mei Iesu Christi obijcio inter me iudiciuÌ„ tuum aliter tecum non contendam Et si tibi dixerit Deus quia peccator es dic Domine mortem Domini mei Iesu Christi pono inter te peccata mea si dixerit tibi quod meruisti damnationem dic Domine mortem Domini mei Iesu Christi obtendo inter te mala merita mea Ipsumque dignissimae passionis meritum offero pro merito quod ego debuissem habere heu hon habeo Si dixerit deus quod tibi est iratus die Domine mortem Domini mei Iesu Christi pono inter me iram tuam Deinde dicat ter In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum et si id ipsum non potest loqui dicat conuentus vel astantes In manus tuas domine commendamus spiritum eius Et securus moritur nec videbit mortem in eternum Et in alio vetusto codice SEquntur signa sex quibus homo potest confidere de salute 1 Si credit ea quae sunt Christianae fidei quantum ad omnia ab Ecclesia determinata 2 Si gaudet laetetur quod in fide Christi morietur 3 Si cognoscat se grauiter Deum offendisse 4 Si dolet se tam grauiter Deum offendisse 5 Si proponit a peccatis abstinere si vixerit 6 Si credit sperat venire ad saluteÌ„ aeternam non proprijs meritis sed Iesu Christi Et dicit Anselmus quod hae sex questiones proponi debent homini costituto in mortis articulo addit Deinde dicatur infirmo si Sathan tibi obijciat aliquid opponas merita Christi inter te ipsuÌ„ his peractis sine dubio saluabitur Ista consolatio preparatio ad mortem in vetustis codicibus ascribitur Anselmo qui vixit ante annos 500 in ipsa adulta fere aetate Papismi Si vero dubitaret quis quomodo patres nostri in hisce posterioribus multoque peioribus temporibus salutem aeternaÌ„ possent adipisci grassante Papismo vigente potestate tenebrarum Respondeo eandem fere preparationem intterrogationes fuisse in vsu aestimatione In densissimis Papismi tenebris pessimo nimirum illo tempore Concilij Constantiensis ante annos nimirum 200. sic enim reperio scriptum in alio vetusto codice multis abhinc annis descripto Omnis Christianus siue secularis fiue regularis modo subsequenti de sua salute inquirendus et informandus est 1 CRedis omnes principales articulos fidei insuper toti sacrae Scripturae per omnia secundum sanctorum Catholicorum orthodoxorum sanctae Ecclesiae doctorum expositionem detestatis omnes hereses errores atque superstitiones ab Ecclesia reprobatas ac laetaris insuper quod in fide Christi ac vnitate matris Eccelsiae ac obedientia morieris 2 Cognoscis te Creatorem tuum saepe multipliciter atque grauiter offendisse 3 Doles ex toto corde de omnibus peccatis contra Dei maiestatem amorem benignitatem de malis commissis bonis omissis gratias neglectis non solum timore mortis conturbatus vel paenae cuiuscuÌ„que sed magis ex amore Dei 4 Petis frater omnibus istis veniam a Iesu Christo optans per illum cor tuum illuminari ad cognitionem obliquorum vt de illis valeas specialiter paenitere 5 Proponis te vereaciter velle emeÌ„dare si supervixeris et nunquaÌ„ plus mortaliter peccare scienter sed potius omnia quanticunque chara dimittere imo etiam vitam carnalem perdere antequam Deum plus velles offendere 6 Rogas insuper Deum vt det tibi gratiam hoc propositum continuandi non recidiuandi 7 Indulges ex toto corde omnibus qui vnquam aliquid nocumentum verbo vel facto tibi intulerunt vel aliquo modo offenderunt ob amorem venerationem Domini tui Iesu Christi a quo tu veniam speras Petis etiam fideliter indulgeri remitti tibi ab ijs quos tu offendisti quouis modo 8 Vis ablata restitui integraliter in quantuÌ„ teneris iuxta tuarum facultatum valorem etiam vsque ad omnium bonorum tuorum câ—ssionem inclusiue vbi alias satisfactio fieri non valeret 9 Credis quod parte mortuus sit Christus quod aliter saluari non potes nisi per meritum passionis Domini nostri Iesu Christi agis etiam de hoc Deo gratias ex corde quantum valeas Quicunque autem ad praedictas interrogationes ex conscientia bona fide non ficta vere poterit affirmatiue respondere satis euidens argumentum salutis habet si sic decesserit quod de numero saluandorum erit QVestions to bee propounded to sicke persons whilst they haue the vse of reason and power to speake to the end that if any be not so well disposed to dye he may bee better informed and prepared And the questions be these according to Anselme the reuerend Bishop 1 Let him be asked thus Brother dost thou reioyce that thou shalt dye in the faith of Christ Ans I do 2 Brother dost thou sorrow and grieue for that thou hast not liued so well as thou oughtest The answere I do Brother hast thou a hearty purpose to liue better if God giue thee time to liue Ans I haue Brother dost thou beleeue that thou cannot be saued but by the death of Christ Ans I do Dost thou beleeue that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God dyed for thee Ans I do Dost thou giue thankes to God therefore from thy whole heart Ans I do Well then good brother whilst thy soule is yet in thy body giue him hearty thankes and settle all thy assurance vpon his death alone haue no confidence in any thing else trust thy selfe wholly to his passion couer thy selfe wholly with it fasten thy whole selfe on his crosse cast thy whole selfe into this sea And if thy Lord God say hee will iudge thee answere thou Lord I obiect the death of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt me thy iudgement otherwise I will not contend with thee And if God say to thee thou art a sinner answer Lord it is so but I set the death of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thee my sinnes If hee say that thou hast deserued damnation answer It is true Lord but I place the death and merits of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thee and my ill deseruings and I offer vp him the most worthy merites of his passion for the merits which I should haue had but alas haue not If the Lord say further that he is angry with thee answere him Lord thou hast cause but I set the death and suffrings of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thy wrath and my soule Then let him say thrise Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit And if he be so weake hee
aeterna per tua merita Domine Iesu Christe qui cum Deo patre spiritu Sancto viuis reg-Deus in secula Cum autem eius vires deficient animam emissurum videatur commendetur anima per aliquem astantium hoc modo Commendatio animae morientis COmmendo te omnipotenti Deo charissime frater et ei cuius es creatura committo proficiscere anima Christiana de hoc misero mundo In nomine Patris omnipotentis qui te creauit In nomine Iesu Christi filij eius qui pro te passus est In nomine Spiritus Sancti qul in te fusus est Egrediente aute animatua de corpore splendidus Angelorum caetus tibi occurrat omnium sanctorum caetus te accipiat appareat tibi mitis clemens Iesus Christus qui inter assistentes sibi te iugiter interesse decernat vt locus tuus in pace sit habitatio tua in Hierusalem coelesti Ignores omnino quid horret in tenebris quid stridet in flammis quid cruciat in tormentis Cedat tibi nequissimus Sathan cum satellitibus suis nec in aduentu suo te vincat sedcoram angelis dei contremiscat as in aterna noctis chaos immane diffugiat at exurget Deus dissipentur omnes inimici eius sicut deficit fumus ita deficiant Iusti autem exultentur exultent in conspectu Dei Confundantur igitur erubescant ante te tar tareae legiones ministri satanae iter tuum impedire non audeāt Liberet te à cruciatu Christus qui pro te mori dignatus est constituet te Christus filius Dei inter paradisi sui amena semper virentia i am inter oues suos verus te ille pastor agnoscat Ille ab omnibus peccatis tuis absoluat atque ad dextram in electorum suorum sorte te constituat vt redemptorem tuum facie ad faciam videas cōstitutum agmina beatorum contemplationis diuinae gaudio potiaris in secula saeculonum Amen Certaine Praiers vsed by our Fore-fathers in the darkest times of Popery in the time of a mans sickenesse some to bee made for the sicke and some by the sicke person gathered out of the same ancient books When the sicke person feeles his strength to faile then let him commend his soule to God in this Praier O Most high and soueraigne God whose goodnesse and mercie is infinite ô most glorious Trinity which art loue and mercie and goodnesse it selfe haue mercy on me most miserable sinner for vnto thee and vnto thy hands I commend my spirit ô Lord my most louing God father of mercies shew thy mercy on me thy poore creature and forsake mee not in my last neede but stand with me Lord and helpe my succourlesse soule saue my poore and desolate soule that it bee not deuoured of the infernall dogges O most louing Lord sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God I beseech thee for the honor and by the vertue of thy most blessed passion command that I may be receiued into the number of thy Saints and seruants O my Sauiour my Redeemer I here yeeld vp my selfe wholly to thee O grant mee thy grace and thy glory vochsafe me pardon of my sin and giue me a portion of thy glory But ô my deere Lord I chalenge not a place in heauen for any worthines of my owne merits for I am but dust ashes a most wretched finner but for the vertue of thy most blessed passiō by which thou diddest vouchsafe to redeeme mee miserable man and to purchase heauē for me euen with the price of thy precious bloud I beseech thee therefore by thy most blessed bitter passion which thou sustainedst on the Crosse for me especially in that houre whē thy blessed soule did leaue the body that thou wouldest haue mercy on my poore soule at the time of my departure Then let him lift vp his heart with ioy and thanksgiuing and say Lord thou hast broken my bonds therefore I will offer to thee the sacrifice of praise After if his weaknesse grow so that hee loose the vse of his speech let some of the by-standers say these prayers following ouer him or more if he liue so long MErcifull God and Father wee beseech thee for the multitudes of thy mercies look fauourably vpon this thy seruant our deere brother who with true and hearty confession seeks pardon of all his sinnes at the hand of thy mercies O Lord heare vs for him and we beseech thee for him most holy father to renew in his heart what euer is corrupted by the frailty of his flesh and restore that grace which the wily and malicious enemy the diuell hath stolne out of his soule O Lord recall him to the vnity of thy Church ingraft him into the body of thy soule O Lord take pitty of the sighes and sobbes of his soule and groanes of his heart o Lord looke vpon his teares gather them in thy bottle and be good to him who hath no hope comfort nor confidence but in thy mercy and seale vp the assurance of his reconciliation with thee O most holy Father we humbly commend the soule of this thy seruant and our brother into the hands of thy vnmeasureable mercies humbly beseeching thee according to the greatnesse of that loue in which the blessed soule of thy sonne did commend it selfe into thy holy hands that for the worthinesse of that infinite loue of thine in which thou didst receiue that holy soule vnto thy selfe thou wouldst vouchsafe in this our brothers last houre to receiue his poore soule also and make it partaker of the same loue And thou most sweete Sauiour and most mercifull Lord Iesus thou that dying on the crosse was so pressed with anguish and torments for vs as made thee sound out that pittiful voyce vnto thy Father My God my God why hast thou forsaken me we beseech thee estrange not thy selfe and turne not away thy face frō thy seruant our brother now in the houre of his soules affliction when his strength faileth and his spirits are so spent that he cannot cal vpon theee heare vs O Lord heare vs for him and for that thy glorious victory in which thou didst triumph on the crosse for thy pretious passion and bitter death thinke of him the thoughts of mercy and not of iustice shed thy mercies in his soule speak cōfortably to his conscience deliuer his soule out of all spirituall distresse saue him frō the tormēts due vnto his deseruings bring him for thy own merits sake to eternal rest O Lod Iesus Christ which didst redeem vs with thy precious bloud write with thine own bloud in the soule and ingraue thy wounds in the heart of this thy seruant that in thē he may see read thy doleful suffrings thy sweet loue thy sufferings that they may be effectual to rasome him frō those sorrows
cannot then let the company who stand by say Lord into thy hands we commend his soule He that doth thus is safe and secure for he shall neuer tast of eternall death Also in another old booke I find this written THese be the six signes vpon which a man may rest confident of his saluation 1 If he beleeue the Articles of Christian faith as many as are determined by the Churche 2 If he reioyce to dye in the faith of Christ 3 If hee know that hee hath grieuously offended God 4 If he bee heartily sorry for it 5 If he resolue to forsake his sinnes if God giue him life 6 If he hope and beleeue to come to eternall saluation not by his owne merits but by the merits of Iesus Christ And Anselme saith that these six questions are to bee asked of euery one at the time of his death and saith further thus Then say to the sicke person if Sathan obiect any thing against thee oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him and thus without all doubt hee shall be saued This consolation of the sicke and preparation to their death is in ancient Copies ascribed to Anselme who liued more then 500 yeares agoe euen when Popery was almost growne to perfect age Now if any man make question how our fathers were saued in these later and worse times when Popery preuailed in a greater measure I answere that euen almost the same preparation and same questions were vsed long after Anselme euen in the deepest darkenesse of Popery For in the most euill time about the Councell of Constance some two hundred years ago Thus I finde it written in ancient Booke and it is ascribed to Gerson Euery Christian whether secular or regular is thus to be examined and informed in his sicknesse touching his saluation 1 DOest thou beleeue all the principal articles of faith and all that is contained in the whole body of holy Scripture according to the exposition of the Catholicke and orthodoxall Doctors of the holy Church and dost thou detest all heresies and errours and superstitions condemned or reproued by the Church and art thou glad that thou dyest in the faith of Christ and vnity and obedience of thy Mother the Church 2 Doest thou know and confesse that thou hast many wayes and grieuously offended thy God and Creator 3 Dost thou sorrow from thy whole heart for all thy sins committed against Gods Maiesty his loue and mercy art thou truely sorrowful for the euils that thou hast committed and the good that thou hast omitted and the grace thou hast neglected and art thou agreiued not so much for feare of death or any punishment as for that loue which thou oughtest to beare towards God 4 Doest thou beg pardon for all these thy sins of Iesus Christ desiring that by him thy heart may be enlightned truely to see and know thy sins that so thou maist particularly and more seriously repent of them 5 Doest thou propound and resolue truly to amend thy life if so be thou liue and neuer hereafter to sinne so againe but rather to loose any thing how deere soeuer vnto thee yea euen life it selfe then to offend thy God againe 6 Doest thou also desire of God grace to continue in this purpose that thou maist not fall againe 7 Doest thou forgiue from thy whole heart all that haue done thee any wrong in word or deed for the loue of Christ Iesus thy Lord and Sauiour and as thou hopest for pardon from him and doest thou hartily desire to bee forgiuen of all men whom thou hast any way offended 8 Wilt thou that there be ful restitution made according to thy power yea though it should extend to thy whole estate if otherwise there cannot bee satisfaction made 9 Doest thou beleeue that Christ dyed for thee and that thou canst bee saued no otherwise but by the merites of Iesus Christ and doest thou giue God thankes for this from thy whole heart as much as thou art able And whosoeuer can giue true answere to these questions affirmatiuely out of a good conscience and faith not fayned It is an euident and sufficient testimony of saluation and let him not doubt but if he so depart hee is one of them that shall be saued Behold heere good Reader our Religion practised in the most misty times of Popery behold heere the true holy Catholike and ancient way to heauen Namely By Christ and his merits alone Heere is no trusting on mans merits either our own or others Here is no mention of Agnus deis or Wodden Crucifixes He is not bid to trust in the prayers suffrages requiems dirges Masses Trentals or other obsequies that shall be sayd for him after his departure He is sent to no Angell no nor to the Virgin Mary for matter of Saluation Nay all are excluded Christs death alone euen it alone is made the meanes of his Saluation And the makers heereof were so resolute and zealous in this point that they vse such variety of words as though they could not sufficiently expresse the excellency and the nececessity of cleauing to Christ alone in the matter of saluation And if any man suspect that this is but deuised by vs and falsely fathered vpon Antiquity let him know that not onely we haue the ancient Copies whose age will speake for themselues but euen the better sort of Papists that be learned doe know this well enough A learned Papist of this age Gasper vlenbergius in lib. de Causis Causa 14. pag. 462. editionis Colon. 1589. writeth that in a Church in Colaine this very booke is extant Manuscript and that hee hath seene it and that this manner of comforting the sicke was vsed in former ages and confesseth that it containes the very treasure kernel of Christian Religion and saith further that this manner was vsed not in Germany onely but ouer all the Christian world Indeed to the Iesuits I confesse this is held a ridiculous manner of comforting the sicke such a spirit possesseth them Thus doth Gretzer their Champion flout vs Lutherans as he cals vs for thus doing The Lutherans saith hee do Iae. Gretzerus in refutat Leyseri de histor Ord. Iesuit thus comfort their sick Relicks Crucifixes Agnus deis and such matters are but dead things and nothing worth the Scripture hath not a word of them it is therefore very vngodly to trust in them but God is our hope and God is our strength trust in him c. On this wise fashion do these godly comforters comfort their sicke persons Thus in the Iesuites iudgement it is but a seely course to trust in Gods mercy and Christs merits in points of saluation Hereby it may be discerned of what spirit they are But let them mocke vs as long as with vs they mocke the Scriptures Antiquity and the better sort of their owne side for we appeale to this that hath bene said whether this manner of comforting the sicke were not in