The communion of Saintes The forgiuenes of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting Amen Oh highest comfort in all trouble helpe that we neither feare shame nor death that our senses be not dismayed when the enimie accuseth vs Lord haue pittie vppon vs. Fiftly if the partie lye long in a traunce For I haue many times seene that some haue lyen a long time as it were in a traunce and afterward haue begunne againe to speake and haue said that they very well heard and did vnderstand what hath then beene said vnto them Therefore they that will may rehearse to the sicke this short exposition of our beleefe I put all my trust hope and comfort onely in the méere grace and mercie of God that he onely himselfe can helpe me and none other creature howe holy soeuer he be in all my néede and trouble And séeing he is my father I beléeue stedfastly that he with all his hart will gladly helpe me neuer forsake me neither in this world nor in the world to come And because he is almightie God I beléeue that he can defend me and kéepe me from all that is against me For he onely is strong ynough for mine enimie by reason of his almightie power And séeing he is the creatour of heauen and earth I beléeue he can commaund all other creatures that none of them shall haue any power ouer me to my harme without his fatherly good will. Therefore do I looke for onely from this almightie God father creatour all good things and euerlasting life For all thinges come onely from him and are giuen vnto him for he will giue himselfe wholy and fully vnto me with all that he is and hath with heauen and earth with al creatures that they must serue me and profite me and further me toward euerlasting life I beléeue with all my heart that Iesus Christ the onely begotten sonne of the father from the beginning hath for my sake taken vpon him mans nature and that he was conceiued of the holy Ghost and borne of the holy virgin Marie as a right naturall mother and that that man is very truly God as an euerlasting and vndiuided person of God and man And that this sonne of God Marie our Lord Iesus Christ hath for me wretched sinner suffered was for me crucified and dead Wherby he hath deliuered me from sinne from death and from the euerlasting wrath of God by his innocent bloud whiche in his owne person suffered the pangues of death and hath tasted euerlasting hell and ouercome it to the intent that I should be reconciled with God and be made Lord ouer al mine enimies I beléeue that except the death of this sonne our Lord Iesus Christe I could neuer haue atteined vnto Gods fauour and my saluation neither by works nor by any manner of desert I beléeue that Iesus Christ my brother is risen from death for my righteousnesse and hath for my sake taken death and hell prisoner that they can neuer hurt me For I confesse that I shuld haue dyed for euer if Iesus Christ had not come to help me and taken vpon him as an innocent lamb my sinne faults curse and euerlasting death and hath satisfied for me by his passion and hath taken away the curse for me I beléeue that he doth daily like a faithfull mercifull Mediatour Sauiour and only Priest and Byshop of my soule appeare and intreate for me I beléeue that Christe with God equally ruleth and fulfilleth all thinges and that he is of equal power and might in heauen and in earth Lorde ouer all Lordes King ouer al Kings and aboue all cretures in heauen and in earth and vnder the earth aboue death and life aboue sinne and righteousnesse This King and Lorde shall goe before me in my passion and death shall hold battell and fight for me so that I with him shal be a Lorde ouer all mine enimies for euer and euer I beléeue that Christe crucified shall come againe at the last day and shall iudge and condemne those that will not beléeue on him but will defend me and all faithfull from the terrible iudgemēt of damnation perpetuall and say vnto vs Come ye hyther ye blessed of my Father inherite the kingdome whiche is prepared for you from the beeginning of the worlde coet I beléeue in the holy Ghost whiche with the father and the sonne is one very God and is procéeded from the father and the sonne euerlastingly and yet in one and the same godly being and nature an vndiuided person I beléeue that I by him shall be adorned with faith as with a liuing euerlasting godly gift and reward raised vp from death made frée from sinne and in my heart made merrie comforted and frée and safe in conscience For this is my reioycing that if I can finde in my hart such witnesse of Gods holy spirite that then God will be my father forgiue me my sinne and reward me with euerlasting life I beléeue that the holy Ghoste will help to beare mine infirmities and intreate for me with vnspeakable sighings strengthen me and light my hart that I may knowe the excéeding riches fatherly mercy that he hath giuen me rewarded me with of méere grace without all my deseruinges onely through Christ his beloued sonne by whome the father hath rewarded me with those his giftes But the holy Ghost teacheth me to knowe all these thinges he kindleth my heart and lighteneth me that these giftes come from aboue as Christe hath promised vs where he saith Iohn 7. He that beleueth in me as the scripture saith from his bodie shall flowe streames of liuing waters I beléeue that there is vpon earth one Christian church that is the congregation or number or assemblie méeting of all Christians in which there is one God one Lord one holy Ghost one faith one baptisme of which Churche Christ onely is the spouse and husband I beléeue that this Churche is the spirituall body and that Christ onely is her head I beléeue that Christ is the sauiour of this his body and Church and hath giuen him selfe for her that he might make her holy and hath cleansed her through the waterbath of his word that he may haue for him selfe a speciall congregation that neither hath spot nor wrinckle or any other infirmitie but that she may be holy and without fault a piller and foundation of trueth I beléeue that in this Christian congregation and where so euer it be that there also is forgiuing of sinnes There is the kingdome of grace and right pardon and that there is no saluation nor forgiuing of sins without Christendome I beléeue that no man can be saued except he be in this congregation and Church as a liuely member planted in his owne body I beléeue that in this kingdome there is not only once forgiuing of sinnes but as oft as we require and aske it For Christ is such a maister of the hospitall
you very stoutly and that continually with many and diuers temptations and thinketh thus with so many and sundrie assaults and forces to dismay amaze enféeble match make desperate a féeble and vnexperienced Christian wherby he may driue an vnexperienced Christian at the last to put him selfe at all aduentures to giue ouer and yeld him selfe to euery temptation and to be ouercome to the intent that at the last he may fall into doubt yeald him selfe wholy prisoner to the wicked enimie and to submit him selfe vnto him from which our Lord defend you of his good grace with his holy spirite Amen Therfore if now at the last any such come vnto you and that sathan will lay vnto you that God after his maiestie is a great deale too high mightie to haue any regarde or to make any reckoning of you be gratious to you shewe you mercy then let such high imaginations and thoughts passe which touch the vnsearchable maiestie of God and come from thence to Christes humanitie and howe he tooke vppon him our nature and beginne at his cradell to take holde vpon God that is most high and too farr aboue our reach For In Christ dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Colos 2. And as Christe him selfe saith Io. 14. He that seeth me saith Christe to Philip hee seeth the father Doest thou not beleue that I am in the father and that the father is in me Therefore thus begin with Saint Thomas Iohn 20. and call thus vpon Christ say My God my Lorde Thus shall you séeke out the maiestie of God finde him and take holde on him that is only in Christe there is the euerlasting godhead and high maiestie onely to be sought and found and without our Lorde Christ shall you neuer finde God nor lay hand vpon him therefore thus cry with the woman of Chanaan Oh thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me Matth. 15. The thirtéenth And if beloued temptation after this sort would preuaile against you as though god were not nigh you neither in heauen nor in earth to succour and helpe you but that he doth vtterly despise and forsake you that sathan woulde lay and cast before you mocking and blasphemie and say Beholde where is thy God vppon whome thou hast so long trusted beholde howe well he heareth thée beholde what haste he maketh to help thée how wisely hast thou committed thy selfe to him either what great care hath he of thée he suffereth thee to sticke fast and starue in thy greatest danger perils Oh surely this is not the right God that thou takest for the right God and whom thou honourest callest vpon else would he neuer suffer thée now so miserably to be destroyed perish c. WheÌ„ any such or the like blasphemie of sathan is laid before you then holde your peace be quiet at such blasphemie neuer dispute with sathaÌ„ but by by turne you to Christe crucified to Gods sonne him selfe and cal vpon him with your whole hart that he will come and ayde you with his holy spirite and strike sathan that he may be driuen away from you and call vppon Christe your mediatour onely that he wil stand betwéene the high maiestie of God and you miserable sinner and do like a good mediatour will withdrawe his great and mightie righteousnesse and iustice take your sinnes vpon him and so goe before you intreate and reconcile you Otherwise will the maiestie of God be too much too highe and terrible so that you shall before God be afraid amazed and out of countenance Therefore take this Lord and mediatour by the hand if ye will drawe nigh to God and haue any thing to do with him For this mediatour hath ben a long time ordeined by God himselfe for vs that we through him might be reconciled to God as witnesseth Saint Paul. 1. Tim. 2. where he saith thus There is one God and one meediatour betweene God and man namely the man Iesus Christe that hath giuen him selfe for all for deliueraunce The fourtéenth If welbeloued your sinne doth nowe accuse you for that you not onely in your youthe when your body was sound and lustie did sinne offend God but also euen now in your sicknesse ye haue displeased God by impatience murmuring misbeléefe c. as we al be borne in sinne be sinners and so remaine and abide till we come to our graue therefore let not your sinne in any case make you despaire but acknowlege and confesse and accuse your selfe before your Lord God and be sorrie for them with all your heart aske mercy therefore before God in Christe our Lorde For it is impossible in this life that in the sight of God we shoulde be found so cleare pure and without fault or sinne as holy Saint Iohn witnesseth .1 Iohn .1 where he saith thus If we say we haue no sinne then shall we deceiue our selues and the trueth is not in vs. Therefore in the middest of sinne we haue this onely comfort when we acknowledge our sinne the vnquietnesse of our conscience and the trouble of our hearts cumbereth vs that we call then vpon our atturney Christ the Lord to the intent that he for euer be gratious vnto vs intreat speak for vs towards his deare father as then Saint Iohn when we sticke in sinne comforteth vs. 1. Ioh. 2. where he saith thus If any man sinne yet haue we an aduocate to the father Iesus Christe that maketh vs righteous and he is the attonement for our sinnes From hence shall you séeke youre refuge and succour and in euery assaulte of your sinnes comfort your selfe that you haue such a peacemaker before God the father whome the father doth accept and allowe that can speake well and is eloâ—â—ent and can handle your cause and plead for you best Surely this is a gret and a perfect comfort that we haue our fleshe and bloud sitting aboue at Gods right hand the father which doeth take vppon him the whole progenie of man intreateth for vs pleadeth our cause turneth the wrath of GOD from vs as holy S. Paule also witnesseth Rom. 8. where he saith thus Christ is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. This is his holy office that he deliuereth wretched sinners from Gods anger defendeth and kéepeth them therefore flée only to this Lord Christe when your sinne grieueth or troubleth you The fiftéenth If now in these long lingering assaults and conflicts welbeloued your heart waxe cold be vnlustie drowsie as you thinke that there is no more faith in your heart and that for vnlust you can neither pray nor beléeue yet shall you not therefore giue ouer or be afraid for the Lord God bringeth his many times so déepe vnder the crosse that they can neither beléeue nor hope and thinke with them selues that their heartes be vtterly cold and frosen yea very stiffe that neither
faith loue prayer nor no good thought can any more appeare in their heartes If this great sore temptation shall happen also to trouble you yet despaire not therefore but be of good cheare thinke thus with your selfe I perceiue that I must altogether be naked and vnclothed and put off all that I haue spoile my selfe of euery thing that I haue or may doe all that euer I haue falleth cleane from me and forsaketh me My louing bridegrome our lord Christ wil cloath me anew adorne and dresse me and trimme me with all his iewels Therefore call now againe vpon him as vppon your highe priest that he will haue mercie vpon you intreat and pray for you and wil haue heartie compassion of your weakenesse For We haue not an high priest that can not take cōpassion of our feeblenesse but such an high priest that hath beene thoroughly tempted and is like vnto vs in all things except in sinne Therfore let vs goe vnto him with ioy to his mercie seate that wee may obteine mercie and finde grace at that time when helpe shal be necessarie for vs Heb. 5. Here haue you a very great comfort that Christ is your high priest Call vppon him earnestly that he wil send into your colde heart his holy spirite which shall call within you father father louing father Euen then shall the holy Ghost helpe vp your weakenes and intreateth for you also mightily with sighings not able to be expressed Rom. viij Then also doeth Christ himselfe pray for you like the high priest before the father suffereth not your weakenesse to be laid to your charge despiseth you not because of your vntowardnes your ignorance or faint heart for this high priest hath great compassion with our weakenes he doth not only intreat for vs but also he sheweth foorth before the father his innocent bodie which he hath offered vppon the Crosse for you a perfect sacrifice for euer Heb. 9. As also S. Paule witnesseth Ephes 5. where he saith thus Christ hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs for a gift and offering vnto God for a sweete sauour This is the noble gift and this is the auaileable offering for you which is richly accepted before God. Thus haue you now your high priest Christe oure Lord himselfe the altar wherevppon he was offered his crosse the offering his cleane vnspotted and pure bodie Nowe marke how and in what manner or fashion Christe your high priest did hang vpon the crosse for such maner of hanging is very comfortable if one would behold it with beléeuing eyes For first Christ hangeth vppon the Crosse with his armes and hands stretched out to signifie that he is readie to giue grace accept and imbrace with his armes all poore and wretched sinners for he hangeth there for the comforte of poore sinners reacheth out his armes to troubled consciences Secondarily his féete also be heaued vp and fast nailed in token that he tarrieth there for all wretched sinners for he wil not start aside nor flie from you but will continually be found and tarrieth for you Thirdly he turneth his face and not his backe to you he boweth downe his face like vnto a gentle and milde Lord to the prayers of all poore and troubled persons will gladly with all his heart heare them he is willing and readie he openeth his eares wide wherby he will certeinly heare you Fourthly his heart is wide open towardes you for it is pearced with a speare whereby he may haue heartie compassion with your aduersitie and will set your trouble very neare vnto his owne heart Fiftly he weareth a crowne of thorne vpon his head to signifie that he will be your king and defend and kéepe you from all misfortune from sinne from death from the diuell and from hell This is a maruellous gratious and louing beholding to all troubled sinners for he hangeth in the middle of sinners as a sinner bycause he will receiue all miserable forsaken sinners giue them grace and preserue and kéepe them for euer ¶ Hereafter followe certeine prayers whiche may be said before the sicke body if the sicknesse haue any continuance whereby sometime the sicke bodies heart may be touched moued and kindled that the sicknesse may not preuaile and haue the ouerhand vpon the sicke First welbeloued let vs lift vp our heartes to almightie God and put him in remembraunce of his gratious promise which he hath made vs at our holy baptisme therfore say after me though not with your mouth yet with your heart chiefly thus MY Lorde and God remember the holy couenant whiche thou hast made with me in my holy baptisme wherin thou hast receiued me to grace and to be thy childe and promised me that I beléeuing and béeing baptised should be saued Marke 16. Séeing then thou Lorde hast so assuredly bound thy selfe vnto me to be my gratious mercifull true and louing father my comforte and hope is alonely in thée therefore I stedfastly beléeue that as surely as I am baptised in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost that thou wilt be my defender deliuerer and comforter and helpe me out of all daunger leade me and defend me from all perill that neither sinne death nor hell can hurt me Therefore I will not despaire in all aduersitie and euen in the extremitie of death turn my heart vnto thée and stedfastly beléeue that thou wilt neuer forsake me but giue vnto me euerlasting blessednesse through the deseruing of Christe my Lord and Sauiour Secondarily welbeloued let vs now againe turne our selues vnto almightie God from whome commeth al help and call vpon him from the bottome of our hearts inwardly as our onely God and father and say thus OH almightie euerlasting God and father I being full of all vnrighteousnesse and sinne come vnto thée and yet am I thy welbeloued childe Therefore séeing thou art the euerlasting true God I comfort my selfe with thy promise that thou wilt faithfully performe all that thou hast promised me Nowe thou hast saide Matth. 11. When I am troubled in my conscience with sinne care néede heauinesse and am heauie laden many wayes and I repaire vnto thée that then thou wilt help me and receiue me in my heauinesse For as much as thou art my welbeloued father and I am thy childe therefore doe I looke for from thée wholy all good things help comfort in al trouble for thou art not an earthly father whiche somtime can neither help him selfe nor his children but thou Lorde art the almightie heauenly father that wilt willingly with all thy heart helpe me likewise art able so to doe by reason of thy almightie power For thou art the maker of heauen and of earth thou hast all thinges in thy hande and power all cretures of heauen and of earth be subiect vnto thée and must serue and obey thée euen as thou listest Therfore Lord despise me
further earnestâ—â— marke vnderstand and knowe that â—ot only al punishments and sufferings â—â—me from God and be layde vppon vs â—â—y God but ye shall also earnestly beâ—eue that GOD fendeth vnto his chilâ—â—en as a very merciful father such puâ—â—shmentes and sufferings of méere faâ—our and grace to his owne for their â—â—ofite and commoditie For there be two causes why God â—â—ndeth vnto vs aduersities troubles â—â—d passions séeing that God hath two â—â—tes of children vpon the earth Some many times lead a long time 〈◊〉 vnrepentaunt life they cannot not abide that a man of loue and good will say any thing vnto them but continually runne foreward in their mischiefous frowarde and naughtie wayes They haue GOD very little before their eyes Therfore must God lay hold on them restraine draw them backe and to true repentaunce and godly liuing driue and inforce them or els they will dye in their wicked froward conuersation Therfore doth God lay in the necke of backsliders from him some aduersitie that they may looke well about them and marke well who is at their backes and layeth such a yoke on their neckes at the last to knowe themselues and learne what they be whereabout they goe and howe they against GOD haue so grieuously offended Thus God correcteth them through punishmentes and learneth them as the Prophet Esaias saith in the 28. Chap. that doth the soule very much good and suche aduersitie is a precious medicine for trouble onely maketh a man take héede to the word Esaias 28. Then doeth â—e worde of God very well sauour vnto vs â—â—en it is pouldred mingled or sawced with â—ubles and passions For when trouble is at â—de then we seeke to God and when God â—h visite vs then we call earnestly Esai 〈◊〉 Therefore doeth God many times â—mplaine against his foolish ignoraunt â—ople Esaias 9. where God saith The â—â—ople do not turne backe to them that haue â—icken them nor inquireth after the Lord â—d of Sabbaoth Which is a great token â—an vnrepentant and stubberne heart â—esides that it is a great and heauie â—ne against the Lord God from whiâ—e God mercifully defend vs Amen The other cause wherfore our Lord â—d layeth troubles and aduersities vpâ—â—â—his children is this specially bicause â—e Lord God will leade his chosen chilâ—en from faith to faith and continualâ— maketh them expert and cunning in â—e knowledge of God and will thus â—oue them in faith and godly knowâ—ge whereby his name by this meaâ—s may be the better knowne coÌ„menâ—d praysed as we sée in good Dauid Ionas and Iob c. Fiftly séeing that ye perceiue and knowe that ye are flesh fleshly weaknesse hath many times preuailed and you had the vpper hande vpon you and you haue oftentimes giuen ouer your selfe to your olde Adam and followed fleshe and bloud too muche and thereby many times displeased our Lord god Thus shall you therefore before the high maiestie of GOD humble your selfe acknowledge your offences aske mercy haue a seuere purpose to absteine from sinne and if God will againe restore you to liue in a good perfect Christian penitent life to embrace Gods mercy in Christ our deliuerer stay and holde your selfe with an holie hope vpon his comfortable promises Therefore thus say earnestly after me with heart and minde ALmightie euerlasting most mercifull God Father I acknowledge from the bottome of my heart and say with my mouth that I am a poore and damnable sinner For I am in sin conceiued borne Besides that from my youth hitherto all the imaginations thoughtes of my heart haue bene very wicked and inclined to al sinne and vnrighteousnesse There is also no true feare of God no faithful loue of God no perfect faith of God in my heart hitherto oh Lord founden Also I haue with my mouth oh God little called vppon God my lord in my trouble fled vnto him for succour I haue also bene very vnthankfull to God my Lord for all his wonderfull benefites both bodily and ghostly Likewise also haue I litle praysed or set foreward the thankes due to God and the same acknowledged confessed much lesse haue I rightly ben desirous to set forward maintein Gods true seruice To be short I haue not in my whole life time done and brought forth any good thing wherby before god I haue brought foorth any godly coÌ„uersation to his glory honour and praise wherevnto he hath chiefly created and made me Al this I confesse and it grieueth me from the bottome of my heart that I haue so grieuously offended thée my very God Lord father especially with euill thoughts words and déedes Againe I acknowledge and confesse thée my Lord and God that I haue not rightly and truly obeied them to whom I ought obedience Also I haue oftentimes grieuously offended my neighbours and not sufficiently shewed vnto them Christian charitie and loue but haue bene many times disdainefull angrie fierce and very sowre Also I haue bene many times kindled in euil lustes and desires in forbidden loue Also I haue bene many times ouerséene with lewd thoughts I haue also many times ben too streight to my neighbours harmed them not holpen them defended them nor comforted them I haue likewise offended and hurt my neighbour by word spoken euill behinde his back and condemned him To be short all wicked desires and lustes haue taken in me very mightie vpperhand Therefore I acknowledge this my sinfull life require mercy haue pitie vpon me Lorde heauenly father for the bitter passion death of thine onely sonne our Lorde ¶ Heare your comfort Thus saith Saint Paule in the first Epistle to Timothie the seconde Chap. There is one God and one mediatour betweene God and man specially the man Iesus Christe that hath giuen him selfe for all for our deliuerance Beléeue this comfortable saying holde fast on Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour so shall you in your consciences rest in peace and quietnes with God the lord God graunt his grace thervnto Amen ¶ But if the sicke bodie be so weake and cannot make such a long confession you may vse an other shorter in this maner An other confession to the Lord God. OH thou merciful gratious good God and father I wretched sinfull sicke miserable forsaken creature come nowe before thy high and mightie maiestie as a poore sinfull creature full of sinne and vnrighteousnesse and confesse vnto thée froÌ„ my heart that I haue grieuously sinned against thée from my youth hitherto with wicked thoughtes words and déedes These do I acknowlege and confesse altogether generally for I am not able to remember number theÌ„ all at length particularly therefore my God be gratious to me a poore sinner through the deserts of thy louing Son our Lord Iesus Christ which was therfore slaine for me wretched sinner to the intent that I should be and remaine thy childe for euermore Amen Hearken to this comfort Thus saith S. Iohn
the holy Euangelist in his first Epistle and the thirde Chapter The bloud of Iesus Christe Gods Sonne maketh vs cleane from all sinne Beléeue these wholsome comfortable and gratious wordes stande stedfastly in a true beléefe so shall you be a childe of euerlasting life Amen Sixtly nowe dearely beloued séeing you haue humbled your selfe before our Lorde God confessed your sinnes and haue cryed for grace and mercy ye shal nowe call vnto our Lord God from all your heart first and chiefly séeke for helpe and say thus OH thou mercifull good God father I come now to thée in my great necessitie and cry vnto thée and complain from the bottome of my heart as to my louing father my greuous passions and griefes and exhort thée that thou wilt remember thy comfortable promises for thou hast gratiously promised that I shal be heard where thou in the 50. Psal. saiest Cal vpon me in thy necessitie or trouble and I wil heare thee thou shalt praise me And Saint Marke in the 11. Chapter saith What so euer you aske in your prayers onely beleeue that you shall receiue it and so shall you haue it Vnto these thy promises come I forsaken miserable wretche and craue of thée helpe and comfort therefore my chiefly beloued Lord and father help me out of this my griefe and trouble and forsake me not in any of my tormentes for thine onely begotten deare Sonne Iesus Christes sake Therfore shall I alwayes highly laud praise thy name giue thée thanks frō the bottom of my hart for al thy benefits set foorth number the same always Seuenthly nowe deare friend séeing that your offences commited might make you afraide and weaken your faith that ye dare not with all confidence and sure trust require at Gods hand and hope for helpe and grace and trust surely vppon his mercie you shall in this manner call vppon God for forgiuenes of your sinnes and speake thus Oh thou most deare Lorde and very louing God séeing thou hast made vs so many and great promises whereby we might be richly comforted strengthened in all our troubles and aduersities I am bolde to put thée in remembraunce once againe very earnestly of thy true promises whiche thou hast made vnto me in the 6. of Saint Matthewe where thou hast promised me forgiuenesse of all my sinnes if I do forgiue my neighbours that wherein they haue offended against me For these be thy wordes If you forgiue other their faults so wil also your heauenly father forgiue you your offences Therefore come I vnto thée and stay me vpon thy worde specially that thou wilt forgiue me all my sinns according to thy mercifull promise fréely for nothing so that I also doe forgiue other For these nowe I praye vnto thée my Lord and God that thou wilt send into my heart thy holy spirite for thy bitter passion death sake that he may make cleane my sinfull hart lighten and kindle a feruent heate in me that I also may forget and forgiue For of myne own power I can do nothing so from the bottome of my heart shall I forgiue euery man both my friendes and enimies what so euer they haue done against me and put out of my heart all manner of malice hatred enimitie and displeasure And séeing that I now through thy grace perceiue such loue against myne enimie so am I nowe persuaded according to thy promises that thou nowe hast clearely forgiuen me all my sinnes of méere mercy without my desertes For there haue I a perfect signe good assuraunce séeing I haue according to thy promise forgiuen euery man that thou also hast forgiuen me all Do with me according to thy promise for thy word is true whatsoeuer thou sayest that kéepest thou assuredly Vpon this thy word do I stay without all doubt beléeue I thy promise that I haue now gotten forgiuenesse of all my sinnes wherefore I haue nowe a frée safe and ioyfull conscience that I know not now of any sin in me that I haue obteined from God peace ioy in the holy ghost that I certeinely persuade my selfe of Amen Eightly now welbeloued the holy scripture sheweth vs of two giuings of Christ our lords body vnto vs The first is the generall giuing where Christ gaue vs wretched sinners his body vpon the crosse for an offering for our sinnes this giuing is made vnto vs our owne through true faith specially when we surely beléeue Gods promises Ioh. 6. Of this giuing witnesseth Christ himself Ioh. 3. where he saith thus So hath God loued the world that he hath giuen his owne sonne to the intent that al that beleue on him shuld not be destroied but inioy euerlasting life And further the holy Apostle S. Paule Rom. 8. witnesseth likewise saith If God be on our side who can be against vs whiche hath not spared his owne sonne but hath giuen him for vs all And Rom. 4. Christ is for our sinne sake giuen and for our righteousnesse sake raised vp againe And to the Ephe. 5. saith S. Paul moreouer Christ hath loued vs and giuen him selfe for vs an oblation sacrifice These such like sayings you shal diligently marke stedfastly beléeue that Christ our only sauiour hath giuen and offred vp his body bloud vpon the crosse for you a sufficient sacrifice for euer ye shal not néed to séeke or to hunt after any other sacrifice satisfaction or redemption for your sin but lay fast holde vpon this innocent lambe which hath borne the sinnes of the whole worlde The other giuing of the body bloud of our lord Christ is an especial giuing which is deliuered vnto vs in the sacrament Whereof Christ speaketh Matthewe 26. And holy Saint Paule in the 10. 11. Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians This second deliuering of the body and bloud of Christe in the sacrament is an assuring and an a certeyning of the establishing of the first deliuering or giuing For it confirmeth the first giuing which we receiue by faith And the second doth not profite or comfort vs without the first but is rather hurtful and damnable Therefore warneth vs also the holy Apostle S. Paule in the 11. Chap. of his saide first Epistle to the Corinthians that we shoulde well try our selues before that we receiue the holy sacrament of Christes body and bloud that no man receiue them to his condemnation This proofe standeth vpon thrée points First ye shal acknowledge your selfe for a miserable sinner that of him selfe and by him selfe can doe nothing nor hath any power to do any thing whereby he might be deliuered from his sinne God him selfe doth forgiue reconcile and pardon giueth true comfort purchaseth blessednesse specially to them that doe thirst after the grace of god And so of méere grace and mercie in Christe onely doe long after the kingdome of heauen Secondly examine
as Christe is your Iustice your Loadesman and your Guide Secondely well be loued if Gods wrath threatening and punishment shoulde feare you dismay you or trouble your mind as though our Lord God as an earnest and seuere Iudge should deale with you according to his extreme iustice for your sinnes past then shall you from henceforth call vpon our Lord Christe the vnspotted Lamb of GOD whiche hath taken your sinnes vppon him and thus flée from the place of Gods iustice commit your selfe to the mercie seate of Christe our Lorde For ye haue a speciall and faithfull promise of our Lord Iesus Christe for he hath bestowed and giuen him selfe for wretched sinners and so bound and pledged him selfe for all penitent sinners that he will stand to them and deliuer them from Gods wrath Also Saint Paule witnesseth 1. Thes 1. God hath our Lorde Iesus saith the holy Apostle raised vp from death that hath deliuered vs from the wrath to come And 1. Thes 5. saith Saint Paule further God hath not appointed vs to inherit his wrath but to inherit his blessednesse through our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche died for vs. Marke and consider this diligently Thirdly welbeloued if the worlde do trouble you and though some folkes specially your enimies and euil willers reioyce and be glad that you according to their desires be so gréeuously handled and that you be now by God so fore punished and that they therfore mocke scorne despise you and make greate cheare at your trouble yet let not that trouble nor tempt you for séeing that wicked people mocked Christe at the houre of his death and made great cheare at it likewise shall you of the worlde not escape such thinges Séeing you be a member of Christe you muste suffer in your body all such troubles as wanted in Christes passion as Saint Paule saith the first Chap. to the Colossians Therefore is the worlde a stubborne proud and wicked child of sathan whiche is full of all wickednesse dissimulatioÌ„ mockerie backbiting Christ for our comforte hath tolde vs before that we muste suffer and beare many thinges of the worlde and that the worlde shoulde laugh vs to scorne and shoulde reioyce at our trouble and we on the other side a little while shuld be pensiue and sorrowfull But Christ comforteth vs and saith Your sorrow shal be turned into ioy Iohn 6. And Iohn 17. In the world you shall haue sorrowe care but comfort your selfe I haue ouercome the worlde Thus shall you in faith beare all the wickednesse of the world suffer and ouercome For Our faith is the victorie that hath ouercome the worlde Iohn 15. Fourthly moreouer dearely beloued if Moses the lawegiuer set vppon you and will make you afraid with his debt booke and put you out of countenaunce for your great debtes notable sinnes whiche you are bounde to satisfie and pay the terrible iudgement of God as that ye are a breaker or transgressor of gods lawes and therfore will call you to accompt and giue euidence against you and condemne you with your own hand writing your own conscieÌ„ce knowing the same to be true complaine vpon you and accuseth you then shall you before Moses by and by bring forth your Christian libertie wherby Christ hath made you frée and deliuered you from the lawe and from the curse and malediction thereof For If Gods sonne haue made you free then be you free in deede Iohn 8. And as Saint Paul further doth shew and confirme such fréedome Galat. 3. where he saith thus Christe hath deliuered vs from the curse of the lawe when he was made a curse for vs. Thus can the curse neuer more ouerrunne nor trouble you séeing it hath once all together fallen vppon Christe the most innocent Lambe Therefore séeing Christe is the ende of the lawe whosoeuer beleeueth on him is made righteous Rom. 10. Therfore saith Saint Peter Be you lustie and strong Actes 15. that â—e are nowe taught that forgiuenesse of sinâ—es commeth by this man and of all them whereof ye could not be made righteous in the lawe of Moses Who so euer beleueth on Christ is righteous Here is nowe onely all sinnes taken away So that no man can or dare lay any thing to the charge of the faithfull neither Moses nor the lawe Therfore be of good comfort Fiftly furthermore dearely beloued I doe aduise you that you will not suffer the great weight and burden of your sinnes to presse and weigh you downe and trouble you For sinne I assure you is an heauie burden to a fearefull conscience Wherefore continually cast your sinnes from you and out of your consciences and caste them vppon Christ for he is the right carrier of our sinnes as holy Saint Iohn witnesseth Iohn 1. where he saith Behold this is the Lambe of God that beareth or carrieth away the sinns of the world Therefore let the Lorde and valiaunt Champion take vppe your sinnes and carrie them vppon him selfe For God hath appointed him thereunto as Saint Paule saith where he saith thus GOD hath appointed him namely Christ that neuer knewe sinne to be sinne it selfe for our sakes to the intent that we shoulde be by him that righteousnesse that is auayleable before god Behold this righteous and innocent Lord hath taken all your sinnes vppon him selfe borne them satisfied for them and ransomed them and hath clothed you decked and trimmed you with his innocent righteousnesse and iustice For Christ saith the Prophete Esaie 53. is for our sinns wounded and for our sinnes beaten and smitten Correction is laide vppon him to the intent that we should haue peace and by his wounds should be healed Behold for Gods sake thinke vpon this with all diligence ernestly Christ saith the Prophet is wounded for our sinnes whereby we might be made whole The wrath the correctioÌ„ is cleane gone ouer him to the intent that we should be without correction might inioy peace with god So haue you deliueraunce in Christe by his bloud namely forgiuenes of your sinnes according to the richnesse of his grace Ephe. 1. For Christe is therefore come into this worlde to make sinners holy blessed 1. Tim. 1. As Christ witnesseth of him selfe Matth. 18. And Luke 19. The sonne of man saith he is come to seeke and to make blessed that that is lost For God hath not sent his sonne into the worlde that he should condemne the world but that the world by him shold be made hapie whosoeuer beleeueth on him shall not be iudged Also Christe is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes Beléeue this comfortable saying from the bottome of your heart and stay your selfe more vppon Gods mercifull promise then of the deceites of sathan and of the daungerous imaginations of your reason Giue God the honour bicause he is so merciful a God that of a wretched sinner he will make a child of God if a man
will only trust vpon him Sixtly moreouer welbeloued though nowe death at the last will come and stare in your face and should with his greuous countenance make you afraid for he is such a capteine and giant that he will make one beléeue he will eate vp the whole world and therfore he gapeth so wide yet be not afraide of him for he aduaunceth him selfe maruellously and is ougly to behold howbeit he hath no power nor strength anye more to ouerthrowe you For Christe hath matched him throughly wounded him séeing that he hath layd hande vpon Christ the right Lion therefore is all his strength taken from him Therfore he shall be to the faithfull no more death but only a sléepe as Saint Paul in the second Epistle to Timothie the first Chapter doth witnesse and declare very plainly and comfortably where he saith Christe Iesus our sauiour hath taken the strength from death and brought vs the light life and a being by meanes of the Gospell that shall neuer corrupt nor perish Yea the faythfull shall neuer taste of death as Christe witnesseth him selfe being the very trueth Iohn the eight Chapter where he saith thus Verily verily I tell you if any man will keepe my word by faith he shall not taste of death euerlastingly Looke and marke well what a noble vertuous and right beléefe is for that ouercommeth and driueth away all aduersitie all plagues sinne death it selfe And a faithfull person goeth cleane through death to the right life as our Lord Christ againe witnesseth Iohn 5. where he saith thus Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my worde and beleeueth on him that hath sent me he hath euerlasting life and shall not enter into iudgement but he passeth through death to life There doe you sée what is necessarie for you yea you shall escape the iudgement of God ouercome death and inioy euerlasting life namely to heare Gods word as Christe saith and beléeue the same It requireth no great cunning wisedome strength might liueland and preparation to ouercome death but this ouercomming victorie or triumphe is in these two pointes to heare and to beléeue Surely my thinketh this is a maruellous victorie that a poore wretched weake and sicke man that by reason of weakenesse can scant moue hande nor foote can ouercome so great a giant as death onely with a Christianlike hearing and a beléeuing heart But thus can Christ auenge him selfe vpon suche a strong enimie death that would gladly haue eaten and swalowed vp Christ that he hath so wonderfully taken away the strength from death that a poore wretched man may ouercome death besides that may mocke and laugh him to scorne that is I thinke death rightly to despise and contemne But howe commeth that to passe that we ouerrun and wearied by death shall neuerthelesse abide still aliue That is as Christ him selfe saith Iohn 11. where he sayth thus I am the resurrection and the life who so euer beleeueth on me shall liue although he seeme to dye And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth on me shall neuermore dye This is the right and onely cause that the faithfull yea in the middest of death imbrace the right life Christ our Lord that giueth againe vnto them life For as little nowe can death any more wearie or ouercome our Lord or holde him in death so little can he either punish or quarell with any faithfull men For seeing that Christ which is the life doth still liue and can neuermore be ouercome so may the faithfull neuer abide prisoner in death but he breaketh out valiantly with Christe and singeth the merrie song of thankes giuing and of triumph Death is swallowed vp in victorie for where is thy sting Thus shal a Christian souldier looke death betwéen the browes and manfully wage battell with him or else woulde death eate vp and swallow the whole world But if you will with a true faith encounter â—ith him then will he quietly let you â—lone Wherevnto Christe helpe you he valiaunt and puissaunt king ouer â—eath and life Amen Seuenthly also welbeloued if the diâ—ell the tempter would lay hand vpon â—ou assault or make you despaire as â—hough you did belong to his kingdome â—r were in his claws thus shal you enâ—ounter him stande against him beate â—im ouercome him first by earnest â—rayers and calling vpoÌ„ God for grace helpe and comfort as our Lord Christe admonished his Disciples Matth. 26. where he saith thus Pray you least ye fall â—nto temptation As also our louing Lord Christ him selfe hath taught vs to pray Luke 12. Oh Lord and father leade vs not into temptation specially when we â—re tempted by sathan and assaulted that we through thy grace and holy spirite may withstande him and that we may eschue his persuasions and enticementes to doubt Therefore thus withstand him by prayer for sathan is falne downe hither to vs swiftly and inuisibly as Christe our sauiour witnesseth Luke 10. where he saith thus I sawe Sathan fal from heauen like a lightening But wherefore Truely therefore as Christ further teacheth his Apostles Luke 22. where he saith thus Simon Simon beholde Sathan hath desired you that he might fift you as wheat is sifted But I haue prayed for thee that thy faith shall not faile Beholde nowe how sathan prouleth after euery man he spareth no man he durst assault the best and holiest men namely Adam and Eue in Paradise though they were made to the Image of god Also he hath not spared Gods own sonne but assaulted and tempted him in the wildernes so hath he also desired to doe the like with the deare Apostles as you heard euen nowe therefore it is to be feared he will also not spare you Séeing then that is to be feared and that we knowe his meaning as Saint Paule saith in his second Epistle to the Corinthians the second Chapter that we shuld looke about vs that we be not deceiued of sathan For saith he It is not vnknowne vnâ—o vs what he purposeth and goeth about Therefore haue a good eye vppon this â—armefull and perillous tempter and â—riue him away by godly prayers Againe thus shall you desend stand â—gainst sathan with a stedfast faith on Christ our Lord chiefly that Christe is â—ur high Priest and King which hath oâ—ercome sathan the same Lord can for our commoditie destroy sathan ouerâ—ome him therefore shall you stedfastly â—eléeue the Christ your mightie King can â—unt driue away sathan froÌ„ you with â—ll fantasies dreames toyes and deâ—eites For He goeth as saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 5. about as a roaring Lion and seeketh whom hee may deuour whome saith the Apostle resist you being strong in faith therefore take the shield of faith As Saint Paule further warneth vs where he in the 6. to the Ephesians saith thus Before all things saith he take the shield of faith whereby ye may quenche â—all the fierie dartes of the
not though I be a very wretched sinner altogether for these causes séeing that thou by thy worde hast commaunded and promised that I shal be heard in what daunger and trouble so euer I be when I call vpon thée and that then I shall honour thée and euer acknowledge thée to be the true and very God séeing I perceiue that what so euer thou promisest that thou dost perfourme effectually Therefore beléeue I certeinly thy worde that thou wilt not denie it but vndoubtedly perfourme whatsoeuer thou hast once spoken therfore I beséech thée from the bottome of my heart that thou wilt help me out of my trouble and sicknesse and neuer forsake me but gratiously send me thy fatherly helpe and deliuer me from my distresse For there is no body vpon whō I can perceiue any helpe or goodnesse but only vpon thée therefore helpe thou me my lord and God but not according to my deserts worthinesse or goodnes but through the deserts of thy sonne Iesus Christe which hath purchased vnto me from thée all grace and fatherly fauour him dost thou loue and hast great pleasure in him and therfore thou wilt not forsake me for his sake but rather shewest vnto me all goodnesse therfore I commit my self wholy vnto thy mercy and fatherly goodnesse and put my whole cause vnto thée as to my louing father that thou wilt deliuer me out of all this trouble griefe weaknes paines when it shal please thy godly will therfore I will not appoint vnto thée neyther time nor space but earnestly hope vpon thée that thou wilt heare me and defend me though my case appeare very straunge and as impossible as it may be for thou art almightie hast might and power ouer all things and besides this thou art my father and art willing to doe it if it were nowe necessarie Therfore at thy hand I looke for al goodnesse be it vnto me according vnto thy true promise Amen Thirdly moreouer welbeloued let vs once againe lift vp our heartes and mindes vnto him from whome all help and goodnesse commeth chiefly vnto the father of all light which giueth euery good gift gratiously heareth vs Therfore séeing that your paines necessitie miserie and griefes stil continue therefore pray vnto our Lord God with holy Dauid and say thus Oh Lord punish me not in thine anger correct me not in thine me Lord be gratious vnto me for I am feeble heale me Lorde for my bones be afraide Turne thee Lord and deliuer my soule help me according to thy pleasure be not far from me for trouble is at hand for here is none that can helpe Remember Lorde thy mercy and thy goodnesse which hath ben since the world beganne Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor mine offences but thinke vpon me after thy mercy and according to thy goodnesse Lorde haue mercy vppon my misdeedes which be very great turne thee to me be gratious vnto me for I am forsaken and in miserie the heauinesse of my heart is great lead me out of my necessitie and need Behold my miserie and distresse and forgiue me all mine offences Lorde be gratious vnto me according to thy goodnesse and blot out all my sinnes after thy great mercy wash me cleane from mine offences make me pure from my sinnes for I acknowledge myne offences and my misdeedes be euer before me On thee alone haue I sinned and haue done euill in thy sight Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine offences Make a cleane heart within me and giue me a newe right spirit Cast me not out of thy sight and take not thine holy Ghost from me Comfort me againe with thy helpe and giue in me the spirite of peace Be vnto me a strong tower whether I may for euer flee for succour for thou hast promised to helpe me for thou art my rocke and my hill Oh Lorde I cry vnto thee bicause thou art gratious Lord for thy great goodnesse heare me with thy true help heare me Lorde for thy goodnesse is comfortable turne thee vnto me according to thy great mercy Lord be not farre from me My God make hast to helpe me Vpon thee Lord do I trust God helpe me out of all my needs and set me at libertie Looke vppon me and heare me Lord my god Lighten myne eyes that I may sleepe soundly in the middest of death I loue thee with all my heart Lorde God my strength Lorde my rocke my hill my deliuerer my God my castell vpon whome I trust my buckler and horne of my saluation my defence Lord in thee doe I trust let me neuer be confounded Deliuer me for thy iustice sake Bowe downe thine eares to me make speede to help me Be vnto me a strong rocke and an hill where thou maiest helpe me For thou art my rocke and my hill and for thy name sake leade me and bring mee foorth come to my soule and deliuer it keepe my soule and deliuer me Let me not be confounded for I trust in thee Lorde quicken me for thy name sake leade my soule out of this daunger for thy righteousnesse sake for my soule fainteth in my bodie and the feare of death is falen vpon me Feare and trembling compasseth me and loathsomenesse is falen vpon me I lie with my soule among the Lions therefore oh Lorde heare my prayers and let my crie come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in my neede Bowe downe thine eare vnto me when I call vpon thee then heare me betime Nowe Lord wherein shall I comfort me I hope vpon thee leaue off from troubling me that I may refreshe my selfe before I goe hence and come no more againe If it please any man to say all the whole Psalms to be said to the sicke I will not complaine vppon him Therfore they that list may when he list sometime take these Psalmes hereafter following and read the same to the sicke and sometime make some shorte rehearsall of them and with them comfort the sicke body specially the 25. 51. 70. 71. 77. 87. 88. 103. 130. c. And if neede require a man may often repeate them or take some comfortable part of them and also like comfortable sayinges out of my litle booke called The spiritual conflict all which for shortnesse I leaue heere vntouched Fourthly if the sick bodie draw on and is neare his ende then say our beléefe that is the xij Articles of our holy faith thus J Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord whiche was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Marie suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell he rose againe the third day from the dead he ascended into heauen he sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almightie from thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holy ghost The holy catholique Church
that doeth nothing else then looke to the sicke helpe them vp strengthen them and maketh them whole and as Esaie saith He will not breake a brused reede nor he will not quench the smoaking flaxe I beléeue also the rising of the body that my body whiche the wormes shall eate shall arise againe euen as it was before For Christe at the last day shall raise it vppe according to his promise where he saith Iohn 6. This is the will of him that sent me that whosoeuer seeth the sonne and beleeueth on him shall haue euerlasting life and I will raise him at the last day And Whosoeuer eateth of my flesh and drinketh of my bloud hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day I beléeue that after this life there shal be an euerlasting life so that I shal liue with Christ for euer according to his promise Iohn 5. where he saith Verily verily I say vnto you who so euer heareth my worde and beleeueth on him that sent me he hath euerlasting life and commeth not into iudgment but he passeth clean through death to life And Whosoeuer beleueth on the sonne he hath euerlasting life And Verily verily I say vnto you if any mā will keepe my word he shall not see euerlasting death Item I am the breade of life saith Christ Iohn 6. which is come from heauen whosoeuer shall eate of this breade shall liue for euer Nowe welbeloued séeing your time draweth on stand stedfast vpon the only rocke Christe our Lorde Then can no storme no whirlwinde yea hell gates them selues can not remoue nor ouerwhelme you For whosoeuer beléeueth vpon our Lord God shal neuer fall nor be ouerturned but shall abide for euer Therfore call vpon our Lord God with your whole heart for he is rich ouer all that call vpon him and he will be nigh to all them that pray to him to al them that call vpon him with their heartes and graunteth all thinges which they that feare God do require heareth their cry and helpeth them Therfore cal vpon God the most highest in the name of Iesus Christe that he will shewe vnto you his great plentifull mercy and powre out vpon you in the time of grace richly his mercy For séeing that our Lord is the spring it selfe of Gods mercy and Christ his onely begotten sonne is the pipe conduit wherby such plentie of grace and mercy floweth and is conueyed vnto vs take yet againe fast hold in this your extreame néede of the ouerflowing and floud of Gods grace specially Iesus Christe the scrine and casket wherein Gods mercy is locked vp for Christ is ful of grace and truth Ioh. 1. For the euerlasting sonne of God hath brought with him such great plentie of grace that he hath therewith fulfilled the whole worlde for heauen and earth is full thereof And also Christe is full of truth so that he is not alonly the truth it selfe but also meaneth heartily and truly with vs and will take to him selfe your soule with great veritie and earnestly Therfore be of good comfort that your name is written in the booke of life you are fully cleansed with the bloud of Christ and annoynted with the holy Ghost The same holy spirite assureth your heart that you also be one of the very children of god And albeit it doeth not as yet appeare what you be yet knowe you that when it shall appeare then ye shall be like vnto him Iohn Chap. 8. For ye shall be partaker of the godly nature Pet. 2. Chap. 1. specially when Christe our sauiour shall come hither from heauen and glorifie your miserable body and make it like vnto his glorified body after his mighty power and working Phil. 3. Christe Iesus is the onely refuge of all poore penisent sinners he onely is your strength your comfort hope and strong tower in all néede and aduersitie Therefore goe without feare into the danger of death Christ in the twinckling of an eye being your euerlasting king will plucke you out againe bring you to light and make you righteous and liuing Wherfore giue your self ouer valiantly from this life vnto death and be not afraide séeing that death hath lost all his might and strength on the faithfull Christ the victorious conquerer hath taken from death al his strength so that from hence foorth he can no more hurt wearie or deuour any Christian Wherefore will ye then be dismaide or afraide for suche a shadow or visar of death Death may for a litle while roare whet his téeth but he can do no more for Christe hath taken his sting from him and likewise is Gods euerlasting iudgment through the Sauiour of the worlde taken from you And Christ the only sonne of God hath appeased the iustice of God layde the same farr enough out of your way So that from hencefoorth you shall neuer be called to appeare before the iudgment seate of GOD nor you shall not néede to appeare neither aunswere for your sinne bicause Iesus your sauiour hath made you frée from it Therefore chearefully appeale from the iudgment seate vnto the throne of mercy which is Christ your deliuerer call earnestly vpon the stoole of grace whervpon gods mercy resteth and dwelleth in Christe Iesus the sonne of the highest therfore can no complaint come against you nether sinne death hell nor sathan him selfe Christ is the true Lion of the tribe of Iuda which for your sakes hath subdued vtterly all your enimies wiped blotted out all sinne and swallowed vp death so there remaineth now no more but that the body must suffer and abide only one litle shiuering and shrinking after that you shal be perfectly safe and sure Fight therefore manfully as a valiant Rutter or Capteine against the dragon and hell gates then will Christ with the hoast armie of heauen méete you and receiue your soule to carrie it with him into euerlasting ioy and felicitie Amen ¶ If any be disposed they may rehearse againe to the sicke the twelue Articles of our beleefe for they be the very ancor yea the very foundation of our beleefe which wee can neuer sufficiently meditate and thinke vpon It is therefore very meete and necessarie seeing in our youth wee bee baptised in them that wee continually be fed with them then shall wee ioyfully die in them It were very good that we should alwayes in time of our health remember them and learne perfectly to vnderstande them Then when we lye on our death bed we shall not so much neede to be put in remembraunce And if a man ready to die in time of neede specially if death come soudenly vpon him confesse no more but the onely articles of our true and auncient faith and Christian religion it were sufficient specialy if those articles were holden and professed by him that lyeth dying with a faithfull heart For we hope yea we earnestly beleeue that our beloued ancestors in the
at any time cōfessed any thing to charge the innocent whereby you might cleare your selfe or thereby to escape and be at libertie then burthen not your selfe therewith nor let your soule carrie any such thing away but excuse the innocent and pray to God for mercy that he will pardon you and not suffer your heart to be bent to any vngodly way to excuse your offence and to defend it But before God confesse it aske grace and séeing it is come to light confesse it before the whole worlde or else you striue against Gods iudgement his will his worke which surely is horrible from which our Lord defend you of his grace through Christ Iesus his welbeloued sonne in the holy Ghost Amen Tenthly I further also charge you my deare friend that from the bottome of your hart you wil reconcile forgiue and forget all men that haue done any thing against you either by worde or déede whether it be for this matter or for any other before If you haue by any mā bene hurted or harmed though they be guiltie of this your iudgmēt suffring and death either if they haue espyed or laid hand vpon you al this together shal you cast out of your heart and lay aside all maner of swelling snarling malice hatred enimitie and euill will and contrarie shewe a gentle heart friendly loue and gentle speach without all hatred bitternesse and euill will as a patient lamb as Christ our Lord which was altogether innocent yet vpon the crosse prayed for his enimies and said Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doe Thus shall you likewise do and thinke Well now welbeloued Lord and father though I be not guiltlesse and innocent as thy welbeloued sonne but haue worthily deserued all punishment wrath and vengeaunce Likewise séeing thou of frée grace and mercy through Iesus Christe hast for euer pardoned me after my departure wilt neuermore remēber my sin therefore I require thée that thou wilt giue vnto me such a gentle friendly Christian hart through thy holy spirit wherby I may forgiue and forget and also reconcile my selfe vnto euery man as well friendes as foes for thou wilt also forgiue me yea thou hast already clearly forgiuen all my sins misdéeds And for better assurance hereof giue me grace might and suche a burning charitie toward my neighbours that I may forgiue euery man and that from the bottome of my heart So shall I be sure that thou hast forgotten and forgiuen me and at the last day this shall be the signe that is the Christian and brotherly loue that we also be thy disciples séeing that we doe shewe Christian loue one toward an other Kéepe in me also the gratious promise of Christe my louing Lorde that saith thus Matth. 6. When you forgiue men their faultes then will also my heauenlie father forgiue you your faults With these Christian comforts I comfort my selfe and stay my selfe altogether vpon thy mercifull promise Doe with me after thy godly saying and promise for thou doest require of me that I be merciful as thou also art merciful towards vs Therfore I do knowe that in this my departure to death there is no better nor more acceptable offering then that I should shewe charitie and of mercy with well vnto all men pray for all men intreat and do well vnto al men as much as is possible for me For God hath pleasure in mercy and not in offering Osée 6. Twelfthly You haue also welbeloued for a comfortable example the théefe which also had done very wickedly for whiche he also receiued punishment of the magistrate but this punishment was vnto him onely the cause and furtheraunce that he did not onely knowe GOD and was faithfull but was also hanged beside Christe his saluation whereby he conceiued speciall comfort that Christ the innocent Lorde woulde pitie his miserie and would forgiue him all his sinnes and wickednesse wherevnto otherwise he shoulde neuer haue forsaken his naughtie life but woulde haue continued in his wickednes stubbornesse and vsed his stiffnesse and arrogancie his whole life long without al repentance turning from his naughtie liuing And so peraduenture had it ben with you you would haue gone forwarde in your vnrighteousnesse therein abiden withered and starued for euer without al penance or repentance godly knowledge vnder the feareful anger of God being bound with Gods iudgement condemnation Therefore séeing that God hath deliuered you from this miserable blindnesse and error he shall from hencefoorth leade you by this occasion means and purpose first bring you to know your selfe bring you to true repentance penance suffer godly knowledge to light in your hart kéepe you in the true faith of Christe Iesu and will suffer you to depart in the same at the last without all doubt Behold now dearely beloued howe our Lorde God is a valiant almightie father that of al naughtinesse can make all goodnesse and will to his turne all worst thinges to the best Sathan had thought that through this your fall and misdéede he would for euer haue kept you in his kingdome and to haue made you a member of himselfe But our lord God commeth and bringeth to passe by this means and crosse that he hath broken and hindered all sathans purpose Sathan thought he had made all cocke sure with you and had brought you to euerlasting sinne and shame and intended to haue kept you continually therein But God commeth and turneth the leafe vp and maketh of you that were the childe of darkenesse the childe of light and of euerlasting blisse Amen Twelftly Nowe deare friende I warne you nowe at the last that you will depart hence to death without all feare nor be not dismaide of death by reason of your sinne But herein take héede that thou do not alonly looke vpon death vnder the eyes and doest wrestle with him but take thine almightie god with thée which hath before laide hand vppon death and hath ouercome him that is Iesus Christ thy Lord and king which in the garden so mightily wrestled with sinne and death that bloudie sweat dropped from him Matth. 26. therefore weigh it not And againe be not afraide of death séeing you meete with him with this king and Lord but you shall do thus to him set all your only comfort hope and assurance vppon your Christe that hath made your way for you broken the hedge and kéepeth the field and hath for you ouerthrowne the mightie Goliah and hath brought the blessed victorie home to your doore as I haue before this time shewed you and yet againe must sette before your face For nowe is the time seeing you are come to the very push and this your daungerous enimie that is very terrible vnto the whole worlde will stande chiefly with you to bring and driue you from this point and so lay hande vpon you Therfore take to yourselfe the true shielde which is Christe your defence whome you
mightily helpeth the body out of dust and mire and all maner of destruction for euermore For he doth helpe in déede yea the longer he séemeth to withdraw his help he sheweth it afterward more mightily therefore he is the only comfort and refuge or helpe to miserable sinners Furthermore Christe hath walked among sinners in the middest of them gone to sinners and hath runne after them and deliuered them from their destruction blindnesse and sin Shal not all this make worthily a mans heart merrie and to haue a good conscience yea a perfect assurance to all troubled and sorrowful sinners that they may in all their néedes sinne griefe sorrow and death with al their heartes run and come vnto suche a friendly Lorde that wisheth euery man good prayeth for it and doth it that neuer hath driueÌ„ from him any wretched sinner Yea they at the last in his death were partakers with him on the crosse that he by the â—peciall foresight of God shoulde hang betwéene two grieuous offenders in tâ—ken that he would willingly dye for miserable sinners and for their cause willingly giue him selfe to death yea they had their part with him after his glorious resurrection to signifie thereby that he hath not forgotten miserable sinners albeit that he hath conquered sinne death hell and sathan him selfe and yet might he well haue let alone this his conquest and triumph and haue neglected vs miserable sinners But he hath now sought out miserable sinners that he might helpe them and comfort them as namely vnbeleuing Thomas the penitent Magdalene and many mo as he was going towards heauen and nowe sitteth at the right hande of God in great glory and maiestie yet doth he not at all forget the poore sinners but opened Sauls eyes put away all his sinnes and made of him a chosen witnes yea euen in these dayes from time to time doth our good faithfull Lord without ceassing take vp sinners vnto him For what doth he else at the right hand of God then intreat speake for and defend the miserable sinners as a faithful Attorney Mediatour peacemaker anâ— highe priest reconciler and continuall king as he hath taken vp al vs you and me and all sorrowfull repentant faithful sinners In mercy he giueth vs now daily his holy Ghost which doth lighten and purifie our heartes strengtheneth them giueth them power and defendeth vs in all our néedes Therefore be of good comfort séeing Christe nowe liueth there can no miserie come vnto you séeing that Christe sitteth on the right hand of God Who can doe vs any harme Who can condemne vs If Christ him selfe doe absolue vs and accounteth vs to be quit frée loose and vnbound and so pronounceth vs To this Lord do I nowe commend you let him not depart from your hart For albeit I must depart hence froÌ„ you must suffer you to go to death neither I nor the whole world any more help you yet wil not this Lorde depart from you he is with you and by you in your execution And he is also faithful vnto you and so gratious that he wil go with you to death and will plucke you out againe from him by his almightie power Holde you vpon this Lorde by a stedfast faith for I nowe commend you vnto him with all my heart The fourtéenth Dearely beloued séeing you shal eueÌ„ now be caried hence to the place of execution shal be séene of many folkes take a merrie hearte vnto you and speake vnto the people like a man and louingly and giue them warning before your death of these thrée pointes following First that they will well thinke vppon and remember the earnest strong righteousnes of God and take you before their eyes for an example of Gods Iustice albeit his iudgement vppon you in comparison of Gods righteous iustice and euerlasting punishment which ought worthily to stirre and moue all men to the feare of God but as it were a flap with a foxe taile Secondarily that they fréely for Gods sake and of his mercie euery of them all will forgiue you forget your fault and forgiue it wherewith you at any time haue offended any man whether it be in this place or in any other for Iesus sake with all their heartes wil forgiue you where and how soeuer you haue offended any of them whether it be by word or déede And that you also doe forgiue from the bottome of your hart willingly both friend foe wherein soeuer you haue béene offended Thirdly that they will praye to our Lord God truely for you whereby our Lord God for his deare sonns sake may giue vnto you a Christian and blessed passage out of this miserie by the ioynt working of the holy ghost Amen If the poore prisoner by reason of weakenes or for faint heart cannot speake himselfe and in the place of execution cannot warne the people and speake vnto them himselfe then may his appointed minister Or as it is in some place the hangman himself speake vnto him without danger in this maner and warne the people thus WElbeloued as you are now here present and minde to behold this miserable sight First remember wherfore this poore prisoner standeth here surely not therefore that in Gods sight he is the greatest sinner amongst vs But to the intent that Almightie God through this condemned man will set before your eyes an example of his godly iustice whereby by him you might be moued to a godly feare to amend your life and come before Gods anger correction and displeasure repent in time abstaine from your wicked life and go in a godly liuing Is it not thus welbeloued say Yea. Againe the tyed prisoner desireth you all here heartily and humbly that al you here together specially and generally that you wil forgiue him whatsoeuer he hath spoken done or committed whether it hath béene priuily or openly he is hartily sorie for them all he desireth you all humbly and Christianly Therefore he requireth that you wil bestow also vppon him this mercie that his Lord and God thorough Christ hath shewed vnto him in that that he of méere grace and loue hath forgiuen and forgotten all his sinnes that you haue a heartie compassion with him not to be offended at him but beare with his weakenes helpe it suffer it and carrie it as the Christian rule willeth where S. Paule the 6. to the Galathians saith thus Euery one beare an others burthen and so shall you fulfill the lawes of Christ Is it not so my welbeloued say Yea. Thirdly and lastly this bounden prisoner also requireth and prayeth you for Gods mercie sake that you now at the houre of his departure out of this miserie for Christian duetie and loue sake that you will inwardly from the bottome of your heart call vppon God and pray that he will increase in this poore man the faith of Christ strengthen him and kéepe him therein for euer and euer wherby he may of grace enioy a
right way What beleeue you of this sacrament J Beléeue that there is according to the word of Christe giuen vnto me the body and bloud of Christe though in such sorte as reason can not perceiue So that God almightie worketh in me and towards me in the receiuing therof all that which my Lorde Iesus hath there promised as specially that his body maketh me cleane and maketh my body to be in fellowshippe with Christ and with all Christians and that his bloud doth washe away all my sinnes Therefore I doubt nothing at all but that I doe receiue there the body bloud of Christe albeit that by reason I can not perceiue how or by what manner and way neyther is it necessarie for me to knowe It was sufficient to Christes Apostles that they knewe that Christe was risen from death albeit they could not tell nor perceiue how he came vnto them the doores being shut in What is Christes Supper or Gods boord IT is nothing else but the Testament of Iesus Christe our Lorde which he made and ordeined before his passion and death for all them that beléeue vpon him and for them that in their baptisme through the deseruing of his death and resurrection be made frée from the power and kingdome of the diuell and chosen to be Gods children or inheritours of the kingdome of heauen To them hath he promised and giueth in this sacrament truely his body and his bloud for their comfort wherby they be fully assured made certeine by faith in their consciences that he will giue vnto them all the goodnesse of God and make them coheires with him with the whole Christian congregation in a perfect fellowship of all Saints For in as much as Christe hath promised and giuen vnto them his body and his bloud why can he not giue vnto them al other good things that he hath either in heaueÌ„ or in earth Herevpon shal his body and his bloud certenly be receiued to assure vs that our louing Lord Christ wil not betray vs but make vs with him to be Lordes and inheritours of all the goodnesse of God. Whosoeuer will receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ ought to know how to answere to the fiue questions folowing The first Question 1 WHerefore receiue you this Sacrament Aunswere Therefore bicause I may be a coheire with Christe and haue fellowship with him with all holy Saintes and with all good Christians with them to suffer and to dye Question 2 What doe you beléeue or what doe you confesse is in this sacrament Answere When I receiue the Sacrament I beleeue that vnder breade and wine I receiue the body and bloud of Christe but it is not sufficient that I know but also I must beléeue that my lord Christ hath giuen me them for a perfect signe and token seale and testament Question 3 What be the wordes of this Testament which our Lord Iesus did vse Answere Thus said the Lord to his Apostles when he gaue vnto them this breade Take ye and eate ye This is my body which shall be giuen for you And when he gaue them the cup he saide Drinke you all of this This is my bloude of the newe Testament whiche shall be shead for you and for many for the forgiuenesse of sinnes Do this in the remembrance of me Question 4 Wherefore do you take that token or signe séeing that faith is sufficient Answere I receiue the signes and tokens therfore bicause I may strengthen my faith not bicause I doubt in my beléefe but bicause God hath giuen me the signe with the word of his tender grace and mercy Therefore I will not despise to vse and acquaint my selfe with them Question 5 How will you vse the Sacrament Answere I will eate and drinke and beléeue this word which he spake vnto his Apostles when he gaue them this sacrameÌ„t We ought to take these comfortable promises with a faithfull heart A breefe declaration of the Lordes Prayer called Our Father FIrste we must consider wherfore we pray what is meant by wherefore the time occasion doeth always bring them But bicause we should not be carefull nor trouble our selues wherfore we should pray séeing we be now in such extremities that many troubles daily fall amongest vs and that from day to day the longer the worse although we shuld very much pray For The diuell is a liar and a murtherer And neither is the Pope nor the Turke nor many other tyrants which be against Gods worde idle Besides this we haue experience that euery aduersarie is sufficient of it selfe though this generall trouble were not therefore we haue euery where occasion sufficient which may driue vs to prayer Whosoeuer therefore cannot remember all our necessities let him take in hand and haue before his eyes the holy prayer of our Lord called Our Father in it be seuen petitions In which be conteined all troubles things necessarie 1. In the first prayer Hallowed be thy name we pray for the holy Gospel for all true preachers against all heresie misbeléeuers against the Iewes heathen Turke Pope For all these blaspheme and slander Gods name and vnhallow him that God will cut them short send good preachers kéepe his word cleane and pure against all heresie make vs apt hearers This is to intend or before to meane somewhat 2. In the second Thy kingdome come we praye that the kingdome of the diuel of death may be destroyed That is a great and a large petition for in it is conteyned the whole kingdome of the diuel that it would please God to make an end of it and set vp in vs and al men his owne kingdome through his word and the holy Ghost 3. In the third petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen we desire that all their willes be disappointed which striue against Gods gratious wil. That is a great vnsufferable prayer against the diuel and all wicked people meruellously putteth back many perils and misfortunes whiche the diuel and wicked people imagine and sett abroche if they were not thorough this petition disappointed 4. In the fourth petition Giue vs this day our daily bread wée do praye for the Quéenes maiestie for our magistrates for our elders for our wiues and children for our meate and drinke for the fruite in the field for peace and for such thinges as we lacke toward the mainteyning of this present life euery one in their vocation that God will blesse them therein giue them good fortune and kéepe them from all misfortune mercifully 5. In the fifte petition Forgiue vs our sinnes as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs we desire that God will be gratious to vs to turne from vs his anger whiche we haue deserued not punish vs for our wickednes and that he will deale gratiously with vs to the intent we from day to day maye waxe better and that we maye liue after his holy will and liue friendly one with another and that euery of vs maye forgiue an other their offences 6. In the sixte petition Lead vs not into temptation we pray that GOD will come and helpe all troubled heartes not suffer them to sticke in temptation but help them out therof gratiously through his word and holy spirite and that he wil vouchsafe to destroy the diuels purpose and might 7. In the seuenth petition But deliuer vs from the euill wée praye for a good houre that our Lord God will take vs out of this miserie with grace and make vs blessed for euer Thus in the Lords prayer are plentifully al thinges conteyned whatsoeuer by any meanes shal vexe or trouble vs or els whatsoeuer is méetest and most necessarie for vs Therefore the first iâ— that we purpose or intende something wherefore we will pray that will Almightie God surely giue For the commaundement is plainly there that Wee must pray the promise is also there that We shal be certeinely and surely heard And our mercifull Lord Christe himselfe hath sett foorth vnto vs both the words and the manner how we shal pray in the which all things necessarie for vs be conteined FINIS Rom. 8. Rom. 12. Eccle. 7. â—â—le 11. 1. Cor. 11. Rom. 12. â—â—tie 28. Esai 26. Esaie 9. 1. Tim. 2. â— Iohn 3 Psal. 50 Mark. 11 Matt. 6. Iohn 6. â—ohn 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 4. Ephe. 5. Iohn 6. Math. 26 1. Cor. 10.11 1. Cor. 11 2. Cor. 13 1. Cor. 15. â—ohn 12. â— Cor. 15. Matt. 6. Mat. 26. Iohn 6 Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 1. Act. 4. 2. Cor. 5. â—ctes 10. â— Pet. 2. â—ala 6. â— Pet. 1. 1. Thes 1. 1. Thes 5. Col. 1. Iohn 6 Iohn 17 Iohn 15 Iohn 8 Galat. 3 â—om 10. â—ctes 15. Iohn 1. Esaie 53. â—â—he 1 â—im 1 â—tt 18. â—â—k 19 â—â—m 3 â—ohn 4 2. Tim. 1. â—â—hn 8 â—â—hn 5 â—ohn 11. Mat. 26. Luke 12. Luk. 10. Luke 22. 2. Cor. 2. 1. Pet. 5. Ephes 6. Ephes 1. Coloss 1. Matth. 16. Ephes 6. Matth. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Iohn 3. Ezech. 18. 33 Matt. 9. Matt. 18. Luk. 19 Galat. 3 Rom. 16. Zach. 13. Esaie 55. Iohn 3. Iohn 5. Iohn 3. Iohn 6 Iohn 1. Iohn 1.3 2. Pet. 1. â—om 13. Iohn 16. â—saie 54. Cor. 4. Esaie 64. â— Cor. 2. Hebr. 12. Prouerb 3. Iam. 1. Matth. 10. Rom. 6. Luk. 2. Luke 2. Psalme 50. Esaie 30. Rom. 8. 1. Sam. 2. Rom. 8. â—ebr 11. â—sal 73. â—aie 41. Col. 2. Iohn 14. Iohn 20. Matth. 15 1. Tim. 2. Iohn 2 Iohn 2 Rom. 8. â—eb 5. Rom. 8. â—ebr 9. â—phes 5. Mark. 16. â—atth 11. â—ohn 7. â—ohn 6. Iohn 5. Iohn 6. â—â—hn 1. Iohn 8. 2. Pet. 1. Phil. 3. 1. Thes 4. â—cle 38. Iohn 11. Eccle 7. Eccle. 38. â—aniel 7. Iob. 5. Prou. 29. Hebr. 12. Cant. 8. â— Cor. 10. Iob. 14. 1. Pet. 4. Iere. 25. Psal. 75. â—saie 54. Psal. 89. â— Cor. 1. â—om 8. Gen. 8. â—ohn 1. Iohn 14. Iohn 10. Deut. 12. Iohn 11. Marke 11. Marke 9. Esaie 66. Psalme 51. Psal. 68. Ios 7. Matth. 6. â—see 6. Matth 26. â— Corinth 15 Gal. 4. â—â—hn 3. Gal. 6. Eccle. 18. â— Cor. 6. â—â—al 32. Psal. 50. â—salme 119. â— Cor. 11.