may liue together with him in the eternall mansions reioyce together in his heauenly kingdome Ioh. 17.24 Father saith he I will that they whom thou haste giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glorie which thou hast giuen me from before the foundations of the world He that is going to Christ his mansion and to the brightnesse and glorie of his heauenly kingdome ought not to waile and mourne but rather according to the promise of our Lord and according to the stablenesse and stedfastnesse of his truth to reioyce for his departure and for his translating remouing hence Thus we find that Enoch was translated in as much as he pleased God For so the holy Scripture of God witnesseth of him in the booke of Genesis saying And Enoch pleased God Gen. 5.24 or walked with God and he was no more found for God translated him or tooke him away This it was for him to please God and to walke before him euen to haue this honour to be translated taken away from the danger infection of this present world And this is that which the wise man teacheth vs that they who please God are more speedily taken away hence and sooner released lest while they abide and continue ouerlong in this world they should be corrupted and defiled with worldly affaires Wisd 4.11.14 He was taken away saith he lest wickednesse should alter his vnderstanding for his soule was pleasing vnto God therefore he hastened to take him away from the midst of iniquitie So likewise in the Psalmes Dauid hauing his soule deuoted dedicated vnto God with spirituall confidence and boldnesse he maketh haste to go vnto the Lord as it is written of him Psal 84.1 Psal 84.1 O how amiable are thy dwellings thou Lord of hoasts my soule longeth and maketh haste vnto the courts of the Lord So then it is for him alone to be desirous to abide long in this world that placeth his delight and happinesse in the world for him whom this flattering and deceitfull world tickleth and prouoketh with the allurements and enticements of carnal and worldly pleasures Moreouer whereas the world hateth euery one that is truly a Christian what meanest thou to loue him that thus hateth thee Why rather doest thou not follow after Christ who hath redeemed thee and who still continually loueth thee Hereupon it is that S. Iohn in his first Epistle proclaimeth crieth out earnestly exhorting that we should not loue the world in following after fleshly lusts and desires Loue not the world saith he neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world 1 Ioh. 2.15 the loue of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world as the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that shall do the will of God abideth for euer as God abideth for euer Now therefore deare brethren let vs with vpright hearts and minds with stedfast faith and valiant courage be euermore in readinesse to submit our selues wholly to the will of God and casting off all feare of death let vs meditate and thinke vpon immortalitie which is to follow after Let vs declare shew that this is the thing which we belieue and look for in that we neither lament the death of our friends be they neuer so deare vnto vs and also whensoeuer the day and houre cometh of our dissolution of our calling hence away we are readie to come willingly without delay when God calleth for vs. Which thing as the seruants of God are to do at all times so the same ought much rather to be done now that the world seemeth to be almost wasted and spent and also enuironed and beset with tempests of mischiefes and troubles that we seeing and beholding so great and grieuous miseries and calamities already begun and knowing that farre greater are at hand and like to come ere it be long should account it the greatest aduantage that may be with speed to depart hence 2 Pithie similitudes If the wals of the house where thou dwellest should bend leane aside through age and long continuance and the roofe of the house shake ouer thy head the whole frame of the building being tired and worne out readie to drop drowne should threaten a sudden speedie fall wouldst thou not with all speed get thee out thence If while thou â—art sailing on the Seas some fierce and tempestuous â—orme causing the waues therof to arise should therby foreshew that thou weâ—t certainly like to suffer shipwracke wouldest thou not with all speed approch and draw neare vnto the hauen Behold The world now bending and readie to fall the world is now bending and declining and euen readie to fall yea it doth openly proclaime and beare witnesse of his vtter ruine and destruction not so much by the antiquitie or oldnesse as by the conclusion and by the accomplishment and end of all things which is now neare at hand And doest thou not thanke God and reioyce in thine owne behalfe that being takeÌ„ away by a more speedie death thou art freeed from the ruines shipwracks and plagues that are now at hand We must coÌ„sider beloued brethren euer now and then remeÌ„ber and haue in mind that we haue renounced and forsaken the world and that now in the meane time we liue here as strangers forreiners O let vs then embrace receiue gladly the day that assigneth and appointeth euery one to their habitation and mansion place where they may still abide and dwell which also after we are taken hence away and set free from the snares and setters of this world doth restore vs and bring vs againe into Paradise and into the kingdome of heauen What man being in a strange countrie farre from home would not hasten to returne into his owne countrey againe What man making haste to faile vnto his friends as his parents or his wife children would not wish with great desire to haue a prosperous wind to carrie him that so he might with as much speed as may be behold embrace them who are so neare and deare vnto him Our countrey we recken and make certaine account to be Paradise that is the kingdome of heauen for our parents we haue the holy and blessed Patriarchs Why then do we not runne and make haste that we may behold and see our countrey and may salute our parents A great number of our louing and deare friends expect and looke for vs there as our parents our brethren and our children A populous and a large multitude there is that long for vs and desire our company being already secure and fâ—llie assured of their owne immortality and further desirous earnestly of our welfare and safetie To come
a man exasperateth him pride and vaine glorie make him to swell drunkennesse prouoketh and allureth enuie breaketh concord and vnitie zeale and emulation cut off friendship and amitie Thou art moued and enforced to speake euill or to backbite slander which God in his law forbiddeth or thou art constrained to sweare sometimes falsly sometimes vainly which is a thing not lawful A mans mind suffereth euery day so many pursuits and his heart is vexed and molested with so many dangers And can it take pleasure to stay any long time here amidst so many swords When as rather we should wish desire by the helpe of death to hasten more speedily vnto Christ especially when he hath beforehand so instructed and forewarned vs saying Ioh. 16.20 Verily verily I say vnto you ye shall weepe and lament and the world shall reioyce ye shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy Now what man will not make haste to come vnto ioy What man would not wish to be free from sorrow And when is the time that our sorrow shal be turned into ioy This the Lord himselfe declareth afterwards saying verse 22. I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioy shall no man take from you For as much then as in beholding of Christ there is true and perfect ioy and that we can haue no true perfect ioy but in beholding him what blindnesse and sottishnes of mind or rather what madnesse is it to loue the teares and paines and sorrowes of this world that are readie to torment and oppresse vs and not rather to make haste vnto the ioy that can neuer be taken away Now surely this cometh to passe well beloued brethren for want of faith because there are so few or none that beleeue how that those things shal assuredly come to passe which God promiseth who is faithfull and true and whose word vnto the true beleeuers is constant and firme eternall and euerlasting If some graue discreet man and one that all men did commend for his honesty and fidelitie should promise thee any thing thou wouldest surely giue him credit and wouldest perswade thy selfe of him that he will in no wise beguile thee nor deceiue thee knowing him to be a man constant and steadfast both in his words deeds Now behold God it is that reasoneth the case with thee and that maketh such gracious promises vnto thee and doest thou with an vnbeleeuing heart like a faithlesse wretch still wauer and stand in doubt God promiseth vnto thee as soone as thou departest out of this world immortalitie and eternall life and doest thou doubt of it Surely this is as much as not to know God at all this is as much as to displease and offend the master of al them that beleeue Christ Iesus by the sinne of vnbeleefe this is as much as for one that is placed in the Church of God in the house of faith to haue no faith at all How greatly behoouefull and profitable also is it for vs to depart out of this world Christ himselfe the master and teacher of our saluation and the author of our welfare sheweth plainly who when his disciples were sorrowfull and grieued because he said that he must ere long depart and go away from thē he spake vnto them in this wise If ye had loued me Ioh. 14.28 ye would verily reioyce because I go vnto the Father Hereby declaring teaching that whensoeuer our deare friends whō we loue depart hence out of the world we should rather reioyce then be grieued Of which thing the blessed Apostle Saint Paule being mindfull Philip. 1. he layeth this downe for a ground and saith Phil 1.21 Christ is vnto me life and Death is vnto me aduantage accounting it the greatest gain and aduantage vnto himselfe that might be to be now no longer bound and held in the snares of the world to be subiect now no longer vnto any sinne or corruption of the flesh But being now exempted freed from all troubles and vexations and set at libertie out of the venemous lawes of the Diuell at the call and summons of his Lord and Maister Christ to passe vnto the ioyes of eternall saluation But yet for al this An obiection it is a matter that still troubleth some men That such weaknesses and sicknesses doe seize vpon vs Christians euen alike as they doe vpon other Heathens Answer As if for this end a Christian did beleeue in Christ that hee might be free from the touch and feeling of miseries troubles and might enioy this world and the time that he hath to abide therein at his own pleasure not rather that he might be reserued for the ioy to come after that he hath suffered heere all manner of crosses and afflictions patiently It greatly mooueth and troubleth some that this death and mortalitie is common vnto vs with other men And what is there indeed in this world that is not common vnto vs with others as long as according to the law and condition of our first birth this flesh still remaineth common In flesh we are all one like another but are seuered in spirit So long as we are heere in this world we are knit and ioyned together with all other men alike and are all one in flesh but are seuered in spirit And therefore vntill this corruptible doe put on incorruption and this mortall body doe put on immortalitie and that the Spirit bring vs vnto God our heauenly Father whatsoeuer inconueniences and discommodities there be of the flesh the same are common vnto vs with all mankind So that when as through some vnkind blasts and vnseasonable weather the ground becommeth barren and vnfruitfull the famine and dearth ensuing thereupon maketh no difference nor distinction of any And when by inuasion of enemies any Citie is taken all are spoiled alike and caried away into captiuitie Also when faire bright clouds put off and driue away the raine some long time the drought is alike vnto all And when the hard rockes breake in sunder the ship the shipwracke is without exception common alike vnto all that saile therein And so in like maner the paines sorenesse of the eyes the vehement heate of Feuers and the crazinesse and feeblenesse that is in all the members of our bodies the same are common vnto vs as well as others so long as in this world we carry this common flesh about vs. Nay rather in asmuch as vpon couenant and condition a Christian doth beleeue in Christ he must know and vnderstand yea and hold for suretie that he is to suffer more and to take more paines in this world then others hauing to wrastle and to encounter with the assaults of the Diuell more then others are Of this the Scripture doth forewarne and teach vs. My Sonne Eccle. 21.2 if thou wilt come into the seruice of God stand fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare
denque corpus expositum ad redimendum Haec quanta sint cogitato haec in statêra cordis appendito vt totus tibi figatur in corde qui totus pro te fixus est in cruce Behold and looke stedfastly vpon the wounds of him that hanged on the crosse for thee vpon the bloud of him that dyed for thee vpon the price of him that redeemed thee He hath his head bowed downe on the crosse to kisse thee his armes stretched out wide to embrace thee and finally his whole bodie exposed and offered to redeeme thee CoÌ„sider of how great price and of how great weight and moment these things are and weigh well and ponder the same in the ballance of thine owne heart that the same Christ may be wholy fixed and fastened in thy heart who was wholy fixed and fastened vpon the crosse for thee And assuredly perswade thy selfe that not thou but Christ is charged with the sinnes which haue bene committed by thee and that they are all laid vpon his shoulders who hauing taken them vpon himselfe hath discharged vs and made ful satisfaction and payment for vs so as he will neuer impute them vnto vs not lay them to our charge but will freely forgiue them all as in our Creed we professe and say I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes CHAP. V. Here it will be very necessarie and profitable for the comfort of the patient or sicke partie to vrge and repeate often some testimonies of the word of God concerning the forgiuenesse of sinnes by and through Christ as these and the like IOhn the 1.29 Ioh. 1.29 Iohn the Baptist crieth out maketh this proclamation Ecce Agnus Dei Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Saint Peter likewise 1 Epist Chap. 1.18 Know this 1 Pet. 1.18 that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersation but with the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and withouâ— spot Let these things deare brother sinke deepe into thy minde to confirme and comfort thee Thou hast no cause to doubt of the remission and forgiuenesse of thy sinnes for in as much as thou hast professed the Name of Christ and puttest confidence in his mercie he will also take away thy sinnes And if thou nothing doubt but stedfastly beleeue this thou art alreadie freed and discharged from all thy sins and art alreadie become the child of God there is no cause for thee to wauer or to feare But yet heare and hearken vnto further testimonies and so heare them that thou imprint them throughly in thy mind Iohn 3.16 Ioh. 3.16.18 God so loued the world saith our Sauiour that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And againe Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not be condemned c. And againe Mat. 9.13 I am not come saith he to call the righteous Mat. 9.13 but sinners to repentance and Math. 11.28 and 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that are weary and laden and I will ease you Marke how that he calleth al vnto him he refuseth none he reiecteth and casteth off none In this word All he concludeth thee And therefore call thou and crie vnto him for mercie and he will assuredly accept thee and will refresh thee Rom. 5.8 Rom. 5.8 God setteth onâ— herein his loue toward vs tâ— that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shall be saued from wrath through him This ioyfull tydings full of singular comfort deare brother almightie God thy most tender and louing father will haue to be preached and proclaimed vnto thee for thy comfort For eueÌ„ for thee it is that Christ was sent for thee it was that he died Only beleeue and commit thy selfe vnto Christ thy redeemer and sauiour Likewise in the same Chap. to the Romans verse 10. If when we were enemies Rom. 5.10 we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life And 1. Cor. 1.30 Christ Iesus is made vnto vs of God 1 Cor. 1.30 wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Now then deare brother lift vp thine heart and comfort thy selfe Albeit thou art neuer so great and grieuous a sinner no cause there is wherefore thou shouldst therefore be discouraged but acknowledge and confesse thy selfe before God to be such a one beg and craue for mercie in and through Christ aske paâ—don and forgiuenesse anâ— beleeue Christ to bee thâ— onely Sauiour thy righteousnesse and saluation And he will euermore 〈◊〉 thine and will hide and couer all thy sinnes and vtteâ—ly abolish them so as thaâ— shalt not need to feare theâ— by any hurt or danger Againe 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.21 God hatâ— made him who knew no sinnâ— to be sinne for vs that 〈◊〉 might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Like wise Gal. 1.4 Galat. 1.4 Christ hatâ— giuen himselfe for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present euill world according to the will of God euen our father And Ephes 1.7 Ephe. 1.7 By Christ we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes according to his rich grace And 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners saith Saint Paule of whom I am chiefe Now then brother haue thou also good hope and beleeue these words as Saint Paule did and then shalt thou assuredly be in the number of them that are iustified and saued 1 Tim. 2.6 S. Paul saith That Christ Iesus gaue himselfe a ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 Beleeue this then stedfastly and without controuersie thou art now one of them alreadie that are ransomed and redeemed Furthermore Math. 26.26 Thou hearest Christ in 〈◊〉 last Supper talking wâ— thee and thou seest hâ—â— nourishing feeding thâ— with his body and also oâ—fering and giuing vnto thâ— his bloud to drinke vnto â—uerlasting life Math. 26.26 wheÌ„ he saitâ— Take eate this is my bodâ— which is giuen for you do tâ— in remembrance of me Likâ— wise also after he had suppeâ— he tooke the cup and said 1 Cor. 11.25 Thâ— cup is the bloud of the 〈◊〉 Testament which is shed â— you and for many for the râ—mission of sinnes Do this often as ye shall drinke it remembrance of me These words deare brâ—ther it behooueth thee 〈◊〉 fixe fast in thy memorie 〈◊〉 to thinke theÌ„ spoken to thâ— selfe For when as he speaketh vnto all he speaketh vnto thee also And all the things which Christ did or suffered shall be auaileable vnto thee and shall turne to thy saluation and to thy benefit no lesse then they did to Peter or Paul 1 Pet. 2.24 it is said That Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree 1 Pet. 2.24
and 3.18 And Chap. 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs vnto God And Saint Iohn 1 Epistle 1.7 saith 1 Ioh. 1.7 That the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne and Chap 2.1 If any man sinne and 2.1 we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the reconciliation fâ—â— our sinnes and not for ouâ— onely but also for the sinnes 〈◊〉 the whole world Thou hast heard heâ— deare brother the word not of man but of the holy Ghost which witnessâ— onely that God the fatheâ— who willeth not the death of a sinner EZech. 18. but that heâ— should conuert and liue euen he of his infinite louâ— toward thee hath easeâ— thee of the heauie burtheâ— of thy sinnes and hath laiâ— them on the shoulders oâ— his best and onely beloueâ— Sonne He hath borne them and suffered for them in hiâ— body that they cannot aâ— any time condemne thee For as much as God accepteth and reputeth the death of his Sonne in stead of plenarie and perfect repentance and of full payment and satisfaction for all thy sinnes so that thou beleeue in his Sonne Christ Iesus Forasmuch then as thy sins being laid vpoÌ„ Christ could not hold him in death neither condemne him verily satisfaction is now already made for them and to thee they are all now remitted pardoned Beleeue these things and thou shalt liue eternally for euer Christ himself hath borne thy sins and also died for them But he is risen againe and the sinnes of all true beleeuers are by the death of Christ more then sufficiently purged and discharged and the strict and seuere iustice and iudgement of God abundantly satisfied for thy sins by Christ Iesus Christ now then is thine togetheâ— with all his benefits with his death Rom. 8.32 resurrection and ascension into heauen with his merits righteousnesse obedience and finally witâ— his life and endlesse glorie Satan therefore hath no right nor interest in thee nor power ouer thee neither can he do vnto thee any hurt or iniurie sith thou art iustified by Christ seeing thou art freed and deliuereâ— from all thy sinnes and seeing thou art the child oâ— God For behold God is thy father and such a father aâ— entirely loueth thee for Christ his sake who hath reconciled thee vnto himselfe Be of good comfort then Phil. 4.4 and reioyce againe againe in the Lord. For as much as thou art in the hands of almighty God thy most tender and louing father who is also most true and faithfull in his word promises thou art safe and out of all danger so as no euill can befall thee being vnder his custodie and enuironed about and garded with a troope of Angels as he hath promised Psal 91.11 That he will giue his angels charge ouer thee Psal 91.11 to keepe thee in all thy waies Christ also is thine how mightie soeuer he be in power how rich soeuer in goodnesse and how great and high soeuer in maiestie and glorie He it is that hath couered all thy sinnes with the cloke of his innocencie and obedience and taken them all quite away Rom. 8.32 so that none shall be able to wrest or plucke thee out of the hands of thy heauenly Father As soone as thou shalt haue suffered and passed ouer this bodily affliction and temporall crosse which being compared vnto euerlasting life is light and momentany thou hast then got the victorie Christ Iesus hath gone before thee in suffering the like yea and a farre more sharpe and bitter Luke 22.44 and a farre more terrible conflict Now he is thy head vnto whom thou must of necessitie be conformed made like vnto him by dying vnto thy sinnes and by leauing and laying downe this life so embrued and defiled with sinne that so with thy Lord Christ thou maist liue the blessed life and that for euer Let not thy sinnes then vexe and trouble thee there is no cause why for them thy conscience should be disquieted seeing that they are alreadie taken away and abolished the euil spirit that seeketh the destruction of our soules is for thee vanquished and ouercome cast downe and trodden vnder foote God now in fauor looketh vpon thee he taketh care of thee to defend and keepe thee yea the societie and fellowship of all the blessed Angels attend vpon thee they watch ouer thee and pitch their tents about thee readie to minister vnto thee to carrie thy soule into the bosome of Abraham so that thou canst in no wise be condemned no more then could thy head Christ Iesus so that with thy whole heart thou fixe and repose thy confidence in him If sinne death and hell be not able to do any harme or displeasure vnto thy Lord Christ no more theâ— can they do vnto thee for as much as thou art iâ— Christ and Christ in thee thou canst neuer be condemned whereas indeed if thou were to sustaine and beare thine owne sins and to make satisfaction for them thou shouldest neuer be able to sustaine and vndergoe so great a burthen but thy sinnes would weigh and presse thee downe into hell vtterly ouerwhelme and swallow thee vp But now Christ being the selfe same true God and true man he hath willingly offered himselfe for thee and hath substituted himselfe in thy stead making full payment of all for thee as he saith Psal 69.4 Psal 69.4 That he made payment of the things which he neuer tooke Thou hast indeed in thy selfe coÌ„mitted many sinnes but Christ hath in thy stead discharged and made satisfaction for them all He it is that hath set thee at liberty that hath made thee partaker with himselfe of eternall life if onely thou shalâ— beleeue and giue credencâ— vnto this word and Gospel Yea assuredly deare brother though the sinnes of the whole world did liâ— vpon thy necke alone yeâ— notwithstanding behold there is infinite mercy with God abundantly sufficient or rather more then sufficient for them all Now God hath promised in Christ his blessing of grace and mercie vnto thee And the same his promise is in thy Lord Christ ratified and assured and fully accomplished and performed vnto thee so as thou canst not but be saued if onely thou do but cast thine eyes vpon Christ There is then nothing more sure and certaine then thy saluation For Christ being the naturall Sonne of God and in his diuine essence truth it selfe he is in respect of humane nature our flesh and bloud Who then shall be or can be more trustie and more faithfull to giue and performe this promise of grace and mercie then this Christ who is himselfe the truth of the promise who loueth vs so feruently and earnestly that he chose rather to suffer death voluntarily and willingly theâ— that we shold be frustrated of any promise Wherefore if thou shalt beleeue in
suggesteth vnto his mind whole cartlodes of his sinnes and he doth aggrauate the same as much as possible may be that so by the hainousnesse and greatnesse of his sinnes he may cause him to stand in doubt of Gods mercie and pardon so driue him to despaire Here also be sure to stand fast and to resist manfully And when the enemy in this maner setteth vpon thee entertaine him and repell him with these or the like words True it is I confesse my selfe to be as exceeding great and grieuous sinner but Christ who is not guiltie of any sinne who is also that vnspotted Lambe in whose mouth was found no guile he hath suffered most bitter cruel death for all my sinnes how manifold how great soeuer they be they are all discharged by him he hath made full and perfect satisfaction for them all Christ his death is a sufficient attonement and propitiation for all my sinnes Esay 53.4 Christ truly and indeed hath borne mine infirmities Christ truly and indeed hath carried my sorrowes hee was wounded for my transgressions he was broken for mine iniquities and by his stripes I am healed he hath taken vpon him all my sins So that now though they haue bene neuer so many yet now I acknowledge not any I thanke my God through Iesus Christ who in his owne bodie and in his owne person hath discharged and made paymeÌ„t and satisfaction for them all 3 Temptation of Christ Thirdly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the horror of hell and eternall damnation when they obiected vnto him and said He trusted in God that he would deliuer him Let him deliuer him if he will haue him as if they should say All his hope and trust in God shall be vaine and frustrate God hath forsaken him and reiected him he hateth and abhorreth him and he will cast him downe headlong into hell condemne him euerlastingly Whensoeuer then that Tempter doth vrge and trouble thee with such like temptations take heed thou moue not one foote for all that Feare not nor be afraid let not these temptations trouble thee which he presenteth vnto thee though the same bee neuer so sore grieuous but shake them off and banish out of thy minde both the feare of sinne of death and of hell For they haue no right nor power ouer thee if so be onely thou cast thine eies vpon Christ lay hold vpon him and coÌ„mit thy selfe wholly to him Christ is thine he hath giuen and bestowed himselfe wholly vpon thee and for thee He hath by an inestimable price redeemed thee and deliuered thee from the tyrannie of the diuell from eternall damnation Christ here is become thy life thy righteousnesse and innocencie Onely see that thy heart mind be not by any tentation withdrawne nor remoued from Christ crucified If thou cleaue sticke fast vnto Christ thou art safe against all the gates of hell as being placed and set vpon a most high tower and vpon a most strong and inuincible rocke So as thou mayest boldly crie out with Dauid a true type of our Sauiour Christ Psal 16.8 I haue see the Lord alwaies before me for he is on my right hand the I should not be moued Therefore is my heart glad and my tongue also reioyceth moreouer my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leâ—â— my soule in graue neither 〈◊〉 thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Thou hast shewed me the path of life and thou shalt fill me with the ioy of thy countenance For in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore By such a faith in Christ thou art made the child of God Gal. 3.26 brother and fellow heire with Christ and partaker with him of eternall life Ioh. 1.12 This faith iustifieth the righteous that is all euen as many as beleeue in Christ By this faith thou art made the blessed sonne of thy heauenly Father and as soone as thou departest hence thou shalt enter assuredly into the celestiall kingdome Mat. 25.34 which God hath prepared for all his elect children from before the beginning of the world Now if in the midst of thy temptations thy faith begin for all this to wauer and stagger If thou perceiue that thou doest not beare so meekely and patiently as thou shouldest the will and pleasure of God thy heauenly Father and his hand which is heauie vpon thee And if thou feelest and findest thy loue to warâ— somewhat cold thy hope weake and slender thereupon fearest that as yeâ— thou art not at agreement with God but that he is still displeased with thee This temptation indeed is very sore and grieuous and full of difficultie But yâ—â— deare brother thinke thou with thy selfe and consider how that Christ hath sustained for thee a farre more inuincible intollerable tentation wherein appeared no helpe nor comfort no defence nor succour when he cried out My God Mat. 27.46 my God why hast thou forsaken me O horrible and cruell temptation O how sharpe and bitter and how cruell rigorous was that death which he did vndergo for vs to the end that he might make the way of affliction easie vnto vs Seeing then Christ willingly submitted himselfe vnto these and plunged himselfe in these so horrible and intollerable miseries and distresses and that by the will appointment of our most louing heauenly Father he knoweth doubtlesse accepteth also our infirmitie weaknesse he verily is full of compassion and he will in no wise deale strictly with vs but will pardon and forgiue many things vnto our weakenes Psal 103.14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust c. Psal 103.14 Is it not he also who calleth all men vnto him saying Come vnto me all that labour and are heauie laden Mat. 11.28 and I will ease you I pray you what greater or more large and ample or more comfortable a promise could there be then this Many things there be indeed which molest and trouble a man especially in time of sicknes among which what can more grieuously terrifie or more cruelly torment and perplexe the conscience of a man ouerwhelmed with his sinnes then when he doubteth of Gods mercie and feareth lest God turne away his face from him and hath reiected and cast him off when he cannot conceiue a stedfast and assured confidence in Gods mercy and loue toward him but he imagineth himselfe to be cut off and cast away as a member that is dry and withered Here sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ be thou present at hand with thy aide and succour For here indeed is need of comforting and refreshing lest such violent and horrible waues and stormes as these ouerwhelme wretched maÌ„ and vtterly drowne him swallow him vp But for all this behold we haue no cause either of doubt or feare Christ is not vaine nor
Written by that famous and blessed Martyr Saint CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage Wherein he exhorteth to a vehement desire of leauing this miserable life Declaring withall and shewing that whereas the iust and vniust dye alike we must not thinke their end to be all one forasmuch as the righteous are called away vnto endlesse rest and happinesse and the wicked are violently haled and caried away to be punished HOwsoeuer it be true dearely beloued brethren that there appeares to be in many of you a sound mind and a stedfast faith an holy deuout will and desire which is nothing moued nor daunted at the greatnesse of this mortalitie but rather as a firme â—trong rocke beateth back and ouercometh all the violent and tempestuous assaults of the world It selfe being assailed and tried but not vanquished nor ouercome with any temptations yet notwithstanding for as much as I perceiue some of the common sort of people either through weakenesse of mind slendernes of faith or through the sweetnes of this worldly and temporall life or through the tendernesse of their sexe or that which is more through error and ignorance of the truth not to stand so strongly manfully as they should nor to shew forth the diuine and inuincible courage of their hearts and minds It was a matter not to be concealed nor passed ouer in silence but that according to the measure of our abilitie the cowardlinesse and lazinesse of such nice and daintie minds ought by strong force and by some discourse conceiued and gathered out of the word of our Lord Iesus Christ to be repressed and subdued and that whosoeuer hath already begun to be a man of God and of Christ might be esteemed worthy of God and of Christ For whosoeuer he be beloued brethren that warreth vnder the ensigne of God and of Christ and being placed in the heauenly boast and army is alreadie in hope and expectation of heauenly things that man ought to acknowledge and to auow and professe himselfe to be such a one that amidst the stormy tempests and troubles of the world there be in vs no feare nor doubting Especially seeing that the Lord hath foretold that these things shold so come to passe prouidently encouraging instructing and teaching yea arming and preparing confirming and strengthening his people and true members of his Church vnto all patience and abiding of things to come Foretelling and admonishing that there shold be warres and dearths and earthquakes and pestilences in all places And lest that the vnlooked for and sudden feare of new and fresh troubles might haply dismay vs he hath warned vs before hand that in the last times worldly crosses and afflictions should be more and more increased Behold the things which were foretold are now com to passe And when the said things which were foretold doe come to passe then shal follow also whatsoeuer hath bene promised the Lord himselfe making vnto vs this warrantise and assurance saying Luke 21. When ye shall see all these things come to â—asse know ye that the kingdome of God is neare The kingdome of God beloued brethren is now neare at hand the gladsome tidings and ioyfull reward of eternall life and saluation and the ioyfull possession of Paradise which before was lost is now come in this last passage end of the world Heauenly things do now succeed and come in place of earthly things things of great weight and account in place of things of no price and value and things eternall and euerlasting in place of things fraile and transitory What place then is there here for care and vexation and anguish of mind What man amidst these things will or can be fearefull and pensiue but he that is vtterly voide of faith and hope It is indeed for him to feare death that is vnwilling to go vnto Christ and it is for him to be vnwilling to go vnto Christ that beleeueth not how that now alreadie he hath begunne to reigne with Christ For it is written that the iust man liueth by his faith Rom. 1. If thou be made iust and righteous then thou liuest by faith If then thou hast faith and by the same faith doest truly and stedfastly trust in God why doest thou not shew thy selfe as one that shall assuredly be with Christ and as one that is secure and assured of the Lords promise Why doest thou not I say with gladnesse of heart receiue and embrace this thy calling vnto Christ and reioyce that thou hast not any more to do with this earth and grauell Furthermore that iust man Simeon Simeon Luke 2.25 who was truly iust and righteous and with stedfast faith kept the commandements of God when as a reuelation was giuen vnto him froÌ„ God that he should not see death before he had seene the Lord Christ and that Christ being a little child was now come with his mother into the Temple he knew in the spirit that now Christ was borne of whom it was foretold him whom as soone as he saw he knew he should die quickly And therfore being glad because of his death which was now at hand being secure voide of care for his calling hence which was not far off he took the child in his hands or in his armes and praising God he cried out and said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation Prouing vndoubtedly testifying that then the seruants of God haue peace haue free and quiet rest when as being drawne and taken away from the stormes and tempests of this troublesome world they ariue at the hauen of euerlasting rest and safetie when as this death being quite abolished and put away they enter into the state of immortalitie For that is our peace that is our sure rest tranquility that is our constant and stedfast yea endlesse euerlasting safetie and securitie Moreouer what other thing else do we in this world but euery day wage battell against the diuell what else but with continuall conflicts fight against him and withstand and resist his darts and arrowes We are to encounter with couetousnesse and worldlinesse Enemies with whom we are to encounter in this world with vncleannesse and wantonnesse with anger and furiousnesse with ambition and with pride and haughtinesse We are to wrastle and struggle dayly and continually yea that with no small difficulty and danger against the sensualitie and corruptions of our flesh and against the allurements and enticements of the world The minde of man being compassed about and inclosed on euery side with the trouble and molestation of this base earth and grauell is hardly able to resist and withstand euery one of these If couetousnesse be put to flight ouerthrowne behold lust and sensualitie riseth vp in place If lust and sensualitie be repressed ambition succedeth in their stead If ambition be despised and vnregarded then anger rage whetteth
wrath and displeasure In stead of death and after death grant vnto him life euen life euerlasting that he may for euer liue with thee in glory And if thou thinke it better more expedient for him that he abide yet longer in this mortalitie either for the benefit of others and for the vse and seruice of the Church or else for his owne behalfe and benefite that he may more nearely be conformed and made like vnto the example and image of thy Sonne Christ Iesus restore vnto him mercifull and gracious Lord his former health strength and with health and strength increase in him euery day more and more the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit Howbeit thy will be done alwaies in all things which cannot but euermore be for the best All these things grant vnto vs we beseech thee most gracious and merciful Father and to this our feeble and distressed neighbour and brother for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake who is our onely helper and redeemer for his sake who for the comfort of sinners translated by the ministerie of his blessed Angels the theefe on the crosse into Paradise and the soule of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome euen for his sake who sitteth at thy right hand of power and glorie to be our Aduocate and to make intercession for vs who also liueth and reigneth together with thine owne maiestie in the vnitie of the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Sicke partie LOrd Iesus thou that art the health of al men liuing and the life euerlasting of all that in thy true faith depart out of this wretched transitorie world I submit and wholly giue ouer my selfe vnto thy most blessed will whether it plâ—aâ—e thee that this silly soule of mine shall abide in this house and tabernacle of my bodie yet for some longer time to do thee seruice or whether thy will be that I shall shortly depart hence being certainly assured that the same can in no wise perish which is committed and deliuered ouer into thy mercifull hands O Lord I am most readie and willing to lay downe this fraile and corruptible flesh in certaine hope of the resurrection thereof at the last day when it shall be restored vnto me againe much more glorious and happie In the meane time confirme and strengthen my soule I beseech thee with thy grace holy Spirit against all temptations and against all assaults of Satan Gird compasse me about with the shield of thy mercie as thou diddest in times past thy holy Saints and Martyrs making them thereby strong inuincible against all torments and deaths though neuer so cruell or so fearefull and horrible I see that there is no helpe in my selfe ô Lord but all my helpe and hope my trust confidence is in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie I haue no deserts nor good works ô Lord that I can bring or alledge before thee But of misdeeds alas I see many and infinite as the sands of the Sea which hauing passed and gone ouer my head are as a grieuous burthen too too heauie for me to beare But yet through thy precious death and bloudshedding I beleeue that they are all quite purged and washed cleane away And through thy most perfect righteousnesse and obedience imputed vnto me I trust and am assured that I shall be yea and am already registred and receiued into the number of thy righteous Saints and seruants It was for me and for my sake that thou wast borne into the world and wast subiect vnto all the miseries and infirmities of this life Thou didst hunger and thirst for my sake thou didst teach and preach and worke many strange wonders and miracles for my sake thou didst fast and pray for me and for my sake For my sake it was that thou didst so many good deeds while thou liuedst and didst conuerse amongst men for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter paines and torments yea and gauest thy precious bodie and soule vnto death vpon the crosse for my sake Now let all these things sweete sauiour Iesus Christ be auaileable and profitable vnto me thy poore seruant who hast willingly performed all these things for me and hast giuen and bestowed thy selfe wholly vpon me and for me Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse and let thy merits stand for me before thy tribunall seate of iudgement And as my sicknesse and paine increaseth so increase ò Lord in me thy good gifts and graces both of faith and of patience and of constancie and perseuerance that my faith confidence may neither wauer nor stagger nor my loue toward thee be abated nor my humane weakenesse be deiected and cast downe by feare of death But after that death hath seized vpon closed vp the eyes of my body the eyes of my mind may not sweâ—ue nor turne aside from thee And when it hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet let my heart without ceassing crie vnto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for thou hast dearely bought it and redeemed it euen with thy most precious bloud Sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ receiue my soule Saue and keepe me protect and defend me vnder the shadow of thy wings that I sleepe not in death Saue and deliuer me euen in death from the power of death In thee ô Lord my God do I put my trust let me not be confounded Thou art my onely Lord Sauiour leaue me not neither forsake me ô God of my saluation But be thou still present with me to sustaine and vphold me to refresh and comfort me and finally at the time which thou hast appointed to conuey my soule into thy heauenly kingdome which thou hast purchased prepared for me before the beginning of the world Euen so come Lord Iesus Amen Amen A prayer for the Sicke being readie to giue vp the Ghost LOrd Iesus Christ thou which art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall not die for euer looke downe from heauen euen from thy Sanctuarie and holy habitation Behold visite and relieue this thy seruant Correct him not in thine anger neither chasten him in thy displeasure but according to the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon him we beseech thee with a fatherly affection Restore him if it be thy gracious will and pleasure vnto his former health and strength that so he may liue to glorifie thy name Or if it stand with thy will otherwise to deale with him euen by this present sicknesse to call him home vnto thine owne selfe out of this vale of wretchednes and miserie giue vnto him constancie to endure faithfull vnto the end and patience to suffer quietly and meekely thy rod and fatherly correction His flesh ô Lord is weake and fraile assist him with thy grace strengthen his weaknesse by the mightie power of thy holy Spirit His spirituall enemies are many and the craft and malice of Satan neuer wanting especially in the houre of death when the bodie is most weake to daunt affright if it be possible the soules of thy seruants that so he might destroy the soule together with the bodie Couer him therefore deare Father vnder the shadow of thy wings against all the assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that neither through the infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh nor through the grieuousnesse and painefulnesse of his sicknes nor the loue desire of this world nor the multitude of his sinnes nor the malice of Satan nor by any other meanes he be drawne away from his loue towards thee and his assured trust and confidence in thee We coÌ„fesse ô Lord that there is in himselfe as in our selues no power nor strength to helpe at all being borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity whereunto also haue bene added many actuall sinnes and transgressions both in thought word and deede whereby he hath prouoked thy iust wrath indignation In whom then shall he trust and from whom shall he looke for helpe but onely in thee from thee which art the Sauiour of all that put their trust in thee Thou didst vouchsafe for his sake to be borne into the world and to humble thy selfe to the state of a seruant to suffer all the miseries and infirmities of this life for his sake to sustaine beare all manner of reproches iniuries for his sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie to die and thy bloud to be shed vpon the crosse for his sake Now let all these things profit him we beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour Let thy most precious bloud wash away the multitude of his sinnes let that pure and vnspotted garmeÌ„t of thine obedience and righteousnesse hide couer his vnrighteousnesse let thy grace and power euermore defend succour him and let the sweet comfort of thy Spirit neuer depart from him vntill thou hast called him out of this vale of miserie into the blessed inheritance purchased for him where he may rest for euer with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Saints of God Heare vs we beseech thee most gracious and mercifull Sauiour saue thy seruant that putteth his whole trust in thee Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still his defence Let thy holy Spirit coÌ„firme strengthen him let thy louing kindnesse and mercte still abide and continue with him and be his stay and comfort alwaies vnto the end and in the end and for euermore Amen FINIS