim old and yong man woman and childe euery bodely creature that liueth on the face of the earth shall die Whether the life be short or long the end of it is death All the holy Patriarkes Iudges kings Priestes Prophets and all other whiche liued before the comminge of Christ died IhoÌ„ Baptist Christes mother all the disciples of Christ died Yea Christ him selfe although moste innocent without all sinne after he was once clad with our flesh and had taken on him our nature became mortall and to pay our raunsome vnto God the father and to set vs againe at libertie he suffred death euen the death of the crosse Is y e seruaunt greater then his Lorde Or the disciple aboue his maister Our Lord hath troden the way a fore vs and shall we his seruants refuse to follow him Our maister hath geuen vs an example to die and shall we his disciples disdain to practise the lyke â–ª If death had bene cast only vppon our backes which liue in this age so might y e burthen haue bene thought vnrighteous and intollerable but forasmuch as our ancestors haue already tasted of death and are gone why shuld we that now liue beare so impaciently this commoÌ„ chaunce On this condition came we al into the world y t we should leaue it agayne For we be heare but strangers and soiourners as were al our fathers Our days on thearth also are but as a shadow and there is none abiding Oure daies passe away swiftly and we are gone The dayes of man are y e daies of an hirelyng yea wynde and nothyng Man is lyke vnto vanitâ—e and his dayes passe away like a shadow Where is ther any man that liueth and shall not seâ— death man that is borne of a woman hath but a short time to liue and yet the tyme that he lyueth he is full of mysery He cometh vp and is cut down like a flower He flieth as it were a shadow and neuer continueth in one state Here haue we no continuing city but we seke one to come It is apoynted of God that all men shal once die For what is our life It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a little tyme and then vanisheth away as Iob saith
the Phisition being nothing afraid of him because they ar sick diseased but rather somuche the more doo they desire to come vnto him to shew him their woundes and to disclose their diseases that they may be made whole Now is Christ a phisitioÌ„ all we through sinne are diseased shal we therfore runne away from Christ and not rather make hast vnto him what Phisition is so ready to heale the body as Christe our Phisition is to heale the soule Who euer came vnto him with a faithfull and penitent heart and was refused Who euer sought remedy at his hand and was not holpen Who euer opened vnto hym his diseaâ—es and was not cured he calleth all without exception be they neuer so diseased and loden with thâ— burden of sinne vnto him and proâ—miseth that he will ease them of their burdens make theÌ„ whole is it to be thought that he wylâ— refuse sinners when they come vnâ—to him Come vnto me sayth he al ye that labour and are loden I wil refreshe you Take my yoke vpon you and ye shall find rest for your soules For I came not to caâ— y e righteous but sinners vnto repentance The sonne of man came to seke and to saue that was lost How frequented he the coÌ„pany of synners when he was in this world that to this end only thaâ— he might call them through his godly sermons vnto repentance vnto the fauour of God and vnto the felowship of the sainctes in so muche that he was called a frend of open sinners and whores How defended he alway the humble peniteÌ„t sinners against the proud and stifnecked Pharises and Iusticiaries When Zache being a sinner the Prince of the Publicans sought to see Christ how louingly did Christ speake vnto him and frendly came into his house eat dranck with him WheÌ„ Mary MagdaleÌ„ being a greuous sinner came vnto Christe he refused not her company but talked most gently with her coÌ„forted her receiued her into his fauour quieted her coÌ„scieÌ„ce healed her diseases gaue her euerlasting life Whan the poore Publicane whiche had both ofte and greuously offended the Lord his God came into the temple to pray and in his praiers huÌ„bled him self before the maiestie of God and coÌ„fessed him self a sinner was he not ioyfully receiued into the fauour of God and pronounced more righteous euen by the mouth of Christ then y e proude â–ª Pharesy for all his glistring workes How ioyfully was that vnthrifty prodigal wastfull sonne receiued home again What freÌ„dship founde that theif whiche was crucified with Christe at the hand of Christ when he saide Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome Did not Christ straightways aunswere him and say This day shalt thou bee with me in Paradise And yet was he both a thief a seditious persone and a murtherer Christe refuseth none although neuer so greuous a synner if we come vnto hym Turn ye vnto me and I wil turn vnto you saith the Lord of hostes Thou disobedient Israel Turne again saith the Lord and I will not let my wrath fall vpon you I am mercifull saith the Lord and I wil not alway bear displeasur against thee but this I will y e thou know thy great blasphemy namely that thou hast vnfaithfully forsaken the Lord thy God and hast made thi self partaker of straunge Gods vnder all greene trees but hast had no wil to hear my voyce saieth the Lorde O ye disobedient chyldren turne againe saieth the Lord and I will be maried with you c. O ye disobedient childreÌ„ turne agayne saying Lo we are thyne for thou art the Lorde our God and so shal I heal your back turninges Who wyll not boldely come vnto so mercifull a Lord most louing father seing he so geÌ„tely calleth all men vnto hym be they neuer so greuous synners promiseth that he wyll not refuse them but louingly receiue them neuer lay their offences vnto their charge but to forget them and cast them behinde his backe that he wyll neuer ether remember thâ— or loke vpon them more Theo. The Lord is merciful gentle and louing pacient long suffring oâ— muche kindnes and ready at all tymes to forgeue yea euen whaâ— he is at the poynt to punyshe Thâ— Lord is louing vnto euery man his mercy is ouer all his workes â–ª The lord is good and gracious of great mercy vnto all them that call vpon him The Lord is ful of tender compassion and great merâ—cy long sufferyng and of muche goodnes He wil not alway be chiâ—ding neither kepeth he his anger for euer He dealeth not with vs after our synnes neither rewardeth he vs accordyng to our wickednesses For loke how hie y e heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is his mercy also toward them that feare him Loke howe wide also the East is from y e west so far hath he set our sinnes from vs. Yea lyke as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto theÌ„ that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth y t we are but dust With the Lorde there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeme Israel froÌ„ al his sinnes Phi. The great kindnes dere hearty loue of God toward vs appeareth not only in this y t he both willingly and gladly admitteth and receiueth synners whensoeuer they repent and tourne vnto hym but â—n that he also most diligently seketh them vp fetcheth them home again and geueth them grace to repent and turne that they maye â—e saued This thinge is verye â—yuelye described and set forthe in â—he parables of the straid shepe of the lost groat and of the wounded man Herein is loue saith S â–ª Iohn not that we loued God buâ— that he loued vs sent his sonnâ— to be the agrement for our sinnes Saint Paule saieth God settetâ— out his loue toward vs seing thaâ— while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more theÌ„ nowâ— we that are iustified by his bludâ— shalbe saued from wrath througâ— him For if when we were enneâ—mies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne muchâ— more seing we are reconciled we shalbe preserued by his life Epa. I beleue y t God is a mercifull father for Christes sake to all them thaâ— do truly repente beleue and conâ—uert vnto him but is it not to beâ— feared that my repentaunce and conuersion is to late Phi. Be on good comfort neighbor Epaphroditus there is no repentauÌ„ce and conuersion to late in this worlde â–ª so that it be true proceadeth froÌ„ a contrite heart humble spirite For at whatsoeuer hour a sinner dooth mourne and lamente for his sinnes God promyseth that he will so forgeue him his iniquities that he will neuer remember theÌ„ more And
nothing but raise them vp againe at the last day And this is y e wil of him that sent me that euery one whiche seeth the sonne and beleueth on him haue euerlasting life And I will rayse him vp at y e last day I am the resurrection life he y t beleueth in me though he be dead yet shall he lyue euery one that liueth and beleueth iâ— me shal neuer die To him christâ— geue all the Prophetes witnes saith S. Peter that through his name whosoeuer beleueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes If thou knowledge w t thy mouth that Iesus is the Lorde and beleue in thine heart that God raysed hym vp from death thou shalâ— be saued For to beleue with thâ— hert iustifieth and to knowledge with the mouthe maketh a man safe For the scripture saith Whosoeuer beleueth on him shall not be confounded Thus se you that faith dooth assure your conscience of y e fauor of God of euerlasting life Doubt you not therfore but that you are counted in the number of Gods elect and chosen people and shall enherit the glorious kingdom of God Epa. I was baptised in the name of God y e father â—nd of god the sonne of god the â—oly ghost Phi. This is also a sure â—â—keÌ„ of the fauour of God toward â—ou and that you are predestinate â—nto euerlasting life seyng that according to your profession you do beleue and vnto the vttermost of your power frame your life For it is wrytten he that beleueth is baptised shalbe saued And s. Peter said vnto the Iewes Repent you of your sinnes be baptised euery one of you in y e name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy ghost â–ª And Saint Paule saieth All ye that are baptized haue put on Christ. And you know there is no dampnation to them that are in Christ Iesu. For as when you wer baptised ye forsoke the deuill the world and the flesh withal their workes poÌ„pes and vanitie and gaue your selfe only vnto the seruice of God taking him for your Lord maister euen so hath God likewise taken you to be his seruaunt loueth and fauoureth you and wil defend you against al your ennemies and neuer forsake you vntyll he hathe brought you vnto euerlasting life By baptisme is he your lord God therefore wyll not he suffer you to pearishe By baptisme is he your father and you are born of him so become his sonne therfore can he none otherwyse then loue tender and fauour you and geue you the enheritaunce of his heauenly kingdome By baptisme are you made the brother of Christ heyre of God and fellow heire w t Christ of euerlasting glory theÌ„ may you be certen to be of that noÌ„ber that shall enherit eternall life By baptisme is the holy ghost geuen you then are you the sonne of God and â—an not pearysh For it is written They that are led with the spirite â—f God are the sonnes of God Baptisme is a continuall signe of â—he fauour of God towarde vs of â—he fre remission of sinnes of our â—econciliatioÌ„ vnto God for Chriâ—tes sake and that we be by adopâ—ion the sonnes of God heires of â—uerlasting glory Epa. In tymes â—ast I haue also many tymes reâ—eiued the misteries of the Lordes â—ody and bloud in the temples of â—he Christians with the congreâ—ation of God wherin I confesse I haue founde great comfort and â—erye muche quietnesse vnto my â—eake and synnefull conscience Phi. The often comming with a â—eruent de syre vnto the Lords taâ—le by true faythe to fede vpon the â—isteries of the Lordes body and â—loud is a manifest argument y t God hath chosen you to be his hath written your name in y e bokâ— of life and predestinate you vntâ— euerlasting glory For in so doinâ— you haue not only called vnto reâ—membraunce the moste healthfuâ— death of our Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ and so bene thankeâ—ful for it but you haue also shewâ—ed your selfe a lyuely member 〈◊〉 that holy body whereof Christ iâ— the head You haue professed opeÌ„â—ly in the face of the Christen conâ—gregation that God the father iâ— your father y t Christ is your Lorâ— and sauiour that by the one onlâ— oblation of his blessed body on thâ— altare of the Crosse all your synâ—nes are put away and forgeueâ— and you made the enheritour 〈◊〉 euerlasting glory WheÌ„ you thuâ— came vnto the Lordes Table aâ— the fruites benefites and meritâ— of Christes passioÌ„ were geuen yoâ— namely the fauour of God remiâ—â—sion of sinnes the holy ghost quietnes of conscience new affectes victory ouer Sathan death and hell and finally euerlasting lyfe so that nowe ye are incorporated in Christ become a true liuely member of that misticall bodye wherof he is the head yea you ar fleshe of his fleshe and bone of his bones as the Apostle saith Is not the cup of blessing whiche we bles partaking of the bloud of Christ Is not the bread whiche we breake partaking of y e body of Christ c. Epa. As I haue had many times an earnest and feruent minde to come reuerentlye vnto the Lordes table and to be partaker of the holy misteries of Chriâ—tes body and bloud with the congregation so likewise haue I at all times bene glad to repare vnâ—o those places wher the word of God hath bene preached and the doctrine y t hath there bene taughâ— I marked diligeÌ„tly kept it in meâ—mory and to the vttermost of mâ— power I laboured to frame mâ— life according vnto the same thaâ— I might bee no forgetfull heareâ— but a diligent doer of those worâ—kes whiche I learned of the holâ— scriptures to bee acceptable vntâ— the Lord my Lord that I mighâ— serue him in holines and righteâ—ousnes all the dayes of my lyfe Phi. As there is not a more euideÌ„â— testimony and a surer argumentâ— that that man is in the state of eâ—uerlasting dampnation whichâ— hath no mynd to hear the word oâ— God nor to traine his lyfe according vnto the doctrine therof sâ— likewise is there not a more cerâ—taine signe that any man is preâ—destinate to be saued then wheÌ„ hâ— hath a mynd to heare the word oâ— God as our sauiour Christ testiâ—fieth saying He that is of god heareth gods words ye therfore hear theÌ„ not because ye are not of God Here se you how Christ putteth a difference betwene them that are of God and them that are of the deuill They that are the children of y e deuil haue no minde to heare the worde of God But they that are the sonnes of God haue a feruent delite and singulare great pleasure to hear gods word yea as the Prophet saieth to exercise them selues in it daye and night In an other place our Sauioure Christ saith also My shepe heare
as vnto an other it goeth with the righteous as with vngodly with the good cleane as with the vncleane with him that offreth as with hym that offreth not like as it goeth with thâ— vertuous so goeth it also with thâ— sinner As it hapneth vnto the peâ—iured so hapneth it also vnto hym that is afraide to be forsworne Among all thynges that come to passe vnder the Sunne this is a misery that it hapneth vnto all alike Of these wordes it euidently appeareth that Salomon speaketh of the knowledge which a naturall man hath by the outwarde gifts of god wherof because they be indifferently geuen aswell to y e good as to the bad he is not able to iudge whoÌ„ God loueth whoÌ„ he hateth Now wher as the Papists wrest this text vnto y e knowledge or iudgement of the conscience which commeth of the spirite of God and of his holy word and would that Christen men in theyr coÌ„science shuld dout whether God loue theÌ„ or not whether they be in the fauour of God or not whether their sinnes be forgeuen theÌ„ or not whether they shalbe saued or notthei teache a deuelishe errour and leade y e receiuers of their doctrin the right way to hell fire For he y t douteth of the mercifull good wil fauorable grace of God toward him beleueth not that God for christes sake is louing vnto him forgeueth him al his syns verely he is no true christian but dying in this his doubtfulnes and vnbelief he shall surely be dampned acording to this saying he that doth not beleue on the sonne shall not se life but the wrath of God a bideth on hym This erroneous doctrine of the Papistes maketh God false of his promyse quencheth fayth blotteth out hope destroieth loue disquieteth the conscience filleth y e hart with whole seas of vnreastfull and wycked imaginations and so driueth the doubtful parson vnto desperation and finally vnto dampnation O murtherers O soule sâ—ears If no man can be certaine in his conscience whether he be in the fauour of god or no whether god for christes sake wil forgeue him his sins or not and geue him euerlasting lyfe to what poynt serue all the promises of Gods tender mercies made to all faithfull penitent sinners in Christes bloud vnto what end doth faith serue If faith certifieth not our conscience of Gods good wyl toward vs and so bringeth peace and quietnes vnto it what is then the office of fayth If a man whose credit is approued promiseth vs any thinge we surely loke for it nothing doubte of the performance therof shall we doubt of the accomplishment of the promises of God whiche is faithful in all his wordes whiche can not lie which is not only true but also the self truth Let al men be liers and let God abide true God hath promised that at whatsoeuer hour we tourne vnto him he will forgeue vs al our sinnes neuer remember them more but so frely fauour vs and so tenderly loue vs as though we had neuer offended him This is the promise of him which can nether deceiue nor be deceiued and shal we doubt of the performance therof Shall we doubt whether y e Lord oure God wyll be as good as his word whether our sinnes be forgeuen and we receiued againe into fauor or not God hath promised that in Christ all nations of y e earth shalbe blessed And shal we which loke for our whole saluation in the bloud of Christe doubt whether we shall bee blessed in Christ y t is to say fauoured of god the father for Christs sake or not Christ our Lord sauiour calleth all that labour and be loden vnto him and promiseth y t he will ease remedy comfort and helpe them And shal we doubt of this his promise What other thynge is it to doubt of the promises of god â–ª then to doubt whether God be true or no iust faithfull or no y e same in his dede that he is in his word or no O the to much vnfaithfulnes of the wicked Papistes The scripture saith he that beleueth on the soÌ„ne of god hath euerlasting life The faithful christians beleue on Christ the sonne of God embrase him with strong faith as their alone sauiour redemer atonement maker intercessour mediatour aduocate and shal they doubt of y e â—nheritaunce of euerlasting lyfe Ether they that do beleue so coÌ„tinue vnto theÌ„d haue euerlasting life at their departure out of this life or els God is not true of his promise But God is faithful in al his wordes therfore doo the faithful christians receiue according to gods promises their faith If all thinges be possible to him y â— beleueth if al things chance to a faithfull man according to his faith w t what whorish shameles forheds dare the proud and vngodly Papistes teache vs to doubt of the grace and fauoure of God of the â—emission of sinnes and of the enheritaunce of euerlasting lyfe Where doutfulnes is there is no â—rue faith but rather misbeliefe â— to such a doubting faith yea raâ—her no faith nothinge is promised but the fearce wrath and vengeaunce of God and euerlastingâ— dampnation Se to what poynâ— the wicked Papistes bryng theyâ— whelpes with their deuelysh docâ—trin Saint Iames saith If any man lack wisdom let him aske iâ— of him that geueth it eueÌ„ God But let him aske in faith and waâ—uer not For he that doubteth iâ— like a waue of y e sea which is to â— of the wyndes and caried witâ— violence Nether let y e man thinkâ— that he shall receiue any thyng oâ— the Lorde A wauering mindeâ— man is vnstable in all his wayes Are not they that professe Christ much bouÌ„d to the papistes whicâ— teach their scholers to doubt of thâ— mercy of God not to be throughâ—ly perswaded in their conscienceâ— that God loueth them pardonetâ— them for Christes sake maketâ— them enheritours of euerlasting glory Is this anye other thynge then to say despair die be dampned O deuils incarnat God lighten the eies of the simple that thei may once see the iugling castes of these wily wicked Papistes and come vnto the vnfained truthe of gods word whiche is able to saue their soules whiche also is the mighty power of God to saue euery one that beleueth The. Amen Phi. Al the godly eueÌ„ from the beginning haue beleued the promises of God and nothing doubted of them whether they concerned temporall or spirituall things and according to their fayth so receyâ—ed they Yea when God seamed most to be angry with them vtâ—erly to cast them from his fauor â—uen then did they nothing doubt â—f his mercifull goodnesse but w t â—rong faith cleaueth to the promiâ—es of God as a certain maÌ„ saith Though he kil me yet will I put my truste in hym The Psalmograph also saith
he will deliuer you out of all your paynes take you vnto him and place you in his glorious kingdom Epa. O Lorde deliuer my soule from the sweard my dearling frō the power of the dogge Saue me from y e Lions mouth Bow downe thine eare to me make haste to deliuer me Be thou my Protectoure O God and house of defence that y e maiest saue me Be thou my strōg rocke and my castell Be thou my guide and leade me for thy names sake Drawe me oute of the net thot they haue layde preuely for me for thou art my strengthe Into thy handes I commend my spirite for thou hast redemed me O Lord thou God of truthe Phile. Fear not brother Epaphroditus God is your louing father and moste gentle sauiour He hath hearde your humble requestes and graunted your peticions He hathe and wyll defend you from all euill euen vnto the end He will not suffer you to be deuoured of that hellish Lion and cruel dog y e deuill He hath sent his holy Angels hether vnto you euen into this your chambre They are here presente for youre great cōfort They haue pitched their tents round about you that they may kepe you harmles and safe from the deuouring tethe of Sathan Thei wait vpon you diligently for your defence and wil neuer depart frō you till they receiue your soule and cary it vp louingly as a most precious relique into the kingdome of heauen and moste ioyfully present it vnto the glorious throne of gods maiestie Fixe y e eies of your faith on Christ and Christes merits on Christes passion and death on Christes blessed body breakyng and his moste precious bloud sheddinge on his triumph and victory ouer sathan his hellish army beleue Christe to be your alone sauioure and all his works to be your good works and so shall ye not perish but haue euerlasting lyfe Epaphro Hast the O Lord to deliuer me for it is hie time In thee O Lord Christ my most mercifull sauiour and only redemer in thee in the alone is al my trust let me neuer be confounded O Iesu. Mercy Iesu mercy ▪ O Christ. Mercy Christ mercy O God the Father O God the sōne O God the holy Ghost O moste blessed Trinitie thre persons and one God haue mercy on me Receiue my soule into thy handes Place it for thy mercies sake in thy heauēly kingdom among thy holy angels and blessed sainctes O my good God O father O my most merciful father Mercy mercy Phile. God the father whiche made you blesse you God y e sonne which redemed you preserue you God the holy ghost which sanctifieth you confirme and strengthē you The blessing ▪ defence and sauing health of the allmighty god the father the sonne and the holy ghost preserue you from al euyl and bringe you vnto euerlastinge lyfe Chr. Amen Eu. Me thinck he hath geuē vp the ghost The. No he is yet a liue God comfort him Lord shewe him the light of thy louing countenaunce Epa. When shall I come to appere before the presence of my God Phi. God be thancked he yet speaketh yea he godly speaketh Brother Epaphroditus take a good hert vnto you shrincke not Fight a good fight Be not discouraged nether with the terroures of sathan nor with y e pains of death God is on youre syde God is your graūd captain You fighte vnder the banner of that most mighty and victorious Emperour Iesus Christ. Only continue as you haue begon and the daye is yours Sathā with al his army like miserable cowardes shalbe put to flight and vanquished You shall haue a ioyful victory ouer thē The paine of the battell is short and lyght but the glory of your triūphe shal abide for euer euer Heare what your graunde captaine saithe he that continueth vnto the end shall be saued To him y t ouercommeth I will geue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middes of the Paradise of God Be faithful vnto the death and I shall geue the the crowne of life Him that ouercommeth will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shal go no more out Yea to him that ouercommeth will I graunte to sit with me in my seate Here see you what precious and mooste noble rewardes are set forth vnto you if you go forth valeauntly to fight against your ennemies which seke your destruction Only beleue only fixe y e eies of your faith on Christ crucified Only engraue in your heart depely a sure and vndoubted confidence in the mercifull promises of God the father whiche he hath made vnto you in the precious bloud of his dearly beloued sonne and our alone sauioure Iesus Christe and you shall moste certainly haue the victory and obtain the reward of ioyfull immortalitie Here what your graund captain Christ saith God hath so dearly loued y e world that he gaue his onelye begotten sonne that euery one that beleueth on hym should not pearyshe but haue euerlasting life For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condempne the world but that the world shuld be saued by hym He y t beleueth on him is not damned Iohn Baptist saithe He that beleueth on y e sonne of God hath euerlasting life My shepe saith Christ heare my voyce I know them and they followe me and I geue them euerlasting life nether shall they perishe for euer nor yet shall any man plucke them out of my hand My father which gaue them to me is greater then all no man can pluck them out of my fathers hande I and my father am one Againe I am the resurrection and life He that beleueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And euery one that liueth and beleueth in me shall neuer die I am the way y e truthe and the life Follow Christ you cā not erre nor go out of the way for he is the waye Beleue Christ and you can not be deceiued for he is the truthe Abide and remaine in Christ and you can not die the death euerlasting for he is the life Wherefore O most dere brother cleane with strong faithe to these most swete and comfortable promyses of Christe youre Sauiour Beleue to obtayne whatsoeuer is promysed So may you be sure to be Gods sonne and heyre of his euerlasting kingdome neuer to perishe but to haue eternall lyfe Epa. I beleue to haue remission of all my synnes thorowe faithe in Christes bloud Lorde Iesu take my spirite O heauenly father I cōmend my spirit into thy hādes Ph. This faith deare brother maketh you the Sonne of God and heyre of his glorious kingdome yea it maketh you Christes brother and fellow heyr with him of euerlasting glory It purchaseth for you fauor at the hand of God and forgeuenes of al your sinnes It bringeth vnto you peace and quietnes of conscience It maketh a perfect reconciliation
thy blessed pleasure Lord encrese my faith Lorde helpe my vnbelief Lord remeÌ„ber not mine olde sinnes but haue mercy vpon me and that sone for I am come to great misery Healpe me O God my Sauiour for the glory of thy name O deliuer me be merciful vnto my sinnes for thy names sake Euse. God hath euer be meâ—â—full vnto you so will coÌ„tinue vnto thend doubt you not Ep. That is my only comfort And Lord I most humbly pray thee coÌ„firme y t whiche thou hast begon to worke in me and kepe me blamelesse against the comming of thy deare sonne But where is my louing neighbour Philemon I wold be glad to haue his counsell in a certaine matter Where is he Phile. Neighbour here at hand What is your pleasure Epa. I perceiue right well y t my sicknesse doth not discrease but encrease so y t I can not long continue in that state wherin I am now And I thinke â—erely y t the lord my God hath seÌ„t this sicknes vnto me as a messenger to afore warne me of my departure from this world y t whan he come he may not finde me vnprepared or vnready And I most hartely thanke him for it Therfore neighbor Philemon neighbors al I think it best euen out of hand to dispose my temporall possessions and to set an order in such worldly goodes as God hath lent me that after my departure there be no dissension nor strife for theÌ„ among suche as I most wishe to be linked together with perpetual amitie and continuall frendship It shall also I trust be a great quietnes vnto my mynd Phile. If you haue not already brother Epoporoditus disposed and set an order in your temporal things I wishe it to be done with all expedition For suche thinges ought to be considred when we be most perfect in health forasmuche as our life is vncertaine we know not howe sone death commeth Epa. I thought not that the tyme of my life had bene so short therâ—fore I deferred the matter But I se now that no man is certain of his life vntill to morowe therfore ought we all to watche to prouide that we be not found vnready wheÌ„ the Lord commeth The. Whan that godly king Ezechias was sicke God sent the Prophet Esaias vnto him and willed him to saye vnto hym on this wyse Thus saieth the Lord God Set thi house in an order for thou shalt die and not liue Here learne we y e good will of God whiche is that they whome the Lord hath enduâ—ed with the goodes of the worlde â—hould before their departure set a godly order and quiet stay in their â—emporal possessions Epaph. You â—ay truth neighbour Theophile â—herfore I pray you bring hether â—en inck paper withal expediâ—ion and let my will be written â—or I thank the Lord my God I 〈◊〉 aswell contented to leaue the goodes of y e world as euer I was to enioy them And in this behalf I haue to thank the lord my God that since I came to the vse of reason and had any worldly possessions at all I haue alwayes made them to serue me and I neuer serued them but at all times coulde be contented to depart from them whansoeuer the glory of god and the commoditie of my neighbour did require Christ. Than did you vse your goodes aright And you were not ritch in the world but in the Lorde of the noÌ„bre of those of whom it is written blessed are the poore in spirit for vnto theÌ„ belongeth the kingdome of heauen The Psalmograph saith If ritches do abound set not thy heart vpon them And the holy Apostlâ— commaundeth that they which vse the world should be as thougâ— they vsed it not For the fashioâ— of this world goeth away Saint Iohn also saieth Se that ye loue not the world nether the thinges that are in the worlde for all that is in the worlde as the lust of the fleshe and the luste of the eies and the pryde of life is not of the father but of the worlde And the worlde passeth away and the lust therof but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for euer Epa. God graunt al men to follow this doctrine O Lord how sick am I Where is the pen Incke and paper Euse. Here syr Epaph Wright neighbor Philemon I pray you Phile. What is your pleasure that I should wright Epaphrodi On this manner IEpaphroditus the vnprofitable seruaunt of God weke in body notw tstanding strong in mynde do willingly and with a fre hart render and geue againe into the handes of the Lorde my God my spirit which he of his fatherly goodnesse gaue vnto me whan he fashioned this my body in my Mothers wombe by this meanes making me a liuing creature nothing doubting but that this my Lord God for his mercies sake set forth in y e precious bloud of his derely beloued sonne Christ Iesu our alone sauiour and redemer will receiue my soul into his glory and place it in the company of the heauenly aungels and blessed sainctes And as concerning my body euen with a good will fre hart I geue it ouer commending it vnto the earth wherof it came nothing doubting but that according to y e article of our faith at the great day of the generall resurrection whan we shall all appeare before the iudgemeÌ„t seat of Christ I shal receiue it again by the mighty power of God wherwith he is able to subdue al thiÌ„gs vnto him selfe not a corruptible mortail weake and vile body as it is nowe but an vncorruptible immortall strong perfect and in all poyntes like vnto the glorious body of my Lorde and Sauioure Christ Iesu. Haue ye writteÌ„ this neighbour Philemon Phi. Yea forsothe Sir But what is your mind now coÌ„cerning your world â—y possessions Epaph. First as touching my wyfe with whome I â—oupled my self in the fear of God and refusing all other women I â—inked my selfe vnto her liuing w t her in the blessed state of honouraâ—le wedlocke by whome also thoâ—owe the blessing of God I haue â—ad certen children wherof part â—re gone before me vnto the lord and part yet remain a liue albeit I dout not but y e god after my departure according vnto his promis will be vnto her an husband yea a father a patrone defeÌ„der will not suffer her to lack if she go â—orth to liue in his feare to serue hym and diligently to call on his holy name yet forasmuch as God hath blessed me with worldly substance and she is mine own flesh and whosoeuer prouideth not for his hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidell I bequeth geue vnto her for tearme of her life this house wherein I nowe dwell with y e appurtenances and all the housholde stuffe contayned therein And after her departure I wil that my eldest sonne whom now I