A rich Storehouse, or Treasury, for the Sick, full of Christian counsels, wholesome doctrines, comfortable persuasions, and godly meditations, meet for all Christians, both in sickness and in health.  
¶ Whereunto is annexed a Comfort for poor Prisoners, and also an Exhortation to repentance.  
Written in Dutch, by Gaspar Huberine, and Englished by THOMAS GODFREY Esquire, late Remembrauncer of the first Fruits and tenths, at the request of his daughter Marie, wife unto john French, Gentleman of the Inner Temple.  SIRACH. 7. ¶ Take pleasure in visiting the sick: For that will make thee beloved. 
¶ Imprinted at London by Ralph Newberrie, dwelling in Fleetstreet a little above the Conduit.  
ANNO. 1578.   

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE 
DESIRNA REPOS    

TO THE RIGHT noble and most virtuous Lady, the Lady Catharine Howard, all temporal prosperity in this life, and in the life to come everlasting happiness.  
RIght worthy and honourable, it is a marvel beyond all marvels, that man, amongst all the creatures of this world, in his creation so singular: namely, and only endued with a reasonable soul, for his safety attended with Angels, and above all made unto the image of God: so insensibly rejecting and forsaking himself, doth suffer to be snared & enchanted with the vain, transitory, and counterfeit felicity of this world, gripping so greedily thereat, as if this carcase, being subject unto so infinite and manifest calamities, and in the end to death and destruction, had obtained everlasting continuance: whereas the scripture, to repress our presumption, and security of life, and to manifest our corruption of nature, continually putteth us in remembrance, that all flesh is nothing but grass, worms meat, dust, and putrefaction: yea, and that the greatest and the goodliest of this whole world, with all their show of commodity, bravery, and beauty, which men so much adore and embrace, is but vanity: and that, if they were weighed in balance with nothing, nothing would be found heavier than they: then, what manifest want of judgement and sound knowledge may be thought to be in man, that so highly esteemeth things of so small value? whereas, if they would with their inward and immortal man, judge and examine the end of all things, thereby discovering the nobleness of their own creation, then would they perceive, that the greatest bladder puffed up with the wind of worldly vanity, is easily dissolved with the smallest needle of God's justice: And so retire from sin full ways that lead to destruction, and endeavour to tread the track of eternal felicity. Meaning, in no wise hereby, to persuade the contempt of the good gifts and blessings of God, namely, health, wealth, beauty, and infinitely such others: but warily to use them, as Abraham, job, David, judith, Susan, with innumerable others, as gifts not of their own, but of God, given for the advancement of his glory, and profit of their brethren, to which every man, what so ever, especially is borne: without which end, much better had he never been created: and wisely to examine the life & end of Dives, who in the eyes of men, was the happiest in this world, but woeful wretch that so abused the good gifts of God, would have given all, and much more if he might, to have made exchange with Lazarus estate, which in this world was most abject and miserable. This matter being of more importance, than the tongue may express, or man's heart may imagine, the rather to move the dullness of our disposition, hath been set down by the wisest that ever was amongst men, in speech and terms no less strange than marvelous, after this manner: Put away displeasure out of thy heart, and remove evil from thy body: for childhood & youth is but vanity. Remember thy maker the sooner in thy youth, or ever the days of adversity come, and or the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them, before the Sun, the light, the Moon & stars be darkened, and or the clouds turn again after the rain, when the keepers of the house shall tremble, when the strong men shall bow themselves, and when the millers stand still because they be so few, and when the light of the windows shall wax dim, when the doors in the streets shall be shut, when the voice of the miller shall be laid down, when men shall rise up at the voice of the bird, & when the daughters of Music shallbe brought low, when men shall fear in high places, & be afraid in the streets: when the Almond tree shall flourish, and be laden with the Grasshopper, and when all lust shall pass, by cause man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: or ever the silver lace be taken away, and or the golden well be broken, or the pot be broken at the well, and the wheel upon the cistern: then shall the dust be turned again unto earth, from whence it came, etc. For as much as these certain and terrible days shall come upon us, when no time may be revoked, no remorse accepted, no remedy used, or any succour obtained, but by the only means contained in this small treatise, left into my hands without any patron, I thought it no less convenient unto my bounden duty, then meet for the view of your reposed mind, to make a present thereof unto your honour, not only hoping, but also most humbly beseeching, that it may please you of your great nobleness, to accept the patronage thereof. Thus craving pardon for my presumption, I commit your good Ladyship to him, who is plentiful in all good graces and blessed gifts, beseeching him, in this life, to be your chiefest riches, and in the life to come, your perfect honour, etc.  
Your humble servant, Ralph Newberrie.   

To the Christian Reader.  
AS all actions (Christian Reader) in general, depend upon their special occasions: so the publishing of this preset book or manuel, proceedeth from ●e several reasons. The first, from the naill affection and loving kindness, which ●●ildren are bound in conscience to show ●eir tender parents, wherewith I, among ●ther above the rest, feel myself in●dly touched towards my good and loving ●er: whom, as in his life time obedient●●euerenced: so now also, after his death funeral, I am no less careful to have remembered: and therefore under his ●e, have caused to be set forth this god●d Christian exercise of his own transla● for the comfort of all faithful people, as monument of maintenance in his memo●. The second, from Christian love and pretty, the bond of all perfection, where● the soldiers of Christ are specially ●rged: which then (indeed) most natu● appeareth, when we, (perceiving the bodies of our brethren and sisters so enfeebled and consumed with sickness, or otherwise by law, through desert of death, judged and condemned, that they are passed all temporal recovery,) secure nevertheless their appassionate souls, with comfortable restorities of the spirit, that they may the more willingly forsake the wilderness of this world, and constantly travel the high way to heaven. The third, from a godly desire, to have other semblably occupied, in bestowing (I mean) such their talents, as GOD (the rich and gracious giver of all good things) hath committed and put under their credit: that in so labouring, they in their Christian calling may feel their consciences discharged, the members of Christ his mystical body benefited, and finally, almighty GOD our Creator glorified. To whom, with the Son, and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, majesty, and dominion, for evermore. Amen.  
Thy in Christ, Marry French.   

To his worshipful and ●ell learned brother in law, Adolph Baunweyler, grace and peace through Christ.  
SIrach in his writing, the seventh Chapter, warneth us, that we should willingly visit the sick. And our saviour Christ, Matth. 25. will at the last 〈◊〉 accept and take this work of cha●●●●, that is to say, to visit the sick, even ●hough it were done to himself. For ●r Lord Christ himself saith) What so 〈◊〉 you have done to any amongst these my ●●llest brethren, that have you done unto me. 〈◊〉 as much then, well-beloved brother, 〈◊〉 this work to visit the sick, is such ●ighe and special work of charity, 〈◊〉 such a one, as Christ at dooms day 〈◊〉 allow and thereby acknowledge us ●e his disciples: therefore it will be●● us, not alonely with our whole ●rtes delight to show it, but also to ●e diligent care, how and after what ●t, we may properly and rightly visit the sick. And that is specially done in two manner of ways. For every sick body hath specially need of two manner of remedies. First, that his soul be holpen, for if the soul be once holpen, then will the body be easily holpen afterward. Therefore, first to remedy the soul, is to exhort the sick body to repentance, & make him to understand his sin, teach him to call to God for help, and after that again, to comfort and lift up his fearful conscience, and set forth and paint unto the sick body lively Christ, (which is the throne of grace) whereof we have a fine example of king Ezekia, there did the Prophet Esaias use this manner & order with the sick king: warned him first to repentance, laid before him God's judgement, 2. Paral. 32. And as soon as he had humbled the king, & called to God for grace, the Prophet then comforted him, and after that, remedied his bodily sickness. 4 Reg. 20. and Esaias. 38. Sirach also putteth us in mind of like order, in his 38. Chapter. specially, that we in our sickness should confess our sins, and amend, then to call to GOD for grace and help, after ●●e to take physic. Seeing then that visitation of the sick, is to be prac●●●● after two manners, as is abovesaid: ●efore have I taken upon me to 〈◊〉 the first way, after the order of the ●●ptures: but not for the learned, for 〈◊〉 need it not, but for the well dispo●●● that they might have some small en●●●, and one Christian to visit and con●● an other, as much as is necessary to ●●tion. The other way to visit the 〈◊〉, as touching the body, is done in ●●y ways, specially with attending ●n them, giving them meat & drink, ●ng them up, & laying them down, ●nselling them wherein they need, ●n other like helpings, exercises, and ings: these ways can every man after 〈◊〉 sort do, if he be disposed after the 〈◊〉 of charity, to deal with his bro●●: and therefore here not necessary ●y much more, although that I before 〈◊〉 time, in my book of God's wrath, 〈◊〉 sufficiently showed, how one should 〈◊〉 fort the sick: Yet I have thought it ●●d at this time, to set forth a little form very short, & also declare briefly certain warnings & comforts, after divers sorts: out of which every man may take one, two, or more comforts, to be made unto the sick, as a man thinketh good, or as his spirit shall move him, and as he for the time shall think necessary for the sick person. For one sick body is far unlike an other, some have more temptation than an other, one hath been beforehand better instructed in god's word then an other: therefore no man shall be bound to bring out all that is herein written. And well-beloved brother in law, I have thought good to commend this little comfortable book unto you, to the intent that you, & other good folk, as time and opportunity shall serve, may use it as necessity shall require: and you shall see it good chief therefore, because you hitherto with great diligence and earnestness, have taken upon you to study the scriptures. Our Lord God grant you his grace, that ye may use the holy scripture to his praise, and to the profit and commodity of your neighbours. Amen.  
Gaspar Huberine.   

How sick folk are to be visited, persuaded, admonished, and comforted.  
FIrst well-beloved, Almighty God hath sent you this sickness, all for the best, (as without doubt will soon appear) for, To them that love God, 
Rom. 8.  things must serve to the best. As Saint ●aule witnesseth in his. 8. Chapter to 〈◊〉 Romans. Therefore be not afraid, 〈◊〉 the Lord God is so good, that he can, ●●d will turn all troubles and aduer●ies which happen or come to his elec●●● to the best purpose.  What is to be said to them that be about sick folk. 
Secondly, well-beloved in the Lord, ●he holy Apostle Saint Paul in the 12. 
Rom. 12.  chapter to the Romans warneth us, ●at we should weep with them that ●lepe. 
Eccle. 7.  And Syrach also remembreth ●his 7. Chapter, where he saith, Be sorry with them that be sorrowful. For as much then as we in the Lord Christ be all members amongst ourselves, each one to other, it is meet, that every member, according to his propriety, nature, skill, and ability, with comfort make haste and repair unto the sick, feeble, sick, and diseased member. Therefore shall we as it were suffer, take, and pity, and be troubled with this sick body, and each of us with all diligence and carefulness and earnestness, of hearty love look unto, and attend upon it: be careful for it, pray to GOD for it, and (to be short) help and comfort it the best we can, even as every of us would, (if we were sick,) require of other.  
Thirdly, well-beloved, ye shall mark and consider, that all things come from God, whether they be sickness, poverty, adversity, as witnesseth Syrache in his 11. Chapter, where he saith thus, All things come from GOD, 
●●le. 11.  adversity and prosperity, life and death, poverty and riches. And further, holy Saint Paul in the ●●rst Epistle to the Corinthians, and 11. 
1. Cor. 11.  Chapter, saith, When we are judged, than 〈◊〉 we corrected by the Lord He saith, By the Lord, (not by an evil man, or by the ●●uel,) but by the Lord himself are we corrected. Therefore, If we live, we live to ●●e Lord: If we die, we die to the Lord. 
Rom. 12.  Therefore whether we live or die we be the ●ordes. As Saint Paul saith in the 12. ●o the Romans.  
Fourthly, you shall further earnestly mark, understand, and know, that ●ot only all punishments and sufferings ●●me from God, and be laid upon us ●●y God: but ye shall also earnestly believe, that GOD sendeth unto his children, as a very merciful father, such punishments and sufferings of mere favour and grace (to his own) for their profit and commodity.  
For there be two causes, why God ●●ndeth unto us adversities, troubles, ●●d passions, seeing that God hath two ●●tes of children upon the earth.  
Some many times lead a long time 〈◊〉 vacant life, they cannot not abide that a man of love and good will say any thing unto them, but continually run forward in their mischievous, froward, and naughty ways. They have GOD very little before their eyes. Therefore must God lay hold on them, restrain & draw them back, and to true repentance and godly living drive and enforce them, or else they will die in their wicked & froward conversation. Therefore doth God lay in the neck of backsliders from him, some adversity, that they may look well about them, and mark well who is at their backs, and layeth such a yoke on their necks, at the last to know themselves, and learn what they be, whereabout they go, and how they against GOD have so grievously offended. Thus God correcteth them through punishments, and learneth them (as the Prophet Esaias saith in the 28. Chap.) that doth the soul very much good, 
●●tie. 28.  and such adversity is a precious medicine, for trouble only maketh a man take heed to the word. Esaias 28. Then doth ●e word of God very well savour unto us, ●●en it is powdered, mingled, or sauced with bubbles and passions. For when trouble is at ●de, than we seek to God, and when God ●h visit us, than we call earnestly. Esai. 
Esai. 26.  〈◊〉. Therefore doth God many times ●mplaine against his foolish ignorant ●ople, Esaias. 9 where God saith, 
Esaie. 9  The ●●ople do not turn back to them that have ●icken them, nor inquireth after the Lord ●d of Sabbaoth. Which is a great token ●an unrepentant and stubborn heart. ●esides that, it is a great and heavy ●ne against the Lord God: from whi●e God mercifully defend us. Amen. The other cause wherefore our Lord ●d layeth troubles and adversities vp●●●his children, is this specially, because ●e Lord God will lead his chosen chil●en from faith to faith, and continual● maketh them expert and cunning in ●e knowledge of God, and will thus ●oue them in faith and godly know●ge, whereby his name by this mea●s may be the better known, commenced, & praised, as we see in good David, jonas, and job, etc.  
Fiftly, seeing that ye perceive and know that ye are flesh, & fleshly weakness, hath many times prevailed, and you had the upper hand upon you, and you have oftentimes given over yourself to your old Adam, and followed flesh and blood too much, and thereby many times displeased our Lord God. Thus shall you therefore before the high majesty of GOD, humble yourself, acknowledge your offences, ask mercy, have a severe purpose to abstain from sin, and (if God will again restore you) to live in a good, perfect, Christian, penitent life, to embrace God's mercy in Christ our deliverer, & stay and hold yourself, with an holy hope upon his comfortable promises. Therefore thus say earnestly after me with heart and mind.  
Almighty, everlasting, & most merciful God & Father, I acknowledge from the bottom of my heart, and say with my mouth, that I am a poor and damnable sinner. For I am in sin conceived & borne. Besides that, from my youth hitherto, all the imaginations & thoughts of my heart have been very wicked, and inclined to all sin and unrighteousness. There is also no true fear of God, no faithful love of God, no perfect faith of God in my heart hitherto, (o Lord) founden. Also I have with my mouth (o God) little called upon God my lord, & in my trouble fled unto him for secure. I have also been very unthankful to God my Lord, for all his wonderful benefits, both bodily and ghostly. Likewise also have I little praised or set forward the thanks due to God, and the same acknowledged & confessed: much less have I rightly been desirous to set forward, & maintain Gods true service. To be short, I have not in my whole life time done and brought forth any good thing, whereby before god I have brought forth any godly conversation, to his glory, honour, and praise, whereunto he hath chief created and made me. All this I confess, and it grieveth me from the bottom of my heart, that I have so grievously offended thee, my very God, Lord, & father, especially with evil thoughts, words, and deeds.  
Again, I acknowledge and confess thee my Lord and God, that I have not rightly and truly obeyed them, to whom I aught obedience. Also I have oftentimes grievously offended my neighbours, and not sufficiently showed unto them Christian charity and love: but have been many times disdainful, angry, fierce, and very sour. Also I have been many times kindled in evil lusts and desires, in forbidden love. Also I have been many times overseen with lewd thoughts. I have also many times been too straight to my neighbours, harmed them, not holpen them, defended them, nor comforted them. I have likewise offended and hurt my neighbour by word, spoken evil behind his back, and condemned him. To be short, all wicked desires and lusts have taken in me very mighty upperhand. Therefore I acknowledge this my sinful life, require mercy, have pity upon me Lord heavenly father, for the bitter passion & death of thine only son our Lord.  

¶ Hear your comfort.  
Thus saith Saint Paul in the first Epistle to Timothy the second Chap. There is one God and one mediator between God and man, 
1. Tim. 2.  specially the man jesus Christ that hath given himself for all, for our deliverance. Believe this comfortable saying, hold fast on jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour, so shall you in your consciences rest in peace and quietness with God the Lord. God grant his grace thereunto, Amen.   

¶ But if the sick body be so weak, and cannot make such a long confession, you may use an other shorter in this manner.  
another confession to the Lord God.  
O thou merciful, gracious, good God and father, I wretched, sinful, sick, miserable, forsaken creature, come now before thy high and mighty majesty, as a poor sinful creature, full of sin and unrighteousness, and confess unto thee from my heart, that I have grievously sinned against thee from my youth hitherto, with wicked thoughts, words, and deeds. These do I acknowledge and confess altogether generally, for I am not able to remember & number them all at length particularly, therefore my God, be gracious to me a poor sinner, through the deserts of thy loving Son our Lord jesus Christ, which was therefore slain for me wretched sinner, to the intent that I should be and remain thy child for evermore. Amen.  Hearken to this comfort. 
Thus saith S. john the holy Evangelist, in his first Epistle and the third Chapter, The blood of jesus Christ God's Son, 
●. john. 3  maketh us clean from all sin. Believe these wholesome, comfortable, and gracious words, stand steadfastly in a true belief, so shall you be a child of everlasting life. Amen.  
Sixtly, now dearly beloved, seeing you have humbled yourself before our Lord God, confessed your sins, and have cried for grace and mercy, ye shall now call unto our Lord God, from all your heart, first and chief seek for help, and say thus.  
O thou merciful good God & father, I come now to thee in my great necessity, and cry unto thee, and complain from the bottom of my heart, as to my loving father, my grievous passions and griefs, and exhort thee that thou wilt remember thy comfortable promises, for thou hast graciously promised that I shall be heard, where thou in the 50. 
Psal. 50  Psal. sayest, Call upon me in thy necessity or trouble, and I will hear thee, & thou shalt praise me. And Saint Mark in the 11. 
Mark. 11  Chapter saith, What so ever you ask in your prayers, only believe that you shall receive it, and so shall you have it. Unto these thy promises come I forsaken, miserable wretch, and crave of thee help and comfort, therefore my chief beloved Lord and father, help me out of this my grief and trouble, and forsake me not in any of my torments, for thine only begotten dear Son jesus Christ's sake. Therefore shall I always highly laud & praise thy name, & give thee thanks from the bottom of my heart for all thy benefits, & set forth & number the same always.  
Seventhly, now dear friend, seeing that your offences committed might make you afraid, and weaken your faith, that ye dare not with all confidence and sure trust require at God's hand, and hope for help and grace, and trust surely upon his mercy, you shall in this manner call upon God for forgiveness of your sins, and speak thus.  
O thou most dear Lord, and very loving God, seeing thou hast made us so many and great promises, whereby we might be richly comforted & strengthened in all our troubles and adversities, I am bold to put thee in remembrance once again very earnestly of thy true promises, which thou hast made unto me, in the 6. of Saint Matthew, where thou hast promised me forgiveness of all my sins, if I do forgive my neighbours that wherein they have offended against me. 
Matt. 6.  For these be thy words, If you forgive other their faults, so will also your heavenly father forgive you your offences. Therefore come I unto thee, and stay me upon thy word, specially that thou wilt forgive me all my sins, according to thy merciful promise, freely, for nothing, so that I also do forgive other. For these now I pray unto thee my Lord and God, that thou wilt sand into my heart thy holy spirit for thy bitter passion & death sake, that he may make clean my sinful heart, lighten and kindle a fervent heat in me, that I also may forget and forgive. For (of mine own power) I can do nothing, & so from the bottom of my heart shall I forgive every man, both my friends and enemies, what so ever they have done against me, and put out of my heart all manner of malice, hatred, enmity, and displeasure.  
And seeing that I now, through thy grace, perceive such love against mine enemy, so am I now persuaded, according to thy promises, that thou now hast clearly forgiven me all my sins, of mere mercy without my deserts. For there have I a perfect sign & good assurance, seeing I have (according to thy promise) forgiven every man, that thou also hast forgiven me all. Do with me according to thy promise, for thy word is true, & whatsoever thou sayest, that keepest thou assuredly. Upon this thy word do I stay, & without all doubt believe I thy promise, that I have now gotten forgiveness of all my sins, wherefore I have now a free, safe, and joyful conscience, that I know not now of any sin in me, & that I have obtained from God peace & joy in the holy ghost, that I certainly persuade myself of. Amen. Eightly, now well-beloved, the holy scripture showeth us of two givings of Christ our lord's body unto us. The first is the general giving, where Christ gave us wretched sinners his body upon the cross, for an offering for our sins, this giving is made unto us our own through true faith, specially when we surely believe God's promises. joh. 6. 
john. 6.  Of this giving witnesseth Christ himself. joh. 3. 
●ohn. 3.  where he saith thus, So hath God loved the world, that he hath given his own son, to the intent that all that believe on him, should not be destroyed, but enjoy everlasting life. And further, the holy Apostle S. Paul, Rom. 8. 
Rom. 8.  witnesseth likewise & saith, If God be on our side, who can be against us, which hath not spared his own son, but hath given him for us all? And Rom. 4. 
Rom. 4.  Christ is for our sin sake given, and for our righteousness sake raised up again. And to the Ephe. 5. 
Ephe. 5.  saith S. Paul moreover, Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us an oblation & sacrifice. These & such like sayings you shall diligently mark, & steadfastly believe, that Christ our only saviour hath given and offered up his body & blood upon the cross for you a sufficient sacrifice for ever, & ye shall not need to seek or to hunt after any other sacrifice, satisfaction, or redemption for your sin, but lay fast hold upon this innocent lamb, 
john. 6.  which hath borne the sins of the whole world.  
The other giving of the body & blood of our lord Christ, is an especial giving which is delivered unto us in the sacrament. Whereof Christ speaketh, Matthew 26. 
Math. 26  And holy Saint Paul in the 10. & 11. 
1. Cor. 10.11  Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians. This second delivering of the body and blood of Christ, in the sacrament, is an assuring and an a certaining of the establishing of the first delivering or giving. For it confirmeth the first giving, which we receive by faith. And the second doth not profit or comfort us, without the first, but is rather hurtful and damnable. Therefore warneth us also the holy Apostle S. Paul, 
1. Cor. 11  in the 11. Chap. of his said first Epistle to the Corinthians, that we should well try ourselves, before that we receive the holy sacrament of Christ's body and blood, that no man receive them to his condemnation. This proof standeth upon three points.  
First ye shall acknowledge yourself for a miserable sinner, that of himself and by himself can do nothing, nor hath any power to do any thing, whereby he might be delivered from his sin. God himself doth forgive, reconcile, and pardon, giveth true comfort, & purchaseth blessedness, specially to them that do thirst after the grace of GOD. And so of mere grace and mercy in Christ only, do long after the kingdom of heaven.  
Secondly, examine well yourselves, whether ye believe as Saint Paul saith in the 13. Chapter of his second Epistle to the Corinth's, 
2. Cor. 13  Try yourselves (saith he) whether ye be in belief, prove yourselves etc. Specially that ye earnestly & steadfastly believe the godly promise, that is promised in the Sacrament. Item, wherefore that godly meat is given unto you.  
Thirdly, examine yourself well, whether ye can and will forgive your neighbour, whether they be friends or foes that have offended or hurt you, whereby ye can show towards all men, a Christian, friendly, loving and courteous heart, and good william. For this pray unto our Lord God now once again. And if for your sickness you can not speak it with your mouth, yet in your heart inwardly say thus.  
My Lord jesus Christ I come again as a wretched sinner unto thee, that have many times offended thee, & have deserved nothing but thy everlasting displeasure and punishment. But seeing thou art so gentle and merciful, thou willest not the death of a sinner, but that he repent and live: therefore hast thou established among us a new Testament, which was long before promised by thy holy prophets, that thou wouldst take our sins from us, through thy death, and the same never after remember. And also before thy death hast made thy last will, and therein hast made us an assured promise that thou wouldst give us thy body (for our redemption) to be slain, and shed thy blood for remission of our sins, For thus soundeth thy gracious promise: Take, eat, this is my body, which shall be given for you. This is the cupp● of the new testament in my blood, which shallbe shed for you, for the forgiveness of your sins. This thy promise do I believe steadfastly, and for assurance thereof, I have before this time in my good health of body, many times in the congregation of God received the holy Sacrament of thy very body and blood, whereof at this present I do not doubt, but am now certainly and assuredly persuaded of all thy graces and mercies. Be it unto me according to thy word.   

¶ Here it is good to put the sick body in remembrance shortly, what hath been said before, after this manner.  
ninthly, now dear friends I have told you in the beginning, how that all adversities and troubles come from our Lord God, and be laid upon his (of fatherly and true love.) Therefore shall you be certainly persuaded, that this your sickness is by God therefore laid upon you, that the old man with Christ should be nailed upon the cross, that the sinful body should cease, and a new and perfect man appear thereof, which with Christ shall enjoy everlasting joy and felicity: For, Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, 
1. Cor. 15.  As saint Paul witnesseth 1. Cor. 15. The old man must full and whole be destroyed, and as Christ in the 12. Chap. of Saint john saith, 
●ohn. 12.  Except that the wheat corn fall into the earth and die, so remaineth it but one corn: But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Thus must all both within and without us be forsaken, the old Adam with all his wisdom, reason and understanding come to naught, whereby a new man may appear at that day, as Saint Paul saith 1. Cor. 15. Where he speaketh thus: 
●. Cor. 15.  That which we see is not lively, except it first die. It is sown in corruption, and shall rise again in glory. It is sown in dishonour, and shall rise again in honour. It was sown in weakness, and shall rise again in might. It was sown a natural body, and it shall rise again a spiritual body. When this corruptible body hath put on incorruption, and this mortality hath put on immortality: then shallbe fulfilled the saying which is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, Death where is thy sting? Hell where is thy victory? God be praised that hath given us the victory through our Lord jesus Christ.  
Secondarily, seeing the case standeth thus, you shall now further resign and forsake your own will, and give it over to Gods will, and pray as our Lord God hath taught us to pray Matth. 6. 
Matt. 6.  and say: Father, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. And as Christ God's son himself at the hour of his death hath done, and hath set forth unto us, an example to be followed, where he said upon mount Olivet, Matth 26. 
Mat. 26.  Father, not my will, but thy will be done. So shall ye also do unto him, conform yourself in all things to God himself our Lord, and give over all things to him, our body, our life, our soul, our estimation, our goods, friends, wife, children, and all, etc. and say thus.  
NOw my Lord and God, will it none otherwise be, but that I must at this time needs drink the cup of my passion, that thou haste filled for me to drink, let thy will be done. As thou willest, so will I also, I am willing and ready, I am thy child, and thou art my loving father, thou wilt not destroy me, that I know right well. O only give thou me grace, strength, power, mercy, patience, to suffer all things willingly, that I may to thee keep a right holy day, continually hold fast by thee, and willingly to suffer thee to do with me according to thy fatherly good will and pleasure. Then shall I three days long rest & lie with Christ in the grave, & hope for a joyful resurrection of all believers at domes day, according to the comfortable promise of Christ, john the 6. 
john. 6  where Christ saith thus: This is the will of him that sent me, that he that seeth the son and believeth on him, have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the latter day.  
Thirdly, ye shall also further understand and believe certainly, that this your sickness, how great, how sore, how grievous to suffer, how long and painful soever it be, yet is it not sufficient to appease & pacify God's wrath, to take away your sins, and to purchase you everlasting life. For ye shall steadfastly believe this, that deserving of any Saint, nor your own work, how precious so ever it be, or may be, can get you heaven, or can deserve it. For Saint Paul saith Rom. 8. 
Rom. 8.  That All the sufferings in this world be not worthy of that glory that shallbe showed unto us.  
Fourthly, ye shall undoubtedly believe, that the only passion and death of our Lord jesus Christ, is a sufficient oblation for your sins. For, The Lord jesus is made for us from God, to be our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and deliverer, as the Apostle saint Paul witnesseth in the first to the Corinthians the first Chapter. 
1. Cor. 1.  For there is none other name given to men, nor there is in none other health wherein we shallbe saved, then only in the name of jesus Christ, etc. As likewise witnesseth Saint Peter Acts the fourth, 
Act. 4.  For God hath made him that never knew sin, for our sakes to be sin, to the intent that we should be made in him righteousness, available before him. 2. Cor. 5. 
2. Cor. 5.  Therefore we now believe (saith Saint Paul further,) Rom. 3. that man is made righteousness without the works of the law, only through faith, As Saint Peter also saith in the tenth Chapter of the Acts. 
acts. 10.  Of Christ (saith he) witness all the Prophets, that through his name all that believe in him, shall have forgiveness of their sins. For Christ (saith S. Peter further) 1. Pet. 2. 
● Pet. 2.  hath offered up our sins on his body upon the cross, that we being dead to sin, might live to righteousness, by whose wounds ye are made whole. Such and like sayings is the holy Scripture very full, that altogether witnesseth that we be made just, righteous, and sanctified through faith in jesus Christ, without any our own doings. For Christ is the only ransom for our sins, for we be bought through the precious blood of Christ.  
Fiftly, ye shall now forgive every man willingly from the bottom of your heart, forget, and forgive what so ever hath been done against us, whether ye know it, or know it not, whether it be with word or deed, by any means done against you: for seeing that our Lord God of mere grace hath cast behind him, and forgiven you so many sins, which you have so many times committed against him, from your childhood till this time, small and great sins, which many & oftentimes ye have committed all the days of your life, so that if God should reckon all your old sins, and deal with you after his strong judgement, ask satisfaction, punish those offences, he might grievously visit you as a righteous God: and yet doth he not so, nor never hereafter will do, but as a merciful father, of special grace forgetteth and forgiveth all, and the same will never more think upon, nor reckon, but cover them, and scrape them out.  
Likewise doth he also require for thanks, laud, and praise, none other thing, but ye forgive and forget your neighbours, what so ever they have at any time offended against you. And you shall not only your offenders gladly and hearty forgive: but also again, show yourself against them thankful. And for the poor widows and fatherless children, according to your ability provide something, whereby they may be fed, clothed, and maintained, so shall they at the last day be your witnesses, that your faith was a perfect faith, seeing it is lively by works, 
●ala. 6. ● Pet. 1.  Gala. 6. Make your election sure, through such works of love, as Saint Peter saith. 2. Pet. 1.   

¶ If the sick body be any thing rich, than a body may be the more earnest and diligent, to exhort them to alms giving: but so, that the sick person be not persuaded to put trust in his own works, and bring him into a vain hope, that he shall purchase heaven by his alms. Therefore consideration must be had to the soul, that it be not lead out of the right way, into the way that is full of briars and thorns.  
How they that stand by, are to be exhorted to pray for the sick.  
Tenthly, beloved in Christ our Lord, seeing we be at this present here gathered together, I put you in remembrance that ye will be mindful of our true & Christian duty, that we are bound one to an other as members of Christ, that ye will diligently and earnestly remember the griefs and sicknesses of this our friend, and not only have an earnest compassion upon him, but also earnestly and truly pray to our Lord God for him, that our Lord God will behold his own son, in whom he doth much delight, that he will mitigate and shorten the great sickness, pains, and passions of this our sick friend, and grant unto him a true Christian patience, that with all confidence, he may wholly put his affiance and comfort in God's mercy, and continually unto the end steadfastly abide in true faith upon Christ our deliverer, and in those things that appertain to our blessed hope, to remain and abide willingly, and patiently take and bear such his cross laid upon him, until our Lord God of his mercy do visit him, and deliver him, and bring him at his appointed time out of this trouble and misery, to everlasting joy and felicity. Seeing then that our Lord Christ hath promised us, than we be gathered together in his name, he will graciously hear us, and grant those things that we desire. Now let us call upon almighty God in true faith, and pray, in the name of Christ our Lord, so will he certainly at the last hear us, according to his fatherly will & good pleasure, therefore make your prayer to GOD our heavenly father, and say, Our father, etc. Almighty GOD, vouchsafe mercifully to grant our prayer, through Christ our Lord. Amen.   

¶ If the sickness do linger and drive off, so that the patiented be assaulted with grievous sickness, then may a body sometime show him of these comforts following, and always declare one comfort or two. For like as a body must now and then relieve the sick body, with comfortable medicines, and broths: likewise shall now and then relieve and quicken the soul, whereby the soul may have her sustenance. And yet we shall not be tedious to the sick, and make him have no delight, or be offended in his head, and ever to have regard, whether he be troubled with any temptation, and whether he have a desire and lust to hear God's word: for the sick must have his ease and quietness. So that with too much reading and crying upon him, ye bring him into raging, or passions, and make his head idle, feeble, and weak. Herein aught every body to use discretion, and put difference.  
FFirst well-beloved in Christ, let not any tentation make you faint hearted: for Christ is a valiant & mighty king, over death, sin, and all adversity. Therefore abide upon this stone, which is jesus Christ, stand fast, and so cannot the gates of hell prevail against you. Then this Lord and King is gone before you unto death, he hath trodden the path, and made the way, and also hath overthrown death, & taken his strength from him: so that death cannot hurt you, hinder you, nor keep you back. Therefore be not dismayed even in the midst of death, and think thus. In the name of God, Gods will be done. All this gear will be gone within a twinkling of an eye. Then shall I pass through the snares of death. Then have I thrown at my back all misfortune, fear, and desperation. For this present death is unto the faithful a safe port, through which I shall go into heaven. Then must sin, death, hell, pains, passions, hunger, thirst, frost, trouble, and all adversity together cease and leave-off. Therefore be not dismayed, for if GOD be with you, who shallbe against you? Say, avaunt and far well now the whole world, and also the Prince of this world, which would hinder you the way to everlasting life: for as much as Christ is your justice, your lodesman and your Guide.  
secondly, well be loved, if God's wrath, threatening, and punishment, should fear you, dismay you, or trouble your mind, as though our Lord God as an earnest and severe judge, should deal with you according to his extreme justice for your sins past, then shall you from henceforth call upon our Lord Christ, the unspotted Lamb of GOD, which hath taken your sins upon him, and thus flee from the place of God's justice, & commit yourself to the mercy seat of Christ our Lord. For ye have a special and faithful promise of our Lord jesus Christ: for he hath bestowed and given himself for wretched sinners, and so bound and pledged himself for all penitent sinners, that he will stand to them, and deliver them from God's wrath. Also Saint Paul witnesseth 1. Thes. 1. 
1. Thes. 1.  God hath our Lord jesus (saith the holy Apostle) raised up from death, that hath delivered us from the wrath to come. And 1. Thes. 5. 
1. Thes. 5.  saith Saint Paul further, God hath not appointed us to inherit his wrath, but to inherit his blessedness, through our Lord jesus Christ, which died for us. Mark and consider this diligently.  
Thirdly, well-beloved, if the world do trouble you, and though some folks, specially your enemies and evil willers rejoice and be glad that you (according to their desires) be so grievously handled, and that you be now by God so sore punished, and that they therefore mock, scorn, despise you, and make great cheer at your trouble: yet let not that trouble nor tempt you: for seeing that wicked people mocked Christ at the hour of his death, and made great cheer at it: likewise shall you of the world not escape such things. Seeing you be a member of Christ, you must suffer in your body, all such troubles as wanted in Christ's passion, as Saint Paul saith, 
Col. 1.  the first Chap. to the Colossians. Therefore is the world a stubborn, proud, and wicked child of sathan which is full of all wickedness, dissimulation, mockery, & backbiting. Christ for our comfort hath told us before, that we must suffer and bear many things of the world, and that the world should laugh us to scorn, and should rejoice at our trouble: and we on the other side, a little while should be pensive and sorrowful. But Christ comforteth us and saith, Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. john 6. 
john. 6  And john, 17. 
john. 17  In the world you shall have sorrow & care: but comfort yourself, I have overcome the world. Thus shall you in faith bear all the wickedness of the world, suffer, and overcome. For, Our faith is the victory that hath overcome the world, john. 15. 
john. 15   
Fourthly, moreover dearly beloved, if Moses the lawgiver set upon you, and will make you afraid with his debt book, and put you out of countenance for your great debts & notable sins, which you are bound to satisfy and pay the terrible judgement of God, as that ye are a breaker or transgressor of gods laws, and therefore, will call you to account, and give evidence against you, and condemn you with your own hand writing & your own conscience (knowing the same to be true) complain upon you, and accuseth you: then shall you before Moses by and by bring forth your Christian liberty, whereby Christ hath made you free, and delivered you from the law, and from the curse and malediction thereof. For, If God's son have made you free, then be you free in deed, john. 8. 
john. 8  And as Saint Paul further doth show and confirm such freedom, Galat. 3. 
Galat. 3  where he saith thus, Christ hath delivered us from the curse of the law, when he was made a curse for us. Thus can the curse never more overrun nor trouble you, seeing it hath once all together fallen upon Christ the most innocent Lamb. Therefore, seeing Christ is the end of the law, whosoever believeth on him is made righteous, Rom. 10. 
●om. 10.  Therefore saith Saint Peter, Be you lusty and strong. Acts, 15. 
acts. 15.  that ●e are now taught, that forgiveness of sin●es cometh by this man, and of all them whereof ye could not be made righteous in the law of Moses. Who so ever believeth on Christ, is righteous. Here is now only all sins taken away. So that no man can, or dare, lay any thing to the charge of the faithful, neither Moses nor the law. Therefore be of good comfort.  
Fiftly, furthermore dearly beloved, I do advise you, that you will not suffer the great weight and burden of your sins to press, and weigh you down, and trouble you. For sin, I assure you, is an heavy burden, to a fearful conscience. Wherefore continually cast your sins from you, and out of your consciences, and cast them upon Christ, for he is the right carrier of our sins as holy Saint john witnesseth, john. 1. 
john. 1.  where he saith, Behold, this is the Lamb of God that beareth or carrieth away the sins of the world. Therefore let the Lord and valiant Champion take up your sins, and carry them upon himself. For God hath appointed him thereunto, as Saint Paul saith, where he saith thus, GOD hath appointed him (namely Christ) that never knew sin, to be sin itself for our sakes: to the intent that we should be by him that righteousness, that is available before God. Behold, this righteous and innocent Lord hath taken all your sins upon himself, borne them, satisfied for them, and ransomed them, and hath clothed you, decked and trimmed you, with his innocent righteousness and justice: For, Christ (saith the Prophet Esaie. 53. 
Esaie. 53. ) is for our sins wounded, and for our sins beaten and smitten. Correction is laid upon him, to the intent that we should have peace, and by his wounds should be healed. Behold, for God's sake, & think upon this with all diligence earnestly. Christ (saith the Prophet) is wounded for our sins, whereby we might be made whole. The wrath & the correction is clean gone over him, to the intent that we should be without correction, & might enjoy peace with GOD. So have you deliverance in Christ by his blood, namely forgiveness of your sins according to the richness of his grace, Ephe. 1 
●●he. 1  For, Christ is therefore come into this world, to make sinners holy & blessed. 1. Tim. 1. 
●im. 1  As Christ witnesseth of himself, Matth. 18. 
●tt. 18.  And Luke. 19 
●●k. 19  The son of man (saith he) is come to seek and to make blessed that that is lost. For God hath not sent his son into the world, that he should condemn the world, but that the world by him should be made happy, whosoever believeth on him shall not be judged, 
●●m. 3 ●ohn. 4  Also, Christ is the forgiveness of our sins. Believe this comfortable saying, from the bottom of your heart, and stay yourself more upon God's merciful promise, then of the deceits of sathan, and of the dangerous imaginations of your reason. Give God the honour, because he is so merciful a God, that of a wretched sinner he will make a child of God, if a man will only trust upon him.  
Sixtly, moreover well-beloved, though now death at the last will come and stare in your face, and should with his grievous countenance make you afraid: for he is such a captain and giant, that he will make one believe, he will eat up the whole world, and therefore he gapeth so wide: yet be not afraid of him, for he advanceth himself marvelously, and is ugly to behold: howbeit, he hath no power nor strength any more, to overthrow you. For Christ hath matched him, & thoroughly wounded him, seeing that he hath laid hand upon Christ the right Lion, therefore is all his strength taken from him. Therefore he shall be to the faithful no more death, but only a sleep, as Saint Paul in the second Epistle to Timothy, 
2. Tim. 1.  the first Chapter, doth witness and declare very plainly and comfortably, where he saith, Christ jesus our saviour hath taken the strength from death, and brought us the light, life, and a being, by means of the Gospel, that shall never corrupt nor perish. Yea, the faithful shall never taste of death, as Christ witnesseth himself, being the very truth, john the eight Chapter, where he saith thus, Verily verily I tell you, 
●●hn. 8  if any man will keep my word (by faith) he shall not taste of death everlastingly. Look and mark well what a noble, virtuous, and right belief is, for that overcometh and driveth away all adversity, all plagues, sin, & death itself. And a faithful person goeth clean through death, to the right life, as our Lord Christ again witnesseth, john 5. 
●●hn. 5  where he saith thus, Verily verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that hath sent me, he hath everlasting life, and shall not enter into judgement, but he passeth through death to life. There do you see what is necessary for you: yea, you shall escape the judgement of God, overcome death, and enjoy everlasting life: namely, to hear God's word (as Christ saith) and believe the same. It requireth no great cunning, wisdom, strength, might, liveland, and preparation, to overcome death, but this overcoming, victory, or triumph, is in these two points, to hear and to believe.  
Surely, my thinketh, this is a marvelous victory, that a poor, wretched, weak, and sick man, that by reason of weakness, can scant move hand nor foot, can overcome so great a giant, as death only, with a Christianlike hearing, and a believing heart. But thus can Christ avenge himself upon such a strong enemy death, that would gladly have eaten and swallowed up Christ, that he hath so wonderfully taken away the strength from death, that a poor wretched man may overcome death, & besides that, may mock and laugh him to scorn, that is (I think) death rightly to despise and contemn. But how cometh that to pass, that we overrun and wearied by death, shall nevertheless abide still alive. That is (as Christ himself saith) john 11. 
●ohn. 11.  where he saith thus, I am the resurrection and the life, who so ever believeth on me, shall live, although he seem to die. And whosoever liveth, and believeth on me, shall nevermore die. This is the right and only cause, that the faithful, yea, in the midst of death, embrace the right life, Christ our Lord that giveth again unto them life. For, as little now can death any more weary or overcome our Lord, or hold him in death: so little can he either punish or quarrel with any faithful men. For seeing that Christ, which is the life, doth still live, and can nevermore be overcome, so may the faithful never abide prisoner in death, but he breaketh out valiantly with Christ, and singeth the merry song of thanks giving, and of triumph, Death is swallowed up in victory, for where is thy sting? Thus shall a Christian soldier look death between the brows, and manfully wage battle with him, or else would death eat up, and swallow the whole world. But if you will with a true faith encounter ●ith him, then will he quietly let you ●lone. Whereunto Christ help you, he valiant and puissant king over ●eath and life. Amen.  
Seventhly, also well-beloved, if the devil the tempter would lay hand upon ●ou, assault or make you despair, as ●hough you did belong to his kingdom, ●r were in his claws, thus shall you encounter him, stand against him, beat ●im, overcome him, first by earnest ●rayers and calling upon God for grace, help, and comfort, as our Lord Christ admonished his Disciples, Matth. 26. 
Mat. 26.  where he saith thus, Pray you, lest ye fall ●nto temptation. As also our loving Lord Christ himself hath taught us to pray, Luke. 12. 
Luke. 12.  O Lord and father, lead us not into temptation, specially when we ●re tempted by sathan, and assaulted, that we through thy grace and holy spirit, may withstand him, and that we may eschew his persuasions and enticements to doubt. Therefore thus withstand him by prayer, for sathan is fallen down hither to us swiftly and invisibly, as Christ our saviour witnesseth, Luke. 10. 
Luk. 10.  where he saith thus, I saw Satan fall from heaven like a lightning. But wherefore? Truly therefore, as Christ further teacheth his Apostles. Luke. 22. 
Luke. 22.  where he saith thus, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired you, that he might fift you as wheat is sifted. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith shall not fail. Behold now how sathan prouleth after every man, he spareth no man, he durst assault the best and holiest men, namely, Adam and Eve in Paradise, though they were made to the Image of God. Also he hath not spared Gods own son, but assaulted and tempted him in the wilderness, so hath he also desired to do the like with the dear Apostles, as you heard even now: therefore it is to be feared, he will also not spare you. Seeing then that is to be feared, and that we know his meaning, as Saint Paul saith in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, the second Chapter, that we should look about us, that we be not deceived of sathan. For (saith he) It is not unknown vn●o us, what he purposeth and goeth about. 
2. Cor. 2.  Therefore have a good eye upon this harmful and perilous tempter, and drive him away by godly prayers.  
Again, thus shall you descend & stand ●gainst sathan, with a steadfast faith on Christ our Lord, chief, that Christ is ●ur high Priest and King, which hath o●ercome sathan, the same Lord can for our commodity destroy sathan, & overcome him: therefore shall you steadfastly believe, the Christ your mighty King can ●unt & drive away sathan from you, with ●ll fantasies, dreams, toys, and deceits. For, He goeth (as saith Saint Peter. 1. Pet. 5. 
1. Pet. 5. ) about as a roaring Lion, and seeketh whom he may devour, whom (saith the Apostle) resist you, being strong in faith: therefore take the shield of faith, (As Saint Paul further warneth us, 
Ephes. 6.  where he (in the 6. to the Ephesians) saith thus, Before all things (saith he) take the shield of faith, whereby ye may quench ●all the fiery darts of the wicked. Therefore believe steadfastly, by this noble counsel of the holy Apostle Saint Paul, where be speaketh in the first Chapter to the Ephesians, and in the first to the Colossians, 
Ephes. 1. Coloss. 1.  in this manner, God hath delivered us from the Prince of darkness, and hath established us in the kingdom of his loving son, of whom we have our deliverance through his blood, specially the forgiveness of sins, according to the richness of his grace. There do you hear, and must with your whole heart believe, that our Lord Christ hath delivered you from the power of sathan, so that the gates of hell can not prevail against you. Matth. 16. 
Matth. 16.   
Thirdly, if sathan moreover will encounter with you, then take you the sword of the holy ghost, (which is God's word) after the counsel of the holy Apostle, in the 6. to the Ephesians, 
Ephes. 6.  and set upon him with God's word, after the example of Christ, Matth. 4. 
Matth. 4.  Therefore, if he will say unto you this or such like words, The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 
1. Cor. 6.  the sixth Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. Iten it is written, 
1. john. 3.  Who so ever sinneth, is of sathan, the first Epistle of Saint john, the ●hird Chapter. Then shall you answer ●im again with Christ, and say, Away ●athan, for it is also written, etc. And also, 
Ezech. 18. & 33  〈◊〉 desire not the death of a sinner, (saith our Lord God) but that he amend himself, & ●●ue. And Christ in the 9 of Matthew, 
Matt. 9 Matt. 18. Luk. 19  ●aith thus, I am come to call sinners to repentance. And Matthew 18. and Luke 9 The son of man (saith Christ) is come ●o seek, and to make blessed that that was ●●st. Now look sathan, though I be indeed a wretched sinner, yet is not God's will that I should be for ever condemned, but that I should live. Albeit then that I be a lost sheep, yet will Christ the ●igh shepherd of my soul, seek me out, and save me, of this I doubt nothing at ●ll. Therefore avaunt harmful devil, thou hast nothing to do here, seeing that Christ my Lord hath clothed and covered me with his innocency, virtues, & holiness: for I have put on Christ my Lord in my baptism. galatians the ●hird Chapter. 
Galat. 3  I have put on the wed●ing garment, in which I shall appear before God, and devil in his kingdom for ever and ever. Amen.  
Behold, thus shall you drive away the wicked flend, and strive and fight against him as a Christian captain, to the end that ye may attain at the great day, unto the everlasting crown. Thus will our Lord God (which is the God of peace,) tread down sathan after a little time under your feet, 
Rom. 16.  as Saint Paul writeth, in the 16. to the Romans.  
Eightly, if well-beloved, the everlasting judgement, hell, and everlasting damnation assault you, as though you were one that should be damned, or forsaken and lost, and would make hell mouth gape, and open wide upon you: thus comfort and refresh yourself ever and quickly with God's word, relieve and cool yourself with the fresh water that springeth and floweth out of the treasure of God's mercy, against sin and filthy living, which water we have in the Gospel, where also the holy prophet Zacharias maketh mention in the 13. 
Zach. 13. Esaie. 55.  Chapter, and the Prophet Esaie in 55. Cham Thus embrace now with true ●ith the noble, comfortable, & pleasant sayings & promises of God, of everlasting ●●fe, whereof this is one, john. 3. 
john. 3.  where ●ur Lord Christ speaketh thus, God ●●th not sent his son into the world, that he ●●uld condemn the world, but that the world through him should be saved. Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be condemned. ●. I●em, john. 5. 
john. 5.  Verily verily I say unto you, saith Christ our Lord,) Whosoever hea●eth my word, & believeth in him that hath sent me, shall never enter into condemnation, ●●●t he hath a through passage from death to ●●e. Item the third of S. john, Whosoever believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life. 
john. 3.  And moreover he saith, Like as Moses set up a serpent in the wilderness, likewise ●●ust the son of man also be lifted up, to the intent, that all they that believe in him, ●hould not be lost and perish, but enjoy and inherit everlasting life. And, God hath so lo●●d the world, (saith the everlasting son ●f God himself,) that he hath given his 〈◊〉 son, to the intent that all that believe in him, should not be destroyed, but should enjoy everlasting life. Item, john the sixth (thus saith Christ, 
john. 6 ) Verily verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, hath everlasting life. Item (our Lord Christ saith further thus,) This is the will of him that sent me, that whosoever beholdeth the son, and believeth on him, shall have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  
By this may you joyfully say, conclude, and through true faith acknowledge, that hell (through the resurrection of Christ our deliverer) is shut up against you, for you believe the highest article of Christian religion, where we believe and acknowledge, that Christ our Lord is gone down into hell, not for his own sin and unrighteousness sake, but for the cause of our wickednesses, by which we have deserved the everlasting plagues, hell, and damnation. There hath Christ himself taken away that everlasting correction, done penance for it, and made satisfaction, broken hell, and shut and stopped it up, and to be short, in stead of everlasting imprisonment, dungeon, and destruction, purchased and given us everlasting life, and brought unto us, and given us a triumphant victory, that we with him may now merrily sing, Hell, where is thy victory? Behold, it behoveth you in such sore dangerous, and linger sickness and battle, to show and instruct yourself that you be a child of God, and suffer not yourself to be deceived, albeit it doth not as yet appear in this world, nor can easily be perceived whether we be presently through faith fully Gods children or not. 
john 1  john the first saith. It doth not yet now appear what we be, but we know, that when it shall appear, then shall we be like unto him, The first of Saint john the third. 
john. 1.3.  Cap. Then shall we see him as he is, and then shall we be partakers of his Godly nature. The second Epistle of Saint Peter the first Chapter. 
2. Pet. 1.  Albeit that yet our knowledge and appearance what we be, is unperfect, and that we as yet behold the majesty of God, (as it were through a glass, & in darkness) or in a cloud. Yet shall we hereafter behold him face to face. Thus do we wait for nevertheless these things in the mean season in blessed hope. For we behold ourselves likewise, by ourselves, childishly, and look for the deliverance of our bodies, for we shall be thoroughly blessed, albeit in hope. This hoping nevertheless, that we see, is no hope, for how can a man hope for that he seeth? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we look after it by patience, 
●om. 13.  the 13. to the Romans Therefore doth belong hereunto, that is there to the time of sufferings, these two virtues, patience, and hope, for with these two wings specially, faith and hope, you must enforce yourself to flee up into heaven. But patience must fight the battle with the dragon, which will strengthen and hinder your way to heaven.  
Ninthely, now well-beloved, seeing that your sickness somewhat lingereth, and that God for a time doth prolong his help and deliverance, and will not suddenly, as we desire, pray, and think, deliver you, but will awhile try & prove your faith, for your faith must be tried by adversity, and temptation, as gold is tried and proved in the fire: Therefore you must be patiented. For albeit our Lord GOD for a time, withdraweth his merciful help, yet will he not long be absent. It should not stand with his godly nature & mercy, that he should for ever forsake you, being his child through faith in Christ. Wherefore, though you a little while for the time of your suffering must sing with Christ, the lamentable song, and say, My GOD my GOD, wherefore hast thou forsaken me? yet will not God long tarry nor be absent, he suffereth you to swim a while, but not utterly so be drowned, he suffereth you peradventure one day, but he will by and by afterwards raise you up again, and give you everlasting peace and happiness. Therefore, albeit you do not for a little time see Christ in his throne of grace, yet shall you shortly see him again, john the .16. 
john. 16.  For his anger, that is to say, his fatherly correction endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and he hath pleasure and delight to save. And therefore doth our Lord God himself comfort you in the Prophet Esai the .54. 
●saie. 54.  Cap, saying thus. Behold I have hidden my face a little from thee, in the short time of anger: nevertheless, I will have mercy upon thee with my continual favour, saith the Lord God our deliverer. Therefore saith Saint Paul the second Epistle the .4. Chap. to the Cor. 
Cor. 4.  Although our trouble, which is but transitory and easy (though we think it very heavy, much and long) yet doth it breed and bring forth an everlasting and a marvelous weighty and unmeasurable dignity and estimation unto us, which we cannot behold with these eyes, but with invisible eyes. For no eye hath seen, nor no ear heard, nor no man's heart can express that GOD hath prepared for them that love him. Esai. 64. 
Esaie. 64.  And .1. Cor. 2. 
●. Cor. 2.  But in these things must God's children a while be patient, suffering, polished and pressed, and fully bethink and consider these comfortable sayings, which be spoken unto us as to children the .12. to the Hebr. 
Hebr. 12.  out of ●he proverbs of Solomon in the third Chapter, as it is there written. 
Proverb. 3.  Take ●ot slightly, but earnestly regard the Lords chastening or correction, and despair not ●hen he punisheth thee. For whom the Lord loveth him doth he punish, & correcteth ●uery child that he taketh to himself. If ●ou abide his correction patiently, then ●oeth God show himself as to his children, for where is a son whom ●he father doth not correct. Howbeit, ●uery chastening while it is a doing, it ●oeth not rejoice us, but maketh us sad ●nd pensive, but afterward it bringeth 〈◊〉 joyful fruit of righteousness, to them ●hat be exercised in it. And therefore ●aith Saint james in his first Chapter. 
jam. 1.  Esteem it for a perfect joy when you chance ●o fall into many temptations, and know, that ●our faith if it be perfect worketh patience, ●ut patience shall perfectly abide unto the ●●nde. To the end it may be perfect and have ●t all no manner of imperfection .. For, He that abideth to the end he shallbe blessed, Matth. the .10. 
Matth. 10.  Therefore a Christian may well boast himself of trouble, seeing that we know, that Trouble bringeth patience, patience bringeth experience, experience bringeth hope, hope will never be confounded. Let us not be ashamed, for the love of GOD is powered out into our hearts through the holy ghost, which is given unto us, the .6. 
Rom. 6.  to the Rom.  
Thus shall you in patience look for the merciful help and visitation of God, and in your heart sing the pleasant song of thanksgiving, of the holy man Simeon, 
Luk. 2.  Luke the second, and say thus: Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, as thou hast said. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared for all people. To be a light to lighten the heathen, and to be the praise of all thy people of Israel. For I have now (God be praised) obtained the knowledge of thy salvation, which is in the forgiveing of sins: Through the tender mercy of our God whereby he hath visited us, that came from above, That he might appear to them that sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and lead our feet into the way of peace, 
Luke. 2.  as Zacharias did sing, Luke the second.  
The tenth, well-beloved, your sickness continueth and doth not leave off, and you think long for help, yet must you give over these things, ye must not shrink from God, nor be faint hearted, but in patience have a perfect and steadfast hope, that God will not be long away, though he seem to tarry, but or it be long will come and help you: yea, the longer God withdraweth from you his gracious help, the mightier and better hereafter will your help and comfort be: for God standeth yet a while behind the wall, as a loving and friendly bridegroom, and looketh through the window privily in upon his spouse, and marketh whether she doth so love her bridegroom, that she will wait and tarry for him, and that she may perceive that he at the length will reach out his hand to her, pluck her forth, & bring her home. His love is as strong as death, but under it is hidden very life and felicity. Therefore despair not even in the very danger of death, and sing once again with this congregation, and with all the holy elected Saints of GOD in your heart, in this manner.  
In the midst of our life we be compassed about with death, whom shall we seek to for help, that we may get grace? thou only, o Lord, art high, we be sorry for our misdeeds which have offended thee, o holy Lord God, o mighty Lord God, o holy merciful Saviour everlasting God, let us not be drowned in the bitter danger of death. Lord have mercy upon us.  
In the midst of death, the gaping of hell assaulteth us, who can deliver us from this great peril? that canst thou Lord alone do, thy great mercy hath compassion on our complaint and great misery, Holy Lord GOD, o mighty Lord God, o holy merciful Saviour, o everlasting God, let us not despair for the deep pit of hell. Lord have mercy upon us.  
In the midst of the sorrows of hell our sins lie hard upon us, then whether shall we flee from hence? where may we abide in safety? to the Lord Christ alone. Thou hast shed thy blood that hath satisfied for our sins, o holy Lord God, o holy mighty God, o holy merciful saviour, o thou everlasting God, let us not fall back from the comfort of our faith, Lord have mercy upon us.  
Behold, thus shall we rejoice in our greatest danger, and withal our heart Sing unto our Lord God a song of thanksgiving, which is the right sacrifice of thanks. Psal. 50. 
Psalm. 50.  These be the right singers to God, when the whole army of heaven sing with us, and give unto God praise and thanks. Therefore now without all fear and trembling, hope upon the endless mercy of God, that this your trouble and heaviness, and dangerous groanings and sighings cometh up to God's compassion, and cometh near enough to his heart. But herein shall you stay yourself and hope, and so shall you be strengthened, Esaie 30. 
Esaie 30.  And thus shall you conclude in your heart, and earnestly hope, and with S. Paul say thus, Rom. 8. 
Rom. 8.  I know certainly, that neither death nor life, neither Angel nor principality, neither power present or to come, neither above nor beneath, nor none other creature may remove us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord To be short, Who will accuse the elected of God, God is he that doth justify, who can condemn us? Christ is he that died, yea rather that is risen again, which sitteth on God's right hand, and forgiveth us. Now if death, sin, devil, hell, all trouble, adversity, and plague fall upon me in heaps, yet will I before you all abide still in my God, and still remain a child of everlasting joy and felicity. Amen.  
The eleventh, though well-beloved, that ye do persuade yourself as though God himself were against you, and were angry with you by reason of forepast sins, yet ye shall not be afraid nor dismay yourself. For God many times doth prove his, & appeareth unto them outwardly as though he were very angry with them, as though he would lay hands on them, punish them, and utterly condemn them. Therefore seeing God first will make you to live, he will before humble you, & seeing he will bring you to heaven, he will first cast you down into hell. For, 
1. Sam. 2.  Our Lord slayeth and reviveth, God doth cast us into hell, and leadeth us out again. As holy Anna saith, the first of Samuel the 2. Therefore in this temptation, learn rightly and properly to know the nature and property of God. He meaneth not evil towards you, but by this means he trieth your faith and your hope, that ye may be found to be perfect. Surely, it is a hard fight to wage battle with God himself, as the good Patriarch jaacob did a whole night long, but at the length he had the victory and lay above: And therefore was he called Israel. Likewise also must the spiritual Israel do, and in spiritual fight prevail and have the overhand. And to be short, at length it must come to pass with you thus, that you must now only believe upon hope where no hope is, Rom. 8. 
Rom. 8.  For, True faith is a certain assurance to obtain those things, and not doubt on, the which we can neither behold nor see. 
●ebr. 11.  Heb. 11.  
This is your case, for in outward appearance and feeling, ye see nothing but death himself, but the eyes of your faith look further, for they see life in the midst of death, in the midst of sin true joy and perfection: in the midst of hell, heaven: in the midst of God's anger and punishment, grace and everlasting welfare. This is surely a strange and wonderful sight, and this is also an excellent, passing, and fine knowledge, a cunning above all cunnings, which declareth unto us, how we shall found in death, perfect life, how we in the deepest misery shall be comforted, how we in the greatest doubts shall be instructed, to be short, when it appeareth unto us, that we are utterly undone, every body hath forsaken us, every body withdraweth their succour from us, and before our eyes there appeareth nothing but destruction, and utter undoing, we shall make much ado, and wonderfully busy ourselves, and in our reason and opinion, know not whether to go, we seem to live, and yet we die, we see and feel, and yet be in the midst of death. But here we must lay aside all feeling, seeing, understanding, wisdom, and reason, and utterly forsake them, and with these comforts, to be merry in the midst of death, and slide through it as through sleep, to the blessed hope, that God will through his mercy in the promise of Christ everlastingly keep us, and make us enjoy his blessings. What so ever Gods will be, let things appear outwardly as they will, let things go and stand with us as God will, yet believe we steadfastly, that God's grace and goodness will defend us for ever, contrary to all man's reason and imagination, for he will not ascribe our salvation, nor give the honour, glory, & praise thereof, unto us or our works, either to our endeavour, but unto his endless mercy, that at the last day we should & must confess, that our salvation was not in our power, in our doings, in our will and might, but only in the mercy and only grace of God, which we have obtained through Christ our only Saviour. For which grace and good will, we are bound to give to God continual thanks, and only laud and praise his holy name, and ascribe unto him all honour, power, might, and majesty: behold thus shall you fight and strive with God, against god, and push and enforce yourself as it were through very thistles & thorns, to enter into heaven, and there again begin in your heart to sing the comfortable song of the holy David, Psalm. 73. 
●sal. 73.  where he thus singeth, If I have only thee my Lord and my God, I pass of nothing, neither in heaven, nor in earth, though my body and my soul be in contempt, yet art thou my God always my hearts comfort, and my health. And then will GOD comfort you, and say thus, Esaie. 41. 
●aie. 41.  Be not afraid, I am with thee, be not faint hearted, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, I will help thee out, I will hold thee up, through the strength of my righteousness.  
Twelfthly, if well-beloved, many assaults and temptations fall upon you, as it were by heaps, yet let them not dismay or discourage you, for sathan ●oth willingly bestow all his cunning, when the matter cometh to the push, ●r extremity. If he could not overcome you in your life time, whilst ye were ●n perfect health, then will he now more strongly withstand and assault you, now in your weakness. Therefore now ●earne, and be expert in deed, what the subtlety and craft of the wicked fiend ●s, what sleights and devices he useth and practiseth against you: for his nature and condition is with great rage and fierceness to set upon men, he cometh to you very stoutly, and that continually with many and divers temptations, and thinketh thus with so many and sundry assaults and forces to dismay, amaze, enféeble, match, & make desperate a feeble, and unexperienced Christian, whereby he may drive an unexperienced Christian at the last, to put himself at all adventures, to give over, and yield himself to every temptation, and to be overcome, to the intent, that at the last, he may fall into doubt, yield himself wholly prisoner to the wicked enemy, and to submit himself unto him, from which our Lord defend you of his good grace, with his holy spirit. Amen.  
Therefore if now at the last any such come unto you, and that sathan will lay unto you that God (after his majesty) is a great deal too high & mighty to have any regard, or to make any reckoning of you, be gracious to you, & show you mercy, then let such high imaginations and thoughts pass, which touch the unsearchable majesty of God, and come from thence to Christ's humanity, and how he took upon him our nature, and begin at his cradle to take hold upon God that is most high, and too far above our reach, For, In Christ dwelleth the whole fullness of the Godhead bodily. Colos. 2. 
Col. 2.  And as Christ himself saith, Io. 14. 
john. 14.  He that seeth me (saith Christ to Philip) he seeth the father. Dost thou not believe that I am in the father, and that the father is in me. Therefore thus begin with Saint Thomas, john 20. 
john. 20.  and call thus upon Christ, & say, My God, & my Lord. Thus shall you seek out the majesty of God, find him, and take hold on him, that is only in Christ: there is the everlasting godhead and high majesty only to be sought and found, and without our Lord Christ shall you never find God, nor lay hand upon him: therefore thus cry with the woman of Chanaan, O thou son of David, have mercy upon me. Matth. 15. 
Matth. 15   
The thirteenth, And if beloved, temptation after this sort would prevail against you, as though god were not nigh you, neither in heaven, nor in earth, to secure and help you, but that he doth utterly despise and forsake you, & that sathan would lay and cast before you mocking and blasphemy, and say, Behold, where is thy God, upon whom thou hast so long trusted? behold how well he heareth thee? behold what haste he maketh to help thee? how wisely hast thou committed thyself to him? either what great care hath he of thee? he suffereth thee to stick fast, and starve in thy greatest danger & perils. O, surely this is not the right God that thou takest for the right God, and whom thou honour'st, & callest upon, else would he never suffer thee now so miserably to be destroyed & perish, etc. When any such or the like blasphemy of sathan is laid before you, then hold your peace, & be quiet at such blasphemy, & never dispute with sathan, but by & by turn you to Christ crucified, to God's son himself, and call upon him with your whole heart, that he will come and aid you with his holy spirit, and strike sathan, that he may be driven away from you, and call upon Christ your mediator only, that he will stand between the high majesty of God and you miserable sinner, and do like a good mediator, & will withdraw his great and mighty righteousness and justice, take your sins upon him, and so go before you, entreat, and reconcile you. Otherwise will the majesty of God be too much, too high, and terrible, so that you shall before God be afraid, amazed, and out of countenance. Therefore take this Lord and mediator by the hand, if ye will draw nigh to God, and have any thing to do with him. For this mediator hath been a long time ordained by God himself for us, that we through him might be reconciled to God, as witnesseth Saint Paul 1. Tim. 2. 
1. Tim. 2.  where he saith thus, There is one God, and one meediatour between God and man: namely, the man jesus Christ, that hath given himself for all for deliverance.  
The fourteenth, If well-beloved, your sin doth now accuse you, for that you not only in your youth, when your body was sound and lusty, did sin & offend God: but also even now in your sickness, ye have displeased God by impatience, murmuring, misbelief, etc. as we all be borne in sin, be sinners, and so remain and abide, till we come to our grave: therefore let not your sin in any case make you despair, but acknowledge and confess, and accuse yourself before your Lord God, and be sorry for them with all your heart, ask mercy therefore before God, in Christ our Lord. For it is impossible in this life, that in the sight of God we should be found so clear, pure, and without fault or sin, as holy Saint john witnesseth .1. john .1. where he saith thus, If we say we have no sin, 
john. 2  then shall we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Therefore in the midst of sin we have this only comfort, (when we acknowledge our sin, the unquietness of our conscience, and the trouble of our hearts cumbereth us) that we call then upon our attorney Christ the Lord, to the intent that he for ever be gracious unto us, & entreat & speak for us towards his dear father, as then Saint john (when we stick in sin) comforteth us. 1. joh. 2. 
john 2  where he saith thus, If any man sin, yet have we an advocate to the father jesus Christ, that maketh us righteous, and he is the atonement for our sins. From hence shall you seek your refuge and succour, and in every assault of your sins, comfort yourself, that you have such a peacemaker before God the father, whom the father doth accept and allow, that can speak well, and is eloquent, and can handle your cause, and pled for you best. Surely, this is a great and a perfect comfort, that we have our flesh and blood sitting above at God's right hand the father, which doth take upon him the whole progeny of man, entreateth for us, pleadeth our cause, & turneth the wrath of GOD from us, as holy S. Paul also witnesseth. Rom. 8. 
Rom. 8.  where he saith thus, Christ is at the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for us. This is his holy office, that he delivereth wretched sinners from God's anger, defendeth and keepeth them, therefore flee only to this Lord Christ, when your sin grieveth or troubleth you.  
The fifteenth, If now in these long linger assaults and conflicts, well-beloved, your heart wax cold, be unlusty, & drowsy, as you think that there is no more faith in your heart, and that for unlust you can neither pray nor believe, yet shall you not therefore give over, or be afraid: for the Lord God bringeth his many times so deep under the cross, that they can neither believe nor hope, and think with themselves, that their hearts be utterly cold and frozen: yea, very stiff, that neither faith, love, prayer, nor no good thought can any more appear in their hearts. If this great & sore temptation shall happen also to trouble you, yet despair not therefore, but be of good cheer, & think thus with yourself: I perceive that I must altogether be naked and unclothed, and put off all that I have, & spoil myself of every thing that I have or may do, all that ever I have falleth clean from me, and forsaketh me. My loving bridegroom our lord Christ will clothe me anew, adorn and dress me, and trim me with all his jewels. Therefore call now again upon him, as upon your high priest, that he will have mercy upon you, entreat and pray for you, and will have hearty compassion of your weakness. For, We have not an high priest that can not take compassion of 
●eb. 5.  our feebleness, but such an high priest that hath been thoroughly tempted, and is like unto us in all things (except in sin.) Therefore let us go unto him, with joy to his mercy seat, that we may obtain mercy and find grace, at that time when help shallbe necessary for us. Heb. 5.  
Here have you a very great comfort, that Christ is your high priest. Call upon him earnestly, that he will sand into your cold heart his holy spirit, which shall call within you, father, father, loving father: Even than shall the holy Ghost help up your weakness, and entreateth for you also mightily, with sighings not able to be expressed. Rom. viii. 
Rom. 8.  Then also doth Christ himself pray for you, like the high priest before the father, & suffereth not your weakness to be laid to your charge, despiseth you not, because of your untowardness, your ignorance, or faint heart: for this high priest hath great compassion with our weakness, he doth not only entreat for us, but also he showeth forth before the father his innocent body, which he hath offered upon the Cross for you, a perfect sacrifice for ever. Heb. 9 
●ebr. 9  As also S. Paul witnesseth, Ephes. 5. 
●phes. 5.  where he saith thus, Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us for a gift and offering unto God for a sweet savour. This is the noble gift, and this is the available offering for you, which is richly accepted before God.  
Thus have you now your high priest Christ our Lord himself, the altar whereupon he was offered his cross, the offering his clean unspotted and pure body. Now mark how and in what manner or fashion Christ your high priest did hung upon the cross, for such manner of hanging is very comfortable, if one would behold it with believing eyes.  
For first, Christ hangeth upon the Cross with his arms and hands stretched out, to signify, that he is ready to give grace, accept and embrace with his arms all poor and wretched sinners: for he hangeth there for the comfort of poor sinners, & reacheth out his arms to troubled consciences.  
Secondarily, his feet also be heaved up and fast nailed, in token that he tarrieth there for all wretched sinners: for he will not start aside nor fly from you, but will continually be found, and tarrieth for you.  
Thirdly, he turneth his face and not his back to you, he boweth down his face like unto a gentle and mild Lord to the prayers of all poor and troubled persons, will gladly with all his heart hear them, he is willing and ready, he openeth his ears wide, whereby he will certainly hear you.  
Fourthly, his heart is wide open towards you, for it is pierced with a spear, whereby he may have hearty compassion with your adversity, and will set your trouble very near unto his own heart.  
Fiftly, he weareth a crown of thorn upon his head, to signify, that he will be your king, and defend and keep you from all misfortune, from sin, from death, from the devil, and from hell. This is a marvelous gracious and loving beholding to all troubled sinners, for he hangeth in the middle of sinners, as a sinner, because he will receive all miserable, forsaken sinners, give them grace, and preserve and keep them for ever.   

¶ Hereafter follow certain prayers, which may be said before the sick body, if the sickness have any continuance, whereby sometime the sick bodies heart may be touched, moved, and kindled, that the sickness may not prevail, and have the overhand upon the sick.  
First well-beloved, let us lift up our hearts to almighty God, and put him in remembrance of his gracious promise, which he hath made us at our holy baptism: therefore say after me, though not with your mouth, yet with your heart chief thus.  
MY Lord and God, remember the holy covenant which thou hast made with me in my holy baptism, wherein thou hast received me to grace, and to be thy child, and promised me, that I believing and being baptized, should be saved. Mark. 16. 
Mark. 16.  Seeing then thou Lord hast so assuredly bound thyself unto me, to be my gracious, merciful, true, and loving father, my comfort and hope is alonely in thee, therefore I steadfastly believe, that as surely as I am baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost, that thou wilt be my defender, deliverer, and comforter, and help me out of all danger, lead me and defend me from all peril, that neither sin, death, nor hell can hurt me. Therefore I will not despair in all adversity, and even in the extremity of death turn my heart unto thee, and steadfastly believe, that thou wilt never forsake me, but give unto me everlasting blessedness, through the deserving of Christ my Lord and Saviour.  
Secondarily, well-beloved, let us now again turn ourselves unto almighty God, from whom cometh all help, and call upon him from the bottom of our hearts inwardly, as our only God and father, and say thus.  
O almighty everlasting God, and father, I being full of all unrighteousness and sin, come unto thee, and yet am I thy well-beloved child. Therefore seeing thou art the everlasting true God, I comfort myself with thy promise, that thou wilt faithfully perform all that thou hast promised me. Now thou hast said, Matth. 11. 
●atth. 11.  When I am troubled in my conscience with sin, care, need, heaviness, and am heavy laden many ways, and I repair unto thee, that then thou wilt help me, and receive me in my heaviness.  
For as much as thou art my well-beloved father, and I am thy child, therefore do I look for from thee wholly, all good things, help & comfort in all trouble, for thou art not an earthly father, which sometime can neither help himself, nor his children, but thou Lord art the almighty & heavenly father, that wilt willingly with all thy heart help me, & likewise art able so to do, by reason of thy almighty power. For thou art the maker of heaven and of earth, thou hast all things in thy hand and power, all creatures of heaven and of earth be subject unto thee, and must serve and obey thee even as thou listest. Therefore Lord despise me not, though I be a very wretched sinner altogether, for these causes, seeing that thou by thy word hast commanded and promised, that I shall be heard in what danger and trouble so ever I be, when I call upon thee, and that then I shall honour thee, and ever acknowledge thee to be the true and very God: seeing I perceive, that what so ever thou promisest, that thou dost perform effectually. Therefore believe I certainly thy word, that thou wilt not deny it, but undoubtedly perform whatsoever thou hast once spoken: therefore I beseech thee, from the bottom of my heart, that thou wilt help me out of my trouble and sickness, and never forsake me, but graciously sand me thy fatherly help, and deliver me from my distress. For there is no body upon whom I can perceive any help or goodness, but only upon thee, therefore help thou me my lord and God, but not according to my deserts, worthiness, or goodness, but through the deserts of thy son jesus Christ, which hath purchased unto me, from thee, all grace and fatherly favour, him dost thou love, and hast great pleasure in him, and therefore thou wilt not forsake me for his sake, but rather showest unto me all goodness: therefore I commit myself wholly unto thy mercy and fatherly goodness, and put my whole cause unto thee, as to my loving father, that thou wilt deliver me out of all this trouble, grief, weakness, & pains, when it shall please thy godly will: therefore I will not appoint unto thee neither time nor space, but earnestly hope upon thee, that thou wilt hear me, and defend me, though my case appear very strange, and as impossible as it may be: for thou art almighty, hast might and power over all things, and besides this, thou art my father, and art willing to do it, if it were now necessary. Therefore at thy hand I look for all goodness, be it unto me according unto thy true promise. Amen.  
Thirdly, moreover well-beloved, let us once again lift up our hearts and minds unto him, from whom all help and goodness cometh, chief unto the father of all light, which giveth every good gift, & graciously heareth us. Therefore, seeing that your pains, necessity, misery, and griefs still continued, therefore pray unto our Lord God, with holy David, and say thus, O Lord, punish me not in thine anger, & correct me not in thine me. Lord be gracious unto me, for I am feeble: heal me Lord, for my bones be afraid. Turn thee Lord, and deliver my soul, help me according to thy pleasure: be not far from me, for trouble is at hand, for here is none that can help. Remember Lord thy mercy and thy goodness, which hath been since the world began. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor mine offences, but think upon me after thy mercy, and according to thy goodness. Lord have mercy upon my misdeeds, which be very great, turn thee to me, & be gracious unto me, for I am forsaken and in misery, the heaviness of my heart is great, lead me out of my necessity and need. Behold my misery and distress, and forgive me all mine offences. Lord be gracious unto me according to thy goodness, and blot out all my sins, after thy great mercy, wash me clean from mine offences, & make me pure from my sins, for I acknowledge mine offences, and my misdeeds be ever before me. On thee alone have I sinned, and have done evil in thy sight. Hid thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine offences. Make a clean heart within me, and give me a new right spirit. Cast me not out of thy sight, and take not thine holy Ghost from me. Comfort me again with thy help, and give in me the spirit of peace. Be unto me a strong tower, whether I may for ever flee for secure: for thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my rock, and my hill. O Lord, I cry unto thee, because thou art gracious, Lord for thy great goodness hear me with thy true help, hear me Lord, for thy goodness is comfortable, turn thee unto me according to thy great mercy. Lord be not far from me. My God make haste to help me. Upon thee Lord do I trust, God help me out of all my needs, and set me at liberty. Look upon me, and hear me Lord my God. Lighten mine eyes, that I may sleep sound in the midst of death. I love thee with all my heart, Lord God my strength, Lord my rock, my hill, my deliverer, my God, my castle, upon whom I trust, my buckler and horn of my salvation, my defence. Lord in thee do I trust, let me never be confounded. Deliver me for thy justice sake. Bow down thine ears to me, make speed to help me. Be unto me a strong rock and an hill, where thou mayest help me. For thou art my rock and my hill, and for thy name sake lead me and bring me forth, come to my soul and deliver it, keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be confounded, for I trust in thee. Lord quicken me for thy name sake, lead my soul out of this danger, for thy righteousness sake, for my soul fainteth in my body, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. Fear and trembling compasseth me, and loathsomeness is fallen upon me. I lie with my soul among the Lions, therefore, o Lord, hear my prayers, and let my cry come unto thee. Hid not thy face from me in my need. Bow down thine ear unto me, when I call upon thee, then hear me betime. Now Lord wherein shall I comfort me? I hope upon thee, leave off from troubling me, that I may refresh myself before I go hence, and come no more again.   

If it please any man to say all the whole Psalms, to be said to the sick, I will not complain upon him. Therefore they that list may when he list sometime take these Psalms hereafter following, and read the same to the sick, and sometime make some short rehearsal of them, and with them comfort the sick body, specially the 25. 51. 70. 71. 77. 87. 88 103. 130. etc. And if need require, a man may often repeat them or take some comfortable part of them, and also like comfortable sayings out of my little book, called The spiritual conflict, all which for shortness I leave here untouched.  
Fourthly, if the sick body draw on, and is near his end, then say our belief, that is, the xii. Articles of our holy faith thus.  
I Believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: And in jesus Christ his only son, our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the virgin Marie, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead and buried, he descended into hell, he rose again the third day from the dead, he ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the holy ghost, The holy catholic Church, The communion of Saintes, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.  
O highest comfort in all trouble, help, that we neither fear shame nor death, that our senses be not dismayed, when the enemy accuseth us, Lord have pity upon us.   

Fiftly, if the party lie long in a trance: For I have many times seen, that some have lain a long time (as it were) in a trance, and afterward have begun again to speak, and have said, that they very well heard and did understand what hath then been said unto them. Therefore they that will, may rehearse to the sick, this short exposition of our belief.  
I put all my trust, hope, and comfort, only in the mere grace and mercy of God, that he only himself can help me, and none other creature (how holy soever he be) in all my need and trouble. And seeing he is my father, I believe steadfastly, that he with all his heart will gladly help me, never forsake me neither in this world, nor in the world to come. And because he is almighty God, I believe that he can defend me, and keep me, from all that is against me: For he only is strong enough for mine enemy, by reason of his almighty power. And seeing he is the creator of heaven and earth, I believe he can command all other creatures, that none of them shall have any power over me to my harm, without his fatherly good william.  
Therefore do I look for only from this almighty God, father, & creator, all good things and everlasting life. For all things come only from him, and are given unto him: for he will give himself wholly and fully unto me, with all that he is, and hath with heaven and earth, with all creatures, that they must serve me, and profit me, and further me toward everlasting life.  
I believe with all my heart, that jesus Christ the only begotten son of the father, from the beginning, hath for my sake taken upon him man's nature, and that he was conceived of the holy Ghost, and borne of the holy virgin Marie as a right natural mother, and that that man is very truly God as an everlasting and undivided person of God and man. And that this son of God & Marie, our Lord jesus Christ, hath for me wretched sinner suffered, was for me crucified, and dead. Whereby he hath delivered me from sin, from death, and from the everlasting wrath of God, by his innocent blood: which in his own person suffered the pangs of death, and hath tasted everlasting hell, and overcome it, to the intent that I should be reconciled with God, and be made Lord over all mine enemies. I believe, that except the death of this son our Lord jesus Christ, I could never have attained unto God's favour, and my salvation, neither by works, nor by any manner of desert.  
I believe that jesus Christ my brother is risen from death for my righteousness, and hath for my sake taken death and hell prisoner, that they can never hurt me. For I confess, that I should have died for ever, if jesus Christ had not come to help me, and taken upon him, as an innocent lamb, my sin, faults, curse, and everlasting death, and hath satisfied for me by his passion, and hath taken away the curse for me. I believe, that he doth daily like a faithful & merciful Mediator, Saviour, and only Priest, and Bishop of my soul, appear and entreat for me.  
I believe, that Christ with God equally ruleth and fulfilleth all things, and that he is of equal power and might in heaven and in earth, Lord over all Lords, King over all Kings, and above all creatures in heaven and in earth, and under the earth, above death and life, above sin and righteousness. This King and Lord shall go before me in my passion and death, shall hold battle, and fight for me, so that I with him shall be a Lord over all mine enemies, for ever and ever.  
I believe that Christ crucified, shall come again at the last day, and shall judge and condemn those that will not believe on him, but will defend me, and all faithful from the terrible judgement of damnation perpetual, and say unto us, Come ye hither, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom, which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world, & coet.  
I believe in the holy Ghost, which with the father and the son is one very God, and is proceeded from the father and the son everlastingly, and yet in one and the same godly being, and nature, an undivided person. I believe that I by him shall be adorned with faith, as with a living, everlasting, godly gift and reward raised up from death made free from sin, and in my heart made merry, comforted, and free, and safe in conscience. For this is my rejoicing, that if I can find in my heart such witness of God's holy spirit, that then God will be my father, forgive me my sin, and reward me with everlasting life.  
I believe, that the holy Ghost will help to bear mine infirmities, and entreat for me with unspeakable sighings, strengthen me, and light my heart, that I may know the exceeding riches, fatherly mercy that he hath given me, & rewarded me with, of mere grace, without all my deservings, only through Christ his beloved son, by whom the father hath rewarded me with those his gifts. But the holy Ghost teacheth me to know all these things, he kindleth my heart, and lighteneth me, that these gifts come from above, as Christ hath promised us, where he saith, john. 7. 
●ohn. 7.  He that believeth in me (as the scripture saith) from his body shall flow streams of living waters.  
I believe, that there is upon earth one Christian church, that is the congregation or number, or assembly, & meeting of all Christians: in which there is one God, one Lord, one holy Ghost, one faith, one baptism, of which Church Christ only is the spouse and husband.  
I believe, that this Church is the spiritual body, and that Christ only is her head. I believe, that Christ is the saviour of this his body and Church, and hath given himself for her, that he might make her holy, and hath cleansed her through the waterbath of his word, that he may have for himself a special congregation, that neither hath spot nor wrinkle, or any other infirmity, but that she may be holy, and without fault, a pillar and foundation of truth.  
I believe, that in this Christian congregation, and where so ever it be, that there also is forgiving of sins. There is the kingdom of grace, and right pardon, and that there is no salvation nor forgiving of sins, without Christendom.  
I believe, that no man can be saved, except he be in this congregation and Church, as a lively member planted in his own body.  
I believe, that in this kingdom, there is not only once forgiving of sins, but as often as we require and ask it. For Christ is such a master of the hospital, that doth nothing else then look to the sick, help them up, strengthen them, and maketh them whole, and as Esaie saith, He will not break a bruised reed, nor he will not quench the smoking flax.  
I believe also the rising of the body, that my body, which the worms shall eat, shall arise again, even as it was before. For Christ at the last day shall raise it up, according to his promise, where he saith, john. 6. 
●ohn. 6.  This is the will of him that sent me, that whosoever seeth the son, and believeth on him, shall have everlasting life, and I will raise him at the last day. And, Whosoever eateth of my flesh, and drinketh of my blood, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  
I believe, that after this life, there shall be an everlasting life, so that I shall live with Christ for ever, according to his promise, john. 5. 
john. 5.  where he saith, Verily verily I say unto you, who so ever heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, he hath everlasting life, and cometh not into judgement, but he passeth clean through death to life. And, Whosoever believeth on the son, he hath everlasting life. And, Verily verily I say unto you, if any man will keep my word, he shall not see everlasting death. Item, I am the bread of life, (saith Christ, john. 6. 
john. 6. ) which is come from heaven, whosoever shall eat of this bread, shall live for ever.  
Now well-beloved, seeing your time draweth on, stand steadfast upon the only rock, Christ our Lord. Then can no storm, no whirlwind: yea, hell gates themselves can not remove nor overwhelm you. For whosoever believeth upon our Lord God, shall never fall, nor be overturned, but shall abide for ever. Therefore call upon our Lord God with your whole heart, for he is rich over all that call upon him, and he will be nigh to all them that pray to him, to all them that call upon him with their hearts, and granteth all things which they that fear God do require, heareth their cry, and helpeth them. Therefore call upon God the most highest, in the name of jesus Christ, that he will show unto you his great plentiful mercy, and power out upon you in the time of grace, richly his mercy. For seeing that our Lord is the spring itself of God's mercy, and Christ his only begotten son is the pipe & conduit, whereby such plenty of grace and mercy floweth, and is conveyed unto us, take yet again fast hold, in this your extreme need, of the overflowing and flood of God's grace, specially jesus Christ, the scrine and casket wherein God's mercy is locked up: for Christ is full of grace and truth, joh. 1. 
●●hn. 1.  For the everlasting son of God hath brought with him such great plenty of grace, that he hath therewith fulfilled the whole world: for heaven and earth is full thereof. And also Christ is full of truth, so that he is not alonely the truth itself, but also meaneth hearty and truly with us, and will take to himself your soul, with great verity and earnestly. Therefore be of good comfort, that your name is written in the book of life: you are fully cleansed with the blood of Christ, and anointed with the holy Ghost: The same holy spirit assureth your heart, that you also be one of the very children of God. And albeit it doth not as yet appear what you be, yet know you, that when it shall appear, than ye shall be like unto him, john. Chap. 8. 
john. 8.  For ye shall be partaker of the godly nature. Pet. 2. Chap. 1. 
2. Pet. 1.  specially when Christ our saviour shall come hither from heaven, and glorify your miserable body, and make it like unto his glorified body, after his mighty power and working. Phil. 3. 
Phil. 3.  Christ jesus is the only refuge of all poor penisent sinners, he only is your strength, your comfort, hope, and strong tower, in all need and adversity. Therefore go without fear into the danger of death. Christ, in the twinkling of an eye, being your everlasting king, will pluck you out again, bring you to light, and make you righteous and living. Wherefore give yourself over valiantly from this life unto death, and be not afraid, seeing that death hath lost all his might and strength on the faithful. Christ the victorious conqueror hath taken from death all his strength, so that from hence forth he can no more hurt, weary, or devour any Christian. Wherefore will ye then be dismayed or afraid, for such a shadow or visar of death? Death may for a little while roar & whet his teeth, but he can do no more: for Christ hath taken his sting from him, and likewise is God's everlasting judgement, through the Saviour of the world, taken from you. And Christ the only son of God, hath appeased the justice of God, & laid the same far enough out of your way: So that from henceforth you shall never be called to appear before the judgement seat of GOD, nor you shall not need to appear, neither answer for your sin, because jesus your saviour hath made you free from it. Therefore cheerfully appeal from the judgement seat, unto the throne of mercy, which is Christ your deliverer, call earnestly upon the stool of grace, whereupon gods mercy resteth and dwelleth in Christ jesus, the son of the highest, therefore can no complaint come against you, neither sin, death, hell, nor sathan himself. Christ is the true Lion of the tribe of juda, which for your sakes hath subdued utterly all your enemies, wiped & blotted out all sin, and swallowed up death: so there remaineth now no more, but that the body must suffer and abide only one little shivering and shrinking, after that you shall be perfectly safe and sure. Fight therefore manfully as a valiant Rutter or captain, against the dragon and hell gates, then will Christ with the host & army of heaven, meet you, and receive your soul, to carry it with him into everlasting joy and felicity. Amen.   

¶ If any be disposed, they may rehearse again to the sick, the twelve Articles of our belief, for they be the very anchor, yea, the very foundation of our belief, which we can never sufficiently meditate and think upon. It is therefore very meet and necessary, seeing in our youth we be baptized in them, that we continually be fed with them: then shall we joyfully die in them. It were very good that we should always in time of our health remember them, and learn perfectly to understand them. Then, when we lie on our death bed, we shall not so much need to be put in remembrance. And if a man ready to die in time of need (specially if death come suddenly upon him) confess no more but the only articles of our true and ancient faith, and Christian religion, it were sufficient, specially if those articles were holden and professed by him that lieth dying with a faithful heart. For we hope, yea, we earnestly believe, that our beloved ancestors, in the great darkness, though they knew nothing of the brightness of God's holy light and knowledge, and yet confessed and died in this Christian belief, and have enjoyed everlasting life: Therefore shall we bestow our possible diligence, to bring young children to be baptized, those that be elder to be taught, and those that be at the point of death to be comforted, every man according to his measure and gift, whereby (as much as lieth in us,) not body shall be taken tarde, be unprovided, or die in his error and unbelief. But so to use ourselves, that every body may come unto the knowledge of the truth, be blessed, and saved, and so at the last, commend in our prayer every man one with an other unto God, which can mightily bring to pass all that we desire or require according to his power that worketh in us. To him be praise in the congregation, which is in Christ jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.  
Last of all, now when the last pang cometh when the sick body beginneth to scrocle and shrink up his body, as when one biteth upon a sour apple, (as the biting of Adam's apple teacheth us: seeing the same bit and sin is run over us all, and therefore we all must ransom it with our skin and with death,) then may a man (to conclude) say to the sick as followeth: Lord into thy hand I commend my spirit. Almighty God lead thy soul into everlasting peace and blessedness. And our Lord jesus Christ raise up again, at the last day, this dead body to everlasting honour and glory. Amen.   

A short exhortation to them that be present, and shall attend upon the dead body.  
Well-beloved in our Lord, you have now seen for a time the course of this departed body, and how like a good Christian and warrior, it is departed out of this life. Yea rather, how fatherly and graciously our Lord God hath visited it, & how at the last he hath delivered it from all adversity and trouble, whereunto the old Serpent of all man's progeny had brought us. Therefore, seeing this dead person is so Christianly departed out of this life full of misery, let us, to the everlasting praise & thanks of God, say joyfully, We praise thee o God, etc. And to conclude, inwardly with all our hearts call upon him, & pray unto him, that he will vouchsafe, wh●n we shall be in extremity and peril of death, graciously, defend us, and bless us, and give unto us a blessed hour, through Christ his only begotten son. Therefore weep not as the heathen and infidels, that believe not the resurrection, and have no hope thereupon. For, If we believe (as witnesseth S. Paul, 1. Thess. 4. 
1. Thes. 4. ) that jesus died and is raised up again: likewise also shall God with him lead all those that be departed through jesus.  
Hear may we see what it is to die well, namely the death of Christ that of necessity died for us wretched sinners, whereby through his death he hath purchased, that we shall never die, but sleep only. Out of which sleep Christ a mighty Lord and king shall at the last day raise us up, if we believe upon him, and lead us with himself into everlasting bliss and peace. Therefore, suffer this sleeping body lie and rest, and his soul in the mean season refresh itself, and rejoice until that day, when body and soul shall come again together, and enjoy everlasting felicity. Whereunto our Lord jesus now help us all together. Amen.  
Secondarily, it is not possible that man may so much bridle nature, that we should not be heavy and complain after the death of our friends. And also Syrach saith, 
acle. 38.  the 38. chapter. My son, power forth ●eares over the dead, and begin to mourn as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself, and then cover his body according as he hath appointed, and neglect not his burial. Make a grievous lamentation, and be earnest in mourning, and use lamentation as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken on, and then comfort thyself for thine heaviness. For of heaviness cometh death, & the heaviness of the heart breaketh the strength. Of the afflictions of the heart cometh sorrow: and the life of him that is afflicted is according to his heart. Take no heaviness in heart, drive it away, and remember the last end. Forget it not, for there is no turning again, thou shalt do him no good, but hurt thyself. Remember his judgement, thine also shallbe likewise. Unto me yesterday, and unto thee to day. Seeing the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort thyself again for him, seeing his spirit is departed from him.  
Thus we see, that also the good patriarchs and holy people have after this manner mourned, as Abraham, joseph, David, etc. But at the length they have laid mourning aside, and comforted themselves with the joyful resurrection: Yea, Christ himself mourned for dead Lazarus. john. 11. 
john. 11.   
Thirdly and last of all, you shall worshipfully bring this dead body to the earth, and show upon it such manner of work of love, 
Eccle, 7.  as Syrach willeth us in the seven. Chapter, saying, Show thy good will upon the dead, specially worshipfully accompany him, convey him, and help him to his grave, for the resurrection sake. As Syrache also saith in the 38. Chapter, 
Eccle. 38.  When any dieth, bury him decently, and bring his body worshipfully to the grave. As did good Toby, David, and many more, to give us example how we aught to behave ourselves towards the dead.  
Our Lord God grant us his grace, that every of us, each one for other, may be diligent in this behalf, whereby we all, to the praise of God, and to the profit of our neighbours, without let or offence may begin, go forward, and happily end through Christ our Lord, in the holy Ghost. Amen.  
Thus you see, well-beloved in Christ our Lord, upon this dead body, the earnest and high judgement of GOD, and what an extreme horror our Lord God hath upon sin. For who hath thus judged this dead body, taken from him his comely countenance, given unto him such an ugly look & face? Only death. But wherefore? Only because, Death is the wages for sin. But if this dead man since his birth had not sinned, then had sin never had such power over him. But from whence hath death this power? Only from God's wrath and judgement. Therefore tremble, look up to GOD, avoid sin, for this dead body may be a warning unto you, that ye keep yourselves from sin. Christ jesus keep and defend us altogether. Amen.   

¶ To the Reader.  
FRiendly and Christian Reader, hitherto have ye perceived in plain & simple manner, how sick persons are to be comforted, I have also shortly showed you, first of Repentance, then of Faith, and afterward of Good works, which I have not done only for the sick, and for such as be ready to die, but also for them that be in health: to the intent that they that be whole, in the time of their prosperity and good health, may learn how to use and behave them selves, and learn in time to die. For nothing is more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain then to come unto the right knowledge to die. Therefore aught every man before to prepare himself, and to make ready to take this journey in hand, and go forward, whereby he may be careful for that that will necessarily follow. But specially aught we to remember these things beforehand, and continually exercise ourselves in the cross of war, specially now in the sore dangerous war against the cruel enemy of Christendom the Turk, which if he have the victory, spareth no man, but without all mercy, heweth down the miserable Christians, striketh them, and shooteth them through, where many times the wounded bodies a long time lie in the green meadows, before they be brought into the slaughter house, in great danger of desperation, if he were not before well prepared and exercised in God's word. So that this soldier must fight with his body against the Turk, and with his soul against the Devil himself. Howbeit, this shall be their comfort, out of the Prophet Daniel, the 7. 
●aniel. 7.  Chapter: That these murderers of christians & bloodhounds, do only by this means prepare Christian souls, and do further them to everlasting life. For he setteth himself with all his might, in great force against the Saints of God, and chief warreth against them. Wherefore, without all question, when so ever a Christian man is slain and overcome by the Turk, yet dieth he with a safe conscience, in that that he is a Christian: for he seeth, that this war is against the Saints of GOD, without cause. For the Turk hath no lawful occasion to fight against the Christians, and so miserably to spill Christian blood. Thus therefore die they so much the joyfuller, seeing they go forth in the obedience of their superiors: and do not only defend their own country and people, but also with their own blood, help to preserve Christian religion. Therefore good Christian, learn in time to die, for thou knowest neither time nor hour, neither place nor manner, when, how, either what manner of death thou shalt have, specially in this last and dangerous time. Therefore defer not till the last push, lest that you tarry too long. Learn, learn this cunning while thou hast time, memory, and opportunity thereunto. Then shall you go the surest way, seeing the day must needs come, yield thyself in time, with desire and will thereunto, for it can not be avoided. Whereunto our Lord GOD give us grace, that we may well and happily departed. Amen.  
Howbeit, no man is to be tied and bound to use every matter, as it is herein contained, but if any other can or have better, much good do it them: for I have here remembered certain temptations, wherein I myself like a poor, simple, plain man, have been tempted and assaulted with, and have experienced, (if I may boast myself of my weakness:) for I have thrice been at that point, that every man gave me over, and despaired of my life in this world, yet at the last, our Lord GOD by his great power revived me: wherefore I give unto him everlasting praise and thanks in Christ our Lord. I will not say, that in my days I have gone to many Christian people, I have comforted them, and have been at their end, whose names be written in the book of life: where I have experienced divers and many temptations. GOD grant both thee & me his godly grace, that we may also blessedly sleep at the last in Christ our Lord, and through God's power at the last day, may be raised up to everlasting life. Amen.   

How to advise and comfort them that lie in prison, and be by the Magistrate iudgged to die.  
first well-beloved, Almighty God give you his grace, and true patience, whereby you may bear and patiently suffer this your deserved cross laid upon you, seeing the matter is come thus far with you, that God's judgement and the punishment of the magistrate is fallen upon you, yield yourself willingly thereunto, and think that this correction cometh from God himself. Therefore refuse not the correction of the Almighty, as it is written in job the 5. 
job. 5.  Seeing then that every man's judgement cometh from God our Lord, as it is in Solomon, the 29. of his proverbs, 
Prou. 29.  receive such judgement and punishment up from our Lord God as a fatherly correction, as the Epistle to the hebrews witnesseth, Chapter 12. where the text saith thus, 
Hebr. 12.  My son, make not light of the correction of the Lord, and despair not when thou art punished by him. For the Lord doth correct him whom he loveth, and he beateth every son which he taketh to himself. And so it cometh to pass, 
Cant. 8.  as Solomon saith in his high song, the 8. Chapter, that the love which the Lord beareth us, is as strong as death. It appeareth unto the world, as though the love of God were very misfortune, death, and destruction. Howbeit, there is under such love, great mercy, goodness, life, and blessedness hidden. For, If we be judged, we be corrected by the Lord, to the intent that we should not be damned with the world, as saith S. Paul in the first epist. to the Corinthians, the 10. 
● Cor. 10.  Chap. Therefore, learn here with spiritual eyes to behold, that you under punishment may see grace, under correction peace, and under death life. Thus shall not this cross laid upon you be very sore and fearful, but you may bear it, and you also shall patiently suffer it. For God can soon end this cross, that you shall be able to carry it. For as much then, as God our Lord hath appointed to every man a certain end of his life, which he shall not pass. job. 14. 
job. 14.  think you now that your appointed time by God is now come, and this day is by God appointed unto you, for a certain end of your life. Trouble not yourself much therefore, after what manner you have taken your life from God, and that you shall so soon deliver it him again. But set your will to Gods will, and say, Father thy will be done, and not mine, if it be thy pleasure that I shall drink this cup which thou hast filled for me, give me thy grace thereunto, that I may continued in a true Christian belief, unto mine end, and that I may under this my cross and suffering, in perfect patience, pass through it to everlasting life. Amen.  
Secondarily, For as much as you have now heard, that this cross and punishment cometh from God himself, and is laid upon you by God, through an ordinary magistrate, you shall understand now further, well learn to know the great and earnest anger of God over sin: for it is no small matter before God, when a man behaveth himself contrary to God's law, and continually without ceasing, offendeth and provoketh God, with his unpenitent living. GOD is very angry with such deeds, and is much offended against sin, not only with temporal punishment, but also with everlasting.  
Therefore, you shall understand, well know, and learn, that you by means of your doings and sin, have wrought and deserved, not only a temporal, but also an everlasting death. For if God would deal with you, according to his earnest and uttermost judgement, then should your punishment be everlasting, and never have end. But seeing that God hath foreseen you from the beginning, and hath taken and received you through his fatherly correction in the time of grace, but specially now at this time, he will turn your everlasting punishment into temporal punishment: cut short his everlasting anger and displeasure, to a timely and temporal anger. And yet the same before him is no anger, but a fatherly visitation, whereby he will make you leap over the way to everlasting damnation, and lead you out of it, and by this cross he will bring you to the right way to heaven. Therefore, our Lord GOD of grace and favour, by means of the innocent death of his well-beloved son our Lord Christ, will take from you the everlasting punishment, and take the same from your soul, and lay it upon your body, so that both your body and your soul may at the length be made free, and delivered wholly, both from worldly and everlasting punishment. Therefore this worldly correction is laid upon the body, but as it were the space of the twinkling of an eye, whereby you being warned of your unpenitent life, might leave off to sin, which otherwise will not be, and you would still have continued in sin, and thereby at the last, have fallen into the fearful anger of God, and everlasting torment & plague. Howbeit, God of his great mercy, hath taken mercy of your fall, and will deliver you from his great, mighty, strong, and everlasting judgement. The righteousness and justice of God hath earnestly sought, and required, to have her right upon you, that is to say, everlasting punishment and pain: but the mercy of God hath on your behalf stepped in the middle, and hath foughten against judgement, and mercy hath obtained the victory, and driven judgement back, so that she shall never hereafter lay any thing to your charge: how be it so, that righteousness is partly agreed with all and satisfied, but only temporally, as far as concerneth the body, but not the soul. This is a wonderful battle, and on your side marvelously brought about, through grace. For what is this temporal & transitory suffering, enduring (as it were) but the twinkling of an eye, in comparison of the everlasting torments, where you should have abidden the everlasting death and pain. Therefore is this a tolerable, yea rather an acceptable and pleasant exchange, seeing we, by our sin, have deserved the everlasting wrath of God & punishment, that this punishment now shall endure but for a time, yea rather but the twinkling of an eye, which else should have been everlasting and fearful, if God in his anger would have dealt with us. Therefore now well-beloved, you shall do like one that hath his house a fire, and burneth all in a flame, so that it is unpossible to be quenched: Then will he throw out, and fetch from thence all his treasure & jewels: And if he can save them from burning, he may with them build up an other house. Thus must you likewise do. Your house, I mean your body, is of a light flame, it so burneth with sin, that there is no hope to quench it, you must now let your old house burn, and now look about and bethink you, how to save and deliver your treasure and jewels, that is, your soul, through a true faith in Christ your deliverer, & then shall you well at dooms day, through that jewel, come to a new house, where you shall have a new body in the blessed resurrection of the elected and chosen people of God: which never dieth, nor through fire can be consumed. But you shall then have such a body, as shall never die, nor at any time suffer any grief, punishment, pain, heart's sorrow, trouble or need, nevermore forsaken but enjoy everlasting peace and blessedness. Therefore pray now, that he will rule and turn the hearts of the magistrates, that they will lay upon you, of favour, such correction, as shallbe most seemly in this case, that you may quietly suffer and bear. For, God ruleth the hearts of the magistrates, and sitteth amongst them in their counsel & judgements. And seeing the great magistrate is of your side, you have altogether, and can lack nothing.  
Thirdly, mark also further (well-beloved) that God's judgement ever beginneth at his own children. For, whensoever he purposeth to correct the world with his displeasure, and earnest punishment, first of all he seeketh out his own, and visiteth them, and correcteth them first of all with his fatherly rod, whereby he may save and deliver them from the endless and everlasting damnation, 
1. Pet. 4.  as S. Peter showeth in his first Epistle and 4 Chap. out of the holy prophet jeremy in the 25. Chapter, 
jere. 25.  The judgement of God (saith he) beginneth at God's house. And as David saith, Psa. 75. 
Psal. 75.  The Lord hath a cup in his hand, which is full of mighty wine, he skinketh, and filleth out of it. But godless people must drink all out, and make a carouse, and sup up the very dregs of God's wrath. It is hereby meant, GOD giveth every body their measure, that they shall suffer: but the grounds and dregs remain for the ungodly, especially for the stubborn, froward, and unpenitent world, which will needs perish in their stubbornness. But the judgement, anger, correction, and visitation, which God of his grace layeth upon his children, is after many sorts. God correcteth some of his children with sickness, some with poverty, some with imprisonment, some with contempt, that they be not regarded nor any account made of them, some other with temporal death by the magistrate, as he hath now purposed to correct you: therefore it appeareth outwardly, that God showeth himself as though he were angry with you. But, With him there is no anger, 
●saie. 54.  for his anger lasteth but the twinkling of an eye, after that he taketh up his again with everlasting grace and mercy. As the prophet Esaias in his 54. Chapter saith. And as David remembreth in his 89. Psalm, 
Psal. 89.  If the children of grace break and forsake God's commandements, and keep not Gods laws, then will God with his rod severely visit them: But he will not turn his grace from them. The cause is, the merciful covenant which God hath, by means of his only begotten son, made and established with his children.  
Fourthly, thus you shall earnestly believe, that this your suffering, care, shame, martyrdom, and death, is not sufficient, thereby to purchase everlasting life. For, if you by your death and pains, might (before God) do penance, and satisfy, than died our Lord Christ in vain: but seeing he died, he hath by that his suffering, passion, and death, done sufficient penance for your sins, appeased God's wrath, reconciled you to GOD his father, and purchased for you everlasting righteousness & blessedness. Therefore by this your suffering & death, you can not escape God's judgement, nor make amends to God's justice, nor make satisfaction for everlasting punishment, but only thereby you do make satisfaction before the world. For seeing that you have done amiss, & offended the outward, temporal, and worldly justice, and transgressed, and found guilty thereof, you must necessarily satisfy the same external and outward justice, with such outward punishment, as the world and the magistrate can do: for above that, the world nor the magistrate can not reach, nor give correction. But for as much as the offence, which you have committed against the Magistrate, is also against God, and his holy commandments, specially this sin, which you at the first on the rack, or pining bank, and after by your own confession have acknowledged, besides other grievous faults, wherewith in your life time, from your youth hitherto, you have offended God your Lord, in such manner, that he might punish you for such offences everlastingly, and not for a time, yet will he not do so, as I have told you before, but he will mercifully forgive you such offences altogether, both small and great, how so ever you have committed them, through the deserving, misery, shame, & bitter death of his dear son our Lord Christ jesus, your Saviour. So that God's justice is satisfied for you by Christ our Lord. For, GOD hath made his son for our sakes, to be righteousness, holiness, and our deliverer. 1. Cor. 1. 
● Cor. 1.  Therefore you must believe this, & not doubt, & confess it with your mouth. Do you believe this dear beloved? Say yea.  
Fiftly, jest peradventure you should imagine and say, How cometh it then to pass, that God hath only laid upon me this shame, reproach, & death? How cometh it to pass, that he hath spied me out only? Am I then alone, the most wicked, the most unhappy man upon the earth? There be yet many worse than I Why could he not visit and punish me after some other fashion? Mark well here and learn, that it becometh you not to murmur and be unpatient, (by your leave) against God, nor his purposed work: for if God will thus visit you, you aught not to weive it, nor refuse it: for God can best skill, according to his fatherly goodness, how to entreat and handle his children, and he will not deal alike with one child as with an other. He hath many crosses and rods, whereby he will chastise his. He forbeareth some long, and another he patiently abideth, he leadeth him thereby to repentance: the third he taketh forth to himself with this rod, but he taketh up an other with an other rod, after them our Lord God layeth upon every one his cross. Therefore (by your leave) you shall not despair nor doubt, neither wish nor desire that you were dead, or that this or that carry you away, as some have done, of impatience, fear, and shame of the world. What hurt is it to you, that you must (in deed) be shamed before the world, and that every man beholdeth you, as upon a great offender, seeing nevertheless that you be the child of God, through your belief upon Christ? Which our Lord God, and the whole army and host of heaven doth now heholde, & look upon, though it doth not appear before the world. All that you have to do, shall pass away in the twinkling of an eye: after that the world shall behold you after an other fashion, I mean, at dooms day, in great joy and glory, as one of God's chosen children. What shall it then hinder you, though you for an hour or two, must be kept to be shamed, and openly executed or put to death? Rejoice, be frolic, that at the general day thou shalt escape condemnation, before the whole earth, and all the host and army of heaven. It is much better, that you should suffer reproach and shame a little while, before a small number, then that at that day, you should be shamed and confounded before the Angels and the whole world, for ever and ever. Therefore yield yourself thereunto willingly, and behold this shame & death, not with your bodily eye but with your spiritual eye. Do away your eyes, remembrance, and reason: let every man laugh, mock, look, say, and do what they william. Look not upon man, but upon God, he is at hand with all Angels, they behold you graciously, they have pitiful hearts with you, and our Lord Christ, and our deliverer will take you with him into everlasting peace and blessedness. There be also among this company, heap, and cluster of people, many good men that fear God, that be very sorry, and take grief with you, and do truly pray to God for you. Therefore do you not suffer alone, but Christ our Lord and head suffereth with you. Likewise, all Christian members suffer with you: likewise all creatures behold with you, and hearty long for your delivery, as witnesseth Saint Paul, Rom. 8. 
●om. 8.  Therefore turn you to him that striketh you, that is, to God your true loving father, and pray unto him, that he will mitigate, shorten, and ease your pains and smarts, and lend unto you a strong and merry heart, manfully and patiently to bear this cross laid upon you, and to stand upright: And then you shall prove in the midst of your trouble, that he is mercifully on your side, & doth help you, suffer, and beareth your cross; for he will be with you in your adversity: therefore lay all your trouble only upon our Lord God, he will first make your troubles in your heart and conscience easier, and take them clean away. And after that your heart is once at peace with God, and that you have obtained a quiet conscience, then will all bodily pains be very little, and nothing in comparison of the conscience. Then, seeing that to every man particularly, or by himself, death as a just reward of sin is appointed, and that we all which shall remain after you, must also get us hence, and no man remain, but that death must swallow up the whole world: what hurt is it to you, that you go a little before us, to the way of blessedness, and have possessed and enjoyed everlasting life before us? Though you now by the way to blessedness, shall tread a hard, bitter, sharp, and rough way, yet have you this advantage, that you in a whole body, and good memory, and perfect reason slide hence: and in death, you do thrust into everlasting life, and all we must come after. And who can tell, how we, poor, needy, and forsaken men shall do, and what shall come of us? We be sure to be assaulted with many misfortunes and plagues and at the last, some long time lie stretching, and suffer many smarts and troubles upon our sick bed, all which you have escaped, and in the mean season rest quietly, and comfort yourself, and enjoy everlasting peace and happiness.  
sixthly, Now well-beloved, while you be in the way to the kingdom of heaven, and that you will even now go thither: it is good for you to know the way, and diligently to learn it, and to inquire after it, lest you wander, or be lead or driven from it. Therefore learn well to lay hand and holdfast upon the ladder to heaven, which ladder the good Patriarch jaacob did see, Gen. 8. 
Gen. 8.  That is the ladder whereby the Angels climb up and down upon, which from the earth with his top, reacheth up to heaven, whereupon at the uppermost part our Lord God standeth. Christ himself is this ladder, john. 1. 
●ohn. 1.  Therefore hold fast by true faith upon this ladder, for, No man can go to heaven, but he that came from thence, that is, the son of man which is in heaven. This Lord is the very ladder to heaven. For by his manhood he standeth upon the earth, and with his godhead he reacheth to heaven, where God himself doth appear. If you will go to heaven, you must begin at Christ's humanity to climb up, specially through his passion and death, and to seek after his very godhead above, upon the top of the ladder, where God himself is, and say thus. My Lord and my God, for as much as I must go to heaven, as I am very willing, and even now have begun, be thou my ladder, leader, and guide, for thou art the very way to heaven. john. 14. 
john. 14.  And no man cometh to the father but through thee, and by thee, as thou thyself dost witness. john. 10. 
john. 10.  where thou sayest thus, I am the door, if any man enter in by me, he shall be safe. Thus shall you, unto the right way to heaven, prepare and dress yourself: for Christ is the only gate into heaven. Heaven itself is very wide and large, but it hath but only one gate, through the which a man may come, but as soon as you have gotten this gate, and gotten through it, then have you left behind you (as it were in a heap) all misfortune at once, and then are you assured and defended by this gate, that no adversity hereafter for ever can hurt you. There do you lay at once at your back, death, sin, devil, hell, and all that can be against you. There be you then sure and safe as in a strong castle, that no man can any more stir up hurt against you. Therefore, let no man withdraw you from this way, go unto it boldly, you shall come safe from thence to the kingdom of heaven; thither shall the good angels be your guides, that harm can not once touch you. Be therefore of good courage, our Lord Christ is your king, which hath died before you, & hath made the path plain, and sufficiently strengthened and made safe this journey: therefore go straight forth, & hold right on in this way, turn of no side, for, You shall neither go on the right hand, nor of the left, as our Lord God doth command, Deut. 12. 
Deut. 12.  You take the left hand, out of the right way, when you despair of God's mercy, where God is before you. And on the right hand you go out of the way too wide, when you trust in your work, death, passion, and shame: therefore abide in the middle way toward heaven, and then shall you not go out of the way. Upon this way shall you undoubtedly find the true life, for our Lord Christ is not only the way, but also the life, so that you shall receive in Christ the true life, as he saith, and witnesseth of himself, john. 11. 
john. 11.  I am (saith Christ) the resurrection, and the life, but not only the life for himself, but such a life, as giveth the right life, and divideth it among all them that put their trust upon Christ. For, Christ saith further also, Whosoever believeth on me, he shall live, though he be dead. Such a valiant and almighty thing is it about faith, and about all the faithful of Christ, that they lay hand upon life in the midst of death, that they sing merrily, In the midst of death we be in life.  
Well-beloved, you must unfeignedly believe all this, that it is no sport nor deceit that Christ saith and promiseth: for he is the truth itself, his words be true and certain, thereupon shall you have no manner of doubt, for the truth itself doth say, I am the way, and the truth, and the life, and also the resurrection. Whosoever believeth truly upon him, he receiveth in the midst of death the resurrection, so that now you shall lie the twinkling of an eye in death, & slide thence to life. But by this death, through Christ, you shall enjoy everlasting resurrection, where you shall nevermore die. These be unspeakable words, and above measure comfortable, gracious words, that a wretched sinner only through belief in Christ, shall find life in death, in dying resurrection, and in the midst of the dungeon of darkness shall found the right way to heaven. Therefore be of good comfort before death, seeing that God is such a mighty Lord, that bringeth unto you out of death life, and bringeth you through the snares of death, to everlasting peace 〈◊〉 quietness. God grant you this. Amen  
Seventhly, Well-beloved, for as muc● as you be now, through faith, a member of Christ, the old serpent will now set upon you: and as he hath bitten Christ our head in the heel, so will he a little whip your heel, for that you are kept here and must die, that is his stroke and bite, yea, the poison whereby the old serpent hath stinged and poisoned you. Howbeit, it is nothing else but a biting by the heel, that can do you no hurt toward the right life. She biteth the children of God after many ways, but they again tread upon the old serpent's head, through our Lord Christ, in that that they through belief, as through the right treacle and medicine, drive away, heal, and quench the stripe, the biting, and the poison of the serpent. Therefore valiantly tread down the serpent's head in thy Lord Christ, through a true Christian belief, on the gracious promise of God, that Christ is the only head of Christendom, which first of all with his passion, death, and joyful resurrection, overcame sathan, and broke the serpent's head. The dragon's head is divers, specially sin, death, and hell. There hath the old serpent opened his jaws, & would swallow us up in sin, death, & hell. But our loving lord Christ hath broken the serpent's skull, so that she is not able anymore to gape against the faithful, that she may swallow them up, as she hath purposed. Therefore learn now, how you shall trouble, charm, conjure, and ban or curse this serpent, so that she shall not hurt you, which you shall do, if you overcome her through belief in Christ, and so shall you tread upon her head.  
Eighthly, Although my well-beloved, your wife, children, brother, sister, and your friends, may tempt you, that they shall now be in need, and must suffer for your misdeeds, let go and let pass altogether all such thoughts, and earthly temptations, and think thus: Well now, albeit that I hitherto have been by God appointed, and set to be a purveyor to take care, & to maintain my wife, children, etc. and I have not honestly behaved myself in that calling, I heartily therefore desire my Lord God, in Christ jesus my deliverer, that he will not lay to my charge that sin, but through grace pardon me: for I am very sorry. Therefore almighty God, seeing thou wilt take that my care and office from me, and put me besides it, I commend them unto thee, as to the chiefest magistrate, & their Lord, defender, & father, that thou wilt vouchsafe that I may commend unto thee my wife, children and friends, and not to suffer that they shallbe charged with mine offences, but to take care for them, defend them, feed them and maintain them, as the true only father in heaven and earth. And that thou wilt vouchsafe, in my steed, to sand them some other, that may lead them, and bring them up in godly fear, and Christianlike conversation. And although that they, before the world, must be charged with my faults, that thou wilt richly requited those things unto them, and lay against that, thy gentle, gracious, and fatherly blessing, so that they may enjoy their innocency. All these things I commend unto thee together, O most mighty Lord and God, into thy gracious hand. Whereunto also I commit my life and soul. Therefore do I yield unto thy mercy altogether, and in perfect trust & blessed hope, that thou wilt graciously accept this my poor prayer, & hear me in jesus Christ thine only loving son. Amen.  
Now well-beloved in this overgiving and prayer, wherein you have given over all things unto God in your prayer, and offered them up, you shall wholly & thoroughly persuade yourself of God's mercy. For, God is rich toward them that call upon him. Believe this thing only, and so it will in deed come to pass, according unto the comfortable promise of Christ our Lord, in the 11. of Mark (where he comforteth such as do pray, and promiseth to give them all.) Our Lord Christ saith, Whatsoever you pray for in your prayer, 
Mark. 11.  only believe that ye shall receive it, and you shall have it. And in Mark the 9 
Mark. 9  Christ saith thus, If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe. Therefore give unto our Lord God the glory, and esteem him to be a true God. Then will he for his truth sake hear your prayer and keep you: For, He is gracious and merciful, of great goodness & truth. God surely is the highest, but he looketh upon the lowest very gladly, and of them that be of gentle and courteous mind and heart. Only for his love sake, that he beareth towards them that be of troubled and heavy hearts. For they be so commended unto him, that he hath special regard upon them. As our Lord God himself acknowledgeth, Esaie 66. 
Esaie. 66.  where God saith thus, I behold such as be in misery, and have a contrite heart, and on such as fear my word. This is the right offering, that pleaseth God, specially a troubled spirit. For, A sorrowful & troubled heart will not God despise. Psalm. 51. 
Psalm 51.  If you then can commend all your causes to God, your very creator, & give over all to him, then will he do like a loving and gentle father, & can well tell how to provide for all yours. For, he is the judge of the widows, and the father of orphans and the fatherless. As upon him it is written in the Psalm. 68 
Psal. 68   
Then, seeing that God by this means and cross laid upon you, will take you away from yours, you shall not therefore sorrow, nor be dismayed, specially seeing that within a short time, you shall find again all your friends in everlasting life, even as you believe the joyful resurrection of all Christians, to enjoy everlasting living. There shall you found for your earthly friends, heavenly friends. To die you must necessarily, and prepare yourself thereunto, as all mankind must, and no man be left behind. God doth this thing unto you for the best, because this way he doth shorten your griefs and pains, helpeth you this way through all pain, shame, slander, and death, very easily and fatherly. Therefore be lusty and of good courage, he that layeth this cross upon you, he will also help you to bear it, give you patience, & make a blessed end of it.  
ninthly, Seeing then that God hath laid this cross upon you, that you should hear it a very little while, therefore you shall not excuse yourself, nor make your fault light to the world, nor smooth it, as though you were guiltless, or as though you had not deserved this your punishment laid upon you. Take not the fig leaf before thee, thereby to cover thine offence, as the nature of old Adam is to do, and as Adam after his sin would thereby have covered himself. But give God the glory, as josua warned the offender Achan, when he took him with the things that were cursed, josua. 7. 
Ios. 7.  Then said josua there unto him, My son, give to the Lord God of Israel the glory, and give him the praise, and tell me and confess what hast thou done, & lie not. Then also said Achan thereupon, Surely I have sinned against the Lord the God of Israel, thus & thus have I done, etc. There did Achan before all folk acknowledge his offence: and albeit he were by the Magistrate condemned to die by God's appointment, yet is he (no doubt thereof) taken up through God's mercy, and much commended for his confession, he gave God the glory, and so departed in God's mercy. Likewise well-beloved, shall you also do, search your heart, give God the glory, which alonely is good, wise, righteous, and holy, but all men be evil and false. Take nothing hence with you, carry nothing away with you, but search your heart and conscience, and what you have done, deny it not, do not make it less: but seeing it is manifest and known, and seeing GOD hath brought your offence to light, and by the magistrate ordained will punish you: therefore give God praise and thanks, that he will of grace not punish you for ever. Think it is much better here, before few folk, to be a little while shamed, then hereafter before all the world, and the whole company of heaven: for all must come to light, and be openly known, therefore it is much better here then there. Then seeing that God by the Magistrate, hath made it known, therefore suffer it patiently & willingly, and blame no man, as though any man had opened it of malice, or condemned you as your enemy. The Magistrate's judgement is God's judgement, and the sentence hath also pleased him. He is the highest judge, therefore blame no man, and charge no man that is unguilty in this case. If you have at any time confessed any thing to charge the innocent, whereby you might clear yourself, or thereby to escape and be at liberty, than burden not yourself therewith, nor let your soul carry any such thing away, but excuse the innocent, and pray to God for mercy, that he will pardon you, and not suffer your heart to be bend to any ungodly way, to excuse your offence, and to defend it. But before God confess it, ask grace, and seeing it is come to light, confess it before the whole world, or else you strive against God's judgement, his will & his work, which surely is horrible, from which our Lord defend you, of his grace, through Christ jesus his well-beloved son in the holy Ghost. Amen.  
Tenthly, I further also charge you, my dear friend, that from the bottom of your heart, you will reconcile, forgive, and forget all men that have done any thing against you, either by word or deed, whether it be for this matter, or for any other before. If you have by any man been hurted or harmed, though they be guilty of this your judgement, suffering, and death, either if they have espied, or laid hand upon you, all this together shall you cast out of your heart, and lay aside all manner of swelling, snarling, malice, hatred, enmity, and evil will: and contrary show a gentle heart, friendly love, and gentle speech, without all hatred, bitterness, and evil will, as a patiented lamb, as Christ our Lord, which was altogether innocent, yet upon the cross prayed for his enemies, and said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Thus shall you likewise do and think: Well, now well-beloved Lord and father, though I be not guiltless and innocent, as thy well-beloved son, but have worthily deserved all punishment, wrath, and vengeance: Likewise, seeing thou of free grace and mercy through jesus Christ, hast for ever pardoned me, & after my departure wilt nevermore remember my sin: therefore I require thee, that thou wilt give unto me such a gentle, friendly, & Christian heart through thy holy spirit, whereby I may forgive, and forget, and also reconcile myself unto every man, as well friends as foes: for thou wilt also forgive me, yea, thou hast already clearly forgiven all my sins & misdeeds. And for better assurance hereof, give me grace, might, and such a burning charity toward my neighbours, that I may forgive every man, and that from the bottom of my heart: So shall I be sure, that thou hast forgotten and forgiven me, and at the last day, this shall be the sign, that is, the Christian and brotherly love, that we also be thy disciples, seeing that we do show Christian love one toward an other. Keep in me also the gracious promise of Christ my loving Lord, that saith thus, Matth. 6. 
Matth. 6.  When you forgive men their faults, then will also my heavenly father forgive you your faults. With these Christian comforts I comfort myself, and stay myself altogether upon thy merciful promise. Do with me after thy godly saying and promise, for thou dost require of me that I be merciful, as thou also art merciful towards us. Therefore I do know, that in this my departure to death, there is no better, nor more acceptable offering, then that I should show charity, and of mercy with well unto all men, pray for all men, entreat and do well unto all men, as much as is possible for me. For God hath pleasure in mercy, 
●see 6.  and not in offering. Osée. 6.  
Twelfthly, You have also well-beloved, for a comfortable example, the thief which also had done very wickedly, for which he also received punishment of the magistrate, but this punishment was unto him only the cause and furtherance, that he did not only know GOD, and was faithful, but was also hanged beside Christ his salvation: whereby he conceived special comfort, that Christ the innocent Lord would pity his misery, and would forgive him all his sins and wickedness, whereunto otherwise he should never have forsaken his naughty life, but would have continued in his wickedness, stubborness, and used his stiffness and arrogancy his whole life long, without all repentance, & turning from his naughty living.  
And so peradventure had it been with you, you would have gone forward in your unrighteousness, therein abiden, withered, and starved for ever, without all penance, or repentance, godly knowledge, under the fearful anger of God, being bound with God's judgement, & condemnation. Therefore, seeing that God hath delivered you from this miserable blindness and error, he shall from henceforth lead you by this occasion, means, and purpose, first bring you to know yourself, & bring you to true repentance, & penance, suffer godly knowledge to light in your heart, keep you in the true faith of Christ jesus, and will suffer you to departed in the same at the last without all doubt.  
Behold now, dearly beloved, how our Lord God, is a valiant almighty father, that of all naughtiness can make all goodness, and will to his turn all worst things to the best. Satan had thought that through this your fall, and misdeed, he would for ever have kept you in his kingdom, and to have made you a member of himself. But our lord God cometh, and bringeth to pass by this means and cross, that he hath broken and hindered all satans purpose. Satan thought he had made all cock sure with you, and had brought you to everlasting sin and shame, and intended to have kept you continually therein. But God cometh, and turneth the leaf up, and maketh of you that were the child of darkness, the child of light, and of everlasting bliss. Amen.  
Twelftly, Now dear friend, I warn you now (at the last) that you will departed hence to death without all fear, nor be not dismayed of death, by reason of your sin. But herein take heed, that thou do not alonely look upon death under the eyes, and dost wrestle with him, but take thine almighty god with thee, which hath before laid hand upon death, and hath overcome him, that is, jesus Christ thy Lord and king, which in the garden so mightily wrestled with sin and death, that bloody sweat dropped from him, Matth. 26. 
Matth 26.  therefore weigh it not. And again, be not afraid of death, seeing you meet with him, with this king and Lord, but you shall do thus to him, set all your only comfort, hope, and assurance, upon your Christ, that hath made your way for you, broken the hedge, and keepeth the field, and hath for you overthrown the mighty Goliath, and hath brought the blessed victory home to your door, as I have before this time showed you, and yet again must set before your face. For now is the time, seeing you are come to the very push, and this your dangerous enemy (that is very terrible unto the whole world) will stand chief with you, to bring and drive you from this point, and so lay hand upon you. Therefore take to yourself the true shield, which is Christ your defence, whom you shall set against death. For death hath laid hand upon this innocent Lord, and wearied him without all right and equity, whereby death even lost all his strength and might, so that he can do no more, when this Lord layeth hand upon him, and taketh to himself those that be his. Therefore be not afraid, for, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1. Cor. 15. 
●. Corinth. 15  You have a great vordeale or advantage, for as much as you have of your side, the most valiant, and most mighty, which shall never be able to be overcome, yea, him that is Lord both of death & of life. If death come unto you, would devour you, will eat you up, and swallow you down: yet can our Lord God, which is the right life itself, by his almighty coming, and might, make you alive again, yea, in the midst of death, hold you by life, and make you live for ever. For you shall not deny or refuse to make this exchange, where you shall have an everlasting and blessed life, in stead of a transitory, perishing, and laborious life, which is full of misery, misfortunes, and plagues. Let death take from you such a life, as will last but the twinkling of an eye, which fleeth and passeth away like a shadow, and our Lord give you an everlasting life. Amen.  
thirteen, Well now (dearly beloved) if your sin done and committed, do tempt you again, and your sore misdeeds which you have done, & therefore would dismay you, make you faint hearted, heavy, & pensive, as though Christ would disdain you, because of your sins, and so not take you to him and to his favour: then shall you set before your eyes, Christ your God and Lord, as the holy scripture setteth him forth, & not follow your own imagination, & your reason. For in the holy Scripture you shall find here and there, how marvelous comfortable our Lord Christ hath been, at all times, to miserable sinners, how loathe he is to contemn or despise the miserable, troubled, assaulted and sorrowful sinner, how he doth not withdraw himself from them, or with draw his help from them, which undoubtedly is a great comfort to all troubled sinful hearts. For behold and remember the whole life of our Lord Christ, then shall you not only perceive that he hath not only taken to his favour, one or two sinners, & hath taken pity only upon them, but he hath flocked into the midst of sinners, whereby he might help them forth of their sins. First see his generation, his great grandfather, had he not many sinners in his pedigree, as juda by name, David, Manasses, Thamar, Rachab, Barsaba, and such like, and very many more. Wherefore doth our faithful and good Lord not be ashamed, flee from sorrowful and penitent sinners? why doth he not? Surely even therefore, that thereby all sorrowful sinners should the more boldly have a hearty resort and recourse unto him, specially seeing that he upon such sinners, could take and show his truth, love, and friendship, whereby they might thereby win and have a livelier passage and freedom, to behold all goodness, all truth and help, to be in this only bearer and carrier of our sins. Behold further, and look upon the birth of our lord Christ, in his birth. So soon as he was borne into the world, he suffered himself to be seen, made open, and to be known through the Angels from heaven, to the poor people, specially to the shepherds in the field, there must to them be showed this comfortable joy, Behold, to you this day is borne a Saviour. This joy shall all people have. There by his Angels is the innocent child jesus given and declared, first to the poor shepherds, and after that to the whole world. But who be the shepherds? who be all people? surely all poor and miserable sinners, for whose sake Christ came, and was borne, to help them out of their sins. As also then such a name was given unto him, namely jesus, that is to say, a Saviour that shall lose his people from their sins. Behold also, and see uprightly, wherefore was Christ at the eight day circumcised, & so shed his innocent blood? Surely for the cause of poor and wretched sinners. For Saint Paul saith, Gala. 4 
Gal. 4.  that, Christ hath yielded himself therefore under the law and circumcision, to the intent he might deliver them that were under the law. But who were more hardly snarled under the law, than the wretched sinner? See yet to whom did Christ preach, and whom did he turn and convert? Any other than the poor sinner? To whom hath he friendlier spoken, helped, or counseled, made whole both in body and soul, then even the poor, cumbered, and sorrowful sinner? Mark also, with whom did Christ wander, & go about here through the jewish land, and commanded that they should preach abroad his wholesome Gospel? Surely with his well-beloved Apostles. But what were they? Wretched sinners, as Matthew, and likewise Peter: yea, did they not show them selves many times before Christ to be weak, worthy reproach, and frail? How often hath our good Lord friendly rebuked them, taught them, taken in good part their weakness, helped them, suffered, and borne with their faults and wants, and yet neither condemned them, nor cast them away: but continually handled them after the best manner, whereby at the last he might deliver them from their sins? There hath Christ not only received poor sinners, in so much as he touched the hurt of their soul, but also the harms of their body. How many thousand men hath he many times fed, when their hunger and need went into his heart, and he took pity of their misery? O, how many amongst them were miserable sinners, yea, infidels, and not worthy to have and receive such goodness at God's hand? How many hath he healed in their bodies, from agues, dropsy, and leprosy? Item, such as were lame, crooked, blind, and haunted and possessed with evil spirits? Yea, some he did raise from death itself, and always showed himself in all things, as the very true Saviour of the whole world, by that means to bring the Infidels to faith, and to be short, done the best to every man, and shut out no man that had need of his help, and had called upon him, as the holy Evangelists here and there do evidently and plainly declare. With which loving, comfortable, and gracious examples of Christ, they show unto us his great & unspeakble love and mercy, and declare & show the same unto us, with all diligence. Whereby we may learn to know aright our Lord Christ, specially that he is therefore come to help miserable sinners, both in body and soul, both from temporal and everlasting hurt, whereunto sathan hath brought all mankind. For, Christ is therefore come, that he should destroy the work of sathan. 1. joh. 3. 
●●hn. 3.  Whom so ever he helpeth in soul, him helpeth he also in body. And though he do not always hourly declare the same in this world, yet at dooms day it will appear, where he mightily helpeth the body out of dust and mire, and all manner of destruction, for evermore. For he doth help in deed: yea, the longer he seemeth to withdraw his help, he showeth it afterward more mightily, therefore he is the only comfort and refuge, or help, to miserable sinners. Furthermore, Christ hath walked among sinners, in the midst of them, gone to sinners, and hath run after them, and delivered them from their destruction, blindness, and sin. Shall not all this make worthily a man's heart merry, and to have a good conscience, yea, a perfect assurance to all troubled and sorrowful sinners, that they may in all their needs, sin, grief, sorrow, and death, with all their hearts run and come unto such a friendly Lord, that wisheth every man good, prayeth for it, and doth it, that never hath driven from him any wretched sinner? Yea, they at the last, in his death, were partakers with him on the cross, that he by the special foresight of God, should hung between two grievous offenders, in t●ken that he would willingly die for miserable sinners, and for their cause willingly give himself to death: yea, they had their part with him after his glorious resurrection, to signify thereby, that he hath not forgotten miserable sinners, albeit that he hath conquered sin, death, hell, and sathan himself, and yet might he well have let alone this his conquest and triumph, and have neglected us miserable sinners. But he hath now sought out miserable sinners, that he might help them and comfort them, as namely, unbelieving Thomas, the penitent Magdalene, and many more, as he was going towards heaven, and now sitteth at the right hand of God, in great glory and majesty: yet doth he not at all forget the poor sinners, but opened saul's eyes, put away all his sins, and made of him a chosen witness: yea, even in these days, from time to time, doth our good faithful Lord without ceasing, take up sinners unto him. For what doth he else at the right hand of God, then entreat, speak for, and defend the miserable sinners, as a faithful Attorney, Mediator, peacemaker, an● high priest, reconciler, and continual king, as he hath taken up all us, you and me, and all sorrowful, repentant, faithful sinners? In mercy he giveth us now daily his holy Ghost, which doth lighten and purify our hearts, strengtheneth them, giveth them power, and defendeth us in all our needs. Therefore be of good comfort, seeing Christ now liveth, there can no misery come unto you, seeing that Christ sitteth on the right hand of God? Who can do us any harm? Who can condemn us? If Christ himself do absolve us, and accounteth us to be quit, free, lose, and unbound, and so pronounceth us? To this Lord do I now commend you: let him not departed from your heart. For albeit I must departed hence from you, & must suffer you to go to death, & neither I nor the whole world any more help you: yet will not this Lord departed from you, he is with you, and by you in your execution. And he is also faithful unto you, and so gracious, that he will go with you to death and will pluck you out again from him, by his almighty power. Hold you upon this Lord by a steadfast faith, for I now commend you unto him with all my heart.  
The fourteenth, dearly beloved, seeing you shall even now be carried hence to the place of execution, & shallbe seen of many folks, take a merry heart unto you, and speak unto the people, like a man: and lovingly, and give them warning before your death of these three points following. First, that they will well think upon and remember, the earnest & strong righteousness of God, and take you before their eyes for an example of God's justice, albeit his judgement upon you in comparison of God's righteous justice and everlasting punishment, which aught worthily to stir and move all men to the fear of God, but (as it were) a flap with a fox tail. Secondarily, that they freely for God's sake, and of his mercy, every of them all will forgive you, forget your fault, and forgive it, wherewith you at any time have offended any man, whether it be in this place or in any other, for jesus sake with all their hearts will forgive you, where and how soever you have offended any of them, whether it be by word or deed. And that you also do forgive from the bottom of your heart willingly, both friend & foe, wherein soever you have been offended.  
Thirdly, that they will pray to our Lord God truly for you, whereby our Lord God, for his dear sons sake, may give unto you a Christian, and blessed passage out of this misery, by the joint working of the holy ghost. Amen.   

If the poor prisoner, by reason of weakness, or for faint heart, cannot speak himself, and in the place of execution cannot warn the people and speak unto them himself, then may his appointed minister, Or (as it is in some place) the hangman himself speak unto him, without danger, in this manner, and warn the people thus.  
Well-beloved, as you are now here present, and mind to behold this miserable sight: First remember wherefore this poor prisoner standeth here: surely not therefore, that in God's sight he is the greatest sinner amongst us: But to the intent that Almighty God, through this condemned man, will set before your eyes an example of his godly justice, whereby, by him you might be moved to a godly fear, to amend your life, and come before God's anger, correction, and displeasure, repent in time, abstain from your wicked life, and go in a godly living. Is it not thus well-beloved? say, Yea. Again, the tied prisoner desireth you all here hearty and humbly, that all you here together specially and generally, that you will forgive him whatsoever he hath spoken, done, or committed, whether it hath been privily or openly, he is heartily sorry for them all, he desireth you all humbly and Christianly. Therefore he requireth that you will bestow also upon him this mercy, that his Lord and God through Christ hath showed unto him, in that that he of mere grace and love, hath forgiven and forgotten all his sins, & that you have a hearty compassion with him, not to be offended at him, but bear with his weakness, help it, suffer it, and carry it, as the Christian rule willeth, where S. Paul the 6. 
Gal. 6.  to the galatians saith thus: Every one bear an other's burden, and so shall you fulfil the laws of Christ. Is it not so my well-beloved? say, Yea.  
Thirdly and lastly, this bounden prisoner also requireth and prayeth you, for God's mercy sake, that you now at the hour of his departure out of this misery, for Christian duty and love sake, that you will inwardly from the bottom of your heart, call upon God and pray that he will increase in this poor man the faith of Christ, strengthen him, and keep him therein for ever, and ever, whereby he may of grace enjoy a blessed hour: and that the holy Ghost will lead him, carry him and guide him in the right way to salvation, and that he may obtain, at the length, everlasting peace and felicity. We now require that this may be done. Therefore say, Our father which art in heaven, etc. Do you require this? say, Yea.  
Well, now well-beloved, say you also, Our father, etc. And yield yourself willingly to die, and say, Father thy will be done, etc. Almighty God keep you going out of this misery from henceforth evermore. Amen.  
Say: Lord into thy hands I commit my soul. Amen.  
¶ In some place while the Executioner doth lead forth the poor man, and is about the execution, some sing in the mean season. Now pray we the holy Ghost, as in Michshen, and Sachsin, etc. And in some place the minister in this mean time saith the belief. Whatsoever any man thinketh good and profitable, that may he set forth and do, and let the poor condemned man sleep in the Lord, in holy hope, that whatsoever is now sown in shame and dishonour, shall be at the last day in greater honour and glory raised up again. Our Lord vouchsafe to preserve us all, one with an other, graciously from sin, and keep us from sin and shame for evermore, through Christ jesus his only begotten son, in the holy Ghost. Amen.   

A faithful and Christian exhortation to repentance, and to lead a life in the fear of God.  
SYrach amongst his sayings, in the 18. Chapter, warneth us that we should in time refrain our selves from sin, and repent ourselves, whilst we can sin, where he also saith, 
Eccle. 18.  Do not delay your repentance until you be sick, but amend yourselves whilst you may sin, drive not of the time to be good, nor tarry not to better thy life, till the time of thy death. In this matter he mindeth to set before our face the fear of God, whereby we should not only abstain or forbear to sin, but also for the residue of our life, keep ourselves from sin with great diligence: Specially, if we groundly & deeply consider, the earnestness and righteousness of God, how our Lord God is an earnest enemy to sin, but specially to such sins, as man esteemeth to be no sin, or will not acknowledge for sin, but will hold and take them as virtues and rightly done, and defend them as things well done, and so wholly go forward, and continued in an unrepentant and stubborn life, whereby he falleth from thence without all sorrow and repentance, without ceasing grievously to sin against God his maker, in great contempt, despite, pride, and carelessness, whereof then God taketh a great misliking, and abomination, so that he must needs meet with such offences, with all punishment, revengeance, & plagues, especially, with dearth, war, pestilence, etc. And God our Lord bendeth himself also against all such sins, with all manner of power, with all his elements, as the air, the fire, the water, and the earth, that we may behold with our eyes such apparent anger and punishment of God, and must needs taste of them in all places. For from whence cometh such war, & bloodshed? Who is guilty thereof? what is the very cause? Is not sin, and our unpenitent, froward, and proud living? when man without all shame, without all fear of God, greedily, wanton, ragingly, and stubbornly doth sin against our Lord God and maker? Whereby it cometh to pass, that many proud, wanton, filthy livers be taken by God, and punished very strangely. Here lie in an hours space many thousands slain, there be many times many hundreds drowned: there many executed with the sword, fire, water, the wheel, and gallows: There suffereth GOD many times within one half year, many thousands die on the pestilence, there many to be hunger-starved, here many thousands swallowed up with earthquakes: there many perish in uproars and rebellions. And to be short, no man is able to reckon or remember, how many God must take and punish, and likewise, cause to be made an example in the world, whereby such foolish, stubborn, and godless ways might be avoided and shunned. But who doth earnestly once think upon these things? who doth turn himself, or study to avoid these fearful plagues of God? who setteth before his eyes such examples of God's anger, thereby to amend his life? Surely very few come before such execution and punishment of God, and in time turn themselves before such fearful judgement of God, avoid sin, and think to begin a godly and virtuous life. But in these days, the proud, froward, and wicked world, never thinketh of any of these things: And thereby it cometh to pass, that so many lewd, so many false, so many stubborn, so much falsehood, so much sin & filthiness beareth such a great swinge, that at the length almighty God will be so angry, that within a while, there will be no way to escape, no forbearing, no forgiveness more take place, but God must in the end, without more pity or mercy, hurl the pitcher to the ground with great violence, and without all grace and forbearing, dash them together with thunder and lightning, with hail, and showers, and with grievous fear and tempestuous storms. Therefore on the behalf of weaklings, and of such as be frail in their living and conversation, I think good to advise and warn them, that they do not make of their weakness and frailty, a wicked custom, lest at the length, they fall into an unpenitent and blockish life and conversation, whereby God will be grievously offended. Therefore it behoveth them in time, beforehand, to acknowledge their weak and sinful living, be sorry for them, and have full purpose to amend their life, after that sigh to obtain a hearty longing towards a godly life, and at the last to fight against sin, & to withstand it with all our power, that there do not follow of our weakness an unpenitent and blind conversation, and lest they miserably die in that blindness, and after that perish everlastingly, from which our Lord graciously vouchsafe to keep us, Amen. Again, that such weaklings in their conversation, receive the time of grace, in season, not loyteringly seeking for it, contemning it, nor be slothful therein. For, Here is the acceptable time, now is the day of grace, as holy Saint Paul writeth, in the second to the Corinthians, the sixth Chap. 
● Cor. 6.  Therefore, let us to our profit, and for our blessedness sake, embrace it in time convenient, and not suffer it to pass away from us, or suffer such an acceptable time of grace from God, the very jubilee year, yea, the golden year, for ever to flee in the wind, but rather pray for grace, in the right and in the time meet & convenient. Whereof David saith in the 32. Psal. 
●●al. 32.  In which time, all holy, and such as be weak in faith, do seek for our Lord God, and pray for our Lord God, and call for grace and forgiving of their sins, and hope upon his mercy, which is promised unto us in Christ jesus. Therefore let no man drive off too long, to better his life, but let every man remember and think upon the wrath of God, and upon his punishment: in time prevent or come before them, drive not the time off till your death bed: for you are not sure how it will frame and fall out with you, whether you shall have then your reason & your wits, or whether you shall be able to hear, or speak yourself, or whether you shall die suddenly, and die in the twinkling of an eye: wherefore, albeit we be all subject to death, and that therefore we must all die, yet doth our Lord God many times shorten many a man's life before his time, chief because such a man doth not remember his sinful and unpenitent living, that he may let him smart, whereby he may win unto him a good purpose to amend and better his life. I am afraid, there be very few that God taketh away before their time, because they be virtuous, whereby he may save and deliver them from great mischances, and from the plagues at hand: and therefore God can take but small pleasure of such people, as then only call upon God, and sue unto him in the time of their mishaps and punishments, and by and by, as soon as God our Lord hath taken his correction from them again, they also by and by forget it, and afterward become worse than ever they were before. Experience daily teacheth this: therefore, when so ever God helpeth up such a man, he helpeth a great offender only up again upon his sound limbs, so that afterward he is worse than he was before. Therefore is this the cause, that God many times hath little pleasure, lust, or will, to help such people, turn their punishment from them, or to take it from them. It is better they lie there sick, or else buried in their grave, then that they should more grievously offend God, or any longer hurt good men. Howbeit, if it so come to pass, that God lay hand upon his own, that is to say, weaklings and stragglers, and take them under his fatherly correction, look well, whether you be one of those or not, and that ye do not suffer such correction in vain, but rather imagine & learn, what our Lord GOD meaneth thereby, and what profit and good our Lord God purposeth to set forth by you.  
First you shall know, that by this means, God will lead you to true repentance, after that give you cause that you earnestly seek unto him, and with your heart call upon him, and from him only look for help and comfort: which be the very good and precious works of the second commandment, where you are commanded, that you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, which is then done, when you inwardly call upon God in your necessity, have all your refuge for succour to him, & look for all goodness at his hands. Those be most precious good works, that do passingly please GOD. After that, as soon as God hath helpen you, that you thank him for his gracious help, thank and praise his holy name, which is the right offering up of thanks of the new testament. As holy David witnesseth. Psal. 50. 
Psal. 50.  That is then the right true God's service, to which Gods service our Lord God sometime without our mind and will, must force or drive us with great crosses and smarts, or else we would never walk in any such good works. Also we must lastly, with holy David in the 119. Psalm, 
psalm. 119.  acknowledge and say: O Lord it is very profitable for me, that thou hast humbled and brought me low, that I might know thy laws. And hereof it cometh to pass, that our Lord God suffereth Satan to trouble & to vex his, that he doth tempt them sometime with some special sin, and plagueth them therewith, whereby they be moved or driven first to know themselves, their weak nature & frailty: then to sigh unto God, to call upon him and fly unto him: they be our spurs and pricks whereby we be driven to God. And again, that is our comfort, that God is so good, and that he can show himself so almighty, that he can turn the wickedness of his to the best. For he is such a God, that he will suffer no evil to be done, whereof he doth not work some good. But our Lord God is so cunning, and many times doth show it unto his, to shame the devil, whereby he doth very often break and hinder Satan's purpose, and utterly destroy it. To this only God and Lord he everlasting thanks and praise, in Christ our Lord. Amen.  Exhalt mich durch dein wort. Keep me according to thy promise. Psalm. 119.  

An instruction to teach children how they aught to go to the lords Table.  
I have herein something varied from mine Author, both because he is not named in the book: and also for that it did in the words varied something sound contrary to our English Church. I thought it meet to be added, because it was bound with the former Dutch books, and necessary to be read to them that be in extremity, if time will serve for it.  
FIrst, you must believe, if you will receive the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ to your commodity. After that must you try or prove yourselves, whether you do worthily eat it, or take commodity by it.  

¶ Faith.  
First of all you must well embrace the words of our loving Lord God jesus Christ, wherein he hath appointed unto you his body and blood to be a testament, whereby you may be assured and certeined of his grace and blessed inheritance for ever, and with Christ and all good Christians, to enjoy their fellowship in all things, and that you do belong to the fellowship of Christ. For Christian faith hath in it these 2. parts, First, that by God's grace we are made free from all our sins, and miseries. Again, that we be partakers and fellow workers of all the goodness of God in Christ jesus. These two parts be promised unto us in the Gospel, & belong to as many as believe the Gospel.  
Howbeit, to the intent every man should be the more sure of his faith, and better certified that it belongeth unto him, whatsoever is contained and promised in the Gospel, Christ our Lord hath ordained two Sacraments or outward signs: So that every man that should receive them in a fast and perfect faith, thereby should be assured, that the two before remembered parts do belong unto him, which he hath bound and tied to no time, place or person: so that wheresoever it be received, it is sure that the faithful receive those parts.  
Therefore, believe steadfastly, that through Baptism almighty God worketh forgiving of all sins, as we pray in our belief: I believe one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. That is to say, I believe that through God's mercy, by jesus Christ, in the holy Ghost only, my sins altogether be forgiven me, whereby I am assured and made safe in and by that only Baptism. For albeit that the outward Baptism is but only once done and ministered: yet doth God's work, that he than doth by it abide for ever and ever. This comforteth me at all times.  
I believe also, that God by the deserving of the passion and death of Christ, by the holy Ghost hath made me all one with Christ and all good Christians, and hath made me a member of the holy universal congregation or Church: So that I have fellowship in all things with all Gods holy children, & that whatsoever toucheth me, the same also toucheth them: and what so ever they have, that is mine also.  
And that ye shall not doubt hereof, he hath likewise given unto you the sacrament of his body and of his blood. When you receive them, doubt not, but truly believe, that God in the power of his word, under such true signs, worketh in you the above remembered fellowship, according to the contents of his word, where he saith, Take, eat, this is my body, which shall be given for you. Again, Take and drink all, for this is the cup of the new Testament, which shall be shed for you, and for many, for forgiveness of sins. Take hold of this word, and comfort yourselves therewith, for here doth Christ promise' you, that you through his passion, or offering of his body, which was done upon the cross, shall be one body with him, and with all his: so that he in you, and you in him, and all Saints, shall be in one fellowship. Therefore, saith he, his body is offered, or given for you. But that you should not doubt that it is given unto you, he saith thus, This is my body. When you receive it, then doubt not at all, that God by this sacrament worketh assuredly, that you shall be partaker of the abovesaid fellowship, and that you are put in remembrance, and assured thereof, as often as you receive the sacrament.  
Likewise, when our Lord jesus saith, This is my blood, etc. believe steadfastly, without all manner of doubting, that Christ's blood is shed for you, and your sins thereby forgiven. But that you should be thoroughly persuaded and safe that it is done for you, you have a pledge or a sacrament. As often as you take it, remember yourself, and think on our Lord jesus Christ, that even God by this sacrament worketh those things in you, namely, that Christ's blood maketh you clean from all your sins. O what great comfort is in this sacrament, therefore aught we very earnestly to receive it.  
Further, dear child, when you will receive this sacrament, think well upon the abovesaid words of Christ, and steadfastly believe that God worketh in you that which the words do promise, & say, Therefore do I come unto the sacrament, because I believe, that his body was given for me, and because his blood was shed for me, whereby I am loosed from all my sins, and am one body with him, in a full and perfect fellowship of all his goods, as a brother.  
And because it is very hard to believe such high things, specially that it shall avail and profit me, being a poor sinner and wretched caitiff, therefore do I take with Christ's word the outward pledge, for the assuring and strengthening of my belief, that I may be sure, that it is done in deed for me.   

¶ Proving.  
But how a man shall prepare or make himself ready to this Sacrament, Saint Paul doth teach us in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, the 11. 
●. Cor. 11.  Chapter, where he saith, Let a man try himself, and then eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, etc. that is, You shall not accounted nor reckon yourself to be holy, not condemn other men, not despise other men, not be quarreling, but diligently look about, how needy and miserable you yourself be, how deep you stick in sin, how much faith and other ghostly gifts you lack, how much you are bound and indebted unto God, for many things, whereof you are not able to pay the lest.  
Think upon, and remember these and such like points, how you may have remedy, and be holpen. And seeing that Christ in this sacrament, hath promised you all these things, it behoveth you with earnest desire to seek there. Here is the best proof & preparation unto this sacrament, that a man with all earnestness behold his own misery, grief, sin, temptation, trouble, and beggary, etc. whereby he might lay down his peacocks tail, and humble himself, and be as hungry and greedy after the help and grace of God, as a man is desirous to eat after sour lettuce. This is the right hunger to this meat. O that we knew in what danger we stand, what lack we have, how deep we stick, than would we be desirous to this sacrament, and make as much haste thereunto, as the thirsty heart maketh to the waters.   

For what cause a man aught to go to the Sacrament.  
NOt for custom sake, because at Easter every man goeth unto it, not at the commandment of the Pope, or any other man: Not for our own worthiness, or because we have prepared ourselves: Not because we shall make a good work of it, or make God's service thereof: but only because that thereby, in the power of God's word, and pledge of Christ, I may receive the inheritance which my Lord Christ jesus by his death hath purchased for me, & bequeathed me in his testament, specially that I should be free from all my sins, that I might be a brother and inheritor with Christ, and with Christ and all Christians be a church and commonalty: wherein, I shall have fellowship with all Saints: so that, whatsoever Christ with all Christians have, is mine. And again, to be short, that Christ is mine, and I am his, and that I shall not departed from him, but still abide where he is, and that I have him with me, and by me, whether that I be in wealth or in woe: whether I be in prosperity or in adversity. And besides this, he never forsaketh me, whether I be in need, or in any other temptation, and that I shall beside, enjoy what other fruit soever belongeth to this Sacrament.   

When or how often a man aught to go to the Sacrament.  
AS often as you be troubled & tempted through your sins in your conscience, cumbered through the fear of death, or of hell, troubled by weakness, either of body or of soul, or that you be faint hearted in faith, or that you be burdened with any weakness or feebleness whatsoever it be, wherewith the devil, the world, or the flesh will hinder you in your inheritance or blessedness, seek here comfort in the word and sign given in this sacrament by Christ, which he hath at his last supper left unto you, where upon he died, and have no doubt at all, but that God in temptation worketh whatsoever the word and token, or sign do promise or bring. Herein let no man's fantasy or imagination make you forsake the right way.   

What believe you of this sacrament?  
I Believe, that there is, according to the word of Christ, given unto me the body and blood of Christ, (though in such sort as reason can not perceive:) So that God almighty worketh in me, and towards me, in the receiving thereof, all that which my Lord jesus hath there promised, as specially that his body maketh me clean, and maketh my body to be in fellowship with Christ, and with all Christians, and that his blood doth wash away all my sins. Therefore I doubt nothing at all, but that I do receive there the body & blood of Christ, albeit that by reason I can not perceive how, or by what manner, and way, neither is it necessary for me to know. It was sufficient to Christ's Apostles, that they knew that Christ was risen from death, albeit they could not tell nor perceive how he came unto them, the doors being shut in.   

What is Christ's Supper, or God's board.  
IT is nothing else, but the Testament of jesus Christ our Lord, which he made and ordained before his passion and death, for all them that believe upon him, and for them that in their baptism through the deserving of his death and resurrection, be made free from the power and kingdom of the devil, and chosen to be God's children, or inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. To them hath he promised, and giveth in this sacrament truly, his body and his blood for their comfort, whereby they be fully assured, & made certain by faith in their consciences, that he will give unto them all the goodness of God, and make them coheirs with him, & with the whole Christian congregation, in a perfect fellowship of all Saints. For in as much as Christ hath promised and given unto them his body and his blood, why can he not give unto them all other good things that he hath, either in heaven or in earth? Hereupon shall his body and his blood certainly be received, to assure us, that our loving Lord Christ will not betray us, but make us with him to be Lords and inheritors of all the goodness of God.   

Whosoever will receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, aught to know how to answer to the five questions following.  
The first Question.  
1 WHerefore receive you this Sacrament?  
Answer.  
Therefore, because I may be a coheir with Christ, and have fellowship with him, with all holy Saints, and with all good Christians, with them to suffer and to die.  
Question.  
2 What do you believe, or what do you confess is in this sacrament?  
Answer.  
When I receive the Sacrament, I believe, that under bread and wine, I receive the body and blood of Christ: but it is not sufficient that I know, but also I must believe, that my lord Christ hath given me them for a perfect sign and token, seal and testament.  
Question.  
3 What be the words of this Testament, which our Lord jesus did use?  
Answer.  
Thus said the Lord to his Apostles, when he gave unto them this bread, Take ye, and eat ye, This is my body, which shall be given for you. And when he gave them the cup, he said, Drink you all of this, This is my blood of the new Testament, which shall be shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in the remembrance of me.  
Question.  
4 Wherefore do you take that token or sign, seeing that faith is sufficient?  
Answer.  
I receive the signs and tokens therefore, because I may strengthen my faith, not because I doubt in my belief: but because God hath given me the sign, with the word, of his tender grace and mercy. Therefore I will not despise to use and acquaint myself with them.  
Question.  
5 How will you use the Sacrament?  
Answer.  
I will eat and drink, and believe this word, which he spoke unto his Apostles, when he gave them this sacrament. We aught to take these comfortable promises, with a faithful heart.    

A brief declaration of the lords Prayer, called, Our Father.  
first we must consider, wherefore we pray, what is meant by wherefore, the time, & occasion doth always bring them. But because we should not be careful, nor trouble ourselves, wherefore we should pray, seeing we be now in such extremities, that many troubles daily fall amongst us, and that from day to day, the longer the worse, although we should very much pray. For, The devil is a liar, and a murderer. And neither is the Pope nor the Turk, nor many other tyrants, which be against God's word idle. Besides this, we have experience that every adversary is sufficient of itself, though this general trouble were not, therefore we have every where occasion sufficient, which may drive us to prayer.  
Whosoever therefore cannot remember all our necessities, let him take in hand and have before his eyes, the holy prayer of our Lord, called Our Father, in it be seven petitions. In which be contained all troubles, & things necessary.  
1. In the first prayer, Hallowed be thy name, we pray for the holy Gospel, for all true preachers, against all heresy, & misbelievers, against the jews, heathen, Turk & Pope. For all these blaspheme and slander God's name, and vnhallow him: that God will cut them short, sand good preachers, & keep his word clean and pure against all heresy, & make us apt hearers. This is to intent or before to mean somewhat.  
2. In the second, Thy kingdom come, we pray, that the kingdom of the devil, & of death may be destroyed. That is a great and a large petition, for in it is contained the whole kingdom of the devil, that it would please God to make an end of it, and set up in us and all men his own kingdom, through his word, and the holy Ghost.  
3. In the third petition, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven, we desire, that all their wills be disappointed which strive against God's gracious wil That is a great & unsufferable prayer against the devil and all wicked people, & marvelously putteth back many perils and misfortunes, which the devil and wicked people imagine and set abroach, if they were not through this petition disappointed.  
4. In the fourth petition, Give us this day our daily bread, we do pray for the queens majesty, for our magistrates, for our elders, for our wives and children, for our meat and drink, for the fruit in the field, for peace, and for such things as we lack toward the maintaining of this present life, every one in their vocation, that God will bless them therein, give them good fortune, and keep them from all misfortune mercifully.  
5. In the fift petition, Forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that trespass against us, we desire that God will be gracious to us, to turn from us his anger, which we have deserved, & not punish us for our wickedness: and that he will deal graciously with us, to the intent we, from day to day, may wax better, and that we may live after his holy will, and live friendly one with another, and that every of us may forgive an other their offences.  
6. In the sixth petition, Led us not into temptation, we pray that GOD will come and help all troubled hearts, not suffer them to stick in temptation, but help them out thereof graciously through his word and holy spirit: and that he will vouchsafe to destroy the devils purpose and might.  
7. In the seventh petition, But deliver us from the evil, we pray for a good hour, that our Lord God will take us out of this misery, with grace, and make us blessed for ever.  
Thus, in the Lord's prayer, are plentifully all things contained, whatsoever by any means shall vex or trouble us, or else whatsoever is meetest and most necessary for us. Therefore the first i● that we purpose or intend something, wherefore we will pray, that will Almighty God surely give. For the commandment is plainly there, that We must pray, & the promise is also there, that We shallbe certainly and surely heard. And our merciful Lord Christ himself hath set forth unto us, both the words and the manner how we shall pray: in the which all things necessary for us be contained.   
FINIS.