righteousnesse Bow downe thine eare vnto me make haste to deliuer me Be thou my strong rocke and house of defence that thou maist saue me For thou art my rocke and mâ— fortresse and strength Into thy hand I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Cry also with Dauid Psal 18.1 Psal 18. Thou euen thou ô Lord art my strength and my fortresse my refuge and my deliuerer my God and my helper In thee will I trust for thou art my shield the â—orn also of my saluation and my refuge vnto thee ô Lord lift I vp my soule ô God in thee doe I trust Psal 25.1 Let me not be ashamed nor confounded Leade me and direct me in thy truth for thou art the God of my saluation Remember ô Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesse for they haue beene for euer Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my manifold rebellions ô Lord But according to the multitude of thy mercies Look vpon me for thy goodnesse ô Lord. For thy name sake bee mercifull vnto mine iniquitie ô Lord for it is great Turne thy face vnto me and haue mercy vpon me Deliuer me and draw me out of my troubles Pardon and forgiue mee all mine offences Keepe my soule and deliuer me Let me not be confounded for I put my trust in thee If in this maner thou shalt with thy whole heart call vpon God for help God will assuredly relieue thee in due time and will say vnto thee as he did concerning Dauid his seruant Psal 91.14 Because he hath trusted in mee therefore will I deliuer him I will therfore saue and defend him because he hath knowne my name He hath called vpon me and I will heare him I will be with him in trouble I will deliuer him and after glorifie him Wherefore deare brother fight now a good fight fight valiantly and couragiously and also constantly and stedfastly as becometh a true Christian and a valiant souldier of Iesus Christ Take heede in any wise that thou lose not nor giue ouer thy standing Turne not backe for behold here is no danger at all Thou dost not fight here alone but Iesus Christ thy Lord and King he is thy guide and Captaine in this fight Him follow who in this sharpe combate hath gone before thee He as he is thy guide and captaine so he will be thy defender and deliuerer to defend and deliuer thee in this fight and conflict from all the enemies of thy soule and from all troubles and dangers whatsoeuer For he is not as a mortall earthly king who sometimes for want of power is frustrate of his wil and purpose But he is of endlesse and infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath purposed or promised Yea and he it is that hath alreadie for thy sake vanquished and foiled Satan death 1 Cor. 15. and hell Death is swallowed vp into victory through Christ who hath died for thee And therefore euerlasting death hath no interest nor power ouer thee Christ for thy sake hath descended into hell that he might free and deliuer thee from that horrible and endlesse darknesse Be strong therefore and of good courage and with an vndaunted heart mind now fight that good fight of faith 1 Tim. 6.12 laying hold of eternall life whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses shake off all feare for here is no danger There is no cause for thee to feare the strictnesse and seueritie of Gods iudgement For behold Christ Iesus is thy mediator in the sight and presence of God he also is thy aduocate intercessor to pleade thy cause and thine high priest to make attonement vnto God for thee He it is that hath reconciled thee vnto God and that hath recouered vnto thee and for thee the loue and the good will and fauour of his heauenly Father which by meanes of thy sins was vtterly lost alienated from thee God almightie in and through Christ and for his sake is now become thy Father and he entirely loueth thee and hath care of thee as of his child that is most tender and deare vnto him Now then forasmuch as he who is so great and mightie a king is with thee who can go about to do thee hurt who shall impugne or oppose and set himselfe against thee Heare what S. Paul saith Rom. 8.31 If God be with vs who can be against vs who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him vnto death for vs all how shall he not with him giue vs all things also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ who â—ath died yea rather who is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Who shall separate vs from the loue of God I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Seeing then that Christ with all his goodnes and benefits is giuen vnto thee righteousnesse also holinesse iustification and redemption yea euerlasting life and saluation these are all freely giuen and bestowed vpon thee as S. Paul witnesseth 1. Cor. 1. That Christ is made vnto vs of God his Father 1 Cor. 1.30 both wisedome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption See then that thou haue thy hope and confidence wholly setled and firmely and stedfastly fixed vpon this corner stone Christ Iesus He is a most sound and a most strong and sure foundation whereunto thou mayest safely commit thy selfe and whereupon thou mayest boldly relie No tempest though neuer so blacke and cloudy or neuer so hideous and terrible no showers or stormes whatsoeuer are or shall be able to cast cast downe or ouerthrow this foundation vppon this thy sweete Sauiour Christ I say let all thy hope and happinesse be founded and built Cast thy selfe vppon him and giue thy selfe ouer wholly vnto him put thy confidence in him and cleaue fast vnto him And let no affliction nor temptation plucke thee away froÌ„ him howsoeuer things seeme to come to passe neuer so aukwardly or contrary to reason and sence howsoeuer thine owne reason shall deeme and iudge otherwise or flesh and bloud shall neuer so much perswade and counsell otherwise yea howsoeuer the diuel now and then may suggest vnto thee whisper into thine eares or put into thy mind that thou art quite vndone and art past all hope that God cannot but still be highly displeased with thee and that thou shalt be condemned to be punished in hell fire as thou hast deserued Yet notwithstanding all these and the like suggestions do thou by a stedfast and true faith relie vpon thy sweete Sauiour Christ Iesus and sticke fast vnto him Heb. 11.1 For
faith is the ground or expectation of things that are hoped for to wit being promised not of things that are sensible or conceiued by sense and it is the euidence of things not seene that is a sure and certaine knowledge and proofe of the things that appeare not Hebrews 11.1 It standeth thee vpon therefore with the holy and faithfull Patriarch Abraham euen beside hope and aboue hope 〈◊〉 beleeue vnder hope Rom. 4.18 Thy faith thy hope must set it self to resist all those things which either blinde reaâ—on shall suggest vnto thee 〈◊〉 that cunning and craftie â—nemie the diuel who lieth â—n waite to destroy shall seeke to infuse and put into thee Here therefore thou â—â—t to learne and obserue 1 Pet. 5.8 for thy coÌ„fort Gods manner and custome in sauing those that are his whom he will lift vp into heauen him â—e doth commonly first of all bring downe to hell Whom he will quicken and make aliue him he doth first bring downe to the gates of death Vpon whom he will shew his greatest mercie kindnesse in sauing and deliuering him him he suffereth before to be tempted and maketh as if he would condemne him Wherefore euen then when thou feelest nothing else but present death when God seemeth most of all to be angry with thee wheÌ„ he seemeth to be furthest from thee yea and to haue wholly and altogether forsaken thee cast thee off as one reproued and condemned euen then is he nearest vnto thee to protect defend and deliuer thee then he most of all loueth thee and then he â—ath greatest care ouer thee For in the middest of trouble and affliction God remembreth mercie as the Prophet in many places beareth witnesse Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinckling of â—n eye but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide at night but ioy cometh in the morning Lam. 3.31 And againe He will not forsake or be angry for euer yea rather As a father piâ—ieth his owne children so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust Now Psal 103.13 the mercie of the Lord is for euer and euer vpon them that feare him The Lord is gracious and full of compassion Psal 145.8 slow to anger and of great mercy yea our God is good vnto all how much more to his children to them that loue and feare him and his mercy is ouer all his workes as the same Prophet witnesseth Psalme 145.8 And therefore closing vp the eies both of thy mind and also of thy senses and vtterly casting off the iudgment of reason submit and giue ouer thy selfe wholy vnto Christ and take it in good part howsoeuer he shall deale with thee Thou must not esteem and iudge of death or of the horror and paines of death according to the iudgement of outward sight or of sense and reason but according to the word of God and the censure and iudgement thereof Dauid saith That Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 And the voyce of God himselfe from heauen cryeth in the Reuelation of S. Iohn Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. Apoc. 14.13 And Christ himselfe saith Iohn 8.51 He that beleeueth in me shall not taste of death Wherefore if any thing be presented vnto thee which may seeme to turne thee away from Christ cast the same wholly out of thy mind Sticke fast vnto the word of God which abideth for euer Meditate still vpon it and by often repeating the same imprint it stedfastly in thy mind For thou canst not indeed euer conceiue by the quicknesse sharpnesse of thine own reason how al this may be that thou shouldest passe thorough death vnto the true life how thou shouldst die and depart this world by breathing out thy soule how thy soule should bee kept safe in the Lord and should abide and rest with him vnto the last day and how also thy body being putrified and eaten vp of wormes and consumed to dust and ashes could rise again in the last day of iudgment and come forth in so fresh and glorious a forme maner This reason in no wise is able to conceiue onely faith can comprehend it And therefore still meditate vpon the Articles of thy faith and diligently weigh and consider in thy mind all the seuerall parts of the same with a particular application thereof vnto thy selfe CHAP. III. How the sicke partie is to be called on and comforted being ready to giue vp the Ghost NOw deare brother is the time that thou must fight that good fight and lay hold on eternal life Now therefore fight manfully and couragiously keep thy standing diligently lay hold fast on Christ Iesus that none take away thy Crowne Fixe stedfastly in thy mind the promises of Christ thy Redeemer I am saith he the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue and shall not dye for euer Christ hauing taken our nature vpon him with all those defects and infirmities whereto we are subiect and dying vpon the altar of his Crosse hath offered vp himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for all our sinnes He it is that by his most precious blood hath purged away the sinnes of all that truly and vnfainedly beleeue in him And this thy Sauiour Iesus Christ wil in no wise forsake thee He it is that vndoubtedly careth for thee to saue protect and deliuer thee Nothing therefore shall touch thee nor preuaile against thee to hurt thee The foundation of God remaineth sure hauing this seale 2. Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his Christ saith My sheepe Iohn 10.27 heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any be able to take them out of my hand My Father that gaue them vnto me a greater then all and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand I and my father are one Wherefore deare brother beloued in Christ commend thy soule into the hands of God thy heauenly Father who for his Son his sake doubtles doth entirely loue thee hauing ransomed and redeemed thee with so great a price as the death and bloodshedding of his only sonne Cry out therefore confidently with thy elder brother Christ O heauenly Father into thy hands I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed with so great a price Lord Iesus receiue my soule Now the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort and consolation confirme and strengthen thee conduct and leade thee and by the ministery of his holy Angels transport and carrie thee as they did Lazarus into the bosome of Abraham euen into euerlasting life and finally preserue and keepe thee vnto that most ioyfull resurrection at the last day Amen A SERMON OF MORTALITIE
members This head neither is nor can be without the members neither doth he leaue or forsake his members Where Christ therefore is there also must we needs be Ephe. 5.30 For we are members of his bodie of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.30 Now who can sufficiently praise and magnifie according to the worthinesse thereof the infinitenesse of that inestimable vnspeakeable grace meâ—cie of God who vouchsafed so to debase himselfe aâ— to come downe from heâ—uen and to be made a mortall man in all things likâ— vnto vs sinne onely excepted that this corruptible 〈◊〉 fraile nature of man being vnited and ioyned vnto hâ— diuine nature might by the infinite and incomprehensible vertue and power oâ— his diuinitie bee aduanced vnto immortall life and made partaker with it of the heauenly kingdome 〈◊〉 we did beleeue so great riches to be giuen vnto vs to be laid vp in store for vs and that so blessed and happie a kind of life shall hereafter befall vs how I pray you could we be daunted or troubled The humane nature of all the faithfull which haue bene before since Christ and which shall be hereafter in Christ who is both true man and also true God hath and doth put on immortalitie glorie Abundant then and of great force and effect is that comfort concerning the resurrection of Christ wherewith Saint Paule doth fortifie and establish the minds of the Corinthians when he saith 1 Cor. 15.20 c. That Christ is risen from the dead being the first fruites of them that are fallen asleepe for since by man came death by man also cometh the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all die euen so also by Christ shall all be maâ— aliue But euery man in 〈◊〉 owne order the first fruites 〈◊〉 Christ afterward they thaâ— are of Christ at his coming c. And after all this Sainâ— Paule addeth a similitude concerning naturall things wherby the resurrection of our bodies is most clearely perceiued verse 36. and plainely demonstrated The similitude or comparison is taken from seede which being drie when it is cast into the ground by the seedsman or husbandman it dieth as it were and rotteth in the ground But yet doth it not perish altogether but it sprouteth and cometh forth out of the earth fresh and new in an elegant and a delightfull shape and forme Euen so also shall our bodies arise not corruptible or subiect to corruption not fraile and transitorie not weake and feeble not withered and decayed and readie to die as now it is but comely and beautifull strong and lustie immortall and incorruptible and full of brightnesse and glorie This is the way by which we are to passe into our true countrie which is aboue euen by death vnto euerlasting life Flesh and bloud cannot inherite the kingdome of God wherein is nothing else but life and immortalitie For which cause 1 Cor. 15.33 This corruptible bodie must put on incorruption and this mortall bodie must put on immortalitie thâ—â— shall come to passe the saying that is written Death is swalowed vp into victorie They that beleeue in Christ haue now vanquished sin death and hell And therefore coÌ„temning despising death and through Christ being now become bold and couragious they shall triumph and say Hos 13.14 1 Cor. 15.55 â— death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie The sting of death iâ— sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Hereunto also may be added other sentences of holy Scripture full of comfort as that 2. Cor. 4.14 He that hath raised vp the Lord Iesus from the dead shall also raise vs vp by the same Iesus And that to the Philippians Chap. 3.20 Phil 3.20 Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the mightie working whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Againe Colos 3.3 Ye are dead Colos 3.3 and your life is hid with Christ in God but when Christ which is your life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glorie And 1. Thes 4.13 1. Thes 4.14 I would not saith Saint Paul haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe that ye sorrow not as others which haue no hope For if we beleeue thaâ— Iesus is dead and is risen againe Euen so them thaâ— sleepe in Iesus will God bring with him In like manner doth S. Paul comfort his disciple Timothie 2. Tim. 2.8 Remember 2 Tim. 2.8 that Iesus Christ made of the seed of Dauid wâ— raised againe from the deaâ— according to my Gospell And verse 11. verse 11 If we be dead wâ— Christ we shall also liue wiâ— him If we suffer with him 〈◊〉 shall also reigne with him Anâ— againe 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Tim. 1.9 God haâ— saued vs saith he and calleâ— vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purposâ— and grace which was giuen through Christ Iesus before the world was but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie And in his Epi. to the Heb. Chap. 2.14 he saith That Christ was made partaker of flesh and bloud that is Hebr. 2.14 was made true man that throgh death he might destroy him that had power of death that is the diuel and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage S. Iohn likewise in his 1. Epistle Chap. 4.9 telleth vs that 1 Ioh. 4.9 In this appeared the loue of God toward vs that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world that we might liue through him to wit eternally and for euer and Chap. 3.14 and 3.14 We know that we are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren And to conclude in the same manner Iob comforteth himselfe in the middest of all his afflictions Chap. 19.25 Iob. 19.25 I am sure saith he that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my reines be consumed within me These testimonies of holy Scripture whosoeuer he be that pondereth well and meditateth on the same diligently he cannot but be filled with exceeding great ioy and comfort A most euident example whereof we haue in Saint Paul Phil. 3.10 Phil. 3.10 Where he professeth himselfe to reioyce glorie in nothing more then this that he knoweth Christ and the power of his Resurrection whereby our death was slaine as it were
and put to death Now then vnto as many as beleeue in Christ death is vtterly vanquished and is dead as it were there is nothing now in death that is dreadfull or to be feared besides onely a certaine image and appearance As a serpent that is dead retaineth his wonted forme which is dreadfull and terrible but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse so oft as it was beheld and looked on the fierie Serpents wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died so as the people could not be infected with their poyson euen so our death dieth as it were and is made harmelesse and in no wise to be feared if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse and dying for vs. Whereof the said brasen serpent was a liuely image and representation as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life In a word death is but a certaine resemblance or image of death or rather it is the beginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life Christ who is truth it selfe telleth vs Ioh. 8.51 If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death How I pray you commeth this to passe The case standeth thus Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God and merits of Christ Iesus by meanes of his faith is so incorporated as I may say and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord Sauiour who is the true life that he cannot be separated nor plucked away froÌ„ him This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule in an assured and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life For as much as within a short compasse of time the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to enioy eternall blisse and happinesse And so beleeuing in Christ he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule that is of eternall damnation which is the onely death indeed forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe and of all his holy Saints and Angels CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare and horror of Hell and eternal Damnation THat malicious wicked spirit the diuel and Satan here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predestination by suggesting vnto them these or the like horrible and dreadfull cogitatations What if for all this thou do not please God what if God haue reiected thee and cast thee out of his fauour or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those whom God hath elected and chosen vnto eternall life These and the like dangerous tentations will be readie to offer themselues which indeed are very hard and sharpe and will very grieuously tormeÌ„t and disquiet the minds of men especially in sicknesse And therefore a man hath need in this case to stand fast and manfully to defend himselfe Now if in this combat and conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie Straightway as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan take heed thou do not enter into the lists with him or condescend to make him answer or to dispute and reason the matter with him but repell him rather and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitations Auoid Satan depart get thee hence it is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children that are neare and deare vnto him When as God of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me alwaies hath bestowed so exceeding great infinite blessings and benefits vpon me hauing endued me with life and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued maintained the same hitherto hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life yea ministred vnto me abundantly all things behoouefull and profitable both for my soule and bodie that so farre aboue my desert beyond my desire and expectation ô what madnesse were it once to doubt of his mercie When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and number of Christian beleeuers when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me how should I not expect and looke for all good from him how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me how should not his good will and affection be most readily inclined toward me What needeth to say much in this case It is a thing both foolish and also dangerous to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination It behoueth thee rather to preuent to auert turne away and so to ouercome these cogitations with other considerations wherewith God will haue thy mind occupied as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gospell where he saith That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish Ioh. 3.15.16.36 but hath euerlasting life Hearest thou not that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ and that acknowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse sanctification and redemption can in no wise be damned but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life saluation As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfeinedly in the mercy of God and merits of Christ Iesus are of the number of them who are elect and chosen vnto eternall life being foreknowne and predestinate in Christ and registred and written long ago in the book of life But they who are predestinate vnto eternall life Rom. 8.29 are made like vnto the Image of Christ being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne Therefore by this their faith they are vndoubtedlie saued These things are most certaine and true God neither can be deceiued neither can he deceiue any man Now this is the will and counsell of God our most louing Father who is truly and indeed Philanthropâ—s a louer of mankind These things he hath thus fore-purposed and decreed from euerlasting and therefore there is no cause of feare no cause why those thingâ— should hinder thee or make thee afraid which the enemie of thine the diuell enuying thy welfare and saluation seeking the destruction of thy soule shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things Onely see that thou pâ—â— thy
of the Epistles of that holy Father which intreate of the like matter CHAP. XV. An Exhortation to all professors of the name of Christ NOw I beseech and intreate all euen as many as are stiled and called by the name of Christians and I charge and require you euen by the mercies of God that once at the length forsaking your former sins and errors and the horrible darknesse and blindnesse in which ye haue liued ye will returne vnto a better course of life with all care and diligence and with sincere heartie deuotion hearing and receiuing the word of God which is able to saue your soules and continually without intermission knocking at the gates of heauen and intreating the heauenly Father through his Sonne Christ Iesus that he will inwardly teach and instruct you and enlighten your hearts and minds with the true knowledge of Christ and of his heauenly will That denying and renouncing all vngodly lusts Tit. 2.12 ye may liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the mighty God of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good works That same light of grace and of all comfort and consolation as the day starre frō on high hath visited vs and by the infinite goodnes of God hath in these last times in exceeding great brightnesse shined forth vnto vs. We haue manifold examples both in the holy Scriptures and euery day among our selues which testifie the infinite bountie and mercie long suffering patience and gentlenesse of our God toward vs whereby we may see how God would not that we should be lost but that we should conuert liue how soone his iust wrath waxeth hote against vs and how easily againe he is mooued to succeasse from punishing vs as we deserued so soone as we vnfainedly repent of our sinnes and stedfastly intend purpose an amendmēt of our liues Let these things moue you deare brethren and stirre you vp to seeke the Lord Esay 55.6 while yet he may be found to call vpon him while he is yet neare vnto you that the wicked forsake his owne waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he will haue mercie on him and vnto our God for he is very readie to forgiue Yea let the consideration hereof encourage you in all your troubles and distresses to flie vnto God and vncessantly to pray vnto him that he will mercifully pardon and forgiue you all your sinnes for his deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ and that he will vouchsafe to preserue and keepe you to sustaine and vphold you to cherish and comfort you and finally to hide and couer you vnder the shadow of his wings and to be present and readie to helpe and succour you in all your need and necessitie Thus did Dauid whē he saw himselfe in great distresse and danger 2 Sam. 24.17 and that for his sin there had fallen by a sore plague in three daies space seauentie thousand men straightway he flieth vnto God confessing his sinne and lamentablie crauing begging for mercy and forgiuenesse crying out Ecce Behold I haue sinned yea I haue done wickedly And whē he had built an altar in the threshing floore of Aranna the Iebusite where the Angel had appeared vnto him he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings thereupon And then the Scripture saith verse 25. That the Lord was appeased toward the land and the plague ceassed from Israel By which example of Dauid deare brethren confesse your sinnes pray vnto God for grace and intreate for mercie and pardon offering vp vnto God that acceptable sacrifice of a penitent contrite heart which aboue all things is well pleasing vnto him and behold God will be present and ready to helpe you neither will he at any time faile you or forsake you In like manner Iona 1.3 when God sent Ionas vnto Nineue he threatned to destroy that populous and famous citie But straightway as soone as at the preaching of Ionah the Nineuites had repented God had compassion on them he pardoned their sinnes and remitted their punishment Set before you my brethren these examples to be imitated followed Distrust not the mercie and goodnesse of God Esay 59.1 Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot saue he both will and can saue and helpe yea releeue and comfort you so as ye refuse not neither despise his grace and goodnesse so mercifully and abundantly offered but call vpon him for helpe and assistance of his grace Eph. 2.4 who is rich in mercie Ephesians 2.4 euen rich vnto all that call vpon him Rom. 10.12 Romanes 10.12 Now I pray and beseech the Lord Iesus Christ that onely true and approued Physition both of body and soule that these diuine medicines and spirituall directions collected and digested out of the rich store-house of the holy and sacred Scriptures may haue a powerfull and effectuall working in your hearts whereby faith may more more abound and increase and the loue of God and of your brethren more and more feruently bee inflamed in you And that abiding constant and patient in all temptations and tribulations whatsoeuer after the example of the same Christ Iesus ye may euen vnto the last gaspe cleaue and sticke fast vnto him in assured hope of eternall life and saluation through the same Christ Iesus our alone Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all glorie and praise for euermore Amen The second part A Method or order of comforting the Sicke CHAP. I. How to comfort all such as lie vpon the bed of Sicknesse WHereas deare brother thou art so sore vexed grieued with sicknesse know for suretie and make certaine account that thou art thus afflicted and punished not by chance or fortune but by the determinate will purpose and permission of almightie God For whatsoeuer affliction or calamitie befalleth vnto the children of God it is doubtlesse sent of God and it cometh vnto them whollie and altogether at his appointment and by his guidance and direction For as much as in him wee liue Act. 17. and moue and haue our being Psal 100. It is he that hath made vs and not we our selues And doubt not thou but that it is indeed of his good will and of his loue and fatherly affection toward thee that he now sendeth this sicknes whatsoeuer it be not to destroy thee but to call thee to repentance and to exercise and stirre vp thy faith and confidence in him For afflictions are vndoubted signes of Gods vndoubted loue and fauour toward vs. Whom God loueth him saith Salomon he correcteth and chastiseth Prou. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 yea he scourgeth euery one whom he receiueth Heb 12.6 Thy mercifull and heauenly Father most dearely and
entirely louing thee in his wise counsell tender affection which he beareth vnto thee doth by this sicknesse mortifie and bridle represse and keepe vnder thy old man fast bound as it were in ferters and chaines that so thou maist more willingly and chearfully offer vp thy body as a sacrifice to God and fasten it with Christ vpon his Crosse This sicknes of thine is therefore a fatherly chastisement not sent for thy hurt or for thy destruction but for thy great good to the end that thereby thou mayst be reformed yea quickned and restored as it were to life againe God thy heauenly Father seeth perhaps thy old Adam that is thy corrupt nature too lustie and vnruly and too froward and stubborne to wax wanton and proud and vnable to bridle and ouersway his lusts and that while he satisfieth too too much his own desires and affections he cannot restraine himself nor moderate and keepe himselfe in any good measure and therefore he doth shut him vp as it were in this prison and he bindeth him as it were with these fetters and chaines of weaknesse and sicknesse thereby to bridle represse and restraine him lest he should bring the most noble and precious soule in danger to be seduced Flesh blood doth reigne still and beare the sway in thee more then the Spirit Here therefore behold God is present with thy Spirit ayding and strengthening the same while it wrastleth against the rebellious and vnruly flesh that hauing vanquished the same it may subdue it and keepe it vnder It may be that if now at this time thou were in health and prosperitie perhaps thy flesh as it is alwaies inclined to nothing but euill hauing deceiued thee it would driue thee and cast thee headlong into many dangerous sinnes against thy God whereby the wrath of God shold be prouoked and a way prepared for thy soule vnto hell fire and damnation Now behold thy heauenly Father preuenting this losse and danger and prouiding better for thee and for thy welfare and safetie he restraineth and holdeth backe as it were with a bridle this flesh of thine which with tooth naile and with al her strength rebelleth against the Spirit and hauing taken it captiue as it were he restraineth the same that it tumble not into a sinke of sins but rather may be subdued and brought in obedience vnto the Spirit Now sith this is the good will and pleasure of thy heauenly father who doth all this in tender loue vnto thee and fith that all this tendeth to thy profite and welfare take heed in any wise that thou striue not nor oppose thy selfe against the same But rather suffer patiently and pray that thy heauenly Fathers wil may be accomplished and fulfilled that he will intreate thee and deale with thee according to his good pleasure that thou will and desire nothing but that which shall seeme good vnto him that all things may tend to the glorie and praise of God and that his grace may still be present with thee to enable thee to beare meekely and patiently the Crosse affliction that lyeth vpon thee For patience bringeth forth experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.4 Rom. 5.4 Here hast thou matter and occasion of learning and of exercising patience in all afflictions First thou learnest that God afflicteth and punisheth thee with a fatherly affection And this thou learnest by experiēce For vnlesse thou haue experience hereof indeed how behooueful profitable it is for a man wholy to yeeld giue himselfe vnto God to obey his will according to that saying of Dauid Psal 119. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me thou canst not conceiue sure and stedfast hope and confidence in him hauing not had proofe and experience before of so fatherly and louing affection of Almightie God towards thee to lie hid vnder his rod and chastisement But when thou hast learned the same before by experience and hast now already some taste therof thy mind is not daunted nor ouercome with any crosses or afflictions but thy hope confidence is still more and more increased when as once and againe thou hast had experience of the helpe of God still present with thee And if God through a certaine conniuency suffer thee sometimes to bee plunged and to sticke fast in the mire as it were for a time yet notwithstanding at the length he will reach out his helping hand to saue and deliuer thee Hee suffereth thee peraduenture to swim a while yea to be plunged in the water or in the mire but he will not suffer thee in any wise to be drowned Hereby thē thou mayest make sure account that he will neuer forsake thee nor cast thee off when as being in danger he hath so often preserued thee In afflictions therefore thou learnest to conceiue and cherish within thy selfe a certaine and vndoubted hope confidence in God So as in farre greater troubles and distresses when as no help appeareth from elswhere thou mayst boldlie put trust and confidence in him being already taught and assured of his vsual and ordinarie manner in sauing deliuering his children Thou hast learned that sicknesses and other crosses and afflictions are sent not in anger but in fatherly loue and kindnesse which when thou art perswaded of being taught it by experience thou dost patiently wait for help Neither art thou discouraged but stedfastly hopest that at the length hee will send thee help and deliuerance howsoeuer he deferreth long hideth his face making as if hee heard not And so at length thou vnderstandest well and acknowledgest that thy greefe and sicknes is not sent vnto thee for thy hurt or perdition but for the glorie of God and for thine own eternall welfare and saluation He that can thus commit and yeeld vp himselfe vnto God resting and relying vpon his promises he shall no wise dye for euer Which thing Christ himselfe affirmeth with an oath that we might not doubt of it saying Verily verily I say vnto you Ioh. 8.51 If any man shall keepe my word he shall neuer see death And in another place hee saith I am the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue though he be dead and he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer These words of thy sweet Sauiour Christ deare brother be carefull to keep diligently and to haue deeply rooted in thy mind and therewithall raise vp and comfort this wauering mind of thine He that beleeueth in me saith Christ shall not taste of death Ioh. 5.24 He that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life Ioh. 17.3 And This is euerlasting life that they know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ This life euerlasting is begun in this world For whosoeuer hath Christ he hath the true life for Christ is the true life Ioh. 14.6 Ioh. 14.6 and he is