woonderfull thing that the coniunction of humane nature is made with the diuine without changing of natures also without anie confusion of persons therein For Christ hath so knit the natures together as hee both God and man is in diuine substance but one person with the father and the holie ghost O strange thing wee were not woorthie to be seruauntes and now wee be children and coheires with Christ And now I pray thee good God graunt mee grace in good ernest to acknowledge thy vertue that I may with a burning desire loue thee all the daies and time of my life and that my faith be stayed on my redeemer who was seene in the world and was lifted vp into glorie It Followeth Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell CONSIDERATION YEe neede not to maruaile that in this Article of our faith wee doe passe from his natiuitie vnto his death For first all his life was a preparatiue vnto death a perpetuall passion Secondlie the death and passion of Iesus was the true witnesse of his obedience and then was ended this true Sacrifice that hath abolished sinne and death Euen as the auncient high Priestes did take of the people that which they had to sacrifice so hath hee also taken of vs our nature and this bodie which hee hath sacrificed on the crosse being the sacrifice and the sacrificer Therefore hee had will to suffer truelie in our flesh and to die that in him we might haue life And that wee may liue and die in him dailie dying to the world to vice to liue vnto all righteousnesse and to his glorie who hath redeemed vs. Death the graue hell are verie terrible thinges yea more than terrible But Iesus Christ hath triumphed ouer death and arising againe hee hath sanctified our graues and hath by his vertue ouercome the sorrowes of hell and hath broken all the boltes and chaines to make free and to set in safetie all his elect so as there is no condemnation vnto those that doe beleeue in him Rom. 8. Away with these sacrifices of these popish Priestes seeing that this true sacrifice made with the shedding of the bloud of the Lambe without spot Iohn 1. taketh away all the sinnes of the world Places of the holie scripture testifying the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the Prophecie of Dauid 22. Psalme For Dogges haue compassed me the assemblie of the wicked haue inclosed me they pearced my handes and my feete I may tell all my bones yet they behold and looke vppon me According to the exposition of some as if the should haue said he shal not be ouerwhelmed with troubles and sorrowes For he is the euerliuing sonne of of God of an euerlasting generation But this is for our sinnes and by the counsel of God that it should happen vnto him They part my garments among them and cast lottes vppon my vesture Out of the 69. Psalme I was constrained to restore that which I tooke not They gaue me gall in my meate and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke A prophesie of the death and passion of Iesus Christ Out of the 53. Chap. of Esaiah Surelie hee hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes yet did wee iudge him as plagued and smitten of God But hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was broken for our iniquities the chasticement of our peace was vppon him and with his stripes are wee healed All wee lyke Sheepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euerie one to his owne way and the Lorde hath laid vppon him the iniquitie of vs all He was oppressed and hee was afflicted yet did hee not open his mouth he is brought as a sheepe vnto the slaughter as a sheep before her shearer is dumme so hee openeth not his mouth He was taken out from prison and from iudgement And who shall declare his age For hee was cut out of the land of the liuing and for the transgression of my people was he plagued And hee made his graue with the wicked and with the riche in his death though hee had doone no wickednes Vnto the rich neither was anie deceite in his mouth Yet the Lord would breake him and make him subiect to manie infirmities This was Ioseph of Arimathe when hee shall make his soule an offering for sinne hee shall see his seede and shall prolong his dayes and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Of the abasing of Iesus Christ in this world Daniel also hath prophesied in the 9. Chap. and 26. verse ANd after threescore and two weekes shall Christ bee slaine and shall haue nothing and some doe translate there shall none remaine to helpe him or hee shall bee altogether made of none effect This death of Christ was figured by the offering of weathers and Lambes and likewise by the offering that Abraham made of his sonne Isaac in the 22. of Genesis The brasen serpent and by the brasen serpent set vp in the wildernesse whome those that did behold were deliuered from the venemous bitings of serpentes as it is written in the 21. Chapter of Nombers This brasen serpent did signifie that Christ should take the forme of a sinner and should bee notwithstanding without sinne That which was set vp on a tree did signifie that Iesus Christ should bee lifted vp vppon a crosse as wee doe reade it in the 3. of Saint Iohn As Moses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vp That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue eternall life And to shew in deede that it was not in the brasen serpent that had anie vertue annexed to it but that wee ought to looke more high King Ezechias seeing how the people did goe a whoring after this Serpent â— King 1â— hee brake it in peeces and named it Nehustan that is to say a vile thing and woorth nothing The historie of the passion and death of Iesus Christ wee haue drawen out by the foure Euangelistes especiallie in the 22. 23. of S. Luke THe causes of the passion and death of Iesus Christ The causes of Christes death were first the vnchangeable counsell and prouidence of GOD as it is said in the second of the Actes and the 23. verse Hee was deliuered by the determinate counsel of God And againe the loue of God towardes mankind God so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie begotten sonne as saith S. Iohn in the 3. Chapter And wee doe reade in the 5. Chap. to the Ephesians and the 25. verse how hee also loued vs and gaue himselfe willinglie for vs. If wee must come vnto other outward causes of this death and which bee inferiour there is the hatred of the diuell and the enmitie whereof it is spoken in the 3. Chap. of Genesis betweene the serpent and the seede of the woman There is
What was it that gaue so many torments vnto their mindes spirites It was O mightie God these poore people that were captiue certainely thou art great in the middest of thy people For thy children all together poore and litle that be in the world are terrible vnto the wicked because that they leane and stay vndoutedlie vpon thy strength Herode trembled hearing of a childe that was borne at Bethelem Therefore a miserable man a miserable people a miserable kingdome which hath none other streÌ„gth but vpon his owne arme and vpon their owne counsell The wicked haue greatcraft to consult subtilitie to woorke deceites and are subtle and presumptuous But all this O Lord is nothing before thy face but a great heape of smoke the which the higher it ascendeth the more it vanisheth away On the other part thy people walking in their simplicitie are afflicted and lie open to manie wronges But thou redressest them by thy mightie hand euen in such sort that as the seede dying in the earth bringeth forth greater abundance of fruite euen so dooth thy Church increase and waxe fruitfull vnder the crosse by meanes of the deawe of thy grace In such manner as neither the hote sonne nor the cold moone nor any other difficulties can bee hurtfull vnto thy children Seeing then O eternall God that against thee there is no power nor deceipt that in thee we haue our streÌ„gth and wisedome graunt vs grace that wee feare nothing but thee neither put our trust in any but in thee and that wee bost not ourselues but in thee through thy son Iesus Christ So be it An other example of Gods fatherly care of his people in their neede out of Exodus the 3. Chap. ANd the Lorde sayde vnto them I haue surely seene the trouble of my people which are in Egypt and haue heard their crie because of their taske-maisters for I knowe their sorowe and am come downe to deliuer them out of the hande of the Egyptians A prayer necessarie in these daies O Lord how great wrong haue we when as we doe not thinke that thou doest see vs in all our afflictions and that thou art farre from vs as the world is perswaded that thou hast no care or keepe ouer vs. For albeit thou be great yet despise thou not thy little ones And although that thou art a glorious God yet cast not away those that are in affliction and sorrow And albeit that thou art a spirituall substance yet thou hast eyes to see that is to say a woonderfull prouidence the which dooth not alonelie beholde but dooth gouerne also the whole world Thou hast thy eares open of mercie and pitie to vnderstand the prayers and cryinges of thy people Thou hast thy handes of strength and might to helpe vs. Thou hast the feete to come downe swiftlie that is to witte the readinesse of thy force and good will which thou in neede makest vs to know Now if thou hast had anie pitie of thy people Israel in AEgypt yea if the great exaction and violence which was doone vnto them hath mooued thee to prouide for them it is now surelie time that thou helpe thy Church Their malice vnfaithfulnes extortion and tyrannie are they not come vnto their fulnesse Was AEgypt then more cruell than those which rise vp in these daies against thy people Was Pharao more hardened in heart than our aduersaries No Lord for he straâ—e to driue away Moses But these thirst without ceasing after our bloud doe dailie inuent new torments and cruelties O God almightie wherefore wilt thou who hast the heartes of kinges in thy handes not bend them as thou hast doone Manasses and that of Nabuchadonezer and therein doe thy iust iudgementes and shewe thy glorie thy power against the tyrantes as thou hast doone in times past against Pharao And as concerning thy people O Lord draw them out of AEgypt out of this harder bondage than to make Brick since that it is seruile vnto Antichrist and Idolatrie Make soft their heartes that are reuolted giue them grace to knowe the horrible captiuitie where they be vnder Antichrist that neither the Garlick nor the Onyons neither anie other stincking pleasures of the flesh and world doe let them or stay them to come out of AEgypt to seeke out the places wherein thou art both purelie serued and honored to call vppon thee in purenesse and sinceritie of faith and in rest and peace of conscience through our Lord thy Sonne Iesus Christ A consideration of this place which is in the 13. of Exodus of the Clowdie Pillar in the day and of the fierie Pillar by night that departed not from the people O How blessed are the people of whom GOD is the Lorde for as hee is the creator and Lord ouer all things so dooth he make all his creatures to serue as a coÌ„moditie vnto his chosen May it be possible to see a more greater care prouideÌ„ce louingnesse than that which the Lorde hath shewed vnto his people who did not alonelie withdrawe theÌ„ from a wretched and hard bondage that was too much but was also a guide and an assistant and companion likewise with his signes and witnesses so woonderfull of his fauour Where then are they which alwaies are afraid to want and to bee destitute if they passe out of AEgypt and giue ouer their idolatrie and therefore looke dailie backe as Lots wife did Yea but some will say wee doe see no more these signes neither the fierie Pillar nor the cloudie pillar Truelie they cannot bee seene to them whose eyes the brightnesse of worldlie honors doe lighten and that haue no more sight than the back or mouldiwarpe But the children of GOD doe sufficientlie acknowledge the most certaine testimonies of Gods presence For haue they neede of the clowdie pillar The holie Ghost shall refresh them and yeelde them contented and strengthen them in the middest of temptations GOD is also their fierie wall which dailie kindeleth in them faith and other giftes most excellent In summe The pillars which doe guide and comfort vs in world the children of God doe not require more fairer and goodlier Pillars to guide them and comfort them in the pilgrimage of this vaile of miserie than the pure Ministerie of Gods word and the pure administration of his holie Sacramentes Hauing this Pillar of trueth they are certaine to bee surelie grounded to bee well guided and to be well directed in all their liues when as the people of the world shall be drowned in the puddle of Idolatrie with Pharao and with the pleasures of this present world that shall perish Why should we then be so vnhappie to forsake the pure seruice of our God and to doe seruice vnto strange Gods eueÌ„ like as it is said in the 32. of Deuteronomie that we would recompence the Lord Is he not our father our possessour hath he not made and fashioned vs Let vs consider saith hee in the same place
offered since the foundation of the world but now in the end of the world hath hee appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe So was hee once offered to take away the sinnes of manie c. Out of the 10. to the Hebrewes For with one offering hath hee consecrated for euer them that are sanctified Out of the first Epistle of S. Peter the 3. Chap. It is better if the will of God bee so that yee suffer for well dooing than for euill doing For Christ once hath suffered for sins the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death concerning the flesh but was quickened in the spirit Out of the 4 Chap. of the first of S. Peter Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde which is that hee who suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne that he henceforward should liue as much time as remaineth in the flesh not after the lustes of men but after the will of God Also in the 13. verse Reioyce inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christes suffering that when his glorie shall appeare ye may be glad reioyce A prayer on the death and passion of Iesus Christ O Lord my God since that this faire and goodlie Image according to which man was created was thus through sinne disfigured drawe mee neere vnto thy sonne Iesus in whome thou hast created vs as it were anewe Acknowledge in me thy worke and blot out that which is not thine Behold not that which is from me or from Satan Looke O Lorde vppon the humanitie of thy sonne to take pitie on mine infirmities Consider the punishment of the redeemer and forgiue him his sinnes whome hee hath bought againe Wherefore was it that hee who was so obedient should suffer punishment of disobedience vnlesse it were to saue vs This is he who is the good shepheard who hath brought home the straying sheepe and hath presented before thy face those that were straglers and runagates by meanes of their sinnes O good God therefore looke vppon thy deere sonne spread abroad vppon the crosse bow downe thy head to see thy poore creatures for the loue of whome thy welbeloued yeelded vp his spirit vpon the crosse and hath bowed downe his head Behold his wounded handes and forgiue the offences of our handes See his innocent side whereout ran bloud and water in the day of his passion Alas good God wilt not thou content thy selfe with so pretious and deere a paiment as was payed for our offences Behold the feete pearsed with nailes which neuer walked but in thy lawes and in thy obedience and haue compassion vpon vs which haue walked in the way of sinners O glorious passion that hast slaine our enimie Sathan and hast purchased for vs so great a friend euen the eternall God O what an exchange is made through this blessed and happie Passion when as euerlasting life is offered vnto vs in stead of eternall torment Thy sonne went downe to hell His desceding into hell and hath felt the horrour and wrath that wee had deserued to exalt vs into heauen O death where is thy strength O hell where is thy dread and feare syth Christ hath redeemed vs from both O good God grant me grace nowe that as thy sonne hath suffered for my sake so manie tormentes and rebukes that I also may patiently abide punishment for his name And as hee was stripped out of his garmentes to goe to the crosse so let me be vnclothed of these worldly cares and vncouered of my fleshly affections yea and aboue all of pride of presumption to be arayed with a true faith and with pitifull and heartie affections towardes my neighbours And euen as the same Iesus Christ did make a free confession before Ponce Pilate so likewise before all the iudges of the world yea before all men let me also confesse him when I shall haue neede Pilate the vniust O my God hath condemned the iust But thou iust Lorde haue mercie on me vniust for thy sonnes sake vniustly condemned who was hanged on a tree and made accursed that I might be blessed in him and by him granting me grace daily to die to sinne and to liue to righteousnes So be it Errors contrarie vnto the afore saide Article of Iesus Christes death They that thinke howe he hath made a shewe to suffer and hath not truely suffered in the flesh 1. Pet. 3.18 Item the Schuencfeldians that thinke that the diuine nature hath suffered because that the sonne of God hath suffered in the flesh the diuinitie being vnsufferable They that seeke other sacrifices and offeringes for sinne than the onely sacrifice of Christ once suffered on the crosse for all Philip. 3. They whose bellies is their God which are enimies to the crosse of Christ and would haue a vellot Gospell They that liue in all worldly wantonnesse not hauing anie mortification They that doe worshippe crosses of wood stone or of siluer in steede to worshippe and honour him that was crucified and in place to beare the true crosse which they doe cause the poore martyrs to carie To be short these heere tread vnder their feete the bloud of the couenaunt as it is sayde in the 10. Chap. to the Hebrewes that hauing the knowledge of the trueth doe willingly sinne neither will they amende their liues The thirde daie hee rose from the dead A prayer and meditation vppon the Lordes rising againe NOw praysed be God since that which was esteemed most to be feared of the worlde verie death is now ouercome and destroyed Praysed be the Lorde by whom death hath lost her sting and that there is no more condemnation for vs. Nowe it is that sinne is ouercome sith that Christ is risen For seeing that he was our pledge if death had yet anie power against vs it had kept our pledge But for somuch as hee is risen and was not kept in the graue wee see how hee hath destroyed death and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1. Our righteousnesse is now manifested for if the righteousnesse of Christ that was giuen and imputed vnto vs had not beene perfect hee had still beene kept by death and hell For death is the reward of sinne Romans 6. Let vs therefore reioyce for such a sauiour Rom. 4. that was dead for our sins and is risen againe for our Iustification This is the cause why the Euangelists and the Apostles haue made thereof so often mention as is to bee seene in the 2. Chap. of the Actes and in the 15. Chap. of the first to the Corinth O Lord giue vs also grace that we bee not drawen away in the desire of earthlie thinges neither yet to bee buried in worldlie cares but that being risen againe with thy sonne Iesus wee may seeke the thinges from aboue Colos 3. euen vntill such
maiestie O God thou art my treasure grant me grace to haue my heart there where my treasure is and to meditate night and day in thy worde which is the light that guideth my steppes and is in tribulation more sweete vnto my heart than honny is vnto the mouth The reason of man was truely O Lorde a goodly lampe that thou haddest giuen vnto man but as it is darkned it cannot shewe the way which leadeth man from sinne to righteousnes and from death to life and they which otherwaies are not lightened but by the same doe perish as beastes Psalm 49. Nowe since it pleaseth thee to haue a Church on the earth which thou hast gathered together thorowe the preaching of thy worde inlighten my eies to beholde and see the spirituall state and magnificence of this house to the ende I may loue it and delight my selfe therein And because that I am a stranger in the land inlighten me in such sorte that seeing the way of euerlasting life in thy word I may follow it vntill I come vnto the true countrie which is in heauen Out of the 59. Chap. of Esaiah verse 21. Beholde my couenaunt with them faith the Lorde my spirit that is vppon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede saith the Lorde from henceforth euen for euer CONSIDERATION THese wordes doe declare vnto vs that the onelie people which haue the word of GOD and the purenesse of the Doctrine are auouched the true people of the Lord. For with this word God worketh and vnfoldeth the force of his spirit Rom. 1. as by this occasion is the Gospell also so called the power of God to saluation to all beleeuers to bee short by the meane of this word 2. Cor. 5. and through the ministrie of reconciliation God hath established his couenant amongest vs being fauorable vnto vs and forgiuing vs our sinnes Therefore this Church is not gouerned by swords or by Crosses but by the spirit and by the word of God And because that this word is euerlasting it is not in the power of the world to stop the course thereof But God to punish our vnthankfulnesse draweth it backe sometimes from vs and in the meane while it is in such sorte as hee maketh it to waxe fruitefull elsewhere and that which wee doe not see our posteritie shal see it with whom the Lord hath also his couenant O the follie of mankinde which heareth not wisedome crie out in the streets and biddeth vs come vnto her Prou. 1. Therefore of good right doeth she laugh at the destruction of all those which despise her A Prayer vppon this place Out of the 15. Chap. of S. Matthew EVerie plant which mine heauenlie Father hath not planted Prou. â—0 shall bee rooted vp O Lord my God because that thine onelie word is pure cleane and a buckler vnto all those that trust in thee giue me grace to loue thee and since that thou thy selfe inuitest vs vnto the wholsome waters that thou giuest for nothing guide me vnto those running brookes keepe my soule from being led away by this enemie which soweth Cockle and euill hearbes in the world 1. Iohn 4. Giue mee the spirit of discretion to proue the spirites and suffer me not to bee lead with euerie winde of Doctrine 2. Tim. 1. but dailie to holde the true patterne of thy wholsome word 1. Cor. 11. which is in faith and loue in Iesus Christ And albeit to proue thine thou doest suffer manie times the euill plantes to increase and permittest heresies as is to bee seene of olde when as the blasphemie of the Arrians tooke roote as it were in all the East and in our dayes popish Idolatrie hath doone in the West 2. Thes 2. So in likewise haue wee also seene how thou hast vnrooted them and manifested the dreames of men so that there is none nowe deceaued but those whome despise the trueth and loue the Epicures life yeelding themselues woorthie to bee led away by the spirit of blindnesse and errour In the meane while O GOD beate downe them which make Sectes Partialities Rom. 16. and Scandals a part against the pure Doctrine graunt power and might to the Ministrie of thy holie Gospell that all heresies and errors may bee rooted out of mens heartes and that in quiet peace and concorde wee may praise thy name all the dayes of our life Also shew thy fauour vnto vs and now that it is so late in the end of our time yea and that it seemeth O Lorde that this faire sunne of trueth would goe to rest whome thou hast shewed in the world Mat. 28. may remaine with vs and strengthen vs in thy knowledge following this thy promise that thou hast made to bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world So be it Of the hearing of the word of God Out of the 11. of S. Luke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it MEDITATION BLessed are they then not that heare much know much and speake much of the word of God But that keepe it in obedience of faith For whereto serueth the seede throwne into the ground if it tooke not roote there to increase and bring forth fruite Whereunto serueth as saith Iesus Christ in the 7. Chap. of S. Matthew to make a high building if vppon the blowing of the first windes the house fall They loue me saith Christ in the 14. of S. Iohn that doe not onlie heare but also keepe my commaundementes For how shall wee heare if hee doe not pearce our eares Psal 40. and open our vnderstandinges because that it is nothing to heare outwardlie vnlesse that God doe speake vnto vs inwardlie and if it be not heard within vs. Men truelie haue eares But they haue not all eares to heare and to make their profit of the word of God Now since that they are vndoubtedlie accursed which neither heare nor keepe this word and doe loue better to heare worldlie songes or foolish follies Let vs pray without ceasing this God that hee will open the heartes to vnderstand his word as hee did vnto this Lydia a seller of purple of whome mention is made in the 16. Chap. of the Actes And that wee doe not take it of the Lord in ill part when hee shall punish vs because that in so doing hee doth open our eares to receaue instruction euen as it is said in the 36. of Iob and the 10. verse A prayer vppon the same matter O Most gratious and mercifull GOD thou hast declared by thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ that they which heare thy word and keepe it are blessed Doeth it not rather belong vnto vs O Lord to acknowledge and to maruaile at thy blessednesse and felicitie It is for vs to speake of thine and thou doest
brethren A citie is not vnhappie to be vnwalled spoyled A city whē he is vnhappie robbed and outwardly ruined and sacked but if it be depriued of the fauor of God if it be filled full of ydolatrie with vanitie with theft bloud and with pride Furthermore if we doe feele our selues verie weake to sustaine the assaults threateninges and feares amongest cruell Idolaters why doe we tempt God in dwelling amongest them Heb. 13. Why doe wee not come out of our tentes to beare the rebuke of Christ Why goe we not out of Babylon to the ende we be not partakers of her sinnes and that wee receiue not of her plagues Howe many meanes might a man haue had since this fiue yeares to haue retired himselfe from amongest these fleshlie people so thirstie after the bloud of the faithfull Who is he that would abide one night amongest Scorpions Who is hee which would not quickelie vnharbour himselfe Dwelling amongest Idolaters verie dangerous seeing his house on a fire how deere soeuer it were vnto him Who is hee which would remaine in the fairest citie of the world in which hee could haue no bread What order then is there that they shoulde soiourne amongest them so long time Dwelling amongest Idolaters is verie daungerous amongest whom there can be founde no true bread and amongest whom there is neither faith nor loue nor yet respect of anie person We are in this worlde to knowe and serue God and the time of our life being so short ought we not to enforce our selues to the vttermost to bestowe that as well as is possible For as S. Cyprian hath verie well sayde in his treatise of twofoulde Martyrdome All the life of man ought to giue witnesse to GOD not that he hath any neede or maketh much reckoning of our Martyrdome or witnessing of him but that it pleaseth him that his glorie should be thus aduaunced and declared amongest men by men Nowe my brethren Whence infirmities proceede considering that these great infirmities which are at this day founde in many proceede from no other thing but onely through default of not being well grounded and rooted in the faith and also because we pray not vnto God Mark 9.23 so often and so earnestlie as were requisite For all thinges are possible to the beleeuer and the beleeuer also hath this aduauntage that God heareth and fulfilleth his desires I haue thought to comfort and to strenthen more and more those which through the grace of GOD remaine firme and constant vntill this present Psal 145. The purpose of the Author in this booke as also to giue courage againe vnto them which haue lost it and suffer themselues willinglie to be borne with the tempest of Idolatrie that there is nothing more fitte and to the purpose than to set before your eies the Articles of our faith with short meditations and prayers that shall giue vnto you a briefe knowledge and vnderstanding thereof being as it were the verie iuice and substance to the ende also that this may shortly put you in remembraunce of the pure doctrine which was preached vnto you For this is our glorie 2. Cor. 1. euen of vs all which haue beene your Pastors the testimonie of our conscience that in simplicitie and godlie purenesse wee haue beene conuersant amongest you preaching vnto you the word of God And wee are not ignorant in meane while that this is an auntient subtiltie and craft of the Diuel and of the wicked The slaūders of the aduersaries in the middest of their greatest wickednesse to slaunder good men and the trueth So was Elias slaundered by Achab as a seditious person so was Iesus Christ charged with faultes So did that abhominable Nero who hauing set the citie of Rome on fire layd all the fault vpon the poore Christians Wee doe not doubt at all but a man may finde some of our renegates which to receiue the seruice to the contrarie side and to reape the benefite of a flattering tongue both haue and doe straine themselues to misuse vs in speach and not onely with the like speach falselie to misuse vs but also to make odious euen the whole doctrine of the holie Gospell But he whome we doe serue knoweth vs and we call none other but the conscience of those who haue hard vs and haue seene our behauiours in witnesse of our affection towards you of our chearefulnesse and readines wherewith all we haue beene alway accōpanied preaching vnto you the pure word of God so much as was possible for vs and that you could be suffered to heare the same The worlde hath also seene knowen of long time the impieties of this seat of Rome many Emperours yea and many kinges of Fraunce haue prooued their insolencie and crueltie Fraunce alas seeth at this day the detestable vntrustinesse treasons violences and murthers the like not hearde which that Apostaticall Romish seate hath bredde and brought forth vnto vs and for the which they haue many times made bonfires yea and great triumph but all in vaine wee shall weepe and the worlde shall laugh in the meane time our heauinesse shall one way bee turned into ioy which the world shall not be able to spoile vs of And how much better shall it bee to weepe in this world than in the other and to reioyce in the life to come than in this vale of miseries The order then that wee keepe in this booke is The order kept in this booke that wee drawe to the Articles of the faith as close as is possible certaine places of the holie scripture which serue best to explane them and make them cleare with prayers and meditations to that purpose to the end that as faith and prayer ought to be ioyned together so euerie one might bee resolued in the faith be pricked forward to prayer True it is that in that which tyed me to those prayers and meditations which were before imprinted I haue not altogether kept such order as I desired neuerthelesse these prayers nowe are brought into a better order than those that were before and are augmented with manie goodlie places And this booke will serue as a Christian Manuel to the end to teach euerie one to see euerie houre of the day and euerie Moneth of the yeare that is to say continuallie what hee ought to beleeue and meditate vpon as also what was the whole Catechisme or maner of instruction of youth vsed by the ancient fathers like as Augustine witnesseth in his Enchiridion that is to say in his Manuel that it contained the meaning and exposition of the Creede and the Lordes prayer Wherefore I hope that this little treatise so reuiewed and digested into such order will serue not onelie to direct vs how to make our prayers for all kinde of necessities and wantes but also for an instruction more and more to confirme those that are the true faithfull in the principal pointes of our saluation
vnto the poore euen a strength vnto the needie in his trouble a refuge against the tempest a shadow against the heate for the blast of the mightie is like a storme against the walk Thou shalt beate downe the noyse of the strangers as the heate in a drie place And he will destroy the couering that couereth all people and the veile that is spred vppon all Nations He will destroy death for euer and the Lord GOD shall wipe away the teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people will he take away out of all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it And in that day shall men say Lo this is our God we haue waited for him and he will saue vs. This is the Lord we haue awaited for him we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation The 30. of Esai Your strength shall be in silence and in hope The 41. of Esai For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying vnto thee Feare not I will helpe thee Feare not thou worme Iacob and ye men of Israel I will helpe thee saith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel The 42. of Esai I am the Lord this is my name and my glorie will not I giue vnto an other neither my prayses to grauen Images And I will bring the blinde by a way that they know not and leade them by pathes that they haue not knowen I will make darknesse light before them crooked thinges straight These thinges wil I doe vnto them and not forsake them They shall be turned backe that trust in grauen Images they shall be greatlie ashamed The 50. of Esai The Lord God is my helper therefore shall not I be confounded Therefore haue I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed He is neere that iustifieth me Let vs stand together who is my aduersarie Let him come neere to me Beholde the Lorde God will helpe me who is he that can condemne me The 51. of Esai I euen I am he that comforteth you Who art thou that thou shouldest feare a mortall man and the sonne of man which shal be made as grasse And so forgettest thy Lorde thy maker who hath spread out the heauens and layd the foundations of the earth for the heauens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall waxe olde like a garment and they that dwell therein shall perish in like manner But my saluation shal be for euer and my righteousnes shal neuer be abolished A complaint of the vnbeliefe and Apostasie of men The 2. of Ieremie THus sayth the Lorde What iniquitie haue your fathers founde in mee that they are gone farre from mee and haue walked after vanitie are become vaine and haue not sayde where is the Lorde where is the Lorde that brought vs out of the Lande of Egypt And lead vs through the lande of Wildernesse through a desert and wast land through a drie land and by the shadow of death by a lande that no man passed through and where no man dwelt and I brought you into a plentifull countrie c. O ye Heauens be astonied at this be afraide and vtterly confounded sayeth the Lorde For my people haue committed two euils they haue forsaken me the fountaine of liuing waters to digge them pittes euen broken pittes that can holde no water The 9. Chap. of Ieremie Thus saith the lord Let not the wise man glorie in his wisdome nor the strong man glorie in his strength neither the rich man glorie in his riches but let him that glorieth glorie in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lord which shew mercie iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these thinges I delight saith the Lord. The 17. of Ieremie Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and which draweth his heart from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the wildernesse and shall not see when anie good commeth but shall inhabit the parched places in the wildernesse Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope the Lord is for he shall be as a tree that is planted by the water which spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer and shall not feele when the heate commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not care for the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruite O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be confounded They that depart from thee shall be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the Lord the fountaine of liuing waters A godlie example of the three companions of Daniell and of their constancie and faith taken out of the 3. Chap. of the Prophet Daniel ver 16. SHadrach Meshach and Abednego aunswered and said vnto the king O Nabuchadnezar we are not carefull to aunswere thee in this matter Behold our God whome we serue is able to deliuer vs from the hote fierie fornace and hee will deliuer vs out of thy hand O king But if not be it knowen to thee O king that we will not serue thy Gods nor woorship the golden Image which thou hast set vp An obseruation vpon the said place NOte ye that first these good men did verie well see that in partaking neuer so little in the seruice of Idols it was to serue the diuels To partake with the Idolaters is to serue the diuels as it is said in the 106. Psalme ver 37. and also in the 1. to the Corinth 10. Chap. ver 20. As God threatneth also to roote out all those that shal sweare by the Lord or by Melchon in the 1. Chap. of Sophonie For as one Marcus Arethusius aunswered Marcus Arethusius in the historie of Theodoret. When men would not bestowe but one Tournois vnto a wicked act then did euerie man contribute And as on a day the Christians aunswered according as it is written in the same Theodoret in the 4. booke and 20. Chap. When as the tyrantes fumed yet more with rage furie than before they were woont we could not denie nor start frō the trueth seeing that in the world Renouncing of the trueth there could not be found a greater torment than to renounce the truth There is also a goodly historie in the 4. booke of Eusebe and the 13. Chap. When there was mention made of the Edict that Anthonius the Emperor proclaimed forbidding to persecute the Christians for said he You shall make them victorious through their persecutions in that they loue better to die than to obey you An expositiō of the text which is in the 5. chapter 2. booke of Kinges That which some men to couer their wickednesse and ydolatrie doe alleage the place of the soconde booke of the Kinges the 5. Chap. and the 18. ver when Naaman the king of Syreas Connestable saide vnto Eliseus The Lorde be merciful vnto the seruant that
this strange doctrine of the vbiquitie or the Alpresence of Christes bodie Of the vbiquitie attributing a bodie vnto Christ which is through all and inuisible that is to say which is not a bodie Nowe many seeing these diuisions would blame the doctrine of the Gospel and take an occasion to mistast the same But hath not the Lorde foretolde it Were there not also diuisions amongst the Apostles Ought this to keepe vs from going forwarde No for our faith is not builded vpon men and further when a man looketh neere thereunto it is easie to trie the spirites and we must praise the Doctors of the Church which haue in them those guiftes and likewise acknowledge their imperfections and reade them with iudgement As Luther himselfe A warning by M. Luther in the preface of his first Tome of his Latine workes besought that men would reade his workes with pitie iudgement and discretion and that men should remember him to bee an inraged Papist heretofore and a poore Moonke which could not see and perfectlie comprehend forthwith all the pointes of religion Also when one seeth the Church of God so assaulted within by diuisions and heresies without with so cruell persecutions it were enough to shake him if he be not wel setled to make him thinke whether it were possible that this companie which we call the Church being so contemptible and so subiect to great offences be the Church of GOD or no or at least whether it bee possible that God dooth loue it laying it open to so manie euils These are in deede the violent assaultes which the faithfull dailie doe proue in this wretched world wherein one may see so manie contentions and affections boyling with ambition and pride and so manie heartes more than frosen in matter of zeale and charitie Wherefore if there be anie sentence now at this day to be considered this is it that he which shall continue to the end shall be saued For as Iesus Christ speaketh in the 11. of S. Matthew Those that suffer once and continue in their zeale shall carie away the kingdome of heauen Therefore let vs not be fleeting children and caried hither and thither by euerie puffe of doctrine through mans deceite but followers of the trueth with charitie growing in Christ with loue and aboue all other thinges holding sure our Catechisme and the Articles of our Faith Suffering afflictions patientlie 2. Timo. 2. seeing this word is certaine that if we doe suffer with Christ we shall raigne with him considering also that this world waxeth olde as dooth a garment 2. Pet. 3. and that the Elementes shall melt with heate and the earth shall be dissolued let vs aspire vnto the kingdome which cannot be shaken holding grace fast by the which we may serue God in reuerence feare and assured hope awaiting the great day of Christs comming Other godlie places speaking of Faith The 3. of S. Iohn GOd hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And he that beleeueth in him shall not bee condemned but he that beleeueth not in him is condemned alreadie because he beleeued not in the name of the onelie sonne of God The faithfull ought not to seeke but the glorie of God The 5. of S. Iohn the 44. ver How can yee beleeue which receaue honor one of an other and seeke not the honor that commeth of God alone Places taken out of the Epistles of S. Paul out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle to the Ephesians ver 13. YEe are in Christ hauing heard the word of trueth euen the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after that ye beleeued yee were sealed with the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased vnto the praise of his glorie Therefore also after that I heard of the faith which yee haue in the Lorde Iesus and loue towardes all the Saintes I cease not to giue thankes for you in my prayers The 1. of the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee giue GOD thankes alwayes for you all remembring your effectuall faith and diligent loue and of the patience of your hope in our Lord Iesus Christ in the sight of God our Father knowing beloued brethren that ye are elect of God For our Gospell was not vnto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy ghost and in much assurance The 2. to the Thessal 1. Chap. Wee pray alwayes for you that our God may make you woorthie of his calling and fulfill all the good pleasures of his goodnesse and the woorke of faith with power that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye to him according to the grace of our God and of our Lord Iesus Christ The 1. Epistle of S. Peter 1. Chap. You are kept by the power of GOD through faith vnto saluation which is prepared to be shewed in the last time wherein ye reioyce though now for a season if neede require ye are in heauinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more pretious than Gold that perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found vnto your praise and honor and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ whome you haue not seene and yet loue him I beleeue in God Heere followe certaine Meditations and prayers of one onelie true God and of three persons in one substance or essence CONSIDERATION AS it is said in Athanasius Creede the generall faith is that wee worship one God in one Trinitie and one Trinitie in one vnitie Let vs not confound the persons nor diuide the substance For we must know God as he reuealeth himselfe otherwise we should but woorship a fantasie in place of knowing and woorshipping the true God Now the true God in whome we doe onelie beleeue Iohn 7. and that is mans soueraigne good for this is life eternall that we know him hath thus declared himselfe in his word and in his most excellent workes that is to say in that hee is one onelie true God in substance as it is said in the 6. Chap. of the 5. booke of Moses and in the 4. of the Ephesians but in this one substance wee do acknowledge three persons subsisting that is to say 1. Tim. 1. this onelie true God which is the king of worldes immortall inuisible wise onelie onelie good who manifesteth himselfe so as we doe see one God maker of heauen and earth And yet all this by his word which word is not a sound in the aire or a thing hauing beginning but was from the beginning with God and was God of whome is spoken in the 33. Psalme and also in the first Chap. of S. Iohn And afterward the holy spirit spread and mooued himselfe aboue the waters For the spirit cannot signifie in this place the aire or the winde that was not
paine the which also hee hath charged vppon him in short that to the end to haue pitie on vs Hebr. 2. he might partake with our flesh with our miseries to the end to make vs his brethren so to carrie into heauen our nature as the gage of our hope euen as hee hath giuen vnto vs a counterpledge that is to say the holie Ghost as Tertullian hath written verie well speaking of the resurrection and of the flesh of Christ When therefore we say that we doe beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not as if we had manie kindes of faith For there is but one God and one faith Ephe. 4. and the father and the sonne are one as it is said in 10. of S. Iohn To beleeue in Iesus Christ But this is that wee beleeue in God according as he hath shewed himselfe in the making of heauen and earth as also in his holie word that beareth record vnto vs how that the euerlasting Sonne of God Iesus Christ taking our nature in the fulnesse of time to bee the mediator of the couenant of our God the two natures diuine and humane being knitte together hee hath reconciled vs to God his father when by his merite and obedience and through his strength and incomprehensible goodnesse hee hath by his death and passion made satisfaction for our sinnes and by his resurrection ouercome death and hell and is ascended into heauē to make intercessiō for vs so as for the loue of him god loueth vs his righteousnes is imputed to vs as if it were our owne God holdeth vs for righteous so be we sure that neither the law hath power to condemne vs against which we doe set this perfect righteousnes of Iesus Christ neither death nor the diuel shall astonie vs for seeing the Christ for vs hath ouercome the world death all that which was feareful In summe we doe beleeue not onelie the historie of the birth passion death resurrection ascensiō of Iesus Christ But euerie faithful persō dooth apply all the benefits that he hath gotten for vs assuring comforting thēselues in his holie louelie promises doe lay hold vppon him as the true Iesus sauing blessing vs hauing prepared an euerlasting saluation and a most blessed life by his pretious blould For what we shall be dooth not yet appeare but we doe know that when he shal appeare V s e. 13. we shal be like vnto him shall see him as he is And whosoeuer hath this hope in him is purified as he is also pure This say I is the first Maxime first foundation that we doe set against the heretikes and others which know not Iesus Christ true God true man It is the wonderful coūsel of God which hath prouided for vs such a mediator and sauiour as did behooue vs to haue Secondlie we doe set against them the agreemēt of the old new Testamēt cōcerning Iesus Christ where wee see how that which the ceremonies of the law had figured was fulfilled in Christ as it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrewes 1. Iohn 3. for so dooth S. Paul witnesse proue how Christ was the end of the law Lastlie we doe set against thē the effects of this healthful knowledge which giueth peace rest of minde vnto the faithful So as manie haue suffered death with great ioy for the name of Iesus Now on the other part the issue of those who haue blasphemed as Cerinthus Manes Arrius and others were alwayes miserable And how soeuer it were that manie times the heresies of those which haue striuen either cōcerning the true diuine nature or cōcerning the veritie of Christs human nature were for a season maintained by violence impudēcie God in this giuing place vnto his iudgements prouing the constācie of his owne yet it is cleare by the Ecclesiasticall Histories how the Lord hath made his trueth dailie to triumph yea that manie times by weake Organes hath confounded the wise men of the world preseruing his trueth the Articles of our faith euen vnto our time whereof wee ought to thanke this good God without ceasing and to beseech him that he will likewise haue pitie also of our posteritie suffer them to inioy this wholesome treasure not suffering that for our vnthankfulnesse and by the damnable and ambitious contentions of certaine wicked members that at this day doe trouble the Churches the trueth should be darkened and this good Sauiour Iesus true GOD and true man should bee misknowne to the world Now to the end that euerie faithfull man might so much the better tast and learne what this sonne of God is and what foundation wee haue to beleeue in him and to hold him for our mediator the holie scripture dooth attribute two names chieflie vnto him Iesus Christ whereof the one is Iesus and the other is Christ to the end that wee may note and marke in the first what is the person of the sonne of God to witte that he is God the sauiour and the word of life manifested in the flesh In the second his Office because that Christ dooth signifie as much as Messias that is to say Annointed which was annointed for vs destined and ordained of the father and dwelling in him in all fulnesse that hee should bee our king our sacrificer and our Prophet and Doctor As concerning the first name which is Iesus it was giuen to the Lord not by aduenture but by a heauēlie Oracle declared by the Angel vnto Ioseph as wee doe reade in the 1. Chap. of S. Matthew Thou shalt call his name Iesus For hee shall saue his people from their sinnes The like was said vnto Marie euen as wee doe reade in the first Chap. of S. Luke Thou shalt beare a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Hee shall be great and shall bee called the sonne of the most highest and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the Throne of his father Dauid and the Angell speaking vnto the shepheardes in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke interpreting this word of Iesus said Behold I bring you tidings of great ioy that shall be to all the people That is that vnto you is borne this day in the Citie of Dauid a sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Moreouer Irenaeus a right auncient Doctor in the second booke against the heresies of Valentinus witnesseth that the Greekes called him Soter that which the scripture called Iesus that is to say Sauiour The which Iesus Christ was in deed straightway declared himselfe so to bee healing the sicke and raising vp the dead Especiallie by this euerlasting saluation and that saluation of the soules which hee hath gotten for vs who is the true saluation of whome we ought to make reckenning of 8. Pet. 1.5 as S. Peter saith that he should be fullie reuealed in the latter dayes Now such a Sauiour was not Iosua how braue a Captaine soeuer hee
the worlde beganne But nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scriptures of the prophets at the commandement of the euerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say only wise be praise for euer Out of the 4. Chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Lawe that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Out of the 2. Chap. of the Epistle to the Philippians Let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God But he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto man and was found in shape as a man He humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Out of the seconde Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrewes For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and bloud he also him selfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage For he in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seede of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that hee might bee mercifull a faithfull high priest in things cōcerning God to the end he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Borne of the virgin Marie The historie of the Lordes Natiuitie we haue it with all the circumstances thereof in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke Howe hee was borne vnder Octauian Augustus the Emperour Borne in Beth-lehem the citie of Dauid was wrapped in swadling clothes and layde in a cratch for he became poore to make vs rich 2. Cor. 8. Chap. This birth was by the Angels declared to the sheepeheardes Moreouer the wise men of the East were guided by a starre vnto Beth-lehem 2. of S. Matthew A MEDITATION vpon the conception and birth of Iesus Christ after the flesh WHo is he that would not desire to beholde with all reuerence and with great wonder this mightie mysterie of our God concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ and our redemption seeing that the verie Angels desire to looke thereon as S. Peter speaketh in his 1. Chap. 1. Epistle For it is the Gospel that doeth declare and reueile this hidden secret Rom. 16. at all times figured through diuers ceremonies and trulie fulfilled in the latter dayes O that so many kings patriarks prophets haue desired to see him but now men make litle account of this so great a secret O how beautifull are the feete of them that do declare vnto vs this Gospel of peace O and how much are the heretikes to be abhorred that would turne away from vs the knowledge of this Christ true God and man who hath not doone this honour vnto the Angelles to take vpon him their nature to redeeme them which were fallen but hath shewed this fauour vnto vs poor◠wormes of the earth Psal 51. as to take on him our nature Wee alas are conceiued in sinne and in iniquitie But the holy of the Lorde which was conceiued by the working of the holy spirite is come into the worlde to sanctifie saue vs. Ephes 2. We are borne the childrē of wrath But the welbeloued of the heauenly father was giuen for vs and now is our nature in honour and grace because that the euerlasting word was made flesh not leauing that which it was but taking vnto him that that he was not that is to say our nature ◠Iohn 1. O what an excellent word considering that is spoken of it that it was and did alwaies rest with God as the seconde person of the diuinitie but if a man haue respect vnto his essence it was and is God as S. Iohn sayth in the same place And that it is so all thinges haue beene made by it the life the light and all fulnesse is in it By it hath the Lorde spoken and reueiled the secrets of Paradise But what is it that this hath taken knit with him this word Our flesh And what is our flesh Flesh When as the scripture would speake of our poorenesse it calleth vs flesh as in the 78. Psalme And the Lord remembred that they were but flesh Howsoeuer that Iesus had taken vpon him all our nature that is to say the bodie and the soule as he is the redeemer of all mankinde yet so it is that we be but flesh and rottennesse He hath not therefore taken this flesh which was sinfull or the affection and passions of the flesh but the substance the weakenesses and the alterations that are in the flesh here withall did he charge himselfe He was not then ashamed of vs as the Schuencfeldians thinke that it should be to debase him too much if it were sayd that he had bin made flesh For the scripture sayth the same that he was made flesh that is yet a more vile word than the worde creature But as S. Bernarde sayth The more that thou considerest the humilitie of Christ so much the more seest thou thy glorie and the honour that God hath doone vnto thee how also God hath exalted thee and hath giuen thee a name aboue all names in such sort as they that forsake and despise thee shal one day feele that they shall haue to doe not with anie poore creature but with the king of kings and with the iudge of this worlde A praier of S. Ierome concerning the incarnation of Iesus Christ. O Lorde Iesus thou art my God and my sauiour that hast suffered for mee And although thou wert true God before all ages begotten euerlastingly of the father of an vnserchable generatiō yet wouldst thou to bee conceiued in the wombe of a virgin and to be made man like vnto me and in such manner as thou art true God and true man For thou hast in such sort taken humane nature in the virgins wombe as thou art God and man so as the diuinity is not the humanitie neither the humanity the diuinitie Thy two natures are not confounded and yet doe they make one the selfe same person O eternall worde that was made flesh to become our brother Thou hast had hunger and thirst Thou hast taken our weakenesse vppon thee sinne excepted which did neuer enter in thee as we bare it euen from our mothers wombe Nowe in thee O Lorde dwelleth bodily all fulnesse of grace and diuinitie Thou art made lesse than the father if a man doe respect thy humanitie And if one doe consider thy diuinitie thou art equall vnto him and now that thou hast debased thy selfe he doeth acknowledge thee for
as their glorie shall bee the condemnation of the world who did oppresse them and persecute them O Lord come quicklie to iudgement that all eyes may see thee yea those who haue pearced thee Apoca. 1. and doe dailie make warres to thee in thy mēbers Witnesses out of the scripture concerning the iudgement In the 25. of S. Matthew verse 31. When the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holie Angels with him then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and before him shall be gathered all nations and hee shall separate them one from an other as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the Goates And shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the Goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit yee the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And vnto those that shall bee on the left hand Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels Out of the 5. Chap. of S. Iohn verse 22. The Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men should honor the sonne as they honor the father As the Father hath life in himselfe so likewise hath hee giuen vnto his sonne to haue life in himselfe and hath giuen him power also to execute iudgement in that hee is the sonne of man As if hee should say although the father the sonne and the holie Ghost doe worke Iudge and gouerne together yet wil the Lord that wee should cast our eyes vppon the sonne of man by whom we are guided and through whome God hath declared himselfe Out of the 17. of the Actes verse 30. And the time of his ignorance God regarded not but now hee admonisheth all men euerie where to repent because hee hath appointed a day in the which he wil iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed whereof hee hath giuen an assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Out of the 5. Chap. 2. to the Corinth Wee couet that both dwelling at home and remouing from home wee may bee acceptable to him For wee must all appeare before the iudgemēt seate of Christ that euerie man may receaue the thinges which are doone in his bodie according vnto that hee hath doone whether it bee good or euill Out of the 4. Chap. and 1. Epistle to the Thessalonians For the Lorde himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shoute and with the voyce of the Archangell and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise first then shall wee which liue and remaine bee caught vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Aire and so shall wee euer bee with the Lord. Wherefore comfort your selues one an other with these wordes Out of the 2. Epistle of S. Paul to the Thes the first Chapter For it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you to you which are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shal shew himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obay not vnto the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saintes and to bee made maruelous in all them that beleeue c. Out of the 3. Chap. 2. Epistle of to S. Peter Against scorners or mockers There shal come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lustes and say Where is the promise of his comming For since the Fathers died all thinges continue alike from the beginning of the creation For this they willinglie know not that the heauens were of old and the earth that was of the water and by the water by the word of God But the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night c. I beleeue in the holie Ghost CONSIDERATION AS it was said frō the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost are but one onelie true God and this onelie true God is in such sorte declared to the world that the Father is named maker the Sonne redeemer and the holie ghost our Doctor and sanctifier For albeit that this Trinitie worketh together yet notwithstanding for our great comfort it is in such manner manifested that we may acknowledge how all these three persons doe woorke together in all things that doe appertaine vnto our saluation Now as the sonne is euerlastinglie begotten of the Father so likewise dooth the holie Ghost proceede euerlastinglie from the Father and the Sonne So then beleeuing in the holie Ghost wee doe not beleeue that the holie Ghost is onelie some moouing or inspiration But chiefelie we doe beleeue against the Macedonians ancient Heritikes that he is verie true God of the same substance that the father and the sonne is see then wherefore we doe beleeue in him And wee bee also baptised in his name as of the father and of the sonne he is an eternall spirite as it is said in the 9. Chap. of the Hebrewes and from him also commeth grace and peace as it sayde in the 1. Chap. of the Hebrewes Beeing the temple of the holie Ghost it is sayde that we be the temple of God To be short the father the worde and the holy Ghost are all one as it is saide in the first Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Iohn Then doe we beleeue that for the loue and in the name of Iesus Christ the holy Ghost doth comfort wash and sanctifie vs and that by the inspiration of him the holie Prophetes and the Apostles haue spoken and it is called the gift of God and in the 2. of the Actes because that he who is but one in himselfe hath brought foorth diuerse operations in vs of the which it is spoken in the 12. Chap. of the 1. to the Corinthians And as S. Bernarde sayeth vppon the Canticles we were dead in sinne and as stinking creatures but Iesus did embawlme vs with his holie spirite and hath annointed vs therewith to the ende wee might knowe taste and feele his mercie This is the heate of the Sunne which warmeth vs. This is the goodly and faire water of the heauenly ryuers which doeth refresh and water vs. It is the Bawlme that embalmeth vs it is the Oyle which doeth strengthen and make vs glad Nowe what tongue is it that can expresse this goodnesse of God towardes vs of the Father that hath created vs vnto his image of the Worde who hath bought vs againe with his bloude of the Holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs by his power Therefore let vs giue place vnto this Holie Ghost Ephe. 4. and let vs not sorrowe for our
made of iron nor of steele but of a weake and variable substance And yet neuerthelesse they dispose not themselues vnto their end neither make anie prouision for those thinges which concerne the time to come The beastes herein doe passe vs as Ieremie sheweth in the 8. of his prophesie For by the skie the Storke knoweth the season of the yeare and the Turtle and the Crane doe marke what time is fittest for their comming and all these byrdes doe well knowe howe that it is not alwayes Summer and that Winter will come But men marke not the iudgementes of God but sleepe in the world as if they should neuer remoue It is a thing verie certaine that wee must all die seeing that wee be all sinners and that death is the reward of sinne as S. Paul writeth in the 6. to the Romans True it is that the scripture setteth downe vnto vs three kindes of death The one is the sundering of the soul from the bodie with making nothing of the bodie vntill the resurrection An other is the death of sinne as it is often said that men which are nourished in their sinnes are dead And Iesus Christ speaking of those which knew not God said Let the dead burie the dead The third is called in the Apocalyps the second death sometimes the eternall death whereunto the wicked shall bee condemned in the last iudgement Now albeit that the Painimes sometimes seeme to haue spoken pretilie of death Yet so it is that two thinges haue made them vncertaine in this matter and vnprouided of sound consolation The first is that they neuer well vnderstoode the cause of death neither the remedie thereof The one whereof was by the fall of Adam the other giuen by Iesus Christ Moreouer they neuer vnderstoode the spring of true life that lyeth in God and in the beholding of his face where of the children of God shall after the resurrectioÌ„ be the beholders both in soule and bodie Although then that Adam before his sinne was created according to the bodie of the dust of the earth yet in deed so it is that if hee had not sinned the diuine vertue and Image of God had swallowed vp in him all corruption and defended him against death in such sort as without griefe when it had pleased God he should passe into heauenlie life But his wilfull transgressing made him with his posteritie seruile vnto death so as hee had receaued for him and for his a most blessed condition if hee had not sinned And as concerning that the death of Adam did not follow for his sinne all at one time it was not but through the mercie of our good God whose will is to preserue mankinde in the meane time punishing sinne in that that Adam and all his rase haue bin and are of one mortall condition full of labor and miserie Wee doe also see the pitifull entrie that wee doe make into the world casting forth a thowsand gronings and sighes from our first ariuall into the world Furthermore euerie one will easilie coÌ„fesse that death is a thing most fearefull that can happen vnto man because that it doeth represent vnto vs at one time the wrath of God and a miserable vndoing of our life whereof naturallie wee are so desirous Behold wherefore wise men are manie times giuen to search out coÌ„forts wherewith to sweeten for vs the sourenesse of death But those that haue not tasted of the word of GOD haue nothing to stay vppon not finding anie resolution but that wee must beare that which is ordained for vs by an irreuocable arrest Manie of the Heathens being indued with a knowledge somewhat higher than the rest and affirming the immortalitie of the soule hold this for a resolution that in the other life the state of good men shall bee happie seeing that here belowe they be ordinarilie subiect to manie miseries And in deede wee must come to this point that by the temporall and present estate one caÌ„not iudge of mens happinesse as also contrariwise they that most doe prosper in this world in earthlie things die oftentimes as brute beastes hauing a soule buried in earthlie things albeit that there is a difference betwixt man and beast because euerlasting death is reserued for the wicked and because the end crowneth the worke Though that in this world a man receaued great giftes of God yet the continuance and all the vertues doe declare and shew themselues chieflie in the Agonies of death Therefore euen as one wretched nature hath brought vs vnto one lyke condition of death so doeth the grace of God make the difference that the one to wit the vngodlie die to their destruction And the other which bee the children of God guided by his spirit and by his word Psal 116. doe die for to liue more happilie so that their death is pretious before GOD. Then let vs say that which is said in the 23. of Numbers I pray God I may die the iust mens death which are assured as Iob saith in the 19. Chapter that one day they shall see GOD in their flesh This was the cause that men were customed to burie the dead with a certaine speciall care For as men locke vp their apparell in a chest meaning to weare them againe euen so are the dead bodies buried in full hope of a certaine rising againe Truelie wee ought well to wish this time where as Christ saith in the 22. of S. Matthew when wee shall bee like vnto Angels in happinesse and in pure conuersation and thoughtes Then shall this be the true fulfilling of our redemption wheÌ„ as we shal be gathered together on high where there is neither cold nor heate Apoca. 7. hunger nor thirst but a lasting blessednesse But to whome is death pleasant but to those that doe labour The poore day-laborer is glad that he hath done his dayes labour So is death sweete vnto the afflicted and the remembrance thereof is bitter to those that rest themselues in worldlie thinges The chiefe point is let vs labor whilest it is day and let vs learne to know God so long as we be in this world seeing that in the knowledge of him lyeth our saluation Oh what a comfort dooth a faithfull soule â—inde in that that Iesus hath spoken in the 17. Chap. of S. Iohn My Father I will that where I am those may be there also which thou hast giuen me So then when as wee doe meditate of these thinges in good time death will be sweete vnto vs. And thereuppon it commeth to passe euen as to those whose discourses and thoughtes haue bin sweete vnto them all day long that likewise their dreames bee all the night verie pleasant and quiet But the troublesome men and busie trotters vp and downe haue their dreames commonlie full of vnquietnesse Such like shall the death of those bee that doe incomber themselues with worldlie thinges And as S. Augustine saith What is this but death This is the leauing of the