The solace OF THE SOUL AGAINST the bitter storms of sickness and death, greatly encouraging the faithful, patiently to suffer the good pleasure of God in all kind of adversity, newly set forth in english by Thomas Becon. Proverbi. iii. Refuse not the chastening of God, neither grudge thou, when he correcteeh the. Anno. M.D.XLVIII. TO THE REDER. VERE notable is this saying of our LORD and saviour jesus Christ he that continueth unto the end, Math, ● shallbe safe, for it declareth unto us, that though the most and greatest part of our life seemeth to be spent both faithfully, and godly, yet if we persever not in tha● faith and godliness even unto the last breath, but let slip our hold, that we have had heretofore of faith and godly conversation in Christ jesus, all the labours, pains and travails, that we have sustained in the former part of our life, are frustrate and vain. For noman that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, Luce. 〈◊〉. is meet unto the kingdom of God. And it is written in the Revelation of saint john. Be faithful unto the ●eath, and I shall give the the crown Apoca, ● of life, the crown of life is promised. But to whom? verily to those that be faithful even unto death, as saint Paul saith. Noman is crowned except he striveth lawfully, tim. two. to strive lawfully, is not to play the coward in the battle of Christ our captain, & to give place to our adversaries, but at all times valiantly to fight against them with the strong and mighty shield of faith, and so to continue even unto the end. And albeit this conflict between the faithful christians and their enemies be at all times jeopardous and full of peril, yet in in the time of sickness, and when death beginneth to draw nigh, it is most dangerous. In health and prosperity Satan's assaults seem to be but trifles and things of daliauns, but in adversity, trouble, sickness and death, they appear most vehement, grievous, terrible and not able to be resisted, at which time, if we give place, we are undone, if we manfully resist, the victory is ours. We must therefore (godly reder) against this so perilous time of sickness and death, so furnyshe ourselves unto this battle, that we be not put to flight, ever remembering that our strife and fighting, is not against blood and flesh, but against Rulers, against powers, against the lords of the world, ephe. v● the Governors of the darkness of this world, against spiretuall subtleties or wylynesses in heavenly things, I mean Satan with all his infernal army and devilish warriors. And forasmuch as our principal conflict and chief battle is in the time of sickness & pains of death, and seeing we have then most need of consolation and comfort, that we be not overcome nor subdued of our enemies, but know how we shall both take the cross of Christ, appear it to the flesh never so painful, & put our adversaries to flight & so continue faithful to the end: I have translated this little treatise following, wherein y● shal● find most sweat & present comfort both for thyself & other, an armours or weapons to defend thyself against all thine enemies, that not they over thee, but thou over them mayst full gloriously triumph, & get the victori through jesus christ our grand● captain, this little work I wish to be in the hands of all the faithful at all times, but specially in the time of their sickness, that they might learn● unfeignedly to rejoice in tribulation and valeantly to strive against th● enemies, the flesh, the world, y● diui● hell, sin, death and desperation. Yea● I wish that all the faithful in the tim● of their sickness might have this tr●atyse red unto them, either of their cu●rates or of some other faithful christians: so should they without all doubt fin●e exceeding great comfort, patiently & thankfully bear the cross that god layeth upon them, & with glad hearts wish with S. Paul to be loosened from this wretched body and to be with Christ in glory. Philip. Farewell good Reder, & pray that the Gospel of our health, Roma. which is the mighty power of god unto salvation for every one that believeth, may have free passage among us unto the utter subversion of Antichrist & his kingdom. Pray also, that we may so lead our lives in all things conformable to the will of god, that through our godly manners & Christian conversation we may garnish & beautify the doctrine of our saviour & Lord jesus Christ, to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all glory praise and honour, worlds without end. AMEN. THE SOLACE OF THE SOUL. THOU SHALT Ever be at this point (o thou Christian) which art sick and diseased, faithfulli to believe that thy punishment & trouble cometh not unto the by chauns or fortune, but by the appointment, council and sufferauns of God. What soe●er sickness, calamity or myscry chaunchethe to the godly, all that come to pass at the appointment, will & pleasure of God. ●u. xvii For in him we live, move, and have our being. He hath made us, ●. xcix and not we ourselves. Nether shalt thou doubt, but that of a right good and very fatherly mind he sendeth the what so ever disease thou hast, not to destroy thee, but to call the unto repentauns, and to exercise, prove, try, and store up thy faith. For afflictions are the sure signs & undoubted tokens of Gods high mercy, and singular good will. Whom he loveth, him he correcteh, saith Solomon. Proue● He scourgeth every son, that he receiveth: Hebr. that thy most tender heavenly father, which so dearly loveth thee, according to his singular good appointment, & of an earnest bent good will toward thee, with this thy adversity even as it were with bonds doth pluck back, refrain, and mortify thy old man, that y● mayst crucify with Christ the gladlier & more cheerfully thy body & offer it as a sacrifice: Rom. this thy disease therefore, wherewith thou art vexed, is a fatherly chastisement laid upon thee, not that thou shouldest be destroyed, but that thou shouldest be amended, quickened & made a new man. Peradventure God the the father seeth, that thy old Adam is fierce, stobborne, froward unruly take his pleasure, liveth more licentiously than becometh him followeth his awn carnal affects, & can keep himself in no good order, therefore doth he cast this as an halter upon him, snarl him with this fetters and chenes, spearethe him in this prison & dengden, overcometh him with this punishment, that he may bridle him, knock him down and keep him under awe, 〈…〉 that he cast in to peril & put in extreme jeopardy thy most noble and precious soul: flesh and blood reign and bear more rule in thee, than the spirit: here is god present with thy spirit, & helpeth her striving against the fierce unruly and rebellious flesh, that she may overcome, subdue and tread under foot the flesh. If that were in good health and in bodily prosperity now, peradventure, the flesh (as it is always naturally disposed, pro●e and bend unto the devil) should deceive the and cast the into many and grievous sins against God wherewith God being disposed thou shouldest be in danger of cursing and damnation: that thy heavenly father preventing this incommodity and peril, and providing for the and thy health, bringeth under and keepeth down thy flesh, which with all main and fierce waxeth wood against the spirit, Gala. and is evermore contrary to it, that it be not waloved forth into the most stinking and filthy puddle of sin, but be subject and obedient to the spirit: forasmuch than as this is the pleasure of thy most loving Father, again saying that all thyngesturne unto thy commodity & wealth, take heed dylygenlye (O brother) that thou dost not strive against the good will of God but, suffer & pray that the will of thy father may be done in thee, that he may handle the as he thinketh best, and that thou mayst not wish covet or desire any thing, but that he shall think good, that all things may turn to the glory and praise of god and that he may assist the with his grace, that thou mayst patiently and thankfully bear the cross that is laid upon thee: for patience bringeth experience, experience bringeth hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. Here hast thou an occasion to exercise and learn patience in all thy troubles. first thou lernest that God of a fatherly mind punisheth thee, and this dost thou learn by experience, na. v for except thou diddest prove in very deed, how health full it were to give over thyself wholly to God, to obey his will, (as David saith, it is highly for my profit, that y● hast punished me) thou couldst not conceive a certain and xviii. sure hope of him, having no experience before that a mind so fatherly and wonderfully desirous of the high hid under this cross and rod. But seeing thou hast learned that before by experience, and haste now some taste of that thing, thou dost not despair in any trouble, but thy hope increaseth straightways, seeing thou hast before oftentimes proved▪ the help of God present. And although he winketh at the matter, and sometime suffereth the for a certain space to stick & stand fast in the mire, yet at the last he retcheth forth his helping hands, delivereth & saveth thee: he suffereth the to swim for a certain space, yea & to be overwhelmed with waters, but he suffereth the not to be drowned. Hereof mayst thou gather a sure hope, that he will never leave the socou●les nor cast y● away, saying he hath preserved the being so oft in jeopardy: in aflyctyons and trubles therefore dost thou learn to conceive and nourish a good and undoubted hope of God, that even in the most grievous afflictions of all, where no help at all appeareth, thou mayst trust unto him, being now thoroughly taught his custom in delivering and saving his people, thou haste learned that afflictions be sent not of displeasure but of a Fatherly love. Which thing thou believing and having experience thereof, dost patiently abide his help, neither dispayrest thou, but trustest steadfastly, that he at the last will help thee, although he delayeth it never so long, hideth and keepeth himself secret. And thus at the last dost thou know and understand that thy disease or trouble is not sent unto the for this purpose that y● shouldest be destroyed, bu● that the glory of God may be set abroad, & that all things may turn unto thy health & salvation: he that can give himself over & wholly commit himself to god on this manner, and put all his aff●auns & trust in his promises, truly that man never dieth: which thing Christ himself even with an oath, because we should not doubt, affirming the same, sayeth, verily, verily, john, v if any man keep my word, he shall never see death. And in an other place he saith. I am the way, the truth, and the life: he that believeth in me, shall live, john, x although he be dead. And he that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die: john. ●. these words of christ (o brother) look that thou deeply repose than & with all diligence keep them in thy mind, and when soever y● perceivest y●●hi mind waver or is trebled, underprope & life it up with this sweet and comfortable john. ● sayings: he that believeth in christ, shall not taste death: he that believeth in me, hath everlasting h●. xvii life, saith Christ: this is ever lasting life, to know the even the true God, and whom thou hast sent jesus Christ. everlasting life is begun in this world: for he that hath Christ, hath the true life, for Chryst is the life: he is also the truth in, xiiii therefore will not he mock us, butal the promises of god are in him, ●ori. i. ye & are in him Imen. And that y● shouldest doubt nothing, but that God will abide by his promises, he hath bond himself unto the with a certain peculiar covenant and sign put unto thy body. ●tisme. For when he being gratly desirous of thy health sent his son in to the world to offer himself unto the death for thy sake, he did make and strike up a bargain of grace before the christ, in whom he hath promised, if thou wilt believe and be baptized, that he will give the everlasting life freely, and never forsake thee, yea that he will be thy father, Psal. cii and crown the with grace and mercy: thy baptism is a sign of this covenant. Now is it necessari for thee, that thou clevest with tooth and nail to the promises, which are added to this sign. For God hath given this sygue, that thou shouldest nothing doubt of the grace or favour that he hath promised, nor yet of his faith concerning the faithful perfyrmen of the same: thou art baptized to die with Christ, as Paul saith, Rom. vi that his death should be thy death, and that he should purify all things for thy sake, yea thou hast put him on in baptism, that thou shouldst be whole in him, and he in the. baptism therefore is a covenant, which lifteth up, cheereth and maketh quiet thy conscience before god (as Peter testifieth) that he will never ●. Pet. i●● damn the for thy sins. For thou being justified by faith, hast peace with God: a quiet, clear, and pacified conscience is the true peace ●ma. v. Thou hast perceived a most sure sign as a certain seal of this justification and remission of sins, ●uen baptism, that thou shouldest believe for a certente, that God for Christ'S sake will have pity on thee, preserve and deliver the. Now saying than that God fauo●eth thee, and will be thy father and never forsake thee, saying also that thou haste an undeceivable sign and wyt●es of this thing, look that thou dost commit and wholly give over to him both thyself and all that ever pertain unto y●▪ thou must also obey his will, and patiently suffer his hand, whether he will that thou live or die, that his will, which is ever best, may be done ●om. viii unto the glory & praise of him, although it be impossible, that tho● shouldest be dampened, if thou dost faithfully trust on the mercy which he hath promised for Christ's sake and consecrate thyself wholly to him, obeying his most godly will in all parts. For he hath promised, that he will be thy father, and forasmuch as he is true, when thou knoweledgest him to be thy father, and dost hope and look for all good things of him, he can none otherwhyse but be thy father and save thee, although he handle the for a certain time never so hardly. saying than that he hath promised to be thy father, and thou dost trust on his promises, without doubt he will care both for the and thine at all times: wherefore thou shalt commend to him not only thy body, but also thy wife and children, thy kinsmen and friends, to be short, all that ever thou haste, and doubt not but that ●e will be a true Father, a true husband, a true kinsman and friend: for he hath hitherto used the in these things only as a stuward and dyspensatoure: But now seeing he is minded that thou shouldst leave of the function and use of this office, he will appoint another in thy room, which like a good stuwarde shall both faithfully and diligently look upon them. If thou hopest this thing of him, and lookest for it with a full trust of heart, it is no doubt, but he will do that I have spoken: wherefore put out of thy mind, all sorrowful care of worldly things, and commend it to God. Rather take thought for thyself, how thou mayst provide for thy soul, and send that unto God. And saying that God hath forgiven the all thy sins freely for Christ's sake, he requireth nothing at all of thee, for this exceeding great and in estimable benefit, but that thou shouldest again forgive even from the very heart them that have done the wrong: for he promiseth Math that he will forgyne us our offences if we forgive men their offences, Mat. x therefore when thou hast forgiven all Merci● offences even from the very heart, yea and that so, that thou never remembrest them afterward, pray also for them that have hurt the according to the doctrine and example of Christ, Luce. x yea and if ever thou recoverest, help so much as lieth in thy power them that have need of thy help. If that thou hast a mind void, of dissimulation, privy displeasure, envy, malice, ill will and wrath, thou haste also a sign and earnest token that God hath forgiven the thy sins: for faith wherewith thy heart is purified, Actu. ● stretching out herself, and bringing ●orth her fruits for the infinite benefits of God can none otherwise then forgive again and to do well to her neighbour. This fruit of charity beareth the witness and maketh the sure, that thy faith is true and lyvishe, seeing it bringeth forth true and good fruits: This meaneth Peter, where he commandeth that we should make our vocation Pet. ●. and election firm & sure with good works, for he signifieth and plainly meaneth, that this works are testimonies and signs that thou art elect of God, and purchased to be his son unto the joys of everlasting life. Nether is there any cause (o brother) that god should forgive the thy sins, for the grievousness of thy disease & cross: for there is none other satisfaction, john. i●. none other recompense for thy sins, than the only death of Christ. God beholdeth none other thing in this cause he accepteth none other thing here than his only begotten son: he is the lamb of god which taketh away the sins of johan. the world: He is the sacrifice & oblation sufficient, Hebre. absolute and perfect for the synnts of the whole world: thy disease & pains can not satisfy before God for the lest sin that thou hast committed, much les are they able to deserve health & everlasting salvation, as Paul testifieth, Rom● saying I do not think that the afflictions of this life are worthy of the glory which shallbe showed upon us. No creature neither in heaven nor earth, no angel was able to appease, mitigate & suage the wrath of the father, much les shall this thy disease & short trouble pacify it. For he that should assuage that wrath and reconcile God to man, he must needs be both god and man, saying he must be an intercessor and advocate between god 1. Ti● being angry and man condemned. Therefore was it conventente for the son of god to become man, that he shield appease the wrath of God the father by suffering pains in his own body, and so preserve us from it, as the Prophet testyfiethe, saying: He hath taken upon him our diseases, ●y. liii, and borne away our sorrows. God hath laid the unrighteousness of us all on him: For the wickedness of my people have I stricken him. et. two And Peter saith: By his stripes were we made whole: therefore for this Christ thy Lord are thy sins forgiven thee, and for none other thing neither in heaven nor in earth, not for thy good works, nor for any affliction, although never so hard and bitter, ●rin. i. Christ is our only ryhhteousnes, health, redemption & satisfaction: God made him sin for us, which knew no sin that we might be made righteous: wherefore if thou believest, thou art the son of God all ready: if thou be the son of God than art thou also the heir of God, and fellow enheritoure with Christ: if everlasting life be inheritance and the gift of God, as Paul calleth it, Roma. certes then shalt thou not deserve it with the sorrows of thy disease: but God would have the punished with this sickness, that thou mightest repress break, restrain and mortify thy old man, that it may once cease to sin, that shall come to pass at the last by the death of the body. And for this cause must we die, that our soul may depart hence unto everlasting salvation: for this death is a gate and entrauns unto eternal life, there at the last are we delivered from all wretchednesses, miseris carefulness, dysquietnes, from all errors and juggling casts of the devil, neither shall we any more be defiled with the most stinking filthiness of sin, neither shall we be seduced and led away into heresies or errors, nor yet be thrown headlong into desperation. For an end of all evils, adversities and incommodities is then come, yea then shall we rest in the Lord and enjoy eternal life and pleasure without end. Death therefore is not to be abhorred nor feared, yea it is rather most fervently to be desired, saying by that we pass hence unto eternal joys. om. viii Very true is y●, which Paul saith, to the godly all things work for the best: Death in the sight of the world is a thing of all things most odious, most hateful, most loathsome and most horrible, yet to the faithful it is most sweat, most acceptable and most pleasant. And although it be so, that our old● Adam trembleth at it, excheweth and abhorreth it, yet the inward man i● ready and willing to suffer it, for asmuch as he perceiveth & knoweth that by it he is delivered from all filthiness of sin, vice, & wretchedness and departeth unto everlasting joys. ¶ How they are to be comforted, which are in apparel of death. THE best God and thy most loving father having pity on thee (o Brother) calleth the from this most wretched & miserable life, willing to remove the unto him, and to carry the into the perpetual joys of the heavenvly life. Therefore yield, give over & commend to him wholly thyself, & all that ever thou hast, & what so ever his will is let thy will be the same, and say, let thy will be done o father God, Mat. x and not mine: cry unto Christ with the thief fastened to the cross, remember me, o Lord, Luce. ● when thou comest into thy Kingdom: erye with the Publican, nc. xviii Lord be merciful to m● wretched sinner cry instanstly with that earnest woman the Cananite, ●ath. xv o son of David have mercy on me. If thou criest thus, christ will hear thee, doubt not, he will have mercy on thee, he will forgive the thy sins, yea thou shalt be with him in paradise: therefore lay hand on this Christ, cleave to him with tooth and nail, commit thy soul unto him: cry with this christ crucifyde unto God the common father, al. lxi. o Lord my trust is in thee, let me never be put to confusion, but rid me, and deliver me thorough thy righteousness: Bow down thine ear unto me, make haste to deliver me. Be thou my God and strong hold (whereunto I may alway i'll) that thou mayst help me, for thou art my strength and refuge: thou art my defender: Into thy hands I commend my spirit: cry also with David: Psal. vxii o Lord thou art my strength, my sure hold, my refuge and my deliverer. O my God thou art my helper, my defender, and the horn of my health and my protection. Unto the o Lord, lift I up my soul: o my God my trust is in thee, let me not be driven to shame: direct me in thy truth, thou art the God my savionre, Remember, o Lord thy tender mercies, and thy pitiful compassions, which thou hast ever used: Remember not the trespasses of my yonghe: According to thy mercy remember me for thy goodness sake: for thy name's sake (o lord) forgive my sin, for it is much: look on me, and have pity on me, deliver me from my necessities: forgive me all my offences keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to confusion for my hole trust is in the. If on this manner thou wilt call for the help of God with and hold heart, god will surely helpe● the in time convenient, and he will say unto the that, which is in the Psalm. Forasmuch as he hath put his trust in me, ●sal. xc, I will deliver him: I will defend him because he hath known my name: He hath cried unto me, & I will favourably hear him. I am with him in his tribulation: I will deliver him & glorify him. Wherefore (o thou Christian) fight here a good fight, strive valiantly & with a good courage, as it becometh a true christean man: take heed, y● givest not over, take heed, thou turnest not thy back: there is no danger thou stovest not here alone, but jesus Christ the king is thy guide in this agony, this thy guide & captain shall be thine avenger, & in this battle he shall defend and deliver the from all the enemies of thy soul, from all peril & from all misery and wretchedness: follow this captain going before the in this conflict and battle: he is a king not like to other but of an exceeding and infinite power: he hath already overcome and thrown under the foot for thy sake: death, Hebrc. i●● i. Cor. x● Oze. xiii Satan and hell death is swallowed up into victory Christ died for thee: Therefore everlasting death hath no power in the Christ went down for the unto hell, that he might deliver the from this everlasting darknesses therefore be on a lusty and bold● mind, and with a valiant courage braced into the army. Put away all fear, there is no danger in this behalf: there is no cause why thou shouldest fear the fierce and straight judgement of God. Christ jesus is a mediator before God, i. Tim● the same is an advocate, yea and thy Patron, defender, bishop and Priest: i. johu. Hehre. He hath reconciled the to God, and hath restored to the his fafatherly mind, which before was estranged from the for thy sins, God for Christ's sake is now thy father, he taketh charge of thee, he entirely loveth the as his most tender son. Now saying that so noble a king standeth on thy side, who shall put the to any business, who shall be bold to assail the or ones fight against thee? who I pray thee, shall do the any wrong? what danger can there be? hear Paul: om. viii If god be on our side, saith he, who can be against us? which spared not his own son, but gave him for us all, how is it possible, that with him he should not give us all things? who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that can condemn? it is Christ that died, yea which rose again, which also is at the right hand of god, and maketh intercession for us: Who shall separate us from the law of? God I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor ●yghenes, nor deepness, nor any other creature can separate us from tha law of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord. Therefore saying that Christ is given, to the with all that ever he hath, so followeth it that his righteousness, innocency, health and everlasting life is given to thee, as Paul witness thee, i Cor. i. saying. Christ is made of God our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Therefore put all thy hope, psal. cxv● trust and confidence in this Christ, which is the head cornerstone. This stone is a valiant, strong, i Pet. two steadfast and sure foundation, whereunto thou mayst safely trust and commit thyself. No tempest although never so black and horrible, no showers, Math. vi●● no storms can shake and topple ever this foundation: In this Christ, I say, let all thy hope and confidence be set. Cast thyself wholly on him, yield thyself altogether to him, cleave to him with strong faith, let no trouble or temptation pluck the from him, although all things seem never somuch to the go to havoc, although slesh● and blood yell the never so much the contrary, and reason thinketh far otherwise, yea although th●● devil sometime whisper in thy mind that thou art utterly undone, that God is an extreme enemy unto thee, and that thou haste deserved the punishment of hell fire, and therefore thou must needs be dampened▪ For faith is a sure confidence and ● looking for of this things that ebre. xi are to be hoped, that is to say, promised, and a certen●e and evyden knowledge of those things tha● do not appear with that holy 〈◊〉 patriarch Abraham thou must believe under hope against hope: thy faith and hope must needs resist and set themselves against all those things, which ever blind reason doth imagine, or that most subtle, and crafty enemy do bring to remembauns and work against thee: wherefore thou must thoroulye learn what cu●●tme, deu. thirty God doth keep in saving his: i Reg. two. whom he will lift up into heaven, Tobi. xii him he bringeth down first unto Hell: Saple. xv Whom he will ●uycken, him doth he first kill, Psal. c. xi● upon whom he will exercise his exceeding Mercy, him will he first try, and make asthoughe he would damn him. And this is that unfeigned purgatory and that true purging fire, The true Purgator into the which God casteth his Servants and proveth them as Gold in the fire: ●pien, iii wherefore when thou feelest none other thing then most present death, when God ●emeth to be most angry with thee, to be gone away most furdeste from thee, and to have forsaken the utterly, yea when he seemeth that he hath cast ● the away and will condemn the even then think thou most certainly that he is most nyhhe unto thee, that he will defend the and deliver thee, yea that he then most entirely loveth thee, and careth most of all for thee: for when he doth lay● affliction and trouble upon thee, th● doth he remember his mercy, as● the Prophet saith. He is not angry for ever: as the father hath pity of his sons so hath the Lord● compassion of them that fear hi● for he knoweth our making, and remembreth that we are but duste● The mercy of the Lord endureth shall. c. two ever and ever: The Lord is a tender favourer and merciful, he is long suffering and full of compassion. Wherefore spare the eyes of thy senses, cast away the judgement of reason, and submit, yield, give over, and commend thyself wholly to christ, and take it to good worth, how so ever he handleth thee: esteem not death and the dredefnlnes and sorrows thereof after the judgement of the eyes, senles or reason, but after the word of God. David say thee, precious is the death of Saints in the sight of the Lord. Again, Blessed are the dead, Psal. cxv● which die in the LORD. Apo xii christ also saith, he that believeth in me, johu. vi shall not taste ●eathe. Therefore if any things come to remembrance, which go about to turn the from christ, and to ●aste the into desperation, cast them all out of thy mind: cleave to the lively word of God with tooth and nail, have thy meditation in that and ever be whetting of that in thy mind: For thou shalt never by the perspycacyte and quyckenis of thy reason perceive, how it may be possible, that by Death thou shouldst go unto the true life, how when thou givest up the Ghost, thou shouldest depart unto a better state, how thy soul should be kept in the Lord, and rest unto the last day, again, how thy body being rotten, consumed and eaten of worms, may rise again at the last judgement, and come forth in a new godly form, shape or fashion. This can not reason comprehend. faith alone is able to do it. Therefore call to thy remembrance continually the articles of thy faith, and bolt out every parcel of them diligently, and weigh them earnestly in thy heart. ¶ How he is to be spoken unto, which is ready to give up the Ghost. O Brother in Chryst, now look that thou fightest a good fight, look that thou abidest in the faith valiantly, and steadfastly. Infyxe and deeply engrave in thy breast, the Promises of christ thy redeemer. johan. x I am the resurrection and life, saith Christ. He that believeth in me, shall live and never die. christ took the nature of man upon him suffering many injuries and wrongs, and when he died, Hehre. x he offered himself a sacrifice for our sins on the altar of the Cross, john. il. he with his holy bloudthorowlye and in all points cleansed the sins of all mankind: this christ will not forsake thee, this Christ will not leave the succourless, this Christ careth for thee: Christ saveth the & defendeth thee, so that no ill or misery shall chauns unto thee: the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal. THE LORD KNOWETH, which ARE HIS. i Tim. two Christ saith, my sheep hear my voice, & I know them and they follow me, & I give them ever lasting life, neither shall they perish for ever, ohan. x. nor yet shall any man pluck them out of my hand: my father which gave them to me, is greater than all, & noman can pluck them out of my father's hand: I and my father am one. Wherefore (o brother) in Christ, commend thy soul to God the father, which loveth y● so dearly, cry with Christ thy brother, when he hung on the cross, Luc. xx o father into thy hands I commend my spirit God the Father of all mercy, mought lead the into everlasting life, and save the unto that most joyful resurrection of the last judgement AMEN. Virescit vulnera virtus. A prayer to be said of the syckman, being in peril of death. O Most merciful God, o father of all mercy the father of our Lord jesus Christ, be merciful to me a synuer, have pity on me, and quickly help me poor wretch for thy most bitter and most precious passion and death of jesus christ thy only begotten son and our only redeemer and saviour. Amen. enter not into judgement with thy servant, o Lord handle me not according to my deserves and merits, neither reward me after mine iniquity but for thine infinite and unmeasurable bounty and exceeding great mercy receive me. I miserable and weak creature am in thy hand, I am thy bond servant and thy debtor. O most gentle God, o most favourable Father, forsake me not, cast me not away poor wretch that I am, I am thine with all that ever I can make. Noman is able to confirm me, noman is able to deliver me, noman is able to help me, but y● alone. Thou art the true helper in adversity, y●are the most sure & present comfort in all necessity, y● alone art our help, our buluarke, our fortress, & our most mighty & stronly defence fence tower, y● o god, art our refuge, thou art our strength, thou art our helper in all our tribulations: In the o Lord, do I trust, let me not be confounded, let me never be put to shame let me not be deceived of my hope, but preserve me for thine righteousness. Bow down thin ear unto me, make haste to deliver me. Be my defender, o god, & my strong hold that thou mayst save me: for thou art my strength & my refuge, yea y● art my god, & my destinies are in thy hands Lighten thy countenauns upon thy servant, save me for thy mercies sake, o Lord. And forasmuch (o sweet Father) as it is thy godly pleasure to call me from this miserable life and wretched world, I most entirely beseech the so to defend me in this agony of death, that Satan nor his ministers prevail against me, but that I continue faithful and constant unto the end in the confession of thy holy name, looking for full remission of all my sins in the precious blood of thy well-beloved son and my saviour jesus Christ, and that I departing in this faith and perfect trust may be placed among thy blessed saints and heavenvly spirits, so for ever to remain with the in glory. Grant this o most merciful father for thy son jesus Christ's sake. Lord recyve my spirit. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: for thou that art the God of truth haste redeemed me. To the be all glory and honour. Amen. ¶ The articles of the Christian faith. first, I believe in one god Deut. vi. And father of our Lord jesus Christ. two. Cor. i. The which is the Lord of heaven and earth. Luke: xit. And creator of all, creatures. Hebre. i. Yea he is father of us all, and: Epe. iiii. The which hath elected us to be his children through jesus Christ. Ephe. i. And therefore shall we all him worship only, and beside him have none other gods. Deut. vi Also we shall fear him as one almighty God. Psal. xxxiiii. And as mercy full father we shall love him with all our hearts, with all our soul, and with all our power and mind Math. xxii● And upon him must stand all our hope. Heir. seven. For he is the father of light. jacob. i. Of the which all mankind leaveth Aetu. xiii. And receiveth both bodily goods. Proverb x. And enerlastynke salvation. Psal. xxxvii Together with all perfit gifts, which come and descence from him alone. Jacobi i Furthermore I believe in jesus Christ, the son of the living God our lord. i Cor. seven The which is the very brightness of his father's glory, and the very image of his substance. Hebre. i. Yea he is the only begotten son of the father. john. i. Come forth of the mouth of the most hyeghest God. Eccles. xxiii. first born before all creatures. Collos. i. Thorough the which all things are created. Hebre. i. In whom we have redemption, namely remission of sins thorough his blood. Col. i. With the which he hath washed us Apo. i. And hath also reconciled us again to his most holy & glorious father. Ephe. two. That were afore enemies to God. Roma. viii. For after the time that God had made man, after his image and similitude, he seat him in Paradise that he should eat of all the fruits in the garden of pleasure, excepting him the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Gene. two. But man disobeyed the Lord his God, and transgressed his commandment. Gene. iii. Thorough the which disobedience and transgression of the godly commandment, death and curse is come over all mankind. Roma .v. And when there was no help, nor comfort for man whereby he might have been redeymed, or delivered out of Satan's power, then hath God the merciful Father pity upon mankind, and Promised them a seed, namely jesus christ, his only begotten son, the which should tread upon the head of the Serpent, and overcome the devil, and restore us to life again. Genesis. iii. And likewise as God is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalms. clu And true in all his words. Psal. li. So hath he kepet all his promises trebly. And as the time was fulfilled. Gala. iiii. God let his word descend in to the womb of the virgin Marry, and by the working of the holy ghost became flesh: As john witnesseth saying: The word became flesh, and dwelled among us and we saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the father, full of grace and verity. john. i. Also this only begotten of God became like unto us in all things except sin. Hebre. two. He hath suffereth death for our sake. Esay. liii. And hath taken away Satan's power, and restored life in again. i. Timothe. vi. Yea he is made unto us wisdom, and rightwiseness, sanctifying, and redemption. i Cor. i. And likewise as he died for our sins. Hebre. two. So is he risen again through the power of his father. Roma. seven. For our righteousness. Roma. iiii. And as he oftentimes showed himself after his resurrection: unto his disciples. Actu. i. So is he ascended unto heaven in their presence. Luke. xxiiii. And sitteth at the right hand of the almighty father. Rom viii. Above all rule and might, and dominion, and above all that may be named, not only in this world: but also in the world to come Ephe. i And hath subdued all things under his feet. Hebre. two. To be brief he is a Lord above all lords, and a king above all kings Apoc. nineteen. Yea he is an almighty God with his father. Apoc. xxii. john. x. And nevertheless he is our advocate, & mediator. i. john. two ●●. Timot. two. Our only high priest. Hebr. v. The saceifice that he hath done for our sins, abideth for eveermore of valour. Hebre. x. Furthermore likewise as Christ is ascended up in to heau●n, so shall he come again from heaven. Actu. i With the dominion of his father, and with the angels. Mach. xxv. For to give every man reward after his works, yea for to judge the quick and dead. Act. x. i. Tim. iii. I believe also in the holy Ghost equal god with the father & the son which holy ghost is a teacher of all christian. john. xiiii. and he doth clothe them with his gifts, & giveth every one the measure of faith after his own will. i Corin. xi●. And keepeth them unmovable in one faith for he is a ruler of the christian congregation. Aet. xx. He is also the anoinment i john. two. Wherewith all Christian are anointed, and of that behalf are called the anointed of the Lord. Psal. c. iiii. So is this holy ghost given unto the Christian as an earnest of their inheritance to their redemption, and they again be his awn to the prise of his glory Ephe. i. To be shor ●it is impossible without this holy ghost to know God truly i Cor. two. Or withal the hope of the heart to believe upon him i Cor. xii Or to call upon him as a father. Romanorum. viii. And therefore doth God power this his holy Ghost upon his children, whereby they may truly know him, and truly believe him: and as a true father call upon him Gala. iiii. This is my believe in the father, in the son, and in the holy ghost, which tree I knowledge to be one god. Deut. vi. whose seat is the heaven, and the earth is a bench of his feet. Esay. xlvi. Yea the which is an everlasting ii Mach. i. and almighty God. Psal. c. xlv, The which alone will be worshipped, and served. Dent. vi. For he can alone help us. Esay. xliiii. which he doth for his name's sake, & not for our righruousnes sake. Esa. xliiii. Furthermore as I have said. that all they that do belene are joined together, & through the holy ghost knit in unity. so is there a loving christian church the which is builded of living stones i Pet. two. which church is the house of god. Hebr. iii And the house of God is the congregation of god i Timo. iii. And the congregation of god is the body of Christ Eph. i. And seyngy●al right Christians are one body i Corin. x. In the which they all thorough one sprite are baptized. i. Cor xii. So must there be a congregation of saints, namely that all saints or true beleners are also joined together in faith, as the members of one body Roma, xii. And in this communion of saints is remission of sins, and that without it is no sin forgiven, nor any hope of salvation. Ephe. two. yea as it is unpossible that a member can live which is not in the body, so it is unpossible that any man may live in his soul, and can be rele●ced out of death by remission of sin, the which is not a member of the body of Christ: for Christ hath reconcileo us all unto god his father in one body Ephe. two. And therefore must all they stand in variance that at no members of this body, of the which Christ is the head. Ephe. i. To the which he giveth salvation. Ephe. v. Now must we also know that albeit, that god always forgiveth sins. Esay. xliii. yet hath Christ given unto his congregation power to bind & to lose, which shall not be understand after the Antichristes' doctrine. The bishop of Rome which challengeth power to remit sins, but the Christian congregation whose head is Christ, & not the romish antichrist, and his ruled of the holy ghost, & not of the fornicatish spirit of the prophetess jesabel. This congregation I say hath power to bind and to loose, that is to say, all what she bindeth other looseth is done by the poweh of our Lord jesus Christ i. Cor. v And thorough the holy ghost as a ruler of the christian congregation. Actu. xx. so is there is the Christian congregation remission of sins. Theridamas shallbe also a general resurrection of the flesh, namely that all they that are dead, shall rise again, some to everlasting life, & some to everlasting pain & damnation. john v. And they that shall live & remain until the coming of one lord jesus Christ, they shallbe changed in the tinkeling of an eye at the time of the last trumpeth i Cor. xv. For the trumpet (saith Paul (shall blow, and the dead shall rise uncorruptible, & we shallbe changed. for the corruptible body must put on uncorruptibilite and this mortal body must put on immortality. Cor. xv. At the last is there also one everlysting life, john xvii. which all they shall receive that believe on jesus Christ. john. vi. and steadfastly abid in good works seeking praise, honour, and immortality. Roma. two. This is the sum of my belief yea & a true Christ belief, thorough the which faythal righteous live Aba. two. And without the which belief no man may please god. Hebre xv. Therefore must the everlasting God be blessed, that our ofr his immesurabl mercy and grace hath given us this thorough jesus Christ Ephe. two. To whom with the fafather and the holy ghost be praise, honour, and glory, for evermore. AMEN. Apoca. Be faithful unto the death and I will give the the crown of life. ¶ Imprinted at Loudon in Paul's church yard at the line of the Hill by william Hill, and are to be sold at the West side of pauls under Peter college by john Casse.