vnto thy destruction For it is writtē Math. 4. Thou shalt not tempt the Lorde thy God Séeing that God hath endued mée alwayes with most large and infinite benefites according to his fatherly loue towardes me seing that he hath giuen me this lyfe and hath nourished and preserued the same euen hitherto seing that he hath heaped me vp with all kind of goodnesse what madnesse were it for mée to doubt of his mercie Seing that through baptisme he hath appointed me into the number to bée one of the receyued flocke of the christians seing that he hath called me vnto the gospell of his grace wherein he hath promised to be my father why shoulde I not then looke for all goodnesse at his hands Why should I not assure my selfe of him in all things Wherfore should not his great good will and kindnesse towardes mée alwayes be remembred of mée for my stay and comfort What néede many words It is a most foolishe perillous thing to yeelde our minds studie to such cogitations concerning predestination but forthwith confound preuent thou such cogitations with others wherwith god would haue thy mind to be occupied preuented that is to wit with those which Christ himselfe hath appointed Ioan. 3. where as he sayeth He that beleeueth in Christ shall not perishe but shall haue euerlasting life 1. Cor. 1. Hearest thou that he which beléeueth in Christ which acknowledgeth Christ to bee his sanctification saluation and iustification cannot be damned and that he shall bée partaker of eternall lyfe How many soeuer therof doe trust vnto the mercie of Christ without all doubt they be of the number of them which are chosen vnto lyfe euerlasting being foreknowne and fore ordayned in Christ Ephe. 1. now already written in the booke of lyfe And those which are predestinate vnto eternall lyfe are made and become like vnto the ymage of Christ For they conceyue there fayth for the which they are counted to bée iust before God of none other thing but of the worde of God They are saued therfore by this faith The iust man lyueth by faith Gala. 3. Abac. 2. Rom. 1. Ephe. 1. that is to saye by the trust and hope of mercie fréely giuen vs for Christ his sake Those things are most certeine and true God can neyther be deceyued nor deceyue any man This is the purpose and intent of God our most bountifull father and the true louer of mankinde He from the beginning hath so purposed so foreknowne so before determined those things There is no cause therefore that thou shouldest be letted or feared with those things which that enimie enuying our saluation and pretending the destruction of our soules putteth in thy minde and layeth against thée Sée onely that thou beléeuing in Christ doe comfort thy selfe in the confidence of his mercie and there shall be no perill at all For if thou fasten thy hope Ioan. 6. Rom. 4. trust on Christ Christ is made thine and thou art Christes If he haue redéemed thée thou canst by no meanes bée damned and perishe For he that beléeueth on Christ is drawen vnto him by the father Ioan. 10. and he will haue them to be saued by him none of them to perish Wherfore sée that thou haue a good hart sée that thou beléeue constantly on Christ and conceyue sure hope of him How many soeuer beleue on Christ the same are predestinate vnto euerlasting lyfe We must therefore fasten our eyes vpon Christ we must flye vnto him This our onely and true sauiour is to be taken holde on by faith if we intende to be saued Here let euery mā diligently way that earnest exhortation of saint Paule whose words are these Let vs runne with pacience vnto the battell that is set before vs Hebr. 12. looking vnto Iesus the author and the finisher of our fayth which for the ioy that was set before him abode the crosse and despised the shame and is set downe on the right hande of the throne of God Furthermore Christ for vs and for our sakes suffered all temptations with the which being most gréeuous he was vexed and troubled the same saint Paule bearing witnesse thereof saying Hebr. 5. We haue not an high priest which can not haue compassion of our infirmities but was in all pointes tempted lyke as we are but yet withoute sinne Let vs therefore go boldly vnto the seate of grace that we may receyue mercie and finde grace to helpe in tyme of néede Print those things déerely beloued in thy minde First Christ was giuen vnto vs for this purpose that he might redéeme vs reconcile vs and make vs partakers of euerlasting saluation Secondly that he might be an example vnto vs to leade and passe ouer a godly life Therfore if so be that thou desire to finish thy life wel and vertuously sée that the death of Christ being set before thine eyes thou ende thy lyfe after his example For Christ is set before vs as a patterne to be folowed of vs in our lyfe and conuersation in all afflictions and in our death No man lyueth godly no man suffereth aduersitie no man dyeth well except he set before him the lyfe and death of Christ and doe folow the same The death of all godly men is abolished swalowed vp in the death of Christ Wherfore thou shalt consider diligently meditate what kinde of death he suffered how he behaued himselfe in that agonies of all other moste bitter when he hanging on the crosse was troubled and pestered with most gréeuous temptations Folow this Christ as neere as thou mayest calling for helpe at Gods handes Howe christ was tempted on the crosse Mark 15. Math. 27. Luc. 23. First he was tempted with death when as it was sayd vnto him He saueth others but himselfe he cannot saue As though they should saye Now he is vndone he must die and perishe for euer no man shall delyuer him and pluck him out of our hands After this manner that our olde and mortall enimie will bring the terrour of death on thée But so muche the bolder go thou against him pluck vp thine hart and strengthen thee in him with a sure hope Christ will subdue and tread vnder foote that enimie and thou also shalt ouercome him by Christ Hold vp the shield of faith in Christ Christ is the lorde Ephe. 6. 1. Petr. 5. he is the king of glorie and he is the lorde of lyfe he is not subiect to death but liueth and reigneth This thy lorde and reuenger will not suffer death to exercise hir tirannie vpon thée He cannot deceyue thée neyther can he lye seing that he is the veritie it selfe Conceyue thou this trust and confidence of him Assure thy selfe to receyue all goodnesse at his hands and thou shalt lyue with him for euer And for that he woulde haue the greeued with temptations and to suffer death of bodye it is done onely for thy
greater then all and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hand And I and my father are one Wherefore O déerely beloued in Christ commend thy soule vnto God thy father which loueth thée singularlye Crie out with thy brother Christ Math. 27. Luc. 27. hanging on the crosse Into thy handes O father I giue and commend my spirite God the father of all mercie bring thée vnto euerlasting lyfe and preserue thée vnto the most ioyfull resurrection of his last iudgement Amen The ende of the fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick ¶ A prayer to be sayde vnto God for the sick ALmightie euerlasting and most mercicifull God which art woont amoÌ„gst thy sundry disciplines and manyfolde chastisements wherewith thou doest prouoke and allure vs vnto thée to bridle our fleshe with diuers diseases the securitie thereof taken awaye by perillous sicknesse and doest both admonishe vs of the ende of oure naughtie lyfe past and also of ymminent death through paines which are hir fore messengers and likewise of thy iudgement in the last daye and of the eternall lyfe to come which shall be reserued for the good and godly vnto glorie and felicitie but for the euil vnto shame and condemnatioÌ„ of hell fyre Of the which things fleshe being let runne at hir owne will hath no remembrance But now we perceyue this seelye man is layed on his bedde by his impayred health vnto whome is stirred vp the féeling of his sinnes and the ymage of death often flyeth as it were before his eyes We wretches therefore which looke for the lyke houre of aduersitie acording to the condition of our nature doe beseeche desire thée togither with him that thou practise not righteous iudgement with him for his deserts for our lord Iesus Christ his sake which hath made satisfaction on the crosse for the offences of this sicke body and vs all But rather graunt hym as to one redéemed grace and strength of mind that he maye quietly take this thy fatherly discipline and visitation paciently beare it and that he may suffer wyllingly with perfite obedience himselfe to be subiect and obeysant vnto the good will and pleasure of thée his punisher Succour him in all his aduersities and be thou vnto him a refuge and a defence against this instant daunger wherewith he is now in perill especially of his reueled conscience the secret sinnes of his hart doe accuse him vnto thée Therefore set thou against it for his preseruation the moste bitter torments and voluntarie sacrifice of thy sonne Christ which did beare our infirmities 1. Pet. 2. and accomplished the paine due vnto vs beeing made sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. Apoc. 1. Rom. 4. whilst that he died for our sinnes which he washed away with his precious blood and rising from the deade for our iustification was made our perfite redéemer Let him perceiue through faith the force of these fruits and benifites Let him being oppressed in this misery féele thine aide and let him tast in this moment of time some fruite of suche benifits and gifts in Christ Bring to passe euen nowe by true fayth that there maye be offered vnto him so great a treasure of felicitie that is I meane the forgiuenesse of his sinnes for Christ his sake which by the misterie of the preaching of his worde as is before saide and the vse of his sacramentes frequented in the church is offered vnto him that he maye effectually and of a suertie receiue it to his comfort ayde and defence against the troubles of his conscience gréeuously accusing him and the subtiltie of the deuill And also that the same faith maye be vnto him an armour wherewith he being defenced may enter through death into lyfe â—â—â—â—n he taking hold may enioy the same for euer Therefore O heauenly father we doe wholy commit him vnto thée for thou shalt heale him bicause he is sicke Hée is weake thou shalt strengthen him he lyeth a long thou shalt set him vp he acknowledgeth his spottes and vncleanesse thou shall washe him he is wounded thou shalt cure him he is feareful thou shalt giue him courage And for bicause thou knowest all things and canst bestowe according to thy wil thou shalt satisfie him For he is greatly gréeued with huÌ„ger and thirst after thée Imbrace him For he straight waye flyeth vnto thée and make hym constant to fulfill thy commaundements And to be briefe forgiue him all things wherwith he hath prouoked thy heauie displeasure against him Graunt him in the steade of death life with thée in glorye But if we shall néede him in thy vineyarde in this mortall life and that he maye be imbettred vnto the example of Christ then preserue him vntill that he be increased with more ample benifites Thy will notwithstanding which alwayes is best be euer fulfilled GrauÌ„t all those things vnto vs and this sicke body through Iesus Christ only thy sonne our lord which is our only redeemer helper and which brought the théefe on the crosse with him into Paradyse for the example and great comfort of al sinners which liueth and reigneth with thée in the vnitie of the holy ghost one God world without end Amen ¶ A prayer to be sayd vnto Christ O Lorde Iesu which art the onlye health of all men liuing the euerlasting life of them which die in faith I giue and submit my selfe wholy vnto thy moste blessed will whether it pleaseth thée that this my séelie soule shall tary any longer in the mansion of this my wretched bodye to serue thée or whether thou wilt haue it to depart out of this world being assured that the thing cannot perish which is coÌ„mited vnto thy mercy Willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinfull flesh in hope of the resurrection which shall restore it vnto me againe far better than now it is I besech thée that thou wilt streÌ„gthen my soule with thy grace against all temptations and that thou wilt compasse me about and defende me with the shielde of thy mercy against al the assaultes of sathan wherewith in time past thou madest thy martyrs inuincible against horrible torments and moste cruell deathes I sée and confesse that in my selfe there is no help of saluatioÌ„ but all my hope and confidence is in thine vnspeakable goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I maye alleage before thée of sinnes alas I sée a great heape but through thy mercy and righteousnesse I shall be reckened in the number of the iuste Thou wast borne for my sake Thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou didst preach and teache fast and praye for my sake Thou didst all good works in this life for my sake Thou gauest thy most precious bodie vnto death vpoÌ„ the crosse for my sake Let all these things profite me which thou hast fréely giuen mée which hast giuen thy selfe for me Let thy blood washe awaye the spots of mine offences Let thy
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.
23. Luc. 19. thou shalt finde the theefe hanged on his right hande thou shalt finde the publicane Zachaeus and many others whom he receyued with marueilous kindnesse pronounced them free from all their sinnes were they neuer so gréeuous For Christ is verie grace it selfe mercie aide consolation life ioy and saluation to all them which desire those things of him and doe put their trust and confidence in him God which is veritie and cannot lye hath promised al these things for Christ his sake vnto vs. He therefore will neuer deceiue vs beguile vs nor forsake vs. Furthermore it will come into thy minde also when thou art in daunger of death if thou haue hurted or endammaged thy neighbour by any meanes as if thou eyther haue stollen or taken away any thing from him or if thou haue slaundered him Here thou shalt doe euen the same thing which Christ did hanging vpon the Crosse Luc. 23. thou shalt praye for all thine enimies and shalt forgiue them from the bottome of thine hart all the wrongs they haue done vnto thée If any thing of thine be stolen from thée thou shalt not violently requyre it agayne If thou haue taken awaye anye other mans good restore it againe if thou maye or prouide that it may be restored againe neyther shalt thou kéepe any thing priuie but shalt confesse it vnto God and aske forgiuenesse of the same and be sorie that thou hast so offended If so be that thou be not able for thy pouertie to repaie the thing thou hast wrongfully taken it shall bée sufficient if thou forgiue others which haue done eyther wrong or violence to thée in body or goods or haue takē away thy good name If I say thou forgiue them with all thine hart there is no cause why thou shouldest be carefull Be of good comfort and doubt not but God will forgiue thée the wrongs which thou hast done vnto others Truely hée can not but release his sinnes which forgiueth his neighbour For he himselfe hath taught vs this order and way of recompensing Math. 6. and loosing If yée shall forgiue other men there trespasses your heauenly father shall also forgiue you Whether the sick may lawfully seeke the phisitions help and vse phisick or no. THe sick body shall neyther despise the phisition his help nor haue it in admiration Let his chéefe hope be stedfastly fastined vppon God which as he alone did put the soule into the body So he onely taketh it awaye when it pleaseth him Sometime notwithstanding the phisition is to bée sent for least we shoulde séeme to tempt God For séeing medicines of themselues neither can restore health nor cause diseases yet notwithstanding when they are ministred of a naturall wise phisition well exercised in reasonable rules thei are wholesome and worthily called the handes of God as Herophilus witnesseth the which thing also holye scripture testifieth For it is written Honor the phisition Eccle. 38. For the most highest hath created him for necessities sake The most highest hath created medicine out of the earth and the prowdest man will not abhorre it Tellers of destinies inchauntours wicked coniurers and deceyuers which pretende to cure the sicke with false prayers and orisons are to bée driuen awaye and eschued as the pestilence For witches are the handes of the diuell and not of almightie God by whose worde and power all things ought to bée gouerned What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. THou shalt thinke that death is conquered and vtterly destroyed by Christ And except Christ hauing compassion on vs had suffered death for vs the feare of death woulde haue troubled vs with great and horrible heauinesse and intolerable tormentes of minde But death béeing ouercome and destroyed by Christ the soules of them which trust in him can not dye and perishe but they go straight wayes vnto Christ after their departing out of this bodye As the théefe béeing in extremitie heard it sayed vnto him Luc. 23. This daye thou shalt be with me in paradise The body in the meane season resteth in sure hope to rise againe in the last daye vnto that most blessed immortall lyfe with great glorie magnificence and honour as renewed and clarified that it may liue togither with the soule for euer with Christ and all his elect amongst whom we shall finde many which were either our fréendes or kinsfolks here in this worlde The death of godly mē is called a sleepe Therefore holy Scripture calleth the death of godly men a sléepe For the verie same our brickle fraile weake mortall and corruptible body shall be raysed vp in the last day as a man stirred out of his sléepe and forthwith death extinct and abolished it shall appéere incorruptible glorious beautifull sounde helthfull immortall whole pure perfite spirituall as it is written vnto the Corinthians 1. Cor. 15. Psal 116. And hereof the psalmist sayeth Right déere in the sight of the lorde is the death of his saints Waighe those things diligently in thy minde déerely beloued that thou mayest not be seduced with the wicked world which supposeth vs vtterly to dye the body togither with the soule to decaye and perishe and that no part of vs shall remayne after the departing out of this lyfe But they are farre out of the waye and greatly deceyued therein Our body is not so vile and so little regarded in the sight of God but great honour glorie and saluation is prepared and appointed for it For the verie same body which we carie about with vs and the same which lyeth vpon the bedde afflicted and tormented the verie same body I say renewed and glorified shall liue togither with the soule for euer If so bée that wée shoulde léese our body and neuer recouer it againe the death of saintes were not precious and honorable but vile horrible and most cruell Wherfore these things considered diligently thou shalt support and holde vp thy wauering mind erected by sure hope in the sentences of holy scripture Beléeue them and doubt nothing at all For it is vndoutedly true that I tell thée As the body of Christ béeing buried euen vntill the thirde daye rose againe the thirde day vnto a new and eternal life neuer to die againe so the bodies of all them which haue slept in Christ that is to say which haue beléeued on Christ doe rest in there graues onely for a time to rise againe in the last daye in sure hope of the most ioyful and glorious resurrection into a new and perpetual life where shall bée neyther sinne nor anye death calamitie or any other thing Apoc. 21. than righteousnesse innocencie lyfe ioy blisfulnesse and saluation worlde without ende God which is of infinite power and veritie it selfe hath promised those things They shall therefore come to passe vndoubtedly Therefore trust thou stedfastly vnto hys promises Furthermore the testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the fleshe are
workes which they haue done then shall they confesse and saye that the iudgement of God is true and righteous saying did we not héere of this and yet woulde we not be conuerted from our wicked déedes But then they shall nothing preuaile Alas that euer I was borne which am compassed about with sinnes innumerable aboue the number of the sandes I haue sinned but I turne away from them as froÌ„ many yron chaines For my hope is that I shall not see my sinnes aboue in heauen Vnto whome then shall I flie but vnto thée Oh mercifull God vnto thée I say which forgettest and art not mindefull of iniuries Psal 51. Haue mercie vpon mée O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies doe awaye mine offences Wash me thorowly from my wickednesse clense me from my sinne For I acknowledge my faultes my sinne is euer before mée Against thee onely haue I sinned I flie vnto thée for thy great mercie and goodnesse sake I haue prouoked thée and yet I runne vnto thee for thy méere placabilitie I haue reiected thée and nowe I come vnto thée for thy great goodnesse and kindnesse sake And I hartily beséeche thée to turne away thy face from my sinnes and blot out al mine offences Make a cléene hart in mée O god renue a right spirit within mée for thy names sake onlye For I haue nothing that I maye present vnto thée not so much as one good worke not a pure hart 1. Cor. 4. but I trusting in thy mercies do wholy commit my self vnto them that thou mayst stirre vp in me a prick of conscience that I may not lightly fal againe into sinne but that I may from this time forth serue and please thée Luc. 1. in holinesse righteousnesse all the dayes of my lyfe For thine is the kingdome the power for euer I beséech thée therefore déerely beloued which hopest to obtaine the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes that thou endeuour thy selfe to be found in peace cléene and without spot If any euill thought come in thy mind take vp this swoorde that is to wit The feare of God is a sworde be mindefull of the feare of God and thou shalt cut off al the power of the enimy And take the holy scripture in the stead of a trumpet For as the trumpet gathereth the souldiers togither euen so the holy scripture crying vnto vs doth gather togither our thoughts in the feare of the lord For our thoughts are euen like souldiours which wage warre agaynst the kings enimies And againe euen as the trumpet sounding in the time of warre stirreth vp the courage of the yong men battailing against their enimies likewyse the holy scriptures do rayse vp thy promptnesse to vertue do make thée valiant against affections Therefore enforce thy self as much as in thée lieth oftentymes to apploye the scriptures that they may gather togither thy cogitations which the enimy hath scattred abrode by his wicked subtilty ministring vnto thée noughty appetites and concupiscence or oftentimes also bringing aduersitie or somtimes giuing prosperitie making thée carelesse For he woorketh these things by his deceite guile that he may seperate man from God For oftentymes it hapneth that when we can not ouercome and subdue one by concupiscence then after he offereth vnto him other temptations thereby to blind his mynd that he may after find it an apt ground to plant in it such things as pleaseth him and in the end beginneth to minister such thoughts vnto men that they will say with an othe At what tyme I doe good I haue infortunate dayes Rom. 3. Let vs therefore doe euill that thereof may come good Then if a man be not well aduised he will swallow him vp as hell aliue If so be that he cannot thus ouercome him then will he offer vnto him felicity and securitie of lyfe and craftily extolleth him bringing in deceit an effect of all other most greeuous and troublous which is that he may make him proude and without feare This draweth the minde into the boâ—â—â—e of pleasures This causeth the mouth to speak blasphemie against heauen Psal 73. For it is written They haue set bestowed their mouth against heauen This maketh man to bée ignoraunt of God and not to vnderstande his owne infirmitie neyther to thinke vpon the daye of death and iudgement For this truely is the way of all wickednesse He that reioyseth to walke in this waye that is to wit of prosperitie and cockering shall in the ende come into the storehouse of death This is the waye whereof the lorde sayed Wyde and broad is the way Math. 7. which leadeth vnto destruction Beholde thou hast heard wherefore the enimie endeuoreth sometime to bring vs prosperitie sometime aduersity For as he proueth the minde of man which struggeleth and striueth against him to be affected euen so by his malignitie doth he furnishe his hoste against him Therfore be sober and warie and alwayes giue thy selfe vnto reading that thou mayest learne how it behoueth thée to eschue the snares of that enimie and to take hold on euerlasting lyfe For the reading of holy scripture maketh the wandring minde to stande fast and giueth hir the knowledge of God God is knowne out of the scriptures Read for this matter the second epistle to Timothi The holy ghost speaketh in the Scriptures Thou hearest how that he which with an vnfained hart ymployeth the holy scriptures receyueth the knowledge of God Nelect not therefore thy selfe but ymploy reading and prayer that thy mind may be lightned that thou mayest be made perfite and honest in all things wanting in no point Let others boast of the fréendship of honorable men princes and kings But reioyce thou before the angelles of God speaking vnto him and to the holye ghost by the sacred scriptures †Math. 10. For the holye ghost is he that speaketh by them * 2. Petr. 1. Doe thy diligence therefore constantly to be occupied in holy scripture and prayers For looke how often thou art conuersant with God by them so often is thy bodye and soule sanctified Then take this for certeintie that when thou happenest to reade the scriptures thou art sanctified Therfore do thy good will oftentimes to imploy them Although thy handes be occupied yet mayest thou praye in thy minde For blessed Anne God is to be praied vnto with the mind 1. Reg. 1. Samuell the prophet his mother prayed and moued but hir lippes onely yet hir prayers entered into the eares of the God of Sabaoth she obtained the thing shée desired Therefore although 〈◊〉 hands be otherwise busied yet praye thou at the least wise with thy minde For God heareth euen the silent If thou haue no skill to read He that cannot reade or vnderstaÌ„deth not what he readeth must resort vnto some wise man yet resort where thou mayst heare and take profite thereof For it is written
diligently to be thought vpon and earnestly to be beaten into our mindes by often repeticion Thus doth saint Paule teache vs 1. Thes 4. that we strengthen one another with such communication of the resurrection that we mought thereby be comforted There can be none more certaine nor more plentifull consolations giuen vnto vs than those which we seeke out of the testimonies of holye scripture for the approbation of the resurrection Wée declare not the wordes of man but of God which surely and mightily will performe and bring to passe all that he hath spoken No man can alter the the will of God no man can let or hinder his purpose and counsell His power cannot be measured he is true and faithfull his goodnesse and mercie is endlesse Therfore let no man doubt thereof The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the deade Math. 23. THe iust men shall shine as bright as the Sunne in the kingdome of there Father Ioan. 5. Verily verily I saye vnto you hée that heereth my words and beléeueth on him that sent mée hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come into damnation but is escaped from death vnto lyfe Ioan. 6. This is the will of him that sent me that euery man which seeth the sonne and beléeueth on him haue euerlasting lyfe and I will rayse him vp at the last day Ioan. 8. Verily verily I saye vnto you if a man kéepe my sayings he shall neuer sée death Ioan. 11. Christ sayde that Lazarus did sléepe which notwithstanding had yéelded vp the ghost whose deade body was committed vnto the graue But Christ restoreth the dead vnto lyfe againe and calleth those things which be not as though they were Therefore he addeth this saying I am the resurrection Rom. 4. Ioan. 11. and the lyfe He that beléeueth on mée yea though he were deade yet shall lyue and forthwith after those wordes hée raysed vp Lazarus which had layne foure daies in his graue being putryfied and smelling And bicause we are fearefull and faint-harted by nature in those agonies that we maye haue the better helpe to beléeue that there shall be a Resurrection many were restored from death to lyfe in the dayes of the prophets and the apostles Christ raysed vp from death to lyfe the wydowes Luc. 7. He raysed vp also the maister of the Sinagoge his daughter Iairus was hir father Luc. 8. He restored Lazarus vnto lyfe Ioan. 11. Act. 9. Act. 20. 4. Reg. 4. Peter likewyse made Tabytha aliue again Paule reuiued Eutychus Helyseus the prophet reuiued his Hostes dead sonne Helias the prophet reuoked the womans childe of Sareptha to lyfe againe 3. Reg. 17. God also assumed and tooke vnto him that two most holy Gene. 5. 4. Reg. 2. mighty men Enoch and Elia rapt alyue both body and soule togithers out of this frayle and wretched world that he might by them giue vs some taste and signification of the true lyfe to come least we also shoulde beleue that no parte of vs remayneth after this miserable lyfe according to the opinion of the heathen gentiles and Epicures Furthermore the faint harted sick body is to be admonished that he remember and thinke what that greatest and mightie lord both of lyfe and death Iesus Christ sayed in saint Luke his gospell Luc. 8. Iairus daughter Wéepe not for the damsell is not deade but sléepeth Mans reason harde of beléefe not vnderstanding the secrete mysteries of God did laugh these wordes to scorne But Christ making it true verifying his words restored the dead mayden vnto life againe as soone as he had spoken the wordes The very same lord Iesus Christ wil receiue thy soule and will preserue it and in the last day he wil restore thy body vnto thy soule againe will couple them vnto eternall lyfe Ioan. 5. The time shall come when al they which are in there graues shall heare the voice of the sonne of God and they that haue done good shall come forth vnto the resurrection of lyfe If so be that the spirite of him that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen hée that raysed vp Christ from death Rom. 8. shall quicken your mortall bodies bicause that his spirite dwelleth in you God hath raysed vp the lorde Christ and shall rayse vs vp by his power The .xv. 1. Cor. 6. chapter of the first epistle to the corinthians is full of most sweete and effectual consolations hereof no golde is to be compared vnto them Saint Paule in the same chapter so knitteth and fasteneth our resurrection vnto the resurrection of Christ that it maye not be pulled or seperated from it as by this reason Christ is risen againe from the deade the which thing is most certeine Therefore without all doubt wée also shall ryse againe For Christ is our heade Ephe. 4.5 Ioan. 12. and we are hys members mystically This head is not wtout his members neyther doth he leaue and forsake his members Where Christ is Ephe. 5. there shall we be also For we are members of his bodye of his fleshe and of his bones Who can sufficiently declare according to the worthynesse thereof that vnmeasurable glorie of inestimable vnspeakable grace and mercy that God descending from heauen into the lowest partes did vouchsafe to become a mortall man that this frayle and bryckle nature of man vnited vnto his deuine nature mought be brought vnto euerlasting life being made partaker of the heauenly kingdome by the infinite and incomprehensible might and efficacie of his diuinitie and godhead If we beléeue that so great riches were bestowed vpon vs and that so blessed a lyfe remayneth for vs how I praye you can we be false harted or troubled in minde The nature of all faithfull people which haue béene both before and also since Christ and those which are yet to come without all question hath put on immortalitie in Christ being perfite God and perfite man The comfort therfore of Christ his resurrection is most plentiful and effectuall wherewith saint Paule doth strengthen the mindes of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 15. where as he sayeth Christ is risen from the deade and is become the first fruites of them that sléepe For by a man came death and by a man came the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made alyue and euery man in his own order The first is Christ than they that are Christs Here saint Paule maketh a similitude of naturall things whereby the resurrection maye be the more cléerely and manifestly perceyued And the similitude is taken of drie seede which the husbandman casteth into the earth It dieth rotteth after a fashion Yet notwithstanding that which is committed vnto the earth doth not vtterly perishe but it commeth forth of the earth againe freshe and new with a pleasant hansome ioyful forme and shape And euen so shall our
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
grace through Christ that he would fréely giue thée euerlasting lyfe if thou beleue and art baptised that he woulde neuer forsake thee that he will be thy father that he will crowne thee with grace and mercie Baptisme is a seale of saluation And thy baptsime is the seale and token of this league whervnto his promises being added it is requisite that thou stick fast vnto them For he gaue this singe that thou shouldest nothing doubt of his couenant and promised grace Thou art baptised into the death of Christ as saint Paule sayeth Rom. 6. that his death should be made thine and that he should make satisfaction in all things for thée and thou hast put him on in thy baptisme Gala. 3. that thou shouldest wholy be in him and hée in thée Therefore baptisme is a league lifting vp making merie and quieting thy conscience before god as saint Peter beareth witnesse 1. Pet. 3. that hee wyll neuer condemne thée for thy sinnes For thou iustified by fayth Rom. 5. art at peace with God A quiet calme and pacified conscience is the true peace The true peace And thou hast receiued baptisme as a most sure token and certeine seale of this iustification and remission of sinnes that thou shouldst stedfastly beléeue that God will haue mercye on thée that hée will preserue and delyuer thée Now therefore seing that God fauoreth thée and will be thy father and will neuer forsake thée and seing that thou hast receyued an infallible token and testimony hereof commende and vtterly giue all the matter and thy selfe also wholy vnto him and be thou obedient vnto his good will pleasure and thou must paciently abide and suffer his hande whether he will haue thée to dye or lyue so that his owne blessed will may be done vnto his owne praise glory Albeit it is not possible that thou canst be damned if thou consecrate and dedicate thy selfe wholy vnto him surely trusting in his mercie promised for Christ his sake For he hath condicioned that he will be thy father And bicause he is true when thou doest acknowledge him to be thy father and doest looke for and hope to receyue all goodnesse of him he cannot but be thy father and preserue thée by what meanes soeuer he sharply vseth thee for a little space Seing therefore he hath promised to be thy father thou trustest vnto his promises without all question he taketh earnest care of thee and all thine Wherefore thou shalt commend vnto him not onely thine owne body but also thy wyfe and children thy kinsfolkes and fréendes and to be short all that thou hast and doubt not but he will be vnto thée in the steade of a verie father a wyfe a true fréend and cosine For hitherto he hath vsed thée as a dispensatour and steward in those things But now séeing that he will haue thée to lay aside the function of this office he wil appoint in thy roume an other steward for them which shall diligently and faithfully take care of them If thou hope for this of him and looke for it with a ful confidence of hart there is no doubt but he will do as I haue tolde thée Wherefore put out of thy minde all care of them and commit it vnto God Be rather carefull for thy selfe prouide for thy soule and thinke how to yéelde it vp vnto God And seing that God hath fréely forgiuen thée all thy sinnes for Christ his sake he will require nothing of thee at all for this his great and inestimable benefite but that thou againe forgiue from the bottome of thine hart all them which haue offended thée And he doth promise Math. 6. that he wil remit all our trespasses if we forgiue other men there misdéedes Therefore when thou hast so forgiuen all offences vnfaynedly that thou neuer reuiue them nor call them vnto memorie againe praye also for them which haue done thée harme according to the doctrine and example of Christ and if thou recouer help them néeding thine aide as much as thou mayest If thou haue such a minde voyde of strife enuie malice and wrath thou hast also a signe and token that God hath forgiuen thée thy sinnes For fayth whereby thine hart is purified and clensed exercising hir selfe and bringing forth hir fruits according to Gods infinite benifits cannot choose but likewise forgiue and doe good vnto hir neighbour This fruit of loue and charitie testifieth and doth ascerteine thée A liuely fayth bringeth foorth true fruites that thy faith is a true a liuely faith seing that she bringeth forth good and true fruites †2. Petr. 1. This is the thing that saint Peter would haue whereas he biddeth vs to giue the more diligence to make our calling and election sure by good workes For he meaneth that those workes are witnesses and signes that thou art chosen and adopted of God to be his sonne vnto the ioyes of eternall saluation But thou shalt not hope déerely beloued that God will forgiue thée thy sinnes Payne cannot merite the remission of sinnes for the payne and gréeuousnesse of thy crosse sicknesse †Act. 4. Ioan. 1. For there is none other saluatiō ther is none other recompēce for thy sinnes then the onely death of Christ God truely respecteth none other thing in this case hée accepteth none other thing but his déerely beloued sonne This is the lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world And this thy sicknesse and paynes cannot make satisfaction vnto God so muche as for thy least offence muche lesse can it deserue saluation As S. Paule testifyeth saying I suppose that the afflictiōs of this lyfe Rom. 8. are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs. No creature Peter saieth Act. 4 there is no saluation in anye other than in Christ neyther in heauen neyther in earth no Angell coulde mitigate and pacifie the wrath of GOD the father then this thy disease and temporall affliction is much lesse able to aswage it And farder it was requisite that he which should pacifie that wrath and reconcile god vnto man should be both God and man as one ready to pleade and make intercession betwéene God being offended man condemned Therefore it behoued the sonne of God to be made mā that he might appease and satisfie the wrath of his father deliuer vs from it as the prophet witnesseth saying Hée taketh away our infirmities Esa 53. beareth our paynes God hath layd our iniquities vpon him I haue smitten him sayth god for the sinnes of my people 1. Petr. 2. And s Peter fayth By whose stripes we ar healed Thy sinnes therefore are forgiuen thée for this thy lord Christ his sake and for none other thing in all the world For none afflictiōs be they neuer so bitter and gréeuous can helpe vs. Christ is our only iustification 1. Cor. 2. redemptiō satisfaction and saluation
†Sirach 6. If thou sée a wise man go thou vnto him early in the morning and let thy foote tread the path vnto his gate For this counsell is not only good for them that cannot reade but also for them that can For many there be which read and know not what they read Take héede therefore that thou doe not little regarde the * 2. Cor. 6. grace bestowed on thée by the frée gift of Christ but be thou carefull to séeke how thou mayest please the lorde that thou mayest procure and get vnto thée the blisfulnesse of his saintes For it is written Blessed are they Psal 119. which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole hart See that the enimie let thée not that when thou wouldst read he make thée slouthfull and put other businesse in thy heade which shall pull thée awaye saying First finishe thou these small affaires and so shalt thou reade without trouble of minde For howe often sendeth he in those things that maye encourage thée vnto handie labour And he obiecteth such matters that he may the sooner withhold thée from reading being the greater profite For as much as the deuill perceyuing man to be disposed to reade setteth against him by these and other lyke occasions seeking if he may by any meanes possible let him yet coâ—â—ent thou not vnto him but be euen as the Hart Psal 42. which thirsteth and desireth to come vnto the water springs that is to say vnto the holy scriptures that thou mayest drinke out of them such things as are méete and profitable for thée as for example When it is giuen thée to know any sentence let it not escape thée but pouder vpon it in thy minde write in thine hart and thou shalt kéepe it neuer able to bée rased out of thy memorie For it is written I will thinke vpon thy righteousnesse Psal 119. And againe I haue hidde thy words within my hart that I shoulde not sinne against thée And in an other place Wherewith shall a yong man clense his waye Euen by ruling himselfe after thy worde For who is he that is mindefull of the worde of the lorde and amendeth not his wayes Is not hée alwaies a reprobate a cast awaye caytife which remembereth nothing but rather forgetteth that which he once knew Truely God sayth vnto such an one Psal 50. Wherefore talkest thou of my righteousnesse and takest my testimony in thy mouth WhervpoÌ„ he commaundeth that thing to be takeÌ„ from him which he séemeth to haue Math. 25. And what was there commaunded to bée taken from him which he séemed to haue Faith For he calleth himselfe a christian Tit. 1. but denyeth it in his déedes and he is worse than an infidell And therefore he commaundeth the holy ghost to be taken from him which he receyued in the daye of his redemption and that he séemed to haue also And such a man shal become like vnto a wine vessell thorow the which the wine is spilte and lost they that sée him know it not supposing him to he full but when wine shoulde be drawen out of him then he appéereth vnto all men to be emptie Therefore euen so such a man shall appéere emptie in the daye of iudgement and his déedes shall be manifest vnto all the world And such are they which wil saye vnto the king in that day Math. 7. Lorde haue not we prophesied in thy name and haue done many great things in thy name And the king will answere and saye vnto them Verily I saye vnto you I knowe you not Thou seest déerely beloued that such a man hath nothing at all Be thou therfore mindfull of the worde of God and amende thy lyfe Beware thou suffer not the birdes to descende and deuoure the seede of the sonne of God For he himselfe saide that the séede is the worde which ye haue heard Math. 13. Therefore hide thou the séede in the sorowes of thy lande that is to wit hide the worde in the middell of thine hart that thou mayest bring forth some fruit vnto the lord in feare And when thou readest read diligently and boldly and handle eche lyne moderatly considering thereof Endeuor not to reade ouer many leaues but if any obscure sense happen vnto thée let it not gréeue thée to pervse the verse twice or thrice vntill thou vnderstande the meaning and force thereof Furthermore when thou preparest thy selfe to sit downe and read or to heare an other first praye vnto God saying thus Scripture is attenttyfely to be reade with prayer Psal 119. O lorde Iesu Christ open myne eyes and the eares of my hart that they may heare thy words and vnderstande them and may O lorde fulfill thy wyll hide not thy commaundements from me bicause I am a straunger on the earth but open and discouer mine eyes and I will consider the maruellous things of thy lawe For in thée Oh my God haue I trusted that thou shouldst lighten mine hart Also I beséeche thée so praye vnto God alwaies that he will illuminate thy minde and open vnto thée the effect and force of his worde For many haue erred Rom. 1. counted themselues wise they became fooles not vnderstanding what was written and falling into blasphemies haue therein perished Therfore if thou in reading finde any thing hard to be vnderstoode take héede the enimy teach thée not to say within thy selfe it is not so as this word expresseth for how should it be so and suche lyke But if thou beléeue God beléeue his word also and say vnto the enimie Come behinde me sathan For I know thée not The worde of God is a pure worde as tryed siluer clensed Psal 11. and purged from the earth seauen folde and in it is no peruerse matter other else haulting as the prouerbe is but all things therein séeme good in the wise mans sight and are righteous before them that finde knowledge and I truely am a foole and knowe not the scriptures but well vnderstande they are spiritually written For the apostle sayeth Rom. 7. that the lawe is spirituall Then looke vp towardes heauen saying these wordes Lorde I beleue thy worde and doe not gaine say it but I trust in the worde of thy holy spirite Preserue me therefore O lorde that I may finde fauour in thy sight For I séeke none other thing but only to be saued Oh mercifull father that I maye obtaine thy grace and fauour For thine is the kingdome and mercie for euer and euer Amen Peroratio I Beséeche you therefore brethren déerely beloued in the lorde that ye endeuour your selues to haue these things daylie in memorie I meane faith hope charitie and humilitie that they may be sealed vp by prayers vnto God and meditations of holy scriptures For if you haue those things and doe abound in them they will not leaue you emptie and barren touching the knowledge of Iesus Christ For the 〈◊〉 man which hath not those things but neglecteth his owne saluation is blind groping the waye with his hande 2. Petr. 1. forgetting that he is cleansed from his olde sinnes and it shall happen vnto him as it is sayde in the true prouerbe 2. Petr. 2. The dogge is returned againe vnto his domite and the washed swine vnto his durâ—ie puddle They therefore 2. Petr. 2. that haue escaped the pollutions of the worlde as it is written and haue renounced them in there baptisme and are come vnto the knowledge of our lord Iesus Christ and are afterwards againe entangled with them there ende shall bée worse than there beginning For it had bene better for them not to haue knowne the waye of truth then when they haue knowne it to returne backe againe vnto the things which were forsaken Let vs therfore being the déere and faythfull seruauntes of God and his christian chosen souldiours diligentlye and earnestly take vp the foresaide armour in oure hartes and not haue them in minde by an outwarde showe that we battayling well and treading downe al the power of the enimie Ephe. 5. Collos 3. may be deliuered from the curse to come vpon the children of vnbeléefe and that we maye finde grace Hebr. 4. and mercie in that horrible daye before the iust iudge Rom. 1. which will rewarde euerie man according to his déedes to whome with the almightie father and the holy spirite belongeth honor and glory now and for euer world without ende Amen FINIS The Table PHisick for the soule verie necessarie to be vsed in the agony of death and in these extreme and most perillous seasons c. folio 1. Faith is chiefely necessarie for the sick to abide the paines of the bodye and the temptations wherwith he is pestered folio 3. The articles of our faith are diligently to be considered of the sick folio 5 Wherefore sicknesses are sent vnto vs from God folio 5 There be three things which torment vs most greeuously and cruelly and doe trouble oure mindes in the agonie of death that is to wit sinne death hell or damnation folio 8 ¶ A prayer for the same folio 8 What is to bee done when sinne doth vexe and stirre our consciences folio 9 The testimonies of scripture for the remission of sinnes through Christ must be diligently repeated vnto the sick c. folio 11 Whether the sick may lawfully seke the phisitions helpe and vse phisicke or no. folio 18 What is to be done when death bringeth terror and feare vpon vs. folio 18 The testimonies of scripture for the resurrection of the dead folio 20 We will adde also other sentences of scripture conteyning plentifull comfort folio 23 What is to be done when hell or eternall damnation coÌ„ming in our minds doth feare vs. folio 25 Of the making of a testament and confession of sinnes vnto God folio 34 Of the sacrament of the lords supper folio 35 The sorow which many take more then is requisite for the death of their parents and frendes ought to be tempered by the right rule of reason folio 37 A precept contayning an exhortation vnto al them which professe the name of Christ folio 39 Peroratio folio 40 A fourme and methode or right order to comfort the sick folio 41