of the Epistles of that holy Father which intreate of the like matter CHAP. XV. An Exhortation to all professors of the name of Christ NOw I beseech and intreate all euen as many as are stiled and called by the name of Christians and I charge and require you euen by the mercies of God that once at the length forsaking your former sins and errors and the horrible darknesse and blindnesse in which ye haue liued ye will returne vnto a better course of life with all care and diligence and with sincere heartie deuotion hearing and receiuing the word of God which is able to saue your soules and continually without intermission knocking at the gates of heauen and intreating the heauenly Father through his Sonne Christ Iesus that he will inwardly teach and instruct you and enlighten your hearts and minds with the true knowledge of Christ and of his heauenly will That denying and renouncing all vngodly lusts Tit. 2.12 ye may liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the mighty God of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good works That same light of grace and of all comfort and consolation as the day starre frō on high hath visited vs and by the infinite goodnes of God hath in these last times in exceeding great brightnesse shined forth vnto vs. We haue manifold examples both in the holy Scriptures and euery day among our selues which testifie the infinite bountie and mercie long suffering patience and gentlenesse of our God toward vs whereby we may see how God would not that we should be lost but that we should conuert liue how soone his iust wrath waxeth hote against vs and how easily againe he is mooued to succeasse from punishing vs as we deserued so soone as we vnfainedly repent of our sinnes and stedfastly intend purpose an amendmēt of our liues Let these things moue you deare brethren and stirre you vp to seeke the Lord Esay 55.6 while yet he may be found to call vpon him while he is yet neare vnto you that the wicked forsake his owne waies and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lord and he will haue mercie on him and vnto our God for he is very readie to forgiue Yea let the consideration hereof encourage you in all your troubles and distresses to flie vnto God and vncessantly to pray vnto him that he will mercifully pardon and forgiue you all your sinnes for his deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ and that he will vouchsafe to preserue and keepe you to sustaine and vphold you to cherish and comfort you and finally to hide and couer you vnder the shadow of his wings and to be present and readie to helpe and succour you in all your need and necessitie Thus did Dauid whē he saw himselfe in great distresse and danger 2 Sam. 24.17 and that for his sin there had fallen by a sore plague in three daies space seauentie thousand men straightway he flieth vnto God confessing his sinne and lamentablie crauing begging for mercy and forgiuenesse crying out Ecce Behold I haue sinned yea I haue done wickedly And whē he had built an altar in the threshing floore of Aranna the Iebusite where the Angel had appeared vnto him he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings thereupon And then the Scripture saith verse 25. That the Lord was appeased toward the land and the plague ceassed from Israel By which example of Dauid deare brethren confesse your sinnes pray vnto God for grace and intreate for mercie and pardon offering vp vnto God that acceptable sacrifice of a penitent contrite heart which aboue all things is well pleasing vnto him and behold God will be present and ready to helpe you neither will he at any time faile you or forsake you In like manner Iona 1.3 when God sent Ionas vnto Nineue he threatned to destroy that populous and famous citie But straightway as soone as at the preaching of Ionah the Nineuites had repented God had compassion on them he pardoned their sinnes and remitted their punishment Set before you my brethren these examples to be imitated followed Distrust not the mercie and goodnesse of God Esay 59.1 Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot saue he both will and can saue and helpe yea releeue and comfort you so as ye refuse not neither despise his grace and goodnesse so mercifully and abundantly offered but call vpon him for helpe and assistance of his grace Eph. 2.4 who is rich in mercie Ephesians 2.4 euen rich vnto all that call vpon him Rom. 10.12 Romanes 10.12 Now I pray and beseech the Lord Iesus Christ that onely true and approued Physition both of body and soule that these diuine medicines and spirituall directions collected and digested out of the rich store-house of the holy and sacred Scriptures may haue a powerfull and effectuall working in your hearts whereby faith may more more abound and increase and the loue of God and of your brethren more and more feruently bee inflamed in you And that abiding constant and patient in all temptations and tribulations whatsoeuer after the example of the same Christ Iesus ye may euen vnto the last gaspe cleaue and sticke fast vnto him in assured hope of eternall life and saluation through the same Christ Iesus our alone Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all glorie and praise for euermore Amen The second part A Method or order of comforting the Sicke CHAP. I. How to comfort all such as lie vpon the bed of Sicknesse WHereas deare brother thou art so sore vexed grieued with sicknesse know for suretie and make certaine account that thou art thus afflicted and punished not by chance or fortune but by the determinate will purpose and permission of almightie God For whatsoeuer affliction or calamitie befalleth vnto the children of God it is doubtlesse sent of God and it cometh vnto them whollie and altogether at his appointment and by his guidance and direction For as much as in him wee liue Act. 17. and moue and haue our being Psal 100. It is he that hath made vs and not we our selues And doubt not thou but that it is indeed of his good will and of his loue and fatherly affection toward thee that he now sendeth this sicknes whatsoeuer it be not to destroy thee but to call thee to repentance and to exercise and stirre vp thy faith and confidence in him For afflictions are vndoubted signes of Gods vndoubted loue and fauour toward vs. Whom God loueth him saith Salomon he correcteth and chastiseth Prou. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 yea he scourgeth euery one whom he receiueth Heb 12.6 Thy mercifull and heauenly Father most dearely and
AN AMVLET OR PRESERVATIVE AGAINST SICKNES AND DEATH IN TWO PARTS The first containing Spirituall Direction for the Sicke at all times needfull but especially in the conflict of sicknes and agonie of death The second a Method or order of comforting the Sicke Whereunto is annexed a most pithie and comfortable Sermon of Mortalitie written by the blessed Martyr S. CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage translated into English by A.M. Together with sundry Prayers needfull in time of sicknesse Collected and set forth for the comfort of distressed soules most especially in time of sicknes mortality By A. M. Minister of the word of God in Henley vpon Thames LONDON Printed by R. F. for THOMAS MAN and Ionas Man dwelling in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1617. ⧠To the right Worshipfull and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Elizabeth Periam of Greenlands A. M. Wisheth a long happy life with health and prosperitie here on earth and euerlasting glorie in the highest heauens GOOD MADAM I Do vnfainedly acknowledg and confesse that in my priuate iudgment I haue alwaies distasted the too much forwardnes of this age in publishing vnnecessary bookes and pamphlets So farre haue I bene from once intending my selfe to offend in that kind First in consideration of mine owne weaknesse and insufficiencie best knowne vnto my selfe Next in regard of that great light of learning knowledge which shineth most brightly euery where at this day And lastly in respect of the great peruersnesse curiositie that reigneth in the minds of sundrie men whom nothing pleaseth and contenteth but that which they them selues do or at the least wise affect Howbeit notwithstanding after that I had for mine owne priuate vse collected and gathered these spirituall directions and consolations and also perceiued how that the same might be of some good vse to others not onely in time of sicknesse but also in all other afflictions and distresses whether of mind or bodie I esteemed it a part of that great dutie which I owe vnto the Church of God to communicate impart these my poore endeuours vnto such and for the benefite comfort of all such as shall stand in neede thereof in times of sicknesse and mortalitie in the conflict of death and other sharpe and bitter daies of triall and temptation whensoeuer their sins shall stand vp against them to vrge and accuse them or the vgly appearance of death shall affright them or the feare and horror of hell and damnation shall seeme to dismay them Against all which fearefull dangerous assaults of death of sinne of Satan here in this small Treatise are prouided selected out of the rich Armorie of the sacred Scriptures seuerall and peculiar weapons and armour of proofe both defensiue offensiue both for the withstanding and resisting and also for the repelling and quenching of all the fierie darts of the wicked Now I haue bene bold to dedicate and offer the same vnto your Ladiship being moued thereunto partly by the sundry fauours receiued from your Ladiship by my selfe in particular and partly by those gracious works of pietie and charitie wrought and the great and manifold benefits from time to time conferred by your Ladiship in and vpon the whole Towne or Parish in generall ouer which God hath placed me though his most vnworthy seruant minister accept I beseech you this small present being as the poore widdowes mite which here I presume to offer vnto your Ladiship as a pledge and testimonie of my vnfeined thankfulnesse Almightie God who is rich in mercie grant that as you haue extended the bowels of compassion and mercie alwaies for the relieuing and comforting of many his poore children so also you may find abundant mercie in the last day may be filled with ioy and comfort at the glorious appearing of his Son Christ Iesus Amen Your Ladiships in all humble manner to be commanded A. M. A preface to the Christian Reader THe sicknesses and diseases which vexe and annoy these our mortall bodies together with the remembrance of death ensuing therupon how greatly do they cause both our bodies and minds to quake and tremble Insomuch that many times we shake and are afraid at the onely mention thereof Verily the nature of man being such as had rather not be at all then to be ill appaied or to be in miserie cannot whensoeuer these things befall but be much vexed and perplexed yea and sometimes readie to faint And yet behold the sicknesse and death of the soule farre more dreadfull and more horrible then which can befall vnto a man no greater miserie and torment There is no man but he doth feare and abhorre yea and by all meanes flie from corporal punishments and afflictions and from corporall sicknesses and deaths how much more then should we labour to eschue and auoid the causes of all these euils which are our sinnes and how ought we to feare the wrath and displeasure of almightie God which we daily prouoke against our selues by so manifold sinnes and offences If the bodie be neuer so little crazed we runne straightway to the Physition we spare no cost nor charge preferring our life and health before all things else yea we are content to disburse we care not what that we may procure remedies and preseruatiues for the same and all to patch vp this tattered garment of our flesh this rotten carcasse and clod of clay which notwithstāding must needs very shortly decay and perish and be brought to corruption Why then do we not with like earnestnesse and carefulnesse seeke for remedies against the sicknesses of the soule being farre more deadly and dāgerous For what should it profite a man to liue a whole thousand yeares and during that time to possesse all the riches in the world and to enioy the most exquisite pleasures of this life without being troubled with any sicknes or griefe or other calamitie and in the meane time to haue his soule tainted and infected with the leprosie of sinne and in bondage to the tyrannie of Satan and therupon to haue God alwaies his vtter enemie and his wrath and indignation raging against him and lying heauily vpon him so as he knew and were assured after this life to suffer and vndergoe the iudgement of eternall death and condemnation both of body and soule Hereof our Sauiour Christ admonisheth vs Math. 16.26 saying What shall it profite a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule And therefore in another place he warneth vs to watch to wit ouer our soules watch for ye know neither the day nor the howre when the Sonne of man will come And lest we should without regard passe ouer farre better things and things farre more profitable and should pursue after toyes and trifles things base and contemptible therefore he sheweth vs the shortest and surest way whereby to come vnto true happinesse which willeth vs Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the
and put to death Now then vnto as many as beleeue in Christ death is vtterly vanquished and is dead as it were there is nothing now in death that is dreadfull or to be feared besides onely a certaine image and appearance As a serpent that is dead retaineth his wonted forme which is dreadfull and terrible but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse so oft as it was beheld and looked on the fierie Serpents wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died so as the people could not be infected with their poyson euen so our death dieth as it were and is made harmelesse and in no wise to be feared if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse and dying for vs. Whereof the said brasen serpent was a liuely image and representation as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life In a word death is but a certaine resemblance or image of death or rather it is the beginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life Christ who is truth it selfe telleth vs Ioh. 8.51 If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death How I pray you commeth this to passe The case standeth thus Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God and merits of Christ Iesus by meanes of his faith is so incorporated as I may say and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord Sauiour who is the true life that he cannot be separated nor plucked away froÌ„ him This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule in an assured and vndoubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life For as much as within a short compasse of time the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to enioy eternall blisse and happinesse And so beleeuing in Christ he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule that is of eternall damnation which is the onely death indeed forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe and of all his holy Saints and Angels CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare and horror of Hell and eternal Damnation THat malicious wicked spirit the diuel and Satan here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predestination by suggesting vnto them these or the like horrible and dreadfull cogitatations What if for all this thou do not please God what if God haue reiected thee and cast thee out of his fauour or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those whom God hath elected and chosen vnto eternall life These and the like dangerous tentations will be readie to offer themselues which indeed are very hard and sharpe and will very grieuously tormeÌ„t and disquiet the minds of men especially in sicknesse And therefore a man hath need in this case to stand fast and manfully to defend himselfe Now if in this combat and conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie Straightway as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan take heed thou do not enter into the lists with him or condescend to make him answer or to dispute and reason the matter with him but repell him rather and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitations Auoid Satan depart get thee hence it is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children that are neare and deare vnto him When as God of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me alwaies hath bestowed so exceeding great infinite blessings and benefits vpon me hauing endued me with life and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued maintained the same hitherto hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life yea ministred vnto me abundantly all things behoouefull and profitable both for my soule and bodie that so farre aboue my desert beyond my desire and expectation ô what madnesse were it once to doubt of his mercie When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and number of Christian beleeuers when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me how should I not expect and looke for all good from him how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me how should not his good will and affection be most readily inclined toward me What needeth to say much in this case It is a thing both foolish and also dangerous to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination It behoueth thee rather to preuent to auert turne away and so to ouercome these cogitations with other considerations wherewith God will haue thy mind occupied as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gospell where he saith That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish Ioh. 3.15.16.36 but hath euerlasting life Hearest thou not that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ and that acknowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse sanctification and redemption can in no wise be damned but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life saluation As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfeinedly in the mercy of God and merits of Christ Iesus are of the number of them who are elect and chosen vnto eternall life being foreknowne and predestinate in Christ and registred and written long ago in the book of life But they who are predestinate vnto eternall life Rom. 8.29 are made like vnto the Image of Christ being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne Therefore by this their faith they are vndoubtedlie saued These things are most certaine and true God neither can be deceiued neither can he deceiue any man Now this is the will and counsell of God our most louing Father who is truly and indeed Philanthropâ—s a louer of mankind These things he hath thus fore-purposed and decreed from euerlasting and therefore there is no cause of feare no cause why those thingâ— should hinder thee or make thee afraid which the enemie of thine the diuell enuying thy welfare and saluation seeking the destruction of thy soule shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things Onely see that thou pâ—â— thy
Hell and damnation These things being thuâ— offered vnto our sight the at length a man begins tâ— feare lest haply he be quiâ— cast out from the face fauor of God beholding nothing else but eternal dead and condemnation Heâ— therefore men haue need 〈◊〉 be couragious of a coâ—stant heart and mind thâ—â— they faint not nor giue aâ— place vnto despaire Praâ— we therfore in this manneâ— A prayer O most gracious God â— most mercifull Father graâ—â— we beseech thee that by thy grace and helpe while we are yet in health and prosperitie we may learne to feare thee to loue thy holy word to beleeue and embrace thy sweete and coÌ„fortable promises to set thee before vs as the scope end of all our actions and that remembring alwaies this sharpe conflict and encounter which we are to vndergoe we may fortifie and arme our selues against this day of triall and so be saued preserued and defended that seruing and fearing thee we may direct all our doings to thy glorie and at the length obtaine and enioy eternall life which thine owne Sonne hath purchased for vs Amen CHAP. IIII. A Remedie against the feare and remembrance of our sinnes VVHensoeuer thy sins shall torment and trouble thee or terrifie thy conscience consider how that the Son of God himselfe for thy sake and for the purging and taking away of thy sinnes came downe from heauen and humbled himselfe to the lowest estate that may be that he being made man took vpon him thy sins and the sinnes of the whole world and of his owne voluntarieâ— will dyed for them vpon the crosse and made full satisfaction for them all by suffering most grieuous punishments in thy name and for thy sake This most precious bloud of Christ was shed euen for thee and for thy saluation Of this his death art thou also made partaker if onely thou shalt beleeue that he dyed as wel for thee as for Peter and Paul and others Neither oughtest thou any whit to doubt but that he died as well for thee as for Paule for in that thou art a sinner euen in this respect thou mayest and oughtest to bee comforted Math. 9.13 For Christ came not to call the righteous but to call sinners to repentance Mat. 9.13 and 1 of Tim. 1.15 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a true saying saith Saint Paul and by all meanes worthie to be receiued That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Yea admit thou were one of the greatest sinners in the world yet doubt nothing for such a one was Paule as he witnesseth of himselfe in the same place euen the greatest and chiefest among sinners an oppressor a persecutor and blasphemer Moreouer this may and ought to comfort thee and to confirme and settle thy mind Rom. 6.3 that thou art baptized into the death of Christ For seeing thou art baptized into the death of Christ Christ his death shall saue and helpe thee by Christ his death thou shalt die vnto thy sinnes by Christ hiâ— death thou shalt receiue vndoubted remission and forgiuenesse of all thy sins finally by Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnâ—o a new life here and to a life eternall and euerlasting in the world to come Thâ— remission of our sins confirmed in Baptisme and in the Lords Supper For Baptisme is a sure token and pledge and a certaine couenant as it were of Gods mercie and fauour in which thou art reconciled vnto God So that by meanes of it thou mayest euermore haue a quiet and chearefull conscience by reason of the forgiuenesse and pardoning of all thy sins through the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ Verily it is vnto thee also that Christ speaketh in the institution of his holy Supper wherein he professeth and witnesseth that his bloud was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therefore howsoeuer the life which thou hast led hath not bene altogetheâ— faultlesse blamelesse noâ— in all respects pure and free from sinne yet despaire not but without delay flie for refuge succour vnto that bloud of his which was thus shed for thy sinnes and without ceassing call vpon his Name and thou shalt be saued according to his promise Rom. 10.13 Rom. 10.13 Criâ—â— out vnto him therefore and call vpon him in these oâ— the like words A Prayer O most mercifull God and father of alâ— mercies father of our Lord Iesus Christ be fauourable and mercifull vnto me a sinner Take pittie and compassion vpon me miserable wretch and speedily helpe me euen for that most bitter but yet most precious death and passion of Iesus Christ thy only Son our redeemer and onely Sauiour Amen Amen Enter not into iudgement O Lord with thy seruant Deale not with me after my deserts neither do vnto mee according to my sinnes and iniquities but for thy infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercie receiue me vnto thy grace I miserable wretched weake and feeble creature am in thy hands in thy power and at thy disposing to do with me what it pleaseth thee â— most mightie and yet mosâ— meeke most gentle most gracious God and mercifull father leaue me not neither reiect and cast mee off as a wretch that is quite forlorne and forsaken I am thine whatsoeuer I am and there is none can comfort me none can helpe me none can deliuer me but thou onely Thou art the true preseruatiue and remedie against all euils and mischiefes and against all infirmities and sicknesses both of bodie and soule Thou art the surest and most present helpe refuge and succour a strong hold and a fortresse and castle in all necessities Psal 46. Thou ô Lord art our hope and strength in troubles Psalme 46. In thee O my God I put my trust Psal 71. 31. let me not be confounded nor ashamed as being frustrate and disappointed of my hope but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Incline thine care vnto me and saue me and make haste to deliuer me be thou vnto me a strong rocke and house of defence that thou mayest saue me For thou art my rocke my fortresse thou art my Lord and my God Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Let the light of thy countenaÌ„ce shine vpoÌ„ thy seruant saue me for thy mercie O Lord my God Moreouer here thou must especially be admonished to take heed that the suffer not thy selfe to much to be possessed wiâ—â— the cogitation and remembrance of thy sinnes in paâ—ticular But rather if thâ— same shall at any time stanâ— vp against thee set beforâ— thine eyeâ— the remembrancâ— of that most inestimabâ— price of Christ his death suffering and fasten thâ— same into thy minde diligently according to the aduice and counsell of Sainâ— Augustine Inspice vulnerâ— pendentis sanguinem morieâ—tis precium redimentis Capaâ— habet inclinatum in cruce aâ— osculandum brachia extensâ— ad amplexandum totum
done Seâ—ondly if freely thou conâ—esse and acknowledge the same and be heartily sorâ—ie and grieued at the remeÌ„brance of it And thirdly if thou shalt freely and from thy very heart forgiue â—thers that haue any way either in thy body or goods or thy good name and estimation offered or done wrong and iniurie vn-thee If thus thou shalt from the bottome of thy heart vnfainedly pardon and forgiue others be of good comfort doubt not bâ— that God will also pardâ— and forgiue thee whatsoâ—uer wrongs iniuries doâ— either to himselfe or to â—thers For God cannot bâ— remit and forgiue that mâ—â— his offences who readiâ— and freely forgiueth hâ— neighbour For as much aâ— he himselfe hath taught 〈◊〉 this way of requitall Matâ— 6.14 If ye do forgiue mâ— their trespasses Mat. 6.14 your heauenâ—â— Father will also forgiue you CHAP. VII Of the lawfull vse of Physick in time of sicknesse A Question NOW here a question may be made whetheâ— the sicke man may with a good conscience craue the helpe of the Physition and also vse physickâ— oâ— ought onely to depend vpon God for the recouerie of his health Answer Hereunto I answer that the sicke man as he must not despise the counsaile and helpe of Physitions and of physicke so in any wise he must take heed that he do not adore and relie vpon the same too much His chiefe hope and confidence must be fixed and set vpon God who as he inspireth and giueth life and breath vnto these our bodies so he alone taketh the same away againe wheÌ„ it pleaseth him Howbeit notwithstanding sometimes it is not amisâ— to vse the helpe and couâ—sell of the Physition leâ— herein we should seeme 〈◊〉 tempt God in neglecting oâ— despising his ordinance anâ— meanes appointed for restoring of nature and recouery of health For howsoeuer medicines of theÌ„selues can do nothing neither haue any power and vertue to gâ—ue health without the blessing of God and his secret worke and operation yet notwithstanding wheâ— the same are ministred and applied by the learned and wel experienced Physition they are to be held esteemed not onely healthfull profitable but also needfull and necessarie and may also rightly be called Manus Dei the very hand of God himselfe Hereupon it is that Sirach Chap. 38. counselleth to honour the Physition with the honour that is due vnto him Eccles 38.1.4 that because of necessitie For the Lord saith he hath created ordained and appointed him For of the most High cometh healing And againe the Lord from out of the earth hath created medicines and the man that is wise will not abhorre theÌ„ As for witches and wisards inchanters and sorcerers and the like who will take vpon theÌ„ to heale and cure the sicke by certaine fained and deuised ceremonies or by a certaine number of words or prayers whereunto they ascribe the vertue and power of healing diseases these are by all meanes to be auoided and to be put away farre from vs. For they are the very hand and instruments of the diuels and euil spirits and not the hand of almightie God by whose word and power all things are and ought to be ruled and gouerned CHAP. VIII A Remedie against the feare and terrour of Death IF at any time thou be terrified with the feare of death bethinke with thy selfe and consider that by Christ death is vtterly vanquished and put to death as it were Indeed if that Christ in compassion toward vs had not died for vs the feare of death must needs haue vexed and troubled vs. But now death being vanquished cast downe and troden vnder foote by the death of Christ the soules of them that beleeue in Christ cannot die nor perish but after their departure out of these bodies they go straight vnto him Phil. 1.23 as it was said vnto the thiefe on the crosse being readie to giue vp the ghost This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 And in the meane time the bodie resteth in assured hope that it shall at the last day rise againe vnto a most blessed and happie life which is immortall and neuer fadeth and that the same bodie shall rise with exceeding great glorie and maiestie and with such beauty and comlinesse as cannot be expressed that so being renewed againe and glorified together with the soule it may liue for euer with Christ and with all the elect Among whom many shall be found which here on earth were knit and ioyned vnto vs in the bond of amitie and friendship And therefore the sacred Scripture vsually calleth the death of the godly by the name of sleepe Death a sleepe For this same weake fraile mortall and transitorie body which now rotteth in the graue shall at the last day be raised vp euen as a man that is fast asleepe is rouzed and raised vp out of his sleepe And then forthwith death being quite extinguished and abolished it shall appeare glorious and beautifull strong in perfect health sound and entire pure and spirituall immortall and incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.53 When this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortalitie Whereupon it is that the Prophet Dauid pronounceth the death of the Saints to be precious Psal 116.15 of excellent account Psal 116.15 and 16.9 and in another Psalme His heart within him leapeth for ioy and his tongue reioyceth his flesh also resteth in hope Why Because God will not leaue his soule in graue neither will suffer his holy one to see corruption These things deare brother ponder and consider well in thy mind that thou be not deceiued with the world which imagineth that when we die we die for altogether that our bodies perish together with our life and that nothing remaineth of vs after our departure hence But the world is herein altogether deceiued For our bodie is not so little set by nor so despised in the sight of God it hath his peculiar honour and welfare prepared and ordained of God For this same bodie which now we carry about vs which is now vexed and tormented with so many griefes paines this same body I say being changed glorified shall together with our soule liue for euermore Whereas indeed if wee should for altogether lose and forgo this bodie and neuer recouer the same againe at any time the death of the Saints and children of God should not be precious and honorable but rather vile and of no worth yea horrible and dreadfull Considering therfore these things diligently raise vp and comfort thy wauering mind and strengthen the same with sentences of holy Scripture Beleeue them faithfully doubt nothing For the same are most certaine vndoubted and true As Christ his body being buried and lying in the graue rose againe on the third day vnto a new life the same eternall and euerlasting neuer to die againe so the bodies of all such as are asleepe
in Christ that is who haue beleeued in Christ being now dead they rest in their graues onely for a time in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection whereby they shall rise againe in the last day vnto a new life and that eternall and euerlasting wherein shall be nether sinne nor death nor any miserie and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse life and saluation ioy and happines for euer and euer These things God himselfe hath promised who is of infinite power able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promised and who is also truth it selfe and therefore neither will nor can faile in performance thereof Trust stedfastly then in his promises and wauer not CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead MOreouer it is good for thee to repeate often and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testimonies of holy Scripture which concerne the resurrection of the flesh Hereof it is that Saint Paul admonisheth vs in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians That we raise vp confirme comfort both our selues 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the resurrection Neither indeed can there be any consolations more fruitful and plentifull or more sure and certaine then those which we fetch from those testimonies of Scripture which concerne the resurrection of our bodies they being the words not of man but of God who both can and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken as hath bene said There is none that can alter or change his will and determination none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell He is of power infinite in his word and promises most faithfull and true yea truth it selfe his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie And therefore let no man doubt thereof Math 13.43 Christ saith Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father Iohn 5.24 Likewise Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Chap. 6.40 And Chapter 6.40 This is the will of my Father that hath sent me that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Againe Chapter 8.51 Verily Chap. 8.51 verily I say vnto you if any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death And Chap. 11.11 Christ saith that Lazarus slept and 11.11 who notwithstanding was dead and his dead corps did then lie in the graue But Christ raiseth the dead to life againe and calleth those things which are not Rom. 4.17 as if they were as Saint Paule saith And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse Ioh. 11.25 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue And by and by after the vttering of these words he raised vp Lazarus from death hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies And because in these conflicts of sicknesse and death we are naturally very fearefull and faint hearted to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward the more to beleeue that there shall be a resurrection many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Prophets and Apostles In the new Testament Christ raised from the dead the widowes sonne at Naim Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus Act. 20. In the old Testament the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha 1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his hostesse sonne the Shunamite 2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. ◠Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp Henoch and Elias aliue both bodie and soule out of this miserable and transitorie life and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto himselfe Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come lest according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens we should imagine that after this life nothing else remained vnto vs. Furthermore consider thinke with thy selfe what that great and mighty Lord of life death Iesus Christ saith Luke 8.52 Weepe not Luke 8.52 the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth Reason not beleeuing this notvnderstanding the mysteries of God maketh a mock of these things Wherupon it is added that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it But Christ making good his owne words as soone as he had said it he raised vp the maid that was dead and restored her to life And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ not onely receiue thy soule and preserue the same in sure custodie but will also at the last day render and deliuer againe this body vnto thy soule and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall Iohn 5.28 Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plainly Ioh. 5.28 That the day and houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shal come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life And Daniel prophecieth foretelleth also Dan. 12.2 That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake vnto euerlasting life and that they that be wise shall shine euen as the brightnesse of the firmament and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer euer Saint Paule in like manner prooueth and confirmeth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies by many strong and infallible reasons arguments Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.11 If saith he the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell 〈◊〉 you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke◠your mortall bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in you And 1. Cor. 6.14 1 Cor. 6.14 The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ he shall also raise vs vp by his power And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.12 c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolations and comforts of wonderfull force and efficacie In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our resurrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other Christ saith he is risen frō the dead which is a thing most certaine and sure therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise againe For Christ is our head and we his
also the truth as hee witnesseth in the same place And therefore neither will nor can deceiue vs but the promises of God in him and through him are 〈◊〉 and Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 2. Corinth 1.20 And to the end that thou maiest nothing doubt but that God will abide by his words promises he hath by an especiall and peculiar couenant and signe added vnto thy body bound and tyed himselfe as it were vnto thee For of an earnest loue and desire of thy saluation hauing sent his owne Sonne into the world to giue vp himselfe vnto death for thee he hath made a couenaÌ„t of grace with thee through Christ in whom he hath promised that if thou beleeue and be baptized he wil freely giue vnto thee eternall life he will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee but will be a Father vnto thee and will crowne thee with his goodnesse mercie Now the signe and seale of his couenant is thy Bapâ—isme Wherefore vnto the promises annexed vnto this signe it behoueth thee to cleaue fast to lay sure hold vpon the same For God hath giuen thee this signe in thy flesh that thou mightest nothing doubt of his fauour and mercie promised and of his faithfulnesse goodnesse towards thee Rom. 6.3 Thou art baptized as S. Paul saith into the death of Christ that his death may become thy death and that he might make a full and perfect satisfaction vnto God for thee Gal. 3.26 Yea thou hast put him on as it were in Baptisme for so saith the Apostle vnto the Galathians that so thou mightest be wholly in him and he in thee Baptisme therefore is such a couenant and such a figure and signe as comforteth reioyceth quieteth thy conscience before God as Saint Peter witnesseth assuring thee 1 Pet. 3.21 that God will neuer condemne thee for thy sinnes being throughly purged and washed away in the bloud of his Sonne For being iustified by faith Rom. 5.1 thou hast peace with God Ro. 5.1 A quiet peaceable chearefull conscience is this true peace Now thou hast receiued Baptisme as a most certaine signe and seale of this thy iustification and of the remission of all thy sins that thou mightest assuredly beleeue that God hauing mercie and compassion vpon thee for Christ his sake will saue and deliuer thee Now then forasmuch as God hath a fauor vnto thee and will be a Father vnto thee and consequently will neuer forsake thee and forasmuch as thou hast so infallible a signe and testimonie thereof thou oughtest to commit and giue ouer both all thy affaires and thy selfe also wholly vnto him to obey his will and to suffer patiently his hand vpon thee whether it be his will that thou liue or die praying and desiring that his good will may be done vnto his praise and glory And it is vnpossible if thou trust stedfastly in Gods mercie promised through Christ and thus dedicate thy selfe wholly vnto him it is vnpossible I say that thou shouldest perish or be condemned Forasmuch as God hath promised that he will be thy Father euen the same God who is most true of his word yea truth it selfe while thou doest beleeue acknowledge him so to be and thereupon hopest and lookest for all good things from him he cannot but as a tender Father take care of thee and so consequently in good time saue and deliuer thee how hardly soeuer for the present he may seeme to intreate thee yea forasmuch as he hath promised to be a Father not onely vnto thee but also vnto thy seede after thee thou stedfastly beleeuest these his promises he will without all doubt haue a diligent and prouident care both of thee and thine And therefore mayest thou well recommend vnto him not onely thy bodie and soule but also thy wife and thy children thy kinsfolke and thy friends and briefly all that thou hast belonging vnto thee Nothing doubting but that he will be a true Father vnto thy children a true husband vnto thy wife and a true friend vnto thy kinsfolke and friends For God hath hitherto vsed thee in these toward these onely as a Steward And now when he will haue thee to leaue the execution of this office and charge he will doubtlesse substitute in thy stead another Steward ouer them who shall faithfully and diligently take care of them If with full confidence of heart thou shalt hope and looke for this from him there is no doubt but that he will do it as I haue said Wherefore shake off from thee and cast out of thy mind al care for thy friends and for all thy worldly affaires and commit the same ouer vnto God Be rather careful for thy selfe and bethinke how to prouide for thy soule and to resigne the same ouer into the hands of thy Creator and Redeemer And now whereas God hath freely for Christ his sake pardoned and forgiuen thee all thy sinnes he requireth nothing else of thee for this infinite and inestimable benefite but that thou in like manner from thy very heart forgiue all those that haue done wrong and iniury vnto thee And he promiseth that he will forgiue vnto vs our trespasses so as we shall forgiue vnto men their trespasses Wherfore hauing from the bottome of thy heart pardoned all wrongs and offences so as thou intendest not euer after to renew nor call to minde againe the remembrance thereof pray earnestly and heartily for them that haue any way â—â—iured or hurt thee according to the doctrine and example of Christ himselfe And if thou shalt recouer of this thy sicknesse helpe them to the vttermost of thy power if they shall stand â—n need of thy helpe Now if thou hast thy mind thus voide and free from inward grudge malice and displeasure thou hast also an vndoubted signe that God hath pardoned thee all thy sinnes vtterly rased them out of his sight For faith whereby thy heart is purged shewing it self bringing forth her fruits in thee for the blessings and benefits of God towards thee being infinite in pardoning all thy sinnes which are in number infinite it cannot but stirre thee vp in like maner to forgiue thy neighbour and to do good vnto him Here the fruite of thy loue and charitie witnesseth vnto thee and putteth thee in assurance that thy faith is a true and liuely faith when it bringeth forth good fruite and such as is vnfained This is that which S. Peter meaneth when he willeth vs to giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure by our good workes 2 Pet. 1.10 giuing vs to vnderstand that those good works are witnesses and tokens that we are elect chosen of God and adopted to be his sons and consequently to be heires of eternall life and saluation Howbeit notwithstanding al this know that thou canst not neither must thou in any wise hope or looke that God will for the painfulnesse or grieuousnesse of thy sicknesse and
torment pardon and forgiue thee thy sinnes For there is no other satisfaction nor other recompence for thy sinnes but onely the death of Christ In this case God regardeth nothing else neither doth he accept of any thing else but of his beloued Sonne He is that Lambe of God which onely taketh away the sinnes of the word Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.2 He is a sufficient perfect and absolute sacrifice and oblation for the sinnes of the whole world As for thy paines or sicknesse or whatsoeuer torments or afflictions be the same neuer so great or intollerable they are not able to make satisfaction recompence vnto God for the least of thy sinnes much lesse then can the same deserue saluation as Saint Paul witnesseth I account saith he that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 No creature either in heauen or in earth no man nor Angell was able to papacifie or to mitigate and asswage the wrath and indignation of God the Father much lesse then is this sicknesse of thine and this momentanie affliction able to do it Yea that more is hee that must pacifie the wrath and indignation of almightie God and so reconcile God vnto man it was necessarie that hee should be both God and man being to vndertake and deale yea and to make intercession and attonement betweene God offended and displeased and man standing guiltie and condemned Therefore it was necessarie that the Sonne of God should be made man that in his body and in his flesh hee might satisfie the wrath of God his Father by his sufferings for vs and so saue and deliuer vs from the same as the Prophet witnesseth saying Esa 53.4.6.8 Hee hath borne our iniquities and carried our sorrowes And againe The Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all And againe For the transgressions of my people was he plagued And Saint Peter telleth vs 1. Pet. 2.24 that his own selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the Crosse and that by his stripes we are healed For thy Lord Christ his sake it is then that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee and for no other thing in the whole world for no affliction nor suffering though neuer so hard and sharpe Christ only and alone is our righteousnesse our satisfaction redemption out health and saluation 2. Cor. 5.21 Him God made sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made righteous yea the righteousnesse of God in him Wherefore if thou beleeue stedfastly Iohn 1.12 thou art now alreadie the childe of God and if thou be the child of God then art thou also the heire of God and coheire together with Christ Rom. 8.17 as Saint Paul witnesseth Rom. 8. Now if eternall life be the inheritance of Gods children the gift of God Rom. 6.23 as S. Paul calleth it surely thou canst not deserue it by any suffering of paine or sicknesse But God will therfore haue thee tormented and vexed with this sicknesse that so thy old man might be subdued and ouercome repressed and kept vnder yea mortified and put to death as it were that so at length it may ceasse to offend And that will be finally at the last by the death of the body And for this cause are we to vndergoe this death that our soule may depart out and enter into eternall blisse For this death of ours is the gate vnto eternal life Then and thereby at the length we are and shall be deliuered from all calamities miseries and troubles and from all errors deceits and suggestions of the Diuell Neither shall we any more be defiled with the most lothsome filthinesse of our sinnes neither shall we be seduced any more or misled into heresies and errors nor cast headlong into any despaire or doubting Then shall be an end of all miseries and aduersities and of all troubles and dangers Then resting in the Lord we shall enioy euerlasting life and ioyes without end And therefore death is in no wise to be abhorred nor feared Nay rather the same is earnestly to be wished for and desired forasmuch as thereby wee passe vnto euerlasting ioyes And it is most true which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.28 That vnto the godly all things worke together for good Sith that death it selfe a thing in the sight of the world of all other most hatefull and most hideous and horrible is become vnto the faithfull most sweete and pleasant and most ioyfull and acceptable Although our old Adam that is this flesh of ours doth abhorre it and by all meanes flye from it yea and trembleth for feare of it yet notwithstanding the inward man is ready chearefull yea glad and willing to vndergo it forasmuch as thereby he seeth knoweth that he is freed and deliuered from the mire and filthinesse of al his sins and corruptions from all paines and griefes and all cares and troubles and also obtaineth a passage entrance into euerlasting blisse and glorie before the throne of God and of the Lamb Christ Iesus In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Psal 16.11 CHAP. II. How to comfort such as are in apparent danger of Death GOod brother be of good comfort lift vp thy heart and raise vp thy spirit for behold the day of thy redemption and dissolution draweth nigh Thy most gracious and louing Father in great mercy toward thee doth now call for thee out of this wretched and miserable life to translate and conuey thee vnto himselfe vnto the endlesse ioyes of the heauenly life And therefore now giue ouer and wholy commend vnto him both thy selfe and all thine And let thy will and his will be all one Say within thy heart Thy will be done ô God my heauenly Father and not mine Cry out vnto Christ thy Sauiour with the good theefe vpon the Crosse Remember me ô Lord when thou cōmest into thy kingdom Luk. 23.42 or rather now that thou sittest and reignest in thy glorious kingdome Cry with the Publican Lord be mercifull vnto me Luk. 18.13 a most miserable and wretched sinner Cry instantly and earnestly with the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22 O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me And when thou thus criest doubt not but Christ will heare thee and will haue mercy vpon thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes And whensoeuer thou shalt depart hence thou shalt assuredly be with him in his kingdome euen in Paradise Lay hold therfore vpon this thy Christ sticke fast vnto him and commit thy soule vnto him as vnto a faithfull Creator 1. Pet. 4.19 With this thy Christ crucified vpon the Crosse cry vnto God the common Father of you both in the words of the Prophet Dauid Psal 31.1 Psal 31. In thee ô Lord I put my trust let me neuer be confounded Deliuer me in thy
may liue together with him in the eternall mansions reioyce together in his heauenly kingdome Ioh. 17.24 Father saith he I will that they whom thou haste giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glorie which thou hast giuen me from before the foundations of the world He that is going to Christ his mansion and to the brightnesse and glorie of his heauenly kingdome ought not to waile and mourne but rather according to the promise of our Lord and according to the stablenesse and stedfastnesse of his truth to reioyce for his departure and for his translating remouing hence Thus we find that Enoch was translated in as much as he pleased God For so the holy Scripture of God witnesseth of him in the booke of Genesis saying And Enoch pleased God Gen. 5.24 or walked with God and he was no more found for God translated him or tooke him away This it was for him to please God and to walke before him euen to haue this honour to be translated taken away from the danger infection of this present world And this is that which the wise man teacheth vs that they who please God are more speedily taken away hence and sooner released lest while they abide and continue ouerlong in this world they should be corrupted and defiled with worldly affaires Wisd 4.11.14 He was taken away saith he lest wickednesse should alter his vnderstanding for his soule was pleasing vnto God therefore he hastened to take him away from the midst of iniquitie So likewise in the Psalmes Dauid hauing his soule deuoted dedicated vnto God with spirituall confidence and boldnesse he maketh haste to go vnto the Lord as it is written of him Psal 84.1 Psal 84.1 O how amiable are thy dwellings thou Lord of hoasts my soule longeth and maketh haste vnto the courts of the Lord So then it is for him alone to be desirous to abide long in this world that placeth his delight and happinesse in the world for him whom this flattering and deceitfull world tickleth and prouoketh with the allurements and enticements of carnal and worldly pleasures Moreouer whereas the world hateth euery one that is truly a Christian what meanest thou to loue him that thus hateth thee Why rather doest thou not follow after Christ who hath redeemed thee and who still continually loueth thee Hereupon it is that S. Iohn in his first Epistle proclaimeth crieth out earnestly exhorting that we should not loue the world in following after fleshly lusts and desires Loue not the world saith he neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world 1 Ioh. 2.15 the loue of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world as the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that shall do the will of God abideth for euer as God abideth for euer Now therefore deare brethren let vs with vpright hearts and minds with stedfast faith and valiant courage be euermore in readinesse to submit our selues wholly to the will of God and casting off all feare of death let vs meditate and thinke vpon immortalitie which is to follow after Let vs declare shew that this is the thing which we belieue and look for in that we neither lament the death of our friends be they neuer so deare vnto vs and also whensoeuer the day and houre cometh of our dissolution of our calling hence away we are readie to come willingly without delay when God calleth for vs. Which thing as the seruants of God are to do at all times so the same ought much rather to be done now that the world seemeth to be almost wasted and spent and also enuironed and beset with tempests of mischiefes and troubles that we seeing and beholding so great and grieuous miseries and calamities already begun and knowing that farre greater are at hand and like to come ere it be long should account it the greatest aduantage that may be with speed to depart hence 2 Pithie similitudes If the wals of the house where thou dwellest should bend leane aside through age and long continuance and the roofe of the house shake ouer thy head the whole frame of the building being tired and worne out readie to drop drowne should threaten a sudden speedie fall wouldst thou not with all speed get thee out thence If while thou â—art sailing on the Seas some fierce and tempestuous â—orme causing the waues therof to arise should therby foreshew that thou weâ—t certainly like to suffer shipwracke wouldest thou not with all speed approch and draw neare vnto the hauen Behold The world now bending and readie to fall the world is now bending and declining and euen readie to fall yea it doth openly proclaime and beare witnesse of his vtter ruine and destruction not so much by the antiquitie or oldnesse as by the conclusion and by the accomplishment and end of all things which is now neare at hand And doest thou not thanke God and reioyce in thine owne behalfe that being takeÌ„ away by a more speedie death thou art freeed from the ruines shipwracks and plagues that are now at hand We must coÌ„sider beloued brethren euer now and then remeÌ„ber and haue in mind that we haue renounced and forsaken the world and that now in the meane time we liue here as strangers forreiners O let vs then embrace receiue gladly the day that assigneth and appointeth euery one to their habitation and mansion place where they may still abide and dwell which also after we are taken hence away and set free from the snares and setters of this world doth restore vs and bring vs againe into Paradise and into the kingdome of heauen What man being in a strange countrie farre from home would not hasten to returne into his owne countrey againe What man making haste to faile vnto his friends as his parents or his wife children would not wish with great desire to haue a prosperous wind to carrie him that so he might with as much speed as may be behold embrace them who are so neare and deare vnto him Our countrey we recken and make certaine account to be Paradise that is the kingdome of heauen for our parents we haue the holy and blessed Patriarchs Why then do we not runne and make haste that we may behold and see our countrey and may salute our parents A great number of our louing and deare friends expect and looke for vs there as our parents our brethren and our children A populous and a large multitude there is that long for vs and desire our company being already secure and fâ—llie assured of their owne immortality and further desirous earnestly of our welfare and safetie To come
wrath and displeasure In stead of death and after death grant vnto him life euen life euerlasting that he may for euer liue with thee in glory And if thou thinke it better more expedient for him that he abide yet longer in this mortalitie either for the benefit of others and for the vse and seruice of the Church or else for his owne behalfe and benefite that he may more nearely be conformed and made like vnto the example and image of thy Sonne Christ Iesus restore vnto him mercifull and gracious Lord his former health strength and with health and strength increase in him euery day more and more the gifts and graces of thy holy Spirit Howbeit thy will be done alwaies in all things which cannot but euermore be for the best All these things grant vnto vs we beseech thee most gracious and merciful Father and to this our feeble and distressed neighbour and brother for thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake who is our onely helper and redeemer for his sake who for the comfort of sinners translated by the ministerie of his blessed Angels the theefe on the crosse into Paradise and the soule of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome euen for his sake who sitteth at thy right hand of power and glorie to be our Aduocate and to make intercession for vs who also liueth and reigneth together with thine owne maiestie in the vnitie of the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Sicke partie LOrd Iesus thou that art the health of al men liuing and the life euerlasting of all that in thy true faith depart out of this wretched transitorie world I submit and wholly giue ouer my selfe vnto thy most blessed will whether it plâ—aâ—e thee that this silly soule of mine shall abide in this house and tabernacle of my bodie yet for some longer time to do thee seruice or whether thy will be that I shall shortly depart hence being certainly assured that the same can in no wise perish which is committed and deliuered ouer into thy mercifull hands O Lord I am most readie and willing to lay downe this fraile and corruptible flesh in certaine hope of the resurrection thereof at the last day when it shall be restored vnto me againe much more glorious and happie In the meane time confirme and strengthen my soule I beseech thee with thy grace holy Spirit against all temptations and against all assaults of Satan Gird compasse me about with the shield of thy mercie as thou diddest in times past thy holy Saints and Martyrs making them thereby strong inuincible against all torments and deaths though neuer so cruell or so fearefull and horrible I see that there is no helpe in my selfe ô Lord but all my helpe and hope my trust confidence is in thine vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie I haue no deserts nor good works ô Lord that I can bring or alledge before thee But of misdeeds alas I see many and infinite as the sands of the Sea which hauing passed and gone ouer my head are as a grieuous burthen too too heauie for me to beare But yet through thy precious death and bloudshedding I beleeue that they are all quite purged and washed cleane away And through thy most perfect righteousnesse and obedience imputed vnto me I trust and am assured that I shall be yea and am already registred and receiued into the number of thy righteous Saints and seruants It was for me and for my sake that thou wast borne into the world and wast subiect vnto all the miseries and infirmities of this life Thou didst hunger and thirst for my sake thou didst teach and preach and worke many strange wonders and miracles for my sake thou didst fast and pray for me and for my sake For my sake it was that thou didst so many good deeds while thou liuedst and didst conuerse amongst men for my sake didst thou suffer so many bitter paines and torments yea and gauest thy precious bodie and soule vnto death vpon the crosse for my sake Now let all these things sweete sauiour Iesus Christ be auaileable and profitable vnto me thy poore seruant who hast willingly performed all these things for me and hast giuen and bestowed thy selfe wholly vpon me and for me Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse and let thy merits stand for me before thy tribunall seate of iudgement And as my sicknesse and paine increaseth so increase ò Lord in me thy good gifts and graces both of faith and of patience and of constancie and perseuerance that my faith confidence may neither wauer nor stagger nor my loue toward thee be abated nor my humane weakenesse be deiected and cast downe by feare of death But after that death hath seized vpon closed vp the eyes of my body the eyes of my mind may not sweâ—ue nor turne aside from thee And when it hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet let my heart without ceassing crie vnto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit or rather thy spirit for thou hast dearely bought it and redeemed it euen with thy most precious bloud Sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ receiue my soule Saue and keepe me protect and defend me vnder the shadow of thy wings that I sleepe not in death Saue and deliuer me euen in death from the power of death In thee ô Lord my God do I put my trust let me not be confounded Thou art my onely Lord Sauiour leaue me not neither forsake me ô God of my saluation But be thou still present with me to sustaine and vphold me to refresh and comfort me and finally at the time which thou hast appointed to conuey my soule into thy heauenly kingdome which thou hast purchased prepared for me before the beginning of the world Euen so come Lord Iesus Amen Amen A prayer for the Sicke being readie to giue vp the Ghost LOrd Iesus Christ thou which art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall not die for euer looke downe from heauen euen from thy Sanctuarie and holy habitation Behold visite and relieue this thy seruant Correct him not in thine anger neither chasten him in thy displeasure but according to the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon him we beseech thee with a fatherly affection Restore him if it be thy gracious will and pleasure vnto his former health and strength that so he may liue to glorifie thy name Or if it stand with thy will otherwise to deale with him euen by this present sicknesse to call him home vnto thine owne selfe out of this vale of wretchednes and miserie giue vnto him constancie to endure faithfull vnto the end and patience to suffer quietly and meekely thy rod and fatherly correction His flesh ô Lord is weake and fraile assist him with thy grace strengthen his weaknesse by the mightie power of thy holy Spirit His spirituall enemies are many and the craft and malice of Satan neuer wanting especially in the houre of death when the bodie is most weake to daunt affright if it be possible the soules of thy seruants that so he might destroy the soule together with the bodie Couer him therefore deare Father vnder the shadow of thy wings against all the assaults of the flesh the world and the diuell that neither through the infirmitie and weakenesse of the flesh nor through the grieuousnesse and painefulnesse of his sicknes nor the loue desire of this world nor the multitude of his sinnes nor the malice of Satan nor by any other meanes he be drawne away from his loue towards thee and his assured trust and confidence in thee We coÌ„fesse ô Lord that there is in himselfe as in our selues no power nor strength to helpe at all being borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquity whereunto also haue bene added many actuall sinnes and transgressions both in thought word and deede whereby he hath prouoked thy iust wrath indignation In whom then shall he trust and from whom shall he looke for helpe but onely in thee from thee which art the Sauiour of all that put their trust in thee Thou didst vouchsafe for his sake to be borne into the world and to humble thy selfe to the state of a seruant to suffer all the miseries and infirmities of this life for his sake to sustaine beare all manner of reproches iniuries for his sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie to die and thy bloud to be shed vpon the crosse for his sake Now let all these things profit him we beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour Let thy most precious bloud wash away the multitude of his sinnes let that pure and vnspotted garmeÌ„t of thine obedience and righteousnesse hide couer his vnrighteousnesse let thy grace and power euermore defend succour him and let the sweet comfort of thy Spirit neuer depart from him vntill thou hast called him out of this vale of miserie into the blessed inheritance purchased for him where he may rest for euer with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Saints of God Heare vs we beseech thee most gracious and mercifull Sauiour saue thy seruant that putteth his whole trust in thee Let thy mightie hand and outstretched arme be still his defence Let thy holy Spirit coÌ„firme strengthen him let thy louing kindnesse and mercte still abide and continue with him and be his stay and comfort alwaies vnto the end and in the end and for euermore Amen FINIS