Chryst Therfore must we wyth draw our selues frō al creatures praying and desyryng all things at gods hande onely thorow the name of Iesu How oughte a man to call vpō god thorowe Chryste What is to call vpon god in Chryste Wyth belefe that we doubt not but oure prayer is heard already To such a fayth and confydence are we occasioned in that God hath commaunded vs to pray and promysed that he wyl graciouslye heare vs knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you ▪ c. For what thynge oughte we to make our prayer vnto god For the vnderstandīg of his word for remissiō of sinnes for increace of fayth for loue euen towardes our enemyes for helpe pacience comforte and all spiritual giftes To pray for health and long lyfe The moderacion of praier for temporal thynges is not vnryghte so farre as we cōmitte and referre it vnto the holy wyl of god For we can not make it better then the faithful father that knoweth best of all And to pray for a long lyfe is oft tymes nothyng els then to desyer to be kept long in miserye Esai 38. Good Ezechyas yet prayed wyth teares that he myght lyue for a season Chryst the most perfect ensāple of al did pray Father if it be possible take thys bitter draught fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thyne bee done Lyke as he nowe prayed thus the seconde and third time moste earnestlye So ought we also without ceassynge to cal vnto god Some appoynte god afore hande what death he must suffer them to dye But they doe best of all that prescrybe vnto the lord theyr god neyther fashyon of death nor tyme neyther other circumstaunce but referre al vnto him who knoweth what is profitable and good better then we ourselues Moreouer we must praye for wife and childe for frende and enemy and for the whole congregacion of the Chrystians that god may graciouslye take thē all into hys own proteccion Vnto praier belōgeth it also cherfulli to geue god thankes for all bodelye and gostly benefites ¶ The fourme of prayer The .32 Chapter Praier to god the father O Almightie euerlastynge god mercyful father of heauē thou hast created me after thyne owne image and endewed me wyth exceadyng plentiful giftes Confessyon Yet not wythstandyng all thy benefites I haue many and sondry wayes contemned and transgressed thy commaundementes All my dayes are passed foorth with greuous synnes I feare and flye from thee as from a righteous iudge Althys what soeuer it be I freelye knowledge and confes and am sory for it frō the ground of my heart Desyre of grace But O heauenly father I cry and call for thy large and great mercy O enter not with me into iudgemente remember not the synnes of my youth O thynke vpon me accordyng to thi mercye for thy names sake and for thy goodnes which hath ben from euerlastyng Vouchesafe to graunt me thy mercy which thou according to the contentes of the gospel hast promised and opened thorow thy beloued sōne in such sort that whoso beleueth on him shal haue euerlastyng lyfe Now is my belefe in Iesu Christ euen in the only redemer of the whole worlde I vtterly refuse all other comforte helpe and assistaunce and my hope is onely thorowe Chryste to haue pardon of my sinnes eternal life Thi wordes are trewe be it vnto me accordīg to thy wordes O let me enioye y◠passion and death of thyne onely begottē sonne Take for my sīnes the satysfaccion and paymente of our lord Iesus Chryste accordīg to the tenour of my belefe Of thys my fayth thou shalt thy selfe O Lord be wytnesse and al thine elect My last wil also shall it be vpon thy mercy to dy in this fayth Though I now by occasiō of pain lacke of reasō or thorowe tēptaciō should happen or would fall awaye suffer me not yet O lorde to sticke fast in vnbelefe blasphemy but helpe myne vnbelefe strength and increace my fayth that synne death the deuil and hel dooe me no harme Thou art strōger and mightier thē thei that is onely my trust and confydence O lord the flesh is feble vnpacient laye not thou my weakenes to mi charge but burne smit prycke and plage as thou wylte thy selfe Pacience and lowlynes is the signe of a Chrystyan only Ibesech the graūt me pacience and lowelynesse of mynde Be thou the strength of my soule in this farre iournei which I haue now to go in an vnknowē lande Now shewe thy selfe vnto my poore soule so as it may fele that thou art my refuge my help proteccyon defence comforte castel my sure stony rocke my safegarde my treasure prosperyte health and wellfare I yelde my selfe wholy vnto thee with soule and body let me neuer bee confounded Helpe also Prayer for the enemy o heauēly father that accordyng vnto thy cōmaundement I may loue myne enemyes and pray for them that haue hurte me Math 5. c roma 12 b. c. And bryng to pas thorowe thy holy sprete that all thei whō I haue done harme vnto may also forgeue me to the cōmoditie and health of their owne soules For it reweth me and sory I am that at any time I haue broken Christian loue and charytie and begiled desceaued or offēded any man wyth euill ensample or with to fewe benefites I besech the O lord thorow Iesus Christ forgeue thou all them that euer haue hurt me in thought worde or dede Praier for eueri man To thy faythfulnes and proteccion O dearest father I commit all that concerneth me speciallye wyfe children frendes all such as thou hast put vnder my gouernaunce Comfort and helpe thou all those that ly in bandes and ar persecuted for thy wordes sake Haue mercy vpon al such as are in prison pouertie sickenes and heuines O bring thou the whole world to the knowledge of thi holy word that they may liue accordyng to thy godly wyl and thorow out all troubles to endure continue styll in the Christiā faith O Lorde Iesu Chryste Praier to god the sonne I besech the thorowe thine owne merites haue mercye vpon me Seinge I my selfe can not make satisfaccion or sufficient amēdes towards the father for my synnes I laye thē vpō the in hope that thou haste already taken them awaye For thou hast payed that we ought oure woundes hast thou healed O increace thou in me and other men fayth pacyence and consolacion what aduersitie or trouble soeuer we be in Thou lord Iesu in thy passion diddest pray Father if it be possible let thys cup passe fro me neuertheles not my wyll but thine be done and that is my praier also Vpō the crosse that dydst pray Father forgeue thē Euē so lord forgeue I al those that euer haue done any thing agaīst me Thou didst cry my god my god why hast thou forsakē me O lorde forsake not thou me then in my deadlye trouble Vpon the crosse thou
saidst into thī handes I commende my sprete Euen so now lord commende I my poore soule into thy handes O thou holy sprete Praier to god the holy gost Great is the anguish and distresse of my hert haue mercye vpon me for Iesus Christes sake I am afflicted so are many moe O vouchsafe thou to illuminate comfort strēgthē me and them vnto al goodnes cōuey thou and bryng vs out of all trouble and fayle vs not neither forsake vs for euermore Amen ¶ A fourme of prayse and thankes geuyng The .33 Chapter Thankes geuyng to god the father O Almightie eternal merciful god and father I laude and prayse the that thou hast created me a reasonable man and as a father haste preserued me to thys houre keping me from great daūgers euer sithens I was borne doing me more good then euer I was or am worthy Specyally I geue thee thankes for thy endles grace whiche thou shewest vnto me and all faythfull thorowe thy moste deare beloued sonne In that he for my synnes would be tempted so many wayes and suffer so vyle a death to the intente that I from hence forth myght be assured of faythfull assistaunce Magnified and blessed be thy name that thou sufferest me not to dye wythout knoweledge of the holy gospell I thanke thee also dearest father that thou visiting me wyth thys syckenes and daunger doest not forgette me For in the meane season also thou comfortest fortest and helpest and full graciously shalt thou bryng the matter to an ende Thankesgeuing to the sonne Honour prayse and thankes be vnto thee my most deare lord Iesu Christ for thy holy incarnacion for thy martirdom and bytter passyon wherby I am perfectly assured that thou art my redemer and Sauiour Vpon that onely set I my building thither warde standeth my hope there wil I be founde Rom. 6. b. rom 8. b. 2. Timo. 2. b Cherefully and gladli with thy helpe wil I depart hēce trustyng that as I am partaker of thi troubles so shall I also haue my part in thy euerlastyng glorye Namely that at the last daye thou shalt raise vp this my poore mortall body takyng my soule vnto thee immediatly at my departing hence Thankesgeuing to the holi goost O the holy sprete I rēder vn to the prayse and thākes for the true vnderstandyng belefe comfort pacience al giftes whiche thou graciously doest minister geue by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ That the praier is harde The .34 Chapter HEre vnto serue al psalmes of prayer and thankesgeuing Howbeit whatsoeuer cōcerneth prayer it is all cōprehended with few wordes in the holy pater noster if it be diligētly earnestly considered Notwithstādyng no Christian prayer can be done in vayne that it should not be faythfully heard God sayth Psal 91. He hath a desier vnto me and I wyl deliuer him Whan he calleth vpō me I shal heare hym yea I am with him in his trouble whereoute I wyll delyuer hym and bring him to honour He knoweth my name therfore wil I defende hym Wyth longe lyfe wyll I satisfye hym and shewe hym my saluaciō Yea the whole psalter is ful of such cōfortable promyses Luke 23. d. Ensample if thou pray with the murtherer vpō the crosse that Chryst wil remember thee in his kyngdome thou shalte also in thy heart he are the gracyous comfort thys day shalt thou be wyth me in paradyse Neuertheles whosoeuer is in trouble heuines or aduersitie ought earnestly to desyer the intercessions prayers of faythfull beleuers ¶ That the word of God oughte to bee practysed and vsed The .35 Chapter FArthermore he ought alwaye to haue gods word before his eyes and feruētly to exercise him selfe therin For wheras he faythfully calleth vnto god he dooeth it vpon hys worde and in the word of god he is taughte howe to behaue himselfe towardes al what soeuer commeth in his waye If a man now can not geue hymselfe true informacion out of the holye scripture whether it be cōcernīg synnes committed or other tēptacyons then ought he to aske counsayll of hys learned soule shepeheard or of some other mē of godly vnderstandyng The lord saith not for naught My shepe heare my voice and I know them Iohn 10. and they folowe me and I geue thē eternall lyfe and they shal neuer peryshe ¶ Amendement of lyfe necessarye The .36 Chapter THe trewe faith bryngeth wyth it naturally a stedfast purpose to liue from hence forth accordyng vnto all the cōmaundemēts of god Chryst lykewise exhorteth euery man rightly to exercise and well to vse the giftes of god Hereof bryngeth he in a parable A certayn man taking a iourney into a straunge countrye Math. 25. called his seruauntes and deliuered vnto thē his goodes And vnto on he gaue fiue talētes to another two and to the third one c. Vpon the same doth the lorde appointe the faythful seruaunt his reward and punysheth the slougish and euil seruaunt The righteousnes of faith cōprehēdeth the feare of god loue of thy neyghbour pacience all vertue Of thys feare Prou. 14. it is wrytten The feare of god is a foūtain of lyfe to auoyde the snares of death Neyghbourly loue doeth first and principalli require that we frendlye and vnfeynedlye for gods sake forgeue all them that euer haue offended vs and again to vndertake as much as lieth in vs to reconcyle al our enemyes Then dooeth charitie require to geue almes to comforte the heuy hearted and to practyse al works of mercy and loke who hath done the good in thi sicknes it is requisite that thou geue them thankes Among benefites this is not the lest whan one moueth and exhorteth another to kepe himselfe frō al filthines As for bodeli thīgs the sycke shoulde dyspatche thē wyth fewe woordes but such as concerne nourtour honesty the fear of god safegard in hym and the homage which is due vnto hym that ought to be done with more deliberacyon For loke what one speaketh at the poynt of death the same goeth deper to the hearte of such as heare it partly because it cannot be thought that a mā on hys death bed beyng in greatest trouble wyl vse ipocrisye or dissemble partly for that whan the soule begynneth to be discharged of the bodi it oft times sheweth some token of the fredome ioy wyth the which it shall euē now forthwith be perfectly endewed Ensample the deare worthy patriarkes in the olde testament before theyr departyng out of thys lyfe sent and called for theyr children and other folkes instructīg and exhortyng them to submitte themselues vnto the law of god and diligently to walke therein How faythfully dyd Mathathias at hys death 1 Mach. ◠speake to his noble sonnes comfortyng them out of gods worde agaynst all theyr enemyes Exhortacyon vnto pacyence The .37 Chapter FInally we can not doe better than wyth gods helpe beeyng pacient in all aduersitie and stedfast
neglected whan the body fayleth After thys meanynge dooeth holy Augustine earnestly threatē sayinge with this penaltye is a synner punished that whan he dieth he forgetteth hymselfe who in hys lyfe tyme thought not vpō God Therefore whyle a man is in his floures of health he ought in such sort to learne the comfortable sayinges of the gospel that in his trouble they may of themselues fall into hys mynde or if other men aduertise hym of thē he maye be the better aquaynted wyth them and haue them on his fyngers endes as them that he hath knowne exercised and vsed before Moreouer fayth wherby we ouercome death and hel hath her begynning increace and strēgth and is direct not only aboue but also agaynst al the naturall reasō of man that the infinite eternall god should frely of a very gracious fauour thorow his dear sōne take our part that are most greuous synners Therfore by tymes and in due season thorow the preachīg of the worde thorowe the prayer and sacrament should faith in vs be planted increaced practysed and made perfecte In the meane tyme as long as we lyue ought we to praye and beseche god of a gracious houre and blessed ende And whan the end draweth nye to put God in remembrance of the same prayer as wel as of his commaundemēt and promes in that he hath not only charged vs to pray but promised also that he wil graciouslie heare vs. Oh moste gracious god geue vs grace to doe thys wyth vnfayned heartes to put it in practise Dailie ought we to haue remorce of conscience where as we haue failed to repent and be sorye to craue of God forgeuenes and to take vpon vs immediatlye to amende al such thynges as are amisse For in the sight of god it is a thousande tymes more acceptable to ceasse from euil by tyme in due seasō afore trouble come thē that presente daunger and feare should force vs to amendmente He that is fallen into a depe foggy wel and sticketh fast in it wil he not strayght way call vnto euery mā to helpe hym out one way or other Wyll he not make a soremone howsoeuer men hast to delyuer hym Out of doubt he that goeth aboue with synne and vice hangeth by a bare weake threade so to saye aboue the pit of hell yea he is now in hel alreadi forasmuch as he turneth not from sīne to the grace of god Then muste it nedes bee an horrible deuelysh and obstinate blindnesse whan one sticketh faste in suche a state of lyfe as is altogether cursed and yet wyl appoint a day a greate whyle hence for to come and therein thynke to begynne to geue the deuyll hys leaue whē he knoweth not himselfe whether he shall lyue tyll that daye and whether he shall then haue a mynde to conuerte For to haue a wyll vnto true repentaunce is a free gyfte of god whyche oughte of hym daylye to bee desyred that the commen prouerbe bee not verified in vs vicious lyfe vnhappye death he that wil lye wel and softe muste make hys bed thereafter Yet for al thys it is not my mynd to shut vp the grace of god into a narow strayte or to byd any manne dispaire Whā an euil disposed mā that feareth not god lyeth vpon hys death bed beyng afrayed of hel and damnacyon he may happen to desyer of god longer lyfe for thys intente that he mai afterwarde amende beecome a better man and more directed to dye But let not such vayn thoughtes trouble thee For though thou shouldest lyue yet an hundreth yeares longer thou mighteste thorowe thyne own perfectnesse deserue nothyng towardes god But bee thou of thys assured wythout all doubt that there can no true repentaunt come to late Turne thee yet euen thys present daye vnto god be hartely and vnfaynedlye sory for thy synnes be of a good mynd and whole purpose that if god help thee vp agayne thou wyle amende al thyngs Neuertheles comforte thy selfe by that onelye meane whyche God hath prescrybed namely the Lorde Iesus So shalte thou bee sure with the murthurer vpon the crosse to haue gracyous fauoure for euer ¶ The seconde booke of death ¶ Howe the sicke oughte to be spoken vnto yf nede shall require The .1 Chapter HEtherto haue we declared how one oughte to vse hymselfe in the daungers of body and lyfe Now foloweth how we shuld behaue our selfes towards them that be in lyke case Hereof hath dauid sung these wordes in the .40 Psalme blessed is he that considereth or thynketh vpon the poore for in the tyme of trouble the Lorde shal delyuer him The Lord shall preserue him and saue hys lyfe he shall make hym prosper vpon earth and shal not delyuer hym into the wyll of hys enemyes Whan he hymselfe lyeth sycke vpon hys bedde the Lord shall refreshe hym Yea thou lord makest hys bed in al his sicknes Item he that is iudge of vs all shall at the latter daye pronounce thys sentence come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdom that hath been prepared for you from the beginning of the world For I was sick ye visited me O what a wicked vnbelef is thys that we ar more afraid at a litle aduersite vncertaine daūger then encouraged by suche a Godly sure and faythfull promes Therfore among the greateste workes of mercy thys is rekened to visite the sicke to haue compassion on them to geue them good counsayll and to comforte them Which thyng must be done with reason and discrecyon to the intente that neyther to litle nor to muche be medled withall To litle were it to cause the sicke styll to beleue that he shall shortlye come vp agayne and recouer For such fonde hope haue men already of theyr owne nature and thereby sometime they ouer see thēselues Agayne it were to muche to deale roughly wyth one that is weake of fayth and sodenlye to feare hym wyth death that were euen as much as to breake the brused rede Esay 42. Math. 12. and vtterlye to quenche the smokyng flax contrary to the ensample of Chryst our Lorde A whole instruccyon oughte to be geuē vnto such sicke persōs as haue nede therof to make thē strong and wiling vnto the crosse and death And so should they also be put in mynde what deathe is whence it came and wherfore what it doeth thorowe the grace of god for Christs sake bi whose sprete and power the most horrible death of all is ouercome Her of is spoken sufficīentlye in the Chapters goyng before Out of the whych foundaciō it maye thus be spoken vnto the sycke thou hast the almighty god thy deare father Iesus Christe thyne intercessour and sauioure who hath taken all thy cause in hande let hym alone wythall he wyll not suffer the to perysh but geue thee hys holy sprete which shall conducte thee into eternall ioye and saluacion Onely direct thou thy selfe euen nowe at thys presente and prepare thee to
of god The power in that the almighty is able many hundreth wayes faythfully to ease thee of thy sorowe The grace in that he is willyng ready for the worthynes of hys sonne to make the ioyfull agayne here and in the world to come so as is moste for thy profit and welth Adā Eue had vnspeakable sorowe whan their obediēt and rightuous sōne Abel was murthured God than did wel put them in remembrāce of their synne But they beeyng also myndfull of the promes of the blessed sede were therby erected and comforted agayne howbeit in such an exceadyng heuynes it was very hard to withstand desperacion and to ouercome al mischaunce Therfore let vs cōsider that thoughe we Chrystians bee not altogether called to the pleasures of thys tyme but stoutli to stryue and valeauntly to fyghte agaynst them yet shal not Christ leaue vs comfortlesse but accordyng to his promes he shal faithfully be with vs vntill the ende of the world ¶ Vve must furnishe oure selues wyth praier and pacience The .6 Chapter TO the intent that god may assiste vs with his mighte grace we must ernestly pray vnto him that with hys holy sprete thorowe hys godly worde he wyll comforte vs that we may render thākes vnto hym whan he hath delyuered our frendes from the daylye battayll of the soule agaynst the fleshe the deuill and the worlde and from all discommodities of thys vayle of miserye For lyke as one that hath fared well at a dynner doth thāke hys hoost thoughe the hoste let hym departe agayne yea that geste reioyseth afterwarde to remember it euen so forasmuch as god for a season hath lente vs wyfe chylde and frendes whyche is more then he oughte vs though he suffer them to departe we ought neuerthelesse to geue him most hygh thankes Specyally there is requyred a willing and stoute mind wherof holy S. Paul hath writtē this very comfortably I woulde not brethren 2 Thessa 4. that ye should be ignorant concernyng them whyche ar fallen a slepe that ye sorow not as other do which haue no hope For if we beleue that Iesus died and rose agayne euen so them also whych slepe by Iesus wyll god bryng agayne wyth hym By these wordes may we perceaue that there bee two maner of mourners for the deade The heathen and vnbeleuers mourne wythout hope of the resurrecciō theyr opinion is that seing their nere frendes are dead there is no more of them but that they haue vtterly lost them for euer Thys heathnyshe sorowe wyll not S. Paul haue of Christians The Christians mourne also but wyth a lyuyng hope of the ioyfull resurreccyon For lyke as god the father lefte not Chryste the lord in death but raysed him vp agayne and placed hym in eternall life Euē so vs that beleue shall not he leaue in death but bryng vs oute into euerlastynge lyfe For thys cause doth the Apostle speake of the dead as of those that slepe which rest from all trauayll and labour that they may ryse agayne in better case Lyke as the floures wyth all theyr vertue smell and bewty lyeth al the winter in the roote slepyng and resting tyll they be awaked wyth the pleasaunt tyme of may whan they come foorthe wyth al their bewty smel vertue Euen so oughte not we to thynke that our frendes whyche be departed are in eny combrāce or sorowe but ther strength and vertue beyng drawen in lyueth in god and wyth god They lye rest tyll the last daye whan they shall awake agayne fayre bewtiful and glorious in soule bodi who wyll not nowe reioyce at thys comforte of Paul and set asyde all vnprofitable sorowe for thys exceadyng ioyes sake Faith that is confessed wyth the mouth must not be destroyed with a contrary dede Now is our belefe sette thus I beleue forgeuenes of synnes the resurrecciō of the body and the life euerlastīg Therefore remayneth there nothyng behynde for the whych the soule of the faythfull shoulde be tormented in the world to come or shut out from euerlasting ioy In the law .13.9.2 vbicūque it is noted vnsemely heuynes for the dead spryngeth out of dispaire of the resurreccyon for to come rather of fayntnes of minde then of mercy or godlynesse ¶ Ensamples of pacience in lyke case The .7 Chapter IF the wyse famous heathen could be numbred which toke the death of their frendes and chyldren in good parte and wyth a stoute stomack should it not be compted a shame vnto vs Chrysten menne that declare lesse constancye in that behalfe Pericles the captayne of the Athenians who for hys wysedome and vertue was called Olympius one of heauen whā he had lost hys two sonnes Paralius and Zantippus wtin the space of foure dayes was no more sorye nor vnquieted in the same sodayne chaunce but that on that day folowynge he came clothed in whyte before the whole multitude and consulted of the presēt warres so discretely and manfully that euery man wōdred at him and honoured hym Xenophō a disciple of Socrates whan he vnderstode that his only sonne Grillus had foughtē valiauntlye and vpon the same was slayne of the enemyes he sayd vnto those that brought him the message I made my prayer vnto the gods not that they should geue me an immortall sonne or that he myght be a long lyuer for I knew not whether that were profitable for hym but that of my sonne they woulde make a good man and a louer of hys own natyue country whyche prayer as I perceyue they haue graunted and therefore I thanke them Yf thou haddest rather heare ensamples of the romaynes thē cōsider Paulus Emilius who ouercame the Macedonians and triumphed gloriously ouer thē Whan he within seuen dayes had lost both hys sonnes he was not therefore brokē mynded but as he went forth to the multitud without both his sonnes which afore tyme alwaye led hym and stayed hym the one on the right hande the other on the lefte the people of Rome hauyng pitie on the olde honourable man began to lament and wepe But he being nothyng moued stode there and sayed I besought the godes if our commēwealth for the great prosperitie therof haue any euill wyll among those whiche bee in heauen that I my self and not the whole multitude myght recompence and beare it And seyng it is so I geue god great thankes M. Fabius Maximus also not wythout iust cause belongeth vnto the nomber of deare worthye men Whan he vpon a tyme had to doe wyth the office of the mayster of woorkes there came vnto hym a message first that his house was fallen downe and had alto brused hys wyfe a vertuous honourable woman secondly slain hys mother who in waighty affayres had oft geuen hym good counsayll which he folowed to the greate cōmoditie of the commen wealth Thirdly it was told him thesame day that hys yong sōne of whō he had an expectacyon and hope of al goodnes was dead in Vmbria The
the pestyleÌ„ce wyth flying awaye leauyng his own wyfe frendes and neyghbours he declareth vnperfectnes of faith and standeth not wyth Chrystian charitie where we owe vnto others the same that we in like case would gladly haue at theyr handes Graunt that the pestylence is such an infectuous sickenesse as one taketh of another What thaÌ„ If one stande in battayle raye to fyghte for hys country must not he also looke for a gonne stonne to be sente hym into hys bosome to carye home doeth it therefore beseme hym to breake the araye and to fly Lyke as there the enemyes of the bodye are at hande So here doe the gostlye aduersaryes besege the soule of hym that is a dying where one Chrystyan shoulde helpe another wyth worthy talke Therfore is that a folish vnaduised counsayll whan we wyth neglectynge of oure owne members wil flie from the wrath of god thynkyng thorowe synne to escape the punyshmeÌ„t of synne Experyence also doth shew that such folkes doe ofte perysh aswel as other yea soner then they that fled not at al. But phisicke is permytted of god as in the tyme of pestylence wyth fyers and perfumes to make the ayer more wholsome from poysoÌ„ and to receaue somewhat into the bodye for the consumyng of euil humours and to hinder the infeccion IteÌ„ whan one is taken with a dysease to be let bloud to sweate to folow the phisicians instruccioÌ„ such thiÌ„ges are in no wyse to be repreheÌ„ded So that whether it turne to deathe or lyfe the hearte onely and hope hange vpon God The physicion shoulde neyther bee despysed nor worshypped For to thynke scorn to vse medecyne in syckenesse what were that els but euen to tempt god ¶ That god is able and wyll helpe for Chrystes sake The .20 Chapter SPecially whaÌ„ death is at haÌ„d a man fyndeth no helpe in any creature of heauen and earth whereby he might fortunatly suppresse the exceading greate feare of death but only in god the father in Christe hys sonne and in the holy sprete of them both It is god that knoweth the parels of thy death and can medle wythall Thorowe hys power shalt thou get thorow and drinke the bitter draught Though we dyyet liueth god before vs with vs after vs and is able to preserue vs for euer Chryst sayeth wepe not the damosel is not dead but slepeth Faythles reason vnderstandeth not the mistery of God and laugheth But Chryst the true god hath both the woorde worke together saieth no more but arise and the soule came again to the bodye she arose Oute of thys and suche lyke ensamples oughtest thou faynte hearted man to vnderstande the infinite power of god who can receaue thi soule also and preserue it Not only is god able but wil also helpe graciousli Whi should not he lay vpon thee some greate thyng as death is seyng he addeth so greate aduauntage helpe and streÌ„gth therto Math. 10. d. Luke 12. a. Psal 34. Psal 55. c. 1. Pet. 5. a to proue what hys grace and power maye doe For he hath nombred all the heares of our head that is he alwai hath hys eies vpon vs and careth euer for vs. Yea that he loueth vs more theÌ„ we loue oure selues and maketh better prouision for vs then we can wysh he hath openly and euidently testified in his own deare sonne Marke 16. c. Luke 22. c. whoÌ„ he caused to take our miserable nature vpon hym and therein for the synnes of all the world to suffer to dye to ryse agayne to ascende vp to heauen Acre 7. â— roma 8. â— Eph. 1 â–ª c. 4. Philip. 2. a Col. 3. a 1. Pet. 3. c Heb. 1. a 2 â— 10 b 12 a Psal 110 a where he sytteth at the right haÌ„d of god the father almyghtye Among the whych articles euerye one doth helpe and comfort such as are a dying The naturall sonne of god him selfe from heauen became a mortall man The humanâ—â—tie of Chryâ—â— to the intent that mans mortal nature thorowe the vnityng thereof with the immortall nature of the Godheade in hys owne onely person myght be exalted to an immortall lyfe He The passion of Chryst hauyng a natural feare of death said my soule is heuy eueÌ„ vnto the death He prayed also father if it be possible take thys cup from me But thys feare and terrour dyd he ouercome Math 26 â— Marke 14 â— Io 12 c Luke 22 â— for he addeth thereto and sayeth father not my wyll but thyne be fulfylled Thorowe thys victorye of Chryst maye al Chrystyans also ouercome such terrour and feare as they be in Item though the Iewes blaspheme neuer so muche and saye lette hym come downe from the crosse Math 27 Marke 14 d Luke 22 c he hath helped other lette hym nowe helpe hymselfe as though they woulde saye There there seyft the death like a wretche must thou dye and no man is able to helpe thee Yet dyd the lorde Iesus holde hys peace thereto as if he heard and saw them not He made no aunswere agayne but onely regarded the good wil and pleasure of his father Therfore though we haue an horrible temptacion of death as thoughe there were neyther comforte nor help for vs ani more yet in Christ and with Chryst we may endure all and wayte styll vpon the gracious good wyll of god He dyd not onely suffer the horrour and temptacyon of deathe but death it selfe yea the moste horryble death wherby he tooke from vs the death eternall and some deale mollified and swaged our temporall death yea besides thys he made it profytable and wholsome So that death 2 Cor 5 â— Phil 1 c roma 7 c Hebru 2 which of it selfe shoulde els be a beginning of euerlastyng sorowe is become an intraunce into eternall saluacyoÌ„ Accordyng to this meanyng are the wordes of Paul whaÌ„ he sayth that Chryst by the grace of god tasted death for all men Item he became partaker offlessh and bloud to put down thorowe death hym that had the lordshyp ouer death that is to say the deuyll and that he myghte delyuer them whyche thorowe feare of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage Chrystes resurreccyon Moreouer that Chryst is the lyuing immortall ymage against death yea the very power of our resurreccyon and of lyfe euerlastyng he hymselfe hath testifyed wyth hys owne ioyefull and victoryous resurreccion also with that that in hys resurreccyon many other sayntes that were dead rose from death agayne Math 27 Agayne howe full is it of comforte and pure treasure that S. Paul ioyneth our resurreccioÌ„ vnseparably 1 Cor 15 to the resurreccyon of Iesus Christ Lykewyse doth S. Paul comforte hys disciple Timothy with the resurreccion and sayeth 2 Tim 2 â—om 6 b 8 b If we dye wyth Chryst we shall lyue wyth hym if we be pacyent we shal also reigne with hym Chrystes ascensyon No lesse must the frute of the
to say eternall damnacyon God setteth to his owne helpyng hande in suche wyse and at such time as is beste of all The .22 Chapter GOd now thorowe Chryst dooeth not onely promes most graciously hys comfort and helpe but faythfully perfourmeth he thesame in due season so farre after suche sorte as is expediente The verye ryghte tyme vndoutedly doth not he omitte Death in dede is a narowe way but god shorteneth it The bitternesse of death passeth all the paynes that we haue felte vpon earth but it endureth not longe Death must make quyâ—â—â— spede wyth vs as Ezechyas the kyng of Iuda sayeth Esaye 38 he shall cut of my lyfe as a weeber doth his webbe And whan the payne is greatest of all then is it nere the ende Hereunto may be applyed that Chryste sayde it is but a modicum a veri litle while Iohn 11 Though it were so that the troubles of death dyd long endure Yet towardes the eternitie that foloweth after is the same scace as one pointe or prycke in comparison of a whole Circle In the meane season God can more comforte and helpe theÌ„ the most horrible death of all is able to disturbe or greue Sometyme taketh he froÌ„ vs the greuous enemy or mortal sickenes so deliuereth vs out of the parelles of deathe Els geueth he some ease or refreshyng outwardely or yf the trouble gooe on styll he sendeth hys swete gracious comforte inwardely so as the pacyeÌ„t thorowe then or kyng of the holy gost doth fele a taste a proufe and begynnynge of the heauenly ioye by meanes whereof he is able wyllyngly to forsake all that earthy is and to endure al maner of payne and smerte vntyll the ende â—â—mâ— 8 The sprete of god certifieth our sprete that we are the children of god If we be chyldren we are al so heyres the heyres I meane of God and heyres annexed wyth Chryste if so bee that we suffer wyth hym that we maye also be gloryfyed wyth hym God commaundeth his Aungels that they wyth hym doe loke vnto thee O man whan thou dyest to take hede vnto thy soule to keepe it to receaue it whan it shall depart out of the body Wytnes thys is â–ª the aungell of the Lorde pitcheth rouÌ„d about them that feare him Psal 34 and delyuereth theÌ„ And Psal 9â— â–ª he hath geuen hys aungels charge concernyng thee that they kepe thee in all thy wayes and beare thee in theyr handes that thou hurte not thy fote agaynste a stone The Aungels Hebru â— whiche are many wythout noÌ„ber be ministring spretes sente to dooe seruyce for theyr sakes whych shal be heires of saluacyon Therfore a Christian at his laste ende muste bee throughlye assured that in hys death he is not alone but that very many eies loke vnto him First the eies of god the father himself and of hys sonne Iesus Chryste then the worthye aungels and all Chrystyans vpon earth Then accordyng to the coÌ„tentes of the sacrament of baptyme and of the supper of the lord al Christians as a whole body to a meÌ„ber thereof resort vnto him that is a dying by hauing compassioÌ„ and prayer to helpe hym by that at hys death he maye ouer come death synne and hell ¶ Examples of Goddes helpe The .23 Chapter IN the tyme of the Prophetes and apostles God raised certayne from death to the inteÌ„te that oure weake feable nature myght haue the more helpe to beleue the resurreccion eternal lyfe For the dead could not haue been raysed if death dyd bryng man vtterly to naught Abraham fell sicke Gene 25 and died in a good age whan he was olde and had liued inoughe and was put vnto hys people that is hys soule came to the soules of the other saynctes which died afore So is it also of Isaac Gene 3â— Word was brought to kiÌ„g Ezechias that he should lyue no loÌ„ger But after he had made his earneste prayer vnto God there were added fiftene yeares vnto lyfe Whan Lazarus dyed Luke 16 hys soule was caryed of the aungels into Abrahams bosome The murtherer vpon the crosse hearde in hys extreme trouble that Chryst sayed vnto hym thys daye shalte thou be wyth me in paradyse Luke 23 Dayly experyence testifieth that god forsaketh not hys own Therfore vndoubtedlye he that hath begonne hys kyngdome in vs shall graciously perfourme and finishe it ¶ That it is necessarye to prepare for thys iourneye The .24 Chapter IF we could fynde in our hertâ— gladlye for to heare howe vnhurtefull yea wholsome and vincible death is become thorow Chryst we would not be idell and lynger styll tyll the tyme came that we must nedes dye A good housholder maketh prouision for hymselfe and hys familye and bieth afore hande fewel and victualles and such thynges as he hath nede of for a whole yeare or for a moneth c. accordyng as he is able Muche more oughte a Christian to prouyde that whyche concerneth not onely one moneth or one yere but an eternitye that hath no ende Lyke as faythfull seruauntes wayte for theyr master so ought we to loke for the commyng of Chryst whaÌ„ he shall call vs out of thys tyme. Luke â—â— If the housholder knewe what houre the thefe woulde come he woulde watch and not suffer his house to be broken vp math 24. Therfore be ye also ready for in the houre that ye thynke not wyll the soÌ„ne of man come Whoso hath perfecte knoweledge of death as it is hetherto descrybed and set forth he in makyng prouision afore hande hath fyrste thys aduauntage that it is good fyghtynge wyth a knowne enemye Contrary wyse on the other syde what shall an vnmete warryour doe that knoweth not the nature subtiltie weapons and polycy of the enemye Prouisyon concernyng temporall goodes children and frendes which must bee lefte behynde The .25 Chapter AGayne concernyng temporall goodes Let the ryche who hath wyfe and children or other heyres make prouision for them in good ordâ—â— vnder wrytyng accordyng as iâ— euery place the custome is But iâ— honour and auctoritie substauÌ„câ— or goodes go to nere thi stomack then consyder that they be noâ— true but vncertayne transitoryâ— and vayne goods whyche brynâ— more vnquietnesse then rest Coâ—syder also that many moe rychâ— myghtye Prynces kynges anâ— Lordes muste bee spoyled of 〈◊〉 theyr glorye and bee faine to contente themselues with a shorte narrowe place of the graue Thoughe we here lose all yet dooe we scace lose one farthynge And in the other lyfe we haue not kyngedomes nor empires but GOD hymselfe and euerlastynge goodes In comparison whereof all minstrelsye pastyme pompe myrthe and chere vpon earthe is scace to bee estemed as castynge counters towardes the fyneste coynes of golde Therefore oughte we to learne specyallye in syckenes to geue all temporall goodes theyr leaue and to byd them fare wel And if any manne wyll further more disquyete and trouble vs in tellynge vs styll of
in al temptacions most gently and mekely to geue ouer oure wils into the wil of god I spake not of such a pacience valeauÌ„tnes as vtterly to fele no more terrour of death For that is a verye blockishe vnsensiblenes of wylde madde barbarous people but al suche feblenes as is felte must a ChristeÌ„ man ouercome and with faythful confidence vpon the grace of god cherefully steppe foorthe before the eyes of death In the passion and death of Chryst we haue a perfecte ensample not onli of pacience but also of eueri other thyng that hitherto is written concerning preparacion vnto death 1. Cor. 1. Colossi 2. For he is geueÌ„ vnto vs of god not only to be oure redempcyon but also to be vnto vs wysedom wherby we must learne al that is necessary for our health The seuen words that the lord spake vpon the crosse are specyally to be pondered weied and consydered The first father forgeue theÌ„ for they wote not what they doe The seconde woman loe there is thy sonne The thyrde thys daye shalte thou be wyth me in paradyse The fourth my god my God why hast thou forsaken me The fift I am a thirst The sixt It is fynished The seuenth Father into thy handes I commende my sprete Thorowe the knowledge of Iesus Chryst Ensamples of saynctes dyd all holye fathers and seruauntes of god in the olde and new testament geue ouer theÌ„selues wyllyngly vnto death the waye of al fleshe Luke 2. Holy Simeon sayth lord now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace accordyng to thy word For mine eyes haue seen thy saluacyon whyche thou haste prepared beefore the face of al people c. Seeyinge than that euerye faythfull Christian A lesson to learne to dye dooeth no lesse see Chryst with the eyes of his heart he ought with prayse and thankes to saye forasmuche as I am assured and doe constaÌ„tly beleue that I am redemed and deliuered by Iesus Chryste and not destroyed but onelye chaunged thorowe the death of the body I am ryght wyllyng and wel contente to departe hence and to dye whan soeuer nowe it shall please the lord my god The murtherer vpon the crosse dyd wyllingly suffer the death that he had deserued and so he obteyned the euerlastyng tryumphe of a Martyr Actes 7. Holy Steuen was content to suffer the fearce crueltye of the enemyes for in hys laste trouble he kneled downe and cryed wyth a loude voyce Lord Iesu receaue my sprete lord lay not this sinne to their charge Philip. 1 Paul the chosen vessel of god speaketh thus very comfortably My desyer is to bee loosed to departe hence out of misery and to be wyth Chryst whyche thynge is best of all for Chryst is to me lyfe and death is to me aduauntage These and such noble ensamples of other holi martirs should by reason prouoke vs feble sluggishe Christians to bee the more hardy and stoute and to thynke thus well goe to Thou haste as yet suffered no great thyng for the lord Christes sake therfore now eueÌ„ as a lambe geue ouer thy self cherefullye vnto death for hys names sake Thou haste daylye made thy prayer Prayer requireth pacieÌ„ce as Chryste hath taughte thee that god wyll take thee oute of thys wycked worlde into hys kyngedome Mathe. 6. and that his wyll be done Now if he wyll gracyously conuey thee into his kingdom thou oughtest froÌ„ the botome of thy heart to reioyse and as hys owne chylde willinglye to obeye them Forasmuch as the famous heathen man Socrates being before the seate of iudgement where the mater touched his body and life desyred no aduocate neyther submitted hymselfe to the Iudges but valeauntly disputed beefore them and proued that there is no euil in death It should sound very euil If we which oute of the infallible worde of God are instructed coÌ„cernyng a better lif shoulde forsake thys lyfe of misery with les pacieÌ„ce and with more vnquietnes of mind theÌ„ dyd the heathen maÌ„ The original and fruyte of pacyence The .38 Chapter TO the inteÌ„t that the feblenes of our nature which quaketh at death as at a thyng terrible may shew ChristiaÌ„ pacieÌ„ce we must cleaue vnto Iesus Chryste wyth true fayth which shal warme our hartes to haue a loue and desyre after the heauenly glori and euerlastyng saluacion Yea rather to lose an hundreth bodies if it wer possible then to bee destitute of the holy gospell wherby we are assured of deliuerauÌ„ce from siÌ„ne deuil hel by meanes of the bloud shedding of Iesus Chryste VnpacieÌ„t folkes grudge against god pouryng out al vnthankefulnes for that they wer not created immortal and so imagen thei in theÌ„selues a terrible cruell god Gene. 13. b roman 4. Galathi 3. a. Gene. 12. c 10. a. .26 a. b Yea al maner of vices grow oute of impaciency Abraham who other wyse is set forth for an ensaÌ„ple of fayth and ryghteousnesse fearyng death to sore synned greuously denying Sara to be hys wyfe Note thys wel What ChristeÌ„ hart can read this withoute â—eares In these later dayes the more pitie god bee mercyful vnto vs it is become a commen thynge for feare of death to cary the true belefe only in hart secret outwardely to deny the holi gospel with mouth behauour gesture to serue Antichrist ¶ That a man whyle he is yet in health oughte to prepare hymselfe afore hande The .39 Chapter THis preparacion ought no man to lynger or dyffer tyll another tyme thoughe he beeÌ„ neuer so whole and sounde but euery one forthwyth and dayly to begynne to make hymself for death to the intente that at all houres he maye be founde ready Lyke as a stoute and valeaunte souldier whan he muste bee vp and fyght wyth the enemyes ouerslepeth not hym selfe but kepeth hys standyng and hath his weapons and harnes alreadye vpon hym so muche more oughte we ChristiaÌ„s at al tymes to wait vpon our heaueÌ„ly captayne whaÌ„ he bloweth the trompe that we mai be readi to pas forth with him Let your loynes be girded about and your lyghtes brennyng Luke 12. and ye your selues lyke vnto me that wayte for theyr master whan he wyll returne from the weddyng that assone as he commeth and knocketh they may opeÌ„ vnto him immediatly Happy are those seruauntes whom the lord whaÌ„ he commeth shal fynde wakinge Wyth thys similitude doethe Chryst exhorte euery man that at all tymes we prepare our selues agaynst his comminge whan he knocketh thorowe sycknes and other dauÌ„gers whan he calleth vs out of thys lyfe and whan he shal come agayne out of hys heaueÌ„ly palace to iudge the lyuiÌ„g and the dead The ryghte preparacyon is true faith feruent loue and charitie the cleare shyne of al vertues and specially a gentle wyllynge mynde to open vnto the lord to let hym in and with him to passe forth into hys royal and matrimonial palace of the euerlastyng ioifull kyngdome