gréeuously feare what thing can more cruelly vexe and torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sinne then when he doubteth of the mercie of God when he dreadeth least God be his aduersarie and will reiect him when he is not able to conceyue this fayth of his mercie and doth imagine himselfe to be cast awaye as a drie member that is cut off Be present here O Iesus Christ with thine aide and helpe here we haue néede of thy comfort let not this black violent and horrible tempest of troubles ouerthrowe and drowne wretched man But there is no cause why we shoulde doubt Christ is true he will make his promises to appéere he will helpe vs and refreshe vs. Therfore where as thy fayth is not strong ynough where as thy hart is striken with feare and trembling where as thou féelest thy selfe to doubt of Gods mercie and hast well néere no faith at all straight wayes call vppon God bewayle thy miserie and lack of beléefe before him seeke for his ayde and succour by feruent prayer and hée will both helpe and refreshe thée and by this meanes thou shalt glorifie him He hath taken vpon him thus to do and he will bring it to passe But take héede especially thou cease not to call vpon God 1. Cor. 1. Beséech thou without all ceassing the father of all consolation and comfort with sighes comming from the bottome of thine hart that he turne not his face from thée Laye thy weakenesse vpon him and poure out into his bosome al other things which trouble and torment thée Crie out with his disciples Luc. 17. Math. 9. O lord increase my faith Lykewise say thou with the father of the lunatike childe Lorde I beleue help thou mine vnbeléefe Make hast O lorde to helpe me before that I oppressed with this weight be drowned Thy mercie is aboue all thy workes O most mercifull O most bounteous father O lorde God of my saluation Psal 143. my succour and refuge enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Christ is my righteousnesse redemption and innocencie which suffered most bitter and cruel death for my sake Let those things moue thée O father of all compassion Haue mercie on me for this thy sōnes sake Confirme and strengthē mine hart by faith in Christ Comfort mée with the consolations of the holy ghost that I may enioy the true ioyes in Christ for euer If thou after this maner laboring stryuing and fighting with thine imbecillitie and weakenesse accusing and bewayling thine incredulitie and faint courage doe take holde vpon Christ and sticke fast and sure vnto him once taken desiring and beséeching his ayde with continuall and earnest prayers that he will vouchsafe to fulfill all things lacking in thée substituting himself in thy roume if I say thou thus doe then all shall be in good case all things shall go well with thee and there shall be no perill For truely these two things to beléeue in Christ and to cal for faith by earnest praier doe not much differ one from the other Although thou be weake and endued with a féeble minde let this thing notwithstanding comfort and aduaunce thée againe that God hath commaunded and wylleth that we shoulde call vpon him and that he hath promised to héere beneuolently Psal 45. and to helpe vs when we call vpon him Furthermore as nothing is more iustly desired of God than true fayth euen so he héereth no prayer sooner more wyllingly than that wherein man finding no goodnesse in himselfe acknowledging his infirmitie hys weakenesse and miserie accuseth his vnbeléefe bewayling and lamenting the same desiring to haue faith with plentie and wofull sighes earnest prayers These sighes these prayers this smale faith be it neuer so little is in déede a godly and a bright sparkle and the séede of God which neuer riseth without the efficacie and working of God in vs which speaketh of Christ by the prophet Esay Esay 42. A brused réede shall hée not breake and the smoking flaxe he shall not quench Wherefore see that thou beleue constantly on Christ or beséeche him at the least wise with hartie prayers that thou mayest beleeue bewayling thine vnbeléefe before God If thou doe those things thou shalt nothing doubt but thou art reckened righteous before God and to be his childe which not without consideration nor in vaine did laye our weakenesse Esay 53. and all our sinnes vppon Christ his onely begotten sonne Math. 5. Christ himselfe sayeth in saint Mathew Blessed are the pore in spirit For theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are they that mourne For they shal receiue comfort Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse For they shall be filled These wordes were spoken vnto thée also they doe well agrée accorde in thée Thou doest mourne and art sorie for thy wicked lyfe it gréeueth thée from the bottome of thine hart thou doest thirst and hunger after righteousnesse haue a good hope and be of good comfort and thou shalt obtaine the things which thou doest desire and nowe thou art reputed iust before God through Christ For that cause Rom. 4. thou shalt commit thy soule into the hande of God the father after the example of Christ and saint Stephan saying these wordes Acto 7. O most mercifull father I giue and commit into thine handes my spirite yea rather thy spirite seing that thou hast giuen it me ioyned vnto my body for a season seing that it is thine owne ymage lykenesse Gen. 1. 2. made after thine owne similitude seing that thine onely begotten sonne did shed his moste precious blood for the redemption thereof O most fauorable father O God of all mercie compassion I eftsoones commend this my spirit into thine handes I am thine whatsoeuer I am Receiue thine I beséech thée preserue him and giue him eternall life through our Lorde Iesus Christ thine onely begotten sonne Amen Of the making of a testament and confession of sinnes vnto God THe testament is to be made of all them that may lawfully make a will and giue legacies when there yet cōsisteth and remayneth perfite minde and memorie in the body Least if they prolong that businesse vnto the last moment of lyfe they bée preuented by death Therfore it shal be wisdome for him that hath lawfull heires to referre all the care of making his testament vnto them If so be that he haue borowed money and be indebted to any man he shall openly declare it and prouide for the payment of that he oweth This being done let him remoue and put from him all them which trouble hym wyth matters of this worlde Wherein many men doe offende which bring in doubtes vnto him which is now at the point of death of his testament and other externall things and sometimes doe compell him to subscribe that against his will being readie to dye refusing and detesting there importunitie which will not suffer him quietly to die then
†Sirach 6. If thou sée a wise man go thou vnto him early in the morning and let thy foote tread the path vnto his gate For this counsell is not only good for them that cannot reade but also for them that can For many there be which read and know not what they read Take héede therefore that thou doe not little regarde the * 2. Cor. 6. grace bestowed on thée by the frée gift of Christ but be thou carefull to séeke how thou mayest please the lorde that thou mayest procure and get vnto thée the blisfulnesse of his saintes For it is written Blessed are they Psal 119. which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole hart See that the enimie let thée not that when thou wouldst read he make thée slouthfull and put other businesse in thy heade which shall pull thée awaye saying First finishe thou these small affaires and so shalt thou reade without trouble of minde For howe often sendeth he in those things that maye encourage thée vnto handie labour And he obiecteth such matters that he may the sooner withhold thée from reading being the greater profite For as much as the deuill perceyuing man to be disposed to reade setteth against him by these and other lyke occasions seeking if he may by any meanes possible let him yet coâ—â—ent thou not vnto him but be euen as the Hart Psal 42. which thirsteth and desireth to come vnto the water springs that is to say vnto the holy scriptures that thou mayest drinke out of them such things as are méete and profitable for thée as for example When it is giuen thée to know any sentence let it not escape thée but pouder vpon it in thy minde write in thine hart and thou shalt kéepe it neuer able to bée rased out of thy memorie For it is written I will thinke vpon thy righteousnesse Psal 119. And againe I haue hidde thy words within my hart that I shoulde not sinne against thée And in an other place Wherewith shall a yong man clense his waye Euen by ruling himselfe after thy worde For who is he that is mindefull of the worde of the lorde and amendeth not his wayes Is not hée alwaies a reprobate a cast awaye caytife which remembereth nothing but rather forgetteth that which he once knew Truely God sayth vnto such an one Psal 50. Wherefore talkest thou of my righteousnesse and takest my testimony in thy mouth WhervpoÌ„ he commaundeth that thing to be takeÌ„ from him which he séemeth to haue Math. 25. And what was there commaunded to bée taken from him which he séemed to haue Faith For he calleth himselfe a christian Tit. 1. but denyeth it in his déedes and he is worse than an infidell And therefore he commaundeth the holy ghost to be taken from him which he receyued in the daye of his redemption and that he séemed to haue also And such a man shal become like vnto a wine vessell thorow the which the wine is spilte and lost they that sée him know it not supposing him to he full but when wine shoulde be drawen out of him then he appéereth vnto all men to be emptie Therefore euen so such a man shall appéere emptie in the daye of iudgement and his déedes shall be manifest vnto all the world And such are they which wil saye vnto the king in that day Math. 7. Lorde haue not we prophesied in thy name and haue done many great things in thy name And the king will answere and saye vnto them Verily I saye vnto you I knowe you not Thou seest déerely beloued that such a man hath nothing at all Be thou therfore mindfull of the worde of God and amende thy lyfe Beware thou suffer not the birdes to descende and deuoure the seede of the sonne of God For he himselfe saide that the séede is the worde which ye haue heard Math. 13. Therefore hide thou the séede in the sorowes of thy lande that is to wit hide the worde in the middell of thine hart that thou mayest bring forth some fruit vnto the lord in feare And when thou readest read diligently and boldly and handle eche lyne moderatly considering thereof Endeuor not to reade ouer many leaues but if any obscure sense happen vnto thée let it not gréeue thée to pervse the verse twice or thrice vntill thou vnderstande the meaning and force thereof Furthermore when thou preparest thy selfe to sit downe and read or to heare an other first praye vnto God saying thus Scripture is attenttyfely to be reade with prayer Psal 119. O lorde Iesu Christ open myne eyes and the eares of my hart that they may heare thy words and vnderstande them and may O lorde fulfill thy wyll hide not thy commaundements from me bicause I am a straunger on the earth but open and discouer mine eyes and I will consider the maruellous things of thy lawe For in thée Oh my God haue I trusted that thou shouldst lighten mine hart Also I beséeche thée so praye vnto God alwaies that he will illuminate thy minde and open vnto thée the effect and force of his worde For many haue erred Rom. 1. counted themselues wise they became fooles not vnderstanding what was written and falling into blasphemies haue therein perished Therfore if thou in reading finde any thing hard to be vnderstoode take héede the enimy teach thée not to say within thy selfe it is not so as this word expresseth for how should it be so and suche lyke But if thou beléeue God beléeue his word also and say vnto the enimie Come behinde me sathan For I know thée not The worde of God is a pure worde as tryed siluer clensed Psal 11. and purged from the earth seauen folde and in it is no peruerse matter other else haulting as the prouerbe is but all things therein séeme good in the wise mans sight and are righteous before them that finde knowledge and I truely am a foole and knowe not the scriptures but well vnderstande they are spiritually written For the apostle sayeth Rom. 7. that the lawe is spirituall Then looke vp towardes heauen saying these wordes Lorde I beleue thy worde and doe not gaine say it but I trust in the worde of thy holy spirite Preserue me therefore O lorde that I may finde fauour in thy sight For I séeke none other thing but only to be saued Oh mercifull father that I maye obtaine thy grace and fauour For thine is the kingdome and mercie for euer and euer Amen Peroratio I Beséeche you therefore brethren déerely beloued in the lorde that ye endeuour your selues to haue these things daylie in memorie I meane faith hope charitie and humilitie that they may be sealed vp by prayers vnto God and meditations of holy scriptures For if you haue those things and doe abound in them they will not leaue you emptie and barren touching the knowledge of Iesus Christ For the 〈◊〉 man which hath not those things but neglecteth his owne saluation is blind groping the waye with his hande 2. Petr. 1. forgetting that he is cleansed from his olde sinnes and it shall happen vnto him as it is sayde in the true prouerbe 2. Petr. 2. The dogge is returned againe vnto his domite and the washed swine vnto his durâ—ie puddle They therefore 2. Petr. 2. that haue escaped the pollutions of the worlde as it is written and haue renounced them in there baptisme and are come vnto the knowledge of our lord Iesus Christ and are afterwards againe entangled with them there ende shall bée worse than there beginning For it had bene better for them not to haue knowne the waye of truth then when they haue knowne it to returne backe againe vnto the things which were forsaken Let vs therfore being the déere and faythfull seruauntes of God and his christian chosen souldiours diligentlye and earnestly take vp the foresaide armour in oure hartes and not haue them in minde by an outwarde showe that we battayling well and treading downe al the power of the enimie Ephe. 5. Collos 3. may be deliuered from the curse to come vpon the children of vnbeléefe and that we maye finde grace Hebr. 4. and mercie in that horrible daye before the iust iudge Rom. 1. which will rewarde euerie man according to his déedes to whome with the almightie father and the holy spirite belongeth honor and glory now and for euer world without ende Amen FINIS The Table PHisick for the soule verie necessarie to be vsed in the agony of death and in these extreme and most perillous seasons c. folio 1. Faith is chiefely necessarie for the sick to abide the paines of the bodye and the temptations wherwith he is pestered folio 3. The articles of our faith are diligently to be considered of the sick folio 5 Wherefore sicknesses are sent vnto vs from God folio 5 There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble oure mindes in the agonie of death that is to wit sinne death hell or damnation folio 8 ¶ A prayer for the same folio 8 What is to bee done when sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences folio 9 The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes through Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick c. folio 11 Whether the sick may lawfully seke the phisitions helpe and vse phisicke or no. folio 18 What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. folio 18 The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the dead folio 20 We will adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort folio 23 What is to be done when hell or eternall damnation coÌ„ming in our minds doth feare vs. folio 25 Of the making of a testament and confession of sinnes vnto God folio 34 Of the sacrament of the lords supper folio 35 The sorow which many take more then is requisite for the death of their parents and frendes ought to be tempered by the right rule of reason folio 37 A precept contayning an exhortation vnto al them which professe the name of Christ folio 39 Peroratio folio 40 A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick folio 41
commoditie Thou must therefore leaue and forsake this lyfe if thou wilt enioy euerlasting lyfe So after this lyfe thou shalt in the ende begin to lyue in deede Furthermore this corporall death profiteth thée to this purpose that when thou hast tasted the bitternesse and sharpnesse therof thou mayest trie know how feruent the affection of Christ his loue was towardes thée what an vnestimable benefite hée bestowed vpon thée that he dying for thée did paye and make satisfaction with his bodye for all thine offences death throughly extinguished and abolished and the gates of hell throwne downe destroyed and also broken For thou couldest neuer any other wayes know and vnderstand the strength and power of life in Christ which hath swalowed vp our death thou shouldst not know the largenesse of his benifits neither shouldest thou be able to giue so harty thankes to Christ thy lorde and redéemer Wherfore seing that Christ doth liue thou also shall lyue by him and this same death shal be vnto thée a certeine happy wholesome sléepe It shall be also an entrance and gate into that true and most blessed lyfe Secondly Christ was also tempted with sinne when they did reuile and vpbraide him as a verie wicked man and giltie of most gréeuous crime Math. 27. If thou be the sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauest others why doest thou not saue thy selfe also What other thing meane these contumelious wordes then that they supposed and thought that he deceiued the people by fraude dole slight wiles noughtie craftinesse and that he was not in déede the sonne of God yea they iudged him rather to be most wicked most abhominable and most worthy of reproch Euen likewise sathan will tempt man being in daunger of death he will present vnto him whatsoeuer he hath done and committed against the commaundement of God and will put into his minde whole waynlodes as it were of sinnes the same heaped vp into a great abundance that by the outragiousnesse and greatnesse of sinnes he maye bring man into desperation which staggereth and doubteth of Gods mercie and pardon And here thou must stand fast and strongly and shalt enterteine thine enimy assaulting thée with these wordes I confesse that I am a most manifold and gréeuous sinner But Christ frée from all sinne he that innocent lambe in whose mouth was founde no guile 1. Petr. 2. hath suffered cruell death for my sinnes he hath clensed them all be they neuer so great nor neuer so many and hath made sufficient satisfaction for them all Christ his death is the propitiation for al my sinnes 1. Ioan. 2. Christ verily hath suffered all my féeblenesse He in déede hath caried all my sorowes He was wounded for mine iniquities Esay 53. He was smitten for my sinnes By his woundes am I healed He hath takē vpō him al my sinnes I now acknowledge none I thank Christ which hath payed ransome for them all Thirdly he was also tempted with hell or eternall damnation when they obiected against him saying He hath trusted in the Lorde Math. 27. let him take him let him saue him bicause he will haue him as thoughe they should say All his hope in God shal deceyue him God is his aduersarie and abhorreth him and will cast him awaye for euer as one thrust downe into hell When the same tempter prouoketh thée with such lyke temptations take héede thou stand fast There is no cause why thou shouldest feare there is no cause why thou shouldest tremble Let the thing which he offereth and presenteth vnto thée nothing moue thée at all bée it neuer so gréeuous Put out of thy minde and banish awaye farre from thee as well sinne as death and hell They haue no power ouer thée if thou fasten thine eies vpon Christ Take holde on him and commend thy selfe wholy vnto him Christ is thine and he bestoweth himselfe wholy vpon thée He hath redéemed thée from the tirannie of the diuell and euerlasting damnation by an inestimable price This Christ is thine innocencie thy lyfe and thy righteousnesse Take héede onely that thine hart be neuer withdrawne from Christ crucified by any temptations If thou cleaue fast vnto thys Christ thou shalt be safe against all the gates of hell as one that is placed vpon an high most sure and inuincible rocke that thou mayest crie out with Christ Psal 16. I haue set God alwaies before me He is on my right hand Therfore I shal not fal Wherfore my hart was glad and my glorie reioysed my fleshe also shall rest in hope Thou hast shewed me the pathes of lyfe In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioye and at thy right hande is pleasure for euermore Thou art become through such a faith in Christ the childe of God the brother and felow eire with Christ Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Rom. 3. Gal. 3. Ephe. 2. and partaker of eternall lyfe This fayth iustifieth the righteous that is to saye those which beleue in Christ For this faith thou shalt be reputed the blessed child of God thy heauenly father and when thou departest hence thou shalt enter into the kingdome of heauen Math. 25. prepared for the elect children of GOD from the beginning of the worlde But if so be that thy fayth wauer and be doubtfull in temptations and when thou doest not suffer moderately and paciently ynough the wil of thy heauenly father when thy loue towardes God is somewhat colde when thy hope is weake and slender and for this cause fearest lest thou shouldest not well accorde with God or lest he will be offended with thée Truely this is a most greeuous most painefull and hard temptation But thou shalt thinke in thy minde and perswade with thy selfe that Christ suffered for thée moste intolerable Inuincible touching mere māhood and inuincible temptations wherein there appéered no helpe comfort ayde or defence any where wherein God and the whole world séemed to be his most cruell malycious enimies when that he cryed aloude My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh horrible and most cruell temptation oh good God how sharpe how greeuous how cruel how bitter was the death which he suffered for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore seing that Christ willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intolerable sorrowes and calamities our most louing heauenly father wylling the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmity out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extréemely deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecilitie weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him say Come vnto me Math. 11. al ye that labor and are heauie laden and I wil refresh you what more plentifull what greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs Truly many very gréeuous things do molest trouble mā For what thing can more
iniquities let thy mercies spéedily preuent vs Psal 79. help vs O God our Sauior Conuert vs O thou Lorde God of power shewe vs thy louing countinance and we shall be safe how long wilt thou be angrie First he desireth forgiuenesse of his sinnes that he might be iustified by the grace of god Next he entreateth against the wrath of God And when thou prayest for the deliuerance and easement of the crosse which oppresseth thée thou shalt alwayes put to this additiō Thy most blessed and holy will be done For we cannot better sée vnto our selues then cā our most faithfull Father of his endlesse power wisedome and infinite goodnesse which neuer turneth his eies from vs but with all diligence taketh care of vs which knoweth the number of the heares of our heads Math. 10. which doth quicken comfort cherishe couer nourish preserue and defend all things which helpeth and prouideth for all men much more and farre better then any creatures can bée able yea to wish for There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble our mindes in the Agonie of death that is to wit Sinne Death Hell or Damnation Sinne WHen those Sinnes come in our mindes we lying sicke wherein wée haue wickedly noughtily passed ouer our lyues wherby we haue very gréeuously offēded both God and our neighbor we are striken with great feare and sorrow euen as S. Paule sayeth vnto the Romaines Indignation wrath Rom. 2. tribulation and anguishe shall come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill Death ADam our flesh dieth very vnwyllingly Wherefore when death approcheth neere mans heart is altoo shaken wyth great dolors and heauinesse which no tongue is able to expresse For our fearefull affection and oure naturall man dreadeth miserablie least that when he is once dead and buried vnder the earth he shall neuer returne againe and liue but supposeth that he is vndone for euer Hell fire and Damnation WHen those things come as it were before our eyes then man feareth least he bée vtterly cast away from the presence of God and séeth none other thing in himselfe but euerlasting death Wée haue neede therfore of a good courage in this case and of a strong and valiant heart that there appeare in vs no point of cowardnesse and desperation ¶ A Prayer for the same O Most mercifull God and most louing Father I beséech thée aide vs and graunt that we which bée yet in good health and safetie may learn to feare and dreade thée may loue and imbrace thy holy worde and that we may set thée before vs as a scope and marke whervnto we may direct all our doings and that we being alwayes mindefull of the most bitter agonie of death may so prepare arme our selues that we maye order all our deedes to thy glory as doe the godly which feare thée and that we may in the ende obteyne euerlasting lyfe Amen What is to be done when Sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences THinke with thy selfe that the sonne of GOD came downe from heauen into the lowest partes and was made man he tooke vpon him thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole worlde hée willingly dyed on the crosse for them and made full satisfactiō for them all suffering for thy sake most gréeuous paines The moste precious blood of Christ was shed for thy saluation and thou art partaker of his death if so be that thou constantly beleue on Christ that he died as wel for thée as for Peter and Paule And thou oughtest not to doubt any thing at all but that hée dyed as effectuallye for thée as for Paule Thou art baptised throughe the death of Christe This thing ought to comforte thée this thing ought to lift vp and strengthen thy minde For séeing that thou art baptised through the death of Christ his death shall ayde and saue thée through his death thou shalt not die in thy sinnes but through his death thou shalt vndoubtedly obteine forgiuenesse of them all and in the ende through Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnto a new and euerlasting life For baptisme is a sure token Babtisme pledge and signe of Gods grace and fauour wherein thou art reconciled vnto God that thou maiest haue a ioyous and quiet conscience through him Math. 26. Mark 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. for the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes by Christ his resurrection And he certeinlye speaketh vnto thée in the institution of his last supper where as he professeth and testifieth that his blood was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therfore although thou haue not liued an vpright and pure life in eche respect yet Rom. 10. there is no cause why thou shouldest dispaire but spéedily call vpon the name of of the lorde without ceassing and thou shalt bée safe And thus begin thou to saye O moste mercifull GOD A prayer O father of all compassion father of oure lorde Iesus Christ bee mercifull vnto mée a sinner haue compassion on me a poore wretch and make haste to helpe mée for that most bitter yea moste precious passion and death of Iesus Christ thy onely begotten sonne and our onely redéemer and sauior Enter not into iudgemēt with thy seruant oh lorde Psal 143. deale not with mée according to my desertes neyther rewarde me according to mine iniquities but receiue me for thine infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercies sake I a wretch and séely creature am in thine hand power and daunger oh moste mightie and mercifull God oh most louing father cast mée not awaye vtterly refused in miserie I am thine whatsoeuer I am No man can comfort mée no man can help me besides thee onely Thou art the true propulsour driuer awaye of all mischiefe from men Thou art the most sure and readie helpe ayde succour and defence Thou art the moste strong tower Thou art O God our hope Psal 46. Psal 31. and strength thou art a very present help in trouble In thée O Lorde do I put my trust let me not be cōfounded let me neuer bee ashamed my hope béeing in vayne but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Bow downe thine eare to mee make haste to deliuer me And be thou my strong rock and house of defence that thou mayest saue mée Thou art my strong rock my castle Thou art my lorde my porcion is in thine handes Lighten thy face vpon thy seruant and saue me O lorde in thy mercie Further thou that art sick must be chiefly admonished of this point that thou think not what sinnes thou hast committed but rather haue before thine eies to cōtemplate and looke on the image of Christ his most holesome precious death Fasten it surely in thy minde and thorowly perswade thy selfe Esay 53. Math. 8. that thou art not now oppressed with thy sinnes for Christ and that they are all layed vpō his shoulders which taking them vpon him hath made satisfaction
diligently to be thought vpon and earnestly to be beaten into our mindes by often repeticion Thus doth saint Paule teache vs 1. Thes 4. that we strengthen one another with such communication of the resurrection that we mought thereby be comforted There can be none more certaine nor more plentifull consolations giuen vnto vs than those which we seeke out of the testimonies of holye scripture for the approbation of the resurrection Wée declare not the wordes of man but of God which surely and mightily will performe and bring to passe all that he hath spoken No man can alter the the will of God no man can let or hinder his purpose and counsell His power cannot be measured he is true and faithfull his goodnesse and mercie is endlesse Therfore let no man doubt thereof The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the deade Math. 23. THe iust men shall shine as bright as the Sunne in the kingdome of there Father Ioan. 5. Verily verily I saye vnto you hée that heereth my words and beléeueth on him that sent mée hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come into damnation but is escaped from death vnto lyfe Ioan. 6. This is the will of him that sent me that euery man which seeth the sonne and beléeueth on him haue euerlasting lyfe and I will rayse him vp at the last day Ioan. 8. Verily verily I saye vnto you if a man kéepe my sayings he shall neuer sée death Ioan. 11. Christ sayde that Lazarus did sléepe which notwithstanding had yéelded vp the ghost whose deade body was committed vnto the graue But Christ restoreth the dead vnto lyfe againe and calleth those things which be not as though they were Therefore he addeth this saying I am the resurrection Rom. 4. Ioan. 11. and the lyfe He that beléeueth on mée yea though he were deade yet shall lyue and forthwith after those wordes hée raysed vp Lazarus which had layne foure daies in his graue being putryfied and smelling And bicause we are fearefull and faint-harted by nature in those agonies that we maye haue the better helpe to beléeue that there shall be a Resurrection many were restored from death to lyfe in the dayes of the prophets and the apostles Christ raysed vp from death to lyfe the wydowes Luc. 7. He raysed vp also the maister of the Sinagoge his daughter Iairus was hir father Luc. 8. He restored Lazarus vnto lyfe Ioan. 11. Act. 9. Act. 20. 4. Reg. 4. Peter likewyse made Tabytha aliue again Paule reuiued Eutychus Helyseus the prophet reuiued his Hostes dead sonne Helias the prophet reuoked the womans childe of Sareptha to lyfe againe 3. Reg. 17. God also assumed and tooke vnto him that two most holy Gene. 5. 4. Reg. 2. mighty men Enoch and Elia rapt alyue both body and soule togithers out of this frayle and wretched world that he might by them giue vs some taste and signification of the true lyfe to come least we also shoulde beleue that no parte of vs remayneth after this miserable lyfe according to the opinion of the heathen gentiles and Epicures Furthermore the faint harted sick body is to be admonished that he remember and thinke what that greatest and mightie lord both of lyfe and death Iesus Christ sayed in saint Luke his gospell Luc. 8. Iairus daughter Wéepe not for the damsell is not deade but sléepeth Mans reason harde of beléefe not vnderstanding the secrete mysteries of God did laugh these wordes to scorne But Christ making it true verifying his words restored the dead mayden vnto life againe as soone as he had spoken the wordes The very same lord Iesus Christ wil receiue thy soule and will preserue it and in the last day he wil restore thy body vnto thy soule againe will couple them vnto eternall lyfe Ioan. 5. The time shall come when al they which are in there graues shall heare the voice of the sonne of God and they that haue done good shall come forth vnto the resurrection of lyfe If so be that the spirite of him that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen hée that raysed vp Christ from death Rom. 8. shall quicken your mortall bodies bicause that his spirite dwelleth in you God hath raysed vp the lorde Christ and shall rayse vs vp by his power The .xv. 1. Cor. 6. chapter of the first epistle to the corinthians is full of most sweete and effectual consolations hereof no golde is to be compared vnto them Saint Paule in the same chapter so knitteth and fasteneth our resurrection vnto the resurrection of Christ that it maye not be pulled or seperated from it as by this reason Christ is risen againe from the deade the which thing is most certeine Therefore without all doubt wée also shall ryse againe For Christ is our heade Ephe. 4.5 Ioan. 12. and we are hys members mystically This head is not wtout his members neyther doth he leaue and forsake his members Where Christ is Ephe. 5. there shall we be also For we are members of his bodye of his fleshe and of his bones Who can sufficiently declare according to the worthynesse thereof that vnmeasurable glorie of inestimable vnspeakable grace and mercy that God descending from heauen into the lowest partes did vouchsafe to become a mortall man that this frayle and bryckle nature of man vnited vnto his deuine nature mought be brought vnto euerlasting life being made partaker of the heauenly kingdome by the infinite and incomprehensible might and efficacie of his diuinitie and godhead If we beléeue that so great riches were bestowed vpon vs and that so blessed a lyfe remayneth for vs how I praye you can we be false harted or troubled in minde The nature of all faithfull people which haue béene both before and also since Christ and those which are yet to come without all question hath put on immortalitie in Christ being perfite God and perfite man The comfort therfore of Christ his resurrection is most plentiful and effectuall wherewith saint Paule doth strengthen the mindes of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 15. where as he sayeth Christ is risen from the deade and is become the first fruites of them that sléepe For by a man came death and by a man came the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made alyue and euery man in his own order The first is Christ than they that are Christs Here saint Paule maketh a similitude of naturall things whereby the resurrection maye be the more cléerely and manifestly perceyued And the similitude is taken of drie seede which the husbandman casteth into the earth It dieth rotteth after a fashion Yet notwithstanding that which is committed vnto the earth doth not vtterly perishe but it commeth forth of the earth againe freshe and new with a pleasant hansome ioyful forme and shape And euen so shall our
his passion vpon the crosse were therefore worthily praised bicause they wept for him when he was deade and buried We reade also in the actes of the apostles Acto 7. of S. Stephan the first martyr that godly men prouided for him all that appertained vnto the funerall of his buriall Yea and furthermore Ecclesiasticus doth admonish vs to wéepe for the deade but not immoderately or any long time Eccle. 22. saying thus Wéepe ouer him that is deade bicause the light fayleth him Make but little wéeping for the deade bicause he is come to rest Also verye many epistles of the holy father saint Hierome comforting vs vpon the death of our fréendes are of great efficacie for the same purpose whereof I now entreate For they perswade by the authority of holy scripture strong reasons that they ought not immoderately to be lamented which chaunge their life with death As that epistle which he wrote vnto Heliodorus vpon the death of Nepotianus that which he wrote vnto Paula vpon the death of hir daughter Blesilla and that which he wrote vnto Tyrasius of the death of his daughter and the rest of that most reuerende father his epistles touching the like matter argument A precept containing an exhortation vnto all them which professe the name of Christ I Now humbly desire Paraenesis hartily beséech you by the mercie of God as manie as are called by the name of Christians that once in the ende yée forsake your olde darkenesse and horrible errors and returne vnto better proofe of lyfe and to harken vnto the wholesome receiued worde of God with great desire of a pure hart and deuotion knocking without ceasing and that ye call vpon the father of heauen through Christ that he wil instruct vs and lighten vs with the true knowledge of Christ Tit. 2. that we may liue soberly righteously and godly in this present lyfe refusing the wickednesse and concupiscence of the worlde looking for that blessed hope and appéerance of the glorie of almightie God Iesu Christ our sauiour which gaue himselfe for vs that he might redéeme vs from all our iniquities 1. Petr. 2. clense vs to be a peculiar people vnto himself and folowers of good workes That worde of grace light and all comfort hath shyned vnto vs by the excéeding benefite of God We haue verie many notable examples in holy scripture testifying the abundant goodnesse long suffering and clemencie of God towards vs whereby we maye easily perceyue how that hée woulde not haue vs to be cast awaye EZech. 18. but that we should be conuerted and lyue how soone his wrath be it neuer so iust waxeth colde how soone be letteth passe the punishment which we deserue when we thinke on the amendement of our lyfe earnestly repenting Let vs also déerely beloued flye vnto God in all our afflictions being moued therevnto by these things Let vs desire him with continuall prayers that he will vouchsafe mercifully to forgiue vs all our sinnes for that his welbeloued sōne Iesus Christ his sake and that he will vouchsafe to preserue nourish defend and comfort vs and to be briefe he will vouchsafe to be our present aide and succour in all necessities 2. Reg. 14. As soone as Dauid being cast into extreme perill when there died thrée score and ten thousande within fewe dayes by the fiercenesse of the pestilence did flye vnto God confessing his sinnes desiring pardon for them earnestly calling vpon the mercy of God building an aulter in the threshing floure of Arefnath the Iebusite and offered vp burnt sacrifice and peace offerings God tooke compassion on the lande the plague ceassed from Israell After this example call you also vpon the grace and mercie of God confessing your sinnes offering vp vnto God an acceptable sacrifice of a penitēt and contrite hart and he will be present with you and helpe you and will neuer forsake you Likewyse God sent the prophet Ionas Ionas 3. and threatened to ouerthrow destroy that moste famous and populous citie Niniue But as soone as the Niniuites did repent at the preaching of Ionas GOD tooke mercy on them forgaue their offences and did withholde his punishment Follow their example and mistrust not the mercy of God His arme is not yet abreuiated shortned He both can and will helpe vs so that wée call for his ayde and succour and will not refuse his grace when it is offered vnto vs. Doth he not cry out by S. Paule Rom. 10. plainly testifye that he is rich vnto all them that call vpon him Peroratio I Hartily desire you déerely beloued brethren in the Lorde to take this my simple tretise in good part whereby I a weake member of yours am desirous to doe you good being other members in the lorde as farre foorth as I might both for breuitie of time also the health of my body not being perfite I had léeuer comforte you face to face if it might so be But séeing it may not be so I will somewhat make amendes in shewing my ready good will and charity towardes you by prayer Wherefore I beseeche Iesus Christ that true and most approued meane the most plentifull apothecary that he will vouchsafe to make this phisick for the soule collected and atchyued out of his apothecaries shoppe that is to wit out of the riche storehouse of holy scripture to be effectual in your harts that true fayth may encrease in you the loue both towardes God and your neyghbour may be feruent in you that ye may be pacient in all troubles and aduersitie that ye diligently following Christ his example may cleaue and sticke fast vnto him euen to the yéelding vp of the last breath in sure hope of eternall life thorow Iesus christ Amen The ende of the Booke entituled Physick for the soule A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sicke THou muste for a surety determine with thy selfe O Christian which art troubled and gréeued with sicknesse that thou art not afflicted by hap or chaunce but by the purpose and permission of God Whatsoeuer disease there be calamitie heauinesse or infelicity which happeneth vnto the godlye it commeth all by the determination and will of God Act. 17. Psal 99. which gouerneth all things For in him we liue moue and haue our being He made vs and not we our selues And doubt not but he sendeth this sicknesse whatsoeuer it be of his good and fatherly loue not to the entent that he would thereby destroy thée but that he myght call thée to repentance and that he myght stirre vp and exercise thy fayth Afflictions are the tokens of Gods fauour For afflictions are the sure and vndoubted signes and tokens of Gods great mercy and fauour towards vs. Salomon sayth †Prouer. 13. †Eccle. 30. †Hebr. 12. Whom he loueth him doth he correct he scourgeth euery childe whom he receyueth Thy most mercifull
grace through Christ that he would fréely giue thée euerlasting lyfe if thou beleue and art baptised that he woulde neuer forsake thee that he will be thy father that he will crowne thee with grace and mercie Baptisme is a seale of saluation And thy baptsime is the seale and token of this league whervnto his promises being added it is requisite that thou stick fast vnto them For he gaue this singe that thou shouldest nothing doubt of his couenant and promised grace Thou art baptised into the death of Christ as saint Paule sayeth Rom. 6. that his death should be made thine and that he should make satisfaction in all things for thée and thou hast put him on in thy baptisme Gala. 3. that thou shouldest wholy be in him and hée in thée Therefore baptisme is a league lifting vp making merie and quieting thy conscience before god as saint Peter beareth witnesse 1. Pet. 3. that hee wyll neuer condemne thée for thy sinnes For thou iustified by fayth Rom. 5. art at peace with God A quiet calme and pacified conscience is the true peace The true peace And thou hast receiued baptisme as a most sure token and certeine seale of this iustification and remission of sinnes that thou shouldst stedfastly beléeue that God will haue mercye on thée that hée will preserue and delyuer thée Now therefore seing that God fauoreth thée and will be thy father and will neuer forsake thée and seing that thou hast receyued an infallible token and testimony hereof commende and vtterly giue all the matter and thy selfe also wholy vnto him and be thou obedient vnto his good will pleasure and thou must paciently abide and suffer his hande whether he will haue thée to dye or lyue so that his owne blessed will may be done vnto his owne praise glory Albeit it is not possible that thou canst be damned if thou consecrate and dedicate thy selfe wholy vnto him surely trusting in his mercie promised for Christ his sake For he hath condicioned that he will be thy father And bicause he is true when thou doest acknowledge him to be thy father and doest looke for and hope to receyue all goodnesse of him he cannot but be thy father and preserue thée by what meanes soeuer he sharply vseth thee for a little space Seing therefore he hath promised to be thy father thou trustest vnto his promises without all question he taketh earnest care of thee and all thine Wherefore thou shalt commend vnto him not onely thine owne body but also thy wyfe and children thy kinsfolkes and fréendes and to be short all that thou hast and doubt not but he will be vnto thée in the steade of a verie father a wyfe a true fréend and cosine For hitherto he hath vsed thée as a dispensatour and steward in those things But now séeing that he will haue thée to lay aside the function of this office he wil appoint in thy roume an other steward for them which shall diligently and faithfully take care of them If thou hope for this of him and looke for it with a ful confidence of hart there is no doubt but he will do as I haue tolde thée Wherefore put out of thy minde all care of them and commit it vnto God Be rather carefull for thy selfe prouide for thy soule and thinke how to yéelde it vp vnto God And seing that God hath fréely forgiuen thée all thy sinnes for Christ his sake he will require nothing of thee at all for this his great and inestimable benefite but that thou againe forgiue from the bottome of thine hart all them which haue offended thée And he doth promise Math. 6. that he wil remit all our trespasses if we forgiue other men there misdéedes Therefore when thou hast so forgiuen all offences vnfaynedly that thou neuer reuiue them nor call them vnto memorie againe praye also for them which haue done thée harme according to the doctrine and example of Christ and if thou recouer help them néeding thine aide as much as thou mayest If thou haue such a minde voyde of strife enuie malice and wrath thou hast also a signe and token that God hath forgiuen thée thy sinnes For fayth whereby thine hart is purified and clensed exercising hir selfe and bringing forth hir fruits according to Gods infinite benifits cannot choose but likewise forgiue and doe good vnto hir neighbour This fruit of loue and charitie testifieth and doth ascerteine thée A liuely fayth bringeth foorth true fruites that thy faith is a true a liuely faith seing that she bringeth forth good and true fruites †2. Petr. 1. This is the thing that saint Peter would haue whereas he biddeth vs to giue the more diligence to make our calling and election sure by good workes For he meaneth that those workes are witnesses and signes that thou art chosen and adopted of God to be his sonne vnto the ioyes of eternall saluation But thou shalt not hope déerely beloued that God will forgiue thée thy sinnes Payne cannot merite the remission of sinnes for the payne and gréeuousnesse of thy crosse sicknesse †Act. 4. Ioan. 1. For there is none other saluatiō ther is none other recompēce for thy sinnes then the onely death of Christ God truely respecteth none other thing in this case hée accepteth none other thing but his déerely beloued sonne This is the lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world And this thy sicknesse and paynes cannot make satisfaction vnto God so muche as for thy least offence muche lesse can it deserue saluation As S. Paule testifyeth saying I suppose that the afflictiōs of this lyfe Rom. 8. are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs. No creature Peter saieth Act. 4 there is no saluation in anye other than in Christ neyther in heauen neyther in earth no Angell coulde mitigate and pacifie the wrath of GOD the father then this thy disease and temporall affliction is much lesse able to aswage it And farder it was requisite that he which should pacifie that wrath and reconcile god vnto man should be both God and man as one ready to pleade and make intercession betwéene God being offended man condemned Therefore it behoued the sonne of God to be made mā that he might appease and satisfie the wrath of his father deliuer vs from it as the prophet witnesseth saying Hée taketh away our infirmities Esa 53. beareth our paynes God hath layd our iniquities vpon him I haue smitten him sayth god for the sinnes of my people 1. Petr. 2. And s Peter fayth By whose stripes we ar healed Thy sinnes therefore are forgiuen thée for this thy lord Christ his sake and for none other thing in all the world For none afflictiōs be they neuer so bitter and gréeuous can helpe vs. Christ is our only iustification 1. Cor. 2. redemptiō satisfaction and saluation