would not nether did he eat meat with them But when he hearde that the childe was dead he arose from the earth and washed and annoynted him selfe and chauÌged his apparell and came into the house of the lord and worshipped ⪠and afterward came to his owne house and commauÌded that they shuld set bread before him he did eate And whan his seruauntes maruelling at these thinges said vnto hym What thinge is this that thou hast done Thou didst fast and wepe for the childe while it was alyue and as sone as it was dead thou diddest aryse vp and eate He answered While the childe was yet aliue I fasted and wept For this I thought Who can tell whether God wil haue mercy on me that the childe may lyue But nowe seyng it is dead wherfore should I fast Can I bryng him any more I shall go to hym and he shal come no more again vnto me In this history y t godly wisdom of Dauid is greatly to be considred For hereof may we learne to pray vnto the Lorde our God for our sycke frendes so long as they be aliue and to seke all meanes possible at the Lordes hand to obtain health for the diseased But if the good wil of God be to take them out of this world then are we taught here no more to mourn to wepe to lament and to be sory for them but rather w t a ioyfull hart to worship the lord as Dauid did and to geue hym moste harty thankes that it hath pleased his goonesse to delyuer our brethren or sistern from this sinck of euils I mean this world and to receiue them into his blessed kyngdom Heathen like mourning therefore is to be banished from the burialles of the Christians Euse. The maner among the ThraciaÌs is that whan any child is borne and commeth into the world thei wepe lameÌt mourn but when it goeth out of y e world they reioyce and are mery Epaphr What moueth them so to do Euse. Whan a childe commeth into the worlde they consider into what great miseries he is lyke to fall if he liue contrariwise when he departeth hence they know that an end of all sorow care of all pain and trauail is come Therfore the one thing moueth them vnto sadnes the other vnto gladnes Phi. Ther is great plentie of histories whiche declare that the very heaâhen haue taken y e death of their deare frendes paciently so far is it of that after y e manner of some whiche professe Christ they immoderatly toke the death of theyr frendes wept wayled mourned wrong their haÌds tare their hear rent their clothes and in manner killed them selues with sorowe and thought taking Whan our Sauioure Christ went vnto hys death certayne women followed hym wepyng and mournyng to whome he sayd Ye daughters of Ierusalem wepe not for me but wepe for your selues and for your children Theo. Is he to be lameÌted and mourned for whiche is remoued from thraldom vnto libertie from mysery vnto welth from darknes vnto lyght from ieopardy vnto safetie from sicknesse vnto health froÌ mortalitie vnto immortalitie from corruption vnto vncorruption from paine vnto ioy from transitory thinges vnto euerlasting thinges from the coÌpany of men vnto the felowshyp of the blessed aungels and heaueÌly spirites c Let the Heathen whiche haue no hope of the ioyful immortalitie of the soule nor of the glorious resurrection of the body mourne wepe and lament for their diseased let the faythfull Christians be ioyfull in the Lord and thank God for his great mercy and infinite goodnes whiche he hath shewed vpon the brethreÌ by calling them from this vale of wretchednes vnto his heauenlye kingdome For the voyce of God euen from heauen pronounceth them blessed happy fortunate which die in the Lord. Phi. What is your mynde therefore neyghbour Epaphroditus concerninge mourning gownes Epaphr If it were not for offending other and that it should also be some hynderaunce vnto the poore I woulde wysh rather to haue none than otherwyse For I would haue no man mourne for me My trust is that so sone as my soule shalbe deliuered out of the pryson of this my body it shall strayght wayes possesse the blessed enheritance of the heauenly kyngdome raigne in glory with God for euer What nede shall I haue then of mourners Or wherfore should any maÌ mourn for me Notwithstanding I wil not striue with theÌ for their garmentes Let my wyfe and my children weare what garmentes they wyl at my buriall so they be such as become the professours of true godlinesse Only this I require that .xxx. pore men and wemen do accompany my body vnto the buriall and that eche of theÌ haue a gowne of some conuenient colour I wyll also that .xxx. poore children be there also and that euery one of them haue a semelye gown And after my burial I wil that both those pore men women and children come home vnto my house and haue some repast for y e refection of their bodies And so âet them depart in the name of the âord Haue you writteÌ this neighbour Philemon Phile. Yea syr it is done Epa. I am glad of it To se that these thinges may be done according to my wyl I make my wife sole executresse you neighbour Philemon with my neighbours Christopher Theophile Eusebius here present I make you fower myne ouerseers charâing you in the name of God and as ye wyl answere before the high âudge Christ at the dreadeful day âf dome y t ye se these my bequestes âruely diligently and faithfully fulfilled Chr. we were twyse vngodly if we shuld not satisfy your desire and will being so Christen and righteous Epa. I bequeath to euery one of you foure for youre paynes taking fiue poundes sterling not to the ende to make you hearlinges but that it may be a token of my hartie good wyll towards you Chr. Sir wil it plese you to be buried in the churche or in the churchyard Epa. All is one to me The earth is the Lordes all that is conteined in it I am not curious of the place Whersoâeuer I lie I doubt not but y e lord our God at the last day shall raise me vp again and geue me a body like vnto y e glorious body of our Lorde and sauiour Christ Iesus ⪠Let the body therfore returne vnto the earth from wheÌce it came and the spirite vnto God which gaue it Euseb. Your children arâ buried in the churchyard Ep. Buây me there also God geue vs all a ioyfull resurrection Theo. Sir what solempnitie will you haue at your buriall Epa. What meane you The. Solempne singing deâout ringing holy sensing prieâes pattering candels lightning âorches brenning Communions âaying and such like Ep. No kind of superstitious custome do I alâow That is godly I only commend As touching your solempn âinging it is all one to me whiâher you sing or say
of the world to come whiche neuer shall haue end wher weping and gnashynge of teethe shall be as ye see it chaunced to the afore saide ritche glotton vnto whome God said sonne remember that thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasure and contrariwyse Lazarus receiued pain But nowe is he coÌforted and thou art punished so doth our sauiour Christ threaten the vngodli saying Wo be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Wo be vnto you that now laugh for ye shall wayle and wepe The holie Apostle also saieth What sonne is he whom the father chasteneth not If ye be not vnder correction wherof all are partakers then are ye bastardes not sonnes A terrible end therfore abideth them which in this world licenciously and without punishment do sinne For all such be bastardes and no sonnes therfore haue they no part of the heauenly enheritaunce Epa. Yet the world iudgeth otherwyse For they thinke suche only to be beloued of God as walowe in all kinde of worldly pleasures as the filthy sow in the mire so longe as they liue neuer tast of any aduersitie Phile. But the holie scripture iudgeth otherwise For those voluptuous Epicures whiche in this world say Come let vs enioy the âleasures that are and let vs sone âse the creature like as in youth Let vs fill our selues with good wine and oyntment and let there no flower of the tyme goe by vs. Let vs crowne our selues with roses afore they be withered Let âhere be no fair medowe but our âust go thorowe it Let euery one of you be partaker of our volupâuousnes Let vs leue some token of our pleasure in euery place for âhat is our porcion els get we noâhing c. Shall in time to come âry out on this maner saye We âaue erred from the way of truth the light of righteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs and the sunne of vnderstanding rose not vp vpoÌ vs. We haue weried our selues in the way of wickednes destruction Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the way of y e lord we haue not knowne it What good hath our pryde done to vs Or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs All these thiÌgs are passed awaye like a shaddow c. Suche wordes shall they that haue sinned speake in hel For the hope of thungodly is lyke a drye thistil flower that is blown away with the wynde c. Therfore we may well conclude that suche as enioy continuall prosperitie liue at their heartes ease obey their sensuall appetites are free from all aduersitie and as the Psalmoâgraphe saieth come in no misfortune lyke other folke neither arâ plagued lyke other men shall not reigne with God in glory nether haue they any portion in the lande of the liuing For though they prosper for a litle while in this world be puffed vp with pryde swell for fatnes do what they list rule as they will haue plenty of ritches in possessiom haue the world at commaundement c. Yet are they set in slippery places and shal be cast downe and destroyed Yea sodenly shall they consume perishe and come to a fearful end I haue sene saith that Princelike Prophet thungodly in great power florishing like a greue bay tree And he vanished away and lo he was gone I sought him but he coulde no wher be found c. For the wicked shall perishe together and the end of the vngodly is euerlasting damnation Christo. If it please you I will tell you a history that I heard once Epa. I pray you tell on good brother Christopher Chri. Saint Ambrose that godly couragious Bishop traueiling at a certain time toward Rome chaunced by the way to goe vnto a great richemans house to lodge after other talke he demaunded of the man of the house howe the world went with him in what case he stode The ryche man answered sir my state hath alway bene fortunate and glorious I neuer tasted any kynd of aduersitie I neuer had sicknes or losse of goods All thinges hitherto haue chaunced vnto me according to my hartes desire Whan S. Ambrose heard this he said vnto theÌ that accompanied him Rise and let vs go hence with al expeditioÌ for the Lorde is not in this place And when they wer departed froÌ the richemans house eueÌ straight waies thearth sodenly opened swalowed vp the man with all that euer he had so that nothing at all remained Phile. A notable history declaring that God is not there present where the crosse is absent and that thinges can not long continue in safe state where God fauoureth not Theo. Here was that thing fulfilled that is spoken by the Psalmograph The vngodly shall sone be cut downe like the grasse and be withered euen as the grene herbe c. Yea a litle while and the vngodly shall be clene gone Thou shalt loke after his place and he shalbe away Thungodly shall perishe and the enemies of the Lord shal consume as the fat of lambes yea euen as âhe smoke shall they consume away Againe in an other place Thou O Lord dost set the vngodây in slippery places and castest them downe and destroiest them O how sodenly do they consume perish and come to a feareful end yea euen lyke as a dreame when one awaketh so shalt thou make their Image to vanishe out of the citie Phile. Where continual successe of thinges is wher al things at all tymes serue and content the fleshly appetites of voluptuous worldlinges where no affliction nor trouble is there is not God there is not his grace fauoure and blessing He that is free from the crosse hath no enheritaunce in the kyngdome of heauen Yea it is a moste certaine signe of euerlasting damnation where a life is led without affliction For whom the Lorde loueth he chasteneth they are bastardes and no sonnes that sometime fele not the Crosse. Who euer went vnto heauen by ioy and pleasure By many tribuâlations saieth the Apostle must we enter into y e kingdom of God Hereunto pertaineth the saying of the vertuous woman Iudith Our father Abraham being temted and tried thorowe many tribulations was founde a louer ârend of God So was Isaac so was Iacob so was Moses and al âhey that pleased God being tried âhorowe many troubles were founde stedfast in fayth Blessed âs the man that suffereth tempâation saith saint Iames for wheÌâe is once tried he shall receiue y e ârown of life which the lord hath âromised to them that loue hym Euse. I red once of a certaine herâit which was woÌt euery yere to âe sicke wherin he greatly delited felt much quietnes of conscience âeing perswaded y t his sicknesse âas the louing visitation of God ând an vnfained token of Gods singular good will toward hym It chaunced that by the space of an whole yeare he was fre from al maner of
the kingdome of God then it is in this world We beinge in this corruptible bodye know one another whan we see not God but with the eies of our faith shall we not know one another after that we haue put of this sinfull body and se God facâ to face in the sight of whom is the knowledge of al things We shall be lyke the glorious Aungels of heaueÌ whiche know one another can it than come to passe that one of vs may not knowe an other Shal we be equal with y e angels in other thinges inferiour vnto them in knowing one an other We shal know and se Christ as he is whiche is the wysdome image and brightnes of the heauenly father and shall the knowledge of one another be hyd from vs We are members all of one body and shall we not knowe one another we know our head which is christ shall we not knowe our selues we shalbe citezins of one heauenly city wher continuall light shall be and shall we be ouerwhelmed with suche darkenes that we shal not see and know one another They that in this worlde be synging men continuing together in a place but for a season know one an other and shall we which for euer shall continue together synging praysing and magnifying y e Lord our God not know one another They that are in houshold serue one Lorde or maister know one another in this world shall not we know one another which in the kingdome of heauen shall continually serue the Lorde oure God together with one spirit and with one mind There is a certen knowledge one of an other here in the earth euen among the vnreasonable and brute beastes and âhall our senses be so darkened in the life to come that we being immortall incorruptible and lyke ânto the angels of God yea seing God face to face shall not knowe âne another We shall know God as he is shal we not knowe one another Adam before he synned beyng in the state of innocencie knew Eua so sone as god brought her vnto hym and called her by her name and shall not we being in heauen where we shalbe in aâ muche more blessed and perfecte state then euer Adam was in Pââradise knowe one another Shal our knowledge be inferiour to Adams knowledge in Paradiseâ WheÌ Christ was transfigured iâ mount Thabor his disciples Peâter Iames Iohn did not only know Christ but also Moses and Helias whiche talked there with Christ whome notwithstanding they had neuer seene nor known in y e flesh Wherof we may learneâ that when we come to behold thâ glorious maiestie of y e great God we shall not only know our sauâour Christ and such as with whââ we wer acquainted in this world but also all the electe and chosen people of God whiche haue bene from the beginning of the world as the holy Apostle saith Ye are come to the mount Sion and to the citie of the liuing God the celestiall Hierusalem and to an innumerable sight of aungels and vnto the congregation of the first borne sonnes which are writteÌ in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirites of iust and perfect men and to Iesus the mediatour of the new testament c. When we are once come vnto that heauenly Hierusalem we shal w tout al doubt both se and know Adam Noe AbrahaÌ Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moses Samuel Dauid Iosias Ihon Baptist Mary the Mother of Christe Peter Iohn Iames Paule and all the moste blessed coÌpany of the Patriarkes prophets apostles martirs with al other the faithful As we are al members of one body wherof Iesus Christ is the head so shall we knowe one another reioyse together be glad one with another Moreouer the history whiche we read of the rich vnmercifull man and of Lazarus declareth euideÌtly y t in the lyfe to come we shall know one an other In that we se that the riche glotton beyng in hel did knowe bothe Abraham and Lazarus being in ioye and that Abraham also knew that vnmercifull riche man although the one was in glory the other in pain If that they whiche are in hell doth both se and know them that are in heaueÌ and they whiche are in heauen know theÌ also that are in hell the one place beyng so far distant from thother muche more do they knowe one another that be Citezins in one City fellowe heirs of one kingdome members of one body and fellowe seruants in one houshold seruing one lorde God If there be mutual knowledge after this life betwene good euil much more shall y e sainctes and the holy ones of God knowe one another in the kyngdome of our heauenly father Our sauiour Christ said to his disciples when the sonne of man shall sitte in the seat of his maiestie you also shall sit vpon the .xii. seates iudging the .xii. tribes of Israell If after the generall resurrection ⪠and at the iudgemente one shoulde not know another how shal theÌ the apostles iudge theÌ vnto whom thei preached They can not iudge nor be witnesses of the condemnation of them whome they knowe not Hereof also it manifestlye appeareth that after this life one of vs shal know another After y e Christ was risen again had a glorified body thapostles knew him yea that so perfectly y t none of theÌ neded to saye vnto hym what art y â For they knew well y t he was the Lord. Hereof also may it truely be gathered y t the faithfull shall as perfectly knowe one an other in y e life to come as the apostles knew Christ after his resurrectioÌ âª or as Peter IhoÌ Iames knew Moses Helias in the mouÌt Thaboâ wheÌ Christ was traÌsfigured Many other thinges might be alledged out of the holy scripture to declare y t we shall know one another after this life but these for this present may seme to any indifferent person aboundantly to suffice If I shuld reherse to you all the sayings both of thancient late writers concerning this matter I shuld speÌd a great part of this day to much tâouble you notw tstanding I will reherse one saying of s. Gregory in his Dialoges bid al the other farwel There is a certain thing saith he in gods elect chosen people which is to be marueled at for they being in heaueÌ do not only know theÌ whom they knew in this world but thei know also the good people whoÌ thei neuer sawe euen as perfectlye as though they had afore both sene known theÌ For wheÌ thei in y t euer lasting enheritance shall se thancient fathers they shal not be vnknowne to theÌ in sight whoÌ they always knew in work For when al there w t one clearnes do behold God what is it that they shoulde not ther know where they know him that knowe all thinges Epa.
of the opinion of the Papistes whiche say that y e souls of the faithfull go not strait vnto heauen but vnto purgatory there to be boyled in the fyry fornace of the B. of Rome til they haue made satisfaction for theyr sinnes either by them selues in suffringe saye they the most bitter paines of purgatory or els by their frendes in this worlde thorowe Masses Pardons Pilgrimages c. Ep. I beleue that there is none other purgatory for my soule helth but only the precious bloud of my Lorde and Sauiour Christ Iesu. And I beleue y t Christ through his innocency of life and the most greuous paines that he suffred on the crosse hath aboundauntly satisfied for all my synnes hath vnto the vttermost paid al the det that I ought vnto god the father so that nowe through faith in the bloud of Christ I walke with a clear conscience before God forasmuche as there is no dampnacion to them that are in Christ Iesu and that they also are blessed whose sinnes are remitted whose iniquities are couered and vnto whose charge God laieth no wickednes Chr. Ye agre not w t such in opinion as affirme y t the soules of both the faithfull and vnfaithfull slepe vntill the day of iudgement and then shall awake out of slepe so that then the faithfull shall go vnto euerlasting glory the vnfaithfull vnto eternall daÌpnation Epa. I beleue that the soul slepeth no more then this my bed sted waketh and talketh with vs. I am fully perswaded y t so sone as the souls of the faithfull are departed from the bodies wherein they were as in a prison enclosed they are straightwaies placed in the glorious kingdome of God And contrariwyse the soules of y e vnfaithfull goe straight vnto the deuil euen vnto hel fire vnto that lake that burneth with fier and brimstone where weping gnashing of teeth is where the worme that gnaweth their conscieÌce neuer dieth and the moste greuous fier wherwith they are without ceasing intollerably tormented is neuer quenched Is it not thus neighbor Philemon Phi. Yes verely sir. For so ar we taught in the holy scriptures as the history of the ritche glotton and of pore Lazarus with diuers other doo manifestly declare Epa. I faithfully beleue that immediatly after my departure out of this worlde I shall haue a place in the kingdom of God and se the glorious maiestie of god face to face And I pray you good neighbor Philemon rehearse vnto me some comfortable places out of the holy scripture coÌcerning y e ioyfull and blessed state of the faithfull soules after this life that I may be confirmed in my faith and be the more willing to depart Phi. I wil do it gladly Balaam said I pray god that my soul may die the death of the righteous and that my last end may be like vnto theirs The Psalmograph saith O howe amiable are thy dwellings thou lord of hosts My soul hath a desire and loÌging to enter into the courts of y e lord my heart my fleshe reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they that dwel in thy house they will be alwaies praysing thee One day in thy courtes is better then a thousand I had rather be a dorekeper in the house of my God then to dwel in the tents of the vngodly The Prophet Esay saith The redemed of the lord shall turn again and come with ioye vnto Sion ther to endure for euer that mirth gladnes might be with theÌ that sorow wo might flie from them My people saith God shall dwel in pleasant peace in safe holdes and shal haue continual rest with out disturbaunce They shall nether hunger nor thurst heat nor Sunne shall not hurte them For he that fauoureth them shall lead them and geue them drinke of the spring wels They shal eat drink be mery and reioyse for very quietnes of heart Yea their gladnes and their ioy shall continue for euer and euer Daniell saith The wise suche as haue taught other shall glister as the shining of heauen and those that haue instructe the multitude vnto godlines shal be as the starres world without end Esdras saith Be redy to the reward of the kingdome for the euerlasting light shall shine vpon you for euermore Fle the shadow of this worlde receiue the ioyfulnes of your glory O receiue the gift that is geuen you be glad geuyng thankes vnto hym that hath called you to the heauenlye kingdom The author of the boke of wisdom saith The soules of the righteous are in the hand of God the pain of death shall not touch them In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to die and their end is taken for very destruction the way of the righteous is iudged to be vtter destruction but they are in reast And though they suffer pain before men yet is their hope full of immortalitie They are punished but in few thinges neuertheles in many thinges shall they be wel rewarded For god proueth them and findeth them mete for him self yea as the gold in the fornace doth he try them and receiueth them as a brent offring and wheÌ the time commeth they shall be loked vpon The rightous shall shine as the sparckes that runne through the rede bush They shall iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people their Lord shall raigne for euer Again The faithfull are counted among the children of God and their portion is among the sainctes The righteous shall liue for euermore their reward also is w t the lord their remembraunce with the hiest Therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome and a beautifull crowne of the Lordes hand The holy father Toby prayed on this maner to God O Lord dele with me according to thy wyll and coÌmaund my spirit to be receiued in peace For more expedient were it for me to die theÌ to liue The preacher sayeth The daye of death is better then the day of byrth For precious and right deare in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his sainctes Our sauiour Christ saith The righteous shall shyne as the sunne in the kingdome of theyr father They shall haue the enheritaunce of euerlasting lyfe Thei shal haue a kingdom which was prepared for them from the beginning of the world Thei shal be as the aungels of God They shall be in the bosome of AbrahaÌ Thei shal haue such ioy as no maÌ shalbe able to plucke it from theÌ They shall eate and drinke in the kingdom of God the father They shalbe where Christ is and see his glory The holy Apostle S. Paul saith The eie hath not seene and the eare hath not heard neyther haue entred into the heart of maÌ the thinges which God hath prepared for them that loue him Heâ saith also that if our earthy mansion of this
of man â the thinges whiche God hath prepared for them that loue hym My heart is nowe so enflamed with y e desire of those heauenly and blessed treasures which you haue named to me out of the infallible true word of God y t I most entirely wysh to be losoned froÌ this life to enioy these ioyfull pleasures Oh who wold not be glad to chaÌge lead for siluer copper for golde transitory mortall and corruptible thinges for certain immortall vncorruptible thinges earth for heauen sinne for godlines darkenes for light fear for securitie trauel for quietnes sicknes for helth death for life the coÌpany of men for y e coÌpany of the most hie God his heauenly Aungels and blessed spirites the vile pleasures of this worlde for the inestimable ioyes of the glorious kingdom of God Oh like as the heart desireth the waterbrokes so longeth my soule after the O God My soule is a thurst for God yea euen for the liuing God Oh when shal I come to appere before y e presence of my God O God thou art my god early wil I seke thee My soule thursteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee in a barren and dry laÌd where no water is Thus haue I loked for thee in thy holy place y t I might beholde thy power and glory For thy louing kindnes is better then life it selfe my lippes shal praise thee As long as I ââue wil I magnifie thee on this manner and lift vp my handes in thy name Euse. We reioyse good brother Epaphroditus and geue god most harty thankes that he hath by his holy Spirite wroughte so good and glad will in you to die and to leue this wretched worlde Epa. I moste hartely wyshe to bee losed from this life and to be with Christ. It greueth my soule loÌger to liue in this mortall body And now O Lord dele with me according to thy will and commaunde my spirit to be receiued in peace For more expedient were it for me to die then to liue Chri. Sir how do you fele your selfe Epa. In my body weaker and weaker but I trust in my soule stronger stronger I pray you lay me vp hier in my bed For I begin to waxe very faint and my wynde decreaseth waxeth shorter I thanke you it is wel Neighbours I am troblesome vnto you but I trust I shal not be so long The. It is vnto vs great ioy and comfort to be with you being so godly mynded For in you as in a cleare mirrour we beholde our selues and see what shall become of vs hereafter Of you as of a liuely scholemaister do we learne howe we shall behaue our selues when God layeth the crosse on vs. And we most humbliÌ besech God to geue vs the like pacience and thankfulnes Epa. The spirite is willing but the fleshe is weake For in asmuch as I fele in my self present tokens of death am not certain how long y e ⪠Lorde will suffer me to liue or to enioy y e vse of speche I thinke it conuenient to pray again vnto the lorde my God and to commend my sinful soul into his merciful handes Phi. Godly forsoth Epâ Lord vouchsafe I most humbly beseche the to hear me sinfull creature Chri. The Lorde is nye vnto all them that call on hym yea that call on him in truthe Epa. O Lorde Iesu Christ whiche art the only health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which die in thy faith I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy to thy moste blessed wil. And I being sure that the thing can not perishe whiche is committed vnto thy mercye most humbly besech thee o Lord to geue me grace that I maye nowe willingly leaue this frayle and wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection whiche in better wyse shall restore it to me again I beseche thee O most mercifull Iesu Christe y t thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all temtations that thou wilt couer and defende me with the buckler of thy mercy against al thassaults of the deuill I see knowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of lyfe and saluation but all my confidence hope and trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes I haue no merites nor good workes whiche I may alledge before thee Of sinnes and euill workes alas I se a great heape but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the nomber of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iuste and to bee the enheritoure of euerlasting glory ⪠Thoâ O moste mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake Thou diddesâ suffer both hunger and thirste for my sake Thou diddest preach and teach thou diddest pray faste foâ my sake Thou diddest all good workes and deedes for my sake Thou suffredst most greuous paiânes and tormentes for my sake And finally thou gauest thy most precious body to die and thy most blessed bloud to be shed on y e crosse for my sake Now most mercifull sauiour let all these thinges profit me whiche thou frely hast geuen me whiche hast geuen thy selfe for me Let thy bloud cleÌse and wash away the spottes and foulnes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merits of thy passion and bloud bee the satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and perswasion in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenes of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me also O moste merciful sauiour that wheÌ death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet that the eies of my soule may stil behold and loke vpoÌ thee and that when death hath takeÌ away the vse of my tongue speche yet that my heart may cry say vnto thee O Lorde into thy handes I geue and commit my soule Lord Iesu take my spirit The. Amen Eu. Sir how is it with you now Epa. Euen as with a ship whiche is tost with the waues of the sea I trust shortly to come vnto the heauen and then shall I be quiet and without all daunger I pray you pray for me Phi. Most gladly Let vs knele down neighbors and beseche the Lord our God for his tender mercies to preserue this our sicke brother from the assaultes of Sathan to kepe him constant and stedfast in his faithe vnto his liues ende that he maye geue vp a good a faithfull soule into the mercifull handes of God Geue me hither the flower of godly Prayers that I in the name of vs al may rede that prayer which is to be said for them that lie at y e point of death The. Here is it Philemon O Moste louing Sauiour gentle redemer whiche
vs. 159 Christ our phisitioÌ 385 Christ hath reconciled vs. 391 Christ a sauiour for al ages 394 Christ saueth vs frely 406 To Christ al thinges âe subiect 234 Christes woundes Christes wordes healeth our woundes 414 Christes alter was the crosse 422 Christ ouercame SathaÌ for vs. 337 Christ the head corner stone 353 Christe fulfilled the lawe for vs. 367 Christ put away y e cause of hatred 369 Christ hath put out the handwriting idem Christ hath payde oure debt 570 Christe the Lorde of all faithfull 232 Christ the anointed 233 Christ our Lord. 234 Christes humanite 236 Christ a sacrifice for sinnes 242 Christes death hath conquered Sathan 249 Christes going down to hell idem Christes resurrectioÌ 250 Christes assention 251 Christ a sufficient mediatour 253 Christ the mighty Samson 254 Christ geueth giftes vnto men 256 Christ ascended to prepare a place for vs. 257 Christe taken vp in a cloude 258 Christ comming to iudgement 259 Christ wrought all thinges in his humanitie for vs. 260 Christes bloud washeth cleane our sinnes 88 Christ the true Samaritaine 103 Christ a louing Phisition 105 Christ submitted his will 121 Christ forgeueth both the faulte and payne 284 Christes churche lynked together 269 Christ gaue him selfe for his churche 282 Christ disciple who 23 ChristiaÌ why he feareth not death 287 ChristiaÌs ought to helpe scholers 144 Churche or Congregation 268 Communion 172 Complaint of the wycked 58 Comfort to them that calleth vpon God 29 Crosse of tribulatioÌ 17 Conscience quiet how 101 Comfortable calling of synners 388 Conscience at rest 128 Confession of synnes vnto God 375 CorrectioÌ in this world 54 D Daniel preserued by prryer 111 Dauid reioysed not in him selfe 50 Dauid mourned and fasted for his sonne 162 Death gate to euerlasting lyfe 304 Death a chaungyng to a better lyfe 308 Death a passage 158 Death of the righteous 67 Debters forgeuen 143 Debtes 12.14 Departed ar not lost 157 Desire of prayer 426 Doctrine of Papistes after this lyfe 194 Doubting faith obteyneth no promise 439 Dutie of good seruauÌts 225 E Eldest sonne 138.139 Esay sawne in sonder 327 Ezechias ââued .xv. yere more 110 Exhortation to the sick 46.449 Executours charge 169 Examples of olde wemen 219 F Fallen on slepe 157 Fatherles childreÌ what they ought to do 215 216 207 Faith 416 334 Faith and prayer sure armours 344 Faith in the sure promyses of God 377 Faith maketh vs the sonnes of God 380 Faith the rote of all vertues idem Fayth rycher then all treasures 380 Faith y t is vnshakeÌ 443 Faithfull shal haue possession in the kingdome ⪠179. Faithfull rewarded and vnfaithfull 180. Faithful belefe neuer dieth 89. Flesh lusteth againste the spirite 15. Fyry Serpent 335. G God loueth where he chastiseth 14. God woundeth and maketh whole 21. God maketh a way out in temptacion 21.27 God a louing father 27 God helpeth in al nedes 82.30 God trieth his how 30 God wrought wonderfully for Ioseph 31. God gaue quietnes vnto Dauid after his stormes 32. God restoreth vs after his temptaâion 33. God neuer forsaketh his 38. God present to our sicknes 46 God suffereth the wyc ked to florish 58. God not present where the crosse is absent 61 God taketh not his mercy from his 70 God wheÌ he repenteth 71 God poureth out his blessing when we sease to synne 72 God turneth his wrath 76 God why he punisheth 74 God hath no pleasure in the death of a syn 94 God commaundeth to call to him in our trouble 108 God hath respect to the poore 109 God heareth harty prayers idem God suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue oure strength idem God present in trouble 11â God neuer forsaketh theÌ that trust in him 114 Goodes of the syck how to be disposed before death 123.133 God teÌdreth our soules health 117 god forgeueth frely 126 Gâd heareth the prayer of the humble 129 Goâ a father a husband vnto the faithful wydowe 202.138 God forgeueth both the faut and paine 176 God the father 227 God doeth what his plesure is 228 God maker of heauen earth idem God the sonne 231 God the holy ghost 261 God the holy ghost quicneth al thinges idem God the holy ghost maketh vs newe vessels idem God the holy ghost teaâheth all y e faithful 261 God the father God the sonne God the Holye Ghost 263 Gods wrath terrible to conscience 330 Gods worde driueth away Sathan 342 Gods word heleth 344 God casteth downe and setteth vp 351 God bringeth oute of trouble 358 God apointeth no tyme of helpe 393 God a father of mercies 401 God delighteth in compassion 285 Gold and Siluer 323 H Harte stony 375 Harte circumcised 95 Harken vnto God 409 HeariÌg gods word 423 Heathen haue no hope 161 HeatheÌ wyshed eternal ioye idem Holy men tempted 95. Houshold of God 97 I Iames slayne with the sworde idem Iohn baptist beheaded 318 Iob a faithfull souldiour 37 Iob in him selfe same but synne 52 Ieremy stoned ⪠317 Ioy commeth after heauynes 73 28 Ioye when our brethreÌ departe in the faithe ⪠152 161 154 Ioies vnspekeable 200 Ioie in heauen when a synner repenteth 104 Iudas repented but had no faith 378 Iewes murmuring 75 Iewes repented idem Iewes beleue the immortalitie of c. 307 K Kingdome of God mete for who 24 Knowing one an other after this lyfe 326 L Labour and not loitour 396 Labour to winne Crist 411 Lawe maketh no man perfect 126 law an heuy burtheÌ 363 Lazarus gods freÌd 20 Lordes comminge vnknowen ⪠4 Lyfe frayle and transytory 2 Lyfe vncertayne 3 Liue wel die wel 42 Lyfe ended our Ioy begynne 196 Lyâe foloweth death 7 M Man hath but a shorte tyme 1 Man hartye howe 5 Man blest whome God punisheth 21 Man not pure in the sight of God 48 Man an whole lompe of synne 49 Manasses an Idolater 77 Manrsses bounde with chaynes 79 Manasses repeÌteth 80 Manasses prayer 25 Manasses his sinnes in numerable 399 Martirs by diuers waies put to death 319 Maria magdalene a greuous synner 387 Mariage forbideÌ ought not to be 203 Maidens that be goely ought to be preferred before ryches 2â3 Maids ought to bewarâ of naughty packs 217 Mens willes ought to geue place 118 Men kdowen by theyr workes 190 men ar tried faithful 26 Mercye vnto the poore deliuereth from synne 213 Ministers 150 Monthmyndes 178 mothers ought to bring vp theyr children in y e feare of God 205 mothers a care for their chyldren 139 Mourning gowns 151 N The Name of Iesus howe all knees bowe therto 1â1 O One oblation of Christe hath made vs pericte 177 P Papistes ennemies to y e crosse of Christ. 176 Papistes alledge scriptures 429 Papistes a kingdome of lyes 430 Papistes woulde haue vs doubte in our saluation 34 Papysticall scholinge 440 Peter repented and beleued 378 Predestination ⪠415 People holpeÌ here 148 People desyrous to haue knowledge 149 Plages ceaseth 81 Pleasure not the waye to heauen 23 Pleasures of
an exceading and an eternall waight of glory vnto vs while we loke not on y e things which are sene but on the things whiche are not sene For y e things whiche are seene are temporall but thinges whiche are not seene are eternall Theo. Our elder brââther Christ which neuer commiâ sinne in whom no guile nor deâceat was found entred not into glory but by the crosse as thapostle saith We se that Iesus for the suffring of his death was crowned with glory and honor Therfore may not we loke to possesse the enheritance of the heauenly kingdom by liuing all in pleasure health ioy and worldly felicitie but rather by suffring the crosse y t is laid vpon vs at gods appoyntment both paciently and thankefullie For the disciple is not aboue the master nor the seruant aboue his Lord. It is inough for the disciple y t he be as his master is and that the seruaunt be as his Lord. Whosoeuer beareth not his crosse and commeth after me saith our sauiour Christe he can not be my disciple Chri. In the reuelacion of blessed Iohn we rede that they whiche were araied with longe white garmentes and are continually in the presence of the seat of God and serue him day night in his temple came out of greate tribulation Philem. It is truthe For suche are moste mete for the kingdom of God nether can the voluptuous worldlinges be partakers of the heauenly enheritaÌce whiche in this worlde taste of no crosse but liue in all pleasure after the desires of the fleshe It is not possible that a man may liue here pleasauntly with the worlde and afterward reigne gloriously with Christe for the frendshippe of the world is enmitie with God Whosoeuer wil be a frend of the world is made the enemy of God For what felowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes Or what coÌpany hath light w t darcknes Or what coÌcord hath Christ with Beliall Either what part hath he y t beleueth with an infidel worldly ioy eternall felicity can not agre together Therfore whosoeuer is fre froÌ the crosse in this world he hath no part in the kingdom of Christ of God So that you neighbor Epaphroditus haue a great occasion to thancke the Lorde our God that it hath pleased him to remeÌber you with this his louinge visitation and through this sickenesse to declare his good fatherly wyll towarde you For by laying this crosse vpon you he proueth you whether you be constant in your faith and profession or not and whether you will pacientlie and thanckefullie bâare this his worcking in you whiche is vnto your euerlasting saluation or not And after this maner doth God handle all suche as he receiueth vnto glory as the wyseman saith What soeuer hapneth vnto thee receiue it suffer in heauiues and be pacient in thy trouble For like as gold siluer are tried in the fire euen so are acceptable men in the fornace of aduersitie Again he saith the ouen proueth the potters vessel so doth temptation of trouble trie righteous men Liste wyse said Raphael the Archaungell vnto Toby Because thou wast accepted and beloued of God it was necessary y t temptacion shuld try thee And as Moses saide vnto the children of Israel the lord your God proueth you to wete whether ye loue the Lord your God withall your hart and with al your soule S. Peter also saith ye are nowe for a season in heauines thorow manifold temtacions that y e triall of your fath being muche more precious than gold that perisheth yet is tried by fire might be founde vnto the prayse glory and honoure at the appearing of Iesus Christ. Epah This comforteth well my weake mind to here of you out of y e word of God neighbor Philemon that this sicknesse which I now suffer is the louing visitation of God and a token of Gods good wyll toward me again that the faithfull and frends of God are in this world subiect to the Crosse more than the vnfaithfull and enemies of God Phile. I am hartely glad to hear you so say And doubt you not but that this your gentle God and louyng father wyll turne this your sorowe vnto your great comfort For he is a faithful God whiche will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue your strength but shall in the mids of the temtation make a way that ye may be hable to beare it as the Psalmographe sayth His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eie and in his pleasure is life Heauines may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Thou O Lord hast tourned my heauines in to ioy thou hast put of my sackcloth and girded me with gladnes Againe he saieth Thou O God hast proued vs thou also hast tried vs like as siluer is tried Thou broughtest vs into the snare and laidst trouble vpoÌ our loynes thou suffredst meÌ to ride ouer our heads We went thorowe fire and water and thou broughtest vs out into a welthy place Item O what great troubles aduersities hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turne refresh me yea and broghtest me from the depe of the earth Thou hast brought me to great honour and comforted me on euery syde Therfore will I praise thee thy faithfulnes O God Also in another place he saith they that sowe in teares shal repe in ioy He that now goeth on his way weping bereth foorth good sede shal doutles come againe with ioy bryng his sheues with him Thauncient father Toby in his prayer vnto God saith after a storme O Lord thou makest the weather faire still after weping and heauinesse thou geuest great ioy Thy name O God of Israel be praised for euer Epa. Amen Amen good Lord I trust thou wilt doe so with me Phile. Doubt ye not neighboure but if ye call on the name of the Lord ye shall finde great comfort For as that princelike Prophet sayth The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and deliuereth them out of al their troubles The Lord is nie vnto theÌ that are of a contrite heart and will saue suche as be of an humble spirite Great are the troubles of y â righteous but the lord deliuereth theÌ out of al he kepeth all their bones so that not one of them is broken Euseb. These are coÌfortable senteÌces neighbor Epaphrodotus Epa. Confortable in dede Phi. And no les true then coÌfortable as diuers histories of the holie scriptures do euidently declare Epa. I pray you reherse some of them for my comfort Phi. I will do it gladly As I may let passe the auncient Patriarkes What a crosse laid God vpoÌ Iosephes shoulders in Egipt yea and that for no fault that he had committed but only to proue and try his faith loue obedience pacience thankfulnes perseuerance He suffred Ioseph being a godlie and chast yong man
sicknesse Whiche thing whan he considered he was inwardly sory and wept beyond all measure greuously complaining that God had forgotten him and denied him his grace Phile. This history also sheweth howe necessary and wholsome sicknes is to a Christen man and that corporall affliction is a certaine perswasion to a faythfull coÌscience of Gods singulare good wyll and fatherly fauour towarde vs as he hym self testifieth saying as many as I loue I chasteÌ and rebuke Thâ wyse man also sayeth My sonnâ despise not the chastening of thâ Lord nether faint whan thou arâ rebuked of him For whome thâ Lord loueth him he chastneth ãâã yet deliteth in him as a father iâ ther in his owne sonne Epaphro So followeth it that they whom God visiteth with sicknes in this worlde and laieth the crosse vpon their shoulders are more dear vnto him than those whiche all their life tyme liue in all wealth ioy pleasure Phile. Yea verely so thei beare their crosse willingly paciently and thankfully For by the crosse are christen men knoweÌ as noble mens seruauntes by theyr Lordes cognisances He that beareth not the crosse is not Christes For suche as will be his disciples he coÌmaundeth them not to seeke how to flee y e crosse that they may liue al in pleasure but he biddeth them take the Crosse vpon their shoulders and folow him If any man will folow me saith our sauiour Christ let him forsake him âelf and take vp his crosse and foâow me The head bare the crosse the members also must do y e same or els pertaine they not vnto the head For there is none other way to enter into glory but the same way that our head Christ entred by which is the crosse Whosoeuer beareth not his crosse and cometh after me saith the Lorde Christ he can not be my disciple The seruant is not greater then his Lord nor the disciple aboue his master Chri. That such as bear the crosse and be tried with diuers tribulations are more dear vnto god thaÌ they which liue all in pleasure the history of the ritch and vnmerciful glotton and of poore and pacient Lazarus proueth euideÌtly For as ye hard before the welthie epicure whiche liued galantlie and pleasauntly all the daies of his life euen vnto his dying daye so sonâ as he was dead was caried of thâ Deuell and his Aungels into thâ flames of hell fire where he was miserablie tormented contrarywyse pore and sick Lazarus whoÌ the wicked worlde estemed moste vile moste abhominable yea and vtterly despised and cast away of God whome also fortune neuer fauoured but aduersitie coÌtinuallie assailed immediatly after his departure was moste tenderly ioyfully borne of the blessed Aungels of God into the bosome of Abraham wher he hath such ioyes as eie hath not sene nor eare hath heard nether is any mans hart able to thinke them Euse. Here is that fulfilled found true whiche the Psalmograph speaketh both of the death of the faithfull and of the vnfaythfull Concernyng the faythfull he sayeth preciâus in the sight of the Lorde is âhe death of his sainctes Of the ânfaithfull he also sayeth The death of sinners is worst of all As y e ioyes of Gods people begin not till after their death so lykewise the sorowes and paines of y e wicked doe chiefly begin at their death and so for euer and euer coÌtinue Epaph. Happy is that man therfore whiche hath and endeth his sorowe in this worlde that after this life he may haue the perfect and true ioy whiche knoweth no end Phi. He is thrise happy as they vse to say and greatly blessed of God Therfore s Austen praied on this manner and said O Lord burn me here cut me here in this world that thou maiest spare me for euer after Only geue me pacience pleasing vnto thee and necessary vnto me Christo. Like vnâto this are the wordes of a certain auncient father whiche saieth I know that diseases chaunce vnto men for their sinnes And it is beâter here paciently to beare afflictions and paines then after death to suffer euerlasting punishmeÌts Theo. S. Gregory saith that God sparith some in this world to torment them afterward and som he tormenteth here which he wil afterward spare This is a christen mans comforte y t by present tribulation he shall escape euerlasting damnation For according to the common prouerbe God punisheth not one thing twyse Epa. Of these your wordes I conceiue a good hope that although God punisheth me iustly for my sinnes yet he wil not take away his mercy from me Phil. No be you sure For these are his wordes by the Psalmograph If they forsake my âaw and walke not in my iudgements If they breke my statutes ând kepe not my coÌmanndemeÌts I will visite their offences with the rod their sinnes with scourges Neuertheles my louing kindnes will I not vtterly take from him nor suffer my truth to fayle My couenaunt wil I not breake nor alter the thinge that is gone out of my lips Here God our mercifull father promiseth y t though he punisheth vs for our sinne and wickednes that by this meanes he may call vs vnto repentance amendement of life yet wil not he take away from vs his mercy and louing kindnes but when so euer we turne vnto hym repent vs of our former life call on his blessed name beleue and hope to haue remissioÌ of sinnes for Christes sake and labor to frame our life according to the rule of his holy testaâmeÌt he will surely receiue vs ioyâfully pardon all our iniquities and as derely loue vs as though we had neuer offended his deuinâ maiestie God saith also by y e Prophet Ieremy when I take in haÌd to rote out to destroy or to wast away any people or kingdome if y e people against whoÌ I haue thus deuised conuert froÌ their wickednes I repeÌt of the plague that I deuised to bring vpon them The prophet Esay also saith If thungodly forsaketh his way and the vnrighteous man his owne Imaginations and turne againe vnto the Lorde he will surely be mercifull vnto him For he is very ready to forgeue He will not alway be chyding sayth the Psalmograph neither kepeth he his anger for euer Yea lyke as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lorde mercifull vnto them that feare hym For he knoweth whereof we bee made he remembreth that we are but duste My thoughtes saith God are to geue you peace and not trouble Though the lord punisheth vs for our sinnes yet doth he not punishe vs to cast vs away and to condemne vs but to call vs vnto repentance to mortifie our fleshly lustes afterward to make vs the more circumspect in obseruing the rules of our profession y t is the christen profession as that princelike Prophet saith It is greatly for my wealth that thou hast punished me brought me low
euen that I may learne thy righteous ordinances UexatioÌ or trouble saith the Prophet geueth vnderstanding And whaÌsoeuer we repent cease to sinne the Lord straightwais remoueth and taketh away the crosse that he hath laid vpon our backes and poureth his blessing againe plentiously vpon vs. For though he maketh a wouÌd he geueth a plaster though he smite he maketh whole again The Lord killeth maketh a liue bringeth down to the graue and fetcheth vp again The lord maketh poore maketh âich bringeth lowe and lifteth vp again After a storm O lord saith holy Toby thou makest the weather faire calme after wepyng and heauines thou geuest great âoy Thy name O God of Israel âe praised for euer Euseb. If God âoueth a man and entendeth to make him partaker of euerlasting glory he wil not cease to punishe him vntill he knowledgeth his âault repenteth become a newe âan Phi Ye say truth For vnto âhis end doth God correcte suche âs he loueth and entendeth to âaue The Lord saith by the Proâhet that he will punishe his peoâle which sinne against him and âun on whoring after straunge Gods vntill they coÌfesse their falt and say I wil turne again to my first husband for at that time was I better at ease then now Chri. This is a great comfort for a christen man in his affliction to hear that God punisheth hym in this world to this end y t he may cease to sinne that he may repent turn againe vnto the Lord his God so for euer be saued Epaph. But I pray you rehearse vnto me out oâ the holy scripture for the quietânes of my conscience some histories which may declare vnto me that God punishing synners foâ their disobedieÌce doth afterwarâ whan they repent and turne forâgeue them and receiue theÌ agaiâ into his fauour Philemon In thâ fourth boke of Moses called Nââmery we reade that the pepole ãâã Israel murmured and grudged ââgainst God and against Moseâ saying vnto Moses wherfore hast thou brought vs out of Egipt for to die in the wildernesse For here is neither bread nor water our soule lotheth this lyght bread Now se ye the sinne of the Israelites They murmur thei grudge they are vnfaithfull vnpacient disobedient against God and against his lawful magistrat now heare again the reward of sinne Wherfore the Lord sent firy Serpentes among the people whiche âtong them muche people of Israel died Here haue ye the punishment of the sin Now hear also y e âemedy against this punishment ând the salue against this plage Therefore the people came vnto Moses sayd we haue sinned for âe haue spoken against the Lord â against thee Make intercession âo the Lord that he take away the âârpentes from vs. Here the people of Israll repenteth confesseth their sinne turneth againe vnto the Lorde and besecheth Moses to pray for them vnto the Lorde Repentance coÌfession of the sinne conuersion vnto the Lorde and faithfull prayer are the meanes wherby Gods wrath is turned away from vs his plagues cease For when Moses had made intercessioÌ for the people the Lord said vnto him Make a brasen serpeÌt and set it vp for a signe that as many as are bitten may loke vpoÌ it and liue And Moses made a seruent of brasse and set it vp for a signe And when the Serpents had bitten any man he beheld thâ serpent of brasse and was healed ⪠Here se you the mercy of God eâuen in the middes of the crosse toâward penitent sinners The Isâraelites sinne God plagueth thâ people repenteth God turneth aâway his plague and healeth theÌ Epa. A coÌfortable history Be ther no mo such in the holy scriptures Phi. Uery many Ep. Rehearse theÌ I pray you For I delight to hear such comfortable histories Phile. I am very glad Manasses king of Iuda was an abhominable Idolatoure He went to and built âhe hill altares whiche good king Ezechias his father had broken âowne And he reared vp altares âor Baal and made groues and worshipped all the hostes of heauen and serued them and he built âltares in the house of the Lorde wheras the Lord yet had said In Hierusalem shall my name be for euer And he builded aultares for âl the host of heauen in the courts âf the house of the Lorde And he âurnt his children in the fire in âhe vally of the sonne of Hinon âe was a sorcerer he regarded y e crying of birdes vsed enchauntments ⪠and mainteined workers with spirites seers of fortunes wrought much euill in the sight of the Lord to anger him withall And as he him self was an Idolatar forsoke the Lord God of his fathers so likewise made he Iuda and the enhabiters of Ierusalem to erre and to do worse then the Heathen c. Nowe haue ye heard how greuously king Manasses sinned against y e Lord his God Chri. His sinnes were greaâ worthy of much punishmeÌt Euâ Yea of euerlasting damnation iâ he were handled according to his desertes Epa. I pray you what bââcame of him Phi. Albeit y e sinnes of this Manasses were great yeâ behold the louing kindnes of Goâ toward him his people Beforâ he sent any punishement amonââ them he raised vp his Prophets which exhorted both him and his subiectes to turne from their euil to repent and to walke in the ordinaunces and lawes of God but both he and his people would not heare the gentle admonitions of God by his Prophetes nether regard them Epa. O stony hartes But how than Ph. Whan y e Lord âaw y t by no meanes they woulde âurne from their abhominations â went forth stil to effeÌd he brouâht vpoÌ them the captaines of the âost of the king of the Assirians âhiche toke Manasses in hold âound him with chaines and caââed him to Babilon Theo. O the ââghteous iudgemeÌts of God Epa. âere we heare y t Manasses was âunished for his sinnes yea and ââat worthely but did God caste ãâã away for euer Phi. Ye shall âear WhaÌ Manasses was in triââlation he besought the lord his God and humbled him self exceadingly before the God of his Fathers and made intercession to him and God was entreated of hym and heard his prayer and brought him againe to HierusaleÌ into his kingdom And than Manasses knew y t the lord was God After this he became a new man and toke away straunge Gods Images out of the house of God and all thalters that he had builâ in the mount of the house of God and Ierusalem and cast them ouâ of the citie And he prepared thaââtare of the Lord sacrificed therâ on peace offringes and thanck ofâfringes charged Iuda to seruâ the Lord God of Israell Chri. ãâã happy change Epaphâ Yea O thâ great mercies of God Phile. Iâ this history many notable thinâges are to be learned First if aââ such as God entendeth to saue ãâã offend and breake his holy
submit their willes to his godlye wyll and pleasure Epa. O Lorde thy will be done and not mine I confesse O heauenly father that my manifold wickednesses and vnnumerable sinnes haue not only deserued this sickenesse which is thy most gentle fatherly and louing correction but also very hell and the bitter paines thereof if thou shouldest handle me according to my desertes I haue sinned I haue synned O lord God against thy holy lawes and I haue broken thy blessed commaundementes moste greuously offending thy glorious maiestie Whatsoeuer I suffer I worthely suffer ah wretch that I am My sinne I confesse and with an humble heart and broken spirit I fle vnto the throne of thy fauorable mercy most humbly besechinge thee for Iesus Christes sake to forgeue me all my synnes which I haue coÌmitted against thy deuine maiestie froÌ the houre of my birth vnto this preseÌt time and to receiue me into the holy felowship of those thy blessed and chosen people whome before the beginning of y e worlde thou diddest appoint heires of thi heaueÌly kingdom in Christ Iesu our lord that they might for euer and euer raigne with thee in glory Ah lord geue me grace to bear this crosse both paciently thankfully Suffer me not once to murmur grudge or spurne against thy holye wil but with a pacient thankefull heart to waite on thy blessed pleasure being alway content to beare whatsoeuer burdeÌ thou laiest on my shoulders with this perswasioÌ and assured faith that whatsoeuer I suffer is vnto the glory of thy name and vnto the health of my soule O Lord thy will be done and not mine Amen Amen Neighbours I am very sicke and my paine encreaseth more more Phi. The Lords wil be done in you neighbour Epaphroditus Feare not no although present death were at hand For whether you liue or die ye are the Lordes God hath sealed you vp in Christes bloud vnto euerlasting lyfe Your name doubt ye not is written in the booke of life Ye are of y e nombre of those whome God before the foundations of the world were layd hath chosen in Christe to be his sonnes and heires ye are the dearly beloued sonne of God Ye are enheritours of Gods glorious kingdom God for your earnest faithes sake in the bloude of Christ hath forgeuen you al your sinnes that euer ye committed against him from the daye of your birthe vnto this houre He hath cast away all your iniquities âehind his backe so that he wyl neuer remember them any more Ye are counted among theÌ whose vnrighteousnesses are forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered vnto whome the Lorde imputeth no sinne God loueth you God careth for you God is on your syde who then can endomage or hurte you Who can lay any thyng vnto your charge It is God that iustifieth you who then can condemne you ye nede not fear ether sathan or sinne or any other thinge that should trouble your conscience For there is no damnation to theÌ that are in Christ Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite For the lawe of the spirite of life thorow Iesus Christ hath made you fre froÌ the lawe of sinne and death For what y e lawe could not do inasmuch as it was weke because of the flesh that performed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of sinfull fleshe by sinne damned synne in the fleshe that the ryghtedusnes of the lawe myght be fulfilled in vs whiche walke not after the flesh but after the spirite Epa. I thaÌke you neighbor Philemon for your gostly and comfortable instructions For I am wel comforted with these your wordes and I faithfully beleue that God the father for his promise sake made vnto all faithfull peniteÌt sinners in Christes bloud hath so frely and wholy forgeuen me all my sinnes that he will neuer remember them more nor lay them vnto my charge but so loue me and tender my saluation as though I had neuer offended his fatherly goodnesse And in this faith I submit my self my body and soule all that I haue vnto his godly wil to do with me in al things whatsoeuer his good plesure shallbe For liue we die we we ar the Lords And lord I most humbly besech thee call to remeÌbrance thy tender mercies thy louing kindnesses whiche haue bene euer of olde Oh remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but accordyng vnto thy mercy thinke y â vpon me O lord for thy goodnes Turne the vnto me haue mercy vpon me for I am desolate in misery The sorowes of my hart ar enlarged O bring thou me out of my troubles Loke vpon mine aduersitie and misery and forgeue me al my sinne O kepe my soule and deliliuer me let me not be confounded for I haue put my truste in the. Phi. I much reioyce to see in you these workes of faithfull repentance This humbling of your self before y e maiestie of God this lamenting of your sinnes this faithfull and hartie calling on the Lordes name for remission of sins in Christes bloud for the tranquilitie peace quietnes and reast of conscience for the fauour grace of God for gods wil to be done in you is without doubt a sure seale vnto your conscience that God loueth fauoureth and tendereth you yea and that muche more theÌ any natural father maketh of his sonne Who so serueth God saith the wise man after his pleasure shalbe accepted and his praier reaâcheth vnto the cloudes The praier of him that humbleth him self goeth thorowe the cloudes till she come nie She wil not be comforted nor go her way vntill the hyghest God haue respect vnto her The Lord is nie vnto them y t are of a contrite heart saith the Psalmograph will saue suche as be of an humble spirite The sinfull Publican thus huÌbling him self obtained the fauor of God remission of sinnes went home more righteous than the proud Pharisey So likewise the Centurion coÌfessing his vnworthines for the receiuing of Christ into his house obtained health for his sicke seruaÌt Likewise the Leper with diuers other humbling them selues before Christe obtained their hartes desire For God saith Dauid hath respect vnto the prayer of the humble suche as be destitute despiseth not their desire but heareth âheir mournings y t he may deliuer âhem and saue them Euseb. Now neighbour how do you I pray you bee strong in God reioyce in his sauing health Epa. O neighboure Eusebius my body is weake my heare is faint my wits are feble my memory almost faileth me no part of me is fre from sicknes and paine But Lord I beseche thee strengtheÌ thou me endue me w t power from aboue that as y e spirit is ready so likewyse the flesh which is euer weake vnready may be obedieÌt to thy godly wyl frely consent to the working of
and suche other as be comfortles And in this noÌâber also of the pore I comprehend prisoners pore maides yong meÌ which haue not wherewith to set vp their occupation my neadie neighbours These .iiii. C. pounds are in four seuerall bagges lying in my countyng house by them selues with this wryghting vpon euery one of them Mony for the poore This mony I wil haue distributed with all haste if it be possible euen before I departe Haue you wrytten in this monye for the pore Phile. I haue done it Epa. The hie wayes may not bee forgotten whiche in many places are very foul ieopardous Unto the repayring of them I geue xl poundes Write it For I thincke this also to be a dede of charitie a commendable worck befor God to repair hie wayes that the people may safely and without danger trauaill by the way Chr. The âet is very godly w tout all doubt Ep. Neighbour Philemon I pray you put in that xl pound for the hie wayes Phi. It is done already Epa. That which I shuld chiefly haue remembred I had almost forgotten Euse. What is that Epi. Sermons Phile. What is your minde in that behalfe Epa. This. At the tyme of my buriall when the people be gathered together I wold gladly haue some learned man to make a Sermon wherin the people may be admonished of their mortalitie and be taught howe they ought to dispose them selues in this life that whan the tyme come they may yelde vp a good soule into the handes of the liuing God For his paines I appoynt x.s. to be geuen him Also I geue for the preaching of foure score sermons at other times wheÌ it shalbe thought most conuenient xx poundes And as I with these SermoÌs to be preached by godly discrete learned men so I wishe them to be preached in suche places as the people haue most nede of doctrine and teaching For the Lorde knoweth the people perish for want of godly knowledge The greatest parte of our beneficed men God helpe vs are blinde guides and dom dogges not once able to barke The people are desirous to knowe God and omong the great multitude of so many beneficed men none almoste ether is able or els endeuoreth him selfe to bring them vnto Christ. It is in these our daies found true that is written in the gospel The haruest truely is plenteous but the labourers are fewe It behoueth therefore euery Christen heart to pray the Lord of the haruest that he will send labourers not loyterers into his harnest and to procure so much as lieth in his power that the worde of God may be vniuersally preached that the people may repent turn vnto y e Lord our God and serue hym in holynes and righteousnes al the days of their life whiche can not bee brought to passe where the word of God is not preached How shal they beleue on him of whom they haue not hard How shal thei hear without a preacher To declare therfore my good will toward the word of God the saluatioÌ of the Christians I geue .xx. poundes for the preaching of .lxxx. sermoÌs I pray you note it in my wil Phi. It shall be done Epa. To beare all these charges ye shall haue y e mony in my couÌting house Chr. Sir concerning the costes of your burial what order wil it please you to make in that behalf Epa. Let y e ministers with the other officers of the church haue their duties according to the custome Eu. Howe many mourning gownes sir wil ye geue Epa. Of what mourning gownes speake you Eu The manner is as ye know y t whan a man of honest reputation departeth is brought to be buried ther shuld follow him certaine in fine blacke gownes certain pore men women in courser cloth Epaph. Unequally haÌdled that the pore shuld haue the worst the rich or wealthy the best And cal ye these mourners Eu. So are they called Epa. For whoÌ shuld they mourn Euse. For you Ep. Why for me Because good thinges haue chaunced vnto me Because I haue passed ouer y e daungerous sea and am come vnto the hauen of quietnes Or because I am deliuered from al euil and set in a blessed and ioyfull state I thinke that at the burials of the faithfull there shuld rather be ioy gladnes then mourning and sadnes rather pleasant songes of thankesgeuing then lamentable and dolefull diriges Let the infideles mourn for their dead the Christians ought to reioyse whan any of the faithfull be called from this vale of misery vnto the glorious kyngdome of God Phi. In dede that most worthy Apostle S. Paule would not haue vs mourn for them that are fallen aslepe as the Heathen doe which know not God And s. IhoÌ saith in his reuelation I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me wrighte Blessed are the dad which die in the Lord. For from henceforth the spirit saith y e they are at rest froÌ their labours pains and trauailes c. The Psalmograph also saith O full precious in the sight of the Lord is y e death of his sainctes Hereto belongeth the saying of the wyse man The soules of the righteous are in the hand of God the paine of death shall not touche them ⪠in the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to die but they are in peace Againe in another place The righteous shall liue foreuer more their reward is also with the Lorde and their remembraunce with the highest Therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome and a beutifull crown of the Lordes hand For w t his righthaÌd shall he couer them and with his own holy arme shall he defend theÌ Chri. Blessed Luke declareth in his Gospell y e so sone as Lazarus was dead which in his life time was diuersly afflicted and miserable punished with many sores and diseases he was receiued into the bosome of AbrahaÌ where he enioyed all pleasure felicitie and comfort Such as die in y e Lord are not to be mourned but God is rather to be thancked for their Christen departure For they are now in reast They ar w t him in whom alone al glory ioy comfort and felicitie is God hath wiped away al teares from their eies so that they are past al sorow al mourning all paine why than should other mourn for them y e ar in so ioyful state The eie hath not sene nor y e eare hath hard neither hath it entred into y e hart of man what ioyes god hath prepared for them that loue him Theo. Saint Cipriane in his sermon of mortalitie hath these words how much it profiteth to go out of the world Christ him selfe the author of our saluatioÌ prophet sheweth which whan his disciples were sad because he said that he shuld deparâ from them spake vnto them sayââing If ye had loued me ye wold haue reioysed
e throne of Gods maiestie to be testimonies witnesses of their true and vnfained sayth They therfore are to much fond and negligent of their owne saluation which trust other more then them selues in matters pertayning vnto the health of their soules Chri. There is an old saying in Latin and as I thinck noââles true thaÌ old It is this Da tua dum tua sunt post morteÌ tunc tuae non sunt Geue thy goodes while they be thine for after thy death they be none of thine Euse. I remember whan I was a child I learned .ii verses of my scholemaister which I haue not yet forgotten I wyll rehearse them vnto you Quod sibi quisque serit praesentis teÌpore vitae Hoc sibi messis erit cum dicitur Ite Venitae That a maÌ soweth for him self in y e time of this present life that shalbe his haruest or reape when it is saide Go Come Epap What meane you by that Go Come Eu. You know that to the vnfaithfull it shalbe sayd go ye cursed in to euerlasting fire whiche is prepared for y e deuill and his angels But to the faithfull it shalbe said on this maner Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome whiche was prepared for you froÌ the beginning of the world The. S. Paule hath a sentence muche lyke vnto your verses whatsoe âer a man soweth saith he y t shall he also reape For he that soweth in his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption But he that soweth in the spirit shall of y e spirite reape life euerlasting Phil. It is not w tout cause that the holy scripture doth so diligently call vs vnto repentaunce faith and good works in this present worlde For euerlasting life euen in this worlde is ether gotten or loste As God findeth vs so iudgeth he vs. Euerye tree is knowen and iudged by her owne fruite and not by the fruite of other trees Euery man lykewyse is iudged by his owne workes not by the workes of other as Christ saith to the vnprofitable seruaunt Of thine owne mouthe wil I iudge thee thou euil seruaÌt Teophilact saith The vertue of my neighbour shall scacely be inough to defend him selfe so farre is it of that it can profit me also For all men shall be declared to be righteous by their owne workes and not by the workes of theyr neighboures Euse. The Preacher saieth When the tre falleth whether it be toward the Southe or north in what place so euer it fall there it lieth Epap What is ment by that Euse. The tre signifieth euery one of vs y t are the children of Adam We fal that is to say we die ether toward the south or toward the north that is either in the state of saluation or damnatioÌ In what state soeuer we die in the same remaine we There is no chaunge after this life Ether with poore Lazarus we goe into the bosome of Abraham or els with that vnmercifull ryche man into the fier of hell There are but two places after this life hel and heauen If we depart in the faith of Christe we goe straighawayes vnto the glory of heauen But if we die in vnbelief than go we to the Deuill as the scripture sayth He that beleueth on y e sonne hath euerlasting life But he that beleueth not on the sonne shall not see lyfe but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Christo. S. Iohn Chrisostome saith he that washeth not awaye his synnes in this present life shall finde no comfort afterward c. Theph The same doctor also hath this saying Let vs not thinke saith he that wheÌ we come thither he meaneth vnto the iudging place of God mercy shal be geuen vnto vs seing we do not so behaue our selues in this world that we may deserue to haue forgeuenes though Abraham shuld pray for vs though Noe though Iob though Daniell shuld make intercessioÌ for vs. Therfore while we haue tyme let vs prepare for our selues that whiche may stand vs in steade a fore God an other day Eus. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Ciprian Then that is to say after death shall repentaÌce be without fruite and the sorowe of paine weping also shall be in vayn and praier shalbe to no purpose Therefore make prouision while ye may for your safegard life Again he saith When we be once departed out of this worlde there is no more place for repentaunce there is no effect of âatisfaction In this worlde life is either lost or gotten Here through the worshipping of God and the fruit of fayth prouision is made for euerlasting saluation Epa. I se than both by the aucthoritie of y e holy scriptures and of the auncieÌt doctours that the workes whiche are done for them that are departed out of this worlde by other are but vayne and vnprofitable whether they departe in fayth or otherwyse For y e faithfull departe straightwaies vnto glory and the vnfaithful vnto euerlasting pain The one sort haue no nede of praier for they be already in most blessed state and ioyful reast And the other are in so damnable case that praier can do no good for them no though Abraham Noe Iob Daniel and all the best that euer lyued shuld pray for theÌ For in hell there is no redemption And Abraham said to the rich maÌ There is betwene vs and you a great space set so y t they whiche wold go from heÌce vnto you caÌnot neither may they y t are there come hither vnto vs. Phi. The truth is neighbor Epaphroditus y e papistes haue long bewitched the eies of y e simple by making theÌ beleue that the soules of the faythfull goe not straightwaies after their departure vnto eternal glory but rather vnto purgatory a place of their own deuising for the maintenance of their idle bellies there to lie miserablie puling til they be redemed by treÌtalles by pilgrimages going by pardons c. Our sauiour Christe in the gospell teacheth maketh meÌcion of two waies But y e third is not found in the holy scripture One is a straight way which leadeth vnto life fewe ther be that finde it The other is a brode way which leadeth vnto destruction many ther be y t go in therat Ep. I beleue am throwly perswaded y t by y t merits of his precious bloud which said vnto y e penitent thefe this day shalt thou be with me in paradise my soule immediatly after the departure froÌ this vile body shall be receiued vnto glory âse y e glorious maiestie of God face to face as y e Psalmograph sayth I beleue to see the pleasures and good thinges of the Lorde in the land of the liuing I fear the Popish purgatory the paynes therof nothing at all My pain endeth in this life And the ende of this life is the beginning of my ioye This hope lieth vp buried in
my breast Therfore wyll I haue neither month mindes nor yere mindes kept for me nor no idle Papistes and superstitious Massemongers sing or say for me For I doubt not but that the Lorde my God hath prepared me a vessel vnto honoure and hath written my name in the boke of life and hath also made me his sonne and heire of eternall glory this is inough for me Chr. The righteous saith the wyseman shall liue for euermore their reward also is with y e Lord and their remembrance w t the hiest Therfore shal they receiue a glorious kingdom a beautifull crowne of the Lordes hand Epa. Neighbours now am I at a poynt with the goods of y e world yea and with the world it selfe so that I may saye with the holy Apostle The world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world The. He is an happy man and greatly blessed which forsaketh geueth ouer the worlde before the world forsaketh him For such obey this commaundement of S. Iohn Loue not the worlde nor those thinges that are in the worlde albeit I doubt not neighbour Epaphroditus but that you shal right well recouer your health and liue yet many yeares among vs. Epa. No neyghbour Theophile The ende of my life is at hand And I moste hartely thank the Lord my God for it For I wishe to be losoned out of this life and to be with Christ. Like as the hart desireth the water brokes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thurst for God yea euen for y e liuing God When shal I come to appere before the presence of God ⪠O howe amiable are thy dwellinges thou Lorde of hostes My soul hath a desire and longyng to enter into the courtes of the Lord my hart and my fleshe reioyce in y e liuing god I had rather be a dore keper in the house of my God theÌ to dwell in the tentes of the vngodly O blessed are they y t dwell in thy house O Lord for they wil be alway praysing thee O lord deliuer my soul out of the prison of my body that I may come geue thanckes vnto thy blessed name Deale with me O lord according to thy will and commauÌd my spirit to be receiued in peace For it is more expedient for me to die theÌ to liue Phile. I greatly reioyce in the Lord my God good neighbor Epaphroditê° to se you in so good a mind and to hear so godly wordes procede out of your mouthe These thinges are euident testimonies of your good conscience toward God Feare you not the Lord hath sealed you with his holâ spirit made you through his mercy a vessell vnto honor Epa. Now that an order is taken concerning my worldly possessioÌs I wish to haue my wyfe my chyldren with my seruaunts brought hither vnto me that I may take my leaue of them and commende them vnto y e lord my God I pray you neighbour Eusebius cal them hither Euse. It shall be done Epa. Oh howe sicke am I My wekenes encreaseth more and more Lorde be mercifull vnto me and geue me grace paciently thank fully to beare this Crosse and in the middes of this my sicknesse alwaies to say Thy wil O heauenly father be done not mine Phi. Be strong in the Lorde good neighbour and faint not and you shall see the wondrous workes of God For God will either shortly restore vnto you your health or els make an end of this your pain by taking you froÌ this wretched world and place you in his glorious kingdom Epa. God graunt But is my neighbour Eusebius come againe Chri. Yea sir. Epa. Where is he Euse. Here sir am I. Epa. Where is my wife my chyldren and my seruauntes Phile. They are all here present Epaphr COme hither wife You see in what case I lie here sicke weake and the prisoner of God loking euery hour for my departure out of this worlde And this visitation of God is vnto me welcome and I thanke the Lord w tal my heart for it I doubt not but that whan I am once gone out of this wretched lyfe I shal be in a far better case then euer I was in this worlde Therfore I pray thee good wife be not heauy neither take thought for me but rather pray that y e good wyll of God may be done in me And be aswell contented that I should nowe at the calling of God go from thee as euer thou wast to haue me in thy company I haue run my rase I haue passed those yeres which the Lord appoynted that I should lyue in this world And now is the time of my departure come And I geue ouer this my life willingly and with a free hart Therefore take no thought for me And doubt thou not swete wife but if y e goest forthe to liue in the feare of God and to please him God in the time of thy wyddowhod will be an husband vnto thee He wilbe thy patron and defender He wilbe thy mighty shield strong buckler He will prouide and afore see that thou and thine shall want no good thing For he hath promised in his holy worde that he wil take charge of the widowes and defend their cause He hath also geuen a strait commauÌdement to the magistrates head rulers to loke vnto wydowes to deliuer them from oppression And his holy Apostle saith that y e pure and vndefiled Religion before God y e father is to visit help comfort widowes Therfore I doubt not but the Lord our God will aboundantly prouide for thee and thine NotwithstaÌding wife forasmuch as from the first time oâ our mariage vnto this preseÌt day thou hast alway bene vnto me a true faithfull honest diligent seruiceable wife I haue made the mine Executresse and geuen vnto thee in my wyll suche a portion as shal aboundauÌtly satisfie thee both vnto the bringing vp of thy children and also vnto the maintenance of hospitalitie God hath sent me inough therfore I leaue vnto thee thine inough I praye God send you alwayes his feare before your face so shall you neuer uant To forbid the mariage after my departure according vnto the propertie of some husbaÌdes I wyll not For the holy Scripâure saieth the wyfe is bound vnâo the mariage as long as her husband lyueth If her husband die âhe it at libertie to marie wyth whome she will only in the Lord. If thou therfore after my deparâure O wife hast a minde to marye agayne marry in the name of the lord our God For I know as the wyse man saith that no man can liue chast except God geueth the gift Only haue this care that he with whome thou doest determine to couple thy self in the blessed state of honorable wedlock be such a man as feareth God ⪠loueth his worde is well reported of his neighbours dealeth
God euen vnto the Lord my god Deliuer my soule O Lord out of prison that I may come vnto the and glorify thy holy name For albeit this my weak feble sicke and mortall body shall geue ouer to nature and die yet I vnfamedly beleue with my hart and frely confes with my mouth that at the last day it shall rise agayn as the bodies of all other both meÌ and women that haue died shall likewise do There shalbe a generall resurrectioÌ of the flesh Al that are dead shall rise agayne some to euerlasting life and some to euerlasting paine and damnation as our sauiour Christ saith The hour shall come in the which all y t are in the graues shall heare the voice of the sonne of God and shal come forthe they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of damnation Yea they that shall lyue and remaine vntill the comming of oure Lord sauiour Christ Iesu shall all be chaunged yea and that in a moment in the twinckling of an eie by the last trompe For the trompe shall blowe and the dead shall rise vncorruptible and we shalbe chaunged for this corruptible body must put on vncorruptibilitie and this mortall bodye must put on immortalitie Therfore I fear nothing at all the putting of of this body for although it slepeth in the earth for a time according to the ordinance of god be turned into dust yet shall it awake and ryse againe out of the earth so that I shall receiue it in a far better state then euer I had in it this world euen like vnto the glorious body of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu. Wherfor I say with the holy man Iob I beleue that my redemer liueth and that I shall rise out of the earth in the âatter day and that I shall be cloâhed again with this skin and se God my sauiour in my flesh Yea I my selfe shall beholde him not with other eies but with these âame eies This hope is stedfastly âet in my heart To ende I vnfainedly beleue with my heart frely coÌfesse with my mouth that after my body soul be vnited and knit together I with all the faithful that haue liued from the beginning vnto the very end of y e world shall through the benefit of Christ Iesu enioy euerlastyng lyfe So many as haue truely beleued on Christe Iesu shall enioy continuall and blessed peace glister as the shining of heaueÌ âe as the stars world without end yea they shall be clad with white garments and haue golden crownes vpon their heades They shal glorify God and doo seruice day and nighte before the glorious throne of his maiesty They shall se God face to face and for euer and euer enioy the presence of Gods moste excellent Maiesty and the compaâny of all the heauenly Angels and blessed sainctes Of the ioyes of euerlasting life whiche God hathe in store for all faithfull beleuers can no man eyther write speake or thincke at âhe full as it is written the eye hathe not sene and the eare hathe not heard nether haue entred into the hearte of man the thinges whiche God hath prepared for theÌ that loue him And this euerlasting life is the gift of god thorow Iesus Christ our Lord to whom be all honoure and glory for euer and euer Theo. Amen Epa. Thus haue I declared before you my faith concerning God and his holy misteries grounded I trust on the true and vndeceyueable worde of God And I faithfully beleue that God my heauenly Father will be mercifull vnto me and forgeue me all my sinnes for Christes sake and receyue me into his heauenly kingdome and geue me euerlasting life whiche I now most entirely desire wish and longe for counting my selfe then most happy whiche through death I shall take my passage toward that most glorious and heauenly kingdom For I know and am fully perswaded that if my earthy mansion of this dwellinge were once destroied I shuld haue a building of God an habitation not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen Chri. God geue vs all that heauenly mansion Euse. Amen Epa. Well come thou hither myne owne deare wife let me kisse thee and bid thee farwel God kepe thee defend the. Come ye hither also my most swete children that I may kisse you also before I die God blesse you sende you prosperous daies on thearth God geue you his spirite that ye may liue in his faith feare and loue and serue him in holines righteousnes al the daies of your life Ye my seruaunts draw nere geue me your hands Far ye wel God make you his seruauntes send you obedient harts vnto his holy and blessed lawe Wepe not for me but praye for me that the wil of God may be done in me that I may bothe paciently and thankefully abide the good pleasure of God I trust we shal haue a ioyfull meting againe together in the kingdome of our heauenlye father where we shall reigne one with an other in ioye and glorye worldes without ende and se the glorious maiestie of God face to face vnto our exceding consolation and comfort Wel depart in the name of God The grace of oure Lord Iesu Christ the loue of god and the felowship of the holy gost be with you all Phile. Amen Nowe good brother Epaphrodiâus how do you Epaph. The spirit is willing and ready but the flesh is weake Chr. I pray you sir be on good confort Epa. The Lord is my confort He ful gratiously dealeth with me Eu. Do you lack anyâthing sir Epa. Nothing but strenth froÌ aboue that I may paciently abide and suffer the good plesure of God Thy wil be don o heauenâly father in erth as it is in heaueÌ Let me lie somwhat hier with my head It is well a litle thing god knoweth disquieteth this my sick weake body I trust that within fewe houres it shalbe paste alâ sicknes and misery and shal botheâ quietly swetely slepe in the harteâ of the earth vntill the great daye of the generall resurrection In y e meane season shall my soule be in glory with Christ and ioyfully beâhold the glorious maiesty of God I will cease talking for a little whyle with you and fall to coÌmunication with my lord God in my hart I pray you pray for me that I may continue faithfull vnto the end For it is written Be faithfull vnto the death I will geue thee the crown of life Phi. Neighbors ââom aside a little while and let vs fall to prayer Chri. Most gladly Phi. Lord heare our praiers Euse. And let our cry com vnto thee Ph. Saue this thy seruaunt O Lord thou father of mercies God of all consolatioÌ Chr. And so worke in him by thy
Christe and vs. If that firy serpent the deuill hath striken and wounded vs let vs loke vpon Christ with stronge faith and we shal surely for Gods promise sake be made whole as Christe him selfe testifieth saying As Moyses lyfted vp the serpent in the wildernes so must the son of man be lyfted vp that all that beleue on hym should not peryshe but haue euerlasting life For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde but that the world shold be saued through him If Sathan therfore hath either wounded you already or els goeth about so to do feare not repare vnto Christ loke on him with the eies of your faithe so shall you be fre from his venomus chause For as you are nowe tempted so were al godly men but they ouercame y e teÌpter through stroÌg faith in Christ. Therfore saith s. Peter Be ye sober and watche for your aduersary the deuill goeth about like a roring Lion seing whome he may deuoure whome resist ye strong in faith Saint Iohn also saith this is the victory which ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Not only all godly faithfull men were tempted but also our sauiour Christ. And this is a great comfort for vs. For in that it fortuned him selfe to be tempted he is hable to succour them also that are tempted Christ being tempted ouercame his temptations to get vs the victory ouer the tempter His triumphe is our victory and his victory is our triumphe Whatsoeuer he did got in his humanitie he did and got it not for him self but for vs. And God is faithfull saith the apostle whiche will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength but wil in the mids of the temptation make away that ye may be able tâ beare it Beleue therfore in Christ you are without al danger Epa. I beleue O Lord help thou minâ vnbeliefe O Lorde encrease my faith Phi. Fear you not but God both will doth hear your prayers for y e Lorde is nie vnto all theÌ that cal on him in truth Epa. You made mention also of praier saying that y t is also a mean to resistâ Sathan Phi. I reioyse greatly I geue God moste harty thankes y t in this your sicknes your memory coÌtinueth stil stedfast perfect Epa. I praise God for it Phi. That prayer is a necessary remedy for the auoyding of Sathans temptations the holy scriptures teache manifestly in diuers places Our sauior Christ saith watch pray that ye fal not into temptation Againe This kind of deuils is not cast out but by prayer fasting To represse y t temtatioÌs of SataÌ all godly men euen froÌ the beginning fled vnto faithfull praier as a mighty sure defence againste sathan and al his crafty assaultes And God hath commaunded vs to pray whensoeuer we are troubled and doeth also promise vs y t he wyll both heare and helpe vs. Call on me sayeth he in the tyme of thy trouble and I wyl delyuer thee and thou shalt honoure me The Lorde is nie vnto them that are of a troubled heart he wyll help theÌ that be broken in spirite Ep. Now good neighbors pray for me Ph. Uery gladly Let vs knele down together and pray Chr. Lo here are we Phi. O heauenly and moste mercifull father we moste humbly besech thee for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord haue pitie vpon this thy creature and succoure him in these horrible assaultes and temptations of the deâuill Deliuer his soule in these extreame necessities from all the internall army Sende him downe strength from aboue that he may be able to resiste his ennemy and to stande stedfaste in the tyme of this his temptation Be thou his strong rocke castell shield tower and defense that he in this greate trouble being preserued from the tyranny of his ennemies ⪠through thy godly grace assistence helpe may continue in the true and christen faith vnto his liues end and afterward be receiued into thy heuenly kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Euse. Amen Epa. Now will I pore wratched sinner offer my prayers also vnto the Lord my God in Iesus Christes name trusting and beleuing vndoubtedly that he gratiously wyl heare me and defend me against mine enemies Phi. These are the words of Christ What things so euer ye desyre whan ye praye beleue that ye receiue them and ye shall haue them Epaph. Out of the depth do I cry vnto thee O Lord O Lord hear my praier Saue me O God for the waters of trouble are come in euen vnto my soule I stick fast in the depe myre where no grouÌd is I am come into depe waters so that the âloudes run ouer me Take me out of the myre that I sinck not Oh let me be deliuered from them that hate me out of the depe waters Let not the water floud drown me nether let the depe swalowe me vp let not the pit shut her mouthe vpon me Heare me O Lord for thy louing kindnes is coÌfortable turne me vnto thee according vnto the multitude of thy mercies hyde not thy face from thy seruaunt foâ I am in trouble O hast thee and hear me Draw nie vnto my soul and saue it oh deliuer me because of mine ennemies For y t knowest my reprofe my shame and my dishonoure Mine aduersaries are ful in thy sight So shal I beyng deliuered from these great miseries through thy gratious benefit prayse and magnifie the name of thee my Lord God for euer and euer Chr. So be it Epa. Neighbor Philemon Phi. Here sir. Epa. As I remember you told me that besides faythe and prayer the word of God also is a goodly help and a strong fortresse against the cruell assanites of the Deuill Phile. It is truthe For so are we taught in the holy scripture Our sauioure Christ when the time of his Passion began to drawnie knowing that his Disciples shoulde for his âake be greuously tempted bothe of the deuill the world the flesh commaunded theÌ to bie a sworde This was no materiall but spirituall sword as S. Paul declareth vnto y e EphesiaÌs saying aboue all thinges take to you the shield of faith wherwith ye may quenche all the firy dartes of the wycked And take the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which âs the word of God And praye alwayes with all manner of prayer supplication in the spirit With âhe worde of God Christ droue away Sathan and resisted all his wicked temptacions For it is the power of God to saue so many as beleue In the word of God pleÌteous present remedies are founde against Satan and al his subtile suggestions Therfore said y e psalmograph I haue hyd thy speaâhes O Lord in my heart that I might not sin against thee Now are ye
Though an host of men were laid against me yet shall not my heart be afraide And though ther rose vp war against me yet wil I put my trust in him If ether AbrahaÌ Isaac Iacob or any other saintes of the olde testameÌt had doubted of the promises whiche God made vnto them so had they neuer found fauour at y e maiestie of god nor obteined those thinges which God had promised them For without faith it is impossible to please God He y t doubteth of the promises of God shall obtain no good thing at the hand of God To what end ar we so often in the holy scripture exhorted to beleue God and his promises if it were lawfull for vs to doubâ of them If to beleue and to doubâ be one thing why is euerlasting saluation promised to the one and eternall dampnation to thother Whosoeuer therfore wilbe saued let him cast away al vnbelief and doubtfulnes and with tothe and âayle as they vse to say clene to y e promises of God nothing doubting but according as God hath promised so shall it chaunce vnto him If we doo repent and beleue his worde God hath promised vs for christes sake to fauour vs to forgeue vs all our sinnes and to bring vs vnto euerlasting life let vs not therfore doubt of this his promise but with strong and vnshaken faith beleue it and looke for boldly that is promised so we may be sure to haue the grace and âauour of God to haue remission and forgeuenesse of oure synnes ând finally to haue euerlasting âife Let vs therfore approch with âoldnes and not with doubting ând wauering vnto the throne of Gods Maiestie as thapostle warneth that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to helpe in y e tyme of nede Chri. If a man after the Papistes shuld doubt of the grace and fauour of God toward him with what conscience could he be bold to say the Lordes praier to desire the forgeuenes of his trespasses Or how could he say with a true faith I beleue the forgeuenes of sinnes and euerlasting life To beleue is it to doubt of the promises of God or rather to be thorowly perswaded of the promises of God that as God hath promysed so shal it vndoubtedly chaunce vnto vs. Euse. When a man beleueth the gospel he is certaine of y e remission of his sinnes he is certen of the fauour and good will oâ God and he is certaine also of euerlasting life And he that lettetâ go this faith and falleth to doubâting he shall neuer enioy thaforesaid benefites but be cast into euerlasting dampnatioÌ The. This considred the holy Apostle rightwel when he without any doubting being throughly perswaded and assured of Gods good will toward him set forth in his holye promises saide on this maner I know am sure that he in whom I haue put my trust is hable to kepe that which I haue committed to his keping against that dai Againe I haue fought a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the fayth From heÌceforthe there is layde vp for me a ârowne of righteousnes which y e Lord that is a righteous iudge âhall geue at that daye not to me only but vnto all them also y e loue âis comming Phile. When that Dauid saide these wordes I beâeue verely to see the pleasures of the Lord in the land of the liuing ⪠doubted he of the enheritaunce of the heauenly kingdom or was he rather thorowlye perswaded by stronge faithe in the promises of god y e he shuld without all doubt raigne with God in glory If the godly Apostle S. Paule had not bene sure of the fauor of God and of a better life after this wouldâ he haue wyshed to bee deliuered from this worlde and to be with Christ With what couÌtenauncâ durst the blessed martir S. Stephen haue commended his spiritâ vnto Christe if he had not benâ perswaded of gods fauor towarâ him and of the ioyful enheritancâ of the euerlasting kingdom Anâ so likewise of al the other saincts The spirit of God certifieth our spirit saith the Apostle that wâ are the sonnes of God If we be sonnes then are we also heyres I meane of God fellowe heyres with Christ. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Iohn Dearely beloued nowe are we the sonnes of God and yet it doth not appeare what we shalbe But we knowe that when it shall appeare we shall be like him For we shall see him as he is Againe We knowe that we are translated and caried from death vnto life Here you se that the holy scriptures teache vs to be certaine of our saluation throughe fayth in Christes bloud and not to be doutfull of it as the Papistes trifle Away therfore without al doutfulnes and lay hand by strong faith on the promises of God lokynge w t assured hope for all those heauenlye and blessed thynges that God hath promysed vs in his holy worde So maye we be sure to receiue according to our fayth Epa. Without wauering or doubting I faithfully beleue and am assuredly perswaded that God y e father is a mercifull father vnto me that he hath forgeuen me all my sinnes receiued me into his fauor and made me heir of his euerlasting glory And all this hath he done vnto me not for my merites deserts which are vtterly none but for Christes sake in whom I beleue whome also I confesse to be my alone sauiour redeamer Ph. Neighbor Epaphroditus you thus beleuing cannot pearishe Therfore be on good comfort quiet your conscience and sattle your minde For it is written He that beleueth on y e sonne of God hath euerlasting life Epa. Brother Philemon I thanke you and my other neighbours here for the great coÌfort whiche I haue receiued by this your godly communication I fele my selfe nowe in muche better case then I was when you came first vnto me I fele muche quietnes and ease in my conscience The Lord hath driuen away mine enemies and geuen me rest in my mynde If I had not had your company God knoweth to what poynt my ghostly enemy the deuil would haue brought me But I praise God for you For by your godly and christeÌ talke God hath wrought in me a good and glad wil to die I haue in my hart bidden the world and all worldly thinges adue My mind is all together fixed on the lord my God and on the ioyes whiche he hath prepared in his glorious kingdom for all them that loue him I fele such inward ioy in my heart and such a feruent desire to see y e Lord my God face to face y t the paines which I now suffer on my body although they be very greuous in dede seme litle or nothyng to disquiet me For I am fully perswaded that the afflictioÌs of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall bee shewed vppon vs Againe that though the
outwarde man perish yet thinward man is renued day by day and that this our tribulation whiche is short light prepareth an exceding and an euerlasting waight of glorye vnto vs while we loke not on the thinges whiche are sene but on y e thinges whiche are not seene For the thinges whiche are seene are temporall but things whiche are not sene are eternall Chr. God kepe you in this mind euen vnto thend Eu. AmeÌ Epa. Confirme make that perfect o lord which y â hast begon to worke in me vnto the glory of thy blessed name and vnto the saluation of my soule The. AmeÌ Epa. Neighbors I pray you tourne me that I may lye on my right side Chr. The Lord our God graunt that ye may syt in his kingdome on the right hande of his glory Ep. Yea that shortly Euse. So be it Phile. Sir howe do you nowe Epaphro Well God be thanked but I trust to doo better euen anone Phile. Lacke you any thing sir Epa. My paine approcheth nearer vnto my heart wherby I perceiue the end of my life not to be far of I beseche you pray for me that I may continue faithfull constaunt and stedfast in the faith of the Lorde my God euen vnto the very end of my life Phi. We wil do it gladly Neighbors let vs knele down and pray Lord we moste humbly besech thee heare our prayer Chri. And let our crye come vnto thee Ph. O lord Iesu Christ thou only sonne of the heauenly father our alone redemer and omnisufficicieÌt sauiour we moste humbly beseche thee deliuer this sicke and weake parson now being in great pains and at the point to departe out of this worlde from all vgsome and terrible assaultes and temptations of the deuill synne and hell Deliuer him O Lord as thou deliueredst Noe froÌ the raging waues of the sea Lot from the destruction of Sodome Abraham from the feare of the Chaldees The children of Israell from the tiranny of Pharao Dauid from the hand of Goliah The thre men from the violence of the firy fornace in Babilon Daniel from the mouth of the Lions Ionas from the belly of the whalefishe Peter from the prison of Herod euen so O gratious Lord God deliuer the soul of this person both nowe and whensoeuer he shall departe hence from all pearill daunger OpeÌ vnto him at y e hour of death the dore of Paradise the gates of heauen the entry of euerlasting life O Lord Iesu Christe forgeue him all his synnes and lead him with ioye into the kingdom of thy heauenly father eueÌ vnto the bosom of AbrahaÌ and appoynt him vnto euerlasting rest that he may reioyse with thee and with all the elect childreÌ of God in euerlasting life Eu. Amen Epa. Neighboures I thanke you Nowe will I also pray vnto the Lord my god while I may speake and I trust he wil for Christes sake gratiously heare me Th. Doubt you not neighbor God hath so promised Epa. Lorde harken vnto my prayer and geue ear to my most humble requestes O moste mercifull God O father of all mercies the father of oure Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ be mercifull to me a sinner Haue pitie on me and quickely healpe me poore wretche for the moste bitter passion and moste precious death of Iesus Christ thy only begotten sonne and oure alone redemer and Sauioure Enter not into iudgemeÌt with thy seruaunt O Lord. Handle me not according to my desertes and merites neither rewarde me after mine iniquities but for thine infinite and vnmeasurable bountie and exceading gret merci receiue me and take me into thy fauour I miserable weake creature am in thy hand I am thy bonde seruaunt and thy depter O most gentle God o most fauorable father forsake me not cast me not away pore wretch that I am For I am thine withal that euer I caÌ make No man is able to strengtheÌ me no man is able to deliuer me no man is able to help me but thou alone Thou art the true helper in aduersite Thou art y e most sure present comfort in all necessitie Thou alone art our helper oure bulwarke our fortres our most mighty strongly defenced tour Thou o god art our refuge Thou art our strengthe Thou art our helper in all our tribulations In the O Lord do I trust let me not be coÌfouÌded Let me neuer be put to shame let me not be deceiued of my hope but preserue me for thy rightousnes sake Bow doun thine ear vnto me make haste to deliuer me Be my defeÌder O god my stroÌg hold y t thou maist saue me For y u art my strength and my refuge Yea thou art my God and my destinies are in thy handes Lighten thy countenaunce vpon thy seruaunt and saue me for thy mercies sake O Lord. And forasâmuch O swete father as it is thy godly pleasure to call me now froÌ this miserable life and wretched worlde I most entirely besech theâ so to defend me in this agony oâ death that neither sathan nor his ministers preuaill against me but that I continue faithful and constant vnto thend in the confessioÌ of thy holy name loking for full remission of all my sinnes in the precious bloud of thy welbeloued sonne and my only sauiour Iesus Christ and that I departing in this faith and perfect trust maye be placed among thy blessed saintes and heauenly spirites and so for euer and euer remaine with y e in glory Graunt this O moste mercifull father for thy dear sons sake Iesus Christ our alone mediatour and aduocate Chr. AmeÌ Epa. Me thinke good neighbours I begin to waxe very coulde and numme in my limmes Euse. Syr discomfort not your selfe Be content with the good workynge of God This cold is a present tokeÌ that the death of your body is not far of Epa. My fleshe is consumed and wasted away Eu. That is y e end of all fleshe Earth thou art saith God and vnto earth shalt y u retourne Epa. My feling is gone and my tasting decaieth All my senses grow out of course Eu. To that end wer they geuen you that you shuld lose them againe With the body al bodely thinges decay Phi. Brother Epaphroditus let y e care of the body of bodely thiÌgs passe You doo beleue the resurrection of the body Epa. I beleue that my redemer liueth and that I shall ryse out of the earth in the latter day and that I shalbe cloâhed again with this skin and see God my sauiour in my flesh Yea I my sef shall beholde him not w t other eyes but with these same eies This hope is stedfastly set in my hart Ph. Beleue this earnestly and it shal not greue you to depart froÌ your body For wher as it is now mortal incorruptible sick weake vile lothsome it shal at y e generall resurrection be immortal vncorruptible
camest into this world to call sinners vnto repentaunce and to seeke vp y t was lost thou seest in what case this oure brother lieth here visited with thy mercifull hand al weake feble sicke and redy to yealde vp his soule into thy holy haÌds O loke vpoÌ him moste gentle sauior with thy mercifull eie pitie him and be fauorable vnto him He is thy workemanship despise not therfore the worke of thine own hands Thou suffredst thy blessed body and thy precious bloud to be shed for his sinnes and to bringe hym vnto the glorye of thy heauenlye father let it not therefore come to passe that thou shouldest suffer so great paines for him in vaine He was baptised in thy name and gaue him self wholy to be thy seruaunt forsakynge the deuill the world and the flesh confesse him therefore before thy heauenly father and his blessed Aungels to be thy seruaunt His sinnes we confesse are great for who is hable to saye my heart is clene I am fre from sin but thy mercies O Lord are much greater And thou camest not to cal thâ righteous but sinners vnto repeÌtaunce To them that are diseased and ouerladen with the burden of sin doest thou promise ease Thou art that God which willest not y e death of a sinner but rather that he shuld turne and liue Thou art the sauiour whiche wishest all meÌ to bee saued and to come to the knowledge of thy truthe Withdraw not therfore thy mercy from him because of his sinnes but rather lay vpoÌ him thy sauiÌg health that thou maiest shewe thy selfe toward him to be a sauior What greater praise caÌ there be to a phisition then to heale the sicke Neither can there be a greater glory to thee being a sauior then to saue sinners saue him therfore O Lord for thy names sake Again let the law be no corsiue to his conscience but rather geue him grace eueÌin this extreme agony and conflicte of death to be fully perswaded y t thou by thy death hast takeÌ away all his sinnes fulfilled the lawe for hym and by this meanes deliuered him from the cursse of the law and paid his raunsome that he thus beinge fully perswaded may haue a quiet heart a fre conscience and a glad will to forsake this wretched world to go vnto his lord God Moreouer thou hast conquered hym that had rule of death euen sathan suffer him not therfore to exercise his tiraÌny vpoÌ this our sicke brother nor to disquiet his conscience with the terrours of sinne and paines of hell Let not Sathan nor his infernall army tempte him further then he is hable to beare but euermore geue him grace euen vnto his last breath valeantly to fight against the deuil with strong faith in thy precious bloud that he may fight a good fight and finish his course with ioy vnto y e glory of thy name and the healthe of his soule O Lord so worke in him by thy holy spirite that he with all his hearte maye contempne and despise all worldly things and set his mind wholly vpon heauenly thynges hopyng for them with a stronge and vndoubted faithe Againe let it not greue him O swete sauiour to be losoned froÌ this vile wretched âarcaâe which is now so full of sorow trouble anguishe fickenes and paine but rather let hym haue a bent and ready wyll thorowe thy goodnes to put it of yea and that with this faith that he at the last day shall receiue it again in a much better state then it is now or euer was froÌ the daye of his birthe euen a body vncorruptible immortall like to thy glorious body Let his hole heart and mynde be set only vpon thee Let the remembraunce of y e ioyes of heaueÌ be so ferueÌt in his brest that he may bothe patientlye and thanckfully take his death and euer wish to be with the in glory And when the tyme coÌmeth that he shall geue ouer to nature depart from this miserable worlde vouchafe we most huÌbly beseeche the o Lord Iesu to take his soule into thy handes and to place it amonge the glorious company of thy holy angels blessed saintes and to kepe it vnto that most ioyful day of the generall resurrectioÌ that both his body soule thorow thyne almighty power being knit agayn together at y t day he maye for euer euer enioy thy glorious kingdom sing perpetuall praises to thy blessed name Chri. Amen Epa. O God be merciful vnto me and blesse me shewe me the lighte of thy countenaunce and deale fauourably with me Lighten mine eies that I slepe not in death least myne ennemy say I haue preuailed against him For if I be cast downe they that trouble me will reioyse at it But my trust is in thy mercy my heart is ioyfull in thy saluation Phile. Sir how do you Epa. My bodely sight is gone Phi. The Lord gaue it you and the Lorde hath taken it away againe As it hath pleased the Lord so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the Lorde Now that God hath taken away the sight of your corporal eies behold the Lord your God with the eies of your faith and doubte you not but that shortly you shall see the glorious maiestie of god with the eies of your soule euen as he is face to face whiche shalbe vnto you suche ioy and so great coÌfort that no tounge is able to expresse nor no heart able to thinke it Epa. I beleue and am assuredlye perswaded that I shall see the plesures of the Lorde in the lande of the liuing Phile. CoÌtinue in this faith vnto the end and you shall surely be saued Ep. As God hath taken away my syght so do al my other senses decaye Phi. Though by the appointment of God you lose your bodely speache yet shall your soule in the heauenly kyngdom sing prayse and magnify the Lord your God worldes without end And all be it the bodely hearing be taken away from you yet shall your soule in the kingdom of God hear such swete pleasaunt delectable thinges as neuer mortall man heard nor may hear the like Againe although your going and the vse of your whole body be taken away from you and your body returne vnto the earth from whence it came yet doubte you not but your soule being once deliuered out of the prison of your body shal serue the lord your god perfectly and ioyfully follow the Lambe Christ. whither so euer he goeth Epa. O Lorde deliuer my soul out of the prison of the body that I maye come vnto thee and glorify thy holy name CoÌmaund my spirit to be receaued in peace for more expedient were it for me to die theÌ to liue Phi. Be on good comfort sir God in this your troble and bitter agony of death is present with you and when he seeth conuenient tyme
he will deliuer you out of all your paynes take you vnto him and place you in his glorious kingdom Epa. O Lorde deliuer my soule from the sweard my dearling froÌ the power of the dogge Saue me from y e Lions mouth Bow downe thine eare to me make haste to deliuer me Be thou my Protectoure O God and house of defence that y e maiest saue me Be thou my stroÌg rocke and my castell Be thou my guide and leade me for thy names sake Drawe me oute of the net thot they haue layde preuely for me for thou art my strengthe Into thy handes I commend my spirite for thou hast redemed me O Lord thou God of truthe Phile. Fear not brother Epaphroditus God is your louing father and moste gentle sauiour He hath hearde your humble requestes and graunted your peticions He hathe and wyll defend you from all euill euen vnto the end He will not suffer you to be deuoured of that hellish Lion and cruel dog y e deuill He hath sent his holy Angels hether vnto you euen into this your chambre They are here presente for youre great coÌfort They haue pitched their tents round about you that they may kepe you harmles and safe from the deuouring tethe of Sathan Thei wait vpon you diligently for your defence and wil neuer depart froÌ you till they receiue your soule and cary it vp louingly as a most precious relique into the kingdome of heauen and moste ioyfully present it vnto the glorious throne of gods maiestie Fixe y e eies of your faith on Christ and Christes merits on Christes passion and death on Christes blessed body breakyng and his moste precious bloud sheddinge on his triumph and victory ouer sathan his hellish army beleue Christe to be your alone sauioure and all his works to be your good works and so shall ye not perish but haue euerlasting lyfe Epaphro Hast the O Lord to deliuer me for it is hie time In thee O Lord Christ my most mercifull sauiour and only redemer in thee in the alone is al my trust let me neuer be confounded O Iesu. Mercy Iesu mercy ⪠O Christ. Mercy Christ mercy O God the Father O God the soÌne O God the holy Ghost O moste blessed Trinitie thre persons and one God haue mercy on me Receiue my soule into thy handes Place it for thy mercies sake in thy heaueÌly kingdom among thy holy angels and blessed sainctes O my good God O father O my most merciful father Mercy mercy Phile. God the father whiche made you blesse you God y e sonne which redemed you preserue you God the holy ghost which sanctifieth you confirme and strengtheÌ you The blessing ⪠defence and sauing health of the allmighty god the father the sonne and the holy ghost preserue you from al euyl and bringe you vnto euerlastinge lyfe Chr. Amen Eu. Me thinck he hath geueÌ vp the ghost The. No he is yet a liue God comfort him Lord shewe him the light of thy louing countenaunce Epa. When shall I come to appere before the presence of my God Phi. God be thancked he yet speaketh yea he godly speaketh Brother Epaphroditus take a good hert vnto you shrincke not Fight a good fight Be not discouraged nether with the terroures of sathan nor with y e pains of death God is on youre syde God is your grauÌd captain You fighte vnder the banner of that most mighty and victorious Emperour Iesus Christ. Only continue as you haue begon and the daye is yours SathaÌ with al his army like miserable cowardes shalbe put to flight and vanquished You shall haue a ioyful victory ouer theÌ The paine of the battell is short and lyght but the glory of your triuÌphe shal abide for euer euer Heare what your graunde captaine saithe he that continueth vnto the end shall be saued To him y t ouercommeth I will geue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middes of the Paradise of God Be faithful vnto the death and I shall geue the the crowne of life Him that ouercommeth will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shal go no more out Yea to him that ouercommeth will I graunte to sit with me in my seate Here see you what precious and mooste noble rewardes are set forth vnto you if you go forth valeauntly to fight against your ennemies which seke your destruction Only beleue only fixe y e eies of your faith on Christ crucified Only engraue in your heart depely a sure and vndoubted confidence in the mercifull promises of God the father whiche he hath made vnto you in the precious bloud of his dearly beloued sonne and our alone sauioure Iesus Christe and you shall moste certainly haue the victory and obtain the reward of ioyfull immortalitie Here what your graund captain Christ saith God hath so dearly loued y e world that he gaue his onelye begotten sonne that euery one that beleueth on hym should not pearyshe but haue euerlasting life For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condempne the world but that the world shuld be saued by hym He y t beleueth on him is not damned Iohn Baptist saithe He that beleueth on y e sonne of God hath euerlasting life My shepe saith Christ heare my voyce I know them and they followe me and I geue them euerlasting life nether shall they perishe for euer nor yet shall any man plucke them out of my hand My father which gaue them to me is greater then all no man can pluck them out of my fathers hande I and my father am one Againe I am the resurrection and life He that beleueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And euery one that liueth and beleueth in me shall neuer die I am the way y e truthe and the life Follow Christ you caÌ not erre nor go out of the way for he is the waye Beleue Christ and you can not be deceiued for he is the truthe Abide and remaine in Christ and you can not die the death euerlasting for he is the life Wherefore O most dere brother cleane with strong faithe to these most swete and comfortable promyses of Christe youre Sauiour Beleue to obtayne whatsoeuer is promysed So may you be sure to be Gods sonne and heyre of his euerlasting kingdome neuer to perishe but to haue eternall lyfe Epa. I beleue to haue remission of all my synnes thorowe faithe in Christes bloud Lorde Iesu take my spirite O heauenly father I coÌmend my spirit into thy haÌdes Ph. This faith deare brother maketh you the Sonne of God and heyre of his glorious kingdome yea it maketh you Christes brother and fellow heyr with him of euerlasting glory It purchaseth for you fauor at the hand of God and forgeuenes of al your sinnes It bringeth vnto you peace and quietnes of conscience It maketh a perfect reconciliation
and an euerlastinge agremente betwene God and you It deliuereth you from death and bringeth you vnto eternall glory It maketh you a Citezin of the newe heauenlye HierusaleÌ where if you continue stedfast in this faith you shall remaine for euer and euer in a most blessed and ioyfull state hauinge the fruition of Gods glorious maiestie in perfecte glorie worldes without end vnto your exceading ioy and vnspeakeable comfort Euse. Sir Behold the life of this our brother beginneth to drawe vnto an end Phi. Yea rather he now begiÌneth to chauÌge a mortal life for an immortal life The life that is led in this world is rather a shadow of a life then a very life indede Now brother be strong in the faithe of Christe Remember Christ crucified RemeÌber Christe to be your alone sauiour Remember God y e father to bee your merciful father Forget not y t all your sinnes are washed away in Christes precious blud that by y e vertue of his death passion you are made heire of euerlasting saluation Brother if you can speake aunswere If you can not speake shew some outward signe token that it may be a testimonye vnto vs of your faith godly departur Chr. Lo he holdeth vp his hand Eu. God be thaÌked Phi. He semeth yet to heare Perswade your selfe moste dere brother y t God euen now calleth you out of this vale of wretchednes vnto the ioyful enheritance of his euerlasting kingdom wher you shall not liue miserably w t sinfull men as you haue done in this world but you shall gloriously reigne with that moste mighty God with his holy aungels and blessed saincts Now begins your ioy your solace your coÌfort Now begiÌneth your true life which shalbe euerlasting Now is the end of al your sorowes come now beginneth your vnfained ioy and true felicitie Now shal ye se y e glorious maiestie of God face to face Now shall you behold perfectly know al y e godly y t haue ben from the beginning of the world and be mery and reioyse with theÌ Now shall you se your sauior and elder brother Christ as he is Now shall you bee clothed w t the white garments of immortalitie Nowe shal you haue a crown of gold set vpon your head Now shall ye eat of the tree of life whiche is in the mids of the Paradise of God and drinke of the fountains of liuing water Now shall you be a pillare in the temple of your God and sit with him on his seat And these your ioyes shall be euerlasting neuer haue end Unto these ioyes shal you straight waies go for euermore enioy them Th. Our brother is eueÌ now departed froÌ this world vnto the Lord our God as you spake these words vnto these ioyes shal you straightways go for euermore enioy them he gaue vp the ghost and now reasteth in the Lord. Phi. The Lord our God be praysed Our brother hath made a godly end He hath geuen vp a good spirit into the hands of the liuing God He is I doubt not of the nomber of them of whose death it is written Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his sainctes Blessed are they that die in the Lorde His life before men was vnrebukeable and blameles He liued iustly and vprightly with his neyghbours He was frendly to al godly men and ennemy to no man He was both a sincere fauourer and a diligent folower of Gods most holy word He abhorred all sectes Papistes Anabaptistes Libertins c. Not withstanding alway praying for their ameÌdment that they knowledging theyr errors might with vs confesse one God one truthe in the vnity of the spirit He was a deare frende to suche as were studious of good letters to widdowes to fatherles children to pore yonge maides mariages to yong meÌ that had not wherwith to set vp theyr occupations to the prisonners to those poore people which wer not hable to get theyr liuing to pore housholders to the reparing of hie wayes such like What a will he made ye knowe His end also ye know Chr. A christen and godly end made he God geue vs al grace to make the like Phile. Of a good life commeth a good death if the departure of the godly may be called a death not rather a passage vnto a better life Wel his body now slepeth in the Lorde and his soule raigneth in glory with God Euse. God grauÌt him vs al a ioyfull resurrection The. Amen Phi. Neighbours before we departe let vs all kneele down geue God the father thaÌkes for y e godly departure of this our christen brother Chri. It is conuenient so to do Phi. Geue me hither the Flower of Godly prayers I will rehearse the thankes geuing vnto God for y e departure of the faithfull out of this worlde Eu. Lo here is the boke Phil. The name of the Lord our God be glorified Chr. Both nowe and euer Amen Phi. O how can we moste louing father rendre vnto the sufficient thanckes for thyne inestimable goodnes toward thy faithful seruants whome thou calling out of this wretched worlde vouchestsafe to place in thy heauenlye kingdom among the glorious coÌpany of thy holy angels and blessed saincts O full precious is the death of thy faithfull in thy sight Blessed are y e dead that die in thee O Lord For they are at rest from their painfull trauails labours The soules of the righteous ar in thy hand O God and the pain of death shal not touche theÌ In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to die but they are in peace They shine as the sparckes that runne thorow y e redde bush They glister as the shining of heaueÌ They are as y e starres worlde without end They are as the aungels of God They are clad w t white garmeÌts haue goldeÌ crownes vpon their heds They do seruice day night before the glorious throne of thy deuine maiesty They neither hoÌger nor thirst anye more neyther doth the sun or any heat fal vpon them for the lambe which is in y e mids of y e throne gouerneth theÌ and ledeth them vnto the liuinge fouÌtains of waters They folowe the laÌbe whithersoeuer he goeth They haue such ioyes as eie hath not sene nor eare hath heard nether is there any heart hable to thincke them Infinite and vnspeakeable are the treasures O Lord whiche thou haste laide vp for them that depart in thy faith For these thy fatherly benefites toward the souls of the faithfull and for that it hathe pleased the to call this our Christen brother from this vale of misery vnto thy heauenly kingdome we geue vnto the moste harty thankes humbly beseching thee that thou wilt take like care for vs so gouerne vs with thy holy spirite bothe in sickenes and in healthe that we may liue a good and godly life in this
present world and when soeuer it shalbe thy good pleasure to call vs hence we may with strong faith in thee in thy sonne Christ Iesu our Lorde commende bothe our bodies soules into thy merciful haÌdes and thorow thy gooddes be placed in thy glorious kingdome among thy faithfull chosen people and so for euer and euer prayse and magnifie thee our heauenly father to whome with thy derely beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Lord and sauiour and the holy gost that most swete coÌfortour be all glory and honoure worldes without end Th. Amen Ph. Rise let vs go and coÌforte our frendes that they doo not to muche sorowe for the departure of this our most deare brother which now resteth in ioyfull peace That done neighbour Christopher repare you vnto some godly learned man and desire hym to prepare a Sermon for the buriall of this our brother against to morowe about y e ninth houre Chr. It shalbe done Phile. Neighboure Theophile neighbor Eusebius go ye your waye prouide all thinges necessary for the comely furniture of the burial that nothing be wanting when the tyme commeth Euse. We will do it gladly Phi. The very god of peace sanctify vs thorow out so wholy preserue vs both spirit and soule and bodye that we may be blamed in nothynge at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christe The. Amen Phi. Our Lord Iesus Christ him self God our father which hath loued vs hath geuen vs euerlasting consolation good hope thorow grace comfort our heartes and stablish vs in all good saying and doing Eus. AmeÌ Phi. Peace be vnto the brethren loue with faith from God the father and from the Lorde Iesus Christ. Grace be w t al them which loue our Lorde Iesus Christ vnfainedly Chri. Amen Ph. Blessing and glory and wisdome and thankes and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Theo. AmeÌ Amen Gyue the glorie to God alone Although death doth daily draw nere Yet his sting past vertue shinth clene Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwelling ouer Aldersgate beneath Saint Martins Cum gratia priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis per Septennium ¶ These books are to be solde at his shop vnder the Gate Colos. iii. Math. xxiiii ⪠Mark xiii Apoca. xvi Apoca. xxii i. Thes. v ⪠Iacob iiii Iob. ix Iob. xiiii Esay xl Gene. v. Luke xii ⪠Psal. xxxix i. Tim. vi Psal. xxxix i. Pet. ii Heb. xiii Iere. viii Esay lvi Philip. ii Eccle. vii Deut. xxxiâ Apoca. xxi i. Cor. ix ii Tim. ii Iob. vii Apoca. xiiii Psal. cxvi Mat. xvi The contentes of this boke Iob. 14. Iames. iiii Luke xii Mat. 24. Mark 13. Apoc. 16. Dout. 32. Eccl. 7. Iere. xviii Math. vi Math. xxvi Mat. 25. Eccle. 7. Rom. 12 Eccl. 7 Iere. xx Gene. xix Iob. xxx Iere 15. Iob. 3. Iob. 10. Apoca. iii. Pro. iii. Heb. xii Hebr. xii Iam. i. Gala. v. Luke 6. Mat. 5. Iohn 16. 2. Titu 2. Luke 24. Act. xiiii What the Crosse is Ihon. xvi i Ti mo iii i. Pete iiii Luke xvi Luke vi Eccle. xi Psal. xciiii Psal. cxix i. Cor. xi Ioâ v. i. Cor. x. ii Cor. i. ii Peter ii i. Cor. iiii Esay âii i ⪠Peter ii heb ii math x Lu. xiiii Apoca. vii Iacob iiii ii Cor. vi Eccle. ii Eccle. iii. Eccle. xxvii âob xii âeât xiii i. Pet. i. i. Cor. x. Psal. xxx Psalm lxvi Psalm lxxi Psal. cxxvi Tobi. iii. Psal. xxxiiii Gen. xxx xix i. Reg. xvi Act. xiiii iii. Reg. ii Iob. i. ii Iob. ii Iob. i. Iob. ii Psal. xxxvii Esay xxx Iames. iii ⪠Psal. xxxiiii Iob. xiii Iames. v. Tob. i. ii Cor. ix Tob. ii i. Reg. ii Deut. xxxii Tob. xiii Sap. xvi Tob. xi Tob. xiiii Tob. xii Rom. xv Româ xiiii A praier Psalm vi Psal. lxxxvâââ Psal. xci Mat. xxiii i. Pet. v. Prou. xx Iaco. iii i. Iohn i. Rom. iii Luk. xvii Psal. cxvi Psalm li. Ier. xvii Esay lxiii Psal. xiiii Luke xviii Math. vi Iob. xiii Iob. xxx Iob. xxv Psalm ii Psalm xxv Psalm cxxx Psal. cxiiii Iob. ix Tob. iii. Ose. xiiii Psal. cxlv Psalm cxxx Apoc. xxi i. Cor. xi Psal. xxxvii Luk. xvi Mat. xâââ Luke xvi Luke vi Hebr. xii Sap. ii Sap. vi Psal. 37. An historie Psalm xxxvii Hebr. vii Act. xiiii Iudit viââ Iames. i. An history Apoc. iii. Prouerb iii. Math. xvi Luke xiiii Luke xvi Esay lxiiii i. Cor. ii Psal. cxv Psal. xxxiiii Psal. lxxxiâ Iere. xviii Esay lv Psalm ciii Ier. xxix Why God punisheth vs Psal. cxix Esay xxviii Iob. v. i. Reg. iii ⪠Tob. iii. Ose. ii Num. xxi ii Pet. xxxâââ Psal. lxxviii Ose. vii Esay lv Luke i. Psal. cxix Esa. xxviii Ier. xxxi The true vse of reading the holy scriptures The prayer of Manasses Esay lxiii i. Iohn i. Hebr. x. Psal. xxxiii Sap. xi Esay xxviii Rom. x. Iohn xi Iohn iii. Luk. xv Iere. iii. Esech 33 Esech 18 Act. x. Rom. iii. Rom. ii Roma x. Iohn ii Rom. xv Ephe. ii Iohn v. Esa. lxv Luke xxiii Rom. x. Luk. x.xv. Esay liii i. Pet. ii Luke xv Mat. xix Math. ix xi Luk. x. Luke xx Iohn i. i. Tim. ii Esay xxviii Roma x. Psalm xci Prouerb iii. Hebr. xii Apoc. iii. Psalm i. Math. i. Psal. 33. Psal. 147. Psal. cxxxvii Esay lxxvi zach i. i. Iohn v. Psal. cxlv iii. Reg. xx Dan. iii. Dan. vi Dan. xiii Luke xxiii Act. vii Act. xii i. Cor. x. Psalm xci Psalm cxx Psal. xxiii Rom. x. Ioel. ii Act. ii Esay xxviii Psa. xxxiiii Esay lââ ⪠Psal. lxviii ⪠Psal. iii. Eccl ii Eccl. xxxviâ Psalm i. Iames. v. iiii Reg. xx Rom. xiiii Math. xxvi Mark xiiii Luk. xxii Math. xxvi Math. vi Mat. xxviâ Phil. i. Phil. ii Luk. xviii â Pet. v. A praier Rom. xiiii Luk. x. Ephe. ii Psal. 3â Rom. â Rom. 8. Rom. xiiii A praier Psal. xxv Eccle. xxxv Psal. xxxiiiiâ Luk. xviii Math. viii Psalm ci A praier Math. xxvi Luk. xvii Mark ix Psal. lxxix A praier Psal. lxviii Mar. xxiiii Mark xiii Apoc. xvi iiii Reg. xx The true vse of ritches Math. v. Psa. lxii i. Cor. vii i. Iohn ii The sicke-mans will Soule Body Phil. ii Wife i. Tim. v. Sonne Daughters Seruantes Eccle. vii Debters Scholers of Cambridge and Oxford Poore pââple ii Cor. â Math. vi Purgatorie rakers Phil. iii. Hie waies Sermons Esa. lvi Math. ix Luke i. Rom. x. Ministers Mourning gownes i. Thes. iiii Apoc. xiiii Psal. cxvi Sap. iii. Sap. v. Luke xvi Esay xxv Apo. vii xxi Esay lxiiii i. Cor. ii Ser. de mortalitate Iohn xiiii Phil. i. âpo vi i. Tes. âââ Iohn ââ Phi. ii Apoc. xiiii Rom. viii Apoc. xiiii Psal. cxviii Sap. iii. ii Reg. xii The maner of the Thracians Luk. xxiii Apo. xiiii Psal. xxiii Phil. iii. Eccle. xi Burials Singing Ringing Communion ââ Cor. xi Note Gen. xxiii and .l. Lib. 1. de Câuitate dei Cap. xiii Luke xvi Apo.