Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy. 1540 Approx. 181 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2012-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A01278 STC 11393 ESTC S109824 99845468 99845468 10370

To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.

Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A01278) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 10370) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 67:10) Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy. Frith, John, 1503-1533, attributed name. Tracy, Richard, d. 1569. [216] p. In ædibus Thomæ Bertheleti typis impress. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum, [Londini : Anno. M.D.XL. [1540]] Attributed, doubtfully, to John Frith.--STC. Imprint from colophon. Part 2 has caption title, reading: The preparation to deathe, and howe they which be in point of deathe, shulde be comforted, the. ii. boke. Running title to part 1 reads: Preparation to the crosse; running title to part 2 reads: Preparation to deathe. Signatures: A⁴ B-O. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.

eng Death -- Religious aspects -- Early works to 1800. Consolation -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2011-11 Assigned for keying and markup 2011-11 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2012-01 Sampled and proofread 2012-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2012-05 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

OF THE PREPARATION TO THE CROSSE, and to Deathe, and of the comforte vnder the croſſe and deathe, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, tranſlated from latyn to englyſſhe, by Rycharde Tracy.

1534

TO THE RYGHT HONORABLE, AND HIS ſyngular good lorde and mayſter, Lord Thomas Crumwel, Lorde Priuy ſeale, Rycharde Tracy deſyreth and wyſheth bodely proſperous helth, and to the ſoule eternall lyfe and felycitie.

WHEN I conſider the weake frailtie of man, and howe naturallye we be ſubiecte to many troubles, aduerſities, and temptations, as well of the body as of the ſoule, and alſo when I call to my remembraunce the wordes of Chriſte, ſpoken to his elect,Ioh. 16. That in this world they ſhulde ſuffer perſecution and oppreſſion, and lykewyſe the ſayinge of the apoſtel Paule,2. Tim. 3. That al they whiche wyll lyue godly in Chriſte Ieſu, muſte ſuffer perſecution: I thynke ſurely, that euery chryſten man dothe expect Chriſtes promiſes, and conſtantly beleueth, that the ſcriptures ſhalbe fulfilled and founde true. Wherfore ſeing there is no euaſion nor meane, to eſcape the aduerſities, temptations, and croſſe, whiche god ſhal laye on the ſhulders of his electe, and nature is ſo inconſtant, frayl, and weake, that of our own myght and power we are not able to reſyſte, nor can not wyllyngely and paciently ſuſteyne and beare ſuch aduerſities, and croſſe, it behoueth euery chriſten man, to ſerch out and prouide ſome godly conſolation and remedy to comforte and make ſtronge his mynde, that he may paciently ſuffer all tribulation, all temptation, al aduerſitie, which god ſhal ſende to hym, alwaye reknowlegynge, that there is no power but of god, and that god wyl not ſend to his electe any ſuche croſſe, but therwith he wyll alſo gyue grace and meane paciently to ſuffer the ſame, ſo that he ſhall not be found diſobediēt to the good wyl of god. Of the cōfortes agaynſt the croſſe of tribulation, one in eſpeciall of late I founde. Not a yere paſte it pleaſed God to ſende me ſome aduerſe tribulations, whiche were to ſtronge for Nature to ſuffer and beare pacientely: but my chaunce was ſo good, throughe the mercifull prouydence of god, that in my troubles this lyttel boke was ſent me from a frende: whiche when I had red ouer, and delyberately peruſed, it animated & made me ſtrōg not onely paciētly to ſuffer al mine aduerſities, but alſo for theym to gyue god ryghte hartye thankes, that it wolde pleaſe hym of his abundante mercy and goodneſſe to remembre me, his miſerable creature with his ſo erneſt a token and moſte ſure pledge of his godly fauour and loue, accordynge to his promyſe,Hebr. 12. which is, whom the lord loueth, hym he chaſteneth, yea and he ſcourgeth euery ſonne that he receyueth. For in the readynge of this boke, I receyued ſuche conſolation and cōfort, that I thought it moſte neceſſary, yea and expedient (ſeinge I haue by experyence felte, what good fruyte commeth therof) to tranſlate the ſame in to englyſhe, and ſo to put it forthe in printe, that it myghte be the more common, and that many chaunſynge to fall into lyke croſſe of aduerſitie, maye be partakers and optein like conſolation, as I haue receiued therby. And I haue dedicated this boke to you my ſynguler good lorde & maſter, for as moche as I euydently perceyue, that you are endewed not onely with godly knowledge and doctryne, but alſo haue a right feruēt zeale, good mynd, and deſyre to ſet forth all ſuche thynge as may be for the vtilitie helpe and comforte of the hole congregation and churche of this realme. Therfore with al humilitie I deſyre your accuſtomed benignitie to accept this the firſte fruite and labour of me your pore ſeruant, which am, and ſhall be euer redy and glad with al diligēce, to do you the ſeruice that I can, & dayly pray almyghty god, to preſerue you in longe lyfe, welth, honour, and proſperitie. Amen.

THE PREPARATION TO THE croſſe, and howe it muſte be paciently borne.

FOR as moche as Chriſte commandeth vs to denye ourſelues, and to folowe hym, and ſuffer the croſſe, he commaundeth vs alſo, to prepare vs to ſuffer the croſſe paciently, ſayinge:Matth. 16. If any man wyll come after me, let hym denye hym ſelfe, and take vp my croſſe, and folowe me. And who ſo euer doth not beare my croſſe, and folowe me, can not be my diſcyple. Soo councelleth the wiſe man, ſaying:Eccle. 2. Sonne, whan thou doeſt come to the ſeruice of god, ſtande in righteouſenes and feare, and prepare thy ſoule to ſuffer temptation. but bycauſe there be dyuers croſſes, ne leſt a man paraduenture ſhuld take a ſtraunge croſſe, which perteyneth not to hym, that is to ſay, ſhulde feine to him ſelfe newe turmentes, as preſcript dayes of faſtynge, vowed chaſtitie, ſhurtes of heare, diſgyſed garmentes, and ſuch other trifles, which god hath not commaunded: therfore Chriſt hath put to this terme, ſciliceth (his owne) whiche is as moche to ſaye, that euery man ſtudy to mortifie his owne fleſhe, & the ſynne, whiche reygneth in him, beinge euer redy to ſuffer what ſoo euer god dothe ſende hym.

¶What the croſſe is. Cap. i.

A CROSSE is euery affliction and tribulation, or euery aduerſitie and heuines ſent by god, to euery kynde of lyuynge, throughe faythe, and the word of god: when that euery thyng doth not proſpere, euen as a man wold haue it: whiche in ſome place is called lernynge, or correction, and temptation, a rodde, and a ſtaffe. Wherfore it is a foliſhe and an heuy croſſe, whiche we by our owne preſumption do take vpon vs not commaunded of god, as the prieſtes of Ball, and all hypocrites do take vppon them. But that is the trewe croſſe, whiche god doth lay vpon vs, whiche when it is layed vpon vs, we ſuffer paciently, euery body in his vocation and kynd of lyuinge, as to gette our breade with the ſweate of our countenance, and women to bring forthe theyr chyldren in peynes, to ſuffer paciently the good wil of the lord, to mortifie our mortall membres vppon the erthe, to be euer buſily occupied in the commaundementes of the lord, and for the word of god, to ſuffer al ſcornes, and mockes, lyes, perſecutions, and not to feare the moſte cruell, ye euen the moſt ſhameful death. Therfore to ſuffer a croſſe, is nothing els, then to ſuffer pacientely, what ſo euer come to vs, by the godly and beneuolent wyll of the lorde.

¶Two kyndes of croſſes. Cap. ii.

THERE BE two kyndes of croſſes, the oone a ſtraunge croſſe, the other our owne, the one of the faythefull, the other of the wycked. for the vnfeythful be puniſhed, that they may be an example of theyr owne iniquytie, and that they be perpetually condemned: but the feythful be puniſhed, that they maye be made ſtronge, and that the lorde be gloryfied in them. So ſtrange puniſhementes be a warninge to put the faythful in mynde of the good wyll of the lorde. For the lorde doth punyſhe ſome in this lyfe, that he may prouoke ſuche as maye be made hole to repentaunce, as the ſcripture ſaythe:Prou. 19. When the mocker or ſcorner is punyſhed, the vnlerned is made wyſer.Gen. 8. So the angell dydde ſhewe Abraham, what ſhulde become of the Sodomites, that he myght teache his chyldren the iugement of god. Alſo Chriſte ſaith,Luc. 13. that all ſhal peryſhe, as they were kylled of Pylate, if that they doo not repente.

¶Howe the feythfull be tempted. Capi. iii.

THe faythful be tempted with a natural and ſpiritual temtation, an outward & an inward, that is of the fleſhe, of the worlde, and of the dyuell. For the croſſe ſignifieth as wel the inward temtation as the outwarde. Of the fyrſte ſpeketh the apoſtell,1. Cor. 10. Let no temptation take you, excepte the naturall temptation, that is euery perſecution, whiche maye happen in this worlde, whiche dothe not hurte the lyfe, but rather prouoketh to the bleſſed lyfe: but the ſpirituall or inwarde temptation, is the inwarde feare of ſynne and deathe, it is the afflyction or temptation of the conſcience, ſuch temtations be mooſte greuouſe, and where god is not, they brynge the tempted to deathe eternal. Of the whiche Paule to the Hebrewes ſaythe: It is impoſſible that they,Hebre. 6. whiche ones be enlyghtened, and haue taſted the good word of god and the vertue of the worlde to come, if they ſlyde and fall agayn, to be renued by repentaunce: as Demas, Hymeneus, and Philetus, profeſſynge the faythe, dyd fall from it. and that is ſynne to deathe, ſynne in the holy gooſte, ſynne of vnbelefe, ſynne of ſpirituall pryde. Wherfore Chriſt dyd commande vs to pray,Luc. 11. Let vs not be led into temptation. They that beleue, do ſynne, but they fal not vtterly away: ſo that they conſent not to the fleſhe, the world, and the deuil, but by the grace of god they be preſerued and go awaye, hauinge victory and triumphe.

¶The croſſe is of god onely. Cap. iiii.

FYRSTE, we muſte conſider, that in all our afflictions, no calamitie or penſiuenes falleth on vs by fortune or chaunce, but by the appoynted councell of god, by his wyll and ſufferaunce, as witneſſeth holy ſcripture.Exod. 20. Feare not, for god commeth not, but for to trie vs.Deut. 13. The lord your god trieth you, to make it knowen, whether ye loue or not.Iob. 9. The lorde hath giuen, the lorde hath taken awaye. The lorde kylleth,1. Samu. 2. and gyueth life agayne, he bryngeth euen to hell, and backe agayne.Prouer. 3. Refuſe not the chaſtiſing of god, neyther grudge thou when he correcteth the. For whom god loueth, he correcteth: and yet delyteth noo leſſe then the father in the chylde.Pſal. 65. for thou haſt proued vs o god, and haſte tryed vs, as the ſyluer is tryed by fyer. Thou haſt ledde vs into a ſnare, thou haſt laden our backes ful of troubles, thou haſte appoynted mē to be heades ouer vs, we haue paſſed thorow fier and water, and yet haſt thou refreſhed vs.Pſal. 118. It is for my welthe, that thou haſte broughte me vnder, to lerne thy ryghteouſeneſſe.Pſal. 20. Bleſſed is that man, which is vnder the loue and nurture of the lorde.Hiere. 31. Thou haſte ſtryken me, and I haue repented, thou haſt chaſtened me lorde, and I am taughte as one vnder age, wylde, and vntamed.Threno. 3 Whoo can ſay, that any thynge, can be done, without the lordes commaundemente? From the mouthe of the hygheſt gothe there not good and yll? By which ſaying the prophet rebuketh the wycked, whiche denie, that afflictions happen by the councell and prouydence of god. Suche alſo rebuketh Sophon,Sopho. 1. I ſhall viſet men drowned in theyr dregges, whiche ſay in theyr hartes, The lorde wyll not doo bothe good & yll.Matth. 10. Are not two ſparowes ſolde for a farthynge, and yet not one of them falleth on the erthe, without the wil of your father?Roma. 11. Al thynges are of hym, by hym, and in hym.1. Cor. 11. While we iudged, we are puniſhed of the lord, leſt we ſhuld with the world be condemned.

¶It is vndoubtedly noo ſmalle comforte, to be aſſured, that the croſſe is of god, and that we are chaſtened of god, and not of the dyuell, or els of any wycked man: which vtterly can haue no power vpon vs, not ſo moch as to moue one heare of our hed, beſyde the wyll of the lorde, without the ſufferaunce of god, as Chryſte hym ſelfe comforteth vs, ſaying,Matth. 10. Euen the heares of your headde are all nombred. As thoughe he ſhoulde ſaye, if god be carefull for the ſparowes, how moche more ſhal he be carefull for you? whiche are his people and ſhepe of his paſture, that nothyng happen raſhely vnto you, without his beneuolente wyll. Seinge alſo that the dyuell had no power vpon ſwyne, moch leſſe vppon them that are godly, whom he can not hurt at al.Matth. 9. for ſo the euāgeliſtes wryte, that the diuelles prayed Chriſte, and ſayde, If thou caſte vs forthe,Marc. 5. ſuffer vs to enter into the herde of ſwyne. And he ſayde vnto them, Goo ye. They haue then no power vppon the holye, no trewely not on the ſwyne, excepte that god ſhall ſuffer them, no they dare not, nor can not any thynge agaynſt them, but by the ſufferaunce of god. for god alone bindeth this dragon, and he alone louſeth him, as Chriſt ſaith, No man can enter into the houſe of a ſtronge man,Marc. 3. and ſpoyle him of his veſſell and treaſure, oneles he fyrſte bynde the ſtronge man. For the dyuel is chayned & bound ſo ſtrayghtly, that he may do nothynge, before that god appoynt hym,Iob. 1. as it is written in Iob. The lorde ſayde to Satan, Lo, al that he hath, are in thy hande, but extende not thy hande vppon hym. Satan dothe nothynge, but that, that god ſuffereth and wyll. Alſo all the godly (as the ſonnes of god) are euer in goddes preſence. For whome the lorde euer careth for, tenderynge them, nuryſhyng them, kepynge and defendynge them, from all yll. what greatter comfort then can there be of faith, as a ſure rocke, then that the godly ar well aſſured and know, them ſelues euermore ſet before the lordes eyes, and to be kept vnder his hande? Can myſery oppreſſe the? can the croſſe? can ſinne? can deth? can hell? Be aſſured, that thou art in the preſence of god. they ſhall not preuayle, the lorde careth for the, the lordes eye is dyrected towarde the. whom then ſhalt thou feare, if by faythe thou be made the ſonne of god? God careth for the, yea and ſendeth his aungelles to kepe and defend the, according to the wytnes of Dauid,Pſal. 90. He hath commaunde his aungels of the, to kepe the in all thy wayes. The aungell of the lorde ſhall be ſente abrode, among al them that feare hym, and ſhal delyuer them. And if god giue lybertie to the diuell, to tempte vs, let vs ſurelye beleue, that with that temptation god ſhall gyue increaſe: that is, that the temptatiō ſhall be for our welthe and profytte, and that we ſhalbe able to ſuffer.1. Cor. 10. He ſhal ſtrike and his handes ſhall make hole. Temptations alſo haue theyr lymittes,Iob. 5. nother can they ouerpaſſe theyr ende appoynted. And as the ſee is compaſſed rounde with borders, euen ſo haue al croſſes their borders and endes, beyonde the whiche they maye not ouerpaſſe. Let euery one therfore, whiche is of god, and beleueth in god, kepe him ſelfe: and the wicked or yl ſhal not touche hym.1. Ioh. 5. For that thouſand wily crafteſman gothe forth and tempteth the godly, as he temted Dauid, Adā, and Peter, with a thouſande ſnares: but he hath neuer the victory. In the croſſe or temptatiō, god hath one purpoſe, and the dyuel an other. Wherfore there ar two kyndes of tēptation, bothe common to the godlye and vngodly, although dyuerſly. The one kinde is, when god trieth men with moch aduerſitie, that as wel the mekenes, as the faythe of the godly, maye ſhyne forthe, and be made more open, not to other onely, but to theym ſelues alſo: and contrary wyſe, that the wyckednes of the wycked, (whiche they without ſhame deny, or els vnder ſome falſe colour of religiō cloke) may openly apere, and alſo be puniſhed. The other kynde is, when we are tempted by ſuggeſtions of the dyuell, and affections of the fleſhe, and oftentimes vnder ſuch temptations they fall and lye vnder, where ſome ſo fall to euerlaſtynge deathe, that they neuer aryſe agayn, other after their fal ar made more lowe and more ware. God therfore correcteth, to make hole, and not to dyſtroye: he punyſſheth the godly, for that they ſhuld not be condemned with this frowarde worlde, to proue and exerciſe theyr fayth, to mortifie their fleſſhe, and to kendell in theym a more feruent deſyre of the euerlaſtynge lyfe to come: laſt of all, leſt they ſhuld by reaſon of great giftes, be blowen vp with pride: and therby they are proued alſo, to be the very trewe ſonnes of god, and not vnlauful and baſtardes. But the dyuel tempteth to diſtroy, and to drawe into deſperation and vnbelefe.Luc. 22. Act. 5. He roted in the hart of Iudas, to deliuer vp Chriſt. He temted Ananias and Saphira, and had the maſtry. He tempted Iob,Iob. 1.2. and was redy to deſtroy hym, if he had ben ſoo ſuffered.Matth. 4. He tempted Chriſt, but he preuayled nothing. He was buſy with the apoſtels, to ſyfte them as wheate, but the lord prayed, and he wanne nothynge. He ſtyrred vp Dauid to number Iſraell, he obeyed the temtation,Para. 22. and brake the precept of god. So Peter forſware Chryſte, and yet they obteyned mercye. Thus he runneth about, ſekynge whom he may deuoure. So the godly ouer come in temptation, althoughe ſomtyme through the good councell and prouydence of god, they be ouercome: but al thinges worketh with them to their welth, and for the beſt. Wherfore we pray our father, that he leade vs not in to temptation, that he wyl not tempt vs aboue that we ſhall be able to beare, but to make with the temptation increaſe, and delyuer vs from yll. Satan therfore nor dareth nor can do any thing againſt the holy, but by gods ſufferance. Al thynges are done after goddes arbitrye or wyll, withoute whoſe becke or graunt, no aduerſitie can happen. God ſendeth afflictions, ſomtyme by him ſelfe through his owne wyl onely, ſometyme by his minyſters, for he bothe dyſtroyeth the wicked with the countenance of his wrothe, and alſo by contrary angelles and perſecutours he ſuffereth his ſonnes to be exercyſed. For god gyueth power ſometyme to the dyuell, to aſſaute the ryghtuouſe man: but bycauſe his curſednes is inſaciable, tyll he deuoure a man all together, there is a lawe preſcribed vnto him, beyōd the whiche he may not tempt. For god is faythefull, and meaſureth our fyghte or battayle accordyng to our ſtrengthes. wherfore let no mannes hart fayle hym, god knoweth, howe farre it is expedyente, that our mekeneſſe be exercyſed, that from henſeforth, we maye be mete to do greatter thynges. For vndoubtedly if god had not knowen the ſtrength and cōſtancie of Iob his ſouldiour, he wolde not haue gyuen ſo moche lybertie to Satan, agaynſt him, ſodenly and at ones to deſpoyle, one ſo ryche, ſo bleſſed of al his ſubſtance, and to plucke hym from all his felycitie. After we are wel taught theſe thynges of goddes prudencie, we ſhall the eaſier beare the croſſe.

¶Croſſe is the worke of the good wyll and mercy of god. Cap. v.

IT IS not inoughe, to fele and conſyder, that we are afflycted throughe the councell and wyll of god, but we muſt moreouer mark the cauſe and intente of his godly wyll, for reaſon iudgeth, that we ar puniſhed, to the ende to be hurt or dyſtroyed: and examples lykewiſe moue vs, of them that haue bē puniſhed and caſt of from god, as of Pharao, Saul, and other lyke, but we muſt forſake reaſon, and fle ſuch examples, and cleaue to the worde of god. The word of god teacheth, that we ſuffer affliction, to our helth and ſaluation. For afflictions are not ſignes of wrathe and diſpleaſure, but of grace and fauour. God calleth to repentaunce, and by affliction he in a maner ſpeketh and declareth, that he wyll forgyue. For as baptiſme, or eatynge of the lordes body, do wytneſſe vnto vs, that we are forgyuen: euen ſo nerehande affliction maye be called a certain ſacrament. For it ſygnifieth, that god wyll forgyue. And why doth it ſo ſignifie? for euen as other ſacramentes haue the worde of the element: ſo to afflictiō is the word annexed, wherby is promyſed grace, for ſoo ſayth Paule.1. Cor. 11. while we are puniſhed, we are corrected of the lorde, leaſte we ſhulde with this world be condempned. Afflition calleth to repentaunce, that we peryſhe not. And he correcteth the ſonne,Pſal. 50. whome he loueth. It is good for me, that thou haſte broughte me vnder, that I maye lerne thy rightuouſenes.Eſai. 26. Lord in tribulation haue they viſited the: it is thy lerning to them, that they ſhulde crie to the in anguiſhe and ſorowe.Eſai. 28. Trouble gyueth vnderſtandyng agayne. To the ende to doo his owne worke, he dothe an other worke. that is, to the intent to make ſafe, he chaſteneth and ſcourgeth.Pſal. 50. A troubled ſpirite is a ſacrifice to god. A ſacrifice is that that pleaſeth god. Wherfore for ſo moch as affliction pleaſeth god it ſignifieth not thoſe which ar afflicted, to be reproued, and caſt of from god, for he wyl not the death of a ſynner,Ezech. 33. but that he conuerte and lyue. We muſt therfore in affliction ſtedfaſtly beleue, that our trouble commeth not by chaunce, but that it is gouerned of god. Moreouer, that god wyll not vs therfore to be troubled, to hurte and dyſtroy vs, but to calle vs to repentaunce, to exercyſe vs and ſaue vs, as holy ſcripture euerye where declareth.Pſal. 102. He wyll not ſtyll be angry, he wyll not continually threten vs. He hath begonne,Hoſie. 6. and wyll make vs ſafe, he ſhall ſtryke and make vs hole.Hoſ. 144. The lorde lyfteth vp al them that fal, and plucketh vp all thoſe whiche are broiſed.Eſai. 49. Can the woman forgette her babe, that ſhe haue not compaſſion of the chylde of her wombe? And if ſhe be forgetfull, yet wyll not I forget the.Matt. 16. So Chriſt comforteth his. The womanne, when ſhe bryngeth forthe:Eſai. 46. whiche are borne of my wombe, whiche are borne of my bealy, euen to the old age I my ſelfe wyll carie, euen to the hoore heares, I haue done it, and I wyll beare, I wyl cary and make ſafe.Mich. 4. Morne and be buſy o doughter of Sion, as a woman traueylinge, for nowe thou ſhalte go forthe from the citie, and ſhalt dwell in a region, and ſhalte come euen to Babilon, there ſhalt thou be delyuered, there ſhall the lorde redeme the.Iob. 33. Teachynge them, he inſtructeth with lernyng, to pluck a man from thoſe thinges, which he hath done, and to delyuer hym frome pryde.Gen. 22. So Abraham was tempted to be tried, that his faith mought be made noble and manifeſt, he tempted hym, and ſetteth forthe before vs ſuche example to folowe, when he tempteth and trieth our faythe.Iob. 1.2. So Iob was temted of the lorde, that his faythe mought be made more clere. So Dauid,2. Par. 13. Tobi. 2. ſo Manaſſes on euery ſide vexed, repēted. Alſo Tobias was therfore made blynde, to gyue example of pacience, to his after cō mers. Likewiſe Iudith. we ought to be myndfull, howe our fathers were tempted, to be tried.Matth. 15. Soo it happened in the woman of Chanaan.Matth. 9. And to the womanne laborynge with the iſſue of bloud. by whiche examples we are taughte and cōfirmed, to be plucked from god by no temptations, by no oppreſſions, by no chaſtiſynges, be they neuer ſo great: but the more that god tempteth vs, chaſteneth, and repelleth, ſo moche the more let vs crye to hym, tyll he gracyouſly here vs. It is therfore noo 〈2 pages missing〉

¶The godly are the fyrſt that are afflicted, and they are afflicted of god, to theyr good and welthe. Cap. vi.

Hiere. 25. et. 49. LO IN the citie, in whiche my name is called vpon, begin I to puniſſhe, and ſhall ye be as innocentes, and without punyſhemente?Ezechi. 9. The lorde commaunded them that diſtroyed Hieruſalem, to begyn at his ſainctuarye.1. Pet. 4. The tyme is now, that iugement muſt begyn at the houſe of god. If the iudgement of god begynne at the godly, what ende taryeth theym, whiche beleue not the goſpell of god? but the godly, when they are puniſhed, they ar puniſhed of god to theyr welthe and good, as the epiſtell wrytten to the Hebrewes, dothe clerely teſtifie.Hebre. 12. Whome the lord loueth, him he correcteth. and he beateth euery chylde whom he receyueth. if ye ſuffer chaſtiſynge, god offereth hym ſelfe vnto you, as to his ſonnes. What ſonne is he, whom the father chaſteth not? If ye be withoute chaſteſynge, whoſe partakers ar al the ſonnes, then are ye ſeruauntes, and noo ſonnes at al. So Salomon:Prou. 3. The chaſteninge of god thou ſhalt not refuſe, and neyther grudge thou, when he ſhal correct the, for whom the lord loueth, hym he correcteth, and delyteth hym ſelfe, as the father in the ſonne.Apoc. 3. Whom ſo euer I loue, I rebuke, and chaſte. The godly therfore ar chaſtened of the mercifull god, to theyr welth and good, and thoſe whiche are moſte corrected, are moſte loued of god. As Tobias was chaſtned for his profyte.Tobi. 2. Gen. 37. Ioſeph throughe the oppreſſiō of his brethern, was made ruler of Egypt.Exod. 1. By reaſon of the tyranny of Pharao, the chyldren of Iſraell encreaſed, and were made innumerable.Num. 21. The people hurt of ſerpentes cried. So he afflicteth the holy bicauſe they ſhuld not be in ſecurite without al feare but that theyr repentance ſhal increaſe, & theyr faith be confyrmed, when they fele them ſelues to be holpe: Although we knowe, that no man is ſcourged of god, without his deſeruyng.Roma. 3. For euery man is a lier and a ſinner, and no fleſhe ſhall be iuſtified before the face of god.Gen. 6. For all fleſhe hath corrupted his way. Wherfore al fleſhe is puniſhed, and yet we knowe that not alway the godly are puniſhed for ſynnes, but ſomtyme to proue the fayth of the afflicted. As Iob, Dauid, and many other, or to declare and make manifeſt the maieſtie of his name. Soo he punyſſhed the Iſraelites in Egypt by Pharao, that he might be glorified in Pharao, and make his name clere in all the worlde.Ioh. 9. So of the manne borne blynde from his natiuytie, nother this man hath ſynned nor his parentes, but that the workes of god moughte be manyfeſte in hym. And when god doth afflicte his people for theyr ſynnes, he dothe not therfore afflycte them, that by theyr afflictiōs, they ſhuld ſatisfie for theyr ſynnes. For the paſſion and ſufferynge of Ieſus Chriſte only, is the raunſome and expiation of our ſynnes. But therfore he afflicteth, that by affliction he maye dryue ſynners to repentaunce. For repentaunce or penance cometh fyrſte by the knowlege of ſynne: and then by faythe, that our ſynne is forgyuen vs for goddes promiſe ſake: and of faith burgeth forthe the callinge on the name of god.

¶In tribulation we muſte praye. Cap. vii.

HERE are we taughte, what a chryſten man muſte doo in temptation, whenne he ſeeth hym ſelfe forſaken of al men, that is, to praye, and not to ceaſſe to praye, but to praye in feyth, myſtruſting nothinge,Ia. 1. for he that myſtruſteth, is lyke the raige of the ſee, whiche is caried with the wynde, and toſſed and dryuen with vyolence. Whiche thinge alſo Chryſte warned vs of,Matt. 16. ſayinge. Watche and praye, that ye entre not into temptation. So lyke wyſe Salomon: Sonne,Eccle. 38. in thy ſyckeneſſe deſpyſe not thy ſelfe, but pray to the lorde, and he ſhal heale the. Therto god hath alſo commaunded, that we ſhulde in tribulation call on hym: yea and calleth that inuocation or crying on hym, a ſacrifice, the true and mooſte accepted honour. For ſo ſaythe the pſalm.Pſal. 49. Call to me in the day of thy trouble. And he addeth promyſes, And I wyll delyuer the, and thou ſhalt honour me And he ſayde before in the pſalm, that he regarded not the oblatiōs of beaſtes and ſuch other workes, but that he delyteth in this ſacrifice. if that we cal on hym in trouble, and beleue, that he wyll helpe vs: and when we are holpen, to gyue thankes, and preache his benefyte. And ſoo lyke wyſe he calleth the hope,Pſal. 4. wherby we tary his helpe in affliction, ſacrifice. Sacrifice you the ſacrifice of iuſtice, and hope ye in the lord. as though he ſhulde ſay, that hope is a ſacrifice, wherby we yelde iuſtyce to god, that (ſeinge he hath ſoo promyſed) he wyl plucke vs out, and delyuer vs: for ſoo moche he is ryghtuouſe and true. Thou ſeeſt then, that chriſtian pacience hath euer hope annexed: but that hope beholdeth no creatures, but onely the word and promyſe of god, and holdeth hope agaynſte hope, as ſayth Paule: that is when al creatures fayle, and ſhewe no helpe at all, yet is there hope, that god wyll helpe. And thoughe he gyue vs not thoſe thynges, whiche we wolde, or by that waye or meanes that we wyll, yet gouerneth he ſo the ende, throughe his wyſedome and goodneſſe, that we peryſſhe not, and that our prayers be not ſpente in vayne. Paule teacheth the ſame in this gradation. Tribulation bryngeth pacience, when he commeth thither, and teacheth vs, that we ought to holde a ſure hope in tyme of trouble, and addeth a promyſe.Roma. 4. Hope maketh vs neuer a ſhamed. We muſte therfore beleue, that we are harde of god, that god wyll helpe vs, and that we are defended of god. For ſo the pſalmes commaunde vs to beleue and praye.Pſal. 17. And in my trouble haue I cried to the lorde, and to my god haue I called, and he hath graciouſely frome his holye temple harde my voyce.Pſal. 80. In trouble thou haſt called on me, and I haue delyuered the, I haue graciouſly herde the, in the darkenes of trouble. He hath cryed to me,Pſal. 9 . and I wyll here hym. I am with hym in trouble, I wyll delyuer hym, and he ſhall glorifie me. Of this matter we haue noo fewe exexamples. Chyldren prayed in the myddes of the fornace, and they were harde and delyuered.Danie. 3. Daniel in the myddes of captiuitie, praied, and in the den of lions, and he was preſerued.Daniel. 9. Suſan forſaken of all men, prayed, and ſhe was harde.Ionas. 2. Eſai. 38. Ionas in the bealy of the fyſhe, prayed. Hezechias ſyckened euen to the deathe, he tourned his face to the wall, and prayed to the lorde, and the lord harde hym, and was made hole.4. Re. 20. Luc. 22. Chriſt in the time of his tribulation and paſſiō praied, ſheding forth dropes of bloud. Stephan in the myddes of theym that ſtoned hym,Act. 7. prayed. Whyle Peter was kepte in pryſon,Act. 12. there was prayer made of the congregation for hym. Suche examples oughte to ſtyrre vp our myndes and our faythe, to praye more dyligently, and with a more feruentnes. For affliction, and the great waylynges and ſorowe of the afflycted, are regarded of god, ſoo moche, that noo more acceptable ſacrifice can be offered to god, thē if ye offer a contrite and an humble harte, whiche god neuer refuſeth, as ſayth the prophete.Pſal. 112. Who is lyke the lorde our god, whiche dwelleth in the hyghe, and yet regardeth and beholdeth lowe thinges? Whom ſhall I loke on,Eſai. 66. but on the poore and cōtrite in ſpirite, and hym that feareth my worde. The lorde is nyghe them,Pſal. 36. whiche haue a troubled harte. We are taught alſo, that the lorde beholdeth and hereth the prayers and crye of ſynners, of thoſe ſynners, whiche althoughe they haue committed neuer ſo filthy offences, yet beleue that the lorde god is theyr god, for his promyſe made to Abraham: that is, whiche beleue, that they haue god the father pacified in heauen for Ieſus Chriſtes ſake. and through this fayth call to god, and are hard: through this faythe, theyr ſynnes commytted, ar waſhed away. And the praier of the afflycted gothe throughe to the trone of the grace of god. This faythe is moche worthe, to perſwade the hart of the afflycted in temptation, that his prayer is harde. And for as moche as god is more redier to here, then we to praye, we ought ſurely to beleue, that our prayers are not ydel, but that they pleaſe god, and are vndoubtedly harde, as Sirach alſo doth warne vs:Eccle. 18. Before thy prayer, prepare thy ſoule, and be not, as a man that tempteth god, that is, lyfte vp thy mynde with a ſure confidence, that god wyl here the, but not for thy worthyneſſe: But fyrſte, bycauſe thou arte ſure, that god hath commanded vs to pray, and for bycauſe god hath promyſed graciouſly to here vs. Secōdly, for bycauſe thou haſte a forme and maner of prayer aſſygned of hym. Wherfore we nede not to feare, that our prayer ſhuld offend hym, for god caſteth of no manne that commeth vnto hym, yea he calleth all men vnto hym, whiche are troubled in hart:Matth. 11. Come to me all ye that labour and are laden, and I ſhall refreſſhe you. Mary Magdalyn was a ſynner, whiche afterwarde ſhe beganne to waſhe Chriſtes fete with her teares, ſhe harde of Chryſte.Luc. 7. Thy ſynnes are forgiuen the. Alſo the thefe, in his extreme ſufferynge, went to ioye. Lyke wyſe of zach. Matth. Peter.Matth. 9. For he came not to calle the ryghtuouſe, but ſynners. He came to ſeke the loſte ſhepe, and loſte dram or grote.Luc. 18. He hath promyſed to them that repente, remiſſion of ſynnes, and receyueth them in to his fauour, as the prodigal ſonne. If we confeſſe our ſynnes, he is feythefull and ryghtuouſe to forgyue vs our ſynnes,1. Ioh. 1. and to clenſe vs from al iniquitie.Pſal. 31. I haue ſaid, I wyll confeſſe agaynſte my ſelfe, my vnryghtuouſenes, and thou haſte forgyuen the wyckednes of my ſynne. Alſo if the wycked ſhal repent from all his ſynnes,Ezech. 18. which he hath done, and ſhall kepe al my preceptes, and wyll kepe iudgement and iuſtice, he ſhal lyue, and ſhall not dye.

¶Of prayer and the maner of prayer in tribulation.

PRAYER is the deſyre of the harte for any thynge, to be required of god, it is the penſyfe ſyghe of godlye myndes, whiche calle on the name of the lorde. We are commaunded to praye:Matt. 16. 1. Teſ. 5. Colo. 4. watch and pray. Alſo, Aſke and ye ſhal haue. Aſke and it ſhal be gyuen you. alſo, Praye contynually. Agayne: Be buſy in prayer, and watche in it.Luc. 18. For god dothe not onely ſuffer vs to praye, but alſo commaundeth, as he hath commaunded vs, not to kyll, not to committe adultery. Wherfore lyke as they ſinne, that kyll, or robbe, euen ſo do they that neuer praye.

¶Whoſe preyars are hard of god.

Eccle. 9.THE deſyre of the pore, god hereth. The praier of him that meke neth him ſelfe, penetrateth & goth throughe the cloudes.Pſal. 101. He hath regarded the praier of the meke, and hath not deſpyſed theyr prayers. The lorde is nyghe all them,Pſal. 144. Ioh. 4. that crye vnto hym in truthe. Suche worſhyppers god requireth, whiche worſhyp hym in ſpiryte.Pſal. 33. The ryghtuouſe haue cryed, and the lorde hath hard them, and he hath delyuered them from al theyr truble.Pſal. 60. From the endes of the worlde haue I called to the, whē my hart was dyſmaied, and in a rocke haſt thou exalted me.Pſal. 119. To the lord haue I cried in my trouble, and he hath graciouſey harde me.Eſai. 66. He beholdeth the lowly and broken in ſpirite, and ſuche as feare his worde. Partes of trewe prayer, are the promyſe, faythe, the affecte, to deſyre in the name of Chryſte, and thankes gyuynge.

¶The promyſe of god.

VVHAT ſo euer ye aſke the father in my name,Ioh. 14. he ſhall gyue it you.Pſal. 49. Crye on me in the day of thy trybulation, and I wyll delyuer the, and thou ſhalte gloryfie me. He ſhall gyue good thynges to them that aſke hym.Matth. 11. Marc. 11. I ſaye vnto you, what ſo euer thynges ye aſke in your prayer, beleue that ye ſhal receyue, and they ſhal happen vnto you. Aſke, and it ſhall be giuen you.Matt. 18. If that two of you agree of any thynge vpon the erthe, what ſo euer thynge they ſhall requyre, it ſhalbe giuen them of my father, which is in heuen.Hiere. 33. Call to me, and I wyll gracyouſely here the. In prayer, goddes promyſe muſte be conſydered, howe god hath promyſed, that he wyll here vs. For he whiche hath commaunded to praye, hath promyſed that he wyl bothe here vs and helpe vs.

¶Faythe.

Ia. 1. 1. Ioh. 5.VVE muſte praye with a confidence, doubtyng nothynge. This is the confidence, whiche we haue towarde hym, that what ſoo euer we deſyre, accordynge to his wyll, he hereth vs. A prayer withoute fayth obteyneth nothinge at goddes hand. We muſt therfore pray in faythe. And if we aſke in fayth, he hereth vs. Fayth is aſſuredlye to beleue, that god forgyueth vs our ſynnes, for Chriſtes ſake, and not only forgiueth our ſinnes, but alſo is preſent with vs, ruleth and gouerneth vs, that he maye make vs ſafe. In this faythe if we aſke any thynge, god dothe graciouſely here vs. For god wyll gyue all thinges to thē that beleue in him.

¶To aſke in the name of Ieſu,

IS to haue a reſpect, to the glory and wyll of god, that the name of god maye be glorifyed. For the ende of euery prayer, is the glory of god. To aſke therfore in the name of Ieſu, is to aſke and deſyre the glory of Chryſte, and the ſpredynge abrode of his name.

¶The affecte to deſire any thinge.

THE lordes prayer teacheth playnely, what thynge we ſhulde praye for. More ouer, fayth, hope, loue, pacience. We muſt alſo pray, that we be not tempted, for prayer onely obteyneth the victory of all temptations. Alſo for publike and common neceſſities, for offycers, for peace.

¶Thankes gyuyng.

Pſal. 49. Pſal. 115.OFFER TO god, prayſe. To the ſhal I ſacrifice the hoſt or oblation of prayſe, and I ſhall calle on the name of the lorde.Pſal. 33. I wyll bleſſe the lorde at all tymes, his prayſe ſhal euer be in my mouthe. None turned agayne,Luc. 11. to gyue glory to god, but the ſtraunger. The faythfull gyue thankes, that they ar delyuered of theyr trouble, they magnifie god, and preache forth, his gyuynge of benefy •• es: but god oftentymes deferreth to here, to exerciſe the faythe of the godly, as it apereth in Syropheniſſe, alſo Luc. 18. and yet ſtynte not they to praye,Luc. 18. nor myſtruſte god, althoughe they obteyne not ſtreight wayes, that whiche they aſke and deſyre, but continue ſtyll in prayer. For continuance in praier hath the rewarde.Daniel. 9. He continued in praier, he praied the hole day through euen to euentyde, and was viſited of Gabriell. We muſt preſcrybe or appoynte no tyme to god.Iudith. 9. He that continueth knockynge, to hym it ſhall be opened. God gaue not to Abraham ſtreyghte wayes, that which he promiſed. Therfore muſt we ſaye, If thou wylte lorde,Marc. 1. Iob. 13. thy wyll be fulfylled. Althoughe he ſhall kyll me, yet ſhall I truſte in hym.

¶We oughte to be pacient in affliction, not to be angry, nor to ſpeake yuell of god. Cap. viii.

PACIENCE, is to feele and conſider, that god doth ſcorge vs, to call vs to repentaunce, and therfore gladly to ſuffer the hand of god, and to haue a confidence, that god wyl forgiue vs, and that he wyll delyuer vs. Of this pacience to godward, ſpryngeth forth pacience towarde men. For when the harte is at peace with god, it tarieth helpe of hym, and vtterly ſetteth aſide luſt to auenge. Thus pacience can neuer be, but when by fayth we are aſſured, that we pleaſe god, and that at lengthe it ſhall come to paſſe, that we ſhalbe ſaued. Chriſten pacience therfore, is the comfort and ioye of the hart in afflyctions, to whome there is annexed hope. For faythe preſently receiueth reconciliation and forgyuenes of ſynne, & a promyſe of the ende. Hope taryeth and loketh for the ende to come, as ſayth Eſai In ſilence and hope ſhall be your ſtrengthe.Eſai. 20. For Hope hath his eye to the wyll of god, and knoweth, that god hath care on hym. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that god wyll gouerne the endes accordynge to his promyſe, althoughe there appere no helpe at all, in any creatures, as it is ſpokē of Abraham. Agaynſte all hope, he beleued in hope. that is, althoughe in the hole compaſſe of nature, there be no hope at al, yet beholdynge the worde of god, felte inwardly, that that whiche god hadde promyſed, ſhoulde come to paſſe. Who (as ſaythe Paule) calleth thoſe thinges whiche are not, as thoughe they were? Therfore the mynd is quiete in chriſten pacience. For it conſydereth, that afflyctions are not yll, nor are layed on vs of god to our deſtruction. For he is well aſſured, that he is temted through the good wyll of god, and exercyſed to repentaunce for his helthe. And for as moche as the mynd is fyxed towarde this wyl of god, he is not angrye with god. For he knoweth, howe this calamitie or trouble commeth not by chaunce or fortune without a cauſe, but rather reioyſeth in affliction. that is it that Eſai ſpeaketh. In ſilence and hope ſhall be your ſtrengthe. that is, be ye not angry in god or with god.Pſal. 5. Be ye angry, but ſynne not, that is. Be ye not angry with god, bicauſe he ſuffereth you to be punyſhed, and doth not by and by helpe you, be ye not for that moued, to exercyſe vengaunce, or to forſake god: but ſpeake cloſely within your hartes, that is, conſider the word, and accordyng therunto ſuffer affliction. Suche pacience is ſtedfaſte and ſure, yea euen when al mannes comfort and councell forſake vs. whiche thing holye ſcripture euidently proueth euery where. for he wyl not be forgetfull of the poore continually. The paciēce of the poore ſhall not peryſhe at length. Tary the lorde,Pſal. 26. do manfully, comforte thy harte, and ſuffer the lord.Eſai. 30. In ſilence and hope, ſhall be thy ſtrengthe.Thren. 3. It is good to loke for the helthe of the lorde in ſilence.Eccle. 2. What ſoo euer is layde on the, receyue it, and when thou arte brought lowe, haue pacience. He that is pacient,Prou. 14. is ruled with moche wyſedome. He that is impatient, ſheweth forthe his folyſhenes. In your pacience ſhall ye poceſſe your ſoules.Matt. 10. Roma. 5. Afflyction bringeth forthe pacience, pacience probation or triall, probatiō hope, and hope ſhall neuer be a ſhamed. So Dauid,2. Re. 16. paciently ſuffered the perſecution of his ſonne, and the curſe of Semei. Iob is a notable exāple of pacience. The lord gaue the lorde hath taken away. Abraham was pacient,Gen. 12. when his wyfe was taken away, and ſet in Pharaos houſe. Chryſte is the onely captayne and moſte perfecte example of pacience. So farre is it of, that aduerſities ſhuld noy or hurt vs, that they are very profytable vnto vs. For the good, the more they ar afflycted, the more pacient they are, knowynge that through moche trouble, is the way of heauen. for they knowe, that by moch pacience, they ar tried and proued as Peter ſayth.1. Pet. 1. wherby the triall of our faythe, maye be more preciouſe then golde, whiche peryſheth and is tried by fier. wherfore a proffe or triall helpeth to the increaſe of hope. For when we conſider, that in no ſuche ſo great afflitions, we are not forſaken, we gather confidently, that neuer after this ſhal we be forſaken. we ought therfore pacientely to ſuffer thoſe ylles, which happen on vs in this worlde. for if we be impacient, we be not chriſtians. For as many as haue ben ſythen the begynnynge of the worlde hytherto, godly and chriſtian men, they haue al ben afflycted with manyfolde troubles. But forbycauſe, they haue ouercome thē with pacience, their hope ſet and fyxed in god, therfore they ar made ſafe, as witneſſeth the examples of the holy, from the fyrſte Abel, vnto thoſe ryghtuouſe whiche in theſe days ar on lyue. Wherfore it behoued euen Chryſte hym ſelf, by the croſſe, to entre into life. And this in all aduerſities is gret comforte, and of great ſtrength, to knowe, that god requireth pacience, and that myngled with ioy. But mans reaſon perceyueth not that,Colo. 1. but god teacheth it. For our reaſon is therfore troubled & vexed in perſecution, bycauſe it thinketh, that we ar afflycted, bycauſe god other hateth vs, or dothe not regarde vs, nother wyl helpe vs. Theſe falſe opiniōs god plucketh from vs, and teacheth vs, that we ar afflycted, not bycauſe he hateth vs, but bycauſe he wyll other amende vs, or when we be amended, ſo to continue, accordynge to that ſayinge: He correcteth the ſonne whom he loueth. Agayn: I wyl not the deathe of a ſynner.Ezech. 18. Agayne, He hath concluded all vnder ſynne, not to dyſtroye all, but to haue mercye on all. And this thynge engendereth gladnes in our myndes, to knowe and fele, that it pleaſeth god, to haue vs afflycted. For we muſt be lyke the ymage of his ſonne. More ouer, that in our affliction he wyl helpe vs, and kepe vs, and alſo comfort vs with the holy goſt, and ſet our conſcience at peace, and make vs be gladde in god, ſo that we deſire helpe of hym. For he commaundeth, that we ſhulde loke for helpe at his hande, accordynge to this: All they that tarye the,Eſai. 49. ſhal not be confounded. And god commaundeth lykewyſe, that we ſhuld aſke helpe of hym. Call on me in the daye of trouble, and I wyll delyuer the, and thou ſhalte gloryfie me. Of this pacience and comfort god alonely is the auctour, which alſo giueth pacience.Pſal. 70. Pſal. 61. Hiere. 29. For thou art my pacience o lord. yet o my ſoule be vnder and ſubiecte to god. for of hym is my pacience. Thynke the thoughtes of peace, that I maye gyue you the ende and pacience.Rom. 15. The god of pacience and comforte. &c. This chriſtian pacience hath certayne condycions, wherby it is knowē, to be the true pacience. Fyrſte it grudgeth not, nother excuſeth it ſelfe, as though it ſhulde ſuffer vnworthily for his ſynnes. wherfore he ſitteth downe and holdeth his peace, as Hieremie ſaythe.Thren. 3. He ſytteth alone, and ſpeketh no worde, for he hath laid a yocke vpon hym. Secondely it caſteth all carefulnes on god,1. Pet. 5. and committeth it ſelfe al hole to god, that goddes wyl be done, and not his. Thyrdely, it humbleth hym ſelfe, and caſteth of ryotte, and the pleaſure of the worlde. Fourthly, he is mery and redye to ſuffer yet more heuyer and more greuouſe ylles.

¶Socour in affliction muſte be aſked of god. Capi. ix.

VVE MVSTE loke for helpe in al afflyctions, for god promyſeth his helpe, ſayenge. I am with you, feare ye not, I wyll ſtrengthe you. Agayne,Ioh. 15. Without me, ye are able to doo nothynge. But when he is preſente, we are able to doo all thynges throughe hym. And if he be with vs,Roma. 8. who ſhall be agaynſte vs? Of what daunger ſhall we be aferde of? he hath promyſed trewely to be with vs, vntyll the ende of the worlde, and vndoubtedly he wyll be. Let vs cal therfore on his helpe, he is trewe, and is redy to al them that call on hym in truthe.Iudit. 6. Iudith deſyrynge helpe of god, ſayd: Helpe me thy handemaiden,Heſt. 14. which haue none other helpe but the lorde. Giue vs helpe from the holy place or elles,Pſal. 19. he ſendeth helpe from his holy place. and from Sion wil he defende the.Pſal. 69. O god gyue hede towarde my helpe, and haſt to helpe me o lorde. Bleſſed is that man, whoſe helpe is of the.Pſal. 83. Pſal. 107. Helpe vs from tribulation. For vayn is the helthe of man.Pſal. 120. My helpe is of the lorde, whiche made heauen and erthe. In tyme of tribulation we oughte from aboue to loke for the helpe of god: but the maner, tyme, and kynde of helpe is vnknowen vnto vs, that fayth and hope may haue place, which ſticketh to thoſe thynges, whiche are not ſene nor harde. Do not therfore in tyme of trouble runne without thy ſelfe, but tary within thy ſelfe, and tary the ſtrength of the lorde: He wyll come, if thou departe not: he wyl ſtrengthe the, if thou ſeke none other ſtrengthe. For he commeth not to them that flee, but to them that tarye boldelye. Tribulation muſt not be ouercome with flight, but with conſtancye, and ſtycking in the faythe of the name of god. Alſo the helpe of the lorde is ouer them, that onely put theyr confydence and truſte in god: he is redy with all his angelles, when al other thynges forſake theym: he hath a reſpect to his in afflyction continually. He kepeth them, and comforteth them.3. Re. 17. To Helias when he was fled and was hungry, he ſent a rauē which brought him bread. Agayne,2. Re. 19. he ſente hym bread & water by his aungell. He was with the elder Tobie,Tobi. 5. Heſt. 9. and at length heled hym of his blyndenes. He turned the waylinge of the Iewes in to ioye.Iudit. 10. He wrought meruaylouſly with the Betulians, which cried vpon hym.Daniel. 5. He was with Daniel and the chyldrē in the fornace of fier, that the fier ſhuld not hurt them.Dani. 14. When Daniell was in the den of lyons in Chaldee, the lorde ſent hym his dynner from Ieury. Suſan was lefte comfortles and in deſperation, and yet in extreme daunger, god delyuered her, and conſidered her anguyſhe.Ionas. 2. He preſerued Ionas in the bealy of the fyſhe, that he ſhulde not peryſhe, which yet had deſerued death. He was with Peter in priſon, and delyuered hym.Act. 12.23 He broughte Paule forthe of pryſon, to whome god ſpake by a viſyon in the nyghte. Feare not, but ſpeake, and holde not thy peace. And for as moche as I am with the, noo man ſhall drawe nyghe to hurte the. Wherfore Paule cryeth on this maner: As the paſſions and ſufferynges of Chriſt do habounde in vs,2. Cor. 1. euen ſo do conſolations and comforte by Chriſte. We muſt therfore aſke helpe in tyme of trouble, of god onely: whiche of hym ſelfe, and by hym ſelfe, defendeth euerye man, that is his, and not by the helpe of man. Of whiche thyng there be examples, howe ofte tymes he holpe the people of Iſraell, when none of all the people about them were with them, but all agaynſte them, alonely with his preſence, throughe his trewe worſhyppe in Hieruſalem & Sion.Pſal. 19. He will ſend helpe vnto the frō his holy place, and out of Sion ſhall he defende the. And as often as they loked not for helpe out of Sion, but out of Egypt, or from the Aſſirians, ſo oftentymes they fell, and were worſe hurte, as men whiche claue to a ſtaffe of a rede. For helpe or ſocour required of creatures, is not onelye vayne, but is alſo to our hurte and loſſe, as Luke telleth, of the woman, whiche hadde the courſe of bloud, whiche beſtowed in vayne all the ſubſtance ſhe had on phiſitions, and receyued helthe by fayth onely in Chryſt. For god deliuereth when moſt nede is, that his glory maye ſhyne the bryghter. Therfore the wyl of god muſt be loked on, and our helpe & hope maye be affyxed in nothynge els, then in god, whiche is an helper in tyme conuenient: Whiche hath fyxed his eyes vpon the.Pſal. 31. For the eyes of the lorde are on the ryghtuouſe, and his eares redy to their prayers.Pſal. 33. We may put no affiance nor truſte in man, nor in mannes helpe, but in god onely.Pſal. 59. Vayne is the helthe of menne. Curſed is he that truſteth in man,Hiere. 17. and maketh fleſſhe his defence, and his harte departed from god.Deut. 17. Eſai. 31. Thy kynge ſhall not increaſe his horſes. Wo to them whiche go downe into Egypt, hopynge in the helpe of horſes. Some in horſes,Pſal. 19. and ſome in chariottes, but we in the name of the lorde.Pſal. 146. Nor hath he delyte in the ſtrengthe of the horſe, nother yet pleaſure in the legges of men. The lorde delyteth in theym that feare hym, and in them that putte theyr hope in hym.

¶Yet in afflyction or ſyckenes, medicyne and councell are not to be deſpiſed. Cap. x.

FOR GOD by inſtrumentes performeth his wyll, and doth and worketh all thynges in theyr order by meanes, as clerely teſtifieth holy ſcripture.Eſai. 38. Eſai commanded to take a cluſter of fygges, & to playſter them vppon Ezechias wounde, and ſo to be made hole. This is certaynely a great prayſe and defence to phyſicke.4. Re. 20. 2. Par. 32. For god wil not the vſe of his creatures to be neglected or dyſpyſed. He condemneth onely the faythe and confidēce in creatures. And although he mought eaſyly haue healed Ezechias, with one worde: yet wold he doo it by medycine. Soo he mought bringe forth and increace chyldren of mannes body, otherwyſe or by ſome other maner, but yet he wyll do it by the womanne. Wherfore let vs vſe thynges, as god hath created them, with thankes gyuyng, and let vs onely put no confidence in them: as we rede that Aſa dyd,2. Co. 15. whiche in his ſyckenes ſought not the lorde, but phiſitions. Hope muſt chiefely be put in the lorde, and afterwarde lette vs vſe the helpe of phyſitions, as the benefytte of god. Moreouer, we muſte conſider, that god hath created medycine, as wytneſſeth Ieſus Syrach:Sirach. 3 Honour the phyſition for neceſſyties ſake, for the hygheſt hath created hym. For of god is al remedy. &c. Beſyde that, amonge the people of god, there were euer phyſitions, and Luke hym ſelfe the euangeliſte was alſo a phiſition.Colo. 4. But yet (as I ſaid) we muſte put no confidence in the phiſition, but rather in god. For phiſike without the workynge of god, helpeth nothynge, as wytneſſeth the hiſtorie of the woman,Matth. 9. whiche twelue yeres ſuffered the fluxe. For the outwarde phiſike is deceytfull, and nothyng at all, excepte helthe be inwardely gyuen of god. The woman is not reproued, bycauſe ſhe ſpente moche on phyſitions, but rather is priuyly ſhewed, that phyſycke is vayne, when it is attemted without god. So maye we not deſpiſe phiſicke, whom the hygheſt hath created of the erthe: ſo that we renounce our wyll into the hande of god, which is the chiefe poynt, that is by phiſicke, other to heale vs, or to kyll vs. This is the ſtronge faythe in god, throughe which, no ſickenes is ſo greuous and vncurable, whiche is not made hole. This faythe I ſaye, is nothynge elles, but the moſt lyuely opinion and vndoubted truſt in the mercy of god, wherby a man vndoutedly perſwadeth hym ſelfe, that he is in the fauour of god, and that god is courteyſe and forgyuynge hym al thynges, that he hath other doone or ſayde. Courteyſe, in good thinges: forgiuynge, in yl thynges.Rom. 10. This faith commeth by herynge, and hering by the word of god. Phiſicke therfore may not be deſpiſed. For god is the aucthor and creator of thinges, in whiche alſo he worketh as by a meane. Soo Helizeus toke ſalte and caſte it into the fountain of waters, whiche were verye yll, and vnholſome, and made the waters hole. Agayne. He purged and ryd the lepre of Naaman,4. Re. 2. captain vnder the kynge of Syria, in the water of Iordan.4. Re. 5. Water without the worde and promyſe of god, is nothyng. as if any other had waſſhed hym ſelfe a hundred times in Iordan, he ſhulde not haue bene clenſed. Naaman is clenſed, for he had a promyſe. Be thou waſſhed, and thou ſhalt be hole. When he regardeth not this promyſe, but onely the water, he erreth, and taryeth in leproſye, and ſo ſhoulde haue periſhed, and haue bē a blaſphemer agaynſte god, oneleſſe he had ben warned of his ſeruantes. He came therfore with faythe, and was made hole.Ioh. 9. Soo Chryſte to make the blynde man hole, made clay with ſpyttell. Agayne.Matth. 9. The hem of chriſtes garment touched, delyuered the woman frome the fluxe of bloud. The voice of Chriſt called forthe Lazarus. The voyce of Chriſt called forth vncleane ſpirites from men. The ſhadowe of Peter expelleth ſyckenes. So moche can the creature do, taken into the handes of the almyghty, whiche hath not this ſtrengthe of nature, but of the euerlaſtyng word of god. of whome it receyueth the ſtrength of doinge, that it reſteth not, but is euer workynge and myghtye. For there is nothynge made of god in vayne, althoughe it be neuer ſoo vyle. For therfore god created thoſe vile thynges, to ſignifie, that he him ſelfe worketh in thoſe abiecte and vyle thinges: but the wycked doo attrybute the ſtrengthe of curynge, healynge, multiplieng, and bringyng forth, to the erthe, nature, and herbes: but the faythefull attribute it, to the lyuynge worde of god, and to the preſent power of god. For god worketh all thynges, by the erthe, herbes, and other his creatures, as by inſtrumentes: but yet we ought not to attribute thoſe thinges to trees & herbes, althoughe god vſe thoſe thīges for our ſake, but to god, which worketh al thinges, in all thynges, that all thynges maye be referred to theyr firſt well ſprynge. Wherfore it is ſure, that god by inſtrumentes dothe worke, clenſe, heale, and make ſafe. So god only fedeth vs,Matt. 6. your heauenly father fedeth them, yet vſeth he bread as an inſtrument to fede by.Pſal. 104. Bread confyrmeth the harte of man. Agayn. God alone kepeth vs and defendeth vs, accordynge to this.Pſal. 227. Except the lorde do kepe the citie, he that kepeth it, watcheth in vayne, and yet he kepeth it, with the myniſtery of angelles and gouernours. Fynally, god is the auctour and lorde of al thynges, he hath his organes and inſtrumentes, with the which, as with meanes he doth what he wil.

¶In afflyction no tyme may be appoynted to god, nother yet maner wherby we wolde be delyuered. Ca. xi.

THERE IS no time nor meaſure of afflyction, to be preſcrybed or lymytted to the lord, although he deffer the matter a lōg ſeaſon, as it apereth in the .v. chapiter of Iohn,Ioh. 5. that the infirmitie of the ſycke was prolonged vntyl the .xxxviii. yere, by the wyll of god, vntyll Chryſte ſhulde come and be glorified. So let vs beleue certaynly, all our afflictions to indure the longer, throughe the myghtye wyll and worke of god, that at the laſte the lorde be glorified in vs.Ioh. 9. A certayne manne was borne blynde, and dyd continue ſo blynde vntyll he came to the perfect aege of a man. but wherfore? Veryly, that the worke of the lord myght be ſhewed in hym. In like wyſe the Iſraelytes were not onely greuouſelye punyſſhed vnder Pharao in Egypt, but alſo a long ſeaſon, not that they ſhulde be deſtroyed, but rather that the name of the lorde ſhulde be glorified in them. Iob alſo was caſt into greuouſe hel paynes many monthes, that by the continuaunce of his peynes, it myght be made manyfeſte, that all men were lyers, and god onely trewe. that is, that the name of god by hym myghte be glorified. In lyke maner Ioſeph, hauynge knowlege by his dreme, yt he ſhulde be a gouernour, was kepte longe tyme, partely vnder greuouſe ſeruitude and bondage, and partely in priſon. but for none other cauſe, but that the name of god, by hym delyuered from ſoo lowe humilitie, and broughte to ſo great honour, myght be gloryfied. God wyl therfore helpe when nede ſhall require, whenne we be compelled to deſpeyre in all humayne helpe, and when all carnal councell ſhall deceyue vs, for god onely wyll be gloryfied.Ioh. 2. Chryſte dyd not chaunge water into wyne at the begynnynge, but dyd tarye vntyll it appered manyfeſtly to al the geſtes, that there lacked wine. that the glory onely to god and to none other myght be gyuen. It ſemeth oftentymes, that god doth leaue his elect in the middel of all yll, but ſodeynely he helpeth and gyueth ſocour, ſpecially when all thynge is broughte to deſperation: and beſyde al hope, with ſome rare and ſeldome ſhewen myracle he helpeth, althoughe natural remedy do lacke, and trouble aboūd on euery ſyde, ſoo that it ſemeth, that the lorde hath forgotten his elect: but afterwarde he fayleth not to deliuer them out of the middes of al theyr troubles more gloriouſely. He myght haue let Pharao, that he ſhuld not haue puniſhed the chyldren of Iſraell, but when all mans helpe was paſt, he delyuered his people from Pharao in the red ſee. The lorde dothe prolong helpe for our vtilitie and profyte, that he myghte exercyſe and proue faythe by temptation: ſo that he onely might poſſeſſe the title and name of a helper, that we myght lerne the better to truſte in god, and to haue compaſſion vppon other that be tempted. as in the pſalm.Pſal, 17. And thy lernynge hath corrected me for euer, and thy diſciplyne ſhal teache me.Hebre. 2. So Paule ſpeaketh of Chryſte: It behoueth that Chriſte, in all thynges ſhuld be made lyke his brethern, that he myghte be mercyfull ouer theym. We ought not therfore to deſpeire in the tyme of afflyction, ſpecially when we knowe certaynely, that the terme and ende of puniſhment and payne, is to be preſcribed, lymitted, and appoynted of god, as the prophetes beare witnes. Whē the yeres beginne to be fullfylled,Hiere. 29. I wyl viſet you, and rayſe vppon you a good worde.Hiere. 30. Alſo, and the daye ſhall be, that I wyll breake his yoke from thy necke, and ſtrā gers ſhal beare no more rule ouer it.Eſai. 28. Abac. 2. He whiche ſhall beleue, ſhall make noo haſte. He whiche yet ſemed a farre of, ſhall appere at the ende, and ſhall not lye, althoughe he tary, yet loke for hym, for he is commynge, and at the laſt he ſhal come, and ſhal not be ſlowe. wherfore we muſte ſaye:Matt. 6. Marc. 1. The wyll of the lorde be fulfylled. Alſo, Lord, if thou wylte, thou mayſte make me cleane. Alſo Paule ſayth.1. Cor. 10. The lorde is faythefull, whiche wyll not ſuffer you to be temted aboue your myght, but ſhall gyue with temptation power to reſyſte, that you maye be able to ſuffer.Iob. 13. Althoughe he kyl me, yet I wil truſt in hym.Pſal. 22. If I ſhall walke in the myddell of the ſhadowe of death, I wyll not feare euyl thynges, bicauſe thou arte with me. Iudith in the .vii. and .viii. chapiter, is a good exaumple. The people of Iſraell were forty yeres in deſert. God dydde not gyue to Abraham ſhortely that whiche he promyſed. So Chryſte ſayde his houre was not yet come.Ioh. 2. Matt. 14. Matth. 4. The womanne of Chananie is a good example. Alſo Chryſt was tempted of the dyuell in wyldernes forty dayes.

¶It is a great comfort to them that be in affliction, to remembre, that Chriſte was alſo tempted and exerciſed with yll as we be wont to be exerciſed. Cap. xii.

FYRST VVE ſe Chriſt tempted: in whom we haue an example of pacience and longe ſufferynge. This is our captayne, whom we ought to folowe in ſufferynge, ne leſte it ſhulde be heuy to vs, when we be tempted and puniſhed in this worlde, other of the dyuell or of his membres. For as the apoſtell ſaythe.Hebre. 5. We haue a biſhop tempted in al thynges lyke to vs, without ſynne. And for as moche it choſeth him ſo to be temted, he myght the better helpe thē that be tempted, Therfore Chriſt was delyuered to the dyuell to be tempted, as he was after betrayed to the Iewes to be crucyfyed: that we, which be tempted, by him and in hym myght lyue. And furthermore, that by his temptation he ſhulde ouercome, leſte we ſhuld obey and be ouercome in temptation: and by that his deathe he myght redeme vs from perpetuall deathe. Therfore let vs not be angry, nor take it greuouſly, whē we be let flyp by god our father in to diuers temptatiōs, tribulatiōs & afflyctions: Bycauſe no man is tēted, excepte the lord wyl. nor the dyuel hath no power to hurte any man, excepte the lorde wyll permytte and ſuffer hym. And when ſo euer he ſhall ſuffer hym to tēpt, yet he wyl not ſuffer vs to be temted aboue our power. We haue not onely Chriſt for our example, but alſo the godly bothe prophetes and apoſtelles, whiche in lyke wyſe be tempted, perſecuted, ſtoned,2. Cor. 11.12. kylled, & crucified. as Paule of hym ſelfe wytneſſeth. It is a great comfort to the godly, when for the name of Chriſt and his holy goſpell, they ſuffer perſecution, impriſonment, & at the laſt death, in whiche troubles yet ioye and afflyction haue place and be mixt to gether. If they be puniſſhed, it is ioye and comforte to theym, to haue Chryſt and al good and holy men felowes with them in their afflictions.1. Teſ. 1. as Paule ſaythe. Receyuynge the worde with greatte afflyction, and ioye of the holye goſte. So Chryſte dothe comfort his electe,Ioh. 16. ſayinge: In the world you ſhall haue afflyction, but be of good comforte, I haue ouercome the worlde. You ſhall wepe and lament, and the worlde ſhall reioyce: you ſhall mourne, but your mournynge ſhal be tourned in to ioye.Ioh. 15. Matt. 16. The ſeruaunte is not better then the mayſter. He that wyll folowe me, let hym deny him ſelfe. &c. He which dothe not take vp his croſſe and folowe. &c.Matt. 16. Marc. 8. He that wyll ſaue his ſoule, ſhal loſe it. &c. and he whiche wyll loſe his ſoule for my ſake, ſhall fynde it euerlaſtyngely. For the goſpell is the worde of the croſſe, who ſoo euer preacheth it trewely, and confeſſe it, muſte nedes ſuffer afflyction. For the goſpell dothe reproue the worlde, and condemneth thoſe thynges, whiche be in the worlde, but the worlde can not ſuffer that. Therfore he punyſheth, perſecuteth, and kylleth the godlye. We haue exāples inowe. Cayn killed Abell, Eſau perſecuted Iacob, Saul Dauid, Pharao Moyſen, the Phariſeis Chryſte, the Iewes the Apoſtelles, Herode Iohn the baptiſt. If therfore we be lykewiſe punyſhed, and tempted, there chā ſeth no newe thynges to vs. But let vs remembre Chryſte and his apoſtels our examples, which admoniſhed and warned vs of ſuch thynges, which were in lyke wyſe puniſhed, & dyd teache vs, that al ſuche as wold lyue godly & mekely in Chriſt,2. Tim. 3. Acto. 14. ſhulde ſuffer perſecution. And by many troubles we muſte entre into the kyngedome of god.

¶It is great comfort in affliction that no man can hurte the faythfull, except Chryſte wyll. Cap. xiii.

ALTHOVGHE the worlde and the dyuel be neuer ſo furiouſe and madde, yet the faythefull can not be hurte.Pſal, 3. I wyll not feare a thouſand people, compaſſyng me about, bicauſe they ſtand vnder the wynge of god. Alſo all the creatures canne not hurte the faythefull, except god wyll. The water did not hurt the Iſraelites: the fyre dyd not hurt the thre children, beinge in the furnace: the lions dyd nothynge hurte Daniel: Dauid plucked a beare out of the mouthe of a lyon, as the epyſtel to the Hebrewes wrytten, clerely witneſſeth. If the faythefull peryſſhe in battayle, it is the good wyll of god. whitout whoſe wyll and ſufferaunce, no aduerſytie can come vnto them. And he that hurteth one faythfull, doth not hurte him but god. For god dothe reuenge the wronge done to the faythfull, as it were done to hym ſelfe. And if any aduerſite or heuynes, hang ouer the people of god, god regardeth and taketh that euen as he hym ſelfe were puniſhed, and greued: but the reuengynge therof, is to be lefte to god. For god maketh hym ſelfe defender of all beleuers:Deut. 32. he dothe take theym, and caryeth them vpon his ſhulders. Therfore god hath charge ouer the godly, whether they liue or dy. nor he doth not leaue them in the middel of their trouble and croſſe, but then he is more nere thē, and can not forget his electe. He is the god of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob,Matth. 10. where ſoo euer they be. So Chriſte, The heares of your heades be nombred.Ioh. 7. The Iewes dyd ſeke to kyll Chryſte, but his tyme was not then comen.Ioh. 8. No man did ſet handes vpon him, bycauſe his houre was not yet comme.Ioh. 10. They went aboute to take hym, but he dydde eſcape from the myddell of theyr handes. Notwithſtandyng the wycked do often ouercome the godlye, and god dothe ſuffer the wycked to preuayle agaynſte the good: but throughe that rod, the lorde doth call his to repentance, and teacheth theym in feare. So Cayn preuayled agaynſte Abell, the Sodomites agaynſte Loth, Eſau agaynſte Iacob. The Philiſtians often dydde ouercome the Iſraelytes, Abymelech ouercame Sichimites, Saul agaynſt Dauid, Herode agaynſte Iohn, the Iewes ageynſt Chriſte, Acab and Ieſabel againſt Heliā, the Iewes ageynſt Stephin, the turke often ouercometh the chriſtiās. In theſe examples it is greate comforte to the godly, whiche ſuffer wronge: to whom the lorde ſaythe,Pſal. 31. I wyll fixe mine eies ſtedfaſtly vpon the. That whiche was done in the beginning of the world, is done alſo euen vnto the ende of the worlde. ¶The wycked thynke, that they ouercome, when that they kyl, and caſte other into exyle, and thynke that the lorde dothe forſake them, when he dothe not delyuer theym from deathe and perſecution, by ſome vyſible myracle. Surelye, Chryſte was ſoo delyuered from deathe: and ſo all they, whiche do beleue in Chryſte, by Chriſt be delyuered from deathe. God wolde not graunt (if he dyd not certaynly know) that of perſecution, and ſuche other ylles, whiche be wont to chaunce to his electe, greatteſt profyt to come vnto them. He ſuffereth them to be caſt into pryſon, into ylles, and into death, that he maye declare therby, that he hath both power and wil to ſaue them. Suche diligent care hath the lord ouer the godly. God with all his angelles is redye, when all other thynges do forſake. Wherof the pſalm ſaythe, Bycauſe my father and mother haue forſaken me, the lorde hath taken me. Forther, it is a great comfort to the godly, that the wycked (whom god dothe vſe as a rodde, to ſcourge the godlye people) go not clere awaye without puniſhement, whome he maketh other ſhamefullye aſhamed, or throughe theyr owne councell, he dothe take them, and bryngeth theym into the ſame dyſtruction, whiche they theyr ſelfes haue ſtudyed & founde out for other. As it is right before god, that he ſhulde rewarde euery man accordyng to his workes. What is ſoo iuſte before god? as that they whiche doo oppreſſe the godly in this worlde, and throughe perſecution make them exiles, in the worlde to come ſhall ſuffer the ſame perſecution, whiche they haue doone to other: The godly, that they maye be in reſte with other ſaynctes, whiche commynge from greatte trouble, ſhall nowe receyue the kyngdome eternal. For when we be gon here hence, all labour and ſorowe ſhall ceaſſe, and reſte and ioye ſhall folowe: and to the wycked ſhall folowe cleane contrary, lyke as (we rede in the goſpell) dyd folowe to the ryche glotten. Sonne remembre.Eſai. 10. &c. Wo be to the Aſſure, the rod of my angre & fury, I wyl teare ye, & breke the, as the bough of a tree. Alſo Paule, It is ryght (ſayth he) before god, to gyue afflyction to them, which do punyſhe you, and to you whiche be puniſhed, releaſe and delyueraunce therof.Rom. 9. Exod. 9. Daniel. 5. Eſai. 10. Micha. 5. Examples hereof be Pharao, Balthaſar, Daniel, Sennacherib, Saul, Abſalom, the Phariſeis, Caiphas and Pilate. The cauſe is, for he that hurteth one faythefull, hurteth not onely hym but god: the whiche dothe reuenge the iniurye and wronge done to the faythful, as iniurie done to hym ſelf. as the lorde ſayde to Samuell:1. Re. 8. They haue not caſt the away but me. He forbiddeth to touche his faythful, ſayinge,Pſal. 104. Do not touche myne annoynted, and ſay not yl of my prophetes.Hiere. 2. They whiche deuour Iacob, do ſynne, and yll ſhall come vpon them.Zacha. 2. He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of myne eye. They that ſpoyle the,Hiere. 10. ſhalbe ſpoiled. Alſo Chriſte, He that hereth you, hereth me: and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me. And ſoo god dydde ſpeake from heauen to Paule,Acto. 9. ſaying, Saul Saul, why doſte thou perſecute me?

¶The goodneſſe of god is not to be deſpiſed, or lyghtly regarded before afflyctions. whirby god wyl puniſhe and gyue warnynge. Capi. xiiii.

GOD THERFORE giueth warnynge and monition before, that men ſhulde repente, and ſo repentynge, ſhulde beleue and receyue grace: and they whiche wyll not beleue, ſhuld be without excuſe, and ſuffer puniſſhemente iuſtely.Gen. 6. So Noe in his tyme dyd admoniſhe men an hūdreth yeres. And Lothe dyd warne the Sodomites.2. Pet. 2. Gen. 19. Alſo Egypte was in peryll to peryſhe, thē Moyſes was ſent. It was ſhewed before by the prophetes, that the .x. trybes ſhulde be caryed to Babylon, Hieruſalem ſhulde be ouerthrowen by the Chaldees, and the peple broughte to captiuitie. Hieremie was ſente, whiche preached forty yeres.Daniel. 3. Nabugodonoſor was made a frayde in his dreame. Soo Chryſte dyd bewayle and ſhewe before the deſtruction of Hieruſalē. The place of repentaunce with god is before the ſentence gyuen: but not ſo, if it be wrytten: the folyſhe virgins dyd aſke oyle in vayne, when the yates were ſhutte vp. Eſau murned to late, when Iacob had goten the bleſſynge. So the pſalm, Seke the lorde whyle he maye be founde. Kyng Balthaſar dyd not ſeke the lorde, nor dyd not fynde hym: but Nabugodonoſor dyd ſeke hym, and dyd fynd hym. Alſo the vnfaithful miniſters bounden both hand and fote, were caſt out into outwarde darkeneſſe. When the wrothe of the lorde is conſummate or at the full, the godlye be punyſſhed with the wycked. The iugement of god, when he is angry, is gyuen vppon all, as well good as yll,Eſai 64. Pſal. 43. as Eſai teacheth. Alſo the pſalm, The godly conceyue a hope of felycitie and grace, as they do confeſſe: We haue not forgotten the.Pſal. 76. The lorde ſhal not cut awaye his mercye for euer. And they whiche be chaſtened do ſuffer iudgement, and at length do obteyne mercy. He wyl not be angry for euer.Pſal. 67. Therfore the lorde dothe punyſhe all the godly, whiche do repent, with peynes in this world, as he punyſſhed Dauid, that he myght make them more lowlyer: he dothe inſtructe them with lernynge, and maketh them more circumſpecte and ware. God doth euer ſend before bothe meſſengers and tokens, that men myghte repente: and to theym, whiche wyll not repent, no excuſe ſhall be left: as the prophetes, Chryſt, and his apoſtelles did warne men in theyr tyme, as it is written:Prouer. 1. Wyſedome ſitteth without the dores, and preacheth in the ſtretes, and cryeth aloude. &c. He councelleth and ſtirreth his to repentaunce, that they maye feare, ne leſte he caſte them amonges the blaſphemers. But they be not caſt away, the whiche made aferde by goddes worde, do beleue Chryſt: but rather Chriſte draweth them to hym ſelf, ſaieng, Come to me all you which labour and be burdened and ladē, and I wyll refreſhe you. But thou wylt ſaye: The proper worke of god is to fauour and to haue mercy, and therfore he wyll reuoke his ſentence. It is trewe. for it is a ſtrāge worke to hym to be angry: for verely, he wolde not the deathe of a ſynner, but rather that he ſhulde be conuerted and liue. But vnder this condition, he wyl reuoke his ſentence, if we knowlege our ſynnes:Ezech. 18. wherby we haue prouoked god to wrothe, and do repent. If the wycked do repent. &c. But Repentaunce is conuertion and turnynge of the wycked man, whoſe two partes be contricion & faith. Contrition, is to knowledge the ſynne, and by the iudgement and ſentence of god, truely to be made afrayde, ſayinge, We haue ſinned onely to the: beholde,Pſal. 0. thou art angrye. Alſo, I am he whiche haue ſynned. But Fayth is a conſtante truſte of mercy, by the whiche we decree and recken ſurely, that our ſynnes be forgyuen vs for Chryſtes ſake: Then ſhall god reuoke his ſentēce, when there is yet time to pacyfie god. as we rede in Ionas of the drownynge of the Niniuites. And the word of god was ſpoken to Eſai: Go and ſay to Ezechias, This ſayth the lorde god of Dauid thy father, I haue hard thy prayer, and ſeene thy teares & wepynges, beholde, I wyll adde and put to thy days fyftene yeres &c. So Chryſte dyd ſet forthe the fayth of the woman of Chananie, whiche before he ſemed to put awaye. Is god therfore to be eſtemed mutable? no: for althoughe he reuoketh the ſentence, whiche he wylleth to be ſecrete and hydde from vs, yet he doth not chaunge his eternall councell: but for this cauſe thoſe thynges be doone by the godly prouydence of god, that the feyth of the ryghtuouſe might be proued. Therfore the decreed purpoſes of god be irreuocable, and can not be called ageyne. nor any man lyuynge canne breake or diſapointe the decree and purpoſe of god, as Eſai witneſſeth, ſaying. The lorde of hoſtes hath decreed it,Eſai. 14. who cā breke or make it voide? he hath put forthe his hande, who can turne hym ageyne? So Naum.Naum. 1. Who canne ſtande before the face of his wrothe and indignation? And, who is able to reſyſte in the wroth of his fury? Surely, no man nor creature can breake the decreed appoyntement of god, or reſiſte his wrothe. The decree of god may be broken by repentāce: that is, by ſorowe, that the ſynne is done: and by fayth, which doth certaynely beleue and fele, that al our ſinnes be forgiuē vs for Chriſtes ſake. This faythe doth ouercome the iudgement of the lawe. (whiche is the decree of god) whiche is his wroth.Ezec. 22. Wherof Ezechiel ſpeaketh: The lorde ſaythe, I haue ſerched for a man, the which wolde make vp the hedge, and ſet vp hym ſelfe in the gap before me in the londes behalfe. It is ſaid to Moyſes, Let me deſtroy this people. He whiche ſayth, let me, doth ſygnifie and declare, that he maye be letted, whiche by no carnal armure, no walles of defence, nor by no mannes wiſedome, is or can be brought to paſſe, but by the onely faythe in the worde of god, which is Ieſus Chryſte.

¶There be dyuerſe craftes of the dyuell, wherby he tempteth, and where one crafte profyteth nothynge, he addeth many other. Ca. xv.

THE diuel hath not one grin, ſnare, or deceyte, but diuerſe. For he gothe about to deceyue faſters and ſolitarie people or cloyſterers, by one polycie, and other which be conuerſante in the multitude and common people, by an other crafte: but agaynſte all the aſſautes of the diuel, there is none ſo ſure and redy a remedy at hād, as the continuall medytation of ſcripture:Matth. 4. as Chriſte dydde ouercome all the aſſautes of the dyuell by the onely meditation and recitell of the ſcriptures. For that is the only commoditie and profyte, the continual meditation of ſcripture both by daye and nyght. and ſo Paule ſaith,Ephe. 6. Take you the hattes of helth, the ſworde of the ſpirite, whiche is the worde of god, wherby we defende all his fyrye dartes and weapons, and vtterly extinguyſhe them. Wherfore it is beſte remedy in the begynnyng of all temptation, to checke the diuel in the mouthe, that it becommeth not vs to do that, whiche he ſtyrreth and ſuggeſteth vs to do, ſpeciallye, bycauſe god prohybiteth and forbyddeth it to be done. that, he can not by any meanes ſuffer: nor he wyll not be ſmytten downe nor dryuen away with one ſtroke or twayne, but he wyl come again as often.1. Pet. 5. For he walketh aboute as a rorynge lyon, ſekynge whom he may deuour. Whom you muſt reſyſt with ſtedfaſt faythe, ſaythe Peter. For the dyuell knoweth howe to bryng forthe the wytneſſes of ſcriptures, but falſely of his ſpirite of errour.

1 If thou be tempted in pryde or vayne glory, anſwere hym agayne.

1. Pet. 5. IT IS wrytten, God reſyſteth the proude, but to the lowely he gyueth grace.Eccle. 11. Matth. 16. Aſhes and yerthe, why arte thou proude? He whiche exalteth hym ſelfe, ſhall be made lowe. and he that lowely meketh and ſubmytteth hym ſelfe, ſhall be exalted. So Moyſes and Aaron in the begynnynge were lowelye, but at the laſte they were greate. So Ioſeph was lowely in Egipt, Daniel in Babylon was lowely, the apoſtelles were fyſhers. Pride dydde ouerthrowe Lucifer out of heauen. So Pharao, Nabugodonoſor, Balthaſar, Holofernes, and other proude kynges: pryde hath caſt them down into extreme myſery.Luc. 2. The lord hath put downe the myghty from theyr ſeate, and hath exalted the lowely.

2 If thou be tempted in wrothe or anger.

SAy, It is written,Ia. 1. The wrothe of a man dothe not worke the iuſtice of god.Ephe. 4. Pſal. 9. Leuiti. 19. Lette not the ſonne go downe vpon your wrothe. Be ye angry, and do not ſynne. Thou ſhalte not hate thy brother in thy harte, but ſhalte tell thy neyghbour his faute, that thou beare not ſynne for his ſake: nor thou ſhalte not haue in remembraunce the wronge of thy citizens. For wroth ingendreth hatred, and hatred manſlaughter: and Cayn by hatred killed his brother.1. Ioh. 4. And euery one, which hateth his brother, is a mankyller. To hate a man is not only to be of a ſtrange mynde towarde hym, but to denye your neyghbour ſuche workes, as brotherly loue doth require.

3 If thou be tempted in feaſtynge, or glotony and drounkenneſſe.

Luc. 21.SAy, It is wrytten, Take hede to your ſelues, ne leſt your hartes be ouercome with feaſtynge and dronkennes.Proue. 23. Whoo is accurſed? be not they whiche delyte in moche drynking of wyne, and ſtudye howe to drynke of cupfulles? Wo be to you,Eſai. 5. whiche be ſtronge to drynke wyne, and expert to ſet vp drounkennes. Alſo, Wo be to you, that ryſe vp earelye, to vſe your ſelues in drounkennes, and yet at night are more ſuperfluous with wyne.Prouer. 2. Wyne maketh ſcorners, and drounkennes prepareth brawlynge or chydynge.Oſe. 4. Fornication, wyne, and dronkennes take away the harte. Alſo dronkardes ſhall not poſſede the kyngdome of god. Be you not drounken with wyne, in the whiche is lechery. It is not vnlaufull to drynke wyne, the ſcripture wolde that the body ſhulde be chaſtiſed, that he be obedient and ſubmyt hym ſelfe to the ſpirite, as Paule ſaythe. Be you fulfylled with the holye goſte, as he wolde ſaye: Be you ſober: for ſo you ſhall be apt to the mocions of the holy goſt. Empty faſters al ſo waxe mad, nor be not mete nor apte for godly thynges.

4 If thou be tempted in auaryce or couetouſenes,

Matt. 10.SAy, It is wrytten. What preuayleth it to a man, if he wyn all the worlde, and yet leſe his ſoule? Take hede & beware of couetouſenes.Luc. 12. Hebr. 13. Let your maners be far from couetouſenes, & be ye contented with the thinges whiche ye haue. Who yt deſyreth to be made riche,Eccle. 11. ſhall not be without ſynne. Of this thyng are examples. Gieſi Helizeus ſeruante,2. Re. 5. was ſtryken with the leproſy. Agayne, Acham was ſtoned.Iudic. 7. The ende or intent of couetouſenes, is to lyue longe, to lacke nothynge, that he be not in danger or loſſe of any thing. It is the fountayne & roote of vnbelefe. The lord therfore wil, that we put our confidence in him, that we caſt al our carefulnes & hope in hym: and then ſhal it come to paſſe, that he ſhall prouide al thynges mete and neceſſary for vs. Infidelytie then alonely in all matters maketh vs ſo carefull and penſyfe, for bycauſe we truſt not God, nor beleue ſtedfaſtly in hym.

5 If thou be tempted with hungre, pouertie, or carefulnes of lyuynge,

SAy, It is wrytten: Man ſhall not lyue in bread onely, but in euery worde that procedeth frome the mouthe of god.Pſal. 33. They whiche ſeke the lorde, ſhal want no goodnes. I haue bene yonge,Pſal. 36. and am waxen olde, and I haue not ſeene the ryghtuouſe forſaken.Pſal. 54. Lay thy care on the lorde, and he ſhall noriſhe the.Pſal. 44. Thou openeſt thy hand, and filleſt euery creature with thy bleſſynge.Pſal. 146. Whiche gyueth meate to the hungry. Be ye not careful. Chryſte fed with fyue barly loues and two fyſſhes,Matt. 6. fyue thouſande men.Marc. 6. 3. Re. 17. The rauens brought meate to Helias. Alſo, the angel brought meate frome heauen to Helias. Therfore the care of temporalle thynges muſte be left to god: For fode is gyuen, and is not gotten with labour, yet god wylleth vs to labour.Gen. 3. Pſal. 127. In the ſweat of thy face. &c. For thou ſhalte eate the labours of thy handes. We muſte therfore labour, for bycauſe we ar made for that purpoſe: and for-bycauſe ſoo is the wyll of god, to whoſe deuyne wyll we muſt obey. Alſo he hath inioyned vs to labour, to macerate and mortifie the fleſhe, to profyte our neyghbour, and to prouide for our neceſſitie.

6 If thou be tempted of ydelnes,

SAy thou:Gen. 3. In the ſweate of thy face, ſhalt thou eate thy bread. For the lorde hath appoynted the chyldren of Adam to labour,Prouer. 6. At the example of the Piſmyre. And Chryſte was a carpentar,Matth. 13. and wrought with his handes tyll the tyme of his preachynge. Agayne, Noe planted a vineyard.Gen. 9. He whiche tylleth the londe, ſhalbe ſatisfied.Proue. 12. Conſider thou godly chryſtian, how god curſeth ydelnes, and howe moche he abhorreth it. For experience teacheth, that frome thens ſpryngethe forthe all kynde of vice. Ezechiell ſayth, The ſinne of Sodom was pryde, plenty of breade, habundance, and ydelnes. Wherfore god hath commaunded vs to labour, and hath bleſſed thē that labour. for without the bleſſinge of god all labour is in vain.

7 If thou be tempted of ſecurytie to be without feare.

Matt. 25.SAy thou, Watche ye, for ye knowe not the houre. He that ſtudyeth, let hym take hede he fall not. Adam ſtode not in paradiſe. The people of Iſraell, as oftentymes as they were made fat, and increaſed to a multitude, ſo oftentymes fell they backewarde, and forgatte theyr lorde god. Dauid, when he was at reſte, and ſittyng at home without reſiſtēce, he was made an adulterer and a murtherer, and nombred the peple in his great fury.Daniel. 4. So Nabugodonoſor counteth hym ſelfe happye. The ryche man in the goſpell promyſynge hym ſelfe eaſe and reſt, dyd here. O fole. &c.Luc. 12. Ezechias in trybulation continued ryghtuouſe. in proſperitie he was ouercome of vayne glory. For the lord forſoke hym, and his harte was auanced. and therfore is ſecuritie reproued. for throughe it, is neglected the commaundement of god. Chriſte ſayde before, that the houſholder being abſent, and al were aſlepe, came the ennemie & ſowed cokell.

8 If thou be tempted of fornication and adultery,

SAye thou, It is wrytten:1. Cor. 6. He which cleaueth to an harlot, is made one body with her.1. Teſ. 9. This is the wyll of god, your ſanctification, that ye abſteyne from fornication. Nother horemayſters,1. Co. 6. nor adulterers ſhal inherite the kingdome of god. Sodom and Gomer ſhewe manyfeſtly, how moch god puniſheth that ſynne. Alſo of the ſame ſynne, there are other peynes, execution, induration, and the contempte of god. Alſo Dina the doughter of Lya, for whoſe whoredome were the Sichimites kylled. Agayne, the commaundement is, thou ſhalt not commytte adultery. Let there be no harlotte of the doughters of Iſraell: nother horemaiſters of the ſonnes of Iſraell. but thou wylt ſay, Howe can I auoyde this yll? with prayer to god, to gyue the continencie. Alſo by the word of god and auoydyng it, as ſayth Paule. Flee fornication. Ioſeph is an example, whiche fled bycauſe he wolde not be kendelyd with the fylthye loue of the wyfe of a nother.

9 If thou be tempted with lyinge or lyghte wordes,

SAy thou: That lyenge is forbeden in the law: that we ſhuld not ſpeake falſe thynges. Thou ſhalte fle lyenge. Ye ſhall not lye.Exod. 23. Leuiti. 19. Pſal. 5. Ephe. 4. Thou ſhalt dyſtroy all them that ſpeake lyes. but lyenge ſet aſyde, let euery man ſpeake the truthe to his neyghbour, for as moche as we be members to gether. Peter kylled Ananias and Saphira, bicauſe they lyed. I ſaye vnto you,Matt. 10. that of euery ydel worde that man ſhall ſpeake, they ſhall gyue accompte in the daye of iudgement. Agayne, Let no fylthy communication go forth of your mouthe.

10 If thou be tempted of confeſſynge the goſpell, or ſufferynge perſecution for the goſpell,

Matt. 10. HE THAT receyueth not my croſſe, and foloweth not me, is not worthy of me.Matt. 16. If any wyll come after me, let him forſake him ſelfe, and take his croſſe, and folowe me. For he that wyl ſaue his ſoule, ſhall leſe it. Contrarywyſe, he that leſeth his ſoule for my ſake ſhall fynde it. He that wyl confeſſe me before men, I wyl confeſſe him before my father.2. Tim. 2. I am afflycted and perſecuted for the goſpell, as a wycked dooer. Iohn bare the croſſe for the truthe ſake. So the Apoſtelles reioyſed, bycauſe they were coūted worthy. So Daniel. For chryſtian men are hated of the world, and deſpiſed in this world. Therfore this world knoweth not1. Ioh. 2. you, for bicauſe it knewe not him: whiche ſpeake yll of you.1. Pet. 4. Io. 15.16. 1. Tim. 3. The ſeruaunt is not aboue his lorde: All they whiche wyll lyue godly.

11 If thou be tempted of the faythe of thy parentes: as wherfore beleueſt thou not that, whiche thy forefathers haue beleued,

BE YE not made lyke to your fathers. and I haue ſayde,2. Para. 3. Theſe euer erre in hart.Pſal. 94. Zacha. 2. Be ye not as your fathers were. We muſte not conſider our parentes, nor kinred, nor longe cuſtome, but onely the wyll of god: the wyl of god is to beleue. This is the wyl of god,Ioh. 6. that ye beleue in hym, whome he hath ſente.

12 If thou be tempted of ſtraunge relygion or of worſhyppynge of ſaynctes, pyctures, ymages, or men,

SAy thou, It is wrytten,Deut. 6. Thou ſhalte worſhyp thy lorde god, and hym onely ſhalte thou ſerue. Wherfore I wyll gyue godly honour to no creature vnder heuen, but to the lyuynge god onely.Philipp. 2. For to me (ſayth he) ſhall euerye knee bowe, of all in heuen, in erthe, and in hel.Exod. 41. Agayne, I wil not giue my glory to any other. Here if thou be tempted of blaſphemie, thou maiſt ſuffer it in noo caſe. and when the name of god is blaſphemed, we muſt crye, and alſo ſet our lyfe in ieoperdy, if nede ſo be. For no temtation dothe ſo ſeperate vs frome god, as dothe blaſphemye.

13 If thou muſte dye, and leane wyfe, children, and thy dere frendes,

SAy, The lorde ſhal be theyr defender. for god bothe wyll and is able to cheryſſhe myne, to nouryſhe and defende them.Exod. 22. Pſal. 36. For he is the father of the fatherles and widowes. I forget thynges behynde my backe,Philipp. 3. and indeuour my ſelfe to thoſe thynges, that are before my face. Agayne,1. Cor. 7. They whiche haue wiues, let them be as though they had none. and they that wepe as thoughe they wepte not. We muſte be dylygente, that we leaue our wife and children wel inſtruct and taughte in the feare of god. For the feare of god is better and more preciouſe, then a cheſt full of golde and ſyluer.

14 If thou be tempted of condemnation, that thou arte condemned of god.

SAy thou,Roma. 3. That is no condemnation to them which are graffed in Chriſte. that is, ſynne canne not dampne them, be it neuer ſoo moche in them: for they are made one body throughe fayth. For the ſynne, whiche they haue, is forgiuen them, and is not imputed vnto them for Chryſtes ſake, in whō we are graffed, whiche is the hed, and we the membres.Ioh. 3. He that beleueth in the ſonne, hath euerlaſtyng lyfe.Rom. 10. Pſal. 36. Al they which beleue in hym, ſhal not be confounded. Whē the rightuouſe falleth, he ſhal not be broyſed, for the lorde ſetteth his hande vnderneth hym.Prou. 24. The rightuouſe falleth ſeuē tymes in a day.

15 If the dyuell ſaye, thou arte a ſynner, and arte not graffed in Chriſte.

CHRISTE CAME into the worlde to make ſafe ſynners. For the deathe of Chryſte hath ſatisfied for all ſynnes,1. Tim. 1. through his ſtrokes,Eſai. 53. are we all made ſafe. For he hath borne our ſynnes in his body.1. Pet. 2. Ephe. 1. by whom we haue redemption throughe his bloude. I came not to calle the ryghtuouſe, but ſynners. They whiche are hole,1. Ioan. 2. nede not the phiſition. And if any doo ſynne, we haue an aduocate and ſpokeſman to the father, Ieſus Chriſt. The godly haue ſynne alſo, but god imputeth it not.Pſal. 31. The ſayntes do euer pray, Forgyue vs our treſpaces. If we confeſſe,1. Ioh. 1. that we haue ſynnes, he is faithful and ryghtuouſe to forgyue vs our ſinnes, and to clenſe vs from all iniquytie. We haue many exaumples. Marye Magdalyn, alſo Paule was a blaſphemor, of the thiefe whiche went from extreame puniſhement to ioye, of zacharie. Matth. and Peter.

16 If he continue and ſaye, but thy ſynnes paſſe the ſonde of the ſee.

AS FAR as the eaſt differeth from the weſt,Pſal. 104. ſo far of hath he made, that our ſynnes are from vs.Eſai. 1. If thy ſynnes be as redde as ſcarlet, yet ſhall they be as whyte as ſnowe: and if they be as red as purple, yet ſhall they be as whyte as woll.Pſal. 31. I haue ſayde, I wyl confeſſe my vnryghtuouſnes agaynſt me, and thou haſte forgyuen the wyckedneſſe of my ſynne.2. Re. 12. I haue ſynned lorde.Eſai. 38. &c. And the lord hath taken thy ſynne frome the. Thou haſte caſte all my ſynnes behynde thy backe.Miche. 7. And he hath throwen al our ſynnes in the bottome of the ſees,Ezech. 18. If the wycked ſhall repente. &c. For god hath promyſed remiſſion of ſinnes to them that repent.

17 If he ſaye, ſuche promyſes are made to the godly, thou arte an apoſtata and a loſte man.

Luc. 15. AND the prodigall ſonne was loſte, and an apoſtata, yet he founde grace ſo great is the loue of god towarde vs, he wyl ſaue al them that wyll knowlege theym ſelues. He hath ſo great care euen for the leaſte, that are loſte, in the ſyght of the worlde. Examples ar Dauid, Peter, and the thefe, and alſo Paule: God ſometyme ſuffereth his ſayntes to erre for a ſeaſon, but he calleth again at length He bryngeth theym in to dyuerſe troubles, that they maye knowe hym. He yeldeth theym vp ſometymes into the handes of Satan, and his membres, that they maye knowe howe moche eaſyer it is to ſerue hym, then the prynce of this worlde. The confeſſion of the prodigall chylde is greate:Luc. 15. Father I haue ſynned agaynſte heauen and agaynſte the. So Dauid,Pſal. 50. Eſai. 64. I haue done yll agaynſte the. Lo all oure rightuouſnes are as a blody cloth of a woman.Luc. 1. This mekeneſſe god beholdeth, he is moued with mercye, as the father of the prodygall chylde.Rom. 5. We are therfore receyued without all our meryte or deſeruynge, for we are yet ennemies.

18 But god hereth no ſynners nor ſtrayers awaye,

SAy thou, It is truthe, god hereth not ſynners, which repent not, whiche ſorowe not, nor are borne agayne by faythe: thoſe are the vngodly and hypocrites, whiche praye not to god: and if they praye, yet praye they not in fayth. Then ſhall they call on me,Prouer. 1. and I wyll not here theym. Soo in the pſalm,Zacha. 7. They ſhall crye, and I wil not here them. But he graciouſly hereth the contrite, and them that repente, and are borne agayne by faythe in Chriſte.Pſal. 50. A contryte and humble harte o god, thou wylt not deſpiſe.Iaco. 5. The buſye prayer of the ryghtuous is moche worthe.

19 But thou commeſt very late with thy contricion.

CONTRARY wyſe anſwere thou,Luce. 23. None commeth to late into the vyneyarde of the lorde, as witneſſeth the hyſtory of the thefe, whiche was full of wycked dedes, and yet ſayde to Ieſus, Remembre me lord, when thou ſhalt come into thy kyngedome. And Ieſus ſayde vnto hym, Trewelye I ſay vnto the, this daye. &c.

20 But he hadde a ſtronge faythe in god, whiche thou lackeſt,

ANSVVERE, Therefore pray I with the apoſtels,Luc. 17. O lorde increaſe faythe within vs, helpe our vnbelefe.

21 What if all holy ſcripture be falſe, for they were men, which ſpake it and wrote it?

SAy thou contrary, Moyſes, the prophetes, and apoſtelles were truely men, but yet they neyther ſpake nor wrote with the ſpirite of man, but with the ſpyrite of god, they ſet not forthe theyr owne doinges, but thoſe thynges whiche eyther they ſawe with theyr eyes, or receyued of the lorde. So ſayde the lorde to Moyſes:Exod. 4. Who hath made the mouthe of man? Or who hath made the dome and the deffe? the ſeinge and the blynde? not I? Goo forthe then, and I wyll be in thy mouthe, and wyll teache the what thou ſhalt ſpeake. Say not, I am a chylde,Hiere. 1. for thou ſhalte go to all thoſe, to wome I wyll ſende the to, & thou ſhalt ſpeake al that, that I ſhall commaundethe.Luce. 21. He gyueth the apoſtelles both mouth and wyſedome. Agayne, Ye are not whiche ſpeake, but the ſpirite of your father. So Paule:Rom. 15. I dare not ſpeke any thyng, which Chriſt hath not wroughte by me.1. Pet. 4. 1. Ioh. 1. If any man ſpeake, let hym ſpeke as the wordes of god. that we haue hard, that we haue ſeene with our eyes.Luc. 1. as they haue delyuered vs, whiche from the begynnyng haue ſeene it with theyr eies.2. Pet. 1. But thoſe thinges which we haue ſene with our eies. Al ſcripture heuēly inſpired.2. Tim. 3. 2. Pet. 1. The prophecie in old tyme, was not giuen by the wyl of man, but the holy men of god ſpake, dryuen with the holy goſt.Ephe. 5. As it is nowe reueled to his holy apoſtelles and prophetes by ſpirite:Matt. 22. So Chriſt cōfirmeth Dauides wrytynges. Howe doth Dauid thē in ſpirite call him lorde? Certaynely I am fully perſwaded, and doute nothinge at al, that the holy ſcriptures are inſpired from heauen.

22 If the temptator ſaye, thou haſte not kepte the lawe of god, wherfore thou arte accurſed.

SAy thou: Chriſt, whiche was made a curſe for vs,Galath. 3. hath redemed vs from the curſe of the lawe. Agayn,Ephe. 2. Euacuatyng, and taking awey the lawe of commaundmentes ſet in decrees.Colo. 2. Takynge away the handewrytynge agaynſte vs, which is in decrees, and is contrary to vs.Roma. 6. For ye are not vnder the lawe, but vnder fauour, delyuered from ſynne. For the deathe of Chriſt hath delyuered vs from the lawe. For truely by Chriſtes deth, we are now in conſcience fre from the lawe, that is, from the wrothe of god, and euerlaſtynge deathe. For the lawe can not be fulfylled of nature, for it is ſpirytuall, as vndoubtedly the apoſtels decreed. The yocke that neither. &c. Again,Acto. 15. Deuter. 5. Luc. 18. who can gyue them ſuch a minde? Whiche is impoſſible to men.

23 If he ſay, thou muſt forſake the worlde.

VVhat then? Anſwere thou cō trary wiſe. I ſhal obteine heuen. For bleſſed ar the dead,Apoc. 14. 1. Ioh. 5. Ibidem. which dye in the lorde. Agayne: All the world lieth in wickednes. Agayn, All thyng whiche is borne of god, ouercometh the world: and this is the victory, which ouercometh the world, our fayth. Who is he, whiche ouercometh the worlde, but he that beleueth, that Ieſus is the ſonne of god? I am ſure therfore in Chriſte. All the worlde ſhall peryſhe with his luſtes and deſyres. Agayne.1. Ioan. 3. Loue not the worlde, nother thoſe thynges whiche are in the world. We ar ſtrangers in this worlde, and citizens of heauen. Ye ſonnes of men, howe longe are ye harde harted?Pſal. 4. Why loue ye vanyties and ſeke lyes? Agayne: Howe lōg loue you infancy or childhode, and foles deſire thoſe thinges, whiche are hurtfull? Agayne: Vanitie of all vanities,Eccleſ. 1. and all thynges ar vanitie.1. Ioh. 2. The cauſe is this: for all thynges whiche are in the worlde, as luſte of the fleſhe, concupiſcēce of the eyes, and pryde of lyfe, are not of the father, but of the world, and the world paſſeth, and his luſt alſo, but he that dothe the wyll of god, taryeth for euer.

The ende.
THE PREPARATION TO DEATHE, AND howe they which be in point of deathe, ſhulde be comforted, the .ii. boke.
¶What is deathe. Cap. i.

DEATHE IS NOthinge els but a ſeparation or diuiſion of the ſoule frō the bodye. It is a quiet reſt from the afflyctions and troubles of this worlde, in the whiche they that be deade, be ſo refreſhed and newely made, that from thenſe they ſhall ryſe far aboue all other moſt happye, not into a lyfe which ſhall dye ageyne, as it is in a ſlepe, but into an euerlaſtynge life.

¶What is the cauſe of deathe. Cap. ii.

THE CAVSE of deathe is ſynne: For out of ſynne deth flowed, and is the puniſhement, or peyne, or rewarde of ſynne, or the reuengeaunce of yll thynges, as the holy ſcripture beareth witnes, Fyre,Eccle. 39. hayle, hunger, and deathe, be created for puniſhement, as witneſſeth the pſalme. For anger and dethe be in his indignation,Pſal. 29. and lyfe in his wyl:Roma. 6. Hiere. 3. The wages or rewarde of ſynne is death. In what daye ſo euer thou ſhalte eate of it (that is, thou ſhalte ſynne) therof thou ſhalt dye. God dyd not make deathe,Sap. 1. nor doth not reioyce in the deſtruction of the lyuynge. Alſo, Throughe the malyce and enuy of the dyuell,Sap. 2. death hath entred. And Paule ſaythe.Rom. 5. By one man ſynne entred into the world, and through ſynne deathe.Ezech. 33 And in Ezech. I wil not the deathe of a ſynner, but rather that he conuerte and tourne from his ſynne and liue: Alſo, The ſoule whiche ſhall ſynne, ſhal dye. Therfore where deathe is, there neceſſaryly ſynne dydde go before, whiche dwelleth in vs, whiche we haue by inheritaunce, whiche is ſpronge forthe into vs all: of the whiche ſynne the fyrſt father to vs was Adam, from whom we haue by inherytaunce origynall ſynne, whiche is a naturall dyſpoſytion and inclination, to ſynne, whiche hath with hym in felowſhip blindneſſe of harte, dulneſſe towardes vertue, the loue of hym ſelfe, the hatred of god, fleynge frome the croſſe, hatred of the lawe, and diſdaynynge of his neyghbour. For by Adams diſobedience our fleſhe is become diſobediente to god, ſoo long as it is not enſpyred with the holy goſt: and for the ſayde ſynne of Adam, al we be called ſynners: And ſo in hym we be all deade: for we be his fleſſhe and his chyldren of his owne ſubſtaunce: He is the grayne and ſede, of whom all we be ſpronge out. As he is deade, ſo ſhall we dye: and frome Adam is ſpronge into vs, bothe orygynall ſynne, and deathe, the peyne of ſynne, is come forthe: And the tyranny of the dyuell, to whom our nature is ſubiecte, and in whome the dyuell vſeth crueltie, and doth exerciſe it with feare and all kyndes of myſerye, and alſo doth kyl: And moreouer enforceth to al maner of vnhappines, to blaſphemy, murther, and hatred.

¶Two maner of deathes. Cap. ii.

THE ONE is of the body or of nature, to whome all men be ſubiecte: for al haue ſinned, and haue broken the lawe of god: that is, when this bodyely lyfe is broken aweye, when we gyue vp the gooſt, and do not occupie this mortall lyfe: As it is wrytten to the Hebrewes:Hebre. 9. It is ordeyned and decreed, that all men ſhall dye ones: and after that iudgement. By Adams ſynne nature is ſubiecte of neceſſitie to dye, as Ieſus Sirach wryteth.Eccle. 40. There is a heuy yocke vppon the chyldren of Adam, frome the daye of the commynge oute of theyr mothers wombe, vntyll the daye of theyr burial, into the mother of all. The other deathe is of the ſoule, or of fayth, or of helth. When the vnbeleuers, drowned in theyr wyckednes, not carynge for god, nor deſyrynge god, nor aſkyng forgyuenes of god, be made bondemen to eternall darkeneſſe, which is called euerlaſtyng death: Whiche is a perpetuall feare of conſcience throughe the wrothe of god,Sap. 5. whiche Satan doth encrece. Exaumple of theſe two maner of deathes is the riche gloton,Luc. 16. which beinge deade, was buried in hell, and Lazarus the begger beinge deade, and caryed of angelles into the boſome of Habram. This man hath comforte: and contrary wiſe, the ryche man was punyſhed and buried in hel: that is, he died with an yll conſcience: he ſawe in his deathe his owne wyckedneſſe and damnation, as al wicked men do. This is the worme,Eſai. 66. whiche dothe not dye. Euen then the foliſhe virgins do firſt ſee,Matt. 25. that the wiſe haue oyle. Then it commeth to remembrance, to whom they haue doone bothe good and euyll: There the lawe dothe fyrſte ſhewe hym ſelfe (the goſpell beinge taken awaye) thenne they ſeke for grace, but all to late and in vayne.Prouer. 1 There god dothe cut of all hope of recouerye of helthe or fauoure: the ſentence of the cruell iudgement of god is then, as ſayth ſaynt Iames:Iaco. 2. Iugement without mercy ſhall be to them, whiche haue not done mercy. I haue hūgered,Matt. 25. and you haue not gyuen me. &c. Therfore the worde of god doth teache vs, how we ſhulde avoyde eternal puniſhment, and howe we ſhal be ſaued: whiche if we neglect, & ſet nought by, there is no cauſe why we ſhuld haue any further hope. Of theſe two kyndes of dethes the pſalmes make mention:Pſal. 33. The deathe of ſinners is yl. And contrarywyſe, The deathe of ſaynctes is preciouſe in the ſyght of god.Pſal. 113. Pſal. 6. Matt. 7. Matt. 11. Alſo, Go frome me all you workers of iniquitie: I knowe you not: Come to me all you that do labour and be burdened, and I wyll refreſhe you: Alſo In theyr ſynne they ſhall dye. And Paule ſayth:Philipp. 3. Whoſe ende is death Alſo of the feythefull is wrytten: They ſhall not faute, al they whiche truſte in hym,Pſal. 33. The Lord doth kepe theyr bones, and one of them ſhall not peryſſhe, or be broken.Rom. 8. There is no damnation to theym whiche be in Chriſte Ieſus.Apoc. 14. Bleſſed be the deade, whiche die in the lorde. As there is two lyues, a yerthely and an eternall lyfe: ſoo there is two deathes, the one a temporall, the other an euerlaſtynge deathe. The erthly lyfe hath a begynnynge and a endynge, and is ſubiect to many miſeries: and this lyfe no chriſten man dothe greatly eſteme, but ſaith daily with Paule Chriſt is my lyfe,Philipp. 1. and death is lucre. And if it fortune me to lyue in the fleſhe, then it is profytable to me to worke: and what I ſhall choſe, I know not, I am conſtrained of theſe twayne, deſyrynge to be diſſolued, and to be with Chriſt: whiche thynge is moche better for me, but to lyue in the fleſſhe, is more nedefull for you.Galath. 6. Soo in an other place, God forbeade, that I ſhulde reioyce in any thynge, but in the croſſe of our lorde Ieſus Chriſt, by whom the world is crucyfyed vnto me, and I vnto the worlde. I lyue, but not I onely:Gala. 2. but Chriſt liueth in me. for in that that I lyue in the fleſhe, I lyue in the faithe of the ſonne of god, whiche loued me, and gaue hym ſelfe for me. Therfore he that knoweth not Chriſte, nor doth not truſte in hym, feareth death, as that which threteneth and bryngeth eternall ruine and deſtruction: but he whiche knoweth Chriſt, and hath him doth not feare death: whom Chriſt beinge victor, hath ouercome and ouerthrowen.

¶To the efecte and faythfull, eternall deathe by Chriſte is ouercome. Cap. iii.

THIS is the great comfort of them, that be in the painges of deathe; whiche comforteth and lyfteth vp the fearefull myndes: that is, that Chriſte hath vtterlye abolyſſhed deathe, takyn awaye ſynne, and that ſurelye throughe Chriſte, they ſhall obteyne remyſſion of ſynne, be reputed ryghtuouſe, and haue euerlaſtynge lyfe. Therfore Chriſt, ye promiſed ſede, the ſonne of god, came downe frō heuen, and became manne: by his croſſe, deathe, and reſorrection, hath ſaued vs, and delyuered vs from eternall deathe: and he payed for vs all our dette, as it is written in the epiſtle to the Hebrewes: Ones he is offered,Hebre. 9. that he ſhulde take awaye the ſynnes of manye. Alſo,1. Pet. 3. He hath ones ſuffered for our ſynnes. And,1. Ioh. 1. The bloude of Ieſu Chryſt hath made vs cleane from all our ſynne. And,Matth. 1. Thou ſhalte call his name Ieſus. for he ſhall ſaue his people frome theyr ſynnes. Alſo,Hebr. 2. That through death he ſhulde put awaye hym, whiche had rule ouer death, that is the diuell, that he myght delyuer them, whiche all theyr lyfe were brougte in bondage, through feare of deth. For verylye he hath delyuered vs from the power of Synne, that it ſhulde not kyll vs: frome the power of deathe, that it ſhoulde not condemne vs: from the power of affliction, that it ſhulde not greue vs: from the power of the dyuell, that he ſhoulde not deſtroye vs: & hath reſtored vs to iuſtice, ioy, lyfe, and to the beſte and mooſte myghty god, that is, he hath made vs fre men and partakers of god, whiche before were captyues and bondmen to the deuyl. So our iniquities dyd caſt vs hedlynge into the depeneſſe of hell, and there did drowne and bury vs: but god moued with mercy, hath caſte all our iniquities vpō the ſhulders of his ſonne, delyuerynge vs all frome ſynne deathe and hell, hath ſatisfyed for vs, whiche of god is made to vs wyſedome, iuſtice, holynes,1. Cor. 1. and redemption. Whiche hath giuen hym ſelfe for our ſynnes, that he myghte delyuer vs frome this preſent yll world: And vnder ſuch forme by Chriſte we be delyuered frome deathe ſynne and hell, that they vtterlye haue noo maner of ryght in vs, nor can not deſtroye and damne vs, As Oſee ſayth:Oſee. 13. I wyll delyuer them from the hand, that is, from the power of hel, frō deathe I wyll redeme them: O deathe, I wyll be thy deathe. O hell, I wyll be thy bytte. Deathe,1. Cor. 15. where is thy ſtynge? Hell, where is thy victory? Thankes be to god whiche hath gyuen vs vyctorye throughe our lorde Ieſus Chriſte. So great is the power of faythe, and we be broughte into ſo greate lybertie: throughe fayth. We fele puniſhemente in this worlde, but through fayth we peryſhe not. We be kylled, but we ſhal not dye: We bren in hel fyer, but we be not conſumed in dede: and ſoo of all the reſte, whiche be not taken awaye frome the beleuer.Ioh. 16. In the worlde ſaith he, ye ſhal haue affliction. &c. Nor the beleuers be not delyuered from the felynge of theym in this world, but they be delyuered from the power and rule of them, and the ſtynge is taken from theym, wherby all men dyd peryſhe. The chriſten man is therfore ſure, that as deathe eternall coulde not preuayle agaynſte Chriſt, ſo lykewiſe ageynſt him it hath no power. For Chriſt hath taken away ſinne, bringynge in iuſtice: he hath ſtrangeled deathe, gyuynge lyfe: He hath obteyned victorye ouer hel, adminiſtringe eternal glory. For as in Adam all dyed: ſoo in Chriſte all ſhall be reuyued. For by Adams diſobedience ſynne death punyſhment, and that moſte cruell tirant Satan dyd chalenge bothe ryght and rule ouer all, howe many ſoo euer were borne of hym. The lawe of ſynne is to kyll: the wages of ſynne is death: the ryght of death is to damne, the ryght of afflyctions is to greue & make heuye: the ryght of the dyuell is to deſtroye: Into al theſe rightes and powers Adam by his diſobedyence, hath caſte vs. And Adam then had ben vtterly extinct and vndone, if that he hadde not be comforted ageyne & reuyued with the word of grace. But he was receyued vnto grace, and the father dyd take from hym feare of deathe and anguyſhe: for he did fele and perceyue the wroth of god, and god to be his ennemy, and alſo all creatures, ſoo that he could not tel, which wey to tourne him: This feare I ſay, the father hath taken away frō him through the moſt ſwete abſolution and promyſe of grace, when he ſayde vnto the ſerpent:Gen. 3. I wyl put enmite betwyxte the and the womanne, and that ſede ſhal al to breake thy hed. This worde when Adam dyd here and beleue, he was holpen and delyuered, and came from hell, and nowe beleued the worde of god: thinkyng vnder this forme: This god hath ſpoken, whiche can not lye or deceyue. In this faythe Adam dyed, and after Adam all the faythfull vnto Aabraham, whiche dyd alſo cleaue faſte to this word, thynkynge thus: he wyl come, yea ſuerly at the laſte he wyl come: bycauſe the lorde hath ſo promyſed, whiche canne not lye: and in this faythe they were ſaued.

¶Althoughe the godly dye, yet they ſhall lyue. Cap. iiii,

THE godlye and iuſte people haue moſt comfort, although in this lyfe they be put to deathe, and ſeme to be forſakē of god, caſt into hell, and as ſhepe ordeyned to be ſlayne:Roma. 8. As ſcripture wytneſſeth of them. For thy ſake we be iuged as ſhepe ordeined to be ſlayne. Alſo, I thynke veryly,1. Cor. 14. that god hath ſhewed, that we whiche be the laſt apoſtelles, are as it were apointed to ſuffer deathe: For we,2. Cor. 4. whiche lyue, be alway delyuered to death for Ieſus ſake: yet they do not diſpeyre, no not in death, but as they which be ſure, that they ſhall paſſe through deathe to life eternal, and crye to god, and ſuffer the hand of the lorde, and be pacient, and put theyr hope in god. Alſo they haue this comforte, that their deathe is good and precyouſe. They alſo knowe, that throughe Chryſtes deathe, deathe is ouercome and abolyſhed.1. Cor. 14. Oſee. 3. Gen. 3. Deathe is ſupped of in victory. O Deathe, I wyll be thy deathe: The ſede hath broken the heade of the ſerpente. Therfore if any man taken in the panges of deathe, do holde faſte and beleue this worde: in the myddel of death he ſhall haue lyfe. for verylye the chriſtyans doo lyue, when they be eſtemed and thought to dye.Sap. 5. 2. Cor. 6. Ioh. 16. The rightuouſe ſhal lyue for euer. And ſoo Paule ſaythe: Beholde we be euer as dyenge, and yet we lyue: Alſo Chriſt ſayth.Ioh. 16. In me you ſhal haue peace, but in the worlde, you ſhall ſuffer oppreſſion. And,Sap. 3. The tourment of death ſhal not touche them. Alſo,Eſai. 26. Thy deade perſonnes ſhal lyue, they ſhal ryſe with theyr bodyes. He ſhall not taſte deathe.Io. 5. et. 11 And he whiche beleueth in me, althoughe he were deade, yet he ſhal lyue. They ſhall not taſte deathe.Marc. 9. Sap. 2. The iuſte man, althoughe he be preuented with deathe, yet he ſhal be refreſhed. Alſo,Pſal. 15. Thou ſhalt not ſuffer thy holyon to ſe corruption. Alſo,Pſal. 32. Ioh. 5. et. 11. et. 3. That he may pulle out from deathe the ſoules of them. He ſhal paſſe ouer from deathe to lyfe. He ſhall not ſee eternall deathe. He ſhall not dye for euer: He dothe not peryſhe, but hath eternall lyfe: Seke god,Pſal. 68. and your ſoule ſhall lyue:Eſai. 55. Bowe your eares, and come to me: here you, and your ſowle ſhall lyue.

¶Theſe places ought to be well noted, for the comforte of them, before whoſe eies deathe is preſente: whiche if they beleue in Chriſte, they be not loſte, but haue eternall lyfe. Therfore they be not called onely deade, but the deade of god, as ſuche as dye in the lorde: for ſuche do ryſe ageyne in glory, and none other,Danie. 12. as it apereth ī Daniel.

¶The deathe of the godly, is a ſlepe. Ca. v.

CHRISTE calleth the death of the godly, a ſlepe. Lazarus our frende ſlepeth.Ioh. 11. For by the benefyte and goodnes of Chriſt, death is made a ſlepe, which by his deth, hath changed deathe into a ſlepe. So Paule dothe call the feythful,1. Theſ. 4. whiche be deade, ſlepers, ſayinge. I wyll not you to be ignorante of them, that ſlepe. So Steuē ſlept.Acto. 7. And ſo the godly to the outwarde ſyght, and perceuerāce, dieth. But withoute doubte that death is but a ſlepe. For how many ſo euer dye in Chriſte, all ſlepe in hym, and he ſhall reyſe them in the laſte daye. I haue ſlept, and do ſlumber,Pſal. 3. and I haue ryſen. Here ſlepe betokeneth deathe of the body, as in Geneſis, Abram ſlepte with his father.Pſal. 4. Pſal. 15. I wyll ſlepe and reſt in peace to god with other. Alſo, My fleſhe ſhal reſt in hope. Therfore in deth not ſo moche the deathe it ſelfe, as ſuer lyfe and reſurrection, is to be conſidered to theym, whiche be in Chriſt, accordynge to Chriſtis ſayinge. He that ſhall kepe my word,Ioh. 8. ſhall not ſee deathe euerlaſtynge. Howe ſhall he not ſee deathe? ſhal he not fele it? Shal he not dye? no veryly, but he ſhal ſe onely a ſlepe, and beholdyng ſtedfaſtly with the eies of faythe in the reſurrection, by deathe he ſhall ſo paſſe awaye, that ſurely he ſhall not ſee deathe? And death veryly to hym ſhal not be deathe.

¶All theſe thynges be begonne in baptiſme, and be fynyſſhed in the ende of lyfe.Rom. 6. For we be buryed with him throughe baptiſme in to deathe. Therfore faythe exerciſed with diuers paſſions, cauſeth, that naturall deathe to the faythefull, is but a ſlepe. For the faythful die ſuerly in hope, and loke after the laſte daye and the commynge of Chriſte: This ſecuritie they gette in this lyfe by the ſpirite of fayth, that they maye ſaye with Paule: By hope we be made ſafe?Roma. 8. Rom. 5. And agayne. Hope dothe not confound. That is to dwell in the Paradyſe of god, the kyngedome of heauen in the churche of the lyuinge god: And the lord ſayth,Leuit. 26. Eſai. 31. To ſlepe with out feare. To ſyt in the beautie of peace, in the tabernacles of fayth, and truſte, and in a ryche reſte.

¶Baptiſme is a comforte in the poynte of deathe. Cap. vi.

SVCHE as be at the poynte of deathe, ought to take comforte and be ſtronge, in that they know, they carye with them bothe letter and token, which is baptime: wher by theyr death is incorporate with the deathe of Chriſt, and that it is not theyr deathe, but the deathe of Chriſte. Wherfore let them ſuerly truſte, that they ſhall ouercome, as the deathe of Chriſt hath ouercome. For baptime is a ſure token of the paſſynge ouer from deathe to lyfe. And as we knowe ſuerlie, that Chriſte paſſed through death to lyfe: So let vs not doubte, but that we ſhal ſuerly paſſe throughe deathe to lyfe. Chriſte hath ouercome ſynne and death: Let vs nothynge doubte, but that we ſhall ouercome ſynne & deathe. Synne ſhal not beare rule ouer you.Rom. 6. a Figure of this thynge was the paſſynge ouer the ſee, whiche was the paſſynge ouer from deathe to lyfe. So in baptime we receiue a token of deathe: that by death of the body, we myght truſt ſuerly to come to the trewe lyfe. In baptime Pharao, with all his hoſte, dyd lye vnder foote to vs, that is, throughe fayth in the worde of promyſe: we haue eſcaped the tyrannye of the prynce of darkeneſſe, with all vyces: ſo that the lorde wyll not impute them to vs, nor they can not take awaye from vs the entree or goinge in to the kyngdome of heuen. But yet not withſtandynge, ſynne dwellyng in our fleſhe, doth not reſte in the meane tyme, to aſſaulte vs, that is, vncleane affections, whiche muſte be put awaye with dayly mortifieng of the fleſhly deſyres, vntyll our baptime be fully cōplete and finiſhed in deth. So greately the hope of all chryſten men dothe ſtande in baptime, and ſo beginneth from death: that deathe to vs is wynnyng, that is, an entraunce to lyfe.Roma. 6. Be you ignorant, that all we, whiche be baptiſed into Chriſte Ieſu, are baptiſed into his deathe? For we be buried together with hym by baptime in to deathe, that as Chriſte was reiſed vp from the deade, by the glory of his father: euen ſoo we alſo ſhuld walke in a newe lyfe.Colo. 2. You be buried to geder with him through baptime, in whom you are alſo ryſen agayne with him.Gala. 3. Who ſo euer of you be baptiſed in Chriſte, haue put vpon you Chriſte.1. Pet. 3. Baptime is the promyſe of a good conſcience towardes god, wherby we be ſure, that god is pleaſed with vs. It is therfore a token, that we be delyuered from the dyuel, and a ſygne of our tranſlation from the kyngdome of Satan, in to the kynge- of Chriſte, that we be reconſyled vnto god, it is a token whiche beareth wytneſſe of the good wyll of god towardes vs. Therfore remember, that thou arte baptyſed, that is, that thou haſt receyued remiſſion of ſynnes: that thou haſte made a couenaunt with god, that thou arte delyuered frome the dyuell, deathe, and ſynne, reconſiled to god. This is a great comforte agaynſte deathe, the dyuell, and ſynne. So the promyſe made to Abrahā, of the ſede to come, had ben ſufficiente: yet god dyd put therto circumciſiō, that Abraham might haue a ſure token of goddes goodnes towardes him, that he was accepted of god. So baptime is a token of goddes fauour and good wyll towardes vs, throughe the worde of promyſe, wherevnto is knyt an erneſt bargaine of a good conſcience with god. For fyrſt god maketh promyſe with vs, that he wyl forgyue vs that faute and blemyſhe, whiche we haue drawen by originall ſynne, from our forefathers, that he wyl receyue vs into his fauour, and that he wyll not onely forgyue vs our ſynnes, but alſo not ley or inpute them to our charge. We agayne do bynde our ſelues to god by lyke reaſon, that we ſhall mortifie our fleſhe all our lyfe tyme, and purge out our olde leuen, our concupiſcence, deſyres, and diſpoſitions to do ſynne, and vtterly to caſt out all the dregges: and to wreſtel agaynſte and vtterlye forſake the worlde, the dyuell, and al theyr pompes: Therfore if thy conſcience be troubled and vexed with the borden of ſynne, thou mayſt pray on this maner. O lord god, remembre thy promyſe, that thou haſte made to vs: thou haſte promyſed to vs in baptime, remiſſyon of ſynnes and eternall lyfe, when thou dyddeſte ſaye:Marc. 16. He that beleueth and is baptyſed, ſhall be ſaued: nor do not make voyde thy couenaunt, nor let not thy wordes be in vayne, whiche haue paſſed thy mouthe.Pſal. 89. Thou ſhalt performe that thou haſt promyſed, thou cāſt not deny thy ſelfe, neyther our infirmitie, or infidelitfe, or any other thynge can make voyde thy feythfull promyſe.

¶The godlye knowe the tyme of dyinge to be determyned of god. Cap. vii.

VNTO the godlye this is a gret comfort, that they know that deathe is not in the power of tyrantes, nor put in the hande of any creature, leſte they ſhoulde be troubled, ouer moche carefull for deathe: but that they maye dye as chyldren, when pleaſeth the lorde. For ſoo wryteth Eccleſiaſtes:Eccle. 3. All thynge hath tyme: and al thynges vnder heauen, haue theyr conuenient ſeaſon: A tyme is of byrthe, and a tyme of deathe.Iob. 14. and ſo Iob. Thou haſte appoynted to hym a a tyme, whiche he ſhall not paſſe. Alſo the pſalme:Pſal. 103. Thou haſt lymitted a tyme, whiche they ſhall not ouer paſſe.Pſal. 38. Beholde, thou haſt put my dayes to a certayne nombre. And ſo Chriſte doth comforte his. One heare ſhal not fall from your heade without the wyll of your father.Matt. 10. Alſo, My houre is not yet come.Ioh. 2. 1. Reg. 2. Eſai. 38. So the mother of Samuel, God dothe kyll and reuiue agayne. And, The yeres of lyfe, be of the lorde. As he promyſed to Ezechias:4. Re. 20. 2. Re. 7. Beholde, I wyl adde vnto thy days .xv. yeres. So. When thy dayes ſhall be ended. For the corporal lyfe is determined of god with certayne lymyttes: and with god is a certayne pointe and meaſure ſet to euery mannes lyfe: and alſo to the ſame, the yeres, monthes, oures, and alſo the mynutes of houres: And alſo the heares of your hedde be nombred. Therfore if our heares be noumbred in the ſyght of god, howe moche more ar the mynutes and artycles of our lyfe nombred before hym? We can not therfore lyue any longer then the lorde hath appoynted: We ſhal not dye, althoughe we be in the greatteſt peryl and extreme ieoperdye, before our houre. Therfore it ſkylleth not what maner of death, or with what inſtrument, ſwerde, fyer, water, ſodeyne death, or that thou be taken awaye by chaunce, before the courſe of nature requireth it. For god hath gyuen the houre, the meane, and that kynde of deathe: Whiche doth not force, whether thou dye of this death or that deathe, of a lyttell wounde or a great: of whom the tyme, bothe of our lyfe and deathe is determined and ſette. Alſo many dye by tempeſtes or hayle. And yet do not thou condemne, as wycked, ſuche as be ſmytten with lightning. For the iugemētes of god be rare and vnknowen in priuate perſonnes: whiche for as moche as perteineth to hym, careth not, whether oone dye of this deathe or that. Many tymes innocentes and baabis do dye. But thou wylt ſaye, that many dye wylfullye, throughe theyr own raſhenes, the whiche myght haue lyued lenger. Somme haue caſt away them ſelfes hedlong. &c. Coulde they not haue preſerued theyr lyfe? I aunſwere noo. God gaue that houre, that meane, and that kynde of deathe. which thing experyence dothe teache. Some deadely wounded, are lyghtly healed, and do lyue: Some other are ſcarſelye hurte, and yet they die. Some Aſtronomers aſcrybe this to the ſterres, and ſome to fortune: but holy ſcripture attributeth it to god, with whom the tyme both of our lyfe and deathe is lymytted, who alſo careth not, whether thou dye of a great or ſmal wound: that he maye confounde all wyſedome and mannes imagination. Soo that it is a thynge moſt like madneſſe, vayne, and fruſtrate, to be afrayde or curiouſe of any maner of deathe. For there is noo cauſe why it ſhuld make any man aferd. For other the appoynted tyme of deathe is not yet come, or elles if it be come, he, ouer whom it hāgeth, wolde nat prefer any pleaſure before deathe. For death (as I haue ſayde) hathe his apoynted tyme, lyke as Chriſt ſayth:Luce. 21. The heares of your heade doo not fall. If che heares of your heade doo not fall without the apointed wyl of god, by what meane maye the hole body dye without the fire wyl of god? So great is the care of god ouer the godly, whoſe lyfe, death, yeres, dayes, houres, and mynutes of houres, he hath in his hand, which can not die but at the houre apointed of god.

¶Notwithſtandyng the vngodly ſhall not liue out halfe theyr dayes. Cap. viii.

AS holy ſcripture witneſſeth in all places. In the pſalm. The deceytefull ſhall not liue out halfe theyr days. Alſo Iob,Pſal. 54. Iob. 16. In the tyme whiche is not his, he ſhall make an ende. And, The feare of the lorde, prolongeth the lyfe. the yeres of the wycked be ſhort. For ye godly be euer redy, watchyng whē the lorde ſhall come, whether it be in the firſt watche, or in the fourth, they in the meane tyme, folowe theyr callynge, as long as the lord wyll, nothynge determyninge for them ſelfe, nothynge carynge for theyr lyfe, whether it ſhall ende on the morowe, or .x. yeres after: for they haue lyued all theyr tyme, althoughe they dye yonge:Sap. 4. As the wyſe manne ſaythe, Thoughe the rightuouſe be ouertakē with deth, yet ſhall he be in reſt. The vngodly do appoynte vnto them ſelues longe tyme, as he whiche ſayde in Luke:Luce. 12. My ſoule, thou haſt moch goodes layde vp in ſtore for many yeres. They do ſo, and lyue ſo, as they ſhuld liue a long ſeaſon: but in the myddel of theyr lyfe, beyng voyde of faythe, they be taken awaye, in the daye whiche they dyd not loke for, and the houre whiche they dyd not knowe.Matt. 25. So the foolyſhe virgins, beinge vnredye, in the myddell of theyr dayes, were called away. So for the moſt part alwayes, the iudgemente of god dothe catche the vngodly, careleſſe, negligent, and not watching. So in Daniel,Daniel. 5. Balthaſar the kīg was ſlayne in the nyght of his ennemies. Alſo in the goſpell, The tumultuous ſeruauntes, the Sodomytes, and they whiche were in the tyme of the flodde. the vngodly deathe dothe alwaye fynde vnredy: but all the godly tary vntyll theyr full tyme, that is, they be euer redy.

¶The godly alſo in the tyme of hunger, peſtilence, and warre, be punyſhed, and dye with the wycked. Cap. ix.

IT IS trewe, that the godly be punyſſhed with the vngodlye, where the wrothe of god is conſū mate. For the iudgemente of god, when he is angrye, is gyuen vpon all, bothe good and bad: but the godly conceyue a hope of felycitie and fauor.Pſal. 76. He ſhall not withdraw his mercye for euer. And ſoo they, that be puniſhed, ſuffer iugement, and at the laſte ſhall opteyne mercy. For the godly do knowe, that god dothe puniſhe ſinners, which doo repente in this lyfe, as he puniſhed Dauid, that he myght humble them, enſtructe theym in lernynge, and make them more ware and circumſpecte. And althoughe they dye in the tyme of hunger, peſtilence, or warre with the wicked, yet they knowe it to be done by the good wyll of god. And bycauſe they know that they ones ſhal die: Therfore they offer them ſelues to the good wyll of god, which dothe al thinges after the councel of his wyll.Ephe. 1. And they knowe, that they haue a tyme apoynted to dye, and they deſyre to be dyſſoluyd in the tyme of dienge appoynted by god, and to be with Chriſt. Otherwiſe, Nother peſtylence, hunger, nor warre can hurte the godly, except the appoynted tyme of deathe, ordeyned of god, be preſent. For god can well delyuer his, as he dyd in tymes paſte delyuer Lothe, Noe, Daniel, Ieremy, and other: as Iacob being caryed with his children in to Egipte: And lyke wyſe the Iſraelytes in Egipt.2. Pet. 2. For theſe coulde not dye, but in theyr houre: So al the feythful can not dye, although they be in the greatteſt peryll, and in extreme deſperation, but in theyr houre. Then wherfore ſhall they feare deathe? They can not lyue lenger then the lorde hath appoynted, nor die any ſoner.

¶To whom they that dye oughte to commytte theyr ſpirite. Cap. x.

STEVEN dydde yelde vp his ſpirite into the hādes of Chriſt For it is he that hath ouercome deathe,Acto. 7. & in death he doth quicken vs. This is he, which ſayd:Matt. 12. Come vnto me al you that labour and be burdened, and I wyl refreſhe you. And farther, this is he, whiche oughte to be called vpon, that he delyuer vs in afflyction, and receyue our ſpiryte in the houre of deathe.Luc. 23. So dyd Chryſte, Father I commende my ſpiryte in to thy handes.Pſal. 30. So Dauid: Lord, I commende my ſpirite into thy handes. There it ſhall be ſuer, vnder the ſhadowe of thy winges, thou ſhalt kepe it vnhurte: and that whiche is taken away, thou ſhalte reſtore. Let the ſpirite retourne to the lord whiche dyd gyue it.Eccle. 12. Alſo Chriſt to the thefe.Luc. 23. This daye thou ſhalte be with me in Paradiſe. This Paradiſe is a true and perfyte quietnes in Chriſt, amiable, ioyful, and moſte ſwete: And ſo Lazarus reſted in the boſome of Abraham, to whom Lazarus ſoule was caryed by angelles, that is, he is conteyned in the handes of our god and of the lorde Ieſu Chriſte, and leadeth the moſte pleaſante lyfe. For the boſome of Abraham, is the promiſe made to Abraham of the ſede whiche is Chriſte, in whom all the godly from Abraham vnto Chriſt, were kepte: and as many as dyd beleue, were preſerued.Philipp. 1. So Paule deſyreth to be louſed, and to be with Chriſt. And in an other place Whether we lyue or dye, we be the lordes. Therfore the hande of the lorde receyueth the ſoules of ſuche as be faythfull, and they reſt quietly in the hande and word of god, vntyl the day of iudgement come. For they be in peace, and entred in to reſt. Tourne my ſoule in to thy reſt. For they be in pleaſure, in ioy,Sap. 3. Hebre. 4. Pſal. 114. in bleſſednes, in ſuertie, in Chriſt, and with Chriſt in comforte.

¶The body is buried, but it ſhall ryſe agayne in the laſte daye. Cap. xi.

IT IS the onely comfort of the godly, to holde ſuerly in all aduerſitie this article of our faythe, that is to ſaye, the reſurrection of the fleſſhe, the whiche oughte to comforte the ryghtuouſe: bycauſe through the grace of god they ſhal be reuiued, and reyſed vp, as well the body as the ſoule, the ſoules to iuſtice, the bodyes to glorye. This hope the wycked haue not. For theyr bodyes ſhall be the more puniſhed and ouerthrowen downe to the grounde, althoughe they haue ſemed here to be mighty: but their bodyes ſhal be reyſed vp and quickened by the worde of god, to whō all thynges obeye. Of whoſe promyſe the very emptye and dry bones ſhall be partakers.Ezec. 37. This ſaith the ruler, the lorde of theſe bones: Beholde, I doo brynge into you a ſpirite, and you ſhal be quickned, and I wil put vpō you ſinnowes, and I wyll reyſe vp fleſhe vppon you, and I wyll couer you with a ſkynne, and I wyll put in you a ſpirite, and you ſhal lyue, and you ſhall well knowe, that I am the lorde.Iob. 19. Thou ſhalte reyſe vp my ſkynne, which this fleſſhe beareth. And I do knowe, that my redemer dothe lyue, and at the laſt he ſhall reyſe me vp of duſt, and ſhal compaſſe my body about with ſkynne, and in my fleſhe I ſhall ſe god.

¶Veryly the holye ſcripture declareth, that the reſurrection of the deade ſhall be, for that the bodye, for his nature and power, ſhall be made perfyte in the knowledge of the lorde. The glorye of the ſoule redoundeth into the reformed body. In the meane tyme, the ſowle lacketh not the knowlege of god and of his Chriſte. For he is with Chriſte, and hath in hym eternall lyfe, and moſte lyuely and bleſſed knowlege,Ioh. 17. But the perfyt bleſſednes is not, vntyll the bodyes be borne agayne.Danie. 12. Many, which ſlepe in the duſte of the erthe, ſhall ryſe agayne, ſome into eternall lyfe, & ſome into ſhame. The deade ſhall ryſe agayne, and they ſhall be reyſed vp,Eſai. 26. that be in graues. Thy deade ſhall lyue lorde, and they whiche dye in me, ſhal ryſe again. Your bones ſhall bloſſome as the graſſe.Eſai. 66. Therfore we beleue, that there ſhall be a reſurrection of this fleſhe by goddes power, and that the deade ſhalbe quickened ageyn by the ſpirite of Chryſte. Whiche ſhall quicken your mortall bodies throughe his ſpirite,Rom. 6. dwellynge in you. The fyrſte ground of this article is, that Chriſte is ryſen. If Chriſte be preached,1. Cor. 15. that he hath ryſen from deathe, howe can ſome of you ſaye, that there ſhall be no reſurrection? If Chriſte hath ryſen, we ſhall alſo ryſe. Chriſte, the fyrſte begotten of the deade, hath ſufficiently declared his reſurrection. What ſo euer was in Chriſte the heade, the ſame ſhall be in his membres: and we ought to beleue, that we ſhall ſuerly atteyne that, whiche our heade nowe dothe obteyne, accordynge to the meaſure of our fayth. The fruites of Chriſtes reſurrection, is our reſurrection, and wakynge. for if god hath reyſed vp our lorde Ieſu, he ſhall alſo reyſe vp vs through him. So 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Paule. 1. Cor. 15. through the hole chapter. 1. Theſ. 4. And the deade in Chriſte ſhall ryſe.Ioh. 5. Do not meruel, for bycauſe the houre ſhall come, that all ſuch as be in theyr graues ſhal here his voyce, and ſhal come forthe. &c. Alſo thy brother ſhall ryſe.Cap. 11. Martha anſwered: I knowe that he ſhall ryſe in the laſte day.

¶In the panges of deathe, and in all temtations, the remedies be to be lerned of the ſufferaunce of Chriſt. Ca. xii.

THE example of lyuynge and dienge is ſet forth before our eies in Chriſtes lyfe and paſſyon: for ſo ſayth Peter.1. Pet. 2. Chriſte is afflicted for vs, leauynge vs an example, that we ſhuld folowe his ſteppes. But howe can we folowe his ſteppes? Here thou: If thou receyue thy croſſe on the, as Chryſte techeth the. How can that be,Matt. 10. ſaieſt thou: Beholde, take an example. If thou be puniſhed with ſickenes reken with thy ſelfe, howe it is not to be compared with Chryſtes crowne of thorne and his nayles. If thou be reſtrayned of thy deſyres and luſtes, remembre Chriſt led hyther and thyther. If pryde ſtyrre thy mynde, remembre Chriſt nayled on the croſſe betwene two theues. Wherof Eſai ſaythe.Eſai. 53. And we haue ſene hym, and there was no fayerneſſe in hym, and we haue deſyred the deſpyſynge of all men. If thou brenne in lechery, or any other yll deſyre, remembre howe Chriſtes tender fleſſhe was all to torne with ſtrypes, thriſt through, and al to broken. Wherof the ſcripture ſayth,Pſal. 21. They haue nombered all my bones. If thou be vexed with enuy or deſyer of reuenging, thinke with thy ſelfe, that Chriſte dyd preye to his father for theym, whiche crucified and ſcorned him. Whiche when he was reuyled, did not reuyle ageyne.1. Pet. 2. Eſai. 53. As a ſhepe led to be ſlaine. If ſinne troubleth the, caſte thy ſelfe vpon Chriſte, beleue all his to be thyne, and that by his worke thou arte ſaued. If thou loke ſo onely in Chriſte, thou ſhalt haue peace, and thou ſhalt reioyce that god is thy god. And although thy ſynne be great, yet the grace of god is moche greatter. Therfore ſaye: Althoughe I alone hadde commytted all the ſynnes of the worlde, they were vtterlye none, if I maye obteyne the grace of god throughe Chriſte. God ſuffereth his to fall, yea and that ſometymes greuouſely, as Dauid and Peter: that they myghte ryſe and thanke god more feruently. Therfore no ſynner ſhulde deſpeire, ſeinge that ſo great men haue ſynned ſo greuouſly, and by the grace of god haue repented and amended theyr lyuynge. If Sathan do tempte the of predeſtination, whether thou be amongeſt them, whiche be ordeyned to the kyngedome of heauen, be deafe, takynge example of Chriſte, whiche hanging on the croſſe ſayde nothynge at all to this, when they ſayde: He hath truſted in god, let him deliuer him if he wyll. So Daniel,Danie. 3, When the kyng of Babylon ſayd: And what god is he, that maye delyuer you oute of my handes? They aunſwered: we ought not of this matter to anſwere the. Beholde, our god, whom we worſhyppe, maye delyuer vs frome this fornace of hot burnynge fyer, and out of thy handes O kynge. So thou muſte commytte all the matter to god, whether thou be predeſtinate or no, do not curiouſly ſerche out the maieſte of god,Prou. 25. leſt thou be oppreſt of his glory. In trouble and deth it ſemeth to manye, that god is a ſlepe, and vtterly forſaketh them, as Chriſte cryeth. God, yea my god, why haſte thou forſaken me. So the goſpel ſetteth forthe to vs an example of them, to whome it ſeemed,Marc. 5. that Chriſte ſlepte in the ſhyppe. But nowe Chriſte (deathe beinge ouercome) hath promyſed, he wyll be to vs a ſauiour, as it is in Mat. xi. Come to me al you that labour & be bordened,Matth. 11. and I wyll refreſhe you.Luce. 12. Agayne, Feare not lyttell flocke, for it hath pleaſed your father, to gyue to you a kyngdome. Therefore by ſuch examples of the goſpell, weake men oughte to be encouraged, to whō it ſemeth, that Chriſte is a ſlepe: that be of inconſtante and wauerynge mindes, whiche doubte, whether god be mercifull to them, and whether god be in them. They ought to be moniſhed, that they truſt conſtantly to Chriſte, that although Chriſt ſeme to them to be a ſlepe, yet lette them continewe, and the lorde wil reuenge and delyuer theym out of all theyr euylles, ſoner than it can be ſpoken. Eſai ſayth:Eſai. 54. for a lyttel ſeaſon at a pynche, I haue forſaken the, and in greatte mercies I wyl gather the together.1. Reg Iob. 13 cap. 5. The lord leadeth downe to hell, and bryngeth from thenſe ageyne. yea althoughe he kyl, yet I wyll truſte in hym. He dothe wounde, and giueth remedy: he ſmyteth, and his handes ſhall make hole.

¶They that be dienge, muſte be exhorted. to forgyue. Cap. xiii.

Matth. 6. BICAVSE god commandeth, Forgyue, and it ſhal be forgiuen you. and putteth thervnto a condition, He that dothe not forgyue his brother, to hym god doth forgyue nothynge: and if god do not forgyue ſynnes, we can not be ſaued.Luc. 16. Marc. 11. Forgyue, and it ſhal be forgyuen you. And when you ſhall ſtande prayinge, forgyue, if you haue any thynge agenſt any man, that your father alſo may forgiue you.Matt. 5. When thou offreſt thy gift at the aultare, fyrſt reconſile thy ſelfe to thy brother.Matt. 18. If you wyl not forgyue eche of you, your brothers fautes, & that with al your hartes: your father wyll not forgyue you.Colo. 3. If any man haue a quarel ageinſt his brother, as Chriſt hath forgyuen you, ſo do you forgyue. So in the prayer of the lorde, we deſyre forgyueneſſe to be done to vs, as we forgyue them, whiche be our detters: that is, that we forgyue them, of whom in any thinge we haue ben hurte, eyther in dede, to be wrongefully handeled, or elles in worde to be ſhamefully intreated. And to theym that be at the poynte of deathe, this ſhoulde be mynded, If they at any tyme haue hurte or endamaged theyr neighbour, or taken any thynge frome hym by extortion or robberye, or haue defamed any man. Here alſo they muſte doo as Chriſte dyd on the croſſe, lette them praye for all theyr ennemies, and forgyue them theyr wronges with all theyr hartes. And if any thynge of theyrs be taken awaye by thefte, lette them not requier it agayn with violēce. If they haue takē away any thing of a nother mannes, let them yelde it agayne, if they may: or let them labour, that it maye be reſtored: nor let thē kepe ſecrete any thyng, but confeſſe theyr faute, be ſorye that they haue offended, and deſyre forgyueneſſe. If for lacke of ryches they be not able to make ſatisfaction: it ſhall be ſuffycyente, that they forgyue other, whiche haue harmed them, other in body or goodes. If they forgyue theym with all theyr harte, god wyll forgiue them the wrōg done to other: As Chriſte teacheth.Matth. 6. If you forgyue men theyr offences, your heuenly father ſhall forgyue you.

¶Suche as be diynge ſhulde be admoniſhed, that they receiue the Sacrament of Chriſtes body and bloud. Ca. xiiii.

IT IS a great token of the ineſtimable loue of god and of his abundant mercy towarde vs, that in his ſupper he wolde ſhoulde be wytneſſed, that Chriſte dothe deliuer and gyue hym ſelfe to vs, and dothe ioyne vs to hym as his mē bres: that we maye knowe, that the lorde loueth vs, hath reſpecte to vs, and ſaueth vs. Forthermore in this ſupper, we here Chriſt ſpekynge to vs, fedynge vs with his body, proferyng vs, that we ſhuld drynke his bloud for eternall lyfe: where he ſaythe, Take, eate you,Matt. 26. Marc. 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. this is my body, whiche for you is gyuen. Do you this in my remembraunce. Lykewiſe after he hadde ſupped, takyng the cuppe, he ſaid: This cuppe is the newe teſtament in my bloude, whiche is ſhedde for the remiſſion of your ſynnes. Do you this as oft as you ſhal drinke it in the remembrance of me. Good brother, thynke that theſe wordes be ſpoken to the. prynte them moſt depely in thy mynde. for when he ſpeaketh to all, he ſpeaketh alſo to the, to the, to the I ſay, they profit All thynges, whiche Chriſte hath ſuffered, ſhall profite the no leſſe, then they do helpe Peter & Paule. This ſacramente is veryly bothe commanded & inſtituted of Chriſt him ſelfe, for the remyſſion of our ſynnes and eternall lyfe. For the promyſe ſoundeth ſoo, the whiche he that receyueth by fayth, and beleueth that whiche he ſaith (Gyuen for you, and Shed out for you) hath and obteyneth without doubte remiſſion of his ſynnes.

¶Diuerſe conſolations, that the life and tyme of affliction is ſhorte. Cap. xv.

IT IS a greate comforte, that affliction ſhall not endure continually.Roma. 8. The afflictions of this tyme, are not worthy of the glory, whiche ſhall be ſhewed vppon vs. The eie hath not ſene,Eſai. 64. nor the eare hath not harde. &c. the ioyes that god hath prepared for his electe.1. Cor. 2. Through many troubles we muſt enter into the kyngedome of god.Acto. 14. Our trouble, whiche is but temporall and lyght, worketh an excedynge, and an eternall weyght of glory vnto vs whiche loke not on the thynges that are ſene, but on them, whiche are not ſeene. The ſoules of them,Apoc. 6. whiche were kylled, cryed out vnder the aulter. to whom it was anſwered, that they ſhulde reſte yet a lyttell tyme. As a lyttell mynute of an houre vntyl the wroth be paſſed by.Eſai. 26. Alſo Chriſt in the goſpel calleth the time of afflyction,Ioh. 16. Eſai. 54, A lyttell tyme. A lyttell whyle you ſhall not ſeme. In dyſtreſſe for a lyttell ſeaſon I haue forſaken the: but in eternall mercies I haue gathered the togeder.

¶The comfort of wydowes & Orphans.

THOV wylte ſaye, I am now a wydowe, and haue no man, which careth for me, here Dauid, whiche ſaythe.Pſal. 145. To the fatherleſſe and wydowe thou ſhalte be a helper.Pſal. 9. Alſo, The poore is left to the, & alſo to the fatherleſſe thou ſhalte be a helper. And Chriſte ſaythe. I wyl not leaue you fatherleſſe:Ioh. 14. that is, without helpe. So great care hath god ouer the fatherleſſe and wydowes, that he wyll comforte theym in theyr trouble. Hereof we lerne, that we alſo ſhoulde be moued with pitie towardes the wydowes and fatherleſſe, and that we ſhulde aide and ſuccour them: For this is a pure and an vndefyled religion before god the father,Iaco. 1. to vyſete the fatherleſſe and wydowes in theyr trouble. God doth diligently commende to vs this ſorte of men, bothe in the lawe and in all the prophetes, thretenynge greuous punyſhemente to them, whiche eyther do oppreſſe them, or elles doo not ſoccour and delyuer them, when they be oppreſſed. Exody .xxii. Eſai. i. & .x. Iere. v. & .xii. Zacha. vii. So Paule cōmandeth Timo. to honour the widowes.

¶The comforte of women trauelynge with chylde.

THE chylde is in the hande of god, and is not borne, before the tyme appoynted, whiche is not in our power, but in the wyll of god, at whoſe hande we muſt loke and ſeke for fauor and helpe. And ſuerlye the lorde is nyghe to them, whiche call vpon hym in trouthe. He wyll fulfyll the wyll of theym,Pſal. 144. whiche feare hym, and wyll here theyr prayer, and ſaue them. But we muſte conſyder, that all thynges haue theyr tyme, and that all thynges vnder heauen, paſſe forth by certayne lymyttes and ſpaces. There is a tyme of byrthe,Eccle. 3. and a time of dyeng. The tyme that god hath ordeyned, muſte be loked for in the faythe of goddes promyſe. The promyſe is this, Thou ſhalt bryng forth thy children, although with peyne, but he promyſeth the delyuerance and byrth. This promyſe requireth feythe. For he that promyſeth, is able to performe. And more ouer, it requireth obedience, that the woman be obediente to the wyll of god: vppon whome this croſſe is layd by god the merciful father. For it is a great mercye of god, that god deliuereth the ſoule from miſery, and vexeth the body with myſery, the ſoule I ſay, is delyuered, and is the doughter of god by faythe: as Paule wytneſſeth, ſayinge.1. Tim. 2. The woman ſhal be ſaued through bearyng of children, if ſhe continue in fayth, loue, and ſanctification, with ſobernes. And Chriſte ſaythe: The woman,Ioh. 16. when ſhe trauayleth, is in ſorowe, bycauſe her hour is come: But whē ſhe hath brought forth her chylde, ſhe remembreth not her trybulation, for ioye that a man is borne in to the worlde.

¶A comforte for them that lamente the deade.

COMEN honeſtie and charitie of our neyghbour requyreth, that we adorne and worſhip the burialles of our frendes, whiche ſlepe in the lorde, with conuenient mornynge. But we muſt not lamente and mourne of vngodlyneſſe and ſuperſticion, as the vnfeythefull heathen do, whiche beleue not the reſurrectiō of the ded, which knowe not, that god liueth, and careth for vs, althoughe our frendes dye. For of theym Paule ſayth:1. Theſ. 4. We wyll not bretherne that ye ſhuld be ignorant of them that ſlepe, that ye ſorowe not, as other do, which haue no hope. For if we beleue that Ieſus died, and roſe agayne: euen ſo them alſo, whiche ſlepe by Ieſus, ſhall god brynge with hym. Here humanite and the workes of mercy are not condemned.Gen. 23. et 50. 2. Re. 1. For Ioſeph mourned his father, Abraham lamented his wyfe Sara: Dauid bewayled Saul. and alſo certayne relygyous perſones buryed Steuen,Acto. 8. Ioh. 19. and made great lamentation vpon hym. Nichodemus and Ioſephe of Aramathie, are prayſed, bycauſe they buried Chriſte. Therfore Paule condemneth not moderate mourning and ſorowe, whiche ſpryngeth of faythefull charitie: but he condē neth the immoderate heathenyſhe ſorowe and mourning, as vngodly and ſuperſtitious. For the hope of Chriſten men is perfytely aſſured, that the dead peryſhe not, but ſlepe:Ioh. 11. as Chriſte ſaythe, Lazarus our frynde ſlepeth. Therfore to lament the dead by affection of loue, is the duetie of charytie, but it is hethniſhe and vngodly, to lament the deade of infidelytie. For it is gyuen vs naturally, to bewayle the deathe of them, whiche in their liues were derelye beloued of vs, but we muſt remembre the ſaying of holy Iob, The lorde hath gyuen,Iob. 1. and the lorde hath taken awaye. Some tyme our parentes, our dere frendes, our wyfe, and our chyldren be taken away from vs, that we maye lerne the wyll of god, and haue a reſpecte onely to god the gyuer, and not to the gyftes.

¶A conſolation for them, whiche ſuffer for theyr offences.

OF THEM whiche ſuffer for theyr euyll dedes,1. Pet. 2. Peter ſpeketh, ſayinge: what prayſe is it, if whan ye be buffeted for your fautes, ye take it pacientely? And agayne.1. Pet. 4. Se that none of you ſuffer as a murtherer, or as a thefe, or as an yuell doer, or a buſy body in other mennes matters. But if it chaunce ſo, that we muſt ſuffer for an euyll dede doone of vs, the deſerued puniſhemente maye be an holy ſufferynge, no leſſe pleaſaunt to god, than the ſufferynge of the innocent martyrs. For if the euyll doer confeſſe his ſynne before god, and beleue that his ſynne is forgiuen, throughe Ieſu Chriſte: then by Ieſu Chriſte it is broughte to paſſe, that the deſerued punyſſhement is ſanctified, to obteyne the crowne of euerlaſtyng glory: was not the thefe, hāging on the croſſe vpon the one ſyde of Chrſt, ſanctified in his puniſhement,Luce. 22. as ſoone as he aknowleged his ſynne, and throughe faythe commended his helthe to Chriſte? Was it not ſayd alſo to hym, This daye thou ſhalt be with me in Paradiſe? Neyther is it meruayle, that euyll dooers throughe faythe, can in theyr deſerued puniſhementes, be ſanctified as innocent martyrs. For as the martyrs in theyr ſufferynge do teſtifie and witneſſe Chriſt and the goſpell, ſo euyll doers in theyr puniſhment, do teſtifie and wytneſſe the lawe of god, and be examples to other, that they auoyde euyll dedes, leſt they be puniſhed in like maner. To be an example, that miſcheuouſe dedes be auoyded, is it not a worke of holyneſſe? Therfore whether a man do ſuffer iuſtly or vniuſtely, let hym beleue in Ieſu Chriſte, and his ſufferynge ſhal cauſe hym to opteyne of the lord a garland that neuer ſhal wyther away. Therfore no man oughte to diſpeire.1. Tim. 2. For Chriſte hath gyuen hym ſelfe a redētion for al. There is one god, and oone mediator of god and man, namely the manne Chriſt Ieſu, which gaue him ſelfe a ranſome for all men. Beholde, he ſayth for al. Therfore alſo, He wil,2. Pet. 3. that all retourne to repentaunce. And he ſaith,Luc. 5. I came not to cal the iuſte, but ſynners, of whō he wold be borne. Iuda, Dauid,Matth. 1. Manaſſe, Thamar, Rachab, and Batſeba be examples. Therfore he commaundeth the goſpell to be preached to euery creature.Ezec. 18. He wyl not the death of a ſynner, but the helth of al men. So he calleth al to him whiche be burdened.Matt. 11. Luc. 19. So he receyued to hym zache. Maudelyn, Peter, Matthei, the woman of Cananee.Matth. 5. Matt. 27. So he receyued to fauour the thefe. Alſo he apered after his reſurrection to Mary Maudelyne, out of whom he had expelled ſeuē dyuelles.Matth. 16. He admytteth and receiueth Thomas the harde beleuer. He conuerteth Saul beyng a perſecutour moſte greuouſe.Acto. 9. Brefely he refuſeth no man, he receyueth all that repente, with a fatherlye mynde. He ſheweth mercye, he taketh the repentaunte to his ſonne. Therfore he commandeth to pray,Matth. 6. Let thy kyngdome come, forgyue vs our treſpaſes.Ioh. 16. Alſo, what ſo euer ye pray the father in my name, it ſhall be gyuen you. Aſke,Matth. 7. and it ſhal be gyuen you: knocke: and it ſhall be opened vnto you.

¶Sentences out of holy ſcripture, to ſtyrce vp a deſyre to dye.

VVE are ſtrangers before the,1. Par. 30. as were all our fathers. Our days be as it were a ſhadowe vpō the erth, and here is none abiding. ¶The lyfe of man is a warfare vpon the erthe: and his days,Iob. 7. as the dayes of a hired ſeruaunt.

¶A man borne of a woman,Iob. 14. lyuynge a ſhort tyme, is repleniſhed with moche myſery. He commeth forth lyke a flower, and goth away lyke a ſhadowe, and neuer remayneth in one eſtate.

¶What man is he that lyueth,Pſal. 88. & ſhall not ſe deathe?

Pſal. 89.¶Our yeres paſſen awaye as a cop webbe, the dayes of our age be three ſcore and ten, or in the chefeſt foure ſcore yeres, and the mooſte part of theſe, is labour and peyne.

Pſal. 101.¶My dayes be waſted as a ſhadowe, and I am dryed vp as the graſſe.

Pſal. 144.¶A man is made lyke to vanitie, his days paſſe away as a ſhadow.

Eccle. 7.¶The day of death is better then the daye of lyfe.

Heb. 13.¶We haue not here a dwellynge citie, but we ſeke for one to come.

Iaco. 4.¶What is our lif? it is a vapour, aperynge a lyttell whyle, and afterwarde vaniſheth awaye.

1. Pet. 1.¶All fleſhe is as hey, and all the glory of man as the flower of hey, the hey is dryed vp, and the flower falleth.

¶FINIS.
¶THE TABLE OF THE fyrſte boke. THE preparation to the Croſſe, & howe it muſt be paciētly borne. ¶What the Croſſe is Cap. 1. ¶Two kindes of croſſes. Ca. 2. Howe the faithful be temted. 3. ¶The Croſſe is of God onely. Cap. 4. Croſſe is the worke of the good wil of god. 5. ¶The godly are the fyrſte that are afflycted of God, to theyr good and welthe. Cap. 6. ¶In tribulation we muſte pray. Cap. 7. Of prayer, and the maner therof in tribulatiō. Whoſe prayers are harde of god. The promyſe of god. Faythe. To aſke in the name of Ieſu. The affecte to deſyre any thynge. Thankes gyuynge. ¶We oughte to be patient in affliction, not to be angry, not to ſpeake euyll of god. Cap. 8. ¶Soccur in affliction muſt be aſked of god. 9. ¶Yet in affliction or ſyckeneſſe, medycine and councell are not to be deſpiſed. Ca. 10. In affliction no tyme may be apoynted to god, nor way wherby we wolde be delyuered. ca. 11. ¶It is great comfort to them that be in affliction, to remember, that Chriſt was alſo temted, and exercyſed with yl, as we be wont. 12. ¶It is great comfort in affliction, that no mā cā hurt the faithfull, except Chriſt wil. Ca. 13 ¶The goodnes of god is not to be deſpyſed, or lightly regarded before afflictions, wherby god wyll puniſhe & gyue warning. Ca. 14. ¶There be dyuerſe craftes of the dyuel, wherby he tempteth, and where one crafte profyteth nothynge, he addeth many other. Ca. 15. ¶If thou be tempted in pryde, or vayenglory, anſwere hym agayne. ¶If thou be tempted in wrothe or anger. ¶If thou be tempted in feaſtynge, or glottony and dronkenneſſe. ¶If thou be temted in auarice or couetouſnes. ¶If thou be tempted with hunger, pouertie, or carefulnes of lyuynge. ¶If thou be tempted of idelnes. ¶If thou be temted of ſecurite. ¶If thou be temted of fornication & adultery. ¶If thou be tēted with lying or light wordes ¶If thou be temted of confeſſyng the goſpel, or ſufferynge perſecution for the goſpell. ¶If thou be temted of the faythe of thy parentes: as wherfore beleuefte thou not that, whiche thy forefathers haue beleued. ¶If thou be temted of ſtrange religyon, or of worſhypping of ſaynctes, or ymages, or men. ¶If thou muſt dye, and leaue wyfe, chyldren, and thy dere frendes. ¶If thou be tempted of condemnation, that thou arte condemned of god. ¶If the dyuel ſay, thou art a ſynner, and art not graffed in Chriſte. ¶If he continue and ſay, but thy ſynnes paſſe the ſonde of the ſea. ¶If he ſay, ſuche promyſes are made to the godly, but thou art an apoſtata, and a loſt man. But god hereth no ſinners nor ſtraiers away. But thou comeſt very late with thy contricion. ¶But he had a ſtronge faythe in god, whiche thou lackeſt. ¶What if all holy ſcripture be falſe, for they were men, whiche ſpake it, and wrote it. ¶If the temptator ſay, thou haſt not kepte the lawe of god, wherfore thou art accurſed. ¶If he ſay thou muſt forſake the worlde. The table of the ſeconde boke. VVHAT is deathe. Cap. 1. ¶What is the cauſe of deathe. Ca. 2. ¶Two maner of deathes. Cap. 2. ¶To the electe and faythfull, eternall deathe by Chriſte is ouercome. Cap. 3. ¶Although the godly die, yet they ſhal liue. 4. ¶The deathe of the godly is a ſlepe. Cap. 5. Baptiſme is a cōfort in the poynt of deathe. 6. ¶The godly knowe the tyme of dyinge to be determined of god. Cap. 7. The vngodly lyue not out halfe theyr dayes. 8. ¶The godly alſo in the tyme of hunger, peſtilence, and warre, be puniſhed, and dye with the wycked. ca. 9. ¶To whom they that dye ought to commyt theyr ſpirite. cap. 10. ¶The body is buried, but it ſhall ryſe agayne in the laſte daye. ca. 11. ¶In the panges of deathe, and in all temptations, the remedies be to be lerned of the ſufferaunce of Chriſte, cap. 12. ¶The dieng, muſt be exhorted to forgiue. 13. ¶Suche as be dienge ſhulde be admonyſſhed, that they receyue the ſacrament of Chriſtes body and bloude. ca. 14. ¶Diuerſe conſolations, that the life and tyme of affliction is but ſhorte. ca. 15. ¶The comfort of wydowes and Orphans. ¶The comfort of womē trauailing with child ¶A comfort for them that lament the deade. ¶A conſolation for theym, whiche ſuffer for theyr offences. ¶Sentences out of holy ſcripture to ſtyrre vp a deſyre to dye. ¶FINIS.

¶LONDINI in aedibus Thomae Bertheleti typis impreſſ. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum ſolum.

ANNO. M.D.XL.