A godly and holsom preseruatyue against disperacioÌ„ at al times necessarye for the soule but then chiefelye to be vsed and ministred when the deuil doth assault vs most fiersely deth approcheth nieste Be sobre and watch for your aduersarye the deuell as a roring lyon walketh about seking whom he may deuoure whom resyste stedfast in the fayth 1 Pet. 5. M.D.L.I. The preface THys preseruatiue geÌ„tle reader is prepared for thy profite that thou reding it at leasure maist chose oute suche comfortable sentences as may bothe staye thi owne coÌ„science in the time of teÌ„ptacion also quiet otheâ—s when the Deuil shal be busie with them 2. Cor. 2 For we be not ignoraunte of the thoughtes of satan howe he continually furnisheth hym selfe to bende his ordinaunce agaynst maÌ„ And now with the coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of the greatnes multitude of syn Now with the terrour of death dampnacioÌ„ Ephe. 6 do labour to beate the buck let of fayth out of our handes 1. Tess 5 to strike the helmet of hope froÌ„ our head Ephr. 6 And to wrest froÌ„ vs the swerd of the spriit which is gods word But here christyan reader is thy swerd and buckeler deliuered vnto the here is thy helmete put vppon thy heade here thou shalte find suche armoure and weapon wherbi thou shalt both be able to withstand the force of oure commen enemy the Deuell and also by the counsell to rescue others that they perysh not Yea heare thou shalt find choise of most comfortable sentences wherby mans coÌ„science may be stayed from dampnable desperacion 1. Cor. 16. Watche therfore stand stedfaste in faithe play the man and be of good comfort Iacob 4. Resist the deuell and he wyll flee frome the Not for feare of thy owne power strength or holynes but for feare of Chryste in whome by faythe thou art ingraffed For it is crist through whome god hathe geuen â— Cor. 15. vs vyctory agaynst synne deathe hell the deuyll Acto 4. Nether is there ani other name vnder heueÌ„ geuen vnto man wherin we maye be saued but the name of Iesus Christ our lorde To whome with the father and holye ghost be all honour and glory AMEN A prseruatiue FOrsomuche as the diseases of the body and corporall deathe dothe so trouble mannes mynde that we commonly trimble and quake at the onely mencyon of them How much ought we to feare the sicknes of the soule and death of the same then whiche there can no greater nor more fearefull calamytye chaunce vnto man And seinge that euery man doth auoyde so muche as in hym lyethe the payne myseryes dyseases and deathe of the bodye howe much more ought we to decline and eschewe the causes of these euilles which be sinnes and offences and feare the ire of god which we so by oure enormities do prouoke Yf we be neuer so lytle sick in our body by and by we send for the phisycion we spare no cost we sike for medecines and remedy thoughe they be neuer so chargable al to patch and clout vp this earthen vâ—ssell of oure bodye which do we neuer so muche can not last long And why vse we not lyke dylygence in desiring seking remedies against the diseases of the soule whyche like as thei be more greuous eueÌ„ so they bring with them without comparison infinitely more dauÌ„ger For what can it profit a man thoughe he haue all the riches in the world though he liue a thousand yere and that in such health pleasure that he is not ones touched with sickenes or gryefe hys soule in the meane time being poisoned with sinne being captiue to satan hauing God displeased with him and dampnacion readye for him after thys lyfe For truelye thys lyfe must once haue an ende nether know we whan where after what maner Math. 25. or how sone Therfore sayth Christ watch for ye nether know the day nor hour when the sonne of man wyl come And lest we this shorttime of our abode omittinge thinges mooste waightye and profitable shulde folow trifulles things of smal price he hathe vouchesafe to prescribe vs an order and as it were a breue certaine and sure way to come vnto true felicite sayeng Seke first for the kingdom of god and righteousnes therof Math. 6. and all thynges shal be added vnto you Care for liuing care for ryches care for worldly dignytie worldly fauoure worldlye estimacion and such lyke transitory thinges which in dede doth lytle profitte but many times be cause bothe of filthy vices and also of greuous calameties doth besy doth vexe doth trouble doth eueÌ„ defatigat vs both day and nyght but in seking for and procurynge of godly heuenly thinges we be most negligent most slacke most dull most forgetfull And I pray you what can be a greter blindnes or a more dangerous madnes whyles we be lustye whyles we be in helthe whyles we be in prosperity we scaselye thinke vpon any lyfe to come we remembre not once that we shall dye But when we be in perell and daunger by syckenes and deathe begynneth to knocke at our dore Euen at that same houre when we shulde playe the menne and fyght agnynst our enimy being sufficiently armed weponed afore theÌ„ begin we first to thinke vpon oure armoure to thinke vpon our wepon to think vpon mending of our lyfe These thinges declare vs to be smallye exercised soudiers to be meÌ„ of preposterous iudgement and verye weaklings in fayth God be mercyfull vnto vs. Amen But yet though a man be neuer so old though the day be neuer so far past so he amend whiles he is here eare it be night his repeÌ„taÌ„ce cometh not out of season Neuertheles it were to be wished the no man shuld differ his repeÌ„tance to his last most dangerous coÌ„flict For eueÌ„ thei shal haue much ado to stand and to defend theÌ„ selues from the assaultes the guiles inuasions of the enemy whych in the time of their helth prepared armed them selues what then shall come of them whiche not fearing god neither minding once repentaunce hath led a dissolute filthie and naughty lyfe how shal thei fyghte howe shal they be able to wythstand the force of satan ¶ Seinge therfore the multitude of people is great and the ministers of the gospel very few nether able to be euerye where to do their office to euery man I hauing a wil to help al men haue gathered to gether written out of scriptur a certaine brief forme how to admonishe instructe and comfort such as be sicke that thei either reding these thiÌ„ges or hearing them red bi others may conceiue certaine hope perfit consolacioÌ„ lest in this most dauÌ„gerus coÌ„flict they faint geue ouer like cowards so be ouercomed perysh For this is certain wheÌ„ soeuer a man is takeÌ„ with extreme sicknes is in daunger of deth he is assauted with diuers many greuous tentacions First
corporall death Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortall cannot inherit the kydgdoÌ„ of god wher nothing is but life Therfore this corruptible bodi must put on iÌ„corrupcioÌ„ Oze xiiii Esa xxv this mortal must put on immortality Than shal the saing that is writteÌ„ be fulfilled Death is swalowed vp in victory They that beleue in Chryste hath nowe ouercommed synne deathe and hel Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge hold and well harted in Chryste they maye saye deathe where is thy sting death where is thy victorye The stinge of death is synne and the power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto God whiche hathe geauen vs the victorye through our lord Iesus Chryste Let vs heare also more senteÌ„ces full of godly and mightye consolacion He that hath raised vp Iesus shal rayse vs vp also with Iesus ii Cor iiii Our conuerâ—acion is in heueÌ„ froÌ„ whence we do loke for the sauiour our lord Iesus christ which shall chauÌ„ge our vile body that it may be like fashioned vnto hys glorious body accordyng to the workynge of his power Philli. iiii by the which also he is able to subdue al thinges vnto him selfe Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god Col. iii. but when christ your life shal appere then shall ye also appere in glory with him We wolde not brethern that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that slepe i. Tess iiii that ye sorow not also as other do whyche haue no hope For if we beleue that Iesus chryst died and rose agayne euen theÌ„ also which are a slepe through Iesus shal god bringe with him Saynct Paule also doth coÌ„fort Timoth ii Tim. ii with the article of resurrection sayng Râ—membre the the lord Iesus Christe beyng â—he sede of Dauid rose again from the dead according to my gospell And if we be deade with hym we shal also lyue with him If we suffer pacieÌ„tly we shal also raign with him It was written also to the hebrus Heb. ii that Chryste tasted deathe for all men and that he was partaker of fleshe and bloude .i. became very man the he mighte destroye hym which had the rule of death that is the deuell and that he myghte delyuer them which were in bondage al thâ—ir lyfe time by the reason of the feare of death God hath delyuered vs ii Tim. i and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his purpose and grace whyche is geauen vs in Chryste Iesu before the time of the world but is now made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which truly hath destroyed deathe and hath broughte lyfe and immortalite to lyghte by the gospell i. Ioh. iii We know that we are translated from lyfe to deathe because we loue the bretherne Iohn 41 In this hathe the loue of god appered in vs because god sente his onely begotten sonne into the world that we mighte lyue through him Iob. xix I knowe that my redem er doth lyue and in the last daye I shall ryse agayne and agayne be wrapped in my owne skine And in my owne fleshe shall see God whome I my selfe shall se these my eyes shall beholde and none othere These places of holye scrypture and suche lyke yf we diligentlye remeÌ„bre faythfully imbrace we shall perceaue greaet consolacion and conforte And euen wyth sayncte Paule reioyse Phil. iii. that we knowe Chryste and the power of his resurrectyon wherby death is ouercomed Nether is there nowe to these that beleue in Christ any thynge in deathe terrible or to be feared sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme hurte it can not Lyke as a dede serpente keapeth stil his old fearefull shape forme but to stynge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And lyke as by the brasin serpente whyche Moyses by goddes commaundemente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpon through the power of goddes woorde men were delyuered fromâ— daunger of the lyuelye and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the feare and daunger of it so ofte as wyth the eyes of our faythe we do beholde the helthefull and medycynable dethe of Chryst In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a Image and shadowe of deathe yea the entrauÌ„ce and gate to lyfe For Christ who is trueth it self sayth Yf anye man kepe my worde Iob. viii he shall neuer see death For a man trustynge to the mercye of God through faithe whiche he conceauith by herynge of Chrystes gospell is so vnite and knyt to christ his lord and mayster that he can not be plucked nor seperate frome hym The bodye in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certayne hope of risinge agayn to euerlastinge lyfe And so he that beleuethe in Chryst dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule which is euerlasting dampnacion For the death of good men is nothynge els but a departure from thys transitory and mortal life to immortality to chryst to hys angelles and sainctes ¶ Hell and dampnacion DOth offer it self at the hour of death so that many tymes man doth greatli feare lest he be abiecte froÌ„ the fauour of god appoynted to euerlastynge payne The deuyll whyche seketh by al meanes howe to deuoure vs sterynge vp in youre myndes manye daungerous troubellous thoughtes concernyng our electyon predestinacion ¶ A medicine against the feare of hell and dampnacion WHen the deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our electioÌ„ whether we be of the numbre of them that are appointed to euerlastyng lyfe or no In any wayes let vs not be to boulde in copynge wyth hym let vs not enter dysputacyon agaynste hym for he is to subtyle and expert for vs but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sorrowe it is written thou shalte not tempt the lord thy God For seing that god as a most louyng father hathe not onlye geauen vs lyfe fedde and preseruyd vs to thys houre but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to tyme with hys singuler benefites what madnes were it contrary to oure former experyence nowe to doubt of his mercy He hathe receauyd vs into hys flocke by baptime He hathe sente vs the Gospell of hys grace wherein he hathe promysed to become oure father We haue he fedde wyth the fleshe and bloude of hys sonne oure sauiour CHRISTE in remembraunce that oure debtes be payd and we acquyted whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good wyl of GOD towarde vs lette vs not therfore admytte the doutfull and daungerous Imagynacyons of oure predestinacion which the deuell like a crafty and malicious marchaunt doth labor to iustiâ—l But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God woulde haue our mindes occupied wyth all whych Christe hym selfe hath prescribed as Iohn iii where he sayethe GOD hathe so
vs he can not medle with vs he hathe no power to hurt vs. Forsomuch as we be iustified by christ purged from our synnes and made the chyldren of god by Chryst who hath reconcyled vs wrought our peace we must therfore be of good coÌ„forte For seinge we be in the handes of god that is omnipotent who is now our best most louiÌ„g trusty father we be in a sureporte we be wtout dauÌ„ger there caÌ„ no incommodity nor aduersitie hurt vs for we be inuironed with the custodi of god the gard of angels oute of the handes of this heuenly father can no creature by force pluck vs When we be at an end by deathe of thys crosse and corporal afliction then haue we ended our iourney then haâ—e we fynyshed oure warre Christ hathe borne the same crosse Chryste hathe passed the same waye he hathe suffered lyke deathe he is oure heade we must be lyke to hym we mâ—st suffre with hiÌ„ yf we intend to raygn with him we must leue thys corporall lyfe ere that we can enioye lyfe euerlasting Lette not oure sinnes trouble vs lette them not tormente oure conscyence as though they coulde not be forgeuen They are alredy forgeuen if we repent and beleue Christ is al ours as muche as he is He by hys innocency hath couered and taken away our synnes As Chryst can not be dampned euen so we can not be dampned yf with a ryghte faythe we cleaue vnto hym As synne deathe and hell hadde no power agaynst Chryste so haue thei no power against vs so we be in Chryste and Chryste in vs. Yf the matter hadde be left and coÌ„mitted to vs to haue borne our owne sinnes and to haue satisfied for them they wolde haue be to heuy for vs we had not be able to stande vnder theym they wold haue pressed and sunke vs downe to hell But christe bothe god and man hathe of hys owne free will offered hym selfe for vs. he hath taken our turne he hathe playd our parte and paide for vs all that we ought As it is in the Psalme spoken in the persone of christ I payd that I oughte not We had trespased we were the detters so farre behind hand that all that was in vs was not able to paie the lest soÌ„me we ought Christ became our suerty paid for vs acquited vs and set vs at libertie yea made vs coheires wyth hym of euerlasting glorye If it were possible for one man to commit the sinnes of the whole worlde so he truelye repente and cleaue by true fayth to Chryst he can not be dampned hys synnes be sufficiently and abundaÌ„tly by Christ satisfied for For Chryst as touching hys godhead one in substance with the heuenly father As touchynge his man hede oure very flesh and bloode hath purchased and truely boughte grace and pardon for vs. For Chryst be came man for vs was borne for vs died vpon the crosse for vs rose from death for vs ascended into heuen for vs and hath accomplyshed and perfourmed all thynges mete for our saluacion for vs. If therfore we beleue in christ we are becoâ—e partakers of Gods fauor we are eased of the packe bourdeÌ„ of sinne we are made the heires of god and coheiris with Chryst for euer and that by chryste and for christ For withoute Christ there is no consolacion on helth no hope no helpe In Chryste alone is all comforte all helthe all hope all succoure â–ª all refuge all grace and mercy more habundant more pleÌ„teous more exceleÌ„t than any man is able either to comprehend or to wishe God graunte vs therfore a true and a constant faith In this forme or in like sort we most comfort our selues in our sickenes or calamitye and our brother beinge visited But in ani wais and with al dilygence it is to be foreseene that we wythdrawe oure mynde from the fearefull and terryble contemplacyon of synne death and damnacyon And that we fixe these of our mynd and whole thoughte vpon christe onlye the we cleue vnto him that we call vpon hym that we coÌ„mit our self wholy to hym For in christ we shal espie nothng but innocencie iustice lyfe saluacyon which al be deriued from Chryste into vs so that we wyll acknowledge him receaue him for the author of our saluacion and only redemer yf we haue christ crucified afore our eyes if we imprinte him in our hart yf we flee to hym with out fath if we wholy clyue to him Then shal hel gates nothyng preuayle against vs then shal we be able to wythstaÌ„d al the forcible assaultes of Satan though thei be neuer so sore neuer so fierce neuer so terrible Let vs cal to remembraunce with what lenitie what geÌ„tilnes what humanitie what clemency Chryst as it is in the euangelicall history hath called vnto him and receued al suche sinners as hath repented them and desired his helpe We shall finde Mary Magdalen the synner that honge vpon the right hand of christ crucified the publicane zache wyth other mo whoÌ„e Chryst most louyngly receiuinge pronouÌ„ced cleare froÌ„ sin though they had synned greatlye and the chyldern of saluacion chryste is very grace mercy helpe comfort life ioye and saluacion to al those which loke for these things at his haÌ„des and put theyr trust in hym And all these thynges hathe God who is truethe it selfe can not lie nor wyl not deceyue promysed vnto vs for chrystes sake Fynallye wheÌ„ deth approcheth we must do as Chryste dyd vpon the crosse Mat. vi we must praye for our enemyes and forgeaue them with our harte Yf we haue offended any man we must be hartely sory for it we must desire forgeuenes yf we haue iniured anye man we must make hym amendes or take such order that amendes maye he made vnto him yf â—t passeth oure power to make restytucyon and amendes it shal be ynoughe that we desire forgeuenes And wyth our hartes forgeaue others which hath hurt vs ether 11. name body subâ—â—ance or estimacion For if we truely forgeue god hathe promysed we shal be fyrgeuen as it is in the syxt of Mathew It is verye necessarye also and profitable for the confirmacion strengthening of our fayth to receaue the most blessed sacramente of the body and bloud of our sauyour christ which we ar coÌ„maâ—ded to receaue in remembrauÌ„ce of his benefytes that hereby we may be truely sertyfied in our conscyence hys body to be geuen for vs and his bloud to be shed for remission of our synnes Dethe OF our flesh fraill nature is so ferd abhorted that wheÌ„ he approcheth mans hert is filled and laden wyth suche sorowes panges and anxieties as tong is not able to expresse ¶ A medicine agaynst the feare of death WE muste call to our remembraunce deathe to be ouercomed and abolyshed by Chryst So that nowe the soules of so many as trust in Christ caÌ„ not dy nor peryshe but departynge from the body goeth straight to Chryst