CHAP. I.

AS death is the wa­ges and punish­ment of sin,1 For sinne. so are sicknesses also sent oftentimes vnto vs of God for our sinnes (as it is cleare [Page 2] and manifest in holy Scrip­ture. Ioh. 5. Christ saith vn­to the man that had bene sicke eight & thirty yeares: Behold thou art made whole, Ioh. 5.14. sinne no more, lest a worse thing come vnto thee: Implying plainly, that sinne was the cause of his sicknesse. Like­wise Psalme 38. Dauid pro­fesseth of himselfe,Psal. 38. There is nothing sound in my flesh, be­cause of thine anger, neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin: for mine ini­quities are gone ouer my head, and are like a sore burthen, too heauie for me to beare. The same he confesseth and ac­knowledgeth,2 Sam. 24.17. 2. Sam. 24. when he saw the Angel, that smote the people with the pestilence; Behold I haue [Page 3] sinned and done wickedly, let thy hand be against me, &c. And Deuteronomie, 28. God threatneth by Moses, that if his people will not obey his voice, (among o­ther plagues) he will con­sume them, & destroy them by strange sicknesse and dis­eases;Deut. 28.21.22.27. he will make the pesti­lence cleaue vnto them; he will smite them with a con­sumption, verse 22 and with the fea­uer, and with a burning ague, and with a feruent heate: and at the 27 verse,verse 27 he will smite them with the botch of E­gypt, and with the emeroids, and with the scabs, and with such an itch as cannot bee healed. And as sicknesses and other crosses and affli­ctions are sent vnto vs of [Page 4] God (for the most part) for our sinnes: So many times the same are sent vnto vs for the proofe and triall of our faith,2 For triall of our faith. (as we behold in Iob:) for then it is seene how much we loue God; & how much wee trust him and put confidence in him when we are oppressed, and vexed with some greeuou [...] crosse and affliction. Her [...] then before all things se [...] that thou turne vnto Go [...] with all thy whole heart, & mind, and vnderstanding and with all the powers o [...] thy soule, vnfainedly repenting of thy euill waies and bewailing & confessin [...] before God thy manifol [...] sins and offences, for whic [...] thou hast iustly deserue [Page 5] the wrath of God, together with all his plagues, and pu­nishments to bee powred out, and to be inflicted vp­pon thee. Then shalt thou reape and receiue plentifull comfort and consolation, euen a perfect discharge, absolution, and remission of thy sinnes, from the promi­ses of the Gospell; which as an infinite treasurie, euery day standeth open, and is offered vnto thee, and that by Christ his own appoint­ment, and ordinance giuen vnto his Church, Ioh. 20.22. Receiue ye the holy Ghost: Ioh. 20.22. whosoeuers sins ye remit, they are remitted vnto them; and whose sinnes soeuer ye retaine, they are retained Now when thou hast thus prayed for, [Page 6] & obtained pardon for thy sinnes, doubtles the punish­ment (whether it be of sick­nesse, or any other afflicti­on, that lyeth heauie vpon thee) shall either ceasse, and leaue thee altogether: or else shall (by Gods good will and pleasure) turne to thy euerlasting welfare and saluation. For this assuredly perswade thy selfe, and no­thing doubt of it, that the punishmēt which thou suf­ferest (how heauie a yoke and burden soeuer it see­meth to the flesh) is in deed a fatherly rod, wherby God recalleth thee home vnto himselfe, (being his child) and withdraweth thee from sinning securely. God with a tender affection loueth vs, [Page 7] he willeth and wisheth well vnto vs: & he doth all that be doth to this end, that he might reforme vs, & make vs better;Hebr. 12.6 for whom he lo­ueth, him he correcteth and chasteneth: and he punish­eth him here, that after this life he may not be condem­ned with the world,1 Cor. 11.32. nor tormented and punished e­uerlastingly in hell. And do not thou feare, nor doubt, but assuredly perswade thy selfe, that God thy heauen­ly father entirely loueth thee, and ten le [...]th thee, howsoeuer he rec [...]ueth for the time to bee displeased with thee This his w [...] and displeasure is not the wrath and rage of a tyrant or tormenter, but of a fa­ther [Page 8] that dearely loueth vs who would not that we perish; but that wee should repent and amend, & so be saued. This is so sure, that there is nothing more cer­taine, if so be that we (who are of so little faith) could beleeue it. First of all there­fore desire, & aske pardon, and forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes; but see it be done through Christ, and that it be done with a true repen­tant heart, that so thou mayest bee at agreement with God; and being re­conciled vnto him, thou mayest haue him friendly and fauourable vnto thee. Then afterwards thou may­est also desire, and pray to be deliuered from the present [Page 9] affliction that molesteth & greeueth thee. This aduice the sonne of Sirach giueth, Chap. 38. My sonne, Eccl. 38.9. faile not in thy sicknesse: but pray vnto the Lord, and hee will make thee whole. Esay 38.25 and 2. Kin. 20. Thus Eze­kiah turned his face vnto the wall, and prayed in his sicknesse: and his prayer was heard, and he recouered. Esa. 38.25. and 2. Reg. 20. And thus Dauid prayeth in his great affliction,Psal. 39.8. &c. Psal. 39.8. &c. Deliuer me from all my transgressions, and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolish: and verse 10, and 13. Take thy plague away from me; and a­gaine, Stay thine anger from me, that I may recouer my strength before I go hence, and be no more seene. Likewise, [Page 10] Psal. 79.Psal. 79.8. Remember not again [...] vs our former iniquities, b [...] make haste, let thy tender mercies preuent vs: helpe vs ( [...] God of our saluation) and f [...] the glorie of thy name deliu [...] vs, &c. In the which place [...] and the like, Dauid fir [...] prayeth for remission of h [...] sinnes, that by Gods fr [...] grace he may bee iustified and then he intreateth Go [...] to stay his anger, to turn away his plagues, and punishments from him, an [...] to deliuer him. And [...] mayest thou pray for eas [...] ment and deliuerance fro [...] thy sicknesse, or trouble but thou must alwaies add this condition; If it be t [...] will of God, & seeme go [...] vnto him: following here [Page 11] the footsteps of Christ him­selfe, and saying: Father (if it be possible) let this cup passe from me: notwithstan­ding, not my will, but thy most holy and blessed will be done. For indeed wee cannot better prouide for our selues, then our most faithfull and louing Father doth prouide; who is of in­finite power, wisedome and goodnesse; who neuer tur­neth away his eyes from vs, but still hath a diligent care of vs;1 Pet. 5. Mat. 10.30 who hath numbred the very haires of our head, that they perish not; who giueth life vnto all things, and who nourisheth and preserueth, prouideth and careth for all things, much better then the creatures [Page 12] themselues can wish or desire.

CHAP. II.

WHile a man lyeth vppon his bed o [...] sicknesse (being in dange [...] of death) he is cōmonly assaulted and set vpon with many sore and greeuous temptations: as first of all, i [...] is a very sharpe and sore temptation and triall, when as (hauing the horrible i­mage of death before ou [...] eyes) wee thinke with our selues, how that very short­ly [Page 13] we must needs relinquish and leaue the most delight­full and comfortable light of this world, together with all our friends, our kinsfolk, and acquaintance, and all other things, which here are most deligntsome and plea­sant, and most deare vnto vs. By & by after, our dead­ly and manifold sins com­mitted against the diuine will and commandements of God, these will be readie to present themselues vnto vs; and rushing in vpon vs with great violence, will become new and fresh a­gaine vnto vs: wonderfully disquieting and troubling the conscience, and appea­ring farre more in number, and more hainous & gree­uous, [Page 14] then euer they did be­fore. Then behold, the hor­ror and feare of death, and the terrour of Gods iudge­ments, of hell and damna­tion, will (as it were all at once) be readie to vexe & torment vs, and to set vp­pon vs with most sharpe & bitter assaults of griefe and sorrow, causing our very hearts within vs to quake and tremble. Now (amidst these agonies and conflicts) vnlesse our hearts be forti­fied, and established with a constant and stedfast faith, we shall be in great danger of falling into despaire, be­ing wearied with the mul­titude, and greatnesse of the temptations. For those things which offer and pre­sent [Page 15] themselues vnto vs in time of sicknesse, appeare much more terrible, and more heynous, and grie­uous, then euer before, and that for no other cause then this, for that our faith is small, and very weake and wauering, not able to rest and relie vpon the word of God; and therein to appre­hend and lay hold vpon that infinite & inestimable trea­sure and riches belonging to Gods deare children, (to wit, the forgiuenesse of all their sinnes through Christ, the resurrection of their bo­dies at the last day, that most wished for, and most sweet and ioyfull communion with the Saints in glorie, & comfortable societie and [Page 16] fellowship of the elect of God,Meanes of strength­ning our faith. and life euerlasting) and all these freely giuen, and bestowed vpon them in Christ, and through Christ.

1 Wherefore in these and other articles of our Chri­stian faith,Continuall meditation on the arti­cles of our faith, in time of sicknesse very needfull. it behooueth vs daily and continually to ex­ercise our selues; and dili­gently to meditate there­upon. But especially in time of sicknesse, and agonie of death, we are seriously and earnestly to meditate in our minds, and to inculcate, & repeate often those foure last articles of our Creed: Namely, concerning the 1 communion of Saints, in which number we beleeue, and trust stedfastly that we our selues are, and shall be [Page 17] reckoned: concerning the Remission of all our sinnes 2 through the bloud of Christ Iesus: concerning the resur­rection 3 of our bodies at the last day, and life euerlasting.4

Now vnto the serious 2 meditation of these articles of our faith, there must be adioyned 3 other things: First of all, feruent and con­tinuall prayer for the in­crease,Prayer. and strengthning of our faith: praying with the Apostles of our Sauiour. Luk. 17.5.Luk. 17.5. O Lord increase our faith: and with the father of the child, that had the dumbe spirit,Mar. 9.24. Marke 9.24. Lord I beleeue, helpe my vnbeleefe.

Vnto prayer ioyne care­full 3 studie, and diligence in [Page 18] 3 reading, and hearing of the word of God.Reading & hearing the word of God. Rom 10.17. Esa. 57.19 For faith is both wrought and also in­creased by hearing of the word, Rom. 10. whereupon it is called the fruite of the lips, that is, of the words of God, Esa. 57.19. And Acts the 10.44, it is said, that while Peter spake those words,Act. 10.44. the holy Ghost fell vpon all them that heard the word. Yea hereupon it is called the arme of the Lord,Esa. 53.1. Esa. 53.1, and the po­wer of God vnto saluation.Rom. 1.16. Rom. 1.16. See therfore that y^e word of God dwell plen­teously in thee;Col. 3.16. which alone is able to make thee wise vnto saluatiō through faith in Christ Iesus.2 Tim. 3.15. 2. Tim. 3.15. And let thy heart and mind [Page 19] be euermore possessed with the meditation and consi­deration of those three maine pillars and grounds of thy faith whereof thou hast assurance in the same word; namely:

First, the infinitenesse of 1 Christ his merites, which thou shalt oppose vnto the infinitenesse and greatnesse of thy sinnes.

Next, the omnipotencie 2 of Gods power, and his na­tural inclinatiō vnto mercy, and to pardon and forgiue sins and sinners. Eze. 18.32.

And lastly, the vniuersa­litie,3 and generality of his gracious promises made vn­to all: in which number thou art to reckon thy selfe.

Vnto the carefull and di­ligent 4 [Page 20] studie and meditati­on in the word of God and prayer,Oft recei­uing the Sacrament. adde this also, to fre­quent and to haue often ac­cesse vnto y^e holy Sacramen [...] of the bodie and bloud o [...] Christ; (while yet thou ar [...] in sound & perfect health:) But beware, y^t thou come vnto it rightly instructed & prepared; and that thou presume not to handle the same with defiled hands, nor to receiue it with an vnpure and vnsanctified heart. And indeed it is an horrible and feareful thing, and much to be lamented, that for so many yeares this holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ hath bene so vnworthily recei­ued,The vnre­uerēt hand­ling of the Sacrament dangerous. and so vnreuerently [Page 21] handled; and of many con­temned, and lightly regar­ded. Wherein how gree­uously & dangerously men offend, euen the iudge­ments and punishments which the Lord sendeth e­uery day among vs, do more then sufficiently witnesse & testifie, (as S. Paul hath fore­told should come to passe, 1 Cor. 11.30.1 Cor. 11.30.) For euen for this cause many are weake and sicke, and many sleepe, and are dead. It is verily an excee­ding great and a sure signe, and token of singular and incomprehensible loue to­ward vs,The benefit offered in the Sa­crament. that in this Sacra­ment of his Supper, Christ will haue it plainly confir­med vnto vs, that he hath giuen and bestowed him­selfe [Page 22] wholly vpon vs; knit­ting and ioyning vs vnto himselfe, as members to the head; to the end we may know and bee assured that we are regarded and lo­ued, defended and saued by him. Thus ought all godly minds to esteeme and make account, that Christ is effe­ctuall, and powerfull in them. And it were to bee wished, that we would at length consider deepely of the greatnesse and worthi­nesse of so excellent a gift, that so we might be thank­full, and might stirre vp our wauering and languishing faith; remembring how heynous and horrible a sin vnthankfulnesse is in this kinde; and how fearefull [Page 23] punishments must needs follow the prophanation of so holy a mystery. Neither indeed are we to imagine, that the grieuous threat­nings vsed by S. Paul are in vaine; for God is true, yea truth it selfe; and certainly, we are to thinke y^t the grea­test part of those plagues & iudgments, (both publike, and priuate) which befall in these last times, is to be im­puted vnto the prophana­tiō of this most holy myste­rie. It behooueth vs then with godly care and zeale, to haue often accesse vnto that holy Sacrament; wher­in our soules being refre­shed, and comforted with that heauenly food, our faith and our repentance, [Page 24] our hope and our confi­dence may be more & more strengthned and increased

CHAP. III.

1 FIrst, the sinnes which in our whole life time we haue wickedly and wret­chedly committed,Sinne. and wherby we haue most gree­uously offended, both a­gainst [Page 25] God, and against our neighbours, these when on the bed of sicknesse they come vnto our remem­brance, must needs greatly terrifie vs, and much vexe & torment vs, remembring that saying of S. Paul Rom. 2.9.Rom. 2.9. That indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish shall be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill.

Againe, inasmuch as this 2 old Adam and flesh of ours is most vnwiliing to die,Death. therof it is, that when death approcheth, mens hearts begin to quake and trem­ble, and are readie to faile them, through exceeding great sorrow and griefe. For this our fearefull nature (or naturall man) is misera­bly [Page 26] afraid, lest being once dead & buried in the earth it shall neuer returne, no [...] come againe to the forme state: but thinketh now tha [...] it is past all helpe, and hop [...] 3 of recouerie.

Hell and damnation.These things being thu [...] offered vnto our sight, the at length a man begins t [...] feare, lest haply he be qui [...] cast out from the face & fauor of God, beholding nothing else but eternal dead and condemnation. He [...] therefore men haue need [...] be couragious, & of a co [...] stant heart and mind; th [...] they faint not, nor giue a [...] place vnto despaire. Pra [...] we therfore in this manne [...]

A prayer. O most gracious God, [...] most mercifull Father, gra [...] [Page 27] (we beseech thee) that by thy grace, and helpe, while we are yet in health and prosperitie, we may learne to feare thee, to loue thy holy word, to beleeue and embrace thy sweete and cōfortable promises; to set thee before vs, as the scope & end of all our actions: and that re­membring alwaies this sharpe conflict and encounter, which we are to vndergoe; we may fortifie and arme our selues a­gainst this day of triall; and so be saued, preserued, and defended: that seruing and fearing thee, we may direct all our do­ings to thy glorie; and at the length obtaine and enioy eter­nall life, which thine owne Sonne hath purchased for vs, Amen.

CHAP. IIII.

VVHensoeuer thy sins shall torment and trouble thee, or terrifie thy conscience; consider how that the Son of God him­selfe for thy sake, and for the purging and taking a­way of thy sinnes, came downe from heauen, and humbled himselfe to the lo­west estate that may be; & y^t he being made man, took vpon him thy sins, and the sinnes of the whole world; and of his owne voluntarie [...] will dyed for them vpon the crosse, and made full sa­tisfaction for them all, by [Page 29] suffering most grieuous pu­nishments in thy name, and for thy sake. This most pre­cious bloud of Christ was shed, euen for thee and for thy saluation. Of this his death art thou also made partaker, if onely thou shalt beleeue, that he dyed as wel for thee, as for Peter and Paul, and others. Neither oughtest thou any whit to doubt, but that he died as well for thee, as for Paule: for in that thou art a sinner, euen in this respect thou mayest and oughtest to bee comforted.Math. 9.13. For Christ came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. Mat. 9.13. and 1 of Tim. 1.15.1 Tim. 1.15. It is a true saying (saith Saint Paul) and by all meanes [Page 30] worthie to be receiued, That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners. Yea admit thou were one of the greatest sinners in y^e world, yet doubt nothing; for such a one was Paule (as he witnesseth of himselfe in the same place) euen the greatest, and chiefest among sinners, an oppressor, a per­secutor, and blasphemer.

Moreouer, this may and ought to comfort thee, and to confirme and settle thy mind,Rom. 6.3. that thou art baptized into the death of Christ. For seeing thou art baptized into the death of Christ▪ Christ his death shall saue and helpe thee; by Christ his death, thou shalt die vn­to thy sinnes; by Christ hi [...] [Page 31] death thou shalt receiue vndoubted remission and forgiuenesse of all thy sins: finally, by Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vn [...]o a new life here, and to a life eternall, and euerlasting in the world to come.Th [...] remission of our sins confir­med in Baptisme and in the Lords Supper. For Bap­tisme is a sure token and pledge, and a certaine co­uenant (as it were) of Gods mercie and fauour, in which thou art reconciled vnto God: So that by meanes of it, thou mayest euermore haue a quiet and chearefull conscience, by reason of the forgiuenesse and pardo­ning of all thy sins through the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ. Verily it is vnto thee also, that Christ speaketh in the institution [Page 32] of his holy Supper; where­in he professeth and witnes­seth, that his bloud was shed for the remission of sinnes. Now therefore, howsoeuer the life which thou hast led, hath not bene altogethe [...] faultlesse & blamelesse, no [...] in all respects pure and free from sinne, yet despaire not but without delay, flie for refuge & succour vnto that bloud of his, which was thus shed for thy sinnes: and without ceassing call vpon his Name, and thou shalt be saued, (according to his promise,Rom. 10.13. Rom. 10.13.) Cri [...] out vnto him therefore and call vpon him in these o [...] the like words:A Prayer. O most mercifull God and father of al [...] mercies, father of our Lord [Page 33] Iesus Christ) be fauourable and mercifull vnto me a sin­ner. Take pittie and com­passion vpon me miserable wretch; and speedily helpe me, euen for that most bit­ter, but yet most precious death and passion of Iesus Christ thy only Son our re­deemer, and onely Sauiour, Amen: Amen. Enter not into iudgement (O Lord) with thy seruant. Deale not with me after my deserts, neither do vnto mee according to my sinnes and iniquities; but for thy infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercie re­ceiue me vnto thy grace. I miserable, wretched, weake and feeble creature am in thy hands, in thy power, and at thy disposing, to do with [Page 34] me, what it pleaseth thee. ( [...] most mightie, and yet mos [...] meeke, most gentle, & most gracious God, and merci­full father) leaue me not, neither reiect and cast mee off, as a wretch that is quite forlorne and forsaken. I am thine, whatsoeuer I am, and there is none can comfort me, none can helpe me, none can deliuer me; but thou onely. Thou art the true preseruatiue and remedie against all euils and mis­chiefes, and against all infir­mities and sicknesses both of bodie and soule. Thou art the surest, and most pre­sent helpe, refuge and suc­cour, a strong hold, and a fortresse and castle in all ne­cessities.Psal. 46. Thou (ô Lord) art [Page 35] our hope and strength in trou­bles, Psalme, 46. In thee (O my God) I put my trust, Psal. 71. & 31. let me not be confounded, nor ashamed, as being frustrate and disappointed of my hope; but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse: Incline thine care vnto me, and saue me and make haste to deliuer me; be thou vnto me a strong rocke, and house of defence, that thou mayest saue me: For thou art my rocke & my fortresse, thou art my Lord and my God; In­to thy hands I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me (ô Lord God of truth.) Let y^e light of thy countenāce shine vpō thy seruant, & saue me for thy mercie (O Lord my God.)

Moreouer, here thou must especially be admoni­shed, [Page 36] to take heed, that the suffer not thy selfe, to much to be possessed wi [...] the cogitation and remembrance of thy sinnes in pa [...] ticular. But rather if th [...] same shall at any time stan [...] vp against thee, set befor [...] thine eye [...] the remembranc [...] of that most inestimab [...] price of Christ his death & suffering; and fasten th [...] same into thy minde dili­gently (according to the aduice and counsell of Sain [...] Augustine:) Inspice vulner [...] pendentis, sanguinem morie [...] ­tis, precium redimentis. Capa [...] habet inclinatum in cruce a [...] osculandum, brachia extens [...] ad amplexandum totum den­que corpus expositum ad redi­mendum. Haec, quanta sint, co­gitato: [Page 37] haec in statêra cordis appendito; vt totus tibi figatur in corde, qui totus pro te fixus est in cruce: (Behold and looke stedfastly vpon the wounds of him, that han­ged on the crosse for thee, vpon the bloud of him, that dyed for thee, vpon the price of him that redeemed thee. He hath his head bo­wed downe on the crosse to kisse thee; his armes stretched out wide to em­brace thee; and finally, his whole bodie exposed, and offered to redeeme thee: Cōsider of how great price, and of how great weight and moment these things are; and weigh well, and ponder the same in the bal­lance of thine owne heart, [Page 38] that the same Christ may be wholy fixed and fastened in thy heart, who was wholy fixed and fastened vpon the crosse for thee. And assu­redly perswade thy selfe, that not thou, but Christ is charged with the sinnes which haue bene commit­ted by thee, and that they are all laid vpon his shoul­ders: who hauing taken them vpon himselfe, hath discharged vs, and made ful satisfaction and payment for vs; so as he will neuer impute them vnto vs, not lay them to our charge: but will freely forgiue them all, (as in our Creed we pro­fesse, and say, I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes.

CHAP. V.

IOhn the 1.29.Ioh. 1.29. Iohn the Baptist crieth out & ma­keth this proclamation, Ec­ce Agnus Dei, Behold the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the world. Saint Peter likewise 1 Epist. Chap. 1.18 Know this, 1 Pet. 1.18. that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things (as siluer and gold) from your vaine con­uersation: but with the pre­cious [Page 40] bloud of Christ (as of a Lambe vndefiled, and withou [...] spot.)

Let these things (deare brother) sinke deepe into thy minde, to confirme and comfort thee. Thou hast no cause to doubt of the re­mission and forgiuenesse of thy sinnes, for in as much as thou hast professed y^e Name of Christ, and puttest confidence in his mercie, he will also take away thy sinnes. And if thou nothing doubt, but stedfastly beleeue this thou art alreadie freed and discharged from all thy sins; and art alreadie become the child of God, there is no cause for thee to wauer or to feare. But yet heare and hearken vnto further testi­monies; [Page 41] and so heare them, that thou imprint them throughly in thy mind.

Iohn 3.16.Ioh. 3.16.18 God so loued the world (saith our Sauiour) that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer belee­ueth in him, should not perish but haue euerlasting life. And againe: Whosoeuer beleeueth in him, shall not be condemned, &c. And againe, Mat. 9.13. I am not come (saith he) to call the righteous, Mat. 9.13. but sinners to repentance, and Math. 11.28.and 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that are weary, and laden, and I will ease you.

Marke, how that he cal­leth al vnto him; he refuseth none, he reiecteth and ca­steth off none. In this word (All) he concludeth thee. [Page] [Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 42] And therefore call thou, and crie vnto him for mercie, and he will assuredly ac­cept thee, and will refresh thee.

Rom. 5.8.Rom. 5.8. God setteth on [...] herein his loue toward vs, t [...] that (while we were yet sin­ners) Christ died for vs: much more then, being now iustified by his bloud, we shall be saued from wrath through him.

This ioyfull tydings full of singular comfort (deare brother) almightie God, thy most tender and louing father, will haue to be prea­ched and proclaimed vnto thee, for thy comfort. For, euē for thee it is, that Christ was sent, & for thee it was, that he died. Only beleeue, and commit thy selfe vnto [Page 43] Christ thy redeemer and sa­uiour. Likewise in the same Chap. to the Romans, verse 10. If when we were enemies, Rom. 5.10. we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saued by his life: And 1. Cor. 1.30, Christ Iesus is made vnto vs of God, 1 Cor. 1.30. wise­dome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification and redemption. Now then (deare brother) lift vp thine heart and com­fort thy selfe. Albeit, thou art neuer so great and grieuous a sinner, no cause there is wherefore thou shouldst therefore be discouraged: but acknowledge and con­fesse thy selfe before God, to be such a one; beg and craue for mercie in and [Page 44] through Christ; aske pa [...] don and forgiuenesse, an [...] beleeue Christ to bee th [...] onely Sauiour, & thy righteousnesse and saluation And he will euermore [...] thine; and will hide and couer all thy sinnes; and vtte [...] ly abolish them, so as tha [...] shalt not need to feare the [...] by any hurt or danger. Againe,2 Cor. 5.21. 2 Cor. 5.21. God hat [...] made him, who knew no sinn [...] to be sinne for vs; that [...] might be made the righteous­nesse of God in him. Like wise,Gal. 1.4. Galat. 1.4. Christ hat [...] giuen himselfe for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present euill world, (ac­cording to the will of God, euen our father.) And Ephes. 1.7.Ephe. 1.7. By Christ we haue re­demption [Page 45] through his bloud, euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, according to his rich grace. And 1 Tim. 1.15. Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners, (saith Saint Paule) of whom I am chiefe. Now then (brother) haue thou also good hope, and beleeue these words, as Saint Paule did; and then shalt thou assuredly be in the number of them that are iustified and saued.

1 Tim. 2.6. S. Paul saith, That Christ Iesus gaue him­selfe a ransome for all. 1 Tim. 2.6.

Beleeue this then sted­fastly, and without contro­uersie thou art now one of them alreadie that are ran­somed and redeemed. Fur­thermore, Math. 26.26. [Page 46] Thou hearest Christ in [...] last Supper, talking w [...] thee: and thou seest h [...] nourishing & feeding th [...] with his body, and also o [...] fering and giuing vnto th [...] his bloud to drinke vnto [...] uerlasting life;Math. 26.26. whē he sait [...] Take eate, this is my bod [...] which is giuen for you: do t [...] in remembrance of me. Lik [...] wise also after he had suppe [...] he tooke the cup and said: 1 Cor. 11.25 Th [...] cup is the bloud of the [...] Testament, which is shed [...] you, and for many, for the r [...] mission of sinnes. Do this, often as ye shall drinke it, remembrance of me.

These words (deare br [...] ther) it behooueth thee [...] fixe fast in thy memorie; [...] to thinke thē spoken to th [...] [Page 47] selfe. For when as he spea­keth vnto all, he speaketh vnto thee also. And all the things which Christ did or suffered, shall be auaileable vnto thee, and shall turne to thy saluation, and to thy benefit, no lesse then they did to Peter, or Paul. 1 Pet. 2.24. it is said, That Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree. 1 Pet. 2.24. and 3.18. And Chap. 3.18. Christ hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vs vnto God.

And Saint Iohn 1 Epistle 1.7 saith,1 Ioh. 1.7. That the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne: and Chap, 2.1, If any man sinne, and 2.1. we haue an aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the iust; [Page 48] and he is the reconciliation f [...] our sinnes; and not for ou [...] onely, but also for the sinnes [...] the whole world.

Thou hast heard he [...] (deare brother) the word not of man, but of the holy Ghost, which witness [...] onely, that God the fathe [...] (who willeth not the death of a sinner,EZech. 18. but that he [...] should conuert and liue) e­uen he, of his infinite lou [...] toward thee, hath ease [...] thee of the heauie burthe [...] of thy sinnes, and hath lai [...] them on the shoulders o [...] his best and onely beloue [...] Sonne. He hath borne them and suffered for them in hi [...] body, that they cannot a [...] any time condemne thee▪ For as much as God accep­teth [Page 49] and reputeth the death of his Sonne in stead of ple­narie and perfect repen­tance, and of full payment and satisfaction for all thy sinnes: so that thou beleeue in his Sonne Christ Iesus. Forasmuch then, as thy sins being laid vpō Christ, could not hold him in death nei­ther condemne him, verily, satisfaction is now already made for them; and to thee they are all now remitted, & pardoned. Beleeue these things, and thou shalt liue eternally & for euer. Christ himself hath borne thy sins, and also died for them: But he is risen againe, and the sinnes of all true beleeuers, are by the death of Christ more then sufficiently pur­ged [Page 50] and discharged; and the strict and seuere iustice and iudgement of God, a­bundantly satisfied for thy sins by Christ Iesus. Christ now then is thine, togethe [...] with all his benefits, with his death,Rom. 8.32. resurrection, and ascension into heauen, with his merits, righteousnesse, & obedience, and finally wit [...] his life, and endlesse glorie Satan therefore hath no right nor interest in thee nor power ouer thee, nei­ther can he do vnto thee a­ny hurt or iniurie, sith thou art iustified by Christ, seeing thou art freed and deliuere [...] from all thy sinnes, and see­ing thou art the child o [...] God. For, behold God is thy father, and such a father, a [...] [Page 51] entirely loueth thee, for Christ his sake, who hath reconciled thee vnto him­selfe. Be of good comfort then,Phil. 4.4. and reioyce againe & againe in the Lord. For as much as thou art in the hands of almighty God thy most tender and louing fa­ther, who is also most true and faithfull in his word & promises, thou art safe and out of all danger, so as no euill can befall thee, being vnder his custodie, and en­uironed about, and garded with a troope of Angels, as he hath promised, Psal. 91.11. That he will giue his angels charge ouer thee, Psal. 91.11 to keepe thee in all thy waies. Christ also is thine, how mightie soeuer he be in power, how rich [Page 52] soeuer in goodnesse, and how great and high soeuer in maiestie and glorie. He it is that hath couered all thy sinnes with the cloke of his innocencie and obedience, and taken them all quite a­way,Rom. 8.32. so that none shall be able to wrest or plucke thee out of the hands of thy heauenly Father. As soone as thou shalt haue suffered and passed ouer this bodily affliction, and temporall crosse, (which being com­pared vnto euerlasting life, is light and momentany,) thou hast then got the vi­ctorie. Christ Iesus hath gone before thee in suffe­ring the like, yea and a farre more sharpe and bitter,Luke 22.44 and a farre more terrible con­flict. [Page 53] Now he is thy head, vnto whom thou must of necessitie be conformed & made like vnto him, by dy­ing vnto thy sinnes, and by leauing and laying downe this life so embrued and de­filed with sinne: that so with thy Lord Christ, thou maist liue the blessed life, and that for euer. Let not thy sinnes then vexe and trouble thee; there is no cause, why for them thy conscience should be disquieted; seeing that they are alreadie taken a­way and abolished: the euil spirit (that seeketh the de­struction of our soules) is for thee vanquished and ouer­come, cast downe, and trod­den vnder foote. God now in fauor looketh vpon thee, [Page 54] he taketh care of thee, to defend and keepe thee: yea the societie and fellowship of all the blessed Angels attend vpon thee, they watch ouer thee, and pitch their tents about thee; rea­die to minister vnto thee, & to carrie thy soule into the bosome of Abraham: so that thou canst in no wise be condemned, no more then could thy head Christ Iesus: so that with thy whole heart thou fixe and repose thy confidence in him.

If sinne death and hell be not able to do any harme or displeasure vnto thy Lord Christ, no more the [...] can they do vnto thee; for as much as thou art i [...] Christ, and Christ in thee [Page 55] thou canst neuer be con­demned: whereas indeed, if thou were to sustaine and beare thine owne sins, and to make satisfaction for them, thou shouldest neuer be able to sustaine and vn­dergoe so great a burthen; but thy sinnes would weigh and presse thee downe into hell, & vtterly ouerwhelme and swallow thee vp.

But now Christ (being the selfe same true God and true man) he hath willingly offered himselfe for thee; and hath substituted him­selfe in thy stead, making full payment of all for thee, (as he saith, Psal. 69.4.Psal. 69.4. That he made payment of the things which he neuer tooke. Thou hast indeed in thy selfe cō ­mitted [Page 56] many sinnes: but Christ hath (in thy stead) discharged and made satis­faction for them all. He it is that hath set thee at liberty, & that hath made thee par­taker with himselfe of eter­nall life; if onely thou shal [...] beleeue, and giue credenc [...] vnto this word and Gospel. Yea assuredly (deare bro­ther) though the sinnes of the whole world, did li [...] vpon thy necke alone, ye [...] notwithstanding (behold there is infinite mercy with God, abundantly sufficient or rather more then suffici­ent for them all. Now God hath promised in Christ, his blessing of grace and mer­cie vnto thee. And the same his promise is in thy Lord [Page 57] Christ ratified and assured, and fully accomplished and performed vnto thee: so as thou canst not, but be sa­ued, if onely thou do but cast thine eyes vpon Christ. There is then nothing more sure and certaine, then thy saluation. For Christ being the naturall Sonne of God, and in his diuine essence truth it selfe, he is, in respect of humane nature, our flesh and bloud. Who then shall be, or can be more trustie, and more faithfull to giue and performe this promise of grace and mercie, then this Christ? who is himselfe the truth of the promise, & who loueth vs so feruently, and earnestly, that he chose rather to suffer death vo­luntarily [Page 58] and willingly, the [...] that we shold be frustrated of any promise. Wherefore if thou shalt beleeue in Christ, thou art now alrea­die made partaker of God mercie; thou art now alrea­die eased of the burthen of thy sinnes; thou art now al­ready the heire of God, and coheire with Christ for e­uer and euer.Mat. 24 35 For heauen and earth shall passe away; but the word of the Lord abideth for euer. Beleeue then (deare brother) and be of good hope, and of good comfort neither doubt, but that that great God, most gracious and most mercifull, euen the sonne of God Christ Iesus, for thy sake, and for thy sal­uation, was made man: yea [Page 59] that for thee and for thy sake he was borne into this world: for thy sake dyed vpon the crosse; for thy sake rose againe from death, and ascended into heauen, and performed all those things that are promised vnto vs. So that all the promises of God in and through Christ, are yea, 2 Cor. 1.20. and Amen, 2. Corinth. 1.20. Pray therefore vnto God, and expect, and looke for nothing else from God, but meere grace and mercie, & that through Christ, and for his sake: for as much as without Christ, there is no consolation, no saluation, no hope, no helpe. In Christ onely and alone is all com­fort, all manner of refresh­ing, all refuge and succour, [Page 60] and in a word, all the whol [...] meanes of our saluation In him is all grace, goodnesse, and mercie, infinitely greater, and far more abun­dant, then any man can wish or desire, or yet compre­hend. The Lord vouchsafe to giue vnto vs a constant and stedfast faith, to beleeue the same.

Furthermore (deare bro­ther) I warne and admonish thee, to be carefull, that (with as much diligence, as thou canst) thou withdraw thy mind from the horrible & dreadfull contemplation and view of thy sinnes, and of the feare of death: and bend all thy cogitation vp­pon Christ alone. Fixe the eyes of thy minde wholly [Page 61] vpon him, cleaue and sticke fast vnto him with thy whole heart: call vpon him with full confidence and as­surance, and commit thy selfe wholly vnto him; for as much as in him thou shalt find nothing else, but abso­lute and perfect innocency and righteousnesse, life and saluation. All which being deriued from Christ vnto thee, are now become thine; if onely thou wilt acknow­ledge Christ, and beleeue him to be thy Redeemer & Sauiour, and the author and worker of thy saluation. I admonish thee therefore a­gaine and againe, and I vrge and repeate the same often (not without cause) that thou renew not in thy mind [Page 62] afresh the remembrance o [...] thy sinnes: neither vexe and tormēt thy selfe by weigh­ing and pondering too ex­actly the multitude and greatnesse of them: But ra­ther (hauing thy sinnes re­moued farre away) set be­fore thine eyes only Christ crucified; let him be fixed fast in thy hart, let thy mind and cogitation be wholly vpon him; flee vnto him with full assurance and con­fidence; and with thy whole heart, sticke fast vnto him, without being separated from him at any time. By this meanes thou shalt pre­uaile, and stand fast against the gates of hell, (though neuer so cruell and terri­ble.) Call vnto thy minde, [Page 63] with how great humanitie and kindnesse, with how great clemencie and gen­tlenesse, & with how great meekenesse and mildnesse. Christ in the Gospell in­treated and also receiued, and entertained all sinners that repented them of their sinnes, & that desired helpe, and craued pardon and for­giuenesse. There shalt thou find Mary Magdalen, out of whom went seuen diuels. Thou shall see there one of the theeues that were cru­cified with him. Thou shalt see the Publican, thou shalt see Zacheus and diuers o­thers; whom our Sauiour Christ entertained with wonderfull meekenesse and kindnesse; and afterward [Page 64] pronounced them to be freed and set at liberty fro [...] all their sinnes, (though neuer so haynous and grieuous:) for Christ is grace [...] mercie, consolation and comfort, ioy and gladnes [...] it selfe, and a present refug [...] and succour, yea life and saluation it selfe, vnto a [...] that expect and hope fo [...] the same from him, and tha [...] set their affiance in him. Al [...] these things God hath pro­mised for Christ his sake, who is truth it selfe, & can­not lie: and therefore will neuer deceiue vs, neuer dis­appoint vs, neuer forsake vs.

CHAP. VI.

NOW further,Reconcilia­tion in time of sicknesse required. while thou liest vpon thy bed of sicknesse, it will perhaps come into thy mind, how thou hast wronged and in­iured thy neighbour, in his body or goods, or estima­tion and credit; or contra­riwise, how he hath iniured and wronged thee in all or some of these things. Here thou must do as Christ did vpon the crosse: thou must pray euen for all thine ene­mies, and must from the bottome of thy heart par­don and forgiue all wrongs [Page 66] and iniuries. If thou by d [...] traction and slander ha [...] bene wronged in thy goo [...] name and reputation, tho [...] must euen from thy ver [...] heart forgiue the autho [...] thereof; and pray for the [...] with S. Steuen, Act. 7.60 Lord lay not this sinne to the [...] charge; Act. 7.60. and with our Saui­our Christ himselfe vpon the crosse,Luke 23.24 Father forgiu [...] them, they know not what they do. If on the contrary, thou hast slandered others, and wronged thē in their good name and credit, it behoo­ueth thee with all conueni­ent speede, to seeke recon­ciliation (if it be possible) at the hands of the parties so offended. If any thing of thine haue bene taken away [Page 67] by thē, thou shalt not with [...]olence, fiercenesse or cru­ [...]tie, exact and require the [...]me againe.Restitution, in time of sicknesse required. And if thou [...]aue either by fraude or vi­ [...]lence taken away from o­ [...]hers, (if thou canst) make [...]estitution, or cause restitu­ [...]ion to be made: and do not [...]n any wise hide or conceale any thing, but confesse the same, and be sorrie for the wrong committed, and de­sire pardon, first at y^e hands of God, & then of the party or parties wronged and of­fended. If the parties whom thou hast wronged be dead, make restitution vnto their children, or others their heires, executors, or admi­nistrators. If thou hast done wrong or oppression, and [Page 68] thou knowest not to wh [...] thou hast done it, in stea [...] the parties themselues th [...] hast the poore and need vnto whom thou may giue cheerefully, and make restitution. So [...] Zacheus,Luke 19.8. Luke 19.8. A [...] the same is the counsell th [...] Daniel gaue vnto Neb [...] chadnezar,Dan. 4.24. Dan. 4.24. [...] breake off his sins by righteou [...] nesse, and his iniquities by me [...] cie toward the poore. If it b [...] so, that through pouerti [...] and want thou canst no [...] make restitution, it shall b [...] sufficient if thou do it in desire and affect, when tho [...] canst not do it in deed and effect.2 Cor. 8.12. If onely there be a wil­ling mind, it is accepted before God, according to that a ma [...] [Page 69] [...]ath, not according to that he [...]ath not. 2. Cor. 8.12. In case [...]f want and pouertie then [...] shall be enough for thee,1 [...] first thou haue a will and [...]esire to make restitution [...]or the wrong done. Se­ [...]ondly, if freely thou con­ [...]esse 2 and acknowledge the same; and be heartily sor­ [...]ie and grieued at the re­mēbrance of it. And third­ly,3 if thou shalt freely, and from thy very heart forgiue [...]thers, that haue any way (either in thy body or goods, or thy good name and estimation) offered, or done wrong and iniurie vn-thee. If thus thou shalt from the bottome of thy heart vnfainedly pardon and for­giue others, be of good [Page 70] comfort; doubt not, b [...] that God will also pard [...] and forgiue thee, whatso [...] uer wrongs & iniuries do [...] either to himselfe or to [...] thers. For God cannot b [...] remit and forgiue that m [...] his offences, who readi [...] and freely forgiueth h [...] neighbour. For as much a [...] he himselfe hath taught [...] this way of requitall, Mat [...] 6.14. If ye do forgiue m [...] their trespasses, Mat. 6.14. your heauen [...] Father will also forgiue you.

CHAP. VII.

A QuestionNOW here a question may be made, whethe [...] [Page 71] the sicke man may with a good conscience craue the helpe of the Physition, and also vse physick [...]? o [...] ought onely to depend vpon God for the recouerie of his health?

Answer. Hereunto I answer, that the sicke man, as he must not despise the counsaile and helpe of Physitions, and of physicke: so in any wise he must take heed, that he do not adore and relie vpon y^e same too much. His chiefe hope and confidence must be fixed and set vpon God: who as he inspireth and gi­ueth life and breath vnto these our bodies, so he a­lone taketh the same away againe whē it pleaseth him. Howbeit notwithstanding [Page 72] sometimes it is not amis [...] to vse the helpe and cou [...] sell of the Physition, le [...] herein we should seeme [...] tempt God in neglecting o [...] despising his ordinance an [...] meanes appointed for restoring of nature, and recouery of health. For howsoeuer medicines of thēselues can do nothing, neither haue any power and vertue to g [...]ue health without the blessing of God, and his se­cret worke and operation▪ yet notwithstanding, whe [...] the same are ministred and applied by the learned and wel experienced Physition, they are to be held & estee­med not onely healthfull & profitable, but also needfull and necessarie; and may also [Page 73] rightly be called Manus Dei, the very hand of God himselfe. Hereupon it is that Sirach, Chap. 38. coun­selleth to honour the Physi­tion with the honour that is due vnto him,Eccles. 38.1.4. & that be­cause of necessitie: For the Lord (saith he) hath created, ordained, and appointed him. For of the most High cometh healing. And a­gaine, the Lord from out of the earth hath created me­dicines; and the man that is wise, will not abhorre thē. As for witches and wi­sards, inchanters and sor­cerers, and the like, who will take vpon thē to heale and cure the sicke, by cer­taine fained and deuised ce­remonies, or by a certaine [Page 74] number of words, or pray­ers, whereunto they as­cribe the vertue and power of healing diseases: these are by all meanes to be a­uoided, and to be put away farre from vs. For they are the very hand and instru­ments of the diuels and euil spirits, and not the hand of almightie God; by whose word and power all things are, and ought to be ruled and gouerned.

CHAP. VIII.

IF at any time thou be ter­rified with the feare of death: bethinke with thy [Page 75] selfe and consider, that by Christ, death is vtterly van­quished and put to death, (as it were.) Indeed if that Christ (in compassion to­ward vs) had not died for vs, the feare of death must needs haue vexed and trou­bled vs. But now (death be­ing vanquished, cast downe and troden vnder foote by the death of Christ) the soules of them that beleeue in Christ cannot die, nor pe­rish: but after their depar­ture out of these bodies, they go straight vnto him:Phil. 1.23. as it was said vnto y^e thiefe on the crosse, being readie to giue vp the ghost; This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Luke 23.43 And in the meane time, the bodie resteth in [Page 76] assured hope, that it shall at the last day rise againe vnto a most blessed and hap­pie life, which is immortall, and neuer fadeth: and that the same bodie shall rise with exceeding great glo­rie and maiestie, and with such beauty and comlinesse as cannot be expressed: that so being renewed againe, and glorified together with the soule, it may liue for e­uer with Christ, and with all the elect. Among whom many shall be found, which here on earth were knit and ioyned vnto vs in the bond of amitie and friendship. And therefore the sacred Scripture vsually calleth the death of the godly by the name of sleepe.Death a sleepe. For this [Page 77] same weake, fraile, mortall, and transitorie body, which now rotteth in the graue, shall at the last day be raised vp: euen as a man that is fast asleepe, is rouzed and raised vp out of his sleepe. And then forthwith (death be­ing quite extinguished and abolished) it shall appeare glorious and beautifull, strong, & in perfect health, sound and entire, pure and spirituall, immortall and in­corruptible;1 Cor. 15.53 When this cor­ruptible shall put on incorrup­tion, and this mortall shall put on immortalitie. Whereupon it is that the Prophet Dauid pronounceth the death of the Saints to be precious,Psal. 116.15. & of excellent account. Psal. 116.15.and 16.9. and in another [Page 78] Psalme, His heart within him leapeth for ioy, and his tongue reioyceth, his flesh also resteth in hope. Why? Because God will not leaue his soule in graue, neither will suffer his holy one to see corruption.

These things (deare bro­ther) ponder and consider well in thy mind, that thou be not deceiued with the world; which imagineth, that when we die, we die for altogether; that our bo­dies perish together with our life, and that nothing remaineth of vs after our departure hence. But the world is herein altogether deceiued. For our bodie is not so little set by, nor so despised in y^e sight of God: it hath his peculiar honour, [Page 79] and welfare prepared, and ordained of God. For this same bodie, which now we carry about vs, & which is now vexed and tormen­ted with so many griefes & paines; this same body (I say) being changed & glorified, shall together with our soule liue for euermore. Whereas indeed, if wee should for altogether lose and forgo this bodie, and neuer recouer the same a­gaine at any time, the death of the Saints and children of God should not be pre­cious and honorable, but rather vile, and of no worth, yea horrible and dreadfull. Considering therfore these things diligently, raise vp, and comfort thy wauering [Page 80] mind, and strengthen the same with sentences of holy Scripture. Beleeue them faithfully, & doubt nothing. For the same are most cer­taine, vndoubted, and true. As Christ his body being buried, and lying in the graue, rose againe on the third day vnto a new life, & the same eternall and euer­lasting, neuer to die againe: so the bodies of all such, as are asleepe in Christ, (that is, who haue beleeued in Christ,) being now dead, they rest in their graues, onely for a time, in a most assured hope of a ioyfull and glorious resurrection; whereby they shall rise a­gaine in the last day vnto a new life, and that eternall [Page 81] and euerlasting: wherein shall be nether sinne nor death, nor any miserie; and wherein shall bee nothing else but righteousnesse and perfect holinesse, life and saluation, ioy and happines for euer and euer. These things God himselfe hath promised, who is of infinite power, able to performe whatsoeuer he hath promi­sed; and who is also truth it selfe, and therefore neither will nor can faile in perfor­mance thereof. Trust sted­fastly then in his promises, and wauer not.

CHAP. IX.

MOreouer, it is good for thee to repeate often, and in thy mind to ponder and diligently to meditate vpon those testi­monies of holy Scripture, which concerne the resur­rection of the flesh. Here­of it is, that Saint Paul ad­monisheth vs in his first E­pistle to the Thessalonians: That we raise vp, confirme & comfort both our selues,1 Thes. 4.18 and comfort one another with these and such like words concerning the re­surrection. Neither indeed can there be any consolati­ons [Page 83] more fruitful and plen­tifull, or more sure and cer­taine, then those which we fetch from those testimo­nies of Scripture, which concerne the resurrection of our bodies; they being the words, not of man, but of God; who both can, and will assuredly performe whatsoeuer he hath spoken (as hath bene said.) There is none y^t can alter or change his will and determination, none that can let or hinder his purpose and counsell. He is of power infinite, in his word and promises most faithfull and true, yea truth it selfe; his goodnesse and his mercie vnspeakeable, & as a fountaine that neuer can be drawne drie. And [Page 84] therefore let no man doubt thereof. Math 13.43. Christ saith:Mat. 13.43 The iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their Father.

Iohn 5.24.Likewise Iohn 5.24. Ʋe­rily, verily, I say vnto you, he that heareth my word, and be­leeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life; and shal not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death vn­to life.

Chap. 6.40.And Chapter 6.40. This is the will of my Father, that hath sent me, that euery one that seeth the Sonne, and be­leeueth in him, should haue e­uerlasting life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.

Againe, Chapter 8.51. Ʋerily, Chap. 8.51. verily, I say vnto you, if any man keepe my word, he [Page 85] shall neuer see death.

And Chap. 11.11. Christ saith, y^t Lazarus slept,and 11.11. who notwithstanding was dead, and his dead corps did then lie in the graue. But Christ raiseth the dead to life a­gaine; and calleth those things which are not,Rom. 4.17. as if they were (as Saint Paule saith.) And therefore our Sauiour Christ addeth in the 25 verse,Ioh. 11.25. I am the resur­rection and the life, he that be­leeueth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he liue. And by and by after the vttering of these words, he raised vp Lazarus from death, hauing lien rotting and stinking in the graue foure daies.

And because in these con­flicts of sicknesse and death, [Page 86] we are naturally very feare­full, and faint hearted; to the end that we might be furthered and helped on forward y^e more to beleeue, that there shall be a resur­rection, many haue bene raised vp from death vnto life in the times of the Pro­phets and Apostles. In the new Testament, Christ rai­sed from the dead the wi­dowes sonne at Naim,Luke 7. Luke 8. Luke 7. He raised vp Iairus his daughter, Luke 8. He raised vp Lazarus,Iohn 11 Act. 9. and 20. Iohn 11. Saint Peter raised Tabitha, Act. 9. and Saint Paul Eutychus, Act. 20. In the old Testa­ment, the Prophet Elias raised vp the widowes son at Sarephtha,1 Kings 17. 1. Kings 17. and the Prophet Elisha his [Page 87] hostesse sonne the Shuna­mite,2 Kings 4. Gen. 5. [...] Kings 2. 2. Kings 4. And God also himselfe rapt vp He­noch and Elias aliue, both bodie and soule, out of this miserable and transitorie life, and conueighed and tooke them vp vnto him­selfe, Gen. 5. and 2. Kings 2. That by thē he might leaue vnto vs some resemblance of the true life that is to come; lest (according to the conceit and opinion of the Epicures and heathens) we should imagine, that af­ter this life nothing else re­mained vnto vs.

Furthermore, consider & thinke with thy selfe, what that great and mighty Lord of life & death Iesus Christ saith, Luke 8.52. Weepe not, Luke 8.52. [Page 88] the Damsell is not dead, but sleepeth. Reason, not belee­uing this, notvnderstanding the mysteries of God, ma­keth a mock of these things. Wherupon it is added, that All laughed him to scorne when they heard it. But Christ making good his owne words; as soone as he had said it, he raised vp the maid that was dead, and restored her to life. And so in like maner will the same Lord Iesus Christ, not one­ly receiue thy soule and pre­serue the same in sure custo­die: but will also at the last day render and deliuer a­gaine this body vnto thy soule, and will couple and knit them together againe vnto life eternall.

[Page 89]Iohn 5.28. Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth plain­ly,Ioh. 5.28. That the day and houre shall come, in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice, and shal come forth; they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life. And Daniel prophecieth & fore­telleth also,Dan. 12.2. That many of them which sleepe in the dust of the earth, shall awake vnto e­uerlasting life: and that they that be wise, shall shine, euen as the brightnesse of the firma­ment: and they which turne many vnto righteousnesse, shall shine as the starres, for euer & euer.

Saint Paule in like man­ner prooueth and confir­meth the certainty of the resurrection of our bodies, [Page 90] by many strong and infal­lible reasons & arguments, Rom. 8.11.Rom. 8.11. If (saith he) the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead, dwell [...] you, he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicke [...] your mortall bodies, because that his Spirit dwelleth in you. And 1. Cor. 6.14.1 Cor. 6.14. The same God that raised vp the Lord Iesus Christ, he shall also raise vs vp by his power. And as for the fifteenth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corin­thians,1 Cor. 15.12. &c. it is full of nothing else but sweete consolati­ons and comforts, of won­derfull force and efficacie. In that Chapter Saint Paule linketh and ioyneth our re­surrection so fast and close vnto the resurrection of our [Page 91] Sauiour Christ, that they cannot be separated nor plucked asunder the one frō the other. Christ (saith he) is risen frō the dead (which is a thing most certaine and sure:) therefore out of all doubt we shall also rise a­gaine. For Christ is our head and we his members. This head neither is, nor can be without the members; nei­ther doth he leaue or for­sake his members. Where Christ therefore is, there al­so must we needs be.Ephe. 5.30. For we are members of his bodie, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph. 5.30. Now, who can suffi­ciently praise and magnifie (according to the worthi­nesse thereof) the infinite­nesse of that inestimable & [Page 92] vnspeakeable grace & me [...] cie of God, who vouchsafed so to debase himselfe, a [...] to come downe from he [...] uen, and to be made a mortall man, in all things lik [...] vnto vs (sinne onely excepted) that this corruptible [...] fraile nature of man, being vnited and ioyned vnto h [...] diuine nature, might by the infinite and incomprehen­sible vertue and power o [...] his diuinitie bee aduanced vnto immortall life, and made partaker with it of the heauenly kingdome? [...] we did beleeue, so great ri­ches to be giuen vnto vs, & to be laid vp in store for vs, and that so blessed and hap­pie a kind of life shall here­after befall vs; how I pray [Page 93] you, could we be daunted or troubled? The humane nature of all the faithfull, which haue bene before & since Christ, and which shall be hereafter, in Christ (who is both true man, and also true God) hath and doth put on immortalitie & glo­rie. Abundant then, and of great force and effect is that comfort concerning the re­surrection of Christ, where­with Saint Paule doth for­tifie and establish the minds of the Corinthians; when he saith:1 Cor. 15.20. &c. That Christ is risen from the dead, being the first fruites of them that are fallen asleepe; for since by man came death, by man also cometh the resurrection of the dead. For as by Adam all die: euen so al­so [Page 94] by Christ shall all be ma [...] aliue. But euery man in [...] owne order: the first fruites [...] Christ, afterward they tha [...] are of Christ at his coming &c. And after all this, Sain [...] Paule addeth a similitude concerning naturall things wherby the resurrection of our bodies is most clearely perceiued,verse 36. and plainely de­monstrated. The similitude or comparison is taken from seede, which being drie when it is cast into the ground by the seedsman or husbandman, it dieth as it were, and rotteth in the ground. But yet doth it not perish altogether: but it sprouteth and cometh forth out of the earth, fresh and new, in an elegant and a de­lightfull [Page 95] shape and forme. Euen so also shall our bo­dies arise, not corruptible, or subiect to corruption, not fraile and transitorie, not weake and feeble, not withered and decayed, and readie to die (as now it is:) but comely and beautifull, strong and lustie, immortall and incorruptible, and full of brightnesse and glorie. This is y^e way by which we are to passe into our true countrie which is aboue, euen by death vnto euerla­sting life. Flesh and bloud can­not inherite the kingdome of God; wherein is nothing else, but life and immortalitie. For which cause,1 Cor. 15.33 This corrupti­ble bodie must put on incorrup­tion, and this mortall bodie [Page 96] must put on immortalitie: th [...] shall come to passe the saying that is written, Death is swa­lowed vp into victorie. They that beleeue in Christ haue now vanquished sin, death and hell. And therefore cō ­temning & despising death and through Christ being now become bold and cou­ragious, they shall triumph and say:Hos 13.14. 1 Cor. 15.55 [...] death, where is thy sting? O hell, where is thy vi­ctorie? The sting of death i [...] sinne; and the strength of sinne is the law: But thankes be vn­to God, who hath giuen vs vi­ctorie through our Lord Iesus Christ.

Hereunto also may be added other sentences of holy Scripture, full of com­fort; as that 2. Cor. 4.14. He [Page 97] that hath raised vp the Lord Iesus from the dead, shall also raise vs vp by the same Iesus. And that to the Philippians Chap. 3.20.Phil 3.20. Our conuersation is in heauen; from whence we looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Iesus Christ: who shall change our vile bodie, that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie; according to the mightie working, whereby he is able to subdue all things vn­to himselfe. Againe, Colos. 3.3. Ye are dead, Colos. 3.3. and your life is hid with Christ in God: but when Christ which is your life, shall appeare, then shall ye also appeare with him in glorie. And 1. Thes. 4.13.1. Thes. 4.14 I would not (saith Saint Paul) haue you ignorant concerning them, which are a sleepe: that ye sor­row [Page 98] not, as others, which haue no hope. For if we beleeue, tha [...] Iesus is dead, and is risen a­gaine; Euen so them, tha [...] sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.

In like manner doth S. Paul comfort his disciple Timothie, 2. Tim. 2.8. Re­member, 2 Tim. 2.8. that Iesus Christ made of the seed of Dauid, w [...] raised againe from the dea [...] according to my Gospell. And verse 11.verse 11 If we be dead w [...] Christ, we shall also liue wi [...] him: If we suffer with him, [...] shall also reigne with him An [...] againe,2 Tim. 1.9. 2. Tim. 1.9. God ha [...] saued vs (saith he) and calle [...] vs with an holy calling, not ac­cording to our workes, but ac­cording to his owne purpos [...] and grace, which was giuen: [Page 99] through Christ Iesus before the world was; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortalitie. And in his Epi. to the Heb. Chap. 2.14. he saith: That Christ was made partaker of flesh and bloud, (that is,Hebr. 2.14. was made true man) that throgh death he might destroy him, that had power of death (that is, the diuel) and that he might deliuer all them, which for feare of death, were all their life time subiect to bondage. S. Iohn likewise in his 1. Epi­stle, Chap. 4.9. telleth vs, that,1 Ioh. 4.9. In this appeared the loue of God toward vs, that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world, that we might [Page 100] liue through him (to wit, e­ternally, and for euer:) and Chap. 3.14.and 3.14. We know that we are translated from death vnto life, because we loue the bre­thren. And (to conclude) in the same manner Iob com­forteth himselfe in the mid­dest of all his afflictions, Chap. 19.25.Iob. 19.25. I am sure (saith he) that my Redeemer liueth; and that he shall stand the last on the earth. And though af­ter my skinne wormes destroy this bodie, yet shall I see God in my flesh: whom I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and none other for me, though my reines be consumed within me.

These testimonies of ho­ly Scripture whosoeuer he be that pondereth well, and [Page 101] meditateth on the same di­ligently, he cannot but be filled with exceeding great ioy and comfort. A most euident example whereof we haue in Saint Paul. Phil. 3.10.Phil. 3.10. Where he professeth himselfe to reioyce, & glo­rie in nothing more, then this, y^t he knoweth Christ, and the power of his Resur­rection; whereby our death was slaine (as it were) and put to death. Now then, vn­to as many, as beleeue in Christ, death is vtterly van­quished, and is dead (as it were:) there is nothing now in death, that is dreadfull, or to be feared, besides onely a certaine image and appea­rance. As a serpent that is dead, retaineth his wonted [Page 102] forme, which is dreadfull and terrible, but yet hath no strength or power in himselfe to hurt. And euen as by that brasen Serpent which Moses set vp in the wildernesse, so oft as it was beheld and looked on, the fierie Serpents, wherewith the Iewes were bitten and stung, were by the mighty power of the Lord smitten that they died; so as the people could not be infe­cted with their poyson: e­uen so our death dieth (as it were) and is made harme­lesse, and in no wise to be feared, if onely with the eies of faith we shall behold and looke vp vnto Christ hanging on the crosse, and dying for vs. Whereof the [Page 103] said brasen serpent was a liuely image and represen­tation, as our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth, Ioh. 3.14.Ioh. 3.14. As Moses lift vp the Ser­pent in the wildernesse, so also must the Sonne of man be lift vp, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue eternall life. In a word, death is but a certaine re­semblance or image of death; or rather, it is the be­ginning and entrance into the true and endlesse life. Christ who is truth it selfe, telleth vs:Ioh. 8.51. If any man keepe my word, he shall neuer see death. How I pray you com­meth this to passe? The case standeth thus: Man trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God, and merits of Christ [Page 104] Iesus, by meanes of his faith is so incorporated (as I may say) and so knit and vnited vnto his head Christ Iesus his Lord & Sauiour, who is the true life, that he cannot be separated nor plucked away frō him. This bodie therefore by death is parted and seuered from the soule, in an assured and vn­doubted hope of a glorious resurrection vnto eternall life. For as much as within a short compasse of time, the bodie shall be restored againe vnto the soule to en­ioy eternall blisse and hap­pinesse. And so beleeuing in Christ, he shal neuer see noe taste of eternall death of bodie and soule, (that is, of eternall damnation, which [Page 105] is the onely death indeed:) forasmuch as the death of the godly is nothing else but a passage or a departure out of this mortall life into life immortall, and vnto the societie and companie of Christ himselfe, and of all his holy Saints and Angels.

CHAP. X.

THat malicious & wic­ked spirit the diuel and Satan, here doubtlesse will also cast into the mindes of men a care and feare also concerning their Predesti­nation, by suggesting vnto [Page 106] them, these or the like hor­rible and dreadfull cogita­tations: What if for all this thou do not please God? what if God haue reiected thee, and cast thee out of his fauour? or how knowest thou thy selfe to be of the number of those, whom God hath elected and cho­sen vnto eternall life? These and the like dangerous ten­tations will be readie to of­fer themselues, which in­deed are very hard and sharpe, and will very grie­uously tormēt and disquiet the minds of men (especial­ly in sicknesse.) And there­fore a man hath need in this case to stand fast, and man­fully to defend himselfe. Now, if in this combat and [Page 107] conflict thou wilt obtaine the victorie, it behooueth thee to withstand him by this policie: Straightway, as soone as these tentations are sent vnto thee of Satan, take heed thou do not en­ter into the lists with him, or condescend to make him an­swer, or to dispute and rea­son the matter with him: but repell him rather, and driue him from thee with these or the like cogitati­ons: Auoid Satan, depart & get thee hence; it is writ­ten: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou therefore tempt any of his children, that are neare and deare vnto him. When as God (of his fatherly loue and kindnesse toward me [Page 108] alwaies) hath bestowed so exceeding great & infinite blessings and benefits vpon me; hauing endued me with life, and so plentifully fed and nourished preserued & maintained the same hither­to, hauing filled me with all good things needfull and necessarie for this life, yea & ministred vnto me abun­dantly all things behooue­full and profitable both for my soule and bodie (& that so farre aboue my desert, & beyond my desire and ex­pectation:) ô what mad­nesse were it once to doubt of his mercie? When as by Baptisme he hath accepted me to be of his flocke, and hath registred and enrolled me in the Catalogue and [Page 109] number of Christian belee­uers; when as he hath called me to the knowledge of his grace by the Gospell of his Sonne, wherein he hath promised that he will be a father vnto me: how should I not expect and looke for all good from him? how should I not promise vnto my selfe all the fauour that he can shew me, and all the good that possibly he can doe vnto me? how should not his good will and affe­ction be most readily incli­ned toward me? What nee­deth to say much in this case? It is a thing both foo­lish and also dangerous, to giue way vnto such thoghts concerning Predestination. It behoueth thee rather to [Page 110] preuent, to auert, & turne away, and so to ouercome these cogitations with o­ther considerations, where­with God will haue thy mind occupied; as namely those that Christ himselfe hath prescribed in the Gos­pell: where he saith, That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall in no wise perish, Ioh. 3.15.16.36. but hath euerlasting life. Hearest thou not, that whosoeuer belee­ueth in Christ, and that ac­knowledgeth Christ to be his righteousnesse, sanctifi­cation, and redemption, can in no wise be damned, but that he shall be made partaker of euerlasting life & saluation? As many then as trust stedfastly and vnfei­nedly in the mercy of God, [Page 111] and merits of Christ Iesus, are of the number of them who are elect, and chosen vnto eternall life, being foreknowne and predesti­nate in Christ, and registred and written long ago in the book of life. But they who are predestinate vnto eter­nall life,Rom. 8.29. are made like vnto the Image of Christ, being iustified and made righteous before God by faith in his Sonne. There­fore by this their faith, they are vndoubtedlie saued. These things are most cer­taine and true, God neither can be deceiued, neither can he deceiue any man. Now this is the will and counsell of God, our most louing Father, who is truly [Page 112] and indeed Philanthrop [...]s, a louer of mankind. These things he hath thus fore­purposed and decreed from euerlasting: and therefore there is no cause of feare, no cause why those thing [...] should hinder thee, or make thee afraid, which y^e enemie of thine the diuell (enuying thy welfare and saluation, & seeking y^e destruction of thy soule) shal seeme to suggest and to oppose against these things. Onely see y^t thou p [...] thy trust and confidence i [...] Christ, & comfort thy selfe in an assurance of his mercy, and behold, there neither is nor can be any danger. For if thou fixe thy hope and confidence in Christ, Christ now is thine, and thou art [Page 113] his. He hauing redeemed thee, thou canst in no wise perish, nor be damned. For as much as they y^t beleeue in Christ, are by the Father drawne vnto Christ,Ioh. 6.44. and by him the Fathers will is, that they shold be saued; neither will he haue any of them to perish. Iohn 10.28.Ioh. 10.28. Be of good comfort then, beleeue faithfullie, and haue stedfast hope in Christ. For whosoe­uer beleeue in Christ, the same are predestinated vn­to eternall life. Vpon Christ then it behoueth thee who­lie to fixe the eyes of thy mind, to fly vnto him, and to lay fast hold vpon him by faith, if thou wilt be sa­ued. Remembring that ear­nest exhortation of the [Page 114] Apostle, Heb. 12.Heb. 12.2. That with patience we run the race that is set before vs, looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the ioy that was set before him, endu­red the Crosse, and despised the shame, and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God.

CHAP. XI.

FVrthermore, all the suf­ferings and temptations wherwith Christ was assai­led and tempted, (being exceeding many and grie­uous) he suffered them all [Page 115] for vs, and for our sake, (as the same Apostle witnesseth in the same Epistle, saying;)Heb. 4.15.16. We haue not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but which was in all things tempted in like sort (yet with­out sinne.) Therefore let vs go boldly vnto the Throne of grace, that we may receiue grace, and find mercie to help in time of need. Imprint these things (deare brother) sted­fastly in thy mind.Christ giuē vnto vs for two ends. Christ was giuen vnto vs for a two-fold end: First, that he might redeeme vs, and re­concile 1 vs vnto God his heauenly Father, and so make vs partakers of eter­nall saluation. And second­ly, that he might be an ex­ample 2 [Page 116] vnto vs both of li­uing godly, and dying hap­pily. See then that thou set Christ his death before thine eyes, and that thou end thy life after his exam­ple: for as much as Christ is set downe vnto vs for as example, to be followe [...] both in his life, and in his sufferings and death. For there is no man that shal be able to liue godly, no ma [...] able to suffer afflictions, o [...] to vndergo death happily, vnlesse he shall propose vn­to himselfe both the life and death of Christ for his imitation. By Christ his death it is, that the death of all the godly is swallowed vp, and quite abolished. I [...] wil be good for thee there­fore [Page 117] diligently to meditate and consider in thy mind, what manner of death hee died, and how he behaued himselfe in that most sharpe and bitter conflict of all o­thers; when as hanging vp­on the crosse, he was ouer­whelmed (as it were) with most grieuous and horrible temptations. Imitate and follow him, and call vnto God for helpe, that thou maist be enabled thereunto.

CHAP. XII.

FIrst, the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the feare of death,1 Temptation of Christ. as one (in [Page 118] their opinion) vtterly vna­ble to deliuer himselfe from the same, when as it was obiected vnto him on the Crosse, saying; He saued o­thers, himselfe he cannot sa [...]e▪ as if they shold say; Now his case is altogether desperate for he must die, and so vt­terly perish. None shall by force or otherwise, take him away, nor deliuer him out of our hands. After the like manner will that vnre­conciled enemy of man the diuel, be ready also to strike into thee a scare & terror of death. But proceed and go on forward boldly, bee strong, and of good cou­rage & comfort. Christ hath vanquished this enemy, and vtterly cast him down. And [Page 119] thou also through the same Christ, shalt likewise cast him downe, and ouercome him. Stretch out thy shield of faith in Christ Iesus. Thy Lord and Sauiour Christ, being Lord of life, & King of eternall glory, was not so made subiect vnto death, as to be ouercome, or to bee holden still of death: but he liueth and reigneth for e­uer. In this case then thy Lord and Sauiour liuing, and reigning for euer, doubtlesse he wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee; nei­ther will he suffer death to exercise tyrannie and do­minion ouer thee. He can­not deceiue thee, nor falsi­fie his word and promise made vnto thee, sith he is [Page 120] truth it selfe. Haue this con­fidence in him, and assure thy selfe of his goodnesse, and of his loue and care, & tender affection toward thee: and behold, thou shalt most assuredly liue with him for euer.

A twofold benefit we receiue by death.And whereas he will haue thee through many afflicti­ons and trials to vndergoe this bodily death, it is for thine owne sake, and for 1 thy good. For first, there is no other way whereby to passe into the true and euerlasting life, then by this bodily death. We must then leaue and lay downe this life, if we will enioy e­ternall life, and so after this life begin to liue truly and 2 indeed. Besides, this bodily [Page 121] death is good and profita­ble in this respect, that ha­uing tasted the sharpnesse and bitternesse therof, thou mightest by experience know and perceiue, how feruent the loue of Christ was toward thee, and how inestimable a benefit he be­stowed vpon thee, when as dying for thee, in his owne bodie he discharged and made satisfaction for all thy sinnes: (death being altoge­ther extinguished and abo­lished, and the very gates of hell shaken in peeces, cast downe and ouerthrowne.) For otherwise thou couldest not perceiue, nor vnder­stand the operation and po­wer of life in Christ, how great it is which hath swal­lowed [Page 122] vp our death: nei­ther shouldest thou ac­knowledge the greatnesse of the benefit, nor giue due thankes (as thou oughtest) vnto Christ thy Lord and thy redeemer. Wherefore in that Christ liueth, thou also shalt liue; & this death shall be vnto thee a happie and pleasant sleepe, and [...] dore or entrance into that true and most blessed life.

2 Temptation of Christ.Againe secondly, the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the guilt of sin, as being a wicked man, and a man guilty of horrible sin whē it was cast in his teeth▪ If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse. Thou sauedst others, why the [...] doest thou not saue thy s [...]lfe▪ [Page 123] These reprochfull wordes, what else did they meane and intend, but that by im­posture, guile and cosenage he deceiued and deluded men; and that he was no­thing lesse then the Sonne of God; nay rather that he was a most vngracious and wicked man? In like manner Satan tempting a man that is in extremitie of sicknesse and readie to die, he layeth before him whatsoeuer at any time he hath cōmitted against God or his neigh­bour; and he suggesteth vn­to his mind, whole cart­lodes of his sinnes; and he doth aggrauate the same as much as possible may be; that so by the hainousnesse and greatnesse of his sinnes, [Page 124] he may cause him to stand in doubt of Gods mercie and pardon, & so driue him to despaire. Here also be sure to stand fast, and to re­sist manfully. And when the enemy in this maner setteth vpon thee, entertaine him, and repell him with these or the like words: True it is, I confesse my selfe to be as exceeding great and grie­uous sinner: but Christ, who is not guiltie of any sinne, who is also that vnspotted Lambe in whose mouth was found no guile, he hath suffered most bitter & cruel death for all my sinnes, how manifold & how great soe­uer they be, they are all dis­charged by him; he hath made full and perfect satis­faction [Page 125] for them all. Christ his death is a sufficient at­tonement and propitiation for all my sinnes:Esay 53.4. Christ tru­ly and indeed hath borne mine infirmities; Christ tru­ly and indeed hath carried my sorrowes; hee was wounded for my transgres­sions, he was broken for mine iniquities, and by his stripes I am healed: he hath taken vpon him all my sins. So that now, though they haue bene neuer so many, yet now I acknowledge not any: I thanke my God through Iesus Christ, who in his owne bodie, and in his owne person hath dis­charged, and made paymēt and satisfaction for them all.

[Page 126] 3 Temptation of Christ.Thirdly, the Iewes sought to tempt Christ with the horror of hell, and eternall damnation, when they ob­iected vnto him, and said: He trusted in God, that he would deliuer him. Let him de­liuer him, if he will haue him, (as if they should say:) All his hope and trust in God shall be vaine and frustrate, God hath forsaken him, and reiected him; he hateth and abhorreth him, and he will cast him downe headlong into hell, & condemne him euerlastingly. Whensoeuer then that Tempter doth vrge, and trouble thee with such like temptations, take heed thou moue not one foote for all that. Feare not nor be afraid, let not these [Page 127] temptations trouble thee, which he presenteth vnto thee (though the same bee neuer so sore & grieuous:) but shake them off, and ba­nish out of thy minde both the feare of sinne, of death, and of hell. For they haue no right nor power ouer thee, if so be onely thou cast thine eies vpon Christ; lay hold vpon him, and cō ­mit thy selfe wholly to him, Christ is thine, he hath gi­uen and bestowed himselfe wholly vpon thee, and for thee. He hath by an inesti­mable price redeemed thee, and deliuered thee from the tyrannie of the diuell, & from eternall damnation. Christ here is become thy life, thy righteousnesse and [Page 128] innocencie. Onely see, that thy heart & mind be not by any tentation withdrawne nor remoued from Christ crucified. If thou cleaue & sticke fast vnto Christ, thou art safe against all the gates of hell, as being placed and set vpon a most high tower, and vpon a most strong and inuincible rocke. So as thou mayest boldly crie out with Dauid a true type of our Sauiour Christ:Psal. 16.8. I haue see the Lord alwaies before me: for he is on my right hand, the I should not be moued. There­fore is my heart glad, and my tongue also reioyceth, & more­ouer my flesh also shall rest in hope: for thou wilt not le [...] my soule in graue, neither [...] thou suffer thine holy one to see [Page 129] corruption. Thou hast shewed me the path of life, and thou shalt fill me with the ioy of thy countenance. For in thy pre­sence is the fulnesse of ioy, and at thy right hand there is plea­sure for euermore. By such a faith in Christ thou art made the child of God,Gal. 3.26. bro­ther and fellow heire with Christ, and partaker with him of eternall life.Ioh. 1.12. This faith iustifieth the righte­ous (that is, all euen as many as beleeue in Christ.) By this faith, thou art made the blessed sonne of thy hea­uenly Father; and as soone as thou departest hence, thou shalt enter assuredly into y^e celestiall kingdome,Mat. 25.34 which God hath prepared for all his elect children [Page 130] from before the beginning of the world.

Now, if in the midst of thy temptations, thy faith be­gin for all this to wauer and stagger: If thou perceiue that thou doest not beare so meekely and patiently as thou shouldest, the will and pleasure of God thy hea­uenly Father, and his hand which is heauie vpon thee▪ And if thou feelest and fin­dest thy loue to war [...] somewhat cold, & thy hope weake and slender; & there­upon fearest, that as ye [...] thou art not at agreement with God, but that he is still displeased with thee This temptation indeed is very sore and grieuous, and full of difficultie. But y [...] [Page 131] (deare brother) thinke thou with thy selfe and consider, how that Christ hath sustai­ned for thee a farre more in­uincible & intollerable ten­tation, (wherein appeared no helpe nor comfort, no defence nor succour) when he cried out: My God, Mat. 27.46 my God, why hast thou forsaken me? O horrible and cruell temptation, O how sharpe and bitter, and how cruell & rigorous was that death, which he did vndergo for vs, to the end that he might make the way of affliction easie vnto vs? Seeing then Christ willingly submitted himselfe vnto these, and plunged himselfe in these so horrible and intollerable miseries and distresses, (and [Page 132] that by the will & appoint­ment of our most louing & heauenly Father) he know­eth doubtlesse, & accepteth also our infirmitie & weak­nesse, he verily is full of compassion; and he will in no wise deale strictly with vs, but will pardon and for­giue many things vnto our weakenes.Psal. 103.14. For he knoweth whereof we be made; he re­membreth that we are but dust, &c. Psal. 103.14. Is it not he also who calleth all men vnto him, saying, Come vnto me all that labour and are heauie laden, Mat. 11.28 and I will ease you? I pray you what greater, or more large and ample, or more comforta­ble a promise could there be then this? Many things [Page 133] there be indeed, which mo­lest and trouble a man (es­pecially in time of sicknes) among which what can more grieuously terrifie, or more cruelly torment and perplexe the conscience of a man ouerwhelmed with his sinnes, then when he doubteth of Gods mercie, and feareth lest God turne away his face from him, and hath reiected and cast him off? when he cannot con­ceiue a stedfast and assured confidence in Gods mercy and loue toward him; but he imagineth himselfe to be cut off and cast away, as a member that is dry and wi­thered? Here (sweete Saui­our Iesus Christ) be thou present at hand with thy [Page 134] aide and succour. For here indeed is need of comfor­ting and refreshing; lest such violent and horrible waues and stormes as these, ouerwhelme wretched mā, and vtterly drowne him & swallow him vp. But for all this, behold we haue no cause either of doubt or feare. Christ is not vaine, nor vntrue in his word; he will assuredly in due time make his promises to appeare; he will helpe, refresh, and com­fort vs. Whensoeuer then, thy faith & thy hope is not firme & stedfast as it should be; when thou seest and perceiuest thine heart smit­ten with feares and terrors; & when thou findest in thy selfe, that thou beginnest to [Page 135] doubt of Gods mercie, and that thou hast little or no faith at all: forthwith call vpon God for helpe, as Pe­ter did when he was readie to sinke and to be drowned, Math. 14.30. Implore and craue for mercie from him;Mat. 14.30 and deplore and la­ment thine vnbeleefe and incredulitie before him. Request & desire his helpe with earnest prayer and in­treatie; and he will ease thee, refresh and comfort thee: and thereupon thou shalt glorifie & praise him:Psal. 50.15. God hath vndertaken to do it, and he will do it. Onely see that thou ceasse not to call vpon him. Beg & craue incessantly with sighes and grones proceeding from y^e [Page 136] very bottome of thy heart; at the hands of alm [...]ghtie God the father of all mer­cies, & the God of all com­fort, that he will not turne his face from thee. Crie out with the Disciples,Luke 17.5. Lord in­crease my faith, and with the father of the lunatick child, Lord I beleeue, helpe my vn­beleefe. Mar. 9.24.

A Prayer. O Lord make haste to helpe me before I be pressed downe with this heauie burden, and ouerwhelmed with the same. Thy mercie is aboue all thy workes, (O most meeke, most mercifull, and most gracious Father, O Lord God of my saluation, my refuge and deli­uerer:) enter not into iudge­ment with thy seruant. Christ is my righteousnesse, 1 Cor. 1.30. sanctifica­tion, [Page 137] and redemption. He it is that for me, and for my sake, hath endured, yea and most willingly hath offered himselfe to die a most sharpe and cruell death. Let these things moue thee, and preuaile with thee (O Father of all mercies:) For this Christ thy Sonne his sake haue mercie on me; confirme and strengthen my heart with true and stedfast faith in thy Sonne Christ Iesus; and comfort me with the conso­lations of thy holy Spirit; that so I may haue the fruition of true and perfect ioyes in Christ Iesus for euer and euer: Amen.

In this maner labouring and wrastling, and fighting & striuing with thine owne weaknesse, yea and accusing [Page 138] and bewailing vnto God thine vnbeleefe and faint­heartednesse; if thou shalt withall lay hold on Christ, and shalt cleaue and sticke fast vnto him, with feruent and incessant prayer, cra­uing and desiring his helpe; that he substituting himselfe (as it were) in thy stead, would supply whatsoeuer is wanting vnto thee: if thou shalt do this, then behold all is well with thee, then there is no danger, thou art safe enough: for as much as there is little difference betweene these two, be­tweene beleefe in Christ, & a feruent or earnest desire to beleeue. How weake there­fore and faint-hearted soe­uer thou art, let this com­fort [Page 139] and releeue thee, that God willeth and comman­deth thee in thy greatest trouble and distresse to call vpon him;Psal. 50.15 and that he hath promised, if thou do call vpon him, he will heare thee and helpe thee. More­ouer, as nothing is or can be more iustly and right­fully desired of God, then true faith: so he heareth no prayer sooner, nor more willingly then that which a man powreth forth, finding no goodnesse in himselfe, acknowledging his owne weakenesse and wretched­nesse, deploring and la­menting his owne incredu­litie and vnbeleefe, & with feruent and earnest prayers, and often sighes and grones [Page 140] desiring and begging for faith to be giuen him. These desires and requests, these sighs & grones, these pray­ers, this little faith (though it be neuer so little or so slender) it is verily a cleare sparke of that holy fire, it is y^e good seed of God, which can in no wise spring vp in vs, but by the effectual wor­king of God: who by his Prophet Esay thus speaketh concerning Christ, That he will not quench the smoking flaxe, Esay 42.3. nor bruise the broken reede. Wherefore, see thou beleeue stedfastly in Christ thy Sauiour; or else pray heartily and feruently, that thou mayest beleeue: la­menting in the meane time, and complaining vnto God [Page 141] of thine vnbeleefe. If thou do this, thou needest not doubt, but that thou art ac­cepted and reputed righte­ous before God, and art the child of God: who not in vaine laid vpon Christ his onely Sonne, our weaknes and our sinnes. In the fift Chapter of S. Mathew his Gospell, Christ himselfe saith,Math. 5. That blessed are the poore in spirit; blessed are they that mourne, and blessed are they that hunger and thirst af­ter righteousnesse. These things (Christian brother) are spoken vnto thee, & do properly belong to thee. Thou art humbled and cast downe; thou art poore in thine own eyes, and in thine owne conceit; euen poore [Page 142] in the graces of Gods spirit; thou mournest and art grie­ued, and vexed from thy ve­rie heart, for thy leude and wicked life formerly spent; thou doest hunger & thirst for righteousnesse, desiring to haue faith, wherby thou mayest be iustified and sa­ued. Be of good cheare, and comfort thy selfe; thou shalt haue that thou desirest, thou art euen now alreadie be­come righteous before God. And hereupon thou mayest boldly (by the ex­ample of Saint Steuen,Act. 7.59. Act. 7. and of Christ himselfe al­so,Luke 23.46 Luk. 23.) commend thy spirit into the hands of God thy heauenly Father, say­ing:

A Prayer. O most mercifull and louing [Page 143] Father, into thy hands I com­mend my spirit, or rather thy spirit: for as much as thou hast 1 made it, and inspired it, and placed it in this earthly taber­nacle of my bodie; commit­ting the same onely vnto my charge and custodie for a short time; for as much as it is 2 thine owne proper image, made after thine owne similitude and likenesse; and for as much also 3 as for its sake, and to redeeme it, thine onely begotten Sonne hath vouchsafed to shed his most precious bloud. This Spirit of thine (I say) I com­mend againe and againe into thy hands (O most gracious Father, thou God of all mer­cies:) thine I am, whatsoeuer I am. Receiue thine owne I be­seech thee. Saue, preserue, de­fend [Page 144] and keepe it; and finally of thy free mercie, giue vnto it euerlasting life, through Iesus Christ thy true Sonne and our onely Lord and Sauiour: A­men.

CHAP. XIII.

IT were to be wished, that while men are in sound and perfect health, they would be carefull to set in order all their worldly af­faires; and by their wils and bequests, or otherwise, to dispose of their temporall estate, and of such earthly [Page 145] blessings as God hath lent them (weighing and re­membring the frailty and vncertaintie of this present life:) lest, if perhaps they deferre this businesse vnto the last moment and period of their life, they be preuen­ted by death, or at the least wise hindered by extremi­tie of sicknesse from perfor­mance of the same. How­beit, if either through neg­ligence, or vpon some vr­gent and necessary causes, thou hast put off and defer­red this businesse, vntill sicknesse suddenly and vna­wares seize vpon thee: be carefull then, without fur­ther delay or protracting of time, to salue thy former error and negligence by [Page 146] speedie diligence, and rea­dinesse in disposing of thy worldly estate, (be it more or lesse:) first, vnto them who are (according to the flesh) nearest and dearest vnto thee, (as wife, chil­dren, and parents, whom God and nature hath com­mended to thy care and prouidence;) next, vnto thy poore kinsfolks, being in want and necessitie; and after them (according to thy substance and abilitie) vnto the poore in generall, (as for the releefe of poore widowes, and fatherlesse children; of the aged and impotent, the lame and the blinde) and vnto other ho­ly and charitable vses. And if the sicke partie haue got [Page 147] into his hands any monie or goods of another mans, or is indebted vnto any man, let him in any case make it knowne, and pro­uide carefully for the pay­ment and discharge there­of. Which being done, let him repell and put away from him all such as shall goe about to interrupt and trouble him with worldly matters. Wherein a great many (both men and wo­men) do aboue all measure offend: who seeing and be­holding their friend or neighbour now readie to giue vp the ghost, and to breath out his soule into the hands of his Creator, are readie to cast into his mind diuers and sundry [Page 148] scruples and doubts con­cerning his will, and other externall and worldly mat­ters. Yea, and sometimes they enforce him to sub­scribe, and set his hand vnto Deeds and other writings against his will, when as indeed his mind is not to doe any such thing; yea, rather in his heart he abhorreth and detesteth the importunity of such friends as enforce him thereunto: by whose meanes it com­meth to passe, that he can­not die quietly, nor depart in peace. These men, how­soeuer they pretend loue & friendship vnto the partie dying, and to his issue and posteritie: yet indeed can there be nothing more vn­friendly, [Page 149] or more hurtfull vnto their friend in such a case. And therefore ought the same by all meanes to be auoyded.

CHAP. XIII.

FOr men to cast off all measure and moderati­on in sorrowing for the death and departure of friends, (though neuer so neare or deare vnto them) as it is affirmed by S. Paul, to be the part, not of Chri­stians, but of Ethnicks and Heathen men, that haue no [Page 150] hope.1. Thes. 4.13 1. Thess. 4.13: so is it conuicted by this only rea­son, to be a thing bootlesse and vaine: In that no wee­ping nor wailing, nor shed­ding of teares, (though shed in neuer so plentifull measure, or continued for neuer so many yeares toge­ther) can yet call againe from death vnto life one man greater or lesse. And therefore are all such teares fruitlesse and vnprofitable, vaine, and of no effect. Whereof we haue a memo­rable example in King Da­uid; 2. Sam. 12.16. who so long as the child was sicke that was borne of Bathseba, he fasted and shed plentie of teares, he went into his priuy chamber and lay all night [Page 151] on the earth, intreating the Lord for the life and reco­uery of the child. But as soone as he perceiued and vnderstood (by the whispe­ring of his seruants) that the child was dead, then he cast away his mourning at­tire, and changed his rai­ment, and washed his face, and annointed himselfe, & did eate his meat cheareful­ly. Which when his Ser­vants admired, supposing that he would haue sorro­wed more, as soone as he should vnderstand of the death of the childe (see­ing hee had so punished himselfe with fasting and weeping, while the child was aliue:) and there­upon asked him the cause [Page 152] and reason why he did so? he made them this answer: While the childe was yet aliue, I fasted and wept: Verse 22. for I said, who can tell whether God will haue mercie on me that the child may liue? But now he being dead, why should I now fast? can I bring him againe any more? I shall goe to him, but he shall not returne vnto me. In which words Dauid wisely declareth and shew­eth, that we ought not to greeue and lament for that which cannot be recouered nor called againe. And this is that which the holy Fa­ther Saint Cyprian prote­steth in his Sermon of Mor­talitie, that he had bene of ten admonished by diuine reuelation, yea, and char­ged [Page 153] also, and commanded of God that he should pub­likely aduertise all men, & in his preaching teach and instruct them, not to sorow or lament ouermuch for the brethren which depart out of this world when God calleth them; for that such sorrowing is hatefull and displeasing vnto God.

Notwithstanding, that we may not seem hard har­ted, or that we loued our friend that is dead very slenderly, or no better then other common men: it is meete and requisite, that we bestow vpon him some teares, and those procee­ding from the sincere affe­ction of commiseration, and of hartie and vnfained loue [Page 154] toward him; but yet al­waies measured and guided by the right rule of reason, and of true pietie and god­linesse. For Christ our Lord & Sauiour himselfe, being the most perfect & absolute patterne of all vertues, did of a louing and tender affe­ction, weepe for Lazarus being dead.Ioh. 11.35. And his holy and godly sisters, Marie and Martha, are greatly commended for lamenting the death of their brother. Likewise of those seruice­able women which stood by the Crosse,Luke 23.27 and beheld while our blessed Sauiour suffered such extreme tor­ments, it is not with out Iohn. 20.11. cause registred in the Gos­pell to their especiall praise [Page 155] and commendation, y^t they shed teares ouer him at his death and buriall. And con­cerning the first Martyr S. Stephen, we reade in the Acts of the Apostles,Act. 8.2. that certaine men fearing God, carried him to be buried, & made great lamentation for him. Whereupon it is, that the Sonne of Sirach giueth aduice and counsel, to bestow some teares vp­on the dead: but yet in any wise he willeth that the same be immoderate, nor continued ouer long;Eccl. 22.11 Weep (saith he) for the dead, be­cause he hath lost the light; but make small lamentation for him, because he is at rest. And hereunto doe tend all those consolatorie Epistles [Page 156] of that holy Father Saint Ie­rome; wherein he comfor­teth the liuing for the death of their friends hence de­parted; auouching and prouing, both by authority of holy Scripture, and by strong reasons and argu­ments, that they ought not to sorrow or weepe im­moderately, for them that are departed hence, and haue changed this life, (as that Epistle written to He­liodor) cōcerning the death of Nepotian; the Epistle written to Paula, concer­ning the death or sleepe of her daughter Blesilla; the Epistle to Tyrasius, concer­ning the death of his daughter; and the rest of the Epistles of that holy Fa­ther [Page 157] which intreate of the like matter.

CHAP. XV.

NOw I beseech and in­treate all, euen as ma­ny as are stiled and called by the name of Christians, and I charge and require you, euen by the mercies of God, y^t once at the length forsaking your former sins and errors, and the horrible darknesse and blindnesse in which ye haue liued, ye will returne vnto a better course of life; with all care and di­ligence, and with sincere & [Page 158] heartie deuotion, hearing and receiuing the word of God, which is able to saue your soules; and continu­ally without intermission knocking at the gates of heauen, and intreating the heauenly Father through his Sonne Christ Iesus, that he will inwardly teach and instruct you, and enlighten your hearts and minds with the true knowledge of Christ, and of his heauenly will. That denying and re­nouncing all vngodly lusts,Tit. 2.12. ye may liue soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world: looking for the blessed hope and ap­pearing of the glorie of the mighty God, & of our Saui­our Iesus Christ; who gaue [Page 159] himselfe for vs, y^t he might redeeme vs from all ini­quitie, and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto him­selfe, zealous of good works.

That same light of grace, and of all comfort and con­solation, (as the day starre frō on high) hath visited vs, and by the infinite goodnes of God, hath in these last times in exceeding great brightnesse shined forth vn­to vs. We haue manifold examples both in the holy Scriptures, and euery day among our selues; which testifie the infinite bountie and mercie, long suffering, patience and gentlenesse of our God toward vs: where­by we may see, how God [Page 160] would not that we should be lost, but that we should conuert & liue; how soone his iust wrath waxeth hote against vs, and how easily againe he is mooued to suc­ceasse from punishing vs as we deserued, so soone as we vnfainedly repent of our sinnes, and stedfastly intend & purpose an amendmēt of our liues. Let these things moue you (deare brethren) and stirre you vp to seeke the Lord, Esay 55.6. while yet he may be found; to call vpon him while he is yet neare vnto you; that the wicked forsake his owne waies, and the vnrighteous his own imaginations, and returne vnto the Lord; and he will haue mercie on him; and vnto our God, for he is very readie [Page 161] to forgiue. Yea let the con­sideration hereof encou­rage you in all your trou­bles and distresses to flie vn­to God, and vncessantly to pray vnto him, that he will mercifully pardon and for­giue you all your sinnes, for his deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ: and y^t he will vouch­safe to preserue and keepe you, to sustaine and vphold you, to cherish and comfort you, and finally to hide and couer you vnder the sha­dow of his wings, and to be present and readie to helpe and succour you in all your need and necessitie. Thus did Dauid whē he saw him­selfe in great distresse and danger;2 Sam. 24.17. and that for his sin there had fallen by a sore [Page 162] plague in three daies space, seauentie thousand men; straightway he flieth vnto God, confessing his sinne, and lamentablie crauing & begging for mercy and for­giuenesse, crying out: Ecce, Behold, I haue sinned, yea I haue done wickedly. And whē he had built an altar in the threshing floore of Aranna the Iebusite, where the An­gel had appeared vnto him, he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings there­upon. And then the Scrip­ture saith,verse 25. That the Lord was appeased toward the land, and the plague ceassed from Israel. By which example of Da­uid (deare brethren) con­fesse your sinnes, pray vnto God for grace, and intreate [Page 163] for mercie and pardon: of­fering vp vnto God that ac­ceptable sacrifice of a peni­tent & contrite heart, which aboue all things is well pleasing vnto him: and be­hold, God will be present and ready to helpe you, nei­ther will he at any time faile you, or forsake you.

In like manner,Iona 1.3. when God sent Ionas vnto Nineue, he threatned to destroy that populous and famous citie. But straightway, as soone as at the preaching of Io­nah, the Nineuites had re­pented, God had compas­sion on them, he pardoned their sinnes and remitted their punishment. Set be­fore you (my brethren) these examples to be imitated & [Page 164] followed. Distrust not the mercie and goodnesse of God.Esay 59.1. Behold, the Lords hand is not shortned, that it cannot saue: he both will, and can saue and helpe, yea releeue and comfort you: so as ye refuse not, neither despise his grace and goodnesse so mercifully and abundantly offered: but call vpon him for helpe and assistance of his grace,Eph. 2.4. who is rich in mercie, Ephesians 2.4 euen rich vnto all that call vpon him,Rom. 10.12. Romanes 10.12.

Now I pray and beseech the Lord Iesus Christ that onely true and approued Physition both of body and soule, that these diuine me­dicines, and spirituall di­rections [Page 165] collected▪ and di­gested out of the rich store-house of the holy and sa­cred Scriptures, may haue a powerfull and effectuall working in your hearts: whereby faith may more & more abound and increase, and the loue of God, and of your brethren more and more feruently bee infla­med in you. And that a­biding constant and pati­ent in all temptations and tribulations whatsoeuer (af­ter the example of the same Christ Iesus,) ye may euen vnto the last gaspe, cleaue and sticke fast vnto him, in assured hope of eternall life and saluation, through the same Christ Iesus our alone Sauiour: To whom [Page 166] with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all glorie and praise for euermore, Amen.

CHAP. I.

WHereas (deare brother) thou art so sore vexed & grie­ued with sick­nesse, know for suretie and make certaine account, that [Page 168] thou art thus afflicted and punished, not by chance or fortune, but by the deter­minate will, purpose, and permission of almightie God. For whatsoeuer affli­ction or calamitie befalleth vnto the children of God, it is doubtlesse sent of God, and it cometh vnto them whollie and altogether at his appointment, and by his guidance and direction. For as much as in him wee liue, Act. 17. and moue, and haue our being. Psal. 100. It is he that hath made vs, and not we our selues. And doubt not thou, but that it is indeed of his good will, and of his loue and fatherly affection toward thee, that he now sendeth this sicknes (whatsoeuer it be) not to [Page 169] destroy thee, but to call thee to repentance, and to exercise and stirre vp thy faith and confidence in him. For afflictions are vndoub­ted signes of Gods vndoub­ted loue and fauour toward vs. Whom God loueth, him (saith Salomon) he correcteth and chastiseth, Prou. 3.12. Heb. 12.6. yea he scour­geth euery one, whom he recei­ueth. Heb, 12.6. Thy mer­cifull and heauenly Father most dearely and entirely louing thee, in his wise counsell & tender affection which he beareth vnto thee, doth by this sicknesse mor­tifie and bridle, represse and keepe vnder thy old man, fast bound (as it were) in ferters and chaines, that so thou maist more willingly [Page 170] and chearfully offer vp thy body as a sacrifice to God, and fasten it with Christ vp­on his Crosse. This sicknes of thine is therefore a fa­therly chastisement, not sent for thy hurt, or for thy destruction, but for thy great good, to the end that thereby thou mayst be re­formed, yea quickned and restored (as it were) to life againe. God thy heauenly Father seeth perhaps, thy old Adam (that is, thy cor­rupt nature) too lustie and vnruly, and too froward and stubborne, to wax wan­ton and proud, and vnable to bridle and ouersway his lusts; and that while he sa­tisfieth too too much his own desires and affections, [Page 171] he cannot restraine himself, nor moderate and keepe himselfe in any good mea­sure: and therefore he doth shut him vp (as it were) in this prison, and he bindeth him (as it were) with these fetters and chaines of weak­nesse and sicknesse, thereby to bridle, represse, and re­straine him, lest he should bring the most noble and precious soule in danger to be seduced. Flesh & blood doth reigne still, and beare the sway in thee more then the Spirit. Here therefore, behold, God is present with thy Spirit, ayding and strengthening the same, while it wrastleth against the rebellious and vnruly flesh; that hauing vanqui­shed [Page 172] the same, it may sub­due it and keepe it vnder. It may be, that if now at this time thou were in health and prosperitie, per­haps thy flesh (as it is al­waies inclined to nothing, but euill) hauing deceiued thee, it would driue thee and cast thee headlong in­to many dangerous sinnes against thy God, where­by the wrath of God shold be prouoked, and a way prepared for thy soule vnto hell fire and damnation. Now behold thy heauenly Father, preuenting this losse and danger, and pro­uiding better for thee, and for thy welfare and safetie; he restraineth and holdeth backe (as it were with a bri­dle) [Page 173] this flesh of thine, which with tooth & naile, and with al her strength re­belleth against the Spirit, and hauing taken it cap­tiue (as it were) he restrai­neth the same, that it tum­ble not into a sinke of sins; but rather may be subdued, and brought in obedience vnto the Spirit. Now, sith this is the good will and pleasure of thy heauenly fa­ther, who doth all this in tender loue vnto thee, and fith that all this tendeth to thy profite and welfare: take heed in any wise that thou striue not, nor oppose thy selfe against the same. But rather suffer patiently, and pray that thy heauenly Fathers wil may be accom­plished [Page 174] and fulfilled; that he will intreate thee, and deale with thee according to his good pleasure; that thou will and desire no­thing, but that which shall seeme good vnto him; that all things may tend to the glorie and praise of God; and that his grace may still be present with thee, to en­able thee to beare meekely and patiently the Crosse & affliction that lyeth vpon thee. For patience bringeth forth experience, and experi­ence hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. Rom. 5.4. Rom. 5.4.

Here hast thou matter and occasion of learning, and of exercising patience in all afflictions. First, thou learnest, that God afflicteth [Page 157] and punisheth thee with a fatherly affection. And this thou learnest by experiēce. For vnlesse thou haue expe­rience hereof indeed, how behooueful & profitable it is for a man wholy to yeeld & giue himselfe vnto God to obey his will (according to that saying of Dauid: Psal. 119. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me) thou canst not conceiue sure and stedfast hope and confidence in him; hauing not had proofe and experience before of so fatherly and louing affecti­on of Almightie God to­wards thee, to lie hid vnder his rod and chastisement. But when thou hast learned the same before by experi­ence, and hast now already [Page 176] some taste therof, thy mind is not daunted, nor ouer­come with any crosses or afflictions: but thy hope & confidence is still more and more increased, when as once and againe thou hast had experience of the helpe of God still present with thee. And if God (through a certaine conniuency) suf­fer thee sometimes to bee plunged, and to sticke fast in the mire (as it were) for a time: yet notwithstanding at the length he will reach out his helping hand, to saue and deliuer thee. Hee suffereth thee peraduenture to swim a while, yea to be plunged in the water, or in the mire: but he will not suffer thee in any wise to be [Page 177] drowned. Hereby thē thou mayest make sure account, that he will neuer forsake thee nor cast thee off, when as being in danger he hath so often preserued thee. In afflictions therefore thou learnest to conceiue, and cherish within thy selfe a certaine and vndoubted hope & confidence in God. So as in farre greater trou­bles and distresses (when as no help appeareth from els­where) thou mayst boldlie put trust and confidence in him: (being already taught and assured of his vsual and ordinarie manner, in sauing & deliuering his children.) Thou hast learned, that sicknesses, and other crosses and afflictions, are sent not [Page 178] in anger, but in fatherly loue and kindnesse: which when thou art perswaded of, (being taught it by ex­perience) thou dost pati­ently wait for help. Neither art thou discouraged, but stedfastly hopest, that at the length hee will send thee help and deliuerance, how­soeuer he deferreth long, & hideth his face, making as if hee heard not. And so at length thou vnderstandest well, and acknowledgest, that thy greefe and sicknes is not sent vnto thee for thy hurt or perdition, but for the glorie of God, and for thine own eternall welfare and saluation. He that can thus commit and yeeld vp himselfe vnto God, resting [Page 179] and relying vpon his pro­mises, he shall no wise dye for euer. Which thing Christ himselfe affirmeth with an oath, that we might not doubt of it, saying; Ve­rily, verily, I say vnto you: Ioh. 8.51. If any man shall keepe my word, he shall neuer see death. And in another place hee saith; I am the resurrection and the life. Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue, though he be dead: and he that liueth and belee­ueth in me, shall not dye for e­uer. These words of thy sweet Sauiour Christ (deare brother) be carefull to keep diligently, and to haue deeply rooted in thy mind; and therewithall raise vp and comfort this wauering mind of thine. He that belee­ueth [Page 180] in me (saith Christ) shall not taste of death. Ioh. 5.24. He that be­leeueth in me, hath euerlasting life. Ioh. 17.3. And This is euerlasting life, that they know thee to be the onely true God, and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. This life euerlasting is be­gun in this world For who­soeuer hath Christ, he hath the true life: for Christ is the true life.Ioh. 14.6. Ioh. 14.6. and he is also the truth (as hee witnesseth in the same place.) And therefore nei­ther will nor can deceiue vs: but the promises of God in him, and through him are [...] and Amen. 2. Cor. 1.20. 2. Corinth. 1.20.

And to the end that thou maiest nothing doubt, but that God will abide by his [Page 181] words & promises, he hath by an especiall and peculiar couenant and signe added vnto thy body, bound and tyed himselfe (as it were) vnto thee. For of an earnest loue and desire of thy salua­tion (hauing sent his owne Sonne into the world, to giue vp himselfe vnto death for thee) he hath made a couenāt of grace with thee through Christ; in whom he hath promised, that if thou beleeue and be bapti­zed, he wil freely giue vnto thee eternall life; he will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee, but will be a Father vnto thee, and will crowne thee with his goodnesse & mercie. Now the signe and seale of his couenant is thy [Page 182] Bap [...]isme. Wherefore vnto the promises annexed vnto this signe it behoueth thee to cleaue fast, & to lay sure hold vpon the same. For God hath giuen thee this signe in thy flesh, that thou mightest nothing doubt of his fauour and mercie pro­mised, and of his faithful­nesse & goodnesse towards thee.Rom. 6.3. Thou art baptized (as S. Paul saith) into the death of Christ, that his death may become thy death; and that he might make a full and perfect satisfaction vnto God for thee.Gal. 3.26. Yea thou hast put him on, (as it were) in Baptisme (for so saith the Apostle vnto the Galathi­ans) that so thou mightest be wholly in him, and he in [Page 183] thee. Baptisme therefore is such a couenant, and such a figure and signe as comfor­teth, reioyceth, & quieteth thy conscience before God (as Saint Peter witnesseth) assuring thee,1 Pet. 3.21. that God will neuer condemne thee for thy sinnes, being throughly purged and washed away in the bloud of his Sonne For being iustified by faith, Rom. 5.1. thou hast peace with God, Ro. 5.1. A quiet, peaceable, & chearefull conscience is this true peace. Now thou hast receiued Baptisme, as a most certaine signe and seale of this thy iustification, and of the remission of all thy sins: that thou mightest assuredly beleeue, that God hauing mercie and compassion vp­on [Page 184] thee for Christ his sake, will saue and deliuer thee.

Now then, forasmuch as God hath a fauor vnto thee, and will be a Father vnto thee, and consequently will neuer forsake thee: and for­asmuch as thou hast so in­fallible a signe and testimo­nie thereof, thou oughtest to commit and giue ouer, both all thy affaires and thy selfe also wholly vnto him, to obey his will, and to suf­fer patiently his hand vpon thee (whether it be his will that thou liue or die) pray­ing and desiring that his good will may be done vn­to his praise and glory. And it is vnpossible if thou trust stedfastly in Gods mercie [Page 185] promised through Christ, and thus dedicate thy selfe wholly vnto him: it is vn­possible (I say) that thou shouldest perish or be con­demned. Forasmuch as God hath promised, that he will be thy Father, euen the same God, who is most true of his word, yea truth it selfe; while thou doest beleeue & acknowledge him so to be, and thereupon hopest and lookest for all good things from him; he cannot, but (as a tender Father) take care of thee, and so conse­quently in good time saue and deliuer thee (how hard­ly soeuer for the present he may seeme to intreate thee) yea forasmuch as he hath promised to be a Father not [Page 186] onely vnto thee, but also vnto thy seede after thee, & thou stedfastly beleeuest these his promises: he will without all doubt haue a diligent and prouident care both of thee and thine. And therefore mayest thou well recommend vnto him, not onely thy bodie and soule, but also thy wife and thy children, thy kinsfolke and thy friends, and briefly all that thou hast belonging vnto thee. Nothing doub­ting but that he will be a true Father vnto thy chil­dren, a true husband vnto thy wife, and a true friend vnto thy kinsfolke and friends. For God hath hi­therto vsed thee in these, & toward these, onely as a Ste­ward. [Page 187] And now when he will haue thee to leaue the execution of this office and charge, he will doubtlesse substitute in thy stead ano­ther Steward ouer them, who shall faithfully and di­ligently take care of them. If with full confidence of heart, thou shalt hope and looke for this from him, there is no doubt but that he will do it (as I haue said.) Wherefore shake off from thee, and cast out of thy mind al care for thy friends, and for all thy worldly af­faires; and commit the same ouer vnto God. Be rather careful for thy selfe, and be­thinke how to prouide for thy soule, and to resigne the same ouer into the hands [Page 188] of thy Creator and Redee­mer.

And now, whereas God hath freely for Christ his sake pardoned and forgiuen thee all thy sinnes: he re­quireth nothing else of thee for this infinite and inesti­mable benefite; but that thou in like manner from thy very heart forgiue all those y^t haue done wrong and iniury vnto thee. And he promiseth that he will forgiue vnto vs our trespas­ses, so as we shall forgiue vnto men their trespasses. Wherfore hauing from the bottome of thy heart par­doned all wrongs and of­fences (so as thou intendest not euer after to renew, nor call to minde againe [Page 189] the remembrance thereof) pray earnestly and heartily for them that haue any way [...]iured or hurt thee, accor­ding to the doctrine and ex­ample of Christ himselfe. And if thou shalt recouer of this thy sicknesse, helpe them to y^e vttermost of thy power (if they shall stand [...]n need of thy helpe.) Now if thou hast thy mind thus voide and free from inward grudge, malice and displea­sure, thou hast also an vn­doubted signe, that God hath pardoned thee all thy sinnes, & vtterly rased them out of his sight. For faith, whereby thy heart is pur­ged, shewing it self, & brin­ging forth her fruits in thee for the blessings and bene­fits [Page 190] of God towards thee, (being infinite in pardoning all thy sinnes, which are in number infinite) it cannot but stirre thee vp in like maner to forgiue thy neigh­bour, and to do good vnto him. Here the fruite of thy loue and charitie witnesseth vnto thee, and putteth thee in assurance, that thy faith is a true and liuely faith; when it bringeth forth good fruite and such as is vnfai­ned. This is that which S. Peter meaneth, when he willeth vs to giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure by our good workes; 2 Pet. 1.10 gi­uing vs to vnderstand, that those good works are wit­nesses and tokens that we are elect & chosen of God, [Page 191] and adopted to be his sons, and consequently to be heires of eternall life and saluation.

Howbeit notwithstanding al this, know, that thou canst not, neither must thou in any wise hope or looke that God will for the pain­fulnesse or grieuousnesse of thy sicknesse and torment, pardon and forgiue thee thy sinnes. For there is no other satisfaction, nor other recompence for thy sinnes, but onely y^e death of Christ. In this case God regardeth nothing else, neither doth he accept of any thing else, but of his beloued Sonne. He is that Lambe of God which onely taketh away the sinnes of the word. Ioh. 1.29. 1 Ioh. 2.2. He is a suf­ficient, [Page 192] perfect, and absolute sacrifice, and oblation for the sinnes of the whole world. As for thy paines or sicknesse, or whatsoeuer torments, or afflictions, (be the same ne­uer so great or intollerable) they are not able to make satisfaction & recompence vnto God for y^e least of thy sinnes; much lesse then can the same deserue saluation: (as Saint Paul witnesseth) I account (saith he) that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18. No creature either in hea­uen or in earth; no man nor Angell was able to pa­pacifie or to mitigate and asswage the wrath and in­dignation of God the Fa­ther: [Page 193] much lesse then is this sicknesse of thine, and this momentanie affliction able to do it. Yea (that more is) hee that must pacifie the wrath and indignation of almightie God, and so re­concile God vnto man, it was necessarie that hee should be both God and man, being to vndertake and deale, yea, and to make intercession and at­tonement betweene God offended and displeased, and man standing guil­tie and condemned. There­fore it was necessarie, that the Sonne of God should be made man, that in his body and in his flesh hee might satisfie the wrath of God his Father by his suffe­rings [Page 194] for vs, and so saue and deliuer vs from the same: as the Prophet witnesseth, saying;Esa. 53.4.6.8. Hee hath borne our iniquities, and carried our sor­rowes. And againe, The Lord hath laid vpon him the iniqui­ties of vs all. And againe, For the transgressions of my peo­ple was he plagued. And Saint Peter telleth vs,1. Pet. 2.24. that his own selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the Crosse, and that by his stripes we are healed. For thy Lord Christ his sake it is then that thy sinnes are for­giuen thee, and for no other thing in the whole world for no affliction nor suffe­ring, though neuer so hard and sharpe. Christ only and alone is our righteousnesse, our satisfaction & redemp­tion, [Page 195] out health and saluati­on.2. Cor. 5.21. Him God made sinne for vs, who knew no sinne, that we might be made righteous, yea the righteousnesse of God in him. Wherefore if thou be­leeue stedfastly,Iohn 1.12. thou art now alreadie the childe of God: and if thou be the child of God, then art thou also the heire of God, and coheire together with Christ,Rom. 8.17. (as Saint Paul wit­nesseth, Rom. 8.) Now if e­ternall life be the inheri­tance of Gods children, & the gift of God,Rom. 6.23. (as S. Paul calleth it) surely thou canst not deserue it by any suffe­ring of paine or sicknesse. But God will therfore haue thee tormented and vexed with this sicknesse, that so [Page 196] thy old man might be sub­dued and ouercome, repres­sed and kept vnder, yea mortified and put to death (as it were) that so at length it may ceasse to offend. And that will be finally at the last by the death of the bo­dy. And for this cause are we to vndergoe this death, that our soule may depart out and enter into eternall blisse. For this death of ours is the gate vnto eternal life. Then and thereby at the length, we are and shall be deliuered from all calami­ties, miseries, and troubles, and from all errors, deceits, and suggestions of the Di­uell. Neither shall we any more be defiled with the most lothsome filthinesse of [Page 197] our sinnes; neither shall we be seduced any more, or misled into heresies and er­rors, nor cast headlong in­to any despaire or doub­ting. Then shall be an end of all miseries and aduersi­ties, and of all troubles and dangers. Then resting in the Lord, we shall enioy e­uerlasting life, and ioyes without end. And therefore death is in no wise to be ab­horred nor feared. Nay ra­ther, the same is earnestly to be wished for and desired; forasmuch as thereby wee passe vnto euerlasting ioyes. And it is most true which Saint Paul saith:Rom. 8.28. That vnto the godly all things worke to­gether for good. Sith that death it selfe (a thing in the [Page 198] sight of the world, of all other most hatefull, and most hideous and horrible) is become vnto the faithfull most sweete and pleasant, and most ioyfull and accep­table. Although our old A­dam (that is, this flesh of ours) doth abhorre it, and by all meanes flye from it, yea, and trembleth for feare of it: yet notwithstanding the inward man is ready & chearefull, yea, glad and willing to vndergo it: for­asmuch as thereby he seeth & knoweth, that he is freed and deliuered from the mire and filthinesse of al his sins and corruptions, from all paines and griefes, and all cares and troubles; and also obtaineth a passage & [Page 199] entrance into euerlasting blisse and glorie, before the throne of God, and of the Lamb Christ Iesus: In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy, Psal. 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore, Psal. 16.11.

CHAP. II.

GOod brother, be of good comfort, lift vp thy heart, and raise vp thy spirit; for behold, the day of thy redemption and dis­solution draweth nigh. Thy most gracious and louing [Page 200] Father (in great mercy to­ward thee) doth now call for thee out of this wret­ched and miserable life, to translate and conuey thee vnto himselfe, vnto the end­lesse ioyes of the heauenly life. And therefore now giue ouer, and wholy com­mend vnto him both thy selfe and all thine. And let thy will and his will be all one. Say within thy heart, Thy will be done (ô God, my heauenly Father) and not mine. Cry out vnto Christ thy Sauiour, with the good theefe vpon the Crosse: Re­member me (ô Lord) when thou cōmest into thy kingdom; Luk. 23.42. or rather, now that thou sittest and reignest in thy glo­rious kingdome. Cry with the [Page 201] Publican, Lord be mercifull vnto me, Luk. 18.13. a most miserable and wretched sinner. Cry instant­ly and earnestly with the woman of Canaan,Mat. 15.22. O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me. And when thou thus criest, doubt not but Christ will heare thee, and will haue mercy vpon thee, in pardo­ning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes: And whensoe­uer thou shalt depart hence, thou shalt assuredly be with him in his kingdome, euen in Paradise. Lay hold ther­fore vpon this thy Christ; sticke fast vnto him, and commit thy soule vnto him as vnto a faithfull Creator.1. Pet. 4.19 With this thy Christ cruci­fied vpon the Crosse, cry vnto God the common Fa­ther [Page 202] of you both, in the words of the Prophet Da­uid, Psal. 31.1. Psal. 31. In thee (ô Lord) I put my trust; let me neuer be confounded. Deliuer me in thy righteousnesse. Bow downe thine eare vnto me, make haste to deliuer me. Be thou my strong rocke and house of de­fence, that thou maist saue me. For thou art my rocke, and m [...] fortresse and strength. Into thy hand I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, ô Lord God of truth. Cry also with Dauid, Psal. 18.1. Psal. 18. Thou, euen thou (ô Lord) art my strength and my fortresse, my refuge, and my deliuerer, my God and my helper. In thee will I trust, for thou art my shield, the [...]orn also of my saluation and my refuge: vnto thee (ô Lord) [Page 203] lift I vp my soule; (ô God) in thee doe I trust; Psal. 25.1. Let me not be ashamed nor confounded Leade me and direct me in thy truth: for thou art the God of my saluation. Remember (ô Lord) thy tender mercies, and thy louing kindnesse, for they haue beene for euer. Remem­ber not the sinnes of my youth, nor my manifold rebellions (ô Lord:) But according to the multitude of thy mercies, Look vpon me for thy goodnesse (ô Lord.) For thy name sake bee mercifull vnto mine iniquitie, (ô Lord) for it is great. Turne thy face vnto me, and haue mercy vpon me. Deliuer me, and draw me out of my trou­bles. Pardon and forgiue mee all mine offences. Keepe my soule and deliuer me. Let me [Page 204] not be confounded: for I put my trust in thee. If in this maner thou shalt with thy whole heart call vpon God for help, God will assuredly re­lieue thee in due time, and will say vnto thee, as he did concerning Dauid his ser­uant:Psal. 91.14. Because he hath trusted in mee, therefore will I deli­uer him: I will therfore saue and defend him, because he hath knowne my name. He hath called vpon me, and I will heare him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliuer him, and after glorifie him. Wherefore (deare brother) fight now a good fight, fight valiantly and coura­giously, and also constantly and stedfastly, as becometh a true Christian, and a valiant [Page 205] souldier of Iesus Christ. Take heede in any wise that thou lose not, nor giue o­uer thy standing. Turne not backe, for behold, here is no danger at all. Thou dost not fight here alone: but Iesus Christ thy Lord and King, he is thy guide and Captaine in this fight. Him follow, who in this sharpe combate hath gone before thee. He as he is thy guide and captaine: so he will be thy defender and deliuerer, to defend and deliuer thee in this fight and conflict, from all the enemies of thy soule, and from all troubles and dangers whatsoeuer. For he is not as a mortall & earthly king, who some­times for want of power, is [Page 206] frustrate of his wil and pur­pose. But he is of endlesse and infinite power, able to performe whatsoeuer he hath purposed or promised. Yea and he it is, that hath alreadie for thy sake van­quished and foiled Satan, death,1 Cor. 15. and hell. Death is swallowed vp into victory through Christ, who hath died for thee. And there­fore euerlasting death hath no interest nor power ouer thee. Christ for thy sake hath descended into hell; that he might free and de­liuer thee from that horri­ble and endlesse darknesse. Be strong therefore and of good courage, and with an vndaunted heart & mind now fight that good fight [Page 207] of faith,1 Tim. 6.12 laying hold of e­ternall life, whereunto thou art called, and hast profes­sed a good profession be­fore many witnesses: shake off all feare, for here is no danger. There is no cause for thee to feare the strict­nesse and seueritie of Gods iudgement. For behold, Christ Iesus is thy mediator in the sight and presence of God; he also is thy aduo­cate & intercessor to pleade thy cause, and thine high priest to make attonement vnto God for thee. He it is that hath reconciled thee vnto God, and that hath re­couered vnto thee and for thee the loue and the good will and fauour of his hea­uenly Father, which by [Page 208] meanes of thy sins was vt­terly lost & alienated from thee. God almightie (in and through Christ, and for his sake) is now become thy Father, and he entirely lo­ueth thee, and hath care of thee as of his child that is most tender and deare vnto him. Now then, forasmuch as he who is so great and mightie a king is with thee; who can go about to do thee hurt? who shall im­pugne or oppose and set himselfe against thee? Heare what S. Paul saith:Rom. 8.31. If God be with vs, who can be against vs? who spared not his owne Sonne: but gaue him vnto death for vs all, how shall he not with him giue vs all things also? Who shall lay any thing to [Page 209] the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that iustifieth, who shall condemne? It is Christ who [...]ath died; yea rather, who is risen againe; who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for vs. Who shall separate vs from the loue of God? I am perswaded that neither death nor life, nor An­gels, nor Principalities nor Po­wers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Seeing then that Christ with all his goodnes and benefits is giuen vnto thee; righteousnesse also & holinesse, iustification and redemption, yea euerlasting life and saluation, these are all freely giuen and besto­wed [Page 210] vpon thee (as S. Paul witnesseth, 1. Cor. 1. That Christ is made vnto vs of God his Father, 1 Cor. 1.30. both wisedome and righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption.

See then that thou haue thy hope and confidence wholly setled, and firmely and stedfastly fixed vpon this corner stone Christ Ie­sus. He is a most sound and a most strong and sure foun­dation, whereunto thou mayest safely commit thy selfe, and whereupon thou mayest boldly relie. No tempest (though neuer so blacke and cloudy, or neuer so hideous and terrible:) no showers or stormes what­soeuer, are or shall be able to cast cast downe or ouer­throw [Page 211] this foundation: vp­pon this thy sweete Sauiour Christ (I say) let all thy hope and happinesse be founded and built. Cast thy selfe vp­pon him, and giue thy selfe ouer wholly vnto him; put thy confidence in him, and cleaue fast vnto him. And let no affliction nor temp­tation plucke thee away frō him: (howsoeuer things seeme to come to passe ne­uer so aukwardly or contra­ry to reason and sence; how­soeuer thine owne reason shall deeme and iudge o­therwise, or flesh and bloud shall neuer so much per­swade and counsell other­wise; yea howsoeuer the diuel now and then may suggest vnto thee, & whis­per [Page 212] into thine eares, or put into thy mind, that thou art quite vndone, and art past all hope; that God cannot but still be highly displea­sed with thee, and that thou shalt be condemned to be punished in hell fire (as thou hast deserued.) Yet not­withstanding, all these and the like suggestions, do thou by a stedfast and true faith relie vpon thy sweete Sauiour Christ Iesus, and sticke fast vnto him.Heb. 11.1. For faith is the ground (or expe­ctation) of things, that are ho­ped for (to wit, being promi­sed) not of things that are sensible, or conceiued by sense: and it is the euidence of things not seene, (that is a sure and certaine know­ledge [Page 213] and proofe of the things that appeare not. Hebrews 11.1. It standeth thee vpon therefore with the holy and faithfull Pa­triarch Abraham, euen be­side hope, and aboue hope, [...] beleeue vnder hope.Rom. 4.18. Thy faith & thy hope must set it self to resist all those things, which either blinde rea­ [...]on shall suggest vnto thee, [...] that cunning and craftie [...]nemie the diuel (who lieth [...]n waite to destroy) shall seeke to infuse and put into thee. Here therefore thou [...]t to learne and obserue,1 Pet. 5.8. for thy cōfort, Gods man­ner and custome in sauing those that are his: whom he will lift vp into heauen, him [...]e doth commonly first of [Page 214] all bring downe to hell. Whom he will quicken and make aliue, him he doth first bring downe to the gates of death. Vpon whom he will shew his greatest mercie & kindnesse, in sauing and de­liuering him, him he suffe­reth before to be tempted, and maketh as if he would condemne him. Wherefore euen then, when thou fee­lest nothing else, but pre­sent death; when God see­meth most of all to be angry with thee; whē he seemeth to be furthest from thee, yea and to haue wholly and altogether forsaken thee, & cast thee off (as one repro­ued and condemned) euen then is he nearest vnto thee, to protect, defend, and de­liuer [Page 215] thee; then he most of all loueth thee, and then he [...]ath greatest care ouer thee. For in the middest of trouble and affliction God remembreth mercie (as the Prophet in many places beareth witnesse.Psal. 30.5.) His wrath endureth but the twinckling of [...]n eye: but in his fauour is life. Weeping may abide at night, but ioy cometh in the morning. Lam. 3.31. And againe, He will not for­sake (or be angry) for euer: yea rather, As a father pi­ [...]ieth his owne children: so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him: For he know­eth whereof we be made; he re­membreth that we are but dust. Now,Psal. 103.13. the mercie of the Lord is for euer and euer vpon them that feare him. The [Page 216] Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Psal. 145.8 slow to anger, and of great mercy: yea our God is good vnto all, (how much more to his children? to them that loue and feare him?) and his mercy is ouer all his workes, (as the same Prophet wit­nesseth, Psalme 145.8.) And therefore closing vp the eies both of thy mind, and also of thy senses, and vtterly casting off the iudg­ment of reason, submit and giue ouer thy selfe wholy vnto Christ, and take it in good part howsoeuer he shall deale with thee. Thou must not esteem and iudge of death, or of the horror and paines of death, accor­ding to the iudgement of outward sight, or of sense [Page 217] and reason; but according to the word of God, and the censure and iudgement thereof. Dauid saith, That Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. Psal. 116.15. And the voyce of God him­selfe from heauen cryeth in the Reuelation of S. Iohn. Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. Apoc. 14.13 And Christ him­selfe saith:Iohn 8.51. He that beleeueth in me shall not taste of death. Wherefore, if any thing be presented vnto thee, which may seeme to turne thee a­way from Christ: cast the same wholly out of thy mind. Sticke fast vnto the word of God, which abi­deth for euer. Meditate still vpon it, and by often repea­ting the same, imprint it [Page 218] stedfastly in thy mind. For thou canst not indeed euer conceiue by the quicknesse & sharpnesse of thine own reason, how al this may be; that thou shouldest passe thorough death vnto the true life; how thou shouldst die and depart this world by breathing out thy soule; how thy soule should bee kept safe in the Lord, and should abide and rest with him vnto the last day; and how also thy body being putrified and eaten vp of wormes, and consumed to dust and ashes, could rise a­gain in the last day of iudg­ment, and come forth in so fresh and glorious a forme & maner. This reason in no wise is able to conceiue: [Page 219] onely faith can compre­hend it. And therefore still meditate vpon the Articles of thy faith, and diligently weigh and consider in thy mind all the seuerall parts of the same, with a particu­lar application thereof vn­to thy selfe.

CHAP. III.

NOw (deare brother) is the time, that thou must fight that good fight, and lay hold on eternal life. Now therefore fight man­fully and couragiously, [Page 220] keep thy standing diligent­ly, & lay hold fast on Christ Iesus, that none take away thy Crowne. Fixe stedfastly in thy mind the promises of Christ thy Redeemer. I am (saith he) the resurrection and the life. Ioh. 11.25 He that beleeueth in me shall liue, and shall not dye for euer. Christ hauing taken our nature vpon him (with all those defects and infir­mities whereto we are sub­iect) and dying vpon the al­tar of his Crosse, hath offe­red vp himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for all our sinnes. He it is, that by his most precious blood, hath purged away the sinnes of all that truly and vnfained­ly beleeue in him. And this [Page 221] thy Sauiour Iesus Christ wil in no wise forsake thee. He it is that vndoubtedly ca­reth for thee, to saue, protect, and deliuer thee. Nothing therefore shall touch thee, nor preuaile a­gainst thee to hurt thee. The foundation of God remai­neth sure, hauing this seale: 2. Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his. Christ saith: My sheepe, Iohn 10.27. heare my voyce; and I know them, and they follow me; and I giue vnto them eternall life, and they shall neuer perish: nei­ther shall any be able to take them out of my hand. My Fa­ther that gaue them vnto me, a greater then all: and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand. I and my father are one. Wherefore (deare [Page 222] brother, beloued in Christ) commend thy soule into the hands of God thy hea­uenly Father; who for his Son his sake, doubtles doth entirely loue thee, hauing ransomed and redeemed thee with so great a price, as the death and bloodshed­ding of his only sonne. Cry out therefore confidently with thy elder brother Christ: O heauenly Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, which thou hast redee­med with so great a price. Lord Iesus receiue my soule.

Now the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort and consolation, confirme and strengthen thee, conduct and leade thee, and by the ministery [Page 223] of his holy Angels, trans­port and carrie thee (as they did Lazarus) into the bo­some of Abraham, euen in­to euerlasting life; and fi­nally, preserue and keepe thee vnto that most ioyfull resurrection at the last day. Amen.