to wash vs and make vs cleane then this vncleane spirite hath filthines and vncleanes to polute and defyle vs. His light is clearer to lighten vs than the darkenesse of the prince of this world to make vs blinde His trueth to instruct vs then the lyes and errours of the father of lyes to deceiue vs. To be briefe his life hath more vertue to raise vs vp to life againe then the enuiâ—… of the murtherer and man-slayer hath to kill and slaye vs. Wherein we see that the sonne of God as Saint Iohn sayeth is not come into the world but to destroye the workes of the diuell and that in his bloud all our enemies that is to saye all our sinnes haue béene drowned as Pharao and the Egyptians enimies of the people of God were discomfeted and swallowed vp in the red Sea This is the stronger man whome S. Luke saide came vpon another strong man fought with him and ouercame him and tooke from him all his weapons and armour wherein he did trust that is sinne death and the lawe leading with him Captiuitie captine when he ascended vp into heauen so that the diuell being now disarmed hath no power to hurt vs any more neither by our sinnes which Iesus Christ hath washed awaye in his bloud nor by death which he hath ouercome and swallowed vp in dying for vs nor by the lawe which he hath fulfilled and satisfied fully submitting himselfe for vs to the curse which was to light vpon our heades And although the diuell be alwayes our aduersarie and that by the enuie that he beareth vs and the malice that he oweth vs to do vs a mischiefe and to hinder vs for euer attaining to that felicitie from the which he was cast downe headlong by his pride he runneth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whome he maye deuoure yet we may resist him well ynough standing firme in our faith and anchoring in the assurance that we haue of the remission of our sinnes the which is perpetuall as is the vertue and efficacie of the death of Iesus Christ by the which it hath been obtained for vs this is the freedome of the Church within the which all the faithfull must retyre themselues when they are pursued by their owne consciences and followed with other Sergeants of Gods Iustice whereunto the Prophet Dauid doth exhort vs Let Israel wait on the Lorde for with the Lord is mercie and with him is great redemption and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities And in another place The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirite a contrite a broken heart the Lorde will not despise And Iesus Christ the soueraigne Phisition of our soules who is come into this worlde but to seeke that which was lost to cure and heale that which was sicke and as the Prophet sayeth to beare our infirmities and langours vppon him shall hee haue any greater pleasure then to see vs runne to him to be disburdened of our heauie sinnes hath he at any time refused a sinner or publican that hath come vnto him He is as the Prophet Dauid sayeth The Lord is full of compassion and mercie slowe to anger and of great kindnesse He will not alway chide neither keepe his anger for euer Wee may see that clearely by the examples of the Publican of the poore woman sinner of the prodigall sonne of the good thiefe of Dauid of Saint Peter of S. Paul and the Steward that owed his master tenne thousand Tallents which were forgiuen him as soone as he by acknowledging and confessing the dett had desired his master to haue pittie on him Tell mee for what ende hath the father sent his sonne into this worlde Wherefore was he annointed with the holy Ghost was it not to tell the poore Captiues that he was come from heauen to paye their raunsome and to fetch them out of captiuitie and to tell the poore prisoners that he was come to set open the prison doores vnto them to tell those that were endebted vnto him that hee would forgiue them all and to the sicke that hee woulde heale them all The Apostles that he sent into all partes of the worlde what did he giue them in charge was it not to publish the glad tydings of the Gospell that was the remission of sinnes to all In the name of Iesus Christ If then their labour were not in vaine and in like manner the labour of all the true and faithfull ministers of Iesus Christ that haue been since their time we must assure our selues of the remission of our sinnes And more ouer if our sinnes bee not pardoned by beleeuing in him the birth death resurrection ascension intercession and in summe all the mysterie of Iesus Christ and our redemption shoulde be nothing woorth made of no efficacie and valour and all our faith but vaine Likewise how can wee beleeue that hee is our Iesus and Emmanuell if he doe not saue vs from our sinnes and so take awaye the enimitie that is betweene vs and him which let him that he cannot ioyne himself vnto vs And what assurance should we haue that the newe aliance and couenant that he hath made with vs hath beene good in lawe and ratified by his death and bloud which he hath shed for vs if he had not forgotten quite all our iniquities and written his lawes in the tables of our hearts by his holy spirite seeing that those are the promises and conditions vpon the which it was bargained and agreede vpon What profit should we haue by his priesthood if the Sacrifice that he offered to his Father for our redemption if wee abyde yet in our sinnes And what shall it auayle vs if he were not the propitiation and agreement for our sinnes and not onely for ours but also for the sinnes of the whole worlde How can wee assure our selues that he is our aduocate and mediatour and vnder this assurance go to the throne of Grace to obtaine mercie fauour to helpe vs in time of neede We must not then doubt of the remission of our sinnes And as Dauid sayeth As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. How can we stand in doubt of this seeing that we beare the marke print not onely in our hearts and consciences but also in our bodies of the two great broad seales of the Chauncellor of the kingdome of heauen that is to wit Baptisme and the Holie Supper of the Lorde Let the sicke man then assure himselfe if he beléeue in the forgiuenes of sinnes he obtayneth it by and by For God dealeth with vs according to our faith Saint Ambrose writeth that all that we firmely beléeue we obtaine for we can beléeue nothing but that which God hath promised vs who is moste faithful and so true in his promises that the verie infidelitie and vnbelife of men cannot make him a lyar And albeit the
passe straighte from death vnto lyfe Now N. bée of good chéere in Iesus Christe for hee hath loued you dearely and washed you from all your sinnes by his bloud Haue then a strong faith and valyant resolution to encounter couragiouslie with your aduersarie You néede none other buckler to defend you but the precious bloud of Iesus Christ the which by the vertue of his death and passion hath reconciled you to God the father vnto whom with great humilitie and true repentance you must saie Lord God Father almightie haue mercie on me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour and by the merite of his death and passion vouchsafe to receiue my soule the which I commend into thy hands N. Haue a good hope and firme faith that this good God full of mercie and compassion wil receiue your soule as his own into his handes for the loue of his son Iesus Christ. For there is none other mean vnder heauen giuen vnto men by the which we must be saued no other saluatioÌ„ but in Iesus Christ. Arme your selues then with this Iesus Christ for hee hath done all for you He hath accomplished the law for you He hath vanquished all your enemies that fight to ouercome you Now N. reioyce your selues in God stand firme in this liuely faith Followe and imitate the holy Patriarches Prophets and Apostles who are all saued in this faith who assured you that your aduersarie cannot anie waie hurt you For your processe is gotten by Iesus Christ who is both your iudge and your aduocate Wherefore you may boldly say with a stedfast beléefe When I shoulde walke in the shadowe of death I shall feare none euill for thou Lord art with me Then good N. be neuer a wearie saying from the bottome of your heart in all true humilitie and repentance Lord God Father almightie haue mercie on me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour and by the merite of his death and passion vouchsafe to receiue my soule the which I commend into thy hands A verie godly Praier for one that is grieuously afflicted by sicknes and readie to die ECCLESIASTICVS 18. Vse Phisick before thou be sicke examine thy selfe before thou be iudged and in the daie of visitation thou shalt finde mercie God doth admonish vs to praie continually but especially when wée are touched with his rods of correction Wherefore all the kindred faithfull friends who visite the sick person ought not onely to visite and haue a care of his bodie but also séeke some spiritual medicine for his soule And this must bee done by good praiers confession of sinnes and Christian exhortation according to the worde of God without the which no man can liue And that all things may be done orderly and zealously the assistance must prostrate themselues before the maiestie of GOD saying Our aide is in the name of God And then saie the generall confession of sinnes and after that this praier as followeth LOrd God almightie and Father of mercie we that are assembled together in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ trusting vpon his grace and fauour we haue bin so bolde as to come before thée to call vpon thy holy name making our onely refuge in thy soueraigne bountie y e which we desire not onely to féele and tast in our selues but also in y â— extremitie of thy poore creature who is grieuously afflicted with sicknes of bodie affliction and calamitie of minde We knowe Lord that thou doest iustly visite chastise him with thy rods to make him vnderstand and féele thy fatherly affection towards him But thy great mercies which thou wast wont to vse towards our Fathers are not yet at an end and clean forgotten For thou art that great God eternell full of pittie and compassion which neuer changest Thy holy word doth teach vs plaine that the earth is full of thy mercies the which doe farre surpasse thy iustice Wherefore O Lord appease thy wrath towards this thy creature Haue pittie and compassion on him for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Looke not vpon his sinnes but looke vppon the face of thy Christ who hath fully satisffed for him in offering to thée the greate sacrifice of his body vppon the crosse We beséech thée then most gracious and mercifull â—…ather make him â—…éele thy grace the which thou hast neuer â—…efused to giue vnto anie of thy châ—…ldren And because thou art our Father for euer who alwaies knowest what is necessarie and expedient for our saluation we do not pray and beséech thée to prolong or abridge his life for we rest our selues wholy vpon thy holy will the which we desire onely to please Thou art wise enough without anie other counsell to dispose of thy creature according to thy good pleasure But if it please thée to call him awaie who is hée that is able to resiste Or if thou wilt restore him his health again who is he that can or dare reprehend thée For all things are in thy handes nothing is done without thy holy will prouidence Although Lord if of thy fauourable grace thou prolong his daies thy rod shal serue for a chastisement to amend him and turne him to thée we with him shal yéeld thée thanks and praise But if it bee thy determinate will to let him passe into a better life wée beséech thée for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake to forget all his sins and offences the which thou hast 〈◊〉 out and washed away by the 〈◊〉 of his most precious bloud Let it please thée by the merit of the death 〈◊〉 passion of thy sonne to receiue his soule into thy hands when thou shalt call him out of this world Lord God despise not the work of thy hands for sée here thy poore creature almost at the last gaspe which calleth vnto thée from the depth of all his languishes and miseries presenting thée with his sorrowful penitent soule with an humble contrite hart the which we beséech thée to accept of for the loue of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name thou hast promised to heare our praiers Wherefore Lord we beséech thée to take vs into thy tuition and to illuminate our hearts and vnderstandings that we may stil come to thée and cal vpon thy holy name as thy sonne Iesus Christ our sauiour hath taught vs to call vpon thée in all time of our néede saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Lastly most mercifull and gracious God and father may it please thée we beséech thée to vpholde vs alwayes by thy grace and power that by the infirmitie of our fleshe wée doe not stumble and fall and for that wée of our selues are so weake that wée
wicked reiecting and contemning the worde and promise of God by their contempt and obstinacie make it that doth not produce the effect in shewing the vertue that it would haue to saue them if they did beléeue it yet that cannot bring any preiudice vnto others that do receiue it and obey it and cannot hinder that they beleeuing and by faith apprehending it in their heartes be not quickened no more then a man that would shut his eyes in the daye and would see no light can hinder him that holdeth his eyes open and beholdeth the light For the light and couller are the obiects of the eye the which being open sound and of a quicke fight apprehendeth by and by things obiect vnto it So the promises of God be the obiectes of Faith which causeth a man to receiue them incontinent as they are announced vnto her so that the spirite of God haue touched and prepared his heart before For otherwise if it remaine in his stonie nature the spirituall seede which is sowen can take no roote at all nor fructifie no more then the seede that is sowen vppon stones or vppon ground that is not tilled The sicke man being resolued then of remission of all his sinnes may not doubt but that he is in the fauour of God and that thereby he must looke for life euerlasting vndoubtedly and all the blessednes that God hath promised to his children for there is nothing that may shutt or debarre vs from it except onely sinne the which being not imputed vnto vs but couered and blotted out cleane what may nowe hurte vs or bring vs out of Gods fauour And if by faith wee be vnited inseparably with him who is the fountaine of life and the fulnesse of all good what can wee desire but wee shall straight finde in him What mischiefe or miserie may wee feare being in his fauour Nowe being assured that he will continue towardes vs the good will that hee beareth vs for euer and that there is no creature in the whole worlde that can alter it from vs as Saint Paul sayeth to the Romanes I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shalbe able to seperate vs frō the loue of god which is in Christ Iesus And a little aboue this place saith he What shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or peril or sworde Euery man then that hath once beene graffed in by faith into the bodie of Christ Iesus by consequent is the adopted sonne of God receiued into his grace into his house as his childe departeth not from thence any more but euen as he is assured of his election by his calling and iustification which followed the one the other so is he also of his glorification which is the conclusion and as it were the crowning of his saluation for the giftes and calling of God are without repentance That which the Apostle writeth most euidently to the Romans Those whom he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whome he hath called he hath also iustified and those whom he hath iustified he hath also glorified And although we haue yet many vices and infirmities in vs and that it chaunce that wee fall grieuously sometimes as it happened to Dauid S. Peter S. Paul and almost to all the Saintes yea to the perfectest that euer were yet there is one point vpon the which we must rest be well grounded wherby we must comfort our selues greatly and hold out against all the assaults and temptations of Sathan this is it that Saint Iohn saieth Who soeuer is borne of God sinneth no more that is to saye the sinne vnto death for the séede of God remaineth in him that cannot sinne because he is borne of God That which hee declareth better in another place All iniquitie saith he is sinne But there is a sinne which is not vnto death Wee knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is borne of God standeth vpon his garde that the tempter touch him not For by this he giueth vs ynough to vnderstande that faith and the worde of God which are the soule and the foundation be neuer whollie and altogether plucked vp and banished from the heart of the elect and therefore they cannot sinne in that sinne that Saint Iohn calleth to death For although that faith be sometime as it were buryed in them hauing no mouing or feeling no more then a dead thing Yet it is not altogether extinguished no more then fire couered with a fewe cenders albeit it shewe not the flame and heate nor no more dead than a tree in Winter when all the sappe is got into the roote and it bringeth foorth no blossomes nor leaues nor fruite as though it were not aliue the sappe neuerthelesse remaineth at the heart hidden within in the roote and this is the reason why Dauid speaking of the faithfull man sayeth Though he fall he shall not be cast off for the Lorde putteth vnder his hande And in another place I will keepe my promise that I haue sworne vnto him and shewe my fauour vnto him for euer And in the foure score and nynth Psalme I saide Mercie shoulde be set vp for euer Thy trueth shalt thou establish in the verie Heauens I haue made a couenant with my chosen c. And in another place more plainlye I will not faile Dauid his seede shall endure for euer and his throane shall bee as the Sunne before mee He shall bee established for euer more as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in Heauen But if his children forsake my lawe and walke not in my iudgementes If they breake my statutes and keepe not my commaundements Then will I visite their transgressions with the rodde and their iniquitie with strokes yet my louing kindnesse will I not take from him neither will I falsifie my trueth My couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes And in the 23 Psalme Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall followe thee all the dayes of thy life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lorde And in the thirtieth Psalme Hee endureth but a while in his anger but in his fauour is life Weeping may abide ar euening but ioye commeth in the morning Likewise in the 65 Psalm Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee Hee shall dwell in thy courtes and wee shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thine holie Temple And last of all in the 119 Psalme I pray thee that thy mercies may comfort mee according to thy promise These and other like places of holie Scriptures must wee alleage vnto the sicke pacient to strengthen his faith and to arme him
on euerie side for the venomous dartes and arrowes of Sathan that on what side soeuer he assaile him he may finde no place vnarmed where he may wound and hit him For no doubt the diuell will doe what he can by all the trecherie he can deuise to shake the foundations of our faith and so to ouerthrowe vs quite But to defend and saue our selues wee must alwayes keepe our selues within our fortresse and neuer depart from the promises of God whatsoeuer he alleage to the contrarie Let vs set before him that which Esaie sayeth Israell shal be saued in the Lorde with an euerlasting saluation and we shall not be ashamed or confounded world without ende And in another place The Heauens shall vanish awaie like smooke and the earth shall waxe olde like a garment and they that dwell therein shal perish likewise but my saluation shall be for euer and my righteousnes shall neuer faile And lest the great signes that he shewes vs often times of his anger and displeasure should breede in our hearts too great a feare and so we should fall to dispaire of his promises let vs heare what the Prophet sayth in his 54. Chapter speaking to the Church in the name of God For a little while haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee For a moment in mine anger I hide my face from thee for a little season but with euerlasting mercie haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer For this is vnto mee as the waters of Noah for as I haue sworne that the waters of Noah should no more ouerflowe the earth so haue I sworne that I woulde not be angrie with thee nor rebuke thee For the mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shall fall downe but my mercie shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace fall away saith the Lorde that hath compassion on thee To the same purpose God speaketh by Oseas the Prophet vnto his Church that he will marrie her vnto himselfe in righteousnes and in iudgement and in mercie and compassion shewing thereby that the aliance and couenant that he will conclude with her shall be firme and inuiolable and that he wil establish and ground her in himselfe that is to saye in his mercie trueth and Iustice requiring onely that shee would walke vprightly before him that in all her wayes shee would followe him in all perfect integritie kéeping her selfe as much as shee can from all counterfaiting and hypocrisie This must be diligently marked For the diuell to make vs afraide and to make vs doubt of the effect of the promises of God when we are readie to appeare before his iudgement seate are cyted and our cause readie to be called If he see that wee stande fast resting vppon the worde of his Gospell wherein he doeth offer vnto vs his grace he wil graunt vs that al that God saith is truâ—… and likewise that he offereth vs fréely his grace and life euerlasting by his promis but forsooth that he cannot performe that which hee hath promised by reason of our indignity For that we hauing so oft offended him since we haue bene lightened and regenerate by the knowledge of his truth had so much fauour at his hands besides as to be receiued into his family and to bee adopted his childreÌ„ Bb our own ingratitude we haue made our selues vncapable of his benefits and vnworthy to haue the promises performed that he hath made vnto vs. Therevppon to repulse this temptation which is the greatest of all and more dangerous then any wherewith we may be assailed We must first note that as the good will and pleasure of God hath bin the first motyfe to stirre him vp to make this alliance and couenant with vs and to offer vs fréely the promise of saluation by the which he declareth himselfe to bee our God and receiueth vs to bee his people as also his grace is the onely means to induce him to performe it towards vs. And this was the cause why Sainct Paul said that the reward of sinne is death but the gifte of God which is his grace is eternall life Whereas if he should haue drawen an argument directly from the Countryes mee thinketh he should haue sayd that as life is the reward of our righteousnes so death is the guâ—…rdon of our sinnes But to giue vs to vnderstand that life which is the effecte of the promise is as well giuen to vs gratis as the promises which doth offer it to vs he hath attributed it wholly to y e grace of God making no mention of our works or vertues This is confirmed by the 4. to the Romanes and in 32. Psalme where Dauid declareth that the blessednes of maÌ„ consisteth in this that God alloweth his righteousnes without works saying Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Happy is the man vnto whom the lord shall impute no sinne Séeing then that the life and blessednes that God doth offer vs by his promises are not graunted vnto vs in lieu and fauour of any merits or vertue that is in man But by the only grace of God it followeth then that as the price and dignity of our works cannot purchase vs life euerlasting so also our vnworthines cannot hinder vs from attayning to the same For it is the more gift of God which he bestoweth vppon whom it pleaseth him according to his mercy and not according to the merit of our righteousnes which are not only vnperfect but also polluted with much vncleannes because that our harts from whence they procéede cannot be so well cleansed in this world but still there doth remaine some staines and corruption whereby they are defiled Which is the cause that the prophet prayeth to God so feruently that he would not enter into iudgment with him Saing Enter not into iugement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall none that liueth be iustified And also wher he saith If thou O Lord straitly markest iniquities O Lord who shalbe able to stand And that Sainct Augustine in his confessions hath this excellent and memorable sentence Our righteousnes shalbe cursed if it be examined and iudged without his mercy But neuertheles that can not let vs why God should not giue life euerlasting as he hath promised vs. So that we acknowledg féele and confesse our own vnworthines For nothing can make vs more capable and if it may be said also more worthy of the fauours and blessings of God then the knowledge and féeling that we haue in our selues to be altogether vnworthy What worthines might the Thiefe haue that hung vppon the Crosse hard by our Sauiour Iesus Christe who had continued in his théeuing and wickednes till the last houre of his life neuer acknowledging his Sauiour Iesus Christ til the very houre that he should render vp the Gost. And yet he had no sooner opened his mouth to confesse
the merite of the death and passion of the same Iesus Christ in whose name you present vnto him this holy prayer the which he taught vs saying from the bottome of your heart Our Father which art in heauen c. Then do acknowledge from the bottome of your heart your vnrighteousnes be sorrowfull for your sinnes repent your selfe vnfainedly and the kingdome of God will drawâ—… nigh vnto you Confesse that there is no righteousnes no innocencie no good workes neither of yours nor in you but that as the childe of wrath conceiued and borne in the sinne of olde Adam you merite eternall death and damnation And yet all the sinnes in the world when you shall haue committed them all are not able to make you afeard For Iesus Christ the very sonne of the eternal God became verie man conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Marie to sanctifie you and make you cleane from sinne He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate many afflictions and iniurious torments making him selfe a slaue and a captiue to set you out of captiuitie Iesus Christ was crucified as one accurst vpon the trée of the crosse to deliuer you from the eternall curse Iesus Christ was dead and shedde his precious bloud to wash you to redéeme you and to deliuer you from death hell and the power of Sathan Iesus Christ was buryed in the graue to burie all your sinnes with him the which he hath borne and blotted out Iesus Christ descended into hell in suffering an extreame anguish to delyuer you from all the paines and dolours of death Iesus Christ is risen vp again from the dead to make you rise againe in your own bodies resplendent with glorious immortalitie Iesus Christ is ascended vp into the heauens that after him you should ascend also Iesus Christ sitteth at y â— right hand of God the father almightie béeing your aduocate and mediator to him the propitiation for all your sinnes We looke that he shal come to iudge the quicke the dead to reward euerie man according to his workes But to the faithfull that beléeue in him he shall not impute their sins for hauing iustified them by his grace hée shal make them raigne with him for euer in his heauenly throne N. Such is the great mysterie of our redemption the which by the grace of the holy Ghost you ought firmely beléeue to haue bene wrought for your saluation Doubt not then at al but by the merite of Iesus Christ the head of his Church you are incorporate and engrafted a member into the same thanking him in all humilitie that it hath pleased him of his greate grace that you haue liued in the communion and fellowship of his faithfull people nourishing you with his word and with his bodie and bloud confessing assuredly the great mercie of God by the forgiuenesse of all your sinnes the which hée hath vouchsafed you thorough Iesus Christe who shall rayse you vp againe at the last daie to make you raigne with him in life euerlasting the which he hath promised to all those that beléeue in him being baptised in his name Nowe N. séeing that you haue this faith doubt not but to receiue the promise of faith for God is true of his promise he is no liar as men are First heauen and earth shall passe but the word of God abideth for euer God he is your father and creator you are his creature the workmanship of his handes He hath not made you to destroy you For he is the sauiour of all men and will not the death of a sinner but rather that he turn from his wickednes and liue Wherefore I announce vnto you in the name of God that by his great bountie and mercie hee doeth fréely giue vnto you full pardon and remission of all your sinnes by the onely merite of his sonne Iesus Christe our sauiour in the shedding of his most precious bloud for it is the propitiation not onely for our sins but also for the sinnes of the whole world N. Iesus Christ sayeth by his owne mouth that all things are possible to him that beléeueth Beléeue then without all doubt that Iesus Christ inuesting our flesh is become verie man and died for vs hauing borne all our sinnes in his owne bodie to wipe them out and deface them Present vnto God the precious death of his sonne Iesus Christ and by the merit of the same death and passion aske him mercie and forgiuenes saying with great humilitie and repentance from the bottome of your heart Lord God Father almightie haue mercie vpon me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lorde and Sauiour and by the merite of his death and passion please to receiue my soule the which I commend into thy hands N. You must haue a firme beléefe and trust in God For if hee bée on your side who can be agaynst you for Iesus Christ who is the immaculate lambe hath ouercome all for you He hath offered himselfe once for all and by that one oblation hath defaced all our sinnes He hath raced out our folly and vnrighteousnes abhomination and the obligation that the deuill had against you and with this good Lord and master Iesus Christ God the father hath giuen you all things N. Fortifie your selfe then in Iesus Christ who calleth and inuiteth you by his Proohets Apostles and Euangelists to come fréely vnto him saylng All you that thirst come to mee and drinke your fill Come io me all ye that trauaile and bee heauie laden and I will refreshe you N. Beléeue assuredly that Iesus Christ hath acquited and discharged you from all your sinnes and hath reconciled you to God his Father vnto whom with great humility and repentance say from the bottome of your heart Lord God Father almightie haue mercie vpon me a pore miserable sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christe my Lorde and Sauiour and by the meriâ—…e of his death and passion please to receiue my soule the whiche I commende into thy hands N. Haue then a good hope for certainly hée will receiue your soule as his owne for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde who is the Sauiour and redéemer of all those that beleeue in him Moses and all the prophets haue witnesses that all Nations shall receiue saluation and blessing from Iesus Christe The Apostles and Euangelistes witnesse that Iesus Christ is not come to call the iust but sinners to repentance and to giue his lyfe for the redemption of many for hee hath shed his bloud for the remission of sinnes Beléeue then and doubte not in anie case For Iesus Christ hath purged and washed you cleane from all your sinnes hauing promised that all those that beléeue in him and his Father who sent him shoulde haue life euerlasting and shoulde not come into iudgement but
must beliue to be holy catholike vniuersall S. I belieue verily the holy Church vniuersall to be washed and made cleane in the precious bloud of Iesus Christ and I giue him most humble thankes that he hath giuen me grace to bee a little member of his church And being baptised in his name hath made me liue in the communion vnitie and charitie of the same hauing taught and instructed mee by his holy word nourished me with his verie bodie and giuen mee his most pretious bloud to drinke in hope of eternall life M. Séeing you are so surely grounded vpon the corner stone which is Iesus Christ in knowing your selfe pefectly you must also acknowledge the principall good that you haue receiued of this good God Iesus Christ. S. Not without good reason For I will not bee ingratefull to acknowledge the gifts and graces which I haue receiued at Gods handes Therefore I confesse that I am a poore and miserable sinner who haue grieuously offended the bountie and iustice of God hauing transgressed his most holy commandements wherein I haue deserued eternall death and damnation Neuerthelesse appealing to the mercie of God I aske him forgiuenesse and belieue and confesse without all doubt that he hath giuen mée full absolute forgiuenesse of all my sins by the onely merit of the death and passâ—…on of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in the shedding of whose most precious bloud I assure my selfe sufficiently and throughly to be washed and made cleane which is the greatest benefit and contentment that I could euer receiue This is my faith in the which I wil liue and dye by the grace of his holy spirite M. Séeing that you haue receiued so greate a benefite at Gods hand by the meanes of his sonne Iesus Christe it is meet also that you shoulde doe that which he commandeth you For euen as he hath pardoned and remitted all your sinnes so likewise must you pardon from the bottome of your heart all those that haue at any time offended you for otherwise you walke not in Gods commaundements S. Herein I acknowledge the law of Iesus Christ to bée moste holy and perfecte commanding vs to loue our neighbours our friends and enemies as our selues Wherefore I beséeche all those whom by word or déede I haue offended to forgéeue me with as good a will as I forgéeue all those that by any means haue euer offended mée wishing with al my heart that I might do them as good seruice pleasures as vnto my best friends dearest brethreÌ„ M. Séeing that it is the ordinaunce of God that all men shall die wée cannot resist his ordinaunce But we must alwaies conforme our selues to his most holly wil. Wherefore deare brother you must not think il if I speak vnto you y â— which y â— holy prophet Esay told vnto king Ezechias hauing his message from God Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not liue This good counsell should moue you to haue a great care for the spirituall disposing of your conscience that is first to turne your selfe vnto the Lord and bewaile your sinnes as this good king did crauinâ—… pardon and pittie at his handes and crying him mercy for your sinnes say from the bottom of your hart Lord God haue pitty and mercy on me a poore wretched sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Secondly you must not forget your familie which by your last will and testament you must set in so good order that after your decease it may be in peace and quiet without strife contention or going to law Then must you sâ—… order your familie that euerie one haue their owne without defrauding any person Leaue your wife your heire your children and kinsmen in good loue and charitie one with an other that there arise afterwardes no diuision amongst them This done you must so forget all cares and sorrowes of this wicked world which shall passe and 〈◊〉 awaie with all the 〈◊〉 therof But he which doth the will of God shall abide for euer As for your children you are but onely their naturall Father for a time but God is their spirituall Father for euer who hath then in his timely and holy protection to kéepe nourish and preserue them from all euill so that they will walke in his waies Moreouer being that you are a Christian borne a newe in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme you know long since that we haue héere no abiding Citie but wee looke for a better dwelling place that shal continue for euer Therfore I besech you in y â— name of God not to be sorrie to â—…orgo any thing in this world For here we are all but strangers as our fathers were If it please the Lord God then that you shal dislodge and come before him are not you readie to obey his will and commandement Or if he sée it more expedient for your saluation to prolong your life as he did to this good King Ezechias will not you bee content with that which it shall please him to doe with you Yes surely For he is your Lord and maâ—…ter you are but his seruants hee is your creator you are but his creature and the workmanship of his hands So then you must dispose of your selfe at his will vnto the which onely you must conforme and submit your selfe saying from your verie heart Lord God thou knowest my necessitie before I aske if it be thy will to prolong my life thy will be done if it please thée to cal me to thée ward thy will be done also for thy creature Lorde hath none other will but thine Now déere brother comfort your self in the Lord who if hee haue ordayned to call you your calling shall be most happie for you must beléeue hope with a strong faith that hee will raise you vp againe in your owne bodie in a glorious immortalitie the which is alreadie purchased and giuen vnto you gratis by the vertue and efficacie of the precious bloud of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ. In the name of which Lord and Sauiour God blesse you and kéepe you and make the light of his countenance to shine vppon you and be mercifull vnto you Therefore God turne his chéerefull face towards you and kéepe you in good prosperity for euer So be it This done if the sicke person doe not amend but drawe towards his end in the agonie of his death they should reade vnto him aloude the Christian Consolation which is before and beginneth Whosoeuer is of God c. And God no doubt shall giue him his grace to die his true and faithfull seruant like a good Christan and member of Christ Iesus So be it FINIS Psal. 82. Psal. 49. Psal. 89. Psal. 90. 2. Sam. 14. Psal. 62. 2 Chro. 16. Psal. 38. Rom. 13. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. Lament 3. 38. Amos. 3. Psal. 6. Psal. 38.