and redemption for vs Pet. 32. Rom. 4. so that he will neuer impute them vnto vs but will fréely forgiue them all euen as we saye in the articles of our faith I beleue the remission of sinnes The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes throughe Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick wherof I haue here vnder recited some that they may be in a readynesse BEholde the Lambe of God Ioan. 1. which taketh away the sinnes of the worlde Wée are not redéemed with bryckle thinges 1. Petr. 1. as with corruptible siluer and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot Let these things enter into the bottome of thine heart let these things lift thée vp and giue thee comforte There is no cause why thou shouldest doubt of the forgiuenesse of sinnes if thou constantly professe the name of Christ and trustest in his mercie he will also take away thy sinnes If so be that thou nothing stick nor stacker but vndoubtedly beléeuest this nowe thou art become the sonne of God there is no cause why thou shouldest wauer there is nothing that thou shouldest feare Hearken vnto the testimonies of scripture but so hearken vnto them that thou mayest surely print them in thy minde Ioan. 3. So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that none that beléeue in him should perishe but should haue euerlasting lyfe He that beléeueth on him shall not be condemned Math. 9. I came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentance Math. 11. Come vnto mée all yee that labour and are laden and I will refresh you He calleth all men vnto him he refuseth no man he casteth no man in the téeth Thou art also comprehended in this worde All. Call vpon his mercie and he will comfort thée Rom. 5. God setteth out his loue that he hath to vs séeing that while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then nowe séeing that we are iustified in his blood shall we be saued from wrath thorowe him God the father which earnestly loueth thée would that this gospell full of comfort shoulde bée also declared vnto thée For Christ was sent vnto thée and he also died for thee beléeue onely and commende thy selfe vnto Christ thy preseruer and defender If when we were enimies Rom. 5. we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his sonne muche more séeing we are reconciled wee shall be preserued by his lyfe Christ is made to vs wisedome 1. Cor. 1. and also righteousnesse and sanctifying and redemption Here déerely beloued brother take a good hart although thou bée neuer so great an offender yet there is no matter why thou shouldest despeire but confesse and acknowledge thy selfe before Christ to be a sinner Call vpon his mercie and desire pardon of him aske forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and beléeue that Christ is thy onely sauiour thy health and iustification and euer will be Rom. 4. he will both couer and also abolishe all thy sinnes that thou shall neither feare perill nor dammage for them God hath made him to bée sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. which knew no sinne that we by his meanes should be that righteousnesse which before God is allowed Gala. 1. Christ gaue himselfe for our sinnes to delyuer vs from this presente euill worlde through the will of God our father Ephe. 1. By Christ we haue redemption thorowe his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace 1. Timo. 1. Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners Haue thou a confidence in these wordes and giue good credite vnto them and thou shalt be iustified and saued as wel as saint Paule 1. Timo. 2. Christ Iesus gaue himselfe a ransome for all men Constantly beléeue this and without all question to the contrarie thou art one of that number which shall be saued Hebr. 10. We are sanctified by the offering vp of the body of Iesus Christ once for all Thou hearest Christ also speaking vnto thée in his laste supper féeding thée with his body and giuing himselfe vnto thée spiritually that thou mightest drink his blood vnto euerlasting lyfe Luc. 22. Where as he sayeth Take eate this is my body Math. 26. Mark 14. 1. Cor. 11. which is gyuen for you This do in the remembrance of mée And likewise when he had supped he tooke the cup saying This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shedde for you for the forgiuenesse of sinnes Doe this as often as yée shall drinke it in the remembrance of mée Thinke thou déerely beloued that those wordes were spoken vnto thée fasten them in the bottome of thine heart For when he speaketh generally vnto al men Mark 13. he speaketh to thee also All things which Christ suffered shall doe thée good they shall redownde vnto thine aduantage and saluation they shall profite thée as much as they shall the déere saintes of God Christ himselfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the trée 1. Petr. 2. Christ hath once suffered for sinnes 1. Petr. 3. the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God The blood of Iesus Christe clenseth vs from all sinne 1. Ioan. 1. If anye man sinne 1. Ioan. 2. we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ which is righteous He it is that abteyned grace for our sinnes Thou mayest take moe fewer or lesse sentences of scripture for this purpose euen as thou shalt perceyue the sick to be affected The words which thou hast now heard are not the wordes of man but of the holy Ghost which plainly testifie that God the father whiche woulde not the death of a sinner Ezech. 18. but that he might be conuerted and liue for that his feruent loue which he beareth towardes thee hath eased and released thée from the burthen of thy sinnes hath layed them on the shoulders of his deerely beloued sonne Esay 53. which hath so borne and suffered them all in his body that they shal neuer be thy condemnation For if so bée that thou beléeue in Christ God reputeth and accepteth the death of his sonne in the stead of a full and sufficient repentance satisfaction and absolution for all thy sinnes Séeing therefore thy sinnes layed vpon Christ coulde not deteyne or kéepe him in death and condemne him ransome is truely payd for them and they are all fréely forgiuen thée Beléeue this and thou shalt liue eternally Christ himselfe suffered for thy sinnes Rom. 4. 1. Ioan. 2. died for them But he rose againe and the sinnes of all faithfull beléeuers are by his death acquited purged and clensed so that the straight iustice seuere iudgement of God is aboundantly satisfied through Christ Nowe therefore Christ is become thine and all others which beleeue with al his benefites with his death with his resurrection with his
2. Cor. 5. God hath made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne that we by his meanes should be righteous Wherfore if thou beléeue Ioan. 1. Rom. 8. Gala. 3. Rom. 6. thou art nowe becomme the sonne of God If thou be the sonne of God thou art also the heire of God and the fellow heyre with Christ If so be that eternall lyfe be the inheritaunce and gift of God as saint Paule doth call it thou canst not deserue it by the paynes and gréefe of thy sicknesse But God woulde haue thée punished wyth this disease vnto this ende purpose that thou shouldst therby keepe downe breake and mortifie this thine olde man that at the length he maye cease from committing of sinne 1. Cor. 15. the ende whereof commeth onely by this corporall death And for this cause wée muste dye that our soules may depart vnto euerlasting saluation For death is the gate Death is the enterance vnto eternall lyfe and entraunce vnto eternall lyfe where in the ende we are deliuered from all calamities †Apoc. 21. myseries and wretchednesse from all errours and deceytes of the diuell that we shall no more be defiled with the moste filthy spottes of sinne neyther shall we be seduced into heresies or errours neither be cast headlong into desperation 1. Cor. 15. Then there shall be an ende of all euills of all aduersities and discommodities Then shall we rest in the lorde and shall obtaine lyfe and euerlasting ioyes Death therfore is not to be detested and abhorred yea rather it is earnestly to be desired and imbraced seing that we passe thorow it into eternall ioyes And that is a most true saying which saint Paule speaketh Rom. 8. That all things vnto the godly shall turne vnto good Truely death vnto the worlde séemeth to be a thing most odious most horrible and cruell but vnto the beleeuers it is moste swéete pleasant and acceptable Although our olde Adam doth tremble at hir comming abhorreth escheweth hir Our inward man notwithstanding is readie chéerefull quick and willing to die seing that he vnderstandeth and knoweth that he shall be deliuered from al filthinesse of sinne wickednesse vice and wredchednesse by hir and shall go forth vnto eternall ioyes How those are to be comforted which lye in the daunger of death GOD thy good and moste louing father hauing compassion on thée déerely beloued doth call thée out of this most miserable and wretched lyfe wylling to translate bring thée vnto himselfe into the perpetuall ioyes of the celestiall life Therfore giue and commende thy selfe and all thine wholy vnto him and whatsoeuer he will haue done will thou the same also Math. 26. Mark 14. Luc. 22. Io. 6. Lu. 23 And say thy wil be done O God my father and not mine Cry vnto Christ as the théefe did which hanged on the crosse Remember mée O lord when thou commest into thy kingdome Crie with the publican Luc. 18. O lord be mercifull vnto me a wretched sinner Crie instantly with the woman of Cana that heathen gentile Oh sonne of Dauid haue mercie on mée Math. 15. And doubt not but Christ will heare thée calling vnto him and haue compassion on thée He will forgiue thee thy sinnes and thou shalt be with him in paradise Therefore take thou holde by this Christ sticke fast vnto him and sée that thou commit thy soule vnto him Crie thou with this Christ crucified vnto GOD which is father vnto you both In thée O lorde I put my trust Psal 31. let mée neuer bée put to confusion delyuer me in thy righteousnesse Bowe downe thine eare to mée make hast to delyuer me Be thou my strong rock and house of defence that thou mayest saue mée Thou art my strong rock and my castle be thou my guide also Into thy handes I commend my spirite Crie thou with Dauid also O lorde thou art my strength the lorde is my stony rock and my defence God is my sauiour and my buckler the horne also of my saluation Vnto thée O lorde Psal 18. Psal 25. haue I lifted vp my soule my God I haue put my trust in thée O let me not be confounded Leade me forth in thy truth For thou art the God of my saluation Call to remembraunce O lorde thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnesse which hath bene euer of olde Oh remember not the offences of my youth but according to thy mercie thinke thou vpon me O lord for thy goodnesse For thy names sake O lorde bée mercifull vnto my sinne for it is great Turne thée vnto mée haue mercy vpon me O bring thou me out of my troubles Forgiue mée all my sinnes O keepe my soule and deliuer mée Let me not bée confounded For I haue put my trust in thée If thou call for Gods ayde and succour after this maner God will helpe thée in a conuenient time and will say as it is written in the psalme Psal 91. Bicause he hath set his loue vpon me I will therfore delyuer him I will set him vp bicause he hath knowne my name He shall call vpon me and I will heare him yea I am with him in trouble I will deliuer him and bring him to honor Wherefore O thou christian here fight a good fight fight thou valiantly stoutely constantly as it becommeth a true christian to doe Beware thou giue no ground nor go backwards there is no perill Thou fightest not here alone But the king Iesus Christ is thy captaine in this agony Follow him going before thée in this conflict This thy capitaine shal be thy reuenger he shall saue and defende thée in this battell from all thē enimiys of thy soule from all perill from al calamitie He is not a king as others are but he is of infinit and vnspeakable power He hath vanquished and subdued for thy sake death sathan and hell Esa 25. Oscae 13. 1. Cor. 15. Death is swalowed vp into the victorie Christ died for thée Therefore eternall death hath no power on thée Christ descended into hell that he might deliuer thée frō this eternall darknesse Be thou therfore of a valiant stout courage runne into the front of the battell with a bold hart put away all feare here is no daunger There is no cause why thou shouldest feare the seuere streight iudgement of God 1. Ioan. 2. 1. Timo. 2. 1. Petr. 2. Rom. 5. Iesus Christ is thy mediatour before God He is thine aduocate patrone He is both thy bishop priest He hath recōciled thée vnto God and hath restored vnto you his fatherly loue which was alienated from thée for thy sinnes sake God now is now thy father for Christ his sake Esay 63. Iohn 14. He taketh care of thée He entéerly loueth thée as his most tender childe Now séeing that this so mighty a king standeth on thy side who shall be able to trouble thée Who shall be
assension into heauen with his lyfe with his merites and with his glorie Wherfore sathan hath no power ouer thee at all he can not hurte thée Rom. 8. séeing that thou art iustified through Christ séeing that thou art deliuered from all thy sinnes séeing that thou art become the child of GOD. God is thy father earnestly louing thée for Chiist his sake which hath reconciled and made a tonement for thée Wherefore be thou of good courage and reioyce thou in the lorde For séeing that thou art in the hands of almightie God thy good and most faithfull father thou art in safetie and out of al daunger For thou art enclosed and compassed about with the custodie of God and garde of angelles Christ is altogither become thine he couereth and taketh awaye all thy sinnes Ioan. 10. by his innocencie and righteousnesse No man can by violence pluck thée out of the handes of thy heauenly father Thou hast now the victorie when thou hast suffered and passed ouer this corporall crosse affliction the which being truely compared with eternall lyfe shal appere very easie 2. Cor. 4. Heb. 6. Ephe. 1. momentanie but of a short time Christ was in the like agony yea in a farre more bitter more horrible He is gon before thée he is thine head to whom thou must néedes become lyke and die vnto sinne and must lay aside this lyfe spotted and embrued with wickednesse that thou mayest after lyue the true life for euer with thy mayster Christ Let not thy sinnes trouble thée There is no cause why thy cōscience should be tormēted séeing that thy sinnes are now done away and abolished Thou hast ouercome and hast cast vnder foote that malignant spirite which goeth about to worke the destruction of our soules God now hath compassion on thée he careth for thée he doth defende and kéepe thée all the felowship of saintes and aungels doe regarde thée And euen as Christ can not be damned so lykewise thou canst not be damned if so be that thou beleue on him with the full confidence of thine whole hart If sinne death and hell can nothing hurt thy lorde and mayster Christ neyther can they hurt thée for thou art mistically graffed into Christ by fayth and Christ is effectuall in thée therefore thou canst neuer be damned If so be that thou thy selfe shouldst beare thy sinnes and make a tonement for them thou wouldst by no meanes be able to susteine and beare so great and heauie a burthen they woulde bee farre to weightie for thée they woulde deuour thée as one drowned into the bottome of hell But Christ being perfite God and perfite man did offer himself vp of his owne accord for thée he did put himself in thy roume discharging paying all things for thee as it is written in the Psalme Psal 69. I payde them the things I neuer tooke Truely thou diddest commit sinne against thy selfe but Christ purged them and made satisfaction for thée and planted thée in libertie if so be that thou beléeue this Gospell Although al the sinnes of the whole world were layde vpon thée onely yet God hath grace and mercie sufficient for them more then sufficient God hath promised thée his grace and blessing in Christ and the same is ratified certeine full absolute and perfite in Christ thy lorde and mayster Thou must néedes be saued if so be that thou fastē thine eyes vpon Christ Hypostasis For Christ is the naturall sonne of God in diuine substance veritie it selfe and touching his humanitie he is our fleshe and blood Who will be more sure and certeine then this Christ to giue and perfourme the promise of grace which is himselfe the veritie of his promise and loueth vs vnfaynedly in somuch that he had léefer dye then to disappoint vs in any parte of his promise Wherefore if thou beleue in Christ thou art now made partaker of his heauenly blessing thou art now eased of the burthen of thy sinnes nowe thou art the eire of God and the fellowe eire with Christ for euer Math. 24. For heauen and earth shall passe but the worde of the lorde endureth for euer Therefore beléeue and strengthen thy minde with good hope and doubt not but GOD is chéefest and almightie yea euen for thée hee became man for thy saluation he was also borne for thy sake hée dyed on the crosse he rose from the deade for thy sake and ascended into heauen he offered vp and performed all things which were promised vnto vs. For all the promises of God 2. Cor. 1. by Christ are yea and are by him Amen Wherfore desire of God to haue his mercy and then looke for none other thing at his hand but méere grace and mercy and the same for Christ and through Christ For without him truely there is no consolatiō no health no hope no helpe or succour In this only Christ is all comfort all ayde and staye and to be bréefe all the meanes of our saluation In him is all grace and mercie much more infinite and greater more highe plentifull and abundant then anye man can either comprehend or wyshe for God vouchsafe to graunt vs a sure and constant fayth After this maner thou shalt comfort the sick body either with longer or shorter communication as the matter shall require And I admonish thée déere brother in the lorde that thou withdrawe thy minde with as great endeuor and studie as thou mayest from the horrible contemplation of sinne and death and bend all thy thoughts vpon Christ onely fasten the eyes of thy minde vpon him cleane vnto him with all thine hart and as it were drinke him into thée call vpon him with full trust of minde and commit thy selfe wholy vnto him For thou shalt finde none other thing in this Christ than excellent innocencie righteousnesse lyfe and saluation all the which being deryued from Christ into thée are now become thine if so be that thou wilt acknowledge him to be thy redéemer and authour of thy saluation Wherefore I warne thée doe oftentimes beate it into thée by repetition and that for good cause that thou renue not or call to minde the remembraunce of thy sinnes nor torment thy self by waying the multitude and greatnesse of them Whē thy sinnes are banished farre off from thée set Christ crucified onely before thine eies fasten him in thine hart let thy whole minde senses be surely set on him cleane fast vnto him with all thine heart neuer to be pulled away By this meanes thou shalt withstande and preuaile against the gates of hell be they neuer so cruell be they neuer so horrible and terrible Call to minde with how great humanitie and clemencie with what gentlenesse benignitie Christ in the Euangelicall historie Math. 9. hath receyued and vsed all sinners which truely repenting haue asked forgiuenesse and besought his ayde and mercy And thou shalt finde Marie of Magdalene Luc. 8. Luc.
commoditie Thou must therefore leaue and forsake this lyfe if thou wilt enioy euerlasting lyfe So after this lyfe thou shalt in the ende begin to lyue in deede Furthermore this corporall death profiteth thée to this purpose that when thou hast tasted the bitternesse and sharpnesse therof thou mayest trie know how feruent the affection of Christ his loue was towardes thée what an vnestimable benefite hée bestowed vpon thée that he dying for thée did paye and make satisfaction with his bodye for all thine offences death throughly extinguished and abolished and the gates of hell throwne downe destroyed and also broken For thou couldest neuer any other wayes know and vnderstand the strength and power of life in Christ which hath swalowed vp our death thou shouldst not know the largenesse of his benifits neither shouldest thou be able to giue so harty thankes to Christ thy lorde and redéemer Wherfore seing that Christ doth liue thou also shall lyue by him and this same death shal be vnto thée a certeine happy wholesome sléepe It shall be also an entrance and gate into that true and most blessed lyfe Secondly Christ was also tempted with sinne when they did reuile and vpbraide him as a verie wicked man and giltie of most gréeuous crime Math. 27. If thou be the sonne of God come downe from the crosse Thou sauest others why doest thou not saue thy selfe also What other thing meane these contumelious wordes then that they supposed and thought that he deceiued the people by fraude dole slight wiles noughtie craftinesse and that he was not in déede the sonne of God yea they iudged him rather to be most wicked most abhominable and most worthy of reproch Euen likewise sathan will tempt man being in daunger of death he will present vnto him whatsoeuer he hath done and committed against the commaundement of God and will put into his minde whole waynlodes as it were of sinnes the same heaped vp into a great abundance that by the outragiousnesse and greatnesse of sinnes he maye bring man into desperation which staggereth and doubteth of Gods mercie and pardon And here thou must stand fast and strongly and shalt enterteine thine enimy assaulting thée with these wordes I confesse that I am a most manifold and gréeuous sinner But Christ frée from all sinne he that innocent lambe in whose mouth was founde no guile 1. Petr. 2. hath suffered cruell death for my sinnes he hath clensed them all be they neuer so great nor neuer so many and hath made sufficient satisfaction for them all Christ his death is the propitiation for al my sinnes 1. Ioan. 2. Christ verily hath suffered all my féeblenesse He in déede hath caried all my sorowes He was wounded for mine iniquities Esay 53. He was smitten for my sinnes By his woundes am I healed He hath takē vpō him al my sinnes I now acknowledge none I thank Christ which hath payed ransome for them all Thirdly he was also tempted with hell or eternall damnation when they obiected against him saying He hath trusted in the Lorde Math. 27. let him take him let him saue him bicause he will haue him as thoughe they should say All his hope in God shal deceyue him God is his aduersarie and abhorreth him and will cast him awaye for euer as one thrust downe into hell When the same tempter prouoketh thée with such lyke temptations take héede thou stand fast There is no cause why thou shouldest feare there is no cause why thou shouldest tremble Let the thing which he offereth and presenteth vnto thée nothing moue thée at all bée it neuer so gréeuous Put out of thy minde and banish awaye farre from thee as well sinne as death and hell They haue no power ouer thée if thou fasten thine eies vpon Christ Take holde on him and commend thy selfe wholy vnto him Christ is thine and he bestoweth himselfe wholy vpon thée He hath redéemed thée from the tirannie of the diuell and euerlasting damnation by an inestimable price This Christ is thine innocencie thy lyfe and thy righteousnesse Take héede onely that thine hart be neuer withdrawne from Christ crucified by any temptations If thou cleaue fast vnto thys Christ thou shalt be safe against all the gates of hell as one that is placed vpon an high most sure and inuincible rocke that thou mayest crie out with Christ Psal 16. I haue set God alwaies before me He is on my right hand Therfore I shal not fal Wherfore my hart was glad and my glorie reioysed my fleshe also shall rest in hope Thou hast shewed me the pathes of lyfe In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioye and at thy right hande is pleasure for euermore Thou art become through such a faith in Christ the childe of God the brother and felow eire with Christ Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Rom. 3. Gal. 3. Ephe. 2. and partaker of eternall lyfe This fayth iustifieth the righteous that is to saye those which beleue in Christ For this faith thou shalt be reputed the blessed child of God thy heauenly father and when thou departest hence thou shalt enter into the kingdome of heauen Math. 25. prepared for the elect children of GOD from the beginning of the worlde But if so be that thy fayth wauer and be doubtfull in temptations and when thou doest not suffer moderately and paciently ynough the wil of thy heauenly father when thy loue towardes God is somewhat colde when thy hope is weake and slender and for this cause fearest lest thou shouldest not well accorde with God or lest he will be offended with thée Truely this is a most greeuous most painefull and hard temptation But thou shalt thinke in thy minde and perswade with thy selfe that Christ suffered for thée moste intolerable Inuincible touching mere māhood and inuincible temptations wherein there appéered no helpe comfort ayde or defence any where wherein God and the whole world séemed to be his most cruell malycious enimies when that he cryed aloude My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh horrible and most cruell temptation oh good God how sharpe how greeuous how cruel how bitter was the death which he suffered for vs that he might make the way of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore seing that Christ willingly put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intolerable sorrowes and calamities our most louing heauenly father wylling the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmity out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extréemely deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecilitie weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him say Come vnto me Math. 11. al ye that labor and are heauie laden and I wil refresh you what more plentifull what greater comfort I pray you can be giuen vs Truly many very gréeuous things do molest trouble mā For what thing can more
the which fréends what thing cā be more vnfreendly After this if the maner and kinde of his disease will suffer him let him endeuor rather to cure his soule than his bodye by a shorte confession vnto God but simple and without dissimulation and let the elders standing by put him in remembrance of repentaunce grounded vpon a sure faith and deuotion and let him call for Gods mercie from the bottome of his hart and purpose and entende the amendement of lyfe if hée happen to escape But if so be that happily no elder or coūsell giuer may be had let not the sick straight waies fal into desperation as some presumptuous people are woont to doe for the lacke of a priest but let him declare his vnrighteousnesse and open his conscience vnfainedly vnto God himselfe which according to his clemēcie wil vouchsafe to accept the desire of the minde in the steade of the fact and will of his peculiar grace fulfill of himselfe that which lacketh in the outwarde signes of the sacraments of the Lordes supper which he desireth to receyue For through him the sacramentes are made effectuall which after a fashion are seales of his diuine beneuolēce towards vs. The sacraments are seales of Gods mercye towardes vs. But he saueth man when néede doth require without these signes onely so that there be no neglecting or contempt of the sacrament but faith and a readie good will is therevnto Of the sacrament of the lords supper LEt the sicke body earnestlye desire to haue the most royal sacrament of thanks giuing to bée brought Eucharistia and ministred vnto him after the his minde is purged by a true and a perfite confessiō made vnto almighty God as is aforesaide and let him especially beware that he come not to that banquet or heauenly table with iniurous handes and spotted conscience For we may not thinke that those gréeuous threatnings are vaine and of none effect 1. Cor. 11. which saint Paule maketh mention off Therefore after that hee hath examined and prepared himselfe for that purpose according to his power and capacity let him deuoutly record and speake these wordes O lorde thou art the wayfaring cottage of our pilgramage A prayer wherewith we are refreshed and nourished as long as we host in the deserte of this worlde and runne in this course Bring mée therefore O lorde Psal 27. into the lande of the lyuing into the region of the quick by the receyuing of this thy body whereas I may beholde thée face to face in the glory of the father When we haue thus prayed let him with a sure fayth receyue the sacrament of Christ his body in the remembrance of his death and passion And when the communion is ended if it be perceiued that no skil of phisick may cure his disease then let the elders pray ouer the sick body Ioan. 5. not vsing any magicall prayers as the heathen were woont to doe but earnestly calling vpon the name of Iesus Christ wherevnto there is no kinde of inchauntment comparable or lyke effectuall and sée that he haue a confidence and affiance in your prayers then will God héere you and preserue him that is sicke and he shall not onely haue the health of his body restored vnto him againe if it so be good expedient for him Bodily sicknesse do spring out of the wickednesse of the minde but if he haue happily committed sinne as commonly the sickenesse of the body doe spring out of the enormyties and naughtinesse of the minde they shall be forgiuen him at the prayers of the elders if that both they which praye and he for whom they do pray bée of a stedfast and constant fayth The sorow which many take more then is requisite for the death of there parentes and friends ought to be tempered by the right rule of reason IT is the parte of an heathen gentile rather than of a christian man to giue himselfe onely vnto teares refusing all temperance and moderation of reason in sorowing the which thing is conuinced and manifestlye reproued by thys reason especially bicause that they which are sorowed for cannot be reuoked and called backe againe vnto lyfe by wéeping be it neuer so much or neuer so long continued and vsed Therfore those teares are vaine and of none effect bringing no fruite or commoditie with them 2. Reg. 12. The which thing king Dauid hath declared vnto vs by an example worthie of memory which fasted and wept abundantly As long as the childe borne vnto him of Bersabe was sicke and languished he gat himselfe alone and lay flat on the grounde praying vnto the lorde for the health of the childe But as soone as he vnderstoode by his seruauntes which whispered togithers that the childe was deade he casteth off his sadde and mourning garmentes and apparelled himselfe in freshe aray hée washed his face and when the table was layed he did eate chéerefully Whereat his seruants marueyled and thought that when hée had vnderstoode of his childes death that he would the more afflict himselfe which whilest the childe was yet lyuing did pine himselfe with fasting and weeping He said vnto his seruantes demaunding why he did so I haue fasted and wept for the infant whyle he yet lyued For I said Who can tell if the lorde peraduenture will giue me the infant that he may liue But now seing that he is dead wherefore should I fast What can I call him againe I shal rather go vnto him then he shall reuerte and come againe vnto mée By the which wordes truely Dauid wisely declared that we ought not to lamēt and sorrow for him which cannot be reuoked and called back againe vnto lyfe ¶ This sermon of saint Cyprian is alreadie translated into english by the famous learned and worshipfull knight sir Thomas Eliote Wherefore I did ommit the same least happily the prouerbe shoulde be verified on mee Cornicum oculos configere to endeuor to prick out the crowes eyes And saint Cyprian in his sermond entituled of mortalitie testifieth that he was often admonished by diuine reuelation wherin God commaunded him that he shoulde openly warne all men and should teache them by preaching that the breathren which depart out of this worlde by Gods calling ought not to be lamented and that such wayling is lothsome and hated of God Yet notwithstanding it is méete that we should sometime participate our teares cōming of a naturall zeale of the minde and the syncere affect of compassion but moderated by the right rule of reason least we should séeme to haue an hart as hard as an adamant stone to haue looued our fréend little or nothing at al. For Christ our lord the absolute perfite figure of all vertues louingly lamented dead Lazarus And Marie and Martha were highly commended for that they lamented their brothers buriall And those fréendly women Ioan. 11. which diligently stoode by Christ Luc. 23. Math. 27. when he suffered
his passion vpon the crosse were therefore worthily praised bicause they wept for him when he was deade and buried We reade also in the actes of the apostles Acto 7. of S. Stephan the first martyr that godly men prouided for him all that appertained vnto the funerall of his buriall Yea and furthermore Ecclesiasticus doth admonish vs to wéepe for the deade but not immoderately or any long time Eccle. 22. saying thus Wéepe ouer him that is deade bicause the light fayleth him Make but little wéeping for the deade bicause he is come to rest Also verye many epistles of the holy father saint Hierome comforting vs vpon the death of our fréendes are of great efficacie for the same purpose whereof I now entreate For they perswade by the authority of holy scripture strong reasons that they ought not immoderately to be lamented which chaunge their life with death As that epistle which he wrote vnto Heliodorus vpon the death of Nepotianus that which he wrote vnto Paula vpon the death of hir daughter Blesilla and that which he wrote vnto Tyrasius of the death of his daughter and the rest of that most reuerende father his epistles touching the like matter argument A precept containing an exhortation vnto all them which professe the name of Christ I Now humbly desire Paraenesis hartily beséech you by the mercie of God as manie as are called by the name of Christians that once in the ende yée forsake your olde darkenesse and horrible errors and returne vnto better proofe of lyfe and to harken vnto the wholesome receiued worde of God with great desire of a pure hart and deuotion knocking without ceasing and that ye call vpon the father of heauen through Christ that he wil instruct vs and lighten vs with the true knowledge of Christ Tit. 2. that we may liue soberly righteously and godly in this present lyfe refusing the wickednesse and concupiscence of the worlde looking for that blessed hope and appéerance of the glorie of almightie God Iesu Christ our sauiour which gaue himselfe for vs that he might redéeme vs from all our iniquities 1. Petr. 2. clense vs to be a peculiar people vnto himself and folowers of good workes That worde of grace light and all comfort hath shyned vnto vs by the excéeding benefite of God We haue verie many notable examples in holy scripture testifying the abundant goodnesse long suffering and clemencie of God towards vs whereby we maye easily perceyue how that hée woulde not haue vs to be cast awaye EZech. 18. but that we should be conuerted and lyue how soone his wrath be it neuer so iust waxeth colde how soone be letteth passe the punishment which we deserue when we thinke on the amendement of our lyfe earnestly repenting Let vs also déerely beloued flye vnto God in all our afflictions being moued therevnto by these things Let vs desire him with continuall prayers that he will vouchsafe mercifully to forgiue vs all our sinnes for that his welbeloued sōne Iesus Christ his sake and that he will vouchsafe to preserue nourish defend and comfort vs and to be briefe he will vouchsafe to be our present aide and succour in all necessities 2. Reg. 14. As soone as Dauid being cast into extreme perill when there died thrée score and ten thousande within fewe dayes by the fiercenesse of the pestilence did flye vnto God confessing his sinnes desiring pardon for them earnestly calling vpon the mercy of God building an aulter in the threshing floure of Arefnath the Iebusite and offered vp burnt sacrifice and peace offerings God tooke compassion on the lande the plague ceassed from Israell After this example call you also vpon the grace and mercie of God confessing your sinnes offering vp vnto God an acceptable sacrifice of a penitēt and contrite hart and he will be present with you and helpe you and will neuer forsake you Likewyse God sent the prophet Ionas Ionas 3. and threatened to ouerthrow destroy that moste famous and populous citie Niniue But as soone as the Niniuites did repent at the preaching of Ionas GOD tooke mercy on them forgaue their offences and did withholde his punishment Follow their example and mistrust not the mercy of God His arme is not yet abreuiated shortned He both can and will helpe vs so that wée call for his ayde and succour and will not refuse his grace when it is offered vnto vs. Doth he not cry out by S. Paule Rom. 10. plainly testifye that he is rich vnto all them that call vpon him Peroratio I Hartily desire you déerely beloued brethren in the Lorde to take this my simple tretise in good part whereby I a weake member of yours am desirous to doe you good being other members in the lorde as farre foorth as I might both for breuitie of time also the health of my body not being perfite I had léeuer comforte you face to face if it might so be But séeing it may not be so I will somewhat make amendes in shewing my ready good will and charity towardes you by prayer Wherefore I beseeche Iesus Christ that true and most approued meane the most plentifull apothecary that he will vouchsafe to make this phisick for the soule collected and atchyued out of his apothecaries shoppe that is to wit out of the riche storehouse of holy scripture to be effectual in your harts that true fayth may encrease in you the loue both towardes God and your neyghbour may be feruent in you that ye may be pacient in all troubles and aduersitie that ye diligently following Christ his example may cleaue and sticke fast vnto him euen to the yéelding vp of the last breath in sure hope of eternall life thorow Iesus christ Amen The ende of the Booke entituled Physick for the soule A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sicke THou muste for a surety determine with thy selfe O Christian which art troubled and gréeued with sicknesse that thou art not afflicted by hap or chaunce but by the purpose and permission of God Whatsoeuer disease there be calamitie heauinesse or infelicity which happeneth vnto the godlye it commeth all by the determination and will of God Act. 17. Psal 99. which gouerneth all things For in him we liue moue and haue our being He made vs and not we our selues And doubt not but he sendeth this sicknesse whatsoeuer it be of his good and fatherly loue not to the entent that he would thereby destroy thée but that he myght call thée to repentance and that he myght stirre vp and exercise thy fayth Afflictions are the tokens of Gods fauour For afflictions are the sure and vndoubted signes and tokens of Gods great mercy and fauour towards vs. Salomon sayth †Prouer. 13. †Eccle. 30. †Hebr. 12. Whom he loueth him doth he correct he scourgeth euery childe whom he receyueth Thy most mercifull
to abyde him when he did hyde the greatest part of his maiestie althoughe he came downe not offended with them nor spake he vnto them wrathfully Therefore consider this if they were not able to abide his comming which comforted them when that neyther the burning heauens were dissolued neyther the earth and that is in it was burnte when that neyther they which sounde the Trumpet did blow as that trumpet shal be sounded which shall rayse vp al them that haue slept from the beginning of the world neyther any other of the terrible things to come did then happen how shall we do when he shal come downe with intollerable wrath The second coÌ„ming of the lord Psal 50. furye and shall sit vppon the throne of hys glory and shall call the earth Euen from the East vnto the Weast and from all the costes of the earth that he may discerne and knowe his people and giue to euery man according vnto his deserts what men alas behooueth vs to be when that we shal stand stripped and naked readie to bée brought foorth vnto the iudgemeÌ„t seat Where then shall that painted colour and the force and strength of the fleshe become then where shall that deceitfull and vnprofitable beautie the pleasantnesse of mans voyce impudent shamelesse babling become Where then is the trimming and decking vp with clothes and the delight pleasure of most foule and filthie sinne Where then are they which drinke wyne with pyping and singing and haue no regarde or respect vnto the workes of GOD where then is the contempt despising of them which nowe lyue without feare Then where is delicasie and nysitie For all those things shall passe away and shall be dissolued as the corrupt ayre Loke for this matter Sapi. 5. Where then is the gréedie desire of money and riches and vnmercifulnesse hir continuall companion Where then is pride which disdaineth all men thinketh hir selfe to be somewhat Where then is the vaine and vnprofitable glorie of man the great might tirannie Where then is the king the prince the capitaine Where then are the puffed vp magistrates contemning God in comparison of their owne riches When they shall perceyue that this saying must bée spoken of them They maruailed they are moued they are troubled feare is come vpon them Oscae 13. Iere. 50. Psal 48. 1. Cor. 1. there shall be sorowes as of a woman trauailing with child they shal be consumed with a vehemeÌ„t spirit Where then shal be come the wisedome of the wise with all there newe inuentions Wo bee vnto them They are moued they are troubled as a dronken man and all there wisedome is swalowed vp 1. Corin. 1. 2. Petr. 3. Where then is the worldly wise the scribe and the treasurer of this vaine world Way and consider déerely beloued what maner of men we ought to be when that we must yeelde an accompt of all that we haue â—â—ne as well small as great things For vntill that we according to iust iudgement fully make satisfaction what shall our estate and condicion bée in that houre and how carefull shall we bée that we maye obtaine fauour in the sight of God Math. 25. And what ioy shall we haue which shall be placed on the right hande of God How then shall we féele our selues when that all the saintes of God shall gréete vs Abraham shall salute thée Isaac and Iacob Moyses Noe Iob Dauid and all the holy prophetes apostles and martirs and all good men which haue pleased God in the lyfe of there fleshe And how many shalt thou there heare whose lyfe thou shalt haue in admiration whome thou wouldest euen now wyllingly sée They will there come vnto thée reioysing at thy saluation After what sort shal we then be affected How inestimable shall that ioy bée when the gladsome king shall say vnto them which stand on his right hande Math. 25. Come ye blessed of my father take to your inheritance the kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Then shalt thou receyue a most decent kingdome Sapi. 5. and crown of beautie at the lordes hand and after that shalt raigne with Christ Then shalt thou inherite al these eternall things 2. Timo. 4. which God hath ordained for them that loue him Then shalt thou euer afterward be without dread and heauinesse Ponder and consider what it is to raigne with Christ in heauen For as I haue tolde thée thou shalt receyue a diademe at the hande of the lorde and shalt euer after raigne with Christ Thinke with thy selfe what a thing it is to beholde the face of God for euer what a brightnesse hath it For then there shall be no sunne to giue the day light Esay 60. as Esay sayeth and the rising of the Moone shall not lighten the night Apoc. 21. Esay 64. 1. Cor. 2. But the lord God shall be thine eternall light and thy glorie Beholde what ioyes are layed vp in store for them the feare the lord and kéepe his commaundements The perdition of the wicked Consider againe also the perdition of sinners when they shall be brought foorth vnto the terrible iudgement seat of God with how great confusion then shall they be taken before the iust iudge hauing not one worde to aunswere how shall they be ashamed Psal 2. when the lorde shall speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure Math. 25. saying depart from me ye wicked into eternall fyre which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels Alas what miserie and affliction shall there spirit suffer when that all men shall crie out aloude saying Let the sinners be turned into hell Psal 9. and all nations which forget God What time wil they howle out wayling and lamenting when they shall bée caried awaye that they maye be cruelly tormented world without ende what place alas is that where is wayling and gnashing of téeth called hell the which sathan himselfe abhorreth what is that Gehenna fyre vnquenchable Esay 66. Marc. 9. Math. 22. what is that worme venimous neuer ceasing howe greeuous are those vtwarde darkenesse alwayes continuing what are the ministers appointed for tormentes which lacking mercie and without compassion reprooue and punish Then they that are tormented will gréeuously crie vnto the lord Pro. 1. and he wil not héere them Then shall they vnderstand that all things which they had in this lyfe are vaine and transitorie Read for this Ecclesiastes and such things as they supposed here to be pleasant to be founde more bitter than gall and poyson Then where is the pleasure of the fleshe so termed falsely To feare God is true pleasure Psal 63. For there is none other pleasure but to feare the lorde This is the pleasure this replenisheth the soule as it were with marrow fatnesse Then shall they be in desperation of themselues and of the