in Christ that is who haue beleeued in Christ being now dead they rest in their graues onely for a time in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection whereby they shall rise againe in the last day vnto a new life and that eternall and euerlasting wherein shall be nether sinne nor death nor any miserie and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse life and saluation ioy and happines for euer and euer These things God himselfe hath promised who is of infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promised and who is also truth it selfe and therefore neither will nor can faile in performance thereof Trust stedfastly then in his promises and wauer not CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead MOreouer it is good for thee to repeate often and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testimonies of holy Scripture which concerne the resurrection of the flesh Hereof it is that Saint Paul admonisheth vs in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians That we raise vp confirme comfort both our selues 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the resurrection Neither indeed can there be any consolations more fruitful and plentifull or more sure and certaine then those which we fetch from those testimonies of Scripture which concerne the resurrection of our bodies they being the words not of man but of God who both can and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken as hath bene said There is none that can alter or change his will and determination none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell He is of power infinite in his word and promises most faithfull and true yea truth it selfe his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie And therefore let no man doubt thereof Math 13.43 Christ saith Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Iohn 5.24 Likewise Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Chap. 6.40 And Chapter 6.40 This is the will of my Father that hath sent me that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Againe Chapter 8.51 Verily Chap. 8.51 verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death And Chap. 11.11 Christ saith that Lazarus slept and 11.11 who notwithstanding was dead and his dead corps did then lie in the graue But Christ raiseth the dead to life againe and calleth those things which are not Rom. 4.17 as if they were as Saint Paule saith And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse Ioh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And by and by after the vttering of these words he raised vp Lazarus from death hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies And because in these conflicts of sicknesse and death we are naturally very fearefull and faint hearted to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward the more to beleeue that there shall be a resurrection many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Prophets and Apostles In the new Testament Christ raised from the dead the widowes sonne at Naim Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus Act. 20. In the old Testament the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha 1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his hostesse sonne the Shunamite 2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. ◠Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp Henoch and Elias aliue both bodie and soule out of this miserable and transitorie life and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto himselfe Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come lest according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens we should imagine that after this life nothing else remained vnto vs. Furthermore consider thinke with thy selfe what that great and mighty Lord of life death Iesus Christ saith Luke 8.52 Weepe not Luke 8.52 the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth Reason not beleeuing this notvnderstanding the mysteries of God maketh a mock of these things Wherupon it is added that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it But Christ making good his owne words as soone as he had said it he raised vp the maid that was dead and restored her to life And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ not onely receiue thy soule and preserue the same in sure custodie but will also at the last day render and deliuer againe this body vnto thy soule and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall Iohn 5.28 Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plainly Ioh. 5.28 That the day and houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shal come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life And Daniel prophecieth foretelleth also Dan. 12.2 That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake vnto euerlasting life and that they that be wise shall shine euen as the brightnesse of the firmament and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer euer Saint Paule in like manner prooueth and confirmeth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies by many strong and infallible reasons arguments Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.11 If saith he the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell 〈◊〉 you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke◠your mortall bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in you And 1. Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 6.14 The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ he shall also raise vs vp by his power And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolations and comforts of wonderfull force and efficacie In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our resurrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other Christ saith he is risen frō the dead which is a thing most certaine and sure therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise againe For Christ is our head and we his
faith is the ground or expectation of things that are hoped for to wit being promised not of things that are sensible or conceiued by sense and it is the euidence of things not seene that is a sure and certaine knowledge and proofe of the things that appeare not Hebrews 11.1 It standeth thee vpon therefore with the holy and faithfull Patriarch Abraham euen beside hope and aboue hope 〈◊〉 beleeue vnder hope Rom. 4.18 Thy faith thy hope must set it self to resist all those things which either blinde reaâ—on shall suggest vnto thee 〈◊〉 that cunning and craftie â—nemie the diuel who lieth â—n waite to destroy shall seeke to infuse and put into thee Here therefore thou â—â—t to learne and obserue 1 Pet. 5.8 for thy coÌ„fort Gods manner and custome in sauing those that are his whom he will lift vp into heauen him â—e doth commonly first of all bring downe to hell Whom he will quicken and make aliue him he doth first bring downe to the gates of death Vpon whom he will shew his greatest mercie kindnesse in sauing and deliuering him him he suffereth before to be tempted and maketh as if he would condemne him Wherefore euen then when thou feelest nothing else but present death when God seemeth most of all to be angry with thee wheÌ„ he seemeth to be furthest from thee yea and to haue wholly and altogether forsaken thee cast thee off as one reproued and condemned euen then is he nearest vnto thee to protect defend and deliuer thee then he most of all loueth thee and then he â—ath greatest care ouer thee For in the middest of trouble and affliction God remembreth mercie as the Prophet in many places beareth witnesse Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinckling of â—n eye but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide at night but ioy cometh in the morning Lam. 3.31 And againe He will not forsake or be angry for euer yea rather As a father piâ—ieth his owne children so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust Now Psal 103.13 the mercie of the Lord is for euer and euer vpon them that feare him The Lord is gracious and full of compassion Psal 145.8 slow to anger and of great mercy yea our God is good vnto all how much more to his children to them that loue and feare him and his mercy is ouer all his workes as the same Prophet witnesseth Psalme 145.8 And therefore closing vp the eies both of thy mind and also of thy senses and vtterly casting off the iudgment of reason submit and giue ouer thy selfe wholy vnto Christ and take it in good part howsoeuer he shall deale with thee Thou must not esteem and iudge of death or of the horror and paines of death according to the iudgement of outward sight or of sense and reason but according to the word of God and the censure and iudgement thereof Dauid saith That Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 And the voyce of God himselfe from heauen cryeth in the Reuelation of S. Iohn Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. Apoc. 14.13 And Christ himselfe saith Iohn 8.51 He that beleeueth in me shall not taste of death Wherefore if any thing be presented vnto thee which may seeme to turne thee away from Christ cast the same wholly out of thy mind Sticke fast vnto the word of God which abideth for euer Meditate still vpon it and by often repeating the same imprint it stedfastly in thy mind For thou canst not indeed euer conceiue by the quicknesse sharpnesse of thine own reason how al this may be that thou shouldest passe thorough death vnto the true life how thou shouldst die and depart this world by breathing out thy soule how thy soule should bee kept safe in the Lord and should abide and rest with him vnto the last day and how also thy body being putrified and eaten vp of wormes and consumed to dust and ashes could rise again in the last day of iudgment and come forth in so fresh and glorious a forme maner This reason in no wise is able to conceiue onely faith can comprehend it And therefore still meditate vpon the Articles of thy faith and diligently weigh and consider in thy mind all the seuerall parts of the same with a particular application thereof vnto thy selfe CHAP. III. How the sicke partie is to be called on and comforted being ready to giue vp the Ghost NOw deare brother is the time that thou must fight that good fight and lay hold on eternal life Now therefore fight manfully and couragiously keep thy standing diligently lay hold fast on Christ Iesus that none take away thy Crowne Fixe stedfastly in thy mind the promises of Christ thy Redeemer I am saith he the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue and shall not dye for euer Christ hauing taken our nature vpon him with all those defects and infirmities whereto we are subiect and dying vpon the altar of his Crosse hath offered vp himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for all our sinnes He it is that by his most precious blood hath purged away the sinnes of all that truly and vnfainedly beleeue in him And this thy Sauiour Iesus Christ wil in no wise forsake thee He it is that vndoubtedly careth for thee to saue protect and deliuer thee Nothing therefore shall touch thee nor preuaile against thee to hurt thee The foundation of God remaineth sure hauing this seale 2. Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his Christ saith My sheepe Iohn 10.27 heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any be able to take them out of my hand My Father that gaue them vnto me a greater then all and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand I and my father are one Wherefore deare brother beloued in Christ commend thy soule into the hands of God thy heauenly Father who for his Son his sake doubtles doth entirely loue thee hauing ransomed and redeemed thee with so great a price as the death and bloodshedding of his only sonne Cry out therefore confidently with thy elder brother Christ O heauenly Father into thy hands I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed with so great a price Lord Iesus receiue my soule Now the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort and consolation confirme and strengthen thee conduct and leade thee and by the ministery of his holy Angels transport and carrie thee as they did Lazarus into the bosome of Abraham euen into euerlasting life and finally preserue and keepe thee vnto that most ioyfull resurrection at the last day Amen A SERMON OF MORTALITIE
Hell and damnation These things being thuâ— offered vnto our sight the at length a man begins tâ— feare lest haply he be quiâ— cast out from the face fauor of God beholding nothing else but eternal dead and condemnation Heâ— therefore men haue need 〈◊〉 be couragious of a coâ—stant heart and mind thâ—â— they faint not nor giue aâ— place vnto despaire Praâ— we therfore in this manneâ— A prayer O most gracious God â— most mercifull Father graâ—â— we beseech thee that by thy grace and helpe while we are yet in health and prosperitie we may learne to feare thee to loue thy holy word to beleeue and embrace thy sweete and coÌ„fortable promises to set thee before vs as the scope end of all our actions and that remembring alwaies this sharpe conflict and encounter which we are to vndergoe we may fortifie and arme our selues against this day of triall and so be saued preserued and defended that seruing and fearing thee we may direct all our doings to thy glorie and at the length obtaine and enioy eternall life which thine owne Sonne hath purchased for vs Amen CHAP. IIII. A Remedie against the feare and remembrance of our sinnes VVHensoeuer thy sins shall torment and trouble thee or terrifie thy conscience consider how that the Son of God himselfe for thy sake and for the purging and taking away of thy sinnes came downe from heauen and humbled himselfe to the lowest estate that may be that he being made man took vpon him thy sins and the sinnes of the whole world and of his owne voluntarieâ— will dyed for them vpon the crosse and made full satisfaction for them all by suffering most grieuous punishments in thy name and for thy sake This most precious bloud of Christ was shed euen for thee and for thy saluation Of this his death art thou also made partaker if onely thou shalt beleeue that he dyed as wel for thee as for Peter and Paul and others Neither oughtest thou any whit to doubt but that he died as well for thee as for Paule for in that thou art a sinner euen in this respect thou mayest and oughtest to bee comforted Math. 9.13 For Christ came not to call the righteous but to call sinners to repentance Mat. 9.13 and 1 of Tim. 1.15 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a true saying saith Saint Paul and by all meanes worthie to be receiued That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Yea admit thou were one of the greatest sinners in the world yet doubt nothing for such a one was Paule as he witnesseth of himselfe in the same place euen the greatest and chiefest among sinners an oppressor a persecutor and blasphemer Moreouer this may and ought to comfort thee and to confirme and settle thy mind Rom. 6.3 that thou art baptized into the death of Christ For seeing thou art baptized into the death of Christ Christ his death shall saue and helpe thee by Christ his death thou shalt die vnto thy sinnes by Christ hiâ— death thou shalt receiue vndoubted remission and forgiuenesse of all thy sins finally by Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnâ—o a new life here and to a life eternall and euerlasting in the world to come Thâ— remission of our sins confirmed in Baptisme and in the Lords Supper For Baptisme is a sure token and pledge and a certaine couenant as it were of Gods mercie and fauour in which thou art reconciled vnto God So that by meanes of it thou mayest euermore haue a quiet and chearefull conscience by reason of the forgiuenesse and pardoning of all thy sins through the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ Verily it is vnto thee also that Christ speaketh in the institution of his holy Supper wherein he professeth and witnesseth that his bloud was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therefore howsoeuer the life which thou hast led hath not bene altogetheâ— faultlesse blamelesse noâ— in all respects pure and free from sinne yet despaire not but without delay flie for refuge succour vnto that bloud of his which was thus shed for thy sinnes and without ceassing call vpon his Name and thou shalt be saued according to his promise Rom. 10.13 Rom. 10.13 Criâ—â— out vnto him therefore and call vpon him in these oâ— the like words A Prayer O most mercifull God and father of alâ— mercies father of our Lord Iesus Christ be fauourable and mercifull vnto me a sinner Take pittie and compassion vpon me miserable wretch and speedily helpe me euen for that most bitter but yet most precious death and passion of Iesus Christ thy only Son our redeemer and onely Sauiour Amen Amen Enter not into iudgement O Lord with thy seruant Deale not with me after my deserts neither do vnto mee according to my sinnes and iniquities but for thy infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercie receiue me vnto thy grace I miserable wretched weake and feeble creature am in thy hands in thy power and at thy disposing to do with me what it pleaseth thee â— most mightie and yet mosâ— meeke most gentle most gracious God and mercifull father leaue me not neither reiect and cast mee off as a wretch that is quite forlorne and forsaken I am thine whatsoeuer I am and there is none can comfort me none can helpe me none can deliuer me but thou onely Thou art the true preseruatiue and remedie against all euils and mischiefes and against all infirmities and sicknesses both of bodie and soule Thou art the surest and most present helpe refuge and succour a strong hold and a fortresse and castle in all necessities Psal 46. Thou ô Lord art our hope and strength in troubles Psalme 46. In thee O my God I put my trust Psal 71. 31. let me not be confounded nor ashamed as being frustrate and disappointed of my hope but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Incline thine care vnto me and saue me and make haste to deliuer me be thou vnto me a strong rocke and house of defence that thou mayest saue me For thou art my rocke my fortresse thou art my Lord and my God Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Let the light of thy countenaÌ„ce shine vpoÌ„ thy seruant saue me for thy mercie O Lord my God Moreouer here thou must especially be admonished to take heed that the suffer not thy selfe to much to be possessed wiâ—â— the cogitation and remembrance of thy sinnes in paâ—ticular But rather if thâ— same shall at any time stanâ— vp against thee set beforâ— thine eyeâ— the remembrancâ— of that most inestimabâ— price of Christ his death suffering and fasten thâ— same into thy minde diligently according to the aduice and counsell of Sainâ— Augustine Inspice vulnerâ— pendentis sanguinem morieâ—tis precium redimentis Capaâ— habet inclinatum in cruce aâ— osculandum brachia extensâ— ad amplexandum totum
and 3.18 And Chap. 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs vnto God And Saint Iohn 1 Epistle 1.7 saith 1 Ioh. 1.7 That the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne and Chap 2.1 If any man sinne and 2.1 we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the reconciliation fâ—â— our sinnes and not for ouâ— onely but also for the sinnes 〈◊〉 the whole world Thou hast heard heâ— deare brother the word not of man but of the holy Ghost which witnessâ— onely that God the fatheâ— who willeth not the death of a sinner EZech. 18. but that heâ— should conuert and liue euen he of his infinite louâ— toward thee hath easeâ— thee of the heauie burtheâ— of thy sinnes and hath laiâ— them on the shoulders oâ— his best and onely beloueâ— Sonne He hath borne them and suffered for them in hiâ— body that they cannot aâ— any time condemne thee For as much as God accepteth and reputeth the death of his Sonne in stead of plenarie and perfect repentance and of full payment and satisfaction for all thy sinnes so that thou beleeue in his Sonne Christ Iesus Forasmuch then as thy sins being laid vpoÌ„ Christ could not hold him in death neither condemne him verily satisfaction is now already made for them and to thee they are all now remitted pardoned Beleeue these things and thou shalt liue eternally for euer Christ himself hath borne thy sins and also died for them But he is risen againe and the sinnes of all true beleeuers are by the death of Christ more then sufficiently purged and discharged and the strict and seuere iustice and iudgement of God abundantly satisfied for thy sins by Christ Iesus Christ now then is thine togetheâ— with all his benefits with his death Rom. 8.32 resurrection and ascension into heauen with his merits righteousnesse obedience and finally witâ— his life and endlesse glorie Satan therefore hath no right nor interest in thee nor power ouer thee neither can he do vnto thee any hurt or iniurie sith thou art iustified by Christ seeing thou art freed and deliuereâ— from all thy sinnes and seeing thou art the child oâ— God For behold God is thy father and such a father aâ— entirely loueth thee for Christ his sake who hath reconciled thee vnto himselfe Be of good comfort then Phil. 4.4 and reioyce againe againe in the Lord. For as much as thou art in the hands of almighty God thy most tender and louing father who is also most true and faithfull in his word promises thou art safe and out of all danger so as no euill can befall thee being vnder his custodie and enuironed about and garded with a troope of Angels as he hath promised Psal 91.11 That he will giue his angels charge ouer thee Psal 91.11 to keepe thee in all thy waies Christ also is thine how mightie soeuer he be in power how rich soeuer in goodnesse and how great and high soeuer in maiestie and glorie He it is that hath couered all thy sinnes with the cloke of his innocencie and obedience and taken them all quite away Rom. 8.32 so that none shall be able to wrest or plucke thee out of the hands of thy heauenly Father As soone as thou shalt haue suffered and passed ouer this bodily affliction and temporall crosse which being compared vnto euerlasting life is light and momentany thou hast then got the victorie Christ Iesus hath gone before thee in suffering the like yea and a farre more sharpe and bitter Luke 22.44 and a farre more terrible conflict Now he is thy head vnto whom thou must of necessitie be conformed made like vnto him by dying vnto thy sinnes and by leauing and laying downe this life so embrued and defiled with sinne that so with thy Lord Christ thou maist liue the blessed life and that for euer Let not thy sinnes then vexe and trouble thee there is no cause why for them thy conscience should be disquieted seeing that they are alreadie taken away and abolished the euil spirit that seeketh the destruction of our soules is for thee vanquished and ouercome cast downe and trodden vnder foote God now in fauor looketh vpon thee he taketh care of thee to defend and keepe thee yea the societie and fellowship of all the blessed Angels attend vpon thee they watch ouer thee and pitch their tents about thee readie to minister vnto thee to carrie thy soule into the bosome of Abraham so that thou canst in no wise be condemned no more then could thy head Christ Iesus so that with thy whole heart thou fixe and repose thy confidence in him If sinne death and hell be not able to do any harme or displeasure vnto thy Lord Christ no more theâ— can they do vnto thee for as much as thou art iâ— Christ and Christ in thee thou canst neuer be condemned whereas indeed if thou were to sustaine and beare thine owne sins and to make satisfaction for them thou shouldest neuer be able to sustaine and vndergoe so great a burthen but thy sinnes would weigh and presse thee downe into hell vtterly ouerwhelme and swallow thee vp But now Christ being the selfe same true God and true man he hath willingly offered himselfe for thee and hath substituted himselfe in thy stead making full payment of all for thee as he saith Psal 69.4 Psal 69.4 That he made payment of the things which he neuer tooke Thou hast indeed in thy selfe coÌ„mitted many sinnes but Christ hath in thy stead discharged and made satisfaction for them all He it is that hath set thee at liberty that hath made thee partaker with himselfe of eternall life if onely thou shalâ— beleeue and giue credencâ— vnto this word and Gospel Yea assuredly deare brother though the sinnes of the whole world did liâ— vpon thy necke alone yeâ— notwithstanding behold there is infinite mercy with God abundantly sufficient or rather more then sufficient for them all Now God hath promised in Christ his blessing of grace and mercie vnto thee And the same his promise is in thy Lord Christ ratified and assured and fully accomplished and performed vnto thee so as thou canst not but be saued if onely thou do but cast thine eyes vpon Christ There is then nothing more sure and certaine then thy saluation For Christ being the naturall Sonne of God and in his diuine essence truth it selfe he is in respect of humane nature our flesh and bloud Who then shall be or can be more trustie and more faithfull to giue and performe this promise of grace and mercie then this Christ who is himselfe the truth of the promise who loueth vs so feruently and earnestly that he chose rather to suffer death voluntarily and willingly theâ— that we shold be frustrated of any promise Wherefore if thou shalt beleeue in
vntrue in his word he will assuredly in due time make his promises to appeare he will helpe refresh and comfort vs. Whensoeuer then thy faith thy hope is not firme stedfast as it should be when thou seest and perceiuest thine heart smitten with feares and terrors when thou findest in thy selfe that thou beginnest to doubt of Gods mercie and that thou hast little or no faith at all forthwith call vpon God for helpe as Peter did when he was readie to sinke and to be drowned Math. 14.30 Implore and craue for mercie from him Mat. 14.30 and deplore and lament thine vnbeleefe and incredulitie before him Request desire his helpe with earnest prayer and intreatie and he will ease thee refresh and comfort thee and thereupon thou shalt glorifie praise him Psal 50.15 God hath vndertaken to do it and he will do it Onely see that thou ceasse not to call vpon him Beg craue incessantly with sighes and grones proceeding from the very bottome of thy heart at the hands of almâ—ghtie God the father of all mercies the God of all comfort that he will not turne his face from thee Crie out with the Disciples Luke 17.5 Lord increase my faith and with the father of the lunatick child Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe Mar. 9.24 A Prayer O Lord make haste to helpe me before I be pressed downe with this heauie burden and ouerwhelmed with the same Thy mercie is aboue all thy workes O most meeke most mercifull and most gracious Father O Lord God of my saluation my refuge and deliuerer enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Christ is my righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 sanctification and redemption He it is that for me and for my sake hath endured yea and most willingly hath offered himselfe to die a most sharpe and cruell death Let these things moue thee and preuaile with thee O Father of all mercies For this Christ thy Sonne his sake haue mercie on me confirme and strengthen my heart with true and stedfast faith in thy Sonne Christ Iesus and comfort me with the consolations of thy holy Spirit that so I may haue the fruition of true and perfect ioyes in Christ Iesus for euer and euer Amen In this maner labouring and wrastling and fighting striuing with thine owne weaknesse yea and accusing and bewailing vnto God thine vnbeleefe and faint-heartednesse if thou shalt withall lay hold on Christ and shalt cleaue and sticke fast vnto him with feruent and incessant prayer crauing and desiring his helpe that he substituting himselfe as it were in thy stead would supply whatsoeuer is wanting vnto thee if thou shalt do this then behold all is well with thee then there is no danger thou art safe enough for as much as there is little difference betweene these two betweene beleefe in Christ a feruent or earnest desire to beleeue How weake therefore and faint-hearted soeuer thou art let this comfort and releeue thee that God willeth and commandeth thee in thy greatest trouble and distresse to call vpon him Psal 50.15 and that he hath promised if thou do call vpon him he will heare thee and helpe thee Moreouer as nothing is or can be more iustly and rightfully desired of God then true faith so he heareth no prayer sooner nor more willingly then that which a man powreth forth finding no goodnesse in himselfe acknowledging his owne weakenesse and wretchednesse deploring and lamenting his owne incredulitie and vnbeleefe with feruent and earnest prayers and often sighes and grones desiring and begging for faith to be giuen him These desires and requests these sighs grones these prayers this little faith though it be neuer so little or so slender it is verily a cleare sparke of that holy fire it is the good seed of God which can in no wise spring vp in vs but by the effectual working of God who by his Prophet Esay thus speaketh concerning Christ That he will not quench the smoking flaxe Esay 42.3 nor bruise the broken reede Wherefore see thou beleeue stedfastly in Christ thy Sauiour or else pray heartily and feruently that thou mayest beleeue lamenting in the meane time and complaining vnto God of thine vnbeleefe If thou do this thou needest not doubt but that thou art accepted and reputed righteous before God and art the child of God who not in vaine laid vpon Christ his onely Sonne our weaknes and our sinnes In the fift Chapter of S. Mathew his Gospell Christ himselfe saith Math. 5. That blessed are the poore in spirit blessed are they that mourne and blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse These things Christian brother are spoken vnto thee do properly belong to thee Thou art humbled and cast downe thou art poore in thine own eyes and in thine owne conceit euen poore in the graces of Gods spirit thou mournest and art grieued and vexed from thy verie heart for thy leude and wicked life formerly spent thou doest hunger thirst for righteousnesse desiring to haue faith wherby thou mayest be iustified and saued Be of good cheare and comfort thy selfe thou shalt haue that thou desirest thou art euen now alreadie become righteous before God And hereupon thou mayest boldly by the example of Saint Steuen Act. 7.59 Act. 7. and of Christ himselfe also Luke 23.46 Luk. 23. commend thy spirit into the hands of God thy heauenly Father saying A Prayer O most mercifull and louing Father into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for as much as thou hast made it and inspired it and placed it in this earthly tabernacle of my bodie committing the same onely vnto my charge and custodie for a short time for as much as it is thine owne proper image made after thine owne similitude and likenesse and for as much also as for its sake and to redeeme it thine onely begotten Sonne hath vouchsafed to shed his most precious bloud This Spirit of thine I say I commend againe and againe into thy hands O most gracious Father thou God of all mercies thine I am whatsoeuer I am Receiue thine owne I beseech thee Saue preserue defend and keepe it and finally of thy free mercie giue vnto it euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy true Sonne and our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen CHAP. XIII A short Admonition touching the making and ordaining of last Wils and Testaments IT were to be wished that while men are in sound and perfect health they would be carefull to set in order all their worldly affaires and by their wils and bequests or otherwise to dispose of their temporall estate and of such earthly blessings as God hath lent them weighing and remembring the frailty and vncertaintie of this present life lest if perhaps they deferre this businesse vnto the last moment and period of their life they be preuented by death or at the least wise hindered by extremitie of
of the Epistles of that holy Father which intreate of the like matter CHAP. XV. An Exhortation to all professors of the name of Christ NOw I beseech and intreate all euen as many as are stiled and called by the name of Christians and I charge and require you euen by the mercies of God that once at the length forsaking your former sins and errors and the horrible darknesse and blindnesse in which ye haue liued ye will returne vnto a better course of life with all care and diligence and with sincere heartie deuotion hearing and receiuing the word of God which is able to saue your soules and continually without intermission knocking at the gates of heauen and intreating the heauenly Father through his Sonne Christ Iesus that he will inwardly teach and instruct you and enlighten your hearts and minds with the true knowledge of Christ and of his heauenly will That denying and renouncing all vngodly lusts Tit. 2.12 ye may liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the mighty God of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good works That same light of grace and of all comfort and consolation as the day starre frō on high hath visited vs and by the infinite goodnes of God hath in these last times in exceeding great brightnesse shined forth vnto vs. We haue manifold examples both in the holy Scriptures and euery day among our selues which testifie the infinite bountie and mercie long suffering patience and gentlenesse of our God toward vs whereby we may see how God would not that we should be lost but that we should conuert liue how soone his iust wrath waxeth hote against vs and how easily againe he is mooued to succeasse from punishing vs as we deserued so soone as we vnfainedly repent of our sinnes and stedfastly intend purpose an amendmēt of our liues Let these things moue you deare brethren and stirre you vp to seeke the Lord Esay 55.6 while yet he may be found to call vpon him while he is yet neare vnto you that the wicked forsake his owne waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he will haue mercie on him and vnto our God for he is very readie to forgiue Yea let the consideration hereof encourage you in all your troubles and distresses to flie vnto God and vncessantly to pray vnto him that he will mercifully pardon and forgiue you all your sinnes for his deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ and that he will vouchsafe to preserue and keepe you to sustaine and vphold you to cherish and comfort you and finally to hide and couer you vnder the shadow of his wings and to be present and readie to helpe and succour you in all your need and necessitie Thus did Dauid whē he saw himselfe in great distresse and danger 2 Sam. 24.17 and that for his sin there had fallen by a sore plague in three daies space seauentie thousand men straightway he flieth vnto God confessing his sinne and lamentablie crauing begging for mercy and forgiuenesse crying out Ecce Behold I haue sinned yea I haue done wickedly And whē he had built an altar in the threshing floore of Aranna the Iebusite where the Angel had appeared vnto him he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings thereupon And then the Scripture saith verse 25. That the Lord was appeased toward the land and the plague ceassed from Israel By which example of Dauid deare brethren confesse your sinnes pray vnto God for grace and intreate for mercie and pardon offering vp vnto God that acceptable sacrifice of a penitent contrite heart which aboue all things is well pleasing vnto him and behold God will be present and ready to helpe you neither will he at any time faile you or forsake you In like manner Iona 1.3 when God sent Ionas vnto Nineue he threatned to destroy that populous and famous citie But straightway as soone as at the preaching of Ionah the Nineuites had repented God had compassion on them he pardoned their sinnes and remitted their punishment Set before you my brethren these examples to be imitated followed Distrust not the mercie and goodnesse of God Esay 59.1 Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot saue he both will and can saue and helpe yea releeue and comfort you so as ye refuse not neither despise his grace and goodnesse so mercifully and abundantly offered but call vpon him for helpe and assistance of his grace Eph. 2.4 who is rich in mercie Ephesians 2.4 euen rich vnto all that call vpon him Rom. 10.12 Romanes 10.12 Now I pray and beseech the Lord Iesus Christ that onely true and approued Physition both of body and soule that these diuine medicines and spirituall directions collected and digested out of the rich store-house of the holy and sacred Scriptures may haue a powerfull and effectuall working in your hearts whereby faith may more more abound and increase and the loue of God and of your brethren more and more feruently bee inflamed in you And that abiding constant and patient in all temptations and tribulations whatsoeuer after the example of the same Christ Iesus ye may euen vnto the last gaspe cleaue and sticke fast vnto him in assured hope of eternall life and saluation through the same Christ Iesus our alone Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all glorie and praise for euermore Amen The second part A Method or order of comforting the Sicke CHAP. I. How to comfort all such as lie vpon the bed of Sicknesse WHereas deare brother thou art so sore vexed grieued with sicknesse know for suretie and make certaine account that thou art thus afflicted and punished not by chance or fortune but by the determinate will purpose and permission of almightie God For whatsoeuer affliction or calamitie befalleth vnto the children of God it is doubtlesse sent of God and it cometh vnto them whollie and altogether at his appointment and by his guidance and direction For as much as in him wee liue Act. 17. and moue and haue our being Psal 100. It is he that hath made vs and not we our selues And doubt not thou but that it is indeed of his good will and of his loue and fatherly affection toward thee that he now sendeth this sicknes whatsoeuer it be not to destroy thee but to call thee to repentance and to exercise and stirre vp thy faith and confidence in him For afflictions are vndoubted signes of Gods vndoubted loue and fauour toward vs. Whom God loueth him saith Salomon he correcteth and chastiseth Prou. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 yea he scourgeth euery one whom he receiueth Heb 12.6 Thy mercifull and heauenly Father most dearely and
wrath and displeasure In stead of death and after death grant vnto him life euen life euerlasting that he may for euer liue with thee in glory And if thou thinke it better more expedient for him that he abide yet longer in this mortalitie either for the benefit of others and for the vse and seruice of the Church or else for his owne behalfe and benefite that he may more nearely be conformed and made like vnto the example and image of thy Sonne Christ Iesus restore vnto him mercifull and gracious Lord his former health strength and with health and strength increase in him euery day more and more the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit Howbeit thy will be done alwaies in all things which cannot but euermore be for the best All these things grant vnto vs we beseech thee most gracious and merciful Father and to this our feeble and distressed neighbour and brother for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake who is our onely helper and redeemer for his sake who for the comfort of sinners translated by the ministerie of his blessed Angels the theefe on the crosse into Paradise and the soule of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome euen for his sake who sitteth at thy right hand of power and glorie to be our Aduocate and to make intercession for vs who also liueth and reigneth together with thine owne maiestie in the vnitie of the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Sicke partie LOrd Iesus thou that art the health of al men liuing and the life euerlasting of all that in thy true faith depart out of this wretched transitorie world I submit and wholly giue ouer my selfe vnto thy most blessed will whether it plâ—aâ—e thee that this silly soule of mine shall abide in this house and tabernacle of my bodie yet for some longer time to do thee seruice or whether thy will be that I shall shortly depart hence being certainly assured that the same can in no wise perish which is committed and deliuered ouer into thy mercifull hands O Lord I am most readie and willing to lay downe this fraile and corruptible flesh in certaine hope of the resurrection thereof at the last day when it shall be restored vnto me againe much more glorious and happie In the meane time confirme and strengthen my soule I beseech thee with thy grace holy Spirit against all temptations and against all assaults of Satan Gird compasse me about with the shield of thy mercie as thou diddest in times past thy holy Saints and Martyrs making them thereby strong inuincible against all torments and deaths though neuer so cruell or so fearefull and horrible I see that there is no helpe in my selfe ô Lord but all my helpe and hope my trust confidence is in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie I haue no deserts nor good works ô Lord that I can bring or alledge before thee But of misdeeds alas I see many and infinite as the sands of the Sea which hauing passed and gone ouer my head are as a grieuous burthen too too heauie for me to beare But yet through thy precious death and bloudshedding I beleeue that they are all quite purged and washed cleane away And through thy most perfect righteousnesse and obedience imputed vnto me I trust and am assured that I shall be yea and am already registred and receiued into the number of thy righteous Saints and seruants It was for me and for my sake that thou wast borne into the world and wast subiect vnto all the miseries and infirmities of this life Thou didst hunger and thirst for my sake thou didst teach and preach and worke many strange wonders and miracles for my sake thou didst fast and pray for me and for my sake For my sake it was that thou didst so many good deeds while thou liuedst and didst conuerse amongst men for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter paines and torments yea and gauest thy precious bodie and soule vnto death vpon the crosse for my sake Now let all these things sweete sauiour Iesus Christ be auaileable and profitable vnto me thy poore seruant who hast willingly performed all these things for me and hast giuen and bestowed thy selfe wholly vpon me and for me Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse and let thy merits stand for me before thy tribunall seate of iudgement And as my sicknesse and paine increaseth so increase ò Lord in me thy good gifts and graces both of faith and of patience and of constancie and perseuerance that my faith confidence may neither wauer nor stagger nor my loue toward thee be abated nor my humane weakenesse be deiected and cast downe by feare of death But after that death hath seized vpon closed vp the eyes of my body the eyes of my mind may not sweâ—ue nor turne aside from thee And when it hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet let my heart without ceassing crie vnto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for thou hast dearely bought it and redeemed it euen with thy most precious bloud Sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ receiue my soule Saue and keepe me protect and defend me vnder the shadow of thy wings that I sleepe not in death Saue and deliuer me euen in death from the power of death In thee ô Lord my God do I put my trust let me not be confounded Thou art my onely Lord Sauiour leaue me not neither forsake me ô God of my saluation But be thou still present with me to sustaine and vphold me to refresh and comfort me and finally at the time which thou hast appointed to conuey my soule into thy heauenly kingdome which thou hast purchased prepared for me before the beginning of the world Euen so come Lord Iesus Amen Amen A prayer for the Sicke being readie to giue vp the Ghost LOrd Iesus Christ thou which art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall not die for euer looke downe from heauen euen from thy Sanctuarie and holy habitation Behold visite and relieue this thy seruant Correct him not in thine anger neither chasten him in thy displeasure but according to the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon him we beseech thee with a fatherly affection Restore him if it be thy gracious will and pleasure vnto his former health and strength that so he may liue to glorifie thy name Or if it stand with thy will otherwise to deale with him euen by this present sicknesse to call him home vnto thine owne selfe out of this vale of wretchednes and miserie giue vnto him constancie to endure faithfull vnto the end and patience to suffer quietly and meekely thy rod and fatherly correction His flesh ô Lord is weake and fraile assist him with thy grace strengthen his weaknesse by the mightie power of thy holy Spirit His spirituall enemies are many and the craft and malice of Satan neuer wanting especially in the houre of death when the bodie is most weake to daunt affright if it be possible the soules of thy seruants that so he might destroy the soule together with the bodie Couer him therefore deare Father vnder the shadow of thy wings against all the assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that neither through the infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh nor through the grieuousnesse and painefulnesse of his sicknes nor the loue desire of this world nor the multitude of his sinnes nor the malice of Satan nor by any other meanes he be drawne away from his loue towards thee and his assured trust and confidence in thee We coÌ„fesse ô Lord that there is in himselfe as in our selues no power nor strength to helpe at all being borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity whereunto also haue bene added many actuall sinnes and transgressions both in thought word and deede whereby he hath prouoked thy iust wrath indignation In whom then shall he trust and from whom shall he looke for helpe but onely in thee from thee which art the Sauiour of all that put their trust in thee Thou didst vouchsafe for his sake to be borne into the world and to humble thy selfe to the state of a seruant to suffer all the miseries and infirmities of this life for his sake to sustaine beare all manner of reproches iniuries for his sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie to die and thy bloud to be shed vpon the crosse for his sake Now let all these things profit him we beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour Let thy most precious bloud wash away the multitude of his sinnes let that pure and vnspotted garmeÌ„t of thine obedience and righteousnesse hide couer his vnrighteousnesse let thy grace and power euermore defend succour him and let the sweet comfort of thy Spirit neuer depart from him vntill thou hast called him out of this vale of miserie into the blessed inheritance purchased for him where he may rest for euer with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Saints of God Heare vs we beseech thee most gracious and mercifull Sauiour saue thy seruant that putteth his whole trust in thee Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still his defence Let thy holy Spirit coÌ„firme strengthen him let thy louing kindnesse and mercte still abide and continue with him and be his stay and comfort alwaies vnto the end and in the end and for euermore Amen FINIS