A medicine against synne vexinge and troubelinge. our conscience.

LEt vs cal earnestly to remem­brance that the sonne of God came downe from heuen, be­came man, toke vp on his backe the synnes of the worlde, died for them vpō y^e crosse, there makinge satisfaction for vs and paing our dettes. This most precious blod of christ was shed also for vs, and of this deth we be also partakers so we rightlie beleue in Christe, Nether nede we to doubt but Christ died aswell for vs, as for Peter and Paule:Rom. 6. For we be bap­tized also (as sainct Paule saith) in the deth of Christ. This ought to comfort vs, this ought to erect and stay our myndes. For seinge we be baptized in the dethe of Christe. Christes dethe bringeth [Page] also vnto vs helth and saluacion. By Christes deth we be also dead to synne: by Christes deathe we haue also certaine and sure remis­sion of our synnes, by Christes dethe we be raised also to a newe and euerlastinge life. For bap­time is a couenand betwixt God and vs. And a signe of his grace and fauour towarde vs wherin we be reconciled and made at one with god againe, so that we may nowe haue a ioyfull and quiet cō ­science, for somoche as our synnes be forgeuē vs, through the resur­rection of Iesus christ. Yea christ also in the institucion of the most blessed sacramēt of his last supper speaketh also to vs saing, that his blood is shed for the remission of synne. Nowe although we haue not liued alwaie innocentlie ne­ther led suche a lyfe as we ought [Page] to haue done: Yet we maye not dispayre, but w^tout delaye resort vnto god, by true repentaunce, cal faithfullye vpon his name, and we shalbe saued.Rom. x. Ye let euery one of vs with a meke harte burst out in to these, or like wordes and say O moste mercifull God, father of al mercy, father of oure LORD Iesu Christe, be mercyfull vnto me a wretched synner, make spede to deliuer me, for the most bitter (but moost precious) death, and passion of Iesu Christe thy onlie begotten sonne, oure redemer, and only sauioure: Amen. Enter not (o lord) in to iudgement with thy feruaunte, handle me not accor­dinge to my deseruinge, nether do vnto me after my iniquities: but accordinge to thy infinite and botomles goodnes & mercy take me vnto the. I a miserable and [Page] wretched creature am ī thy hand, I am in thy debt & daunger, thou mayst do with me what it please the. O mooste mercifull father forsake me not, nether cast me of. I am thine all that I am. There can no man comfort, no man help no mā deliuer me, but thou alone. Thou art the true comfort, the most present helpe, the surest bul­warke in all necessitie. Thou god art my refuge, my strength, my helpe in al trouble. Thou art my Lord in thy handes resteth al my chaunce and affaires. Shewe thy louing and mercyfull face vpon thy seruaunt, saue me in thy mercy O lord: but in any ways in our extreme sicknes and affliction, let vs beware we loke not to earnest­ly neither to longe vpon our syn­nes. But rather let vs haue the i­mage of Christes moste helthfull [Page] and precious deth before our eys. Let vs fix that in our mynd and be fully persuaded that Christ is now bourdened with our synnes, that he hathe nowe taken theim vpon his owne shoulders and so hathe satisfied for theim and wa­shed them away, that he wil neuer charge vs with thē, but frelie forgeaue vs theim as we professe in our Crede. whē we say Credimus remissionē peccatorū. we beleue the remyssion of synnes.

Here it shalbe mete that in our sicknes we call to remebraunce such pla­ces of holie scripture as testi­fieth of remission of synne purchased by Christe of the which some be here sub­scribed.

Io. i.BEhold y^e lambe of god which takith away the synne of the world.

We are bought with no golde,i. Pet. i. nor siluer, nether any corruptible price, but with the precious blood of the vnspotted and vndefyled lambe Iesus Christe.

So god hath loued the world that he gaue his onlie begotten sonne to thende that we so bele­uinge in him should not perishe but haue lyfe euerlastinge.Io. iii.

I come not to call the righteous but the synners to repentaunce.Mar. ix. Come vnto me al ye that laboure and are laden and I shall refreish you. Lo he calleth al, he refuseth,Math. xi. he excludeth none, we must includ also our selues within this worde (All) we must resorte to him, and he will receaue and refresh vs.

God setteth forth his loue to­ward vs. For Christ died for vs,Rom. 5. when we were yet sinners, muche more now therfore we being iustified [Page] by his blood shalbe sauffe frō wrath by him.

i. cor. i.Christ Iesus is becommed vnto vs wisdome, rightousnes, holi­nes & redempcion. Here let vs cō ­fort our selues y^t though we haue be neuer so great sinners, let vs cō ­fesse and knowledge our sinne, let vs call for mercy and pardon, let vs vnfainedly beleue Christ to be our only helth Iustice, and redēption: and straight waye he is so, he will by and by couer and put away our synnes in such sort y^t we shal nede fere no peril nor daūger

ii. co. v.Him that knew no sinne, hath god made sinne .i. a paymente of sinne for vs, that we shulde becōe the righteousnes of god by him.

Gala. i.Christ gaue him selfe for oure sinnes that he might deliuer vs frō this presēt wicked world according to the wil, of god our father.

In Christ we haue redempciō thorough his bloude,Ephesi. i. euen the re­mission of sinnes according to the riches of his grace.

Christ Iesus is come into this worlde to saue synners.i. Ti. i.

Christ Iesus hath geuin him self a redemption for al men.i. Ti. ii This let vs constātly beleue & vndoub­ted we be of the number of those y^t shalbe saued. For whē he is come a redemption for all, these thin­ges y^t he hath suffered pertaineth no lesse to the & me, & euery one of vs (so we beleue) than to Peter or Paule.i. Pe. ii. Christ hath borne our sinnes in his body vpō the crosse.

Christ died once for our sinnes y^e righteous for y^e vnrighteous.i. petr. iii

The bloud of Iesus christ clē ­seth vs from al sinne.i. Io. i.

Yf any mā doth sinne we haue a aduocate w^t the father euē Iesusi. Ioan. ii [Page] Christ the righteouse and he is y^e attonemente for our synnes: Not for ours onely: but for the sinnes of the whole worlde.

By these places and suche like we maye se howe god the father (which wil not the death of a sin­ner, but that we shulde turne and liue) for that most feruent & bur­ning loue that he beareth toward vs, hath eased vs of the burden of our sin, & hath laide it vpō y^e back of his most dere beloued sonne. which his sōne hath so takē, borne and suffered for them: that they can neuer condemne vs. For god taketh and reputeth the death of his sonne for a full satisfaction & paiment for al our sinnes, so that we truly beleue in him: For seing that our sinnes thus laide vpon Christe could not ouercome him, detain him in deth, nor dāne him [Page] (for why he rose againe) vndoub­tedly a full satisfaccion is alredy made for them, the iustice of god is fully answered, and they be vt­terly hid and forgeuen. Let vs beleue this and we shall not perishe euerlastignly. For Christ is now become ours, with al that he hath with his death, with his resurrec­tion, with his assencion into hea­uen, with his life,Qui proprio filio suo non pepercit. his merits his glorie. As saint Paule witnesse. Rom. viii. wherfore Satan hath nowe no title to vs, he can not medle with vs, he hath no power to hurt vs. Forsomuch as we be iu­stified by christ, purged from our sinnes, and made the children of god by Christ who hath reconci­led vs & wrought our peace, we must therfore be of good cōforte. For seinge we be in the handes of god, that is omnipotent, who is [Page] now our best most louing, & trusty father we be in a sure porte, we be w^t our daunger, there cā no incommodity nor aduersitie hurt vs, for we be inuironed w^t the custody of god, & the gard of angels, oute of the handes of this heuenly father can no creature by force pluck vs When we be at an ende by death of this crosse and corporal afflic­tion then haue we ended our iourney, then haue we finished oure warre: Christe hathe borne the same crosse, Christe hathe passed the same waye, he hathe suffered like deathe, he is oure heade we muste be like to him, we must suf­fer with hī, if we intend to raigne with him, we must leue this cor­porall lyfe, ere that we can inioye lyfe euerlastinge. Lette not oure synnes trouble vs, lette them not tormente oure conscience, as [Page] though they coulde not be forge­uen. They are alredy forgeuen, yf we repent and beleue: Christ is al ours as muche as he is. He by his innocency hath couered and taken awaye oure synnes. As Christe can not be dampned, euen so we can not be dampned, yf with a ryghte faithe, we cleaue vnto hym. As synne, deathe, and hell, hadde no power against Chryste so haue they no power against vs so we be in Christe, and Chryste in vs. Yf the matter hadde be left and cōmitted to vs to haue borne our owne synnes, and to haue sa­tisfied for them, they wolde haue be to heuie for vs, we had not be able to stande vnder theym they wolde haue pressed and sunke vs downe to hell. But christe bothe god and man hath (of his owne [Page] free will) offered him selfe for vs. he hath taken our turne, he hathe plaide our part, and paide for vs all that we ought. As it is in the Psalme spoken in the person of christe, I paid that I ought not. We had trespased, we were y^e det­ters, so farre behind hand, that all that was in vs, was not able to paie y^e lest sōme we ought. Christe became our suertie, paid for vs, acquited vs, and set vs at libertie. yea, made vs coheires with him of euerlastinge glorye.

Yf it were possible for one man to commit the sinnes of the whole worlde, so he truely repente and cleaue by true faith to Christe, he can not be dampned, his synnes be sufficiently and abundantly by Christe satisfied for. For Christe (as towchinge his godhed one in substance with the heuinlie father [Page] As towchinge his manhede our very fleshe and blood) hath pur­chased, and trulie bought grace and pardon for vs. For Christ be­came man for vs, was borne for vs, died vpō the crosse for vs, rose from dethe for vs, ascended into heuin for vs, and hath accompli­shed and performed all thinges mete for our saluacion, for vs. Yf therfore we beleue in christ we are become partakers of gods fauor we are eased of the packe & bourdē of synne, we are made the heires of god and coheires with Christe for euer, and that by Christ and for Christ. For without Christ there is no consolaciō, no helth no hope, no helpe. In Christe alone is all comforte, all helth, all hope, all succour, all refuge, all grace and mercy more habundant more plē ­teous, more excellent than any mā [Page] is able either to comprehend or to wishe. God graunte vs therfore a true and a constant faith. In this forme or in like sort we must comfort our selues in our sickenes or calamitie, and our brother beinge visited. But in any wais and with al dilygence it is to be foreseene, y^t we withdrawe oure mynde from the fearefull and terrible contem­placion of synne, death, and dam­nacion. And that we fixe these of our mynd and whole thoughte v­pon Christ only, y^t we cleue vnto him, that we cal vpon him, that we cōmit our self wholy to him. For in Christe we shal espie nothing but innocencie, iustice, life, saluacion, which al be deriued from Christe into vs, so that we will acknow­ledge him, & receaue him for y^e au­thor of our saluacion and only re­demer. yf we haue christ crucified [Page] afore our eys: yf we imprinte him in our hart, yf we flee to him with our faith: if we wholy cleue to him. Then shal hel gates nothing pre­uaile against vs, then shall we be able to withstand al the forcible assaultes of Satan, though they be neuer so sore, neuer so fierce, neuer so terrible.

Let vs cal to remembraunce w^t what lenitie, what gētilnes, what humanitie, what clemency Christe (as it is in the euangelical history) hath called vnto him and receued al suche sinners as hath repented them, and desired his helpe. We shall finde Mary Magdalen, the synner that honge vpon the right hand of christ crucified, the pub­licane, zache, with other mo whom Christe most louingly receiuinge pronounced clere frō sin, (though they had synned greatlye) and the childern of saluacion, Christe is [Page] very grace, mercy, helpe, comfort, life, ioye, and saluacion to al those which loke for these thīges at his hādes: and put their trust in him. And all these thinges hathe God (who is truethe it self & can not lie nor will not deceyue) promysed vnto vs for christes sake.

Fynallie whē deth approcheth we must do as Christe dyd vpon the crosse, we must praie for our enemyes and forgeaue them with our harte. Yf we haue offended any man we must be hartelie sorye for it, we must desire forgeuenes. yf we haue iniured any man, we must make him amendes, or take suche order that amendes maie be made vnto him. yf it passithe our power to make restitucion and amendes: it shalbe ynoughe that we desire forgeauenes. And with our hartes forgeaue others which [Page] hath hurt vs either in name, bodie substance or estimacion. For yf we trulie forgiue: god hathe promi­sed we shalbe forgiuen as it is in the syxt of Mathew.

It is verie necessarie also and profitable for the confirmaciō and strenghteninge of our faithe to re­ceaue the moste blessed sacrament of the bodie and blood of our saui­our christ which we ar cōmaunded to receaue in remembraunce of his benefites, that hereby, we maie be trulie certified in our conscience his body to be geuen for vs, and his blood to be shed for remission of our synnes.

A medicine against the feare of death.

WE muste call to our remem­braunce dethe to be ouer­comed and abolished by Christe. So that nowe the soules of so many as trust in Christ, cā not die nor perishe: but departinge frome the body goeth straight to christe. For thus was it saide to the thefe at his houre of death. This daie shalt thou be with me in paradise. The bodye thoughe it reste and pause for a while yet we be in cer­taine hope that at the laste daye it shalbe raised againe to immortall and euerlasting lyfe. And therfore scripture calleth the deathe of the body but a slepe, for that this same fraile, weke, vyle, mortal and corruptible bodye, which we carie a­bout, which lieth sicke & sore diseased, which shortly shalbe put into [Page] the earth, burnt to asshes, deuou­red w^t bestes or foules, drowned in water, y^e same self body (I say) shal be raised again incorruptible, glorious, bewtifull, stronge,i. cor. xv. pure immortall to possesse a newe and e­uerlastinge lyfe: where there shal neither be hūger, thirst, heat, cold, synne, deth nor any kynde of cala­mitie, but iustice, innocencye, lyfe, ioye, blesse, world withoute ende. For as the body of Christe laid in the graue rose againe the thirde day neuer more to die. Euē so shal y^e bodies of al that beleue in christ at the later day be resuscitate to a lyfe, after whiche shall folowe no death. God who is of infinite po­wer and infallible truth hath promised these thynges, they muste therfore nedes be so. And here it shalbe profitable to call to remembraunce suche places of scripture [Page] as treatith of the resurrection of the flesh, which be the wordes not of man but of god. who is able & will certainly fulfill what soeuer he hathe spoken. No man can chaunge his wil, no man can alter his purpose. No creature can fru­strate, let, or tarie his sentence. He is omnipotēt, he is true, he is faithfull, his goodnes and mercie is inexplicable. Let no man therfore doubt of the treuthe of his wor­des let no man doubt of the per­formaunce of his promise.

Herafter folowithe certayne places of scripture witnessinge the resurrection of the dead according to this article of our faith wherin we saie we beleue y^t this flesh shall rise againe.Iohn. vi.

THis is the will of my Father which sente me, y^t whosoeuer seith the sonne & beleuithe in him shall haue life euerlastinge and I [Page] will raist him vp againe in the last daye.

The houre comithe wherin all they that be ī the grauys shal here the voice of the sonne of God and shall go forthe thei that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life.Iohan. v

For if so be that the spirit of him which raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you:Rom. viii euin he that raised vp Iesus Christe from the dead shall also quicken your mor­tall bodyes because of his sprite that dwelleth in you.

God hathe bothe raised vp oure Lorde Iesus Christ and shal also raise vs vp by his power.i. Cor. vi.

Christe saithe Lazarus was but a slepe where in verie dede he was dead and buried.Iohan. xi But Christ is the resurrectiō and life (as it is in the same place) so that he that beleuethe on him thoughe he were [Page] dead he shall lyue, In verefienge whereof he raised straighte waye Lazarus being foure dayes dead and stynkynge. And because we be naturallye in the agonye of deathe verye fearefull, weake and faintherted: to thende y^t we might be the easelier perswaded in the article of resurrectiō: Scripture maketh mencion of manye whiche in the time of the prophetes, Christe, and thappostles were called from deathe to lyfe,

Luc. 7.Christ raysed the widowes sōne.

Luc. 8.He raised the ruler of the sina­goge his daughter.

Ioa. xi.He raised Lazarus.

Act. ix.Peter restored to life Tabitha.

Act. xx.Paule raised again Eutichus.

iiii. Re. 4.Elizeus the prophet called a­gaine to lyfe his hostes sonne.

iii. re. xviiHelias raised the babe of y^e wo­man of Sareptanie.

God toke also vnto him out of this frail and transitory lyfe,Gen. 5. 4. Reg. ii. these two excellent and holy mē Enoch and Helias quicke bothe bodye & soule, to giue vs (as it were) a tast and representacion of the true lyfe to come, lest after the opinion of y^e ethnickes and epicures we shulde thinke there were no worlde, nor beinge after this wretched & mise­rable life. Let vs not forget what christ Iesꝰ lord of life, & deth, saith in the .viii. of Luke, wepe not, the maid is not dead but a slepe. Rea­son not cōprehēding y^e misteries of god, nether perceiuing his power doth laugh this saīg to scorne, but christ prouethe his saing true, he raiseth by & by y^e dead maid to life.

The .xv. chapter of the first epistle to the Corin. is replenished w^t moste godly pleasaunt and pithie consolacions. Trulye it is more [Page] precious than anye golde. For in that Chapit. saincte Paule dothe so annexe and couple our resur­rection to the resurcection of christ as though thei coulde in no wise be seperate or diuided after this forme. Christ is risen from death (which thing is certain) ergowe al so shal vndoutedly rise. For christ is our head and we his membres: This head is neither without ne­ther will forsake his membres. Thē it foloweth that where christ is, there shall we be. For why, we are the membres of his bodie and euin of his flesshe and bone,Ephesi. 5. what tonge, what penne, what witte is able to set forthe (as it is worthy) this ineffable, & inestimable glory of the mercy and grace of god, that God hathe vouchsafe so lowe to humble him self as to become mortall man that this feble and fraile [Page] nature of man vnited and knit to the diuine nature by the power & efficacie of the godhead, might be inhaunced & promoted to immor­talitie. For trulie the nature of all faithfull men which ether were before christ, hathe be sens, ar now or shalbe to the worldes ende: vndoubtedlie in christ verie god and man hathe optained imortality. The consolacion therfore y^t riseth of christes resurrection is of great efficacitie, As when sainct Paule saithe to the Corinthians: Christ,i. Cor. xv, is risen againe from deade, and is the first fruictes of theim y^t slepe for by one man truli came death & by one man cometh the resurrectiō of y^e dead. And as al die ī Adame: euin so shall all be made aliue in christ, but euerie one in his order. The first is christ. Thē they which are christes which hathe beleued [Page] in his commīg. And saincte Paul dothe adde a similitude taken of naturall thinges wher by he doth set forthe and declare the resur­rection of bodies. The similitude is taken of sede which cast into the earthe by the husbandman dieth as it were and rotteth. Ne­uer the lesse it is not vtterlie lost but at lenght springeth & cometh forthe of y^e earth, goodlie, beauti­full & pleasaunte. So our bodyes shall rise againe not feble, vyle, corruptible, mortall: but stronge glorious incorruptible, immortal neuer to die again but euer to liue

The way in to true and euerlastinge lyfe to our longe home (as they call it) and contrey is by cor­porall death. Fleshe and blood beinge corruptible and mortal can not inherit y^e kyngdō of god wher nothing is but life. Therfore this [Page] corruptible body must put on īcorrupciō, & thys mortal must put on immortality.Ore. xiiii. Esa. xxv. Than shal the saing that is writtē be fulfilled. Death is swalowed vp in victory. They that beleue in Christ hath nowe ouercomed synne, deathe, and hel. Therfore not fearinge deathe but stronge, bold, and wel harted in Christe: they may saye deathe where is thy sting? death where is thy victorie? The stinge of deathe is synne, and the power of synne is the lawe. But thankes be vn­to god which hathe geauen vs the victorie through our lorde Iesus Christe.

Let vs heare also more sentēces full of godly and mightie conso­lacion.

He that hathe raised vp Iesus shall raise vs vp also with Iesus.ii. Cor. iiii

Phili. iii.Our conuersaciō is in heuin frō whence we do loke for the sauiour our lorde Iesus christ which shal chaūge our vile body y^t it may be like fashioned vnto his glorious bodie according to the workinge of his power, by the which also he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him self.

Col. iii.Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god, but when christ your life shall appere then shal ye also appere in glorie with him.

i. Tesso. 4.We woulde not (brethern) that ye shuld be ignorant concerninge them that sleepe, y^t ye sorowe not also as other do whiche haue no hope. For yf we beleue that Iesus christ died and rose againe: euin thē also which are a slepe, through Iesus shal God bringe with him.

ii. Tim. iiSainct Paule also doth com­forte Timothe with the article of [Page] resurrection saing. Remembre y^e the lord Iesus Christ beinge the seed of Dauid rose again from the dead accordinge to my gospell. And if we be dead with him we shall also liue with him. Yf we suffer paciētly we shal also raign with him.

It is writen also to y^e Hebreus that Christe tasted deathe for all men,Hebre. ii. and that he was partaker of flesche and bloode .i. became ve­rie mā that he might destroy him which had the rule of death (that is) the deuil, and that he might deliuer theim which were in bon­dage all their life tyme, by the reason of the feare of death.

God hathe deliueryd vs,ii. Tim. i. and called vs w^t an holie calling, not accordinge to our workes but ac­cordinge to his purpose & grace whiche is geauen vs in Christe [Page] Iesu before the tyme of the world but is nowe made manifest by the apperinge of oure sauioure Iesu Christ which trulie hath destroi­ed death and hathe brought life and immortalitie to lighte by the gospell.

i. Io. iii.We knowe that we are trans­lated frome life to death because we loue the brethern.

i. Io. 4.In this hathe the loue of god apperid in vs, because God sent his onlie begotten sonne into the world y^t we might liue through him.

Iob. xix.I knowe that my redemer dothe liue, and in the last daie I shall rise againe, and againe be wrapped in my owne skine. And in my owne flesshe shall see God, whome I my self shall see & these my eyes shall beholde and none other:

These places of hollie scrip­ture and suche like, if we diligentlie remēbre & faithfullie imbrace: we shall perceaue great consola­cion and conforte,Phi. iii. And euin with saincte Paule reioyse, that we knowe christe and the power of his resurrection, wherby deth is ouercomed. Nether is there nowe (to these that beleue in Christ) any thinge in deathe terrible or to be feared, sauinge onlye the Image and outwarde forme, hurt it can not. Like as a dede serpent kea­pith stil his old fearful shape and forme: but to stinge or do harme he hathe no power at al. And like as by the brasin serpente whiche Moses by goddes commaunde­mente sette vp in deserte when it was loked vpō through the po­wer of goddes woord men were deliuerid frome daunger of the [Page] liuelie and venyme serpentes so our deathe is made harmles and we deliuered frome the fear and daunger of it, so oft as with the eys of our faithe we do beholde the helthefull and medicinable dethe of Christe. In conclusion deathe is nowe become but a I­mage and shadowe of deathe, yea the entraunce and gate to life. For Christ who is trueth it self saithe. Yf any man kepe my worde,Io. viii he shall neuer see deathe, For a man trustinge to the mercy of God, through faithe, which he concea­uith by heringe of Christes gos­pell: is so vnite and knitt to christ his lorde and maister, that he can not be plucked nor seperate from him.

The body in dede for a tyme is seperate from the soule but in certaine hope of risinge againe to [Page] euerlastinge life. And so he that beleuithe in Christe dothe not see nor fele the euerlastinge dethe of body and soule, which is euer­lastinge dampnacion, For the deathe of good men is nothinge els but a departure from this transi­tory and mortal life: to immortality to christ, to his angelles and sainctes.

A medicine against the feare of hel and dampnacion.

WHen y^e deuil goeth about to cause vs to dyspaire or to doubt of our election: whether we be of the numbre of theim that are appointed to euerlastinge life or no, In any wais let vs not be to boulde in copinge with him, let vs not enter disputacion against him (for he is to subtile and expert for vs) but say shortly vnto him Away Satan with sor­rowe, it is writen, thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God, For seing that god as a most louinge father [Page] hathe not only geauen vs life. fedde and preseruid vs, to this houre: but also hathe indued and euen loden vs from tyme to time with his singuler benefites. what madnes were it contrary to our former experience, nowe to dout of his mercy? He hathe receauyd vs in to his flocke by baptime.

He hathe sente vs the gospell of his grace, wherein he hathe pro­mised to become oure father. we haue be fedde with the flesshe and bloode of his sonne oure sauioure CHRISTE in remem­braunce that oure debtes be paide and we acquited, whye shoulde we nowe then doubte of the good will of GOD towarde vs? lette vs not therefore admitte the doutfull and daungerous Imagi­nacions of oure predestinacion [Page] which the deuill like a craftie and malicyous marchaunt doth labor to iustill. But let vs thinke vpon suche sentences as God would haue our myndes occupied with­all, whiche Chryst him selfe hath prescribed, as Iohn .iii. where he sayethe. GOD hathe so loued the worlde, that he hathe geuyn his onelye begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleuythe in him shall not perishe, but haue life euerla­stynge. Loo here we see that he whiche beleuithe in Christ, which faythfullye acknowlegeth christ, to be his sanctifycacyon, iustyce, redemption and satisfaccion: can not be dampned, but is assured of euerlastynge lyfe. So manye as conceaue faithe by hearynge of Goddes worde: and so trust sted fastelye vpon the mercy of christ: Vndoubtedlye they be of the number [Page] of those which be chosen to e­uerlastyng blysse, knowen before in CHRIST predestinate, and wrytten long sith, in the boke of lyfe. These thynges be mooste certaine, and moost true, God can neither deceaue nor be deceaued.Rom. viii Such is his good wyll, so hathe he purposed and decreed afore the worlde beganne, what thyn­ges soeuer therefore oure enne­mye the deuyll (spytynge our sal­uacion, and sekynge our destruc­tyon) shall put in our mynde con­trarye to this doctryne. Let them not moue vs, lette them not make vs afrayde, but lette vs trust tru­ly in chryste: and so shall he be­come oures, and we become his, who beyng our good LORD, we can not perysshe nor be damp­ned.Io. x. For he wyl lose none of those [Page] that his father hathe geuen him. we muste fyxe oure eyes vppon Chryste, we muste flee to hym, we muste cleaue to hym. He is oure onelye and true sauyoure, who muste be apprehended and imbraced by faythe, yf we loke to be saued. For they that beleue ryghtelye in Christ, they are pre­destinate to euerlastynge lyfe. Here we muste diligentlye remē ­bre and earnestelye expende the godly exhortacion of saynt Paul which he writeth in the .xii. to the Hebrewes, whose words be these, Lette vs runne by pacyence vn­to the battell that is sette afore vs,He. xii. lokynge vnto Iesus, the auc­tore and finisher of faithe, whiche when the ioye was set afore hym, suffered the crosse, and dyspysed the shame, and sitteth at the right hand of the seate of GOD:

Furthermore all the greuous tentacions and afflictions that CHRISTE suffered, he sufferyd them for oure sakes. As saincte Paule saithe also in the iiii. to the hebrues.He. iiii. We haue not a highe priest that is not able to haue compassion on our weake­nes: but suche one as was prouyd in all pointes without synne, let vs therfore with bouldnes go vnto the seate of his grace, that we may obtaine mercy and fynde grace to help in tyme of nede: Let vs in any ways consider, and deplie imprinte ī our harts, christ to be geuin vnto vs, not only to thend y^t we might be redemid, re­cōciled & made partakers of euerlastinge saluaciō: but also y^t ī him we might haue an example, bothe howe to liue, and also how to end oure life. Nether can any man [Page] liue, suffer or dye well: vnles he loke vpon and folowe the life, sufferinge and dethe of Christ. yf therfore we desire to end this life well and godlie: let vs consider and remembre howe Christe be­haued him self in that bitter and smart agonie, when hanginge vpon the crosse, he was assaulted with diuers fyersse and most gre­uous temtacions, and pray that we may haue grace to folowe his example.

First he was temptyd with syn, whan beinge hanged betwixt two theues as a notable & hay­nous synner: it was said vnto hī yf thowe beist the sonne of God,mat. xxvii come downe from the crosse. By this cōtumelious voice what do they signifie elles, but that they iudged him a noughtie and vn­godly [Page] person, such one as by craft subtiltye, falsheade, sossery, and other vnlawfull meanes had de­ceaued the people, hadde blinded the worlde, and to be nothinge lesse then the sonne of GOD. Euen in lyke maner at the houre of deathe doth the deuyll tempte man, what soeuer man hath com­mitted againste god, al the sinnes that euer he dyd, he sheweth vnto hym, he doth exaggerate them to the vttermoste, to thende that the multitude and hainousnes of thē considered and perceauid, manne shulde doubte of the mercye and fauoure of god, and so fall into desperacion. Here we had nede to stande sure. And euery one of vs had nede to aunswer our enemye, thus temptinge vs after this maner I knowlege my selfe to haue synnes aboue all numbre, and [Page] measure but Christe, who neuer synned, in whose mouth was foūd no guile. who is that verye inno­cent lambe, hathe suffered deathe for my synnes, he hathe wasshed them awaye, he hathe satysfied aboundantlye for them,Esa. liii. howe many and howe greate so euer they were. Christes deathe partaineth also to me, he was wounded also for my iniquities, he was brused for my vngraciousenes, by his strypes I am also healed. All my synnes hath CHRISTE taken to hym selfe, so that nowe I haue none (thankes be to CHRISTE) who hathe satysfyed for theym in hys owne bodye.

CHRISTE was tempted also with death, when it was sayde vnto hym: he hathe saued other,Mat. xx7 but he canne not saue hym [Page] selfe. (As though it shoulde bē saide) he is nowe at appointe, he muste dye, there is no remedye, he can not escape. Thus dothe oure olde and irreconciliable ene­my labour to feare vs with death but let vs holde out the buckeler of faythe in Christ againste hym. Lette vs remember that Christe our Lorde, kynge of glorye, and prynce of lyfe, coulde not be ouer­commed nor holden of death, but thoughe he once tasted of death: he nowe lyueth and raigneth for euer. Thys LORDE of ours wyll not leaue vs, nor suffer deathe to execute anye tyrannye agaynste vs, that after he hathe suffered vs to be tempted a while he wyll also that we dye corporally: al that is wholy for our welth. Neyther coulde we other wayes [Page] come to euerlasting life but by temporall deathe. We must therfore leaue this present life, ere we can inherite the eternal life. Also this corporall deathe bringethe this comoditie that by tastinge the bitternes and sowernes of it: we haue experience and knowe the excedinge loue that Christe bare toward vs, and the inesti­mable benefitt y^e he did for vs, in clensinge our synnes, in abolis­shynge of death, in breaking vp of hel gates, and al by his death. Other ways we could neuer haue knowen the power of christ in abolishinge of death, we could neuer haue iustly estemed the ex­cellency of this benefit, we could neuer haue sene how iust cause we haue to giue thankes, to christ our lord and redemer. Christe liuinge truly, we shall also liue. [Page] and this corporall deth to vs shal be nothinge elles but a swete and holsome slepe, an intraunce and gate in to the true & blessed lyfe. For after this transitory lyfe then beginne we first truly to lyue.

THirdly Christ was tempted w^t hel, or euerlastynge dam­nation, whā it was said vnto him, he hath trusted in GOD let him now delyuer him yf he wyll. As thoughe they should say. Nowe it appearethe y^t he hathe hoped in god in vain. For god wyl none of hym, he hathe forsaken hym, he likethe hym not, he dothe abhorre hym, he will caste hym downe to hell & perpetualy cōdempne him. When therfore the temptor shal lasche at vs w^c lyke temptacions, we maye not shrinke, we may not [Page] be afraid, we may not be discora­ged but cōmend our self, wholy to CHRISTE, hange vpon him, who is wholy oures, who hath geuin him self wholy to vs, so that synne, dethe, nor hel, hath nothing to do w^t vs. CHRIST with a inestimable price, his owne blood hathe deliueryd vs from the tyranny of the deuil, and euer lastinge dampnaciō, he is become our innocency, our life, and our iustice. Let vs take hede in any ways that we turne not our har­tes from CHRISTE cru­cifyed, Yf we cleue to him, we are set vpon a sure and inexpugna­ble rocke, againste the whiche all the power of hell is able to do nothinge. So that we may boldly exclame, and euery one say with [Page] CHRISTE I prouided the Lorde afore my eys all way,Psal. xvi for he is at my righte elbowe, that I shulde not be mouyd, therefore my harte hathe be gladde and my tonge hath reioysed, moreouer my felsshe shall reste in hope. By faithe in CHRISTE we be­come the sonnes of GOD, the bretherne and coheires of Christ, and partakers of euerlastinge life, by this faith departing hence, we shall go to the kingdome pre­paryd for the electe, afore the be­ginnynge of the world. And if in the feruentnes of these temptaciōs our faithe begin to wauer, yf we do not bere pacientlye the will of oure heuinlye Father, if oure loue towarde god waxe faint and cold, yf oure hope beginne to be feble & [Page] weake: and therfore we begin to feare, lest god and we be not all at a full point, but that he is yet displeasyd with vs: which tentacion (surely) is very greuous, painful, daungerous, and hard to ouercome: we must call to remem­brance Christ to haue sufferyd for vs so intollerable and inuincible tentacions: that there apperyd no help, no comfort, no refuge, wher­in GOD and the whole world: semyd to haue forsaken him, and to be against him: In somouche that he exclamyd, O my god, o my GOD why haste thou forsa­ken me. Oh here was a greuous tentacion, A sharpe and a bitter death that CHRISTE suf­ferid for vs, and all to make the way of the crosse and deathe easy vnto vs. Therfore seing that, [Page] CHRISTE of his owne free wyll, caste him selfe into the fe­linge of so intollerable paine, ca­lamity, and anxiety (GOD our most louinge Father beinge therwith contente) vndoubtydlye he knowith and consyderyth our in­firmite, vndoubtydly he will not deale with vs accordinge to the rigour of the law, but will bere muche with vs and pardon many thinges, to our infirmity. Doth not CHRIST speake to al men? dothe he not call men, when he saith: Come vnto me all you that do labour and are laden and I shal refresh you? howe can ther be any greater consolaciō? howe could CHRISTE speake more mercyfully to vs. There be many thinges that pinche, vex, and trouble man greuously: but [Page] what thinge is it that can trouble the conscience of a synner, more thā whan he doubteth of the mercy of god, then whan he fearethe leaste GOD will cast him of, then whā he can not persuade him self to conceaue any trust of gods mercy, but Imagine that as a witheryd member he shalbe cut of and cast away. Here we had nede of christes presēt helpe, here we had nede of spedy cō forte, lest this violent tempest o­uerwhelme and drowne vs. But let vs not feare, CHRISTE is no dissembler, he wyll stande by his worde, he wyll perfourme hys promyse, He wyll helpe and refresshe. Therefore when we begynne to trymble and feare in oure conscyence, when we begin to doubte of goddes mercy, when [Page] we perceaue our faithe to be fea­ble. Lette vs forthwith call v­pon GOD, and that feruently, and that indesinantly, leuen from the bottome of oure hart, that he tourne not his face from vs.

Lette vs power before hym all that dothe trouble vs. Let vs dis­close, to hym oure myserye, oure imbecillitie, oure incredulity. Let vs crye with the disciples, lorde increase oure faith.Luc. xvii. And with the Father of the Lunaticke. Lorde we beleue, helpe our incredulity. And w^t the prophet.Marci. ix Lorde make hast to helpe vs. For thy mercy is aboue all thy workes. O moste louing, O moste mercyful father, lord god of our healthe,Ps. lxix our only help and refuge. Enter not into iudgemente with thy seruauntes. [Page] Christe is our iustice, our redemption, and innocēcy, he for vs hathe sufferyd most bitter & cruel death.

Let these thynges moue the o father of mercy. For thys thy son our sauior Christes sake haue mercy vpō vs, confirme and strength our harte in faith, comfort vs with the consolacions of thy holy sprit, that we may finally optayne Ioy euerlastyng, through Iesus christ Amen.

After this sort if we (laborynge, wresting, and striuinge with our imbecillity, accusing afore god, & lamentinge our pusilianimity and incredulity) do catch hold of christ and cleue fast to hym, earnestlye and feruently desirynge hys help, that he wyl vouchsafe to take our place & to supply that is lackinge [Page] in vs. These thinges if we do surely all thinges shalbe well, we shal auoyde and escape easly all daun­ger & peryl, we shalbe safe enogh. For these two, to beleue in Christ and with hart to desire faith, doth not much differ the one frō the o­ther. For though we fele yet great weaknes and imperfection in our self, yet this ought to comfort vs, that god wylleth & commandeth that he shoulde be called vpon, y^t he hath promised to here and help these, that call ryghtly vpon him. Now as nothing is more iustly or necessarily desired thē true faith, euen so god hearith no praier so­ner or more gladly then whan mā findyng no goodnes in hym selfe, doth acknowlege his owne infir­mity, his owne mysery, his owne beggerlines, dothe accuse and la­ment [Page] his owne incredulity, & with depe sighes, & harty desires calleth for faith. These sighes, these desi­res, these prayers, this litle sparke of faithe is y^e very sede of GOD, wrought in vs by him, which saith of Christe by the Prophet Esay, y^t he shall not quenche the smokinge flaxe, nor breake the brusyd rede. Therfore let vs stedfastly beleue, or at the leaste earnestelye and hartely pray that we may beleue, bewaylyng afore god our lacke of faithe, whiche thinges if we do, we nede not doubt but we be acceptid of god, we be taken for his childrē. For it is not for noughte, nor in vaine that he hathe layde our imbecillitie and synnes vpon his only begoten sonnes backe.

In MathewMath. v. it is said blessed be those that mourne, for thei shalbe [Page] cōforted, blessyd be those y^t hōger after righteousnes, for they shalbe satisfied. These words are spokē al so to vs, they may iustly be applyed to vs, we mourne & are sory in our hartes that we haue mispen­dyd our life paste. We wishe and desyre, yea we euē honger & thriste after righteousnes. Lette vs be of good chere, we shall optayne oure desire, we shalbe comfortyd, we shall be counted iuste a fore GOD, for CHRISTE oure sauior his sake. Fynally let vs after the example of Christ and sainte Steuin commend our sou­les into the handes of GOD our heuenly father, sainge euery one after this maner.

O Most mercyfull father I cō ­mēd into thy holly hādes my [Page] spirit, yea thy spirite, for thou hast create it, thou haste commytted it for a tyme to the body, thou haste geuen it thy owne Image and si­militude. Thou haste sent for the redēption of it, thi owne most derely belouyd sonne to shed his blood. This the spirite, I resigne into thi han­des, O GOD of all mercy, I am thyne all that I am, I beseche the refuse not thy owne but receaue, kepe and place me in euerlasting glory for the sake of Ie­sus Christ, thy only begoten sonne Amen.