of this definition Answ 1 That he cannot eate the Lords body who is not of the Lords body August 2 That a man must come with all chéerfulnesse to this banquet a and not to feare it as a man would do poyson a Ezra 6.16 Quest When and where was this Sacrament first celebrated Answ The place was in an vpper Parlor to teach me that I should mount vp in mine affections to God and not tarry héere below vpon earth the time was immediatly before Christs departing out of this world to admonish me that euery day of my communicating should be a new departing of mine heart out of this world to mine heauenly Father for this loue-feast begunne héere vpon earth shall not be finished till I come to heauen Quest Tell me now what is the outward matter of this Sacrament Answ Bread and wine by which are signified Christs body crucified his blood powred out a Luk. 22.19.20 Quest How prooue you this Answ Christ saith Take eate this my body that is as Tertullian expoundeth it figura corporis the figure of my body 2 Irenaeus saith The Eucharist consisteth of two things the one terrestriall the other celestiall 3 Augustine saith A Sacrament is a visible signe of an inuisible grace and he doubted not to say This is my body when hee gaue the signe of his bodie 4 Macarius calleth the bread and wine antitypa exemplary types of Christs body and bloud yet must wee know that to the true receiuer Christ is now giuen as well as these creatures 5 Bernard saith It is called bread per significationem non proprietatem by signification not by property Quest Is not bread and wine turned into the bodie and bloud of Christ Answ No for these reasons 1 Christ instituted this Supper before he was crucified 2 Then he must haue giuen his dead bodie with his liuing hands 3 The bread after consecration is distrâ—buted into parts but the whole body of Christ is receiued of euery seuerall communicant 4 The bread is the coÌ„munion of Christs body and therefore not the very body 5 This were to make the body of Christ of Bakers bread 6 The bread and wine will corrupt being kept after consecration 7 Wee see and taste onely bread and wine 8 Else the wicked should eate Christs body and so must haue eternall life Iohn 6.54 9 This taketh away the nature of a Sacrament wherein there must be a signe and the thing signified 10 It destroies the nature of Christs body making it aliue and dead in heauen and vpon earth glorified and vilified and in many places at one time 11 It is a kinde of inchantment to giue power to the mumbling of fiue Latine words to change the substance of bread and wine 12 The Apostle calleth it bread and wine before and after consecration 1. Cor. 10.16 2. Cor. 11.26.27 13 The kingdome of God is not corporall meate and drinke Rom. 14.17 14 Victor the third Bishop of Rome Note this was poisoned by his Subdeacon when hee tooke the cup and Henry the seuenth Emperour of Luxelburge was also poisoned in receiuing the bread at the hands of a Monk 15 Christs bodie and bloud enter not into the stomacke but into the heart 16 There commeth no good to vs by the corporall but by the spirituall presence of Christ Iohn 6.54 17 It derogateth from the dignity of the Sacrament of Baptisme in which there is no such metamorphosis 18 Then men neede not to séeke for Christ in heauen Colos 3.2 19 It taketh away the remembrance of Christs death 20 To say it is done because Christ can do it is no good argument for we must not reason from his omnipotency to euert any Article of faith but we beleeue that the bodie of Christ is in heauen not on earth and in a word it would séeme to me a matter of impietie to deuoure or digest Christs blessed bodie Quest Draw me but one other reason into a Syllogisme which you think is vnanswerable Ans I will and that shal be such a one as I learned out of the booke of Martyrs from that blessed martyr M. Frith and it is this They who eate Christ in the Lords Supper as the Fathers before his incarnation did eate him in Mannah and the Paschall Lambe they cannot eate Christ corporally for at that time Christ was not borne But the faithfull eate Christ in the Lords Supper as the Fathers before his incarnation did eate him in Mannah and the Paschall Lambe 1. Cor. 20.3.4 Therfore the faithfull in the Lords Supher cannot eate Christ corporally Quest But yet may not this be done by a Miracle Answ Priests haue no promise to worke miracles now adaies and that it can be no miracle it may appeare by these vnanswerable reasons 1 Euery miracle is sensible as when Moses rod was turned into a Serpent Exodus 7.10 and Christ turned Water into Wine Iohn 2.10 But this miracle is not sensible for I sée bread and taste bread I sée wine and taste wine euen after consecration Therefore it is no miracle 2 That which is ordinarie is no miracle but this of the Priests is ordinarie therefore no miracle Quest Why then is bread called the Lords bodie and wine his bloud Answ 1 That all the faithfull may acknowledge the dignity of this Sacrament 2 That we remaine not in the outward bread and wine but bee intent vpon the thing signified 3 That we may come with greater deuotion to that Sacrament 4 That we may be assured that as outwardly wee are pertakers of bread and wine so inwardly wee are partakers of Christ and his benefits Quest What rules must I then obserue that I may in the receiuing of the bread and wine rightly discerne the Lords body Answ I will giue you three 1 Take euery thing in it owne nature and kinde doe not with our aduersaries take the signe for the thing signified nor the earthly thing for the heauenly 2 Vse euery one of them in the manner appointed by Christ and with such reuerence as is due vnto them doe not as carnall professors doe who put no difference betwixt this and common bread and wine for no bread or wine in the world is in vse like this 3 Vse them to their right ends as First for a commemoration of Christs death Secondly for thy further communion with Christ doe not either as some aduersaries doe by a conceited concomitancy take away the memory of Christs passion nor as negligent Communicants forget the comfort of their renewed communion with their blessed Sauiour for heerein standeth our greatest comfort by communicating Qu. May you not receiue the bread without the wine Answ No for these reasons 1 This were to crosse Christs institution 2 It doth dispriuiledge Christs people 3 It maketh Christs feast a drie feast 4 It taketh away the remembrance of Christs blood-shed 5 The wine signifieth not Christs blood in his veines but that blood which was powred out Quest Why did Christ
Gods will Phil. The reuealed will of God is done by voluntarie f 1. Thes 5.3 obeying or patient suffering that which God commandeth g Mat. 26.39 The secret will is done of vs by praying that Christ Iesus may come to iudgment h Reuel 22.20 that Antichrist may more and more be reuealed and that we may patiently beare all future afflictions Euch. Why doe you pray that this will of God may be done Phil. Because 1. It is euer Iust Holy Good and Safe yea the very rule of all goodnesse 2 It is most profitable to such as doe it 3 All calamities come from disobedience Gen. 3. Deut. 28. Leuit. 26. 4 If I be regenerate it will not be grieuous vnto me to doe his will Matth. 11.30 1. Ioh. 5.3 5 Sathan the World and mine owne flesh hinder me 6 I cannot doe it vnlesse God assist mée and direct mée by his Holy Word and Spirit Euch. But must I pray euer to doe Gods will Phil. You must yet in regard of Gods secret will you may with a good will without sinne dissent from it Samuels wil was good when hee wept for Saul whom God would not haue him to bewaile 1. Sam. 26. besides you may with the like good wil wil that which God will not so a Childe may be vnwilling of his Fathers death whom notwithstanding Gods will is shall not recouer and so Christ said Father If it bee possible let this cuppe passe from mee but when we once know the will of God be it for vs or against vs we must then say with Dauid Here am I let him doe to mée as séemeth good in his eyes 2. Sam. 15.26 and with Hezechiah The word of the Lord is good Isay 39.8 and with Paul The will of the Lord be done Acts 21.14 Euch. What meane you by Earth and Heauen in this petition Phil. I doe not meane by Earth my bodie and Heauen my soule as Tertullian thought nor by Earth Earthly men and Heauen Heauenly men or by Heauen Christ and Earth his Church as others thought but in these words I pray that as the Angels in Heauen are readie to doe Gods will so men on Earth may be readie to doe it Euch. How doe Angels the will of God Phil. They doe it chearefully without murmuring speedily without delaying generally without omitting sincerely without dissembling constantly without forbearing and perfectly without halting Euch. Are there none in Heauen which do Gods will besides Angels Phil. You may also if you will looke vnto Christ the Saints and all Creatures in Heauen and Earth Euch. How I pray you Phil. 1 Christ personall in Heauen hath done Gods will for hee came not to doe his own wil but the will of him that sent him Iohn 6.38 Christs Mysticall that is the Church as his bodie 1. Cor. 12.12 must doe it euen as Christ the head of that bodie hath done it 2. In Heauen is the Congregation of the first borne Hebr. 12.23 that is the Saints departed there did and doe carefully performe Gods will so must we 13. In the starrie Heauen the Sunne and Moone in the Ayrie Heauen the Frost Snow Raine c. fulfill his Word so must wée Euch. Is it then enough to doe Gods will Phil. No verily but we must regard also how it should be done we must not only doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his pleasure but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his good pleasure When wee serue God wee doe his pleasure when wee serue him with our best endeauours wee doe his good pleasure Euch. But is it possible for man to doe perfectly Gods will Phil. It will bee possible in the life to come it is impossible whilest wee liue in this World for The good which wee would doe we doe not and the euill that we would not that doe we Rom. 7.19 Euch. How many kindes then of perfections are there Phil. There is first a perfection of sinceritie which was in Hezekias obedience a Esa 38.3 Secondly a perfection of all parts which was in Zacharie and Elizabeths obedience b. Luk. 1.6 Thirdly a perfection of degrées which was only in the first and second Adam and is now only in the Holy Angels who onely can perfectly obey Gods will Euch. If this obedience bee impossible to be performed why then doe wee pray for it Phil. Because I must with Paul striue for this perfection c Philip. 3. and pray vnto God that I may come to this perfection d 1. Thes 5 25. without whose will I shall neuer bee able to doe his will Ioh. 15.5 Euch. What then is it that God wils Phil. He willeth 1. Our saluation by Christ Act. 4.12 Ioh. 6.40 2 The knowledge of his will Ioh 17.3 3 Faith in Christ Iesus Ioh. 6.40 4 Obedience to his Commandements both in doing and suffering Psal 143. Rom. 8.28 Matth. 26.39 Act. 21.1.41 Sam. 3.18 5 Holinesse of life Eph. 1.4 1. Thes 4.3.4 Rom. 12.1.2.3.4 6 Loue to our brethren Ioh. 13.34.15 That we may doe these things we pray in this petition Euch. What then is required that I may doe Gods will Phil. 1 That you doe lay aside your owne will which indeede is hard euen to the godly the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Law in their members leading them vnto the Law of Sinne and of Death 2 You must be possessed with a base conceipt of your owne will that we must not leane vpon it but know that euerie man is a Beast in his owne knowledge 3 You must estéeme highly of Gods will be it neuer so contrarie to reason so Abraham did Gen. 22.3 Take to thée Gods will be assured of Heauen take away thine own will and feare not Hell 4 You must pray that God will giue power to performe and then let him command what he list Euch. What wants doe you here bewaile Phil. 1 I bewaile mine owne and others rebellious natures in that wee are as prone to receiue sinne as a match or tinder is to receiue fire 2 I bewaile the sinnes of the World as Ignorance Sorceries Schismes Hypocrisie Pride Ambition Couetousnesse Negligence in procuring others good with all contempt and disobedience to the word of God and that all Creatures being so obedient to God Ier. 7 8. man onely is most disobedient 3 Our impatience that when God layeth any crosses vpon vs we cannot as wée ought endure them patiently 4 Our slacke and imperfect obedience yea priuie pride proude presumption deadnesse of Spirit secret hypocrisie and all other weaknesse which breaketh either into or out vpon vs in our best seruice to our Heauenly Father Euch. What thinges doe you pray for in this Petition Phil. 1 I pray that I and all people may in true humiliation and hatred of sinne bée conuerted to God by putting off the old man and putting on the new that we may obey his Commandements in our general and particular callings and in al afflictions submit our selues to the
is spirituall and secret And as we haue feeling of Christ dwelling on our hearts so the more shall wee haue feeling of this blessed societie by which we haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an vnion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellowship and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 participation with whole Christ and his merits and meet altogether in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13.5.30 But as in our separation from God by the spirit of Satan our mindes heart and wils were first seuered and then followed the whole man so the first thing in this coniunction which must be ioyned with God by his spirit is the vnderstanding by knowledge the heart by affiance the will by obedience after which will follow all the new man By the humanitie of Christ we are conioyned to him and by his Spirit he is ioyned to vs. Not either by an actuall falling of Christs flesh into ours or a naturall contiguitie or conexion of our persons or essentiall comixtion of his body with ours but by a copulation and connexion altogether spirituall felt by grace in this life and seene by glorie in the life to come when Christ and his Church before Gods iudgement seate shall appeare as one Christ. But Christ is in heauen and we vpon earth Send thy faith into heauen and hee in heauen is ioyned to thee heere vpon earth Thy sight in a moment can visiblie touch the starres of heauen much more may thy faith touch that morning starre and sunne of righteousnesse which is in heauen Say that the wife bee in England the husband in India the head aboue the feete below the branches on the top the roote in the ground the spring in one place the riuers in an other the foundation on the earth the building in the ayre is there not notwithstanding an vnion betwixt them Surely there is Christ is our husband the Church is his spouse Christ is our head ech Christian is a member Christ is the roote the righteous are branches Christ is the fountaine the Religious are riuers Christ is the foundation belieuers are Gods building Be hee neuer so high euen in the highest heauens we vpon earth are so ioyned vnto him that by vertue of this vnion our soules do receiue the life of grace in this world and our bodies shall receiue the life of glorie in the world to come Heere this coniunction appeares in the vnitie of spirit for in it there is neither a commixtion of persons nor an vnion of substances but a confederation of our affections and concatenation of our wils there it shall appeare in the consociation of our persons For wee shall enioy there a most holy and comfortable conuersation with Christ see him as he is conferre with him face to face and as in this sacrament as by a marriage ring wee are espoused to him heere so there wee shall be solemnly maried to him for euer And all this comes vnto vs because the word was made flesh not because that Flesh hath any such vertue in it selfe it is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing but in that it is caro verbi flesh vnited to the word to that word which is the fountaine of life quickning all things and causing the death of that flesh to obtaine for vs eternall life The flesh is not quickning in it selfe but in the word Hypostatically vnited vnto it saith Cyrill This word by personall vnion quickneth Christs humanitie and giueth it for our saluation merite and efficacie and by mysticall vnion quickneth Christian consciences and ioyneth them in loue and life vnto God so that now there is a mutuall giuing and receiuing betwixt Christ and his Church From Christ wee receiue first him selfe which the Father and their Spirit to become our portion Secondly Adoption to be actually made the children of God Thirdly a title and right to Christs righteousnesse in his sufferings and with all to his fulfilling of the whole law Lastly a right to the Kingdome of heauen which now is made the inheritance of the Saints And what doth he now receiue from vs surely drosse for gold euil for good shame for glorie sorrow for solace and a curse for this blessing For he receiues ftom vs first our sinnes with the punishment thereof made his by imputation and suertie-ship Secondly our afflictions which hee accounts his owne so long as we suffer for righteousnesse sake And this is our communion which we haue with Christ But because we are all members of one bodie and are all baptized into one Spirit and after do eate of one bread there is also a communion with all Christians one with an other Art thou a liuing saint vpon earth thou art in regard of minde of one iudgement in the grounds of pietie affection of one heart alike affected to God Christ Iesus and euery good Christian though thou wast neuer acquainted with them And in regard of the gifts of the spirit like a good candle thou wilt spend them al to the good of others be ready to serue thy brother in loue and both by example admonition exhortation consolation prayer to conuey all graces in thee to an other yea not to be wanting to him in communicating thy goods And for our communion with the dead they in heauen do pray generally for al vs and we on earth do desire our dissolution to be with them But that we may enioy this blessed societie we must walke in the light For if we say that we haue fellowship with him yet walke in darknesse we lie but if we walke in the light as hee is in the light then haue wee fellowship one with an other 1. Ioh. 1.7 that is God with vs we with God and godly people and the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne purgeth vs from all sinne Thus then Christ in heauen by his spirit is so vnited to vs we on earth by our faith are so vnited to him that without him we can do nothing with him we are able to do al things Of his fulnesse we receiue grace for grace And as by the power of the sunne in the second heauen all things are made fruitfull heere vpon earth so by the power of Christ in the third heauen all men become sanctified in the Church yet not by the alone inward operation of his spirit without the outward vse of the word and sacraments By the word alone when the sacraments are not administred and both by word and sacraments when they are ioined together Is the word preached in it Christ speaketh by his spitit to vs. Are the sacraments administred by baptisme we are receiued in to the communion of Gods couenant and by the Eucharist wee are more confirmed in the same By the word God enters by one gate into vs namely by the eare by the Eucharist he knocks at al the gates
you may see his goodnesse to you and yours in the other his iustice against his and the Churches enemies This Booke of mine hath many leaues these other haue only two in the one you may reade of Mercy in the other you may reade of Iudgement The Lord grant vnto your Honor with your most honorable Countesse the Lady Francis a second Dorothea giuen both as a gift to you that feare God such a life that at the houre of death when your glasse shall be runne and the Bridegrome call for you you may both say with that holy man Vixi dum volui volui dum Christe volebas Sic nec vita mihi mors nec acerba fuit London From S. Martins in the fields May 30. 1613. Your Honors at command ROBERT HILL A DIRECTION TO DIE WELL. Question I Doubt not but you are now well instructed for the direction of your whole life but because you haue heere no abiding citie what are you to thinke of that you may die well An. I am euer to meditae of fiue things 1 Of mine owne death which is most certaine that it will come and vncertaine when it will come 2 Of the death of Christ which was bitter to him but sweet to and for his 3 Of the deceitfulnesse of this world which is subtill to allure and subiect to change 4 Of the ioyes of heauen which are comâ—ortable to thinke on and glorious to posâ—esse 5 Of the torments of hell which are endlesse in themselues and comfortlesse to sinners Quest And why ought you first to thinke oftentimes of death Answ 1 Because it is appointed that al must die Hebr. 9.27 Death spares none and therefore there was neuer sacrifice offered to her 2 It is vncertaine when where or how I may die and therefore vncertaine that I may euer thinke of it 3 Many goe merrily to the pit of perdition for want of this meditation 4 Death by this will be more welcome vnto mee for Dangers foreseene are lesse grieuous 5 I shall more easily contemne this world by often thinking that I am a stranger in it 6 It will kéepe me from many sinnes which otherwise I would commit and cause me to repent of sinnes committed 7 Christ my Lord and good Christians his seruants had euer such thoughts 8 Many Philosophers haue done the like and of it haue written many volumes 9 As the day of death leaues me so the day of iudgement shall find me Psal 90.12 10 It was the praier of Moses to God that hee would teach him so to number his daies that hee might applie his heart vnto wisdome 11 It is the end of all my hearing and reading and as it were the scope of a Christian Diuine 12 It is the Art of all Arts and Science of all Sciences to learne to die Quest How prooue you this last Answ Moses saith O that they were wise and that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 The Wise man saith Remember thy end and thou shalt neuer doe amisse Eccles 7.36 An Emperour said that Fredricke the third The best knowledge was to know God and to learne to die Augustine said that in this our pilgrimage we must thinke of nothing else but that wee shall not be euer heere and yet heere should wee prepare for our selues that place from whence we shall neuer depart Gregorie said All the life of a wise man must bee the meditation of death and He is euer carefull to doe well who is euer thinking of his last end Quest Why then doe so few thinke of death and put this euill day farre from them Answ The reasons are 1 Their infidelity they beleeue not either the happinesse of heauen nor the horrors of hell 2 Their impenitency and euill conscience they would not breake off their sinnes by drawing neere to God 3 Their ignorance of the soules immortalitie the bodies resurrection and the good things prepared for them in heauen by Christ 4 Their ambition in desiring the honors and preferments of this world and being loath to leaue them when they haue enioied them 5 Their couetousnesse by which as Moles they would euer by their good wils liue vpon earth 6 Their delight in the pleasures of sin from which they are taken at the day of death 7 Their want of Gods feare for Hee that feares God feares not to dye 8 Their vnwillingnesse to leaue this world for to die well is to die willingly Quest It seemeth then wee had neede to pray that God would teach vs to number our not yeeres but daies and now tell mee you that haue beene taught this Arithmeticke how you ought to number your daies An. I must number them after this sort 1 I must abstract the time past for that being irreuocable will neuer come againe 2 I may not adde the time to come for it may be it will neuer come vnto me 3 I must set down only the time present and know that it is only mine Our life is a point and lesse then a point a figure of one to which we can adde no Cipher it is but a moment and yet if we vse this moment wel wee may get eternitie which is of greatest moment Quest Is it not then thinke you a great folly that men are so vnwilling to thinke of death Answ Questionlesse it is we sée the Mariner with ioy thinkes of the Hauen The Labourer is glad to sée the euening The Trauailer is merry when his iournie is ended The Souldier is not sorrie when his warfare is accomplished and shall wee be grieued when the dayes of sinne are ended Quest It seemeth by this which you haue said that this life of ours is verie troublesome for we are Mariners our hauen is happinesse Trauellers our iournie is to Paradise Labourers our hire is Heauen and Souldiers our conquest is at death Is then our life both miserable and changeable Answ Yea verily for it is compared to a pilgrimage in which is vncertaintie Genes 47.9 A Flower in which is mutabilitie Isay 40.7 A smoke in which is vanitie Psalme 102.3 An House of Clay in which is miserie Iob. 4.19 A Weauers shittle in which is volubilitie Iob. 7.6 A shepheards tent in which is varietie Isay 38.12 A Ship on the Sea in which is celeritie Wisd 5.10 A Mariner who sitting standing sléeping or waking euer saileth on A shadow which is nothing to the bodie Iob. 8.9 To a thought whereof wee haue thousands in one day To a dreame whereof we haue millions in one night Iob. 20.8 To vanitie which is nothing in it selfe Psal 39. 5. And to nothing which hath no being in the World Psal 39.5 Quest If all this be true as it must needes bee because God hath said it the houre of death is farre better then the day of our birth Is it so Ans It is that for these reasons by it 1 We are fréed from many present miseries Reuel 14.13 Wee are deliuered from many future
of death is the Master day and Iudge of all other daies it is the triall and touchstone of our life if you die a good death it honoreth all your Actions if an euill it defameth them all it is the last act of the worlds Comedie and most difficult wherfore I will shew those consolations vnto you and will repeate them in your health that you may thinke of them better vpon your sicke bed wherefore against the feare of death consider 1 That wee neither liue nor die to our selues but whether we liue we liue to the Lord and whether we die wee die to the Lord. Rom. 14.8 2 That Christ is to vs in life gaine and in death aduantage Phil. 1.21 3 That Christ is to vs the resurrection and the life and whosoeuer beleeueth in him though he were dead yet shall hee liue Iohn 11.25 4 That God doth both mitigate and abbreuiate the dolours of death to his seruants 5 That our death being conuerted into a swéet sléepe is the complement of the mortification of our flesh so that hee which is dead is fréed from sinne Roman 6.7 6 That we Christians know that when this earthly tabernacle of our house shal be dissolued we shall haue a building euen of God that is an house made without hands eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5.1 7 That if we die in the Lord we goe to Christ which is best of all for vs. Phil. 1.23 8 That this way of all flesh is sanctified to vs by the death of Christ 9 That if euer at other times the Spirit of Christ doth cause vs to beare afflictions patiently it doth especially by the comfort which it ministreth in death inestimablie ouercome the sorrowes of death 10 That the spirit indeede is ready but the flesh is weake Matth. 26.41 so that the inward man doth not feare death but only the outward man Quest Can you yet giue any more of these most sweet consolations Answ Meditate therefore againe with me that 1 The desire you should haue to behold the most bright eies of God and so to be deliuered from this body of sinne will extinguish and extenuate both the grieuous feare and fearefull griefe of present death 2 That though wée can bée content to liue with the faithfull that are aliue and must die yet we must as well desire to be with those Saints who hauing ouercome death are gone before vs to the kingdome of heauen 3 That wee must not more estéeme of this naturall then of the spirituall life but that the loue of the one must abolish the griefe of the other 4 That we are assured of the soules immortality that it shall goe by the transportation of Angels to the assembly and societie of the first borne which are written in heauen Luk. 16.22 Heb. 11.23 and that our bodies doe rest in the earth so that one doth not vnfitly call the graue an Hauen for the bodie to arriue at 5 That wee beleeue the resurrection of the body and euerlasting life after death for this is the faith of Christians onely 6 That wee seeing euidently Gods great mercy towards our young children at their departure out of this life ought at our last end to be the more couragious especially since wee know that wee haue the seale and earnest of Gods spirit in our hearts 7 That as in our whole life so in the agony of death God doth not suffer vs his seruants to be tempted aboue that which we are able to beare 1. Cor. 10.13 but giueth an happy issue with and out of that temptation It is in truth admirable which Gregorie in his Morals saith That some doe with laughter entertaine death wee may better say that by couragious patience they doe ouercome it 8 That we ought not so much to thinke of a peaceable end as of a godly life Augustine said well Where a good life goeth before an euill death must not bee thought to follow And He cannot die ill who liues well And He seldome dies well who hath liued ill And Reade saith he and reade ouer all the monuments of learned men and you shall find nothing more horrible then that person who doth liue in such an estate that he is afraid to die 9 That death is neuer vntimely whether we respect the good or the bad They die soone that they may no longer be vexed by the wicked these die soone that they may not euer persecute the godly as the same Augustine said 10 That this life is so full of miseries that in comparison thereof death may bee thought rather a remedy then a punishment as Ambrose thought Quest Once againe giue mee more comforts against the feare of death for such is the corruptiō of my nature that al is little enough Answ I will thinke therefore but thinke you seriously 1 That he onely feares death extreamly who cannot be perswaded that he shall liue after death as Chysostome saith 2 That it is best to offer that willingly to God as a gift which one day wee must else surrender as a debt to wit this spirit and life of ours as Chrysostome said 3 That as death to the euill is euill so is it good to the good to whom all things worke for their good 4 That death is the way to life as Ambrose said very fitly And another said This day which so affrighteth thee as if it were the last day is the birthday of eternitie 5 That this death is but a repairing of our life 6 That as Bernard said the death of the righteous is good in regard of rest better in regard of nouelty best of all in regard of security and that as the same Father said the death of the godly is good better best of al Contrariwise the death of the godlesse is bad worse and worst of al. 7 That death doth not abolish but establish life in a farre better estate 8 That then death frees vs from death life from error grace from sinne 9 That if Chrysostome say true death is but a bare name 10 That God doth so temper death vnto vs that it can be no cause of euil vnto vs. And therefore if you be wise remember the saying euen of an Heathen man Summum nec metuas diem nec optes Nether feare death when it commeth nor desire it too much before it commeth Quest These are all of them sweet consolations indeed yet because Satan and my flesh may bring vpon me many feares as first that God is angry with me by reason of my sinnes how may I comfort my selfe against this temptation Quest Say vnto your soule why should I feare the wrath of God For it is written God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that by him the world might be saued Ioh. 3. Hee that beleeueth in him shall not sée death He that beléeueth in him hath eternal life Hee that beléeueth in him shall neuer perish Who shall lay any thing to the charge
friend should haue of another in heauen within thrée houres after slept peaceably in the Lord. Luther sitting at supper and discoursing of the same argument about midnight after departed this life One Master Reade an Alderman of Norwich hauing read in the morning the chapter of Henockes taking vp in the Counsell chamber died suddenly at the table amongst his brethren And that wise Counseller the Lord of Buckhurst Earle of Dorset died suddenly at the Counsell Table in white Hall Mr. Flint a Preacher in London a man of great learning godly life and good report hauing procured the new building of his Church at which hee much reioiced fell downe from a scaffold on the top of that Church and so died In the commentaries of Iohn Holcot vpon the book of wisdom it is recorded of one who reading the fourth Chapter of the book of Wisdome was found dead in his studie with his finger pointing to the seuenth verse of that chapter Though the righteous be preuented by death yet shall he be at rest First where you shall reade these two verses Mors non est subita cui praecessit bona vita Nec minuit merita si moriatur ita If godly life do go before Through suddaine death our ioy is more 3 Know that if you liue wickedly sudden death is a fearefull iudgment for who then can bee perswaded of Gods fauour towards you and this makes the wicked of all kinds of death to pray to be deliuered from sudden death they would liue like Nabal but die like Dauid liue like the rich glutton and die like Lazarus they would die the death of the righteous but they would not liue the life of the righteous And therefore their Prayer is the prayer of Balaam Lord let mee die the death of the righteous and that my last end may bee like vnto his Numb 23. But if you liue euer in the feare of God it may bee an argument of Gods mercie to take you away vpon a short warning For so 1 You die without any great paine 2 You goe to God without any great trouble 3 You are not in danger of blaspheming God at your death 4 You will cause others to thinke well of your death because you liued a godly life 5 Many by your example will labour to prepare against such a kind of death 6 Your translation is like that of Henoch and Elias and of them that shall be aliue at the day of iudgment 1. Thess 4.17 Quest Is it lawfull to pray against a sudden death Answ The godly may and the wicked must pray against it The godly may 1 That as they haue honored God with their lips in their life so if it bee his good will they may doe it at their death 2 That because vpon the sudden few men haue their worldly estate fully setled they may haue time to order it 3 That they may not be a griefe to their friends that they are so soone taken from them 4 That they may escape the censure of the world which for the most part iudgeth hardly of this kind of death 5 That they may not die in such sort as diuers wicked men in the Scriptures haue died 6 Lest being ouertaken in some strange place they may so want the honour of Christian buriall and their friends not know what is become of them 2 The wicked must pray against it left so dying without repentance here there be no place left for them heereafter to repent in But I doubt whether God will heare their prayers For are not they worthy to want time of humiliation at their death who neglected saluation in their life The admonition of the wise man Eccl. 18.18 is very good Get thee righteousnesse before thou come to iudgement and vse Physicke before thou bee sicke Examine thy selfe before thou bee iudged and in the day of destruction thou shalt finde mercie Humble thy selfe before thou be sicke and whilest thou maiest yet sinne shew thy conuersion Quest Now since my soule must depart from my bodie ought I to take any great thought for my buriall Ans As the graue at your death is readie for you Iob. 17.1 so you also must haue care of it and your suruiuing friends must haue such respect to your dead body that it may be interred in a religious sort for 1 You are no Scythian that your dead bodie should be eaten at some feast nor Sabean that it should be cast on a dunghill nor Hyrcanian that it should bee deuoured by dogs nor Lothophagian that it should be cast into the sea nor Indian that it should be burned with fire but a Christian that it may be buried in the earth 2 Your dead body is a member of Christ 3 It was as well as the soule the temple of the holy Ghost 4 It was the ordinance of God that earth should return to his earth as the soule doth to him that gaue it Gen. 3. Eccles 7. 5 That Christ who redéemed your soule hath also paied a ransome for your bodie 6 It hath beene an instrument vsed by God to performe many seruices vnto him 7 It must rise againe out of the graue and in the day of iudgement bee made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Phil. 5.21 8 Religious and godly friends haue had this care to burie their dead so Abraham had to burie Sarah Ioseph to burie Iaakob Israel to burie Samuel Nichodemus to burie Christ and the Disciples to burie Iohn the Baptist and Steuen the first Martyr that suffered after Christ 9 It is one of Gods iudgements to want buriall Iere. 22.19 10 The Saints complaine for the want of it saying Psal 79.3 The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to bee meate vnto the fowles of heauen and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beasts of the earth Their blood haue they shed like water round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them 11 Ioseph gaue commandement concerning his bones Gen. 50. and Tobiah of his bodie Tob 14. 12 Many heathen people haue been very carefull of this dutie The Egyptians embalmed and so buried their dead and the Hebrewes made a law that no enemy should lie vnburied Quest What thinke you of the place of buriall Answ Abraham bought a field for the buriall of his dead Gen. 24. Christ was buried in a garden according to the custome of the Iewes Ioh. 20. The Turkes at this day burie none in their Cities and it was one of the lawes of the 12. Tables amongst the Romanes that none should be buried within thē walles Amongst Christians Churches and Church yards are appointed for the dead and to the end that the dead might not annoy the liuing it were well if Gouernours would be carefull to prouide larger places of buriall for this would be a meanes 1 To kéepe the City from contagion 2 That our dead bodies should not bee raked vp againe 3 To shew our care for the Saints departed 4 To take away the
Oedypus to dissolue our doubts it is our commentarie to vnderstand Gods word d Clauis Scriptura Origen It is a e Deo sacrificium diabolo flagellum homini subsidium August The praise of praier sacrifice to God a scourge to the diuell and an helpe to our selues in all our troubles Wherefore as the Apostle by examples commended faith to the Hebrewes so may I by examples commend prayer to you By it Abrahams seruant obtained a wife for Isaac and by it Moses obtained a pardon for Israel By this the same Moses ouercame the Amalekites and by this Abraham interceded for the Sodomites By prayer Iacob was deliuered from Esau Iosuah from the men of Aie Dauid from Goliah The Prophet from Ieroboam Elizeus from the Samaritans Hezechiah from death Iehosophat from the Aramites Manasses from captiuitie Ieremiah from his aduersaries and Daniel from the Lions the dâ—seased from his leprosie the Apostles from prison the Church from persecution By prayer Hannah obtained a sonne Dauid deliuerance Salomon wisedome Elias the restoring of a dead child Elizeus the opening of his seruants eyes Nehemiah the kings fauour the Centurion his seruants health Christ comfort in his agonie the Apostles a successor to Iudas Stephen pardon for Paul and Monima the conuersion of her sonne S. Austin In Psal 63 Thus true it is which that Austin saith Great is the profit of pure prayer and as a faithfull messenger deliuers her arrand and pierceth thither whither flesh cannot come And this it was which made Bernard to say Brethren let none of vs lightly esteeme his prayer I tell you that hee to whom wee pray doth not lightly esteeme it after it is out of our mouth he writes it in his Booke and one of these two wee may doubtlesse expect either that hee will grant our petition or that which hee knoweth to be better for vs. Call vpon me and I will heare saith God aske and you shall haue saith Christ Before they crie I will heare them saith Isaiah The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him saith Dauid but to such as call vpon him in truth And if we may belieue the Apostle Iames the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much Pray therefore and we had need to pray Why wee ought to Pray Satan will deuoure thee pray for deliuerance The world will allure thee pray for assistance The flesh will betray thee pray for defence The wicked will seduce thee pray for continuance What beloued If God had commaunded vs a great thing ought wee not to doe it how much more when he saith pray and preuaile aske and haue seeke and finde knock and it shall bee opened vnto you aske Temporall things and haue them seeke for Spirituall things and find them knocke for Eternall things and the gates of heauen shall stand as open to you as the gates of the prison did to the Apostle Peter By this with Eliah you may open and shut the verie gates of heauen and by this with the Apostle you may shake the foundations of the earth O pretious praier what could not onely wee but euen the whole world doe without thee Thou increasest the earth calmest the sea asswagest the fire purgest the ayre protectest our Gouernours confoundest our enemies preseruest our health instructest our mindes blessest our actions encreasest our wealth exaltest our honour speakest but the word and we are preserued Prayer in all places Pray wee therefore in all places at all times for all persons and for all things Pray wee in all places but in euery place lifting vp pure hands vnto God Thus Isaac prayed in the field Iakob in his bed Israel in Egypt Moses on the Mount Iosuah at Iericho Elias in the chamber Hezekiah on his couch Ieremie in the dungeon Ionah in the Whales bellie Daniel in the Lions den Christ in the Garden the Disciples in a ship Peter in a Tanners house Paul at the sea side and the Iewes at Ierusalem Call vpon him in thy priuate chamber and crie vnto him with thy familie in thy parlour Thou needest not to fall downe at some piller with hypocrites but praise him especially in the congregation of Saints for there many voices are Gods best melodie Pray also at all times at euening Pray at all times and morning and at noone day will I pray vnto thee yea at midnight will I rise to call vpon thee nay seuen times a day wil I praise thee saith Dauid Daniel did so three times a day Paul did it day and night Hannah did it all the daies of her life and the Psalmographer vowes it I will praise the Lord as long as I liue as long as I haue any being I will sing praises to my God Pray continually not as those Heretiques Euchitae who would euer do so but as Christians who know when to do so With morning prayer the day begin With euening prayer the night shut in Without this prayer sit not to eate Without Gods praise rise not from meate And forget not to pray for all persons Pray for ad persons for the King as the head his Senatours as the eyes his Clergie as the mouth his Souldiers as the hands his Subiects to all trades as the feete vpon which the Common-wealth doth stand Art thou a Minister pray for thy flocke An Auditor for thy Preacher A Father for thy child an Husband for thy wife a Master for thy seruant or a Gouernour pray for thy family Is any Sicke pray for his health Poore for his wealth Imprisoned for his libertie Seduced for his recouerie Confirmed for his constancie or in any Distresse for his deliuerie Pray for all men that their bodies may be preserued soules saued estates maintained that thy and their thoughts may bee sanctified your words seasoned and your actions ordered by the Spirit of God To whom we must Pray Will you know now to whom wee must pray not to a Calfe as the Israelites did nor to Baal as his Priests did nor to an Image as Idolaters did nor to any Saints as our fathers did but as we are bound to serue God alone so are we bounden to pray to God alone for hee alone knoweth our wants heareth our petitions hath promised to helpe vs is able to doe for vs and is the alone present helper in the needfull time of trouble I will draw to an end You haue seene beloued the necessitie of this seruice How wee must Pray let mee shew you a litle the qualities of this seruice Pray we must in knowledge with vnderstanding in faith by beleeuing in remorse with feeling in zeale without cooling in intention without wandering in reuerence without contemning in constancie without reuolting and in loue without reuenging Let our eyes be fastned hearts fixed knees bowed mouthes opened our hands lifted vp as to the King of Kings And as Iacob would not let the Angell goe till he were blessed so let not vs let
vs by the Word and Sacraments The secōd Position I beléeue this faith to bee wrought in vs of the holy Ghost by the Word and Sacraments that by this faith wee might immediatly receiue and eate the bodie of Christ which was deliuered vp for vs and receiue and drinke the bloud of Christ which was shed for vs for remission of sinnes And so we might more and more bee engraffed and immediatly vnited vnto the bodie of Christ as our Mediatour who died for vs. For euen as the Bread and Wine being Earthly and Materiall Bodies cannot bee incorporated into our Earthly bodies vnlesse wee receiue them in at our mouth and eate them and drinke them So wee cannot bée vnited and incorporated into the bodie and bloud of Christ which Irenaeus calleth an Heauenly thing vnlesse by faith we take hold on Christ eate him and drinke him that is applie him vnto vs. The third Position OF the vse for which we eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud I beléeue that the bodie of Christ in the Supper is offered and exhibited vnto vs to be eaten and his bloud to bee drunke and that faith by the Word and Sacraments by the helpe of the Holy Ghost being wrought in our hearts it is eaten of vs indéed to the end that we being more neerely and effectually incorporated into Christ we may also bee more throughly confirmed in the New Couenant which in Christ is communicated vnto vs. For as Christ did therefore deliuer his bodie vnto death and shed his bloud that by his death and bloud our sinnes being purged hee might confirme and for euer establish the couenant being renued betwéene God the Father and vs euen as the words of the Supper concerning the bloud doe teach vs and other bookes of the Scripture especially the Epistle to the Hebrewes doe confirme euen so for this end also the body and bloud of Christ is communicated vnto vs that by the participation of them we in like manner being more and more incorporated into Christ might be more and more confirmed in the New Testament Therefore when Christ gaue forth the cuppe in plaine wordes hee named the New Testament that the Apostles might vnderstand to what end the bloud of the sonne of God was not only shed and powred out but also was exhibited to be drunken of them Verily to this end that as by the shedding of his bloud their sinnes and the sinnes of all Gods Elect were purged and being purged the couenant betweene them and God was for all eternitie confirmed So also by drinking of the same both they and all the Elect being more and more incorporated may know themselues to be confirmed and established in the euerlasting Couenant But yet because the Couenant and the flesh and bloud of Christ are diuers obiects and the one is ordinated vnto the other therefore for doctrine sake I distinguish the one from the other and shew what is the proper vse of either of them The fourth Position OF the benefit or vse of the Couenant communicated vnto vs. Lastly I beléeue the couenant it selfe being ratified and confirmed in the bodie of Christ and by the bloud of Christ to bee more and more communicated vnto vs in the same bodie and bloud of Christ that by the bond thereof wee may wholy whatsoeuer we are bee vnited more and more vnto God the Father the Fountaine as of the whole Diuinitie so of all goodnesse and blessednesse by Christ the Mediatour the Spirit working and dwelling in vs and that we may be so vnited that in mind wee may daily more clearely acknowledge him by the Holy Ghost to be our true and our best Father in Christ and in our heart loue him more feruently in Iesus Christ through the Holy Ghost yea with all the powers of soule and bodie wee may daily more sincerely honour him and may bee made like vnto him in Holinesse and Iustice vntill at length sinne being vtterly destroyed and death abolished and the perfect Image of God recouered wee may so perfectly through Christ in the Spirit of God bee vnited and coupled after this life vnto God the Father that he may be all in all Amen For this is the last end vnto which not only the Supper of the Lord but also Baptisme yea the whole Word of God all his benefits all his corrections lastly all the words and works of God doe lead vs vnto CHAP. III. Of the dutie of a Christian man in the Supper of the Lord. WHerefore I thinke and beléeue that these are the duties of a Christian man in the Lords Supper First that he set before his eyes the perfect Communion with God which is none at al without Christ and is to be found only in him and that he direct all things vnto it as vnto the last end Secondly that hee may come vnto this end hee must make his beginning from the meanes which doe incurre into our senses as those things which are first perceiued by our vnderstanding and are better knowne by nature as also hee must heare the word attentiuely and come vnto the Sacraments reuerently and diligently consider as well what the word signifieth as what the Sacraments doe represent and what is offered vnto vs by the Ministerie of them both which is this that Christ hath offered vp his bodie vnto death for vs and shedde his bloud for remission of sinnes and therefore hee hath by his bloud sealed and confirmed in himselfe being Mediatour the New Testament of our euerlasting reconciliation and peace with God And these things are so signified by the Sacraments that they are also offered and giuen vnto vs to be receiued Whereby it comes to passe that they are truly called Signes not only signifying but also exhibiting and giuing the things which they signifie Thirdly I beleeue because the thinges signified and offered by the Signes are to be receiued by faith and faith is the gift of God therefore God is to be praied vnto as hee who offereth the things by the Signes and who commands vs to receiue them by faith He also can giue and increase faith whereby we are able to receiue them Fourthly I beléeue that faith being begotten in vs by hearing of the Word and increased by the diligent consideration of the Sacraments through the Holy Ghost it is the dutie of a Christian man while he receiueth the Externall and Visible Signes with his hand being also Externall and Visible and eateth them with the mouth of his body and drinketh them heare vpon Earth together also to receiue with the hand and mouth of faith and to eate and drinke the Heauenly and Inuisible thinges namely the flesh and bloud of Christ with a faithful heart lifted vp vnto the Heauenly Table that hee being more and more coupled vnto Christ and made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones may liue in Christ and Christ in him For I beleeue the faithfull in the Supper truly to
saith it is a Synecdoche so that both part agrée in this that it is the true and naturall bodie of Christ as the Euangelists and the Apostle doe plainly teach that it is spoken of the true bread and so that the Articles of faith bee kept on both sides in their plaine meaning pure and vncorrupt As that the naturall bodie of Christ is one is finite is humane is in Heauen doth no more die is not consumed not broken And yet indéed as the Scriptures teach is offered vnto all is communicated to all the faithfull but in a mysterie and after a Spirituall manner Euen as the faithfull themselues doe grow vp into one bodie and are incorporated with their head Christ and with the whole Catholike Church not after a Carnall but after a Spirituall manner And therefore as in the Sprituall and Mysticall fellowship with Christ and the Church wicked Hypocrites haue no part séeing they want faith but are only in the outward and Visible societie so I beléeue that those Hypocrites are Partakers not of the true and naturall and truly Heauenly flesh and bloud of Christ but only of the externall and outward signes the which also are termed by the name of the flesh and bloud of Christ euen by Christ-himselfe Wherefore wheras the Apostle saith They who eate vnworthily are guiltie of the bodie of the Lord if it bee vnderstood of the wicked which certainly and not without a cause Bucer denieth I interpret that in this sense wherein the same Apostle saith vnto the Hebrewes that some doe tread vnder foot the Son of God and account the bloud of the Testament a prophane thing to wit not because they doe truely eate the flesh of Christ and drinke the bloud but because they doe it vnworthily but rather because reiecting by their vngodlinesse the bodie and bloud the Bread and Wine being offered they drinke and eate the Bread and Wine vnworthily This thing good Christian assure thy selfe of that I am not so wicked as to doubt of the truth of Christs wordes in the Supper as some too impudently doe accuse me of neither that I dispute of the simple vnderstanding of euery word in this proposition This is my bodie For by this Article This that the Bread is declared besides that the text doth teach Paul also doth so interprete it 1. Cor. 10. 11. Neither this word is doth signifie any other thing as I thinke then to bee and I take this word bodie for the true bodie of Christ as Christ himselfe doth interpret who addeth which is giuen for you And therefore there is no controuersie among vs whether in the lawfull vse of the Supper the Bread bee truly the bodie of Christ but wee dispute only of the manner by which the Bread is the bodie of Christ And moreouer neither part call into question that the bread is after that manner the body of Christ after which Christ would then haue it will now haue it to be for it must be according to his will And whereas in the words of the Supper the wil of Christ is not expressed cōcerning the maner I think it is to be gathered out of the like places to wit Sacramentall kinde of spéeches Moreouer this foundation being laid that Christ then would not and now will not that the bread should bee his body after any of the manners of those men who take away the truth of his true humane body or else doe disagree from the analogy of faith and ouerturne some article of the faith from his simple meaning So the manner of Christs being in the Sacrament by Transubstantiation is excluded both because neither in the Sacrament of Baptisme the substance of the water is changed as also because straight way many bodies héere vpon earth should bee faigned vpon Christ besides that body which he hath in heauen and lastly because the substance of bread neither before neither after the conuersion was deliuered to death for vs I adde moreouer that according to Saint Marke the substance of wine was in the belly of the Apostles when he said This is the bloud The manner also of Consubstantiation is excluded both because neither in the water of Baptisme the bloud of Christ is locally included whereby we are washed from our sinnes as also because this maner doth take away the nature of the true humane body and doth Diametrically repugne with the article of the ascention into heauen and of the sitting at the right hand For the same causes that manner also is to be taken away which is not much vnlike vnto this which is imagined by a real and local adherency or coniunction not to speake that not one word can be read for the proofe of this that after some of these thrée manners Christ would haue the bread to be his body After what manner then is it probable that Christ would haue the bread to bee his body Verily after this manner as all other Sacraments are said to be that thing whereof they are Sacraments to wit by a Sacramental and so a Mystical vnion For that which we call a Sacrament the Grecians cal a Mystery Wherefore this spéech is vsuall with the Fathers that the bread is the body of Christ euen the present body and that it is eaten in a mystery Now a mystery is said to be when visible things doe lead vs to the true vnderstanding and receiuing of inuisible things and earthly things of heauenly things corporall things of spirituall things In which sense the Apostle to the Ephesians calleth the carnall marriage of Adam and Eue a great mystery because of the spiritual marriage which is contracted betweene Christ and his Church and to which that other marriage doth leade vs. But carnall men destitute of the spirit of God and of faith cannot be brought by earthly things vnto heauenly things or by the participation of those earthly vnto the communion of these heauenly seeing they cannot so much as vnderstand them as the Apostle saith Which is the cause why I iudge and beleeue that the flesh and bloud of Christ being heauenly and spirituall things cannot in deede and truth be receiued of wicked men no not by the mouth of their body which also was Bucers opinion Therefore hee said that the body of Christ was both present and eaten of vs in the Supper not after any worldly manner but onely after a spirituall and heauenly manner The which what is it else then to say that it is eaten of vs by the spirit of Christ For by Christ heauenly things are ioined vnto earthly things and by him they are receiued of them And this is my beleefe and iudgement for the meaning of the words of the Supper which I will constantly hold till that a better a truer and more agreeable to the Scriptures shall by other men bee offered and plainely prooued unto me Ille non edit corpus Christi qui non est de corpore Christi August He cannot eat the
the fierie darts of Sathan can neuer enter You haue the sword of the Spirit it is sharper then the sword of Goliah you haue the sling of Dauid it is more forcible then the speare of Goliah you may walke vpon this Lion and Aspe this young deuouring Lion and Dragon you may treade vnder your féete Psal 91.13 What if he bee wise yet God is wiser What if he be strong yet Christ is stronger What if skilfull yet the Lord is more skilfull What if he be vigilant yet the Al-séeing is more watchfull If you can call to God for aide against him as Iehoshaphat did against the Aramite and say O my God there is no strength in mee to stand before this great multitude that commeth against me neither doe I know what to doe but mine eyes are towards thee 2. Chron. 20.12 feare not neither bee afraid goe out against them the Lord will be with thee and thou shalt ouercome Say that hee ouercame Adam by ambition Saul by hypocrisie and Iudas by auarice yet by the grace of Christ hee shall not ouercome thee Thou dwellest in the secret of the most High and shalt abide in the shadow of the Almightie Hee will deliuer thée from the snare of the Hunter and from the noysome Pestilence hee will couer thée vnder his wings and thou shalt bee sure vnder his feathers his truth shall bee thy shield and buckler hee will giue his Angels charge ouer thée to kéepe thée in all thy wayes they shal beare thée vp in their hands so that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone Quest I confesse that God is able to deliuer me from Sathan but O my sinnes my sins mee thinkes giue mee ouer to Sathan helpe mee with comfort against this temptation I haue sinned and may now die in my sinnes Ans O consider with me what the word doth say Where sinne abounded grace hath superabounded Romans 5. The bloud of Iesus Christ hath purged vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1.7 If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes 1. Iohn 2.1.2 This is a true saying and worthie by all meanes to be receiued that Iesus Christ came into the World to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1. Tim. 1. Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the World Iohn 1. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance 1. Matth. 11. The Sonne of man came to séeke and saue that which was lost Matth. 9. Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and heauie laden and I will refresh you Matth. 11. Hee died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification Rom. 4. Hee hath loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud Reuel 1.6 Thou shalt call his name Iesus for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes Matth. 1. Hee gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redéeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe Titus 1.2 I will bée mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more Hebr. 8.12 Doe you now beléeue these sayings are you perswaded that you haue faith in Christ If you haue faith you haue iustification if you haue iustification you haue no sinne I meane no such sinne as shall be able to condemne you in the day of iudgement for it is God that iustifieth who shall condemne Besides you are a member of Christs Church and this Church is without spot and wrinkle which it could not bee if you were yet in your sinnes Againe if your iniquities were not forgiuen in Christ to what end thinke you did he come into the World Furthermore consider what your Baptisme doth signifie that as pollution from your bodie is washed by water so sinne from your soule is washed by Christ Haue you forgotten that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper sealeth vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes by Christs death Is the Earth full of the mercies of the Lord and shal not this mercie be greater to you then all your miseries Doe you acknowledge and confesse your sinnes and will not he be faithfull and iust to forgiue you your sinnes Doe you aske and shall you not haue doe you séeke and shall you not find doe you knocke and shal not the dore of mercie be opened vnto you I thinke you know that Christs is a Physitian and to what end but to cure the diseased and what disease more dangerous then sinne I hope you know the Gospell of Christ is called the word of reconciliation of grace saluation and of life and that only because it offers all these to sinners And tell mee you that doubt of the forgiuenesse of sinnes what difference is there betwixt the sonnes of God and the sonnes of the Deuill but that they haue their sinnes forgiuen these not To conclude looke vpon the calling of the Preachers of the Gospell if they haue power to pronounce the pardon of sinnes to penitent sinners Christ hath power to giue pardon to the same sinners Therefore bee of good comfort your sinnes are forgiuen you Matth. 9.2 Quest What euen my great and grieuous sinnes mine infidelitie in mistrusting impatience in murmuring blasphemie in profaning the name of God Is the couetousnesse of monie the desire of reuenge the loue of pleasure more then the loue of God forgiuen mee Ans If you beléeue in Christ all things are possible to him that beléeueth your sinnes past shall neuer hurt you if sinne present doe not please you Though your sinnes were as redde as Scarlet God can make them as white as Snow There is no cloud so thicke but this Sun will dispell it no staine so foule but this Fullers sope will wash it out no treason so horrible but this King may pardon it and no sinne so great but God for Christs sake will forgiue it The infidelitie of Adam the Idolatrie of Abraham the incest of Lot the adulterie of Dauid the Apostasie of Peter the persecutions of Paul were grieuous sinnes but God in Christ did remit them all And whatsoeuer was written before time is written for your learning that you through patience and consolation of the Scriptures might haue hope Applie them therefore to your selfe If you owe to this creditor tenne thousand talents if you can sue to him for mercie hee will forgiue them all his Iustice can punish any sinne and his mercie can pardon any sinne When he liued vpon Earth he cured all sicknesses now hee is in Heauen hee can purge all sinnes He hath promised as a Porter to beare our iniquities is there any iniquitie too heauie for him Neuer say then despairing of Gods mercie my sinnes haue taken such hold vpon mee that I am not able to looke vp as an heauie burden they lie vpon mee I am not able to beare them Quest I hope that I shall lay these comforts to mine heart that the greatnesse