the holy Euangelist in his first Epistle and the thirde Chapter The bloud of Iesus Christe Gods Sonne maketh vs cleane from all sinne Beléeue these wholsome comfortable and gratious wordes stande stedfastly in a true beléefe so shall you be a childe of euerlasting life Amen Sixtly nowe dearely beloued séeing you haue humbled your selfe before our Lorde God confessed your sinnes and haue cryed for grace and mercy ye shal nowe call vnto our Lord God from all your heart first and chiefly séeke for helpe and say thus OH thou mercifull good God father I come now to thée in my great necessitie and cry vnto thée and complain from the bottome of my heart as to my louing father my greuous passions and griefes and exhort thée that thou wilt remember thy comfortable promises for thou hast gratiously promised that I shal be heard where thou in the 50. Psal. saiest Cal vpon me in thy necessitie or trouble and I wil heare thee thou shalt praise me And Saint Marke in the 11. Chapter saith What so euer you aske in your prayers onely beleeue that you shall receiue it and so shall you haue it Vnto these thy promises come I forsaken miserable wretche and craue of thée helpe and comfort therefore my chiefly beloued Lord and father help me out of this my griefe and trouble and forsake me not in any of my tormentes for thine onely begotten deare Sonne Iesus Christes sake Therfore shall I alwayes highly laud praise thy name giue thée thanks frō the bottom of my hart for al thy benefits set foorth number the same always Seuenthly nowe deare friend séeing that your offences commited might make you afraide and weaken your faith that ye dare not with all confidence and sure trust require at Gods hand and hope for helpe and grace and trust surely vppon his mercie you shall in this manner call vppon God for forgiuenes of your sinnes and speake thus Oh thou most deare Lorde and very louing God séeing thou hast made vs so many and great promises whereby we might be richly comforted strengthened in all our troubles and aduersities I am bolde to put thée in remembraunce once againe very earnestly of thy true promises whiche thou hast made vnto me in the 6. of Saint Matthewe where thou hast promised me forgiuenesse of all my sinnes if I do forgiue my neighbours that wherein they haue offended against me For these be thy wordes If you forgiue other their faults so wil also your heauenly father forgiue you your offences Therefore come I vnto thée and stay me vpon thy worde specially that thou wilt forgiue me all my sinns according to thy mercifull promise fréely for nothing so that I also doe forgiue other For these nowe I praye vnto thée my Lord and God that thou wilt send into my heart thy holy spirite for thy bitter passion death sake that he may make cleane my sinfull hart lighten and kindle a feruent heate in me that I also may forget and forgiue For of myne own power I can do nothing so from the bottome of my heart shall I forgiue euery man both my friendes and enimies what so euer they haue done against me and put out of my heart all manner of malice hatred enimitie and displeasure And séeing that I now through thy grace perceiue such loue against myne enimie so am I nowe persuaded according to thy promises that thou nowe hast clearely forgiuen me all my sinnes of méere mercy without my desertes For there haue I a perfect signe good assuraunce séeing I haue according to thy promise forgiuen euery man that thou also hast forgiuen me all Do with me according to thy promise for thy word is true whatsoeuer thou sayest that kéepest thou assuredly Vpon this thy word do I stay without all doubt beléeue I thy promise that I haue now gotten forgiuenesse of all my sinnes wherefore I haue nowe a frée safe and ioyfull conscience that I know not now of any sin in me that I haue obteined from God peace ioy in the holy ghost that I certeinely persuade my selfe of Amen Eightly now welbeloued the holy scripture sheweth vs of two giuings of Christ our lords body vnto vs The first is the generall giuing where Christ gaue vs wretched sinners his body vpon the crosse for an offering for our sinnes this giuing is made vnto vs our owne through true faith specially when we surely beléeue Gods promises Ioh. 6. Of this giuing witnesseth Christ himself Ioh. 3. where he saith thus So hath God loued the world that he hath giuen his owne sonne to the intent that al that beleue on him shuld not be destroied but inioy euerlasting life And further the holy Apostle S. Paule Rom. 8. witnesseth likewise saith If God be on our side who can be against vs whiche hath not spared his owne sonne but hath giuen him for vs all And Rom. 4. Christ is for our sinne sake giuen and for our righteousnesse sake raised vp againe And to the Ephe. 5. saith S. Paul moreouer Christ hath loued vs and giuen him selfe for vs an oblation sacrifice These such like sayings you shal diligently marke stedfastly beléeue that Christ our only sauiour hath giuen and offred vp his body bloud vpon the crosse for you a sufficient sacrifice for euer ye shal not néed to séeke or to hunt after any other sacrifice satisfaction or redemption for your sin but lay fast holde vpon this innocent lambe which hath borne the sinnes of the whole worlde The other giuing of the body bloud of our lord Christ is an especial giuing which is deliuered vnto vs in the sacrament Whereof Christ speaketh Matthewe 26. And holy Saint Paule in the 10. 11. Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians This second deliuering of the body and bloud of Christe in the sacrament is an assuring and an a certeyning of the establishing of the first deliuering or giuing For it confirmeth the first giuing which we receiue by faith And the second doth not profite or comfort vs without the first but is rather hurtful and damnable Therefore warneth vs also the holy Apostle S. Paule in the 11. Chap. of his saide first Epistle to the Corinthians that we shoulde well try our selues before that we receiue the holy sacrament of Christes body and bloud that no man receiue them to his condemnation This proofe standeth vpon thrée points First ye shal acknowledge your selfe for a miserable sinner that of him selfe and by him selfe can doe nothing nor hath any power to do any thing whereby he might be deliuered from his sinne God him selfe doth forgiue reconcile and pardon giueth true comfort purchaseth blessednesse specially to them that doe thirst after the grace of god And so of méere grace and mercie in Christe onely doe long after the kingdome of heauen Secondly examine
not though I be a very wretched sinner altogether for these causes séeing that thou by thy worde hast commaunded and promised that I shal be heard in what daunger and trouble so euer I be when I call vpon thée and that then I shall honour thée and euer acknowledge thée to be the true and very God séeing I perceiue that what so euer thou promisest that thou dost perfourme effectually Therefore beléeue I certeinly thy worde that thou wilt not denie it but vndoubtedly perfourme whatsoeuer thou hast once spoken therfore I beséech thée from the bottome of my heart that thou wilt help me out of my trouble and sicknesse and neuer forsake me but gratiously send me thy fatherly helpe and deliuer me from my distresse For there is no body vpon whō I can perceiue any helpe or goodnesse but only vpon thée therefore helpe thou me my lord and God but not according to my deserts worthinesse or goodnes but through the deserts of thy sonne Iesus Christe which hath purchased vnto me from thée all grace and fatherly fauour him dost thou loue and hast great pleasure in him and therfore thou wilt not forsake me for his sake but rather shewest vnto me all goodnesse therfore I commit my self wholy vnto thy mercy and fatherly goodnesse and put my whole cause vnto thée as to my louing father that thou wilt deliuer me out of all this trouble griefe weaknes paines when it shal please thy godly will therfore I will not appoint vnto thée neyther time nor space but earnestly hope vpon thée that thou wilt heare me and defend me though my case appeare very straunge and as impossible as it may be for thou art almightie hast might and power ouer all things and besides this thou art my father and art willing to doe it if it were nowe necessarie Therfore at thy hand I looke for al goodnesse be it vnto me according vnto thy true promise Amen Thirdly moreouer welbeloued let vs once againe lift vp our heartes and mindes vnto him from whome all help and goodnesse commeth chiefly vnto the father of all light which giueth euery good gift gratiously heareth vs Therfore séeing that your paines necessitie miserie and griefes stil continue therefore pray vnto our Lord God with holy Dauid and say thus Oh Lord punish me not in thine anger correct me not in thine me Lord be gratious vnto me for I am feeble heale me Lorde for my bones be afraide Turne thee Lord and deliuer my soule help me according to thy pleasure be not far from me for trouble is at hand for here is none that can helpe Remember Lorde thy mercy and thy goodnesse which hath ben since the world beganne Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor mine offences but thinke vpon me after thy mercy and according to thy goodnesse Lorde haue mercy vppon my misdeedes which be very great turne thee to me be gratious vnto me for I am forsaken and in miserie the heauinesse of my heart is great lead me out of my necessitie and need Behold my miserie and distresse and forgiue me all mine offences Lorde be gratious vnto me according to thy goodnesse and blot out all my sinnes after thy great mercy wash me cleane from mine offences make me pure from my sinnes for I acknowledge myne offences and my misdeedes be euer before me On thee alone haue I sinned and haue done euill in thy sight Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine offences Make a cleane heart within me and giue me a newe right spirit Cast me not out of thy sight and take not thine holy Ghost from me Comfort me againe with thy helpe and giue in me the spirite of peace Be vnto me a strong tower whether I may for euer flee for succour for thou hast promised to helpe me for thou art my rocke and my hill Oh Lorde I cry vnto thee bicause thou art gratious Lord for thy great goodnesse heare me with thy true help heare me Lorde for thy goodnesse is comfortable turne thee vnto me according to thy great mercy Lord be not farre from me My God make hast to helpe me Vpon thee Lord do I trust God helpe me out of all my needs and set me at libertie Looke vppon me and heare me Lord my god Lighten myne eyes that I may sleepe soundly in the middest of death I loue thee with all my heart Lorde God my strength Lorde my rocke my hill my deliuerer my God my castell vpon whome I trust my buckler and horne of my saluation my defence Lord in thee doe I trust let me neuer be confounded Deliuer me for thy iustice sake Bowe downe thine eares to me make speede to help me Be vnto me a strong rocke and an hill where thou maiest helpe me For thou art my rocke and my hill and for thy name sake leade me and bring mee foorth come to my soule and deliuer it keepe my soule and deliuer me Let me not be confounded for I trust in thee Lorde quicken me for thy name sake leade my soule out of this daunger for thy righteousnesse sake for my soule fainteth in my bodie and the feare of death is falen vpon me Feare and trembling compasseth me and loathsomenesse is falen vpon me I lie with my soule among the Lions therefore oh Lorde heare my prayers and let my crie come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in my neede Bowe downe thine eare vnto me when I call vpon thee then heare me betime Nowe Lord wherein shall I comfort me I hope vpon thee leaue off from troubling me that I may refreshe my selfe before I goe hence and come no more againe If it please any man to say all the whole Psalms to be said to the sicke I will not complaine vppon him Therfore they that list may when he list sometime take these Psalmes hereafter following and read the same to the sicke and sometime make some shorte rehearsall of them and with them comfort the sicke body specially the 25. 51. 70. 71. 77. 87. 88. 103. 130. c. And if neede require a man may often repeate them or take some comfortable part of them and also like comfortable sayinges out of my litle booke called The spiritual conflict all which for shortnesse I leaue heere vntouched Fourthly if the sick bodie draw on and is neare his ende then say our beléefe that is the xij Articles of our holy faith thus J Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord whiche was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Marie suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell he rose againe the third day from the dead he ascended into heauen he sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almightie from thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holy ghost The holy catholique Church
it by patience the 13. to the Romans Therfore doth belong hereunto that is there to the time of sufferinges these two vertues patience and hope for with these two winges specially faith and hope you must enforce your selfe to flée vp into heauen But patience muste fight the battell with the dragon which wil strengthen and hinder your way to heauen Ninthely nowe welbeloued séeing that your sicknesse somwhat lingereth and that God for a time doeth prolong his helpe and deliuerance and will not soudenly as we desire pray and think deliuer you but wil awhile try proue your faith for your faith must be tried by aduersitie and temptation as gold is tried and proued in the fire Therefore you must be patient For albeit our Lorde GOD for a time withdraweth his merciful helpe yet will he not long be absent It should not stande with his godly nature mercie that he shoulde for euer forsake you being his childe through faith in Christe Wherfore though you a little while for the time of your suffering must sing with Christe the lamentable song and say My GOD my GOD wherefore hast thou forsaken me yet will not God long tarrie nor be absent he suffereth you to swimme a while but not vtterly so be drowned he suffereth you peraduenture one day but he will by and by afterwards raise you vp againe and giue you euerlasting peace and happinesse Therefore albeit you doe not for a little time sée Christe in his throne of grace yet shall you shortly sée him againe Iohn the .16 For his anger that is to say his fatherly correction endureth but the twinkling of an eye and he hath pleasure and delight to saue And therefore doeth our Lorde God him selfe comfort you in the Prophet Esai the .54 Cap saying thus Beholde I haue hidden my face a little from thee in the short time of anger neuertheles I will haue mercie vpon thee with my continuall fauour saith the Lorde God our deliuerer Therefore saith Saint Paule the seconde Epistle the .4 Chap. to the Cor. Although our trouble whiche is but transitorie and easie though we thinke it very heauie much and long yet doth it breede and bring foorth an euerlasting and a meruilous weightie and vnmeasurable dignitie and estimation vnto vs whiche we cannot beholde with these eyes but with inuisible eyes For no eye hath sene nor no eare heard nor no mans heart can expresse that GOD hath prepared for them that loue him Esai 64. And .1 Cor. 2. But in these things must Gods children a while be pacient suffering polished and pressed and fully bethinke and consider these comfortable sayings which be spoken vnto vs as to children the .12 to the Hebr. out of â—he Prouerbes of Solomon in the third Chapter as it is there written Take â—ot slightly but earnestly regard the Lordes â—hastening or correction and dispaire not â—hen he punisheth thee For whom the Lord â—oueth him doeth hee punish correcteth â—uery childe that he taketh to him selfe If â—ou abide his correction patiently then â—oeth God shewe him selfe as to his â—hildren for where is a sonne whome â—he father doeth not correct Howbeit â—uery chastening while it is a doing it â—oeth not reioyce vs but maketh vs sad â—nd pensiue but afterward it bringeth 〈◊〉 ioyful fruite of righteousnes to them â—hat be exercised in it And therefore â—aith Saint Iames in his first Chapter Esteme it for a perfect ioy when you chance â—o fall into many temptations and know that â—our faith if it be perfect worketh pacience â—ut patience shall perfectly abide vnto the â—â—nde To the end it may be perfect and haue â—t all no manner of imperfection .. For He that abideth to the ende he shal be blesâ—â—d Matth. the .10 Therfore a Christian may well boast him selfe of trouble séeing that we knowe that Trouble bringeth patience patience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope hope will neuer be confouÌ„ded Let vs not be ashamed for the loue of GOD is powred out into our heartes through the holy ghost which is giuen vnto vs the .6 to the Rom. Thus shall you in patience looke for the mercifull helpe and visitation of God and in your heart sing the pleasaunt song of thankesgiuing of the holy man Simeon Luke the second and say thus Lord nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace as thou hast saide For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation whiche thou hast prepared for al people To be a light to lighten the heathen and to be the praise of all thy people of Israel For I haue nowe God be praised obteined the knowledge of thy saluation which is in the forgiueing of sinnes Through the tender mercie of our God whereby he hath visited vs that came from aboue That he might appeare to them that satte in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death and leade our feete into the way of peace as Zacharias did sing Luke the second The tenth welbeloued your sickenesse continueth and doth not leaue off and you thinke long for helpe yet must you giue ouer these things ye must not shrinke from God nor be faint harted but in patience haue a perfect and stedfast hope that God will not be long away though he séeme to tarrie but or it be long will come and help you yea the longer God withdraweth from you his gratious helpe the mightier and better hereafter will your helpe and comfort be for God standeth yet a while behind the wal as a louing and friendly bridegrome and looketh through the window priuily in vpon his spouse and marketh whether she doth so loue her bridgrome that she will wayt and tarrie for him and that she may perceiue that he at the length will reache out his hande to her plucke her foorth bring her home His loue is as strong as death but vnder it is hidden very life and felicitie Therfore despaire not euen in the very daunger of death and sing once againe with this congregation and with all the holy elected Saintes of GOD in your heart in this manner In the middest of our life we be compassed about with death whom shal we séeke to for help that we may get grace thou only oh Lord art high we be sorry for our misdéedes which haue offended thée oh holy Lord God oh mightie Lord God oh holy merciful Sauiour euerlasting God let vs not be drowned in the bitter danger of death Lord haue mercy vpon vs. In the middest of death the gaping of hell assaulteth vs who can deliuer vs from this great peril that canst thou Lorde alone doe thy great mercy hath compassion on our complaint and great miserie Holy Lorde GOD oh mightie Lord God oh holy mercifull Sauiour oh euerlasting God let vs not dispaire for the déepe pit of hell Lord haue mercy vpon vs. In the middest of the sorrowes of hell our sinnes lye hard vpon vs then whether shal we flée from hence
mightily helpeth the body out of dust and mire and all maner of destruction for euermore For he doth helpe in déede yea the longer he séemeth to withdraw his help he sheweth it afterward more mightily therefore he is the only comfort and refuge or helpe to miserable sinners Furthermore Christe hath walked among sinners in the middest of them gone to sinners and hath runne after them and deliuered them from their destruction blindnesse and sin Shal not all this make worthily a mans heart merrie and to haue a good conscience yea a perfect assurance to all troubled and sorrowful sinners that they may in all their néedes sinne griefe sorrow and death with al their heartes run and come vnto suche a friendly Lorde that wisheth euery man good prayeth for it and doth it that neuer hath driueÌ„ from him any wretched sinner Yea they at the last in his death were partakers with him on the crosse that he by the â—peciall foresight of God shoulde hang betwéene two grieuous offenders in tâ—ken that he would willingly dye for miserable sinners and for their cause willingly giue him selfe to death yea they had their part with him after his glorious resurrection to signifie thereby that he hath not forgotten miserable sinners albeit that he hath conquered sinne death hell and sathan him selfe and yet might he well haue let alone this his conquest and triumph and haue neglected vs miserable sinners But he hath now sought out miserable sinners that he might helpe them and comfort them as namely vnbeleuing Thomas the penitent Magdalene and many mo as he was going towards heauen and nowe sitteth at the right hande of God in great glory and maiestie yet doth he not at all forget the poore sinners but opened Sauls eyes put away all his sinnes and made of him a chosen witnes yea euen in these dayes from time to time doth our good faithfull Lord without ceassing take vp sinners vnto him For what doth he else at the right hand of God then intreat speake for and defend the miserable sinners as a faithful Attorney Mediatour peacemaker anâ— highe priest reconciler and continuall king as he hath taken vp al vs you and me and all sorrowfull repentant faithful sinners In mercy he giueth vs now daily his holy Ghost which doth lighten and purifie our heartes strengtheneth them giueth them power and defendeth vs in all our néedes Therefore be of good comfort séeing Christe nowe liueth there can no miserie come vnto you séeing that Christe sitteth on the right hand of God Who can doe vs any harme Who can condemne vs If Christ him selfe doe absolue vs and accounteth vs to be quit frée loose and vnbound and so pronounceth vs To this Lord do I nowe commend you let him not depart from your hart For albeit I must depart hence froÌ„ you must suffer you to go to death neither I nor the whole world any more help you yet wil not this Lorde depart from you he is with you and by you in your execution And he is also faithful vnto you and so gratious that he wil go with you to death and will plucke you out againe from him by his almightie power Holde you vpon this Lorde by a stedfast faith for I nowe commend you vnto him with all my heart The fourtéenth Dearely beloued séeing you shal eueÌ„ now be caried hence to the place of execution shal be séene of many folkes take a merrie hearte vnto you and speake vnto the people like a man and louingly and giue them warning before your death of these thrée pointes following First that they will well thinke vppon and remember the earnest strong righteousnes of God and take you before their eyes for an example of Gods Iustice albeit his iudgement vppon you in comparison of Gods righteous iustice and euerlasting punishment which ought worthily to stirre and moue all men to the feare of God but as it were a flap with a foxe taile Secondarily that they fréely for Gods sake and of his mercie euery of them all will forgiue you forget your fault and forgiue it wherewith you at any time haue offended any man whether it be in this place or in any other for Iesus sake with all their heartes wil forgiue you where and how soeuer you haue offended any of them whether it be by word or déede And that you also doe forgiue from the bottome of your hart willingly both friend foe wherein soeuer you haue béene offended Thirdly that they will praye to our Lord God truely for you whereby our Lord God for his deare sonns sake may giue vnto you a Christian and blessed passage out of this miserie by the ioynt working of the holy ghost Amen If the poore prisoner by reason of weakenes or for faint heart cannot speake himselfe and in the place of execution cannot warne the people and speake vnto them himselfe then may his appointed minister Or as it is in some place the hangman himself speake vnto him without danger in this maner and warne the people thus WElbeloued as you are now here present and minde to behold this miserable sight First remember wherfore this poore prisoner standeth here surely not therefore that in Gods sight he is the greatest sinner amongst vs But to the intent that Almightie God through this condemned man will set before your eyes an example of his godly iustice whereby by him you might be moued to a godly feare to amend your life and come before Gods anger correction and displeasure repent in time abstaine from your wicked life and go in a godly liuing Is it not thus welbeloued say Yea. Againe the tyed prisoner desireth you all here heartily and humbly that al you here together specially and generally that you wil forgiue him whatsoeuer he hath spoken done or committed whether it hath béene priuily or openly he is hartily sorie for them all he desireth you all humbly and Christianly Therefore he requireth that you wil bestow also vppon him this mercie that his Lord and God thorough Christ hath shewed vnto him in that that he of méere grace and loue hath forgiuen and forgotten all his sinnes that you haue a heartie compassion with him not to be offended at him but beare with his weakenes helpe it suffer it and carrie it as the Christian rule willeth where S. Paule the 6. to the Galathians saith thus Euery one beare an others burthen and so shall you fulfill the lawes of Christ Is it not so my welbeloued say Yea. Thirdly and lastly this bounden prisoner also requireth and prayeth you for Gods mercie sake that you now at the houre of his departure out of this miserie for Christian duetie and loue sake that you will inwardly from the bottome of your heart call vppon God and pray that he will increase in this poore man the faith of Christ strengthen him and kéepe him therein for euer and euer wherby he may of grace enioy a
further earnestâ—â— marke vnderstand and knowe that â—ot only al punishments and sufferings â—â—me from God and be layde vppon vs â—â—y God but ye shall also earnestly beâ—eue that GOD fendeth vnto his chilâ—â—en as a very merciful father such puâ—â—shmentes and sufferings of méere faâ—our and grace to his owne for their â—â—ofite and commoditie For there be two causes why God â—â—ndeth vnto vs aduersities troubles â—â—d passions séeing that God hath two â—â—tes of children vpon the earth Some many times lead a long time 〈◊〉 vnrepentaunt life they cannot not abide that a man of loue and good will say any thing vnto them but continually runne foreward in their mischiefous frowarde and naughtie wayes They haue GOD very little before their eyes Therfore must God lay hold on them restraine draw them backe and to true repentaunce and godly liuing driue and inforce them or els they will dye in their wicked froward conuersation Therfore doth God lay in the necke of backsliders from him some aduersitie that they may looke well about them and marke well who is at their backes and layeth such a yoke on their neckes at the last to knowe themselues and learne what they be whereabout they goe and howe they against GOD haue so grieuously offended Thus God correcteth them through punishmentes and learneth them as the Prophet Esaias saith in the 28. Chap. that doth the soule very much good and suche aduersitie is a precious medicine for trouble onely maketh a man take héede to the word Esaias 28. Then doeth â—e worde of God very well sauour vnto vs â—â—en it is pouldred mingled or sawced with â—ubles and passions For when trouble is at â—de then we seeke to God and when God â—h visite vs then we call earnestly Esai 〈◊〉 Therefore doeth God many times â—mplaine against his foolish ignoraunt â—ople Esaias 9. where God saith The â—â—ople do not turne backe to them that haue â—icken them nor inquireth after the Lord â—d of Sabbaoth Which is a great token â—an vnrepentant and stubberne heart â—esides that it is a great and heauie â—ne against the Lord God from whiâ—e God mercifully defend vs Amen The other cause wherfore our Lord â—d layeth troubles and aduersities vpâ—â—â—his children is this specially bicause â—e Lord God will leade his chosen chilâ—en from faith to faith and continualâ— maketh them expert and cunning in â—e knowledge of God and will thus â—oue them in faith and godly knowâ—ge whereby his name by this meaâ—s may be the better knowne coÌ„menâ—d praysed as we sée in good Dauid Ionas and Iob c. Fiftly séeing that ye perceiue and knowe that ye are flesh fleshly weaknesse hath many times preuailed and you had the vpper hande vpon you and you haue oftentimes giuen ouer your selfe to your olde Adam and followed fleshe and bloud too muche and thereby many times displeased our Lord god Thus shall you therefore before the high maiestie of GOD humble your selfe acknowledge your offences aske mercy haue a seuere purpose to absteine from sinne and if God will againe restore you to liue in a good perfect Christian penitent life to embrace Gods mercy in Christ our deliuerer stay and holde your selfe with an holie hope vpon his comfortable promises Therefore thus say earnestly after me with heart and minde ALmightie euerlasting most mercifull God Father I acknowledge from the bottome of my heart and say with my mouth that I am a poore and damnable sinner For I am in sin conceiued borne Besides that from my youth hitherto all the imaginations thoughtes of my heart haue bene very wicked and inclined to al sinne and vnrighteousnesse There is also no true feare of God no faithful loue of God no perfect faith of God in my heart hitherto oh Lord founden Also I haue with my mouth oh God little called vppon God my lord in my trouble fled vnto him for succour I haue also bene very vnthankfull to God my Lord for all his wonderfull benefites both bodily and ghostly Likewise also haue I litle praysed or set foreward the thankes due to God and the same acknowledged confessed much lesse haue I rightly ben desirous to set forward maintein Gods true seruice To be short I haue not in my whole life time done and brought forth any good thing wherby before god I haue brought foorth any godly coÌ„uersation to his glory honour and praise wherevnto he hath chiefly created and made me Al this I confesse and it grieueth me from the bottome of my heart that I haue so grieuously offended thée my very God Lord father especially with euill thoughts words and déedes Againe I acknowledge and confesse thée my Lord and God that I haue not rightly and truly obeied them to whom I ought obedience Also I haue oftentimes grieuously offended my neighbours and not sufficiently shewed vnto them Christian charitie and loue but haue bene many times disdainefull angrie fierce and very sowre Also I haue bene many times kindled in euil lustes and desires in forbidden loue Also I haue bene many times ouerséene with lewd thoughts I haue also many times ben too streight to my neighbours harmed them not holpen them defended them nor comforted them I haue likewise offended and hurt my neighbour by word spoken euill behinde his back and condemned him To be short all wicked desires and lustes haue taken in me very mightie vpperhand Therefore I acknowledge this my sinfull life require mercy haue pitie vpon me Lorde heauenly father for the bitter passion death of thine onely sonne our Lorde ¶ Heare your comfort Thus saith Saint Paule in the first Epistle to Timothie the seconde Chap. There is one God and one mediatour betweene God and man specially the man Iesus Christe that hath giuen him selfe for all for our deliuerance Beléeue this comfortable saying holde fast on Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour so shall you in your consciences rest in peace and quietnes with God the lord God graunt his grace thervnto Amen ¶ But if the sicke bodie be so weake and cannot make such a long confession you may vse an other shorter in this maner An other confession to the Lord God. OH thou merciful gratious good God and father I wretched sinfull sicke miserable forsaken creature come nowe before thy high and mightie maiestie as a poore sinfull creature full of sinne and vnrighteousnesse and confesse vnto thée froÌ„ my heart that I haue grieuously sinned against thée from my youth hitherto with wicked thoughtes words and déedes These do I acknowlege and confesse altogether generally for I am not able to remember number theÌ„ all at length particularly therefore my God be gratious to me a poore sinner through the deserts of thy louing Son our Lord Iesus Christ which was therfore slaine for me wretched sinner to the intent that I should be and remaine thy childe for euermore Amen Hearken to this comfort Thus saith S. Iohn
as Christe is your Iustice your Loadesman and your Guide Secondely well be loued if Gods wrath threatening and punishment shoulde feare you dismay you or trouble your mind as though our Lord God as an earnest and seuere Iudge should deale with you according to his extreme iustice for your sinnes past then shall you from henceforth call vpon our Lord Christe the vnspotted Lamb of GOD whiche hath taken your sinnes vppon him and thus flée from the place of Gods iustice commit your selfe to the mercie seate of Christe our Lorde For ye haue a speciall and faithfull promise of our Lord Iesus Christe for he hath bestowed and giuen him selfe for wretched sinners and so bound and pledged him selfe for all penitent sinners that he will stand to them and deliuer them from Gods wrath Also Saint Paule witnesseth 1. Thes 1. God hath our Lorde Iesus saith the holy Apostle raised vp from death that hath deliuered vs from the wrath to come And 1. Thes 5. saith Saint Paule further God hath not appointed vs to inherit his wrath but to inherit his blessednesse through our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche died for vs. Marke and consider this diligently Thirdly welbeloued if the worlde do trouble you and though some folkes specially your enimies and euil willers reioyce and be glad that you according to their desires be so gréeuously handled and that you be now by God so fore punished and that they therfore mocke scorne despise you and make greate cheare at your trouble yet let not that trouble nor tempt you for séeing that wicked people mocked Christe at the houre of his death and made great cheare at it likewise shall you of the worlde not escape such thinges Séeing you be a member of Christe you muste suffer in your body all such troubles as wanted in Christes passion as Saint Paule saith the first Chap. to the Colossians Therefore is the worlde a stubborne proud and wicked child of sathan whiche is full of all wickednesse dissimulatioÌ„ mockerie backbiting Christ for our comforte hath tolde vs before that we muste suffer and beare many thinges of the worlde and that the worlde shoulde laugh vs to scorne and shoulde reioyce at our trouble and we on the other side a little while shuld be pensiue and sorrowfull But Christ comforteth vs and saith Your sorrow shal be turned into ioy Iohn 6. And Iohn 17. In the world you shall haue sorrowe care but comfort your selfe I haue ouercome the worlde Thus shall you in faith beare all the wickednesse of the world suffer and ouercome For Our faith is the victorie that hath ouercome the worlde Iohn 15. Fourthly moreouer dearely beloued if Moses the lawegiuer set vppon you and will make you afraid with his debt booke and put you out of countenaunce for your great debtes notable sinnes whiche you are bounde to satisfie and pay the terrible iudgement of God as that ye are a breaker or transgressor of gods lawes and therfore will call you to accompt and giue euidence against you and condemne you with your own hand writing your own conscieÌ„ce knowing the same to be true complaine vpon you and accuseth you then shall you before Moses by and by bring forth your Christian libertie wherby Christ hath made you frée and deliuered you from the lawe and from the curse and malediction thereof For If Gods sonne haue made you free then be you free in deede Iohn 8. And as Saint Paul further doth shew and confirme such fréedome Galat. 3. where he saith thus Christe hath deliuered vs from the curse of the lawe when he was made a curse for vs. Thus can the curse neuer more ouerrunne nor trouble you séeing it hath once all together fallen vppon Christe the most innocent Lambe Therefore séeing Christe is the ende of the lawe whosoeuer beleeueth on him is made righteous Rom. 10. Therfore saith Saint Peter Be you lustie and strong Actes 15. that â—e are nowe taught that forgiuenesse of sinâ—es commeth by this man and of all them whereof ye could not be made righteous in the lawe of Moses Who so euer beleueth on Christ is righteous Here is nowe onely all sinnes taken away So that no man can or dare lay any thing to the charge of the faithfull neither Moses nor the lawe Therfore be of good comfort Fiftly furthermore dearely beloued I doe aduise you that you will not suffer the great weight and burden of your sinnes to presse and weigh you downe and trouble you For sinne I assure you is an heauie burden to a fearefull conscience Wherefore continually cast your sinnes from you and out of your consciences and caste them vppon Christ for he is the right carrier of our sinnes as holy Saint Iohn witnesseth Iohn 1. where he saith Behold this is the Lambe of God that beareth or carrieth away the sinns of the world Therefore let the Lorde and valiaunt Champion take vppe your sinnes and carrie them vppon him selfe For God hath appointed him thereunto as Saint Paule saith where he saith thus GOD hath appointed him namely Christ that neuer knewe sinne to be sinne it selfe for our sakes to the intent that we shoulde be by him that righteousnesse that is auayleable before god Behold this righteous and innocent Lord hath taken all your sinnes vppon him selfe borne them satisfied for them and ransomed them and hath clothed you decked and trimmed you with his innocent righteousnesse and iustice For Christ saith the Prophete Esaie 53. is for our sinns wounded and for our sinnes beaten and smitten Correction is laide vppon him to the intent that we should haue peace and by his wounds should be healed Behold for Gods sake thinke vpon this with all diligence ernestly Christ saith the Prophet is wounded for our sinnes whereby we might be made whole The wrath the correctioÌ„ is cleane gone ouer him to the intent that we should be without correction might inioy peace with god So haue you deliueraunce in Christe by his bloud namely forgiuenes of your sinnes according to the richnesse of his grace Ephe. 1. For Christe is therefore come into this worlde to make sinners holy blessed 1. Tim. 1. As Christ witnesseth of him selfe Matth. 18. And Luke 19. The sonne of man saith he is come to seeke and to make blessed that that is lost For God hath not sent his sonne into the worlde that he should condemne the world but that the world by him shold be made hapie whosoeuer beleeueth on him shall not be iudged Also Christe is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes Beléeue this comfortable saying from the bottome of your heart and stay your selfe more vppon Gods mercifull promise then of the deceites of sathan and of the daungerous imaginations of your reason Giue God the honour bicause he is so merciful a God that of a wretched sinner he will make a child of God if a man
wicked Therfore beléeue stedfastly by this noble counsell of the holy Apostle Saint Paule where be speaketh in the first Chapter to the Ephesians and in the first to the Colossians in this maner God hath deliuered vs from the Prince of darkenesse and hath established vs in the kingdome of his louing sonne of whome we haue our deliueraunce through his bloud specially the forgiuenesse of sinns acording to the richnes of his grace There doe you heare and must with your whole heart beléeue that our Lord Christe hath deliuered you from the power of sathan so that the gates of hell can not preuaile against you Matth. 16. Thirdly if sathan moreouer will encounter with you then take you the sword of the holy ghost which is Gods worde after the counsell of the holy Apostle in the 6. to the Ephesians and set vpon him with Gods worde after the example of Christ Matth. 4. Therefore if he will say vnto you this or such like wordes The vnrighteous shall not inherite the kingdome of God. the sixt Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians IteÌ„ it is written Who so euer sinneth is of sathan the first Epistle of Saint Iohn the â—hird Chapter Then shall you answere â—im againe with Christ and say Away â—athan for it is also written c. And also 〈◊〉 desire not the death of a sinner saith our Lord God but that he amend him selfe â—â—ue And Christe in the 9. of Matthewe â—aith thus I am come to call sinners to reâ—entance And Matthewe 18. and Luke 9. The sonne of man saith Christ is come â—o seeke and to make blessed that that was â—â—st Nowe looke sathan though I be inâ—éed a wretched sinner yet is not Gods will that I should be for euer condemâ—ed but that I should liue Albeit then that I be a lost shéep yet will Christ the â—igh shepheard of my soule séek me out and saue me of this I doubt nothing at â—ll Therefore avaunt harmefull diuel thou hast nothing to do here séeing that Christ my Lorde hath clothed and coueâ—ed me with his innocencie vertues holinesse for I haue put on Christe my Lorde in my baptisme Galathians the â—hird Chapter I haue put on the wedâ—ing garment in which I shall appeare before God and dwell in his kingdome for euer and euer Amen Beholde thus shall you driue away the wicked flend and striue and fight against him as a Christian Capteine to the end that ye may atteine at the great day vnto the euerlasting crown Thus wil our Lord God which is the God of peace tread downe sathan after a litle time vnder your feete as Saint Paule writeth in the 16. to the Romanes Eightly if welbeloued the euerlasting iudgement hell and euerlasting damnation assault you as though you were one that should be damned or forsaken and lost and woulde make hell mouth gape and open wide vppon you thus comforte and refreshe your selfe euer and quickly with Gods word reléeue and coole your selfe with the freshe water that springeth and floweth out of the treasure of Gods mercy against sin and filthy liuing which water we haue in the Gospell where also the holy prophet Zacharias maketh mention in the 13. Chapter and the Prophete Esaie in 55. Cha. Thus imbrace now with true â—ith the noble coÌ„fortable pleasant sayâ—ngs promises of God of euerlasting â—â—fe whereof this is one Iohn 3. where â—ur Lorde Christe speaketh thus God â—â—th not sent his son into the world that he â—â—uld coÌ„demne the world but that the world â—hrough him should be saued Whosoeuer beâ—eeueth on him shall not be condemned â— Iâ—em Iohn 5. Verily verily I say vnto you saith Christ our Lord Whosoeuer heaâ—eth my word beleeueth in him that hath sent me shal neuer enter into condemnation â—â—â—t he hath a through passage from death to â—â—e Item the third of S. Iohn Whosoeuer â—eleueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life And moreouer he saith Like as Moses set vp a serpent in the wildernesse likewise â—â—ust the sonne of man also be lifted vp to the intent that all they that beleeue in him â—hould not be lost and perish but inioy and inâ—erite euerlasting life And God hath so loâ—â—d the world saith the euerlasting sonne â—f God him selfe that he hath giuen his 〈◊〉 sonne to the intent that all that beâ—eeue in him shoulde not be destroyed but should inioy euerlasting life Item Iohn the sixte thus saith Christe Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth on me hath euerlasting life Item our Lorde Christe saith further thus This is the will of him that sent me that whosoeuer beholdeth the sonne and beleeueth on him shal haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day By this may you ioyfully say conclude and through true faith acknowledge that hel through the resurrection of Christe our deliuerer is shut vp against you for you beléeue the highest article of Christian religion where we beléeue and acknowledge that Christe our Lorde is gone downe into hell not for his owne sinne and vnrighteousnes sake but for the cause of our wickednesses by whiche we haue deserued the euerlasting plagues hell and damnation There hath Christ himselfe taken away that euerlasting correction done penaunce for it and made satisfaction broken hell and shut and stopped it vp and to be short in stead of euerlasting imprisonment dungeon and destruction purchased and giuen vs euerlasting life and brought vnto vs and giuen vs a triumphant victorie that we with him may nowe merily sing Hell where is thy victorie Beholde it behoueth you in such sore dangerous and lingering sicknesse and battel to shew and instruct your selfe that you be a childe of God and suffer not your selfe to be deceiued albeit it doeth not as yet appeare in this world nor can easily be perceiued whether we be presently through faith fully Gods children or not Iohn the first saith It doeth not yet nowe appeare what we be but we knowe that when it shal appeare then shal we be like vnto him The first of Saint Iohn the third Cap. Then shall we see him as he is and then shal we be pertakers of his Godly nature The seconde Epistle of Saint Peter the first Chapter Albeit that yet our knowledge and appearance what we be is vnperfecte and that we as yet beholde the maiestie of God as it were through a glasse in darknesse or in a cloude Yet shall we hereafter beholde him face to face Thus doe we waite for neuerthelesse these thinges in the meane season in blessed hope For we beholde our selues likewise by our selues childishlye and looke for the deliueraunce of our bodies for we shal be throughly blessed albeit in hope This hoping neuerthelesse that we sée is no hope for how can a man hope for that he seeth But if we hope for that we sée not then doe we looke after
you very stoutly and that continually with many and diuers temptations and thinketh thus with so many and sundrie assaults and forces to dismay amaze enféeble match make desperate a féeble and vnexperienced Christian wherby he may driue an vnexperienced Christian at the last to put him selfe at all aduentures to giue ouer and yeld him selfe to euery temptation and to be ouercome to the intent that at the last he may fall into doubt yeald him selfe wholy prisoner to the wicked enimie and to submit him selfe vnto him from which our Lord defend you of his good grace with his holy spirite Amen Therfore if now at the last any such come vnto you and that sathan will lay vnto you that God after his maiestie is a great deale too high mightie to haue any regarde or to make any reckoning of you be gratious to you shewe you mercy then let such high imaginations and thoughts passe which touch the vnsearchable maiestie of God and come from thence to Christes humanitie and howe he tooke vppon him our nature and beginne at his cradell to take holde vpon God that is most high and too farr aboue our reach For In Christ dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Colos 2. And as Christe him selfe saith Io. 14. He that seeth me saith Christe to Philip hee seeth the father Doest thou not beleue that I am in the father and that the father is in me Therefore thus begin with Saint Thomas Iohn 20. and call thus vpon Christ say My God my Lorde Thus shall you séeke out the maiestie of God finde him and take holde on him that is only in Christe there is the euerlasting godhead and high maiestie onely to be sought and found and without our Lorde Christ shall you neuer finde God nor lay hand vpon him therefore thus cry with the woman of Chanaan Oh thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me Matth. 15. The thirtéenth And if beloued temptation after this sort would preuaile against you as though god were not nigh you neither in heauen nor in earth to succour and helpe you but that he doth vtterly despise and forsake you that sathan woulde lay and cast before you mocking and blasphemie and say Beholde where is thy God vppon whome thou hast so long trusted beholde howe well he heareth thée beholde what haste he maketh to help thée how wisely hast thou committed thy selfe to him either what great care hath he of thée he suffereth thee to sticke fast and starue in thy greatest danger perils Oh surely this is not the right God that thou takest for the right God and whom thou honourest callest vpon else would he neuer suffer thée now so miserably to be destroyed perish c. WheÌ„ any such or the like blasphemie of sathan is laid before you then holde your peace be quiet at such blasphemie neuer dispute with sathaÌ„ but by by turne you to Christe crucified to Gods sonne him selfe and cal vpon him with your whole hart that he will come and ayde you with his holy spirite and strike sathan that he may be driuen away from you and call vppon Christe your mediatour onely that he wil stand betwéene the high maiestie of God and you miserable sinner and do like a good mediatour will withdrawe his great and mightie righteousnesse and iustice take your sinnes vpon him and so goe before you intreate and reconcile you Otherwise will the maiestie of God be too much too highe and terrible so that you shall before God be afraid amazed and out of countenance Therefore take this Lord and mediatour by the hand if ye will drawe nigh to God and haue any thing to do with him For this mediatour hath ben a long time ordeined by God himselfe for vs that we through him might be reconciled to God as witnesseth Saint Paul. 1. Tim. 2. where he saith thus There is one God and one meediatour betweene God and man namely the man Iesus Christe that hath giuen him selfe for all for deliueraunce The fourtéenth If welbeloued your sinne doth nowe accuse you for that you not onely in your youthe when your body was sound and lustie did sinne offend God but also euen now in your sicknesse ye haue displeased God by impatience murmuring misbeléefe c. as we al be borne in sinne be sinners and so remaine and abide till we come to our graue therefore let not your sinne in any case make you despaire but acknowlege and confesse and accuse your selfe before your Lord God and be sorrie for them with all your heart aske mercy therefore before God in Christe our Lorde For it is impossible in this life that in the sight of God we shoulde be found so cleare pure and without fault or sinne as holy Saint Iohn witnesseth .1 Iohn .1 where he saith thus If we say we haue no sinne then shall we deceiue our selues and the trueth is not in vs. Therefore in the middest of sinne we haue this onely comfort when we acknowledge our sinne the vnquietnesse of our conscience and the trouble of our hearts cumbereth vs that we call then vpon our atturney Christ the Lord to the intent that he for euer be gratious vnto vs intreat speak for vs towards his deare father as then Saint Iohn when we sticke in sinne comforteth vs. 1. Ioh. 2. where he saith thus If any man sinne yet haue we an aduocate to the father Iesus Christe that maketh vs righteous and he is the attonement for our sinnes From hence shall you séeke youre refuge and succour and in euery assaulte of your sinnes comfort your selfe that you haue such a peacemaker before God the father whome the father doth accept and allowe that can speake well and is eloâ—â—ent and can handle your cause and plead for you best Surely this is a gret and a perfect comfort that we haue our fleshe and bloud sitting aboue at Gods right hand the father which doeth take vppon him the whole progenie of man intreateth for vs pleadeth our cause turneth the wrath of GOD from vs as holy S. Paule also witnesseth Rom. 8. where he saith thus Christ is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. This is his holy office that he deliuereth wretched sinners from Gods anger defendeth and kéepeth them therefore flée only to this Lord Christe when your sinne grieueth or troubleth you The fiftéenth If now in these long lingering assaults and conflicts welbeloued your heart waxe cold be vnlustie drowsie as you thinke that there is no more faith in your heart and that for vnlust you can neither pray nor beléeue yet shall you not therefore giue ouer or be afraid for the Lord God bringeth his many times so déepe vnder the crosse that they can neither beléeue nor hope and thinke with them selues that their heartes be vtterly cold and frosen yea very stiffe that neither
that doeth nothing else then looke to the sicke helpe them vp strengthen them and maketh them whole and as Esaie saith He will not breake a brused reede nor he will not quench the smoaking flaxe I beléeue also the rising of the body that my body whiche the wormes shall eate shall arise againe euen as it was before For Christe at the last day shall raise it vppe according to his promise where he saith Iohn 6. This is the will of him that sent me that whosoeuer seeth the sonne and beleeueth on him shall haue euerlasting life and I will raise him at the last day And Whosoeuer eateth of my flesh and drinketh of my bloud hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day I beléeue that after this life there shal be an euerlasting life so that I shal liue with Christ for euer according to his promise Iohn 5. where he saith Verily verily I say vnto you who so euer heareth my worde and beleeueth on him that sent me he hath euerlasting life and commeth not into iudgment but he passeth clean through death to life And Whosoeuer beleueth on the sonne he hath euerlasting life And Verily verily I say vnto you if any mā will keepe my word he shall not see euerlasting death Item I am the breade of life saith Christ Iohn 6. which is come from heauen whosoeuer shall eate of this breade shall liue for euer Nowe welbeloued séeing your time draweth on stand stedfast vpon the only rocke Christe our Lorde Then can no storme no whirlwinde yea hell gates them selues can not remoue nor ouerwhelme you For whosoeuer beléeueth vpon our Lord God shal neuer fall nor be ouerturned but shall abide for euer Therfore call vpon our Lord God with your whole heart for he is rich ouer all that call vpon him and he will be nigh to all them that pray to him to al them that call vpon him with their heartes and graunteth all thinges which they that feare God do require heareth their cry and helpeth them Therfore cal vpon God the most highest in the name of Iesus Christe that he will shewe vnto you his great plentifull mercy and powre out vpon you in the time of grace richly his mercy For séeing that our Lord is the spring it selfe of Gods mercy and Christ his onely begotten sonne is the pipe conduit wherby such plentie of grace and mercy floweth and is conueyed vnto vs take yet againe fast hold in this your extreame néede of the ouerflowing and floud of Gods grace specially Iesus Christe the scrine and casket wherein Gods mercy is locked vp for Christ is ful of grace and truth Ioh. 1. For the euerlasting sonne of God hath brought with him such great plentie of grace that he hath therewith fulfilled the whole worlde for heauen and earth is full thereof And also Christe is full of truth so that he is not alonly the truth it selfe but also meaneth heartily and truly with vs and will take to him selfe your soule with great veritie and earnestly Therfore be of good comfort that your name is written in the booke of life you are fully cleansed with the bloud of Christ and annoynted with the holy Ghost The same holy spirite assureth your heart that you also be one of the very children of god And albeit it doeth not as yet appeare what you be yet knowe you that when it shall appeare then ye shall be like vnto him Iohn Chap. 8. For ye shall be partaker of the godly nature Pet. 2. Chap. 1. specially when Christe our sauiour shall come hither from heauen and glorifie your miserable body and make it like vnto his glorified body after his mighty power and working Phil. 3. Christe Iesus is the onely refuge of all poore penisent sinners he onely is your strength your comfort hope and strong tower in all néede and aduersitie Therefore goe without feare into the danger of death Christ in the twinckling of an eye being your euerlasting king will plucke you out againe bring you to light and make you righteous and liuing Wherfore giue your self ouer valiantly from this life vnto death and be not afraide séeing that death hath lost all his might and strength on the faithfull Christ the victorious conquerer hath taken from death al his strength so that from hence foorth he can no more hurt wearie or deuour any Christian Wherefore will ye then be dismaide or afraide for suche a shadow or visar of death Death may for a litle while roare whet his téeth but he can do no more for Christe hath taken his sting from him and likewise is Gods euerlasting iudgment through the Sauiour of the worlde taken from you And Christ the only sonne of God hath appeased the iustice of God layde the same farr enough out of your way So that from hencefoorth you shall neuer be called to appeare before the iudgment seate of GOD nor you shall not néede to appeare neither aunswere for your sinne bicause Iesus your sauiour hath made you frée from it Therefore chearefully appeale from the iudgment seate vnto the throne of mercy which is Christ your deliuerer call earnestly vpon the stoole of grace whervpon gods mercy resteth and dwelleth in Christe Iesus the sonne of the highest therfore can no complaint come against you nether sinne death hell nor sathan him selfe Christ is the true Lion of the tribe of Iuda which for your sakes hath subdued vtterly all your enimies wiped blotted out all sinne and swallowed vp death so there remaineth now no more but that the body must suffer and abide only one litle shiuering and shrinking after that you shal be perfectly safe and sure Fight therefore manfully as a valiant Rutter or Capteine against the dragon and hell gates then will Christ with the hoast armie of heauen méete you and receiue your soule to carrie it with him into euerlasting ioy and felicitie Amen ¶ If any be disposed they may rehearse againe to the sicke the twelue Articles of our beleefe for they be the very ancor yea the very foundation of our beleefe which wee can neuer sufficiently meditate and thinke vpon It is therefore very meete and necessarie seeing in our youth wee bee baptised in them that wee continually be fed with them then shall wee ioyfully die in them It were very good that we should alwayes in time of our health remember them and learne perfectly to vnderstande them Then when we lye on our death bed we shall not so much neede to be put in remembraunce And if a man ready to die in time of neede specially if death come soudenly vpon him confesse no more but the onely articles of our true and auncient faith and Christian religion it were sufficient specialy if those articles were holden and professed by him that lyeth dying with a faithfull heart For we hope yea we earnestly beleeue that our beloued ancestors in the
nowe be in néede and must suffer for your misdéedes let goe and let passe altogether all such thoughts and earthly temptations and thinke thus Well now albeit that I hitherto haue béene by God appointed and set to be a purueyor to take care to mainteine my wife children c. and I haue not honestly behaued my selfe in that calling I hartily therfore desire my Lord God in Christe Iesus my deliuerer that he will not lay to my charge that sinne but through grace pardon me for I am very sorie Therefore almightie God séeing thou wilt take that my care and office from me and put me besides it I commend them vnto thée as to the chiefest magistrate their Lorde defender father that thou wilt vouchsafe that I maye commende vnto thée my wife children and friendes and not to suffer that they shal be charged with mine offences but to take care for them defend them féede them and mainteine them as the true onely father in heauen and earth And that thou wilt vouchsafe in my stéed to send them some other that may leade them and bring them vp in godly feare and Christianlike conuersation And althoughe that they before the world must be charged with my faultes that thou wilt richly requite those things vnto them and lay against that thy gentle gratious and fatherly blessing so that they may enioye their innocencie All these thinges I cōmend vnto thée together Oh most mightie Lord and God into thy gratious hand Wherevnto also I commit my life and soule Therefore doe I yéeld vnto thy mercie altogether and in perfect trust blessed hope that thou wilt gratiously accept this my poore prayer heare me in Iesu Christ thine only louing sonne Amen Now welbeloued in this ouergiuing and prayer wherein you haue giuen ouer al things vnto God in your prayer and offered them vp you shall wholy throughly persuade your selfe of Gods mercie For God is rich toward them that call vppon him Beléeue this thing onely and so it will in déede come to passe according vnto the comfortable promise of Christ our Lord in the 11. of Marke where he comforteth such as doe pray and promiseth to giue them all Oure Lord Christ saith Whatsoeuer you pray for in your prayer onely beleeue that ye shall receiue it and you shall haue it And in Marke the 9. Christ saith thus If you can beleeue all thinges are possible to them that beleeue Therefore giue vnto our Lord God the glorie and estéeme him to be a true god Then will he for his trueth sake heare your prayer and kéepe you For He is gratious and mercifull of great goodnes trueth God surely is the highest but he looketh vppon the lowest very gladly and of them that be of gentle and courteous minde and heart Onely for his loue sake that he beareth towardes them that be of troubled and heauie hearts For they be so commended vnto him that he hath special regard vpon them As our Lord God himselfe acknowledgeth Esaie 66. where God saith thus I behold such as be in miserie and haue a contrite heart and on such as feare my word This is the right offering that pleaseth God specially a troubled spirit For A sorrowful troubled heart will not God despise Psalm 51. If you then can commend all your causes to God your very creatour giue ouer all to him then will he doe like a louing and gentle father can well tell how to prouide for all yours For he is the Iudge of the widowes and the father of orphanes and the fatherlesse As vpon him it is written in the Psalme 68. Then séeing that God by this means and crosse layd vppon you wil take you away from yours you shall not therefore sorrowe nor be dismayde specially séeing that within a short time you shal finde againe all your friends in euerlasting life euen as you beléeue the ioyful resurrection of all Christians to enioy euerlasting liuing There shall you find for your earthly friendes heauenly friendes To die you must necessarily and prepare your selfe therevnto as all mankinde must and no man be left behinde God doth this thing vnto you for the best bycause this way he doth shorten your griefes and pains helpeth you this way through all paine shame slander and death very easily and fatherly Therfore be lustie and of good courage he that layeth this crosse vpon you he will also helpe you to beare it giue you patience make a blessed end of it Ninethly Séeing then that God hath laid this crosse vpon you that you shuld heare it a very litle while therefore you shall not excuse your selfe nor make your fault light to the world nor smooth it as though you were guiltlesse or as though you had not deserued this your punishment laide vpon you Take not the figge leafe before thée thereby to couer thine offence as the nature of olde Adam is to doe and as Adam after his sinne would thereby haue couered him selfe But giue God the glorie as Iosua warned the offender Achan when he tooke him with the things that were cursed Iosua 7. Then said Iosua there vnto him My sonne giue to the Lord God of Israel the glory and giue him the prayse and tell me and confesse what hast thou done lye not Then also said Achan therevpon Surely I haue sinned against the Lorde the God of Israel thus thus haue I done c. There did Achan before all folke acknowledge his offence and albeit he were by the Magistrate condemned to dye by Gods appointment yet is he no doubt thereof taken vp through Gods mercy and much commended for his confession he gaue God the glory and so departed in Gods mercy Likewise welbeloued shall you also doe searche your heart giue God the glorie which alonly is good wise righteous and holy but all men be euill and false Take nothing hence with you carrie nothing awaye with you but searche your heart and conscience and what you haue don denie it not do not make it lesse but séeing it is manifest and knowne and séeing GOD hath brought your offence to light and by the magistrate ordeined will punish you therefore giue God prayse and thanks that he will of grace not punishe you for euer Thinke it is much better here before fewe folke to be a little while shamed then hereafter before al the world and the whole companie of heauen for all must come to light and be openly knowne therefore it is much better here then there Then séeing that God by the Magistrate hath made it knowne therefore suffer it patiently willingly and blame no man as though any man had opened it of malice or condemned you as your enimie The Magistrates iudgement is Gods iudgement and the sentence hath also pleased him He is the highest Iudge therefore blame no man and charge no man that is vnguiltie in this case If you haue
at any time cōfessed any thing to charge the innocent whereby you might cleare your selfe or thereby to escape and be at libertie then burthen not your selfe therewith nor let your soule carrie any such thing away but excuse the innocent and pray to God for mercy that he will pardon you and not suffer your heart to be bent to any vngodly way to excuse your offence and to defend it But before God confesse it aske grace and séeing it is come to light confesse it before the whole worlde or else you striue against Gods iudgement his will his worke which surely is horrible from which our Lord defend you of his grace through Christ Iesus his welbeloued sonne in the holy Ghost Amen Tenthly I further also charge you my deare friend that from the bottome of your hart you wil reconcile forgiue and forget all men that haue done any thing against you either by worde or déede whether it be for this matter or for any other before If you haue by any mā bene hurted or harmed though they be guiltie of this your iudgmēt suffring and death either if they haue espyed or laid hand vpon you al this together shal you cast out of your heart and lay aside all maner of swelling snarling malice hatred enimitie and euill will and contrarie shewe a gentle heart friendly loue and gentle speach without all hatred bitternesse and euill will as a patient lamb as Christ our Lord which was altogether innocent yet vpon the crosse prayed for his enimies and said Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doe Thus shall you likewise do and thinke Well now welbeloued Lord and father though I be not guiltlesse and innocent as thy welbeloued sonne but haue worthily deserued all punishment wrath and vengeaunce Likewise séeing thou of frée grace and mercy through Iesus Christe hast for euer pardoned me after my departure wilt neuermore remēber my sin therefore I require thée that thou wilt giue vnto me such a gentle friendly Christian hart through thy holy spirit wherby I may forgiue and forget and also reconcile my selfe vnto euery man as well friendes as foes for thou wilt also forgiue me yea thou hast already clearly forgiuen all my sins misdéeds And for better assurance hereof giue me grace might and suche a burning charitie toward my neighbours that I may forgiue euery man and that from the bottome of my heart So shall I be sure that thou hast forgotten and forgiuen me and at the last day this shall be the signe that is the Christian and brotherly loue that we also be thy disciples séeing that we doe shewe Christian loue one toward an other Kéepe in me also the gratious promise of Christe my louing Lorde that saith thus Matth. 6. When you forgiue men their faultes then will also my heauenlie father forgiue you your faults With these Christian comforts I comfort my selfe and stay my selfe altogether vpon thy mercifull promise Doe with me after thy godly saying and promise for thou doest require of me that I be merciful as thou also art merciful towards vs Therfore I do knowe that in this my departure to death there is no better nor more acceptable offering then that I should shewe charitie and of mercy with well vnto all men pray for all men intreat and do well vnto al men as much as is possible for me For God hath pleasure in mercy and not in offering Osée 6. Twelfthly You haue also welbeloued for a comfortable example the théefe which also had done very wickedly for whiche he also receiued punishment of the magistrate but this punishment was vnto him onely the cause and furtheraunce that he did not onely knowe GOD and was faithfull but was also hanged beside Christe his saluation whereby he conceiued speciall comfort that Christ the innocent Lorde woulde pitie his miserie and would forgiue him all his sinnes and wickednesse wherevnto otherwise he shoulde neuer haue forsaken his naughtie life but woulde haue continued in his wickednes stubbornesse and vsed his stiffnesse and arrogancie his whole life long without al repentance turning from his naughtie liuing And so peraduenture had it ben with you you would haue gone forwarde in your vnrighteousnesse therein abiden withered and starued for euer without al penance or repentance godly knowledge vnder the feareful anger of God being bound with Gods iudgement condemnation Therefore séeing that God hath deliuered you from this miserable blindnesse and error he shall from hencefoorth leade you by this occasion means and purpose first bring you to know your selfe bring you to true repentance penance suffer godly knowledge to light in your hart kéepe you in the true faith of Christe Iesu and will suffer you to depart in the same at the last without all doubt Behold now dearely beloued howe our Lorde God is a valiant almightie father that of al naughtinesse can make all goodnesse and will to his turne all worst thinges to the best Sathan had thought that through this your fall and misdéede he would for euer haue kept you in his kingdome and to haue made you a member of himselfe But our lord God commeth and bringeth to passe by this means and crosse that he hath broken and hindered all sathans purpose Sathan thought he had made all cocke sure with you and had brought you to euerlasting sinne and shame and intended to haue kept you continually therein But God commeth and turneth the leafe vp and maketh of you that were the childe of darkenesse the childe of light and of euerlasting blisse Amen Twelftly Nowe deare friende I warne you nowe at the last that you will depart hence to death without all feare nor be not dismaide of death by reason of your sinne But herein take héede that thou do not alonly looke vpon death vnder the eyes and doest wrestle with him but take thine almightie god with thée which hath before laide hand vppon death and hath ouercome him that is Iesus Christ thy Lord and king which in the garden so mightily wrestled with sinne and death that bloudie sweat dropped from him Matth. 26. therefore weigh it not And againe be not afraide of death séeing you meete with him with this king and Lord but you shall do thus to him set all your only comfort hope and assurance vppon your Christe that hath made your way for you broken the hedge and kéepeth the field and hath for you ouerthrowne the mightie Goliah and hath brought the blessed victorie home to your doore as I haue before this time shewed you and yet againe must sette before your face For nowe is the time seeing you are come to the very push and this your daungerous enimie that is very terrible vnto the whole worlde will stande chiefly with you to bring and driue you from this point and so lay hande vpon you Therfore take to yourselfe the true shielde which is Christe your defence whome you
vs in Christ Iesus Therefore let no man driue off too long to better his life but let euery man remember and thincke vppon the wrathe of God and vppon his punishment in time preuent or come before them driue not the time off till your death bed for you are not sure howe it will frame and fall out with you whether you shall haue then your reason your wittes or whether you shall be able to heare or speake your selfe or whether you shall dye soudenly and dye in the twinckling of an eye wherefore albeit we be all subiect to death and that therefore we must all dye yet doth our Lord God many times shorten many a mans life before his time chiefly bicause such a man doth not remember his sinfull and vnpenitent liuing that he may let him smart whereby he may win vnto him a good purpose to amend and better his life I am afraide there be very fewe that God taketh away before their time bicause they be vertuous whereby he may saue and deliuer them from great mischaunces and from the plagues at hand and therefore God can take but small pleasure of such people as then only call vpon God and sue vnto him in the time of their mishappes and punishmentes and by and by as soone as God our Lorde hath taken his correction from them againe they also by and by forget it and afterwarde become worse then euer they were before Experience daily teacheth this therefore when so euer God helpeth vp such a man he helpeth a great offender only vp againe vpon his sound limmes so that afterwarde he is worse then he was before Therfore is this the cause that God many times hath little pleasure lust or will to helpe suche people turne their punishment from them or to take it from them It is better they ly there sick or else buried in their graue then that they shoulde more grieuously offend God or any longer hurt good mē Howbeit if it so come to passe that God lay hand vpon his owne that is to say weaklings and straglers and take them vnder his fatherly correction looke well whether you be one of those or not and that ye doe not suffer such correction in vaine but rather imagine learne what our Lord GOD meaneth thereby and what profite and good our Lord God purposeth to set foorth by you First you shall knowe that by this meanes God will lead you to true repentance after that giue you cause that you earnestly séeke vnto him and with your heart call vpon him and from him onely looke for helpe and comfort which be the very good and precious woorkes of the second commaundement where you are commaunded that you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vaine which is then done when you inwardly call vppon God in your necessitie haue all your refuge for succour to him looke for all goodnes at his hands Those be most precious good woorkes that doe passingly please god After that as soone as God hath helpen you that you thancke him for his gratious helpe thanke and praise his holy name which is the right offering vp of thanks of the newe testament As holy Dauid witnesseth Psal. 50. That is then the right true Gods seruice to which Gods seruice our Lord God sometime without our minde and will must force or driue vs with great crosses and smarts or else we would neuer walke in any such good woorkes Also we must lastly with holy Dauid in the 119. Psalme acknowledge and say O Lord it is very profitable for me that thou hast humbled and brought me lowe that I might know thy lawes And hereof it commeth to passe that our Lord God suffereth Sathan to trouble to vexe his that he doth tempt them somtime with some special sinne and plagueth them therewith whereby they be moued or driuen first to knowe themselues their weake nature frailtie then to sigh vnto God to call vppon him and flie vnto him they be our spurs and prickes whereby wée be driuen to god And againe that is our comfort that God is so good and that he can shew himselfe so almightie that he can turne the wickednes of his to the best For he is such a God that he wil suffer no euil to be done whereof he doeth not worke some good But our Lord God is so cunning and many times doth shew it vnto his to shame the diuell whereby he doeth very often breake and hinder Sathans purpose and vtterly destroy it To this onely God and Lord he euerlasting thankes and praise in Christ our lord Amen Exhalt mich durch dein wort Keepe me according to thy promise Psalm 119. An instruction to teache children howe they ought to goe to the Lordes Table I haue herein something varied from mine Authour both because hee is not named in the booke and also for that it did in the woordes varied something sound contrary to our English Churche I thought it meete to be added because it was bound with the former Dutch bookes and necessary to be read to them that be in extremitie if time will serue for it FIrst you must beléeue if you will receiue the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ to your commoditie After that must you trye or proue your selues whether you doe worthily eate it or take commoditie by it ¶ Faith. First of all you must well embrace the wordes of our louing Lord God Iesus Christ wherein he hath appointed vnto you his body and bloud to be a testament whereby you may be assured and certeined of his grace and blessed inheritaunce for euer and with Christ and al good Christians to enioy their felowship in all thinges and that you doe belong to the fellowship of Christ For Christian faith hath in it these 2. partes First that by Gods grace we are made frée from all our sinnes and miseries Againe that we be partakers and felow woorkers of all the goodnes of God in Christ Iesus These two partes be promised vnto vs in the Gospel belong to as many as beléeue the Gospel Howbeit to the intent euery man should be the more sure of his faith and better certified that it belongeth vnto him whatsoeuer is conteyned and promised in the Gospel Christ our Lord hath ordeined two Sacraments or outward signes So that euery man that should receiue them in a fast and perfect faith thereby should be assured that the two before remembred parts do belong vnto him which he hath bound and tyed to no time place or person so that wheresoeuer it be receiued it is sure that the faithfull receiue those partes Therefore beléeue stedfastly that through Baptisme almightie God worketh forgiuing of all sinnes as we pray in our beliefe I beléeue one Baptisme for the forgiuenes of sinnes That is to say I beléeue that through Gods mercy by Iesus Christ in the holy Ghost only my sinnes altogether be forgiuen me whereby I am