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
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
trust and confidence iâ— Christ comfort thy selfe in an assurance of his mercy and behold there neither is nor can be any danger For if thou fixe thy hope and confidence in Christ Christ now is thine and thou art his He hauing redeemed thee thou canst in no wise perish nor be damned For as much as they that beleeue in Christ are by the Father drawne vnto Christ Ioh. 6.44 and by him the Fathers will is that they shold be saued neither will he haue any of them to perish Iohn 10.28 Ioh. 10.28 Be of good comfort then beleeue faithfullie and haue stedfast hope in Christ For whosoeuer beleeue in Christ the same are predestinated vnto eternall life Vpon Christ then it behoueth thee wholie to fixe the eyes of thy mind to fly vnto him and to lay fast hold vpon him by faith if thou wilt be saued Remembring that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Heb. 12. Heb. 12.2 That with patience we run the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God CHAP. XI How Christ his temptations and sufferings were all for our sakes FVrthermore all the sufferings and temptations wherwith Christ was assailed and tempted being exceeding many and grieuous he suffered them all for vs and for our sake as the same Apostle witnesseth in the same Epistle saying Heb. 4.15.16 We haue not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but which was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sinne Therefore let vs go boldly vnto the Throne of grace that we may receiue grace and find mercie to help in time of need Imprint these things deare brother stedfastly in thy mind Christ giueÌ„ vnto vs for two ends Christ was giuen vnto vs for a two-fold end First that he might redeeme vs and reconcile vs vnto God his heauenly Father and so make vs partakers of eternall saluation And secondly that he might be an example vnto vs both of liuing godly and dying happily See then that thou set Christ his death before thine eyes and that thou end thy life after his example for as much as Christ is set downe vnto vs for as example to be followeâ— both in his life and in his sufferings and death For there is no man that shal be able to liue godly no maâ— able to suffer afflictions oâ— to vndergo death happily vnlesse he shall propose vnto himselfe both the life and death of Christ for his imitation By Christ his death it is that the death of all the godly is swallowed vp and quite abolished Iâ— wil be good for thee therefore diligently to meditate and consider in thy mind what manner of death hee died and how he behaued himselfe in that most sharpe and bitter conflict of all others when as hanging vpon the crosse he was ouerwhelmed as it were with most grieuous and horrible temptations Imitate and follow him and call vnto God for helpe that thou maist be enabled thereunto CHAP. XII Of Christ his threefold Temptations FIrst the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the feare of death 1 Temptation of Christ as one in their opinion vtterly vnable to deliuer himselfe from the same when as it was obiected vnto him on the Crosse saying He saued others himselfe he cannot saâ—e as if they shold say Now his case is altogether desperate for he must die and so vtterly perish None shall by force or otherwise take him away nor deliuer him out of our hands After the like manner will that vnreconciled enemy of man the diuel be ready also to strike into thee a scare terror of death But proceed and go on forward boldly bee strong and of good courage comfort Christ hath vanquished this enemy and vtterly cast him down And thou also through the same Christ shalt likewise cast him downe and ouercome him Stretch out thy shield of faith in Christ Iesus Thy Lord and Sauiour Christ being Lord of life King of eternall glory was not so made subiect vnto death as to be ouercome or to bee holden still of death but he liueth and reigneth for euer In this case then thy Lord and Sauiour liuing and reigning for euer doubtlesse he wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee neither will he suffer death to exercise tyrannie and dominion ouer thee He cannot deceiue thee nor falsifie his word and promise made vnto thee sith he is truth it selfe Haue this confidence in him and assure thy selfe of his goodnesse and of his loue and care tender affection toward thee and behold thou shalt most assuredly liue with him for euer A twofold benefit we receiue by death And whereas he will haue thee through many afflictions and trials to vndergoe this bodily death it is for thine owne sake and for thy good For first there is no other way whereby to passe into the true and euerlasting life then by this bodily death We must then leaue and lay downe this life if we will enioy eternall life and so after this life begin to liue truly and indeed Besides this bodily death is good and profitable in this respect that hauing tasted the sharpnesse and bitternesse therof thou mightest by experience know and perceiue how feruent the loue of Christ was toward thee and how inestimable a benefit he bestowed vpon thee when as dying for thee in his owne bodie he discharged and made satisfaction for all thy sinnes death being altogether extinguished and abolished and the very gates of hell shaken in peeces cast downe and ouerthrowne For otherwise thou couldest not perceiue nor vnderstand the operation and power of life in Christ how great it is which hath swallowed vp our death neither shouldest thou acknowledge the greatnesse of the benefit nor giue due thankes as thou oughtest vnto Christ thy Lord and thy redeemer Wherefore in that Christ liueth thou also shalt liue this death shall be vnto thee a happie and pleasant sleepe and â— dore or entrance into that true and most blessed life 2 Temptation of Christ Againe secondly the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the guilt of sin as being a wicked man and a man guilty of horrible sin wheÌ„ it was cast in his teeth If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauedst others why theâ— doest thou not saue thy sâ—lfe These reprochfull wordes what else did they meane and intend but that by imposture guile and cosenage he deceiued and deluded men and that he was nothing lesse then the Sonne of God nay rather that he was a most vngracious and wicked man In like manner Satan tempting a man that is in extremitie of sicknesse and readie to die he layeth before him whatsoeuer at any time he hath coÌ„mitted against God or his neighbour and he
sicknesse from performance of the same Howbeit if either through negligence or vpon some vrgent and necessary causes thou hast put off and deferred this businesse vntill sicknesse suddenly and vnawares seize vpon thee be carefull then without further delay or protracting of time to salue thy former error and negligence by speedie diligence and readinesse in disposing of thy worldly estate be it more or lesse first vnto them who are according to the flesh nearest and dearest vnto thee as wife children and parents whom God and nature hath commended to thy care and prouidence next vnto thy poore kinsfolks being in want and necessitie and after them according to thy substance and abilitie vnto the poore in generall as for the releefe of poore widowes and fatherlesse children of the aged and impotent the lame and the blinde and vnto other holy and charitable vses And if the sicke partie haue got into his hands any monie or goods of another mans or is indebted vnto any man let him in any case make it knowne and prouide carefully for the payment and discharge thereof Which being done let him repell and put away from him all such as shall goe about to interrupt and trouble him with worldly matters Wherein a great many both men and women do aboue all measure offend who seeing and beholding their friend or neighbour now readie to giue vp the ghost and to breath out his soule into the hands of his Creator are readie to cast into his mind diuers and sundry scruples and doubts concerning his will and other externall and worldly matters Yea and sometimes they enforce him to subscribe and set his hand vnto Deeds and other writings against his will when as indeed his mind is not to doe any such thing yea rather in his heart he abhorreth and detesteth the importunity of such friends as enforce him thereunto by whose meanes it commeth to passe that he cannot die quietly nor depart in peace These men howsoeuer they pretend loue friendship vnto the partie dying and to his issue and posteritie yet indeed can there be nothing more vnfriendly or more hurtfull vnto their friend in such a case And therefore ought the same by all meanes to be auoyded CHAP. XIII How to mitigate and asswage the greefe which we conceiue many times more thē is meet for the death of friends FOr men to cast off all measure and moderation in sorrowing for the death and departure of friends though neuer so neare or deare vnto them as it is affirmed by S. Paul to be the part not of Christians but of Ethnicks and Heathen men that haue no hope 1. Thes 4.13 1. Thess 4.13 so is it conuicted by this only reason to be a thing bootlesse and vaine In that no weeping nor wailing nor shedding of teares though shed in neuer so plentifull measure or continued for neuer so many yeares together can yet call againe from death vnto life one man greater or lesse And therefore are all such teares fruitlesse and vnprofitable vaine and of no effect Whereof we haue a memorable example in King Dauid 2. Sam. 12.16 who so long as the child was sicke that was borne of Bathseba he fasted and shed plentie of teares he went into his priuy chamber and lay all night on the earth intreating the Lord for the life and recouery of the child But as soone as he perceiued and vnderstood by the whispering of his seruants that the child was dead then he cast away his mourning attire and changed his raiment and washed his face and annointed himselfe did eate his meat chearefully Which when his Servants admired supposing that he would haue sorrowed more as soone as he should vnderstand of the death of the childe seeing hee had so punished himselfe with fasting and weeping while the child was aliue and thereupon asked him the cause and reason why he did so he made them this answer While the childe was yet aliue I fasted and wept Verse 22. for I said who can tell whether God will haue mercie on me that the child may liue But now he being dead why should I now fast can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne vnto me In which words Dauid wisely declareth and sheweth that we ought not to greeue and lament for that which cannot be recouered nor called againe And this is that which the holy Father Saint Cyprian protesteth in his Sermon of Mortalitie that he had bene of ten admonished by diuine reuelation yea and charged also and commanded of God that he should publikely aduertise all men in his preaching teach and instruct them not to sorow or lament ouermuch for the brethren which depart out of this world when God calleth them for that such sorrowing is hatefull and displeasing vnto God Notwithstanding that we may not seem hard harted or that we loued our friend that is dead very slenderly or no better then other common men it is meete and requisite that we bestow vpon him some teares and those proceeding from the sincere affection of commiseration and of hartie and vnfained loue toward him but yet alwaies measured and guided by the right rule of reason and of true pietie and godlinesse For Christ our Lord Sauiour himselfe being the most perfect absolute patterne of all vertues did of a louing and tender affection weepe for Lazarus being dead Ioh. 11.35 And his holy and godly sisters Marie and Martha are greatly commended for lamenting the death of their brother Likewise of those seruiceable women which stood by the Crosse Luke 23.27 and beheld while our blessed Sauiour suffered such extreme torments it is not with out Iohn 20.11 cause registred in the Gospell to their especiall praise and commendation that they shed teares ouer him at his death and buriall And concerning the first Martyr S. Stephen we reade in the Acts of the Apostles Act. 8.2 that certaine men fearing God carried him to be buried made great lamentation for him Whereupon it is that the Sonne of Sirach giueth aduice and counsel to bestow some teares vpon the dead but yet in any wise he willeth that the same be immoderate nor continued ouer long Eccl. 22.11 Weep saith he for the dead because he hath lost the light but make small lamentation for him because he is at rest And hereunto doe tend all those consolatorie Epistles of that holy Father Saint Ierome wherein he comforteth the liuing for the death of their friends hence departed auouching and prouing both by authority of holy Scripture and by strong reasons and arguments that they ought not to sorrow or weepe immoderately for them that are departed hence and haue changed this life as that Epistle written to Heliodor cōcerning the death of Nepotian the Epistle written to Paula concerning the death or sleepe of her daughter Blesilla the Epistle to Tyrasius concerning the death of his daughter and the rest
to the beholding and embracing of these what great ioy and reioycing must it needs be in generall both vnto them and to vs What maner of pleasure and comfort is there in the kingdome of heauen without feare of dying any more with eternitie of liuing euerlastingly time without end How endlesse and exceeding great shall be the felicitie and happinesse There is the glorious company of the Apostles There is all the whole assembly of the Prophets triumphing and reioycing together There is an innumerable multitude of Martyrs crowned for the conquest of their conflicts sufferings There are the virgines triumphing who by the force and strength of continency subdued the lust and concupiscence of the flesh and of the body There are mercifull men recompensed rewarded such as haue wrought the workes of righteousnesse by feeding and sustaining the needie and by giuing liberally vnto the poore and finally all they who keeping the Lords Commaundements haue translated and changed their earthly riches and patrimonies into heauenly treasures Vnto these beloued brethren let vs hasten to go with greedie and earnest desire that we may be with them as soone as possible And let vs wish and desire speedily to come vnto Christ Now I pray and beseech God that he will behold and consider this our meditation and the Lord Iesus Christ look vpon this purpose of our hart and of our faith beleefe to giue vnto them greater reward of his glory whose affection and loue hath bin greater and more aboundant toward him Amen A Prayer for the Sicke O Almightie and eternall Lord God and our most gracious and mercifull Father in Iesus Christ Whereas among thy manifold corrections and chastisements whereby thou dost inuite and call vs yea and prouoke and stirre vs vp to come vnto thee thine vsuall and wonted manner is by sundry and manifold sicknesses diseases to bridle keepe vnder this flesh of ours to remoue farre away from vs our naturall securitie and to put vs in mind both of our wicked life past together with the end thereof and of our death and mortality wherof we are forewarned by the griefes and pains which we suffer as forerunners of the same and finally of the last day of iudgement and of life euerlasting which shall follow thereupon and shall be continued euerlastingly vnto the glory and happinesse of the good and godly and contrariwise vnto the iust condemnation and vtter confusion of the wicked and vngodly the remembrance whereof flesh and blood being left vnto it selfe will in no wise admit And for as much as we find this our neighbour and brother cast downe vpon the bed of his sicknesse and grieuously chastised with the rod of thy correction hauing a true liuely feeling of his sins a representatiō of death before his eyes hereupon ô Lord we miserable and wretched sinners in respect of our naturall condition waiting and looking for daily the like houre of aduersity and sicknesse we presume to come vnto thee in the name and mediation of Christ Iesus praying beseeching thee together with this our brother and in his behalfe that thou wilt in no wise enter into iudgement with him neither deale extremely with him according to his deserts and that for Iesus Christ his sake our Lord and Sauior who hath purged and cleansed both his and all our sinnes and made full satisfaction for them vpon his Crosse But rather O Lord sith thou hast ransomed him with so great a price giue him grace and also strength and courage whereby he may quietly receiue and patiently suffer this thy fatherly visitation and chastisement and with all obedience willingly and readily submit himselfe vnto thy good pleasure Send him help in all his troubles and be thou vnto him a defence and fortresse against this present danger Especially O Lord at what time his conscience shall accuse him and his inward vnknown and secret sinnes shall stand vp against him oppose then and set thou for his defence the most bitter torments and voluntary sacrifice of Christ thy deare Sonne who hath borne all our iniquities and infirmities and suffered the punishment due vnto vs Being made sinne for vs while he dyed for our sins purging and washing them cleane away in and by his most precious blood and who also rising againe from death is becom our righteousnes perfect redemption Grant we beseech thee gracious Father that by faith he may feele the force and the power and vertue of these good blessings Being in this great anguish distresse trouble let him haue certaine proofe and experience of thy present aide succour and at this present let him haue a sure and certain taste of the fruit of all thy gifts and graces and of all thy mercies and benefits in Christ Iesus Make him with earnest desire with stedfast assurance and faith vnfained to receiue so great a treasure of happinesse to wit the remission of all his sinnes thorough Christ Iesus and for his sake which by the ministery of the word and by the participation of the Sacraments hath heretofore beene exhibited and offered vnto him that so it may be a comfort a fortresse sure refuge against the feare and trouble of his accusing conscience and against all the subtile sleights and assaults of the Diuel Yea let the same his faith be vnto him an armour of proofe wherby he may repell and beate backe all the fierie darts of the wicked so may safely passe euen through death vnto life which hauing once attained he may enioy the perfect fruition thereof for euermore We therefore wholly commend him vnto thee O heauenly Father and inasmuch as he is so grieuously sicke and diseased be thou his Physition to cure and heale him Forasmuch as he is weake and feeble confirme thou and strengthen him Inasmuch as he is destitute and void of worldly help send aide we beseech thee and in due time releeue and succour him Forasmuch as he lieth thus deiected and cast downe raise thou him vp againe Forasmuch as he is thus wounded binde thou vp his wounds Forasmuch as he is so fearefull and timorous giue him O Lord boldnesse and courage Forasmuch as he acknowledgeth his manifold sins and corruptions wash him and cleanse him from them all in the blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that immaculate Lamb. Yea for as much as thou knowest all things whereof he standeth in need and according to thy good pleasure canst bestow the same satisfie we beseech thee O gracious Father his lawful and godly desires satisfie his inward hunger and thirst yea satisfie him him abundantly with thy truth and with thy saluation Receiue and embrace him for he flyeth only vnto thee for succour Accept him therefore and make him constant stedfast in all things to obey and to doe thy will Finally we pray thee of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie to pardon and forgiue all those sinnes whereby he hath prouoked against himselfe thy fierce
wrath and displeasure In stead of death and after death grant vnto him life euen life euerlasting that he may for euer liue with thee in glory And if thou thinke it better more expedient for him that he abide yet longer in this mortalitie either for the benefit of others and for the vse and seruice of the Church or else for his owne behalfe and benefite that he may more nearely be conformed and made like vnto the example and image of thy Sonne Christ Iesus restore vnto him mercifull and gracious Lord his former health strength and with health and strength increase in him euery day more and more the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit Howbeit thy will be done alwaies in all things which cannot but euermore be for the best All these things grant vnto vs we beseech thee most gracious and merciful Father and to this our feeble and distressed neighbour and brother for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake who is our onely helper and redeemer for his sake who for the comfort of sinners translated by the ministerie of his blessed Angels the theefe on the crosse into Paradise and the soule of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome euen for his sake who sitteth at thy right hand of power and glorie to be our Aduocate and to make intercession for vs who also liueth and reigneth together with thine owne maiestie in the vnitie of the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Sicke partie LOrd Iesus thou that art the health of al men liuing and the life euerlasting of all that in thy true faith depart out of this wretched transitorie world I submit and wholly giue ouer my selfe vnto thy most blessed will whether it plâ—aâ—e thee that this silly soule of mine shall abide in this house and tabernacle of my bodie yet for some longer time to do thee seruice or whether thy will be that I shall shortly depart hence being certainly assured that the same can in no wise perish which is committed and deliuered ouer into thy mercifull hands O Lord I am most readie and willing to lay downe this fraile and corruptible flesh in certaine hope of the resurrection thereof at the last day when it shall be restored vnto me againe much more glorious and happie In the meane time confirme and strengthen my soule I beseech thee with thy grace holy Spirit against all temptations and against all assaults of Satan Gird compasse me about with the shield of thy mercie as thou diddest in times past thy holy Saints and Martyrs making them thereby strong inuincible against all torments and deaths though neuer so cruell or so fearefull and horrible I see that there is no helpe in my selfe ô Lord but all my helpe and hope my trust confidence is in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie I haue no deserts nor good works ô Lord that I can bring or alledge before thee But of misdeeds alas I see many and infinite as the sands of the Sea which hauing passed and gone ouer my head are as a grieuous burthen too too heauie for me to beare But yet through thy precious death and bloudshedding I beleeue that they are all quite purged and washed cleane away And through thy most perfect righteousnesse and obedience imputed vnto me I trust and am assured that I shall be yea and am already registred and receiued into the number of thy righteous Saints and seruants It was for me and for my sake that thou wast borne into the world and wast subiect vnto all the miseries and infirmities of this life Thou didst hunger and thirst for my sake thou didst teach and preach and worke many strange wonders and miracles for my sake thou didst fast and pray for me and for my sake For my sake it was that thou didst so many good deeds while thou liuedst and didst conuerse amongst men for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter paines and torments yea and gauest thy precious bodie and soule vnto death vpon the crosse for my sake Now let all these things sweete sauiour Iesus Christ be auaileable and profitable vnto me thy poore seruant who hast willingly performed all these things for me and hast giuen and bestowed thy selfe wholly vpon me and for me Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse and let thy merits stand for me before thy tribunall seate of iudgement And as my sicknesse and paine increaseth so increase ò Lord in me thy good gifts and graces both of faith and of patience and of constancie and perseuerance that my faith confidence may neither wauer nor stagger nor my loue toward thee be abated nor my humane weakenesse be deiected and cast downe by feare of death But after that death hath seized vpon closed vp the eyes of my body the eyes of my mind may not sweâ—ue nor turne aside from thee And when it hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet let my heart without ceassing crie vnto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for thou hast dearely bought it and redeemed it euen with thy most precious bloud Sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ receiue my soule Saue and keepe me protect and defend me vnder the shadow of thy wings that I sleepe not in death Saue and deliuer me euen in death from the power of death In thee ô Lord my God do I put my trust let me not be confounded Thou art my onely Lord Sauiour leaue me not neither forsake me ô God of my saluation But be thou still present with me to sustaine and vphold me to refresh and comfort me and finally at the time which thou hast appointed to conuey my soule into thy heauenly kingdome which thou hast purchased prepared for me before the beginning of the world Euen so come Lord Iesus Amen Amen A prayer for the Sicke being readie to giue vp the Ghost LOrd Iesus Christ thou which art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall not die for euer looke downe from heauen euen from thy Sanctuarie and holy habitation Behold visite and relieue this thy seruant Correct him not in thine anger neither chasten him in thy displeasure but according to the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon him we beseech thee with a fatherly affection Restore him if it be thy gracious will and pleasure vnto his former health and strength that so he may liue to glorifie thy name Or if it stand with thy will otherwise to deale with him euen by this present sicknesse to call him home vnto thine owne selfe out of this vale of wretchednes and miserie giue vnto him constancie to endure faithfull vnto the end and patience to suffer quietly and meekely thy rod and fatherly correction His flesh ô Lord is weake and fraile assist him with thy grace strengthen his weaknesse by the mightie power of thy holy Spirit His spirituall enemies are many and the craft and malice of Satan neuer wanting especially in the houre of death when the bodie is most weake to daunt affright if it be possible the soules of thy seruants that so he might destroy the soule together with the bodie Couer him therefore deare Father vnder the shadow of thy wings against all the assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that neither through the infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh nor through the grieuousnesse and painefulnesse of his sicknes nor the loue desire of this world nor the multitude of his sinnes nor the malice of Satan nor by any other meanes he be drawne away from his loue towards thee and his assured trust and confidence in thee We coÌ„fesse ô Lord that there is in himselfe as in our selues no power nor strength to helpe at all being borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity whereunto also haue bene added many actuall sinnes and transgressions both in thought word and deede whereby he hath prouoked thy iust wrath indignation In whom then shall he trust and from whom shall he looke for helpe but onely in thee from thee which art the Sauiour of all that put their trust in thee Thou didst vouchsafe for his sake to be borne into the world and to humble thy selfe to the state of a seruant to suffer all the miseries and infirmities of this life for his sake to sustaine beare all manner of reproches iniuries for his sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie to die and thy bloud to be shed vpon the crosse for his sake Now let all these things profit him we beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour Let thy most precious bloud wash away the multitude of his sinnes let that pure and vnspotted garmeÌ„t of thine obedience and righteousnesse hide couer his vnrighteousnesse let thy grace and power euermore defend succour him and let the sweet comfort of thy Spirit neuer depart from him vntill thou hast called him out of this vale of miserie into the blessed inheritance purchased for him where he may rest for euer with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Saints of God Heare vs we beseech thee most gracious and mercifull Sauiour saue thy seruant that putteth his whole trust in thee Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still his defence Let thy holy Spirit coÌ„firme strengthen him let thy louing kindnesse and mercte still abide and continue with him and be his stay and comfort alwaies vnto the end and in the end and for euermore Amen FINIS